Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bette Dewing, a great New Yorker. Bette Dewing is devoted to her community on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and in recognition of her selfless dedication to the well-being of others and her significant achievements on behalf of the quality of life in New York City, she is being honored this month by the East 79th Street Neighborhood Association.

For decades, Bette Dewing has served on the front lines of the fight to preserve and enhance her fellow New Yorkers' quality of life. A longtime columnist at the premier local newspaper of Manhattan's East Side, Our Town, Bette Dewing has used her public platform expertly and effectively to become an unparalleled advocate for her fellow New York City residents on a wide range of issues. She has been perhaps the Big Apple's leading champion for enhancing pedestrian safety, focusing the attention of government officials on a host of urban ills, most notably the need to curb traffic lawlessness. No New Yorker has done more to combat illegal bicyclists, skateboarders and motorists, whose careless and often selfish behavior is a menace to city pedestrians, in particular to seniors and persons with physical disabilities. A founder of a community-based advocacy organization, Pedestrian First, Ms. Dewing is perhaps more responsible than any other for starting the drumbeat of protest against those who would encroach on the space and safety of her fellow New Yorkers, a call that has since been echoed by many elected officials and municipal government leaders.

Some of Bette Dewing's most important advocacy occurred when she presciently called for a renewed emphasis on the preeminence of family life, respect for the many contributions to our society by the elderly, and a return to civility. Her wise counsel to younger generations to maintain strong family ties is one that everyone should embrace. Similarly, her manifestoes urging a return to a culture in which a prevailing civic-mindedness--including courtesy and consideration for others--is the rule, not the exception, have since been taken to heart by many New Yorkers.

In being honored by the East 79th Street Neighborhood Association, Bette Dewing's achievements are being recognized by one of the most important civic associations in our Nation's greatest metropolis. Representing the residents of Manhattan's Upper East Side living on or around East 79th Street, the dedicated membership of East 79th Street Neighborhood Association and its distinguished and estimable president, Betty Cooper Wallerstein, have made immeasurable contributions to improving the quality of life of their neighbors and their community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the outstanding contributions to the civic life of New York City made by Bette Dewing.

Mr. Speaker, today, along with Representative Lynn Woolsey and Representative Jerrold Nadler, I am introducing legislation that would combat human sex trafficking by using the tax code to put traffickers in prison. Approximately 600,000 to 800,000

people are trafficked across international borders each year. Instead of dreams of better jobs and better lives, they are trapped into a nightmare of coercion, violence, and disease. However, trafficking is not just a problem in other countries. In addition to the men, women, and children from around the world who are brought into the United States for the sole purpose of being bought and sold by American citizens for commercial sex, in many communities, the victims themselves are Americans.

The legislation, which is based on an amendment attached by Senator Grassley to S. 1321, the ``Telephone Excise Tax Repeal Act of 2005,'' would authorize $2 million toward the establishment of an office within the IRS Criminal Investigation division to prosecute sex traffickers for violations of tax laws. This office would coordinate closely with the existing task forces in the Department of Justice that are focused on sex trafficking offenders. The IRS would be directed to focus on the willful failure of traffickers to file returns, supply information, or pay tax where the taxpayer is an ``aggravated'' non-filer. Additionally, the provision establishes a new felony offense for an aggravated failure to file to include failure to file with respect to income or payments derived from activity which is criminal under Federal or State law. The aggravated failure shall carry a maximum sentence of ten years per failure and shall increase the penalty from $25,000 under current law to $50,000. The legislation also increases other penalties for underpayment or overpayment of tax due to fraud.

The bill works to the benefit of the women and girls that are victimized by the traffickers not only by removing the traffickers from the streets but also by revising the IRS Whistleblower provisions that are currently in place so that the women and girls who choose to participate in the investigation of the trafficker will be eligible to participate in the whistleblower program and may ultimately receive some payment for their participation.

It is important that we protect the victims of the sex trade industry, and punish the predators who exploit them.

Mr. Speaker, I fully support this legislation to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal upon Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. His Holiness is a spiritual beacon for thousands, and he has traveled the world to develop common ground among different faiths. He stands for and embodies peace and harmony.

I also honor the Dalai Lama for his continuing work to expand freedoms for the Tibetan people. Under Chinese rule, the human rights situation in Tibet is reprehensible--religious and political freedoms are severely curtailed and thousands of Tibetans have died. Practicing compassion and non-violence, the Dalai Lama has met with world leaders and has attempted to engage the Chinese government to reach a solution that will give freedom to his people. Regrettably, the Chinese government has been stubborn in its resistence, but I hope they will soon have a change of mind and heart about the situation in Tibet.

As a spiritual force and as a head of state, the Dalai Lama shows us all the meaning of peace and compassion. He deserves this honor, and I thank the leadership for bringing the bill before us.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for leading so strongly on this important issue, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 2965, of which I have been a lead sponsor in many prior Congresses.

This bill will bring comprehensive, fundamental, and balanced reform to the Federal Prison Industries, which is long overdue. This bill before us reflects improvements upon the bill in the 108th Congress, which passed 350-65.

At the core of the bill is providing access to the Federal contract opportunities, now reserved for FPI because of its status as a mandatory source of supply for the various Federal agencies. In fiscal year 2004, that amounted to $802 million in business opportunities upon which private sector firms had no opportunity to bid. It will also protect jobs of American workers. FPI will no longer be able to come in and arbitrarily announce that they are taking their work, their contracts away, which happened to my constituents.

Like many in this Chamber, I came to this issue from a problem created by FPI. FPI was about to take the contract that Glamour Glove, a manufacturer in my district, had won from the Department of Defense on a competitive basis. Glamour Glove, now called Glove Street, was the last union shop glove manufacturer in New York, and its proud members are members of UNITE.

Working with my friend from Michigan, Mr. Hoekstra, and the leadership of UNITE, we were able to persuade the FPI board to change its plans. I know that my constituents were wondering why they had to seek the mercy of six people in Washington and the FPI board of directors to maintain their jobs.

Out of that experience, Mr. Hoekstra and I began working together to put forward an opportunity for American workers to compete for these jobs. Each year, the bill has been modified to provide alternative rehab work opportunities for Federal inmates, and I congratulate Mr. Frank for his leadership and Mr. Conyers on the amendments they have added to improve the bill.

From the outset of our effort, Mr. Frank led our effort to find alternative-inmate work opporunties for Federal inmates that would not provide unfair competition with non-inmate workers. First, by doing public service work for non-profit organizations that serve the poor. This first step has been broadened in each succeeding year.

In the last Congress, we granted authority for Federal inmates to provide work in support of units of local government and special purpose districts, such as school districts. Protections were included against any displacement of non-inmate workers, either public employees or private sector.

During the Committee's consideration H.R. 2965, they added a Work- based Employment Preparation Program for Federal inmates. This program will provide Federal inmates with access to work-based training under the tuteledge of real-world employers. Again, the new provision has clear and enforceable protections against unfair competition with non- inmate workers and the firms that employ them.

When H.R. 2965 is enacted into law, working men and women, who perform contracts for the Federal Government will no longer have to be concerned that FPI will simply be able to take their work opportunities. They will have a chance to bid on the Federal contracts that are funded by their tax dollars.

I look forward to this debate. The proponents are on the right side and have the strong support of the business community and organized labor, as well as federal managers, represented by the Federal Managers Association.

Mr. Speaker, on September 14, 2006, I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall votes 442 and 443. Rollcall vote 442 as on the Scott Amendment to H.R. 2965, ``The Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act.'' Rollcall vote 443 was on final passage of H.R. 2965, ``The Federal Prison Industries Competition in Contracting Act.''

As a lead sponsor of H.R. 2965, had I been present I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 442 and ``aye'' on rollcall vote 443.

Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 left voids in our lives that can never be filled. Almost 3,000 families lost a loved one--sons, daughters, fathers and mothers who were taken too soon. New York City, my hometown, lost beloved residents, protectors and leaders. Our city, and our country, also lost an icon and symbol of our nation--the World Trade Center.

The hole where the World Trade Center once stood remains a somber reminder of those we lost and the heartache 9/11 has caused. Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero are being redeveloped in order to keep our city's economy strong and show our resilience and resolve. At the same time, the footprints of the Twin Towers have been preserved and designated for a permanent 9/11 memorial.

The men and women we lost on 9/11 must be honored with a poignant and thoughtful memorial. The one that is being developed is exactly that.

We must support the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation as it constructs the tribute to our fallen friends and neighbors. While we can never refill the voids left on 9/11, we can keep their memories alive forever.

When the work is completed and the memorial is opened, we will have an ever-lasting site to remember 9/11 and those who we lost. This is the way it should be--we must never forget.

Mr. Speaker, on September 12, 2006, I missed rollcall votes numbered 436 and 437. Rollcall vote 436 was on the motion to suspend the rules and pass as amended H.R. 5428, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 East Washington Street in Morris, Illinois, as the ``Joshua A. Terando Morris Post Office Building.'' Rollcall vote 437 was on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 175, a bill to recognize the importance of establishing a national memorial at the World Trade Center site to commemorate and mourn the events of February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 436 and 437.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that will end the unfair government-sponsored monopoly enjoyed by Federal Prison Industries.

H.R. 2965 is a good bill that will protect the jobs of American taxpayers. According to the National Economic Council, 2.9 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2001. We should do everything possible to keep workers employed.

FPI is, not competing on a level playing field. It pays its workers just pennies and is not required to pay taxes. With its predatory practices, FPI has contributed to the closure of private companies and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs throughout the Nation. This legislation will ensure that contracts are awarded to the company that will provide the best products, delivered on time, and at the best prices, thereby saving taxpayer dollars and protecting good jobs. In short, the way the free market is supposed to operate.

H.R. 2965 also provides valuable alternative rehabilitative opportunities, including work in support of nonprofit, public service organizations, to better prepare inmates for a successful return to society.

The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support, and has previously passed the House overwhelmingly. Additionally, H.R. 2965 has support from much of the business community and organized labor.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation and to oppose any amendment that will weaken the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I almost didn't want to talk about this, it is so painful for many of us to remember those tragic days and those tragic events. Monday was a very difficult day, and I thank my colleagues. Many of you came to New York to remember. Our President was there, and many others. It has been 5 years, and we spent the day with families and had many memorial ceremonies.

But it is important to remember that although it was a tragic loss, it was also considered by some to be the greatest rescue effort in our history. On 9/12, when I was in various meetings with government officials, they estimated that 25,000 people had died in the towers. But because of the heroic efforts by many, that number fell to almost 3,000. So on that fateful day, almost 3,000 lost their lives, but many thousands more lost their health. We have to remember that these heroes/heroines need to be taken care of.

To this day, not one single Federal dollar has been spent on the health care of the 9/11 responders who need our help. We need to change that. We need to stand by them and give them the support that they need.

Because of the efforts in this Congress, and I thank my colleagues, never have we been more united or determined. We came together and provided a lot of relief and support to New York, and I deeply thank you on behalf of all of my constituents and all New Yorkers.

But we have to remember that many people are sick. In the study that came out of Mount Sinai that was funded by this Congress, $90 million to track the health of the people, over half are still sick. Seventy percent are very sick and 40 percent have no health care.

We need to change that. We need to stand together and help these people, as we stood together after 9/11 to help our country

In my hometown, nearly 3,000 of our neighbors, responders and friends were killed by the despicable terrorist acts of 9/11. They may be gone, but their memories are forever alive, especially when we honor them, as we do today. In reading this resolution before us, four words that are particularly poignant were our call for unity immediately after 9/11-- ``We will never forget.''

When recovering and moving forward from 9/11, we must live by this mantra.

``We will never forget'' means heeding the lessons 9/11 taught us about our security. Our deficiencies were expertly explained by the bipartisan 9/11 commission, and their recommendations provided a blueprint to make us safer. Two years ago, I helped pass the intelligence reform bill that implemented some of the commission's recommendations, but it took a monumental struggle. And since then, not a single remaining recommendation--of which there are many--has been implemented.

In its final progress report, the commission gave the government more F's than A's. The blueprint is sitting on the shelf, collecting dust. We cannot forget its existence.

``We will never forget'' also means taking care of those who continue to suffer, even now. Thousands of responders, residents and workers who were at or near Ground Zero and inhaled the toxic dust are developing serious illnesses--and some are dying.

Many Americans became aware of their plight before of their plight before the fifth anniversary, but now the news cycle has changed. The ailing men and women are out of the headlines again, but they still suffer and struggle to get help.

Before the Federal Government failed to respond to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, it was failing to respond to the obvious and growing 9/11 health crisis affecting some of our bravest Americans. This is like Katrina in slow motion.

For five years, the Federal Government has either denied the problem or reluctantly offered weak assistance. The ailing men and women need their government to roll up its sleeves and tackle the problem with all its might, just like our responders did when acting for our country. Instead, their government is tiptoeing around the crisis.

``We will never forget'' means ensuring everyone who was exposed to toxins is examined and everyone who is sick is treated. It is just that simple.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 503; and like many of my colleagues, I have been around horses all my life. I am a former horse owner and my father had a farm. The humane vote is to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 503.

I thank my colleagues, Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Spratt and Ms. Schakowsky, for their really outstanding leadership and for clarifying the points that have been so made in this debate.

Over 90,000 horses were brutally slaughtered last year at three foreign-owned slaughterhouses in the United States, and their meat was then shipped to countries in Europe and Asia for human consumption. Americans do not eat horse meat. They love horses. They are cherished companions. They are sporting animals. They are not food.

If you look at the history of America, horses have played such an important part in our Nation's development, and I would say they are probably the most beloved animals native to the United States.

The American people strongly support banning horse slaughter. They recognize that it is a deplorable practice that needs to end.

Over 70 percent have expressed this opinion in opposition to slaughtering horses for human consumption. Again, no American would eat horse meat. This is to be shipped to a foreign country, and they are slaughtered in a gruesome manner, as my colleague pointed out on the floor.

While it is technically required that horses be unconscious prior to slaughter, the method used to render them unconscious is not effective due to a horse's instinctive flight response to stress. As a result, the horses are sometimes conscious while being slaughtered. This is unconscionable.

I call upon my colleagues for a humane vote and to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

I thank my colleague for yielding, and I join my voice with the Democratic leader and Mr. Fossella and many others in honoring Robert Tisch.

When Preston Robert Tisch passed away on November 15, 2005, America lost one of its preeminent and most successful business people. Anyone who followed his career or worked with him knew of his brilliant business sense, and anyone who has seen a movie in a Loews theater or stayed in a Loews hotel can attest to it.

But as much as Bob Tisch will be remembered for his many business successes, he will be remembered and honored for being one of our most caring and giving philanthropists and humanitarians. Anyone who has benefitted from the vital city Meals on Wheels program is a testament to his many efforts. In his business career, Bob was

an enormous success, and he used his wealth and intelligence to assist those who need help the most. For that, we greatly admire him, and we honor him with this resolution today.

I am particularly proud, as is my colleague, Vito Fossella, who introduced this resolution, that Bob Tisch was born and resided in our hometown, New York City. We were able to see the success and many good deeds up close, and our city has been the beneficiary of many of his best and most heartfelt ideas and programs. The City of New York thanks him and misses him.

Bob Tisch, the son of Russian immigrants and a native of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, served our country in the Army during World War II. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in economics and would go on to become the chairman and director of the highly successful Loews Corporation.

During the financial crisis of the 1970s, he organized business leaders from New York and around the country to earn the support of the Federal Government for New York City, and he helped rebuild our city. He helped our city go from bust to boom.

Bob Tisch served as the Postmaster General under President Reagan from 1986 to 1988 and, likewise, served as the chair of the National Democratic Convention. He was a man who was admired by both parties, admired by all people. He was chairman of the New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau for 19 years, and he was appointed by former Mayor David Dinkins to be the city's ambassador to Washington in 1990. You would often see him here in Washington visiting, talking, promoting New York City.

Perhaps his greatest feats, though, were his philanthropic efforts. Aside from the countless of millions of dollars he gave to charities, hospitals, universities and the Metropolitan Museum, Bob Tisch helped create city Meals on Wheels and was president for more than 20 years. The program provides food to the elderly and to the homebound, New Yorkers in need, allowing them to get nutrition and stay healthy in their homes.

More recently, Bob Tisch's Take the Field campaign raised more than $140 million to refurbish unkempt athletic fields of New York City's public schools.

Since 1991, Bob Tisch, a lifelong sports fan, owned 50 percent of the New York Giants Football Club, sharing it with another great New Yorker whom we recently lost, Wellington Mara.

Few Americans have done more in their lives or have helped more people than Bob Tisch. He is missed tremendously, especially in New York. As the companies he ran endure and as the philanthropic programs he created continue to help those in need, Bob Tisch will not be forgotten.

The good work he began continues even today, and our hearts and our thoughts are with his wife, Joan; his children, Steven, Laurie and Jonathan, all of whom have continued with his philanthropic work. And they have greatly, in their own way, benefitted our city, State and our country.

Overall, Bob Tisch was just a good man. He was a terrific person. He is deeply missed, and I am so pleased for his family and for his city that Congress has thought to honor him today.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4157, the Health Information Technology Promotion Act. While I strongly support improving and advancing health information technology, I am disappointed that the Majority chose to bring this inadequate bill to the House Floor instead of offering the Enzi-Kennedy-Frist-Clinton bipartisan Senate-passed bill.

H.R. 4157 does not provide for the development or adoption of interoperability standard. It does not provide funding to help providers transition to an electronic medical records system. And it does not provide privacy protections which will ensure that patients can control access to their own sensitive electronic health information. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office has stated that ``enacting H.R. 4157 would not significantly affect either the rate at which the use of health technology will grow or how well that technology will be designed and implemented.''

Mr. Chairman, all of this makes you wonder why the Majority insisted on bringing this bill to the floor and refused to consider the Dingell- Rangel substitute. The Dingell-Rangel substitute was the bipartisan Senate-passed bill with additional key privacy protections. It authorized necessary funding to help providers adopt health IT and it removed provisions that expanded waste, fraud and abuse.

Mr. Chairman, we must bring our healthcare system into the 21st century. To do so, we must have a comprehensive, interoperable technology-based system that will also protect patient privacy. With this, we will improve efficiency, ensure patient care, and reduce medical error. Unfortunately, this bill has too many flaws and does little to improve upon our outmoded pen and pad system. I am disappointed that the Majority did not allow us to vote on a bill that will make a difference. Americans deserve better.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5682, the ``United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006.''

The close relationship between the U.S. and India is crucial to world stability. We share a common system of government, common constitutions, and common values. The two nations work closely together on a wide range of issues including building peace and security in South Asia, increasing bilateral trade and investment, meeting global environmental challenges, fighting disease, and eradicate poverty.

India is an important partner in the ongoing struggle to fight terrorism. Just last week the House of Representatives passed a resolution, which I cosponsored, expressing sympathy for the people of India in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai on July 11, 2006. The resolution also expressed our solidarity with the government and people of India in fighting and defeating terrorism in all its forms.

Today, we have a historic opportunity to advance and deepen relations with India with the passage of the bill before us. Under this pact, India would open up its civilian nuclear facilities to international inspections. This legislation contains important conditions including that the President must determine that the International Atomic Energy Agency and India are working to ensure that there are more inspections of nuclear facilities and that India is working with the United States to prevent the spread of enrichment and reprocessing technology.

India is a vital friend and ally and by approving this bill we will make that relationship even stronger.

I commend Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, sex tourism and more specifically the sexual commercial exploitation of children has increasingly become a serious problem. The International Labor Organization estimates that approximately 550,000-700,000 children are forced into sexual exploitation each year. I, therefore, rise to salute the Carlson Companies Inc., the American Society of Travel Agents, ASTA, Flamingo Travel in Philadelphia and Ela Brasil in New York City for signing the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children From Sexual Commercial Exploitation in Travel and Tourism. They have taken a bold stand against the sexual exploitation of children and should be recognized for their actions

The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children From Sexual Commercial Exploitation in Travel and Tourism was developed by End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes, ECPAT, along with World Tourism Organization, WTO, and has been funded by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). By signing the Code of Conduct, travel and tourism companies commit to take a series of steps to ensure that they are not facilitating the trafficking of children for purposes of prostitution. Law enforcement cannot do it alone. It takes a multifaceted approach to discourage sex tourism.

The Code of Conduct requires that the tourism or travel company establish an ethical policy regarding sexual exploitation of children; train its personnel in the country of origin and travel destinations; introduce a clause in contracts with suppliers requiring that they repudiate commercial sexual exploitation of children; provide information to travelers by means of catalogues, brochures, inflight films, and ticket slips; provide information to local ``key persons'' at the destinations; and report annually to the Code International Steering Committee and the Secretariat at the WTO.

By reporting yearly, the companies share their experiences and allow for annual monitoring and evaluation of the progress and outcomes of their endeavors. A Steering Committee made up of international independent and voluntary representatives along with ECPAT supervise the Code implementation.

Internationally, more than two hundred companies have signed the Code of Conduct. The United States, however, has lagged far behind. That is why the willingness of Carlson Companies Inc., Flamingo Travel, Ela Brasil and ASTA to sign the Code is so significant. The Carlson Companies Inc. is ranked as one of the largest privately held corporations in America. Among its brands and services are Regent International Hotels, Radisson Hotels, Country Inns and Suites, Park Plaza, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Cruise Holidays, Results Travel, Raddison Seven Seas Cruises, and Carlson Marketing Group.

Since signing the Code of Conduct, Carlson Companies Inc. has put information about sex tourism and commercial exploitation of children on its company website, has run ads and included editorial content in its hotel publications, and has included information about this issue on their ticket stock. Flamingo Travel, Ela Brasil and ASTA have taken similar steps in implementing the Code of Conduct.

These companies are trailblazers in combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Their bold stand could save lives. Significantly their forthright commitment on this issue puts pressure on other American companies in travel and tourism to sign the Code of Conduct as well.

Mr. Speaker, for all the foregoing reasons, I ask my the colleagues to join me in applauding the Carlson Companies Inc., ASTA, Flamingo Travel, and Ela Brasil for their commitment to implementing the Code of Conduct and fighting one of the world's cruelest and most devastating industries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the National Organization for Women (NOW), our Nation's paramount champion of women's rights.

The National Organization for Women has been a pioneer in the fight for women's equality and is one of our Nation's foremost institutions for social justice and social change. For the past 40 years, NOW has been at the forefront of every major effort to advance women's rights and promote equality between the sexes.

The National Organization for Women was founded in 1966 with the $5 contributions of 28 women. These women came together in recognition of the need to bring women into equal partnership with men as part of a world-wide human rights movement. In the last 40 years, NOW has expanded this vision to local and campus chapters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and grown its membership to roughly 500,000.

As the largest feminist organization in the United States, NOW's continued success is due to its leaders' commitment to innovative and diverse avenues of activism. From local rallies and mass marches to political lobbying and Supreme Court battles, NOW works to achieve advancement for women. Its current primary concerns are promoting passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, eradication of violence against women, championing reproductive freedom and other women's health issues, opposition to racism and bigotry against lesbians and gays and advocating for economic and educational equality.

Since 1967, NOW has dedicated itself to passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. The organization tirelessly led efforts to lobby Congress for the amendment's passage until both Houses ratified the ERA in 1971. NOW then led the campaign for ratification in the states and fought for the extension of the amendment's deadline.

Since 1969, NOW has brought lawsuits to our Nation's courts to fight sex discrimination in the workplace. In one of the first cases to apply Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to a sex discrimination case, NOW won women access to positions previously denied to them because of biased and unnecessary strength tests.

Recognizing that economic security means little to women who are not secure in their homes, NOW pioneered the founding of battered women's shelters and rape crisis centers. By organizing the first Take Back the Night rallies, NOW activists provided women with a platform to confront threats of violence and empowered them to speak out against their offenders. In 1994, NOW's efforts to end women's victimization culminated in the passage of the Violence Against Women Act.

Since its founding, NOW has led the battle for women's reproductive freedom. NOW was the first national organization to call for the legalization of abortion and has committed itself to safeguarding the right to choose secured by Roe v. Wade. For 20 years NOW fought to use federal anti-racketeering laws to protect abortion clinics and their clients from harassment by militant anti-abortionists. In 2004, NOW cosponsored the March for Women's Lives to demonstrate Americans unequivocal support for women's reproductive rights. The march drew 1.15 million people to Washington, D.C. for the largest civil rights demonstration in U.S. history.

NOW was an early and vocal supporter of lesbian rights. NOW activists supported the rights of lesbians and their families in Belmont v. Belmont, the landmark case that awarded a lesbian mother custody of her children. Rosemary Dempsey, the defendant, later served as NOW's Vice President of Action. ill 1975, lesbian rights became one of NOW's priority issues and has since been the theme of two of its national conferences.

Opposed to bigotry and discrimination of all kinds, NOW has also been a champion and defender of affirmative action policies. In 1996, 50,000 activists gathered in San Francisco in defense of affirmative action for NOW's March to Fight the Right. NOW has also adopted a hiring policy that reflects its dedication to diversity and commitment to eradicating racial disparities in the work place.

Today, NOW's President, Kim Gandy, follows in the footsteps of the organization's inaugural president, the late Betty Friedan. Under Ms. Gandy's leadership, NOW remains committed to the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and has risen to the unique challenges of our time. Advocating for pay equity, affordable quality daycare, women-friendly workplaces, and a fair minimum wage, NOW, with unfaltering determination, continues to lead our country on the march towards women's equality.

Mr. Speaker, as the National Organization for Women celebrates 40 years as our country's preeminent voice for the advancement of

women, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the essential role that NOW has played in leading efforts to create positive social and political change.