Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I rise to commend my constituent, Sherry Friedlander Olsen, on being named Florida's Outstanding Older Worker for 2008. This year marks the eleventh year Experience Works has recognized remarkable individuals, 65 and older, who continue to make valuable contributions in the workplace through the Prime Time Awards.

Experience Works is a national organization that seeks to improve the lives of every day Americans through community service, training and empowering seniors through the dignity of work. Sherry Friedlander was given this honor on account of her revolutionary program that helps find missing children, elderly people and disabled individuals by enabling law enforcement agencies to get the word out quickly.

Sherry is the founder of A Child Is Missing and currently serves as the program's Executive Director. Since its inception, her program has assisted in the safe recovery of over 380 missing people.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Sherry came to Fort Lauderdale in 1964 to marry her husband, George. Since then, Sherry has remained committed to helping those in need. Her tireless work has been recognized in Congress with the passing of H.R. 5464, A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act. This bill expands the widely-praised South Florida nonprofit organization into a national program with regional centers under the Department of Justice. The bill passed with the support of more than two thirds of this distinguished chamber.

For her achievements, Mrs. Friedlander Olsen has received the prestigious J. Edgar Hoover award for Distinguished Public Service and was named the Kiwanian of the Year. It is now my distinct pleasure to congratulate Sherry Friedlander Olsen as Florida's Outstanding Older Worker of 2008.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.

To be clear, there are certainly issues that Congress must address in any future consideration of the flood insurance program. But first and foremost, we must ensure that the NFIP continues to protect our communities.

The NFIP was established to provide homeowners with protection from flood, following recognition that the private market was simply not capable of providing the necessary coverage. The program, which has been operating since 1968, is integral to ensuring that homeowners in high-risk areas, such as my South Florida district, are able to receive adequate protection from flood and are able to swiftly recover following a disaster.

In Broward County, we currently have over 400,000 residential NFIP policies in place--which is more policies than any other county in the nation. Palm Beach County is also near the top of the list with over 150,000 NFIP policies.

The stability provided by the NFIP allows homeowners to responsibly insure their property from flood damage, which is especially important given the active the nature of this year's hurricane season.

It's important to recognize however that the NFIP is only one piece of the larger puzzle of protecting our homeowners from disaster. With the property insurance crisis growing across the U.S., many people are facing difficulties protecting themselves against windstorms. And it is no longer simply a Florida problem, but is becoming a national issue. Policyholders are being dropped or are facing dramatic rate increases in states that are not traditionally considered high risk, such as Massachusetts and New York. Many insurers are no longer writing at all on the coasts of states like Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

That is why Congressman Tim Mahoney and I introduced and passed the Homeowners' Defense Act last year. This legislation addresses the crisis in availability and affordability of homeowners' insurance. It helps states to manage the risk that has been assumed by their state sponsored insurance funds by allowing them to enter the capital markets to find global investors that would be willing to assume that risk on their behalf. Our plan aims to increase market stabilization, particularly in times following natural disasters when rates traditionally increase dramatically and homeowners are dropped from their insurers.

With this legislation having already passed the House, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass our comprehensive plan to help homeowners and stabilize the market.

Madam Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 1361, a resolution that urges the U.S. government to prevent the upcoming U.N. World Conference on Racism from being hijacked by those seeking to spread anti-Semitism and hate. The theory behind a conference on racism, where members of all nations come together to fight hate and promote diversity, is an important goal. Unfortunately, just as they have in the past, the organizers of this U.N. conference on Racism seem to have buried the task at hand.

In 2001, the conference was held in Durban, South Africa, and was hijacked and transformed into an anti-Israel tirade. While racism and the promotion of hate are taught in many classrooms around the world, the organizers of this U.N. conference unfairly chose to single out Israel. This must stop.

The United States must take a leadership role now, while the conference is still in planning stages, to ensure that such a despicable charade will not be repeated. The administration must work with our allies and use its leverage to ensure that this conference lives up to its name. And, if it seems that the conference is going to mock the world's fight against racism and it becomes clear that the conference will become a forum to promote hate and anti-Israel sentiment, then I urge the administration to pull U.S. support and work with our allies to show the conference for what it is: a sham.

Finally, I join the sponsors of this legislation in commending the efforts of our allies, France, Canada, and Israel for declaring their intentions not to participate in Durban II if its agenda is diverted.

It is imperative that the United States not stand idly by while countries around the world belittle the fight against racism. I look forward to working with my colleagues, the administration and countries around the world until we get this right.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.

I rise in support of H.R. 6338, a bill to honor the life and legacy of Specialist Daniel J. Agami, who was killed in action on June 21, 2007, while serving his country in Iraq.

Daniel Agami was a devoted friend, a loving son and brother and courageous soldier. Growing up in South Florida, Daniel's parents raised him with strong Jewish values, and he was very proud of his Jewish heritage. To his friends, and he got quite a kick out of it, he was known as ``GI Jew.'' A little different.

Daniel knew he was meant to serve a greater purpose in life, and in 2005 his love for country and an unyielding drive to serve others led him to enlist in the United States Army. For his heroism in combat, Daniel was posthumously presented with multiple medals of honor, including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

During his service in the U.S. Army, Daniel worked with local schools, devastated from war and destruction, to refurbish their structures and mentor their students.

The communities he served in Iraq and here at home have suffered a tremendous loss. Daniel made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, and it is with great pride that I rise in support of this legislation to recognize his strong moral character and his work to make this world a better place.

It is my sincere hope that when the South Florida community utilizes the services of the post office in Coconut Creek, Florida, they will remember and honor Army Specialist Daniel Agami and his exceptional patriotism and courage.

I would like to also thank the members of the Florida congressional delegation for their strong support of this legislation. I would also like to recognize the Agami family: Parents, Beth and Itzhak; brother, Ilan and his wife, Elisha; sister, Shaina; and grandmother, Sandy Becker. The Agami family will be in Washington D.C. later this week where they will celebrate and honor Daniel's life and memory.

I urge passage of this piece of legislation.

I thank the chairman.

I rise to support the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act. This bill is a real comprehensive energy solution, one that will bring down gas prices in the short-term and, most importantly, end our national addiction to oil in the long-term.

This is the energy plan that Americans have been waiting for since the oil embargo of 1973. The sooner we take oil out of the equation, the better it will be for our economy and our national security.

This legislation has the potential to dramatically reduce gas prices and set our country on a path to energy independence with real investment in clean technologies and provide tax breaks for individuals and businesses which make smart energy choices.

In this package we treat oil as a transition to the innovative technologies of the future, but it is only a transition. Congress has finally learned through the American people that we cannot continue to feed our oil addiction and remain competitive in a global economy.

This package opens up new parts of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling, 85 percent of it, and it also includes the drill-it-or-lose- it provision that I have supported. This basically says that Congress is telling the oil companies that they must drill on the land or offshore areas that they already control, or step aside and let someone else drill on that area.

I have always believed that most Americans believe that that ingenuity that put a man on the Moon can and will solve our energy crisis, and this package provides the necessary incentives for our scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to perfect the next generation of clean, affordable energy sources. America is well ahead of the Bush administration on energy policy, and is more than ready to embrace this comprehensive energy plan.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the achievements of the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale on its 40th anniversary. Since opening its doors in 1968, the Art Institute has helped countless students grow artistically and develop skills vital to the many industries that graduates of the Art Institute choose.

Just some of the notable Art Institute alumni include: three-time Pulitzer-prize winning photojournalist Carol Guzy, American fantasy artist Tony DiTerlizzi, and fashion designer and tennis world champion Venus Williams.

Currently, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale is composed of 15 art departments, two applied-art schools, and the International Culinary School. The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale continues to raise the bar in South Florida higher education.

The Art Institute works with Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade county high schools to help a broader range of students achieve their professional goals through art education. I would like to congratulate the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale on its first 40 years of expansion and success and wish it all the best in the future.

Madam Speaker, 7 years ago, our country was attacked by those who sought to terrorize our way of life through violence and through fear. The tragedy and loss caused by these hateful acts will haunt our generation, yet the resilience of the American people will inspire many more to come.

Today, America stands strong and our democracy undeterred. This republic remains one Nation, united by democratic ideals and tolerance.

New York, home to many South Floridians where I am from, remains in the hearts and minds of all Americans. Florida, like New York, is a mosaic of traditions and cultures. Such communities can only exist when respect and understanding champion over bigotry and hate.

America is founded upon the principles of freedom, we are sustained by the rule of law, and we are defended by brave men and women at home and abroad who serve our country and protect our democracy. In remembering September 11, 2001, we must never forget the sacrifices made by Americans that came before us, and always honor those that continue to do so today.

I'd like to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio and all my colleague here tonight. I'm going to carry this conversation a little further about fiscal discipline because all of us elected last year, Democrats and, interestingly enough, Republicans, have supported fiscal discipline, but got way off track over the last 10 years. It's now the Democrats, many of us, who are sort of leading the fight. We are the fiscal hawks. We are the ones saying this is totally unacceptable for all the reasons you heard tonight.

I think the gentleman from Vermont already mentioned this, but it's worth restating. The Bush administration is responsible for the five biggest deficits, and that total is a staggering amount. But I want to just take that one step further because this is the kind of change that we are going to deliver.

Given the opportunities over the next couple of years, hopefully in a bipartisan way, that is the way we get things done here, but looking at this figure here, this is a chart that says: Taxpayer spending on Iraq war versus Federal spending on other priorities. This is for last year, fiscal year. It has the cost of the Iraq war, $150 billion.

The cost of NIH funding, that is all the research that government does, all the research on cancer and heart disease and Alzheimer's, all the things that afflict our families and our communities, it is a substantial amount of money. But that figure, plus all the college tuition assistance, everything we do to try to make sure that kids get

into school and get a college education, which we know is so important in the world economy, plus the cost of all the children's health care we provide in the United States, and all the cost of all the bridge repairs and road building and all the things that go on in every single one of our communities, sewers, roads, bridges, all those kinds of things, if you take the cost of roads and bridges, the cost of research, the cost of all the college tuition and the cost of all the health care, that total sum is less than what we spent on the Iraq war.

Now, we debated at length whether the Iraq war is a good war or not or has accomplished a lot. I personally believe, and I serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee, that, unfortunately, the real threat against our national security is in Afghanistan. And it still boggles my mind and most Americans that Osama bin Laden, who committed the worst crime against Americans in our history in the United States, is still free somewhere in the world perpetrating additional threats against the United States through al Qaeda.

The problem, of course, is that he and others most likely are in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the mountain areas there. Unfortunately, we took our eye off the ball. But let's put that issue aside. Hopefully we will be able to deal with that in the near future with the next President.

Let's just talk about, we have spent $650 billion. I want everybody to remember this number, that is $339 million we are spending each day on the war in Iraq, $339 million per day. Let's think about what we could do with that money. I mean, we could have a debate at length here, and I am sure everybody listening tonight on the floor and throughout our country would have lots of good ideas that are legitimate priorities for our country. Yet we are spending that amount of money.

Now, is there an answer that the Democrats have put forward? You bet there is. What was this war sold to us on in terms of how it was going to be paid for? Oil revenues. Iraq sits on the third largest oil revenues and reserves of oil in the world; $80 billion, it is reported, in banks, some of which is in New York. Eighty billion dollars. That money was supposed to pay for the cost of reconstruction of Iraq, the cost of our military fuel and the cost also of the retraining of the military in Iraq, our military training their military. All legitimate things. Yet what has happened? President Bush has refused, the Republicans have refused to do that.

Now, I introduced a bill, H.R. 1111. H.R. 1111. I said it is number one, put Americans first. I think most Americans would agree with that. Let's take the money that Iraq has, it is $80 billion, and let them pay for the cost of their reconstruction, the cost of our men and women training their military, and our fuel costs. That is common sense. That is what we were told in the beginning. They have got the money.

Let's get on with it. That is how we can start putting Americans first and all the priorities that are so important to fixing our economy, getting jobs created, getting an educational system, getting health care put back together, Social Security, Medicare, all the priorities that make America strong on the inside first.

So I think that is a very important point, and we finally got a little bit of discussion on this. But the reality is this is the kind of leadership we are offering and we are providing.

Thank you to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Just to pick up on your point on our men and women serving and our veterans, I'm from Florida. Every one of us in our districts has a huge number of veterans--some from World War II, some from the Korean war, some from Vietnam. Many of our Vietnam veterans today are hurting. Whether it's Agent Orange or just age, itself, it has really begun to impact them. Now we're creating a new generation of an upwards of 2 million new veterans. We don't want to create that next generation of homeless. We know there are huge post-traumatic stress issues associated with it, but I'm particularly proud in working with our local veterans' organizations and national veterans' organizations which gave our leaders the recommendations of what they need in order to eliminate the backlog, to make sure that the care was in place for evaluations of post-traumatic stress or to recognize that, of the many men and women coming home today, back in the Vietnam war, they wouldn't have lived with their damage and with their injuries. That's right. Today, they're coming home, and we have a responsibility. I say this and people understand. Americans understand. We stand up for our men and women who put the uniform on. That's something we feel very strongly about, but we have to recognize that we will have to provide for them for the rest of their lives and that we will have to support their families as well. That new GI Bill is key. It was the right thing to do. For many of the people who don't even know this, it even allows the balance of those benefits to go to the spouse and to the children. Isn't that the right thing to do for the families?

I mean that's the ``thank you'' that Americans want to give the men and women who serve us, but when we are asked to serve in our military, we need to make sure it is the right place and the right time and for our national security interests, which is, unfortunately, what went wrong.

The gentlewoman from Ohio, you have led the fight in this Congress on jobs. I'm from Ohio originally. You and I talk about that. I grew up in Cleveland. Now, as a Floridian, I know we have a different set of economic issues in Florida, but they're very similar in terms of jobs being lost overseas. I want to point this board out real fast here because it talks about jobs created through August in President Clinton's years.

There were 1.47 million jobs created under President Clinton. In President Bush's 8 years----

Excuse me. In 8 months. Thank you. In these last 8 months, 605,000 jobs were lost under this administration. You'll hear in the Presidential election on the Republican side the same thing again and again and again, the same economic plan. It's an old plan. It's not getting us anywhere.

I just want to point this out because we can do better. It's one of those areas again. This Congress has already done a number of things, I think, that are very positive. We've passed the biggest increase in the Pell Grants in years. For those who aren't familiar with Pell Grants, it's those scholarships for great students to get into college. The kids in our communities want to get those great college educations. There are Pell Grants and other types of financial incentives for kids to get into schools.

We recognize foreclosures are a big problem in many of our communities. My district in Fort Lauderdale has a huge number of foreclosures. It's not just the individual person who is foreclosed on; it's the neighbors who are impacted, and it's the depression on the value of homes, and it's the communities that are impacted and all of the things that go with it.

And we passed something that the Congresses in the past should have done in the last few years to prevent this from ever happening in the first place. We actually did some things now to help get people back on their feet and fix that.

But look what happened last week again. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, another multi billion dollar bailout. And why are they doing this? Well, they have to do it is what we're told.

But the bottom line is again, a legacy of very, very bad economic planning, very bad policies that this administration and previous Congresses were not able to do anything or had no will to do anything about.

The bottom line is, though, we are a resilient people as Americans. We have a resilient economy, and we will get beyond there.

So I'm all for the education part; I'm all for the job training part, our community colleges, our universities, our scholarships, the job training, the skill sets to get everybody back to work and the recognition that if we are going to do some economic stimulus thing, let's get our infrastructure, let's go out there in the community.

Well, I think it's really been an honor and privilege to be with my colleagues tonight. It's been an honor and privilege to serve as the freshman class, as Democrats and serving with our Republican colleagues as well. This is a great institution. Our country is a great country.

We've pointed out, as you said from the very beginning, where we're starting from. That's the reality. I mean, as decisionmakers, if you're in business or you run your household, you always have to know where you start from in order to make good decisions going forward.

And unfortunately, our next President and this next Congress and our country is going to be saddled for a little while with debt. And that's something we can start to dig our way out. And one thing that we did in this Congress, Democrats leading the charge here on our fiscal conservative policies is PAYGO. And that's a principle that everybody operates. You may not know what that means. PAYGO, pay as you go. It's the most simple principle. If you have a checkbook, you can't spend more money than what's in your checkbook. Or if you have a credit card, you can't spend more money than you can afford to pay back every month.

Well, why should Congress, in the last 6 years under the administration, operate under this principle of because we can print money, they just keep printing?

Well, fortunately last year a new principle is involved here. And now, when we pass a bill, unless it's an emergency, we have to make sure the money is in the budget. No, based on speculation that in the next number of months we're going to have all this new revenue in here. Things have slowed down a little bit, so we have to be realistic. That's exactly what the American people expect, and that's the kind of leadership we're delivering.

So I am pretty excited about the fiscal policies under this Congress, and we're beginning to get them where they should be. A new president with new policies, not tied to the old policies as we've been talking tonight will deliver on that on our health care, on Social Security, on Medicare, veterans' benefits will continue to be the highest priority and understanding that comes first.

Getting our foreign policy, which I serve on the committee, and many of you do, getting that re-established in a way that we earn the respect and work well with our partners around the world to really make sure that our national security is protected. And most importantly, get our economy, our American families in Ohio, in West Virginia and Wisconsin and Florida, in Seattle, everywhere, all over the country, that we will get them back in shape and give those Americans the opportunities that they've always had. And every generation, that principle of every generation having it a little better than the last generation. It's what my parents fought for. It's what my grandparents fought for and it's what we fight for our children.

So I thank our President, Madam Betty Sutton from Ohio, Peter Welch from Vermont, Mr. Perlmutter from the great State of Colorado, Dr. Kagen from Wisconsin, Mr. Murphy from Connecticut. It's just a small representation of a great group of people that really are working very hard to do the right thing by Americans and get our country back on track.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, On Friday, August 1, 2008 I was unavoidably detained.

Had I voted, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 558.

Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. McCaul of Texas

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the House passed two pieces of legislation critical to consumer safety, both in my district in south Florida and of course throughout the United States.

The first bill, the Product Safety Modernization Act, bans dangerous chemicals in the manufacture of children's toys to keep them safe. The second bill, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, grants the FDA necessary authority to restrict tobacco marketing and sales to children.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most important responsibilities as parents that we have is to keep our children safe. I'm proud that we passed these bills by a bipartisan majority to demonstrate that we will not allow our children to be exposed to toxic chemicals by unscrupulous toy manufacturers or cigarette company marketers.

The rash of product recalls in the last year prove that we must be vigilant when it comes to consumer safety. Thanks to this week's legislation, parents in south Florida and across the Nation can rest a little easier.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the tireless efforts of a true local hero, Amy U. Hickman, Esquire.

A long-time Florida resident, Amy earned an Undergraduate and law degree from the University of Florida, then went on to intern for Judge Alcee Hastings, now my friend and colleague in Congress. Since then, Amy has made a name for herself championing adoption legislation improvements.

Amy is known by her peers for her skills as a keen litigator and as THE go-to person for adoption cases.

She had been an associate civil trial litigator at a prestigious South Florida law firm, but Amy chose to devote her career to serving the neediest in our community- our children.

In 1996, Amy co-founded her own practice, with her partner Michelle Hausmann, to specialize in adoption placement, litigation, parental rights and surrogacy.

In 2002, Amy drafted substantial revisions to Florida's adoption law and has successfully lobbied to help children in the Florida legislature.

Amy continues to be a force for positive change. Her career is a testament to her devotion to children that need a home. That is why I nominated Amy as an ``angel in Adoption.'' Her commitment to finding safe homes for our kids is unparalleled. Countless children enjoy a caring childhood, thanks to Amy Hickman. I commend her for her service.

Mr. Speaker, the economic challenges that are affecting America are having a real impact on my constituents in South Florida. The Associated Press recently reported that Fort Lauderdale has among the highest foreclosure rates in the country. Market stability is of the utmost importance in returning Florida's economy to a position of strength and restoring consumer confidence.

The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act provides mortgage refinancing assistance to keep families from losing their homes, protect neighboring home values, and help stabilize the housing market. It also helps borrowers avoid foreclosure, while minimizing taxpayer exposure and, at the same time, requires lenders and home owners to take responsibility. It also provides a $7,500 tax credit to first time home buyers to jump start the residential real estate market.

This is an excellent, well-thought-out response to the housing market crisis that we are dealing with.

I would like to thank Chairman Frank and Chairwoman Waters and the minority members who worked on this commonsense economic compromise legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act of 2008, and to applaud my good friend and the bill's lead sponsor, Senator Nelson, who has been a tireless advocate on this issue for Florida's recreational boaters.

I also want to thank the distinguished chairman of the full committee and my good friend from Minnesota, Mr. Oberstar, for fulfilling a promise he made on the House floor when we considered the Coast Guard bill back in April. He promised then to take up this issue on behalf of recreational boaters before the September 30th deadline, and once again, the distinguished Chairman has proven that he is one of the truly great leaders of the House.

Mr. Speaker, in a mere 70 days, the nation's 73 million recreational boaters will face a huge and unreasonable regulatory burden as a result of a recent U.S. District Court decision. The underlying decision dealt primarily with halting the spread of invasive species through commercial ballast water--an effort I support, having seen firsthand the ravages of invasive species on Florida's environmental treasure: the Everglades. The U.S. District Court, however, did not limit its decision only to ballast water. Instead, it struck down a longstanding exemption for recreational boaters from obtaining a permit for incidental discharges.

As a result, 73 million boaters will be forced to obtain permits from the EPA or face fines as high as $32,500. To be frank, this is a ridiculous scenario. We don't need a new DMV for our recreational boaters, especially since the EPA feels ill-equipped to handle this new regulatory responsibility.

We must also not forget that this new permitting system will hurt an industry that is already suffering as a result of our country's economic downturn. In particular, the marine industry is a major economic force in my home state of Florida, responsible for over $18 billion of revenues and 220,000 jobs statewide. It's critical to note that $13 billion of the economic impact and 162,000 of those jobs as well as almost half of the industry's gross sales come from the tri- county region, much of which is in my Congressional district.

But this great industry is not without its own perils. People don't need boats, and they generally buy them when they are comfortable with the necessities of life. The industry is also affected by high interest rates, record insurance costs and rising property taxes, particularly for those on the waterfront. We must not add to their troubles this new regulatory burden that could prevent potential boaters from buying or using a boat. That's why I cosponsored the House version of the Clean Boating Act and have supported its swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, the Senate already has acted earlier this morning by passing S. 2766 and the next bill up for debate, S. 3298. I strongly support that bill as well because it provides a two-year moratorium for certain small commercial vessels and all fishing vessels from the regulatory permits. I urge my colleagues to follow suit and adopt both bills so we can stop this logistical and regulatory nightmare.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an area of exceptional natural beauty in my congressional district. The John U. Lloyd Beach State Park was honored on the national news program Good Morning America as one of the four most unique and scenic parks in the entire country.

We're lucky in south Florida to have miles of beautiful coastline, but the John U. Lloyd Beach State Park truly stands out. In addition to sandy beaches, the State park features a coral reef ecosystem just 100 yards offshore and a mangrove swamp with a variety of plant species. Wildlife sightings are common for visitors to the park, and few will forget watching sea turtle hatchlings crawl down the beach.

I would like to commend the hardworking park rangers who care for our State park, as well as Bob and Barbara Magill, who submitted footage of the beach for national recognition.

Mr. Speaker, the John U. Lloyd Beach State Park is truly a national pleasure, and we are committed to preserving this site for future generations to enjoy. We welcome all Americans to come down and visit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the lead sponsor of H.R. 5464 to urge my colleagues to vote in support of the A Child is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act. And before I begin, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) and the gentleman from Ohio, as he supported the bill in committee as well; as well as Mr. Conyers of Michigan, the Chair of our Judiciary Committee; and the Chair of the Crime Subcommittee, Mr. Scott of Virginia, for their extraordinary leadership and support in moving this bill out of their committees and on to the floor. And also I would like to acknowledge and thank the ranking members, Mr. Smith and Mr. Gohmert. Mr. Gohmert was especially supportive during the hearing on the legislation in the Crime Subcommittee, and I would personally like to thank him for his remarks and support.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5464 would expand the widely praised A Child is Missing nonprofit organization into a national program with regional centers under the Department of Justice. The authorized funds would allow for the purchase of future technologies and techniques, centralized and on-site training, and for the distribution of information to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agency officials on the best ways to utilize the round-the-clock services provided by the A Child is Missing Alert and Recovery Center.

Currently, A Child is Missing is the only program of its kind that assists in all missing cases involving abduction, children who are lost, wander, or run away; and adults with special needs such as the elderly who suffer with Alzheimer's, which is a concern in my district in south Florida.

When a person is reported missing to the police, A Child is Missing utilizes the latest technology to place 1,000 emergency telephone calls every 60 seconds to residents and businesses in the area where the person was last seen. It works in concert with the existing AMBER Alert system and all other child safety programs and has the support of law enforcement agencies all across our country.

A Child is Missing also fills a critical gap in time in the most dangerous cases. Although the AMBER Alert has been an extremely successful program, there is still a crucial void of 3 to 5 hours in many cases from when a child is first reported missing and when an AMBER Alert shows up on our highways or is announced, which is only activated when cases of criminal abduction have been issued. This critical period of time can be the difference between whether a child lives or dies. Recently, a Washington State Attorney General's office study showed that among cases involving children abducted and murdered, 74 percent were slain in the first 3 hours. This only highlights the importance of this time element. Adding to this problem is the resource and manpower limitations facing many local law enforcement agencies. Roughly half of these officers in the United States have 25 or fewer officers, and an average 12-hour search for a missing child can cost up to $400,000.

A Child is Missing helps to fill this critical gap in time as well as complement the AMBER Alert during the ongoing search. We know this for a fact because we have heard it from countless law enforcement officers from all over the United States.

So the issue isn't whether A Child is Missing works or not. The real issue is that not enough local communities have access to the program. The founder and president of A Child is Missing, Sherry Friedlander from my home community of Ft. Lauderdale, has done an exceptional job in creating and spreading this program not only in our community but throughout all 50 States. But if we are going to bring the program to every community in all these States, then we will need to leverage the resources of the Federal Government, and that's exactly what this legislation does.

H.R. 5464 has broad bipartisan support in Congress. We have cosponsors from all across the country including Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, and New York. In the Senate companion legislation was introduced by Senator Menendez and is cosponsored by Senator Hatch, the distinguished former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We have such support because A Child is Missing provides a service that transcends politics. Our children are not Democrats or Republicans. They are our children, and they are all of our responsibility, and their protection requires us to work together to do what's best for their continued safety.

That's why, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues today to support H.R. 5464.