Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as the House of Representatives debates H. Con. Res. 134, a resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public awareness of mental illness, especially within minority communites, I would like to submit the following eight endorsement letters for the Record.

May 20, 2008.

Edward S. Hubbard, Jr., Esq.,

Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel,

Office of Congressman Albert R. Wynn.

To Whom It May Concern: We, the members of the ``D.C.

Divas,'' also make up the Bebe Moore Campbell National

Minority Mental Health Task Force. We are writing to strongly

urge you to support H. Con. Res. 134, which establishes the

month of July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental

Health Awareness Month.

As friends and fellow advocates, we witnessed Ms.

Campbell's tireless efforts to educate people throughout the

country about mental health. Because a member of her family

suffers with mental illness, she knew firsthand that the

disease is a leading cause of disability in the United

States. One out of every four American families is affected

by mental illness.

In her own search for information and services, Ms.

Campbell found compassionate support within the community of

people, who like her, had loved ones struggling with the

disease. She also discovered that minorities suffering from

mental illness lack access to culturally and linguistically

competent mental health care. Compounding these challenges

are the cultural stigma associated with mental health

diagnosis and treatment, and a dearth of education and

resources for minority families supporting a mentally ill

loved. Always one to do whatever she could to solve a

problem, Ms. Campbell joined several other people from black

communities in Los Angeles to found the National Alliance for

the Mentally Ill--Urban Los Angeles.

Establishing July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority

Mental Health Awareness Month will raise awareness about

mental illness and mental health disparities among minorities

nationwide. This modest effort will improve public health by

encouraging the expansion of vital care in underserved

communities in every state.

Ms. Campbell, a noted author whose works became New York

Times bestsellers, died on November 27, 2006 of brain cancer

complications. By this time, she had become a national

spokeswoman for minority mental health issues, using her

celebrity status and creativity to address the issues

surrounding mental illness. Her last works before her death

included the best selling novel ``72 Hour Hold,'' a book

about a mother's struggle to get aid for her mentally ill

daughter, and the children's book, ``Sometimes My Mommy Gets

Angry,'' about a young girl whose mother is mentally ill.

The family of the late Ms. Campbell fully endorses this

initiative and seeks the help of all Members of Congress in

promoting this cause.

Again, as 13 of Ms. Campbell's friends from Washington,

DC--and fellow advocates for mental health services, we know

she would be honored to have her name attached to this

effort. Mostly, though, she would be thankful for the

congressional commitment to expand services in underserved

communities.

Sincerely,

Martha Jarvis, Beatrix Fields, Yolanda Phillips, Sheila

Garnett, Judi Mooore Latta, Melbourne Cummings, Sidonie

Davis, Patrice Gaines, LaFleur Paysour, Linda Wharton

Boyd, Andrea Carter, Niambi Jarvis, Courtney Lang.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1106) expressing support for designation of April 2008 as ``National Autism Awareness Month'' and supporting efforts to devote new resources to research into the causes and treatment of autism and to improve training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1106, which designates April 2008 as National Autism Awareness Month and supports efforts to devote new resources to research into the causes and treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism is a developmental spectrum disorder which inhibits an individual's ability to communicate and interact with others. For parents eager to communicate with their child, there is nothing more painful than watching their child fail to provide either a verbal or non-verbal cue of responsiveness. Affecting an estimated 1 in every 150 children and costing an estimated $90 billion to care for those with this disorder, the toll of autism spectrum disorder on our country is significant.

The resolution before us supports the goals of devoting new resources to researching the root causes of autism, expanding programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder across their life span and promoting understanding of the special needs of people with autism spectrum disorder. This resolution also emphasizes the need for early intervention services, starting as soon as the child has been diagnosed with autism.

While there is currently no available cure for autism spectrum disorder, early behavioral intervention strategies significantly improve the outcome for those suffering from autism. These strategies can also reduce the level of funding and services necessary to treat people later in life.

I would like to note for the record, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Daisy Maggette, my constituent from the Fourth District of Maryland, who has been a tireless advocate and activist in the fight against autism in our community.

I would also like to thank my colleague, Congressman David Reichert, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor today. I would also like to thank Congressman Mike Doyle for his leadership on this issue.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H. Res. 1106.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, before I yield the balance of my time, I want to recognize the gentleman and thank him for his leadership on this issue. He has been truly committed. I also again would like to recognize the work of Mr. Doyle, my colleague, and also my colleague and sponsor, Mr. Reichert, for his leadership on this issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 134) expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public awareness of mental illness, especially within minority communities, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution will designate July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disabilities in the United States affecting one out of every four Americans, and victimizing both those with the illness as well as those who care for and love those afflicted. However, according to a report from the Office of Minority and National Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association, although mental illness impacts all people, African Americans experience a much greater unmet need for mental health services and receive a lesser quality of care, thereby resulting in mental health disparities. Further, according to a Surgeon General's report on mental illness, African Americans who do seek help are misdiagnosed at a higher rate within the mental health delivery system.

Communities of color are in need of culturally competent mental health providers and expanding training for all health care providers to serve multiethnic consumers in order to accurately assess and treat African Americans and other minority patients.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one out of every three African Americans are more likely to stop treatment early, and are less likely to receive followup due to a lack of insurance coverage. Without adequate health insurance, mental health cannot be properly treated. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of African Americans receive mental health treatment, and a significant percentage refuse treatment or view mental health treatment as a treatment of last resort due to a stigma associated with mental illness.

To address these problems, obviously we need more resources and access to health insurance. But critically we also need to improve public awareness and encourage minority citizens to confront the illness instead of denying it or being ashamed of its existence in their families and communities.

This bill will, number one, raise awareness about mental illness and mental health disparities among minorities nationwide. Second, it will encourage training for health care providers to ensure proper diagnosis of African American patients and minority communities. And, third, it will improve public health by encouraging the expansion of vital mental health care into underserved communities in every State.

Let me take a moment and tell you about Bebe Moore Campbell. Bebe Moore Campbell was a renowned African American author who died on November 27, 2006, at the age of 56. She was also my college classmate at the University of Pittsburgh. Through her dedication and commitment, Ms. Campbell sought to remove the stigma of mental illness in the African American community. Her novel, ``72 Hour Hold,'' and her children's book, ``Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry,'' both bring to light the plight of those with brain disorders. Her goal was to move communities to support mental wellness through effective treatment, increased resources, access to mental health services, and improved community outreach and support.

July would be an appropriate month to be designated as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, since our first book, ``72 Hour Hold,'' which addressed minority mental health was released to the public in July of 2005.

I want to thank my lead cosponsor, Congresswoman Diane Watson, as well as all the cosponsors of this bill for their support, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to me that this bill is met with such bipartisan support. I particularly want to thank my colleague, Mr. Smith, for his support. He is recognized throughout this institution as a champion for the wellness of our citizens, human rights, and for supporting causes which make our country better. I want to thank him again for his support and thank all the cosponsors.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's outstanding organizations and one of the Washington Metropolitan area's greatest gifts, specifically in the areas that I represent in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, the Metropolitan Washington YMCA.

The mission of the YMCA is to ``foster the spiritual, mental and physical development of individuals, families and communities according to the ideals of inclusiveness, equality and respect for all.'' To that end, Madam Speaker:

The YMCA provides child care, before- and after-school care, summer day camp, resident overnight camp, teen camps, youth and adult sports leagues, health and wellness programs, teen activities, community service programs, swim lessons, aquatic wellness programs, youth and family intervention programs, youth leadership clubs, senior health and wellness programs, senior social activities and much more.

Specifically Madam Speaker, I want to honor the YMCA and Camp Letts, a 219-acre retreat center founded in 1906 on the majestic Chesapeake Bay.

With children and campers from all over the country and counselors from all over the world, YMCA Camp Letts is truly a global community promoting tolerance, inclusion and diversity among all its visitors and staff members while providing a safe environment for children to make friends, participate in activities, and have a great time.

Madam Speaker, Camp Letts specializes in the field of recreation with an emphasis on youth development. The diverse staff representing over 20 countries model and teach the YMCA's core values of ``Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility.''

It all began in 1906, when YMCA Boys Work Director Albert M. Chesley pitched camp on five acres along the South River, initiating what is now the oldest organized resident camp in the Washington area. The camp moved in 1922 to its present location, thanks to the generosity of John Cowen Letts, and today youngsters from the Baltimore-Washington area and beyond flock to this secure and exciting environment to kindle friendships and master new skills--all the while learning more about themselves, their peers and the world in which they live.

This 219-acre peninsula has miles of wooded trails for hiking, horseback riding, and nature discovery; vast green fields for a variety of team sports; tennis courts; an olympic-sized swimming pool, sailboats and small craft; certified nets, balls, racquets, hoops and targets for various sports; and much more to enjoy a broad selection of aquatic, land-based and waterfront activities.

In addition to providing numerous recreational activities for youth and families, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, under the steadfast leadership of Angie L. Reese-Hawkins, is the leading human service organization and the largest provider of child care in the greater Washington area, serving over 30,000 children each year.

Under Mrs. Reese-Hawkins's leadership, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is the 17th largest YMCA association in North America, with operating revenue of $46 million, and 84,000 individual and family members in a service area of 4 million people.

Today, the Metropolitan Washington YMCA has 17 branches and program centers that touch close to 250,000 lives a year in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and suburban Maryland. Almost 3,400 volunteers--an increase of 10 percent over 2005--served the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington in 2006.

During 2006 the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington raised $1.1 million in its annual sustaining Building Bridges Campaign and gave out over $2.13 million in financial assistance to more than 12,500 families and individuals, enabling them to participate in child care, after-school and camp programs, membership, wellness, therapeutic and senior services throughout the metropolitan area.

Madam Speaker, how lucky we are to have the YMCA and its committed staff working to improve opportunities for all children, but particularly those in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 302) supporting the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 302. This bill does three things: First, it calls for the designation of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Second, it recognizes national and community organizations for their work in promoting the importance of prevention and early detection through regular colorectal screenings. Third, it urges organizations and health practitioners to ``earn a Blue Star'' by using this opportunity to increase awareness about colorectal cancer. And I will talk more about the blue star in just a minute.

But first let me note that colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and the second most deadly. Approximately 148,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and 49,000 will die from the disease.

Every 3 minutes a loved one is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Every 9 minutes a loved one dies from the disease. Every 5 seconds a loved one who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not.

Colorectal cancer is a silent killer which often causes no symptoms until it reaches the latest stages. Colorectal screenings save lives by catching the disease in its earlier stages. If detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90 percent. If it is not detected until the later stage, the 5-year survival rate plummets to just 10 percent.

This tragedy disproportionately affects minorities, particularly African Americans, who are less likely to have access to health insurance or see a doctor on a regular basis. As a result, African Americans are diagnosed later and are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. In 2007, 1,600 cases of colorectal cancer occurred among African Americans.

Hoping to repeat the success of the red ribbon in symbolizing AIDS and the pink ribbon in symbolizing breast cancer, the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has selected a blue star to symbolize the fight against colorectal cancer. The star serves a dual purpose; it recognizes the eternal memory of those people whose lives have already been lost to the disease, and it is a shining hope for a future free of colon cancer.

This resolution recognizes the important work that national and community organizations have already done in promoting awareness about colorectal cancer, including the creation of Earn a Blue Star day.

Additionally, the resolution encourages organizations and health care practitioners to earn a blue star by supporting early identification and removal of precancerous polyps.

Recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month provides us a special opportunity to focus on education about screening and early detection. As we continue to work to find a cure for colorectal cancer, it is vital that we work together to increase awareness about screening in order to prevent the disease from reaching its deadly conclusion.

Before I conclude, I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Kay Granger and Representative Patrick Kennedy, for their leadership on this issue. Although Representative Granger could not be here today, I know that she cares very deeply about this issue and has worked hard to bring this resolution to the floor.

I now want to urge my colleagues to join me in support of the adoption of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

Madam Speaker, at this time I recognize the distinguished gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for 2 minutes.

The gentlelady is granted an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I'd just like to take a moment to thank Dr. Burgess for his support of this legislation. He expounded on it quite well, and we appreciate his support. Also Ms. Granger, who I indicated could not be here.

I particularly want to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle, Ms. Schakowsky, who obviously has a tremendous personal story to tell in support of this legislation, and also Mr. Kennedy, with whom I've worked with, and has had a tremendous passion in support of this measure.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue.

I rise to urge in the strongest possible terms that this House of Representatives override the President's veto.

You know, it's really sad that in the greatest country in the world we don't provide health insurance for the children of working parents. We have 4 million additional children that this bill would cover, children whose parents work every day, who work very hard; the children of single moms who work every day; some, like my step-daughter with a 3-year-old son, who go to work every day. But if there is an asthma attack or if there is a major accident, she has to either go to the emergency room and drive the cost up for all of the rest of us or decide not to pay the rent on time so she can pay for the care she needs or go without necessary care.

That shouldn't happen in America, and that is what we are trying to do with this very important bill.

There is another thing that shouldn't happen in America. In America, a young child shouldn't die because he can't get dental care. That happened in my district. A simple dental infection expanded, grew into the brain and resulted in the death of a young man.

We worked on language in this bill to make sure that children in America of working parents could have access to dental care. That is a very important improvement, one that seems lost on the President.

Every day we spend millions of dollars. We are up to $600 billion on this war, this black hole of a war. Meanwhile, we tell Americans who go to work every day we can't provide you with health insurance. That doesn't make any sense, not in the country that we regard as the greatest country in the world.

So today, Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to really think about what this means. Don't think about the politics. Think about the parents, but more importantly, think about the children who need health insurance now.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying that I rise in strong support of this measure. I want to thank our chairman, Mr. Dingell, for his excellent work in what was obviously a long and contentious process. I want to particularly note the work of the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Boucher, the gentleman from Virginia. He did an excellent job moving us through this process.

This bill does several very good things. The underlying philosophy, though, is simply this: We all want energy independence. We all want to reduce global warming. But the fundamental thing we have to do here in America is change the way we live. We have to conserve and we have to save, and this bill puts us on the right road to accomplish those two goals.

First, the bill addresses the question of fuel efficiency with a compromise that most people can live with, and that is significant because we drive a lot of cars in this country, and it is important that we get the best fuel economy that we can get.

We also do some very simple things, such as address the question of energy-efficient light bulbs. Everybody uses light bulbs, and we can do better. This bill moves us in that direction and encourages the development of more energy-efficient lighting.

Also, in the course of the hearings conducted by the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Boucher, we heard the National Conference of Mayors say that we need a partnership. If we are serious about energy efficiency and all these lofty goals, it is not just a Federal problem. It is a Federal, State and local problem, and they urged us to include a block grant program to help States and cities and counties participate in the issue of energy efficiency.

That language is in this bill. It is called the Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program. It is authorized to the tune of $10 billion. It will allow cities to develop comprehensive programs; towns and counties to develop programs to create energy efficiency, such as programs for homeowners, weatherization programs for seniors, a planning guide for green buildings and more efficiency in planning, traffic flow improvements. All these things could be done through this block grant program.

The bill is good. It leads us in the right direction. I urge its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, today, we are doing something great for America.

This bill makes major strides towards addressing our country's growing energy demands. And it makes great progress towards a brighter and more renewable future for America's children.

Energy is what drives the American economy. It is what keeps the lights on. But our use of fossil fuels is warming the planet, and may have catastrophic effects on our children and grandchildren.

First, we must conserve energy. For the first time since 1975, Congress is acting to require higher fuel economy for new vehicles. This will save American consumers money, and make American car manufacturers more competitive in the global marketplace.

The bill also requires that we begin to generate a significant amount of our electricity--15 percent by 2020--from renewable sources like the sun, wind, and water. The significance of this mandate is that it will encourage the development of a greener economy by creating incentives for the advancement of alternative energy sources.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants

Energy conservation must be a natural partnership involving Federal, State and local government.

This bill contains a provision based on legislation that I introduced to this House back in May as H.R. 2447, the Energy and Environment Block Grant Act. This provision creates an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program that will help take on the problem of global warming at the local and community level.

The bill authorizes $10 billion in local assistance to cities, counties, and States to continue working to reduce energy usage, increase our efficiencies, and conserve valuable energy resources.

EECB Grants will give local governments funding and assistance to: implement energy conservation programs for homeowners and businesses; reduce vehicle usage through smart planning, traffic flow improvements, and telecommuting; increase material conservation; and locally generate energy with renewable energy technology like solar, wind, and fuel cells.

The program will: help create and grow new energy-efficient communities; foster a nationwide market for renewable and efficient technologies; and achieve significant energy savings across this country.

Healthy High-Performance Schools

I am also proud to support the bill's provisions on Healthy High- Performance Schools. On any weekday, 20 percent of America is in a school building. Yet, schools are often sited next to abandoned landfills or industrial facilities.

According to a 2002 five-state survey, more than 1,100 public schools were built within a half-mile of a toxic waste site. Lead in paint and drinking water, toxic chemical and pesticide use, polluted indoor air, radon, asbestos, and mold are also factors that impact the health of our children, teachers and staff in schools environments.

According to the EPA, studies show that one-half of our nation's schools have problems linked to indoor air quality. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness and it is also the leading occupational disease of teachers.

The Energy Security and Savings Act's provisions on Healthy High- Performance Schools amend the Toxics Substances Control Act to promote the development of healthy school environments that are free of environmental hazards and establish a grant program for states to design healthier, more energy efficient and environmentally safe facilities.

I know this bill has opposition on many fronts. But I believe it is an important step for our country to take towards a better and more sustainable future.

I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 122) supporting the goal and mission of America Recycles Day, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Today, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 122, to support the goal and mission of America Recycles Day.

A strong commitment to recycling is needed in this country. Recycling saves energy consumption and can reduce our dependence on foreign oil, prevent pollution, provide valuable raw materials, and, most importantly, create more jobs. I think this is an excellent resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield to the sponsor of this resolution, a leader on environmental matters in this Congress, the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee).

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe I have any further speakers, and we do have the right to close.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would only say that I think we have at force a very important, a very practical, and a very creative bill encouraging all Americans to participate in recycling. This is a wonderful bipartisan opportunity for all of us to do something good for the environment. I urge the adoption of the resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1534) to prohibit the sale, distribution, or transfer of mercury, to prohibit the export of mercury, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1534, the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2007. The bill will place an export ban on elemental mercury beginning in the year 2010; prevent Federal agencies from selling, distributing or transferring elemental mercury, except for its transfer between Federal agencies to facilitate storage; and it will create a long-term storage option for private sources of elemental mercury at a facility to be designated by the Secretary of Energy. The location of the designated facility where the elemental mercury will be stored is within the sole discretion of the Secretary of Energy. The bill does not designate a facility location.

Let me begin by congratulating Mr. Allen of Maine, the sponsor of this bill, along with Mr. Shimkus, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Environmental and Hazardous Materials, for their hard work in developing this bipartisan legislation which has attained endorsement from the environmental community, the mining industry, the chemical industry, as well as the States.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is harmful even at low exposure levels. It disrupts biological processes critical for brain development in developing fetuses and young children.

Mercury emissions can be transported over long distances and remain airborne for more than a year. These emissions deposit into water bodies where they are transformed into methylmercury that accumulates in fish and subsequently in humans who eat mercury-contaminated fish. Forty-eight States, including my own State of Maryland, have issued fish advisories warning residents to limit consumption of mercury- contaminated fish.

Currently, excess elemental mercury is exported from developed countries to developing countries where it is used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, mainly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This rudimentary mining process releases most of the mercury into the environment, creating thousands of polluted sites and exposing miners and nearby residents to toxic fumes that can cause neurological damage. Data from the EPA and other research groups indicate that 60 to over 70 percent of all mercury deposited in the United States comes from global sources.

The United States has an excess supply of elemental mercury that will only increase in future years as the demand for mercury-containing products continues to decline. As of 2010, there are expected to be only four chlor-alkali plants using mercury cell technology in the United States. The decommissioning of these plants would result in an estimated surplus of 1,200 to 1,500 metric tons of elemental mercury.

The Department of Defense and the Department of Energy combined are storing close to 6,000 metric tons of elemental mercury and are not selling it on the open market because of the EPA's concerns about the impacts of mercury releases on human health and the environment.

This legislation is necessary because the elemental mercury that we export overseas returns to our country in the atmosphere as toxic pollution contaminating our air, soil and water and fish, demonstrating the fact that pollution knows no borders.

I urge my colleagues to support passage of this very important and bipartisan bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time it gives me great pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) who is the sponsor of this legislation and who has done a wonderful job in moving this bill forward and working on a bipartisan basis.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

I only want to indicate that we are sensitive to the concerns that have been raised, but I do want to clarify that the bill does not specify any particular location, and DOE certainly would be in a position to take into consideration any concerns with regard to where the mercury is ultimately stored.

But the point is we do need to make sure that we do not continue exporting this mercury which then comes back to our own shores.

I would conclude by saying that I would like to thank Mr. Allen again for his leadership and thank our committee chairman, Mr. Dingell, as well as our ranking member, Mr. Barton. I would like to thank Mr. Upton for his kind words in support of this bipartisan legislation. I would like to recognize the contribution of Mr. Shimkus in working with us and also the role of the stakeholders in bringing together a bipartisan bill that works across the spectrum, both the environmental community and the business community, to give us a bill that I think we can all be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3547.

Good morning, Madam Speaker.

Today, the House will vote to override the President's veto of the SCHIP bill.

At the beginning of this debate some months ago, I said that if America is the greatest country in the world, then we ought to guarantee that all of our children have health insurance. Greatness is not measured by the size of our military industrial complex. Greatness is measured by whether we can provide health insurance for 10 million American children.

Now, the President has said no, but according to all the polls, the American people say yes. Majorities in both Houses have said yes. Governors have said yes. Private charities have said yes, that we ought to provide health insurance for children in America.

This is not a matter of a market fix. Small businesses cannot afford to provide health insurance. Working families, many of them, cannot afford to buy health insurance on the private market.

In addition, this bill provides a guarantee of dental coverage, because in America, the greatest country, children should not die because they don't have dental coverage. The bill provides dental coverage and mental health coverage. It's simple: We're the greatest country. We ought to provide health insurance for all our children.

Good evening, Mr. Speaker. Last Friday, I had the unfortunate occasion to attend the funeral of Sergeant Princess Samuels, age 22, a graduate of Flowers High School in my district and one of the most recent casualties of our misadventure in Iraq.

I rise today to comment on what I consider to be a failed policy in Iraq, because she is only one of over 3,700 American soldiers who have been killed in Iraq. Meanwhile, 27,000 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, 12,000 of whom will not be able to return to action, and although we don't comment on it often, at least 50,000 Iraqis have been killed; 18,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in August alone.

It was very sad to be with the family of Sergeant Princess Samuels. Her mother, in an understandable note of bitterness, said that here she found herself prepared for a funeral while the Commander in Chief was preparing for a wedding for his daughter. Her anger was certainly understandable, and our sympathies and those of all us in the Fourth Congressional District go out to Ms. Samuels.

So I find it very unfortunate that we begin to hear comments such as ``the surge is working'' and that we need to ``stay the course.'' This is the wrong course. This is the wrong course. We need to stay engaged, but we need to move away from this military course.

Our troops have fought valiantly and they have done everything we have asked of them. They have done more. But, right now, the GAO report tells us that the strategy is flawed. You see, the strategy was to have a surge that would allow this government some breathing room, and in that breathing room they would have a reconciliation and begin to bring the various sectarian groups in Iraq together.

What we found from the GAO report is that that hasn't happened. The surge has only provided the illusion of progress. That is, if you put more troops in, you will reduce the casualties among those troops. But the fact is, the overall level of violence continues to be very high. The number of Iraqis killed remains about the same.

Now, last January the President laid out some benchmarks. He said that these ought to be completed, and this is why we are having the surge. The GAO report says only three of the 18 benchmarks have been met. Do the math: that means 15 have not been met.

These are not benchmarks that U.S. troops, no matter how valiant, can achieve. These are political benchmarks that this Iraqi Government has failed to achieve. The number of daily attacks over the last 6 months is about the same. In fact, the number of Iraqi army units capable of independent operation has actually decreased. And what we find is insurgents frequently work with the Iraqi police and military forces based on common sectarian ties.

There is an interesting article in The Washington Post today. Our U.S. troops are pinned down in a section of west Baghdad and they are calling for relief from Iraqi troops. The relief did not come. Why? Because the Iraqi troops were in league with the Shiite militia in that area and they did not respond. Fortunately, our American troops were able to reach cover and survive, but the story illustrates another failure that is occurring in Iraq as the so-called security forces that we are trying to prop up were in fact working with our enemies. The policy is not working.

We can't continue this policy. We need a new direction. We need to look to diplomacy as a way to resolve this problem. People say, well, if we withdraw U.S. troops, there is going to be a blood bath. There is a bloodbath now.

The fact of the matter is if U.S. troops withdraw, one of the major catalysts for violence will be removed from the situation. We will then be in a position to support diplomatic efforts, peace initiatives by Muslim countries, by the U.N., by internationally recognized military leaders. Sometimes this country has an arrogance and believes that we are the only ones that can promote peace. I disagree. I believe that other countries, Muslim countries, other people can also promote peace. And I also believe that they want peace, and given supportive conditions, they can in fact create peace.

I think we have to accept the fact that the surge gives an illusion of success, but the overall policy has not worked, because the GAO reported the benchmarks haven't been met, and it is time to move in a new direction. I also noted today the British, our allies in this adventure, have already begun to leave Basra, leaving the cities in the hands of the Iraqi security.

The point is, everyone but this administration realizes we need a new direction. I hope the administration will look at the GAO report and conclude, as it has, that this policy is a failure and that we need a new policy in Iraq.

Mr Chairman, If we are serious about achieving energy independence and reducing global warming, Americans will have to change the way we live, the way we drive, and most importantly, we will have to change from conspicuous consumption to embrace the progressive ideals of conservation. And Congress will have to promote these changes, by making real investments in programs that reduce energy consumption and reduce emissions.

This bill is a significant step toward these goals. However, it is only the first step. Critically, this bill does not address emissions caps or fuel efficiency standards, which the Energy and Commerce Committee will tackle after the Recess.

Nonetheless, this bill does some very important things to promote a new energy paradigm for America.

The bill creates national standards for heating and cooling systems, and mandates improvements to building codes to save energy on new buildings. The bill also contains lighting efficiency provisions based on legislation offered by Congresswoman Jane Harman, to significantly increase light bulb efficiency, and encourage the domestic production of more efficient light bulbs by U.S. manufacturers. I was proud to cosponsor that legislation, and am very pleased that it is in this bill.

In the area of transportation, the bill provides loan guarantees for plug-in hybrid vehicles and advanced battery development, and grants to local governments to promote use of hybrid vehicles. This bill also includes grants for cellulosic ethanol production and requirements for renewable fuel pumps at what we have come to know as the ``gas'' station. This will increase market penetration of both renewable fuels and flex-fuel vehicles.

In terms of electricity, the bill facilitates Smart Grid technology, to enable consumers and utilities to digitally monitor power usage in real-time, and use electricity more efficiently, by using power at times when demand is lower, and reducing use when demand is high.

It is important that we move forward with Smart Grid now, and assist technology innovators and manufacturers, as well as utilities, by providing incentives to speed adoption of this new approach to our electricity grid. This is one of the many areas where ``Green'' jobs are being created.

During our hearings in the Energy and Commerce Committee, the U.S. Conference of Mayors pointed out that if we are to achieve our energy and emissions goals, we need a partnership between the Federal, State, and City and County governments to address energy issues.

I was pleased to work on this issue with the Conference of Mayors, and helped get authorization for $10 billion in Energy Efficiency Block Grants included in this bill. Modeled after the HUD Community Development Block Grant, this program will provide formula-based grants to cities, counties, and States.

These grants would be used to: (1) fund building and home energy conservation programs; (2) develop ``green'' building codes to promote energy efficiency; (3) develop land use guidelines to promote energy efficiency, increased use of public transportation, and reduce traffic and commute times; and (4) other important local energy-saving programs.

While much remains to be done, I believe this bill is an important step towards increasing American energy efficiency, energy independence, and reducing global warming.

I urge my colleagues' support of this important bill, so Americans can start changing the way we live and our Government can begin to grow the Green economy.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to recognize Charlie Thomas, the President of Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, headquartered in my district in Germantown, MD, on his recent election to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU).

For the past 35 years, Mr. Thomas has dedicated his life on behalf of improving financial institutions in America and currently serves as President of the Alliance of Credit Unions and is also a member of the National Association of Federal Credit Union's Region II Advisory Committee. His illustrious experience further includes service as Maryland's committee chairman for the ``Campaign for Consumer Choice'' as well as the founding Chairman of the CU Auto Loan Network.

As the President of Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union, Mr. Templeton has focused on ensuring his members receive helpful, personal service. Through his credit union, he is continuously educating his members on how to prevent identity theft. He also understands that today's youth must be armed with the knowledge to be financially savvy. He is forever trying to improve the direction and leadership that he provides the Mid-Atlantic FCU, even attending the inaugural Credit Union Executive Society's (CUES) Advanced Leadership Institute at Harvard University.

It is because of the good work of Mr. Thomas and others like him that the credit union movement enjoys the success it has today. Such service is the hallmark of the credit union movement and I know that he will bring this dedication to his service on the NAFCU Board of Directors. I wish Mr. Thomas the best of luck in this new role and I look forward to working with him in this new capacity.