Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 263 I was unable to record my vote. I intended to vote ``yea'' on that question.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009. The funding in this bill will provide our men and women in uniform the tools they need to protect our nation, while recognizing the sacrifices they and their families have made for this country.

Unlike past war funding supplementals, this year's measure will focus on supporting a clear plan for ending the war in Iraq and bringing our men and women home safely and responsibly. This will be balanced with adequate resources to support a ``whole of government'' approach to combat Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and to support our allies in Pakistan as they fight a violent insurgency that threatens to envelop their country.

This supplemental also supports Congress's critical oversight responsibilities by requiring the President to report on the performance of the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan in five key areas by February of 2010. This will allow the Congress to evaluate the effectiveness of our new strategy in Afghanistan and ensure that we are providing everything troops need to get the job done.

On the home front, the supplemental ensures that our nation is ready to respond to a full flu pandemic by providing funding for anti-viral drug and vaccine stockpiles as well as assisting state and local responders with the tools to fight such an outbreak.

This bill ensures the safety of our nation by balancing our war efforts overseas with disaster response at home, and I urge passage of

Madam Speaker, I rise to urge passage of the Weapons Acquisition Systems Reform Through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Oversight Act of 2009, or the WASTE TKO Act. I want to thank Chairman Skelton for his leadership in addressing this critical issue and bringing this bill to the floor so quickly and with such strong support.

In today's world, we face a difficult balance between keeping our Nation safe and operating within the fiscal constraints of our current economic climate. Cost overruns in major defense programs are a drain on our limited resources and jeopardize our national security. As of 2009 the Government Accountability Office found $296 billion in cost growth across 96 major weapons systems. We must ensure that money we use to protect our Nation is used wisely and efficiently so that taxpayer dollars get the most bang for their buck.

The WASTE TKO Act helps tackle cost growth through ensuring accurate performance assessments, providing intensive care to `sick' programs, and fighting cost growth in the early stages of development.

Specifically, this bill will bring oversight to the muddled process of performance assessments by requiring the Secretary of Defense to designate a principal official to provide unbiased evaluations on the success of our acquisitions programs. The bill will also mandate additional reviews for programs that fail to meet development requirements or have extreme cost growth problems. This gives Congress the power to get an honest assessment of a `sick' program's condition and decide whether it merits the risks of proceeding with development. Finally, the bill requires DOD to track cost growth and scheduling changes that take place before the program reaches milestone B, where 75% of its costs are already locked in place. This allows Congress to review alternative solutions to fight cost growth before it becomes a permanent drain on a program.

When cost overruns and schedule delays continue to haunt a program, it threatens the ability to provide our men and women in uniform with the best equipment possible to protect our Nation. This bill goes a long way towards increasing effective Congressional oversight and will help us continue to be responsible stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this much-needed legislation.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1718, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act and the manager's amendment that's before us today, which I know will bring greater transparency to lending practices nationwide.

Unconventional mortgages have left countless Americans facing foreclosure, and this is especially true in my home state of Rhode Island, with one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

With this bill, we will combat unscrupulous lending practices and bring transparency to the process by requiring mortgage originators to be licensed and mandating full disclosure of loan terms. Perhaps, most importantly, mortgage originators would certify that consumers have a reasonable ability to pay back the loans that they were applying for and that they are not predatory in nature.

We have seen too many lenders steer consumers into loans that they cannot afford. We cannot allow that practice to continue or to ever happen again. I am also pleased that this measure includes protections to renters of foreclosed property.

H.R. 1728 will address persistent problems in the housing market, bring financial stability to families and ensure that the appropriate measures are in place to prevent this kind of mortgage foreclosure crisis from ever happening again in the future.

I want to thank and commend the gentleman from Massachusetts, Chairman Frank, for his outstanding leadership on this important measure. I urge support of this bill and the manager's amendment before us today.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 391, which recognizes May as National Foster Care Month and calls for continued improvements in our foster care system. My parents welcomed many foster children into our family over the years, and I know firsthand the value, and the challenges, of the foster care system.

All children need love and support. And this is especially true for the more than half a million children currently in our foster care system, and many more who still need help. We also must address the issues affecting older youth as they transition out of foster care. Unfortunately, research shows that current and former foster youth are more likely to have difficulty making the transition to adulthood and are more likely to forgo higher education, be in poor health, become homeless and rely on public support. They deserve better, and we can do better.

Further, let me thank the many compassionate individuals who take in foster children. Foster parenting is an act of true selflessness, requiring significant financial and emotional investment. Sadly, many foster children have been abused or neglected, treatment that leaves indelible scars for years, which foster parents lovingly attempt to heal.

Mr. Speaker, these foster children need our continued support, our care and our love, as do the foster families who take them in. And we need to rededicate ourselves to improving our foster care system.

I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and his hard work on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to declare my strong support for H.R. 1913, the

Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and to urge its swift passage in the House of Representatives.

This important legislation would expand the federal definition of hate-motivated crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity. Violence provoked by prejudice has no place in our society. It jeopardizes not only the safety of the victims but also their friends and neighbors, and upsets public order by making people feel threatened in their communities.

For example, persons with disabilities are often vulnerable to criminal hateful acts because they may seem different or use unfamiliar assistive technologies. Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia, including my home state of Rhode Island, already recognize and prosecute these cases as hate crimes. However, there is still no uniform recognition on the national level that a disability could make a person uniquely susceptible to prejudice. Equally troubling is that Rhode Island law enforcement officials reported that nearly 50 percent of hate crime victims were targeted because of their sexual orientation. Yet even as so many Americans joined together to mourn the loss of Matthew Shepard last October, on the tenth anniversary of his brutal murder, hate-motivated crimes still go unrecognized under federal statute.

H.R. 1913 has the practical purpose of authorizing training and grants for local law enforcement officials to facilitate prevention, investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. However, the passing of this bill today is equally as important as the civil rights legislation that was enacted several decades ago, which enforced the principle that our country does not accept targeting any American for violence or discrimination based on hatred. I urge my colleagues to join me in fighting bigotry that threatens our communities by voting for the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act. Last week, I hosted my first telephone town hall meeting and my constituents called in with questions and concerns about what can be done to stop the deceptive practices by credit card companies. I was pleased to tell them that I was a cosponsor of this bill, which provides a sensible approach to reforming major credit card abuses and improving consumer protections for cardholders.

Credit cards have become an integral part of the American economy, offering consumers instant access to a convenient, flexible source of financing. Unfortunately, more and more Americans are turning to their credit cards to help pay medical and utility bills, buy groceries, and make ends meet in this troubled economy. Credit card debt now consumes a sizeable portion of the average family's income. To make matters worse, the playing field between card companies and consumers has become increasingly uneven in recent years. A credit card agreement is a contract between a card company and a cardholder, but these companies have taken advantage of their customers with deceptive billing practices and hidden fees. Meanwhile, money that families are forced to divert to these unfair rates and charges could be better spent on goods and services that could help bolster our struggling economy.

Cardholders deserve more bargaining power, and the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act helps level the playing field. Cardholders are entitled to accurate information and the right to make decisions about their own credit. This bill will ban interest rate increases on an existing balance unless the borrower is 30 days overdue and requires card companies to give cardholders notification 45 days before any interest rate increase. This legislation also protects vulnerable consumers from fee-heavy subprime cards and prohibits issuing cards to minors. H.R. 627 would also ban ``universal default,'' where a card company raises the interest rate on one card if the cardholder misses a payment on a separate credit card or their credit score lowers. All of the provisions in this bill are the result of careful study and analysis, and I believe this deliberative approach has produced a very balanced and moderate bill.

Mr. Chair, instead of looking the other way while Americans fall deeper into debt, Congress must protect their financial interests and put an end to the tricks and traps used by credit card companies to undermine a competitive market. The balanced reforms in the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights will help do just that, while also helping to foster fair competition and the values of the free market. I encourage all my colleagues to vote for H.R. 627.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 13, the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Conference Report.

In order to rebuild our economy and achieve long-term fiscal sustainability, we must make strategic investments into our nation's health care, education, and energy programs, while simultaneously providing meaningful tax relief to families and businesses struggling to regain their economic footing. Each week, I hear from my constituents in Rhode Island about their challenges in today's economy, such as trying to save for their retirement, send their children to college, or protect their home from foreclosure. As a member of the Budget Committee, I believe this conference report reflects the crucial priorities that families face every day while adhering to an honest accounting of our fiscal challenges.

S. Con. Res. 13 builds on the significant funding and tax incentives incorporated into the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by increasing investments and job creation in clean energy technologies and overall energy efficiency. It supports health care reform that will lower costs, improve quality, and pave the way for coverage to help all Americans lacking proper health insurance. This budget honors the service of our nation's veterans with an increase of $5.6 billion for veterans' health care and other crucial support services. Finally, it recognizes the profound importance of education by increasing funding for programs like Title I, special education and Pell Grants for college.

Just as important as our investment in job creation and economic recovery is the commitment to tax equity and fiscal responsibility. This budget provides $1.7 trillion in tax cuts for middle-income families, permanently extending the 2001 and 2003 income tax cuts for the vast majority of Americans. It also reduces the deficit by nearly two-thirds in four years, placing our country on the fiscally sustainable path necessary to regain our economic strength.

It is time for policymakers at all levels and across the ideological spectrum to join together and offer a new vision and new solutions to rebuild our economy. I would like to thank Chairman Spratt for his leadership and dedication to working with Congress to ensure that this budget provides the framework necessary so that we may improve the health of our nation, reduce expenditures over the long term and ultimately regain the economic prosperity of our great nation.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and urge its final passage.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 339) expressing the sense of the United States House of Representatives regarding the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, the kidnapping of Captain Richard Phillips by Somali pirates, the rescue of Captain Phillips by United States Navy SEALs and the crews of the USS Bainbridge,USS Boxer, USS Halyburton and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8, and for other purposes.

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

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

I am honored to rise this morning to recognize the efforts of some true heroes during the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama and its aftermath. Like millions of Americans, I watched as the ordeal unfolded from the initial attack, to the crew's quick response, to the captain's selfless sacrifice, to the Navy's breathtaking rescue.

Today, I hope all of our colleagues will join me in congratulating and in thanking the many brave Americans who played a role in the successful resolution of what could have been a terrible tragedy.

First, let me thank the gentleman from Vermont, my friend, Peter Welch, for spearheading this effort. I'm honored to sponsor this resolution with him. I would also like to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McHugh for working with us to bring this resolution so quickly to the floor.

The story of the merchant vessel Maersk Alabama is miraculous, not just for the safe return of its entire U.S. crew but also for the incredible bravery and professionalism displayed by the men and women of the U.S. Navy as well as Captain Richard Phillips, who gave himself up to ensure the safety of his crew.

We're all familiar with the story by now. On April 8, a group of armed Somali pirates hijacked the Norfolk, Virginia-based Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship--the first such attack on a U.S.- flagged vessel in modern history. Captain Phillips and his crew were delivering a life-sustaining USAID shipment of over 8,000 metric tons of food aid to Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda when the ship came under pirate attack. The crew overpowered one of the attackers, and Captain Phillips offered himself up in return for the safe release of his crew and ship. The four pirates then fled with Captain Phillips on an 18- foot lifeboat.

After receiving the distress call, the United States Fifth Fleet immediately dispatched maritime patrol aircraft to locate and monitor the Maersk Alabama and aid in directing the United States and the Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge to the scene.

The USS Bainbridge, under the command of Navy Commander Frank Castellano, immediately undertook efforts to monitor conditions on the lifeboat, and along with the USS Halyburton, would prevent the pirates from escaping. At one point, Captain Phillips attempted an escape by diving into the ocean but was recaptured. When it appeared that the captain's life was in imminent danger, the Navy SEALs did not hesitate. They drew on their training, and, most importantly, their courage and took decisive action to end the standoff and save the life of Captain Phillips.

Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today recognizes the bravery of the captain and the crew of the Maersk Alabama and congratulates the Navy SEALs and the crews of the USS Bainbridge, Boxer, Halyburton and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 for their decisive action in ensuring the safe return home of all concerned.

Again, I want to thank Congressman Welch for his work on this legislation, and I ask all of our colleagues to vote for its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he might consume to my friend and colleague, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the original sponsor of this measure, the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, one of the newest members of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Nye).

Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend my colleague, Mr. Welch, for his sponsorship of this resolution. I am proud to join with him. This truly is a story of remarkable heroism and bravery.

I again recognize the leadership of Captain Phillips and his crew and, in particular, the Navy SEALs, and all of our naval vessels and sailors that were involved in this entire effort. They truly are well- trained, and it showed in this. The training paid off.

On a personal note, I have great respect for all of our merchant mariners. Both my grandfather and my great uncle were both members of the Merchant Marine during World War II. I know the sacrifices that these Merchant Marines give in their daily lives day in and day out to make sure that cargo moves safely around the world.

This is truly a good news story, but clearly we have work to do in stopping pirate activities in the future. This is going to be an ongoing effort. I look

forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that this type situation never happens again.

Again, my congratulations to all my colleagues involved in this resolution, particularly Mr. Welch.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time. I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to thank Chairman Spratt, and I want to thank Congresswoman Schwartz for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution that is before us this evening. It is clear that in order to rebuild our economy and achieve long-term fiscal sustainability, we are going to make strategic investments in programs like health care, education and energy while simultaneously providing meaningful tax relief to families and businesses who are struggling right now to regain their economic footing. Well, this budget reflects those crucial priorities while adhering to an honest accounting of our fiscal challenges.

Now I believe that our greatest budgetary challenge right now is one that is deeply and unmistakably intertwined with the strength of our Nation's economy, and that is the need for health care reform.

Dr. Peter Orszag, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, recently testified before the House Budget Committee that ``the single most important step that we can take to put our Nation back on a path to fiscal responsibility is to address rising health care costs.'' Well, I could not agree more. As the cost of health care continues to rise, it is burdening our families, placing employers at a competitive disadvantage and costing our government, and ultimately the taxpayers, billions in unnecessary expenditures.

Well, Madam Chair, this budget supports our shared goals for health care

reform and provides the framework necessary to improve the health of our Nation, reduce expenditures over the long-term and ultimately regain the economic strength of our great Nation.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. I give great credit to Chairman Spratt and my colleagues on the Budget Committee for the hard work that they have put in to craft a responsible, truthful budget.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss a critical national security challenge and what I believe is an imminent threat to the safety of our country. That is cyber attacks.

Computers control everything from our banking systems to our electric grid, our military networks to our businesses and government functions. Never in the history of the world have so many people had so much access to ideas, knowledge and skills. However, increased access also opens up additional vulnerabilities that allow our adversaries to potentially cause catastrophic economic and physical harm to our country. Nation-states, terrorists and other actors who seek to harm our Nation understand that the future of warfare is through cyber attack.

In recent years, American military leaders have noted an unfortunate increase in cyber attacks. The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, James Cartwright, told Congress in March 2007 that America is under widespread attack right now in cyberspace.

But securing our networks is not simply the responsibility of the U.S. military. Mitigating vulnerabilities in America's critical infrastructure networks involves the work of a wide variety of government agencies and private-sector entities. Everyone, both in the public and private sectors, plays a role in securing cyberspace, and we must all work together to confront these threats.

Our Nation has some significant challenges ahead of us in the cyber security world. Right now, the United States is under attack, and quite frankly, we are losing the battle. I believe that it is essential that we act swiftly and boldly to respond to this threat.

I recently cochaired the CSIS Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th Presidency. Our goal was to develop recommendations for a comprehensive strategy to improve cyber security in Federal systems and in critical infrastructure. This commission was made up of renowned cyber security experts from across the country, both in and out of government.

In December 2008, after hundreds of hours of briefings, of working group meetings and discussions, we released our final report proposing a number of recommendations for the incoming administration to consider. Among the most critical and timely of those recommendations is the creation of a comprehensive national security strategy for cyberspace. ``Comprehensive'' means using all of the tools of U.S. power in a coordinated fashion: international engagement and diplomacy, military strategy and action, economic policy tools, and the work of the intelligence and law enforcement communities.

This strategy should begin with a public statement by the President that the cyber infrastructure of the United States is a vital asset for national security and the economy and that we will protect it by using all instruments of our national power. The commission also recommends that the Nation's cyber leadership be housed in the White House, not in any single agency.

We used the response to nuclear proliferation as a model for how to approach cyber security. Just as no single agency is in charge of nonproliferation, we recognize that the same is true for cyber policy.

To coordinate these efforts, we proposed creating a new office for cyberspace in the executive office of the President. This office would combine existing entities and would also work with the National Security Council in managing the many aspects of securing our national networks while protecting privacy and civil liberties. It is my hope that the leadership of this new office will be an assistant reporting directly to the President.

I am very pleased with President Obama's appointment of Melissa Hathaway to conduct a 60-day interagency review of the Federal cyber security mission. I think she is very knowledgeable of the issues surrounding the CNCI, and I have spoken with her regularly, encouraging her to review our critical infrastructure's defensive posture.

We have so many agencies that share in overseeing critical infrastructure protection that many issues fall through the cracks. This is an area I believe that we must improve on, and I look forward to working on legislation to implement the recommendations of the commission to ensure that our Nation is protected in cyberspace, and I certainly look forward to working with the administration on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep outrage over AIG using $165 million in government funding to pay top executive bonuses.

The company, for all intents and purposes, is bankrupt and has been bailed out by taxpayer dollars, and the fact that these bonuses could have gone forward simply defies logic.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend Chairman Frank and Chairman Kanjorski for presiding over today's hearing on AIG and for their continued oversight to make sure that taxpayer funds are being used responsibly to get our economy back on track.

While I was pleased to hear that Edward Liddy said that he would try to recoup the bonuses from his employees, I remain furious at how and why AIG chose to reward complete incompetence with taxpayer money. AIG executives must be held more accountable for their decision and may need to pay for mismanagement with their jobs. That is why I joined over 90 of my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Geithner demanding a full accounting of the use of taxpayer money at AIG and to block these bonuses and why I support legislation to ensure that taxpayers receive a full refund.

At this time of great uncertainty and instability in our Nation, the public deserves more from AIG and from us, their elected officials, who are entrusted to make responsible decisions on their behalf.

I would like to just take this opportunity to wish all of my colleagues and the American people, particularly my constituents, a happy St. Patrick's Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on an issue that continues to be a top priority for American families and businesses, one that is fundamentally intertwined with the strength of our Nation's economy and the government's long-term fiscal sustainability. I'm speaking, of course, about the need for health care reform.

Health care costs in the United States are rising at an alarming rate. Yet despite the fact that we spend more per capita on health care than any other industrialized country, we produce some of the worst outcomes by a number of important health measures. Furthermore, the U.S. remains the only developed nation that does not guarantee health coverage as a right to its citizens.

Recent estimates indicate that over 45 million Americans lack health insurance, leaving one in six without access to proper medical care. Even more shocking is that over 80 percent of the uninsured come from working families. Health care costs are imposing an increasing burden on families and placing employers at a further competitive disadvantage in our global economy.

Now, as we seek to unfurl the complex economic challenges facing our country, it remains abundantly clear that our success will not only depend on our ability to stem housing foreclosures and create new jobs; it will also depend on our will to change a system of health care that is fundamentally flawed and under tremendous strain.

According to Dr. Peter Orszag, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in his recent testimony before the Housing Budget Committee on which I sit, ``the single most important step we could take to put this Nation back on a path to fiscal responsibility is to address rising health care costs.'' He further stated that ``health care is the key to our fiscal future. We cannot afford inaction.''

I could not agree more, Madam Speaker. But this is not just an economic or a fiscal imperative; it is also a moral one. For many years I have continually heard from Rhode Islanders who are struggling to pay their share of health care premiums, as well as from businesses that can no longer afford to operate under the existing system. Those constituents who are fortunate to have access to health insurance are struggling in the face of increasingly daunting costs, while many of them are afraid, of course, that they will lose the benefit altogether.

Now, this cannot simply continue any longer, and I am very pleased that within the last 2 months, this Congress and President Obama have already taken extraordinary steps to begin addressing these challenges by expanding coverage and investing in innovative technologies that will ensure better treatments and outcomes for the future.

On February 4 Congress passed and the President enacted a bill to provide health coverage to 11 million low-income children through SCHIP, the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which I was proud to support. Also included in the Recovery Act were a number of important measures to provide additional funding to State Medicaid programs, extend health benefits to the unemployed, and ensure proper investment into health information technology so that we can achieve higher quality care with greater efficiency.

As recently as last week, President Obama signed an executive order lifting the ban on Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, an act, I believe, will fundamentally alter the course of science and medicine in the same manner as did the discovery of the first vaccine or X-rays or other significant medical discoveries.

We have made amazing strides in a short period of time, but there is obviously so much more work to be done. I believe it is incumbent upon us, as policymakers, to offer a new vision for health care in America, one that contains costs, improves quality, increases efficiency, promotes wellness, guarantees universal coverage, and encourages investment in treatments and cures for the 21st century.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, the President, health care providers, community advocates, business leaders, families, and patients across the country to find real solutions that permanently address the longstanding need to health reform in America.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the distinct honor and privilege of witnessing an historic and defining moment in our Nation's history, one that I believe will fundamentally alter the course of science and medicine in the same manner as did the discovery of the first vaccine or X-ray or other significant scientific and medical discoveries in this country.

On Monday, President Obama signed an executive order lifting the ban on the Federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. As someone who has lived with a spinal cord injury for over 28 years, I have always held onto the hope that one day I might walk again.

But this executive order is not about me or even about spinal cord injuries. It is about the millions of people living with chronic and disabling diseases, illnesses, and conditions for which this research may one day hold the promise of new treatments and cures. It is about responsible investment into sciences and technologies that will ensure our Nation's continued economic competitiveness into the 21st century.

There is still much work to be done, and I look forward to working with my congressional colleagues on this issue to ensure that responsible policies based on sound science are enacted.

This is truly an historic event.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Not only does this measure combine 71 bills already passed by the House of Representatives that improve forest health, facilitate better land management and protect water resources; it contains a bill that is long overdue for the President's signature--The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.

In the beginning of the 108th Congress, I joined a number of my colleagues in announcing the introduction of this critical piece of legislation. On that spring day in 2003, we were joined by Christopher Reeve. Each of us who had the privilege of working with Chris knows that his voice was strong and his perseverance was limitless. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries and bring science closer to a cure. I would like to take this opportunity to recall what he said to us on that day six years ago:

``I am honored and humbled to have my name associated with such a powerful piece of legislation. The passage of this bill will send an unprecedented message--the issues of research, rehabilitation and quality of life are paramount to improving the lives of those living with disabilities.''

These words ring true today--and I know that the spirit and force behind them are more powerful than ever as we prepare to pass a bill that will truly make a difference in the advancement of paralysis research. This legislation will authorize funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand and coordinate NIH activities on paralysis research to prevent redundancies and accelerate discovery of better treatments and cures. It will also establish a grant program in the Department of Health and Human Services for activities related to paralysis, including establishing registries and disseminating information.

Mr. Speaker, as a lawmaker eager to preserve our public lands, as well as find new treatments and cures for paralysis, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of S. 22 and support its final passage.