David Wu

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. If the gentleman would yield.

Mr. WU. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. WU. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I offer an amendment to invest further in renewable energy by creating a university based research program for biomass energy research. The amendment authorizes funds for competitive grants to support research at institutions of higher education to use trees killed by disease or insect infestation for biomass energy. Priority will be given to research institutions in low-income or rural communities, those that already conduct research in this field, institutions which can enter joint ventures with Indian tribes and those institutions located near forests killed by massive disease or insect infestation. Mr. Chairman, we must capitalize on America's universities for research and renewable energy. My amendment will harness universities as a resource to advance our renewable energy portfolio. The amendment also ensures grants will be distributed throughout the United States. If fully funded, at least a dozen universities could be selected from the pool of university applicants. In the Pacific Northwest, the unfortunate incidence of disease and insect infestation in our forests can be mitigated by turning dead trees into renewable energy. By targeting universities in rural and low-income communities, we create needed jobs and help develop those jobs in communities which frequently have felt neglected in our pursuit of pro-environmental causes. Dead trees can be an opportunity to create clean, renewable energy, generate jobs and protect our healthy forests by using our dead and dying ones for biomass energy. I urge my colleagues to support this research program. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, there are at least several institutions that I know of in the Pacific Northwest that would qualify; and I suspect that if a fine research institution in Texas were to team up, say, with an Indian tribe in New Mexico or Oklahoma, I am sure that many institutions in Texas would also qualify under these criteria. I would further like to point out that, unlike other grant programs which specify a handful of States which are to be given priority, this amendment does not do that. It is designed to be open to schools from all 50 States.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, it is my recollection that Lyndon Johnson paid a great deal of attention to trees in Texas and their positive and detrimental nature at times. It has come to my attention, through my public and private activities in the Pacific Northwest, that we have a tremendous number of trees, some of which are dying of disease and insect infestation, and those trees become a threat to our healthy forests. It was the intent of this author to try to have a win-win by generating energy from dead and dying trees which are otherwise a threat to the healthy forests which remain.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, we teach American children that we ought to protect both our safety and our privacy with equal vigor, and tonight we fail these children and we fail future generations. The Senate bill before us empowers the Attorney General to authorize surveillance. It empowers the Attorney General to develop the regulations guiding that surveillance. It empowers the Attorney General to audit the compliance with his own guidelines. This bill makes Albert Gonzales the sheriff, the judge, and the jury. Americans expect accountability, that their private lives remain private, and that their government is one they need not fear.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, one lesson we Americans learn as children is that we should guard our liberty and our security with equal vigor. The FISA bill before us, while reinstating the power to direct surveillance toward foreigners, protects Americans in two key ways: 1. An independent judge, and not the attorney general or anyone else in the executive branch, will rule on surveillance applications. 2. Nothing in this bill immunizes any potential illegal surveillance. Americans expect accountability, that their private lives remain private, and that their own government is one they need not fear, especially when we face difficult times. This bill strikes the appropriate balance between liberty and security.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 121 to call on the Japanese government to formally and unequivocally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility for its Imperial Army's coercion of young women, known as ``comfort women,'' into sexual slavery during the World War II era. I would first like to commend my distinguished colleague, Mr. Honda, for introducing this important resolution and for his leadership and hard work on this critical matter. I further want to recognize the extraordinary friendship between Japan and the United States, a friendship which has spanned at least half a century. This resolution is being considered today so that the truth about comfort women will remain in the history books. An estimated 200,000 women were sexually exploited by the Japanese armed forces during Japan's military expansion and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through World War II. Although Koreans made up the majority of these euphemistically termed ``comfort women,'' Chinese, Taiwanese, Filipino, Dutch, and Indonesian women also were victimized. Comfort women were used for recreational sex by Japanese soldiers as a military strategy to increase the soldiers' efficiency. These women were mentally and physically dehumanized and subject to extreme sexual violence. Only a few hundred of these courageous survivors of the World War II horror are still alive today. Undoubtedly, today's Japan is a world leader and a valued ally to the United States. It is not the intent of Congress to punish Japan, but to help Japan acknowledge comfort women as part of its wartime history. An official, unambiguous apology from the Japanese government for its wartime atrocities is vital for historical record, emotional healing, and the education of future generations. I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 2272, the 21st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007. I was pleased to have served on the conference committee that produced this conference report, and it is the result of a 6 months or more longer process that began on the House side with a series of bills in the Science and Technology Committee. I especially want to recognize the leadership of Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall, and on the subcommittee which I chair, Dr. Gingrey, for their leadership and cooperation in producing this bill, and also the very hardworking staff who helped produce this bill. I frequently said that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to be on the Science Committee, but you need to be a rocket scientist to be on the Science Committee staff. These many bills were ultimately packaged into H.R. 2272, which reflect a bipartisan consensus in the House on the immediate actions and funding we need to keep American innovation strong. The conference agreement before us today preserves the key provisions of H.R. 2272 and lays the foundation for benefits that will be reaped by our children: good jobs, strong economic competitiveness, and a better quality of life. I want to talk specifically about title III of the conference agreement, which reauthorizes the activities of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST. NIST's mission is to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards and technology. The new technologies that are producing global winners in the 21st century, including nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing and information systems, rely on tools developed by NIST to measure, evaluate and standardize. These tools are enabling U.S. companies to innovate and remain competitive, which is why NIST's mission has never been more urgent than it is today. This conference agreement puts NIST's budget on a 10-year path to doubling as an investment in the future of American innovation. It substantially increases the NIST lab budget to enable it to expand its work in new technical areas, and it funds the completion of current laboratory construction projects in both Boulder and Gaithersburg. Title III also places the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, MEP, on a 10-year path to doubling. The MEP is a proven and highly successful public-private partnership that provides technical assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve their productivity and competitiveness. A fully funded MEP will go far to reinvigorate our manufacturing sector, which has lost almost 3 million jobs since 2001. Title III also responds to changes in global competition by establishing the new Technology Innovation Program, TIP, to replace the old Advanced Technology Program. TIP will help small, high-tech firms with big ideas cross the technologic valley of death by providing them with limited cost-shared funding to develop technologies that address critical national needs either alone or in joint ventures. If you support American jobs, maintaining our economic competitiveness and a high standard of living, you should support the conference report on H.R. 2272.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the CHAMP Act and the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. This bill will cover the nearly 11 million children who fall into the gap between Medicaid and private insurance. Not only will the CHAMP Act provide health insurance for millions of additional children, but also the peace of mind for millions of families who work hard to provide all of life's essentials for their families. For my state of Oregon the passage of the CHAMP Act means many of the 107,000 uninsured children will have access to health care. And while the legislation before us today is a suitable and necessary short-term solution, the long-term need remains: America is falling short of our moral obligation to provide all children with access to health care. Access to health care is not only a struggle for those with the lowest incomes; it now also is a struggle for those we have traditionally considered middle-class, and therefore should be able to afford health insurance. Since 1965 Medicare has ensured our Nation's senior citizens have access to health care. That success should be extended to cover our youngest citizens. I am developing new legislation will do just that. My MediKids legislation would provide access to comprehensive health care for all children and expecting mothers. Every child would be automatically enrolled at birth. But parents would retain the right to choose to enroll their children in private plans or others such as SCHIP or Medicaid. MediKids also would act as a safety net. If parents have a lapse in other insurance, a common concern and constant worry among many families, MediKids would provide coverage. America has the best health care in the world, but fewer and fewer families can actually afford it. We should not make our children, and their parents, wait any longer. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation before us, but to continue to work toward a long-term solution for today's and tomorrow's youngest citizens.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2272) to invest in innovation through research and development, and to improve the competitiveness of the United States, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

Mr. WU. May I inquire of the gentleman from Texas if he has any further speakers? If the gentleman from Texas does not have any further speakers, I believe that I have the right to close.

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, at this point, we have no further speakers, and I would yield the floor to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise to make a brief closing statement. Madam Speaker, the issues raised by the gentleman from Texas have been solved to the satisfaction of a majority of the members of the committee. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Oregon State University baseball team on winning their second-straight NCAA College World Series championship. OSU is the first team since 1997 to win back-to-back College World Series championships. The Beavers capped off their 49-18 winning season with a ``no- nonsense'' approach to the championship games in Omaha, Nebraska. The Beavers solidly won the first two games in the final series against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, wasting no time to claim their consecutive championship trophy. Congratulations to Head Coach Pat Casey and the Oregon State Beavers on this historic achievement.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule and of the conference report. I was honored to serve on the conference committee. It was a good team effort. And as anyone in team sports knows, it takes a good offense and a good defense to make a good team. This bill takes important steps toward building a good defense, and good defense today is more important than ever because our offense has miscarried so badly. There we were pursuing Osama bin Laden literally to the ends of the Earth, to Tora Bora, when this administration steered us off that course and into the cul-de-sac of Iraq. This bill will build a better defense because we need it more than ever. We need this bill not just as legislation but as a reminder to carry forth with the oversight that this Congress has traditionally exerted. The jurisdiction of my subcommittee and of the Homeland Security Committee over the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is more crucial than ever as that body chooses technologies to protect this Nation going forward. Eternal vigilance is the call for the day, and I am committed to exerting that vigilance going forward from this day.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, this year's farm bill creates an education program to give college students an opportunity to participate in policy oriented internships to promote and further develop agricultural biofuels from biomass. I commend the Chairman for incorporating this program into the bill. The biofuel industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Global climate change, and an unstable foreign oil supply, requires the United States to develop alternative energies. To do this, the United States must create leaders in alternative energies. We must recruit the best and brightest across the Nation to participate in the program. My amendment makes the eligibility criteria fair and opens the door for more qualified students to apply. As currently written, the program reaches only five specific states. It is important that Congress does not shut out qualified universities and students. My amendment would expand the program to qualified universities that have fields of study related to the biomass and biofuel industry. Schools with programs in chemistry, environmental sciences, bioengineering, natural resources and public policy would be eligible to participate in the internship program. This amendment will not add any additional cost to the bill; it will only make the internship more competitive. Congress needs to provide all students who are studying relevant fields the opportunity to gain practical work experience and to contribute to America's move to greater energy security. As we continue toward that goal, this program will prove invaluable. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, in November of 2008, citizens of the United States will exercise their constitutional and democratic right to vote in a national election and choose their president. Just eight months prior to our presidential election, our friend across the Pacific, Taiwan, will hold its fourth national direct election for its highest office. Once a single-party state under martial law, Taiwan made a peaceful transition during the late 1980s and early 1990s to a full-fledged democracy and a multi-party political system that respects human rights and the rule of law. For over fifty years, our two nations have fostered a close relationship, which has been of mutual political, economic, cultural, and strategic advantage. However, one vital inequity exists that prevents the exchange of views at the highest political levels: the United States government continues to adhere to guidelines from the 1970s that bar the President, Vice President, Premier, Foreign Minister, and Defense Minister of Taiwan from coming to Washington, DC. Why, when Taiwan is a key player in the Asia-Pacific region, do we prevent their highest-level decision makers from traveling to our nation's capital? This outdated policy severely limits our direct dialogue with world leaders. Almost any person born and raised in Taiwan has the freedom to travel to the United States. But when a person is chosen through democratic elections to become the leader of the Taiwanese people, this freedom is inappropriately rescinded by the U.S. government. While the United States attempts to promote democracy around the world, we lock the doors of our capital city to the leaders of fellow democracy. Rather than symbolically shunning Taiwan's democratically elected leaders, we should welcome them. I meet with Taiwan's leaders--both before and after their election. Other American Leaders in Washington, D.C. should have the same opportunity. Unreasonable restrictions on visits to the United States by high-level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan should be lifted. Taiwan deserves this long overdue respect.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time. And with just a minute or two of time, one of the saddest moments, one of the two saddest moments in my relatively brief career here in the United States House was when this Chamber acted at the President's request to cut $12 billion from college financial aid. That occurred the day after a State of the Union Address where the President talked about American competitiveness. Today, we take a bold step in rectifying that error. And I just want to refer a moment to the other saddest day of my thus far 8 years in the House of Representatives, and that was the decision in this Chamber to go to war in Iraq. Those were the two saddest moments in my congressional career: Begin a war in error, and now perpetuating a pride. But at least today, at this moment, we are having an opportunity to rectify, in my view, the other great error that we committed during my time in this Chamber, and that is the $12 billion cut that the Education Committee passed, the prior majority passed in this Chamber, and that went into effect without a necessary 60-vote majority in the Senate. Now, we can propose this greatest increase in college financial aid. We may or may not have the votes for cloture in the other Chamber, but this is the right thing to do. This is the right thing to do. It will make America more competitive. It will help individuals, and it will help our society, and we will rectify the errors we have made in the past one by one. I rise in support of the College Cost Reduction Act. Affordable access to quality post-secondary education is the best tool available to ensure success and the kind of career that can support a family. It is also critical that American students have the education that will help them remain competitive in an increasingly global and knowledge-based economy. The College Cost Reduction Act provides a major funding increase to assist students and their families achieve the goal paying for college, and much more--at no new expense to taxpayers. It provides tuition assistance to undergraduates who commit to teaching in low-income communities or high-need subject areas. It rewards those who serve their communities--first responders and law enforcement officers, for example, by providing loan forgiveness to those that serve others. Perhaps most importantly, the bill provides a major help to students in my home state of Oregon. The bill expands Pell Grant eligibility, and the maximum Pell Grant scholarship is increased over $500. This means nearly 70,000 Oregonians could benefit from the bill. This translates into $194 million dollars in aid to Oregon students and families over five years. College costs have skyrocketed over the past decade. The College Cost Reduction Act is instrumental in helping more Americans achieve their dream of a college education. I strongly support this bill, and urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of Oregon's great higher education leaders. Daniel O. Bernstine, president of Portland State University, which is located in my district, will soon leave Oregon to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Law School Admissions Council. During his ten years as president of Oregon's largest and most diverse university, Portland State University has achieved many milestones. While many refer to Dan as a builder, a fundraiser, and an inspiring leader, I know Dan to be a student-oriented university president and someone who has always worked to provide greater opportunities for people through access to higher education. As a president who walks his talk, Dan has opened the doors of higher education to literally thousands of students. Over the past ten years, enrollment at PSU grew from 14,000 students to over 24,000 students. Another of President Bernstine's legacies at Portland State will be the growth in faculty research. During his tenure, the University has established several national research centers, including the Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication, the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Center, and the Center for Lakes and Reservoirs. As a result of Dan's dedication to enhancing the research programs that relate directly to the economic needs of the Portland metropolitan region, Portland State's faculty research funding has grown from $17 million in 1997 to over $40 million this year. I think it is safe to say that Dan Bernstine has helped generate one of the largest business enterprises, through university research, in the Portland area. Finally, I want to speak to the partnerships that President Bernstine has fostered. Chief among them is his work to connect Portland State University to the area's community colleges. He has been so successful in building connections with the community colleges that I modeled legislation (HR. 596) after the work that was done to provide students with co-enrollment in Portland State and their local community college. Again, this is another example of the incredible commitment Dan Bernstine has to ensuring student success in higher education. Daniel O. Bernstine came to Portland, Oregon in 1997 having served as Dean of the Law School at the University of Wisconsin. I first met Dan informally--before he had formally started at Portland State. I was having dinner in Portland and overheard a conversation--Dan was excitedly describing the various wonders and attributes of Portland State and the region to his dinner guest. I later found out that he was convincing, successfully, one of his staff from the University of Wisconsin to join him at Portland State. Even before he had started his first day, he was already a tireless advocate for Portland State and the region. Since that time he has been a visionary leader for Portland State and an active member of the community. One of his most significant volunteer efforts involved chairing the Urban League where he stabilized the organization and brought fiscal accountability to the operations. Dan Bernstine will be missed--for his work at Portland State, for his enduring leadership in the community, and for his passion for opening the doors of higher education to the community. I hope our friendship and our yearly banters over the Stanford/Berkeley games will continue when he moves to Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Dan Bernstine for his contributions and in wishing him well in his new leadership opportunity.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 421) honoring the trailblazing accomplishments of the ``Mercury 13'' women, whose efforts in the early 1960s demonstrated the capabilities of American women to undertake the human exploration of space.

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 421.