February 10, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- Extensions of Remarks E237
NO MORE NAVY BASES ON FAULT LINES HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I recently introduced legislation, H.R. 740, intended to prevent the Department of Defense from building new bases and facilities along seismic fault lines.
In San Diego, California, the Department of the Navy is planning a mixed-use development along the downtown waterfront that will incorporate not only a new Navy headquarters, but also business, commercial, and housing elements. It has come to my attention that the land in question is within the Uniform Building Code (UBC) Seismic Zone 4.
My bill requires the lease for this development to be revoked unless the Secretary of the Navy determines that seismic activity would not have any significant impact on any portion of the proposed development. My bill would also extend this requirement to other leases on which no substantial construction has already begun.
In my view, it is only reasonable to require a scientific review of this issue before construction begins. We should not allow the Department of Defense to build new bases on fault lines.
f HONORING SLAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS! HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to speak about a concurrent resolution that I have reintroduced that recognizes the service and sacrifice of our law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
My legislation would express the sense of Congress that a stamp, called the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Stamp, should be issued to honor law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
On average, a law enforcement officer is killed in America every other day. Since 1792, when recordkeeping started, more than 18,200 officers have lost their lives in service to their communities. In 2008, 140 officers were killed in the line of duty.
Too many police officers are killed or injured in the line of duty every day and this legislation is a way to thank those who put their lives in danger every time they put on their uniforms. I am proud to sponsor such a worthy legislation.
I invite my colleagues to join with me in commending our law enforcement officers. It is extremely important that we honor these everyday heroes! Please join me in supporting the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Stamp Act (H. Con. Res. 31).
Since the independence of the Philippines in 1946, the U.S.-Philippine relationship has been largely one of friendship and cooperation. The Philippines is a republic patterned basically on our own system of government.
The Philippines is a valuable trading partner of the U.S. and an ally in the war against terrorism. Approximately 2.9 million Americans are of Filipino descent and close to 250,000 United States citizens reside in the Philippines. The acts of conflict that surrounded the taking of the bells of Balangiga are not consistent with the friendship that is currently an integral part of the relationship between our two nations.
The Republic of the Philippines has repeatedly requested the return of the bells. They are an important symbol to the Filipino people, who wish to have them re-installed in the belfry of the Balangiga Church. I believe that it is time to resolve this situation in order to solidify the bonds between our two nations. My reso lution would honor and promote the positive relationship our counties enjoy.
As the years pass, I am confident that relations between our two nations will grow even stronger. To that end, the United States Government which has final disposition over the bells of Balangiga should transfer ownership of the bells to the people of the Philippines as a measure of good will and co-operation.
f LET'S PROTECT MOBILE HOMES HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I have re-introduced the Mobile Home Protection Act (H.R. 741). The purpose of this bill is to provide Section 8 assistance to low-income owners of mobile homes.
Owning one's home is a central part of the American Dream. For many low-income Americans, mobile homes provide the opportunity to achieve this goal of homeownership.
However, in many cases, while the family owns their home, they do not own the land on which the home sits. In some cases, the landlord will not accept section 8 vouchers for the land on which the mobile home sits.
I have introduced the Mobile Home Protection Act to correct this problem. This bill would provide this Section 8 assistance directly to the homeowners to apply towards their rent costs for the land on which their homes sit.
Many mobile home owners have invested their life savings into buying their mobile homes. As mobile home park rents increase these low-income homeowners are not able to keep up with this cost. This legislation will help keep these homeowners in their homes and maintain these established communities.
young woman in West Virginia, Alisha Young.
Ms. Young, a native of Montgomery, West Virginia, has overcome steep odds to gain an education and has tirelessly dedicated herself to the betterment of southern West Virginia and her neighbors.
Despite hardship early on, Ms. Young worked part-time in her local community to help her mother provide for their family and got herself through high school and into college. After a series of unfortunate choices, Alisha found herself back at home and joined YouthBuild, a youth and community development program which addresses low-income community challenges, including housing, education, employment, crime prevention, and leadership development.
Ms. Young speaks passionately about her work with YouthBuild. In a recent editorial in The Charleston Gazette, she highlighted the opportunity that participants have to obtain their GEDs or high school diplomas while learning career- and leadership-skills and earning money to build affordable homes for homeless and underprivileged families.
Now a self-proclaimed YouthBuild leader, Alisha has persevered and hopes to return to her education in the near future. She is currently serving in the AmeriCorps VISTA program and working with the YouthBuild USA Young Leaders Council.
It is from Alisha Young's example that I hope we can all learn. Her enthusiasm for her work and YouthBuild are a testament to the strong and compassionate spirit of volunteerism in West Virginia and America.
As citizens of this great Nation, it is our duty to help the less fortunate using our strengths and talents to help those in need, and to inspire those who are lost. Today, I am proud to recognize her hard work and determination and congratulate Ms. Young for her commitment to personifying the change she hopes to see in the world through her work.
f THE BELLS OF BALANGIGA: IT IS TIME TO GO HOME HON. BOB FILNER OF CALIFORNIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday, February 10, 2009 Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I recently reintroduced my bill, H. Con. Res. 30, which urges the President to authorize the transfer of ownership to the Philippines of the bells taken in 1901 from the town of Balangiga in the Philippines. The bells are currently displayed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In the 108 years since the taking of the bells occurred, the citizens of the United States and the Philippines have shared many historic and political ties. The Philippines was a staunch ally of the United States during World War II.
Brave Filipino soldiers were drafted into service by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, fought side-by-side with American soldiers, and were instrumental in the successful outcome of World War II. Filipino soldiers also fought along side our soldiers on the battlefields of Korea and Vietnam.
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