Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 4, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 88-90. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 88--``yes''--To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 89--``yes''--To direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Alta-Hualapai Site to the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, for the development of a cancer treatment facility. Rollcall No. 90--``yes''--To provide for the release of certain land from the Sunrise Mountain Instant Study Area in the State of Nevada and to grant a right-of-way across the released land for the construction and maintenance of a flood control project.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on February 28, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 85-87. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 85--``yes''--John ``Marty'' Thiels Southpark Station. Rollcall No. 86--``yes''--Sgt. Jason Harkins Post Office Building. Rollcall No. 87--``yes''--Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post Office Building.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise with great pleasure to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Larkspur, California, one of the most beautiful cities in my district, and one of only three cities whose distinctive character have gained them listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Larkspur received this official recognition because it typifies the smalltown look of turn-of- the-19th century California. From its origins as part of a Mexican land grant through its logging days to its late 19th century status as a risque resort, Larkspur became just a small town where the well-off came to escape the freezing San Francisco summers. Larkspur, like many Marin County towns, evolved after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. ``What really started Larkspur was the earthquake,'' explains Helen Heitkamp, member of the city's Heritage Preservation Board and a local historian who helped write the book Larkspur Past & Present, A History & Walking Guide. ``After the earthquake, the people who had summer cottages came to stay and that started that first big push.'' But becoming a city wasn't as easy as it sounds, says Mayor Kathy Hartzell. ``They held their vote in August, 1907 and in February 1908, the county said OK. On March 1, 1908 the city was incorporated.'' However, one of the town's leading residents, Jean Escalle, brought suit against the city on the grounds there was inadequate notification of the election and the polls closed too early! It wasn't until 1911 that the courts ruled in favor of Larkspur. Escalle, by the way, went on to serve as a city council member, the mayor notes. Noted for its beautiful setting, the Larkspur of the early 20th century wasn't as pretty as it is today. Clear-cut logging had decimated the forests and denuded the hillsides. In fact, says Heitkamp, ``when the city was first formed, you needed a permit to cut trees because the hills were bare and they were trying to grow trees.'' At that time, too, the original highway was mapped so that the main street through downtown Larkspur--called Magnolia Avenue--served as the major access road for much of Marin. Its character now, through restrictions by the Historic Register, looks much the same as it did 100 years ago. A walk along Magnolia Avenue--from Mission Revival-style City Hall to the 1930s Art Deco-style Lark Theater three blocks away--encompasses the history of Larkspur. Along the way is the false-front building where the Silver Peso, the town's only bar, now resides. Built in 1890 as a blacksmith's shop, its walls still show the original double doors where wagons and buggies came in and out. The building next to it--the one that now houses the pool table--was the city's first firehouse. On the corner down the street stands the Blue Rock Inn, built in 1895, whose rooms have since been converted to apartments. On the street level, celebrities can often be seen dining at the sidewalk tables of its French restaurant, the Left Bank Brasserie. Downtown Larkspur, also designated as a State historic site, spans more than a century of architecture. Preservation efforts begun in the 1970s have not only kept the smalltown character but have controlled new development. Heitkamp notes that these efforts also helped Larkspur maintain its beautiful surroundings. No longer set among tree stumps, the city is now resplendent in oaks, redwoods, madrones and other trees. Larkspur citizen groups have bought up the hills, Heitkamp says, ``so that our backdrop for the city has also been preserved.'' Of course, a city is more than its architecture, its setting, or its natural environment. Most of all, a city is its people. I am proud to say that the people of Larkspur are as charming, diverse and beautiful as the city itself. The year-long centennial celebration will kick-off on Saturday, March 1, with a gala birthday party and parade from City Hall to Hall Middle School. The ``Meet Me in Larkspur'' centennial activities will continue throughout the summer and culminate with the city's famous Rose Bowl Dance, a tradition that made Larkspur a romantic destination for many years. I am proud to represent the people of Larkspur, Madam Speaker, and I ask that you join me in congratulating them on their accomplishments of the past 100 years and wishing them the best for the next century.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on February 27, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 78-84. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 78--``yes''--Providing for the consideration of H.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. Rollcall No. 79--``yes''--On Approving the Journal. Rollcall No. 80--``yes''-- Providing for the consideration of H.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. Rollcall No. 81--``yes''--Providing for the consideration of H.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. Rollcall No. 82--``yes''--Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. Rollcall No. 83--``no''--Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008. Rollcall No. 80-- ``yes''--Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, National Peace Corps week is a time for us to honor the immeasurable contributions and service of the current 8,079 Peace Corps volunteers. Through mutual respect and understanding, these men and women have committed themselves to improving our country's relationships with the rest of the world, and I rise today to applaud their dedication to communities in the 74 countries in which they have admirably served. When President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps 47 years ago, he set out to provide ordinary men and women with an opportunity to strengthen developing countries devastated by the effects of poverty, disease, and war. Since then, more than 190,000 volunteers have served in 139 countries, and the Peace Corps' long-lasting impact has continued to reverberate throughout the world. Peace Corps volunteers have mobilized to combat some of the world's most urgent humanitarian crises, including providing crucial assistance to communities in need of post-conflict relief and reconstruction as well as countries overwhelmed by natural disasters. These men and women have helped economically depressed communities develop new business plans, struggling farmers improve their crop production, and families devastated by HIV/AIDS receive the care they need. These volunteers have overcome significant challenges by fostering new bonds of friendship, and they deserve to be commended for their service and passion. To date, the 6th District of California has produced around 400 Peace Corps volunteers, including the following 33 current volunteers: Libby A. Bersot, who is working in Botswana; Tracey M. Bolch, Gambia; Jamie L. Bowen, Mali; Jennifer M. Busick, Bolivia; Catherine G. Carlton, Zambia; John Cervett w Cervetto, Kyrgyzstan; Joseph P. Deschenes, Albania; Fionah Dominis, Swaziland; Tameron A. Eaton, Eastern Caribbean; Benjamin S. Fryer, Nicaragua; Jillian D. Geissler, Guatemala; Robyn M. Grahn, Honduras; Emilie J. Greenhalgh Stam, Cameroon; Alexis S. Guild, Guatemala; Donald F. Hesse, Jordan; Jessica D. Holloway, Armenia; Michelle Kong, Guatemala; August L. Konrad, Kenya; Anna F. Kuhn, Tanzania; Abigail M. Lafrenz, Bulgaria; Bridget M. Leddy, Kyrgyzstan; Frank E. Lester, Kenya; Kyle B. Lopez, Bolivia; Alissa P. Mayer, Dominican Republic; Sydney F. McCall, Bolivia; Julia A. Montgomery, Vanuatu; Morgan C. Montgomery, Honduras; Travis W. Pittman, Ghana; Jacob E. Rich, Peru; Richard C. Rystrom, Ukraine; Jessica F. Souza, Cape Verde; Katherine L. Theiss-Nyland, Malawi; Kyla H. Wall- Polin, Bulgaria. Madam Speaker, the 47th anniversary of the establishment of the Peace Corps is an achievement that we should all commemorate. I rise today to celebrate the leadership and accomplishments of these compassionate men and women who have committed themselves to promoting global peace, diplomacy, and understanding.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, every day our Nation's first responders work tirelessly to protect and aid victims of disasters across our country. We have an absolute responsibility to make sure our police forces, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and public health personnel have the resources they need to effectively confront and overcome threats at the local, State, and national levels. California's Sixth District is blessed with thousands of dedicated men and women who bravely serve their communities with distinction and honor. I rise today to commend the exemplary leadership of the Fire Department at the United States Coast Guard, USCG, Training Center at Two Rock in Petaluma, California, for their unwavering dedication to improving firefighter health and safety. Fire Chief Alfredo Ramos and the firefighters at the USCG Training Center have reduced fires and firefighter risks throughout the Bay area by providing world-class training to local first responders. We cannot expect local communities to be the first to respond to an emergency unless they are given the resources and training to do so, and the USCG Training Center has been instrumental in this effort. Madam Speaker, fire departments throughout the country have helped provide our Nation's firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, and other first responders with the tools they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently. Today, I am proud to recognize the courageous and committed firefighters at the USCG Training Center in Petaluma who have made immeasurable contributions to public safety, and they deserve our deepest thanks.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on February 26, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 72-77. Had I been present I would have voted: rollcall No. 72--``yes''--On Approving the Journal; rollcall No. 73--``yes''--Providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 3521, to improve the Operating Fund for public housing of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; rollcall No. 74--``yes''--Providing for consideration of the bill, H.R. 3521, to improve the Operating Fund for public housing of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; rollcall No. 75--``yes''-- Sires of New Jersey Amendment; rollcall No. 76--``yes''--Meek of Florida Amendment; rollcall No. 77--``yes''--Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on February 25, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 69-71. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 69--``yes''--Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 3-7, 2008, as ``School Social Work Week'' to promote awareness of the vital role of school social workers in schools, and in the community as a whole, in helping students prepare for their future as productive citizens. Rollcall No. 70--``yes''--Supporting the goals and ideals of ``Career and Technical Education Month.'' Rollcall No. 71--``yes''--Honoring the service and accomplishments of Lieutenant General Russel L. Honore, United States Army, for his 37 years of service on behalf of the United States.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, for almost three decades Tom Lantos was been a passionate voice in the U.S. Congress, and a tireless advocate for human rights around the world. Chairman Lantos' commitment to human rights was forged by his own life's experience, by the violence and tragedy that he saw as a young man in Hungary. His commitment to issues such as ending the genocide in Darfur will be remembered by all those who have served with him throughout his long career in public service. The Bay Area, and the Foreign Affairs Committee, will sincerely miss his passion and dedication, and his unrelenting commitment to not only helping those in need, but making sure that respect for human rights is at the forefront of our Nation's foreign policy. My heart goes out to Annette, his partner for almost 60 years, as well as his two daughters, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I'm pleased that today the House passed H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. This bill makes great strides towards helping our Nation's students and families afford college. The rising cost of college is making the opportunity of a quality education further and further out of reach for far too many of our students. In March, the University of California and California State system raised their tuition for the fifth time in 6 years. This year, students at a school like Sonoma State, in my district, will be required to pay nearly 10 percent more for tuition. With recent budget shortfalls in many States, including California, more increases in tuition appear to be on the horizon. The Federal Government, States, and universities need to work together to both control costs and provide better access to financial aid to ensure that everyone has the chance for a college education. This bill will help with both college costs and financial aid for our neediest students, and that's why it's such an important bill. Through this bill, States will be encouraged to do their part in keeping college costs down, and universities will be encouraged to be more transparent with important information like projected tuition and fees and average financial aid. This will help ensure that students and their families are not caught unaware by college costs. This bill also assists our Nation's neediest students by increasing the maximum Pell Grant that can be awarded and giving more nontraditional students access to this important source of aid. In addition, this bill encourages more students to go into important fields that serve the public interest, such as teaching, nursing, and firefighting, by offering loan forgiveness in exchange for their invaluable service. Particularly pleasing is the inclusion of three programs that I championed and which should make a real difference in the lives of our Nation's students. The first is the Patsy T. Mink Fellowships, which will provide fellowships to women and minorities to help them attain graduate degrees in underrepresented fields. This program will encourage more women and minorities to go into underrepresented fields, and at the same time, will increase the amount of women and minorities who become professors in these fields. Congresswoman Patsy Mink was my mentor and friend and was a leader on women's equality and opportunity. This program is in honor of her work on the inclusion of Title IX in the Higher Education Act and will further ensure equality in higher education. As a former human resources manager, I know that it can be difficult to find workers to fill all the empty positions. Often, applicants don't have the necessary skills or background to fill available positions. It's critical that we find a way to provide our workforce with the skills and education to fill the gaps. That's why programs like Bridges from Jobs to Careers and Business Workforce Partnerships, which I also championed, are so important. The Bridges from Jobs to Careers grant program will provide competitive grants to community colleges to improve remedial education by customizing programs to the career and academic goals of students and making it possible for students to move more quickly through remedial classes and to courses related to their degree, certificate program, or career. We need to help students realize the end goal of their education program. Helping schools improve remedial education will help many students get in and out of school with the skills and education they need to succeed. The Business Workforce Partnerships grant program will encourage the development of partnerships between colleges and businesses to work together to provide workers with for-credit worksite learning opportunities and more flexible schedules. By allowing workers to work and attend school, more of them will have access to the certificates and degrees that will lead to better jobs and higher salaries. These workers will also be able to better fit the needs of our changing workforce. Thank you, Chairmen Miller and Hinojosa, for your leadership on the Higher Education Reauthorization Act. I look forward to working with you and our colleagues to continue to make college more affordable for our Nation's students.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on February 7, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 32-42. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 32--``yes''--Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4137) to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 33--``yes''--Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4137) to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 34--``yes''--Calling for a peaceful resolution to the current electoral crisis in Kenya. Rollcall No. 35--``yes''--To extend for one year parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 36--``yes''--Petri of Wisconsin Amendment No. 4. Rollcall No. 37--``yes''--Petri of Wisconsin Amendment No. 5. Rollcall No. 38--``yes''--Davis of Illinois Amendment. Rollcall No. 39--``no''--To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 40--``yes''--To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes. Rollcall No. 41--``yes''--Congratulating Lee Myung-Bak on his election to the Presidency of the Republic of Korea and wishing him well during his time of transition and his inauguration on February 25, 2008. Rollcall No. 42--``yes''--Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to recognize the passing of Mary Isaak, a Petaluma activist who was committed to the noble struggle of helping the less fortunate overcome homelessness. Mary died of congestive heart failure last month at the age of 88, leaving an enduring legacy to the people of Petaluma, California through the establishment of COTS--the Committee on the Shelterless. After receiving a music degree from the University of Oregon, Mary moved to Berkeley, where she met her future husband, who later tired of the area and moved his family to what was then rural California--to the egg basket of the State, Petaluma. There, Mary raised five children and taught at Live Oak High, the small school she started on their 22-acre ranch. Mary's life of community service continued in the late 1980s, when she and Laure Reichek noticed the increasing number of homeless in the area and determined to obviate the problem. In 1988, they founded COTS. I was on the Petaluma City Council during this time and had the good fortune to work with Mary and Laure in facilitating the establishment of this incredible organization, dedicated to housing homeless families. ``It eventually took on a life of its own,'' says John Records, COTS current executive director. ``It activated something in the community and it gave people the opportunity to help. It offered a way to get involved.'' In a town of 55,000 residents, the nonprofit registered more than 50,000 volunteer hours last year alone. These volunteers helped prepare and serve more than 100,000 meals besides working on other programs the facility offers. The community embraced COTS because Mary set an example, volunteering for countless tasks and remaining on the board of directors. ``Even as she aged and became less strong, she continued to be involved,'' Records notes. In 2004, COTS recognized Mary's vision and commitment by naming its new housing facility in her honor--the Mary Isaaks Center. The center houses beds for 300, provides between 50,000 and 100,000 bed-nights per year, and its kitchen offer more than half a million pounds of food each year to the hungry and homeless of Petaluma. Other programs thrive, as well. For example, recently COTS added an innovative pilot trauma center to its services. Madam Speaker, it is impossible to measure the impact Mary Isaak's work has had on the individuals--both homeless and volunteers--and on the community of my hometown of Petaluma. She leaves to the community a legacy of compassion and involvement that the world would do well to follow. She will be greatly missed.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise, along with Congressman Mike Thompson, to recognize the gentleman honored by the City of Sonoma as 2008 Alcalde--Honorary Mayor of the Year, Sy Lenz. The honorary position of Alcalde has been bestowed each year since 1975 on a person who has enhanced the welfare of Sonoma by his or her unselfish contributions to the community. As Alcalde, Sy will be given a silver-headed cane as a symbol of his distinction and will appear in parades, grand openings and other special events throughout the year. Although Sy and his wife, Harriet, have lived in Sonoma since 1989, when they moved here to be near their daughter, Sy leapt directly into community service. He used his talents as a retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel and executive recruiter to volunteer on the strategic plan for the local school district. He also became active in the Kiwanis Club and with La Luz Center, a local nonprofit serving immigrants, as well as founding and developing Congregation Shir Shalom. ``One project I worked on was an attempt to establish an in-town teen club,'' Sy says. ``We raised thousands of dollars hopefully to find a site, and although it remained out of our reach, it lead to the creation of the ``No-Name Cafe'' at Sonoma Valley High School.'' Sy's service is not limited to the younger generation. He has participated in delivering holiday meals to seniors and shut-ins, and was part of the effort to create the Senior Shade Program which provides senior citizens transportation to and from the town's holiday parades and a shady place from which to watch. Most recently, Sy has served as president of the board of directors of SOS--Sonoma Overnight Shelter--which he and other members of the community started in an effort to extend a helping hand to the homeless and working poor who need assistance with restoring their self- sufficiency. It is a project he has dedicated himself to. First of all, Sy points out, it is a shelter; it is designed for those who are temporarily homeless. ``Most of the time the people we're dealing with are women or single moms,'' says Sy. These are usually women who have been dependent upon a man and suddenly find themselves alone or alone with children and without life skills needed for independent living. They may stay with family or friends for awhile until that becomes untenable and then they are out on the streets. ``And this,'' Sy says, referring to the astronomical Bay Area real estate prices, ``is a tough place to find an affordable space.'' His compassionate service is one reason Sonoma Mayor Joanne Sanders chose Sy for Alcalde. She has known Sy for 20 years and says, ``When it's driving rain, late at night, and the phone rings, he's the kind of guy who'll go out and find a place for someone to stay. He's an unsung hero.'' Madam Speaker, we would like to join with the City of Sonoma in recognizing the contributions Sy Lenz has made to the lives of the residents of the Sonoma Valley area.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, this is a moment that I had hoped would never come. I am rising for the 250th time to oppose the occupation of Iraq. It's a sad task, because 250 times means that the occupation has dragged on and on nearly 5 years. I had hoped that my first speech would be my last, or my 50th or even my 100th, but the administration continued to follow its blind and destructive path year after year. As the saying goes, ``All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good people do nothing.'' So, to be sure, I have raised my voice time and time again on this floor to protest the administration's folly and hold it accountable for its reckless actions and its reckless policies. The American people have raised their voices, also, Mr. Speaker. They have said that they want an end to this occupation and a responsible redeployment of our troops. But our leaders in the White House, who first turned a deaf ear to the people of the world when they invaded Iraq, continue to turn a deaf ear to their very own people in the United States of America. What makes this occasion even sadder for me is that I will have to rise many more times before the occupation ends because the administration has made it absolutely clear that it will continue its occupation right to the bitter end of its term in office. And I fear that the occupation may go on long after that. A leading Republican Presidential candidate said that he has no problem with the occupation lasting 100 years. No problem. And this same candidate said the other day, and I quote, ``There's going to be other wars.'' This is exactly the kind of ``shoot-first, ask-questions-later'' thinking that got us into trouble in Iraq in the first place. Fortunately, the Democratic Presidential candidates have a different mindset, a mindset that uses diplomacy and international cooperation to solve problems, not war. But the current administration is working hard to tie the hands of the very next President. It's negotiating to establish permanent bases in Iraq. And it is planning to keep troop levels absolutely as high as possible. Remember all the sweet talk, Mr. Speaker, last September about possible troop cuts? It was an absolute sham. And what are we getting for the tragedy of Iraq? Are we any safer? Absolutely not. In fact, the director of National Intelligence has warned that al Qaeda is getting stronger in its cozy safe haven in Pakistan, and that they are busy training more and more operatives. A whole new generation is growing up in occupied Iraq. Their memories begin after U.S. forces rolled in. Since electricity and water and basic services have been on the fritz. Since whole neighborhoods have become wandering refugees. Many have never known the cultural gems of their own country. This cannot bode well for the region. Secretary of State Rice has admitted that the Taliban is resurgent in Afghanistan. And the report of the Congressional Commission on the National Guard and Reserves found that there is an ``appalling gap'' in our ability to defend the homeland because of Guard and Reserve redeployments to Iraq. Meanwhile, we are squandering $12 billion per month on the occupation while our economy slides into recession and the American people face the loss of their jobs, their health care, and their homes. Let's be clear, Mr. Speaker, the main reason we are in this recession is because of the senseless and unending occupation of Iraq. And our brave men and women in uniform, what about them? They're paying a very high price for this occupation. Every day, five U.S. soldiers try to commit suicide because the frequency of deployment has put tremendous stress on them and their families. This is simply unacceptable and a national disgrace if we do not act to reverse this trend. Mr. Speaker, I will be back on this floor talking about this some more, but this is my 250th time, and I want you to know, it's time that this occupation be over.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5104, the Protect America Act Extension, which will extend the authorization for the administration's warrantless wiretapping program for another 15 days. I voted against the Protect America Act when it passed in August 2007 because I believe it violates the Constitution and undermines Americans' fundamental civil liberties. Today, I cannot support extending this unconstitutional program for another 15 days. The Protect America Act (PAA) abandoned the protections of Americans' rights and freedoms that were the hallmark of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which became law in 1978. FISA was established in response to past abuses of electronic surveillance by Administrations who justified wiretaps under national security concerns. Surveillance was to be subjected to court oversight, where warrants would be required if an Administration sought surveillance of Americans. We live in a dangerous world and we must protect our country from terrorist attacks. However, commitment to the rule of law, consumer privacy, freedom from unwarranted government intrusion, and our system of checks and balances should never be sacrificed to accommodate an Administration determined to expand its own powers. Instead of extending the PAA for another 15 days, we should be modernizing FISA to accommodate new technologies while requiring that surveillance of American citizens is always subject to court oversight and in compliance with the 4th Amendment. This is the only way to protect America and American freedoms.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, my district, just across the Golden Gate Bridge north of San Francisco, includes 100 percent of Marin County and 80 percent of Sonoma County, where we are blessed with many environmental treasures. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and it is just across the bridge from one of the largest cities in our country. In this area we have a stand of old-growth redwoods known as Muir Woods, and we consider this our crown jewel. Muir Woods is nearly 300 acres of what I refer to as ``Heaven on Earth'' where its natural beauty has been preserved and protected for everyone to enjoy so that we can enjoy the trees, which are mostly redwoods that stand over 250 feet tall and are, as the chairman just told you, as old as 1,100 years. That is why I am so pleased that Congress is considering H. Res. 868 today, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of President Teddy Roosevelt's declaration of Muir Woods as a national monument. It is fitting that we honor the centennial of Muir Woods on the floor of the House of Representatives, because it was the actions of Congressman William Kent who represented Marin County at that time who made the national monument possible. William Kent privately owned the land where Muir Woods now stands, and he and his family donated it to the Federal Government to ensure its protection. I am proud to say that 100 years later Congressman Kent's vision is still going strong. The leadership in conservation that William Kent showed 100 years ago is a valuable lesson for us today. Imagine all the national wonder that could have been saved in the last 100 years, wonders like Muir Woods, that we could be enjoying today had more people been as selfless as he. We in Congress have the power to ensure that 100 years from now people can look back and applaud new conservation efforts. Mr. Speaker, Muir Woods is a unique sanctuary for the protection of one of Earth's greatest wonders, the coastal redwoods; and its preservation is to be commended. I want to thank Chairman Rahall, Chairman Grijalva, Ranking Member Young, and Mr. Bishop for bringing my resolution here to the floor today, because working together, Mr. Speaker, working together today, we will ensure that 100 years from now our grandchildren, our great grandchildren and their children will enjoy the Muir Woods bicentennial.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for Rollcall Nos. 29-31. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 29--Yes--Commending the Houston Dynamo soccer team for winning the 2007 Major League Soccer Cup; Rollcall No. 30--Yes--Recognizing the significance of Black History Month; and Rollcall No. 31--Yes--Remembering the space shuttle Challenger disaster and honoring its crew members, who lost their lives on January 28, 1986.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, last night this House was host to the President for his final State of the Union address. Like all past Presidential speeches in this Chamber, it was historic. But this time it may have been historic because of what it did not achieve and what it left unfinished. Forget all of the unfulfilled commitments on education, health care, environmental conservation, employment, energy efficiency, worker protections and immigration. Let's just look at the record on foreign policy. The state of that union? Dismal. Upon taking office in 2001, this administration promised a new kind of international engagement, one based on partnerships and regional alliances. We didn't exactly get what we bargained for, unfortunately. And the recent administration tour through the Middle East just about summed it up. Remember those children's books, ``Where's Waldo?'' We had a case of ``Where's W?'' Let's start our tour in Israel and the Palestinian- controlled lands. After nearly two terms of ignoring the real crisis in the region, the administration tried to make a last-ditch effort at a peace agreement: first by hosting a summit, one that wasn't expected to achieve anything, and then by a visit to the region. No ideals were outlined, no real road map was sketched out. To be generous, it was a half- hearted effort. It greatly saddens me, Mr. Speaker, that such an important opportunity was squandered. The Israeli and Palestinian people deserve more. They deserve a chance to at least hope for peace. Next stop on the Where's W? trip, Kuwait and Bahrain. In Bahrain, the political opposition faces arrest, torturers are granted immunity, and a woman must go before family, not civil courts, family to fight back against violence and abuse. In Kuwait, the world saw how Kuwaiti justice is carried out when al- Azmi was hanged inside the Interior Ministry complex in Kuwait City on December 21. Next stop, the United Arab Emirates. This is the land where noncitizens are a subclass of people. They have very few rights. They face huge obstacles and discrimination. Oh, and another thing, women can't pass on citizenship to their children unless their husband is a citizen. What does that mean? It often means insurmountable barriers to education and employment. Now we are on the home stretch. Where in the world is W? Saudi Arabia. The country with the choke hold on international energy markets, the homeland of the majority of the 9/11 terrorists, the land where women cannot legally drive a car yet. Sure, there is a proposal on the table to give women this right, but I wouldn't hold my breath. How did the United States President clearly demand the rights of all Saudi people? By walking hand in hand with members of the Saudi royal family. That sounds like a strange negotiating tactic to me. And the final stop on this regional tour, Egypt. Let's just look at what Amnesty International has to say about Egypt. We have longstanding concerns on systematic torture, deaths of prisoners in custody, unfair trials, arrests of prisoners of conscience for their political and religious beliefs or for their sexual orientation, wide use of administrative detention and long-term detention without trial, and use of the death penalty. This, Mr. Speaker, was a tour of wasted opportunity and flagrant disregard for the most basic human rights. So what will the President's legacy be in the Middle East? What is the state of that union? Not good. Not good at all. We have a seemingly endless occupation of Iraq destabilizing the region. Osama bin Laden is still missing. We have the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Opportunity after opportunity for regional stability has been squandered and our standing in the region is embarrassingly low. But know this: This Congress will continue to demand an end to the occupation of Iraq and a return to sensible and sustainable policies in the Middle East. We will not stand by while the clock runs out on this administration.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, in the richest country in the world, no one should go to bed hungry, no one should have to go without heat on a cold winter night, and no one should be deprived of life saving medicine because they can't afford it. It is so sad that in our country, the richest in the world, 37 million people live below the poverty line and deal with these fears everyday. As a Congress, we need to do more to help these people, which is why I am proud to stand in support of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's bill, H. Con. Res. 198, and the goal of cutting poverty in the U.S. in half in the next 10 years. This bill, recognizing the problem of poverty in our country is a good start, but we need to do more. We can put our money where our mouths are, starting with an economic stimulus package that gets money to the people who need it most in an economic downturn. This can be done by extending unemployment insurance and food stamps to help the neediest among us . . . not by extending tax breaks for the richest people in this country who have amassed great wealth at the expense of the rest of us. Let's do the right thing and help those who actually need it. Madam Speaker, again I thank Representative Lee for her leadership in fighting poverty and for bring this resolution to the floor and urge all my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, this Thursday night, I will join many of my constituents at the 26th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards hosted by the Marin County Human Rights Commission in San Rafael, California. Ten of my constituents, including four high school seniors, will receive awards for the many, many contributions they have made to our community, and I would like to name a few of them. Two doctors, Paul Cohen and Alicia Suski, will be honored for developing a partnership to provide medical and legal services to low-income residents. An educator, Whitney Hoyt, will be honored for protecting the rights of gay students. A high school senior, Joanna Sitzmann, will be recognized for her work with a therapeutic horseback riding program for people with disabilities. Another student, Morgan Green, will be cited for helping to raise money for the victims of the crisis in Darfur. And another high school senior, Allison Franklin, will be honored for working with disadvantaged youngsters, including those participating in the Marin Special Olympics. I am really proud of these wonderful constituents, constituents who are serving others. I know there are millions of other Americans just like them, and they can be found in every single congressional district. They represent the true face of America, the America that has compassion for the people of the world, who want the world to be a better place for all of us. But today, the world has a very different picture of America, Mr. Speaker. The people of the world see us through the lens of the occupation of Iraq, Abu Ghraib, and Guantanamo. They hear about torture, waterboarding, and the reckless activities of the Blackwater military contracts. In addition to the very real human rights issues that these problems raise, they have made it much harder for us to win the public relations battle against the terrorists. And in the long run, that public relations battle, along with other elements of so-called ``soft power,'' are just as important, if not more important, than any military battle that we will fight in Iraq. Even Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has recognized this. In a speech he gave 2 months ago, Secretary Gates said, and I quote, ``One of the more important lessons of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is that military success is not sufficient to win. Economic development, institution building, and rule of law, promoting internal reconciliation, good governance, providing basic services to the people, and strategic communications are essential ingredients for long-term success.'' He also called for an increase in spending on the soft power components of national security. These include diplomacy, foreign assistance, and economic reconstruction and development. I agree with Secretary Gates about all of this, but this appears to be one more example of our leaders not backing up their words with actions. This administration has relied solely upon military power to achieve its objectives. It hasn't believed in diplomacy in the first place, or of the other elements of soft power. Our leaders think they can bomb and shoot their way to a more democratic and peaceful world, and they've been proven wrong over and over again. In their latest testimony before the House, our generals have told us that our occupation of Iraq may last until the year 2020. And even Secretary Gates has undermined his own lofty rhetoric about diplomacy by saying that a 50-year occupation would be just fine with him. The only way to restore our moral leadership and our ability to influence events is to responsibly redeploy our troops out of Iraq. That would allow the regional and international diplomacy needed to end the conflict to begin. It is up to Congress to use its power of the purse to make this happen. The administration will never do it. Our leaders offer us high-minded speeches about the rule of law and diplomacy, but all they give us are bloodshed and occupation. And Mr. Speaker, it must stop.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to make an important and urgent announcement to the House: the conflict in Iraq is still going on, and we are still occupying that country. I have to make this announcement because apparently some people have forgotten all about Iraq or don't think it's an important issue anymore. That's because it doesn't dominate the TV news like it used to. As an example of that, a recent story on CNN began with the words, ``Whatever Happened to the War?'' Well, I hate to spoil everyone's day, but I have to report, with great regret, that the occupation is still going. As proof of that, nearly 300 American and Iraqi soldiers and Iraqi civilians have been killed or wounded so far this month alone. Yes, the bloodshed continues. And after nearly 5 years of occupation, our leaders still have no exit strategy. They have even stopped pretending that they have one. Last year they told us we couldn't get out of Iraq because things on the ground were going badly. This year they're telling us we can't get out because things are going well; and if we get out, they'll go badly again. So if you follow the administration's argument to its logical conclusion, this is what you get: we can't leave when things are good; we can't leave when things are bad. Which means we can never leave. The result is permanent occupation, which is precisely what the administration appears to want. Forgetting about the bloodshed in Iraq is bad enough. But it's dangerous for many, many other reasons. It gives the administration a free hand to ratchet up the threats against Iran. It takes the pressure off the Iraqi Government to make progress toward national political reconciliation. It means our military will continue to be overstretched and less capable of meeting real challenges to our national security that may and will arise elsewhere. It continues to make America appear to be a lawless and arrogant Western occupier of the Middle East. And it allows our budget to be plundered at a time when our economy is more than shaky. People are in danger of losing their jobs here at home; but thanks to the administration's policies, the boys at Blackwater will always have their high-paying military contractor jobs in Iraq where they can continue to terrify the Iraqi people. We are spending over $300 million every day in Iraq, Madam Speaker. We couldn't afford that when the economy was good, and we certainly can't afford it as the economy goes into recession. But thankfully, thankfully, the American people are too smart to fall into the trap of believing that everything is just swell. According to a recent CBS News poll, nearly 60 percent of Americans continue to believe the occupation is going badly, and 58 percent believe the U.S. should never have gotten into Iraq in the first place. Madam Speaker, we cannot stick our heads in the sand and pretend that Iraq isn't a problem anymore. The only way to change course is to hold the administration accountable, and the only way to do that is to keep the pressure on the administration every single day. That's why I'll continue to raise my voice against the madness of this occupation, and why I will continue to urge the House to use its power of the purse to end it. Iraq is not a television show that got canceled because of the writers' strike. Iraq is a real place where real people continue to die. We must redeploy our troops. We must give the Iraqi people back their sovereignty, and we must give them their hope for a brighter future.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 2768, the S-MINER Act. The health and safety of miners is too important to ignore or to delay, and it is vitally important that we act now, not tomorrow, not in another year, to pass this critical legislation. I want to commend Chairman Miller for putting together comprehensive legislation that actually tackles the problems plaguing mining for many, many years. With this legislation, we can prevent the appalling loss of life that we have had in the past couple of years at Sago, at Darby, at Aracoma, and most recently at Crandall Canyon in Utah. Since the year 2006, about 80 miners have been killed at their workplaces. And that is in the 21st century. Don't forget, this is the 21st century. Now it is true that working conditions for miners have improved over the years, and we have come a long ways since the turn of the last century when thousands of miners died every year. But miners, who provide a valuable service to this country at great danger to themselves, are still dying as a result of incidents that were preventable had everyone been following the law. And black lung, a disease we thought had pretty much been eradicated, is back with a vengeance. This is absolutely unacceptable. I have heard on numerous occasions that miners love their jobs. So our job for them is to keep them as healthy and safe as possible so they will return home every night to their families at the end of the working day and that they will return safe and healthy. The Subcommittee on Workforce Protection, which I chair, had a hearing on this legislation in July. And the S-MINER Act actually puts teeth in the MINER Act which Congress passed in 2006. Let me mention a few provisions which I think highlight why this legislation is so very important. For example, while we know that true wireless communications systems are not yet fully developed, technologies do exist that greatly improve communications between miners below ground with those on the surface. The MINER Act requires that wireless communications systems be installed, but not until the year 2009. Miners can't wait until 2009. And the S-MINER Act mandates that miners have communication capabilities now instead of having to go without until the most perfect system has been developed. One of the things that is so outrageous, as I said, in this day and age is that black lung is back, a disease everyone thought was eradicated. This legislation, the S-MINER Act, requires the use by each miner of a personal dust monitor so that exposure to coal dust can be cut in half. And because the committee recognizes it could be a burden for mine operators to provide this equipment to their employees, the manager's amendment authorizes $30 million for MSHA to pay for those devices. In addition, the Crandall Canyon disaster showed us once again that retreat mining is a perilous activity, and this legislation requires MSHA to closely review these plans. Another thing the families of miners told us was that miners were afraid to come forward to report safety and health violations. So this legislation provides for a miner ombudsman to be appointed to process complaints and assist whistleblowers with their cases. And finally, this legislation requires that physicians be created at MSHA to be in charge of communicating with families and the community while a rescue effort is going on. In developing this legislation, we have done our utmost to reach out across the aisle and to all interest groups, including industry, to come up with a bipartisan bill. While industry does not support this bill, and shame on them, many of their concerns are reflected in the current legislation and in Mr. Miller's manager's amendment. Mr. Chairman, this is the 21st century and we must have 21st century solutions to adequately protect miners in this country. Vote for the S- MINER Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, today marks the 79th anniversary of the birth of history's greatest champion of peace, Dr. King, who became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize when he received that great honor at age 35. At the King Center in Atlanta, visitors are asked to take a pledge that includes the words: ``I pledge to do everything I can to make America and the world a place where equality and justice, freedom and peace will grow and flourish.'' Today, Madam Speaker, America needs to hear Dr. King's message of peace more than ever before, because our Nation's leaders continue to take reckless actions to put the world on the road to ever-widening conflicts. We have seen many new examples of warmongering in just the past few days and weeks. Twelve days ago, a leading Republican candidate for President said it would be fine for him if the American occupation of Iraq continued for another 100 years. Think about that. He would ask babies born 80 years from now to go to Baghdad for a commitment that the American people want to end right now. Now, President Bush continues his saber-rattling over Iran. Days ago, he warned that the world must take action against that country before it is too late. Isn't this a clear signal that the administration is still considering an attack against Iran, even though we know that it is not developing nuclear weapons that can threaten the United States? Therefore, as a lesson to be learned, we don't know all the facts about the incident with the Iranian boats yet; but until we know the whole story, I would advise my colleagues to be wary of coming to any conclusions too soon. And as if that weren't enough, the administration told us again that the occupation of Iraq will continue indefinitely, right into the next Presidency. But this morning we learned that it could last through several more Presidencies. The Iraqi defense minister was quoted in the press as saying that Iraq will not be able to take full responsibility for its internal security until the year 2012, nor responsibility for defending its borders until at least 2018. Yet, it has been over 2\1/2\ years since this administration announced that its strategy in Iraq is: as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. And it has been over a year since the President's famous surge speech where he said: ``I have made it clear that America's commitment is not open-ended.'' But, Madam Speaker, it is. Madam Speaker, America loses its moral authority every day that our occupation of Iraq continues. According to a study conducted by the Iraqi Government and the World Health Organization that was published last week, 151,000 Iraqis died of violence in the first 3 years of our occupation. The study also found that there was a 60 percent increase in nonviolent deaths in Iraq, including deaths from childhood infections. Martin Luther King understood that, if America is to lead the world, we must be more than a powerhouse; we must be a moral powerhouse. I ask my colleagues to devote this session of the 110th Congress to the responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq and the creation of a new foreign policy committed to the values that Dr. King espoused: equality and justice, freedom and peace.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on December 18, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall No. 1174- 1182, had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 1174, ``yes''--Providing for the consideration of the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6. Energy Independence and Security Act. Rollcall No. 1175, ``yes''--Providing for the consideration of the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 6, Energy Independence and Security Act. Rollcall No. 1176, ``yes''--Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. Rollcall No. 1177, ``yes''--Energy Independence and Security Act. Rollcall No. 1178, ``yes''--Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision and Extension Act. Rollcall No. 1179, ``yes''-- Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act. Rollcall No. 1180, ``yes''--Expressing the unconditional support of the House of Representatives for the members of the National Guard. Rollcall No. 1181, ``yes''--Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 3997, with an amendment. Rollcall No. 1182, ``yes''--U.S. Capitol Police and Library of Congress Police Merger Implementation Act of 2007.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on December 17, 1 was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 1163- 1173. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 1163--``yes''--Expresses heartfelt sympathy for the victims and families of the shootings in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, December 5, 2007. Rollcall No. 1164--``yes''--Honoring local and State first responders, and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest in facing the severe winter storm of December 2 and 3, 2007. Rollcall No. 1165--``yes''--Same Day Rule. Rollcall No. 1166--``yes''--Same Day Rule. Rollcall No. 1167--``yes''--Sine Die Adjournment resolution of the 1st Session of the 110th Congress. Rollcall No. 1168--``yes''--Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2764, State, foreign operations appropriations, FY 2008. Rollcall No. 1169--``yes''--Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2764, State, foreign operations appropriations, FY 2008. Rollcall No. 1170--``yes''--To award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma. Rollcall No. 1171--``yes''--Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for FY 2008--Amendment No. 1. Rollcall No. 1172--``no''--Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for FY 2008--Amendment No. 2. Rollcall No. 1173--``yes''--Recognizing and celebrating the centennial of Oklahoma statehood.