Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I am reintroducing legislation to honor and recognize the heroes of the Battle of Crete and commend the PanCretan Association of America for preserving and promoting the history of Crete and its people.

During the Battle of Crete in May 1941, Allied forces and the people of Crete joined together to fight against an advancing Nazi army. Although unsuccessful in defeating the Nazi invaders, this coalition of forces inflicted enormous causalities to the airborne Nazi assault, resulting in more than 3,700 German troops killed and the destruction of multiple transport aircraft. In addition to these losses, the Allied forces were able to hold off the Nazi victory long enough to ensure that the German army would face a harsh and destructive winter as it proceeded to Russia.

This resolution observes the memory of the brave men and women who perished and honors the living that fought in the Battle of Crete.

Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing bipartisan legislation along with my friend and colleague from Florida, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, the Tanning Accountability and Notification Act. This bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to determine whether the current labeling of indoor tanning beds provides sufficient information to consumers about the risks associated with indoor tanning beds. It doesn't tell the FDA what the label should say, it merely tells the FDA to examine the label and figure out how to make it as effective as possible. The current tanning bed warning label hasn't been updated since 1979. It is over 104 words long and it buries the mention of skin cancer deep in the label, and it is often placed where nobody can see it.

The statistics on skin cancer are sobering. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 70 percent of tanning bed users are women between the ages of 16 and 49. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year more than 1 million people are expected to be diagnosed with skin cancers, which is associated with exposure to ultra-violet light. In 2007, a person's chances of getting invasive melanoma was 1 in 63. In 2007, a person's chances of getting melanoma were 1 in 33. One American dies of melanoma every 65 minutes.

We need a clear, simple warning that reflects the science of the 21st century so we can help reduce the numbers of preventable melanomas.

Madam Speaker, I am introducing a bill that extends the protections of the Truth in Lending Act to overdraft protection programs and services provided by depository institutions. The bill also requires customer consent before a depository institution may initiate overdraft protection services and fees, and enhances the information made available to consumers relating to overdraft protection services and fees. In addition, the bill prohibits systematic manipulation in the posting of checks and other debits to a depository account for the purposes of generating overdraft protection fees, among other things.

Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``Afghan Women Empowerment Act of 2007'' which would authorize $45 million each year from FY2008 through FY2010 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, legal assistance, and civil participation. This legislation was introduced earlier this year in the Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-

Madam Speaker, today--along with Democratic colleagues, Congresswoman Lois Capps, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's issues and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke--I am introducing the Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act, which will designate the third Monday in February as a day to celebrate the legacy of Susan B. Anthony. Susan Brownell Anthony is remembered for creating the first women's movement in the United States and leading that movement for more than 50 years.

Born on February 15, 1820, Susan B. Anthony met Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1851 and attended her first women's rights convention in Syracuse in 1852, where she joined the fight to get women the right to vote, arguing that, ``the right women needed above every other . . . was the right of suffrage.'' The first proposal for women's suffrage was presented to Congress in 1868 and Susan B. Anthony appeared before every Congress from 1869 to 1906 to ask for passage of a suffrage amendment. She served as the president of the National Woman Suffrage Association from 1892 until 1900.

The first formal women's suffrage amendment to the Constitution of the United States was introduced in January 1878 and was subsequently introduced in every session of Congress for the next 41 years. Before her death on March 13, 1906, Susan B. Anthony's last public words were, ``Failure is impossible.''

Unfortunately, Susan B. Anthony did not live to realize her dream of women's suffrage, but thankfully her legacy survives. On May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed the 19th amendment, and two weeks later, the Senate followed. The Secretary of State, Bainbridge Colby, certified the ratification on August 26, 1920. The text of the 19th amendment is: ``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

The United States has previously recognized Susan B. Anthony's tremendous contribution to our Nation. A marble statue of her and her women's rights colleagues, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, was dedicated in the United States Capitol in 1921. Susan B. Anthony's picture appeared on postage stamps in 1936 and 1955. Her home in Rochester, New York, has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966, and in 1979, her image was placed on a dollar coin.

No Federal holiday celebrates the birthday of a woman. As the founder and leader of the women's movement in the United States, Susan B. Anthony deserves a permanent place in our history. The Susan B. Anthony Birthday Act will allow all women and men in the United States to celebrate and honor her legacy.

Madam Speaker, as a next step in the long fight to ensure that the heroes of 9/11 get the medical monitoring and treatment they need and deserve, today with my colleague Rep. Vito Fossella, I am introducing a resolution urging the Administration to prepare a comprehensive plan to medically monitor all individuals-- responders, residents, area workers and school children--who were exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero on 9/11 and to treat all those who are sick as a result.

A peer-reviewed study released last year by the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program found that 70 percent of 9/11 responders have suffered from respiratory ailments and 60 percent are still sick. Among those screened, 40 percent do not have health insurance. A study previously published by the New York City Fire Department documented a 12-year lung capacity loss, on average, among New York City firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center.

Despite these well-documented illnesses and lack of medical insurance, only a fraction of 9/11 responders, area residents, workers and school children are being medically monitored. Far fewer are receiving the treatment they need. Even worse, the first federal funding for treatment of responders, which was distributed in October 2006, is projected to run out sometime this summer--just months after the treatment program began.

I am pleased that the Administration has, for the first time ever, included funding in the FY2008 budget for health treatment for sick and injured 9/11 first responders. However, the $25 million included will cover just a small fraction of the cost of monitoring and treating the thousands exposed to the toxins of Ground Zero. I am also pleased that the Administration has finally said that HHS will be producing an estimate for the heath needs of first responders--but only first responders. Quite simply, a plan that takes into account only first responders is not sufficient. The hundreds of thousands of area residents, workers, school children and federal employees who are in need of monitoring and treatment deserve to be included in any plan put forth by HHS.

I am hopeful that Congress will be taking direct action in the coming weeks and months to fund current treatment and monitoring programs as well as expand those programs to include all affected residents, school children, area workers and rescue workers who came to New York from across the country after 9/11. As we work together toward bolder action, I believe this resolution urging the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a comprehensive plan is an important first step in focusing the Administration's attention on the health needs of the all the heroes of 9/11.

Madam Speaker, it is time that the U.S. ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, or CEDAW.

The treaty has been in force since 1981 and has been ratified by 185 countries; 185 countries cannot be wrong, and they include such countries as Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The U.S. stands out as the only Western country that has not ratified the treaty and, in doing so, keeps company with Iran, Sudan, and Somalia.

Women continue to be subjected to severe human rights violations simply because of their gender. Women in many parts of the world are unable to receive a basic education, earn a living, own or inherent property, or protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. Violence against women continues to be a terrible problem in all corners of the globe.

In the Mexican cities of Juarez and Chihuahua, over 400 women have been killed since 1993. In Guatemala over 2,500 women and girls have been murdered since 2001.

Women are still stoned to death and killed by members of their family in the name of honor. In 2002 at least 270 women were murdered in ``honor killings'' in the Punjab Province of Pakistan alone.

Domestic violence continues to hurt and kill women at alarming rates. In Russia 70 percent of married women have been hurt in one form or another of violence from their husbands.

CEDAW is an important tool in combating discrimination and human rights abuses against women around the world. It seeks to ensure that

women have equal access to education, public health, credit, property rights, as well as prevent violence against women. There have been numerous positive changes because of the convention, such as the implementation of equality legislation, the eradication of harmful practices such as sex slavery, and changes in inheritance laws. But there is clearly a great deal more to do.

As one of the most powerful nations in the world, the U.S. must be the leader in the fight against these violations of women's human rights. Our refusal to ratify the treaty sends the message that CEDAW is not important and does not need to be enforced. There is no valid reason why the U.S. should not ratify CEDAW.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has voted twice to send the convention to the full Senate for ratification, first in 1994 and then again in 2002; but it has never been voted on by that body.

The U.S. is already substantially in compliance with the treaty and agrees with its fundamental principles of nondiscrimination and equality for women. We cannot claim to be a defender of human rights without including over half of the world's population.

Ratifying CEDAW is something the U.S. can do that can make a difference in the lives of thousands of women around the globe. So what are we waiting for? We should move forward and ratify it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Hellenic organization Krikos. Founded in 1974 to preserve and enrich Hellenic heritage and culture, Krikos and its members are dedicated to fostering and promoting co-operation and fellowship among Hellenes and phil-Hellenes throughout the world,

In its ongoing effort to increase the understanding of issues affecting people of Greek descent and a greater appreciation of Hellenic culture, Krikos has organized more than 50 conferences throughout the world, frequently publishing reports of their proceedings, Among the subjects examined at various conferences were topics including the growing impact of globalism, biotechnology, telecommunications, the Greek response to military conflicts in the Balkans, domestic political and cultural issues, Hellenic and Hellenic- American contributions to the art land culture of the United States, and thought-provoking issues in Hellenic and American culture.

Krikos has provided guidance to college and college-bound Hellenic youth in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Additionally, Krikos has made it possible for students to visit abroad through a world-study program. In keeping with this dedication to scholarship and education, Krikos donated 5,000 books to the Polytechnic University in Athens.

Krikos was instrumental in documenting the artistic and historic treasures located in the Saint Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai. For hundreds of years St. Catherine's has been a prime destination for pilgrims to the Holy Land. Krikos and its dedicated members helped facilitate this sacred monument's ability to serve its vital mission in the modern world by computerizing its properties and their operations. In the past many prominent Hellenes and phil-Hellenes have been honored by Krikos and spoken at various symposiums, conferences and testimonial events.

This exemplary organization is now headed by Denise Constantopoulou, President, and John Belleas, past President. Under their able leadership, Krikos continues to make significant and enduring contributions to Hellenic and world culture and civilization.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the tremendous contributions to the civic and cultural life of our Nation and our world by Krikos and its members.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Little Missionary's Day Nursery, the oldest continuously operating non- sectarian school in New York City. Founded in 1896 by Miss Sara Curry, the Little Missionary's Day Nursery is dedicated to providing affordable day care in a warm, nurturing environment in which children of diverse socioeconomic, ethnic and religious backgrounds are encouraged to take their first steps in embracing lives inspired by the values of a sound and well-rounded education and a spirit of sharing and caring.

The Little Missionary's Day Nursery has remained true to the progressive dream of its visionary founder, Sara Curry, a remarkable, energetic, and accomplished woman who dedicated her life to improving conditions for the underprivileged children and families of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Then, as now, ``Loisaida'' was a haven for immigrants from all over the world, many enduring conditions of severe deprivation and adversity. Practically a century ahead of her time, Sara Curry grasped the need for many mothers to secure quality, affordable day care in order to enter and stay in the work force to support their economically struggling families. In fighting narrow-minded contemporary strictures against working women that were then prevalent, Sara Curry--and the Day Nurseries that she founded--helped provide an engine of opportunity that allowed countless families to lift themselves out of poverty while inculcating values of learning and compassion in their children.

In recognition of her indefatigable and effective stewardship of the institution, Miss Curry was lovingly dubbed the ``little missionary'' by grateful parents and supporters. And, to honor her more than four decades of compassionate and visionary stewardship, the institution was renamed the Little Missionary's Day Nursery in her honor. In 1901, the nursery purchased its own building at 93 St. Mark's Place, which has remained its home ever since. Today, under the capable leadership of Director Eileen Johnson and Board President Herman Hewitt, the Little Missionary's Day Nursery continues to serve the families of the Lower East Side, dedicating a portion of its income to providing generous tuition assistance.

This year, the Little Missionary's Day Nursery is honoring three outstanding individuals at its third annual Sara Curry Awards Benefit. The honorees include the renowned Gloria Steinem, the inspirational writer, lecturer, editor, and women's activist who has become an international symbol of the struggle for women's equality and dignity. An equally deserving honoree of the nursery this year is the dedicated public servant, the Honorable Margarita Lopez, a champion of the Lower East Side and its historic progressive values, who represented this incredibly diverse and exciting neighborhood with distinction for two terms on the New York City Council before assuming a position of citywide leadership as a member of the Board of the New York City Housing Authority. The third honoree is Ms. Margaritte Malfy, the remarkably accomplished chef and restaurateur. In addition to her accomplishments as an artist and as the co-owner and co-executive chef of La Palapa Cocina Mexicana, Ms. Malfy has dedicated her prodigious energies to many worthwhile causes that benefit the people of the Lower East Side, and indeed around the world, including human rights and children's organizations such as Art/NY, the Nepalese Children's Home in Nepal, and, of course, the Little Missionary's Day Nursery.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Little Missionary's Day Nursery and its three remarkable honorees this year as well as the tremendous contributions this outstanding educational and child care facility and its graduates have made to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Dirk McCall, an outstanding New Yorker who has devoted himself to public service and to his community, his city, and his country throughout his career. Dirk McCall is a beloved and well-respected leader of New York City's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans gender, LGBT, community, the largest of any city in our Nation, and a determined, effective, and compassionate professional advocate for persons with autism. This month, Dirk McCall and our esteemed and distinguished colleague, the Honorable Barney Frank of Massachusetts, are being honored by the Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee at its annual Winterpride celebration in Astoria, New York.

A proud son of a military family, Dirk McCall grew up on a series of military bases throughout the southern United States. Following his dream of making his mark in the Big Apple, he made his home in Astoria in the Borough of Queens after his graduation from Emory University in Atlanta. For the last 13 years, he has devoted his prodigious energies in service to his neighborhood, to his fellow members of New York's LGBT community, and to the service of those in need.

As the president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, the largest LGBT political club in the Nation's greatest metropolis, Dirk McCall presided over a period of enormous growth in that organization's membership and its influence over key policy-makers on the city, State, and Federal levels. An indefatigable activist, he also co-founded Out Astoria, a social organization for northwest Queens' rapidly growing LGBT community. He also founded and led the LGBT Caucus of New York State Young Democrats.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, a great American who has devoted her life to promoting the development and appreciation of great women artists. In November of 1981, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay founded the National Museum of Women in the Arts in our Nation's Capital. In the ensuing quarter century, the Museum has enlightened countless members of the public about the remarkable achievements of women artists throughout history by acquiring, preserving and exhibiting great works of art by women. This month, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay is receiving the Gold Medal of Honor from the National Arts Club of New York City in recognition of her remarkable, visionary leadership and her tremendous contributions to the arts.

In the 1960s, in concert wit her husband Wallace, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay began carefully assembling a unique and invaluable collection of significant works of art by women, whose tremendous creative contributions to the fine arts had historically been grievously underappreciated and often overlooked altogether. The Holladay Collection constituted the core of the offerings of the National Museum of Women in the Arts when it was founded in 1981, and the basis of its permanent collection.

To fulfill its mission of increasing exposure to and appreciation of great art by women, the National Museum of Women in the Arts cares for and displays this magnificent permanent collection, offers special exhibitions, conducts outreach and education programs, maintains a research center and library, produces periodicals and books on women artists, and provides support to artists and fine arts groups around the globe. The Museum also offers a home in the capital area to those devoted to the appreciation of the performing and literary arts and other creative disciplines.

During the first 5 years of its existence, the National Museum of Women in the Arts operated from temporary offices, with docents conducting tours of its collection and special exhibitions at the Holladays' own residence. Two decades ago, the Museum opened its permanent home in a 78,810-square-foot Washington landmark located by the White House, previously a Masonic Temple. The Museum's handsome building was refurbished to meet the most demanding design, museum, and security standards, and has since earned several architectural awards.

Wilhelmina Cole Holladay's significant and enduring contribution's to American art and culture are very appropriately being recognized this month by the National Arts Club, an institution dedicated to stimulating, fostering and promoting public interest in the fine arts since its founding in 1898. Located in the architectural gem of the Samuel Tilden Mansion on Manhattan's picturesque Gramercy Park, the National Arts Club is a designated New York and National Historic Landmark and a pillar of the culture and artistic heritage of the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me recognizing the enormous contributions to the civic and cultural life of our Nation by Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, founder of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 521, which will designate a ``Lane Evans Post Office Building'' in Rock Island, Illinois.

For more than 20 years, Lane was a champion of veterans and Parkinson's issues on Capitol Hill and a great friend to both communities. We worked together as co-chairs of the Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease, and I came to truly admire his dedication, kindness, and courage.

Last year Lane helped to pass into law a program that he conceived and created, Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Centers, PADRECCs. These centers will provide valuable assistance to American veterans battling Parkinson's disease.

As a former Marine, Ranking Member on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and person battling Parkinson's Disease, Lane Evans knows better than most the challenges facing both constituencies. While his presence in this chamber is sorely missed, I hope to continue his legacy while working with the newly renamed Bicameral Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease to find a cure for this terrible disease.

I am truly proud to have served with my dear friend Lane and to support this fitting tribute to him.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of my colleagues to a large-scale data breach that was announced just yesterday. A hacker was able to gain access to the database maintained by T.J. Maxx and others, and was able to obtain payment card information stored in the database. Millions of cardholders' records are now potentially compromised, all affecting all major payment card brands.

Mr. Speaker, the situation is under investigation and we do not know all the facts yet, but we do know that this is not the only example, it is only the latest in a long series of breaches. The largest so far was CSSI, and this affected over 40 million cardholders in America. This breach that happened yesterday, or was announced yesterday, may even be larger.

How many more breaches like this will the public tolerate before Congress acts to adopt national data security rules?

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act. In the first 100 hours of this new Congress, the time finally has come to end the royalty rip-off, which has lined the pockets of Big Oil at the expense of the American taxpayers for entirely too long. For years, I have been working to ensure that Americans get what is owed to them from oil and gas companies through my work on the Government Reform Committee, scathing reports from the Government Accountability Office, and offering amendments here on the House floor. I am thrilled that we finally have the opportunity to give this issue the full attention it deserves.

It is indisputable that the American taxpayers are losing billions of dollars in royalties due to them by the oil and gas companies who are taking valuable resources out of Federal lands. The GAO estimates that because price thresholds were not included in deepwater leases from 1998 and 1999, the government has already lost up to $2 billion in royalties and could lose as much as $10 billion over the life of the leases.

H.R. 6 addresses the problem by requiring current offshore fuel producers with royalty-free leases to either agree to pay royalties when fuel prices reach certain thresholds or agree to pay a new ``conservation of resource fee.'' It would also close loopholes and end giveaways for Big Oil in the tax code and in the 2005 Energy Bill.

Together these savings would generate $14 billion to create a Created Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The majority of the American public support investing in alternative energy sources to end our addiction to oil, and even President Bush promised to invest in clean renewable fuels and cutting-edge technologies in his 2006 State of the Union Address. This clean energy fund will be used to pay for upcoming legislation to encourage people to use clean domestic renewable energy resources already in existence, promote use of energy-efficient products and practices, and increase research and development of new cutting-edge technologies.

Today, we must take the opportunity to show the American people that we are with them, not with Big Oil. H.R. 6 is an important first step towards a smart energy policy and a clean energy future, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, today I am re-introducing the ``Study of Ways To Improve the Accuracy of the Collection of Federal Oil, Condensate, and Natural Gas Royalties Act,'' which was H.R. 6368 in the 109th Congress.'' I am pleased to be joined by Representatives Hinchey (D-NY) and Grijalva (D-AZ) in introducing this legislation. On May 7, 2006, the Washington Post reported allegations that American taxpayers are being shortchanged by oil and gas companies in the royalties that they are paying to the Federal Government (``Firms Harvesting Energy from Public Lands May Owe U.S.''). Jack Grynberg, a plaintiff in a false claims action against seventy-three energy and pipeline companies, was featured in the article. Based on his expertise, the legislation I am introducing asks the National Academy of Engineering to conduct a study regarding improving the accuracy of collection of royalties on production of oil, condensate, and natural gas under leases of both onshore and offshore Federal lands and onshore Indian lands.

These valuable resources are owned by the American people, who should be fairly and accurately compensated. I believe that this study would prove invaluable in accomplishing this important goal and will tell us if there is a problem, including the extent of the problem, with the collection of royalties from Federal lands and Indian lands.