Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Ann Chudner, devoted wife, mother, champion of social and civil rights, and friend and mentor to countless.

Mrs. Chudner was born and raised in New York City where she became actively involved in social causes when she was a young employee at Macy's Department Store. While there, Mrs. Chudner joined the union movement and took part in the first major strike against the store. Her husband, Irving Chudner, was also involved in the union movement and became a union leader with Local 1250 at Ford's Brook Park plant. She moved to Cleveland with her husband, where their focus on their son, Rick, and their dedication to causes of social justice never diminished.

Mr. and Mrs. Chudner and their son, Rick, who has followed the activism path of his parents, direct their spirit of activism throughout the City of Cleveland and the West Park community. Mrs. Chudner became deeply involved in social issues ranging from fighting against corporate tax abatement to working toward educational and recreational opportunities for youth, to supporting numerous candidacies. Mr. and Mrs. Chudner were immersed in the mayoral candidacy of Carl Stokes, helping him to win the election as the first African American mayor of a major American city. She was instrumental in the success of the grassroots campaign to save Cleveland's municipal power company from takeover by the local monopoly private electric company when I was mayor of Cleveland. She was instrumental in working with Cleveland school officials to implement the Compu-Tech program, which introduced students to computers at a young age. Mrs. Chudner also rallied against the closings of West Tech and John Adams high schools, and was a steadfast leader in the West Park Community Council, a social action group whose membership climbed to 300 during her tenure.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Mrs. Ann Chudner, whose fearless advocacy on behalf of the people of her community was framed by courage, heart and unwavering conviction in the philosophy that a unified group can affect real change. I offer my deepest condolences to her husband, Irving; to her son, Rick; and to her extended family and many friends. Her journey through life has made our world a better place, and her legacy will forever live on in the West Park community and miles beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Rosa Parks, a powerful woman, an American heroine, and a champion for all Americans.

The transformation of a young seamstress into an immortal heroine is a rare occurrence. Rosa Parks had a number of societal barriers working against her: she was an African American in the segregated South and a woman, with no political or social standing, emerging from humble parentage. Nonetheless, she conquered obstacles, set the stage for a movement for civil rights, and is forever an example for all of us.

Rosa Parks was born and raised in Alabama by a carpenter and a teacher. Brought into a world that degraded and intimidated her with its racism, Rosa Parks, along with many others, lived in submission and fear. By the age of 42, Rosa Parks was married and an active member in the NAACP. Her frustration with the intolerance around her led to an event that set the stage for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and became a cornerstone in the Civil Rights Movement.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white rider. This dignified pronouncement depicted to the country the injustice facing African Americans. Her single action eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling that outlaws segregation on city buses. Not only did her effort lend support to America's civil rights movement, but to civil rights movements worldwide.

The fight for equality and justice Rosa Parks sparked will never end, and we will continue to be motivated by the courage of one woman who made a profound choice in 1955. In her honor, and for the integrity of every citizen in this country, it is essential to continue in Mrs. Parks's footsteps.

The United States Congress calls Rosa Parks the ``Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement.'' Throughout her life she was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and the Congressional Gold Metal.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Rosa Parks, whose dedication to the pursuit of justice for all Americans will never be forgotten. Though she will be greatly missed, her legacy will be a constant reminder of how far we have come in ensuring civil, social, and political rights to African Americans, and how much further remains to guarantee equality to every citizen of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute and memory of Charles Whitman Jones, beloved husband and father, activist, scientist, educator and administrator, and friend and mentor to countless people, as his brilliant legacy is honored by Myers University of Cleveland, Ohio.

Armed with intelligence, educational achievement, integrity, motivation and a strong work ethic, Mr. Jones overcame the challenges of racial discrimination with grace and dignity. His vision for himself and for his family reflected joy in living, achievement and service to others and was a vision that would not be thwarted by the oppressive time of racial inequity in America.

The accomplishments of Charles Whitman Jones are many, varied and significant. He was named class valedictorian in high school, yet he was prohibited from giving the address because of his race. After high school, he received academic honors in both college and graduate school. Beyond his outstanding educational achievement, Mr. Jones was a superior athlete. He was awarded fourteen varsity letters during high school, and during college, he was a track, baseball and boxing champion. His outstanding baseball talent was such that he could have played in the Major Leagues, yet at that time, there was no possibility of his acceptance into a League exclusive to white players. Charles Whitman Jones was later inducted into the Meyers University Athletic Hall of Fame, and was named ``Father of the Year''--just two of the many awards and honors bestowed upon Mr. Jones throughout his lifetime.

Following graduation from Ohio University, Mr. Jones was inducted into the United States Army. He was selected to become one of the elite Tuskegee Airmen, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Following his service in the Army, Mr. Jones worked as a teacher, then chemist at Standard Oil Company in Cleveland.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Diane, and together they raised their son, Peter. His commitment to others led him to leave Standard Oil to join Neighbors Organized for Action in Ohio (NOAH) as its executive director. This non-profit agency focused on constructing and providing decent and affordable housing for residents in the Hough area of Cleveland. Later, Mr. Jones was asked to join the administration at Myers University, where he served as Director of Admissions, Athletic Director, Director of Student Services, and Assistant to the President for Community Affairs.

Throughout his lifetime, Charles Whitman Jones consistently reached beyond the racial barriers of the day and held strong to his dream, purpose and focus his wife and son,

his commitment to others, and his professional and individual achievements. With dignity, strength and grace, he paved the way for others to succeed, gently leading and always inspiring.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Charles Whitman Jones, as Myers University and the Cleveland community gather in tribute to his brilliant life and legacy. His energy and spirit live on through his family and friends and all those whose lives he touched, especially his wife, Diane; son, Peter Lawson Jones, daughter-in-law, Lisa Jones; and his grandchildren, Ryan, Leah and Evan.

Mr. Jones led by example and his activism and service continues to pave the way for educational and professional opportunities for the young adults of our community. His integrity, warmth, wit and concern for others has left an indelible mark upon our entire community, and he will be remembered always.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of C. Lyonel Jones, upon his retirement as Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. Fortified with a law degree and a deep commitment to protect the legal rights of the poor, Mr. Jones grasped the torch of legal justice in 1966, passed to him by the Legal Aid Society's first attorney, Isador Grossman.

Mr. Jones began working at the Legal Society in the summer of 1966, in a dilapidated building in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood. He witnessed the struggle for civil rights right outside his office door, as the historic Hough Riots had begun just three days earlier. After the rioting had ceased, Mr. Jones united with U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes, Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes and the NAACP to rebuild the eastside neighborhood. He also provided legal defense to those who were erroneously charged during the riots.

Mr. Jones' kind and humble nature veil his high intellect and legal savvy. His focus on providing quality legal services to those who otherwise could not afford legal representation served to lift the lives of thousands of families and individuals into the light of legal protection and justice. Moreover, Mr. Jones was a champion on behalf of the Legal Aid Society, always finding avenues to raise funds and garner community support.

Throughout the past four decades, Mr. Jones' vision and leadership guided the Legal Aid Society through a significant expansion in staff and services, yet he ensured that the Society's mission remain constant--to provide compassionate and competent support to those unable to afford legal representation, and also to advocate on behalf of vital issues facing our community.

From advocating for the restoration of the Hough neighborhood in the 60's, to winning cases that improved the lives of those living in psychiatric facilities and nursing homes, to advocating on behalf of battered women, to forcing Republic Steel to comply with the EPA's Clean Air Act, Mr. Jones's efforts continue to have far-reaching, positive effects that extend miles beyond northeast Ohio.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and celebration of C. Lyonel Jones, whose integrity, commitment and leadership has given a voice to those who were silent and has offered protection and solutions to those who had neither.

Mr. Jones' thirty-nine year tenure at the helm of the Legal Aid Society brought critical societal issues into the light of day, and his efforts, framed by heart, conviction and an unwavering focus on human rights issues, will exist as a brilliant example for all those who will follow. The work of Mr. C. Lyonel Jones has strengthened the foundation of justice upon which others will continue to build upon; a foundation fortified by their hopeful and courageous efforts focused on the day when these historic words will ring true: ``. . . and justice for all.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of Jahja Ling, director and resident conductor of Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Festival and long-time member of the Cleveland Orchestra's conducting staff, as he bids farewell to an adoring Cleveland audience and begins another musical journey as music director of the San Diego Symphony.

Jahja Ling is an internationally known pianist and conductor, and has graced the stage of the celebrated Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall and at Blossom Music Center for a combined tenure of more than two decades. The artistic luminosity that frames the work of Jahja Ling inspired the personal best from every member of the Cleveland Orchestra and consistently resulted in triumphant performances for audiences of all ages--whether under the stars at Blossom, within the hallowed walls of Severance Hall, or in concert venues around the world.

As founding music director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, COYO, Jahja Ling's unwavering focus on promoting, supporting and creating opportunities for the musically gifted children of our community has uplifted the lives of an untold number of students of classical music, and inspired countless careers in the realm of the performing arts. The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra has evolved into a complete symphonic ensemble that includes 110 young musicians. Members are selected from more than 45 cities in 14 counties throughout northern Ohio. In 1998, the COYO held the prestigious honor of being one in only five youth orchestras selected to participate in the 2nd National Youth Orchestra Festival sponsored by the American Symphony Orchestra League. In 2001, the education director at Carnegie Hall invited the COYO to perform as part of their Family Concert Series.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor, recognition and gratitude to Mr. Jahja Ling. Mr. Ling's musical radiance, grace, energy and passion for his art and for the Cleveland community consistently shone through in every performance as conductor with the Cleveland Orchestra. Jahja Ling's vital outreach efforts in founding the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra will forever affect the lives of every young musician, igniting their future dreams, and connecting all of us with the universal power, hope and light of music.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of the leaders and members of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Cleveland, Ohio, as they gather in celebration of 125 years of faith, guidance and hope for parishioners, and for the greater good of the community.

The Church has not moved from its original location. Built more than a century ago, Immanuel Lutheran Church was the center of faith and support for hundreds of immigrant families who journey to America from Germany. Today, Immanuel Lutheran Church continues its mission and remains one of the few churches to conduct weekly services in German. The Reverend Horst Hoyer has faithfully served the congregation for 50 years, and remarkably, he is only the third pastor to serve in the 125- year history of the church.

The warm and inclusive atmosphere of Immanuel Lutheran Church, located in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood, has remained constant through the years. This spirit of cooperation and unity has served to strengthen the spirit of the church and has also served to strengthen and uplift the surrounding neighborhoods.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of every leader and member, past and present, of Immanuel Lutheran Church, as they celebrate 125 years of offering spiritual guidance for countless families and individuals throughout the Tremont neighborhood and beyond. Since 1880, the parish has evolved in scope and membership, yet the mission and location has remained an unwavering source of faith, hope and light, embracing the spiritual needs and everyday struggles of all members.

Mr. Speaker, I think the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), our ranking member, has stated many of the concerns which Members of Congress have with this bill. I would like to state mine, and indicate why I am going to vote against the agriculture appropriations conference report.

Section 797 undermines the organic food industry by changing the definition of organic food without a congressional hearing, without agreement by the National Organic Standards Board, and without consumer consent.

All across America when people go shopping, there are millions of Americans who are looking for the organic label. Why? Because it is considered to be a label that is indicative of greater integrity in food, food which is not likely to be poisoned with pesticides, food which is carefully grown by organic farmers, food which is healthier. People trust that organic label.

But Americans should know that this bill has changed the organic food law and that big food companies have prodded Congress to change the organic food law and that this would allow the use of several synthetic ingredients in organic products and potentially weaken the organic dairy standards.

More specifically, the amendments which the industry has helped to put in this bill would leave unresolved whether young dairy cows could be treated with antibiotics and converted to organic within 12 months, which would create a serious new loophole in which organic ingredients could be substituted with nonorganic ingredients, without any consumer notice, based on emergency decrees. Now, consumer confidence in the organic label is absolutely essential to ensure a strong organic market.

I have had the opportunity to meet with organic farmers all across America, and they take great pride in their product and in their produce. And what this bill does is it undermines organic standards. It could permanently allow synthetic processing aids and food contact substances including over 500 food contact substances to be used in organic foods without any type of public review for their safety and compatibility with organic production and processing.

Let me tell the Members what this is reminiscent of. In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration ruled that genetically modified organisms were the functional equivalent of conventional foods. They had no scientific basis to make that decision, but they went ahead and set the stage for the very food that we eat to be altered genetically without any science behind it. Now, if we are what we eat, we should be careful about how our food is made so we know what we are going to become. And we have taken no concern about that in this Congress because today GMOs are found in hundreds of millions of acres of food in this country, and now we are weakening organic standards with this legislation.

It is time for Congress to take a stand for pure food. It is time for Congress to take a stand for integrity in food. It is time for us to vote against this bill which undermines organic standards.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of Alva ``Ted'' Bonda, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, brother, WWII Veteran, and dear friend and mentor to many, including me. Mr. Bonda's life was framed by tenacity, integrity and heart, and although he will be greatly missed, he deeply touched the lives of everyone he knew.

Mr. Bonda will forever be remembered as a true renaissance man who possessed a high intellect, love for education and keen business savvy. He was born and raised in Cleveland and graduated from Glenville High School. He worked as a shoe store clerk and parking lot attendant before serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. Following the war, Mr. Bonda teamed up with childhood friend, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, to form their joint venture, APCOA Inc., which evolved into the world's largest parking lot company.

Though an extremely successful businessman, Mr. Bonda's unwavering dedication remained focused on his family and the Cleveland community. Together, Mr. Bonda and the late Marie C. Bonda raised their three children, Penny, Joel and Tom. Mr. Bonda's faith in the City of Cleveland and love for its people was just as steadfast. When it was largely feared that the Cleveland Indians could be whisked away to another town, Mr. Bonda stepped up to the plate and convinced more than 50 Cleveland business owners to purchase the team. As the Team President, he consistently dismissed out-of-towners looking to buy the team because they would not promise to keep the club in Cleveland. Most significantly, Mr. Bonda contributed to sports history and civil rights history by hiring Frank Robinson as the first African American Manager in the Major Leagues.

After retiring from business, Mr. Bonda renewed his commitment as a proponent of education. As a member of the Cleveland School Board during the 1980s, Mr. Bonda led the successful effort in persuading voters to support the first operating levy in many years. In 1984, he was appointed by then Governor Richard Celeste to the Ohio Board of Regents, where he served as Chairman from 1998 to 1991. Mr. Bonda was also a trustee with Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. In 1995, Cleveland State University's College of Urban Affairs awarded Mr. Bonda an honorary Doctorate degree.

A staunch and active Democrat, Mr. Bonda's wisdom and advice was consistently sought after by political hopefuls. His leadership infused significant energy and results into the momentum of numerous local and national campaigns, including those of President Jimmy Carter, presidential candidate George McGovern, Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Ohio Governor Richard Celeste, and my own congressional campaigns.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance of Alva ``Ted'' Bonda. I offer my deepest condolences to his daughter Penny, sons Joel and Tom, daughter-in-law, Jodi; his grandchildren; great grandchildren; extended family and many friends.

Mr. Bonda left this world with a legacy that will forever shine hope and light upon his family, friends and upon our entire Cleveland community. His joy for life, caring heart and concern for the people of Cleveland defined his life and resounds every spring with the first at bat; and will live on in the hearts of all he who knew and loved well, today, and for all time.

Madam Speaker, I am urging all Members of the House to join in support of House Resolution 151, which is a resolution of inquiry that requests the President of the United States to provide to the House of Representatives documents in his possession relating to the anticipated effects of climate change on the coastal regions of the United States.

With the devastation of hurricanes Wilma, Rita and others, we are aware that there is a new phenomenon that is affecting this country with respect to climate change. Scientists may dispute whether or not the meteorological changes that we have witnessed are somehow related to changes in the global climate, but one thing for sure, it is important that Congress begin a dialogue with the administration.

It is important that we find out what connection there may be with climate change and effects on coastal regions. Hurricane Katrina certainly illustrated that we should be concerned about climate change. This resolution of inquiry, now sponsored by 151 Members of the House, aims to get the facts from the administration and begin a dialogue that would be important to our Nation's economy and our national security.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this resolution because I believe the BRAC Commission has performed its job admirably. It wisely chose to remove from the closure list the Defense Finance and Accounting Services in Cleveland which was scheduled to lose 1,028 jobs. This came after a very strong community effort in Cleveland that was led by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and attorney Fred Nance, whose brilliant presentation at the BRAC Commission hearing was quite persuasive.

It also came as a result of work that was done by our colleague from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette). The gentleman from Ohio has demonstrated that a bipartisan cooperation and partnership can be quite successful in helping to strengthen a community's economic position.

We worked together, along with the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), other Federal officials, and local officials to ensure that we made the best case possible as to why the people who do an admirable service at DFAS in Cleveland should be permitted to continue doing their work.

The 2005 Department of Defense recommendations put on the BRAC closure list inappropriately the Cleveland area, and they targeted Cleveland with over 1,000 job cuts. We made the case that those potential job losses were unjust and unfair and counterproductive to the interest of our Federal Government. The BRAC Commission reversal wound up adding 475 jobs, in addition to saving the current jobs. This means Cleveland will host 1,500 DFAS jobs and continue to be a major financial center for the Department of Defense.

The BRAC Commission showed independence from the Pentagon, which is a rare feat in Washington, D.C. and Cleveland is grateful for their independence. This shows all of us why independence in our government's decision-making process is a crucial ingredient to ensure that the right decisions are made. This is another opportunity to move our great city off the list of cities with the highest poverty rate. The commission accepted the argument that the Pentagon should not move jobs from Cleveland, a city with one of the highest poverty rates in the Nation, to other cities which ranked much lower in poverty.

So in all, I believe that the BRAC recommendations represented a very thoughtful, well-reasoned set of recommendations. I was honored to have the opportunity to participate and actually see the process at work, and I was also honored to work closely with my colleagues from the House of Representatives, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).

Madam Speaker, we mark another sad and tragic milestone in the war in Iraq. Two thousand American soldiers have been killed in the war in Iraq.

We must end this war. How many more of America's finest have to die for this war before we realize that the quagmire in Iraq cannot be solved by military force, and that our occupation is counterproductive?

Iraq has been a colossal failure of American policy. From the beginning this administration has waged a campaign of misinformation and has continued to deliberately mislead the public and this Congress about the realities on the ground. The truth is that Iraq will never be free and the insurgency will not end until we end our occupation and allow the decisions about the future of Iraq to be made in Baghdad, not Washington.

As Americans we lament the loss of every American life and every American injury and every Iraqi civilian casualty. We mourn the first casualties as much as the 2,000th casualty.

Now more than ever, we need to support the troops. Support the troops by bringing them home.

Mr. Speaker, recent events in the State of Ohio makes it urgent that this Congress address issues that relate to the automotive industry. Delphi's recent bankruptcy filing may result in the closing of several Ohio plants that provide thousands of jobs. General Motors' sharp cutbacks in health care benefits for UAW members and retirees as well as Ford's announcement of sharp job cutbacks beginning in January of 2006 possibly affecting at least one major auto production facility make it imperative that we come together to do everything we can to help protect America's automotive industry.

And we are doing that in Ohio by organizing not only our elected officials and our labor officials but the business community in coming together to address the challenge to one of our State's largest employment sectors that can only be met by a coordinated effort of our entire delegation.

The automotive industry is in a state of crisis. We are cooperating to bring together all of the resources possible to make sure that we protect the jobs of autoworkers as well as all the allied unions who work with them and to make sure that one of America's great industries has the strength to endure.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit the following statement for the Record.

``Will Record Profits spur investment in new domestic

capacity?'' That is the title of this hearing. In a

competitive market, the question would not be worth asking in

Congress. There would be no doubt about the answer.

But the petroleum refining industry is not a competitive

market. Ten companies control 80 percent of the refining

capacity, and just 5 companies control half of the Nation's

capacity all by themselves.

Since 1981, the concentration of refining capacity supply

in fewer and fewer hands has increased. Mergers and

acquisitions have fueled industry concentration. The result

is astonishing:

Operable capacity stopped rising in 1981, as it had for the

previous 30 years.

Instead, it went into decline, before it plateauing. For

the past 20 years, capacity has been held relatively

constant.

Economics 101 teaches that rising demand meets constant

supply at higher and higher prices. We can be confident that

the industry is familiar with that economics lesson, and they

have profited handsomely as a result.

The question we should address is why should the U.S.

Government continue to permit an anti-competitive environment

that enables a few companies to rein in supply and drive up

record profits?

I am sure that we will hear from the industry a lot about

onerous environmental regulations. They want the public to

believe that they would have built more refineries if only

they'd been allowed to do it.

Not only is that not true, but it is a smokescreen. The

industry hasn't tried but once in 25 years to build a new

refinery. Yet, between 1994 and 2004, they closed 30

refineries. On balance, they have been closing refineries,

not trying to open new ones. Closing refineries tightens

supply, driving up prices when demand is rising. That is

exactly what has happened, and they've made record profits.

If there were no environmental regulations, the industry

would have to invent them or something equivalent in order to

disguise a corporate strategy to hold down supply. That is

the real issue and Americans are paying mightily for it.

Since 2001, according to Public Citizen, the largest 5 oil

companies operating in the United States enjoyed after-tax

profits of $254 billion.

There are things Congress can do. One would be to pass H.R.

2070, the Gas Price Spike Act of 2005. This bill, which I

introduced with 39 cosponsors, would implement a windfall

profit tax on gasoline and diesel. Such a tax would be

imposed on key oil industry profits above a reasonable rate

of return. If oil companies are collecting excessive profits

on the backs of consumers, they should be subject to a stiff

tax on those excessive profits. The threat of heavy taxation

will send a clear signal to oil companies that price gouging,

and shorting supply, will not pay.

In addition, H.R. 2070 will direct the revenue from the

windfall profits tax to Americans who buy ultra efficient

cars made in America. These individuals would receive a $6000

tax credit. The credit would be phased in, and cars that

achieved 65 miles per gallon would receive a full tax credit.

Today average cars get less than 30 miles per gallon. This

tax credit will stimulate the market in ultra efficient

vehicles.

Lastly, the bill makes funding available to regional

transit authorities to offset significantly reduced mass

transit fares during times of gas price spikes. Providing

low-cost mass transit will slow demand for gas and ease the

price of gasoline, benefiting all Americans.

Madam Speaker, it is long past the time since this Congress should be passing legislation to create a universal single- payer system of health care in the United States. This past week we saw General Motors cut $1 billion a year in health care expenses for 750,000 auto workers and retirees. People who have worked every day of their lives and made a contribution to this society are suddenly finding their health care benefits drastically reduced.

Over 40 million Americans do not have health insurance. Millions more cannot afford to pay health insurance because they are finding premiums, co-pays, and deductibles rising. It is time that the government stepped in dramatically to create a single-payer system. It is time that we realize that health care is a basic right in our society. It is time that we saw that we are already paying for universal health care. We are not getting it. One out of every four dollars goes for the activities of the for-profit system, for corporate profits, advertising, marketing, the cost of paperwork, 20 to 30 percent.

It is time that we stood up for the American people and for the health of our people and passed H.R. 676, a universal single-payer health care system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the staff members of the KeyCorp Campus, located on Tiedeman Road in Brooklyn, Ohio, upon their recent designation as a certified Green Building by the U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC. KeyCorp is the first financial service institution in the Midwest to earn this prestigious certification.

KeyCorp has joined the ranks of premier corporations and manufacturers across the Nation that have invested their own resources to elevate the structural, operational and performance components of their facilities to the highest levels of environmental standards. The 2,000 plus staff at KeyCorp has worked diligently within the USGBC's new rating system, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings, LEED, to become an officially designated Green Building.

By adhering to LEED systems and standards, KeyCorp has restored their 750,000-square-foot technology and operations buildings and adjacent property to an environmentally sound haven for employees and surrounding flora and fauna. The campus was built on a brownfield site, which has been renewed with water-efficient, native landscaping. KeyCorp made the commitment to implement environmentally smart procedures which served as economically smart moves for the company. By installing low-mercury light bulbs, recycling paper and cardboard, greater usage of natural light, and using green-friendly housekeeping and maintenance products, the company is protecting their bottom line and protecting the environment as well.

Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition of the leadership and staff members of the KeyCorp Tiedeman Campus in Brooklyn, Ohio, whose united efforts in raising the entire Campus into the light of environmental restoration and protection has earned them the official designation as a Green Building. KeyCorp's unified mission has made a positive impact on our community and serves as a vital reminder and example of the ability of the human race to coexist in harmony with our natural world.