Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois and thank our ranking member for making this possible this morning. As a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and as Chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I truly am proud to have brought H.R. 2637 to the floor today. The Child Labor Protection Act of 2007 is a narrowly drafted, bipartisan bill that increases penalties substantially for violations of child labor protection provisions that actually cause death or serious injury. Although this legislation does not make the imposition of penalties mandatory, it leaves the decision of whether or not to assess penalties up to the Secretary of Labor, and it provides the Department with an additional enforcement tool to address the most serious labor violations. There is much more that must be done, Mr. Speaker, to strengthen our child labor laws, but this bill is a small first step. It is a beginning.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, providing our police forces, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and public health personnel with the resources they need to effectively confront and overcome the threats posed by terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies requires our continued commitment and dedication. Our first responders work tirelessly to protect and aid victims of disasters across our country. It's our responsibility to make sure they have the support necessary to perform their jobs. The dedicated men and women who serve the people of California's 6th District understand the importance of adequate homeland security resources. Each day, ships arrive to dock in ports throughout the Bay Area, commuters travel across the Golden Gate Bridge and the Richmond- San Rafael Bridge, and travelers fly all over the world. In order to best utilize the well-trained first responders in my District, we need to enhance the security of the Bay Area's waterways, expand our ability to better prepare for disasters, and improve our ability to mitigate their effects once they occur. In 2004, Congress provided $4.92 billion in grants for port security and our first responders. Since then, the Bush Administration and the last Republican Congress cut funding for these programs every year, despite the fact that the costs of preparing for new homeland security threats have steadily increased. The President has continued to deny the importance of sufficiently funding our first responders by asking for only $2.55 billion for these grant programs this year. We cannot expect local communities to be the first to respond to an emergency unless we give them the resources to do so. Additionally, we cannot assure safe passage for those traveling into our country, nor that the containers transported aboard the airplanes and ships do not conceal weapons of mass destruction unless we provide adequate funds toward improving the safety and security of both our ports and our airlines. Fortunately, the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2008 represents an important step in remedying past failures to support our first responders and to strengthen our national security. This bill provides $4.52 billion for first responder and port security grant programs, $1.97 billion above President's request and $863 million above the total these programs received in Fiscal Year 2007. Specifically, it provides $800 million for firefighter assistance grants, $800 million for urban security grants, and $400 million for port facilities and infrastructure security grants. This bill also eliminates the cap on the number of federal airport screeners that the Transportation Security Administration can employ, which will help to improve security at airports nationwide. In addition to funding measures to address our country's most pressing security vulnerabilities, the Homeland Security Appropriations bill also increases funding for our country's Disaster Relief Fund to $1.7 billion in order to assist state and local governments following a declared disaster or emergency and provides $230 million to modernize over 100,000 flood maps used to determine rates for the National Flood Insurance Program. Additionally, this important piece of legislation will require that all homeland security contracts will be awarded in an open, competitive process, ending the Bush Administration's practice of awarding large-scale contacts to companies with political connections to the White House. Furthermore, this bill will make sure that all funds allocated in this bill can only be used for projects that comply with the Davis-Bacon mandate, requiring that federal contractors pay workers no less than the local prevailing wage. Securing our homeland demands a strong partnership between the federal government, state governments, and local communities, and I commend the Democratic leadership and the members of the Appropriations Committee for their diligence in working to strengthen our homeland security. By allocating our country's resources to where they are most needed, we will be able to better prepare for and respond to disasters that that threaten the safety of the American people.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, Friday is World Oceans Day--a day we celebrate the vast waters that cover two-thirds of the surface of our planet. A small, but biologically important part of the Blue Planet is offshore of my 6th Congressional District, a stretch that encompasses the entire coastline of Marin and Sonoma Counties. If you've driven the Marin-Sonoma coast you know how beautiful it is. Most of it is undeveloped or sparsely populated. Its sparkling waters, curling waves, pristine beaches, moon rocked cliffs, surging tide pools, and its soaring seabirds and breeching whales inspire and delight. Thanks to nutrient rich upwelling which provides a bounty of phytoplankton at the bottom of the food chain, our waters support 33 species of marine mammals, including blue and humpbacked whales and elephant seals, at the top of the food chain. That's not to say that even here there are not problems. Today the commercial fishing fleet of Bodega Bay is just a remnant of past days. Last year, because of a water allotment that devasted the Klamath River fishery, our commercial salmon fishing season was slashed. Meanwhile, native coho and chinook salmon and steelhead trout are on the endangered species list. These tragic depletions of our fisheries are symptomatic of many things: global overfishing; inland habitat destruction; and water diversions; climate change; pollution, coastal development--all of which were addressed by reports from the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission, and all of which need to be seriously dealt with. But the ocean is amazingly resilient. Aquatic populations can come back, if we take positive actions. All of our oceans need enlightened governance and protection, but there are places that are so rich, so vitally important to sustaining marine life that we need to immediately take special measures. The northern California coast is one of those places, and that's why I have introduced legislation, H.R. 1187, to expand the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries to include the entire Sonoma and with the support of Representative Mike Thompson and the Mendocino County board of supervisors, the southern Mendocino coast. The current northern boundary of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Banks National Marine Sanctuaries is Bodega Head. Yet research shows that the rich marine geological area of the Gulf of the Farallones actually extends to Point Arena, about 100 miles north of Bodega Head. The Sonoma and southern Mendocino coast has two great estuaries, the Russian and Gualala Rivers. The Russian River watershed is especially burdened by multiple threats caused by human development. My bill protects these estuaries by banning increased polluting discharges into their waters. And, it will ensure that changes in flow or salinity do not harm marine life. Marine sanctuary protection will also ensure that the Bodega Marine Laboratory will be able to continue 50-years of studies in these pristine waters--research that will help us learn how to live with an ocean that is not so endless that it cannot be despoiled. The people of Sonoma and Mendocino love their coast, and because we will bring to it permanent protection, ecosystem management and the vital research that the marine sanctuary program provides, we will pass it on to our children, unspoiled and thriving with life. That's my commitment as we celebrate World Oceans Day.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on June 5th, I was unavoidably detained and was unable to vote on rollcalls Nos. 426-430. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following: Rollcall No. 426, H. Res. 327--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 427, H. Res. 422--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 428, H. Res. 430--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 429, H. Res. 451--``aye.'' Rollcall No. 430, H. Res. 452--``aye.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I join you here today to honor our colleague, Hal Brown, on his 25 years of service to Marin County. Since 1983 when he was first appointed to the Board of Supervisors to represent the Second District, Hal has demonstrated a caring, thoughtful, and committed approach to addressing the issues facing the residents of Marin. Hal's priorities have been clear from the start. He focuses on families, education, environment, responsible government and economic vitality. His own vitality and dedication have led him to serve on more than 25 boards and organizations, from the Marin Conservation League to the Rape Crisis Center, from the county Flood Control and Water District to the Disabled Students Advisory Board. This work has resulted in a long list of notable accomplishments--for example, preserving more than 1,500 acres of open space, promoting free bus rides for students, and authoring Marin's Family Medical Leave law. After the New Year's Eve flood of 2005, Hal moved to make his district safer by establishing the first regional flood warning system in the Ross Valley. For long-range safety, he has spearheaded efforts for towns and organizations to work with the county, State and Federal governments to implement a comprehensive flood control plan. ``It doesn't make sense to look at just flood control or environmental restoration or water quality issues in isolation,'' Hal has said. ``We need to address the problem with an approach that makes common, ecological and economic sense. A watershed-wide approach could meet the test of all three.'' A San Anselmo resident for 35 years, Hal coached various youth sports while raising his two sons, Mike and Chris. Madam Speaker, I have appreciated working with Supervisor Brown on the many issues faced by the Marin community, and I look forward to continuing our partnership. Congratulations, Hal, on your 25 years of dedicated service.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, the Child Labor Protection Act of 2007 is a narrowly drafted bipartisan bill that amends the Fair Labor Standards Act, FLSA, to increase civil penalties for those who violated child labor provisions. Specifically, it would: Increase penalties from $11,000 to $50,000 for violations that cause death or serious injury; provide that the penalty can be doubled when the violation causing death or serious injury is repeated or willful; and provide that the $50,000 penalty can be assessed for each violation. This legislation does not make the impositions of penalties mandatory--whether or not to assess a penalty is still discretionary with the Secretary of Labor--but it would provide the Department of Labor with a much needed enforcement tool to address the most serious child labor violations, deter repeat occurrences and further strengthen its enforcement of laws that protect children. There is much that must be done to strengthen our child labor laws, and this bill is the foundation for future action that I hope my Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the Committee on Education and Labor will take on these issues.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 226) to recognize John Pehle for his contributions to the Nation in helping rescue Jews and other minorities from the Holocaust during World War II, as amended.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Lantos, chairman of the committee and my Bay Area neighbor, for working so closely with me to bring this resolution to the floor today. As the only Holocaust survivor in the Congress, his support of this resolution means very much to all of us, and particularly to me. H. Res. 226 is a resolution to recognize American government officials who played a critical role in the creation and activity of the War Refugee Board in an effort to help rescue Jews and other persecuted minorities during the years of the Holocaust. Because of their actions and because of their bravery, an unknown number of people were saved from the horrific reign of Adolf Hitler and his followers. Specifically, we are commending the actions of Secretary of Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Josiah DuBois and John Pehle for their dedication and devotion to helping rescue Jews and other persecuted minorities during the Holocaust. To many, World War II and the Holocaust may seem long, long, long ago. For others, however, this is a memory which will be imprinted in their soul forever. Six million Jews were killed under the brutal and evil reign of Adolf Hitler while many countries turned a blind eye to their ethnic cleansing and genocide. During this dark time, some brave men and women stood up and demanded that every person, no matter their ethnic background, be treated justly and humanely. The people serving the War Refugee Board sent a historic cable to the diplomatic missions ordering that ``action be taken to forestall the plot of the Nazis to exterminate the Jews and other persecuted minorities in Europe.'' They developed new programs to increase the flow of Jewish and other refugees from Nazi persecution to neutral countries. After the horror of the concentration camps and extermination campaigns were revealed, the world said ``never again.'' And yet, Mr. Speaker, we look around the world to see hauntingly similar events occurring, particularly in places like Darfur. Mr. Speaker, if we truly wish to honor the memory of the Holocaust victims, we must come together to stand up in the face of bigotry and hatred all around the world today. The action of the War Refugee Board is an amazing example of courage, human kindness, and compassion. Today, we rise to recognize their service to this country and to humankind. We rise to remember the Jews and minorities who perished under a reign of terror. But it is with hope that we look to the future, a future of peace and human dignity where ``never again'' means never again. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from American Samoa and the gentleman from Arkansas for their kind words. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, tonight I rise to demand that President Bush take immediate action as Commander in Chief to overrule a proposed new strategy in Iraq, a proposal that may put our troops in even greater danger in the days ahead. The New York Times reported this morning that our commanders in Iraq are now planning to give weapons to Sunni Arab groups, weapons that may turn around and be used against our very own troops. In the past, these Sunni groups have been allied with al Qaeda and have actually been suspected of being involved in attacks upon our troops. So why are we doing this? According to the Times, our commanders have reason to believe that the Sunnis have split with al Qaeda and are now ready to fight on our side. Well, it could be true, but this strategy is fraught with terrible peril for our brave men and women in combat. The Times reports, ``Critics of the strategy, including some American officers, say it could amount to the Americans arming both sides in a future civil war. The United States has spent more than $15 billion in building up Iraq's Army and police force, whose manpower of 350,000 is heavily Shiite. With little sign of a political accommodation between Shiites and Sunni politicians in Baghdad, there is a risk that any weapons given to Sunni groups will eventually be used against Shiites.'' And I must mention, our troops will be stuck in the middle, dying for what? Because there is the possibility, says the Times, the weapons could be used against the Americans themselves. Let me repeat that last sentence, ``There is also the possibility the weapons could be used against the Americans themselves.'' That's what the Times had to say. But first, Madam Speaker, we sent our troops into battle without the proper body armor or vehicle armor. Then we put them in the middle of a bloody civil war they were never trained to fight. Then, when many of them got wounded, we gave them terrible medical treatment at home. Now this is the latest outrage. Madam Speaker, I do not condemn our commanders in the field for making this decision. They are taking this risk because they are desperate to implement President Bush's hopeless, foolish surge policy, but the surge has not worked, is not working and will not work. As the Times reports, ``An initial decline in sectarian killings in Baghdad in the first two months of the troop buildup has reversed, with growing numbers of bodies showing up each day in the capital. Suicide bombings have dipped in Baghdad, but increased elsewhere, as al Qaeda groups, confronted with great American troop numbers, have shifted their operations elsewhere.'' There's only one way, Madam Speaker, out of this. We must bring our troops home, and then we must work with the Iraqi people and we must work with them in a peaceful way to reconstruct their devastated Nation. Last month, a bill that called for starting the withdrawal of our troops within 90 days received 171 votes in this House. Some pundits were surprised that it received that much support. I wasn't. Opposition to this President's failed foreign policy is growing all over America, and those voices are eventually being heard in this body more and more every day. Madam Speaker, if American troops are harmed by this new war strategy, then the American people will hold the President accountable. But if we in this House condone it as well, or remain silent, then we will be responsible, too. Our job is to force this administration to fully fund the plan to bring our troops and our contractors home, home where they are not positioned in the middle of a civil war.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman on the Rules Committee for yielding to me. I rise in support of this bill and in support of the promise that comes with funding embryonic stem cell research. Millions of Americans suffer from diseases for which we might actually find a treatment. Millions more watch family and friends suffer while we deny a chance for a cure. How can we tell a parent watching a child suffer from cancer that we aren't going to do every single thing possible to save that child? How can we tell a child that we won't try to put a halt to the ravages of the Parkinson's disease from which a father or mother is suffering? How can we tell a teenager that there is a chance we could repair a damaged spinal cord so that the teen can walk again but we aren't going to pursue it? How can we tell someone with a family member with Alzheimer's disease that we won't try every single thing possible to fight it? In my own district, the Buck Institute on Aging is doing great research into lifesaving research with embryonic stem cells. Just recently, they received a grant from the State of California to continue their great work. Private research facilities and States are on the forefront of research, and the Federal Government must join them. Today, we have an obligation. We have an obligation to the people of this country to support research that could prevent suffering, that could save countless lives. Federal funding for research in stem cells is vital. It is vital to making real progress as quickly as possible to find real cures. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill that will certainly have long-lasting effects in improving the health and the well-being of millions of Americans; and I, too, want to thank Congresswoman Diana DeGette from Colorado for being such a leader in the stem cell debate.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 422, a resolution calling on China to use its unique influence and economic leverage to stop genocide and violence in Darfur. I would like to thank the Congresswoman from California for her dedication to human rights throughout the world and especially in Darfur. I was pleased to be a cosponsor of this bill and pleased that this Congress will not let the ongoing genocide go unnoticed or ignored. What's taking place in Darfur today is truly a crime against humanity. Every day women are raped, men are killed, and children face violence, hunger, and desperation. China has chosen to continue to invest in Sudan and to prop up a government bent on murder and bloodshed. Let us be clear: any country that supports the Khartoum government's brutality--either through monetary or military support--is complicit. I urge the support of this resolution and call on our own administration to take immediate actions to bring an end to the genocide in Sudan.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Afghanistan Freedom Support Act and to thank the chairman and the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for this bipartisan bill. H.R. 2446 provides for reconstruction and reconciliation. It provides for the future of Afghan people by supporting women's rights, supporting education, agricultural initiatives and civil society reform. Actually, this bill is doing what we could and what we should do in Iraq. It builds a path, a true path to peace. With H.R. 2446, through economic political and reconstruction support, we can help rebuild a nation. We can provide hope for a safe and prosperous future for another nation. And we can also learn from this bill, learn that democracy and stability come from international partnerships, not from guns, not from bombs.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning of the war, which is now an occupation, in Iraq, the Bush administration has not kept faith with our troops. Whether it was sending them into combat without the proper body armor or failing to provide wounded veterans with proper care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, this administration has turned its back on our brave men and women time and time again. Another example of this outrageous mistreatment is the Pentagon's ``stop loss'' policy. A very disturbing article about ``stop loss'' appeared 3 days ago in the Chicago Tribune. Actually, it should be required reading for every single Member of this House. The article says: ``As the United States moves into its 5th year in Iraq and escalates troop levels there, the Pentagon has kept combat units manned by forcing as many as 80,000 soldiers to stay in uniform in war zones even after their enlistment obligations have been met or their retirement dates have passed. ``The policy, known as ``stop loss'' . . . has sparked . . . a spate of lawsuits and in backlash in the ranks. `` . . . The vast majority of troops find that stop loss means one thing: Instead of beginning new lives in the civilian world, they are headed back to Iraq for their second, third, or even fourth combat tour, a practice critics say amounts to nothing less than an involuntary draft. `` . . . Suzanne Miller, a Jacksonville lawyer whose son expects to be stop-lossed this summer, said, `I like . . . to call it indentured servitude . . . you have no control over your own destiny and are being forced, under threat of prison, to work for an employer you no longer want to work for.' '' Mr. Speaker, it is time to stop mistreating our troops and the families who wait so patiently for their return. We need bold action to bring our troops home. Last month this House had the opportunity to take such bold action. We had a bill before us that would have fully funded a safe withdrawal of our troops and defense contractors starting within 90 days. This bill also would have provided for the social and economic reconstruction of Iraq so that the Iraqi people could look to their future with hope. And it would have supported diplomatic efforts and multinational efforts to restore security in Iraq. That plan of action made sense. But instead of taking bold action, the Congress took the same old action and gave the President every single thing he wanted in the supplemental spending bill. There is no timetable for withdrawal, and the President doesn't even have to hold the Iraqi government accountable for failing to meet the benchmarks in the bill. Mr. Speaker, every third grader in America is being held accountable for meeting his or her reading and math benchmarks under No Child Left Behind. We are demanding more from our 8-year-olds than the Iraqi government. Mr. Speaker, the American people didn't send us here to go all wobbly in the knees and weak in the stomach when the moment of truth arrived. They sent us here to stand up to the President to end this war, and that is what we must do. So let us begin to restore the good name of the Congress by overturning the original authority for the war. Congress didn't authorize this President to use U.S. troops to police a civil war, which is what Iraq has come to. From here on, there must be one benchmark and one benchmark only. The orderly, fully funded, and fully protected withdrawal of our troops. They have done their duty. Now it is our time to do our duty for them.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave men and women who have fallen in service to our country. This weekend, as we return home to celebrate Memorial Day with our friends and families, let us take time to reflect on the countless sacrifices that have been made by our men and women in uniform. Since the founding of our nation, the men and women in our armed forces have served this country with honor. They have fought to defend and preserve our nation from forces that have threatened to divide our country and destroy our way of life. America is a better place for their courage and their service. As a grateful nation, we cannot ignore our responsibility to repay those who have served in defense of our country. This means doing everything we can to provide our veterans with comprehensive health care that is affordable, accessible, and available for life. Instead of honoring our promises to our veterans, this Administration has tried to turn a blind eye to their problems. This Administration has attempted to push the increasing costs of veterans' health care onto veterans by charging higher premium and deductibles and reducing the number of veterans eligible for healthcare. It's absolutely unacceptable to propose forcing a greater financial burden on our nation's veterans. That's why I'm a proud cosponsor of H.R. 579, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, which would protect our veterans from these unnecessary TRICARE fee increases. Our promise of affordable health care for our veterans is one that we must keep. Additionally, the generation of veterans returning home from combat areas in Iraq and Afghanistan requires new resources to treat their medical needs. However, rather than reinvesting in treatments for traumatic brain injuries (TBI), the Administration has barely scratched the surface of addressing the mental health needs of our veterans. That's why I'm a cosponsor of H.R. 1944, the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment Act, which would require the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) to actively screen and develop long-term care programs for veterans suffering from TBI. Furthermore, we must not allow the substandard care, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and dilapidated conditions at Walter Reed to symbolize our dedication to our veterans. I was I pleased that the House unanimously passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, which will reduce much of the bureaucracy that prevents veterans from receiving quality healthcare, require more caseworkers to be hired, improve the system enabling wounded soldiers to transition from active duty to the VA system, and create a system of patients advocates to hold the VA accountable for problems. We cannot allow this Administration's record of broken promises to our veterans become an accepted standard of treatment. We can do better. I have introduced H.R. 508, the Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act, which would require sufficient funding for veterans' health care every year and would guarantee broad physical and mental healthcare for our veterans. Memorial Day reminds us that meeting the needs of our service men and women requires sustained commitment and determination. We have a moral obligation to ensure that our veterans have the benefits they need. Their profound dedication and patriotism deserve no less.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Mr. Baca, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Berman, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Costa, Mrs. Susan Davis, Ms. Anna G. Eshoo, Mr. Farr, Mr. Filner, Ms. Harman, Mr. Honda, Ms. Barbara Lee, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Matsui, Mr. George Miller, Mrs. Napolitano, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Linda Sanchez, Ms. Loretta Sanchez, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Solis, Mr. Stark, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Mike Thompson, Ms. Maxine Waters, Ms. Watson, Mr. Henry Waxman, we rise with sadness today to honor our good friend and respected mentor, Justice Joseph Rattigan, who passed away after a long illness on May 12, 2007, in Santa Rosa, California. He was 87 years old. Joe Rattigan is a legend in Sonoma County and in California. During a long career as an activist, a civic leader, a state legislator, and a jurist, he earned respect from all whose lives he touched, whether political ally or rival. Known for his eloquence, wit, intelligence, and passion, this remarkable man always had time for people and their concerns. He mentored other lawyers and judges as well as generations of Democratic politicians. Born in 1920, Joe grew up in politics in Washington, DC, where his father was a law partner with Senator O'Mahoney from Wyoming. He attended Catholic University and, after graduating in 1940, worked briefly for the Department of Agriculture before joining the Navy to fight in WW II. He served as an intelligence officer and then commanded a PT boat in the Pacific, earning a decoration for heroism in combat. After the war, Joe enrolled in Stanford Law School, graduating in 1948. He was part of a post-war generation of young lawyers who settled in California at that time and made their mark on a booming state. He soon joined a Santa Rosa law firm and plunged into local affairs and Democratic politics. He served as president of the Sonoma County Bar Association, county chairman for Adlai Stevenson's 1956 Presidential bid, and a member of the Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities. Joe jumped into electoral politics on his own behalf in 1958. He became the youngest state senator in the county's history at age 38, as the Democrats took back the legislature and Edmund G. ``Pat'' Brown became governor, ushering in a new golden era for California. He served two terms, authoring or co-authoring several key bills, including measures establishing medical care services for the elderly (a model for the Federal Medicare program), the Department of Rehabilitation, and the state university system. In 1960, his last-minute maneuvering created Sonoma State College (later University), which is now an integral part of the county as well as of the state's education system. During his time in the legislature and his subsequent 18 years as a justice on the Court of Appeals for Northern California, Joe fought for the oppressed. Having grown up in a segregated city, he was fiercely opposed to discrimination. He supported the controversial Rumsford Fair Housing Act which ended the use of restrictive covenants in housing. He also carried the one-man, one-vote reapportionment measure that altered the way state senators were elected even at a personal cost. This measure split Sonoma County into two districts, causing Joe to lose his seat. Principle always came before politics with Joe Rattigan. He fought against the death penalty, attempting to save convicted felon Caryl Chessman when he was a freshman Senator. It is widely believed that his principled opposition cost him a seat on the state Supreme Court. During his time as an appellate justice, however, he continued to make a mark on California; for example, he supported separation of church and state (despite his Catholic upbringing), championed a first in the nation requirement for cities and counties to adopt general plans, and wrote a decision overturning Black Panther Party leader Huey Newton's murder conviction, which was later upheld. Joe is survived by Elizabeth (Betty), his wife of 65 years, whom he met in the second grade, by his six children--daughters Catharine Kalin and Anne Paine and sons Michael, Thomas, Patrick, and Timothy Rattigan--as well as 12 grandchildren. Madam Speaker, this week Sonoma County residents and people throughout California mourn the passing of Joseph Rattigan. Whether people agreed with him or not--and many in the far more conservative Sonoma County of the 50s and 60s did not--he was respected for his integrity, his political acumen, his sharp legal mind, and a heart as big as the Golden State. In 1997, the State Building in downtown Santa Rosa was named the Joseph Rattigan State Building. We would hope that those who pass through its doors into the bright sunlit foyer will stop for a moment and consider the greatest legacy of Joseph Rattigan: a life that demonstrated that good government isn't only desirable, it is possible.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the Democrats owe our majority to the American public who voted us into power for one simple reason; they trusted us. They trusted us to act boldly to hold this administration accountable and to bring our troops home. So far, we're failing the very trust that they've placed in us. But, more importantly, every day that we allow this occupation to continue, we are failing our brave young men and women, those who are serving honorably and professionally in Iraq, and we are failing their families here at home who are struggling to keep their lives and families together, who are forced to worry whether their loved ones will come home alive or actually in one piece. Today is not an opportunity to claim victory or to give bellicose speeches for partisan debate. Today is an opportunity to grieve for the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for this President who has failed Iraq in his policies. Today is a day to stand by our Nation's sons and daughters who suffer through irreparable physical and mental wounds. Vote ``no.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the sacrifices of those who have dedicated their lives in defense of our country are an important reminder of the price of freedom. These brave heroes have served this country with distinction, and it is our absolute responsibility to honor them. Memorial Day is an opportunity to reflect on how we must support our troops, which means honoring our responsibility to provide the best protection and support for the men and women who serve in our Nation's Armed Forces. It means honoring our promise to provide lifelong health care and benefits for our veterans when they return home, and it means doing everything we can to bring our troops home from Iraq, out of harm's way. As we reflect on the sacrifices and the accomplishments of our veterans, it's vitally important to reaffirm our support for our troops on Memorial Day. And Memorial Day is an opportunity to commend all who have defended our country and safeguarded the values cherished by every single American. It's a chance to repeat that while we strongly disagree with this administration and its continuing occupation of Iraq, we support our troops. This administration refuses to hear the calls of the vast majority of Americans demanding that we bring the troops home. It continues to believe that the only way forward in Iraq is to spend more money, send more troops for an open-ended debacle. This administration maintains its strategy for delay and denial, refusing to plan for an end to the Iraq occupation, a blank check and no accountability. As the administration stubbornly refuses to accept that we cannot win an occupation, the men and women serving in Iraq are suffering the consequences of these mistakes. Nearly 20 percent of the soldiers returning from Iraq experience some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, which puts them at significantly higher risk for suicide and drug addictions. More than 34,000 of our servicemembers have been injured in Iraq, and more than 3,400 have been killed. Sending our soldiers back into an increasingly deadly civil war on extended tours with worn-out equipment is not supporting the troops. We cannot let this neglect for our veterans become the hallmark of the occupation. We must strengthen our commitment to our troops. We must provide them with the support they deserve. That's why I've introduced H.R. 508, the Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act, which will end the occupation within 6 months of passage and will provide for full physical and mental health care for all of our Nation's veterans. Our troops deserve no less. Mr. Speaker, this Memorial Day is an opportunity, an opportunity to celebrate the honorable service of those who were in past wars, those who have served in between wars, and those who are serving today. And we can do that by providing our veterans with the support that they need. It's an opportunity on this Memorial Day to support the troops who are in Iraq by demanding that they come home.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today, during Women Veterans Week, to honor California's more than 165,000 women veterans, whose proud service and unwavering dedication to our country deserve the highest recognition and commendation. Throughout American history, women have courageously distinguished themselves by their service in the armed forces, even if they were not always under formal military command. Originally, women served as nurses, cooks, couriers, and spies during every American conflict from the Revolutionary War to the Spanish-American War, although it was only in 1901 that the Army Nurses Corps was established and uniformed women were formally incorporated into the military. The role of women continued to expand throughout the early 20th century, and by the end of World War II, nearly 350,000 women had served in noncombatant military positions, stationed at the frontlines and often targeted by enemy soldiers. In 1948, President Truman signed into law the Women's Armed Services Integration Act, granting women permanent status in our armed forces and paving the way for full integration of women in the military. Each decade since then, women have enlisted in dramatically increasing numbers, taking on increasingly diverse roles as engineers, communication specialists, intelligence analysts, and special forces. These service members have demonstrated tremendous courage and patriotism, and it's our responsibility to provide them with the strong support they deserve. We owe them no less. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in commending the women of armed forces. Their achievements have made our military the best in the world and their commitment to our country has safeguarded the freedom and way of life cherished by every American.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness today to honor my good friend and respected mentor, Justice Joseph Rattigan, who passed away after a long illness on May 12, 2007, in Santa Rosa, California. He was 87 years old. Joe Rattigan is a legend in Sonoma County and in California. During a long career as an activist, a civic leader, a State legislator, and a jurist, he earned respect from all whose lives he touched, whether political ally or rival. Known for his eloquence, wit, intelligence, and passion, this remarkable man always had time for people and their concerns. He mentored other lawyers and judges as well as generations of Democratic politicians. In fact, his counsel meant a great deal to me when he unexpectedly volunteered his support in my first congressional primary with a field of nine candidates. His endorsement--unsolicited, unequivocal and from the man widely respected as the dean of Sonoma County politics--instilled in me the confidence I needed to succeed. Born in 1920, Joe grew up in politics in Washington, DC, where his father was a law partner with Senator O'Mahoney from Wyoming. He attended Catholic University and, after graduating in 1940, worked briefly for the Department of Agriculture before joining the Navy to fight in World War II. He served as an intelligence officer and then commanded a PT boat in the Pacific, earning a decoration for heroism in combat. After the war, Joe enrolled in Stanford Law School, graduating in 1948. He was part of a post-war generation of young lawyers who settled in California at that time and made their mark on a booming State. He soon joined a Santa Rosa law firm and plunged into local affairs and Democratic politics. He served as president of the Sonoma County Bar Association, county chairman for Adlai Stevenson's 1956 Presidential bid, and a member of the Santa Rosa Board of Public Utilities. Joe jumped into electoral politics on his own behalf in 1958. He became the youngest State senator in the county's history at age 38, as the Democrats took back the legislature and Edmund G. ``Pat'' Brown became governor, ushering in a new golden era for the California. He served two terms, authoring or co-authoring several key bills, including measures establishing medical care services for the elderly, a model for the Federal Medicare program, the Department of Rehabilitation, and the State university system. In 1960, his last minute maneuvering created Sonoma State College, later University, which is now an integral part of the county as well as of the State's education system. During his time in the legislature and his subsequent 18 years as a justice on the Court of Appeal for Northern California, Joe fought for the oppressed. Having grown up in a segregated city, he was fiercely opposed to discrimination. He supported the controversial Rumsford Fair Housing Act which ended the use of restrictive covenants in housing. He also carried the one-man, one-vote reapportionment measure that altered the way state senators were elected even at a personal cost. This measure split Sonoma County into two districts, causing Joe to lose his seat. Principle always came before politics with Joe Rattigan. He fought against the death penalty, attempting to save convicted felon Caryl Chessman when he was a freshman senator. It is widely believed that his principled opposition cost him a seat on the State Supreme Court. During his time as an appellate justice, however, he continued to make a mark on California; for example, he supported separation of church and state (despite his Catholic upbringing), championed a first in the Nation requirement for cities and counties to adopt general plans, and wrote a decision overturning Black Panther Party leader Huey Newton's murder conviction, which was later upheld. Joe is survived by Elizabeth (Betty), his wife of 65 years, whom he met in the second grade, by his six children--daughters Catharine Kalin and Anne Paine and sons Michael, Thomas, Patrick, and Timothy Rattigan--as well as 12 grandchildren. Madam Speaker, this week Sonoma County residents mourn the passing of Joseph Rattigan. Whether people agreed with him or not--and many in the far more conservative Sonoma County of the 50s and 60s did not--he was respected for his integrity, his political acumen, his sharp legal mind, and a heart as big as the Golden State. In 1997, the State building in downtown Santa Rosa was named the Joseph Rattigan State Building. I would hope that those who pass who pass through its doors into the bright sunlit foyer will stop for a moment and consider the greatest legacy of Joseph Rattigan: a life that demonstrated that good government isn't only desirable, it is possible.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, the defense spending in this budget is much, much, much higher than I would like. But I rise today in support of this conference report and the very good work of Chairman Spratt, of his committee, and his staff. Thanks go to Chairman Spratt and the conferees for including my language in this bill to steer more defense dollars to military personnel for their health care, including Walter Reed and TRICARE, and away from outdated, misguided, and unneeded weapons systems that are still being built to fight the threat of the Soviet Union, to protect against the Cold War. This budget also takes on waste at the Pentagon, insisting that DOD presses ahead in implementing over 1,300 unaddressed suggestions from the GAO to reduce waste, fraud and abuse. Mr. Speaker, whenever any Member of this Congress has to stand on the floor and defend what they did in years past, you know it's pretty sure that they made some big mistakes. This budget is a big step in correcting the fiscal mess that the Democratic majority inherited, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, it is our job in Congress to make tough decisions. So given the quagmire in Iraq which is costing $273 million every day, and our troops still don't have the training and equipment they need, and given we have critical needs at home that aren't being fully funded, needs like children's health care, rebuilding the gulf coast, keeping our promise to veterans, repairing tornado-ravaged towns and collapsed bridges, and I could go on and on, and you know it. Sadly, we are still spending at least $60 billion every year to build and maintain weapons that were specifically designed to fight the Soviet Union. It is not exactly the threat we need to worry about in the year 2007. That's why I am offering this amendment to H.R. 1585, an amendment that would require the DOD to identify all weapon systems that are currently being produced that were designed to fight the Cold War, identify their usefulness, and evaluate the cost of savings for eliminating these programs. My amendment wouldn't eliminate a single program. Rather, it is simply asking the Department of Defense to take an inventory of what they are building that was designed to fight the Cold War and report back to Congress. This December will mark the 18th anniversary of a meeting in Malta where the first President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev declared an end to the Cold War. From there, it was another couple of years before the Soviet Union was disbanded, the Berlin Wall came down, and the Iron Curtain collapsed. The Cold War is over. It is time that the Department of Defense realized this and made the proper adjustments in their procurement programs. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.