Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 800, which expresses sympathy for the citizens of the Philippines dealing with Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma. I support this resolution because the devastation caused by these two events has created tragic and lasting effects that the world should recognize.

Tropical Storm Ketsana landed on the Philippines on September 26 and deluged the islands with the heaviest rainfall in over 40 years. The capital city of Manila was 80 percent underwater. Nearly 700,000 people have taken refuge in the evacuation shelters. The casualties from Tropical Storm Ketsana are listed at 277 dead and dozens more missing. All told, over 3 million people in the Philippines were impacted. The number of homes destroyed number more than 4,600 and the cost of the damage is estimated at $4.8 billion.

The damage from Tropical Storm Ketsana was an incredible tragedy by itself, but the impact was compounded when the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Parma less than a week later. On October 2, Parma brought intense rain, causing more flooding. The combination of disasters caused landslides, ruined crops, and brought more deaths. At least 16 people died as a result of Typhoon Parma.

In the week after Parma hit, media reports revealed that the Philippines faced other threats caused by these disasters. The flooding spread debris across the islands and helped boost the mosquito population. The result was a dramatic increase in the prevalence of disease and an increased threat to the health of residents of the Philippines. It is reported that $128 million worth of crops were destroyed, including rice. The loss of those food staples will cause the nation to have to import rice to prevent a food shortage. The devastation will cause lasting economic damage, which may especially hurt the poor who are not able to return to their jobs and garner wages.

My home city of Houston, Texas is home to one of the largest Filipino communities in the United States. As news came in of the disasters, my constituents waited nervously to hear of the fate of loved ones in the Philippines. My heart goes out to those families who have been touched by the devastation caused by these natural disasters.

In the days before Tropical Storm Ketsana made landfall, I had the pleasure of meeting with Congressman Hermilando Mandanas of the Philippines House of Representatives. A sense of optimism for the future of the Philippines pervaded that meeting. It is my sincere hope that in the months after the period of mourning and the reconstruction begins, that the people of the Philippines are able to regain their spirit. The future of the Philippines is bright and it is my wish that the sadness and sense of loss caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma do not scar the Philippines.

I thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois and as well the chairman and ranking member of the Aviation Subcommittee for your leadership on a number of issues that have been on the floor of the House today.

I thank my cosponsors, who realize in this time of a challenging economy how important the aviation industry is in being an economic engine; how many of our tourists that come to Washington, DC, many drive, but many of them fly, and they want to fly on a safe and secure system.

As the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, Mr. Costello and myself have common interests about security and safety, but we also are glad for our Nation's airports.

Our Nation's airports are large and small; they are rural and urban. I applaud them all. But I am excited to

stand with my colleagues to recognize one of the strongest airports in the Nation, the George H. Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, and is the subject of this resolution, H. Con. Res. 138 that I authored. I would like to thank my cosponsors, Mr. Culberson, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Olson, and Mr. Gene Green.

I sponsored this resolution to acknowledge the importance of airport travel and to recognize that this airport in Houston, Texas, is an economic engine and to realize that the airport's record of excellent service to the citizens of Houston and the national air transportation system is deserving of acclamation and applause, for their great service has been a critical component of Houston's economy, supporting more than 151,000 jobs and contributing over $24 billion in economic benefits to the Houston region over a period of time.

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in the City of Houston was first opened for operation on June 8, 1969, 40 years ago. In 1997, it was named in honor of the Nation's 41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush, who happens to be a resident, along with his wife, Mrs. Bush, of Houston, Texas. He was also a member of the Houston congressional delegation, and he was present at the 1969 opening of the airport.

In 1990, the City of Houston named IAH's International arrivals building, now terminal D, in honor of my predecessor, Congressman Mickey Leland of the 18th Congressional district, who died tragically on a humanitarian effort trying to help the starving and ravished people of Ethiopia. He was also a figure who cared about people.

Our airport cares about people. It served over 43 million passengers in 2008. It is the eighth largest airport in the United States and the 16th largest in the world for total passengers served, with more than 700 million people having passed through its gates since its opening.

The airport has grown to be worldwide. We are building new terminals now. The anchor airline is Continental; but we are open to the many, many other airlines, as well as international airlines, because this is an international city. Houston is the fourth largest city in the Nation, but soon to be in this new census the possibility of being the third largest city in the Nation.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport has 109 domestic and 65 nonstop international destinations in over 32 countries. We are a part of the economic engine of this great country.

I would also like to note that George H.W. Bush, since we are concerned about being secure, was the President who asked for the Pan Am 103 report on the tragedy of Pan Am 103. He asked the Congress to establish the Pan Am 103 commission, and that commission was part of the effort of being able to respond to that tragedy. George Bush as President received both the victims of that tragedy and the report while he was in the White House, and our now chairman of the full committee, Chairman Oberstar, was then the chairman of the Aviation Committee, served on the commission, and this Congress has implemented 63 of the 64 proposals of that particular commission. That means we worked hand-in-glove to help improve airline and airport security.

In supporting these airlines and supporting this airport, we are very pleased that this airport has been the recipient of many, many awards and as well many, many thank-you's from the employees to the traveling public. We are now in new construction for expansion.

I want to congratulate the City of Houston and the leadership of the Houston Intercontinental Airport, named for the 41st President of the United States, for providing the kind of economic engine that says to the world, we are open, we are friendly, and says to the City of Houston, we are your economic engine, too!

I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 138, Recognizing the 40th anniversary of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in my home city of Houston, Texas. I would like thank my co-sponsors, Representative Culberson, Rep. Gene Green, Rep. McCaul, and Rep. Olson.

I sponsored this resolution to recognize the 40th anniversary of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport and congratulate officials of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Houston Airport System, and the city of Houston, Texas, for the airport's record of excellent service to the citizens of Houston and the national air transportation system. For their great service has been a critical component of the Houston economy, supporting more than 151,000 jobs and contributing over $24,000,000,000 in economic benefits to the Houston region.

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in the city of Houston, Texas was first opened for operation on June 8, 1969. In 1997, it was named in honor of the Nation's 41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush, a longtime resident of Houston who, as a Member of the Houston congressional delegation, was present at the 1969 opening of the airport. In 1990, the city of Houston named the IAH international arrivals building, now Terminal D, in honor of the distinguished Congressman for the 18th District of Texas, George Thomas ``Mickey'' Leland, a renowned antipoverty activist who died tragically in 1989 while on a humanitarian visit to Ethiopia.

IAH is the largest airport in Houston, serving over 43,000,000 passengers in 2008, is the 8th largest airport in the United States and the 16th largest in the world for total passengers served, with more than 700,000,000 people have passed through its gates since opening. Our airport has grown to become a world-class international gateway offering service to more than 109 domestic and 65 nonstop international destinations in over 32 countries, and today remains a regional and world leader in air cargo processing, consolidation, and distribution.

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston operates the largest passenger international arrivals facility in the Nation and was selected by the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security as the first ``Model Port'' for its efficiency in welcoming international passengers arriving in the United States.

Bush Intercontinental is located approximately 23 miles north of downtown Houston, near the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8 North). The airport is operated and maintained by the City of Houston Department of Aviation. The Houston Airport System functions as an enterprise fund and does not burden the local tax base for airport operations, maintenance or capital improvements. IAH currently ranks 3rd in the United States among U.S. airports with scheduled non-stop domestic and international service (over 170 destinations). With more than 29 destinations in Mexico, IAH offers service to more Mexican destinations than any other U.S. airport. Furthermore, this airport is the 8th busiest airport in the U.S. for total passengers. For these reasons and more we ask for my colleagues to support this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your kindness and generosity.

I rise today for a number of thank yous and acknowledgments.

First of all, I think it is very important to acknowledge, when tragedy occurs, how important it is that this country, as it has often done, rallies around those around the world to help them in their time of need.

I want to pay tribute to one of our colleagues--to the delegate from American Samoa, Congressman Faleomavaega--who has in the last couple of weeks been subjected to terrible tragedies at home, for on September 29, 2009, American Samoa and other areas in the surrounding areas were impacted by an 8.3 earthquake, 8.3 on the Richter scale, which was recognized as the world's largest earthquake of 2009. Out of that earthquake came a terrible tsunami, one that struck American Samoa, Samoa and neighboring Tonga, sweeping people and cars out to sea as survivors fled to high ground.

We remember the tsunami of some years ago that impacted Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India in parts. I traveled to Sri Lanka, and realized that the devastation was enormous. So, when there was a tsunami with waves that reached up to 20 feet in height and that penetrated 1 mile inland, we knew how devastating that had to be. It caused death and destruction of a nearly unprecedented amount. The death toll as of October 7 is estimated at 32 in American Samoa and 135 in the independent state of Samoa.

Many individuals and families have suffered and are impacted, now lacking basic survival necessities, and they remain at risk of additional death due to the shortage of clean water and of adequate shelter and food. My colleague who represents the area has been working without ceasing, but the deep human disaster is evident.

So I rise today to thank the 300 responders from FEMA; the American Red Cross; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Department of Health and Human Services; and from other Federal agencies which rushed forward to help our fellow world citizens: The United States Navy; the United States Coast Guard; the Hawaii Air and National Guard; the U.S. Army Reserve; American Samoa under the leadership of Admiral Timothy J. Keating, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command; many, many others; and the foreign governments who came to their aid.

So it is important that we recognize that we are, in fact, our brothers' and sisters' keeper, and we thank those who have already come forward, but we look forward in this Congress to continue to work, as we have worked before, to ensure that they are re-stabilized. We must recognize the humanitarian response that is currently underway. We are, in essence, commending them, but it is important that we continue to encourage donors and other relief agencies to work with these vulnerable organizations in stricken areas because we know, having experience in the United States with the fires in California, with the floods in the Midwest, and with the terrible hurricanes in Florida, Louisiana and Texas, and we understand disaster. We are grateful for those who have helped, but we want and we need continued help.

We commend the over 100,000 Samoan residents in the United States from American Samoa and Samoa for coming to the aid of their fellow brothers and sisters. It is important for this Congress to not only pay tribute but to recognize that people are still hurting.

Let me end this by again thanking our American Representative--our delegate from American Samoa--and by thanking him for his strength.

Just for a moment, Mr. Speaker, I turn very briefly to join with my colleague who spoke earlier, Congresswoman Kaptur, to say this point: Americans are still suffering. Foreclosures are still happening. Small businesses are still not getting access to capital. I beseech those who have received the larger part of the bailout because it was necessary to restore capital markets in a capitalistic system. None of us adhere to socialism, but we do adhere to helping ourselves and helping our brothers and sisters across America.

It is crucial for the banks of America to lend to Americans--to taxpayers, to homeowners, to business owners. Let them expand. Let them add new employees. Let them keep their homes. The tight credit market is choking us. It is killing hardworking Americans who, as I said, are the beneficiaries but yet the benefactors of those who are in need around the world, and it is important for our banks to listen. They were bailed out. They'd better listen to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 659 to congratulate Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on 98 years of serving local communities and enriching the lives of collegiate men throughout the Nation. The achievement of this noble organization for building generations of God fearing, clean-living, serious-minded young men who possess the imagination, ambition, courage, and determination to pursue college educations.

Early in the 20th century, African-American students were actively dissuaded from attending college. Formidable obstacles were erected to prevent the few who were enrolled from assimilating into co-curricular campus life. This ostracism characterized Indiana University in 1911, thus causing Elder W. Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, and eight other African-American students to form Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, which remains the only Greek letter organization with its 1st Chapter on Indiana University's campus. The founders sought a formula that would immediately raise the sights of Black collegians and stimulate them to accomplishments higher than they might have imagined. Fashioning achievement as their purpose, Kappa Alpha Psi began uniting college men of culture, patriotism and honor in a bond of fraternity.

I believe such righteous efforts to be the foundation for so many college age males is a praiseworthy venture. Since its founding in 1911, Kappa Alpha Psi has matured to an organization of over 150,000 college-trained men, maintains undergraduate chapters on more than 360 college and university campuses and its alumni chapters are located in 347 cities in the United States and 5 foreign countries. With an established history of community service, Kappa Alpha Psi is involved with such charitable organizations as Habitat for Humanity, where they build a home for a local family in conjunction with each of its biennial conventions. They also have a lasting partnership with Memphis-based St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and have designated the hospital as the primary benefactor of their national fundraising efforts. Kappa Alpha Psi, through its Kappa League and National Guide Right programs, has provided thousands of at-risk youth in communities throughout the Nation with role models and mentors that encourage them to make positive contributions to, and to take leadership roles in, their communities. Since 1990, Kappa Alpha Psi's Kappa Scholarship Fund has provided scholarship grants to over 10,000 high school graduates to assist in furthering their education. Kappa Alpha Psi's national theme of `One Kappa, Creating Inspiration: A Call to Service' has mobilized Kappa men across the Nation who are leaders in business, education, government, the humanities, arts and entertainment, science, and medicine to become better leaders for their respective families and communities, the Nation, and the fraternity at large. With so many viable ways of helping out within their community, Kappa Alpha Psi is at the forefront of achievement through service.

The Houston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was chartered March 31, 1928. The charter members were men who wanted to continue a formal association with the fraternity at a time when they were no longer undergraduates. So, they petitioned the Grand Chapter and the Houston Alumni Chapter became the 2nd Alumni Chapter chartered in Texas. These men were professionals and leaders in the community. What is most impressive about them is that they were living in the South in 1928 only 63 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, yet they had all graduated from or attended college. The Charter members of Houston Alumni Chapter were Dr. Charles W. Pemberton, Leland Ewing, Cornelius A. Ladner, ``Watty Watkins'', Dr. Leon J. Peacock, W.L.D. Johnson, Sr., J.C. McDade, R.C. Chatman, Dr. Birch, Obie Williams, T.B. Allen, Albert Bateman, and J.D. Collins, Jr. It has been noted that Allen, Bateman, and Collins came to Houston after pledging at undergraduate chapters in the midwest and the southeast.

Dr. Charles W. Pemberton was the 1st Polemarch of the Houston Alumni Chapter. The first two initiates of Houston Alumni Chapter were F.L. Howard and D.P. Young in 1929.

The Houston Alumni Chapter has produced six Southwestern Province Polemarchs (Regional Presidents): Dr. Charles W. Pemberton (1934-1936), W.L.D. Johnson, Sr., (1944-1946) Cornelius Ladner (1947-1951), T.B. Allen (1971-1973), Attorney William ``Randy'' Bates (1998-2003), and Ronald V. Julun (2007-present). These represent approximately 25 percent of all the Polemarchs in the history of the Southwestern Province.

Two Grand (National) Chapter Officers have come from the Houston Alumni Chapter. C.B. Davis was on the Grand Board of Directors from 1973-1976. Current Sr. Grand Vice Polemarch William ``Randy'' Bates has served in that capacity from 2007-present. He previously served as an elected at-large member of the Grand Board of Directors from 2003-2007.

There has been two Laurel Wreath Awardees (which is the highest Award in Kappa Alpha Psi), Astronaut Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., 51st awardee and Dr. Bobby L. Wilson, 58th awardee.

There have been two Elder Watson Diggs Awardees (the second highest Award in Kappa Alpha Psi): Attorney Carl Walker, Jr., and Willie High Coleman, Jr., Esq.

Houston Alumni Chapter was the host of the 2nd Southwest Provincial Meeting held April 17-19, 1936.

Houston Alumni Chapter was the host of the 57th Grand Chapter meeting, held December 26-30, 1971. And, it will serve again to host the 81st Grand Chapter Meeting (Conclave) in 2013.

Houston Alumni Chapter hosted the 62nd Southwestern Province Council Meeting on March 12-15, 1998. This was the largest Province meeting in the history of the Fraternity.

Houston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was the first Greek Letter organization to bring the Ebony Fashion Fair to Houston beginning in the 1960s and continuing for a period of 5-6 years making the Chapter one of the first sponsors of the Ebony Fashion Fair in the nation.

The Chapter has historically held various social entertainment activities for members and the community, including the Kappa Kostume Carnival and Kappa Kasino Night. For the last 20 plus years, the Chapter hosts an annual dance/gala around Valentine's Day. In recent years it is referred to as either the Sweetheart Dance or Red & White Ball. Its predecessor was called the Fireball. Typically in June for the past 30 plus years, the Annual Black & White Ball is held. This stylish affair is the Chapter's marquee social event, and annually attracts 500-700 guests. Scholarship award recipients and their parents are recognized during the Ball. Other events include the Annual Christmas Party, Local Founders Day, and Chapter Picnic.

Three Houston Alumni Chapter Polemarchs have served four consecutive terms: Ollie Harris (1966-70), Manassus McGowan (1986-90), and Willie H. Coleman, Jr. (1996-99). At 27 years of age Willie Earlie is the youngest person to have served as Houston Alumni Chapter Polemarch. Brother Prince Barrett is the oldest initiate in the history of the Chapter and possibly in the history of the fraternity. He began his process in 1948 and became a member in 1997. He is now in his 80s and continues to participate in most of our activities. Brother Stan Weakley first pledged Kappa in 1968 and became a member in 1998.

Great effort, time, and expense have been expended to grow Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and to bring Houston Alumni Chapter to its current status. A very select few, pledged as undergraduates or graduate members, have maintained unbroken financial status at the local and/or national level. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., is not a club. Sustained and lifetime commitment are crucial elements to fulfillment of the goals of this Great Fraternity. Those unwilling to make such a commitment should look elsewhere.

The history of the Fraternity, and Houston Alumni Chapter specifically, is forever evolving. Capable men dedicated to service and high achievement will always be remembered in its story.

In 1929, records show that both Marshall Alumni and Houston Alumni were chapters of the Southern Province. The actual establishment date of the Southwestern Province, however, is unclear. But, its first Polemarch is known to be Dr. Oliver W. Phillips, who served from 1930- 31. Brother Phillips was a charter member of Kappa Chapter in 1919 and a member of the Guide Right Commission in 1930.

Hosted by the Epsilon, Lambda and Philadelphia Alumni Chapters, the Twentieth Grand Chapter assembled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 27-31, 1930. A. Moore Shearin was elected to the office of Grand Polemarch. He appointed J.W. Holland as Province Polemarch of the Southwestern Province consisting of Upsilon Chapter at UCLA; Los Angeles Alumni Chapter, Marshall Alumni Chapter, and Houston Alumni Chapter. Holland's appointment continued to usher a legacy of Achievement in the Southwestern Province. Today, the Southwestern Province consists of Arkansas, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas and constitutes the largest Province in the Fraternity.

The Houston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi also sponsors the Education & Charities Foundation of Houston, which was incorporated in 1992 as a non-profit 501(c)3 entity. The primary purpose of the Foundation can best be described as stated in Article Four of the Incorporation documents:

``Operated for charitable and educational purposes which directly benefit the citizens of Houston and Harris County by the provision of services for and support of the attainment of higher education for youth via support services and models of achievement, along with the development of cooperative efforts with social and civic organizations to support and participate in educational and cultural activities for the benefit and fulfillment of these purposes.''

The Education and Charities Foundation of Houston is comprised of well respected professional men who aspire to high ideals and honorable achievement in all aspects of life. Inclusive in the membership of the Foundation are such prominent personalities and leaders as former city of Houston Council Member Al Calloway, State Representative Harold Dutton, Astronaut Bernard Harris (1st African American to walk in space), Channel two news personality Khambrel Marshall, TSU Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Bobby Wilson (and interim President), District Court Judge Mark Carter and former District Judge Carl Walker.

In pursuit of its goals, the Foundation has engaged in a variety of fund raising initiatives since its inception, with the primary focus being to raise money for scholarships and to directly support predetermined programs, e.g., Kappa Kamp, mentoring events, etc. We have awarded 11 4-year scholarships and made several one-time awards to students who otherwise might not have been financially capable of pursuing a college education.

The Foundation has sponsored numerous ``at-risk'' youth programs during the past several years inclusive of Kappa Kamp and Prince Hall Summer Camp both of which are youth development, leadership and enrichment experiences. Kappa Kamp is a youth camp enrichment program conducted at the renowned ``Piney Woods Country Life School'' in Mississippi, every summer.

The group has supported numerous community initiatives inclusive of the Ft. Bend Education Foundation's and STEPS auxiliary Fine Arts Program and recently assisted a University of Houston student in the African American studies program participate in a trip to Ghana, West Africa.

For these reasons and more, I join Congressman Hastings and my colleagues in the House of Representatives to congratulate Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., on 98 years of serving local communities and enriching the lives of collegiate men throughout the Nation.

I thank the gentleman from Illinois and the gentleman from Georgia for their respective leadership, and I will just tell you that my memory on what flavors I

enjoyed may be a little dull. My daughter is a little bit older than 12 or 15 or 20 or 25, and at that point I will stop for fear of her commentary on me giving her age. But I will say that I am honored to stand and support the Girl Scouts and the congressional coin in honor of them for the very special reason that I had the pleasure of watching my daughter grow up as a Girl Scout, but more particularly carry around those Girl Scout cookies in my Taurus station wagon and compete against the other mothers to make sure that we sold the most. And I would say to you that all of them were gourmet, because whichever box was left over, we told the person who was buying it it's the best bunch of cookies you could ever buy.

This is very special because this is a combination of two wonderful people, Juliette Gordon Low and Sir Robert Baden-Powell. Mr. Baden- Powell was a war hero and a founder of the Boy Scouts. What a perfect combination. So he encouraged his wife, or she was encouraged by him, and sought his help to establish the Girl Scouts in 1912. So in 1912 they started, and so 2012 they will have their 100th year.

But I really want to focus on why the Girl Scouts were so important, what they did for my daughter, Erica Shelwyn Lee. The interesting thing is that the Girl Scouts was founded even before women had the right to vote. They were the early underpinnings of giving girls leadership skills, how special that can be. And now we find there are 236,000 troops--and they're called ``troop leaders'' by the way--and there are 10 million girls today around the world that are made up of Girl Guides, and Girl Scouts, and Girl Scouts of the United States of America, all part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries. What a success story.

And so this is an important affirmation of how important Girl Scouts have been to the building of character of women.

I thank the distinguished gentleman.

This is an affirmation of what leadership skills can do for America. Girl Scouts have grown up to be many outstanding leaders here and around the world. But one thing I think is very important. It teaches young girls team partnership, the ability to work together, the ability to succeed together and fail together and not give up.

So I am very glad to rise and salute the Girl Scouts of the United States of America but also to applaud this legislation of H.R. 621. I congratulate my friend from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) and my good friend Mr. Foster from Illinois for this great legislation, and all of those sponsors, and I am pleased to advocate for its passage.

I do remember them coming in big brown boxes, and I had them all stuffed in my station wagon going from door to door. But the shortbread ones have to be the best.

I know you all had all of the mint and the Samoas, but the shortbread was the tastiest. I love the shortbread. Texas likes it big and simple, and shortbread did the job.

This is the true spirit of bipartisanship, and I am delighted that we are rising today to support this very fine bill to honor the Girl Scouts of America with this gold coin.

Madam Speaker, might I introduce to you the poster baby for health care reform.

In Denver, a wonderful bouncing baby was denied health insurance because the baby weighed about 17 pounds and was 4 months old, and it was determined that he had a preexisting disease of obesity.

Now, all of us know how wonderful it is to have a healthy baby who has a full and wonderful round look. We also know about something called baby fat, and for us mothers we know how a bouncing, bountiful baby can turn into that lean marathon runner. That's just the way it is.

So for all of the reports that our insurance companies are attempting to undermine the effort of ensuring that every American has access to health care and that we rid ourselves of this whole condition of preexisting disease, here's your example.

What an outrage.

Madam Speaker, this is the value of democracy: differences of opinion. And, frankly, I believe that this government, this majority is on the right track. We were in an emergency, a recession that has continued for a period of months. Even as we watch Wall Street bounce back, we know the pain of Americans who have suffered the loss of jobs.

It is important to note that history is at our back; for if FDR had not been aggressive and taken risks to invest in programs that generated jobs, maybe not the type of focus of the 21st century but the WPA, who put our grandfathers and some grandmothers to work, allowed young men who were able to come back from World War II to be able to have an opportunity to then grow a capitalistic society, the boom of the 1950s, when those young men and young women married and created families and built homes.

And so it is important to have the facts. And I would say to you that the jobs data which we are collecting says that jobs have been created, important jobs. Thousands and thousands of teachers have been able to be retained to educate our children. We have had a number of others in various agencies that we have been able to keep, and those jobs then generate into the private sector.

I am often well aware that there are different economic perspectives, but Paul Krugman has a note, not necessarily the full article that I hope to associate myself with, but it says,

Pressure to scale back efforts to support the economy from those fearful of a sliding dollar should be ignored.

We are going to have to take risks. It is not a perfect system, but we are contemplating what will create more jobs. I believe it happens to be infrastructure and transportation, and we are looking at those issues. So know the facts. And we will have the facts because we are collecting data from all the States to be able to make the point that jobs have been created by this stimulus, and we know that we can do more.

Let me finally move to another topic and offer my thoughts, even though I believe in the First Amendment and the right to freedom of association, but I stand with the NFL Players Association, not to make Rush Limbaugh any kind of national standard or a national hero or the national issue. I will let my friends on the other side of the aisle determine what he is and what he is not, but I know that he is not the kind of owner that the NFL needs.

He does not represent the fullness of appreciation of athletes of all diverse backgrounds no matter what he wants to portend to say on his radio station. But he is one who is divisive. Just as they are about to select him as a judge for a Miss America contest; I can't understand that, but that is their choice. Maybe they think he will bring in millions of listeners. But can you imagine a poor girl, scared already, to be able to ask a question about the person she admires most and she says somebody that happens to be a different political affiliation, she is, of course, not a winner. But that's their decision.

NFL has become one of America's pastimes. All of us from all walks of life and economic backgrounds look at the NFL. I know that there are far better owners that could be selected than one package that has this gentleman in it. I would ask the NFL owners to put standards in place, criteria; base it on integrity, not just the bottom buck. Anybody that wants to call a quarterback in Pennsylvania and call him out--he happens to be African American--as not being competent, just somebody that the media has promoted, not being talented--interestingly enough, that football player happens to still be playing and doing a great job. I don't know why in the heck, other than the big dollar, that Rush Limbaugh would be interested in the NFL. And so we're not interested in him either. And I would hope--though this is not my choice. This is not a government issue as well as it is an issue of integrity for those of us who believe that this is a great sport that brings all of us together.

I would hesitate to say that he is not someone who brings people together. And I just simply ask those owners to do the right thing; have a criteria of standards, a bottom line of integrity. It is not all about the dollar. It is about the value of sports and teamwork and working together and bringing young people together and looking at values that are not political, that are simply about us getting along as a Nation, being admired by the world for having a great sporting community, if you will, whether it's baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, golf. That's what it's about.

NFL owners, have some integrity. I think you need a different owner team.

Let me thank the gentleman from Minnesota and the distinguished chairman, who was really posing a rhetorical question as to why the voices of opposition are in opposition, and let us hear about their case.

And today I am on the floor joining you, Congressman Ellison, to thank you as you've kept this battlefront going. Many of us have had moments when we have had to depart quickly, and therefore, we have missed the opportunity to share with you, but we have appreciated the opportunity for your presence on the floor.

We have got to have health care reform now. We have got to have a vigorous public option, Medicare Plus 5, and my position is, if this is about, Congressman Ellison, about loss of life, 18,000 people are dying every year because they do not have health insurance.

But let me try to dispel the myth that this is a Democrat issue. This is a bipartisan issue, and I don't know when our friends on the other side of the aisle are going to get it. Because if history was recollected, you would see that Nixon, Carter, and Clinton all tried health reform because it was imperative. And if we had enacted Federal health spending as a percent of GDP dealing with health care under Nixon, Carter, or Clinton--meaning that we would have cut the cost, slowed the cost down--we would not be where we are today, which is this excessive cost in health care--and I've got a small chart. But the main idea is to say to you that spending would be much lower today if we had enacted health care reform under Nixon, Carter, or Clinton.

Right now we are spending 5.2 percent of annual growth, and we're spending $2,000, it seems, in U.S. dollars per capita for individuals trying to be covered by health care. If Nixon, Carter, or Clinton health reform had been enacted, the share of GDP on health spending in the U.S. would be closer to other countries.

We have a problem, and the interesting thing is that we seemingly are listening to our own voices and the voices of those who do have a right to express them but seem to be confused by the messages that are coming out.

We see the attack on TV suggesting that this bill will take away Medicare from seniors. It is well known that we have been working with AARP. They are not beholden to us. They are not making decisions precipitously. They are looking closely at their responsibilities to their members. And I can assure you they are watchdogs, and they want to have a fix in the doughnut hole--Medicare part D--and they want to ensure a healthy Medicare, and they want to protect their members. So there is no substance to the characterization that we want to take away your insurance, that we want to take away Medicare, that Medicare Plus 5 will not be valid.

And there are questions about hospitals. Some of us are openminded in dealing with this question about hospitals, making sure that they don't represent to themselves that their doors are closing. We're concerned about doctors; we want to make sure that they can keep their doors open.

And I would offer to say this point: The chairman has spoken about the voices of opposition, if I heard him as I came on the floor, Why can't we find out what their gripe is, that are making this amount of money and seem to be doing well?

I would be happy to yield to the gentleman.

Exactly.

What is it.

If I could reclaim the time yielded for a moment. And I thank the gentleman for clarifying that.

You're right. I am willing to hear them too, but juxtaposed alongside of listening to a reasoned discussion and debate as to whether you're for or against, or what you're for, and to get them to understand what a vigorous public option is, as we've interpreted Medicare Plus 5, which will harm no one. I want to hear from the sick and the infirm, people who have suffered. Maybe you are better now. But you've suffered the burden of not having health insurance.

Mr. Chairman, we're going to convene those individuals in Washington, D.C. We'd love for you to reach out to our office. If you're prepared to drive in or bus in or fly in so that your story can be heard, here's my condition: Because I had no insurance; my insurance was denied because of pre-existing disease; or because, in essence, my insurance said, you are not covered. These voices we have not been able to hear on the floor of the House or in committee rooms. When various individuals who have opposed this approach have offered their proposal, who are they speaking for? Are they speaking for that throng of individuals who claim that this country is their country as well, but they have not been able to secure the opportunity for good health care.

I think that that would be most advantageous because then we could hear from individuals who feel and know by their work and their research and their companies' research that their house will

not collapse if we open up insurance so that all Americans have access to insurance and that we have 100 percent coverage.

What I am shocked about, something as vital as health insurance and as close to saving your life as health insurance, people are willing to say it's okay if 47 million Americans are uninsured. They seem to believe that that is a statistical number that we can bear.

I want these individuals who have suffered unfortunately and tragically from our failed health care system--not in terms of quality, not in terms of commitment, not in terms of good hospitals, but in terms of covering all Americans and lowering the costs.

Democrats are standing here advocating for lowering the costs. And this document that was presented to us by, if I might, by Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund, suggests to us if we had suggested the health care reform of Nixon--who was a Republican--of Carter and of Clinton, we would have had lower health care costs today.

And I can assure you we wouldn't have the premium surge, the upstart, the support of the premiums that are probably impacting the family between mortgage foreclosures that have not been responded to, the $600-a-month premium that they have to pay in order to provide for their family.

This is a crime.

Congressman Ellison, thank you for that real-life exhibit, if you will. And to that family, we don't want to suffer this kind of injustice to you much longer, a 19-month-old who is denied because of preexisting disease.

I know if we start this program, first of all, we're expanding CHIP, Children's Health Insurance Program, we will be expanding Medicaid. We'll have a public option. There will be an opportunity for the private insurers. This is a big country. We're growing exponentially, and the issue is, those are the sad stories.

I wish that gentleman could come here to Washington and tell his story because these are the voices that need to be heard. Even though we heard them in our town hall meetings, they need to be here in the Nation's capital, their home, their capital, to tell this body and the other body what this is in real life and real time.

I am proud to be part of the Progressive Caucus and working closely in negotiating and working with my colleagues on ensuring a vigorous public option to save 18,000 lives every year.

I yield to the distinguished gentleman.

Very quickly, I know that all of us understand you're innocent until proven

guilty. We are very pleased with the leadership that ACORN is taking in addressing the needs of those who cannot speak for themselves.

They understand the need for transparency; they understand the need for audits; they understand the need for new leadership in many of their areas. And they are doing it. And I'm grateful for the fact that we have congressional oversight. But I'm not going to demonize an organization that helps those that cannot help themselves.

Very quickly, it is important for the President to be addressing the question of: What do we do in Afghanistan, counterinsurgency or counterterrorism? I believe we should surge up diplomacy, fight the terrorists, and gain the friendship of the Afghan people, and let the Afghans fight the fight alongside of us--and not send 40,000 troops into Afghanistan.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be speaking before you today about the importance of ``National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.'' This campaign goes back a quarter of a century, starting as a weeklong campaign in 1985, by AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical company; its aim from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer. This month and throughout the year, we should all be committed to ongoing education about options for breast health and helping women become more informed so that they can make educated choices about breast health.

Breast cancer is a disease that impacts all Americans, affecting women and men of all backgrounds, races, and incomes. Women in the United States have the highest incidence rates of breast cancer in the world; 141 among white women and 122 among African American women.

Among women in my home state of Texas, breast cancer is the most common cancer, and the second-most common cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). Women in the U.S. have a 1 in 8 (12.5%) lifetime chance of developing invasive breast cancer and a 1 in 35 (3%) chance of breast cancer causing their death. There were 216,000 cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,000 deaths in 2004. In 2007, breast cancer was expected to cause 40,910 deaths in the U.S. (7% of cancer deaths; almost 2% of all deaths).

It is unacceptable enough that so many women today meet such an end. But, worse still, several studies have found that black women in the U.S. are more likely to die from breast cancer even though white women are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Even after diagnosis, black women are less likely to get treatment compared to white women. The journal Cancer Causes and Control, for instance, found in their sample that there has been no improvement in mortality from breast cancer for black women in 23 years.

Worldwide, breast cancer is by far the most common cancer amongst women, with an incidence rate more than twice that of colorectal cancer and cervical cancer and about three times that of lung cancer. However breast cancer mortality worldwide is just 25% greater than that of lung cancer in women. In 2004, breast cancer caused 519,000 deaths worldwide (7% of cancer deaths; almost 1% of all deaths). The number of cases worldwide has significantly increased since the 1970s, a phenomenon partly blamed on modern lifestyles in the Western world.

However, research has proven that by making treatment available, we can fight this horrendous disease. In my home city of Houston, the Ben Taub General Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine strive to ensure that the most advanced medical care is available to all the city's residents regardless of wealth or ability to pay. Ben Taub General Hospital is vital in providing care to the over 1.1 million Houston residents without health insurance, and millions more with little or low insurance coverage. For over 100 years, Baylor College of Medicine has firmly committed to caring for patients, regardless of their ability to pay.

That is why we all work to raise awareness and educate our fellow citizens about this horrible disease; that is why we must fight to make sure breast cancer is defeated through early detection and funding for a cure; and that is why, to make sure that women across our nation have the treatment they need to fight this battle, we must pass real health care reform in America.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank everyone here for being part of this fight, and I pledge to remain by your side until breast cancer is defeated, and no American woman ever again has to fear it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 707 ``Expressing support for designation of the second week of September as Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.'' The literacy of American citizens is essential for the economic well-being of our great Nation and I strongly believe that families play an important role in promoting and enabling learning at all levels.

Illiteracy is the root of many problems in our lives today. For example, in my home district, the 18th District of Texas approximately 68 percent of those arrested, 75 percent of welfare dependants, 85 percent of dropouts, and 72 percent of the unemployed are identified as functionally illiterate, Youth Plus. One in three adults in the greater Houston metropolitan area functions at the lowest level of literacy: They are unable to read and comprehend a menu or a street map, fill out a job application, or read the directions on a medicine bottle, Literacy Advance of Houston. And in Texas, 85 percent of teenagers appearing in juvenile court are functionally illiterate, Youth Plus.

No skill is more crucial to our future, nor to a democratic and prosperous society, than literacy. Basic literacy skills are the premise of reaching one's full potential as an upstanding citizen. President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, ``A book is the most effective weapon against intolerance and ignorance,'' in order for us to utilize this priceless weapon, we must educate our citizens.

The education skills of parents along with reading to children have a direct impact on the educational success of their children. Parental involvement is an intricate part of a child's success and as the level of parental involvement increases the education level of the parent increases. Parents in family literacy programs have proven to become more involved in their children's education and gain the tools necessary to obtain a job or find better employment.

Advocating literacy across America will result in children's lives becoming more stable, leading to higher achievement in the classroom, and success in all future endeavors becomes inevitable. Studies have shown that two important factors that influence student achievement are the mother's education level

and poverty in the home. It is clear that if adults are not part of the learning equation, then there is no long-term solution to our Nation's education challenges.

The National Assessment of Adult Literacy reports that 90 million adults lack the literacy, numeracy, or English language skills to succeed at home, in the workplace, and in society. National Adult Education and Family Literacy week would highlight the need for our government to support efforts to ensure each and every citizen has the necessary literacy skills to succeed at home, at work, and in society. I support the designation of National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, which encourages people across the United States to support programs to assist those in need of adult education and family literacy programs. I call upon the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, community- based organizations, consumer advocates, institutions of higher education, labor unions, and businesses to support increased access to adult education and family literacy programs to ensure a literate society.

Madam Speaker. I rise before you today in support of H. Res. 741, ``Expressing support for designation of October 8, 2009, as national Jumpstart's `Read for the Record Day,' '' I would like thank my colleague, Representative Markey, for introducing this resolution, as well as the co-sponsors.

As the resolution states, Jumpstart is a national early education organization, which is working to ensure that all children in the United States enter school prepared to succeed. Year-round, Jumpstart recruits and trains college students and community volunteers to work with preschool children in low-income communities, helping them to develop the language, literacy, and social skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Since 1993, Jumpstart has engaged nearly 21,000 adults to serve almost 80,000 young children in communities across the Nation. Jumpstart's Read for the Record, presented in partnership with the Pearson Foundation, is an annual campaign, now in its fourth year, that brings national attention to the crisis in early education by organizing the world's largest shared reading experience.

The goals of the campaign are to raise national awareness about the importance of early education by engaging one million children reading the same book on the same day, provide books to children in low-income households through donations and book purchases and sponsorship, and raise money to help bring Jumpstart to more children to prepare them for school success. Jumpstart hopes to engage more than one million children to read ``The Very Hungry Caterpillar'' in this record- breaking celebration of reading, service, and fun, all in support of the Nation's preschoolers.

I join this body in supporting the designation of ``Read for the Record Day,'' and agree that October 8, 2009, is the date Jumpstart aims to set a new world record for the world's largest

shared reading experience, and, as such, is a perfect date for this designation.

I also join this body in commending Jumpstart's Read for the Record in its fourth year; and encouraging adults, including grandparents, parents, teachers, and college students to come together with children of all ages to create the world's largest shared reading experience to show their support for early literacy and Jumpstart's year-long program working with preschool children in low-income communities.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the H. Res. 795. The legacy of the events of September 11, 2001 still resonates today. We will never forget the harrowing experience of the loss of more than 3,000 lives that marked this national tragedy. We will never forget the events of that day, nor those who paid the ultimate price. We will forever remember how the country suffered profound sadness, the likes of which we as a nation hope to never experience again.

Madam Speaker, I recall vividly the intense emotions evoked as the attacks unfolded. The Nation watched in horror as two airliners crashed into the Twin Towers and brought down the World Trade Center. That horror intensified as we witnessed an attack on the Pentagon--and a crashed airplane in Pennsylvania. Horror turned to anger as it came to light that the attacks were the actions of hate-filled cowards who had no respect for human life. I remember too, that in the aftermath of these senseless attacks, we came together as a nation and with friends from around the world united in grief and sadness. That moment transformed our country and the world, as the resolve of our Nation strengthened and our principles hardened.

We remember the heroes from that day; those who ran into the danger, sacrificing themselves to save strangers. We remember the heroes from United Flight 93 who overpowered the terrorists and gave their own lives to prevent the deaths of countless others. We hope that their families can take some small measure of comfort knowing that Americans have made a permanent place for those heroes in our hearts.

As a Senior Member of the Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees, I believe that we must continue to honor the fallen by working to prevent needless deaths. In the years since September 11, 2001, Congress has worked hard to make sure that such a tragedy will never happen again. In large part, we have taken heed of the advice of the 9/11 Commission and built a strong system to prevent future attacks.

Madam Speaker, I rise before this body to say that our work is not yet done. Our Nation's rail and mass transit lines continue to be vulnerable. Millions of Americans rely on our rail and mass transit for transportation. Terrorist attacks in Madrid in 2004 and London in 2006 indicate that transportation routes continue to be potential security threats. We must not let another tragedy occur.

Preventing terrorism at home begins with addressing terrorism abroad. We must engage nations that are susceptible to the influence of extremists and arm them with the tools to fight radicalism. That means not only providing weapons of war but also increasing education, improving living conditions, and increasing the capacity to govern. The struggle against terrorism will be won in the hearts and minds of people around the world.

Madam Speaker, I urge all members to join me in supporting H. Res. 722. Let us remember this day and the tragedy that befell the Nation by properly honoring the victims with our renewed commitment to America's security.

Let me thank the distinguished gentleman from Missouri and let me particularly thank Chairman Skelton for his open view as he fights for the men and women in the United States military. Your long years of history are appreciated, and I stand here to acknowledge that. Thank you for giving us this opportunity this afternoon.

I just want to say to my good friend from Virginia, to address the American people as we address our colleagues today, I count the American people as the smartest constituency that the world could know. They are compassionate. They are passionate. They are patriots. They love their country, and they understand a mother's love.

So let me explain to you procedurally so you would know that nothing has gone awry, has gone wrong, and no hostage-taking has taken place.

The hate crimes legislation, in particular named Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, has been introduced and introduced and introduced in some form. Chairman Conyers on the Judiciary Committee, of which I am a member, has introduced hate crimes legislation. I have introduced hate crimes legislation. We have seen hate crimes legislation pass 237-180, bipartisan.

But if you think of the armed services or the military authorization bill, just in your mind get a sense of the oath that our men and women of the United States military take as they affirm their allegiance to the United States. It is to protect every single citizen. Just this past weekend, I was privileged to be part of the send-off for the 72nd Combat Brigade in Texas, some 3,000 men and women as they take their oath, as they go off to be deployed, they are fighting for the freedom of this Nation.

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes legislation is about the freedom of every citizen. This was not an ordinary burglary. If you had the opportunity to meet Matthew Shepard's mother, as I have, as she pressed the case over and over again, this was a violent, heinous, hateful crime, the description of which was so painful for someone to be nailed on some open field fence to die with no

one there. That is a hate crime. And the Senate, who has reviewed and had the opportunity for hearings, as we had in the House, is doing nothing more than procedurally adding an already passed bill by both of these institutions that captures the characterization of what freedom in America is all about.

There have been 118,000 hate crimes since 1991, but the real key is most of the hate crimes go unreported. And they are all shapes and sizes. They are for race, they are for gender, and they are for sexual orientation. But every single one of these individuals is an American who is to be protected under the flag of the United States of America.

We do not ask citizens what their pedigree is. But if they are under this flag, they deserve our protection, and what better vehicle than this bill that has been reviewed and reviewed and reviewed and reviewed? The FBI knows that there have been hate crimes, and they are saddened by the fact that most of these hate crimes are not prevented and/or reported.

Just as we had attacks on churches some years ago because they were black churches, and we passed the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, it cured those church crimes because the Federal Government took its stand.

So I would say to my colleagues, understand the connection. What more is the United States military than the free and the brave protecting with courage any American that is within the boundaries of this Nation, giving them the sense that they can walk in dignity so mothers don't have to cry over brutalized bodies that are laid upon a fence because they are different.

I would ask my colleagues to oppose this conference motion and vote for the Matthew Shepard Hates Crimes Prevention Act so we can stand for freedom and bravery.

At one time lynchings were commonplace in our nation. Nearly 4,000 African-Americans were tortured and killed between 1880 and 1930. During this same period and thereafter, religious groups like Jews and the Mormons were also subject to attack because of their beliefs. As we all know too well, hate violence against minority groups--most recently focused on gay, transgender and Muslim communities--has a long and ignominious history that continues even today.

Bias crimes are disturbingly prevalent and pose a significant threat to the full participation of all Americans in our democratic society. The FBI has the best national data on reported hate crime, though the program is voluntary. Since 1991, the FBI has documented over 118,000 hate crimes. For the year 2007, the most current data available, the FBI compiled reports from law enforcement agencies across the country identifying 7,624 bias-motivated criminal incidents that were directed against an individual because of their personal characteristics.

As in the past, racially-motivated bias accounted for more than half (50.8%) of all incidents. Religious bias accounted for 1,400 incidents (18.4%) and sexual orientation bias accounted for 1,265 incidents-- (16.6%), followed by ethnicity/national origin bias with 1007 incidents--(13.2%). While these numbers are disturbing, it is important to note that, for a variety or reasons, hate crimes are seriously under-reported.

To protect the nation against this hate violence, I have introduced Hate Crimes legislation for many many years, with ever increasing support. This legislation will provide assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies and amend federal law to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of violent, bias-motivated crimes. Last Congress, this legislation was approved by this Committee and passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 237-180. Bipartisan majorities also voted in favor of hate crime legislation in the 109th, 108th and 106th Congresses.

The bill has attracted the support of over 300 civil rights, education, religious, and civic organizations (including the LCCR, HRC and ADL). Importantly, virtually every major law enforcement organization in the country has endorsed the bill--including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Sheriffs Association, the Police Executive Research Forum, and 31 state Attorneys General.

Despite the deep impact of hate violence on communities, current law limits federal jurisdiction over hate crimes to incidents directed against individuals on the basis of race, religion, color or national origin--but only when the victim is targeted because he/she is engaged in a federally protected activities, such as voting. Further, the statutes do not permit federal involvement in a range of cases where crimes are motivated by bias against the victim's perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. The federal government must have authority to be involved in investigating and prosecuting these crimes when state authorities cannot or will not do so.

This legislation will strengthen existing federal law in the same way that the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 helped federal prosecutors combat church arson: by addressing the unduly rigid jurisdictional requirements under federal law. The bill only applies to bias-motivated violent crimes and does not impinge public speech, religious expression, or writing in any way. In fact, the measure includes an explicit First Amendment free speech protection for the accused modeled on the existing Washington state hate crimes statute.

State and local authorities currently prosecute the overwhelming majority of hate crimes and will continue to do so under this legislation. The federal government will continue to defer to state and local authorities in the vast majority of cases; the Attorney General or other high ranking Justice Department official must approve any prosecutions undertaken pursuant to this law, ensuring federal restraint.

However, in appropriate circumstances, the federal government will be able to provide support for local prosecutions--an intergovernmental grant program created by this legislation will make Justice Department technical, forensic or prosecutorial assistance available. The legislation also authorizes the Attorney General to make grants to state and local law enforcement agencies that have incurred extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 is a constructive and measured response to a problem that continues to plague our nation. Hate crime statistics do not speak for themselves. Behind each of the statistics is an individual or community targeted for violence for no other reason than race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

Law enforcement authorities and civic leaders have learned that a failure to address the problem of bias crime can cause a seemingly isolated incident to fester into wide spread tension that can damage the social fabric of the wider community. This problem cuts across party lines, and I am glad to be joined by so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting this legislation today. These are crimes that shock and shame our national conscience and should be subject to comprehensive federal law enforcement assistance and prosecution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1707, an act to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people. S. 1707 establishes a new, more positive framework for U.S.- Pakistan relations. This bill is a bipartisan, bicameral compromise and is crucial to the success of a wide range of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, while ensuring accountability and accountability for the assistance we give. I was an original cosponsor of H.R. 1886, an earlier version of this legislation. H.R. 1886, was passed by this body with bipartisan support on June 12th, and I remain unwavering in my support for this assistance package to Pakistan.

Like its predecessor, S. 1707 establishes a set of principles that should govern the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, including the actions that the two countries should take to maintain a robust, relevant and lasting relationship. The bill is comprised of three titles.

The first title provides Democratic, Economic and Development Assistance for Pakistan; the second Title provides Security Assistance for Pakistan; and the third Title requires the President to develop a regional security strategy; provides for enhanced monitoring, evaluation, and auditing of U.S. assistance; requires a Presidential report on Pakistan, including an evaluation on Pakistan's progress in counterterrorism and an assessment of whether assistance provided to Pakistan is in any way facilitating the expansion of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program; and requires that all assistance to Pakistan be provided through a civilian government in Pakistan established by free and fair elections.

Pakistan is a critical ally of the United States. For too long, however, our relationship with Pakistan has been one of fits and starts, depending on events in the region and who happens to be in power in Pakistan. It is time for us the United States to forge a truly strategic partnership with Pakistan, one that goes beyond our mutual interest today in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism and speaks to the everyday needs of the average Pakistani.

S. 1707 accomplishes these objectives. The legislation would significantly expand economic, social and democracy assistance to help lay the foundation for a stronger, more stable Pakistan. As requested by President Obama, this legislation triples the authorization for U.S. economic, social, and democratic development assistance to Pakistan to $1.5 billion a year. This assistance promotes democratic institutions in the short term. In the short term, it provides immediate funding for democratic institutions such as Pakistan's parliament and judicial institutions. For the long term, this legislation enables Pakistan's next generation by funding educational and vocational opportunities for women and girls and religious minorities.

As much as we must focus on the internal conflicts in Pakistan, we must not forget the external issues affecting the region as a whole and the need for stabilization.

Over the years, U.S. assistance to Pakistan has fluctuated with political events, sending mixed messages and leading most Pakistanis to question both our intentions and our staying power. Today, many Pakistanis believe the United States will cut and run when it serves our purpose, a belief which undermines our longterm efforts to defeat extremists, foster democratic change, and support transparent and accountable institutions that promote security and stability in Pakistan.

However, the status quo is not working: many in the United States believe we are paying too much and getting too little--and most Pakistanis believe exactly the opposite. Without changing this baseline, there is little likelihood of drying up popular tolerance for anti-U.S. terrorist groups or persuading Pakistani leaders to devote the political capital necessary to deny such groups sanctuary and covert material support.

The bill helps bridge a sustainable U.S.-Pakistan partnership through an increased focus on public diplomacy and engagement. S. 1707 authorizes a new exchange program for Pakistani civil servants and military officers in order to foster greater respect for and understanding of the principle of civilian rule in Pakistan's military. By building bridges to Pakistan and its people, the legislation is intended to provide a new, more positive framework for U.S.-Pakistan relations. Finally, the bill authorizes an extensive increase in military assistance to help Pakistan wage an effective counterinsurgency campaign against those forces that threaten Pakistan's national security.

This legislation establishes a new, more positive framework for U.S.- Pakistan relations. The legislation establishes a set of principles that should govern the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, including the actions that the two countries should take to maintain a robust, relevant and lasting relationship.

Although, I believe that this bill is crucial and will be effective, it is only one piece of a greater strategy. This bill did not, as I have proposed, create a militant rehabilitation program to specifically prevent youth from turning to militancy from the onset. Financial support and job opportunities would be provided to graduates of the rehabilitation programs as incentives for steering insurgents away from militancy. This amendment would have greatly fostered counterterrorism efforts, and I hope that some of the many outstanding groups working in Pakistan will take the initiative in implementing this proposal.

I have been to Pakistan many times. My belief in this country and its relationship with the United States drove me to co-chair the Pakistan Caucus.

Benazir Bhutto, shortly before her death said that ``The next few months are critical to Pakistan's future direction as a democratic state committed to promoting peace, fighting terrorism and working for social justice. Democracy is necessary to peace and to undermining the forces of terrorism.'' I had the pleasure of knowing the late Benazir Bhutto and losing her was truly a tragedy felt beyond Pakistan. She made this statement over two years ago, yet is relevant today more than ever.

On May 19, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced $110 million in emergency

assistance for the South Asia nation of Pakistan, including aid for civilians fleeing a military offensive against Taliban militants in the northwest. The United Nations refugee agency issued a report stating that more than 1.4 million people in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) have been registered as displaced since May 2, describing the flood as the largest and swiftest to take place anywhere in the world in recent years.

The newly-registered internally displaced persons (IDP) took the total number of those who have fled their homes in the SWAT valley and surrounding areas to two million.

I am hopeful that the $110 million in emergency assistance will get to the people on the ground and will be of assistance to them. It is important that the people of Pakistan see that the aid is coming from America to give a face to this aid. It is essential to global security and the security of the United States.

The surge of IDPs followed the launch of a military offensive in late April. President Asif Ali Zardari acted after U.S. officials stepped up warnings that Islamabad's willingness to tolerate and negotiate peace deals with the militants was endangering both Pakistan and the wider region. The Taliban fighting spread to NWFP districts and SWAT.

President Obama's new approach to Pakistan is different than anything that has been tried before. America has expressed that it will support the democratically-elected government and it will have a clear and transparent relationship. This bill has the support of the President, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and Senators Kerry and Lugar.

In conclusion, I urge you to support S. 1707, which seeks to and effectively establishes a new, more positive and enduring framework for U.S.-Pakistan relations. This legislation is timely. It is bipartisan. It is accountable. It is effective.