Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, as Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I support the amendment offered by Ms. Eshoo because it will strengthen government accountability and enhance critical oversight of the intelligence community. The amendment provides necessary clarification regarding the authority of the General Accountability Office, GAO, to receive information from the intelligence community. Congress relies on the GAO as a force multiplier in carrying out the investigative and oversight functions vested in the Legislative Branch. The GAO helps inform the Congress and all Executive agencies about areas and programs within the federal government that are performing well, and those that need to be improved or are vulnerable to waste, fraud, and abuse.

This amendment will allow GAO to carry out these vital functions without unwarranted interference from intelligence community agencies. As Acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro previously noted, this authority does not represent an overhaul of existing oversight mechanisms for the intelligence community. Instead, ``The proposed legislative provisions in essence reaffirm GAO's existing authority in order to address the lack of cooperation GAO has received from certain elements of the IC [intelligence community] in carrying out work at the specific request of the intelligence committees, and other committees of jurisdiction as defined by the rules of the Senate and House.'' The intelligence community will function more effectively, and better protect the security of this country if this amendment is adopted.

Despite my strong support for the amendment and its important goals, I should note my concern with the way in which the amendment is drafted. This provision should clearly identify the authority of any committee of Congress with jurisdiction over the identified subject to request evaluation or analysis of an intelligence community component, not only the congressional intelligence committees, except in the case of matters concerning intelligence sources and methods.

I thank Ms. Eshoo and the other sponsors of this important amendment for bringing it before the House, and I urge all Members to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my thoughts on a matter of deep concern to me, small business job creation.

We have seen a lot of progress this year. Our economy has created over 500,000 jobs in 2010 alone. Last month, 290,000 jobs were created, with 231,000 of them in the private sector, the largest number of new jobs created in the last 4 years. While these are great statistics, we still have a long, long way to go. It will take time to recover the 8 million jobs lost over the course of this recession.

One positive thing that Congress could do to support jobs is to do all that we can to support small businesses. With two out of every three new jobs created by small businesses, they are the driving force of our economy. Unfortunately, they have also been the hardest hit by the recession, having lost over 2.4 million jobs.

As President Obama indicated in his meeting with the small business leaders, this is the Nation where anyone with a good idea and the will to work hard can succeed, and I agree with President Obama.

New York City is no stranger to good ideas, hard work, or small businesses. The city is home to over 200,000 small businesses which create hundreds of thousands of jobs, provide valuable goods and services, and help drive our local economy.

While the government can't get small businesses through all of the tough times, it can remove barriers that prevent businesses from growing and being able to succeed. We must do all that we can to support the work of the countless entrepreneurs that sustain our economy.

I encourage my colleagues in the House and in the Senate to work together to enact policies that will support small business job creation. We must work to eliminate these barriers and to permit people to be able to expand their businesses and to be able to create jobs.

We need to make certain that folks have an opportunity to work. We have people that have gone to college and are coming out with degrees and still cannot find a job. I think the time has come when the Congress must come together and create jobs and job opportunities for these young people in particular that want to work but are being denied the opportunity because they lack a job.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pass on my condolences to the Knight family, Clarence Knight, whom I met in 1952, a very active member in the community, has worked hard with the tenant association, worked hard with the alumni association, a person who was always anxious and willing to help others.

Mr. Knight passed away yesterday; and, of course, he's going to be missed. So let me say to the family, Pat, Renee, and of course Scrappy and to all the family members that you have my deepest sympathy and, of course, if there's anything that we can do, we will be delighted to be there for you.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5051) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 23 Genesee Street in Hornell, New York, as the ``Zachary Smith Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is with a heavy heart that I present H.R. 5051 for consideration. This measure designates the United States postal building located at 23 Genesee Street in Hornell, New York, as the ``Zachary Smith Post Office Building.''

On January 24, 2010, while on patrol in southern Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Zachary Smith, a marine with the 2nd Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He had been awarded a Purple Heart by President Obama for his selfless service.

Zachary Smith was born on April 2, 1990, to his parents, Christopher and Kim Smith, in Hornell, New York, where he lived along with his brother and sister, Nathaniel and Grace Smith. Zach attended Hornell High School and graduated in 2008. Fulfilling his lifelong dream, Zachary enlisted in the Marines while still in high school. After graduation, Zach left for basic training, but not before marrying his high school sweetheart, Anne Deebs. They were wed on July 25, 2009, and Zach completed boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, before going on to graduate from the Marine Corps School of Infantry.

Described as a gifted athlete by friends, Zach was on the Hornell High

School football and golf teams throughout his 4 years of high school. He was a member of Twin Hickory Golf Club and also Hornell Golf Club. He enjoyed watching sporting events and especially liked to root for the New York Giants, the New York Yankees, and the Syracuse Orangemen. He was also a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann's Church. Those who knew him say he was a genuine, humorous, and outgoing young man who enthusiastically embraced life. He always cared more for others than he did for himself and would go out of his way to help anyone who needed his help.

The world would be a better place if it had more young men like Zach. His service to his country is an example we all should follow, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his service and his sacrifice. Please join me in honoring Zach's memory by supporting this bill. The people of Hornell will be reminded of Zach's courage and valor every day as they pass by the post office building named in his honor.

H.R. 5051 was introduced by the gentleman from New York, Representative Joseph Crowley, on April 15, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of the entire New York State delegation. I thank the gentleman for introducing this bill, and I'm sure that it means a great deal to Lance Corporal Smith's family and his friends. I also thank the gentleman from California, Congressman Issa, and all the members of the committee, especially, that worked to make this a reality and, of course, Mr. Issa for his support in bringing this measure to the floor today as well.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this measure honoring a fallen soldier who gave his life for his country.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that note, I would say to my colleagues that I think this is a very honorable thing to do, and I think we all should applaud Mr. Smith and the Smith family for his outstanding service.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1294) expressing support for designation of the first Saturday in May as National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day to honor those who are serving and have served in the noble and self- sacrificing profession of Explosive Ordnance Disposal in the United States Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H. Res. 1294, a resolution supporting the designation of a National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day in honor of the selfless service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States armed services who risk their lives every day as explosive ordnance disposal experts. Explosive ordnance removal has always been a profession fraught with exceptional danger and emotional stress. My colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), knows this firsthand from his time as a bomb disposal technician in the United States Army.

Now, as the United States Military is engaged in two unconventional wars, our explosive ordnance disposal teams

are under pressure as never before. They must respond on a daily basis to roadside bombs and land mines that threaten our troops. It is their nerves of steel and high level of technical expertise that keep their comrades safe during ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. These brave men and women deserve a day of honor and remembrance for the difficult tasks we ask them to carry out in the service of their country. Wherever they may be--patrolling the ring road of Afghanistan or disarming an IED in the streets of Baghdad--they are in our thoughts and in our prayers.

This resolution was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, on April 22, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which reported the measure by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. This measure enjoys the support of 60 Members of the House. I thank the gentlewoman for introducing this bill, and I thank the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Mr. Issa, of course, and his staff, for their help in bringing this bill to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to honor the brave men and women working as explosive ordnance disposal technicians by supporting this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and of course, on that note, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 268) supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.

I now yield myself as much time as I might consume.

I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 268, recognizing National Women's Health

Week. This week marks the 11th annual Women's Health Week, a weeklong observation of women's health issues. It is a great opportunity for us to discuss and promote research on the benefits of healthy habits, including regular exercise, a nutritious diet, and regular checkups and screenings. I'm heartened that the Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health takes time every year to coordinate the efforts of national and community organizations to promote healthy choices and educate all Americans on female health issues. I thank them for all of their hard work.

As the resolution notes, it is imperative to educate women and girls about issues that may impact their health, as they may face unique health risks at any age. Further, the resolution notes that significant disparities exist in the prevalence of disease among women of different backgrounds, including women with disabilities, African American women, Asian Pacific Islander women, Latinas, and American Indian and Alaskan Native women. In order to empower all women to take the necessary measures to be as healthy as possible, we must work to promote health education, research, and healthy lifestyles.

On that note, I reserve the balance of my time.

H. Con. Res. 268 was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from New York, Representative Maurice Hinchey, on April 27, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which reported it favorably by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 50. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey) for introducing this measure, and I hope we can all stand behind it.

I also would like to thank the gentleman from California, Congressman Issa, and all the staff who worked to make this a reality. I encourage my colleagues to vote for this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the resolution (H. Res. 1328) honoring the life and legacy of William Earnest ``Ernie'' Harwell.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H. Res. 1328, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of William ``Ernie'' Harwell. Mr. Harwell, an iconic and beloved sportscaster for the Detroit Tigers, passed away on May 4, 2010, at the age of 92. During his 55-year career, he delivered the play-by-play for more than 8,500 Major League Baseball games, spending more than 40 of those years calling games for the Tigers. He became known as the ``voice of the Tigers'' due to his colorful style of commentary. A player called out on a third strike was, he would say, ``called out for excessive window shopping.'' A double play was ``two for the price of one.'' He finally retired from broadcasting in 2002 while he was still in good health, saying he discussed it with his wife and that ``it's better to leave too early than too late.''

Mr. Harwell's love of baseball was also expressed in writings and song. In 1955, he wrote, ``The Game for All America,'' an essay celebrating Americans' love affair with baseball. Mr. Harwell wrote dozens of songs, including one for Hank Aaron when he broke Babe Ruth's home run record in 1974.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter), on May 5, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which reported the resolution by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of 70 Members of the House.

I thank the gentleman from Michigan for introducing this measure, and I thank the staff along with the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), for working to bring this resolution to the floor today.

On that note, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring Mr. Harwell, a colorful character who will be deeply missed by the people not only of Michigan, people throughout this Nation. I had an opportunity many, many years ago to hear him and I will be honest with you, even though my team was losing that day, I must admit I enjoyed hearing his voice, even though my team was not on top.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1187) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to raising public awareness of and helping to prevent attacks against Federal employees while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, with H. Res. 1187, this Chamber expresses its commitment to the safety and security of our Nation's public servants. H. Res. 1187 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) on March 16, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 70 Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, the men and women of our Federal workforce deserve our appreciation and our support. Their efforts are often undervalued, but they provide our Nation with many forms of critical services. The Federal workforce includes firefighters, law enforcement officers, and military support personnel. Federal employees protect the public, help keep our food and water clean, defend our borders, and preserve our national parks. They deliver our mail, care for our veterans, and provide all manners of other services that keep our country going.

While we in Congress may debate the details about the proper role that the Federal Government should play in our country, we can all agree that Federal employees should be able to expect to be able to carry out their duties with a degree of safety and security.

The Department of Justice has filed over a thousand cases relating to attacks against Federal employees since 2006, including a suicide attack on the Internal Revenue Service office in Austin, Texas. On February 18 of this year, that attack claimed the life of a two-tour Vietnam veteran, Vernon Hunter. The shooting attack at the entrance of the Pentagon on March 4 injured two Pentagon guards and was the fourth attack or scare on a Federal building in 2010.

These attacks sadden us all, and I am glad we are taking the time to condemn attacks against our Federal employees and to affirm our commitment to their safety and their security.

I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) and also thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) and the staff for their work to bring this to where we are today. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I think it is so important that we protect and support our Federal employees. Let me again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3393) to amend the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note) in order to prevent the loss of billions in taxpayer dollars, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Office of Management and Budget recently reported the Federal Government made $98 billion in improper and overpayments last year. This is a staggering amount and completely unacceptable. No family or business in this great country would tolerate being charged twice or even overbilled for anything and neither should the government. We need to do everything we can to ensure that the government spends every tax dollar in the most responsible way possible. In fact, we have an obligation to the taxpayers to fight waste, fraud, and abuse and to ensure that if the government overpays for something, it has the means to recover those precious tax dollars.

The bill we are now considering, H.R. 3393, the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2009, will provide the government with the means to fulfill this obligation to the taxpayers.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the bill, Mr. Patrick Murphy, who is really responsible for our being here today. He has worked so hard on this legislation, and, of course, as I have said to many staffers along the way, this makes a whole lot of sense, and I want to thank him, and, of course, Mr. Platts and people that have worked on this and kept it going.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act, H.R. 3393, provides the Federal Government with the tools needed to prevent mistakes and overpayments in the first place and recover funds that are paid in error. That's the reason why I'd like to salute Congressman Issa of California, Congressman Bilbray, and of course Congressman Platts and Congressman Murphy for the outstanding job that they have done on this legislation.

The bill we are considering today takes the next step and makes Federal agencies more accountable for properly managing taxpayers' funds. The bill requires agencies to develop and report corrective action plans based on measured error rates and creates incentives for meeting their goals and penalties for failure to meet their goals. Importantly, the bill also gives the agencies the means to go after the funds that they have overpaid, which will make the taxpayers, agencies, programs, and activities which relied on those appropriations whole.

We are living in a time, Mr. Speaker, when our government is under extreme fiscal demands, and we need to do everything possible to ensure that every tax dollar goes to where it is needed. To ensure this takes place, we need to provide our Federal agencies with the tools to properly manage their spending. We also need to give the agencies the ability to follow through with their oversight and provide them with the ability to recover erroneous payments.

However, we cannot stop there. We must do everything that we can to ensure that Federal agencies who make improper payments fix the problem that allows the improper payments to take place. At the end of the day, this bill amends current law to require more accountability through reports, plans, definitions, clarification of responsibility, allocation of funds, and oversight.

Again, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Murphy, Bilbray, Issa, and others, for working together in a truly, truly bipartisan manner to get this piece of important legislation to the House floor. H.R. 3393 is a commonsense, good government bill, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me just make this statement, and I will yield back as well.

Let me again say how glad I am that we are taking the time to fight waste, fraud, and abuse of our precious tax dollars. With this measure, I want to thank the gentleman from California for his comments and the fact that we are working together to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse here. This is a classic example. I want to thank him for working with me and the relationship that we have had over the years in terms of doing these kinds of things.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5148) to amend title 39, United States Code, to clarify the instances in which the term ``census'' may appear on mailable matter.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 5148, the bill to further prohibit deceptive mailings using the word ``census.'' Only a few weeks ago, on March 10 to be exact, the House acted unanimously to deal with the misleading fundraising mail designed to look like it is from the Census Bureau. Congresswoman Maloney introduced H.R. 4621, the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailing Act, which was originally cosponsored by me and Congressman Clay, chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the census. Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Clay are longtime supporters of the census, and they have worked hard to make sure we have an accurate count in 2010.

H.R. 4621 was also cosponsored by the ranking member of the committee, Congressman Issa of California, as well as the ranking member of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the postal service, Congressman Jason Chaffetz. I thank them for their support and for helping us to move it to the floor today.

The goal of the bill was simple. The United States Census, currently under way, is a critical source of information for America's future. Regrettably, scammers and con artists are trying to hijack the word ``census'' to confuse citizens into opening and responding to mail that is unrelated to the actual U.S. Census. We must protect the U.S. Census from this kind of fraud. H.R. 4621 simply requires mailings which have the term ``census'' on the envelope or cover to also include an accurate return address and the name of the sender on the envelope.

H.R. 4621 was drafted narrowly to avoid the First Amendment concerns and avoid interfering with the legitimate use of the mail by nonprofit organizations. The bill was intended to prevent the deceptive use of look-alike mailings by requiring transparency and disclosure. The House voted 416-0 to pass H.R. 4621. The Senate passed the same bill by unanimous consent. Not many bills pass this House unanimously, but this one did--both Houses. That's not something that happened real quick around here. You would think the message sent by that law was very clear.

Unfortunately, days after H.R. 4621 was signed into law, the RNC sent a new mailing which includes the same deceptive practices. The new mailing is also labeled a census, and it does not include a return address or identify the sender as the RNC, as required by law, Mr. Speaker. One of these offensive mailings is dated April 12, only 5 days after the President signed H.R. 4621 into law. Apparently, the RNC cannot even let 1 week go by without deceiving the American public.

Despite the unanimous action of Congress, the RNC continues to act in defiance of Congress and plain common sense and fairness. These mailings continue to mislead citizens, confuse voters, and annoy recipients.

On that note, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, Carolyn Maloney, who has been very involved in this issue, of course, and to say to my colleague from California, I really appreciate his involvement in this as well, the ranking member of the committee, Congressman Issa.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by saying that we need to send the kind of message that will make certain this stops. However, I do believe the new RNC mailings are illegal under current law. That's number one. This bill will clarify that any use of the word ``census'' that is visible through the envelope would trigger a requirement to disclose the name and return address of the sender. Congress should not have to act twice to make it clear that it is wrong to imitate the census, which is mandated by our Constitution. Unfortunately, the foolishness of the RNC has forced us to act again.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues, especially the ranking member of the committee, Congresswoman Maloney, and Mr. Chaffetz and others, especially their staffs, who understand and recognize how important the census is and that we should

not get involved in any kind of trickery when it comes to the census because there are so many things that depend on the census. Therefore, to play around with it, to me, is so unfair when you're talking about, really, playing around with the lives of people, because so many things are based on the fact that the count, the count is so important. So it's my hope that the RNC will recognize this and stop this trickery, because there is no place, no time do we need that today.

We need to make certain that everybody fills out their census form, and gets it back in as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you very much for yielding time to me.

Of course I want to commend the members of the Autism Caucus for their outstanding work that they're doing. I also hope that this resolution will bring about awareness and support for autism.

Madam Speaker, let me just say that we know that more research is needed, and I think that any way that we can make it possible for people to focus on it and to understand how important these additional resources are makes a whole lot of sense.

I just want to commend my colleagues for their outstanding work that they have done to bring us to this point. I am hoping that, as a result of this, we will get more Members involved and, of course, more people involved in this issue, because there are still a lot of unanswered questions. At any time we can create a situation where people will focus on it, then I think answers will be coming forth.

So I just want to commend my colleagues for this effort. I look forward to working with them because this is a very serious problem. It is one that should not be ignored, and it is one on which we really should spend time making certain we get the word out in order to get the kind of research that we need to have in order to bring about a solution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn, New York. The boys basketball team last month won the New York City Public School Athletic League, PSAL, city championship. It is really referred to as the High, as it is affectionately known in Brooklyn, and has a long known history of athletic excellence.

I'm not standing here recognizing the High's boys basketball team only because it won its first PSAL championship in 31 years or because it has several players who college scouts are seriously recruiting. All of that is noteworthy and I think it is just great that that has occurred. But I also stand here because of the coach, Ruth Lovelace, the coach of the High's basketball team. She is the first woman in the history of the PSAL to take a male team to the championship and win.

Ms. Lovelace did not do it alone. She did not shoot or dribble a ball or even get fouled. Rather, she provided the leadership to take them all the way.

Ms. Lovelace starred in basketball at the High, played both at Hilbert Junior College and Seton Hall. As coach, she won 377 times and lost only 108 games during her 15-year tenure. Coach Love and the team have been featured in documentaries on ESPN, NBC, and CBS.

Coach Love would not have had the opportunity to lead a male team to a basketball championship without Congress's efforts to pass title IX in 1972. This signature piece of legislation opened the doors for women like Ruth Lovelace to participate in organized sports.

Again, I applaud the Boys and Girls High School boys basketball team for having a winning season and making the residents of the 10th Congressional District of Brooklyn, my fellow Brooklynites, so proud.

I would like to just enter the names of these great athletes into our Congressional Record because they are not only great athletes, they're also great scholars, they're also great gentlemen, and I think that within itself is something that we should recognize today.

I would like to recognize Jonathan Arroyo, Dominique Bostick, Ralph Colon, Leroy Truck Fludd, Anthony Hemingway, Leroy Isler, Darren Kirby, Christopher Lockhart, Nkosi Brown, Jamal Mapp, Aaron McBurnie, Saequahn Pettus, Jeffland Neverson, Jobse Reyes, Antoine Slaughter, Calvin Sterling, Michael Taylor, Jerry White, Brandon Williams.

And let me just recognize the coaches. First I want to recognize the athletic director, Sheila Shale; and then head coach, again, Ruth Lovelace; and

her assistant coaches, Elmer Anderson, Jeff Wiggins, and Gene Carroll for the outstanding job that they have done on behalf of these young people who I know will go on to college and to make all of us proud.

So it's my honor and my pleasure to say to the Boys and Girls High School we are so proud of you and what you have done to bring back the pride to Brooklyn that we rightfully deserve. Congratulations, Boys and Girls High School.

Let me thank the gentleman from Memphis for yielding to me, because I had an opportunity to work very closely with Dr. Hooks. I recall we moved the NAACP to Brooklyn, and he was the president of NAACP at the time we moved them to Brooklyn. I was always impressed with his dedication and commitment to people.

Dr. Hooks was really committed to change in a positive way; and, of course, having the opportunity to work very closely with him, I had the opportunity to observe him as he moved with people. He had just a way of bringing about coalitions where people would disagree with each other, but Dr. Hooks could pull them together and some way or another get them to begin to talk and work together. He is going to be truly missed. He was a person

that has truly made a difference in this world as a result of his attitude and what he has done on behalf of the people.

So may I say to his family, you have my deepest, deepest sympathy; but, here again, we can be thankful that we had an opportunity to live during Dr. Hooks' lifetime. There is no question about it, he made this world a better place for all of us to live.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Memphis, Tennessee, for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1104, commemorating National Crime Victims' Rights Week and its theme, ``Fairness. Dignity. Respect.'' I would also like to reflect upon a topic that is of deep concern to me: violence against women.

Domestic violence has a profound psychological impact on victims and survivors. There has been a 35 percent increase in domestic violence shelter bed use since 2002. Increased shelter utilization is evidence of the displacement and psychological havoc that domestic violence wreaks on families. We must put a stop to this.

Nationally, one-half to two-thirds of residents in domestic violence shelters are children. In fact, on one day in 2007, 13,485 children were living in a domestic violence shelter or in a transitional housing facility. Another 5,526 sought services within nonresidential programs. Children who experience or who witness domestic violence are more likely to become abusers or victims, themselves.

Beyond the home, violence in the form of sexual assault carries with it similar lasting psychological and sociological effects. According to data

provided by the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, 60 percent of cases are never even reported to the police. We know that one in six women and one in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, with college-aged women four times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

Both domestic violence and sexual assault have lasting implications on the lives of victims, survivors and their families. It is important, Mr. Speaker, while working towards crime prevention, that we continue to treat victims and survivors of sexual assault and of domestic violence with fairness, dignity, and respect. We must work together as a Nation to bring awareness to these important issues so that we may prevent further abuse.

I thank the gentleman from Memphis, Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for granting me the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my condolences on the passing of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. Born March 24, 1912, in Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Height went on to become one of the most influential civil rights activists and a symbol of African American advancement in the United States.

After graduating with a Master's degree in psychology from New York University, Dr. Height continued her early career with postgraduate work at Columbia University and the New York School of Social Work. In her lifetime, she eventually received 36 Honorary Doctorate Degrees, along with a plethora of awards in recognition of her outstanding work in the field.

In 1937, she was invited to join the National Council of Negro Women in her quest for women's rights to full and equal employment, pay and education. This is when her career as civil rights activist began. She fought for equal rights for both African Americans and women alongside of the big six of the civil rights movement--Dr. Martin Luther King, Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins, and John Lewis. She served in many leadership roles with prominent groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, National Council of Negro Women, and the YWCA.

Among her many awards, Dr. Height was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of the US Congress--our nation's highest honors bestowed upon extraordinary citizens like Dr. Height.

Dr. Height passed away on April 20, 2010. It is with deep sadness that I offer my condolences to her family, friends, and to the many lives touched by Dr. Height.