Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending amendment be set aside so I may call up amendment No. 1084.

Madam President, my amendment is very simple. It basically says that the Fair Credit Reporting Act will require rating agencies to make available credit reports in languages other than English. This is very important, because we have 22 million Americans who have limited English proficiency, and so this basic requirement will make sure that these translations are made available so folks have the opportunity to understand what their credit report is.

When we have a serious economic downturn, as we have today, where we have 3.5 million jobs lost, more than half in the last few months alone, we need to do everything we can to get our families back in the fight to make sure that we have good jobs to make sure they can provide for their families.

Being able to understand your credit rating is very much part of that process. So this very simple amendment will make sure those 22 million Americans have access to their credit report in a form they can fully understand.

I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Udall of Colorado.) The Senator from Oregon.

Madam President, I rise today to talk about a bill that I will be introducing called the Elimination of the Single Parent Tax Act.

When I came to the Senate, I reflected often on some of the work I did in the House. As a Congresswoman, I spent a lot of time in my community doing ``Congress on York corner.'' I would go to a local book shop or a senior center or a grocery store and meet with folks and listen to their concerns. I would try very hard to turn those concerns into legislative ideas.

One of the last ones I did as a House Member was in Warren County. A woman said to me:

Congresswoman, I received a bill from the Federal

Government and I need you to do something about it.

She was very visibly upset. She also said to me:

This is a bill for $25. I am a single mom and I earn about

$20,000 a year. I have 3 boys. The Federal Government is

billing me because I receive child support. I cannot handle

another bill, and while $25 may not seem like a lot to you,

it is to me, because $25 is what I spend for my boys for

lunch for a week. Please do something about this.

I looked into the issue, and I found out it was part of the Bush administration's Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. It occurred to me, why in the world are we trying to balance the Federal budget on the backs of single parents, particularly those who need that money to provide for their kids? On average, 30 percent of the income that single parents receive is from their child support. So it goes a long way to providing basic needs for their kids, whether it is for diapers, baby formula, food, education, or health care. So I wrote this bill to address this problem. I think it should not be paid by the single parents, or the States, and that, in fact, the overhead should be covered.

This penalty raises only $65 million per year. That is a cost I think we should include as we begin to look at the Deficit Reduction Act this year.

Interestingly enough, in the Deficit Reduction Act, under the Bush administration, they also cut more than $4 billion of incentive payments the Federal Government had made to States to help encourage them to improve child support programs. This funding is crucial to how our single parents provide for their kids.

As we begin to look at Mother's Day, which is right around the corner and it is a time when we all reflect on how much our mothers have done for us and how much we love them, I think we as Federal legislators should do what we can do to protect our mothers and to stand up for them and help them take care of their kids.

If we can pass this bill, it will make a difference for many families in New York State. There are more than 200,000 families who are affected by this tax. For example, over 13,000 single parents in western New York; over 14,000 single parents in Rochester and the Finger Lakes region; over 11,000 single parents in central New York; over 8,000 single parents in the southern tier; over 18,000 single parents in the capital region; over 7,000 single parents in the north country; and over 25,000 single parents in the Hudson Valley.

Right now there are 27 States across the country that are charging this single parent penalty tax. This could make a difference all across our great Nation.

I am going to work very hard with the Finance Committee chairman to strike this fee from the Deficit Reduction Act when it is reviewed by the committee in the coming months.

As we reflect on Mother's Day, we have to do our part to make a difference for our mothers. One other issue that is near and dear to my heart that will make a difference for our moms is the Paycheck Fairness Act. If we look at the statistics, it is pretty unbelievable. For every dollar a man earns, a woman earns only 78 cents. If you are a woman of color, it is even worse. If you are an African-American woman, you will earn 62 cents. If you are Latino, you will earn 53 cents. That is unacceptable and unfair because when women earn more money, they can bring more money home to their families and better provide for their kids. All the statistics show when women earn their fair share, children have better access to education, health care, and opportunities.

As we celebrate Mother's Day, let's do something for our mothers and fight for them so they can protect and provide for their children.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I commend the debate and the Presiding Officer's amendment and Senator Kerry for his amendment on addressing these issues of foreclosure. They are so significant in New York, and we need action from Congress and the leadership of President Obama on this issue.

This year, Congress and the administration have taken a number of actions to help our homeowners weather this housing crisis. We have worked to expand foreclosure counseling services, provide homeowners with incentives to write down their debts, and to give local governments and States the tools they need to tackle this housing crisis.

These efforts will help thousands of homeowners in my home State of New York avoid losing their home. Homeowners are also not the only folks affected by this housing crisis. Across the country, thousands of tenants who rent their homes have also been affected.

I remember talking to one friend up in Warren County, and he said to me: Can you please look out for the renters? We suffer in these times as well. And that is exactly right.

More than 30,000 renters across New York who are dutifully paying their rent on time every month may face eviction because they live in a building that is about to be foreclosed. It is estimated that as much as 50 percent of foreclosures have renters involved in those properties.

These tenants have almost no rights when a bank seizes their home. Families without the means to find temporary housing or to move into another unit can literally get kicked out on the street because the landlord has failed to meet his payments or his or her obligations.

For any family this is a horrible tragedy and something that is very difficult to manage. For a low-income family with limited resources and without another place to stay, it is catastrophic. Families without the means

to find a temporary housing arrangement or to move into another unit can be kicked onto the streets just because their landlord failed to pay on time.

This is wrong, and I am proud to partner with the Presiding Officer and Senator Kerry to pass new protections for those families. This amendment would allow any tenants in a foreclosed building the right to live out their lease, providing them with the same protections any other renter would have. For a family without a lease, the amendment would guarantee a minimum of 90 days' notice so that renters have the time and the resources to find a new home.

As the housing crisis becomes more and more widespread, we need to make sure we are not just helping homeowners stay in their homes but also helping the thousands of tenants who are hit just as hard or even worse as a result of this crisis.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise to speak about an issue that is very close to my heart. I am a mom. I have two young boys at home. Like all parents, I have faith and confidence that the products I use on my children--bath products, lotions, and soaps--are safe. But a new study was recently released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics revealing that widely used baby products, such as shampoos and baby lotions, contain probable carcinogens and other irritants, in particular formaldehyde and dioxane 1,4.

Like many other moms in New York, when I read this list of potentially dangerous products, I immediately began to worry about my children. I have two boys--Henry who is 11 months old and Theodore who is 5 years old. When I read this list of products, I noticed many of them are literally in my bathroom, and I have used them on my children since they were born. I was immediately very concerned. I began to think about what I could do to make a difference. The bottom line is, I, like all parents in America, need to know the facts about these products.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics commissioned an independent laboratory study to test 48 products for 1,4-dioxane, and 28 of those products were also tested for formaldehyde. The lab found that 61 percent contained both of those chemicals. Eighty-two percent contained formaldehyde from a level of 54 to 610 parts per million, and 67 percent contained 1,4-dioxane at levels up to 35 parts per million. The report says these chemicals are both probable carcinogens and irritants and have been known to cause cancer in animals.

The FDA, however, has not established a safe level for these chemicals in cosmetics, and these chemicals are currently not listed as ingredients because they are byproducts of the processing and manufacturing.

To me, this situation is unacceptable. Parents have the right to know whether the products they use on their children are safe. While a single product may not be cause for concern, the reality is, babies may be exposed to many products, several times a week. Children are particularly susceptible. Their skin is much finer, much thinner, so they can absorb contaminants more easily. They tend to breathe more quickly than adults, meaning their exposure to inhalation of some of these chemicals can be more considerable. We need to make sure the combination of these products is not causing harm to our youngest. Parents need to know if there are any risks in the products they trust. Parents have a right to know, and the government has a responsibility to make sure these products are safe.

That is why I rise to introduce legislation that will ensure these baby products are safe and that parents have the information they deserve. The Safe Baby Products Act will require the FDA to investigate the safety of baby products, publicly report the findings, and establish manufacturing practices that will reduce or eliminate any harmful chemicals. While there are no known cases of any disease directly linked to these products, what the legislation will do is require the FDA to test the safety and then report the findings so all of us can rest assured the products we use are safe. This commonsense legislation will ensure that we have all the facts we need about lotions and soap products because parents deserve to know.

This legislation will ensure transparency and accountability in this all-important consumer products market. The United States has a great history of taking steps to safeguard our kids. There is an important tradition of child and product safety laws.

As a mother of two young sons, I understand there is no duty greater for the Federal Government than to protect those who are most vulnerable among us. Other countries have taken leadership. The EU and Canada have banned dioxane in cosmetic products and have regulations for formaldehyde. Japan and Sweden have banned formaldehyde. The Israeli Health Ministry has banned the sales of U.S. baby products with carcinogenic chemicals.

All parents want the best for their kids. Our Government must not fail to protect our youngest and those who need our protection the most. This legislation will ensure that all of our parents have the information they need to keep our children safe.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for 5 minutes and that Senator Gregg be recognized following my remarks.

Mr. President, today is a very special day for me. As a woman and a New Yorker, it thrills me that today we are honoring one of the earliest and greatest figures in the history of women's rights and civil rights: Sojourner Truth. We are placing a statue of Sojourner Truth in Statuary Hall today--the first African-American woman to have a statue in the Capitol. She will be the 12th woman depicted in works of sculpture among the 92 sculptures of our male leaders. From this day forward, Sojourner Truth's groundbreaking work advancing the basic rights of women will be given its due prominence beside so many other great Americans in the seat of our democracy.

Sojourner Truth was born Isabella Baumfree as a slave in 1797 who never learned to read or write, yet became an all-important messenger for truth and equality. Although beaten and branded, she responded with dignity and faith rather than hatred and violence. Her views were shaped not only by her personal hardships--enslavement, daily beatings, grueling work, and seeing her 13 children kidnapped and sold away--but also from an innate understanding that equality is an inalienable American right and should not be ascribed based on gender or color.

Once freed from bondage in 1817, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth, telling her friends that the spirit had called her to speak the truth for justice. She then traveled our Nation speaking honest words about the shortcomings of the American dream--the stain that slavery and injustice imposed on America's life and laws and noting for all to see where the reality failed to reflect the noble tenets of our Founding Fathers. She dedicated her life, indeed, she risked her freedom, to oppose the trappings of injustice and prejudice.

Despite being born into slavery, stripped of any legal standing, protection, or property, and denied any access to education, Sojourner Truth understood that freedom and equality are fundamental rights. Embracing our greatest traditions and arguing with simple passion that neither gender nor color could overpower justice, she demonstrated a courage and a conviction that compels us to act today, almost 125 years after her death.

Sojourner Truth raised her voice without a chorus of women behind her. Most abolitionists questioned her determination to link women's rights with the abolition of slavery. She rejected their concerns, asking them the direct question they couldn't avoid: ``And ain't I a woman?'' With those few words, she refused to parse justice. With those few words, she forced audiences past and present to recognize that human dignity and respect are part and parcel of who we are as Americans--male or female, African-American or Caucasian, educated or not. Sojourner Truth represents the courage that the American ideal imparts and calls all of us to action.

As we honor this bold, daring New Yorker today, I am also proud that New York has time and time again helped to foster those who have chosen to carry on her fight. Today, I can think of at least two others committed

to justice who, though from very different backgrounds, continually risk themselves for justice and human rights.

The battles fought by Sojourner Truth were not left only as lessons of history, but they stood as a beacon of hope for the next generation to carry the torch one mile further. One of the next in our history to carry on the cause for equal justice was Eleanor Roosevelt.

Eleanor Roosevelt could have been content with a life defined by privilege and limited education. But like Sojourner Truth, she travelled the nation and indeed the world to fight for equality and human rights. Like Sojourner Truth, Eleanor Roosevelt raised her voice to attack segregation and gender bias. Like Sojourner Truth, she risked her life to practice what she preached and to hold us accountable when we wanted to turn our back on justice and American ideals. Like Sojourner Truth, Eleanor Roosevelt told us that we ``must hazard all we have'' to make the American dream real. She told us that employment, housing, education, health care policies that favored the privileged undermined us all, that women had a critical role and responsibility, and encouraged women to run for office, to organize, to get out the vote, and to reach across party, gender, and racial lines to get the work done.

Eleanor Roosevelt took this same determination with her to the United Nations where, like Sojourner Truth, she used strength and grace to advance the recognition of equal rights. Embracing her responsibility as the only woman on the American delegation and one of the few women delegates to the General Assembly, she played an instrumental role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, especially the concept as stated in article 1, that ``all human beings are born free and equal.''

Just as Sojourner Truth had done in a century before and Eleanor Roosevelt had done decades earlier, the cause was enlisted by another great woman. Recognizing that equality had not yet been achieved, Hillary Clinton stood and fought for the rights of women. As first lady, Hillary Clinton understood the political costs of speaking out forthrightly for women's rights and human rights. Yet like Sojourner Truth and Eleanor Roosevelt before her, she would not ignore the rights and needs of women despite the possible diplomatic repercussions.

She travelled to China in 1995 and stood before the world to oppose injustice and to proclaim that ``once and for all, women's rights are human rights and human rights are women's rights.''

How Sojourner Truth must have relished that moment. From Akron, OH, Beijing, China--from newspapers to the Internet and C-SPAN--their message spanned the globe.

Hillary Clinton played an instrumental role in the dedication we celebrate today. Hillary Clinton and Sheila Jackson-Lee were inspired by the efforts of Dr. C. Delores Tucker, former chair of the National Congress of Black Women, to formally recognize Sojourner Truth in the U.S. Capitol. They felt that the unfinished portion of the monument to suffragists was surely intended to hold the image of Sojourner Truth. After long consideration, it was determined to carve a unique place for Sojourner Truth--appropriately so as the first statue in Emancipation Hall.

And now it stands erect in the Capitol Visitors Center for all to see. As the Senator from their home state, I am so grateful to be here today to honor Sojourner Truth. Her courage and her vision are timeless and bold and brave--Her statue will be a constant reminder that our rights must never be take for granted and that with these rights come the responsibility to enforce them.

To honor Sojourner Truth and all women before us, we continue that struggle as there is still much to do. Today the fight is for equal pay and recognition in the workplace. Even in 2009, for every dollar a man earns, a woman makes just 78 cents. And the disparity is even worse for women of color, with Latino women earning only 53 cents and African- American women earning 62 cents on the dollar. Working women and their families stand to lose $250,000 over the course of their career because of pay inequity. It is unacceptable, and it needs to change. The Paycheck Fairness Act introduced by then-Senator Hillary Clinton and Rep. Rosa DeLauro is an important step towards that goal. I proudly join in helping carry Secretary Clinton's work towards equality here in the Senate.

These steps towards equality for all are our duty. As Eleanor Roosevelt often said, ``we are all on trial to show what democracy means.'' We have made such important strides, but we still have a long way to go.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, in honor of Earth Day, I want to share with you some of the experiences I had this week when I was in New York. I met with a number of students from the New York Harbor School. Robert Kennedy, Jr., joined me. We were celebrating the achievements and efforts this school has made to make a difference for our future. The school is focusing on teaching the next generation about the environment and offering an environmental education so that we can create the stewards of our air and water into the next generation.

I was pleased to stand with Bobby Kennedy and these outstanding young people to discuss the importance of progressive environmental policy. I will partner with them and be a strong advocate for a greener New York and country.

What was so exciting about these children is that they were telling me about the work they were doing to ensure a cleaner Hudson River, what they were doing to make sure we can have a cleaner environment and air. Their curiosity was extremely compelling and inspiring. We talked about how the work they were doing would allow for their communities to be safer, to be able to have a clean Hudson River so they can eat fish out of it someday, and to have air that is cleaner. They really did understand the relationship between the communities around them and what they could do to have an impact in the future.

I met with Murray Fisher, the founder of the New York Harbor School. I met with him in Washington, and then I talked with him and his students in New York. The Harbor School brings innovative environmental and maritime-focused learning to the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn--taking graduation rates from 20 percent, before their program began, to 75 percent this year. The student body of the school represents the most at-risk young people--80 percent come from households that are actually under the poverty line.

The skills these children have been learning--measuring water quality and studying aquaculture--will enable them to be part of a green future, part of the energy revolution. It was inspiring not only to see young people so engaged and enthusiastic about environmental education but realizing in speaking with them that they now understand what it takes to have a cleaner New York and the impact it can have in their own lives. I asked a young girl what she hoped to do when she graduated. She said she wants to be a marine biologist. I asked a young man if this is something he thought could make a difference. He said: I think so because it can change the quality of water and air that we have. They see a future for themselves to be the stewards of our environment.

Too often, the young people of low-income New York neighborhoods live with the risks of polluted environments. There are many brownfields sites across New York City, and the majority are located within the low-income people-of-color communities. Brownfields are clustered in these communities due to a history of industrial use, illegal dumping, or improper storage and handling of commercial products. These incidents have led to health hazards that further diminish the limited opportunities afforded many New Yorkers. For example, in the Bronx, we have the Nation's leading rate of asthma. In the Bronx neighborhood of Hunts Point, for example, we have one in four elementary children who suffers from asthma. I have been to the Bronx and to the community health center there, and I have met with parents. They do worry because the air quality is poor, and they have this historical environmental degradation.

We need to do better by our communities and make sure every child in America has a chance to achieve his or her God-given potential. That means having clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and a community that is healthy.

When we bring our environmental education into our schools, such as the Harbor School, we are teaching children that they can have an impact on their environment and that it actually creates opportunities for them.

The current economic challenges we face in New York and around the country are significant, but the programs that are offered by the New York Harbor School can really make a difference. Unfortunately, many of these programs are in jeopardy due to budget cuts, and schools are being forced to scale back environmental education. No Child Left Inside, introduced by Senator Jack Reed this week, would provide for environmental education in schools; it would provide the critical funding that is necessary to ensure our children receive the kinds of hands-on education that connects them with the environment and prepares them for our future.

Despite all of the economic challenges our country is facing, we must not lose our focus on the important investments that are required to assure New York's and our Nation's leadership in the years to come. The environmental problems that many of our communities face are also opportunities for the young people of the Harbor

School to be the problem-solvers of the future and to be able to make a difference in their own communities.

Bobby Kennedy recognized early on that State and Federal environmental legislation cannot only be positive for air, land, and water, but also good for the economy and job creation. He said to me:

We can turn every American into an energy entrepreneur,

every home into a power plant, and fuel our country through

our own energy initiatives, rather than Saudi oil.

I thought that statement was extremely inspiring. He is saying that through energy entrepreneurialism and innovation, we can transform this economy not only into a green economy but into an energy revolution where we are creating not only the products through energy sources-- whether it is fuel cells, hydropower, wind, solar, biofuel, or cellulosic ethanol--but we have the opportunity to transform manufacturing in this country to create the new products that are going to run on these new energy sources. It is a recognition that there is extraordinary opportunity here to make an opportunity for every individual, every home, and every business to be part of the energy solution.

As a country, we have undertaken infrastructure projects with the understanding that once the upfront costs were incurred and building was completed, private investment would follow, creating lucrative paths of commerce. This has been seen throughout New York's history. In the early days of America, we had one very audacious building project called the Erie Canal. It was going to connect Lake Erie to the Hudson River, opening markets of the eastern seaboard to inland goods. Even some visionaries, such as Thomas Jefferson, didn't think it was a very good idea, calling it ``a little short of lunacy,'' and ultimately it fell on New York State, under Gov. Dewitt Clinton's leadership, to fund the project. The Erie Canal contributed immensely to the economic growth and wealth of New York. From New York City through Buffalo, it made an enormous difference to open Upstate New York and western New York to commerce, and that legacy continues to be with us today.

That is why the vision of President Obama on new infrastructure is so important. Today, we have high-speed rail, which is a great opportunity for mass transit. If we can have high-speed rail from New York City to Niagara, again it would open not only downstate to upstate but upstate to the rest of the eastern seaboard. It is very exciting to be able to create these opportunities for long-term economic growth.

The same thing is true with the power grid. When T. Boone Pickens talks about his windmills, he cannot build them if he doesn't have anyplace to plug in. We cannot have electric cars that can transform the entire automotive industry if we don't have a place to plug in. That is what President Obama's vision is in terms of building the new electric grid, so we can have sustainable, renewable energy and be able to use the new technologies and innovations to drive a new economy.

New York is in the enviable position to lead the Nation's green movement. We have had a history of energy independence. We have had hydropower for well over 100 years, whether you are talking about the Hudson River Valley or Niagara Falls. We have some of the greatest agriculture in the whole Nation, so we can be a source for cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. We have some of the greatest entrepreneurs of this generation, from fantastic SUNY schools to terrific engineering schools, including engineering students from RPI, where we are at the forefront of photovoltaic energy, wind, and solar. We are in a position to lead the Nation's recovery through energy independence.

I celebrate Earth Day today by commending the great work of the Harbor School and the extraordinary leadership of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and also to talk about our future because when children are interested in learning about the environment and they create a relationship to the environment, whether it is through cleaner air or cleaner water or being that young engineer who figures out how to build an electric car for $25,000 so all of America can get the equivalent of 240 miles per gallon, that is a vision of the future that I see, and that is the vision of how we are going to turn the economy around and create jobs.

I will work with President Obama to make sure we create good-paying jobs all across New York.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise today to speak in favor of the Serve America Act. This important legislation will engage hundreds of thousands of Americans, from our young people to our seniors, in a new era of public service. This act represents the best in the American tradition.

I have seen the wonderful work it has already done throughout New York. More than 76,000 New Yorkers are working to meet local needs, strengthen and repair communities, and increase civic involvement through 233 national service projects all across New York. These New Yorkers tutor and mentor children, manage and staff afterschool programs, patrol neighborhoods, provide disaster response, and work to protect our environment and

build nonprofit groups all around our communities.

Just yesterday, I met with 30 nuns who came from Long Island to visit with me, and the work they had done in our community was for those who really need the help the most. They were helping our seniors, and they were helping women who have English as a second language who need to learn English, and they were advocating for world peace.

What is so great about this act is it is for all of us who are not nuns. This act brings a new wave of community activism to bear on our country's needs. It inspires me when I think about all the wonderful diversity of people and projects this will deploy to all parts of our country.

The Serve America Act will provide more than 250,000 opportunities nationwide by investing approximately $6 billion in new service initiatives and existing service programs. These programs include a brandnew national service program to create Youth Engagement Zones to Strengthen Communities program, providing competitive grants to assist programs targeted at high-need, low-income communities and community- based or State entities to engage students and out-of-school youth in service learning and addressing the specific challenges of each of their communities.

The Learn and Serve America Program provides grants to schools, colleges, not-for-profit groups, and it currently engages more than 38,000 New York students in community services linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills.

Third, we have the Summer of Service Program, which is a national coalition of major youth-serving organizations that is committed to engaging youth in service during summer months.

In this act, we would be allowing our veterans who still want to serve their country the chance to lend a hand in supporting our deployed troops and their families. We also give our seniors, our most experienced citizens, the chance to work with and teach our children. We will improve the opportunities for at-risk urban youth, giving them additional volunteer and educational programs to teach them skills and build their self-confidence. It also gives young people career paths in the professions where we really need their leadership and their time and talents--in math, science, engineering, and health care.

This bill starts a chain reaction of promise, service, achievement, knowledge, and advancement. It is the future of our country.

I have seen so many people in areas around New York where their options are limited. This legislation will provide paths to service and excellence for the young people in these neighborhoods.

Just last month, I was visiting students at Nazareth High School in Brooklyn, NY, and I met with parents who had lost their child to gun violence. I also met with students who lost their classmate. What the students said was: Senator, we have problems with gangs here in our community, and we need an answer to those gangs. We think the best thing you could do is help us with afterschool programming, giving us opportunities to learn new skills, help with our homework, to do arts and crafts, to do sports, to have opportunities to have job training, to learn about public service.

That is exactly what this act does. It authorizes the grants programs that help these kids in these low-income areas to do things after school until their parents come home from work. It gives them the opportunity to work with their seniors, to clean up their neighborhoods, to create new mentoring relationships, to work with YMCAs and girls clubs and faith-based groups. From our urban youth to our most experienced citizens, this legislation will help all of them give more back to their communities.

This legislation helps retirees who are willing to be involved in public service. It will enhance the incentives for our retirees to give a year of service and allow educational awards to be transferred to their children or their grandchildren. It also establishes Encore Fellowships to help our retirees transition to longer term service by helping them work in the not-for-profit sector as a second career.

Our veterans, who have so proudly served this country, also want to continue to give of themselves. This bill allows them to help support our deployed Armed Forces and their families, helping young people at risk, and assists our veterans in developing educational opportunities.

We also are going to fill the needs that are essential for our country's economic future. Everywhere I travel around my State, from Buffalo to Brooklyn, everyone is talking about the need for job creation. This bill allows us to invest in the new areas of renewable fuels, energy independence, technology, and medicine so we can begin to focus our youth on the math, science, engineering, and technology they need to be at the forefront of these new careers. What this act does is provide those opportunities for these students to participate in service projects that help them learn the skills they need in these green jobs and in the health care and technology arenas.

In this time of economic crisis and uncertainty, so many people feel the need to contribute to the greater good. We will harness these millions of hearts and minds to do exactly that, to allow America to reach its potential. It is a critical step in moving forward the promise of our citizens and of our country as embodied in the Serve America act. I encourage all Senators to support it fully.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Congressman Michael McNulty, the distinguished Representative of New York's 21st District, as he prepares to conclude 20 years of service to the people of Upstate New York in the House of Representatives.

In Congress, Michael McNulty has been more than simply a colleague to me over the past 2 years, but also a mentor and friend. I have benefited greatly from his constant advice and counsel as I navigate through my first term in Congress. He has always been there to offer an encouraging word or friendly piece of advice. For that and many other reasons, I will miss his presence here in the House Chamber.

Congressman McNulty started on his path to service when he became an Eagle Scout at the age of 12, displaying at an early age his leadership and dedication to public service. He then went on to become the youngest Town Supervisor in New York State when he was elected as Supervisor of the Town of Green Island at the age of 22.

Congressman McNulty's service in elected office spans almost four decades, as supervisor and mayor of the Village of Green Island, a member of the New York State Assembly and a Member of this House since 1988. In Congress, Michael McNulty has distinguished himself by serving his constituents on several important committees, including for fifteen years on the Ways and Means Committee, where he is currently the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security.

As Congressman McNulty leaves us here in Congress, he goes home to spend more time with his lovely wife Nancy, their four daughters and five grandchildren, who I know he adores. Our loss is truly their gain, and I am sure that they are thrilled that he will be able to spend more time with them back home in New York.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman McNulty for his friendship and his service to the people of New York and the United States. I wish him every success in all of his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to recognize the sacrifices of the servicemembers who lost their lives on October 23, 1983, when terrorists bombed the barracks housing American and French troops in Beirut, Lebanon. On that day, 241 American servicemen lost their lives: 220 Marines, 18 Navy personnel and 3 Army soldiers.

I would like to pay special tribute to two servicemembers from my district--Corporal James J. Jackowski of Salem, and Corporal Ronald L. Shallo of Hudson. Their ultimate sacrifice is a debt that can never be recovered or repaid--only honored.

While our great nation suffered from that attack, the families of fallen servicemembers continue to feel the pain from that day. A candlelight vigil honoring those who fell in Beirut that day will be held October 23, 2008 near Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC. My thoughts and prayers are and will be with those family members on this 25th anniversary of that dreadful day.

Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues today in expressing my deepest sympathy to the family members of all of the fallen servicemembers from the Beirut bombing and wish them solace in their time of healing.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force, I want to recognize Colonel Francis M. ``Mike'' Mungavin for his 40-plus years of dedicated service to our country. In his most recent assignment, he serves as the Commander, Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service and Director of Recruiting, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. In this role, he exercises command and oversight to over 450 military and civilian personnel worldwide at over 45 main operating locations and serves as the principal advisor to the AFRC commander on all matters relating to recruiting.

Colonel Mungavin enlisted in the Air Force in November 1968, and served 10 years prior to receiving his commission through the Deserving Airman Commissioning Program. Prior to entering Recruiting Services, Colonel Mungavin served as member of the security forces for 32 years on active duty, as a civilian and within the Air Force Reserve Command as a Traditional Reservist and Air Reserve Technician. During this time, he conceived, developed, implemented and commanded the Air Force Reserve Patriot Warrior Program providing our security force troops with required ground combat skills training.

Since taking command of Air Force Reserve Recruiting, Colonel Mungavin has developed and executed numerous initiatives resulting in the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) exceeding its annual recruiting goal for eight consecutive years. As the second largest Air Force Major Command, AFRC has been manned at greater than ninety-nine percent for the past seven consecutive years reversing a decade-long trend of failing to meet congressionally mandated end strength levels. He is directly responsible for accessing more than 72,037 airmen helping to transform the Air Force Reserve recruiter into the most productive within DoD.

Mike could not have been such a tremendous leader without the love and unfailing support of his lovely wife of 37 years, Arlene, and their two sons--Nick and Ryan.

Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in expressing our sincere appreciation to Colonel Francis ``Mike'' Mungavin for his outstanding service to both the United States Air Force and our great nation. We wish him the best as he transitions into retirement. Colonel Mungavin is a true professional and a credit to himself and the United States Air Force Reserve.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of Moses-Ludington Hospital in Ticonderoga, New York. The hospital was founded in 1908 by Horace Moses, a businessman and Ticonderoga native, to provide medical care to the people of Ticonderoga and its surrounding area. The hospital began with 15 beds and has since grown to encompass a 24 hour emergency room, outpatient surgery, radiology, and dental services. It has the distinction of being the most remote Critical Access Hospital in New York State, providing valuable life-saving treatment to many of my rural constituents in Essex, Warren, and Hamilton Counties.

Although it remains a small rural hospital, Moses-Ludington Hospital employs 300 upstate New Yorkers and houses specialists in Cardiology, Dermatology, EMG testing, Hematology, Neurology, Oncology, Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Podiatry, Sleep Apnea, and Sports Medicine. In addition, Moses-Ludington provides long- term and temporary rehabilitative care through Heritage Commons Residential Healthcare, housing for seniors and persons with disabilities who qualify for Federal housing assistance through Lord Howe Estates, and adult care through the Moses-Ludington Adult Care facility.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I offer my congratulations on behalf of the people of New York's 20th Congressional District to the entire Moses-Ludington community on this milestone. I wish them continued success as they work to provide high quality healthcare to the rural communities of upstate New York.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Town of Prattsville, New York, which will be celebrating its 175th Anniversary on August 17th of this year. Named for Zadock Pratt, a tanner and former Member of Congress from Upstate New York, this community in the Catskill Mountains was originally known to the Mohawk Nation as the Onteora hunting grounds. In the early 18th Century, the area was settled by German immigrants and named Schoharie Kill. Throughout the 19th Century, Prattsville thrived as a mill town and commercial hub for the Catskill region.

Prattsville remains a ``gem of the Catskills'' to this day and is a haven for hikers, artists and sportsmen alike. I congratulate the people of Prattsville and offer the best wishes of this House as they celebrate their community next month.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today on behalf of Louis E. Tessier, the Supervisor of the Town of Lake George, in recognition of his 80th birthday on July 19, 2008. I extend my congratulations on this special occasion to Lou, his wife Mary, his daughter, Rene, and to his entire family.

Mr. Tessier has a distinguished career in public service. He was elected into and has held his office since 1984. He served as the Warren County Budget Officer from 1992 through 1995 and as the Warren County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors from

1996 through 2000. He has served on a long list of many of the county's committees--everything from Airport to Youth Programs. During his career, he has also been appointed to the following:

Board of Directors of the Warren-Hamilton Counties Action Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc.; Warren County Sewer Commission; County Jury Board Member; Advisory Council for Warren-Hamilton Counties Office for the Aging; Warren County Traffic Safety Board; Warren County Deferred Compensation Program; Warren County Representative of the Adirondack Park Centennial Committee; Industrial Development Agency; Warren County Labor/Management Committee; Inter-County Committee of the Legislative Bodies of the Adirondack Representatives; Adirondack/Glens Falls Transportation Council; Warren County Local Development Corporation (LDC); Warren County LDC--Executive Committee of the Board of Directors; Inter-County Solid Waste Coordinating Committee; Bi- County Ad Hoc Committee for Burn Plant Negotiations; Negotiating Committee for Burn Plant Acquisition; Warren County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Alternatives to Incarceration Service Plans; Sub- committee on Revenue Enhancement; Airport Consultant Selection Board; Lake Champlain--Lake George Regional Planning Board; Bi-County Ad Hoc Committee for Hartford Landfill Negotiations.

Please join me, the Town of Lake George, the people of Warren County and New York's 20th Congressional District in wishing Supervisor Lou Tessier a very happy 80th Birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to announce the birth of the newest upstate New Yorker, Henry Nelson Gillibrand, and to announce his birth to the Members of the 110th Congress.

I want to thank the Members for all their encouragement and good wishes. And I want to thank the friends and all the constituents of upstate New York, from the 20th District of New York, for their good wishes and their prayers.