Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5822, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (Mil Con-VA) and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2011.

I commend my friend and colleague, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX) for writing a bill that provides tremendous support to our veterans and families. One of the greatest accomplishments since the Democrats regained control of Congress has been providing our veterans with a budget worthy of their service and sacrifice. The Mil Con-VA Appropriations Act for FY 2011 is no exception.

Since the Democrats took back Congress in 2007, we have provided a 70 percent increase in funding for veterans health care and benefits. Some of the highlights of this increase include the addition to the VA of more than 10,000 claims processors to reduce claims backlogs, 3,389 doctors and 14,316 nurses, 145 community-based outpatient clinics, 92 new vet centers, and more than 47,000 additional Veterans Health Administration employees.

In addition, the FY 2011 Mil Con-VA Appropriations Act also fulfills a top priority of national veterans service organizations by continuing to provide advance appropriations of the VA. This way, the VA will be better able to plan for its future needs.

Other important provisions in this legislation include $37.1 billion to improve access to medical services for all veterans; $5.2 billion for mental health services for our veterans suffering from post- traumatic stress disorder, depression, and traumatic brain injury; and $4.2 billion to help our homeless veterans move from the streets to secure homes.

Madam Chair, as a veteran of World War II, I am proud to support this legislation which continues the Democratic Congress' strong commitment to our veterans and their families. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 5822.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Con. Res. 301, which would direct the President to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from Pakistan within 30 days or, if the President deems it not safe within 30 days, to withdraw the troops by December 31, 2010.

Let me state unequivocally, I strongly support a vigorous debate on this matter, especially in light of the documents made available by WikiLeaks. I worry about leaks of classified information, especially when leaks could put our nation and our troops in harm's way. That said, the documents appear to make clear what we already knew, we are involved in a very messy and difficult war in the region.

This is something that President Obama realized when he ordered a new strategy in Afghanistan. For eight years I called on President George W. Bush to increase our resources devoted to the War in Afghanistan,

which I don't need remind anyone is the nation from which the September 11th attacks were launched. There were many others arguing the same thing. Finally, with President Obama we got serious policy review and a real strategy. It has been just 18 months since the President's speech at West Point which aptly reminded the nation that a very real threat still exists. Moreover, the additional 30,000 troops called for in that speech will not be fully deployed until September. It would be a mistake to abandon the President's plan now before we allow time for the plan to work. To do so could jeopardize the lives of our American troops.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5341, legislation I have introduced on behalf of my friend and colleague from Michigan, Congressman Mike Rogers (MI-08). The bill would name the postal facility on Orndorff Drive in Brighton Michigan, the ``Joyce Rogers Post Office Building.''

Joyce Rogers, the late mother of Congressman Mike Rogers, passed away at her Brighton, Michigan home on November 4, 2009 at the age of 78.

Joyce Rogers was a long-time Brighton resident and a tireless public servant, devoting much of her time to the betterment and economic development of the Brighton community. As executive director of the Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce, Joyce Rogers played an integral role in building the business organization into the area's most important political and business networking organization. Through her efforts, Brighton was transformed into a thriving business community, attracting new residents and customers to the area. In addition to being a small business advocate, Joyce Rogers always remembered her role as a leader, taking time to serve her community by acting as a mentor to Brighton women. She has left a lasting impression on the Brighton business community and imparted on her community the importance of public service.

Mr. Speaker, the Michigan delegation has thrown its support behind Congressman Rogers. Every member of the delegation is an original cosponsor of H.R. 5341. I urge the rest of my House colleagues to show their support for Congressman Rogers, whose mother accomplished much, both in the public sphere and in her private life as a devoted wife of 57 years and mother of three. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5341.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Michigan Solar Car Team on its recent victory in the American Solar Challenge.

Two years ago, I rose to laud the successful efforts of this group on its back-to-back wins in the North American Solar Challenge. Today, I rise again to congratulate the team on its third consecutive North American solar car victory, and the University's sixth in ten North American races.

This year's car, Infinium, is considered the University's fastest car yet. Tested at over 100 miles per hour, Infinium navigated the 1,100- mile course in 28 hours, 14 minutes, and 44 seconds, winning the race by over two hours. Adhering to posted speed limits, the car averaged 40 miles per hour and required only one brief stop to fix a minor mechanical difficulty.

The University of Michigan Solar Car Team is an entirely student-run organization whose purpose is to design, finance, build, and race a solar-powered vehicle in competitions around North America and the world. The team is dedicated to the development of its members as teammates, educators, and leaders, and to the education of its community on the potentials of alternative energy technology. Students who volunteer for the Solar Car Team are typically undergraduates who come from a wide range of academic disciplines, including majors within the College of Engineering, the Ross School of Business, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Each project operates on a two-year project cycle and sees as many as 200 volunteer students participating on the team.

The Solar Car Team serves as a shining example of teamwork, creativity, and dedication. In addition to college courses, these students spend countless hours developing technology, raising money, and building partnerships within the University and with outside organizations and businesses. Further, these students are making a major contribution to fuel efficiency and energy conservation. These efforts came together on Saturday, when the team crossed the finish line for its third consecutive title.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the University of Michigan Solar Car team, its faculty advisors, and its sponsors on its recent victory.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of my district's outstanding citizens, Karole White. Karole was recently nominated to the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) Hall of Fame because of her service to my home state of Michigan.

Karole is best known for her selfless work on behalf of the MAB. For nearly 25 years, she has dedicated herself to the growth and improvement of that organization.

When Karole joined the MAB, the organization had minimal resources, and membership was at about half of what it could have been. She played a large role in growing the MAB into one of Michigan's most respected trade associations and among the nation's finest state broadcaster associations. Karole's strong leadership and innovation have helped the MAB integrate into all areas of the broadcasting industry. Currently, over 89 percent of individuals, companies, and organizations affiliated with broadcasting in Michigan have joined the MAB.

As you know, Karole is a highly respected member of the broadcasting industry, and her related expertise has allowed her to build a strong relationship with my staff and me. She often provides valuable input on telecommunications issues and is always eager to collaborate with others for the public good. Most importantly, however, her integrity and reliability make me consider her a close friend.

Karole continues to employ the MAB's resources to benefit Michigan's communities through the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation. She is truly deserving of her nomination to the MAB Hall of Fame, and I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating her on this honor.

Madam Speaker, I stood before this body in 1999 and gave full-throated opposition to the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act. My opposition had the merit of being correct a decade ago and, at the very least, prophetic today. Indeed, Graham-Leach-Bliley gave rise to the creation of financial juggernauts, whose underhanded actions, gone unregulated by design of that Act and subsequent deregulation, have driven this great country over an economic precipice of proportions not seen since the Great Depression.

I will vote in favor of the conference report today because it is, at its core, a good bill. In so doing, however, I admonish legislators and regulators alike never again to permit another economic calamity for want of vigilance. While history judges us for what we do, it will also condemn us for what we do not.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the matter that I am about to address.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with considerable sadness to announce

the death of a good friend of most of us in this body. Our former colleague and friend, Congressman Marvin Esch of Ann Arbor has died. He was 82.

Mr. Esch served in the Michigan State House of Representatives from 1965 to 1966. He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Ann Arbor and southeastern Michigan through about 1976. In 1976, he made an unsuccessful bid for the United States Senate, losing to our friend and colleague Donald Riegle in the general election.

Mr. Esch was a veteran of both the U.S. Maritime Service and the United States Army. He was indeed proud of helping his constituents to navigate the problems that they were having with the Federal Government, especially widows and veterans, as his family takes pride in saying. In Congress, he pushed for an accelerated end to the Vietnam War, and he worked to create an all-volunteer military.

He counted Gerald Ford as one of his dear friends. They were both University of Michigan graduates, and he stood by him when President Ford was sworn in as the 38th President of the United States on the day that former President Nixon resigned.

He was born in Flinton, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1927. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned an A.B. in 1950, an M.A. in 1951, and a Ph.D. in 1957. He was a lifelong supporter of University of Michigan sports and took considerable pride in the success of that great school.

After his time in politics, he served as director of public affairs for the U.S. Steel Corporation from 1977 to 1980. From 1981 to 1987, he was the director of programs and seminars for the American Enterprise Institute. After his retirement in 1992, he worked on a number of philanthropic projects with The Communication Group.

He died in his sleep Saturday, June 19, two days after celebrating his 60th anniversary. His wife, Olga, survives him. He is survived also by his brother, Gordon Esch; a sister, Emily Esch of Bigfork, Montana; son, Tom Esch and his wife, Charlene, of Kalispell, Montana; and by grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews.

We all remember him as a kind man who loved to tell and hear stories. He was an optimist who made and cherished lifelong friendships. His relationship with his wife, as well as his relationships with his colleagues, and his hope for the country could best be summed up in the phrase, ``And the best is yet to be.''

I now yield to my dear friend from Michigan.

I now ask, Mr. Speaker, that the House have a moment of silence in honor of our former colleague and friend, Marvin Esch.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act, as a cosponsor and strong proponent of this legislation.

The DISCLOSE Act is a bipartisan response to the Supreme Court's reckless decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to give corporations the same rights as American citizens with respect to political speech. The decision overturned decades of precedent upholding common-sense campaign finance laws that kept special interests at bay in our elections. Corporations--think Big Oil and Wall Street--can now speak louder and more forcefully than the ordinary American without any restrictions. Moreover, Citizens United opened up the very real possibility that other countries--many of which do not have America's best interest in mind--can spend money to influence our elections. Maybe the opponents of this legislation don't understand that by voting ``no'' they've allowed China Telecom or Venezuela's CITGO the same rights as ordinary Americans when it comes to spending money in our elections.

Since we are not yet politically at a point where we have the votes to overturn this reckless Supreme Court decision, the DISCLOSE Act is a step towards ensuring corporations now have these rights, they must spend money in the light of day. For one thing, corporations cannot hide behind shadow groups that do not have to disclose their donors to the public. If corporations choose to advertise close to Election Day, they must report their donors to the Federal Election Commission and include a hyperlink to their disclosure report on their websites. Moreover, chief executive officers will have to stand behind their ads and top donors will be listed on advertisements. American citizens have the right to know and deserve to know who it is exactly that is telling them to vote for or against a candidate.

The DISCLOSE Act prevents foreign cash in our elections, and also prevents corporations receiving large government contracts, and corporations that are using money out of the Troubled Asset Relief Fund from spending taxpayer money out of their general treasuries on American elections. These practical limitations are necessary to ensure that American elections are not co-opted by foreign entities and special interests looking out only for their own interests and bottom lines.

Mr. Chair, the DISLCOSE Act represents months of hard work and compromise so that American citizens would still have a strong

voice in our elections. Most Americans, in fact, did not agree with the Supreme Court's decision because they understand that corporations and individuals are not one in the same. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on this legislation and ensure that American's voices are still heard in our elections.

Mr. Speaker, we have before us a wonderful opportunity; we can begin to solve a problem that's going to destroy our medical care system in this country.

Doctors are abandoning Medicare patients because they can no longer afford to serve them. And it is turning out that we are now finding that we are losing the capability of addressing one of the greatest health problems we've got, and that is seeing to it that physicians do take care of our people and that they have the necessary resources to do it.

This is a proposal which has to be adopted today. I commend the gentleman from Texas who has urged the House to work together, and I commend him for having had the courage to say so, but it is something that we must do.

We came close to having this issue solved with a permanent fix. The law of interest, compounded interest, tells us that we have a big problem. The numbers in this have grown to $210 billion, and they will grow more. It is time that the House resolves this question so we can assure that we take care of our people, we deal with their health, we preserve Medicare, and we do what is necessary to carry out our responsibility in a fiscally responsible way.

We are, in good part, in this mess because of the United States Senate, which diligently disregards its responsibilities on all matters of this kind. And regrettably, as we look to see, we find that this is the best thing that we can do because they refuse to do better. They will tell us that because of their incompetence, we must therefore bow to them and do things the way they only can do them.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation. And then let us prepare to work together to try and resolve this matter because the time is wasting and the whole system is about to collapse because of our failure to properly address it.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of my colleagues that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend to many of us and a man that many of us here admire greatly on his retirement as UAW President. I refer to Ron Gettelfinger, a great citizen, a great patriot, a great leader of labor, and a wonderful human being. Ron Gettelfinger did not want to have any recognition of his labors on behalf of working men and women and on behalf of the people at this particular time. But I think he will forgive us if we go on to say a few of the things about the respect in which he is held and why that be so.

For the last 8 years, Ron Gettelfinger has led the UAW as their president, and he has done so both loyally and ably through some of the most difficult economic times facing our Nation or facing the union. Through his hard work and dedication to his brothers and sisters of the UAW, we have witnessed the auto industry to right itself and to begin to come out of some of the worst times which it has confronted in its history. It is interesting to note that as the head of one of the most democratic unions in the world, Ron Gettelfinger was able to lead the union in a way which saved the industry and which enabled the industry to have negotiations about give-backs and other things always difficult to sell to the rank and file.

Elected in 2002 as international president of the UAW, Ron Gettelfinger rose through the ranks, beginning his career first as a member of UAW Local 862 in 1964. He worked in Ford's Louisville assembly plant as a chassis line repairman while he attended Indiana University Southeast at night, and it is the workers there who first recognized Ron's extraordinary qualities and elected him to represent them. He then went on to serve as Region 3 UAW director and UAW vice president.

Throughout his time in these roles, he fought relentlessly and tirelessly to ensure workers had the quality of life they deserve by making health care accessible and affordable to all, ensuring new jobs in industry through the manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, and addressing workers' rights provisions in fair trade agreements. He gave extraordinary leadership not just to the union and the industry but to the country.

As we have all known, Ron does not back down from a challenge. During the most difficult times in the auto industry, he worked together with business in a very close fashion to assure the survival of the industry and the companies which the UAW had negotiated agreements with. He negotiated a new round of contracts with The Big Three, creating voluntary beneficiary associations to provide health care to retirees in the Big Three and to save huge amounts of money to the auto companies. He was one of the leadership in not only determining that government assistance would be needed but in seeing to it that the union's voice was heard and that the saving of the auto industry was participated in very actively by the UAW and by the members that he served. He once said of himself, We did what we had to do to save the industry. And now, less than a year later, the auto industry is once again profitable and expanding production. In fact, Chrysler is hiring again for the first time in 10 years.

Fortunately, cars from the Big Three, when the companies and the unions and their members work together, are safe and reliable, and this year have earned the highest quality ratings in J.D. Power and Associates' annual Initial Quality Study, beating import brands by satisfying margins. It is the workers and the members and the leaders of the UAW who have worked so hard to ensure that through times of turmoil, our domestic auto industry continues to produce the best and the safest vehicles while increasing in extraordinary ways the productivity of the workplace.

And at a time when union membership is at its lowest in years, it has fought relentlessly to ensure that workers who want to organize can do so. Together with his other colleagues in labor, he has advocated for the Employee Free Choice Act, for legislation which will allow workers to decide if they want to use a majority signup to form a union, protecting them from employer coercion. But he has gone well beyond the needs and the concerns of labor. He has worked for education, for health care, for a clean and wholesome environment, for the health of our young and old, and for the protection of the rights of Americans.

Now, like Ron, I think our country agrees that these things are necessary and helpful; but he understands, as do many of his admirers, that labor's responsibilities and duties go far beyond the simple concerns of labor, and go to seeing to it that this country is the best that we, working together, can make it be.

Ron Gettelfinger and I and most of us here share the belief that the future success of the auto industry is going to be dependent on developing advanced batteries and electric and hybrid cars here at home and other technologies which will enable us to compete in the savagely competitive world marketplace. He is one who has supported training workers in these technologies not only to help the companies and the industry but also to provide workers with continued job opportunities. He has been there through ebbs and flows.

And the one thing that you can always count on Ron Gettelfinger having was honesty, integrity, and steadfastness. Whether he was delivering good news or bad, he always dealt with the facts. It is because of his honesty in his dealings with everyone, his brothers and sisters, business management, and labor join me tonight in praising and pointing out that he has properly earned the trust, admiration, and respect of all with whom he works. Ron Gettelfinger once said, We don't accept the notion that America is a country where a privileged few can live well while the rest of us struggle to meet our daily expenses. We are going to fight for something better. Ron Gettelfinger, you have led a fight for something better since the first day that you entered the labor movement, and I am glad that I was able to be your friend and partner in many of those fights.

I rise today to honor my dear friend Ron Gettelfinger on his retirement as UAW President.

For the last eight years, Ron has led the UAW as their President loyally and ably through some of the most difficult economic times facing our Nation.

Through his hard work and dedication to his brothers and sisters of the UAW, we have witnessed the auto industry right itself.

Elected as UAW President in 2002, Ron rose through the ranks beginning is career first as a member of the UAW Local 862 in 1964. He worked at Ford's Louisville Assembly plant as a chassis line repairman, attending Indiana University Southeast at night. It is the workers there who first elected Ron to represent them.

He then went on to serve as UAW Region 3 Director and UAW Vice President. Throughout his time in these roles he has fought tirelessly to ensure workers have a quality of life they deserve. By making health care accessible and affordable for all, ensuring new jobs in industry through the manufacturing of advanced technology vehicles, and workers' rights provisions in fair trade agreements.

And as we have all seen, Ron does not back down from a challenge.

During the most difficult of times for the auto industry, he has worked together with business to ensure its survival, negotiating through a new round of contracts with the Big Three in 2007, creating a Voluntary Beneficiary Association to provide health care to the retirees in the Big Three, and standing with the Big Three when it was determined government assistance would be needed.

As he has said himself, ``We did what we had to do to save the industry.'' And now, less than a year later the auto industry is once again profitable and expanding production. In fact, Chrysler is hiring again for the first time in ten years.

Fortunately, cars from the Big Three continue to be safe and reliable, and this year have earned higher quality ratings in J.D. Power and Associates' annual Initial Quality Study beating import brands for the first time.

It is the workers and leaders of the UAW who have helped to ensure that throughout times of turmoil, our domestic auto industry continues to produce the safest vehicles and increase productivity in the workplace.

And at a time when union membership is at its lowest in many years, he has fought relentlessly to ensure that workers who want to organize can. Together with his other colleagues in labor, he has advocated for the Employee Free Choice Act or legislation that would allow workers to decide if they want to use majority sign-up to form a union, protecting them from employer coercion.

Like Ron, I believe that this legislation is sorely needed and I am hopeful that this will be passed before November.

Ron and I also share the belief that the future success of the auto industry is going to be dependent on developing advanced batteries and electric and hybrid cars here at home. Together we both supported training workers in these technologies not only to help the auto industry, but also to provide workers with continued job opportunities.

Throughout the ebbs and flows, the one thing you could always count on from Ron was honesty. Whether he was delivering good news or bad, I always knew that Ron was giving me the facts.

It is because of his honesty to me, his brothers and sisters, business management and the Members who join me here tonight, Ron was able to earn the trust, admiration and respect of those he worked with.

Ron once said, ``We don't accept the notion that America is a country where a privileged few live well while the rest of us struggle to meet our daily expenses. We're going to fight for something better.''

Ron you led the fight for something better, and I am glad I was able to be your partner in that fight.

I now will yield to my good friends from Michigan and from elsewhere around the country who have a desire to express, as do I, compliments for our dear friend who is now retiring. I yield first to my dear friend, Congressman Dale Kildee of Michigan.

Madam Speaker, I yield now to my distinguished friend from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).

I thank the gentleman, and I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick).

I thank the distinguished gentlewoman.

And now I yield to my dear friend from Maryland, the Honorable Donna Edwards.

I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland.

I now yield to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

I thank my good friend from Michigan, and I yield now to another distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schauer).

I thank my distinguished friend from Michigan.

I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas.

I yield now to the distinguished gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Mrs. Dahlkemper).

I thank the distinguished gentlewoman.

I yield now with a great deal of pleasure and respect to my good friend from New York, the Honorable Edolphus Towns.

I want to thank my dear friend from New York for his kindness, his fine words, and for his great patience. He is my dear friend.

Mr. Speaker, I have the remarks of many of our other colleagues which will be inserted into the Record paying tribute to our great friend, Ron Gettelfinger.

I simply want to observe two things: first, we are saying good-bye tonight to a giant, a patriot, a wonderful human being, a man who cared about his fellow Americans and who spent his lifetime making it the best he could for his fellow Americans, especially members of the trade union movement.

He was never afraid to give leadership to causes that were important, and he never was afraid to speak the truth, including to work with me and with the companies to address problems that those companies had here in Washington, and he was never afraid to tell the truth, even to his own members when that was necessary to be done.

I am pleased to report that in his leaving of office, he leaves behind him a great and respected trade union movement, and a wonderful union in the UAW. And I am pleased to report to my colleagues that his successor, the new president, Bob King, will serve with great distinction and as a worthy successor in all aspects of this very important leadership responsibility. I congratulate him and wish him well.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. I want to thank the Chairmen of the Financial Services and Small Business Committees, Representatives Barney Frank, D-MA, and Nydia Velazquez, D-NY, respectively, for their leadership in bringing to bear this jobs-creating measure and Congressman Gary Peters, D-MI, for providing critical guidance for Michigan on the bill as it moved forward.

Today, we are, voting on legislation that will encourage lending to small businesses and in-turn job creation. First, H.R. 5297 sets up a $30 billion small business lending fund for small- and medium-sized community banks, which could leverage up to $300 billion in lending. The fund encourages small business lending by decreasing the interest rate at which the loan is paid back when the bank expands lending to small businesses. Second, the bill creates a State Small Business Credit Initiative to be administered by the Treasury Department which would provide funding for new or existing state lending programs. It is estimated the new Credit Initiative would create an estimated $20 billion in new lending. Finally, H.R. 5297 contains a provision to restart private investment to meet small businesses' evolving financing needs through a new SBA public-private partnership.

While the Democratic Congress blunted the downward spiral of our economy that was born out of Bush administration policy, our unemployment rate still hovers around 9.5 percent nationwide and around 14 percent in Michigan. It is clear that we can and must do more to ensure our government continues to put the economy on the path to recovery. In particular, small businesses must have access to capital so they can expand and hire workers. In the beginning of this month at a Federal Reserve Bank meeting in Detroit, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke highlighted this need as he called on banks to lend to small businesses ``for the safety and soundness of our banking system.'' This legislation fulfills the need articulated not only by Mr. Bernanke and other leading economists, but by small businesses in the 15th district such as our automotive suppliers and manufacturers, high tech start ups, and innovative alternative energy firms. I have listened to the concerns of small businesses in my district about the lack of available credit and with the passage of this bill we are taking action to address their concerns.

The statistic has been cited many times before, but it is worth remembering that small businesses have created two-thirds of net new jobs over the past 15 years. Let's help our small businesses help grow our economy by passing this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on H.R. 5297.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Detroit Tigers and the pitcher Armando Galarraga for his spectacular performance against the Cleveland Indians last week. During a game on June 2, Galarraga threw 8\2/3\ innings perfectly against Cleveland, without giving up a hit, walk, or error.

On what would have been his 27th out, Major League Baseball umpire Jim Joyce made what he admitted was a mistaken call, spoiling what would have been the Detroit Tigers' first perfect game in franchise history. Joyce has since conceded that Donald was out and has apologized to both Galarraga and the Tigers' manager, Jim Leyland, for a missed call.

Throughout the ensuing controversy, Joyce and Galarraga have displayed extraordinary grace under pressure and tremendous sportsmanship, setting a fine example for sports fans everywhere. It's my hope the Major League Baseball commissioner will reconsider the decision and will correct what was clearly a faulty call.

With the full support of the entire Michigan delegation, I am introducing a resolution today declaring that Galarraga pitched a perfect game and urging the MLB to overturn a mistaken ``safe'' call. I believe that to do so will more than please the 17,000 fans who were in the stands that day and place Galarraga in a part of the game's history of having pitched a perfect game.

Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, I rise today in strong support of this legislation. In recent years we have watched as our country has fallen behind in educating our children for the 21st century and developing technology that our neighbors envy. Today's legislation will help to turn these trends around by making the strong investments necessary in research, education and manufacturing.

This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes our basic research programs and lays the groundwork for doubling funding levels for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Funding through these programs has been critical to many of the faculty, staff, scientists and investigators in my district who rely on funding from these agencies to support their research. Research that has led to spin-offs such as A123, now a leader in advanced battery technology. America COMPETES also reauthorizes the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, which has made great efforts at developing the energy technology of the future.

This research cannot be done without providing our students with the strong educational foundation necessary for a college education. This legislation will expand and improve STEM education from kindergarten to college through scholarships to train secondary teachers in STEM fields to teach in high need schools, provide grants to increase the number of students who pursue undergraduate degrees in STEM fields, and establish fellowships for recent doctoral degree candidates who can lead STEM education research and program development. America COMPETES will also help our colleges and universities to retain and recruit underrepresented groups in STEM fields. These are necessary improvements to ensure that the next generation of researchers, faculty, engineers, and entrepreneurs can compete with their counterparts abroad.

America COMPETES legislation will also provide critically needed help to our small- and medium-sized manufacturers who have been hard hit by the financial downturn. In order to improve competitiveness and access to capital, America COMPETES will provide Innovative Technology Federal Loan Guarantees for these manufacturers. To help manufacturers modernize, this legislation authorizes the National Science Foundation to support research needed for advances in manufacturing. To ensure manufacturers will have the skilled employees they need, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers will be directed to work with local community colleges to ensure training programs fit the needs of local manufacturers. It will also reduce the cost share contribution for Manufacturing Extension Partnership program centers, which provides invaluable assistance to manufacturers by increasing their technological capabilities, instituting green or lean manufacturing techniques, and increasing their sales.

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues all agree that our country has the best education system in the world and the most talented and innovative manufacturers and entrepreneurs. However, they cannot continue to compete with their foreign colleagues who have benefited from strong leadership and investment from their government and a clear plan for the path forward. The future success of our children and grandchildren depends on our government partnering with private industry in investing in the education and innovative technology of the 21st century. To truly compete with our neighbors abroad, we must pass the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, which is why I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend from Missouri for his kindness to me, for his support of this amendment, and for the yielding of this time.

This is an amendment which is to deal with a very important injustice done to marines by the Department of the Navy, and you may read more about it in my remarks as they are extended.

In a nutshell, people in the Marine Corps are being hurt, injured, poisoned, given cancer and other things by the way the Department of the Navy has run the posts and has provided contaminated water to the members of the Marine Corps and to their families. This will at least begin the process of getting information to these marines about what has happened and why it is that they are suffering this way, and see to it that we are taking a step forward to have the Marine Corps deliver some of the information that they're supposed to deliver under agreement.

I urge my colleagues to vote for the amendment, and I thank my friend from Missouri.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the amendment I have offered with my colleagues, Congressmen Stupak and Miller, pertaining to the historic water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

I would like to thank Chairman Skelton for his willingness to work with me on this important issue.

Mr. Chair, I am offering this amendment on behalf of the marines and veterans that were exposed to the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987 and whose lives have been forever changed because of it. There's Jerry Ensminger, whose daughter Janey was carried to term at Camp Lejeune and died at age 9 after a long and heart-wrenching battle with childhood leukemia. There's Jim Fontella and Mike Partain, two among the dozens of former Lejeune residents battling breast cancer, a disease rarely found among males. These are the poisoned patriots who have lent their stories and their voices to the others who have not spoken out. They want answers about the water contamination and our amendment will help provide them.

Put simply, our amendment would require the Department of the Navy to fulfill its obligation under an existing memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry--that is, to share all relevant environmental information pertaining to historic water contamination at Camp Lejeune. In addition, it requires the Navy to use its in-house experts to help ATSDR gather this information.

This amendment constitutes a small piece of a larger quest to get answers for our former marines and their families who were exposed to the highly toxic chemicals, TCE, PCE, and benzene. The fact is, 23 years after the contaminated wells were shut down, there is still much unknown. How much and to what extent were housing areas exposed to the contaminants? When did the contamination take place? What is the extent of the exposure to the specific chemicals? And finally, is there a link between the exposure to the toxic water and illnesses experienced by former Camp Lejeune residents? Our amendment will ensure that ATSDR-- mandated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act to assess human health effects of exposures to toxic chemicals at Superfund sites--has the information it needs to complete its studies and answer these questions.

Mr. Chair, it is unfortunate we must require something as simple this by statute. But after 23 years, we have had enough delay from the Defense Department. Ironically, I first came to know about this problem when the Defense Department came before the Energy and Commerce Committee seeking broad exemptions from the Clean Air Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, and CERCLA, among others. The military wanted these exemptions in the name of readiness, public health be damned. To say the least, it is troubling to think about where ATSDR's studies would be or what terrible tragedies would await our servicemembers in the future if the Department of Defense were exempt from CERCLA.

In closing, I'd ask my colleagues to look at the bigger picture when considering this amendment. With Memorial Day approaching this weekend, what could be a more fitting tribute to our servicemembers and veterans than to uphold the sacred trust they place in our Government when they sign up to serve and potentially make the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation?

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5014, legislation to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Spina Bifida Program and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program constitutes minimum essential coverage under the new health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).

While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act explicitly states that it covers health

care programs administered by the VA, some have questioned whether the VA's Spina Bifida Program, which provides health care to children of Vietnam War and certain Korean War veterans for spina bifida-related medical conditions, and the Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Health Care Program, which provides care for certain birth defects of the biological child of a woman veteran who served in Vietnam, meets the individual requirement. H.R. 5014 leaves no room for doubt.

As a veteran of WWII, I understand what our brave American men and women give up to serve our country. For the past several years, the Democratic Congress has honored them and their dependents with benefits worthy of their service. This legislation continues to pay tribute to our veterans, providing them the respect they deserve by codifying that all VA Health Care programs are covered by the health care reform law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5014.