Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1009 and to honor the seven Americans who died in the bombing that took place in Khost, Afghanistan, on December 30, 2009. One of the heroes murdered on that day was Harold E. Brown, Jr., a native of Bolton, Massachusetts.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the seven brave individuals who lost their lives. I extend my condolences to Harold's wife of 16 years, Janet, his three young children, and his parents, Harold and Barbara Brown, who are active and beloved members of the Bolton community.

As the tragic events of December 30, the failed terrorist attack on Christmas Day, and the shootings at Ft. Hood illustrate, there are radicals who wish to do us harm any way and anywhere they can. In this war against extremism, intelligence is our most important asset to prevent future attacks and to keep our country, our freedoms and our ideals secure.

It is the men and women of the intelligence community who sacrifice much to obtain this valuable resource. They are frequently separated from their families and risk life and limb to keep us safe, but they carry out their responsibilities with quiet determination and professionalism.

Rarely do they receive the recognition and thanks that they deserve, and too frequently it only comes in instances of tragedy.

Across the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, is the message, freedom is not free. The freedom we enjoy is the result of the sacrifices of those who serve. We are the beneficiaries of their courage, their sacrifice, and their vigilance; and so are countless people around the world. The seven brave Americans who were murdered on December 30 made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is a debt that we can never repay.

Madam Speaker, it is appropriate that we pass this resolution today to recognize and express our gratitude to the brave men and women of our intelligence community; to remember the tragic loss of the seven Americans who died on December 30 and to honor their lives; and to express our condolences to their families and loved ones.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of Mr. Frank's amendment, which includes my amendments to guarantee that consumers have the same access to their credit scores that lenders now have.

I have heard from a number of my constituents, like Carla Welsh from Concord, Massachusetts, that ``it seems unthinkable to me that . . . consumers would be placed in the dark in regard to their creditworthiness.''

I'm proud to say that the manager's amendment levels the playing field for consumers. I urge my colleagues to support the manager's amendment and the underlying bill.

Because women shouldn't have to buy a separate policy for maternity care, Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in support of the Democratic bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This bill represents tireless negotiation, compromise, and input from Americans all across the country. We have been trying to reform our health care system since Harry Truman's Presidency, so this bill by no means represents brand new ideas; rather, it has been a work in progress for decades.

Attempts to reform our health care system in the past have failed because of false claims that this is socialized medicine. And, of course, these are the same arguments that the bill's opponents are making today. But it won't work this time because the American people are tired of unaffordable premiums, of unfairly losing coverage, and the fine print that prevents them from getting the care they need. It gives the power back to the patient by creating a more transparent, more competitive health insurance market.

In a country as wealthy as ours, no one should have to face losing their life or seriously compromising their health because they cannot access, cannot afford, or have been denied health care coverage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the important responsibility in front of us on health care reform. We are at a momentous time in our history. For the first time, we have a bill that has been approved by all five committees of jurisdiction. And although there are still details to be worked out, for the first time the majority of us have consensus on the structures and goals of this bill. We have never gotten this far, and I feel

privileged to be in the House of Representatives at this time.

So now is not the time to say ``no,'' to instill false fear, and to derail this important effort. We must work together to make sure that what we end up passing is the best it can be for the American people because the cost of doing nothing is too great. Without reform, the cost of health care for the average American family is expected to rise $1,800 every year, with no end in sight. If we don't act now, this problem is only going to get worse. If we don't act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day. We are in a unique moment.

Mr. Speaker, due to my daughter's wedding I was absent from the House of Representatives on October 7th and October 8th. As a result, I was unable to cast a vote on rollcall votes Nos. 756 to 771.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the following rollcall

votes: Nos. 756, 757, 758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 770, and 771, and ``nay'' on rollcall vote No. 769.

I'd like to thank the dean of our delegation for hosting this Special Order so we can remember our most remarkable Senator.

As I was thinking about how best to talk about him--and we've heard some wonderful remembrances this evening--I was looking back to the early sixties when I was, like so many of us, a student in high school, a beginning student in high school--I hate to give away our age--but the inspirational figures of the Kennedy family, in particular, President John F. Kennedy.

My husband, Paul, used to say that he was inspired by that Presidency to seek public office. But he had grown up in what he called a ``disadvantaged household.'' His parents were Republicans. And it was the Presidency of John Kennedy who inspired him and so many either to become a Democrat or to seek out public office, little knowing that some years later we would be serving with the man we remember tonight.

My first recollection, though, of Senator Kennedy is in 1974, when Paul was a candidate for the seat that I now hold. Senator Kennedy agreed to come to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to campaign for Paul, who was part of the great Watergate class in which there were many, many Democrats running across this country. Paul was running against an incumbent Republican.

Senator Kennedy came to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to St. Mary's Church. He was accompanied by Barbara Souliotis, who many, many years later still serves as his State director. At the time, I think she was an advance person, whom I remember her utter professionalism in keeping Ted on track.

We've heard tonight what a great speaker he was, how he could really connect with the crowd. And so he did that evening. While Ted was speaking, Paul looked at me like, ``Now what on Earth do I do?'' because he knew he could never compare with Ted Kennedy. And he didn't even try. But you could see then how fundamentally Ted connected with people, because they trusted him and they knew that he was working on their behalf.

I remember, again, Ted in 1978, when he supported Paul against an incumbent United States Senator, somebody who was his colleague, a Republican, as he did so often; kept his word, supported his colleagues, whether they were seeking the Presidency, as they in turn supported him.

Well, I haven't had the opportunity to serve, unfortunately, with Ted as long as others here. I do have a couple of remembrances from the past several years. One was when he did agree to come and campaign for me, again, in Haverhill and Lawrence, Massachusetts, the cities of the Fifth District of Massachusetts.

This time, though, he came with a van. He brought Sonny and Slash, the dogs. Barbara Souliotis, who was with him in 1974, was there at his side yet again, along with Vicki. We started out in Haverhill. We went to an old diner that was owned by a Greek American family. Barbara's mother brought pastries that she cooked. Ted sat there with a little demitasse of coffee, ate the pastries, and thoroughly enjoyed the morning.

Then we traveled on to a small school where we were going to read. It was an early reading program, a very, very good one; one that I think is a real model going forward. And Ted, this remarkable Senator who has met with every imaginable world leader, sat and sang Itsy Bitsy Spider to the 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds that were in the room with him. He had a remarkable ability to connect with all of humanity.

My last conversation with him was around a point of legislation that we both jointly sponsored to protect a farm called Barrett's Farm. We've learned to know what a lover of history he is. But I represent two parks: The Minute Man National Historical Park and the Lowell National Historical Park.

Barrett's Farm is a farm that played a very important role in the beginnings of the American Revolution. It was a farm that housed munitions that the Minutemen were going to use. And the British, learning of the new munitions, decided to march on Lexington and Concord, prompting Paul Revere's ride to warn that the British were coming.

The Minutemen got to Barrett's Farm, hid the munitions, so by the time the British arrived, the munitions were safely set aside where they could be used as we advanced our Revolutionary War effort, but the shot was heard round the world that changed the history of this country.

So we worked hard. My former Congressman, Marty Meehan, had initially filed the legislation. I followed up on that, working with Senator Kennedy. The bill finally was signed into law.

This April, I was sitting in my office and got a call. It was Senator Kennedy on the line, and I picked it up and he said, Niki, isn't it grand? He could celebrate that small legislative act that protected such important history with

the same joy and commitment that he did the grandest of efforts.

Senator Kennedy's legislation has shaped American lives in ways we cannot even know. Every day our lives are different for all that he did. And we are so fortunate to have had his service, to have the great legacy of the Kennedy family, and to be serving today with Representative Patrick Kennedy, who continues that legacy as well.

We will miss him. We will miss him forever. But we will always remember him in the large acts and small kindnesses of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be speaking on behalf of H. Res. 599, a resolution honoring the Minute Man National Historical Park on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

The park, located in Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln, Massachusetts, was established by Congress on September 21, 1959, and has enriched the lives of milions of visitors by preserving and sharing New England's seminal cultural and historical significance.

Home to Hartwell's Tavern and the recent addition of Colonel James Barrett's farm, the park is where the ``shot heard 'round the world'' was fired, commencing the first battle of the American Revolution in 1775. It is the inspiration for the creative work of Ralph Waldo Emerson and a priceless educational tool for students of all ages.

The success of the park is a true testament to the collaborative efforts of the local and Federal Government and countless volunteers that dedicate themselves to ensuring that the park remains a true national treasure. This past Sunday, I attended the 50th anniversary gala to celebrate the success of the park and the hard work of all involved. I want to especially recognize Superintendent Nancy Nelson whose dedication to this national treasure has helped preserve its integrity and make certain that its historical significance will inspire many future generations.

I would like to thank Mr. Markey for working with me on this important resolution and Chairman Rahall for bringing it to the floor.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 599 to celebrate the past 50 years of one of our country's true historical riches and to recognize the park as valuable resource for future generations to enjoy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize September 18th as National POW/MIA Recognition Day and to honor and remember the members of our armed forces who were prisoners of war and those who to this day remain missing in action.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our veterans, especially our POWs and MIAs for their service, and show them our respect and gratitude for the sacrifice that they and their families have made for our country.

President Kennedy once said ``a nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces, but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.'' We long remember our veterans and the lessons they teach us, and we recommit ourselves to never rest until every American who is believed to be imprisoned is freed, and every American who is missing is fully accounted for.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to the family members of POWs and MIAs for weathering agonizing uncertainty during such a difficult time. We, and countless people around the world, are the beneficiaries of their courage and their vigilance. This solemn day of recognition serves as an important reminder to always honor our duty to support those who serve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. This law, which was originally signed in 1994, is one of the most significant achievements in our history for advancing the equality and empowerment of women.

Nearly a quarter of women in the United States are victims of domestic violence every year. 1 in 6 women will be a victim of sexual assault in her lifetime. And that number is 4 times higher for women in college.

Domestic violence not only harms the victim, it has a cumulative effect on communities. Children who grow up in households where domestic violence occurs are 60-75 percent more likely to experience child abuse. These children tend to suffer from a variety of psychological problems during their lifetime.

Given these staggering facts, it is our responsibility to make sure that women and children have peace of mind that there is someone on their side if they are faced with such harm. The Violence Against Women Act has given communities the kinds of resources they need to bring this peace of mind closer to a reality.

This Act not only increased the criminal penalty for acts of domestic violence, but strengthened the ability of our communities to respond and even prevent these incidents in the first place. VAWA funds legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, strengthens domestic violence shelters, and helps to enforce restraining orders.

The law also established an national hotline called by over 1.5 million abused women seeking help. As a result, domestic violence is down 50 percent and rape is down 60 percent nationwide.

But we still have a long way to go. 60 percent of sexual assaults are still not reported to the police. Although this number has declined significantly since 1993, we must continue these efforts to end the threat of violence against women and children.

In our society, no woman should ever feel so scared for their lives and their safety that they are unable to fulfill their potential. We must create a culture in which women and girls can thrive, and this Act has taken us one step closer to that goal.

I want to thank the Congresswoman from New York for this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the important responsibility in front of us on health care reform.

The cost of inaction will undoubtedly bear a heavier burden on individuals, families, small business owners, and our economy the longer we delay. Without reform the cost of health care for the average American family is expected to rise $1,800 every year, with no end in sight. If we don't act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day.

The America's Affordable Health Choices Act has helped our Nation begin to tackle this issue in a meaningful way. Already we have agreed that this bill must prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on your medical history or dropping your coverage when you are sick. This is a key and needed reform that will stop insurers from gaming the system by covering only healthy people.

Right now insurance companies decide whether or not to cover you for a procedure. If a procedure is deemed too experimental, for example, it may not be covered. If it is too expensive, you are responsible for paying the costs of it after a certain point.

If we do not take the steps to regulate insurance industry practices now, American families will see their coverage shrink and costs go up.

Mr. Chair, I stand in opposition to the Pence amendment, which would prevent thousands of low-income women from receiving critical women's health services.

At a time when Congress is trying make sure every American has access to affordable, critical health care services, this amendment goes against our attempts to reform a broken health care system.

Planned Parenthood is one of the nation's leading women's health care providers.

In my home state of Massachusetts, Planned Parenthood serves more than 36,000 patients, most of them in need of basic health care.

This includes nearly 5,000 pap tests and breast exams.

They provide affordable contraception, STD testing and treatment, anemia testing, cholesterol and thyroid screening.

With 47 million Americans uninsured, we need clinics like Planned Parenthood. Low-income women are currently four times more likely to face an unintended pregnancy.

We should do everything we can to try to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in America through common-sense measures.

None of the funds in this bill can be used for abortions, and clinics that receive them have to show that federal funds are not used for the procedure.

In fact, 97 percent of the health care that Planned Parenthood provides is primary and preventive.

If this amendment were to pass, millions of women all across the country would have nowhere else to turn for quality, preventive health care.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding to me.

As a member of the Budget Committee, I know that PAYGO is critical to putting us back on the path to fiscal responsibility.

I cosponsored the President's PAYGO bill in June and am happy to say that the bill before us today is even stronger. Instead of sunsetting in 5 years, our bill is permanent. It closes certain loopholes making it harder to use budget gimmicks to hide true costs. It also prioritizes tax relief for the middle class.

Unfortunately, instead of attempting to further strengthen the bill, the Republican substitute would gut it.

While the underlying PAYGO bill addresses both sides of the equation, spending and taxes, the Republican substitute takes a dangerously lopsided approach focusing only on one part of the problem. While our bill makes a permanent change for fiscal responsibility, the public substitute makes a temporary show of responsibility without limiting Congress' ability to pass reckless tax cuts in the future.

With the recent economic downturn, cities in my district have been devastated by high unemployment. The communities of Lowell and Methuen have unemployment in the double digits, while in Lawrence, the unemployment is over 17 percent, almost twice the national average.

Yet in the middle of a deep and painful recession in which families are struggling to make ends meet and many are dependent on the social safety network to survive, the Republican substitute employs a freeze guaranteed to stall the economic recovery in its tracks. But the Republican substitute does more than undermine our economic security, it threatens our national security as well.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have strong concerns that the Republican substitute, if enacted, would create large gaps in our defense budget at a crucial time when we face numerous threats to our security from around the world. Some critics have argued that PAYGO doesn't go far enough, and they're right. It does not. PAYGO alone won't balance the budget and restore responsible government, but it is a critical first step towards fiscal responsibility.

Gutting PAYGO and replacing it with a short-term, one-sided approach offered by the Republican substitute is a step backwards. During one of the worst economic crises in our Nation's history, we must take the needed steps to put our financial house in order.

I urge a ``no'' vote on the Ryan substitute.

I want to thank my colleague from Kentucky.

It is an historic day, I think, to be here, discussing the issue of health care. You were talking about how many in our class campaigned on the very important issue of health care. I came in at midterm--a year, maybe 10 months after you all had been elected--as part of a special election process in which the issue of expanding coverage for children under the Children's Health Insurance Program was the defining issue. I ran on a campaign, as many in my class did, to expand children's health coverage. Finally, we have been successful this year with President Obama's signing that most important legislation into law.

I also happened to be running at a time when the new Massachusetts system, which was designed to provide guaranteed access to affordable health care for Massachusetts residents, was coming into play. We had many, many questions around the potential it would have, around the difficulties it might present and around the costs it might impose. In fact, since we began that most important system, 439,000 residents of our State are now covered with quality, affordable health care.

This legislation created a mechanism not unlike the exchange that we are talking about in the legislation that was being proposed today, which creates a place for people to go to assess the different possibilities of health care and to make sensible choices that make sense for them.

What I learned from the Massachusetts experiment, which has become very successful, is that, while we talk very much about what the role of government is, in Massachusetts, the role of government was to be the architect of the system that brought everybody to the table--the employer, the individual and government--to sort out how best each player should play its role. Because we had that cooperative approach, which is what, I think, we see in the legislation that has come to the table today and the successes that that has generated, I think it is a remarkable model that says there is a role for government but that everybody has to play its most important part.

So I think this is, really, a very exciting day for our country. It is the beginning of a process. I look forward to reaching out to my constituents, who will have slightly different perspectives because of their experiences under the Massachusetts model, and to getting their input as we go forward with the most important debate that we are just beginning. I thank you for beginning that today.

I apologize for not staying longer, but the women of the House are playing a softball game later this evening, and I don't want to be too late, even though I'm only going to be cheering, because I don't want to end up in the hospital, in need of care, as a result of my poor game-playing talents. So thank you for beginning this most important discussion.

Mr. Speaker, no one was more passionate about the dangers of an exploding national debt than my late husband, Senator Paul Tsongas,

who made it a central focus of his 1992 campaign for President.

During the years of the Clinton administration, fiscal responsibility prevailed and the debt clock started to roll back. But we have seen a stark reversal of that success, with spending on two wars, tax cuts for the wealthy and a massive new entitlement program, none of it paid for.

As a member of the Budget Committee, I was proud to cosponsor legislation this week that would re-institute statutory pay-as-you-go rules. PAYGO is not an untested theory, but a commonsense tool with a proven track record that requires us in Washington to make tough choices. Throughout the 1990s, it paved the way for balanced budgets and responsible government, and it can do it again.

As we tackle two of the most important issues of our time, energy and health care reform, it is critical that we enact PAYGO rules that signal to our creditors that we are finally serious. We have a responsibility to pay for what we do.