Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today we are voting yet again on legislation that will provide approximately $165 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the bill does not include the necessary language that I and many of my colleagues support to ensure that this war funding is not simply a blank check. I cannot vote for legislation to fund the administration's wrongheaded policies in Iraq without provisions that ensure that American troops will be coming home by a date certain.

However, I will support the amendment that will provide critical funding for domestic priorities. This amendment will expand veterans' education benefits and extend unemployment insurance by 13 weeks for all States. Additionally, this amendment will direct nearly $3 billion to efforts to aid those who have been affected by the devastating floods in the Midwest.

It is time for the President to listen to the American people who want the war in Iraq to end.

Madam Speaker, with Mother's Day and Father's Day behind us, it's time for us to practice what we preach. If we truly believe in the value of family, then we need to value the work that families do.

U.S. workers, unlike most workers worldwide, do not have the right to take paid time off to care for the birth of a new child. That is why the House should offer a model to the rest of the country by passing the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act when it comes to the floor today. This bill provides 4 weeks of paid time off for all Federal employees to care for a new child.

This landmark bill will be the first to recognize that parents need their earnings, even as they need time off, to care for their new child.

Congress's action on family values should more than match its rhetoric. We should be the role model for all employers.

According to a Harvard study, the U.S. ranks 169th in the world in terms of providing paid time off. We are tied with Swaziland. Tom Davis is bipartisan and has been a cosponsor for 10 years. Let's pass it unanimously in a bipartisan recognition of family values.

I thank the gentleman for his leadership on so many important issues and for supporting working families. This is the 21st century. Both the father and the mother have to work, and this is an important family friendly, family value legislation.

How many times have we heard the friends on the opposite side of the aisle talk about family values? Well, today we will have an opportunity to vote and do something to help families. Today we will take up my legislation, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. This bill will provide 4 weeks of paid leave to Federal employees when they have a new child or adopt a new child.

If we truly believe in the value of family, then we need to value the work that families do. This means that we need to stop asking parents to choose between a paycheck and caring for a new child. Unlike a generation ago, today both parents work outside the home, and both need time off from work when they have a new child, yet most do not have access to paid family leave.

By providing paid parental leave to Federal employees, H.R. 5781 establishes the Federal Government as a model employer. A recent study found that out of 173 countries, 169 countries offered guaranteed leave with income to women in connection with childbirth. This ties the United States with Swaziland and New Guinea in terms of what we are offering in paid leave for new families.

This landmark bill is the first to provide paid family leave for new parents. It signals our commitment to valuing our employees and their families. This bill is good for the Federal agencies, it is good for Federal employees, and it is cost effective.

The lack of paid family leave puts Federal agencies at a disadvantage when competing for the best and the brightest employees. Our Federal workforce is aging and many of our agencies are finding it difficult to recruit and retain younger workers.

Providing paid parental leave would encourage younger workers who may be considering having a family to stay with the Federal Government.

Paid parental leave is already offered by the largest and most profitable U.S. companies. My staff at the Joint Economic Committee found that the Federal Government lags far behind Fortune 100 companies in providing paid leave as part of their benefits package. Fortune 100 companies overwhelmingly offer new mothers paid leave lasting 6 to 8 weeks long.

Federal employees who become new parents have the option of using their accrued vacation time, some sick days only if they're sick or tapping into a leave bank. This may work for the lucky families who never get sick, never need a vacation and are happy to rely on the kindness of strangers, but for many this is a second-rate solution, since even the best prepared employees often face difficult choices when children need their care.

The only national policy that covers parental leave is the Family and Medical Leave Act which provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave and job protection. The Family and Medical Leave Act is important, but because it is unpaid, many, especially low wage or younger workers with limited savings, cannot afford to use it.

H.R. 5781 is cost-effective. And the Congressional Budget Office reports that it is PAYGO compliant.

In testimony in support of this bill, Daniel Beard, Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives noted: ``This approach saves money. Employee morale is always greater when an employer treats employees with dignity, especially in times of crisis.'' I could not agree more with him.

Madam Speaker, I know that many of you are scratching your heads and wondering how this bill can be PAYGO neutral. It is easy to explain. The $190 million is the amount that the agencies currently save on salaries when Federal employees who have a new child take their unpaid leave, as they are entitled to under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

After we implement H.R. 5781, it will be up to the Federal agencies to implement this new benefit and whether they will ask for increased appropriations in the future.

But let's remember, right now Federal employees who have a child bear both the burden of going without pay during family and medical leave, as well as coping with their new family

expenses. This is an opportunity for us to put action behind our rhetoric on family values.

I urge strong bipartisan support. It is supported by Tom Davis on the other side of the aisle, the ranking member of the Government Reform and Oversight Committee which considered and reported out this bill.

And I thank Chairman Waxman and many others for their strong support.

I thank my good friend and colleague for that generous introduction and for his strong leadership on this bill and in so many areas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008. I am proud to be the author of this bill and pleased that a Democratic majority has brought this bill to the floor.

I particularly want to thank Chairman Waxman for his extraordinary leadership on this and in so many ways, and also former chairman, Ranking Member Tom Davis, who has been a lead sponsor on this legislation since it was first introduced. I thank him deeply, and, of course, Subcommittee Chair Danny Davis. I am pleased to work every day with you on your committee, and George Miller, for their outstanding support of this bill. They are strong advocates for Federal employees, and I expect that with their leadership and support we will pass this bill today to help working families in the Federal Government.

This bill is very important to me because I very painfully remember when I was pregnant with my first child, I was terrified of being fired. I was working for the New York State legislature, and I called the personnel office to inquire about their parental leave policy. I was told, leave policy, there is none, women just leave.

I said, well, I intend to come back to work because I have to work. What is your leave policy? They said, we have none. Possibly you could apply for disability. I told her that the birth of a child is not a disability, it is a joyous event.

I would say to my dear friend and colleague on the opposite side of the aisle that having a child is not a perk, it is important, it is important to the lives of the parents, it is important to the lives of our country. We should turn our family values rhetoric into a reality of providing some support to working men and women in the Federal Government.

Balancing work and family is a challenge that most parents face and good workplace policy can go a long way towards helping them. We have come a long ways since I was told that women just leave, but not far enough. According to a report from the Joint Economic Committee, three- quarters, or 75 percent, of all Fortune 100 companies offer parental leave to new mothers with a median length of leave from 6 to 8 weeks. Now these are some of the most successful companies in the country. They should know a little bit about retaining workers.

We also reviewed House offices and Senate offices. Most House offices, 85 percent, provide paid leave. Senate offices, 95 percent of the Senate offices, provide paid leave. The Armed Forces, they provide it also. They are not covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act but they recognize the importance of providing some paid time and leave for Federal workers and for their workers.

The Federal Government has not kept up with the changing times and needs to become competitive with the private sector. Employees are now entitled to have 12 weeks of un paid leave through the Family and Medical Leave Act. As we have heard time and time again many families cannot afford to take unpaid leave and are therefore forced to choose between their new child and their paycheck. No one should have to make that choice.

I would say that it's very difficult for new families. Not only does it cost roughly $12,000 to provide for a new child the first year, daycare is not available for newborns until they are 12 weeks old, so this puts tremendous pressure on families, where most parents have to work.

We have heard about Ozzie and Harriet, you know, Ozzie worked and Harriet was at home. Now 60 percent of married women work because they have to, and we should be providing them with some help. Not only will this legislation help these new families in the Federal Government, but it will also help the Federal Government with recruitment and retention.

Turnover is more expensive than providing paid leave. The average cost of turnover is about 20 percent of an employee's annual salary. Four weeks of paid leave is less than 8 percent of an employee's salary. This is an important piece of legislation to working men and women.

I would say that providing paid parental leave to Federal employees is a great first step toward providing this benefit to all working Americans, and it is a critical step towards helping our families.

I want to note that Senator Jim Webb and Senator John Warner, in a bipartisan effort, have introduced a companion bill in the Senate, and they have many cosponsors. The bill has a great deal of support because it is the right thing to do and will demonstrate our commitment to working families.

To those who say we cannot afford to do it, I say we can't afford not to do it.

We need to catch up with the rest of the world, as 169 countries already provide some form of paid leave. One hundred sixty-nine countries cannot be wrong.

It is time for America to show that we value families, that we support families. We need to turn our rhetoric into the reality of a vote in support of this bill that will move forward with 4 weeks of paid leave for Federal workers. It's the right thing to do.

I urge a strong bipartisan vote.

I thank the staff on the Joint Economic Committee, my staff, the committee staff. They are important. They helped us move this bill to the floor today. Thank you for all of your hard efforts.

I also want to thank Nan Gibson and Heather Boushey of my Joint Economic Committee staff, who have both worked tirelessly on this bill, providing excellent research and expertise.

Finally, I want to thank Michelle Ash and Mark Stephenson of the Oversight Committee whose commitment to this issue and this bill have been critical to getting here today.

In response to my good friend on the other side of the aisle, I referenced the 2006 U.S. Senate Employment Compensation Hiring and Benefits Study and the 2006 House Compensation Study which has the numbers that I was using on the floor. So we have that documentation for the record.

Mr. Speaker, I disagree with my distinguished colleague on the other side of the aisle. I have heard heartbreaking stories from real Federal workers who would strongly disagree with you. I will give one example from a woman who had to go back to work with an open wound due to a C-section while giving birth. And it is not possible to use your paid sick leave. Sick leave is for when you're sick. And by our guidelines, you can use it only when you are incapacitated, when you're in the hospital, or bedridden. And it takes a long time to accrue these.

Now, in terms of costs, the score from the Congressional Budget Office estimates that in 2010, the first full year that this could be implemented, it will cost roughly $190 million. To put this in perspective, this is less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the Federal payroll. The cost estimate predicts that approximately 17,000 women and 23,000 men who have worked for the Federal Government for at least a year and will have a child in the course of a year.

They assumed that mothers will take advantage of this benefit 100 percent of the time, and men roughly 50 percent of the time. This amounts to approximately 1 percent of the Federal workforce using this benefit at a given year.

There are also potential cost savings that can't be estimated by CBO. Providing this benefit will likely improve retention rates for Federal employees. Research shows that women who have access to paid leave, not just unpaid leave, are more likely to return to their jobs after having a child; and access to family leave can also improve productivity and morale. For example, in my office, I offer 12 weeks of paid parental leave to new parents on my staff. I have two current employees

who have used my leave policy twice. Both have been with my office for many years, and I attribute the longevity of their employment to my family leave benefit.

Additionally, in my office we've been able to offer this benefit at no additional cost to taxpayers.

I repeat, it has not cost the taxpayer one cent. We have not added additional staff but rather redistributed the work among the rest of the staff. While it does create more work for others, it has also given junior staff members opportunities to assume more responsibility, and it was a relatively smooth transition.

The costs of this bill are relatively small compared to the positive effect that it will have on the lives of working families in the Federal Government. How many times have we heard the words ``family values'' from the other side of the aisle? It is time to turn family values into a reality in the lives of the workforce, and this is a way that we can help Federal workers, the largest employer in the United States, and make this important event in one's life, becoming a parent, really a joyous one in which they do not have to be stressed.

I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is hardly a middle-class soul in our country who has not been impacted by this terrible economy. With 326,000 jobs lost, millions of Americans may lose their homes and their health care. All this as the price of food soars and the price of gas passes $4 a gallon and wages are stagnant.

Mr. Speaker, we should invent a new word similar to stagflation that also includes gas and food. May I suggest ``stagasfoodlation'' to describe this terrible economy. Millions of men, women and children are caught up in an economic perfect storm not of their making where every avenue seems cut off.

Today we will have the opportunity to vote for an extension of unemployment insurance to help these American families. Republicans should not try to block this last lifeline for these families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss HR 6028, ``The Merida Initiative to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Organized Crime Authorization Act of 2008.'' This bill would fund, train and equip Mexican security forces that would help prevent the trafficking of guns and drugs over the U.S.-Mexico border. I will vote for this bill, but I have some concerns about the Merida Initiative.

By supporting the Merida Initiative, the United States demonstrates its commitment to prevent the illegal importation of guns and drugs by partnering with Mexican and Central American governments. This initiative benefits the larger battle against organized crime, prevents drugs from hitting American cities and counties, and stymies gang violence from spilling over the border.

I believe that Congress must ensure our money is being used to prevent illegal materials from coming over the border. We have a responsibility to protect American citizens from drugs and violence. However, we also have a responsibility to make sure the money we appropriate for foreign governments is not directly or indirectly leading to human rights violations. Human rights abuses cannot and should not be perpetrated by personnel trained using American dollars. I applaud Chairman Berman and the Foreign Affairs Committee for placing restrictions on the uses of this money and firmly support investigations into reports of human right abuses in countries receiving Merida Initiative funding.

Human rights violations have been reported in Mexico but are insufficiently investigated. A constituent of mine, Brad Will, a journalist for the Downtown Express, was murdered while on assignment in Mexico. The suspected gunmen were local officials. Tragically, his family is still waiting for justice. While we must protect our own citizens from guns and drugs, we must exercise the necessary oversight to ensure that this funding is used appropriately.

Mr. Speaker, every month this year the Bush administration and the Bush economy has shed more jobs than it has produced, leaving millions of American workers competing against each other for the remaining jobs. We haven't seen this many people enter unemployment so quickly in over three decades.

Today, the House will consider providing up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits to workers who have exhausted the 26 weeks of regular benefits. The bill will provide relief to American families struggling through these tough economic times.

Unemployment benefits are also important to economic recovery, with absolutely every dollar of the benefit checks going right back into the economy. And while the economy continues to weaken and costs for gasoline and food skyrocket every day, the need for government help is clear.

Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues continue to oppose these efforts to assist millions of out-of-work Americans, even though they supported a similar extension in 2002, when job loss numbers were not nearly as bad as they are today.

Mr. Speaker, as our economy continues to face tough times, Washington should explore every possible option to help those struggling. That is exactly what Democrats will do today in Congress, extend those benefits.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, authored by my friend and colleague, Chairman James Oberstar of Minnesota. As a New Yorker, I strongly support making travel easier, safer, and more affordable for my constituents and for all Americans who choose this method of travel. This bill mandates that preference be given to rail projects that have high levels of projected ridership and punctuality which will include the development of a high speed rail project between Washington and New York City. H.R. 6003 serves to improve not only the quality of service on the most popular rail line in the country, but also will increase the availability and accessibility of mass transit to individuals. In this era of skyrocketing energy costs and global warming, encouraging the development of efficient mass transit options is very important to improve our economy and protect our environment.

As a frequent Amtrak user, I know how important it is for rail service in the Northeast Corridor to be in a constant state of ``good repair.'' I am sure that thousands of my fellow passengers, men and women traveling for business or personal reasons on this popular railway also will appreciate this requirement.

Madam Speaker, on June 9, 2008, I missed rollcall votes No. 388, Expressing support for designation of June 2008 as ``National Safety Month,'' 389, Recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father's Day; and 390, Recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Alaska into the Union as the 49th State.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes No. 388, 389, and 390.

I thank my good friend and colleague from the great State of New York for his hard work on this and so many endeavors. And I rise today, as the cochair and cofounder on the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, in strong support of S. 254, to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi.

I'm so pleased to join 307 of my colleagues here in this legislative body. We were led so well by our colleague and good friend, Representative Pascrell. And we acknowledge the hard work of Congressman Pascrell and also the Hellenic Caucus and the Italian- American Caucus in getting the necessary cosponsors.

Brumidi was the son of a Greek father and an Italian mother. He fled Rome and immigrated to the United States in 1852. From 1868 to 1879, he was a resident in my congressional district of New York City. And while he was there, he painted 43 murals at St. Stephen's Church, which is in my district, and scholars come from around the world to study his work there, and here in the Capitol.

He is most famous, however, for his artistic achievement here in our great Capitol. ``The Apotheosis of George Washington'' on the dome in the Rotunda is one of the highlights of his brilliant work. He was called the Michelangelo of the Capitol.

He worked flat on his back on wooden scaffolding through the intense summer temperatures, and he created masterpieces throughout our Capitol. His artwork can be found in the Chamber, the House of Representatives Chamber, several committee rooms, the President's Room, the Senate Reception Room, and truly throughout the corridors of our Capitol. I am thrilled that we are recognizing such an outstanding artist and an important contributor to the history of art and the history of our Nation.

The Capitol building is special because of its beautiful architecture and priceless artistic treasures. Without Brumidi's influence, tours of the Capitol simply would not be certainly as beautiful or interesting to Americans. He is truly deserving of the honor we are bestowing upon him. Like many immigrants, he has brought many treasures to our country.

I thank all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their important work in bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2268) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the centennial of the establishment of Mother's Day, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous materials therein.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2268, a bill introduced by the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) to create a commemorative coin honoring the 100th anniversary of Mother's Day. The 297 bipartisan cosponsors of this bill made clear that the Congress strongly supports recognizing the importance of Mother's Day in this way, and I am delighted to add my voice to this chorus.

Mother's Day was first proclaimed in 1908 by the Matthews Methodist Episcopal Church of Grafton, West Virginia, in honor of one mother, Anna Reeves Jarvis.

Congress designated the second Sunday in May to be observed as Mother's Day, and it was recognized as a national day to honor all mothers by President Woodrow Wilson on May 9, 1914.

The bill calls for a silver dollar to be minted in 2014 with a design commemorating President Wilson's proclamation. The $10 surcharge proceeds from their sale is to go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, a household word and organization in combating breast cancer, and to the National Osteoporosis Foundation for research purposes.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill honoring Mother's Day and our Nation's mothers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, but would also like to recognize my own mother, as I am sure all of us in this body appreciate our mothers. This is an important resolution, and I am proud to be the Democratic sponsor with my good friend from West Virginia, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the following correspondence:

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, May 22, 2008.

Hon. Barney Frank,

Chairman, Financial Services Committee,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Frank: I am writing regarding H.R. 2268, the

``Mother's Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act.''

As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains

jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 2268

contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the

sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill,

and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on

Ways and Means.

However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding

commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill

for Floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action.

This is being done with the understanding that it does not in

any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of Conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives

on this bill or similar legislation in the future.

I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming

this understanding with respect to H.R. 2268, and would ask

that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the record.

Sincerely,

Charles B. Rangel,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, as co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise today to recognize The Federation of Hellenic American Educators and Cultural Associations who today held a wonderful and historic event in the Capitol entitled, ``The Dynamics of the Hellenic Language.'' Attendees included His Excellency Ambassador Alexandros Mallias; Carolos Gadis, Minister-Deputy Chief of Mission; Stella Kokolis, President, SAE USE Region Educational Committee; Christos Polymeropoulos; Vassilis Polymeropoulos; Maria Gadis; and students from the Greek School of Plato in Brooklyn instructed by Eleftheria Ikouta and Despina Hotzoglou.

I want to acknowledge the honorees receiving the ``Capitol 2008 Awards for Promoting Hellenic Language and Culture'':

The Honorable Robert Menendez (D-NJ), The Honorable Olympia Snowe (R- ME), Dr. Anagnostis Agelarakis, Professor and Director of Environmental Studies, Angela Kalmoukos, Teacher, Lowell, Massachusetts, George Pumakis, founder of ``Athenian Academy'', Charter Schoolk Dr. James E. Alatis, Dean Emeritus, School of Languages and Linguistics, Theodore Spyropoulos, S.A.E. U.S.A. Coordinator, Anna Efstathiou Tziropoulou, Author-Professor of Historical Greek Literature, Alpine University, Zurich, Maria Makedon, Director, First Archdiocesan District, Department of Education, Antonis Diamataris, Publisher, ``National Herald'', and Dimitris Kastanas, President & Producer, NGTV.

Professor John Antonopoulos, University of Staten Island, Dr. Demetrios J. Constantelos, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Vasiliki Tsigas-Fotinis, Ph.D., President, Hellenic Educators Association, NJ, Nina Gatzoulis, Professor of Modern Greek, University of New Hampshire, Helene Georgopoulou, Teacher, Peiraikon School, Chicago, Eleftheria Ikouta, Principal, Plato School, Brooklyn, Athena Krommydas, Principal, The William Spyropoulos Day School, Flushing, Dr. George Kafkoulis, Chairman, Co-Founder & President of the Archimedean Academy, Timoleon Kokkinos, St. Demetrius Astoria, Principal (Afternoon School), and Dr. John Kotsaridis, Director, Education Department, Stavropegial Monastery.

Dr. George Melikokis, Principal, St. Demetrios School, Jamaica, Dr. Aristotle Michopoulos, Director of Greek Studies, Hellenic College, Marina Moustakas, Founding President, Hellenic Heritage Institute, Dr. Peter Nanopoulos, Director of Greek Education and Culture, Metropolis of San Francisco, Nikos Nikolidakis, Consul for Educational Affairs in USA, Dimitri S. Pallas (MD), Anna Stavroula Panas, St. Basil's Academy Teachers College Alumnae Association, Elias Pantelides, Director of Academy of Aristotle, St. George, Media, PA, Eleftherios Peroulas, Founder of Socrates Academy, NC, and Helen Petropoulou, St. George, Maryland.

Sophia Tsagalis, St. Catherine School, Virginia, Catherine Tsounis, Adjunct Professor, St. John's University, Dr. Peter Yiannos, President, Tri-State American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture (AFGLC), Wilmington, DE Philadelphia Association, Dimitris Filios, Reporter, Cosmos FM, Dimitris Georgakopoulos, Publisher, Hellenic Voice, Theodore Kalmoukos, Reporter, National Herald, Stavros Marmarinos, Reporter, National Herald, Elias Neofyrides, Macedonia TV, Dimitrios Tsakas, National Herald, Apostolos Zoupaniotis, Publisher, ``Greek News'', and Panikos Panayiotou, NGTV.

I was pleased to have celebrated the Hellenic language today with my many friends in the Greek-American community. I look forward to our continued friendship and collaboration on the many issues important to the United States and Greece.

Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to re- introduce the Access to Books for Children, ABC, Act, which would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1996 to provide vouchers to mothers for the purchase of educational books for infants and children participating in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, WIC.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends daily reading to a child beginning when the child is 6 months old. Children who are exposed to books and reading before they start school are much more likely to graduate from high school than those who are not. The ABC Act will make it easier for children in the WIC program to develop literacy skills by placing books in the hands of children who may not otherwise have their own books in the home. With the ABC Act, we have an opportunity to provide nourishment for both the body and the mind to children who need it most.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding and for her leadership in this Congress, and I rise in strong support of my bill H.R. 5599, a bill to designate the Census Bureau headquarters Federal building for Founding Father Thomas Jefferson.

The Census Bureau has just been relocated to a modern state-of-the- art building in Suitland, Maryland. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Congresswoman Holmes Norton for their help in moving this bill forward.

I introduced this legislation along with colleagues that have been strong supporters of an accurate census--Holmes Norton, Hoyer, Davis, Turner, Ruppersberger, Honda, Gonzalez, Wynn, Cohen, and Cannon--to honor Thomas Jefferson's contributions to the modern census and the Founding Fathers' vision of a truly representative government in which every American counts.

Jefferson's role in establishing a republic based on the principle of fair

representation emphasizes the historical significance of the American census and the way our government views and governs itself today. Jefferson's significant contributions to the early American census include his alerting the Nation to the importance of accuracy in census taking and his recognition of the need to fully represent newly acquired territories in the census.

Historically, census taking was a negative thing. It was used for raising taxes for the militia. Thomas Jefferson, as Secretary of State, oversaw the first census in history, which was positive, which gave the people more than it took away by empowering those counted with a voice in their government.

As we have heard in recent weeks, the 2010 census has some very serious challenges. Although much work remains to be done to ensure its successful implementation, naming this building for Thomas Jefferson underscores this Congress' commitment to getting it right and making sure that every citizen is counted.

A fair and accurate census, putting political power in the hands of the people, is a uniquely American invention. Let us honor our Founding Fathers' legacy by celebrating Thomas Jefferson, the father of the modern census.