Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I would like to introduce to you and our colleagues today Congressman Charles Djou, the newest member of Hawaii's large delegation.

Born in Los Angeles, Congressman Djou's family moved to Hawaii when he was three. He is a graduate of Punahou School in Honolulu, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Southern California Law School. By the way, he attended the same school as our President.

Congressman Djou most recently served as one of nine members of the Honolulu City Council, where he represented District 4, the area extending from Waikiki to Hawaii Kai. He served as the chairman of the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee, vice chair of the Planning Committee, and as a member of the Transportation and Public Safety and Services Committee. He was first elected to his seat in 2002 and reelected in 2006. He previously served one term in the Hawaii House of Representatives, from 2000 to 2002, and was the minority floor leader.

Hawaii is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse States in our country, and that diverse heritage is exemplified in Congress Djou's unique French variation on a Chinese surname, which goes back to his grandfather in Shanghai. I will let Congressman Djou tell you that story himself.

Now I extend a warm, warm aloha to Congressman Djou, his wife, Stacey Kawasaki Djou, and their three children. I know that they and all the members of your family are very proud today, Charles, as you become a Member of the people's House.

I look forward to working with you, Charles, to ensure that the needs of the people of Hawaii are met and that their voices are represented in the people's House.

Congratulations.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).

Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act.

Three years ago, Congress passed the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology Education and Science Act, or America COMPETES Act. Enactment of this law authorized funds over three years for the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and certain math and science related programs within the Energy Department's Office of Science.

The 2007 law came about partly in reaction to a 2005 National Academies report that focused on American students' lagging performance in science and math compared with their peers in other developed countries. In passing this law, we realize then, as we do now, that failure to invest in our young people by improving science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education at all levels will have serious repercussions--not only in terms of workforce development but also in our ability to promote cutting-edge, innovative breakthroughs that will keep us competitive in the global economy.

As a cosponsor of H.R. 5116, I believe that America's economy can continue to grow and prosper if we act now to promote innovation and the development of new technology. This bill expands, strengthens, and aligns STEM education programs at all levels. It allows more schools to participate in the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, which trains highly competent secondary teachers in STEM fields to teach in high-need schools. It provides grants to increase the quantity and quality of students receiving undergraduate degrees in STEM and creates fellowships to develop the leadership skills of recent doctoral degree graduates in these fields. Importantly, H.R. 5116 promotes participation of women and minorities in STEM fields to strengthen and diversify our workforce.

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act also creates a new program that provides loan guarantees to small- and medium-sized manufacturers for projects using innovative technologies or processes. In addition, this bill fosters innovation and basic research by supporting new regional innovation clusters, creating energy innovation hubs, and reauthorizing ARPA-E (the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy) to pursue high-risk, high-reward technology development.

Our nation has flourished from the dreams of pioneers who have turned innovative ideas into breakthrough technologies. Investing in STEM education, workforce development, and R&D will help spur economic growth and provide quality jobs for Americans in the 21st century.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

I rise in support of S. 1067, the Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.

As a cosponsor of the House version of this legislation, I am grateful that the Senate passed S. 1067 by unanimous consent in March and that the House leadership has given this body the opportunity to vote on it today. I would also like to recognize the thousands of activists across the country, including students at Kalani High School and those affiliated with Invisible Children (Project Hope) in Hawaii, who have spoken out passionately about the need to act on this issue.

This bill provides a critically needed mandate for the United States to develop a comprehensive regional strategy that targets the LRA threat. For too long, the LRA has committed unspeakable atrocities throughout Uganda, including murder, mutilation, and the sexual enslavement of women and children. In addition to displacing an estimated two million Ugandans, the LRA has abducted about 66,000 children, forcing them to fight and commit human rights violations on behalf of this terrorist group. The violence has since spread beyond Uganda's borders to parts of Sudan, Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in increased instability throughout the region.

S. 1067 requires a plan to strengthen efforts by the United Nations and regional governments to protect civilians from attacks, support

the rule of law, and prevent conflict over the long term. S. 1067 also calls for the United States to develop an interagency strategy and an assessment of options to lead in multilateral efforts to eliminate the threat posed by the LRA, protect children and families from further attacks, enhance efforts to help LRA abductees return home safely, and bring those wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity to justice.

Enactment of this legislation will give us the tools necessary to respond to the humanitarian needs of those affected by this crisis and begin to support reconciliation efforts in Uganda. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of S. 1067.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions of Iwao Matsuda, Co-chairman of the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program (LEP).

LEP is the longest standing and among the most successful legislative exchange programs in the U.S. Congress. This week marks LEP's 22nd year and 43rd consecutive session. Mr. Matsuda has played a tremendous role in making LEP a rewarding program.

I have had the privilege of participating in several LEP meetings with Mr. Matsuda. He has been a remarkable leader of LEP and representative of the people of Japan.

As a member of the Japan Diet, Mr. Matsuda was troubled by the sometimes bitter trade disputes between the United States and Japan and wanted to find a way to improve communications and understanding among the legislatures of Japan and the United States. In 1988, Mr. Matsuda took the far-sighted initiative of contacting friends in the U.S. Congress and at the George Washington University to create a program that would encourage personal and informal discussions among U.S. and Japanese parliamentarians. This was the beginnings of LEP.

As time passed, Mr. Matsuda sought to expand the U.S.-Japan Legislative Exchange Program to include members of the South Korean National Assembly and initiated in 2003 the U.S.-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Legislative Exchange Program (TLEP), which meets regularly with LEP to foster closer ties and understanding among the democratic legislatures of the three countries.

After twenty-plus years of public service, Mr. Matsuda, a true visionary of the promotion of democratic ideals, will be retiring, and this will be his last LEP session.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much), Mr. Matsuda, for all that you have done to strengthen U.S.-Japan-South Korean friendships and expand understanding among the free peoples of the Asian-Pacific region and the world at large.

Mr. Speaker, we need Wall Street reform. The collapse in the value of securities as a result of Wall Street's conduct caused our Nation's economic crisis. While Americans struggle to find work and to pay their mortgages, Wall Street continues to pay huge bonuses and to focus only on their profits.

Janet Orcutt of Kailua, Oahu, shared her story with me recently. Last August, Janet's son-in-law lost his job in this bad economy. This led to her daughter and son-in-law losing their home. Now her daughter, son-in-law, and 5-year-old grandson live with Janet and her two teenage children. With everyone living with them, Janet and her husband have had additional costs, which they charge to their credit cards. Each month, they fall farther behind.

Janet said, ``We middle-income Americans are suffering while powerful Wall Street financial companies lobby against financial reform.''

I share Janet's anger. Without reform, the current system will continue to harm the well-being of families like Janet's. The House has passed Wall Street reform. It is high time that the Senate does likewise.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.

Americans stand beside the Israeli people in commemoration of Israel's independence, and we celebrate the vision of the 37 Israelis who established the founding declaration on April 20, 1948, in order to secure a free, just, and peaceful new nation.

Shortly after Israel was founded, President Harry Truman became the first national leader to recognize Israel as a friend and partner of the United States. Since that time, Congressional support for the State of Israel has not wavered, and ties between our two countries remain inextricably linked.

Last August, I was fortunate enough to visit Israel with a number of my Congressional colleagues. That visit left an indelible impression on me. It is one thing to read of Israel's history and about that region of the world, but it is quite another to walk through the streets in Jerusalem, see Israel from the Golan Heights, and spend time at Yad Vashem and at Masada. While there, I also visited Ramallah and met with Palestinians who are engaged in the peace process.

Along with my colleagues in Congress and my constituents back home in Hawaii, I look forward to the day when the Middle East is a region at peace. I am confident that our governments will continue to work together as allies to ensure that the goal of achieving a comprehensive peace in the region becomes a not-so-distant reality.

Congress must also work with the Obama administration to make certain that Israel's security remains intact. On April 15, 2010, a number of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to President Obama assuring him of bipartisan support to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability using the tools we have at our disposal, including engagement with the Iranian regime and targeted sanctions. Although I was in Hawaii and did not have an opportunity to sign it, I would like to go on record in support of this letter, which reiterates congressional support for President Obama to do what is necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Late last year, I voted in support of H.R. 2194, a bill that amends the existing Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 and imposes additional sanctions that would curb energy investments in Iran. Soon the House and Senate will vote on a conference measure, and I hope that passage of this legislation will further deter the security threat that Iran's regime poses to Israel.

I join my colleagues in wishing the Israeli people a happy Independence Day and reaffirm Congress's commitment to our relationship with the Israeli state.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4715, the Clean Estuaries Act. This Act reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program, which coordinates federal, state and local government efforts, as well as cooperation from private and nonprofit groups, to help protect estuaries.

Estuaries support diverse habitats for a wide variety of species and provide significant economic and recreational benefits. Many fish and shellfish species depend on the sheltered habitat provided by estuaries, as well as the mix of saline and fresh water. The abundance of aquatic life supported by estuaries provides 75 percent of the U.S. commercial fish catch and 80 to 90 percent of the recreational fish catch.

The Environmental Protection Agency already has accepted 28 estuaries into the National Estuary Program. The Clean Estuaries Act increases the annual authorization from $35 million to $50 million, an amount that, if fully appropriated, will allow the Environmental Protection Agency to add 12 new estuaries to the program. At present, 38 estuaries are candidates for the program, including two estuaries in the State of Hawaii--Kaneohe Bay and Hanalei Bay--that could benefit greatly from the support provided by the program. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to protect the ecological, recreational, and economic benefits of our nation's estuaries.

Aloha. I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 243, which would authorize the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the 41st annual Kamehameha Day Lei Draping Ceremony. Even as I speak, I am wearing a beautiful floral lei from Hawaii.

I would like to thank Chairman Brady for his leadership and for allowing this bill to be brought forward in an expeditious manner; and I thank my friend, Congressman Stearns, for his remarks. I would also like to thank the sponsors of this bill, my fellow Pacific island delegation members, former Congressman Abercrombie, Congressman Faleomavaega, Congresswoman Bordallo, and Congressman Sablan, for their support.

Since 1969, the Hawaii congressional delegation and the Hawaii State Society of Washington, DC., have hosted the Kamehameha Day Lei Draping Ceremony. The ceremony has been held on or about June 11 to coincide with the celebration of Kamehameha Day, a State holiday in Hawaii. This year, the event will be held in DC on Sunday, June 6. The location of the Kamehameha statue in emancipation hall requires that a concurrent resolution be passed to authorize the use of the space for their ceremony.

King Kamehameha is a legendary figure to the people of Hawaii and the Pacific. He was a king of great physical and mental prowess who united the Hawaiian islands and prepared Hawaii for the challenges of a new era. Kamehameha was a fierce warrior, a resourceful strategist, a visionary, ambitious leader, and, above all, an unrelenting protector of his people.

For much of its history, the Hawaiian islands were controlled by competing chiefs. They waged frequent battles over land and resources and witnessed many civilian casualties. By bringing the islands together, Kamehameha ushered in a period of peace and prosperity. He has established laws, organized the government, sponsored agriculture, encouraged trade, and built houses.

His most renowned edict, the Law of the Splintered Paddle, ensured the protection of civilians during war. This law illustrates Kamehameha's compassion and an acute sense of responsibility for all of his people, especially those most vulnerable.

Kamehameha's steadfast leadership came at a pivotal point in Hawaii's history, a time when the islands made first contact with foreigners. At the dawn of a new era, filled with unforeseen challenges, Kamehameha's vision and wisdom helped Hawaii manage the formidable task of interacting with and finding its place within the wider world. Kamehameha ruled until 1819.

I would like to close by thanking the staff of the Committee on House Administration, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, who have been real partners in making this annual event possible for these many decades.

Mahalo nui loa--thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, today we take a stand for hard-working middle class families who deserve a better value for their health care dollar. We take a stand for better health care for America's seniors. We take a stand for those who have been denied insurance coverage because of a preexisting condition or whose insurance is rescinded when they need it most.

This has been a difficult debate. There are strong, personal feelings about the issue of health care, because it affects all of us. This makes it even more important that we focus on the substance of health care reform, rather than engage in demagoguery, name calling, and worse. Republicans and Democrats alike know that our health care system is broken and not sustainable. Our country spends more on health care than any other developed country and we fall far below these other countries in the health of our people.

H.R. 4872 and the Senate health care reform bill, H.R. 3590, are not perfect, but they are a step in the right direction. The health insurance reform measure achieves the three key goals of affordability for the middle class, accessibility for all Americans, and accountability for the insurance industry.

More than 350 organizations support the health insurance reform legislation that we are voting on today. They include: the American Medical Association, AARP, Catholic Health Association, Main Street Alliance, Federation of American Hospitals, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, American College of Physicians, Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Nurses Association, Families USA, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Women's Law Center, Consumer Federation of America, and the Consumers Union.

Once this bill is passed, Americans will see immediate benefits: seniors will start to see immediate relief from high prescription prices with a $250 rebate for Medicare beneficiaries who hit the donut hole; preventative services and immunizations will be free under Medicare right away--eliminating co-payments for preventative services and exempting preventative services from deductibles; and small businesses that provide coverage to their employees will be eligible for a tax credit of up to 35% of premiums. The bill will also ban insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions and eliminates lifetime limits and restrictive annual limits on coverage.

These are real reforms yielding real benefits to people who are not getting their money's worth from the current system. It will soon be much harder to mischaracterize what this effort to change the health care system has been about once reform is enacted and the benefits accrue.

I was appalled at the news that my colleagues John Lewis, Andre Carson, Emanuel Cleaver, and Barney Frank were verbally insulted and in one instance spat on by anti-health care reform protestors yesterday.

The ugliness that this behavior exemplified reminded me of why ``Live Aloha'' is more than a motto to us in Hawaii. The Hawaiian word aloha, has deep meaning in my state; it is far more than hello or goodbye. To ``Live Aloha'' is to also have respect for yourself and respect for others, especially those with whom we disagree. To treat each other with decency--not hatred, or racism, or bigotry--is to ``Live Aloha.'' I'm proud to represent a state where we strive toward that ideal.

My office has taken many calls and received many emails and letters on health care reform. A call that my office received on Friday was particularly heartfelt. It was from a woman on the island of Kauai who called to tell me that she and her 93 year-old friend both wanted me to stay strong and to vote in support of health care reform. I mention this particular call because it reminded me of the people and places I represent, who I fight for every day, and what this health care debate is all about.

In his recent address to the Democratic Caucus, President Barack Obama quoted President Abraham Lincoln who said, ``I am not bound to win, but I'm bound to be true. I'm not bound to succeed, but I'm bound to live up to what light I have.'' This bill calls us to be true to the millions of Americans who want and need enlightened health care reform. It is a privilege to vote for H.R. 4872.

Mr. Speaker, it bears repeating, few Americans have more at stake in health care reform than women.

Forty States allow private health insurance companies to gender rate their premiums. As a result, a 25-year-old woman may pay between 6 percent and 45 percent more than a 25-year-old man to get the same coverage.

Fifty-two percent of women reported postponing or forgoing medical care because of cost. Only 39 percent of men reported having had those experiences.

Nine States allow private plans to refuse coverage for domestic violence survivors.

Eighty-eight percent of private insurance plans do not cover comprehensive maternity care. In many policies, a previous C-section and being pregnant are considered preexisting conditions.

Less than half of all women in America have employer-sponsored insurance. This is partly due to the fact that more women tend to work for small businesses or have part-time jobs where health insurance is not offered, certainly the case in Hawaii.

It's time for reform.

Your health or your home? Americans should not have to make this choice, but all too often they have to because of the high cost of health care. Lesley Czechowicz of Kihei, Maui, called my office yesterday to tell me about her 20-year-old niece. Last year, her niece collapsed and fell into a seizure. Medics rushed her to the hospital; and, ultimately, she was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Her niece had a part-time retail job that did not offer health insurance to their employees. Because of the emergency care and subsequent follow-up visits to the doctor, her niece was recently forced to sell her house so that she could pay her medical bills. Lesley called me because she wanted to make sure I would support health care reform. She told me that while it's too late for her niece, it's not too late for our country. I couldn't agree more.

Private health insurance companies run a business. Their goal is to make money for their shareholders. They pay their CEOs millions of dollars a year while raising health care costs for the rest of us. Whose side are you on?

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1145) recognizing the University of Arizona's 125 years of dedication to excellence in higher education, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1145 into the Record.

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

I rise today in support of H. Res. 1145, which recognizes the 125th anniversary of the University of Arizona.

The University of Arizona attained its charter on March 12, 1891, with the authorization of Arizona's 13th Territorial Assembly. The mission of this new university focused on building a better Arizona through access, quality, and self-discovery. The university's first day of classes commenced on October 1, 1891, with a small group of 32 students from the surrounding region. The school instantly became a symbol of pride for Tucson, Arizona.

From these humble beginnings, the University of Arizona has grown into one of the most prominent universities in the country. The student body contains over 36,000 students, including almost 7,000 graduate students. Students are enrolled in 122 undergraduate degree programs, 217 graduate programs, and three professional schools.

The University of Arizona has gained national accolades for its breakthroughs in science and technology. The university's scientific research and development program, ranked 15th in the Nation by the National Science Foundation, played a leading role in NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission, which led to greater understanding of the red planet.

For all these accomplishments, the University of Arizona is also known for its athletic dominance. The 500 student athletes of the University of Arizona compete in over 19 Division I sports, winning 20 national championships, 37 Pacific Ten titles, including a men's national basketball championship in 1997, and eight softball national titles.

This year, the University of Arizona will celebrate 125 years of providing excellence in education and athletics, cultivating young men and women to become stewards of their community and leaders of the Nation.

Madam Speaker, once again I express my support of the University of Arizona, and wish it and its students future success in all their endeavors. And I thank Representative Giffords for bringing this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I join in urging all my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1170) congratulating the winners of the Voice of Democracy national scholarship program.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1170 into the Record.

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

I rise today to congratulate the winners of the Voice of Democracy national scholarship program. The Voice of Democracy scholarship program was originally created in 1947 and now is an audio essay contest for high school students in grades nine through twelve that annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The winners are high school students from different parts of the country who clearly articulated and creatively presented American democratic values in a national scholarship competition. The first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient's American university, college, vocational, or technical school.

Every year, thousands of students participate in the Voice of Democracy scholarship competition. With last year's theme, ``Does America still have Heroes?'' this competition makes democracy come alive and helps students connect their real-world experience to contemporary issues and events. This type of learning is important not only

for academic purposes, but also for youth civic engagement. Students are able to express their democratic knowledge and responsibilities in a creative art form.

Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate Madison Mullen, Anthony Zendejas IV, and Lena Savell for the first, second, and third place finishes, as well as all the rest of the winners. I hope all students think about the ideals of democracy and how they can contribute to our society. I thank Representative Hunter for bringing this resolution forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Once again, I urge all my colleagues to agree to House Resolution 1170, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1163) recognizing Washington State University Honors College for 50 years of excellence.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1163 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1163, which recognizes Washington State University Honors College for 50 years of excellence. Established in 1960 in Pullman, Washington, Washington State University Honors College is an institution with an enriched curriculum, small classes, a talented and diverse student body with a wealth of abroad opportunities. The 4-year core curriculum is designed to develop each member of the school's academic community to reach his or her full potential, and to lead and serve their local, national, and global communities.

The faculty, staff, and students of the Honors College create a community of learning that values creativity, high standards of scholarship, and achievement. It also fosters independent thinking and intellectual risk-taking, while valuing engagement and responsibility to community.

Many of Washington State University's high-achieving students chose to attend the Honors College because of the school's small class sizes and the curriculum designed around real-life issues. They also seek out the extensive focus on written and oral presentations and the interactive structure of the college's program, which allows students to take ownership for their own learning. Members of the Honors College student body are also encouraged to spend a portion of their academic years studying abroad and to gain proficiency in a second language. During the school's 2008-2009 school year, 34 percent of the Honors College's students studied abroad. The schools entering class of fall 2008 had a remarkable 80 percent of their freshmen class study a language other than English during their first semester at college.

Madam Speaker, once again, I congratulate Washington State University Honors College on 50 years of excellence in education and thank Representative McMorris Rodgers for bringing this resolution forward.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Once again, I urge my colleagues to vote for H. Res. 1163, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2377) to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre- kindergarten through higher education.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 2377 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2377, which is a bill that establishes a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award.

Every day in schools across the country, there are people working hard to make sure our students have an opportunity to learn and succeed. Classified school employees are critical to this effort. They work as paraprofessionals: clerks, custodians, bus drivers, cooks, maintenance employees, nurses, security guards, and technicians. The work they do provides essential support to students and teachers, and for far too long, their contributions have gone unrecognized at a national level. H.R. 2377 will change this and create a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award.

The award will honor and recognize excellence in the classified school worker field. Their services vary widely, from establishing and promoting a high-quality instructional environment as paraeducators and library aides to providing other essential services, such as transportation, skilled maintenance, food and support services, and health care.

I'm sure we can all remember our favorite bus driver who provided our safe arrival to and from school. We can recall the nurse that perfectly bandaged our scraped knee, or we can reflect on a guidance counselor who helped us navigate our paths to college.

No matter the profession, classified school employees work tirelessly to ensure the success of America's students and public schools. Their dedication ensures the safety and welfare of students while improving the educational atmosphere, helping students meet the highest educational standards.

Today we recognize this work and thank them. I ask that you join us in support of this bill. I urge my colleagues to recognize the contributions of classified school employees by voting for H.R. 2377.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the sponsor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, once again, I want to commend my colleague, Ms. Titus, for bringing this bill forward, and reminding us that it truly takes many, many hands and hearts to enable our students to succeed. Again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2377.

I yield back the balance of my time.