Floor Statements

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar, Mr. Bishop, and Mr. LoBiondo for their work on this bill. I have the honor of representing the First Congressional District of New Hampshire, which is home to the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership. PREP, as it is known, has been a part of the National Estuaries Program since 1995. PREP works to protect two estuarine systems in New Hampshire, Great Bay/Little Bay and Hampton Harbor. The partnership has included the entire Great Bay watershed in their area of focus, which includes 42 communities in New Hampshire and 10 communities in Maine. The National

Estuaries Program has been a significant source of funding and resources, assisting PREP in their valuable work. This reauthorization we are considering today will make the program stronger and allow for more estuaries to be included.

Mr. Chairman, one of the threats facing our estuaries is sea level change. As the sea level rises, it pushes the water further inland, changing the makeup of our estuaries and wetlands. In some cases, the effect may be that the wetlands move further inland. However, in areas like the Northeast, where our land is highly developed, this may not be possible.

There may be no place for the plants and animals that depend on the unique make-up of these estuaries to go. They may, literally, hit a roadblock, and those ecosystems would collapse. Mr. Chairman, the threat of that happening should worry us all.

Estuaries are essential habitats. They support countless species of plants, animals, and sea life. They act as nursery grounds for oceanic species and are the pathways for many species of fish that migrate from the oceans into our rivers. In fact, estuaries provide habitat for 75 percent of the commercial fishing catch and up to 90 percent of the recreational fishing catch in this country.

Estuaries and wetlands also act as buffers to the storms that batter our coasts. I volunteered in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and I can tell you firsthand the devastation that the storm caused. Many scientists have attributed the significant loss of coastal lands and salt marshes outside of New Orleans as a factor in the severity of the damage that the storm caused.

Mr. Chairman, sea levels are changing. Whether you agree or disagree that global climate change is the cause, we should all be alarmed by the potential impact rising sea levels could have on these important habitats. It has been estimated that sea level rise could convert as much as 33 percent of the world's coastal wetlands to open water. That right would be a devastating loss for our coastal community.

Mr. Chairman, this straightforward amendment would simply ensure that sea level change is taken into account when the comprehensive conservation and management plans are constructed. These estuaries are important parts of our coastal communities and their economies, and we need to help them survive.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Yes, I will yield.

Mr. Chairman, again, I want to thank Chairman Oberstar, Mr. Bishop and Mr. LoBiondo for their work and leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Tonight I vote for the middle class.

I have heard the desperation of parents whose kids were kicked off their plan before they even had a job. This bill allows 30 percent of young Americans currently without coverage to stay on their parents' plans until age 26.

I have listened as New Hampshire small business owners told me they were embarrassed they could no longer insure faithful employees. This bill is their remedy.

I heard those who lost homes because they got sick or hurt, lost their insurance, and then could not pay medical bills. I listened as hospitals discussed the uninsured's costs to New Hampshire taxpayers. Here is the cure.

For the late Donald Long of Raymond, who told me he paid $500 for prescriptions every 3 months because of the doughnut hole, thank you. I heard you and all seniors.

I heard Sandra Gagnon of Manchester, who has a chronically ill daughter. Now, no more preexisting exclusions.

For the families in New Hampshire and across America, I vote ``yes'' for you.

I thank the chairman for his legislation. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I'm proud to be an original cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, we have a solemn responsibility to provide our servicemembers with the care and the services that they are due. They risk their lives in service to our Nation, and it's imperative that we keep our promises to them.

This is not a Democratic or Republican responsibility, and as an advocate for the members of our military and their families--and I might add, as a former military spouse myself--it's troubling for me that throughout the debate on health care reform that TRICARE would be included as one of the topics of the various misinformation campaigns. This bill will ensure that those members of our armed services can keep their TRICARE coverage.

I'm proud to have stood in support of our servicemembers in the Armed Services Committee, preventing increases in TRICARE copays, for example. I'm pleased that the chairman, through this legislation, has given us all the opportunity to reaffirm not only the importance of TRICARE, but that, under our health reform legislation, these benefits will remain as they are.

Madam Speaker, I am outraged also. I am really outraged at the amount of money that the insurance industry has spent trying to defeat this bill that will help the American people. The companies claim they support health reform, just not this bill. But they have done nothing to reform. They could have taken this time to reform. They still deny coverage for preexisting conditions. They still charge exorbitant rates. They still fight antitrust legislation. They still cancel people's policies when they most need them. And they still limit the payments when people get sick.

They have a secret code word. It's called ``start over.'' What they really mean is defeat it; we don't want it. The question has to be here, whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the insurance companies? Or are you on the side of the American public, the people, the small businesses who have to carry the burden of these fees? Whose side are you really on? I am on the side of middle class Americans, small businesses, and those who are healthy and those who are sick.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1089) recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana College, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1089 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare).

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1167) expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1167 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day. There are more than 600,000 people in the United States who devote their lives to social work and to the improvement of the society in which we live by obtaining social work degrees. Social workers dedicate their time, energy, and career to assisting individuals, families, and communities through complicated social issues and complex choices. As many of you know, social workers have been instrumental in instigating important social movements in the United States and abroad.

Francis Perkins, who championed the minimum wage laws and reduced the work week for women to 48 hours, and Harry Hopkins, who relocated to New Orleans in order to work for the American Red Cross as director of civilian relief, are two examples of social workers who saw a need to change conditions for a community and set out to work in the community to help meet that need.

Social workers use their tools and skills in schools, courtrooms, clinics, nursing homes, and the military, just to name a few. However, the need for social work is expected to grow twice as fast as other occupations, especially within the health care sector as our aging demographics require more services. Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day, which is March 16, 2010, build awareness of professional social workers and their commitment to people. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring those who choose social work as a profession to better society.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to

the resolution (H. Res. 1184) congratulating the 2009-2010 University of Maryland Men's Basketball Team, Greivis Vasquez, and Coach Gary Williams on an outstanding season.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1184 into the Record.

I now yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

I yield 1 minute to the House majority leader, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

I will keep myself totally neutral as a graduate of the University of New Hampshire.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman for his hard work on the underlying bill.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know just how important it is to focus on vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, and I'm glad that my amendment was included in the manager's amendment.

My amendment broadens review of global supply chain vulnerabilities to include the risks not only from counterfeit products but from original products. Considering the number of foreign state-owned or state-invested enterprises in the technology industry that manufacture products for our market, original products present serious risks to our defense and intelligence systems.

The amended review also assesses the impact of the provision of services by foreign-owned companies, which also creates vulnerabilities in the supply of parts and equipment, causing increased vulnerability to cyberattack on our intelligence systems.

I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the manager's amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the selfless efforts of 182 students and faculty members at Londonderry High School in New Hampshire. These students and faculty members at Londonderry High School recently organized an event at school to donate their hair for wigs for cancer patients.

Losing one's hair to chemotherapy is an incredibly heart-wrenching experience, and these students and faculty members wanted to ease the pain. Londonderry High School has seen the pain of cancer. A former student who cut her own hair has now suffered a relapse with leukemia. Two young women who donated their hair recently lost their mother to brain cancer.

The school's ability to experience and to help others who are suffering is really a tribute to the school, to the volunteers, and to the students and faculty, and I congratulate them for their generous spirit.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a founding member of the Populist Caucus to urge my colleagues to support the plan to create jobs and rein in Wall Street. We must end these big corporate bonuses to executives at financial firms that were bailed out by the taxpayers.

Just yesterday, it was reported that AIG is spending another $100 million in bonuses. The people who helped to get us into this mess should not be rewarded while their companies still owe money to the American people.

That is why the Populist Caucus is supporting H.R. 4426, the Wall Street Bonus Tax Act. This bill would tax the bonuses of the bailed-out companies to help small businesses by providing direct lending and other financial assistance.

In addition, the Populist Caucus is supporting H.R. 4191, the Let Wall Street Pay for Restoration of Main Street Act. This bill would create a small transaction fee on certain trades--not the small trades of individual investors or retirement accounts--and it would use those funds to support job creation and to pay down the debt.

Madam Speaker, Wall Street has gone right back to their old ways, but small businesses and families are still suffering. Wall Street must now help small businesses and workers. These bills would help, and I urge my colleagues to support them.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank Chairman Gordon for his hard work on this bill. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know just how important it is that we focus on cybersecurity and combating the threats that we face. It is an incredibly important area, and I commend him for his work.

Mr. Chair, as cyberattacks become increasingly common and alarming, the government needs more expert cybersecurity personnel to protect us. The Scholarships for Service program is an important means to recruit such expert personnel. However, I believe that considering the high value of the education and security clearance, which is all provided at government expense, the current service obligation is insufficient to recover the significant Federal investment we are making.

My amendment extends the service obligation for recipients of cybersecurity scholarships or fellowships on a sliding scale depending on the degree program. Those in bachelor's degree programs would see their service requirement extend by 1 year to 3 years, those in a master's program by 2 years to 4 years, and those in a Ph.D. program by 3 years to 5 or 6 years, depending on the program.

Graduate students in cybersecurity programs need to have security clearances, and most students will need a clearance before beginning work in this field for the Federal Government. The cost of a clearance, which is a pricey $15,000, is an investment by the taxpayers and should be recovered by the Federal Government through an extension of service.

Extending the work requirement will also help slow the revolving door from government to industry and promote retention of valuable employees. Because these employees will have a security clearance, which is generally good for 10 years, they may be tempted to take their expertise into the private sector where they can make higher salaries. This amendment will help ensure recruitment of those who want to serve in the government and will prevent this valuable program from being used solely as a bridge to private industry.

It is fair to scale the extra work commitment according to degree, because a graduate degree with a clearance is far more valuable than an undergraduate degree with a clearance. The longer the educational investment, the longer the service requirement should be. A Ph.D. graduate should serve longer than a master's graduate who should serve longer than a bachelor's graduate. The extension of service allows us to retain those we train at government expense for a longer time, leading to a positive impact on retention and on our cybersecurity.

My amendment will increase retention of our valuable personnel who are trained at taxpayer expense. It is a good deal for the government and the student and represents a wise use of taxpayer funds.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield to the chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) such time as he may consume.

I thank the chairman and his staff for the work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I was proud to work with my colleague, Representative Debbie Halvorson, on this amendment. It is critical that we ensure every opportunity for our veterans who have served our country so admirably. This commonsense amendment makes sure their service is taken into consideration when being selected for the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I understand how critical it is that we defend against cyberattacks. That means that we need a workforce dedicated to protecting our country. Our men and women who have volunteered in our armed services have showed exceptional courage and dedication. That service should always be met with our gratitude and our support. This amendment ensures that when someone has served our country, we give that service due consideration when they ask to serve again.

I thank my colleague for offering this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, the 111th Congress and the President have pulled the economy back from the brink. After 8 years of the previous administration's lax oversight of Wall Street, tax cuts for the very rich, and dishonest budgets that hid the true costs, this Congress and President Obama are busy reversing the damage.

The House passed a Wall Street reform bill that will protect consumers and ensure that taxpayers are never again on the hook to bail out big Wall Street banks. We also passed Cash for Clunkers, which helped to jump-start the U.S. auto industry and get new, cleaner cars on the road. And the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has invested in Main Street America, creating jobs and building infrastructure projects. These projects will serve their communities for decades to come.

When the President took office in January, the economy was shedding over 700,000 jobs a month. Last month, there were 11,000 job losses. Every job loss is a tragedy, though; and that is why we have been working to create jobs while we also extended unemployment benefits to those still seeking work.

We are still turning America around, but in just 1 year we have come a long way.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 914, recognizing November as National Diabetes Awareness Month. I would also like to thank Congresswoman DeGette for sponsoring this resolution.

Because someone in my family has diabetes, I know how awful it is. Diabetes affects nearly 24 million adults and children nationwide. Even more frightening is the fact that an additional 57 million more are at risk for Type II diabetes. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, diabetes is currently the 7th leading cause of death in New Hampshire. Approximately 7.2 percent of the population between 18-64 years of age have been diagnosed with diabetes.

We need to increase awareness about this epidemic. Not only is it a health issue, but it is a financial issue. Diabetes treatment costs total $174 billion a year in this country. If we place emphasis on prevention, we can drastically reduce these costs.

We must be more aggressive in preventing, diagnosing, and treating this disease. We also must continue striving for a cure.

Raising awareness and increasing funding to tackle the root of the problem is essential. As a proud cosponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the fight against diabetes.

Mr. Speaker, I support health care reform because more than 14 million women with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty are uninsured.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This is a historic moment for our Nation.

In my district, this bill will provide coverage for 37,000 uninsured residents; 128,000 households will qualify for credits to help them afford the coverage of their choice. We will invest more in community health centers. We make Medicare stronger, which is why AARP has endorsed this bill. We start to close the Medicare part D doughnut hole in 2010, and it will be completely closed by 2019. We will provide a 50 percent discount for name-brand drugs for those in the doughnut hole, and we eliminate copayments for preventative care.

Today, we make history for our seniors, for our children, for the middle class--for all Americans. Today, we vote for an America where discrimination based on preexisting conditions is a thing of the past. Today, we vote for an America where getting sick doesn't mean losing your home. Today, after decades of debate, we finally vote for a healthier America.