Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the proposed $16.5 billion in cuts to SNAP in the farm bill.

SNAP is the most important antihunger program in the Nation,

helping more than 46 million Americans put food on the table every day. Far too many hardworking Michiganders are struggling to feed their children. Nearly one in five Michigan households face food insecurity each and every day.

Having met with many of the good folks working in our food banks, they're already stretched too thin. I'm appalled that Republicans think that it's a good idea to kick millions of children, seniors, and families off of food assistance so they can provide massive, taxpayer- funded subsidies for wealthy agribusinesses.

I call on my Republican colleagues to join me and stand up for those who are most vulnerable in our society. We need to send a clear message that we will never vote to take food away from hungry children. No one in our country should go hungry.

I urge my colleagues to say ``no'' to cuts in food assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise today to recognize the organizers, supporters and participants of the 30th annual Metro Detroit Youth Day.

In 1982, Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young asked Mr. Ed Deeb to rise to the challenge of restoring relationships between the local business community and the youth of Detroit. From this need, Mr. Deeb, Mr. Tom Fox and the late Mr. Jerry Blocker founded Youth Day, an annual event which strengthened ties between Detroit business owners and youth. Under Mr. Deeb's leadership as chairman and coordinator of Youth Day, it has continued to grow and evolve into an event focused on nurturing the great potential of our youth and community support in the City of Detroit.

Youth Day has grown from eleven hundred participants the first year to over thirty-seven thousand annually, with more than seven hundred thousand youth participants throughout its history. Of equal importance are the more than fifteen hundred annual volunteers who come from more than 320 organizations and 310 businesses and civic groups who supervise sports clinics, games, contests and many other activities that are a part of this daylong event.

Youth Day's evolution included expanding its impact on participants, supporters and volunteers. As part of this expansion, Youth Day began to focus on providing youth with guidance, mentoring, substance abuse prevention and motivational activities designed to allow them to channel their creativity and ideas into positive outcomes, as well as provide the opportunity to pursue higher education. This year, participants will also have the opportunity to attend workshops on anti-bullying and obesity.

To promote higher education, Youth Day began awarding participants with scholarships for youth who displayed outstanding citizenship, leadership and service. Since 1992, over seven hundred scholarships have been awarded to graduating high school seniors in Metro Detroit, and over eighty will be awarded this year. In addition to the scholarship awards, several colleges will have information booths at Youth Day to showcase opportunities for higher education.

The fifty-person Youth Day Executive Board spearheads volunteer and event organization. Ed's vision speaks for itself, as Youth Day has been awarded numerous accolades including a Point of Light award from President George H.W. Bush and the Physical Fitness Award from the Governor's Council.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 30th annual Metro Detroit Youth Day and recognizing the organizers, supporters, volunteers and participants for working together to build a stronger future for Michigan youth in Metro Detroit.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in opposition to the Republican Affordable Care Repeal Act because it is an irresponsible approach that does nothing to address the rising cost of health care that our families and our businesses are facing today.

It is a fact that the fastest-rising cost for most U.S. companies is health care. Without the Affordable Care Act, overall health care costs will continue to rise even faster, costs that will be borne by both the public and private sector.

It is important to note that voting for this repeal bill will eliminate the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit. This tax credit currently allows small businesses to offset up to 35 percent of their health care insurance cost. Starting in 2014, the credit will increase to 50 percent of premium cost.

Small businesses have faced outrageous increases in their health care costs over the past decade. The Affordable Care Act helps reduce that burden and is already making a real difference in people's lives.

Nearly 2 million employees at 309,000 small businesses have taken advantage of the tax credit, receiving an average credit of $1,400. This repeal bill will put a stop to this important small business tax credit. I want to make sure that we all understand that the repeal of the Affordable Care Act will result in a tax increase on small businesses, businesses which create almost two-thirds of all new jobs in this country.

Let's be clear what the Affordable Care Act does for people and for small businesses.

The Affordable Care Act prohibits health plans from imposing caps on lifetime and annual coverage; it bars cancellation of insurance policies; it guarantees free preventative care that lowers the cost of health care; it eliminates denial of coverage for preexisting conditions. And by eliminating this unfair practice, health care reform helps nearly one-third of uninsured, self-employed entrepreneurs.

But critics of the Affordable Care Act claim that they want to go back to the old system, a system where small businesses pay more on average for health insurance than large companies, yet receive fewer benefits; a system that had small business premiums rising 113 percent over the past decade; a system where our country continues to lag behind other advanced nations in delivering timely and effective care; and a system where Americans spend twice as much as other nations on Earth but have worse health outcomes.

The Affordable Care Act protects the Nation's 26 million small businesses from unfair premium hikes and ensures that they have predictable and stable cost. Without the Affordable Care Act, out-of- control costs will only get worse, rising to $4.4 trillion by 2018.

We cannot go back to business as usual. The Supreme Court has settled the issue of the law's constitutionality, and Congress should stop these election-year stunts.

This bill has no chance of being signed into law. We need to stop playing political games and focus on putting Americans back to work.

Instead of just saying no, Republicans need to work with Democrats to improve and implement a law that ensures health care is affordable and accessible to all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Doggett's motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 4348.

This is a commonsense measure that would direct the surface transportation bill conferees to preserve an amendment offered by Senator Carl Levin and agreed to by a voice vote. This provision is pulled from the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act legislation which I'm very proud to have cosponsored and strongly support. The amendment will give the Treasury the power to go after tax cheats by taking action against foreign governments or banks that significantly impede U.S. tax enforcement.

Michigan's working families and small businesses already pay their fair share in taxes, and they deserve a more just Tax Code. That starts with making sure that we close the tax gap and crack down on tax cheats.

It's estimated that corporations and the wealthiest Americans avoid paying $100 billion per year by exploiting offshore tax shelters, and it's time that we closed these loopholes. When multinational corporations and the very wealthy abuse the Tax Code to shelter their funds overseas, hardworking Americans and small business owners are left to pick up the tab. These same multinational companies and wealthy individuals enjoy taking advantage of American infrastructure and markets, but they don't come close to paying their fair share in taxes.

Senator Levin's amendment and Representative Doggett's motion to instruct represent a significant step in the right direction. This measure has real teeth. And by enabling the Treasury to bar U.S. banks from honoring credit cards issued by institutions harboring tax cheats, we can gain leverage over these institutions and tax havens.

Based on the $100 billion tax gap that we see every year, the average tax filer in Michigan is now paying over $300 in additional taxes each and every year, and the average small Michigan business is paying over $1,500 in additional taxes. This is simply unacceptable, and it must be stopped.

I'm committed to continuing the fight for tax policies that put middle class and working Americans first, and I urge my colleagues to support the Doggett motion to instruct.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Betty Esnault of the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. as she is recognized by the chapter as the 2012 Community Service Honoree.

Whether in a professional setting or during her countless hours of community service, Mrs. Esnault has dedicated herself to the improvement of others' lives. Her commitment to the health and safety of her co-workers was evident from the beginning of her career at General Motors, where she worked to improve the conditions of the assembly processes through the introduction of ergonomics. Using her knowledge of ergonomics from her studies at the former General Motors Institute and the University of Michigan, Mrs. Esnault worked with industry designers to implement ergonomically-sound policies. Through Mrs. Esnault's efforts to acquire ergonomically designed tools and safer production practices, innovative assembly processes were developed to both improve working conditions and eliminate employees' risk of injury. Mrs. Esnault retired from General Motors after a successful 32 year career as a Technical Integration Engineer.

After retiring from GM, Mrs. Esnault shifted her focus to helping her neighbors and fellow Southeast Michigan residents. As a member of the St. Damien Catholic Parish and a graduate of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary with a diploma in Pastoral Ministry, Mrs. Esnault is active in planning worship services, serving as a substitute teacher for religious education, and singing in the choir. Mrs. Esnault also spends her time volunteering with various organizations, reaching out to help her community in a variety of ways. Mrs. Esnault volunteers at American House in Pontiac where she leads Communion services. She is also on the Board of Directors and volunteers at the Matchan Nutrition Center, an organization that serves nutritious lunches to residents of Oakland County in need. She also serves on the Board of Directors and volunteers at Fr. Pops' Clinic, a free clinic with volunteer doctors who provide health care services to those without insurance.

In addition to her service in the community, Mrs. Esnault is a loving wife and mother. She has also been recognized as a Life Member of the NAACP and a Gold Life Member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Betty Esnault has made it her mission to improve the lives of others. She has dedicated countless hours to this pursuit both professionally and philanthropically over many decades. Her zeal to serve others is both inspiring and moving, as there is no doubt that her work has been felt by so many across Southeast Michigan. I am pleased to honor Mrs. Esnault as she receives her award from Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Phil Thompson, the Executive Vice President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 517M on the occasion of his retirement. For over 30 years, Phil has been an important leader in the SEIU, working to ensure that the rights of workers are respected.

True to the form of a leader and advocate, Phil is passionate about fighting for the rights of those he represents, whether it was his constituents when he was Shiawassee County Commissioner or the Michigan public employees he works for every day in his current role. It is no surprise, given his spirit for serving and protecting others, that prior to his time with Local 517M, Phil had been planning to go to law school. Instead, as often happens to those with the drive to serve, Phil fulfilled his passion as a voice protecting the rights of others. Having arrived at Local 517M in April 1981 as a staff representative, Phil quickly ascended to become the branch's Executive Director in 1986.

What was originally supposed to be only a part-time job quickly became Phil's central work. As a leader for the SEIU in Michigan, Phil took it upon himself to represent the members of Local 517M at every collective bargaining session since he became Director in 1986. Phil strongly believes that communication between the unions and their members and unions and their communities is essential to ensuring that all workers have their rights protected. Phil has strived to keep his members connected to their local through strengthening member services.

Like so many who are thrust into positions of leadership by their peers, Phil has never forgotten his brothers and sisters who put him there. He strongly believes that it has been an honor to work with so many talented and dedicated union and staff members.

In recognition of his exceptional leadership skills and his effectiveness, Phil's peers have consistently given him increased responsibilities that extend beyond Local 517M. He has been elected to SEIU's International Executive Board three times between 2000 and 2008, where he is finishing up his current term as Vice President. Between 2002 and 2010 he served as President of Michigan's SEIU State Council and currently serves as its Treasurer. Phil is constantly sought to be a voice for professionals in State government, by news agencies and was recently awarded the 2012 Michigan Labor Press Award for his contributions which have supported the growth of the labor movement.

Mr. Speaker, Phil has spent his life working to strengthen the labor movement, which in Michigan and around the world has secured and protected important rights for all workers. His dedication and passion have benefited so many and I know that his colleagues and fellow SEIU members will surely miss him, his insights and his experience. I know that as a voice for fairness, even in retirement, he will continue to fight for the rights of workers and I wish him many happy and productive years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize ChemicoMays LLC and its CEO Leon Richardson as the company is honored for its third consecutive year as a General Motors Supplier of the Year. Each year, General Motors (GM) awards this distinction to less than one percent of its nearly 20,000 suppliers worldwide.

ChemicoMays, based in Southfield, Michigan, was formed as a joint venture between Chemico System and Mays Chemical in 2005. Since that time, it has used its more than 20 years of experience to deliver chemical management solutions for industry customers. With over 250 employees and a focus on providing high quality service to its many customers, the company's client base has grown to include great American companies like General Motors, Boeing and Eli Lilly.

Through its unique proprietary Web interface system, ChemicoMays has labored to provide its customers a user-friendly tool that enables them to easily access the more than 150 million pounds of chemicals it procures annually. ChemicoMays also provides to its clients a specialized array of inventory management tools that allow companies to efficiently identify and utilize previously wasted supplies. In concert with its policy to provide simple, transparent pricing, ChemicoMays has a proven track record that has resulted in not one of its clients having a work stoppage due to chemical availability.

ChemicoMays' commitment to excellence in production and service is a standard that emanates from its CEO Leon Richardson. Prior to the creation of ChemicoMays, Mr. Richardson established Chemico Systems, Inc. in 1989 and served as its president. Throughout his career, Mr. Richardson has strived to ensure that his clients receive the best and most comprehensive customer support. More importantly, Mr. Richardson brings out the best in his employees in fulfillment of the company's mission. With his tenacity and experience, he led Chemico Systems from a mere start-up company to one of the world's top suppliers of chemical products and chemical management services in the automotive, bio-tech and academic sectors.

Today, Mr. Richardson's effective leadership continues as CEO of ChemicoMays. His dedication and that of ChemicoMays' employees have earned the company numerous industry accolades including three consecutive Supplier of the Year Awards from GM, GM's 2007 Environmental Excellence Award and being named one of Michigan's top 50 companies to watch in 2006.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating ChemicoMays and Mr. Leon Richardson on earning the company's third consecutive Supplier of the Year Award from GM. ChemicoMays' commitment to excellence in production and service has greatly benefited its customers, employees and the communities it calls home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exemplary member of our community, Mrs. Teresa A. Rodges, for her abundant service to the community and her outstanding achievements as recognized by the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s 29th Finer Womanhood Luncheon.

Mrs. Rodges dedicates both her free time and professional career to community service. She has held top-level executive positions at organizations that work to make a difference in the community, including Matrix Human Services in Detroit, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, and her current position as Executive Director of the McLaren Oakland Riley Foundation.

As an outstanding member of her community, Mrs. Rodges saw a need to help those experiencing economic misfortune and unemployment in Pontiac and the surrounding area. Realizing fewer women could afford health insurance, Mrs. Rodges created the Sister & Sister Free Mammogram Program in 2007. She worked relentlessly to raise funds in order to ensure adequate care for economically disadvantaged women. The Sister & Sister program has provided over 3,000 free mammogram screenings, detected breast cancer in several women, and provided follow-up treatment to women in need. With the leadership of Mrs. Rodges, funds were raised to purchase a digital mammography system. This program and Mrs. Rodges have received recognition and support from elected officials statewide.

Mrs. Rodges has also dedicated her time to helping the Pontiac school system. As a member of the Pontiac Promise Zone Authority Board, she was instrumental in raising $750,000 in funding for scholarships to Pontiac students. She also created the Riley Scholars program to recruit mentors, hire managers, and tutors to ensure that every student in the Pontiac School District has access to postsecondary education.

An astonishing number of boards and committees for local non-profits have been the beneficiaries of Mrs. Rodges commitment to helping others. Some of the boards and committees she has served on include: the Women's Survival Center, Oakland University School of Nursing Board of Visitors, Baker College Business Advisory Committee, and the United Way Executive Committee. Mrs. Rodges' service to these and other local organizations shows her dedication to the community and over the years they have recognized her with many awards for her leadership and service.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Teresa A. Rodges has dedicated her life to helping others in need. From organizing post-secondary education programs to creating affordable mammogram screenings for underprivileged women, she is a role model to the community and the epitome of an excellent leader. She has changed and saved the lives of many people through her service. I am pleased to honor Mrs. Rodges as the Lambda Rho Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority recognizes her as its 2012 Woman of the Year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, Dr. JoAnn Andrees, as she retires from her position as Superintendent of the West Bloomfield Public School System (WBPS), which she has held since 2008.

Dr. Andrees' tenure in primary and secondary public education exemplifies the passion and commitment of a true public servant. Throughout her time at WBPS, Dr. Andrees has held many different roles in the system from being a special education teacher to Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She has also served as a guidance counselor, Assistant Principal at West Bloomfield High School (WBHS) and Principal of Abbott Middle School and WBHS. With a career that spans so many perspectives within public education, Dr. Andrees has developed a dynamic and unique perspective that has given her the insight needed to design and implement many programs that have benefited not only the youth of West Bloomfield but also the broader community.

With her knowledge and leadership, Dr. Andrees has overseen the creation of a number of programs within WBPS. One such program that she created while she was Assistant Superintendent was a strategic plan aligning the curriculum of all schools within the WBPS system. Dr. Andrees also used her background in special education to create the Oakland Opportunity Academy, an adult postsecondary education program for individuals with special needs. With an eye toward providing all WBPS students with the environment to excel, she supported programs which have helped minority students close the education gap. Additionally, through partnerships she helped to forge with Ford Motor Company and Henry Ford Health Systems, the students of

WBPS have been provided greater academic opportunities in the fields of robotics and health sciences.

The results of Dr. Andrees' leadership speak for themselves. At a time of unprecedented uncertainly in our communities, she has guided WBPS to a deficit-free budget while leading the district's 800 employees. Furthermore, she has gone beyond good stewardship of WBPS and directly engaged with the West Bloomfield community to lead in the passage of a bond initiative to enhance WBPS' facilities and technology. During her tenure as Principal of Abbott Middle School, the school was recognized with a National Blue Ribbon of Excellence, the highest honor which can be bestowed for exceptional leadership in education. Dr. Andrees has received many other community awards including the 2012 MASA Winner's Circle Award, the 2012 Michigan Week Dr. Seymour Gretchko Youth Advocate Award and the 2012 Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Community Excellence Award in Education.

Mr. Speaker, Dr. JoAnn Andrees has not only been a leader for quality public education in West Bloomfield; she has been its staunchest advocate and in doing so, has worked with other area leaders to build a thriving community. I admire her commitment to the virtues of public service and I know that her leadership will be fondly remembered by the thousands of students, families, teachers and staff have benefitted from her work in WBPS and the broader community.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. As a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and as the son of a World War II veteran, I firmly believe that Congress has a responsibility to ensure that the United States has the best trained and best equipped military in the world. However, I have a number of concerns about this legislation that cause me to be unable to support it.

Last year during consideration of the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2012, I expressed my disappointment in the pace of troop withdrawals from Afghanistan initiated by President Obama. I supported an amendment to that bill that would have accelerated the withdrawal by reducing funding for combat operations while allowing for a reserve force of 25,000 troops to protect American personnel, carry out anti-terrorism operations, and assist with the training of Afghanistan's security forces.

While a similar amendment was submitted to the National Defense Authorization Act we are considering today, the Republican majority unfortunately refused to make it in order and instead only allowed a vote on an amendment offered by my colleague Representative Lee. Her amendment would require the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. While I support the intent of the amendment, I am concerned that it does not provide our President and military leaders with the ability to keep a small reserve force in Afghanistan to help build up the capacity of the Afghan military or carry out limited operations against terrorists plotting against the United States. I prefer the approach advocated by my colleague Rep. McGovern, which is why I am a cosponsor of legislation he has authored entitled the Afghanistan Exit and Accountability Act. This bill would require the President to submit a plan to Congress for an accelerated transition of our military out of Afghanistan, and to report regularly on the implementation of that plan.

During consideration of last year's National Defense Authorization Act, the Senate included provisions that could be construed as allowing for the indefinite detention of those apprehended on United States soil. The Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee Adam Smith and my colleague from Michigan Representative Justin Amash offered an amendment that would have clarified that any person captured in the United States must be extended the right to be charged and tried in a U.S. Court consistent with the Constitution. Unfortunately this amendment was defeated, and the bill now creates a dangerous, and I believe unconstitutional, precedent.

Finally, the bill funds the Department of Defense at a level $8 billion above the one set for defense spending in the Budget Control Act passed last year. If signed into law, this would necessitate dangerous cuts to non-defense spending if we are going to meet the deficit reduction targets agreed to by President Obama and the Republican Leadership in the House. The Republican Budget would offset these increases in defense spending by imposing harmful and draconian cuts on programs that help provide food assistance to needy children, health care to our seniors, and assistance to unemployed parents trying to get back to work.

Everyone in this body supports keeping our Nation and our troops safe. Unfortunately, for the reasons outlined above, I cannot support this legislation. I remain hopeful that the Senate will produce a bipartisan bill that responsibly ends the war in Afghanistan as soon as safely possible, respects the Constitution, and ensures that our deficit reduction goals are met through balanced cuts that do not disproportionately impact the most vulnerable Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the members and alumni of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s (AKA) Theta Lambda Omega Chapter on the 40th Anniversary of its Debutante Scholarship Cotillion.

Over a hundred years ago, in 1908, AKA was founded by a group of brave, determined and socially conscious African-American women at Howard University in Washington, D.C. As the first organization of its type, the pioneers of AKA banded together out of simple need to ensure that women of color not only attend college, but that their experiences while there helped them to fulfill their greatest potential. Over the decades following its creation, AKA has not only empowered its members, but has cultivated an attitude of commitment to service to the community.

Like its national organization, the Theta Lambda Omega Chapter of AKA shares in a rich history and commitment of service. Over the last four decades, the members of the Theta Lambda Omega chapter have engaged in countless community service projects and organized many charitable campaigns that have had a tremendous impact on communities in Southeast Michigan.

Among the Theta Lambda Omega chapter's many endeavors is a concerted effort to improve educational opportunities in the Pontiac community. As part of this effort, the Chapter's Emerging Youth Leaders Initiatives help youth develop their leadership skills, encourage parental involvement in the education process and promote civic activism. In addition to helping youth develop these important skills, the sorority provides scholarships to members and future members helping them achieve their educational goals.

For the past 40 years the Theta Lambda Omega Chapter has gathered to honor the young women of Pontiac and its surrounding communities at the annual Debutante Scholarship Cotillion. The scholarship cotillion is one of many community service contributions of the Pontiac chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and during the 40th year celebration, eleven extraordinary hard-working young women and high school seniors will receive scholarships to assist them in attending college. Each debutante is recognized for their outstanding scholastic achievements in addition to the many hours they have committed to community service and personal development.

Mr. Speaker, for almost half of a century, the Theta Lambda Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority has been supporting the young women in Southeast Michigan and giving them the tools they need to build a bright future. Over its time, Theta Lambda Omega chapter and its members have been honored with many awards for their work, which has undoubtedly strengthened and ensured the continued vibrancy of the region. I wish the members and alumni of the Theta Lambda Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority many more years of success as they fulfill their mission in service to our community.

I rise to offer an amendment on this paragraph.

Mr. Chairman, there's a lot of talk here in Washington about the need to cut our budget deficits; and while that is certainly true, we also need to be talking about another deficit, and that's our country's trade deficit.

Last year, the United States ran a trade deficit of $558 billion. If you look just at the trade in goods, this number jumps to an astounding $737 billion.

According to a recent report by the Economic Policy Institute, the growth in the U.S. trade deficit with China alone has led to the loss of almost 3 million American jobs in the last 10 years.

Too often, the U.S. opens its markets to foreign competition without reciprocal access. And while we play by the rules here in the United States, other countries impose unfair tariffs, duties, and technical barriers, and even use techniques like currency manipulation to game international trade rules.

China aggressively uses trade policies, including currency manipulation, to protect and subsidize their domestic industries, while undermining American companies. In response to the World Trade Organization case that the United States brought against China, the Chinese Government recently imposed new retaliatory duties on American- made vehicles which are clearly in violation of WTO requirements.

Additionally, China consistently advances policies to force technology transfers from non-Chinese companies and obtain the intellectual property that drives these advanced technologies. China has also used these policies to help gain an advantage in a number of different industries, including wind turbines and water purification.

Given the aggressive actions taken by China and other countries, we simply cannot afford not to use every tool at our disposal to combat unfair trade practices. This is why Representative Michaud and I have joined with our colleagues from across the aisle, Representatives McCotter and LaTourette, to put forward a bipartisan amendment to fully fund the new Interagency Trade Enforcement Center, or ITEC.

President Obama created ITEC to enhance the administration's capabilities to proactively challenge unfair trade practices around the world, including in China. ITEC represents a new, aggressive ``whole- of-government'' approach to addressing unfair trade practices and will serve as the primary forum within the Federal Government for executive Departments and Agencies to coordinate enforcement of international and domestic trade rules.

It is now up to us here in Congress to fund ITEC and give it the teeth it needs to aggressively attack unfair and illegal foreign practices. It is certainly a step in the right direction that the Appropriations Committee provided $15 million of the requested $26 million in funding for ITEC to get it off the ground. But with our Nation running a half-a-trillion-dollar trade deficit, now is not the time for half measures.

We must do everything possible to level the playing field for American workers and American companies. Our budget-neutral, bipartisan amendment will fully fund ITEC by making a small reduction in the Cross Agency Support in NASA, an item funded at $2.84 billion. This amounts to a reduction of less than sixth-tenths of 1 percent for this item. And while I certainly support NASA, this reduction does not come from their core budget items of education, exploration, or aeronautics.

American workers are the best in the world, and they can out-compete anybody, but Congress must pass legislation to ensure that they compete on a level playing field.

Whether you believe in aggressively moving forward with additional trade agreements, or you believe that we need to rethink American trade policy, we should all agree that we cannot and must not let foreign governments cheat because when they do, American workers and American firms lose.

A vote against this commonsense amendment is a vote to allow China and other nations to continue gaming international trade laws. Stand up for American workers. Fully fund ITEC,

and vote ``yes'' on the Peters-McCotter-Michaud-LaTourette amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mr. Peters

Amendment No. 19: Page 3, line 10, after the dollar amount,

insert ``(increased by $9,000,000)''.

Page 65, line 1, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced

by $17,000,000)''.

Page 76, line 16, after the first dollar amount, insert

``(increased by $1,790,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 50th Anniversary of Orchards Children's Services of Southfield, Michigan. For five decades, Orchards has been providing critical support services to families and youth in need across Southeast Michigan.

It was 1958 when the founding women of Orchards, all members of the National Council of Jewish Women, gathered to address a growing dilemma in communities across the region: inadequate resources available for families of at-risk youth. All too often, at-risk youth would end up being removed from their families and moved to facilities outside of Michigan. This led to the separation of many families and to moments of crisis for them. It was just four years later that Orchards was born-- first as a single residence serving just seven young boys, then later with additional homes serving adolescent boys and girls.

After officially launching as an independent child care agency in 1987, Orchards has grown and expanded its programs to meet the changing needs of at-risk youth in a community uniquely challenged by long-term economic uncertainty. However, in-spite of these obstacles, Orchards has endured and its thousands of clients have achieved a brighter future. Today, Orchards' programs include foster care and adoption services, a complete array of services for strengthening family cohesiveness and a set of programs geared toward providing at-risk youth with the opportunities necessary to ensure a well-rounded development.

The importance of Orchards' services, in a time of unprecedented pressure and financial crisis for families across Southeast Michigan, cannot be overstated. Each year, Orchards serves over four thousand children and families, two thousand of them with its family preservation services, and all of them are at-risk. And even more telling, the average age of the youth Orchards supports is eight, which underscores the existing need for these critical services at an early age. In just one measure of its success, 96 percent of the youth in the Detroit School System that are served by Orchards complete their high school education and graduate--a figure almost three times the current rate system wide.

Mr. Speaker, for half of a century, Orchards Children's Services has been an orchard for its clients; a place where they can grow and prosper. Many times, Orchards' employees and supporters have been there during seminal moments of crisis to support at-risk youth and their families with critical social services. There is no doubt that Orchards' work has strengthened the core of Michigan's communities, its families, and our greatest asset, our children. I am so pleased to recognize Orchards on achieving this significant milestone, and I wish its CEO Michael Williams, its Board Chairperson Carol Klein and its employees, supporters and clients many decades of success to come.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4628, a misguided, deeply partisan bill which would cut $6 billion from the prevention and public health fund. For months, I have been proud to help lead the charge to prevent student loan rates from doubling on July 1. So please excuse my surprise when I hear the majority talk about their strong support for keeping college loans affordable. This is a position that they have repeatedly rejected.

Apparently, Republicans have no interest in trying to prevent serious diseases. Surely, if Republicans can ram a $46 billion tax cut to millionaires and billionaires, they can find a way to pay for both education and health care.

I urge my colleagues to vote for defeat of this bill, stop protecting tax giveaways to Big Oil, and pass a responsible bill to stop the doubling of student loan rates.