Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia which has served as a tower of strength for the people of the Second Congressional District. The church was founded on July 11, 1920 in a small wooden house located at 627 Society Avenue under the noble leadership of the late Reverend Grant Edgar Hall.

The church was christened by Mr. Jubie Johnson, who was also one of the first members of the church. During its inception, worship services were held on the first and third Sundays of each month. The church's first pastor, Reverend Edgar Hall, retired in 1956 due to ill health and old age. He was succeeded by Reverend R.J. Polk. Since then, the church has been blessed by several pastors who have served the people of Albany as evangelists, prophets, teachers, counselors, and friends. Reverend Polk was followed by dynamic leaders like Reverend P.E. Davenport, Reverend J.L. Jones, Reverend J.E. Brown, Reverend C.W. Heath, Reverend R.E. Ousley, Reverend Jimmy Sneed, Reverend Carl K. Rolle, Reverend Veron D. Lloyd, Reverend Clayton D. Smith and Reverend Dr. James B. Rodgers.

In the last 90 years, the church has seen exponential growth. The church's original edifice was expanded under the guidance of Reverend Ousley. The adjacent land and Annex South were developed with Reverend Rolle's valuable assistance and Annex East was purchased and refurbished under Reverend Smith's guidance. With the effective leadership from the church's pastors and tremendous public support, the church has continued to expand. Under the Reverend Walter L. Ingram, Jr., the church relocated to its larger permanent residence on 1501 Newton Road.

Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church has served as a pillar of strength for the Albany community. Through its numerous outreach ministries, it has strived to serve the people of the great state of Georgia and the city of Albany. By reaching out to those in need and comforting those who are suffering, the church has become a source of spiritual support for the people of the community.

On the occasion of its 90th Anniversary, it gives me great honor to recognize Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church for all its efforts. I thank the church and its congregation for all their years of service. I wish and hope that they continue to spread the word of God and continue serving the community in Albany. To God Be The Glory!

Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations for FY 2010.

As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I, along with many of my colleagues, have been integrally involved in the oversight of our nation's funding and support of our efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, as well as other initiatives aimed at supporting our war fighters.

The Senate's bill, which we are considering tonight, provides $58.8 billion in supplemental funds for FY 2010, including $37.1 billion for the war and $5.1 billion for FEMA, as well as $13 billion in mandatory funds to Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

While I do support the President's request for additional funding to support our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is important that we continue to monitor and assess our mission and role in both of these countries, particularly given the array of investments we need to make right here at home.

Since 2001, Congress has provided close to $1 trillion in direct funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of 18 emergency supplemental bills, not including the support we provided for the efforts in our regular annual Appropriations bills. Combined, it's estimated that we've spent between $1.5 trillion to almost to $3 trillion so far on these wars.

So I am very pleased that the amendments made in order by the rule will also provide us an opportunity to provide additional funding to the Senate passed bill for critical domestic programs, including $10 billion for education jobs, $5 billion for Pell grants and $701 million for border security.

Of particular note, I am very pleased that the bill will include funds to settle both the Cobell v. Salazar and Pigford v. Vilsack class action lawsuits and it provides $1 billion for youth jobs.

Finally, the supplemental will also include funding which is vital to an important segment of my constituency, our farmers and agricultural producers. The bill provides the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which is housed within the Department of Agriculture, with an additional $31.5 million to cover the costs associated with direct loans, guaranteed loans, operating loans and administrative expenses, which are so vital to our farmers, particularly in South Georgia.

The bill will require that the loans be made available to family farmers who may not qualify for agricultural credit through other commercial institutions in the tight credit market. While the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill provided enough funding to meet demand at the time it was passed last year, demand for the farm ownership and operating loan programs has been dramatically higher than historical levels due to the lack of availability of conventional credit.

Mr. Speaker, this Supplemental bill strikes, what I believe to be a fair and balanced approach for the emergency needs of our war fighters abroad and the critical domestic issues we face right here at home, and I support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, for over 100 years the mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights for all people, as well as to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. This organization has always envisioned a society where all barriers of racial discrimination are removed through the democratic processes, as well as to ensure equality for all Americans. Throughout the past 101 years, the NAACP has faithfully adhered to its mission.

Founded on February 12, 1909, President Lincoln's 100th birthday, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and most recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. It was established in response to the lynchings that were committed against blacks throughout the country. Today, the NAACP's more than half-million members and supporters are still the premier advocates for civil rights and equality in their respective communities.

Over the last century, the talents of the NAACP's collective membership have enabled it to overcome numerous adversities and obstacles. After 101 years of setbacks and successes, this organization currently bears witness to numerous advancements that may not have been made possible if it were not for the collective voices and willpower of NAACP supporters past and present.

It is hard to imagine where our country would be today if it had not been for the courageous men and women in the NAACP who risked their lives and livelihoods in order to promote equality.

It is hard to imagine where this country would be if the NAACP had not tirelessly fought for improved equality for African-Americans.

It is hard to imagine where this great country would be if it were not for the courageous men and women who fought to promote the rights of everyone, regardless of the color of their skin.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine our country without the NAACP. My own life would not be the same if it were not for those individuals who stood up for equality and sought to form a more perfect union.

I want to congratulate the NAACP on its 101 years of service to our country and for all of its many accomplishments. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the long-standing conflict in the Middle East unfortunately has added a new and tragic event to its history. I deeply regret the loss of life that occurred on May 31, 2010 when the Israel Defense Force intercepted the flotilla of six ships that sailed from Turkey to Gaza. Events went horribly awry when nine people died.

I want to repeat my support for the State of Israel and its right to defend itself from terrorist attacks in the strongest terms possible. Since 2005, when Israel disengaged from Gaza, over 10,000 rockets have been fired on the Jewish State, endangering the lives of thousands of civilians. Israel's naval blockade of Gaza has helped to ensure that the supply of munitions and weapons to Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, is kept to the lowest extent possible. The flotilla incident demonstrates once again that increased pressure must be placed on Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist and to renounce terror. In addition, progress must be made in resolving the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians so that they can live in peace and security.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Retinella ``Nella'' Octavia Elizabeth Edgar Crooks, a lady I was proud to call my friend and constituent. An accomplished public servant and educator, Mrs. Crooks passed away on May 30, 2010, at the age of 108.

Mrs. Crooks lived a very long and full life. She was born in Watt Town, Jamaica, on October 1, 1901. She was educated in Jamaica and then immigrated to the United States in 1924 where she met her husband, Dr. Kenneth B.M. Crooks. The happy couple was blessed with four children, twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

After ten years at the Hampton Institute, which is now Hampton University, Dr. and Mrs. Crooks moved from the United States to Jamaica where they worked at Happy Grove, a Quaker secondary school. Mrs. Crooks served there as a missionary educator, a member of the Jamaica Federation of Women, and as a fundraiser for the Religious Society of Friends.

In 1957, Dr. and Mrs. Crooks returned to the United States and became very involved in Georgia's Second Congressional District. Mrs. Crooks served as a resident manager at what is now Fort Valley State University. While at Fort Valley State University, Mrs. Crooks became known for her unparalleled hospitality hosting teas. Of the many national and international dignitaries she entertained, she was very proud to include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. among her guests.

Following a short stay at Fort Valley, Dr. and Mrs. Crooks moved to Grambling College in Louisiana. There she completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree while serving as a resident manager for the college. However, in 1959 her husband, Dr. Crooks, sadly passed away.

Mrs. Crooks then returned to Fort Valley and earned her Master's Degree in counseling at the young age of 64. She was a member of the college faculty and published several books, including two books of poetry, her travel diary, her husband's biography, and her autobiography.

Throughout her long and blessed life, she remained a very active member of the Episcopal Church, a YWCA organizer, and her beloved sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. She also worked tirelessly for her community, founding a children's reading club and volunteering for seniors' organizations.

Madam Speaker, the State of Georgia, and especially the Second Congressional District of Georgia, have been truly blessed to have benefited from the tremendous contributions of Nella Edgar Crooks. She will be remembered for her compassion, her intense desire to help others, her unwavering love for her family, and her dedication to education, which lives on through the Nella Crooks Scholarship Fund at Fort Valley State University. It is a fitting tribute to her life and academic legacy, which was as long in accomplishments as it was in years. May she continue to serve as an inspiration to others.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join Representatives McGovern and Emerson as an original cosponsor of this bipartisan amendment, which affirms the intention of Congress to combat domestic childhood obesity and hunger in the interest of our national security.

According to the July 2009 Trust for America's Health Report, the percentage of obese and overweight children ages 10 to 17 is at or above 30 percent in 30 States. Seven of the top 10 States are in the South, with my State of Georgia ranked third, with 37.3 percent of obese and overweight youngsters.

Obesity is especially prevalent in the African American and Latino communities. Overweight and obese teens are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, arthritis and breathing problems and American children are disproportionately impacted.

In a recent report, Too Fat to Fight, over 100 retired generals and admirals wrote that obesity among children and young adults has increased so dramatically that it threatens not only our Nation's health but the future of our military. Between 1995 and 2008, the military had 140,000 individuals, a 70 percent increase, who showed up at the centers for processing but failed their entrance physicals because they were too heavy, and 1,200 enlistees were discharged before their contracts were up. And now being overweight is the leading medical cause for rejection from military service.

Mr. Chairman, proper nutrition, healthy food, ending hunger and access to physical activity for our youth are vital to ensuring that our Nation's military remains strong into the future.

I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment and the strong effort to support and maintain a strong national defense by assuring strong and healthy servicemembers.

Madam Chair, I agree with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that the time has come to repeal the current ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy, which dishonors men and women who are willing to give their lives in service to our country and also prevents capable men and women with vital skills from serving in the armed forces. However, I believe a vote today is premature.

Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen indicated initially that the impact of such a drastic change in military and cultural policy should be thoroughly reviewed, studied, and appropriate policies developed by the Department of

Defense before Congress takes legislative action. Such a review and policy development would be completed by December 1, 2010.

Therefore, I believe Congress should forgo legislative action until appropriately informed by the Pentagon's impact study, policy development, and implementation plan.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Hilton R. Segler, a man I am proud to call my friend and constituent. He is an accomplished public servant who has devoted his life to his community, state and country.

Mr. Segler was born in Ozark, Alabama and moved to Albany, Georgia in 1948. He graduated from Albany High School and went on to pursue several correspondence degrees in Law and Business. In 1957, Mr. Segler started working for Southeastern Liquid Fertilizer in Albany, Georgia, and then served as the Assistant to the President of Planters Chemical Company in Virginia. He then moved back to Albany in 1964 to work for the Thompson/Hayward Chemical Company and was appointed Regional Manager for the company in 1981.

Mr. Segler also has served the TIDA Farm Service Center as a salesman; his sales exceeded $1.5 million in his first year, and $3 million in his second year, thus proving his acuity as a salesman. In the early 1990's he purchased a pecan farm and farmed over 1900 acres of pecan trees for almost 6 years. He later started a nickel nutrient supplement company named Nipan, LLC in 2003. Products from his company have gained tremendous popularity in the last few years and are shipped all over the Unites States.

In 2002, Mr. Segler, along with Bucky Geer and James Lee Adams, testified to the federal board at the Risk Management Agency on behalf of pecan growers. His undying efforts helped pecan growers across the United States attain crop insurance. Mr. Segler testified before the House and Senate Committees on Agriculture in an effort to obtain larger provisions for the pecan industry in the 2008 Farm bill. Consequently, pecans were included in the Country of Origin labeling requirements and also in the crop insurance program.

He also worked to expand pecan exports to China and other agricultural economies, by

partnering with the United States Department of Agriculture and Georgia Department of Agriculture. He pushed for pecan farmers' participation in the Market Access program, a program that helps finance promotional activities for U.S. agricultural products.

In 2004, Hilton championed to obtain ``clean up'' assistance for pecan farmers who were hurt by hurricanes that devastated parts of Georgia and Alabama. Earlier this year, Mr. Segler testified before the House Agriculture Committee on the future of the pecan industry and the importance of nutrition and trade to this industry, for the 2010 Farm bill.

Madam Speaker, the State of Georgia, especially the Second Congressional District, and our nation are truly blessed to have benefited from the tremendous leadership of Mr. Hilton R. Segler. We greatly appreciate his compassion, his love and concern for the farmers of this State and of his intense desire to help others.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution to commemorate National Teacher Appreciation Week and to recognize the importance of teachers in ensuring that Americans receive a quality education.

Teachers are heroes in our communities. None of us in Congress would be where we are today without the influence of those teachers who shaped our lives. They corrected us when we were wrong and they praised us when we were right. They taught us how to read and write, think critically, add and subtract, and they opened our minds to past events, scientific discoveries, and different cultures and civilizations. They encouraged us to follow our dreams and inspired us to reach our full potential.

My parents were educators in this vein. My father served as the first President of Bishop College in Mobile, Alabama, and my mother worked as a librarian. I saw through them how our teachers work miracles in the classroom day in and day out. They truly deserve the strongest praise we have to offer.

Benjamin Franklin once said that ``an investment in education pays the best dividends.'' It is our teachers who are responsible for the value of that investment, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in commemorating them for their outstanding work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Elizabeth Evelyn Wright Day, which will be commemorated this year on April 24th, in Talbotton, Georgia. Ms. Wright was an incredible woman. Her passion to inspire and educate the disenfranchised burned within, and her internal fire was often challenged by actual fire. She survived several arson attacks, yet remained undeterred. The flames of hatred were no match for the lamp of knowledge.

Elizabeth Evelyn Wright was born April 3, 1872, in Talbotton, Georgia. She was raised in a poverty-stricken area of Talbotton known as ``Smith Hill.'' As a child, she was persistent in her educational endeavors. At St. Phillip's AME Church, she studied reading, writing, and arithmetic, and her scholastic excellence was quickly recognized by her professors.

To realize her potential, Wright then enrolled at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where she worked in the cafeteria during the day and attended classes at night. With the aid of Olivia Washington, wife of Booker T. Washington who was then Principal of Tuskegee Institute, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright was able to attend daytime classes. She became close with the Washington family, and was affectionately known as ``Lizzie.'' Mrs. Washington inspired Lizzie to use her exceptional talents to educate underprivileged African-American children.

During her senior year of college, Wright was approached by Almira Steele, a white trustee at Tuskegee who knew of Lizzie's stellar academic reputation. She asked Lizzie to move to McNeill, South Carolina, to teach. In 1892, taking a hiatus from school, Lizzie realized her dream of educating African-American children and became inspired to open her own school.

In 1893, the McNeill School burned to the ground due to a hate-fueled attack. Witnessing this injustice inspired Lizzie to return to Tuskegee to graduate. She resumed teaching in McNeill, this time, at her own school. Nevertheless, the flames of hatred burned again as

white supremacists burned the lumber purchased to build Lizzie's schoolhouse and then set fire to the temporary classroom building. These were not the last fires of injustice Lizzie would experience in her lifetime. She would attempt three more times to build a school, and each met a fiery end.

Undeterred, she moved to Denmark, South Carolina, and opened the Denmark Industrial School. In 1902, with the gracious aid of Ralph Voorhees, a blind philanthropist from New Jersey, Lizzie was able to purchase 280 acres of land. With the assistance of her friend and mentor Booker T. Washington, the school expanded, and was renamed the Voorhees Industrial School, which today is know as Voorhees College. In 1904, the school was incorporated by the South Carolina State Legislature.

Sadly, due to life-long illness, Lizzie passed away shortly thereafter, but she left an incredible legacy. She never yielded in the face of adversity, and strove to educate and inspire her community. Her passion still inspires the students of Voorhees College. Today, the college is an accredited four-year liberal arts college, dedicated to a diverse global society, life-long learning, healthy living and an abiding faith in God. The students aim to improve communities, society, and themselves.

On April 2, 2009, my colleague, Congressman Clyburn, sponsored a Tribute to Elizabeth Evelyn Wright. In celebration of her birthday, the Citizens of Talbotton, Georgia, first declared ``Elizabeth Evelyn Wright Day'' on April 4, 2009. The Citizens of Talbotton, in celebration of the ``Second Annual Elizabeth Evelyn Wright Day,'' have asked that Congress again recognize the amazing contribution she made to education. On behalf of Georgia's Second Congressional District, which is proud to be the birthplace of Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, as well as the place she spent her formative years where her character, values, and academic excellence were developed, I am pleased to honor her today.

Madam Speaker, Elizabeth Evelyn Wright was beyond remarkable, and has not been given an appropriate place in history. It is my hope to draw attention to this incredible educator, whose life and courage in the face of adversity continues to inspire students and teachers today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Luke Bryan, of Leesburg, Georgia, who won the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Artist on Sunday, April 18th in Las Vegas, Nevada.

All of us in Southwest Georgia are proud of his accomplishment and I would like to recognize and applaud Mr. Bryan's dedication and determination to his art. He has worked diligently, and his album, ``Doin' My Thing,'' peaked at the Number Two spot on the Country Album Billboard. On behalf of my constituents in Georgia's Second Congressional District, I offer my congratulations on a job well done!

I cannot put into words the amount of pride that everyone in Leesburg, and indeed in the Second Congressional District, has in being able to claim this outstanding musician as one of us. He has accomplished a special goal, one that could not have been possible without the unrelenting support and encouragement from his family and community.

The ``Top New Artist'' winner was elected through fan votes by voting online in February and March. Residents of the City of Leesburg and the State of Georgia should be commended for the outstanding loyalty and support they displayed in voting for Mr. Bryan.

Madam Speaker, Luke Bryan has worked hard, persevered, made sacrifices, and developed the character that will help him to succeed. Once again, I congratulate Mr. Bryan on his achievement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of World Malaria Day, which will be commemorated this year on April 25th.

Recently, there has been significant progress in the fight against malaria. The U.S. government provided 15.6 million artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) to treat acute malarial illnesses in 2008 alone. As a result of increased efforts to provide life-saving treatment and prevention efforts, countries like Rwanda and Zambia have achieved great success. In fact, the prevalence of malaria fell by 53 percent in Zambia from 2006 to 2008.

But we cannot afford to stop the fight now. Malaria still causes 350- 500 million infections, and kills nearly one million people throughout the world each year, most of whom are young African children.

Malaria also affects families, communities, and countries as a whole. It is estimated that Africa spends nearly 40 percent of all health expenditures on malaria and that the continent loses $12 billion a year due to the disease; however, no loss is as great as the loss of a loved one. The cultural and socio-economic devastation are incomparable to the grief borne by families who must deal with this terrible disease.

I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing World Malaria Day and in raising awareness about this disease, so that together we can win the fight against malaria.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of Rev. Benjamin Lawson Hooks, who passed away April 15, 2010, at the age of 85. Rev. Hooks was more than just an accomplished man; he was a modern-day pioneer who overcame modern-day struggles. No matter the obstacle, Rev. Hooks continued to fight for equal rights, always believing that tomorrow will be better.

In fact, Rev. Hooks was often quoted as saying, ``you have to believe that tomorrow somehow can be, and will be, better than today.'' His mission in life was to make this belief a reality. As the first African-American commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Tennessee's first African-American criminal court judge, and, finally, as the Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1977 to 1992, Rev. Hooks worked tirelessly to make America a fairer, and more just, nation.

Under his leadership of the NAACP, he brought this storied civil rights organization from the brink of financial collapse. Rev. Hooks returned it to stability, increased membership, and created programs such as the NAACP ACT-SO (Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) competitions, a major youth talent and skill initiative, and Women in the NAACP.

Rev. Hooks also was a stalwart in the face of adversity. In 1989, there were several gasoline bomb attacks in the South, resulting in the murder of a federal judge in Alabama and an African-American civil rights lawyer in Georgia. NAACP leaders were threatened with violence as well. Rev. Hooks responded to these acts of violence by saying, ``We believe that this latest incident is an effort to intimidate our association, to strike fear in our hearts. It will not succeed.''

This remarkable American lived a life of honor and purpose, leaving behind a legacy of equality and justice. Our nation is so much better for his dedication to the idea that ``all men are created equal.'' Rev. Hooks is an inspirational figure to us all, and we must continue to strive to ensure that tomorrow will continue to be better than today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life and legacy of a great leader in the Civil Rights Movement and a dear friend and neighbor, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, who passed away this morning, at the age of 98.

Dr. Height was always elegant, full of grace and poise, naturally commanding attention. She led an extraordinary life fighting for civil rights and women's rights. Her fight began when she was denied entrance into college because the school had filled its annual quota of black students, and she never gave up the fight.

Over the years, she continued the fight for justice and equality for all Americans. In fact, Dr. Height was on stage at the Lincoln Memorial with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he delivered his ``I Have a Dream'' speech. She was in Birmingham, Alabama to comfort the families of the four African-American girls who perished in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. She watched as President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act to eliminate wage disparity based on sex. She also helped create and organize the Black Family Reunion Celebration, and was among the few women present at the Million Man March in 1995.

Throughout her life, she befriended countless people as she strove for justice. Among her many friends were the American educator and National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) founder Mary McLeod Bethune, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and Dr. King, to name a few.

Dr. Height also served as the Director of the YWCA's Center for Racial Justice, as a visiting professor at the Delhi School of Social Work in India, as National President of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and as the fourth President of the NCNW. Her forty-year tenure as President of the NCNW was the highlight of her distinguished career.

In addition to her tireless work for racial justice and gender equality, she served on the advisory council of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the National Advisory Council on Aging. Along with her 36 honorary doctorates from colleges and universities, she is a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Although she received many accolades, she did not put forth her best efforts to achieve notoriety or fame. She said, ``Stop worrying about whose name gets in the paper and start doing something . . . We must try to take our task more seriously and ourselves more lightly.''

Dr. Dorothy Irene Height was a remarkable woman. Her years were long as were her accomplishments. Leonardo da Vinci said, ``As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death.'' May Dr. Height sleep happily now for a life well used.

I rise in support of this historic health care reform bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have decided to support the health reform legislation because it represents an historic opportunity to make health care more accessible and affordable now and into the future. I base this decision not on what is popular, but on what I believe is in the best interest for Georgia's Second Congressional District both in the short- and long-term.

Throughout this process, I have solicited the views of people both supporting and opposing health care reform. I have heard from doctors and patients, small business owners and the CEOs of large corporations, as well as residents of rural and urban areas. I also have heard from the healthy and the sick, the young and the old, and the rich and the poor. I thank each of you who shared your views with me, and I have listened to your opinions.

In my district there are more than 83,000 uninsured residents who will receive health insurance coverage under this bill. There are 14,500 uninsured individuals who have a pre-existing medical condition such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes and who will now no longer be denied affordable health insurance coverage. In addition, there are 12,100 small business owners in my district who will qualify for tax credits to help employees afford health care.

My district is also home to 96,000 senior citizens who will benefit from a stronger Medicare program whose solvency is extended to 2026. There are 6,600 Medicare beneficiaries who will now be able to afford their prescription drugs with the closure of the Part D 'donut hole.' And, through the health care reform bill, 181,000 households in Southwest Georgia could qualify for tax credits to purchase health insurance through Medicaid, employer sponsored insurance, or other acceptable coverage. For these people and for millions of Americans like them, I have decided to support the health care reform bill.

Some people have asked how I could be a fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrat and still support the health reform bill. I do not know how I could be a Blue Dog Democrat and not support this bill. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill will reduce the deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years and $1.2 trillion in the decade after that. It includes tough provisions attacking waste and fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including some proposed by Republicans. It will slow the growth in health care costs that are becoming an increasing burden on families, businesses, and governments. And the legislation will benefit rural America by boosting mandatory funding for community health centers by $11 billion over five years and making significant investments in the training of primary care doctors.

This bill is not perfect. We cannot, however, let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Nor can we allow fear, misinformation, political motivation and partisanship to prevent us from taking the necessary steps to improve our health care system. I believe that we have a moral obligation to ensure that all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, geography, or income, receive the health care they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

As a man of faith, I know that Jesus taught us to provide and care for others, especially the `least of these' who often have few advocates. In addition, when I ask myself, `What would Jesus do if he represented the Second Congressional district, and had the opportunity to vote to enable more than 32 million uninsured Americans to receive health insurance?' I believe He would take care of this immediate need of the people--not let them fend for themselves while we start over or do nothing. This legislation goes a long way toward living up to this moral principle, and I am proud to support it.