Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following.

Recognizing the accomplishments of Jose Alvarez

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to recognize Jose Alvarez, Commissioner for the City of Kissimmee, for his outstanding career and service to the community.

Mr. Alvarez was born in Cuba, and moved to the United States in 1971. He was raised in Miami, where he worked for the Bridge and Road Engineering Department of the Florida Department of Transportation, before relocating to Central Florida.

Mr. Alvarez has tirelessly served the Hispanic community in Kissimmee, Florida while also achieving success in the local real estate market. He has held many positions both in the public and private sector including the Board of Directors for League of United Latin American Citizens, the Board of Directors for National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, and the Board of Directors for Osceola Association of Realtors. He has demonstrated a thorough understanding of both the business and real estate market.

In 2012 Mr. Alvarez was elected to be Commissioner for the City of Kissimmee. He has developed a flourishing career and earned the respect of his constituents for his dedicated service to the community. Mr. Alvarez is happily married to his wife Darlene, with whom he has five daughters and two grandsons.

I am happy to recognize Mr. Alvarez, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for his proven commitment to his community and leadership in Osceola County.

Recognizing the Public Service of Jonathan Evans

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to recognize Jonathan Evans for his commitment to public service.

Jonathan possesses a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration, both from the University of Central Florida. He is currently working on another Master's Degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University.

Jonathan has worked as a public servant for several Central Florida communities including the City of St. Cloud, the Town of Celebration, the City of Largo, and Haines City. Jonathan was hired as the Haines City Assistant City Manager on July 16, 2012, and was appointed as Acting City Manager on May 16, 2013. Prior to his work in Haines City, Jonathan worked for the City of Largo for nearly 6 years as the Assistant to the City Manager.

Jonathan is a full member of the Florida City and County Management Association, FCCMA, and has served on numerous boards for the organization. He is also a member of the International City/County Management Association, ICMA, and is taking the required steps to become an ICMA Credentialed Manager.

Jonathan has a strong grasp on municipal government, and a great work ethic that has not gone unnoticed. He has received numerous awards including the United Gold Award, the Children's Empowerment Award, and was named the Employee of the Month by the City of St. Cloud.

I am happy to honor Jonathan Evans, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for his outstanding leadership and public service.

Recognizing the accomplishments of Ellen Ochoa

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to recognize the inspiring career of Ellen Ochoa, astronaut, engineer, and Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Ellen Ochoa received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from San Diego State University in 1980. She then went on to attend Stanford University, where she received a Master of Science degree and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

She was selected by NASA in January 1990 and became the first Hispanic female astronaut in July 1991. Her technical assignments in the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center included crew representative for flight software, computer hardware and robotics, Assistant for Space Station to the Chief of the Astronaut Office, lead spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM) in Mission Control, and Acting Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office. As a veteran of four space flights, Ellen has logged nearly 1000 hours in space.

Ellen is a pioneer of spacecraft technology. She is a co-inventor for three patents for an optical inspection system, an optical object recognition method, and a method for noise removal in images. At the NASA Ames Research Center, she led a research group working primarily on optical systems for automated space exploration. She has received numerous awards for her accomplishments including NASA's Exceptional Service Medal, Outstanding Leadership Medal, and four Space Flight Medals.

Since 2007, Ellen has served as Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center, helping to manage and direct the Astronaut Office and Aircraft Operations. On January 1, 2013, Ochoa made history again by becoming the first Hispanic and second female director of NASA's Johnson Space Center.

I am happy to honor Ellen Ochoa, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for her exceptional career, numerous accomplishments, and contributions to the Hispanic community.

Honoring the Career of Jose Feliciano

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize Mr. Jose Feliciano, a Puerto Rican musician whose international success is a true testament to his amazing talent.

Mr. Feliciano was born in Lares, Puerto Rico. At the age of five he immigrated with his parents and siblings to New York City. Due to congenital glaucoma, he was left permanently blind at birth. However, his disability has not hindered his passion for playing music. Mr. Feliciano's love for music began at the age of three, when he first accompanied his uncle on a tin cracker can. By the age of six, he had taught himself to play the concertina simply by listening to records and practicing. When Mr. Feliciano received his first guitar, he spent hours practicing each day and started taking classical lessons with a guitar instructor.

In 1963, Mr. Feliciano signed a contract with RCA Records. Over the course of his career he has had numerous chart-topping singles in multiple countries. His famous single, `Feliz Navidad,' tops the charts every year during the holidays. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers named `Feliz

Navidad' one of the top 25 most frequently played and recorded Christmas songs worldwide. Mr. Feliciano has received numerous awards over the course of his career including nine Grammys, a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award. The City of New York also honored him by renaming Public School 155 in East Harlem, ``The Jose Feliciano Performing Art School.''

Mr. Feliciano is not only a talented musician, but also a humanitarian. He serves as the International Immigrants Foundation's Honorary Ambassador and Official Delegate before the United Nations. He also serves as a board member for New Hampshire's Association for the Blind. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, an ancient and prestigious Papal Order of the Catholic Church, knighted Mr. Feliciano at St. Patrick's Cathedral. He also received a Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from Sacred Heart University for his musical and humanitarian contributions to the world.

I am happy to honor Mr. Jose Feliciano, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for his many contributions to music and humanity.

Recognizing the Accomplishments of Denise Diaz

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to recognize a hardworking community organizer, civil rights activist, and working mother of two.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Denise Diaz's parents raised her and her brother on the northwest side of Chicago. Her parents worked hard in the airline catering industry to provide a better life for their children. As union members, they instilled Denise with a strong sense of collective action and a passion for justice.

Denise Diaz received her BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her activism began in organizing on the South Side of Chicago. She later became a tenant rights organizer in immigrant communities outside of Washington, D.C.

In 2007, Denise moved to Central Florida to raise her two children and continue community organizing on workers' rights issues. Denise can often be seen picketing in front of major employers, meeting with workers, and leading community events with the support of her husband Mark and her two children, Zoe and Zion.

For over five years, Denise has served as the Executive Director of Central Florida Jobs with Justice. She is also a National Jobs with Justice board member and a board member of the Florida Institute for Reform and Empowerment (FIRE).

Denise's work with the Central Florida Jobs with Justice, a coalition of unions, community based groups, faith based and student groups that work together on economic justice campaigns, has empowered and improved the lives of working families in Orlando.

I am happy to honor Denise Diaz, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for her incredible accomplishments on behalf of the working families in Central Florida.

Recognizing Jose F. Mendez for 40 Years of Expanding Educational

Opportunities

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to recognize the inspiring career of Jose F. Mendez. He has committed the last 40 years to expanding educational opportunities both in Puerto Rico and the United States.

Mr. Mendez has served as President of Ana G. Mendez University System (AGMUS) since 1974. In 1978, Mr. Mendez advocated for the creation of a Televised Study Center to make university education accessible to students who could not attend a traditional style university. Through his efforts, a televised education program was created and has since been utilized by thousands of students and the prison population of Puerto Rico. In 1985, under Mr. Mendez' stewardship, AGMUS founded Channel 40 (today, Sistema TV), Puerto Rico's first privately operated television station affiliated to PBS.

Mr. Mendez formed partnerships between universities in the United States and Puerto Rico to spark an interest in science and technology among minority groups. Under his leadership, AGMUS has grown to become the second largest private university in Puerto Rico. AGMUS also has three campuses in Florida, including one in my district, and one in Maryland.

Mr. Mendez has held various positions in educational leadership and received numerous awards. One of his crowning achievements was the creation of AGMUS's Permanent Fund for scholarships which provides education to talented students from low income areas.

Mr. Jose Mendez has focused his efforts on education because he believes that our ability to learn and to contribute to human progress is our greatest gift. I am happy to honor Jose F. Mendez, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for his unwavering commitment to expanding educational opportunities for all.

Recognizing the Career and Accomplishments of Betsy Franceschini

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, to recognize the career of Betsy Franceschini. Mrs. Franceschini is a leader in both the Central Florida and national Hispanic community.

Mrs. Franceschini has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. She has received multiple awards and recognitions, including Magellan Media Corporation's Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2001, the Dove of Peace International Award in 2006 for her outstanding community leadership, the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund--Success Story Award, and the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award in 2008. Mrs. Franceschini was also recognized in 2012 as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Hispanics in Central Florida by Vision Magazine and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando.

Mrs. Franceschini has been extremely active in the community since moving to Florida in 1985, focusing on issues affecting minorities. In 2003, Mrs. Franceschini was appointed by Mayor Buddy Dyer to serve in the City of Orlando's Strategic Team and Transportation Committee. She also served on the Board of the Hispanic Initiative Business Fund from 1999 to 2006 and headed the Hispanic Task Force for the Census 2000 in Orange and Seminole Counties. Just before that, she served as President of the Asociacion Borinquena (Puerto Rican Association of Central Florida), from 1997 to 1999.

In February 2011, Mrs. Franceschini was one of 15 Latino leaders selected by the White House to meet with President Obama to discuss issues important to the Hispanic community. In addition, she successfully organized and executed the first ever White House Hispanic Summit in Central Florida. In March 2011, she was appointed as the first Hispanic Outreach Director for the Florida Democratic Party and successfully accomplished the goal of increasing Hispanic voter participation in Central Florida.

Mrs. Franceschini recently worked as the Deputy District Director and Hispanic Outreach Coordinator for my office in Orlando. On July 1, 2013, the Governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro Garcia Padilla, appointed her as the Florida Regional Director for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. Over twenty-eight years of dedication and commitment has earned her a high level of respect, support, and admiration as a national Hispanic leader in public service.

I am happy to honor Betsy Franceschini, during Hispanic Heritage Month, for her outstanding accomplishments and service to the Hispanic community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution previously noticed.

Yes, I do

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the dignity of the House has been called into question. You have heard the text of the resolution, but I think that some points bear highlighting.

The BBC News has reported that ``leaders of one of the most powerful nations on Earth''--by the way, that is still us--``willingly provoked a crisis that suspends public services.''

A leading Chinese news service stated:

A dysfunctional Washington is now overspending the

confidence in its leadership.

A German newspaper stated:

The main actors in this dispute took a huge risk and

proceeded to validate everyone who ever accused the political

establishment in Washington of being rotten to the core. The

public is left wondering how things could have been allowed

to get to this point and why there is so much poison in the

system.

Another German newspaper said:

What has already been apparent in America for a few years

now is the self-destruction of one of the world's oldest

democracies. And the great tragedy here is that this work of

destruction isn't being wrought by enemies of democracy,

greedy lobbyists, or sinister major party donors. America's

democracy is being broken by the very people who are supposed

to carry and preserve it--the politicians. What is clear,

though, is that America is already politically bankrupt.

The headline of the New York Daily News, the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States, on the first day of the government shutdown read this way----

Yes, I do, and I was about to get to it.

Thank you.

As I just indicated, the headline of the New York Daily News, the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States, on the first day of the government shutdown read this way: ``House of Turds.''

The bylines stated: ``D.C. cess-pools shut down government,'' and ``They get paid while the Nation suffers.''

Just today, a new poll came out that demonstrated as follows:

A national poll asked the following questions:

What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or witches?

Congress, 32 percent; witches, 46 percent.

What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or

hemorrhoids? Congress, 31 percent; hemorrhoids, 53 percent.

What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or dog poop?

Congress, 40 percent; dog poop, 47 percent.

Yes, I am explaining why it is privileged under rule IX.

May I continue?

Mr. Chairman, one of the questions before the House on this resolution is whether the dignity of the House has been offended. I am demonstrating vividly that the dignity of the House has been offended in support of this resolution.

May I continue without interruption?

Good.

The current polling indicates:

What do you have a higher opinion of, Americans: Congress

or toenail fungus? Congress, 41 percent; toenail fungus, 44

percent.

What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or

cockroaches? Congress, 42 percent; cockroaches, 44 percent.

What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or potholes?

Congress, 36 percent; potholes, 47 percent.

And finally----

Mr. Chair, that is exactly what I have been doing. I would ask the Chair to allow me to continue without further interruption.

May I continue?

Mr. Chair, I want to repeat: one of the questions to make that determination is whether the dignity of the House has been offended.

As I indicated, there is one final point to make here before I get into further argument, which is this: the American public is now of the following opinion:

What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or zombies?

Congress, 37 percent; zombies, 43 percent.

Now, clearly, statements such as these and others cited in the resolution call into question the dignity of the House. These statements are not from a single editorial or merely one passer-by. These statements are being expressed around the Nation and across the globe.

They have contributed to a Congressional approval rating plummeting to 7 percent--that is 7 percent--in the latest Economist/YouGov poll, and they must be addressed by this body.

Thankfully, rule IX of the rules of the House of Representatives provides Members a mechanism through which to address those times when the dignity of the House has been harmed and called into question. It allows for questions of privilege.

Specifically, rule IX reads as follows:

Questions of privilege shall be, first, those affecting the

rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and

integrity of its proceedings.

I submit to you, Mr. Chair, that these are questions squarely within the dignity of the House of Representatives.

Further, rule IX provides that:

A resolution reported as a question of the privileges of

the House, shall have precedence of all other questions

except motions to adjourn.

I have offered a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House, and I am here today to secure a vote on that resolution.

Mr. Speaker, you should find the obvious, which is that the dignity of the House has been called into question and that no part of the resolution that I have offered goes beyond the scope of a question of privilege--such as attempting to legislate--so that a vote must be allowed on this measure.

For the record, Mr. Speaker, the vote that should be allowed would be on the following resolution:

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House--

(1) without seeking to effect a change in the rules or

standing orders of the House or their interpretation; and

(2) without prescribing a special order of business for the

House--that a government shutdown is

--and this is obvious at this point--

a mark upon the dignity of the House and that the House would

be willing to pass a ``clean'' continuing appropriations

resolution to end it.

That is right--``a mark upon the dignity of the House and that the House would be willing to pass a `clean' continuing appropriations resolution to end it.''

What then is a satisfactory question of privilege?

Well, from the plain text of rule IX, and from existing precedent, a satisfactory resolution must demonstrate that the dignity of the House has been called into question. It has been called into question to such a degree that I wanted to show you the cover from the Daily News, that I was prevented from doing so, because to show it to you--just to show it to you--would somehow be considered to be offensive to the dignity of this House.

And the resolved clause of the resolution may not diverge into affecting the legislative actions of this body.

I argue, Mr. Speaker, that this resolution satisfies both accounts.

I have found no precedent in the annotated House Rules and Manual or Hind's or Cannon's or Deschler's Precedents that would allow the Chair to rule against the resolution before us today. In fact, one would question whether this entire body--including the Parliamentarian--has been politicized unnecessarily if you do rule against that today.

Not once do the precedents address a resolution that outlines a litany of condemnations against Congress from media sources around the world and here at home, as opposed to responding to a single source of criticism. Not once do the precedents rule on a resolution citing Congressional approval ratings below 10 percent in conjunction with persistent reporting against the dignity of the House.

If the first hurdle to be crossed today is that the dignity of the House has to be called into question, then, Mr. Speaker, you are required to rule in favor of this resolution raising a question of the privileges of the House.

If ``dignity'' means what the dictionary says it means--``the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect''--then surely the honor and respect of this House has been called into question.

When only 7 out of 100 Americans approve of what we do--the lowest approval rating ever--then surely our dignity has been diminished and is actively being called into question.

If we are to be called ``obstructionists'' and practicers of ``partisan petulance;'' if we are to be called an establishment that is ``rotten to the core;'' and if we are leaving Americans wondering why there is ``so much poison in the system,'' then surely our dignity as a body has been diminished.

If we are accused of ``willingly provoking crises that suspend public services and decrease economic growth,'' then surely our dignity as a body has been diminished.

If we cause international media outlets to refer to us as ``politically bankrupt'' and responsible for ``breaking America's democracy,'' then our dignity as a body, as a House, is being called into question.

Well, the Chair has not heard my arguments.

Well, excuse me, but I have a point of parliamentary order.

I would remind the Chair that the Chair actually agreed to hear my argument. Having done so, the Chair needs to hear my full argument.

Well, I have to say, Mr. Chair, that in doing so, you, yourself, at this point----

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to explain why the Chair is wrong and to finish my argument.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

Whereas, the BBC News, on October 1, 2013 in England,

published the following: ``For most of the world, a

government shutdown is very bad news--the result of

revolution, invasion or disaster. Even in the middle of its

ongoing civil war, the Syrian government has continued to pay

its bills and workers' wages. That leaders of one of the most

powerful nations on earth willingly provoked a crisis that

suspends public services and decreases economic growth is

astonishing to many.'';

Whereas, the state-run Xinhua news service, on October 2,

2013 in China, published the following: ``With no political

unity to redress its policy mistake, a dysfunctional

Washington is now overspending the confidence in its

leadership.'';

Whereas, The News of Mexico, on September 25, 2013 in

Mexico, published the following: ``They squabble over the

inconsequential accomplishment of a 10-week funding

extension. It isn't serious, but it certainly isn't funny.'';

Whereas, the Australian, on October 1, 2013 in Australia,

published the following: ``The irresponsible way in which

Congress . . . played the politics of partisan petulance and

obstruction . . . does them little credit. Neither does it

say much for the budgetary processes in the world's largest

economy.'';

Whereas, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, on October 2,

2013 in Germany, published the following: ``The main actors

in this dispute, which brings together many factors, both

ideological and political, took a huge risk and, unhindered,

proceeded to validate everyone who ever accused the political

establishment in Washington of being rotten to the core . . .

The public is left wondering how things could have been

allowed to get to this point and why there is so much poison

in the system.'';

Whereas, the Suddeutsche Zeitung, on October 2, 2013 in

Germany, published the following: ``What has already been

apparent in America for a few years now is the self-

destruction of one of the world's oldest democracies. And the

great tragedy here is that this work of destruction isn't

being wrought by enemies of democracy, greedy lobbyists or

sinister major party donors. America's democracy is being

broken by the very people who are supposed to carry and

preserve it . . . the politicians . . . At the moment,

Washington is fighting over the budget and nobody knows if

the country will still be solvent in three weeks . . . What

is clear, though, is that America is already politically

bankrupt'';

Whereas, the Washington Post, on September 30, 2013, quoted

Justice Malala, a political commentator in South Africa as

saying the following: ``They tell us, `You guys are not being

fiscally responsible' . . . And now we see that they are

running their country a little like a banana republic . . .

there is a lot of sniggering going on.'';

Whereas, the headline of the New York Daily News, the

fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United

States, on October 1, 2013, read: ``House of Turds'', and the

bylines stated: ``D.C. cess-pols shut down government'' and

``They get paid while nation suffers'';

Whereas, these reports call into question the dignity of

the House; and

Whereas, the resulting reduction in the public's perception

of the House's dignity has culminated in a 7% Congressional

approval rating in the most recent Economist/YouGov poll:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House--

(1) without seeking to effect a change in the rules or

standing orders of the House or their interpretation; and

(2) without prescribing a special order of business for the

House--

that a government shutdown is a mark upon the dignity of

the House and that the House would be willing to pass a

``clean'' continuing appropriations resolution to end it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a remarkable story, previously lost to history. Namely, how the Philippines generously opened its doors to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, when all other nations barred their entry.

I would like to posthumously commend Manuel Quezon, President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (1935-1944) for his resolve to lobby for immigration rights for Jewish refugees even at great political risk. He saved the lives of 1,305 Jews by allowing them entry into the Philippines and would have saved thousands more had the US State Department had allowed its commonwealth to do so.

An extraordinary tale, President Quezon collaborated with his high- profile associates, US High Commissioner Paul McNutt, Colonel (and future president) Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the Frieders, four Jewish businessmen from Ohio who had a cigar business in Manila, to overcome the huge bureaucratic and logistical challenges of saving people from the Holocaust.

I would like also to recognize the US Philippines Society for giving this story a resurgent voice and hosting a round table on June 10, 2013 titled ``Holocaust Haven in the Philippines'' which focused on an upcoming film documenting this story, An Open Door. The US Philippines Society, which recently opened its offices in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2012, is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization whose mission it is to build on the rich and longstanding historical ties between the United States of America and the Philippines.

An Open Door was produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Noel M. Izon. This is the third film in his World War II trilogy Forgotten Stories. The film was co-produced by author and professor at St. John Fisher College, Sharon Delmendo.

The Filipino people extended a warm welcome to those who undoubtedly would have faced horrible atrocity if stranded in Europe. I hope that this story of human generosity and duty to help those in peril may find an audience among the U.S. public so we can appreciate the ingenuity and heroic risks taken by Manuel Quezon to protect victims of the Holocaust.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, the Essential Air Service program is an expensive government handout. It is, in effect, welfare for airplanes.

Page 9 of the bill expressly states that the per passenger subsidy extended to rural communities--and by the way, we're not talking about Hawaii and Alaska here; we're talking about places like Muscle Shoals-- for a flight that would not otherwise exist is capped at $500. I think that's too high. I don't know why we should be, in effect, paying people $500 to fly to Muscle Shoals. I don't see the sense of that at a time when we're cutting food stamps and cutting block grants to communities. I think it's a poor way to spend taxpayer funds. My amendment would reduce this subsidy to a still-very-high $250 per passenger because $500 per passenger is simply outrageous.

If passengers don't want to pay for aviation routes, then they simply shouldn't exist. For 500 bucks per passenger, we could literally rent a limousine for every single person aboard each flight and drive them to the single nearest commercial airport.

I understand the need for rural services in necessary aspects of life, like Postal Services, telephones, and even the Internet; but I cannot understand the need to subsidize regular airline flights that would otherwise not exist to the tune of $500 per passenger.

The bill before us today would cut community development funds in half--to the lowest level since the program began in 1975. It would cut HOME Investment Partnerships to the lowest level since that program began in 1992. And it would drastically reduce the amount of section 8 rental assistance and increase homelessness. Under these circumstances, I cannot stand by in good conscience and allow a subsidy like this to continue.

I offer this amendment today because it's more important to put a roof over the heads of the poor than it is to hand out corporate welfare to United Airlines and to support aviation routes that simply should not exist.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, this is an amendment that relates to fair housing programs, and specifically the part of the program regarding the Limited English Proficiency Initiative.

This is a small program that is capped in the bill presently at $300,000. The President had asked that this be increased to $500,000. We now offer an amendment that would increase it to $450,000, still less than what the President offered, but nowhere near what a program like this actually justifies. I want to point out we're not taking away from any other programs. We are just slightly lifting the cap on this particular program to allow the purpose of this program to be carried out.

This initiative is vital to ensuring that individuals who are not proficient in English are aware of their rights, able to understand the terms of leases and other housing-related documents, and able to receive important announcements that affect the health and safety of their households.

In addition, the initiative educates the HUD-assisted housing providers on their responsibilities under Federal law and HUD regulations to ensure that their housing programs and activities are fully accessible to all, regardless of national origin or English proficiency.

Finally, the initiative saves HUD staff time as it helps HUD to more efficiently communicate with and, thereby, serve the needs of people who are not proficient in English.

Madam Chair, I have heard from time to time that the folks on the other side of the aisle are looking for some way to reach out to the Hispanic community and make their party more appealing to the Hispanic community here in America. We have to realize that there are over 40 million Americans who do not speak English as their first language. This is a tiny program that is meant to allow for people who do not have English proficiency to have some of the same benefits and benefit from the same programs as those who do. Certainly it would be a very small and minor concession on the part of the folks on the other side of the aisle to give this little nod to the Hispanic community and show their concern that we have equal protection under the law for all, regardless of whether they are English speaking or Spanish speaking or speak some other language.

Since Congress initiated this program in fiscal year 2008, the Department has used this funding to translate vital HUD documents, such as model leases, fair housing complaint forms, statements of residents' rights and responsibilities, information on how to become a first-time homeowner, how to avoid loan fraud and foreclosure, and fair housing information for disaster housing providers and survivors.

This request will not only fund translation of HUD documents and printing, but also oral interpretation services at HUD events, oral interpretation for persons seeking access to HUD services by telephone, acquisition of technology that conducts simultaneous oral translation, marketing of HUD's language access services to populations that need them, and public education on the availability of and the right to obtain information regarding HUD-funded services in multiple languages.

Given the tiny amount of money that's involved here, this program has been extraordinarily effective. In the last year for which we have statistics, almost 30,000 people benefited from a program that cost the Federal Government only $300,000. This program has been incredibly cost effective. It is very much needed by Hispanics throughout America and other minorities who do not have English as their first language. I ask the majority, my friends across the aisle, to consider the value of this program to the Hispanic community and everyone else in America.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 11: Page 9, line 7, before the period, insert

``or that are located within 50 miles of a commercial service

airport''.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 12: At the end of the bill, before the short

title, insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 7: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Sec. 421. None of the funds made available by this Act may

be used to enter into a contract with any offeror or any of

its principals if the offeror certifies, pursuant to the

Federal Acquisition Regulation, that the offeror or any of

its principals--

(1) within a three-year period preceding this offer has

been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against it

for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection

with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public

(Federal, State, or local) contract or subcontract; violation

of Federal or State antitrust statutes relating to the

submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft,

forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records,

making false statements, tax evasion, violating Federal

criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property; or

(2) are presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or

civilly charged by a governmental entity with, commission of

any of the offenses enumerated in paragraph (1); or

(3) within a three-year period preceding this offer, has

been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in an amount

that exceeds $3,000 for which the liability remains

unsatisfied.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 8: Page 9, line 7, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $250)''.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 9: Page 2, line 13, after the first dollar

amount, insert ``(reduced by $500,000)''.

Page 3, line 7, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced

by $500,000)''.

Page 10, line 25, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $500,000)''.

Page 11, line 4, after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $500,000)''.

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 10: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following:

Offered By: Mr. Grayson

Amendment No. 21: Page 108, line 19, after the dollar

amount, insert ``(increased by $150,000)''.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, this amendment would increase the Defense health program account by $10 million in order to fund a cure for Gulf War illness. Currently, there is no cure for Gulf War illness, and it affects over a third of the veterans who served in the first Gulf War.

This amendment is identical to an amendment offered last year that passed this body by a voice vote, and according to the Congressional Budget Office, this amendment actually will reduce total outlays by $1 million.

Veterans of the first Gulf War suffer from persistent symptoms, including chronic headaches, widespread pain, cognitive difficulties, debilitating fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory symptoms, and other abnormalities that are not explained by traditional medicine or psychiatric diagnoses.

Research shows that as veterans from the first Gulf War age, they are twice as likely to develop Lou Gehrig's disease as their nondeployed peers. There also may be connections to multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Sadly, there are no known treatments for the lifelong pain and affliction that these veterans must endure through this disease.

For decades, the Veterans Administration has downplayed any neurological basis for this disease, but recent research just this year has shown unequivocally that this disease is biological in nature. The time has come to right the wrong that our servicemen and -women have had to live with for over 20 years.

In this Department of Defense appropriations bill, we allocate more money for breast cancer, orthopedic, and prostate cancer research than we do for finding a cure for Gulf War illness. Equivalent funds are appropriated for ovarian cancer research.

Personally, I think if we are going to spend money on medical research within the Department of Defense, the Department must adequately fund research on those diseases that originate in war and wholly affect our servicemen and -women. Over a quarter of a million veterans display symptoms of this disease, and the time has come to find and fund a cure for it.

The offset for my amendment today comes from the $32 million Operation and Maintenance Defense-wide account, and that account is funded $500 million above the amount in last year's DOD appropriations bill.

Congress has responsibility to ensure that the Gulf War veterans, who put it all on the line and are paying for that with a lifetime of pain, are not left behind.

I urge my colleagues, including my esteemed colleague from Florida, to support this amendment and help to find a cure for Gulf War illness.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I want to thank the gentleman from Florida for accelerating the efforts to find a cure for this disease. I am very grateful to him, and so are thousands of veterans.

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

This amendment, Mr. Chairman, expands the list of contractors who are forbidden from contracting with the Federal Government, to include such contractors as those who have been convicted of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, et cetera. This amendment is identical to language that was inserted in the Military Construction, Veterans Administration, and the Homeland Security appropriations bills by voice vote.

Since brevity is sometimes an under-appreciated virtue, I yield back the balance of my time.