E62 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks January 9, 2009 

additional $64,000 for 1 year and ongoing 

funding for continuing noxious and invasive 

week eradication; and $180,000 were secured 

for the Mariposa Creek Parkway and other improvements. Supervisor Pickard has been an 

integral member of the Mariposa County 

Board of Supervisors, his impact on the county will be displayed for years to come. 

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend 

and congratulate Supervisor Bob Pickard upon 

his retirement from the Mariposa County 

Board of Supervisors. I invite my colleagues to 

join me in wishing Supervisor Pickard many 

years of continued success. 

f 

INTRODUCTION OF THE OCEAN 

AND COASTAL MAPPING INTEGRATION ACT 

HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO OF GUAM

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, January 9, 2009 

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I 

have reintroduced legislation to provide a 

framework for an integrated ocean and coastal 

mapping program within the Federal government. The bill, entitled the ‘‘Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act,’’ specifically requires the President to establish a program for 

the development of a coordinated and comprehensive federal ocean and coastal mapping 

plan for the Great Lakes and coastal state waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic 

zone, and the continental shelf of the United 

States. 

The program is meant to enhance ecosystem-based approaches in decision-making 

for conservation and management of marine 

resources and habitats, establish research and 

mapping priorities for federal-state-local government partnership, support the sound siting 

of research and other platforms off our coastlines, and advance ocean and coastal science. 

The President shall coordinate with affected 

coastal states and territories and an Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal 

Mapping to be convened by the Administrator 

of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, in establishing this program. The program is also meant to facilitate 

the adoption of uniform mapping standards 

and the utilization of the latest technology for 

mapping activities. Such an approach will 

allow for the sharing of maps among stakeholders. 

Today, at least 15 Federal agencies, most 

coastal states and territories, and numerous 

local agencies, academic institutions, and private companies conduct mapping and charting 

activities for U.S. waters. No central repository 

or coordinating authority, however, exists 

under U.S. law to oversee and track these 

various mapping efforts. The absence of coordination in mapping has resulted in redundancy of efforts in certain areas. While some 

areas are ‘‘over mapped,’’ there is a lack of 

data for other regions. The program authorized by this bill is meant to reduce such redundancy, and expand the availability of quality, up-to-date, accurate and comprehensive 

maps and charts for all U.S. waters. 

I introduced this bill in the 110th Congress 

as H.R. 2400. The bill passed the House of 

Representatives on July 23, 2007, but did not 

receive the approval of the Senate despite it 

having been considered in the other body as 

part of omnibus legislation. I have, therefore, 

reintroduced this bill today given the ongoing 

necessity and importance of improving and 

streamlining our ocean and coastal mapping 

capabilities. Ultimately, this bill, if enacted, will 

improve the conservation and management of 

marine resources and marine transportation 

safety. 

f 

LETTER TO SPEAKER PELOSI 

HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN OF RHODE ISLAND

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, January 9, 2009 

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I submit 

the following: 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATVES, 

Washington, DC, January 6, 2009. 

Hon. NANCY PELOSI, 

Speaker, House of Representatives, 

Capitol, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: This letter is to advise you that, effective today, I am taking a 

leave of absence from the Homeland Security 

Committee until my tenure on the House 

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 

is completed. I understand that I will retain 

my seniority on the Homeland Security 

Committee for the duration of my leave. 

Thank you for your assistance with this 

matter. 

Sincerely, 

JAMES R. LANGEVIN, 

f 

Member of Congress. 

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF 

WOMEN AND WORKPLACE POLICY 

HON. JOHN D. DINGELL OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, January 9, 2009 

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, today, Representative CAROLYN MALONEY and I are reintroducing our bill to establish a Center for 

the Study of Women and Workplace Policy. 

The Center would compile and analyze data 

on the differences between the earning of men 

and women and to identify factors which affect 

those differences. The Center would also publish their results in the form of a ‘‘Best Practices Guide’’ for businesses containing guidelines to promote workplace equity, retaining 

women in the workplace and promoting a family friendly workplace. 

I’m sorry to say that my home state of 

Michigan has one of the largest earning gaps 

between college educated men and college 

educated women. College-educated women in 

Michigan earn just 70 percent of what collegeeducated men earn, making the state 47th in 

the Nation in terms of pay equity—that according to the American Association of University 

Women. I know that Michigan is home to 

some of the most talented, skilled women on 

that planet. It is time that they get paid in a 

way that reflects those abilities. The establishment of such a center and the publication of 

its research findings will go a long way toward 

closing the pay gap in Michigan and throughout our Nation. 

RECOGNIZING ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO 

SELF DEFENSE 

HON. BEN CHANDLER OF KENTUCKY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, January 9, 2009 

Mr. CHANDLER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to recognize Israel’s enduring friendship 

with the United States of America, as well as 

its right to self-defense in an appropriate and 

proportional manner from the threats posed to 

it by its neighbors who seek its demise. 

As most Palestinians hunger for peace, the 

actions of Hamas, sponsored by Iran and 

often attempting to maximize Palestinian civilian casualties, make this road to peace much 

more difficult. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 

2005, hoping that this withdrawal would usher 

in peace between the two rivals. However, 

since 2005 Hamas has fired thousands of 

rockets into Israel. Over the past 6 weeks 

alone, Hamas, outside the confines of the 

ceasefire agreement, fired hundreds of rockets 

and mortars into Israel without warning, killing 

men, women and children. These continuous 

acts of terror have left Israel with no other 

choice but to defend its citizens. 

An important and reliable ally in an unstable 

region, Israel is fundamental to our foreign 

policy in the Middle East. I am disappointed to 

see an end to the 6-month ceasefire between 

Israel and Hamas, as this ultimately leads to 

more civilian casualties on both sides. However, I think it is important to recognize that 

Israel faces great threats along its border from 

which it has every right to defend itself. 

During the 6-month ceasefire, Israel’s support of the people of Gaza—such as supplying 

food, medical and other supplies—was commendable. This assistance highlights the potential for a peaceful resolution to this enduring conflict, which I hope to see in my lifetime. 

f 

IN HONOR OF LIEUTENANT 

COLONEL RICHARD W. SKOW 

HON. SAM FARR OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, January 9, 2009 

Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

recognize the distinguished military career of 

United States Army LTC Richard W. Skow. On 

behalf of the whole House, I am honored to 

extend to Lieutenant Colonel Skow and his 

family the gratitude of the Congress and the 

American people for his service on the occasion of his retirement after 24 years in uniform. 

During his long and decorated career Lieutenant Colonel Skow made enormous contributions to the success of the U.S. Army’s 

worldwide mission. Most recently, he served 

for the last year and a half as the Defense 

Language Institute’s, DLI’s, Chief of Staff 

where he had previously studied Portuguese. 

He built a reputation for an outstanding work 

ethic, sound judgment, and proactive leadership—a true example for the junior officers 

under his command. As chief of staff, he 

played an instrumental role in helping his commander fulfill the DLI’s complex mission. His 

duties included, but were not limited to, personnel and budget management, special 


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