Floor Statements

First of all, let me thank my colleague from the State of Washington for hosting this very special and important Special Order.

When the Obama administration took office, many Americans were so concerned that the administration was too inexperienced to know how to even govern this country; but we soon understood that they were too mistaken to learn and too arrogant to care.

Americans continue to see the unveiling of various provisions of the President's health care bill, such as the creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board to ration health care, a disastrous half trillion dollars in Medicare cuts for new benefits, the betrayal of our friendship with Israel, and the willful pursuit of Libyan ``kinetic action'' in opposition to the wishes of the American people and in defiance of the War Powers Act. We have been betrayed by the choices of the leaders we depended on to steer this ship safely through troubled waters.

But I have hope, just like the other Republican women here tonight, that while we have to accept the Democrat leadership's choices for a time, nothing says we have to live with them. I am here in Congress because I have watched the American Dream become increasingly fragile, and I said to myself over a year ago that I would not sit this fight out. Mr. Speaker, this is a fight. This is a fight for the very United States we love so dearly.

Both sets of my grandparents came here from Italy. They worked hard; they raised their families, and they gave back to their communities. My presence in Congress, really in so many respects, just like so many of my colleagues', embodies the American Dream. I am a registered nurse, an attorney, and for the last 13 years have represented a teaching hospital. I am the mother of six children and a grandmother of 11. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud Republican woman.

We Republican women stand here tonight not as an anomaly; we represent millions of Republican women who say that we are not going to accept being marginalized because of our political party. We are real women. We are real Republicans. We are here to restore the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the issue of elder abuse. Today is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Hundreds of thousands of Americans each year are the victims of elder abuse. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, this number could be as high as 1 to 2 million Americans.

Elder abuse, Mr. Speaker, is a broad term for the victimization of seniors 65 years and older. There is no one picture of what elder abuse looks like. It can be physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or exploitation.

The perpetration of elder abuse also varies--spouses, partners, caregivers in nursing homes, even neighbors. Our older elder Americans are especially vulnerable to abuse, particularly those who suffer from dementia or other mental diseases.

I find it unconscionable that the very people who fought for us in World War II and Korea, who nurtured us, who taught us, who built this society around us, would be victimized in the twilight of their lives. Our elderly citizens have given us so much, and they deserve our appreciation, our respect, and most importantly, our protection, not just for what they've contributed, Mr. Speaker, but for the ways they still enrich our society and enrich us as a people.

This August my mother, Mr. Speaker, will turn 90 years old. Three years ago, when my father died, she was lost. She was particularly vulnerable. Fortunately for my mother, she has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to help her and to support her. But how many other Americans, elderly folks are out there who don't have that support system, Mr. Speaker?

This is not a Democratic or a Republican issue. This is an American issue. Our seniors, our elderly, deserve our help. They deserve our protection. Please, as Americans, today is Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Let us be particularly aware of our most vulnerable, our elderly citizens.

And I thank you. Thank you for this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise here tonight, along with my colleagues and other members of the Doctors Caucus, with

such concern about what is being proposed in the health care bill and what is now law. I think we need to have a frank discussion with the seniors, Mr. Speaker, because of the demagoguing and the fearmongering that has gone on by proponents of this health care bill.

The fact is this health care bill, Mr. Speaker, is law. If it goes on without being interfered with, Medicare as we know it will be decimated. Five hundred billion dollars in cuts. That's going to affect the seniors. That's the law, and that's what's in place right now.

What we are proposing on the Republican side is that: it is a proposal. But it is a place to begin the discussion about how we are going to save Medicare. And we must say over and over again to our seniors this bill will not affect you if you are 55 years and older. You will retain the exact same benefits that you have now. But we as health care providers, we as those who went into health care as advocates because we care about people, we want to protect and preserve Medicare. That's what this proposal is that the Republicans put forth in the budget.

I think, Mr. Speaker, the irony in all of this is those who pushed this health care bill, organizations who pushed it on seniors and said this is a great bill, and vote for this health care bill, they now have waivers from the health care bill. They now are saying, well, it's good for all of you folks, but it's not so good for us. That should raise red flags.

So I am so pleased to be here tonight with my colleagues to be able to have this conversation with the seniors, Mr. Speaker. They need to know the truth. They need to know that we want to preserve Medicare. We want to make Medicare better for us, for our children, and their children. And that's what this is about.

I thank you for this time.

Thank you very much.

I think it's so important to have this conversation with the seniors. We want to preserve your relationship with your physician. There is nothing more sacred than that relationship. This IPAB panel will disrupt that. It will come right between you and your physician.

It's so important that we get the facts out, that we have this conversation with seniors, that you understand that we are fighting to preserve Medicare, fighting to preserve Medicare as we know it, and Medicare and the patient-physician relationship.

With that, I thank you for this opportunity.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Chaffetz Amendment to H.R. 1540, the Defense Authorization Bill. The amendment, if passed, would require the immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan with certain limited counterterrorism operations permitted to remain on the ground.

I appreciate the motivation behind the amendment because I too question the wisdom of our continued presence in Afghanistan. We are engaged in a protracted war there, and unlike our operations in Iraq, have yet to see stability and a solid foundation for independence emerge from the sacrifice of our men and women serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

While I believe that it is time to commence a timely discussion regarding Afghanistan, I do not believe that this amendment to the defense bill is the answer. The amendment short circuits the process necessary for thoughtful action and does not regard seriously the impact of the unintended consequences of immediate withdrawal on the stability of the region.

U.S. forces in Afghanistan have made great strides in the last 6 months. In light of the recent death of Osama Bin Laden, the U.S. military must have the opportunity to consider the ramifications of his death on our current Afghanistan strategy. We have a short window in which the intelligence gained in his death can be leveraged successfully.

How successful further action can or will be is unclear. Al-Qaeda may be able to regroup and revitalize. Regardless, immediate withdrawal will bring neither clarity nor stability to a region in which the United States has offered its highest currency, the blood of our young men and women in uniform.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, the bill to fund our troops. The last Congress failed to pass a budget, and that's why we're here. That's why we're debating these CRs.

This continuing resolution is the right outcome, not only for the American people, but for our military. This isn't a Democratic or Republican issue, this is what's best for the American people, and most importantly what's best for our troops. Give them certainty, give them what they need to keep us safe and allow us to be here today with this debate.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Senior Master Sergeant Joseph F. Gianetto II. Originally from Oswego, NY, Sergeant Gianetto enlisted in 1971 and subsequently has spent over 39\1/2\ years with United States Air Force and the New York Air National Guard. Sergeant Gianetto has been decorated with numerous medals, awards and service distinctions. It is my honor to recognize such a distinguished citizen and airman.

Sergeant Gianetto began his military career in the Air Force on the delayed enlistment program in June 1971 and was called to active duty in October 1971. Upon completion of basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in November 1971, Sergeant Gianetto began technical school training as an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. In March 1972, he was assigned to 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Organizational Maintenance Branch, Flight-line Maintenance, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and began on-the-job training for his five-skill level on the C-130E Hercules aircraft. He remained in that position until May 1973.

In May 1973, Sergeant Gianetto was reassigned to the 56th Special Operations Wing, Organizational Maintenance Squadron, Flight-line Branch, Nahkon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, in support of combat operations in Southeast Asia. While assigned with the 56th Organizational Maintenance Squadron he performed duties as Aircraft Crew Chief on the OV-10A Bronco aircraft and deployed to forward operating locations at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, and Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.

After completion of his tour of duty in Southeast Asia, Sergeant Gianetto was reassigned to 314th Tactical Airlift Wing, Field Maintenance Branch, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, where he worked in the Repair and Reclamation Shop as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician performing heavy maintenance on the C-130E aircraft. He was subsequently reassigned to the 314th Headquarters Squadron as an Aircraft Job Controller coordinating the maintenance efforts on a fleet of over 100 C-130E Hercules aircraft.

Sergeant Gianetto applied for a release from active duty under the Palace Chase Program. His release from active duty was granted in September 1979. He became a member of the 107th Fighter Interceptor Group, Organizational Maintenance Branch, Flight-line Maintenance, New York Air National Guard, Niagara Falls, New York, and was assigned as a Crew Chief on the RF-101 Voodoo aircraft. In January 1980, Sergeant Gianetto transferred to the 174th Fighter Wing, assigned to the 174th Maintenance Squadron as Crew Chief on the A-10A Thunderbolt aircraft, and subsequently held assignments in the 174th Maintenance Operations Flight, and the 174th Operations Group, supporting F-16C Fighting Falcon Maintenance Operations, and RC-26 Counterdrug Operations.

The 174th Fighter Wing was called mobilized and called to active duty on 29 December 1990. On 2 January 1991, Sergeant Gianetto deployed to Al Kharj Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War. He returned from the Persian Gulf on 20 May 1991 and was released from active duty on 13 June 1991. He also served in Operation Northern Watch from 23 August to 16 September 1997, and Operation Southern Watch from 28 February to 8 April 2000 and again from 28 July to 28 August 2001, all in support of contingency operations against Iraq. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, he performed over 40 days of active duty supporting Combat Air Patrol sorties in support of Operation Noble Eagle.

On 14 October 2003, Sergeant Gianetto volunteered for his forth Air Expeditionary Force deployment in Support of the Global War on Terrorism. He deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Emirate of Qatar, and was attached to the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Operations Squadron, from 17 October 2003 to 5 December 2003, in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On 28 November 2006, Sergeant Gianetto was again called to active duty deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was assigned to the 332d Expeditionary Maintenance Group. While there he worked as a Senior Weapon Systems Controller and Shift Supervisor, coordinating maintenance operations for three different active duty and Air National Guard assigned aircraft supporting contingency operations throughout the Iraqi theater of operations. Sergeant Gianetto redeployed after 96 days in-theater and was released from active duty on 1 April 2007.

Sergeant Gianetto had been employed as an Air National Guard Technician since June 1980, working as an A-10 Aircraft Mechanic; Aircraft Production Controller; Aircraft Production Control Supervisor; Aircraft Production Control Superintendent; and a Logistics Management Technician. He retired from his full-time technician position on 1 March 2008.

Militarily, he was assigned as the NCOIC for the 174th Fighter Wing RC-26 Counterdrug office on 23 June 2008, and is a former Maintenance Squadron First Sergeant. He has over 39\1/2\ years combined service, eight years of active duty in the United States Air Force, and the remainder with the New York Air National Guard.

During these times and throughout his career, Sergeant has displayed honorable character and service to the United States Air Force and 174th Fighter Wing, and our country. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; and Air Force Achievement Medal; five oak leaf clusters. His military unit and achievement awards include the Joint Service Meritorious Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Award, with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat ``V'' device and nine oak leaf clusters; Air Force Good Conduct Medal, with one oak leaf cluster; Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal, with nine oak leaf clusters. His military campaign and service awards include the National Defense Service Medal, with two bronze service stars; Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal with one bronze service star; Viet Nam Service Medal with one bronze campaign star; Southwest Asia Service Medal, with three bronze campaign stars; Iraq Campaign Medal, with two bronze campaign stars; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal; Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon, with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, with gold combat frame and two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon, with eight oak leaf clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass device, mobilization ``M'' device, and numeral ``7''; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Ribbon, with two oak leaf clusters; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; and Air Force Training Ribbon. Sergeant Gianetto's Foreign Service awards include the Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with palm device; Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal with date bar; Kuwait Liberation Medal-Saudi Arabia; and the Kuwait Liberation Medal-Kuwait.

Sergeant Gianetto also holds the following New York State awards and decorations: New York State Military Commendation Medal; New York State Long and Faithful Service Award, with one gold and one silver device; New York State Desert Storm Service Medal; New York State Defense of Liberty Medal; New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, with one silver device; New York State Conspicuous Service Star, with one gold and two silver devices; New York State Recruiting Medal; New York State Counterdrug Ribbon; New York State Exercise Support Ribbon, with three ``E'' devices; and the Medal for Humane Service to New York State; and the New York State Air Guard First Sergeant Ribbon.

He is also the recipient of the Air National Guard Noncommissioned Officer Academy Graduate Association, Outstanding Graduate of the Year Award for 1995; the 1999 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5885, All-State Commanders Award; and the 174th Fighter Wing Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award for 2001. In May 2004, Sergeant Gianetto received the American Red Cross Veterans award. He was also named the 174th Fighter Wing Base Honor Guard Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for 2005.

His effective dates of promotion are: Airman--16 November 1971; Airman First Class--1 April 1972; Sergeant--1 November 1973; Staff Sergeant--1 November 1976; Technical Sergeant--1 October 1980; Master Sergeant--1 February 1986; Senior Master Sergeant--13 February 1990.

Sergeant Gianetto is a Past Post Commander and ``Life'' of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Quatrini-Dehm Post No. 5885, located in Oswego, New York. He is also member the American Legion, James Harvey Spire Post No. 787, Cicero, New York. He is a member of the Air Force Association; the Air Force Sergeants Association; the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United

States; the Enlisted Association of the New York National Guard; and the 174th Alumni Association. He is a member of the Air National Guard Noncommissioned Officer Academy Graduates Association; and the American Veterans (AmVets). He is also an active member of the 174th Fighter Wing Base Honor Guard, and a member of Bugles Across America.

Without question, Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Gianetto is a very special person. He willingly served his nation, exuding loyalty and pride. For his unrelenting service, Sergeant Gianetto can retire knowing he has earned such a status. I would like to wish him well in his retirement years, as he will now be able to spend more free time with his wife Dale, his three daughters, Christina Gianetto, Jennifer (Gianetto) Rowan, Brynn Leigh (Shattuck) Shamp, sons Ryan and Kegan Shattuck, and grandson Nehemiah Shamp. Sergeant Gianetto, thank you for all your years of hard work, dedication and service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, it is good to be here. I thank the distinguished gentleman, my colleague from Georgia. I am very honored to be here to speak about health care in the United States of America.

As was said, I am a registered nurse. I have been a registered nurse since 1972, a time in our Nation's health history where the physician and the patient had a relationship, and the government had not injected itself into that relationship. And then after awhile, I went into law. And for the last 13 years, Mr. Speaker, I have been a health care attorney for a large teaching hospital in upstate New York, for the last 13 years.

What we did in that hospital and in my role as an assistant attorney general, we look at money, money that was owed to the State of New York. So I had a very up close and personal look at the complexity of health care in our country today.

I contend that this bill, this piece of legislation that does anything but reform health care, will only increase the complexity of health care in this country. It will only make it more complicated. It will once again put the government right in the middle of the patient- physician relationship. I contend that is not what the United States of America is about. We need to let the free market play here in our health care system.

I have spoken in my district to many, many people. I have done all kinds of talks, but there is nothing more up close and personal and of great concern to me than the health care system in our country. It is an issue that affects every American in one way, shape or form. This health care bill does not improve the health care system in this country.

I came to Washington with a wide range of goals as a freshman, as my colleague has mentioned, but nothing more important to me than repealing this health care bill; this 2,000-plus-page bill that does anything but reform health care. It adds to the complexity of an already complex system. It puts the government in places where it shouldn't be, and it doesn't protect that patient-physician relationship.

Last week when I was in the district, I had my very first health care advisory council meeting. I spoke with a group of physicians, a group of health care providers, hospital administrators, and we had a conversation. I said to them: What are your concerns as health care providers? You are on the front line. What can we do down in Washington on health care to make the delivery system better and more affordable?

They looked at me, and interestingly enough, all of the people on the front lines came up with different solutions because, as you can imagine, doctors and health care providers are good at diagnosing. The question is now about the solution. What are we going to do for health care in this country?

We are here tonight to say this bill is the wrong bill for this country, but we are not willing to leave it go at that. We understand that true health care reform will include medical malpractice reform. We need tort reform in this country. We need to increase the use of health savings accounts. We need to make insurance portable so when a person loses their job, they don't necessarily lose their health care coverage. We need to allow for the purchase of health care across State lines. We need to put the patient back in the center of health care. And I contend that this health care bill does not do that.

So as we sat around, I said to my group of health care advisors, I said to them, What is it that concerns you most regarding health care in this country? The first thing was our health care, this health care bill that was just passed. And when you get into why does it concern you, because it adds so many layers of bureaucracy and regulations to an already ladened bureaucracy, already an industry and system that is ladened with regulations. If you talk to a hospital or a physician, the regulations and the impediments they have to access that patient for health care are incredible.

So the concern with this bill is it adds so many more layers. It takes this health care bill, and one of the biggest problems with this health care bill is that it takes a piece of legislation and it hands it off to the regulators. Then, with the regulators, they are left to interpret and to deal with and come up with regulations that affect our health care providers.

Beyond that, they recognize the need for tort reform. We need medical malpractice liability reform. If we are going to talk about reducing the cost of health care, we must consider that. And then they talked about the increased regulations on the health care profession.

What we all agreed upon in that meeting was that the health care in this country, it is a good health care system. We have good health care. The quality of health care is not the issue. The issue is the system of health care. And this bill that was passed in 2010 does nothing to make that health care system better. It only complicates it. It only ladens it with more regulations and once again puts the government back in between the physician and the patient relationship.

I thank my colleague who has an esteemed history of being a medical provider in the health care industry. He understands these issues. He understands what good health care is and what a good health care system would look like. And so I commend him and thank him for this opportunity to speak.

I think what we need to do in Washington is to repeal this health care bill. We need to put our heads together collectively and talk to the professionals, talk to the health care providers, talk to the patients, and get together and come up with a systemic plan that will reduce the cost of health care, help to improve access to health care, and not affect the quality of the wonderful health care that the United States of America offers.

In my years in the attorney general's office representing a large teaching hospital, I know how many people wanted to come to this country for health care--I know people from Canada and from Europe-- because they knew they had access to good, quality care. They knew they wouldn't have a 6- or 9-month wait. I think with this system, if we allow it to go on, this health care bill, we will see those 6- and 9- month waits while patients are waiting for the government to make a decision about their health care access.

So we need to repeal this bill. We need to enact true health care reform so we can improve access, we can reduce the cost of health care, and we can maintain the fine quality of health care in this system.

I thank my colleague.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague just brought up the cost of this health care bill. I think it's interesting to talk about and insert what I have heard from the health care community throughout the course of this discussion.

For many hospitals which have a high level of indigent patients, there is what is called a disproportionate share of money that is paid to those hospitals to help them offset the cost of treating folks who are on Medicaid and who are not able to afford their own health care coverage. This health care bill removes the disproportionate share. It phases out that payment to hospitals so that they can afford to treat indigent patients who cannot afford health care. I think that's a very significant piece of this bill--of this law--that was not discussed nor how it will impact and how it will hurt hospitals.

I think, beyond that, we need to talk about seniors and the choices that this health care bill takes away from seniors--again, that wasn't discussed--which are the Medicare Advantage programs and all of the disadvantages that this bill will cause to seniors. We need to keep our health care system intact so those who need the system, such as the seniors, have access to good health care and so their coverage is not hurt. This bill does hurt the senior coverage.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by my colleague, Representative Miller of Michigan. It is important that the FAA work with other federal agencies, including the National Guard, to integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems into the National Airspace System.

My district is the home of the 174th Attack Wing of the Air National Guard that uses Hancock Field in Syracuse. They use Unmanned Air Vehicles, UAVs, that currently must be transported to and from Fort Drum in order to perform their mission.

It is important that the FAA integrate these UAVs into the National Airspace System as quickly and safely as possible. In addition to performing a critical mission for national security, the 174th is responsible for 1300 jobs in the Syracuse area. Finding a way to get the federal agencies to work together to allow UAVs to operate out of Hancock Field is important to the economy of this region.

I strongly support this amendment and encourage the Chairman of the Transportation Committee to protect and strengthen this provision in conference.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about two of the most significant issues facing our society today--the twin scourges of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Our society has a moral obligation to stand up against those who exploit their power to commit violence against women, men, and children. I join other Members here today in taking the opportunity to discuss these issues and participate in the White Ribbon Campaign.

On Tuesday of this past week, March 22, in Syracuse, New York, the president of SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dr. David Smith, chaired a breakfast. It was the kickoff to the White Ribbon Campaign, a campaign that is to draw attention to and focus on, raise awareness of, domestic violence and sexual abuse. The White Ribbon Campaign is an international campaign, participating probably across 55 countries.

Later in the week, on Friday, again Dr. Smith led a group of men in a march raising awareness for domestic violence. They marched in women's shoes down the main street in Syracuse, New York. Again, ``walk a mile in their shoes,'' raising awareness, raising the consciousness of domestic violence and sexual abuse, these issues that face our society today. The international campaign has probably 55 countries and involves a general public education focused on preventing domestic violence.

Many of my fellow Members this past week have been wearing white ribbons for our commitment to putting the spotlight on domestic violence. Wearing the white ribbon speaks to our personal pledge to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women and children. The white ribbons were sponsored by Vera House. Vera House was formed in 1977 in Syracuse, New York, by Sister Mary Vera because Sister Mary Vera recognized the need for emergency shelters for women.

She developed and expanded her services. Now, today, Vera House has merged with the Rape Crisis Center, and they serve the needs of so many women, men and children who have been abused. Again, the whole White Ribbon Campaign is to raise public awareness of domestic violence.

At this time, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Representative Renee Ellmers.

I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for her kind comments and for putting attention on the Rape Crisis Centers and all of these centers which have dealt with this, because today, while we rise and we stand to call and bring to consciousness domestic violence, this is also a wonderful opportunity to thank the hundreds of thousands of people who volunteer in these shelters, who work for these agencies, who provide a safe haven for the women, the men and the children who are abused--for the victims of domestic violence.

My colleague talked about what these centers do. Vera House, the agency that I stand today to represent and to talk about, has expanded their services these days to outreach, advocacy, education, and children's counseling. Children, as you heard from my colleague, are often the victims of domestic violence between spouses. They are the ones who suffer. Vera House offers counseling to these children. Most importantly, Vera House provides violence education for the perpetrators. If we are going to change behaviors, we have got to educate and to retrain the way the perpetrators think.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Mr. Speaker, for over 14 years, I have worked at Vera House as a pro bono legal volunteer. The Women's Bar Association in Syracuse, New York, put together a program where all attorneys, male and female, go through training to begin to address the needs of the victims of domestic violence. Through those 14 years, I began to get an up-close, clear understanding of the issue of domestic violence. The fact is that domestic violence transcends socioeconomics; it transcends race. Domestic violence is an issue that everyone faces. It crosses racial lines; it crosses economic lines; it crosses social lines.

I recall one of my meetings with a woman whose husband was well-known in the media in our town. You would never suspect. You would never think that she would be a victim of domestic violence--educated, with financial means. Yet she was a victim. This is the pervasiveness of sexual assault and domestic violence.

At this time, I yield to my esteemed colleague, Judge Poe.

I thank my esteemed colleague from Texas for his kind comments, and I thank all of the gentlemen who have the courage to stand up and call awareness to the issue of domestic violence, who stand against the violence against women, men, and children.

Domestic violence is known by many names: domestic abuse, spousal abuse, family violence, intimate partner violence. It also takes many forms, from physical violence involving small things such as hitting or kicking, biting, shoving, or restraining. It can be emotional or it can be verbal, which manifests in many types of behavior: controlling, domineering, threatening, or humiliating. And we as a society have an obligation to raise the awareness of domestic violence so that women know, just as my esteemed colleague was talking about, it's not their fault. It is the fault of the perpetrator, whether that perpetrator is male or female, and that is the person who should be held accountable, not the victim.

It can also be economic abuse in which the abuser controls the victim's money, and this abuse we often see with the elderly. Another issue that we need to raise society's consciousness about, the issues of elder abuse.

Tragically, domestic violence is not a rare phenomenon, Mr. Speaker. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that domestic violence is a public health problem affecting over 32 million Americans, or 10 percent of the population. This is a tragedy of national proportion that society, again, we must raise up the consciousness of this horrific issue.

The effects of domestic violence are staggering. Physical abuse can be bruises, broken bones, head injuries, lacerations, but those are just the external physical wounds. Internal bleeding, chronic health conditions such as arthritis, irritable bowl syndrome, ulcers, migraines, miscarriages can also be linked to physical abuses that victims sustain.

But there are other effects as well. Many victims experience anxiety, stress, fear, guilt, depression, guilt that what is happening to them is their fault. Again, we have to raise the awareness and raise the consciousness of society that it is the perpetrator's fault, not the victim's.

Abused victims also frequently manifest a condition we think of relative to our veterans: posttraumatic stress disorder. Victims with conditions have flashbacks, nightmares, or exaggerated responses.

The effects of abuse can also be financial. Many victims courageously leave their abusers but often lack the education, the skills, and the resources to find gainful employment to care for themselves and any children they might have.

Mr. Speaker, I can recall sitting with women who are helpless. They sit across the table from you, and they are helpless because they don't know what to do. They don't know how to get out of the situation. They don't understand that there is help and that society is willing to step up and provide safe haven for them and for their children.

I spoke to a prosecutor who had a program that would go after deadbeat dads and go after the support so that women would be able to leave, be safe, and get support in order to support their children. I think that our society is coming around. We have wonderful organizations like Vera House, but we in this House must work hard. We must continue to raise awareness about these issues.

The other societal scourge I referenced in my opening remark is sexual assault. Sexual assault is, simply put, any unwanted contact of a sexual nature. It does not matter if the victim is on a date or drinking when it occurs. It's never okay to force sexual contact on you against your will.

Again, it's raising the awareness. It's letting society know, the vulnerable know, that it's not your fault and that you don't have to withstand these abuses.

Like domestic abuse, sexual assault knows no privileged class immune to its ravages. Men, women, children, all ages, all races, all religions, and ethnicities are victims. The effects are often similar to the victims of domestic abuse, and the effects can be especially troubling for children and men.

I serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I am passionate about veterans' issues. It is a committee that is bipartisan. It's a committee that works together because we all understand, we all understand the service and the sacrifice of our men and women in the military. I am the daughter and sister of veterans and believe that we owe a debt of gratitude to our men and women in uniform, but part of that debt extends to making sure that we don't turn a blind eye to sexual assault of women and men in our armed services.

We have much to do, but I applaud the U.S. Air Force's recognition that sexual assault against both male and female airmen is a serious problem that needs a systemic solution. And while the Air Force has emphasized sexual assault prevention in responses for several years, they acknowledge that sexual assault is still a problem in the Air Force, as it is for our military services. In the Air Force's own words, Sexual assault continues to burden our airmen and degrade our mission effectiveness. Sexual assault is a crime and there is no place for this or this behavior in our Air Force. We must demand better of ourselves and of society.

Consequently, they contracted with Gallup to conduct an anonymous poll about sexual assault in the Air Force. The findings were, to put it mildly, disturbing. The results of the survey in the 12 months prior were that 2,143 women and 1,355 men reported that they had been sexually assaulted, with the majority of female victims reporting that their assailant was a fellow airmen. Even one victim is one too many.

Sadly, it is unrealistic to think that our Armed Forces would be immune to the kinds of problems endemic in our society. We must engage as men, women, moms, dads, community leaders, airmen, soldiers, marines, sailors, and guardsmen; churches, synagogues, mosques, youth centers, sports teams, schools, colleges. The list goes on. It will take all aspects of society to change a culture that increasingly devalues human life.

I believe, Mr. Speaker, that we are created in the image of God and that for each of us, He has a purpose in our lives. No woman should ever, ever have to fear for the safety of her unborn child because of an abusive husband. No child should ever dread going to bed because of a parent who is molesting her. And no man should be raped because justice turned a blind eye to prison rape.

I have six children and 11 grandchildren, Mr. Speaker, and as a parent and a grandparent, I think about the lessons I have tried to teach to each of them. Some of those lessons were very successful, some less so, but I taught my kids to help others. Helping others

includes living up to the pledge I mentioned earlier, that I am making by wearing that white ribbon: I will not commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women, men, or children. And I commend the other Members of this body for the white ribbons that they courageously wore to, again, raise the awareness of domestic violence and sexual assaults.

We have a serious problem in front of us, Mr. Speaker, in every community in America, but I have hope. America is an amazing country, and I am so privileged to be an American, to be free. I believe that the greatness of this country is a reflection of both the greatness of our founding and the greatness of our people. We are up to and equal to the task of fighting domestic violence and sexual assault if we put our American minds and our American spirits to it.

So, today, as I stand before you, Mr. Speaker, again, to call attention to the scourge of domestic violence and sexual abuse, it's, at the same time, celebrating the wonderful agencies and shelters and volunteers and people who have stepped forth who are willing to take this issue on, who are willing to address it, who are willing to help the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. We are blessed by their service, by their commitment to society, by their appreciation of the value of human life and their desire to help those who need that help.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the House for the ability to be able to call attention to these issues.

At this time, I want to say to Vera House in Syracuse, as well as all of the shelters and all of the agencies throughout this country, thank you for your service. Thank you for what you do for the victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 471, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, because today I stand here not only as a Member of Congress but also as a mother of six children and a grandmother of 11. I know from personal experience the process that parents follow when they're choosing which school is the best choice for their children. Each child has different needs, different strengths. And as a parent reaches out to make that choice, we can realize that school choice is not cookie cutter. It should not and it must not be. And who better to make that decision than the parents of that child? Who knows best the needs of that student? Certainly, not the government bureaucracy.

The SOAR Act is about empowering parents to make the choice that's best for their own child. The Act is about giving them the freedom to pursue educational opportunities not available to them in failing public schools. The parents of the D.C. public school children deserve the same opportunities as Members of Congress, the Secretary of Education, and the President of the United States. Sadly, the parents of the children in the D.C. voucher program do not have the ability to pick up and move elsewhere for better public schools, and they can't afford private schools.

The D.C. system needs substantial and sustained reform, but that reform process does not have to come at the expense of the children who live in the District. I stand here and I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 471.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Elimination Act. Too often, Congress and the Federal Government pass and institute regulations without counting the cost to America's businesses, the lifeblood of our economic success.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's 1099 reporting requirement for small businesses will be, in the words of Nathan Andrews, vice president of Morse Manufacturing, an 88-year-old company in East Syracuse, ``a paperwork nightmare.'' He further adds that the requirement will hamper the ability of his company ``to function, grow, and create jobs.''

This mandate is really indicative of a larger problem--the stranglehold that regulations have on our country. And while regulations are sometimes necessary and often well-intentioned, they have been increasingly becoming an obstacle to our success as a Nation. By success, I mean creating an environment where businesses can flourish, providing jobs so that the American people can obtain health insurance while still benefiting from the best health care system in the world.

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding his time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 72.

Last November, the American people sent a message to all levels of government: get the government out of the way so that employers can create new jobs.

Many in Washington seek a solution to our country's economic slowdown through a revision of the Tax Code and broad cuts in all levels of spending. I support these initiatives, but I do not believe they are enough. We must provide a climate for economic growth and job creation. Congress must relieve the American people from the hidden tax of excessive regulation and red tape. It is a tax that affects everyone, passed on every day in increased costs of products and services.

To put things in perspective, according to a report issued last year by the Small Business Administration, the approximate economic cost of regulation is a staggering $1.75 trillion annually. Increased regulations stifle job creation and the expansion of businesses, both large and small. It cripples their competitiveness in a global market while smothering the innovative spirit that has made the United States of America great.

Moreover, businesses are not the only ones who are harmed by these unnecessary regulations. Municipalities, school districts, not-for- profits, health care providers, and others serving the public pay a high cost to comply with the Federal bureaucracy.

Regardless of who I talk to in the great State of New York, I ask, What regulations burden you? Businesses of all sizes and from all industries talk about how they incur unnecessary overhead for compliance.

School districts tell my office of receiving Federal grants that will cost them two to five times the size of the grant to administer the grant.

Not all regulations are unwarranted. Most Americans would agree on the need for regulatory protection, and to assume otherwise of this committee is irresponsible.

Congress must address the cost to both business and the public before a new regulation is adopted. As Members of Congress, we cannot cede over the responsibility of legislation to the unchecked regulatory regimes that end up levying this hidden tax.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2 because I believe that the American people deserve health care reform that will actually reduce costs and improve access without damaging the quality of our health care. Last year's enacted health care reform was a victory for Big Government and an affront to our Constitution. This law is so fundamentally flawed, it must be repealed.

When our Founders envisioned this legislative process, it was meant to be a deliberative one--thoughtful and respectful of the American citizens' freedom. Last year, that vision faltered; and Congress failed in its duties to the American people when they enacted this Affordable Care Act.

As a registered nurse and an attorney who represented a major teaching hospital, I am aware of the problems of our current system, in particular, the problems arising from government restrictions on the purchase of health insurance, government regulations on hospitals and businesses, and tort liability issues.

Unfortunately, this Affordable Care Act does not alleviate these problems and will further damage an overburdened system. According to the Health Care Association of New York State, my home State, we will face a $15 billion reduction in Medicare and Medicaid--affecting our hospitals, our skilled nursing facilities, our home health agencies and hospices over the next 10 years.

We need to implement true health care reform in a manner that preserves patient choice, protects access to health care, and controls costs without hurting job growth.

Thank you to the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding us time and for his unwavering support of life.

Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a decision that fundamentally altered the moral landscape of America. For much of those 38 years, I have been very involved in the pro-life movement, both as an advocate for the unborn and a counselor of troubled women and teens, the unspoken second victims of abortion. As we reflect upon the sobering anniversary and the tremendous loss of life that it represents, I see reasons for hope. Attitudes are changing, and more and more young people are rejecting abortion as a choice for their lives.

Technology has opened remarkable windows to the womb. So much of the early pro-life movement emerged from a frustration of the time. No one seemed to be listening, and we tried to get people to care. Now technology, such as the 4D ultrasound imaging, has aided us in our quest to preserve life, showing women that their unborn is not a clump of cells, but a child that they can see rubbing her eyes or sucking his thumb.

As we continue to fight for the unborn, we must not cede the ground we have won. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act circumvents the Hyde amendment by allowing government subsidies in Medicaid, Federal Employee Health Benefits Programs and international aid to be used to cover abortions. For over 30 years, the Democrats and Republicans have worked together each year to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not subsidize abortion. The Affordable Care Act represents a departure from that compact. Specifically, this law will allow $11 billion in taxpayer funds to be used for abortions at community health centers.

In addition to the Federal subsidizing of abortions through the Affordable Care Act, I join other pro-life Members

of this Congress in expressing my concerns about the use of Skype technology to perform telemed abortions. Planned Parenthood of Iowa is dispensing the abortion-causing drug RU-486 through a teleconferencing system, resulting in more than 1,900 abortions.

Our Forefathers understood that ``all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'' Among these, the most fundamental right is the right to life.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House of Representatives that on January 8, 2011, central New York lost a great friend, and this august body lost a former Member, William Francis Walsh.

William Walsh, World War II veteran, former mayor of Syracuse, and Member of this House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979, passed away at his home in Marcellus, New York, at the age of 98.

Mr. Walsh played a significant role in the shaping of the political landscape of central New York for more than 30 years. He returned home from World War II, during which he served as an Army captain, and completed graduate studies at the University of Buffalo in social work.

His training and experience as a social worker would provide him with a values reference point for his future political career. In 1959, voters elected him to the post of County Welfare Commissioner. Over the course of his political career, he consistently demonstrated his compassion for the less fortunate, and he was instrumental in developing welfare-to-work programs.

William Walsh was elected mayor of the City of Syracuse in 1961 and, during his tenure, supervised widespread major changes to the Syracuse downtown.

Syracusans remember Bill Walsh for his approachability and his emphasis on constituent service. That attention to the needs of the constituents served the district residents well when Mr. Walsh became a Member of Congress in 1973.

Bill Walsh loved Syracuse. The child of Irish immigrants, Michael and Mary Alice Walsh, Bill Walsh always remained connected to the community he grew up in. His strong sense of community colored his commitment to public service, and he passed that commitment on to his children. He and his wife, the late Mary Dorsey Walsh, raised seven children. Their son Jim Walsh served in Congress from 1989 to 2009. Two of their other children, Bill Walsh and Martha Walsh Hood, currently serve as Onondaga County judges.

Mr. Walsh enjoyed hunting, golf, and outdoors. Most importantly, though, he was a devoted father who spent time with his children teaching them about life, people, and public service. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the Syracuse community.