Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong opposition to cuts in Medicare and Social Security.

In these last few days and the most important days that we face, I challenge the supercommittee to put politics aside and to work together to come up with a balanced, bipartisan deal that will strengthen and preserve our Nation's most successful health care and anti-poverty health programs.

Across-the-board cuts, which will result from the supercommittee's failure to work together, will do nothing more than increase health care costs to seniors and the disabled and weaken our already vulnerable economy.

I have received countless phone calls, stacks of letters, boxes of cards from concerned constituents all over north Texas who wait in fear to hear the fate of their economic future. I urge the supercommittee to reject any policies that will result in higher costs for our Nation's sick and elderly.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference report containing fiscal year 2012 appropriations for Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Science, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. My support is somewhat tempered, as I find several items to cheer in this agreement and several that are of great concern to me. But recognizing the constraints within which the appropriators were working, I thank and applaud them for their hard work to achieve agreement and bring this bill before us today. In particular, I want to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for their long-time support for research and development and STEM education.

As Ranking Member of the Committee on Space, Science, and Technology, today I limit my remarks to those agencies in this conference report that are within my committee's jurisdiction: NIST, EDA, NOAA, OSTP, NASA, NSF, and certain of FAA's activities.

Let me begin with what I think is one of the bright spots in this conference agreement, and

that is the budget for the National Science Foundation. NSF is the only federal agency that supports basic research across the entire range of science and engineering disciplines, continuingly refreshing both our intellectual capital and the new ideas and technologies that combined serve as the backbone for the creation of new industries and jobs in our nation. The Foundation also plays a critical leadership role in the nation in improving the quality of STEM education at all levels and for all students. Therefore I am quite pleased with the 2.5 percent increase proposed for the Foundation. This is exactly what setting priorities during tough budget times should look like.

Likewise, I am pleased that the Scientific and Technical Research Budget at the National Institute of Standards and Technology is increased by 11 percent. I am also pleased that the agreement maintains funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, MEP, program, but I am very disappointed that the agreement eliminates all funding for the Technology Innovation Program and the Baldrige National Quality Award, and fails to provide any funding for the promising AMTech program.

While I am pleased that the agreement proposes $17.8 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, a strong sign of support within these challenging fiscal times, we must be mindful that the overall program that NASA is being asked to accomplish with these funds has not changed significantly despite yearly reductions in the agency's appropriations. That said, I am pleased that the bill provides funding to maintain the James Webb Space Telescope program on a schedule for launch in 2018 and that the bill provides funding and direction for NASA to pursue a flagship planetary science mission, if it can be scoped so that NASA's costs can be accommodated within appropriated funding levels. While funding for the Space Launch System, SLS, and Multi-purpose Crew Vehicle, MPCV, proposed in this bill is more than requested by the Administration, it is significantly below authorized levels. This downward trend cannot continue. It is vital that the SLS and MPCV stay on track so that we reinstate a U.S. government capability to launch American crews into orbit, provide a back-up crew and cargo transfer capability for the International Space Station, and return the United States to the forefront of the human exploration of outer space beyond low-Earth orbit.

I am pleased that the conference report provides the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, with a $306 million increase above this fiscal year's level. However this increase is insufficient for the many missions that this important agency is being asked to undertake at this time. America has already experienced in this year alone ten extreme weather events with economic costs to date approaching $50 billion. The National Weather Service provides weather and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States and maintains the national infrastructure of observing systems that gather and process data worldwide from the land, sea, and air. The Joint Polar Satellite System weather satellite program, a vital component of this mission, must have consistent and sufficient levels of funding in order to provide these much needed products and services. Further, I am disappointed but not surprised that this bill does not support the Administration's efforts to better align the agency to provide reliable weather and climate products and services now and into the future. If left uncorrected, current political efforts to undermine these services will have significant negative economic consequences down the road.

With respect to the Economic Development Administration, EDA, I am pleased that the agreement provides $5 million in funds for loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized manufacturers, as authorized last year in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act. And while I am disappointed that the bill does not include a separate line item of funding for the Regional Innovation Strategies program, as also authorized in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, I am pleased that the agreement recognizes the importance of EDA's work in regional innovation and encourages it to continue.

However, I am concerned about the budget for the Office of Science and Technology Policy. I fear that the 32 percent cut to OSTP will do significant collateral damage to the formal infrastructure that helps ensure that billions of dollars in federal R&D initiatives are coordinated across the agencies efficiently and effectively. I wish the appropriators would have found another path forward to deal with the disagreements that motivated this cut, and I certainly hope that in the next fiscal year we can see this matter resolved and OSTP made whole again.

Finally, with respect to the FAA, I am encouraged by the conferees' recognition that arbitrary funding reductions imposed earlier by the House Majority were unwise as such cuts negatively affect aviation safety and halt job creation. Furthermore, I appreciate the conferees' support of NextGen air traffic modernization activities because of the importance of NextGen in preventing future gridlock in our skies, while allowing FAA to manage air traffic in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. I agree with the funding level provided to FAA's commercial space regulatory activities, since hearings conducted by the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and its Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee during this session confirmed that commercializing space transportation has not progressed as quickly as expected and thus the need for the additional funding sought in the original FAA budget request was not supportable.

In closing, I once again would like to thank Chairman Wolf, Ranking Member Fattah, and their colleagues in the House and Senate for all of their work on this agreement, and for their implicit recognition of the critical role that federal investments in R&D and STEM education play in ensuring our nation's long-term health and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jaap van Zweden, Dutch conductor and music director for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Van Zweden has been named 2012 conductor of the year by Musical America after joining the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as music director just 4 years ago, beginning with the 2008- 09 season.

Announced at the annual Musical America Awards, conductor of the year looks to recognize artistic excellence and achievement in the arts. Mr. Van Zweden has demonstrated mastery in both of these aspects, as evident in his most impressive and diverse career over the years.

Before joining the Dallas Symphony Orchesta, Mr. Van Zweden had worked with the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, among many others all across the world. Mr. Van Zweden currently also serves as chief conductor and artistic director of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras as well as chief conductor of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra of Belgium.

The DSO is truly privileged to have such a talented and accomplished artist to lead their musical program. As a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I am always looking for ways to enrich our creative capacity in Dallas and throughout the Nation. Drawing talent from outside the district is just one method for achieving this noble objective.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that we continue to honor the individuals who contribute so much cultural value here at home. Artistic and musical inspirations such as Jaap van Zweden have a positive impact on our communities and I commemorate anyone who chooses to enrich the lives of others by using their talents toward the betterment of society.

Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the life of one of my House colleagues, Howard Wolpe. Congressman Wolpe was a former chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Africa Subcommittee and senior adviser for Africa to two Democratic presidents, who died last week at his home in Saugatuck, Michigan.

Congressman Wolpe, who represented Michigan in Congress from 1979- 1992, was a leading anti-apartheid campaigner and advocate for Africa. As Subcommittee chair for 10 years, he sponsored the Comprehensive Anti-apartheid Act of 1986, which imposed sanctions against South Africa, and passed despite President Ronald Reagan's veto. Congressman Wolpe also spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of American assistance to Africa, winning passage of the African Famine Recovery and Development Act and creating the African Development Foundation.

Congressman Wolpe also served as President Bill Clinton's special envoy to Africa's Great Lakes Region. He helped mediate an end to conflicts in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which killed and uprooted large numbers of civilians. He served as director of the Africa Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and returned to government service as special adviser to President Barrack Obama.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Congressman Wolpe. I appreciate his dedication to this nation and to the peace in Africa. He will truly be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Michelle Moore, a distinguished Dallas County public defender from my district. After sixteen years with the Dallas County public defender's office, Ms. Moore will be leaving her current position to open the first public defender's office in Burnet County, Texas.

There are few people with as much capacity for compassion and as much dedication to her work as Ms. Moore has demonstrated throughout her term of public service. Her years of tireless work to help absolve innocent men of crimes they never committed have been critical to strengthening the integrity of our judicial system here in Texas and throughout the Nation.

Having helped to free eleven wrongfully-imprisoned men, Ms. Moore has contributed greatly to Dallas County's record as having more DNA exonerations than any other county in the Nation since Texas began permitting post-conviction DNA testing in 2001.

Ms. Moore has frequently gone above and beyond her normal scope of duty by making sure that exonerees had no trouble assimilating back into the lives that were taken from them, even regularly working off the clock and without charging her clients for legal advice.

Beyond the boundaries of this great State, her work has gone far to highlight the need for a closer examination of certain convictions and for stronger safeguards against wrongful imprisonment. Ms. Moore's contributions have undoubtedly not only changed the lives of those she directly represented, but also the vast others in similar circumstances throughout the country.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we must see Ms. Moore go. However, I have found relief in the fact that she is not leaving her work entirely and will instead be going on to serve the needs of other wrongfully convicted prisoners. I would like to end by wishing Ms. Moore the best of luck in her latest attempt to bring veritable justice to under or unserved areas in Texas.

[From dallasnews.com, Oct. 29, 2011]

Public Defender Who Spent Decade Working To Free the Innocent Is

Leaving Dallas County

(By Jennifer Emily)

For a decade, Dallas County public defender Michelle Moore

has worked on and off the clock to free the innocent from

prison and help them adjust to life on the outside once

they're released.

This week, Moore, the face of the public defender's office,

is leaving to open the first public defender's office in

Burnet County, in the Hill Country.

Moore helped free 11 men from prison, appeared on a

television documentary called Dallas DNA and helped change

state laws to compensate exonerees and prevent wrongful

convictions.

``It's tough to leave Dallas County and leave behind the

exonerees,'' she said. ``I'll still be in touch and help

out.''

Dallas County's exonerees are mostly excited about Moore's

new opportunity, she said. But they still wish she would stay

in Dallas County.

``A couple of the guys were `Oh, yeah, that's cool,' ''

Moore said. ``But a couple of the guys were like `We'll never

see you again.' ''

Someone else will take over her job with the public

defender's office, but the position has not yet been filled.

Christopher Scott, freed in October 2009 after spending 12

years in prison for a crime he did not commit, said that

while behind bars, he saw Moore on television and hoped that

one day she would be his attorney. He said he couldn't

believe it when she was appointed to his case.

Scott said Moore not only works on cases in her job as a

public defender but also regularly gives them free legal

advice and makes sure they are adjusting well when freed from

prison.

``Michelle is a princess to us,'' said Scott, who said he

considers Moore both a friend and family. ``A lot of people

take advantage of exonerees--not Michelle. She gives us

advice normally people would charge hundreds of dollars

for.''

James Hammond, a DA's office investigator who has worked on

numerous claims of innocence, said Moore's dedication to her

job extends far beyond regular hours.

``She's very compassionate toward the exonerees,'' he said.

``Not just the legal side in the courtroom but that they had

clothes and a place to stay. She made sure when they stepped

out of the building, they had a parachute, that they had

people interested in their interests.''

Moore spent 16 years in the public defender's office. In

2001, when the state began allowing post-conviction DNA

testing, Moore began working cases in which inmates requested

DNA testing of old evidence to prove their innocence. Later,

she worked similar cases where there was no DNA to test.

Dallas County has had 22 exonerations by DNA evidence and

three, including Scott's, by other evidence. Since 2001, when

Texas began allowing DNA testing and Moore began working on

cases, the county has had more DNA exonerations than any

other county in the nation.

Some DNA tests confirmed guilt and others were

inconclusive. Moore was the lead attorney on nine cases in

which inmates were freed, and she assisted on two others.

In Burnet County, she will oversee the public defender's

office and hire two attorneys, an investigator and an office

manager. The office is being created with a grant from the

Texas Indigent Defense Commission.

``It's new territory,'' she said.

Dallas County prosecutor Cynthia R. Garza, who worked with

Moore on several exonerations, said that Moore's efforts,

along with those of the DA's conviction integrity unit,

established in 2007 by District Attorney Craig Watkins, made

an impact on how exonerations are seen locally and throughout

the country.

``Her role was very important to her clients and to the

whole movement'' of post-conviction exonerations, said Garza.

People are more open-minded now about exonerations, Garza

said.

Moore also worked with legislators to bring about increased

compensation for Texas exonerees and changes in eyewitness

identification procedures.

``I was excited and relieved,'' Moore said about the

changes to the law. ``I'm proud to have been involved,

however small, in changing the system.''

AT A GLANCE--Michelle Moore

Age: 46

Education: Law degree from University of Arkansas, 1990.

Career Highlights: Joined Dallas County public defenders

office 16 years ago; has helped free 11 innocent Dallas

County men from prison since 2001; former board president of

the Innocence Project of Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the President's American Jobs Act because America's small businesses need this legislation now to grow and hire new workers. Creating jobs and strengthening the economy is my highest priority, and I strongly urge this Congress to remain focused on these goals because they are the most pressing challenges facing Americans today.

The President's American Jobs Act will cut the payroll tax in half for 98 percent of small businesses. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that cutting of the payroll tax is one of the most effective job-creating measures. In addition, the President's proposal will completely eliminate payroll taxes for businesses that add new workers. This incentive is directly targeted to encourage small businesses to hire new workers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put partisan politics aside and pass this legislation now because American families and small businesses are in need of jobs now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against voter suppression that is happening in my district and throughout states all across the country. With the presidential elections just one year away on Sunday, it is critical that we bring to light this most important issue that is disenfranchising eligible voters of select ages and backgrounds.

The right to vote is one of the fundamental pillars of any functioning democracy. In the United States, we use voting as a means for the people to select their elected officials at all levels of representation. This fact, I believe, is a basic lesson that we have all learned in civics class back in elementary school. Yet, recently I have begun to think that some of our Republican leaders in government have forgotten this simple truth--or worse, have chosen to ignore these basic tenets of American democracy.

Under the guise that it will strengthen the integrity of our elections, a number of state legislatures have already taken extraordinary steps to exclude the elderly, our youth, minorities, and the poor from getting to the polls and casting their ballot through a series of regressive voting laws. It is no surprise that since there was an unprecedented turnout from all of these groups during the 2008 presidential election that state governments are only now mobilizing to overhaul these laws.

Nationally, these anti-voting laws are materializing in the form of stringent photo ID mandates, inflated proof of citizenship requirements, more difficult voter registration, reduced early and absentee days, and heightened barriers to reentry for citizens with past felony convictions. Seven states have already signed photo ID mandates into law, while the other provisions are already enacted or being considered by many more.

In Texas, we have already seen strict voter ID laws passed in the State Legislature this year. This law, which requires each voter to present a valid government-issued ID regardless if they possess a voter registration card and are listed among the voting roles, targets and prevents students, the elderly and the poor from exercising their right to vote. Additional restrictions on voter registration drives have also been signed into state law in order to further prevent minorities and others from registering in the first place. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, more than 26,000 voters in Texas registered to vote via registration drives in 2008 alone. That's at least another 26,000 voters that we can expect to become disenfranchised this election cycle with the passage of these laws.

These kinds of devious tactics have been used far too many times before--and the problem is only getting worse. I cannot help but be reminded of the days of Jim Crow, where arbitrary literacy tests and unfounded poll taxes were implemented in order to prevent African Americans from casting their vote. These kinds of intentional barriers to democracy are why the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-sixth Amendments are needed. It is why the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is needed. It is why the Supreme Court has even had to intervene with a ruling on poll taxes in Harper V. Virginia Board of Education.

Yet here we find ourselves again battling the same problem with a different disguise. I refuse to accept that these laws seek to address existing weaknesses in our election system. In fact, these laws do nothing to address the kinds of fraud that were exposed during previous elections, such as the purging of entire voter rolls or intentionally long wait times during early voting.

Mr. Speaker, these blatant attempts to disenfranchise select groups of voters are not consistent with the democracy that most of us envision for this country. I must therefore oppose any attempts by anyone to enact and enforce these malicious and dishonest statutes. Adopting such regressive and blatantly lopsided voter mandates is a massive step in the wrong direction that serves the interests of a select few over the demands of the majority.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as domestic violence awareness month. Domestic violence affects individuals from all parts of the country throughout communities in every state, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality, or educational background.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, as many as one in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Whether in the form of physical or verbal aggression, this harrowing statistic highlights the largely obscured threat of domestic abuse that is tearing entire families apart.

This form of violence commonly occurs within the personal confines of the home, hidden from the watchful eye of the public and is consequently difficult to track. Some victims may often even feel too embarrassed to speak out against their partner, while others may simply be too afraid out of fear of further violence. This is simply unacceptable in any society.

We must work diligently to expose these crimes by speaking up for those who cannot. We must make resources available to help the millions of victims today who may continue to experience abuse tomorrow. Sadly, we must also mourn the losses of those who could not find help in time before the violence turned fatal.

While the people of this nation have taken great strides to address domestic violence, there is still much work to be done. Despite the tremendous successes we've seen in Congress and throughout the private sector to provide legal and financial support in the defense of these victims, our efforts must not cease until domestic violence is eliminated.

Mr. Speaker, it saddens me to hear that there are still so many victims of domestic violence among us. Yet a bigger injustice would be to ignore this harsh reality. That is why domestic violence awareness month is imperative so that we may shed further light on an issue that continues to erode the social fabric of our great society.

Until we can sufficiently reduce or eliminate domestic violence, it is pivotal that we continue to openly denounce these crimes and seek out those who look to harm innocent people and spoil the lives of future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize four magnet schools in my district of Dallas, Texas which have been identified as Blue Ribbon schools. These four Dallas Independent School District, ISD, schools are the Environmental Science Academy, the School of Science and Engineering Magnet High School, the Rosie M. Collins Sorrells School of Education and the Social Services Magnet High School and Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School.

Being identified as a Blue Ribbon school means you are one of the best in the Country and I am proud four of these gems are located within my Congressional District. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that are either high performing or have improved student achievement to high levels, especially among disadvantaged students. The program is part of a larger Department of Education effort to identify and disseminate knowledge about best school leadership and teaching practices.

Mr. Speaker, the students in each of these four schools are our best and our brightest, and with encouragement and support from their principals and teachers, these students are achieving remarkable success. Because of the high quality education the students in the Dallas Independent School District and other schools like it are receiving, they can have the opportunity to live the American dream--to do anything they want to do, to go on to a great college or university of their choice, and to pursue any career path that sparks their interest.

Mr. Speaker, these schools help us out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build the rest of the world. We must identify ways to help improve schools like these that provide educational excellence to my community. We must not waver in our commitment to our children, their children, and the future of this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Ruth Simmons for her 11 years of extraordinary service as president of Brown University.

I am proud to say Dr. Simmons is a native of Texas. In 1995 she became president of Smith College, the largest women's college in the United States, where she launched a number of strategic initiatives to strengthen the college's academic programs and inaugurated the first engineering program at a U.S. women's college. Ruth J. Simmons was sworn in as the 18th president of Brown University on July 3, 2001. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career. In 2001, Time magazine named her America's best college president. In 2007, she was named one of U.S. News & World Report's top U.S. leaders and--for the second time.

As one of the Nation's premier scholars, Ruth Simmons has inspired and enlightened so many as an advocate for educational excellence. Throughout Ruth Simmons' tenure as the president of Brown University, she has shown an unwavering commitment to inspiring, educating, and ensuring that the future of young Americans is a bright one. It is educators such as Ruth Simmons that make an immense impact on our children; both teaching them the information to prosper and inspiring them to achieve. Brown University and our country have benefitted immensely from your service, and I hope you will continue to aspire to educate children who are in great need of strong leaders.

I wish to commend Dr. Ruth Simmons and thank her for her service to this great nation. As an academic leader, she has created positive pathways for the future of our students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because it has been nearly 11 months that this Republican-led House of Representatives has pursued a no-jobs agenda and simply complains about the protections that the American citizens receive.

The American Jobs Act will put teachers, firefighters, police officers, and construction workers back on the job; it will create job opportunities for returning American veterans; it will cut taxes and create financial growth incentives for American businesses as well as provide much-needed job training and hiring programs for Americans that are currently looking for work.

Many provisions of the American Jobs Act have been strongly supported by Republicans in the past, but now, suddenly, they are against these ideas because they are being proposed by a Democratic President. This is the opposite of negotiation and compromise, and the American people do not have the patience for these antics instead of action.

I urge both parties of this House to work together and pass the American Jobs Act for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Dr. James Edward Bowman who passed away on September 28, 2011 at the age of 88. An American physician and specialist in pathology, genetics, and hematology, Dr. Bowman made invaluable contributions to the world of medical research.

Dr. Bowman was born on February 5, 1923, in Washington, DC After earning both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Howard University, he completed his residency in pathology at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago. Dr. Bowman served in the U.S. Army, serving as chief of pathology for the Medical Nutrition Laboratory at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver.

Dr. Bowman has many ``firsts'' to his credit; he was the first African-American resident to train at Chicago's St. Luke's hospital, as well as the first tenured African-American professor in the University of Chicago's Biological Sciences Division. He was also one of the first to study the relationship between genetics and minority health which led to significant findings regarding sickle cell disease and other inherited diseases.

Later in his career, Dr. Bowman focused on the legal and ethical issues surrounding human genetics and mandatory screening tests. In 1972, he garnered national attention when he declared that the passage of mandatory sickle cell screening laws was ``more harmful than beneficial.''

Serving as a mentor and role model to many, Dr. Bowman was highly respected and beloved among his colleagues and students alike. At the time of his passing, Dr. Bowman served as professor emeritus in the departments of pathology and medicine at the University of Chicago. Dr. Bowman is survived by his wife Barbara Bowman and his daughter, Valerie Bowman Jarrett, a senior advisor to President Barack Obama.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Dr. James Edward Bowman. I greatly appreciate the dedication and innovative contributions he made to medical research. He will truly be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the South Korea, Panama, and Colombia Free Trade Agreements. It is estimated that, combined, these free trade agreements will create over 250, 000 jobs and will increase U.S. exports by $13 billion dollars. Given the extraordinary economic challenges we face today, we must seize every opportunity which promises to stimulate our weakened economy and put Americans back to work.

In the Texas' 30th district, merchandise exports support 64, 000 jobs and directly benefit 48 companies. In 2010, my congressional district exported $876 million worth of goods to South Korea, which directly supported nearly 2,250 jobs. The South Korea Free Trade Agreement will increase market access for the district's goods and services exports and reduce costs for imported raw materials.

The State of Texas depends on world markets; last year alone, Texas' shipments of merchandise totaled $207 billion. Recently implemented trade agreements, such as the U.S.-Singapore agreement, which increased Texas exports to Singapore by 159 percent, prove that trade works for Texas.

Despite the benefits we stand to reap as a result of passage of these agreements, we must not ignore the associated labor and human rights issues. The Obama Administration, along with Ambassador Kirk, have worked tirelessly to address these valid concerns. Specifically, Colombia has agreed to a Labor Action Plan which requires Colombia to fulfill a series of measures in defined time frames to advance the rights of its workers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass the South Korea, Panama, and Colombia Free Trade Agreements to ensure that America continues to remain at a competitive advantage when it comes to international trade. Our nation's economic growth depends on it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an instrumental figure in the Civil Rights Movement, Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth. Reverend Shuttlesworth passed away at the age of 89.

Born in Montgomery County, Alabama, Reverend Shuttlesworth was no stranger to frequent discrimination and violence as he lived out his life. Having endured countless beatings, bombings, and arrests, Reverend Shuttlesworth would become a leading force in the historic fight for equal rights.

Reverend Shuttlesworth was one of the primary pillars of the iconic ``Big Three,'' founded conjointly with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, and others. While Reverend Shuttlesworth may not have been as much of a household name as Dr. King, for example, his contributions to the Movement were irrefutably just as pivotal to its success.

Reverend Shuttlesworth was a major actor in the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC, a civil rights organization that helped to mobilize thousands of people during rallies and protests in the name of equality. He also helped to organize the Freedom Rides through his work with the Congress on Racial Equality, CORE. Also known for his outspoken and aggressive advocacy, Reverend Shuttlesworth worked closely with Dr. King to maintain momentum behind the Movement whenever Dr. King's conciliatory approach may have failed. Today, his contributions remain clear and his personal sacrifices revered.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened by this tremendous loss. Reverend Shuttlesworth was a well-respected and principled individual who was fearless even in the face of insurmountable odds. Reverend Shuttlesworth selflessly endured great personal sacrifice so that he could perpetuate a movement that went well beyond his own life. For that I rise to honor his lasting contributions to this nation.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, October 3, I requested and received a leave of absence for October 3 and 4 to attend official business in my congressional district. The President of the United States came to my district on Tuesday, October 4, 2011.

For the information of our colleagues and my constituents, below is how I would have voted on the following votes I missed during this time period.

On rollcall No. 742, to require the conveyance of certain public land within the boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah, to support the training and readiness of the Utah National Guard, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 743, to amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that is subject to ski area permits, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 744, to convey certain submerged lands to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in order to give that territory the same benefits in its submerged lands as Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have in their submerged lands, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 745, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (Small Business Program Extension and Reform Act of 2011), I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 746, providing for consideration of H.R. 2681, to provide additional time for the EPA to issue standards for cement manufacturing facilities, and for consideration of H.R. 2250, to provide additional time for the EPA to issue standards for industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers, process heaters, and incinerators, I would have voted ``no.''