Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my support for H.R. 3801, The Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012, and also my strong admiration of its sponsor, my colleague and friend Gabrielle Giffords.

Gabby will be stepping down from Congress this week to focus on her recovery, but it is clear that she is not stepping down from her commitment to public service and her devotion to her constituents. Gabby Giffords remains an inspiring example of how legislators can be effective in reaching across the aisle and encouraging cooperation between those who are often adversaries.

America has learned a lot about Gabby Giffords since the tragic shooting last January. We have watched her deal with her grievous wounds with courage and determination. We know not just her strength, but her genuine warmth. America, like all of us who have had the joy to work with her, not only respect her but love her.

I am sad to see Gabby leave the House--she will be sorely missed. I know she will continue her amazing path to recovery, with her remarkable husband Mark Kelly by her side. I look forward to working with her in the future.

Mr. Speaker, the State of the Union address tonight is going to be very important, and I agree with President Obama that this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and those trying to reach it.

And what's at stake is the very survival of the basic American promise that if you work hard, you can do well enough to raise a family, own a home, and put a little bit away for retirement. We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while more Americans barely get by, or we can build a Nation where everyone gets a fair shot, he says, everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same rules.

We found out today that, especially when it comes to taxes, there really are different rules for the rich. Mitt Romney released his taxes. He made $42 million over the last 2 years and paid at about a 14.5 percent rate because most of his income is in capital gains.

Look at the tax brackets. If you make $8,500 as a single person, you're in a 15-percent tax bracket. Is that fair? I don't think so.

At just about this hour, the Sun is setting, and Jewish families around the country, including mine, are going to their Hanukkah Menorah--the festival of lights, the festival of a miracle that the lights lasted for 8 days. Usually, this is a joyful time--a beautiful, holy celebration. For many families around this country, this is a very sad and worrisome time, made worse by this day.

With millions of Americans unemployed and relying on a meager average $286-a-week check while they look for work, Republicans voted today to not extend unemployment insurance, to not extend a tax cut for middle- income people who need it so badly this year when the economics were so hard. It just breaks my heart that at this holiday season and when people are feeling in such a fragile economic state that today's vote took place. It didn't need to. We would have helped the American people today.

Happy Hanukkah.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Don't blame Congress for not working together; blame the House Republicans who can't even work with each other. The one and only reason this House of Representatives is not voting for the bipartisan Senate bill to provide relief to middle class taxpayers, seniors, and disabled people on Medicare and jobless Americans is because it would pass. That's right. The Republican scam was to bring up the bill supported by 90 percent of the Senate and then kill it. But on the way to this slaughter, a funny thing happened. Sensible Republicans basically said: You want me to vote to abandon millions of middle class Americans without the help they need this holiday season? No way.

So the sanctimonious rhetoric you hear today from the Republicans is nothing but talk, baby talk. If they don't get their way exactly, then they won't play.

What they're saying to millions of Americans, saying, Happy Hanukkah to middle class Americans who are lighting the first candle tonight and won't get their $1,000 tax break; Happy

New Year to our seniors and people with disabilities who may lose their doctor; Merry Christmas to the jobless Americans desperate for work, looking for work, who barely survive on their unemployment checks.

The House Republicans are the grinches who stole your Christmas.

Mr. Speaker, at this holiday season, it is proper for us to pause and consider the major threat that poverty poses to our nation, and how the path we take to address that challenge will determine whether we succeed in improving America's long-term social, economic, and moral well-being.

Income inequality has risen sharply over the past 30 years. Since 1979, the gap in after-tax income between the wealthiest one percent and middle- and low-income quintiles has more than tripled. Adjusted gross income for working-class families has seen the least growth, and the economic collapse of 2008 put many out of work.

Last year, 49 million Americans--including almost 17 million children--lived in poverty. One in four children in America is considered ``food insecure,'' sometimes going to bed hungry. That number is unconscionable. But poverty is not just a statistic--it impacts our families, neighbors, and communities in many ways.

Shirley G. is a Social Security beneficiary in Harwood Heights, Illinois, who suffers from severe asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. On September 1, she learned that due to state budget shortfalls, she would have to pay out-of-pocket for her medications. Shirley elected to pay her basic health insurance, rent, gas, electric and telephone bills and NOT buy food. She signed up for a ``meals on wheels'' program to provide her with one meal per day and relies on a local food pantry for her remaining food needs. She was also forced to ration her medication. The unpredictability of food and medicine has wreaked havoc on her health and she cannot stabilize her asthma or diabetes.

Jack K. worked for decades as a taxi cab driver, but retired with very little wealth. He

now lives in subsidized housing and depends on soup kitchens and food pantries to stave off hunger.

Yesterday I met with two outstanding young people--Starnica Rodgers and Brandon Dunlap--who have struggled with homelessness their whole lives. During high school, both were what is called ``unaccompanied homeless youth,'' meaning they were underage and without a home.

Against those odds, both Starnica and Brandon are now thriving. Starnica is enrolled in college and is an expectant mother. Brandon is a college graduate with a good job and a bright future. Both are incredible success stories, but they are the exception to the rule-- particularly in today's economy. More common are the homeless to whom I passed out sandwiches on a recent cold Chicago night, working with the Night Ministry.

Too many Americans born in poverty don't have the tools to escape it. And too many formerly middle-class Americans are falling into poverty. We must promote and protect affordable housing, nutrition assistance, good schools, and other services to enable everyone to have a chance at the American Dream.

We have a responsibility to reduce poverty so that no one has to make the choice between medication and heat, and so that every child has a place to call home and food to eat. We owe it to our constituents and our country to buffer existing social safety net programs so that Shirley, Jack, Starnica and Brandon can keep a roof over their heads and put food in their stomachs.

I am troubled with the vitriol that many public figures have directed at those struggling with poverty and at the programs that give them a chance to thrive. This is a time when all Americans need to help one another succeed.

The Half in Ten Campaign has set an ambitious but achievable goal of cutting poverty in half in ten years. I am an original cosponsor of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's Half in Ten Act, which would strengthen anti-poverty initiatives by creating a national plan to meet the goal of reducing poverty by 50 percent, eliminating extreme poverty, and eliminating child poverty over the next decade.

This task will be difficult. It will require an honest assessment of the successes and failures of our social safety net programs, and make recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of those programs. It will also seek solutions to the causes of poverty; income inequality, economic instability, lack of living wages, and lack of investment in low-income communities.

Poverty touches every community in America, and we should be able to formulate a robust, bipartisan solution to the crisis. I thank Congresswoman Lee for her leadership on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to come together in support of the Half in Ten Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Captain Erwin J. Korczynski, a Chicago native whose contributions to our country should not be forgotten. Mr. Korczynski passed away in January of 2011, but his impact on the nation and those who knew him will last forever.

Erwin Korczynski was a quintessential American. Born and raised with his twin brother in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Korczynski's youth was busy: he was an avid boy scout, marched with the Chicago Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and was a competitive member of his high school's Track and Field team.

After high school he pursued the priesthood, but in 1963, Erwin felt a need to serve his country directly, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served with the Marine Attack Squadron, VMA 131. While in the Marine Corps, he had moved up the ranks and attained the rank of Sergeant before he was honorably discharged in 1969.

After spending several years of his life in the Marines, Mr. Korczynski became a civilian airline pilot. He flew for a number of different airlines over the years, logging hundreds of hours aloft as he piloted aircraft between six different continents.

In 1990, Captain Korczynski was drawn to again serve his country. He volunteered to serve with the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and was sent to the Persian Gulf. Mr. Korczynski subsequently commanded twenty-five Civil Reserve Air Fleet missions during Operation Desert Storm.

Mr. Korczynski's selfless actions on behalf of this nation make him a true citizen soldier, following in the footsteps of our nation's minutemen. His bravery and self sacrifice have earned him not only my admiration, but the admiration of the American people.

In his later years, Captain Korczynski's passion for flight did not wane. While he was unable to continue flying commercial aircraft after age sixty, Captain Korczynski remained able and active, training future pilots and instilling the knowledge and wisdom earned through his decades of pilot experience.

Captain Erwin Korczynski lived an honorable life, and he contributed much to the common good. On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to express our thanks for his life of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Coach Andrew Trenkle and the Maine South High School Constitution Team for their achievement in winning the Illinois State Title of the ``We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution'' competition. This extraordinary accomplishment marks the twentieth time in twenty one years that Maine South's team has won this title.

``We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution,'' a program sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, educates students on important issues including the purpose of government, the function of the Constitution, and the importance of citizen participation. Participants are encouraged to identify and communicate their own opinions, thereby developing strong skills in discussion, debate, and compromise. In the ``We the People'' competition. teams of students participate in simulated Congressional hearings, presenting statements and answering challenging questions about the United States Constitution. This year's victory of the 2011-2012 Maine South Constitution Team demonstrates their deep understanding of Constitutional principles as well as their aptitude for critical thinking and teamwork.

Congratulations to all the members of the 2011-12 team: Coach Andrew Trenkle, Paul Ansani, Jeremy Apolinski, Austin Bryniarski, Ethan Campbell, Colton Cannon, Claire Floriano, Merrill Hester, Luke Kapolnek, Lauren Krone, Renee Kumon, Jimmy Loomos, Thomas Lis, Meredith Machon, Caroline Murphy, Kyle Richardson, Michelle Roberts, Allie Sakowicz, Daniel San Gabino, Matt Sherbahn, Katie Solberg, Sarah Tarabey, Caroline Unger, Maddy Vogg, Patrick Wohl, Alex Zaug and Lindsey Zawila.

The United States of America was founded on the principles of civic involvement and responsibility. The students of Maine South High School have proven that they embody those principles and that they will grow to be passionate and capable future leaders. On behalf of the 9th Congressional District, I congratulate you on this outstanding achievement and wish you the best of luck at the National Competition in April 2012.

As of today, the war in Iraq is over.

This is a monumental day on which we must celebrate the service and sacrifice of the 1.5 million young men and women in uniform who served there and of the nearly 4,500 Americans who died there along with tens of thousands of Iraqis. We welcome our heroes home, and we pledge to honor their service with the care and benefits they deserve. For them I wear this yellow ribbon.

I also congratulate and thank the thousands of activists who worked tirelessly for nearly a decade to bring our troops home.

I thank the Illinois State senator, who, on October 2, 2002, stood before a crowd in Chicago and said, ``I don't oppose all wars . . . I oppose a rash war,'' a war, he said, which ``distracts us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income.'' That State senator was Barack Obama 9 years ago. Later, as a candidate for President, he promised to end the war in Iraq--a promise fulfilled today.

Welcome home, troops. And thank you, Mr. President.

Why did I vote against H.R. 3630 yesterday? I could list many reasons, but I only have 1 minute so here are three.

One, the bill extends unemployment insurance for some jobless Americans and then drastically cuts months off of benefits for others, and it makes all who are unemployed jump through demeaning hoops in order to get any benefits.

Two, in order to reluctantly give the middle class a payroll tax break, it asks seniors and people with disabilities to pay more for Medicare, but it refuses to ask millionaires and billionaires to pay one more cent.

Three, the bill threatens public health by preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating dangerous mercury and other emissions, and then it goes a step further by threatening the public health by cutting the Prevention and Public Health Fund.

H.R. 3630 is a political statement, not a serious proposal. What a statement to make--more support for dirty air and water, increased health care costs for middle-income people, and less help for those struggling to find jobs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the C National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this bill because it fails to rein in our out of control defense spending, it includes over $115 billion in war funding, and, most of all, because it codifies dangerous detainee provisions that are at odds with the U.S. constitution.

At a time when we are discussing drastic cuts to domestic spending programs critical to millions of Americans, this bill provides a whopping $670 billion in Pentagon spending--that's almost as much as the rest of the world, combined, spends on defense. We can reduce our defense spending without jeopardizing our national security, yet this bill continues what former Secretary Gates termed the ``gusher'' of defense funding.

In addition, this legislation codifies indefinite detention without charge or trial in military custody for foreign Al Qaeda terrorists suspected of involvement in attacks on the U.S. It also blocks the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the U.S., even for trial. It severely restricts the transfer of detainees to third countries.

Most disturbingly, the bill does not guarantee suspected terrorists a trial, even if they are U.S. citizens arrested within the United States, leaving open the possibility of indefinite detention. Passing this legislation throws fundamental rights of American citizens into serious jeopardy.

These provisions are both dangerous and unnecessary. The Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, and Director of the FBI have all publically opposed the bill's detainee language. Neither the military nor the national security establishment has sought the added detention authorities provided under this legislation.

Military detention and trial not only jeopardizes our American ideals, it is also not practical. The role of the military is to fight and win wars--not to detain and try criminals. Since 9/11, military commissions have convicted only six people on terror-related charges, while over 400 have been convicted in civilian courts. Military experts have expressed concerns about the still largely untested military tribunal system, as well as the overall capacity of the military to handle a large influx of terrorism-related cases.

Mr. Speaker, we can provide for the national security of the United States without jeopardizing our fundamental freedoms and rights. Even some of our closest allies, including Germany and the UK, have expressed reticence to transfer suspected terrorists or share intelligence about them over concerns that these individuals will end up in U.S. military custody.

In his inaugural address, President Obama stated that we ``reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.'' This bill would undermine 200 years of respect for fairness and due process. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this dangerous and destructive legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Teresa Woodruff and the Women's Health Science Program for High School Girls, developed by the Institute for Women's Health Research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, on their receipt of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

The Women's Health Science Program for High School Girls targets primarily African American and Latina girls from disadvantaged backgrounds in Chicago. The young women have the opportunity to study at four different Northwestern academies: cardiology, physical science, infectious disease, and oncofertility.

There is a tremendous opportunity for women to make a difference in improving America's innovative capacity and global competitiveness. A study from last year from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) entitled, ``Why So Few?'' underscores the point that attracting and retaining more women in the STEM workforce will maximize innovation, creativity, and competitiveness.

The AAUW study suggests that there are a number of ways to cultivate young women's interest and persistence in science and engineering, including mentoring. As Dr. Woodruff and the Women's Health Science Program prove, mentoring plays a crucial role in the academic and personal development of students--especially for young women and underrepresented minorities--who choose to study science and engineering. Of the 90 students who participated in the Women's Health Science Program, 18 are seniors in high school, 70 attend college, and 2 have received undergraduate degrees. Of those attending college, 51 percent are pursuing science majors.

We stand on the precipice of major discoveries and advancements. We need more women and minorities in STEM-related fields to ensure that our workforce and the solutions they develop to solve the problems of today--and tomorrow--are designed better and designed with everyone in mind.

There is a place for initiatives that motivate students to pursue STEM throughout their educational careers. With targeted action--like that of Dr. Woodruff and the Women's Health Science Program--we can remain global leaders in this vital field.

Again, I want to congratulate Dr. Woodruff for this well-deserved award in recognition of her outstanding work to provide opportunities for girls and women to improve our community and world.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

This bill is dangerous and its title is disingenuous. H.R. 1633 is about much more than farm dust. Our colleague Mr. Shimkus acknowledged that much in the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of this bill last week when he said, ``It is called farm dust, but I am here for my open- pit mines in southern Illinois.''

The bill allows major industrial polluters to emit unlimited amounts of particulate matter in violation of the Clean Air Act. Mines, cement plants, and coal processing plants could legally emit unlimited amounts of dangerous chemicals into the air.

Let's be clear. The chemicals we are talking about are incredibly dangerous. Arsenic overexposure leads to skin, bladder, liver, and lung cancer. Lead exposure can damage the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells. Cadmium exposure leads to severe respiratory damage. Zinc poisoning leads to kidney damage. Mercury pollution results in cognitive deficiencies, especially in children. Those pollutants, emitted from a range of nonfarm sources, could fall under the vague definition of ``nuisance dust.''

It seems to me that this is a piece of legislation that is being disguised as something as innocuous as farm dust, something that, as has been pointed out, has been regulated for a very long time. This is an effort to get around the legislation with a phony name, to get around the effectiveness of the Environmental Protection Agency. And we owe it to our constituents and our country to promote legislation that will stimulate the economy, which our environmental bills do, and protect and promote human health and the environment.

Our colleagues across the aisle have failed in that regard, and I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy Cowles, who was

honored last week with the Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman's Circle of Commendation Award for her tireless advocacy for children's product safety. This is the first time that this award has been presented, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving.

Nancy is the Executive Director of Kids in Danger (KID), an advocacy organization dedicated to protecting children by improving the safety of the products they play with or otherwise use. In the more than a decade that Nancy has headed KID, she has served on the front lines, educating parents and caregivers about the dangers of certain products, promoting the development of safer children's products, and advocating for important legislative and regulatory improvements. She has worked on numerous issues both as a member of panels and as an outside advocate for safety improvements in CPSC standards and recall efforts.

Nancy has played a significant role in the improvement of consumer product safety, ensuring that children and families have a voice and that product-makers are held accountable. In Washington, Nancy's work has served as an invaluable contribution to the creation of CPSC standards and the implementation of recalls, no doubt saving many lives in the process. She has served as an invaluable resource for me and many of my colleagues who are committed to protecting the health and well-being of children.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) became law in 2008, and it is the most significant reform of the CPSC and its responsibilities in decades. With Nancy's input, I authored several provisions to the bill, including mandatory standards and testing for infant and toddler products such as cribs and high chairs and a provision requiring that postage-paid recall registration cards must be attached to products. I am proud of those provisions, and the overall bill, which would not have been as strong or protective without Nancy's guidance.

I would like to thank the CPSC, and Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, for recognizing the contributions of Nancy Cowles toward making products safer for children and families. As the Chairman said, Nancy's ``contributions to product safety are invaluable.''

As a mother and grandmother deeply concerned about preventing injuries to children, I could not be more grateful for Nancy's efforts and I am proud to call her a friend.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join thousands of activists participating in the 16 Days Campaign by speaking out against violence against women.

Violence against women is a violation of fundamental human rights. It is a global problem of epidemic proportions. One in three women worldwide is beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused over the course of her lifetime.

That is why I am proud to be working with Congressman Ted Poe to reintroduce the International Violence Against Women Act. The important bill would require a comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls internationally.

Violence against women is not just a humanitarian tragedy; it is a global health menace and a threat to national security. The United States can play a significant role in protecting the human rights of all women and ending the violence against our sisters around the world.

I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me.

I am really confused. I know that many of my Republican colleagues have signed a pledge that said that never will they raise taxes on anybody, the Grover Norquist pledge. I think it's a silly idea to sign such a thing, but most have done that.

Yet it does seem that when it comes to middle class tax cuts, there's this little hesitation going on. Do we really mean cutting taxes for the middle class? Do we mean preserving tax cuts for the middle class? Or are we just talking about the wealthiest Americans?

Right now, if we don't move ahead with extending the payroll tax cut, that's what most, that's what all working families pay, their payroll taxes. You know, we hear, oh, the wealthy, that the wealthy are paying all the income taxes. Yeah, most people would like to pay income taxes. But they definitely pay payroll taxes if they're working. And they're risking 160 million Americans who would not get tax relief if we don't extend the payroll tax cut for working families.

So we need to do that before we leave. But, instead, we're talking about some way to stop any kind of regulations, further health and safety regulations, making it hard to do that.

I got a letter from someone talking about the unemployment insurance and extending those benefits. He says, this is from John, in my district: ``I'm a Desert Storm Veteran and lost my job October 21, 2010. I've been drawing unemployment and am now on extended unemployment benefits. I, like millions of Americans, would rather be working 80 hours a week if possible. The job market is scary, but what's worse is the thought that we might be without that last bit of a safety net come the end of December.''

John continued: ``These benefits for many is the difference between having a roof over your head and living on the streets.''

He says: ``I just hope you can encourage your fellow House Members to put the livelihood of millions of Americans above their petty politics.''

Above the petty politics. That's what we're facing right now. If we extend unemployment insurance benefits, it's not just good for John and his family; it's not just good for the hundreds of thousands of people that would lose their unemployment benefits over 500,000 in January. It is also good for the economy. Every dollar generates a $1.52 in economic activity in the country.

These are the things that the American people at this holiday season are worrying about, are afraid of. He calls it scary. He's afraid. And we're dealing with this pettiness right now. Let's get over it and on with the business of the people.