David Wu

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and the people of Washington County, Oregon to thank State Representative Mark Hass for his service. His enthusiasm, dedication and success can be attributed to one simple thing: a love for Oregon. Representative Hass chose to turn his compassion into action; to make a real difference for Oregonians. Mark Hass has served his constituents in Beaverton and the state of Oregon with great distinction for the last three legislative sessions. In 2001, Governor John Kitzhaber signed into law the Hass Scholarship bill which created incentives for businesses to set up scholarship funds for employees. Making college more affordable is a passion he and I share. Mark Hass has fought for and secured more high quality early intervention and full day kindergarten in Oregon so our children start off with the tools they need to learn and succeed. He served as House Whip and as vice-chair on the Revenue Committee where he mentored newly elected legislators and became a strong advocate for restructuring Oregon's tax system. He returns now to private life and to his family, but we are all better off today because Mark Hass has come forward to serve the State that he loves.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Jerry Tippens, a pillar of my Congressional District and Oregon for the past 40 years. Jerry died on November 28, 2005 at the age of 74. Jerry came to Oregon in the early 1960s to work as a journalist for The Oregon Journal, covering among other things the Oregon state legislature. He soon joined their editorial board and quickly became its editorial page editor. When the Journal merged with the Oregonian in 1982, Jerry continued to serve by joining the Oregonian's editorial board where he worked until his retirement in 1991. It was upon his retirement, that Jerry's work and service truly began. He joined the board of the Oregon Food Bank, and through his chairmanship, grew this agency into becoming the second-largest food bank in the nation. He was passionate about helping those who were hungry and in need. Jerry ultimately became the voice for those who had no voice of their own. I am honored to have known Jerry, and while he will be deeply missed, I am comforted with the knowledge that Jerry's spirit of community service and hard work will continue in Oregon. I am fortunate to have his daughter, Julie Tippens, serving as my Chief of Staff, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to Julie, her brother Hal, their mother, Helen, and Jerry's sister, Katherine Wiper. In conclusion, I would like to submit for the record an editorial from The Oregonian that highlights the work and legacy of Jerry Tippens. [From the Oregonian, Nov. 30, 2005] Jerry Tippens The editorial writer and anti-hunger activist left a mark deeper than anything on paper Jerry Tippens, who died Monday in Eugene, was a substantial figure in the life of Oregon. As an editorial writer at The Oregonian and The Oregon Journal, and the last editorial page editor of the Journal, he was a powerful voice for rural Oregon and for the state's hungry, and a bottomless resource on Oregon in the second half of the 20th century. After his retirement from The Oregonian, as a board member and board chairman of the Oregon Food Bank, Tippens played an important role in building it into the second-largest food bank in the nation, with a new state-of-the-art facility. Beyond any institutional identity, he was a constant and influential voice in Salem and around the state on behalf of Oregon's poor and hungry, and for parts of the state that don't always appear in the media. But on the editorial board, he was a colleague, gentle and persistent, firm on the things he believed in--people and planning and Cleveland's prospects in the American League-- and tolerant of the things he didn't. In many ways, Tippens was an example of what editorial writers claim to be. To the news of each day, he brought a wide range of personal experience, from growing up on a Dakota ranch, serving in Korea and covering three sessions of the Oregon Legislature so closely that the legislators on the Ways and Means Committee voted him an honorary member. He also brought an always deepening knowledge of Oregon, looking at each day's issues and understanding not only what the problem was but how it got that way. And most importantly, Tippens always had the ability to look at an issue--or a politician's speech--and see through it to the people affected. When he retired from the editorial board and applied his insight and skills to the dramatic growth of the Oregon Food Bank--and a considerable improvement in the lives of thousands of Oregonians--we were proud. But not exactly surprised.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I would like to state for the record my thanks to the Oregon Science Teachers Association for its participation in National Chemistry Week. Just last week, the Oregon Science Teachers Association focused one of the sessions at its annual convention on National Chemistry Week. The session provided Oregon science teachers with the opportunity to learn how to incorporate National Chemistry Week into their classroom, providing them with projects and lab ideas. I thank every Oregon science teacher for their participation. Oregon science teachers are molding the next generation of scientists.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 457 to recognize National Chemistry Week. I want to congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for introducing this important resolution which highlights the importance of chemistry and chemical engineering. Chemistry and chemical engineering affect the everyday lives of all Americans. For example, these disciplines contribute to public health through new biomaterials, drug design, drug delivery techniques, and gene therapy. For decades, they have also contributed to public health by helping to keep our water clean and our food pure. In addition, new structural and electronic materials and advanced technologies that improve energy utilization and transportation systems improve our work and home lives. In short, chemistry and chemical engineering contribute in critical ways to the economic strength, security and well-being of the Nation and all its citizens. National Chemistry Week was started as an annual event in 1987 by the American Chemical Society. It sponsors activities to make elementary and secondary schoolchildren and the general public more aware of what chemistry is and its importance to our everyday lives. National Chemistry Week activities are carried out by local sections of the American Chemical Society located in all parts of our Nation. They work with local industry, schools and museums to design hands-on activities, provide chemical demonstrations and develop exhibits. By these means, the local organizations provide opportunities to stimulate the interest of young people in science and in pursuing careers in science and technology, and the activities of National Chemistry Week help advance the important goal of increasing public understanding of science generally. For 2005, the theme of National Chemistry Week is ``The Joy of Toys.'' This will emphasize how chemistry has led to safer and more durable toys through advances in materials science and will also illustrate chemical principles and concepts through toys. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the American Chemical Society for its efforts to establish and sustain National Chemistry Week. I am a cosponsor of this resolution to recognize the value of chemistry and the goals of National Chemistry Week. I ask for its adoption by the House.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 491, which expresses the support of Congress for the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. This resolution was introduced by Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Gordon of the Science Committee in an effort to help the Nation become more aware of certain risks lurking in cyberspace and the availability of tools and practices to minimize these dangers. I want to congratulate the National Cyber Security Alliance for originating the idea for this observance and for its efforts to improve cybersecurity. The National Cyber Security Alliance is a public-private partnership led by industry that has focused on improving cybersecurity for home users, small businesses and educational institutions. The alliance seeks to alert computer users to such threats as viruses, hack attacks and identity theft, and it provides information to users on best practices and technologies available for countering cyber threats. National Cyber Security Awareness Month includes a range of special events designed specifically for home users, small businesses, and the educational community. To attain these objectives, the Alliance will be organizing national and regional events, such as small businesses workshops, student assemblies and cybersecurity boot camps which will take consumer education to the grass roots level. The Alliance will also be making public service announcements to urge consumers to protect their valuable personal data through online best practices, and it will publicize its online resources for computer users, including beginner's guides, computer security tips, and free security scans. The Committee on Science has recognized for some time that cybersecurity is a long-term problem that will require a comprehensive approach by government and the private sector and that will require greater efforts by both. We held a hearing last month to review the security of computer systems on which critical industries rely and found that government has made inadequate progress in the development of national vulnerability assessments and plans for recovery from cyber attacks. We expect and count on the Department of Homeland Security to do a better job, and will be closely following its progress. Equally important, the general public needs to be made aware of the dangers of cyber vulnerabilities and to be encouraged to learn about and use effective security practices and tools in their homes and businesses. This is the focus of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and I should add that I was just a speaker at GOSCON which is a government open source conference in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, sponsored by Oregon State University and Portland State University, and while cybersecurity is an issue for both proprietary and open software, open source code is unique in that the source code is available for grass roots users to improve the security of any particular software program. House Resolution 491 before this Chamber calls attention to and endorses the commendable efforts of the National Cyber Security Alliance to increase awareness of cybersecurity throughout the Nation. This is a message we should all heed. Mr. Speaker, I commend this resolution to my colleagues, and ask for its support and passage by the House.

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, 2005, Taiwan's National Day, I offer my best wishes and congratulations to the people of Taiwan for building a democratic, peaceful and prosperous island. Taiwan witnessed the first ever peaceful transition of political power in Chinese cultural history in 2000. Taiwan is also an island with a significant population and a prosperous economy. The two peoples, both Taiwanese and Americans, share a common belief in democracy, the adherence of human rights and the rule of law. I believe it is important that we maintain a free and open relationship. The United States should remain committed to stability in the region. I believe the United States must continue to play a role in guaranteeing the peaceful resolution any destabilizing issues between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. It is my hope that there will be enduring peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region, especially in the Taiwan Strait. It is also my hope that both Taiwan and the People's Republic of China will soon resume their dialogue, as it is my belief that negotiation is imperative to any resolution.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, I am pleased that Congress is considering the authorization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. There is no other federal agency that more directly supports American industrial innovation and competitiveness than NIST. NIST's standards and metrology activities support the chemical, telecommunications, and energy sectors to name a few. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a successful program under NIST that helps our small manufacturing community remain competitive in the face of increasing global competition. The result: high-wage, high- skill jobs remain in the U.S. rather than moving offshore. While I believe that H.R. 250, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act, is a good start, we must do much more to make the bill's contents live up to its title. Our manufacturing base is facing a crisis. Since 2001, we have lost 2.7 million manufacturing jobs. However, the Advanced Technology Program, which spurs the development of broad-based technologies that can create the industries of tomorrow, is not being included in this bill. This is a terrible mistake. The future of American manufacturing lies in our ability to promote risk taking and to promote the pursuit of new technologies that go well beyond the limits of conventional practices. ATP is a logical tool to use to achieve these goals. For all the hype given to the Nanotechnology Initiative, few recall that it was an early ATP award that fostered the development of the use of nanoparticles in the cosmetic industry. This is one of the few examples of commercially viable nanotechnology. Yet, this bill ignores the potential that can come out of ATP. If we wish to truly strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base, we need to bring our full resources to bear on this issue--including ATP and technical education. Unfortunately, the underlying bill does not do this. I am extremely disappointed that this bill does not include ATP and vocational education. If we are going to grow our economy in the 21st century, we have to be the most innovative country in the world. This bill will not get us there.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of Hillsboro, Oregon and celebrate the dedication of its new Civic Center on July 16, 2005. On this special occasion, I would not only like to reflect upon Hillsboro and Oregon's proud heritage, but the vision of the future that made it possible. As the Pacific Northwest celebrates the bicentennial anniversary of the achievements of Lewis and Clark and the Corp of Discovery, I find it fitting that Hillsboro is bravely and confidently launching ahead its own future by implementing the Hillsboro 2020 Vision and Action Plan. Mayor Tom Hughes, the Hillsboro City Council, Hillsboro's citizens and various community organizations came together to determine what their community should look like in the coming decades. This forward-thinking plan, like the new Hillsboro Civic Center, will lay the foundation for decades of growth, civic engagement, environmental conservation, and economic prosperity. America looks to the future with the same pioneering spirit that guided the Corps of Discovery. As we celebrate our return to space with the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, Hillsboro, a city born from that same pioneering spirit, also celebrates its own launch towards a future of its own making. By focusing on environmentally sustainable designs, the Hillsboro Civic Center is a triumph to conservation, using 100 percent renewable energy in its electricity, 90 percent recycled building material, and the most modern of construction techniques with certified wood from local sustainable forests. The building techniques and energy efficient design used in construction of the Hillsboro Civic Center earned it a GOLD rating, the highest standard awarded by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). I applaud Mayor Hughes, the Hillsboro City Council, and citizens of Hillsboro for their vision and commitment to their community, the environment, and the future development of Oregon.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an innovative company in my Congressional district--HemCon. Today, HemCon is being recognized by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command for developing one of the 2004 ``Top 10 Greatest Inventions.'' This is a prestigious accolade, and HemCon is deserving of this award. Hemcon has developed a revolutionary bandage that has the potential to change medicine as we know it. More importantly, it has the potential to save countless lives. According to military physicians, 90 percent of soldiers killed in war die before they reach a medical facility, most often because of significant blood loss. Yet it is this exact situation that the military considers the main preventable cause of death in military action. The HemCon bandage is revolutionary in that it can stop severe hemorrhaging based on the use of a natural product called chitosan, a substance found in the shells of shrimp, crab, and other crustaceans. This chitosan material has the ability to bond with red blood cells and form a clot that stops bleeding. In October 2002, based on the strength of this product, the HemCon Bandage was ushered through the FDA and it is the second fastest approval of a medical device granted by the Agency. It was approved in only 48 hours. Today, the use of the HemCon Bandage is considered standard treatment for severe hemorrhaging, and it is being used by the military to save the lives of our brave men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also being used by first responders in emergency medical situations to control blood loss. Jonathan Swift wrote, ``Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.'' Dr. Kenton Gregory and Dr. Bill Wiesmann are a testament to this statement. Through their research, they have taken a natural product that had been overlooked for too long and used it in a revolutionary new way. Because of their efforts, lives have already been saved. I applaud, Dr. Gregory, Dr. Wiesmann, and the staff of HemCon for their work, and I congratulate them for this very deserving award.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 23, I read a disturbing story in The Oregonian newspaper. It was not about the war in Iraq, the rise of unemployment in Oregon, or even the growing problem with methamphetamine abuse. Instead, this story focused on a school fundraiser. What was so disturbing about this fundraiser is that the students and their parents at Redland Elementary School in Oregon City were hosting a jog-a-thon to raise money to hire a physical education teacher. It was not for band uniforms, not for supplies, or even for a field trip; it was to hire a teacher. The parents and students have hosted this fundraiser every year since 1994 when the school district no longer had enough money to pay for a PE teacher. Sadly, this is not the first tale of such fundraisers in Oregon. In 2003, the Eugene Register-Guard reported on similar efforts of parents who were hosting fundraisers to pay for a math teacher. Math classes were jeopardized because the then current math teacher was retiring and there was not enough money to hire a new math teacher. The parents and teachers decided to give their blood to fund the position. That is right, blood. After realizing that bake sales would not raise enough money, parents and teachers decided to sell their blood plasma to raise money to fund a teacher. When it comes to education funding, it is increasingly parents and teachers who are scrambling to cover budget shortfalls; and, unfortunately, Oregon has been one of the States hit hardest by budget shortfalls. Across our State, schools are closing, increasing class sizes, or eliminating or cutting music, art, athletics, marching band, and other important so-called ``extracurricular'' activities. Oregon's school districts have carved a total of almost 500 days or 12 million instructional hours off the 2003 school year, and at least 1,100 teacher positions have been lost so far. Oregon has abolished State tests for writing, math, and science in middle schools; and some schools have received no new textbooks since 1988. Spanish is emerging as the sole option for Oregon students who want to study a foreign language, as budget cuts translate to reduced programs in languages such as German, French, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. In Douglas County, 80 new teaching positions were eliminated, class sizes are expected to increase from 20 or so students to the low 30s, and sports and other extracurricular activities are going to take a hit. Yamhill High School in my congressional district saw average class size jump by 10 to 20 students. That is 10 to 20 more students in the average classroom. A math teacher in Hillsboro has two classes that top out at 54 students in each class, and other classes throughout our State routinely have 40 or more students per class. In Portland, high school students and their parents were running telethons and auctions and collecting recyclables to pay money for teacher salaries and basic supplies. The Medford School District eliminated 23 staff members, including seven child development specialists, two school nurses, two psychologists, and several maintenance and secretarial positions; and the district will start charging each student, each student, $100 to pay a fee per sport in high school and $50 in middle school. In Lake Oswego, families are paying as much as $900 a year for their children to play high school sports. In order to retain as many teachers as possible and to keep class sizes down, the Dallas school district was unable to purchase new textbooks. Many students were studying from textbooks older than themselves until an anonymous donor gave $185,000 and provided 2,700 students with new science and math books. Other school districts have asked parents to help curb the supply shortage by pitching in a variety of items, including crayons and even toilet paper. And after Junction City School District cut art, music, and gym classes, laid off three teachers, and eliminated all field trips, some local male farmers ages 40 to 70 decided to drop everything, Full Monty style, by modeling for a nude pin-up calendar to raise money for schools. These stories would be funny if they were not so deeply disturbing. We have a responsibility so that our children can get their education, and we should not be relying on parents to do bake sales, students to do jog-a-thons, parents to do pin-up calendars, or, worst of all, blood sales to bridge budget gaps; but they are, and sadly, they are not the only ones making sacrifices. A couple of years ago, the teachers in the Portland public schools taught for 2 weeks without pay. Mr. Speaker, I urge this Chamber to do a better job, and I urge my home State of Oregon to do a better job. Parents, teachers, and community leaders continuously demonstrate their deep pride in and commitment to public education. Most parents will make any sacrifice to ensure that their children receive a quality education. And I know that teachers want nothing more than to see their students learn. While this generosity and commitment are heartwarming and inspiring we should hang our heads in shame that our schools are so desperate that parents and teachers have to sell their blood, pose for pinups, or work without pay to provide our children with the education they deserve. I ran for Congress to improve the quality and accessibility of our education system. I believe strongly that an education is the best investment that we can make in our children and for our future. We already have a glimpse of what our future can bring. We can now travel the globe in a matter of hours. Business transactions can be performed with the click of a mouse. And our cars have more computing power than the Apollo spacecraft. In this fast paced, digital age, it is important that we provide our children with a high quality education that will equip them for what the future holds. Since I have been in Congress, I have made over 200 visits to over a hundred schools, and I have talked to teachers, students and parents from all over Oregon. In every school I have visited, the parents, students and teachers all agreed about what works: quality teachers, small class size, high standards and shared accountability, parental and community involvement, and adequate and equitable funding. That is why I introduced the Class Size Reduction Initiative, which would hire 100,000 new teachers to reduce class size to 18 students in kindergarten through third grade. As a result of this initiative, we were able to provide over $3 billion to school districts all across the country, hiring over 30,000 teachers--including over 300 in Oregon. One of those new teachers was placed in Reedville Elementary School in Aloha and reduced class size in first grade 54-27 54-18. Yet, today the Administration and the Majority Leadership in Congress are turning their backs on education. President Bush in his budget has proposed a cut of $530 million in education. He has eliminated funding for the Class Size Reduction Initiative. In fact, of the 150 programs that the president has targeted for massive reduction or elimination, 50 of them are education programs. He also shortchanges the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) by $12 billion. That guarantees children will be left behind. The Federal Government is not the only one at fault. States across the nation are also balancing their budgets on the backs of our children, and our schools. We can and must do better for our children, for ourselves and for our future. Common sense tells us that we need to prepare our students for the future so that the United States will continue to prosper. But this issue is more than about staying economically competitive. An education is necessary for everyone's quality of life. It is necessary for our society and for our democracy. I urge my colleagues to join me in fighting for high quality public education. Our children should not be short-changed. They should not be forced to jog to raise money for a PE teacher, their teachers should not be asked to work for free, and their parents should not pose nude or be drained of blood to keep the schoolhouse doors open.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hobson) for their work on this bill. I wish to associate myself with the words of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) concerning smaller ports and maintenance dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers. Not only would this affect the port of Astoria in my congressional district, but it would affect smaller ports up and down the coast of Oregon. This is an issue of great concern to Michiganders, to Oregonians and to other Americans. Sequential Votes Postponed In Committee Of The Whole

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this stem cell research bill. The science will go on with or without the United States. Diabetes, Alzheimer's, Lou Gehrig's disease, these diseases will be cured either here in the United States or somewhere else in the world. This bill is not about human cloning, which I oppose. An embryo is special tissue. We should not create them with the intent to terminate them later. But here, the embryos were created with the intent to bring more children into the world. Many eggs were fertilized in this process and, once a baby is born, many fertilized eggs are left over, created with the intention to create a baby. As Oliver Wendell Holmes stated, even a dog can tell the difference between a stumble and a kick. Juries determine intent all the time and, here, intent is crucial. These cells were created with the intention of creating human life, and the only alternate fate for them now is disposal. Let us not waste potential human life; let us not waste these fertilized eggs by destroying them. Let us use them to save human lives through stem cell research. Support the Castle-DeGette bill.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. I concede the point of order.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and the ranking member, but I am deeply concerned about a possible Indian gambling casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. I have had these concerns for at least 7 years, and I am extremely disappointed in recent developments. The Governor of Oregon signed a compact with this tribe on April 6 and it was presented to the Department of the Interior on April 8. I have been consistent in my position and I have privately informed the Confederate Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and Governor Kulongoski and his predecessor Governor Kitzaber throughout my congressional career that I specifically do not support a casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and that generally I oppose off-reservation gaming casinos. I have persisted in suggesting to the Warm Springs Tribe that they consider a new location on reservation land along a highly traveled route, namely Highway 26, between Portland, Oregon, and Bend, Oregon. This particular proposal came to the Federal Government on April 8, and it is necessary that I weigh in now. I am asking Secretary Norton to disapprove the Tribal-State compact, because this casino will hurt the Columbia River Gorge, other tribes and all Oregonians. I understand the Secretary intends to approve this compact, but that only starts the process. I am here to tell the Secretary and the Tribe that Congress will not be silent while the crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage gets trashed. I have been a supporter of preserving the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and I will continue to do so. A casino of this magnitude will bring over 3 million non-Gorge- related visitors per year, a million cars per year to the area, and exacerbate traffic, pollution, and risks to endangered species in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. I am pro-Gorge, and I am troubled that there is a possibility of disturbing this crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage. I will actively oppose this proposal and do everything I can to protect the Gorge. State and Federal agencies have already determined that air quality in the Columbia River Gorge is significantly degraded and that visibility is impaired 95 percent of the time within this national scenic area. Also, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, this area suffers acid rain and fog as severe as what falls in industrial cities such as Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and New York. Mr. Chairman, States such as Oregon, Nevada, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and South Dakota derive State taxes from casinos, slot machines, and lotteries for more than 10 percent of their overall State revenues. Oregon must not become further dependent on gambling. In all the States I listed, budgetary problems persist and gambling does not solve their problems. We should not sacrifice our national treasures, our communities, or our souls upon the alter of Indian casino gambling. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of the Slaughter/Shays/ Dicks/Leach/Price amendment.

Mr. WU. What is the scope of discussion permitted in this segment of the debate?

Mr. WU. Parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I would inquire of the chairman as to whether the chairman would permit the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) and me to engage in a discussion of the merits of the amendment.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, we have heard much about America and Americans losing our competitive edge. In math and science, our fourth graders are among the best in the world. But, by their senior year in high school, they score near the bottom among all industrialized nations. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that only 68 percent of the young people who start high school as freshmen ultimately graduate. The rest drop out of high school at some time, and for minorities, the drop-out rate is considerably higher. Our college drop-out rate is one of the highest in the world. The United States has dropped from first to fifth in the percentage of young adults with a college degree. Singapore has displaced in United States as the top economy in information technology competitiveness, and the number of patents awarded to Americans is declining. Collectively, these are all indicators for concern about our global competitiveness as a people, and as an economy. More than ever, we need rigorous, relevant career and technical education programs to help students prepare for post secondary education, and to address the shortage of highly skilled workers necessary to meet the demands of a contemporary workforce. A skilled and flexible workforce is essential to building a strong and dynamic economy and to maintaining our country's ability to compete in this increasingly globalized economy. I am very pleased to support H.R. 366, the Vocational Technical Education Act for the Future, because it does this through the promotion of a rigorous curriculum, innovative learning environments, and relevant course work and training. However, as always, there is more to be done, and that is exactly what my amendment is aimed at. We must ensure that we do not leave career and technical education students behind a glass ceiling of lack of further training and education. We must encourage them to continue their training and education at a 4-year institution and hopefully continue on to a baccalaureate degree. By 2010, 80 percent of all jobs in this Nation will require secondary and post-secondary education and training, as a prerequisite for a job that supports a middle-class lifestyle. It is important that we do all we can to encourage career and technical education students to continue their education and training at a college or university. My amendment would do just that. Specifically, it would allow States to use funds under this bill to facilitate the transition of vocational and career education students into baccalaureate degree programs. This permissible use of activities would include Statewide agreements between career and technical schools, and colleges and universities to facilitate transfers of students, and to facilitate concurrent enrollment. It would permit dual and concurrent enrollment programs between career and technical schools and baccalaureate-granting institutions. It would encourage the joining of academic and financial aid counseling, and it would also encourage other initiatives for the pursuit of a baccalaureate degree, including overcoming geographic and special populations barriers. This language is contained in the Senate version of this bill. And I urge my colleagues to support this common sense amendment to H.R. 366. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) the Chairman, and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) the chairman of the subcommittee, for their hard work on this bipartisan piece of legislation, and recognize the leadership of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) and for her hard work on this bill also. The intent of this amendment is exactly as the chairman laid out. People develop further ambitions, and maybe perhaps change their goals in life, and we ought to make it as easy as possible for folks to pursue their dreams as broadly as they can. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to express my deepest concern about a proposed Indian gambling casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Oregon. On April 6, 2005, Oregon Governor, Ted Kulongoski and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs signed a Tribal-State compact. The compact would allow a off-reservation Indian gambling casino in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Columbia River Gorge is the crown jewel of Oregon's many natural wonders, a spectacular and unique sea-level cut through the Cascade Mountain Range. It is 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep. The Columbia River flows between the Gorge's north walls in Washington State and its south walls in Oregon. It is a natural wonder and a National Scenic Area. The proposed 500,000 square foot gambling casino would dramatically alter the Columbia River Gorge and have a significant negative effect on the environment by increasing traffic, congestion, and air pollution. Specifically, the proposed casino would draw an estimated 3 million visitors per year for non-Gorge related reasons, resulting in perhaps a million additional vehicle trips per year. This increased traffic would exacerbate existing air pollution problems in the Columbia River Gorge. State and Federal agencies have already determined that air quality in the Columbia River Gorge is significantly degraded and that visibility is impaired 95 percent of the time in this National Scenic Area. Also, according to Federal sources, this area suffers acid rain as severe as what falls in industrial cities such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and New York City. It is crucial that this proposal be thoroughly vetted to take into account the environmental impact on the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, its habitat, and the surrounding communities. I note that there are six endangered or threatened species in the Gorge, and over 40 sensitive species in the Columbia River Gorge. Placing a casino in the Columbia River Gorge has been presented as a choice between Hood River and Cascade Locks, two communities on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. I emphatically reject this Hobson's choice. The Hood River casino site is a red herring, neither physically buildable nor legally available for tribal gambling purposes. The argument that unless a casino is permitted in Cascade Locks, it would inevitably be built in Hood River is a smoke screen used to hide other appropriate non-Columbia River Gorge sites. Also, allowing this casino in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, on land far removed from the Tribe's existing reservation, would set a precedent encouraging other Oregon tribes to demand off-reservation casinos closer to the lucrative Portland market. Allowing for an off- reservation casino in this situation also could set an adverse precedent at the national level. Until now, Oregon's policy, set by former Governor John Kitzhaber, has been to limit each tribe to one casino on reservation land held in trust. The Kitzhaber policy has been stable over the years and has prevented an arms race to get closer to the lucrative Portland metro market. Breaking the Kitzhaber policy would inevitably lead to more off-reservation casinos throughout Oregon and potentially also in neighboring States. Indeed, once this is allowed, there is no logical stopping point. All tribes would have their interests affected adversely both by an arms race to the Portland metro area and by a potential general public backlash against all Indian gaming. This is more than a mere compact to govern gambling. The compact is a blueprint for the development of a specific large-scale commercial casino complex within one of Oregon's most scenic and ecologically sensitive areas. This compact should be disapproved so that we can protect the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, limit off- reservation Indian casino proliferation, protect the long-term interests of all federally recognized tribes in Oregon, and act in the best interests of the surrounding communities, ranging from Hood River to Corbett to Portland to Beaverton. The earliest Oregon pioneers, Indian and white alike, came down the Columbia River Gorge to find an Eden of the west. They traveled through the Gorge, a marvel then and a marvel today, to seek new hope. We betray their hopes and dreams if we despoil the crown jewel of Oregon's natural heritage in order to maximize short-term gambling projects.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for his leadership in organizing this Special Order tonight and for his leadership in chairing the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I join with my fellow members of the Asian Pacific American Caucus in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This month marks the 27th time America has recognized and celebrated the many contributions and achievements of Asian Pacific Americans. Our country was founded as a Nation of immigrants. America has reached its greatness in part by the accumulation of ideas from those with varied heritage and backgrounds. In particular, Asian Pacific Americans have made profound contributions to American life, including the arts, education, science, technology, politics, and athletics. Asian Pacific Americans were here to help build the transcontinental railroad, to serve in the Civil War, and most recently to develop the latest in Internet technology. Asian Pacific Americans have played an active and crucial role in the development of this country from knitting it together, as I mentioned, with the transcontinental railroad, to bringing us closer to the rest of the world through the technologies of the Worldwide Web. The Asian Pacific American community remains and always will be an integral and vibrant part of American society. As we take part in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I urge everyone to participate more deeply in the civic life of our Nation. Asian Pacific American civic participation and engagement will help define our collective future. By working together, we can bridge and build upon our great Nation's diverse communities and move forward with determination and unity. I encourage Congress and the American people to spend part of May absorbing the legacy, culture, and achievements of the Asian Pacific American community.