Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it wasn't many years ago that coal miners relied on a small bird, a canary, to signal that conditions were toxic. The canary in the coal mine would become sick before the miners, who would then have a chance to either escape or to put on protective respirators.

Today, our ecosystems face dire threats. Toxic gases, chemicals and the exploitation of our natural resources have jeopardized our air, water, lands and the wildlife that inhabit our ecosystems. The telltale sign? The frog, the ``canary in the coal mine'' of our natural environment, is sick.

Today, nearly 33 percent of amphibian species are threatened, and estimates of species extinctions over the past several decades number in the hundreds. Losses of these species result from the usual suspects, land-use change, overexploitation and disease.

Why all the emphasis on frogs? Aside from the fact that these animals regulate their local ecosystems and control populations of insects that spread disease, they are important to our human health as well. Findings point the way toward new drugs for fighting diseases such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. Scientists have reportedly found chemicals that are naturally produced in the skin of various frog species that can kill the HIV virus.

But these medicinal tools are disappearing at astronomical rates. That should tell us something. A frog's skin is relatively thin and permeable to water, so frogs are directly exposed to pollutants such as coal ash and environmental radiation. In addition, their eggs are laid in ponds and other bodies of water where they absorb chemicals.

The frog, the canary in the coal mine of our natural environment, is first in line in an environmental pollution war, a war the frog is quickly losing. If we don't heed this call, much like the miners who relied on their singing canary, we are destined for illness and, ultimately, shorter, unhealthier lives.

Sadly, this degradation of human health and quality of life is already happening across the country. Colstrip, Montana, is home to the second-largest coal plant west of the Mississippi. One boxcar-full of coal is burned every 5 minutes. The burning coal creates sodium, thallium, mercury, boron, aluminum and arsenic, which is pumped out of the factory and into the air.

The chemicals that aren't pumped into the air are caught in the factory scrubbers and then dumped with coal ash into giant settling ponds. These ponds are shallow artificial lakes of concentrated toxicity which leach this poison into wells and aquifers. The sludge flows into the surrounding towns and countryside, bubbling up against foundations and floorings, cracking the floor in Colstrip's local grocery store. Ranchers in eastern Montana are now suing the plant for damages. Noxious water, they cite, is the only liquid that fills their wells and stock ponds.

James Hansen, a renowned climate scientist, says Colstrip will cause the extinction of 400 species. But Colstrip burns on. Why? Because we have no national energy plan and because there are currently no federally enforceable regulations specific to coal ash. This lack of federally enforceable safeguards is exactly what led to the disaster in Tennessee, where a dam holding more than 1 billion of gallons of toxic coal ash failed, destroying 300 acres, dozens of homes, killed fish and other wildlife and poisoned the Emory and Clinch Rivers.

From Tennessee to Colstrip and across the Nation, the story is the same. We have no national conservation plan, no national energy policy, no regulatory reinforcement powers. And the biggest environmental disaster the country has ever faced, the Horizon Deepwater oil spill, has not propelled us any further toward passing a cap-and-trade bill through both Chambers. Senator Reid said they were sidestepping a cap- and-trade bill for oil response legislation, but we haven't seen that either.

Worse, as we mark 40 years of cleaner air under the Clean Air Act, it is heartbreaking that we must now fight to protect this monument law from attack. Some in Congress are considering weakening this landmark law, seeking to bail out polluters who continue to lobby for loopholes and giveaways that put Americans' health and safety at risk.

We are poisoning our ecosystems, our animals and, yes, our frogs. We are poisoning our families, our communities, our Nation and our entire world. If we do not heed this canary song, we will only have ourselves to blame. And by the time we take notice, it may be too late.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor an important member of the Chicago community, Charlotte Newfeld, who celebrated her 80th birthday on November 26.

Charlotte has long been an outstanding activist in the community since she moved to Chicago in the 1950s. Since then, she has been a marathon runner of community activism, tackling a myriad of important issues.

One such issue is her dedication to equal rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Among other accomplishments, she helped establish the Chicago Mayor's Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues and lobbied for the passage of the city's gay-inclusive human rights ordinance. In 1996, she was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community.

Additionally, Charlotte has been a vocal green advocate and environmentalist. Serving as the project director of the Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary, she organizes volunteers to keep the area clean and safe. Due to her steadfast dedication to the eight acres of the sanctuary, she has earned the nickname some have given her, ``the Jarvis Earth mother.''

Twenty years ago, I saw firsthand the tenacity and dedication with which Charlotte pursued every issue she found important, from LGBT and environmental issues to an organization we founded together: CUBS, or Citizens United for Baseball in Sunshine. The community would be better off if we had more people like her.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Charlotte Newfeld for her years of service and to thank her for 80 great and dedicated years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and sacrifice of Senior Airman Daniel Johnson. Daniel was killed by an improvised explosive device last month in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was just 23 years old.

Daniel spent much of his childhood in Minnesota and Wisconsin before moving to Schiller Park, Illinois to live with his grandmother. Family members remember fondly Daniel's lifelong dream to fight for his country and the pride he felt when he put on his uniform. In Afghanistan he disarmed dangerous bombs, continuously risking his life to protect others.

His commitment to service extended beyond the battlefield. Daniel attended Triton College with the admirable goal of one day working as an emergency medical technician. Today, I offer my deepest condolences to all of those who had the privilege to know such a selfless and giving young man.

I join with them in mourning the loss of this brave airman and exemplary American. On behalf of the United States Congress and the 5th district of Illinois I thank him for his courage. To his family, friends, and loved ones: Daniel's country will never forget his service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues in the Senate to ratify the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or START immediately because every day we wait to ratify START is one more day that Russia's nuclear arsenal goes uninspected.

When our last nuclear arms treaty with Russia expired last December, so did our ability to inspect their nuclear sites. This means no Americans have inspected Russian nuclear facilities for almost a year. Despite the urgent need to ratify this vital treaty which also reduces unneeded nuclear stockpiles and builds much-needed confidence with Russia, some members in the other body have continued to stall, putting politics ahead of national security.

START has been through 18 hearings, is endorsed by dozens of foreign policy and defense experts, and passed out of committee with a strong bipartisan majority. Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim to be the strongest proponents of national security; ratification of START is an opportunity for them to act on those claims and keep America and our allies safe.

I rise today to support this resolution and thank its sponsor, the gentlewoman from Florida, and call for its quick passage.

This important resolution highlights the often forgotten special needs of the few remaining Holocaust survivors. It also calls for the assurances that their final years will be comfortable and dignified.

Over 100,000 Holocaust survivors live in the U.S. today with 3,500 of those living in my city, Chicago. Three-quarters of those are in their eighties and nineties. The majority live alone and more than half live below the poverty line. As these individuals who survived torture, starvation and unspeakable

terrors age, they deserve to do so in their own homes rather than in institutional settings.

After all they have endured and overcome, these spirited survivors of the Holocaust deserve access to social service programs sensitive to their unique needs. This resolution will ensure they spend their last years with the same dignity with which they lived.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements in broadcasting of Chicago's own Terri Hemmert. Ms. Hemmert, who is already featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's ``Rock and Radio'' exhibit, was inducted into The Radio Hall of Fame on November 6, 2010.

Ms. Hemmert first fell in love with music after watching The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show as a child in Piqua, Ohio. She began her career in broadcasting as a late night disc-jockey at WCMF in Rochester, New York, before returning to the Midwest and in 1973 joined the burgeoning progressive rock station WXRT in Chicago, where she has stayed for 37 years.

In 1981, Ms. Hemmert's career took off when she became Chicago's first female morning drive personality. The knowledge and love of the music she played, coupled with her infectious personality made Terri Hemmert one of the household names in the city's ring of FM broadcasters. As a renowned Beatles expert, she was the ideal candidate to host Chicago's Fest For Beatles Fans, a position she's held for 30 years.

Ms. Hemmert contributes to the City of Chicago in other vital ways. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Peace Museum, Facets Multimedia and many other non-profit organizations. She teaches the History of Rock and Soul at Columbia College Chicago and lends her expertise as an advisor to the student radio station.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Terri Hemmert and her extraordinary career, numerous contributions to gender equality in broadcasting and bringing joy to thousands of Chicagoans stuck in traffic on their morning commutes. I would like to congratulate Ms. Hemmert on a life of accomplishment with more sure to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Israeli Security Cabinet is preparing to take a critical vote on a proposal to temporarily halt construction in the West Bank.

Our Israeli friends have offered, once again, to stop construction on the West Bank in order to open the door to a peace deal. However, a peace agreement has no chance of coming to fruition if the Palestinian Authority and President Abbas refuse to come to the negotiating table. Only face-to-face negotiations between the two sides can lead to a peace deal.

Unilateral action by the U.N. will not contribute to peace, and the administration must be strong in signaling that any move by the U.N. toward independent action will be vetoed.

We are at a vital crossroads. We can choose the path of peace, but only if parties do their part and play their role. President Abbas must come to the table and justify the good-faith efforts by the people of Israel to achieve a lasting peace.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering this legislation to clarify the language of Section 112 of title 23, United States Code to reaffirm the intent of Congress that Section 112 does not bar enforcement of State and local ordinances and contracting policies, in connection with Federal-aid highway projects, that disadvantage or disqualify classes of contractors. The Secretary properly enjoys discretion to approve contract requirements, consistent with the Federal-Aid Highway Act, 23 U.S.C. Sec. 101, et seq.

Possible ambiguity in Section 112 has come to the Congress's attention in light of recent State and local efforts to combat corruption and favoritism in contracting. States, local jurisdictions, and the Securities and Exchange Commission have enacted ``pay-to-play'' restrictions that disqualify contractors who make campaign contributions to officials responsible for government contracts. Concerns have been raised that application of Section 112 may limit the discretion of FHWA to approve Federal-aid highway projects subject to State pay-to-play policies. Accordingly, the FHWA temporarily withheld federal highway funds from the States of New Jersey and Illinois.

The soundness of these concerns has been called into question by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in City of Cleveland v. State of Ohio, 508 F.3d 827 (6th Cir. 2007), and, in any event, these concerns misunderstand Congress's long-standing intent regarding the operation of the current laws governing Federal-aid highway projects. Section 17 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1954, which is codified at Section 112 of title 23, United States Code, imposes a requirement on FHWA to ensure that government contractors are selected through a competitive bidding process. This competitive bidding requirement was ``designed to prohibit collusion or action in restraint of free competitive bidding in connection with the contract.'' S. Rep. 83-1093 (1954) at 14. The enactment of Section 112, however, was not intended to ``add to or otherwise affect the powers of the Secretary [of Transportation] . . . with respect to the selection of projects.'' Id. Subsequent amendments have not altered that purpose.

The language of this legislation simply makes clear that it has always been Congress's intent that the Secretary may concur in the award of a Federal-aid highway contract despite a State or local requirement, imposed by law or through contract, disqualifying contractors on the basis of the amount of money contributed to a political campaign. To be clear, the enactment of this legislation would not be construed to mean that existing law would have foreclosed the application of State pay-to-play restrictions, or similarly situated provisions, to highway projects supported by Federal funds.

This bill will dispel any misunderstandings about the application of State pay-to-play restrictions and similar policies to Federal-aid highway projects. It will have an immediate, positive effect for local and State governments determined to implement pay-to-play restrictions to combat corruption and favoritism.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3427.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial of Glos Polek, the official publication of the Polish Women's Alliance of America, PWAA. Since its first issue was printed in 1910, Glos Polek has influenced the lives of hundreds of thousands of Polish women and their families in the United States and abroad.

Throughout hundreds of issues, the newspaper documented women's struggle and their plight to attain equal rights within society. The articles and photographs contained in Glos Polek's pages covered the scope of female injustice. They were undoubtedly instrumental in rallying women's voices to collectively demand their right to vote and make their own financial decisions. Glos Polek urged women to pursue higher education, enter into the professional world and, in the face of the global battle, tear down fascism and communism along Poland's path toward democracy and independence. To its core, Glos Polek told the stories of ordinary, everyday women facing the challenges of their time.

A traveling exhibition called ``A Voice of Their Own'' has been planned to mark Glos Polek's centennial. It is scheduled to open in Chicago in the fall of 2010 and travel to other U.S. cities in 2011 before continuing to Poland in 2012. The exhibit hopes to attract publicity for the newspaper's historic anniversary, generate interest in the PWAA, and increase membership.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing one the most impactful, longest running and well-respected publications in women's history. Chicago's extensive Polish community has greatly contributed to the city's multicultural identity, and the city is proud to host Polish American organizations like the PWAA. Please join us in making Glos Polek's 100th birthday a successful and meaningful celebration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to the 10 million innocent men, women and children who lost their lives in the Ukrainian genocide of 1932-1933. As a result of Joseph Stalin and the Soviet government's brutal economic policies, peasants were stripped of their land, herded onto collective farms, and all the food that was produced was property of the state. Due to this deprivation of food and aid, masses of Ukrainian people began to starve in what is now known as one of the greatest atrocities known to civilization: an intentional, manmade famine intended to defeat all resistance and break the will of the Ukrainian people.

The Soviets, however, failed to account for the resilience and unbreakable spirit attributed to the people of this nation as the Ukrainians proved their strong will in emerging from an overtly oppressive regime to form a strong democratic nation. The Orange Revolution and the people of Ukraine are a true testament to the world of how a nation in dire straits can triumph over its oppressor to build a sovereign democracy.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ukrainian Genocide Remembrance Day 2010, as we shed light on the horrific effects of group-targeted acts of violence and commemorate those who suffered. It's important not to fall into the line of retroactive thinking and dismiss these instances of the worst type of groupthink as issues from the past. Regimes in power with the desire and intent to destroy national, ethnic and religious still exist in many countries around the world. The divisive will of these people is only strengthened if we choose to ignore their presence.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 200th anniverary of the birth of

the composer and pianist, Frederic Chopin, and recognize the influence his music has had on the world.

Frederic Chopin was born in 1810 in the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw to a French father and Polish mother. He was a child prodigy in both playing and composing on the piano. In the following years Chopin moved to Paris after the Polish Uprising of 1830. There, he supported himself by teaching piano and an occasional public performance. In 1837 he became involved with the French novelist Amantine Dupin, better known under her pseudonym, George Sand. Unfortunately, for most of his life the artist suffered from a variety of maladies and died at the young age of 39.

Because of the strong Polish influence of his parents, Chopin never learned to fluently speak French. As such, much of his music retains influences of Polish culture; his Revolutionary Etude is interpreted as the story of the Polish Revolution--because of which he fled his homeland. While France and Poland both influenced the artist, he credits Bach and Mozart as the main forces that shaped his music.

While Chopin saw many of his contemporaries as lacking, he associated himself with many romantic artists, including many writers and painters. Under the direction of Bach and Mozart, Chopin's music is regarded as the epitome of the Romantic Style. Chopin preferred his music to remain unnamed except for the genre and number, as he wanted the listener to create their own associations. He is for these reasons regarded as one of the greatest composers and pianists who has ever lived.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Frederic Chopin for his vast contributions and lasting effect on the world of classical music. We would be joining much of the world in celebrating, as festivals in honor of Chopin have occurred in places such as Warsaw, Paris, and my hometown Chicago. For 200 years, he has been renowned as a talented composer and will continue to be regarded as such for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, now more than ever, we must use every tool at our disposal to fight corruption. My home State of Illinois has made headlines time and again with charges of cronyism, corruption, and waste. Many of these charges involved pay-to-play politics, trading campaign contributions for government contracts.

In 2008, the Illinois General Assembly took a bipartisan stand by passing a bill to eliminate pay-to-play contracting. Amazingly, the Federal Government then told Illinois that it had to back down or risk losing highway funds. The Federal Highway Administration interpreted their competitive bidding requirements to mean that States couldn't weed out corrupt contractors. Clearly that wasn't the intent of this Chamber when it passed those requirements. That is why I am pleased we are debating this important fix.

H.R. 3427, the State Ethics Law Protection Act, will make it clear that Congress supports the right of States to fight corruption. States like Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky have passed laws like Illinois', and others are debating similar bills. They are all arriving at the same bipartisan conclusion: Corruption must be stamped out and pay-to-play made a thing of the past. Our States have shown they are ready for reform. It is now our duty to ensure they have the ability to do so.

At this critical juncture, we must do all we can to inspire the trust and confidence of people across the country. After all, without the people's trust, we cannot govern. I wish to thank Chairman Oberstar and the committee for bringing this bill to the floor and urge my colleagues to support the State Ethics Law Protection Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the victims of the Ukrainian genocide and the deliberate famine which claimed the lives of 10 million innocent Ukrainians.

Under Stalin's rule, Ukrainian farmers were stripped of their land, and by the end of 1933, nearly one quarter of the Ukraine's population had starved to death. This atrocity was intended to break the spirit of the Ukrainian people, but it did not succeed. The strong-willed people of Ukraine overcame this dark time and eventually emerged from Communist rule as a strong democratic nation. The people of Ukraine are a testament to what the human spirit can not only endure, but triumph over.

Ukraine has prospered in the 70 years since this atrocity, but as we move forward, we must never forget the past. Organizations like the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago, and activists like Nicholas Mischenko, the president of the Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation, should be commended for their work to ensure the world never forgets this manmade tragedy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mexico's bicentennial celebration in honor of the 200th anniversary of its independence and the 100th anniversary of its revolution. Today, I wish to commemorate Mexico's celebrations along with the people of the 5th district.

Mexico's Independence Day celebrates the successful war for sovereignty from Spain. Influenced by America's war of independence-- Miguel Hidalgo, one of Mexico's most revered heroes--changed the course of Mexico's history with the Cry of Dolores, the call to his people to revolt against centuries of oppression from the Spanish Crown. Heroes such as Ignacio Allende and Jose Maria Morelos joined Hidalgo in the movement. Although Mexico did not become fully independent until 1821, today marks the anniversary of Sept. 15, 1810, the beginning of the struggle that led to the birth of modern Mexico.

Mexico's bicentennial festivities also honor the 100th anniversary of Mexico's Revolution. The Revolution started in 1910 in response to the social and economic injustices of the autocracy in Mexico. Leaders such as Francisco Madero, Francisco ``Pancho'' Villa and Emiliano Zapata led the lengthy and arduous fight for democracy. The end of the revolution led to a new constitution and Mexico's values of liberty, equality and justice were restored.

My hometown of Chicago has the second largest Mexican population of any city in the United States. To honor two of Mexico's most historic events, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley proclaimed 2010 The Year of Mexico. The city of Chicago will be participating in three annual Mexican Independence Day parades: the famous 26th Street celebration, as well as others in the Pilsen neighborhood and downtown Chicago.

Madam Speaker, Mexico's anniversaries not only keep the memories of Mexico's liberators alive, these celebrations also honor Mexico's pride and patriotism. On this day, I am proud to join the people of my district and those of Mexican descent in celebrating Mexico's bicentennial.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Australian and American participants of the Tour of Duty Run as they complete the 4,600 mile journey from Los Angeles, California to New York, New York to honor the memory of those who died responding to the September 11 terrorist attacks.

These firefighters, police officers, military personnel and emergency service workers have come together in a symbol of international unity to remember those who gave their lives to save others. Leaving Los Angeles on August 12, they have stopped in four U.S. cities along their journey before reaching our nation's capital on September 7.

On their journey to New York City, they have shown that firefighters the world over are alike in innumerable ways, forming a global family dedicated to hospitality, service, and public safety.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the Tour of Duty Run for their symbolic gesture of fraternity, camaraderie and unwavering commitment to peace.