Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Jazz Ensemble of Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for their continued achievements and excellence.

Dillard High School was founded in the early twentieth century with funds from noted philanthropist James Hardy Dillard. The music program at Dillard High School gained fame when the legendary Julian ``Cannonball'' Adderley served as an instructor of applied music in the 1940's. Dillard High School serves as a Performing Arts and Technology magnet school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with its main areas of focus being dance, voice, orchestra, and band.

There are no limits to the creative spirit at Dillard High School and there are no limits to the success that their students achieve. Earlier this month, the Dillard High School Jazz Ensemble took home first prize honors at the ``Essentially Ellington'' Jazz Band Competition at Lincoln Center in New York City. More impressive than their performance is the resolve that the students showed in fundraising for their trips. Many students used their own money to pay for their trips as private donations are scarce.

In addition to this most recent achievement, the Jazz Ensemble took first prize at the ``Swing Central'' Jazz competition in Savannah, Georgia in both 2011 and 2010 and in 2010 they took second place at the ``Essentially Ellington'' Jazz Band Competition before winning the prestigious competition this year.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that these young musicians represent my district. It is a true privilege to recognize the Dillard High School Jazz Ensemble and their many accomplishments, both on and off the stage.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly recognize Zoe Fromer, Kirill Safin, and Izaal Lakhia of Atlantic High School in Delray Beach, Florida as Hastings' Star Students. When state budget cuts to education forced their school to cut back on arts programs, these young people took the task of saving these programs into their own hands. They formed Initiative Renaissance, an aptly named organization that raises funds to restore classes such as drama, musical engineering and chorus. The organization's $100,000 fundraising goal would help improve arts facilities and expand the school's band and visual arts programs. Their mission has garnered national recognition and Initiative Renaissance was accepted into the Pepsi Refresh Project with a chance to win a $50,000 grant.

Zoe, Kirill, and Izaal's passion for attaining a well-rounded education demonstrates the folly of cutting funding to arts and education. All students deserve a public education that fully prepares them to compete in the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that these young people chose to fight to save their school's arts programs and applaud their dedication and perseverance to this project, which has undoubtedly been beneficial to the entire community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the courageous work of Air Force Staff Sergeant Deante Brooks in defending the Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Sergeant Brooks deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 as part of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. On May 19, 2010, Sergeant Brooks was performing a security sweep of the airfield's perimeter with a Security Forces teammate, along with their Marine comrades when they came under attack.

Sergeant Brooks heard a scream, and realized his wingman had been injured by a grenade. He raced back to the base with the injured wingman, providing medical assistance along the way. After Sergeant Brooks placed the injured soldier in the care of emergency medical personnel, he returned to the fight and provided reinforcements that helped to secure the area.

I recently met Sergeant Brooks, and we talked about his heroic work in defending the airfield's perimeter. I was deeply honored to meet such a brave and admirable individual. I cannot imagine what our country would be like without individuals like Sergeant Brooks--he and his fellow soldiers deserve the praise of all Americans for their dedication and service in protecting our nation.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are forever indebted to the men and women in uniform for their courage, honor, dedication and hard work in serving our country. Staff Sergeant Deante Brooks exemplifies this spirit and is a true American hero.

I thank my friend from Texas for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 754, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for U.S. intelligence and intelligence-related activities within the jurisdiction of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, including the National Intelligence Program and the Military Intelligence Program, as well as for the Intelligence Community Management Account and for the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.

We are considering this legislation at an auspicious time. The death of Osama bin Laden and the disarray in the al Qaeda network comes as a result of years of painstaking effort by the hardworking men and women of the intelligence community, the military, President Bush, and President Obama's gutsy, courageous, and correct call on May 1 of this year. They succeeded admirably in carrying out a difficult and dangerous mission. This legislation codifies many of the lessons learned in recent years that led to Osama bin Laden's demise. It is important that we continue to provide the necessary resources to sustain the momentum the United States and its allies enjoy in the effort to protect our Nation and its citizens.

As the former vice chair of the House Intelligence Committee, I personally know that the intelligence community is the first line of defense against those wishing to do us harm here at home and across the globe. Where terrorists or other elements, as we speak, are plotting attacks, planning operations, or are actively engaged in harming our citizens, the men and women of the intelligence community are devoted to acting on the information they gather to thwart those efforts. We owe them a debt of gratitude and our sincere thanks. These courageous men and women often work quietly, unnoticed, and too often, unrecognized, but nevertheless, they are critical to ensuring the security of our Nation.

I have had the honor and privilege of meeting many of our intelligence professionals during my oversight travel as a member of the Intelligence Committee. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate, and am humbled by, their service. Over the past 10 years, our country has continued to make daily progress against threats, thanks to the service of those dedicated professionals. We must keep in mind, though, that in spite of our best effort, we still face many real threats, and we still have much work to do to get it right.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 754 provides detailed guidance and authorizes appropriations for the many agencies of the intelligence community, while also improving accountability and transparency. It is essential that we streamline and coordinate oversight for counterintelligence. H.R. 754 amends the Counterintelligence Enhancement Act of 2002 to require the national counterintelligence strategy to be aligned with the policies and strategy of the Director of National Intelligence.

It is often reported that our government agencies come under cyberattack all day, every day, 365 days a year. International criminals, malicious individuals, and even other Nations are actively engaged in a constant effort to break into our cyber networks to obtain information, or to wreak havoc on the systems that govern our Nation's infrastructure, financial, military, diplomatic, and social networks. We must, of all things, be mindful of our responsibilities in that area. It can have a devastating impact if not properly attended.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must consider diversity to be a mission imperative. I have stated time and again that the intelligence community is not diverse enough to successfully meet its requirements and achieve success on its missions. On February 26, 2010, the House of Representatives passed my amendment to H.R. 2701, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, which required the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the heads of the elements of the intelligence community, to submit to Congress a report on the plans of each element of the community to increase diversity. The report is expected to be finalized in October of this year. Simply put, we need people who blend in, who speak the language, and understand the cultures in the countries that we are targeting. It is time for the intelligence community to get serious about improving diversity for the sake of our national security. If the intelligence community is to succeed in its global mission, it must have a global face.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the ranking member of the Committee on Intelligence, the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased at this time to yield 2 minutes to my good friend, a member of the Judiciary Committee, the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Will the gentleman yield?

I would just urge my colleague not to use a broad reference with reference to the Democratic Party. Everybody in the Democratic Party does not agree that we should leave Afghanistan until the administration and the military and the intelligence community have completed their work.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would in some respects reiterate much of what our colleagues have said with regard to Osama bin Laden. For 10 years, he held the title of scourge of the Earth. And I believe all of us are pleased that to the degree that he contributed to injustice, justice, as it pertains to him, has finally been served.

It is my hope that the families of the terrible events that transpired on 9/11 and the USS Cole and the families of the East African embassy bombings can find just a little more solace and just a little more closure as a result of his demise at the hands of extraordinary work on behalf of a substantial number of courageous Americans.

As a Nation, I would ask that we be extremely mindful that al Qaeda has not been removed, nor has the sentiment of this very dangerous societal element, nor are they the only organized structure of radical extremists that would attack our Nation. We must remain ever vigilant.

There was a bit of irony on May 1, 2011, that should not be lost on any of us. One of the events that transpired on that same day was that the late John Paul II, the Pope, was beatified and moved closer to sainthood. On May 1 that occurred. He spent his life blazing a path of enlightenment, peace, love, and uplifting humanity.

The second event that occurred on that day was the demise of bin Laden, who spent his life lighting a path of murder, deceit, and the destruction of humanity. While one found, and is finding, sainthood, the other found Satan.

It is a good thing that he is no longer a plague on the Earth, and the hope for humankind is that Pope John Paul II would be our exemplar of goodness.

Given the immense security challenges facing our Nation, Congress should pass this legislation so that we may continue to fulfill our commitment to the safety and well-being of the American people.

The men and women of the intelligence community may operate in the background, but they are at the forefront of our national defense and deserve every resource necessary to do their jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule because, in spite of Mr. Reed, my colleague on the Rules Committee, and the distinguished chairman, my good friend, touting the fact that we do have a number of amendments and the time, this is not an open rule; and I would have them to know that if it were an open rule, then all Members would be able to offer an amendment to the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Lena Horne Recognition Act, a bill to posthumously honor Lena Horne with a Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of her many achievements and contributions to American culture and the Civil Rights Movement. A symbol of elegance and grace, the legendary Lena Horne entertained America and broke racial barriers as a singer, dancer, and actress for over 60 years. Ms. Horne passed away a year ago yesterday, in New York City on May 9, 2010 at the age of 92.

Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Her path to international stardom would take her from Harlem's famous Cotton Club, where she was hired as a chorus dancer at the age of 16, to Charlie Barnet's jazz band, where she became one of the first African American women to tour with an all-white band, to Hollywood and Broadway.

In the 1940s, Ms. Horne was discovered by a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) talent scout and moved to Hollywood to be an actress, becoming the first black artist to sign a long-term contract with a major studio. Despite her extraordinary beauty and talent, however, she was often limited to minor acting roles because of her race. Among many lost opportunities, studio executives cast fellow actress Ava Gardner as Julie in the film adaptation of Show Boat instead of Ms. Horne because they did not want it to star a black actress. However, she dazzled audiences and critics in a number of films, including Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather.

The struggle for equal and fair treatment was an inseparable and increasingly political part of Ms. Home's life. During World War II, Ms. Horne toured extensively with the United Service Organizations, USO on the West Coast and in the South in support of the troops. She was out-spoken in her criticism of the way black soldiers were treated, refusing to sing for segregated audiences or to groups in which German prisoners of war were seated in front of African American servicemen.

During the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s, Ms. Horne was blacklisted as a communist for seven years because of her civil rights activism and friendship with Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois. Although she continued to face discrimination, Ms. Horne's career flourished in television and on nightclub stages across the country. It was during this time that she also established herself as a major recording artist. In 1957, she recorded Lena Horne at the Waldorf-Astoria, which reached the Top 10 and became the best-selling album by a female singer in RCA Victor's history.

Ms. Horne used her talent and fame to become a powerful voice for civil rights and equality. In 1963, she participated in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, at which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his immortal ``I Have a Dream'' speech. She also performed at rallies throughout the country for the National Council for Negro Women and worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), of which she was the cover girl for their monthly bulletin at the age of 2, in addition to being a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

In 1981, Ms. Horne finally received the big break she had waited for her whole life--a one-woman Broadway show. Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, was the culmination of her triumphs and struggles. It enjoyed a 14-month run before going on tour and earned her a special Tony award for distinguished achievement in theater and two Grammys. Ms. Horne was also the recipient of the Kennedy Center honor for lifetime contribution to the arts in 1984 and in 1989 received a lifetime achievement Grammy Award. She received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame--for her work in both motion pictures and recording--in addition to a footprint on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

Mr. Speaker, Lena Horne was an extraordinary woman who refused to give up her dreams and used her beauty, talent, and intelligence to fight racial discrimination. I urge my colleagues to support the Lena Horne Recognition Act to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Lena Horne with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, speeding up the permitting process and thereby making it easier to drill off our country's shores in the manner that this bill does will do little to help Americans at the gas pump.

According to the Energy Information Administration, even tripling our current offshore drilling capabilities by the year 2030 would lower gasoline prices only 5 cents per gallon more than if we continued at the current levels.

At maximum output, the United States holds less than 2 percent of the world's oil reserves, not nearly enough to significantly impact the price per barrel, which is set on a global level primarily by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries that we reference as

Madam Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

Let me respond to my colleagues first by saying that I hope no one in the gulf is sitting out there holding their breath waiting for this named bill here, H.R. 1229, ``Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work.''

Let me talk real here about what is getting ready to happen. The Republicans will pass this particular measure. It will go to that black hole over in the Senate and never become the law of the United States. And the administration has made it very clear that if this measure were to pass, it is not going to in fact be permitted under the aegis of the President's veto, which they cannot overturn.

So while people in Mississippi and people in Louisiana are suffering floods right now, compounding all of the circumstances that they have had to put up with with the BP oil spill, here we are dillydallying, making like we are going to do something to create work in the gulf. We are not going to do one single, solitary thing, and if we could do nothing more, we ought to tell the people the truth.

If we drilled everywhere you say drill in America, we still would only have 1.97 percent of all of the oil in the world. Canada has more oil than we do, and we get plenty of it from them. Mexico almost has as much as we do. How dare we come here and talk about 2 weeks of oil that ain't going to reduce gas none and suggest to people it's going to put people back to work. Balderdash.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

As a former judge--and as a State and Federal judge--I would urge my colleague from Colorado to understand something. Circuit judges don't of necessity have specific specialty in the area they live. A judge may go on the bench in the Fifth Circuit and have studied patent law all of his life and know nothing about oil.

Madam Chair, I rise to offer an amendment as the designee of the maker of the amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, this amendment, the scrivener of same, is Jared Polis, our colleague from Colorado. I can't resist, however, departing from the preparation that he has undergone to suggest that if my other friend from Colorado's logic is followed, then I gather that the circuit courts of the United States, all 13 of them, must be the courts of last resort. And if you followed your logic to its conclusion, I guess we would eliminate the United States Supreme Court because, of course, those nine people wouldn't know anything about what the circuits had done, wherever they came from.

Madam Chair, when reading this bill, and particularly the section on judicial review, the phrase ``rush to judgment''

came to mind to Mr. Polis, because that's exactly what this bill directs our courts to do. Instead of hearing and deciding a case based on the case's merits, this bill tells the courts that speed, not justice, should be their top priority.

Madam Chair, the integrity of any law enforcement is only as good as the court's ability to review and enforce it. We all learned in civics class that one of the strengths of our Nation is its system of checks and balances. Passing legislation that tilts the courts in favor of one side or another is hardly in line with this most fundamental of American values, yet this is what much of what H.R. 1229's judicial review section does.

Mr. Polis' amendment that I offer as his designee is a modest amendment that promotes the integrity of that review and the integrity of our Nation's principle of fair and impartial courts. H.R. 1229 as a whole gives an even greater handout to the well-funded legal teams employed by the big oil companies, at the expense of protecting our health, our communities, our environment, and justice in general.

The underlying bill in section 204 states: ``The court shall endeavor to hear and determine any covered civil action as expeditiously as possible.'' Exactly who does it help when the courts are directed to make decisions in haste at the expense of research and deliberation? It only helps those who can afford teams of high-priced lawyers and lobbyists who know where and when to push the pressure buttons of influence.

My colleague's amendment simply replaces the word ``expeditiously'' with the word ``justly,'' as the courts should be deciding cases based not simply on speed but on the law. Undoubtedly, the judicial review provisions in H.R. 1229 have been included to promote the misleading argument commonly used by the majority party and the big oil companies alike that frivolous lawsuits by local communities and environmentalists strangle the industry and stall domestic drilling. Yet quarter after quarter, oil companies continue to reap record profits and are developing more domestic energy than ever before. Exxon actually is ahead of us. They're in the business of talking about gas while we around here are dilly-dallying about oil.

Furthermore, this misleading hard-luck story leaves out a critical fact--that the industry is just as active in using the courts to get its way as any public health or environmental watchdog. But the industry has much more money for such legal actions, already giving it an unfair advantage.

In fact, recent lawsuits have been filed against the government by Alaskan oil companies to overturn critical habitat restrictions, by oil companies against the EPA for ethanol standards, and numerous suits against the Department of the Interior by industry over the temporary ban following the BP disaster.

Let's remember that the point of judicial review is to ensure that the law is followed and to provide a check and balance when it is not. The underlying bill is, in effect, saying that following the law no longer matters. It doesn't matter if justice is served or if a case is heard properly. It only matters if it appears that way.

Madam Chair, the east front of the Supreme Court building contains the following inscription: ``Justice, the guardian of liberty.'' Should any company in our country have the right to pursue profits and the prerogative of our capitalist system? Of course. But even our Founders recognized that this should be done within the confines of the law. Justice, meaning impartial courts and stringent checks and balances, is the guardian of our liberties and freedom as Americans. Instead of promoting a rush to judgment and a blind rubber stamp within the courts, we should, instead, promote integrity and a system of rigorous checks and balances, as these are truly fundamental American values.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, H.R. 1229, in my opinion, is an irresponsible giveaway to the oil industry, which has taken enormous profit at American taxpayer expense. Section 207 of the bill repeals the Equal Access to Justice Act, thereby eliminating the awarding of attorneys' fees to litigants bringing successful legal challenges, be they expeditious, just or not, to offshore oil and gas activities, making this kind of litigation prohibitively expensive.

As the BP oil spill demonstrated, there has been a lack of Federal oversight of the drilling industry. Consequently, legal challenges have become the only enforcement mechanism for many related laws and regulations. Removing the judiciary system from the equation makes it even less likely that large oil and gas companies will comply with environmental and safety standards. Let me insert something here.

As to the commission that was set up under BP, a colleague of mine on the Rules Committee said that BP has been accountable. Only 3.8 percent, $3.8 billion of the $20 billion, has been left to 177,000 claimants. That ensures, among other things, that by 2013, at the expiration of the commission's term, there will be money left over.

Guess what my friends at Fox News reported? They reported that the money goes back to BP. How crazy can we be around here?

Eliminating the awarding of attorneys' fees means the traditional groups that bring lawsuits on environmental

or safety grounds, such as fishermen, small business owners and environmental groups, will no longer be reimbursed for the cost of successfully litigating these kinds of claims. The idea that the bill will somehow eliminate an excess of lawsuits is ridiculous. Since litigation is by its nature so expensive, these cash-strapped plaintiffs usually only bring those lawsuits with the most likelihood of success. Without the possibility of receiving attorneys' fees, legal challenges will effectively become impossible.

Madam Chair, section 207 of H.R. 1229 only helps large oil companies avoid having to comply with U.S. law.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, when you're flabbergasted, the easiest thing to do is to not say anything else. I just can't believe that we're doing this useless legislation while people in the gulf are hurting the way that they are. It's senseless.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my strong support for House Resolution 244, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a Palestinian government which includes Hamas must

be prohibited from receiving United States aid until that government publicly commits to the Quartet principles. The Quartet--the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, and the Russian Federation, require Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, to renounce violence, and to accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

Last week on April 27, 2011, Fatah and Hamas initialed a document of understandings as a foundation for a ``Palestinian National Accord'' agreement, which was signed by all of the Palestinian factions on May 4th in Cairo, under the aegis of the Egyptian transitional government and with the presence of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas Political Bureau head Khaled Mash'al.

That same night on Al-Jazeera TV, Foreign Minister of the Hamas Gaza Government, and a member of the Hamas delegation to the Cairo discussions, Mahmoud Al-Zahhar said: ``We believe that negotiations with the Israeli enemy are in vain . . . . It will be impossible for an interim government to take part in the peace process with Israel.''

Mr. Speaker, we should also be troubled by the announcement by a lead Fatah negotiator that Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who has been a leader in developing the Palestinian economy in the West Bank as well as a primary peace negotiator with Israel, will not be a part of the interim unity government.

Hamas embraces violence against innocent women, children, and men and calls for the destruction of Israel in its charter. It has been a designated terrorist organization by the United States since 1995 and by the European Union since 2003. Hamas terrorists have murdered hundreds of innocent Israelis, kidnapped and refused Red Cross access to Israeli soldiers, smuggled Iranian arms into the Gaza Strip, and launched thousands of rockets and mortars into Israel, including more than 300 since the beginning of 2011.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and reaffirm the notions that a Palestinian government which includes Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, must be prohibited from receiving U.S. aid. The legislation further acknowledges that the United States House of Representatives has a deep interest in achieving a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside the State of Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Increasing Access to Voluntary Screening for HIV/AIDS and STIs Act of 2011, which will help reduce the spread and morbidities associated with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Each year in the United States, almost 19 million new STIs occur and an estimated 56,300 Americans are newly infected with HIV. HIV/AIDS and STIs are syndemics. HIV infection can increase a person's risk for acquiring certain STIs, as well as affect their frequency, severity, and healing time, while STIs increase the risk of HIV transmission, impaired fertility, reproductive tract cancer, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Due to various factors, including stigma, a lack of health care coverage, and an inaccurate perception of risk among communities and providers, HIV and other long-term, initially asymptomatic STIs often remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed at later stages. This leads to higher rates of mortality, morbidity, disability, and transmission. Furthermore, the burden of HIV/AIDS and STIs falls disproportionately on different populations, with 15-24 year olds, men who have sex with men (MSM), and racial and ethnic minorities facing the greatest risk for STIs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend that voluntary screening for HIV/AIDS and other STIs be integrated into routine clinical care. All individuals engaging in sexual contact must have access to voluntary screening that is confidential, rapid, accurate, and medically appropriate. In addition, supporting scientifically based, culturally competent, and age-appropriate interventions is key to reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS and other STIs.

The Increasing Access to Voluntary Screening for HIV/AIDS and STIs Act of 2011 takes an aggressive and multifaceted approach to combating HIV/AIDS and other STIs, including Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human papillomavirus (HPV), by increasing access to voluntary screening and other preventive methods while preserving patient rights and confidentiality.

Among other things, this bill requires Medicaid to cover voluntary screening for HIV/AIDS and other STIs as a mandatory service for all individuals 13 and older, including when such services are provided at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This legislation also requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide Medicare reimbursement for voluntary HIV/AIDS and STI screening for all beneficiaries 13 and older.

In addition, this Act requires group health plans, insurance issuers providing group or individual health insurance coverage, and federal employee health benefits programs to cover routine screening for HIV/ AIDS and other STIs; provides states with the support they need to cover low-income individuals infected with HIV until Medicaid is expanded in 2014 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and supports access to early medical and mental treatment by linking patients to appropriate medical and mental health services.

Lastly, this bill will help improve the accessibility and effectiveness of screening and other preventive services for groups that have been historically underrepresented in public health interventions for HIV/AIDS and other STIs, such as people living with disabilities, the transgender community, women living with severe physical disabilities, and women who have sex with women (WSW).

Mr. Speaker, HIV/AIDS and STIs remain a significant challenge to individual and public health. Through early detection and treatment, as well as comprehensive education for health care providers and communities, we can begin to reverse the tide of infections. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill, which combines the effectiveness of voluntary, routine screening with smart policy to improve the health of our communities and nation as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of Deborah Duncan DuBois, who passed away on April 30, 2011. Mrs. DuBois, known to family, friends and admirers as ``Desca,'' was serving her second term as Mayor of the Town of Lake Park, Florida at the time of her death, having been re-elected without opposition. Mayor DuBois loved her town and Lake Park citizens loved her. Her dedication to good government was made clear by her longtime service on the town's Code Compliance Board, including six years as its chair, and her work with the Florida League of Cities. She also served on the League of Mayors and as one of the Palm Beach County League's Legislative Voting Delegates. Lake Park residents are also indebted to Mayor DuBois for helping to establish the local Historical Society, serving as its volunteer President for several years.

A native of Barnwell, South Carolina, Desca DuBois attended the University of South Carolina on a theater scholarship. She also studied at the Columbia Museum School and, most recently, attended Palm Beach Community College, where she was accepted to the Honor Society. Mayor DuBois was a professor at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she taught stage and theatrical movement. During her career, she also worked with the Educational TV Network in South Carolina and appeared on CBS Network Morning News.

Among her many talents, she was known as an accomplished artist, having presented a dozen solo art exhibits and participated in 34 group art shows. She was proud to have individual mural and major group mural projects in her curriculum vitae.

Mr. Speaker, Deborah Duncan DuBois was a truly remarkable lady who represented everything that is great about America. She was a credit to her town, my district and our nation. Her absence will be felt by everyone who appreciates good government, the arts and devotion to making our world a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of William ``Bill'' Munsey of Pompano Beach, Florida, who passed away on April 3, 2011 at age 86 after a valiant struggle against cancer. Bill had a long and celebrated career in athletics. As a young man at Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia, he played football, basketball, tennis and ran track. In 1942, Bill enrolled at Roanoke College on an athletic scholarship. Following football season, he entered the U.S. Navy as a member of the Amphibious Forces and served as a ``frogman'' in both the Atlantic and Pacific commands. After his military service, Bill returned to Roanoke College, where he played basketball.

Bill and his wife, Jane, moved to Florida in 1949, where he began teaching and coaching at Riverside Military Academy in Hollywood. During that time, he attended the University of Miami, graduating in 1950 with a degree in Physical Education. He loved Miami football and was always proud to be a ``Hurricane.''

Bill Munsey began his career in high school coaching in 1954 at Pine Crest School, where he was known as the ``cornerstone'' of the athletic program. He coached Pine Crest's first football team and served as its first Athletic Director. He built a legendary and very successful career, serving as coach and Athletic Director for 38 years. As head of the football program, Coach Munsey led his teams to nine conference titles, eight district titles and four regional titles. His football teams won 61 of 63 games during the 1987 to 1993 seasons. He compiled a career record of 216-92-2 that included four undefeated seasons.

Bill Munsey loved all sports, and during his 38 years at Pine Crest, he also coached basketball, baseball, golf and track. His excellence as a coach was recognized with numerous awards. He was voted Broward County Football Coach of the Year six times and won the 1988 Football Coach Gold Award, a scholastic award. Besides the prominence of his football teams, his basketball teams won four district titles and a trip to the state Final Four in 1961.

During his career, Coach Munsey was inducted into the Florida Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the FHSAA Hall of Fame and Pine Crest's own Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Broward County Sports Hall of Fame and was named Athletic Director of the Year. Coach Munsey was also a football and basketball official and actually held the first Broward County officials' meetings in his home. Bill Munsey was known to say that he never recruited a player from another school and that a Pine Crest student-athlete had to be both smart and a good athlete to play for him.

Mr. Speaker, Bill Munsey's absence will be felt by the many players he coached, the people he coached with and against and all who knew and admired him for the honest, dedicated sports professional that he was. I am pleased to honor his memory.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the extraordinary efforts of the League of Black Women on their annual leadership conference that commences on May 17, 2011. The conference will commemorate the amazing work this organization continues to do in order to equip women with strong leadership skills and invaluable life experiences.

The League of Black Women was founded in the 1970's by Dr. Arnita Young Boswell, and in the intervening years it has set itself apart as a powerful vehicle for lasting impact by evolving to fit the needs of its membership as they navigate a world in flux. Indeed, our globalized society is anything but stagnant, and neither is the League. With nearly 10,000 members worldwide, each decade has ushered new service themes for the organization. From a higher education and community service focus, to career development, to networking, to its current concentration on leadership research, education, and joyful living, it takes a pervasive approach to promoting leadership and success amongst its membership.

Mr. Speaker, I am most impressed with the League's efforts to reach youth through its ``Bring a Girl into Your World'' mentoring program. This initiative pairs middle school girls in low-income, at-risk school districts with league members to help broaden their minds, horizons, and visions for the future. So many young people underperform through crucial high school years, because they have not been challenged to consider the reality, let alone the opportunity, of their future career paths. Through their strategic focus on this age group, the League provides young girls with this invaluable insight at a critical juncture in their lives.

I am firmly committed to serving the underserved and to promoting diversity in all avenues of society. This program falls perfectly in line with those objectives by opening doors for African American girls to reach their full potential. Our society has so much to gain from the unique talents and perspectives of these remarkable young women, and I offer my heartfelt gratitude to the League for their enduring work to raise their chances at leading full, successful lives.

Important initiatives like the ``Bring a Girl into Your World'' program facilitate the League's goal of achieving global impact and leadership through the development of strong, genuine interpersonal relationships and networks. This aim is showcased in the theme of its eighth national strategic leadership conference entitled ``Black Women 2011: New World Power . . . When Your World Is Not Enough.'' This conference will be held in May 17-20, 2011 in Tampa, FL and promises the continued empowerment of the League's membership through nuanced and expert guidance in a host of vital topics that address both professional and personal betterment.

Again, congratulations to the League of Black Women on their strides toward bringing equality and opportunity to the disadvantaged youth of this nation, and on this year's conference. Your efforts are truly inspiring.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Dennis Koehler and express my deepest condolences to his family. Dennis died Sunday evening at the age of 69 following a battle with melanoma.

South Florida has lost a true hero with the passing of Dennis Koehler. Dennis served our Nation courageously during the war in Vietnam. After coming home to Palm Beach County, he ran for and was elected to a seat on the Palm Beach County Commission. During those 8 years, he selflessly worked to help improve the lives of Palm Beach County citizens. He was well-known for his compassion and dedication to the community.

Additionally, Dennis was a major advocate for veterans' rights. He is one of the founding members of Vietnam Veterans of America, VVA, and served on VVA's first National Board of Directors from 1983 to 1985. A veteran himself, Dennis understood the importance of taking care of those who have served our Nation with dignity and respect.

As an attorney in private practice, Dennis has earned the gratitude of veterans throughout Florida by using his legal skills to fight for their rights and benefits. Two years ago, when one of my constituents lost his pension following a road accident, Dennis volunteered his time and knowledge to work with my Congressional office to have the Department of Veterans' Affairs reinstate my constituent's benefits.

Dennis' activism on this tragic issue prompted me to introduce the Veterans Pensions Protection Act to ensure that veterans, and their surviving spouses and children, will never again face the threat of losing their pensions because they received payments to cover expenses incurred after an accident. I wish to dedicate the Veterans Pensions Protection Act in honor of Dennis Koehler for his lifetime commitment and service to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, Dennis was a true patriot, a community leader, and an outstanding American. I am deeply saddened by his passing, which is more than a personal loss for just myself, but also a loss to the South Florida community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Peter Vagi, an 83 year-old Holoucuast survivor from Palm Beach County. His inspirational story was recently documented in a film about the Holoucaust entitled The Rescuers. Mr. Vagi has shared his story with countless others. I .hope that by the telling his story we never itness such atrocities as the Holoucaust ever again. The world cannot forget. We must remember. We must remember every story, every victium, and every survivor.

Mr. Vagi's story begins when he was 17 years old and the Germans took control of Hungary. He was almost immediately forced from school into a work camp to perform laborious tasks. Mr. Vagi was one of the few who was prevented from boarding the train to Auschwitz right on the platform. Soon after, he was moved to a Jewish Ghetto and stayed there until the Russians liberated Budapest. However, it wasn't long before the evils of Communism became aparent and Mr. Vagi decided to move first to Austria and then finally to the United States.

Mr. Vagi's story, along with all the other survivors serve as a reminder of the terrible period of human history that must never happen again. Mr, Speaker, I am proud to honor Mr. Vagi's life and all that he has done to ensure that history is not forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the terrorist attack that took the lives of at least 16 innocent people and wounded 23 others on April 28, 2011 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The Argana Cafe, the site of the bombing, overlooks the city's bustling Jamaa el- Fnaa square, which is a lively hub of cultural exchange and celebration. Moroccan, French, and British lives were lost in this senseless act, indicating that this was not a protest of local concerns, but of global ideals.

This disgraceful demonstration of ill will is considered an attack not only on Moroccan, French and British civilians, but on the human right to freedom, security, and happiness. No human being should have to live in constant fear of such needless violence, and I firmly stand with the people of Morocco as they strive to cope with this blow. I would also like to express my most heartfelt sympathies to all who have suffered from this tragedy, whether through their direct presence on the scene or indirectly through the suffering of a loved one.

Mr. Speaker, acts of cowardice and violence must not be allowed to prevail. It is my hope that the people of Morocco and the victims of this attack find peace and healing, and that we continue to work toward a global society that values every human life.