Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to identify the low representation of minorities and women in the financial services industry. The Financial Services Diversity Initiative calls upon the public and private sector to provide more opportunities for minorities and women to succeed in the financial services industry.

The financial service industry has an extraordinary impact on the country, including my home district of Dallas, TX. While many industries have successfully created a diverse workplace, the financial service industry has fallen short, creating an unacceptable disparity for minorities and women. As a society, it is our responsibility to promote the diversity in the workplace and ensure confidence in any individual's ability to succeed at all levels.

In order to raise awareness and combat these disparities, we must furnish all children a first class education. Education is the vital threshold in expanding opportunities to qualified candidates, regardless of their race or sex. The Financial Services Diversity Initiative enforce fairness and accountability to all educational and employment sectors.

Mr. Speaker, as a person of color and a woman, I know first hand the importance of equality and diversity. I strongly support the Financial Services Diversity Initiatives which offers to eliminate the inequality among minorities and women in the financial services industry.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the goals and ideals of Federal Credit Union Month. Credit unions across the United States have been a vital component to economic growth and empowerment.

This month is intended to bring awareness to credit union's impact on the economy and the tremendous service they provide to their members. Our federal credit unions play an important role in the lives of many Americans, my district in Dallas, TX, included. Credit unions offer the chance for its members to participate in their financial lives as owners, rather than just account holders.

Credit unions help communities and families achieve their part of the American Dream by offering financial services and banking opportunities that many members would otherwise be denied with a privately owned institution. These opportunities enhance stability and affordability in ownership and security for credit union members.

Mr. Speaker, federal credit unions remain an important financial institution for many of our Nation's hard working people. It is important that we as a body continue to articulate support for our Nation's federal credit unions. As a loyal member of a federal credit union I strongly support the goals and ideas this month promotes.

I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding.

The Federal Transit Administration recently approved a $700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement for the construction of a new Dallas area rapid transit rail line that will provide access to the vicinity of Dallas Love Field Airport, not direct access to the main terminal. So to remedy this connection lapse, the city of Dallas and the Council of Governments have committed some funding, but the city has a strong desire to use PFCs to cover the remainder of the cost.

I respectfully ask the distinguished chairman to work with me to ensure that Dallas Love Field Airport receives priority consideration for the program outlined in section 114 of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1154, a resolution to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D.

Dr. DeBakey has been a dedicated public servant, especially to veterans.

The developments in organ transplant medicine developed by him have enabled millions of people to lead happy and productive lives.

Early in life, he volunteered for military service during World War II, joining the Surgeon General's staff and rising to the rank of Colonel and Chief of the Surgical Consultants Division. His recommendations led to advances in mobility military medicine and earned him the Legion of Merit in 1945.

His work contributed to the ultimate development of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center System and the establishment of the Commission on Veterans Medical Problems of the National Research Council.

Mr. Speaker, I served as Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas and have 15 years of experience in hands-on patient care.

Medical follow-up after active service is extremely important for our veterans.

Dr. DeBakey's intelligence, dedication and other talents were directed early in his career to assist men and women serving in our military.

For decades, his innovations in cardiovascular medicine revolutionalized the field and have forever changed the way surgery is conducted.

Many millions who will never know him have Dr. DeBakey to thank for pioneering surgical techniques that have saved their lives.

Mr. Speaker, as a Texan, I have great pride for our own Dr. Michael DeBakey. It is fitting for the U.S. House of Representatives to honor him in this way.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the people of America who want a new way forward in Iraq and expect Congress to act accordingly.

My constituents in North Texas continue to grieve the loss of their sons and daughters in Iraq and voice their utmost concerns for our troops' safety. They deserve answers from me and from our government regarding the consequence of the monetary and casualty cost of the Iraq war.

Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have affected the lives of countless Americans. There are over 3,000 troops from the great state of Texas that have been wounded during duty and many thousands more from across the United States.

Despite the struggles our soldiers face both on the field and the home front, they are thankful for the support they have been receiving from their fellow Americans. They share their concerns none of which are for themselves, but of their fellow comrades and families. If given a chance, they are willing to return to the field and fight for this nation. I stand here today, humbled by these men and women.

The current administration has recently submitted data reflecting that violence in Iraq has decreased, but this data has been skewed. The data does not reflect the truth. Violence in Iraq has increased.

It is our responsibility to care for the best interest of our soldiers. It is our responsibility to protect our troops from unnecessary harm. Our men and women in uniform are owed a debt of gratitude for their courageous efforts. A failure to bring about democracy in Iraq rests solely on the shoulders of the President and his Administration.

Mr. Speaker, a great American military cannot be a substitute for a weak Iraqi government. Americans want a new direction in Iraq. The best way to support our troops serving in Iraq is to bring them home.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Neiman Marcus as it celebrates its 100-year anniversary.

The founders--Herbert Marcus, his sister, Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband, A.L. Neiman--were all under age 30 when they created the luxury retailer. They opened its flagship store in downtown Dallas, TX, on this day in 1907.

Over the last century, Neiman Marcus has not only left an indelible mark on the Dallas culture and society, but continues to play a vital role in the business community.

For over 19 years, Neiman Marcus has hosted the annual Neiman Marcus Adolphus Children's Parade benefiting the Child Life Program at Children's Medical Center, Dallas. This event raises money for its specialized programs including music therapy, support groups, medical camps and bedside activities. It draws crowds of over 300,000 and it brings hope and happiness to families across the country during the holiday season.

With a long history of supporting the arts, Neiman Marcus continues this tradition by sustaining the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts and the Dallas Arts District, helping to establish Dallas as a renowned center for performing and visual arts.

Expanding from its original store in historic downtown Dallas, Neiman Marcus now operates nationwide with total store operations of over 5 million gross square feet, providing economic growth and secure jobs across the country and for the north Texas region.

With a true sense of philanthropy and generosity, Neiman Marcus has become more than a retail company; its company culture reflects the true spirit of community. On behalf of the 30th Congressional District of Texas, please join me in congratulating Neiman Marcus Group on the occasion of its 100th year anniversary.

I rise today to commend the Foundation for Pluralism on the 3rd Annual Unity Day USA.

Unity Day USA has taken the initiative to remember one of the greatest tragedies in the history of our nation by brining about a positive response to the tragedy of 9/11. This day honors thousands of Americans who sacrificed their lives by committing to make this day pledged to the peace, prosperity, unity and security of our nation.

It is vital that we look at the human and economic cost of war to realize the urgency to actively pursue peace. The burden of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace building cannot be left to one institution, gender, or political party. It must be a shared responsibility that encompasses all, regardless of race, class, gender or religion.

Each year Unity Day USA is celebrated on the Sunday before September 11th. On this day, Americans of every faith, race, ethnicity, culture and background, gather to pray for the peace, unity and security of our nation and the world.

The theme the 3rd Annual Unity Day USA will be One Nation under God. Leaders will seek guidance and wisdom from their respective faiths. Civil servants and community leaders will echo the same sentiment and suggest ways in which we as individuals can work toward cohesive and thriving local communities.

On behalf of the 30th Congressional District of Texas, I am honored to commend the Foundation of Pluralism on celebrating the 3rd Annual Unity Day USA.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend an admirable leader Daisaku Ikeda on the 50th anniversary of Soka Gakkai International. As president, Mr. Ikeda is an exemplary humanitarian committed to developing a peaceful world.

As a young man, Mr. Ikeda was a disciple of Josei Toda, founder of Soka Gakkai International, of which 5,000 members reside in Dallas, TX. During this time, he adopted the mission to embrace the movement of human revolution based on daily efforts to transform their individual lives from within through a consistent and essential aspect of the historical challenge of nuclear disarmament, abolition and peace.

Mr. Ikeda is a prolific writer, poet, peace activist, pianist, environmentalist, photographer and interpreter of Nichiren Buddhism. In 1983, Mr. Ikeda proposed his first peace proposal in response to challenges of our global society grounded in his Buddhist perspective. This proposal is submitted each year to the United Nations.

As president of Soka Gakkai International, Mr. Ikeda has founded several institutions, such as Soka schools, the Min-On Concert Association, the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, the Institute of Oriental Science and the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research to promote educational, cultural, and artistic activities and to conduct exchanges with like groups and institutions on a global scale.

He has also initiated a wide range of grassroots exchange programs and delivered speeches at a number of institutions of higher learning around the world, including Harvard University, the Institut de France and Beijing University.

On behalf of the 30th Congressional District of Texas, I am honored to commend the life of an astounding man, Daisaku Ikeda and congratulate him on the 50th anniversary of Soka Gakkai International.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to commend Chairman Conyers and the House Leadership for their diligence in addressing the issue of patent reform, and to express why I unfortunately must oppose this bill in its current form.

There is an overwhelming need to move patents through the approval process quickly, fairly, and economically. I commend this bill on many of the positive changes it makes to the reform system, but I remain concerned about provisions that may dramatically restrict damages payable by infringers. It is my fear that this bill will alter the current system in favor of defendants resulting in further backlogs. These changes to the current system would ultimately hurt existing patent owners.

In addition, this bill implements a post grant review process that will lead to duplicative challenges, resulting in an increase to the cost of patent ownership and significantly decreasing the enforceability, predictability and value of all patents.

Numerous technology firms, both large and small are opposed to this bill, as well as, many universities. These are the people on the forefront of our technological future and their voice and opposition need to be heard.

Innovation and advancement are key to the future of America. It is my concern that this bill will tilt the legal balance in favor of patent infringers and discourage innovation and investment in research and development. We must protect our innovators and allow them to pursue concise and necessary action in the court of law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2850, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2007.

The bill proposes a program to coordinate federally funded research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities related to green chemistry.

Protecting our environment has, for years, been a priority for me. Dallas and other cities in Texas have long suffered from poor environmental quality, leading to serious health effects in our population.

If Congress can incentivize chemical manufacturing and research processes that minimize environmental harms, then we will be doing a good thing for our constituents.

As a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology, I support this research because of the long-term benefits it brings to all citizens.

Mr. Speaker, the committee has held hearings on this subject and deem it to be needed, and of worthy investment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 694, the Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007.

Minority Serving Institutions include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, HSIs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, TCUs, and Asian American/Pacific Islander- Serving Institutions.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities produce a disproportionately high percentage of African American science, engineering and technology professionals with advanced degrees. Even though they struggle with limited resources, HBCUs are institutions that provide special opportunities for educational enrichment for minority students.

HBCUs graduated 40 percent or more of all African Americans who, in 2000, received degrees in physics, chemistry, astronomy, environmental sciences, mathematics and biology.

In fact, African Americans who graduate from HBCUs are more likely to go on to graduate school and complete doctoral degrees than African- American undergraduates from other institutions.

HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions offer unique learning experiences, instill confidence, and impart a ``can-do'' attitude among minority students who matriculate there.

Congressman Edolphus Towns of New York has devised a strong bill to assist minority-serving institutions in acquiring, and augmenting the use of digital and wireless networking technologies to improve the quality and delivery of educational services.

This legislation is appropriate, considering the very small appropriation given to these institutions to help carry on their legacy.

I strongly support this bill and appreciate Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph Hall, of the Committee on Science and Technology, for their partnership to facilitate it through the Committee process.

Again, I am pleased to support the Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007, and I urge my colleagues to support it also.

Madam Speaker, on September 5, 2007, I was unavoidably detained from the House Chamber.

Had I been present I would have voted: ``nay'' on rollcall 849, On Motion to Instruct Conferees, College Cost Reduction Act of 2007; ``yea'' on rollcall 848, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Microloan Amendments and Modernization Act; ``yea'' on rollcall 847, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Dallas Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslim Community for reaching a Golden Jubilee landmark on July 11, 2007.

As a prominent community, the Ismailis have contributed largely to the cultural diversity and economic development in Texas. Under the guidance of His Highness the Aga Khan, the Ismailis are represented in the fields of engineering, science, medicine, education, and entrepreneurship.

In 1967, the first international non-profit institution ofthe Ismailis was established by the Aga Khan in Europe. Since then the Aga Khan Development Network has grown into nine agencies, globally representing the fields of micro finance, education, economic development, health, and cultural preservation.

These agencies have created 300 schools in the world, educating 62,000 students and employing 5,000 staff. It has opened 200 health centers, caring for nearly 2 million and employing nearly 10,000 staff It has also opened a university in Central Asia, transformed a park in Egypt, and continues to raise funds for the poor through an annual world-wide Partnership Walk.

The Ismailis are devoted to improving the circumstances and opportunities for the poor around the world. The Aga Khan Development Network serves as a catalyst for these endeavors. Their mandates range ITom education and health to structural design, disaster reduction, development, and renewal of historic cities.

On behalf of the 30th Congressional District of Texas, I am honored to congratulate the Ismaili Community on their Golden Jubilee. Their efforts towards global humanitarianism make them an invaluable member of the Dallas area.

Let me express my appreciation to Mr. Gordon and Mr. Hall, Dr. Gingrey, Dr. Ehlers and others who have been active on the other side and shown interest, not just recently, but over the years.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I in the Science and Technology Committee have held numerous hearings and markups to prepare the legislation that is before us today in the form of a conference report. Today this bill authorizes $33 billion over fiscal years 2008-2010.

You know, I grew up with my father saying nothing is free, and you get what you pay for. If you invest, you will get a return, and that's just where we are. We are in need of stimulating our teachers and our students to specialize in these areas so that we can be competitive in the world.

We have allowed ourselves to get behind, we are investing less than almost any other developed country, and we must step up to the plate now, the time has come. It will help to prepare thousands of new teachers and provide teachers with better materials and skills through our expanded Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program and through the Math and Science Partnerships Program.

In my district are the number one and number two public schools in the Nation, as Newsweek says. Texas Instruments has invested numerous dollars, thousands, in that school, and it is very good. We put out some of the best students in the Nation from our schools, but it only has about 20 to 25 percent of the students that need all of this. It is needed across the Nation. We are not going to get it until we provide for it. We will not get competitive until we do this.

So I would say please support the conference committee for H.R. 2272. It only provides what we need, and we cannot get it for free.

I know that we have spent a lot of money on this war, a lot more than they are asking for in here; but we have got to take care of this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act.

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation. Twenty-five percent of Texas kids have no health insurance.

The Texas state legislature has done a great disservice to these children, and they are working to remedy the problems but have a long way to go.

The Federal Government can help by expanding SCHIP so that States can enroll more kids into the program. These are children of the working poor.

I support generous expansion of this program.

Children with health insurance are more likely to be up to date on immunizations and to receive treatment for sore throats, ear aches and other illnesses.

Good health means fewer sick days and better school performance--and less burden on our emergency rooms.

I urge my colleagues to avoid delay in passing this bill, that is critical for the health of so many children.