Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, Dr. Judah Schorr is not only a distinguished anesthesiologist whose personal charm and sense of humor has helped many of his patients through difficult times but he is also someone who truly knows how important it is to give of yourself. Dr. Schorr took an extra step to help a patient recently when he donated his bone marrow through the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation.

Dr. Schorr is also a philanthropist who gives generously to society as a whole financially as well as to individuals through himself. He is also involved in many other worthy causes.

He and his wife Gail Levey are parents of Nathaniel and Ethan.

For his contributions to his community and society as a whole he is presented with the Andrew Zucker Community Service Award.

Madam Speaker, James Lapin, an active member of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, is truly a giving person. Mr. Lapin really understands the importance of doing and not just talking about giving. This is something he demonstrated by donating a kidney to a woman through a match made by the Halachic Organ Donor Society.

At the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale he is a frequent participant in many of the Bayrit's programs and has been instrumental in continuing Abraham and Sarah's Tent, the innovative program at HIR that provides free Shabbat dinner every Friday. He also shows his concern for our youth by being a big brother in the Big Sibling program of the Jewish Youth Encounter Program.

James and his wife Ann are parents of Gavriella and Sarit and have lived in Riverdale since their marriage in 2001. He is a graduate of the BA/MBA program of the University of Judaism and now works for Columbia University.

For his true selflessness and good works, he is presented with the Andrew Zucker Community Service Award.

Madam Speaker, the contribution of law enforcement to the community goes well beyond arrests and convictions, and if you are lucky, on occasion you come across someone with that extra sense of commitment to the motto ``protect and serve''. Detective Luis Rodriguez, a 20-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, is the Community Affairs Officer for the 50th Precinct, the liaison to schools, civic groups, tenant associations and houses of worship and Detective Rodriguez is one such officer who is always ready to go above and beyond and to offer a helping hand those in need.

Detective Rodriguez defines his job in terms of what he can do for the community by bringing human warmth to people who are facing stressful situations. Whenever anything occurs in the community whether a serious issue or a simple question, everyone knows that they can call Luis. We don't even need to use a title or last name, he is known simply as Luis. We know that we can count on him for guidance or to be there when needed.

He has had many awards for his work and credits his parents for raising him with a lot of trust. He is passing on this trust to two of his favorite people in the world, his children, Caitlin and Steven.

For his good work with the community, the Riverdale Jewish Community Council is awarding him the Martin Rollins Interfaith Brotherhood Award. I understand that Detective Rodriguez is retiring this summer and I want him to know that the community will miss him and that he can always count on us for a helping hand if ever he needs one.

Madam Speaker, Maxine Halpern has involved herself deeply in Jewish affairs internationally, nationally, and locally. She is a born and bred Bronxite who graduated from City University of New York.

Maxine is the daughter of two World War II veterans, the U.S. Army and the Royal Air Force. Traveling to England to visit family began at an early age and touring foreign lands became a lifelong interest, having traveled to over 40 countries on 5 continents as well as throughout much of the United States.

She is a supporter of over 50 philanthropies both secular and religious. Maxine has been awarded the Nahum Goldman Leadership Award, and is a member of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's international Leadership Council, among other equally prestigious organizations.

She is also active in local Jewish communal life as a member of the board of trustees, as vice president, and as president of the Riverdale Temple. She was appointed founding president of the Congregation Shaarei Shalom. For all of her outstanding contributions to community life, the Riverdale Jewish Community Council presents her with the Michael Schreck Community Builder Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 951. I am the lead Democrat on the resolution, and I am proud to be the lead Democrat, and I am glad it is a bipartisan resolution.

This resolution condemns the Palestinian rocket attacks on civilians in the south of Israel and supports Israel's right to self-defense. I ask my colleagues: When are these horrendous, unprovoked attacks going to stop?

Last week a student at Sapir College in Sderot was killed, and one other person wounded by shrapnel after a Kassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip by Palestinians hit the western Negev campus. The rocket that struck the college's parking lot was one of a barrage of six fired 1 week ago, two of which landed in Sderot.

I've been in Sderot. It is a good town. There are good people there, and they live in fear.

According to the Jerusalem Post, a total of 22 Kassam rockets were launched in the south of Israel on that day from the Gaza Strip. In fact, Mr. Speaker, more than 4,000 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israel from Gaza since Israel withdrew in 2005. And my colleagues have mentioned that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. People say there should be land for peace in the settlement. Well, Israel gave up land, didn't get peace. It's not land for peace, it's land for war, and it's got to stop.

Today, longer range Palestinian rockets are hitting larger Israeli cities, representing a serious escalation in Hamas' terror war against Israel. The Hamas rockets simply continue the pattern of indiscriminate attacks on innocent men, women and children, which has been the strategy of the Palestinian terror groups for decades. They represent a blatant violation of human rights and international law by intentionally targeting civilian populations and using human shields to hide the rockets.

I am further concerned by the source of these weapons of terror. Published reports indicate that Iran and Syria have provided material support and training to those carrying out the rocket attacks. I was pleased to be the author of the Syria Accountable Act, and we must make sure that Syria is held accountable, and Iran as well.

The world stood with the U.S. after the terrorist attacks of September 11, and we must strongly support our friend and ally, Israel, at this time. The people of Israel must know that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they seek to defend themselves against the terror.

It is important to point out that Israel's military response has been carefully calibrated to halt the rocket fire, surgically eliminate the terrorists firing the rockets, and ensure the safety of Israeli citizens, while at the same time making every effort to limit Palestinian civilian casualties. In this, the Israelis have my full support.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 951 takes a firm stand against the Palestinian rocket attacks and condemns Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations carrying out the terrorism. It holds Syria and Iran responsible for their roles enabling the terrorist organizations and offers America's strong support to our ally, Israel, as it responds in self-defense.

Mr. Speaker, rocket attacks against Israel must end. We must support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, a community is an aggregate of it residents, but its quality of life is determined by the dedication of those who devote themselves to the welfare of their community. Winifred Ann Waters, known to all of us as Winnie, is a born and bred Bronx girl who has devoted herself to her community and the people in it.

She was born to Peter and Elizabeth McGee and grew up on Cypress Avenue and 138th Street. Her father died when she was a youthful teenager and she grew up helping her mother care for her siblings, Jimmy, Louis, and Veronica.

Winne was 16 when she first met Jimmy Waters, who was to become her husband. They have now been happily married for 40-plus years, and have 4 children, Jimmy, Vincent, Peter and Mary, who gave them 6 grandchildren with a seventh on the way.

After working for several years in the private sector Winnie left to have her first child. In 1985 she began working at Community Board 12 as a community associate with one of her responsibilities taking the complaints of unhappy citizens.

Taking lemons and making lemonade, she established many lasting and close relationships over the years. She is one of a rare breed who works unselfishly without need for credit or praise. In time she started to adopt the community as a second family and devoting herself to making the community a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Now, no matter where Winnie walks in the Community Board 12 neighborhood, she is recognized by all. She will be greatly missed in her retirement but her goal of making the community a family environment is one that we will continue to follow from her fine example.

I sincerely thank her for all that she has done for the people of her community. She is an inspiration to all.

Madam Speaker, I insert in the Congressional Record a statement by former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Stuart Eizenstat in honor of our late Chairman Tom Lantos.

Statement of Stuart Eizenstat

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5264 which extends trade preferences for Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia. I want to thank Chairman Levin and Chairman Rangel, the dean of our New York delegation, for their leadership on this issue. This is certainly a bipartisan issue, and it is a very, very important issue.

I am the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. And as chairman of that subcommittee, I believe that the extension of the Andean Trade Preferences is crucial in promoting the development of the economically and politically fragile Andean region while at the same time supporting the United States' geopolitical goals.

ATPDEA has been enormously successful, as all my colleagues have stated, having created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Andean region. Every job created in the Andean region, as was mentioned before, is another potential illegal immigrant remaining in their home country. Without the extension of ATPDEA, these jobs, which are in sectors that do not directly compete with U.S. jobs, will be eliminated.

I just returned a few short days ago from leading a bipartisan congressional delegation which included Ecuador and Bolivia. In fact, Madam Speaker, at this time I will submit into the Record a letter that the five of us who were on the trip sent around to the rest of our colleagues supporting the extension of the Andean Trade Preferences, signed by myself, Mr. Weller, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Green, and Ms. Foxx.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, February 25, 2008.

Support Extension of the Andean Trade Preferences

Dear Colleague: Having just returned from a CODEL to

Ecuador and Bolivia, we are writing to urge you to vote for

H.R. 5264--which would extend trade preferences for Colombia,

Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia for 10 months--when it is on the

House floor on Tuesday. While many of us would prefer a

longer term extension of ATPDEA, we believe that a 10 month

extension is a good start.

We are a bipartisan group of Members who believe that the

Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) is a

win-win for both the citizens of the Andean region and the

U.S. private sector. ATPDEA has literally created hundreds of

thousands of jobs in the Andean region, while at the same

time supporting essential U.S. geopolitical goals.

We fear that if the Andean trade preference program is

eliminated, many of the unemployed would turn to drug

cultivation after they lose their jobs. Assistant Secretary

of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Tom Shannon has

argued that ATPDEA, ``has been an important counterpoint to

drug production in the region. It's produced hundreds of

thousands of jobs in the region, so in that sense it's been a

very, very successful program.'' We firmly agree.

We visited with producers of flowers, broccoli, coffee,

cacao and other products in Ecuador. Without ATPDEA, workers

in these sectors would undoubtedly lose their jobs, leaving

them with little option outside of the illegal drug trade or

illegal immigration to the United States.

In Bolivia--the poorest country in South America--we met

with textile workers whose jobs would also be eliminated

without an extension of ATPDEA. Many of these workers are

indigenous women, who are among the most historically

marginalized members of society in Bolivia and throughout the

Andean region.

Finally, failure to extend ATPDEA would put many U.S. jobs

at risk. For example, U.S. yarns, fabrics, fibers and other

textile inputs are exported to the Andean region, where they

are incorporated into finished garments and exported back

into the United States.

While we all supported ATPDEA prior to our trip, meeting

firsthand with the people

in Ecuador and Bolivia who. are directly impacted by ATPDEA

renewed our commitment to this crucial trade preference

program. Please join us in supporting the citizens of the

Andean region by voting for H.R. 5264 when it is on the House

floor on Tuesday.

Sincerely,

Eliot L. Engel,

Chairman, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

Maurice Hinchey,

Member of Congress.

Jerry Weller,

Member of Congress.

Gene Green,

Member of Congress.

Virginia Foxx,

Member of Congress.

We visited on the trip with producers of flowers, broccoli, coffee, cacao and other products. Without the Andean Trade Preferences, workers in these sectors would undoubtedly lose their jobs, leaving them with little option outside of the illegal drug trade or illegal immigration to the United States.

In Bolivia, which is the poorest country in South America, my delegation met with textile workers whose jobs would also be eliminated without an extension of ATPDEA. Many of these workers are indigenous women who are among the most historically marginalized members of society in Bolivia and throughout the Andean region.

I truly fear that without the extension of ATPDEA, many of the unemployed in the Andean region would turn to drug cultivation after they lose their jobs. The Andean preference program was originally created not only to support economic development in the region but also to divert illegal coca manufacturing towards legitimate industries. Using these trade preferences as a tool in the drug war is no less important today. Indeed it is more important.

While I have been a long-time supporter of ATPDEA, meeting firsthand with the people in Ecuador and Bolivia who are directly impacted by these crucial trade preferences renewed my commitment to it. Having visited Colombia twice in the past 4 months, I am also convinced that that country, along with Peru, would have great benefits from this bill.

We need to be engaged in the Western Hemisphere. If we don't, we do so at our own peril. And so I urge my colleagues overwhelmingly in a bipartisan fashion to please vote for this bill and send a very strong message to our friends in Latin America that the United States is a good partner and we can be counted on in time of need. It helps them. It helps us. It is a winner for both of us.

Madam Speaker, I rise because I listened intently to the remarks just made by my friend from Texas, and I want to say that as someone who has supported the independence of Kosova for the past 20 years, I couldn't disagree more.

I am proud of the United States for supporting and encouraging the independence of Kosova. I am proud of the Bush administration for doing the right thing in Kosova. I am proud of the United States standing on the side of freedom and self-determination and independence, and I am proud that the United States understands that the people of Kosova are entitled to the same kinds of freedoms that we had for ourselves in our own revolution more than 200 years ago.

No, I don't think that every independence or separatist movement in the world is entitled to declare independence, but I think that we need to look at everything in terms of its context.

The former Yugoslavia broke up. There were several components of the former Yugoslavia. We now have several independent countries of Macedonia and Croatia and Slovenia and many others, Montenegro, and Kosova, also, as part of the former Yugoslavia is entitled to that same kind of independence and self-determination.

We remember where the former leader of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, had set out to ethnically cleanse his country of Albanians, to commit genocide against the Albanians in Kosova to drive them out, to indeed burn practically every Albanian home in Kosova when they were driven out. It was only because of the courage at that time of President Clinton and the United States where we helped and bombed and prevented genocide that that was prevented.

So I think the situation in the former Yugoslavia, in Kosova, is unique. I think that Serbia relinquished any kind of claim to Kosova by the way their former leader Milosevic persecuted and committed genocide against the Albanian population.

Self-determination for the people of Kosova is the right thing to do. The United States and the European Union have stood strong in supporting Kosova independence. Kosova, indeed, will be a strong ally of the West, of the United States, of the European Union.

The people of Kosova love the United States. They trust us. They care about us. They know we are there for them. I want to tell you, as someone who has been so involved with this issue for the past 20 years, there are no better friends that we have across the world, the United States has, than the people of Kosova.

So I am very, very proud that that is a new nation. I am very proud that the United States has recognized them. I, indeed, would urge all freedom-loving countries of the world to recognize the people of Kosova.

We in this wonderful democracy are so blessed and so fortunate to live in the United States, and we have principles for which we stand, and those are the same principles that the people of Kosova are standing for and looking at us to follow exactly what we have done in terms of democracy. I hope to go to Kosova in the very, very near future to celebrate with the people there.

I want to say one other thing. Kosova will be a multiethnic state, and that means that minority rights have to be protected in Kosova. There are some who are concerned about Serbian Orthodox churches and that minority rights, including Serbs, need to be protected. I agree. Those churches need to be protected. Minority rights need to be protected. I am confident that the leaders of Kosova will protect those churches, will protect those rights, will protect the rights of all Kosovars, whether they be Albanian, Serb or others, and the people understand that. I know the people of Kosova, and I know they understand that.

I just want to very, very strongly state that I am proud to be a friend of the people of Kosova. This Congress has been a friend of the people of Kosova. Our government has been a friend of the people of Kosova, and I think we as Americans can hold our heads up high and say that the ideals for which our revolution was fought more than 200 years ago are the same ideals of the revolution for the new independence and new nation of Kosova.

Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I report the passing of Marina E. Ortega, a long time resident of Mount Vernon, who died on February 7, 2008. She was born January 18, 1938 to Felix and Maria Ortega in Jamaica, West Indies, where she was raised. She trained as a nurse in England, graduating as a state certified midwife.

In 1968, she arrived in the United States and worked as head nurse in the medical/surgical unit at United Hospital. She also obtained her certificate as a nurse practitioner, HIV counselor, and New York State certified nurses aids trainer and examiner.

She retired in 1992 and worked as a volunteer at the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center until June 2006. During this period she established a volunteer services program and placed over 300 volunteers at the center; she set up and coordinated a Reach-Out and Read literacy program for children, which became a model program for the State; and served on all fundraising committees.

In 2006, Ms. Ortega organized and served as president of the Caribbean Cultural Caucus where she fought vigorously for an amnesty bill for the English-speaking Caribbean nations. In 2000, in part because of her work, I introduced legislation to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act in regard to Caribbean-born immigrants.

Ms. Ortega was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Mount Vernon. She is survived by a sister, Helen Graham; three brothers, Francisco Ortega, Sisto Ortega, and St. George Walker; two aunts, Josepha, Castera and Daisy Hernandez; a sister-in-law, Sylvia Webb; with Carol Morris and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Marina and I worked together many times in helping the Caribbean community. She was ardent and steadfast in helping people as a nurse, as a volunteer, and as someone who cared deeply for her community. It is with great sorrow that I and the entire community say farewell to her.

Madam Speaker, Carmel Reilly has been a member of the Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians for 8 years and in that relatively brief time has been involved in so many activities involving AOH causes that she has been named its 2008 Hibernian of the Year.

Carmel is the daughter of Matt and Moira Reilly from Blauvelt where she grew up along with her three sisters. The family's Irish heritage was incorporated into everyday life and Irish step-dancing lessons resulted in Carmel being a participant in Rockland County's first ever Feis in 1974.

Carmel has participated in all things Irish: St. Patrick's Day parades, Irish festivals, and Feiseanna, to mention just a few events.

She joined the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 3 in 2001 and quickly joined the Rockland County St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee. In 2003, she was part of the newly formed Halfway to St. Patrick's Day committee. As chairperson of the committee's highly successful Night at the Races, over $20,000 was raised for the Rockland County St. Patrick's Day Parade over the next 2 years.

As a Ladies AOH member, Carmel was always ready to volunteer. She has been the chair of more than a dozen Christmas and St. Patrick's Day dinners. She has contributed to the Rockland AOH/LAOH Feis for several years and was a co-chairperson, along with Michael O'Sullivan, of the Feis journal for 2 years.

In 2004, Carmel began raising funds for the Rockland Gaelic Athletic Association, originating the highly successful Pub Quiz, which is in its fifth season.

Carmel also has the Irish love of horses and in 2006 she invested in two racehorses--one of which, Tater Tutt, recently won his fifth race from his last six starts.

Carmel, a Dominican College alumna, is employed as the Treasury/ Budget Manager for Common Ground, an organization that helps the homeless find housing.

Working with the Rockland AOH in assisting hurricane victims or sending a notice of a fundraiser to hundreds of supporters, Carmel tirelessly gives her time and energy. Her energy and devotion have earned her this honor, and I join in congratulating her for this recognition.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 2 weeks ago Officer Christopher Ridley, age 23, of the Mount Vernon New York Police Department saw a street scuffle outside a county social services building in White Plains, New York. While off duty and in plain clothes, he drew his service weapon and attempted to break up the fight.

Unfortunately, officers from the Westchester County police also came upon the scuffle and tragically and mistakenly fired on Officer Ridley, who was killed.

Last week I attended the wake and funeral of Officer Ridley in the City of Mount Vernon, which is in my congressional district. Hundreds of local residents, police, and others from throughout the area turned out to pay their final respects. My heart goes out to Officer Ridley and his family by this terrible tragedy. One of our finest was

struck down at a very young age, which is around the age of two of my children.

The investigation into the shooting has begun, but the life of a brave 23-year-old is already taken. I ask my colleagues to remember Officer Ridley, who was posthumously promoted to detective, and also remember so many others for the brave sacrifice they make each and every day protecting us and our communities.

We must always remember those in law enforcement for the difficult job they are called to do each and every day.

May Detective Ridley always be remembered for his brave commitment to maintaining the peace and keeping us safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address H.R. 4351, the Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act.

Mr. Speaker, the original idea behind the alternative minimum tax, AMT, was to prevent

people with very high incomes from using special tax benefits to pay little or no income tax. The AMT's reach, however, has expanded beyond just the wealthy to threaten millions in the middle class. And when the AMT applies, its costs are often substantial.

One reason for the AMT's expansion is that, unlike the regular income tax system, the AMT is not indexed for inflation. Another reason is that individual income tax cuts enacted since 2001 have provided higher credits and deductions and lowered tax rates, thereby leading to more taxpayers owing tax under the AMT.

Last year, 4.2 million Americans were affected by the AMT. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that, if Congress does not act, 23 million taxpayers will be affected this year. That will include over 54,000 families in my district--many of whom do not have very high income, and do not receive many special tax benefits. We need to protect these Americans from the AMT.

Further, according to the New York City Independent Budget Office, the percentage of New York City taxpayers currently hit by the AMT far exceeds the comparable national estimate: 6.7 percent versus 4.0 percent.

The bill before us today provides a much needed 1-year patch for the AMT. It is a necessary step in the right direction on this issue; and we completely pay for it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4351.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to once again express my support for the independence of Kosovo, which is a nation in the Balkans, 90 percent ethnic Albanian country that has struggled a great deal and is now on the verge of independence.

I would like to put a little history in perspective. The former Yugoslavia has broken up, and much of the components of the former Yugoslavia have become independent nations. I have long argued that so, too, the people of Kosovo deserve to be an independent country.

There have recently been negotiations in which the United States and Russia and the European Union, called the Troika, have taken part, negotiations between Serbia and the Kosovar Albanians. And just 2 days ago, on December 10, after 120 days of negotiations, it has been found that no agreement could be reached. So now the question remains that, since no agreement was reached, what should happen?

I say that Kosovo should very soon declare its independence, and that the United States and the European Union and other freedom-loving countries should recognize the new nation of Kosovo. There is a plan called the Atasari plan which was put together by the Scandinavian diplomat that has been blocked in the United Nations because of Russian threats and intransigence. The Atasari plan, which grants supervised independence to Kosovo, should be immediately implemented.

And when the people of Kosovo declare their independence, that Attasari plan should be implemented again with the European Union and the United States recognizing the newly formed nation.

This should come soon after the first of the year, perhaps a few weeks or months into the new year, and I intend to be in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, when independence is finally declared and accepted.

I rise because I think that the United States plays a very vital role and does play and has played a very vital role, and the people of Kosovo trust the United States to be there and be their friends. I want to say to the people of Kosovo that the United States has always been your friend and will continue to be your friend.

The long and troubled history of the Balkans we all know; wars started there, world wars started there, and I think perhaps a little history to where we got to where we are now.

In 1999, basically every Kosovar Albanian, 2 million were driven out by the then-dictator of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevic, and the United States came to the rescue and bombed and helped prevent ethnic cleansing in the area. So when the Kosovar Albanians came back, they found that virtually every one of their homes were burned, some to the ground and beyond recognition.

The country has been building itself up since then, but only independence can get the country on the right track. Since that time, the United Nations and the UNMIK forces of the United Nations have been governing Kosovo sort of as an international governance. But the time for that is over. The people of Kosovo need to know that there is a future and they need to know that they, like other peoples in the world, can lead their own nation to freedom and democracy.

So, again, I rise here to once again offer my support for the people of Kosovo, for the independence of Kosovo, to tell them that the United States will stand behind them, and I hope that shortly after the first of the year again the U.S. will be among the first countries to recognize the new independent nation of Kosovo. They are going to need our help and we will continue to give it to them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a 10-term member of the United States House of Representatives, co-author of the DRIVE Act, Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act, H.R. 670, and co-chair of the Oil and National Security Caucus.

For too long, the United States has been too dependent on foreign oil. We consume nearly 21 million barrels per day, and our appetite is growing. This reliance on a single resource is particularly troubling because much of that oil comes from nations that are unstable, unfriendly, or downright hostile.

Despite our economic dominance, we continue to give our money to foreign nations because we are addicted to foreign oil. Despite our military might, we remain vulnerable because we are addicted to foreign oil.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for that to change. It is time for bold leadership to move us toward energy independence.

Energy independence is a goal that other countries are already achieving. Brazil, a nation that once relied on foreign countries to import 80 percent of its crude oil, will be entirely self-sufficient in a few years thanks to its investment in biofuels.

I believe we can become self-sufficient by replacing our consumption of foreign oil with domestic production of biofuels; first from corn, then from cellulosic feedstock and other biomass--including agricultural and municipal waste.

I am proud of the legislation that this legislative body has produced today. This bill will strengthen national security, lower energy costs, grow our economy and create new jobs, and begin to reduce global warming.

This legislation takes groundbreaking steps to increase the efficiency of our vehicles, making an historic commitment to American grown biofuels, requiring that 15 percent of our electricity come from renewable sources, and strengthening energy efficiency for a wide range of products, appliances, lighting and buildings to reduce energy costs to consumers.

It mandates increased automotive fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020, the first such change since 1975.

It repeals tax breaks for profit-rich oil companies, and invests that money in clean renewable energy and new American technologies. Not only would this reduce our dependence on foreign oil, the measure would also save consumers billions of dollars.

Mr. Speaker, among the specific legislative initiatives in this bill near-and-dear to my heart, that I have long advocated with some of my friends and distinguished colleagues here in the House, are:

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, PHEV, and other Advanced Drive Transportation Technologies, which will save fuels costs for consumers and businesses, reduce air pollution, and decrease dependence on imported oil;

National Tire Efficiency Consumer Information Program, which will create a national program to educate consumers about the crucial role played by passenger tires, and the proper maintenance of passenger tires, on vehicle fuel economy;

Renewable Fuels Standard, which will ensure that a percentage of our nation's fuel supply will be provided by the domestic production of biofuels. It will provide a pathway for reduced consumer fuel prices, increased energy security, and growth in our nation's factories and farms.

United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Provisions, which establish a grant program to fund joint ventures between American and Israeli businesses, academic institutions, and non-profit agencies, with the goal of promoting the development of clean alternative fuels and more energy efficient technologies.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will help pave a path to a new era in American energy. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this pragmatic and forward-looking bill.

Thank you.