Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert a statement for the Record refuting the fact that this has anything to do with undocumented children. The fact is that the current provision prohibits undocumented children from getting health care, but if we don't pass it, it will deny tens of thousands of children who are legally eligible.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans have attacked a provision in the CHAMP Act that would allow states flexibility in how they verify the citizenship of the American children applying for or renewing coverage under Medicaid, claiming that language in the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) that imposed harsher citizenship verification requirements on state Medicaid programs is the only barrier protecting taxpayer dollars from being spent on healthcare for illegal immigrants.

Empirical evidence from the first nine months of the implementation of this rule demonstrates, in fact, that the new requirements have denied tens of thousands of American children access to health care.

In my own state of Virginia, this draconian requirement has adversely affected thousands of U.S. citizen children, children who are among the most medically vulnerable in the state. In the first nine months of implementation, there was a net decline of more than 11,000 children enrolled in Medicaid. Had growth in enrollment continued at the same rate it had during the previous 2 years, the state would have seen a net increase of 9,000 poor children, suggesting that overall, at least 20,000 have been denied access to health coverage.

Among those who do receive coverage, the average wait time for processing has increased from sixteen days to four to six months.

Twenty-one other states also reported declines in enrollment since the implementation of the DRA, including a net decline of 14,000 children in Kansas.

While the DRA's requirements have unfortunately limited access to care for so many low-income U.S. citizen children, they also have imposed enormous administrative costs on the states, our financial partners in this program. In Virginia, the number of ``pending'' cases awaiting further documentation skyrocketed from about 50 per month to 4000. The DRA requirements have made measures to increase the efficiency of the Medicaid application process (including mail-in, phone and online applications) impossible.

The DRA requirements don't seem to be succeeding in fulfilling its objective: in the first nine months of implementation, six states spent $17 million implementing the DRA requirements, but only identified eight undocumented immigrants out of a total of 3.6 million Medicaid beneficiaries.

In addition, enrollment has fallen significantly in these states among white and African-American children, while enrollment among Latino children has increased--which would not be occurring if the provision were affecting undocumented immigrants, 78% of whom are from Mexico, Central America or South America, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

The DRA requirements imposed substantial bureaucratic costs on the states, but have produced almost no cost savings. Instead, millions of dollars spent implementing the DRA requirements have served only to deny care to tens of thousands of American children.

The costs of care denied to low-income U.S. citizen children are passed on to taxpayers in the form of uncompensated emergency room visits and costs to treat the infectious diseases that these children may contract and unknowingly pass on while awaiting access to treatment.

The debate about CHAMP should be about the public health and improving the health of our children. Attacks on this provision come from Members who are grasping at straws, trying to come up with reasons to oppose this bill, which takes monumental steps to improve the health of low-income children in this country.

In a recent survey, 90 percent of parents applying for Medicaid for their children indicated that they have no other health coverage available. Allowing state flexibility in citizenship verification is sound public health policy that would enable thousands of American children access to vital health services to help them live better, healthier, and more productive lives. Because Medicaid is now the single largest cost to state taxpayers, we ought to make a concerted effort to support state flexibility.

State flexibility is widely supported. Twenty-four Senators signed letters to Chairman Baucus asking him to include this measure in the Senate's bipartisan SCHIP bill, and fifty-one other House Members joined me in requesting that Chairman Dingell include this provision in the bill. I urge your support of this landmark legislation to protect the health of our most vulnerable low-income children, and your support of state flexibility in citizenship verification.

Mr. Speaker, our intelligence agencies have confirmed that America is more vulnerable now than it was 6 years ago before the 9/11 attacks. That is because Osama bin Laden has gained strength, gained recruits and gained experience in the meantime.

It didn't have to be that way. We had him cornered and crippled in Tora Bora, but then we outsourced the job of capturing him. Then, to make matters worse, we poured our military and financial resources into Iraq, where al Qaeda was nonexistent, thereby giving Osama bin Laden his most effective recruiting tool.

The President keeps referring to al Qaeda in Iraq. It is not the Iraqis who are planning on how to attack America. It is al Qaeda in Waziristan. We need an intelligence strategy to go after bin Laden in Waziristan with our Special Operations working with the tribal chiefs who want to rid themselves of this pest. That is what we need to do.

Mr. Speaker, that is the only strategy that is deserving of the sacrifice of our military families. We need leadership that is deserving of the American public's support.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Ms. Deborah J. Spero of Reston, Virginia, for her service to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency as Deputy Commissioner. Ms. Spero has served this Nation with honor and distinction for 37 years, and I commend her for her dedication to public service and tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our Nation.

After the attacks of September 11th, with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Spero was called upon to help shape the newly established U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, where border security, U.S. Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Department of Agriculture, were integrated. Ms. Spero's knowledge and experience made her the logical fit to lead this most important transition, which she met with strength and resiliency.

In 2004, Commissioner Robert C. Bonner appointed Ms. Spero as Deputy Commissioner, and, in 2006, she served ably as Acting Commissioner for six months. After the confirmation of Commissioner Ralph Basham, she resumed her duties as Deputy Commissioner and has continued to lead U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the many challenges it faces to secure our Nation's borders.

Ms. Spero's commitment to this Nation is reflected in the many accolades she has amassed over her career. In 1999, she received the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award for her extraordinary accomplishments within the Customs Service and the federal government community. Additionally, in 2004, Ms. Spero received the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award for her unparalleled accomplishment and service, and in 1996 she was the recipient of the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award for her major accomplishments as an executive.

Madam Speaker, I wish to commend Ms. Spero for her many years of service to our Nation and I am proud to have her live in Virginia's 8th Congressional District. This Nation will lose a proud servant when she leaves office on August 3, 2007. I wish all the best to her and her family in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, the words ``never again'' ring hollow today. It was exactly 3 years ago that we declared that what was happening in Darfur was genocide, and yet we have basically stood on the sidelines for these last 3 years. Lots of words, but no meaningful action.

What we said was that we would deny the Government of Sudan access to oil revenues and extend American business sanctions on Sudan. But we haven't done either in any meaningful way. Hundreds of thousands of people, innocent people, killed; millions made homeless while we have sat on our hands.

Oil accounts for 70 percent of Sudan's total exports. And do you know that 70 percent of Sudan's oil profits fund their military? And China buys much of their oil.

In fact, China is Sudan's largest trading partner. We could have enormous leverage over China if we chose to use it, but we choose not to. So when the Chinese Premier goes over to Sudan, instead of telling him this is wrong, he offers to build more palaces for President Bashir. Let's get serious. Let's not allow genocide to continue in the 21st century.

Madam Chairman, 5 years ago, when we passed the Freedom to Farm Act, we were promised that it would clean up the subsidy programs that really dated back to the era of the Depression. It didn't. In fact, in many ways it made matters worse. I don't think we can wait another 5 years before we have fundamental reform.

The fact is that back in the 1930s, 25 percent of our population lived on farms. Today it's less than 2 percent. Today, corn, cotton, wheat, rice and soybeans count for 90 percent of our government commodity payments, and yet it leaves fruits and vegetables, which represent two-thirds of farm sales, ineligible for support. The largest farms that comprise only 3 percent of the total farms get the vast majority of crop subsidies today.

It just seems to me that it's time for fundamental reform that more fairly distributes the benefits of this program to all of America's deserving farms and families. That's why I support the Kind amendment.

Mr. Speaker, our intelligence agencies have confirmed that al Qaeda is stronger in numbers and effectiveness than it has ever been. And that's because 5 years ago, when we had bin Laden cornered and crippled, we outsourced the job of capturing him. And then we diverted our focus and our resources to Iraq, which turned out to be his greatest dream realized because it gave him so many propaganda tools as a rallying cry and a recruiting tool. And that's just what happened.

And now, when President Bush says that he envisions a military presence in Iraq similar to South Korea, well, we've been in South Korea for 50 years, this plays into their propaganda. We need to make clear there will be no permanent military bases in Iraq; that we are not there as occupiers, but rather as liberators.

Let's start getting serious about winning this global war on terrorism. We can start today by passing the resolution declaring that the Congress is unequivocally opposed to permanent military bases in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York.

I wish those on the Republican side that are objecting to this resolution would ask the President what is it about the word ``no'' that you don't understand? How many times do we have to say that there will be no permanent military bases in Iraq?

Sure, we have said it in legislation before, but as recently as last month the Secretary of Defense elaborated on the President's statement about envisioning a long and enduring military presence in Iraq similar to the Korean model. Well, imagine how that plays into the propaganda of our enemy. No wonder al Qaeda is gaining in strength and effectiveness. No wonder people are believing in what they are saying, because we are playing into their hands. They are saying we are there as occupiers of an oil-rich Arab country.

We believe that we went there as liberators, those who supported the war. But gosh sakes, don't play into al Qaeda's strength. Take away this recruiting tool and this rallying cry.

Let's pass this resolution today and say clearly and unequivocally: No permanent military bases in Iraq, period.

Madam Chairman, I oppose this amendment, which is nothing less than an attack on the nation's most trusted source of reproductive health services and information. The Pence amendment would single out Planned Parenthood for exclusion from the Title X program, at odds with the principles repeatedly articulated by the United States Supreme Court.

Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading reproductive health care provider. The vast majority of services that Planned Parenthood provides are services to prevent unintended pregnancies, and test and treat for sexually transmitted infections, as well as breast and cervical cancer screening.

The vast majority of Planned Parenthood patients have incomes at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, women who are four times more likely to face an unintended pregnancy. For many women, and especially those in rural areas and underserved communities, Planned Parenthood is their only source of health care. Title X helps 575 Planned Parenthood clinics to provide over 3 million women with family planning services each year.

Madam Chairman, if we are to reduce the number of abortions in this country, as Mr. Pence clearly desires, we must get serious about prevention. Each year publicly funded contraceptive services help women prevent 1.3 million unintended pregnancies, which would otherwise result in 533,800 births, 632,300 abortions and 165,000 miscarriages. In the absence of publicly funded family planning, the number of abortions each year in the United States would be 40 percent higher than it currently is. In fact, from 1980 to 2000, Tide X clinics helped women prevent nearly 20 million unintended pregnancies, nine million of which would have ended in abortion. By restricting Title X, Mr. Pence's amendment would likely increase the number of abortions, particularly among our teenagers.

We should oppose Mr. Pence's amendment because it is an inhumane attack on the quality of life of low-income women in this country, but moreover, we should oppose it because it does not make good public health sense. Gutting funding for family planning will never bring us towards a day with fewer abortions, it will only increase the devastating costs imposed on society by unintended pregnancies among young women and teenaged girls.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Mr. John H. Christensen of Reston, VA, for his service to the Defense Logistics Agency, DLA, as Chief of Logistics Research and Development at DLA Headquarters. He has served one of this Nation's most important agencies admirably, administering virtually all of the DLA's Research and Development initiatives and Industrial Base programs that have supported our soldiers in combat.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Mr. Christensen received his bachelor's degree in environmental engineering in 1979. Additionally, he has obtained two master's degrees, one from Virginia Tech in systems engineering and the other from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in national resource strategy.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Christensen served as the first Program Manager of the Department of Defense, DOD, Electronic Mall, a single point acquisition center for off-the-shelf goods found in the commercial marketplace. His leadership helped bring a set of competing prototypes into a single operating system to provide for easy access, multiple searches, and cross-store shopping and ordering among millions of items from over hundreds of sources, all of which can accept credit card orders. The DOD Electronic Mall now generates millions of dollars each month in support of agency missions.

As chief of the Logistics Research and Development at Headquarters, Mr. Christensen is responsible for two major program elements; Manufacturing Technology Research and Development, and also Logistics Research and Development. The Manufacturing Technology

element consists of programs in Castings, Forgings, Industrial Plant Equipment, Operational Rations, and Military apparel. Logistics Research and Development includes a drive in Medical Readiness, Aging Aircraft, Supply Chain Management, and Competitive Sustainment. Additionally, the Industrial Base responsibilities include Waterstoppers, Surge and Sustainment, the Rapid Manufacturing Initiative, and all statutory programs related to the Industrial Base.

Having been in federal service for nearly 30 years, Mr. Christensen's career has been marked by sustained progression. Having served a 3-year tour as the Assistant Officer in charge of the Naval Fuel Depot in Yokusha, Japan, with the United States Navy, he then went on to serve 2 years as the first Program Manager of the Department of Defense E- Commerce Program, and lastly served 7 years as the Chief of the Logistics Research and Development Division with DLA. Mr. Christensen has remained a committed member of the Naval Reserves, and he holds the rank of Commander with over 26 years of combined service.

Madam Speaker, I wish to commend Mr. Christensen for his many years of service to our Nation and I am proud to have him live in Virginia's 8th Congressional District. The Nation will lose a proud servant when he leaves office on August 31, 2007. I wish him and his wife, Mary, Godspeed in his retirement.

Madam Chairman, the moratorium on A-76 public- private competition at the Department of Labor is the right provision, in the right bill at the right time.

The moratorium is included in this Appropriations bill because the Department of Labor has made indications that the agency is trying to reach numerical privatization targets--quotas--for its outsourcing.

The use of outsourcing quotas was first addressed by Congress when the Office of Management and Budget under the Bush Administration introduced its effort to outsource at least 15 percent of each agency to the private sector, with a goal of outsourcing up to half of the agency workforce.

The problem with outsourcing quotas is that they are a ``one-size- fits-all'' arbitrary privatization effort. Quotas never consider the unique needs of different Federal agencies, and they often lead to widespread cuts that harm the ability of Federal agencies to effectively carry out their mission.

I offered an amendment to the Transportation-Treasury Appropriations Act in 2003 that shed light onto the administration's effort, and outlawed the outsourcing quota.

Now it appears that the Department of Labor is taking the same approach.

In the next two years, over 2,000 jobs are expected to be competed, many of which appear to be both inherently governmental and even discriminatory.

These jobs include technical writers reviewing OSHA enforcement action, senior instructor for safety specialist responsibilities, and physical scientists that analyze toxic materials in working environments. It is vital that these positions provide sound, objective services that Federal employees can.

Furthermore, the majority of employees impacted by the recent round of A-76 competitions were older African-American women. The GAO report will analyze whether the scheduled outsourcings are discriminatory.

The DOL has won 21 out of 23 competitions conducted in the past 3 fiscal years. Millions of dollars have been spent over the last several years on these initiatives; 90 percent of the cases are won by Government.

The GAO report would give Congress an objective analysis of the outsourcing program at the Department of Labor from which to base further decisions.

Competitive sourcing is not inherently a bad thing if it can save money for the Federal Government, but arbitrary quotas, numerical targets, are a bad thing.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the American Society for Training & Development, ASTD, as one of the largest associations dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals, and recognize their annual Employee Learning Week, that is to be held December 3rd through the 7th, 2007.

In 1944, ASTD began their first annual conference. ASTD has widened the profession's focus to connect learning and performance to individual and organizational results, and is considered a strong voice in the field of workplace development.

Members of ASTD come from more than 100 countries and connect locally in 136 U.S. chapters and 25 global networks. Members work in thousands of organizations of all sizes, in government, as independent consultants, and suppliers.

ASTD has a commitment to maintaining an edge in the highly skilled workforce that is critical to growing and sustaining a competitive advantage. To further these goals, ASTD has declared December 3rd through the 7th, 2007, as ``Employee Learning Week'' and designated time for organizations to recognize the strategic value of employee learning.

I applaud ASTD and its members for their commitment to developing the skills of employees and the workforce during Employee Learning Week, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting policies that commit to maintaining a highly skilled workforce.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Robert Nicholson of Alexandria, VA, on being awarded the Air Force Association's DW Steele Chapter ``Teacher of the Year Award.''

A teacher at Alexandria County Public Schools since 1984, Mr. Nicholson has taught earth sciences, oceanography and astronomy and is also the Earth Sciences Division coordinator at TC Williams High School.

Mr. Nicholson's creative approach to education allows him to teach a variety of classes using hands-on learning that captivates students while enriching their learning experience. Deputy Superintendent of Alexandria County Public Schools, Cathy David, praised Mr. Nicholson not only for his outstanding work in enhancing the science curriculum at TC Williams but also for mentoring fellow teachers, ensuring consistency and rigor in the science curriculum.

In addition to the courses he teaches Mr. Nicholson is planetarium director at TC Williams High School and is known to use his free time to give shows to students outside his astronomy classes and also gives informative and entertaining presentations to middle and elementary school students from Alexandria City Public Schools and area private schools. Fellow colleagues from all disciplines frequently ask Mr. Nicholson to present planetarium shows that relate to their specific content needs.

Mr. Nicholson is truly an asset to the students he inspires and the lives he shapes in the Eighth District of Virginia. I congratulate him on being awarded this great honor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New Jersey.

I rise in support of this bill. I can't believe the argument in opposition to this bill, that we should continue to stay the course, because this is the policy that has led us in the wrong direction for four straight years. This has been the worst foreign policy fiasco in American history.

Now we're being told that we're there to fight al Qaeda. There were no al Qaeda in Iraq when we went into Iraq. Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11. Now there are about 5,000 there out of a population of 26 million.

We have trained hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Many of them we've given them more training than we've given our own troops.

This policy is not worthy of the sacrifice of our troops and their military families. It's leading us down a dead-end street. It's time that it was changed.

Mr. Speaker, we are told that we need to train the Iraqis more. All we are doing is equipping and training them in order to kill each other in a civil war that I'm afraid is going to be inevitable.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Bill Dearman of Alexandria, VA. Bill Dearman's retirement will mark the conclusion of 10 years of extraordinary and dedicated leadership as executive director of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

Mr. Dearman's professionalism and commitment to making quality homes affordable to Alexandria's neediest citizens has led to a number of great accomplishments. Among these was the redevelopment of the Samuel Madden Housing Project into what is now the nationally recognized award-winning Chatham Square. In addition he oversaw the development of various scattered site public housing replacements in middle class neighborhoods such as, Braddock Road, Quaker Hill, Cameron Valley and the rehabilitation and refinancing of Jefferson Village.

Mr. Dearman has improved the quality of life and economic opportunity of all Alexandrians by contributing in a major way to Alexandria's economic and racial diversity and affordability.

Mr. Dearman should be deeply appreciated by all Americans for his years of service to the city of Alexandria. I wish all the best to him on his retirement with his family in Atlanta, GA.