Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the permanent fix for doctors. That's what we have been saying as Democrats for more than a year.

I want to thank the leadership, who has taken the calls of Members who are representing their doctors and seniors and who are saying we have got to do this.

So let me tell the doctors of America: Look at what your friends look like--Democrats, who have been fighting over and over again. I promised physicians in my area, the doctors who work in inner city neighborhoods, that we were not going to leave them without help.

I hope the other body and my friends on the other side of the aisle, the Republicans, will really understand the facts. We have to join together. Doctors help save lives. They tend to our seniors. It is important that they have the reimbursement they need.

We rise today to support the 6-month fix, but we rise today to say the Democrats have been fighting to get this right. We are going to get it right. We are going to provide for the physicians. We are going to stop this 21 percent cut, and we are going to provide doctors for Americans who are waiting for us to do our jobs.

Support the legislation.

Physicians, your friends are us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3962, the ``Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010,'' a provision that retroactively reverses the 21 percent cut in Medicare payments to physicians scheduled for June 1, 2010; and also provides a 2.2 percent status report to physician payments through November 30, 2010. This provision also protects TRICARE military families dedicated to the service of this nation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay special tribute to my good friend, Chairman Henry Waxman, for his lifetime of devoted service to the cause of affordable health care for all Americans. I also thank the Democratic leadership, led by Speaker Pelosi, making health care affordable for Medicare beneficiaries a central issue. Democrats promised to chart a new direction for America if given the chance to lead. Today, we take another giant step toward fulfilling that promise.

For nearly a decade, Medicare patients and the doctors who treat them have been held hostage by short-term patches to an unworkable Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. In the months to come, I look forward to working with Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to repeal the SGR formula and to replace it with a permanent physician payment system for Medicare that rewards value and ends the uncertainty for patients and providers alike. In addition, the bill provides enhanced Medicaid funding to states to assist them with the added costs of providing health coverage to underserved and underrepresented individuals and for home and community based services that must be extended.

Under current law, all outpatient services provided within three days before an inpatient admission and are related to the inpatient admission must be included in the bundled payment for that admission. The provision closes a loophole that had allowed the unbundling of services and submission of adjustment claims seeking separate and additional Medicare payments. This provision provides temporary, targeted funding relief for single employer and multiemployer pension plans that suffered significant losses in asset value due to the steep

market slide in 2008. Employers that elect the relief would be required to make additional contributions to the plan if they pay compensation to any employee in excess of $1 million, pay extraordinary dividends, or engage in extraordinary stock buybacks during the first part of the relief period. Additional relief is available to certain plans sponsored by charitable organizations.

Mr. Speaker, this provision will provide much needed fiscal relief to the states and to unemployed individuals.

Although this fix is for 6 months, I am committed to working with my colleagues to deliver a permanent fix for our nation's physicians, and I am committed to fight for critical job-creating measures, on behalf of all of the American people and to strengthen our economy, as well as such vital provisions as extending unemployment benefits for the millions who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

We must uphold our responsibility to the seniors and persons with disabilities who depend upon the Medicare program and the military families who depend upon the TRICARE program. The 21 percent cut in fees that physicians are seeing now is jeopardizing the relationship between Medicare and TRICARE patients and their doctors, and we cannot allow that to stand. This is a matter of whether seniors will have access to care or whether that access to care will be diminished because doctors will no longer be able to afford to continue to sustain their businesses with the cuts under the SGR for Medicare. That is why I support passage of this legislation. Over the months we struggled with Republicans over this issue.

I continuously spoke to doctors in my district to say, I would not forget this important issue. I worked with the leadership, voted for a permanent fix and continued to call on the Senate to move this bill. Now we have a temporary fix of 6 months.

However, I will work for a permanent fix with the Democratic leadership in spite of those of my Republican colleagues who oppose it. I believe in bipartisanship to help doctors and patients including seniors, get reimbursed and get the care they need.

I support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2194, to avoid the nuclear attack that Iran represents to the world and to Israel. I rise to give strong support to H.R. 2194, and I ask my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation provides another tool for the President to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons by allowing the administration to sanction foreign firms who attempt to supply refined gasoline to Iran or provide them with the materials to enhance their oil refineries. These sanctions would further restrict the government of Iran's ability to procure refined petroleum. Currently, the availability of petroleum products is stagnant in Iran. Private firms have decided that the government of Iran's refusal to cooperate with the multilateral community on nuclear proliferation generates a significant risk to doing business with Iran.

I would like to thank Chairman Berman for incorporating my concerns about the human rights situation in Iran into the findings of this legislation. It is important that we acknowledge that, throughout 2009, the government of Iran has persistently violated the rights of its citizens. The government of Iran's most overt display of disregard for human rights happened in the presidential elections on June 12, 2009. As I said on June 19, 2009, ``we must condemn Iran for the absence of fair and free Presidential elections and urge Iran to provide its people with the opportunity to engage in a Democratic election process.'' The repression and murder, arbitrary arrests, and show trials of peaceful dissidents in the wake of the elections were a sad reminder of the government of Iran's long history of human rights violations. The latest violations were the most recent iteration of the government of Iran's wanton suppression of the freedom of expression.

It is important that we are clear that our concerns are with the government of Iran and not its people. The State Department's Human Rights Report on Iran provides a bleak picture of life in Iran. The government of Iran, through its denial of the democratic process and repression of dissent, has prevented the people from determining their own future. Moreover, it is the government of Iran that persecutes its ethnic minorities and denies the free expression of religion. As we proceed with consideration of this legislation, we should all remember that the sole target of these sanctions is the Iranian government.

Mr. Speaker, the government of Iran has repeatedly shown its disdain for the international community by disregarding international nonproliferation agreements. Iran's flagrant violation of nonproliferation agreements was evidenced most recently in the discovery of the secret enrichment facility at Qom. The government of Iran's continued threats against Israel, opposition to the Middle East peace process, and support of international terrorist organizations further demonstrates the necessity for action. Iran with nuclear weapons and a mindset to destroy Israel cannot be tolerated by the world community.

We must stop Iran's determination to become a nuclear power. Iran's recent actions towards the international community reflect a very small measure of progress. Iran's decision to allow International Atomic Energy

Agency, IAEA, inspectors to visit this facility was a positive sign, but not a sufficient indication of their willingness to comply with international agreements. The recent announcement that Iran will accept a nuclear fuel deal is also indicative of their willingness to engage in dialogue, though it remains to be seen what amendments they will seek to the deal. While these actions indicate a small degree of improvement in Iran's position, the legislation before us today demonstrates that only continued dialogue and positive actions will soften the international community's stance towards Iran.

I would also like to emphasize that the legislation before us provides only one tool for achieving Iran's compliance with international nonproliferation agreements. I continue to support the administration's policy of engagement with Iran and use of diplomatic talks. I believe that diplomacy and multilateralism are the most valuable tools we have to create change in Iran. After those tools fail, I believe that the sanctions are an appropriate recourse.

Mr. Speaker, we have had a good week, and I am very grateful we had the opportunity today to say to the doctors of America that we are committed to your practice and your medicine and your caring for our seniors.

In addition, we were able to say to Iran, which has called for the extinguishing of Israel, has caused the existence of Camp Ashraf in Iraq, and literally has tried to destroy dissidents and resisters for democracy, that we will not tolerate an Iran that is nuclear-armed. And so I am glad that we passed the Iran Sanctions Act.

But we have more to do. And I am grateful that the President saw fit to change command in Afghanistan. It is unfortunate that the commands of the commander in chief were not respected, but we know that this is a civilian government and the military respects the civilian leadership. That must be. But now we must turn to establishing a pathway out of Afghanistan. We must go after the terrorists that threaten us, but we must recognize a smart power, political power, diplomatic power, empowering the people, providing for education is the way to solve the Afghanistan problem, not 30,000 soldiers that are engaged in war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1330, a resolution that supports the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I also want to thank my colleague, the honorable Mario Diaz-Balart, for introducing this important resolution.

My district is in the wake of many hurricanes that make their way into the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season has a profound impact on our way of life in the gulf. Hurricane season is upon us, and with it comes the distinct possibility of Mother Nature wreaking more havoc on our gulf coast. Our oceans are in peril. Reams of film from the field reach all of our doorsteps, pictures of oil covered birds, ailing mammals, and other creatures that couldn't possibly survive the copious amounts of oil. The harm done to our gulf is already at an unprecedented level.

Unfortunately, as long as oil plumes continue to form nebulous clouds of black a mile

beneath the deep blue sea, we will continue to push that unprecedented level of destruction even further, continue to see our gulf shores littered with amorphous lumps of oil, continue to see the gulf coast crowded with sick animals, continue to see the gulf fishing industry suffer.

Lost in the discussion of Sunday's World Refugee Day was the group of internally displaced individuals from Ike, Rita, and especially Katrina.

For example, our latest hurricane, Hurricane Ike, wreaked havoc on Texas, particularly in Galveston and Houston. As we moved forward with recovery efforts, it was clear that the impact of this storm had been widespread and many people were still in need of assistance.

Hurricane Ike pummeled the Texas Gulf Coast, resulting in at least 38 deaths in Texas, evacuation of over 1 million residents, hundreds more are either missing or remain unaccounted for, over 2,000 residents were rescued from harrowing conditions, and more than $11 billion worth of damage according to preliminary estimates, making this the most costly storm in Texas history.

In the weeks that followed Hurricane Ike, over 2.5 million families struggled to survive with no electricity, including no air conditioning in the sweltering heat, which had a particularly severe impact on the elderly, disabled, impoverished and other vulnerable populations. Clearly, we need to invest substantial funds to improve our electric grids to ensure that the disparate impact on vulnerable populations is corrected and never allowed to reoccur.

Just as we saw in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana Post- Hurricane Katrina, internally displaced individuals from hurricanes do not receive the proper access to government aid to rebuild and recover. In fact, there is still a desperate need of housing and much more rebuilding that needs to be done to restore previous hurricane disaster victims and assist the residents who remain there.

We cannot allow the hurricane victims to be forgotten. Throughout our Post-Hurricane recovery efforts, many individuals have had difficulties and challenges getting the government aid that they need to rebuild after the storm. Many lost their jobs or are at risk of losing their employment due to damages incurred by the hurricane.

There are men, women, and children who have lost so much due to flood waters and storm winds. I have been proud to stand up repeatedly in Congress to fight on their behalf by securing the necessary federal funds. We must work together to ensure that our nation does its part to help hurricane victims fully recover by ensuring the delivery of funds that we worked so hard to appropriate. As a senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, which has oversight over the Federal Emergency Management Administration, FEMA, I am working to ensure that our communities respond expeditiously to natural disasters. The protection of our homeland and the security of our neighborhoods are at the forefront of my agenda.

While Hurricane Ike has left an enormous amount of devastation, it has demonstrated yet again the amazing unity, strength and resilience that Texans possess. Whether rich or poor, black or white, young or old, Democrat or Republican, everyone has been working together to respond, recover, rebuild and move forward.

We must work together to improve access to housing and the critical infrastructure necessary to ensure that the residents of North Galveston and their communities are safe. Where unacceptable vulnerabilities remain, swift action must be taken to eliminate them. I am committed to ensuring the implementation of such action.

My friends, this oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico threatens the livelihood of the citizens of the south central region of these United States, and deprives all Americans of the beauty and reasonable use of the seas and its inhabitants.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1434 to recognize National Homeownership Month and the importance of homeownership in America. As you know, homeownership is an important portion of our economy and a central piece of American culture that lies within the idea of the ``American Dream''.

The idea of homeownership being central to the ``American Dream'' has a long history. Some believe that its roots date all the way back to 1776, where in the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson stated that all men have the right to ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'' In American culture, home ownership is often used as a proxy for the promised prosperity that was to be included in the interpretation of ``liberty'' and ``happiness.'' In 1931, James Truslow Adams invented the term ``American Dream'' and used it to exemplify the idea that with enough hard work, anyone can achieve what they desire in life. For many Americans, homeownership is a central aspiration and the key to happiness and prosperity.

Our great nation has long supported this theme in American culture. In response to the Great Depression and a failing housing industry, the U.S. government created the Federal Housing Administration in 1934. The FHA then became a part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development office in 1965. Together, the mission of these organizations is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. Since its inception in 1934, the FHA and HUD have insured over 34 million home mortgages and 47,205 multifamily project mortgages. In the 1920s only about 4 out of 10 homes were owned. Thanks to the work of the FHA the homeownership rate in America is now upwards of 66%. FHA insurance has been especially important for minority communities, low-income families, and first-time homebuyers.

Mr. Speaker, homeownership does not only serve as a centralized American idea, but also as a fundamental source of growing capital and investment for the American people and economy. The purchase of a home is one of the biggest investments one can make. It strengthens both a homeowner's individual economic growth as well as the local communities as the effects of a growing housing market will trickle down in the form of jobs, building suppliers, tax bases, schools, and other 3 forms of revenue. Until recently, the U.S. gross domestic product has always been very closely tied to the total American housing valuation. Housing is a form of wealth that increases American consumption and the growth of the economy.

With consideration to the significance of homeownership in America, the House recently passed H.R. 5072, the FHA Reform Act of 2010. This act will serve to crack down on fraud and misrepresentation from lenders, improve the FHA's internal controls and risk management, and provide more transparency and information to the public. This act is crucial to the future growth of the American housing industry, and it signifies the congressional recognition of the extreme importance of homeownership in our economy.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1434 to recognize National Homeownership month and give praise to home owners in America.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1350, recognizing June 20, 2010, as World Refugee Day. I thank my colleague, Ms. Watson, for introducing this resolution that reminds us of the importance of protecting those who are vulnerable and finding a home for those who are displaced.

The theme of this year's World Refugee Day on June 20, 2010 is ``Home,'' in recognition of the plight of more than 40 million uprooted and displaced people around the world; approximately 10 million of whom are refugees of special concern to UNHCR.

As a Member of the Bipartisan Congressional Refugee Caucus, I have continuously stood up for the rights of the world's refugees. Today, there are more than 42 million refugees, including 16 million refugees outside their countries and 26 million others displaced internally.

This year, I am especially concerned for the people of Haiti--many of whom are facing the rainy season without a suitable home. According to Refugees International, approximately 700,000 people in Port-au-Prince are without homes or proper shelter and another 600,000 people have left the capital.

I also welcome the announcement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, that 100,000 people having been referred for resettlement from the Middle East to third countries since 2007.

From Iraq and Afghanistan, to Sudan and the Congo, to Burma and Colombia, the United Nations Refugee Agency, with ample support from the United States, manages to support over 25 million. Indeed, these vulnerable individuals depend on the United States, other governments, the United Nations and other agencies for the protection of their basic human rights.

The United States is in fact a global leader in the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons. In the year 2010 the United States celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a cornerstone of refugee protection and assistance which has brought the United States to be the single largest refugee resettlement country in the world, admitting a total of 65,722 in 2007. Moreover, the United States is the single largest donor to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Madam Speaker, I urge every one of my fellow members of Congress to join Congresswoman Watson and me in reaffirming the commitment of the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being of millions of refugees, calling on the Department of State to continue to support the efforts of the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees, call on the U.S. Government to continue to strengthen its leadership role in protecting displaced persons, commending those who have risked their lives working to provide assistance to refugees, and reaffirming the goals of World Refugee Day. These are vulnerable people, people in need. Let us not forget them or our promise to find an end to their plight.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And to the Speaker, whenever John Dingell raises his voice to join in honoring a leader, you always have to take his affirmation really as an honor of that leader. And so no one wants to be left out when it comes to honoring someone Chairman Dingell has designated as deserving that honor.

I come far away from Michigan, from Texas, and to be able to say that Ron Gettelfinger is an American hero, and America thanks him, because he understood the various assets of wealth. He might have understood a family in New York or down in Houston, or maybe in Alabama who was able to get that first American-made car, made by the men and women of the United States, and in this instance those who reside in Michigan. Buying a car was a big deal, and I think this president, past president of the UAW, understood that. And I am grateful for him understanding that. That is why he fought for the men and women of the UAW.

And so I rise today to join in this Special Order to honor Ron Gettelfinger and to thank him for caring about America, for those families who work every day all the time to ensure that they might buy that first car, that family car, that they could load up a family of two, three, four, five or more in a car that they knew would work, that had all of the bells and whistles and had the investment of the hard- earning and the hardworking men and women of the UAW. We want to thank him for his hard and exemplary work with organized labor, and we want to acknowledge him at this time of his retirement.

There is no doubt that for his 40 years of service in the interest of the average American worker, he deserves the praise of Congress. He agreed with something I think that I wholeheartedly agree with: it is important for Americans to make things. And how proud we were that we could point to the American automobile industry as being made by the hands of those who worked hard and made good and made good products. America has got to get back to making things; and Mr. Gettelfinger, who was involved in the union and worker activities since 1964, I believe understood that well.

Ever since he was elected to represent Ford's Louisville assembly plant as committee person, bargaining chair and president, he has tirelessly worked for the betterment of the average American worker. It should be noted as the UAW votes rose, as they improved their working conditions, and of course the contractual conditions and agreements, others likewise benefited. His organizing and people skills are legendary, as is his steadfast commitment to the American worker, all of which made him a symbol of the union movement in the United States and an icon to many Americans.

Mr. Gettelfinger first became a member of the Ford United Auto Workers bargaining committee in 1987. Since then, he has held several management positions before being elected to his first term of president of the UAW in 2002. Under his leadership, UAW was able to lobby effectively for labor protections and fair trade agreements, including provisions for workers' rights and environmental protections. He was a visionary. With the voice of the average worker as his motivational mantra, he fervently criticized corporate global initiatives designed to strip workers of their right to a living wage in the face of economic decline. In addition, he toiled to keep American jobs here. He believed in America making things.

I hope he will leave that legacy, because we've got to get back to making things. Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of man who embodies the American spirit and symbolizes the importance of the average American worker to the success and way of life that we cherish. There is nothing wrong with working with your hands and having a decent living. He believed in technology, better ways of making cars, more efficiency, but he didn't believe in undermining the worker, the American worker. Our democracy has been made stronger by the efforts of this unique individual. It is only fitting that we honor former president of the UAW Ron Gettelfinger for his life's work and give him special praise on his retirement.

Again for these reasons, I rise in support of Chairman Dingell's special order and would only leave you to say this: He is a great American. We would do well to follow in the footsteps of this great American and learn that America is at her best when she can make things for the American people and people around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my colleague John Dingell's special order to honor Ron Gettelfinger, immediate past president of the United Auto Workers, UAW, for his exemplary work with the men and women of organized labor, and on the event of his retirement. There is no doubt that for his 40 years of service in the interest of the average American worker, Mr. Gettelfinger deserves the praise of the Congress.

Mr. Gettlefinger has been involved in union and worker activities since 1964. Ever since he was elected to represent the Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant as committeeperson, bargaining chair, and president, he has tirelessly worked for the betterment of the average American worker. His organizing and people skills are legendary as is his steadfast commitment to the American worker; all of which make him a symbol of the union movement in the United States and an icon to many Americans.

Mr. Gettelfinger first became a member of the Ford-United Auto Workers, UAW, bargaining committee in 1987. Since then, he has held several other management positions before being elected to his first term as president of UAW in 2002. Under his leadership, UAW was able to lobby effectively for labor protections and fair trade agreements, including provisions for workers' rights and environmental protections. With the voice of the average worker as his motivational mantra, he fervently criticized corporate global initiatives designed to strip workers of their right to a living wage in the face of economic decline. In addition, he toiled to keep U.S. jobs here in America.

Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of man who embodies the American spirit and symbolizes the importance of the average American worker to the success and way of life that we cherish. Our democracy has been made stronger by the efforts of this unique individual. It is only fitting that we honor Ron Gettelfinger for his life's work and give him special praise on his retirement.

Again, for these reasons I rise in support of my friend and colleague, John Dingell's special order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 546 which recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future.

On June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved African- Americans were free, ``Juneteenth Independence Day'' was born. On this historic day, legend has it, while standing on the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of ``General Order No. 3'':

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a

proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all

slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of

personal rights and rights of property between former masters

and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between

them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The

freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes

and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be

allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not

be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

In that moment, Galveston streets were filled with jubilant celebrations and the following year, the commemoration of June 19th or Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas. The newly freed African- Americans pulled what few resources they had to purchase land in their communities to have these gatherings. Houston's Emancipation Park, Mexia's Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin are the present day result of these efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I can image how the words of President Lincoln resonated in their hearts and souls; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all equal citizens was no longer a dream, they were a reality. Hundreds of thousands of American citizens were released from the grips of bondage; we are freed men and women. However, while it is a celebration of our emancipation, it is also a reminder of the progress we have yet to make.

The Emancipation Proclamation Abraham Lincoln issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, had minimal initial effect in some States. Let this be a reminder, that words are meaningless without action. We must be steadfast and willing to do our parts as citizens to uphold and carry out

the will of the people and the laws of our great Nation. The United States has made great strides of improvement and we continue to press forward to obtain those values in which we hold dear.

Juneteenth became an official State holiday through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African-American State legislator from Texas in 1980. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official State recognition. As of March 2010, 36 States have followed suit in the celebrations and the adoption of this historic day. In my district, we actively celebrate this holiday through, reenactments, of the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at Ashton Villa and various parades and musical events all across Houston.

Juneteenth is a day to reflect upon the African-American experience and it includes all races, ethnicities and nationalities. It is a symbolical reference point of our progress and the contributions we have made to make this country what it is today. Juneteenth is a time to reconnect with loved ones and have a renewed sense of community.

In conclusion, I am reminded of what President Obama stated 2 years ago pertaining to Juneteenth and the continued pursuit of the values embedded in this day:

We pause to remember that our nation has made tremendous

progress, but has many miles to go on the long march toward

finally fulfilling the ideals of this country. When too many

Americans go without affordable healthcare or a quality

education; when neighborhoods unravel due to a housing market

in crisis; when special interests hold their thumbs on the

scale of opportunity; we have more work to do.

Juneteenth is a day for celebration of freedom and family,

but also a day that calls us all to rededicate ourselves to

the convictions at the heart of our American experiment. It

reminds us that with the work of each successive generation,

we come closer to the realization of that more perfect union.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support of H. Res. 1369, which recognizes the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

As a child of Jamaican parents, I understand the importance of recognizing the influence Caribbean cultures continues to have on

the many facets of these United States. Growing up, my parents instilled in me a strong appreciation for the Caribbean values they learned in Jamaica: a strong work ethic and tremendous pride in my heritage. As a parent, I have passed on these same values to my own children, so they will develop a sense of pride in their Caribbean heritage and acknowledge the many roles Caribbean people play in shaping this nation. I whole-heartedly support this resolution that commemorates Caribbean heritage, history, culture and contributions to the United States.

In her 1970 autobiography, Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, credited her success to the education she received while attending school in Barbados. She wrote, ``Years later I would know what an important gift my parents had given me by seeing to it that I had my early education in the strict, traditional, British-style schools of Barbados. If I speak and write easily now, that early education is the main reason.''

This is a nation built by immigrants. From as early as the 17th century there have been individuals from the Caribbean Islands, working here in the United States as indentured servants in the colony of Jamestown, Virginia. They worked in fields picking cotton, tobacco and crops just as the slaves did.

Caribbean immigrants have been contributing to the well-being of American society since its founding. Alexander Hamilton, the First Secretary of the Treasury was from the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. We count among our famous sons and daughters, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Cicely Tyson, W.E.B. Dubois, James Weldon Johnson, Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier to name a few.

Moreover, this is a nation that reaches out to immigrants. None of us will forget the earthquake that shook Haiti to its very foundations in every sense of the word on January 12, 2010. Since then, we have all seen the outpouring of support to the Haitian people and their families on behalf of the American people.

What fewer notice perhaps, are the powerful contributions that Haitians have made to America, its history and its culture. In 1779 soldiers from then Saint Dominique, now Haiti, fought alongside American revolutionaries. Despite the fact that the then slave-holding United States did not look favorably upon an Independence Movement it saw as a dangerous slave rebellion, many historians attribute the Louisiana Purchase partly to the fact that Haitian slaves rose up against their French masters from 1794 to 1801. Haitian born Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable founded Chicago, one of our great cities. And Americans from coast to coast have enjoyed the contributions Wyclef Jean, another of Haiti's sons, has made to our musical culture. Indeed, from history to food to music, Haiti has a long history of helping to shape America.

H. Res. 1369 recognizes the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. Our nation would not be what it is today without these significant contributions of the Caribbean people and we should honor these accomplishments with the passing of this legislation. The contributions of Caribbean-Americans are a significant part of the history, progress, and heritage of the United States and play an important role in the unique diversity that enriches and strengthens our nation.

By passing this legislation we continue to honor the friendship between the United States and Caribbean countries. We are united by our common values and shared history, and we should celebrate the rich Caribbean Heritage and the many ways in which Caribbean Americans have helped shape this nation.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to pay tribute to the common culture and bonds of friendship that unite the United States and the Caribbean countries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1330, a resolution that supports the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I also want to thank my colleague, the honorable Mario Diaz-Balart, for introducing this important resolution.

My district is in the wake of many hurricanes that make their way into the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane season has a profound impact on our way of life in the Gulf. For example, our latest hurricane, Hurricane Ike, wreaked havoc on Texas, particularly in Galveston and Houston. As we moved forward with recovery efforts, it was clear that the impact of this storm has been widespread and many people are still in need of assistance. Lost in the discussion of Sunday's World Refugee Day was the group of internally displaced individuals from Ike, Rita, and especially Katrina.

Unfortunately, Texans are still in need of help, especially the neglected residents of North Galveston. Let us use this time to examine how FEMA and HUD are responding to citizens so that we can continue to provide the aid people desperately need to fully recover from this storm.

I continue working to ensure that Hurricane Ike victims still have access to recovery resources and call for expeditious action, urging a better response and expedited assistance from FEMA, HUD, and local officials. I also call on housing associations to re-open access to housing for Hurricane Ike victims.

Just as we saw in the 9th ward of New Orleans, Louisiana Post- Hurricane Katrina, people in North Galveston have not received the

proper access to government aid to rebuild and recover. In fact, there is still much more rebuilding and desperate need of housing that needs to be done to restore North Galveston and assist the residents who remain there.

We cannot allow the hurricane victims to be forgotten. Throughout the Post-Hurricane Ike recovery efforts, many individuals have had difficulties and challenges getting the government aid that they need to rebuild after the storm. Many have lost their jobs or are at risk of losing their employment due to damages incurred by the hurricane, including the more than 2,400 employees of the University of Texas Medical Branch, UTMB, who were recently terminated. We must protect our citizens and their means of living as we continue to recover from this storm.

There are men, women, and children who have lost so much due to flood waters and storm winds. I have been proud to stand up repeatedly in Congress to fight on their behalf by securing the necessary Federal funds. We must work together to ensure that our Nation does its part to help Hurricane Ike victims fully recover by ensuring the delivery of these funds that we worked so hard to appropriate. As a senior Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, which has oversight over the Federal Emergency Management Administration, FEMA, I am working to ensure that our communities respond expeditiously to natural disasters. The protection of our homeland and the security of our neighborhoods are at the forefront of my agenda.

For the foregoing reasons I stand in support of making this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, June 19, was the celebration of Juneteenth. Thirty-six States now recognize that as a State holiday, a holiday that is not just for one narrow community, but in actuality, is about perseverance, determination, commitment, and freedom. Major Gordon Granger landed on the shores of Galveston, Texas, to announce that those who had been enslaved are free, 2 years later, past the Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln.

Today we have the same challenges of restoring, of being persevering and determined to improve education, to restore summer jobs that have not been voted on yet, to pass a remedies bill that I am introducing that is going to take a new look at the gulf oil spill and restore some new processes to not have this happen again. And yes, restore some dignity to the brass as it relates to the Commander in Chief, who should always be respected. Let us restore dignity and freedom to this Nation and include the United States military brass that have to be more respectful of the President than I have seen in the last 48 hours.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, H.R. 5297. I would like to thank Chairman Barney Frank, co-sponsors of the bill, and the Members of the Committee on Financial Services for supporting this important legislation. I believe this bill is critical to the continued economic growth and stability of the nation. Small businesses represent one of the most important segments of the U.S. economy. The health of the nation's small businesses is directly tied to the health of the U.S. economy. The latest Census Bureau data for small businesses indicate that over 4 million small businesses employ more than 20 million employees. Small businesses accounted for approximately 18 percent of private sector jobs in 2006, but nearly 25 percent of net employment growth from 1992 to 2005. The contribution of small businesses to the national economy, particularly during the economic recession, was crucial to creating jobs and promoting economic recovery in many parts of the nation.

This bill recognizes that there has been a dramatic decline in lending to small businesses, as a result of the worst recession in our history. According to a February 2010 report of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), total bank loans and leases declined for the sixth straight quarter, with total loans to commercial and industrial borrowers declining 4.3 percent and real estate construction and development loans declining by 8.4 percent. These are not positive indicators for the small business sector, because without access to credit and working capital it is virtually impossible for small businesses to grow or to hire. Jobs must continue to be our number one priority and small businesses create jobs.

As liquidity in U.S. financial markets evaporated during the economic recession, many businesses, particularly small businesses, found it difficult if not impossible to secure loans to keep their businesses operating. Meanwhile, banks have imposed more stringent lending requirements and eliminated or decreased substantial lines of credit, even when the businesses are up-to-date on their loan repayments. Of course, the nation's minority-owned and women-owned businesses, which have always cited access to capital and credit as their number one problem, have only had their problems compounded by the lack of small business lending in many parts of the country.

According to Treasury Secretary Geithner, ``banks have been told to maintain capital levels in excess of those required to be considered well capitalized. Some banks say they have little choice but to scale back lending, even to creditworthy borrowers, and the most recent Federal Reserve data shows banks are continuing to tighten lending standards for small business.'' Given this type of assessment by our Secretary of the Treasury, it only makes sense for Congress to take radical steps to reverse the trend and to stimulate the most important sector of the economy--the small business sector.

Others have documented the small business lending dilemma. For example, the TARP Congressional Oversight Panel's May 13, 2010 Oversight Report (``COP Report'') addressed the issue of small business lending. ``The COP Report concluded `small business credit remains severely constricted', and also noted the difficulty smaller banks have had in providing small business credit due to exposure to commercial real estate and other liabilities.'' Whether small business credit liquidity is a supply problem, or a demand problem, no one can really say. What is clear is that small businesses in every part of the country, including my 18th Congressional District, are strapped for the financial resources necessary to run their businesses. Now the oil spill in the gulf region has worsened matters for small businesses in many gulf coast communities and my 18th Congressional District, where businesses rely on seafood from the gulf for their survival. Many of these businesses were crying out for help before the crisis and will only cry louder for help because of it. The Jackson Lee-Cao amendment will make sure the small business lending is targeted to these gulf coast communities.

The Houston District SBA office serves 32 counties in Southeast Texas where there are over 340,000 small business establishments. The leading categories are Health Services, Business Services, Wholesale Trade- Durable Goods, and Food and Beverage Establishments.

At the beginning of 2006, the State of Texas reported 706 banks and thrifts. There are 231 participating lenders belonging to the SBA Houston District. However, many of these SBA lenders are not lending to small businesses.

Among the 10 most populous metro areas, Houston ranked second in employment growth rate and fourth in nominal employment growth. Much of this growth can be directly attributed to small businesses. In 2006, the Houston metropolitan area ranked first in Texas and third in the U.S. within the category of ``Best Places for Business and Careers'' by Forbes. Small businesses made these rankings possible.

However, I would submit to you that each of these indicators, particularly the one documenting the number of small businesses in the

Houston District, will not improve if the small business lending crisis continues. Small businesses in every category in Houston will be eliminated permanently, resulting in the loss of jobs, incomes and economic stability. Of course, the administration acknowledges this problem, and proposed establishing the $30 billion lending fund and the State Small Business Credit Initiative to allocate funding to states to support Capital Access Programs. The Obama administration also supports expansion of many of the current SBA programs, as well as tax incentives to stimulate the small business sector. Any comprehensive package of initiatives designed to support small business is the best solution to keep the small businesses of our Nation generating jobs and creating income. H.R. 5297 is one element of the comprehensive package we need right now to provide much needed capital to small businesses and the fund has enough safeguards to ensure the lending truly benefits small businesses.

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have reached an impasse when its comes to small business lending in our country, and the only way to send a strong signal to the small businesses and the banks that lend to them is to pass legislation that will help to ease the liquidity crisis. This bill is a timely well-crafted measure to assist the Nation's small businesses. I urge you to support H.R. 5297.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Barney Frank and Members of the House Financial Services Committee for supporting the ``Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010'', and for the opportunity to explain my amendment, No. 12, to H.R. 5297. I also want to thank Representative Anh ``Joseph'' Cao from the Louisiana's Second District, one of the Gulf Coast communities affected by the oil spill for co-sponsoring the amendment.

My amendment would require the Secretary of Treasury to confer special consideration in the allocation of funds to states in the Gulf region, and to eligible financial institutions in the areas where the local economy has been adversely affected by the recent Gulf Region oil spill. Local communities that rely on the natural resources and the related business activity of the Gulf have been devastated. If economic action is not taken, they will continue to see layoffs, increased unemployment, and significant declines in economic activity. This amendment will help resolve the negative impacts of the oil spill by ensuring that credit is extended to small businesses in these areas.

Madam Chair, given the enormous economy created by the natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico, the economic effects of the oil spill will be massive. In 2008, over 620,000 were employed in the tourism and recreation markets and 210,000 in commercial fishing industry in the Gulf Region. Secondary job markets also rely on business related to the natural resources of the Gulf. These include boat maintenance companies, fishing equipment suppliers, and cleaning companies to name a few. These markets are, and will continue to be adversely affected by the oil spill.

Estimates of the exact economic repercussions of the spill have yet to be determined. However, the University of Central Florida predicts that in Florida alone, 40,000 jobs and $2.2 billion could be lost as a direct result. President Obama has recently stated that the American people should be prepared for an ongoing economic impact, resulting from the oil spill.

In my recent visit to the impacted communities of the Gulf Coast region, I had an opportunity to visit with oystermen, fishermen, watermen, shrimpers, boat owners and others to listen to their personal stories of lost dreams, lost revenues, and disruptions to their way of living caused by the oil spill. This bill represents a small step towards returning their lives to some sense of normality by requiring financial institutions in these devastated communities, to begin lending again to small businesses, which generate jobs and incomes.

Again, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Anh Cao, for joining me as a co-sponsor of this amendment. He too understands the importance of this bill as a vehicle to provide small business lending to aid in the recovery of those communities affected by the oil spill. This amendment to H.R. 5297 would provide a major impetus in the sustained efforts towards recovery from this unfolding crisis. If small businesses are able to obtain credit, they would again gain the ability to grow, expand, and thus create new job opportunities in the regions affected by the oil spill. This would greatly offset the economic catastrophe that is already emerging in these areas; one that no one could have anticipated less than 57 days ago.

For these reasons, I urge the Committee to make my amendment in order.

Madam Speaker, I am delighted to acknowledge Juneteenth. I am pleased to be with you this afternoon. I would like to thank you for your commitment to seeking solutions to one of the most pressing challenges facing our community: ensuring that everyone receive all the rights guaranteed under our civil rights laws. I believe that one of the most important violations of civil rights are hate crimes and racial profiling. I also believe that equal access to health, education, housing and health care, are all civil rights. But I will focus on hate crimes and access to adequate health care.

History of Juneteenth

For those of you who ask, ``What is Juneteenth,'' I will tell you. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers, led by the courageous Major General Gordon Granger, landed in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. The Emancipation Proclamation became official on January 1, 1863. Nevertheless, people held in bondage in Texas had to wait two and a half years after President Lincoln's proclamation, to hear the news of freedom.

It gives me great pleasure to speak about Juneteenth and I would like to share with you the letter that Major General Gordon Granger read to the emotion filled slaves. It reads as follows: ``The People of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.''

Prior to June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops available to enforce the new Executive order. Thanks to the meritorious Major Granger and the arrival of his troops, there were forces strong enough to overcome the resistance and to free the slaves.

Many stories have been told about the actual reason for why it took so long for the news of the Emancipation to reach Galveston, but it is very difficult to say which one is true. The fact still remains that the news did not come to the enslaved Texans soon enough. The reactions to the profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation.

Upon hearing the news, many of the newly freed slaves went north and others went to neighboring states, such as Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. For those freed men and women, recounting the memories and festivities of that great day in June of 1865 served as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory.

The celebration of June 19th was coined ``Juneteenth'' and it grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring one another,

for praying and for gathering with family members. This still holds true today because African Americans continue to face many challenges that call for prayer and gathering together with one's family and community.

When the celebration of Juneteenth originated, a range of activities were offered to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities that one may witness or participate in today. This is an historic and important commemoration for Texas but also for the Nation. This Holiday equals freedom. I applaud all of the events sponsored by Houstonians that seeks to inspire and educate our children and to respect the former slaves of Texas who suffered so much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1422, ``Honoring the Department of Justice on the occasion of its 140th anniversary,'' as introduced by our distinguished colleague from Wisconsin, Representative Sensenbrenner.

Since its establishment in 1870, the Department of Justice has taken the lead in enforcing Federal laws, furnishing counsel in Federal cases, and providing interpretations of the laws under which other executive agencies act. The DOJ's mission has grown as well, meeting challenges that could hardly have been envisioned in 1870. It now has seven separate, specialized divisions, covering Antitrust, Civil, Civil Rights, Criminal matters, Environment and Natural Resources, National Security, and Tax, as well as agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Prisons, the United States Marshals Service, the U.S. Central Bureau-International Criminal Police Organization, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Office of Justice Programs.

DOJ's work is as important now as it ever has been. It is one of the leading agencies involved in the protection of our national security; its work has led to the disruption of multiple terrorist organizations in the last decade alone.

The Department plays a key role in the protection of our citizens' intellectual property, helping protect their interest in work they pour their energies into. Since 2004, the Department of Justice has led the 2 largest multinational law enforcement efforts ever directed at online piracy, involving simultaneous efforts in 12 countries, more than 200 searches and arrests in more than 30 States, more than $100,000,000 in seized pirated works, and a total of 112 felony convictions to date.

DOJ's Antitrust Division is responsible for protecting consumer interests from anti-competitive practices in all sectors of the economy. As industries move further and further towards consolidation-- in printing, in broadcasting, in the airline industry, and throughout our economy--DOJ has the responsibility to make sure that actions taken in the name of efficiency don't lead to the dangers of monopoly.

Through its Office of Justice Programs, DOJ has partnered with state and local law enforcement agencies to provide guidance and funding for important initiatives. Violent Crime Impact Teams have arrested more than 14,100 gang members, drug dealers, felons in possession of firearms, and other violent criminals, including more than 2,800 identified as the `worst of the worst' criminals. Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) is a series of nationwide fugitive apprehension operations coordinated by the Department of Justice, and has resulted in the collective capture of more than 55,896 dangerous fugitive felons since its inception in 2005.

For almost a century and a half, the Department of Justice has been a critically important part of the Federal government, and it has an equally important role to play in the next decades. I join Representative Sensenbrenner in honoring the Department on its 140th anniversary, and urge my colleagues to do so as well.