Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment made in order by the rule.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chair, I yield myself 3 minutes. As we face the huge challenges ahead of us, the financial crisis, wars in two countries, rising unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, lack of affordable health care, high energy prices and global climate change, the budget is the legislation that will address all of these issues at one time. That's why, as co-chair, with Congressman Raul Grijalva of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I'm pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2010 Progressive Caucus Budget Alternative. In November the American people voted to take the country in a new direction, and that is exactly what the CPC budget does, not by making small adjustments, but by fundamentally changing the way our government allocates its resources. That's why the CPC budget eliminates more than $60 billion in unneeded spending at the Pentagon, much of which is spent on weapons designed to fight the former Soviet Union. Our budget cuts defense spending by a total of $158 billion in Fiscal Year 2010. The CPC alternative budget saves another $8.7 billion a year by fully implementing the nearly 800 outstanding GAO recommendations to reduce waste, fraud and abuse at the DOD. And finally, we can save another $90 billion by executing a timely and complete withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Our budget restores fairness and balance to the Tax Code by rolling back the Bush tax breaks for the top 1 percent, closing loopholes for corporations that would equal $100 billion in savings a year, ensuring that Wall Street pays its fair share for the burden placed on taxpayers by the TARP program, and limiting the tax deductibility of excessive CEO pay. With these offsets, the CPC budget then sets forth an ambitious agenda to address the most pressing matters facing America today. We invest $991 billion in nondefense discretionary spending for fiscal year 2010, which is $469 billion over the President's budget. This bold infusion of resources includes $300 billion in stimulus that was left out of the economic recovery package, and increases spending for domestic priorities. These investments include: $120 billion a year to ensure that every American has health care; $90 billion a year to cut the poverty rate in America by 50 percent; up to $80 billion a year to rebuild and reinvest in our infrastructure; and an increase of $60 billion for international assistance for nonmilitary foreign assistance to fight the root causes of terrorism, to support the 21st century diplomacy.

Ms. WOOLSEY. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. And to meeting basic human needs, universal education and worldwide prevention of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. Thirty billion dollars a year in our budget is for the President's budget to fight global warming and promote energy independence. Over $70 billion a year will fully fund the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and IDEA, and $45 billion a year to make veterans health care an entitlement. Madam Chair, these are the major priorities of the Progressive Caucus alternative budget, and I urge my colleagues to pay attention to it and to vote for it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, I am honored to yield 3 minutes to the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who is the author of this year's reduction of Cold War weapons in our CPC budget.

Ms. WOOLSEY. I'm honored to yield a minute and a half to the former cochair of the Progressive Caucus, Barbara Lee from California.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chair, how much time is remaining?

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chair, I am honored to yield a minute and a half to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 2 minutes to the outspoken Progressive leader, Sheila Jackson-Lee. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairwoman, I yield 2 minutes to the Progressive Caucus vice chair, Donna Edwards from Maryland.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairwoman, I now yield 3 minutes to the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers of Michigan.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairwoman, we have two speakers including closing.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, well, I'd just like to point out that the other side of the aisle must like the Congressional Progressive Caucus budget very much because they've spent the entire hour either promoting their own budget or attacking the President's budget and letting our budget stand as it is. I'm proud of the Congressional Progressive budget. We cut defense spending by $158 billion in fiscal year 2010 alone, and we increase nondefense discretionary spending to $991 billion, and that's quite an effort and quite an accomplishment.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a wonderful establishment in Santa Rosa, California--Friends House. Friends House, a very special continuing care retirement community, is celebrating its 25th anniversary April 24, 25, and 26. Conceived of in the late 1970s, Friends House opened to its first residents in 1984 and has expanded over the years while retaining its family feel. It is now composed of three related programs dedicated to the health and well-being of older persons--independent living in both houses and apartments, assisted living, and a skilled nursing facility which is also open to the public. It is operated by Friends Association of Services for the Elderly under the College Park Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. It has been my pleasure to meet with the residents of Friends House over the years. I have found them to be a lively and engaged group with a commitment to the progressive values we share. These caring values are evident not only in the democratically run, close-knit community but also in the activism shared by many of its members. Residents and staff are involved in volunteerism through The Art of Giving Back program. Volunteers work in over 30 nonprofit organizations, and the community hosts educational and cultural sessions for the public. The care given to seniors by the staff at Friends House is often singled out for praise. One woman wrote movingly of her mother-in-law's passing away ``in the loving care of the wonderful angels there.'' She then asked them to send her love and say a prayer for the comfort of another family member at the facility who was not coherent but who had all the support she needed to make her last days something beautiful and special. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to be able to salute Friends House on its 25th anniversary. I know that its residents and staff will continue to be a loving asset to our community for years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, President Obama announced his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday. I personally am encouraged by much of what he had to say, but I remain concerned by other parts of his approach to the problems in that region. The President said that ``a campaign against extremism will not succeed with bullets and bombs alone'' and that a big change from the last administration's approach is absolutely necessary. And I will tell you it is a very welcome change. President Obama called for a package of assistance that will help Pakistan to build schools, roads and hospitals. He also called for a ``civilian surge'' in Afghanistan. He wants to send agricultural specialists, educators and engineers to help develop the Afghan economy. The President said that ``these foreign assistance programs relieve the burden on our troops. It is better to help a farmer seed a crop than it is to send our troops to fight tour after tour with no transition to Afghan responsibility.'' Madam Speaker, I wholeheartedly support these economic assistance efforts. I have said for a long time that the best way to fight terrorism is to give people real hope for a better future so that they don't become terrorists in the first place. I'm also heartened by the President's clarification of the roles of NATO, the U.N. and other international partners. He is asking them to help with the civilian effort, and he's asking the United Nations to bring all the nations of the region together, including Iran, to help stabilize the region. I recently joined my colleagues, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, in sending a letter to the President asking him for such clarification because I remain concerned about other parts of the administration's approach, including the decision to send 17,000 more combat troops to Afghanistan. Madam Speaker, history makes it clear that the Afghan people do not look kindly on foreign armies. The press is already reporting that the decision to send more troops is encouraging Taliban leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan to unite to fight us. I'm also concerned about the cost of sending more troops, the cost in both lives and treasure. It will require a 60 percent increase in military spending at a time when our economy right here at home is suffering so badly. That's why, Madam Speaker, now is the time to take a deep breath. Now is the time to pause to consider whether there are other alternatives to sending our troops to Afghanistan. To help with this, the Congressional Progressive Caucus has put together a series of forums on Afghanistan and Pakistan. The purpose of these forums is to engage Members of the House in discussions about our policy options. The forums feature leading experts on Central Asia. In fact, the first forum was last week, and it examined the history and cultures of the Afghan people. The upcoming forums will examine American strategic interests in Afghanistan and the northwest border of Pakistan, the role and goals of our military in that region, the problems that a comprehensive strategy of Afghanistan should address, our policies toward Afghanistan in the context of Pakistan, and the development of an international diplomatic strategy for the region. I invite all Members of the House to attend these forums. They are nonpartisan. They're nonideological, and they offer different perspectives and different ideas, because now is the time to explore our choices in Central Asia and to work with the administration to develop the most effective policies. That is what the American people expect us to do, and that is what we must do in the days ahead.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 25, 2009, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my vote for Rollcall No. 151. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 151--``yes''--Providing for the consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 146, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, the Obama administration is finalizing its strategy for Afghanistan, and it may announce the results of its war review in the next few days. President Obama inherited the situation in Afghanistan. He is a leader who prefers diplomacy over war. The United States is organizing an international conference on Afghanistan to reach out to the international community for their help. And there is talk about sending a civilian surge, a surge of experts in such areas as agriculture, reconstruction, rebuilding, and education to Afghanistan, all very positive steps. Since President Obama, however, has said that he will send at least 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan and possibly more, I am deeply concerned. It will take years, and it will take a lot of blood and treasure to fight a war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It could bog us down and distract us from our enormous domestic problems right here at home. It could cost us lives. It would cost us economic treasure, and it would cost us, actually it would leave our reputation, international reputation in tatters. Our 6-year occupation of Iraq, which continues, as I speak, has been a disaster that we absolutely must learn from. Using military force to solve problems that don't have a military solution doesn't work. Foreign occupation doesn't work. According to a new Army report, there are still over 100 attacks per week on our troops in Iraq. Another occupation, Madam Speaker, halfway around the world, raises serious questions that Congress needs an answer to. So last month, I joined my colleagues, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and since we wrote a particular letter to the President and sent it, 10 other Members have signed on, and we're going to send that letter on to him also, raising these issues. We and the others made six recommendations. These recommendations are: 1. Ask Congress for a clear authorization for the use for military force in Afghanistan and Pakistan; 2. Define the goals objectives and benefits of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan; 3. Determine the human and financial resources needed to carry out our efforts; 4. Develop a timeline for the redeployment of our troops and military contractors out of Afghanistan; 5. Clearly describe the role of NATO, the United Nations and other international partners; 6. And finally, meet the immediate humanitarian and economic needs of the Afghan people. Madam Speaker, these six steps offer a good blueprint for avoiding a repeat of the mistakes that the United States made in Iraq. We need nation building, not empire building, because the way to defeat our enemies is to help the Afghan people to rebuild their country and to give them hope for a better future. Schools and roads will win us more hearts and minds than bombs and bullets. And a new foreign policy, based on conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance, is the most responsible and smartest way for us to achieve our goals in the Middle East and Central Asia. I hope that President Obama's new plan for Afghanistan will reflect this strategy and these values, because if we don't learn from our Iraq experience, we are doomed to repeat it.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 182) expressing support for designation of the week of March 1 through March 8, 2009, as ``School Social Work Week''.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 182 into the Record.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 182, a resolution to recognize the week of March 1 through March 8, 2009, as National School Social Work Week. School social workers, Mr. Speaker, have long played a critical role in schools and the community as a whole. They are professionals who work with children to address their emotional, mental, social and developmental needs. School social workers help students build their confidence as learners, which is particularly important for elementary students who are just starting out on their academic careers. During middle school, students face what is often a difficult transition from childhood to adolescence. For these students, school social workers help engage teachers, administrators, parents and students in the delivery of programs and services to help those students navigate these challenges and achieve success. In high school, students begin exploring and defining their independence. These students face additional challenges along the way, including pressure to participate in risky behavior. School social workers help them with navigating these difficult decisions. On top of this, school social workers must be responsive to the range of challenges that young people face every day, such as poverty, disability, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, divorce of parents, loss of a loved one and other barriers to learning. School social workers are also on the front lines when disaster strikes, such as the Southern California wildfires, such as Hurricane Katrina or 9/ 11. There is a growing need for school districts to expand their support services in schools. Less than one in five of the 17.5 million children in need of mental health services actually receive them. Many students go underserved, primarily because the national average ratio of students to school social workers is far beneath the 400 to 1 ratio recommended by the School Social Work Association of America. Mr. Speaker, this resolution serves to recognize the importance of the school social worker and acknowledge the priceless role that they play in guiding our students' success in the ever changing world of the 21st century. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize for 5 minutes the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

Ms. WOOLSEY. I am ready to close, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support Congressman Kennedy's absolutely important legislation, H. Res. 182, that recognizes the week of March 1 through 8 as National School Social Work Week. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Gary Lewis Morgan of Sonoma County, California, who passed away January 16, 2009, at the age of 55. Gary was a loving father to his son James and a loving friend to Emmie Morgan, his ex-wife, James' mother, and a member of my staff. Born in the San Fernando Valley in 1953, Gary grew up there and attended Monroe High School where he excelled as a gymnast and as a barbershop quartet singer, a passion he later introduced to James. In 1975, Gary graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in graphic design and a job designing ads for the Yellow Pages. He met Emmie at the home of a mutual friend and immediately offered to read her palm. As Emmie says, this ``involved some holding of the hand. After that, he was telling people about this wonderful woman he met named Emarah. That was our joke, and he still often called me that.'' They married in 1983, and their son James was born in March, 1985. Emmie recalls how ``the morning after he was born, Gar came to the hospital in striped suspenders and a button that said, `Kids Are People, Too.' He loved being Jamie's Dad.'' Looking for the best place to raise Jamie, they moved to Sonoma County in 1986. Gary became well known there as a singer, muralist, and multimedia artist whose work includes statues, flags, and stained glass panels. One of his statues was purchased by the Queen of England, and a flag he designed was flown at the Washington Monument for the 1976 Bicentennial. Gary's murals appear in various sites around Sonoma County, including Harmony School, an elementary school in Occidental. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to see this mural with Gary and talk with him about the creation of it. He was selected through an interview process that included students, and he made sure to seek their input as he developed the design. Of course, he had to listen to the teachers, too, so when one of them said, ``Hey, there has to be a book somewhere,'' he made sure he gave the dragon by the tree something to read. Gary's musical abilities were evident in his beautiful voice, and he sang in three local choirs--the Occidental Community Choir, the Sufi Choir, and the Center for Spiritual Living's One Heart Choir. His musical talents were clearly passed to Jarmie, but it was Gary's (and Emmie's) nurturing that also helped James grow into a fine young man. He is currently a student at Sacramento State University and will enter the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the fall, which would have made his father very proud. One of Gary's other interests was metaphysics, the study of what lies beyond the physical world, and this interest was a comfort to him in his times of trouble. In addition to Emmie and James, Gary is survived by his siblings Gale and Bryan, his mother Barbara, and his long-time friend, Zan Spencer. Madam Speaker, Gary Morgan's life touched many people. As Emmie Morgan stated, ``He was an amazingly kind, authentic, sincere, honest human being. Every person I've talked to tells me they were close to him, even people who met him only once.'' That is a testament to Gary Morgan's character that makes me proud to honor him today.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 77) recognizing and honoring the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of the legislation authorizing the establishment of collegiate programs at Gallaudet University.