Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to our Veterans of the

Vietnam War and to reflect upon their courage, strength, and love for the United States of America.

March 29, 2012 has been proclaimed Vietnam Veterans' Day in the State of New York, but it is important that we recognize our Veterans of the Vietnam War not only today but every day.

During the Vietnam War, of the more than 3.4 million Americans that were deployed, over 58,000 were killed, 153,000 were wounded, and over 2,000 remain missing in action.

It is important that we remind our Vietnam Veterans and their families that we are a grateful nation. Our country recognizes and appreciates the bravery and steadfastness of every American soldier. These are the men and women who risked their lives so our country remains free. It is because of their service that the United States of America remains the greatest nation in the history of the world.

The men and woman who served our country in the Vietnam War are shining examples of patriotism, strength, courage, and decency. It is with great pride and honor that I pause and reflect upon their sacrifice and thank our Vietnam Veterans for their dedicated service to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out about an important issue that faces our society: domestic violence and sexual abuse. Our country has a moral obligation to stand up against those who exploit power to commit violence against men, women, and children.

In an effort to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual abuse, my district kicked off the White Ribbon Campaign last week. The White Ribbon Campaign is led by men and encourages all members of the community--men and women, young and old--to join in their efforts. This male leadership helps to acknowledge the important contributions men have made towards this effort and invites others to take a role.

From March 23 to April 1, thousands of my constituents in central New York will be wearing a white ribbon or a white wristband to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual violence. I encourage my House colleagues to join me in wearing a white ribbon to put a spotlight on this very important issue. Wearing the white ribbon demonstrates a personal pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against men, women, or children.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Barbara Davis for 25 years of service to the Hebrew Day School in Syracuse, New York.

Dr. Davis earned her Bachelor's Degree from Barnard College and received an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. She began her relationship with the Syracuse Hebrew Day School in the mid-1980's. She was a parent volunteer and served as chair of the Education Committee. Her service escalated in 1986 when she agreed to serve as co-principal of the school along with Dr. John Blasi, a position she would hold for the next 25 years.

For two and a half decades, Dr. Davis was the leader of the Syracuse Hebrew Day School. During her tenure there she was instrumental in the school's growth; a new wing was constructed, student enrollment hit record high numbers, and the endowment fund grew to nearly $500,000.

In addition to her work at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, Dr. Davis serves as a Professor Emerita of Modern Languages at Onondaga Community College. She was also a member of the first Lookstein Center Principals' Seminar at Bar Ilan University, a selective intensive program combining seminars in Israel and America.

Dr. Davis' dedication to her community is not only seen in her role at the Syracuse Hebrew Day School, but also in her countless hours of volunteerism and participation in numerous organizations. She serves on the board of RAVSAK, the Jewish Community Day School Network, she is executive editor of the quarterly journal of Jewish education, Ha Yidion, and has co-authored a forthcoming history of the Syracuse Jewish Community.

Dr. Davis has played a significant role in the lives of so many people, especially youths, with her dedicated service to our community. Her passion and leadership have made the Syracuse Hebrew Day School and the area it serves a better place. I thank Dr. Davis for her service and am proud to honor her here today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 125th Anniversary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

Presided over by Bishop Robert J. Cunningham, the Diocese has been a beacon of hope and sanctuary for all those seeking assistance in the Greater Syracuse area.

The diocese has 133 parishes, 9 missions, and 3 devotional chapels. In addition, the diocese has three Catholic hospitals that assist 650,000. There are people and seven special centers for social services assisting over 100,000 people. The Catholic Diocese oversees 42 residential facilities that care for the disabled, 24 Catholic schools, and 264 offices. Overall, the diocese employs approximately 3,000 people.

Today, churches, schools, and community organizations of the Diocese serve much more than the Catholic population. The outreach programs established by parishes across seven counties in Central New York reach out to people of all beliefs and walks of life.

In 125 years, the dedicated volunteers and clergymen of the Diocese of Syracuse have not stopped spreading the universal messages of peace and goodwill. I commend the members of the Diocese for holding to their founding principles of Faith, Hope, and Charity for all. I congratulate the Diocese of Syracuse on their 125th Anniversary and I thank them all for their good works.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America.

On March 12, 1912, Juliette ``Daisy'' Gordon Low brought together 18 girls for the first ever Girl Scout meeting. One hundred years later Girl Scouts of America has 112 councils and more than 3.2 million members.

Since being founded, the Girl Scouts has been devoted to providing opportunities for all girls to develop and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Through the work of dedicated volunteers, young women are given a firm foundation to build upon their strengths and learn other valuable life skills.

Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways is the branch of the Girl Scouts of America that covers my district. It serves nearly 19,000 girls and over 7,000 adults in 24 counties in New York and two counties in Pennsylvania. Through activities that help girls discover their values and skills, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways gives girls courage, confidence, and character; attributes that will serve them well in their future.

I congratulate Girl Scouts of America on their 100th anniversary and offer my sincerest thanks to all of the Girl Scouts of America's volunteers, especially those from NYPENN Pathways, for their dedication and leadership to the next generation of young women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 125th Anniversary of the Syracuse Rescue Mission.

Since being founded in 1887, the Rescue Mission has served the homeless of Central New York from three different community locations.

For 125 years, the dedicated staff and volunteers of the Rescue Mission have not only changed lives, but completely turned them around. The organization's mission is to help everyone move toward independence. They teach the unemployed skills needed to find a job, build housing for the homeless, provide assistance for addicts, and hold fundraisers and free meal programs for those in need. The Rescue Mission serves people with the dignity and respect that they deserve and understand that by helping an individual they are ultimately making their community a better place.

I congratulate the Rescue Mission on their 125th anniversary and sincerely thank everyone at the organization for their dedication and service to the Central New York community. I know that they will continue to demonstrate integrity and excellence through their benevolent deeds and that the Rescue Mission will continue to be a beacon of hope for many years to come.

I thank my colleague for putting together this hour that is so meaningful and so important not just for Democrats or Republicans but for every American, not just for people of faith but for those who have no faith. This is a First Amendment issue.

I stand here tonight as a health care professional, someone who is so vitally aware of the importance of conscience and the protection of conscience rights.

This HHS rule is the largest intrusion that we have ever seen from the Federal Government on our rights of conscience. Every American-- every American--must understand what an insult this is to our constitutional rights.

I want to just take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to challenge our media as they listen to this debate, and it is a debate that really encompasses so many unlikely bedfellows, I would say, that you see liberals, conservatives, Catholics, atheists, Christians, and Jews coming together in an outrage because our First Amendment rights have been assaulted and have been attacked by this administration. But I would challenge the media to not be fooled by the red herring that this administration continues to throw out there. Mr. Speaker, this is not about contraception. This is not about women's health. This is not about Catholicism. This is about protecting the most fundamental right that we, as Americans, have.

So many of my colleagues have mentioned about the reasons people came to this country and they continue to want to come to this country, because we ensure that you will not be persecuted for your beliefs, for your religious beliefs. That's the bedrock of the United States of America. That's why there's such outrage over this HHS rule.

As my colleague from Maryland mentioned, this rule has not been changed. Do not be fooled by the smoke and mirrors of this administration. This rule remains the same. It remains an assault on our First Amendment rights. I plead with America and I plead with the media to understand what's at stake in this debate.

I thank my colleague again for this opportunity.

I thank my colleague. I feel a little bit out of my element. We've only dealt with Tennessee and Louisiana. So it's good to be here, and I appreciate the opportunity to stand here with my colleagues.

I think it's so important that the Doctors Caucus have this conversation with the American people because we stand here tonight not as politicians but as people who care deeply about the health care profession and about patients getting the kind of care they need.

So I hope that when we speak to the American people, and particularly our seniors, because tonight we're talking about saving Medicare, that they look at us as people who are deeply committed to making sure that they have the health care and the Medicare benefits that they deserve because they've paid into it.

I guess briefly, because we have so many other colleagues here, I'd like to make just a couple of points to the American people.

Number one, unfortunately, because of the current health care law, Medicare has been changed. When we talk about saving Medicare, it really means restoring it to what the American people know Medicare is, especially our seniors. I am so saddened when I see some of the senior groups like AARP. In fact, I've got a whole box of letters from people who belong to AARP, saying, Don't cut Medicare.

I want to assure the American people and say to them that we are not cutting Medicare. For those who are 55 years and older and, as was mentioned earlier, for those who are on disability and getting SSI, their plans don't change. They remain the same. For those who are 54 and younger, we're talking about a premium support. The reason we're talking about that is, if we don't, there will be no Medicare for anyone.

So we are intent on saving Medicare. We want to make sure that our seniors have what they deserve and what they've paid into all of their lives, which is good Medicare coverage. I'm not only a nurse; I'm also the daughter of a 90-year-old mother. She and I know very well how important Medicare is, so we have no desire to change Medicare as the seniors know it now. We're talking about making a change for those who are 54 years and younger.

The sad part about this is that the health care law has changed Medicare, and now our seniors will have to be dealing with IPAB, and they'll have to be dealing with cuts in their Medicare services. We implore them, as my colleagues have said, to reach out to their senior groups and to say, Wait a minute. The real threat to our Medicare is the health care law, and that's what needs to be changed.

Just before I end, I would say to all the American people that we are committed here in the Congress and on this side of the aisle in making sure that you get the Medicare services you've paid into all of your lives and that you so richly deserve and count on. We in the health care profession stand together, and we want to make that pledge to our seniors, not only to them but to all the American people.

Mr. Speaker, the President assured American seniors that under his health care package, their insurance plans would not be affected and that they would have the same health care choices as before the law.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, this is not the case. The President's health care law

makes drastic cuts to the popular Medicare Advantage program of more than $136 billion. With these cuts, Mr. Speaker, Medicare Advantage plans will be forced to make significant adjustments, including reductions in what they cover. Those reductions will limit seniors' ability to choose the Medicare plan that best suits them.

It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that the cuts will hit low- income seniors and the disabled with disproportionate cuts. About 70 percent of the cuts will be imposed on those with incomes below $32,400 per year.

The President's cuts will give the 120,000 seniors in my district who choose Medicare Advantage few choices and increased costs. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work with me to protect Medicare Advantage.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to call attention to type I diabetes, a disease that is plaguing the citizens of our great Nation. This disease strikes not only our youths, but the ailment is affecting much more of our population. In the last 30 years, the number of people known to have diabetes in the United States has quadrupled to more than 26 million. Another 7 million Americans are estimated to have undiagnosed diabetes.

Bringing awareness to type I diabetes not only combats a devastating illness, but it also saves the country money. Accounting for hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare expenses, diabetes is also responsible for almost a third of all Medicare costs.

Mr. Speaker, type I diabetes is a problem this country cannot ignore. Today, I ask my colleagues and all Americans to join me in increasing diabetes awareness in our communities and throughout the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize National Marriage Week 2012. As our country faces challenging times, the value of a strong family is undeniable. Marriage is the foundation of family and economic prosperity in our nation. National Marriage Week reminds us of the importance of maintaining marriage as a sacred union. As the definition of marriage continues to be debated, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting the institution of traditional marriage as the centerpiece of the family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Onondaga Community College for 50 years of service to the Central New York community.

In 1961, Onondaga Community College board of trustees met to plan the college's upcoming first academic year. Though board members had originally planned to enroll 450 students in the first year, nearly 1,300 students enrolled, indicating the need for accessible higher education in Central New York.

During its first years, Onondaga Community College was located in downtown Syracuse at Midtown Plaza. By 1973, the college had moved to Onondaga Hill, where a newly constructed campus would house over 5,000 students.

Over the years, Onondaga Community College has increased its size, growing 65 percent from 2000 to 2010 alone. The college now hosts over 12,000 students, 1,700 faculty, and nearly 50 associate degree and certificate programs.

The Onondaga Hill campus has grown to include several academic buildings, residence halls, and a newly constructed arena that will host sporting and entertainment events for the college, as well as the Central New York community.

Today, under the leadership of President Debbie Sydow, Onondaga Community College has become one of the Nation's fastest-growing community colleges, providing affordable, high quality education to thousands of students.

I thank Onondaga Community College for its dedicated service to the community and I am proud to honor the college upon the occasion of celebrating 50 years of excellence in higher education.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly (GRAPE).

GRAPE works to provide networking, education, and advocacy on behalf of the elderly population and has been very successful. Today, GRAPE has 300 members from over 200 agencies and organizations throughout the greater Rochester area.

GRAPE is a non-profit organization that consists of professionals, students, and volunteers; citizens who are dedicated to caring for our elderly population. The group has not only personally assisted those in need, but has also produced a landmark health care publication: the Professionals Guide to Elder Services. This guide is the most current, accurate, and up-to-date listing of elder services in the greater Rochester area and has been of great assistance to healthcare professionals throughout upstate New York.

I thank everyone involved with the Greater Rochester Area Partnership of the Elderly for their committed service to the elderly community. GRAPE's success is due to their efforts and I applaud their dedication.

I thank my colleague and friend from Michigan for yielding to me, and thank you so much for having this evening's Special Order regarding health care.

I think it is so important, Mr. Speaker, that the American people hear from health care professionals. There is such distrust of politicians in Washington, so for the American people to have the opportunity to hear from those who have invested their lives in health care and who really do care deeply about our health care system, I think it's so very important that we have this hour and this time together.

Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress because I was so concerned with regard to the health care law. I thought that it was substantively flawed. I thought that it was procedurally flawed. It was passed in secrecy at all hours of the

night, and I thought that constitutionally it was flawed in that our government doesn't have the right to mandate our buying anything, let alone health care. So I ran on that. Now that time has unfolded--and we've been here a year now--what has come to light is how very flawed this health care law is. I speak to so many parts of it that are flawed, but I just want to focus on a couple of specific areas.

I am the daughter of a 90-year-old woman. My mother is alive and well and lives in a small town in Auburn. I know how much she cares about her Medicare coverage, and I know how important that is to her and for her. Then last April, when the Republicans put out a budget proposal, Mr. Speaker, we were demagogued; we were demagogued that we wanted to cut Medicare for seniors.

I am here tonight to reassure the American people, particularly our seniors, that this group--all the members of our caucus--and our conference understand and appreciate how important Medicare is to our seniors. We understand that. This budget proposal that was proposed last April and passed in the House is merely a proposal, a suggestion as to how we're going to save Medicare for those who are 54 years and younger. So I want to assure seniors that any changes we talk about with regard to Medicare have to do with only those who are 54 and younger. That's very important to emphasize.

What I do want to talk about briefly is that this health care law, which is the law of the land and which will go into effect in 2014, does cut Medicare. I've heard from many of the seniors in the country, and I've heard from the hospitals in my district, and I've heard from the physicians in my district. This health care law cuts Medicare by $500 billion. Every senior is going to feel the impact of this health care law.

So I want to be here tonight with my colleagues and with members of the health care profession to assure our seniors that we are here to protect you. We want to keep Medicare intact, and we want to alert you that the law that was passed is flawed on so many levels. We voted to repeal it, but it's flawed primarily.

One of the biggest reasons is that it cuts Medicare, which will impact our seniors and the care they receive. We've heard about the IPAB, and you've heard about the CLASS Act; but this cut to seniors is something every senior should be concerned about, and they should be clamoring for the repeal of the law of this land because it will affect their care and their coverage.

I've heard from so many hospitals in my district, and I have a list here. I have five hospitals in my district. All of the Members have hospitals in their districts. There are cuts to our hospitals because of this health care law. Hospitals receive what's called a ``disproportionate share'' for services they give to folks who don't have insurance--who are uninsured--or who maybe get Medicare or Medicaid. So hospitals get what's called a ``disproportionate share.''

Mr. Speaker, the health care law eliminates the disproportionate share. It's a problem for hospitals, and I've heard from my hospitals and I've had the privilege of representing my hospital for 13 years as a lawyer. I don't say that as much as I say that I'm a nurse.

The cuts to Medicare to our hospitals will really force them into a very bad situation. And I want to talk just briefly, and then I want to yield to my colleagues, how important our hospitals are to our districts. In my district alone it employs 18,000 people. So when we've enacted a law, this health care law in this country, it's going to impact our hospitals and how viable they are.

You can see the payroll and purchases from the hospitals. Just in my district, Mr. Speaker, over $2.5 billion; and State and local tax and revenues, 105 million. So this health care law--and my hospitals have said to me, it's going to hurt us. One has said it will put us into bankruptcy because we can't afford to do business because of the health care law.

So a bill that was supposed to--a law that was supposed to increase access, decrease the cost of health care--as this bill and this law unfolds, we're seeing more and more that it's bad. It's bad for seniors, it's bad for hospitals, it's bad for our physicians. It's bad because it's the government telling the American people what they have to do.

I'm so proud to stand here with my colleagues who have voted to repeal this health care law, and we want to make sure that the American people understand. We do realize we need health care reform, but it needs to be market based, as my colleague mentioned, and it needs to be care that doesn't hurt our seniors, doesn't hurt our hospitals, doesn't hurt our physicians and really does increase access to health care.

And I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his leadership in this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you this evening as we commemorate the 39th anniversary of the infamous Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. And as we stand here and we reflect as a Nation the loss of millions and millions of unborn lives and the destruction and the damage that is done to the woman--there are two victims in an abortion, both the mother and the unborn--I think there is reason for us to be hopeful. This day we witnessed hundreds of thousands of Americans marching on the Capitol in support of life; and of those hundreds of thousands, so many of them were young people, high school students and college students standing up for life, doing the right thing. So I am hopeful we are changing the hearts and minds of the American people. The youth of today are willing to stand up for what's right, and they understand the words of the Declaration of Independence, that we are endowed by our Creator with unalienable Rights, among them, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the most basic right is the right to life.

So we celebrate those youth who have the courage to stand up on behalf of life, and we pray for the change of the hearts and minds of the American people to understand that every life, regardless of how that life was conceived, is valuable; it has intrinsic value, and we must protect that life.