Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 194, ``Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Tennessee, Representative Steve Cohen, of which I am a cosponsor. This important legislation expresses Congress's remorse for America's past treatment of African-Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I know that many would think it a non-issue to address the events of over 135 years ago, but the legacy of slavery and racial segregation continues to have a profound impact on American society. The social and economic disparity lives on, as do hatred, bias, and discrimination. The consequences of the slave trade have been profound and the scars that it produced still have not healed. Despite two centuries of progress, the African American community continues to feel the impact of slavery and subsequent years of racism and persecution. Our fight for equality and against injustice against all must continue.

We must recognize and in some small way try to rectify our past. As the famous saying goes, ``those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'' This Bill will serve as a testimony to the great injustices that African-Americans suffered at the hands of the United States, and subsequently allow Members of Congress to learn from the past in order to not repeat similar injustices in the future.

The United States today serves as a moral compass for the rest of the world and as such we must provide a voice for race issues. Our willingness to confront our Nation's past and to address the impact which slavery and racial segregation have had on our society strengthens our undeterred commitment to serving as an advocate for human rights and freedom in the international community.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 194, ``Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.'' This legislation acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity of slavery and racial segregation in the United States. By doing so, the United States will remember our Nation's wrongdoings in order to not repeat our mistakes.

Mr. Speaker. I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do the same. This resolution is important today as Americans are desirous of making America a better, safer place. This resolution recognizes the importance of community policing and crime prevention.

Because the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne- JAG) Program at fiscal year have been severely cut in America, we must be vigilant and ensure that America and our neighborhoods remain safe. The Byrne-JAG monies are supposed to be used to make America a safer place.

Byrne-JAG allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system, which states and local governments have come to rely on to ensure public safety. They support: law enforcement, prosecution and court programs, prevention and education, corrections and community programs, drug treatment, planning, evaluation, technology improvement programs, and crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation). In short, they are an indispensable resource that states use to combat crime.

Unfortunately, in fiscal year 2008 the Byrne-JAG program was cut by two-thirds. Although Congress authorized over $1 billion, only $520 million were appropriated for fiscal year 2007. The appropriation was then drastically reduced to $170.4 million in fiscal year 2008, and the President has proposed further cuts for the fiscal year 2009 budget.

The continuing cuts seem to indicate that information regarding the success of the program has not been brought to the attention of members of Congress or to the Administration. Therefore, H. Res. 1324, recognizes that the President should focus on neighborhood crime prevention.

The trend to reduce the grant funding may result, in part, from instances where Byrne-JAG funding has been abused. For example, in 1999 Byrne-JAG funding was used in the infamous Tulia outrage in which a rogue police narcotics officer in Texas set up dozens of people, most of them African-American, in false cocaine trafficking charges. In other instances, jurisdictions used the funding to fund task forces focused solely on ineffective, low-level drug arrests, which has put the task force concept-and the diminished standards of drug enforcement that it has come to represent-in the national spotlight.

The most well-known Byrne-funded scandal occurred in Tulia, Texas where dozens of African American residents (representing 16 percent of the town's black population) were arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to decades in prison, even though the only evidence against them was the uncorroborated testimony of one white undercover officer with a history of lying and racism. The undercover officer worked alone, and had no audiotapes, video surveillance, or eyewitnesses to collaborate his allegations. Suspicions eventually arose after two of the accused defendants were able to produce firm evidence showing they were out of state or at work at the time of the alleged drug buys. Texas Governor Rick Perry eventually pardoned the Tulia defendants (after four years of imprisonment), but these kinds of scandals continue to plague the Byrne grant program.

These scandals are not the result of a few ``bad apples'' in law enforcement; they are the result of a fundamentally flawed bureaucracy that is prone to corruption by its very structure. Byrne-funded regional anti-drug task forces are federally funded, state managed, and locally staffed, which means they do not really have to answer to anyone. In fact, their ability to perpetuate themselves through asset forfeiture and federal funding makes them unaccountable to local taxpayers and governing bodies.

But, reducing the funding is not the answer. Instead, we should encourage the President to invest in America and keep our neighborhoods safe, H. Res. 1324 does just that. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1279, ``Recognizing the Special Olympics 40th anniversary''. First, I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Lee Terry of Nebraska, for introducing this important piece of legislation. This resolution will recognize the significance of the Special Olympics in establish lasting competitive bonds and teaching the world that all people possess the same courage and profound joy in the face of athletic competition. Through its 40 years the Special Olympics has dedicated itself to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive, and respected members of society through sports training and competition. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this act.

The Special Olympics currently serves over 2,500,000 people with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 programs in over 180 countries. The organization has over 700,000 volunteers and 500,000 coaches worldwide. Indeed, every four years the Special Olympics requires a massive undertaking of athletes, volunteers and coaches. Throughout all this the organization has stood true to its oath ``Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt''. Indeed, the bravery of the Special Olympics and its intellectually disabled athletes is inspiring, and well worth this commendation.

This bill recognizes not only the importance of an organization such as the Special Olympics, but also its effects. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. These competitors grow not only physically, but mentally, and emotionally. In the process new powerful ties are made between individuals and between nations regardless of the barriers of language and geography.

This legislation will express the desire of Congress to recognize the tireless compassion of those volunteers and coaches working with the Special Olympics, as well as the unshakeable bravery of its athletes. Through its 40 years of service the Special Olympics has helped millions of intellectually disabled children and adults to find their true voice.

Whether it is through their 40 years of international competition, or their work regionally, where chapters such as Special Olympics Texas work to bring out both athleticism and joy from the intellectually disabled in 21 sports, this organization has shown a commitment to bringing out the best in both volunteer and competitor alike. To think that from a small summer day camp for intellectually challenged children and adults could evolve into a

world-wide organization, is a testament to the lasting vision of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, its founder, and the commitment of volunteers, such as the 40,000 from Texas, to this dream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4255, the ``United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2008.'' First, I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Bob Filner of California, for introducing this important legislation. This bill will give a grant to the USOC for the planning, developing, management and implementation of a Paralympic program for physically disabled veterans and members of the United States Armed Forces. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this act.

There are currently over 2.9 million disabled veterans. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have contributed to a 25 percent raise in this number since 2001. Many are struggling to rehabilitate, to cope, and to regain their purpose. We must staunchly support our soldiers and veterans by giving them the opportunity to again represent our country with pride.

It may be impossible to ever fully repay the services that the many brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces have given for our country, but it is critical that we do what we can to support those that were injured and disabled in our defense. H.R. 4255 will help to provide the many physically disabled veterans and servicemembers with an outreach program of encouragement and support that will allow them to represent their country as athletes and ambassadors of goodwill.

Upon enactment of the act, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs will be authorized to make a grant to the U.S. Olympic Committee, USOC, to plan, develop, manage, and implement the Paralympic Program for veterans and members of the Armed Forces. The bill directs the USOC to use the grant to plan, develop, manage, and implement the Paralympic Program for veterans and members of the Armed Forces.

The Paralympic Program that this bill establishes will benefit the millions of disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. This bill will allow many servicemembers to experience the pride of representing their Nation, and will provide many more with the outreach and support network necessary to rehabilitate and regain their strength.

At the time of the 2000 census there were 1.75 million veterans living in Texas. Many from Houston and Texas' 18th have served. It is in memory of their service that I ask my colleagues to support this bill, giving our disabled veterans and servicemembers a chance to represent our Nation through their competitive spirits.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6309 the ``Lead Safe Housing for Kids Act''. First, I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Keith Ellison of Minnesota, for introducing this important legislation. This bill will amend the ``Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992'' by setting the environmental intervention level for lead to 10 micrograms per deciliter. Its purpose is to enact stricter provisions concerning the hazards resulting from lead-based paint in households. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this act.

The ``Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act'' is important because of its potential to ensure

greater protection for children. Children are most at risk of suffering from the toxicity of lead paint. Lead is a dangerous substance, especially so for children under the age of six, who are only beginning the process of developing their bodies and brains. Lead paint can cause nervous system damage, loss of hearing, stunted growth, severe kidney damage, and can even disrupt the development of the brain and the faculty of cognition.

Lead-contaminated household dust, resulting from lead paint is the primary cause of lead poisoning in children throughout the United States. Though the number of children in the United States with dangerous levels of lead has dropped from 13.5 million in 1978, roughly 300,000 children still have unsafe blood lead levels that are in excess of 10 micrograms per deciliter. 300 thousand, a number equaling half of the population of Texas District 18, are currently at a distinct risk of suffering from lead poisoning. Indeed, this is a major problem.

Of the $43.4 billion spent in the United States annually on pediatric environmental disease, a great majority goes to combating and treating childhood lead poisoning. It is because of this that we must act now in putting forth more stringent testing requirements to combat the grave danger posed by lead paint.

Upon enactment of the act, the HUD will have 90 days to comply with the new environmental intervention blood lead level of at or above 10 micrograms of per deciliter, the point at which the CDC has found cause for concern. This bill will save countless children from suffering from the myriad ailments that come hand in hand with lead paint.

The tragedies of these children and others have exposed the fundamental problem which this bill addresses. For too long there has been no clear federally mandated standard to indicate excess blood lead levels in households, or to require action. This bill will go far to ensure that the children of our Nation are able to enjoy good health, by making certain that all houses become lead safe.

Recently I amended H.R. 2352, the ``School Safety Enhancement Act of 2007'', which sought to enhance the safety of our elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher learning, by increasing the amount of money available for school safety. It is critical especially that we make funds available for poor communities, and specifically to require the creation of a tip hotline for school officials, parents, and students, to report the existence of hazards and chemicals. I also provided amendments that would require institutions to create a safety plan, dealing with potential terror, chemical, or otherwise hazardous situations. These concerns for the safety of children in schools are similar to those concerns that I have for the wellbeing of children in their homes. In both situations, I believe children should be free from the dangers presented by hazardous materials and situations, including the threat of lead paint.

As the safety of children should be critical to all Americans, I urge my colleagues to support this act to protect our Nation's children and our Nation's future from harm's way.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3295, to amend title 35, United States Code, and the Trademark Act of 1946 to provide that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, shall appoint administrative patent judges and administrative trademark judges. S. 3295 amends both the Patent Act and Lanham Act with regard to administrative judge appointments. I support the bill and I encourage my colleagues to do likewise.

S. 3295 proposes that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the PTO Director, appoint administrative patent judges and administrative trademark judges. H.R. 6362 also states that the Secretary of Commerce may deem the appointment of an administrative patent judge or administrative trademark judge who previously held office pursuant to an appointment by the PTO Director to have taken effect on the date when the administrative patent judge or administrative trade judge was originally appointed by the PTO Director. Additionally, the bill creates a defense to a constitutional challenge of an administrative patent judge or administrative trademark judge appointment, declaring that the administrative patent judge or administrative trademark judge was acting as a de facto officer after being appointed by the PTO Director.

Before March 2000, administrative patent judges were appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. In November 1999, new legislation gave the appointment power to the director of the PTO. That legislation took effect on March 29, 2000. Since then 47 of the 74 administrative patent judges currently serving on the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences were appointed by the director of PTO.

S. 3295 is necessary because it creates a defense to constitutional challenge of an administrative patent judge or administrative trademark judge's appointment. This bill was introduced in response to several challenges.

In those challenges, parties are contesting the validity of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences decisions based upon the alleged unconstitutionality of the appointment of certain administrative patent judges who participated in those decisions. The challengers argue that the director of the PTO does not have the power of appointment under Article 2 of the Constitution. If courts hold these appointments unconstitutional, the effects could be widespread, affecting potentially thousands of patents and patent applications. This situation alone would lead to a greater patent backlog. The PTO already faces what seems to be an insurmountable patent backlog.

Specifically, this challenge creates arguments for patent applicants whose patent application rejections were affirmed by the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, as well as a potential defense for patent litigants where the patent in suit resulted from the Board's overturning an examiner's final rejection. S. 3295 is necessary to preserve the integrity of the administrative patent judge and administrative trademark judge appointment system.

I support this Act and encourage my colleagues to support it also.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6073, ``To provide that Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer shall be given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically.'' First, I would like to thank my colleague, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, for introducing this important legislation. This bill will allow all Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer to receive their pay stubs electronically. This will bring much needed reform to a system that has become less transparent due to the advent of electronic, online banking. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this act.

H.R. 6073 is important because of the need to create a streamlined, direct pay system that is at the same time transparent with clear authentication, allowing the over 1 million Federal employees to be able to back up their electronic funds with electronic pay stubs. These pay stubs will provide a necessary, substantive back-up to ensure that the many employees using electronic funds transfer have the same access to a transparent financial record.

H.R. 6073, ``To provide that Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer shall be given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically,'' is a fair, equitable step that will bring the Federal Government toward a clearer, more direct standard for all Federal employees using electronic funds transfer.

Upon enactment of the act, the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, would be required to provide Federal employees that receive their pay through electronic transfer with the option of also receiving their pay stubs electronically. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that implementation of this act will have no effect on the budget, and this act does not contain any intergovernmental or private sector mandates, and hence does not apply to local or State governments.

This bill will benefit the many thousands of Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic funds transfer by giving them the option to receive their pay stubs electronically. This option will provide greater authentication and transparency, without costing taxpayers, and without affecting private businesses, and State and local government.

This bipartisan bill will benefit the many Federal Government employees in Houston, Texas, and the Nation as a whole, while coming at no cost to the taxpayers of Texas' 18th. This simple reform should create an improved electronic pay system, benefiting countless Government employees.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairwoman of the Rules Committee. Her presence on the Rules Committee is evidence of the struggle, but yet the progress, and the reason why we stand here today. I thank the long-standing, committed Member of Congress, Rosa DeLauro, and I certainly thank the leadership for recognizing as we approach a very important time of year, August 26th, 2008, that will reflect on

the movement of women arguing not for special preferences, but simply equality, that this Paycheck equality legislation must pass today!

So the Paycheck Fairness Act is crucial to that equality, because it clarifies the ``any factor other than sex'' defense that kept Ms. Ledbetter from knowing and being able to petition for more money, is clarified to show that the disparity is not sex-based, is job-related, and necessary for the business. Do people realize that Ms. Ledbetter worked and toiled for years without understanding that she was not being paid a fair day's wage for a fair day's work? How tragic in America.

May I ask the Members to support this legislation, because it is real, it is needed now!

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank Congresswoman DeLauro for this important legislation as well as the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Education & Labor for working together to see that gender equity is not just something we talk about, but something we are actually willing to put into action.

This legislation is intended to combat the wage gap that still exists today between men and women in the workplace. It is an important step in addressing the persistent wage gap between women and men by updating the Equal Pay Act--passed more than 45 years ago.

The reality is the Equal Pay Act needs to be strengthened and improved for all women to combat wage discrimination and eliminate loopholes in the current law. The Paycheck Fairness Act creates meaningful penalties against employers whose pay practices are proven to have been discriminatory. The bill will also protect workers from retaliation by their employers when employees discuss their pay with coworkers.

Earlier this year the House passed H.R. 2831, legislation reversing last year's Supreme Court decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., in which the court ruled, 5-4, that workers filing suit for pay discrimination must do so within 180 days of the actual decision to discriminate against them.

The Paycheck Protection Act is also needed to stop discriminatory pay practices by employers against our mothers, wives, daughters, and granddaughters that do the same job as their male counterparts.

The Paycheck Fairness Act, which currently has 230 cosponsors, will strengthen the Equal Pay Act--passed more than 45 years ago--and as a result improve the law's effectiveness, and help to address the persistent wage gap between men and women. The Paycheck Fairness Act would:

Clarify acceptable reasons for differences in pay by requiring employers to demonstrate that wage gaps between men and women doing the same work are truly a result of factors other than sex.

Deter wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations, and by prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages. The bill's measured approach would ensure that women can obtain the same remedies as those subject to discrimination on the basis of race or national origin. AAUW would strongly oppose any efforts to add such caps.

Provide women with a fair option to proceed in a class action suit under the Equal Pay Act, and allow women to receive punitive and compensatory damages for pay discrimination.

Clarify the establishment provision under the Equal Pay Act, which would allow for reasonable comparisons between employees to determine fair wages.

Authorize additional training for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission staff to better identify and handle wage disputes.

It will aid in the efficient and effective enforcement of federal anti-pay discrimination laws by requiring the EEOC to develop regulations directing employers to collect wage data, reported by the race, sex, and national origin of employees.

It will require the U.S. Department of Labor to reinstate activities that promote equal pay, such as: Directing educational programs, providing technical assistance to employers, recognizing businesses that address the wage gap, collecting wage-related data, and conducting and promoting research about pay disparities between men and women.

More importantly for our young ladies going into the workforce, it will establish a competitive grant program to develop salary negotiation training for women and girls.

As a Member of the Women's Caucus and former President of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Houston, I have been fighting for pay equity for American women since before I arrived here as a Representative in 1995, and I believe that equal pay for equal work is a simple matter of justice. Wage disparities are not simply a result of women's education levels or life choices.

In fact, the pay gap between college educated men and women appears first after college--even when women are working full-time in the same fields with the same major as men--and continues to widen during the first ten years in the workforce.

Further, this persistent wage gap not only impacts the economic security of women and their families today, it also directly affects women's retirement security tomorrow. Now is the time for additional proactive measures to effectively address wage discrimination and eliminate loopholes that have hindered the Equal Pay Act's effectiveness.

I urge my colleagues, both men and women, to support equality in rights and pay for all Americans by supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act, and vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit.

I thank the gentlelady from California for her leadership. I thank the Education Committee and our leadership.

As many States in this great Nation, Texas is a college State; in my community in particular, the University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Houston Baptist, Saint Thomas, Houston Community College, and I'm sure many, many others. This is a relief. This is a hallelujah day to be able to help our young people reach their greatest promise.

This is an important initiative. It encourages colleges to reign in price increases and provides consumers with helpful information. Now, because of desperate times, many, many State legislatures are giving our colleges the ability to raise tuition. It is going up and up and up. Now there will have to be an accountability. You will have to explain what are you doing to mitigate the cost. We want our children educated. We don't want them broke.

This restores integrity and accountability to the student loan program. You'll have an option, you'll have information, your parents will have information. You will be able to work together so that you can invest in your education and still be able to survive once you graduate.

It simplifies the Federal Student Aid application access. It expands college access and support for low-income and minority students. It allows you to have your loans forgiven if you are police officers, teachers, scientists, and others that are helping this community. It strengthens our workforce and our competitiveness. It helps our veterans and military families. It is a day that recognizes that America is made great by those who educate and those who, with their own genius, will provide for the next intelligence, the next leadership of the 21st century.

All over the world they want to copy and emulate how we educate. They want to come to the United States because of the principles of freedom. This higher education bill will allow us to pursue that freedom in the right way, and it assures equal college opportunities for students with disabilities. I applaud that. I celebrate that. I encourage that opportunity for those students whose minds are agile and who are ready to go to work, and it encourages colleges, the most important place, to adopt sustainable and energy-efficient practices. This is a valuable step in educating our community.

I do want to close by simply saying we have to be on the front lines of education, primary and secondary education. This is the bill that does it. I ask my colleagues to support the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4137, To amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative George Miller. This significant piece of legislation provides greater access to colleges and universities, making higher education affordable for all Americans, not just the wealthy.

A quality education continues to be the best pathway to social and economic mobility in this country. As a member and senior whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have consistently advocated for the maintenance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This legislation will increase funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as Hispanic and other minority-serving institutions, and it will expand college access and support for low- income and minority students.

This legislation contains provisions allowing students to receive Pell Grant scholarships year-round, and it increases the Pell Grant maximum to $8,000. In addition, it strengthens college readiness programs, namely the TRIO and GEAR UP college readiness and support programs for low-income and first-generation students. These increases will expand college access for low-income and minority students. The amendment offered by my colleagues Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson and Representative Don Young expands upon current Pell Grant eligibility, allowing children who lost a mother or father to our wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be eligible for the maximum amount of Pell Grant assistance. In this age of global war on terror, it is imperative that we ensure that those left behind by those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation are given the greatest opportunity our country can provide. As such, I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting this important amendment.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation contains important provisions opening up even wider opportunities for our veterans by increasing college aid and housing aid for not only veterans, but their families. This legislation creates a new scholarship program for active duty military personnel and family members, including children and spouses of active duty military service members or veterans. It establishes support centers to help veterans succeed in college and graduate. Finally, it ensures fairness in student aid and housing aid for veterans, making it easier for them to attend college while also fulfilling their military service duties.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to express my strong support for an amendment introduced by my distinguished colleague Congressman Danny Davis restoring safeguards to student loan borrowers. Mr. Speaker, students who take out loans borrow money as part of their pursuit to better themselves and contribute to the advancement of our Nation and economy. However, current bankruptcy laws apply the same severe standards to student borrowers that it applies to those trying to escape child support payments, alimony, overdue taxes, and criminal fines. Under Mr. Davis's amendment, Government student loans and loans made by nonprofit entities would remain non-dischargeable; other student loans, made by for-profit banks and other lenders, would continue to be non-dischargeable for the first 5 years after they come due, and after that time they would be treated like other unsecured consumer loans in bankruptcy. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and to work to restore bankruptcy protection to private student loans.

Understanding the federal application for Federal Student Aid can be challenging and complex even for the most knowledgeable parent. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act would streamline and simplify the application process, giving families the tools they need to properly plan for their college expenses. This legislation will reform our higher education system, ensuring students and their families have the information they need to understand their borrowing options when applying for Federal and private loans.

Mr. Speaker, as an active member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I am extremely supportive of the provisions in this legislation that boost campus safety and disaster readiness plans. Last year's tragedy at Virginia Tech has illustrated the horror to which students might be exposed, and natural disasters in recent years have underlined the necessity of having campus disaster plans.

This legislation helps all colleges develop and implement state-of- the-art emergency systems and campus safety plans, and it requires the Department of Education to develop and maintain a disaster plan in preparation for emergencies. In addition, this legislation creates a National Center for Campus Safety at the Department of Justice to work in collaboration with the COPS program. Finally, it establishes a disaster relief loan program, to help schools recover and rebuild in the event of a disaster.

This important piece of legislation gives our youth, our veterans, and our families the opportunity to not only dream of attending college but actually realize that dream. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4137 and the conference report.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer and withdraw an amendment on this particular bill.

The amendment has to do with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, calling upon them to increase the number of medical centers specializing in posttraumatic stress disorder in underserved urban areas, which shall include using the services of existing health care entities pursuant to the authority in section 1703.

This particular amendment has to do with ensuring the cooperation with existing health care institutions used by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a).

I would like to see these facilities located in an area defined as a HUBZone and as well in an area that covers rural areas. I would like to see, according to my amendment, that these facilities would be located within a State that has sustained more than 5 percent of the total casualties suffered by the United States Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I am very pleased that, under the leadership of Chairman Edwards, longstanding leadership, that the legislation that we have before us includes more dollars for mental health and substance abuse, and as well some $3.8 billion, and also it includes $200 million to address the question of fee-based services in the Veterans' Affairs medical system. It also has additional money, $5 billion, for medical facilities and $165 million for extended care.

My amendment was to recognize the plain facts of combat, as we have seen more and more soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan wounded not only physically but mentally. Most of these soldiers have seen--94 percent of the soldiers in Iraq have reported receiving small arms fire, 86 percent of soldiers in Iraq reported knowing someone who was seriously injured. Some similar numbers we are finding in Afghanistan because we have seen an increased amount of combat in Afghanistan.

And so, Mr. Chairman, my concern is to ensure that we have the right kind of facilities for our soldiers that are returning. So I offer this amendment because I thought it was very important to include hospitals like Riverside General Hospital, the only historically black hospital I believe remaining in the United States, founded and organized by a World War II veteran, or family of a World War II soldier.

I would hope that as we move toward the conference, since this amendment is now being withdrawn as I conclude my remarks, I am hoping that we will be able to work with the committee and ensure that we have the opportunity to make this work.

I'd like to yield to the chairman, if I could. I'd like to yield to the gentleman about the amendment that I have that has to do with providing post-traumatic stress disorder facilities in collaboration with existing facilities.

I think this is a good amendment. I am offering and withdrawing it in cooperation with the committee. I won't go down to 1600 Pennsylvania and work with the White House, but I would like to work with this committee and this chairman, and thank him for his leadership, as well as Chairman Filner, who has been more than powerful, if you will, on the issues of veterans.

This has to do with putting these facilities in historically underserved areas and, as I indicated to you, Riverside Hospital has an initial grant. We are having some difficulty in making sure they get their moneys from the last time. But I think we need more of these facilities.

I yield to the gentleman.

If I could reclaim my time and say that the underpinnings of this amendment has to do with existing satellite facilities such as Riverside Hospital that could be in collaboration. I would be very grateful if I could work with the chairman and full committee, and I want to acknowledge the chairman of the full committee in looking at that as we go into conference, as to whether or not we can at least ensure that those facilities will be looked at.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the bill and in favor of my amendment. I also rise to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Edwards, the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs and Military Construction, and the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Mr. Filner, for all they have done and continue to do to make real President Lincoln's admonition that ``we care for him who has borne the battle, and for his widow and orphan.''

In particular, I wish to commend Chairman Edwards, for the leadership, commitment, and foresight he has demonstrated on the issue of PTSD and the overall mental health of our nation's veterans. Like Mr. Edwards and Mr. Filner, I am committed to improving the lives of thousands of veterans who have risked their lives for our nation, and I believe my amendment plays a crucial role in ensuring that veterans suffering from PTSD receive the medical treatment they desperately need.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for this opportunity to explain my amendment to H.R. 6599, the ``Veterans Affairs and Military Construction Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year of 2009.'' As a Member of Congress from Texas, a state which has sustained more casualties in the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq than all but one other, I am pleased to offer this amendment. This amendment is intended to address the urgent need for more post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment and counseling facilities servicing veterans living in some of the more distressed areas of our country.

Mr. Chairman, according to Webster's, dignity is ``the quality or condition of being esteemed, honored or worthy.'' We can never do enough to honor our wounded veterans. Studies have shown that 30 percent of troops deployed to Iraq suffer from depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, when wounded troops return home, the treatment they receive is more befitting a second class citizen than a hero. This is a shame and a great stain on our nation.

How these problems could be overlooked or neglected by this Administration is unfathomable. The very leaders that these brave young men and women rely let them down. The message that incidents like Walter Reed Medical Center sends to our troops is

that we do not care enough. But that is not the message we wish to send. The Veterans Administration and Military Construction Appropriations Act of 2009, H.R. 6599, will go a long away toward correcting this misapprehension. All Members of the House are indebted to our colleague, Mr. Edwards of Texas, for his masterful leadership in shepherding this landmark legislation to the House floor. For the more than 29,000 brave men and women who have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, help is on the way. And the over 4,000 heroes who have given the last full measure of devotion will always be in our hearts and prayers.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of medical facilities specializing in post- traumatic stress disorder located in underserved urban areas. Access to post-traumatic stress disorder treatment is especially important since veterans living in such areas are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr. Chairman, PTSD is one of the most prevalent and devastating psychological wounds suffered by the brave men and women fighting in far off lands to defend the values and freedom we hold dear.

For those of us whose daily existence is not lived in harm's way, it is difficult to imagine the horrific images that American servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of war see on a daily basis. In an instant a suicide bomber, an IED, or an insurgent can obliterate your best friend and right in front of your face. Yet, you are trained and expected to continue on with the mission, and you do, even though you may not even have reached your 20th birthday.

But there always comes a reckoning. And it usually comes after the stress and trauma of battle is over and you are alone with your thoughts and memories. And the horror of those desperate and dangerous encounters with the enemy and your own mortality come flooding back.

PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.

People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent. They avoid situations that remind them of the original incident, and anniversaries of the incident are often very difficult. PTSD symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them was deliberately initiated by another person, as in a mugging or a kidnapping. Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. Flashbacks may consist of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, and are often triggered by ordinary occurrences, such as a door slamming or a car backfiring on the street. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.

Mr. Chairman, the fact of the matter is that most veterans with PTSD also have other psychiatric disorders, which are a consequence of PTSD. These veterans have co-occurring disorders, which include depression, alcohol and/or drug abuse problems, panic, and/or other anxiety disorders.

The current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are the most continuous combat operations since Vietnam. Soldiers in Iraq are at risk for being killed or wounded themselves, are likely to have witnessed the suffering of others, and may have participated in killing or wounding others as part of combat operations. All of these activities have a demonstrated association with the development of PTSD. One study indicated that 94 percent of soldiers in Iraq reported receiving small- arms fire. In addition, 86 percent of soldiers in Iraq reported knowing someone who was seriously injured or killed, 68 percent reported seeing dead or seriously injured Americans, and 51 percent reported handling or uncovering human remains. The majority, 77 percent of soldiers deployed to Iraq reported shooting or directing fire at the enemy, 48 percent reported being responsible for the death of an enemy combatant, and 28 percent reported being responsible for the death of a noncombatant.

My amendment recognizes that these soldiers are first and foremost, human. They carry their experiences with them. Ask a Vietnam Veteran about the frequency of nightmares they experience, and one will realize that serving in the Armed Forces leaves a lasting impression, whether good or bad. My amendment ensures that ``no soldier is left behind.'' By directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of medical facilities specializing in PTSD that are located in underserved urban areas, and conducting a concurrent study on increasing access to PTSD treatment at these facilities those soldiers will never feel forgotten or taken for granted. These soldiers can be certain that Members of Congress will ensure that they receive the necessary treatment to guarantee that their adjustment back into society is a successful one.

As the war in Iraq continues to drag on, and with our country continuing to send military personnel to Afghanistan, the military has been overwhelmed with returning soldiers suffering from mental health problems. Earlier this month, Col. Elspeth Ritchie, psychiatry consultant to the Army surgeon general, stated ``as the war has gone on, PTSD and other psychological effects of war have increased. The number of (mental health workers) that was adequate for a peacetime military is not adequate for a nation that's been at war.''

Mr. Chairman, according to surveys conducted of troops in Iraq, 15-20 percent of Army soldiers have demonstrated signs of post-traumatic stress. Symptoms of this serious disorder include nightmares, flashbacks, emotional detachment, dissociation, insomnia, loss of appetite, memory loss, clinical depression, and anxiety. One year after returning from combat, approximately 35 percent of soldiers are seeking some kind of mental health treatment. Among soldiers still stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, many incidents of abuse, including killings and rapes by U.S. soldiers, have been attributed to ethics lapses caused by the strain of combat.

Mr. Chairman, last Thursday, the Department of Defense released a report that stated ``current efforts fall significantly short'' in providing help for troops. Further, this report found that ``[t]he psychological health needs of America's military service members, their families and their survivors pose a daunting and growing challenge to the Department of Defense.''

I urge adoption of my amendment. And I thank the Chairman for his fine work in bringing this exceptional legislation to the House floor where it should receive an overwhelmingly favorable vote.

I ask again, Mr. Chairman, unanimous consent at this time to withdraw the amendment, but keeping in mind that veterans and returning soldiers need service and they need to have the kind of service for PTSD. And I hope that we will be able to accomplish that.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in requesting that the President focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention and community policing, and coordinate certain Federal efforts to participate in National Night Out, which occurs the first Tuesday of August each year, including by supporting local efforts and community watch groups and by supporting local officials, to promote community safety and help provide homeland security. This important resolution will work to make America a safer place by recognizing the importance of community policing and crime prevention.

National Night Out, ``America's Night Out Against Crime,'' is a program designed to heighten crime prevention and drug prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community relations; and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. This is an opportunity to bring citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials together to fight crime where we live. Last year, over 35 million people celebrated the National Night Out with activities such as traditional ``lights on'' and front porch vigils, block parties, cookouts, parades, contests, youth programs, and visits from local police and sheriff departments. This event is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Tuesday, August 5, 2008.

National Night Out supports the Department of Homeland Security's Ready campaign by handing out materials and educating and empowering the public on how to prepare for, and respond to, potential terrorist attacks or other emergencies. Additionally, this event supports the National Child Identification Program, a joint partnership between the American Football Coaches Association and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to provide identification kits to parents to help locate missing children. The National Sheriffs Association, the United States Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities have all officially expressed support for National Night Out.

Neighborhood crime watch groups, such as National Night Out, contribute to the Nation's war on drugs by helping to prevent communities from becoming markets for drug dealers. They play an integral role in combating domestic terrorism by increasing vigilance and awareness and encouraging citizen participation in community safety and homeland security. Additionally, community-based programs involving law enforcement, school administrators, teachers, parents, and local communities work effectively to reduce school violence and crime and promote the safety of children.

The neighborhoods we once knew as places of peace and harmony are now engaged in the fight against the rising tide of crime and violence. One of the saddest results of this increasing crime is that neighbors fear for their safety and become alienated from one another. Through this National Night Out celebration, people in the neighborhood are brought closer together, overcoming the atmosphere of fear and mistrust that comes with changing times. National Night Out gives people a sense of neighborhood pride and positive community spirit.

This is why I strongly support the goals and ideals of National Night Out and request that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for National Night Out; focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime prevention, community policing, and reduction of school crime by delivering speeches, convening meetings, and directing the Administration to make crime reduction an important priority; and coordinate the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the USA Freedom Corps, the Citizen Corps, the National Senior Service Corps, and AmeriCorps to participate in National Night Out by supporting local efforts and neighborhood watches and by supporting local officials, including law enforcement personnel, to provide homeland security and combat terrorism in the United States. I urge my colleagues to support the National Night Out, which effectively works to protect Americans from crime across the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, the chairwoman of the subcommittee, and chairman of our full committee as well, and certainly the ranking member and the ranking member of the subcommittee.

Let me also express my appreciation to Ms. Giffords. We have talked about this legislation. I congratulate her for her leadership, along with the cosponsors, including Mr. Calvert, Mr. McNulty and Mr. Johnson of my State, and all the others who are supporting this legislation.

If you talk to businesses in your community, they want to do the right thing, and Americans want the right process to be in place. It is important that we hire Americans first, and I think we have been committed to that during the whole period of the discussion of immigration reform.

But I also rise to say that it is important as we pass this legislation, giving it an extension, and I frankly believe it should not expire in November of 2008, we have to also understand that there are States where this is voluntary. I heard Mr. Calvert say there are a number of States that will now put this in place through law, but there are a number of States that do not have it in place, and therefore it is confusing.

We need to be able to ensure that there is a comprehensive approach to the border security question that all of us agree with, but also to recognize the hard-working tax paying individuals who are here, who really should be put in a process, a line, that eliminates this undercover workforce, that allows a pathway to citizenship with paying of fines, getting in line, not getting ahead of those who have been in line, and having a period of time that they are in this country.

This particular basic pilot program, however, is vital for many of our businesses. For example, the construction industries that I have met with over and over again in Houston, Texas, and I know that have been engaged with Mr. Johnson and many in this Congress to try to move forward on this program that deals with the Social Security process.

We have to ensure, however, as we put this in place, that it works, that the technology works, that the oversight works, and we have to make sure that in fact we get the accurate reports to make sure that those who are using it are benefiting from it.

Mr. Speaker, I do ask my colleagues to support this legislation, but I also ask that we get to the point of comprehensive immigration reform. But as I say that, E-Verify is a good step, it is a positive step, and I know my business community will look forward it being in force.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the employees verification amendment. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

The Employee Verification Amendment Act reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Basic Pilot electronic employment eligibility verification program, also known as ``E-Verify.'' Without congressional action, E-Verify will expire in November 2008. This legislation provides for a 5-year extension of this voluntary program for the electronic employment verification of employees. It also includes provisions that ensure DHS provides timely reimbursements to the Social Security Administration (SSA) for E-Verify's use of SSA resources. Two Government Accountability Office studies are also authorized.

The bill provides for the Department of Homeland Security's basic pilot program. Specifically, DHS's electronic employment eligibility verification program (known as ``Basic Pilot'' or ``E-Verify'') is scheduled to expire in November 2008. This legislation reauthorizes E- Verify as a voluntary pilot program for an additional 5 years--through 2013.

E-Verify is an internet-based system that can be used to verify the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees. It does so by checking an employee's Social Security number and citizenship status against the Social Security database and, for non-citizens, it checks work authorization status against a separate DHS database.

In the last 2 years, over a dozen states have passed employee verification laws. Some, like Arizona have mandated E-Verify for all employers while other states require employers in certain sectors, such as government employers and contractors, to verify their employees' work authorization status.

The Federal government is also increasingly requiring E-Verify's use. On June 6, 2008, President Bush signed an amendment to Executive Order 12989 requiring that more than 200,000 federal contractors to use E- Verify. This action will likely triple the number of requests that must be processed through E-Verify.

Importantly, the bill provides certain protections to Social Security beneficiaries. This is critical because E-Verify relies on the Social Security Administration's data and systems to verify the citizenship and Social Security numbers of all newly-hired individuals for their eligibility to work.

According to the GAO, 100 percent of E-Verify queries are first checked against the SSA database. When there are data mismatches, workers are instructed to contact SSA and must visit an SSA field office in order to resolve the discrepancy. As E-Verify grows, so does SSA's workload.

DHS is responsible for funding SSA's costs related to E-Verify; using the Social Security Trust Fund for E-Verify is against federal law.

In prior years, DHS's reimbursements to SSA have been either delayed or not forthcoming at all.

The bill also provides for two GAO studies to be completed. First, it requires a study of the basic pilot confirmation system. The GAO will report to Congress on the causes of erroneous tentative nonconfirmations, how they

are remedied and the effect they have on individuals, employers and Federal agencies.

Second, the bill authorizes a study of the effect of the basic pilot on small entities. The bill requires that the GAO will examine the experiences of small entities (small businesses, non-profits and municipalities) with using Basic Pilot by investigating direct and indirect impacts on basic pilot participants. It will also provide specific data on businesses with fewer than 50 employees as well as on small entities operating in states that have mandated use of the basic pilot program.

This legislation ensures that DHS provides timely and appropriate payments to SSA, so that E-verify does not interfere with SSA's ability to serve seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors.

Mr. Speaker, the members of the National Bar Association being in the Eighty-third meeting of this Association in the City of Houston, County of Harris, State of Texas to affirm and declare the position of said Association in Resolution as follows:

In May of the Year 1978, John Crump, being an attorney licensed by the Supreme Court of the State of Texas, acting in direction of the then President of the National Bar, Mark T. McDonald, of MacDonald and McDonald in Houston, Harris County Texas, did remove himself from said city to assume the interim position of the Executive Director of the National Bar Association in the District of Columbia for the period of three months through the

Sixty-third Annual Meeting of said Association, and

Since that time in 1978, John Crump, Esquire has toiled diligently to assure that the mission of the Association, as stated in its Constitution and Bylaws, its operating procedures, manuals, subdivision and committee mandates have been addressed and fulfilled to the best of the collective abilities of all parties concerned, and

John Crump was able to apply and obtain grants and contractual financing from various funding sources that would allow the Association to provide services to its membership and the clients that they serve consistent with the rules of professional ethics and the obligations and responsibilities of said grants and contracts, the procurement of which led to the opening of the first funded office of the Association, and the stabilization of the Association after the withdrawal of funding by a retaliatory administration, and

John Crump has been the single continuing staff person throughout each of these thirty years developing the NBA Continuing legal Education Curriculum and coordination its compliance with all states requesting certification of the membership for each meeting, and

John Crump has managed the office of the Association through each of its fiscal years, continuing to identify contractual and opportunities, with such instinctive and trained monitoring of compliance with the requirements, that he has been successful in the evaluation of thirty- one audits by external parties reviewing each award, and

John Crump has implemented the programmatic activities of thirty-one different Association Boards of Governors and the thirty-one presidents, each presiding over an Association year with varied themes, management styles, perspectives and appointees, and

John Crump, in conjunction with the policy-making Board of Governors, has worked to develop many aspects of the Association operations, related entities and programs including the creation of the National Bar Investment Corporation that facilitated the acquisition of the NBA Office building, the National Bar Institute, the affiliated fundraising entity of the Association, and the NBA Crump Law Camp, the high school nurturing program that provides legal orientation to students from across the country to inspire their interest in the study of the law, and

During his tenure with and in development of the requisite skills of negotiating for and best practices of this Association, John Crump provided leadership for such distinguished national organizations as the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and the Texas Southern National Alumni Association, representing the memberships of both in several leadership capacities prior to assuming the helms, and

In his position of Executive Director, John Crump has been designated by the presiding officers as the national office spokesperson in significant and pressing legal matters, matters of civil rights, compilation of documents representing the Association, such as briefs, public positions, statements, news releases, and the like, as well as many, many appearances before congressional bodies, conferences, formal and informal gatherings, and

In pursuit of excellence in service to the Association and the untiring dedication to its objectives, John Crump has never limited his hours of work, sacrificed attainment of personal and financial goals and made himself available to the Association, its membership and extended family in countless endeavors, trying situations and challenging experiences,

The members of the National Bar Association saluted its Executive Director John Crump in formal action during the Plenary Session of its Eighty-third Annual Meeting and during additional activities and programs of this Meeting and on this date do hereby caused to be approved this Resolution by its President, congratulating and thanking him for his tireless efforts with and for this Association and affixing the Seal of the Association, as attested by its Secretary.

John Crump toiled for thirty years in helping to lead this major civil rights legal organization--the National Bar Association. My constituents offer to John Crump our greatest gratitude for his work and the work of the NBA in making the law work for all Americans, including those who have suffered. Thank you, John!

Offered By: Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas

Amendment No. 9: At the end of title II (page 51, after

line 11), insert the following new section:

Sec. 226. (a) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall

increase the number of medical centers specializing in post-

traumatic stress disorder in underserved urban areas, which

shall include using the services of existing health care

entities, pursuant to the authority in section 1703 of title

38, United States Code.

(b) At least one of the existing health care institutions

used by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a) shall be--

(1) located in an area defined as a HUBzone (as that term

is defined in section 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15

U.S.C. 632(p)) on the basis of one or more qualified census

tracts;

(2) located within a State that has sustained more than

five percent of the total casualties suffered by the United

States Armed Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom and

Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

(3) have at least 7 years experience and significant

expertise in providing treatment

and counseling services with respect to substance abuse,

alcohol addiction, and psychiatric or stress-related

disorders to populations with special needs, including

veterans and members of the Armed Forces serving on active

duty.

Let me thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his leadership and the ranking member, the chairperson of the full committee, Mr. Berman, and pay tribute to our good friends the late Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde, who have captured, in essence, what our war against HIV/AIDS is all about. It has to be comprehensive and expansive. It has to recognize the overlapping impact of tuberculosis and malaria.

Mr. Speaker, I think one of the most telling scenes that I was able to experience, sadly so, was walking into a little hut in Zambia and seeing an emaciated body or person, if you will, being taken care of by a 4 year old. That individual had HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

So this legislation is crucial in the overall comprehensive war against the devastating diseases when there is no water, no nutrition, and poverty. This targets 12 million new HIV infections. It is treating millions of people. It's supporting care for 12 million. It has a focus on women and girls. It provides a focus on the anti-retroviral treatment that is so important that goes after opportunistic infections. It provides a certain amount of money, $9 billion, for malaria and tuberculosis over 5 years. It goes to the very essence of a 4 year old being the only remaining healthy person in his family having to care for sick relatives suffering from HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and many suffering from malaria.

This is an important step forward. And, yes, we have many responsibilities in this Congress. I join my friend from Iowa. We will be working hard to provide the support systems that those individuals need. But at the same time, this is a tribute to great leaders like our former and late chairpersons of this committee, Chairman Hyde and Chairman Lantos, who recognized that to those who are given much, much is expected.

This bill responds to the devastation and need around the world. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to speak on not only an important issue in this country but around the world. I can only note that it gives me great pause that my colleague, Congressman Tom Lantos, did not live to see the fruit of his hard work on this bill. However, I know his family and his colleague Congressman Henry Hyde have kept this legislation alive and moving through this Congress.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing for H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 on PEPFAR to come to the floor today.

jackson-lee amendment

I would also like to thank both Chairman Berman and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on African and Global Health, Congressman Payne, for working with me to include important language in this legislation. My language, in Section 301 of this bill, addresses the necessity of making children a priority among individuals with HIV for proper food and nutritional support. Section 301, with my language included, states that it is the sense of Congress that ``for the purposes of determining which individuals infected with HIV should be provided with nutrition and food support--(i) children with moderate or severe malnutrition, according to WHO standards, shall be given priority for such nutrition and food support; and (ii) adults with a body mass index, BMI, of 18.5 or less, or at the prevailing WHO-approved measurement for BMI, should be considered `malnourished' and should be given priority for such nutrition and food support;''

Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I believe that this language is crucial, and I thank the Chairman for including it in the text of the bill. HIV-infected children have been underrepresented among beneficiaries of PEPFAR-supported programs. As this legislation cites in the findings section, ``of those infected with HIV, 2.5 million are children under 15 who also account for 460,000 of the newly-infected individuals.'' And even these large numbers are deceiving, as children die much quicker from AIDS than do adults. I am pleased to see this language, which focuses attention on the plight of these children, and makes serving their needs a priority.

pepfar

In January 2003, President Bush announced the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. As its name implies, PEPFAR was envisioned as an emergency response; we are here today to discuss how to transition to a sustainable program to address these global epidemics.

HIV/AIDS continues to represent a serious and large-scale challenge throughout much of the world. It goes far beyond a simple health problem, and it hinders attempts to foster economic development and political stability. As we begin the process of reauthorizing PEPFAR, I believe it is crucial that we emphasize the long-term sustainability of our HIV efforts, and that we integrate AIDS prevention and treatment within our larger-scale development initiatives.

Though we have drugs that are effective in managing infections and reducing mortality by slowing the progression to AIDS in an individual, they do little to reduce disease prevalence and prevent new infections. For this reason, there is growing consensus among health experts that we must put greater emphasis on prevention programs, which are perhaps the most critical aspect of any initiative to combat global HIV/AIDS. Even as increasing numbers of people have access to anti-retroviral drugs, ARVs, an estimated 5.1 million people who needed treatment did not receive it in 2006.

tuberculosis

The World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that throughout the world someone contracts TB every second and that one third of all people in the world are currently infected with TB. Tuberculosis spreads easily from one person to another: when the infected person coughs, the bacilli or TB germs are spread into the air and another person need only to inhale a small number of the bacilli to be infected. The World Health Organization, WHO, estimates that each person left untreated with active TB will infect, on average, between 10 and 15 people every year. Although the TB bacilli can lie dormant in the body for years and its effects may not be immediately felt, if one has a weakened immune system, such as through HIV/AIDS, the chances of becoming sick will increase.

In 2005, nearly 9 million people contracted tuberculosis, of which 84 percent occurred in high burden countries, with all but two of the high burden countries in Africa and Asia. This demonstrates the necessity for special attention to these high burden countries, particularly in Africa. Among the 15 countries with the highest estimated TB incidence rates, 12 were in Africa, due in part to relatively high rates of HIV co-infection. About 80 percent of all cases in the world were found in 22 countries, all but 4 were found in Africa or Asia.

Some 2.97 million people in Southeast Asia were newly infected with TB and about 2.57 million in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2004, sub-Saharan Africa was the only region in the world where TB prevalence was growing; elsewhere the number of cases was stable or falling. Despite our concerted efforts, we continue to face a serious and persistent health threat. I believe that it is imperative that we ensure that American taxpayer dollars are used to greatest effect, not to bolster ideology.

Current restrictions on PEPFAR mandating that \1/3\ of all prevention funds must be used on abstinence-only education neglect the real needs of populations both in America and abroad. These stipulations hurt the ability of PEPFAR to adapt its activities in accordance with local HIV transmission patterns, and they impair efforts to coordinate with national health plans. Though AIDS is clearly a global problem, it does not affect every nation equally or in the same manner. Removing these stipulations would allow PEPFAR to better address

the requirements of each country, making more efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars in serving the millions affected by this disease.

In addition, I believe it is crucial that we dedicate greater attention to strengthening local health infrastructure. Health experts have expressed concern that the high amount of spending directed toward HIV/AIDS initiatives has drawn health workers away from public health facilities and other important programs. This merely compounds a chronic shortage of qualified health workers, which, according to WHO's 2006 World Health Report, is the single most important health issue facing countries today. This need is felt particularly sharply in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Many health experts also continue to advocate greater integration between PEPFAR and other health programs, including those focused on nutrition, maternal and child heath, and other infectious diseases. These experts note that HIV is intricately linked to these other areas of concern; for example, malnutrition and lack of food may heighten exposure to HIV, raise the likelihood of engaging in risky behavior, increase susceptibility to infection, and complicate efforts to provide anti-retroviral, ARV, medication. Further, an HIV epidemic will likely worsen food insecurity, by depleting the agricultural workforce. I believe it is necessary, to ensure maximum effectiveness, that we integrate PEPFAR with other aspects of our international health outreach and development programs.

Mr. Speaker, if we are to turn the tide of turmoil and tragedy that HIV/AIDS causes to millions around the world, and hundreds of thousands right here in our backyard, it is imperative that we continue to fund and expand medical research and education and outreach programs.

hiv/aids

I want to share briefly the importance of continued action in awareness for this virulent disease and the nexus between TB and HIV/ AIDS, another issue which I am passionate about and would like to see eradicated as I am sure many of my colleagues would. According to the World Health Organization, there were 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide in 2007.

People living with HIV/AIDS are at a greater risk of becoming infected with TB because of their weakened immunity. In 2004, out of the more than 740,000 people who contracted TB and were co-infected with HIV/AIDS, 600,000 of those co-infected were found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Similar to TB, HIV/AIDS has risen to epidemic levels particularly for our African countrymen. According to UNAIDS, in 2005, there were 3.2 million newly infected Africans and 2.4 million Africans who died of HIV/AIDS related complications. The current life expectancy for a person living with AIDS in Africa is 47 years old.

Such high rates of infection can be prevented. The transmission of HIV can be reduced through proper education and resources. Additionally, proper resources can help the treatment of HIV. We must make these resources more accessible to those who need it most.

malaria

Malaria is another disease that must be addressed. According to the World Health Organization, more than 500 million people become severely ill with malaria and more than one million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women. Perhaps most shocking is WHO's estimate that a child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. More than 90 percent of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. Speaker, malaria is both preventable and curable. Early and effective treatment can shorten its duration and prevent the development of complications and the great majority of deaths.

concluding statements

Key factors that contribute to continuing high rates of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria include: weak health care systems, poor access to health facilities, insufficient staffing and other human resource constraints, ill equipped and substandard laboratory services, and little collaboration between TB and HIV programs.

Mr. Speaker, what is so striking about these factors is that they are all preventable. We must address and work to rectify these human factors that have led to such unnecessarily high fatality rates throughout the world, particularly in African nations. I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in support of PEPFAR and H.R. 5501.