Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I, along with my colleague Congressman Mike Thompson, rise today to honor Ben Stone, who recently completed 20 years of service as head of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board. Under Ben's quiet but dynamic leadership, the Economic Development Board (EDB) has successfully implemented programs that have more than met the mandate of the County Board of Supervisors to enhance economic development by concentrating on new and innovative programs that enable businesses to remain competitive in a changing economy. Ben came to Sonoma County from the Seattle area where he had been a county administrator in Port Angeles, Washington, a consultant with Arthur Andersen & Co. and a Special Projects Director with Scafco Corporation. He graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla and received his masters of Public Administration from the University of Washington in Seattle. Ben tells the story that, after coming to Sonoma County, he was informed that a decision had been made to close the EDB. However, he commenced creating programs atypical of economic development, which bolstered the local economy, and, 20 years later, the EDB is thriving under his leadership. With the help of a small staff and interns, Ben has developed a number of award-winning programs in concert with local private and public sectors. Many of these programs have been successfully transitioned to community-based organizations. Among them are the Sonoma County Tourism Program, which served to increase tourism 31 percent; two technology groups (SofTech, a trade group, and the North Bay Techonology Roundtable, a policy group); Youth Business Week; the Business Environmental Alliance; the North Bay WorId Trade Association; the Small Business Center now operated by Santa Rosa Junior College; a home-based business project; and a business crime prevention program. Ben's office still operates the Sonoma County Film Commission. Ben also initiated a broad-based strategic planning process resulting in the formation of bachelors and master's degree programs in Engineering Science at Sonoma State University, a new cooperative agricultural marketing program, and an economic research program. An EDB forum, the Business Regulatory Roundtable, involving elected officials, regulatory agencies, and business executives to improve local regulatory processes, resulted in Northern California's first multi-agency Permit Assistance Center. By creating the Economic Development Board Foundation, the EDB is able to support research projects, bring expert speakers to discuss aspects of the economy at local presentations twice annually, present an annual State of the County program, and recognize local business men and women at the annual Spirit of Sonoma County Awards program. Ben developed one of the most visited websites in the County. The EDB pages contain all the research reports, information on upcoming events, the latest initiatives sponsored by his office, and the first live web cast of the State of the County event. In addition, Ben helped establish the California-Swiss Foundation, the World Affairs Council, and has been on the boards of the Sonoma County Museum, the Sonoma County YMCA, and presently is a member of the President's Council at Santa Rosa Junior College. Some form of the Economic Development Board has been a part of Sonoma County since the late 1950s. If you wanted assistance from Ben in the early days of his 20-year tenure, your first task would be to find his office, which moved four times in the first 10 years before finding a home on College Avenue in Santa Rosa. His long-time friends particularly recall his small office on Cleveland Avenue piled with filing boxes that a visitor clambered over to reach his desk. A wall of certificates and plaques now greets visitors to his office, including a Grand Prize for Excellence from the California Association of Economic Development; four Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties; and six Innovation Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations. Madam Speaker, we want to honor Ben Stone today for his 20 years of service to Sonoma County and the Economic Development Board. He has made many friends in the many communities he serves and is always willing to give a boost to new arrivals or make that important contact for someone who needs assistance. As Ben always says to others, we wish him many more ``Onward and Upward'' years at the Sonoma County Economic Development Board.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday all of my colleagues and I took the oath of office as a Member of this great House of Representatives, swearing to support and to defend the Constitution of the United States of America. I take this responsibility very seriously. I take my responsibility to my constituents very seriously, and sometimes that means standing up to the executive branch when I believe it is in error, when it has gone too far or is openly ignoring the wishes of the people of America. This is what our founding fathers expected of the Congress, and, quite frankly, this is what the American people expect from the Congress. Today I stand here and give my 174th 5-minute special order speech calling for an end to this misguided occupation in Iraq and calling on the President and all of my colleagues to support our troops by bringing them home. Already, over 3,000 American troops have been killed in Iraq, at least 44,000 have been wounded. Reports indicate that anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 Iraqis, it is probably more, have lost their lives. How many more families must grieve? How many more children must be orphaned? How many? The voters sent a clear message on November 7 that Congress must stand up and say no more. The Iraq Study Group also sent a message. I was clear that the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating. Even President Bush finally admitted last month that we are, and he said, we are not winning in Iraq, although he also said we are not losing. Enough Washington double-speak. It is time for action. How about a plan for the future of Iraq from President Bush? We have already spent nearly $400 billion on this occupation, and yet he is asking for $127 billion more. We already have 130,000 troops on the ground, and now we hear that he wants to send even more. He is calling it a surge. Let us be honest here, sending in more troops to clean up the mess the President has already made is an escalation. Enough is enough. No more fuzzy math, no more sloganeering, no more troops dying, no more. Soon I will introduce a comprehensive package to bring our troops home while supporting Iraqi sovereignty. I urge my colleagues, please work with me to bring this real and workable bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, the voters have demanded an end to President Bush's occupation of Iraq. They don't want more talk, they want a real plan. They want a plan that will bring our troops home. This is our mandate, and this is the oath we swore to yesterday.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the businesses in Marin County, California, that have stopped selling tobacco products in order to protect the health of the public. Recently, I attended an event with the American Heart Association at Mollie Stone's Market in Greenbrae to officially announce the removal of all tobacco products in their Bay Area stores, including two in Marin County. At that time, Michael Stone, cofounder Mollie Stone's, said, ``I don't think there's been a company our size taking this proactive action . . . we did it for health reasons for the community.'' The American Heart Association described this as ``an aggressive, positive approach to help stop the spread of smoking.'' Larry Meredith, Director of Marin County Health and Human Services, added, ``Tobacco is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States today . . . The decision by Mollie Stone's to go tobacco free is another jewel given to the community.'' A survey by this department found that other stores are considering the same move, citing concerns for general public health and youth smoking. Two years ago when United Markets, a small Marin independent chain, pulled their tobacco products, coowner Bill Daniels announced that ``it's just the right thing to do.'' Other Marin County stores that have decided it's the right thing to do are: AG Ferrari Foods, Golden Gate Pharmacy, Golden Point Produce/ Tomales Bay Foods, Good Earth Natural Foods, Cornucopia Gourmet Deli, Elephant Pharmacy, Jack's Drug Store, Kaiser, Marin Medical Pharmacy, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, Paradise Foods, Peoples Market, Pueblo Latino Market, Olema Liquor and Deli, Ross Valley Pharmacy, Royal Coach Car Wash, Target, Trader Joe's, Western Sport Shop, and Whole Foods. The County of Marin is also setting an example in protecting public health. For example, with funding from a tobacco settlement agreement, the Department of Health and Human Services has developed a program to crack down on illegal sales of tobacco products to minors, and the Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance expanding smoking bans to outdoor public gathering spaces such as parks and ATM lines. Mr. Speaker, we all know that smoking is a major cause of diseases that are hurting public health, straining our medical system, and putting millions of individuals at risk. I commend these businesses and the County of Marin for their courage and foresight in responding to this threat by limiting tobacco use and availability, and I honor all businesses that add their names to this growing list.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, communities around the world came together to remember AIDS' more than 25 million victims and to renew our commitment to the 40 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS. The 19th annual World AIDS Day was both an opportunity to reflect on the progress we've made combating this illness and a reminder of all of the obstacles we must still overcome. Since 1981, our battle to combat the myths associated with AIDS, the discrimination against people infected with HIV, and the virus and disease themselves have all improved. However, AIDS continues to devastate every region of the world as 6,000 people, half of which are between 15 and 24 years old, become infected with HIV every day. This year alone, almost 3 million people have died from AIDS, while more than 4 million more were infected with HIV. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 12 million children have been orphaned as a result of AIDS. In California, 56,000 people are currently living with AIDS, making up 14% of our nation's total AIDS population. The AIDS pandemic has become so widespread in our country that it is thought to have killed more than ten times the number of American soldiers killed in Vietnam. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye as this disease takes its toll on the American public. We must do more to address this global health crisis. Congress must increase its aid for treatment and educational programs to countries burdened by catastrophically high infection rates. The U.S. must support and implement programs that increase the public's knowledge about proper ways to protect against HIV transmission. More people must get tested and more people must receive treatment. Each year World AIDS Day is a wake-up call to the reality that we cannot be complacent with our accomplishments combating AIDS because so much more needs to be done. That's why I have consistently supported measures to help poor nations get the medicines they need to fight AIDS, and have also joined efforts to fight for more funding for the Global Fund. We work to improve the care available to HIV/AIDS patients while ensuring that socioeconomic status does not limit a person's access to life-saving treatments. Additionally, it is essential that we continue to adequately fund the Ryan White CARE Act, which helps cities, states, and local community-based organizations provide services to HIV- positive individuals who otherwise couldn't afford medication, transportation, food or housing. The time and effort Congress spends on implementing programs that deal with HIV prevention, treatment, education, and support must be in line with the true priorities of the American people. In that respect, we still have a lot of work to do. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate World AIDS Day because I believe we must take this opportunity to honor our commitment to those who have struggled with and continue to fight against this destructive disease. As we work to improve HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, let us do so with the dedication and the drive that the American public demands of us. As we look forward to the new Congress, let us confront this disease head on, finally putting forward the resources we need to conquer AIDS.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I always tell people that I am from the most beautiful district in the country, Marin and Sonoma counties, California. We certainly have some of the most beautiful, pristine, and untouched coastline I have ever seen. That's why when I think of supporting an omnibus package today that includes offshore drilling within an 8.3 million-acre plot of the Gulf Coast, I can't help but think of what we'd be throwing away just for a 30-day supply of oil and gas. In fact, the only way the current leadership can attempt to get this 25-year moratorium on offshore drilling lifted is by tying it together with other desperately needed provisions in order to try and sweeten the deal. Research and development tax credits, college tuition deductions, royalty set-asides for the urgently needed wetlands and levee restoration projects in Louisiana, and a package to prevent physician payment cuts next year. These are all perfectly good, bipartisan bills that should have passed on a number of occasions this year. In fact, while I'm happy to see that physicians are being spared a 5 percent cut in payments--I'm nonetheless appalled to see that yet again, we still have yet to improve their reimbursement formula. But rather than working to ensure these and other important provisions are approved before we adjourn, and rather than creating a real energy policy by providing incentives for conservation and investing in renewable energy technology, we're having it all jammed down our throats at the end of a lame-duck session. What's more, deep within the tax-relief provisions before us today is an increase in the income eligibility level for recipients of federally funded Washington, DC private school vouchers. We ought to focus public funds on public schools, not private school voucher programs. These short-sighted approaches are getting us nowhere. This pattern of putting politics over good policy has been typical of this Republican leadership and many of America's most vulnerable have suffered for it. Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill today because, while I know of the many good things it includes, I cannot support opening up any ocean to the often- irreversible damages associated with offshore drilling.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, we are here to debate the India Nuclear Bill. However, there seems to be something missing from the debate today. It's like the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. Whatever happened to the United States' own commitment to nonproliferation? When the House considered its own version, I tried to submit an amendment that was quite simple. It stated that until the President has implemented and observed all of our NPT obligations and revised its own policies relating to them, no nuclear-related item may be transferred to India. Unfortunately, my amendment was not included. And yet another closed rule from the Republican leadership precludes any compromise today. As many of my colleagues have stated, this is not about the deal or our alliances with India. This is about how the Bush administration has made a mockery of the NPT and encouraged other countries to go around the treaty. Basically, the bill says that if a country ignores the NPT, the U.S. will cut a deal with them. Where is our commitment to nonproliferation? If anything, with this treaty the U.S. will contribute to global nuclear proliferation. In a world that is becoming more--not less--violent by the day, we must face the facts: Until the U.S. lives up to its own nonproliferation, obligations, we can't possibly ask others to do so. Today, I will vote against this misguided bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, family abductions are the most common form of abduction, yet receive far too little attention. Every year, over 200,000 children are abducted by a family member and most frequently, by a parent. We all assume that because the child is with a parent, they are safe, but we have seen entirely too often this is far from the truth. More than half of the parents who abduct their children have a history of alcohol or substance abuse, a criminal record, or a history of violence. So not surprisingly, children who are abducted by family members suffer emotional, psychological, and often physical abuse at the hand of their abductors. We cannot let this continue. It's time we provide law enforcement with the resources they need to treat these child abductions as the serious crimes that they are. Please join me today in support of this important legislation that will assist States in preventing and responding to family abductions.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor County Supervisor Cynthia Murray on the occasion of her retirement from two terms on the Marin County Board of Supervisors, Since she was first elected in 1998, Cynthia has been a forceful voice on key issues in Marin County. She has been in the forefront of promoting transportation infrastructure improvements, from fighting for public transit as a member of the Golden Gate Bridge Board to chairing the Policy Advisory Group for widening a key bottleneck on Highway 101. Cynthia has also stepped up on other important issues, especially emergency services and disaster preparation, seniors' independence, education and workforce, sustainable economic development, the battle against Sudden Oak Death, and wetlands preservation. She has chaired the Disaster Council and the Long Term Care Task Force and served on the Schools to Careers partnership, North Bay Watershed Association, which she founded, and Novato Business Education Roundtable. Regionally she sits on the Bay Area Economic Forum and chairs the Bay Area Water Forum. Cynthia has been a strong partner to my offices in working for shared priorities such as education--life-long learning, mentorship and internship programs for youth, and increased access to technology in schools; affordable housing--Community Development Block Grants, the Section 8 voucher program, Community Opportunity funds; breast cancer research; the Older Americans Act and expansion of programs for seniors; transportation--car pool lanes, bike paths, the Golden Gate Bridge seismic retrofit, and the acquisition of the railroad right of way; conversion of Hamilton Air Base, and environment--acquisition of Bel Marin Keys V and restoration of over 1,800 acres of wetlands in Bel Marin Keys, Hamilton and Bahia. Born and raised in New Jersey, Cynthia was the oldest of seven children. This may explain why she so easily handles many responsibilities. She graduated from Rutgers University and moved to Marin in 1978. In 1988 she moved to Novato where she served 7 years on the Novato City Council, including one term as mayor. She has two children, Katie and Mack, who are both in college. Mr. Speaker, Cynthia Murray will remain active and involved in local issues. I have enjoyed working with her as a supervisor and look forward to her continuing participation in issues affecting the people of Marin and Sonoma Counties.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 484 and thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley) for introducing this bipartisan resolution to commemorate the 175th anniversary of The New York Institute for Special Education. Since 1831, the institute, located in the Bronx, has been a leader in educating children with visual disabilities. In the 1980s, the institute expanded its mission to include educating children with emotional and learning disabilities. Today, it educates nearly 300 students with disabilities from age 3 through 21 annually. The institute also develops educational programs and helps train prospective teachers from many universities. Interestingly, the institute can claim a U.S. President, Grover Cleveland, as a former teacher. So, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the institute for its 175 years of service to students with disabilities and their families. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), the author of this resolution.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be back in Washington for the final session of the 109th Congress. I only wish that the current leaders on the other side of the aisle had used their final days in the majority to actually exercise leadership and do something constructive for the American people. Instead we are here for the lamest of all possible lame duck sessions. Just look at what we have done today. With all due respect to my Resources Committee colleague Mr. Simpson, the Southern Idaho Bureau of Reclamation Repayment Act of 2006 really isn't one of the most pressing matters facing our Nation. And what about the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Designation Act? My friends, we are in the middle of a war, a failed war, which a majority of the American people no longer want any part of; a war which, by the admission of the President's own choice for Secretary of Defense, we are not winning. More than 2,900 of our best and brightest American troops are dead because of this failed policy. At least 46,000 have been wounded, severely wounded. And it is not as if they have sacrificed for a noble cause. Iraq, which was supposed to spontaneously blossom into a democracy the minute our troops arrived, has instead been plunged into a civil war as a direct result of the American occupation. In fact, a lot of people are saying that ``civil war'' is really too generous a term for what is happening in Iraq. It is actually much worse. ``Civil war'' implies two sides battling it out for state control. What we have here is many factions of thuggish militia and vigilantes terrorizing the streets and killing indiscriminately. The director of the CIA recently referred to the violence as ``Satanic.'' So why then are we spending the people's time and the people's money deliberating on naming a room in the Capitol? It is no wonder people have lost confidence in Congress to do the Nation's work effectively. Instead of doing what we were elected to do, we are waiting with bated breath for the findings of a blue ribbon commission to tell us what to do in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, this is political cowardice, pure and simple. The Congress doesn't want to confront the problem and doesn't want to challenge the President. So we pass the buck to a group of unelected so-called wise men who appear prepared to offer a watered-down compromise that will satisfy actually no one. I think it is appalling. What are we here to do if not to address the issues of national security, war and peace, and life and death? And the White House, meanwhile, persists in a stubborn state of denial. The President continues to say he will not leave until the mission is complete, but at this point there is no clear mission nor how to know when it is complete. As he consistently has, the President is leaving open the very real possibility that our troops will be in Iraq for as long as he occupies the Oval Office. The White House obviously wasn't listening to the message that was sent on November 7. But we are a co-equal branch of government, and we owe it to the American people to push for a course correction in Iraq. Obviously we won't make any progress on that front this week, but I look forward to the new year when the quacking stops and we will have a new Congress with a mandate and the fortitude to bring an end to this disastrous occupation and to bring our troops home.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, together with my colleague Congressman Mike Thompson, I rise today to recognize the outstanding career of Mrs. Eeve Lewis, the County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Public Administrator for Sonoma County. Mrs. Lewis has worked for Sonoma County for over 35 years, rising from her starting position of Clerk Typist to win 6 elections and serve a total of 7 terms as the County Clerk, during which time she has overseen and led numerous structural adjustments to the division of responsibilities in the county offices. Mrs. Lewis was born in West Germany, the daughter of an Estonian woman living in a displaced person's camp. Her family immigrated to the United States in 1950, and she cites the welcome and opportunity they found here as one of her primary motivations to enter a life of public service. She graduated with Bachelor's and Master's degrees trom Chico State and Sonoma State University, respectively. Mrs. Lewis was hired by Sonoma County in 1971, and transferred to the Clerk's Office in 1974. A swift series of promotions followed. She was appointed the Acting County Clerk 1977 when her predecessor died in office. She won her first election in a runoff and has since won 6 more terms in office. During almost 30 years as the elected Clerk of Sonoma County, Mrs. Lewis has presided over expansion and refinement of the responsibilities and jurisdiction of the office of the Clerk. By always approaching jurisdictional matters with an open attitude and a concern for the relevant statutes, Mrs. Lewis has guided a series of changes that have greatly benefited the government and people of Sonoma. By working closely with court staff, Mrs. Lewis straightforwardly organized the reapportionment of duties and streamlined costs when it became necessary to create a separate office to administer the county's court system. Similar structural adjustments in 2001 saw the Clerk's Office absorb the County Recorder's responsibilities and then the County Assessor's role. Through all of these changes Mrs. Lewis has carefully studied the new responsibilities assigned to her, and maintained the high standard of performance for which the Clerk's Office is known. In addition to her work in Sonoma County, Mrs. Lewis has been active in professional organizations around the state helping other counties emulate the success of Sonoma in developing and maintaining an effective Clerk staff. She is responsible for the development of a series of workshops to help train staff around the state, with the first of these meetings scheduled to take place this coming March. Additionally, she participated in a legal taskforce mandated to update confusing or outdated portions of California Code related to the duties of County and Court Clerks. All of these activities greatly contribute to a higher quality of governance throughout the State of California and represent a service to the people every bit as important as her work in Sonoma County. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to congratulate Mrs. Eeve Lewis on the occasion of her retirement after 35 years of service to Sonoma County, including a remarkable 28 years of capably guiding that office as the elected County Clerk. She will leave behind the finest organization in the state and a legion of admirers who valued the insight and care with which she approached her work.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, last week the American people voted for a new direction in the Nation's Iraq policy. If anything, with the mandate this Democratic majority received, we can be more unapologetic than ever about demanding an end to the Iraq occupation and insisting that we bring our troops home. But I believe Iraq is a symptom of an even larger problem, that is, a foreign policy that chooses saber rattling over diplomacy and negotiation. We need an entirely new national security paradigm. For too long, we have equated national security with war and with conquest. It is time we used less brawn and more brains to protect our people and our interests. Iraq is exhibit A in the case that hawkishness does not necessarily make America safer. That is where a SMART security plan comes. SMART stands for sensible, multilateral, American response to terrorism. At its core is a belief that war is a very last resort, that peacekeeping and diplomacy, not invasion and occupation, must be the guiding lights of our foreign policy. SMART also focuses on stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Not by deposing regimes that do not have them, but with diplomacy, with vigorous inspection regimes and regional security arrangements. SMART calls for a renewed commitment to the cooperative threat reduction program and calls on the United States to set an example for the world by living up to our own commitments to draw down our nuclear arsenal. Because, Mr. Speaker, what moral authority do we have to pressure Iran or North Korea about their nuclear ambitions when our government consistently undermines the nuclear and ignores our multilateral obligations in this very area? Being smart about national security means dramatically rearranging our budget priorities, which in turn means fewer obsolete Cold War weapons systems and more investment in strategies that actually address the security challenges of a new era. Any smart approach to national security must include an ambitious international development program for impoverished nations, debt relief, democracy building, schooling for women and girls, human rights education, environmental programs, infrastructure development and more. Think about this, Mr. Speaker. With the money spent on the invasion and occupation of Iraq, we could have fully funded global antihunger efforts for 14 years or provided basic immunization to children around the world for 113 years or fully funded worldwide AIDS programs for 34 years. We could have spent hundreds of billions of dollars to save lives, instead of destroying them. For the sake of the next generation, the only future that we have got, before we have destroyed civilization itself, we should strive for nothing less than the end of all wars. Because of the insanity of war and its disproportionate impact on children, I am pledging never again to cast a vote in Congress in favor of any military action, barring an attack on the United States or protecting against genocide and/or ethnic cleansing, and then only with multilateral humanitarian intervention. Nor will I pick sides in violent global conflicts, except to condemn all acts of war and terror regardless of ideology, regardless of national interests or religion that motivates them. I refuse to decide who is less wrong. If I could be persuaded that taking up arms actually builds enduring stability, I would reconsider my position, but this notion that war begets peace is as illogical as it sounds. Our preemptive strike on Iraq has, in fact, been a catalyst for increased violence and higher rates of terrorism. Our continued occupation is emboldening the insurgents rather than defeating them. Instead of liberating a nation, the Bush doctrine has ripped it apart, ripped it apart at the seams, and instead of protecting America, it has dealt a blow to our very security. ``War,'' said Martin Luther King, Junior, ``is a poor chisel to carve out tomorrow.'' Tomorrow belongs to our children. So for their sake, Mr. Speaker, let us protect America by relying not on our basest impulses, but on the most honorable and humane of American values, and let us bring our troops home now from Iraq.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituents James and Carol McDowell on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, October 27, 2006. Jim and Carol were high school sweethearts in Petaluma, CA, where they met when Jim was a senior and Carol was a sophomore. Recently, the couple's 17-year-old granddaughter learned that they had been married when Carol was right out of high school and exclaimed, ``Gram, you got married at 18! How could you?'' Jim was the third generation to operate the family dairy ranch just outside of town. His son Michael, ``Mike,'' now runs the operation as an organic farm, adding strawberries and tomatoes to the dairy operation. Mike and his wife Linda have two children, Ryan and Shannon. Patrick, ``Pat,'' the couple's other son, is Asian editor for the Associated Press, covering 34 Asian countries. He and his wife Solzck live in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Speaker, 50 years together is a wonderful testament to Jim and Carol's love and commitment. Jim summed up what makes it work when he told me, ``Carol has always been special.'' Congratulations to them on this happy occasion.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleague Congressman Mike Thompson, rise today to honor Roberta Hollowell of Santa Rosa, California, who passed away on August 10, 2006, after a two-year battle with cancer. We know that, though she has left this earthly plane, she will be continuing her work as a feminist activist elsewhere. Hers is the kind of voice that will never be silenced, and her spirit lives on in the many she inspired. Born 77 years ago in Brooklyn, NY, Roberta moved to California as a teenager when her father took an engineering job in the Bay Area. She graduated from UC Berkeley (where she met her husband Ellis Hollowell) and later earned a master's degree from Mills College. The couple had three children before divorcing in 1962. In 1962 Roberta and the children moved to Sebastopol and later to Santa Rosa. At that time, Roberta began teaching English at Healdsburg High School, a position she held for 23 years. As an activist, Roberta was a leader and member in many organizations, and as a retired teacher, education was one of her passions. She was active in the California Teachers Association (CTA), National Education Association (NEA), the Sonoma County Educators Council, and the Healdsburg Area Teachers Association. Other affiliations included National Organization for Women, Sierra Club, NAACP, Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and California State Democratic Central Committee. Her union work and liberal politics probably started as a family trait, but Roberta blazed her own path and was a mainstay of the Sonoma County Democratic Party. Throughout her life she was active till in a host of issues that benefited from her skills and contacts. But it is Roberta's personal contacts and example that we remember the most. Stories told at her funeral attest to her unique ability to bring others into the fold. She insisted that since we all have voices we should use them. Her humor and warmth as well as her determination, leadership, and sense of organization were all key to her success. And fond nicknames, like The General and La Jefa, were also marks of respect. Roberta was very proud of her wonderful family. She is survived by her daughter Mardi, her son Tom, grandchildren Ryan and Danielle, and great-granddaughter Melody Ann. Her son David preceded her in death in 1995. Mr. Speaker, we are honored to have been counted among Roberta Hollowell's many friends. We will miss her support and inspiration and will carry her legacy with us.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in great sadness. It's the run-up to the fall elections, and what has the Republican Majority pushed through the Congress? Torture, a subversion of the Geneva Conventions, and domestic spying. The Administration claims to be spreading democracy throughout the world. How about some democracy and freedom here at home? Shame on this Congress for trampling civil rights at home and abroad. We are supposed to stand up for freedom and liberty and the rights of the most vulnerable. Instead we are spying on Americans? Mr. Speaker, this is not the country our Founding Fathers dreamt of. And it certainly is not the country I want to hand down to my grandchildren. This bill is not making us safer--it is making us less free. I urge my colleagues to stand up for freedom. I urge my colleagues to vote no!

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, on September 21, I inadvertently voted ``aye'' on rollcall 470, the Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2006. Please let the Record reflect that I enter a ``no'' vote on this rollcall.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today the Republicans bring to the floor a bill that would undermine yet another basic freedom. The so-called ``Public Expression of Religion Act'' is nothing more than an attack on religious liberty. It promotes government-sponsored religion by limiting challenges to such constitutional violations. This bill is about the government stopping people from standing up for their civil rights. By restricting people's ability to stand up for their civil rights when governments promote a particular religion, this bill chips away at the constitutionally protected separation of church and state. That's not all that's at issue here. Language in the bill leaves the door open to all sorts of state-sponsored violations of constitutional freedoms. It casts a dangerously wide net. This bill also gives the green light to civil rights violations. Exempt from monetary damage payments, local, State and Federal Governments would not have to think twice before violating the separation of church and state. They could act with impunity. Paying attorneys' fees is a normal, time-honored procedure. It allows citizens to stand up for their constitutional rights, knowing that if the court rules in their favor, they can recover the legal fees. This bill is an egregious ploy to undercut Americans' civil rights. Barring attorney's fees would be unprecedented. This dangerous example would set our civil rights on a slippery slope to extinction.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today, September 21, 2006, the world celebrates International Peace Day. Unfortunately, as we look around the world, we see more unrest and more people living in poverty, and certainly not more genuine peace. This administration has chosen the road of conflict and war, leaving diplomacy and discussion on the side of the road. The President's cowboy swagger and use of ``You're either with us or you're against us'' gets us absolutely nowhere. Mr. Speaker, today, International Peace Day, is the appropriate time for a new direction for our foreign policy and for our country. That is why on Tuesday of next week I will be hosting a third congressional forum on the occupation of Iraq. I am doing this because until the Congress begins real oversight into the tragedies of our occupation in Iraq, forums like these serve as one of the only ways, the only ways to examine our actions. I am organizing this forum on the cost of our actions in Iraq because President Bush's Iraq policy has been an absolute failure and our Nation will suffer. Our Nation will suffer its effects for years to come. Besides making us less safe, it has ruined our Nation's credibility in the eyes of the world, and it has made us worse off economically and militarily as well. On Tuesday we will hear from experts, including Lieutenant General William Odem and former CIA employee and Georgetown professor Dr. Paul Pillar. Additional testimony will come from experts from Save the Children, the National Priorities Project, and a representative from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. This war, Mr. Speaker, has many unseen costs: the costs to our military and diplomatic standing in the region; the cost to the Iraqi civilians, especially the most innocent victims, the children; the cost to America's working families who see funds being diverted away from important domestic programs to fund the ongoing occupation; and the cost to our brave men and women in service to our country. Almost 2,700 troops have given their lives for this misguided cause. And the costs to our veterans, which may be the most heartbreaking of all: the underfunding of veterans clinics, the lack of support for those dealing with posttraumatic stress, the families left behind with little benefits or support from the Department of Defense. Veterans have sacrificed for our country. They deserve to receive our Nation's support. We have a responsibility, Mr. Speaker, a responsibility to take care of those who sacrifice and defend us during times of war. Mr. Speaker, I voted against this war. Some of my colleagues voted for it. We disagreed then, but I think we can all agree now our troops need our support, and the best way to support the troops is to bring them home. Earlier this year I introduced H.R. 5875, a bill to repeal the President's Iraq war powers, because Congress needs to stand up. Congress needs to take back its constitutional responsibilities. And Congress needs to insist that the President, the Commander in Chief, stop this misguided occupation of Iraq. I urge my colleagues to join me at the forum on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m., and I urge you to cosponsor the Iraq War Powers Repeal Act. I also urge you to stand up for our troops by standing up for peace.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I oppose the so-called Student and Teacher Safety Act. This bill would impose a one-size-fits-all policy on student searches on every school district in the country. You know, in my experience with children and youth, it is a mistake to assume that every student is as guilty as a few troubled persons, making all youth feel guilty because a few actually are. Mr. Speaker, this bill would strip Safe and Drug-Free School Acts funding from any school district that decides that local parents, that teachers, and administrators know better than Congress how to make their schools safe. In fact, the President and the Republican Congress have cut Safe and Drug-Free funding every year since the year 2002. This bill's proponents argue that it will clarify student search rules for school administrators and teachers, but the American Association of School Administrators has said that the bill simply will create unnecessary new Federal mandates. The American Federation of Teachers has said that the bill will complicate school districts' efforts to develop student search policies. And the National Parent Teacher Association, the PTA, has said that the bill fails to improve the safety of students and school personnel. Mr. Speaker, if we are serious about school safety, we will reject this bill, we will reject the President's and this Congress's continuing cuts to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools program, and we will stop any new program that would label all youth as guilty.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, this Thursday, September 21, is the International Day of Peace, as established by the United Nations a quarter century ago. To recognize it, a coalition of peace and religious organizations are mobilizing thousands upon thousands of people around the country in a week's worth of marches, vigils, and rallies. Their goal: an end to the Iraq occupation and the safe return of our troops back home to the United States. I have signed their Declaration of Peace Congressional Pledge, and I strongly urge my colleagues to do the same. In addition to troop withdrawal, the pledge calls for important post-occupation steps that I and many of my colleagues have been pushing for some time now: among other things, no permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq; a reconciliation process led by the Iraqis which may include an international peacekeeping presence; Iraqi control over its internal affairs and its rich oil supply; increased support for veterans of the Iraq conflict; the establishment of a peace dividend with the money being spent on occupying Iraq being reinvested in our people so they will have more jobs, stronger schools, better housing, and more efficient and affordable health care. So how is the Bush administration celebrating International Peace Day? By promising us a semipermanent state of war, an open-ended occupation of Iraq. General Abizaid said today that we will maintain our current troop levels for at least the next 9 months. There you have it. The ultimate expression of ``stay the course.'' So much for last year's predictions by General Casey and others that there would be a significant drawdown in the year 2006. Keeping 147,000 American soldiers as occupation forces in Iraq through the middle of next year and beyond, what will that mean? It will mean more American casualties. It will mean billions more of the people's dollars sunk in a failed policy. It will mean Iraq will become an even more fertile terrorist training ground. It will mean more violence and venom directed toward Americans by radical jihadists. It will mean that the sectarian strife, the civil war in Iraq will continue unabated. If that is not bad enough, there is convincing evidence that our finger is on the trigger when it comes to launching a strike against Iran. Retired Air Force Colonel Sam Gardner, who has taught at the Army's National War College, said on CNN yesterday that ``we are conducting military operations inside Iran right now. The evidence is overwhelming.'' Mr. Speaker, there has to be a better way to manage global conflict. Actually, as he so often did, Martin Luther King, Jr. put it best. He said: ``The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.'' He continued: ``The chain reaction . . . hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars, must be broken or we shall be plunged into a dark a business.'' Mr. Speaker, I believe we need to go beyond ending the occupation of Iraq to an entirely new national security paradigm, one that emphasizes diplomacy, multilateralism, strong intelligence, containment strategies, weapons inspections, real democracy building, and humanitarian aid. But we must avoid war, rather than making it our default national security strategy. On this year's International Day of Peace, Mr. Speaker, let us rededicate ourselves to protect the country we love, not by relying on our basest impulses, but on the most honorable and humane of American values.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to honor Roberta Hollowell of Santa Rosa, California, who passed away on August 10, 2006, after a two-year battle with cancer. We know that, though she has left this earthly plane, she will be continuing her work as a feminist activist elsewhere. Hers is the kind of voice that will never be silenced, and her spirit lives on in the many she inspired. Born 77 years ago in Brooklyn, NY, Roberta moved to California as a teenager when her father took an engineering job in the Bay Area. She graduated from UC Berkeley (where she met her husband Ellis Hollowell) and later earned a master's degree from Mills College. The couple had three children before divorcing in 1962. In 1962 Roberta and the children moved to Sebastopol and later to Santa Rosa. At that time, Roberta began teaching English at Healdsburg High School, a position she held for 23 years. As an activist, Roberta was a leader and member in many organizations, and as a retired teacher, education was one of her passions. She was active in the California Teachers Association (CTA), National Education Association (NEA), the Sonoma County Educators Council, and the Healdsburg Area Teachers Association. Other affiliations included National Organization for Women, Sierra Club, NAACP, Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women, and California State Democratic Central Committee. Her union work and liberal politics probably started as a family trait, but Roberta blazed her own path and was a mainstay of the Sonoma County Democratic Party. She was active till the end in a host of issues that benefited from her skills and contacts. But it is Roberta's personal contacts and example that we remember the most. Stories told at her funeral attest to her unique ability in bringing others into the fold. She insisted that since we all have voices we should use them. Her humor and warmth as well as her determination, leadership, and sense of organization were all key to her success. And fond nicknames, like The General and La Jefa, were also marks of respect. Roberta was very proud of her wonderful family. She is survived by her daughter Mardi, her son Tom, grandchildren Ryan and Danielle, and great-granddaughter Melody Ann. Her son David preceded her in death in 1995. Mr. Speaker, we are honored to have been counted among Roberta Hollowell's many friends. We will miss her support and inspiration and will carry her legacy with us.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dianne Edwards of Santa Rosa, California, who is retiring after ten years as Director of Human Services for Sonoma County, Dianne's job required overseeing one of the largest departments in County government. Human Services provides essential services to one in nine residents including cash aid, medical assistance, and food stamps to low income individuals and families; employment and training services; assistance to the elderly, disabled and veterans to maintain quality of life; and child welfare and child protective services. Dianne managed the 600 staff and their supervisors responsible for these activities at 8 locations. Children are among our most vulnerable populations, and during Dianne's tenure the County, with the assistance of other organizations, built the Valley of the Moon Children's Home, an emergency center for child victims of abuse. The department also manages the Redwood Children's Center for a safe, supportive environment for child victims of sexual abuse. Dianne holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration and has spent the last 34 years in social services in California at both county and state levels. She began her career as an eligibility worker, worked 2 years as State Chief of AFDC and Food Stamps Policy for all 58 California counties, and served as Director of Adult and Employment Services for Orange County just before moving to Sonoma. Locally, Dianne has shared her expertise with the community including the Board of Directors of United Way, commissioner on the Children and Families Commission, and member of the Mayor's Gang Task Force for the City of Santa Rosa. She has also participated, as a member and officer of the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the National Association of Counties, and the National Association of County Human Services Administrators. Mr. Speaker, Sonoma County has been fortunate to have Dianne Edward's leadership for the Human Services Department, a department which is responsible for the welfare of many of our community's most vulnerable citizens. We appreciate the skill, proficiency, and dedication with which she has guided these crucial services for 10 years.