Floor Statements

I rise today to offer some truth on the Republican spending bill. Over 300 economists believe the Republican bill to cut $61 billion in midyear would eliminate 700,000 American jobs and shrink economic growth by 2 percent just this year. These are shortsighted cuts that could threaten our economy and our economic competitiveness. Our goal should be job creation, not job destruction.

Our Republican colleagues only care about cutting, without regard to where the cuts come from, how they negatively affect American families, or how detrimental they could be for our economy. This is not governing. Spending cuts should not be politically motivated or economically harmful.

We do need to cut spending to reduce our deficit, but these cuts must be targeted, and they must be responsible. They shouldn't cut into our core obligations to our seniors, to our safety, or to our future. Our Nation's economy and our economic growth depends on investing in education, infrastructure, and innovation, all critical to private sector competitiveness. Balancing spending cuts with sound investments is the only way to ensure job growth and new jobs. It's time for the Republicans to move beyond political rhetoric to actions that really work to grow our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance and necessity of senior care programs such as the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP). Philadelphia's RSVP is based in the Jewish Community Center Klein Branch and currently enlists about 600 volunteers. The program offers much-needed community services as well as an opportunity for seniors to volunteer their time. RSVP provides important volunteer services such as tutoring, food for Meals on Wheels and assistance with tax preparation. The following article from the Philadelphia Daily News illustrates the importance of programs like RSVP and the need for our continued support of their worthy accomplishments.

[From the Philadelphia Daily News, Feb. 7, 2011]

Seniors, Life's Calling You. Send Your RSVP

(By Stu Bykofsky)

DON'T TRUST anyone under 30.

Maybe reversing the infamous (and bigoted) catchphrase from

the '60s is overdoing it.

But while many cultures, equating experience with

knowledge, revere elders, here in the U.S. of A. we lionize

``youth'' (even while watching the reading and math scores of

our ``youth'' fall, like tokens into a fare box).

Baby Boomers who cranked up the social-revolution line are

now in the Social Security line.

In addition to the vast financial wealth that the Boomers

piled up, they (and their elders) also collected a warehouse

of wisdom, which some of them like to share.

Motivated older adults--55 and up--form the backbone of

RSVP--the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program, a 40-year-old

national agency which in Philly operates from the Klein JCC,

in the Far Northeast.

Klein has about 600 RSVP volunteers. Some are way above 55,

like Harold and Libby Yaffe, the 93-year-old married couple

who come in to serve lunches.

``The only way we can do what we do is through

volunteers,'' says Marcia Gross, RSVP project director, as

she shows me around the lowslung Klein JCC at 10100 Jamison

Ave. Gross is a woman of a certain age with no hard edges, a

smiling round face framed by light-brown hair.

There are lots of underutilized or bored retirees, and a

lot of programs that need help but can't afford to hire

people, Gross says. You don't have to be Einstein to connect

two dots.

When some people hear ``volunteer,'' for free, they hit the

exits. Better people see service to others as a benefit to

society--and to themselves.

``I have to have something to do in the morning and I love

every minute of it,'' says widowed Center City grandmother

Laurette Feltoon, who admits to ``65-plus.''

For the last 13 years, she's been taking her master's in

psychology (she had a private practice in marital and

premarital counseling) and volunteering, every day, as a

mediator in Municipal Court's Dispute Resolution Program.

The city and the warring parties get the benefit of her

decades of experience, while Feltoon has a place to go and a

mission to accomplish.

Dots connected. Win-win. Volunteers go only to nonprofit

agencies, says Gross, ranging from the American Red Cross

(bloodmobile aides) to WHYY-TV (special events, begathons).

Sure, there are expected needs for people who can do data

entry and fill clerical roles, make weekly visits to the

homebound, tutor students or prepare food for Meals on

Wheels.

But there are less-conventional volunteer options, such as

tax preparation, historical research, ushering at local

theaters, guiding tours at Independence National Historical

Park or the Philadelphia Zoo, and providing immigration

assistance. For those better with their hands than their

mouths, RSVP

uses people to drive vans, walk dogs at the PSPCA, stock food

pantries, knit, garden and provide minor home repairs.

If you don't know whether you have a useful skill, Gross

says, ``Come in and we may suggest something you hadn't

thought of.'' Anyone with computer literacy is needed, and

RSVP is looking for people to teach financial literacy.

Retiring after 42 years working on the railroad, Norm

Feldman wanted a new challenge.

The Tacony resident, a volunteer at the Clean Air Council

for 27 years, has become an expert in indoor air pollution

and radon. The octogenarian volunteers Wednesdays, and takes

emergency calls at home, goes out to talk to schools and

community groups on other days.

He took some EPA training, but mostly learned on the job,

and is so much an expert that he gets calls from county

health departments. ``Even professional people have problems

and they can't get answers from the city, state or federal

government,'' Feldman says, because most law deals with

outside air. He's the man on the inside.

After Sunny, his beloved wife of 51 years, died four years

ago, Ike Silverberg was depressed, even suicidal. He tried

some shrinks, but it didn't help. The 85-year-old still

misses Sunny like hell, but RSVP gave him a new life.

Mondays and Fridays, mornings and afternoons, he's at the

Delaware Valley Veterans' Home, pushing a beverage cart,

making sure the vets are hydrated. He's happy doing it

because the vets are appreciative.

His Tuesdays and Wednesdays are very different. He drives

from his Rhawnhurst home to Mayfair Elementary, where he sits

with eight first-graders at a round table. Everyone reads in

turn and Ike challenges them on spelling. The great-

grandfather of seven loves kids, so this is a treat for him.

Wednesdays the chatty former construction worker, salesman

and bagel-baker reads with third-graders at the JCC. All the

volunteering keeps him out of ``that house,'' as he refers to

his formerly happy, now lonely home.

Getting out into the world is a benefit to volunteers, says

Gross. According to a poll, she says, the No. 1 reason people

give for not volunteering is: ``No one asks them.''

RSVP is asking.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Ms. Barbara Allen on the occasion of being named as a winner of the Purpose Prize. Ms. Allen was selected from over 1,000 applicants for her work raising funds for public school art programs.

The Purpose Prize is an award given by Civic Ventures, a think-tank that focuses on work and social purpose. For the past five years the purpose prize has been given to 10 people, all age 60 and over, who have developed new ways to solve social problems. As individuals who have completed their mid-life careers, the winners of the purpose prize have all shown that social innovation is not the sole province of the young. Civic Ventures considered the Purpose Prize to be not a lifetime achievement award, but an investment in the future of the winner.

Ms. Allen has won this award through her laudable efforts to maintain the arts in public schools. She is the founder and CEO of Fresh Artists, a nonprofit that has raised more than $100,000 benefiting 272 Philadelphia public schools to the enrichment of over 53,000 children. Fresh Artists utilizes the creativity of our students to achieve the goal of funding the art programs that can help more students harness their own creativity. The organization invites students in grades K through 12 to donate their artwork to be used in large-scale reproductions. Fresh Artists then collects monetary donations from businesses and organizations who display the artwork in their buildings. The donations are then used to buy art supplies for Philadelphia's most under-resourced public schools. Since its founding in 2008, Fresh Artists has installed nearly 600 reproductions. Barbara Allen's vision and dedication to the arts have provided students with an opportunity to not only have their work displayed, but also to have their work contribute to the purchase of supplies that allow other students to produce further works of art.

I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Ms. Allen on this momentous occasion. Her dedication to the art will ensure that the students of Philadelphia's public schools continue to have access to the supplies that will allow them to fully realize their creative potential.

I rise to speak very forcefully, I hope, about the importance of proceeding with the health care bill, the health care law that we had in place and the critical protections that it is providing to literally millions of Americans in each and every one of our districts; and each of us, I think, have heard from them.

The new health care law reduces the deficit. We're here talking about, from the Budget Committee, it is going to reduce the deficit while promoting more efficient and higher quality care. Reducing the deficit and slowing the growth of health care costs means real savings to American families, American businesses and to the Federal Government. And yet their first major act in the majority, congressional Republicans want to repeal this law.

Repealing the protections for Americans with preexisting conditions. We just heard this morning the Washington Post reported on a study that says that one-half of all Americans under the age of 65 have a preexisting condition. So this isn't just about a few of us. Really it's about almost all of us. We all know someone and we may all love someone who has a preexisting condition. If Republicans got their way-- and they will probably in the House but fortunately not in the Senate-- they would repeal the protections for Americans with preexisting conditions, or for children who can now already be covered. They will repeal the new law that says annual limits for coverage if you have cancer will be repealed. They will repeal the prescription drug benefits for our seniors, and will repeal tax credits for small businesses. And in doing so, they will add to the cost for American taxpayers.

Let's be clear on what this means. Repeal increases the deficit by $252 billion over 10 years and $1.4 trillion over 20 years. Repeal reverses progress in getting health care costs under control, causing families and businesses and, yes, the government--which really means the taxpayers--to face higher health care costs. It repeals benefits for millions of Americans, important consumer protections and insurance reform, such as making sure that the children with preexisting conditions have coverage.

And the repeal means starting over. We're going to hear it over and over again, I think, over the next 7 hours. What starting over means is no consumer protections and months and maybe years of just talk, possibly no action, while the costs go up for American businesses, go up for our families and go up for our Nation.

Let's be clear that the new rules allow the Republicans to do this, but it's going to cost trillions of dollars to our budget and it's going to cause greater suffering for the American people. So it's a wrong course of action. Let's not repeal this bill. It will hurt Americans, it will hurt our economic competitiveness, and it will hurt the fiscal condition of this nation.

I encourage a ``no'' vote.

Madam Speaker, last Saturday in Tucson and across the country, so many Americans, including myself, were horrified and deeply saddened by the mass shooting at a congressional outreach event hosted by U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. The senselessness, the violence and the magnitude of death and injury were stunning and alarming.

It is a personal tragedy. It is a national tragedy. It is heartbreaking and wrenching because we all share in the pride of our representative democracy. Members reaching out to their constituents and constituents having the opportunity formally and informally to talk to their Representatives of Congress is at the core of our responsibilities and is a value we all hold as Americans. So even as we mourn, as Americans, we cannot allow this to diminish or deter our civic interactions.

I ask for my colleagues to join together in honoring those who were killed. My thoughts and my deepest sympathies are with them and with their loved ones.

And, to Gabby, Gabby is our colleague and she is our friend. I share in acknowledging and honoring her commitment to public service and her principled leadership on behalf of her constituents. She has a deep passion for who we are as Americans and for working to find that common ground to meet our Nation's challenges. Her inner strength, determination, and her good spirit are all serving her well as she struggles to recover from her wounds. Reports from her doctors have been remarkably positive.

So my heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Gabby and with all those injured, and I wish them swift and full recoveries. I extend those thoughts and prayers to her husband, Mark; to all the families and friends of the victims; to Gabby's staff; and to all those affected by this senseless shooting.

I love this country deeply and the values we all share. It is my hope that our Nation will come together to honor those who perished and to affirm our commitment to move forward in a way that allows us to voice our differences and to debate the solutions to our challenges while respecting our shared love and dedication to our great Nation.

Amendment 20: ``The terms of the President and the Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the third day of January of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.''

As I listen to this debate, I want to say that I and many of my colleagues agree that we must take the deficit seriously; but to do so, we have to not only examine spending cuts. We have to look at tax expenditures.

This new rule that is being presented is literally less than 3 hours old. Since the Republicans have taken control, they have said simply-- and so most Americans understand this--that they will look at spending cuts as really being cost-savers for the government, but tax expenditures--tax cuts--maybe for the wealthiest Americans, maybe for certain companies--maybe some good, maybe some we would even agree with--will not be counted as part of a cost to government, as a reduction in the amount of revenue that we get into the government. They will simply ignore it, and the expenditures will just get added to the deficit.

Just last week--and for weeks and weeks before that--they said deficit reduction was at the top of their agenda. It took them 3 hours to make that an untrue statement. They have simply already set up a situation where they can add trillions and trillions of dollars to the national deficit, and we can do nothing about it.

Mr. Chairman, tonight I rise in support of middle class Americans. As families and the Nation continue to face economic challenges, we should extend tax cuts for Americans; yet the Republicans insisted that tax cuts apply to all incomes, even multimillionaires. And they are insisting, even tonight, on including an additional tax break for just 6,600 wealthy estates at the expense of tax relief for middle class Americans.

The goals of this tax relief package should be to help middle-income Americans and promote economic growth. And because of the President and Democrats in Congress, most of this bill accomplishes just that.

I commend the pro-growth business provisions, particularly the acceleration of business depreciation and extension of the research and development tax credits, which encourage innovation and investment. And I strongly support the extension of tax breaks for middle class families.

Unfortunately, the Senate Republicans' last-minute estate tax provision does not meet the goal of either economic growth or tax relief for the middle class. It is simply a bonus to the wealthiest few that is not fair, not justifiable, and not fiscally responsible.

Instead, the estate tax proposal that we offer as a substitute saves $25 billion. The House should vote for this proposal because it promotes economic growth, extends tax cuts for all Americans, and provides sensible estate tax relief for 99.75 percent of the Nation's small businesses, families, and farms.

Vote for the tax cuts. Vote for fair estate tax policy. Vote for this legislation, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent to control the time until the gentleman from Michigan returns.

I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to Mr. Holt from New Jersey.

Mr. Speaker, this morning, I rise in support of middle class Americans.

As Americans continue to face economic challenges, the deadline looms for extending middle class tax cuts that provide relief where it is most needed; but congressional Republicans are holding these middle class tax cuts hostage in favor of tax breaks for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans, burdening our children and our grandchildren with unsustainable debt.

Their argument for millionaire tax breaks: it will trickle down to the middle class and create jobs.

But if that were true, America would not be in the economic situation it is in now. If personal tax cuts for the very wealthy create jobs-- and they've had them for 10 years--where are those jobs?

Congressional Republicans have made it quite clear that they are willing to hold up tax breaks for middle-income families to protect multi-millionaires. Republicans talk about reducing our deficit, but they are perfectly happy to balloon the deficit by $700 billion to give tax breaks to the richest Americans.

In the coming weeks, we will see if Republicans stand up for middle class Americans or if they stand against them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Mary, Mother of the Redeemer's Catholic Education Center on the momentous achievement of being designated a 2010 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Mary, Mother of the Redeemer is a Catholic Parish in North Wales, Montgomery County. In 1997, the ten-year old parish saw the need for a school of its own and began laying the groundwork to establishing what would become an award winning educational center. In 2002, after years of planning and fundraising, the parish began construction and only two years later the school had an enrollment of nearly 700 students. The education center has a mission statement of recognizing the uniqueness of each student to provide a quality Catholic education.

The Blue Ribbon Program is a project of the Department of Education that identifies the best school leadership and teaching practices, setting a standard of excellence for all middle and high schools. This year, 254 public and 50 private schools were chosen for this honor. Schools are chosen based on their ability to produce students who, regardless of their backgrounds, are high performing.

Being chosen as a Blue Ribbon School designates Mary, Mother of the Redeemer as a model for other schools across the country. Of the 413 schools nationwide that can be nominated, only 50 originate with the Council for Private Education, through which Mary, Mother of the Redeemer was nominated. The school is fully committed to maintaining its five year Blue Ribbon designation and being nominated again in 2015. I am proud to represent in congress a school that is so committed to excellence that it is nationally recognized, serving as a model nationwide.

Madam Speaker, once again I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Mary, Mother of the Redeemer on its momentous designation as a blue ribbon school.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Raymond and Miriam Klein JCC on its milestone 35th anniversary. Located in Northeast Philadelphia, the Raymond and Miriam Klein JCC is a multifaceted community center committed to a strategic mission of serving the versatile needs of the surrounding Jewish community. The Klein JCC is a living example of Tikkun Olam--repairing the world-- right here in our community.

Since 1975, when the Klein Branch opened its doors, it has been a community center, an educational center, and a constant source of support and enrichment for the Jewish community. Located on a 20 acre lot and featuring a theatre, 2 swimming pools, a gym, and classrooms, the JCC provides childcare, immigration counseling, and summer camp, as well as athletic and aquatic fitness programs.

But Klein JCC is much more than a center that provides entertainment and recreation. Throughout the decades, the Klein JCC has adapted its mission to meet the changing needs of its neighbors and has reemerged as a fully functioning social services agency. Today, the Klein JCC provides critical quality services to our youngest members of the community through pre-school and kindergarten while providing a lifeline to our most seasoned senior citizens. Education for the very young as well as courses for those over the age of 90 are all available in the same facility. And through the Mitzvah food project, volunteers deliver food and other necessities to those in the community who are in need, reaching out to help regardless of religion, race, gender, or age.

Madam Speaker, I am so proud to represent in congress an institution that has so faithfully and ably served the Jewish community for so many years. I am honored that the Raymond

and Miriam Klein JCC has always welcomed me with open arms. I ask that my colleagues join me in wishing a heartfelt Mazel Tov to the Raymond and Miriam Klein JCC Board of Directors both past and present, supporters, clients and friends on an impressive 35 year history and for continued success in a new century.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate All Saints Roman Catholic Church on its momentous 150th Anniversary. The history of All Saint, located in Bridesburg, in Northeast Philadelphia, is the chronicle of a dedicated group of faithful parishioners determined to establish a spiritual home. The founding families were immigrants seeking to build a congregation where language was not a barrier. In 1860, a shortage of priests and a scarcity of money to buy land to build a church challenged the founders' efforts. These adversities were overcome with the help of His Grace, Father James F. Wood, Archbishop of Philadelphia, who requested

that the existing Holy Trinity Church establish a parish for German- speaking people in their community.

On August 15, 1860 the original cornerstone was laid at Holy Trinity church. Immediately, Bridesburg's dedicated founding families and settlers raised the needed funds culminating in the building and dedication of the first church building located at the corner of Edgemont and Buckius Streets on February 3, 1861. It was not long before the parish established a school and celebrated its' first baptisms, weddings, and spiritual and social events.

Through the years, All Saints embraced immigrants who worked on area farms and as the neighborhood became industrialized, welcomed employees of the Rohm and Haas plant. The history of the church is rich in efforts to foster dedication to religious heritage and community. The parish plans a Mass of Celebration and Thanks on November 7, 2010.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating this milestone anniversary of All Saints Parish and wishing the congregation many more years as a source of spiritual and community strength.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Abington Memorial Hospital for winning the Keystone Alliance for Performance Excellence, KAPE, 2010 award. As the first recipient of this state-wide honor, Abington Memorial Hospital is being recognized for an ongoing commitment to quality and excellence that makes it a leader among the area's hospitals. I am honored to represent Abington Memorial Hospital in Congress.

Abington Memorial Hospital has provided comprehensive, high-quality services to residents of Montgomery, Bucks, and Philadelphia Counties for more than 90 years. A not-for-profit hospital, Abington Memorial Hospital has a staff of more than 900 physicians including primary care, medical, and surgical specialties. Abington Memorial Hospital has the only Level-2 trauma center in Montgomery County and is a major regional referral center for cancer care, cardiac care, and surgery.

Recognition for its outstanding workplace environment and high quality of care is not new to Abington Memorial Hospital. In 2008, Abington Memorial Hospital was awarded the Magnet Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the nursing field, and has also been accredited, approved or licensed by more than 15 state and nationwide organizations.

Applicants from both small and large organizations across Pennsylvania, from all sectors including education, health care, manufacturing, government and non-profit organizations were able to apply for the 2010 KAPE award. Applicants were evaluated by an independent board in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, analysis and knowledge management, workforce focus, process management, and results. Abington Memorial Hospital's excellence in all of these categories made it a clear winner for the 2010 KAPE award.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me as I congratulate Abington Memorial Hospital for winning this prestigious award and applaud the hospital for more than 90 years of excellent care.

Madam Speaker, last week, the Small Business Jobs Act was signed into law, marking the latest effort by the Democratic Congress to partner with small businesses to put the economy back on track.

The Jobs Act makes $30 billion in lending and $12 billion in tax breaks available to small businesses to create 500,000 new jobs. The Democratic Congress has already helped small businesses by providing tax credits for hiring unemployed workers, by reducing tariffs on goods used in U.S. manufacturing and by expanding incentives for capital investments.

Nearly 2 years ago, our economy was losing 700,000 jobs per month. Now we are on pace to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the private sector.

Yet, instead of joining with us to grow small businesses and the jobs they create, Republicans in Congress opposed loans to small businesses, opposed tax incentives for businesses to hire unemployed workers, opposed tax credits for health benefits, and opposed new incentives for business investments.

Democratic Members stood up to provide American businesses with the right tools to innovate and create jobs. Access to capital, encouraging investment and hiring will ensure that we are continuing to create new jobs today and for tomorrow.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Rhawnhurst-Bustleton Ambulance Association on its 50th anniversary. This volunteer ambulance corps, located in Northeast Philadelphia, serves the residents of the Bustleton and Rhawnhurst neighborhoods.

Fifty years ago Rhawnhurst and Bustleton were not served by the ambulances operated by area hospitals. This lack of emergency medical services was a serious safety and health challenge for these residents and businesses. Seeing this need, a small group of dedicated citizens took action. Five individuals met in the basement of a neighborhood home to take an oath to provide this much needed service. Six months later, with two ambulances in its fleet, the Rhawnhurst-Bustleton Ambulance Association incorporated as a non-profit organization.

The ambulance association is now state-licensed and certified, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over the past 50 years these dedicated volunteers have incorporated advanced technologies and practices into their daily operations. This neighborhood has been safer and more secure over these past 50 years because this small group of committed people decided to take an extra step to care for their neighbors.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating and wishing the Rhawnhurst-Bustleton Ambulance Association many more years of faithful service to the community.