Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, Ghana's Ambassador to the United States, to the great State of Connecticut. Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei, who is visiting the State for the first time this weekend, will address Ghanaians from all across New England in honor and celebration of Ghana's independence.

Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, is a nation rich in history, culture and natural resources. Under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana became the first African country south of the Sahara to gain independence from European rule on March 6, 1957. This year marks 50 years of social freedom, and economic and political achievement. Ghana has contributed greatly to world affairs and has been the birth place of national and international leaders, among them former United Nations Secretary General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan.

Connecticut's Ghanaian population continues to grow and prosper. I am proud to have Mr. Nana Okoda-Darko, king of the Akim-Kusi traditional council in Ghana living in my district and hometown of East Hartford. I am also pleased to have learned a great deal about Ghana and the Ghanaian culture from a member of my staff Adwoa Ansah whose father is from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

And so today, on behalf of Mr. Okoda-Darko, Adwoa Ansah, and the many Ghanaians in my district and the great State of Connecticut, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ghana in its 50th Anniversary and welcoming Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei to the State of Connecticut.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Friday, March 9, 2007, to vote on rollcall votes Nos. 132, 133, 134, and 135, due to a family medical matter.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 132 on H. Res. 229, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 720-- Water Quality Financing Act of 2007; ``nay'' on rollcall vote No. 133, on the amendment to H.R. 720, to strike the Davis-Bacon section of the bill; ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 134, on a motion to recommit H.R. 720 with instructions; and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 135, on the final passage of H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Thursday, March 8, 2007 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 127, 128, 129, 130, and 131 due to a family medical matter.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 127 on the previous question to H. Res. 219, on providing for the consideration of H. Res. 202;

``Nay'' on rollcall vote No. 128 on the amendment to H. R. 700, to prohibit the bill's authorization levels or other provisions from taking effect if they would result in costs to the federal government;

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 129 on a motion to recommit H.R. 700 with instructions;

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 130 on the final passage of H.R. 700, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act; and

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 131 on agreeing to H. Res. 202, a resolution providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the 110th Congress.

Mr. Chairman, I regret that I could not be present today because of a family medical matter and I would like to submit this statement for the record in support of H.R. 569, the Water Quality Investment Act.

The overflow of sewage into streets, basements, rivers and lakes is a serious environmental and health problem. Communities across New England face a higher risk of sewer overflows because of their aged and deteriorating infrastructure. For example, in my home State of Connecticut, the City of Hartford's sewer system was built 150 years ago.

It was designed to support roughly 15,000 people, but today the expanded system, including the district's central Hartford Treatment Plant, serves 400,000 people in 6 towns. As a result, over 1 billion gallons of untreated sewage overflows every year in Greater Hartford. On average, combined sewer overflows occur more than 50 times a year, which impacts 30 miles of the Connecticut River, including area basements and streets.

In Connecticut's First District, which I represent, the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) is responsible for providing water supply, water treatment and water pollution control to eight cities and towns, including Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, Newington, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Windsor and Bloomfield. In order to support the rehabilitation and the rebuilding of Hartford's core system, in addition to satisfying State and Federal consent orders to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows, the MDC must expend more than $1 billion. On November 7,2006, the voters in the eight MDC municipalities approved an $800 million bond referendum for addressing the sewer overflow problem. However, without much needed Federal support, the annual cost to homeowners will increase from $119 per year to more than $1,000 per year. In Hartford, the city's residents have an average income less than the region's average and as a result of these regressive wastewater fees, will experience an even greater economic burden.

It is because of outdated wastewater systems, clean water needs and the direct impact it has on communities like those in Connecticut that the legislation before the House today is so important. The Water Quality Investment Act would reauthorize Sewer Overflow Control Grants for $1.8 billion over the next 5 years. These grants were authorized in Fiscal Year 2002 and Fiscal Year 2003, however, no funds were ever appropriated and the authorization of this program was allowed to expire.

Today and later this week when the House considers the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act (H.R. 700) and the Water Quality Financing Act (H.R. 720), the Democratic Majority is sending a clear message to the American people--this Congress is committed to investing in the health and safety of your family and your community. I urge all of my colleagues in supporting the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this statement for the Record and regret that I could not be present today, Wednesday, March 7, 2007 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 123, 124, 125 and 126 due to a family medical matter.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Nay'' on rollcall vote No. 123 on an amendment to H.R. 569 to prohibit the bill's authorization levels or other provisions from taking effect if they would result in costs to the federal government;

``Aye'' on rollcall vote No. 124 on the motion to recommit H.R. 569 with instructions;

``Aye'' on rollcall vote No. 125 on passage of H.R. 569, the Water Quality Investment Act;

``Aye'' on rollcall vote No. 126 on the suspension of the rules and passage of H.R. 710, the Charlie W. Norwood Living Organ Donation Act.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I could not be present today, Tuesday, March 6, 2007 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 121 and 122 due to a family medical matter.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 121 on passage of H. Res. 98, a bill honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and lasting peace in the Republic of the Sudan. ``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 122 on passage of H. Res. 149, a bill supporting the goals of International Women's Day

Mr. Speaker, I regret that I could not be present today, Monday, March 5, 2007 to vote on rollcall vote Nos. 119 and 120 due to a family medical matter.

Had I been present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on rollcall vote No. 119 on motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 995, a bill to amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization for establishing a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States;

``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 120 on passage of H.R. 497, the Brigadier General Francis Marion Memorial Act of 2007.

Madam Chairman, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act, which would ensure that employees have the right to choose how they will organize their own unions. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 800 because it is a key step toward strengthening America's middle class.

Current law allows a majority of workers to sign cards to form a union. However, an employer can veto that decision and demand an election through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Under H.R. 800, if a majority of workers sign cards indicating their support for a union then the NLRB must certify the union as a bargaining agent for those workers. This legislation would not eliminate the election process and would allow workers to choose an NLRB election if they wish. This bill gives employees a voice and choice in the work place, and eliminates the unilateral employer decision for an NLRB election. The legislation also puts teeth to good faith collective bargaining by establishing a system of mediation

and arbitration that would apply to an employer and union that are unable to reach a first contract. Finally, the bill would toughen employer penalties for violating workers' rights during an organizing drive.

The reality is that workers in unions earn 30 percent more in weekly wages than non-union workers. Unionized workers also receiver better benefits and working conditions than non-union workers. It's time to move this country in a new direction. I believe that passage of this legislation is crucial and will give working families the freedom to bargain for a better life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay great honor to Mrs. Deanne C. Stone, who passed away on January 28th after a year long struggle with cancer. Born in Hartford, Connecticut and eventually residing in the state of Massachusetts, Mrs. Stone leaves behind a great legacy through her leadership roles and tireless volunteer work in many distinguished organizations, as well as through her friends and family who loved her dearly.

Born to the late Janet and Yale Cohn, Mrs. Stone demonstrated a passion for success at a young age. As Mrs. Stone's sister Barbara Gordon recalls, she was actively involved in her years as a young woman at Weaver High School, working on the school newspaper and eventually graduating as valedictorian of her class in 1957. She went on to graduate with degrees from Brandeis University and Leslie College. Dedicating her life to helping others, Mrs. Stone served in numerous leadership roles for many different organizations, ranging from The Foundation for Children's Books to local Brownie and Cub Scout troops, and an elementary school PTA president.

Known widely throughout the Jewish communities, Deanne Stone worked tirelessly with numerous organizations closely connected with her faith. She was the Executive Director at Maimonides School and Temple Israel of Boston. She became the founding president of the Women's Division of the Greater Framingham Jewish Federation, and served with her husband, Harvey, as the co-editor of the Jewish Reporter.

Her passion for working within the Jewish community was acknowledged by receiving the honor of being named the national chair for the National Women's Department of the Council of Jewish Federations. Her faith and diligence was also recognized through an invitation to the White House to celebrate the signing of a historic peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the life of Mrs. Deanne C. Stone. Her tireless dedication to the local and Jewish community has touched and inspired those who knew Mrs. Stone, and will continue to resonate through her achievements. My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family, especially her husband Harvey, and the families of her children Matthew and Allison, and sister Barbara. The Hartford community is thankful for having the honor of knowing Mrs. Deanne Stone.

Thank you, Mr. Meeks, and also let me thank my colleagues across the aisle for the solemnity of the debate that has taken place over these last several days. I think it is so important to the constituents that we are sworn to serve, and they deserve to hear the voices that reside within the people's Chamber.

This debate, in so many ways, is an echo chamber for what Americans already know. They have found their voice and expressed it in several manners and several forms, most notably in last November's election, where they called for a new direction for this country, not the staying of the course that it is currently on.

It is long overdue then that the Congress find its voice as well. Past is prologue, and we must go back to June of 2002 when the President enunciated the Bush doctrine, the doctrine of preemption and unilateralism that has placed us in this situation that we have today in Iraq.

He was warned, most notably by people like Scowcroft, Eagleberger, Baker, and Colin Powell about the folly of this effort. It was not Kennedy or Berg or even Larson or other people that spoke out as eloquently as those former members of Bush the Elder's Cabinet.

I traveled with Jack Murtha in the buildup to the war, and we met with our ambassador in Saudi Arabia, Robert Jordan, who I said to him, Ambassador, you have a gathering storm here in Saudi Arabia, with all the tensions in the Middle East. And he said, Congressman, you are from New England. Gathering storm, he said? What we have here is the making of a perfect storm.

And if we unilaterally invade and attack this toothless tiger, Saddam Hussein, we will unwittingly accomplish what bin Laden failed to do: we will create a united Islamic jihad against the United States.

Professor Gram Ellison wrote that ``this occupation has diverted essential resources from the fight against al Qaeda, allowed the Taliban to regroup on Afghanistan, fostered neglect of the Iranian nuclear threat, undermined alliances critical to preventing terrorism, devastated America's standing with every country in Europe and destroyed it in the Muslim world.''

Instead of following the wisdom of Scowcroft and Eagleberger and Baker, Powell, this administration embraced Ahmed Chalabi with all the hubris and arrogance of staying the course.

And so we find our troops today in the midst of civil war, in the midst of sectarian, religious, and tribal conflicts that are more about settling old scores that seek revenge over the centuries than about creating a democracy. And it is into that caldron that we wish to send more troops, more troops that 87 percent of the Iraqi public says they want a time line for us to be out of there, and over 50 percent of them think that it is okay to kill Americans.

Our troops need leadership that is worthy of their sacrifice. It is important that this Congress on both sides of the aisle, as it has done, understands the difference between the war and the warriors.

I conduct hearings back in my district; I listen to what my constituents have to say. And, most earnestly, to those parents, those men and women who come to these hearings and talk about their children in harm's way: Carol Tripp of Bristol said it best, a woman with three of her sons and her

husband stationed in Iraq, who hasn't shared a holiday dinner with their entire family since 2001.

I define success by being able to look into their eyes and tell them that the best path forward is the safe, secure, and strategic redeployment of our troops so that our Army can regroup and restore itself and proceed after the people who took the towers down in systematic fashion to go after al Qaeda and continue to regroup.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H. Res. 120, which recognizes the African American spiritual as a national treasure. The African American spiritual is both an expression of culture and faith, and a symbol of the path to triumph in our democracy.

The African American spiritual originated with many cultures in Africa, and became one of the few forms of expression that the African slaves were able to maintain while held in bondage in America. The spirituals not only served to uplift, but also served as a secret code to direct those enslaved to freedom. Lyrics from songs like ``Steal Away (to Jesus)'' and ``Wade in the Water'' were guides for those who planned to escape and served as instructions to allow those escaping to avoid being traced by slave catchers. Spirituals such as ``Follow the Drinking Gourd'' were also means of secretly communicating maps and directions for escaping slaves to reach the network of the Underground Railroad. After the abolition of slavery in the United States in 1865, the African American spiritual remained an important expression of culture, faith, and social justice, especially during the Civil Rights movements across the Nation in the 1950s and 1960s.

And so today, also in honor of Black History Month, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the African American spiritual and the legacy left to us by those who fought for freedom and rights in this country for all citizens. The African American spiritual is not only testimony of history, but is a part of our national heritage.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 512, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of the National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2007, which would recognize the tremendous cultural contributions of the American Latino community.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 512, which would create a 23 member commission responsible for developing a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, DC. Specifically, this commission would be tasked with bringing experts, policymakers, and other interested parties together to discuss a viable blueprint for the museum. The commission would also design a public-private partnership to fund the museum. These recommendations would be reported to Congress within 24 months of the bill being signed into law.

During my tenure as Ranking Member of the House Administration Committee in the 108th Congress, the committee held a long overdue hearing on this legislation. In the 109th Congress, I was a cosponsor of this legislation and it passed in the House by a voice vote on September 27, 2006. Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to pass this bill before the adjournment of the 109th Congress.

The Latino population in the United States is estimated at 42.7 million, making the community the fastest growing group in the country. They also have a rich heritage in this country that is worth celebrating. I am hopeful that we can finally get this bill to the President's desk for signature and get the process underway for establishing this important museum. As a former high school history teacher, I believe that passage of this legislation is crucial in educating all Americans of our nation's cultural diversity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay great honor to Mrs. Emma Faust Tillman, who passed away on January 28, 2007. Mrs. Tillman, a longtime resident of the Hartford area, was the oldest known living peson prior to her death at 114 years of age. Though her reign lasted only 4 days, the legacy of her life can provide inspiration to us all.

Born November 22, 1892 in Gibsonville, North Carolina, Mrs. Tillman was one of 23 siblings. Her parents, former slaves, moved Mrs. Tillman and her family to Glastonbury, Connecticut in 1900. After graduating high school in 1909 as the only black student in her class, Mrs. Tillman went on to work as a cook, maid, and party caterer, eventually owning her own catering service and baking for many of Hartford's notable residents, including Hartford Hospital's Dr. Thomas Hepburn, father of legendary actress Katharine Hepburn. She wed Arthur Tillman in 1914 and they had 2 daughters before his death in 1939.

Deeply religious from a young age, Mrs. Tillman became involved with her church memberships. After being christened at age 13, she began singing in her church choir, an activity in which she was engaged in for over 80 years. A longtime member of the A.M.E. Zion Church in Hartford, she was considered the ``mother of the church'' by Rev. Terry L. Jones, not only for her ripe age, but also for her fervent faith. When commenting on the longevity of her life, Mrs. Tillman would always credit ``God's will.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the life of Emma Faust Tillman. In her 114 years, she deeply touched and inspired those who knew her, and those who have heard her tremendous story. My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family, in particular, her surviving daughter Marjorie. The Hartford community is thankful for the honor of knowing Emma Faust Tillman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Energy Act, H.R 6. This critical legislation is an important step in increasing our investment in the development of clean and efficient energy technology that will one day end our dependence on foreign oil.

The oil industry has been reaping record profits while working Americans have faced record high gas prices. Last year, while millions of Americans struggled to afford gasoline at $3 a gallon, the top five oil companies made nearly $97 billion in profit. The hard truth is that at a time of record energy costs and oil profits, families in Connecticut and across the country were getting tapped into twice: once at the pump and once again with their tax dollars going to oil companies in the form of tax breaks and subsidies.

The bill before us today restores some common sense to our federal budget by repealing or minimizing nearly $13 billion in unnecessary tax subsidies given away to the oil and gas industries. It includes a rollback of a tax break for geological and geophysical exploration, a provision that the President himself suggested that Congress eliminate. In addition, it closes a $7.6 billion loophole written into the FSC/ETI international tax bill which allowed oil companies to qualify for a tax provision intended to help domestic manufacturers struggling to sell their products overseas. Finally, the CLEAN Energy Act ensures that oil companies that were awarded the 1998 and 1999 leases for drilling pay their fair share in royalties.

Our dangerous dependence on foreign oil is much more than just an energy issue--it is at its very core a matter of national security, foreign policy, environmental responsibility, economic development and technological advancement. Our dependence on foreign energy has grown to an alarming 65 percent of our total need, and we send $800 million each day to the Middle East and other oil producing countries.

H.R. 6 takes the important step towards ending this dependence by directing receipts to a newly created Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewables Reserve. This fund will be used to fund future legislation promoting energy efficiency and investing in renewable energy technologies, such as the hydrogen fuel cells developed in Connecticut, which will one day provide us with almost unlimited amounts of energy to run our cars, power our homes and businesses and move us away from a petroleum based energy economy.

Eliminating unneeded tax breaks for the oil industry and investing in new energy sources are just part of the solution to lowering energy prices for hardworking American families. As we move forward in the 110th Congress, we must also work to protect the American people from high energy costs by preventing the manipulation of the oil futures market and ending the practice of price gouging. H.R. 6 is just the start and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address issues.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of America's college-bound students. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act, I join my colleagues in helping increase the access and affordability of college to over 5 million students.

In today's economy, the key to higher wages is through higher education. Unfortunately, the soaring cost of college education has left many of America's young adults behind. No student should ever be turned away from college for fear of being unable to pay the debt.

The College Student Relief Act of 2007, H.R. 5, makes good on the Democratic pledge for a New Direction for this country. This smart, fiscally-responsible bill would cut the interest rate for undergraduate students with subsidized student loans in half over the next five years, from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent. H.R. 5 is targeted to help the students most in need, those with subsidized loans from low and middle income families. The bill's cost is offset with six modest reductions in various subsidies to lenders and guaranty agencies.

In my home state of Connecticut, over 33,000 students with subsidized loans would benefit from this bill. For those entering college in 2007, they will save more than $2,000 over the life of their loans. When the rate cut is fully implemented in 2011, students will save over $4,000. This is a substantial savings for students entering our workforce.

Today's legislation is about helping students and their families. The opportunity for a college education should be available to all Americans. As a Nation, we must invest in our youth and insure they have every tool and opportunity to succeed in the global economy. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5.