Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1081, which supports the goals and ideals of ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month''.

Mr. Speaker, allow these alarming statistics to speak on behalf of the importance of this resolution:

1 in 3 adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds victimization rates for other types of violence affecting youth.

1 in 10 high school students, nationwide, (9.9 percent) has been hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

1 in 4 teenagers have been in a relationship where a partner is verbally abusive.

20 percent of teen girls exposed to physical dating violence did not attend school on 1 or more occasions during a 30-day period because they felt unsafe either at school, or on the way to or from school.

Since 2006, the United States has recognized ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week'' during the first week of February. Because of the severity of the issue, the awareness campaign was extended to include the entire month of February in 2010. This initiative increases awareness and educates others about the very real dangers of teen dating violence. This epidemic of teen dating violence is perhaps one of the most complex and invasive problems facing teenagers today.

Technology has added an additional ubiquitous and hidden feature of teen dating violence, with the use and the availability of cell phones, text and instant messaging, e-mail, and community networks. About 30 percent of teenagers who have been in a dating relationship have been text-messaged between 10 and 30 times per hour by a partner seeking to find out where they are, what they are doing, and with whom they are with. Yet 67 percent of parents are unaware that their teen is being checked up on some 30 times per day on their teen's cell phone. The warning signs of teen dating violence for young females are:

Apologizes for his behavior and makes excuses for him; loses interest in activities that she used to enjoy; and stops seeing her friends and family members and becomes increasingly isolated.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today with a zeal and vigor about the goals and ideals that the ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month''; because this issue, if not handled with properly, grows into domestic violence, the ugly older sister of teen dating violence. In Houston, 9 percent of Houston students surveyed in grades 9 to 12 reported being hit, slapped or physically hurt by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year. This is unacceptable! Teenagers' foremost concern should be achieving academic excellence, not dealing with physical and mental abuse, from anyone!

This Congress should be committed to tackling the roots of issues, such as teen violence and supporting this resolution will not only address with the root cause of domestic violence, but also; (1) support teen victims of abuse; (2) educate pre-teens and teenagers, both male and female, about the issue; and (3) give the support needed by organizations and groups to effectively distribute life saving information and awareness to those in need.

So in conclusion, I support H. Res. 1081 and I encourage my colleagues to join me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4783--a bill that will accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Chile.

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 to declare 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 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, nonprofit 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 as 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.

America is responding to the earthquakes in Chile and will continue to respond with immediate humanitarian assistance to help the people of Chile 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 friend, it is the United States' responsibility to help Chile recover, and build the capacity to mitigate against future disasters.

Financially, 2009 was not an easy year for many Americans. Although thousands of jobs were created and we are back on the road to economic recovery, Americans lived on tighter budgets than usual. This legislation will allow those Americans who have generously donated money to Chile to receive their tax break this year instead of next year.

In January of 2005, Congress enacted this type of relief for individuals that made charitable contributions to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami that occurred in late December of 2004. That bill (H.R. 241 in the 109th Congress) passed the House of Representatives without objection and subsequently passed the Senate by unanimous consent. Additionally, these same benefits were extended to people who donated to Haiti. I hope that this legislation, like our response to the 2004 tsunami, and January's earthquake in Haiti will encourage Americans to contribute more money to Chile. As Haiti starts on its long recovery, every dollar is critically important. Once again, I am proud to represent such a compassionate and generous nation.

Madam Speaker, I was one of those Members who understood the horror of 9/11 and joined with the then-President of the United States to respond to an attack on the United States. Subsequently in the Iraq war, I voted against that war knowing that it had nothing to do with the attack on the United States on 9/11. So I do not stand on this floor with a heart that is not heavy-laden and an understanding of the importance of this resolution. This resolution is grounded in the Constitution and it has merit; for the question is, when we responded to 9/11, it was a war on terror.

Today, we find that this is a war of insurgents. There is no real documentation that al Qaeda still lingers in Afghanistan. But we do understand that we have lost 1,000 Americans to date--70 in 2010 and 316 in 2009--soldiers that we honor and respect. Never will there be one soldier that we don't call for an honor and respect of the United States. In fact, I filed legislation to have a day of honor for all of our returning soldiers. None of them should come home to silence. We should always provide great honor for them.

But here is where we are as it relates to the situation in Afghanistan. Today, although he has the right to do so, President Karzai is greeting the President of Iran. I hope they work together for peace. But the questions are: What are our soldiers doing to help impact the governance of Afghanistan? The governance that requires the fighting of corruption; the governance to fight for freedom and for human rights and the right to worship; governance to establish schools for the girls and boys and allow girls and boys to go.

Yes, we need nation building, but not with our soldiers out walking step by step trying to bypass IEDs, many times missing it and losing arms and legs and eyes. This is the time to give the President, who did do the right thing, who deliberated and who took time and responded to his generals--we salute him for that. But now is the time for the United States Congress and the constitutional separation of the branches of government to be able to assess whether or not this particular conflict must continue and whether there is a benefit to the American people.

I would make the argument there is much to do. There is much to do in cleaning up Afghanistan. There is much to do in providing for the opportunity of governance. We can do that in a way that will support the State Department with support staff from the military. And if there is a need to defend the United States, I have no doubt that the brave men and women of the United States military will stand at attention and will rise to the occasion. Now we owe their families,

these young men and women, 165,000 who came home from Iraq, many of whom are suffering from posttraumatic disorder.

When we send them into battle, we have the obligation of saying there is a beginning and an end. World War I, World War II, wars that we may have liked or disliked, but we knew as they went into battle that there was an ending. And how brave they were.

As we saluted the women who participated in the Air Army Corps for Women, the WASPs today, some hundreds of them, we know that there is no doubt that they are brave. But I would say to you, end this war with Afghanistan and end this partnership with Pakistan. There are ways to be able to support the structure of both governments without our soldiers losing their lives on and on and on.

This resolution says that if the President finds it necessary to extend, he can do so. But we are asking for the troops to be out by the end of this year. So many of us have spoken to that over and over again.

Madam Speaker, this is not something unusual. This is not a cause of the fearful. This is not a cause of those who are nonpatriotic. This is a cause for people who believe in the red, white, and blue, who stand here today loving their country and believe that our soldiers are owed this respect to bring them home as heroes. We ask that you support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise in solemn opposition to a war that has cost too many American lives and too many American dollars. To date, over 1,000 Americans have lost their lives in the Afghan theatre, including 70 in 2010. In 2009, 316 Americans lost their lives. The war in Afghanistan should end as safely and quickly as possible, and our troops should be brought home with honor and a national day of celebration. I strongly believe that this can and must be done by the end of the year.

This stance is borne from my deeply held belief that we must commend our military for their exemplary performance and success in Afghanistan. As lawmakers continue to debate U.S. policy in Afghanistan, our heroic young men and women continue to willingly sacrifice life and limb on the battlefield. Our troops in Afghanistan did everything we asked them to do. We sent them overseas to destroy the roots of terror and protect our homeland; they are now caught in the midst of an insurgent civil war and continuing political upheaval.

Throughout the discussion of the administration's proposed surge, I expressed my concern for the cost of sending additional troops, as well as the effect that a larger presence in Afghanistan will have on troop morale. The White House estimates that it will cost $1 million per year for each additional soldier deployed, and I believe that $30 billion would be better spent on developing new jobs and fixing our broken healthcare system. Many leaders in our armed forces, including Secretary Gates, have said that it is optimal for troops to have two years between overseas deployments; yet, today, our troops have only a year at home between deployments. Expanding the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan by 30,000 will negatively impact troop morale and will bring us further away from the conditions necessary to maintain a strong, all-volunteer military. This is not President Obama's war and I applaud his thoughtful leadership--the Congress now needs to give counsel to have a time certain for the troops to come home.

I very strongly believe that our nation has a moral obligation to ensure that our veterans are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve. One reason that we are the greatest nation in the world is because of the brave young men and women fighting for us in Iraq and Afghanistan. They deserve honor, they deserve dignity, and they deserve to know that a grateful nation cares about them. Whether or not my colleagues agree that the time has come to withdraw our American forces from Afghanistan, I believe that all of us in Congress should be of one accord that our troops deserve our sincere thanks and congratulations.

It is because I respect our troops that I am voting to bring them home from a war that has strayed far beyond its original mandate. The United States will not and should not permanently prop up the Afghan government and military. To date, almost $27 billion--more than half of all reconstruction dollars--have been apportioned to build the Afghan National Security Forces. The focus should be on strengthening the civilian government for it to lead. And we should continue to chase the real terrorists that are now lodged in Pakistan. We must support governments with a diplomatic surge--more resources for schools, hospitals, and government reform.

U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan will come to an end, and when U.S. forces leave, the responsibility for securing their nation will fall to the people and government of Afghanistan. Governance is more than winning elections, it is about upholding human rights, especially the rights of women; it requires fighting corruption. Governance requires fighting corruption. Governance requires providing for the freedom to worship. Governance requires establishing schools that provide education from early childhood through higher education.

Yet, Afghanistan has largely failed to institute the internal reforms necessary to justify America's continued involvement. The recent elections did not reflect the will of the people, and the government has consistently failed to gain the trust of the people of Afghanistan. The troubling reports about the elections that were held on August 20, 2009 were the first in a series of very worrisome developments. The electoral process is at the heart of democracy, and the disdain for that process that was displayed in the Afghanistan elections gives me great pause. The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction recently released his quarterly report which detailed our nation's efforts to work with contractors and the Afghanistan government to prevent fraud and enhance transparency. This is the 8th report by the Special Inspector General, but as a recent series in the Washington Post showed, we are unable to stem the flow of corruption and waste within Afghanistan, despite our efforts at reforming our own contracting procedures. This money likely comes from the opium trade and U.S. assistance and, the Washington Post estimates, totals over one billion dollars each year.

The task of establishing legitimate governing practices remains formidable. A November 17, 2009 report from Transparency International listed Afghanistan as the second most corrupt country in the world, continuing its second straight year of declining in the corruption index. Such news is disparaging and provides an important dynamic to how we consider our strategy with regards to Afghanistan going forward. In January, a U.N. survey found that an overwhelming 59 percent of Afghans view public dishonesty as a bigger concern than insecurity (54 percent) and unemployment (52 percent). This is telling for a country with widespread violence and an unemployment rate of 40 percent.

As co-chair of the Congressional U.S.-Afghanistan Caucus, I have called for policies that allow the United States to provide benefits to the people of Afghanistan. Our effort must enhance our efforts at building both hard and soft infrastructure in Afghanistan. Change in Afghanistan is going to come through schools and roads, through health care and economic opportunity, and through increased trade and exchange. The Afghan people need our help to achieve these objectives, but I am not convinced that our military is the solution. If the Government of Afghanistan can demonstrate a responsible and non-corrupt commitment to its people, I believe that America should respond with appropriate and targeted foreign assistance.

I am also concerned that the United States is shouldering too much of the burden in Afghanistan. Although the terror attacks on American soil prompted NATO to respond with collective military action, no nation is immune from the threat of terrorism. Although the troops and resources provided by our allies have been invaluable to date, especially regarding development for the people of Afghanistan, questions must be raised about how long other nations will remain involved in Afghanistan. France and Germany, for example have already questioned whether or not to send additional troops. NATO resources must continue to focus on improving the livelihoods of the Afghan people, but if the support of these governments wavers, American troops and Afghan citizens will suffer the consequences.

I agree with our President that a stable Afghanistan is in the best interest of the international community, and I was pleased to see President Obama's outreach to our allies for additional troops. Currently, 41 NATO and other allied countries contribute nearly 36,000 troops. That number is expected to increase by nearly 6,000 with at least 5,000 additional troops coming from NATO member countries. Multilateralism is vital to ensuring that our operations in Afghanistan succeed.

Madam Speaker, today, we face difficult realities on the ground. The Taliban attacks our forces whenever and wherever they can. Agents of the Taliban seek to turn the people of Afghanistan against us as we attempt to provide them with help in every way we can. This situation is unsustainable. Afghanistan's history has earned it the nickname, ``The Graveyard of Empires,'' and I believe that we should not take this grim history lightly. By including a timetable for our operations in Afghanistan, we focus our mission and place it in a long-term context.

Although development to improve the lives of the Afghan people is important, defeating al-Qaeda and the threat they pose to America and our allies is the most important objective of our operations. To that end, I believe that Pakistan, not Afghanistan, is now the key to success and stability in the region. Over the past eight years, coalition forces have successfully pushed most of al-Qaeda out of Afghanistan and into Pakistan. This has not only put them outside the mandate of our forces, but has also forced Pakistan to address an enlarged terrorist threat.

During his State of the Union Address, President Obama spoke of the importance of Pakistan when he noted ``America will remain a strong supporter of Pakistan's security and prosperity long after the guns have fallen silent, so that the great potential of its people can be unleashed.'' As the co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, I know, firsthand, of the great potential of the Pakistani people, and I strongly believe that the recently approved assistance package to Pakistan will work to this end. U.S. foreign assistance to Pakistan will improve Pakistan's capacity to address terrorist networks within its own borders, but I worry that a troop increase will cause even more refugees and insurgents to cross into Pakistan.

Ultimately, we in Congress must decide what is in the best interest of the American people. Fighting al-Qaeda was in the best interest of the American people in 2001, as it continues to be today. Yet, we are now fighting an insurgency--not al-Qaeda--in Afghanistan. This should not be their mission, and we must bring our troops home.

This is a very historic occasion.

I would like to thank Congresswoman Waters for her continued and persistent leadership on debt relief for countries around the world.

I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Meeks of New York, for his persistence and guidance on passing this bill so quickly with Mr. Bachus and Mr. Miller. Thank you for your commitment and for your interesting and very good idea about putting Americans to work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support this legislation to acknowledge that we are talking about a country right now that has only 20 percent of the revenue that it needs to run its nation. They need seed. They need fertilizer. They are living some 80 percent below the poverty line, owing some $709 million in debts to multilateral financial institutions--$447 million to the Inter-American Development Bank--and also to countries such as Venezuela. This legislation will, in essence, help us clear the slate of all of those debts, and it will help us track what the United States has done.

I would like to take this time to thank all of the first responders, USAID and so many who stood tall when Haiti called. Today, in the White House, it was good to be able to acknowledge those first responders from around the world, from around the Nation, in addition to the United States military.

Helping them with this debt relief over all the land will allow the President to focus on building and on rebuilding--rebuilding Port-au- Prince, rebuilding the suburbs in the outlying areas--and to focus on creating jobs for the Haitian people and on bringing contractors there who will work with Haitians in a joint venture with agencies. So the relief of this debt, I believe, is an enormous step in making a difference in the lives of Haitians.

I want to thank you and ask support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4573--the Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery in Haiti Act of 2010. As, a co-sponsor of this bill, I strongly believe that it is a necessary step to ensure a successful recovery in Haiti.

Haiti's long term development is currently hampered by its debt burden. January's earthquake struck Haiti during a time of economic vulnerability. Before the earthquake, Haiti was, by far, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Before the earthquake, Haiti also has among the world's lowest levels of gross domestic product per capita. An estimated 80 percent of the population lived under the poverty line with 54 percent living in abject poverty, according to the CIA World Factbook. According to the United Nations Human Development Report, more than two-thirds of the labor force is believed to not have formal jobs, and just 62.1 percent of adults over age 15 are literate. Additionally, 18 percent of Haitians did not live to the age of 40.

Yet, despite the destruction wreaked by multiple tropical storms in 2008, Haiti's economy and infrastructure-building seemed to be turning a corner in recent years, aided by international support and debt relief programs.

In fact, according to the New York Times, ``Haiti was one of only two Caribbean countries expected to grow in 2009. There were hopes of a tourism revival, reinforced by the announcement that a new Comfort Inn would open there this May. In a sign of its growing structural sophistication, Haiti even recently announced that it would begin collecting better national statistics, with the help of the International Monetary Fund, so that it could better assess and calibrate its economic policies.'' The earthquake on January derailed this progress.

As this legislation states, the Government of Haiti cannot afford to invest in reconstruction and development efforts while continuing to make payments on debts owed to multilateral financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Inter- American Development Bank and to other international creditors.

Prior to the earthquake, debt service payments to multilateral financial institutions and other international creditors already were a tremendous burden that interfered with the ability of the Government of Haiti to meet the needs of its people.

On June 30, 2009, the World Bank announced that Haiti qualified for and received $1.2 billion in debt relief from the IMF, the World Bank, and other multilateral financial institutions. In order to qualify for this debt relief, the Government of Haiti successfully developed and implemented a comprehensive Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, under the direction of the IMF and the World Bank.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, despite previous debt relief, Haiti still owes a total of $709 million in debts to multilateral financial institutions, including $447 million to the Inter-American Development Bank, $165 million to the IMF, $39 million to the World Bank, and $58 million to the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

According to the IMF, Haiti owed Venezuela $167 million and Taiwan $92 million at the end of September, 2008; furthermore, the amounts of these debts may have grown since that time. The cancellation of Haiti's debts to multilateral financial institutions and other international creditors will allow the Government of Haiti to use its meager resources for essential reconstruction and development efforts.

As important as this legislation is, it is only one part of a much larger American assistance response to the earthquake. America will continue to respond with humanitarian assistance to help the people of this struggling island nation rebuild their livelihoods. I send my condolences to the people and government of Haiti as they grieve once again in the aftermath of a natural disaster. As Haiti's neighbor, I believe it is the United States' responsibility to help Haiti recover, and build the capacity to mitigate against future disasters.

To date the United States Government has contributed over $402 million in earthquake response funding for Haiti. It has also deployed approximately 17,000 military personnel in support of the relief effort. Subsequently, as part of the new Government of Haiti-led effort, the U.N. World Food Program will provide commodities, non- governmental organizations will manage distributions, and U.S. military will provide security escorts.

America and her allies have already initiated a comprehensive, interagency response to the earthquake. The State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, USAID--all worked overnight to ensure critical resources were positioned to support the response and recovery effort, including efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti.

Once again I stand in solidarity with the people of Haiti and will do everything in my power to assist them with rebuilding their country and livelihoods. I am proud of our first responders and pledge that America's long term commitment to Haiti will live up to the standard that the first responders set.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring H. Con. Res. 1150, which establishes NASA and all of its assets as a national security interest.

We need to work with the President in moving forward on restoring the funds for the Constellation Program and to reemphasize and recommit ourselves to human space exploration. In the current budget of the NASA program, funds have been increased, but funds have been taken away from the Constellation Program. In essence, it has been canceled.

My request is that we have our task before us, and the answer is simple: to reprogram the funds that are in the NASA budget to ensure that this great asset of NASA, NASA Johnson, the NASA centers in Alabama and Mississippi and Florida and elsewhere, are maintained.

The international space station has been built over the last 10 years. It has been built with the genius, the intellect, and the research of the United States. That research and genius and that kind of data requires protection as a national security interest. The funding that needs to be restored will help create this opportunity and save jobs.

Let us save jobs and provide for NASA space exploration.

Thank you very much, Congressman Olson, and to the colleagues that have joined you tonight and who recognize the importance of this hour, albeit how late it might be, to really emphasize the uniqueness of America's space program and the uniqueness of, if you will, the human space exploration.

As I was listening to the debate, I was very much convinced that we do have an opportunity to save this valuable asset. I think we know that the NASA budget actually, as I understand it, has seen an increase in 2011. And I think all of us would admit--and thank the President-- that's a good thing that the budget itself has increased, but we know that the program that deals with exploration to the Moon and Mars have suffered a blow.

So I would say that we have an easy fix, a reprogramming of the moneys to allow for a program that has now had a sufficient start to be able to redesign itself, to be able to focus on what's important about human space exploration. But the main thing is to save it, because when we save it, we not only save jobs of today--Johnson, Huntsville, Mississippi, Florida, and places around the Nation--but we save the jobs for 2020, 2030, 2040, and beyond.

I think it's important for our colleagues to know that we built the space station. I was on the Science Committee. That space station is barely a decade old--it is a decade-plus. We put it together piece by piece. And when our friends, the Russians, were delayed, they had bad economic times, we moved on.

The space station is the size of a football field. And the necessity of human space exploration is to be able to tend to that space station which has the possibilities of massive research that creates jobs.

Let me thank my friends on the floor. And Congressman Olson, let me thank you for your leadership--we have joined you in this bipartisan effort--for signing onto the legislation, H. Res. 1150, which establishes or, if you will, determines that NASA is a national security asset, and it is. Because involved in NASA is much of our military science, climatic science, and technology not yet discussed or discovered.

And so I would rise today to support the moving forward on the Constellation Program, but also the working with this administration. I think we all know that we have a leader at NASA who knows Houston, for example, but also knows the human space exploration program. General Bolden was an astronaut and a marine. That's good news for us. And the reason why it is good news is because that is a voice that can be part of this discussion.

I don't take the initial budget by the President as a statement that human space exploration is not good. And I think it is important tonight to take a stand for our continued effort and energy in working to bring about the right kind of response between the Congress and the administration, a budget that is right there in the President's budget, one that can be reprogrammed, reformed, enhanced, if you will, to emphasize the importance of saving the space exploration, this Constellation Program.

Now, let me say this, Constellation is Moon and Mars. And there are scientists who probably have different perspectives, but I don't think anyone can have a different perspective on the pushing of the human capacity and what it brings about in terms of our own enhancement, both in terms of the knowledge that we gain--and I remember when we were trying to gain votes, Congressman Olson, that we would say things which were really true--the kind of research on the space station had to do with heart disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS. And discoveries today are being utilized. Those discoveries are saving lives, but they also create jobs, medical jobs.

So I, one, want to continue to raise the question. I want to put in the Record that the potential of jobs lost at Johnson Space Center could be anywhere from 4,000 to 7,000 high-tech jobs. And each day jobs are being created more and more. And then of course the idea of the national security information--classified, climatic, as I've said, the weather research that's being done--and the need I think most of all-- let me not say most of all because we stand on our own merit here in the United States, we are inventors, we are world leaders, but there are other countries that have looked to our leadership, Russia, India, China, all competing to be part of space exploration.

Let me close and yield back to you by saying this: I want to see business involvement in this industry, but I believe it is important for NASA to, in essence, be part of the government and for the jobs we save all over this Nation on behalf of the American people.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of NASA programs across the country and to express my concerns about the Administration's proposal to cancel NASA's Constellation Program, which includes the Orion Crew Capsule, the Altair Lunar Lander, and the Ares I and Ares V rockets.

These programs, which together comprise our human spaceflight program, were authorized in both 2005 and 2008 by Republican and Democratic Congresses respectively. It is under the Constellation program, that NASA is currently developing new launch vehicles and spacecraft capable of travel to the moon, Mars and other destinations. Not only does cancelling the Constellation Program jeopardize America's leadership role in human space exploration, but it will have detrimental effects on our economy and national security.

Take, for example, the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Johnson Space Center has the lead to manage the Constellation Program and several of its major elements, including the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Altair Lunar Lander. Without Constellation, the Johnson Space Center could lose anywhere from 4,000 to 7,000 high-tech jobs. If the JSC loses 4,000 direct jobs, an additional 2,315 indirect jobs would be lost, totaling 6,315; loss of income and expenditures locally would be over $567 million. If the JSC loses 7,000 direct jobs, an additional 4,052 indirect jobs would be lost, totaling 11,052; loss of income and expenditures locally would total almost $1 billion.

When speaking of the decision to cancel the Constellation Program, Administrator Bolden stated that ``NASA intends to work with the Congress to make this transition smooth and effective, working responsibly on behalf of the Taxpayers.'' To the contrary, I believe that the best use of taxpayers' money is to continue the investment in NASA to build America's scientific future. That future will create jobs. Finally, I would like to reiterate that the present Administration's plan for the Constellation Program would cause drastic job loss across America and would place America in a behind the edge position as it relates to competitiveness in scientific research.

NASA and the space industry are critical to Houston's economic success in both the short and long term. According to the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, NASA accounts for nearly 16,800 direct federal jobs and serves as the engine for another 3,100 civilian jobs that together supply more than $2.5 billion in payroll into Houston's regional economy. As you are aware, the Johnson Space Center is the primary location for training Astronauts for spaceflights and this move; yet, the proposed budget will effectively cancel America's human spaceflight program.

In his statement announcing NASA's budget, Administrator Bolden stressed that changes in the FY 2011 budget would be ``good for NASA, great for the American workforce, and essential for our nation's future prosperity.'' While I seek the same objectives, I strongly disagree with the closing of this project and I believe it will hurt America's scientific progress.

Additionally, the aerospace industry would lose as many as 20,000- 30,000 jobs nationally in either of these scenarios.

Given our current economic downturn, we cannot take the possibility of these job losses lightly and the Johnson Space Center is just one example of what the cancellation of this program would do to other NASA centers nationally.

It will take years for the commercial spaceflight industry to get up to speed to reach the level of competence that exists at NASA today. Our government has already invested literally years and billions of dollars into this program. We should build upon these investments and not abandon them. Our country can support the commercial spaceflight industry, but not at the expense of our human spaceflight program, which for years has inspired future generations and driven technology that enhances our quality of life.

This technology is crucial to our national security. NASA conducts aeronautics research to address aviation safety, air traffic control, noise and, emissions reductions and fuel efficiency. NASA's contribution to our knowledge of air and water supports improved decision making for natural resource management and emergency response, thus enabling us to better respond to future homeland security threats.

Knowledge of Earth's water cycle is a critical first step in protecting our water supply; water flows over the Earth's surface in oceans, lakes, and streams, and is particularly vulnerable to attack.

NASA sensors provide a wealth of information about the water cycle; and contributes to improving our ability to monitor water resources and water quality from space; we must also protect the quality and safety of the air we breathe; airborne contaminants can pose danger to human health; and chemical, nuclear, radiological, and biological attacks are plausible threats against which we can protect.

Thus, join me in my efforts to restore funding for the Constellation to the FY 2011 budget for the following reasons:

(1) Elimination of the Constellation program, will present Homeland security implications for Cyberspace, critical infrastructure, and Intelligence community of the United States;

(2) Elimination of the Constellation program will compromise the effectiveness of the International Space Station as it relates to the strategic importance of space station research, and intelligence;

(3) Continuation of NASA's Constellation program is crucial to improving national security, climate, and research in science and medicine.

It is my hope, Madam Speaker, that this Congress will continue to support NASA's Constellation Program and to support balanced energy policies that promote economic growth and will help us meet our clean energy goals.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, March 9, 2010.

Dear Colleague: I hope you will consider joining me as a

co-sponsor for the resolution I will introduce expressing the

sense of Congress that the National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA) is a national

security interest and asset, and that the elimination of

funding for the NASA Constellation program in the President's

proposed FY 2011 budget presents national security concerns.

The President's proposed FY2011 budget eliminates funding

for the Constellation Program which includes the Orion Crew

Capsule, the Altair Lunar Lander, and the Ares I and Ares V

rockets. These programs, which together comprise our human

spaceflight program, were authorized in both 2005 and 2008 by

Republican and Democratic Congresses respectively. It is

under the Constellation program, that NASA is currently

developing new launch vehicles and spacecraft capable of

travel to the moon, Mars and other destinations. Not only

does cancelling the Constellation Program jeopardize

America's leadership role in human space exploration, but it

will have detrimental effects on national security.

NASA conducts aeronautics research to address aviation

safety, air traffic control, noise and, emissions reductions

and fuel efficiency. NASA's contribution to our knowledge of

air and water supports improved decision making for natural

resource management and emergency response, thus enabling us

to better respond to future homeland security threats.

Knowledge of Earth's water cycle is a critical first step

in protecting our water supply; water flows over the Earth's

surface in oceans, lakes, and streams, and is particularly

vulnerable to attack.

NASA sensors provide a wealth of information about the

water cycle; and contributes to improving our ability to

monitor water resources and water quality from space; we must

also protect the quality and safety of the air we breathe;

airborne contaminants can pose danger to human health; and

chemical, nuclear, radiological, and biological attacks are

plausible threats against which we can protect.

Thus, join me in my efforts to restore funding for the

Constellation to the FY 2011 budget for the following

reasons:

(1) Elimination of the Constellation program, will present

Homeland security implications for Cyberspace, critical

infrastructure, and Intelligence community of the United

States;

(2) Elimination of the Constellation program will

compromise the effectiveness of the International Space

Station as it relates to the strategic importance of space

station research, and intelligence;

(3) Continuation of NASA's Constellation program is crucial

to improving national security, climate, and research in

science and medicine.

(4) The United States should maintain its funding of the

Constellation program and should begin funding commercial

space in five years and not sooner.

To join as a co-sponsor, please call my office for Mona K.

Floyd of my staff or email (Mona.FloydPmail.house.gov).

Very truly yours,

Sheila Jackson Lee,

Member of Congress.

Earlier this evening, Madam Speaker, colleagues came to the floor of the House to salute our late colleague, the Honorable Congressman Charles Wilson, who made the people of the world happy because of his enthusiasm and leadership.

Congressman Wilson was born June 1, 1933, in the small town of Trinity, Texas. He attended public schools there and graduated from Trinity High School in 1951.

While attending Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, Wilson was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. He received his B.S. degree, graduating eighth from the bottom of his class in 1956.

However, that was not a testimony to how Charlie Wilson would serve this Nation.

He served in the Navy, attaining the rank of lieutenant. He graduated as a gunnery officer. He was assigned to a destroyer to search for Soviet submarines. He then took a top secret post at the Pentagon as part of an intelligence unit that evaluated the Soviet Union's nuclear forces.

Wilson came into politics by volunteering for John F. Kennedy's Presidential campaign in 1960. After a 30-day leave from the Navy, he entered his name into the race for Texas Representative from his home district. While back on duty, his mother, sister and their friends went door-to-door, campaigning. It worked. At age 27, he was sworn into office. For the next dozen years, Wilson was known as ``the liberal from Lufkin.''

In 1972, he came to the United States Congress. He was a power. He was a man who enjoyed the friendship of many of our colleagues. He was a staunch supporter of the elderly, of women, and of equal rights. He was unique in his time.

He came to this Congress in a segregated time, coming from Houston, Texas, and the surrounding areas; but he knew my colleagues Congressman Mickey Leland and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan.

I know that he had a relationship that showed no discrimination, no bias. I know he loved this country. He wanted to do well by our allies; and, yes, he was the star of ``Charlie's War.'' He was the one who led quietly an opposition to the Russians' takeover of Afghanistan. That story will always be his--brave, quiet, but successful. As the story is told, he didn't do a lot of talking about it, but he got the job done.

We will miss Congressman Charlie Wilson. I am so honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to serve with him for 2 years when I first came to the United States Congress. He was a joy to serve with. He was a defined Member of this body, who respected this body but who had a great time. We will miss him as he has lost his life just recently.

We say to his lovely wife who shared times with him for 11 years, Thank you for sharing Charlie Wilson. Thank you for giving him the joy of his life, and thank you so very much for recognizing what a special treasure he was to the American people and to the great State of Texas.

Madam Speaker, my words, I hope, will be a mere comfort to his family and friends.

To my colleagues in the Texas delegation, yes, we have a fallen hero; but we have a friend we will be able to remember for a lifetime.

God bless you, Charlie Wilson. May you rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the contributions Congressman Charles Wilson made to the people of Houston, Texas, and the nation. He served the people of Houston, Texas with vigor. Congressman Wilson was born June 1, 1933 in the small town of Trinity, Texas. He attended public schools there and graduated from Trinity High School in 1951.

While attending Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, Wilson was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. Wilson received a B.S. degree.

From 1956 to 1960, Wilson served in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of lieutenant. Having graduated as a gunnery officer, he was assigned to a destroyer that searched for Soviet submarines. He then took a top secret post at the Pentagon as part of an intelligence unit that evaluated the Soviet Union's nuclear forces.

Wilson stumbled into politics by volunteering for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1960. After a 30-day leave from the Navy, he entered his name into the race for Texas State Representative from his home district. While back on duty, his mother, sister and their friends went door to door campaigning. It worked. And at age 27, he was sworn into office.

For the next dozen years, Wilson made a name for himself as the ``liberal from Lufkin.'' In 1972, Wilson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Second District of Texas, taking office the following January.

Though he did not speak much on the House floor, he spoke through his actions. He was a staunch supporter of the elderly, women, and equal rights. Charlie Wilson supported abortion rights and the Equal Rights Amendment. Wilson also battled for regulation of utilities, Medicaid, tax exemptions for the elderly and a minimum wage bill.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the contributions of Charlie Wilson as a representative of the people of Houston and this nation.

Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 22 minutes p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 10 a.m.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1055, ``Supporting the designation of National Robotics Week as an annual event,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Doyle.

Robotics was a term first used by Isaac Asimov, who immigrated to America, wrote science books for children and adults and developed the Three Laws of Robotics. Robotics is rapidly proving to be one of the more effective, compelling, and engaging means for teaching and reinforcing fundamental science, technology, engineering, and mathematic, STEM, concepts. It is also a major vehicle for influencing the Nation's youth to pursue STEM-related careers, which is helping to create a highly-skilled 21st century workforce. Robotics is a key transformative technology

that can revolutionize American manufacturing by enabling small and mid-sized companies to cost effectively combine highly skilled workers and highly adaptable, precise, and reliable equipment to create and make high value products in high-stakes industries.

Robotics technology is essential to our national defense and homeland security in that it enables the ongoing development and fielding of unmanned air, ground, and maritime systems that today keep our Nation's war-fighters and protectors out of harm's way, and in the long run will serve as a highly effective force multiplier. Robotics technology holds tremendous potential for reducing the cost of health care delivery, stimulating the discovery and development of new procedures and treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders, improving the standard and accessibility of care, providing individuals with disabilities, especially injured veterans, with greater independence and dignity, thus enhancing overall patient outcomes. Robotics is a critical technology capable in the near term of contributing to the economic recovery by creating new jobs, increasing productivity, improving quality, and increasing worker safety.

The emerging market for service robotics in various sectors, including health care, national defense, homeland security, energy, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, agriculture, education, consumer goods, and others, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20 percent over the next few years, to become a worldwide $27 billion industry. Robotics has matured into an all- encompassing and enabling technology that, as a pillar of 21st century American innovation, is positioned to fuel a broad array of next generation products and applications, transform our society and become as ubiquitous over the next several decades as desktop and mobile computing technology today. The United States has the largest number of academic and research organizations with dedicated programs focused on the advancement of robotics technology.

I believe that supporting the designation of National Robotics Week, NRW, as an annual event will encourage all institutions of higher education and companies which utilize robotics technology to hold open houses during NRW to help explain the technology and its related applications. The week will allow schools, clubs, and organizations to organize local competitions, and demonstrate student activities relating to the field of robotics technology, and provide science museums the opportunity to organize demonstrations that help educate and engage the public. NRW will ultimately increase the national awareness of this particular type of technology and its impact on the future of the Nation. The way that fundamental STEM-concepts are taught in the classroom and how they highlight the success that robotics competitions are organized by groups such as For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, are inspiring students to pursue STEM-related careers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1032, ``Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should continue to assist the Mexican Government in fighting the drug cartels and curbing violence against Mexican and United States citizens, both in the United States and abroad.''

Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative Judy Chu for introducing this resolution, as it is vitally important both to our national security and the safety of the American people that we confront the problem of transnational drug trafficking and attempt to reduce the violence associated with the trade of narcotics.

Violence related to the drug trade has hit catastrophic proportions over the last few years. Just across the United States-Mexico border from my home state of Texas a battle is being waged by armed gangs for the control of the illicit transnational drug market. In Mexico alone, drug cartels killed at least 5,600 people in 2008 and that number increased to more than 7,000 people in 2009. I condemn in the strongest possible terms this type of senseless violence and will work to see that violence against civilians in the U.S. and in Mexico is curbed or eliminated.

Unfortunately, execution-style killings and kidnappings have become the norm in many Mexican cities like Ciudad Juarez and Gomez Palacio as drug cartels attempt to extend the reach of their power and institute a sense of fear over the local populations.

In one of the most atrocious acts of violence against an innocent U.S. citizen, Bobby Salcedo was killed execution-style while vacationing in Mexico by a single gunshot to the head after being kidnapped. Mr. Salcedo was kidnapped while at dinner with family and friends in a restaurant and had no apparent connections to the drug or arms trade.

Mr. Salcedo was a pillar of his community in El Monte City, California where he served on the local School Board, and also served as the vice principal and football coach of Mountain View High School. Mr. Salcedo also served as a local leader for such organizations as the South El Monte/Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico Sister City Organization.

Furthermore, Mr. Salcedo was in the process of earning a doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of California, Los Angeles, and had previously earned his bachelor's degree in history from California State University, Long Beach, and a master's degree in educational administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

Violence from the drug trade has also created many problems in my home city of Houston, Texas. Houston has one of the highest murder rates among U.S. cities with a population over 1 million. Furthermore, much of this violence likely stems from the fact that Houston is a major hub for drug traffickers, who supply cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine to distributors in other American markets. Many of these issues surrounding violence also stem from the problem of transnational gangs and organized crime cartels.

There are currently at least seven drug cartel organizations operating between the U.S. and Mexico. These groups are not only involved in the illicit transportation of drugs but are also involved in the illicit trade of firearms, execution of public officials and these groups have also terrorized entire local populations.

Many of these gangs and cartel organizations also have vast links and networks within the U.S., some even managing to penetrate American Junior High and High Schools. It is important that we recognize this threat and work towards the dissolution of these groups

and continue to promote legitimate transnational trade and exchange.

I would like to commend the Mexican Government under the leadership of President Felipe Calderon for having significantly increased their efforts to stop the drug cartels and end the violence, deploying some 45,000 troops and 5,000 police throughout Mexico. We in the U.S. will continue to support the Mexican Government as we did in 2008 when over $1,300,000,000 was appropriated to the Mexican Government to fight the illicit drug trade. This money was appropriated under the Merida Initiative to help break the power of the drug cartels, assist the Mexican Government in strengthening its military organizations, to help improve the capacity of its justice system, curtail gang activity in Mexico, and to diminish demand for drugs in the region

It is important that we continue to work vigilantly towards breaking the illicit drug trade links and networks between the U.S. and Mexico while working together to create a bright future through legitimate commercial and financial trade between our two great nations. I am quite confident that through a concerted effort towards increasing transnational trade and creating opportunities in the legitimate sector we can work towards a brighter future for both the U.S. and Mexico.

I ask that my colleagues support this resolution. I also ask my colleagues for their continued support of anti-drug trade measures as well as their support for ending the spate of violence that has become associated with the drug trade.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1088, ``Recognizing the plight of people with albinism in East Africa and condemning their murder and mutilation.''

Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative Gerry Connolly for introducing this resolution, as it is important that we recognize the plight of albinos in East Africa.

In recent years, the belief that albino body parts, particularly limbs, have magical powers has driven thousands of Africa's albinos into hiding. According to a report released in November of last year by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the killings of albino people in Burundi and Tanzania, based on occult practices, have triggered a crisis involving almost the entire albino population of the two countries.

The stories of these victims are heart wrenching. I recall an article in the New York Times in 2008 that vividly describes the horror and fear that many Albinos live with on a daily basis.

``In May 2008, Vumilia Makoye, 17, was eating dinner with her family in their hut in western Tanzania when two men showed up with long knives, ``Vumilia was like many other Africans with albinism. She had dropped out of school because of severe near-sightedness, a common problem for albinos, whose eyes develop abnormally and who often have to hold things like books or cell phones two inches away to see them. She could not find a job because no one would hire her. She sold peanuts in the market, making $2 a week while her delicate skin was seared by the sun. When Vumilia's mother, Jeme, saw the men with knives, she tried to barricade the door of their hut. But the men overpowered her and burst in. ``They cut my daughter quickly,'' she said, making hacking motions with her hands. The men sawed off Vumilia's legs above the knee and ran away with the stumps. Vumilia died. Yusuph Malogo, who lives nearby, fears he may be next. He is also an albino and works by himself on a rice farm. He now carries a loud, silver whistle to blow for help. ``I'm on the run,'' he said.''

According to the Red Cross, thousands more albinos across a huge swathe of countryside, are unable to move freely to trade, study or cultivate fields for fear of albino hunters. These albinos fear losing their lives and limbs to unscrupulous dealers who can make up to $75,000 selling a complete dismembered set.

In his New Year's address to the nation, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania said the nation that the government would step up efforts to stamp out the albino killings. I commend the government of Tanzania for acknowledging the danger posed to albinos in their country, but I hope that Tanzania and Burundi will do more to educate their nations about albinos. The Albino Association of Tanzania says that although just 4,000 albinos are officially registered in the country, they believe

the actual number could be as high as 173,000. A census is now under way to try to verify the figures.

In addition, in 2008, President Kikwete nominated Al-Shymaa Kway-Geer to represent the albino community at the national level. Ms. Kway-Greer is the first Minister of Parliament with albinism.

Yet, despite these improvements, people with albinism still live in fear. As Samuel Mluge, a Tanzania albino remarked to the reporter, ``I feel like I am being hunted.'' No one should live in this state of fear. We must vocally denounce such killings, and do everything we can to prevent them from occurring in the future. I ask that my colleagues support this resolution. I also ask my colleagues for their continued support albinos in East Africa.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in support of H.R. 4621, the ``Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act.'' I would like to thank Representative Maloney for introducing this important piece of legislation.

It is extremely important that we protect the integrity of the constitutionally mandated United States census and prohibit deceptive mail practices that attempt to exploit the decennial census. This legislation is vital because it will set requirements for mail bearing the term ``census'' on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper.

Protecting the integrity of the Census from fraudulent activity will ensure that the U.S. Census Bureau is able to gather more accurate data. Hopefully, this legislation will ease the fears of those afraid to be scammed and therefore do not respond to the Census. It is important that the American people are aware that the questions in the Census survey are used only to produce statistics, and never identify an individual. The Census Bureau never asks for a full social security number, money or a donation, requests on behalf of a political party or requests PIN codes, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

The official U.S. Census is described in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution of the United States. It calls for an actual enumeration of the people every ten years, to be used for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives among the states. Besides providing the basis for congressional redistricting, Census data are used in many other ways. Since 1975, the Census Bureau has had responsibility to produce small-area population data needed to redraw state legislative and congressional districts. Other important uses of Census data include the distribution of funds for government programs such as Medicaid; planning the right locations for schools, roads, and other public facilities; helping real estate agents and potential residents learn about a neighborhood and identifying trends over time that can help predict future needs.

According to the PriceWaterHouse report on the 2000 Census, the Census Bureau has estimated that the Census 2000 undercounted the actual U.S. population by a net of over three million individuals, representing an undercount rate of 1.18 percent. I am particularly concerned about correcting undercounting problems because Harris County, Texas, which is situated in my district, ranked fourth of the fifty U.S. counties with the highest number of people living in hard- to-count

areas. In fact, 80.5 percent of the population in Harris County lives in hard-to-count areas. Even more astonishing, Harris County, Texas is one of eight counties estimated to lose over $100 million each in federal funds from undercounting in the 2000 Census, according to the aforementioned Price Waterhouse report.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and protect the integrity of the constitutionally mandated United States census and prohibit deceptive mail practices that attempt to exploit the decennial census.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1091, which expresses support for designation of the week of February 28 through March 7, 2010, as ``School Social Work Week''.

Mr. Speaker, there is a mounting need for local educational institutions to provide the mental health services social workers offer when working with students' emotional, physical, and environmental needs. When students are coupled with sincere and understanding social worker, they are more likely to succeed and achieve behavioral and academic success. This legislation will affirm that social workers are life lines to children, schools, families and communities and those we fully are committed to any and all initiatives that promote the need for such crucial workers.

Mr. Speaker, 1 in 5 of the 17,500,000 children in need of mental health services actually receive these services, and research indicates that school mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing absences, decreasing discipline referrals, and improving academic achievement. It is imperative that more social workers are properly trained and deployed into these various school systems to assist students in reaching their most favorable level of potential and achievement, especially children with serious emotional barriers. The observation of `School Social Work Week' during the week of February 28 through March 7, 2010, calls attention to the fundamental role school social workers play in the lives of students in the United States.

As many may know during the first years in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, the Houston school system, mainly Houston Independent School District, was flooded with children from the affected area school systems. After being through such a horrific ordeal, students were expected to continue with their studies as normal. It took the dedicated work of school social workers which assessed what was already in place to help the students, conclude what was missing and formulate a plan to build the student's aptitude to bounce back from adversity. Now many of these students have gone on to succeed academically and socially.

So in conclusion, I support H. Res. 1091 and I encourage my colleagues to join me. In these uncertain times, where natural and unnatural disasters are on every hand and have caused traumatic experiences for this nation, let us not forget our youth.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased tonight to acknowledge that there is a lot of energy behind the engine of NASA and the Constellation Program. There is a lot of interest across America, not so much for the individual States that are impacted but for the research engine of the international space station and the importance of human space exploration.

Today, I will introduce, along with 16 cosponsors, H. Res. 1150, which declares NASA a national security interest and asset. It emphasizes the importance of the work of NASA. As well, it indicates that the elimination of the Constellation Program will, in fact, create a national security risk to the United States and will diminish the Nation's efforts to advance scientific research in space.

In addition, we are asking and indicating that there should be partnerships between universities and that NASA centers should be established to provide research opportunities to conduct research on behalf of the United States at the international space station. In addition, this legislation will ask for the full funding of the Constellation Program.

We must save NASA. We must save jobs. This is an American imperative.

Just a few minutes ago, Mr. Speaker, I stood on the floor of the House to introduce H. Res. 1150, which addresses the National Aeronautic and Space Administration as a national security asset and interest.

I served for 12 years on the Science Committee and as a member of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. I visited almost every NASA center around the country. I have visited our science laboratories. I am very engaged with the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Program, to help educate America's children to ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of science and technology and inventiveness, and as well to be able to build jobs for the 21st century. We are in that century now.

I have interacted with NASA and many of the astronauts over the years, watching them as they have launched into space, experiencing the tragedies of Challenger and Columbia, the loss of life of those brave souls who were willing to risk their lives to explore on behalf of the American people.

I want to work with the administration, because I believe they are knowledgeable about the value of human spaceflight. However, the approach to commercialize this important national security interest is not appropriate for now.

We live in a world that has changed. I chair the Subcommittee on Homeland Security dealing with transportation security and the protection of our infrastructure. Our infrastructure includes the buildings that we are in

today, hospitals and schools, private-sector buildings, mass assets of the Federal Government, and, yes, the NASA centers and the NASA shuttle and all of the equipment that goes into providing for human spaceflight.

Lending that space technology to commercial exploration and private- sector businesses on the basis of profit is not appropriate now. It will put us in a noncompetitive position with China, India, and Russia.

So this resolution is simple. It declares the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a national security interest and asset. It indicates that the United States has invested in the human space program since May 5, 1961. We all can remember the words of our President, John F. Kennedy, that challenged this Nation when he asked the question, Not why, but why not? Although those words came from his brother, he captured it in the early 1960s when he asked and demanded what we could do not for ourselves, but what we could do for our country.

At that time, we established the United States as a leader in the role of space exploration, and as well in the advancement of scientific research, and therefore that equals a national security interest. It does so because science provides security, and the penetration of the scientific knowledge that we have lowers the security of this Nation.

My Committee on Homeland Security deals with protecting the infrastructure. Infrastructure is security. Infrastructure involves the science labs. Infrastructure involves the many space centers we have around the Nation. The States that are involved are Florida; Huntsville, Alabama; Texas; and the various sites in California as well.

And so I would ask that this legislation be moved quickly in the United States Congress and in this House because the 2010 NASA budget funded a program of space-based research that supports the administration's commitment to deploy a global climate change research and monitoring system. That research can be done better on the international space station. That international space station needs to be supported. It needs to be able to carry astronauts and scientists there to continue the research to make the quality of life for Americans and the world better. In the early stages of the international space station, research was done involving HIV/AIDS, stroke, heart disease, and cancer. That research has created opportunities for a better quality of life, and it saved lives.

Let us not miss the opportunity, the treasure of being able to explore in space; the genius of America to allow us to be at the cutting edge of science; and, yes, to protect a natural security interest, which is the National Aeronautics Space Administration and all of its assets.

And so I look forward to working with General Bolden, an astronaut and a very able appointee of the President of United States, to see how we can save NASA and the Constellation program that will allow us to be at the cutting edge of science, not in America, but around the world.