Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. William ``Bill'' Kling for his continued service to America's veterans. Mr. Kling's unwavering patriotism and continued dedication to America's heroes are to be highly commended.

Bill Kling served in the Navy during the Second World War. It was during his time in the Navy that Mr. Kling developed an unceasing devotion to his fellow servicemen. For over 35 years since, Mr. Kling has served his fellow veterans living in South Florida through community service and political activism.

Mr. Kling currently serves as the Chair of the Broward County Veterans Council (BCVC), a coalition of 57 organizations in Broward and Palm Beach Counties that operates under a common plan to protect and implement benefits for veterans.

Uniting behind its mission ``To Serve and Unite our Veterans,'' the BCVC has achieved substantial benefits for our veterans under Mr. Kling's leadership. As an advocate for better health care for veterans, Mr. Kling led the drive to build the new state-of-the-art Broward County VA Outpatient Clinic in Sunrise, FL. In addition to a successful campaign for a veterans state nursing home located in Pembroke Pines--a crucial service for veterans living in South Florida--Mr. Kling and the BCVC were also instrumental in delivering a VA hospital to Palm Beach, Florida.

Mr. Kling's leadership has even had a national impact. Mr. Kling and the BCVC are responsible for the implementation of the handicapped parking signs that are now ubiquitous in shopping malls and public areas across America.

Bill Kling's most recent service to America's veterans has focused on national legislation and keeping the BCVC's member organizations informed so that they may act accordingly. Mr. Kling has been an outspoken critic of the military's ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy and a leading voice in the fight for its repeal. Additionally, Mr. Kling has been actively working to ensure that military families receive the same benefits as private citizens under America's recent landmark health care reform. Mr. Kling's leadership will help 700,000 young adults whose families are members of TRICARE, which covers military families, become eligible for health insurance coverage.

I have always valued Mr. Kling's insights and advice, and I proudly salute his exceptional service to our nation's veterans and, indeed, to all Americans. Not only is Bill Kling an American hero, Madam Speaker, he is a living testimony to the spirit of national service and a true role model.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Haitian Educational Empowerment Act of 2010. This legislation will allow those students who have had their studies interrupted as a result of the January 12th earthquake to complete their degrees at a U.S. university. It will also provide grants to American universities that have taken in Haitian students so that these schools can provide necessary support services.

As we are all well aware, this past January, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the already struggling nation of Haiti. Approximately three million people were affected and 230,000 are estimated to have died. Those that survived are facing unimaginable conditions with a crumbling infrastructure that has hindered the availability of even basic necessities.

However, in addition to the massive physical devastation and loss of human life, the earthquake also dealt a devastating blow to Haiti's already struggling higher education sector. With 87 percent of Haiti's universities located in the affected region, the earthquake leveled many university buildings and killed scores of students and academics. The State University of Haiti, the nation's largest, saw 80 percent of its buildings destroyed.

Even if classes are able to resume under current conditions, many students have found that they can no longer afford to attend as they and their families struggle to recover from the earthquake. Additionally, prior to the earthquake, only 1 percent of Haitians between the ages of 18 and 24 were enrolled in a university. For many of these students, a college education was their ticket out of poverty.

Now, they have not only seen their loved ones perish and their homes reduced to rubble, but their hopes for a better future have been dashed as well. My legislation will allow these students to complete their studies while requiring them to return to the island upon completion to put their education to work.

At a time of extreme instability and crisis, the United States must do all within its power

to help Haiti rebuild from this current tragedy. However, this recovery cannot be sustainable if Haitians lack the necessary skills to participate in the process.

While investments are made to rebuild and expand Haiti's university system, it would be counterproductive if, in the meantime, we allow Haiti to fall even further behind in educational attainment. My legislation will not only provide immediate relief to those struggling students who saw their hopes squandered on January 12th, but will also help ensure a more robust, long term recovery.

I ask my colleagues to support this legislation and urge the House Leadership to bring it swiftly to the House floor for consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution I am introducing today that encourages all elected officials and political leaders in Iraq to redouble their efforts to form a government that is just, representative, and accountable to the people of Iraq.

More than six months ago, on March 7, 2010, the Iraqi people went to the polls and elected 325 members of the Council of Representatives which, pursuant to the constitution of Iraq, must select the new Prime Minister and President. Iraq currently remains without a Prime Minster or President, and negotiations between the elected political parties seem to have reached a stalemate.

This is not good for Iraq or for the region. The vacuum created in the absence of a new government has encouraged violent attacks against government officials and Iraqi civilians by terrorist thugs who are intent on destabilizing the country.

Destabilizing as well is the fact that more than two million citizens of Iraq remain displaced both inside Iraq and in countries in the region and around the world, and the failure of the government of Iraq to enact comprehensive oil and gas sector framework and revenue-sharing legislation to meet development needs.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution that calls on the leaders of Iraq to form, as quickly as possible, a capable and representative government that is accountable to the people, to address the needs of its displaced citizens and to effectively, fairly and transparently develop its oil and gas resources in order to meet its pressing development needs.

I thank my colleague on the Rules Committee, my good friend Mr. Arcuri.

Mr. Speaker, as vice chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I know that the intelligence community is the first line of defense against terrorists, proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, and other rogue elements who wish to do us harm here at home and across the globe. This legislation, for the first time since 2004, is an opportunity for the Congress to guide the 16 agencies of the intelligence community while making significant strides in improving oversight of the intelligence community.

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.

The past year has been a busy one for the intelligence community. There have been some very low points, including the loss of seven brave Americans in an attack on the CIA in Afghanistan and the attack on Northwest Airlines flight 253. At the same time, there have been some high points, like the roll-up of the Russian illegal intelligence operation and the significant intelligence gained by the FBI and DOJ in several counterterrorism cases. But the danger is as high as it ever was. Our enemies are motivated to strike us, as they always have been. The constant threat from violent extremists reinforces that now more than ever. We must give the intelligence community the resources and flexibility it needs to thwart the continuing and emerging threats to U.S. national security.

Since 2004, this country has gone without an intelligence authorization bill. Each year the House Intelligence Committee has passed a bill, but we have not seen one signed into law in recent years. The intelligence community needs strong and independent oversight. This bill would make great strides in that direction. First, it would create a statutory Inspector General for the entire intelligence community. This bill also contains a new provision that I believe the chairman talked about in reforming the ``Gang of Eight'' process. I believe that the administration has a statutory and constitutional duty to keep members of the entire intelligence community fully informed, and this bill, for the first time, requires all members of the intelligence community to get information about all covert actions.

The bill also traces the challenges of GAO access to the intelligence community, a priority subject for many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It directs the DNI, in conjunction with the Comptroller General, to issue a written directive governing GAO access to information in possession of the intelligence community.

In my tenure, Mr. Speaker, on the committee, I have consistently pushed for greater diversity in the intelligence community. I have stated time and again that the intelligence community is not diverse enough to do its job of stealing and analyzing foreign countries' secrets.

We need people who blend in, people who look like America. And that includes every aspect, from Arab to Asian to Latin to African American, women, the whole nine yards.

Mr. Speaker, I plead that after several years, we finally stand on the verge of enactment of an intelligence authorization act. I believe it's good for the Congress and for the intelligence community and for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this moment to personally thank Chairman Silvestre Reyes and the HPSCI staff for their hard work and dedication in helping to see this excellent bill to fruition. And this will be my last time speaking on a rule in the Intelligence Committee for the reason that now, after 10 years, I will no longer serve on that committee. It has been a humbling experience, and I am delighted and privileged that I have been given that opportunity in this great country of ours.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a concurrent resolution to support the goals and ideals of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, in recognition of the people who have died on our streets, in emergency shelters, condemned or abandoned properties, and from elements directly related to homelessness.

On or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, National Homeless Persons' Memorial events have been held nationwide every year since 1990 to remember the homeless persons whose lives and deaths might otherwise go without any public recognition.

Throughout my home state of Florida, this important day is being recognized, along with over 200 other local municipalities, organizations, and statewide organizations throughout the United States. With the support of the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Consumer Advisory Board, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day brings attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless neighbors and friends who have paid the ultimate price for our nation's failure to end homelessness.

The statistics are daunting: more than half a million people in the United States do not have a place to call home each night and half of them are without shelter; nationwide each year, an estimated 2,000,000 people experience homelessness; and the mortality rate among homeless populations has been shown to be almost four times that of the general population.

As American citizens, it is not only our desire to help those in need; it is our duty to provide every homeless man, woman, and child with a place to sleep at night, an opportunity to sustain economic stability, and the right to access health care.

On June 22, 2010, President Obama and Members of Congress were presented with ``Opening Doors: the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness'' which describes how the federal government will partner with states, local communities, non-profit organizations and the private sector. This resolution provides us with the opportunity to commend the efforts of the States, territories, and possessions of the United States who support the goals and ideals of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, to encourage those not already doing so, and to salute the dedicated professionals and organizations who provide assistance 365 days a year to people in need.

It is time we acknowledge, as a nation, all of the people in our country living on the streets who have paid the ultimate price for our failure to end homelessness. In remembering those who died on the streets, the cause of ending homelessness is kept urgent as is the Nation's collective commitment to preventing such deaths in the future.

I urge my colleagues to support this House Concurrent Resolution and reaffirm Congress' commitment to ending homelessness by promoting a comprehensive national response that addresses the housing, health care, income, and civil rights causal factors and consequences of extreme poverty. Let us make this year's first night of winter and longest night of the year, December 21, 2010, a true national day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. William ``Bill'' Kling for his continued service to America's veterans. Mr. Kling's unwavering patriotism and continued dedication to America's heroes are to be highly commended.

Bill Kling served in the Navy during the Second World War. It was during his time in the Navy that Mr. Kling developed an unceasing devotion to his fellow servicemen. For over 35 years since, Mr. Kling has served his fellow veterans living in south Florida through community service and political activism.

Mr. Kling currently serves as the chair of the Broward County Veterans Council (BCVC), a coalition of 57 organizations in Broward and Palm Beach Counties that operates under a common plan to protect and implement benefits for veterans.

Uniting behind its mission ``To Serve and Unite our Veterans,'' the BCVC has achieved substantial benefits for our veterans under Mr. Kling's leadership. As an advocate for better health care for veterans, Mr. Kling led the drive to build the new state-of-the-art Broward County VA Outpatient Clinic in Sunrise, FL. In addition to a successful campaign for a veterans state nursing home located in Pembroke Pines--a crucial service for veterans living in south Florida--Mr. Kling and the BCVC were also instrumental in delivering a VA hospital to Palm Beach,

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution supporting the goals and ideas of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. This is a critically important issue, as millions of people in every corner of the globe are affected by traffic accidents, inadequate public policies, and underdeveloped or neglected transportation infrastructure. The United States can take the lead in furthering the goals of the Decade of Action declared by the United Nations General Assembly, saving millions of lives and billions of dollars.

The leading cause of death for people ages 5 to 29 is not disease or war but road crashes. Nearly 1.3 million people are killed in road crashes every year and another twenty to fifty million are injured in traffic accidents. On average, over 1,000 people under the age of 25 die every single day on the world's roads. And these numbers are going up dramatically.

Madam Speaker, the world cannot afford such needless, heartbreaking losses. In addition to the catastrophic human costs--not only the lives lost but amongst their friends and families as well--road crashes cost the global community over $518 billion a year, an enormous sum when you consider that many of the countries most plagued by road crashes are underdeveloped or developing nations.

The global community must build on the initial, important steps already taken to enhance international cooperation to improve road safety. In November 2009, the Moscow Declaration, signed by 150 countries, encouraged the establishment of a Decade of Action for Road Safety from 2011 to 2020, and laid the foundation for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/255 adopted in March 2010. This U.N. resolution recognizes that the devastation caused by road crashes negatively impacts the social, economic, and health targets of the Millennium Development Goals, and reaffirms the importance of international collaboration during the Decade of Action.

It is critical that the nations of the world work together to stabilize and reduce traffic fatalities by taking advantage of opportunities at the global, national, regional, and local level. The United States can set an example for the rest of the world by improving transportation management, infrastructure, vehicle safety, education, and post-crash care and rehabilitation here at home. We must continue to support public policies designed to reduce key risk factors like speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, and the failure of many Americans to use seat belts, child restraints, and other safety devices.

Madam Speaker, this Decade of Action for Road Safety has not been declared to merely raise awareness, but also to take action. We all use roads, cars, buses, and bicycles every day. It is easy to take our safety for granted. But too many tragedies remind us that road fatalities and injuries have an enormous impact on our lives. This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the Decade of Action and encourages the federal government to support efforts to reduce road fatalities, preventing needless deaths and injuries both here at home and around the world. I appreciate the support of my good friends Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Dan Burton on this matter, and urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Taiwan's 99th National Day on October 10, 2010. Also known as Double Ten Day, this event marks the anniversary of the 1911 uprising that soon led to the establishment of the Republic of China.

I congratulate Taiwan, our good friend in Asia, on numerous successes in recent years. An economic powerhouse, millions of Americans have come to depend on Taiwanese products like notebook computers, and Taiwan serves as a major export market for a huge range of American products, from agriculture to raw materials to technology.

This past year has seen highly positive political progress between China and Taiwan, benefitting not only the entire East Asian arena but U.S. interests, as well. Taiwan's President Ma Yingjeou has established conciliatory and cooperative cross-strait relations, producing agreements in a variety of areas including transportation, tourism, agriculture, and trade and financial matters. For the first time in decades, the two great nations are pursuing productive, peaceful negotiations to ensure a better future for their citizens. I am pleased that these efforts have enabled Taiwan to play a greater role in international organizations, such as with Taiwan's participation as an official observer to the World Health Assembly. Such progress should not go unnoticed or unremarked upon.

Madam Speaker, each time I have visited Taiwan I have come away with a deep appreciation for the Taiwanese people's commitment to hard work, democratic traditions, environmental protection, and productive and peaceful international relations. I offer my sincere congratulations on their 99th National Day and look forward to celebrating the 100th next year.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge James Lawrence King on the 40th anniversary of his investiture as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.

Judge King was nominated by President Richard Nixon for his appointment as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida in 1970. Judge King was approved by the Senate and sworn in later that year. In 1984, Judge King was elevated to Chief Judge of the Southern District of Florida, where he served for the duration of his seven year term ending in 1991. In 1992, Judge King achieved Senior Judge status.

Throughout his career, Judge King has carried himself with great integrity, respect, and dedication in everything he has done for both his profession and community. After graduating from the University of Florida College of Law, Judge King served active duty as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force Judge Advocacy General's Department during the Korean War. In 1955, Judge King began his career in private practice, joining the Miami Beach law firm of Sibley & Davis as an associate. Judge King advocated in private practice until 1964, when he was appointed Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Judge King remained on the Eleventh Circuit until his appointment to the federal bench in 1970. During his time on the Eleventh Circuit, Judge King served temporary appointments to the Florida Supreme Court as well as the Second, Third, and Fourth District Courts of Appeal of Florida.

Judge King has been recognized on numerous occasions throughout the state of Florida including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Commerce and Professions' Attorneys Division and an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from St. Thomas University. He has been the commencement speaker at both the University of Florida College of Law and St. Thomas University School of Law. On April 30, 1996, the United States Congress renamed the United States Courthouse in Miami: The James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building.

The Judge is my personal friend of longstanding. I know no one that has done more to insure justice, fairness, and equality.

Madam Speaker, I am privileged to recognize Judge King for his dedication to the legal profession, public service, and to the South Florida community as a whole. I take this moment of personal privilege to acknowledge his service to our nation and the many years of friendship we have enjoyed together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6132, the Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010. This important legislation extends much-needed improvements to benefits and services for our Nation's veterans, who deserve the best we can offer. This legislation makes a number of critical corrections and updates to streamline services, expedite benefits, and ensure that veterans can take advantage of educational and vocational training opportunities to develop skills relevant to today's job market.

I am extremely pleased that the underlying legislation includes my bill, H.R. 4541, the Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2010. This legislation protects veterans from losing their pension benefits because they received payments to cover expenses incurred after an accident, theft, loss or casualty loss.

Under current law, if a veteran is seriously injured in an accident or is the victim of a theft and receives insurance compensation, he or she may lose their pension if the money exceeds the income limit set by the VA. This means that the law effectively punishes veterans when they suffer from such an accident or theft.

Such a tragedy happened to one of my constituents, a Navy veteran with muscular dystrophy who was hit by a truck when crossing the street in his wheelchair. His pension was abruptly cut off after he received an insurance settlement payment to cover medical expenses for himself and his service dog, and material expenses to replace his wheelchair. As a result, he could not cover his daily expenses and mortgage payments and almost lost his home. This is unacceptable.

The Veterans Pensions Protection Act exempts the reimbursement of expenses related to accidents, theft, loss or casualty loss from being included into the determination of a veteran's income.

I want to thank Chairman Bob Filner as well as Subcommittee Chairman John Hall and Ranking Member Doug Lamborn for their support on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when our Nation's service men and women are fighting two wars abroad and engaged in action in other parts of the world, we have a duty to our past, present, and future veterans to provide the very best in health care, job training, housing assistance, educational opportunities, and other services and benefits. We owe our veterans an enormous debt, and cannot thank them enough for their service. I urge my colleagues to give their unanimous support to this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution that seeks to raise hypertension awareness and help reverse its prevalence in our nation through education, further research, and efforts to reduce the excess salt content in our food. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is the most commonly diagnosed chronic health condition in the United States, disproportionately affecting the Southeast and African Americans.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, as well as congestive heart failure and kidney disease. Approximately one out of three adults (74.5 million people) in the United States is hypertensive. Furthermore, about one in four adults is pre-hypertensive, which means that they are at greater risk for developing hypertension. Hypertension is directly and indirectly responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year, and its prevalence is expected to grow due to a large aging population and high rates of obesity and diabetes.

Hypertension is called the ``silent killer'' because there are often no symptoms that indicate that an individual's blood pressure has reached a deadly level. Sadly, more than one out of five individuals is unaware that they have high blood pressure. African Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension in the United States, and are more likely to develop it at earlier ages, develop cardiovascular morbidity and disability, and die from hypertension or hypertension-related illnesses. Furthermore, Hispanics often have low levels of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control. Fortunately, through education, healthy lifestyle habits, advances in medical science, research, and smart health care policy, we can begin to reverse these alarming trends.

In particular, addressing high sodium (salt) intake can decrease one's risk for developing high blood pressure. The average person in the United States consumes almost 1.5 times the daily maximum value of salt established by the Department of Health and Human Services. According to a study by the American Medical Association, 150,000 lives could be saved each year if the sodium content in processed foods and restaurant foods were decreased by 50 percent. In addition, we must improve access to affordable, healthy foods for all Americans as well as nutrition labeling to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about their food purchases.

My resolution encourages all individuals to take control of their health by becoming knowledgeable of their blood pressure as well as their risk for hypertension. Furthermore, it supports community-based programs that use culturally competent and evidence-based strategies to address hypertension; recognizes the importance of linking hypertension awareness programs to other existing programs that address health conditions such as obesity and diabetes; and supports further research that provides a better understanding of how hypertension disproportionately affects different communities. Finally, my resolution calls for the Food and Drug Administration to set mandatory national standards, including improved nutrition labeling, for the sodium content in foods, especially those sold in grocery stores and served in schools and restaurants.

Madam Speaker, health care providers, patients, communities, governmental entities, the food industry, and health-focused organizations must work together to raise awareness about high blood pressure and to develop sustainable solutions for prevention, treatment, and control. I remain committed to supporting national, state, and community efforts to address potentially deadly health conditions like hypertension and to combating health disparities.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, ADAPs, are experiencing a funding crisis. Thousands of our most vulnerable citizens are counting on Congress to ensure that they have access to the medications they need to stay alive. To make matters worse, the Census Bureau reports that the number of uninsured Americans rose sharply last year to an all-time high of 50.7 million due to the difficult economy.

It is projected that tens of thousands more individuals will soon require the vital services that State ADAPs provide to low income, uninsured and underinsured individuals living with

HIV/AIDS. The issue hits close to home. Currently, of the 3,214 individuals on ADAP waiting lists, Florida has 1,712 of them. This is outrageous.

Congress must increase its commitment to State ADAPs while continuing to fund other AIDS programs. This problem is not going away. We need a long-term solution until the Affordable Care Act takes full effect in 2014. I urge this body to bring an emergency supplemental of $25 million to the floor for a vote.

Madam Speaker, I move to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the American Infrastructure Investment Act.

Policies passed by the Democratic controlled Congress helped to begin pulling our economy out of recession. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently predicted it could be 3 years before the unemployment rate returns to its pre-recession level. My legislation extends a number of successful job creation programs that are set to expire. It is incentives like those included in this legislation that will help this nation and restore employment levels to what they once were.

By providing federal support for private sector infrastructure investment, this legislation creates real jobs through investment in long-term sustainable economic development. These infrastructure investment programs are used to fund the construction of projects such as bridges, roads, schools and hospitals.

Some communities in my district have unemployment rates as high as 40 percent. If you were to go there and ask folks, I'm sure the answer would be, ``Yes, we need more jobs,'' and ``Yes, we want more of the programs that create those jobs.'' A project in Palm Beach County set to receive benefits from both the Recovery Zone Facility Bonds and New Market Tax Credits, two incentives extended under the American Infrastructure Investment Act, is responsible for 360 construction jobs, 300 permanent full-time jobs and $1.5 billion in gross regional product within the first 5 years. Legislation passed by Democratic-led Congress has directly led to the creation of 83,000 private sector jobs in June and nearly 600,000 private sector jobs this year.

Build America Bonds are also extended under this legislation. Created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, these bonds have allowed State and local governments to invest more than $100 billion in infrastructure projects nationwide and supported more than 1.7 million jobs. These are the very kinds of successful private investment incentive programs that the government should sponsor to kick-start the economy.

Madam Speaker, make no mistake about it--job creation is my number one priority. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and help create jobs that are desperately needed now.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Essie ``Big Mama'' Reed for her outstanding contributions to the Ft. Lauderdale community. Big Mama stands apart as an exemplary citizen and living testimony to compassion and generosity.

Big Mama's impact on Ft. Lauderdale began in 1988. When her youngest son was just a month old, Big Mama's husband abandoned the family, leaving them homeless. For the next three years, Big Mama and her three sons slept on the concrete floor of the fish market she owned. Despite being destitute and unable to provide her sons with such basic things as school supplies, Big Mama and her boys regularly prayed after school at the Royal Assembly Church.

It is her triumph over personal adversity that inspired Big Mama to begin a crusade of personal outreach. Realizing how fortunate she was to have caring neighbors who provided her and her sons with basic needs, Big Mama decided to give back by helping at-risk youth avoid the common street predators of drugs, gangs, and prostitution.

In the early 1990s, Big Mama solidified a values-based approach that, when coupled with her uncommon bravery in the face of long odds, has helped keep over 1,300 area youth on a promising path.

Big Mama's contribution has been particularly meaningful to the Ft. Lauderdale School System. With scores of students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, Big Mama provides personal afterschool care and guidance for students who might not get the attention they need at home. Big Mama also holds popular ``shut-ins'' four times a year at her church, where local school children are exposed to a ``selfless passion for excellence in education and social advancement'' through self- reliance. All this prompted Rhoda Gawlowski, assistant principal at New River Middle School, to say of Big Mama: ``I have never, ever met a person like her. She helps everyone in our school: the children, the parents, members of the community. I don't know how she does it, but she manages to find time to spend with every student who seeks her out.''

Big Mama's commitment to service, however, is not limited to Ft. Lauderdale Schools. After Hurricane Wilma devastated Florida in 2005, leaving residents without power and food, Big Mama made sure everybody had something to eat. And I mean everybody. Working together with local leaders, Big Mama was able to secure enough donations to personally cook for 1,000 low-income residents in a week. All of this from a woman who recently faced her second bout with homelessness because her house--what people in Ft. Lauderdale refer to as a sanctuary--did not meet local code with its leaky roof covered, in some parts, with a plastic tarp.

Big Mama also founded the Team of Life, a Ft. Lauderdale nonprofit, to allow her personal outreach efforts to reach even more people in her community. The organization regularly organizes charitable drives during the holiday and back-to-school seasons with great success. In addition to an annual turkey drive that collects turkeys for needy families--20,000 in 2009 alone--so that they may enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, Big Mama organizes an annual health drive to immunize local children whose families otherwise could not afford such vital care.

Through it all, Big Mama has never asked for recognition. All she wants is for Ft. Lauderdale children to experience the reality of a better tomorrow. Because of such uncommon grace, compassion, and generosity, I stand before you, Madam Speaker, to recognize Ms. Essie ``Big Mama'' Reed as a true American hero.