Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act which is the latest endeavor by this Congress to pass meaningful legislation that will impact the lives of millions of people suffering from a myriad of diseases.

S. 5 would expand the Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by lifting the restrictions on the embryonic stem cell lines that can be used for Federally-funded research--restrictions that were imposed by President Bush in 2001. Most of the stem cell lines authorized for Federally-funded research under the President's policy are now no longer useful for research. However, the bill only authorizes Federal research funds for stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. S. 5 also creates an ethical framework that must be followed in conducting this research under the guidance of the National Institutes of Health.

This body has voted in favor of expanding the number of stem cell lines eligible for Federal funding with strict ethical guidelines twice in the past year. I believe it is time for the president to listen to the overwhelming support from Congress and more importantly, from the majority of Americans, who want science to prevail and cures to be found with the promise of embryonic stem cell research.

If Federally funded, this research could help nearly 100 million Americans suffering from cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, ALS, and other devastating conditions. Put simply, embryonic stem cell research offers the greatest promise for developing treatments and cures.

Today, there are only 21 embryonic stem cell lines that are available to Federally funded scientists. This is a number that scientists confirm is insufficient and is negatively impacting medical advances in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I must repeat myself on this issue because it cannot be said enough times: this bill is about saving lives and preventing devastating diseases from ravaging and ending people's lives. As a founder and current co-chair of the Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease and as someone who lost my father to Parkinson's disease, I know firsthand just how important this legislation is and how important it is to open up the stem cell lines.

I stand with a bipartisan majority of Congress and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Supreme Court dealt a serious blow to women pursuing pay discrimination claims.

For the majority of her 20-year career, Lilly Ledbetter was paid less than her male counterparts, including those with less seniority for doing the exact same work. By her own calculations, she was now being shortchanged by about $15,000 annually.

Her experience is, unfortunately, a common one. In the Supreme Court decision, Ledbetter versus Goodyear Tire, the Court ruled that she had missed her window of opportunity to file a claim covering the many years of discrimination she faced.

We need to close this loophole by making every pay period a new infraction. This way, employees can challenge unfair practices that persist over time but don't come to light for years later.

Inequality still exists. It is our job to fix it.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Chairman Lantos for his leadership on this important bill and in so many other areas; and I rise in strong support of the Afghan Freedom and Security Support Act.

The bill includes provisions from legislation that I introduced earlier this year, H.R. 937, the Afghan Women Empowerment Act, which targets critical assistance to Afghan women and girls. The bill authorizes $45 million each year from fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2010 for programs in Afghanistan that benefit women and girls, as well as the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs.

The funding would be directed toward important needs, including medical care, education, vocational training, protection from violence and civil participation.

In 2003, I successfully attached, with the leadership and help of Chairman Lantos, an amendment to the fiscal year 2004 emergency supplemental bill that provided $60 million in funding for Afghan women and girls NGOs, including $5 million for the creation of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

During the past several years, the U.S. has invested in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, both because it is the right thing to do and because it is also critical to our national security. However, like many of my colleagues, I am troubled by the challenges facing Afghani women. In March, I had the pleasure and on other occasions of meeting with Dr. Sima Samar, head of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. She says Afghan women are losing ground. Many women continue to endure hardships including targeted violence, limited mobility, and a high rate of maternal mortality. I am also deeply concerned about reports that girls schools continue to be targeted for violence, including dozens in this past year.

Clearly, we have a great deal of more work to do. And by giving women access to the skills and opportunities that they need, they will become partners in creating Afghanistan's future and we will ensure that women will no longer be second class citizens.

I deeply thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their leadership in getting this important bill to the floor, and I also want to acknowledge Congress Member Abercrombie for his strong support for this legislation and his efforts on its behalf, along with the Feminist Majority, led by Ellie Smeal.

This legislation is another critical step in helping Afghan women, and I commend the House for passing this legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, schools will be letting out

soon, and American families will be hitting the road for their summer vacations. But how far will they get this year with sky-high prices at the pump?

The average price of regular gasoline is hovering near record highs, and this week stands at about $3.16 a gallon. This means American families are spending nearly $54 on average every time they fill up their tank, an astonishing $30 more per tank since President Bush took office.

According to the AAA, the typical American family is on course to spend over $3,600 this year just to fill up their cars if these prices persist. Gasoline prices set a new record of $3.22 a gallon on May 21, according to the AAA's fuel gauge report. Gasoline prices in 34 States broke record highs in the past month. Prices are expected to climb again as the summer driving season progresses.

Record high gas prices may not cause hardworking Americans to cancel vacation plans, but they are forcing families to cut back on other spending, putting our economic growth at risk.

Wherever I go Americans are asking, why are gas prices so high? Surprisingly, the answer is not because crude oil prices are higher than they were last year. According to the Department of Energy, the largest component of U.S. retail gasoline prices is the price of crude oil. What is unique about the current situation is that crude oil prices, the red line, are lower right now at the onset of the summer driving season than they were at this time last year. But, as we all know, gasoline prices, the blue line, are higher than they were this time last year.

The Department of Energy projects that crude oil prices will average $2 less per barrel this summer than last. But they also predict that gasoline will average about $2.95 a gallon this summer, up more than a dime from last summer's $2.84 a gallon on average. Analysts attribute this in large part to the fact that our refinery capacity has failed to keep pace with demand.

We haven't had a new refinery built in the United States in 30 years, pushing refineries to operate at capacity levels that are overtaxing the system. Refining costs account for about 22 percent of the retail price of gasoline, up from 15 percent in 2003.

With the increase in oil and gas prices over the last several years, refining margins are at historical highs. Refining profits in the first quarter of 2007 increased 36 percent over last year, and the U.S. refining margin increased to over $17 per barrel of refined oil.

High gas prices should be an incentive for expanding refining capacity, but instead of building new refineries the industry argues that it has focused on expanding and upgrading existing refineries to keep up with increased demand.

U.S. refining capacity has stayed relatively stable over the past few years, and that is the red bar here. But demand has steadily increased, and that is the blue bar. So capacity utilization has risen, regularly reaching levels above 90 to 95 percent of capacity throughout much of the 1990s and continuing into this decade.

The problems and risks associated with running near full capacity have become very apparent in recent months. As this chart shows, overtaxed refineries have required unplanned maintenance which has taken supply off line and caused short-term price spikes. Refiners typically perform planned maintenance during off-peak driving season, which impacts available stocks of gasoline when the demand is lower. But the increasing frequency of unplanned maintenance is cause for great concern. Unexpected refinery outages choke off supply and cause price spikes at the pump.

A recent spate of such unplanned outages in refineries across the country have made the price spikes a common occurrence and have kept gas prices in the headlines. BP, ConocoPhillips, and Valero Energy have all reported unexpected shutdowns at a number of U.S. refineries.

Oil companies certainly have the profits to invest in increased capacity, but they are not investing. With capacity as tight as it is, refiners can boost profits by taking capacity off line, particularly when there is a lack of competition at the refinery level. It is hard to prove that they are purposely limiting supply, but the risk of manipulating capacity to maximize profits is certainly greater with fewer players in the market.

Consumer advocates, such as the Consumer's Union Mark Cooper, argued that a lack of competition in the market has enabled oil companies to exploit the tight market they have created by purposefully uninvesting and mismanaging refinery maintenance.

With refining margins as high as they are, construction of a new refinery is not a losing proposition, particularly for profit-laden Big Oil companies. But ExxonMobil's CEO, Rex Tillerson, has indicated that he will not build a new refinery in the U.S., pointing to research that U.S. gasoline consumption will plateau in coming years as ethanol and energy efficiency measures become more prevalent.

The current runup in gas prices underscores the urgent need for a better national energy policy. But instead, we see stubborn inaction and complicity on the part of the administration. The Bush administration has turned a blind eye to oversight of the oil and gas industry in general, and especially with respect to mergers. Mergers in the gas and oil industry over the past decade have resulted in dangerously concentrated levels of ownership in the U.S. refining market, leaving us with only five major domestic oil companies controlling the majority of our domestic refining capacity.

The President has approved mergers at such a break-neck speed that by 2005, the top 10 refiners controlled 81 percent of the market, up from 56 percent since 1993. So it has jumped an astonishing amount. This concentration of refiners has restricted production capacity, causing American consumers to pay more at the pump than they would be with more market competition. The lack of competition is hurting consumers now and will hurt our economy in the future.

As a first step toward protecting consumers, the House passed the Energy Price Gouging Prevention Act just before the Memorial Day weekend. This legislation will provide relief to consumers by giving the Federal Trade Commission the authority to investigate and punish those who artificially inflate the price of energy. It would ensure the Federal Government has the tools it needs to adequately respond to energy emergencies and prohibit price gouging. With a priority on refineries and Big Oil companies, especially during a time of national crisis such as Hurricane Katrina, the Energy Price Gouging Prevention Act will provide the FTC with new authority to investigate and prosecute those that engage in predatory or unconscionable pricing from oil companies on down to local gas stations, with an emphasis on those who profit most. This includes the gouging of gasoline, home heating oil, propane or natural gas. It will enpower the Federal Government to impose tough civil penalties of up to triple damages of all excess profits from companies that have cheated consumers.

Until we have abundant renewable energy alternatives to benefit consumers, in the short term Congress must carefully look at the current market framework to see what can be done to improve competition in the marketplace. At the refinery level, Congress should look at strengthening antitrust laws, changing the way oil mergers are reviewed by U.S. antitrust agencies, cracking down on anticompetitive actions by oil companies, and/or improving price transparency at the wholesale level.

Mr. Speaker, high gas prices is an issue that has a supply side and a demand side, and we need to address both. Government leaders and businesses are recognizing the need to reduce our dependency on oil by making our vehicles more fuel efficient and investing in clean, renewable energy sources and technologies.

Mr. Speaker, I request additional time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to revise and extend my remarks.

Mr. Speaker, last month, it was announced in my home district that New York City cabs are going green,

as the Mayor plans to replace the city's fleet with hybrid cars by 2012.

The Joint Economic Committee recently released a report entitled, ``Money in the Bank, Not in the Tank'', which argues that we have to take the issue of improving fuel efficiency seriously.

America's cars were more efficient two decades ago when our fleet- wide average was 26.2 miles per gallon. Now, our fleet-wide average for cars and trucks has slipped to 25.4 miles per gallon. Clearly, we're going in the wrong direction.

And it's hurting our competitiveness--our nation ranks at the bottom of the list of industrialized nations when it comes to fuel efficiency.

In Europe, fuel efficiency averages around 40 miles per gallon and they're looking to raise it to 51 miles per gallon by 2012. Japan is trying to get to 50 miles per gallon by 2010 across their fleet.

If we raised CAFE standards to 35 miles a gallon from 27.5 miles per gallon, the average American family would reduce their spending on gas by nearly one-quarter.

With families on course to spend more than $3,600 on average filling up their cars this year, this would be a savings of $900 a year.

Despite major technology gains, especially hybrid technologies, and record-breaking gas prices, we are decades behind when it comes to making our cars more efficient.

More efficient cars mean American families spend less at the pump, we're less dependent on foreign oil, and our environment benefits from lower emissions.

The President's priority has been to give tax breaks to oil and gas companies even as their profits have soared to new heights. The big five oil companies enjoyed eye-popping profits of $120 billion last year.

Instead of using those profits to expand refining capacity or make serious investments in renewable energy, the big oil companies are buying back their own stock to enhance prices for their shareholders.

Moreover, oil companies seem to be working hard to prevent gasoline alternatives, such as ethanol-based products, from being pumped at their branded gas stations.

In our first 100 hours of work in the majority, the House voted to roll back $14 billion in taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil companies and reinvest that money here at home in clean alternative fuels, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

We have also passed a bill that encourages research and development of markets for biofuels.

Speaker Pelosi has created a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming to develop policy initiatives and assure that progress is made toward reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Democrats in Congress are working on legislation to protect consumers and increase our energy independence by investing in renewable energy sources and reducing global warming emissions.

We need this new direction for energy policy that brings relief to American families and strengthens our economy.

Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing important legislation that will protect the rights of women seeking information on family planning services. Too often, women who are facing the difficult consequences of an unintended pregnancy are being deceived and intimidated. Fake reproductive health clinics entice women with unintended pregnancies through their doors under the pretense of providing the full range of reproductive options. Called crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), they pose as sources of unbiased pregnancy counseling using neutral-sounding names and advertisements. Some of these centers have even conducted market research to ensure that women looking for healthcare will be tricked into believing that the anti- choice centers will provide unbiased medical information. The centers also lure unsuspecting women with the offer of free pregnancy testing or HIV tests. Once inside, the clinic staff--usually volunteers with no professional training--try to dissuade women from abortion by subjecting them to inaccurate medical information, anti-choice propaganda, and intimidation.

In response to the deceitful practices of these centers, this legislation requires the Federal Trade Commission to promulgate rules under the Federal Trade Commission Act, declaring it an unfair or deceptive act for an entity, such as a crisis pregnancy center, to advertise as a provider of abortion services if the entity does not provide abortion services. Working together we can help stop the fraud these deceptive Crisis Pregnancy Centers are perpetrating on the women of America.

Madam Speaker, today I introduce legislation to include Greece as a program country in the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program permits nationals from certain countries who are traveling to the United States for tourism or business to stay for 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Currently, 27 countries are included in the Visa Waiver Program. To participate, countries must meet several criteria including reciprocal visa-free travel for U.S. citizens, secure machine-readable biometric passports, and a maximum allowable 3 percent refusal rate of U.S. non- immigrant visitor visa applications.

Of the original 15 European Union nations, Greece is the only member not to belong to the Visa Waiver Program. However, Greece has met the current criteria mandated for entry into the Visa Waiver Program, including the 3 percent refusal rate. As of January 1, 2007, Greek passports issued prior to January 1, 2006, are no longer considered valid for travel. Greek nationals are traveling with new, machine- readable passports that are produced using state-of-the-art biometric technology to meet the highest possible security standards and specifications.

Greece is a critical ally of the United States. While I hope that the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security will move forward to include Greece in the Visa Waiver Program, I believe that the legislation that I am introducing today is an important step in making that happen.

Joining me in introducing this legislation are Representatives Gus M. Bilirakis, Zack Space, John Sarbanes, Robert Wexler, Shelley Berkley, James McGovern, Diane Watson, Henry Brown, Mario Diaz-Balart, Janice Schakowsky, Donald Payne, Frank Pallone, Thaddeus McCotter, Grace Napolitano, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Jesse Jackson, Michael McNulty, Earl Blumenauer, Barbara Lee, William Jefferson, Patrick Kennedy, Scott Garrett, William Lacy Clay, Linda Sanchez, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Robert Andrews, James Langevin, Joseph Crowley, and Anna Eshoo.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's Democratic National Summit on America's Children underscored the need to keep critical investments in preschool education for children today so that society does not pay a higher price later. A new Joint Economic Committee report shows that investing in high quality education is a cost-effective way of improving the life circumstances of children, while also increasing the U.S. economic growth over the long term by as much as 3.5 percent.

Another report details the provisions in Federal and State tax codes that are available to help families with children. The credits offered by my home State of New York are among the most generous. Both reports are available on the JEC website.

Investing in our Nation's children not only helps them, but also helps produce an innovative workforce for the future and keeps our economy strong.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2316, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, and H.R. 2317, the Lobbying Transparency Act.

As the Jack Abramoff scandal made abundantly clear, the way that business has been conducted in Washington during the past few years needs to change. Congress already has taken important steps to reduce the influence of lobbyists, and the legislation that we are considering today will implement additional necessary reforms. These reforms include closing the revolving door between the legislative branch and post-employment lobbying, increased reporting requirements, including for bundled campaign contributions, and greater public access to lobbying reports and disclosure information.

The issue of openness in government is critical to our democracy. The American people should have faith that their representatives in Congress are responding to their needs and not acting in the interests of those trying to buy influence.

I also want to commend Chairman Conyers and the Judiciary Committee for including language in the bill to clarify that H.R. 2316 does not infringe upon the first amendment or prohibit any activities currently protected by the free speech, free exercise, or free association clauses.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering funding legislation for the war in Iraq which unfortunately does not include the timelines for bringing the troops home that I and many of my colleagues have supported previously. While I strongly believe that we must provide the troops with the resources that they need to do their jobs, I cannot support an amendment that would leave them in Iraq indefinitely.

The intent of the benchmarks included in this amendment seems to be to send an important signal to the Iraqi government that it must make progress on the political, economic, and security fronts. I know that we all want to see that happen, but it is up to those of us in Congress who are committed to ending this war to ensure that the administration and the Iraqi government realize that we, and the American people, will not accept any more blank checks or false promises.

I do intend to support the amendment that will be offered to provide more than $20 billion for several key domestic items that have been part of the Democratic Majority's agenda. This amendment includes $1.8 billion for veterans' health care as well as funding for military health care, children's health care, and Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. I am very pleased that this amendment includes the minimum wage increase that millions of hard-working Americans have been waiting on for a decade. I also want to commend Chairman Obey and the Appropriations Committee for including $50 million for Ground Zero workers and responders who risked their lives and are now suffering devastating health effects because of their brave service following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment so that we will provide long overdue relief to those Americans who need it.

I am pleased to note that the rule, which I supported, that provided for consideration of these amendments ensures that before any further supplemental appropriations bills to fund the war can be considered, a vote must occur on legislation to redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq.

I am disappointed that the bill that will be sent to the President does not set out a clear path to end the war in Iraq. However, I and my colleagues who agree on this issue will continue to work for what the American people overwhelmingly voted for in November: a new direction, both in Iraq and at home.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to vote on six amendments to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2007.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 378, the amendment offered by Mr. Bachus. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 379, the amendment offered by Mr. Hensarling. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 380, the amendment offered by Mr. McHenry. I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 381, the amendment offered by Mr. Kanjorski. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 382, the amendment offered by Mr. Roskam. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 383, the amendment offered by Mr. Garrett.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, the historic battle that contributed to the Allies' victory of World War II.

Because of its strategic location as part of the lifeline to India and its proximity to both Palestine and Egypt, both the Allies and Nazis wanted Crete. At that time the British controlled the island.

On May 20, 1941, the Nazi invasion force, including thousands of German paratroopers and glider troops began landing on Crete. Hitler felt this was to be an easy victory, yet he is quoted to have said shortly after the invasion, ``France fell in 8 days. Why is Crete free?''

During the 11-day invasion of Crete, more than 6,000 German troopers were listed as killed, wounded, or missing in action. The losses to the elite seventh parachute division marked the end of the German military's large-scale airborne operations.

This valiant fight by the Cretan people began in the first hour of the Nazi airborne invasion while other underground movements did not begin until a year or more after being invaded.

Young boys, old men, and women displayed breathtaking bravery in defending Crete. Because German soldiers were not accustomed to facing women in battle, they would tear the dress from the shoulders of suspected Cretan women to find bruises from the recoil of the rifle. The penalty was death. On July 28, 1941, The Times (London) reported that ``five hundred Cretan women have been deported to Germany for taking part in the defense of their native island.''

The German soldiers who invaded Crete also faced the heroic resistance of the clergy. A priest leading his parishioners into battle was not what the Germans anticipated. At Paleochora, Father Stylianos Frantzeskis, hearing of the German airborne invasion, rushed to his church, sounded the bell, took his rifle and marched his volunteers toward Maleme.

This struggle became an example for all Europe to follow in defying German occupation and aggression.

The Cretans paid a heavy price for their valiant resistance to Nazi forces with thousands of civilians executed, starved, or imprisoned. The Germans burned and destroyed entire communities as a reprisal for the Cretan resistance movement. Yet this resistance lasted for 4 years.

The Battle of Crete changed history by delaying Hitler's plan to invade Russia. The invasion was delayed from April to June of 1941. The 2-month delay in the invasion made Hitler's forces face the Russian winter. The Russian snowstorms and the subzero temperatures eventually stalled the Nazi invasion before they could take Moscow or Leningrad. This was the beginning of the downfall of the Nazi reign of terror.

We must always remember and honor this significant battle and the heroic drive of the Cretan people. Democracy came from Greece, and the Cretan heroes exemplified the courage it takes to preserve it.

To honor these heroes, I have introduced H. Res. 148, which recognizes and appreciates the historical significance and the heroic human endeavor and sacrifice of the people of Crete during World War II and commends the PanCretan Association of America.

Today, the courage and fortitude of the Cretan people are seen in the members of the United Cretan Associations of New York which are located in Astoria, Queens.

I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the Cretans in the United States, Greece, and the diaspora.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his strong and creative leadership in the passage of this tremendously important bill for American homeowners and for those who are in desperate need of affordable housing.

I wish to be associated with the comments of Mr. Frank and Mr. Gary Miller on these conforming loan limits in high income areas such as the area I represent in New York City. It's very important for affordable housing.

Keeping with the bipartisan spirit of the Financial Services Committee, this bill was reported out with a strong bipartisan vote of 45-19, and when it passes today, it will completely overhaul and strengthen the regulatory oversight of the GSEs, the government- sponsored enterprises, of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banking System, and it will create a new independent regulator with broad powers, similar to those of current banking regulators.

It also requires Fannie and Freddie to establish an Affordable Housing Fund, something that should have been done long ago. It's important for affordable housing in our country, and I congratulate the leadership of Mr. Frank and Mr. Baker and Mr. Oxley in moving this fund forward. Contributions will be based on the average total mortgage portfolio which will include all mortgages, whether held for investment or securitized. It will be distributed through the States.

And very importantly, the first year the money will go to the ravaged area of Katrina and Rita where people are living without housing. It is tremendously important. It is creative and it addresses a desperate need in our country.

In addition to the affordable housing goals that apply to Fannie and Freddie, we enhanced the bill in a number of ways, including a provision that I sponsored along with Mr. Baker, to encourage the creation of home-based child care centers. My Kiddie Mac amendment will do that. It will make day care more affordable and available.

I congratulate everyone. Please vote for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2206, the ``U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Act.'' This legislation includes the important funding that has already passed this chamber to provide resources for servicemen and women, for military and veterans' health care, and for valuable programs like LIHEAP and SCHIP.

This bill ensures accountability. H.R. 2206 provides 3 months of funding for the war in Iraq but requires the president to report back to Congress about whether certain goals are met before the rest of the funds will be released by subsequent legislation.

It is time for the president to listen to the American people and support this reasonable legislation to help bring an end to this war.

Madam Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce a bill congratulating Qatar on the occasion of Qatari- American Friendship Day. On Monday, May 14, 2007, the United States Embassy in Doha, Qatar will observe Qatar-American Friendship Day. Over the recent years, Qatar has become an important ally of the United States. It is a major defense ally in the Middle East, with Qatari and American forces both benefitting from close cooperation.

I first visited Doha, Qatar in 1999 for the historic municipal elections where women were first granted the right to vote. It is important to note that Qatari women have always enjoyed the same political rights as men. I am most impressed by the work of His Highness the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AI-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad and their commitment to the education of the young women and men of the Middle East. With their vision, Education City Qatar now hosts five major American universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University of the Arts in Qatar, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar.

I would like to highlight one of those programs, the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Nearly 10 years ago, Qatar, the Qatar Foundation, the people of Qatar, and the leadership of Weill Cornell Medical College entered into a partnership to establish a branch in Doha, Qatar--the first American medical school to succeed at such an endeavor.

The Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) celebrated its official opening on October 12, 2003 and will soon be celebrating its first graduating class. WCMC-Q aims to further Cornell University's commitment to education, research, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine while supporting the Qatar Foundation's efforts to serve the local community. The College offers a complete medical education, leading to a Cornell University Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, with teaching by Cornell faculty. It is the first American university to offer its M.D. degree overseas, and the first higher education institution in Qatar to be co-educational. Prospective students will be subject to the same entrance requirements as in the United States, with no geographical restrictions, and will be the first school of medicine established by an American university to award the same degree abroad that it bestows upon students in the U.S. While the State of Qatar underwrites the educational costs of Qatari students, it also offers a loan forgiveness program for foreign students if they commit to practicing medicine in Qatar for a specified period after graduation. Since 70 percent of the inaugural class are women for the Pre-medical Program, WCMC-Q is already demonstrating its ability to have an extraordinary impact in a region with few higher education options for women.

In addition to providing a superb medical education, WCMC-Q serves as a model for strong partnership and cultural understanding in the Middle East. It has served as an anchor that in turn has inspired other leading institutions of higher education, that I mentioned previously, to establish similar programs in Education City.

The leadership and the people of Qatar have clearly demonstrated their commitment to putting education and tolerance above hate and misunderstanding, one that fosters mutual respect, understanding, and peace in a very real and practical application. I am pleased to congratulate Qatar on the special occasion of Qatari-American Friendship Day and hope that our nations continue our long-lasting friendship into the future as we both strive for freedom and peace throughout the world.

Madam Speaker, on May 7, 2007, I missed rollcall votes Nos. 302, 303, and 304. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes Nos. 302, 303, and 304.