Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in opposition to H.R. 471, the D.C. voucher bill. While I share the same commitment to improving the quality of education here in D.C., in Chicago, and throughout the Nation, as a staunch supporter of public schools I strongly disagree with vouchering public dollars to private schools and institutions. I do not believe that the D.C. public schools should become experimental labs for the rest of the Nation. As I have stated previously on a number of occasions, paying for school vouchers translates into fewer taxpayer dollars for traditional public schools which have the responsibility to educate all, and I emphasize, all of the children.

Improving public education in the District of Columbia, as in the rest of the Nation, has been and continues to be a long and arduous task. It is an absolute priority of mine. However, now is not the time to abandon our obligation to ensure top-notch public education for all students by shifting Federal dollars to private schools.

I understand and commend the Federal Government for playing a critical role in providing the District with badly needed funding for improving education since 2004.

But I have never found any conclusive evidence that vouchers have increased achievement, nor have I seen any evidence in any study that an overall school district has improved as a result of vouchers. If the Federal Government is serious about improving the quality of education for the city's 70,000-plus deservedly young minds, then we should place our resources towards educational opportunities for all.

I must add that in the District we have seen improvement during the last 2 and 3 years. And while we didn't seek any real testimony from the officials of the District of Columbia or school officials and students in public schools, we did hear from Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, whose thoughts represent the thinking of a large number of Washingtonians, and she has told us that continued investment in D.C.'s public school reform efforts will yield far greater benefits for the city as a whole rather than spending millions of dollars on less than 2,000 students to attend private schools.

I agree with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. She represents the thinking of the people of the District of Columbia. I urge that we vote down this voucher bill and support the amendment that will be presented by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring awareness of the increase in cardiovascular diseases in the United States. Since 1963, to urge Americans to join the battle against these diseases, Congress has requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating February as ``American Heart Month.'' Throughout this month, volunteers, educators, health professionals, community leaders and others will devote time to increase awareness about the number one killer of Americans: Cardiovascular disease. Since 1900 cardiovascular disease has accounted for more deaths than any other major cause of death in the U.S., 1 out of every 3. Every 25 seconds someone has a coronary event and every 40 seconds someone has a stroke. According to the American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update, the estimated direct and indirect costs of CVD for 2010 totaled $503.2 billion.

Heart disease impacts all ethnic groups, men and women, young and old. Strokes occur more often in women and twice as often in African Americans. Just reported this month at the American Stroke Association conference were statistics showing a 51% increase in strokes in 15-34 year old men and a 17% increase in 15-34 year old women. The average age of a person having a first heart attack is 64.5 for men and 70.3 for women. As overweight and obesity--believed to be the major reasons for these alarming statistics--become more prevalent in our society, the risk of CVD and stroke begins to occur at younger ages.

There are 9 modifiable risk factors for heart disease, 5 of which are related to diet. These include hypertension, abnormal blood lipids, abdominal obesity, diabetes, decreased intake of fruits and vegetables and overconsumption of alcoholic beverages. All of these risk factors could be controlled with healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle.

I am pleased to have the headquarters for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) in my Congressional District. The ADA is the foremost authority in providing nutrition counseling throughout the country. In fact, the more than 71,000 registered dietitians and nutrition professionals who are members support the `eat right' campaign targeted toward all Americans--young and old. The work that they are doing is making a difference in the fight against heart disease and stroke and is improving the health of our citizens.

Having Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) covered by Medicare for beneficiaries diagnosed with hypertension and abnormal blood lipids must happen if we are to have any impact at conquering CVD and its associated deaths. Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by a registered dietitian has been shown to effectively aid in normalizing blood pressure, blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels, while also promoting any necessary weight loss. The lifestyle changes needed to provide the improvements in these risk factors cannot be made by most Americans without the vital assistance of the registered dietitian. By helping people eliminate or improve these risk factors, Medicare will avoid paying for the expensive treatments, procedures and hospitalizations that occur due to a cardiovascular event, thus creating a shift from health ``care'' to health ``prevention''.

I commend the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for their numerous programs and educational materials made available to the public to help them adapt a healthier lifestyle. Many employers and churches are participating in programs which encourage them to create a culture of physical activity and healthy eating to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. The NHLBI program ``Healthy Hearts, Healthy Homes'', presents important information about a specific risk factor for heart disease, high blood pressure, in a user-friendly and clear manner for Latinos. Several Point-of-Purchase food labeling programs are being used by various grocery stores to help their customers make the healthiest choices.

The 2020 Impact Goal of the American Heart Association states: By 2020, to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% while reducing death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20%. It will take all of us working together, encouraging our friends, families and co-workers, to live a healthier lifestyle in order to make this become a reality.

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

Mr. Chairman, I simply rise to concur with the last group of speakers who have indicated that they were in opposition to this amendment.

I have worked with individuals in the State of Illinois for the last several years. My congressional district runs right along Lake Michigan, and we have had a tremendous amount of effort to try and resolve this problem. It has not been resolved. And I would plead for more time, more study, more opportunity to come up with a resolution that works for all of the Great Lakes area, not just for some to the detriment of others. I strongly oppose this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Kline amendment. Although I know that career colleges play an important role in higher education, I cannot support this amendment because the scope of the prohibition is too broad and the timing

of this amendment prior to the release of any final regulation preempts the traditional regulatory process.

Together, the amendment's comprehensive ban on the Department's ability to ``implement, administer, or enforce'' any current, pending, or future regulation of gainful employment inappropriately and prematurely restricts the responsibility of the administration to regulate institutions of higher education.

In the many meetings I've had with career college stakeholders, each one of them has admitted that there are bad actors. Despite this uniform recognition, this amendment would tie the hands of the Department of Education from any effort to encourage these schools to improve their practices and protect their students.

I support career colleges, yet I am resolute in my belief that the Federal Government has the responsibility to protect students and hold institutions of higher education accountable--especially those that access public dollars. I stand with over 50 civil rights groups, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and student groups who support strong gainful employment protections for students, including key civil rights groups such as the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Children's Defense Fund; the three HBCU advocacy groups--NAFEO, the United Negro College Fund, and the Thurgood Marshall; and key education groups such as the American Federation of Teachers, the NEA, and the Council for Opportunity in Education.

Let's be clear and make no mistake. The Kline-Foxx amendment is not about protecting low-income minority students. If that was the case, then those concerns would have been expressed by not cutting Pell Grants for over a million students by approximately $845 per student. If the goal was truly to support low-income minority students, the CR would not have cut $200 million in institutional aid from nonprofit HBCUs, predominantly black colleges and universities, and Hispanic- Serving Institutions. If the goal was truly to help low-income minority students, the CR would not have cut $44 million from GEAR UP and TRIO-- programs that are designed to help first-generation students prepare and succeed in college.

The reality is that this amendment completely stops the Department of Education from any form of oversight of career colleges that educate 10 percent of higher education students, receive approximately 24 percent of Federal grants and loans, and account for 48 percent of loan defaults.

I say let's slow down the process. Let's stop now. Let's give the Department of Education an opportunity to review its work and come back to us with some regulations that take care of the needs of students and not protect just the institutions.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1, which cuts the heart out of safety net programs which sustain and help sustain the most economically challenged and most vulnerable individuals and families in our society.

Of particular concern to me are the maternal and child health programs, Community Development Block Grants, cuts to legal assistance services, education and training, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, and others which sustain the most vulnerable, the most disadvantaged, the most disjointed, and, in many instances, the most helpless and the most hopeless members of our society.

I am obviously concerned about health services in a real sense, because if you have all of these other problems and then you are sick on top of it and have no way of taking care of yourself, then you have no way of addressing the other needs that you have.

I have been involved with health services for more than 40 years, and I have had a good look at what we call Community Health Centers, which have become to me the most effective way of providing quality health care to large numbers of low-income people in this country.

When we talk about cutting over $1 billion to Community Health Centers, we are talking about ending funding for 127 new centers in underserved areas across the country. It means ending funding of Increased Demand for Services, or IDS grants, which have allowed health centers to expand to serve 3.3 million new patients in the last year and a half.

These cuts would raise costs in the Medicaid program and overall general health care services to the country. As a result, patients would lose access to primary care, to a regular doctor, and seek care for nonemergency health situations by using hospital emergency rooms, which would cost the country billions of dollars and continue to increase high-cost health care to our economy.

If these cuts go through, it would have an additive effect to the States that are cutting nearly $90 million in financial support to health centers due to their own fiscal crises, therefore leaving health centers with no way to continue to serve their existing patients.

Community Health Centers provide high quality health care and they do it cost-effectively and efficiently. In the State of Illinois, in 2008, 40 of these centers operated over 350 sites, contributed almost $1 billion to the Illinois economy and directly employed almost 6,000 individuals. For every 10 people employed by an Illinois health center, an additional four jobs were created in their surrounding communities. These programs served over 1.1 million patients, nearly 80 percent of whom all fell below the Federal poverty level and 30 percent of whom had no health insurance at all. Without these cuts, these centers can continue to operate and provide services.

I say let's not be what my mother used to call penny wise and pound foolish. It might look like we are saving, but every time we take care of one's health, we are making an investment.

I urge that we reject these cuts.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to debate the budget, and as we have already begun to debate, it is a budget that in many instances and in many ways spells gloom and doom for people who have been expecting and looking for some opportunity to move our government and our country forward.

In order to really understand how we got to where we are, I think it is important for us to remember that President Clinton left President Bush with a 10-year projected surplus of $5.6 trillion in 2001.

Whereas President Bush on January 20, 2009, left President Obama with a $1.2 trillion deficit. And let's keep in mind that this was the deficit on day one of the Obama administration, weeks before the President enacted a single piece of legislation and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The failed economic policies of the Bush administration led to this enormous deficit: the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts totaled $1.3 trillion over 10 years, in which most of the tax relief went to the top 1 percent of income earners; a Medicare prescription drug benefit with a 10 year cost of nearly another $1 trillion that was not offset; two overseas war that are near a cost of $1 trillion; a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street banks.

And all of these unpaid-for policies were compounded by the worst economic recession in 70 years that began in 2007, which led to huge shortfalls in Federal tax revenue and increased reliance on unemployment insurance and other Federal social safety net programs.

In order to get these huge deficits under control, we have some tough decisions to make. We have some very serious and some difficult decisions as we attempt to balance the budget and as we attempt to continue to promote and project economic recovery.

I have always been told that you can measure the greatness of a society by how well it looks after its young, how well it looks after its old, and how well it looks after those who cannot look after themselves effectively. So as we begin to talk about cuts, where I come from, I have been told that if all that you do is cut, cut, cut, all that you are going to get is blood, blood, blood; and, of course, the blood of the people will be on the hands of those who have the knives.

So as we cut, let's look seriously at the Community Services Administration, the one little program, one little agency, one little area that still provides resources to fund programs like those established during the OEO War on Poverty days, when we took a good look at poverty and what was causing it.

As we begin to cut, let's understand that health is essential for wealth, so let's make sure that we don't tamper with what I consider to be one of the most effective ways of providing primary health care to large numbers of poor people in this country, the community health centers, that provide primary care to more than 20 million low-income Americans without regard in many instances to their ability to pay.

And let's understand that our prison system has become the largest in the world. More than 2 million people are incarcerated, so let's not cut or decimate the little justice programs that we are funding to help these individuals try and successfully reintegrate back into society.

So, I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I urge that when we cut, let's make good cuts, and not those that cut the poor.

How much longer can we afford to extend the Bush-era tax cuts? The President and Congress extended all of them through 2012 at a two year cost of $800 billion. A ten year extension of all these tax cuts will cost $3.8 trillion--$3 trillion of which are the popular middle-class tax cuts.

Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office released its latest projections of the Social Security Trust Fund. It was previously projected to go into a cash deficit in 2017, but now CBO has projected that the trust fund is now running a deficit. The trust is expected to be exhausted in 2037.

We can no longer operate under the assumption of the last decade, that we can increase spending and reduce taxes without having to pay for it.

The last Congress took important steps to restore some important tools that were used to produce the first budget surplus in more than a generation in the late 1990s, such as Statutory Pay-As-You-Go--meaning if Congress wants to increase mandatory spending, we have to offset it by reducing spending elsewhere in the budget or increase taxes to cover the increase.

Unfortunately, the new Republican Majority has changed House rules gutting PAY-GO's effectiveness in the Congressional budget process. The so-called CUT-GO rule prohibits offsetting any new mandatory spending with a revenue increase. This makes it nearly impossible to offset any new spending or tax cuts with revenue increases and will require only spending cuts.

In another unprecedented change, the House last week voted to give the House Budget Committee Chairman the sole responsibility for setting discretionary spending levels for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. The House of Representatives as a whole will be deprived of the right to vote up or down the Budget Chairman's levels.

We have to remember that what we do with Federal budget touches everyone. Our fiscal problems are very complex and they need to be addressed, but there is no simple, one-size-fits-all solution.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measure. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted ``aye'' for the following vote: rollcall No. 12, January 18, 2011: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: H.R. 292, Stop the Over Printing (STOP) Act.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to congratulate Paul Karafiol, an educator at Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago, on receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Awardees are selected by a panel of scientists for their prowess in teaching pre-college-level science and mathematics. I am elated that Mr. Karafiol received this distinguished honor for the caliber of his teaching of math. His ability to convey mathematics concepts to students in clear and interesting ways provides a great benefit to Chicago, and the Presidential award is a well-earned recognition of his skill.

Mr. Karafiol is a Chicago native and Chicago Public School graduate. He received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Harvard University and his master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. Mr. Karafiol has always had a love for math. As a youth, he was on the Math Team at the Kenwood Academy. His first summer jobs involved working as a junior staff member in math programs for talented students held at the University of Chicago, Hampshire College, and ENSAE in Toulouse, France. After teaching at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts for many years, Mr. Karafiol moved back to Chicago in 1997 to teach math at Providence-St. Mel, another wonderful school in Chicago. In 2000, he assisted in opening the math department at Walter Payton College Prep, becoming the Chairman of the math department in 2009. When you talk with Mr. Karafiol, his passion for teaching math is evident. He speaks of his excitement at understanding the connections among concepts and discovering surprises using numbers; it is this love of the subject that he shares with his students by creating environments in which they too can appreciate these learning revelations.

Walter Payton College Prep--the school at which Mr. Karafiol teaches--has an environment of continuous collaboration, reflection, and dedication to excellence. Through the commitment of Mr. Karafiol and the math department staff, Walter Payton College Prep was given the Intel Star Innovator award for the finest math and science program in the country. Over 150 schools competed in the Intel Schools of Distinction competition. Three schools were named as finalists in each of six categories: High School Math and Science; Middle School Math and Science; and Elementary Math and Science. Payton's math program was cited as the High School Mathematics winner; it also received the competition's grand prize--the Star Innovator Award. Mr. Karafiol notes that collaboration between the math and science departments at Walter Payton improve both departments' understandings of what math skills students need to be successful, when students need which skills, and how best to teach, reinforce, or remediate particular math skills. This joint process also helps Payton's math teachers gain new ideas about applications and contexts that they could integrate into their classes to improve mathematics learning. Impressively, over a quarter of the students at Walter Payton take five or more math courses before graduation. In addition to this rigorous set of core classes, many of the students at Walter Payton fill their electives with advanced placement statistics and/or university-level math courses: Over 99 percent of the student population scores as ``Meeting or Exceeding'' state math standards on the Prairie State Achievement Examination.

We have an obligation to the future of our Nation to assure every segment of our population has the opportunity to pursue careers in science and math. When children have an effective educator in these fields, they experience an excitement and understanding of math and science that increases their self confidence and interest in pursuing careers in science and mathematics. I celebrate with Mr. Karafiol and Walter Payton College Prep on the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Their dedication prepares students in Chicago to take an active role in making America a leader in math and science among the community of nations in the 21st century.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Under no circumstances would I vote to repeal the most effective, most meaningful, most sensitive health legislation that has been passed in this country since the Medicare-Medicaid provisions of the 1960s. Under no circumstances would I vote to repeal legislation that would provide the 107,000 individuals in my congressional district who have preexisting conditions.

Would I vote to repeal health insurance for more than 32 million Americans who otherwise would have no coverage? No way.

Vote this legislation down. Let's support the American people, keep them with health care.

The Seventh Congressional District of Illinois includes some of the most medically underserved communities in America. Census data revealed that 24 percent of families and 44 percent of children under 18 live below the poverty line. As a result, many of these individuals are susceptible to an anomaly of diseases and poor health. In fact, some communities on Chicago's west side experience infant mortality rates comparable with third-world countries. By repealing Public Law 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will take away support for community health centers, which provide critical resources for millions of Americans in every state and territory. In my district, there are many Medicare and Medicaid recipients that have established community health centers as their medical homes. Medicaid beneficiaries that rely on health centers for usual care were 19 percent less likely to use the emergency room at a hospital than other providers for nonemergency and usual care services. Overall, health centers save the health care system between $9.9 billion and $17.6 billion annually.

Community health centers provide high quality health care regardless of the ability to pay, and health centers in Illinois have a tremendous impact on our economy and employment. In 2008, 40 health centers operated over 350 sites, contributed almost one billion dollars to the Illinois economy, and directly employed almost 6,000 Illinoisans. Indeed, for every 10 people employed by an Illinois health center, an additional 4 jobs were created in their surrounding communities. Illinois health centers served over 1.1 million patients--nearly 80% of whom fell below the federal poverty level and 30% who had no health insurance, helping them cope with chronic health conditions and general health issues to be able to work and care for their families.

Repeal of the health care law would eliminate $11 billion in support for community health centers over the next 5 years, funding that will nearly double the number of patients served today and greatly strengthen Illinois's economy. Repealing the health care law would dramatically harm the health of hundreds of thousands of citizens in Chicago and Illinois.

Repeal of the health care law would greatly increase an already high level of health disparities among African-Americans and Hispanics. In a recent study, comparing health outcomes among African-Americans and Caucasians found that the gap in health disparities across the Nation was narrowing across ten (10) indicators; however, in Chicago, the reverse was occurring in health disparities among African-Americans and Caucasians are widening. Given all that has been stated above, the reversal of health care reform would have tremendous negative impact on Chicago when considering the unemployment rate, the crisis in the housing market and the abundance of the urban poor that exists within our communities. Most affected will be the working poor who are most commonly uninsured as their company provides little or no medical benefits. The middle aged childless individual who is not eligible for Illinois public aid and naturally men without children who are not veterans or eligible to be covered through Illinois public aid are affected as well. Lastly, we must consider the devastating impact the burden of the uninsured has placed on the healthcare delivery system, specifically hospitals who avoid caring for uninsured patients and resulting in the lack of access to primary and specialty care. The funding from the Affordable Care Act would assist community

health centers to stay on track to add 20 million new patients (for a total of 40 million patients) over the next 5 years.

Repeal of the health care law would eliminate health coverage for young people up to age 26 who would not be allowed to stay on their parents' plans. Repeal would force 2,600 young adults in my district to find other coverage or returned to the ranks of the uninsured.

Repeal would deny tax credits to buy health insurance coverage for 158,000 families in my district. Additionally, it would increased the numbered of uninsured residents to 48,000 in my district.

There are 107,000 to 282,000 residents in my district with pre- existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, including 7,000 to 30,000 children that the repeal legislation if passed would encourage health insurance companies to discriminate based on pre- existing conditions.

Repeal would eliminate tax credits for health insurance up to 14,100 small businesses in my district. These tax credits under the current law would provide small businesses up to 35% of the cost of providing health insurance.

The health care law is critical to Chicago and Illinois. Community health centers are vital partners in the health and economic well-being of Chicago and Illinois. For this reason, I do not support H.R. 2, Repeal the Job-Killing Health Care Law and Health care related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Act. To maintain economic growth and a high standard of living, our nation must remain competitive in a global economy. To be competitive, U.S. companies must engage in trade, preserve market shares, and provide sustainable products, processes, and services. Scientific and technological advances serve as critical components of economic growth because they contribute to the creation of new goods, services, jobs, and increased productivity. Our country is in need of innovative concepts and ideas to strengthen our economy both domestically and internationally. The America COMPETES Act will increase the nation's investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM. Further, COMPETES provides critical federal investment in science through research and education. I am pleased that the 111th Congress will reauthorize this law, and I am pleased that it contains some important elements to broaden the participation of groups of Americans who are underrepresented in STEM fields, such as women and racial or ethnic minorities.

According to the Census Bureau, 39 percent of the population under the age of 18 is a racial or ethnic minority. Yet, in 2003, only 4.4 percent of U.S. science and engineering jobs were held by African Americans and only 3.4 percent by Hispanics. In 2008, the American Community Survey reported that 10.3 percent of the total U.S. population were in the Professional, Scientific, Management and Administrative Services industry; however, only 7.7 percent of Cambodians, 6.8 percent of Hmongs, and 5.2 percent of Laotians actually held these types of jobs. Further, women represent only a little more than one quarter of our science and technology workforce. Many experts maintain that the ability of the U.S. to produce enough scientists will fall far short unless we take strong action to develop the potential of women and minorities. Thus, broadening participation efforts are critical to meeting the growing demand for U.S. workers with STEM skills and to improving American competitiveness globally.

Although minorities have increased their share of degrees awarded in the sciences, poor preparation in science and mathematics is a major factor limiting the access of these citizens to careers in the STEM fields. H.R. 5116 helps improve secondary STEM education by requiring federal agencies to report how they are disseminating federally funded STEM education resources to practitioners, including to teachers and administrators at high-needs schools. Further, it requires the establishment of an inventory of federally sponsored STEM education programs that must include an assessment of the effectiveness of the programs and the rates of participation of underrepresented minorities in such programs. An increased investment in STEM-based programs will offer more high-level science and mathematics courses in high school, enhance undergraduate and graduate degrees in science and engineering, and solidify employment in science and engineering positions in this global economy. The National Science

Foundation will receive substantial funds to develop and implement a policy for the broader impacts review criterion that will result in improving the effectiveness and impact of activities to broaden participation within STEM. Such a policy is long overdue. We spend billions of federal dollars for science advancements but have limited requirements for the institutions receiving these dollars to give back to the nation in terms of helping institutions or students beyond their walls improve their access to quality science.

I support the bill because it advances our nation in the STEM areas; however, I am disappointed that many of the provisions to broaden participation that were included in the House-passed version were absent from the final version. I promise to continue to work to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality STEM education and careers. I support H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Act of 2010; this bill will enhance our present practices in science and our economic strength in the global marketplace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express both my deep concern and the deep concern of some of my constituents about the unjust imprisonment of several members of a religious minority in Iran. In particular, I wish to speak of the member of the Baha'i faith who have been persecuted and imprisoned in Iran. My home district in Chicago has a rich diversity of people from all backgrounds and faiths, and I am fortunate to have Baha'is as part of this rich diversity. The Baha'i faith is a peaceful religion that teaches the oneness of humanity and that all forms of prejudice should be eliminated.

Some of you will recall that in 2009 I was one of the co-sponsors to House Resolution 175. That resolution condemned the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. H. Res. 175 passed with 407 ``aye'' votes on October 22, 2009. However, some of my constituents have informed me that the persecution and suppression of the Baha'i faith in Iran persist with no relief in sight.

In 2009 the international press reported that seven Baha'I leaders in Iran were unjustly arrested and held in prison without knowing the charges for their arrest for approximately 20 months.

The unjust prosecution of these seven particular Baha'is was condemned by international leaders and drawn into our national awareness for a short time. Those seven Baha'is are real people with families, who continue to suffer injustice because of their peaceful religious beliefs. The more disturbing fact is that those seven Baha'i leaders are merely the ones that made the headlines. There are approximately 48 additional Baha'is currently imprisoned in Iran. Approximately 132 Baha'is have been arrested and released on bail to await trial, and another 92 Baha'is have been sentenced to imprisonment. In the last decade, hundreds of Baha'is have been prosecuted and imprisoned for their religious beliefs. But that is not the only degradation that Baha'is in Iran must face. Baha'is have been dismissed from their jobs, expelled from universities, and deprived of their property and pensions, all because of their religious beliefs.

Our national consciousness would not be so aware of this unjust and unfair treatment if it had not been for yet another unjust prosecution of a young American journalist, Roxana Saberi, in 2009. While Roxana shared a prison cell with two of the female Baha'i leaders in Evin prison, she was astounded by the tranquility of her Baha'i cell mates even as they faced harsh conditions and uncertainty about their future. Fortunately, Roxana was freed from prison and has returned safely to the United States; however, those seven Baha'i leaders remain in prison and were sentenced to 10 years of confinement in one of the most dreadful prisons in Iran.

In short, the Baha'i faith teaches tolerance, patience, peace and self-investigation of the truth. Yet, Baha'is are singled out and marked from persecution and ridicule from the class room to the court room and from the lunch room to the laboratory. We have our own history of unjust treatment in this country and the grievous and slow healing wounds from such pernicious and repugnant conduct can still be felt today. However, the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion in our great country have contributed greatly to the healing of our society.

I believe each and every human being has a fundamental right to freedom of religion that should not be curtailed or circumscribed by the coincidence of one's citizenship in a particular nation. The freedom in our country to choose how to peacefully worship God is something many of us take for granted. We need only consider the unjust and inhumane treatment of Baha'is in Iran to realize that this freedom is not available to everyone in the world.

I agree with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she condemned the sentencing of the Baha'i leaders and stated that the ``United States is committed to defending religious freedom around the world, and we have not forgotten the Baha'i community in Iran.''

I speak to you today as a reminder that religious persecution remains a fact of life in our

world and that the plight of the Baha'is in Iran is a poignant example of injustice. On behalf of my Baha'i constituents, I ask that you lend your voice to mine, so that we may create a chorus of diverse voices against the type of blatant religious persecution that we are witnessing in the unjust treatment of Baha'is in Iran.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted ``aye'' for each of the following votes:

Roll 657, December 21, 2010: On Agreeing to the Resolution: H. Res. 1771, Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.

Roll 658, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H.R. 6540, Defense Level Playing Field Act.

Roll 659, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment: H.R. 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act.

Roll 660, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment: H.R. 2142, GPRA Modernization Act of 2010.

Roll 661, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments: H.R. 2751, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

Roll 662, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Concur in the Senate amendment to House amendment to Senate amendment: H.R. 3082, Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.

Roll 663, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H.R. 6547, Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act.

Roll 664, December 21, 2010: On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment: H.R. 847, James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2751, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010, a bill that would overhaul our Nation's food safety system by fundamentally changing the way we protect the safety of our food supply. The focus of this legislative measure is to prevent contamination of food before it occurs, which is a departure from the current system today that responds after a food-borne illness outbreak. Specifically, it requires food producers to come up with strategies to prevent contamination and then continually test to make sure these strategies are working. In addition, H.R. 2751 would allow the FDA to increase the number of inspections to conduct, and requires foreign importers to ensure their food products meet U.S. safety standards.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the leadership of the House and the Senate for this bipartisan legislation to provide a framework for developing preventive control standards from farm to table to protect the public from food contamination.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. This bill will provide the needed assistance to the brave men and women who have become ill due to the dangerous toxins they inhaled while risking their lives to help out the city of New York during that tragic time in September of 2001. This is a bipartisan bill and should be supported by all Members of Congress.

These heroes risked their lives to assist their fellow Americans and their efforts will never go unnoticed. This bill will allow health benefits to a wide range of first responders such as firefighters, construction workers, residents, area workers and even school children--all of whom have been affected by the toxins that filled the air after the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

We all witnessed the terrible attacks on America, September 11, 2001 and we also witnessed the acts of bravery by our first responders. I support the passage of the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Mr. Speaker I rise in support of H.R. 2965, Repealing ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell''. This bill will allow thousands of Americans who have wanted the chance to serve their country openly and freely an opportunity to do so. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell is the right thing to do morally as a country. Military personnel, who risk their lives on a daily basis so that we can enjoy all the freedoms America has to offer, should not be denied the ability to serve based upon their sexual orientation. Equality is not a privilege, it is a right and repealing this law is a huge step in that direction.

At a time when our country is fighting two wars we should support those Americans whom fight for our liberties and freedoms. Unfortunately, DADT prevents thousands from doing so which makes no sense at all. The Pentagon's report from last month indicated a majority of our military soldiers and leaders support a repeal of DADT and I believe we should listen to them and honor what our country really stands for which is freedom, liberty, and justice for all.

Madam Speaker, as we close this year, I wish to voice my support for the advancements we made to the Child Nutrition Act this month. S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which the President signed into law this month, will do much to reduce child hunger and obesity.

Poverty is a stark reality for far too many people in my Congressional District, in Chicago, and in Illinois. In my Congressional District, the poverty rate based on 2008 Census data was 22.6 percent--well above the national average. The child poverty rate in 2008 for my District was 34.1 percent, almost double the national average. There are three primary child nutrition programs that this bill improves: the National School Lunch Program; Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, Program; and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. In Illinois, there are over 1 million children who benefit from the school lunch program, 300,000 who benefit from WIC, and 124,000 who benefit from the Child Care Food program. These children will benefit from our improvements to the Child Nutrition Act, whether they attend child care or school. Further, the state of Illinois will receive approximately $11 million more dollars per year to help provide food for these children in need.

In addition to increasing federal reimbursements, I am proud that this bill will improve the nutritional quality of children's meals and reduce the availability of high-calorie junk food on school grounds. These steps will help tremendously to promote health and reduce obesity. I am very happy that this bill expands the after-school supper program, which is estimated to provide an additional 21 million meals to low-income children. I have had many people in Chicago tell me about the importance of these programs for children. There also are a number of enhancements to improve the programs' management and integrity. For example, in high poverty communities, the bill eliminates the requirement of paper applications and uses Census data to determine school-wide eligibility. It also establishes professional standards for food service providers and improves food safety requirements.

Given the deep need for improvements in the child nutrition law, I cast my vote in support of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. This said, I wish to voice two disappointments I have with this bill. First, although we increased reimbursement rates per meal by 6 cents, these new resources are not sufficient to cover the local cost of providing the federal free and reduced-priced lunches and breakfasts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that school districts' costs of providing free lunches exceeds the federal reimbursement by over 30 cents per meal. In urban areas like Chicago, this loss is much closer to 75 cents per meal. Given that over 700,000 students in Illinois participate in the low-income school lunch program, the financial burden to my school district is great. Subsidizing food so that low-income children can eat healthy meals and learn is important; I believe that the federal government should provide a greater share of the cost for caring for its youngest and most vulnerable citizens.

Second, I am disappointed that one of the offsets for this bill sent to us by the Senate is a reduction in funding for poor families in need of federal aid to purchase food. Children and families who receive food assistance are some of our most vulnerable citizens. In 2009, 1.46 million Illinoisans in 677,000 households received food stamps with an average per month of about $136 for a total benefit value issued of $2.3 billion. There are many poor families in Chicago and Illinois who need the full amount of the food benefits. Even if the impact is a few years away, I am disappointed that my vote to provide much-needed improvements in our child nutrition laws occurs by reducing future benefits to the poor. I vow to work actively with my colleagues to replace this funding so that no reduction in food assistance comes to fruition.