Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I support S. 2499, the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007. It's important that Congress pass this legislation today to ensure that our Nation's poorest children retain their health insurance and doctors who take care of our seniors on Medicare do not receive a 10 percent cut in reimbursements. It's deeply disappointing that this bill doesn't address the issue of the Medicare physician geographic payment discrepancy that is faced by many areas in California and across the country. One of these areas is Sonoma County, in my District. This inconsistency has led to doctor's reimbursements being based upon their geographic location and not the true cost of providing services. Because of this discrepancy, doctors in Sonoma County receive a lower payment for the same services than doctors in next door Marin County and this discrepancy is causing doctors to leave Sonoma County. Congress needs to act to fix this discrepancy and ensure that physicians with Medicare patients can continue to afford to see their patients regardless of where their practice is located. Because of the Republican led efforts, the bill only delays a real solution to the Medicare physician payment cuts that all doctors are facing. We can and must do better for our seniors. When the Medicare extension expires in June, we owe it to our seniors and physicians to replace it with a permanent fix to the physician payment cuts and payment discrepancies. With this bill, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will be extended and states will receive enough funding to keep all the children currently enrolled on SCHIP from being removed from the program. But, this bill doesn't help the millions more children whose families cannot afford health insurance and who should be covered under SCHIP. Earlier this year, Congress passed an SCHIP bill that would have given 4 million more children healthcare, for a total of 10 million children receiving healthcare on SCHIP. However, the Administration showed that its priorities are completely out of line with the rest of this country when it vetoed that legislation. We need to do better for our nation's children and provide all of them with the healthy start and security that SCHIP can provide. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and look forward to working with them to provide a permanent solution to the Medicare physician payment issues and in ensuring that every child in America is insured.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor a visionary, writer, scholar, and advocate for the environment on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Phyllis Faber's lifetime work to protect agricultural land has not only preserved the beauty of Marin County, but provided an inspiration to other communities to do the same. More than 35 years ago, in the late 1970s, development plans threatened the beautiful countryside and historic agricultural nature of West Marin. Two women, Phyllis and dairy farmer Ellen Straus, were particularly concerned about preserving the county's farming. While out walking one day, they explored the question of how to protect the land so farmers and ranchers could afford to maintain their operations. The two women reasoned that if development potential were eliminated, the land could more easily retain its agricultural designation. In 1980, Phyllis and Ellen, with support from local officials and the Trust for Public Land, founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, MALT, the first land trust in the United States to focus solely on the preservation of farmland. Since then, MALT has protected nearly 40,000 acres of land on 59 family farms and ranches. It has also served as a model for communities across the country, illustrating how to permanently protect agricultural land through the purchase of agricultural conservation easements. Over the past 27 years, MALT's conservation easement program has protected about one-third of the agricultural farmland in West Marin, but Phyllis's wish is that in her lifetime MALT will have protected at least one-half of the available agricultural farmland and working farms--and not only protect them from development but ensure their continued operations. ``We are blessed that ranchers and farmers in this area want to stay in agriculture,'' she says. ``Without their commitment to farming, our landscape in West Marin would be quite different.'' Phyllis's passion for preserving farm and ranch land is matched by her passion for wildflowers. A teacher, editor, and writer as well as an environmentalist, Phyllis has edited Fremontia, the Journal of the California Native Plant Society, and has written eight books about wildflowers. These have not been Phyllis's only accomplishments, however. She also helped found Marin Discoveries and the Environmental Forum of Marin. For the past 3 years, she has chaired the board of the Buck Institute for Age Research, and of course she continues to serve on the board of MALT. But for those who live in West Marin, those who visit there, and those who enjoy the delicious products that come from there, Phyllis will always be remembered for her commitment to the preservation of agriculture--not just for this generation, but for those to come. Madam Speaker, Phyllis Faber's advocacy for the agricultural nature of Marin County has left an enduring legacy on the history as well as the landscape of the county and of communities throughout the Nation. Because of this and because of her continued commitment to agriculture and the environment, I am proud to honor her on her 80th birthday.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor Dr. Lloyd Martin Griffin for his outstanding contributions to Sixth Congressional District, the State of California and the Nation. Dr. ``Marty'' Griffin is a physician who realizes that a healthy individual depends on a healthy environment. Since the fifties Marty has been involved in successful preservation efforts in Marin and Sonoma Counties, founded several environmental groups, and fought numerous battles to protect the environment. Bom in a cabin on the banks of the Ogden River in Utah, Marty recalls ``being intoxicated by the cool desert canyon smell of trout, willow and sage, while my father's mandolin and the murmuring river waters put me to sleep.'' Then, not long after moving to Oakland and becoming a Boy Scout, he met Brighton ``Bugs'' Cain. Learning from Bugs and his father, Loyal, Marty became enamored with nature and medicine. After working his way through college to earn a M.D. at Stanford University in 1946, he set up practice in Marin County. Over the next decade became one of the county's top physicians and was instrumental in founding several clinics, hospitals, and retirement homes. In 1958, Marty joined three legendary patrician activists, Elizabeth Terwillinger, Caroline Livermore and Rose Barrell, and Dr. David Steinhart and members of the Marin Conservation League and Martin Audubon to save Richardson Bay from fill and development. The bay was saved through a strategic purchase of 900 watery acres, which was leased to the National Audubon Society and became the Richardson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. In 1958 Marty discovered plans for transforming rural Highway 1 into a coast hugging freeway from Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma, destroying wildlife habitat and threatening the rich agricultural lands of West Marin. The freeway would lead to a marina in Bolinas Lagoon and several new coastal communities. In response, in 1961, he teamed up with another Audubon leader Stan Prichard and created the Audubon Canyon Ranch and several projects to raise money, buy land and block the proposed freeway and preserve the gateway to the then proposed Point Reyes National Seashore. From this came the Bolinas Lagoon, Bouveri, and Tomales Bay Preserves. In 1973 Marty lent his skills to a successful effort to overturn a development-oriented Marin General Plan and replace it with one that preserved the open spaces of west Marin. In 1961, Marty purchased a 240-acre ranch on the banks of the Russian River in Sonoma County. With his usual energy he planted grapevines, turned an old hop drying barn into a winery and eventually hauled onto the property a 100-year-old farm house, which he had exquisitely restored. In the mid-seventies he produced his first wines, including award winning Petite Syrah, Johannesburg Riesling, and Zinfandels. Hop Kiln Winery became a Sonoma County landmark, and Marty soon became a Sonoma County force to be reckoned with. He saw that local gravel mining operations were destroying the banks and bed of the Russian River, filling its aquifer, lowering water tables, blocking off tributary mouths, and endangering salmon migration. Marty then began a long struggle against river gravel mining that goes on today. Also in the Sixties, Marty became the public health director at Sonoma State Hospital and Developmental Center, where with his usual tenaciousness and energy, he rooted out corruption, and founded a model program to fight hepatitis. In 1999, Marty was honored with a Public Health Hero Award from the University of California, Berkeley. Today Marty Griffin lives with his wife, Joyce, in Belvedere in Marin County not far from where his environmental battles began. In his eighties, he remains active and abreast of environmental issues. His work goes on through several organizations he founded including the Marin County Environmental Forum, the Sonoma County Environmental Forum, and Russian Riverkeeper (founded as Friends of the Russian River). His book, ``Saving the Marin and Sonoma Coast: the Battles for Audubon Canyon Ranch, Point Reyes and California's Russian River'' is an engaging story of the ongoing battles and larger than life personalities involved in preserving nature's treasures on the edge of the Bay Area's teaming cities. Madam Speaker, it is a book as well worth reading as Dr. Griffin's life is well worth emulating.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor a labor leader in my district who has done so much to protect people's rights. Alexander Mallonee is retiring after 30 years with the United States Postal Service, including more than 25 years with the National Association of Letter Carriers, NALC, and almost 10 years with the North Bay Labor Council. Since he first joined the union, Alex has demonstrated a calm, caring and respectful approach to addressing the issues facing members of the National Association of Letter Carriers and of the labor council. Alex didn't set out to be a labor leader. In fact, he was attending San Francisco State University for a master's degree in English when his life changed. As his wife, Kathy Farrelly, remembers it, he was studying in the library in the fall of 1969 when there seemed to be some sort of commotion outside. People raced out of the building, so Alex went to the terrace to take a look. What he saw was the school quad filled with police toting bullhorns and billy sticks to break up a student demonstration. A command squad rushed up the stairs, Kathy continues, stating simply, ``He got hit over the head with a baton.'' There he was, an innocent bystander, unconscious, his head bleeding onto the cement, and a cop looming over him with a club in his raised hand. It was a perfect picture of the times, and a photographer who happened to be there snapped it for the cover of Rolling Stone and for Newsweek magazine. ``I think that's what launched him into social advocacy,'' Kathy says. ``It was a colossal injustice.'' From that decision evolved a life devoted to advocating for free speech and human rights. Alex gave up the idea of teaching Victorian literature and instead, because he needed to make a living, became a letter carrier. ``He quickly joined the union and became active,'' Kathy notes. And from that decision came his involvement in labor issues. Soon thereafter, in 1980, he became president of the local branch. He has been re-elected every two years since. As always, Kathy says, his motivating force has been a search for justice. ``There are so many crises we have handled,'' explains Jerry Andersen, vice president of Branch 183 of the NALC. ``He just doesn't lose his cool.'' At the same time, Alex works to protect people's rights, he takes time to teach people, Andersen adds. ``A lot of management in the postal service have learned from him.'' Alex is one of those people who makes a difference quietly. He doesn't seek glory for himself, but gets satisfaction from doing a good job. In fact, he becomes embarrassed by pomp and circumstance, Andersen notes. Fortunately for Alex, he doesn't need ceremonies to recognize his authority. He has the respect of those he works with and those who work for him. Kathy, who is retiring as well from her long career as counsel to Sonoma County, says she doubts either one of them will sit back and watch the world go by. Alex will keep on with the letter carriers union for a while, she expects, and with his efforts to make labor unions more a part of an overall progressive movement that includes the environment and affordable housing. And of course, as an avid cyclist, he will spend more time enjoying the stunning bike trails of northern California. But the impact of his life protecting workers' rights will live on in Sonoma County. So, too, will the philosophy he and his wife share and live--that no one can afford to ignore justice that goes awry. Madam Speaker, Alex Mallonee's advocacy for just causes has meant a lot to me over the years. Because of this and especially because of his life and legacy to the people of Sonoma County, I am proud to honor him on his retirement.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, while I cannot support H.R. 1585, this legislation does contain the provisions of H.R. 3481, the ``Support for Injured Servicemembers Act,'' a bill that I introduced in the House and which amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide 6 months of leave for spouses, children, parents and other ``next of kin'' to care for injured service members. H.R. 3481 implements one of the recommendations of the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, chaired by Secretary Shalala and Senator Dole. The Family and Medical Leave Act is intended to help individuals balance their family and work obligations. Ninety million working people are now eligible for unpaid job protected leave for up to 12 weeks a year. When the Act was passed in 1993, it was a giant step and is of great importance to working families. Since a majority of military spouses work, they too must balance work and family. They work to put food on the table and support their families, just like the rest of us. But they face additional challenges because their lives are disrupted by multiple deployments, involving not only active service members but those in the National Guard and reserves as well. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in over 30,000 casualties with many servicemembers being seriously wounded. These injured warriors need substantial support and care from their families, often for long periods of time, and some permanently. The Workforce Protections Subcommittee, which I chair, held a hearing in September on H.R. 3481. We heard from several witnesses about the need for extended family and medical leave in these instances. Unfortunately, this Administration has let down our returning service members and their families. Therefore, I introduced H.R. 3481, so no matter where we come down on the merits of these conflicts, we can help families who support loved ones who put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan. The provisions of H.R. 3481 will certainly help.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, the holiday movie season usually begins each year around Christmas Day, but this year the holiday movie season has begun early. It began this week, in fact, when the administration premiered its new movie entitled, ``Iraq: The Sequel.'' As you will recall, the first Iraq movie began with the administration warning us about weapons of mass destruction and mushroom clouds. Then we invaded Iraq where we discovered that the weapons of mass destruction didn't exist. But the administration kept coming up with new reasons to keep the occupation going. The American people gave this first Iraq two thumbs down, but that hasn't discouraged our leaders in the White House. They have been busy writing the same exact script for ``Iraq: The Sequel,'' which is all about Iran. In this movie, the administration warns us about Iranian weapons of mass destruction, in this case a nuclear weapons program. Then it gives us new visions of mushroom clouds by warning us about World War III. Then we discover, as we did last week, that the nuclear weapons program does not exist. In fact, it was suspended back in 2003. But the administration continues to come up with new reasons to keep the crisis going. Yesterday we were told that Iran was dangerous, Iran is dangerous, Iran will be dangerous. So the administration's drumbeat for war in general, and against Iran in particular, goes on. Before we go back to the dark days, Madam Speaker, the dark days of shock and awe, I have a few questions to ask. First, why did it take 4 long years to discover the truth about the Iranian nuclear weapons program? Was this another example of intelligence being manipulated for political purposes? Why did the administration warn us in October that Iranian nuclear weapons could start World War III when the Director of National Intelligence went to the White House in August to say that Iran's nuclear weapons system ``may be suspended''? There is nothing, nothing more reckless and irresponsible than to terrify the world about World War III when there is no basis for it. Why did the administration continue to use threatening language yesterday? Yesterday, when the truth was already known. Instead of looking for opportunities for peace, this administration continues to look for ways to keep tensions as high as possible. My last question, Madam Speaker, is why does the administration seem so intent on wrecking America's credibility? By doing so, this administration has made the world a much more dangerous place and has undercut our own national security. We are like the boy who cries wolf. No one will believe what we say now, and that means we cannot lead the world effectively against terrorism and towards peace. The movies of ``Iraq'' and ``Iraq: The Sequel'' have both bombed. We need a new plot, a plot that begins with responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq, which would be the essential, responsible first step. When we do that, we can begin to bring together all the parties in the region that have a stake in keeping a lid on violence and reducing tensions. We must change course because that is the only way to regain the moral leadership. And we must reshape events, and we must reshape them in ways that are favorable to the United States and to peace around the world.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the energy bill before us today raises the bar and sets new, higher standards for us as a Nation and all I can say is ``It' s about time.'' It's about time we raised CAFE standards to a level to be competitive with the rest of the world. Allowing these standards to fall behind is an embarrassment for a country that should be a role model for other countries in technology and efficiency. It's about time that we had a nationwide renewable energy standard. Renewable energy in some form is available in every corner of this Nation. We need to invest in it and make it work for us and for a cleaner future for our children. Setting a standard at 15 percent is a good start. And it's about time that we work toward making cleaner fuels for our automobiles. That's why I'm proud language is included in this bill that i authored with the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Bartlett, which sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the production and use of biofuels. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and move our energy policy forward for our children and grandchildren. It's about time.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on December 6, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my vote for rollcall No. 1141. Had I been present I would have voted: rollcall No. 1141--``yea.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 597, to reauthorize the Postage Stamp for Breast Cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women and the leading cause of cancer death among women under the age of 40. Research is key to improving breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment. In the 9 years the stamp has been sold, it's raised more than $40 million to fund breast cancer research around the country. In those nine years, great strides have been made, but we can do more and that's why we should support the extension of the breast cancer stamp. In addition to this important legislation, we need to do more to prevent breast cancer deaths in women under the age of 40. Approximately 11,000 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, of which nearly 1 ,300 will die. However, most research, education, and prevention efforts are focused upon women over the age of 45. That's why I introduced the Annie Fox Act, H.R. 715, named after a young woman in my district who was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at the age of35. This bill will authorize research into the causes of breast cancer in younger women and educate them about the risks of breast cancer. It is important that we not only continue to fund research and education over the ages of 45, but that we also do so for our younger women so that they may live long, healthy lives. I applaud the passage of this important legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to pass H.R. 715, the Annie Fox Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, we were reminded about just how fragile our waterways are when a ship ran into the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and spilled 58,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay. The spill spread and soiled the pristine beaches of Marin County, in my district. It also threatened the Point Reyes seashore and restoration projects in Richardson Bay and San Pablo Bay. Thousands of volunteers, including many of my constituents, spent countless hours cleaning up. Fishermen volunteered their boats and their time to help with clean up efforts. Without their help, the cleanup efforts would have taken much longer, more birds could have died, and more of the oil would have been unrecoverable. Unfortunately, not enough training sessions were offered and many potential volunteers were turned away from helping with the clean up efforts because they lacked the necessary training. We need to learn from this and provide more training opportunities and better utilize potential volunteers. As we move forward, we must also look into new technologies to prevent spills and protect water and beaches. In Marin County, booms across Bolinas Lagoon and Drakes Estero failed and left these areas vulnerable to oil spill contamination. We need to ensure that we have enough equipment to respond quickly and effectively, especially for areas somewhat distant from spill mobilization centers. We also need to ensure that we have enough people trained to handle this equipment and manage the response efforts at these sites. Thank you, Speaker Pelosi and Representative Tauscher for your leadership on this resolution. Thank you to my constituents and to all the volunteers who assisted with clean up efforts.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has literally changed the face of one of the largest cities in my district. Larry Dito has for 35 years directed the parks, recreation and community services program for the City of Novato. On a small budget, using good old-fashioned teamwork and cooperation, Larry has enriched the lives of skateboarders, dog owners, seniors and teens by creating new buildings, new parks and new opportunities, as well as renovating older ones and making them usable. From his first days here, in 1972, Larry gather a small, loosely- banded group of rural folks and formed it into a community. ``He developed the mission of the department to enrich community life,'' says Jennifer Goldfinger, assistant to the city manager. ``And that's really what he's been all about.'' Larry accomplished this by convincing people to work together for the greater good. Members of Rotary, Elks, schools and neighborhoods pitched in to realize the vision of a community where all its citizens could enjoy living there. ``He is known for creating partnerships,'' Goldfinger explains. ``He's very good at bringing people together.'' And those same people extol his virtues. He is universally liked and admired. ``I cannot think of a negative thing about him,'' notes Nancy Sangster, who, as a former parks and recreation commissioner, worked with Larry for years and still considers him a friend. ``Any good word you can find in the dictionary, you can say about him.'' High praise, perhaps, but Larry has earned it. Thanks to his work, Novato seniors have the Margaret Todd Senior Center. Because of Larry's ability to build consensus with other organizations, Novato teens have a place to hang out--the Novato Teen Center. With Larry's help and guidance in engineering a joint project, the City's children have the Novato Gymnastics Center, the skate park, the Hill gym, and a full complement of girls' sports programs and after school athletics. But Larry has not just created new programs and facilities; he has also given new life to the old. He spearheaded the renovation of the Indian Valley College swimming pool, as well as the outdoor ball fields there. Sangster adds to the list the Hamilton re-use projects at the old Hamilton Air Force Base. Here, Larry had the pool and amphitheater renovated for activities, programs and plays the entire county can participate in. His tireless efforts have also resulted in a number of small alterations in the city--improvements that most people didn't notice, but that affected the lives of many. For example, it was Larry who convinced concerned homeowners that allowing the upgrade of neighborhood parks to make them ADA accessible would actually benefit them, as well. ``He always found groups to help build, so that much of the labor was donated,'' Sangster explains. ``He knows how to bring out the best in everybody.'' And this list doesn't begin to include all Larry's accomplishments. Across the freeway from the giant Novato shopping center called Vintage Oaks runs a brackish haven for water fowl, lined with cat-tails and, on the weekends, cars of the many visitors. Rescued from developers who would have turned it into condos, this lovely marsh attracts birds, frogs, snakes, people and dogs. For commuters stuck in the nightmare traffic that lines the freeway to the east, Scottsdale Marsh is a reminder of to relax. It is also, says Sangster, one of the most outstanding such projects in the United States. How did one man accomplish so much? He works long hours, yes, but even more, he knows how to lead. Larry's sparkling personality brings people together and puts them at ease. They recognize he is genuine. Sangster explains that he is not only a good delegator, but he inspires confidence in others to make decisions--and they are good decisions. He expects the best and people rise to the occasion. In addition to his dedication to the City of Novato, Larry is a devoted family man who assumed leadership responsibility for his own children's sports groups as they were growing up. And he's the kind of friend who is always there to help out. ``He always puts his friends above his personal plans,'' Sangster says, recounting how 10 years ago, Larry and his wife gave up travel plans for their anniversary in order to attend her husband's funeral. ``Everybody is important to him.'' Madam Speaker, every part of the City of Novato bears the stamp of Larry Dito's efforts to improve life for every member of the community--young, old, wealthy, working-class or needy, athlete or amateur. But even more, the residents of Novato carry the legacy of this man's example--that one person can be the catalyst for change to create a community. And that, Madam Speaker, is why I honor Larry Dito on his retirement, after 35 years in service to a community forever in his debt.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 147, which recognizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) 200th anniversary. When President Thomas Jefferson originally established the first Federal science agency, Survey of the Coast, in 1807, its mandate was to create charts for safe navigation. Over the years, bureaus related to the regulation and protection of our fisheries, the study of weather and climate change, and many other important responsibilities were added. Today, this agency, now known as NOAA, has a global reach and a broad range of programs that touch all our lives. From promoting waterborne commerce and fisheries to predicting weather and global climate change, NOAA's role is crucial to our Nation. I'm particularly proud of the National Marine Sanctuaries, which were created under NOAA's jurisdiction in 1972. In Northern California, we are privileged to have three such sanctuaries, the Monterey National Marine Sanctuary, the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, and the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. With our oceans and marine life increasingly threatened, these sanctuaries play an invaluable role in enhancement and protection. The importance of the sanctuaries was recently highlighted when an oil spill polluted the precious waters of the San Francisco Bay with 58,000 gallons of oil. NOAA and marine sanctuary staff stepped in and provided key assistance in the clean-up and oil containment efforts. We were lucky to have them there. It's events like this that really highlight some of the important work done by NOAA and the marine sanctuaries. This resolution is the product of the Resource Committee's leadership and I appreciate their introducing this resolution to honor NOAA's important work over the last 200 years. I hope that over the next 200 years, we are able to provide NOAA and the marine sanctuaries with the necessary resources and assistance to continue and expand upon the key work that it does.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Representative Thompson to congratulate Holly and Henry Wendt, who are being honored by Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County with the first annual Wetzel Community Leadership Award. They are being recognized for their contributions to life in Sonoma County and their philanthropic leadership on behalf of numerous local causes and organizations. Henry and Holly have been fixtures in Sonoma County for many years, where until recently they owned the highly regarded Quivira Vineyards. Mr. Wendt, formerly the CEO of SmithKline Beecham, spent four decades working in the pharmaceutical and health care industry, and he remains active on the boards of several major corporations. Together, the Wendts have given greatly to the community in Sonoma County, particularly in the fields of education and health care. They offered their substantial resources to Healdsburg High School to renovate and expand the Holly and Henry Wendt Library. Mr. Wendt serves on the advisory board of the Pediatric Dental Initiative, and the Wendts' involvement has helped speed the development of the Redwood Empire Surgery Center. This facility will bring the highest quality dental care to youngsters in coastal northern California. Mr. Wendt has given generously with his time and deep knowledge of healthcare to facilitate the work of Healthcare Foundation Northern Sonoma County. His substantial leadership gift helped ensure that the Healdsburg District Hospital campaign was successful and the hospital remains an outstanding health care provider. Further, he has been instrumental in the success of the Community Foundation Sonoma County. Having served multiple terms as chairman of the board, he provided superb guidance and experience to help the foundation expand its resources and reach, and he remains a member of the leadership board. Madam Speaker and colleagues, at this time it is appropriate that we congratulate Holly and Henry Wendt, who are receiving the Wetzel Community Leadership Award. The Wendts have been dynamic and generous figures in Sonoma County, and the wisdom and guidance they bring to philanthropic endeavors has been a boon to the community.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I was pleased to participate in a joint hearing that took testimony from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. It was supposed to be a turning point in the occupation of Iraq. The purpose of this hearing was to get a report from our military and diplomatic leaders about the record of the so-called surge or escalation in Iraq. Let's first look at what the main purpose of the escalation really was. According to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Admiral Michael Mullen, the surge was to give space for political reconciliation. I quote him here: ``Security is critical to providing the Government of Iraq the breathing space it needs to work toward political national reconciliation and economic growth. Barring that, no amount of troops in no amount of time will make much of a difference.'' The President celebrates that there has been a short-term downward trend in violence. Of course that would happen. When we put our fighting men and women, the best in the world, on the ground in greater and greater numbers, of course they will bring some form of order. But let's be realistic. This is not sustainable. We cannot keep the same number of troops for very much longer. We simply do not have the resources to do so, and our troops should not have such a task. So, yes, they are temporarily keeping a lid on the uprising and attacks. In fact, they've reached back to 2006 numbers, which at that time appalled us, and it should not be something we celebrate today. We are missing our ultimate goal. Like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said, the purpose of the surge was political reconciliation. If the White House put even half of the resources, political and fiscal, behind political reconciliation, we would be in a much different place right now. We would have a stable and inclusive Iraqi national government, not one propped up by the United States. It would have the support of the Iraqi people, and it would be providing strength and dependable security. That, Mr. Speaker, is not what we have. In fact, just last month, a new deal called the Declaration of Principles was inked between President Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki. It's basically a blueprint to keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely, and it allows permanent bases. It may even provide for arming insurgent security forces, which actually looks like arming a militia. The last time we got into the business of arming folks, we ended up with the Taliban. Are we ever going to learn the lesson not to repeat the mistakes of the past? It will be interesting to see how the two leaders will try to jam this latest agreement down the throats of the Iraqi Parliament because the Iraqi Parliament has clearly stated that they are not pleased with the agreement, to say the very least. Let's take a good look at what's going on: The surge has failed. The new White House agreement would keep our troops in Iraq indefinitely. This is not the road to success. This will not make America safer. Mr. Speaker, it's time for bold action. Our friends in the other Chamber and the resident down the road on Pennsylvania Avenue need to face up to reality. Let's act boldly and fulfill our mandate. It's time to end this misguided occupation. It's time to bring our troops home.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, the American people are well aware of the White House's long record of misguided priorities, fear-mongering and incompetence. But over the last few days and weeks, the administration has sunk to absolutely new lows. First we learned that the administration is planning to slash the Department of Homeland Security's request for counterterrorism funding. The Department has asked for $3.2 billion to help States and to help cities protect their ports and transit systems and to give police, firefighters, and other first responders the tools they need to save lives. But the administration is planning to cut the request by more than half. My State of California could lose more than $200 million under the administration's plan. These drastic and life-threatening cuts are outrageous. Just consider the administration's logic. It has spent or requested over $600 billion for the occupation of Iraq which hasn't made us any safer, yet now it wants to cut $1.8 billion out of programs that actually do make us safer. The administration's priorities are not only twisted; they threaten the life of every single American person. But the administration's misdeeds don't end there. A few days after we learned about the homeland security cuts, the administration launched a fear campaign to scare American people into believing that there will be massive cuts in Department of Defense personnel and operations and that Congress will be to blame. But the truth is Congress has already approved nearly half a trillion dollars for the Pentagon, enough to continue its operations. And the majority of Congress tried to appropriate another $50 billion for our troops in Iraq, but the administration and its allies in Congress rejected the money because it was linked to the responsible redeployment of our troops which the American people are demanding. But the final evidence of the administration's blundering came yesterday when the National Intelligence Estimate reported that Iran stopped work on its alleged nuclear weapons program way back in 2003. It now appears that the administration knew about this months and months ago, but continued to tell the world that the danger of Iranian nuclear weapons was real and getting worse. The President went so far as to warn about World War III, and even yesterday the administration continued to raise the threat of World War III. A key section of the NIE said that Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program not because of any saber rattling, but ``in response to increasing international scrutiny and pressure.'' And it said that ``Iran may be more vulnerable to influence on the issue than we judged previously.'' This tells us a lot about what works and what doesn't work when it comes to solving threats to peace. Diplomacy works. International cooperation works. Saber rattling does not work. Threatening World War III doesn't work, and carrots work better than sticks. Our leaders in the White House have never learned these lessons, and the result has been devastating to our ability to be safe in the world. We cannot lead other nations in the fight against terrorism if they see us as warmongers, if they don't see us as peacemakers. We cannot solve the problems that cause terrorism, such as poverty and social injustice, when we have squandered our own claim to moral leadership. Madam Speaker, it is time for a brand-new course in American foreign policy, and the first step must be the responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. This will set the table for the regional and international diplomacy needed, needed for reconciliation and reconstruction in Iraq. And it will send a clear signal to the world that America is ready to be America again, and that means an America that has compassion for the people of the world and an America that stands on the side of peace once again.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3887, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2007. This bill makes great strides in both the areas of prevention and in victim assistance and will strengthen our national commitment to ending this horrific practice. Since its founding, our Nation has been committed to the promotion of human rights and personal dignity. Human trafficking contradicts every core principle upon which our Nation and our international partnerships are based. In recent years, we have seen appalling examples of trafficking--from women sold into sexual slavery . . . to men being pressed into indentured servitude . . . to children forced to become soldiers. Trafficking frequently is tied to other illicit crimes--prostitution, drug running, sweatshops, and armed rebellions. Sadly, the victims have few champions and even fewer resources. And, all too often, national leaders have turned a blind eye to this growing epidemic. Today our strategy is twofold. First, we are extending care and assistance to the victims while protecting them from their traffickers. Second, we are bolstering our efforts to work with international and domestic law enforcement to prevent trafficking at the source. It is essential that we remain dedicated and committed to each track. Additionally, while it is not included in this bill, it is my hope that the administrators of the programs will consider the special needs of the victims and will look into the ``reflection periods'' in place in several countries. This allows additional time for former victims to become comfortable in their new situations before taking further action against their traffickers. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am proud to support this legislation and to urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on November 13, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my vote for rollcall No. 1082. Had I been present would have voted: rollcall No. 1082--``yea.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the Joint Economic Committee of Congress reported yesterday on the hidden costs of the occupation of Iraq. We learned that the true cost so far is $1.3 trillion, or nearly double the amount the administration has been talking and has requested. And the price tag could soar to nearly $3.5 trillion if we continue on the administration's reckless course in Iraq. The hidden financial costs of our involvement in Iraq are staggering, but yesterday we also learned that there are hidden human costs as well that are truly, truly heartbreaking. CBS News reported last night that the suicide rate among veterans is over twice as great as the suicide rate for the general population. In 2005 alone, there were at least 6,256 suicides among veterans in the 45 States that provided data to CBS. That is an astonishing 17 suicides per day for just that one year. Those statistics are for veterans of all wars, and they are shocking. But the statistics for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are even more devastating. Veterans aged 20 to 24 have the highest suicide rate of all. For these young men and women, the suicide rate is two to four times higher than the suicide rate for the general population. And yet another report published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the mental health problems of Iraq veterans are much greater than previously thought. It found that Iraq veterans are more likely to report alcohol abuse, family conflicts, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder after being home for 6 months than immediately after their return. The suicide statistics tell us that the real Iraq death toll is significantly higher than the official count of just over 3,860. And the mental health statistics tell us that the real number of wounded is much, much higher than the reported number of around 28,000. All of this terrible news means that we can no longer sit around and do nothing about the occupation of Iraq. We must take action immediately, and we must take it in two ways. First, America must do a much better job of meeting the physical and mental health needs of our veterans. The administration has underfunded and ignored the Veterans Administration system, leaving veterans stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare that stops them from getting the health care that they need. Congress has passed a bill that would help veterans to get care much faster. It improves conditions at VA hospitals and invests in new ways to treat physical and mental problems caused by the war. The President needs to sign that bill as soon as possible. And, second, we must move immediately to end the occupation of Iraq and redeploy our troops. That is why I voted today for H.R. 4156, the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act. While the bill is not perfect, it essentially says that funds authorized for Iraq will not be used to continue the occupation, but are to be used to achieve the safe and orderly redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. That is what I and many others have been demanding, and that is what the American people have been asking. It is time to stop the death. It is time to stop the suffering. It is time to bring our brave troops home and do everything we can to help them and their families to rebuild their lives. Anything less is unacceptable and immoral.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, today we're going to reauthorize Head Start and reaffirm, through this conference report, our commitment to this very, very valuable program. When I came here 15 years ago, I was insisting that my married children make me a grandmother, and they told me it was just none of my business. But since then, I now have five grandchildren among my four families of young adults, and all of my grandchildren go to preschool. And they are lucky because they have working parents who are professionals who can pick out very good schools for them and make sure, the oldest child is 7\1/2\, and he's the only one in school, he is a second grader, but ensure that when my grandchildren enter grade school, elementary school, that they know what's going on. I mean, I'm telling you, I can't believe it. These kids read, they write, they know their numbers, they know their alphabet, they can play Monopoly, and they aren't even in kindergarten yet. That's what every kid in America deserves, and that's what Head Start does. Head Start evens the playing field so that the fortunate children in my family aren't the only ones that enter elementary school having read books, having understood that you sit down in a classroom, that you have social needs that you have to learn to deal with when you're a young person and you're going to be dealing with other young people in a classroom situation. I feel so fortunate, but I also feel so thankful that in a very bipartisan way, under the chairmanship of Mr. Miller and the good leadership of Mr. McKeon, we were able to pass legislation that will finally bring to this floor a Head Start bill. We need to increase the Head Start funding, of course. We aren't covering every eligible child in the United States, and we must do that over time. It's hard to do when you're spending $1.5 trillion in Iraq. But we must get our priorities in order, and one of our top priorities must be our children. Our children are 25 percent of our population, but guess what? They are 100 percent of our future. We must support programs like Head Start that ensure that our future, when we become really old people and these young people are running our world and running our Congress, they know what they're doing.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. I want to thank Chairman Kildee and Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon, who was the Chair when we were working on this, and Ranking Member Castle for a bipartisan success. We can be proud of ourselves today. Anyone who has been around small children knows that they're sponges for information, they just sop it up if you make it available to them. And it's widely accepted that early childhood education is absolutely critical to their development and directly tied to their success when they get into school, elementary school, and their ongoing future. So getting children in a structured classroom environment earlier in their young lives provides a critical window of opportunity. Head Start provides our Nation's poorest children with a quality start that puts them on a level playing field with others when they start elementary school. No matter where a child comes from or what his or her background is, Head Start provides an equal opportunity to succeed by starting with a quality early childhood education. That's why I'm glad I'm here today as we authorize Head Start, reaffirming our commitment to this valuable program. This bill expands access to Head Start, it improves teacher and classroom quality, and it strengthens the services children and their families receive when they enroll in the program. The administration, however, can and should do better when it comes to funding. Too many eligible children are still denied an opportunity to participate in a Head Start program because there isn't enough funds. Well, if this administration wasn't spending $500 billion in Iraq, we would have the necessary resources to increase funding to allow for program improvement to give every child the Head Start experience and to increase teacher quality and salaries. It just depends on where we put our priorities. Children are 25 percent of our population, Mr. Speaker, but they are 100 percent of our future. We must provide them with the best possible beginning to their lives. So, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues to increase our Nation's commitment to education for all of our children and to ensure that Head Start remains the successful experience that it is.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. This is almost the 250th time I have been down on this House floor to talk about Iraq in the last 2 years. I can't remember, so I say almost how many times it's been. During that time, the American people have been demanding two things, that the Congress step up to our responsibility and bring our troops home, and that we take bold steps to face up to the President by using our power, the power of the purse, to hold him accountable for what is going on in Iraq. Today, Speaker Pelosi is leading the House of Representatives in a bold direction. It is the first time so far that we have tied funding to redeployment. Ninety-two Members of the House have written a letter to the President demanding that no more funding for Iraq go forward without it, meaning bringing our troops home and redeployment. This vote also leads to next year's appropriations where we can use the power of the purse and fully fund bringing our troops home in a very responsible and very timely and actually safe way. This bill is not perfect. It is the boldest step yet, however, and we must support it. I would not support it if we were not tying the funding to responsible redeployment. I would not support it unless there was a start date for the President to begin the redeployment of our brave men and women in uniform. This bill is the beginning, but it is a bold beginning. I think we should consider everything that is in it, and then build on that for the future and get our troops home as soon as possible.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on November 7, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my vote for Rollcall #1058. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall #1058--``yea.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it's clear that the Alternative Minimum Tax, AMT, needs to be fixed. Year after year, we play this game of ``chicken'' with the end of the year, leaving millions of hard working American families fearful that they will be captured in a tax that was never meant to touch them. The good news is that the difference between this year's AMT patch and the ones that we did under the previous majority is that this time we are actually going to pay for it. In my district alone, H.R. 3996 will save over 59,000 taxpayers from being subject to the AMT and it's my hope that this will be a first step to a responsible solution to permanently fixing this tax policy. Also included in this bill is an extension and expansion of the Child Tax Credit, CTC, refund-ability. With economic disparity at its highest level since the Great Depression, expansion of this tax credit will help low-income families raise their children and help them get ahead. Finally, we are addressing the growing problem of the increasing gap between the wealthiest and the rest of America through a more equitable tax code. Thank you to Chairman Rangel and Chairman Neal for all of their hard work on this bill, closing loopholes, extending essential tax credits, and balancing the tax code.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, throughout most of our history, the world has admired the United States for our dedication to freedom, international law, and human rights. But today America's prestige is in the pits because of the administration's reckless occupation of Iraq. The resignation last week of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the State Department brought new attention to our low standing in the world. The Under Secretary was hired in 2005 to improve our image in the world with a public relations campaign. But the effort failed. It failed because no amount of spin could overcome the catastrophic consequences of our occupation of Iraq. Today, according to the Pew Global Attitudes Project, our image in the world is actually worse than it was before the public relations campaign began. Pew surveyed 33 countries and found that the United States is viewed less favorably in 26 of those countries. To be fair to the Under Secretary, her bosses in the White House had done a good job of trashing America's image in the world long before she started her job. At the beginning of this decade, Mr. Speaker, the United States was viewed very favorably in many countries. But not anymore. For example, 78 percent of the German people viewed the United States favorably in the year 2000. Now it's just 37 percent. In Spain we have gone from a favorability rating of 50 percent to 23 percent. In Great Britain we have gone from 83 percent to 56 percent. And in France we have gone from 62 to 39. In the Muslim world, we have just about fallen off the charts. In Turkey, for example, we have gone from 52 percent to just 12 percent. And, most tragically, our occupation of Iraq has undermined support for American leadership in the fight against terrorism. In fact, less than half the people in all the countries I just cited are now willing to follow our lead. We shouldn't be surprised by this. It is much harder to convince others to get behind us in the fight against terrorism when they actually believe that we are the threat to peace ourselves. And it's much harder for us to fight many other world problems, including poverty, disease, lack of education, and global warming when our standing in the world has hit rock bottom. This foreign policy disaster is the result of a White House that has run amok for nearly 7 years. When you tear up your treaties, walk away from your friends, condone torture, go to war under false pretenses, and carelessly throw around words like ``World War III,'' you don't make America stronger; you make America weaker by destroying our credibility and undermining our moral authority. The American people understand this, and they are demanding a new course for our Nation. They know the administration will never give us that; so they are looking to Congress to do the job. So far we have failed, but we have the power to turn things around, the power of the purse. We must use it, and we must use it to insist that any further funding for Iraq be dedicated to bringing our troops home. We must fully fund the safe, orderly, and timely redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. And we must also force the withdrawal of all of our military contractors who are acting like thugs in our Nation. We have a chance. We have a chance right now. If we don't take advantage of it, we will have failed our children and we will have failed America.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I along with Hon. Ellen O. Tauscher, Hon. Anna G. Eshoo, Hon. Mike Honda, Hon. George Miller, Hon. Tom Lantos, Hon. Zoe Lofgren, Hon. Mike Thompson, Hon. Pete Stark and Speaker Nancy Pelosi are proud to rise today to honor Teamsters Joint Council 7 on the occasion of their 100th anniversary. Theirs is a proud history, whose origins in the days of the California Gold Rush speak to a long- time concern for the welfare of working people. In the mid-1800s, when San Francisco was a booming Gold Rush town, the Teamsters Association was formed to address competition from Australians who had arrived with stronger horses. While not a true trade union, it was the first teamster organization on the West Coast and the precursor of Teamsters Joint Council 7. The Teamsters Association collapsed in the depression of 1854, and in 1856, a new Draymen's and Teamsters Union was formed. By 1888, however, the majority of working teamsters had dropped out, leaving a guild of employers and bosses. Due to poor conditions, a second attempt was made to create a union in 1900, and again the organization was commandeered by employers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters came into existence in 1903 and stepped up to organize local unions by occupation after the 1906 earthquake led to a more complex system of goods distribution. On November 18, 1907, the Joint Council was chartered to oversee these groups. By 1912 there were 13 groups ranging from hackmen to ice wagon drivers. The Joint Council helped in disputes with employers as well as differences among the locals, relieving union officers of many routine duties and improving the welfare of the membership. In those early years, Teamsters Local 85 dominated the operations and provided notable leadership. Local 85 had demonstrated its ability to create solidarity when they called a strike in 1901. Other labor unions rallied around, and the employers backed down. This action earned San Francisco a reputation as the strongest ``Union Town'' in the nation. Today Joint Council 7 has 15 affiliates and serves the greater Bay Area from Santa Rosa in the north to Salinas/Monterey in the south. The current affiliates are: Local 70, Oakland, Chuck Mack, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 78, Hayward, Steve Mack, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 85, San Francisco, Van Beane, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 278, San Francisco, Jack Bookter, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 287, San Jose, Bill Hoyt, Secretary- Treasurer; Local 315, Martinez, Dale Robbins, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 350, Daly City, Robert Morales, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 490, Vallejo, Carlos Borba, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 624, Santa Rosa, Bob Carr, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 665, Daly City, Ernie Yates, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 853, San Leandro, Rome Aloise, Secretary- Treasurer; Local 856, San Bruno, Joseph Lanthier, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 890, Salinas, Franklin Gallegos, President; Local 896, Vallejo, Rene Medrano, Secretary-Treasurer; Local 912, Watsonville, Brad Sebring, Secretary-Treasurer. Under the leadership of president Chuck Mack, who has served for 25 years, the organization has developed many additional functions. These include legal support, a commercial drivers' training program, political activity to support working families, alcohol and drug treatment, and maintenance of a charitable trust to assist members after disasters and tragedies as well as to support community causes. Their own words say it best: ``100 hundred years old and our members are still priority number one!'' Madam Speaker, organized labor in this country has led to better wages, health care, and pensions for workers. Throughout the years, Teamsters Joint Council 7 has reaffirmed its commitment to the working families of the Bay Area. We all wish Joint Council 7 continued success in the future and hope that their second hundred years will be as productive as the first hundred.