Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1014) recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H. Res. 1014 for consideration. This resolution draws public attention to the need for inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the greater community.

I introduced H. Res. 1014 on January 13, 2010, and the measure was favorably reported out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by unanimous consent on January 27, 2010. I am proud to say that the measure has bipartisan support from 59 Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, one in every five Americans has some form of disability. They face great difficulty in everyday life and significant disadvantages in education and employment. Men and women around the country work hard in areas like special education, job training, rehabilitation, and other efforts to address the needs of individuals with disabilities, and we can all be very proud of their work. But we should be sure to remember that individuals with disabilities still face a great deal of hardship.

These are our friends, our neighbors, and our family members and, of course, many, many, many times people that we see on a daily basis. They are our veterans. We must be sure to do our part to include these individuals in all facets of life.

North American Inclusion Month, recognized during the month of February, was first created in 2005, by Yachad, the Hebrew word for ``together,'' the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, and its parent organization, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. I would like to thank these groups for all the hard work they have done to educate people on this important issue, particularly in my district in Brooklyn.

In closing, I would also like to thank the gentleman from California, Congressman Issa, who has worked very closely with me on this issue. And, of course, I really appreciate his involvement and his support to get us where we are today.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1014, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Martin Luther King said that I cannot be what I ought to be until the world is what it should be. And I think that this legislation really addresses that issue to say that we have to be concerned about others, those who are disabled. And let me again urge my colleagues to join me in calling for the great inclusion of individuals with disabilities by supporting H. Res. 1014.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present in the Capitol for votes on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2 and 3, 2010.

On February 2, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' to suspend the rules and pass:

H.R. 4495, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the ``Jim Kolbe Post Office.''

H. Res. 957, Honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

H. Res. 1014, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.

On February 3, had I been present, I would have voted:

H. Res. 1051, Providing for consideration of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, on Ordering the Previous Question-- ``yea.''

H. Res. 1051, Providing for consideration of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, on Agreeing to the Resolution--``aye.''

H. Res. 1043, Recognizing Brescia University for 60 years of leadership in higher education, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yea.''

H. Res. 901, Recognizing the 49th anniversary of the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yea.''

H. Res. 1044--Commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp, honoring the victims of the Holocaust, and expressing commitment to strengthen the fight against bigotry and intolerance, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yea.''

On the Hastings (FL) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment-- ``aye.''

On the Flake (AZ) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment--``aye.''

On the Dahlkemper (PA) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment-- ``aye.''

On the Cuellar (TX) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment--``aye.''

On the Connolly (VA) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment-- ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's very kind and appropriate words. And I, too, rise in support of House Resolution 1014, recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month, being the month of February.

Approximately 41.2 million Americans have a disability of some kind, and many of them are unemployed or underemployed and struggling to live on what they make or even to survive. Mildly disabled individuals make less each month than those who are not disabled, and the severely disabled individuals take home almost $1,000 less than they otherwise would.

And while there are programs in place that provide job training for those with special needs, they often do not focus enough on helping those individuals become independent or find permanent employment. Many do, and there are many programs in our communities across the country, but both the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, have partnered together for 2010 to promote North American Inclusion Month, observed each February to bring public attention to the needs of those with disabilities.

These organizations have taken it upon themselves to become leaders in promoting the message of Inclusion Month: The need for increased employment opportunities, better special education, and greater inclusion of disabled individuals at the family, community, and national levels.

It's something we all should support. And I certainly believe that this is a bipartisan resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.

And with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, February 2 and Wednesday, February 3, 2010, I was unable to be present for votes while I was attending to a health-related matter.

Had I been present on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 26 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4495), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 27 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 957), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 28 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1014).

Had I been present for votes on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 29 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1051), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 30 (on agreeing to H. Res. 1051, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4061), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 31 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1043, as amended), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 32 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 901, as amended), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 33 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1044, as amended).

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures on February 2, 2009. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of the following:

Roll 26, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H.R. 4495, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the Jim Kolbe Post Office.

Roll 27, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 957, Honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Roll 28, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1014, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.