Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1815, and thank Chairman Hunter and Ranking Member Skelton for their hard work. This bill supports our men and women serving in the armed forces and make- investments to keep our military strong in the future.

H.R. 1815 is committed to a strong Navy through shipbuilding increases. With cost controls and investments in our industrial base, we can ensure that our future navy will be robust, innovative and effective. I am pleased that the bill directs the Navy to begin design work on a next-generation submarine that will incorporate emerging technologies. Currently our Navy has no plans for the submarine to follow the Virginia-class, which threatens to cause our design and engineering base to disappear. If we lose design capability, we will do irreparable harm to our shipbuilding industry. Given certain nations' investments in their navy and undersea capabilities, I appreciate the commitment in this bill to guaranteeing our nation's undersea dominance.

However, I am concerned by the recommended cuts to DD(X), the Navy's future destroyer that will serve as the model for our naval surface combatant transformation. DD(X) is the cornerstone of our future fleet, and I fear that the cuts in this bill could endanger the project. I look forward to working with my colleagues to address any existing concerns with DD(X) and to continue this program.

This bill also contains important language to ensure that civilian employees at the Department of Defense do not lose their jobs to private contractors without first having the opportunity to compete for the work. It closes loopholes that have permitted DOD to outsource work without proving that the private sector can do it more cost- effectively. Finally, it expresses the sense of Congress that civilian employees should have the same rights as private contractors during contract competitions. I thank the chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, Mr. Hefley, for working with me to craft the language and Chairman Hunter for his commitment to defend our provisions.

Furthermore, the committee report encourages the President to update the National Security Strategy so that we incorporate all instruments of national power into a comprehensive approach to security. We need a vision of national security that complements our military might with enhanced soft power capabilities such as communications and diplomacy, economic cooperation and foreign aid, cultural exchanges, and investments in educational disciplines such as science, engineering and foreign language skills. Joseph Nye, the former dean of the Kennedy School of Government and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, has written extensively about the need to supplement our military might with efforts to win the world's hearts and minds with our values and culture. As the 9/11 Commission so eloquently put it: ``If the U.S. does not act aggressively to define itself [. . .], the extremists will gladly do the job for us.'' I thank the committee leadership for addressing my concerns in this area.

Again, I commend the Chairman Hunter, Ranking Member Skelton and my colleagues on the committee for a well-balanced bill, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 810, and I want to acknowledge the bipartisan effort that has gone into this legislation and the incredible grass roots movement that has built support for this groundbreaking medical research. It

has been inspirational to see so many Members putting aside politics and partisanship to address this issue which affects the lives of millions of Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I am one of those Americans. At age 16, I was an Explorer Scout in my hometown police station. One afternoon, in the police locker room, a gun accidentally discharged. The bullet severed my spinal cord, and I have been paralyzed ever since.

This experience shapes my perspective in so many ways. Above all, it has given me tremendous appreciation and respect for life. My life as a quadriplegic is filled with challenges and obstacles, yet I am grateful for every minute. This gratitude has become a passion, and it has motivated me to help create a culture that values and protects life from its beginning to its end.

To me, being pro-life also means fighting for policies that will eliminate pain and suffering and help people enjoy longer, healthier lives. And to me, support for embryonic stem cell research is entirely consistent with that position. What could be more life-affirming than using what otherwise would be discarded to save, extend, and improve countless lives?

This research offers the opportunity to discover cures and treatments for diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, diabetes, spinal cord injury, and many others. But it will take not only the talent of our scientists, but also the support of our government to realize its full potential. We have a responsibility to ensure that this research proceeds, and it does so with ethical safeguards and strict guidelines. By permitting research only on excess embryos created in the in-vitro fertilization process, and by establishing a clear, voluntary consent process for donors, H.R. 810 meets this responsibility.

Stem cell research gives us hope and a reason to believe. I believe one day a child with diabetes will no longer face a lifetime of painful shots and tests. I believe one day families will no longer watch in agony as a loved one with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's gradually declines. And I believe one day I will walk again.

There are few moments in medical history when we can clearly identify a giant step forward in improving countless lives. We saw it with the discovery of antibiotics and the advent of organ transplants.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that adult and embryonic stem cell research is another of these great moments. Today we have a historic opportunity to make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans and for people around the world. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 810.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this restrictive rule which does not make in order several key amendments that could go a long way to enhancing our security efforts and addressing serious vulnerabilities. Case in point: the cargo security amendment offered by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) and just spoken of by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

That being said, today we will consider H.R. 1817, the first ever authorization measure for the Department of Homeland Security. I want to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), ranking member, for bringing this important bill on the floor. I am proud to serve with them on the Committee on Homeland Security.

While it is not as far reaching as many of us had hoped, H.R. 1817 takes several critical steps in improving our Nation's security and preparedness. It authorizes sufficient funding to hire an additional 2,000 border patrol agents, which will help us meet the goal of 10,000 new agents over 5 years set forth in last year's intelligence reform bill. The measure also streamlines the background check system for those working in sensitive positions, creates an Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, and requires reform of the homeland security alert system so that more specific and targeted information can be provided to those who need it.

Finally, this bill will improve our intelligence and information capabilities by allowing new recruiting tools to attract the best- qualified analysts and mandating increased coordination in the dissemination of threat information to State, local, and private sector officials.

But this bill could have gone further. While I understand the jurisdictional constraints facing the gentleman from California (Chairman Cox), I firmly believe that a DHS authorization bill should include critical components like port security, nuclear and chemical facility security, bioterrorism preparedness, communications interoperability, and rail and transit security. That is why I will be supporting a substitute amendment offered later today by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), ranking member. This comprehensive amendment takes the right approach to homeland security needs that still face our country.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me again thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Cox) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), ranking member, for their hard work on this legislation. It is not a perfect bill, but it is indeed an important and significant first step.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of Ranking Member Thompson's substitute amendment.

While H.R. 1817 takes important steps in improving our security and preparedness, it simply does not go far enough.

Now, the Thompson substitute contains the critical provisions that I believe must be in any comprehensive, effective DHS authorization. Now, all told this amendment would provide about $41 billion for our homeland security needs, nearly $7 billion more than requested by the President.

This substitute would provide additional grant funds for continuing needs, in port, rail, transit and bus security, communications interoperability and firefighter hiring and preparedness. It also enhances air security by requiring that 100 percent of air cargo be screened within 3 years, tightening restrictions on access to sensitive airport areas, and providing flight crews the training and communications tools to effectively respond in an emergency.

Furthermore, the Thompson amendment ensures that we fulfill commitments made in the intelligence reform bill to implement the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

It authorizes funding for nearly 2,000 new border patrol agents and provides resources to install explosive detection systems to baggage screening at airports, which is a critical unmet need at T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island.

Now, as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Threats, I am particularly pleased to note that the Democratic substitute would provide for the

installation of radiation portal monitors at all ports of entry. This is a key step in our efforts to keep dangerous materials out of our borders.

Finally, this substitute makes significant progress in addressing critical infrastructure protection. It provides funding for an assessment of risks to nuclear and chemical plants and requires that chemical plants capable of threatening a large number of people in the worst-case situation take steps to increase security, implement safer technologies when feasible.

Just as importantly, the amendment sets deadlines for completion of a list of high-priority critical infrastructure assets. Now, this list should be the very basis for our Nation's security plans and funding decisions, and there is no excuse for the continuing delays in its completion.

Mr. Speaker, while we are indeed safer today than we were on September 11, the truth is that there still remains a significant security gap that must be filled.

The Thompson substitute takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these vulnerabilities, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act. It is a testament to the importance and balanced approach of this bill that it is cosponsored by every Democratic and Republican member of the Committee on Homeland Security on which I am proud to serve. The 9/11 Commission and countless others have urged a more risk-based approach to homeland security funding. Unfortunately, we have been too slow to adopt this recommendation because, while we may agree on a risk-based method in theory, every Member wants his or her district to receive the most possible Federal assistance.

This bill takes the right approach and represents a long overdue move towards a more effective allocation of scarce resources. H.R. 1544 guarantees a minimum funding level for each State because all States must attain a benchmark level of preparedness and response capabilities. But beyond this minimum, the bill would disburse funds based on a risk and threat assessment to ensure that they are spent where they are most needed and will do the most good.

I am also pleased that this measure provides for a task force on terrorism preparedness to assist in updating the DHS list of essential capabilities for first responders. We must be able to measure the progress our States are making towards an adequate level of preparedness, and it is equally important that this baseline be achieved in every community throughout the country so that American families can feel secure no matter where they live.

I would like to note that for risk-based funding to work, however, DHS must have a comprehensive threat and vulnerability assessment on which to rely. I would urge DHS in the strongest possible terms to ensure that this critical piece of the puzzle is a top priority and is completed as soon as possible.

With that, Mr. Speaker, let me encourage all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan measure. I want to commend both Chairman Cox and Ranking Member Thompson on their fine work on this piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commend former state legislator Irving H. Levin on his retirement from his profession as a real estate broker and insurance agent and thank him for his long career of service. Over his lifetime, Mr. Levin has worked on behalf of Rhode Islanders as a community activist, business leader, and model citizen.

Born July 21, 1915, in Providence, Irving Levin has dedicated his life to making Rhode Island a better place. He graduated from Hope High School in 1934 and attended Johnson & Wales College. He then served in the Army during World War II, which inspired his lifelong advocacy for veterans.

Mr. Levin received his real estate license in 1959, and he earned numerous honors and awards for his practice over the years. He was twice recognized as Realtor of the Year by the Greater Providence Board of Realtors, and he was honored as the Rhode Island Realtor of the Year in 1993. A true leader, Mr. Levin also served as the President of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors in 1990.

From 1971 to 1991, Mr. Levin represented Cranston and the citizens of the 27th district of Rhode Island in the General Assembly. During his tenure at the State House, he served as Vice Chairman of the House Corporations Committee and Chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs. By the time he retired, Mr. Levin was the longest-serving member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives. In the General Assembly, Mr. Levin focused his priorities on veterans and senior citizens' issues.

In addition to realtor, insurance agent, and State Representative, Mr. Levin served as president of the Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce and the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. After leaving public office, Mr. Levin continued his activism with the Jewish War Veterans and served as President of the United Veterans Council of Rhode Island. Mr. Levin's distinguished career has no doubt inspired countless others to follow in his footsteps.

I am proud to honor Mr. Levin today. It is through the efforts of dedicated public servants and community leaders like Mr. Levin that Rhode Island has moved into the 21st century ready to face whatever problems arise. I am confident that if other leaders follow the model set forth by Mr. Levin, Rhode Island and our Nation will continue to be a source of pride for all of us. I hope my colleagues will join me in commending Irving H. Levin.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 366, the Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act, which reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. For over 20 years, the programs authorized in this bill have offered students across America the opportunity to develop their academic and technical skills.

Perkins supports vocational education programs that prepare students for both postsecondary education and the careers of their choice. H.R. 366 maintains many of the aspects of the current legislation that have made these programs successful. In my home state of Rhode Island, federal funding is instrumental in the operations of nine regional centers, each offering a different mix of technical training programs. Additional career and technical programs are provided in numerous comprehensive high schools and at post-secondary institutions throughout the state. These services are an integral component of education in Rhode Island and I strongly support a continued federal role in career and technical education.

The bill we are voting on today incorporates several new ``local uses of funds'' that will help postsecondary programs serve their students better--particularly adults that take the initiative to return to school, enrolling in community college career and technical education programs.

I want to take this opportunity to express one reservation about the reauthorization. The merger of the Tech Prep program into the Basic State Grants will result in the loss of a separate line item for Tech Prep. Although the bill seeks to ensure continued funding for Tech Prep activities, community colleges fear that the end result will be the loss of those funds, rather than an addition to the Basic State Grants. Tech Prep programs utilize a proven, successful school-to-work transition strategy to assist students making the connection between school arid employment. I hope that a dedicated funding stream for Tech Prep will be reinstated in the conference on this bill with the Senate.

With this in mind, I thank the House leadership for pursuing the reauthorization of the Perkins Act and encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 366.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge ``Cover the Uninsured Week.'' Many of us have heard from our constituents this week, asking that we make health insurance coverage a top priority in the 109th Congress. America's families are living in fear that someone they love might develop a health problem they can't afford. We must begin a meaningful dialogue about this problem that will continue until every American has access to quality, affordable health insurance.

This national disgrace has reached crisis proportions. Forty-five million Americans--more than 8 million of whom are children, and more than 80 percent of whom live in working families--are one ambulance trip away from financial devastation.

I was pleased to join Leader Pelosi and other Democrats in cosponsoring three bills introduced this week as part of the Democrats' plan to build on programs that already work. Together, the Family Care Act, the Medicare Early Access Act and the Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act would cover over half of all uninsured Americans. I have also been proud to be a part of other initiatives, both nationally and in my home state of Rhode Island to preserve and expand existing health insurance programs for retirees, children with disabilities, and adults attempting to return to the workforce. These are all important aspects to addressing the health care crisis, and I am honored to be part of building momentum around a solution.

Our small business owners know we are in a crisis. Rising health care costs are undermining their ability to purchase coverage for their employees. They are frustrated with the increasing burden of negotiating and administering health care plans, and they are taking on extra costs or passing them on to employees just to maintain level coverage. Without systemic change, these problems will continue to threaten the health security of all Americans.

What frustrates me most about the health insurance crisis is what little attention it receives. But I believe that with the proper amount of consideration and planning, the health care system in America can be saved. An enormous amount of money circulates through our health care system--we spend $35 billion on uncompensated care for individuals who don't have health insurance, with federal, state and local governments covering as much as 85 percent. Wouldn't it be better for American families, and also more cost effective, to transfer a large share of these funds to a new program to subsidize the cost of covering the uninsured? We spend millions treating illnesses diagnosed at later stages, thus requiring more costly treatments, because we didn't offer people the screenings to catch these problems earlier. This is the least efficient way possible to treat people. While we may not be in the best of economic times, if we made this issue a priority and committed ourselves to spending our health care dollars more wisely, we could offer all Americans access to quality, affordable care.

With these principles of efficiency and inclusion in mind, I have developed a model for universal health insurance. Introduced last year as the American Health Benefits Plan. This bill is modeled after the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program--which everyone in this chamber is familiar with, as it offers coverage to Members of Congress, their families and staffs.

Under my proposal, private companies will compete to offer health insurance, attracting enrollees on the basis of benefits as well as efficiency, service, and lower premiums. The government should make a substantial contribution to every American's premium, and for those for whom paying a portion of the premium would be a hardship, the government should offer subsidies--as we currently do under Medicaid. Employers should continue to contribute to the health care system, and they can do so through a payroll tax, which would fund the government contribution--but the burden of negotiating and administering health care plans should be taken on by the government.

A national template for this model already exists. FEHBP manages health insurance for more than 8 million federal employees, annuitants and dependents. This program is administered by the Office of Personnel Management, which assumes responsibility for approving or disapproving carriers, negotiating benefit and rate changes, and auditing carriers' operations under the law. With administrative costs of less than 1 percent, OPM has managed to offer a wide variety of health care choices and protections to federal employees.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the federal government should offer this kind of coverage and oversight to all Americans. I sincerely hope to continue this dialogue with my colleagues, beyond ``Cover the Uninsured Week,'' but this is an important place to start.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce a bill that will help families memorialize those who died in service to our country and are buried in cemeteries overseas. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, those servicemembers whose remains are classified as ``unavailable for burial'' are eligible for government-provided memorial markers or headstones. While this classification includes those whose remains have not been recovered or who were buried at sea, there is one glaring exception to this definition--those who died fighting for freedom abroad and were laid to rest there.

The United States currently has 24 permanent overseas burial grounds that are the final resting place for nearly 125,000 of our bravest men and women who died serving our country. These sites are the responsibility of the American Battle Monuments Commission and are a wonderful tribute to those buried there. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs maintains that because these graves can be visited, there is no need to provide families at home with a memorial marker for their deceased loved ones.

We should not deny these families the ability to obtain memorial markers when we already do it for so many others. To correct this, my legislation will add overseas burials to the VA's ``unavailable for burial'' classification and finally let these men and women be memorialized by their families here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated public servant and dear friend, Senator Aram Garabedian on the occasion of his 70th birthday. I have known Aram for 15 years, and he has never failed to inspire me with his commitment to the citizens of Rhode Island.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Aram Garabedian currently resides in Cranston and serves as city council president. But this is only the most recent chapter in his distinguished career. Since the early 1970s, Aram has served in a number of capacities, most notably as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and a State senator.

He has been a model citizen, and he has never stopped serving his community and fellow Rhode Islanders.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to recognize my good friend, Aram Garabedian, for his lifetime of service, and to wish him a happy and healthy 70th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Cover the Uninsured Week. Many of us have heard from our constituents this week, just as we have in the weeks, months, and years prior, asking that we make health insurance coverage a top priority of the 109th Congress. America's families are living in fear that someone they love might develop a health problem that they cannot afford. We must begin a meaningful dialogue about this problem that will continue until every American has access to quality, affordable health insurance.

This national disgrace has reached crisis proportions. Forty-five million Americans, more than 8 million of whom are children and more than 80 percent of whom live in working families, are one ambulance trip away from financial devastation.

I was pleased to join the gentlewoman from California (Leader Pelosi) and other Democrats in cosponsoring

three bills introduced this week as part of the Democrats' plan to build on programs that already work. Together, the Family Care Act, the Medicare Early Access Act, and the Small Business Health Insurance Promotion Act would cover over half of all uninsured Americans. I have also been proud to be a part of other initiatives, both nationally and in my home State of Rhode Island, to expand existing health insurance programs for retirees, children with disabilities, and adults attempting to return to the workforce. These are all important aspects to addressing the health care crisis, and I am honored to be a part of building momentum around a solution.

Just as individuals and families know that we are facing a health care crisis, our small business owners know that we are in crisis as well. Rising health care costs are undermining their ability to purchase coverage for their employees. It has threatened their ability to keep their businesses economically viable, and they are frustrated with the increasing burden of negotiating and administering health care plans that are taking on extra costs or passing them on to employees just to maintain level coverage. Without systematic change, these problems will continue to threaten the economic and health security of all Americans.

What frustrates me the most about the health insurance crisis is what little attention it receives. But I believe that with the proper amount of consideration and planning, the health care system in America can be saved. An enormous amount of money circulates through our health care system.

We spend $35 billion on uncompensated care for individuals who do not have health insurance, just last year alone, with Federal, State, and local governments covering as much as 85 percent of those costs. Would it not be better for American families and also more cost effective to transfer a large share of these funds to a new program to subsidize the cost of covering the uninsured? We spend millions treating illnesses diagnosed at later stages, thus requiring more costly treatments because we did not offer people the screenings to catch these problems earlier. This is the least efficient way possible to treat people.

While we may not be in the best of economic times, if we made this issue a priority and committed ourselves to spending our health care dollars more wisely, we could offer all Americans access to quality, affordable care.

Now, with these principles of efficiency and inclusion in mind, I have developed a model for universal health insurance introduced last year as the Americans Health Benefits Plan. This bill is modeled after the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which everyone in this Chamber is familiar with, as it offers coverage to Members of Congress, their families, and staffs.

Under my proposal, private companies will compete to offer health insurance, attracting enrollees on the basis of benefits as well as efficiency, service, and lower premiums. The government should make a substantial contribution to every American's premium, and those for whom paying a portion of the premium would be a hardship, the government should offer subsidies as we currently do under Medicaid.

Employers should continue to contribute to the health care system, and they could do so through a payroll tax which would fund the government contribution, but the burden of negotiating and administering health care plans should be taken on by the Federal Government.

A National template for this model already exists. FEHBP manages health insurance for more than 8 million Federal employees, annuitants and dependents. This program is administered by the Office of Personnel Management, which assumes responsibility for approving or disapproving carriers, negotiating benefit and rate changes, and auditing carriers' operations under the law.

With administrative costs of less than 1 percent, OPM has managed to offer a wide variety of health care choices and protections for Federal employees.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that the Federal Government should offer this kind of coverage and oversight to all Americans and I sincerely hope to continue this dialogue with my colleagues beyond the Cover the Uninsured Week, but this is an important place to start.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise in strong opposition to H. Con. Res. 95, the Republican Budget Conference Report. During House consideration of the budget last month, we had the opportunity to pass the Spratt Substitute, which contained thoughtful policies to balance the budget by 2012 without individual tax rate increases or harmful cuts to security, health care, education, veterans' benefits, and other programs that improve the quality of life for Rhode Island's working families. Unfortunately, these responsible ideas were cast aside in favor of the Republican values we have before us today: tax cuts for the wealthy paid for by slashing programs that Rhode Islanders depend on.

While the Republicans claim that budget cuts are needed to return to fiscal discipline, they forget their own policies caused today's financial problems. Without the tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans enacted since 2001, our nation's fiscal health would be much rosier, and the neediest and most vulnerable Americans would not be forced to sacrifice. Their fiscal year 2006 budget proposal continues to move in the wrong direction, and next year's deficit will likely be the largest in history, with more than $400 billion added to the national credit card.

Unfortunately, the budget before us today lacks the vision needed to move our country forward. In addition to driving us further into debt, H. Con. Res. 95 also contains vast cuts to programs that benefit the working class. Most troubling is a $10 billion cut to Medicaid, which will place an enormous burden on Rhode Island. My state has successfully leveraged federal Medicaid dollars and currently offers health care coverage to many vulnerable, low-income pregnant women, parents of young children, and other groups not included in the federal mandate. Without sufficient Medicaid funding, these people would likely join the increasing ranks of the uninsured.

In addition, this budget implements a multitude of other cuts proposed by the President. These cuts include reductions in law enforcement and firefighter funding, the elimination of 48 education programs, and new fees for veterans' health care. Clearly, these reductions are not the priorities of the American people.

The Republican blueprint does not make us safer or healthier, prepare children for the future, or honor veterans. By continuing failed tax policies while cutting effective programs that Rhode Islanders depend on, their proposal is a misguided and unjust starting point. As Democrats show, it is possible to create a realistic blueprint that is fiscally responsible and is built around the needs of the American people. I urge my colleagues to reject the Conference Report on H. Con. Res. 95.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Dr. Joyce Gifford, a veterinarian from Cumberland, RI, who was recently named 2005 Rhode Island Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Dr. Gifford is the owner of Abbot Valley Veterinary Center, a successful practice that employs a number of Rhode Islanders and provides extraordinary care for family pets.

Dr. Gifford possessed remarkable professional qualifications, having graduating at the top of her class from the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and worked in some of the nation's most renowned veterinary hospitals. Dr. Gifford had always dreamed of starting her own veterinary practice, but her aspirations were put on hold when she had trouble securing the initial financing. Seeking advice, Dr. Gifford turned to the SBA and SCORE for assistance. These agencies helped Dr. Gifford improve her business plan and provided the loan assistance

she needed to open her own veterinary center in 1995.

The Abbot Valley Veterinary Center quickly garnered widespread popularity. Dr. Gifford earned a reputation as a compassionate, dedicated, and experienced professional. Today her business has grown to serve more than 2,000 patients.

As her business began to take off, Dr. Gifford was diagnosed with cancer. Drawing on the courage and resolve that had come to define her professional career, and with the help of family, friends, and clients, Dr. Gifford successfully overcame the disease and today is cancer-free.

Over the years, Dr. Gifford has made many significant technological additions to her business to better serve her patients, and her clientele and staff continue to grow. In addition to being an accomplished entrepreneur, Dr. Gifford is also a philanthropist, and she supports a variety of local animal shelters and community organizations, such as the Cumberland Boys and Girls Club.

Dr. Gifford embodies the professional and personal character necessary to operate a successful business, and she now joins the list of distinguished Rhode Islanders who have been named Small Business Person of the Year.

I congratulate Dr. Gifford for her successful practice and dedication to her community. Small businesses are key to economic growth in my home state, and I wish Dr. Gifford and the 32,000 other small business owners in Rhode Island great success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, during which one and a half million Armenians were tortured and murdered, and more than half a million were forced from their homeland into exile. Despite overwhelming documentation, the Turkish government has refused to admit or apologize for these atrocious acts, or even acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.

As Americans, we must guarantee that our foreign policy reflects our values of justice, equality and responsibility. These values should apply in all of our international interactions, including those with Turkey, a NATO ally. Turkey wishes to increase its global profile through accession to organizations such as the European Union. However, if Turkey wishes to gain the world's respect, it must earn it. It must demonstrate its commitment to peace and democracy in the region. It must reopen its borders, end its blockade of Armenia, and encourage Azerbaijan to end its aggressive rhetoric. And most importantly, it must accept responsibility for past injustices through an unconditional recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Only then can Turkey begin to come to terms with its history. Only then can Armenians seek justice from the Turkish government for the losses of so much and so many.

Last month, I was honored to lead a conference session for Rhode Island students in which we discussed the genocide and what steps our government should take to recognize that tragedy appropriately. I think practically every student present that morning was amazed that, despite overwhelming evidence and widespread support, Congress has not yet passed the genocide resolution. It is time for Congress and the White House to speak with one voice and ensure that our national ideals are reflected in our foreign policy. Consequently, I joined many of my colleagues in asking the President to recognize the Armenian Genocide in unambiguous terms, and I will again cosponsor the Genocide Resolution when it is reintroduced in the coming weeks.

As an ardent supporter of Rhode Island's Armenian-American community throughout my public service career, I am proud to join my colleagues to today in honoring the victims of the genocide by paying tribute to their memory, showing compassion for those who have suffered from such prejudice, and never forgetting the pain that they have endured.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Detective Sergeant James Allen of Johnston, Rhode Island. After graduating from the police academy in 1978, Detective Sergeant Allen served on the force of the Providence Police Department for 27 years, until he was tragically murdered in his own police station while questioning a suspect on April 17, 2005.

Detective Sergeant Allen was first and foremost a family man, and he leaves behind his wife Marguerite and two teenage daughters, Jennifer and Caitlin. In addition to his work on the police force, he held down a part-time job to help pay for his daughters' tuition at private school. He was a fixture at St. Thomas Catholic Church in his Fruit Hill neighborhood, where he had regularly attended services since fourth grade. The Reverend Francis Kayatta said, ``He was absolutely devoted to God and to his Catholic faith. He was absolutely devoted to his wife and his family. And he was absolutely devoted to the community that he gave his life for.''

Detective Sergeant Allen followed his father Captain Lloyd Allen to the Providence Police Department. One of the longest-serving members of the force, James was a respected and well-liked member of the Department. Over the years, he had worked on some of the biggest cases in Rhode Island. In 1987, Allen evacuated several sleeping people from a burning tenement house. He received the Chiefs Award in 1989 for outstanding acts in the line of duty. In 2003, Detective Sergeant Allen played a key role in investigating a shooting at the Mount Hope Police Station, not far from his own office at the Providence Police Station. His affable demeanor, photographic memory, and attention to detail helped apprehend criminals and make Rhode Island a safer place to live.

In America, one law enforcement officer is killed every 53 hours, and Rhode Island is not immune to this tragic statistic. Detective Sergeant Allen is the ninth Rhode Island officer killed in the line of duty since 1952, and the fourth since 1994.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Crugnale and his dispatcher for Yellow Cab. Their quick thinking helped apprehend the suspected murderer shortly after the shooting.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues of Detective Sergeant Allen. Over the last quarter century, Detective Sergeant James Allen made a difference while protecting the people of Providence, and his absence will leave a large void in Rhode Island.