Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on February 15, 2013, I was not present for rollcall vote 45. If I had been present for this vote, I would have voted ``yea.''

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, Thoreau famously said most men lead lives of quiet desperation. My mother led a life of quiet inspiration. Thousands gave witness to that and stood in line for more than three hours to pay their final respects to Lois Nolan Larson, affectionately known as Pauline. My family was deeply touched by the outpouring of the community. It was a great tribute to my mother's lifetime commitment to her community. Several kind statements of appreciation were made by elected officials--from the President of the United States to the Governor of our state; from Senators to House Leaders in Congress and members of the Connecticut General Assembly. It was, however, two articles--one by Tom Condon of The Hartford Courant, the other by Bill Doak of our hometown paper, The East Hartford Gazette, that captured the sentiment, feeling and appreciation of an everyday mom who gave to her community and set an example to emulate. The following are those two articles:

[From the Hartford Courant, Oct. 12, 2012]

East Hartford Mother Left Legacy of Involvement and Action

(By Tom Condon)

Democracy works because good people give their time and get

involved. At the municipal level, few epitomized the ethic of

participation quite like Lois Pauline Nolan Larson of East

Hartford, who died this week at 87.

For decades starting in the 1960s, Mrs. Larson, known to

all as Pauline, served the town in most of the ways it is

possible to serve. She was a member of the town council and

the Democratic town committee, on which she served as vice

chairwoman and treasurer. She served on the town's parks and

visiting nurse association boards and the cemetery

commission. The community center in the Mayberry Village

neighborhood where she lived is named in her honor.

She volunteered her time while she and her husband were

raising eight children, and while she was battling multiple

sclerosis. She inspired two of her children to go into public

life. Her son Timothy Larson was mayor of East Hartford for

eight years and is now a state representative. Her son John

Larson is the seven-term U.S. representative from the 1st

District.

John Larson spoke of his mother's battle with declining

health in a televised speech at the recent Democratic

National Convention, and how she wanted not to be a burden to

her family. ``Mom, you're not a burden,'' Larson told the

convention crowd. ``You're an inspiration.''

Many in East Hartford nodded.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Carol Walter, a fierce advocate for the homeless in Connecticut, who passed away on December 27, 2012. Carol served as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and dedicated her life's work to fighting homelessness and its contributing causes.

Her passion, energy, and persistent focus on finding solutions helped countless individuals and families across our State. For all those who knew her, worked with her, and benefited from her good works--we are saddened by this loss and offer our deepest condolences to her family.

While many in the community will pay tribute to Carol Walter, I would like to submit the following article from The Hartford Courant that captures her dynamic spirit:

Vibrant Advocate for the Homeless, Carol Walter, Dies at 53

(By Jenna Carlesso)

[From the Hartford Courant, Dec. 28, 2012]

Carol Walter, the executive director of Connecticut

Coalition to End Homelessness,

was remembered by her friends Friday as a quick-witted,

energetic leader and unwavering advocate for the homeless.

Walter, 53, died Thursday after a short battle with lung

cancer, friends said.

When Walter became executive director in 2006, friends

said, she had landed her dream job. Walter was passionate

about creating long-term solutions to homelessness, including

permanent housing and supportive services.

``Beyond shelters and short-gap solutions, she was very

interested in finding longer-term solutions, particularly in

reducing chronic homelessness,'' said Mercedes Soto, who

served on CCEH's board of directors from 2009 to 2012. ``She

was able to rally an entire spectrum of people to work toward

these goals, and worked to get people housed as quickly as

possible.

``She was a dynamo. She made a big impact on me and

everyone who knew her.''

Colleagues at CCEH said Walter presided over ``a sea

change'' in the organization's approach to homelessness,

including greater coordination of services among other

nonprofits and oversight of the coalition's statewide ``point

in time'' homeless consensus. She also led efforts in rapid

re-housing and shelter diversion strategies, they said.

``People often tell me how energetic I am,'' said Shawn

Lang, a longtime friend of Walter. ``I tell them, `go hang

around with Carol for a while, she'll make me look like a

slug.' She had great passion for her work. Her enthusiasm and

her energy and smarts opened a lot of doors.''

Prior to her position at CCEH, Walter worked at homeless

shelters in New Haven, Hartford and Stamford, friends said.

She also worked at the Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition as

a membership services coordinator, where she helped people

with AIDS find employment.

Walter was active in her work, sometimes to the point that

she couldn't sit still.

``She had more energy than 10 of us,'' said Dave Martineau,

vice president of CCEH's board of directors and a friend of

Walter. ``She always used to say, `I have no time. I'm trying

to end homelessness.' She gave her whole life to it.''

``She was a woman who could never stand still,'' added Jose

Vega, program manager for the McKinney homeless shelter in

Hartford, who had worked with Walter. ``She was a fighter,

and such a strong advocate for this community. She touched so

many lives.''

Howard Rifkin, executive director of Partnership for Strong

Communities, an organization that seeks to end homelessness

and create affordable housing opportunities, recalled Walter

as ``maddening and endearing at the same time.'' Rifkin

collaborated with Walter on several initiatives, including a

plan to end chronic homelessness and homelessness among

veterans and families with children in Connecticut.

``We're both opinionated people,'' he said. ``She and I

would sometimes go at it, but we would always end our

meetings with a hug and a laugh.''

Rifkin said Walter had ``a sense of urgency'' about her

work.

``She had a deep, deep commitment to [creating] a more

equitable and socially just society, and I'm sure that her

passion for this work was informed by that,'' he said.

Outside of work, Walter was an avid theater-goer, friends

said. She loved the outdoors, traveling and being near the

ocean.

She was also a devoted Mets fan.

``Carol would put a Yankees cap in her freezer to give the

Mets good luck,'' Lang said. ``If that didn't work, we'd

change the places we were sitting. There were a lot of crazy

rituals around baseball games.''

Lang said Walter's friends and colleagues would miss the

woman who had ``a real zest for life.''

``Connecticut is a little smaller and a little darker

today,'' she said.

Walter is survived by her wife, Debra Walsh, of West

Hartford.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 649, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on December 20, 2012, I was not present for rollcall vote 639. If I had been present for this vote, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 639.

Thank you, Chris Murphy.

We just came from a vigil over on the Senate side that Senator Lieberman, Senator Blumenthal, and former Senator Dodd were at, and all of us had the opportunity to be there.

Joe Courtney, when he spoke, spoke of our colleague Chris Murphy and the incredible job that he's done for his district and for our State. When you hear him speak on the floor about quintessential New England and the community he represented for 6 years in Newtown and the little village of Sandy Hook, you understand that this is a man who truly represents the people of his district and this great State.

All of us have been shocked by the events that have transpired. Many things will be said. Dick Blumenthal, Elizabeth Esty, who's the Representative-elect, have been there for the last 4 days. The whole world has looked in on this horrific event. And parents all across this country and all across the world understood implicitly what we all fear--the unspeakable: the parent describing a trip in an automobile from Bridgeport to Newtown, racing to get there to see whether their child was alive, had survived, and the joy when they were able to see their kids; and the complete and utter despair when your child was not one of the kids who came out. And Chris Murphy and Dick Blumenthal and Elizabeth Esty, our colleagues, were there.

These first responders who came on the scene and prevented the loss of more lives deserve our unending thanks. The great coordination by our State police and local police, everything that transpired, all the volunteers that participated; the teachers, the professionalism that they exhibited, the execution of a drill that they had been through time and again; and, as Rosa talked about, the principal and the teacher who sheltered her children and gave her own life. These are difficult things.

As Chris has so eloquently said, we're seeking answers and know that we must move on. And where do you find the strength? We found the strength in a great leader, in a Governor, Dan Malloy, who's been there all 4 days and beyond.

At the vigil last evening where the President spoke in an ecumenical gathering, he said:

As winter approaches and snow begins to fall, I will always

think of these children as precious snowflakes during this

winter of events. But I am heartened by the fact that every

spring when the flowers bloom, we will think of their

precious memory as well.

Our President said that the people of Newtown were inspirational. Indeed, they are.

Clio, the muse of history, used to sit above this Chamber. The muse of history's responsibility was to sit there, as you'll see the statue in Statuary Hall, with a book and pen, recording the events of this Chamber. We are in a unique position of responsibility. We have been sent here to perform a duty; and not only the muse of history, but all the world is watching the United States Congress.

We have a responsibility to respond in the most comprehensive way. This is an attack of terrorism. This has happened all too often and all too frequently all across this country. And in such an attack, we would do everything within our power to make sure that no stone was left unturned, to make sure that we provided every answer and every opportunity that we can, as Rosa said, to protect our children. That's why we take an oath of office here. That is our God-given responsibility. We must act, and act now.

Mr. Speaker, Thoreau famously said most men lead lives of quiet desperation. My mother led a life of quiet inspiration. Thousands gave witness to that and stood in line for more than three hours to pay their final respects to Lois Nolan Larson, affectionately known as Pauline. My family was deeply touched by the outpouring of the community. It was a great tribute to my mother's lifetime commitment to her community. Several kind statements of appreciation were made by elected officials--from the President of the United States to the Governor of our state; from Senators to House Leaders in Congress and members of the Connecticut General Assembly. It was, however, two articles--one by Tom Condon of The Hartford Courant, the other by Bill Doak of our hometown paper, The East Hartford Gazette, that captured the sentiment, feeling and appreciation of an everyday mom who gave to her community and set an example to emulate. The following are those two articles:

[The Hartford Courant, Oct. 12, 2012]

East Hartford Mother Left Legacy of Involvement and Action

(By Tom Condon)

Democracy works because good people give their time and get

involved. At the municipal level, few epitomized the ethic of

participation quite like Lois Pauline Nolan Larson of East

Hartford, who died this week at 87.

For decades starting in the 1960s, Mrs. Larson, known to

all as Pauline, served the town in most of the ways it is

possible to serve. She was a member of the town council and

the Democratic town committee, on which she served as vice

chairwoman and treasurer. She served on the town's parks and

visiting nurse association boards and the cemetery

commission. The community center in the Mayberry Village

neighborhood where she lived is named in her honor.

She volunteered her time while she and her husband were

raising eight children, and while she was battling multiple

sclerosis. She inspired two of her children to go into public

life. Her son Timothy Larson was mayor of East Hartford for

eight years and is now a state representative. Her son John

Larson is the seven-term U.S. representative from the 1st

District.

John Larson spoke of his mother's battle with declining

health in a televised speech at the recent Democratic

National Convention, and how she wanted not to be a burden to

her family. ``Mom, you're not a burden,'' Larson told the

convention crowd. ``You're an inspiration.''

Many in East Hartford nodded.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Julie Fagan, a dedicated public servant, who will be retiring at the end of this month.

After 23 years of service with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Julie B. Fagan is set to retire effective November 30th. Julie is currently the Field Office Director of the Hartford Field Office for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She was previously the Director of the HUD Salt Lake City Field Office and the national director overseeing the Public and Assisted Housing Drug Elimination Program in Washington, DC. She also served on the senior management team for Governor Roy Romer (D) of Colorado.

Julie started her career at HUD following her passion to fight drug use in public and assisted housing. During her career she has played a critical role in preserving and redeveloping critical Federal public housing properties all over Connecticut, particularly in Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport. Julie has also made it a top priority in her time as director of the Connecticut HUD office to collaborate with her peer Federal, State and local agencies. She has greatly improved the housing landscape for the people of Connecticut by initiating many vital working relationships with government, non-profit and private organizations that play a role in housing the people of Connecticut. In addition, Julie has been a leader in Connecticut by helping residents navigate the challenges presented by the foreclosure crisis. Her leadership and ability to train her staff to accommodate the many changes in the housing market allowed for constituents to have their needs addressed in as timely and professional a manner as possible. Julie is looking forward to spending more time with her husband Jack, her five wonderful children and nine grandchildren.

I applaud her hard work, time and dedication in serving the State of Connecticut and the country and thank her for her years of public service that has helped so many families. I know that our office will miss working with Julie and we wish her and her family all the best.

Mr. Speaker, one of my constituents wrote very emphatically: How could Congress possibly leave when they know that we the people face the deep, dark abyss of uncertainty-- uncertainty about our unemployment, uncertainty about the jobs that we need, the uncertainty that comes when your mortgage is under water, the uncertainty that comes when you know that you have to educate your children, and yet Congress leaves without addressing the basic needs of the people that we're sworn to serve.

For the last week, we've heard an awful lot about work requirements. The primary work requirement that should be asked is of this United States Congress, for it to stay and do the work of the people. There is a jobs bill that's out there. There are tax cuts that can be achieved. Let's stay and do that work.

I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for organizing this hour and concur with my colleagues that an hour is not nearly enough to highlight the virtues and certainly the public service of our distinguished colleague, Jerry Costello.

Jerry, as has already been said, and his lovely wife, Georgia, their beautiful

family, we're all very happy and proud that he will be joined with them. In whatever endeavor he does, we know he will bring the kind of energy, the kind of commitment, and the kind of integrity that he's brought to the floor of the House.

Robert Remini, also from Illinois and a historian, has written a significant history about the House. In his book, he talks about the character of the people that serve here. I'm proud to say that I've had the opportunity to serve with someone who is so genuine, who cares so deeply about this institution, his home State of Illinois, and the people he has served with. He does it the old fashioned way, the Bill Lipinski way, with a handshake and a commitment and always looking you directly in the eye. As Don Young from Alaska indicated, he also has the great capacity to reach across the aisle, understanding implicitly that things don't get done unless we're capable of working together. An incredible wise sense of humor, always sage advice, and an incredible understanding of politics, not only the local flavor of his great State of Illinois, but also the ebb and flow of business here on the floor of the House of Representatives.

He is honored by his colleagues and respected not only for his political acumen and his professionalism, but most of all because of the integrity that he brings to this floor each and every day. He will be sorely missed. It's an honor to have served with him. I look forward to a continued relationship with this great man from Illinois, Jerry Costello.

I thank the distinguished ranking member.

This debate today is extraordinarily informative. This isn't about Democrats or Republicans. This is about saving and preserving our middle class.

Lauren Mishkin from Connecticut, a mother who recently came up to talk to me about student loans, said, ``When only the rich can follow their dreams, we have a problem.''

So here today, we face a very clear choice that I think all Americans understand. We should be able to come together as Democrats and Republicans and provide a tax break for everyone up to $250,000. Lauren was right: we have a problem.

A constituent of mine said, ``How is it that the Congress doesn't understand that what they're doing is throwing all of us into the deep abyss of uncertainty?'' It's that deep abyss of uncertainty that all Americans are concerned about. And what they want is for us to come together.

We know that we have a bill that has passed the Senate, a bill that the President will sign, a bill that we virtually agree on on both sides of the aisle. So what really frustrates the American citizens and the people in my district is that we can't come together.

I implore my colleagues on the other side, don't plunge us further into this dark abyss. Do the things that the wealthy amongst us have more than the ability to shoulder and make sure that we all come together, as Americans, and do the right thing on behalf of our constituents. That's what the Lauren Mishkins want, that's the kind of dream that we need to provide for all American citizens, and that's what this country desperately needs--a Congress that will take leadership.

There are times when you need to step aside, and there are times when you need to step up. We need to step up as a Congress and pass this Democratic substitute.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to our Democratic leader, the gentlelady from San Francisco, California, without whom there would not be an Affordable Care Act, and we greatly appreciate her efforts.

Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 3 minutes to our distinguished whip from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), a person who understands what it means to make it in America.

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Madam Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), a leader in the Democratic Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

To respond here, as Mr. Andrews has very patiently and eloquently pointed out, the $500 billion that was just discussed by the previous speaker is something that the Republicans have voted on twice. Perhaps they didn't get a chance to read that bill as they sometimes claim about health care on this side.

I yield 2 minutes to the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, the gentleman from California (Xavier Becerra).

It gives me great honor to yield 1 minute to the dean of the Connecticut delegation and a voice for compassion and who believes passionately about this health care law that's in effect for the American people, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut.

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 10 seconds.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time we have on both sides.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

I yield myself 15 seconds as we ask the dean of the delegation to step forward and just say that aside from the platitudes that we've heard today as have been expressed by many on our side and some of the eloquence of debate that we've heard, we continue to see no plan from the other side but a persistent endeavor to repeal a plan that would cost more than a hundred billion dollars for the taxpayers.

I yield 1 minute to the dean of the House of Representatives, the gentleman from Michigan, John Dingell.

(Mr. DINGELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I want to compliment both sides for the quality of debate that has occurred on this floor over the last couple of days.

Today, we are here for the 31st time to act on repealing the Affordable Care Act. I give my colleagues credit for their persistence, but I'm deeply troubled by the obstinacy and the obstruction that they have demonstrated in an almost callow indifference to the needs of American families. Most importantly, the simple dignity that comes from a job that more than 14 million of our Americans are being denied, and we can't, in this great civil body, bring forward the President's bill that will create jobs.

One of the people in my district, Signe Martin, said, do you not understand that you have plunged us into the dark abyss of uncertainty?

The only thing that creates and corrects that situation is the simple dignity that comes from a job. And yet today, we spend our time on the floor talking about something where we should be working together, where Members on our side of the aisle, who would have preferred Medicare for everyone--the majority of our caucus would have been there--and yet embraced the compromise that extolled the virtues of the Romney plan in Massachusetts. But there is no room for compromise on the other side of the aisle.

So we can only surmise this: that you would rather see the President fail than the American people succeed. Person after person on both sides of the aisle have gotten up and talked about the need for us to come together. You embrace most everything that's in this plan but would rather see the President fail than the Nation succeed.

Mr. Speaker, on June 14th, Connecticut State Representative Marie Lopez Kirkley-Bey received a Community Service Award during the 14th anniversary celebration of Hartford Communities That Care, a local non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening families, and developing youth leaders across the greater Hartford area.

I was proud to present the following letter of commendation to Ms. Kirkley-Bey in recognition of her efforts:

June 13, 2012.

Dear Representative Kirkley-Bey: I would like to commend

you for your dedication to making Connecticut and the City of

Hartford better places to live and work, and to recognize

your numerous accomplishments and awards during your ten-term

service in the Connecticut House of Representatives.

Your strong work ethic and commitment to giving back to

Connecticut is perfectly illustrated in your journey to

becoming Deputy Speaker and a leader on a number of State

Legislatures and Committees. You built your career from the

ground up, calling on your inner strength and motivation to

advance from an entry-level job with Aetna, to management

positions, and finally to the House of Representatives, all

the while remembering your roots, hardships, and concerns in

order to empathize with and better assist your constituents.

Your negotiation skills and relationship with your

constituents will be missed.

With a focus on quality of life issues, you were able to

address the needs of Connecticut's most vulnerable citizens,

namely homeless and unemployed mothers, children and seniors.

In a time when a quality education is more difficult to

attain due to rising costs, your work on increasing access to

and quality of education served as a crucial step to helping

Hartford residents become more self-sufficient. Your success

in working toward this goal is best portrayed in the

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) legislation,

which continues to help single parents find a balance between

work, education and raising a family.

Additionally, I appreciate your commitment to rejuvenating

Hartford's appearance and work and enrichment opportunities.

By negotiating the contract compliance portion of the

Adriaen's Landing Bill, you ensured that Hartford-based

minority contractors and laborers were employed, while your

contributions to the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) enabled

non-union minority contractors to receive fairer contracts.

Finally, the creation of the Construction Jobs Funnel re-

emphasized your commitment to the community and education.

You recognized that in order to be employed, people need to

know and have confidence in certain basic job skills. These

three initiatives truly helped better Hartford.

I applaud your hard work, time and dedication in pursuit of

a better Hartford and Connecticut and wish you the best of

luck in your future endeavors.

All the Best,

John B. Larson,

Member of Congress.