Dec 19, 2007
with 54 million Americans suffering the ravages of mental illness and 26 million suffering from chemical addiction, the failure of this Congress to pass the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act is a slap in the face to…
Jim Ramstad
The Public Record
Most widely reported
by number of sources- as the author of the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children Act, which became law in 1994, I am grateful we are voting today to pass a bill to make it even stronger. The Wetterling Act was named after Jacob Wetterling, who was abducted by a stranger at gunpoint in St. Joseph, MN, in 1989. Jacob's parents, Patty and Jerry, worked tirelessly to help me pass the Wetterling Act. The Wetterling Act provides for the registration of convicted child sex offenders and violent sexual predators. This national tracking requirement was needed because of the propensity of these offenders to repeat their heinous crimes again and again after their release from prison. Some States--like my home State of Minnesota--already provided for sex offender registration, but many offenders simply moved to another State and avoided detection. The children of America and their families needed the Wetterling Act to protect them from those who prey on children. Every major law enforcement organization asked for it as a resource for investigating child abduction and molestation cases. Under the Wetterling bill, law enforcement was allowed to notify the community when the dangerous offenders required to register under the Wetterling Act were released and living in the area. The bill we are considering today, Megan's Law, will require community notification. I strongly support this strengthening of the Wetterling Act, to make our communities a safer place for our kids to grow up.2 sources1996govinfo.gov
- I rise today on National Peace Officers Memorial day to pay tribute to the 14,064 peace officers who have given their lives to protect our communities. The names of these 14,064 brave men and women are permanently etched on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, located just a few blocks from here. This year, Mr. Speaker, 161 new names were added in a candlelight vigil representing police offices who were killed during 1995, and anyone who attended the ceremony today saw the families of these 161 police officers had to be profoundly moved, just as they were by the President's heartfelt remarks and by the beautiful singing of Mariah Carey. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Minnesota has suffered the loss of three police officers who have died on duty since July of 1995: Paul Moen, a Minneapolis police officer died during a struggle; Brian Klinefelter, a St. Joseph, Minnesota police officer was killed just 3 months ago by a liquor store robber; and less than 2 weeks ago we lost Rice County Deputy John Liebenstein when his car was rammed by the teenaged driver of a stolen car. Tragedies like these, Mr. Speaker, remind me of cop friends I have lost over the years: Sergeant J.W. Anderson of the Wayzata Police Department; Officer Jerry Haaf of the Minneapolis Police Department.2 sources1996govinfo.gov
govinfo.gov
Dec 13, 2007
One of those troops lived not far from me in a neighboring community in Minnesota. Lance Corporal Jonathan Schultze, a brave, proud marine who had returned from combat in Iraq, went to the VA suffering from PTSD, post-traumatic stress…
Dec 13, 2007
I am alive and sober today only because of access to treatment that I had, like other Members of Congress. Like my friend from Rhode Island, we had access to treatment as well as the grace of God and the support of many other recovering…
Dec 13, 2007
Ironically, when President Nixon declared the war on drugs, he directed 70 percent of the funding to treatment, prevention and education, 30 percent to the supply side. In other words, 70 percent to demand side, to reduce the demand for…
Dec 13, 2007
I'd just like to conclude my portion, Mr. Speaker, by quoting from one of our key advisers on this legislation, somebody who's a true expert, Navy Captain Medical Dr. Ron Smith, who is former chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the…
Oct 10, 2007
that great Minnesotan Hubert Humphrey said, ``The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows…
Aug 1, 2007
I rise with tremendous sadness and grief about an awful tragedy that took place this evening in Minnesota. Full details on the tragedy are still sketchy, but we know that, as of 6:10 p.m. Minnesota time, during the midst of evening rush…
Jun 22, 2007
Tomorrow is a special day in our community of Minnesota. Tomorrow is the day we welcome four very special new families to our community. Tomorrow is the day we dedicate and cut the ribbon at Wayzata Village Homes, an affordable housing…
Feb 14, 2007
the President has said for more than 4 years that he would follow the advice of his commanders on the ground with respect to troop levels in Iraq. That is why I am both surprised and disappointed the President did not follow the advice…
Dec 5, 2006
I rise in support of H.R. 6111, a bill to provide the U.S. Tax Court with jurisdiction to review innocent spouse relief claims. Under current law, married couples who submit joint tax returns are individually responsible for paying the…
Nov 13, 2006
I have long been an ardent supporter of trade expansion because the bottom line is jobs. Fully 95 percent of the world's population lives outside the United States, and the global economy is projected to grow at three times the rate of the…
Sep 7, 2006
I rise to pay tribute to Wayzata Community Church of Wayzata, MN, on its 125th anniversary of ministry and mission. Founded in 1881 by a dozen early settlers on Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata Congregational Church grew to 70 members within 2…
Jul 19, 2006
President Bush unfortunately vetoed funding for life-saving research on stem cells from donated, surplus embryos because he maintains it's wrong to ``promote science which destroys life in order to save life.'' As the leading pro-life…
Jun 27, 2006
as cochair of the Law Enforcement Caucus, I believe it is short-sighted and counterproductive to underfund Byrne grants for law enforcement. I have seen in my home State of Minnesota firsthand the importance of Byrne grants to local police…
Apr 27, 2006
I rise to pay tribute to the fallen American heroes on United Flight 93, heroes like Tom Burnett, Jr., from Minnesota, who put country ahead of self on September 11, 2001, as he made the ultimate sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Tom…
Apr 5, 2006
I too pay tribute to Colonel Kline for your heroic service to the country that we all love. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 371, to honor, congratulate and thank the brave men and women of the…
Sep 21, 2005
this month marks the 16th annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. As we celebrate Recovery Month, it is time for Congress to knock down the barriers to treatment and recovery for 26 million Americans…
Sep 7, 2005
the Minnesota spirit is alive and well. The Minnesota spirit of compassion and help for people in need has moved countless Minnesotans to step forward to provide relief for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. My district office has…
Jun 14, 2005
Edmund Burke put it best when he said the main reason we have government is to keep people safe. That is why the cut made by the committee is extremely disappointing. We need to restore the funding for the important Byrne grant program. In…
May 24, 2005
critics of embryonic stem cell research maintain that it is wrong to promote science which destroys life in order to save life. As the leading prolife legislator in Washington, Senator Orrin Hatch put it, since when does human life begin…
May 23, 2005
critics of embryonic cell stem research maintain it is wrong to promote science which destroys life in order to save life. As the leading prolife legislator in Washington, Senator Orrin Hatch put it, ``Since when does life begin in a petri…
Apr 20, 2005
I rise on behalf of all Minnesotans to extend my heartfelt sympathy to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims of the school shootings at Red Lake High School and to the entire Red Lake community. On March 21, 2005, tragedy…
Jan 25, 2005
I rise to pay tribute to legendary sportswriter Sid Hartman on his 60th anniversary with the Star Tribune, Minnesota's largest newspaper. For six decades Sid Hartman has been writing his celebrated column, and his WCCO radio show and daily…
Sep 15, 2004
Preventing the IRS from using the professional services of private collection agencies to help collect past-due income taxes is bad policy for taxpayers, and it is bad for IRS collection efforts. It is fundamentally unfair, Mr. Chairman…
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