Floor Statements

Will the gentleman yield?

Thank you to the gentleman from Florida, my good friend, Mr. Hastings. I appreciate that.

It is important that we get back to the business at hand, and I simply wanted to address the gentleman from New Jersey's remark about the Office of Technology Assessment, which is an important agency of the legislative branch that remains authorized in the U.S. statutes, but that currently does not receive funding. Especially given the age of technology and the advent of scientific progress that we are in the 21st century, I think it is incredibly important that we begin to reestablish or explore reestablishing that legislative branch agency, and I look forward to working with the gentleman and with my colleague, Mr. Aderholt, the ranking member, and Mr. Wamp and a number of other bipartisan members that are interested in doing that over the course of the next year.

I'd be happy to yield.

Reclaiming my time, just to point out for the Members, we do have $2.5 million that we have carried in the legislative branch bills for the last 2 fiscal years. It is there in the GAO for technology

assessments. But we do recognize that the gentleman and many other Members on both sides of the aisle believe that it would be far better and more effective if we conduct those assessments with a staffed agency of experts and bring in the expertise that the Congress currently lacks.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 559, I call up the bill (H.R. 2918), making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include tabular and extraneous material on H.R. 2918.

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

Madam Speaker and Members, I am very proud to present the fiscal year 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill to the House.

The jurisdiction of this bill is incredibly important. We, as Members, have responsibility not just for the institution, but for the staff that work for this institution, and to preserve the facilities that help support this institution. We have endeavored to do that responsibly, and I believe we have accomplished that goal.

It has been an incredible privilege and pleasure to work with my colleague, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt). We have crafted a bipartisan bill and worked together every step of the way. And I just wanted to acknowledge him at the very outset to thank him for all of his good work and tell him what a pleasure he has been to work with.

Madam Speaker, I also want to thank, on behalf of, if I may, the House of Representatives, all of the staff that work not just for the House of Representatives, but for every legislative

branch agency because this bill is designed to support them. This bill is designed to make sure that they can do the work they need to do in order for us to be able to serve our constituents in the most effective way possible. So on behalf of the House of Representatives, if I may, both myself and Mr. Aderholt, we owe a tremendous debt to the true public servants that work here every single day on our behalf.

We, as Members of the House of Representatives, get quite a bit of the glory and the attention and the focus, but it is our staff, both the ones that work for us in our own Member offices, but also throughout this Chamber and across every legislative branch agency, that are toiling in the wilderness, so to speak, and are the unsung heroes that make the wheels of the legislative process turn, and we just can't thank them enough.

This is a bill that attempts to fulfill our responsibilities at two different levels. We really focused on two main tasks in the legislative branch bill. First, we have tried to provide the right balance of funding in a prudent way for each existing office, agency, and program so that we can support the day-to-day operations of the Congress.

The bill provides a total of $3.68 billion, which is an increase of $37 million, 6.8 percent above 2009 levels. A majority of those funds go to two of our greatest priorities within the bill: life safety issues, because, quite frankly, if we don't address the backlog of life safety and deferred maintenance that exist in all of our facilities, at some point we are not going to have the facilities to be able to work in. And the treasures of the facilities that we work in every single day is what our role is in the legislative branch. We must preserve them through the generations as they have been preserved for us to be able to work in today.

In addition, the bill, as is tradition, reserves funds, $1.025 million, for later action by the Senate on their issues to operate the Senate, and that is customary.

We have been able to provide for all mandatory cost increases and a limited number of program enhancements as well. In spite of the fact that we were able to do that, there were a number of things that we were unable to do because our focus during the markup of this bill was to fund the ``gotta haves,'' not the ``nice to haves.'' There are so many ``nice to haves'' that we could fund and that make sense and that would be appropriate, but we wanted to make sure that we crafted a frugal and fiscally responsible piece of legislation, which is why the bill, as written, is $281 million below the amount requested, which is a source of pride for all of the members of the committee.

Let me just summarize a few of the key amounts in the bill, Madam Speaker. The bill includes $1.4 billion for the operations of the House. This is an increase of $75 million, or 5.8 percent, over the 2009 enacted level, but $120 million below the amount requested. We have appropriated $660 million of this amount for the MRA.

Of interest to Members, and as was discussed during the rule, we also include within the budget an allocation for the Clerk of the House of $4.6 million to finally replace the antiquated 33-year-old voting system that we use here electronically in the Chamber so that we no longer have to have it held together by the duck tape that its inner workings are actually held together by.

$325.1 million is provided for the Capitol Police. That is sufficient to maintain their current officer strength. There was a request that we did not fund to increase the number of officers, the number or FTEs that they carry. It was felt that although the Capitol Police is working diligently towards getting their fiscal house in order--and Chief Morse is to be commended for that--they are not quite there yet. And adding to the strength of their force did not make sense, we felt, until they can make sure that they can get a handle on their overtime and get a handle on who is where in the Capitol Police structure.

$647.4 million is included for the Library of Congress. That is a 6.6 percent increase over the fiscal year 2009 enacted level. The amount provided includes $22 million for the Library to fund their high- priority initiatives, which also includes $15 million for technology upgrades.

It also includes the full amount, Members will be interested to know, that was requested for the Copyright Office. There is a tremendous backlog in the Copyright Office, which the committee has added report language to address. We are very concerned about that backlog and are going to be pushing the Copyright Office to get a handle on it, as well as full funding for the Books for the Blind program.

The bill also includes $146.2 million for the Government Printing Office, which is a 4 percent increase.

Finally, the bill includes $558.8 million for the GAO. Obviously, they have some tremendously increased responsibilities. That is a 5.2 percent increase. We need to make sure that GAO has the ability to conduct the accountability responsibilities that they have and that they do such a good job doing.

Beyond the core funding for the day-to-day operations, Madam Speaker, of the Congress, we have largely focused on two long-term priorities as well. We are first taking a more aggressive approach to dealing with the backlog of deferred maintenance needs of our aging Capitol complex. As we have said, and I risk saying this on the House floor, this is not the sexiest of committees of the 12 Appropriations Committees, but it is one that is incredibly important in order for us to be able to preserve the institution and the facilities in the institution that we serve in. The bill includes funding for 23 high-priority projects that are requested by the Architect of the Capitol.

Beyond these immediate needs, however, the bill includes--and this is something that is a great source of pride for the members of the committee, and we want to thank Chairman Obey for his leadership on this--$60 million to establish a new Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund. We have a number of major facilities projects coming up over the next few years, including the renewable of the Cannon House Office Building, which is 100 years old, as well as the restoration of the Capitol dome, which will cost in the range of $100 million. And that is not a hit that this budget can take on a year-to-year basis, so we are going to begin to bank funds that are in that trust fund and only allow the appropriation for those projects out of that trust fund.

In addition, we have tried to deal, most importantly, I think, with the challenge of retaining the best and brightest that have come to work for us in the House of Representatives. We are so fortunate to have young people who are brilliant and who put aside a lot of other opportunities to devote themselves to public service and come to work for us. But what happens is that, inevitably, because we are often not competitive in the benefits that we provide or the pay that we give them, we end up losing them. We train them, we get them ready, and we end up losing them down the road to other career alternatives.

We are committed to dealing with this retention problem in the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, and we did several different things in order to be able to do that. We increased funding for the MRA accounts so that we can grow salaries. It is important that we be able to pay, not astronomical sums to our staff, but an appropriate amount of salary so that we can make sure we can hold on to the best and brightest that we are already able to attract.

It includes two additional benefits that are not currently provided that we felt were very important. We have been trying to get a sense from our employees what their needs are, and this bill anticipates two of those needs. We fund $3.5 million for a tuition reimbursement program for all House employees, and $1 million in child care benefits for our lower-income employees because making sure that we can take away the angst of not having quality child care or being able to afford quality child care is an important thing for us to be able to do for our valuable staff.

Again, I want to thank Mr. Aderholt, and Mr. Lewis, the ranking member of the full committee, for your incredible cooperation. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with them. And I also want to thank both of our staffs, who really work so hard every day to make us look good. These bills are not crafted over night, Madam

Speaker, and there is painstaking effort and detail that goes into them, and so I want to thank Mike Stephens, the majority clerk, Dave Marroni, Matt Glassman, Liz Dawson, the minority clerk, Jenny Kisiah, Megan Medley, and Ian Rayder on my personal staff, each of whom have put in very long hours in support of this bill.

I urge all Members to support this fiscally responsible bill, which I again will remind you is millions of dollars below the request.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois.

I would not only be happy to work with you, I could not agree with either of you more on this very worthwhile endeavor. You are both to be commended for your effort to recognize that slave labor and their hands constructed the great building that we work in every single day, and subject to the authorization of the House Administration Committee, I look forward to working with you towards this goal.

I would be happy to yield an additional 30 seconds.

I would be happy to yield.

Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to my colleague and friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings).

Will the gentleman yield?

I'm very familiar with the outstanding human rights work undertaken by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and his colleagues on the commission. Last year I had the opportunity to participate in a commission hearing on combating sexual exploitation of children and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation. The commission is providing important leadership on this and many other issues at home and abroad, including among parliamentarians, through engagement by Mr. Hastings, a past president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Senator Cardin, a vice president of the assembly and current Chair of the commission.

I can appreciate the dilemma faced by my colleagues on the commission and the difficulty of securing suitable space for such events and meetings. I am committed to working with the gentleman from Florida in finding a durable solution to this persistent problem. My understanding is that he has identified space in the CVC that might meet the commission's needs.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes just to agree wholeheartedly with the gentleman from Illinois. I am so glad that he raised the issue of staff-led tours during debate on this legislation. It is incredibly important, and it was an incredible source of frustration for me as we moved towards opening the CVC to note that it was possible that constituents of ours could come to the Capitol, take a tour, walk through this whole building, watch our proceedings in the gallery, and leave to go home, never having known or been able to identify who it is that represents them in the United States Congress.

Preserving staff-led tours is an incredibly important way for us to be able to do that. And quite frankly, just to promote staff-led tours to anyone who is interested in getting one, you can get a more unique and less homogenized tour. As good as the guide-led tours are, you can get a more tailored-to-your-State oriented tour from your Member of Congress. And I would encourage people who are interested in doing that to go through their own Member of Congress to book their reservation and get a tour of the Capitol from the person that represents you in Washington.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I have no additional speakers, but I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again, it was a great privilege to work with the gentleman from Alabama and his staff. I look forward to continuing to work as we move the legislative branch appropriations bill through the conference process.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentlelady from New York for yielding and for her very appropriate amendment.

It is really wonderful to see the progress that has been made on the Civil Rights Oral History Project. We did have language in our bill, preserving the possibility for providing the funding. I'm glad that we've been able to fast forward that opportunity. I look forward to continuing to work with her. I'm happy to accept the amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise to claim the time in opposition to the motion to recommit; although I am not opposed to it.

Madam Speaker, I do first think it is important to point out that technically the language in the motion to recommit does not specifically reduce the funding for any program at all. It simply reduces funding by $100,000 in this section of the bill. So I do think it is important to point out that the Wheels for Wellness program has not been specifically named in the motion to recommit for reduction.

That having been said, it is also important to point out that included in the report that accompanies the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, we did express our concern about the effectiveness of the program as it is currently constructed. There are very few bikes that have been checked out, and we do believe that there needs to be a more effective plan brought forward by the CAO to ensure that if the program is going to continue to exist into the future, that more bikes be checked out and that they have an effective plan for doing that.

We are looking forward to getting that report language back and to working towards the possibility of reestablishing the funds in this section of the bill, which is all that has occurred.

But with that understanding and in anticipation of receiving that report, and recognizing the good work of our colleague, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) and his passionate commitment to ensuring that we get out of our cars and on to our bikes, because obviously that would reduce our carbon footprint and the carbon emissions, that is a worthwhile goal that the American people would greatly benefit from, with that, I would be glad to accept the motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the instructions of the House in the motion to recommit, I report the bill, H.R. 2918, back to the House with an amendment.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this essential amendment, recognizing Israel's right to defend itself from an imminent nuclear or military threat from Iran and other countries and organizations.

As Iran forges ahead with its quest for a nuclear weapons capability, it is vital for Congress to recognize Israel's urgent need to deal with the looming threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

Like all sovereign nations, Israel has not only a right, but moreover, an obligation, to ensure the safety and security of her citizens.

An imminent nuclear or military threat from Iran would certainly endanger her citizens, and that is why, in the strongest of terms, I support my colleague's vital amendment.

According to the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, Iran has sped up its production of nuclear fuel and has increased its number of installed centrifuges to 7,200--more than enough to make fuel for two nuclear bombs per year.

If Iran possessed nuclear weapons, it could share this technology with terrorist groups to carry out attacks against both Israel and the United States.

Let me be very clear. A nuclear-armed Iran would certainly constitute an existential threat to Israel, but would not only threaten Israel. As the leading state sponsor of international terrorism, a nuclear-armed Iran would pose unacceptable threats to global security.

This rogue nation's possession of a nuclear weapon would likely lead to nuclear proliferation elsewhere in the region and around the globe, while fundamentally altering the strategic balance of the Middle East, and endangering U.S. national security interests.

Undoubtedly, now is the time for us all to stand together in support of Israel and global peace and security. I urge my colleagues to support this critical amendment, and pray that Iran suspends its nuclear program, and starts working towards peace instead of terror.

I thank the gentlelady from California for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 109, which honors the 20th anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest and most progressive group of breast cancer activists in the world. So it is no surprise that the race, now in its 20th year, is the world's largest and most successful fundraising event in the fight against breast cancer. Over the years, participants have raised tens of millions of dollars to fund screening, treatment and education programs for the medically underserved. And with over 120 races across the globe, it is fitting that when the thousands of runners, walkers and, yes, even sleepers participate this Saturday, they will be part of the newly named Global Race for the Cure. The new name is also fitting because we know that breast cancer respects no national boundaries and is, in fact, the leading cause of death among women worldwide.

To be sure, while we have come a long way in the fight against breast cancer, we still have too far to go. This year in the United States alone, over 190,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Many of those women will be younger than 45 years old. Each year, 28,000 women younger than 45 are diagnosed with breast cancer, and far too many of them lose their battle. Forty-thousand of the women diagnosed nationwide will not survive. Globally, over 1.3 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and almost half a million will die. That is why we cannot rest in our efforts to fund research and find a cure for this insidious disease, and it is why we cannot rest in our efforts to provide education and awareness for all women. We must ensure that they have access to screening and treatment, and we must do all we can to support the more than 2.5 million survivors in our country alone.

As many of you know, I recently had my own battle with breast cancer. I am both grateful and humbled to count myself among this growing group of passionate survivors. I was fortunate to have access to the treatment and support that I needed to win my own fight. Through efforts like the Race for the Cure, we can all work together to make sure that everyone has that same opportunity.

So thanks to the many people participating in this year's race--the countless volunteers, the supporters, the runners, walkers and all the staff of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for making this event an annual reality. And thanks to my colleague and friend Representative Gerry Connolly for his leadership in sponsoring this important resolution and for working with myself and Delegate Gregorio Sablan to honor the work of everyone fighting against breast cancer. And congratulations to Mr. Sablan's family on his child's high school graduation.

I urge my colleagues to support this wonderful resolution and to take a moment to honor all of those we have lost in this fight and also those that struggle on. Let us not stop until the race is won. Early detection is the key. I did not find my tumor through luck. I found it through education and awareness. All women and all families in this country deserve access to that education and awareness.

Let me just issue a little challenge to the 13 teams in the congressional division competing in the Race for the Cure this Saturday. Let's show all the other teams what our congressional teams can do, step up our efforts in the last few days, and really increase the participation of the Members and staff of the congressional division for the Global Race for the Cure.

Mr. Speaker, I too today rise with a heavy heart. We learned early this morning that America lost a great patriot, Roslyn Littman Schulte, who was killed this morning just north of Kabul by a roadside bomb.

First Lieutenant Schulte, an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, was serving in Afghanistan. She was only 25 years old.

A 2006 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Roslyn was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.

I am heartbroken for a good friend of many of us, Todd Schulte, chief of staff to Congressman Scott Murphy, who is Roslyn's brother. It is on days like today that we must remind ourselves of the great sacrifices that members of the armed services and their families make in defense of freedom and the security of the United States.

My thoughts and prayers are with her parents, Bob and Suzy, her brother Todd, her extended family and her unit at this grievous time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the fourth annual Jewish American Heritage Month, which takes place in communities across the country each May.

Jewish American Heritage Month promotes awareness of the contributions American Jews have made to the fabric of American life, from technology and literature to entertainment, politics, and medicine.

As we are all well aware, the foundation of our country is built upon the strengths of our unique cultures and backgrounds. Yet, while our diversity is America's strength, ignorance and intolerance about the culture, traditions, and accomplishments of the Jewish people are still prevalent. Jews make up only 2 percent of our Nation's population, and, therefore, most Americans have had few interactions with Jews and our traditions.

I personally experienced this lack of knowledge when I was a student in the dorms at the University of Florida. While at school, a fellow student noticed my name and said, ``Wow, you're Jewish? I've seen pictures, but I've never met a real one.''

Now, this girl did not mean any harm, but the limited understanding of the Jewish people and our historical role in the Nation's development leads to ignorance, which contributes to stereotypes and prejudices.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most recent Hate Crimes Statistics report, 68.4 percent of criminal incidents motivated by religious bias stemmed from anti-Jewish prejudice. Additionally, due to a lack of understanding, some Americans perceive Judaism as only a religion, when, in reality, Judaism is a religion, a rich tradition, and a culture that dates back 4,000 years. Mr. Speaker, this is why communities across the country have come together to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month.

A few years ago, the Jewish community in South Florida approached me with the idea to honor the contributions of American Jews with a designated month each year. As the concept gained momentum, 250 of my colleagues joined me as original cosponsors of a resolution urging the President to issue a proclamation for this month. Senator Arlen Specter led the effort in the Senate, and together the House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution supporting the creation of Jewish American Heritage Month. In May of 2006, we celebrated this important occasion for the first time and have been celebrating each May since then.

Now, the month of May introduces Jewish culture to the entire country and dispels harmful prejudices. Like Black History Month and Women's History Month, Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes the abundance of contributions American Jews have made to the United States over the last 353 years. It is my hope that by providing the framework for the discussion of Jewish culture and contributions to our Nation, we will be able to reduce the ignorance that ultimately leads to anti-Semitism.

One way Jewish American Heritage Month counters these prejudices is by providing educators the opportunity to include American Jews in discussions of history, as well as highlighting the leadership of members of the Jewish community in significant historical events.

For example, it might surprise many to learn that it was an American Jew, Irving Berlin, who wrote the lyrics to the song, ``God Bless America.'' Even the very foundations of our country were impacted by Jews. Haym Salomon, a Jewish man, was one of the largest financiers of the American Revolution War. And Rabbi Joachim Prinz was a passionate civil rights activist, appearing on the podium just moments before Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his ``I Have a Dream'' speech. And the list goes on.

This year's Jewish American Heritage Month has been packed with programs celebrating the contributions of American Jewry to our countries with movies, cultural exhibitions, speakers, and innovative educational curricula. Right here in Washington, the United Jewish Communities and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington will be hosting a reception for Members of Congress and members of the Jewish community. J Street will also be hosting a reception to celebrate May as Jewish American Heritage Month with Members of Congress, their staff, and the Jewish community.

But that is not all. The Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration will be hosting lectures, exhibits, and discussions about Jewish contributions to America. In my home State of Florida, there will be a celebration of Jewish contributions to the civil rights movement, and the major league Florida Marlins baseball team will host a Jewish Heritage game, with kosher food and Jewish music in between innings. Cincinnati will be hosting lectures, including one on President Lincoln's solid relationship with American Jews. And Wyoming will host a festival celebrating Jewish food, and we all know how much we love food! Events are also scheduled to occur in New York, California, Texas, and other States around the country.

Mr. Speaker, we have come a long way in recent years to promote appreciation for the multicultural fabric of the United States of America. It is our responsibility to continue this education.

If we, as a Nation, are to prepare our children for the challenges that lie ahead, then teaching diversity is a fundamental part of that promise. Together, we can help achieve this goal of understanding with the celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.

I thank my colleagues for their support, and call on all Americans to observe this special month by celebrating the many contributions of Jewish culture throughout our Nation's history.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the more than 40,000 teachers from Broward and Miami-Dade Counties during National Teacher Appreciation Week, taking place this year from May 3 through May 9, 2009.

This week all across America, our Nation's schoolchildren, their parents, PTAs and others are gathering to show their appreciation for the professional educators who work every day to make their futures brighter. Teacher Appreciation Week is a great opportunity to stop and pay tribute to the profession that shapes the world of tomorrow. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the lasting contributions that these men and women make to the lives of thousands of students in South Florida.

Today, I am pleased to commend the efforts of two special teachers in my district: Tony Dutra, a reading teacher from the Hallandale Community Center in Hallandale, Florida, teaches Extraordinary Student Education. When he was a student Mr. Dutra was learning disabled so he understands the challenges his student go through on a daily basis. Mr. Dutra was named Broward County's public school teacher of the year.

Patricia Fairclough, a second grade teacher from Airbase Elementary School in Homestead, Florida, was Miami-Dade County's public school teacher of the year. As a first-grader, Patricia struggled in class, but she was inspired by a caring teacher and now she is helping other children who need a little extra tough love.

I hope that you will all join me in thanking Mr. Dutra and Ms. Fairclough and all of our nation's teachers for everything they do each and every day to encourage, instruct and guide our students. All of America's teachers deserve more than a week of recognition for their investment in our country's most precious resource, our children.

Too often teachers are overworked and underpaid. They spend long hours in the classroom, many hours after the school day coaching our kids and leading their extracurricular groups, and then go home to spend more time grading papers.

Teachers invest their own lives in the lives of our children, and every day they empower young people with the knowledge and tools needed to be successful and confident. America's future is in the hands of our children and we owe our teachers a universe of thanks for their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if our friends on the other side of the aisle would be singing the same offensive tune if we were talking about hate crimes based on race or religion. It seems to me that it is the category of individual that they are offended by rather than the fact that we have hate crimes laws at all.

We have already heard the powerful story of Matthew Shepard. His mother, Judy, addressed our caucus this week. As the Speaker noted, we are all inspired by Judy Shepard's 10-year quest to turn her pain and tears into change because these cases are tragic and real.

Ryan Skipper was a 25-year-old gay man from Polk County, Florida. Like Matthew, Ryan's body was found murdered and dumped along the side of the road about 2 years ago. Ryan's body had been stabbed 20 times and his throat was slit. His car was found abandoned nearby and contained the fingerprints of his two killers. One of his killers told the police his conduct was justified to rebuff unwanted sexual advances. Because there was no hate crime law with which to charge Ryan's killer in Florida, only one of Ryan's attackers has been convicted, and that was of a lesser charge.

Why do we need a hate crimes law? Because hate crimes do more than threaten the safety and well-being of individuals. Hate crimes do more than inflict incalculable pain and suffering on individual victims. Hate crimes target groups and terrorize communities. Left unpunished, hate crimes send powerful messages of intolerance. Hate crimes leave both the victim and others in their group feeling isolated, vulnerable, and unprotected.

I am proud to cosponsor this legislation again this Congress. I want to commend my colleague, Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, and my committee colleague, Tammy Baldwin, for their leadership in bringing this issue forward again this year.

Let's announce here and now that we will not tolerate this kind of terror in America. Let's vow that we will not turn a blind eye to hatred and violence in America. And let us pledge to give police and prosecutors all the resources they need to stamp out this scourge.

Mr. Speaker, Matthew Shepard and Ryan Skipper may be gone, but we can honor their lives today. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the more than 1,200 employees from Broward and Miami-Dade Counties who will volunteer to benefit Samuel Delevoe Park and Oleta River State Park on Saturday, April 25th for Comcast Cares Day.

Volunteers and their families will join together to landscape facility grounds, paint and enhance two of Florida's parks. This event will mark the eighth annual company-wide day of service.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to commend Comcast and its employees for their service to our community at a time when our nation faces enormous challenges.

Families are losing jobs, health care, and other key services. Our public needs are growing while our resources for meeting them are disappearing.

As a mother of three young children, I believe that service is the lifeblood of this country.

Volunteers can play many roles. They teach in our classrooms; clean up our waterways, roads and parks; care for the elderly; and feed the hungry. All the while, they learn valuable skills that will help them throughout their lives.

I hope that the selfless actions of the Comcast employees and their families will serve as an inspiration for other Americans to enrich their own lives by helping others and giving back to their communities.

Mr. Speaker, this week I will be introducing the EARLY Act: The Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009. The EARLY Act is designed to empower young women to learn the facts, know their bodies, speak up for their health, and embrace support.

Despite the perception, young women can and do get breast cancer. More than 10,000 women under 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the United States. Although the incidence of breast cancer in young women is much lower, young women's breast cancers are generally more aggressive, are diagnosed at a later stage, and result in lower survival rates.

Additionally, certain ethnic groups, including Ashkenazi Jews and African American young women, have an increased risk of breast cancer.

I became acutely aware of all of this information, and more, a little more than a year ago. After finding a lump in my breast while doing my routine breast self-exam in the shower, I learned a few weeks later from my doctor that I had breast cancer.

Upon learning of my diagnosis and after genetic counseling, I also decided to have a blood test that would show whether I had a genetic mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. As a woman of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, I was in a category of at-risk populations for these gene mutations. The test results showed that I did indeed carry the BRCA2 genetic marker that suggests a greater susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers.

After further consultation with my doctors and my husband, I decided to have a double mastectomy and have my ovaries removed to reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of cancer. Today, with a clean bill of health and cancer-free, I plan to introduce the EARLY Act.

The EARLY Act encourages young women to be familiar with the look and feel of their breasts. By knowing what feels normal, a young woman has a better chance of knowing when something feels different.

The EARLY Act will also work to educate young women about changes in their body that could be warning signs of breast cancer. We want them to know that it doesn't only start with a lump. It can be swelling, a rash, breast pain, nipple pain, redness or scaliness, too.

The EARLY Act will encourage young women to be their own voice--to speak up for themselves and know when they need to go to their doctor.

The EARLY Act will teach both young women and medical professionals alike about risk factors, warning signs of breast cancer, and predictive tools such as genetic testing, that can help women make informed decisions about their health.

It will also provide grants to organizations dedicated to supporting young women and the unique issues we face when diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as managing and understanding their risks.

Today, we often fail to teach about risk in this country. As a result, many of us face serious consequences in our lives. We need to change the educational dialogue and empower not only young women, but everyone to take control of the risks they face. And that begins with education and awareness.

I thought I knew all of my personal risk factors for breast cancer. Because of those risk factors, I performed self-exams, went to my doctor regularly, and have been a longtime legislative advocate in the fight against breast cancer. But when I was diagnosed, I found out I had more risk factors than I was aware of.

For example, I had absolutely no idea that as an Ashkenazi Jewish woman, I was five times more likely than the general population to have an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, or what the risks of carrying that gene entailed.

This bill will give all young women the tools they need to take control of the risks by teaching awareness of their personal risks and what they can do to manage those risks.

At the end of the day, the old saying rings true: Knowledge is power. By making sure young women know their risk factors, the EARLY Act is the first step in transforming how we approach the fight against breast cancer.

In hearing my story, some people might say I was lucky. While I was certainly fortunate enough to have access to good health care, I didn't find my tumor early because of luck. I found my tumor early because of knowledge and awareness. I knew I should perform breast self-exams, and I was aware of what my body was supposed to feel like.

It is my hope that by sharing my story we will pass the Breast Cancer Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act of 2009 into law this year and further reduce the death rate of young women diagnosed with breast cancer.

We need to ensure that every young woman in America can rely on more than just luck. Their survival depends on it.

I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this vital legislation. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of National Women's History Month.

With this year's theme of ``Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet,'' I am pleased to recognize the many women who have showed exceptional vision and leadership in the ongoing efforts to save our planet, women like Carol Browner, the White House Coordinator of Energy and Climate Policy, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first ever female Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Eileen Collins, the first woman shuttle commander, and Nan Rich, my State senator, who just became the first female Democratic leader in the Florida State Senate in our history. These women exemplify that a woman can do any job a man can do. As we saw during the Presidential election, women like Secretary of State Hillary Clinton showed Americans that women are ready to lead.

My daughter, Rebecca, turned in her fourth grade biography report on Susan B. Anthony this week. She and I learned together about the right to vote and equal access to education for women that she fought for so valiantly but never lived to see. As the mother of two young daughters, it is so important to me that they see strong women taking the lead to repair our world.

As we look to the future and the steps that must be taken to save our planet, women can and will take the lead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern about the difficulties Member offices are experiencing offering staff-led tours of the Capitol.

As Chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, I am fully committed to making sure Member offices can continue providing this important service to their constituents.

The Capitol is not a museum. It is a living, breathing institution at the core of our representative democracy. Staff-led tours give our constituents a chance to experience the work that goes on here on a personalized level.

When there was talk last year about eliminating staff-led tours, we made clear at our oversight hearings that preserving those tours should be one of the highest priorities for the Capitol Visitor Center. Reflecting that priority, we included a provision in last year's Legislative Branch Appropriations bill prohibiting the elimination of staff-led tours.

However, preserving the existence of the tours and putting a button on the CVC Web site is simply not enough. We also need to make sure that the system in place doesn't diminish Member offices' ability to offer staff-led tours. Mr. Brady and I intend to work aggressively over the next few weeks to ensure that improvements to the system arrive before the peak visitor season hits.

Staff who give tours should receive training, but we need to make sure that the time requirements make sense, that the training is consistent and effective, and that classes are offered frequently enough to meet Member office needs. We also need to make sure that we don't homogenize the Capitol tour and turn this beautiful institution into a museum.

Staff-led tours offer something that guide-led tours cannot, a personalized experience that incorporates items of State and local interest. We need to make sure that we don't take that personal touch out of the tour process.

We also need to make sure that Member offices are given clear information about how to accommodate their constituents if the on-line reservation system shows all the slots for a given day are taken.

The CVC Web site and reservation system also could stand improvement, particularly standardizing the on-line process for booking staff-led tours so that you don't have to hunt and peck to figure out how to book one.

I look forward to working with Mr. Brady and the authorizing committees on these issues so we can make the existing system more user-friendly, without compromising security or overloading the Capitol building.

And I encourage and ask all Members if they have suggestions to please offer them to us.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act.

Mortgage foreclosures lay at the very heart of our financial crisis. Until we stop this bleeding, we cannot hope to stabilize the housing market and truly rescue our economy.

This legislation is about more than just shoring up our economy, it's about helping hardworking Americans hold on to the American Dream. Foreclosures uproot families and decimate communities. Vacant homes blight our neighborhoods and depress all of our property values.

Foreclosure rates are now approaching heights not seen since the Great Depression. In my own home State of Florida, we have the second highest foreclosure rate in the Nation. Since January, more than 4,200 Florida families have lost their homes. Another 1.2 million Florida homeowners are ``under water,'' that is, they owe more than their homes are worth.

Mr. Chairman, my constituents, our constituents need a lifeline, and we must throw it to them. Voluntary modification is just not working, and our current bankruptcy laws fail our families.

Unlike every other secured debt, including debts secured by second homes, investment properties, luxury yachts and private jets, the mortgage for a primary residence cannot be modified in bankruptcy. That is simply not fair.

The Bankruptcy Code should be a safety net of last resort for families in distress. In this recession, excluding the family home makes no sense and fans the flames of foreclosure.

This bill allows families to remain in their homes and avoid foreclosure. It will also lead to a financial recovery for the lender that would be as good or better than they could get at a foreclosure sale. This is a win-win.

I know some well-meaning opponents believe families will rush headlong into filing for bankruptcy. We all know, however, that the grave consequences of filing for bankruptcy means it will always be a last resort.

Thank you, Chairman Conyers and Chairman Frank, for your leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order at any time on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, for the Speaker to declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting the Right Honorable Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday next for morning-hour debate.