Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 607 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission which put the first humans on the moon.

On July 20, 1969, mankind took the greatest step in exploration the world had ever known when Neil Armstrong stepped off the ladder of the lunar spacecraft and onto the dusty, cold surface of the moon. So much more than a few steps, the first walk on the moon symbolized the hopes and dreams of our nation during the difficult period of the Cold War, and together, Americans watched as a new chapter began in the history of our nation and the world.

The first moon landing is especially relevant today as we continue to unlock the many scientific mysteries of our planet and our universe. When we look back on the achievements of yesterday, it is important to remember the significance of setting goals for the future and researching for the achievements of tomorrow. Truly, we have benefitted immensely from the technological advancements that were developed forty years ago, and it is my hope that we will build on this tradition of research and scientific knowledge.

Today, on the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, we remember this event and the sense of curiosity and awe the world felt when history was made and Neil Armstrong took that famous first ``small step for a man,'' and ``giant leap for mankind.''

I urge my colleagues to join me in commemorating the first moon landing, and to support initiatives such as the Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives so that the future may hold the promise seen that mid-July night, when a small step became the greatest mankind has ever known.

Let me thank our congresswoman from Ohio, Congresswoman Fudge, for organizing this Special Order on health care.

Over the years, the degree of accessibility and quality of health care in the United States has faltered. We are a Nation in crisis. Many Americans who are uninsured and unable to pay their hospital bills are deprived of the care and attention needed to ensure their well-being. Fundamental change is necessary to truly make progress toward a healthy America. We must rescue our health care from the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies.

My experiences as a State and Federal legislator and a nurse have provided a unique vantage point from which to discuss this issue.

During my 15 years as a professional nurse and that of a chief psychiatric nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, Texas, I witnessed the diminishing state of our health care firsthand. Our system of health care is especially weak when it comes to mental health, for example. Individuals with mental illness do not receive sufficient coverage from insurers. While some are uninsured and unemployed, others may make too much to qualify for Medicaid. The limited options that our health care system offers mental health patients results in their inability to obtain appropriate treatment.

Some years ago in the State of Texas, there was a lawsuit, and the ruling came down that said patients had a right to treatment. Many of the patients that were in State institutions were discharged because we did not have the staff to treat them. Guess what happened to them? They became homeless and many went to prison. They become victims of our flawed health care system, become unable to gain employment, and at times really have no other place to go but to the sidewalks and the streets and the doorways. People with mental illness are amongst those least served by local and national health care systems.

Individuals and families across the country are being affected by the faults in our care system. Thousands of families are crushed by the growing cost of health care. Today, Americans are spending more on health care than housing or food, and they sometimes must choose between paying their health premiums or their rent or even their prescription medications.

With our ailing economy, Americans should not be forced to make that choice, and now is the time for reform. We must not allow these millions of dollars that are going to lobbyists to distort this plan win this time. We can reform our health care system by improving and expanding our current systems of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, making them available and affordable to all Americans. I don't think we ought to have a total Federal or a government plan, but we ought to have a choice because the insurance companies have no one to compete with now and they can charge what they want and limit what patients can get. They are dictating to doctors what they should order. That needs to end.

We need to guarantee and provide quality and affordable health care to all. We need to ensure that care is patient-centered and accessible, setting higher benchmarks for quality and efficiency. We need to enforce rules that make sure our insurance companies put health care over profit. They've had their day.

Americans should be able to keep the health care that they have but also have the option of a public plan that does not leave anyone at the mercy of

fate in order to stay healthy and avoid bankruptcy. We can take the best of our current models and lessons learned and use them to reform our health system.

Forty-six million uninsured Americans--including 5.7 million in Texas--are in great need of health care coverage. Many of our uninsured in Texas are working people. We need to act now to reduce health care costs as well as health care disparities to ensure the well-being and the healthiness of all Americans.

This country we call the leading Nation and the richest country does less to make sure that the people here, the citizens, are healthy. We must change this now. We must not allow the millions of dollars going to lobbyists to distort this and defeat it this time.

Thank you.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I stand before you today to recognize a very special constituent and friend of mine. He is both a mentor and an outstanding lawyer with a brilliant legal mind, and I am privileged to recognize and acknowledge the achievements of Les Weisbrod. I have known him since 1971, and I can truly say that he is a dedicated, distinguished, and committed citizen.

The name Weisbrod has long been associated with excellence, and his life and work reflect his parents' highest standards of hard work, honesty, courtesy, and responsibility. On July 30, 2009, Mr. Weisbrod will finish his term as President of the American Association for Justice. As the largest trial bar in the world, this association aims to promote a fair and effective justice system and has benefitted enormously from Mr. Weisbrod's leadership and expertise. He has served as President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian of the American Association for Justice, in addition to leading many of this association's litigation groups through his quarter-century of membership.

Regarded as one of the most effective medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys in the country, Mr. Weisbrod has obtained more medical malpractice punitive damage jury verdicts for his clients than any other attorney in the United States. In 2003, he obtained a verdict which has been reported by the National Law Journal as one of the 100 most important verdicts of that year, and he

was named one of the best lawyers in Dallas for 2003-2005 in Dallas' ``D'' Magazine and a ``Texas Super Lawyer'' for 2003-2004 in Texas Monthly.

Our communities and our country rely on the contributions of individuals like Mr. Weisbrod who rise above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of others, both personally and professionally. He has demonstrated an unfaltering and tireless commitment to the betterment of Dallas County, the State of Texas, and the entire Nation. I am fortunate to know and to have worked with Mr. Weisbrod for the past 38 years, and I am so pleased to call him a dear friend.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to give a final salute to Les Weisbrod who has fought to ensure justice and fairness in our legal system. I wish him continued health, happiness, and peace throughout his professional and personal journey. His outstanding service on behalf of others truly makes a remarkable difference and serves as an outstanding example to us all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Leonard Briscoe who passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at the age of 69.

Mr. Briscoe was a trailblazer in the African American community in North Texas. In 1971, he was elected to the Fort Worth City Council, making him the second African American to serve in this position. A few short years later, in 1976, he was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives where he served during the 65th Legislature and chaired the Select Committee on Minority Business Enterprise.

As a businessman, advocate, and engaged citizen, Mr. Briscoe was acutely aware of the needs of the minority communities in North Texas. In a period of political turmoil, he encouraged other African Americans to become involved in the political process and was a leading advocate for affirmative action. He understood the dire consequences of inadequate housing for low-income families, and served as Chairman of the Fort Worth Community Development Council. Through this chairmanship, he helped to develop the city's first housing program funded by the Housing of Urban Development Department under the Community Development Act of 1974.

After leaving the Texas State House of Representatives, Mr. Briscoe continued his work to ensure that low-income people and minorities had access to respectable and affordable housing. His business built over twenty housing developments in the Southern part of the country with the help of over $13 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Because of this, the Department named him ``Entrepreneur of the Year'' in 1984.

I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in remembering the life and work of Leonard Briscoe, a community organizer, activist, and entrepreneur, who helped so many people across North Texas and the country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember the events that took place 14 years ago in Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina

July 11, 2009 marks the 14th anniversary of the Srebrenica Massacre in the eastern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The acts of violence that took place resulted in the deaths of several thousand Bosniaks and the displacement of even more Bosniak families from their homes. It is particularly startling to know that roughly five hundred of the victims were under the age of 18 years old, and several dozen were women and children. This tragic event is regarded as one of the worst cases of ethnic cleansing in the past fifty years, and today, I continue to offer my deepest condolences to the victims of these crimes and to those victims' families.

I remain hopeful, however, that Bosniaks and the various ethnic communities within Bosnia and Herzegovina are on a path to recovery and reconciliation. Over the past fourteen years, Bosniaks have dedicated themselves to rehabilitation, slowly readapting and assimilating into their new lives. Great strides have been made to ensure that a lasting peace endures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I believe that through continued work and determination, this will be achieved.

I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today to remember the victims of this terrible massacre and to resolve anew to work towards a stable and permanent peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for their work.

I rise today in support of a provision in the manager's amendment to increase the amount of funds available for human rights and democratic initiatives of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Specifically, the Democracy Fund in this appropriations bill will be, in large, helping countless people across the globe.

I'd like to thank my colleagues, the Honorable Nita Lowey and the Honorable Kay Granger for accepting my amendment; and I commend them for their hard work on this bill. This really is an important bill. At this moment in history, I cannot help but be reminded of particular problems we are facing internationally. Although we have developed and maintained a high standard of living in our own country, we must remember that so many people across the globe cannot think about democracy because, frankly, they're so busy trying to survive, and they don't share the same luxuries and comforts that we take for granted in the United States. Basic human rights are a pillar of our democracy, and we seek to live in a stable and peaceful world. I work with women from around the world, trying to help build a culture of peace in this world. So this really is a very important part of it for me. The Democracy Fund does just this. It gives countless people a way to identify with a country of democracy.

I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting the manager's amendment, which seeks to expand and encourage democratic and human rights initiatives globally.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 135, recognizing the contributions of enslaved African Americans in building the United States Capitol.

This resolution will commission the Architect of the Capitol to create and place a historical marker in the Capitol Visitor Center made from the original government owned sandstone rocks that were quarried by slave labor, and removed from the Capitol building during a previous renovation.

Slavery played an important role in the foundation of this country, and slave labor was used extensively in the creation of many of the buildings that are home to our government. While we cannot rectify the sins of the past, nor thank slave laborers for their sacrifice, the contributions of these men and women should not go unnoticed.

It is important this plaque be prominently displayed for the thousands of visitors that come into the CVC. In order for these visitors to know the complete history of our Nation's Capitol, they must be aware of the contributions of these laborers.

I would like to thank Representative John Lewis for introducing this resolution and acknowledging this frequently overlooked part of our Capitol's story. The contributions made by these workers are a part of our history and our legacy, and this recognition will help future generations better understand the sacrifices of those who came before them.

Madam Speaker, in 1913, a group of nurses established Children's Medical Center of Dallas as an open air clinic. Today, Children's Medical Center has been chosen among the top 10 children's hospitals in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. Children's provides exemplary care and resources to its thousands of patients, as well as a wide range of teaching opportunities to the future physicians and nurses of our country. As a former nurse, I am proud to have such an accomplished medical institution in my district and would like to extend warm congratulations to them for receiving such recognition.

Children's Medical Center of Dallas is a private, non-profit pediatric health care center. As one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the country, Children's treats approximately 360,000 patients a year, with treatments ranging from simple physical exams to specialized care in heart disease, oncology, orthopedics, kidney disorders, neurology, respiratory disorders, neonatal care, urology, diabetes, and digestive disorders. Furthermore, Children's is a major pediatric transplant center, and also is the only academic health care facility and only designated Level 1 trauma center in Texas. Children's Medical Center of Dallas is continuously conducting research and developing new and improved treatments and therapies regarding pediatric diseases.

It is my hope that Children's Medical Center of Dallas will continue its strong record of success and provide patients with excellent care. It shines as an example of excellence, and I truly appreciate the dedication put forth by the administrators, doctors, nurses, and everyone else there. Again, I offer my congratulations to Children's Medical Center of Dallas on its achievement of being named one of America's top 10 children's hospitals.

Let me thank the leadership of the committee for this fine bill.

My amendment requires the Department of Defense to report on the need for and availability of mental health care services for servicemembers and their families that are stationed overseas. Many face depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome and are suicidal risks while trying to recover and readjust their lives. We've had more of this because we've had so many military members have to go back to the same war more than one time, and only a small percentage of them have been able to get any support.

I thank our chairman for accepting this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in favor of my amendment to H.R. 2647, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.'' Thanks to the chairman of the committee Ike Skelton and ranking member McKeon.

My amendment requires the Department of Defense to report on the need for and availability of mental health care services for service members and their families stationed outside of the United States.

Upon leaving the battlefield, soldiers' physical wounds are only half of their problems.

Mr. Chair, before being elected to public service, I was employed as the Chief Psychiatric Nurse at the VA Hospital in Dallas, Texas.

I have 15 years of hands-on experience with patient care, specialized in mental health.

My experience has taught me that mental health patients need to be treated with mercy, communication, information, and understanding.

My amendment today simply requests that the Defense Department report back to Congress on whether our health care workers abroad are adequately trained in detecting and treating mental illness and if we have the adequate resources and centers to treat these patients.

While fighting two wars, we have more veterans than ever before returning home.

Many face depression, PTSD, and suicidal risk while trying to recover and readjust to their lives at home.

So far, only a small percentage of servicemembers who may have been inflicted with PTSD or depression have been given the proper and necessary care.

Patients do not receive immediate evaluations or treatment.

They have to wait far too long to be given a sufficient amount of care.

It is, therefore, vital for the Department of Defense to assess the availability and quality of care of mental health centers abroad.

By gaining a proper understanding of the situation, we will be able to make the changes needed to aid our servicemembers through their recovery process.

This is why we must work towards fully understanding mental illnesses and continue to improve upon the care and treatment of mental health patients.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Rev. Dr. C. B. T. Smith who passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2009. Rev. Smith served the congregation of Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for over 45 years and was regarded nationally as a leading theologian and skilled minister.

Rev. Smith was born as one of 14 children to a sharecropper and a maid, and at the age of 20, he felt a profound call of service to God. In 1952, he became a pastor at Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church and began what would become a career spanning almost five decades. Rev. Smith married Rosie Lee Hartfield, on January 2, 1943, and they remained together for over fifty years until her passing on April 15, 2008. He is survived by several god children and three sisters-in-law.

As a pastor, Rev. Smith was a powerhouse in the Dallas area. One of the central points of his ministry was to ensure that the church adapted to the changing social needs of the community. When Rev. Smith saw that many African American men were suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, he developed a program to focus on counseling and rehabilitation. Through his career, Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church saw the creation of many ministries and fellowship programs including a Children's Ministry, a Marriage and Counseling Program, and a Senior's Fellowship Program, among others.

Today, Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church is one of the most vibrant congregations in Dallas with thanks in large part to the lifelong work of Rev. Dr. C. B. T. Smith. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in remembering and honoring the work and life of this great man who made a difference in the lives of so many individuals. He will be deeply missed.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, the amendment is to the section of the bill pertaining to the National Science Foundation. Education activities at the National Science Foundation are appropriated at more than $862 million. My amendment simply states that of the amounts appropriated for National Science Foundation education activities, $32 million shall be used for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities undergraduate program. The Congressional Budget Office has advised that the amendment will not affect the overall spending in this bill. The funding amount is equal to a modest 1.6 percent increase from last year's funding. It has been recommended by the administration and by the National Science Foundation.

I, along with my colleagues on the Congressional Black Caucus Education Task Force, believe that educational opportunities are a key for our national prosperity. ``Give a man a fish, you feed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.''

Support for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities undergraduate program is an investment in our human capital. This competitive grant program awards funds for curriculum enhancement, faculty development, undergraduate research, and institutional collaborations. Funds are used to encourage undergraduate students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math--also called STEM fields.

Grants may also be used for initiatives to provide educational opportunities to develop well-educated math and science teachers. The funding level specified in my amendment will provide for an estimated two to four new teacher development projects. Highly qualified teachers have a firm grasp on the subject matter. They are able to capture their students' imaginations and get them excited about science. They demonstrate to the student that creative inquiry and rigorous investigation are the true heart of science. They stimulate, invigorate and inform their students of the value and accessibility of a career in

I yield.

Offered By: Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas

Amendment No. 45: In the item relating to ``Federal Prison

System--Salaries and Expenses'', after the dollar amount,

insert ``(reduced by $10,000,000)''.

In the item relating to ``Office of Justice Programs--Weed

and Seed Program Fund'', after the dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $10,000,000)''.

Offered By: Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas

Amendment No. 35: Page 75, line 7, insert ``: Provided

further, That not less than $32,000,000 shall be available

until expended for the Historically Black Colleges and

Universities Undergraduate Program'' before the period.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of restaurateur Norman Brinker.

Brinker, the chairman emeritus and former chief executive of Brinker International, died June 9th at the age of 78.

Brinker, the founder of Steak and Ale restaurant in 1966, built Brinker International into a restaurant giant. He is most well known for turning Chili's Grill and Bar restaurant from a string of local restaurants into a national chain owned by Brinker International. Brinker's illustrious restaurant career began in my Dallas area district in 1965, opening Brink's Coffee Shop, and I am deeply saddened by the loss of someone so influential to the history of the city.

In his time in the restaurant industry, Mr. Brinker has changed American casual dining, while touching the lives of many in the restaurant industry. At one time or another, essentially every major restaurant chain in the country had as its leader a former employee of Brinker.

Aside from his commitment to the restaurant industry, Mr. Brinker also served as a board member and important counsel for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

Mr. Brinker's legacy stands as a testament to interaction with the local community, and a foresight for changes in the restaurant community that would remain for years to come. I ask my fellow members of Congress to join me in honoring Norman Brinker and his impact both in the Dallas area and nationwide.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairwoman, let me first thank the Chair and ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs for their hard work on this entire document and for the privilege of offering this amendment.

I rise to claim the time in support of my amendment that would provide assistance for Afghan women legislators. The amendment would create a program in the State Department to support exchanges between Afghanistan and the United States for women legislators, expand Afghan women's participation in international exchange programs of the Department of State, and promote the advancement of women in the field of politics with the aim of encouraging more women to participate in the civil society. This program would give female lawmakers of the National Assembly of Afghanistan new opportunities to improve their political and administrative skills and to identify and mentor other future qualified women interested in leadership in the public service.

A new generation of leaders is helping to pave the way to consolidate and secure a stable democracy in Afghanistan. Afghan women legislators are helping to forge this path and already have contributed significantly to the country's democratic solutions. However, as a group, these women legislators face a unique challenge in navigating their path in the political system because of their agenda.

Additionally, many obstacles stand in the way of the advancement of the status of females, including violence against women and restriction on women's personal freedom of movement. Given the current challenges with the status of women and rising insecurity, the Afghan women legislators can greatly benefit from increased professional and leadership development. The U.S. and the international community must ensure that Afghan women can safely and effectively exercise their rights as citizens.

This amendment would also open additional possibilities to take part in an international visitors program and training through the State Department, which already maintains a similar program to encourage women in leadership in other countries. This would be paid out through the customary means for professional exchanges by the State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Taking part in such programs would not only train current legislators, but encourage more women to participate in Afghan civil society. Exchange programs such as these can help raise the awareness of democratic values. These goals are consistent with the national security objectives for Afghanistan and represent an effective use of our public diplomacy resources.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the benefits of international, cultural, and education exchange and to vote ``yes'' on this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairwoman, let me begin by thanking Chairman Berman and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for all of their hard work and dedication to improving people's lives around the world.

My amendment affirms that the use of child soldiers is unacceptable. It is a violation of human rights, and the prevention and elimination of child soldiers should be a foreign policy goal of the United States. Around the world, children are being recruited by armed forces and exploited as soldiers. Amnesty International estimates 250,000 children under the age of 18 are thought to be currently fighting in conflicts around the world, and hundreds of thousands are members of armed forces who could be sent into conflict at any time. The use of children as soldiers has been universally condemned as horrible and unacceptable; yet over the last 10 years, hundreds of thousands of children have fought and died in conflicts around the world. Child soldiers are usually forced to live under cruel conditions with inadequate food and little to no access to health care. They're almost always treated cruelly, subjected to beatings and shameful treatment. Girl soldiers are particularly at risk of rape, sexual harassment and abuse while in combat. They're often forced into marriage arrangements and are at high risk for unwanted pregnancies.

As a psychiatric nurse, I have seen firsthand the effects of war. The mental, social, and emotional abuses endured as a child soldier will last the rest of their lives, and they'll never know how to solve a problem without fighting. I am eager to work with the State Department to ensure that children around the world are off the frontlines of conflicts and in schools and on playgrounds. Children must have a chance to be children in order to be healthy, happy and productive adults. We must take a stand. Please join me in expressing to the global community that the use of child soldiers is unacceptable. I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have no further requests for time.

I yield to the gentleman from California.

Thank you very much.

I yield back the balance of my time.