Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Republican Conference, I am directed by that conference to notify the House officially that the Republican Members have selected as majority leader the gentleman from Missouri, the Honorable Roy Blunt.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this rule. As the Chairman knows, I filed an amendment with the Rules Committee to address important mailings to consumers containing notification of a data breach affecting personal information. While I withdrew my amendment, I was pleased to work with the Chairman of the Government Reform Committee to include report language regarding this significant issue. I thank both Chairmen for their hard work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker I rise today to bring attention to the important issue of data security.

Identity theft is the fastest-growing white collar crime in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 10 million Americans fall victim to identity theft each year, costing consumers and businesses more than 55 billion dollars.

Identity theft is the most frequent complaint to the FTC from all 50 states, with the number of complaints having grown for the fourth consecutive year.

What takes only seconds for a hacker to destroy can take years for companies and individuals to rebuild. A thief can jeopardize a person's financial security by opening new lines of credit or procuring unsecured loans under a person's name.

Victims of identity theft spend an average of 90 hours of their own time and 1,700 dollars in out-of-pocket expenses clearing their credit and name

The first line of defense in combating these reckless acts is to make the victims aware of what is taking place. If there is unauthorized access to sensitive financial information, the breached company needs to notify the potentially affected consumers, and make them aware that their data security may have been compromised.

After an investigation determines whether or not the breached information will lead to misuse, the customer must be made aware. But with all the mail that Americans are besieged with on a daily basis, we must take steps to insure that consumers can differentiate between what is critical and what is not. For that reason, I feel that all notices should contain a heading that this is an ``IMPORTANT DATA BREACH

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate women suffragists. As one of the eighty-three women serving in the House and Senate, the Women's Rights Movement was, and continues to be, in my opinion, one of the most inspirational series of events to occur in United States history.

The battle for suffrage, fought by the early women's rights leaders was thought to be the most effective way to change an unjust system. Constant barriers were thrown ahead of them, and degrading stereotypes were placed upon them.

Challengers of women's suffrage claim that women were less intelligent and less able to make political decisions than men. The women of the suffrage movement dismissed these accusations with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. Now, women utilize this freedom more so than men. Among citizens, women's voting rates have surpassed men's ever since the 1984 presidential election. 54 percent of the 2004 presidential election votes belonged to women and 46 percent of the votes to men.

Women like Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Caddy, Sojourner Truth, and Susan B. Anthony were the pioneers of the suffrage movement. They took risks and broke laws in order to pave the way for the new generation of suffrage leaders like Carrie Chapman Catt, Maud Wood Park, Lucy Burns, Alice Paul, and Harriot E. Blatch. All of these women devoted their lives to this cause. That is why it is so important that we devote a day to honor these women.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, as a former judge and now a Member of Congress, I rise today to protest the attack on individual private property rights contained in the recent Supreme Court decision Kelo v. City of New London.

Following the Court's logic, nothing can stop a local government from replacing a church with a Wal-Mart, or a family farm with a shopping mall, because these will produce greater tax revenues for the government in charge.

Private property ownership is vital to both our freedom and our prosperity. The Kelo decision now puts every home and every business owner on notice that their property may be taken by the government at any time.

This is not the American way, Mr. Speaker. The Court's decision is an abdication of its responsibility to protect individual property rights, and it is a gross misinterpretation of the Constitution.

As we approach our Nation's Day of Independence, we should be concerned about protecting our freedoms, not curtailing them. A just and wise government values individual ownership and protects it.

Mr. Speaker, it is a sad day. Our Nation is built on many, many important tenets, and protection of private property is certainly not the least of them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of our military. It has been 4 years since terrorists killed more than 3,000 innocent people and it seems that Democrats still do not understand who the enemy is.

They have turned their rhetoric to the American soldiers who guard the prison at Guantanamo Bay which houses some of the world's most wanted and is vital to the war on terror. Their efforts have provided some very valuable intelligence, intelligence that will save countless lives and keep our country secure. Yet some would rather use it as a political tool than honor those who serve there.

I hope our troops cannot hear them.

What is more, they would rather focus this Congress on investigating our own troops than on investigating enemy combatants, would-be terrorists, and threats to our homeland. You would think that the party of Truman and FDR would reserve comparisons to Nazis, the Holocaust and Pol Pot for al Qaeda, Saddam's ethnic cleansing, or Osama bin Laden.

But no. Those are the words they use to describe our troops in the field, our military command, and our soldiers at Guantanamo.

I hope our men and women in uniform cannot hear them.

Madam Speaker, I'd like to begin by commending the distinguished Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Barton. Mr. Chairman, I am most grateful for your leadership on and commitment to moving this important legislation forward.

I'd also like to extend a special thanks to my friend and colleague, Mr. Bob Menendez. He has been a great partner over the last few years as we've worked on this initiative together.

We represent different parts of the country and belong to different political parties, but we have put any differences aside and have joined together for a great purpose here today.

We join together because we understand that cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases can affect anyone in any part of the country, of any race, of any income level.

Because even with the tremendous advancements we have made in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, we understand that in far too many communities across this country, navigating the health care system can be a significant barrier to gaining access to quality and affordable health care services.

I also want to highlight the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Rural Health Association, and other organizations for their tireless efforts to educate our colleagues about this important issue and advocate for this legislation.

Madam Speaker, today Congress is taking a significant step forward to insure that our friends and neighbors across America have the tools and resources they need to make good decisions about their health and the health of their children.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet two gentlemen who pioneered the concept that this legislation is based on--the ``patient navigator'' concept.

Dr. Harold Freeman and Dr. Elmer Huerta are two of the most humble, kind gentlemen I have had the good fortune of getting to know. Let me tell you a little about what they do.

First, they recognized from their own work as doctors in underserved communities that navigating the health care system can be an insurmountable barrier for many people, especially when they are poor, under-insured, or uninsured. All we have to do is step out of our homes and into our communities to find families and individuals who struggle to find and access the health care services they need--both preventive services and treatment.

Enter Dr. Freeman and Dr. Huerta's patient navigator concept. Patient navigators are the angels who guide individuals through the health care system. This is truly one of the most creative and innovative ways to address the health care needs of these individuals who may otherwise avoid seeing a doctor when they're healthy and getting the treatment they need when they're sick.

Whether based at hospitals, community health centers, or cancer centers, these programs literally put in place patient navigators to help individuals find their way through the often complex health care system.

These navigators, like Leka Murdock who I met during my visit to the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center in Harlem, assist people who come through their doors with obtaining coverage through Medicaid or other sources, obtain cancer screenings or counseling about disease prevention, or make referrals for treatment or clinical trial options should an abnormality be detected.

For people who may otherwise not know how or be able to access health care services, patient navigator programs offer them the tools and resources they need to make good decisions about their health and the health of their children. They help break through the red tape that often prevents them from even getting the information they need to find a doctor or get treated.

I know that walking into a facility that is even associated with cancer is a daunting challenge in and of itself. To see the words cancer screening or chemotherapy this way is just terrifying. But the fact of the matter is, we still live in a world where people suffer from cancer. And while we are waging the war on cancer, but we have not yet won.

So until that day comes, we must commit to offering our family members, friends, and neighbors, both young and old, insured and un- insured, the best care in the best facilities we can create. Dr. Freeman's Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and a similar program right here in D.C. at the Washington Hospital Center run by Dr. Huerta are model programs that should be commended and emulated.

That's why Congressman Menendez and I partnered together to introduce, garner support for, and move forward this legislation that will create innovative demonstrations projects in communities across the country based on the patient navigator concept.

This bill will link sustained health promotion outreach efforts with patient navigation programs. Specifically, the bill will make funds available to community health centers, cancer centers, rural and frontier serving medical facilities, and other eligible entities to increase and promote chronic disease prevention screening, outreach and public health education, as well as provide patient navigators to help patients overcome barriers and complexities around the health care system.

It is my hope that this legislation will serve as a springboard for launching many more patient navigator programs, like those of Dr. Freeman and Dr. Huerta. These extraordinary programs are making a real difference in the lives of people who suffer from cancer and other diseases.

People who may not otherwise even know they're sick.

Or if they do, people who may not do what is necessary to get proper treatment and care.

These are the people we need to reach and this bill is a healthy start.

By furthering this collaboration between the private and public sectors, we will maximize our resources and close in on that day when cancer and other chronic diseases no longer threaten the lives of our loved ones.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the tremendous achievement of Liz Kovach, a successfull and respected employee at the Port Columbus International Airport. As an ambassador to the Airport Authority and Columbus, Ohio she has represented Eastern Airlines, Continental Airlines and America West for half a century with first class style.

Mrs. Kovach began her career at Port Columbus exactly 50 years ago today working for Eastern Airlines at the old terminal on Fifth Avenue. In late 1990, when Eastern Airlines declared bankruptcy, Liz's diligence and dedication were greatly appreciated when she assisted with the liquidation of the airline's assets before being hired by Continental Airlines in April of 1991. Her career again took off in November of 1992 when she accepted a new position with America West. Her effervescent character and strong intellect were recognized in 1993, as she was honored by America West as the Best of the Best Employees. She was one of only two customer service representatives to receive the honor out of 10,000 employees.

In Liz's 50 year commitment to Port Columbus, she has been witness to the transformation of the airline industry. She has seen the airport rise to ``international status,'' its entrance into the Jet age, concourse and runway expansion, and the completion of the new state-of- the-art control tower.

Mrs. Kovach, respectively known as ``Mama Liz,'' is revered by her colleagues as someone you can always count on for a smile and kind words. She has been described as an irreplaceable talent to the customer service team. In addition to her noted superior work ethic and admirable character, she has been very active with the Columbus Zoo. Through her perseverance, she negotiated the travel of rare animals by plane to be brought to the zoo.

I am grateful for the time, commitment and grace Liz has given to Port Columbus International Airort and her community. She exemplifies what public service and professionalism are all about.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my departing chief of staff, Kathryn Lehman. Kathryn has faithfully served at the House Republican Conference for the last 2 years. She came well-equipped, having worked for the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert) and Speaker Gingrich, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner).

Kathryn is truly an American success story. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, she attended Oral Roberts University and then put herself through law school. Kathryn came to the House Committee on the Judiciary and quickly found a home crafting some of the best legislation of the first 100 days of this majority in 1994.

While a rock-solid Republican, Kathryn has enjoyed the friendship and respect of many people across the political spectrum. She has helped bridge the gap between ideological differences for the good of the conference and, therefore, for the good of our country.

She has helped us deal with some of the most challenging issues facing America in the last 15 years: the Republican takeover of the House, the impeachment of a President, the passage of the largest tax cut in history, and the Medicare prescription drug bill.

As Kathryn turns the page and starts the next chapter of her life, I wish her well. I am grateful for the time she has given us, and I look forward to enjoying her friendship for many years to come. With her departure, the House loses one of its most dedicated and finest public servants.

Fare thee well to Kathryn.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to express some concerns that I have with the Ford amendment. I support the concept of promoting production of fuel efficient vehicles and encouraging the creation of U.S. jobs. But there are some issues that should be clarified as the bill proceeds to conference. I understand it is Congressman Ford's intention that any manufacturer producing vehicles in the United States would be eligible for funds under this program. That is encouraging and that intention needs to be made clear in the final statutory language in conference.

There are other terms that need additional clarification as well. What is meant by an ``efficient hybrid'' and an ``advanced diesel vehicle''? If we are going to subsidize production, we should incentivize only the most efficient vehicles that reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil.

In addition, I am concerned that the consumer incentives provided by this legislation are to be provided by the manufacturer. I am not sure how that would work logistically. The mechanism for distributing the incentives should be further refined.

And finally, before we enact this provision into law, we need an opinion from the Office of the United States Trade Representative as to whether it is consistent with our international obligations under the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. Chairman, section 1287 of H.R. 6 includes permissive rulemaking authority for the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules protecting the privacy of electric consumers from the disclosure of consumer information obtained in connection with the sale or delivery of electric energy to electric customers.

Am I correct, sir, in understanding that it was the committee's intent to grant the FTC rulemaking authority with respect to the information practices of utility companies not already regulated, or to the extent they are not already regulated, under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act?

Am I further correct that it was not the intention that utility companies be restricted in their ability to report payment history information to consumer reporting agencies?

Sir, am I further correct that it was not your intention that the FTC be given broad rulemaking authority with respect to the goods or services that can be offered to a customer simply because the customer uses electricity, but rather the FTC has the authority to regulate the offering or billing of products or services by utility companies?

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his clarifications and for his assistance and the assistance of his staff in this situation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding to me and for hosting this Special Order honoring Tillie's life and her legacy. It is a wonderful tribute that Tillie deserved. The outpouring of emotion and praise here tonight, in Jacksonville, and all over the Nation proves how special a person Tillie Fowler was.

Universally respected and trusted, Tillie was a model public servant. She was also a model parent, a model spouse, and most importantly to me, a model friend. Lucky enough to have found her calling at an early age, Tillie became an aide to Congressman Robert Stephens from Georgia shortly after earning her law degree from Emory University. Her talents were quickly recognized, and she soon found herself in the Office of Consumer Affairs in the Nixon White House. There she met her good lifelong friend, now Senator Elizabeth Dole.

Following her public service early in life, Tillie and her husband moved to Florida and began their family. They raised two lovely daughters, Tillie Anne and Elizabeth. While in Florida, Tillie mastered one of the most important skills for a woman in politics: balancing her family and her desire to serve. Tillie always put her family first and, at the same time, found the energy to serve her community, first in the Jacksonville City Council and then as its chair.

In 1993, Tillie came to Washington as a Member of Congress, the same year I did; and we became fast friends. As my classmate, she was more than a colleague. Together we entered what was then, and still now to some extent, a man's world. We relied on each other for strength and for guidance, and shared the experience of being freshmen women together, two of only three in our Republican class that year.

From those first days in Congress, I recognized Tillie as a savvy politician but also as a selfless soul. She followed her convictions with tenacity and with courage. More than just a Member of Congress, Tillie Fowler was a patriotic legislator who let her conscience guide her through the most treacherous halls of Congress oftentimes. She earned respect from her colleagues, both men and women, Democrat and Republican; and she had no enemies that I ever knew of.

As Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, Tillie set the standard for women in our leadership. She worked tirelessly on issues that affected the entire Nation. She was an active proponent of a strong military, and even went on to advise the Defense Department. She knew her stuff and she was never shy about speaking her mind, confident that her insight was valuable, and it was.

Tillie had the ability to disagree with you with a smile on her face all the while. She showed America that women legislators need not be relegated solely to women's issues; that we care about the same issues that men do, but with just a little different perspective. And today, International Women's Day, it is truly appropriate that we honor and celebrate the life of one of our Nation's finest.

Tillie was a friend to me, a great friend in times of sadness and in times of joy. I will miss her friendship and her guidance and know that there are countless others among us to whom she meant so much. Our prayers continue to be with Tillie's family, her two wonderful daughters and her husband, Buck; but her loved ones should know that Tillie left them, our country, and all who had the very, very good fortune to know her a wonderful and lasting legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 912, the Humanitarian Assistance Code of Conduct Act. I'd like to first thank Majority Leader DeLay and the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Delahunt, for their steadfast work on crafting this critical legislation. They have put partisan politics aside to collaborate on a monumental initiative that will establish a clear U.S. policy to protect some of the most vulnerable refugees in the tsunami-affected areas.

It's been over two months since the tsunami devastated villages and neighborhoods across South Asia. Yet while the images we were so used to seeing on television in the days and weeks after the tragedy struck seem to have

all but disappeared from the airwaves, lives remain shattered, loved ones are still missing, and communities are still coping with inexplicable loss and devastation.

Individuals and communities around the world have poured out their hearts and opened up their pocketbooks to help victims of the tsunami. And while so much good has come out of something so terrible, there remains a dark and vicious threats that has infiltrated this region for years.

South Asia has been a source and destination for human trafficking for a long time. While efforts are being made to put a stop to this horrific form of modern day slavery, the problem remains prevalent in this region. Natural disasters, like the tsunami, significantly increase the risk for trafficking and exploitation of women and children.

That is why the legislation we're considering on the floor today is important. It takes us another step forward in our global effort to combat human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and children. This measure will help insure that the children in the tsunami-affected region who lost family members or the roof over their heads will be protected from those who may try to prey on them.

I urge my colleagues to lend their strong support for this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness to inform the House that our good friend and our distinguished former colleague from Florida, Tillie Fowler, passed away today at 10:30 a.m. Tillie epitomized the very meaning of class, and she was the Southern lady in this House. She was a rare find, an example to all Members of Congress in her patriotism and her bipartisanship, and to women everywhere in her ability to attain the highest levels of power while always putting her family first. Our prayers are with Tillie's family during this difficult time, and we will all miss her greatly.

Her loved ones should know that Tillie left them, our country, and all who had the good fortune to know her a wonderful and lasting legacy.

And, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) for a further announcement.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today in support of H.R. 548, a bill to designate the Federal building and courthouse in Dayton, Ohio, as the ``Tony Hall Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''

Since his graduation from Denison University, Tony Hall has been working as a public servant, beginning a career that would affect not only the residents of the 3rd district in Ohio, but the world as well. He returned from the Peace Corps in 1968, after which he honorably served in both the Ohio statehouse and senate before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978.

In his 12 terms in the House, Mr. Hall was a devout advocate for the eradication of poverty and the improvement of human rights conditions around the world. While Mr. Hall was a trusted colleague of the House Rules Committee and tireless worker for the people of Ohio, he is best known for his unwavering commitment to alleviating the crisis of worldwide hunger. In addition to being the founder and chairman of the Congressional Hunger Caucus, Mr. Hall was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work and dedication to hunger relief issues. He resigned from Congress in 2002 to accept a much deserved appointment as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. As the leader of the United Nations World Food Program, Ambassador Hall has been at the forefront in confronting the extraordinary challenge of providing food and supplies to the millions devastated by the tsunami disaster in South Asia.

Tony Hall truly exemplifies what it means to be a public servant. His faith and dedication to the welfare of others provides an excellent example of how one person can positively affect the lives of so many. I am honored to have served with him in Congress and call him a friend.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio for introducing this legislation and I call on my colleagues for their support on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 48) and ask for its immediate consideration.