Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution, and I also thank Congresswoman Foxx for her support in all of these bills that have come before us this afternoon. It is so important that together on both sides of the aisle and that we understand the urgency of the resolution like Congressman Courtney's resolution today. Child abuse should be something we talk about and think about every day, every minute, every second. There should never be a time when we don't worry about the little children in our country and in our world and what adults do to them. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution to make sure we bring it to the attention of those around the country, not just this month, but every month following.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, yesterday as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I participated in one of the Petraeus-Crocker hearings. Sadly, it was just more of the same. We heard doubletalk and nuanced excuse. The American people and the Congress demand more. This is not the punchline on some late night comedy news show. This is the blood and treasure of our Nation. And now the Administration has its hand out for another blank check, over $1 billion rumor has it. This Congress should remain firm in its opposition to an open-ended occupation which is neither making America safer nor providing any real hope for the Iraqi people. Just a few months ago, Madam Speaker, our esteemed Appropriations Chairman, Mr. Obey, introduced, and this House passed, a bill that clearly stated the position of a majority of Americans. With bipartisan support, the bill stated, the primary purpose of funds made available by this Act should be to transition the mission of United States Armed Forces in Iraq and undertake their redeployment and not to extend or prolong the war. A line has been drawn in the sand. The bar was raised, and we will not step back from this. From so-called blue states to red states, from east coast to west, from the deep south to the midwest, on to the great plain states, people are fed up. They overwhelmingly, time after time, demand that we end our occupation of Iraq, bring our troops home and that we also bring military contractors home and reaffirm our support of the Iraqi people by funding reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. Our assistance should come through diplomacy. Actually through a handshake, not at the point of a gun. What is the best way to help the Iraqi people? By occupying their land or by lending a hand? As I said many, many times, I represent the most beautiful and most progressive congressional district. Every day my constituents make me proud to represent such amazing people. My own community has collected supplies for the troops, has donated to aid agencies and has gone the extra distance by giving straight from the heart. One such example is Dominican University in Marin County. They've offered free schooling to Iraqi refugees. As part of the Iraqi Student Project, they will receive tuition and fee waivers. It may not seem like much to some, but I can tell you, this generous gift will change lives. Our communities can make these small but priceless gestures. But the real work lies here under the Dome. We have the support of the American people, the Iraqis, and the world community. We can't wait until next year. We can't wait until the next decade or the next century. So as this spending bill comes together, Americans want to know that their voices are being heard and, most importantly, heeded. We must stand strong. We must steel our spines. In November, the House of Representatives said that the primary purpose of all of those Federal dollars was a safe and orderly redeployment. The administration disagreed saying it won't back down. We will consider spending over $1 billion on the Iraq occupation in the coming weeks, Madam Speaker. I, for one, welcome the debate.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on April 8, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall No. 161-163. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 161--``yea''--Congratulating the Army Reserve on its centennial. Rollcall No. 162--``yea''--The Wakefield Act. Rollcall No. 163--``yea''--Reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this important resolution. On Monday, activists spread a huge banner across the Golden Gate Bridge reading ``One World. One Dream. Free Tibet.'' I think we can all learn from these powerful words. China's crackdown on the Tibetan people has reminded us that human rights violations are an all too common part of life under Chinese rule. As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I believe China must engage in an open dialogue with the Dalai Lama that respects the independent national identity of the Tibetan people. However, China's violent oppression of these peaceful protestors only shows their refusal to reach a solution to this crisis. Additionally, China has refused to end its support for the Government of Sudan, continuing to invest in its corrupt leaders. Unfortunately, China's support has helped prolong the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. We cannot expect China to lead the international community by hosting the Olympic games when it continues to show a lack of respect for fundamental human rights. Our President and all American travelers must seriously reflect on whether to support the Beijing Olympic games in any way because our country must never support those who stand in the way of peace and freedom.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with particular pleasure today to honor the sesquicentennial of my hometown of Petaluma, California, which has not only a special place in my heart, but a unique place in history over the past 150 years. My political career began in Petaluma when I was elected to the city council. I raised my four children in this picturesque town with its lovely rural surroundings, and now they are raising their children here. It is a warm and friendly place to call home, and despite its growing population, people still walk down the streets and smile and wave and greet each other by first name. Petaluma's recent history evolved from its position at the head of a tidal estuary. This location made it a natural shipping center for moving goods from fertile Sonoma County down to San Francisco in the years before the Golden Gate Bridge was built. Consequently, it prospered through the 19th century. But what put Petaluma on the map and made it famous in the early 20th century was the 1875 invention of the chick incubator by local farmers, Isaac Dias and Lyman Byce. According to local historian and former newspaper editor Katie Watts, the incubator and Petaluma's mild climate made it a natural spot for raising chickens. On the advice of a public relations whiz, Bert Kerrigan, town leaders capitalized on this speciality, dubbing Petaluma ``The World's Egg Basket.'' What's more, in 1918, Kerrigan prevailed on Congress to create a National Egg Day, August 13, 1918, with Petaluma as the epicenter. Everything became related to eggs--instead of receiving the keys to the city, esteemed visitors were inaugurated into the Order of the Cluck Clucks and given a bouquet, not of flowers, but of dressed chickens. The town colors were even yellow and white. And while parades in other cities featured floats carrying a contingent of young ladies in prom dresses, in Petaluma, they wore chicken costumes and handed out eggs. The scheme worked and Petaluma became the wealthiest city of its size in the country. ``Civic pride was enormous,'' Watts says. ``Showplace homes were built, many of which are still standing.'' The egg business slowly faded in the 1930s and 40s, and after waterway shipping was replaced by truck transport, Petaluma drifted into a sleepy decline. Watts explains that ``Attempts to modernize in the 1950s and 60s were mostly short-circuited by the fact the city determined not to tear down fine old buildings and replace them with parking lots and corrugated plastic.'' Although chickens gave way to the cows and sheep that now dot the green hills around the city, Petaluma remains connected to its rural heritage by supporting a growing farmstead cheese industry. But Petaluma is also firmly in the 21st century. Having been at the heart of Telecom Valley during the dotcom boom, it attracted tech and bio-tech companies, with many continuing to move here, drawn by the fertile business climate. Petaluma's civic pride extends to the care of its citizens--there is a model homeless shelter and a noted housing program for the economically disadvantaged. Current environmental policies reflect the city's pioneering work in the first slow-growth ordinances in the U.S. Protecting the environment remains a priority for Petalumans. For example, in 1983, students from Petaluma's Casa Grande High School founded United Anglers with the mission of bringing Adobe Creek back to life. Since then, they have raised more than half a million dollars and built a state-of-the-art fish hatchery, the only one nationwide on a high school campus. Their program has served as a worldwide model for ecology and watershed reclamation. Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of Petaluma, and I ask that you join me in congratulating them on their accomplishments of the past 150 years and wishing them the best for the future.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is the 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was one of the world's greatest champions of peace. He said, ``We must find an alternative to war and bloodshed.'' He often quoted President Kennedy, who said, ``Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.'' Unfortunately, the administration today seems to have a different point of view when it comes to war. Take, for example, President Bush's video conference with our military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan last month. The President told them the following, and I quote: ``I must say, I'm a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines in Afghanistan. It must be exciting for you, in some ways romantic, confronting danger.'' Mr. Speaker, I am shocked that the Commander-in-Chief believes that war is some sort of romantic adventure. It isn't. War is hell. War, as President Kennedy said, could put an end to all mankind. Just ask the millions of Iraqis who have been forced to flee their homes since our occupation of their country began over 5 years ago. The U.N. recently reported that the number of internally displaced Iraqis has soared to more than 2.77 million people. More than a million of them do not have adequate shelter. More than 300,000 of them do not have access to clean water. Another 2 million Iraqis have been forced to become refugees in other countries, where they're called guests. And the conditions are as bad, or worse, because guests cannot go to work in a foreign country. Life isn't very good for Iraqis who have stayed at home either. ABC News has reported that sizable majorities of Iraqis say they don't have electricity, they don't have fuel, clean water, medical care, or jobs. And if anyone still thinks that war is a romantic adventure, I urge them to learn about an organization called Iraq Veterans Against the War. Recently, this group held a 4-day conference where veterans of the conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan spoke about their experiences. These veterans gave very frank accounts of the bloodshed and destruction that they experienced or saw with their own eyes. Their descriptions of combat are heartbreaking. They are too graphic to describe here. Let me just say that they do not agree with their Commander-in-Chief that their time on the front lines was a fantastic experience. It was more like a living nightmare that may be with them forever. Anyone who is interested can see videos of these veterans' testimony on the Internet. There you will see brave young American men and women who went into the military because they wanted to make our country and the world safer. They were ready to sacrifice their lives for that cause. But when they saw the consequences and the inconsistencies and the horrors of this war, they decided to speak out. They are men and women of conscience who now oppose policy in Iraq because of the harm that it is doing to that country, to its people, and to our own military. That, Mr. Speaker, is why we must move forward with the responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. The administration will never do it, obviously. They've seen too many John Wayne movies, and must think that war is exciting, it must be romantic, something to be envied, because that's what they say. So it is up to us in Congress to use our power of the purse to say, we will give you the money to safely bring our troops out, but we will not, we will not give you another penny to continue this occupation. Two-thirds of the American people, Mr. Speaker, think that the occupation was wrong to begin with. They're right. So let us honor Dr. Martin Luther King. Let us honor the American people by doing what they know is right. End it.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness and respect today, along with Congresswoman Barbara Lee, to honor Hayganoush Markarian, a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, who passed away recently at the age of 105. Hayganoush was one of the few survivors of the Armenian Genocide of the early 20th century, so it further saddens me that she died without the government of Turkey, from where she fled, or the government of the U.S., where she found refuge, officially recognizing that Genocide. Much has been said about the facts and numbers and statistics. We know that in Turkey between 1915 and 1921, 1.5 million Armenians died-- 80 percent of the population. But it is women like Hayganoush who put a human face on the Armenian Genocide and remind us that we are talking about actual people whose lives were lost or whose homes and families were destroyed. Hayganoush Markarian was born on January 24, 1902, in the historic Armenian city of Kharpert, which suffered huge losses in the Armenian Genocide. She lived with her parents, older brother, and four sisters. When the Turks came after her father and brother, both went into hiding--her brother dressed as a girl in order to safely cross dangerous areas and her father initially hid in the well at their home and later with Kurdish friends. Her mother somehow saved the family from the deportations and massacres and re-united with her husband briefly after World War I, before he died as a result of the damp conditions in the wells he had hidden in for such long periods. In 1923, the remainder of the family made their way to Syria, where Hayganoush married Markar Markarian in 1925. The Markarians later moved to Lebanon and eventually the United States. In both Syria and Lebanon, Hayganoush was an active member of the Armenian Relief Society, the oldest Armenian women's organization operating in the world. Hayganoush resided in Oakland until her death in March of this year at the age of 105. She had prayed she would live to see the day when she and other victims of the Armenian Genocide would see the Genocide officially recognized both here and in Turkey. Madam Speaker, although Hayganoush's prayer was not granted, she did see such a resolution pass the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives last fall. I am proud to be a cosponsor of that resolution, and I look forward to the day when the U.S. government officially recognizes the Genocide. Hayganoush Markarian's story will serve as a reminder to us of the sanctity of human life in Armenia and around the world.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of 5501 and to congratulate our new chairman of the International Relations Committee and to thank our chairman and to thank our Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, and particularly congratulate the chairman of the Africa and Global Health Care Subcommittee for writing a bill that clearly reaffirms Congress' commitment to healthy communities, this time with the focus overseas. As a member of the subcommittee, I'm especially pleased that this bill supports maternal health, orphans, and vulnerable children. Today, in Africa and throughout the world, children are losing their parents to the AIDS epidemic. These same kids will grow up too soon. They will be forced to become caregivers to their own siblings, leaving school, joining the underage workforce, praying that they are not the next in line for the graveyard. In a world as prosperous as our own, Madam Chairman, it is absolutely unacceptable that this could be happening anywhere. But this bill actually continues our promise to rid the planet of this plague. This bill offers real hope. We invest in treatment, but most importantly, it works towards prevention. Like many of my colleagues, I'm disappointed that conservative forces pushed to reduce the Reproductive Health Initiative, but the overall result will actually be remarkable. And most importantly, it will be life saving. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for H.R. 5501 to make this a better place to live in worldwide.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, when the American death toll in Iraq hit 4,000 on March 23, there was a great deal of coverage about it in the media. But the media only seems to care about the death toll when it reaches a special milestone. But now that the number of dead has reached 4,012, they have packed up their cameras, they have gone back to ignoring Iraq. Once again, our brave soldiers are dying in virtual anonymity, surely paying the highest price. Here at home, the administration's occupation policies are harming American people in other ways. I am talking about the millions of Americans who are suffering because we are spending our Nation's treasure in Iraq rather than on vitally-needed social and economic programs here at home. We're spending about $4,600 every second on the occupation, or about $12 billion a month. Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize winning economist, has calculated that the occupation will ultimately cost $3 trillion, and that, Mr. Speaker, is a conservative estimate. And it will certainly cost a whole lot more if the administration gets its way and we establish permanent bases in Iraq or the others get their way and we remain involved in Iraq for 50 to 100 years. This enormous drain on our resources has buried us so deeply in debt that we cannot make investments in the programs that would really move our Nation forward. Just think of what we could do with all of those trillions of dollars. We could invest in the education of the 48 million children in our public schools. We could prepare them to compete and win in the global economy. We could invest in early childhood education and the childcare that millions of poor and middle-class families so desperately need. We could invest in the medical research needed to cure disease and to save millions of Americans from needless suffering and from premature death. We could invest in our infrastructure and new green technologies which could produce millions of jobs around our Nation. We could produce an economic stimulus package to fulfill remaining unmet needs. We could help States and cities to provide their first responders with the equipment they need to save lives in the event of terrorism or natural disasters. We could build more affordable housing and assist those who have been caught up in the mortgage meltdown. We could provide health care to our citizens, starting with SCHIP for our children. We could move to ensure the solvency of Social Security. We could invest in global health. As a member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, I can tell you that every single dollar spent on global health is a dollar spent to make our world more peaceful and stable. These are just a few examples, Mr. Speaker. We couldn't do them all, but if we did just a few, we would go much further toward safeguarding our national security than we are currently doing in Iraq. I hope my colleagues will remember this when General Petraeus arrives next week with his bar charts and statistics. Let us remember that the turmoil in the Middle East is helping to spike gas prices at the pump. It is leading us deeper and deeper into the effects of the Iraq recession. The responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq is the one policy that makes sense, and the one policy that the great majority of the American people support. It is high time for us to do what the American people expect us to do, and they expect us to end our occupation of Iraq.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, today is April the 1st, a day that also goes by the nickname April Fool's Day. For most of us, this is a day of trickery that only comes once a year. For the White House, it is a day that comes all too often. The mistruths, the lies, the deceptions, whatever you want to call them, keep flowing out of the White House and from its cronies. Just the other day, our very own ambassador to Iraq said, and I quote him, ``I think there has to be an honest discussion of the consequences of Iraq.'' An honest discussion. Now? Why didn't the administration do that 5 years ago, I ask you? Just now we need to put on our thinking caps and get serious about Iraq? We are in the sixth year of this occupation, and Ambassador Crocker thinks now is the time to contemplate what is going to happen in Iraq? This is far beyond a day late and a dollar short. They are 5 years late and one-half trillion dollars short. But this never ending April Fool's Day goes on and on. How about these oldies but goodies: In July 2002, then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld had a one- word answer for reporters who asked whether Iraq had relationships with al Qaeda terrorists. His answer was, ``Sure.'' Vice President Dick Cheney in August 2002 simply stated, ``There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.'' On January 28, 2003, in his annual State of the Union, the President asserted that the British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. He continued, ``Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production.'' The administration, which has racked up one-half trillion dollars in debt, even made the claim that Iraqi oil would pay for the war and that we would be met with cheers and flowers. Remember that old proverb: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. But, you know what? The American people were not fooled by these statements, and this Congress mustn't be fooled, either. That is why 92 Members of this House have sent a clear message to the President. We signed a letter stating that we will not support any more blank checks. In fact, we said we will only support appropriating additional funds for U.S. military operations in Iraq during fiscal year 2008 and beyond for the protection and safe redeployment of our troops out of Iraq before President Bush leaves office. There is absolutely nothing funny about these tricks that the administration has played on this Nation. April Fool's Day ends today. We must not take any more nonsense from the White House, and we must not sign one more blank check.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure today to honor a leader in my district who has done so much to help the terminally ill and their families face end-of-life issues. Mary Taverna is retiring after more than 30 years with the organization now known as Hospice By the Bay. She leaves behind an enduring legacy of hope and compassion to the people of Marin County, the San Francisco Bay area, and across the United States. When she first began working as a nurse, Mary was concerned about the terminally ill and the lack of adequate care, so it was a natural step in 1976 for her to join what was then Hospice of Marin, which had been founded the previous year. At that time Hospice of Marin was only the second hospice in the United States, the first on the West Coast, and most Americans were unaware of what the hospice mission was. In fact, even the health care industry resisted it. Mary was instrumental in changing all that, teaching that hospice was a specially designed program to address the comprehensive needs of the whole family system at the end of life, and that it was part of--not instead of--the health care support team. Two years after coming to Hospice of Mann, Mary became president of the organization. Under her leadership, Hospice nurtured community relationships as well as they did the families they served, including building a partnership with management of both county hospitals. Hospice of Marin is such a model that health care providers come here for training from all parts of the United States. ``I feel a great sense of pride in our organization's leadership and participation in hospice history,'' Mary once said. ``Twenty-five years ago, we never imagined the number of Americans who would be touched by our efforts.'' A recognized expert and leader of the hospice movement, Mary helped pioneer the advocacy efforts for legislation that led to the introduction in Congress of the Medicare Hospice Benefit in 1982. This bill provided public health care insurance coverage for hospice services, allowing clients to receive compassionate care and hospices to sustain themselves financially. In 1986, the Medicare Hospice Benefit became permanent, eventually leading to private insurance coverage, as well. To further ensure the sustainability of hospice care in Marin County, in 1997, Mary helped create--and became the president of--the Hospice of Marin Foundation. The foundation's mission is to provide philanthropic support to Hospice operations. Both the foundation and the hospice programs continued to grow, and over the past few years expanded into San Francisco and Sonoma counties, as well. Consequently, Hospice of Marin no longer described the organization and 2 years ago, the name was changed to Hospice By the Bay. ``In recent years, we were invited into our neighboring communities to share our experience and resources with other hospice communities,'' Mary said of the change, adding that it evolved from a desire to be more inclusive of the bay area, rather than imply a geographic exclusivity. And truly, there has not been a geographic exclusivity to the effects of Mary's work. The National Hospice Organization in 1995 named her ``the individual who has done the most for hospice in the national and international level.'' Since then, she has been selected to help guide that organization as chair of its board of directors. Madam Speaker, Mary Taverna's dedication to hospice services, her leadership of Hospice By the Bay and her continued work as chair of the board of the National Hospice Organization have left an indelible mark not only on the Sixth District and the San Francisco Bay area, but on areas throughout the United States. And that is why, Madam Speaker, I honor Mary Taverna on her retirement after more than 30 years of service to a cause forever in her debt.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, March was the 20th Annual National Women's History Month. That is why I am so pleased to introduce H. Res. 1021, a resolution to recognize and honor this National Women's History Celebration. In America, women were once considered second-class citizens, whose rights were restricted from voting to property ownership, actually. But here we are today; one woman is a major candidate for President of our Nation and another woman is Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sadly, until the late 1970s, women's history wasn't taught in many of our schools, and was almost completely absent in media coverage and cultural celebrations. That is why the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, which I chaired, initiated a Women's History Week Celebration in 1978. This celebration centered around International Women's History Day. The National Women's History Project, located in my district, was founded in 1980 by many dedicated women who poured their hearts and their ideas into promoting and expanding the weeklong celebration. With the help of several dedicated women, including Mary Ruthsdotter, Molly Murphy MacGregor, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett, and Betty Morgan, thousands of schools and communities joined in the commemoration of Women's History Week by bringing specific lessons on women's achievements into the classroom, by staging parades to engage neighborhoods in the celebration. Their hard work, their dedication paid off. The celebration started a national movement. And in 1981, Congress responded to the growing popularity of Women's History Week by making it a national observance and eventually expanding the week to a month in 1987. Imagine what American history lessons would be today without the inclusion of Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad operation, or Mary Katherine Goddard, who was the first person to print the Declaration of Independence with the names of all the signers included. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in reaffirming our commitment to the celebration of women's history by supporting H. Res. 1021 that will ensure that our grandchildren and our great grandchildren learn and care about women like Amelia Earhart and eventually of course the first woman President. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Waxman, I want to thank Ranking Member Davis, and Chairman Davis for supporting this resolution, as they have continually supported the efforts of all women. Supporting this resolution will make it impossible to study American history without remembering the contributions of women as well. So I thank you all.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I'm really glad to be back in the House. I've been away for over 6 weeks because of back surgery. I've been patched up, and I'm going to be just fine. I'm not worried about myself. But I'm worried, and I hope every Member of the House is worried about the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers and civilians who have been injured in the conflict in Iraq. Nearly 30,000, probably many, many more of our brave troops have been wounded. Many have injuries that will rack their bodies and their minds for the rest of their lives. Yet Vice President Cheney said last week that President Bush carries the biggest burden of this conflict. Tell that to the widows and widowers, Mr. Vice President. Tell that to the families who have been devastated by the injuries to their loved ones. Tell that to the children who see their mother or father in a hospital bed without a limb or with a terrible head wound. Tell that to the veterans who have not gotten the care they need and the care they deserve, the care we promised them. One of our soldiers in Iraq, Lieutenant Sean Walsh, wrote a piece for Time magazine recently about the human costs of the occupation. He wrote that his fellow soldiers have become his family and that three of them have died. And he asked the question, ``What is worth the lives of three of your loved ones?'' It is a good question. And so I would like to ask every Member of this House who supports the occupation the very same question: Is our occupation of Iraq worth the lives of three of your loved ones? We must also remember the Iraq civilians who have been injured. We seem to forget them, and that is truly a disgrace. According to the best estimates, anywhere from 80,000 to 150,000 civilians have been injured. And the real number, the real number is certainly much, much higher. What kind of health care are they, the Iraqi civilians, getting? The International Committee of the Red Cross reported last month that public hospitals in Iraq now provide 30,000 beds. Mr. Speaker, that is less than half of the 80,000 that are needed. In addition, 2,200 doctors and nurses have been killed since the year 2003, and another 250 have been kidnapped. And the current conflict has worsened the impact of the previous war and the years of international sanctions. Of the 34,000 doctors registered in Iraq in 1990, 20,000 have fled the country, some by choice and others by force. What about their burden, Mr. Vice President? Meanwhile, the administration continues to play its cynical game with troop levels. It is clear that the administration intends to keep 140,000 troops in Iraq until it leaves office in order to put an artificial lid on this violence. That way, the outgoing administration can say that it improved the security situation and that we are on the road to victory in Iraq. But the truth is, all that has been achieved is a temporary military and political stalemate, new explosions of violence coming as I stand here speaking on the floor of the House of Representatives. And while we continue to be bogged down in a civil war in Iraq, a conflict that began centuries before 9/11, the real enemy, al Qaeda, grows stronger in its cozy, safe haven in Pakistan. The administration is often criticized for not having an exit strategy in Iraq. But in my view, the reason the President never had an exit strategy is because he never intended to exit Iraq. Permanent occupation has always been his game plan. So, Mr. Speaker, it's up to the Congress to implement the will of the American people and end the occupation with a responsible redeployment of our troops. The best way to honor those who have died or have been injured in this occupation is to ensure that more won't die and more won't be injured. That is why I will continue to speak up for our brave troops and for the innocent Iraqis who are, despite what the Vice President may think, the ones who are carrying the biggest burden.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 12, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 135-142. Had I been present I would have voted: rollcall No. 135--``yes''--On Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair; rollcall No. 136--``yes''--On Approving the Journal; rollcall No. 137--``yes''-- Kilpatrick of Michigan Substitute Amendment; rollcall No. 138-- ``yes''--Lee of California Substitute Amendment; rollcall No. 139-- ``present''--Call of the House; rollcall No. 140--``no''--Ryan of Wisconsin Substitute Amendment; rollcall No. 141--``yes''--Revising the congressional Budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013; and rollcall No. 142--``yes''--Recognizing the exceptional sacrifice of the 69th Infantry Regiment, known as the Fighting 69th, in support of the Global War on Terror.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor a visionary, diplomat, activist, and advocate for peace on the occasion of her receipt of the 2008 Jack Green Civil Liberties Award by the American Civil Liberties Union of Sonoma County. Elizabeth Stinson's work with the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County and her lifetime dedication to human rights have left an enduring legacy. In 2001, after several years work with the United Nations, where she still retains a position with the UN's International Indigenous Forum, Elizabeth became director of the Peace and Justice Center, helping those Sonoma County residents who are victims of our Nation's most challenging conflicts. In Santa Rosa, for example, Elizabeth has mediated inter-gang disputes while leading campaigns to end escalating local violence. In 2002, recognizing the need to provide youth with nonviolent choices, she founded the High School Outreach Peace Education, or HOPE, project to educate them about their rights as students, their rights regarding the military, and service learning and internship opportunities. In addition, through Elizabeth's coordination with courts in three counties, the Peace and Justice Center was established as an authorized diversion program provider for convicted and at-risk teens and young adults. Under her direction, the Peace and Justice Center has also gained national attention for supporting troops who need a military separation for reasons such as untreated combat-related trauma, repeated deployments, recruiter misrepresentations, and other compelling mental and physical issues. Since the beginning of the occupation of Iraq 5 years ago, Elizabeth and her team of volunteers at the center have successfully negotiated 850 administrative discharges. Elizabeth's work continues to have national effect as she provides counseling support to troops testifying at the Winter Soldier hearings in D.C. At an upcoming GI national retreat, she will conduct training on post-traumatic stress for hotline counselors. Aside from her lifelong international work for human rights, Elizabeth is mother to three adult children and Sanctuary Mom to five, whose father was executed by death squads after helping to found El Salvador's Human Rights Commission. Madam Speaker, Elizabeth's commitment to the rights of the vulnerable has rightly earned her the 2008 Jack Green Civil Liberties Award. I am honored to have Elizabeth Stinson as my constituent. I commend her for her work and for the well-deserved award being bestowed on her by the ACLU of Sonoma County.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 14, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for Rollcall No. 143-146. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 143--Yes--Providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3773) to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 144--Yes--Providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3773) to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 145--Yes--To amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 146--Yes--On Approving the Journal.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member. I would like to respond quickly to the ``no public review.'' This bill has been subject to over 3 years of public review. It first faced public scrutiny at a public hearing that I hosted in August of 2004, in Sonoma County, was attended by the Director of the Marine Sanctuary Program, marine scientists, fishermen, and a standing room-only crowd of public who were interested. It has been reviewed and endorsed by both the Sanctuary Advisory Committees, the bodies who initiate sanctuary regulations; the California Coastal Commission, the State Lands Commission, and the Supervisors of Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, and Mendocino Counties, and many, many of our City Councils. All of these meetings were noticed, all of them were open to public comment. The bill also received a hearing before the Oceans Subcommittee, and has gone through committee and subcommittee markup. So thank you for bringing that up so I could clarify that, Mr. Ranking Member. Madam Speaker, my district, just across the Golden Gate Bridge, north of San Francisco, includes all of Marin and most of Sonoma Counties, where we are blessed with many environmental treasures. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I don't say that just because I am the Congresswoman from that area. It is beautiful. One of the reasons for this source of beauty and our great pride is our pristine coastline and the Pacific Ocean that lies beyond it. An area this unique must be protected by the full power of our conservation laws. That is why I am pleased that H.R. 1187, the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act, is here before us today. H.R. 1187 will expand the boundaries of two existing marine sanctuaries in order to more fully protect a unique upwelling system, which is one of only four in the world. This system provides a nutrient rich environment for fish and all other types of marine life. Upwelling is a process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich waters rise into warmer waters, bringing with it an abundance of food to support a variety of marine life. Actually this area is so special and it is so productive that it comprises only 1 percent of the ocean, but produces 20 percent of the world's fish. This in turn supports 36 species of marine mammals, including whales, elephant seals, sea lions and other seals. But it is not only marine mammals who feast on the abundance of fish. The waters off the Sonoma and Mendocino County coasts support fleets of fishermen. That is why I worked so closely with the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishing Associations, the PCFFA, in carefully crafting this bill. Fishermen have had a good relationship with the Gulf of the Farallones and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary for over 20 years because they respect that good stewardship of our oceans produces better catches. H.R. 1187 will serve to strengthen this partnership for years and years to come. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1187 is a well thought out, carefully crafted bill that brings together diverse stakeholders, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, the fishing industry, State and local governments, conservation groups and marine scientists, all who agree that these proposed sanctuary areas are national treasures that absolutely deserve protection. As a mother and a grandmother, I want to see these treasures protected for years to come so that my kids, so that my grandkids, and so that their children and your children and your grandchildren will be able to enjoy the same unspoiled coasts and clean waters that we enjoy today. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Rahall, Ranking Member Young and Chairwoman Bordallo for bringing my bill to the floor today. I would like to thank Chairman Kennedy and Ranking Member Bishop, all who have been part of reviewing and bringing H.R. 1187 to the floor. I thank you all, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 12, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for Rollcall Nos. 124-134. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 124--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 125--``no''--Resolution Raising a Question of the Privileges of the House. Rollcall No. 126--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 127--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 128--``yes''--On Motion to Table the Resolution. Rollcall No. 129--``yes''--Providing for the consideration of H. Con. Res. 312, Congressional Budget for the U.S. Government for Fiscal Year 2009. Rollcall No. 130--``yes''--Providing for the consideration of H. Con. Res. 312, Congressional Budget for the U.S. Government for Fiscal Year 2009. Rollcall No. 131--``yes''--Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act. Rollcall No. 132--``yes''--Providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses. Rollcall No. 133--``yes''--Honoring the 200th anniversary of the Gallatin Report on Roads and Canals, celebrating the national unity the Gallatin Report engendered, and recognizing the vast contributions that national planning efforts have provided to the United States. Rollcall No. 134--``yes''--To temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 10, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 111-123. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 111--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 112--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 113--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 114--``no''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 115--``yes''--Congratulating Iowa State University of Science and Technology for 150 years of leadership and service. Rollcall No. 116--``yes''--On Motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair. Rollcall No. 117--``yes''--The Intelligence Authorization Act of 2008. Rollcall No. 118--``yes''--Congratulating the University of Kansas football team for winning the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl and having the most successful year in program history. Rollcall No. 119--``yes''--Congratulating the women's water polo team of the University of California, Los Angeles, for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Water Polo National Championship, and congratulating UCLA on its I00th NCAA sports national title, making it the most accomplished athletic program in NCAA history. Rollcall No. 120--``yes''--On Motion to Adjourn. Rollcall No. 121--``yes''--Providing for the adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 895) establishing within the House of Representatives an Office of Congressional Ethics, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 122--``no''--Providing for the adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 895) establishing within the House of Representatives an Office of Congressional Ethics, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 123--``yes''--On Motion to Adjourn.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 10, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 108-110. Had I been present I would have voted: rollcall No. 108--``yea''--National 9-1-1 Education Month; rollcall No. 109--``yea''--E. Arthur Gray Post Office Building; rollcall No. 110--``yea''--Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex Post Office Building.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 6, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 103-107. Had I been present I would have voted: rollcall No. 103--``yes''-- Providing for consideration of H.R. 2857, to reauthorize and reform the national service laws; rollcall No. 104--``yes''--Providing for consideration of H.R. 2857, to reauthorize and reform the national service laws; rollcall No. 105--``no''--Flake of Arizona Amendment; rollcall No. 106--``yes''--Inslee of Washington Amendment; rollcall No. 107--``yes''--Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education ``GIVE'' Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, Despite the fact that 44 million Americans suffer from mental health disorders, a majority of health care plans continue to treat mental health differently than physical health. These plans discriminate against those with mental health disorders by imposing financial limitations and treatment restrictions on mental health and addiction care. Over 80 percent of Americans who need mental health treatment do not seek it because of the restrictions or the cost. This is unacceptable. Americans with mental health disorders need and deserve the same level of coverage as those who suffer from physical disorders, and with the passage of this bill, we can help give them that coverage. This bill closes the loophole that has allowed plans to charge patients more and impose additional limits for mental health care. Efforts to weaken the bill by allowing plans to determine which mental health benefits to cover or preempting State laws providing stronger mental health protections will allow discrimination to continue against the millions of Americans who need our support in their efforts to seek treatment. I urge everyone to vote for H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, and these people whose lives depend on the treatment they need and deserve. Members of Congress have mental health parity. It's high time we provide parity to the 44 million Americans who need it.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to recognize the passing of a good friend, who was one of Sonoma County's notable environmental activists and a conscience for social justice, Adrienne Swenson. Adrienne was 81 when she died in January of pulmonary disease. Adrienne touched the lives of thousands through her successful environmental conservation efforts, her commitment to social justice, and her work for the Democratic Party. I knew Adrienne through all of these arenas and agree with her friends and colleagues, who are universal in their praise. ``She was a remarkable woman. She was a person committed to the idea that society could be improved,'' said David Thatcher, who along with others, helped Adrienne found the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County. ``She was a tower of strength in so many ways.'' But what was so remarkable about Adrienne was that in all her interests she always had a wider context in mind. Her work with the local United Nations community, her commitment to the peace process, her participation on the county planning commission--she integrated them all in the interest of trying to make a better society. Born in San Francisco, Adrienne spent her life in California, except for 2 years in Spain when she and her husband, Len, and their three children lived what she once called ``the good life,'' traveling about Europe, studying art and learning Spanish. A trip to Yosemite later introduced her to what became her favorite activities--family camping, backpacking, and birding. This led to her lifelong devotion to environmental issues, which interest she shared with her husband, a longtime Sierra Club leader. Later, Adrienne served on the Manhattan Beach City Council while living in southern California, and on the Sonoma County Planning Commission after moving back to northern California. ``She really set a standard,'' said Bill Kortum, a member of the board of supervisors, which appointed her. ``She was always very well informed.'' Politically, Adrienne was active in the Santa Rosa Democratic Club and served on the Democratic Central Committee for nearly 20 years. But where Adrienne really left her legacy was the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County. ``She had an incredible sense of justice in the face of overwhelming injustice,'' says Elizabeth Stinson, the center's director. ``She worked tirelessly for more than 30 years in every capacity you can think of.'' She was vehemently anti-war and opposed the occupation of Iraq. Standing on the corner at Mendocino and College avenues almost every week with a group of women, all dressed in black, she protested until she could no longer stand. Madam Speaker, Adrienne Swenson would want us to carry on her work here in Congress, to be inspired by her tenacity and willingness to confront difficult subjects, knowing the world is better for her contributions to it.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 5, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for Rollcall No. 91-102. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 91--``Yes''--To redesignate Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park in the State of Ohio as ``Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historical Park'', and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 92--``Yes''--Supporting Taiwan's fourth direct and democratic presidential elections in March 2008. Rollcall No. 93--``Yes''--Condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 94--``Yes''--Providing for the consideration of H.R. 1014, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Rollcall No. 95--``Yes''--Providing for the consideration of H.R. 1014, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Rollcall No. 96--``Yes''--Providing for the consideration of H.R. 1014, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Rollcall No. 97--``Yes''--Cyndi Taylor Krier Post Office Building. Rollcall No. 98--``Yes''--Expressing the sense of Congress that Earl Lloyd should be recognized and honored for breaking the color barrier and becoming the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association League 58 years ago. Rollcall No. 99--``Yes''--Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Rollcall No. 100--``No''--Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Rollcall No. 101--``Yes''--Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. Rollcall No. 102--``Yes''--Sgt. Michael M. Kashkoush Post Office Building.