Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res 793, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.'' I support this resolution because success in science is of the utmost importance for the future of our youth and our nation.

In order to keep America as a leader in science we need to focus on the success of our youth by emphasizing achievement in all academic endeavors. Letting our students fall behind those of the rest of the world is a mistake we cannot afford.

Chemistry is a field of science and technology that has transformed the world and will vastly improve the quality of life around the globe. Chemical sciences create an infrastructure that delivers the foods, fuels, medicines, and materials that are the hallmark of modern life. Chemical scientists and engineers are essential to technological progress and to the health of many industries, including the chemical, pharmaceutical, electronics, agricultural, automotive, and aerospace industries. The contributions of chemists boost economic growth, create new jobs, and improve health and standards of living. My home district, Texas' 18th District and other parts of Houston are the hub for many of these industries, namely NASA, the Medical Center, and the Port of Houston.

In order to foster the innovation that America needs to ensure global competitiveness, our schools must cultivate the finest scientists, engineers, and technicians from every background and neighborhood. We must strive to focus on increasing access to science, technology, engineering, and math education for Latinos, African-Americans, women, and other underrepresented students in these fields.

National Chemistry Week was established in 1987 by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, to enhance the publics' appreciation of the chemical sciences and also to educate the public. 2009 also marks the 140th anniversary of Dmitri Mendeleev's creation of the Periodic Table of the Elements, one of the greatest achievements in scientific history. The theme of National Chemistry Week this year is, ``Chemistry--It's Elemental'', which was chosen to raise public awareness about the importance of chemistry and the chemical sciences by emphasizing that the elements, forming the basis of the universe, play an integral role in daily life. There are many common elements, such as copper in electrical wires, neon in lights, sodium in table salt, and aluminum in soda cans, that are tangibly present in everyday life.

This year, it is anticipated that more than 10,000 volunteers from industry, government, and academia will observe National Chemistry Week during the week of October 18, 2009, by conducting hands-on science activities with millions of children in local schools, libraries, and museums. National Chemistry Week encourages volunteers to provide resources to science educators across the country, promote community events for recycling common elemental items such as aluminum cans, encourage students to explore creative representations of the elements in the Periodic Table, and generally act as ``chemistry ambassadors'' who emphasize the importance and contributions of chemistry to daily life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in support of House Resolution 3819 ``to extend the commercial space transportation liability regime.'' Extending this liability regime will ensure that commercial launches can continue to take place.

This indemnification regime has been in place since 1988 and has been renewed four times. It is an important element in maintaining the economic competitiveness of the domestic U.S. commercial launch services industry. The regime helps protect against catastrophic third- party liability claims when conducting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-licensed launch activities.

We are aware of the importance of the technological advances and services provided to the citizens of our nation as a result of the commercial launch industry--many of these services we all utilize on a daily basis. Allowing for these types of technologies to grow, prosper, and become more efficient and effective is an initiative that we want to continue. Ensuring progress in the commercial space industry by extending the current insurance indemnification regime will directly improve those initiatives.

As the Member of Congress representing Texas' 18th Congressional District in Houston, near NASA's Johnson Space Center, laws related to space programs and the commercial space industry are near and dear to me and my constituents. Laws relating to commercial space transportation provide tools to further the goals that were outlined in the Augustine Commission to chart our next steps into space. This industry provides jobs and keeps U.S.-based companies and technologies competitive in a global market. It is extremely important that we support the furtherance of this industry and the technological services it provides.

With soaring deficits facing our states and the looming costs of health care reform and energy reform before the nation, tough choices have been made. Surely, some argue that we cannot afford to gamble further money in space based initiatives.

Yet others, like me and my constituents realize the benefits of ensuring the continuance

of the commercial launch industry, which we see as an investment, not a gamble. In the past, such investments paved the way for new innovations in agriculture, architecture, media technology, and even health care. The pace maker is just one of the many life saving technologies that have resulted from that same small step. This mastery of ``rocket science'' is what placed our nation in the driver's seat of technology and economics.

We must also not forget that America's leadership in space plays an important role in our nation's national security. We have already seen the preeminent role that space based technology plays in modern warfare and intelligence gathering.

Madam Speaker, this very important health care debate couldn't be more timely. H1N1 is raging across America. Many

questions are being asked. The Federal Government is working hard to produce the vaccine necessary to protect American families. We find that one in five children are impacted by H1N1.

In Houston, we held a congressional briefing with a number of my colleagues and we saw firsthand the importance of a public-private partnership, i.e., a public option in health care reform. We saw the need for county governments and city governments and clinics working with private pediatricians to help stem the tide of H1N1.

This is a time now to pass health care reform. This is also a time to stay focused on providing the information and, of course, the support in protecting America against the surge, if you will, or the pandemic of H1N1.

Health care is a priority, and we must pass health care reform and focus on working with our local governments and State governments to protect our children in America.

Thank you so very much, Congresswoman Fudge. Your opening remarks are framed excellently, the reason for our presence here tonight. There are many issues that the Congressional Black Caucus, led by Chairwoman Barbara Lee, focus on. The disciplines of the members are varied. The chairmanships of the members are varied, including full chairmanships on a number of committees which really enhance the opportunity for a very full agenda.

As I listen to you speak about civic participation, I would venture to say--and probably would not be incorrect--that all of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and our colleagues here, Republicans and Democrats, engaged in civic participation before being elected to the United States Congress.

They may have started in their early educational days, if you will, primary and secondary school. Some may have started in college. Some may have been activists or locally elected officials. But they understood under this democracy, as you have indicated, the importance of participatory process.

I have the privilege of serving on the House Judiciary Committee with Chairman John Conyers, and our committees embrace this whole question of fair election laws, the right to vote, and the protection of that privilege and that right to vote.

You may be well aware that in the early days of my tenure, if you will, there were a number of occasions during the presidential election years that members of the Congressional Black Caucus came to the floor of the House to challenge the counting of the electoral college. You may be reminded that in the particular year of 2000, Ohio was in the crosshairs. I know how active you were, having gone to Ohio, having worked with you and, of course, your predecessor, walking the streets with you, remembering discussions that you had about ensuring that you had a election. As you recall, Ohio was quite upset and, therefore, it was the Congressional Black Caucus that went to the floor of the House, in particular your predecessor, the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones. We joined her in challenging the counting of the electoral votes of Ohio. Many people would wonder is that civic participation? And it is. It is making sure that any process is fair.

So I come to emphasize where we are today in pivotal elections that will be coming up on November 3, 2009. As I reflect on those elections, I want to remind people that the best of America was the times in which it moved to remove the barriers of voting. To remove the distinctions between slave and nonslave took a very long time. But to remove the distinction between landowner and nonlandowner were some of the first efforts to create an opportunity for all to vote.

In 1920, of course, there was the amendment to create the opportunity for women to vote. African Americans, however, and language minorities had longer periods of time, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 came around and then its amendment, which, by the way, the language minority provision in the Voting Rights Act was placed in that act by the Honorable Barbara Jordan, my predecessor. But the idea was to increase participation.

And as I listen to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle recounting maybe the dismay that they have in some of the major changes that are being made by both this White House and Congress, might I say that it is a

direct evidence of the vitality of the vote in 2008. It was not something that just developed. It was the message of the voters who went in huge numbers to the polls in November, 2008, ultimately electing President Barack Obama with the message of green energy or renewables or the opportunity for expanding the horizon on producing energy. And I come from oil and gas territory, and I frankly believe we have room for many of those energy types, but I recognize that green energy will be part of our future.

Likewise, the message came from the voters, because of their civic participation, on a vigorous public option in health care reform. So our colleagues are really speaking to the American people whose numbers say give us a vigorous public option.

This vote that is coming up, one or two of the most highlighted ones, of course, are Virginia and, of course, New Jersey. I am not here to speak particularly about the ultimate outcome, but there are messengers, the Governor of New Jersey, for example, who is carrying the message of change in this whole question of public health insurance or public option in health care and the idea of full employment. Likewise, those opportunities or discussions are being heard in Virginia as well.

It is important in every election that is coming up in November of 2009 for the same momentum and the same participation to surge as it did in 2008. And I think this Special Order, if you will, is enormously crucial for the fact that people don't think of elections when you don't focus them on a presidential election. They really think of elections as that highlight, but you are coming to bring to our attention the vitality and the importance of elections every single year, city elections, county elections, Federal elections, and State elections.

I thank the gentlewoman. That is why I salute you as I join with you in the Congressional Black Caucus because many would not think of bringing this to the attention of the American people.

In addition, I want to salute the Congress and the Congressional Black Caucus because this Democratic majority took the lead on fair election laws right after the unfortunate, I call it, debacle in Ohio. We began to talk about rewriting the election laws to insist that certain parameters be in place to protect the voter, to protect the voter at the voting ballot, to assess the kinds of voting tools that are being used, to try to find consistency. As you know, the most important issue was this accountability, the ability to track the balloting in electronic balloting, to have a paper trail, as we call it. We're still fighting to get that done, but we were the voices to speak about that so that people could have the ability to challenge.

Right now in Harris County we had a very difficult race in 2008. A number of candidates lost. They posed a challenge because they believed there were ballot infractions. We are now in the midst of looking at a settlement agreement that I believe may not be the right kind of settlement agreement, that really didn't answer the concerns of those who were violated, whose votes were not counted and the candidates who did not prevail because we felt that there were inaccuracies in a voting system or a voting office, if you will, the officer who presided over the voting count--there were some infractions.

So even today in 2009 we should not be hesitant to remind voters that a vote is precious, every vote counts, and that it is important, as the United States Congress exists, that local elected officials exist, that State officials exist, they exist because of the vote. And I am hoping as we have the spotlight on States like Virginia and New Jersey that we will spotlight on the local elections and that civic participation is the direct relationship for the kind of outstanding leadership that you get.

I want to yield back on this point: We have local elections in Houston, Texas, local elections around the Nation. Not one single vote should be diminished in its value, for your life gets changed or your voice gets heard by that vote. And it is my commitment, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a member of the House Judiciary Committee, to insist, if you will, on the idea of full participation of voters and making sure that we have the opportunity to protect the right to vote and to make sure that, as protectors of the right to vote, people take advantage of it and vote.

If the gentlelady would yield for a moment, I want to use one example because I chair the Congressional Children's Caucus. I remember in the summer of 2008, I was begging for Federal dollars for summer youth jobs. You remember those programs.

And they existed 10, 15 years ago, 5 years ago, or I know they existed in the previous Democratic administration. But we literally were starving for those dollars over the last 8 years in the previous administration. So because we didn't have those dollars, I put together what you call a Houston summer job pilot program, where I grabbed small businesses and corporations in the summer of 2008 just to give these young people an opportunity. I couldn't give thousands but I gave a few the opportunity to work and to be paid. We raised the money, the community raised the money, to be paid by these small businesses.

The community needs to know, the Nation needs to know, that in 2009 with change and a new President, on the basis of the vote, there were millions of dollars going into communities during the summer for summer youth jobs.

I want people to take a poll. It's interesting that I'm hearing my colleagues talk about where did the stimulus dollars go? Ask some teenager that had a summer youth job and worked and did legitimate work, cleaned parks, worked in various community services, because of the summer youth program. That came about through a vote that you made, the Nation made, in 2008, where you elected a President, President Barack Obama,

who created this vision of stimulus dollars to energize the economy and put millions of young people to work who, by the way, saved money, bought clothes or bought school supplies or helped their family but charged the economy, which I am sure will be reflected as we look back over the summer months, those jobs were valuable input into the economy.

That is what a vote will do. And I hope that as you proceed on this Special Order tonight, it will be well recognized how important it is for the vote to be cast and to be counted, and that will be our commitment as we continue to work together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise enthusiastically to support the extension of the Ryan White Treatment Act but also the full authorization.

I was here in Washington with Senator Kennedy and Senator Orrin Hatch in 1990 when this vital, lifesaving bill was implemented to provide treatment for those who were infected with HIV. I was a member of the Houston City Council at that time, in awe because of the high number of HIV cases in the city of Houston.

We must continue to address the treatment of HIV and the prevention of it, as well as ending the stigma that comes with that disease.

As well, let me say that it is important for health care reform to pass because we will get back to the idea of prevention and access for all to health care. And I'm very glad to support legislation in the Judiciary Committee that is going to stop price fixing for health premiums, health insurance premiums and medical malpractice premiums.

My good friends, extend and pass the Ryan White Treatment Act and support a vigorous public option for health care reform. America will see brighter days ahead of her and be able to provide access to health care for all Americans.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, a bill that establishes a comprehensive roadmapping process for solar technology research, development, and demonstration activities conducted by the federal government in partnership with the private sector.

As the Member of Congress representing Texas' 18th Congressional District in Houston, solar technology is near and dear to me and my constituents. My state is facing an unemployment rate of around 7.5%, the highest it

has been in the past 16 years. While this is 2% less than the national average, Texas has not seen unemployment this high since 1993. In one month alone, Texas lost 40,600 jobs.

As an energy capital of the world, it is critical for Houston to be at the forefront in the quest for clean, renewable energy. In addition to having energy companies as constituents, I have spent a career working in the energy sector, representing big and large oil companies alike. Further while Houston is home to some of the largest petroleum companies in the world, our city is also the headquarters for leading solar and wind power firms.

While energy reform making its way through Congress offers significant opportunities for Houston, it also comes with a number of challenges, particularly for our city's longstanding petroleum community. Namely, petroleum companies stand to be significantly and adversely impacted as the nation shifts from petroleum fuels to alternative energy.

Mr. Chair, I believe that America should have a diversity of energy sources, which include fossil fuels along side of wind, solar, and hydropower sources. As such, I am working diligently with our senate delegation to ensure that the current energy bill is improved to ensure that the petroleum sector remains as a valuable component of our nation's ``seamless'' energy policy.

In the interim, I offered two amendments to this bill designed to assist Houston and the rest of Texas. Specifically, one of my amendments would have supported the installation of solar panels and other solar technology systems at hospitals, universities, and public safety facilities.

* * * with solar panels, and by providing special consideration for grantees in Texas and other states that have a great potential for solar resources that have been adversely impacted by the nation's shift from fossil based fuels to solar power.

For this reason, I proposed two amendments. My first amendment focuses on Section 105b(3)(I). This provision focuses on a provision in the bill that authorizes DOE to conduct at least 10 photovoltaic demonstration projects ranging from one to three megawatts in size and three to five solar projects greater than 30 megawatts in size. The bill also requires DOE to study the performance of photovoltaic installations and identify opportunities to improve the energy productivity of these systems. In addition, DOE must establish a program of RD&D related to the reuse, recycling, and safe disposal of photovoltaic devices.

My amendment would have specifically designated hospitals, universities, and public safety facilities as potential selectees as infrastructure reliability projects. With this proposal, we would have had a chance to outfit hospitals with the latest in solar technology to create alternative power generation resources. These would prevent power disruptions that could threaten the lives of patients in hospitals in particular.

This idea was inspired by the fact that many of the places in our community that provide health care services to the sick are located in buildings that are themselves sick. As we expand health care to millions of Americans, I hope to work with my colleagues to ensure that health care is dispensed in healthy buildings that employ the latest in solar and other green building designs.

Universities could also benefit from these grants in a manner that would ensure that our institutions of higher learning could also continue operating in the event of power outages. Finally, jails, police stations, and other public safety facilities could also specifically benefit by serving as demonstration projects. Mr. Chairman, can I get your commitment to continue working with me to ensure that this proposal is incorporated as the bill proceeds in the legislative process.

Mr. Chair, my second amendment would have provided special consideration to Texas and other states with high potential for solar energy production to help businesses affected by the nation's shift from fossil fuel based energy resources to solar and other renewable energy when making awards under the bill. This language would be inserted into Section 101 D. Under my amendment, the new language would have read: ``As a criteria for providing awards under this Act, the Secretary shall consider areas with high unemployment as well as grantees in Texas and other states with high potential for solar energy production to help businesses affected by the nation's shift from fossil fuel based energy resources to solar and other renewable energy.''

Mr. Chair, given the potential for Houston and the rest of Texas to be benefitted or harmed by our shift to solar technology, can I get your commitment to incorporate this idea, at least in the conference report.

Again, I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the bill and urge all my colleagues to vote for this legislation to ensure building a comprehensive road for solar technology research, development, and demonstration activities. Thank you Madam Speaker. I yield back the remainder of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for his kindness.

It is typical what Members say. We could not avoid coming here to this floor because of the enormity of the power of what you are presenting to the American public and our colleagues.

I am pleased to be with my colleague from Illinois and my colleague from Colorado. It indicates how widespread and how diverse the need for a public option, a vigorous public option, and health care reform actually is.

We're from many different areas. All of us have nuances to the needs for health care reform. Many of us have different hospital issues. But we have been working on this now for almost a year, and what I like about what I heard on the floor today is I heard Members saying that we now are at the hour of no return.

We're at Martin Luther King's, ``If not now, then when?''

As I listen to a number of colleagues speaking about the lack of health care reform or health insurance--there are many numbers--I hear 18,000 people die every year without health insurance and because they don't have health insurance, and those numbers are mounting. I hear as well that there are people with breast cancer who are trying to get insurance, but they have a preexisting disease, and that is called acne.

We heard of the tragic story, which happened about 7 years ago or about 5 or so years ago, of the leukemia victim, of the 8-year old, who literally had her parents take her to the insurance company's office in California and beg for the opportunity to have a bone marrow transplant, which they repeatedly denied over and over again. Tragically, that little girl lost her life.

So I just want to say to my colleagues that a vigorous public option is about lower premiums, saved dollars and saved lives, and I believe that now is the time.

To my dear friend, as you well know, you will be joining us in a very special hearing on Tuesday, October 27, in room 2141, when Members will open themselves up to hearing from those patients, or from those Americans, who will come to this Hill.

There will be no tickets. We will not bar you from coming to give witness to health crises that you've experienced alone and without help because you had no health insurance. A number of us will be hosting this hearing where we will listen to patients and doctors. We open it up, and we ask that you come to the Rayburn room--to the Judiciary Committee room--which is 2141, Rayburn, on Tuesday, October 27, with Jackson-Lee, Conyers, Ellison, Johnson, Barbara Lee, Kucinich, Clarke, Woolsey, and many others.

I'm going to yield to the gentleman by simply saying this: When you think of health care, let us not selfishly think of the people who, in essence, have their own. Maybe they have employer-based insurance. Just look beyond. Look at your working neighbor. I would imagine that two houses on your block or more are without health care insurance. That is what we will be addressing on Tuesday, and that is what we will be doing when we take this vote as we go into this period of time of no return to vote for a health care bill that helps those who have helped America--a vigorous public option and, as well, health care reform that addresses the question of America's needs.

I yield back to the gentleman, and I thank him for his kindness.

Wow.

Absolutely not. Absolutely not.

And protecting seniors.

Mr. Speaker I rise before you today in support of H.R. 2651, the ``Maritime Workforce Development Act''. I would like to thank my colleague, Rep. Cummings, for introducing this act, as well as the co-sponsors.

This bill would amend Title 46 of the United States Code to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a student loan program to attract the next generation of workers to the good paying jobs available in the maritime industry. The loan program will also help those already in the industry obtain the certifications and training they need to move ahead in their careers.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2006, there were more than 38,000 on-the-water jobs in sea, coastal, and Great Lakes transportation, and nearly 23,000 in the inland water transportation industry. Many of those who currently work in the industry are nearing retirement age. Thus, the Maritime Administration indicated that at the time of our hearing, the average age of a mariner with a Master's license was 51 while the average age of a Chief Engineer was 50.

Additionally, significant new standards for training and continuing education have been applied to mariners through the 1995 amendments to the Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. These standards have rightly been set to improve safety in the maritime industry by reducing human factors as the causes of maritime accidents but they have also imposed expensive and time- consuming training requirements on mariners--particularly on those who are looking to upgrade a document or license to move up the career ladder.

While there are many facilities in the United States that provide outstanding training programs for those seeking to enter or advance in the maritime field, tuition can be very expensive. Further, the types of training programs in which mariners enroll are unique--and are not easily served by existing loan programs. Mariners who have already begun their careers rarely enroll in 2- or 4-year educational programs. Instead, they typically enroll in multi-week courses to obtain a specific new certification--and they enroll in such courses several times a year.

This bill provides a loan program to individuals in the maritime industry that is tailored to their specific needs and to the types of training programs that serve them. Using the model of existing student loan programs, it creates a maritime-focused student loan program through which individuals can receive up to $60,000 in loans over the course of a lifetime. This grant program would support the growing number of maritime-themed educational institutions--including high schools--throughout the country as they work to expand maritime education opportunities and attract new individuals to a field critical to the success of our national economy.

The bill also authorizes the appropriation of $10 million in each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015 to support loans. Additionally, this legislation authorizes the appropriation of $10 million in each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015 to enable the Department of Transportation to award grants to maritime training institutions to support their efforts to develop and implement programs to address mariner recruitment, training, and retention issues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 266, which celebrates 90 years of the United States-Polish diplomatic relations, during which Poland has proven to be an exceptionally strong partner to the United States in advancing freedom around the world. I support this resolution because Poland is an important ally, partner, and friend to the United States.

My home town of Houston, Texas has a strong connection with Poland. Texas has long been an important destination for Polish people immigrating to the United States. In 1818 a handful of Polish immigrants arrived in Texas seeking refuge from turmoil in Europe. Immigration from Poland increased in the 1850s as severe weather, economic hardship, a food shortage, and disease spurred people to seek better fortunes elsewhere. Texas received another wave of Polish immigrants in

the 1870s on the heels of political turmoil in Poland.

According to the Texas State Historical Association Houston there were 55,000 people of Polish descent in Houston in 2000. Aspects of the Polish culture are important to Houston's heritage and are celebrated in our annual Polish Festival and Polish Film Festival. Houston is also the home to a Polish consulate. I am proud to support this resolution as an acknowledgement of Houston's enduring ties with Poland.

The relationship between the United States and Poland was first formally established in the wake of World War I. In 1919, the U.S. and the newly-formed Polish Republic established diplomatic ties creating a formal relationship between governments that also served to symbolize the shared cultural heritage. Twenty years ago, communism fell in Poland and was replaced with a democratic government and market economy. While the relationship between the U.S. and Poland was at times difficult under communism, the spirit of mutualism and desire for cultural exchange endured. The Fulbright Educational Exchange Program began in Poland in 1959 allowing students from both sides of the Iron Curtain to maintain and grow our shared heritage.

In the 20 years since the fall of communism, Poland has also developed into a strong ally for our country. In 1999, Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, cementing our shared military interest. Poland has been a strong diplomatic and military ally in our struggle against terrorism across the globe by contributing troops to U.S.-led coalitions. Poland has also demonstrated its close ideological relationship with the United States through joint efforts on democratization, nuclear proliferation, human rights, Eastern European affairs, and reforming the United Nations. The United States and Poland have a strong relationship and I am proud to support this resolution celebrating the 90 years of diplomatic relations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in support of H. Res. 408, ``Recognizing the vital role family readiness volunteers play in supporting servicemembers and their families''. I would like thank my colleague, Representative Davis, for introducing this resolution, as well as the co-sponsors.

Since 2001, nearly 2,000,000 active duty and reserve sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guard personnel have deployed for duty in the battlegrounds of Afghanistan and Iraq. To add to this service, the more than 1,800,000 family members of regular component members of the Armed Forces and an additional 1,100,000 family members of reserve component members make significant sacrifices on behalf of the United States in support of their loved ones deployed overseas.

But while the readiness of the United States Armed Forces is predicated on the ability of each member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard to focus on their mission during deployments, this military necessity of long and often unpredictable deployments, frequent relocations, and infrequent family contact for members of the Armed Forces can be extremely challenging for members and their families.

In response to these sacrifices and challenges, family readiness volunteers from each branch of the Armed Forces have stepped forward to provide critical support during deployments to servicemembers and their families. These programs in each service help commanding officers have a better understanding of the welfare of the families within his or her command during a deployment and allow families to be informed about the status of their loved ones' unit overseas.

The thousands of family readiness volunteers are generally spouses of members of the Armed Forces who provide assistance to military families while also enduring the challenges of military life. They consist of Army Family Readiness Volunteers, Navy Ombudsmen, Coast Guard Ombudsmen, Air Force Key Spouse Volunteers, and Marine Corps Key Volunteers. These volunteers are motivated by the desire to improve the lives of other military families and to assist future generations.

Family readiness volunteers also connect the community with military families and local military installations, often leveraging donations and resources for military families, as well as provide their services on a voluntary basis, with little public recognition and financial assistance, and often contribute their own resources to help other military families.

It is no exaggeration to say that the outstanding performance of our servicemembers is a testament to the great success of family readiness volunteers. That is why I join this distinguished body in recognizing and honoring the family readiness volunteers of each branch of the Armed Forces who selflessly devote their time, talent, energy, and resources in service to the United States and commend family readiness volunteers for their dedicated contributions to the quality of life of members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Madam Speaker, I stand here before you not only as a member of the United States Congress, but as a woman. I fully support H.R. 1700, ``National Women's History Museum Act of 2009'', this is an issue that I hold dear to my heart. This bill will increase awareness and knowledge of women's involvement in history.

Women's history is a vital part of American history, however it is not public knowledge; mostly in part to the lack of women's history education in the schools. The establishment of a National Women's History Museum would be a great tribute to all of those women whose stories are not told in history books. We must celebrate the women who paved the way for the rest of us. I thank my colleague Representative Maloney, for introducing this valuable piece of legislation.

Today, women account for 51 percent of the world's population and throughout ``woman's-kind'' we have had countless sisters whose brilliance, bravery and power changed the course of history. H.R. 1700 will provide for an establishment which will recognize and honor the women and organizations in the United States that have fought for and continue to promote women's history.

A National Women's History Museum will bring awareness to all of those women who have broken barriers and glass ceilings for the rest of us. Women such as the honorable Speaker Pelosi, the honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shirley Chisholm, Susan B. Anthony, Barbara Jordan, Sojourner Truth, Sacagawea, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Annie Oakley, and the list could go on for miles.

A museum devoted to women's history will shed light not only on well known women of history, but also those less renowned, such as Belva Ann Lockwood, who fought for admittance into law school. She fought to practice before the Supreme Court and even ran two full campaigns to run for President of the United States, although she could not vote.

In Texas, women such as former Governor Ann Richards, who was an accomplished political worker, Texas state treasurer, and Governor of Texas. Furthermore, Rosanna Osterman was a Texas pioneer, American Civil War nurse and philanthropist. She lived in Galveston, and during the 1853 yellow fever epidemic, she erected a temporary hospital on her family premises in order to nurse the sick and the dying. Osterman also chose to stay in Galveston during the civil war and opened her home as a hospital, first to Union soldiers, then to Confederate soldiers.

American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded

ways. They have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of the life of the Nation by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home.

American women have played a unique role throughout the history of the Nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force of the Nation and were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our Nation. In addition, American women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement. American women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which create a more fair and just society for all; and

Despite these contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued, in literature and the teaching and study of American history which is even more reason to dedicate a museum to all of the trailblazing women throughout history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 791, congratulating the Aldine Independent School District in Harris County, Texas, on winning the 2009 Broad Prize for Urban Education. I am proud to support this resolution because the Broad Prize for Urban Education reflects the hard work and outstanding effort that the Aldine Independent School District, Aldine ISD, has exerted to improve overall performance and reduce achievement gaps among low- income and minority students.

The honor bestowed upon Aldine ISD is a beacon of hope for improving public education in Texas and the United States. With over 61,000 students enrolled, Aldine ISD is one of the largest local education agencies in my congressional district and nearly 80 percent of those students qualify for free and reduced lunches. Providing a quality education to such a large number of students, especially students with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, poses challenges for school districts across the United States.

Aldine ISD's receipt of the Broad Prize for Urban Education is a testament to the hard work of parents, teachers, and students as well as the steady leadership of the district administration. Aldine ISD uses a district-wide plan focused on student achievement, student behavior, and community relations. The district administration uses that district-wide plan to ensure that its schools provide a supportive, safe, and--most importantly--effective learning environment. The district has succeeded in communicating clear expectations of academic excellence to teachers and increasing school administrators' oversight of student success.

Aldine ISD's model has produced incredible results. The school district regularly ranks as one of the top performers of all districts in the State of Texas. Studies by Texas A&M University and the University of Texas--Pan American showed that Aldine ISD ranks as one of the best school districts for educating African-American and Hispanic students in Texas. In 2008, African-American students in Aldine ISD achieved higher proficiency rates in math at all school levels and in reading at the middle and high school levels than their counterparts across the State. In 2008, Hispanic and low-income students in Aldine ISD performed the best in State reading and math assessments relative to similar Texas school districts.

A crucial product of Aldine ISD's success is the narrowing of achievement gaps. Math achievement gaps at all income levels were among the smallest in the State and between

2005 and 2008 Aldine ISD narrowed the highest percentage of African- American achievement gaps. Not only is Aldine ISD closing the achievement gap but also it is preparing increasing numbers of students for higher education. From 2005 to 2008 African-American and Hispanic student participation in SAT and Advanced Placement rose.

By these measurements, Aldine ISD clearly deserves the Broad Prize for Urban Education. The award is given to large urban school districts that show solid school achievement and demonstrate distinct gains made in narrowing achievement gaps. I am proud of the hard work that Aldine ISD has done to earn this award and I am thankful to the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation for recognizing their efforts.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 1327, the ``Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009.'' This legislation, if enacted, will enhance U.S. capacity to further isolate Iran and pressure the government to abandon its military nuclear program.

The recent discovery of a secret enrichment facility at Qom serves as a clear reminder that Iran continues to flagrantly disregard international non-proliferation agreements, and poses a direct and dangerous threat to the peace and security not only in the Middle East, but also around the world.

Unfortunately, the concealment of the facility at Qom is only the most recent in a long line of deplorable and illegal behavior by the Iranian government. From seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and evade IAEA inspectors, to continuing to threaten Israel and opposing the Middle East peace process, to supporting international terrorism, to its deplorable human rights record--specifically surrounding the recent elections--the government of Iran has consistently acted in a reprehensible and dangerous manner.

The only effective way to achieve lasting peace and prosperity in the region, along with bringing about reforms in Iran's polity, is to assist the Iranian people in their quest to achieve political, social, and religious liberty. Every government can be judged with the way in which it treats its ethnic and religious minorities, and the current Iranian government gets a failing grade for its treatment of its many and diverse minorities

While the government's actions in the international community deserve our condemnation, we must distinguish between Iranian people and their government. This fall, I was optimistic that the elections in Iran would serve as a catalyst for change, but given the absence of fair and free elections, coupled with the government's poor record for transparency and accountability, I believe that the democratic voices in Iran need our help to achieve change.

The results of the recent election clearly showed that there was no chance for Iranian citizens to participate in Democracy. On June 12, 2009, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was ostensibly re-elected to his second term as President, as a result of the tenth Presidential elections in Iran, held and calculated on June 13, 2009. Subject to official results released by Iran's election headquarters, out of a total of 39,165,191 ballots cast in the Presidential election, Ahmadinejad allegedly won 24,527,516 votes, which accounts for approximately 62.6 percent of the votes, while his opponent and former Prime Minister of Iran Mir-Hossein Mousavi purportedly secured only 13,216,411 (37.4%) of the votes. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced that he envisions Ahmadinejad as president in the next five years, a comment interpreted as indicating support for Ahmadinejad's reelection, and so it happened exactly that way.

In the aftermath of an election crisis we must not forget that Iran is marching ever closer to the development of a nuclear weapon, as they continue the pursuit of enriching uranium. Iran's nuclear program, coupled with its continued military assistance to armed groups in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian group Hamas, and to the Lebanese Hezbollah has been the basis for President Obama's characterization of Iran as a ``profound threat to U.S. national security interests.''

Yet the last Administration's approach of isolationism failed to stop or even slow the escalation of Iran's nuclear development. The recent discovery of a secret enrichment facility at Qom serves as a clear reminder that Iran continues to flagrantly disregard international non- proliferation agreements, and poses a direct and dangerous threat to the peace and security in the Middle East, and around the world.

In that vein we do not want to ostracize Iran, as has been done in the past. This Administration indicated that if Iran refuses to come to the ``nuclear bargaining table'' by late September 2009, sanctions will resume. This deadline passed, and Iran has not changed. Consequently, it is time that we move to enable effective sanctions to remind Iran that we remain serious in our demands. This bill does not move the U.S. past the point of no return in regards to sanctions, but, it sends a clear message to Iran while enabling more effective sanctions in the future.

Mr. Speaker, although Iran has committed heinous human rights violations, and continues to threaten its neighbors, I do not believe that it is productive to punish Iran for their past delinquencies. Instead, we should use our threats and sanctions to persuade the government of Iran to change its behavior by holding free and fair elections, allowing dissent, and finally ending its military nuclear program. I hope that, one day in the near future, we will lift these sanctions; but, until reforms are implemented, we must remain vigilant in pressuring Iran.

Last year, this body passed H.R. 7112--The Comprehensive Iran Sanction Act, but the Senate failed to follow suit. It is my hope that, this time, our colleagues in the Senate realize how much is at stake and act quickly to pass this legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in support of H. Res. 768, ``Expressing support for the designation of the month of October as National Work and Family Month'' I would like to thank my colleague, Rep. McCarthy, for introducing this act of solidarity, as well as the co-sponsors.

It is well established that employees who are able to effectively balance family and work responsibilities feel healthier and more successful in their relationships with their spouses, children, and friends. The quality of workers' jobs and the supportiveness of their workplaces are key predictors of job productivity, job satisfaction, commitment to employers, and retention; employees who are able to effectively balance family and work responsibilities are less likely to report making mistakes or feeling resentment toward employers and coworkers. These workers are also engaged and less likely to look for a new job in the next year, and also enjoy better overall health, better mental health, and lower levels of stress.

It is not only at the office that this balance makes a difference-- job flexibility often allows parents to be more involved in their children's lives, and parental involvement is associated with higher child achievement in language and mathematics, improved behavior, greater academic persistence, and lower dropout rates. Conversely, a lack of job flexibility for parents negatively affects child health by preventing children from making needed doctors' appointments and receiving adequate early care, which makes illnesses more severe and prolonged.

American workers know this firsthand. That's why research by the Radcliffe Public Policy Center in 2000 found that men in their 20s and 30s and women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s identified as the most important job characteristic a work schedule that allows them to spend time with their families. According to research by the Sloan Center for Aging and Work, a majority of workers age 53 and older attribute their success as an employee, by a great or moderate extent, to job flexibility, and also report that, to a great extent, job flexibility contributes to an overall higher quality of life.

In a 2009 survey entitled ``Great Expectations! What Students Want in an Employer and How Federal Agencies Can Deliver It'', attaining a healthy work-life balance was an important career goal of 66 percent of respondents, and a 2008 study entitled ``A Golden Opportunity'', which found that workers between the ages of 50 and 65 are a strong source of experienced talent for the Federal workforce and that nearly 50 percent of these potential workers find flexible work schedules ``extremely appealing''. According to the 2006 American Community Survey, 47 percent of wage and salaried workers are parents with children under the age of 18 who live with them at least half-time.

Since 85 percent of United States wage and salaried workers have immediate, day-to-day family responsibilities outside of their jobs, efforts to help workers achieve this balance is of no small importance to the prosperity of our nation. As an example, from 2001 to early 2008, 1,700,000 active duty troops have served in Iraq and 600,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve (133,000 on more than one tour) have been called up to serve, creating a need for policies and programs to help military families adjust to the realities that come with having a family member in the military.

This resolution supports the designation of ``National Work and Family Month''; recognizes the importance of balancing work and family to job productivity and healthy families; recognizes that an important job characteristic is a work schedule that allows employees to spend time with families; supports the goals and ideals of ``National Work and Family Month'', and urges public officials, employers, employees, and the general public to work together to achieve more balance between work and family; and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe ``National Work and Family Month'' with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Mr. Speaker, do no harm. What we are really doing in health care reform is to ensure that we have an efficient, effective, and secure Medicare, not cuts. But really what we want to talk about is insuring all Americans.

Our job is not yet done. We thank the Senate Finance Committee for moving forward, but our job is not done. It's not done because a 17- pound, 4-month-old baby that had the Rocky Mountain Health Plan was denied insurance because of obesity. What more are Americans going to face?

Listen to this debate. The legislation that we have here in the House means that health insurance reform will come and an insurance company can no longer decide to deny you coverage or jack up your rate because of a preexisting condition. It means it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down. It means insurance companies will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the coverage. It means there will be a yearly limit on how much you can be charged on out-of-pocket expenses. It means relief. It means that your bouncing baby boy will not be denied insurance because he happens to be chubby.

Let's get the job done, access to health insurance for all Americans.