Floor Statements

Would the gentlewoman yield?

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, as she was mentioning Venezuela, quite wisely, I agreed with everything she said about the lack of freedom of the press and about the shutting down of opposition newspapers. Because the next bill we will be talking about involves sanctions against Iran, as Subcommittee chairman of the Western Hemisphere, I want to raise a concern about Venezuela, which arose at my October hearing, on Iran's role in the Western Hemisphere.

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez recently agreed to provide 20,000 barrels per day of refined gasoline to Iran. It's anyone's guess as to whether this will be implemented, but the deal may be covered by the bill that we consider now and that we are considering next. While some question whether Venezuela has the ability to provide gasoline to Iran, since it imports some gasoline to meet its own domestic demand, President Chavez is clearly approaching a perilous area. I hope that Chavez reconsiders this unwise step.

I thank the gentlewoman, as always, for pointing out what is going on.

I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, only a few short months ago the world learned of the secret Iranian nuclear enrichment facility near the city of Qom. If there was any doubt that Iran was trying to build nuclear weapons, this revelation dispelled any shred of that doubt.

The facility, kept secret from the International Atomic Energy Agency, was built deep in a mountain on a protected military base. This is how a country conceals a nuclear weapons program and defies U.N. Security Council resolutions, not how it develops peaceful energy technologies.

Although Iran is a leading producer of crude oil, it has limited refining capability. This bill will increase leverage against Iran by penalizing companies that export refined petroleum products to Iran or finance Iran's domestic refining capabilities. It's my hope that the administration will apply these additional sanctions to make absolutely clear to the Ahmadinejad regime that the world will not accept its nuclear ambition.

The U.S. and our allies in the U.N. Security Council have recognized that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a danger to the Middle East, to our ally, Israel, and to the nuclear nonproliferation regime. A nuclear- armed Iran is simply

unacceptable, and we must support this sanction. To my colleagues who say that sanctions don't work, it only hurts the local population, the same argument, discredited argument, was made against South African sanctions. That worked. These sanctions will, too.

Support the legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2134) to establish the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2134, a bill that I authored to establish a Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission.

I thank Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for their support of this bill.

I am particularly grateful to Connie Mack, the ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, which I chair, for being my lead Republican cosponsor of this bill.

Madam Speaker, billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been spent over the years to fight the drug trade in Latin America and the Caribbean. In spite of our efforts, drug use in the United States has increased.

According to the Brookings Institution, since the peak of the heroin and cocaine epidemics of the mid-1980s, consumption rates for these narcotics have remained more or less stable. At the same time, amphetamine use has spread.

As Members of Congress, we owe it to our constituents to do a better job combating the drug trade and taking illegal drugs off of our cities' streets. I believe that we are long past due in reexamining our counternarcotics efforts here at home and throughout the Americas.

H.R. 2134 will create an independent commission to evaluate U.S. drug policies and programs aimed at reducing illicit drug supply in the Americas and the demand for these drugs here at home. This commission will assess all aspects of the illegal drug trade, including prevention and treatment programs in the United States.

The Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission will be required to submit recommendations on future U.S. drug policy to Congress and various Cabinet secretaries, including the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Attorney General.

To tackle our Nation's horrific drug problem once and for all, we must have a better sense of what works and what does not work. The citizens of our great country, who deal every day with illegal drugs on their streets, and our partners in the Americas, who have worked with us in fighting the drug trade for years, deserve no less.

Madam Speaker, I have long thought that, as we try to combat the growing of crops that produce drugs, we also need to combat the consumption side here at home, and this report will help us to understand what we can do more effectively. I urge my colleagues to support this crucial legislation.

Congress of the United States,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, November 5, 2009.

Hon. Howard Berman,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Howard. This is to advise you that, as a result of

your having consulted with us on provisions in H.R. 2134, the

Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act of 2009, that

fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the

Judiciary, we are able to agree to discharging our committee

from further consideration of the bill, in order that it may

proceed without delay to the House floor for consideration.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with the

understanding that by forgoing further consideration of H.R.

2134 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over

subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and

that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and

involved as the bill moves forward, so that we may address

any remaining issues on matters in our jurisdiction. We also

reserve the right to seek appointment of an appropriate

number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving

this important legislation, and request your support if such

a request is made.

I would appreciate your including this letter in your

committee report, or in the Congressional Record during

consideration of the bill on the House floor. Thank you for

your attention to our requests, and for the cooperative

relationship between our two committees.

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr.,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, let me just say that I have listened to everything that my good friend and colleague from Florida, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, said and I concur with every word that she said.

This is a very important bill. It's a very important subject, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 915) encouraging the Republic of Hungary to respect the rule of law, treat foreign investors fairly, and promote a free and independent press.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly) for introducing this important resolution.

Let me just say in 1989 Hungary joined its Central and Eastern European neighbors in throwing off the mantle of communist rule. By taking the brave and unprecedented decision in that year to open its borders to Austria and to allow East Germans to travel freely to the West, Hungary played a decisive role in bringing about the end of the Cold War. In the 20 years since, Hungary has become a member of NATO, the European Union and a strong partner of the United States.

Hungary is working side-by-side with the U.S. in Afghanistan, where it leads the provincial reconstruction team in Baghlan Province, and it has been a partner in conflicts in Iraq and in the Balkans. We greatly appreciate Hungary's staunch support in these and many areas.

However, we have become concerned about recent reports of possible unfair treatment of foreign investors in Hungary and possible efforts to inject politically motivated demands into the commercial process. In particular, we are concerned by the actions of the Hungarian National Radio and Television Board, ORTT, in deciding not to renew the national radio licenses for two foreign companies, one of which is American- owned, and to award them instead to two local bidders.

In 1997, the ORTT awarded to the foreign companies the only two licenses to provide commercial, rather than state-owned, nationwide broadcast services. Those licenses expired on November 19 of this year.

According to widespread media reporting, the two foreign companies have alleged that before their renewal bids were due, they were approached by representatives of Hungary's two leading political parties, offering to ensure their licenses would be extended if they agreed to the representatives' demands for a percentage of the company's equity and a say in editorial content.

The two foreign companies refused, and the ORTT awarded the licenses to the two local bidders instead, who had submitted tenders that many outside experts have said are not commercially viable.

The day following the award, the chairman of the ORTT resigned in protest, claiming that the two local bidders' contracts were flawed and economically unsound. Numerous commentators have indicated that on the face of it, the ORTT's decision clearly appears to have been politically motivated and have ignored the economic feasibility of the two local bidders' tenders.

Madam Speaker, American companies have invested over $9 billion in Hungary since 1989. Hungary's economy, as with every other country, has been severely affected by the global economic downturn. We support U.S. companies' investment in Hungary, but we note that events such as this case give rise to questions about the fairness and transparency of doing business in Hungary.

We welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to investigate any complaint relating to foreign investments, and the decision by the Hungarian Parliament's Constitutional and Justice Committee to set up a body to examine the radio license transaction.

Hungary is a close friend and ally of the United States, and we urge the government to take all necessary steps to ensure that foreign investors are treated fairly. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to split the time evenly in favor of the resolution with my colleague, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I just want to answer the gentleman from Ohio, for whom I have profound respect. And I want to do it by just reading what this resolution says because I don't think it implies what he thinks it implies.

First of all, at the start of the resolution we talk about the brave people of Hungary and how they rose up against domination, Communist domination, Soviet domination in 1956, and whereas the Hungarian people fought bravely for freedom, democracy and human rights. And we talk about celebrating the fact that they have become a member of NATO and a member of the European Union. And at the end the bill simply says, and let me read it, ``Resolved, that the House of Representatives (1) condemns the recent action by the Hungarian National Radio and Television Board that awarded the national community radio licenses; (2) encourages the Republic of Hungary to respect the rule of law and treat foreign investors fairly; and (3) encourages the Republic of Hungary to maintain its commitment to a free and independent press.'' I don't think that implies anything; I think that it encourages them.

And obviously this resolution is bipartisan. It was a company from Indiana that was wronged, and that is why you have Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Burton and Mr. Pence from different parties, but all from Indiana, very concerned about this as well. So I don't think this casts any aspersions on Hungary, its people, or its government; quite the opposite, I think clearly in the resolution it celebrates the great partnership and alliance that we have with Hungary and all the brave things that the Hungarian people did during the past 50 years. I just wanted to point that out.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Donnelly).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Well, let me say to my friend that it is not my resolution; it is Mr. Donnelly's resolution. I don't think it is appropriate for me to strike anything.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Madam Speaker, I would just urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill. This really is not a controversial bill. This is really, with all due respect, a tempest in a teapot. I think that simply, again, I will read the first sentence----

Let me just finish and I will be happy to yield. I would read the first sentence in this resolution, which says, ``Encouraging the Republic of Hungary to respect the rule of law, treat foreign investors fairly, and promote a free and independent press.'' I don't think anyone can disagree with that, not even my friend from Ohio. And I will now yield to him.

Well, let me say to my friend, it's not my tempest and it's not my teapot. I wish the gentleman had come to us earlier before we were having the vote scheduled. We did not know of his objections prior to this debate. And perhaps if he had come to us a little bit earlier we might have been willing to accommodate him, but not knowing about it and being blindsided by his objection, I think it's kind of a little bit difficult to change it.

No, I have yielded enough.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 213) expressing the sense of Congress for and solidarity with the people of El Salvador as they persevere through the aftermath of torrential rains which caused devastating flooding and deadly mudslides, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 213, a resolution expressing our support for the people of El Salvador as they persevere through the aftermath of floods brought on by Hurricane Ida. I am the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and I feel especially strongly about a resolution like this. I want to thank the ranking member of my subcommittee, Connie Mack, the gentleman from Florida, for introducing this important resolution.

On November 9, a large portion of El Salvador was devastated by floods brought on by Hurricane Ida; 196 people were killed, 78 people are missing, and nearly 14,000 individuals are displaced from their homes. Our thoughts are with the people and Government of El Salvador as they cope with these difficult losses.

The United States, through USAID and the U.S. Southern Command, has provided significant emergency relief and assistance to the people of El Salvador in the wake of Hurricane Ida. The President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, and his government have worked closely with the United States to assist the affected populations.

Let me add that I attended the inauguration of President Funes in El Salvador with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just a few months ago, and I am glad that our governments are working so closely together. And let me say that I have great confidence in President Funes as he takes on these crucial disaster relief efforts. I had the pleasure, when I attended the inauguration of Mr. Funes with Secretary Clinton, of meeting with then President-elect Funes at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad as well, so I have discussed things with him twice.

As I have said, the U.S. and other countries have already done a great deal to assist El Salvador during this difficult time, but I believe much more remains to be done. I urge my colleagues to support this crucial legislation, and I again thank Representative Mack for his important initiative.

I encourage the Obama administration to also support disaster relief efforts in Nicaragua and Guatemala, and we need to continue to assist the government and people of El Salvador and prevent future disasters by investing in the country's infrastructure. And I want to, again, say that Hurricane Ida's damages were not limited to El Salvador. Guatemala and Nicaragua were impacted as well.

So I want to thank my friend, Congressman Mack, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, let me just say very quickly, it's been a pleasure to work with the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mack), as well as the ranking member of our subcommittee.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 218) expressing sympathy for the 57 civilians who were killed in the southern Philippines on November 23, 2009.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this concurrent resolution extends our profound condolences to the people of the Philippines who witnessed the worst election-related violence in the country's recent history. I'd like to thank the chairman of our committee, Howard Berman, for his leadership in bringing this resolution before the House.

On November 23, 57 civilians were killed in Maguindanao in the southern Philippines. They were on their way to file nomination papers on behalf of Ismael Mangudadatu, who intended to run against Andal Ampatuan, Jr., the son of the incumbent governor in next year's elections. Many of those killed were women and children, and at least 30 journalists were also killed, putting into question the safety of journalists and the integrity of independent journalism in the Philippines.

I want to extend my deepest sympathy and support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has taken strong measures to hold accountable those who are responsible for this atrocity, vowing that ``no effort will be spared to bring justice to the victims.'' The United States and the Philippines maintain strong bilateral ties based upon historical relations, common interests, and shared Values.

This resolution underscores our commitment to its important relationship during these difficult times.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Al Green.

Madam Speaker, I just would very quickly like to point out that, besides expressing our deep concern, we also express the concern about the culture of impunity that continues to exist among politicians, clans, armed forces, and other persons in the Philippines. And this calls on the United States to offer any kind of assistance, technical assistance, that we can, and we stand by the Philippine government's efforts to bring peace, rule of law, and security to the southern province.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Grand Concourse. As a proud, lifelong resident of the Bronx, I am pleased to co-sponsor H. Res. 907 recognizing the Grand Concourse as one of the most important and historic commerce and cultural centers of New York City.

The Grand Concourse is both the backbone and the heart of the Bronx. Each and every day, thousands of Bronxites travel up and down the concourse, connecting our borough from the north and south of the borough. It unifies the Bronx and enables people to interact and frequent the scores of businesses and cultural landmarks which run up and down the highway.

I grew up only four blocks from the Grand Concourse, and I have very fond memories of those days and the time spent along the thoroughfare. So much of my life, and the lives of my constituents, are tied to the Grand Concourse and I would not trade one moment of it for anything. As a child I watched films at the Loews Theater, I've attended numerous games at Yankee Stadium, and driven north along the Grand Concourse to visit Van Cortlandt Park.

I look forward to the start of the next 100 years in the life of the Grand Concourse, and Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to come to the Bronx and do the same.

I thank my friend for yielding to me.

You know, it is always amazing to me when my Republican friends lecture us about debt or fiscal responsibility when they were in the majority here for 12 years, and for six of those years they did nothing to stop the debt. They did nothing to balance the budget. And now we get lectured.

But I rise in strong support of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, a key component of comprehensive health insurance reform. It is providing our seniors with stable access to their trusted health care providers.

Each year, due to a flawed Medicare payment policy, our physicians face mounting cuts which threaten their ability to care for the patients that depend on them, and at the 11th hour, we have done a short-term patch each and ever year. It is not a good way to run Medicare. This year we are doing it differently. We are ending that. Not only will we eliminate the scheduled 21 percent reduction, but we will replace the flawed sustainable growth rate formula which is responsible for these annual cuts with a more rational payment system.

By doing so, we will preserve access to care and provide physicians with the financial stability they need. The 11th hour is not a way to do it. Our physicians face these mounting cuts, threatening their ability. This is the best way to go about it.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act.

As a senior New Yorker on the Energy and Commerce Committee and on the Health Subcommittee, I am proud of the role I played in helping to make this bill a reality.

On this historic day, our Congress honors our country; it honors our citizens; and it honors a moral imperative to provide all Americans with comprehensive, affordable access to quality health care.

This is the reason why so many of us sought public office, and it is the reason why our constituents sent us to Congress, to right the wrongs of our broken health care system and to steer our country back in the right direction.

Never again will families worry late into the night over whether their preexisting medical conditions will prevent their loved ones from getting access to the health care coverage they so desperately need. Never again will insurance companies be allowed to drop coverage for those who have paid their premiums diligently only to have their policies canceled when they get sick and need it the most. Never again will families have to worry that, if they lose their jobs, they will also lose their health care coverage.

Don't believe the scare tactics you are hearing from the other side. This bill is good for seniors, good for young adults, and good for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Affordable Health Care for All Americans Act. In my 21 year career, this is by far one of the most important votes I will take. I have spent the past ten months meeting with the people of Bronx, Rockland and Westchester Counties and have had heartbreaking stories shared with me about the inadequacies of healthcare.

On this historic day, our Congress honors our country, honors our citizens, and honors our moral imperative to provide all Americans with comprehensive, affordable access to quality health care.

This is the reason so many of us get up day after day after day. It is the reason why so many of us sought public office, and it is the reason why our constituents sent us to Congress--to right the wrongs of our broken healthcare system and steer our country back in the right direction.

Never again will families worry late into the night over whether their pre-existing medical conditions will prevent their loved ones from getting access to health care coverage they so desperately need.

Never again will insurance companies be allowed to drop coverage for those who have paid their premiums diligently, only to lose it when they get sick and need it most.

Never again will families have to worry that if they lose their jobs, they will also lose their healthcare coverage.

The underlying bill provides comprehensive reform to our nation's healthcare system and puts our nation back on the road to fiscal responsibility by reducing the deficit by $30 billion in the first 10 years.

Regardless of who you are, or where you live, this bill provides significant benefits to all citizens.

If you have health insurance, you can keep your doctor and your health plan. You like it, you keep it. It's that simple.

But for those that don't have health insurance, we will change that today. Of the 46 million Americans that are uninsured, 85 percent of them are in working families. Millions of Americans desperately want to purchase health insurance and can't. They've been priced out of the system. They have been priced out of a basic desire to keep them and their families healthy. 53 percent of Americans postpone care or medication because of cost. 60 percent of bankruptcies were related to medical debt. It's unfair, unsustainable and un-American to allow this failed health care system to continue.

Insurance companies have a chokehold on the market and we are breaking through that today. If you don't have health insurance, or lose your health insurance, the new health insurance exchange will provide a one stop comparison shopping market place for you of private insurance options or a new public health insurance option.

While in my heart of hearts I believe a single payer system would be the best reform of our nation's health care, I have worked tirelessly over the last year to enact a strong public option. The public option included in the bill will undoubtedly inject competition into the market for better prices and coverage of quality health insurance.

No longer will women be considered second class citizens when it comes to healthcare coverage. H.R. 3962 supports women's health care by ending the designation of pregnancy, domestic violence and caesarean sections as pre-existing conditions, and eliminating out-of-pocket expenses for preventive services including mammograms, well baby and well-child care visits. It also prohibits plans from charging women more for health coverage than men, and guarantees coverage for maternity care.

H.R. 3962 invests in Medicare. Our seniors will see improved benefits, free preventive care, better primary care and lower drug costs. The donut hole, in which seniors pay monthly premiums for drug coverage without a drug benefit, will finally be closed. I have been fighting for this since the day we enacted the Medicare Prescription drug benefit.

Young adults will have more access to affordable healthcare than ever before. Our bill allows adults to stay on their parents' healthcare plans until their 27th birthday. This measure alone will cover one out of three uninsured young adults.

Additionally, small business owners will be granted access to affordable large group rates in the new insurance exchange and tax credits to help businesses insure employees across the 17th district and our nation. I met with the Rockland Small Business Association this summer and fought to make health insurance reform workable for small businesses. 98.8 percent of small business owners will pay no surcharge and 86 percent of America's businesses are exempt from the shared responsibility requirement to provide insurance. In fact, businesses with payrolls of $500,000 or below are completely exempt from provisions in H.R. 3962.

Throughout this year, and in my role as the Senior New Yorker on the Energy & Commerce health subcommittee, I have worked hand and hand with Chairmen Waxman, Rangel, Miller, Majority Leader Hoyer and Speaker Pelosi to improve the underlying bill for New York State and people nationwide.

Here are just a few of the provisions I was successful in inserting in the underlying bill.

I am proud to have reformed the Medicaid program to serve people with HIV. Under current Medicaid rules, low-income people with HIV must wait until they are disabled by AIDS before they can get covered by Medicaid. In the House bill, states could cover all people with HIV infection under state disability income and resource levels until January 1, 2013, when the new health insurance exchange is operational, at an enhanced federal match.

I worked to protect the ability of eight states, including NY to preserve Adult Day Health care programs in Medicaid. These community- based long term care programs provide comprehensive health care services in day settings.

Beneficiaries are given nursing, case management, clinical management, medical, diagnostic, social, rehabilitative, recreational and personal care services on a routine, daily basis.

Since my time in the New York State Assembly when I was the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, I have been championing for mental health and substance abuse services. I worked to strengthen our capacity to serve people affected by these disorders through Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers. My provision will establish national standards of care for persons with serious mental illness and addiction disorders. Furthermore, new reporting and accountability standards for mental health care will better integrate its providers and services within the larger healthcare system.

Many people have a family member, or are friends with someone who has autism. I worked with Rep. Doyle, the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Autism on several provisions dear to me. We ensured that discrimination in benefits against persons with autism are prohibited by including behavioral health treatments as part of the essential benefits package in the House health reform bill.

There is currently a shortage of appropriately-trained personnel who can assess, diagnose, treat and support patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These professionals require the most up-to-date practices to best care for those with autism and their families. And so we included a provision for the training for professionals working with children and adults with autism.

I advocated to improve the healthcare for maternity and newborn care in the Medicaid program. H.R. 3962 will extend important child health quality improvement provisions to traditional-eligible childbearing women and newborns and other covered adults younger than age 65. As a result of my provision, the Secretary of Health & Human Services will collect data and make recommendations on improving care for these key populations.

Finally, I was tireless in my advocacy for the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program, which assists with the cost of caring for uninsured and underinsured people at hospitals. These payments ensure that hospitals are not in financial distress from serving low-income people.

We stand here as proud Americans determined and ready to transform a broken health care system into a model of care worldwide. The cost of inaction is too great. Today, we answer the call of history, and vote for health insurance reform for America. Our nation's future depends on it.

I thank my friend from New York for yielding to me.

I think the gentleman from Texas came out in favor of a public option, so I'm really happy about that.

Madam Speaker, I rise this morning, of course, to congratulate the New York Yankees on its 27th winning of the World Series.

I'm about as Bronx as you can get. I was born in the Bronx, and I've represented parts of the Bronx for the past 21 years. I still live in the Bronx. I always tease Mr. Serrano because, you know, we change district lines. Every 10 years, we get redistricted, and if we still had the 1992-2002 lines, Yankee Stadium would be in my district instead of in Mr. Serrano's.

I was there at the World Series. I was there for game 6, and I can tell everyone that the celebration after the Yankees won, both in Yankee Stadium and outside of Yankee Stadium on River Avenue and 161st Street, was like New Year's Eve. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

As we speak today, the Yankees are in New York, having a ticker-tape parade up Broadway. We all wish we could be there, but of course we have pressing business here in Washington, so we are in Washington, but if I could, I would be in New York for the ticker-tape parade, which is just a fantastic experience. Several years ago, I had the experience of riding in the ticker-tape parade. I am very proud of the Yankees and of what they have done.

You know, the Bronx, for many years, has been maligned. Congressman Serrano and I, who both live in the Bronx, know what a wonderful borough it is, what a wonderful county it is, and what wonderful people live in the Bronx neighborhoods. Sometimes the media report on some of the negative things, and every time I go to a community meeting or see a civic association fighting for its community, I always ask, Why isn't the media here? Because this is the real Bronx. I am very, very proud of the Bronx and am very, very proud of the symbol of the Bronx--the New York Yankees.

They're not called the Bronx Bombers for nothing. They're called the Bronx Bombers because they are bombers, and they're from the Bronx. I'm proud to be a Bronxite. I'm proud to live in the Bronx, and I'm proud of the New York Yankees.

I know it's violating rules to put a hat on, but I'm going to do it just for 2 seconds because I think it's really important that I put this on. This hat is worn more than any other hat. We see people in far corners of the world who are wearing a Yankee hat. In Asia, in Africa, in Europe, in the Middle East, wherever we go, we see people wearing Yankee hats. So it's really a symbol of unity. It's a symbol at a time when we need unity, not only in this country but around the world. I'm just so proud of the New York Yankees--of the Bronx Bombers--and I'm proud to be a son of the Bronx.

Would the gentleman yield?

I want to thank my friend, Mr. Towns, for pointing out that this is a resolution supporting and congratulating the New York Yankees. I grew up less than a mile from Yankee Stadium, and I have seen the Bronx during good times and bad times. These are good times now.

So I want to congratulate the Steinbrenner family. I want to congratulate Randy Levine and Lonn Trost and all the others who are connected with the New York Yankees.

I am glad that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) pointed out that this is a resolution about the Yankees. Frankly, I think that people should have the respect to talk about the Yankees when we are debating a resolution about the Yankees, not to talk about other bills or other things that the Congress is doing.

I would hope that our friends on both sides of the aisle would respect that and would congratulate us and would congratulate the New York Yankees.

Well, as President Ronald Reagan used to say, there you go again. The same crowd that opposed Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s, who told us that that would bring socialized medicine to the United States, are now opposing health care for all, saying once again it will bring socialized medicine and all kinds of ills.

We have 46 million or 47 million Americans that don't have health coverage, and that will grow to 50 million, 60 million, and 70 million, so people that have coverage now will lose their coverage if we do nothing.

So this Democratic majority is going to do something. We are going to pass a comprehensive health care bill that will ensure that virtually all Americans will have health care. We are going to pass a bill that will make sure that the insurance companies can't refuse to cover you because they say you have a preexisting condition. We are going to make it so the insurance companies don't continue to collude amongst themselves to keep health care premiums high. We are going to make it so that we have affordable health care for all for the American people.

The American people should reject the lies and scares and fear tactics. We are going to have health care for all, and it is going to be good for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I rise to support the resolution.

We should reject the Goldstone Report, which is part of an ongoing effort at the U.N. to single out Israel and to deny Israel the same rights accorded to other nations.

For example, of the 34 motions adopted by the so-called U.N. Human Rights Council since its inception in 2006, 27 of them are directed at Israel. I might say that these paragons of democracy on this Human Rights Council are Libya, Syria, and other dictatorships.

The report equates Israel's long-delayed acts of self-defense with Hamas' 12,000 intentional, indiscriminate attacks on Israeli civilians since 2001.

The report ignores the well-documented, unprecedented efforts by Israel to limit civilian casualties in Gaza neighborhoods where they were being used as human shields by the terrorists.

Finally, the report fails to assign appropriate responsibility to Hamas for its decision to base itself and its military operations in heavily civilian-populated areas.

This Congress should stand by the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and should reject the biased Goldstone Report.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 863) recognizing the scourge of pneumonia, urging the United States and the world to mobilize cooperation and prioritize resources to fight pneumonia and save children's lives, and recognizing November 2 as World Pneumonia Day, as amended.

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

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

The United States has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to reducing child mortality. We have endorsed the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, one of which is to reduce by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 the under 5 mortality rate.

We know about the scourge of hunger and the disastrous impacts of diseases like AIDS, malaria, and measles on children around the world. But many people are not aware of that more children die of pneumonia than anything else. Every 15 seconds, a child dies from pneumonia, about 2 million children each year.

It is estimated that more than 150 million episodes of pneumonia occur every year among children under the age of 5 in developing countries, accounting for more than 95 percent of all new cases worldwide. Yet pneumonia is preventable; it is a treatable illness. A life can be saved with antibiotics that cost less than a dollar. It is really outrageous that we have the ability to save lives and we don't because the money is not used for it.

Sadly, according to UNICEF, fewer than 20 percent of children suffering from pneumonia receive these antibiotics which they so desperately need. Despite the fact that pneumonia kills more children under 5 than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined, it has received far less attention and funding than any of them.

Pneumonia can be treated if recognized and diagnosed early. Yet fewer than 25 percent of caregivers in the developing world are trained to identify the two telltale symptoms of pneumonia: fast and difficult breathing.

To raise awareness of these distressing statistics and to build support for addressing the problem, World Pneumonia Day is recognized annually on November 2. That was yesterday. And yesterday, organizations and countries across the globe joined forces in support of the first-ever World Pneumonia Day.

I am proud to report in New York City where I live, more than 100 leaders

in science, politics, and global health, including the Earth Institute of Columbia University, convened a Global Pneumonia Summit.

The resolution before us, H. Res. 863, reaffirms our commitment into national child survival and development programs that focus on protection, prevention, and treatment of pneumonia.

I commend the distinguished gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea- Porter) for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter).

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. 858) congratulating the Inter-American Foundation (IAF) on its 40th anniversary and recognizing its significant accomplishments and contributions.

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

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

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 858, a resolution I offered congratulating the Inter-American Foundation, or the IAF, on its 40th anniversary, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I first of all want to thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for their support of this resolution. And, I am particularly grateful to Connie Mack, the ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which I chair, for being my colead on this resolution.

Over the years, the Inter-American Foundation has enabled millions of marginalized and poor people in Latin America and the Caribbean to improve their lives through grants promoting income and employment generation, civic education and citizen participation, access to credit and public resources, food security, environmental sustainability, and cultural and social development.

During Democratic and Republican administrations alike, the IAF has been an important model of grassroots foreign assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Furthermore, it is a vital component of United States foreign policy in the Americas and of the United States development agenda.

As chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I have had the pleasure of visiting Inter-American Foundation projects throughout the region in Latin America and the Caribbean, both places. In Ecuador, I visited with the Community Corporation and Action Foundation, CACMU, a women's microcredit cooperative where I saw firsthand the benefits reaped by IAF's relatively small investment. During that same visit, I also had the privilege of meeting with representatives of the Agro- ecology and Agro-tourism Foundation, a community organization focused on food security and natural resource management.

The IAF's work does not simply provide tangible benefits to the poor. It is also extremely useful in maintaining a positive United States presence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

As President Obama reengages with our neighbors in the hemisphere, the work of the IAF is more important than ever. In April, I had the pleasure of attending the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago as the leader of the U.S. congressional delegation. At the summit, President Obama pledged that the United States would ``be partners in helping to alleviate poverty'' in the region.

One of the best ways that Congress can stand with President Obama in supporting a robust social agenda in the hemisphere is through continued strong support of the Inter-American Foundation. So I congratulate the IAF on its 40th anniversary, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Texas for his good words.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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