Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 448) congratulating the University of California, Davis, for a century as a premier public research university and one of our Nation's finest institutions of higher education.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 448.

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

I rise today to commemorate the University of California at Davis for completing more than 100 years as a public university. First opening its doors to students in 1908 and being formally established as a University of California campus in 1959, UC Davis has grown into one of the Nation's finest research universities.

With over 30,000 students representing all racial and economic classes, over 100 undergraduate majors, 87 graduate programs, six professional schools and world renowned faculty, UC Davis generates more than $500 million in research funding and consistently contributes meaningful research to academia while also impacting its local community and the world.

UC Davis' medical center serves more than 6 million people in the region. Its research has helped fuel the $45-billion-a-year California wine industry, helped to preserve local environmental treasures and assisted the city of Davis with innovations in environmental housing and bicycle transportation.

Nicknamed the ``Aggies,'' UC Davis has also produced successful athletic programs. Aggie athletics have produced records in football and a Division II national championship in basketball while also gaining recognition for the academic accomplishments of its athletes.

Initially founded as the University Farm of UC Berkley, UC Davis has grown to receive premier status as a top-tier research university with prestigious graduate programs that is a national leader in interdisciplinary research. One example of UC Davis' leadership in academia was its creation of the very first Native American Studies department and doctoral program in the Nation. The regular success of UC Davis alumni across the spectrum of public and private life demonstrates the prowess of this great university. Today we salute this university's dedication to excellence. And I do want to thank Representative Thompson for bringing this resolution forward.

Madam Speaker, once again, I applaud the University of California at Davis.

And I reserve the balance of my time.

Does the gentleman from Kentucky have any further speakers?

Mr. Speaker, obviously the resolution before the House is one that speaks to the greatness of a prestigious institution like the University of California at Davis. It obviously has excelled in several program areas and holds high standards in its interdisciplinary research areas. For those reasons and the many others cited by Representative Guthrie and myself, I believe that it is important for the House to move forward with this resolution and would encourage everyone to support the resolution before the House.

I yield back my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 386) commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team for winning the 2009 NCAA National Championship, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 386 in the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to congratulate the University of Georgia's gymnastics team on their 2009 NCAA National Championship.

On April 17, the University of Georgia supporters were treated to a 10th national championship. Closing out a spectacular season for the Gym Dogs, while also closing the immaculate career of retiring Coach Suzanne Yoculan on the highest note possible.

The Gym Dogs entered the NCAA championship as the number one seed and won their fifth consecutive national championship, scoring a 197.825, their second best point total of the season, to beat out second place Alabama's 197.575, and third place Utah's 197.425 in the final meet of Coach Yoculan's illustrious career.

Coach Yoculan's 26-year career finishes with a long list of accolades: Nine NCAA championships, 16 Southeastern Conference titles, 21 NCAA regional crowns, eight Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year honors, five NCAA Coach of the Year awards, 33 individual titles, and 57 All-Americans.

Coach Yoculan and the Gym Dogs have also been a force in the community under her tenure, raising more than $125,000, assisting with causes such as northeast Georgia's United Way, the Athens area Habitat for Humanity, the Athens Regional Medical Center's Breast Health Center, and the Special Olympics.

The Gym Dogs represent one of the most consistently successful athletic programs in NCAA history. The 2009 national champions were led by seniors Courtney Kupets, a three-time all-around champion, Abby Stack, Paige Burris, and Tiffany Tolnay. The team also included the juniors by the names of Lauren Johnson, Courtney McCool, Marcia Newby, Lauren Sessler, and Grace Taylor; sophomores Hilary Mauro and Cassidy McComb; and freshmen Mariel Box, Kathryn Ding, Gina Nuccio and Amber Trani.

As we congratulate the Gym Dogs, Mr. Speaker, who carried a cumulative 3.36 GPA, we must also acknowledge the University of Georgia for being consistently ranked as one of the Nation's top public universities. UGA encompasses 16 schools and colleges that offer students a range of educational opportunities. UGA's graduate school offers 95 doctoral, 143 master's, and 19 specialist degrees across its programs, as well as a variety of professional development and portfolio-enhancing programs.

I want to thank Representative Broun for bringing this resolution forward.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Georgia and the Gym Dogs for their consistent success.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House obviously congratulates an outstanding team. The Gym Dogs, under their coach at the University of Georgia, Coach Yoculan, have achieved great records. They have broken records and established a tremendous multiyear record, all while being great achievers in the classroom. For these reasons, I commend the Gym Dogs and encourage the House to support this resolution honoring a great team.

I yield back my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 300) congratulating Camp Dudley YMCA of Westport, New York, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 300 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 300, which recognizes Camp Dudley YMCA for the contributions made to their community.

Located in Westport, New York, Camp Dudley was founded in 1885 by Sumner F. Dudley, a YMCA volunteer. It is the oldest camp in continuous operation in our United States. Camp Dudley is a place that celebrates timeless traditional values, inspiring boys, girls, men, and women alike to seek something higher than their own self-interests. This dedication to personal development of campers can be exhibited in the camp's motto of ``The other fellow first.''

The admirable mission of Camp Dudley includes helping campers to develop moral, personal, physical, and leadership skills in the spirit of fellowship and fun, enabling boys and girls to lead lives characterized by devotion to others.

In this way, Camp Dudley has shown dedication to creating a community of selflessness, teaching boys and girls to think of the larger community before one's self. A variety of activities offered at Camp Dudley, including arts and crafts, a multitude of sports, photography, writing, and many more, allow the campers to have new experiences and new adventures.

With a great legacy of cabin leadership, Camp Dudley is driven by caring and bold leaders, whose devotion to their campers is the cornerstone for successful summers. As such, the camp's leadership development program is a dynamic and vital part of the camp experience. Camp Dudley has committed itself to making camp affordable for all socioeconomic levels, never letting financial capabilities stand in the way of opportunities for our young adults.

Demonstrating such, Camp Dudley's scholarship program awards scholarships to approximately 20 percent of summer campers. This also serves as proof of the strong foundation built by the camp's alumni. The scholarships awarded are generously funded by both alumni and parents. Some notable alumni include Burgess Meredith, Bob Pettit, C. Roland Stichweh, Ink Clark, Pete Willmott, Paul Grinwis, John Harbison, Robert Appleyard, Gerald La Grange, Johnny Jones, and many others. The impact of Camp Dudley's influence expands beyond the campgrounds. Current and former campers, as well as staff, continue to make significant differences in their own communities and families.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution serves to recognize the successes of Camp Dudley, and it congratulates the institution on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. I want to thank Representative McHugh for bringing this resolution forward, and I do urge my colleagues to resoundingly pass this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Does the gentleman from Kentucky have any further speakers?

Madam Speaker, the tradition of 125 years with Camp Dudley, whereby they have nurtured our young and have strengthened our future by creating the leaders of tomorrow, is commendable, and I would encourage strongly that the House support House Resolution 300, honoring the 125th anniversary of Camp Dudley.

I yield back my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 297) recognizing May 25, 2009, as National Missing Children's Day.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 297 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 297, which recognizes May 25, 2009, as the 27th National Missing Children's Day, and urges everyone to do what they can to prevent the tragedy of a missing child.

In the late 1970s, a succession of high-profile missing children cases helped heighten the awareness and underline the seriousness of child victimization. When Etan Patz went missing on his way to school in 1979, the first major

national media campaign surrounding a missing child took place. The considerable media attention and comprehensive search helped highlight the problem of child abduction nationwide.

Etan's case and others helped expose a flaw in the system. At that time, there was no national response system in place to coordinate State and local cooperation or a central mechanism to support searching families. In 1983, May 25 was proclaimed National Missing Children's Day, and a nationwide movement was born. May 25 was chosen because it is the anniversary of Etan's disappearance.

More than 2,000 children are reported missing every day, but strides have been made to change this disturbing statistic. Programs such as the AMBER Alert program, which notifies law enforcement officials and the public of child abduction cases, have done a lot to help return missing children to their families. To date, 443 children have been recovered because of the AMBER Alert program. Each May, we reflect on missing children, and we renew our efforts to reunite those young people with their families.

National Missing Children's Day is an opportunity to remind families of the importance of maintaining up-to-date photographs of their children and to encourage everyone to give their full attention to the photographs and posters of missing children. Anyone can be a hero and offer the tip that helps return children to their families. Protecting young people is one of our Nation's top priorities.

On May 25, Madam Speaker, we will pause to remember the children whose lives have been lost. We will celebrate those who have been reunited with their families, and we will renew our effort to continue searching for children who continue to be missing.

Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Missing Children's Day, and I thank Representative Biggert for bringing this resolution to the floor. I do urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Does the gentleman from Kentucky have further speakers?

Madam Speaker, the impact of missing children on those children and their families is obviously immeasurable, and it is important for us to continue that unfinished business that needs to be accomplished here in this country so as to recognize the missing children situation for the gravity that it poses. For that, I believe strongly that we should support this resolution and recognize our missing children through a day of observance.

I yield back my time, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 347) congratulating Averett University in Danville, Virginia, for 150 years of service and leadership to the United States.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 347 into the Record.

Thank you. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 347, which celebrates Averett University's 150 years of service and leadership to the Commonwealth of Virginia and to our United States.

Originally founded in 1859 as an educational institution for women, Union Female College grew to what is now known as Averett University. For the past 150 years, Averett University has remained steadfast in its commitment to its students and to its community. With a mission of preparing students for a lifetime of success, Averett University has a renowned liberal arts curriculum that provides individuals with the skills necessary to succeed on campus and beyond.

Demonstrating a spirit of innovation that dates back to 1859, Averett University was one of the first universities in Virginia to offer a business degree program for working adults. Because of its reputation, Averett University places nearly 100 percent of its education program graduates in employment positions each year. In fact, numerous students have job offers prior to even completing their student teaching. With faculty members that are successful entrepreneurs, artists, and scientists, Averett University students are prepared to succeed inside and outside the classroom.

Since its inception, Averett University students have been dedicated to the surrounding community. This commitment continues to this day with students now participating in service organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boys and Girls Club. With more than 20,800 alumni in 50 States and 38 countries, this commitment now spreads the globe.

As the university celebrates 150 years of achievement, may it renew its commitment and passion to service, to its students, and its community. Madam Speaker, I again congratulate Averett University. And I thank Congressman Perriello for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the history of Averett University is well documented and has been of service to so many students who are achieving their professional goals. They have inspired them in the classroom, and they have encouraged a community responsiveness within its student body that continues as a tradition.

With all of that being said, I congratulate Congressman Perriello for the resolution and encourage my colleagues to support the resolution.

I yield back my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 442) recognizing the importance of the Child and Adult Care Food Program and its positive effect on the lives of low-income children and families.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 442 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 442, which expresses Congress' support for the important work of the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Participation in nutrition programs sets the foundation for healthy lifetime eating behaviors. Studies prove that it is only when young children are well nourished that they feel secure, pay attention, behave and maintain good health. Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program's provisioning of nutritious meals and snacks, millions of children are able to experience the positive effects of improved nutrition.

Authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, the Child and Adult Care Food Program seeks to improve the quality of child care through the support of programs providing early education experiences while making such programs more affordable to our low- income families. As part of their day care program, licensed child care centers and child care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program provide 2.9 million nutritious meals and snacks every day of operation. These meals and snacks have been found to be nutritionally superior to the meals provided by nonparticipating providers. In fact, the program that has its children participating in it, has them consuming more fruits, vegetables and milk than nonparticipants. They even have higher quality diets overall.

Beyond the services provided to young children in child care, the Child and Adult Care Food Program also provides meals for children in emergency shelters and those enrolled in eligible after-school care programs. Additionally, the program serves 86,000 adults receiving care in nonresidential adult day care centers.

Sponsorship of the child and adult care food program is critical now that the economic crisis is making it even harder for families to adequately feed their children. All children who qualify should be able to experience the positive benefits of the high-quality child care and nutritious meals as provided by the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, obviously the value of nutrition and nutrition programs provides a longtime benefit for all age demographics in our population and certainly a lifetime of benefits for our children. And I would firmly request that the House stand in full support of the resolution before us, H. Res. 442.

I yield back my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 374) recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 374 into the Record.

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

I rise today to recognize the important role teachers play in the edification of our Nation. Madam Speaker, we celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 3 through May 10. The national PTA created Teacher Appreciation Week in 1984 to show gratitude to the many teachers of our United States. It is a chance for us to thank those individuals who have contributed to society in ways that cannot be measured. It is a chance for us to recognize the selflessness and dedication that teachers continue to show, and it is a chance for us to promote greater respect and understanding for the teaching profession.

Madam Speaker, we know that having good teachers greatly improves the outcomes of our Nation's youth. During the last decade, a body of evidence has grown to support the notion that teacher quality is an important factor in determining student achievement. In fact, research tells us that teacher quality accounts for the majority of variance in student learnings and test scores. Highly qualified teachers serve as excellent role models and instill a love for knowledge and lifelong learning in our students.

We all know that teaching is an important profession that deserves our support and respect. Teachers have the important job of shaping tomorrow's leaders. Those in the teaching profession work tirelessly for little reward, and good teachers constantly reflect on their lessons and modify instruction to reach the diverse needs of students in their classrooms.

Quality teachers hone their skills and are experts not only in their subject matter but also at connecting with young people and making learning come alive. Teaching is a dynamic profession, and educators continually attend professional development in order to sharpen their skills and increase their own knowledge.

Unfortunately, research has also shown us that negative effects of teacher shortages exist. It is imperative that schools and communities support teachers. National Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity for us to all pause and recognize the selfless dedication of our Nation's educators. In a survey of teachers across the country, nearly one-half said the best gift they could receive was a simple ``thank you.''

Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Teacher Appreciation Week, and I hope this resolution serves as a big ``thank you'' to all of the teaching profession. I encourage everyone to take a moment and reflect on a motivational teacher that helped you realize your potential and reach your dream.

I want to thank Representative Graves for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Does the gentleman from Kentucky have any further speakers?

Madam Speaker, I reserve my time.

Madam Speaker, I guess the role of teachers in our lives is quite profound. I think we can each think of that teacher or those teachers who made that impact on us to perhaps allow us to achieve our individual best or create a career path.

That being said, I was recently with some students from the State of Maryland who gathered here at the Capitol to celebrate their thank you notes in joint fashion. It's a great recognition nationwide to pay tribute to a very sound profession, one that impacts our present and our future.

For those reasons, I suggest strongly that we support the resolution before the House, House Resolution 374.

I yield back my time, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 438) expressing support for designation of September as ``National Child Awareness Month''.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 438 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 438, which designates September as National Child Awareness Month.

Today, thousands of individuals, such as guardians, effective teachers, and youth-serving organizations, enhance the lives of young people and prepare them for success. They recognize that without the appropriate supports, the children of our country cannot grow into healthy, educated, self-sufficient adults.

National Child Awareness Month is an opportunity for this country to honor her children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States that uplift our youth. Organizations such as the YMCA, one of the Nation's most prominent youth-serving organizations, is an example. It serves almost 9.5 million children each year. They have implemented over 500,000 programs nationwide to strengthen the mind, the body, and the soul of our youth.

Of course, the YMCA is not alone when it comes to serving our youth. The Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brother Big Sister, the Children's Defense Fund, the National Education Association, and many other organizations have a long history of providing support for our children and youth.

While we want to designate September as National Child Awareness Month, we must also remember that it is a long-term commitment that will ensure the advancement of our children. This long-term commitment includes the President's education, health care, and environment agenda that I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate in making a reality. Our children deserve no less.

I want to thank Representative Sanchez for bringing this resolution forward.

Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for House Resolution 438, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the importance of recognizing the impact we can have on our children through programs, through resources, through legislation, through budgeted areas that can support their development are all reason to support this legislation which brings it to laser sharp focus during the month of September where we dedicate a month to growing awareness of the needs of our children.

For those reasons, I strongly support this resolution and encourage our colleagues to do likewise.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2187, which would provide school districts that serve low-income communities with much-needed money for green school modernization, renovation and repair projects. I particularly want to thank Chairman Miller, Subcommittee Chair Kildee, and our sponsors that have introduced the legislation, both Mr. Chandler and Mr. Loebsack, for their outstanding support here on behalf of our students across the country.

These new funds will allow schools to make badly needed repairs to their buildings at a time when State governments are cutting back on education aid. This will help schools to not only become more energy efficient, but also, importantly, more healthy.

Thirty-two million children in our country attend schools which are reportedly having environment problems with their facilities that affect students' health and their learning. These funds will allow our schools to make their buildings healthier by allowing them to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, to mitigate indoor air quality problems, address mold infestations, replace old furnaces and pollution-emitting equipment, and deal with water contamination problems, amongst a host of other things.

Healthy and high-performance schools reduce indoor environmental hazards and are indeed energy efficient. I was proud to have worked with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to develop New York State's high-performance school guidelines, some of the best in the country; and I am pleased that this bill now will provide States with funds to develop similar measures.

Every child deserves a safe, clean and healthy environment in which to learn, and this bill is a major step in achieving that goal.

Mr. Speaker, we are at the threshold of energy policy that can transform not only our energy thinking but respond to the economic crises that are gripping this Nation. With the leadership of a new administration, with a President who has expressed the boldness of a vision for energy generation, energy transmission and energy storage, an innovation economy sparked by that source of greening up of our energy thinking can be just what the doctor ordered in curing our economic ills and allowing us to go forward with a stronger sense of security, security that is expressed by our energy security, our job security, our economic security and certainly for those measures, our national security.

It is no wonder that our gluttonous dependency on a fossil-based economy has caused us to rely on importing, from some of the most troubled spots in the world, our energy supplies. These are countries that have unstable governments that have ruled the day for our economy.

And certainly when we look at the failed measures of the previous administration, the average household has been paying, or the average citizen has been paying $1,100 more in energy costs because of the failure of that energy policy during the Bush-Cheney administration. So it is a challenge to us and a dictate to the American public to go forward with a new vision, a boldness of greening up our energy thinking so as to spark this innovation economy.

When we look at what can happen in this country, there are many promising statistics. We can understand that some 5 million jobs can be created in the clean energy economy if we were to enhance by 25 percent our renewable energies. And just for the electricity supplies we require and the transportation needs that we have, if we advance a 25 percent improvement by the year 2025, we could realize those 5 million additional jobs in the economy. And dollar for dollar, it is calculated that four times the job growth is realized in the clean energy economy than is realized in the dependency and the continuation of the oil and petroleum economy.

So those statistics speak nobly to the challenge that befalls us, that we need to move forward with a new order of thinking, that we can, as we enhance our energy security, grow American jobs that produce American power for America's energy needs.

Now that is a strengthening of our economy in a way that will put new jobs, job opportunities, on to the grid that have not previously been there. It allows us to cover the array of job opportunities from the trades that are involved on over to the engineering, the inventor, the innovator types that can produce the prototypes and then pulling them into the manufacturing and commercial sectors of emerging technologies that will allow us to very cleverly encourage new generation formats, new storage formats and new transmission opportunities in the realm of energy.

The transitioning will allow us to impact industries from manufacturing to engineering to all sorts of lab opportunities for our given communities.

When we look at situations in New York State alone, we are looking at some 132,000 or so jobs that could be created in a clean energy opportunity in New York State. Obviously with an unemployment rate that is above 8 percent in New York State, that would be a welcomed bit of opportunity.

We need to simply look at the practicality of some of the experiences out there that have enabled us to move forward, to move forward in a way that allows us to utilize the strength of our intellect as a Nation and use that brain trust and invest in our future.

Recently when we were visiting with a former energy minister for the country of Denmark, he had visited with the SEEC caucus that has been formed here in Congress of which I serve as Chair, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus has entertained guests who will share with us their ideas and their success stories.

Denmark has done well by changing its format of energy design. It was important to note that they have very boldly stepped forward and invested with some ideas that actually came from the United States and perhaps even patents that originated here. So it behooves us to move forward and utilize this American think tank and put it to work here in our country to meet our energy needs. While I was at NYSERDA where I served as president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, we were able to advance several new ideas: kinetic hydro that allowed us to utilize the turbulence of the East River along the Manhattan shoreline, and just utilizing that turbulence allowed us to do subwater surface energy creation, energy generation simply by the motion of the water.

We have several opportunities with the many bodies of water in New York State, and with turbulent bodies as such, to perhaps achieve as much as 1,000 to 1,100 megawatts worth of power.

The demonstration project, funded through the assistance of NYSERDA, made modifications possible through Denver, through the Department of Energy labs, and we have reformulated the design of the energy turbine blades. We have recalculated the assembly, the core assembly of such a turbine, and we are able to go through with these improvements that now offer great hope for the kinetic opportunities.

That is just one sampling of cutting-edge technology, emerging technologies that can strengthen our American economy and our energy consumers' future here in this country.

I think also of the geothermal applications that we have made with campuses like the Culinary Institute of America where the geothermal applications are used now to heat and cool six

new dormitory areas, lodges as they are referred to, at the CIA. This is another practical application that allows us to create a sustainable future, one that is working in a benign fashion with the environment and utilizing the resources of our air, our water, and our soil to respond to our energy needs.

This is the boldness of vision that has been imparted by President Obama and his administration. It is the boldness of vision embraced by Speaker Pelosi in the House, and other leaders; our Energy and Commerce Chair, Henry Waxman; and Barton Gordon of Science and Technology, to name just a few. But as we go forward, we will continue to advance this progressive order of policies and the resources required to advance the development that we require.

I think it is important for us as a society to invest well beyond the prototype. The prototype is the idea that comes to life in the research labs across the country, but that is not where we should end with the story. We need to deploy that magic into the manufacturing and commercial sectors so we can take full advantage of the earlier investments into prototypes.

Just this week I was able, Mr. Speaker, to travel to the GE Research and Development Center in my district. They announced their plans for new battery technology, battery technology that will enable us to add to the diversity of battery types of the future. There are efforts within the stimulus package advanced by the White House and approved by the House and the Senate on the Hill that was recently signed into law as the Recovery Act for America that will invest billions of dollars into cutting-edge thinking in battery application. It was at GE that they announced this formulation of a sodium chloride and nickel mix that allows for us to deal with heavy-duty equipment, the more stressful vehicular applications. It also holds promise for energy generation and energy storage, very key and critical to the intermittent nature of several of our renewable sources.

So with all of that being said, there are samplings out there that today are speaking to the progress that can be made. And it is that source of job creation that is inspired by the efforts made by researchers and engineers and inventors and innovators that then allow for trade application in the practical applications as we retrofit our schools, our businesses, and our homes in a way that allows us to meet our energy needs.

So with all of that, I call upon this House to continue to move forward and advance the agenda of green energy policy that will transform our economy, strengthen our job market, and allow for us to have a stronger sense of energy security and national security.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Massachusetts.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 370, a resolution I was proud to introduce to recognize National Healthy Schools Day.

National Healthy Schools Day recognizes the importance of having a clean, healthy and safe indoor environment for our Nation's schools.

Fifty-four million children, Madam Speaker, and 6 million adults spend their days in our Nation's schools. The EPA estimates that up to one-half of those schools have problems, problems with indoor air quality. Some 32 million students attend schools that have self- reported environmental problems with their facilities that can affect students' health and certainly students' learning.

Some of the hazards common to schools include overcrowding, indoor air pollution, mold infestation, airborne fiberglass particles, lead and copper-contaminated drinking water, playgrounds and classrooms with high levels of pesticides, unchecked furnaces and buses leaking carbon monoxide, chemical spills, renovation fumes, demolition dust, exhaust from gasoline-powered equipment and emissions

from hazardous facilities next door to their school campus.

These problems can contribute to absenteeism, the need for medication use amongst students and can contribute also to learning difficulties, sick building syndrome, staff turnover and liability issues for our school districts across this great country.

Children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards in their schools simply because of their developing immune systems and small bodies. Poor indoor environmental quality has been linked to asthma and other illnesses in our children. With one out of every 13 children suffering from asthma, the number one cause of missed school days, it is very important that we address these issues and address them boldly.

Research shows that simple steps can be taken to make our Nation's schools healthier. Heating and ventilation equipment can be improved upon to enhance indoor air quality. New schools can be built with a healthy design and can be located at nonpolluted sites. Nontoxic products can be used for cleaning, for maintenance and for teaching. The use of natural light should be encouraged. Certainly we can improve on that dynamic heavily.

Many States have adopted guidelines for building healthy high- performing schools that incorporate these steps and more. H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act, which we will be considering in this body later this week, would do just that. It would require States to adopt similar guidelines.

I was very proud to work with my colleagues at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to develop New York State's High Performance Schools Guidelines. I would suggest that they are some of the most effective and most rigid guidelines in the country and will score wonderful opportunities for our students.

National Healthy Schools Day draws attention to the importance of having a safe and a healthy school environment for all of our Nation's children.

National Healthy Schools Day is supported by the Healthy Schools Network, the EPA, the National Educational Association and many more organizations.

I am proud to be counted as a supporter of National Healthy Schools Day and look forward to working with my colleagues here to ensure that every student has a healthy environment in which to learn. Our students require that, and our students deserve that.

President Obama has outlined a bold vision for a significant change in our Nation's energy policy. In keeping with the theme this evening of energy efficiency, I share with you a vision that the President has borne that will take and highlight energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency should be our fuel of choice, a fuel we need to drill and mine like we currently drill for oil and mine for coal. We must invest in demand-side energy solutions as well as supply-side.

Madam Speaker, we must diversify our energy portfolio and achieve efficient outcomes.

For example, this summer in New York State, almost 45 percent of a homeowner's utility bill will go for heating and cooling. For every degree the thermostat is set below 78 degrees, the customer will use 3 to 5 percent more electricity.

When government implements rate-based or taxpayer-funded demand-side management programs, the public policy is clear--the kilowatt saved is the cheapest, cleanest and the quickest kilowatt we can produce.

Madam Speaker, as we move to create legislation that focuses on clean energy jobs, we must remember the important role that energy efficiency has to play.

As I have previously stated on this House floor, tragically, on March 5, 2009, one of Schoharie County's citizens from my district, Jason Rivenburg, pulled his truck into an abandoned gas station frequently used by truckers in South Carolina as a rest stop, and was then and there violently and senselessly shot and murdered, robbed of a meager $7.

At the time of his death, Jason was a mere 12 miles from the destination that he was to arrive at, but was unable to make his delivery because he was too early.

Jason Rivenburg was 35 years old, leaving his wife Hope and son Josh behind. They had just moved into a new home. As if that stress was not enough, shortly after his death, Jason's widow delivered two healthy twins--a boy named Hezekiah, after his grandfather, and a girl named Logan.

Rivenburg's death sparked outrage and an outpouring of support for the family across our country. Truckers and family members are demanding that the government do more to protect truckers who risk their lives following rules that require that they pull over and rest after a certain amount of driving time.

There are few resources telling truck drivers, who are often unfamiliar with the local area, where a safe place to rest might be. Moreover, there are few safe places to rest in the first place.

Mr. Speaker, we must do more to support these incredibly important men and women. That is why trade groups such as the American Truckers Association, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, and the American Moving and Storage Association, and so many more, support H.R. 2156, Jason's Law.

Moving freight and goods is essential to keeping this country and our economy progressive. We must ensure that we move on H.R. 2156, Jason's Law, and support this measure by honoring a great man.

Thank you, Representative Driehaus. I thank you for bringing us together on what is a very important topic.

You know, as we look at this very deep and long recession, far longer than some forecasted, we need to look at the root causes of yesterday that bring us to this point in history of today and how we are going to move forward.

I was very much interested in the chart that you shared with us earlier to look at the recent past history and the neglect that has caused such hardship in so many of the communities across this country. And, rightfully, it can be stated that this recession that we are currently enduring was pretty much triggered by the housing crisis, the mortgage crisis, the lending crisis, the foreclosure crisis. And as has been indicated by Representative Kilroy, it impacts in several ways; and we can measure that in very interesting dynamics.

To think of the fact that one out of every 200 homes will be foreclosed upon is a very unraveling thought. That translates to some 3,000 people just in this capital city of Washington, D.C. alone. That is a tremendously difficult burden for communities. When you think of the fact that one child in every classroom in America is at risk of losing her or his home because the parents cannot pay for that mortgage, six in 10 homeowners that wish they understood the terms and details of their mortgages better. And the list goes on and on, all sorts of dynamics that really speak to the trouble that is out there and the impact that has been felt in our communities.

Any number of tipping points can cause this mortgage crisis or this foreclosure crisis. It can range from a job loss in this tough economy, to a health crisis that many families face, to previously missed mortgage payments--or certainly the lack of savings and access to credit, which has been another dynamic that has been dealt with and felt very severely by America's working families.

But on March 5 of this year, several of us--perhaps all of us in this colloquy--were able to stand up on this floor and pass H.R. 1106, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which was our step forward, with the leadership of this House, with Speaker Pelosi determined to make a difference, with the Members of the majority looking to respond as there wasn't a response in the past, with the President and his administration looking to employ certain agencies to help resolve these crises.

We are going to move forward with a plan of action. And we need to make certain that more people are allowed to have a stable, affordable mortgage outcome. We need to work with agencies like the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Agriculture to allow people to modify their mortgages so that we can save the day for many homeowners. We need to expand the FHA's mortgage loan modification abilities so that, again, we can bring assistance to so many families.

Yes.

Madam Speaker, these undoubtedly are tough economic times, not only for our country but for many across the world. So as we recognize that we co-exist in this global community, it is important for us to go forward thoughtfully and fairly with a sense of justice as we approach the issues of trade, making certain that there be this balance, that there be this fairness in the trade options that are available to this Nation and others, and that we move forward in a way that most progressively responds to the needs of this global community in which we share our opportunities.

I grew up in and now represent New York's 21st Congressional District,

which was once home to dozens of thriving mill towns. Now if you drive across that district, my district, from Troy to Cohoes, to Schenectady, to Amsterdam, to Gloversville, you can see the glaring hole that the loss of industry has created. This is a story that resonates all too frequently throughout the United States, from New England to the Midwest, and now even into the South.

My hometown of Amsterdam, New York, was once home to thriving carpet mills that employed thousands of workers. Decades ago General Electric employed more than 40,000 workers in Schenectady, and American Locomotive employed 12,000-plus. But for a few thousand GE employees, manufacturing in Schenectady has disappeared. The glove-making industry once employed 80 percent of the residents of Gloversville, New York, and that industry has also almost completely disappeared.

The decline of manufacturing in Upstate New York occurred before the free trade agreements that were negotiated in the 1990s. But since those agreements have been signed, the decline of manufacturing has accelerated dramatically.

Trade policy, when done right, can benefit countries around the world. My objection, Madam Speaker, is that our current trade agreements place a disproportionate burden on American workers and leave our United States at a significant competitive disadvantage compared to the rest of the world. By negotiating trade agreements that do not have adequate labor standards or environmental provisions, we simply export pollution and poor working standards to other nations. It is indeed hard for a glove-manufacturing company based in my congressional district to compete with another manufacturer located in one of the so-called ``free trade zones'' in Central America, for instance, where employees make cents on the dollar, are offered no benefits, and work in factories that do not have those safety provisions so guaranteed for our American workers.

By inserting basic labor standards into our trade agreements that address worker pay, worker safety, worker benefits, and the length of that workday, American workers will be more competitive. In addition, by strengthening labor provisions in our trade agreements, we can help guarantee that better standard of living for workers in the countries with which we are trading.

Environmental standards are often another significant area that have not been sufficiently addressed by NAFTA, and this oversight is continuing under these NAFTA-like trade agreements coming before us. In the 1970s we collectively agreed that preserving the environment is essential, is necessary to our health and our way of life. The legislation that came out of that period helped to preserve our air and our water by limiting the pollutants that companies could emit into the environment, our environment. By agreeing to free trade agreements that do not include similar provisions to protect the environment, we not only make American manufacturers less competitive, but we export our pollution to developing countries.

Again, the solution to this problem is simple: by including environmental provisions into our trade agreements, we can even the playing field for American workers and reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing in other countries.

I honestly believe that trade can help the American economy. It can help our manufacturers and can help our workers. However, this trade has got to be done right. We cannot keep agreeing to those lopsided trade agreements that leave American workers without jobs because American companies cannot compete with firms located overseas that can pay their workers sweatshop wages and operate in ways that devastate our shared, our shared, environment.

When this body is asked to consider the past administration's NAFTA- style trade agreements in the coming months, I will be forced to add my voice to the millions of American workers who have had enough: enough of exporting American jobs overseas, enough of competing with workers that pay cents on the dollar. And the American people have had enough of free trade and demand a trade model, a fair trade model, that will help our economy recover.