Floor Statements

I wanted to rise to thank our chairman for your important work on this issue. We have worked together on 100 percent screening of workers at airports, and now, there is a pilot project in place for seven of those airports, and we know that in three they are doing 100 percent screening. And at the others, they're looking at other methods, and one of the methods that they are seriously considering and some are using are the issue of biometrics because it is so important.

So I do want to thank the chairman for your leadership on this issue, and I look forward to following the work of the seven airports. Hopefully, we'll be able to spread it to all of our airports.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5909 and begin by thanking Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member King, Subcommittee Chairwoman Jackson-Lee, and Subcommittee Ranking Member Lungren for moving this legislation to the floor.

My bill, the Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing, or COVERT, Act would prohibit the advance notification of covert tests on transportation systems without direct approval from the highest officials in our Homeland Security operations.

This legislation bolsters accountability and integrity for covert testing within our transportation systems overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.

The core principles and goals of covert testing are undermined when individuals are alerted in advance that a test or evaluation is imminent. In fact, in case we haven't figured it out, there is nothing covert about activities employees already know will occur. Unfortunately, there have been a number of reported incidents in which covert tests may have been compromised as a result of advanced notification to Transportation Security officers.

The Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security found that between August 2003 and May 2004, Transportation Security Administration officials at San Francisco International Airport compromised covert testing efforts by tracking testers throughout the airport utilizing surveillance cameras, then notifying screening personnel in advance of the testers arriving at security checkpoints. The Inspector General also found that Transportation Security officers at Jackson-Evers International Airport in Jackson, Mississippi, reported receiving advance notice of covert tests conducted by TSA's Office of Inspection on February 12, 2004.

Finally, led by Chairman Thompson's efforts, the Homeland Security Committee discovered on April 2006 an e-mail sent via TSA's net hub system from the Office of Security Operations to all Federal security directors and other TSA airport officials informing them of testing at airports throughout the country.

In this unfortunate instance, while the e-mail may have violated TSA protocols, it did not constitute the sharing of sensitive information under the law. My legislation will close that loophole, making it a violation to tip off employees before covert tests without high-level approval at TSA and DHS.

During mark-up of this legislation, the Homeland Security Committee adopted an amendment allowing local law enforcement to be notified prior to a test if directed by the administrator providing for personnel flexibility by clarifying that only one individual is necessary to serve as a cover agent supervising testing, and including a study on implementation of these procedures and their impact on the Department's effort to improve transportation security.

I want to make it very clear to my colleagues that this bill does not tie the hands of DHS or TSA. It simply ensures that any decision to notify personnel in advance must come directly from the TSA administrator, the Inspector General of the Department, or the Comptroller General at GAO to ensure the safety of the traveling public and the testers.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5909.

I will probably need an additional 4 minutes to respond, if you have it, Mr. Chairman, to Mr. Lungren on this very, very important issue that he has been referencing concerning drilling.

We've been hearing frequently from my colleagues, my good friends like Mr. Lungren, from President Bush, and from other Republicans in the Congress. They continue to argue that opening more of the Outer Continental Shelf to oil and gas drilling will lower gasoline prices. But we can't drill our way to energy independence. The United States has only 1.6 percent of the world's oil reserves, but Americans consume 25 percent of the oil used around the world every day. Nearly 80 percent of oil and 82 percent of natural gas believed to exist on the Outer Continental Shelf is located in areas that are now open for leasing.

I thank the distinguished Chair.

Only 10.5 million of the 44 million leased offshore acres are actually producing oil or gas. So oil companies, my colleagues, are reaping billions in record profits, $123 billion in 2007 alone, received billions in subsidies in the 2005 energy bill, but they are not using the Federal lands already open to development. Given this, opening sensitive areas to drilling makes no sense.

For example, ExxonMobil made $40 billion in profits last year alone, but has only increased investment in drilling and production by $3 billion over the last 5 years. Oil and gas companies have stockpiled 9,000 drilling permits--9,000--my good friends--drilling permits-- without expanding domestic production.

The New Direction Congress is working to make America more energy independent and secure, lower costs to consumers, grow our economy with hundreds of thousands of new green jobs, and reduce global warming. This Congress has fought for historic new commitments to American-grown biofuels, sustained investments in clean renewable energy, large-scale efficiency improvements to buildings and

transportation, enhanced tools to crack down on OPEC price fixing and price gouging, and to investigate the effects on price of rampant commodity speculation. And this Congress has forced the President to increase supply and thereby lower costs by not continuing to fill the almost full Strategic Petroleum Reserve starting June 30.

I'm sure this debate will continue, my colleagues. And it seems to be a mantra of many of my good friends on the other side of the aisle, but I do wish there would be more focus on the oil companies using the drilling leases that they have and taking some of those profits and investing them and producing the oil that we need.

So I thank you, I thank the Chair, and I thank my good friend on the other side of the aisle for focusing on this issue. I'm sure we'll continue this discussion. But I would like to conclude by thanking everybody, because it has been a bipartisan effort, and I encourage support of H.R. 5909.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Mr. Richard E. Witten and to congratulate him on receiving the Anne Frank Distinguished Advocate Award. Mr. Witten's deep commitment to education and the Jewish experience is unparalleled.

A graduate of Columbia College and Harvard Law School, Richard began his career practicing corporate securities law in New York City. In 1981, he began working at Goldman Sachs and Co. where he rose to Partner and Managing Director from 1990 to 2002. Currently the Senior Managing Director of The Orienta Group, an investment and advisory firm, Richard also serves on the Board of Directors of Jets.com, a jet charter company with offices in New York City, Boston and Phoenix.

Richard contributes to and advocates on behalf of a number of charitable causes, several of which are educational institutions. He is a Vice Chairman of the Columbia University Board of Trustees and a member of the Board of the Columbia Investment Management Company. He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Board Visitors of Columbia College, a Trustee of the National Museum of Jewish History in Philadelphia, and a member of the Executive Committee of Gilda's Club of Westchester.

Mr. Witten has balanced his distinguished career and philanthropic work with an equally impressive family life. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Mamaroneck, New York. They have three children, Anne, Alex and Jeffrey. A gifted writer, Richard recently published his first novel, Divided Loyalties, a historically accurate depiction of his father-in- law's experience during the Second World War.

Additionally, through their private foundation, Richard and his wife have also provided the primary funding for iTeach, a program developed by Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners Aid Research Centre to improve delivery of HIV and TB care in South Africa.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize my good friend Mr. Richard E. Witten for a successful career in finance and unparalleled devotion to charitable causes. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his tremendous accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Mr. Sidney Lapidus and to congratulate him on receiving the Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award. Mr. Lapidus's deep commitment to the American Jewish Historical Society has ensured that its collection is preserved and expanded for generations to come.

A graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University Law School, Sidney began his career as an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in New York. A retired partner at Warburg Pincus LLC, one of the country's leading private equity firms, Sidney also serves on the boards of directors of Lennar Corporation, one of the Nation's largest homebuilders; Knoll Inc., a leading manufacturer of office furniture; and the Neiman Marcus Group, a leading upscale retailer.

Sidney contributes to and advocates on behalf of a number of charitable causes, several of which concern American history and Jewish affairs. He served as president of the American Jewish Historical Society from 2003 to 2007 and is now its chairman. He is a member of the advisory councils for Princeton University's History and Judaic Studies Departments. He is also a vice chairman of the American Antiquarian Society and is a trustee of the New York Historical Society. In other areas, he is chair of the United Neighborhood Houses of New York and a member of the executive committee of New York University School of Medicine.

Mr. Lapidus has balanced his distinguished career and philanthropic work with an equally impressive family life. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Harrison, New York. They have three married children--Gail, Janet and Roy--and six grandchildren--Sara, Eric, Kate, Henry, Jessica, and Zack. An avid skier, Sidney also collects British and American books about politics and economics from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize my good friend Mr. Sidney Lapidus for a successful career in finance and unparalleled devotion to charitable causes. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his tremendous accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Mr. Sidney Lapidus and to congratulate him on receiving the Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award. Mr. Lapidus' deep commitment to the American Jewish Historical Society has ensured that its collection is preserved and expanded for generations to come.

A graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University Law School, Sidney began his career as an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in New York. Currently, he serves as a managing director and senior advisor at Warburg Pincus LLC, one of the country's leading private equity firms. Sidney also serves on the Boards of Directors of Lennar Corporation, one of the Nation's largest homebuilders, as well as Knoll Inc., a leading manufacturer of office furniture.

Sidney contributes to and advocates on behalf of a number of charitable causes, several of which concern American history and Jewish affairs. He served as president of the American Jewish Historical Society from 2003 to 2007 and is now its chairman. He is a member of the advisory councils for Princeton University's History and Judaic Studies Departments. He is also a vice chairman of the American Antiquarian Society and is a board member of the New York Historical Society. In other areas, he is a chair of the United Neighborhood Houses of New York and a member of the executive committee of New York University School of Medicine.

Mr. Lapidus has balanced his distinguished career and philanthropic work with an equally impressive family life. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Harrison, New York. They have three married children--Gail, Janet and Roy--and six grandchildren--Sara, Eric, Kate, Henry, Jessica, and Zack. An avid skier, Sidney also collects British and American books about politics and economics from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize my good friend Mr. Sidney Lapidus for a successful career in finance and unparalleled devotion to charitable causes. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his tremendous accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Mr. Sidney Lapidus and to congratulate him on receiving the Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award. Mr. Lapidus' deep commitment to the American Jewish Historical Society has ensured that its collection is preserved and expanded for generations to come.

A graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University Law School, Sidney began his career as an attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in New York. A retired partner at Warburg Pincus LLC, one of the country's leading private equity firms, Sidney also serves on the Boards of Directors of Lennar Corporation, one of the Nation's largest homebuilders; Knoll Inc., a leading manufacturer of office furniture; and the Neiman Marcus Group, a leading upscale retailer.

Sidney contributes to and advocates on behalf of a number of charitable causes, several of which concern American history and Jewish affairs. He served as president of the American Jewish Historical Society from 2003 to 2007 and is now its chairman. He is a member of the advisory councils for Princeton University's History and Judaic Studies Departments. He is also a vice chairman of the American Antiquarian Society and is a trustee of the New York Historical Society. In other areas, he is chair of the United Neighborhood Houses of New York and a member of the Executive Committee of New York University School of Medicine.

Mr. Lapidus has balanced his distinguished career and philanthropic work with an equally impressive family life. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Harrison, NY. They have three married children--Gail, Janet and Roy--and six grandchildren--Sara, Eric, Kate, Henry, Jessica, and Zack. An avid skier, Sidney also collects British and American books about politics and economics from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize my good friend Mr. Sidney Lapidus for a successful career in finance and unparalleled devotion to charitable causes. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his tremendous accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Obey and Speaker Pelosi for crafting a bill which protects our troops, supports our veterans, addresses critical economic and infrastructure needs, and redirects our policy in Iraq to reflect the will of the American people.

The President misled the Congress and the American people into the war in Iraq and has mismanaged it at every turn. As a result, this war has provided fertile ground for terrorists to grow their networks in Iraq and distracted the Administration from the original war on terror in Afghanistan.

The President has continued to ignore the will of the American people and Congress, disregarding expert guidance of former generals and foreign policy leaders by continuing a failed strategy in Iraq.

So, today I am compelled to vote against continued funding for this war to send a strong message to the Administration that we cannot continue this course and there will be no more blank checks.

That is why I will also vote for requirements that establish clear guidelines to end this war quickly and responsibly. This bill requires that U.S. troops begin redeployment from Iraq within 30 days and complete withdrawal of combat troops by December 2009. This measure also ensures that any new agreement between the U.S. and the Government of Iraq that commits U.S. forces be specifically authorized by Congress; prohibits the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq; prohibits torture; and protects our troops by ensuring that they are ``combat ready,'' deployed no longer than Pentagon guidelines allow, and provided adequate time between deployments.

I will also support the portion of this bill which includes GI education benefits for veterans, extended unemployment compensation for those out of work in this struggling economy, and critical funding for international priorities.

In the State and Foreign Operations portion of this bill we reduced Iraq assistance and operations by $1.2 billion from the President's request and, furthermore, require that the Iraqis match our assistance dollar for dollar. With oil at $125 a barrel and the Iraqi government expected to run surpluses over $50 billion, there is no reason that the Iraqis shouldn't provide more of their own resources to support their country.

This bill provides sufficient funding to maintain assistance programs and fund our diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the first three quarters of fiscal year 2009, including over $50 million to continue important oversight functions of the inspectors general in Iraq. This bill also provides $462 million for counter-drug and law enforcement efforts in Mexico and Central America.

The President's request failed to address the needs of one of our closest allies in the Middle East. Jordan is struggling with an influx of nearly 500,000 Iraqi refugees, and this bill provides $350 million in economic and security assistance to help Jordan meet these needs.

Additionally, we have included $675 million in response to the global refugee crisis resulting from the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and parts of Africa.

Rising fuel costs, the global economic down-turn and food scarcity have created a global food crisis that is breeding instability across Africa, Asia and Latin America. This bill provides $620 million in disaster and development assistance to address short-term and longer- term food security. These funds exceed the $1.2 billion in PL. 480 food aid in the agriculture section of this bill.

We have also provided the remaining $333.6 million for the UN Mission in Darfur for FY08 as well as an additional $90 million to train police to join this UN mission and to support the upcoming elections in Southern Sudan.

Finally, in light of critical staffing deficiencies at the State Department and USAID, the bill contains over $100 million to rebuild the capacity of our diplomatic and development corps, including $50 million for the Civilian Stabilization Initiative.

This bill provides funding for critical international and domestic needs to help suffering people overseas and struggling families here at home. We also must end the war in Iraq which has cost us far too many lives and too much money. Our troops and their families have sacrificed greatly, and it is time to bring our troops home.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marine SGT Merlin German, who passed away on April 11, more than 3 years after surviving a roadside blast in Iraq.

Merlin, a graduate of Woodlands High School, was a dedicated friend, son, brother, and citizen. Those who met him could not deny his big heart, entrepreneurial spirit, and great sense of humor. The youngest of eight children born to Dominican immigrants, he and his siblings were not allowed to play with toy guns in the house. Yet this did not prevent him from realizing his childhood goal of serving in the military, and he enlisted in the Marines in September 2003.

Merlin German became part of a weapons platoon for convoy security in Iraq in the fall of 2004 and was charged with spotting improvised explosive devices. On February 20, 2005, a bomb exploded next to his vehicle. Merlin survived the blast, but began his own battle for survival.

Over 97 percent of his body was burned in the explosion, and he was given just a 3 percent chance of survival. Merlin proved to be a true fighter who, despite undergoing more than 100 operations over the next three years, maintained his positive outlook. He cracked jokes and mentored new patients at the Brooke Army Medical Center, where he was an inpatient. While recovering, he started a charitable foundation, Merlin's Miracles, to help burned children.

Sergeant German passed away last month, more than 3 years after returning from Iraq. Only 22 years old, Merlin was a true patriot and inspiration to all. A recipient of the Purple Heart, he fought valiantly on behalf of our country. He continued his fight to improve the lives of others, in his efforts to assist burn victims, upon his return to the U.S. Our Nation is blessed to have dedicated, talented men and women like Merlin German serving in our armed services.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of SGT Merlin German, along with all of our Nations' other fallen heroes.

I thank the gentleman, the very distinguished, extraordinary Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res 322, which recognizes the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel.

For all of us who gathered around the Passover table this weekend to pledge ourselves, ``next year in Jerusalem,'' the Jewish State of Israel is a commitment of both mind and heart. It is a homeland for the Jewish people persecuted, slaughtered and driven from their land for centuries, and it continues to be a safe haven for refugees from around the world.

One of the most compelling experiences of my life was greeting the Ethiopian Jews as they arrived in Ben Gurion Airport after their dramatic rescue as a part of Operation Solomon in the 1980s. I also will never forget visiting with the children of Yemin Orde in northern Israel. This youth village is home to orphaned, disadvantaged and at- risk children from over 20 countries, and it exemplifies Israel's humanitarian commitment. Israel has offered its technical expertise in search and rescue, medicine, and humanitarian aid in the aftermath of nearly every modern disaster, from Katrina to the tsunami.

Israel is also an intellectual and cultural hub: Eight Israeli citizens have received the Nobel Prize, and Israeli technology has helped countless farmers in dry-weather areas and provided low-cost, life-saving drugs to millions.

Moreover, Israel is a source of stability and a voice of reason in a neighborhood plagued by extremism and violent uprising. Its commitment to democracy and freedom of expression is unshakeable, and it is our most reliable partner in our efforts to combat terrorism, enhance human rights and basic freedoms, and encourage free institutions.

It is simply incredible that all of this has occurred while Israel is under constant threat. That is why I rise today to commend the State of Israel and the Israeli people on their commitment to democracy, peace and advancement. May the next 60 years bring continued prosperity and the realization of permanent peace for this great nation.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2063, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act.

And I want to thank my good friend Congresswoman Lois Capps and Congressman Deal for your support on this very important legislation.

More than 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies. Each year several hundred of these individuals die and an estimated 30,000 receive lifesaving treatments in emergency rooms due to food-induced anaphylaxis. Despite the critical nature of these allergies, the only way to prevent dangerous reactions is to avoid all foods that contain allergy-inducing ingredients. And while there have been vast improvements in food labeling, this is still easier said than done, particularly for millions of children in school-based settings.

Unfortunately, we have a patchwork of policies, regulations and State laws to address this problem. Food allergies and the risk of anaphylaxis are simply too dangerous to not have a more uniform approach to safety.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act, which I first introduced in 2005, would require the Department of Health and Human Services to provide schools across the country with uniform guidance on how to create management and emergency plans for students with food allergies. These guidelines, which will be developed in consultation with the country's leading scientists and public health officials, will help schools tailor management plans to their students' individual needs, while also giving them confidence that the measures they are taking have the stamp of approval from the Federal Government. These guidelines are not only critically important in keeping children safe throughout the school day, but in ensuring that there is uniformity in how schools address this growing problem.

With the enactment of this legislation, parents will no longer have to worry about their children's safety if they move to a different school district or State. And most importantly, parents will no longer be charged with creating these policies on their own. This commonsense legislation will give schools, teachers and parents the information they need to keep food-allergic children safer and deserves the support of every one of my colleagues.

I would like to thank Senator Dodd, who is pushing a similar bill in the Senate, Leader Hoyer and his staff, Ivana Alexander, Chairmen Dingell, Miller and Pallone and their staffs, particularly William Garner and Bobby Clark, for their support of this bill, and of course Jean Doyle, my legislative director, for her tireless efforts on this issue. I would also like to thank Anne Munoz-Furlong from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, Todd Slotkin from the Food Allergy Initiative, Dave Bunning from the Food Allergy Project, and Dr. Hugh Sampson from Mt. Sinai Hospital for their tireless work on behalf of all individuals with food allergies.

This bill will take an important step in protecting children with food allergies.

I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde U.S. Global Leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act.

Over the past five years two major initiatives have been created to combat HIV/AIDS and TB: the Global Fund and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPPAR). These initiatives have provided over $18 billion and exceeded the President's target of $15 billion by more than $3 billion. As we seek to reauthorize this program today, I commend the target of $50 billion over the next five years for these critical programs. This funding will allow us to prevent 12 million new HIV infections, provide treatment for 3 million people living with HIV/ AIDS, treat 450,000 children and provide care for 12 million individuals, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable children. This funding will reduce tuberculosis deaths and disease burden by half, the primary cause of death for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Five years ago, only 50,000 people living with HIV/AIDS were receiving antiretroviral treatment. Today with American leadership, almost 2 million people are receiving treatment. Clearly, we are making a difference.

With this next phase, we need to devote more resources to strengthen the capacity of nations to meet their own health challenges. If any of these interventions are to be sustainable in the long term, it requires that developing countries be able to shoulder more of

the responsibility for the health of their populations. I am pleased that this bill invests more in health infrastructure and the training of healthcare professionals. In addition, I am pleased that the bill recognizes the important role played by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in empowering countries to address their own health problems.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has ravaged the world, especially the African continent, and shows no signs of slowing down. While U.S.-funded HIV/ AIDS prevention programs reached 57 million people last year alone, new infections are on the rise. It is essential that we renew our focus on prevention efforts, including key work on preventing mother-to-child transmission. Additionally, we must provide the flexibility to respond to the needs of the communities served including through the removal of the abstinence earmark in this bill, which I applaud.

While I believe this bill represents the strong bipartisan commitment of Congress to combating these epidemics, I am disappointed that the bill took a step backwards in the struggle for poor women to receive access to critical family planning services. A provision in the bill could be interpreted to limit, for the first time and contrary to current practice, the types of family planning programs that would be eligible for PEPFAR funding. I understand this was not the intent of the Committee and hope that this issue can be addressed during conference.

I commend Congressman Berman and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for crafting a bipartisan bill that will save millions of lives. It truly honors the legacy of our great colleagues, Congressman Lantos and Congressman Hyde.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this critical legislation.

Madam Speaker, due to illness, I regrettably missed the rollcall votes from February 6th through February 14th. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner:

Rollcall No. 29: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 30: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 31: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 32: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 33: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 34: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 35: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 36: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 37: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 38: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 39: ``nay,'' rollcall No. 40: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 41: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 42: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 43: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 44: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 45: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 46: ``nay,'' rollcall No. 47: ``nay,'' rollcall No. 48: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 49: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 50: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 51: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 52: ``no,'' rollcall No. 53: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 54: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 55: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 56: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 57: ``yea,'' rollcall No. 58: ``nay,'' rollcall No. 59: ``nay,'' rollcall No. 60: ``aye,'' rollcall No. 61: ``yes''. rollcall No. 62: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 63: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 64: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 65: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 66: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 67: ``yes,'' rollcall No. 68: ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1413, which would create a pilot program testing the effectiveness of physically screening 100 percent of airport workers with access to secure and sterile areas at seven airports across the country.

I want to thank Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, Ranking Member Peter King, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite and the other members of the Homeland Security Committee for their support of this legislation. I also want to thank Rosaline Cohen, Michael Stroud and Matt Washington from the majority staff of the committee, Coley O'Brien and Jennifer Arangio from the minority staff, and Justin Wein from my staff.

Meticulously screening passengers but giving workers open access is like installing an expensive home security system but leaving your back door wide open.

In 2001, Congress recognized that while we were investing significant resources in screening passengers and their baggage, we needed to close the backdoor of airports as well. That's why we passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act which required the Transportation Security Agency to screen all airport workers.

Yet, nearly six years after September 11th and passage of legislation requiring the physical screening of all airport workers, astonishingly TSA has failed to implement this basic policy or set a deadline for doing so.

At Heathrow Airport, the busiest international airport in the world, 100% of workers are screened, yet TSA refuses to acknowledge the national security benefits of following the same procedures here at home.

We know there is criminal activity taking place at some of our airports. Just this year alone, there have been frightening security breaches at Orlando International Airport, the arrest of a former airport worker as part of a

terrorist plot involving John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, a gaping lapse in security in Phoenix, and the arrest of illegal immigrants working at Chicago's O'Hare Airport with expired and false security badges.

And if there is criminal activity, certainly we should be considering the possibility of terrorist activity taking place. We cannot wait for the next security breach to occur for us to take action.

H.R. 1413 attempts to deal with the very real and serious threats that face commercial aviation today. By passing this legislation and appropriating funds to implement it--which are included in the FY08 Homeland Security Appropriations bill--we are acting on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to prevent and protect against any possible insider threats.

I know some in labor and industry favor the use of alternative methods and technologies, such as biometrics to increase security at our airports. I am not opposed to biometric technology; however, those technologies do not exist for full implementation today in the aviation sector, and as we have seen with the TWIC card, the delays could last years in rolling out this measure across aviation.

This legislation is not aimed at any specific group of workers, the vast majority of whom are hard-working, law-abiding citizens. Instead it is a bipartisan approach to measure the feasibility and effectiveness of closing this loophole in our airport security.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1413, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007.

This bill includes a provision based on legislation I introduced with Representatives Tanner, LoBiondo and Hulshof that would not only freeze compliance thresholds under the 75 percent rule at 60 percent, it would require CMS to consult rehabilitation facilities in developing recommendations on more appropriate criteria than the 75 percent rule for determining IRF admission policy.

The legislation will stop CMS in its tracks from continuing to implement an out-of-date 75 percent rule that is 100 percent wrong for Americans, and ensure that millions of individuals will continue to have access to the critical care and medical services provided by rehabilitation facilities.

There are a number of individuals I would like to thank for their tireless work on this legislation: Chairman Rangel and the entire Ways and Means staff, particularly Jon Sheiner, Cybele Bjorklund, and Janice Mays; my partners on this legislation, Representatives Tanner, LoBiondo, Hulshof, and

their staffs, Vicki Walling, Dana Richter, and Erik Rasmussen; and my legislative director, Jean Doyle.

And last but certainly not least, the key advocates from hospitals in my district in New York: Dr. Walsh from Burke Rehabilitation Center, Maggie Ramirez from Helen Hayes Hospital, and Keith Safian from Phelps Memorial Hospital.

Your tireless work along with the support of Chairman Rangel and others in Congress helped us get to where we are today. I urge my colleagues to support this very important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House amendment to H.R. 2764 to highlight the key elements of division J, the Department of State, foreign operations, export financing, and related programs appropriations act of fiscal year 2008.

This amendment reflects a bipartisan, bicameral process. We worked tirelessly with ranking member Wolf, Senator Leahy, and Senator Gregg to create a product that addresses our strategic priorities and our national security interests, as well as increases assistance for programs that promote development, reduce poverty, meet humanitarian needs and respond to global health crises.

Despite our bipartisanship, the President's intransigence forced us to make difficult cuts to worthy programs. His unwillingness to compromise with Congress, while spending $12 billion a month in Iraq, is both fiscally and

morally irresponsible. We have worked to limit the damage of this President's misplaced priorities, and I appreciate Chairman Obey and Speaker Pelosi's commitment to robust foreign assistance.

Division J includes over $5.3 billion for State Department operations in the United States and abroad, and exceeds the President's request for worldwide security protection to ensure that our diplomats and development workers remain safe and secure. It also provides $501 million for educational and cultural exchanges, and $366 million for public diplomacy.

Promoting National Security Through Support for Strategic Partners

The bill also provides $7.5 billion in economic and military assistance for our strategic partners throughout the world, including Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Indonesia among other countries. It fully meets the President's request of $2.4 billion for Israel and $1.715 billion for Egypt, excluding the 0.81% across-the-board cut required to reach agreement with the President, and provides assistance to Jordan, including debt relief critical to its economic revitalization.

Addressing Global Health and Humanitarian Crises and Promoting Peace

Combating global health threats--including tuberculosis, avian flu, HIV/AIDS, and malaria--is a security imperative as well as a moral responsibility. We are leading the fight against HIV/AIDS and other global health emergencies--providing $6.5 billion, $796 million above the President's request and $1.4 billion over fiscal year 2007, to address these critical needs. Within the total provided for global health, $5 billion is for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care efforts internationally, $544 million above the President's request. We have also included, government-wide, $841 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.

I must express my great disappointment that President Bush was willing to veto this entire vital bill because it would have allowed the U.S. to send contraceptives to poor men and women around the world. The President's dogmatic adherence to an illogical position diminishes our influence around the world and thwarts one of the most effective strategies for stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS and reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions. This is a fight we cannot win if our policy continues to put ideology ahead of proven results, and I will continue fighting to restore common sense to our international family planning initiatives.

I am pleased that we were able to provide significant funding to promote peace and address humanitarian crises throughout the world. Without the across-the-board cut, we would have provided the full request for the Peace Corps to support 7,749 volunteers in 67 posts serving in 73 countries.

The bill includes over $1 billion to help displaced people around the world, especially the growing number of Iraqi refugees. Additionally, over $430 million is provided to avert famines, provide life-saving assistance during natural disasters, and assist internally displaced persons in Iraq, Darfur and elsewhere.

Since declaring the atrocities in Darfur, Sudan, genocide in July, 2003, this committee has appropriated over a billion dollars to support the African Union peacekeeping mission and to provide emergency assistance. We are hopeful that the long-overdue United Nations mission will finally be able to bring stability to this region, and allow the Darfuri people to rebuild their lives. To that end, this bill provides over $550 million to support the UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur. We have made a strong commitment to international peacekeeping activities, and this bill includes $1.6906 billion for ongoing operations in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Ethiopia/ Eritrea, Haiti, Timor-Leste, Lebanon, and Kosovo.

I am also pleased that we were able to provide additional funding to meet our commitment to provide critical security sector assistance for Liberia.

Investing in Development Around the World

The bill also increases funding for development programs managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development. These resources will expand our basic education, safe water and environment programs.

Access to basic education has been one of my top priorities for many years because it not only improves an individual's chances for a better, more productive life, it creates a more tolerant and informed citizenry. We have provided a total of $694 million for basic education programs in this bill, including $189 million targeted to help developing countries with national education plans meet the international goal of quality education for all children by 2012.

This bill also provides $510 million for clean energy and biodiversity programs worldwide. This includes funding for the Global Environment Facility and international conservation programs that work with developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve national parks, and protect wildlife.

There is also $1.544 billion for the Millennium Challenge Account in this bill. While this funding level is lower than that provided by the House, it is $344 million above the Senate level, and it will allow the MCC to undertake all its planned compacts and threshold programs through fiscal year 2008.

Responding to Developing Situations

This bill responds to a number of evolving diplomatic needs throughout the world. In addition to providing the strong annual aid package to Israel, we must ensure that our assistance to the Palestinians supports the current movement toward negotiating a peaceful two-state solution between the two parties.

In addition to language on assistance to the Palestinians that has been carried in the Foreign Operations bill for many years, we have included additional accounting conditions on part of any funding provided as cash transfer to the Palestinian Authority. It also ensures that no funding goes to Hamas or to salaries of Palestinian Authority personnel located in Gaza. It is essential that we track every dollar of any cash transfer, and before funding is obligated or expended, I expect the Department of State to take the following steps:

(1) Representatives of the government of the United States and the Palestinian Authority will develop a list of mutually-agreed disbursements. Emphasis will be on funding projects in the West Bank that quickly demonstrate quality of life benefits for the population.

(2) The Palestinian Authority may not obligate or expend any funds on items not mutually-agreed upon and will repay any funds which are used in any way not mutually agreed by the United States and the Palestinian Authority.

(3) The Secretary of State shall certify that none of the funds will be used to support violence or terrorism. All contractors will be investigated through the same United States embassy process that is used to vet implementers of United States-administered assistance programs.

(4) The Palestinian Authority will establish a separate account to hold funds received in the cash transfer. Authorized United States officials will have complete and unfettered access to the records of this account.

(5) The Department of State will report bi-weekly to the Committees on Appropriations on all expenditures, disbursements and balances associated with the cash transfer assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

(6) The Secretary of State shall report to the Committees on Appropriations, in classified form if appropriate, on how much funding the Arab states are providing to the Palestinian Authority, and steps the Palestinian Authority is taking to end incitement.

I look forward to working with the State Department to ensure that these funds are fully accountable and used to support President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad as they work to end corruption and bring needed services to the Palestinian people in the West Bank.

Also related to peace in the Middle East, I remain gravely concerned about the smuggling operation from Egypt to Gaza, and funds in this bill for Egypt are conditioned on steps taken to detect and destroy these tunnels.

The developing situation in Pakistan, which continues to be an important ally of the United States, also demands action in this bill. I appreciate the recent steps towards restoring the constitution and advancing democracy and human rights. However, the actions of the past few months warranted measures in this bill to end cash transfers and condition military assistance on continued progress on political reforms. We remain steadfast in our support of the Pakistani people, and this assistance package maintains the robust development and security assistance that is central to reducing poverty, increasing stability, and fighting AI Qaeda, the Taliban, and other terrorist groups.

Because our efforts to combat narcotics in Colombia have been ineffective for some time, this bill restructures assistance for Colombia. We have shifted greater resources to the development and interdiction programs. We have also increased funding for rule of law and justice efforts in order to strengthen the Government of Colombia's ability to combat and demobilize their criminal paramilitary organizations that fuel the drug war. It is time for the Colombians to take ownership over their eradication and military assistance programs, and restructuring of our assistance package reflects that position.

Advancing Our Priorities at Home

In addition to the many steps we have taken in this bill to advance international stability and security here at home, this bill also addresses many of our most important domestic priorities from education funding to worker training to biomedical research to public health activities.

It provides relief for families that desperately need child care and afterschool programs; for first responders in need of training and equipment that will help keep our communities safe; for teachers anxious to receive classroom training or professional development; for students who won't be able to attend college

without an increase in the maximum Pell Grant; and for the elderly who depend on LlHEAP to help pay for the rising cost of home heating oil.

Initiatives funded in this bill literally make a life-or-death difference in the lives of countless individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet. While we could have done much more with the cooperation of the President, the work that we have accomplished together in this final product will help make America more secure and will improve the lives of millions throughout the world.

In closing, I would like to thank our staff for their tireless work, and their many sleepless nights as they put together this final product. Nisha Desai, and her new baby Safya, Craig Higgins, Michele Sumilas, Steve Marchese, Lucy Heenan, Celia Alvarado, and our minority staff Christine Kojac, Rob Blair and Molly Miller. Lastly, I would like to thank Cherith Norman, as she prepares the leave the State Department, for her years of outstanding work with this Committee.