E260 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 2, 2006 this simple yet great man who only refers to Con. Res. 51. I also hope you will join me in of corruption in many ways: a prescription himself as ‘‘Fanny’s Boy.’’ I ask my colleagues urging the President to designate the month of drug bill that puts the greed of pharmaceutical in the U.S. House of Representatives to join June for annual national recognition of Carib- companies ahead of the need of senior citi- me in wishing Freddie many more years of bean-American Heritage Month. zens for affordable prescription drugs; energy happiness, and thanking him for his service as f legislation that gives tax breaks and subsidies a great father and great American. to oil companies while Americans pay record CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY f prices at the pump and for home-heating; and OF THE ‘‘BLUE & GOLD’’ WITH a waiver of liability so that vaccine manufac- CONGRATULATIONS ON SENATE CUB SCOUT PACK 60 turers can profit while Americans can be hurt. PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION CRE- To end this culture of corruption and restore ATING CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HON. BRIAN HIGGINS integrity and openness to the House, Demo- HERITAGE MONTH OF NEW YORK cratic Leader PELOSI and my Democratic col- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES leagues have introduced the Honest Leader- ship and Open Government Act that will elimi- HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL Thursday, March 2, 2006 OF NEW YORK nate the K Street Project that trades legislative IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great access for Republican-only employment, stop pleasure I recognize the young men from Cub Thursday, March 2, 2006 the revolving door between government and Scout Pack 60 from Buffalo, New York as they lobbyists, end the ‘‘dead of night’’ special in- Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the traditions and contributions of terest provisions, prohibit cronyism in key ap- express my congratulations to Rep. BARBARA the Boy Scouts of America on this the 76th pointments, and eliminate contracting abuses LEE of California for her leadership in cham- anniversary of Cub Scouting. like those benefiting Halliburton. I support this pioning legislation that would designate a na- Since 1910 Cub Scouts have embraced bill, and I urge my colleagues to enact and tional Caribbean-American Heritage month. their motto ‘‘Do Your Best’’ and promoted the vigorously enforce needed reforms. I am looking forward to the signing of this values of: citizenship, compassion, coopera- I am, however, concerned with the proposal legislation by the President and to having the tion, courage, faith, health, honesty, persever- to ban all privately-funded congressional travel first celebration of Caribbean-American Herit- ance, positive attitude, resourcefulness, re- without making a distinction between social or age Month later this year. We as a nation will spect, and responsibility among its member- recreational trips and educational travel. Trav- enthusiastically participate in this celebration ship. el that includes lobbyists funding lawmakers to in recognition and gratitude for the contribu- Today we have more than 885,000 Cub go to luxurious resorts for golf trips is abuse tions made by our Caribbean-American com- Scouts across America, learning valuable life of House rules, and I believe we need to put munities. We have been richly blessed by this lessons through the scouting program, who an end to it. immigrant community who have followed and will be the next generation of leaders. But fact-finding trips on the other hand are achieved their American dream through hard On Sunday, March 5, 2006 Pack 60 will cel- an important way to educate members of Con- work and devotion to self-improvement. ebrate the Anniversary of Scouting with a gress about issues. Banning them would make As you know Mr. Speaker, the United States ‘‘Blue & Gold’’ dinner; blue representing truth, it harder for Members to get real-world under- Senate earlier this month unanimously ap- spirituality, steadfast loyalty and the sky above standing of matters that arise on Capitol Hill. proved the legislation, H. Con. Res. 51, intro- and gold which stands for warm sunlight, good I want to make sure that nonprofit organiza- duced by Rep. LEE last year. Last summer, cheer and happiness. tions, whether they undertake no lobbying or the bill was approved by the House of Rep- Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity devote a very small percentage of their budg- resentatives and had 81 co-sponsors and sup- to recognize Cub Scout Pack 60 whose mem- ets to lobbying, are not precluded from taking port from more than 40 non-governmental or- bers have learned at a very young age the im- members on these trips because of this bill. I ganizations working on Caribbean-American portance of teamwork and giving back to one’s look forward to working with my colleagues on issues. As the most senior Democratic woman community. We should be proud knowing they this issue. on the House International Relations Com- are this Nation’s future. The intention of our Founding Fathers was mittee, and a member of the Western Hemi- f for Congress to be a marketplace of ideas. sphere Subcommittee, Rep. LEE has worked Democrats are leading the effort to once again H.R. 4682, THE HONEST LEADER- to strengthen U.S.-Caribbean relations and put power where it belongs—in the hands of SHIP AND OPEN GOVERNMENT wanted to raise awareness about the role that the American people. I look forward to enact- ACT: DEMOCRATS LEAD THE NA- Caribbean people and their descendants have ing real reform that addresses serious ethical TION ON LOBBYING REFORM played in the United States by introducing the abuses, increases the transparency and open- bill. ness of government, and enforces the rules As an original co-sponsor of H. Con. Res. HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY and laws already on the books. 51, I am ecstatic that the lawmakers on both OF ILLINOIS f sides of the aisle in the House and the Senate IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lent their support to such a worthy bill. The RECOGNIZING MR. RONALD L. Caribbean people have been a blessing both Thursday, March 2, 2006 BOOK to the 15th Congressional District of New York Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, our and the country. There have been many influ- country was established as a government ‘of HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ ential Caribbean-Americans in U.S. history the people, by the people, and for the people.’ OF FLORIDA who have changed the fabric of this fine na- The Republican majority has turned it into a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tion. Shirley Chisolm, the first African-Amer- government of, by, and for a few of the peo- ican Congresswoman and first African-Amer- ple. We need to address the Republican cul- Thursday, March 2, 2006 ican woman candidate for President, had fa- ture of corruption and lead the charge to re- Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, milial roots in Barbados. The parents of Colin store honor and dignity to the House of Rep- on Saturday, February 25, 2006, Ronald L. Powell, the first African-American Secretary of resentatives. America can do better. The Book was awarded the Anti-Defamation State, were Jamaican. In the area of the arts, American public deserves better. League’s Torch of Liberty Award, which recog- Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen of Mr. Abramoff and his associates have clear- nizes outstanding individuals who have exhib- Salsa music, was Cuban, while the parents of ly broken the law. It takes two to tango. I be- ited humanitarian concerns and whose efforts Sidney Poitier, the first African-American actor lieve Republican Members of Congress who bring together people of all races, religions to receive the Academy Award for best actor put America up for sale should also be held and ethnic backgrounds. in a leading role, hailed from the Bahamas. accountable for their corrupt dealings and Mr. Book serves as a member of the Uni- It is undeniable that great patriots of the ‘‘pay for play’’ politics that put special interests versity Outreach Development Council at Flor- United States have cultural roots in the beau- first at the expense of the priorities of the ida International University and is Board Mem- tiful countries of the Caribbean. Mr. Speaker, American people. ber Emeritus of the Memorial Hospital Foun- please join me again in congratulating Rep. Americans pay when lobbyists are granted dation and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hos- LEE on her hard work to advance this legisla- special access in the legislative process and pital & Foundation. He is chairman of the tion and lawmakers in both the House of Rep- democratic procedures are abandoned on the Dade County Homeless Trust and its execu- resentatives and the Senate on passing H. floor of the House. Americans pay for the cost tive committee and serves as outside advisor

VerDate Aug 31 2005 04:39 Mar 03, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A02MR8.022 E02MRPT1 jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with REMARKS March 2, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E261 to the Broward Community Partnership on the House in late-night sessions at the end of the important that it merited specific reference and Homeless. year. For example, just this past December, protection in our founding document. He is also an active participant in South the House voted on the Fiscal Year 2006 De- Today, America is the world leader in inno- Florida’s business community. Mr. Book is a fense Appropriations Conference Report at ap- vation. However, to ensure that America re- trustee and Council of 100 members of the proximately 4 a.m.—just 4 hours after the re- mains the world leader, we must again take a Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and port was filed. Yet, the report contained lan- hard look at our policies to make sure that was the Director and Special Counsel for guage dealing with avian flu, including con- they still encourage inventors to create and former Florida Governor, Bob Graham’s Cabi- troversial language regarding immunity liability businesses to grow and expand. net. for vaccine manufacturers, that was added in Every business and individual must weigh Mr. Book earned a Juris Doctorate at the House-Senate conference on the bill. Con- the advantages and the hurdles when making Tulane University and a Bachelor’s degree in sidering legislation on important issues in this the decisions about whether to bring an idea Political Science at Florida International Uni- manner is a dereliction of our duty as the peo- to the market, expand services to other geo- versity. He currently practices in Aventura and ple’s elected representatives. graphical areas and the like. In addition to Tallahassee. Of all his accomplishments, Ron My proposed rule requires that no piece of market factors, unfortunately, today there are and his wife, Pat, are most proud of their chil- legislation, including conference reports, can additional hurdles to innovation and growth— dren, Lauren (20), Samantha (18) and Chase be brought before the House of Representa- excessive litigation, as well as taxation, red (13). tives unless it has been available to Members tape and regulation imposed by governments. For his exemplary and inspirational work, re- and staff in both print and electronic version The Innovation and Competitiveness Act is flecting the goals and aspirations of the ADL, for at least 10 days. My bill also requires that a comprehensive piece of legislation to get I congratulate Ronald L. Book on this distin- a manager’s amendment that makes sub- Congress engaged in the business of pro- guished honor. stantive changes to a bill be available in both moting innovation in America by creating addi- f printed and electronic forms at least 72 hours tional incentives for private individuals and before being voted on. While manager’s businesses to create and rollout new products RECOGNITION OF 2006 WINTER amendments are usually reserved for technical OLYMPIC ATHLETES and services so that America will remain the changes, oftentimes manager’s amendments world leader in innovation. Government some- contain substantive additions to or subtrac- times is the problem—not the answer to the HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN tions from bills. Members should be made problem—so the Innovation and Competitive- OF NEW JERSEY aware of such changes before being asked to ness Act also addresses government-imposed IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES vote on a bill. hurdles to innovation by clearing the way for The sunlight rule provides the people the Thursday, March 2, 2006 inventors and businesses to do what they do opportunity to be involved in enforcing the rule best—create and compete. Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to by allowing a citizen to move for censure of recognize all of the Olympic athletes who Specifically, this legislation will promote re- any House Member who votes for a bill search and development by permanently ex- competed last month at the Winter Games in brought to the floor in violation of this act. The Turin, Italy. The Olympic Games have always tending the R&D tax credit. Companies know sunlight rule can never be waived by the Com- best how to spend their money on research sought to bring people together in peace to re- mittee on Rules or House leadership. If an at- spect universal moral principles. They give the and development, not government bureauc- tempt is made to bring a bill to the floor in vio- racies. finest athletes in the world the chance to com- lation of this rule, any member could raise a In addition, excessive red tape and con- pete with pride and honor. I am proud that point of order requiring the bill to be imme- fusing rules regarding tax liability are currently three of my constituents from East Rutherford, diately pulled from the House calendar until it stifling businesses from moving across State New Jersey, in my Ninth Congressional Dis- can be brought to the floor in a manner con- lines. Increasingly, States are taxing busi- trict, competed among the world’s best at the sistent with this rule. nesses outside their borders for the right to do 2006 Winter Olympics. Brian Gionta, Scott Mr. Speaker, the practice of rushing bills to business within the State even when those Gomez, and Brian Rafalski were all members the floor before individual Members have had out-of-State businesses have minimal contacts of the Men’s United States Olympic Ice Hock- a chance to study the bills is one of the major with the taxing jurisdictions. Given this envi- ey Team. factors contributing to public distrust of Con- ronment, some businesses have made the de- Mr. Speaker, I would like to especially honor gress. Voting on bills before Members have cision that it is not worth expanding to other these three young men who have distin- had time to study them makes a mockery of jurisdictions because of the ambiguity about guished themselves in the sport of ice hockey, representative government and cheats the vot- when they must pay these taxes and the fear and proudly represented the United States at ers who sent us here to make informed deci- of aggressive taxation and the resulting litiga- the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, sions on public policy. Adopting the sunlight tion and compliance costs. The Innovation and Italy. rule is one of, if not the, most important Competitiveness Act contains provisions to set f changes to the House rules this Congress clear, bright line rules for when out-of-State could make to restore public trust in, and help INTRODUCTION OF THE SUNLIGHT businesses would be obliged to pay taxes to preserve the integrity of, this institution. I hope RULE a jurisdiction. This bill creates a physical pres- my colleagues will support this change to the ence test such that States could only collect House rules. business activity taxes from businesses with HON. RON PAUL f OF TEXAS employees or property in the taxing State. This will create the clarity necessary for busi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCTION OF THE INNOVA- TION AND COMPETITIVENESS nesses to grow beyond State lines, and offer Thursday, March 2, 2006 ACT new and exciting products and services to Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, Supreme Court consumers. Justice Louis Brandeis famously said, ‘‘Sun- HON. BOB GOODLATTE In addition, excessive litigation hampers in- light is the best disinfectant.’’ In order to shine OF VIRGINIA vestment and innovation. With that in mind, this legislation cracks down on frivolous law- sunlight on the practices of the House of Rep- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES resentatives, and thus restore public trust and suits by strengthening sanctions against attor- integrity to this institution, I am introducing the Thursday, March 2, 2006 neys who file truly frivolous actions. sunlight rule, which amends House rules to Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise Furthermore, rising health care costs are ensure that Members have adequate time to to introduce the Innovation and Competitive- one of the most difficult challenges facing indi- study a bill before being asked to vote on it. ness Act. viduals, businesses and manufacturing today. One of the chief causes of increasing public The Framers of our system of government The Innovation and Competitiveness Act con- cynicism regarding Congress is the way major realized that innovation was essential to the tains provisions that will allow individuals to pieces of legislation are brought to the floor success of the United States. They embodied purchase health insurance that best suits their without Members having an opportunity to this strong belief in Article I Section 8 of our needs and budgets, while also promoting com- read the bills. This is particularly a problem Constitution, which lays the framework for our petition in health care. In addition, our bill en- with the Appropriations conference reports, nation’s copyright and patent laws. The Fram- courages the use of health information tech- which are often rushed to the floor of the ers realized that American innovation was so nology, which will improve health quality and

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