Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on colleagues to fully fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, during this year's appropriations process, at the full $5.1 billion.

LIHEAP is a vital program that helps low-income Americans pay their heating and cooling bills.

Our nation is facing an escalating energy crisis. More and more, American families are being forced to make difficult decisions between putting food on their tables and paying their utility bills.

If the current trend continues, LIHEAP will not have enough funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2008. Soaring energy prices combined with another heat wave this summer could be deadly if we don't act now to fully fund this important program.

This presents a particular risk to our Nation's most vulnerable, the elderly, infirm and children. Extreme temperatures can be incredibly dangerous to those with compromised physical conditions. They need to be protected and we have the ability to protect them by fully funding

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 2894, the Star Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act.

Let me start off by thanking the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Rupersberger for introducing this bill.

As school children we all learn about the War of 1812 as a turning point in our Nation's history that confirmed that the United States would remain a free and sovereign nation.

We also learn in school that, while being held by the British during the attack on Fort McHenry, just a few short miles from this building, Francis Scott Key was inspired after getting a glimpse at that tattered, but triumphant flag of our young Nation to compose a poem, which later became known as ``The Star Spangled Banner,'' our national anthem.

The symbol of the flag served as an inspiration to Francis Scott Key that night and has continued to inspire all Americans ever since.

Our flag was still there and is there still.

It is important that this Congress take this opportunity to recognize the historic significance of our national anthem and the battle from which it was born.

The Star Spangled Banner has inspired millions of patriotic Americans to take up the causes of our Nation in times of war and peace.

I know that many of my colleagues share the same sentiment with me when I say that every time I hear the opening notes of the Star Spangled Banner, I am personally nearly moved to tears.

That is why it is so important for us to commemorate the War of 1812 and the Star Spangled Banner by issuing a coin that will stand the test of time, much the same as the national anthem has.

I am in full support of this bill and ask that every Member of this Congress support it as well.

We can never be too patriotic.

We can never love our country too much.

And we can never do enough to commemorate the sacrifice that so many have given to protect our freedom.

This coin is one small gesture that we can offer to show our commitment to the values that are spoken about in our Nation's anthem: strength, honor, justice, patriotism, and courage.

Again, I encourage all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Chairman, earlier today I was questioning witnesses on the arts and humanities as Chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee. I missed two votes. I would like the Record to reflect how I would have voted had I been able to get to the floor in time.

Rollcall No. 296 on sustaining the ruling of the chair, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall No. 297 on the Altmire amendment to H.R. 5818, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Lois Capps and Eddie Bernice Johnson for bringing this forward on H. Res. 1086, recognizing National Nurses Week.

I have spent over 30 years as a nurse, and it was mentioned earlier, someone said, Once a nurse. Well, let me say, Once a nurse, always a nurse. We carry our duties even here to the House of Representatives.

I sit on the Education Committee, and what I have been working on since I came here was making sure that our nurses get every opportunity to increase our numbers. As has been mentioned before by both of my colleagues, the nursing shortage in this country is of a crisis proportion. We see that our nurses today are a lot older; they're at the retirement age, and we must do everything that we can to make sure that we have our young people coming into a very, very rewarding career. Nursing can be demanding, it can be tiring, it can be physically draining; but it couldn't be a better career.

When I first joined nursing over 30 years ago, I worked in the intensive care unit, and I spent most of my life there and just to be able to help a patient in their greatest need but also to work with their families to comfort them as they saw their loved one going through a traumatic injury.

We need to make sure that this country has a supply of nurses continuously. We have many young people that want to go to nursing school, but what we have found over the years is we don't have enough professors to be able to teach them to be nurses. So in the Higher Education Act, there is going to be funding in there to make sure that those that want to go into a higher education to be able to teach nursing, it can work out for us.

When we look at the future, we're seeing today in our hospitals such a shortage of nurses that a lot of the nurses are doing a lot of overtime. When they take a day off, they're always called to come back in. That is not acceptable, mainly because you have to be totally alert at all times. And I certainly tip my hat to my fellow nurses that go through this every single day.

They stay in the profession because they love the profession. They stay in the profession because it is a calling. Not everyone can be a nurse. It is a calling. I salute those men and women that go into nursing, and I also salute the women and men that are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and taking their nursing care to the soldiers and giving them comfort when they need it. There is no greater, in my opinion, profession than to be a nurse.

With that being said, I hope my colleagues will support H. Res. 1086 and recognize National Nurses Week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to say congratulations to Sallie Marx on the occasion of her Bat Mitzvah.

In Judaism, Bat Mitzvah celebrates the coming of age of a Jewish girl. According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of majority (twelve for girls) they become responsible for their actions, Jewish ritual law, tradition, and ethics and are privileged to participate in all areas of Jewish community life. The celebrant is asked to perform a mitzvah project, providing a service to the greater community.

Sallie Aijalen Marx, 12 years old, from Bainbridge Island, Washington will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah on May 17th, 2008 along with Grandmother Ruth Marx, Grandparents Gary and Phyllis Marx, Grandparents Mary Ellen and Andy Mendelsohn, Parents Josh and Stacey Marx, and lots of friends and relatives. As a mitzvah project she has raised $5,500 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and traveled across the state to run in the 5 K ``Race for a Cure'' in Spokane in April. Sallie raised more money than any other individual and all but two groups for the April event.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded in 1982 and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, they have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill their promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

For the past 25 years, Komen for the Cure has played a critical role in every major advance in the fight against breast cancer--transforming how the world talks about and treats this disease and helping to turn millions of breast cancer patients into breast cancer survivors. Their contributions include more early detection, more hope, more research and more survivors.

On her web page Sallie said ``One of the things that inspires me is that my grandma has had breast cancer since 1982. Unfortunately, I know many others who have been affected by breast cancer as well.'' Raising money for the Komen for the Cure Foundation and running in the Race for a Cure was the perfect mitzvah project given her sensitivity to breast cancer issues, her fund raising talent, and her athleticism.

Sallie is a bright young woman who excels in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. Her middle name, Aijalen, means happiness in a Chilean indigenous language; a product of her parents' service in the Peace Corps in Chile. She enjoys cooking, loves to read Sports Illustrated, rooting for the Red Sox, and is an outstanding student. Sallie's mother Stacey joined her in the Race for a Cure while her father Josh and younger brother Nate cheered them on.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing Sallie and her family on her important day.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Herb Ruben, who is being honored by Peninsula Counseling Center at its 95th anniversary celebration on May 13, 2008. Herb Ruben has served with extraordinary devotion and dedication for the past 50 years as executive director of Peninsula Counseling Center, the largest non- profit community mental health center in Nassau County, New York.

Mr. Ruben has received many awards and has served in many capacities, always striving to strengthen and enhance the lives of individuals of all ages, to strengthen family life and to contribute to the social- psychological well-being of the community. He has served as past president of the Council of Family Service Agencies in New York State. He is the recipient of the Joseph M. Sokol Memorial Award from the Five Towns Community Chest; the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the New York Public Health Association, Long Island Region; and the Henry Brill Professional Award from the Nassau County Department of Mental Health for ``outstanding achievements and leadership with the Mental Health community of Nassau County.'' In addition, he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Mr. Ruben has been a columnist with the South Shore Record where his articles ``Within the Family'' have appeared in the paper for more than 30 years.

Again, I wish to congratulate Herb Ruben and thank him for the leadership and direction he has brought to Peninsula Counseling Center, as its executive director. For 50 years, he has helped to make it the outstanding organization that it is.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 322, a resolution celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary. I am proud to have been a cosponsor of this resolution.

Israel proclaimed its statehood on May 14, 1948. On its first day of existence, the armies of five neighboring Arab countries declared war on Israel. The war for independence lasted about a year and resulted in armistice separate agreements, but not before 6,000 Israeli lives were lost.

Within 8 months of independence and before the war ended, Israel held its first national elections. Eighty-five percent of all eligible voters cast their ballots to create the first 120-seat Knesset or Parliament.

A state founded by refugees of and survivors of religious persecution, Israel has been and continues to be one of America's closest and most consistent allies.

This desert nation exists in a region that is, unfortunately, as steeped in violence as it is rich in history and tradition. We must do all that we can to ensure the security of the State of Israel and its people. Just as the United States is vital to the survival of Israel, I believe Israel is also vital to the survival of the United States. Our countries are linked together on so many levels.

Unfortunately, today, Israel has new and increasing threats to its security. Palestinian rockets have been fired from Gaza and hit Israeli communities on an almost daily basis. More than 200,000 Israeli citizens are within range of these Palestinian rockets. One of the saddest aspects of the terrorism situation in Israel is that it grabs the newspaper headlines and distracts the world from seeing the many advances made by Israel in democracy and human rights, science, agriculture, transportation, and so many other areas.

Despite nearly impossible odds, Israel's will to survive and her people's dogged determination have resulted in the development of a thriving democracy in one of the globe's least democratic regions. In fact, in only 60 years Israel has grown into a mature democracy that has produced some of the finest thinkers, scientists and entrepreneurs of the modem era.

We must never forget the conditions that, in many respects, laid the foundation for the creation of the State of Israel. After one of the most horrific atrocities in human history, the Holocaust, Israel was established as a home to a nearly decimated people. It is often said that we must ``never forget'' the horrors and the lessons of the Holocaust. And since April is Holocaust Remembrance month, this is an appropriate time to reaffirm our unyieldingly strong obligation to our friend and ally and vow to ``never forget'' our commitment to Israel.

The United States and the all of the nations of the world have a moral responsibility to ensure and support the existence of the State of Israel.

H. Con. Res. 322 recognizes the historical significance of Israel's 60th anniversary, supports Israel as it continues to pursue peace

with its neighbors, commends the people of Israel for helping to create a thriving democracy, and acknowledges the strong bonds that exist between the two countries.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Israel on its 60th anniversary and wish her a safe and prosperous future. Support H. Con. Res. 322.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 1-year anniversary of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech University.

Madam Speaker, today, April 16, 2008, marks one of the darkest days in our Nation's history. A year ago today, 32 innocent lives were mercilessly cut short in their prime. A year ago today, families and friends lost their loved ones in a crime of unspeakable horror. A year ago today, we, the American people once again lost a piece of ourselves and our sense of security.

These poor people. Their poor families. These were real people that were killed. They were our sons and daughters. This was our American family that was impacted on April 16, 2007.

The shooting at Virginia Tech was the deadliest school shooting ever seen on our soil.

Far too many times we have stood here in this Chamber commemorating days like today. Days when we reflect on what evil can come to bear on good people and we make grand proclamations about how we will do everything we can to make sure that it will never happen again. Never again.

And here we are--again.

The cynics among us will no doubt throw their hands up in the air and claim that this is just the way things are. What can we do?

Can we ever stop these nightmares from happening in the first place, so we don't have to hear about another life needlessly lost? The answer is most likely an unsettling no.

The fact is that someday, somewhere, despite all of our best efforts, we will probably come together again sometime down the line and we will deliver similar speeches and we will once again feel the helpless confusion that we have become so uneasily and reluctantly accustomed to.

No, we can't say that there will never be another shooting of major proportions like the one at Virginia Tech, but we can say that we will do everything in our power to close any loophole we can find that would make it easier for another individual to commit such a heinous crime.

We have made strides in the right direction. In January, this Congress passed and the President signed into law the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Amendments Act.

This bill was a step in the right direction toward keeping guns out of the hands of the people who stand to do the most harm with them. In fact, based on his diagnosed mental illness, it is possible that the killer, Mr. Cho, might not have been able to acquire the weapons he used on his murderous rampage.

We can and will save lives as a result of the mechanisms put in place through the passage of this legislation. But in order for the Improvements to NICS to be truly effective, we must make sure that this Congress steps up to the plate and appropriately funds the legislation that we all supported. This measure is too important to play politics with, and I call on my colleagues to stand with me and do the right thing by fully funding the NICS Improvement Amendments Act.

But beyond keeping guns out of the wrong hands, we need to make sure that systems are in place that will keep our Nation's college campuses safe.

Last week I stood with the families of Virginia Tech victims and announced the introduction of the ``Virginia Tech Victims Campus Emergency Response Policy and Notification Act,'' H.R. 5735, also know as the VTV Act.

The bill amends the Jean Clery Act and requires schools to provide warnings within 30 minutes after campus or local law enforcement officials have determined there is an emergency or dangerous situation on campus.

Had Virginia Tech quickly warned students that there was a gunman on campus when first two murders were confirmed, many of the victims may have sought shelter or stayed put. Instead, people went about their normal day with no knowledge of the danger they were about to encounter.

No notifications were sent until 9:26 a.m., when the school emailed students that there was a shooting, and to watch for suspicious behavior. At 9:45 a.m., the second round of shootings occurred. But by that time, students had already gone to their classes.

Many believe if the students had been notified earlier, they might not have gone to class and some might not have been exposed to the shooter.

If the warnings required by the VTV Act were in place on April 16, 2007, lives might have been saved.

Joe Samaha, father of Virginia Tech victim Reema Samaha said last week that, ``If we do not learn the lesson, we will have lost our students for nothing.''

Let's honor the memories of those students and work to be proactive and do anything necessary to make sure that we can deliver fewer and fewer statements commemorating tragedies like Virginia Tech.

This body has the duty to pass laws that protect Americans, and we can do just that, by supporting sensible legislation like the VTV Act to make sure that we do everything we can to avoid more gun violence.

So let's mark today's unfortunate anniversary by upholding the memory of those lost at Virginia Tech last year and promise to do better, work harder, learn the lessons and not let them be lost for nothing.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I would first like to congratulate the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Oberstar; the subcommittee chairwoman, Eddie Bernice Johnson; and the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Pallone, for bringing forth such important legislation. The bill will help ensure that our beaches are safe for swimming as we enter the summer months.

Today, I will be offering an amendment to H.R. 2537, the Beach Protection Act of 2007, in order to raise awareness of Congress about the presence of pharmaceuticals in our Nation's drinking water. We must begin to better understand this important issue.

At the end of the debate, I intend to withdraw this amendment.

A recent Associated Press study brought to life the fact that pharmaceutical products have been found in the drinking water supply of at least 41 million Americans. In my State of New York, health officials found heart medicine, infection fighters, estrogen, mood stabilizers and tranquilizers in Upstate water supply. Six pharmaceuticals were found in the drinking water right here in Washington, D.C.

We don't know how the pharmaceutical enters into the water supply. But it's likely that some medications that are not fully absorbed by the body may have passed into the water through human waste. In some other cases, unused pills may have simply been flushed down the toilet.

Additionally, some agricultural products and medications may have run off into the groundwater supply.

In addition to antibiotics and steroids, EPA has identified over 100 individual pharmaceuticals and personal care products in environmental samples and drinking water. Wastewater treatment plants appear to be unable to completely remove pharmaceuticals from the water. The presence of the pharmaceuticals in the water raises serious questions about the effects on human health and wildlife.

My amendment would require EPA to conduct a study on the presence and source of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in coastal recreation waters.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products include prescription and over-the-counter therapeutical drugs, veterinary drugs, fragrances, lotions, and cosmetics, as well as products used to enhance growth or health of livestock. The report will be used as part of the government efforts to better understand the effects pharmaceuticals in our waters have on human health and aquatic wildlife.

Unfortunately, I recognize that this bill is not in the proper venue to adequately address safe drinking water. Therefore, I will withdraw the amendment shortly.

Instead, I am drafting a stand-alone legislation on this issue and will call for congressional hearings so that we can better understand the problems associated with pharmaceuticals in our Nation's drinking water supply.

We need to know how the pharmaceuticals are entering the water supply, how much is in the water, what are the effects of human health and adequate plant life, what is the best way to dispose of pharmaceuticals, and how should we treat water that has been contaminated with pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

It is vital that Congress take up and champion the cause of keeping our coastal recreation and drinking water safe. This is a public health issue. And we must act before the presence of pharmaceuticals reaches crisis levels.

Congresswoman Richardson, will the committee work with me on legislation to address the presence of pharmaceuticals and other care products in our Nation's water supply and help further our understanding of the effects on the human health and wildlife?

I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

I thank Congresswoman Richardson for her assistance and again congratulate her on her leadership.

At this time, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Temple Israel of Lawrence, New York, on its 100th anniversary.

Temple Israel is the oldest temple on Long Island. It was founded in 1908 as Temple Israel of Far Rockaway. The congregation moved to its current location in 1930. A new school center was created in 1948 to better accommodate the educational needs of the congregation and then again in 1966 with new social facilities. Temple Israel continues to thrive to this day, as the religious and nursery schools have unusually large enrollments.

The Temple reaches beyond just the ``Five Towns'' and extends around the world. Temple Israel participates in a number of interfaith and cross-cultural programs. There are exchange programs, such as an American Jewish and Italian Catholic exchange program with the Vatican, which help bring about greater understanding and compromise among the participants.

I applaud these efforts of the congregation because I, too, am a strong believer in bringing people with different backgrounds together to find common ground. I participated in the Women's Democracy Fund to help bring women together in Northern Ireland to contribute to the peace process. The program has more recently moved to bringing Israeli and Palestinian women together as an effort to also help bring about peace in that region.

The Temple Israel congregation is ably led by Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum and Cantor Galina Paliy. Rabbi Rosenbaum is the spiritual and education leader of Temple Israel. He is well known on Long Island and throughout the American rabbinate. He works across the international arena in building bridges of understanding and compromise between the American Jewish community and Jewish communities and foreign governments around the world and between Jews and other religions. Rabbi Rosenbaum also worked with first responders and victim's families at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I am glad to hear that Rabbi Rosenbaum will be joining me in Washington, DC, later this month in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI on his first papal visit to the United States.

Temple Israel of Lawrence is part of a rich Jewish history in the United States. In 2003, Congress passed H. Con. Res. 106, which recognizes and honors America's Jewish community on the occasion of its 350th anniversary. The first known Jews arrived from Brazil in 1654. They established the first Jewish community in New York City. Jews have contributed in so many ways to American society,

including civic, social, economic, military, and cultural life. I am glad to see that Temple Israel Lawrence has played a large role in that extensive Jewish American history.

Once again, I wish to extend my sincerest congratulations and warm wishes to Temple Israel of Lawrence on its 100th anniversary and look forward to another successful 100 years.

Offered By: Mrs. McCarthy of New York

Amendment No. 3: At the end of the bill, add the following:

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the good works of the students of the Ulysses Byis Elementary School in Roosevelt, Long Island, in my district.

On Tuesday, March 18, I visited the students at the school to honor their hard work in raising awareness and funds for humanitarian efforts helping those suffering from the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The students worked to help achieve and support the mission of the U.N. Millennium Development goals in bringing aid and awareness to health, education, poverty, and sustainable living needs in Africa.

Under the guidance of educators Ms. Hazelton, Ms. Warfield, and Principal Lillian Coggins-Watson, the students got involved with the national network of O Ambassador's clubs, a part of Oprah's ``Angel Network,'' with the goal of working to find solutions to global challenges through active learning, idea sharing, and taking action.

The students worked diligently and raised $1,100 in just 2 days to benefit relief agencies in the East African Nation of Sudan. These students made an extraordinary effort to help a problem that is very far away from them, and their work and contributions need to be acknowledged.

Considering the volume of money Congress manages every single day, $1,100 might sound like a small amount, but the effort by the children of Ulysses Byis Elementary School was massive, considering that many of the families in the Roosevelt School District face harsh economic challenges of their own.

The fact that these students worked as hard as they did to raise the money that will help save the lives of people thousands of miles away speaks not only of their extraordinary character, but what a terrific job the teachers and parents in the Roosevelt School District are doing in instilling in the children the qualities that make our citizens and Nation great.

The students have not stopped in their efforts to raise money and attention to the difficulties facing the people of Darfur. In fact, since I visited the school just 2 weeks ago, the students have raised over $600 more and have the goal of reaching $5,000 by the end of the school year. They plan to sell scratch-off tickets, hold a walk-a-thon, and continue to collect the pocket change that students bring with them to school. These children will not let any obstacle prevent them from achieving their goal to help the Sudanese people.

Some of the money raised by the students will go towards the purchase of mosquito bed nets, which have been shown to dramatically lessen the spread of malaria. The seemingly simple technology of insecticide treated

bed nets has proven to be remarkably effective and can save thousands of lives a year by minimizing one of the region's most deadly diseases.

As has been mentioned many times here on the House floor, the situation in Darfur is dire, and financial aid is crucial in helping to manage the humanitarian crisis that is being faced there every day.

While we are still working to find ways to help eliminate the violence and brutality of genocide that has become synonymous with Darfur, we need to take a lesson from the students and work to help them manage the health and well-being of the country's population. Each year, thousands of Sudanese will fall victim to disease and famine. What makes these deaths even more tragic is that so many could have been prevented by the use of the kind of bed netting that the money raised by the students will go towards purchasing.

Additionally, this week we will vote on H.R. 5510, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hide United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. The bill will provide much-needed funds that will be useful in advancing the causes that the children are working toward. This bill will help impact one of the most important issues of our time, helping to stem the spread of deadly and potentially preventable diseases.

It is absolutely vital that the United States Government and Members of this Congress continue to decry the outrageous horrors of genocide and Darfur. And we must continue to find ways, as the children have, to help the Sudanese people survive.

I would like to extend my congratulations and deepest gratitude to the students of the Ulysses Byis Elementary School, and their teachers, principals and parents for their tremendous efforts and their spirit of giving and generosity.

I would also like to thank and recognize the efforts of Oprah Winfrey for offering the tools and inspiration for the children at the Ulysses Byis School and students throughout the Nation through her Angel Network and O Ambassadors program to take action and to do the hard work necessary to help those less fortunate.

Finally, I would just like to tell the students of the Ulysses Byis School to keep up their good work. Don't quit. I know that you will reach and exceed your goals. The people of Darfur need your help, and we are all behind you. I thank the students for the work they have done.

Madam Speaker,

Whereas 5 million teeth are knocked out each year during

sports activities;

Whereas an athlete participating in contact sports has a

10% chance of sustaining a significant oral-facial injury

each season;

Whereas studies indicate that approximately one third of

all dental injuries and approximately 19% of head and face

injuries are sports-related;

Whereas an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain

damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth

guard;

Whereas emerging evidence supports that youth athletes

wearing full facial protection during baseball, softball,

hockey, and lacrosse can significantly reduce their risk of

oral-facial trauma;

Whereas the Task Force on Community Preventive Services

found that there is insufficient evidence--due to a lack of

available research data--to support intervention programs to

encourage the use of helmets, facemasks, and mouth guards to

reduce oral-facial trauma in contact sports;

Whereas the Task Force on Community Preventive Services has

recommended additional research on the effectiveness of

intervention programs to encourage the use of helmets,

facemasks, and mouth guards;

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) designates April 2008 as `National Facial Protection

Month';

(2) declares it is critical--

(a) to raise awareness about the importance of using proper

dental and facial protection during sporting activities;

(b) to conduct additional research to study the

effectiveness of intervention programs to encourage use of

helmets, facemasks, and mouth guards;

(3) calls on sports health care professionals, parents, and

coaches--

(a) to educate athletes about the importance of protective

equipment and encourage the use of all protective devices to

ensure the athlete's safety;

(b) to recommend using protective equipment that meets the

National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic

Equipment (NOCSAE) and that the equipment is clearly

identified as being in compliance;

(c) to observe National Facial Protection Month with

appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my chairman, George Miller, for the great work that he has done.

This is a great day for national service. It's been 15 years since we have reauthorized our national service laws.

As chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, I am pleased to speak in support of H.R. 5563, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, the GIVE Act. Unfortunately, this legislation hit a procedural hurdle last week, but I am glad the House will today have a chance once again to pass this important piece of legislation.

The bill before us today incorporates the amendments that were accepted on the floor last week, including my manager's amendment, and amendments offered by Representative McKeon, Matsui and Shays, Inslee, Sarbanes, McDermott, three amendments from Representative English and two amendments from Representative Sutton. It also includes the language from the Republican motion to recommit.

The administration and the service community support the GIVE Act.

I would like to thank Chairman Miller again for his continued support and work on this reauthorization. I would also like to extend my thanks to the ranking member of our committee, Mr. McKeon, for his hard work. And finally, I would like to thank the ranking member of my subcommittee, Mr. Platts, for his work on the reauthorization.

I would also like to thank again the staff on both sides of the aisle for their work on this important piece of legislation.

National service has a distinguished and strong history in our Nation. The benefits of service cannot be duplicated. Evidence shows that service and volunteering lowers school dropouts and crime rates, lowers costs associated with the aging population, and improves the health among the elderly.

Volunteering is a cost effective way of working to solve the challenges facing our Nation. That is why the passage of the GIVE Act is necessary.

One of the most effective volunteer organizations in this Nation is AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps volunteers offer a range of services focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities. Our legislation recognizes their invaluable work and increases the number of participants to 100,000.

The GIVE Act also encourages programs to recruit underrepresented populations to serve, including scientists and engineers, young people in and/or aging out of foster care, children at risk for delinquency, and other disadvantaged young people. I truly believe that expanding national service, particularly to disadvantaged youth, is an effective way to combat things like gangs and violence, and the evidence bears that out.

If we are serious about reducing gang violence in this Nation, we must take the first step and offer our children an alternative. This legislation creates the Summer of Service program which gives middle school and high school students an opportunity to become engaged in a positive way within their community. Through the Summer of Service program, our Nation's young people will have a chance to serve with others of their own age while improving their community.

Research shows that if students are engaged in service at an early age, they will continue to serve throughout their lifetime.

We are strengthening the mission of the first responder volunteer program, the National Civilian Community Corps, by requiring more intense disaster and emergency relief training during down periods in order to be better prepared for the future.

We are all aware of what our Nation faced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the NCCC was there to respond and continues to recover today.

The GIVE Act will help our Nation become better prepared for future disasters by training and preparing more emergency volunteers. The GIVE Act creates cooperation and an Office of Outreach in recruitment. This new office, among other duties, will establish a reserve corps made of those who have gone through the program and are alumni. The reserve corps alumni will be called upon during emergencies and disasters or other times of national needs.

We heard people asking over and over again during our hearings why aren't we using our former members. The new outreach office will work to connect the over-500,000 former volunteers who can be a resource for the recruitment. The GIVE Act lowers the age of participation in the national senior service to 55 years of age. By lowering the age, we are encouraging retiring Americans to participate in national service and giving older Americans the opportunity to lead us into the future.

Our Nation's retiring and retired adults are a rich resource that no one

can duplicate, nor should they be overlooked. Every American, old and young, has skills that can improve the day-to-day functions of our society. The GIVE Act encourages individuals to get involved, creates a deeper commitment to service, and makes our Nation more like what it should be.

I, again, want to thank Chairman Miller for his deep commitment to national service and Ranking Member McKeon and Congressman Platts for their work with us on this bipartisan activity. I do urge all of my colleagues to support this much-needed legislation.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

This is a great day for national service. It has been 15 years since we reauthorized our national service laws. As chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, I am pleased to speak in support of H.R. 2857, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, the GIVE Act.

I am also pleased to say that the administration and the service community support the GIVE Act. I would like to thank Chairman Miller for his continued strong support and work on this reauthorization. I would also like to extend my thanks to the ranking member of our committee, Mr. McKeon, for his hard work.

Finally, I would like to thank my good friend and ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. Platts, for his work on this reauthorization.

Later I will speak on my manager's amendment, which is also a bipartisan effort. National service has a distinguished and strong history in our Nation. The benefits of service cannot be disputed. Evidence shows that service and volunteering lowers school dropout and crime rates, lowers costs associated with the aging population, and improves health among the elderly.

Volunteering is a cost-effective way of working to solve the challenges facing our Nation today. That is why the passage of the GIVE Act is necessary. One of the most effective volunteer organizations in this Nation is AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps volunteers offer a range of services focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities. Our legislation recognizes their invaluable work and increases the number of participants to 100,000.

The GIVE Act also encourages programs to recruit underrepresented populations to serve, including scientists and engineers, young people in our aging-out foster care, children at risk of delinquency, and other disadvantaged young people.

I truly believe that expanding national service, particularly to disadvantaged youth, is an effective way to combat things like youth gangs and violence, and the evidence bears it out.

If we are serious about reducing gang violence, we must take the first step and offer children an alternative.

This legislation creates a Summer of Service program which gives middle school and high school students an opportunity to become engaged in a positive way within their community. Through the Summer of Service program, our Nation's young people will have a chance to serve with others their own age while improving their community.

Research shows that if students are engaged in service at an early age, they continue to serve throughout their life.

We are strengthening the mission of the first responder volunteer program, the National Civil Community Corps by requiring more intense disaster and emergency relief training during down periods in order to be better prepared in a time of crisis.

We are all aware of what our Nation faced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the NCCC was there to respond, and continues to recover today.

The GIVE Act will help our Nation become better prepared for future disasters by training and preparing more emergency volunteers. The GIVE Act creates in the corporation an office of outreach and recruitment. The new office will establish a reserve corps made up of those who have gone through the program and are alumni. The reserve corps alumni will be called on during emergencies, disasters, or other times of national need.

We've heard people asking over and over again during our hearings, why aren't we using former volunteers? The new outreach office will work to connect over 500,000 former volunteers who can be resources for recruitment.

The GIVE Act lowers the age of participation in the National Senior Service to 55 years old. By lowering the age, we are encouraging retiring Americans to participate in national service and giving older Americans the opportunity to lead us into the future. Our Nation's retiring and retired adults are a rich resource that cannot be overlooked.

Every American, old and young, has skills that improve the day-to-day functions of our society. The GIVE Act encourages individuals to get involved, creates a deeper commitment to service, and makes our Nation more like what it should be.

I want to again thank Chairman Miller for his deep commitment to national service, Ranking Member McKeon and Congressman Platts for their work with us on this bipartisan activity. And I urge my colleagues to support this much needed legislation.

Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, may I inquire how much time we have on both sides.

Madam Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare), a member of the Education and Labor Committee.

Madam Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to my colleague on the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

Madam Chairman, I'd like to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter), a member of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee.

Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind), a former member of the Education Committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein).

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Chairman, with that, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, as we have been working through this bill, through our hearings and everything else, and listening to the volunteers that work in AmeriCorps and other aspects of volunteering, and also listening to our young people from communities that are underserved on how they want to serve and be part of it, before my colleague from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) talked about how we've done away with summer jobs. We see in our communities today more and more of our young people joining gangs and getting into trouble. We see that our juvenile justice system and our prisons are being overflowed, unfortunately, with young people. This is a program that can help them.

You know, I look at our country and I marvel at how people volunteer and give their time to help other people that are in need. With the programs that we're putting forth and through the work of the subcommittee and

through the work of my colleague Mr. Platts from Pennsylvania, we have put together a great bill. This is a bill that can help people to the future. This is a bill that incorporates our elderly and our young. So, it's something that I think we should all be proud of. And certainly I'm hoping that we're not going to have any controversies further down the line.

And may I just say one thing: A number of speakers have gotten up and talked about the FISA bill. Let me say this to the American people: With the continuation that we have, this country is being protected. And we are trying to work it out with our colleagues from the other side and the administration. But let me make one thing very clear, the country is being protected. The intelligence committees can do what they need to do, and our intelligence community is getting information at that.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2857, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak to the manager's amendment to H.R. 2857, Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, the GIVE Act.

As chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, I am pleased to offer a bipartisan manager's amendment to H.R. 2857. I am also pleased to say that the administration and the service community support the GIVE Act.

I would like to again thank Chairman Miller for his continued support

and work on this reauthorization. I would also like to extend my thanks to the ranking member of our committee, Mr. McKeon, for his work. Finally, I would like to thank the ranking member of my subcommittee, Mr. Platts, for his work on this reauthorization.

I also would like to thank the staff who have worked many hours on the bill. For the majority, Deborah Koolbeck, Denise Forte, and Alexander Ceja, and for the minority, Brad Thomas and Susan Ross.

This amendment increases the ability of the Corporation for National and Community Service to tap into the pool of potential volunteers, which gives us a better opportunity to meet challenges facing our Nation's communities today.

Some of the changes in the manager's amendment include: the amendment improves the reach and capacity of the Summer of Service. This program is aimed to increase civil responsibility and community service among 5th-12th graders through summer service-learning programs. Getting younger kids involved in service is a good investment. Studies show that the earlier we get folks involved in the volunteer service the more likely they will stay in for their lifetime.

We have improved the National Civilian Conservation Corps, or the NCCC. This valuable program has a focus on disaster preparation. NCCC and volunteers have helped during disasters like Katrina. Because of the disaster focus, there is a need for supervisors and training instructors with a background in law enforcement, rescue and emergency and disaster preparedness. The amendment allows retired law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel to be part of the management of the NCCC.

My amendment makes the Retired Senior Volunteer Program a competitive grant program by 2013. I believe competition spurs innovation, and this will strengthen the program.

Also included in this amendment are incentive grants for the Senior Corps program. These grants are designed to bolster the capacity of current exceptional Senior Corps programs.

Given that the RSVP program is becoming a competitive process, it is expected that the RSVP programs which meet the eligibility requirements will be a majority of incentive grant applicants and recipients.

Finally, I have also worked with Mr. Altmire, Mr. Sestak, and Mr. Souder and have included changes that they suggested in the manager's amendment. I want to thank them for their great ideas.

Our national service laws were last authorized 15 years ago. We have worked with our colleagues across the aisle and with the service community to renew the spirit of service in our Nation through the GIVE Act.

I hope you will join me and support my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim time in opposition, but I am not opposing the amendment.

One of the themes of the GIVE Act is to increase opportunities for veterans to serve in national service programs and to increase the amount of national service programs responding to the needs of veterans.

At committee, two amendments were adopted to address these issues. First, we directed the Corporation to reserve 3 percent of funds allotted to AmeriCorps for competitive grant programs that focus on veterans, particularly those that are recently returned from a deployment, and their families. The second amendment required the Corporation to conduct a study of how the national service laws would better serve veterans and increase veteran participation and service, and to create a pilot program based on that study.

This amendment builds up on those efforts. Under current law, States and corporations are charged with establishing priorities to determining the types of programs to be assisted under the national service law. This amendment would require States and the Corporation to include priorities for veterans when establishing priorities for the distribution of assistance under these programs.

Those priorities would be geared towards programs that recruit veterans into service opportunities, promote community-based efforts to meet the unique needs of military families while a family member is deployed, and promote community-based efforts to meet the unique service of military families when a member of the family returns from a deployment.

In addition, this amendment encourages the corporation to report to Congress on its efforts to increase the number of veterans serving in AmeriCorps and other positions that are eligible for the educational award. Veterans, particularly those recently deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, deserve opportunities to reintegrate into their communities through service programs funded under the national service laws. This amendment will increase those opportunities.

At a time when our servicemen and -women are sacrificing on behalf of our country around the world, we should be doing all we can to repay that sacrifice. This amendment will make it the explicit policy of the Federal Government to encourage national service programs to focus more on the unique needs of these heroes and their families and to encourage more veterans to take advantage of service opportunities under these laws.

I certainly urge its passage, and I thank Mr. McKeon for offering this. It's a very good piece added to our legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentlewoman from California, and I thank Mr. Shays.

Mr. Chairman, we are in full support of this amendment. The GIVE Act seeks to improve national service and to do so in innovative, creative ways. And this amendment does just that. We are grateful to Ms. Matsui and Mr. Shays for bringing forth this amendment.

I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) for yielding.

We support this amendment. We look forward to the results of the commission as we continue to increase the number of Americans who participate in national service and work to overcome challenges in our Nation's communities.

I rise to claim time in opposition, but I am not opposing the amendment.

Thank you.

We support this amendment, as it seeks to support the fostering of service among generations of a family. It is easy to imagine the kind of benefits that grandparents and their grandchildren would gain by not only spending time together, but serving others. The earlier children are introduced to service, the more likely they will volunteer throughout their life.

Speaking as a grandparent, and I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) for introducing this, when I take my grandchildren with me and I try to explain the work that I do, and to see them get involved and be interested in the work that I do I think is a great thing.

The volunteering work that we do, and we bring the grandchildren with us, it opens up their eyes for a number of reasons. A lot of the work that we do is serving in underserved areas and to be able to see that these young children, my grandchildren, 7 and 9, are out there in the community and seeing children less fortunate than them. But to take it back even then to their classroom and say maybe we can do something, when you have Grandparents Day in school with your grandchildren, and you're fostering the sense of volunteerism.

So I thank the gentleman very much for bringing this to our attention. I certainly am in full support of it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim time in opposition, but I am not opposing the amendment.

We support this amendment, as it continues to support the integration of

priority for national service. Everyone gains when they speak to others from a different generation and learn how things have changed over the years. And yet, at the same time, how many things remain the same.

Fostering communication between people increases the connection for all of the community. This piece will add a section to the bill that is the sense of Congress that the Corporation for National and Community Service should make the maximum effort possible to coordinate with the National Endowment for the Humanities to provide opportunities for young people enrolled in NACS programs to collect oral histories from senior citizens in the communities they serve.

With that, I would like to yield 2 minutes to Mr. Anthony Weiner from New York.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim time in opposition, but I am not opposing this amendment.

I want to thank, again, my colleague Mr. English from Pennsylvania for this amendment. This would require the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service to coordinate with veterans organizations serving veterans to provide opportunities for young people to enroll in existing NACS programs to serve as drivers in the DAV transportation network on a full-time, part-time, or as-needed basis. The reason we support this amendment, which is similar to Mr. McKeon's in a way, is that it will help serve our Nation's veterans. This amendment reminds us of the challenges faced by disabled veterans after they have devoutly served our Nation.

When I see a lot of my veterans back home in Long Island, a lot of them do volunteer their time on driving our veterans back and forth. We only have one veterans hospital on Long Island. A lot of these drivers are as old as

those they are driving. So to see that our young people, and I can see something like this, which would be terrific for our young college students and our seniors that are driving, to be able to be part of this.

It was earlier mentioned by Mr. Shays that with the war in Iraq, no one has asked Americans to be helpful. Well, this is a perfect time. This is where our young people can feel that all right, here we have our veterans that have done a gallant job on protecting this Nation. Help them now. Let us help them to get back and forth for their physical therapy or any treatments that they need.

It's also a wonderful opportunity for our young people to get to know our seniors and our veterans that have served this country. The more I think about this, I am sorry that we didn't think of this amendment while we were having our committee hearings. I think next time I will reach out to my colleague and say what ideas do you have so we can bring them to the committee.

So, again, I support this amendment. I think it's a terrific amendment. I think it's a wonderful time for our young people and our seniors and our veterans to get to know each other. They will actually find they have a lot more in common than they do have apart.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague. Let me say that my colleague is having a problem with her voice with laryngitis, so I am actually going to be speaking for her from her talking points. So I will continue talking about Ohio, which has been particularly hurt by the current mortgage foreclosure crisis.

In a ranking of metropolitan areas with the highest foreclosure rates, Ohio has the sad distinction of having four areas in the top 20. Northeast Ohio, which includes Lorain and Elyria in her district, had the sixth highest rate. Nearly 3 percent of all households in these cities are in some stage of foreclosure, a 112 percent jump from 2006. Akron came in at 12, Dayton at 15 and Toledo at 19.

The current subprime mortgage crisis has not stemmed from a single cause, and mitigating its effects will not be achieved with a single solution. Housing problems stem from predatory lending practices, job losses, and situations such as death, divorce and health emergencies. We must pursue innovative solutions, and this includes trying the provisions of volunteerism and Service-Learning grants to areas that have been adversely affected by the mortgage crisis.

This amendment would require the Corporation for National and Community Service to consider whether an area has a mortgage foreclosure rate greater than the national average when considering grant applications from States and other eligible entities.

Each year, more than 1.5 million individuals serve our country through the service programs that were created by the National and Community Service Act. In a time when so many of our communities are struggling, we need to pursue every avenue to make sure that the cities and towns with the greatest needs have access to the most assistance.

We expect this amendment is going to be noncontroversial, but they may argue that it is duplicative because of the factors that are already included. The areas affected by high foreclosure rates would likely also be areas with high concentrations of low-income persons and high unemployment rates. But when we look at this, we see that by including this additional factor we will focus the Corporation on awarding grant funding to programs that address the specific needs of communities affected by the foreclosure crisis.

When you look at this particular amendment, the Corporation for National and Community Service administers the National Service Trust Program, which provides funding for service programs, community groups, youth groups, service-lending, campus-based programs, pre-professional training programs and other services, one of the criteria the Corporation is required to consider when evaluating applications for funding is the extent to which projects would be conducted in the areas where they are needed most.

Factors already considered are communities designated as empowerment zones or redevelopment areas; targeted for special economic incentives; designated as having high concentrations

of low-income people; areas that are environmentally distressed; areas that are adversely affected by Federal actions related to the management of Federal lands that result in significant regional job losses and economic dislocation; areas adversely affected by reductions in defense spending or closure of bases; areas with unemployment rates greater than the national average for the 12 most recent months.

This amendment will add another factor that the Corporation must consider when determining what constitutes an area.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague from Ohio.

Good data collection is so important, because with data we can determine how to better implement programs and better serve the needs of our Nation's citizens. As workers must find ways to obtain new skills or transition into a new career, this study will provide us with important information. Service can be a bridge between one phase of life to another or from one career to another.

It is not a secret to anyone that Ms. Sutton's home State of Ohio has suffered tremendous job losses in recent years. From the year 2000 to 2007, Ohio has lost more than 209,000 non-farm jobs, the biggest 7 year drop since the end of the Great Depression. These workers and families deserve our support, and they deserve creative and innovative thinking and policies from us as their representatives.

This study and pilot program require the Corporation for National and Community Service to examine how to use community service programs to provide opportunities for displaced workers. Programs such as AmeriCorps and Senior Corps have done so much to provide opportunities for our young and our seniors. It is time that we investigate ways to provide similar opportunities for Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Workers who have toiled for so long in manufacturing plants have much to offer their communities, and their unique skill sets and leadership capabilities should not go to waste when plants close. I look forward to seeing how new service programs would reinvigorate America's displaced workforce with a sense of purpose so they may explore new career opportunities and continue contributing to all their communities.

The Corporation for National and Community Service has proven itself to be an entrepreneurial, innovative and effective organization. This amendment will lead the Corporation in a new direction to consider how the programs they provide funding to can do better serve the needs of America's displaced workers.

Our national service laws provide funding for numerous worthy organizations such as AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Habitat for Humanity, City Year, Boys and Girls Club, Teach for America, and Youthbuild. This amendment will spur new programs that address the needs of our displaced workers and their families.

So, again I thank my colleague from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) for offering this amendment, and I am looking forward to working with her on other areas.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim time in opposition to the amendment.

I yield myself 3 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose this amendment. When the National Community Service Act was enacted in 1990, we saw powerful new opportunities to inspire civic engagement and transformation in our communities. Last year, AmeriCorps' number reached 500,000, and today Learn and Serve Americans continue to support service learning for K-12 and college students making a vital connection between their academic studies and a real world application through their service.

Now, with the Summer of Service program, we can provide a new opening to reach many young people we know will benefit with the opportunities to spend a summer in service to their communities. It is a right of passage during grades 5-12.

Mr. Chairman, this program grants educational awards of up to $500 to students who complete 100 hours of service over the summer months. By employing service-learning models to teach civic participation skills, the program will help young people serve their communities and expand educational opportunities for themselves and discourage what is commonly known as the summer academic slide.

Today, 10 million students nationwide between the ages of 12 and 18 have participated in school-based service. Research shows that, among those students, teens from disadvantaged communities who serve hold more positive civic attitudes. Kids who engage in volunteering are more likely to be successful in school and avoid risky behaviors such as drugs, alcohol, and crime. Unfortunately, those disadvantaged teens who have so much to gain from the experience are less likely to volunteer than their peers from more advanced backgrounds.

When service is tied to what students are learning in school, young people make gains on achievement tests, complete their homework more often, and increase their grade point average. Students who engage in service learning improve communication skills, grow more aware of career possibilities, and develop more positive workplace attitudes, laying the foundation for America's future leaders. Yet, Learn and Serve's funding stayed the same at no more than $43 million since 1996, and decreasing over the past several years. In Learn and Serve's last grant award cycle, they had 506 applications but only the resources for 102 awards.

For generations, during times of great crisis and need throughout our Nation, students have stepped up and served their country and their communities. Today, again, our young people want to serve and are desperate to do their part, yet their call has gone unheard.

Since 2001, there have been nearly 50 proposals involving national service before Congress, and not one has been enacted. Here we have a program that demonstrates our commitment to that great promise. A modest investment in Summer of Service is an important and long overdue step in providing service-learning opportunities for young people to start.

We must do everything we can to help every child reach his or her full potential. We cannot teach our children until we honestly help them become engaged in their communities and give them the power to actively participate in their education. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield time to my colleague from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

Mr. Chairman, I want to say thank you to my colleague for offering this amendment, and I certainly fully support it. But I want to also address Mr. Flake's concern and clarify: While OMB conducted a part assessment on Learn and Serve, the Summer of Service initiative, what we are proposing is a new initiative that I believe has not been parted.

So with that being said, I think that when we look at the whole bill, and especially for the Summer of Service part, we have an opportunity to help our people, our young people during the summertime. This, to me, can certainly cut down on what we are seeing in our communities across this country right now, on more violence in our communities. We have to look at what is the underlying cause.

With that being said, we are certainly doing the most we can for the little amount of money that we have, to make the biggest impact on these children's lives. So with that being said, I certainly hope that when we come down to it that we will be against Mr. Flake's amendment and let this bill go forward, and let's help the young people, let's help our veterans, let us help everybody in this particular amendment. It is a good bill. It has been overwhelmingly supported on both sides of the aisle, but this particular amendment, as far as I am concerned, would hurt too many of our young people.

I just want to clarify I certainly am in support of the Inslee-Sarbanes amendment. I just wanted to clarify that.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.