Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today in strong support of the health care reform the American people so desperately need.

American families and small businesses--not insurance companies-- deserve control over their health care decisions.

The bill we are debating today will:

Lower insurance costs--and hold insurance companies accountable.

End denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Provide coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans.

Close the Medicare Doughnut Hole--so seniors will be able to afford the coverage they need.

Eliminate waste in our current system--and lower the deficit by $138 billion over 10 years; and $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years.

And allow young adults to stay on their parents' insurance coverage until the age of 26.

Health care reform is an issue that affects every single American-- but is especially important to our Hispanic American community.

Forty-one percent of Hispanics over the age of 18 lack health coverage. We must do better--and with this bill--we will.

Twenty-one percent of older Hispanics suffer from diabetes--compared to only 14 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

The preventive care this bill provides will lower this disparity.

This truly is a historic time.

In 1935 we passed Social Security. In 1965, we passed Medicare.

Today--we pass a health care reform that will save millions of lives--shrink our deficit, and put our nation on a path to prosperity.

We must move past the hate, the fear, and the lies that have dominated this debate, and get the job done for the American people.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill and pass health care reform that we need now and for generations to come.

Health care reform is needed now. Not tomorrow, not yesterday, but now.

After decades of working hard, the Hernandezes from my district now struggle to pay for prescription drugs with disability payments and unemployment checks. This is wrong.

With the fourth highest foreclosure in the Nation and 15 percent unemployment in my district, my constituents cannot wait any longer. We need health care reform now. Health care reform will lower the costs and hold health insurance companies accountable; provide new coverage for 31 million people; end discrimination based on preexisting conditions; close the doughnut hole for thousands of seniors; allow 75,000 young adults in my district under the age of 27 to stay under their parents' coverage; provide millions of dollars for funding for seven community centers in my district; cut the national deficit by a hundred-and-some billion over 10 years; and produce 4 million new jobs in the coming decade.

Health care reform is good for seniors, good for adults, good for women, good for families, good for America. Let's support health care reform now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4252, the Inland Empire Perchlorate Ground Water Plume Assessment Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of water resources in the Rialto-Colton Basin in the State of California, and for other purposes.

I would like to also thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Doc Hastings, and my good friend, chairwoman from the Water and Power Subcommittee, Grace Napolitano, and the ranking member, my good friend from the State of California, Representative Tom McClintock, for their support of this legislation.

And I want to thank Representative Bordallo from Guam for speaking in support of this much-needed legislation.

I also want to take the time to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives for their bipartisan support on an important bill, not only the Inland Empire, but it will also give us a study in terms of the effects it has on many cities too as well.

In addition, I want to commend the city of Rialto and the Perchlorate Task Force, city Councilman Ed Scott and Rialto Mayor Pro Tem Joe Baca, Jr., for their hard work and dedication in protecting families.

The city realizes that the water from over 20 wells was contaminated by perchlorate. I state, 20 wells were contaminated by Perchlorate. Perchlorate is a rocket fuel additive, an unstable organic compound that has been found to be harmful to humans because it interferes with the thyroid function. And you know when it interferes with the thyroid function it affects many women and others in that area.

I'm very familiar with the water contamination. My family lives in the city of Rialto. My children, my friends and close neighbors know what it's like to live with water that is contaminated.

When we first learned that our water was not safe to drink, we were all very much scared in terms of the water and the quality that came out and the neighbors and the people in that area. We wondered how long this water was bad. We worried about the damage caused by poor quality water. We were nervous because we drank the water, cooked with the water, bathed our children with the water.

Therefore, I drafted this bill to make sure that other families and neighboring cities will not have to suffer or have that kind of fear.

This bill is requesting that the plume in the Rialto-Colton basin is studied, and I state studied. Plumes are underground pockets of water, and some are pools of water. Some travel like underground rivers.

In Rialto, the plume has perchlorate in it. We know that the water in this plume is moving. The contaminated water is traveling underground. We don't know how big it is or how fast the water is moving. We need to know more about the plume to permanently the fix the problem.

The research established by the study in H.R. 4252 will guarantee that the problem will be identified. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey is not something done lightly. It is an intense research endeavor.

As the Nation's largest water and earth and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the U.S. Geological Survey collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientific understanding about the nature of the resource, the conditions, the issues, and the problems. The diversity of the scientific experts enables them to carry out large-scale investigations and provide impartial scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers.

As an unbiased science organization that focuses on biology, geography, geology, and water, they are dedicated to the timely, relevant, impartial study of the landscape, our national resources, and the natural hazards that threaten us.

The USGS study will reduce the perchlorate problems in my area that have caused heartaches, frustration, and fear. Fortunately, under the city council of Rialto's zero tolerance policy, the city does not blend any detectable level of perchlorate into the water system. They are all making sure that water is safe by conducting well-head treatment.

But what about the cities that do not have the policies or the treatment facilities to clean their water? How will those people be affected? How will the children be affected--how will those be affected by it?

We are very familiar with the wealth of water problems in California, as described by my colleague on that side, not only in the northern portion of California, where water is very much needed in that area. Apart from those problems, water contamination is one that can be prevented.

I ask that all Members vote in support of this legislation, not because it is a California issue, but because it is a national issue that could impact anyone. It is a way to help correct a wrong and to prevent further problems.

Commissioner Connor from the Department of the Interior stated that the directives in this bill are within the USGS's jurisdiction. The USGS has found that ground water constitutes about 79 percent of the drinking water supply in the entire Inland Empire. A study by the USGS is long overdue.

We have learned that perchlorate contamination began in 1940 through the actions of the U.S. military and continued to 1960 through the work of U.S. defense contractors, and was made worse by fireworks companies.

Some cities in the area discovered the high level of perchlorate contamination in drinking water in 1996. Since that time the USGS has not made the plume a priority. I state: It has not made the plume a priority.

Water managers need to know the source, and the fate, and the transportation of perchlorate within the Rialto Colton Basin and the adjacent basin in order to effectively mitigate the contamination. That is why I drafted this bill. That's why I'm grateful that we are here today.

In the administration's written statement regarding this legislation, they indicated that the citizens relying on water from the Rialto- Colton Basin would have to compete with other administrative priorities for funding.

The message you will be sending to USGS by voting in support of this study will be that families deserve clean drinking water throughout our country, and especially those areas like mine that are being affected. Families that rely on drinking water from the tap should not have to drink contaminated water, or wonder what's going to happen to their child or fear to give that water to their children or have to go out and purchase additional water to make sure that the thyroid does not affect that woman or that child or the individuals in that home.

This is a national issue, and it's a basic right for our citizens and their families. When someone has contaminated the only source of drinking water for the community, this issue becomes a national issue.

These families should not suffer from health problems associated with perchlorate. It is common knowledge that perchlorate affects the thyroid in our body. Women and infants are at greatest risk.

I want to let you know the hardship faced by people living in the area and why this bill is important. The people are innocent victims. Others misused the land and left us with a legacy of contaminated water.

The families in my area are living under a median household income of $41,254, very low for the State of California; and 17.4 percent of these citizens live below the poverty line. People in the area have had double-digit unemployment rates for many months. This area has ranked in the top five consistently for having the highest foreclosure rate. These families already shoulder too much of the cost associated with trying to find a solution.

H.R. 4252 moves beyond finding those at fault. We need to know and fully appreciate the extent of the damage. We must do this to help isolate the problems and prevent other cities from suffering.

The contamination plume is moving and many other areas will suffer. The hot spot for contamination is in Rialto, California, which has an area that in 2009 was designated as a Superfund site. That shows how bad the problem is because it is very difficult to obtain this designation.

This Superfund designation will help take care of the hot spot. But what about the water traveling? What about the water traveling underground in the plume?

What about other cities that are impacted? What about my neighboring city and the City of Riverside? The contamination is spreading and no one knows exactly how much of the contamination is moving or where exactly it is going. The well-head treatment alone will not solve the problem because of the contamination in the ground.

The Rialto-Colton basin has a plume that is contaminated by TCE, perchlorate, and other harmful chemicals. Without treatment, the water is dangerous. I fear for the communities that do not have well-head treatment facilities. The study will identify the extent of the damage underground.

The bill does not violate PAYGO. I state the bill does not violate PAYGO requirements, but serves to notice and highlight that there is a plume in the Rialto-Colton basin that must be reviewed. We have an opportunity to be proactive. Your vote in support of this bill is proactive and will help families.

Again, I want to thank Rialto City Council member Ed Scott for coming in September of 2009 to testify in support of H.R. 4252. He spoke not only for his residents in the city of 96,000 people, but also approximately 400,000 residents who reside in the neighboring cities that are affected by the chemicals which have polluted the Rialto- Colton basin.

I want to thank the Association of California Water Agencies for writing a letter in support of the legislation. What we learn from the study in H.R. 4252 will help other areas where there is the hardship of perchlorate. There are many States who have perchlorate issues. This study will help them be aware of what could be happening underground.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4252.

Mr. Speaker, we must pass health care reform now. A step- by-step approach is not the answer. If we do nothing, Americans will continue to pay higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs now and in the future. There are too many Americans that are without health coverage.

In my district in San Bernardino County, California, there are over 220,000 without coverage. We also face a 15 percent unemployment rate and the fourth highest foreclosure rate in the Nation.

Health care reform will lower the costs and hold health insurance companies accountable; end discrimination based on preexisting conditions; cut and eventually close the doughnut hole for thousands of seniors, including 5,200 seniors in my district; cut the national deficit by $100 billion over 10 years; and produce over 4 million new jobs in the coming decade.

Families, not insurance companies, deserve the right to make their own health care decisions. Congress must not kick the can down the road. We need health care reform now. I state, we need health care reform now. This is a historic moment.

I ask us to support health care reform now--not tomorrow, not in the future, but now.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3509) to reauthorize State agricultural mediation programs under title V of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill H.R. 3509.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 3509, the Agricultural Credit Act of 2009. This bill would reauthorize funding for the State agricultural mediation grant program, which operates under title V of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. The grant program for the agricultural mediation program was established more than 20 years ago to respond to the agricultural crisis of the 1980s. Mediation helped agricultural producers, their creditors, and USDA agencies address disputes through a confidential and nonadversarial process that takes place outside the traditional legal system of foreclosure, appeals or litigation. This bypasses a lot of the bureaucratic red tape that usually comes with resolving these conflicts, saving taxpayers money in the process.

Earlier in the month, the House Agriculture Committee approved this bipartisan legislation by unanimous voice vote. I urge my colleagues to support the extension of this successful initiative.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for carrying this legislation. I think it's good bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3954) to release Federal reversionary interests retained on certain lands acquired in the State of Florida under the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, to authorize the interchange of National Forest System land and State land in Florida, to authorize an additional conveyance under the Florida National Forest Land Management Act of 2003, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this bill, H.R. 3954.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3954, the Florida National Forest Land Adjustment Act. This bill would authorize the conveyance of 114 acres in Leon County, Florida, that would allow the U.S. Forestry to make equivalent land exchange within the Ocala and the Apalachicola National Forests to better and more efficiently manage the land. The bill would also clarify some boundary issues by allowing a survey to be conducted on certain areas of Florida State forest land.

This bill has the support of the Democratic and Republican members of the Florida delegation; I state, members of the Florida delegation, bipartisan, as well as the U.S. Forestry. The Congressional Budget Office has indicated that this bill has no significant impact on the Federal budget; and it was passed by the House Agriculture Committee by a voice vote earlier. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd) who has vision and outstanding leadership in this area, and cares very much about this issue.

Madam Speaker, I submit the following exchange of letters between the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Natural Resources for inclusion in the Congressional Record.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Natural Resources,

Washington, DC, March 17, 2010.

Hon. Collin C. Peterson,

Chairman, Committee on Agriculture,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for the opportunity to review

the text of H.R. 3954, the Florida National Forest Land

Adjustment Act of 2009, for provisions regarding public

domain national forests which are within the jurisdiction of

the Committee on Natural Resources.

Because of the continued cooperation and consideration that

you have afforded me and my staff in developing these

provisions, I will not seek a sequential referral of H.R.

3954 based on their inclusion in the bill. Of course, this

waiver is not intended to prejudice any future jurisdictional

claims over these provisions or similar language. I also

reserve the right to seek to have conferees named from the

Committee on Natural Resources on these provisions, and

request your support if such a request is made.

Please place this letter into the Congressional Record

during consideration of H.R. 3954 on the House floor.

Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have

worked regarding this matter and others between our

respective committees.

With warm regards, I am,

Sincerely,

Nick J. Rahall II,

Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member, minority ranking member, Mr. Lucas, for his bipartisan support. I also want to thank Chairman Collins, along with Congressmen Crenshaw and Miller, on this bipartisan legislation that's important to a lot of us as we look at moving forward.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Anthem Blue Cross in my home State of California is trying to raise premiums by 39 percent. This is only the beginning if we do nothing. We must give the American people, not the insurance companies, more control. If we do nothing, the American people will continue to pay higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs now and in the future.

We cannot, our families cannot, afford to do nothing. Health reform will hold health insurance companies accountable; end discrimination based on preexisting conditions; cut and eventually close the doughnut hole for thousands of seniors, including 5,200 seniors in my district; cut the national deficit; and produce over 4 million new jobs in the coming decade. That is 400,000 new jobs every year.

Health care reform will bring coverage to 219,000 in my district and 31 million nationwide for the very first time in history. This is a historic moment. In 1935, we passed Social Security. In 1965, we passed Medicare. We must pass health reform now.

Mr. Speaker, Anthem Blue Cross in my district of California has requested raising premiums by 39 percent.

If we do nothing, the American people will continue to pay higher premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs now and in the future. And the insurance companies will continue to control the high cost of health care. A step-by-step approach is not enough, and it is not the answer, especially for the 219,000 families in my district without coverage, and with a 14 percent unemployment rate.

Health care reform holds the insurance companies accountable, ends discrimination based on preexisting conditions, cuts and eventually closes the doughnut hole for thousands of seniors, including 5,200 in seniors in my district, expands coverage for 31 million Americans who do not have health care coverage, and cuts the national deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years.

Health care reform must make insurance more affordable, providing the largest middle class cut for health care in history, reducing the premium costs for tens of millions of families and small business owners who are priced out of coverage today. I ask us to support health care reform.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1086) recognizing the importance and significance of the 2010 Census and encouraging each community within the Indian Country to name an elder to be the first member of that community to answer the 2010 Census.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous materials thereon.

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

Today I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1086, a resolution that recognizes the importance and significance of the 2010 census and encourages each community within Indian Country to name an elder to be the first member of that community to answer the 2010 census.

I would like to thank the majority leader, Steny Hoyer; Chairman Ed Towns; and Ranking Member Darrell Issa for their support of this resolution that was introduced on February 22, 2010. I also want to recognize all committee staff and my personal staff for their hard work on this. I also would like to take the time to thank my colleagues in the House of Representatives for their bipartisan support, because it is a bipartisan bill that is good for all of us.

This resolution serves to raise the awareness of the importance of the 2010 census count and urges Indian Country to name an elder to be the first person to complete the 2010 census from each tribe. That shows respect and dignity for that elder. An accurate census count is very important because the data gathered will determine the allocations and the distributions of millions of dollars to State, local, and tribal governments.

Census data can help tribal leaders understand what their community needs are. Many tribal communities use census information to attract new businesses and plan for growth in the future. In fact, many tribes and tribal organizations use census data to plan

new facilities and programs for their communities and making their quality of life a lot better.

The 2010 census will be used as a future basis for the 1,400 funding programs under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance; 245 of these programs use census data for distribution of funds through grants, loans, direct payments, and government grant payments. An accurate count is essential to everyone, especially in Indian Country.

In the year 2000 census, 4.3 million people, or 1.5 percent of the total United States population, stated that they were American Indians or Alaska Natives. Census data will help shape the future of our youth and sends a proud message to those individuals who can be identified.

In 2007, the American Community Survey reported that 40 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native population was under the age of 25. And in these tough economic times, Indian Country needs an accurate census count more than ever. That is why I am proud to work with the tribe from my area in California, along with Congressman Jerry Lewis, that has the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, led by my good friend Chairman James Ramos.

Next week, San Manuel Chairman Ramos will name Pauline Murrillo to be the first elder to complete the 2010 census form to be counted in their tribe. This is a short form with 10 questions. This is what it looks like. What San Manuel is doing is creative and innovative. Elders are looked upon as trusted leaders in most Native American communities. They are in the best position to help carry the message of the importance of an accurate 2010 census count. And also to bring pride and respect within each of the tribes.

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other Federal agencies, or law enforcement entities. However, there is still mistrust in the census in many tribes. The census needs our help, and this resolution drives home the message that we need to encourage tribal elders as partners in this challenge. With only 10 questions in the 2010 census questionnaire, it is one of the shortest questionnaires in history and it takes 10 minutes to complete for the average household.

The majority of households will receive the form by mail starting on March 15. However, special procedures will be used on many Indian reservations and in Alaska Native villages where homes do not have city-style addresses with a number and street name. In these areas, members of the community working with the census will visit homes to help fill out the form and take an accurate count. Distrust in the census will hurt the count especially, so these special procedures are arranged for the very hard-to-count tribal areas. That is why the U.S. Census created a special tool kit to help deliver the message and complete an accurate count in Indian Country. With the help of tribal elders, the 2010 census can be a great success.

I encourage all Members to go back to their districts and work with the tribes in their areas, as I have, to ensure an accurate count for every community. I urge my colleagues to support greater census awareness in Indian Country and vote in favor of H. Res. 1086.

I reserve the balance of my time.

First of all, I would like to thank the gentleman from San Diego (Mr. Bilbray) for his support of this. I know that he has always been supportive of Native Americans, not only now but in the past as well; so I appreciate that.

I also appreciate the gentleman from Georgia and his comments. I think he was supporting this legislation somewhere along the line as he was talking about jobs.

I also believe that it's important, and I know that President Obama has that as part of his top priority in creating jobs and dealing with the jobs in this country because he knows very well that the unemployment is now roughly around 10 percent, and he wants to make sure that he gets it up.

We know that unemployment will affect the census. I share in that sense that the gentleman from Georgia was supporting it because it's very important that we do an accurate count and that we count everyone because that will determine the amount of jobs that we have and the kinds of jobs to be created in our areas.

As I stated before, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Towns, Ranking Member Issa, and of course I want to thank again Mr. Bilbray for his hard work and support, as well as the staff and others who have worked on this bill.

As we all know, an accurate count is vital to the importance of the American tribal communities and every other community. In my community, not too long ago we started a census count. We did it at Arrowhead Medical Center. We went there, and we began to try to tell the people in our communities the importance of having an accurate count, the importance of making sure that we count each and every one, and that everyone participates in it; and also clarifying the law, clarifying the law that the information will not be used against any individual, but every individual must be counted within our communities.

What does it mean to our States, our counties, our cities? What does it mean to businesses in the area? It's important that we do an accurate count because that's the only way that we can determine how many dollars are going to come back into our communities. We won't know unless we do an accurate count.

The State of California won't be able to determine their budget if they don't do an accurate count. Based on the amount of dollars in that immediate area, they can then determine how much money is going to be coming back to the State of California, or any other State. Or a county official in an area can determine, when they look at their budget and try to determine what goes on, they can only do it if they have an accurate count. And city officials within the area can only determine what needs to go on in terms of, all right, What is my budget going to look like? What kind of services do I need to provide at the local level? How does it impact transportation? How does it impact education? How does it impact public safety? How does it impact public health?

And then local businesses in the area: we know that you need a strong marketing plan and you need to know where businesses want to relocate. It happens through the census.

So an accurate count is very important. If you're a businessperson and you want to start a business in the area, it's important that you have an accurate count because you know where you want to be located; you know the demographics of the area; you know the income of the area. If it's a doctor, then the doctor will know how many patients he is going to have and how much profit he is going to make. It's not about profit. It's about the service and quality of health care. I only made that statement, but it's important because we'll be able to determine that. So an accurate count in the area becomes very important. It also tells us how to market the area. How do we market the immediate area in terms of what goes on?

In Indian Country, it becomes very important to a lot of us when we look at many of our tribes in our areas and at the undercount that has been there. Many of our tribes and others have not been able to determine the kind of services they need within the reservations. This will determine the transportation, the housing in the area, the health in the area, and the kind of educational facilities. Most of all, it will be respect to an elder because this is about identifying the elders within each of the tribes and allowing them to be counted. It's important that we count each and every one of the individuals and that we allow for the kind of respect that should be there, not only in this census but in others. If we look back at 1990 and 2000, we did an inaccurate count. There were many people who weren't counted.

I believe the census is making every effort in trying to reach out to our communities by marketing, by hiring individuals, by working in the communities, and by identifying those individuals. That kind of partnership and collaboration becomes very important to all of us if we want to make sure that we do an accurate count.

This bill is very important, not only to Native Americans now but in the future, when a child can then look up to future generations and say, It was my elder who was the first one to be counted, the true Americans in this country, and they should be the ones who should be counted first. This gives us an opportunity to approach them and to make sure that they are counted.

I yield.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his support.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, tomorrow, the new monthly labor statistics will be announced.

And even though the national unemployment may decrease, job creation still needs to be our number one priority moving forward.

Thankfully, later today, we will have a chance to take a major step in improving the economic outlook for families across America.

The HIRE Act will provide over $77 billion in investments in transportation projects.

It will also allow for a continuation of minority-owned business contracting requirements for these projects.

Incentives for hiring and retaining new employees will be implemented.

Addiionally, a direct payment option for certain tax credit bond programs will increase school construction and renewable energy projects.

The time for partisan talking points has passed.

The American people demand better and we will have a chance to deliver that relief later today.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the HIRE Act and put Americans back to work.

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking. Too many American families still don't have access to health care. We are at the goal line and we need to take the ball across the line on behalf of the American people. A step-by-step approach is not the answer, especially when families in my district face 14 percent unemployment and many are without health coverage.

In my home State of California, Anthem Blue Cross raised our premiums up to 39 percent. This must stop.

We must pass health care reform that ends discrimination based on preexisting conditions; that makes health insurance affordable; that creates greater accountability on health insurance companies; that cuts the deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years; that allows doctors and patients, not insurance companies, to make important health care decisions; that does not break the bank for small businesses.

I urge my colleagues to stop partisan politics and deliver health care reform. We need it now and for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago last week, the President signed the Recovery Act, a comprehensive bill that reinvested in the American workforce, an event that my colleagues on the other side have rallied against since President Obama took office. The facts simply don't back them up.

In the first quarter of 2009, our economy was losing 726,000 jobs a month. And now, largely due to the Recovery Act, the number has been reduced to 35,000 last quarter. The fact is, the CBO states that the Recovery Act created 2.4 million jobs through the end of 2009.

The Recovery Act also provided $120 billion in tax cuts for 95 percent of working families. That's 95 percent of working families, and that's a tax cut.

Going forward, we must continue to build off this momentum of the Recovery Act. That includes passing meaningful job-creation legislation that will help small businesses and reduce unemployment. It also includes continuing focus on infrastructure projects and promoting energy efficiency initiatives.

Finally, that means we must pass meaningful health care reform.

Mr. Speaker, American families in my district are struggling to make ends meet and pay for health care services. Unemployment is 16 percent. Foreclosure is the fourth in the Nation.

The proposal released by President Obama this week is a step towards a healthier future for families and small businesses. Health cost coverage should be a right, not a privilege for the few. That means no loss of coverage when you get sick; coverage for as many people as possible that is affordable; do away with unfair practices like discrimination of preexisting conditions and caps on coverage; lower drug costs for seniors and lower premiums for early retirement; and better access and stronger protection for women. Health care reform will create jobs and bring down the deficit.

In my State of California, Anthem Blue Cross proposed to raise their premiums with double-digit percentages. This must stop.

I urge my colleagues to work to achieve health care reform. Let's not work with piecemeal solutions that will go nowhere, but solve the problems once and for all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a dear friend and colleague, loving father and grandfather, and a true American patriot, Rep. John Murtha.

John served proudly when called to action in the Vietnam War, and his valor was recognized with the Bronze Star, and not one--but two Purple Heart awards.

In all, John spent an astounding 37 years of his life in active and reserve duty service in the Marine Corps.

In 1974, John heeded another call to duty, and began a life of public service here in the House of Representatives.

John served his constituents in Western Pennsylvania for an impressive 19 terms.

In Congress, he was respected for his political prowess--and his tireless passion to support America's men and women serving in uniform.

John Murtha was a man who measured our nation's strength not only military might, but also in the well-being of our people; and I am proud to have served with him in this body.

The thoughts and prayers of my wife Barbara and I go out to Joyce and all of John's family during this difficult time.