Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5264, ``The Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.'' I would like to thank the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Rep. John Conyers for introducing this legislation, as it is important to embrace the Justice Department and its various offices and components.

As a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, I have had the privilege to work closely with the Department of Justice and become familiarized with many of their programs and initiatives. Over the past year, they have been extremely cooperative and have worked vigorously to implement new laws and set new standards to ensure the safety, protection, and equal treatment of all Americans.

The DOJ has made the civil rights of all Americans, no matter their race, religion, or socio-economic status, a priority. They have worked to implement the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which created a general felony prohibition against crimes of violence based on prejudice against gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. They are also enforcing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 which clarifies that discriminatory compensation decisions and other such practices are unlawful according to the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act.

Furthermore, the DOJ has begun implementation of the Fair Sentencing Act, which takes steps to reduce the disparity between sentences involving crack cocaine versus those involving powder cocaine--a disparity which had a disproportionately negative effect on poor and minority communities for years.

I am so proud to see the continued funding to the Office of Violence Against Women. Since 1995, the Office of Violence Against Women has made significant progress in reducing violence against immigrant women, however, there are still many women and children whose lives are in danger today. Made possible through the Violence Against Women Act of 2005, importantly, this act continues to implement VAWA's original intent by stopping the deportation of immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking who qualify for VAWA immigration benefits. The trafficking provisions in the bill are of particular importance to me and I am very pleased that additional protections for trafficking victims and tools to help prosecute traffickers have been included in the bill, thus I am overjoyed to see the appropriations made to this office especially.

I strongly support the appropriations made to the Office of Justice Programs that provide strong and revolutionary leadership base to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems, by circulating state-of-the-art knowledge and practices across America, and providing grants for the implementation of crime fighting strategies.

As Chairwoman of the Congressional Children's Caucus and very strong advocate for children and children's rights, I am thrilled to see that the funds made to the OJP will also funnel to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which contributes to the reduction of youth crime and violence. The OJJDP upholds prevention and early intervention programs that truly make a difference in the lives of young people around America. Our continued support of the numerous programs provided by the OJP that help our youth and better their lives is critical to America's future. Providing support for and believing in America's youth is the best way to ensure a successful future for them and our Nation.

Furthermore, I am happy to see the funding that supports the Antitrust Division's hard work to promote and instill economic freedom and opportunity within our great Nation. In the economic climate we face today, it is evermore important that competition in the marketplace remains free and fair for all. With the many proposed mergers and acquisition taking place, the guidance and resources provided by the Antitrust laws and principles are desperately needed to ensure fair business and jobs for all.

I am also delighted to see the appropriations made to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Sadly, our country still lies under the microscope of those who wish our Nation harm and by appropriating money to the Bureau, we are shoring up our defenses against issues such as terrorist attacks, foreign intelligence operations, espionage, and public corruption at all levels. The FBI is a far-reaching organization with operations around the world and its continued funding is vital for the safety of all Americans.

I stand today with Rep. Conyers and other members of Congress in reaffirming our support for justice in our Nation. By enacting these types of economic incentives to the offices that protect our Nation, Americans, women, and children will be safer; our country will be more efficient in bringing all to justice and communities and economy will grow in strength.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues for their support of H.R. 5264, as well as for their continued support of al that is done by the Department of Justice in order to protect our great Nation. By increasing our support for these types of appropriations, we will ensure that our country remains a leader in security, justice, and freedom.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5264.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 5283 and the Senate Amendment 4587 that is ``to provide for adjustment of status for certain Haitian orphans paroled into the United States after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.'' I would like to begin by thanking Congressman Fortenberry for introducing this resolution, as it is so important for the United States to normalize the immigration process for the adopted Haitian orphans after the tragic January earthquake. The Haitian orphans that were adopted by American families after the earthquake should not have to wait in legal limbo to become permanent residents of the United States; there were obvious extenuating circumstances that prevented the adoptions from being finalized in Haitian courts.

Without the passing of the Help HAITI Act of 2010, Haitian orphans that have fortunately been adopted by welcoming American families face a two-year limbo with fewer legal protections, ineligibility for critical resources, and at the very worst, a forcible return to the ravaged country of Haiti if something unexpected were to happen to the adoptive parents. The Haitian orphans are currently awaiting crucial paperwork that will provide them with basic resources, such as allowing them to receive health care and to enroll in school. These children have already suffered the tragic loss of their families in Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake--we should assist in any way we can to expedite this adoption and immigration process. In doing so, we can help these families begin their new lives in the United States.

I am a strong proponent of this resolution, because it will allow the Haitian orphans to become legal permanent residents and eventually to gain U.S. citizenship. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this because it is an important resolution in which we can stand together and support the orphaned children in their adoption process. There are over one thousand children who are subject to this legal limbo--that is far too great of a number of adopted children who must wait two years for permanent resident status. Additionally, this resolution will help minimize the staff, monetary, and other resources demands for the Department of Homeland Security's United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.

At this point in time, the people of Haiti are in desperate need of international assistance. We have a responsibility to prevent the evacuation of these orphaned children because of a legal technicality. The people of Haiti are suffering now, more than ever, with the devastating earthquake of January, Hurricane Tomas of October, and now the cholera outbreak that is threatening the lives of millions. The cholera outbreak that emerged within the Artibonite region on October 21 has now resulted in more than 14,000 hospitalizations and tragically more than 900 deaths. The children who were fortunately adopted in the wake of the January earthquake should not have to face such a dire humanitarian crisis. The Help HAITI Act will do exactly that; it will expedite and normalize these orphaned children's journey to a new family. In the same vein, the United States should be helping its neighbors in need with humanitarian assistance, and additionally working hard towards preventing any more unnecessary deaths.

With the passing of this resolution, the orphaned children from Haiti will be able to securely begin their lives in the United States. This bill will assure a normalization of the Haitian children, and will allow their status to be adjusted to permanent resident. Furthermore, the Help HAITI Act of 2010 will provide legal certainty and protections for these evacuated Haitian orphans, because it removes an obstacle for their adoptive families. This is an important bill for the families across America who have opened their homes and welcomed the children who were in special need of a family after the January earthquakes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 1376, ``International Adoption Simplification Act.'' The aim of this bill is to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify the process of international adoptions, especially in situations where time is of the essence to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of the child.

First, I would like to thank my colleague Senator Amy Klobuchar and her fellow Senate co-sponsors for introducing this important legislation that openly embraces children. There are ample reasons American citizens opt to adopt children from abroad and now we have legislation that will help expedite the process and decrease the burdensome bureaucracy.

The International Adoption Simplification Act will allow children in need of immediate adoption to become exempt from required admissions vaccination documentation. Children who have been adopted in a foreign country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention, or who are emigrating from such a country for U.S. adoption will be subjected to simplified adoption procedures.

This bill comes at a point in history where simplification of international adoption is necessary to save lives. Haiti is experiencing record outbreaks of cholera and other infectious diseases resulting from the earthquake, incidents of genocide are taking place in Darfur, and terrorist activity is at its peak. The ability to remove innocent children from harms way, into the safe homes of loving parents allows America to further its notion that children are indeed the future.

From this bill we can expect to see a surge in American adoptions globally, and a decrease in global child homelessness and poverty. By implementing this bill we are able to create jobs for government workers processing individual cases, child care providers, school teachers and many others who provide direct services aimed at youth.

I stand today with Senator Amy Klobuchar and other members of Congress re-affirming my support of S. 1376. By enacting this legislation, we are able to boost the morale of frustrated parents who may have spent years in the adoptive process and provide children with stable homes, all the while, creating jobs in communities at a time when they are needed the most.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of S. 1376.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1713, ``Recognizing and Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Ruby Bridges Desegregation of a Previously All-White Elementary School.'' Let me begin by thanking my colleague, Representative John Lewis, for introducing this legislation into the House of Representatives as it is important that we recognize the great strides of the minority citizens of this country.

In so doing, we remind America that she must never serve on her citizens the atrocities that occurred to the African-American under her watchful legal eye. This legislation celebrates the life of Ruby Bridges, born in Mississippi during a very turbulent era. It acknowledges a citizen's courageousness in holding America to the language of her landmark ruling--Brown v. Board of Education.

Ruby Bridges acknowledges that growing up for her presented a very hard life. Having heard there were better opportunities in the city, Bridges moved along with her family, to New Orleans. While in New Orleans, the public schools were finally forced, under federal court order, to desegregate.

In the spring of 1960, Bridges took a test, along with other black kindergarteners in the city, to see if she would go to an integrated school come September. That summer she and her parents learned she passed the test and had been selected to start first grade at William Frantz Public School.

On the morning of November 14 federal marshals drove her and her mother the five blocks to William Frantz.

We applaud Ruby Bridges for her stalwart tenacity and her courage, at such a young age, to be an advocate for change in America.

Mr. Speaker, the children of Haiti need help. Children around the world need our help. But today in Haiti, thousands upon thousands of children are living in temporary tent conditions, in camps, many that have been ravaged by the waters and the heat and deteriorating conditions. Today in Haiti, the people of that country, particularly the children, are suffering from the epidemic of cholera.

We did not take up the Help HAITI bill today, but I am asking that we begin a full press to provide better work conditions and living conditions, as well as a better quality of life for the children of Haiti. Cholera is an epidemic that can spread and kill thousands upon thousands of children. It is important for USAID and the donor countries that have indicated their willingness to donate to Haiti to get the donations in, and it is important now for the Government of Haiti to stand up and be heard on behalf of these children. I look forward to working with the Help HAITI bill to ensure that more children can be adopted. But the epidemic of cholera is spreading to these children, and we must help them now.

Mr. Speaker, thank you so very much for the opportunity to address this House on an important issue that will be confronting this Congress today, and that is the recommitment of the American people to a dream and a challenge of John F. Kennedy. Today we will reauthorize the NASA reauthorization bill, if you will, or the authorization bill, to be able to commit America's future to science and technology.

Although I would have advocated stronger for the work of the House and

Chairman Gordon, I believe that we have the opportunity now to save jobs and to promote science and technology and to provide for the creation of the heavy lift launch vehicle and stop the termination of the workforce, technical workforce and contractor jobs that are all across America from Mississippi to Houston, Texas.

In addition, this funding will support the development of commercial crew services. Although I am concerned about the heavy emphasis on commercialization to the exclusion, sometimes, of human space exploration, I want to see jobs being created and jobs being saved.

And so I will rise to the floor today thanking the House Science Committee and saying that NASA needs to be reauthorized and jobs need to be saved.

I thank the distinguished manager of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, people are in need in America, and I support the rule and the underlying bills in intelligence, currency and, certainly, the legislation of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 health bill.

How long do those first responders have to wait?

We have been on this floor before where we have embarrassed ourselves. These individuals who have lived--and some who have died-- were the first on line during the tragedy of 9/11. However, they were not captured in the relief and recovery. Many of them have suffered with respiratory diseases, and their families have suffered. Some have already lost their lives. It is crucial that we pass this bill.

Similarly, I am hoping that we will have come to the floor legislation that will help my constituents in Houston,

Texas, and Texas in the relief of Hurricane Ike, where we are trying to extend the Health and Human Services block grant dollars for the thousands of Hurricane Ike victims who have not been helped. Here, too, we need to help those individuals who are now trying to be processed because Federal Government dollars came late and came late to Catholic Charities and to other nonprofits which are trying to work. We are waiting on the legislation in the Senate. We hope that we will be able to move this. Otherwise, we hope that there will be some action by the administration.

We can't act on H.R. 847 by any other means than to pass this legislation today. So my message is that we must pass this rule because people are in need. They ask this Congress: When are you going to stand for the people, stand for the victims of Hurricane Ike and stand for the first responders of 9/11?

I ask my colleagues to support the rule.

I traveled this journey with all of you. And Congresswoman Maloney, I wanted to come and thank you, along with the chairpersons of the Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary Committees, for never giving up.

I think it is important to note that this bill will cover Pennsylvania, the Pentagon, and New York. And for those of us who listened to the families and the witnesses or the first responders themselves who saw the pain, and particularly those who already lost their lives, I think that this is a major step of balance, putting this in a system and a structure that has oversight, that provides ongoing care and provides for the coverage of those who, to this date, have suffered without coverage and comfort.

So I rise to support this legislation, and I am very glad that the Judiciary Committee and Energy and Commerce continued to work, even when we were thwarted and rejected. We are now back with, I hope, the right approach, bipartisan approach. And I would ask all of my colleagues to ask the question what would they want to do for 9/11 responders, and that is, vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. As this Nation remembers, September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. An airplane was also crashed by terrorists in

Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The first responders including firefighters and emergency personnel, who assisted to the heinous attacks on the World Trade Center, were exposed to extremely toxic dust resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers.

This exposure has resulted in serious respiratory, related illnesses and serious medical conditions. I concur with my colleagues, enacting this offset into law has far reaching ramifications nationwide. This critical health program would monitor and provide specialized treatment through Centers of Excellence for responders including emergency personnel, rescue, and clean-up workers who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, as well as residents, workers, and students who returned to the World Trade Center area shortly after the attacks.

Seventy-one thousand individuals are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, indicating they were exposed to the toxins. 36,000 Americans have received treatment for 9/11 related illnesses or injuries and over 53,000 responders are enrolled in medical monitoring. Additionally, over 10,000 people from across the country were on hand to assist in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. These responders came from nearly every congressional district and all 50 States. Funding for this health program to monitor and treat these responders and residents for resulting health conditions stemming from the terrorist attacks.

Due diligence has been taken to assure that this offset will not adversely affect most foreign multinationals corporations by this offset. Most foreign multinationals will not be affected; given that these companies are organized in countries the U.S. has income tax treaties.

It is imperative that we represent the tax payers of this Nation and close a loophole that has provided those multinational corporations, unfair competitive advantage over U.S. firms--allowing them to hide or shield their taxable income. This offset that must be enacted into law, would provide greater U.S. competition over rival foreign companies and illegal tax structures. Under the previous administration, the Under Secretary for Tax Policy clearly indicated some countries the U.S. has tax treaties negotiated decades ago, have adjusted their tax laws to become more like tax shelters.

Must we allow this to continue and unfairly allow the shifting of income out of the U.S. tax jurisdiction and further erode our U.S. corporate tax base. This offset will aid U.S. based companies and eliminate their unfair competitive advantage afforded them through the U.S. tax code to these companies that have become tax shelters. Let us be clear, this offset seeks only those companies that have intentionally attempted to avoid U.S. taxes and disadvantage their U.S. competitors.

As we enact fiscally sound and responsible legislation, it is important to note, this critical change is estimated to increase revenues by an estimated $7.4 billion over 2011 through 2020.

We must live up to our obligation and not let the tragedy of 9/11 persist and continue to deeply scar those who we should laud as this Nation's heroes. We must applaud our responders and show them that assistance is clearly at hand. I was pleased to work long years on the Judiciary Committee with Chairman Conyers to come to this day.

I thank Representative Carolyn Maloney and my colleagues in advance who will rise in support of this important Act and reconfirm our commitment to this nation, and our first responders.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 847 and ask for its immediate adoption.

I thank the chairman very much.

I served 12 years on the Science Committee, and I want to add my appreciation to Chairman Gordon for his service to the Nation and his service and his hard work for providing for America's competitive edge, not only in space but technology. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the ranking member. Thank you to Ralph Hall for his leadership. Thank you to the subcommittee chair for her great leadership and friendship to this agency.

I rise today, as reluctant as my friends on the floor, the chairman and ranking member, to support this particular bill. But I'm glad to be able to be here to say to the NASA family that we are saving jobs, 10,000 potentially in the State of Florida, many others in the other States, and 6,000 in NASA Johnson.

I am delighted to be able to say that this bill, the Senate bill, though I don't like the process, provides for immediate development to begin on a heavy lift launch vehicle, stops the termination of technical workforce and valuable contractor jobs, provides funding to support the development of commercial crew services, and funds additional technology development to lower costs of long-term space exploration.

In addition, NASA Johnson will continue to provide the astronauts for the space station. We will be looking for the robotic research work that will address the question of space exploration. We'll also be doing the work for cargo and crew on the commercial side. And then as it relates to the issue of minorities, I want to ensure that as we hire or as we fire, if we have to, that those who are minorities who are last in are not the first out.

I'm delighted to work with Senators Nelson and John Rockefeller to save the STEM program and the MUREP program. These cuts are unacceptable for the Minority University Research and Education and the STEM program. I'm delighted, however, that we'll be working with Senator Nelson and Senator Rockefeller to ensure that this program is included in the America COMPETES reauthorization and the funding for the STEM program. We have to save jobs in America but we have to stay at the cutting edge of science, and I believe this bill will help us make one step.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3729, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010. Although I share the concerns of some of my House colleagues regarding the process with which this legislation came to the House from the Senate, especially those colleagues I served with on the House Science Committee for 12 years, I nevertheless do support this compromise legislation as the best way forward to strengthen NASA for the present and the future. I also believe this legislation will protect American jobs, drive innovation, and ensure that our Nation's youth are encouraged to pursue careers in science, exploration, engineering, technology, and math.

Despite my concerns about the Administration's proposal to eliminate NASA's Constellation Program, I have concluded that we need to have this NASA reauthorization legislation in place to avoid a complete dismantling of the manned space program. Although I advocated strongly for preserving the Constellation program, it is important to adopt this compromise in order to save more than 6,000 jobs in Texas and 10,000 in Florida, which would be in jeopardy without this legislation. This legislation will speed development of the heavy lift rocket crucial for reaching beyond low-Earth orbit and essential to keeping Houston's Johnson Space Center at the heart of future manned space operations. This compromise would also help bolster small contractors in the greater Houston area who serve as sub-contractors for the major aerospace firms involved in NASA contracts.

I have also had extensive discussions with Administrator Bolden who has communicated NASA's intention to work with the Congress to make the transition of the Constellation program smooth and effective. NASA and the space industry are critical to Houston's economic success in both the short and long term. According to the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, NASA accounts for nearly 16,800 direct federal jobs and serves as the engine for another 3,100 civilian jobs that together supply more than $2.5 billion in payroll into Houston's regional economy. Protecting the Johnson Space Center is of paramount concern to me, and I will continue to advocate on its behalf.

This bill will authorize NASA appropriations for FY 2011-2013 with the same top-line budget values as the President's request to Congress. The bill would grow science, aeronautics, and space technology and define expanding human presence in space as the goal for human space flight beyond low-Earth orbit. Key objectives for human space flight would include full utilization of the International Space Station (ISS), maximizing the role of space exploration and technology in current and future missions, advancing knowledge and inspiring young people into higher education, and building upon international partnerships.

Initially, I was concerned that the Senate version of the NASA Authorization Act could have led to cuts in funding for the Minority University Research and Education (MUREP) and STEM programs. This is because the legislation increased funding for the NASA Space Grant and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR) while keeping the topline authorization for education fixed, which could have led to other education programs such as MUREP and STEM being cut to provide for necessary offsets.

However, I have worked with Senator John Rockefeller, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Bill Nelson, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Science and Space, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to ensure that funding for MUREP and STEM will be protected. The Senate is including language in the NASA title of the America COMPETES Reauthorization ensuring that funding for STEM programs are preserved and protected. Furthermore, Chairman Nelson has agreed to work with the Senate Appropriations Committee to ensure funding for MUREP is continued at existing levels. Administrator Bolden has also assured me that they will continue their active support of not just MUREP and STEM programs, but also continue their existing efforts to increase the participation of minority serving institutions in the NASA Space Grant and College Fellowship Program as well as the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. These agreements are crucial to ensuring that minority serving institutions and minority students are an integral part to NASA's future.

The United States space program has existed for over half a century and this legislation reaffirms the ever growing and changing role of NASA, providing resources to carry the agency forward with its ambitious agenda of research, exploration, and discovery. Mr. Speaker, today's legislation will allow NASA to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, keeping our Nation on the forefront of innovation and exploration. It is the responsibility of this Congress to ensure that the future of NASA is one of continued progress. Space exploration remains a part of our national destiny. It inspires our children to look to the stars and dream of what they too, one day, may achieve. Space exploration allows us to push the bounds of our scientific knowledge, as we carry out research projects not possible within the constraints of the planet Earth.

Today, NASA is the nations' primary civil space and aeronautics research and development agency, and its current activities employ over 18,000 Americans. Today's legislation emphasizes the importance of NASA leadership in a range of endeavors by investing more in NASA; extending the life of the international space station; launches a commercial space transportation industry; fosters the development of path- breaking technologies; helps create thousands of new jobs; and embarks on a fundamentally more ambitious strategy to expand our frontiers in space. Passage of this bill represents an important step forward towards helping NASA achieve key goals that President Obama has laid out, such as placing the U.S. space program on a more sustainable trajectory and inspiring a new generation of Americans to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This important change in direction will not only help NASA chart a new path in space, but also reshape itself for the industries and jobs of the future that will be vital for long term economic growth.

As a Nation, we have made tremendous strides forward in the pursuit of space exploration since President John F. Kennedy set the course for our nation when on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed: ``I believe this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.'' Over the next 50 years, NASA has been involved in many defining events which have shaped the course of

human history and demonstrated to the world the character of the people of the United States.

The success of the United States space exploration program in the 20th Century augurs well for its continued leadership in the 21st Century. This success is largely attributable to the remarkable and indispensable partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and its 10 space and research centers. One of these important research centers is located in my home city of Houston. The Johnson Space Center, which manages the development, testing, production, and delivery of all United States human spacecraft and all human spacecraft-related functions, is one of the crown jewels of the Houston area.

Always on the forefront of technological innovation, NASA has been home to countless ``firsts'' in the field of space exploration. America has, countless times, proven itself to be a leader in innovation, and many technologies that have become part of our everyday lives were developed by NASA scientists. The benefits of NASA's programming and innovation are felt far beyond scientific and academic spheres. Space technologies provide practical, tangible benefits to society, and NASA provides valuable opportunities to businesses in our community.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and in support of the future of American innovation, exploration, and jobs.

Will the gentleman yield?

Minority institutions and the STEM program are also to be protected, as we come back and we are able to work with the appropriations process and work with the Senate on protecting these programs that are very important to Historically Black Colleges.

Tomorrow, thousands of Hurricane Ike survivors across the gulf region may be stopped from receiving benefits that were due because of this terrible disaster. We have been working on this as the House and the Senate. The Senate passed the UC tonight to provide an extension for those benefits; however, we have not had an opportunity to do so, and many people are suffering. I hope that we will have that occasion again.

I would like to yield to the distinguished majority leader to inquire about the needs of those Hurricane Ike victims across the whole gulf region, as we did for Katrina and Rita, the opportunity to work on this matter so that their benefits could be continued for the families that are in need.

I thank the gentleman.

This is going to be comforting news to those individuals who are still suffering and living in the backdrop of Hurricane Ike.

I encourage my colleagues to work with us.

Mr. Speaker, I disagree with my good friends on the other side of the aisle. I believe this is a day long in coming and I am grateful for it, because what all of us have said is that the small businesses of America are the backbone of America, the job creators of America, and now we have an opportunity for the President to sign this bill that incorporates tax cuts and job creation.

What has been the message of the American people? What have they told us? They've indicated that they want to have jobs. Right off, this bill provides extra opportunities in the small business trade opportunities, and it helps to leverage more than $1 billion in export capacity for small businesses, getting their products overseas in what we call the State Export Promotion Grant Program, which excites me, which allows us to help save 40,000 to 50,000 jobs in 2010.

And so we give them a step up to get their goods overseas. And we've got some talented small businesses who simply ask us, How do we promote our product overseas? After this bill is signed by the President, they will have a helping hand.

For a startup business in 2010, we double the deduction for a startup from $5,000 to $10,000. One of the great complaints of small businesses is how do we do business with this massive Federal Government? Well, I will tell you. We're now going to increase the percentage of small businesses doing business with the Federal Government and create the opportunity for more of them to get contracts and more jobs to be created.

I'm grateful that this is a tax cutter as well, with a 100 percent exclusion of capital gains, and of course the opportunity to expand in lending by increasing the capacity of the Small Business Administration to provide access to credit.

Loan limits have been increased, and I'm grateful that this bill is going to be passed today and small businesses will be helped.

I thank the chairman very much for presiding over this very important legislation. As I have noted, any number of bills from the Energy and Commerce committee have been very constructive.

I thank the manager from our friends on the other side of the aisle, and I thank in particular Representative Harman and the collaborative effort between Energy and Commerce and, as well, Veterans' Affairs.

This bill, modest in funding--and I would like to emphasize that before I even speak about its importance--modest in funding, $5 million per year between 2011, I believe, and 2015, takes an important step toward the value that we place on our service men and women. One, we thank them while they are serving, and we have made a commitment to thank them when their service is finished.

My State happens to be unique in having the highest percentage of returning soldiers, in particular from Iraq and Afghanistan, in the State of Texas. In addition, many of you are aware of many of the bases in our State, but, as well, you are aware of the horrific tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood just a few months ago and, of course, coming up on its first-year recognition.

In that instance, many were lost, but some were injured; and the idea of using soldiers who have been trained by the military to return home for first responder utilization is a brilliant idea and one that is long in coming. It is well known that veterans do have a higher unemployment in the general population in many instances.

But also, Mr. Speaker, we know that many of our veterans, because of a number of serious issues, find themselves homeless. Where is our continued promise about treating them with the same respect and dignity that we have done so while they were in the service and then when they are out?

So this particular legislation, H.R. 3199, does two things that I think are enormously important, takes advantage of the important talent that is coming home, that wonderful training that saves lives on the battlefield to use in America's emergency rooms.

Then I was so delighted to be able to hear that as we move to have this massive and important change in medical reform, health care reform that is going to save lives--particularly, I think, tomorrow will be a number of new provisions coming out in the health care bill--now we have the ability to assess the training of these very fine men and women to serve in America's medical professions. This is key. It's a great partnership.

I thank the author of the bill. I rise to support it. I am loudly saying to those who are returning home to Texas and other States around the Nation that we now have an opportunity to use your great talents to save lives, to be in America's hospitals, to be in fire stations, to assist police officers and to be there when danger and disaster comes to face Americans on the home soil.

What better way of using the great talent that we have. The men and women who were willing to offer their lives on the battlefield now can come home and serve their fellow Americans in one of the highest professions we have and that is the health care profession, where you can say that no matter where you are, you have the ability to save lives.

I ask my colleagues to support enthusiastically H.R. 3199.

I want to thank the manager of the bill, Chairman Pallone; and thank the author and, if you will, visionary of the bill, Mr. Stupak; and Mr. Whitfield for their leadership.

I rise today because this is an interesting and important bit of legislation as relates to physicians under the Energy and Commerce and HHS. It's important because it helps to track or determine who might be an addict, and as well to engage the medical profession in helping to end or to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse.

Interestingly enough, in this legislation there are privacy provisions, which I want to applaud and to say to all those who may be listening, this is a lifeline to stop the prescription drug abuse through legitimate medical resources and professionals, and as well for those who are legitimately ill, prescription drugs are prescribed and they find themselves addicted.

When I left Texas in the last 24 hours, interestingly there was another effort going forward, Mr. Pallone, that had to do with our Drug Enforcement Agency, where about 10 or so sites were being set up to encourage people to give back old or aged drugs in their drug cabinets, if you will, or in their prescription cabinets, or in their medical cabinets at home. And these sites were in schools and community buildings.

As I read of this project, which obviously this was a proud effort, and I want to congratulate law enforcement, I had a concern. The concern was privacy, whether or not this was coordinated to ensure that if you gave a bottle of prescription drugs that still in fact was filled, whether or not there was a privacy procedure of either removing those labels, or maybe they expected you to remove those labels, and then also what would be the ultimate results. If they saw someone returning five bottles of such and such that happened to be an addictive drug and their names were on it, what kind of protection, or what kind of treatment, or what kind of referral would these individuals receive? I think that's an important point.

That is why I rise today on this legislation, and I look forward to reviewing this legislation, even as it passes, to assess whether or not our friends in the legal end of it, the DEA in particular, and I would hope maybe that the representatives from the DEA would meet with me in my office about their approach to ensure that it has the requirements and the restraints that we see in this present legislation. I want to congratulate the authors of this legislation because of that very fact.

I would just like to add one other point, if I could, as I close on my remarks. Having not been here for the legislation to deal with H.R. 5494, which is Ms. Norton's legislation, which talks about the National Park Service and Secretary of the Interior transferring certain properties to the District of Columbia, it may not be equal, but I do want to make note that the GSA is holding property that the Texas Military History Museum has been paying rent on or paying taxes on because of their belief it belongs to them, and because the GSA had basically lost the property or had forgotten it existed. I look forward to them following at least the parameters of this legislation, where they can transfer those assets to a very important and distinctive group, the Texas Military Museum Association, that has now made this a military museum for Texans and for America. This was certainly appropriate to do so.

Finally, I want to make sure that I add my support to legislation, if it's coming to the floor, dealing with Rosa's Law, that is a Senate bill. And I will add supporting statements to the record.

But in conclusion, I think that this legislation, H.R. 5710, is a model for what can be an important life saver in America, and that is to get people to be weaned off of addictive drugs, but have a way of processing and determining where those drugs are, whether there is an addicted person, and how they can secure care.

So I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 5710, and I look forward to the Drug Enforcement Agency working with my office on the kind of restraints that are hopefully helpful when they have these mass campaigns for people to drop off old prescriptions and to make sure that they follow suit and do the right thing for the people of this country.

Madam Speaker, I heard quite the contrary from my good friend on the other side of the aisle. In fact, I listened to a very eloquent comment being made in the other body as they discussed the DREAM Act. And many Americans understand and appreciate the value of legislation that would allow young people who have lived here and graduated with honors and high marks to be able to go to college even if they came with their parents undocumented, to allow them to access citizenship, to pay back their dues to the American people, to give of their talents to make this economic engine run and to serve their country.

There was an amazing story recounted of a young man who tried over and over again to be able to join the United States military and was rejected over and over again because of his undocumented status. By some manner he managed to go on to school and enter into law school. Now, even as a person that is still seeking the appropriate status, he still wants to join the Marine Corps.

The DREAM Act is the right kind of comprehensive immigration reform, or part of it. It is time to move forward.

Madam Speaker, this is a special time that we have an opportunity to listen closely to our colleagues and to share some of the pearls of those who live in the United States with our colleagues. And it gives me great pleasure to be able to come today and to express my deepest love and affection for a wonderful woman, a woman of strength, who has gone home to rest and to receive joy.

Beulah Shepard is a very special person in the eyes of our community, Houston and Texas. And today I stand on the floor of the House to call her an American hero. Beulah Shepard passed away this last week, and so we have only our memories. But I want to say to those of you who have known someone that has touched your life, let me just simply tell you the story of my friend Beulah Shepard.

She of course was a mother, was a wife. She has children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. And of course she understood the Constitution, and believed in one vote for every human being. I had a chance to talk to her wonderful daughters, Bobbie and Dianne, and the wonderful family that she has as she lived her last years. And I will tell you our community will remember her as a political icon, someone you went to if you knew what was right, if you wanted to be part of the Houston political community.

But my husband and I know her as friends. And she greeted us as a young couple, and told us how to stay on the straight and narrow. I know her wonderful grandson, who was challenged, and how she was endeared with him. And everywhere Sister Beulah went, her grandson went with her. I loved watching him grow up.

Yes, a political icon she was. But she was more than that. As a mother she loved, as a grandmother she loved. But she believed in public service, not in just the idea of the name of politicians. She believed that if you accepted the

oath of office you must serve the public. She did so.

As a member of the United Way board, one of the first African Americans to ever serve on our Harris County United Way board, she made sure that the vulnerable were taken care of. A member of the Harris County Council of Organizations. An active and loving member of the Galilee Baptist Church, where she loved her pastor, Pastor Davis, and the first lady.

More importantly, let me tell you that she was a woman of courage and strength and inspiration. I loved her when she stood and fought. She would understand all the debate, those who are against and those who are for. But I tell you she would tell it straight. And the way she would say it is that health care is going to help those who have never had health care before. She would say to those soldiers ``thank you'' for fighting on the front lines for our freedom. And she would say to them, I am using that freedom.

Because you know, Beulah Shepard had to buy a poll tax to vote. She bought it in 1948. She came to Texas from Louisiana. She was named for her grandmother. She came from the salt of the earth. But she is an inspiration to all of us.

And I am excited today to be able to say that Beulah Shepard lived to be 87 years old and had as one of the starring moments of her life to be able to vote for President Barack Obama. And why do I say that? Because Beulah Shepard walked and fought so that there might be those who would vote who had never voted before to have the opportunity to choose someone of their choosing.

Let me tell you what she did in Commissioner Squatty Lyons' office. Yes, she worked historically for this commissioner as the first African American among some that came after in those offices. I am gratified for that, because she took care of the vulnerable, those who were afraid to come downtown, those who didn't think government would work for them. Beulah Shepard took care of them.

She will be laid to rest in these next hours. And I will simply say that we have the flag waving over this great woman's life and legacy.

Why do I say that, having not had her serve in the United States military? Because I know that our military represents the people of the United States and all of us have the opportunity to represent the value of the flag of this country. That value is to be able to cherish democracy, justice and to have the courage to fight for it, a loving mother who nurtured her children, a loving friend who cared for everyone, someone who brought joy.

And it was a great joy to me to spend time with her in these last few years as she was so joyful with her family members all around her. She smiled, what a beautiful smile. When we took our pictures together in the front yard and inside the house, I know that she had great joy.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is with great sympathy to the family that I offer, on behalf of the United States Congress, this tribute to Beulah Shepard. God bless you, may you rest in peace, and we love you.