Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, some decisions are just too important to be based on fear of political repercussions. That is why it is gratifying that President Obama heeded the advice of the Institute of Medicine and concluded that given its importance to women's health, contraception should be covered by health insurance as a free, preventative service for all American women.

To accommodate religious institutions, the administration appropriately exempted places of worship from requirements to cover contraceptives in their health plans. The rule strikes a delicate balance respecting the rights of both religions ideologically opposed to birth control and American women.

Let me be clear: No one will be required to use contraceptives. The rule simply allows women to exercise their own conscience when it comes to their health, and the vast majority of American women already do.

It would be a grave mistake to make it more difficult to access medically recommended services for the 99 percent of all women who have used contraception in their lifetime.

The administration was absolutely right to stand up for women's health by protecting access to contraception.

I yield to Congresswoman Slaughter from New York.

I thank my colleague from New Jersey.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize, again, that the Institute of Medicine found that contraceptives save lives. There are numerous studies that have shown that contraceptives lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer, help prevent unintended pregnancies, improve outcomes for children, and reduce abortions. So, my friends, it's hard to believe that in the year 2012, we are having a debate about whether or not insurance plans should cover contraceptives.

Let's remember that for many women in this country, of the 98 percent of women that are using contraception at some point in their lives, let's remember that for many women, $1,000 a year is money that they can't afford. So let's support the administrative position recommended by the Institute of Medicine.

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

As ranking member of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee, I want to congratulate Chairwoman Granger, Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Dicks, and the outstanding majority and minority staff. Thank you all for working together with me on a bill that will help maintain our global leadership, protect national security, and promote economic growth.

Our wise investments in better health and education systems, economic opportunity in the developing world, humanitarian assistance, international financial institutions, development assistance, economic support funds, and international family planning will help to save lives, develop the next generation of U.S. trading partners to boost job growth domestically, and confront the conditions that foster radicalism and instability that threaten the long-term security of the United States.

This bill also fully funds our agreements with vital allies, including Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and supports governance and development activities in Egypt to aid the transition to democracy.

However, we do not write blank checks. Stringent conditions on continued assistance for Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will help ensure accountability and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

This bill is aimed at advancing our economic and strategic interests around the world through effective and efficient diplomacy and development, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference agreement. While it has many flaws, it represents a substantial improvement from the grossly inadequate House spending bills.

Our top priority must be to grow our economy and create jobs, and the underlying bill makes critical investments, including:

Providing the National Institutes of Health with an additional $299 million, which will inject $45 million into New York's economy;

Investing in early childhood education by maintaining Head Start slots, child care grants, and continuing quality education programming by supporting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting;

Increasing resources for the two major federal K-12 grants, Title I and IDEA;

Continuing the maximum Pell Grant award of $5,500, which helps approximately nine million students afford college; and

Restoring most of the proposed Republican reductions to youth and adult job training services.

The bill also largely rejects the Republican assault on women's health. Investing in family planning saves taxpayer dollars--every dollar spent on family planning saves nearly four dollars in Medicaid expenses--yet Republicans attempted to eliminate the program. The final agreement restores most of the funds.

The conference report drops many of the mean-spirited policy riders aimed at women, including those that would have prevented Planned Parenthood from offering preventive care, allowed health professionals to deny safe and legal care to women, blocked funding for the United Nations Population Fund, and restored the global gag rule. While removing these riders is a positive step, unfortunately the final bill continues to prohibit the District of Columbia from using its own, non- federal funds for a full range of reproductive health services.

Another area where the bill is significantly improved compared to the extremely poor House proposal is homeland security, although it may still be insufficient.

In these difficult fiscal times, federal homeland security resources must be prioritized for those areas that face the highest threat of an attack. I am pleased that the final agreement includes altered language to ensure funds are distributed by the Secretary on the basis of threat, vulnerability and consequence.

However, I am concerned about practical implementation of this new block grant as it combines the State Homeland Security Grant Program, which has a statutory minimum funding requirement for each state, with risk-based programs such as the Urban Area Security Initiative.

The conference report continues funding for the Securing the Cities program, a vital initiative building the capability for New York's first responders to detect illicit radiological materials and weapons, which is a top priority for Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Kelly, and me.

It is unfortunate that during an economic crisis, some are fixated on mining near the Grand Canyon, eliminating clear air protections, and prioritizing fossil fuel technology. Ultimately the most egregious environmental riders were removed, but we must do more to invest in clean, renewable energy sources that will create high-paying research, development, manufacturing, and servicing jobs and increase our competitiveness in the global marketplace.

I am pleased that the Small Business Administration receives an additional $189 million to support small businesses, provide disaster assistance, and improve access to capital. In Westchester and Rockland Counties, I have seen firsthand what government can do to create jobs. Small Business Administration loan programs help economic development organizations provide micro-loans to emerging small businesses, and SBA 7(a) and 504 loans help small businesses receive access to capital to expand the create jobs.

In addition, Westchester and Rockland Counties benefit from the Long Island Sound, which contributes almost $5 billion a year to the regional economy through boating, commercial and sport fishing, and tourism. This bill provides nearly $4 million for the EPA to continue its program to clean the Long Island Sound and strengthen its ecosystem for generations to come, as well as funds to clean up and improve navigable waterways, including the Hudson River.

As the ranking member of the subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, the bill will help maintain our global leadership, protect national security and promote economic growth.

Our wise investments in better health and education systems, economic opportunity in the developing world, humanitarian assistance, international financial institutions, development assistance, economic support funds, and international family planning will help to save lives, develop the next generation of U.S. trading partners to boost job growth domestically, and confront the conditions that foster the radicalism and instability that threaten the long-term security of the United States.

This bill also fully funds our agreements with vital allies including Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and supports governance and development activities in Egypt to aid the transition to democracy.

However, we do not write blank checks. Stringent conditions on continued assistance for Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Pakistan and Afghanistan will help ensure accountability and responsible use of tax- payer dollars.

The bill is far from perfect, but it is a reasonable compromise. I urge your support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Joseph N. Hankin, who will be honored October 12 for his 40 years as President of Westchester Community College, the State University of New York, in Valhalla, NY. His four decades of exceptional leadership and dedication at this outstanding institution make him the longest-serving community college president in the nation.

That distinction is only the latest in Dr. Hankin's distinguished career in higher education. At age 26, he became the youngest community college president in the nation, when he assumed the presidency of Harford Community College, in Maryland. Four years later, he moved to Westchester Community College. Under his leadership, WCC's enrollment has grown from several thousand to more than 30,000 in both credit and non-credit programs. The college's Continuing Education division is now the largest in New York State, providing lifelong learning for students of all ages. Its faculty and professional staff have received more SUNY Chancellors Awards for Excellence than any other community college in the system and the Westchester Community College Foundation has grown into one of the most successful community college foundations in the nation.

Mindful of the need to keep education relevant to the changing needs of its students and society, Dr. Hankin has overseen the addition of dozens of new curricula and the redesign of existing programs as well as the growth of comprehensive corporate training for businesses and entrepreneurs. Committed to the college's mission of quality, affordability and accessibility, he launched the highly-regarded Honors Program, and continues to support WCC's English Language Institute and its Virginia Marx Children's Center on campus. The latter gives students and staff the best child care possible at affordable rates. Dr. Hankin also has expanded the college's reach into every corner of the community, with five stand-alone extension centers and class offerings at hundreds of additional locations.

For all of these accomplishments and many more, Dr. Joseph N. Hankin has been named one of the Top Fifty Community College Leaders in the Nation and one of the Most Effective College Presidents in the U.S. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing him for his exemplary educational leadership, vision, service and commitment during his 40 years at Westchester Community College.

Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed Rollcall votes on October 5. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

Rollcall No. 747: ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 748: ``yea.''

Rollcall No. 749: ``yea.''

I want to thank my good friend Mr. Deutch. You are a principled, strong supporter of the Israel-United States alliance for organizing this conversation at this very, very critical time, and I thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Palestinian Authority's counterproductive and dangerous gambit to declare statehood unilaterally through the United Nations.

As we all know, a genuine and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians can only be achieved through a negotiated settlement between the parties, themselves. A lasting peace cannot be imposed on Israel and the Palestinians by an outside country, like the United States, or an organization, like the United Nations. That is why it is so disturbing that the Palestinian Authority has chosen to discontinue direct negotiations with Israel and instead to pursue a unilateral declaration of statehood through the United Nations. This action will indisputably set back the prospects of a settlement between the parties and call into question the commitment of Palestinian leaders to genuine and lasting peace.

The Palestinian Authority receives more than $500 million in economic and security assistance from the United States each year because it is in our interest and that of Israel's to support the ability of the P.A. to provide security and basic services, but that assistance is predicated on the willingness of the Palestinian Authority to negotiate directly with Israel toward its own state. President Abbas has been warned repeatedly, and I remain firm, that this counterproductive action by the P.A. crosses a line and should lead to a reevaluation of this assistance.

Despite the provocative decision of the Palestinian Authority to abandon negotiations and to pursue instead a unilateral declaration of statehood, I remain optimistic that the administration, working in concert with the Quartet, can facilitate the conditions for a resumption of good-faith negotiations.

I commend President Obama and Secretary Clinton for standing firm in support of a negotiated settlement and for reaffirming the unbreakable bond between Israel and the United States. I support the administration's tireless work to prevent a unilateral declaration of statehood from coming to a vote before the United Nations and to defeat this gambit if a vote does occur.

As President Obama stated today before the United Nations, peace is hard, but we also know that it is very much worth the effort. I encourage President Abbas to make the hard choice to return to negotiations with Israel. It is the only way to achieve the lasting and genuine peace that both Israelis and Palestinians seek.

I know how hard the administration is working. Every minute of the day has been spent trying to ward off what we think will be a real disaster. So, as an optimist--and I think it's on Friday that Abu Mazen is scheduled to speak--I hope that he is wise and thinks of that decision and gets back to the negotiating table.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Reverend Doctor Lester Cousin and his wife, Mary Katherine Simpson Cousin. Their devoted service to the Calvary Baptist Church in White Plains, New York, will be recognized at the Retirement Banquet in their honor on September 17th, 2011.

For the last 38 years, Rev. Cousin has been the pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church. Under his leadership and vision, the church has tripled the size of its physical space--which now includes 18 classrooms, a youth church chapel, computer room, games and exercise room--and greatly expanded the spiritual and educational services it provides to meet the needs of a growing congregation.

Rev. Cousin, known fondly as the ``Senior Pastor of White Plains'' because of his long tenure, also carries out his ministry in the broader community. He served as Chaplain for the White Plains Police and Fire Departments for 25 years, a Commissioner for the Public Access Cable TV Commission for seven terms, Treasurer of the Ministers Fellowship Council of White Plains and Vicinity, and is an active member of the White Plains/Greenburgh NAACP. He assists with the Pastoral Care Ministry of the White Plains Hospital Center and the Chaplain Staff at the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Facility in Valhalla, New York, and has chaired the Annual Neighborhood Health Fair which his church co-sponsors annually. Rev. Cousin also is a member of the Advisory Board of the Schnurmacher Nursing Home and an honorary member of the Board of Directors of S.H.O.R.E. (Sheltering the Homeless is Our Responsibility).

Rev. Cousin has been the worthy recipient of countless certificates, citations and honors. In 1987 he was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Shaw Divinity School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is also a nationally known Gospel singer and recording artist.

Rev. Cousin and Mrs. Cousin, who have been married for 58 years, are deeply committed to serving their church and our community at large. I am proud to recognize Reverend Doctor Lester Cousin and Mrs. Mary Katherine Simpson Cousin for their almost four decades of inspirational leadership and example, hard work and dedication, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring their many contributions to the spiritual and civic life of White Plains and Westchester County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Fire Commissioner Raymond F. ``Doc'' Kiernan who will be honored September 15 upon his retirement after a 45-year career with the New Rochelle, New York Fire Department.

A lifelong New Rochelle resident, Doc Kiernan was a true ``firefighter's fire commissioner,'' rising through the ranks to become New Rochelle Fire Commissioner in 1985. His experience at every level of the Department prepared him well. As Commissioner, he advocated tirelessly at all levels of government for increased resources for firefighter training and equipment. His knowledge became especially valuable after September 11, 2001, as I and other elected officials turned to Commissioner Kiernan for advice on complex issues such as emergency preparedness and radio interoperability.

Doc Kiernan's lifetime of dedicated service extends far beyond the New Rochelle Fire Department. He served in the United States Coast Guard on active duty and in the Reserve from 1965 through 1971. He was active in a number of professional organizations, including the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Northeastern States Fire Consortium, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, the Westchester Career Fire Chiefs Association, the National Fire Protection Association, and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors. Additionally, Ray serves as a member of the Fire Advisory Board to the Westchester County Executive, on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Fire Fighters Emerald Society Pipe Band and as the current past chairman of the New York State Career Fire Chiefs Committee. He previously was a member of the New Rochelle Fire Fighters Association Executive Board and is a past president of the New Rochelle Fire Officers Association.

Commissioner Kiernan also has shared his time and talents with a host of community organizations, including the United Way, on both the local and county level. He was a chair of New Rochelle Heart Committee of the American Heart Association. His many volunteer contributions have won him honors and awards from numerous organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Huguenot Lions Club, and Casa Calabria.

I am proud to recognize New Rochelle Fire Commissioner Raymond F. ``Doc'' Kiernan for his exemplary service and commitment, and I urge my colleagues to join with me in wishing him many happy years in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation.

The Republican majority has pushed our economy to the brink of default through its refusal to work with Democrats on a balanced plan to end the default crisis. Despite the fact that this legislation cannot pass the Senate and would be vetoed by President Obama, the Republican majority chose to continue their political gamesmanship rather than bring to the floor a legitimate plan to prevent default.

By presenting a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution, the majority's plan puts our economy at greater risk of a credit downgrade and higher interest rates. American families and businesses cannot afford a higher cost of borrowing, which will raise the price of mortgages, loans, and credit card debt.

Defaulting on the federal debt is not an option. Congress should deliver a balanced plan that ends the default crisis; reduces spending responsibly; and prioritizes the health and security of hard-working middle-class families, senior citizens, and vulnerable Americans.

Mr. Speaker, July 20th marks the 37th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. In 1974 over 200,000 Greek Cypriots were driven from their homes, becoming refugees in their own country. The legacy of this occupation still weighs heavily on the northern third of the island, which remains occupied by Turkish troops.

There is consensus in the international community that any solution to the Cyprus problem should include a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, a single sovereignty, and single citizenship. I believe the United Nations led negotiations that are currently underway are the best means to achieve a fair and permanent settlement which will reunify the island. We are at a critical juncture in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for all Cypriots, and I urge all parties to move toward a peaceful resolution and reunification effort that will build a more united and prosperous Cyprus.

I commend President Demetris Christofias for following through with his promise to make the solution of the Cyprus problem his top and principal concern. Since 2008 he has participated in United Nations led negotiations with Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Dervis Eroglu. I am confident that these negotiations will result in a solution that will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots.

Cyprus is a strategically important ally of the United States, and Cyprus has proven itself to be a reliable partner in efforts to counter terrorism. I look forward to a reunified and prosperous Cyprus where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can live together in peace, security and stability.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Lindsay Farrell for her leadership and 25 years of committed service to Open Door Family Medical Centers.

Ms. Farrell is a graduate of St. Lawrence University, where she received the Sol Feinstein Humanitarian Award. She earned her MBA from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University and is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives. She has been involved with Open Door since she first volunteered for the organization as a member of Junior League in 1985 to support the organization's efforts to provide quality healthcare and human services to underserved communities in Westchester County, New York.

Since joining Open Door 25 years ago, Ms. Farrell served as Open Door's Director of Operations and Director of Development before becoming President and CEO. As Director of Development, she skillfully managed capital drives for major facility expansions, and as the Director of Operations she led the center's first successful accreditation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Additionally, Ms. Farrell was a member of the expert panel initiating the patient visit redesign collaborative directed by the Federal Bureau of Primary Healthcare's Quality Center and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Health Care Association of New York State, the National Association of Community Health Centers, and the Taconic Health Information Network and Community. Remarkably, she is also Chair of the Westchester Women's Agenda.

Since becoming President and CEO of Open Door in 1998, she has overseen Open Door's expansion from two sites to four centers in Westchester, five school-based health centers in Port Chester, and one mobile dental unit. Under her extraordinary direction, Open Door now serves over 40,000 low-income community residents, twice as many as in the mid-1990s.

Ms. Farrell's commitment to providing affordable health services to underserved communities in Westchester is greatly appreciated and extolled. I urge you to join me today in honoring her outstanding dedication to improving the lives of others.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution, and I thank the ranking member for his leadership, and the chair.

Last week I traveled to Israel, where I saw the determination, ingenuity, and resourcefulness of that young nation. In a volatile region, Israel is a strong democracy. Despite many setbacks, the country still longs for peace. Yet unilateral actions by the Palestinian Authority diminish prospects for negotiations and threaten progress.

We must do everything within our power to stand by our ally Israel, to persuade the Palestinians to abandon their efforts in the U.N., break with the terrorist group Hamas, and return to the negotiating table with Israel without preconditions. This resolution is a strong statement in support of peace. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, this month marks the 30th anniversary of the first AIDS

diagnosis. On June 5, 1981, the Centers for Disease Control published the first mention of what would later be determined to be HIV. Since that time, the disease has taken a heavy toll on populations both at home and around the world. We remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and honor those who have dedicated their lives to fighting this terrible disease.

The United States has been a world leader in this fight, and there is reason to be optimistic. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, has directly supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for more than 3.2 million men, women and children worldwide. In fiscal year 2010 alone, PEPFAR programs treated more than 600,000 HIV-positive pregnant women allowing more than 114,000 infants to be born HIV-free. In addition, PEPFAR directly supported HIV counseling and testing for nearly 33 million people, providing a critical entry point to prevention, treatment, and care.

In recent years there have been real advances in the treatment and prevention of AIDS. A scientific trial of microbicide gel has shown it to reduce the risk of a woman becoming infected with HIV during sex by almost 40 percent. Another trial has revealed that drugs used to treat HIV may also be effective in preventing infection.

We must do more to ensure that scientific breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS reach the most vulnerable populations. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been virtually eliminated in the developed world; however, 1,000 babies are still infected with HIV around the world each day. This is deplorable when we have the tools and medicines to end pediatric AIDS. I commend UNAIDS and PEPFAR for their plan to virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015.

U.S. contributions to multi-lateral organizations such as UNAIDS and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are critical to ending the AIDS epidemic. To date, the Global Fund has provided support to treat three million HIV-positive people, and reached 150 million people with HIV counseling and testing.

We have come a long way since that June day 30 years ago. I am proud of the resources this body has dedicated over the years to fighting HIV and AIDS. Along with saving lives, this funding helps to free developing countries from the burden of disease, allowing economic growth and increased stability. I urge my colleagues to continue our commitment to fighting this disease.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

While I have serious misgivings about the funding levels for FEMA first responder grants, restoration of the Urban Area Security Initiative to its intended purpose is good policy. By limiting UASI recipients to the 10 highest-risk cities, Chairman Aderholt would ensure that UASI is focused on addressing the unique planning, equipment, and training needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas in order to prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism against the highest-risk American targets.

Originally distributed to seven metropolitan areas, UASI ballooned to 64 regions in FY10, many of which were neither high threat nor high density. By increasing the number of UASI recipients without additional funding,

this amendment would deplete resources for cities most at risk for terrorist attacks.

With intelligence about intent to attack the United States around the 10th anniversary of September 11--which is fast approaching--now is the time to focus our resources where they are most needed, not spread the wealth.

Every region, however--I want to make it clear to my colleague--every region is entitled to Federal security resources, and that's why the State Homeland Security Grant program provides funding to each State and territory. However, in addition, Congress has the responsibility to allocate funding to address unique needs, and UASI was intentionally designed to protect those densely populated areas most at risk.

The 9/11 Commission said it best, ``Federal Homeland Security assistance should not remain a program for general revenue sharing; it should supplement State and local resources based on the risks or vulnerabilities that merit additional support. Congress should not use this money as a pork barrel.''

I want to make a couple of other points, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment for the following reasons. For example, based on projections recently released by FEMA for FY 2011, New York State will receive more than $141 million in DHS funds separate from UASI. Buffalo will be one of five cities in New York to receive funding from the Metropolitan Medical Response System; that's $1.4 million for these cities. Further, Buffalo is scheduled to receive more than $1.4 million from the Port Security Grant program. In FY 2010, Erie County also received $940,000 from the Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant program, a program which I had a little bit to do to create. Lastly, the Robert Moses Power Plant was previously awarded a buffer zone protection grant in FY 2007, only 58 percent of which has been spent.

So I want to make it very clear--I can go on. Michigan got $21,468,166, and we have a whole list of what other cities have gotten and States because they deserve that money. Every State, region, and community is entitled to Federal resources for homeland security. However, UASI was a program that was not intended to spread the wealth among every region. And other DHS initiatives better address the needs of most areas of the country.

So I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Offered By: Mrs. Lowey

Amendment No. 44: Page 50, line 9, before the period insert

``: Provided further, That an additional $1,229,500,000 is

available for State and Local Programs with this amount

designated as an emergency pursuant to section 3(c)(1) of H.

Res. 5 (112th Congress).''

Page 51, line 5, before the period insert ``: Provided

further, That an additional $460,000,000 is available for

Firefighter Assistance Grants with this amount designated as

an emergency pursuant to section 3(c)(1) of H. Res. 5 (112th

Congress).''

Page 91, line 20, after the dollar amount insert

``(increased by $1,500,000,000);;.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise for clarification. With great respect for my colleagues, and understanding the importance of Homeland Security dollars, I am very concerned that there seems to be a misunderstanding. I would like to read again the quote from the 9/11 Commission. ``Federal Homeland Security assistance should not remain a program for general revenue sharing. It should supplement State and local resources based on the risks of vulnerability that merit additional support. Congress should not use this money as a pork barrel.''

I would also like to remind my good friends that under the Homeland Security grant program, there are many other sources of funding for these communities. California, for example, is getting $153,953,988. Connecticut is getting over $12 million. Nevada is getting over $10 million, et cetera, et cetera. So there seems to be some misunderstanding that the UASI program should cover all the Homeland Security funding for these States.

We believe strongly that there are reasons for funding, certainly by formula--and that's the way this bill is written--almost every city, over 50 cities in the United States. But the UASI funding is specifically targeted to those areas such as New York that are pointed to by the terrorists. I don't want to mention bin Laden, but others, they clearly are the most at risk. And if you're number one, there clearly should be a rationale for getting the funding. So those 10 cities will be getting the funding because they're most at risk. But the other Homeland Security funding will be divided by formula to all the other Representatives of States that are here today. So I respect your needs. I think it's very important. And there is money in this bill that would cover the needs which you so articulately discussed today.

I have an amendment at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent to return to the previous paragraph.

I move to strike the last word, then.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment would address two critical shortfalls in the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security appropriations bill: inadequate funding for communities devastated by recent disasters, and for first responder and antiterror programs.

We have a responsibility to help rebuild homes and businesses following disasters throughout the South and Midwest where communities are reeling and families are mourning and rebuilding.

Chairman Aderholt, whose Alabama district was devastated by tornadoes, took the first step in committee by increasing disaster relief funding, and I supported his efforts. My amendment builds upon his work to provide an additional $1.5 billion in disaster relief to help FEMA respond to needs that far exceed funding levels in this bill.

Just as we have a responsibility, however, to help communities rebuild from natural disasters, we must help them prepare for and prevent manmade ones.

Funding for FEMA's first responder grants as well as the proposed block grant structure provide inadequate levels to protect and prepare the top terror targets in the Nation or to keep our communities safe from fire hazards.

The State Homeland Security Urban Area Security Initiative, Transit Security, Port Security, and additional grant programs will be forced to compete against each other for only two-thirds of the $1 billion provided for first responder grants, which is a cut of roughly $1.5 billion to the program.

Further, by dramatically reducing funding for firefighter grants, the Republican majority would shift a tremendous burden to local communities to either slash services or increase taxes to ensure adequate fire coverage.

My amendment would increase funding for disaster relief by an additional $1.5 billion, while also bringing first responder and fire grant programs back to their fiscal year 2011 levels.

Now, some of my colleagues across the aisle object to funding recovery efforts without offsets. Those from areas affected by recent disasters, including Republican Senator Roy Blunt, understand that the overwhelming recovery need must be prioritized. And all of us know the repercussions of allowing our first responders to go unprepared or untrained in this dangerous world.

Earlier this year, even before the death of Osama bin Laden increased our state of alert, Secretary Napolitano testified that we were at our most heightened state of terrorist threat since September 11.

If this bill is adopted without my amendment, hundreds of millions of dollars in antiterror funds will be taken from our most targeted regions. Just weeks after intelligence gathered at Osama bin Laden's compound indicates a clear intent to strike the Nation coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, such reductions would be unconscionable.

I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I appreciate it. You have been very, very helpful. Thank you.

I now ask unanimous consent to consider my amendment out of order.

I would like to make a few additional points because, previously, I did discuss the amendment in greater detail, and I thank the chairman for his consideration. There are a couple of important things. As to the $1 billion to the block grant funding, I think it is important that we look at the breakdown:

$192.6 million for law enforcement training and exercises; $55 million for Operation Stonegarden grants, which is overtime costs; and $85 million for FEMA to administer the grant programs, which is the Department of Homeland Security estimate. This brings the funding total down to $667.1 million before the block grant even begins to be distributed to the State Homeland Security Grant Program, UASI, the Metropolitan Medical Response System, Interoperability, Port Security, Transit Security, and Citizen Corps.

SHSGP is written in such a way that it doesn't have to even be funded; but if it is, there are minimum funding requirements for each State and territory--.35 percent of total funds for FY12. Given that SHSGP provides funding to each State, there is no scenario under which the Secretary does not fund this program. That is mandatory. So the minimum funding level that can be provided for SHSGP and that can comply with the statutory requirement is $125.4 million. This would leave just $551.7 million remaining for UASI, MMRS, Interoperability, Port Security, Transit Security, Citizen Corps.

Now, I discussed previously when I introduced my amendment that there are tremendous needs for responding to the recent disasters all around this country that are really unheard of--the tornadoes, the floods, the loss of life. People have to rebuild their homes, rebuild their lives. It is essential that we appropriate that additional money, and it is also essential that we respond to the threats which are still out there. People will say bin Laden is gone, but there is an entire network that we have to be concerned about. So, Mr. Chairman, I hope that we can respond adequately to both disaster needs and the needs of our UASI areas with regard to terrorist response for the grants.

Let me conclude by thanking you, after sitting here for 6 hours, maybe 8 hours today, for allowing me to offer this amendment after being late for 10 seconds. I appreciate your consideration. I appreciate the support, and I do hope we can pass it and respond to the real needs out there for both disasters and the terrorism threats that are within our communities.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Point of Order