Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I would like to submit the following:

I was proud to bring millions of federal dollars home to local taxpayers. New Yorkers pay more in federal taxes than New York receives in federal funding support, so I worked hard to bring additional dollars back home for local projects, thereby reducing the burden on local property taxpayers.

orange county

Obtained $19.6m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for infrastructure upgrades and renovations at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Obtained $4.4m from the U.S. Department of Transportation for improved runway lighting and resurfacing at Stewart Airport, thereby increasing its air traffic capacity. The new lighting improves both energy efficiency and public safety during take offs and landings.

Obtained $3.6m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for repairs and renovations at the Stewart Air National Guard base.

Obtained over $3.5m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for energy efficiency improvements in Orange County.

Obtained $2.3m for the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District, including $1.5m in federal impact aid and $800,000 in federal funding to improve science and technology programs.

Obtained $2m in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to construct a new water filtration plant for the Village of Warwick.

Obtained $1.33m in federal funding to support the Newburgh-Beacon ferry enabling easier access to public transportation for commuters.

Obtained $597,000 from the Department of Homeland Security for five local fire departments, including Greenville Fire Department; the Slate Hill and New Hampton Fire Departments in Wawayanda; and the Johnson and the Unionville Fire Departments in Minisink.

Obtained $564,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for improvement projects at Greenwood Lake.

Obtained $394,000 in federal funding to replace the Hambletonian Water Main in Goshen which improved water quality and saved property tax dollars.

Obtained $245,600 in federal funds for the Hudson Valley Agricultural Viability Program that will create jobs and attract private investment in local farms.

Obtained $110,000 for the Port Jervis Police Department to upgrade their outdated communications system.

Obtained $160,000 in federal funding for the Monroe Police Department.

Obtained $95,300 in federal funding for St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick for their Wound Care Program.

Obtained a $78,683 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Dept of Justice to improve public safety in Orange County through increased police patrols and improved equipment and technology.

Assisted in obtaining almost $72,000 for Museum Village.

Obtained a $66,500 Department of Homeland Security grant for the South Blooming Grove Fire District.

Obtained $60,000 for the Woodbury Police Department.

Obtained $40,000 for the Quassaick Bridge Fire District.

Westchester County

Obtained over $13m for improvements to I-684.

Obtained $6.75m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for infrastructure upgrades and renovations of patient care areas at the FDR Veterans Hospital in Montrose.

Obtained $6.1m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for infrastructure improvements at the Camp Smith National Guard Training Site in Cortlandt.

Obtained $5m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a water treatment plant for the Peach Lake community in North Salem. The new water treatment plant will help restore the quality of the lake and create local jobs.

Obtained almost $2m for improvements at the Croton-Harmon train station including flood prevention and infrastructure upgrades.

Obtained $1.96m in federal funding for reconstruction and improvements to Route 6 in Cortlandt.

Assisted in obtaining $1.3m from the Dept of Energy for the Bedford- Northern Westchester Energy Action Coalition.

Obtained over $1.1m for improvements to the Annsville Circle in Cortlandt.

Obtained $665,000 in federal funding to improve the Peekskill Downtown Business District including sidewalk improvements, landscaping, and lighting upgrades on Main Street.

Obtained $332,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice for the Westchester County Forensic Science Laboratory, to improve the quality and timeliness of medical examiner services, thereby reducing the case backlog.

Obtained $325,000 from the federal Drug Free Communities Support Program for programs sponsored by the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Alliance for Safe Kids in Cortlandt Manor, and the Town of Cortlandt.

Obtained over $300,000 for programs at the Yorktown Senior Center.

Obtained $196,000 in federal funding for improvements at the South Salem library.

Obtained $120,000 from the Department of Homeland Security for the Goldens Bridge Volunteer Fire Department.

Assisted in obtaining $115,000 for the Katonah Museum of Art.

Obtained 98,400 in federal funding for A-HOME to build an affordable home for a first responder in Lewisboro, using the most state of the art energy efficient technologies.

Obtained $95,300 in federal funding for the new emergency department at the Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco.

Obtained $87,000 for the Katonah Fire Department.

Obtained $70,000 in federal funding for the Pound Ridge Police Department for communications systems that will improve emergency response capabilities.

Obtained $47,000 in federal funding for education programs at the Van Cortlandt Manor historic site in the Village of Croton-on-Hudson.

Dutchess County

Obtained $8.22m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for infrastructure and energy efficiency improvements at Castle Point Veterans Hospital.

Obtained $3.6m from the U.S. Department of Transportation for improvements in public transportation including local busses and bus facilities in Poughkeepsie.

Obtained $2.4m for the development and manufacture of night vision goggles by E-Magin, located in Dutchess County. These goggles improve the safety of our troops in the field, while creating local manufacturing jobs.

Obtained $330,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help retrofit stormwater systems in East Fishkill and Beekman.

Obtained $314,000 for Hudson River Housing in Poughkeepsie to assist in rehabilitating affordable homes and creating opportunities for local financing.

Obtained $196,000 in federal funding for the Village of Wappingers Falls to create Consentino Park.

Secured Dyson Foundation grant funding of $108,000 for Arlington High School's club ACTION students to install solar panels on the roof the High School.

Obtained $98,600 for the Glenham Fire District.

Obtained $86,000 in federal funding for technology improvements at the St. Francis Hospital emergency room.

Obtained $77,000 for the Fishkill Fire Department.

Obtained $66,000 in federal funding to install solar panels on the Beacon Municipal Building.

Obtained $61,750 from the Department of Homeland Security for the Wappingers Falls Fire Department.

Putnam County

Obtained $1.9m from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a water treatment plant for the Peach Lake community in Southeast. The new water treatment plant will help restore the quality of the lake and create local jobs.

Obtained $1.6m for upgrades to roads in Kent.

Obtained $400,000 in federal funding for Putnam Valley for their Lake Oscawana Management and Restoration Plan, saving money for local property taxpayers while improving water quality.

Obtained $192,000 in federal funding for Putnam Hospital Center's comprehensive cancer care program.

Obtained $190,000 from the Department of Homeland Security for the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department.

Obtained $145,000 for the Carmel Police Department for a police vehicle video system.

Obtained $125,000 from the federal Drug Free Communities Support Program for programs implemented through Putnam's Council for Alcoholism and Other Drugs.

Obtained $106,000 for equipment for the Kent Fire District.

Rockland County

Obtained over $15m for improvements to the Palisades Parkway.

Obtained $2.5m for road improvements in downtown Haverstraw.

Obtained $383,000 in federal funding for the Stony Point Ambulance Corps.

Obtained $352,500 in federal funding for youth gang prevention programs.

Helped obtain $297,000 from the U.S. Department of Education for the North Rockland Central School District.

Obtained $188,000 for the Thiells-Roseville Fire District.

Obtained $66,000 for the Stony Point Police Department to maintain a full time school resource officer at the James A. Farley Middle School.

Constituent Services

Casework: One of the aspects of the job that I find most rewarding is the ability to assist local constituents with individual problems. In many of these cases the constituent needs assistance cutting through the federal bureaucracy to get the attention they need to their individual situation. Although I believe that people shouldn't need to turn to their Congressional office in order to get their cases resolved, I am happy to be able to assist when such instances occur.

My Congressional office resolved thousands of constituent service cases, which included providing assistance to Veterans, Seniors with Medicare and Social Security concerns, foreclosure and mortgage assistance to homeowners, families seeking adoptions, and expediting passports. The Congressional office provided assistance to constituents trying to reach family members during natural disasters overseas such as Haiti and Chile. In many of these cases our assistance made a real difference in people's daily lives.

Some specific examples of the hundreds of successful results achieved by the Congressional office are described below.

Veterans: Obtained well over $2 million in retroactive payments and benefits for individual local veterans earned but never received from the Veterans Administration due to administrative backlogs and errors. These awards ranged from a few dollars to over $100,000 depending on the type of injury, level of disability, and length of the VA delay in processing the case.

Successfully assisted many local Veterans in receiving long over due combat medals such as medals from World War 2 for a Mahopac veteran and several Purple Heart recipients.

Awarded the prestigious Air Medal to former flight crewmembers of the 336th Medical Detachment, and Army Reserve Helicopter Ambulance unit in a ceremony at Stewart Airport. The 60 men and women of the 336th Medical Detachment, trained as Medevac pilots, helicopter crew chiefs and medics, evacuated sick and wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Due to adverse field conditions and administrative oversight, the unit's flight crews did not receive their Air Medals until my office intervened on their behalf.

Social Security: Assistance was provided to constituents such as explaining eligibility for disability benefits; facilitating communication between beneficiaries and local SSA offices; assisting in setting up payment schedules for overpayments to beneficiaries' accounts; reinstatement of disability benefits that were incorrectly stopped; expediting appeal hearings, expediting the processing of retroactive checks in favorable disability cases that included amounts in excess of $100,000; removal of overpayments that were mistakenly put onto beneficiaries' records; and assisting with the appeal of an overpayment waiver request.

For example--

Expedited a Social Security appeals hearing for a constituent who suffered major spinal injuries, was unable to work and facing bankruptcy. The case was found fully favorable to the constituent.

Expedited a retroactive payment in a Social Security disability case for $79,000.

Helped get a Social Security disability appeals hearing for a woman suffering from a tick-borne illness similar to Lyme's Disease. The appeal was expedited and she was awarded more than $1,800 in monthly benefits and more than $65,000 in retroactive benefits, and found eligible for Medicare.

Medicare: Facilitated reimbursement for Durable Medical Equipment and other services.

Helped remove surcharge on Part B, premium and processing of retroactive payment.

Internal Revenue Service: Expedited processing of refund and economic stimulus payments.

Helped change filing status for taxpayer.

Department of Labor: Challenged denial of prescription coverage for a drug that was in a beneficiary's plan.

Assisted in having overpaid monthly COBRA premium credited toward future monthly premiums.

Assisted with having COBRA premium reduction applied to several beneficiaries who did not initially receive it.

Federal Trade Commission: Worked with constituents and relevant credit agencies to fix mistakes on credit reports.

Visiting Washington DC: When constituents, school groups, and local organizations visit Washington DC, my office helps arrange tours, and can help with other aspects of the visits. I make every effort to personally greet local visitors. In 2009 my office arranged and gave over 700 tours of the Capitol to local families, school classes, and other visitors from the 19th Congressional District. The office also assisted with information including assistance in arranging for tours of other significant sites in Washington.

Service Academy Nominations: Each year my Congressional office submits nominations of local students to our nation's military service academies including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (USMA), Naval (USNA), Air Force (USAFA), and Merchant Marine (USMMA) Academies. I consider it a great honor to be able to nominate top local students who will become the next generation of military leaders. During my two terms in office, I was proud to serve on the U.S. Military Academy's Board of Visitors.

Madam Speaker, I would like to submit the following:

Legislative Actions

Madam Speaker, I wold like to submit the following: As the Representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, I had numerous significant accomplishments in all aspects of meeting local community needs, individual constituent services, and enacting federal legislation on behalf of my constituents.

I kept my annual promise of holding at least one public event in every town and city in the district to give my constituents an opportunity to speak directly with me about their opinions and concerns. I hosted Town Hall Meetings, Congress on Your Corners, business roundtables, issues forums and workshops throughout all 4 years of my Congressional service. In addition to these events, I attended numerous community events hosted by local organizations, senior centers, fire departments, schools, etc. I also did a series of ``work-a-day'' events where I worked alongside a constituent in a local job so I could better understand the day to day challenges they face. Some of these events included working with a nurse at an area hospital, an assembly line worker at a manufacturing plant, a ride along with a delivery truck driver, weatherization installation at a home, installation of a geothermal heat/cooling system at a new senior housing development, and installation of solar energy panels on the roof of an elementary school.

The Congressional offices in Carmel, Goshen, and Washington responded to thousands of constituent opinions and information requests. Hundreds of casework problems were resolved for individuals and families who had problems with federal agencies when applying for Veterans benefits, Social Security and Medicare payments, and expediting passport applications.

The Congressional office provided hundreds of Capitol tours for school classes and families visiting Washington DC, fulfilled flag requests, nominated students to our nation's military service academies, and assisted with federal grant applications.

I cosponsored and voted for important legislation to create and save jobs, cut taxes on middle class families, improve the process for Veterans applying for well deserved benefits, reform financial services regulation, and health insurance reform designed to improve accessibility and affordability. I authored legislation that dramatically improved the Veterans benefits system, streamlining the process for veterans to receive the care and compensation they earned in service to our nation. My legislation is widely regarded as the most sweeping reform of the VA in a generation.

I was proud to bring millions of federal dollars home for local projects that create and save jobs, improve water quality, improve traffic safety and public transportation, build local infrastructure, and save local property tax dollars.

I voted against my own pay raise each time it came before the House, and donated my raise to local non-profit organizations rather than accepting it.

Meeting Local Community Needs

Economic Development: Local Jobs and Small Business Development

I worked actively to bring new jobs to the area and save local jobs that were at risk of leaving including:

Kolmar--Successfully assisted in keeping the largest manufacturing company in Western Orange County from leaving the state, thereby retaining hundreds of local jobs in an economically depressed area.

Pepsi Bottling--Successfully assisted with efforts to keep the company's facilities in Northern Westchester when they were considering a move out of state.

SpectraWatt--Instrumental in negotiations to bring a new solar energy manufacturing company to Dutchess County, replacing almost a hundred jobs that had been outsourced overseas. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis visited the site to discuss the local benefits with business and labor leaders. Although recent reports indicate the company is struggling, discussions are still ongoing to keep the jobs in Dutchess County.

I successfully advocated for Stewart Air National Guard Base to receive 8 new C-17 aircraft and all of the support services and local economic development opportunities that go with it. The Air Force made this award after a very competitive national process. I also brought US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Stewart Airport for a meeting with local business and community leaders to discuss how the airport could be more of an economic engine for the region.

I hosted several small business seminars to inform local businesses about the opportunities created by the federal economic stimulus legislation, including direct tax reductions and capital availability. These events were attended by hundreds of people. In addition, numerous roundtables were held with local business leaders to provide me with direct input as to what they needed to create growth opportunities. These meetings served as the basis for small business tax cut legislation I introduced, several provisions were enacted into law.

Job Opportunity and Training Fairs were held to provide assistance in getting a job including interviewing skills, resume writing, networking, employer connections, adult and continuing education, green jobs, and entrepreneurship and one-on-one consultation. Many local employers attended and were able to talk directly with job seekers who were in attendance.

I brought House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller to the district for a public meeting to inform the community about the provisions of the new Direct Student Loan legislation and how they will make it easier for more students to attend college.

I held workshops for local constituents to provide them with information regarding how to prevent home foreclosure as well as mortgage refinancing options. I brought together local banks and housing counselors for presentations as well as direct individual counseling opportunities.

Energy Independence:

I sponsored a series of energy independence forums throughout the district to provide practical information to municipalities, businesses, and individuals interested in developing domestic energy resources. These forums focused on wind, solar, hydro and tidal power, as well as biofuels and conservation. I also held an event which brought together solar manufacturers, retailers, and prospective buyers to create markets for local suppliers. Many local projects were developed as a result of the information provided and the introductions made between local providers and businesses.

I helped bring more than $517m for weatherization funding and energy efficiency grants to New York. This money directly benefited local families who were able to save money on their energy bills by weatherizing their homes, and it created local jobs.

Veterans

Many Veterans meetings were held throughout the district so I could gain input from local veterans regarding the challenges they face navigating the VA claims and benefits processes generally, as well as a specific challenges resulting from PTSD. Based on what I heard from local Veterans and VSOs, I successfully introduced legislation that significantly streamlined the benefits process, and advocated for a VA rules change regarding handling of PTSD claims. The rules change

makes it much easier for veterans suffering with PTSD to receive the care and compensation they deserve.

I sponsored a Veterans Employment and Education forum to help returning veterans transition from the battlefield to the classroom and the workplace and make sure they are aware of all the benefits they earned. A member of the Wounded Warrior Program works on my Congressional staff.

In addition I hosted a GI Bill forum to train Hudson Valley college admissions and administrative personnel regarding the benefits due to Veterans and how to assist them with the application process.

I strongly advocated for maintaining health care services for veterans at both campuses in Montrose and Castle Point. I also assisted in bringing a new veterans health clinic to Orange County.

I successfully sponsored legislation to name the Chester Post Office in memory of First Lt. Lou Allen, who was killed in Iraq and to name the Port Jervis Post office in memory of former Mayor and Senator Arthur Gray.

Seniors

I hosted several events to help protect local Seniors from Medicare fraud. Experts were in attendance to provide specific information about scams in the area and how to avoid becoming a victim. In addition, I hosted informational events to prepare individuals and families who are nearing Medicare eligibility to prepare themselves to understand and navigate the many enrollment options and various plans available. Thousands of local Seniors participated in my Tele-Town Hall discussion about how the Health Care Reform law would affect them. Topics covered included closing the donut hole, free preventative care and wellness visits for seniors, reducing subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans, fighting waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, and long term care options.

Law enforcement training sessions

I became aware of concerns regarding communication between some local law enforcement officials and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. As a result I requested ICE officials come to the district and provide information to local law enforcement regarding how ICE can assist local law enforcement and ways they could work together to improve public safety.

Congressional Art Competition

Each year my office hosted a Congressional Arts Competition for high school students in my district. The winner's artwork is shown for a year at the Capitol Building in Washington DC and runners up are shown in my local Congressional offices. The Congressional office worked with arts facilities and schools to encourage student artists, review the submissions, and have them shown within the community.

Resource Guides

The Congressional office created the following resource guides to assist individuals, organizations, and small businesses with federal government services and opportunities:

Guide to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--Provided details of the federal economic stimulus legislation for individuals, businesses, organizations, and municipalities including information about available funding opportunities and how to apply for and access the funds.

Small Business Assistance Guide--A package of information and local resources for small businesses seeking assistance and information about loan opportunities and other federal and state support programs and developments.

Small Business Guide to the Affordable Care Act--Provided details on Small Business Tax Credits for employer coverage of health premiums and how other provisions of the new health care law affect small businesses.

Senior Handbook--Described resources available for seniors including health care and prescription drug coverage, long term care options, household utilities, VA, meal delivery and nutrition programs, senior centers, and transportation.

Veterans Services Website--Provides information about benefits and services, eligibility requirements, and contact information for local and national agencies and private organizations that provide assistance with healthcare, benefits, education, and employment.

Fire and Emergency Services Grant Resources--A package of information about federal, state and foundation grant opportunities for fire departments and ambulance corps and how to apply for such funds. In addition, the Congressional office hosted annual workshops to provide assistance to local fire departments as to how to write and submit federal grant applications to the Dept of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

Jobs Seekers' Handbook--Detailed information regarding resources available to people looking for a job and how to improve individual skills.

Foreclosure prevention tips and resource guide for homeowners.

Madam Speaker, nearly 1 year ago, the Supreme Court issued a ruling which drastically changed the electoral system in America for the worse. The court's decision to confer the rights of individuals on corporations has altered the political landscape in a way that allows unprecedented, unlimited and undisclosed corporate spending that cannot be matched by private citizens.

The 2010 election cycle was the most expensive in our Nation's history, costing hundreds of millions of dollars and misinforming millions of Americans along the way. Allowing corporate America, as well as foreign companies, to spend unlimited amounts of money in U.S. elections is in direct contradiction to the health of our democracy and to the principles our country was founded on. There is already too much money in politics, and this decision only makes things worse.

This year, my friends on the other side of the aisle watched as Democrats took the brunt of this undisclosed corporate spending. But I promise you, in the future, you, too, will feel its lash. This is not good for our democracy, and I urge a legislative solution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

We cannot talk about the 9/11 attacks without remembering the first responders who answered that call that day and safeguard us here every day. Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and ordinary American citizens rushed into crumbling buildings and then worked countless hours in the days and weeks that followed; and now, more than 9 years later, many of those courageous first responders are suffering from serious illnesses caused by inhaling toxic fumes and particles in air that they were told was clear and safe to breathe.

It is our patriotic duty to protect those who sacrificed for their fellow Americans. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue of responsibility. Many of my constituents lost loved ones on that day, spent months combing through the rubble for remains, and are now suffering health problems as a result.

Let's honor those who selflessly returned to Ground Zero to save those they did not know by standing together and passing this bill.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak this morning. I rise in support of several pieces of legislation before us this week that aim to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans.

As Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, it was my honor and privilege to help move some of these bills forward. I also thank the sponsors of these bills for their commitment to our veterans.

These bills make substantial improvements to the VA's job training programs, making veterans more attractive to small businesses to hire and train, and to ensure that veterans suffering from PTSD and other mental conditions are able to appeal their claims decisions if they miss an arbitrary deadline, set by a bureaucrat.

I strongly support the provision in H.R. 6132 which will allow veterans receiving a pension from the VA to keep receiving their pension in the event they are awarded a settlement for loss or injury. This will correct an extremely unfair part of current law that includes these payments as income when determining a veteran's eligibility for a means-based pension.

I am also glad that the House is addressing the issue of Retained Asset Accounts. We have heard a great deal about these accounts for recipients of Service Group Life Insurance Policies. H.R. 5993 will ensure that the families of veterans understand their rights and are fully informed of their options when their loved one passes.

Thank you again Mr. Speaker, and thank you to Chairman Filner for his assistance in bringing these bills forward. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of these important bills.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained this week and unable to vote on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010. Had I been present, I would have voted for this critical legislation. Earlier this year I met with small business leaders in the Hudson Valley and they told me that some of their top concerns were access to credit and the cost of doing business. They also strongly advocated for an extension of bonus depreciation to allow a quicker write-off of capital expenditures, and a larger start-up deduction. After these meetings, I introduced the Helping Small Businesses Start and Grow Act, which included a bonus depreciation extension, increased start-up deduction and a measure to help free up credit for small businesses. Similar provisions were included in the bill that passed the House this Wednesday. I was proud to vote for the Small Business Lending Fund Act when it was first considered in the House, and I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues to continue to advance these vital programs.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4899, although I have strong reservations about the situation in Afghanistan.

I am glad that President Obama has remained committed to the draw- down of U.S. forces from Iraq. In August, another 20,000 American troops will return home from Iraq, leaving only 50,000 deployed there. We are on schedule to have all combat troops home by the end of 2011. H.R. 4899 funds this process, providing supplies, ammunition, and fuel for the ships and planes bringing our troops home.

I am also supportive of the disaster aid included in this bill, which allows FEMA to help communities rebuild after recent disastrous weather events and gives aid to Haiti. Further, the bill contains important funding for health care for veterans suffering from diseases related to Agent Orange, including b-cell leukemia, Parkinson's, and ischemic heart disease.

Regarding Afghanistan, I am still convinced that the presence of the Taliban and al Qaeda there and in Pakistan poses a serious threat to U.S. and Global security. Our troops are needed to continue the fight against enemies who have shown themselves committed to, and capable of, killing American citizens here and abroad.

However, after more than 10 years of war, the situation in Afghanistan is still deeply concerning. A spate of bad news in recent months has served to deepen public mistrust over the previous administration's conduct of the war, and raises questions about how to move forward. We have reliable and repeated reports that the Pakistani Intelligence Service, the ISI, is collaborating with the Taliban, and that the rampant corruption in the Afghani Government of Hamid Karzai jeopardizes our mission and the lives of our troops. It is time for the United States to engage in a thoughtful, national conversation about the direction of this war.

Just last December, President Obama laid out his plan to refocus the conflict in Afghanistan and clearly articulate what we are trying to achieve and when we plan to bring our troops home to their families. Our commitment to Afghanistan is not open-ended, a point that must be reinforced to both the American and Afghan people.

Although we must continually re-examine our involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is important to remember our goals in Afghanistan are still worthy. Our troops are denying the Taliban the profits of the drug trade, promoting education for girls and women, providing power and clean water to villages lacking it, and working to build a functioning and stable government.

Ultimately, unless we make significant progress fighting the insurgency it is hard to envision the U.S. achieving these goals in any lasting way. Our allies need to show similar progress: The Karzai government must rein in corruption and Pakistan must purge its intelligence service of Taliban supporters. Without these developments, I do not believe it is worth additional sacrifice of American lives or resources.

In summary, despite these strong reservations, I plan to support this bill. The President announced his new strategy for Afghanistan only eight months ago, and General Petraeus has been in command for only a month. It is too early to pass judgment on their leadership, especially given the clear failure of the previous administration to pursue those who attacked us from Afghanistan while they diverted military and other resources to Iraq. I would strongly urge, however, that this be the last supplemental used to fund these conflicts. It is hard to envision how a war that has lasted more than 10 years can not be funded as part of the normal defense appropriation process.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlelady and the chairman.

I rise today in support of this amendment, as well as the underlying bill.

The Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 20 cost our Nation tens of billions of dollars in economic damages and caused widespread devastation of our natural resources. It did not have to happen. This was a disaster that was preventable.

Over the last few months, we have learned that BP consistently made choices to sacrifice safety for profit. They testified that they did not use vital safety technology like acoustic sensing devices because U.S. law did not require it. It is time for us to change that.

I recently introduced legislation to require oil companies to use the best available technology, and I'm proud to support this amendment which also requires oil companies to include the best available technology in their exploration and spill response plans.

Mr. Chairman, the cost of using state-of-the-art technology is much less than the cost of cleanup and the tragic loss of life.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill.

Madam Chair, on behalf of the veterans of the Hudson Valley of New York and all those who have served our country in uniform, I'm strongly supportive of the bill which we're considering today. It's a solemn contract that we who do not serve in uniform--we have enjoyed the benefits of their sacrifice and their personal risk and their families doing without them--need to uphold our part of the bargain, which is to take care of them anytime after their return. And, therefore, I think it's really critical that we pass this bill to fund not just military construction but veterans facilities.

We don't know yet what the cost will be from the conflicts we're currently engaged in. Unfortunately, our country has a habit of deciding to go into a conflict without an educated, informed figure being given out, or a guess even that's very accurate as to what the lifetime costs may be for care of the veterans created by that conflict, but it's essential that we protect those veterans facilities that we have and improve them as needed, construct new ones as needed.

And I am concerned, first of all, with passing the underlying bill. But secondly, I'm also concerned with some amendments that have been offered to this bill, which I will speak to later when the amendments are being considered, which move money from what's considered to be, or what's called minor construction and, in particular, from an urgent care center and minor construction, and to other things which sound and are good in and of themselves.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I rise in opposition to the amendment, although I do support the underlying intent; but not, however, the pay-for.

One project that would be affected by this cutback is the renovation of the urgent care center at Castle Point, New York, a VA hospital that was built in 1926. It's the oldest VA hospital in the country and has never undergone a major renovation. The project would dramatically increase urgent care capacity at Castle Point and make the facility more accommodating for female veterans who are increasingly a large part of our force.

I ask that before you vote on this measure, please take a moment to consider the unintended consequences and the negative consequences, not just in the Hudson Valley but across the country.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans in Congress are talking about dismantling our Social Security system. They want to privatize this important program, raise the retirement age, and make our seniors pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is simply unacceptable.

Seventy-five years ago our Nation made a promise to our seniors. We promised to help them through their golden years. This promise has served our Nation well, allowing those who built this great country an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. Social Security is one of the most important, successful programs in the United States' history, an invaluable program that helps more than 50 million seniors and disabled Americans.

Our seniors depend on their monthly checks to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Without this critical help, many of them would fall into poverty. Social Security should not be privatized, and must remain intact for America's future generations.

I thank the chairman.

I rise today to urge strong support for H.R. 5609, which will ban lobbying for countries that are state sponsors of terrorism.

Last week, the House passed the DISCLOSE Act, a bill I cosponsored. This bill is a big step forward in undoing the damage done by the Supreme Court in their recent ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. It will shine some light on corporate campaign spending by requiring the sponsors of political ads to disclose their identity, much as we candidates for Congress have to stand by the ads that we fund.

Importantly, the DISCLOSE Act includes provisions I fought for to keep corporate money from overseas out of U.S. elections. After all, Madam Speaker and Mr. Chairman, do we want companies like BP choosing our candidates for Congress or companies from Saudi Arabia deciding U.S. foreign policy? I don't think so.

The bill we are considering today is a natural extension of the DISCLOSE Act. H.R. 5609 guards against a potential loophole that hostile foreign governments may use to try to influence our government. By hiring a lobbyist in the United States, a government like Iran could potentially influence U.S. foreign policy, a danger with potentially disastrous consequences. And this, Madam Speaker, is a risk we cannot afford to take.

I think we can all agree, regardless of political party, that American elections must be decided by American voters and U.S. policy must be decided by the U.S. Government.

I would also add that this provision is much tougher than the minority's motion to recommit. That motion would have only banned certain activities by lobbyists for states that sponsor terrorism. This bill bars such lobbying altogether.

And secondly, the motion to recommit was clearly unconstitutional and destined to be struck down. The minority's proposal would have allowed the government to prohibit an American citizen from making campaign contributions or independent expenditures on his or her own behalf on the basis of a business contract. This would

have clearly violated the First Amendment.

In contrast, H.R. 5609 is constitutional. These foreign countries have no First Amendment rights.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5609.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I would just comment that I certainly don't have the experience or the legal knowledge of my colleague, the gentleman from California, so far be it for me to get into the fine points of constitutionality or rules of the House; but I suspect that when the other side of the aisle was in the majority, they may have made some last-minute changes in bills like this.

Be that as it may, the minority side's motion to recommit last week included partisan provisions, which seemed to make it a ``gotcha'' vote to try to ensnare Members of the majority, including the provision that the chairman mentioned of prohibiting individual American citizens from making contributions. This is more narrowly tailored, more constitutionally sound, and ultimately stronger than that motion to recommit. It simply prevents terrorist nations from having roles in U.S. policy. It should be an easy ``yes'' vote for both sides.

If there is a problem in saying that we have moved it too quickly, I would apologize. I would thank the gentleman from California for the ideas that he had, some of which are in this piece of legislation, and I would say that we should all agree that moving quickly on this cause is a good thing. The faster we can stop foreign terrorist nations from buying their way into our political system, the better.

In closing, I would just urge strong support for this bill, saying that we can't afford to let a hostile government have any control over U.S. policy, directly or indirectly. So I urge my colleagues to vote for this critical bill.

Madam Speaker, the tragic BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has cost the nation billions of dollars in economic damages to the United States, as well as widespread devastation of our natural resources. There is an immediate need to act--to stop the leak, clean up the oil, and repair our fragile economy and ecosystem. But we will be making an irreparable mistake if we do not take this opportunity to examine our energy needs for the future.

Historians will look back on this era as a turning point. The BP disaster and its resulting damage to our economy and to nature will reshape Americans' support for renewable energy versus continued dependence on oil.

It is impossible for us to comprehend the magnitude of the oil spill in the Gulf; we may not be able to calculate the true costs for years. But in the midst of unprecedented tragedy, we see hopeful signs of change.

The military--one of the largest users of energy--is looking at alternative sources of power. In my district in New York's Hudson Valley, the United States Military Academy at West Point is beginning to use solar and wind energy.

Renewable energy is being produced in other places unimaginable not long ago. More than 1,300 billboards in Florida will be converted to solar and wind energy by the Lamar Advertising Company. This is notable because it showcases renewable energy as a practical and accepted corporate solution.

Further, billboards are visible. The solar panels and small wind turbines will create awareness about renewable energy, sending a message that renewable energy is not some far away idealist dream. It's doable, and it's doable now.

The kilowatt production from this project will be significant. Just as important, the hardware is made in the United States. In Times Square, office equipment provider Ricoh just completed a solar-powered electronic billboard. Hardware came from companies based in California, Ohio, and Rhode Island.

Renewable energy is a growth industry here at home. In my congressional district, a solar-cell company moved into existing manufacturing space, which had been vacant. Where did the previous jobs go? China.

My congressional district is also home to SpectraWatt, which has started to manufacture advanced silicon photovoltaic cells at the Hudson Valley Research Park in Hopewell Junction, NY. When I toured this facility with Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis in late March, 60 people were on the payroll. Since then, nine additional employees have been hired and additional hires are expected soon.

As we ponder the sobering consequences of the BP oil spill in the Gulf, I ask my colleagues to not only look at our immediate crisis, but to also consider an energy policy that spurs the development of renewable technologies. As we invest in renewable energy and rebuild our energy infrastructure, we can also boost our manufacturing base and create a broad array of quality jobs. Now is the time to rebuild: our economy and our environment depend on us.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to strongly support H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act. The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United was disastrous and gave corporations not just the rights of persons, but way more rights than persons have. You or I as an individual, any citizen, has a limit on how much they can donate in any given campaign cycle; whereas, under the current court decision, corporations have no limit.

One of the most important provisions of the bill we are talking about would prevent foreign-owned companies from buying U.S. elections. And I would like to thank Chairman Van Hollen's willingness to work with me in including a similar provision in the bill to one that I introduced in my Freedom from Foreign-Based Manipulation in American Elections Act, to prevent companies like BP from deciding who is elected to Congress.

This should be about representing our people, and our friends on both sides of the aisle like to say that we represent the people. Well, a poll just came out showing 87 percent of Republicans and 91 percent of Independents--91 percent of Independents--support this bill.

I urge all Members to vote for it.

I am pleased to welcome Rabbi Joshua Davidson, Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth El in Northern Westchester, New York, as our guest chaplain in the House today. Rabbi Davidson is joined here today by his wife, Mia; their daughter, Mikaela; his aunt, Greer Goldman; and his in-laws, Carol and David Fram.

Rabbi Davidson is president of the Westchester Board of Rabbis. He has served Temple Beth El since 2002, and before that served at the Central Synagogue in New York City. He has a long, distinguished career, serving on the boards of many charitable organizations, interfaith coalitions, and prestigious Jewish organizations.

He served as the chair of the Central Conference of the American Rabbis' Committee on Justice, Peace, and Religious Liberties, vice chair of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism. He currently chairs the commission's task force on Israel and World Affairs. Rabbi Davidson is a member of the Hebrew Union College President's Rabbinic Council, and serves on the Clergy Advisory Board of Interfaith Impact of New York State.

House chaplains are a long, proud tradition in the House of Representatives, dating back to the time of our Founding Fathers, and Rabbi Davidson is a worthy entry into the long roll of distinguished guests.