E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2009 No. 87 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER labor protections for those who have The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. PRO TEMPORE been abused and mistreated for decades Coughlin, offered the following prayer: The SPEAKER pro tempore. The in California’s pastures of plenty. We confess, Lord God Almighty, that Chair will entertain up to 10 requests Jack Henning ended his farewell we often accept countless blessings in for 1-minute speeches on each side of speech from the California Labor Fed- life and forget to give You thanks. the aisle. eration in 1996 with, And if by a suspen- Faithfully surrounded with the support sion of the laws of nature I were young f of family and friends, we do not always again, I would follow no other course, remember to be grateful. We enjoy food REMEMBERING JOHN HENNING no other flag, but the flag of America on our tables and cherish freedom, yet (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given and the flag of labor. The labor move- we can easily neglect those around this permission to address the House for 1 ment was blessed to have him as a land and other parts of the world who minute.) leader. have neither. Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise As distinguished as he was on behalf Fulfilling our daily duties and re- today to pay tribute to a leader for of workers, Jack made many other con- sponsibilities on Capitol Hill can make working men and women, a distin- tributions to his State and this Nation such a difference in this world and pro- guished diplomat and a great American for which we are all grateful. Before vide a sense of personal satisfaction be- John Henning, known to us as Jack, taking the presidency of the California cause each day grants us great oppor- who passed away on June 4, 2009. Jack Federation of Labor, Jack served Presi- tunities. Remind us, ever-present God, Henning will be long remembered for dents Kennedy and Johnson as Under to be grateful and gracious. Help us to his distinguished career on the front Secretary of Labor and was appointed find ways to show our appreciation by lines of the labor movement, fighting by President Johnson as Ambassador sharing our many blessings with others passionately for justice, equality, to New Zealand in 1967. Jack was also and never forgetting to offer thanks- human rights and jobs in California, a distinguished regent at the Univer- giving to You each day for every day. across America and throughout the sity of California for a dozen years dur- Amen. world. ing which he helped lead the fight for A native San Franciscan, Jack began expanded opportunities for minority f his career working for the Association students and demanded that the uni- of Catholic Unionists. He joined his versity divest its investments in apart- THE JOURNAL first union, the United Federal Work- heid South Africa. That divestment ers of the CIO, after graduation from initiative helped bring about the peace- The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- college. Jack served for decades as a ful end of apartheid and the new day of ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- dedicated leader of working people, ris- majority rule in South Africa. ceedings and announces to the House ing to be the president of the California We will all miss Jack greatly, but her approval thereof. Labor Federation. In that role, Jack none more than his sons Brian, Daniel, Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- represented millions of California’s John Jr., Patrick and Thomas; his nal stands approved. workers with great distinction. Not daughters Mary and Nancy; his 12 only union members, but millions of grandchildren and his great-grand- f Americans who never belonged to a children. We also remember his beloved union enjoy better wages, safer work- wife Betty, who preceded him in death. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE places, greater rights and more secure I hope it is a comfort to his family that The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. retirements because of the battles so many people mourn their loss and TAUSCHER). Will the gentlewoman from waged by union leaders such as Jack are praying for them at this sad time. Massachusetts (Ms. TSONGAS) come for- Henning. Jack Henning was a proud American, ward and lead the House in the Pledge Jack was a close ally of legendary a devout Catholic, passionate about his of Allegiance. farm worker organizers Cesar Chavez Irish roots and a great friend and men- Ms. TSONGAS led the Pledge of Alle- and Dolores Huerta. He cited among tor to many of us. Mr. Speaker, I join giance as follows: his proudest accomplishments the pas- Jack Henning’s family, friends and I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the sage in 1975 of the landmark Agricul- workers worldwide to honor his legacy, United States of America, and to the Repub- tural Labor Relations Act, which our celebrate his life and remember his il- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, colleague Mr. HOWARD BERMAN was so lustrious contributions to the State of indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. much a part of, and provided tough California and to our great Nation. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H6541 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 02:29 Jun 12, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11JN7.000 H11JNPT1 jbell on PROD1PC69 with HOUSE H6542 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 11, 2009 Later today, thousands of people will ance at the expense of the taxpayers. It us to a clean, sustainable energy fu- gather in California to do just that, will take time to rebuild our con- ture. celebrate his life and pay tribute to tractor oversight capabilities, but I ask f him. my colleagues to join me in this bill. THE REPUBLICAN ANSWER TO THE f f ENERGY CHALLENGES WE FACE PROTECTING PRIVATE HEALTH CLEAN ENERGY—NUCLEAR POWER (Mr. PENCE asked and was given per- INSURANCE (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was mission to address the House for 1 (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked given permission to address the House minute and to revise and extend his re- and was given permission to address for 1 minute.) marks.) the House for 1 minute and to revise Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, Mr. PENCE. The American economy and extend his remarks.). many countries, including China and is hurting. Gasoline prices are on the Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Many European nations, are continuing to rise. Utility rates threaten to go high- Americans don’t have access to afford- move to clean energy, such as nuclear er, imposing even greater hardship on able health care, and we can and need power. The United States, the nuclear working families. The American people to do better for all Americans. I sup- power pioneer, lags far behind in the are looking for answers in these times port a system that gives Americans development of new generating plants. to the challenges we face in energy. more affordable health care choices so The United States could and should The Democrat answer you have just they can pick the coverage that best move to the licensing and development heard is a national energy tax that will fits their needs. The core part of the of more nuclear power plants. lead to higher energy prices and mas- Democrat proposal is a new govern- Nuclear power is an efficient and a sive job losses for the American people. ment-run program that will not only cheaper way of providing clean energy The President said it best a year ago put bureaucrats between you and your to America’s manufacturing sector. We when he said, if the cap-and-trade plan doctor but would force more than 100 should streamline the long cum- were to pass, utility rates—his words million people, Americans, out of the bersome process of power plant appli- now—would, quote, necessarily sky- health coverage they currently receive cations that use safe reactor designs, rocket. through their jobs. designs that have already been ap- Some estimates suggest job losses be- We need a plan that really does let proved by the Nuclear Regulatory tween 1.8 and 7 million. Well, Repub- Americans who like their health care Commission. licans have a better plan, the American coverage keep it, a plan that doesn’t Progress, safety and costs have ad- Energy Act. It’s an all-of-the-above add new taxes or new mandates or vanced to a state that America can plan that offers energy independence, drive up costs or drive people out of safely store spent nuclear fuel rods and more jobs and a cleaner environment health care. We must give all Ameri- also recycle fuel. One of America’s without imposing a national energy cans the freedom to choose their health most impressive plants is the North tax. Our energy solution focuses on plan, not force them into a govern- Anna Nuclear Station here in nearby more domestic exploration for oil and ment-run, one-size-fits-all plan.