Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Marie Lily Cerat, for her service to the Brooklyn community, commitment to education and promotion of Haitian language and culture.

Marie Lily Cerat came to the United States in 1981, and made Brooklyn, New York her adopted home away from her native Haiti. She has been an educator with the New York Public education system for over eighteen years. At present, she works as a Resource Specialist with the Haitian Bilingual/ESL Technical Assistance Center (HABETAC) at Brooklyn College where she is responsible for planning and conducting professional development sessions for teachers working with Haitian English language learners in the public schools and Haitian parents. She is co-founder and Advisory Board member of Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR), a thriving and respected community-based organization in Brooklyn. The organization was created by Ms. Cerat and Ninaj Raoul, in 1992, after the two returned from working with the U.S. Department of Justice as a Haitian Creole language specialist in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They assisted in translation and other human services with the Haitians housed on the U.S. base after the 1991 coup d'etat against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti. At its beginning, HWHR provided English as a Second Language (ESL) and adult Literacy programs, but its services have since extended to advocating on behalf of Haitian refugees and immigrants, defending worker exploitation, and lobbying against anti-immigrant policy.

Cerat has huge interest in literature, writing and the arts, and is a doctoral student in the French Doctoral program at the CUNY Graduate Center where she will pursue a specialization in francophone literature and international human rights. She holds a master's degree in English/ Creative Writing from the City College of New York and a bachelor's degree from the College for Human Services. The respect and promotion of Haitian language and culture, human and girls/women rights are among some of the issues she is most passionate about.

In 1997, she published a West African folktale, Do Toti), The Turtle's Back, in Haitian Creole for children. She has written a commentary for National Public Radio, which was aired in 2001 as part of the Racism Conference in South Africa. Over the years, she has contributed writing to a publication on Haiti by the Network of Educators on the Americas (NECA), two biographical essays on Vodou are part of the 1998/2005 Ten Speed Press book, Vodou: Visions and Voices by the photographer Phyllis Galembo. She is a regular contributor to Haiti Liberte, a weekly Haitian newspaper in New York. Most recently, one of her short stories was selected to appear in an upcoming (2010) anthology by the Haitian-American writer/editor Edwidge

Danticat. Marie Lily Cerat is currently at work on a novel, In the Light of Shooting Stars.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Marie Lily Cerat.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Beverly Collier, for her commitment to human services and her many contributions to her community.

Beverly Collier is the Director of the ``My Turn Program'' at Kingsborough Community College, in Brooklyn, NY. She is a native New Yorker and was raised in Queens, NY. She attended Baruch College, CUNY where she received a Masters in Business Administration and Management. Ms. Collier has a graduate certificate in Aging from Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging & Longevity of Hunter College (formerly Brookdale Center on Aging).

As the Director of the My Turn Program, Ms. Collier oversees the registration and advisement of the program's students, all of whom are over 60 years of age. The program allows senior citizens to take courses on a matriculating or non-matriculating basis, and currently has over 500 students enrolled in day and evening classes.

The majority of Ms. Collier's professional experience has been in human services, specifically providing services to elders and their families. Prior to joining Kingsborough Community College, she worked for Services for the Underserved as the Senior Vice President for Home Care Services for 23 years and played a critical role in the expansion of the Home Care division. In this position, Ms. Collier managed two home care agencies and a home modifications program for disabled individuals.

In addition to her administrative positions, Ms. Collier is an adjunct instructor in the Human Services Department at New York College of Technology in Brooklyn, NY where she has taught courses in the management of human service organizations and gerontology. She is also a workshop facilitator and has conducted a series of trainings in effective communication and management skills for the Research Foundation of CUNY in New York City and upstate New York.

Recently, Ms. Collier has combined her professional background in elder care with her personal experience as a care giver for her late mother, Ethel Collier, by developing and presenting trainings to professional and family care givers. She is passionate about the opportunity to share her caregiver story through helping others care for their loved ones.

In 2009, Ms. Collier was elected Chair of the Board of Directors for Unique People Services a non-profit organization providing services to individuals and families affected by developmental disabilities, mental illness and AIDS. She has also volunteered with the Speakers Bureau of the Medicare Rights Center and the Home Care Council of NYC.

Ms. Collier loves to travel and has been fortunate to visit Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Argentina, Guyana, England and more. Her travel has mostly been for pleasure. In 1996, however she traveled to Argentina to deliver a presentation on hiring and training home care workers to health care professionals who were working to expand a similar program in their country. The trip was organized by the CUNY Consortium for the Study of Disabilities.

Ms. Collier lives in St. Albans and is the mother of two adult children; her daughter, Maia Rosser, is a social worker, and her son, Akunna Rosser, is a guidance counselor.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Beverly Collier.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Aylan Dawkins for her continued dedication to the service of others.

Mrs. Aylan Dawkins was born and raised in the beautiful island of Trinidad. After several visits to the United States, she decided to relocate to New York in 1987. She is married to Paul Dawkins, who is a corrections officer. They have three loving children; Aisha, Darwin, and Devon. Aylan is also a proud grandmother to one grandchild named Ethan.

Mrs. Dawkins joined Interfaith Medical Center in 1996 and worked in the Home Care Department for 1 year. She was then transferred to the Finance Department and eventually moved on to the Chief Financial Officer's Department. At present, she is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer.

In her capacity as Executive Assistant, Aylan represents the Finance Department on a number of committees set up by the institution including the annual ball which raises money for the hospital and honors outstanding members of the community. She also organizes the summer golf outing which has given the hospital visibility in the health industry.

Aylan became a Certified Nursing Assistant in 1997. She devotes her weekends to service at the Isabella Geriatric Center where she extends her recognizable compassion, patience, and understanding to the elderly.

She excels in customer satisfaction, team effort, and providing professionalism and courteous service with a smile at all times.

She is extremely hardworking and dedicated at work and at home. Mrs. Dawkins is a devoted religious woman and the rock of her family. She organizes yearly family picnics, summer events, and also enjoys cooking all her favorite dishes for her friends and family. Aylan Dawkins is certainly a dynamic woman.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the achievements of Aylan Dawkins.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Honorable Theresa Freeman for her commitment and years of service to New York.

The Honorable Theresa Freeman, State Committee Woman and District Leader of the 70th Assembly District, was born in Augusta, Georgia and has been a community activist in New York for over 30 years. For over 20 years, Theresa has advocated for the community of Harlem. From her days as a writer for the Amsterdam News to her current elected office of State Committee Woman District Leader, Theresa has fought for important issues in the community of Harlem such as job development, affordable housing, drug treatment programs and ex-offenders.

Theresa Freeman also worked at Reality House Inc. for thirty years as a Legal Specialist. After moving from Harlem to Long Island City, Queens; she became the Community Liaison because of her political connections. Reality House, Inc. is a program that services our Veterans and Community with dependency issues. Ms. Freeman is the President of New York City Chapter of the National Action Network founded by Dr. Reverend Sharpton. She also is a member of the Women's Auxiliary and Scholarship Fund under the leadership of Mrs. Kathy Jordan Sharpton. Ms. Freeman is a member of the Association of Black Social Workers, Advisory Board of the New York Coalition of 100 Black Women, Vice-President of the Uptown Dance Academy, The Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Memorial Committee and the New York Lawyers Association and many other prominent organizations. Ms. Freeman has been selfless in giving to the community, and has received numerous awards for her humanitarian achievements. She has earned recognition for her community devotion including the Sojourner Truth, Ms. Black Moses Award from the Mother AME Zion Church, and the Dazivedo Watson Community Service Award from Assembly Keith I.T. Wright of the Fred Samuel Democratic Club.

Theresa is a member of the St. James AME Church. She is a Silver Lifetime member of the NAACP, the Fred Samuel, and 504 Disability Democratic Clubs. Theresa is an active member of the Martin Luther King Club, West Harlem Democratic Club, and The African American Day Parade Committee. She is a spokesperson for the Renal Support Network.

Her motto is ``with patience and hard work you can achieve your goals.''

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Honorable Theresa Freeman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Caron Marie Martin Clovie for her commitment to serve communities in need in Brooklyn.

Caron Marie Martin Clovie is the President and Founder of Sister, Sister In-Law. Sister, Sister In-Law began as a group which provided affirmation and bonding and has grown to a women's group whose mission is to mentor and lead the young women in our communities toward a positive and productive future. The organization encourages women to love

themselves and to love one another. The motto is designed to uplift and empower each other, it teaches that ``A Sister Can't Fly With Just One Wing.''

Caron Marie Martin Clovie was born on March 10, 1955 to Jessie and Lillie Martin. Her community roots begin in East New York Brooklyn, working for the neighborhood youth corps and the anti-poverty programs of East New York. Caron's focus was ensuring the safety and well being of the adolescents in the community. With a strong focus on females, she worked for the anti-poverty programs of East New York until called to work for the Health & Hospital Cooperation (HHC).

Health care became Caron's passion. In 1975 she worked for the East New York NFCC, a pilot program for a new way to administer health care to underprivileged families. After working hard at this facility she became a clerical supervisor in less than a year. The need for quality health care began to increase fast. A new site was built on Pitkin and Pennsylvania Avenue. The small facility became the East New York D&TC. Caron's career ride continued with HHC where she was hired to work for another new program called The Metro Plus Health Plan. This program was designed to ensure quality health care for all who needed it. Caron enjoyed this, her career met her passion as her job was to make sure that affordable quality care was available to the residents of East New York. Caron became field manager and was assigned to the Brooklyn North, where her team was responsible for the enrollment of more than 300 families in their first quarter.

In addition to planning Sister, Sister In-Law's annual `Girls Summit' this May, Caron is currently working at Odyssey House in their adolescent facility for girls only. She is married to Robert Clovie and has raised two sons: Aaron and Jameek.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the work of Caron Marie Martin Clovie.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify several points in Section 1334 of H.R. 3590, regarding the Office of Personnel Management's authority to provide oversight and set premiums of multi- State plans.

OPM, of course, has administered the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for over 50 years, and that program has served as a model for the Exchanges envisioned under this legislation. In administering the FEHB Program, OPM has been able to address the problem of uniformity of benefits and requirements across State lines using its authority under 8902(m) of Title 5. Section 1334(a)(4) of the Senate-passed bill states that ``the Director shall implement this subsection in a manner similar to the manner in which the Director implements the . . . Federal employees health benefit program under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code''. The intent of this provision is that OPM oversee multi-State health plans in the same manner in which oversight is provided under the FEHB Program for the purposes of uniformity of health insurance plans. OPM should exercise this authority, as it does in the FEHBP, to ensure that multi-State plans offer uniform benefits, negotiate premiums with multi-State plans, and require these plans to set aside a certain amount of reserve funds. Moreover, it is imperative that OPM issue rules and guidelines as necessary to effectively and efficiently administer the multi-State plans, including for uniform adjudication procedures for disputes involving the multi-state plans.

Another issue that requires clarification is the interaction between the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director

of OPM. The legislation gives the Secretary broad authority to issue regulations governing the operation of State Exchanges. Any rule or regulation governing plans offered on State Exchanges would affect OPM's administration of the multi-State plans, which will also be offered on the Exchanges. There are overlapping responsibilities between HHS and OPM with regard to the multi-State plans offered on State Exchanges. The legislation envisions that the Secretary of HHS will coordinate and consult with the Director of OPM on any policy decisions that would affect the administration of multi-State plans. This joint effort is essential to ensuring the proper operation of the multi-State program as envisioned by Section 1334.

Under section 1334, OPM is directed to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to the ongoing administration of the FEHBP. The intent of this provision is to ensure that essential resources are not pulled away from FEHBP in order to start up the new program created by this bill. However, where greater efficiencies can be found from the administration of both programs jointly, we would expect OPM to adopt that approach.

Lastly, section 2714 of H.R. 3590 would allow unmarried adult children to remain on their parent's plan up to the age of 26. Congress intends that this mandate apply to individual FEHB plans in their capacity as private health insurers and to the FEHBP as a group health plan. This Congressional Budget Office incorporated this interpretation of section 2714 in preparing its cost estimate of the legislation. Given the economic conditions in country, this is an important reform that will help families across the country, including the families of federal employees and retirees. I am pleased to support this provision as one of many reforms that will improve health care coverage for low and middle income Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representatives is preparing to vote on historic health insurance reform legislation, H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act. We have spent more than a year debating this important bill that will provide 32 million Americans health insurance. In my home district, New York's 10th Congressional District, access to affordable health insurance will make a tremendous difference in the lives of men and women who have been burdened by the escalating costs of health care.

We can no longer wait to stem the rising tide of the uninsured and underinsured, implement important reforms to prevent insurers from discriminating against persons with pre-existing conditions and enact important measures to rein in costs.

When this bill is signed into law, millions of Americans who do not have health care today will finally walk the pathway to coverage. American families will no longer face bankruptcy when a loved one gets ill and seniors will finally get relief from the high cost of prescription drugs due to our expanded coverage under Medicare Part D.

Importantly, we are doing all of this without adding one penny to the federal deficit. In fact, this bill will reduce our federal debt by $143 billion over the next ten years, and hundreds of billions more in the years thereafter.

Health insurance reform is an issue I have been committed to throughout my long congressional career. We have been close to this day before, but this time, at long last, I am confident we will see this legislation signed into law.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who supported this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to show my support and concern about the widespread of the HIV/AIDS virus. My district of Brooklyn, New York, is considered to be the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States for African-Americans, women, adolescents, and children.

According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in Brooklyn, 87 percent, with 7 percent under the age of 13 are persons of color, live with the HIV/AIDS virus. The city of Brooklyn was home to nearly 30 percent of the people living with HIV/ AIDS in New York City who died.

It is important that you get tested regularly, such as, during your yearly physical exam; it is important, even for those who think they are not at risk. Early detection for persons infected with HIV, particularly before the infection progresses to AIDS, is vital for the effectiveness of treatment. There are new testing methods, such as, ``Rapid HIV Testing'', which allows persons to receive results twenty minutes after being tested.

Please take the preventative measures to protect yourself and your loved ones by getting tested. It is far too important not to do; so, please go and get tested.

Madam Speaker, I would like to first thank the chair of the subcommittee, and of course the ranking member of the full committee, Congressman Issa, and of course Congressman Clay who chairs the subcommittee, and Congressman Bilbray who is the ranking member of the subcommittee, and Congressman Braley who was really responsible for us being here today to move this legislation forward.

This is Sunshine Week, and this is sunshine legislation. This bill requires government documents to be in plain writing. The bill defines plain writing as writing that the intended audience can readily understand and use because it is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices of plain writing.

Requiring government documents to be written clearly will make it easier for Americans to understand government communications, and it will make the Federal Government more accountable.

President Clinton issued a memo in 1998 directing the agencies to write documents in plain language. Twelve years have passed since that memo was written, and most agencies are still not taking the issue very seriously. But I think this legislation will let them know that this is something that we are not going to walk away from. It is important that they follow through.

In a letter supporting this bill, the American College of Physicians Foundation wrote: ``We frequently hear from our members that they have trouble understanding some government letters and forms. Our intent is to ensure that government documents created for consumers are clearly and plainly written.''

H.R. 946 was amended during committee consideration to focus the scope of the bill on the type of documents that are most in need of attention. As amended, the bill requires agencies to use plain writing in documents that deal with the Federal benefits or services. This means, for example, that the Department of Health and Human Services will have to use plain writing when it issues instructions under the Medicare prescription drug program; and I think that is so important.

The bill also requires the IRS to write tax documents in plain writing, and it requires agencies to use plain writing in documents that explain how to comply with the Federal requirements. This will make it easier for Americans, especially small businesses, to comply with the law.

In a letter supporting H.R. 946, a group of small business organizations wrote: ``Small business owners strive to adhere to a vast array of Federal obligations but often have difficulty deciphering what is being required of them.''

The use of plain language is a commonsense approach to saving the Federal Government money, and small business owners time, effort, and money. This legislation makes good sense, it is good government, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

I thank the chair of the subcommittee for yielding and thank Congressman Bilbray from California for his work on this committee, and Congressman Hodes, and of course the ranking member of the full committee, Congressman Issa. I think that when you work together, you can come up with strong legislation that can truly make a difference. I also would like to thank the staff who worked on this legislation as well.

I think that when we look at electronic records, when we look at information that needs to be preserved, I really feel that this legislation gets us to where we need to go. I think now, more than ever, we have to make certain that this information is held at least for a certain period of time so people can make an assessment to see in terms of where we might have made mistakes, they can now correct them.

So I want to salute you for the work you have done, Chairman Clay, and of course Ranking Member Bilbray, and of course all the staff members who worked so hard to bring us to where we are today.

Madam Speaker, I have been listening to the speeches that have been made on the floor: Tell them to wait and start over. Well, you know, it's nice to say wait and start over when you have insurance, but think about the 46 million people that are walking the streets of the United States of America with no insurance, but you are telling them to wait. And then of course you talk about people that are locked into jobs and working on those jobs because of the fact that the only reason they stay there is because they are able to get health insurance, and you're telling them to wait?

And then we talk about people that have preexisting conditions that can't get health care, and you're telling them to wait?

You know, I cannot believe that we're sitting here in the United States House of Representatives when we can do something about a problem that has existed for many, many years, and we are still telling people to wait. I don't think that you can afford the luxury of waiting when you do not have insurance.

Think about how many people will die today because of the fact they do not have health insurance.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Shelia Evans-Tranumn, who, as an Associate Commissioner for the New York State Education Department, managed the Office of School Improvement and Community Services in New York City and in Albany, New York. Associate Commissioner Evans-Tranumn has had the major responsibility for directing and coordinating State Education Department Services and technical assistance to New York City schools and to the New York City public school system. Her work as associate commissioner will always be valued by the New York education community, especially as a model for leadership, management and supervision of the service needs of schools and school districts. As an advisor to the Commissioner and the Board of Regents, she is a role model in her steadfast efforts to serve and represent our children effectively.

Prior to joining the New York State Education Department, Ms. Evans- Tranumn served as an English teacher, center administrator, assistant principal and the Director of the New York City Board of Education's Auxiliary Services for High Schools, the largest alternative high school program in the United States. Ms. Evans-Tranumn supervised interdisciplinary teams that work with the New York City educational community to implement school reform initiatives. The impact of her work in New York State can be found in documents published by the United States Education Department, policy documents of National Board of Education, and implementation plans for local school districts. Based upon the work of her office, Education Week has named New York State No.1 for its work in the area of accountability.

Ms. Evans-Tranumn is a product of New York City public schools. A graduate of North Carolina Central University, she received a Master's degree from Long Island University. Additionally, she completed class requirements for a doctorate at New York University. She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Reliance Award for Excellence in Education, the Administrative Women in Education Trailblazer Award, the Albany NAACP Freedom Award and the New York State NAACP ``Measure of a Woman'' Award in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ms. Evans-Tranumn also received an Honorary Doctorate from Medgar Evers College.

Building the capacity of institutions, communities and individuals to better serve children is the core of her professional and personal life. As the highly respected advocate and voice of reason in Brooklyn for educational ideals to benefit inner-city children, Ms. Evans- Tranumn stands with those who understand that equal and quality education is a fundamental civil, constitutional right.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Shelia Evans-Tranumn.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge that March is Red Cross Month. This is a time for us to officially recognize the essential role that the American Red Cross plays in our communities helping to ensure our communities are more ready and resilient in the face of future disasters. March has been celebrated as ``Red Cross Month'' since 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt called the wartime fundraising campaign the ``greatest single crusade of mercy in all of history.'' As we celebrate this American Red Cross Month, I encourage all individuals to commit themselves to strengthen their own communities through service and volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross. Volunteers help make our country stronger, and no where is this more evident than in communities coming together to support each other in times of need.

From rebuilding former adversaries after World War II, to saving lives after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, the American people have an unmatched tradition of responding to challenges at home and abroad with compassion and generosity. In just over one month since the earthquake, the Red Cross has provided assistance to more than 1.3 million people and will continue to aid hundreds of thousands more in the months ahead. In Chile, the American Red Cross is prepared to mobilize support, including relief supplies and trained personnel. The American Red Cross is also assisting the Chilean Red Cross, through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent appeal, to assist 75,000 people for six months in the areas of shelter, water and sanitation, health and telecommunications.

At home and abroad, one in five Americans is touched by the Red Cross every single year. The American Red Cross in Greater New York responds to an average of 7 emergencies a day--fires, floods, building collapses--and provides immediate humanitarian aid to as many as 100,000 people affected by these emergencies each year. In my district alone in 2009, the Greater New York Chapter responded to 264 disasters and registered 1,337 people for Red Cross assistance.

Whether it is an earthquake or a single family home fire; a call for blood or a call for help, the American Red Cross is there. I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in applauding the hard work of the American Red Cross volunteers and celebrating March as American Red Cross Month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay tribute to a fine American, Alan Steinberg, on an occasion when he and his business have received a prestigious honor: the International Circle of Excellence Award for 2009.

The Circle of Excellence, which is awarded by the International dealer organization of Navistar, Inc., honors International truck dealerships that achieve the highest level of dealer performance with respect to operating and financial standards, market representation, and most importantly, customer satisfaction. It is the highest honor a dealer principal can receive from the company.

Alan's business, Truck King International, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, where it was founded in 1977 with his brother Steven. Under his leadership, it has grown into one of the preeminent truck dealerships in the Northeast and the entire nation, with 151 employees and six dealer locations spanning the five

boroughs, Long Island and Northern New Jersey. With this most recent award, Truck King International has now received the Circle of Excellence Award, under Alan's leadership, a total of nine times.

Alan has achieved this level of accomplishment and recognition through many years of hard work and service to his industry and community. He has also built a successful truck leasing business, Salem Idealease--the largest affiliate in the Idealease network, and is a member of Idealease board of directors, the Hunts Point Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Huntington Soldiers Welcome Home Salute, the New York Association of Pupil Transportation: Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester Chapters, the New Jersey Council on Special Transportation, the New York State School Bus Contractor's Association, the Garden State & Sussex School Bus Contractor's Associations, the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials and the School Transportation Supervisors of New Jersey.

Through his commitment to hard work and outstanding customer service, he has built an economically vital business of which he can be justly proud. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Alan Steinberg for his record of accomplishment and for his many contributions to his community, state and nation.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Alan Steinberg and his business, Truck King International.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). The year 2010 provides us an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of Academy members throughout the past five decades.

Established in 1960, on the verge of revolutionary social reforms, the Academy of Certified Social Workers was the first credential created by the National Association of Social Workers to acknowledge leaders committed to the social work profession and to improving society. Before individual states enacted licensing regulations for the social workers, the Academy served as the sole source of designating social workers qualified for social work practice.

The 50th Anniversary of the Academy of Certified Social Workers is noteworthy in America because it recognizes the past and present social workers who have made significant contributions to society. Academy members include six dedicated individuals. James Dumpson is the former vice president of the New York Community Trust, one of the nation's largest, oldest and most respected philanthropic organizations and a leader in the community foundation movement. Ada Deer is recognized as an advocate and organizer on behalf of Native Americans. She became the first woman to be appointed Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Delwin Anderson was Director of the Social Work Service of the Department of Medicine and Surgery in the Veteran's Administration from 1964 to 1974. Bernice Harper was Medical Care Advisor to the Health Care Financing Administration in Washington, DC and she is a pioneer in hospice and palliative care. Warren Graham, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, implemented the ``Reclaiming Futures Initiative,'' instituting county-wide change in the New York juvenile justice system addressing adolescents who are substance abusers. Jessica Sawyer is currently involved in the development and implementation of a pioneering process for incorporating mental health treatment in a medical setting in North Carolina.

Members of the Academy of Certified Social Workers represent the thought leadership of the profession. In clinical settings and case management; in courtrooms, communities, government agencies, and medical facilities; in universities and other professional educational venues and at local, state, and federal policy level; ACSWs span the range of social work practice from direct service to research and systems analysis for individuals, families, groups, and communities. The accomplishments of Academy members in social justice, social welfare, mental health, and philanthropy and humanitarianism have had significant positive effects in our society. Today's Academy holders continue to create and inform innovative practices to improve the quality of life for current and future generations of Americans.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the ACSW leaders who influenced America so profoundly in the past and acknowledging the work of over 35,000 current members of the Academy who continue to make a difference in people's lives today.

I thank Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Poe, the full committee Chair, and the ranking member as well for moving this legislation forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 227, as amended, a concurrent resolution that designates the second week of February as National Urban Crime Awareness Week. This occasion provides an opportunity to shed light on the volatile issues affecting people within urban communities.

In September 2009, 133 metropolitan areas reported jobless rates above the national average. As a result of the economic downturn, many of our Nation's urban communities are experiencing a substantial growth in crime, which has been directly linked to increased unemployment rates. In other words, there is a definite correlation between unemployment and crime.

Madam Speaker, in 2008, there were an estimated 1,382,000 violent crimes that occurred nationwide. In New York, approximately 48,430 violent crimes took place, compared to 28,941 reported cases in non-New York City counties.

Over 60 percent of the Nation's youth have been exposed to violence in the past year. This exposure adversely affects their physical and mental health and long-term functioning into adulthood, and can force youth into gangs where they are more likely to perpetuate additional acts of violence.

This resolution seeks to properly acknowledge the men, women, and children who have been victims of violence in urban communities. It will also commend the tireless efforts of survivors, volunteers, and professionals who work to prevent urban violence, and will recognize them as well as law enforcement and health professionals for their hard work and innovative preventative strategies.

National Urban Crime Awareness Week is a time for us to advocate for people affected by urban violence. I urge all of my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me in support of this awareness campaign.

Again, I want to thank the ranking member of the committee, Mr. Poe, and also thank the Chair of the committee, Mr. Scott, for their assistance in moving this legislation forward. I think it is so important that we do everything that we can to recognize and let people become aware of how important it is to come together to fight crime. I think it is just so important to deal with our young people at an early age and let them know that we are concerned about crime, and that we recognize that there is a correlation between unemployment and crime and we have to create jobs and should be working on that. I am hoping that we can pull together as a body here and work on creating jobs.