Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1424. I want to commend Chairman Barney Frank of the Financial Services Committee for his hard work, leadership, insight, and guidance throughout this process.

The Congress and Senate did not come to the decision of supporting this legislation lightly. All of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle participated in numerous Caucus meetings and conference calls with Secretary Paulson, and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke. We took into consideration the views of renowned economists, and we considered numerous legislative proposals. After much deliberation we came to the conclusion that this legislation was the best bipartisan effort to contain strict oversight to prevent repeating this crisis, limit executive compensation, initiate provisions for mortgage stabilization, and ensure protections that taxpayers deserve.

This legislation is a rescue plan. Main Street is hurting because small businesses do not have access to credit, which they depend on to cover the cost of their daily operations, including payroll. Likewise parents and students cannot get student loans, so it is clear that the financial crisis is hitting every street corner in America.

Perhaps what has been lost in this debate is the effect that this crisis has had on our municipalities and local governments. Many of these municipalities and local governments had their investments tied to these Wall Street institutions. In California public entities have at least $300 million at stake; in fact San Mateo has lost $150 million. If our local governments fail, they will not be able to provide the most basic services (i.e.--police & fire services, trash collection, and education).

I recognize that this is a difficult decision for many of my colleagues. Historians have said these are dire times only second to the Great Depression. I urge my colleagues to act now, and support this critical piece of legislation that will stabilize our residential neighborhoods, small businesses across this country and our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4131) to designate a portion of California State Route 91 located in Los Angeles County, California, as the ``Juanita Millender- McDonald Highway''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4131.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for their help in bringing this legislation to the floor. H.R. 4131 honors the legacy of a woman who many of my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee already know--former Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, a real trailblazer, my predecessor here in Congress and, for many years, my mentor and my boss. Words cannot describe the impact Congresswoman Juanita Millender- McDonald had on so many lives, but today, I will do my best to reflect on her work and on her accomplishments.

Congresswoman McDonald was a real trailblazer in every sense of the word. She came to Congress in 1996 and became the first African American woman to chair any full House committee when, on December 19, 2006, she was named chairwoman of the House Committee on House Administration, one spot our Madam Speaker often calls, really, the House's mayor.

Likewise, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald initiated the first annual Memorial Day tribute to women in the military at the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Some other firsts: Congresswoman McDonald was the first African American woman to give the national Democratic response to President Bush's weekly radio address. Also, Congresswoman McDonald was the first assemblywoman to hold the position of chairwoman on the Committee of Revenue and Taxation.

These accomplishments represent just a few of the many firsts that Congresswoman Millender-McDonald achieved, a long list that dates back to her days on the Carson City Council where she was the first African American woman to serve on that body.

You know, it kind of makes me think back to a story that people in the community talked about. Congresswoman McDonald didn't start off as a person who was going to be an elected official. She was a parent; she was a teacher; she was someone who worked for the second largest school district in this Nation. I think back to one incident that a lot of her constituents would smile about.

She lived not far from the Carson Mall, this mall that is in my district. Traditionally, when we have Christmas, we have Santa, but most people have a certain way of how we picture Santa looking. Ms. McDonald, having her five children, thought that Santa should maybe reflect our entire country, so she led this charge to have Santa be reflective of our entire community, and so it was always kind of cute. We used to refer to her as Mrs. Claus, and that's really how she got her start at being active and in understanding that her community needed to be represented and that her community needed to shine and that it needed to be able to grow and to be successful.

Therefore, the naming of this portion of the 91 freeway is fitting because the 91 freeway was a part of Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's district during her entire legislative career in the California Assembly and here in Congress. The 91 freeway also runs adjacent to the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy, a facility in my and her former district that she cherished dearly.

However, anyone who knew Congresswoman McDonald also knows that her family came first. Her husband, James, was her backbone, the love of her life. Together, they raised five beautiful children, and they adored their five grandchildren. However, Congresswoman Millender- McDonald's family includes more than her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's family also includes a list of elected officials at the Federal, State and local levels that she mentored in addition to me: Councilman Steve Bradford, Carson Mayor Pro Tem Mike Gibson and soon to be Assemblyman Isadore Hall.

Congresswoman McDonald was an effective Member of Congress who was known for her bipartisan spirit and for her fiscal conservative principles. I think you're going to hear from my colleagues today that one of the things that Congresswoman McDonald valued was her relationship on both sides of the aisle. Although she was concerned about social programs, she knew that you couldn't do them unless you could pay for them. That was really a strength and, I think, something that her colleagues loved.

These are the lessons that Congresswoman Millender-McDonald taught me when I was on her staff, and they have served as a guide throughout my own legislative career. I can honestly say, but for Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's willingness to take me under her wing and to hire me, I would not have had the opportunity to master the Federal system. She was my mentor, my political godmother and an inspiration to all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he might consume to our chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime, also a member of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and more importantly, a dear friend of Congresswoman Millender-McDonald, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he might consume to our chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Highways himself, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald was known consistently for pulling off unexpected victories. As a staffer and now as a Member, there are two things I cherish most: one, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, as our chairman just said, was committed to working and serving her constituents; number two, something she used to say to me often, ``You can't throw the baby out with the bath water.'' She had the unique ability to build, nurture, and develop others, particularly young adults . . . and the least of these.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a very special young lady, Cinthia Reyes. I had the opportunity of meeting Cinthia, who recently enrolled in Long Beach City College, at a cancer walk-a- thon in my district. Her compelling story began when she was only in sixth grade, and she was diagnosed with a tumor, ovarian cancer, something much older women usually, unfortunately, have to face.

She had to miss school for 1 month, but she bravely faced that battle. Yet, now again, in her junior year high school, while most 11th graders are thinking about their local prom, in November of 2006 she was faced with another tumor in her appendix.

But I have a good story to tell about Cinthia. Despite two major surgeries, she has had a bright, positive outlook on life. She has inspired many children and befriended those at Long Beach Memorial and Children's Hospital, and she plans on being a nurse. How blessed would this country be.

Please join me as we fight the battle of having adequate health care for all Americans. In the United States, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women, but it's usually diagnosed at about the age of 63.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6897, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, and urge my colleagues to join last year's 116 cosponsors who felt strongly about the need for us to finally move forward and to act in a moral way.

I want to acknowledge Chairman Filner for his leadership on bringing this legislation before us today. He has pleaded with all of us, Members of Congress, to do the right thing.

Being an American is more than standing up on Memorial Day and saluting the flag. Being American is also one who is willing to take the responsibility for those who have enabled us to have that freedom, and Mr. Filner has never hesitated in my short 1 year of being here. He has constantly pleaded for us to finally make this right.

At the end of World War II, President Harry Truman stated it was a moral obligation of our Nation to look at the welfare of Filipino veterans. Well, here we are today in this great, incredible building, the House of Representatives, where our Nation has an opportunity, finally, a long overdue process, to fulfill our moral obligation.

Indeed, many would not be enjoying the freedoms that we have today if it were not for the courageous efforts of those 470,000 Filipino veterans that answered the call during World War II.

As a Nation, some tend to measure our war heroes based on the suffering. They suffered as well. I am not just giving a speech and reciting history. I have a large Filipino population in my district and it is without hesitation that they stand side by side on Memorial Day, Armed Services Day, and really have a desire for us to recognize the incredible commitment that they did. In fact, 60,000 Filipino soldiers were forced to march 65 miles without food, water and medicine while they were being bayonetted and killed. They are our first class heroes, those who provided a service and didn't hesitate to do so.

Back in 1946, General Omar Bradley, the U.S. Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, put it best when he said ``the service of the Filipino Commonwealth Army in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II has met the definition of a U.S. veteran.'' Has met the definition of a U.S. veteran.

In my district, as I said, I have numerous Filipino veterans who in their golden years, we are not talking about, as our chairman said, 62 years ago. These are people who, men, women, children, have failed to have adequate benefits for a work that they did. Isn't that what this Congress is all about? That's what I believe it is about.

So, Madam Speaker, I join Chairman Filner and all of us who look forward to passing finally this resolution, this resolution which will bring back not a stain in America but one we can look back and say yes, for those who helped us to have freedom, we recognize that and we are willing to do the right thing.

Mr. Stearns, we are not just talking about people in the Philippines. We are talking about people who live in Carson, California, residents of mine, people who do not have health care benefits, people who do not have adequate pay for the work that they do. If we can spend billions of dollars, as will be coming before this House, $700 billion to assist corporations of people who made millions of dollars, surely we can issue a check for work that has been done. All the more reason why they need the money today, because these are real people. These are not corporations. These are not presidents. These are people who are surviving on paychecks of $500 and $600 a month.

Madam Speaker, 3 years ago, Republicans passed an energy plan that they said would lower prices at the pump, drive economic growth and job creation and promote energy independence. I ask you, America, did it work? The answer is no.

Now we look 3 years later and the price of gas has gone up 59 percent, the economy is tanking and we've lost 600,000 jobs this year alone. The Republicans are saying they know how to solve the problem. Well, they had control of Washington for 6 years and the results are clear--the mission is not accomplished and everyone is feeling the effect of their failure today.

Democrats have been working hard to reverse the Republican failed policies of the past. Yesterday we passed a comprehensive energy package that will lower prices at the pump, expand domestic drilling off the Outer Continental Shelf, expand renewable energy sources, end subsidies for Big Oil and create good-paying jobs for Americans here.

I would like to know why Republicans did not solve the energy crisis. Yesterday Democrats continued a new direction and took action to solve the energy crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 996) to amend title 49, United States Code, to expand passenger facility fee eligibility for certain noise compatibility projects.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 996.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today we are considering S. 996, legislation to amend title 49 of the United States Code to expand passenger facility fee eligibility for certain noise compatibility projects.

Under the direction of Congressman Costello, chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, Americans in California living and attending schools in the vicinity of airports will now get relief.

The FAA predicts that 1 billion passengers will fly in the United States by 2016. One of the elements that will limit this national airspace capacity growth is noise. S. 996 will allow a 2005 agreement between the Los Angeles World Airports and the Lennox and Inglewood school districts to go forward providing over $200 million towards noise mitigation in these school districts over 10 years.

This legislation was introduced by Representative Jane Harman in the House and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer who passed it in the Senate by unanimous consent on February 28, 2008, which represents an appropriate compromise to noise problems for schools surrounding the Los Angeles Airport.

S. 996 will enable new construction in some instances because sound insulation and other retrofitting of existing buildings do not always provide meaningful noise relief. Furthermore, this legislation defines eligible project cost for any new construction as limited to the difference in cost between constructing, ordinary building code standards for schools, and the cost of incorporating noise mitigation features in construction.

The House passed this language as part of H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, on September 20, 2007. The Senate has not acted on the FAA reauthorization.

Mr. Speaker, I support S. 996, and I urge my colleagues both on and off the Aviation Subcommittee--and on both sides of the aisle to stay germane to the topic--to support this good legislation. Students and teachers deserve quiet classrooms in order to maximize learning.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she might consume to Congresswoman Jane Harman, the gentlelady from the great State of California.

Mr. Speaker, I would gladly like to get back to the topic at hand, which is really discussing the bill of S. 996. So, Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as the great lady might consume, Congresswoman Maxine Waters from the great State of California.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague on the other side of the aisle in great support of this bill, S. 996.

As has been stated by the original author, Ms. Harman, and the coauthor, Ms. Waters, this is about children having the ability to hear in the classroom and to learn, which I think is what all Americans are looking for.

We urge all of our colleagues to support S. 996.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Meek, thank you for yielding at this time.

It is interesting, from Florida, you brought up that we as members of the Congressional Black Caucus have lost three great women in this session. And as I came in as a new Member really learning from Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald who I had worked for, when I came into this body, I came into a family. And that was something that Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones taught us; that coming to Congress wasn't about a group, it wasn't just about legislation, it was about people who were committed to working together to make our communities better. That is why we came here.

And I'll never forget when I stood in this very spot to share my comments of what it was that I hoped to do on behalf of my community, and I knew that Ms. Tubbs Jones was really hurting because she missed her colleague, Ms. Juanita Millender-McDonald. But in that same hand, she knew enough to know that, as I stood there, she was willing to embrace me. She was willing to help me. And she wanted to make sure that I had everything that Ms. McDonald had and then some. So I will never forget as I spoke and I turned, and, yes, she was one of those first big smiles that I saw, and she said, ``Hey, girl. How are you?'' As she would always tell us.

And Ms. Tubbs Jones, what I wanted to share with her family and with all of us today is just a couple things. One, what I know of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones is that she was always ready. And I think that is a good lesson, not only for us as colleagues, but as young people coming forward, being ready to seize the opportunity, being ready to speak up and to stand up, and not to hesitate at all.

Another thing that always stood out for me with her was just her knowledge. You heard a lot of people tonight talk about the fact of her law background and all of that. But it was so much that was in her head, so much of what she wanted to take of what she had learned to really change America as we see it today.

And that brings me to my third point about sports, and people have talked about that. Yes, I think we are going to have a big basketball team next year, and I am sure we will work hard to win in her honor. But I want to talk about two other sports that were so special to her.

One, taking her son to the Super Bowl. That was something that she valued and she treasured. And I would challenge all of us CBC members that we need to make sure that he goes next year and the years forward with us and our families.

Number two, her love for golf. We had in honor of her husband, who had also served our caucus so well, we had named the spouse's program after him, and I am sure next year we are going to have to add her name to it.

But also, I want to talk about another sport, and that is just being in the gym. You know, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, they were gym partners, and I just happened to be the beneficiary of being the third person there. And when you hear people talk about the fervor and how vigorously she approached everything, it wasn't just here at work. It was her on the treadmill, it was her on the Stepmaster. It was her getting ready to come in here and do work. She was always about working hard and really benefiting in any way that she could to help somebody else.

And the last two things I want to talk about is, one, her commitment to youth. If you would come on this floor, it was not uncommon that Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones would pull you aside and say, ``Girl, I've got somebody I want to you to meet.'' And if it wasn't a page from her local area, if it wasn't a young intern who she was in the process of hiring, her commitment to young people was second to none. And I have got to tell you, as being a relatively young Member of Congress, it is critical that we take on that mantle. It was something that she knew and she understood more than most, and that was, the development that we do for our future young people is really showing wisdom for the future.

And, lastly, I want to say our travels that we had on behalf of Senator Clinton. I had an opportunity to go; Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was her cochair for her national campaign, and we had an opportunity to travel to South Carolina, to Ohio, to Nevada. I didn't go to Puerto Rico as some did, but she went all over the place. But in honor of the sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits, I want to say that Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, when I had an opportunity to go to Ohio, because she was also working in so many other States, her folks loved her.

Her folks still love her. And it was out of that respect that they had for her that anyone who came as her guest, they were so well- treated. And my time that I had a chance to spend in Ohio, and to all the young elected officials that she mentored and she helped, being a part of those 8-12 months that

we had an opportunity to work, there was no one who ever wearied in her drive. There was no one who ever hesitated. There was no one who worked harder to make sure that Americans really understood the value of what we have in our elected officials.

And so, as I close, I just want to say, my time that I had with Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was to know her love, was to know how sincere she was, and lastly, she was unwavering when she committed herself to you.

We love you and we love the family. Thank you very much.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

I would like to acknowledge our colleague, Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), for her leadership on this issue and for bringing this bill to the Floor.

Kofi Anan once said ``When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.'' In a period of tough economic times, this bill and this quote could not be timelier or more relevant. Despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963 women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar that men earn. In a society where women are increasingly the heads of households, pay inequity harms not only the individual woman but her children and other family members as well.

H.R. 1338 increases the penalties for gender discrimination, and puts gender discrimination sanctions on equal footing with other forms of wage discrimination, including those based on race, disability, or age. The bill prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers. The fact of the matter is that, for every woman who comes forward and speaks out against pay discrimination, there are scores of other woman who remain silent for fear of retaliation. This legislation sends a strong message to women that their elected officials recognize the discrepancy in pay and are doing everything in their power to remedy pay discrimination.

In closing, I would like to quote Betty Friedan, world renowned feminist and author of the book The Feminine Mystique: ``A girl should not expect special privileges because of her sex but neither should she adjust to prejudice and discrimination.'' There is no room in this society for gender discrimination, which harms the greater community because when we uplift one segment of society, we uplift our entire society.

For all the single mothers, working mothers, and young women entering the workforce, I lend my full support to H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

This is a sound piece of legislation, a critical piece of legislation, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1315, commemorating the 50th anniversary of NASA.

With the exception of apple pie and baseball, few reflections resonate across America of how proud we are of all of the work that NASA has done.

Since its inception in 1958, NASA has been the leading agency for American and global innovation. Indeed, the creation of NASA was responsible for introducing a whole new generation of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians here in the United States.

Likewise, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the creation of NASA, it is important to adhere to the continuing commitment we should make as a Nation to embrace innovation, and reach the unachievable, but we, as Members of Congress, must back that up with funding.

As a member of the Science and Technology Committee, I was fortunate to view in person the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor on March 10, 2008, where I witnessed at night the best and the brightest orchestrated through its operations and through its making history.

From making commercial aviation safer, to studying climate change, and strengthening international partnerships, which we desperately need at this time, the scientists at NASA continue to do advanced research on the issues that affect our daily lives.

I would like to applaud my colleague on the Science and Technology Committee, Representative McCaul, for bringing this thoughtful resolution to the floor and also to Mr. Lampson for his commitment to this issue.

I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 1315, commemorating the 50th anniversary, and we hope that there will be many to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, who exercised their first amendment right to voice opposition to the ongoing war in Iraq by stopping work at 29 West Coast ports on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Although the union leadership was not involved in this action, a Longshore Caucus resolution called on all locals to honor May 1 by taking action to end the war and bring troops home safely from Iraq.

I add my voice to those of the workers who attended rallies along the coast, demanding that the American presence in Iraq could come to an end. It is my understanding that the ILWU employers, the Pacific Maritime Association, were able to easily schedule changes with little or no disruption and therefore, these voluntary actions did not pose any hardship to the industry. Yet, the action sent a strong and important message to Washington, DC, indicating the ILWU members' opposition to the war.

The ILWU has a long history of activism in the pursuit of social and international justice, including the refusal to load vessels bound for apartheid-era South Africa and El Salvador in the midst of a civil war. On May 1, ILWU members used their voices at work to express their frustration--shared by the overwhelming majority of Americans--that politicians have failed to bring troops home.

Madam Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Miller for putting this important legislation together, and I applaud his resourcefulness for including my provision within this amendment that solidifies the eligibility for grants to be used in the construction of green roofs at public schools.

Throughout the past decade, green roofs have proven to be a cost- effective and an environmentally conscious way of lowering utility costs by insulating buildings from extreme temperatures and reducing the sewer system and wastewater treatment costs. In addition, green roofs diminish air pollution by using plants to collect airborne particles and produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Green roofs also decrease costs associated with roofing maintenance by lengthening the lifespan and durability of the roofs. And, also, more importantly, it gives young people an opportunity to see real learning experiences work.

I ask my colleagues to seriously evaluate this legislation and pass this amendment and pass H.R. 3021.

Mr. Chairman, there is no question that America entrusts the Coast Guard to secure and properly maintain and administer America's waterways and port facilities. The task before this Chamber today is not about oil prices. In fact, it's about the Coast Guard and their ability to quickly and effectively respond to intense demands.

Americans live along the coast, and they depend upon the Coast Guard to provide that layer of protection and security. In California, where the 11th District resides, 2,600 active and 3,500 volunteer auxiliaries have saved over 500 lives. Properly funding the Coast Guard's programs through this legislation of H.R. 2830 will not only enhance marine safety but reduce the risk of maritime terrorism on some of our Nation's most sensitive ports.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, when Congress passed the BEACH Act in 2000, it took an important step towards keeping Americans, of which a large majority are ill-prepared children, away from polluted beaches. As a proud Californian, I understand how critical clean and safe beaches are to

our State's health, identity and economy. As with airplanes or even drinking water, Americans trust our government to alert them in the event of a safety concern.

I thank Chairman Oberstar, and also our great subcommittee chairwoman, Ms. Johnson from Texas, for shepherding this important public health and safety bill to the House floor.

This is a vital reauthorization that includes an expansion of the BEACH program by increasing the authorization level by $10 million. This program is most effective when properly administered if the program maintains adequate funding levels and a product result that demonstrates that the resources are well utilized.

The Environmental Protection Agency reported that States significantly increased the number of beaches they monitored from approximately 1,000 in 1997 to more than 3,500 in 2004. There are over 6,099 beaches nationwide.

When the EPA became lenient in the beach monitoring back in 2006, the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit against the EPA to protect our public health concerns. Ongoing or periodic monitoring is crucial to maintaining a safe environment.

In my area alone, in Los Angeles County, beach closings due to hazardous bacterial contamination dramatically jumped 15 percent in 2005. During the course of that year, beaches nationwide were closed or posted with health advisories 20,000 times.

Providing sufficient funding to the EPA for testing is only one part of this equation, however. To ensure the American public receives this beach quality information, Congress must compel the EPA to publish comprehensive results that are easily accessible on-line.

This amendment will reinstitute the requirement from the original BEACH Act that would enable the EPA to publish a complete list of every public beach, whether or not it is monitored or not. The EPA's 2004 ``National List of Beaches'' was an important resource for beachgoers, and this amendment will ensure that the EPA updates and maintains the list every 2 years for the safety of all Americans and visitors alike.

Families, fishermen and sports enthusiasts deserve to know whether the EPA is fulfilling its obligation to protect our community beaches. The Richardson amendment will make sure that this happens.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this nonpartisan amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

I rise in support of this amendment. Mr. Inslee's amendment calls for the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study on the long-term impact of climate change on pollution of coastal recreational waters. The study would include information on the potential contaminant impacts on ground and surface water resources, as well as the impacts on ecosystems and public health in coastal communities like mine.

The amendment also requires the report to highlight necessary Federal actions to help advance the availability of information and tools to assess and mitigate effects in order to protect our public and the ecosystem's health.

Our coastal waters are hubs of recreation and commerce for all of our Nation's individuals. It is with this in mind that the original BEACH Act was passed. We can expect many changes to occur in a warming world. Amongst these there will be, and it should be no surprise, that changes to our temperature and chemistry of our beaches in coastal waters have already gone into effect. Especially because so many children recreate in these waters, it is imperative to determine whether the contamination that already exists will become more hazardous to the health of our beach users.

I encourage my fellow Members to join with me in support of Mr. Inslee's amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Madam Chairman, I understand that the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) will be withdrawing this amendment, but I commend her consideration of this very pressing matter. And it is one that I look forward to working with her on in the future.

Since at least 2002, we've known that a wide variety of chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and others such as fire retardants, are ending up in our Nation's water as you just expressed. More recently, the Associated Press found that the drinking water supplies of 24 of 28 municipalities tested had pharmaceuticals present. While the levels of these largely unregulated chemicals are low, their presence raises a number of troubling issues such as the long-term human health impacts on adults and any different impacts on children.

It is fair to ask how do these pollutants get into our streams and drinking water supplies in the first place. I understand that the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment may further this issue over the upcoming months and examine it in great detail with you.

I look forward to working with the gentlewoman from New York and other

Members who have raised concerns about these reports on pharmaceuticals and other chemicals in our Nation's water.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in engrossment of H.R. 2537, the Clerk be authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, cross-references and to make other technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to accurately reflect the actions of this House.

Offered By: Ms. Richardson

Amendment No. 11: At the end of the bill, add the

following: