Floor Statements

I thank the gentleman so much for yielding and for pointing out how languishing in the House of Representatives are many pieces of legislation that have passed the United States Senate in a bipartisan way with a Democratic majority. Yet here in the House, where we have a Republican majority--and as you pointed out, some of these bills have actually passed their own committees led by Republicans--are still not being considered on the floor today.

So we are going to adjourn and will not meet again for almost 2 months--the earliest adjournment before an election in over 50 years. Republicans are going to turn off the lights in this Chamber, shutting down debate on matters of serious consequence to Americans and the economy. Shame on them. We should be staying and dealing with those bills.

They have voted, for example, time after time to repeal ObamaCare and to protect tax cuts for the wealthy and rich corporations, but have taken no action on preserving tax cuts for the middle class--for 98 percent of American taxpayers.

They've not taken any action on the Violence Against Women Act, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 68-31. For the many years that the Violence Against Women Act has been enacted, it has always had bipartisan support.

We haven't passed the wind production tax credit, which, again, would mean jobs for Americans in an industry that has just been developing right now and that is so important to our environment and for people, for instance, in my State of Illinois as well as in Iowa and other Midwestern States.

We haven't passed the doctor fix, making sure that Medicare reimbursements to doctors don't drop by 27 percent.

We haven't dealt with sequestration, which would have a devastating impact on investments that create jobs and protect low-income people.

There has been no action on the post office reform or the farm bill, which has been mentioned. In southern Illinois, where we have a serious drought, our farmers are waiting for some drought relief, but they're not going to get it from this Congress.

Most importantly, while Republicans have found the time to vote again and again to end the Medicare guarantee--making it harder for seniors to choose their own doctors and raising the costs of health care for seniors by over $6,000 a year--they still haven't found the time to bring a comprehensive jobs bill to the floor or one that deals with making it in America, which is an industrial policy that would actually put Americans back to work right here at home.

Millions of hardworking American people are still looking for more than just talk about jobs. Over a year ago, I introduced the Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act in order to create more than 2 million jobs and to put people back to work in the most straightforward of ways--by hiring them. My bill would put people to work in critical areas to our communities and our economy--people like teachers, cops and firefighters, health care workers, school construction and maintenance workers.

Over a year ago, President Obama sent to Congress the American Jobs Act, which incorporated parts of my bill and also would provide tax credits to small businesses--yet another tax credit--and assistance to State and local governments in order to prevent the layoffs of critical workers. Independent experts estimate that President Obama's American Jobs Act would create up to 2.6 million jobs.

But the Republican do-nothing Congress brought neither of these jobs bills to the floor. No. They are, every day, sabotaging every effort to actually help create jobs and to Make It in America. Democrats truly do want to stay to fight for jobs, for the economy, for farmers, for taxpayers, for battered women. It's time for the Republicans to join us.

Thank you, Mr. Minority Whip, for leading us in this effort, and I urge all of the Republicans to join us in staying here.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3409, the ``Stop the War on Coal Act.'' This legislation represents the wish list of our Nation's worst polluters. It would do nothing to make our country more energy independent, but it would strip Americans of basic clean air and clean water protections. Several provisions of the bill have previously been considered by the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I serve, and they are no better than when they were first introduced. They would all have a devastating impact on human health and the environment.

H.R. 3409 would eliminate tailpipe standards to reduce carbon pollution from model year 2017-2025 vehicles, bar EPA from requiring power plants and refineries to reduce carbon pollution, and undo requirements for power plants and refineries to disclose their carbon pollution. Those provisions would make our air dirtier without promoting job growth or energy independence.

The bill would delay the enforcement of the Mercury and Air Toxics and Cross-State Air Pollution standards. The Mercury and Air Toxics Standard will prevent 4,500 cases of acute bronchitis, 12,000 emergency room visits, 120,000 cases of aggravated asthma and more than 6,800 premature deaths annually. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will prevent 19,000 cases of acute bronchitis, 15,000 nonfatal heart attacks, 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma, and 34,000 deaths per year. Every year these regulations are delayed, over 40,000 preventable deaths will occur.

In 2008, the Kingston coal ash disaster dumped over one billion gallons of coal ash into the Emory River, contaminating drinking water with arsenic, chromium, selenium, lead, and mercury. The EPA submitted two options for regulating of coal ash disposal to prevent a similar disaster in the future. H.R. 3409 would require a standard weaker than either recommendation made by the EPA. It would allow states to regulate coal ash landfills by the same standards we use for ordinary household garbage, subjecting millions of Americans to increased risk of cancer, neurological disorders, birth defects, reproductive failure, asthma, and other complications.

This legislation would allow states to veto EPA water quality decisions even when a water source is heavily polluted. It would also restrict EPA from requiring improvements to state water quality standards when they fail to protect public health. Waterways cross state boundaries, and the effects of one state's lax regulations can have terrible consequences not just to their populations, but also to states downstream.

We have a responsibility to our children and grandchildren to protect the air they breathe and the water they drink. Legislation like H.R. 3409 puts the priorities of a few selfish corporate polluters ahead of hundreds of millions of Americans. I strongly oppose this bill and urge my colleagues to join me in voting against final passage.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6213, the ``No More Solyndras Act.'' This hyper-partisan legislation would prevent Department of Energy loan guarantees for the most promising energy technologies and commit our country to the technologies of the past.

American renewable energy is thriving, with many success stories demonstrating the value of continuing the Loan Guarantee Program.

One example is Prologis, a company that received a partial loan guarantee of $1.4 billion through the 1705 program to complete Project Amp, an effort to install solar panels at 750 buildings across the country which will add reliable energy to our electric grid. The project will employ more than 1,000 workers nationwide, including in my home state of Illinois, and have the capacity to power 90,000 homes once completed.

Another promising example is First Solar, an Arizona-based company that has partnered with leading private investors--including Berkshire Hathaway--to finance and build a 290-MW solar power plant. That project is supported by a DOE loan guarantee and will soon be providing clean, renewable electricity for the taxpayers who helped fund it.

All told, the DOE's existing loan guarantees will put 60,000 Americans to work and will prevent millions of tons of CO2 from being emitted into our air. H.R. 6213 could prevent the next Prologis or First Solar from taking off, and it would put our country at an incredible disadvantage compared to China, Germany, and a number of other countries that are making substantial investments in clean energy.

Solyndra has been used as a red herring to attack DOE loan guarantees and thus undermine America's commitment to clean energy. But H.R. 6213 would not end the DOE Loan Guarantee Program. It would restrict DOE loan guarantees to proposals submitted before 2012. That would not save taxpayers a dime, but it would prevent the most promising technological advances from receiving consideration for DOE loan guarantees.

There is of course a trade-off in investing in nascent technologies. Sometimes it won't work out. But as the demand for energy rises, emerging technologies in the United States will need our support to compete with China, whose solar industry received $30 billion in government subsidies in 2010. Because of the Loan Guarantee Programs, U.S. investment in clean energy edged China last year, but if we abandon our commitment to investment in the most promising renewable energy technologies, we will again fall behind. That would be a reckless and irreversible decision.

We owe it to the next generation to foster the investment that will make American energy production the envy of the world over the next century. We will not accomplish that goal by clinging to the technologies of the past. We must dedicate ourselves to the goal of energy independence, which is impossible without our support of emerging energy technologies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this FISA legislation. I do want to thank my ranking member for yielding to me, despite our difference of opinion.

As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I take the threat of terrorism very seriously, but I believe we are fully capable of protecting our security and safeguarding our precious civil liberties. This law authorizes the government to collect mass electronic communications coming into and going out of the United States so long as no U.S. person in the United States is intentionally targeted. Yet in April 2009, The New York Times reported that the National Security Agency ``intercepted private email messages and phone calls of Americans on a scale that went beyond the broad legal limits established by Congress.''

Shouldn't our government be required to disclose more about the extent and nature of the surveillance? Is this an authority that should be extended until 2017? Should we at least be able to consider an amendment to reexamine this law in 2013? But no amendments are allowed today.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

First, let me thank the gentleman, Mr. Lipinski, for organizing this opportunity to come to the floor today and recognize the remarkable achievements of our dear friend, my dear friend, Representative Jerry Costello.

I want to thank Jerry, my friend and colleague, for his 24 years of remarkable, outstanding service to his district, to Illinois, and to the country. And although he's retiring at the end of this Congress, I know that his impact will be long-lasting.

Since arriving in Congress in 1999, I have been very fortunate to have Jerry Costello to rely on for advice and guidance and support. And as you hear from one Member after another who gets up and says the same thing, you can see how Jerry Costello has been a friend to so many on both sides of the aisle.

When I came, he and then-Representative Ray LaHood, now Secretary of Transportation, convened routine meetings of the Illinois House delegation to discuss how we could work together to meet the needs of our State. A fierce advocate for southwestern and southern Illinois, Jerry was eager to help all parts of the State to obtain Federal assistance and meet the needs of our constituents.

Our delegation may have had some disagreements on policy, but we were firmly united, under Jerry's leadership, in our desire to bring funding to Illinois to create jobs, improve access to health care, help farmers and promote Illinois businesses.

It wasn't until I was in Congress for a while longer that I realized that not every State delegation met in this manner. It was because of Jerry's leadership, his dedication to getting things done, and his ability to work in a bipartisan manner that the Illinois delegation could get together, not just to talk, but to achieve concrete results.

Throughout his career, Jerry has been a real workhorse. As senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and ranking Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee, he has shaped transportation policy and is responsible for unprecedented improvements in aviation safety. He is a recognized expert on transportation issues, and he is known for his commitment to protecting the interests of travelers, riders and passengers and the rights of transportation workers.

He has brought his policy interests to other areas as well, from his role on the Science, Space and Technology Committee, to his interests in agriculture, education and children.

Jerry Costello is the go-to leader of the Illinois House delegation, and it is easy to see why. It is not just that he loves the State of Illinois and the House of Representatives. It is not just that he can put together strategies to pass legislation or bring Federal assistance to his district. It is his entire being, a calm but determined demeanor, a commonsense approach to problem-solving, and a welcoming attitude for his beloved constituents and his colleagues.

Throughout my time in Congress, Jerry has been generous in sharing with me his time and his talents, and for that I'm extremely grateful.

I have also been so happy to get to know Jerry's wonderful wife, Georgia. Georgia is the president of Southwestern Illinois College, an advocate for the Illinois Green Economy Network, and she also brings a spirit of public service to her work in improving the community.

My dear friend, Jerry, your record of accomplishments over the past 24 years is enormous. And while you may be retiring from the House of Representatives, I know that you and Georgia will continue to work to inspire and improve the lives of Illinoisans. I thank you for your friendship that I hope will endure and for all that you have done for our great State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleague and my dear friend Representative Jerry Costello for his 24 years of outstanding service to his district, Illinois and the country. Although he is retiring from Congress at the end of this year, his impact will be long-lasting.

Since arriving in Congress in 1999, I have been very fortunate to have Jerry Costello to rely on for advice and guidance. He and then- Representative Ray LaHood, now Secretary of Transportation, convened routine meetings of the Illinois House delegation to discuss how we could work together to meet the needs of our state. A fierce advocate for

Southwestern and Southern Illinois, Jerry was eager to help all parts of the state obtain federal assistance and meet the needs of our constituents. Our delegation may have had disagreements on policy, but we were united in our desire to bring funding to Illinois to create jobs, improve access to health care, help farmers, and promote Illinois businesses.

It wasn't until I had been in Congress for a while that I realized not every state delegation met in this manner. It was because of the leadership of Jerry Costello, his dedication to getting things done and his ability to work in a bipartisan manner that the Illinois delegation could get together not just to talk but to achieve concrete results.

Throughout his career, Jerry Costello has been a real workhorse. As a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure and ranking Democrat on the Aviation Subcommittee, he has shaped transportation policy and is responsible for unprecedented improvements in aviation safety. He is a recognized expert on transportation issues and he is known for his commitment to protecting the interests of travelers, riders and passengers and the rights of transportation workers. He has brought his policy interests to other areas as well--from his role on the Science, Space and Technology Committee to his interests in agriculture, education and children.

Jerry Costello is the go-to leader of the Illinois House delegation and it is easy to see why. It is not just that he loves the state of Illinois and the House of Representatives. It is not just that he can put together strategies to pass legislation or bring federal assistance to his district. It is his entire being--a calm but determined demeanor, a common-sense approach to problem-solving, and a welcoming attitude for his beloved constituents and his colleagues. Throughout my time in Congress, Jerry has been generous in sharing with me his time and his talents--and for that I am extremely grateful.

I have also been happy to get to know Jerry's wonderful wife, Georgia. Georgia, the president of Southwestern Illinois College and advocate for the Illinois Green Economy Network, also brings the spirit of public service to her work in improving our community.

Jerry, your record of accomplishment over the past 24 years is enormous. While you are retiring from the House of Representatives, I know that you and Georgia will continue to work to improve the lives of Illinoisans. I thank you for your friendship that I hope will endure and for all you've done for our great state.

Today, our hearts turn to the heroes and loved ones who lost their lives on 9/11.

We will never forget the sacrifices of the first responders who are appropriately receiving special honor today. Yet firefighters and police officers are being laid off around the country. Why? Because the Republicans have sabotaged all efforts to avoid those layoffs and to create jobs. It will be 1 year ago tomorrow that the President sent to Congress the American Jobs Act, which would put people to work in areas critical to our communities and our economy--cops and firefighters and teachers--and would prevent those layoffs.

Independent experts estimate that his bill would create up to 2.6 million jobs; but has the Republican do-nothing Congress even allowed a vote on the American Jobs Act? No. Instead, they've found time to vote repeatedly to end the Medicare guarantee, and next week, Republicans will leave town and leave America without a jobs bill. Our first responders deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012. This bill is a critical effort to tighten sanctions against the Tehran regime, and to increase pressure to force the government to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Iran's nuclear ambitions pose a grave threat to the United States, to regional stability in the

Middle East, and to the entire international community. Both President Obama and the United States Congress have unequivocally stated that Iran must not be permitted to develop nuclear weapons.

On his visit to the Middle East this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated that ``sanctions are having a serious impact in terms of the economy in Iran.'' Iran is now struggling to conduct international trade, losing markets and trading partners. Its currency has lost over half of its value.

Meanwhile, the administration continues to expand sanctions against Tehran. Earlier this week, President Obama signed an executive order to extend sanctions to anyone, using any method of payment, who purchases Iranian crude oil--preventing Iran from circumventing sanctions by using bartering and other unconventional payment options. It also expanded sanctions on buyers of Iranian petrochemical products, and authorized penalties for entities seeking to evade U.S. sanctions. Also this week, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Bank of Kunlun in China and Elaf Islamic Bank in Iraq for providing financial services to Iranian banks.

Today, Congress is acting to further tighten the economic noose on the Iranian regime. The bill under consideration today, H.R. 1905, strengthens and expands existing sanctions, banning any commercial activities with Iran's oil and natural gas sector, including helping Iran ship its oil under the flag of another nation. This bill increases sanctions targeting entities involved with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and sanctions human rights offenders.

When coupled with existing sanctions, today's bill represents the strongest-ever effort to financially isolate Iran. This is critical, because we must persuade the Tehran government to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons. I strongly support utilizing our entire diplomatic and economic arsenal to ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons.

Today's bill is a critical step towards increasing pressure on the Iranian government. I urge my colleagues to join me in strongly supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and accomplishments of a true American patriot: retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Raila. Lieutenant Colonel Raila has lived a rich and full life: he is a veteran, a medical doctor, a father, and so much more. He is a fantastic example of those individuals who make up our ``greatest generation.''

Living on the south side of Chicago, Frank Raila was called to serve his country shortly after his eighteenth birthday in 1943. He was sent to Europe as a Private in the 106th Infantry Division, where he served on a machine gun crew. He participated in an unsuccessful attempt to retake the city of Schonberg in late 1944. During this assault, then- Private Raila was captured by German forces and sent to a mining labor camp as a prisoner of war. Before long, he used quick thinking and ingenuity to escape from captivity during a transfer to a new location, and worked to rejoin friendly forces.

During the rest of the war and for several years after, Frank Raila continued to serve his country--remaining with the United States Army and eventually retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After the war, Frank Raila returned to civilian life and attended the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University at Chicago. As a Neuroradiologist, he had a long and distinguished career--practicing in locations around the country and abroad over several decades.

On behalf of myself and a grateful nation, I want to thank Lieutenant Colonel Raila for all he has done for our nation: for his service, his sacrifices, and his hard work. I want to welcome him, and all the other veterans participating in the ``Honor Flights'' to Washington D.C. in recognition of this year's ``Day of Honor'' program on August 1, 2012.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 503 had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Debra Malina, CRNA, DNSc, MBA. Ms. Malina will soon complete her year as national president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). I am very pleased that Ms. Malina was tapped as the 2011-2012 President of this prestigious national organization.

Founded in 1931, the AANA is the professional organization that represents more than 44,000 practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and Student Nurse Anesthetists who will become CRNAs. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses who administer approximately 32 million anesthetics to patients each year. They work in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered, including hospital surgical suites and obstetrical delivery rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, and the offices of dentists, podiatrists, and all types of specialty surgeons. They also provide acute and chronic pain management services to patients in need of such care. CRNAs provide anesthesia for all types of surgical cases and, in some states, are the sole anesthesia providers in 100% of rural hospitals, ensuring that these facilities can offer their communities obstetrical, surgical, and trauma stabilization services.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists is headquartered in my district, and President Malina has served the association extremely well and helped to improve health care for all Americans. A CRNA for 15 years, Ms. Malina received her doctorate in nursing science from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tennessee, and her master's degree in business administration from Madison University in Gulfport, Mississippi. Additionally, she earned her master's degree in anesthesiology from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida and a bachelor's degree in nursing from Florida International University in Miami.

In addition to her current service as AANA President, Ms. Malina has held various leadership positions in the AANA, including President- elect, Treasurer, Region 2 Director, and member of the Finance Committee. Ms. Malina has also served as the AANA Association Management Services director. In addition, she is a former president of the Tennessee Association of Nurse Anesthetists and has served on numerous committees on the state and national levels. She was also an advanced practice nursing member of the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

Adding to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Malina has effectively used her experience in education and CRNA practice to inform the public about the safety, value and cost-effectiveness of CRNA care. During her AANA Presidency, Ms. Malina has played important roles in advocating for the practice of nurse anesthesia and its patients before Medicare and other federal agencies and with members of the Congress of the United States. She has worked tirelessly to promote the facts that CRNAs help make healthcare work better and cost less.

Let me give just two examples of her leadership. The Institute of Medicine reports that 100 million Americans suffer from chronic intractable pain, which costs more than two-thirds of a trillion dollars each year in medical and economic costs. Ms. Malina has demonstrated leadership in urging Medicare to restore direct reimbursement for pain management services provided by CRNAs--a move that will improve care for patients and reduce unnecessary costs. Ms. Malina and her national organization were also crucial in supporting provisions included in the recently-enacted Food and Drug Administration user fee reauthorization to combat critical shortages of anesthesia and other drugs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the outgoing President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Ms. Debra Malina, CRNA, DNSc, MBA, for her notable career and outstanding achievements.

Now that it's the law of the land, it's time for everyone in the country to take a deep breath and look at what really is in the Affordable Care Act, ObamaCare.

If you're a senior citizen, you're now receiving a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs if you fall into what is called the doughnut hole, the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap.

If you're a woman, you now have free coverage of lifesaving preventive services such as mammograms; and beginning on August 1, free coverage is going to include many additional preventive care services, so take a good look at that.

If you're a parent, if you have children under age 19, they cannot be denied coverage by an insurance company because they have a preexisting condition.

And if you're a young adult, you can now stay on your parents' health care plan until your 26th birthday, which is really important if you don't have a job that has health insurance coverage.

And if you're a small business owner, like my son is, there are millions now of eligible small business owners that are receiving tax credits if you choose to offer coverage to your employees.

So take a look. It's really good for most Americans.

The International AIDS Conference could not be returning to America at a better time. This year's conference could mark the turning point in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Advances in research are finally allowing us to picture the possibility of a generation that is free from this disease.

Despite great promise, there is still much to do. Now more than ever, America must remain committed to leading the fight against HIV/AIDS, combating the crisis right here at home and abroad. Our continued support is absolutely vital to developing new treatments and prevention techniques, including microbicides, as well as to finding a cure.

The United States must continue to do everything we can to increase access to treatment for infected individuals around the globe, including the availability of life-saving drugs. Let this conference serve as a reminder of America's contribution to combating this epidemic and a rallying cry for why we can't turn back now.

Mr. Speaker, last week the White House honored leaders who have made a significant difference in the way their communities combat homelessness among children and youth. I am pleased that one of the 13 ``Champions of Change'' is Sol Flores, Executive Director of La Casa Norte in Chicago.

Nearly one million American men, women and children are currently homeless. That is simply unacceptable, but progress is being made. Because of Sol's leadership of La Casa Norte, the city of Chicago--and the Humboldt Park neighborhood in particular--has seen a significant reduction in homelessness.

Since founding La Casa Norte 10 years ago, Sol has made it her mission to serve youth and families facing homelessness. La Casa Norte's continuum of services to assist children, young adults, and families has proven incredibly successful. Eighty-four percent of youth leaving La Casa Norte's transitional housing program find permanent housing, and 87 percent of families who receive homeless prevention assistance maintain housing stability. The organization is a recognized leader in effective homeless prevention in the Chicago area and across the country.

I thank Sol Flores for her tireless efforts to promote stable homes and stable communities, and I wish her continued success. Her leadership of La Casa Norte and dedication to eradicating homelessness are worthy of her distinction as a ``Champion of Change.''

Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chairman, I rise today to join my colleagues in calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan and the removal of U.S. troops and security contractors.

We face real and ongoing challenges from terrorist groups around the world; but after 10 years of fighting, it is clear that an ongoing military presence in Afghanistan is simply not the answer. The over- $630 billion we've spent on this war over the past 10 years has not brought us security, and we cannot bring stability to Afghanistan through an ongoing troop presence.

I support the President's efforts to begin the withdrawal of U.S. troops, and I applaud him for starting that important process. Yet we need, in my

opinion, to act faster to end the war. We need an accelerated timetable for troop withdrawal and a plan to ensure that all U.S. forces are redeployed.

Madam Chairman, over 2,000 Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan in service of their country. That includes almost 1,500 since January 2009 and an estimated 400 since the death of Osama bin Laden. Another 12,000 have been wounded. Perhaps most staggering, more soldiers have committed suicide than have died in combat in Afghanistan. Our troops bear devastating physical and psychological wounds of war.

The war in Afghanistan has placed a devastating strain on our military, our troops, and their families. We've asked more and more from them, with many soldiers serving multiple dangerous deployments, taking them away from their homes and their families for long periods of time.

The suicide rate, again, is a stark reminder that we're not meeting our obligations to these men and women.

Madam Chairman, keeping our troops in Afghanistan comes at great cost to us. Not only does it cost some $8 billion a month, but it continues to cost American lives. It is time for us to end this war. Instead of more boots on the ground, we need to redirect funding toward diplomatic and economic engagement with the Afghan people.

We need to invest in Afghan women, ensuring that they have basic human rights protections, as well as educational and economic opportunities, because Afghanistan will never be stable and prosperous if half of its population is oppressed.

The bottom line is this: hundreds of billions of dollars, and over 2,000 American lives, have not brought us security. Keeping our troops in Afghanistan will not end the threat of terrorism, nor will it bring stability to the Afghan people. We need a new strategy, shifting from military force to true engagement.

Madam Chairman, we are fighting a war that has no military solution. In fact, far from making us safer, our ongoing troop presence actually fuels the insurgency and breeds anti-American sentiment. Instead of pouring another $88 billion into continuing this war for another year, I strongly believe we need to end funding for military engagement in Afghanistan and finally bring our troops home.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Amendment Offered by Mr. Mulvaney

Mr. Speaker, today the White House honors leaders who had made a significant difference in the way their communities combat homelessness among children and youth. I am so proud that one of the 13 ``Champions of Change'' is my constituent, Paul Hamann, President and C.E.O. of the Night Ministry.

In the wealthiest nation on earth, any amount of homelessness is unacceptable, yet nearly one million Americans currently do not have a roof over their head. They include men, women and children. This Congress must do more to eradicate homelessness, and we should support people like Paul and organizations like the Night Ministry that are working to provide help and hope to the homeless.

The Night Ministry is Chicago's safety net of last-resort social services, health care, housing and outreach for homeless youth and adults and those who are isolated from the community. I have had the pleasure to witness and take part in the great work the Night Ministry does at their Health Outreach Bus and their Youth Outreach Van in the Uptown and Lakeview neighborhoods in Chicago.

Paul has dedicated his life to helping those in need through his work for non-profit organizations. He has been with the Night Ministry for 10 years and has led the organization since 2007. Under Paul's direction, the Night Ministry has broadened its impact on the Chicago community through health outreach, short-term housing assistance, support and instruction for pregnant teens, and transitional housing. His tireless work has made a difference for thousands of Chicagoans who would otherwise go without healthcare, housing, or food.

I thank Paul Hamann for his outstanding leadership of the Night Ministry and I wish him many years of continued success. He is a true Champion of Change.