Floor Statements

I am very grateful to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to mourn the tragic loss of six lives and the many who were injured who wanted nothing more than to participate in a simple but precious opportunity to meet directly with their Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords.

There will be time to reflect on potential remedies that could prevent or diminish the threat that has so personally touched us all, but today I simply want to send my love to Gabby and to Mark and the rest of their family. We have all had the opportunity to focus on you, Gabby, the brilliant, effective, warm, courageous person and leader that you are. You brought us together to focus on just how meaningful your friendship is to us, to me.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank my dedicated staff here in Washington and at home in the district and all the staff that work with us. Thank you for your daily efforts and sacrifices, the long hours and the commitment to your constituents, our constituents. The tragedy of this event and the loss of Gabe Zimmerman and the wounded staff has brought home just how important you are to all of us and to everything that we do here.

Let us take this sad moment to seek peace and love, to honor those who were killed, and fervently pray for those who were injured, including our beloved colleague Gabrielle Giffords and look forward to the day when she will return to us in full health.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituent, David Zoltan-Breiger, 33 years old, who now has coverage under Illinois' Pre-Existing Condition Plan thanks to the Affordable Care Act.

David has diabetes. Because of his preexisting condition, he couldn't get insurance for over 2 years after losing his job. David is absolutely elated that he no longer has to wait for hours in the emergency room to get lifesaving insulin. Without coverage, the ER was his only option. Instead, he now has regular visits with the doctor and can avoid the medical crises that had become a frequent nightmare.

What happens to David under repeal of the bill? He, like so many others, would lose coverage and once again be at the mercy of insurance companies.

We cannot go back. We must reject the Republican call for repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 987, the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act. I'd like to thank Congresswoman McCollum and Senator Durbin for introducing this legislation and for their longstanding leadership on this issue.

Child marriage is a true tragedy, as well as a serious human rights violation. Sixty million girls worldwide, some as young as eight years old, have been forced into early marriage. Child brides have little, if any, control over their lives, their bodies, and their futures. Not only do girls forced into early marriage lose the opportunity to attend school and develop as children, they also face serious health consequences and substantially higher rates of domestic violence.

Girls who are married at a young age are also typically forced into early sexual activity, but their bodies are not physically suited for giving birth. According to the International Center for Research on Women, pregnancy is the leading cause of death worldwide for girls aged 15-19.

Child marriage is often linked to a lack of education, opportunity, and resources. Girls from poor households are far more likely to be given away as child brides; some families view it as a way to guarantee their daughters' future, while others see girls as an economic liability. Either way, studies have shown that girls who are married before 18 are more likely to remain poor and less likely to receive education.

We need to do much more to prevent child marriage. I am an original cosponsor of the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act, which makes preventing child marriage an international priority for the U.S. Government. This legislation requires the State Department, as part of their annual Country Reports on Human Rights, to report on countries with high rates of child marriage in their annual, and the White House to create an action plan on combating child marriage.

Mr. Speaker, by passing this legislation, we take an important step toward ending child marriage around the world, and ensuring that all girls have the opportunity to learn and grow as children. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I want to recognize Nancy Chen, who is retiring after 26 years of service. Nancy is a remarkable woman who has devoted much of her life to promoting and creating policies to help working women and to empowering women and immigrants.

Nancy led the Midwest regional office of Women's Bureau for 13 years. This is the only federal agency designated by Congress to address issues and concerns of working women. Part of the U.S. Department of Labor, its mission is to develop policies and standards to safeguard the interests of working women by advocating for their economic security and that of their families; and promoting quality work environments. Nancy directed and developed the regional program through collaboration and partnership with women's organizations, employers, unions, and other government agencies in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Under Nancy's leadership, the regional office has effectively promoted non-traditional occupations for women, including green jobs and careers in science, technology and engineering. She has helped achieve concrete advances in workplace flexibility and pay equity.

Nancy's career highlights include public and community service in Illinois and Washington, DC. Prior to joining the Women's Bureau, Nancy served as Director of Asian Pacific American Outreach at the Office of Presidential Personnel in the Clinton White House. Before that, she was Director of U.S. Senator Paul Simon's Chicago office, overseeing the Senator's legislative and constituent program relating to Chicago and northern Illinois for 6 years. As a key advisor, she played an important role in Senator Simon's achievements relating to family immigration legislation and economic development in Chicago's immigrant communities.

Nancy serves on the Board of Counselors at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. She is also a member on the Gender Equity Advisory Committee for the Illinois State Board of Education. Nancy's community service includes being the founder and past president of the National Women's Political Caucus of Greater Chicago from 1992 to 1994; member of the Illinois Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights for over 10 years;

and co-chair of the Obama's Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI, National Leadership Council in 2007 and 2008.

Nancy received the 2009 Milestone Award from the Asian American Institute and the first Sandra Otaka Legacy Award from the Asian American Action Fund, Chicago Chapter. She was the recipient of the 2004 Risk Taker and Enabler Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans and the 2009 Distinguished Career Service Award from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Nancy is a skilled organizer, an expert networker, true public servant, and a good friend. Her advocacy and the policies that she helped create will continue to empower and strengthen working women even after her retirement. Her accomplishments are many, and I want to congratulate her on her decades of service to women and families.

The Speaker was talking about how the Republicans held hostage 150 million Americans in favor of 6,600 families who will get this inflated break on their estate taxes. Who are those families?

The Koch Family: the primary funders of the tea party movement and other conservative causes, having a vast fortune estimated to be as much as $35 billion. Under the Republican, versus the Pomeroy amendment, that family would realize over $2 billion extra.

The Walton Family: Wal-Mart; seven descendants; a combined worth of $87 billion--more than some whole countries. His family will pay $7 billion less in taxes under the Republican proposal versus the Pomeroy.

The Gallo Family.

The Dorrance Family: the Campbell Soup giant with a combined wealth of $6.5 billion and a savings of $522 million.

The Mars Candy Company Family: $30 billion in wealth. Their estate taxes will go down $2.5 billion.

Are these the people this Congress is supposed to represent? Let's vote for Pomeroy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R 2965, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. I would like to thank Congressman Murphy, Majority Leader Hoyer, and Congressman Frank for their tireless leadership this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I am a cosponsor of this legislation because American men and women should not have to choose between the opportunity to serve their country and being honest about their sexual orientation. Yet since 1993, over 13,000 men and women have been discharged from our military under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

There are countless arguments in favor of ending this policy. Polls have demonstrated that an overwhelming majority of Americans, including those in the military, support ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Many of our closest military allies, including Israel, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have implemented policies of open service without negative consequences to unit cohesion or military performance. Particularly at a time when our armed forces are stretched thin, we cannot afford to turn away Americans who are willing and able to serve. The GAO reports that hundreds of men and women with unique abilities, including critical language skills, have been discharged under this policy.

However, the most compelling reason for ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell is that this policy is not only damaging, it is discriminatory. It is a policy that forces young men and women to lie about their identity in order to serve their country.

In February, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, told the Senate, ``No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity-- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.''

Last week, Secretary Gates called for legislative action, stating ``I would hope that the Congress would act to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell.' '' Today, we will move one step closer to finally ending this damaging policy. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the passing of legendary Chicago Cubs third baseman and broadcaster Ron Santo, and to recognize his lifetime of achievement both on and off the baseball diamond.

Ronald Edward Santo was born February 25, 1940 in Seattle, Washington. Twenty years later, he made his professional baseball debut at third base for the Chicago Cubs. Over his 14-year major league career, the first 13 with the Cubs and the final season with the cross- town White Sox, Santo hit 342 home runs, had 1,331 RBIs, won 5 Gold Gloves, and appeared in 9 All-Star games. He is considered perhaps the greatest player not currently in the Hall of Fame. Nonetheless, his number 10 is immortalized on the North Side, hanging on the left field pole at Wrigley Field, which Santo referred to as ``my Hall of Fame.''

After a successful baseball career, Santo spent 15 years in business before returning to the Cubs as the color commentator for WGN Radio's Cubs broadcasts in 1990. He spent the next 20 years in the Cubs radio booth, and his passion and enthusiasm for the home team, which surfaced in disheartened groans as often as supportive exclamations, endeared him to a new generation of Cubs fans. Santo always seemed at ease in the WGN booth and established himself as the rightful heir to Harry Carey's oversized throne as the king of Chicago Cubs commentary.

Away from the ``Friendly Confines,'' Santo worked tirelessly to raise money and awareness for Diabetes through the Juvenile diabetes Research Foundation. Diagnosed at age 18, his diabetes was unknown even to his teammates until 1971, when Santo decided to use his star power to draw attention to the disease. From 1979 until his death, Santo sponsored the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, helping to raise over $60 million for research and advocacy. Santo's teammate Ernie Banks said of his fellow Cub, ``Ronnie has handled his own ailment like the true champion he is. He is the most courageous person I've ever been around. I'm inspired by him and by his spirit. He is one of my idols, one of my heroes. I love Ron Santo.''

Ron Santo passed away on Thursday, December 2. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate amendments to H.R. 4994.

I continue to believe that we need to make permanent reforms to Medicare's physician payment rules. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities need to know that they will be able to get high quality and timely care and that their doctors will be paid fairly and in a timely fashion. There is never really any question that Congress will act to prevent double-digit cuts in Medicare and TRICARE physician payments, but we should not have to debate these issues on a monthly basis.

The bill before us today does not provide a permanent solution as I would like, but it does provide a one-year fix, eliminating the confusion and concern that is created by very short-term measures to prevent cuts. I am pleased that it also includes an extension of the Medicare physician payment add-on for mental health, since we know that access to mental health services continues to be a problem in our communities.

While much of the focus has been on the physician payment issue, there are other provisions in the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act that will improve access to care

through December 31, 2011. Those include an extension of the exceptions process for Medicare therapy caps so that individuals who need additional services will not be forced to go without. It extends the Special Diabetes Programs, which are so important in dealing with the impacts of this terrible disease. The bill clarifies that orphan drugs are included in the 340B drug discount program for children's hospitals. It continues Medicare's Quality Individual program to help pay for Medicare Part B premiums for low-income seniors and people with disabilities and it extends Transitional Medical Assistance so low- income families don't lose critical Medicaid coverage as they move into employment.

Passage of the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act will make sure that the end of this year won't bring with it cutbacks in access to health care for millions of Americans. It gives us all of 2011 to make these year-long extensions permanent, and I will work hard to make sure that we use next year to do so.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate two extraordinary individuals: Jackie Kendall and Steve Max. This week, they will receive the 2010 Midwest Academy Lifetime Achievement award, in recognition of their decades of work on behalf of economic and social justice.

Jackie and Steve will continue their work in the years to come, but they have already accomplished so much. It is not just their own lifetimes that deserve to be honored, it is the impact that they have had on thousands of other lifetimes. Through their work at the Midwest Academy--a non-profit training organization that teaches organizing skills--they have empowered tens of thousands of individuals who have gone on to make tangible improvements in their communities, our country and the world.

My dear friend Jackie Kendall has been the executive director of the Midwest Academy for 29 years. She is retiring this year from that position. I know she is looking forward to spending time with her fabulous husband, Jerry, and her children and grandchildren. But I cannot imagine Jackie sitting by quietly when she sees problems that need solving nor can I imagine that those who have come to rely on her for strategic guidance will let her alone.

Jackie is one of the most passionate and most creative people I know. I first met Jackie in the grocery store near my home in 1969. The butcher was red-faced and yelling at her and a few other women who had the audacity to ask him the age of the meat he was selling. His answer was, ``Go shop somewhere else, or I'll throw you out on your fannies, you geeks.'' This seemed unacceptable, though quite exciting, to me, so I went to find out. I immediately became involved in this housewives' campaign to get freshness dates on food, and immediately fell in love with Jackie Kendall. The rest is history. Dates on food products are nearly universal and Jackie Kendall went on to organize and inspire many, many more successful campaigns.

At the Midwest Academy, Jackie has had a partner in Steve Max, a denizen of the upper West Side of New York City, who helped get the Midwest Academy started in 1973. Working with Heather and Paul Booth, he helped design the original training curriculum--which includes the famous Midwest Academy strategy chart. Steve's clear economic analyses--peppered with the lessons he learned from his rabbi and shares with his listeners--have educated, inspired and entertained generations of activists.

Steve Max quite deservedly has a fan base across the country. He has worked with students and seniors, patients and scientists, with New Yorkers and Nebraskans, Pennsylvanians and Arizonans. Steve brings to his work not just an in-depth understanding of historic and macroeconomic forces but an ability to understand very local and distinctive concerns and problems, all seasoned with a unique and hilarious sense of humor. With those talents, he is able to craft specific strategies that work locally and globally.

Jackie and Steve have given individuals and organizations the skills and the confidence needed to make a difference in people's lives. They recognize that in today's world it is not always easy to take on powerful interests or to understand how large and complicated entities can be challenged successfully. The Midwest Academy was founded on the principle that--given the right training and tools--individuals can come together and build power. Over the years, they have trained student groups fighting for affordable tuition, seniors opposed to Social Security privatization, and rural groups eager to develop wind power.

In those and so many other efforts, Jackie, Steve and the Midwest Academy give people the tools they need to effectively participate in their communities and their government.

Jackie and Steve are true fighters for progressive change. They have built a foundation that will stand for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H. Res. 1727, a resolution recognizing Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world and commending its members on their dedication to the mission and principles of their organization. As the Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois which is home to Rotary Club International, I want to personally thank them for the service and commitment to making the world a more humane place.

Madam Speaker, the Rotary Club's motto, ``Service Above Self,'' is an inspiring example for all Americans. Rotarians not only preach this motto, they live it by developing community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence.

I would like to especially recognize Rotary for its 25-year long campaign for the global eradication of polio. Since 1985, Rotarians have raised close to a billion dollars to immunize the children of the world and have pledged to contribute an additional $500 million to the cause. In addition to this generous financial contribution, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.

Due in large part to Rotary's efforts, the number of polio cases has fallen dramatically. In1985, there were 350,000 known cases of polio in 125 countries. Today, more than 200 countries are polio-free. There are only four endemic nations--Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan-- the lowest in history.

I want to again thank Rotary International for its 105 years of service. There is no question that the world is a far better place today because of their tremendous work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 1751, the American DREAM Act, a landmark bill that will provide hope and opportunity to hundreds of thousands of young people in our country.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that America's immigration system is broken and badly in need of reform. While H.R. 1751 may not make all the changes necessary to repair our system, it does take an important step forward by fixing one of the most unfair aspects of our immigration laws. Under current law, undocumented immigrants who came to this country before the age of 16, brought by their parents and loved ones, are punished by being prevented from becoming citizens of the United States.

I have seen the injustice of this law firsthand. Just last year, Rigo Padilla, one of the top students at Noble Street Charter High School, was detained and scheduled for deportation by immigration officials when authorities learned that he was undocumented. Rigo came to the United States at the age of six and has since excelled in the classroom. Rigo is precisely the type of person we want to support in the United States and yet our immigration laws consider him an ``outlaw.''

The American DREAM Act would change this unjust law by giving students who have good moral character and have lived in the U.S. for at least five years the opportunity to go on to college and/or enroll in America's armed services, regardless of their immigration status. I strongly believe that all youth residing in this country should have access to all military and educational opportunities available. In the vast majority of cases, immigrant students and soldiers will continue to reside in this country for most, if not all, of their adult lives, and it is important that we provide them with all the tools necessary to become full participants in and contributors to our society.

I would like to thank my good friend Luis Gutierrez for his tireless efforts on behalf of all immigrants in America today. I also want to acknowledge the incredible hard work of countless youth activists across the country who campaigned for this bill. It is because of their work that the American DREAM Act is one step closer to becoming a reality. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere happiness that the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 256- 152, the Claims Resolution Act. I regret that I was unable to vote on this landmark legislation and would like the record to reflect that had I been able to vote, I would have voted yea.

The Claims Resolution Act includes provisions that many black farmers and American Indians have literally been waiting decades for. H.R. 4783 contains funding to implement the settlements of the Pigford class action lawsuit involving past discrimination against black fanners by the Agriculture Department and the Cobell class action lawsuit involving funds for American Indians mismanaged by the Interior Department.

I voted for this legislation twice earlier this year as the House has passed funding for the Pigford and Cobell settlement--first in passing the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act and then in adopting an amendment to the FY 2010 Supplemental--but both bills were blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

That is why I am so pleased that Senate was finally able to pass this important legislation and now, with passage in the House, it will go to the President's desk for signature, finally closing this dark episode in American history.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 584, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

I rise today in support of this resolution to ensure that all Holocaust survivors in the United States are able to live with dignity, comfort and security and congratulate Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz on its introduction.

An estimated 127,000 Holocaust survivors live in the United States today, including over 3,500 in the Chicago area, many in my congressional district. The Village of Skokie is home to one of the largest concentrations of Holocaust survivors in the country, and they inspired the building of the world-class Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie.

Holocaust survivors are five times more likely to be living below the poverty level than other older Americans, and over half fall beneath 200 percent of the Federal poverty threshold. These men and women have survived the worst of human abuses and many have special needs as they age. It is critical that we uphold the dignity of Holocaust survivors and ensure their well-being in their remaining years.

I would like to applaud the efforts of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and other such organization that are working tirelessly to honor and assist Holocaust survivors in our community. We must all do more to ensure that Holocaust survivors can spend their remaining years living in comfort, dignity and security.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs Act. Legislation that provides much needed lending to millions of small businesses and offers tax incentives to help small businesses grow, hire, and fuel our economy.

As we all know, small businesses are a key engine of our economy, creating two-thirds of the new jobs over the last 15 years. America's 27 million small businesses continue to face a lack of credit and tight lending standards, with the number of small businesses loans down nearly 5 million since the financial crisis in 2008 under President Bush.

Last month, I went on a tour of small businesses throughout my district. I have also met individually with many small business owners who are struggling to stay open. While visiting these businesses, I saw firsthand the serious challenges they face while the United States struggles to overcome its most significant economic crisis since the Great Depression. It was clear to me that they have all the tools necessary to prosper but need our financial institutions to function properly and provide them the resources to succeed.

H.R. 5297 will provide small businesses with this opportunity by increasing access to capital and spurring investment and growth throughout our country. In fact, it is estimated that this bill alone will create 500,000 new jobs in America.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this legislation, which will provide our small businesses with the assistance they need to compete in this difficult economic climate. I know it will have a substantial impact on my district and strongly urge my colleagues to support it.