Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 308, which authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.

Peace officers, the sworn, public-sector officers entrusted with law enforcement authority and the power of arrest, risk their lives daily to protect our nation. These individuals, who are responsible for safeguarding the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans, are true heroes.

Peace Officers Memorial Day honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of their communities and our nation. Created by Public Law 87-726, signed by President Kennedy in 1962, this day gives us the opportunity to acknowledge and pay our respects to those who, through their courageous deeds, have fallen in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, May 15, 2008, our nation will come together to honor, remember and record those law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during the year of 2007. Mr. Speaker, one of the names of the fallen heroes added to the list last year was Officer Rodney J. Johnson of the Houston Police Department. Officer Johnson, a 12 year veteran of the Houston Police Department, was killed September 21, 2006, while taking a suspect in custody during a traffic stop. He leaves to honor his memory his beloved wife, Houston Police Department Officer Joslyn Johnson, and five teen-age children; three daughters and two sons, ages 14 to 19.

Officer Rodney Johnson was born in Houston and served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer until being honorably discharged in 1990. He then went to work as a corrections officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and then as a jail attendant. He graduated from the Houston police academy in 1994.

As a member of the department's Southeast Gang Task Force, Officer Rodney Johnson earned two Lifesaving Awards and one Medal of Valor from the state of Texas. In January 1998, Officer Rodney Johnson rescued a physically challenged driver trapped in rising floodwaters in January 1998 and later that year he rescued mentally challenged people trapped inside of a burning house.

Officer Rodney Johnson, who stood 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed nearly 300 pounds, served on his union's board of directors. As Hans Marticiuc, the president of Officer Johnson's union stated, ``he was big and he was intimidating-looking, but he was as gentle as a baby bear.''

Although the number of officers killed in the line of duty has declined in recent years, the fact that one officer is killed every two-and-a-half days in our country is a sober reminder that protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy come at a heavy price. Last year, the total number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty was represented by 17,917 names engraved on the Memorial, representing officers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, US territories, and federal law enforcement and military police agencies.

This resolution permits the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and its auxiliary to sponsor a free public event, the 27th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service, on the Capitol grounds on May 15, 2008. This service will honor the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during 2007 who have died in the line of duty, as well as the 800,000 officers who continue to serve in Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 330, ``Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month''. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, for introducing this important piece of legislation.

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month highlights an issue that has often been covered up even in this great nation. Rape is a violent assault, not a sexually-motivated or gratifying act. The rapist's aim is to dominate, humiliate, control and degrade the victim. For the victim of sexual assault, it is a wound that while covered never truly heals.

texas statistics on sexual assault

Approximately 1.9 million adult Texans, or 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men, have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime. While these numbers are daunting they pale in comparison to the vast number of incidents that we never hear about.

An estimated 82 percent of rapes go unreported. The vast majority of rape victims--nearly 80 percent--know the person who rapes them.

In any given year, sexual assault of adults costs the state of Texas $27,161,428. Nine percent of sexual assault victims in Texas sought medical care after being victimized (5 percent of male victims, 10 percent of female victims).

Over 30,000 sexual assault survivors receive services at Texas rape crisis centers each year. Sadly approximately 43 Texas counties are not currently served by a rape crisis center or other victim's assistance organization. Which leaves victims feeling further isolated and without support from the local community.

As of January 1, 2005, there were 2,546 cases pending for sexual assault of an adult and 10,543 cases pending for sexual assault or indecency with a child. In that same year, there were only 559 convictions for sexual assault of an adult, and 2,449 convictions for sexual assault or indecency with a child.

Prevention

For many years now, rape crisis centers across Texas and the U.S. have provided invaluable services to survivors of sexual violence while also educating their communities

about the prevalence and nature of sexual violence. Unfortunately, the need for services continues to exceed the capacity of most of our State's crisis centers. In order to address the astonishing rates of sexual violence, we are now increasing our focus on the primary prevention of sexual violence.

Plainly put, we're trying to engage communities to stop sexual violence before it occurs and to build safe, healthy communities. Dr. George Albee, a pioneer in clinical psychology, put it best, ``No mass disorder afflicting humankind has been eliminated or brought under control by attempts at treating the affected individual. Sexual violence prevention requires comprehensive, community-based initiatives that address the various systemic issues, attitudes, behaviors and norms that perpetuate sexual violence.''

As a member of the Women's and Children's Caucus, I strongly urge my colleagues to examine the issue of sexual assault and prevention. Let's stop trying to sweep the issue under the rug simply because it is difficult to hear. For it affects you and me, and our families and our communities. Eighty-two percent of victims reported that the rape permanently changed them. Thirteen percent of rape victims attempt suicide. Thirty percent said they contemplated suicide.

These lasting scars are on the hearts, minds, and souls of women, men, and children. Sexual Assault--Sexual Violence is a problem that must be dealt with for it is not going away.

As the electronic games our children play, the sexual exploitation and violence they see on television grows, and the miseducation of what love, sex, and violence really mean continues to exist. We will need to highlight this important issue.

In the time it took me to give this statement, someone in America was sexually assaulted for the Department of Justice has stated that every two minutes someone in America is sexually assaulted. I express my support for the designation of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I believe we should increase public awareness of sexual assault and continue to look at new ways to focus on prevention.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1130 ``Recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well being,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Missouri, Representative, Sam Graves. This important legislation illustrates a Nation's commitment to recognize the work and fortitude of America's teachers. It is the teacher's remarkable dedication to our students and their tireless efforts in support of education. These hard workers deserve the care, the admiration, and the benefits they have earned through their honorable service.

From the beginning, our Nation has recognized the importance of education and has always taken a leading role in its development. Teachers provide an education that represents mankind's potential to turn distant dreams into a practical reality. The expansion of our horizons has been essential for reasons beyond the advances it may provide. An education is a symbol of upward mobility and privileged wisdom. It is the foundation in which we generate innovative technology, methods and ideas that are used for the advancement of society. A higher education is vital. As we progress in technology and other critical advancements, there is a continuing shift from blue- collar to white-collar occupations; the number of available traditional jobs decline and new jobs demand greater sophistication, expertise, and an advanced degree.

Teachers are the catalyst to the quality of life and the gatekeepers to extensive knowledge. An instructor's dedication to educating and conveying knowledge is significant to the foundation of America's present and potential strength. Horace Mann, a well-renowned politician and educator, articulated the goals of public schools in the 1800s; not only would the country provide public schools, but there would be a teacher hired by the locals. Education was once decentralized to the level of the classroom where educators believed their ``professional place'' was in the classrooms. Instructors viewed teaching as a true profession; however, before long, they were expected to solve problems of society. Teachers were expected to teach health, sexual education, D.A.R.E., driver's education and supplementary courses that were not in conjunction with regular academia. Teachers provide an education which represents mankind's capability to turn remote dreams into a sensible reality. Teachers play a significant role in the greatness and affluence of the United States. Therefore, I humbly commend teachers for their outstanding contributions to this great Nation and throughout the year for their unyielding dedication and spirit to educate.

Mr. Speaker, we should continuously honor the teachers who have given their lives in service to this country. May 6, 2008 is Teacher Appreciation Day; this day will celebrate and recognize the valuable services that millions of teachers provide to the nation. Teacher Appreciation Day should be the crescendo of a years long's worth of recognition efforts. All too often, the contributions made by teachers to our country are forgotten. During National Teacher Appreciation Week, which is May 4, 2008, through May 10, 2008, the profession of teaching is promoted to encourage students, parents, school administrators, and public officials to partake in teacher appreciation events. It is fitting that we take time each year during Teacher Appreciation Week to thank our teachers--as the work they do has a tremendous and very direct effect on the lives of young people. As President Bush has said, ``There's nothing more noble than to teach.''

The innumerable contributions of teachers are invaluable and shall never go unnoticed. The strategic teaching methods that teachers employ are ostensibly successful. Because of the exceptional work of their students, their involvement should never be disregarded. Teachers and other education staff undeniably deserve the respect of their students and communities for their selfless dedication to community service and the future of our Nation's children.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and, in-so-doing, honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives.

Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5522, requiring the Secretary of Labor to issue interim and final occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust, and for other purposes. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague from California, Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Representative George Miller for his leadership on this important issue.

The Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act requires the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, like sugar dust, that can build up to hazardous levels and explode. There are numerous occasions in recent history where combustible dust levels have resulted in explosions, killing and injuring numerous workers. On February 7, 2008, the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, exploded, killing 13 workers and seriously injuring more than 60 others in a combustible dust explosion. The tragedy at Imperial Sugar shows that the threat of dust explosions is very real at industrial worksites across America and needs to be addressed immediately.

In 2003, there were a total of 3 catastrophic dust explosions that resulted in the death of 14 workers. These explosions prompted the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, CSB, to issue a report in November 2006, identifying 281 conbustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that resulted in the death of 119 workers and injured 718. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board concluded their report finding, ``combustible dust explosions are a serious hazard in American industry.'' Since 2001, in case after case and industry after industry,

Since 2001, in case after case and industry after industry, OSHA has chosen to emphasize voluntary compliance over setting strong rules and enforcing them. Effective voluntary guidelines to control combustible dust hazards and prevent dust explosions already exist. But in order to truly protect workers, OSHA needs an enforceable standard in order to ensure industry compliance and to protect workers. Without an OSHA standard, many employers are unaware of the hazards of combustible dusts, while others have chosen not to adopt voluntary standards.

This important act directs OSHA to issue an interim final Combustible Dust standard within 90 days. The standard would include measures to minimize hazards associated with combustible dust through improved housekeeping, engineering controls, worker training and a written combustible dust safety program. This legislation also directs OSHA to issue a final standard within 18 months and fulfill all administrative rulemaking requirements including full public hearings, feasibility analysis and small business review. Lastly, H.R. 5522 directs OSHA to include combustible dusts in the Hazard Communication Standard which requires workers to receive information and training about the hazards they face on their jobs daily.

In addition, I would like to have seen companies submit certifications showing that they are in compliance of these sets of standards. This recommendation would ensure that companies follow the criteria outlined within this bill by certifying compliance. Also, the Secretary of Labor should do continuous inspections during the initial months of enactment, to ensure companies are in compliance.

Madam Chairman, this important legislation requiring the Secretary of Labor to issue interim and final occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust, and for other purposes, is necessary in order to protect Americans across the Nation. This important Act will help to prevent further accidents from occurring within the workplace. For these reasons, I strongly support H.R. 5522 and urge all members to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1079, supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month. I would first like to thank my distinguished colleague, Ruben Hinojosa of Texas, for introducing this important legislation. I believe basic financial literacy is imperative to ensure that individuals are capable of making financial choices, as well as managing money, credit, debt, and risk and becoming responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and financially stable citizens. Understanding how each of these topics work together and affect each other is important for laying the groundwork for solid financial foundation for you and your family.

Personal financial management skills and lifelong habits begin to develop during childhood. In 2006, the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy found that high school seniors knew less about principles of basic personal finance than did high school seniors 7 years earlier, and the average scores in both years were failing grades. Financial security is the cornerstone of prosperous communities, nurturing neighborhoods and strong families. However, many individuals and families are experiencing financial crisis because of inadequate savings, too much debt and poor planning for potential major life events. Today, a majority of consumers are experiencing some sort of financial difficulty causing a significant impact on their everyday lives. In fact, Americans carry more than $2 trillion in consumer debt and 30 percent of consumers report having no extra cash--making it impossible to escape the financial burden of living paycheck to paycheck. On average, U.S. households carry about $8,000 in credit card debt alone. The total U.S consumer credit card--revolving credit--debt was $937.5 billion in November 2007 which is absolutely unheard of.

Far too many Americans are insufficiently educated about their personal finances. The personal savings rate in the United States was zero percent at the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, which puts it among the lowest since

the government began collecting the data in 1959. Shockingly, about half of adults--49 percent--say they are concerned they have not paid enough attention to managing their finances as they should have and 48 percent are concerned they don't know enough about financial planning; 4 out of 10 American workers are not saving for retirement. Public, community-based, and private sector organizations throughout the United States are working to increase financial literacy rates for Americans of all ages and walks of life through a range of outreach efforts, including media campaigns, Web sites, and one-on-one counseling for individuals.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members of Congress in a time of economic crises and brink of economic recession, to promote literacy in all aspects of finance. I support the goals and efforts established by the National Council on Economic Education, the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, its State affiliates, and its partner organizations for supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month, including raising public awareness about financial education. I recognize the importance of managing personal finances, increasing personal savings and reducing indebtedness in the United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation that requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities with the goal of increasing financial literacy rates for individuals of all ages and walks of life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1073, ``Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week, May 5 through 11, 2008,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Illinois, Representative Danny K. Davis. This important legislation illustrates a nation's commitment to recognize the work and fortitude of public service and the numerous citizens who are employed in that division.

Government workers have much to offer, as demonstrated by their expertise and innovative ideas, and serve as examples by passing on institutional knowledge to train the next generation of public servants. The Public Service Recognition Week encourages a new generation to consider a career in public service as an admirable profession. The week also serves to promote the significant contributions of public servants and to honor men and women at all levels of government.

During Public Service Recognition Week, Federal, State, county and local public employees take part in events such as job fairs, student activities, and agency exhibits that celebrate the broad variety of services performed by employees at all levels of government. Public Service Recognition Week, celebrated the first Monday through Sunday in May since 1985, is a time set aside each year to honor the diverse men and women who meet the needs of the Nation through work at the Federal, State and local government levels.

Throughout the Nation, public employees use Public Service Recognition Week to educate citizens about the many ways in which the Federal government serves the people and how Federal government services make life better for all of us. Public service employees are the educators who instruct us in complex academia, the policemen and firemen who fight crime and fires, the physicians who fight disease and promote better health, and the military who consistently defend our freedom and advance United States interests around the world. Public service employees encompass the fields of public transportation, waste management, social services, housing, electricity and more. These hard workers deserve the care and benefits they have earned through their honorable service.

The Nation benefits daily from the knowledge and skills of these highly trained individuals. The services that these workers provide are a necessity to modem life and is understood that its universal provision should be guaranteed. It is imperative that Congress recognizes the magnitude of the worker's job and its subsequent effects on environmental integrity, human health and overall quality of life in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, we should continuously honor our government employees who have given their lives in service to this country. The most important reason for Public Service Recognition Week is the need to celebrate and recognize the valuable services that millions of public servants provide to the Nation. All too often, the contributions made by America's public employees to our democracy are forgotten--not only by our fellow citizens but even by those of us who serve. Public servants alert Congress and the public to government waste, fraud, abuse, and dangers to public health. The Federal, State, and local governments are responsive, innovative, and effective because of the exceptional work of public servants, and this involvement should not be disregarded.

Public service employees playa significant role in the greatness and affluence of the United States. I humbly commend public servants for their outstanding contributions to this great Nation during Public Service Recognition Week and throughout the year for their unyielding dedication and spirit for public service. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation, and, in-so-doing, giving our public service personnel the respect and recognition they deserve.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as the Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus to emphasis the crisis in the lack of food for those around the world. As we have seen the rising food costs, we in America are suffering, but the rest of the world is in a crisis.

I believe it is imperative as we move into our appropriations process that we emphasis the importance of utilizing the food stock here in the United States to provide service and support around the world, and I believe it is even more important to focus on the impact on children.

I will convene a briefing that will draw upon the insight of food advocates from around the Nation to focus on how we can prioritize children in developing nations being provided foodstuffs and receiving priority over adults, for a malnourished child dies, a malnourished child has disease.

We are in a crisis. It is time for us to act to save the children.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5613, the ``Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008.'' I would like to thank my colleagues Congressman John D. Dingell and Congressman Tim Murphy for introducing this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will make vital strides toward expanding and improving access to healthcare to people in our communities who need it most.

The Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 is critical to keeping the doors open for the patients who use the public hospital systems throughout the country. In my home State of Texas, there was statewide and national support from various stakeholders, the Physicians, Governors, County Judges, Mayors, and many others all encouraging passage of H.R. 5613.

Section 2 of H.R. 5613 amends the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 to extend until April 1, 2009, the moratorium on implementation of a proposed rule, ``Medicaid Program; Cost Limit for Providers Operated by Units of Government and Provisions to ensure the integrity of the Federal-State financial partnerships under Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, of the Social Security Act,

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution regarding the role of the Transportation Security Administration in securing our Nation's rail and mass transit lines. This resolution reaffirms the Congressional mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 that the Transportation Security Administration enhance security against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines.

I am pleased to have Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, as an original cosponsor of this resolution. Chairman Thompson has been a leader in our efforts to secure against terrorist threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines.

Each weekday 11,300,000 passengers depend on our Nation's mass transit lines as a means of transportation.

Our Nation's mass transit lines serve as a target for terrorist attack as evidenced by the March 11, 2004, attack on the Madrid, Spain, mass transit system, the July 7, 2005, attack on the London, England, mass transit system, and the July 11, 2006, attack on the Mumbai, India, mass transit system.

The Transportation Security Administration has, through the development of its National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, furthered its ability to provide security against terrorist attacks on the Nation's transportation systems by preventing and protecting against explosives threats.

It is imperative that our Nation's rail and mass transit lines remain secure from terrorist attack as they are critical to the functioning of our Nation's economy and serve as a means of transportation on a daily basis for millions of hard-working Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1126, the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007. I also strongly support the underlying legislation, which will provide our Nation's Coast Guard with the resources it needs in order to successfully execute all of its missions.

I would like to thank my colleagues, Congressmen Oberstar and Cummings, for introducing this bill, as well as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Thompson, for his leadership on this important issue. Madam Speaker, I was pleased to work with Chairman Thompson and offer an amendment during our Homeland Security Committee markup to this important legislation, which I felt improved the bill. My amendment mandated the creation of a strategic plan to utilize assistance programs to assist ports and facilities that are found by the Secretary not to maintain effective anti-terrorism measures. I am also offering an amendment on the House floor today calling on the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine the challenges and delays faced by transportation workers seeking to obtain TWIC cards at enrollment sites and mandates the development of timelines and benchmarks for implementing the findings of this assessment.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I believe protecting our Nation by air, land, and sea to be critical to our national security interests. This bill, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, sets forth various provisions that will be beneficial to our maritime interests, and consequently to our national security. Included in the provisions are the establishments of grants for international maritime organizations, the establishment of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee, and codified various provisions relating to Coast Guard personnel matters.

For some years now, I have been concerned about the diversion of Coast Guard resources from their historic missions of search and rescue and marine safety, to homeland security missions. Since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard's inclusion in the Department, one of the greatest challenges has been ensuring that the funds that the Coast Guard have traditionally received in order to perform there duties remain intact so that they can fulfill the responsibilities that American citizens rely on them to perform, namely ensuring the safety of our nations seas, lakes, rivers, and ports.

We have to ensure that the Coast Guard will get their full funding needed to carry out their responsibilities, and that is precisely what this legislation does. This act authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Coast Guard. Furthermore, this act also authorizes the FY2008 levels of Coast Guard active duty military personnel and average military training student loans, allowing for sufficient human resources for the Coast Guard to achieve its

designated goals. This bill explicitly authorizes end-strength by 1,500 members to 47,000 and increasing Coast Guard funding to $8.4 billion which has not been done since the 1970's.

The act also includes provisions regarding shipping and navigation, vessel size limits, maritime drug law enforcement, fishing vessel safety, liability limits for natural gas deepwater ports, claims against the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, dry bulk cargo residue, merchant mariner matter, and security.

Mr. Speaker, every year, 95 percent of the goods coming into the United States arrive at our nation's seaports. These goods are shipped from ports around the world, some from developed countries and others from developing countries. I am particularly concerned about ports in developing countries. Developing countries have limited resources which means their ability to maintain effective anti-terrorism measures is limited.

We can not allow terrorists to exploit this limitation. Rather, we should work with developing countries and others to build up their anti-terrorism measures. This assistance will benefit all of us. The developing countries will gain the support they need, and we will close a potential gap in our own supply chain. Every gap we close is one less gap that can be exploited by terrorists. I am pleased that this bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategic plan to utilize existing assistance programs to assist foreign ports and facilities that are found by the Secretary not to maintain effective anti-terrorism measures. This bill furthermore authorizes the Coast Guard to lend, lease, and donate equipment and provide technical training to non-compliant foreign ports or facilities. The multiple layers of security enhancement authorized in this legislation will minimize the ability of terrorists to target to maritime commerce and negatively impact the global supply chain.

I am pleased that the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 includes specific provisions relating to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Within this legislation, MSIs are defined as a historically Black college or university, a Hispanic serving institution, a Tribal College or University, a Predominantly Black institution, or a Native American- serving institution. Section 901 of this important legislation states that the Commandant shall establish a management internship program for students at MSIs, enabling them to intern at Coast Guard headquarters or Coast Guard regional offices in an effort to support the development of civilian, career-midlevel, and senior managers for the service. This legislation furthermore instructs the Coast Guard to work with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to create this internship program and authorizes $2 million to be appropriated to this program.

Mr. Speaker, I have long stressed the importance of including this nation's MSIs in the effort to secure our nation. Section 903 of this legislation states that the Commandant shall establish a Coast Guard Laboratory of Excellence-MSI Cooperative Technology Program at three minority serving institutions to focus on priority security areas for the Coast Guard, such as global maritime surveillance, resilience, and recovery. It also calls on the Commandant to encourage collaboration among the minority serving institutions selected to participate in the cooperative technology program and institutions of higher education with institutional research and academic program resources and experience. These and other measures included within this bill are absolutely imperative as the Office of Workforce Planning has recently revealed that only 5 percent of the officer corps is African American and only 12 percent of the officer corps is comprised of ethnic minorities, while in the last 3 years the numbers of minority ascensions have actually decreased.

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 also increases oversight and efficiency of the TWIC program, which was originally mandated six years ago, yet continues to flounder. To date only 230,000 out of an estimated 845,000 applicants have enrolled in the TWIC program, while the deadline for enrollment is September 25, 2008. While this provision of the Coast Guard Authorization is both timely and important, there is still more which must be done in order to ensure that the program is both effective and efficient, which is why I have offered an amendment.

I would like to reiterate only few of the obstacles that workers have faced in my state of Texas as well in my district of Houston. For example, a marine worker enrolled at the Houston Port enrolled on December 13, 2007. To this date, he still does not yet have a TWIC card. He remained on hold for 4 hours and 10 minutes and was finally told by the operator that he would have to return to Houston to be fingerprinted again after APR. Incidentally, a representative of Higman Marine Services, Inc., asked the same question about their employee, and she was told that he should not return until June. This blatant inconsistency in service and information is simply unacceptable. Furthermore, another transportation worker went to the Beaumont center about 3 weeks ago to pick up his TWIC after being notified it was ready. He traveled from Hemphill, TX (117 miles), and was told that the card was accidentally shipped to Houston and he could drive there (85 miles) to pick it up. He presently does not have his card. The list of incidences in which workers have to continually overcome structural impediments is too long for me to name. It is from my concern for these workers that I have introduced my amendment.

My amendment calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security to compile an assessment of the enrollment sites for transportation security cards issued under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code within 30 days of enactment. The assessment should, at minimum, examine: The feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open 24 hours per day, and 7 days per week, in order to better handle the large number of applicants for such cards; the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open after September 25, 2008; and the quality of customer service, including the periods of time individuals are kept on hold on the telephone, whether appointments are kept, and processing times for applications.

My amendment furthermore calls on the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop timelines and benchmarks for implementing the findings of the assessment as the Secretary deems necessary. By identifying the areas in which enrollment sites for homeland security cards are ineffective and inefficient and creating a timeline through which to implement necessary changes and benchmarks to ensure their progress and accountability, we will make this Nation a safer place accessible to labor and operations alike.

Long before the horrific events of September 11, 2001, citizens of America relied upon the Coast Guard to ensure the safety of our waterways, and we depend on them still. Therefore, I urge my fellow members of Congress to also support the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 and ensure this rich and necessary tradition remains a thriving and useful part of not only our national defense strategy but also to protect us and the environment from those threats by sea.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank both Chairman Oberstar and of course Chairman Thompson and Subcommittee Chair Elijah Cummings on this Coast Guard bill that all of us have worked on. As the Chair of the Transportation Security Subcommittee of Homeland Security, I can assure you that the idea of overcoming the administration's veto on the question of LNG security is going to be an important stand today as we vote for this bill.

The language that speaks to the LNG security is a fair statement. It gives the Coast Guard flexibility. It allows them to make an assessment, and it is the right thing to do. Coming from the City of Houston, with a very large port, I understand the need to protect the surrounding communities and the importance of LNG security.

In addition, I am grateful that I have an amendment going forward that will help expedite the TWIC card for so many who have not yet gone through the process, to make an assessment by the Coast Guard of the necessity of more resources, of keeping the facility open 24 hours a day and making sure that this TWIC process goes in order to secure those.

I am also grateful that we have increased the Coast Guard overall to 47,000 and that the underlying bill refocuses on the value of the Coast Guard, both in terms of their standard duties, but also the new enhanced duty for security.

I hope that as we move TSA administrative law judges, however, that we will find a way to ensure that TSA is not impacted negatively and that we will have oversight to ensure that this process will continue to work.

Again, Mr. Chairman, this is an important legislative initiative. This again is the Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation Committee and the two chairpersons and committee members working harmoniously together, recognizing that the bottom line of what we do on the floor today and what we do for the American people is to ensure their security. We have done that today.

I ask my colleagues to enthusiastically vote for this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Minnesota, Representative Oberstar. This important legislation will provide our Nation's Coast Guard with the resources it needs in order to successfully execute all its missions.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I believe protecting our Nation by air, land, and sea to be critical to our national security interests. This bill, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, sets forth various provisions that will be beneficial to our maritime interests, and consequently to our national security. Included in the provisions are the establishments of grants for international maritime organizations, the establishment of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee, and codified various provisions relating to Coast Guard personnel matters.

For some years now, I have been concerned about the diversion of Coast Guard resources from their historic missions of search and rescue and marine safety, to homeland security missions. Since the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard's inclusion in the Department, one of the greatest challenges has been ensuring that the funds that the Coast Guard have traditionally received in order to perform their duties remain intact so that they can fulfill the responsibilities that American citizens rely on them to perform, namely ensuring the safety of our Nation's seas, lakes, rivers, and ports.

Mr. Chairman, we have to ensure that the Coast Guard will get their full funding which is absolutely necessary to carry out their responsibilities, and that is precisely what this legislation does. This act authorizes appropriations for FY2008 for the Coast Guard. Furthermore, this act also authorizes the FY2008 levels of Coast Guard active duty military personnel and average military training student loans, allowing for sufficient human resources for the Coast Guard to achieve its designated goals. This bill explicitly authorizes end- strength by 1,500 members to 47,000 and increasing Coast Guard funding to $8.4 billion which has not been done since the 1970s.

The act also includes provisions regarding shipping and navigation, vessel size limits, maritime drug law enforcement, fishing vessel safety, liability limits for natural gas deepwater ports, claims against the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, dry bulk cargo rescue, merchant manner matter, and security.

Mr. Chairman, I was pleased to work with Chairman Thompson and offer an amendment during our Homeland Security Committee markup to this important legislation, which I felt improved the bill. My amendment mandated the creation of a strategic plan to utilize assistance programs to assist ports and facilities that are found by the Secretary not to maintain effective anti-terrorism measures. I am also offering an amendment on the House floor today calling on the Secretary of Homeland Security to examine the challenges and delays faced by transportation workers seeking to obtain TWIC cards at enrollment sites and mandates the development of timelines and benchmarks for implementing the findings of this assessment.

Mr. Chairman, every year, 95 percent of the goods coming into the United States arrive at our Nation's seaports. These goods are shipped from ports around the world, some from developed countries and others from developing countries. I am particularly concerned about ports in developing countries. Developing countries have limited resources which means their ability to maintain effective anti-terrorism measures is limited.

We cannot allow terrorists to exploit this limitation. Rather, we should work with developing countries and others to build up their anti-terrorism measures. This assistance will benefit all of us. The developing countries will gain the support they need, and we will close a potential gap in our own supply chain. Every gap we close is one less gap that can be exploited by terrorists. I am pleased that this bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategic plan to utilize existing assistance programs to assist foreign ports and facilities that are found by the Secretary not to maintain effective anti-terrorism measured. This bill furthermore authorizes the Coast Guard to lend, lease, and donate equipment and provide technical training to non-compliant foreign ports or facilities. The multiple layers of security enhancement authorized in this legislation will minimize the ability of terrorists to target to maritime commerce and negatively impact the global supply chain.

I am pleased that the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 includes specific provisions relating to Minority Serving Institutions (MSls). Within this legislation, MSls are defined as a historically Black college or university, a Hispanic serving institution, a Tribal College or University, a Predominantly Black institution, or a Native American- serving institution. Section 901 of this important legislation states that the Commandant shall establish a management internship program for students at MSls, enabling them to intern at Coast Guard headquarters or Coast Guard regional offices in an effort to support the development of civilian, career-midlevel, and senior managers for the service. This legislation furthermore instructs the Coast Guard to work with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, the Hispanic Association of Colleges

and Universities, and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium to create this internship program and authorizes $2 million to be appropriated to this program.

Mr. Chairman, I have long stressed the importance of including this Nation's MSIs in the effort to secure our Nation. Section 903 of this legislation states that the Commandant shall establish Guard. Laboratory of Excellence-MSI a Coast Cooperative Technology Program at three minority serving institutions to focus on priority security areas for the Coast Guard, such as global maritime surveillance, resilience, and recovery. It also calls on the Commandant to encourage collaboration among the minority serving institutions selected to participate in the cooperative technology program and institutions of higher education with institutional research and academic program resources and experience. These and other measures included within this bill are absolutely imperative as the Office of Workforce Planning has recently revealed that only 5 percent of the officer corps is African American and only 12 percent of the officer corps is comprised of ethnic minorities, while in the last 3 years the numbers of minority ascensions have actually decreased.

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 also increases oversight and efficiency of the TWIC program, which was originally mandated 6 years ago, yet continues to flounder. To date only 230,000 out of an estimated 845,000 applicants have enrolled in the TWIC program, while the deadline for enrollment is September 25, 2008. While this provision of the Coast Guard Authorization is both timely and important, there is still more which must be done in order to ensure that the program is both effective and efficient, which is why I have offered an amendment.

I would like to reiterate only a few of the obstacles that workers have faced in my State of Texas as well in my district of Houston. For example, a marine worker enrolled at the Houston Port enrolled on December 13, 2007. To date, he still does not yet have a TWIC card. He remained on hold for 4 hours and 10 minutes and was finally told by the operator that he would have to return to Houston to be fingerprinted again after APR. Incidentally, a representative of Higman Marine Services, Inc. asked the same question about their employee, and she was told that he should not return until June. This blatant inconsistency in service and information is simply unacceptable. Furthermore, another transportation worker went to the Beaumont center about three weeks ago to pick up his TWIC after being notified it was ready. He traveled from Hemphill, TX (117 miles) and was told that the card was accidentally shipped to Houston and he could drive there (85 miles) to pick it up. He presently does not have his card. The list of incidences in which workers have to continually overcome structural impediments is too long for me to name. It is from my concern for these workers that I have introduced my amendment.

My amendment calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security to compile an assessment of the enrollment sites for transportation security cards issued under 7 section 70105 of title 46, United States Code within 30 days of enactment. The assessment should, at a minimum, examine: the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open 24 hours per day, and 7 days per week, in order to better handle the large number of applicants for such cards; the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open after September 25, 2008; and the quality of customer service, including the periods of time individuals are kept on hold on the telephone, whether appointments are kept, and processing times for applications.

My amendment furthermore calls on the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop timelines and benchmarks for implementing the findings of the assessment as the Secretary deems necessary. By identifying the areas in which enrollment sites for homeland security cards are ineffective and inefficient and creating a timeline through which to implement necessary changes and benchmarks to ensure their progress and accountability, we will make this Nation a safer place accessible to labor and operations alike.

Mr. Chairman, the Transportation Security Administration has expressed some concern over Title X of this legislation. Title X would transfer Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) authority to review merchant mariner documentation as well as 80 percent of the ALJ budget to NTSB. I understand the TSA's concern that such a step might have an adverse impact on anticipated cases dealing with TWIC and adjudication of TSA's civil cases, and I am committed to working with TSA to ensure that the execution of this legislation is beneficial to all parties involved.

Long before the horrific events of September 11, 2001, citizens of American relied upon the Coast Guard to ensure the safety of our waterways, and we depend on them still. Therefore, I urge my fellow members of Congress to also support the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 and ensure this rich and necessary tradition remains a thriving and useful part of not only our national defense strategy but also to protect us and the environment from those threats by sea.

Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chairman, as I indicated in the general debate, this is an exercise in unity as relates to the safety and security of the Nation and, of course, the reauthorization and the emphasis of the specialness of the Coast Guard. I am delighted to come from the fourth largest city in the Nation and to have a very large port that benefits from the outstanding service of the U.S. Coast Guard.

I want to thank Chairman Oberstar for not only his eloquence, but his long-standing history and knowledge of what we needed to do in this Congress, the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Cummings, and as well the distinguished, as they all are distinguished, ranking member of the full committee, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio, working on this along with my full committee chair, Mr. Thompson. I serve as the Subcommittee Chair on Transportation, Security, and Infrastructure Protection. We have had a number of opportunities to work together. So we are filled with tasks, and those tasks must be addressed.

I rise in support of the legislation. My amendment is a simple but important addition to this vital legislation, which I believe can be supported by every Member of the House.

My amendment calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare an assessment of the enrollment site for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, TWIC, which we have heard so much about. These cards are issued under section 70105 of Title 46 USC within 30 days of the enactment of this act.

The assessment should at a minimum examine the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, in order to better handle the large number of applicants for such cards, the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open after September 25, 2008, and the quality of customer service, including the periods of time individuals are kept on hold on the telephone, appointments are kept, and processing times for applications. We are here to help.

In our committee, we have heard over and over again, everyone is trying to meet the deadline. DHS, the Department of Homeland Security, has a deadline. We believe as Members of Congress they should have a deadline to secure America, but we must make sure that the deadline is realistic in light of the resources and the tools that they have to comply.

Madam Chairman, I continue to receive firsthand accounts from my constituents in and around the Nation that deal with the question of transportation workers and operators who are frustrated because of sometimes the unsatisfactory performance of TWIC enrollment sites.

I have spoken with a multitude of people from throughout the country who have shared with me the great difficulty they experience due to administrative obstacles obtaining their TWIC cards. These obstacles include the lack of enrollment sites or the difficulty in getting to the enrollment sites, making appointments at enrollment sites which are not kept, long processing lines for applications, and staying on hold for hours on the telephone. While we have made securing our Nation a priority, we must ensure we do so in the most productive way.

Let me just briefly say what we have seen from the State of Texas and around the Nation. For example, a marine worker at the Houston Port enrolled on December 13, 2007, at the Houston center. To this date, he does not have a card. He remained on hold for 4 hours and 10 minutes and was finally told by the operator that he would have to return to Houston to be fingerprinted again after April. Incidentally, a representative of the Higman Marine Services asked the same question about the employee. That person was told that they should not return until June.

These inconsistencies in service and information are not helping us get our TWIC cards to those individuals, hard-working Americans who need to have a job and a TWIC card to work.

Furthermore, another transportation worker went to the Beaumont center about 3 weeks ago to pick up his TWIC after being notified it was ready. He traveled from a place in Texas. He was told that the card was accidentally shipped to Houston and he could drive 85 miles to pick it up. He presently does not have a card, and therefore he is not able to move forward. The list of incidents go on.

My amendment calls for the Secretary to assess within a month of the enactment these TWIC enrollment sites to determine the feasibility of having them open at times when transportation workers can come and improve the quality of processing procedures. Furthermore, my amendment calls on the Secretary to develop timelines and benchmarks on their assessment. Finally, it calls for them to implement any changes necessary, including keeping it open 24 hours a day, keeping it open 7 days a week, but really at the assessment of the Department of Homeland Security.

Workers are trying to do what they are supposed to do. We have to do what we have to do. I believe this amendment will help do it better, and I believe it is part of the security fabric,

and I hope that we will pass this amendment.

Thank you, Madam Chairman, for affording me this opportunity to address the Members of the House of Representatives and explain my amendment to H.R. 2830, the ``Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007.'' My amendment is a simple but important addition to this important legislation, which I believe can be supported by every Member of this House.

My amendment calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security to prepare an assessment of the enrollment sites for Transportation Worker Identification Credential, TWIC, cards issued under section 70105 of title 46, United States Code, within 30 days of the enactment of this Act. This assessment should, at a minimum, examine: the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open 24 hours per day, and 7 days per week, in order to better handle the large number of applicants for such cards; the feasibility of keeping those enrollment sites open after September 25, 2008; and the quality of customer service, including the periods of time individuals are kept on hold on the telephone, whether appointments are kept, and processing times for applications.

Madam Chairman, I continue to receive firsthand accounts from my constituents in Houston and from other transportation workers and operators around the country regarding their frustrations and the unsatisfactory performance of TWIC enrollment sites. I have spoken with a multitude of people from throughout the country who have shared with me the great difficulties they experienced due to administrative obstacles in obtaining their TWIC cards. These obstacles include the difficulty of going to enrollment sites, making appointments at enrollment sites which are not kept, long processing times for applications, and staying on hold for hours on the telephone. While we have made securing our Nation a priority, we must ensure that we do so in the most effective and efficient way possible.

I would like to reiterate only few of the obstacles that workers have faced in my State of Texas as well in my district of Houston. For example, a marine worker enrolled at the Houston Port enrolled on December 13, 2007. To this date, he still does not yet have a TWIC card. He remained on hold for 4 hours and 10 minutes and was finally told by the operator that he would have to return to Houston to be fingerprinted again after APR. Incidentally, a representative of Higman Marine Services, Inc., asked the same question about their employee, and she was told that he should not return until June. This blatant inconsistency in service and information is simply unacceptable. Furthermore, another transportation worker went to the Beaumont center about 3 weeks ago to pick up his TWIC after being notified it was ready. He traveled from Hemphill, TX (117 miles) and was told that the card was accidentally shipped to Houston and he could drive there (85 miles) to pick it up. He presently does not have his card. The list of incidences in which workers have to continually overcome structural impediments is too long for me to name. It is from my concern for these workers that I have introduced my amendment.

That is why my amendment calls for the Secretary of Homeland Security to assess, within a month of this Act's enactment, these TWIC enrollment sites to determine the feasibility of having them open at times where transportation workers can come and to improve the quality of their processing procedures. Furthermore, my amendment calls on the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop timelines and benchmarks for implementing the findings of the assessment as the Secretary deems necessary. By identifying the areas in which enrollment sites for homeland security cards are ineffective and inefficient and creating a timeline through which to implement necessary changes and benchmarks to ensure their progress and accountability, we will make this nation a safer place--accessible to labor and operators alike.

In short, Madam Chairman, my amendment can be summed up as follows: for those who have confidence in how these TWIC enrollment sites are administering this program, my amendment offers vindication. For those who are skeptical and have seen firsthand the problems apparent at these enrollment sites, my amendment will provide the information necessary to rectify the causes for their frustrations and a way forward to ensure that the results of this assessment are actually implemented.

Will the gentleman yield?

I just want to thank all of you, and I believe that this is the right step. The action item is that they should implement the process of their study to make it work for our various mariners so that they can be part of the security of America. I ask my colleagues to support the amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the issues of homeland security and ask my colleagues to reflect upon the legislation, historic legislation that we have just passed regarding the U.S. Coast Guard. We have added enough new Coast Guard to raise the number to 47,000 members of the U.S. Coast Guard. That is something to applaud.

We have provided an opportunity for securing our LNG, liquid natural gas, in the number of ports around America where surrounding communities exist. We have created a format to secure our waterways where the U.S. Coast Guard is involved. We have provided for an enhanced expedited process for securing what we call TWIC cards. These are documentation for port workers to have after September 25, 2008.

Today I rise to offer a resolution that will acknowledge the Transportation Security Administration addressing the question of security as relates to our transportation security that would mandate the implementation of the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 that enhances security against terrorist attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit.

I am doing this along with a number of Members, including Chairman Bennie Thompson of the full committee. It is important to note that transportation systems are systems that have been under attack, particularly mass transit, and I believe it is important to encourage TSA to continue to developed the National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program which is supported in a bipartisan manner, one that I have seen work and has been very effective to improve the success of the Online Learning Center by providing increased person-to-person professional development programs to ensure those responsible for securing against terrorist attacks on our transportation systems are highly trained and to continue to serve our Nation's mass transit and rail systems against terrorist attack and other security threats so as to ensure the safety of our commuters on our Nation's mass transit.

This is a resolution to encourage the TSA to improve their work product, to thank them for the work product that they are doing, but also to encourage them to work diligently in compliance with the new legislation that we just passed.

I also want to speak to the phenomenon that is being used across America called ICE raids. I am very well aware that the Secretary of Homeland Security believes that he has been forced to use a new tactic in immigration reform because this Congress has not been able to shed itself of obstacles of bias and disagreement, to get into a room and truly provide for comprehensive reform of the immigration system, something I have worked on for 6 years.

I appreciate the leadership from both sides of the aisle with their different perspectives. I am delighted to serve on the Judiciary Committee with John Conyers and Zoe Lofgren, who have been champions of this reform process, along with Bennie Thompson and Loretta Sanchez on Homeland Security.

But we cannot stand by and allow our immigration system to be formed by massive raids on individuals who are here only to work. My fear is that a potential violent act may occur out of fear and apprehension. So I believe it is important for the administration, the White House, to stand up and be counted, to go to the bully pulpit and insist on a comprehensive response to immigration, not the raiding of Shipley's Do- Nuts, so that people in an apartment building are jumping out of apartment building windows out of fear. You are not going to deport 12 million people. Get a life. It is important to know who everyone is, and I want to make sure that we do so.

I want it to be known that I stand against random ICE raids. I am not against immigration reform in a right way. I am not for illegal immigration. But I will tell you it will not work. It will be deadly and it will be devastating. It is important for employers to hire documented workers and be under the eye of the law, and we should enforce this idea of making sure people are documented.

But it's up to the government to get a system that works so that we can

give documentation to individuals who are here simply to work, and we can weed out the terrorists.

People who are working at Shipley's Do-Nuts, people who are in hotels and restaurants, who are not taking American jobs, are doing the work that this Nation needs.

We need to hire Americans first. But we cannot, by a raid, end the immigration crisis. We need to fix it, and we need to fix it now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 322, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. I would like to thank my distinguished colleague from California, Speaker of the House, Representative Nancy Pelosi and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Howard Berman for their leadership on this important issue.

Today, Israel celebrates its 60th birthday, or its Day of Independence. This is a very special day for this country, where citizens live in a constant state of unknown, but are united for their love for the state. In addition to birthday greetings, I want to wish Israel the best of luck in its continued attempts to make peace this upcoming year.

Israel was created in 1948; it took President Truman only 11 minutes to recognize the new Jewish State. Since then, it has come to exist as the only true democracy in the Middle East. Israel and the United States have many of the same foundations of government: Freedom of religion, free speech, basic human rights, the rule of law and being a nation of immigration and diversity. Israel has provided a unique opportunity for Jews from all over the world to reestablish their ancient homeland. In addition, it is a home to many religious sites which are sacred to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and attracts visitors every year.

Israel provided a refuge to Jews who survived the horrors of the Holocaust and the evils committed by the Nazis which were unprecedented in human history. The people of Israel have established a unique, pluralistic democracy which includes the freedoms cherished by the people of the United States, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and government by the consent of the governed.

Israel continues to serve as a shining model of democratic values by regularly holding free and fair elections, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and vigorously exercising in its Parliament, the Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of its citizens.

I want to applaud the Government of Israel for successfully working with the neighboring Governments of Egypt and Jordan to establish peaceful, bilateral relations. I have had the privilege of visiting Israel, and hearing firsthand how the government is taking great strides to ensure peace for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, this important legislation recognizes the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirms the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. I am proud to join 201 of my colleagues in cosponsoring this important legislation. For these reasons, I support H. Con. Res. 322 and urge all Members to do the same. The United States and Israel enjoy a strategic partnership based on shared mutual democratic values, friendship, and respect. The people of the United States share affinity with the people of Israel and view Israel as a strong and trusted ally. I hope this friendship continues to grow and blossom for decades to come, as Israel settles itself in a firm place on our global map.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 323, expressing Congressional support for the goals and ideals of National Health Care Decisions Day. I would first like to thank my distinguished colleague Phil Gingrey of Georgia for introducing this important piece of legislation. This legislation recognizes an important initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.

National Health Care Decisions Day is designed to raise public awareness for the need to plan ahead for health care decisions related to end-of-life care and medical decision-making whenever patients are unable to speak for themselves and to encourage the specific use of advance directives to communicate these important decisions. The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all Medicare- participating healthcare facilities inquire about and provide information to patients on Advance Directives; it also requires these facilities to provide community education on Advance Directives (42 C.F.R. Sec. 489.102). All healthcare facilities are required to: provide information about health care decision-making rights; ask all patients if they have an advance directive; educate their staff and community about advance directives; not discriminate against patients based on an advance directive status.

It is estimated that only a minority of Americans have executed advance directives, including those who are terminally ill or living with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses. Advance directives offer individuals the opportunity to discuss with loved ones in advance of a health care crisis and decide what measures would be appropriate for them when it comes to end-of-life care. The preparation of an advance directive would advise family members, health care providers, and other persons as to how an individual would want to be treated with respect to health care. Forty-two percent of Americans have had a friend or relative suffer from a terminal illness or coma in the last 5 years and for a majority of these people and 23 percent of the general public, the issue of withholding life sustaining treatment came up. An overwhelming majority of the public supports laws that give patients the right to decide whether they want to be kept alive through medical treatment. By more than eight-to-one (84 percent-10 percent), the public approves of laws that let terminally ill patients make decisions about whether to be kept alive through medical treatment. One of the most striking changes between 1990 and 2005 is the growth in the number of people who say they have a living will--up 17 points, from 12 percent in 1990 to 29 percent now.

Patients and families are often not fully informed of the relevant risks and potential benefits of artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH). In addition, financial incentives and regulatory concerns promote the use of ANH in a manner that may be inconsistent with medical evidence and with the preferences of patients and their families. Because ANH is associated with uncertain benefits and substantial risks, it is essential to ensure that decisions about its use are consistent with the patient's medical condition, prognosis, and goals for care. Therefore, decisions about ANH require careful consideration of its risks and potential benefits.

Establishing National Health Care Decisions Day will encourage health care facilities and professionals as well as chaplains, attorneys, and others to participate in a collective, nationwide effort to provide clear, concise, and consistent information to the public about health care decision-making, particularly advance directives. As a result of National Health Care Decisions Day, recognized on April 16, 2008, more Americans will have conversations about their health care decision, more Americans will execute advance directives to make their wishes known, and fewer families and health care providers will have to struggle with making difficult health care decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient.

I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.