Floor Statements

Let me thank the gentlelady from California. And I want to thank her for her thoughtfulness in being a leader on H.R. 3644, which focuses on the opportunity to promote ocean, atmospheric and environmental education awareness opportunities for young people. And to acknowledge that these are competitive grants again emphasizes that this caucus, that Democrats are concerned about the budget, but also concerned about important issues dealing with coastal growth and coastal learning.

I am from the coastal area, and it brings me to some of the comments that have been made on this health care bill. It is interesting that when we look at our friends on the other side of the aisle, who spent billions of wasteful dollars on giving tax cuts to the richest of Americans, that they can give a short shrift, if you will, to the fact that this health care bill will not only insure millions of Americans, almost 95 percent of Americans, including those who are employer-based insured, which we say to them, as in my own congressional district, where 41 percent are employer-based, yes, you can keep your insurance.

But at the same time, we are prepared to reduce the deficit $130 billion over the next 10 years and $1.2 trillion more over the following decade, reining in waste, fraud, and abuse, but at the same time providing millions of uninsured Americans, women, children, families with the opportunity for insurance.

Let me rise and support the legislation that has been offered by my friend and colleague from Texas, and a senior member of the House Science Committee, to celebrate African Americans who have overcome significant obstacles to enhance innovation and competitiveness in the field of science in the United States.

Frankly, this debate is appropriate and timely, as we are discussing the status of NASA and the opportunity to inspire and to ensure that our scientists and physicians and those with inventiveness have the opportunity to show those talents and to produce on behalf of the American people.

As a 12-year member of the House Science Committee and the Subcommittee on Aeronautics, I know the value of research and the providing for a safe and secure place for the intelligence of America. I want to cite as part of this legacy of African Americans Dr. Lovell Jones, who heads the minority health center at M.D. Anderson, and has made great strides in the research dealing with cancer in minority populations.

Dr. Bernard Harris, an astronaut, who has led in establishing new businesses around research and knowledge that he was able to expand on as an astronaut in the NASA human space program.

The late Dr. Ron McNair, who was trained as a physicist, came from South Carolina, whose beginnings were enormously humble, and yet he was able to achieve greatness through his studies at MIT, and then ultimately he came to become an astronaut, and of course we lost him in the line of duty. But his research knowledge helped to expand horizons of the space exploration program.

Dr. Mae Jemison, trained as a physician, the first African American woman in space.

Breaking news; all America needs to listen: Health insurers break profit records as 2.7 million Americans lose their coverage.

On Sunday, we will have an opportunity to correct this abominable announcement and, as well, to save the lives of 45,000 Americans who, in fact, die every year because they do not have insurance.

Breaking news: Insurance companies with large profits; my friends on the other side of the aisle, celebrating and voting against the American people.

The Congressional Budget Office shows that the health care bill we will vote on on Sunday will provide coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans, cut the deficit by $130 million, cut the deficit by $2 trillion in the second year--second decade, and eliminate the Medicare doughnut hole as well extends the sovereignty of Medicare for many years.

Breaking news: We are standing alongside of the American people, saving the lives of 45,000 who die every year. And the other side? Standing with the insurance companies.

I would like to thank our friend and colleague, Congresswoman Woolsey, for organizing this very important statement, historic statement. Women that come from all over America, Members of Congress who have no ax to grind, who have no representation of special interest other than the American people: we stand on this floor to answer our colleagues and those who have offered a negative perspective, all kinds of obstructions and poor commentary.

Like an email I received blaming people for their obesity and diabetes. Yes, we need to be a healthier country, but does anybody realize that insurance companies would never provide for preventative care so that we could be tested and that we could learn to eat differently, to watch our diets? That is why this country spends more time wasting dollars on those who are sick.

So I stand today to be able to say to all of the moms and nurturers who happen to be women that we have listened to your call. We have actually recognized that it is important to provide for preventative care. You know what you do.

As we were raised by our moms and grandparents and aunts and uncles, they told us wipe our nose with tissues, wash our hands way before this whole

concept has come with automatic hand washers and bottled water. They wanted us to be clean and to respect cleanliness. Why? It was a method of preventing disease. But we were sick anyhow. And when we got sick, we couldn't get to the emergency room. We couldn't get to a doctor. We couldn't get to a hospital because many times that required health insurance.

So today for the women of America, for all of the women who have been denied insurance because of pregnancy, of a C-section, of issues that deal with womanhood, we now stand up and declare freedom with the passing of this bill.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I might say to you that all that is in this bill I don't agree with. Frankly, I'm concerned about the position being taken on physician-owned hospitals, many of them who have come and saved neighborhoods by opening up hospitals, declaring desert areas where rural communities had no hospitals, they came in and opened them up on inner-city neighborhoods. We understand that all of them are going to be looking for long-term fixes down the road almost the same way when Medicare was passed in 1965.

That wasn't a perfect system, but I can tell you that of all the lives of women that it has saved since its passage in 1965, for one, it saved the life of Ivalita Bennett Jackson, my mom, who now lives and lives enthusiastically with a love of life because of the resources that came about through Medicare. And she worked. So this is not a handout.

So this bill, for example, is going to give women affordability. It's going to give women in States the opportunity to go into a health insurance exchange pool, pick the insurance that they need. It's going to give women the right of choosing, give women the right to have healthy bodies. It's going to focus the responsibility of insurance on employers.

It's going to make sure that Medicare is strong. If you're an elderly woman, it's going to close the doughnut hole for all of the insurance needs that you have. It's going to help my mother-in-law, E. Theophia Lee, who needs care as we speak. It's going to give her the opportunity to buy prescription drugs without going into the poorhouse.

It is going to provide for an expanded Medicaid, and it's going to work on our hospitals in our community, provide 100 percent Medicaid coverage in the first year, 95 percent, and then 90 percent.

Mr. Speaker, this is going to open the doors of opportunity for community health clinics so that women can be engaged in preventative care. Women are nurturers. They need to be able to take themselves to doctors and their children to doctors at the same time. That's what community health clinics will do. They will be set up in your neighborhood. They will have full service, geriatric care, pediatric care, and, yes, the care that will take care of women and their individual needs.

Mental health parity will be in this particular bill so individuals who are concerned about mental health needs will not have to hide, cover themselves up, go in the dark of night or not even get the care that they need. It is going to be there in this bill. There's going to be a demand for health insurance companies to cover mental health needs.

What a new day this will be to be able to allow women to take care of their children. Let me remind you that there are stories all across America. The mother whose son died because he did not have health insurance. A young man who believed in giving help to other people, a young lawyer who gave pro bono work, but he died because he had no health insurance. Or the mother who came to my town hall meetings, was crying because she couldn't get her child into school. Why? Because her insurance didn't cover a doctor's visit. Well, that will be cured. This is going to cure the ills of women across America.

Vote for this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 267 ``Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz, expressing appreciation to Iranian-Americans for their contributions to society, and wishing the Iranian-Americans and the people of Iran a prosperous new year.''

As a cosponsor of this resolution, I am proud to recognize the contributions of Iranian Americans on their day of celebration. Nowruz is celebrated by nearly 300 million Iranians and other peoples all over the world, including in the United States, Iran, and other countries in Central Asia, South Asia, Caucasus, Crimea, and Balkan Regions. Nowruz, which means new day, is celebrated on 21 March, the day of the vernal equinox. Nowruz is celebrated by more than 1,000,000 Iranian-Americans of all backgrounds, including those with Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian, and non-religious backgrounds. The people of Iran have a long history of celebrating Nowruz--a holiday that embodies the tradition that each individual's thinking, speaking, and conduct should always be virtuous, and the ideal of compassion for our fellow human beings regardless of ethnicity or religion, and symbolizes a time of renewal and community.

This resolution not only reminds us all of the contributions made by our Iranian constituents, but also of the trying times faced by Iranians in Iran and in the Iranian diaspora. During this time of renewal, my thoughts are with the residents of Camp Ashraf and their families--some of whom reside in my district.

Late last year, three months after U.S. forces turned over control of Camp Ashraf, Iraqi security forces violated the human rights of the People's Mujahideen of Iran (PMOI). Camp Ashraf detains over 3,400 exiled Iranian political dissidents, who are members of the PMOI, including over 1,000 women. The PMOI opposes the current Iranian regime, and for their political beliefs they have been exiled from Iran and sequestered in Camp Ashraf. Several women detained at Camp Ashraf have reported acts of intimidation and threats of physical and sexual violence by members of the Iraqi security forces.

On July 28, 2009, Iraqi security forces conducted a raid on the detainees at Camp Ashraf. The raid occurred fewer than three months after the U.S. passed control of Camp Ashraf to the government of Iraq. The raid began on Tuesday, July 28th when Iraqi armored vehicles began attacks against the Iranian prisoners. The attacks continued for two

full days and resulted in the death of 11 exiles and the injury of over 400 more. As a result of the raid on Camp Ashraf, 36 men were arrested under allegations of violent behavior. The 36 arrested Camp Ashraf residents have since been freed, but the United States has a continuing interest in ensuring that the events of July 28th never occur again.

The Iraqi government's treatment of the camp's residents sets a dangerous precedent for future treatment of minority groups. In recent years, there have been alarming numbers of religiously motivated killings, abductions, beatings, rapes, threats, intimidation, forced conversions, marriages, and displacement from homes and businesses, and attacks on religious leaders, pilgrims, and holy sites, in Iraq, with the smallest religious minorities in Iraq having been among the most vulnerable, although Iraqis from many religious communities, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, have suffered in this violence. In summary, members of small religious minority communities in Iraq do not have militia or tribal structures to defend them, do not receive adequate official protection, and are legally, politically, and economically marginalized.

Madam Speaker, as 300 million people worldwide celebrate the start of a new year, it is my hope that Iranians around the world find peace and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2377, ``To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre- kindergarten through higher education'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Nevada, Representative Titus.

The program which shall be known as the ``National Classified School Employees of the Year Awards,'' will allow all of our classified school employees who work as paraprofessionals, clericals, custodial and maintenance, transportation, food and nutrition, skilled trades, health and human services, security, and technical services who provide exceptional service to public schools in the United States that play a vital role in providing for the welfare and safety of students. The awards program established and administered under the Secretary of Education will recognize those who strive for excellence in all areas of service to the education community and will recognize exemplary employees for their outstanding contributions to quality education in the United States.

Nominations will be submitted to the Secretary of Education by a chief state school officer no later than November 1 and shall consider nominations from local education agencies, school administrators, labor unions and professional associations based on work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, and local support. Prior to March 31, the Secretary of Education shall select an employee from each occupational specialty to receive an award under this recognition program.

I believe in recognizing those individuals who take time out to make a difference in the lives of our young people and I feel that the ``National Classified School Employees of the Year Awards,'' will highlight the great work put forth by great people who have a great impact not only in the lives of our children, but in the area of education and in our local communities. I would like to personally thank all of those who work and contribute to the area of education through their selfless service and tireless efforts.

Mr. Speaker, there are many, many important issues that we will be debating over the next couple of days. I look forward to being engaged in helping America.

But all of us believe in saluting our youth, and so I rise today to salute Jack Yates High School in Houston, Texas. I salute them because of their achievement when things were going wrong. They are the AAAA State Champions in basketball, but they are rated as the number 1 high school basketball team in the Nation. So we stand here in the Congress saying thank you to young men that not only know how to play sports and basketball, but also know how to play the game of academics.

Let me salute their principal, Principal Mumphrey; their coach, Coach Wise; and all of the team, both the starting five and others, who showed courage and showed character. During the game Saturday at the Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, they suffered injuries. But they didn't give up, they didn't give out, and they didn't give up. They stood tall; they played; they ordered themselves, and they won this game. They have had a no-loss season.

They should be commended because they also stand for character. They have served their community. I'm proud of the Lions in Winter. Jack Yates High School should be congratulated.

Madam Speaker, Medicare will be expanded. Medicaid will be expanded to allow more people to be insured. Our children will have more health insurance. It will be a major change for America--a positive change. It is interesting that every time America makes a historic and catastrophic change for the better, there are large voices of opposition--confused voices; voices without the facts. I'm reminded of the history of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. They did not pass with large margins. The Dixiecrats raised their voices in opposition. Africans Americans, Negroes, should be second-class citizens forever.

It is time now for the courageous to recognize that Americans cannot be second class and third class in the climate of needing health insurance. That they must be able to go to hospitals and not be kicked out; that they must be able to get insurance without saying you have a preexisting disease; that women cannot be discriminated against.

Where's the courage to stand up as we did in the time when African Americans needed their freedom? It is now time to free others who do not have health insurance. Do you have the courage to make these hard decisions when others are chatting away, saying the wrong thing? It is time to pass health care reform. I want to stand with the courageous on behalf of the American people.

Madam Speaker, this is the week--the week-- that we will have an opportunity to provide expanded coverage for Americans. I hope this will be the week of truth and not for misrepresentations that have been carried forward. I hope that those who are uninsured will understand now that 31 million will have insurance; that Medicare care will be protected and in actuality expanded by the basic benefits plan; that Medicaid will be reimbursed in all 50 States. There will be no fixes for 100 percent, and then, going forward, 95 percent, and then 90 percent to protect those who are impoverished; we will have a system of a pool of insurance companies to thwart the one-insurance-company per State. You will be able to shop for the best plan. If you have your insurance, you'll be able to keep it. If you're a small business, you'll have subsidies. As well, yes, we require companies to carry insurance. But I believe this is ``the week.'' It is a good week for America to vote for real health care reform.

I thank the Congresswoman from Ohio. And I rushed back because I was listening to you and this debate on the floor of the House. Let me bring you greetings from NBC-LEO, which is the component of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, city council members and many mayors. And I mentioned you and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who I know was already on the floor, and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and others that came.

Let me add to the cry and the desperate need for work for the chronically unemployed. This is a time when we must focus on this effort. I met with my local governmental agency that receives Federal funding, and they are begging not only for the chronically unemployed, which they are familiar with, but summer youth jobs. And this is the work of the Congressional Black Caucus, to focus on those who have been left along the wayside.

We are grateful for the leadership of this President that understands the value and importance of making sure that everyone has a job. I stopped calling the Recovery Act ``stimulus.'' I call it an investment, an investment in people. I don't let anyone tag me with a stimulus bill. Stimulating. It is investing. It is building roads and bridges. It is putting people back to work.

We want to make sure that those people who have been unemployed for a long period of time, who still have hope, who still have abilities to be able to work, want to make sure that those who have paid their time, who are rehabilitated, who have families, who may have had a, if you will, a start that wasn't the best start, may have deviated from the straight road but are now trying to ensure that their families are taken care of, ex-felons, should be able to have training.

We want to work with unions to ensure that they open vastly the opportunities for people to be trained in apprenticeships. And we want to make sure that small and minority businesses, who in fact are the backbone of this economy in terms of employment, get the opportunity through our transportation infrastructure rebuild to be able to both participate in the contractual process of rebuild and then at the same time go into our communities and build.

I want to say also that the faith community can be a real partner to us. They can be the sources of recruitment. I have spoken to my pastors in my own congressional district. They are eager to work with us to provide resources and sites and populations of those who can be employed.

This is a crucial effort that the Congressional Black Caucus is initiating, our day on Wednesday when we will be speaking, in essence, truth to power, where we will be talking about the chronically unemployed, summer youth jobs, and public jobs. Maybe we cannot do the WPA as we did in World War II, but we can have a focus to ensure that there is an opportunity for every single American to have a job.

And I would say in closing that the challenge is not hard, because we are talking about census tracts. And census tracts have people from all walks of life. They are Caucasian, they are Latino, they are African American, they are Asian. We are talking about going into the census tracts that are documented as impoverished. We want to get those people who want to work, who can work.

If we lift their boat, if we provide them with the opportunity for income, they are renting, they are buying, they are circulating the dollar inside our community. If we give small businesses the opportunity, they are growing, they are multiplying, and they are placed inside those communities. And if we give the summer youth job program the boost that it needs to have, what an amazing opportunity to get young people not only to be committed to work and understand what work is, but to be able to invest in the community, to be able to buy school supplies, school uniforms, and also to be able to help their family.

I think that this effort is long overdue. I look forward to working with President Obama and the Congressional Black Caucus. I want to thank the chairwoman, Barbara Lee. I want to thank Congresswoman Fudge and the economic task force, which I am proud to be working with.

And, finally, what I would say is I am going to speak about them later on this week, but Jack Yates won the State championship for basketball, and they are rated as the number one high school basketball team in the Nation.

I only cite them to say that our young people are not our yesterdays. They are not our todays. Excuse me, they are not our future. They are our todays. And as they play sports and they are academically geared as we want them to do, let's give them an opportunity to work and to invest in themselves and to help them go forward in their college education.

I'm excited about what we are doing. It is something that cannot be left along the wayside. We cannot forget those who have been forgotten for too long. I believe that our theme should be the chronically unemployed not yesterday, and not even in the future, but today. We must answer the question to provide opportunities for them.

I want to quickly make two points. The community college system we have heard now is expanding because everyone wants an opportunity to be there and be trained. I hope that we will be able to have, in our package, the unemployed who are getting unemployment, keeping their unemployment but getting a scholarship to be trained which helps their income and, therefore, does not deprive of them that unemployment while they are getting a stipend to go to school. And I also hope that in the Houston community--I'm sorry. Let me cite the Houston community college system that I have on my mind. They do a great job, but that in our community college system, that those ex-felons that we have just spoken about can also be trained and be given opportunities. Let's not close any door to the chronically unemployed.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I debated the impeachment resolution, H. Res. 1031, but I was delayed in a health care discussion and meeting, which caused me to miss rollcall vote 102 of article I of H. Res. 1031, the impeachment resolution.

I ask unanimous consent to place my vote in the Record. If I were present, I would have voted ``aye.'' I ask it to be placed in the Record in the appropriate place.

Madam Speaker, I have served on the Homeland Security Committee, tragically, since the occurrences of 9/11, and I want to congratulate this Nation for moving toward securing its people in a way that balances civil liberties and as well recognizes our responsibilities.

As the chairwoman of the Transportation Security Committee, I want to acknowledge that in looking at how we treat our guests that come from other countries, we should always continue to review those circumstances. Just a few days ago, our guests from Pakistan, Pakistani parliamentarians, were traveling through our airport and were detained and asked a number of questions even though they were traveling with State Department escorts, as we understand it. I believe it is important to always remain secure but to remain balanced as well. I think it is appropriate that we look again at our procedures to ensure that our international diplomatic guests receive the kind of responsible treatment that is appropriate. We thank those who serve us on the front lines, but I will be looking forward to a full report by the Department of Homeland Security, and I offer to those dignitaries our respect because we do believe in international diplomacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fallen hero, my friend, the late Congressman John Murtha. During the time of his memorial services and the special order hour that was rendered on this floor, my statements were not able to be submitted because I wanted to speak directly on the floor in his honor.

John Murtha was of course a husband, a father, a loved one, a Marine, and a patriot. What we loved most about John Murtha was his love for the United States military, unwavering and always steadfast. He was a family man that loved his family, and a Congressperson that loved his people. Those he represented were so very important in his mind and in his heart.

He came to this floor and to this House tall and recently from battle, having served in the Vietnam war on several occasions, knowing what it is to have been shot at and to be in battle on behalf of your Nation. That true lesson gave him a cause for life, and the cause for life was to be able to fight for the men and women of the United States military.

But he did not stop there. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense on the Appropriations Committee, he fought for the families of the United States military, the wives and husbands and the children. He fought for a better quality of life in health care and housing. He fought for better standards, if you will. And yes, he recognized the importance of leave time, R & R coming out of battle. And there was no greater champion during the midst of the Iraq war, the most recent war, who fought to give relief to the soldiers on the battlefield who were doing tours of duty one after another.

He was a man of courage. He didn't step away from a fight. But he also was a friend. And if he gave you his word, he would fight on behalf of your constituents as he would fight on behalf of his. In fact, Mr. Speaker, he was an American's American, all-American. And if it had something to do with bettering the lives of Americans, you can be assured John Murtha was there.

He took a very tough stand just a few years ago. The eyes of those who knew him as a champion of the military fighting for their cause, standing alongside of them, wondered what happened when he stood up with his eloquent voice, steady voice, and spoke about the Iraq war, calling for the soldiers to come home. That is courage,

because he had been a supporter of that war. But he saw it crumbling before his eyes.

Oh, yes, there has been an election over the last couple of days, but we always wonder what direction and how we could have handled it differently so that the lives that were laid down did not have to be laid down in a war in Iraq. The champion for the military saw that there was a crack in the system, and he chose to speak eloquently about it.

I miss John Murtha. This body misses John Murtha, Democrats and Republicans. America misses John Murtha. But the one good news about John Murtha's life is that his legacy will live on forever and ever and ever. I thank him for serving, for living. And to his family, God bless you, and may he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I will submit a statement into the Record next week that will also speak to the qualities and the honor of John Murtha, the late Congressman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a sad day and a solemn day. As indicated by my colleagues on the floor of the House, however, it is an obligation of this body. I'd like to acknowledge the chairman of the Impeachment Task Force, Congressman Schiff, for his leadership,

but also for his balance and temperament in a very serious challenge that we have in providing the guideposts and the moral guideposts for a number of tough issues that deal with our Federal Judiciary and a number of other instances where impeachment is in fact the authority of this body and the Constitution. I'd like to acknowledge the ranking member, Mr. Goodlatte; the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Conyers; and the ranking member, Mr. Smith.

This is an instance where you would have hoped that we would have had a different outcome. But as my colleagues have so articulately expressed, there was a long pattern that many of us found very disturbing. Judge Thomas Porteous seemingly began these actions without reproof while he was a State district judge, soliciting and accepting cash and other things of values from attorneys practicing before him, and failing to recuse himself from a prominent case in which those attorneys were involved.

As a State judge, he repeatedly accepted things of value from bail bondsmen in exchange for setting bonds at levels to increase profits for the bail bondsmen and, after becoming a Federal judge, assisting them in forming corrupt relationships with other State judges. The pattern continued.

As a Federal judge, he fraudulently concealed his personal bankruptcy, income, assets, gambling activities, gambling debts, and in violation of court order, incurring additional gambling debt while his bankruptcy proceeding was pending.

He fraudulently concealed, in his FBI background check and on his Senate questionnaire, the corrupt relationships with attorneys and bail bondsmen.

I think it is worth noting that Judge Porteous began his career as a State court judge, but because of the concealment of these activities, he was then nominated to the Federal bench. In the essence of being nominated, let me be very clear, one could have personally taken one's self out of the running for a bench as high and as sacred as a Federal Judiciary. That is a lifetime appointment, but at no time during the time that his nomination was put before the President of the United States, the United States Senate, did Judge Porteous think that his previous behavior did not warrant him ascending to the Federal bench. That saddens me. Maybe we need to look more at counseling individuals who are seeking or have the opportunity to be nominated to these high offices. Maybe they need that to understand the flaws or failures in their character or performance.

Again, fraudulently concealing in his FBI background check and on his Senate questionnaire the corrupt relationships with the attorneys and bail bondsmen, evidence that the committee was able to see when questions were asked whether there was anything in your background that would warrant you not being able to be appointed to the Federal bench, this judge did not answer truthfully.

The Department of Justice attempted to reprimand, and their complaint indicated that the instances of Judge Porteous' dishonesty in his own sworn statements and court filings, his decade-long course of conduct in soliciting and accepting streams of payments and gifts from litigants and lawyers with matters before him, and his repeated failure to disclose those dealings to interested parties and the court all render him unfit as an Article III judge, that is, a Federal judge.

Although the Department did not seek criminal charges for reasons that involve partly the statute of limitations, their complaint indicated that his actions would render him unfit as an Article III judge. The Fifth Circuit also moved to take the maximum disciplinary action allowed by law against Judge Porteous, suspending him for 2 years or until Congress takes final action on the impeachment proceedings.

Unfortunately and sadly, that day has come, and as we had asked, through the task force, for the opportunity for Judge Porteous to have due process, and that is to give him the opportunity to speak before the task force and, the alternative, to allow witnesses to come on his behalf, none of that was accepted. So today I rise on the floor of the House to accept the findings of our task force and the vote of our committee in full and ask this body to address the concern by sending this to the United States Senate for hearings on impeachment. This is a resolution to suggest that the Articles of Impeachment should be passed to the United States Senate under our constitutional process.

Again, this is a sad day and a solemn day. But sadly, this indicates that a behavior of an individual who has achieved one of the highest offices in the land, that is, of the Article III courts, judge for life on the Federal bench, deserves, if you will, to be recommended for impeachment.

I ask for a vote of ``yes'' on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res 1031, a resolution setting forth four Articles of Impeachment against G. Thomas Porteous, Jr., judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, for high crimes and misdemeanors. I would like to thank our Judiciary Chairman Conyers for shepherding this bill through the Judiciary Committee so that justice can be served.

The Judiciary Committee was charged with determining whether federal Judge Thomas Porteous should be impeached for the following: soliciting and accepting cash and other things of value from attorneys practicing before him and failing to recuse himself from a prominent case in which those attorneys were involved; as a State judge, repeatedly accepting things of value from bail bondsmen in exchange for setting bonds at levels to increase profits for the bail bondsmen and, after becoming a federal judge, assisting them in forming corrupt relationships with other State judges; as a federal judge, fraudulently concealing, in his personal bankruptcy, income, assets, gambling activities, and gambling debts and, in violation of court order, incurring additional gambling debt while his bankruptcy proceeding was pending; and fraudulently concealing, in his FBI background check and on his Senate questionnaire, the corrupt relationships with the attorneys and bail bondsmen.

As a federal judge, Judge Thomas Porteous's number one responsibility under the oath that he is sworn to is to ensure that the laws of the land under the United States Constitution are protected and supported. The Justice Department investigated whether or not Judge Porteous broke his oath. In May 2007, the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation completed a multi-year criminal investigation of Judge Porteous and submitted a formal complaint of judicial misconduct to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Although the Department decided not to seek criminal charges for reasons including statute of limitations issues and other factors impacting prosecution, the complaint stated that the investigation uncovered evidence that ``indicates that Judge Porteous may have violated federal and state criminal laws, controlling canons of judicial conduct, rules of professional responsibility, and conducted himself in a manner antithetical to the constitutional standard of good behavior required of all federal judges.'' The complaint concluded that ``the instances of Judge Porteous's dishonesty in his own sworn statements and court filings, his decade-long course of conduct in soliciting and accepting a stream of payments and gifts from litigants and lawyers with matters before him, and his repeated failures to disclose those dealings to interested parties and the Court all render him unfit as an Article III judge.''

Mr. Speaker, there was also an investigation by the Fifth Circuit. The Fifth Circuit appointed a Special Investigatory Committee to investigate the allegations. Hearings were held at which Judge Porteous, representing himself, made statements, cross-examined witnesses, and called witnesses on his own behalf. Based on the Special Committee's report concluding that Judge Porteous had engaged in conduct which might constitute grounds for impeachment, the Judicial Conference voted unanimously to certify the matter to the U.S. House of Representatives, based on substantial evidence that Judge Porteous had repeatedly committed perjury, willfully and systematically concealed information from litigants and the public, violated several criminal statutes and ethical canons, and made false representations with the intent to defraud.

The Fifth Circuit also moved to take the maximum disciplinary action allowed by law against Judge Porteous, suspending him for two years or ``until Congress takes final action on the impeachment proceedings.''

As Members of the House Judiciary Impeachment Task Force, my colleagues were directed by the House to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to impeach Judge Porteous for the alleged crimes for which he was being charged. As part of the initial investigation, our staff interviewed over 65 individuals, deposed approximately 25 witnesses under oath, and obtained documents

from various sources, including from witnesses, the 24th Judicial Court in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and the Department of Justice.

After the initial investigatory phase, the task force held four separate hearings over five days in November and December 2009 in order to determine whether Judge Porteous's conduct provides a sufficient basis for impeachment and to develop a record upon which to recommend whether to adopt Articles of Impeachment.

The first task force hearing focused on allegations of misconduct in relation to Judge Porteous presiding over the case In re: Liljeberg Enterprises, Inc. The record reflects that Judge Porteous was engaged in a corrupt kickback scheme with the law firm of Amato & Creely, that he failed to disclose his relationship with the firm, and that he denied a motion to recuse himself from the case despite the firm's representation of one of the parties. The kickback scheme involved appointing Mr. Creely as a curator in hundreds of cases, with fees amounting to approximately $40,000 paid to the Amato & Creely firm, approximately half of which was paid back to Judge Porteous. Judge Porteous made intentionally misleading statements at the recusal hearing, intended to minimize the extent of this personal relationship with the firm. The record also reflects that Judge Porteous engaged in corrupt conduct after the bench trial and while the case was under advisement, by soliciting and accepting things of value from attorneys at the firm, including $2,000 in cash. This corrupt relationship and his conduct as a federal judge have brought his court into scandal and disrepute and demonstrate that he is unfit for office.

The second task force hearing focused on allegations that Judge Porteous repeatedly made false and misleading statements, including the concealment of debts, under oath and in disregard of a bankruptcy court's orders. The record reflects that as a federal judge, he knowingly and intentionally made material false statements and representations under penalty of perjury and repeatedly violated a court order in his case. This included using a false name and post office box to conceal his identity as a debtor in the case; concealing assets, preferential payments to certain creditors, and gambling losses and debts; and incurring new debts while the case was pending in violation of the court's order.

The third task force hearing focused on allegations that Judge Porteous engaged in a corrupt relationship with bail bondsman Louis Marcotte and his sister Lori. The record reflects that as part of this corrupt relationship, Judge Porteous solicited and accepted numerous things of value, including meals, trips, and home and car repairs, for his personal use and benefit, while at the same time taking official actions to improperly benefit the Marcottes. This included setting, reducing, and splitting bonds for the Marcottes while on the State bench, and improperly setting aside or expunging felony convictions for two Marcotte employees. Judge Porteous also used the power and prestige of his office to assist the Marcottes in forming relationships with State judicial officers and others. Judge Porteous also knew and understood that Louis Marcotte made false statements to the FBI in an effort to assist his appointment to the federal bench.

Fourth Hearing--False and Misleading Statements in Confirmation; Expert

Views

At the fourth hearing, the Task Force received testimony from a panel of constitutional scholars on whether Judge Porteous's conduct renders him unfit to hold office and provides a sufficient basis for impeachment. The scholars considered not only allegations that were the subject of the previous hearings, but also the record reflecting that Judge Porteous had knowingly made material false statements about his past to both the U.S. Senate and to the FBI in connection with his nomination to the federal bench in order to conceal corrupt relationships. In addition, Judge Porteous knew that another individual made false statements to the FBI in an effort to assist his appointment to the federal bench. Judge Porteous's failure to disclose these corrupt relationships deprived the U.S. Senate and the public of information that would have had a material impact on his confirmation. The panel of experts testified that making these materially false statements. clearly constituted impeachable conduct, as did the conduct established in the previous task force hearings.

The task force invited Judge Porteous to testify, but he declined the offer. In addition, the task force afforded the opportunity for Judge Porteous and his counsel to request that the task force hear from a witness or witnesses that they wish to call. Judge Porteous's counsel informed the task force that they did not wish to avail themselves of that opportunity. The task force permitted Judge Porteous's counsel to participate in the hearings on behalf of his client and to question the witnesses. This was an extraordinary prerogative that was granted to counsel.

After the task force concluded that the full record established that Judge Porteous should be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, we met on January 21st and unanimously voted in favor of recommending four Articles of Impeachment for consideration by the House Judiciary Committee. These Articles were subsequently introduced in the House in the form of H. Res. 1031. On January 27th, the House Judiciary Committee individually approved each Article unanimously and ordered H. Res. 1031 favorably reported by a rollcall vote of 24-0.

Mr. Speaker, today we must determine whether we fulfill our duty to uphold the laws of the Constitution and allow justice to be served or whether we will condone what has been determined by my colleagues on the judiciary committee as impeachable actions. As a member of the Impeachment Task Force, I had an opportunity to see firsthand the evidence that was presented in this case and believe that Judge Porteous should be impeached for his actions.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 1031 and urge my colleagues to join me in upholding the laws of our great nation.

Madam Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 1144, ``Expressing condolences to the families of the victims of the February 27, 2010, earthquake in Chile, as well as solidarity with and support for the people of Chile as they plan for recovery and reconstruction'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Texas, Representative Hinojosa.

As you know, on Saturday, February 27, 2010, a massive, 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the largest ever recorded, struck off of the coast of Chile. An estimated 2,000,000 people, including upwards of 1,500,000 displaced persons, have been directly affected by the earthquake, the tsunami, and its aftermath. As the casualties continue to grow, there is a great deal of extensive damage to highways, bridges, apartments, and infrastructure, have led the government of Chile declaration of a `state of catastrophe.' Since the initial earthquake, there have been over 100 aftershocks, which include 8 aftershocks registering above a 6.0 magnitude. These aftershocks continue to affect the coast and the rest of the country.

According to the United States Geological Survey, Concepcion, Chile's second largest city, was 70 miles from the earthquake's epicenter and suffered some of the worst damage. Thousands of its residents initially remained cut-off from the remainder of the country without any basic necessities, such as running water and electricity. The coastal town of Dichato and its 4,000 residents were among the hardest hit and is 80 percent destroyed. 80 percent of Talcahuano's 180,000 residents living on the Chilean coast were left homeless by the earthquake. Initial estimates of damages range from $15,000,000,000 to $30,000,000,000, and basic necessities across the country, including electricity, clean water access, telephone access, and communication systems continue to be restored on a progressive basis in many zones.

Chile's stringent building codes, which one local architect called `our proud building standards,' as well as the Government of Chile's ability to implement them greatly mitigated the impact of this catastrophic natural event both in terms of casualties and physical damage to the infrastructure of this country. The Government of Chile has taken significant measures to maintain order and public security in the streets in order to prevent more widespread panic and chaos as damage assessments are made and relief is delivered.

America is again responding, and will continue to respond with immediate humanitarian assistance to help the people of this struggling island nation rebuild their livelihoods. I send my condolences to the people and government of Chile as they grieve once again in the aftermath of a natural disaster. As Chile's neighbor, I believe it is the United States' responsibility to help Chile recover, and build the capacity to mitigate against future disasters.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have been highly involved in strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and countries abroad. I have worked to establish positive and productive partnerships with local development officials, non-profit organizations, and various leaders to establish a strong web of support for countries abroad. In collaboration with the Congressional Black Caucus, I have been a continual advocate of providing assistance to various countries to strengthen their fragile democratic processes, continue to improve security, and promote economic development among other concerns such the protection of human rights, combating narcotics, arms, and human trafficking, addressing migration, and alleviating poverty.

Once again, I am devastated by the immeasurable tragedy that occurred in Chile. Along with my colleagues, I hope to visit Chile in the near future to meet with their leaders and see what the United States can do to rebuild the shattered livelihoods.