Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Let me just add some accolades. But first of all, I want to commend first my friend and colleague from Illinois, Representative Shimkus, for the tremendous dedication and service and leadership that he has provided to the page program as its chairman. But let me also commend and congratulate all of you for the tremendous service that you have provided. Many of us make use of your skills, make use of your energy, of your legs, your ability to go from one place to the other and bring things, but I am amazed at the number of people that I have met here who are now Members of this body who at one time served as pages.

So I suspect that in the future we will see some of you here as Members from the community where you live and perhaps we will even see one of you sitting in the big chair up in the White House.

Congratulations to all of you. Thank you so much for your service.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 40th anniversary of Reverend Martin Luther King's northern campaign. In January of 1966, Dr. King and his family moved to Chicago's west side, not far from where I was living and working at the time. Chicago was one of the most segregated cities in the Nation, and real estate agents were deeply engaged in racial steering and block busting. Beginning in July of 1966, Dr. King organized a series of marches demanding open housing. To the shame of Chicago and the Nation, marches were met by shouts of ``White Power,'' bricks, and even bombs.

Mr. Speaker, those who have been reading the Taylor Branch three- volume biography of Dr. King will be reminded of one of the great ironies of our time. We know less about Dr. King's stay in Chicago than almost any other period of his life because, for some reason, the FBI was relatively unsuccessful in bugging Dr. King's communications in Chicago. One of the things we do know for certain was that although the northern campaign was deemed a failure by many, it gave birth to one of America's great fair housing organizations, the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities.

For 40 years, the Leadership Council has fought the good fight, seeking equality and justice for families who just wanted equal access to the housing market, just wanted a fair shot at finding a decent, affordable place to stay of their own choosing. The Leadership Council made it possible for more than 10,000 public housing families to improve their housing situation as a result of a Federal court settlement with the Chicago Housing Authority.

They relentlessly pursued housing discrimination in the courts through a program of testing. They trained tens of thousands of real estate agents in fair housing law. And though much remains to be done in the arena of fair housing, the Leadership Council is now preparing to close its doors due to lack of funding. These are indeed hard times for nonprofits in general, but fair housing advocates tell us that they have been hit particularly hard.

Mr. Speaker, the Leadership Council left a little of their vision wherever they ventured, even here in the people's House, where they helped to lead the grass-roots movement which led to passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act.

Mr. Speaker, the Leadership Council will be missed but not forgotten. They leave a proud legacy and can retire with their heads held high. Their resolve and their work will live on as other organizations and individuals pick up where they left off. And although they are closing their doors and going out of business, I say to them and all of those who were associated, A job well done.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Obey-Hyde-Lantos-Green amendment to increase disaster assistance funding for Darfur by $50 million and to increase HIV/AIDS assistance by $50 million. In order to pay for this funding, this bipartisan amendment will cut $100 million in economic budget support for Egypt.

Mr. Chairman, when we provide money to any organization or government, we should demand accountability and results in return. However, we have heard over and over again that in just the last year the government of Egypt has imprisoned the leading opposition candidate in their 2005 elections, which were themselves marred by fraud; extended so-called emergency laws despite promises to repeal them, cracked down on pro-democracy groups, harassed and arrested members of the press, and suspended a United States Government funded program to promote democracy. This is simply not acceptable. Perhaps some tough love and leaner times will help refocus the Egyptian government on Democratic reforms.

While our funds are obviously finite, the need for true humanitarian assistance around the world is seemingly infinite. The World Food Program has recently had to cut rations for refugees in the Sudan due to a shortfall in funding. The global HIV/AIDS initiative is funded at $121 million below the President's request. I am sure that nearly all of us would rather see our taxpayers' money used to support refugees and children orphaned by AIDS than used to throw dissidents and reporters into Egyptian jails.

Just a day or two ago, I was arrested in front of the Sudanese Embassy as a result of all of the difficulty and the genocide and the instability taking place in Darfur. Certainly a little bit of additional money to help provide resources for those refugees, for those individuals whose lives are disrupted would go a long way. So I urge support for the Obey amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of Mr. Brown.

Mr. Speaker, last week George William Dunne, one of the giant figures of Chicago and Cook County politics in the last half of the 20th century passed at age 93.

George Dunne came from humble circumstances, the son of Irish immigrants. He graduated from De La Salle Institute on Chicago's South Side, the alma mater of such stalwarts of Cook County politics as Mayor Martin Kennelly, Cook County board president Dan Ryan, and Mayor Richard J. Daley.

He attended Northwestern University and served his country in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War. George Dunne began his public service career as a park supervisor at a Lake Michigan playground, and went on to a series of positions with the Chicago Park District.

He was elected to the Illinois House of Representative in 1955 and elevated to House Majority Leader in 1961. In 1962 he was elected to the Cook County Board and 7 years later he was elected to the position of President of the Board. George served in that position for 31 years, until his retirement in 1990.

In addition to his government service, George held responsible posts in the Cook County Democratic Party. He was Democratic committeeman of the 42nd Ward on Chicago's north side for more than 40 years, and as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party for all but 5 years from 1976 to his retirement in 1990.

George Dunne was present at many of the great historical landmark events of his day. He was with Colonel Jacob Arvey at the 1984 Democratic Convention in Philadelphia for the nomination of Harry Truman.

20 years later he was with Mayor Richard J. Daley at the 1968 Democratic Convention for the nomination of Hubert Humphrey.

However, Mr. Speaker, for me those are not the events I remember. When I remember George Dunne, I remember 1983 when Harold Washington won the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Chicago. The Democratic Party began to split along racial lines, with some white Democrats turning to oppose the nominee of their own party.

George Dunne was one of those who resisted such splitting tactics and supported Harold Washington, including what was to become immortalized in one famous photograph, marching arm in arm with Washington at the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

I remember the depth of the crisis at Cook County Hospital when George Dunne, became President of the Cook County Board. At one time Cook County Hospital had been a model for public health institutions. But by the early 1970s, many were calling for the closing of the hospital.

Today we would call it privatization of the hospital. Eventually, President Dunne put aside his political predilections and hired a radical young doctor, Dr. Quentin Young to lead the Department of Medicine, a move which today is generally created with saving the hospital.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that we mortals should make final judgement on the life of other mortals, but when we reflect on the life of George Dunne, I hope that these qualities and actions are among those which are never forgotten.

Several of his proteges are integral parts of Illinois and Chicago politics, such as the Honorable Jesse White, Secretary of State, the Honorable Burton Naturus, Alderman and committeeman of the 42nd Ward, and the honorable Walter Burnett, alderman of the 27th Ward.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that they would join with me and countless others of saying thanks to his family for sharing with all of us a tremendous elected official, politician, but most of all a gentleman and a humanitarian.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I also want to commend Representative Price for his introduction of this legislation, and I am pleased to join with him, Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Miller as we express support for H. Con. Res. 421.

Supporting mathematics and science in education is crucial to national prosperity. The United States workforce is dramatically changing, and the demand for highly skilled jobs is increasing. In the last 10 years, employment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM fields, as we call them, have increased by an estimated 23 percent, particularly in mathematics and in computer science. This growth will only continue by 2020. Fifteen million new jobs that require college-educated and highly skilled workers will be created.

However, and unfortunately, we have seen a recent drop in students' educational interest in STEM-related fields. In 2004, only 27 percent of degrees awarded were in STEM fields, compared to 32 percent of degrees in

1995. We need to ensure that our students are adequately prepared for the changing economy, and supporting quality programs in STEM-related fields is essential to reach this goal.

The goals of the Academic Competitiveness Council are to evaluate the effectiveness of each STEM-related program across the government, identify areas of overlap and recommend ways to efficiently integrate and coordinate in the future.

It is important that the Academic Competitiveness Council and this Congress continue to focus on a high-quality investment in STEM training. Further, it is important that we work to increase the participation of minority groups and women, who are seriously underrepresented in STEM fields. Inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in STEM will help correct the historical employment inequities that have existed in our country and help supply the American economy with the STEM expertise that the country needs to innovate and remain competitive.

Just last month, we heard from the administration that the creation and operation of the Academic Competitiveness Council is under way and that they are working to make concrete recommendations. Congress has a responsibility to thoughtfully consider these recommendations, accepting those that are reasonable and rejecting recommendations that could undermine or undercut progress.

It is incumbent upon us to ensure that the needs met by current activities continue to be addressed, and even strengthened where needed. We must not eliminate critical and crucially needed activities solely in the name of consolidation.

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

I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Nebraska in support of a resolution to support National Entrepreneurship Week. I rise in support of H. Res. 699 and thank Mr. Price of North Carolina for introducing this resolution.

H. Res. 699 calls on the President to issue a proclamation recognizing National Entrepreneurship Week and to encourage all levels of government to observe National Entrepreneurship Week annually with special events in support of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship education programs.

Entrepreneurship education has long been an integral part of career and technical education programs in high schools across the country. While students may have difficulties defining ``entrepreneur,'' it is clear that, when surveyed, young people understand the concepts behind entrepreneurship and actively seek out similar opportunities.

According to the Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education, entrepreneurship education programs are providing opportunities for young people to master competencies in concepts such as how to recognize opportunities, how to generate ideas and marshal resources in the face of risk, to pursue opportunities, venture creation and operation, and creativity as well as critical thinking.

Mr. Speaker, students who participate in entrepreneurship education learn not just the skills for making smart business decisions; they also learn how to become more involved in their community through civic engagement and participation. And as the resolution points out, students who participate in these programs have better attendance records, perform better on core subjects, and have lower dropout rates than those who do not participate in these programs.

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs represent one of the fastest growing business sectors in our global marketplace. The establishment of a week recognizing the role of entrepreneurs in our economy will continue to help inform young people about the opportunities for success in this global marketplace.

Again, I want to thank Mr. Price for introducing this important legislation, and I urge its support.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the balance of my time to Mr. David Price, who introduced this resolution, from the great State of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, many people view drug abuse and addiction strictly as a social problem. Parents, teens, older adults and other members of the community tend to characterize people who take drugs as morally weak or as having criminal tendencies. They believe that drug abusers and addicts should be able to stop taking drugs if they simply are willing to change their behavior. These myths have stereotyped those with drug- related problems, their families, their communities and the health care professionals who work with them. Drug abuse and addiction comprise a public health problem that affects many people and has wide-ranging social consequences.

A Vigil for Lost Promise Day will help replace the myths and long- held mistaken beliefs about drug abuse and addiction with scientific evidence that addiction is a chronic, relapsing, and treatable disease. Addiction does begin when an individual makes a conscious choice to abuse drugs, but addiction is not just using a lot of drugs.

Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that drugs do more than interfere with normal brain functioning by creating powerful feelings of pleasure. They also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. Changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into drug addiction, a chronic and relapsing illness. Those who are addicted to drugs suffer from compulsive drug cravings and usage that they cannot quit alone. Treatment is necessary to end the compulsive behavior.

Drugs crush the hopes, dreams and potential of drug users, and they shatter the lives of the users' families and friends. I support Vigil for Lost Promise Day because it will draw attention to the impact drugs have, not only on users, but to their loved ones and the community at large.

I look forward, Mr. Speaker, to the day when our country will treat this illness the way it should be treated and that we will have available to individuals treatment on demand, that is, individuals when they know that they are ready and are willing to seek treatment ought to have resources and places to go.

So I commend the sponsors of this legislation and urge its support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, families teach children the lessons they must learn to be happy and to prosper. They also care for children by giving them love and warmth and providing food, shelter and financial support.

While families may handle problems differently, families can develop the following traits to become strong and to improve the quality of life and the development of children. Families learn how to show love and affection towards each other. And no matter what children say or do, children need to know that their parents love them. Children must know that they are loved even though they have different strengths or weaknesses. And when children make mistakes, parents can let them know they are loved as they help them to discover how to learn from mistakes.

Strong families build trusting relationships by demonstrating commitment to all the members of the family. This includes following through with promises, working as a team, and talking to one another about important decisions and daily plans.

All families experience crisis, but strong families use these experiences to learn and to grow. Family members should spend time together talking, reading, playing games, and taking walks. They should encourage each other and be involved in their neighborhoods and community.

A National Families and Children's Day will encourage families to embrace these traits and will highlight the important role all families play in the lives of children and their positive effect for the Nation's future.

It is so unfortunate that there are millions of children in our country who don't have the ability to experience on a daily basis, on a regular basis, on an ongoing basis the love and care of a stable family relationship; children who are institutionalized or children who move from one foster situation to another. Hopefully, as we continue to learn how to enhance and improve the quality of life, we will better learn how to strengthen and develop family structures and the reality that strong families help make for a strong Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from New York in commending American craft brewers. America's brewing landscape began to change during the late 1970s when the traditions and styles of brewing brought to our country by immigrants from all over the world began to disappear. Highly effective marketing campaigns were changing America's beer preference to light-adjunct lager. Low-calorie beers soon began driving and shaping the growth and nature of the American brewing industry.

The home brewing hobby began to thrive as American beer drinkers began brewing their own beer so that they could experience the beer traditions and styles of other countries. Those home brewing roots gave birth to what we now call the ``craft brewing'' industry. Today, American craft-brewed beer is an all-malt beer that is higher in calories and has greater flavor and aroma than the light beers of the 1970s.

Made by any one of America's 1,458 small regional microbreweries, our pub breweries, craft brewers produced 6.23 million barrels, or 3 percent, of the beer consumed in the American States in 2001. American craft brewers are small community-based businesses that employ 33,000 workers and exemplify the American entrepreneurial spirit.

Since 1978, the American craft beer industry has never lost market share. Craft brewers have succeeded in expanding the minds of beer consumers and in creating and establishing a niche in the American consumer market. Today's American beer consumers continue to provide support to the craft beer market.

Again, I join with the gentleman from New York and the gentleman from California in commending the home brewers, as many people like to call them, but the people who make their own so they can sip it, and taste it, and know what it is like before it is finished.

Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the champion of wine tasting in the House and the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

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

Let me just say that Californians, whether Democrat or Republican, take their politics seriously. They do not always agree on all things, but I think they do agree and I think all of us can agree with them that California does in fact have some of the finest wines known to humankind. I am pleased to join with them in passing this resolution, and perhaps one of these days Representative Thompson might even make me an honorary member of that tasting club.

Mr. Speaker, until 1976, France was generally regarded as having an unchallenged reputation as the foremost producer of the world's best wines. In that year, a wine merchant in Paris, Steven Spurrier, organized the prestigious wine tasting competition now known as the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. Spurrier sold only French wines and later said ``I thought I had it rigged for the French wines to win.''

The jury of nine testers in the wine competition included eight of France's top wine tasting experts. Blind tasting was performed so that none of the judges knew the identity of the wines that were tasted. First to be tasted were white wines. The comparison included Chardonnays and matched the very best French Chardonnays from Burgundy against California Chardonnays. The winner was a California Chardonnay that was from Chateau Montelena and made by winemaker Mike Grgich. Third and fourth places also went to California Chardonnays. All nine judges awarded their top scores to either Chalone Winery or Chateau Montelena, both of California. The red wines then were tasted. A Cabernet Sauvignon from California's Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and produced by winemaker Warren Winiarski was chosen as the top wine of that type.

The tasting results were surprising to the judges and wine connoisseurs worldwide. The lone reporter who attended the competition was from Time magazine, and that reporter's story promptly revealed the results to the world. Leaders in the French wine industry banned Spurrier from the nation's prestigious wine-tasting tour for a year, apparently as punishment for the damage his tasting had done to France's image of superiority. And as recently as 2005, some of the judges still refused to discuss the tasting, saying that to do so would have been ``too painful.''

This resolution recognizes and honors the 30th anniversary of the California victory at the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting and recognizes the historical significance of this event to the United States wine industry.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 399.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, people across the Nation and around the world have enjoyed traveling across America to visit our magnificent cities, parks, museums, and our many other national historic and cultural sites. America provides countless opportunities to learn about and to enjoy our Nation's immense variety of attractions.

The travel and tourism industry represents a vital part of the American economy. It is a $1.3 trillion industry in the United States, and $100 billion is generated each year in tax revenues for local, State and Federal governments. And with the total of 7.3 million American jobs related to travel, the travel and tourism industry is one of the country's biggest employers.

National Tourism Week was established by Congress in 1983 and first celebrated in May of 1984 when President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation that urged citizens to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Held each year from May 13 to May 21, National Tourism Week provides the perfect platform upon which to challenge State tourism boards, city governments and other relevant entities to take a proactive role and to engage in practices that protect and maximize their tourism assets.

As a matter of fact, when I think of tourism, I think of my own congressional district which includes downtown Chicago with many of the skyscrapers, the Sears Tower, the Water Tower Place. King Tut is now on exhibit in our city, and thousands of people are coming each and every day. And so travel and tourism contribute to the cultural and social well-being of the Nation. I support this resolution and urge its passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

As a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5245, legislation naming the postal facility at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, after Matthew Lyon. This bill, which was sponsored by Representative Bernard Sanders of Vermont, was unanimously reported by our committee on May 4, 2006.

Matthew Lyon was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, and in 1764, at the age of 14, emigrated to the United States as an indentured servant. It was not long before he was a free man and fighting alongside Ethan Allen and others in the famous battle of Ticonderoga. Lyon went on to settle in Vermont, founding the village of Fair Haven and later representing Vermont in Congress for two terms.

Lyon was a fierce Jeffersonian Republican and a staunch opponent of the Sedition Act. Lyon's public opposition to the Sedition Act led him to be the first person arrested under the guise of the act. A dubious honor to some, perhaps, was a badge of honor to this protector of free speech and liberty. Lyon would serve a 4-month prison sentence and become a champion of the movement opposed to the Sedition Act.

After serving two terms as the Representative for Vermont and one term in the Kentucky State legislature, Lyon was elected to Congress again, this time as a Representative for the State of Kentucky, becoming one of

only three people elected to Congress from two States.

Mr. Speaker, this is certainly a great deal of historic as well as patriotic value, and I would urge swift passage of H.R. 5245 which seeks to honor the life of a true American pioneer, Matthew Lyon.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Jose Alberto Pujols is widely regarded as one of major league baseball's best offensive players because he hits consistently for average and power. On August 5, 2005, Pujols became the first player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first five seasons. On August 31, 2005, he became the first major league player since Ted Williams to have 100 runs batted in during each of his first five seasons.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, it was in the United States that Pujols developed his love for baseball and demonstrated his ability for the game. He batted over .500 during his first season of high school baseball. At Maple Woods Community College in the Kansas City area, Pujols showed off his talent by hitting a grand slam and recording an unassisted triple play during his first game and by batting .461 during his first season.

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Pujols in the 13th round of the 1999 draft. He initially turned down a $10,000 bonus and opted to play in the Jayhawk League in Kansas. By the end of the summer, the Cardinals had increased their bonus offer to $60,000. Pujols signed with the Cardinals and was assigned to the minor leagues. By

the next year he was playing for Single A team the Peoria Chiefs where he was voted league Most Valuable Player. Pujols progressed quickly through the ranks of the St. Louis farm system and on to the major leagues.

The 2005 season saw Pujols establish career highs in walks and stolen bases while leading the St. Louis Cardinals in almost every offensive category. He finished with a .330 batting average, a .430 on-base percentage, and a .609 slugging percentage, 41 home runs, a grand slam, 117 RBIs, 97 walks and 16 stolen bases. The Cardinals were eliminated during the National League championship series, but only after Pujols hit a memorable home run in game five, a two-out, three-run blast in the top of the ninth inning off Houston Astro closer Brad Lidge. After the season, Pujols received his first National League Most Valuable Player award which underscored his critical role in keeping the injury- plagued Cardinals on track throughout the season.

Pujols should be commended for his work on the baseball field, for the foundation he and his wife, Diedre, have created and dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Downs Syndrome and their families, and for helping the poor in the Dominican Republic. For those and other reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 626, a tremendous athlete, but an even more tremendous humanitarian.

I reserve the balance of my time.

It is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to that great St. Louis Cardinal fan and the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Carnahan from Missouri.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I will include for the record a statement from Representative Barbara Lee, who is the sponsor of this resolution. Congresswoman Barbara Lee could not be with us here today, though she sincerely wanted to be. In her absence, she asked me to give a few remarks on her behalf.

Congresswoman Lee would like to thank ranking member Waxman and the chairman of the Government Reform Committee, Tom Davis, along with the leadership on both sides of the aisle, for bringing this bill to the floor today. Representative Lee expresses her appreciation to the over 55 cosponsors of this bipartisan resolution for their support and she wants in particular to thank her Republican leader on the resolution, Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey, for his support.

This resolution is extremely straightforward and noncontroversial. It details and recognizes the value of international travel and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, State localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses and other entities and the people of the United States to observe National Passport Month with appropriate ceremonies, programs and activities.

As the senior Democratic woman on the House International Relations Committee and a traveler herself, Congresswoman Lee truly understands and appreciates the value and importance of international travel. As Congresswoman Lee notes in her statement for the record, there is no substitute for the experience that you get from visiting other countries. Travel changes the way we see the world. It broadens our horizons and deepens our appreciation for different countries and cultures. It also helps us to be more understanding, tolerant and to have respect for other cultures.

Not only does travel provide enriching opportunities for the individual, it can also have profound benefits to our Nation as a whole by allowing Americans to spread the message of freedom and democracy around the world. In addition, having a passport and traveling abroad enables Americans to see the American influence on the world firsthand, including the tremendous amount of humanitarian aid given by Americans throughout both the public and private sectors.

I agree with the Congresswoman, who states that Americans of all ages are our best ambassadors and we should promote policies that encourage them to travel, to forge connections with people from other countries, to foster mutual understanding and tolerance and to help open new doors to peace.

The timing of this resolution could not be more critical, because America needs a boost in foreign public opinion. When Lonely Planet, which is located in Representative Lee's district in Oakland, California, raised the idea of a National Passport Month, she immediately embraced it. In Representative Lee's statement for the record she notes how proud she was to introduce H. Res. 327 and to be part of the campaign to recognize the importance of international travel and how overwhelmed she was by the support she has received for the effort.

In April of this year, Lonely Planet presented her with over 5,000 petition signatures from people all over the country who support these efforts. This resolution has the support of a broad coalition of over 70 supporting travel organizations and associations. This includes corporations such as American Express and Yahoo and the State Department. In fact, Congresswoman Lee is submitting the letter of support from the State Department along with her statement today.

Representative Lee would like to thank all the supporters of the resolution, and notes that she looks forward to working with them to ensure that the White House issues the proclamation in ample time for the inaugural National Passport Month celebrations this September.

I, too, Mr. Speaker, would urge support for this resolution. And since we have had so many items on the agenda this evening coming out of Government Reform, I also want to simply state that it has indeed been a pleasure to work with the gentleman from California. I am not looking forward to another long session like this coming from Government Reform, but if it has to be, then I look forward to working with him.

I urge passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that May is Mental Health Month. I would also like to thank those who have dedicated their lives to mental health care.

Now more than ever, we must commit ourselves to full mental health parity. Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from mental health disorders and more than 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetimes. Many millions suffer from serious, debilitating, and life altering mental disorders such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. Nearly every American has friends and relatives that cope with such disorders.

Mental health professionals not only help people with organic mental health disorders, but also help people recovering from traumatic and life changing experiences. Over the last few years, Americans have experienced the trauma of a major terrorist attack and two wars overseas. Tens of thousands of families have experienced firsthand the loss or serious injury of a loved one. Tens of thousands of soldiers who have sustained serious injuries will need assistance adjusting to a life far different than they left. Thousands of American soldiers will return home in need of mental health services related to their combat experiences.

I hope that the Committee on Education and the Workforce will continue to work to ensure that the mental health needs of the elderly are met as we reauthorize the Older Americans Act. The elderly are the most vulnerable to mental health disorders and elderly men are the demographic most to likely commit suicide. Specifically, I want to ensure that senior citizens have access to mental health services in their community or in the same place that they receive primary health care services. I am pleased that we are beginning to make some headway on this important issue.