Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, all of the American people need health care now. Reform must come, and it's coming to the floor very soon.

For those who are pleased with their health care insurance, they can keep it. Their costs might even go down with reform. What we want to do is rescue the insurance from under antitrust-ignoring insurance companies. We all pay insurance, and we like insurance, but no one wants to be abused by any system, and we have seen that happen.

The hospitals are attempting to perform all of this uncompensated care. With this reform, it will be different. I suppose that correcting preexisting conditions and getting sick will cause some to lose health care support. We must make this change.

You know, I keep hearing what the Republicans are saying, but Mr. Speaker, but that's not what the plan says.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 817 to support the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to raise awareness of domestic violence in the United States.

When we discuss domestic violence, we are often surprised to discover that domestic violence happens to people of every socioeconomic background in the United States. Everyday, countless individuals become victims of acts perpetuated by intimate partners that seek to establish, maintain, or regain power and control in a relationship. These acts can be as basic as mental and verbal abuse and range to the more obvious physical and sexual abuse. Many times, the victims of these acts are the least likely people one would suspect to suffer from abusive situations, and for this reason domestic violence awareness month is so important.

It is also crucial to note that women are the most frequent victims of domestic violence, and it is estimated that one in every four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their life. Additionally, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States every day, and in 2005 alone, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. These staggering numbers remind us that we must do all we can to end domestic violence, and particularly domestic violence against women.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 817 so that we can raise awareness about domestic violence and help to end it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009.

This important program has helped numerous people across the country living with HIV/AIDS by helping to provide funding to states, urban areas, insurance providers, and other organizations for HIV/AIDS related care. It is estimated that the Ryan White Program helps more than half of a million people annually, and legislation to extend this program is incredibly important for those individuals' wellbeing. Reauthorized three times since it was first enacted in 1990 in response to the growing HIV/AIDS crisis, this legislation will help to modernize the program to address present day concerns.

I would be remiss as well if I did not discuss the disproportionate impact that HIV/AIDS has on minority communities and particularly the African-American community. Although African-Americans account for about 13 percent of the U.S. population, they constitute roughly half of all Americans who become infected with HIV/AIDS. According to the Center for Disease Control, the rate of AIDS diagnoses for African- American adults and adolescents is ten times higher than the rate for whites and three times higher than the rate for Latinos. Truly these numbers are way too high, and we must resolve anew to continue to fight this terrible disease.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act so that we can offer care to those individuals who are suffering with HIV/AIDS and combat the disease as well.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the School of Health Professions at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in Dallas, Texas for receiving the Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education.

This prestigious award is given to public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that show outstanding gains in student achievement as well as superior academic programs. Additionally, it recognizes the achievements of institutions that have a large portion of students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many times, these schools serve as models for other institutions across the country and offer insight into the ways we can improve education in some of our most troubled neighborhoods.

In Dallas, there were a total of four institutions that were selected for this award. In addition to the School of Health Professions, George B. Dealey Montessori Academy, George Peabody Elementary School, and Victor H. Hexter Elementary School were also selected as Blue Ribbon Award recipients.

Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of the School of Health Professions at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center in addition to all the schools across the country that were awarded with this prestigious honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an extraordinary public servant, Pete Geren, who recently stepped down as Secretary of the Army. I am incredibly privileged to call Mr. Geren a close friend, and I am so happy to celebrate this man's distinguished career and service.

Mr. Geren hails from Fort Worth, Texas, and after receiving a Bachelor's Degree and a Law Degree from the University of Texas, he worked as an aide to Senator Lloyd Bentsen. In 1989, he was elected to represent the 12th District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives and would serve in that capacity for four terms. In 2001, Mr. Geren took a position with the Department of Defense as Special Assistant to the Defense Secretary, and later served brief periods as acting Air Force Secretary and Undersecretary of the Army before being appointed to Secretary of the Army in 2007.

Throughout his career, Mr. Geren has worked diligently to represent the best interests of the people he serves, including the citizens of the 12th District of Texas and the soldiers in our armed forces. When he took over

the position as Secretary of the Army, he was faced with numerous challenges that had left the reputation of that organization in low esteem. However, through hard work and determination, he has helped to repair the Army's standing and has placed it on a positive track for the future.

Madam Speaker, Pete Geren is a dutiful public servant, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing and honoring his achievements in Congress and at the Department of Defense.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Judge William Wayne Justice who passed away on October 13, 2009 at the age of 89.

Judge Justice was one of the most remarkable judges in Texas history. Born in Athens, Texas on February 25, 1920, Justice's father actively encouraged him to pursue a career in law from a young age. The younger Justice went on to receive both an undergraduate and a law degree from the University of Texas before spending roughly four years in the army during World War II. Upon his return to the United States, he took up work at his father's law practice in Athens, and in 1961, he was selected by President Kennedy to be U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. In 1968, Justice was appointed by President Johnson to be a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.

Judge Justice served in that capacity for more than 40 years and gave countless rulings that dramatically affected the way the State of Texas educated children, treated prisoners, and housed its poorest citizens. With an unwavering regard for the human condition, Justice ordered the integration of public housing, forbade inhumane treatment in prisons and the juvenile justice system, and upheld rulings that caused Texas to desegregate its schools. At a time when many of these decisions were unpopular, Justice made the hard choices and helped carry Texas into the modern era because of them.

Madam Speaker, I am incredibly grateful for the decisions and sacrifices Judge Justice made for the people of Texas and the entire country. I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring and remembering this courageous sentinel who helped so many of our nation's most distressed citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 793 to support the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.

This year, National Chemistry Week takes place on October 18-24 and is a community-based annual event that unites local sections of the American Chemical Society, schools, businesses, and individuals to communicate the importance of chemistry in our daily life. This year marks the 22nd Anniversary of National Chemistry Week, and events and demonstrations will take place across the country to engage students of all ages. This year's theme, ``Chemistry--It's Elemental,'' emphasizes the important role of elements in everyday life and celebrates the 140th anniversary of Dmitri Mendeleev's creation of the Periodic Table of Elements.

I have been a strong supporter of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and have long encouraged students and teachers to hold STEM education in higher regard. It is well documented that science and math skills are becoming increasingly important to the U.S. workforce, and with the creation of a new, competitive, and complex global economy, we must ensure that we are educating the next generation of STEM professionals. Innovation is a product of a sound knowledge in math, science, and engineering, and without this understanding, our ability to be innovative will decrease along with our ability to be competitive.

For this reason, I believe it is incredibly important to recognize the goals of National Chemistry Week to increase our understanding, and our students' understanding, of the chemical sciences. I applaud the American Chemistry Society's efforts in this regard and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 793 for our students and the future of our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 810 to express condolences to the people of

Indonesia for the tragic earthquake that struck the island of Sumatra on September 30, 2009.

This earthquake took the lives of more than 700 individuals, and many more are injured or remain missing. In addition to the loss of life, the infrastructure of this island was devastated, and this tragedy resulted in the destruction of roughly 80,000 houses, 200 public buildings, 285 schools and 20 miles of road. The Indonesian government has worked rapidly to get relief teams to Sumatra to find survivors, distribute food, and provide medical assistance, as well as assess damages and make preparations to rush in supplies.

Mr. Speaker, my most heartfelt condolences go out to the people of Indonesia and Sumatra for their suffering, and I join them in grieving. I urge my fellow colleagues to support H. Res. 810 for the people of Indonesia and to remember the victims of this terrible earthquake.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 816 to mourn the loss of life and express my condolences for the disaster that took place in Somoa and American Samoa on September 29, 2009.

On that dreadful day, over 150 people lost their lives when a tsunami rose twenty feet into the air and made landfall on the shores of Samoa and American Samoa in the southern region of the Pacific Ocean. The destruction that this tsunami caused was overwhelming, and in addition to the loss of life, countless more individuals have lost their homes and possessions. I extend my deepest condolences to the victims and their families, and offer my deepest sympathies for their loss.

I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 816 to remember those that died in Samoa and American Samoa on September 29, 2009.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Latino AIDS Awareness Day of 2009 which takes place today on Thursday, October 15, 2009. I want to commend the various individuals and groups that have worked hard to make this day a reality including the Hispanic Federation, the Latino Commission on AIDS, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, and various other local, regional, and national partners.

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is an incredibly important day that helps bring attention to the problems the Latino community faces in regards to the HIV/AIDS crisis. While the HIV/AIDS problem is an issue that affects every racial and ethnic group in the United States, it unfortunately has a disproportionate impact on the Latino community. In 2006, there were roughly 80,000 Latinos living with AIDS, representing 18 percent of all those living with the disease, and although Latinos compromise 15.3 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 24.3 percent of new HIV infections. Additionally, stigma within the community, lack of access to health care, and misinformation about the virus make it difficult to combat. Truly, this must be changed, and embracing the goals and ideas of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is a step towards making that happen.

I am reminded, too, that the Latino community is not alone in this struggle. Other ethnic groups and particularly the African-American community are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. We must all stand together, learn from each other, and work toward ending this virus that hurts so many people in our country and across the world.

Madam Speaker, I urge my fellow colleagues to join me today in recognizing National Latino AIDS Awareness Day for the betterment of our country and the health of the numerous ethnic groups that add so much to our national character.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 659 to congratulate Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on 98 years of serving local communities and enhancing the lives of collegiate men throughout the United States.

Throughout this organization's history, the gentlemen of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. have proven to be exemplary public servants and strong leaders in their communities. They seek to train their members for leadership roles and encourage a high academic standard. In close to a century of existence, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has initiated over 120,000 members and encouraged their members to participate in programs such as their Undergraduate Leadership Workshop, their Habitat for Humanity Program, their St. Jude Research Hospital Partnership, ``Kappas on Kapitol Hill'', and their CARE/GLAD Financial Literacy Programs. Additionally the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. counts within its ranks numerous professional athletes, entertainers, and countless civic and business leaders, and I have the distinct pleasure of serving in the House of Representatives with Sanford D. Bishop, John Conyers, Jr., Alcee L. Hastings, William Lacy Clay, and Bennie Thompson who are all members of this noble organization.

As a member of a Greek organization myself, I value and appreciate the deep meaning that this brotherhood holds for so many individuals. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting H. Res 659 to honor Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Congressional Tribute commending the dedication of the statue of Helen Keller.

The life of Helen Keller is one that we continue to praise because of her tenacious spirit. Having her sight and hearing stolen by illness as an infant in rural Alabama did not stop her from accomplishing incredible feats. Ms. Keller is not only a champion for the blind and deaf in the United States, but also worldwide. Her miraculous breakthrough came at a simple well-pump, learning the spelling of the word ``water'' as it ran over her hand. From this moment, she went on to graduate from Radcliffe College, author several books and be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

As a Representative, as a woman, and as a nurse, I can appreciate the societal and medical challenges Ms. Keller overcame to become the triumphant figure that she is. Young women have a great role model in Helen Keller. She has also inspired medical professionals and humanitarians across the globe to fight preventable blindness and malnutrition.

It is with great respect for this American hero that I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Congressional Tribute commending the dedication of the statue of Helen Keller.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for the repeal of the Department of Defense's policy of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' that bans openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

Under this law, our military loses on average one person a day, and since ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' became law in 1994, almost 13,000 servicemembers have been discharged. It is startling to think that we are allowing some incredibly qualified and thoroughly trained individuals to fall out of the armed services simply for being themselves. Honesty and integrity are two of our highest ideals, and the notion that our servicemembers sacrifice their personal integrity and capacity to be honest simply to serve our country seems unhealthy and hypocritical. At this time, the contributions of every service man and woman should be highly valued, and it is important that Americans embrace these openly gay individuals as equal and essential to our nation's armed services.

Furthermore, I believe that we must work towards ending discrimination against every racial, religious, and sexual minority. It is imperative that we create more opportunities for all Americans, rather than intensify existing divisions. ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' is discrimination at its very worst, and we must end this policy that violates the fundamental American values of fairness and equality.

Truly, this law does harm to so many individuals, and it is time to see its end. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting the repeal of the antiquated policy ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' so that our military can reach its highest potential.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the achievements and celebrate the anniversary of Dallas' Political Congress of African-American Women. This organization has been an integral part of the Dallas community for 25 years, and I am proud of the work its members have done in the group's quarter-century of existence. In addition to keeping the community informed about candidates running for elected office, the Congress registers voters and hosts forums for candidates so that they are accessible to citizens.

The Political Congress of African-American Women and organizations like it are incredibly important for the well-being of our communities. These groups offer opportunities for civic and political leadership to people who traditionally would not have been able to serve in such capacities. By engaging their communities, these organizations reflect our democratic values and encourage everyone to be engaged in the political process.

I commend Dallas' Political Congress of African-American Women for their civic leadership and encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing this organization's 25th anniversary. Truly, the Dallas community has benefited greatly from the Congress' efforts, and I commend all of its members on their hard work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 186 to recognize the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.

As we all know, sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that affects tens of thousands of individuals here in the United States and countless others across the globe. Within our country, it is particularly prevalent in the African-American community, and I believe we must continue to fight and research this disease in order to create a happier and healthier life for those who suffer from it, both at home and abroad.

In my district in Dallas, we are doing extraordinary things to combat sickle cell disease. At the UT Southwestern Medical Center, we have one of the leading research groups that studies this disease, and in recent years they have accomplished numerous breakthroughs in sickle cell research. Under the leadership of Dr. George Buchanon, the Sickle Cell Center has recently published an important paper which clarifies how to predict the severity of sickle cell disease in young people much more accurately than previously accepted predictors. Additionally, the center has developed a clinic that caters specifically to adult patients who are now living with the disease well into adulthood. These advances in sickle cell research are crucial blocks in the foundation of our understanding of this painful and destructive disease.

I applaud the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month, and I encourage my colleagues to join me and support this resolution to educate people about the need for early detection methods, effective treatments, and research funding for sickle cell disease.