Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I and others have spoken at length on the ways that this bill improves and will improve health care for all of our constituents. Another significant benefit of this legislation which has not received as much attention will be the creation of new high-paying jobs in this country. Let me repeat that for some of my friends on the other side of the aisle, this bill will create high-paying, high-quality jobs in healthcare delivery, technology, and research in the United States.

First, this bill will create enormous demand for healthcare workers, especially in the area of primary care. Insuring the millions of Americans in this country who currently have no insurance will allow them to see primary care providers and receive the wellness and preventive care they have been denied for too long. This influx of new patients will need doctors, nurses and technicians for their care, while reducing overall healthcare costs because they will not need much more expensive hospitalizations. I support channeling resources that for too long have been used to treat people once they become sick into jobs and services that will prevent people from getting sick in the first place.

Second, this bill will continue the efforts we began in the stimulus package to deploy new health information technologies that better manage both the quality of care people receive and the cost at which they receive it. New health care exchanges and new demands on the health system to provide high-quality and cost-effective health care will create new opportunities and markets for our brightest technology minds. They will be incentivized to create and develop products that will be a win/win for Americans: high quality health care at an affordable price.

Third, this bill will create high quality research opportunities in this country. The Energy and Commerce Committee enacted a framework for allowing biosimilar competition in this country. This new class of medicines will help lower costs and bring competition to one area that is key to the future of our healthcare system. Biotechnology is on the cutting edge of efforts to reducing costly invasive procedures and allowing our constituents to live healthier and more productive lives. The creation of this new class of medicines comes with requirements for new clinical research and testing, especially in the area of whether a new biosimilar can be interchangeable with an innovator's product. This research will create high quality and high paying jobs and it is imperative that we keep this research and these jobs in this country. We cannot allow these research opportunities to leave this country, and I intend to work with the Secretary of HHS and the Commissioner of the FDA to ensure they stay in the United States.

Madam Speaker, I do not look at this bill as one of cost or drain on the economy of our country like so many of its opponents on the other side of the aisle. I see this bill as an exciting opportunity to create the kind of jobs we so desperately need in this country while at the same time improving the lives of all Americans. This bill will improve health care, create jobs and grow our economy.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on November 2, 2009, we rise to thank Mr. Joe Adams for his 32 years of distinguished service to Congress. Joe has served this great institution as a valued employee of the Architect of the Capitol for 19 years and House Information Resources (HIR), in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for 13 years.

Joe joined HIR in 1996 as a Data Network Engineer. During this time, he successfully upgraded the House Campus Data Network to an Ethernet- based, high-capacity data communications backbone and increased the House Internet connection capacity 200 fold from 3 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 600 Mbps. These upgrades were the foundation of greatly improved information technology service delivery and contributed significantly to highly available, mission critical data transport services.

In recent years, as manager for the Network Systems Engineering Branch, Joe led a team of engineers who helped implement upgrades to support efficient, effective and sustainable services to the House. His unparalleled dedication, considerable institutional knowledge and attention to detail have helped the Office of the CAO maintain a high degree of customer satisfaction. For his performance, he was awarded the ``CAO Distinguished Service Award'' in 2003 and the ``CAO Excellence Award for Knowledge'' in 2008.

On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Joe for his years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the United States Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Philadelphia Tribune, the oldest, continuously published African American owned newspaper in the nation. For 125 years the Tribune has chronicled the African American story while also being an important part of that story.

The Tribune was founded in 1884 by Christopher Perry, only 19 years after the end of the U.S. Civil War. Perry, born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1856, moved to Philadelphia at the age of 17, intent on starting a newspaper. He said, ``For my people to make progress, they must have a newspaper through which they can speak against injustice.''

Perry published the first edition of the Tribune Weekly when he was 28. This one-page, one-man operation newspaper debuted the same year African American inventor Lewis Lattimer began working for Thomas Edison, Booker T. Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute, and Harriet Tubman was still alive. After Perry died in 1921, the leadership of the newspaper passed to his son-in-law, E. Washington Rhodes.

From 1922 to 1970, Mr. Rhodes was at the helm of the newspaper as publisher. Appointed by President Calvin Coolidge, Mr. Rhodes served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, the first African American to do so. Additionally, Mr. Rhodes served as president of the National Bar Association, was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1938, and was president of the National Publishers Association (NNPA), a national trade organization of African American owned newspapers.

Committed to the newspaper's mission, the Tribune has been led over the past decades

by Eustace Gay, John Saunders, Alfred Morris and Waverly Easley. Today under the leadership of Chairman Walter Livingston, Jr. and President/ CEO Robert Bogle, the Tribune newspaper continues to expand and has been the recipient of numerous national awards including the NNPA's John B. Russwurm Award for ``Best Newspaper in America'' Award and the A. Phillip Randolph ``Messenger Award.''

President Bogle stresses that after 125 years the mission of the Philadelphia Tribune has not wavered. ``For 125 years the Tribune has been the voice of those who would have been voiceless.'' For that reason, Madame Speaker, I salute the proud history, advocacy, and courage of the Philadelphia Tribune. The Tribune is an historic trailblazer whose light continues to lead on the path to justice and equality for the voiceless, and I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring them.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor my friend, and a friend to Philadelphia, Lester C. Brown. After 18 years of service on the Philadelphia City Counsel, Mr. Brown is retiring as the Chief of Staff for Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell. Throughout his career, Mr. Brown has shown exceptional leadership in community service and tireless dedication to his constituents in need. For instance, he currently serves as the democratic leader of the 24th ward.

Mr. Brown was born in the 1920s in Savannah, Georgia, at a time when equality was just a distant dream for many Americans. Despite the hardships that the Jim Crow laws placed on African Americans, Lester developed the personal strength to overcome the adversities he faced. He began his career in journalism at the age of 16, when he became the first African American youth to host a radio show that aired on WTOC, a CBS affiliate. After moving to New York City, Mr. Brown became a reporter for Ban Black Audio News. His hard work and determination in a divided society eventually led him to become the first African American junior executive on Madison Avenue as an Assistant Advertising Production Manager for progressive Architecture Magazine.

From there, Mr. Brown moved to Philadelphia, where he became a successful newsperson for WHAT radio. It is in the great city of Philadelphia that Mr. Brown began his influential career in community service as a youth organizer for the parents union in the Philadelphia public schools. In the 1980s he became the Executive Director of Mantua Community Planners where he was able to better the lives of multiple families, including the donation of nine homes to the members of the Mantua community through the Remove Urban Blight program.

Currently serving as the Democratic Leader of the 24th ward, and faithfully worked under Lucien B. Blackwell and Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, we are here to honor my friend, Lester C. Brown on the occasion of his retirement. Although he will be missed dearly, after 18 years of loyal service on the Council no one deserves this honor more than Mr. Brown.

Lester Brown's impressive career in the city of Philadelphia illustrates his commitment and drive to improve the lives of the city's residents. I would like to thank him for his tireless efforts, and I wish him well in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor our colleague from the Republic of Italy, the Honorable Gianfranco Conte.

As President of the Finance Commission in the Italian Parliament, Hon. Conte has worked tirelessly to strengthen the cultural, economic, and commercial ties between the United States and Italy.

Hon. Conte's efforts have bolstered the relationship between the United States and Italy, and I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Hon. Conte for his commitment to a flourishing international partnership.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor my dear fiend, Ed McBride. After I was appointed to the Chair of the House Administration Committee, our colleagues nicknamed me the ``Mayor of Capitol Hill.'' Since he became a manager in the Government Relations Department in 1991, Ed has been known as Mayor of PECO.

Ed McBride started working at PECO on September 15, 1969 as a Transportation Mechanic. For those of us in government, and for the people we serve, Ed is PECO. He acts as a voice for the customers within the company and as a voice for the company and its employees in the community.

Madam Speaker, Ed McBride is the consummate professional. He is also a gentleman in every sense of the word. I'm proud to say that Ed is my colleague, my constituent and my friend. I ask every Member of Congress to join me in honoring his 40 years of service today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 43) authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to former Senator Edward Brooke.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on the resolution under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this measure allows for a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for the first elected African American to the Senate, Edward Brooke. Senator Brooke was first elected from Massachusetts to the Senate in 1966 and served two terms.

While a Member of the Senate, Brooke championed extension of the Voting Rights Act, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and women's rights. Most notably, he fought to retain Title IX of the 1972 Education Act which guarantees equal education opportunity for girls and women. He also was a champion of affordable housing, resulting in the 1969 amendment to limit the amount of out-of-pocket expenses for public housing tenants.

After Senator Brooke's defeat in 1978, it would be 14 years before the second African American would be elected to the Senate.

I congratulate Senator Brooke on his service, and I urge all Members to support the resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

I will yield the gentlewoman 2 more minutes.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of S. Con. Res. 43 and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on the occasion of his retirement on May 15, 2009, we rise to thank Mr. Peyton ``Jeff'' Jackson for his 31 years of distinguished service to the United States House of Representatives. Jeff has served this great institution as a valued employee of House Information Resources (HIR), within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Jeff began his tenure with the United States House of Representatives in 1978 as Lead Computer Operator in the HIR Communications Services group. Jeff assisted in diagnosing and resolving operational problems with the various online systems supported by the Computer Center. He also monitored and maintained all House data communication networks including the Amdahl 4705 and 4745 front-end processors. Jeff tracked and logged trouble calls from both the Washington and district offices and dispatched network installation technicians for problem calls. Jeff's expertise contributed to the installation and maintenance of the IBM 3270 inventory and storage facilities for the Communications Services group. Jeff continued to provide network operational support to the ever expanding networking and unified communications infrastructure environment.

Jeff has played an integral role in the revamping of the Network Control Center (NCC) following the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. The NCC was later expanded to encompass the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) which serves as a transmission point for emergency action messages to the House community.

On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Jeff for his many years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the United States House of Representatives.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Philadelphia Senior Center for 60 years of outstanding service to their community.

Founded by the Female Society for the Relief and Employment of the Poor, Philadelphia Senior Center has been enriching the lives of seniors in Philadelphia since 1949. From its modest beginnings, Philadelphia Senior Center (PSC) has expanded to three branches around the city. PSC centers and services are free to any individual over the age of 55, and over 60 percent of PSC members have incomes well below the poverty level. Combined, these centers assist over 5,000 clients and members each year.

PSC provides an incredible array of services and aid to seniors in the Philadelphia area.

Nearly 400 nutritious meals are provided daily and 70,000 yearly, at the PSC branches. Over 70 classes and activities are offered at PSC, ranging from Tai Chi to art classes to computer use instruction. PSC also maintains the crucial Financial Management Service. The only program of its kind in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Financial Management Service enables seniors to make sound financial decisions for their households. PSC also has trained counselors and staff to help with housing issues seniors might face. These PSC workers help find affordable housing and resolve issues and disputes for its members.

For 60 years, Philadelphia Senior Center has been dedicated to advancing the wellbeing and personal growth of all seniors. I ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in thanking the Philadelphia Senior Center for all they have done to improve the lives of thousands of people in Philadelphia and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 41) providing for the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by the people of Alabama, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution provides for the use of the Capitol rotunda on October 7, 2009, for a presentation and unveiling ceremony of the statue of Helen Keller. Since her story has been widely told, Helen Keller has been a lasting symbol of perseverance and bravery worldwide. Struck blind and deaf when she was a little over a year old, Helen Keller went on to lead a remarkable life.

She was the first blind person to receive a bachelor's degree. At the age of

22, she published her autobiography, ``The Story of My Life'' and went on to write 10 more books. She was an outspoken activist and proponent of women's rights as well as an advocate for people with disabilities.

Helen Keller is a superb addition to the already impressive National Statuary Hall collection. I am proud to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Griffith).

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

I also thank the gentleman for his cooperation in everything we do in our committee. I do think that Helen Keller will be a great addition to Statuary Hall.

Some wise old lady told me years ago that when someone gives you lemons, you turn them into lemonade, and that's exactly what that lady did. That statue in Statuary Hall will be an inspiration to all of us.

With that, I support the resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor my friend Stanley L. Straughter, Chairman of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs. Throughout his thirty year career, Stanley has been dedicated to the cause of international development and the betterment of those living in his community.

Having lived and worked in various places around the world, including Africa, Asia, Russia, and the Caribbean, Stanley has a long history of working with foreign nations to promote economic development. Stanley has worked with foreign governments on transparency and financial issues, trade policy, and foreign direct investment. Among his many roles, Stanley serves as an advisor to the World Conference of Mayors, as Senior Finance Advisor to Niger and Togo, and as a Senior Advisor to the African Development Bank.

In addition to Stanley's exceptional work in international development, he is also a committed member of other groups and organizations. Stanley is a member of various national

and international organizations, such as African American Unity Caucus, the Foundation for Hospice in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Global Interdependence Center. Stanley is also a member of organizations founded to improve his local community. He is a member of the Housing Association of Delaware County, the Philadelphia Revitalization and Education Program, and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

In recognition of Stanley's hard work, he will be presented with the Outstanding Community Leader Award at the Laborers' Local 332 Friends of Labor Committee's Annual Black Tie Charity Dinner.

Stanley's impressive career proves a long-standing commitment to the cause of international development. His extensive work showcases his dedication to the improvement of the international community, as well as his local community.

Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Committee on House Administration in conjunction with Ranking Member Daniel Lungren, we want to take a few moments to recognize and say thank you to the Library of Congress Police, who will be formally merged into the U.S. Capitol Police force on October 1, 2009.

The Library of Congress, founded by Congress in 1800, is not only the Nation's oldest federal cultural institution and research arm of the Congress, it is an unparalleled multimedia world resource containing more than 142 million items in its collections with more and more information in digital form, including numerous documents concerning the founding of the Nation and its history.

The Library's collections, buildings, and dedicated staff are widely known and respected and protecting these resources has been both the mission and achievement of the Library of Congress Police. Security at the Library, like other U.S. public institutions, includes protecting facilities, staff and visitors. Uniquely, the Library of Congress must also protect--for the present and future use of Congress and the Nation--the largest, richest and most diverse collection of recorded knowledge ever assembled.

In the early days, Library of Congress buildings and grounds were policed by building guards commissioned as special policemen. In 1950 the Librarian of Congress was given statutory authority to designate Library of Congress special police as employees of the Library. In 1987 Congress authorized that the Library Police rank structure and pay be made comparable to the Capitol Police and began in the 1990's considering whether the two police forces should be merged. Over time, the Library Police became an integral and critical part of the Library's interlocking structure to protect not only people and buildings but the priceless collections from a variety of threats. With the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the 1998 shootings of the Capitol Police officers at the Capitol and especially after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Congress mandated significant security upgrades in the Capitol complex, including the Library of Congress. Finally, in the interest of security uniformity, the President signed into law PL 110- 178 in 2008, formally merging the Capitol and Library of Congress police forces, providing, after a transition period, for completion by October 1, 2009.

Over many years, the Library Police have provided exemplary security and law enforcement for the Library of Congress. Library Police have demonstrated the highest level of dedication and excellence in both fulfilling their public safety mission and protecting the Library's irreplaceable collections.

As the force is now merged into the Capitol Police, it marks the end of the storied era of the Library of Congress Police as a distinct entity.

We ask our colleagues to thank them. We want every member of the force, past and present, to know how much we in the Congress have valued their service and professionalism.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Dennis L. Martire, Vice President and Regional Manager of the Laborers' International Union of North America. Throughout his career, Mr. Martire has shown exceptional leadership and has worked tirelessly for laborers.

In 1990 Mr. Martire began his career as an International Representative for the Laborers' International Union of North America, LIUNA, Jurisdictional Disputes Department. Since then, Mr. Martire has assumed various leadership positions within LIUNA. He became Assistant Director, and then Director, of the Laborers' Construction Department. In March 2000, Mr. Martire became Assistant Regional Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Region of LIUNA, and was elected Vice President and Regional Manager just 2 years later.

In addition to Mr. Martire's role within LIUNA, he also serves on various committees, boards, and organizations committed to advancing the laborers' cause. Mr. Martire serves as a Trustee on several organizations, such as the Laborers' Health and Safety Fund of North America, the LIUNA National Health and Welfare Fund, and the Laborers- AGC Education and Training Fund. Mr. Martire also serves as the Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Laborers' Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizing Coalition, and the Mid-Atlantic Laborers' Political League.

In recognition of Mr. Martire's hard work and dedication, he will be presented with the Labor Man of the Year Award at the Friends of Labor Committee of Laborers' Local 332 Annual Black Tie Charity dinner.

Mr. Martire's impressive career with the Laborers' International Union of North America showcases his commitment and drive to promote the wellbeing of LIUNA and its members. His work clearly exemplifies his personal mission to improve working conditions and provide all laborers with well-paying, secure jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 9) providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, this joint resolution will appoint Dr. France Cordova as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution for a 6-year term beginning on the day of its enactment into law. The appointment would fill a long-standing vacancy and would bring the Board of Regents back up to full strength again for the first time in several years.

Dr. Cordova is the president of Purdue University in Indiana. She also served as chief scientist at NASA in the 1990s. The members of the Committee on House Administration met with her in July, and we found her to be very qualified to represent the

American people on the Smithsonian's governing body.

I urge approval of the joint resolution so that Dr. Cordova can assume her seat in time for the Regents' next meeting later this month.

I now reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the ranking member on the House Administration Committee for his cooperation, as always.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, as I did last year, I rise today to congratulate and recognize outstanding employees of the Officers (Clerk of the House, Sergeant at Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer) and Inspector General of the U.S. House of Representatives who have reached the milestone of 25 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Our most important asset in the House is our dedicated employees, and their work, often behind the scenes, is vital in keeping the operations and services of the House running smoothly and efficiently. The employees we recognize today are acknowledged and commended for their hard work, dedication, and support of House Members, their staffs and constituents, and for their contributions day-in and day-out to the overall operations of the House. These employees have a wide range of responsibilities that support the legislative process, assure the security of the institution, and maintain our technology and service infrastructure. They have accomplished a great many things in a wide range of activities, and the House of Representatives and its Members, staff, and the general public, are better served because of them. The individuals we honor today have collectively provided 225 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives:

Tina M. Agee, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Peter L. Baer, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Joseph M. Dean, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Alan Deluca, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Patrick T. Kenealy, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; John A. King, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Patricia A. Mattimore, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Thoa N. Nguyen, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer; Charles D. Woodson, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.

On behalf of the entire House community, I extend congratulations and once again recognize and thank these employees for their commitment to the U.S. House of Representatives as a whole, and to their respective House Officers and Inspector General in particular. Their long hours and hard work are invaluable, and their years of unwavering service, dedication, and commitment to the House set an example for their colleagues and other employees who will follow in their footsteps. I celebrate our honorees, and I am proud to stand before you and the nation on their behalf to recognize the importance of their public service.