Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a man who, for more than 40 years, has dedicated himself to

the betterment of people from around the world.

Julius E. Coles was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1942. He received a B.A. from Morehouse College in 1964 and a Masters of Public Affairs from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1966. Mr. Coles then began a long and impressive career with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

During his tenure with USAID, Mr. Coles served as a Mission Director in Swaziland and Senegal, as well as serving in other capacities at foreign service posts in Vietnam, Morocco, Liberia, Nepal and Washington, D.C. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions in foreign service, he received the Distinguished Career Service Award in 1995 and the Presidential Meritorious Service Award in 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986. Mr. Coles retired from USAID in 1994, having achieved the rank of Career Minister.

These achievements alone would have constituted career full of accomplishments deserving of great pride and satisfaction. Yet for Mr. Coles, this was just the beginning of a new and exciting chapter.

From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Coles served as Director of Howard University's Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center, and, from 1997 to 2002, he was the Director of Morehouse College's Andrew Young Center for International Affairs.

In 2002, yet another opportunity arose--one that would fully utilize his expertise in foreign service and international affairs and combine that expertise with the ability to reach thousands of people suffering from hunger, HIV/AIDS and poverty. Mr. Coles became the third President of Africare.

Africare was founded in 1970 by two Americans, Dr. William 0. Kirker and his wife, Barbara Kirker. Dr. and Mrs. Kirker had been working in Niger at the Maine-Soroa Hospital since 1966, and in 1970, in the midst of a devastating drought, they established Africare to provide medical services and health care to the people of Niger.

In 1971, Africare reconstituted itself, adding experts in various fields and broadening the mission to support not only health related issues, but development and relief programs in any African country and to serve as a bridge between Africans and Americans, especially Americans of African descent.

Madam Chair, with today's action, the House will enact the most significant reform of our Nation's financial system since the Great Depression. These are not decisions we take lightly, but the prolonged recession and the near collapse of the financial market in the fall of 2008 have compelled us to respond.

It will also end the era of taxpayer-funded bailouts. Madam Chairwoman, this amendment offered by my friend and colleague, Mr. Peters of Michigan, seeks to build on this legislation and will authorize the FDIC to make further assessments on the financial industry to ensure every penny of the TARP loans made to the banks is repaid and help reduce our Nation's debt and burden on the taxpayers.

I urge adoption of the amendment, Madam Chairwoman.

Madam Speaker, in our ongoing efforts to stabilize the economy and ensure a return to prosperity, our focus must remain fixed on the saving and creation of American jobs. The actions of this administration and this Congress have shown progress. Job losses fell dramatically, and the unemployment rate dropped in November from 10.2 percent to 10 percent.

The recession began in 2007 and has been the worst since World War II. Unemployment hit a 26-year high, consumer confidence plummeted, the gross domestic product contracted at near unprecedented levels, the stock market plunged, home prices tumbled and foreclosures skyrocketed, and millions of Americans found themselves out of work.

Monthly job losses continued to worsen each month. In September of 2008, the monthly losses were more than 300,000. By December of 2008 and January of 2009, in the waning days of the Bush administration, job losses exceeded 700,000. And it wasn't just 2008. Under the Clinton administration, from 1993 to 2000 the average monthly private job growth was 217,000, one of the most robust job growths in American history. During the Bush 8 years, that average monthly job creation was just 2,000.

As this Congress and the Obama administration took office in January, we were facing a job market in free fall. We immediately took action on a number of fronts.

The Recovery Act provided critically important investments, saving or creating 1.6 million jobs so far. States and localities faced with growing budget deficits would have been forced to lay off hundreds of thousands of teachers, police and fire fighters, but the Recovery Act saved those jobs, including, in my district, 404 teachers in Fairfax County and 304 in Prince William County. The Recovery Act created thousands of additional jobs in road construction, clean energy, and medical research. Businesses in my district received at least 205 contracts, grants, and loans, totaling almost $200 million, thanks to the Recovery Act. They have had a noticeable impact.

The employment rate in my district began to fall in advance of the national rate, declining in October from 5.3 to 5.2 percent in Prince William County, and from 4.7 to 4.5 percent in Fairfax, half the national average.

The House of Representatives reauthorized the COPS program, which will add 50,000 police officers nationwide. The 21st Century Green Schools Act and the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act invested billions of more dollars to modernize public

schools and community college campuses, creating tens of thousands of new construction jobs. The American Clean Energy and Security Act creates incentives for new research and development, creating thousands of new job opportunities related to the production of advanced batteries, wind turbines, solar power, and other sustainable technologies. In addition, Madam Speaker, we passed a number of bills to spur small business job creation through tax incentives and employment opportunities for our veterans.

Ultimately, for sustainable job growth, the private sector must feel comfortable to return to hiring employees. Large companies will not expand while the value of their firm drops. Small companies will not expand while the owners' assets are disappearing. And those assets did drop. From its high of over 14,000 in October of 2007, the Dow Jones Industrial Average began a precipitous decline to just over 6,600 in March of this year. Since then, thanks to our actions, the market has recovered more than 50 percent.

Companies will not expand while consumer confidence declines, and it did decline to 25 points in February of this year, the lowest level since the conference board's inception in 1967. Since then, thanks again to our actions, consumer confidence has continued to improve, hitting 48.7 in October, almost doubling.

Companies will not expand, Madam Speaker, while the national economy is contracting, and it did indeed contract, starting in the third quarter of 2008. It declined an astounding 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter and 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2009, but our actions have helped. GDP increased 2.8 percent in the third quarter of 2009 and continues to grow this quarter as well.

This February, the horrific pace of job losses began to ease. Job losses in May fell to 300,000. In August through October, they averaged 135,000 a month. In November, just 11,000 jobs, net, were lost in the American economy, continuing to contribute to the decline in the unemployment rate.

Madam Speaker, we're not out of the woods just yet. Millions of Americans are still out of work. But we've started to turn the economy around. We've begun to stabilize the stock market, the housing sector, and the GDP. Madam Speaker, we've begun to create conditions for job growth, and now we must partner with the private sector to ensure that millions of Americans can return to work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my warmest wishes for a full recovery to retired Fairfax County Police Officer, Jim Riddel. Jim retired from the Police Department in 1980 as a Special Police Officer, having spent 20 years protecting Fairfax residents. The Fairfax County Police Department continues to be recognized as one of the best in the nation, so it is no slight to the current and former officers, but instead a true compliment to Jim, that he has been called by a number of sources, the best Detective that the County has ever had. Although Jim has been retired for 19 years, his hard work on behalf of the community continued. Jim was particularly active in organizing the Fairfax County Retired Police Officers Association, providing a helpful fellowship for retired police officers and their surviving spouses. He remains a tireless community activist, constantly working on behalf of his neighbors. Jim successfully exited surgery today, and I look forward to his speedy convalescence and his return to a lifetime of selfless service to Fairfax County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 68th Anniversary of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). For nearly seven decades CAP has provided for the safety and defense of our nation.

Established on December 1, 1941, CAP responsibilities were initially liaison flying and interdiction of infiltrators on the United States' East Coast and southern border during World War II. CAP's role eventually expanded in response to the German submarine threat, and it began to provide vital coastal surveillance and defense capabilities. The vigilance of CAP pilots successfully deterred enemy submarines from operating along American coasts with relative impunity.

Today, CAP operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and is designated as an all-volunteer civilian auxiliary to the United States Air Force. Since WWII, CAP has adopted a mission dedicated to three core pursuits: Aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services.

CAP's Aerospace Education Program annually touches more than 900 educators, more than 20,000 cadets and thousands of other youths in classrooms across America. The education program teaches children multidisciplinary aviation concepts that emphasize aviation's connection to history, math, science, government and economics.

CAP provides exceptional educational and growth opportunities for youth through its nearly 22,000 member Cadet Program, which annually provides access to top national summer flight academies and to 30 national programs emphasizing leadership and careers in aviation, as well as flight training in powered and glider aircraft.

CAP's emergency services are its most high profile function and its members are routinely called upon to aid communities in response to natural disasters across the nation. CAP volunteers rose to the occasion during one of our nation's most trying times and provided assistance to rescuers and state agencies immediately following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Over 100 lives are saved each year by CAP search and rescue missions.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Civil Air Patrol for its commitment to aerospace education, cadet programs and emergency services. I am greatly appreciative for their contribution to the safety of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Master Sergeant Troy J. McIntosh on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force following more than 29 years of dedicated service to our country. In his most recent assignment, he was Superintendent, Physical Disability Board and Review, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon. In this role, he is the enlisted representative and adjudicator for vital information specific to the enlisted force when reviewing final board of appeals for physical disability evaluations.

Chief McIntosh enlisted in the Air Force on July 7, 1981 as a Security Forces Specialist. He served for four years in this role prior to cross training into the Personnel career field. He remained on active duty until 1992 at which time he joined the California Air National Guard as a traditional Guardsman for six years. In 1998, Chief McIntosh joined the Air Force Reserve with the Commander's Support Staff for the Chief of Air Force Reserve. Excelling in this role, he was soon assigned as Superintendent, Policy and Integration where he worked as a Congressional Liaison educating members of Congress and their staff on the roles and missions of the Air Force Reserve.

On September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, Chief McIntosh displayed the attributes and core values that many of our men and women in uniform show daily around the globe. Directly after the attack, Chief McIntosh rushed to the impact site to render assistance and immediately started pulling victims to safety--despite the obvious risk to his personal wellbeing. He later helped relocate the same victims when a second aircraft was thought to be inbound, similar to the attacks on the World Trade Center. When Chief McIntosh finally left the area 36 hours later, he had helped secure the safety and treatment of over 150 people. On September 24, 2002 he was awarded the Air Force Airman's Medal for this selfless act of heroism.

Chief McIntosh's patriotism and dedication to our national defense continued as he deployed the following month to Al Udeid AB, Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As the Personnel Director for the Joint Forces Special Operations Command, a role traditionally held by a senior officer, he was responsible for ensuring that the right military personnel from all services within the Department of Defense would be provided at the beginning of a war that continues to this day.

Due to his achievements and obvious dedication to his fellow airmen, it was no surprise he was chosen as the thirteenth Command Chief for the Air Force Reserve Command. During his two-year assignment, Chief McIntosh was responsible for advising the Commander on the health, morale, and utilization of over 55,000 assigned airmen. He developed and executed several pivotal programs helping transform the Air Force Reserve enlisted force into the successful Total Force partner they are today.

Chief McIntosh could not have been such a tremendous leader without the love and unfailing support of his mother, Jeannette, his father Connie Joe, his two daughters Tess and Kali, and his beautiful granddaughter Addison Marie.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our sincere respect and appreciation to Chief Master Sergeant Troy J. McIntosh for his outstanding service to the United States Air Force and our great nation. We wish him the very best as he transitions into retirement. Chief McIntosh is a true professional and a credit to himself, his family, and the United States Air Force Reserve and we thank him for his service to our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a bold and innovative new business breaking ground in my district. The Smart Car Wash is raising the bar for environmental stewardship in the car wash industry with its new LEED certified conveyer car wash in Woodbridge, Virginia.

The new car wash facility will be the first such facility to achieve LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council. The building uses advanced water recycling beyond the industry standard, to include rainwater capture and advanced water cleansing with technology borrowed from the marine industry. This includes reclaiming and reusing over 90% of the water from car wash operations and using car wash chemicals that are bio-friendly. To reduce overall energy consumption by 50% most of the facility's equipment will use Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technology.

This new venture is just one of the high quality investments businesses are making around the country. The Smart Car Wash received a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan to finance a project that will bring fifteen new jobs to the Woodbridge area. The SBA's 504 lending program recently received funding from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act to provide opportunity's to entrepreneurs hoping to show confidence in the American economy with new investments. The Smart Car Wash stands as a shining example of our nation's commitment to creating jobs and tackling the world's most pressing energy issues.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in showing our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of The Smart Car Wash team. It is through courageous investments and initiatives like this one that our country will continue to realize a robust and cutting edge economy.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and service of Maj. L. Eduardo Caraveo, who was among the 13

killed in the tragic shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, earlier this month.

Maj. Caraveo, a resident of Woodbridge, Va., was a Medical Service Corps Officer in the U.S. Army Reserves who had arrived at Fort Hood just one day prior to the shootings. He was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, where he was to provide stress counseling to deployed service members.

He was active in his adopted home of Prince William County, where he spent time counseling prison inmates. He also offered his services for anger management training and couples therapy.

A native of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Maj. Caraveo came to the United States as a teenager and became the first in his family to graduate from college. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Arizona.

According to local news accounts, he was a generous, giving friend and father who enjoyed spending time playing in the yard with his children.

Maj. Caraveo is survived by his wife, Angela Rivera; their son and her two daughters; three children from a previous marriage and six siblings.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the remarkable life and service of Maj. Caraveo and the lives of the twelve others killed on that tragic day at Fort Hood. Their brave service, and that of their families, will never be forgotten and we extend our sympathies to them.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the lives of three local men, who recently died in a tragic helicopter crash while serving with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in Afghanistan.

Their work was a critical part of recent U.S. efforts to disrupt drug trafficking that is believed to be funding Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. These were the first DEA fatalities since the war began even though the agency has been operating in Afghanistan since 2005.

Special Agent Forrest Leamon was a resident of Woodbridge, Va., and had served in Afghanistan since 2007. Special Agent Chad Michael was a resident of Quantico, Va., and recently arrived in Afghanistan. Special Agent Michael Weston was a resident of Washington, D.C., and until recently served in the DEA's Richmond field office.

The crash also claimed the lives of seven U.S. service members.

During a memorial ceremony, Attorney General Eric Holder praised Special Agent Leamon as ``always willing to accept tough assignments. When the opportunity came to volunteer--to volunteer--to work in Afghanistan, the most dangerous assignment available, he stepped up again.''

Leamon was born in Ukiah, Calif., and would have celebrated his 38th birthday this Sunday. He is survived by his wife, Ana, and their soon- to-be born child; his parents, Richard and Sue Leamon, of Fortuna, Calif.; two sisters; a niece and two nephews; his grandmother; as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the lives and service of these brave men and extending our sympathies to their families.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of a landmark in Northern Virginia, the Vienna Inn. Located in the heart of the Town of Vienna, the Inn continues to bring together people from all walks of life. You always feel welcome and you can always find a good meal and great conversation.

The Vienna Inn is a part of the fabric that makes up the Town of Vienna. Its walls, with vintage black and white pictures, sports memorabilia, and other oddities, tell Northern Virginia's story. First opened in 1960 by Mollie and Mike Abraham, the Vienna Inn took over what was then Freddy's Cafe. Dating back to when the tavern was first built in 1925, the Inn also has served as an ice cream parlor and a sandwich shop.

Mollie and Mike sought to establish a local restaurant that would encourage the community to come together and share their common experiences in a relaxed setting. As Mollie Abraham once said, ``You could sit at a table with strangers and by the end of the night be friends''.

Mike and Mollie became fixtures of our community, supporting local sports teams and community events. In fact, when Mollie was not making jokes with patrons she could be found umpiring local tennis matches, volunteering with the Americans for Democratic Action, and serving as a regional board member with the National Organization for Women.

The Abraham family's business grew into a local treasure, with people coming from all over the National Capital Region for a famous Vienna Inn hot dog and a pint of beer. As the business grew, the Abrahams hired their son, Philip, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, as their head chef. Mollie credits her son's home-style cooking with helping the Inn remain so popular within the community.

After 40 years of service to the community, Mollie sold the Vienna Inn to Marty Volk in 2000. To Mollie, selling the Vienna Inn to Mr. Volk was like keeping the business in the family. Marty has been a customer since he was a 6-year-old, and he understands the rich history and the tradition of the Vienna Inn.

Today, the Vienna Inn is still the same as it was 50 years ago. You'll see business leaders at the bar eating a hot dog with the local plumber and a soccer team enjoying chili dogs at the corner table. Of course, the ``Vienna Inn Corner Club'' still claims one corner of the bar every weekday afternoon. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Vienna Inn on 50 years of service to the Town of Vienna. I and many other loyal patrons from across Northern Virginia wish the Inn many more years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Springfield Chapter 893 and applaud its dedication and service to the local community. This chapter of NARFE enjoys the second largest membership in the country, and continues to carry out NARFE's mission of safeguarding and enhancing the benefits of America's active and retired federal employees, and their survivors.

At a recent meeting this chapter took a moment to remember and reflect on friends and family who have served in the armed forces. Of particular note was a poem written by Chaplain Margaret Yowell entitled ``What Is a Veteran?''

``What Is a Veteran?''

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi

Arabia sweating two gallons a day and making sure the armored

personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel. He is the barroom

loudmouth whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a

hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite

bravery near the 38th parallel.

She is the nurse who fought against futility and went to

sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. He

is the POW who went away one person and came back another--or

didn't come back at all. He is the Quantico drill instructor

that has never seen combat--but has saved countless lives by

turning young men into Marines, and teaching them to watch

each other's backs.

He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons

and medals with a prosthetic hand. He is the career

quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.

He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb of the

Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery

must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes

whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or

in the ocean's sunless deep. He is the older guy at the

supermarket--palsied now and slow--who helped liberate a Nazi

death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were

still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.

He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being--a

person who offered some of his life's most vital years in the

service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so

others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

So remember, each time you see someone who has served our

country, just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most

people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any

medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Chaplain Margaret Yowell and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Springfield Chapter 893 for their dedication and service to our brothers and sisters who have so bravely served their country. Our veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice to their nation, and I am proud to work with NARFE to ensure we uphold our commitment to our federal employees and service men and women.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a sign of recovery and reinvestment in our nation's economy. On November 19, 2009, ``Cakes by Happy Eatery'' opens its doors for business in Manassas, Virginia.

This family-owned business was established in 1986 as the ``Happy Eatery Restaurant and Bakery.'' It previously operated in Alexandria, Virginia as a traditional Chinese restaurant with an in-house bakery for 17 years. In 2002, the business moved to a location in Centreville, Virginia and became ``Cakes by Happy Eatery.'' During this move, the family decided to undergo more than just a name and location change. They also transformed the business model and focused all of their talents and efforts on becoming a full-service bakery.

This has proven to be a successful business decision. The family's recipes and catering services have been well received and the business has outgrown its Centreville location. The new Manassas location will expand the family's services and responsibilities. The matriarch, Mrs. Fu-Mei Wu, will act as the chief quality control manager. Mrs. Wu's daughters will continue to be involved in the bakery's everyday business. Victoria Wu will oversee daily operations. Charlotte Wu Homme will handle advertising and Emily Wu-Rorrer will continue to create the popular bakery's new products.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the Wu family for creating jobs by opening a new ``Cakes by Happy Eatery'' location. I admire the Wu family for their hard work, and I hope for their continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of Equal Suffrage League and its successor organization, the League of Women Voters of Virginia.

On November 20, 1909, at 4:00 in the afternoon, a meeting was held in the Richmond home of Mrs. Anne Clay Crenshaw. The purpose of this meeting was to lay the groundwork for an organization that would dedicate its efforts to the women's suffrage movement in Virginia. This organization was called the Equal Suffrage League (ESL).

The ESL was not the first organization formed in Virginia with the goal of granting voting rights to women; at least two and perhaps three other organizations had been formed in prior years between 1870 and 1900. But where the prior organizations faded, the Equal Suffrage League was able to maintain its passion and direction and continue the battle for women's suffrage.

The Nineteenth Amendment granting women the right to vote was ratified in August, 1920. Mrs. Anne Clay Crenshaw, at whose home the first ESL was held, wasted no time and registered to vote just days later on September 9, 1920.

On November 20, 1920, exactly 11 years after its founding, the Equal Suffrage League officially changed its name to the League of Women Voters of Virginia. Since that time, the League of Women Voters of Virginia has continued to expand its involvement and increase the involvement and participation of women in many areas including candidate and issue information, voting guides and laws, advocacy and public issues. There are now 12 local leagues and three Member at Large Units in the Commonwealth of Virginia, all of which continue the work of involving women and ensuring that their voices are heard.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia understands and promotes the fact that when women are informed, they become engaged; when they become engaged, they vote; and when women vote, they get results.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the League of Women Voters of Virginia on the occasion of this anniversary and also to thank the League of Women Voters of Virginia for their tireless work on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I rise today to commend those who have endeavored to improve the provision of quality, affordable health care for all Americans and to refute those who use scare tactics to derail essential health insurance reform.

During the more than 12 hours of debate on the House floor on November 7, we heard a number of speeches from some forecasting various doom and gloom scenarios. Some of the material focused more on scaring the American public than on presenting actual facts. We heard preposterous stories of death panels and prisons, denial of care and dramatic cuts in services, but the purveyors of fear ignored the hundreds of groups across the Nation that saw through the scare tactics and who support responsible health insurance reform. Those groups aren't driven by partisan ideology. They're focused on the well-being of their members. I would like to highlight just a few.

The scare tactic said this bill will harm seniors. In actuality, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will help seniors by closing the Medicare

part D prescription drug loophole that currently causes many seniors to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket, and it will help keep Medicare solvent and able to continue paying benefits well into the future. Without reform, Medicare part A will be insolvent by 2017. If we do nothing, Medicare hospital reimbursements will be cut by 2017. Without reform, premiums for Medicare part D doctor reimbursements are projected to increase an average of 8.5 percent every year through 2013. That's why the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare supports this bill. The Alliance for Retired Americans and the Center for Medicare Advocacy both support this bill. The National Council on Aging and the Medicare Rights Center both support this bill, as does the AARP.

The scare tactic said this bill would harm the ability of caregivers to provide lifesaving care. In actuality, doctors and medical providers know that this bill will preserve their ability to properly treat their patients and be fairly compensated. That's why the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Federation of American Hospitals support this bill. The American Academy of Physicians Assistants and the American College of Surgeons support this bill. The American Nurses Association and the American College of Physicians support this bill. And the American Medical Association supports this bill.

The scare tactic says this bill will deny care to those with life- threatening conditions, like cancer. In actuality, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will safeguard those with previous existing medical conditions and those in need of lifesaving procedures. That's why the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association support this bill. The American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network and the American Diabetes Association both support this bill. The Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities and the National Alliance on Mental Illness both support this bill. The National Breast Cancer Coalition and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance both support this bill, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America support this bill.

The scare tactic said this will wreck the economy. In actuality, this bill will help businesses--especially small businesses--control the spiraling cost of health care in America. Mr. Speaker, the Business Roundtable recently released a report that found that without reform, by 2019, employer-based health insurance payments will rise 166 percent. Without reform, those dramatic cost increases will endanger the economy, leaving employers and employees facing the untenable option of dropping coverage or laying off employees. The Business Roundtable's report found that the legislative reforms in the current health insurance bills could reduce employer costs by $3,000 per employee by 2019. That's why the Main Street Alliance supports the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The National Farmers Union supports the bill. The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce supports the bill, as does the Small Business Majority.

The scare tactics said that the American people would suffer. In actuality, consumer advocacy groups know that this bill will provide Americans with their choice of affordable health care options. That's why the Consumers Union supports it, the Consumer Health Coalition supports it, and the National Patient Advocate Foundation supports it.

Mr. Speaker, there are hundreds more State and national organizations that refused to fall prey to diversionary scare tactics and supported this ground-breaking legislation on health care. The focus on these individual groups is disparate, but they share a common agenda with the majority of Americans and the majority of this House: Delivery now on the long overdue need for responsible health insurance reform.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the rededication of the W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. The W.T. Woodson High School has consistently been recognized as one of the top ranked schools in the country and continues to educate and shape our future leaders. I am proud to recognize the accomplishments of this school and all the students and faculty who have been a part of its storied history.

The W.T. Woodson High School first opened its doors to students in 1962. At this time, Woodson was not only the largest school in Fairfax County but the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Built on a dairy farm, Woodson's campus continues to be the largest high school campus in Fairfax County.

Woodson High School was named in honor of the late superintendent of the Fairfax County Schools Mr. Wilbert Tucker Woodson. Mr. Woodson dedicated himself to his community and to the students of Fairfax County from 1921 to 1961. He inspired a tradition of service to community, and dedication to a well-rounded education that is still shared today. Today, Woodson continues to be recognized for having the best teachers in the county, a distinguished arts program led by their chorale and theater programs, and one of the most competitive sports programs.

While Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and a parent of a Woodson student, I was proud to be a partner in the renovations to the W.T. Woodson High School. Together with parents, faculty, and community leaders, we were successful in securing funds to start the much needed renovation to this school. Renovations to Woodson began in 2005 and were completed this year. As a result of our community's commitment to investments in education, we were able to create a new fine arts wing, renovate the cafeteria, expand and remodel the auditorium, as well as make improvements to classrooms and athletic facilities.

Woodson is an example of the culmination of the efforts of a community that came together for a common goal. Our community realized the critical investments we must make in our nation's future by providing a positive community oriented learning experience for our children. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the accomplishments of the W.T. Woodson High School and its community's commitment and dedication to our students and the future leaders of our country.