Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, along with my colleague and good friend Congressman Nadler, I rise to recognize World Trade Center Responder Day, which will be held in lower Manhattan on the afternoon of Saturday, June 5th. World Trade Center (WTC) Responder Day is organized by the Mount Sinai World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program Clinical Center, the New York State AFL-CIO, and the New York City Central Labor Council to honor the men and women who rushed to lower Manhattan to rescue and recover others following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The collapse of the World Trade Center towers took thousands of lives in a matter of seconds and released a massive cloud of asbestos, pulverized concrete, and other poisons that sickened thousands more in the days and months after the attacks. The first responders who participated in search, rescue, and recovery operations at Ground Zero toiled in this toxic environment, often for weeks at a time. As a result of their service, many of these heroes and heroines now suffer from a host of illnesses, including severe respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder--as do many survivors of the attacks.

For many, 9/11 has receded into memory, but the nightmare of that day continues for Americans sickened as a direct result of these attacks on our country, and are not getting the help they need and deserve from the federal government. In addition to honoring their service, WTC Responder Day also serves as a reminder that we must do more to provide proper health care and compensation to first responders and survivors of the attacks who are suffering.

The federal government has a moral obligation to care for those who respond to an attack on our country, just as we did more than 65 years ago in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attacks. At that time, American civilians helped recover the dead and salvage what remained of our Pacific fleet. Many of these civilians also were killed, injured or made sick as a consequence of their heroic service to our nation. In passing the War Hazards Compensation Act of 1942, Congress wisely and compassionately extended health care and financial relief to civilian responders in need. It is time that this Congress did the same for those who lost their health as a result of 9/11. More than 100 colleagues serving in this House, from all across the nation, have joined with Congressman Nadler and me in a bipartisan coalition to co- sponsor the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It will provide medical monitoring for everyone who was exposed to World Trade Center toxins, treatment for anyone who is sick as a result, and compensation for economic losses by reopening the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Though WTC Responder Day is held in Manhattan, caring for the heroes of Ground Zero Americans is an issue that extends far beyond the borders of the Empire State. According to the federally-funded World Trade Center Health Registry, citizens from all 50 states and nearly every Congressional district in the country ventured to lower Manhattan to volunteer their services on or after 9/11, and now harbor serious concerns about their health. In all, more than 10,000 people enrolled in the Registry live outside the greater New York tri-state metropolitan area that also encompasses northern New Jersey and southwestern Connecticut.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has proclaimed June 5th to be World Trade Center Responders Day in the Big Apple. The organizers of Responder Day plan to make this a recurring, nationally-recognized event, one that will continue to inspire other communities around the country to host their own Responder Day gatherings in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, Congressman Nadler and I ask that our colleagues join us in applauding the Mount Sinai World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program Clinical Center, the New York State AFL-CIO, and the New York City Central Labor Council for organizing World Trade Center Responder Day.

We commend these fine organizations for their patriotism and dedication to caring for the heroes of 9/11.

Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of Mr. Lyle Frank on the occasion of his retirement as Chairman of New York City's Community Board 6. A tireless and dedicated community activist and civic volunteer, Lyle Frank is a consummate New Yorker who has distinguished himself in his career in both the public and private sectors.

A respected attorney, Lyle Frank has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving others through his public and community service. After graduating from New York University and Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Frank began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, where he presented arguments in the ``Megan's Law'' hearings. He continued his legal career at Callan, Koster, Brady & Brennan, LLP, and later at Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP, serving as a lead attorney in New York Supreme Court trials involving personal injury. Currently a small claims arbitrator for the New York County Civil Court, he serves as Legal Counsel for the New York City Council's Committees on Parks and Recreation and on Lower Manhattan Redevelopment. Mr. Frank is also an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Most recently, he became an adjunct professor at Baruch College, where he is an advisor to students in the National Urban Fellowship Program that prepares students for leadership and management positions in government or non-profit agencies.

It is for his volunteer service as a Member and Chairman of Community Board 6 for which Mr. Frank is being honored by his fellow Board members and community residents on the evening of June 21, 2010. Community Board 6, which encompasses the East Side of Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets along the East River, serves as the representative town meeting of the historic and nationally prominent neighborhoods that lie within its boundaries. It thus provides a voice to community residents and their concerns, running the gamut of issues from land use to traffic to sanitation and beyond. After joining the Board in 1994, Mr. Frank became a dedicated and energetic representative for his fellow citizens. His leadership abilities were recognized when he was elected Chairman of Manhattan's Community Board 6 in January of 2006. He has just concluded four years as Chairman. Community Board 6 residents are fortunate that Lyle Frank will continue to serve their interests as a Member of the Board. Throughout all his professional and voluntary activity, Lyle Frank has fought for and secured immeasurable improvements to the quality of life of his fellow Manhattan residents.

Madam Speaker, in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the civic and public life of our nation's greatest city, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Mr. Lyle Frank, a great New Yorker and a great American. Lyle Frank's dedication to public and community serves as an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, the BP oil spill has caused a great emergency along our gulf coast. I hope as the response to it continues, we never forget the lessons of the Ground Zero workers.

In the wake of 9/11, thousands of men and women labored tirelessly. Driven by a sense of urgent purpose, safety precautions were not taken and assurances were given that proved to be false. The health of far too many of those who worked on that toxic pile, they suffered long- term health consequences.

Now, in the gulf, men and women are once again being exposed to a toxic sea

of elements. After just 40-some days, there are already reports that workers have suffered from exposure to the oil. And this cleanup will go on for years.

The time to address the issue of the health of the cleanup workers is now, before they lose it.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the men and women in our armed forces and H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2011. H.R. 5136 makes sound investments in our armed forces--strengthening our national security and providing needed resources and support for our men and women in uniform and their families.

I am particularly pleased by the inclusion of twenty-eight provisions to ensure the Defense Department has the tools it needs to prevent and respond to sexual assault in the military. These important provisions will implement into law many of the recommendations of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services, and the inclusion of these provisions in this bill makes this the single most comprehensive legislative package in history to address sexual assault in the military.

Preventing sexual assault in the military is a persistent problem and an issue that I have worked on for many years. I firmly believe that the best way to effectively tackle a problem such as sexual assault in the military is to have accurate data, which is why I previously introduced legislation that would force the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement fully the Defense Incident-Based Reporting System (DIBRS). DIBRS collects statistics about crimes committed within the military services.

Despite the clear need for a well-functioning system for reporting such crimes, DIBRS has yet to be completed. In the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act, I offered an amendment that was successfully adopted that required that the Secretary report to Congress on the Department's progress to completing DIBRS. Since that time, the Defense Department reports that the Navy has resumed full-time reporting and is working towards full compliance. I applaud the Department for its efforts and look forward to an accurate accounting of the crimes that are occurring in the U.S. military and the effective policies that will be implemented in response to ensure the safety of our military personnel.

I have also introduced legislation, the Preventing Sexual Assaults in the Military Act, that would provide funding to process the backlog of DNA kits in the military, reduce the processing time, train medical personnel as SANEs, and ensure an adequate supply of rape kits to theaters of operation, academies, and domestic or overseas bases. Similar provisions passed in the FY05 Defense Authorization legislation, and I am very pleased to see that this bill before us today requires DoD to specifically budget for the sexual assault prevention and response program--a program that addresses these shortfalls.

This bill before us today protects and supports our military service members, while strengthening the ability of the finest military in the world to respond to today's and future threats.

I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H. Res. 1391, congratulating Israel for its accession to membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD. On May 10, 2010, Israel became the 32nd member of the OECD by unanimous vote of the other members. This is an extraordinary achievement for a small, beleaguered nation that came into existence little more than six decades ago.

Sixty-two years ago, Israelis began the difficult process of creating a country from nothing. For more than a thousand years, the territory that is now Israel had been ruled by a series of far-off empires. It had no infrastructure, no history of self-rule, no major industrial base and very few large enterprises.

After Israel's establishment in 1948, Israelis created their own institutions from scratch. Israel has grown from an impoverished backwater colony to an economic powerhouse in the region. And although it has fewer natural resources than most nations of the world, it has made the most of what is has, investing in knowledge, development, innovation and medicine. Today, Israel is a center of scientific, medical and technological innovation, a leader in agriculture, water purification, alternative energy and public health.

Israel is a flourishing democracy, with a strong free press, a free and independent judiciary and a strong banking system that protects the safety and soundness of its financial institutions. The World Bank ranks Israel among the 30 countries in which it is easiest to do business. It is tied for fourth in ease of getting credit and tied for fifth in protecting investors. Similarly, the World Economic Forum rated Israel fifth of 133 nations on the Forum's legal rights index and 15th in judicial independence and 15th in financial market sophistication.

Israel's founders wanted to create an agricultural Garden of Eden-- and since much of its territory consists of desert, its farmers developed techniques for growing crops in arid ground, using very little water. These techniques are now being marketed and used in developing nations across the globe. As part of its acceptance into OECD, Israel has agreed to increase its aid to underdeveloped nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As part of that promise, Israel will be sending hundreds of experts in agriculture, water, and irrigation to impoverished areas, as well as experts in alternative energy, public health, education, and internal security. By sharing its knowledge, Israel will be helping its neighbors and improving relationships with developing countries. Even before OECD acceptance, Israel astounded the world by arriving in Haiti with a high tech field hospital that was able to perform sophisticated procedures and save lives.

With oil-producing nations hostile to it, and very little oil or gas of its own, Israel learned to become energy efficient, using solar power and other alternative fuels. With little land and few natural resources, Israel positioned itself at the cutting edge of technological innovation. Many of the technological innovations we take for granted, including instant messaging, security firewalls, artificial stents, wireless computer chips, were developed in Israel. In 2010, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel 27th out of 133 countries in its Growth Competitiveness Index. Israel ranked third in quality of scientific research institutions, fourth in utility patents, seventh in life expectancy, ninth in innovation, 15th in availability of the latest technologies. Israel leads the world in the number of high-technology start-up companies, scientific publications, and research and development spending per capita.

Acceptance in the OECD is a mark of member nations' respect for Israel's economic progress, and it will help Israel attract foreign investors and develop its markets. Membership will enhance Israel's status in the world and will enhance its participation in other international bodies. It is no secret that the Palestinian Authority tried hard to deny Israel membership in the OECD precisely because they were concerned that OECD membership would enhance Israel's reputation in the world and strengthen its ties with other nations around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, Israel's accession to the OECD is a remarkable achievement. I am pleased to join my colleagues in saluting Israel's success and in expressing appreciation to the OECD members for their unanimous decision to accept Israel as a member. For all of the foregoing reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1391.

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing bipartisan legislation along with Representative Mike Castle and Representative Lois Capps to save and reclaim the lives of mothers and their babies. The Obstetric Fistula Prevention, Treatment, Hope and Dignity Restoration Act of 2010 authorizes funding to reduce obstetric fistula, a terrible condition which can be prevented and repaired. More than two million women worldwide have obstetric fistula resulting from prolonged labor without medical attention. The pressure created internally on a woman from this obstructed delivery kills tissue and causes a hole to develop between the woman's vagina and rectum, leaving the woman without control of her bladder and/or bowels for the rest of her life if left without treatment. It often results in the death of the infant. Many women with obstetric fistula are abandoned by their husbands and families because they are considered ``unclean''. Left without support, the women are often forced to beg or turn to prostitution to survive.

The World Health Organization estimates that 50,000-100,000 new cases of obstetric fistula develop each year, adding to the estimated 2 million current cases, with most cases occurring in poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia where access to maternal and obstetric care is limited.

Fortunately, there is hope. This condition is almost entirely preventable. Prevention efforts include medical interventions such as skilled attendance present during labor and childbirth, providing access to family planning, and emergency obstetric care for women who develop childbirth complications as well as social interventions such as delaying early marriage and educating and empowering young women.

This condition also is treatable in up to 90 percent of cases, costing an average of $300 for repair. The treatment requires a specially trained surgeon and support staff, and access to an operating theater and to attentive postoperative care.

This bill supports a comprehensive approach to end obstetric fistula--prevention to eliminate occurrences, treatment to repair those women who already suffer, and rehabilitation to help those recovering fully heal and reenter society. It focuses on efforts to build local capacity and improve national systems to prevent and treat obstetric fistula.

Women are fundamental to ensuring the health of their children and other family members.

Obstetric fistula is devastating; but doesn't have to be life- shattering. With our bill, we can provide hope and a healthy future. I urge my colleagues to support the Obstetric Fistula Prevention, Treatment, Hope, and Dignity Restoration Act of 2010.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support.

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee shows that extending unemployment benefits is not only the morally right thing to do, it is fiscally responsible.

The report focuses on unemployed disabled workers. By the end of 2010, the JEC estimates that 290,000 unemployed disabled workers will exhaust their unemployment benefits. Without extension of unemployment benefits, the JEC estimates that two-thirds of these workers will leave the labor force and move on to Social Security Disability Insurance.

Shifting these workers from the labor force and onto the SSDI rolls, the cost of inaction is a $24.2 billion lifetime cost.

By contrast, keeping these workers attached to the labor force by extending unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA premium subsidies is $721 million in 2010.

The JEC analysis concludes that the Federal Government can save $23.5 billion by extending unemployment benefits and avoiding a lifetime of SSDI for currently unemployed workers.

I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, the Joint Economic Committee released a report this week which shows the staggering cost to the government of failing to extend unemployment benefits. The report focuses on unemployed disabled workers.

By the end of 2010, the JEC estimates that 290,000 unemployed disabled workers will exhaust their unemployment benefits. Without extension of unemployment benefits, the JEC estimates that two-thirds of these workers will leave the labor force and move on to Social Security disability insurance. Shifting these workers from the labor market and onto the SSDI rolls--the cost of inaction--is a $24.2 billion lifetime cost.

By contrast, extending unemployment insurance benefits and COBRA premium benefits is $721 million in 2010. Not only is an extension of unemployment benefits the morally right thing to do; it is fiscally responsible, saving the government over $23 billion.

Madam Chair, it is time to repeal the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue'' policy and to allow lesbian, gay and bisexual persons to serve openly in the military.

From the initial introduction of this profoundly misguided policy in 1993, I have never wavered in my belief that our nation's armed forces should not discriminate against otherwise qualified citizens on the basis of their sexual orientation. Today, at a time when our nation is engaged militarily in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the extent to which the so-called compromise ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy has damaged America's military readiness has become even more apparent than it was seventeen years ago.

The policy against allowing lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members to serve openly has resulted in depriving our armed forces of the abilities, experience and dedication of thousands of qualified active duty personnel. This institutionalized discrimination is completely illogical and counter-productive as we grapple with an increasingly dangerous world, with our servicemembers serving all over the world

The U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO, has documented the cost to our nation. In 2005, the GAO estimated the cost of discriminating against service members on the basis of their sexual orientation at nearly $200 million over the course of just the last decade. This estimate may, in fact, be too low, as the GAO itself acknowledged and as other studies conducted by reputable academic institutions like the Michael Palm Center at the University of California have documented.

Advocates for the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy continue stubbornly to cite elusive factors to justify its inherent institutionalized discrimination. The most common argument is the specious insistence that ``unit cohesion'' among the armed forces will suffer if lesbians, gay men, and bisexual persons are allowed to serve openly--an argument that even Richard Cheney, while serving as the Secretary of Defense during the presidency of George H. W. Bush, acknowledged in congressional testimony was ``a bit of an old chestnut to be tossed onto an open fire and consigned forever to the ashbin of history.''

The fact is that many other nations--including trusted allies whose armed forces are respected around the world such as Great Britain, Israel, Australia, and Canada--have allowed their citizens to serve in their armed forces regardless of their disclosure of their sexual orientation. It is high time that the United States of America, which prides itself as a beacon of liberty and equality, joins their ranks.

I urge the members of this House to vote to repeal this misguided and counterproductive and un-American policy.

Mr. Speaker, the most recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the economy has taken another 290,000 steps in the right direction. Two hundred ninety thousand, that's how many jobs the economy added in the month of April. This comes on top of the 230,000 jobs added in March.

According to Commissioner Keith Hall from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are now numerous bright spots, the trend is encouraging, and the growth is widespread. The growing consensus is that the economy is steadily improving, and that the private sector will continue hiring. This real possibility of hope on the job front is one of the reasons that an additional 800,000 people entered the labor force last month.

As you can see from this chart, the declining red is the number of jobs lost in the prior administration. The blue shows the jobs and the trend in the right direction, showing that policy does matter. This V chart is not for victory, but it certainly shows that we are moving in the right direction. There is now reason to hope, and there is real progress on the jobs front.

Madam Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Noguchi Museum. Isamu Noguchi was one of the twentieth century's most influential and critically acclaimed Japanese-American sculptors. The museum, which he established and designed, is considered by many to be one of his greatest achievements. It is also the first museum in the United States to be founded by a living artist in his lifetime.

Noguchi's innovation is evident in the museum's construction. He converted a 1920s photo-engraving plant in Long Island City into a two- story, 27,000 square foot exhibition space divided into ten galleries, along with a serene sculpture garden. The museum houses the world's largest and most extensive collection of Noguchi's work, including his complete archives. There is a comprehensive selection of his sculptures in stone, metal, wood, and clay, as well as drawings, models for public projects and gardens, stage sets, furniture, and his Akari Light Sculptures.

An internationalist, Noguchi drew inspiration from his extensive world travels. This influence is evident in the materials and techniques he chose to use in his projects. Noguchi believed in the social role of sculpture and created public works all over the world including a playground in Japan, a plaza in Texas, a garden in Paris, a fountain in New Orleans and this museum in Long Island City. He did not belong to any particular movement; often his choices reflect his commitment to creating art around public spaces.

Through his collaborations with international artists, Noguchi became fluent in a range of different media and schools and set a new standard for artistic achievement. The museum repays his debt to the international community, by organizing traveling exhibitions and loaning works to other institutions for special exhibitions. It serves as an international center for the study and interpretation of Noguchi's vision, life, and the influence of his work on later artists.

The museum's steadfast commitment to education is reflected in the myriad of public and academic programs and tours offered to children, teens, and adults of all ages. Particularly popular are the ``Second Sundays'' series, which convene renowned experts in art, architecture, and design to explore a variety of timely topics and complement the museum's mission and exhibits, and the summer ``Music in the Garden'' series. Other programs vary from panel discussions to curators' talks, artist-led gallery tours, and poetry readings.

The Noguchi Museum recently underwent a renovation which has not only preserved the artist's vision, but has better enabled its facilities to meet the needs of its ever expanding audience.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to all the friends, family and supporters of the Noguchi Museum on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Responsible GSE Affordable Housing Investment Act of 2010. I would like to recognize my colleagues Representatives Nadler, Velazquez and Meeks for their co-sponsorship of the legislation.

The bill will curtail the ability of Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to invest in future deals-- like in the case of Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village in my district--that do not result in an increase in, or preservation of, affordable housing.

Since 1992, GSEs like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been required to meet certain affordable housing goals each year. ``Housing Goals Credit'' is awarded numerically based on the types of transactions that they enter into. GSEs in turn make decisions about their investments based on whether these investments would be eligible for Housing Goals Credit.

In 2007, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac invested in a $22 billion commercial mortgage-backed securities transaction that contained the debt on the Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village project. The deal was one of the largest commercial mortgage-back securities (CMBS) deals ever; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's participation as senior debt holders of $3 billion was critical.

At the time of the deal it was clear that the Stuyvesant Town property was overleveraged--the debt on the property was larger than the rental income it was receiving. After the transaction closed, over the course of several years, the new owners of the property engaged in aggressive tactics to convert affordable units to market rate so that they could increase their rental income--yet the GSEs received affordable housing goals credit for this investment. The investment on the part of the GSEs secured completion of the deal and the GSEs were incentivized to make it because of the housing goals credit they received.

The GSEs should be incentivized to invest in projects that actually do increase or preserve affordable housing. That is what my bill will do. It will require the Federal Housing Finance Agency to rewrite its rules for distributing housing goals credit so that Freddie and Fannie cannot receive credit for investments like the one they made in the Stuyvesant Town project. It would also require the GSEs to use the same underwriting standards for investments in the secondary market that they do for their direct investments which are much stricter. That way, the GSEs won't invest in the secondary market in projects where the rental income is insufficient to cover the payments on the debt on the property.

Madam Speaker, this bill addresses a critical component of GSE decision-making when it comes to their investments: whether or not they will receive housing goals credit. It does not prohibit them from making investments, it merely says that if those investments do not lead to an increase or a preservation of affordable housing, the GSEs cannot receive credit for them.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to support the U.S.-Israel Rocket and Missile Defense Cooperation and Support Act, H.R. 5327, to provide $205 million to support Israel's deployment of the Iron Dome rocket defense system.

Israel is our closest ally and the only true democracy in the Middle East, yet throughout its 62-year existence, it has been under attack from neighboring states and terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah that deny its right to exist as a Jewish State. Funding for this program is consistent with America's promise that there can be no space between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to security. U.S.- Israel cooperation is beneficial to both nations, particularly when we collaborate to develop advanced defense technologies like the Iron Dome rocket defense system.

For nearly five years, Israelis were subjected to a rain of terror as nearly 8,000 missiles were fired over the border from the Gaza Strip following Israel's unilateral withdrawal in 2005, leading to a desperate effort by Israel to end the bombardment with Operation Cast Lead which began on December 27, 2008. Large population centers like Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Be'er Sheva were hit by rocket and mortar fire. Widely derided as `home-made' by the international press, these bombs were deadly for those unlucky enough to be in the way. And they fell indiscriminately on homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. A four year old boy was killed at a nursery school in Sderot. Other rockets hit a school and a sports center in Ashkelon. Luck and a system of sirens and bunkers kept the death toll down, but thousands were injured and thousands more were traumatized by living with daily terror.

Similarly, during the Lebanon War of 2006, residents of Northern Israel, including the city of Haifa, were subjected to a barrage of Katyusha rockets from Sourthern Lebanon. Nearly 4,000 of these rockets fell on Israel during the 5 week conflict.

While incidents are fewer today, Israeli citizens along the border, particularly in the city of Sderot, continue to face occasional rocket fire. Evidence suggests that there are now at least as many rockets targeting Israel from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip as there were before Operation Cast Lead and the 2006 Lebanon War. And while the missiles do not fall regularly, they do fall. For example, on August 8, 2009, a rocket fired from Lebanon went through the roof of a nursing home in Nahariya in Israel, passing through several bedrooms and landing in the kitchen. By chance, the rocket hit while residents were on a lower level waiting for breakfast and there were only minor injuries and shock. Had residents been in their rooms, there would have been many deaths.

Currently, the only defense is a warning siren that sounds 15 seconds before the bombs hit, allowing Israelis a few seconds to scramble for the nearest bomb shelter or safe room. That's fifteen seconds of terror while mothers call frantically for their children and old people painfully try to make it to safety. For those who are bedridden, there's merely the hope that the bombs will fall elsewhere.

The best way to end terrorism is to render the terrorists powerless. Our $205 million will build a rocket defense system to give Israelis another form of self-defense. This defense system will advance the cause of peace by enhancing Israel's ability to defend itself from attack. Instead of building stronger bunkers and better underground facilities, it gives Israelis the hope that the missiles can be destroyed before they hit. If the missiles cannot get through, then Israelis will not have to cower in their bunkers and basements and safe rooms. And perhaps their dreams of a lasting, secure peace will become a reality.

Madam Speaker, I believe this funding offers hope to Israelis weary of terror, and reason for optimism for those who understand that peace is impossible without the promise of security. Accordingly, I strongly support H.R. 5327 and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.

Mr. Speaker, the Joint Economic Committee released a report this week that looks at how tighter credit standards have hit small businesses especially hard. That means that now, even as big and mid-sized businesses have begun adding jobs once again, small businesses are struggling to expand and put Americans back to work. Small businesses are rightly considered to be the great engine of the American economy. Seventy-five percent of all employees work for businesses with less than 250 employees. And if small businesses are the engine, then credit is the fuel that keeps that engine going. While large and mid-sized firms have multiple funding sources, including the public debt market, small businesses rely almost completely on financial institutions. Improving credit availability to small businesses will help to grow our economy and create jobs. That is why the Financial Services Committee today is working on legislation to create a small business loan fund. It's an investment in America that is truly worthy of a AAA rating.

Madam Speaker, today I am reintroducing the Access to Birth Control (ABC) Act along with 12 other Members of the House of Representatives. Senator Frank Lautenberg is introducing companion legislation in the Senate. Ninety-eight percent of American women use birth control at some point in their lives. This bill ensures that any woman who would like birth control and who has a legal prescription or is seeking over-the-counter emergency contraception, will be able to get it in a timely and convenient manner.

The ABC Act would make it illegal for a pharmacist to refuse to return a birth control prescription, or for a pharmacist to intimidate, threaten, or harass customers, or intentionally breach, or threaten to breach, medical confidentiality.

Under my bill, if a pharmacist on duty refuses to fill the prescription, then the pharmacy must ensure that another employee on staff fills the prescription for the customer without delay.

Very simply, this legislation ensures a woman's legal access to birth control.

An alarming trend has erupted in some pharmacies across the nation. Over the past few years, there have been increasing reports of pharmacists refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control pills. In some cases, pharmacists have kept and refused to transfer a prescription, refused to sell over-the-counter emergency contraception, or given the customer false medical information about the requested birth control. Pharmacists have taken it upon themselves to decide whose prescription they will fill and which over the counter medication they will provide.

Despite action by the Food and Drug Administration to make emergency contraception available without a prescription to women over the age of 17, refusals among pharmacists continue to be a problem. Access to birth control is especially important for women living in

rural areas who may not have multiple pharmacies near them and for women from low-income communities who lack the resources to find another pharmacy in the appropriate time. Women from all walks of life are being traumatized and humiliated at the hands of pharmacists who are denying them their right to contraception based on their own personal beliefs.

The Access to Birth Control, ABC, Act is an important step in protecting a woman's constitutional right to contraception. Birth control and emergency contraception are part of women's basic health care and pharmacists should not have the right to interfere.