Jerry Weller

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) and who I have great respect for, but disagree on some things, particularly this amendment. This amendment, I believe, would cut the rug out from under our democratically elected ally in Colombia. Let us look at the facts. The facts are that Colombia is a democracy. The facts are that Colombia is our hemisphere's second oldest continuous democracy. The facts are that 90 percent of the cocaine and 50 percent of the heroin that comes into my home State of Illinois comes from the Andean region, particularly Colombia. The facts tell us that Colombian drugs in 2001 killed more Americans than the attack on the World Trade Center. The facts tell us that the criminal sale of narcotrafficking of drugs supports almost 30,000 terrorists, terrorists who are affiliated with two leftist terrorist groups, FARC and the ELN, and one right wing terrorist group, AUC. I would note that these are terrorist groups that enslave child soldiers, sending children into battle against the democratically elected government of Colombia. Today, 65 elected officials, judges, and a presidential candidate are held hostage. They are political prisoners, held by the FARC. These 65 political prisoners are the only political prisoners held in our hemisphere outside of Cuba, that brutal dictatorship. We have a partner in President Uribe, and Colombia is making progress under Plan Colombia. Homicides are down, kidnappings are down, terror attacks are down, and 250 narcoterrorists and drug kingpins have been extradited to the United States for trial. Again, Plan Colombia is working. When it comes to intercepting drugs this past year, 475 tons of drugs were eradicated or seized in 2004. I would note just this past week the Colombian Government was successful. In one drug bust, they seized 15 tons of street-quality cocaine, worth $400 million in Boston or Chicago. Again, progress is being made. Clearly, by voting ``yes'' for this amendment, Members pull the rug out from under the democratically elected government of Colombia. I have worked with many friends on both sides of the aisle. We have talked about finding alternative crops to help the farmers in Colombia make money and have a profitable alternative to becoming cocaleros, and I am proud that through USAID our investments are paying off. Today, thousands of former cocaleros are now cafeteros, growing coffee for a more profitable market as coffee prices have increased in the past year. As part of that commitment, the United States joined the International Coffee Organization. Since then, prices have gone up $1 a pound. Mr. Chairman, vote ``no'' on the McGovern amendment.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 284, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. DeFazio

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Joseph Parish on their Church Building Centennial. The official celebration will take place at St. Joseph Parish in Joliet, Illinois on October 16, 2005. St. Joseph Parish, Joliet's fifth Catholic church, was founded in 1891 by Slovenian immigrants. The first pastor, Reverend Francis Sustersic, arrived from Slovenia on May 12, 1891. The original church, which was blessed on October 16, 1891, was born of the love, labor and sacrifice of Slovenians, whose men toiled in the local steel mills. They provided a house of worship for their families and for their descendants who would preserve their Catholic Slovenian heritage. The parish grew quickly and a second St. Joseph Church was consecrated on October 15, 1905, as an official place of worship under the Archdiocese of Chicago. The second church was built with Indiana Bedford limestone at a cost of $130,000. It was the first stone and steel structure and the largest and grandest church in Joliet. In 1949, St. Joseph Church became part of the newly established Diocese of Joliet. Architecture of the church is considered ``modern Roman''. Three bells from the original church continue to toll in the current bell towers. The bells were named to honor St. Joseph, St. George, and Sancta Maria. The high altar remains the focal point of the church interior. The nineteen stained glass windows, magnificent rose window, Marian Shrine, and the angel bedecked gold-leaf dome serve to inspire the faithful in prayer and adoration. Today, the Church is a tapestry of diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds while maintaining strong familial ties to their Slovenian founders. 2005 marks the 100th Anniversary and the second year of a $1.5 million dollar restoration of St. Joseph Church. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other organizations in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefitted and strengthened America's families and communities.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 938. Among its provisions, H.R. 938 incorporates bill language from H.R. 1820 which reauthorizes the Illinois and Michigan, I & M, Canal National Heritage Corridor to receive appropriations and transfers management entity status from the now defunct federal, I & M Commission to the non-profit Canal Corridor Association. I would like to commend Chairman Pombo and the House Committee on Resources for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. The I & M Canal changed the Nation in 1848 when it opened the first shipping route between New York and New Orleans, designating Chicago as the Nation's greatest inland port. While the canal eventually fell into disuse due to new transportation methods and routes, in 1982 business and industry leaders founded the Canal Corridor Association to help revitalize the I & M Canal region, and in doing so, created a national model for regional partnership, conservation and renewal. I am proud to say that the I & M Canal National Heritage Corridor was America's charter National Heritage area, being created by an act of Congress in 1984. For 20 years, the Federal I & M Commission has worked to carry out the mission of the I & M Canal National Heritage Corridor. Its efforts have been particularly successful during the past 5 years that Phyllis Ellin has provided strong leadership as the Executive Director of the Commission. Since 1984, the I & M Canal National Heritage Corridor has increasingly become an engine of economic growth in communities up and down the length of the Corridor; primarily through an increase in tourism but also in the use of the Corridor for recreational purposes. After consulting with local officials and those most interested and involved in the I & M Canal, it seems that the private sector approach offers more advantages to handle the increased work load brought on by the recent success of the canal and interest in heritage tourism. As a result, H.R. 938 designates the Canal Corridor Association, CCA, as the new management entity of the I & M Canal National Heritage Corridor. The CCA seeks to enhance economic vitality by raising awareness of and expanding the parks, trails, landscapes, and historic sites that make the I & M Canal region a special place. They have also successfully implemented education programs and improved the cultural, environmental, historic and tourism resources that the canal offers. Under the leadership of Ana Koval I am firmly convinced that the CCA, through their governance of the I & M Canal, will continue to successfully educated citizens of the nationally historical importance of the I & M Canal and to play a pivotal role in the continued economic redevelopment of the region.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Collins L. Tocke who is retiring from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after 32 years and 10 months of service. Mr. Tocke began his career with the FAA on June 12, 1972 and ended his service on April 2, 2005. Mr. Tocke began his career with the FAA as an air traffic controller at the Chicago Center and was later transferred to the South Bend Flight Service Station. He has been a controller at the Kankakee Automated Flight Service Station since February 1, 1987. Mr. Tocke was born in Hope, Arkansas but spent most of his formative years in Chicago, Illinois. After High School, he went to college in Champaign, Illinois until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Tocke served his country from October 1966 to October 1970. On February 15, 1975, Collins Tocke married the love of his life, Kathy and are the proud parents of one son, Christopher, who was born on June 17, 1982. Collins is an avid reader and is interested in the war in the Pacific, computers, and electronic music. Collins and Kathy plan on enjoying his retirement. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other individuals in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefited and strengthened America's families and communities.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6, balanced legislation designed to reduce our dependence on imported energy, a balanced approach that has earned bipartisan support in the House Committee on Ways and Means, emphasizes conservation, alternative sources of energy, as well as finding more domestic sources of energy. I take my brief amount of time to focus on what I consider to be the most consumer-oriented provision of this legislation, legislation that rewards conservation, conservation at home. Twenty percent of all the energy we consume in America, one-fifth of our energy consumed, is consumed at home. In fact, the average American spends about $1,500 a year in heating and cooling their home. Just think if they could save 10, 20, 30 percent. It means not only energy conservation to save energy but it would help their pocketbooks as well. This legislation today contains provisions out of H.R. 1212, legislation that provides up to a $2,000 tax credit that homeowners can use in their existing home to make it more energy efficient, put in better windows, better doors, better insulation, do a better job of sealing the home. If they meet the Federal standard by reducing their energy consumption by 30 percent, they can reduce their taxes with up to a $2,000 tax credit, 20 percent of the first $10,000 they invest. Bottom line is we need to encourage energy conservation. What better place to start than right at home. I urge bipartisan support for this legislation.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, my remarks today are to commend the United States House of Representatives for taking such swift and just action during the early hours of Monday, March 21st when this body passed S. 626 for the relief of the parents of Terri Schiavo. This bill will transfer the case regarding Terri Schiavo's life to the review of a Federal court. Doing so staved off efforts to permanently remove Terri's feeding tube, which would have slowly killed her by means of starvation and dehydration. Ms. Schiavo is neither brain-dead nor dependent on artificial life support; she simply needs a feeding tube to eat as do many incapacitated people. As a cosponsor of the original House bill to save Ms. Schiavo's life and a strong supporter of the Senate measure, I regret that I, along with numerous other members of Congress, was unable to return to Washington, D.C. in time to participate, due to the sudden and unexpected nature of the debate and vote. I am, however, committed to continuing my support of efforts aimed at saving Ms. Schiavo's life. While the case regarding Terri Schiavo is unique and tragic in many ways, it would be a much greater tragedy for those in power to do nothing to save an innocent woman from a slow, agonizing death. I am grateful that our efforts in Congress have assisted in staving off injustice and I am hopeful that new techniques and therapies may be applied to Terri for her benefit so that she may live out her life in the most productive and peaceful manner possible.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 12 expressing the condolences of this House and the support for the people of the countries that have been impacted by the tsunami in Asia. A friend of our country, Sri Lanka, was one of the countries most devastated. Sadly, Sri Lanka lost at least 30,000 of its citizens, and that toll may rise well into the 40,000 range. I serve as co-chairman of the Sri Lanka Caucus in the House and I have traveled personally to Sri Lanka. I have seen firsthand many of the areas now devastated by the tsunami, and my heart and prayers and those of my colleagues go out to the people of Sri Lanka at this difficult time. Today many Americans are still unaccounted for who were in Sri Lanka when this tragedy struck, but as we deal with that loss and also work to help the nearly 1 million living survivors who are now displaced in Sri Lanka, we continue to move forward and we want to express our support. Secretary of State Colin Powell plans to be in Sri Lanka this Friday to express our support and to see firsthand what more we can do, and I am proud of the support that the United States Government has been providing. In the early hours of the day after Christmas, top U.S. Government officials began the work of aiding Sri Lanka and the entire region, immediately moving money to the affected areas and sending out teams to survey the damage for accurate assessment of needs. To date our President, President Bush, has pledged $350 million in relief in recovery assistance, and already $13 million has been allocated to our friend Sri Lanka alone. The Department of Defense and USAID have established a regional coordination center in Sri Lanka to coordinate our relief efforts to the region as well as this friendly country. Hundreds of USAID and military personnel are on the ground in Sri Lanka helping to assist the relief efforts. I would also note that the men and women of the United States military are fully engaged helping Sri Lanka. In this region, the United States has committed a vast majority of military assets to the region: 20 ships, 14 strategic lift cargo planes, and 48 helicopters. The USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group is in route to Sri Lanka, as well as a ship capable of producing 90,000 gallons of fresh water every day. We have also instituted a cash for work program, helping the local economy and cleanup efforts at the same time. Mr. Speaker, there is so much that we can do, and I want to thank our friends in the private sector who have stepped forward. We in the United States are doing our part and we want to do more. We are working in partnership with the world in this effort to aid Sri Lanka, and the Indian government in particular has been very helpful in the Sri Lanka mission. The United States will continue to help Sri Lanka and the entire region as long as needs are there. We stand in support and we express our condolences, and our prayers go out to the people of Sri Lanka.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Monical's Pizza Corporation (Monical's) for receiving the 2004 Optimas Award for Vision and for receiving the 2004 Winning Workforce Award for Full Service: Family. The 14th Annual Optimas Awards honor excellence in workforce management and winners are chosen by Workforce Management Magazine. Workforce Management is a magazine that provides current trends and information to business owners. Since 1991, the Optimas Awards have been a source of ideas, direction and inspiration for workforce management professionals. Optimal Award Winners have pushed their organizations to record profits, greater market share, higher stock value, and better corporate results. In 1997, Monical's began to recognize and instituted a process called the ``service-profit chain model,'' which links employee satisfaction with profitability and growth. This model has proven to be a success for Monical's. Monical's has reduced the turnover rate for employees from 138% in 7001 to 88% today and there have been no turnover among managers within the past 18 months. Guest-satisfaction scores are an enviable 60%. The Winning Workforce Award for Full Service is presented by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and Coca-Cola North America. This award honors those restaurant and foodservice operators that truly understand that enhancing employee satisfaction ultimately leads to achieving guest satisfaction. Monical's progressive approach to training and development includes a new blended learning (eLearning) program based on Harvard Manage Mentor as a fundamental way to continue to grow and challenge its employees. eLearning has helped Monical's obtain one of the highest employee retention rates in the industry. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize other companies in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefited and strengthened America's families and communities.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the position taken by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), in opposition to an amendment offered by my longtime friend and respected seatmate of 10 years, who I disagree with on his amendment, in a respectful way. Let me ask, I think, three important questions. One, why are we having this vote, which is essentially putting the cart before the horse? Why are we singling out Mexico, our next-door neighbor, number 2 trading partner, and friend? And, three, why is there an effort to essentially vent our frustration over illegal immigration on a potential agreement with our friend, Mexico? That is why I think it is important for us to be very careful on this amendment, because we have Social Security totalization agreements with 7 out of 10 of our biggest trading partners. Mexico is our second largest trading partner. We have thousands of American workers working in Mexico who right now are in a situation where they are forced to pay two sets of Social Security taxes. A totalization agreement would be of great benefit to American workers working in Mexico, as well as their American employers who may be employing them. In fact, they say they could save up to $140 million in additional taxes that workers and American companies would suffer unless we have a totalization agreement. Now, the issue of putting the cart before the horse. Under the procedure for a totalization agreement, the totalization agreement, when it is finalized, because it is not yet finalized; it still has to be signed off on by the State Department and the White House before it would be considered a final agreement, and then it would have to come to Congress where we could have an up-or-down vote on whether or not to accept it. That is where Congress comes in with our role. Again, this vote here today is putting the cart before the horse, and Congress does truly have the final say. Mr. Chairman, I pointed out earlier that Mexico is our second largest trading partner. It is a longtime friend, a fellow democracy, and I do not believe it should be singled out when our other friends, Canada, Australia, most of Western Europe, have concluded totalization agreements that have been in place now for, in many cases, two decades, protecting American workers from double taxation. I would also, when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration, because we realize that is an issue that is hanging over this vote today, and this should not be a vehicle to vent that frustration, it should not be a vehicle, because this actually helps American citizens. A totalization agreement would not change current law prohibiting payment of benefits to persons living illegally in the United States. I think it is important to note that. Let me say that one more time. A totalization agreement would not change current law prohibiting payment of benefits to persons living illegally in the United States. Second, a totalization agreement would not create an enticement for Mexican illegal immigrants to come here. The bottom line is just vote no on this amendment, let us move on, consider it next year when it is brought up to us through regular order.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to address an important issue. Over the past 2-3 years, the issue of bonus depreciation has been very important to American companies and American workers as our economy recovers from the recent recession. On March 9, 2002, President Bush signed the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 into law. This law allows businesses to accelerate the depreciation of equipment they purchase between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2004. They get to accelerate 30 percent more in the first year. Before this law, a $1,000 computer would be depreciated equally over 5 years. $200 each year. With this change, businesses get $200 in the first year, plus a 30 percent bonus. So, they depreciate $500 in the first year and the remaining $500 over the next four years ($125 each year for four years). In 2003, President Bush signed legislation to increase the 30 percent bonus depreciation to 50 percent. There is evidence that bonus depreciation is helping to drive the U.S. economic recovery. Fifty percent bonus depreciation will expire on December 31, 2004. I personally will continue working to try to extend this important provision. For some industries, such small aircraft manufacturers, this provision will expire much sooner than December 2004. Because of the relatively long period of time it takes to build these airplanes, many manufacturers cannot promise delivery by the end of this year. Because of this, new orders are drying up. Why is this important? Well, building new airplanes requires workers. Increased orders requires increased workers. In May 2004, Cessna announced they would be hiring back 400 workers to meet increased demand. Both the House and Senate versions of the JOBS bill includes a provision extending the period for placing in service certain noncommercial business aircraft. Under the provision, if such an aircraft is ordered in 2004 and certain additional requirements are met, then a taxpayer would have until the end of 2005 to place the aircraft in service. I believe it is important that Congress enact this provision, either in the JOBS bill or through another vehicle, as soon as possible. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help make this happen.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 4492. Among its provisions, H.R. 4492 reauthorizes the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal National Heritage Corridor to receive appropriations and transfers management entity status from the federal, I&M Commission to the non-profit Canal Corridor Association. I would like to commend Chairman Pombo and the House Committee on Resources for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. The I&M Canal changed the nation in 1848 when it opened the first shipping route between New York and New Orleans, designating Chicago as the nation's greatest inland port. While the canal eventually fell into disuse due to new transportation methods and routes, in 1982, business and industry leaders founded the Canal Corridor Association to help revitalize the I&M Canal region, and in doing so, created a national model for regional partnership, conservation and renewal. I am proud to say that the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor was America's charter National Heritage area, being created by an act of Congress in 1984. For 20 years, the federal I&M Commission has worked to carry out the mission of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor. Its efforts have been particularly successful during the past five years that Phyllis Ellin has provided strong leadership as the Executive Director of the Commission. Since 1984, the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor has increasingly become an engine of economic growth in communities up and down the length of the Corridor; primarily through an increase in tourism but also in the use of the Corridor for recreational purposes. After consulting with local officials and those most interested and involved in the I&M Canal, it seems that the private sector approach offers more advantages to handle the increased work load brought on by the recent success of the canal and interest in heritage tourism. As a result, H.R. 4492 designated the Canal Corridor Association (CCA) as the new management entity of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor. The CCA seeks to enhance economic vitality by raising awareness of and expanding the parks, trails, landscapes, and historic sites that make the I&M Canal region a special place. They have also successfully implemented education programs and improved the cultural, environmental, historic and tourism resources that the canal offers. Under the leadership of Ana Koval I am firmly convinced that the CCA, through their governance of the I&M Canal, will continue to successfully educate citizens of the nationally historical importance of the I&M Canal and to play a pivotal role in the continued economic redevelopment of the region.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to speak, and I rise today in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) to put a cap on U.S. military and contract personnel assistance assigned to our friend, the Republic of Colombia. Mr. Chairman, this is a bad amendment. It ties the hands of the President, our Commander in Chief, from making military and counterterrorism decisions. Specifically, this bill makes no exceptions to the cap, greatly limiting Presidential action. This can be a serious problem, should the President, Republican or Democrat, ever need to deploy U.S. personnel to safeguard American citizens or security, since the amendment would force all U.S. assistance under foreign operations to be cut off. This would mean that development programs, counternarcotics initiatives and U.S. security could be severely damaged under this amendment. The increased pace of implementation for programs we support being undertaken by the Uribe administration in Colombia offers an opportunity for real progress towards our goals, but current cap levels hurt our efficiency, prevent full implementation of our programs. Draft legislation to raise the military cap to 800 and the civilian cap to 600 was included in the fiscal year 2005 DOD authorization bill, as it was recognized it is necessary to increase the cap to ensure continued success in Colombia. I think it is important to recognize that the Republic of Colombia is Latin America's oldest long-standing democracy, and it is important to recognize that Plan Colombia is working. Let us take a closer look at the success in Colombia in fighting drugs in partnership with our friend, President Uribe. Coca cultivation has declined by 21 percent in Colombia and over 33 percent in the last 2 years. The Colombia coca crop has been reduced to 127,000 hectares from 169,000 hectares 2 years ago. Potential production has been reduced by 20 percent for export quality cocaine, and potential pure heroin production has been reduced by 10 percent just this past year in 2003. Ladies and gentlemen, the elected government of Colombia is restoring basic protections to every Colombian community, because Plan Colombia is working. Police presence has been extended in all 158 municipalities in Colombia that had no police before, and 87 Colombian citizens have been extradited to the United States on narcotics-related charges. A government presence in all of Colombia's 1,098 municipalities has been established for the first time in the country's history. Again, Plan Colombia is working, and Plan Colombia is a key component of our fight against terrorism. We must also remember the strong link between terrorism and drug trafficking. The funds from drug sales are often funding worldwide terrorist activities. Specifically in Colombia, desertions among narcotrafficking terrorist groups are up 80 percent, and child soldiers are increasingly being voluntarily repatriated. In 2003, nearly 7,000 narcoterrorists were captured. Colombia's murder rate has dropped by 20 percent. Terrorist incidents have dropped by 49 percent. Terrorism cases in Colombia were down 48 percent in 2003; and in a July, 2003, poll, 65 percent of Colombians say they felt more secure in July of 2003 than they did one year before in July of 2002, which happened to be one month before President Uribe took office. Again, Plan Colombia is working. Finally, on the human rights front, kidnappings are down by 26 percent in 2003. Homicides reached their lowest level since 1987. Of 2,500 human rights allegations in Colombia over the past year, there have been no allegations of human right abuses filed against U.S.- trained units and only 2 percent against the Colombian military, compared with 40 or 50 percent just 7 years ago. Again, Plan Colombia is working. Our partnership with President Uribe is working. It is strong. The eradication of narcotics and regional security is a priority. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize both the 100th anniversary of the Grundy County Agricultural District Fair held each year near Morris, Illinois as well as the local agriculture community which has so strongly supported the Fair over the decades. Founded in 1904 in the Village of Mazon, Illinois on the southern end of Grundy County, the Fair originally featured horse shows, baseball games and dinners served by the Mazon Congregational Church. The Fair grew rapidly in popularity and soon became the center of entertainment for everyone in Grundy County with horse races, livestock shows, good food, dancing, talent shows and many types of plain, wholesome family fun. As the years went by, automobile racing gradually supplanted the traditional horse races, especially with the advent of Midget auto racing which became very popular during the late 1930's and continues to this day. Auto race tracks grew larger and replaced horse racing tracks. Eventually, the Fair outgrew its Mazon, Illinois site and moved to its present location north of the City of Morris, Illinois where the Grundy County Speedway, a one-third mile paved oval track became part of the fairgrounds. A century later, along with the auto racing, the Grundy County Agricultural District Fair still retains its agriculture and family oriented emphasis. Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, rabbits and poultry along with field crops, fruit and vegetables still combine with country music, carnival rides and even the Miss Grundy County Fair Pageant to provide outstanding family entertainment. In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me pay tribute to the generations of farm families, hard-working Fair Department Superintendents, dedicated County Fair Board members and outstanding volunteers who have built and nourished the Grundy County Agricultural District Fair through the past century. Their commitment has truly provided the Grundy County community with a century of wonderful family entertainment.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and I want to commend Ambassador Zoellick, the Special Trade Representative, and especially President Bush on the success of negotiating a good trade agreement that is good for American farmers, good for American workers, and good for American business. My home State of Illinois is one of the top States that currently exports to Australia. As you know, Illinois manufacturers, like manufacturers throughout the United States, were hard hit by the recession back in 2000 and 2001 and of course faced the consequences of the terrorist attack of 2001 and, in my State, suffered even heavier taxes imposed by our new governor and our new State legislature. But I am happy to say that today Illinois manufacturing is starting to see some positive health, and that is good news. A key part of this economic turnaround is expanded trade opportunities. I would like to point out that my family has personally experienced the impact of our economy over the last decade. My brother, a manufacturing worker, he lost his job because of a lawsuit. But he got a new job because of a company that obtained an export contract. So, clearly, expanded free trade creates jobs for American workers. I particularly want to congratulate the architects and negotiators that produced this U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement. I would note that in the Australia-U.S. FTA more than 99 percent of U.S.- manufactured exports to Australia will become duty free immediately upon entry into force of this agreement. This is the most significant immediate reduction of industrial tariffs ever achieved. Let me say that again: the most immediate reduction of industrial tariffs ever achieved in a United States free trade agreement. That is good news for industrial workers. What that means is $2 billion in additional demands for U.S. products. Agriculture is also key to my home State's economy, and I want to point out that under this agreement all U.S. agricultural exports to Australia will receive immediately duty free access to Australian markets. This trade agreement is good for Illinois farmers, it is good for Illinois workers, it is good for Illinois business, and it deserves bipartisan support. Please vote aye.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 343 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment Offered by Mr. Hefley

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 276 my flight was delayed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana for yielding, and I always find it interesting. Monday morning quarterbacks are always right in their minds because they have a chance to look back on tough decisions that have to be made; but as we know, the war on terrorism is progressing to one of those situations where the lessons of the past are important, because when Americans have been impatient, we have lost; and when we recognize that the war on terror is going to take time, al Qaeda and other terrorist elements are in 65 different countries that we know of, thousands of terrorists were trained in the camps in Afghanistan and Sudan and elsewhere, but we are making progress; and we are holding firm on the war on terror. Clearly, the war on terror is progressing. It is a tough, hard fight; and our effort in Iraq is a key front in the war on terror. Just less than 2 short weeks history will be made. Today, Saddam Hussein is in jail and an international coalition led by the United States and our 31-country allied coalition will hand over authority over Iraq to a sovereign Iraqi government. Let us review what is going on; and frankly, here is the bottom line. The goal of the 31-country international coalition, which the United States is part of, has the bottom line goal that Iraq will govern its own internal affairs. The Iraqi interim government will run the day-to- day operations of Iraq's government and ministries. The Iraqi interim government will increase security and prepare the country for national democratic elections. The President has a five-point plan that is now being implemented and has been implemented over the last several months as we worked not only to win the war on terrorism but to put in place a stable, democratically elected government in Iraq. The President's five-point plan calls for handing over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government that should be achieved in just 2 short weeks. We want to establish the stability and security in Iraq that democracy requires. We want to continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure. We want to continue to build international support beyond the 31 nations already involved, and we want to move towards free national elections that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people themselves. The past few weeks have proved that the President's Iraqi plan is moving forward; it is working. The international community is coming together to help Iraqis secure their own future. On June 8, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution which supports free elections and reauthorizes a multinational force to help provide security in Iraq. The international community is now on the record. The coalition will continue to help in every way possible on the economic front, the security front and the political front; and the international coalition will continue in the process of assisting the Iraqi people and taking responsibility for the future of their country. I am pleased that as a result of the recent summit, the G-8, that we continue to build that international support. In fact, many of us had the opportunity just less than 2 weeks ago to meet with the new, free Iraqi President when he visited Washington, and it was an impressive meeting with an impressive leader. Iraq is improving and has already taken big steps to keep Iraq on the path to national elections by January 2005, leading the way to representative government by and of the people of Iraq. That interim government is making progress. Ninety thousand militia members are being transitioned into new occupations. All six of Haditha Dam generating units recently ran at maximum capacity for the first time since 1990. To date, over 10,000 democracy development activities, program activities, have been held in communities across Iraq involving more than 312,000 Iraqi participants. Today, there are now 55,000 Internet subscribers in Baghdad compared to only 3,000 just 2 years ago. Reconstruction of the Baghdad International Airport is expected to be completed by this August; and primary, intermediate, and secondary students are completing their final exam for the school year with minimal disruption; and I would note when we visit Iraqi schools today, we see young girls attending those schools again. That is progress. Our international coalition has a clear goal, to see the Iraqi people in charge of Iraq for the first time. America worked not only to defeat an enemy but to give strength, freedom and opportunity to our friends, the people of Iraq. Freedom can and will advance and enhance the lives of those living in the greater Middle East, just as it has been successful in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. Today, we are fighting a war on terror. We are making progress. It is a tough, hard fight, but al Qaeda and other terrorist groups want to defeat our effort to bring freedom to the Middle East. With our commitment, we will win. In the next few weeks we are going to be tested by al Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations. We are going to be tested and have violence that is going to be likely. The terrorists and Hussein loyalists would rather see innocent Iraqis die than let them taste freedom. They honestly think that Americans will cut and run, because they have seen that happen in the past. We are going to be tested in this war on terror, and how we conduct ourselves today and in the weeks ahead will determine whether or not we win the war on terror, whether or not we give the people of the Mideast a taste of real freedom. They will not succeed and the forces of good, the forces of freedom and the international coalition, which is growing, will win if we remain firm and hang together, because, again, we are being tested. My hope is we will hang tough and continue to fight the war on terror because we would all rather fight the terrorists on the streets of Baghdad than here in Washington and in communities in the south suburbs of Chicago. Mr. Speaker, in closing I am confident through the will of the Iraqi people and the international community President Bush's plan will be implemented successfully. Iraq will have a free and representative government. The terrorist regimes of the past will be defeated and silenced, and we will prevail. That is because I believe, like I know so many other Americans do, the Iraqi people deserve and know better.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Juneteenth, a day of celebration for all Americans. Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, marks the day that Major General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas to inform slaves that the Civil War was over and they were now free men and women. Juneteenth is a day honoring President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. It was a Juneteenth that Lincoln's proclamation was finally enforced nationwide, 2\1/2\ years after he issued the decree. President Lincoln should be honored for his tremendous efforts on freeing all of the slaves, and we must recognize this important day in our Nation's history. Since then, Juneteenth has been a day of celebration largely in the African American culture and especially for African Americans in Texas. Many communities celebrated in churches or in far off rural areas. But as times have changed and more African Americans began to own land and to experience freedom, sites were dedicated specifically for celebrations and more people began to participate. In 1872, Reverend Jack Yates raised $1,000 to purchase a park in Houston named Emancipation Park in honor of the Juneteenth holiday. With public land acquisitions such as this, more Americans have become aware of this event and began to celebrate its heritage. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time to commend President Abraham Lincoln. Not only was President Lincoln a great Republican abolitionist in history, he was a great leader from my home State of Illinois. His vision and dream of freeing slaves was finally a reality on June 19th, 1865, the day we now know as Juneteenth. His efforts freed thousands, hundreds of thousands of slaves across our Nation. Another person that I must note is Owen Lovejoy from Princeton, Illinois. Lovejoy is a former Republican Congressman from Bureau County and was a pioneer in the abolitionist movement in Congress. In 1863, he introduced the Emancipation Proclamation in legislative form to the Congress. With the support and leadership of President Lincoln, it was passed and became Public Law. He is yet another example of a fighter for freedom and liberty. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to serve the 11th District of Illinois, the home of former Congressman Owen Lovejoy. Today, Juneteenth is not only celebrated by Americans, but by people all over the world. More and more communities continue to coordinate celebrations, whether it is in the workplace, school, or at home. Mr. Speaker, I encourage this Congress to mark Juneteenth as the day in history that forever changed the lives of thousands of Americans in 1865 and continues to have an impact on current future generations. Mr. Speaker, as this celebration of heritage continues to grow, I would like to honor this day of celebration we know as Juneteenth, June 19, 1865, and encourage all Americans to observe this day of emancipation and strength.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Madam Speaker, today we come before this House in a saddened state. A man of unquestioned integrity and strong character has passed from our Nation's midst into the hands of God. Ronald Reagan was a man with a good heart, and he had more of an impact on the world than any living American today. We express our condolences to Mrs. Reagan and the Reagan family. Many of us are very grateful because of how Ronald Reagan inspired us, encouraged our activity in public service, and I know he encouraged my involvement in public service. I cast my first vote in 1976 for Ronald Reagan in the Republican primary, and I had the privilege just 5 years later to serve in the Reagan administration. I have many fond memories of Ronald Reagan. Man is not measured by what we say, but by what we do. President Reagan believed in the right of freedom for individuals and nations. He spoke honestly of the need for government reform in the United States and publicly hoped for a brighter future for the citizens of the Soviet empire. Yet his words were not empty and did not ring hollow. President Reagan backed up these beliefs by reducing the government's burden of taxes on individuals. He committed himself to rebuilding our American military. He inspired Americans to believe in themselves and their country, and, through almost sheer will, defeated communism without firing a single shot. As he spoke, the world listened because the force of America was behind his voice. When President Reagan uttered those fateful words, ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall,'' a collective shiver shot down the spine of the Soviet Union, as if communism's death knell was being rung for all the world to hear. Even President Reagan's opponents concede that he defeated the Soviet empire. Under President Reagan's leadership, America experienced an unmatched period of economic growth. Under President Reagan's legacy, hundreds of millions of people around the world now live safe from the fear of the threat of communism, free from the threat of Marxist-Leninism, and eager to extend an open hand to our former enemy and now our friend, Russia and the former Soviet states. The spirit Ronald Reagan embodied was of a special sort. Whether it was reinvigorating the American economy or comforting the loved ones of those lost on the Challenger space shuttle, President Reagan never forgot who he worked for and what cause he was dedicated to. Ronald Reagan was committed to the American citizen, the American dream and the American spirit. Madam Speaker, as a man, a patriot, a fellow Illinoisan and United States President, Ronald Reagan will be greatly missed, and I deeply mourn his passing, but I cannot help but think that long after the pain and sorrow of his departure has diminished, the legacy that President Reagan left with us of commitment to one's country, of faith in one's resolve, of hope for a better tomorrow will be remembered and live on in the hearts and minds of Americans for generations to come.

Mr. WELLER

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, there are clear differences being outlined here today. Democrats are proposing a $270 billion tax increase, the Republicans are proposing a simple extension of existing marriage tax relief. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to debate the Democrat proposal to raise taxes by $207 billion, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling).

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to my friend from New York's substitute proposal that he is offering, which, again, is a $207 billion tax increase on individuals, on families, and on small business. The issue of the AMT has been raised today, and that is another issue which concerns all of us. But I would note that in 1993 when President Clinton called for a tax increase, the biggest tax increase in the history of our Nation, Democrats controlled the Congress, and at that time they increased taxes, increased the rates; but they failed to index it for inflation. That has created the problem that we are facing when it comes to the AMT. In the next few weeks, this House will be taking up legislation, broad AMT reforms, which will help prevent 11 million of those families that my good friend from New York has identified as needing help. We will be voting on that sometime, very, very soon. But today we are talking about the marriage tax penalty. Mr. Speaker, I would note in directing my attention directly to the Rangel substitute that it does several things. It reverses President Bush's tax relief, and that means higher taxes, as I said earlier; it creates new taxes on families, individuals, and small businesses; and it makes the alternative minimum tax even more complicated. Again, under my good friend from New York's proposal, you would have to essentially figure out your taxes three times before you could determine what your tax would be under this proposal. The Tax Code would become much more complicated and taxes would go up $207 billion. So I urge my colleagues to vote in opposition to the Rangel substitute. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) is a good friend of mine. We work together on a lot of things. But I disagree with him on the substitute that he has offered. But let us talk about what the real issue is before the House today, and that is, do we want to eliminate the marriage tax penalty permanently? If we fail to do anything, the marriage tax penalty will come back for millions of American families. I remember all the years we have talked about eliminating the marriage tax penalty. I have a couple that I used as an example, a young couple who I had met when they just got married, Shad and Michelle Hallihan. When we were working early on to eliminate the marriage tax penalty, twice we passed legislation to eliminate and wipe out the marriage tax penalty, and unfortunately it fell victim to President Clinton's vetoes. He wanted to spend the money, rather than give it back to married couples; so he vetoed that bill. In the case of Shad and Michelle, what really was the problem was they both work, they are both school teachers, so they have two incomes. Under the Tax Code in the old days, before President Bush's tax cut was put in place, they paid higher taxes. In fact, the average married couple at the time we introduced the original legislation to eliminate the marriage tax penalty paid about $1,400. Well, after our legislation to eliminate the marriage tax penalty was vetoed twice by President Clinton, time marched on and the Hallihans had a son. In fact, that little boy is about ready to start grade school now. Over that little boy's lifetime, we have been working to eliminate the marriage tax penalty. If you think about it, Will County, Illinois, where the Hallihans live, $1,400 for them is tuition at Joliet Junior Community College, several months of daycare at a local community college. So the Hallihans are a good example of a married couple with a young child who suffer the marriage tax penalty. Well, this past year, with the help of President Bush, President Bush in 2001, President Bush in 2003, we were successful in enacting into law legislation that essentially wiped out the marriage tax penalty for 36 million married working couples. Another example of a couple from the district I represent, Jose and Magdalena Castillo, Joliet, they are construction workers, they work in the construction field, they have two children, Carolina and Eduardo, and they work hard. But they suffered the marriage tax penalty too, and thanks to the legislation that the President signed into law, after it was twice vetoed by President Clinton, the Castillos have an extra $1,125 when their marriage tax penalty was eliminated. Of course, they have two children. That $1,125 is money they could set aside in an education savings account, in a health savings account, to help with health care or college tuition needs. It is money they can use to put a down payment on a car. Or they could also put it in their individual retirement accounts for their later years some day when the kids are out of school, out of college, and they are empty-nesters and are ready to retire. But the bottom line is that Shad and Michelle Hallihan and Jose and Magdalena Castillo represent the 36 million married working couples who will suffer higher taxes, unless we make permanent the elimination of the marriage tax penalty. We do have two alternatives here. My good friend from New York has offered one in which the code word ``pay for'' is used. Just to explain congressional terms, pay for means tax increase. My friend's proposal has a $207 billion tax increase on families and individuals and small businesses, those who create jobs in America. The Republican proposal, which I hope has bipartisan support, does not include a tax increase on families or small business. What we do is provide a simple extension of the existing marriage tax penalty relief that if we fail to pass into law would result in a tax increase on married couples, like Jose and Magdalena Castillo and Shad and Michelle Hallihan. If we fail to extend this marriage tax relief, couples such as the Castillos would see a $300 marriage tax penalty reimposed, a portion of that previous penalty they had. If we fail to make it permanent, 35 million couples like the Castillos would see a tax increase of more than $700 starting in 2011. Overall, over the next decade, if we fail to extend and make permanent the elimination of the marriage tax penalty, married couples will pay nearly $105 billion in higher taxes. This is what this is all about. It is a simple choice today. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing, and the right thing is to oppose a $207 billion tax increase on families and individuals and small business by voting ``no'' on the substitute of my good friend from New York (Mr. Rangel) and voting ``yes'' on H.R. 4181, legislation that makes permanent the elimination of the marriage tax penalty. We do it in three ways. We extend the doubling of the standard deduction so that married couples can have a standard deduction twice that of singles that helps those who do not itemize. We also make permanent the widening of the 15 percent tax bracket so middle class married couples who are both in the work force make twice as much when they file jointly and stay in the 15 percent tax bracket as a single, and we also help the working poor, those who benefit from the earned income credit, a program that was created by Ronald Reagan to help the working poor make ends meet. My good colleague from Texas said that somehow this proposal would not help this returning Iraqi war veteran and, with all due respect, she is wrong because under our legislation we make permanent the earned income credit which my friend says that she qualifies for. So she benefits as well. The bottom line is low income and middle class married couples benefit in a significant way when we make permanent the elimination of the marriage tax penalty. Again, my good friend is offering a tax increase of $207 billion. It is a bad idea at this time. We need to keep the economy moving forward. Let us help families by permanently eliminating the marriage tax penalty. Mr. Speaker, I urge an aye vote, an aye vote on H.R. 4181, and a no vote on the Rangel substitute. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 607, I call up the bill (H.R. 4181) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the increased standard deduction, and the 15-percent individual income tax rate bracket expansion, for married taxpayers filing joint returns, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.