Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an important milestone in the history of an organization that has made a difference in the lives of many Americans and many communities across the nation--the Points of Light Institute.

Twenty years ago, a newly-inaugurated President George H.W. Bush challenged us to ``bring in the generations, harnessing the unused talent of the elderly and the unfocused energy of the young . . . to spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good.'' It was this challenge that became the foundation of the Points of Light initiative. President Obama dramatically expanded this movement with his leadership of the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, legislation that I sponsored, which was signed into law earlier this year.

The Points of Light Foundation recently merged with Hands On Network to form the Points of Light Institute. This organization has been transforming American lives and communities around the nation, offering tangible and meaningful ways for people to serve.

In 2008, the Points of Light Institute and its 250 Hands On volunteer action centers engaged over 1.2 million volunteers in service and managed over 520,000 volunteer projects. The value of this service is over $600 million, a remarkable contribution to the health and welfare of American communities from Seattle to Miami.

One of Points of Light's affiliates is the Long Island Volunteer Center headquartered in my Congressional District. Daily, this great local organization connects individuals and groups to help nonprofit organizations expand programs and services that improve the environment, mentor at-risk youth, assist the elderly, help hungry and homeless people, and enhance appreciation of cultural arts.

Congratulations to Points of Light on this 20 year anniversary and for the many acts of service that have improved the lives of those in need in our midst. We all look forward to many more years of inspiring work.

Madam Speaker, it is with pride and admiration I offer my thanks and recognition to Points of Light Institute.

I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this resolution to the floor. I also want to thank my ranking member on our Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, Mr. Platts. He and I have worked very well on a number of issues, and we appreciate his hard work in joining me as the lead cosponsor on this resolution.

I would also like to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Kline, and all of the committee staff who always do such a wonderful job. National Work and Family Month is the centerpiece of a national educational campaign to raise awareness among employers about the value of work- life integration.

The goal is to encourage all workplaces to pause once a year during the month of October to communicate and celebrate the progress already made on the journey to creating healthier and more flexible work environments and then raise the bar to accomplish even more the following year. Workplace flexibility is extremely important in today's busy world. Corporations that engage in these family-supportive practices have earned well in their stock values.

This year, more than ever, employers need to know there is an inexpensive, efficient way to motivate and retain top talent that they will need to get through tough times. Employees need to know it's good to utilize work-life programs offered in an organization because it will help them become much more productive. Over 5 years, every October, businesses all over the country have celebrated National Work and Family Month.

The problem of work-life conflicts affects everybody. A majority of working men and a significant portion of women with children under the age of 18 report some level of work-life conflict.

It's important to designate a time for employers to help employees understand their option and achieve better work-life integration. Meanwhile, employees need to know it's good to utilize work-life programs offered at any organization, because it will help them become more productive.

Decades of research show that an investment into work-life categories provide a positive return and investment, a more productive, engaged and healthier workforce.

Madam Speaker, distracted driving is a serious problem in our Nation. One study conducted by Virginia Tech University found that drivers are 23 times more likely to get into an accident when texting. A recent New York Times/CBS News Poll indicated 90 percent of adults agree that texting while driving should be illegal.

This is an issue that rises above political power. This is why the Department of Transportation has dedicated a 2-day summit here in Washington this week to address the rising concerns of distracted driving on our Nation's highways.

H.R. 3535, the ALERT Drivers Act, which I am proud to introduce along with my colleague, Nita Lowey from New York, would ban anyone from writing, sending, or reading text messages while operating a moving vehicle.

Already endorsed by Ford Motors and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, I ask that you join me in curbing preventable accidents on our Nation's roadways and cosponsor the ALERT Drivers Act.

Madam Speaker, we see these accidents all the time. We need to do something.

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of the Kennedy Child Study Center to commemorate its remarkable contributions to the youth of America. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Kennedy Child Study Center has helped thousands of children overcome major developmental obstacles. Through a wide range of programs, the Kennedy Child Study Center, and its highly qualified staff, have provided children with guidance and encouragement. For this, the Kennedy Child Study Center and its staff, both present and past, are deserving of recognition.

The Kennedy Child Study Center has done much for the communities in Manhattan and the Bronx in New York City. Over the past half-century, thousands of children have been given the opportunity to receive the proper care, education and social interactions they deserve through the Kennedy Child Study Center. This organization fully understands the significance early diagnosis of learning disabilities has on a child's achievements in school and everyday life. Through preschool and early intervention programs they are able to detect developmental problems and then provide the proper guidance and developmental assistance. They offer a wide spectrum of programs to enhance a child's lifestyle. A few examples of these services include special early

childhood education, physical therapy, nursing, psychological testing and music and art supervision. As the Kennedy Child Study Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is a great time to reflect on all the positive work its organization has done for the youth of America and to look towards a future where children with developmental disabilities have access to quality care and educational success.

The dedicated work of the Kennedy Child Study Center is inspiring to us all, and I am immensely grateful to them for all that they have accomplished. I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing the gratitude of the U.S. Congress for their extensive contributions to society.

Thank you, Mr. Himes. I appreciate working with you and Congresswoman Schwartz in working to bring this important amendment to the floor. I want to also thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Kline and the committee staff for their hard work on H.R. 3221 which will make landmark investments in education and will provide $10 billion in deficit reduction. I also want to thank the chairman for working with me to include several positions in the bill related to school safety, classroom noise, child care facilities and increasing college access for low-income and minority students.

The amendment before us would make five technical changes to the bill to strengthen the financial literacy components. It has become apparent that the lack of education among students and consumers about financial systems and products is one of the key elements of our Nation's current economic crisis. In many cases, consumers were preyed on by financial institutions and sold into debts that they were not capable of fulfilling. This has been a defining factor of the current economic crisis.

This amendment seeks to better educate students and arm them with the knowledge that will help them navigate the rough waters of our economy. It's more important than ever that Americans become informed consumers in order to prevent our economy from weakening further. I believe it is never too early or too late to learn about consumer, economic and personal finance concepts. This amendment is a good step that will hopefully put Americans on a track toward fiscal responsibility and make a new generation of informed consumers.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the amendment and the underlying bill.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed 4 votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows.

Rollcall No. 690, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 447, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 691, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2097, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 692, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2498, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 693, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 722, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, today, I missed 2 votes. Had I been present. I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 694, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 965, I would have voted ``nay.''

Rollcall No. 695, on Passage of H.R. 965, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I am continuing to recover from back surgery. Yesterday, I missed 3 votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows.

Rollcall No. 687, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 324, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 688, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 310, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 689, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 3123, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed 7 votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows.

Rollcall No. 654, on Ordering the Previous Question on the Amendment to and Resolution H. Res. 685, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 655, on Agreeing to the Resolution, as Amended H. Res. 685, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 656, on the Motion to Table H. Res. 690, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 657, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 2749, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 658, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 1665, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 659, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 3357, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 660, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to, as Amended, H. Res. 496, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, yesterday and today, I missed 26 votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows.

Rollcall No. 661, on Agreeing to the Murtha Amendment to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 662, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 663, on Agreeing to the Tierney Amendment to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 664, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #1 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 665, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #258 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 666, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #389 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 667, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #432 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 668, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #439 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 669, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #449 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 670, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendment #553 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 671, on Agreeing to the Flake Amendments En Bloc to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 672, on Agreeing to the Campbell Amendment #1 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 673, on Agreeing to the Campbell Amendment #8 to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 674, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 675, on Passage of H.R. 3326, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 676, on Agreeing to the Resolution H. Con. Res. 172, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 677, on Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 691, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 678, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 2728, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 679, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 2749, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 680, on Passage of H.R. 2749, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 681, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 1752, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 682, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 3435, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 683, on Agreeing to the Frank Amendment to H.R. 3435, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Rollcall No. 684, on Agreeing to the Garrett Amendment to H.R. 3435, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 685, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 3435, I would have voted ``No.''

Rollcall No. 686, on Passage of H.R. 3435, I would have voted ``Yea.''

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed 4 votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

On rollcall No. 650, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1293, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 651, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 556, as Amended, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 652, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 509, as Amended, I would have voted ``yea.''

On rollcall No. 653, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 616, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed three votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows.

Rollcall No. 647, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 593, as Amended, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 648, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1376, as Amended, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 649, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1121, as Amended, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, on Friday, I missed 9 votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows.

Rollcall No. 638, on the Motion to Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 639, on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 673, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 640, on Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 673, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 641, on Agreeing to the Obey Amendment to H.R. 3293, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 642, on Agreeing to the Souder Amendment to H.R. 3293, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 643, on Agreeing to the Pence Amendment to H.R. 3293, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 644, on Agreeing to the Wittman Amendment to H.R. 3293, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 645, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 3293, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 646, on Passage of H.R. 3293, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed 11 votes. I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 605, on the Motion to Table H. Res. 667, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 606, on Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. 665, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 607, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1675, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 608, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2938, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 609, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 69, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 610, on Agreeing to the Ryan Amendment to H.R. 2920, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 611, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions to H.R. 2920, I would voted ``no.''

Rollcall No. 612, on Passage of H.R. 2920, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 613, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 3119, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 614, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Res. 534, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 615, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2972, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I missed nine votes. Had I been present I would have voted.

Rollcall No. 596, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.Con.Res. 164, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 597, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 2729, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 598, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1622, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 599, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to, as Amended, H.Res. 507, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 600, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.Res. 270, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 601, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to S.Con.Res. 30, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 602, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H.Con.Res. 123, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 603, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1933, I would have voted ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 604, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 2632, I would have voted ``yea.''