Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, good relations between the State of Israel and Muslim nations are the exception rather than the rule. Everyone knows about the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt as part of the Camp David Accords, which led to the assassination of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt. Israel's neighbor, Jordan, Under King Hussein and his son, King Abdullah II, have also developed good ties with Israel.

More typical than Israeli-Egyptian or Israeli-Jordanian relations in the public's eye is the poisonous relationship between Iran and Israel, a situation fueled by the unrelenting hostility and anti-Semitism of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.

Iran and its particular brand of Shi'ite Islam seem particularly hostile toward Israel, which is understandably nervous not just about Iran's nuclear ambitions but its strong financial support of Hezbollah and its terrorist activities right in Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Given this situation, it would be surprising to most to learn that one of Israel's strongest friends in the region is Azerbaijan, a former Soviet Republic, with over a 90 percent Shi'ite population that has adopted a secular style completely opposed to Iran's sectarian government. Azerbaijan has chosen a very different path from that of its southern neighbor, even though there are over 20 million ethnic Azeris living in Iran, including the Grand Ayatollah himself, who is of Azeri descent.

One possible explanation for Azerbaijan's positive relationship with Israel is the presence of a strong Jewish community in Azerbaijan for over 2,500 years. By all accounts, these Azeri Jews have always been well treated and never subject to the types of discrimination and hostility that confronted Jews, not just in Muslim nations, but the Christian nations of Europe.

Israel and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1993, and Israel opened an Embassy in Baku one year later. Cultural ties also increased at this time. In 1994, a Yeshiva was opened in Baku, and other Jewish schools established years later. A new Jewish synagogue, one of the largest, if not the largest in Europe, opened in Baku in 1993 and currently there are synagogues in several other Azeri cities.

Prominent Israeli visitors to Baku have included then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1997, President Shimon Peres in June, 2009 and in 2010 Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Israeli trade, diplomatic and cultural missions to Azerbaijan are common place, and Israel is Azerbaijan's fifth largest trading partner, exporting over $3.5 billion per year to Israel, including supplying over a quarter of Israel's oil supply. Israeli exports and direct investments in Azerbaijan are also growing, creating strong economic ties between the two nations.

On a political front, Israel and Azerbaijan cooperate closely on security issues. Israel supplies significant military equipment to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan provides Israel with valuable intelligence support, particularly regarding Iran. The two nations also work together to combat the growth of radical Islam.

The close political, cultural, economic and security relations between Israel and a majority Shi'a but secular Azerbaijan present a model that needs to be encouraged, cultivated and spread throughout the Muslim world. However, this will not happen by itself, and, unless the United States begins to focus more on Azerbaijan's importance in the region, the very existence of this positive Azeri-Israeli relationship could be put in jeopardy.

I would like to include in the Record a recent article from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, published on March 9, 2010, ``The Blooming Friendship Between Azerbaijan and Israel,'' by Anna Zamejc. The article quotes Baku-born former Israeli Knesset member Yosef Shagal on Azerbaijan's friendship with Israel'' ``Today, everyone understands why Iran wants to block the Azerbaijani-Israeli rapprochement by any means . . . It is one of the most important strategic priorities of the Islamic republic. Teheran is perfectly aware of the following: the stronger the connection between Baku and Jerusalem, the more weakened Iran will be.''

Zamejc goes on to discuss the tremendous pressure Iran is placing on Azerbaijan to cut its ties with Israel, pressure which is becoming more and more difficult to resist without strong support from the West, particularly the United States. The United States has spent too much blood, treasure and diplomatic capital trying to build peaceful relations between Israel and its Muslim neighbors for it to let this great example of success slip away.

It is important that we pay greater attention to Azerbaijan for economic, strategic and security reasons, and in particular respond affirmatively to Azerbaijan either when it cooperates with the United States in these areas or demonstrates that a Muslim nation both can and should have positive relations with the State of Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California and the gentleman from Wisconsin for their support of this legislation, which I do support on behalf of the community college team in my district.

I wanted to quickly mention that the word Onondaga is an Hodenosaunee word, an Iroquois word. The Iroquois Confederation was a major Native American confederation of actually

five and then six Native American Indian nations. Its capital was called Onondaga, and, indeed, the word means ``on top of the hill'' and was very, very close to where Syracuse is now--the city that I'm from-- and it's a very, very special place. The college that, indeed, these teams are from is named after that original people.

Our community colleges are a tremendous asset that are too often taken for granted in our communities. In my community, we have one of the best community colleges, Onondaga Community College, and today I rise to congratulate two great lacrosse teams from this college. Before I do, I want to congratulate this college for its academics.

This college is becoming one of the best 2-year institutions of higher learning in this country, thanks in large part to the leadership of President Debbie Sydow. Onondaga is at the forefront of providing education to its students, and exhibits excellence in the high-tech and cutting-edge careers that are becoming the future of the economy in central New York and, indeed, in the country as a whole, particularly in the areas of health care, environmental technology, and high-tech manufacturing. It has become a center for art, music, and culture in our community. And with its extremely popular residence facilities, it now offers the full college experience.

After two or more years of study at Onondaga, students have gone on to transfer their credits and continue their education at some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in this country, including Columbia, Cornell, Syracuse University, the Rhode Island School of Design, NYU, University of Southern California, and Clarkson.

But I am here today to rise in congratulations of two of the college teams. I am going to congratulate one team now because that's the subject of H. Res. 561, and then I am hoping the gentlelady will yield to me when we consider H. Res. 563. I will talk about the other team.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the 2009 National Junior College Athletic Association women's lacrosse tournament. I am incredibly proud to represent the Lady Lazers. They had an incredible season and, of course, this national championship.

In 2009, as mentioned, their inaugural season, the Lady Lazers defeated Monroe Community College 9-7 in the finals of the NJCAA women's lacrosse tournament at Herkimer County Community College. This was the conclusion of a fantastic season by a fantastic team. Three Lady Lazers were named First Team NJCAA All-Americans, and all of the Lady Lazers were tremendous representatives of Onondaga College and their community. The 2010 season is already well underway, and the Lady Lazers are currently ranked number two in the country with a 7-1 record.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the OCC Lady Lazers on a tremendous season and a 2009 NJCAA national championship.

I thank the gentlewoman from California as well as the gentleman from Wisconsin. We have had a very, very good year in lacrosse last year in upstate New York. In fact, a good portion of the bills that I have come to sponsor on the floor have been congratulatory resolutions for all of the various teams that we have had. Syracuse University won its tournament. Le Moyne was second in its division in lacrosse, and we have already mentioned the OCC women.

But, Mr. Speaker, I think the word that the gentleman from Wisconsin used, ``excellence,'' is the only way to describe this particular team. These young men had extremely high expectations on their shoulders, and yet they exceeded even those.

So I rise to congratulate the Onondaga Community College Lazers for winning the 2009 National Junior College Athletic Association men's lacrosse tournament. I am incredibly proud to be the congressman who represents the Lazers, and I am incredibly proud of them for an undefeated season and their third national championship in the past 4 years.

In 2009, the Lazers defeated Nassau Community College 9-8 in the finals of the NJCAA men's lacrosse tournament at Herkimer County Community College. This was the conclusion of a great season with many talented players, too numerous to mention here, but I will say that Jerome Thompson and Jon Fiorillo were named the offensive and defensive players of the year, and Head Coach Chuck Wilbur was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year.

All of the Lazers are tremendous representatives of their school and their community. The 2010 season is well underway, and the Lazers are currently ranked number 3 in the country with an 11-2 record.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Onondaga Lazers on a tremendous season and a 2009 NJCAA national championship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise after the recent public statements made by Vice President Biden and Secretary Clinton on the subject of new Israeli housing in east Jerusalem.

While it is important for our country to play a mediating role in the Middle East peace process, it is also important that any disagreements be dealt with as friends would deal with disagreements, behind the scenes first and working them out in private before they are aired in public.

The President and this administration clearly care deeply about peace in the Middle East and made it a priority for our country to play an active role in these negotiations, and I applaud the emphasis. However, using these tactics, which distance us from a long-time ally, doesn't serve the purpose of furthering these peace negotiations.

When two allies with such a strategically close relationship as Israel and the United States air their disagreements in public, whatever those disagreements are, it puts all parties in an awkward position, including the Palestinian leaders who do want to engage in a peace process with Israel.

I think airing these disagreements in public was a setback to the peace process. Instead, as we go forward, we should draw on the special relationship that endures between the United States and Israel to move forward.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 3186) to authorize the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 through April 30, 2010, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I submit the remarks for the Record that I delivered at the American Cancer Society in East Syracuse on Tuesday of this week in support of this historic health care reform bill.

I have heard from thousands of constituents about the current health care reform debate. I've tried to listen to everything they've had to say--for and against health care reform. Their advice and their pleas and their stories and their criticisms have helped guide my advocacy on behalf of changes and improvements to proposals before Congress and my decision on the compromise legislation before Congress.

Now that the President's changes will be incorporated into the final legislation, I will support this historic health care reform effort.

I am voting in favor of this legislation not because I think it is perfect, but because I strongly believe it is in the best interests of my constituents--that it will make a positive difference in the lives of families, businesses, and hospitals in central and western New York.

First, I'm voting for this because we need to do something to control rising health care costs that keep taking a bigger and bigger bite out of the household budgets of upstate New York. Skyrocketing health care costs aren't just crippling the U.S. economy--they're emptying our pocketbooks. My entire life is filled with stories about how people-- regular middle-class people--can't afford the health care they need. How insurance companies have denied needed care. How kids graduating from college can't find affordable coverage. How people with life threatening conditions need to hold bake sales and bowl-a-thons to pay health bills. Families go bankrupt not because they were irresponsible but because they trusted their insurance plans. More than 72 million adults currently have medical debt or problems paying their bills even though most of them have insurance. It has to end--and I honestly believe if we don't take action now it never will.

Second, I'm voting for this because if we don't fix health care, businesses that are struggling to compete in a global economy will fall further and further behind.

As premiums nearly double, employees in small firms will see offers of health insurance options almost cut in half. It is predicted the 41 percent of firms offering insurance in 2010 will drop to 23 percent in 2020. Not because they are bad employers but because they cannot afford it.

Every industrialized nation has figured out a way to get people affordable coverage--the United States can, too.

And finally, I'm voting for this bill because the county, state, and country are going broke due to health care costs. Sure, we could limp

along another few years but if we do, it will only be harder to control those long-term costs.

I know many people in my district will be encouraged that we are finally moving forward, that we are finally taking action on an issue that affects us all.

I know others will be unhappy. Many of my constituents have strong concerns about this legislation. In fact, I share some of those very same concerns. I worked very hard to improve this bill. I led the fight to hold down the tax on medical devices. I advocated for businesses with less than 25 employees to get subsidies for health insurance and for a reduced burden on other businesses. I fought successfully to raise the threshold on any benefit surcharge so that it won't affect middle-class people in my district.

This is not a perfect bill. But it is an important legislation that we need to pass to move this country forward.

There are several criticisms of the proposal that do come up certainly across the country and even here in my district that I feel compelled to address.

First, many argue that this is a government take-over of health care. That is simply not true. In fact, except for Medicare, Medicaid, the VA and other already existing programs, Americans would be covered by private insurance plans. A public option which I support is not even included in this plan. There are some additional regulations that give more rights to patients such as not allowing health plans to deny coverage due to preexisting conditions. But these are widely supported and necessary changes. To assert that these new patient rights are some sort of government take-over is absurd.

Second, some will say that large majorities of the American public are against the President's plan. The Post-Standard printed an AP poll this last weekend that did show slightly more respondents nationwide opposed rather than supported the health care reform plans--by two percentage points--43 to 41. But for many it's not that the plan went too far but that it did not change enough. In fact, fully 82% of the respondents to that same poll wanted to change the health system a moderate amount or more. Only 17 percent said it should be changed a little or not at all.

So this idea that Americans don't want change is simply wrong. In this region, it is particularly misguided. While it is true that my office has received many calls objecting to the health care debate, a vast majority of them have been from out-of-state--a purposeful and well-funded attempt to jam our lines so that my constituents cannot get through. And yet thousands did and while it is clear there are diverse opinions and that my constituents are more divided on this than any other major question we've faced so far, it is also clear from our office communications and our research that a majority of my constituents want me to work as hard as I can to improve health care proposal and support the changes we need. And I will do just that.

Third, that the President's proposed changes will increase costs to businesses and taxpayers. But I ask compared to what? The current trajectory is already bankrupting businesses, states, counties, cities, and right here in central New York leading to higher and higher property taxes. Under the current system, health care will consume one of every three dollars in the U.S. economy--twice as much as it does today. The President's plan gets these costs under control by implementing nearly every idea suggested including Republican ideas on medical malpractice and increasing ability to buy insurance across state lines. It also over time implements real cuts in government spending on health care including eliminating some of the waste and subsidies.

I believe that many of these cost savers will work. I know that doing nothing will bankrupt our country and our families and our small businesses.

I know the Republicans in Washington have said that they want to make health care the central issue in the elections this coming November. Thousands and thousands of dollars have already been spent on ads running against me here in central New York. Some of these ads have been proven to be false.

Far from convincing me to oppose the health care reform, they have strengthened my resolve. Because when people who have that much money feel so strongly that they run attack ads on you, chances are that what you're doing is in the best interest of taxpayers and ordinary families.

So what's in this proposal?

People who have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition will finally have access to affordable coverage. Insurers will no longer be able to drop your coverage when you get sick and are in the middle of treatment.

Never again will you lose access to insurance if you get laid off or switch jobs.

Small businesses and employers getting crushed by soaring health care costs will see lower costs.

Never again will you be subject to annual or lifetime limits on what insurance companies will pay, protecting millions of Americans from the threat of medical bankruptcy.

Insurers will be required to offer free preventive care, lowering your out-of-pocket expenses and helping ensure that diseases or conditions can be caught early on.

Seniors who fall into the Medicare Part D donut hole will see lower prescription drug costs as immediate steps are taken to close the donut hole. Employers who cover their early retirees will receive temporary funds to help offset the cost of expensive claims for retirees' health benefits--lowering premiums and protecting coverage for early retirees.

Insurers are prohibited from charging women more than men for health insurance or discriminating on the basis of domestic violence as a pre- existing condition. Required maternity services as part of the essential benefits package in the exchange.

Young adults will now be able to stay on their parents' insurance much longer, through their 26th birthday.

And finally, health reform will guarantee access to quality, affordable health insurance for 31 million Americans who don't have coverage today, also eliminating the annual hidden tax of $1,100 that American families pay to cover the cost of the uninsured. While the official health insurance exchanges are being created, a temporary insurance pool will be available for individuals with pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses.

These benefits are all vitally important. But perhaps in the end it comes down to this: those opposed to health care reform are concerned that it will cost them more. This bill saves money and the further out you go, the more it saves. But it also saves something more precious-- it will save lives.

Madam Speaker, this morning I stood at the American Cancer Society in my district and announced that I will support the President's historic reform effort. I am supporting it because right now skyrocketing health care costs aren't just crippling the U.S. economy; they are emptying pocketbooks in central and western New York.

Regular, middle class people can't afford the health care they need. Insurance companies have denied care. Kids are graduating from college and they can't find care. People with life-threatening conditions need to hold bake sales and bowl-a-thons in order to pay their health care bills. Families are going bankrupt not because they were irresponsible, but because they trusted their health insurance companies.

Now, experts and nonpartisan organizations say that this bill will save money. I believe that the cost-savers in this bill will save money, but I know that doing nothing will bankrupt our country and our families and our small businesses.

I stood this morning with two remarkable women from my district. One had insurance and one did not. They are both battling cancer. For them, this debate isn't about partisan politics; it is about their lives. They strongly support this effort, and so do I.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the forerunner of today's women military pilots, the Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs, who served during World War II.

More than 1,100 women flew more than 60 million miles and provided crucial aid to our Nation in a time of war. From 1943 to 1944, they delivered aircraft from manufacturers in the United States to air bases throughout the country.

Three women from my district--Virginia Meloney, Ann Elizabeth O'Connor, and Aleta Johnson--are being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal today in recognition of their service to our country as WASPs. Their fearlessness led the way for future women military pilots. It is long overdue that we recognize these incredible women. Our country thrives because of the bravery and dedication of our citizens like the WASPs.

Ann O'Connor, a Syracuse resident since 1980, learned last year that this medal ceremony was going to happen. Her family told me it meant the world to her. Her daughter told me she would have loved to be here today, but Ann passed away in September of 2009. Her son and daughter and grandchildren are here and will attend the ceremony, and I know she is here today in spirit and through the eyes of her two lovely granddaughters.

I congratulate all of the extraordinary WASPs who served our country. Thank you for your dedication and service.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

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

I want to thank Chairman Frank and Representative Maloney for all their work on this pressing issue.

Today I am offering a simple amendment to make all provisions of the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights effective immediately upon enactment instead of waiting until December 1.

Now why should we care about enacting the bill a matter of just a couple of weeks earlier? Well, earlier this year we worked diligently to pass the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights. It was a necessary piece of legislation to protect consumers from the abusive practices that many banks had made standard practice.

While we were working on that legislation, I heard from banks that they could not possibly enact all of the changes by the deadlines we proposed. The banks claimed that to ensure quality customer services they would need months or even years to make the proper changes. Well, that was just last May; and I am frankly disappointed to have to address this situation again today.

Since we passed and enacted the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights, credit card companies attempt to fleece customers and hope that Congress didn't notice or have time to act. The same companies that were in my office that claimed that they needed months at least to make changes to their systems apparently only needed in some cases days to find ways to raise interest rates and decrease credit limits on customers across the country.

One caseworker in my Syracuse office watched her card go from 6.9 percent last year to 13.9 earlier this year to a whopping and punitive 29.9 percent in the past few weeks. She carries a balance on that card. But with an interest rate that is suffocating her finances, she almost certainly will not be able to pay that off, so she can't even close the card.

She is not alone. Every day I hear from more and more constituents who tell me they have good credit, that they pay their bills on time, but that the credit card issuers have found a way to raise the rates to extraordinarily high levels. That is why I want to make all provisions of the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights effective immediately.

Customers, especially in this economy, cannot wait any longer for these protections. The credit card companies apparently are able to make any changes in interest rates and procedures instantaneously, so why not demand that of them today? If we give them a week or two, they will slam our constituents with even higher rates, trying to squeeze more blood from a stone in the middle of a recession.

We are not allowed to pass legislation retroactively, even though the card companies have retroactively raised rates on consumer balances. What we can do, Mr. Chairman, is make sure that we enact this legislation immediately.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 90 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York, the sponsor of the bill and the chair of the Joint Economic Committee, Mrs. Maloney.

Mr. Chairman, in closing, I admire the gentleman from Texas, because to try to defend what the credit card companies are doing is essentially indefensible, so he very artfully tries to change the subject. But I truly believe that this bill just addresses the abusive practices. It would actually make it a lot easier for people who have credit. They would understand exactly what they are getting and exactly what they are paying for.

Now in terms of the effective date of this particular amendment, some say it would be unreasonable to impose this effective date immediately, but not as unreasonable as the credit card issuers have been with their own customers.

Mr. Chairman, the time for delays is over. We gave the credit card companies a chance and they took advantage of our constituents. We can't take the chance of giving them even a week or a day to do it again.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I come before you today in unison with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in support of H.R. 3763, to amend the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act to provide an exclusion from Red Flag Guidelines for certain businesses. I'm proud that the lawmakers and the FTC are actively combating the serious problem of identity theft. The Red Flag Guidelines outlined in the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act directs businesses to establish, by August 1, 2009, a plan for protecting their customers from identity theft. We must remember, however, that regulations like the Red Flags Rule have serious consequences for our nation's small businesses. Small businesses are leaders in their communities and work hard to establish personal relationships with their customers. We cannot simply adopt a one-size-fits-all system that applies the same regulatory standards to a large corporation as it does to a small community health care provider or a small law firm.

I commend my colleague from New Jersey for recognizing the undue burden these regulations will have on small businesses and for introducing legislation that provides a more viable solution to identity theft prevention. I am proud to have worked with him in drafting this bill. H.R. 3763 returns to the original intent of the FTC regulations. This bill recognizes that law firms, health care providers, accountants, and other businesses which provide repeated face-to-face service and/or have fewer than 20 employees are not vulnerable to identity theft in the same way as other businesses. These types of businesses were not intended to fall under such FTC regulations and should not be included in Red Flag Guidelines. H.R. 3763 would provide an exemption for such businesses, saving the small business community tremendous undue financial and administrative burden.

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act. By establishing a road mapping process for solar research, development, and demonstration, the bill provides essential aid for the solar industry. I offer my enthusiastic support.

Solar technology presents one of our most promising renewable energy sources. In fact, in my own district, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), is conducting innovative research pertaining to solar energy and putting it to use. Several of the buildings on campus have solar panels that provide electricity for the school. The 40-kilowatt photovoltaic array on the roof of Walters Hall, made possible by state incentives, has the ability to generate electricity even on overcast days.

Thin film PV technology and molecular PV technology are of particular importance as they are the future of photovoltaic technology. By using this second generation of solar technology, we will be able to significantly lower costs while increasing conversion efficiencies.

I also specifically encourage demonstration projects in the 1 to 2 megawatt range. Increasing the energy productivity on these technologies, I believe, will have the greatest impact on the solar industry.

I congratulate Representative Giffords on her innovative legislation and look forward to seeing its effect on our renewable energy future.

Madam Speaker, I would like to express my support for H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act. This is an important bill with many essential provisions, and I would like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for all of their hard work. This legislation authorizes $10 billion in Fiscal Year 2010 funding for the Coast Guard, while also including several important provisions such as cruise vessel safety and port security. Congress has instructed the Coast Guard to do more and more in recent years, yet has not provided them the funding necessary to accomplish these objectives. This legislation provides the Coast Guard with the resources to meet Congressional directives. Unfortunately, I was unable to vote on this legislation, as I was on official business back in my district with HUD Secretary Donovan. I assure you that, if I was able to be here in Washington, I would have voted for this important legislation.

H.R. 3619 does a great deal to improve national security. The legislation improves on port security, and directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report on the threat of a terrorist attack on gas or chemical cargo shipments. Additionally, the Coast Guard Authorization Act combats alien smuggling by authorizing punishment for anyone who is bringing in people who are considered to be in the United States illegally. Provisions such as these are important for protecting our country from the threat of terrorism and ensuring our citizens are safe.

Once again, I would like to commend Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica on this strong legislation, and voice my support for H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about some of the recent investments that the Recovery Act has made in my home district in upstate New York.

A few weeks ago, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu came to Syracuse to tour some of our innovative renewable energy research facilities. When he was in town, we announced more than $1.4 million in funding for energy efficiency programs in the city of Syracuse alone. The doors, windows, heating and cooling system at City Hall will be switched to a high efficiency, energy saving model. This is a great investment, because not only does it provide for lower carbon emissions, it will actually reduce the energy bills that Syracuse taxpayers will have to foot.

This weekend, I announced energy efficiency funding for the town of Irondequoit. Irondequoit has already had an impressive energy plan in place, so they will make the most of the $440,000 grant. Irondequoit will pursue projects like replacing lightbulbs at often-used public parks and creating a Deputy Commissioner of Public Works for Sustainability.

In my district, Mr. Speaker, the Recovery Act is making smart short- term and long-term investments. It is giving communities in my district the flexibility of making improvements and creating jobs.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 3590, the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act. It is important that the brave men and women currently serving our country have an opportunity to take advantage of programs such as the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. I was proud to introduce similar legislation with the same goal of extending the opportunity for service men and

women to take advantage of the tax credit for twelve months. I ask that all my colleagues Hon. support the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act.

Currently, there are approximately 190,000 U.S. troops fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. These brave men and women are putting their lives on the line every single day, and we, in Congress, must do all in our power to ensure that they are not excluded from participating in programs like the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit because they are overseas.

In fact, a constituent of mine called my office to ask if anything was going to be done to ensure his son, a soldier, could benefit from the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit. While these brave men and women are sacrificing to serve our country, we must ensure that they can take advantage of the same economic recovery resources the rest of us are enjoying.

The Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act also makes sure that members of the armed services are not required to pay back the tax credit if they are forced to sell their home because they have been deployed to a different location. This legislation, like mine, shows Congress's commitment to our troops, and I encourage other Member's to join me in supporting the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 707, expressing support for the week of September 13, 2009, as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week. Syracuse, NY, in my district, is considered the ``home'' of the adult literacy movement. It was in Syracuse that Dr. Frank Laubach established Laubach Literacy International to combat this ever growing problem. In my district, ProLiteracy continues the fight to encourage adult literacy in order to improve the lives of adults, their families and communities. ProLiteracy, the world's largest organization of adult literacy and basic education programs, provides advocacy, professional development, training, technical assistance, and materials to the programs that help adults learn to read, write, perform basic math, use technology, and communicate in English.

Fourteen percent of adults nationwide cannot read at an 8th grade level, that number rises to twenty two percent of adults in the state of New York. The ability to read is a key component for overcoming poverty, maintaining good health, finding a job that pays a living wage and preventing crime. Almost 63 percent of all inmates in state and federal prisons are almost totally illiterate.

For example, Carl Sodeberg from Minneapolis, Minnesota had a learning disability that made it difficult for him to read. When Carl was in high school, he was called to the front of the classroom to read something from the blackboard. When students and the teacher mocked him, Carl lashed out at the teacher verbally and was suspended from school. He never went back. Over the next 20 years Carl found himself in and out of work. He developed a drug problem and ended up in jail. When he finally realized he needed to learn to read, Carl was in his mid-40's. Carl worked with an adult literacy program in his community-- he learned to read, earned his high school diploma, and then went on to get a paraprofessional's license that enables him to work as a teacher's aide. He's now employed by the high school from which he was suspended, working with students who have fallen behind in their studies due to reading problems.

It is stories such as Carl Sodeberg's that remind us the importance of encouraging adult literacy and the mission of organizations like ProLiteracy. I encourage other Members to join me in supporting H. Res. 707 to designate the week of September 13 Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.