E14 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 6, 2009 

innocent Israelis and use ordinary Palestinians 

as human shields, I will continue to support 

Israel’s right to self-defense and its stated goal 

of preventing Hamas from firing rockets into 

Israel. 

I remain hopeful that the United States and 

its allies can help bring a sustainable ceasefire 

to the region through diplomacy and create 

the conditions necessary for a durable peace. 

f 

HONORING DENNIS MCCARTHY 

HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my friend, Dennis 

McCarthy, a renowned journalist, veteran, and 

the first Grand Marshal of the annual San Fernando Valley Veterans’ Day Parade. Dennis is 

being honored by the Los Angeles Valley College for his many good works. 

An award winning columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News, Dennis is a diligent crusader who tirelessly works to protect the rights 

of veterans and their families. His popular column is widely read in the San Fernando Valley and neighboring suburbs. It is not only well 

written, but it is often so compelling that it stirs 

people to take action. 

Dennis obtained his degree in Journalism 

from California State University at Northridge. 

In addition to writing for the Los Angeles Daily 

News, Dennis has written for the Glendale 

News Press and South Bay Daily Breeze. He 

is extremely prolific; he has written nearly 

3,000 columns in his 25-year-career including 

many columns about Los Angeles Valley College and its vital role in meeting the educational needs of our community. 

He has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to issues involving senior citizens, 

veterans, and the disabled. He uses wit, 

humor and solid reporting to spark the interest 

of community leaders. 

I am grateful to Dennis for serving as the 

first Grand Marshal of the annual San Fernando Valley Veterans’ Day Parade—a parade I helped put together and care deeply 

about. Dennis not only took on the Grand Marshal role with his customary great dignity, but 

he helped communicate the spirit of the parade through his columns. He has also used 

his column to help prompt other projects I 

have undertaken to help improve the lives and 

the health of our veterans. 

Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in saluting Dennis McCarthy for his impressive career and 

dedication to the people of the San Fernando 

Valley, and to congratulate him on being honored at the Los Angeles Valley College President’s Annual Gala. 

f 

SAN GABRIEL BASIN 

RESTORATION FUND 

HON. DAVID DREIER OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today 

to introduce legislation that will continue to 

provide safe drinking water to Southern California. Identical legislation was approved by 

the House in 2007 but was still awaiting consideration in the Senate when the 110th Congress adjourned. It is my sincere hope that we 

can move quickly to see this bill enacted. 

In 2000, Congress created the San Gabriel 

Basin Restoration Fund after the discovery of 

perchlorate and other harmful contaminants in 

the basin’s groundwater. The San Gabriel 

Groundwater Basin covers more than 160 

square miles in Los Angeles County and is the 

primary source of drinking water for over 1.2 

million people. 

The fund initially authorized $85 million in 

Federal funding to assist the state and local 

government agencies as well as the private 

companies found responsible for the contamination to effectively implement a comprehensive clean up plan that would protect the safety of our region’s drinking water supply. After 

evaluation, it is evident that an increase in this 

authorization is necessary. That is why this bill 

extends the current authorization of the San 

Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund by a total of 

$61.2 million—$50 million for the San Gabriel 

Basin Water Quality Authority, WQA, and 

$11.2 million for the Central Basin Municipal 

Water District (Central Basin). 

The San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, has done a tremendous job in administering the clean up program. In 1999, the 

WQA projected the cost of cleaning up the 

San Gabriel Basin at a total of $320 million 

based on the level of contamination of the five 

original Operable Units of Baldwin Park, El 

Monte, South El Monte, Whittier Narrows and 

Puente Valley. Since the initial authorization 

by Congress in 2000, dramatically increased 

contamination levels have been identified in 

the South El Monte and Puente Valley Operable Units. This discovery has significantly increased both the capital and operation and 

maintenance costs of the projects. With the 

cost of inflation. increased energy costs and 

the higher contamination levels found, the total 

cost is now estimated at $1 billion. Significantly, the WQA has a number of treatment 

plants that are already operating at full capacity with more coming on line in the near future. 

I am proud to say that this partnership is an 

example of good stewardship of taxpayer 

money. Congress created the Restoration 

Fund in 2000, with an initial authorization of 

$85 million, or a 25 percent investment. To 

date, over $70 million has been appropriated, 

with approximately 83 percent of the clean-up 

provided by local sources and responsible parties, with about 12 percent federal funding. 

With this modest increase of $61.2 million, 

bringing the total federal investment to $146.2 

million, or approximately 14 percent, the WQA 

and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation can continue jointly administering this clean-up program. 

In working with the WQA and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation over the past decade on 

this regional solution, there is no doubt that 

this increase is warranted and will be utilized 

in the most effective way to continue to provide safe drinking water. The cost-effectiveness of the original authorization of the Restoration Fund is clear. And without a doubt, 

that cost-effective use of the Federal investment will be continued in this new authorization. The Federal partnership will continue to 

hold the coalition of local water agencies and 

private parties together to finish the job that 

we started a decade ago. 

I look forward to working closely with the 

House Resources Committee, and with the 

Water and Power Subcommittee Chairwoman 

GRACE NAPOLITANO, who is a cosponsor of this 

bill and has been a champion of regional 

water solutions. I am also pleased to have the 

support of Representatives GARY MILLER, LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD, and ADAM SCHIFF who 

are also cosponsors of this legislation and 

have long supported the safety of our regional 

groundwater supply. 

f 

INTRODUCTION OF THE CAPTIVE 

PRIMATE SAFETY ACT 

HON. EARL BLUMENAUER OF OREGON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 

Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, today 

I am introducing a bill to prohibit interstate 

commerce in nonhuman primates as pets. The 

Captive Primate Safety Act, CPSA, would 

amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to 

treat nonhuman primates as prohibited wildlife 

species under that Act and to make corrections in the provisions relating to captive wildlife offenses under that Act. 

Nonhuman primates kept as pets pose serious risks to public health and safety. They can 

transmit diseases and inflict serious physical 

harm. These risks are increased by interstate 

transport of the animals. Currently, twenty 

states prohibit keeping primates as pets, and 

many others require a permit. Even in states 

where it is legal to keep primates, most people 

cannot provide the special care, housing, and 

social structure these animals require. 

Although the importation of nonhuman primates into the United States for the pet trade 

has been banned by Federal regulation since 

1975, these animals are bred in the United 

States and are readily available for purchase 

from exotic animal dealers and even over the 

Internet. Because of the importation laws, 

there remains an active domestic trade in 

these animals. 

The CPSA would amend the Lacey Act 

Amendments of 1981 to add nonhuman primates to the list of animals that cannot be 

transported across state lines. It would prohibit 

the import, export, transportation, sale, receipt, 

acquisition, or purchase in interstate or foreign 

commerce of nonhuman primates in order to 

safeguard public health and safety and protect 

the welfare of monkeys, apes (which include 

chimpanzees and orangutans), marmosets 

and lemurs. The bill is similar to the Captive 

Wildlife Safety Act, CWSA, which Congress 

passed in 2003 to ban interstate commerce in 

lions, tigers, and other big cats for the pet 

trade. 

The CPSA would not affect trade or transportation of animals for zoos, research facilities, or other federally licensed and regulated 

entities. In the 110th Congress, the CPSA received strong support in the 110th Congress 

from Dr. Jane Goodall, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of 

Zoos and Aquariums, and The Humane Society of the United States. It easily passed the 

House of Representatives. 

I look forward to working with my colleagues 

to advance this bi-partisan legislation. 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with REMARKS