Floor Statements

I rise to thank Chairman Obey for his inclusion of $1 million to be directed to the National Center for Health Statistics. This was requested in the hopes that it would end up with some funds being used to study enhanced birth certificates across the Nation.

The National Center for Health Statistics faces a funding shortage, inhibiting their ability to study these vital records which is a roadblock to understanding the high infant mortality rate that plagues our Nation, in particular my city of Memphis. We have a rate that is the highest in the country and rivals that of Third World nations. It's unacceptable in America.

It's these types of programs that will help move America forward. We must work together to lower our Nation's infant mortality rate. It starts with gaining a statistical knowledge of why these deaths occur. I wholeheartedly support Chairman Obey's inclusion of the funding for the National Center for Health Statistics, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the bill.

Thank you for the time.

I speak in favor of the manager's amendment. This is a very important bill putting America back to work and working on infrastructure and transportation systems that are so important to America's economic vitality and growth. But also, rail transportation is important. Rail is important in many ways, both in a commercial way and in a passenger way.

This particular manager's amendment puts an additional $3 million into the Federal Railroad Administration's Research and Development account. It's certainly the hope of many Members that this will allow for studies of high-speed rail, one of which will go from Little Rock to Memphis, and other studies, so that we can have more high-speed rail and less use of automobiles safe with the environment, and make passenger traffic more available to more people at a more reasonable cost.

Mr. Speaker, when President Obama came into office, there was a hole in the ideas of America and the policy of America as great as the Grand Canyon, one of our great treasures.

Unfortunately, the lack of ideas in policy, which shouldn't be a hallmark of this country, was so great that President Obama has had to do much, and this 111th Congress has tried to help him. We didn't have an energy policy, and the flora and the fauna of this Earth and this country's energy independence and this country's reliance on fossil fuels is a very scary proposition.

We are the only industrialized country in the world without a health care policy, and we have 47 million people without health care. That is unacceptable. Our position among the nations of the world was at a low ebb. President Obama has restored that.

This Congress is trying to put America where it should be as a place of great ideas and policies, and we have got an 8-year hole to fill. It has been difficult. But we are doing the best we can with the difficult situation we have been given.

I'm proud to work with President Obama and this Congress and put America and the ship of state afloat and going in the right direction.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the distinguished Representative from California (Ms. Watson) for the time.

H. Res. 476 celebrates the 30th anniversary of Black Music Month. It was first introduced by President Jimmy Carter, and President Carter recognized the influence--I guess, the Waldons kind of helped President Carter get going in Georgia, in Macon, Georgia, and of course that was James Brown, and there were a whole lot of folks there that Jimmy Carter was impressed with and the Allman Brothers, too, but he certainly was a James Brown guy in Georgia.

I was at an event this weekend, Mr. Speaker, in Memphis at Anthony F. Elmore's home honoring African culture, and there was a gentleman who played the drums at the beginning of the presentation. And after he finished he made a comment. He said, Without Africa, there would not be a beat. There wouldn't be a beat.

And I thought about that and I thought about this resolution and realized that he was correct. The beat's what it's about, a lot of folks believe. It's what makes music what it is or rock and roll or blues or jazz. A lot of times, I mean it's lyrics and so many things, but the beat's what it is, and that's what's unique about this contribution to music is the beat.

It came from the Mississippi River. It came from the Delta. Memphis is the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll. It's my hometown, and St. Louis had the blues, too. W.C. Handy was from Memphis and a great innovator, and he spent time in both Memphis and in St. Louis. And then if you spin off a little bit to Kansas City, Charlie Parker, who was really the father of bebop and jazz, and Kansas City, where they've got a jazz museum, and he got a special kind of music going and went to New York with Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach and some other jazz greats and brought a jazz form that I guess had its roots not only in Kansas City, but also in New Orleans with Louis Armstrong and James Booker, who was such a great keyboard performer and gave birth to folks like Professor Longhair that tickled the

ivories in a special manner that's the New Orleans style. It's really a gumbo of music that comes out of New Orleans with the Neville Brothers, the Marsalis family and Louis Armstrong, who did such a special music out of New Orleans.

It all emanated from the Delta, and it came from--whether it be gospel, as Ms. Watson commented, or blues, it evolved and brought about a new art form.

In Memphis, we had Stax Records, where Otis Redding from Georgia came to record his music. Isaac Hayes, my good friend and who was a chief in Ghana and passed just about a year ago this month, produced Shaft, and he took a special experience to Los Angeles with the Watts Music Festival. And Isaac Hayes was performance art and just beyond music. He was a unique individual who took a certain style and a certain music. Isaac never knew how to read music but he knew how to write it and produce it, and he was a genuine American, unique musician and hero.

Isaac Hayes came out of Memphis, the Bar-Kays and so many people out of Stax Records. There was also Hi Records in Memphis where Willie Mitchell produced Al Green. And Memphis is very proud of its musical heritage, which is preserved in the Stax Soulful Music where the Stax Records were on McLemore, and at the same time there was Motown in Detroit with Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the Supremes and on and on and on.

Memphis and Detroit both are very proud of our musical traditions and histories, and we support those; Memphis in particular, where Elvis Presley was a transformative individual that took an African American musical heritage and combined it with some Tennessee country or rockabilly and produced rock and roll. And he, like Michael Jackson, were crossover figures that had a major influence on American society because they told youth that race wasn't an issue. The music got beyond race.

America has had a problem over its history with race, and one thing Elvis Presley did is it told a lot of young white people that it was cool to shake your leg and to like music and to show some emotion and expression. And Michael Jackson showed a lot of people that what he produced was fine in different cultures, and it wasn't necessarily one race that liked that particular music or another and was a transformative effect.

The reason we celebrate Black Music Month is because of the tremendous contributions that this country has received from musicians that are African American. And whether it's jazz, whether it's blues, whether it's gospel with Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin and other people from the pulpit, or whether it's other forms where Nat King Cole or Sammy Davis or Lena Horne made such an impression or Marian Anderson, it's a particularly special place and it's allowed, I think, a transcendent voice for a civil rights movement.

Harry Belafonte did calypso, a different type of music, but Harry Belafonte was strong in the civil rights movement and helping move this country forward. And I think there was a lot of African American music that helped make the civil rights movement happen and make people understand, by identifying with performers in music in ways they otherwise could not identify with African Americans because of our segregated society, about how wrong it was that segregation existed and allow an opportunity for people to see that from a more personal, visceral level, and to make this country change and become the more perfect union that it needs to become and to live up to the ideals that our Founding Fathers had about a society where all men were created equal, which really wasn't true for so many years.

I think music has had a great influence, and black music has had an influence on our country that is special, and the reason we honor Black Music Month is we remember those ideals and remember these people that were creative in our society over the years. Some young people don't know about jazz. They don't know about a Lionel Hampton and what he could do with a xylophone or some of the other great performers, and we need to know that history and revere it.

I had a dear friend named Warren Zevon who died in 2003. He was a folk singer, a rock and roller, but he knew he was going to die. And when he was close to death, he talked with a man named Jorge Calderon who cowrote with him, and they were talking about dying. And he said to him, he said, Warren, it's not bad. He said, You will get to see Miles. And here was rock and roll folk singers, and what were they talking about was Miles Davis because he transcended music and race. Miles Davis, he was something special, and there were so many performers like that.

And that's the reason why it's important that we recognize that heritage and that history, what it's meant to America, not just in entertainment but in social change, and that's why I'm proud to join the 70 cosponsors and to speak in behalf of this resolution and ask that we pass H. Res. 476, that we encourage schools and teachers to teach the arts, to teach music and to teach this heritage so that people understand how music can really move a country and a society forward.

Thank you. I appreciate the gentleman from Kentucky bringing up this topic and joining Dr. Kagen, my colleague; Mr. Sarbanes and Ms. Tsongas, who was with us, in discussion.

I look at the inscription that is over the Speaker's chair here in the United States Capitol, and it's Daniel Webster. Daniel Webster says, ``Let us bring the resources of our Nation, our institutions together,'' and may we do something here that is worth remembering and something worthwhile that may be remembered. I can't think of anything that would be more worthwhile to Daniel Webster's spirit than we could do to have people remember this 111th Congress and to provide the health care that's been sought for so many generations.

I think back to Harry Truman who really had this original concept and wanted to see national health care. You think about what Mr. Yarmuth talked about, the only industrialized nation on the Earth that does not have health care for its people. It is the greatest country on the face of the Earth, but we don't provide health care, and that's somehow an omission that this country has glaringly overlooked. Dr. King would certainly be in favor of such a bill because this is a Nation that has forgotten so many for so long, and we cannot continue to do that and be considered the greatest country on the face of the Earth.

This bill that President Obama talked about today, and has gotten through the committees with Mr. Miller, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman and Speaker Pelosi, who have worked so hard on it--and there is a comparable bill in the Senate--will see to it that we save money, $500 billion over the next 10 years in Medicare, securing for our seniors a Medicare system that will be affordable and available and offer quality care. It will see to it that we ferret out fraud and waste from the system and make savings that will help reduce our deficit that we're presently experiencing. So there is a fiscal mechanism to this bill as well. It will see that pre-existing conditions cannot be used, as Mr. Yarmuth's couple was used as an example, to deprive people of health care insurance. There is a lot of profit in the system now with advertisements on television, profits for insurance companies and tremendous salaries and profits that are there; and they need to be wrung out of the system. One way we're going to do it is by having this public option plan compete and force insurance companies, if they intend to remain active in the market, to compete with a national system that does not have those same costs and will keep costs down. This will be more quality at a cheaper cost and more people covered. You know, there is a tax that we already have in America. When you have 47 million people--maybe 50 million at this point--without health insurance and 14,000 more people each month who lose their health insurance, when those people get sick, they still get care someplace, sometime, but it's paid for by higher insurance premiums, it's paid for by higher taxes. Where there are community hospitals, they go to emergency rooms. You pay for it--the most expensive care possible in an emergency room which wouldn't be there if the people had insurance because they could go to their doctors--and it's paid for through property taxes by citizens in an expensive manner. This will be eliminated. So for all those cities, including mine, where we have The MED, a community hospital, a trauma center that treats a lot of people that don't have insurance at an expensive rate in the emergency room, those people will have insurance, and they won't be coming to the emergency room, and it won't cost our taxpayers as much which means that that trauma center will be available for trauma care, as it was intended. In case there is a disaster, it will be available as well and that trauma center can survive. There won't be this tax that's put on everybody for taking care of the uninsured in uncompensated care, which hospitals do, and just charge it to you in a higher bill that you get from your physician or from your health care provider. We're paying for it but without any controls. So the system is really out of control. It needs to be restrained.

Now Mr. Yarmuth talked about Canada. And I know that we probably don't want to compare anything we're doing here--except for hockey--to Canada. But I was with a Canadian minister yesterday in Memphis--not a minister in the clerical sense but a government official; and he told me that a lot of people compare our system to yours, he said, ``You know, our people live to an average of 81 years of age, and your people live to 78.'' He said, ``The increase in inflation in our health care is 1 percent a year, and in your system it's 10 percent a year.'' He mentioned some other figures, and this was his perspective. He said, ``I wouldn't trade our system for yours for anything.'' Our system is the most expensive health care on the face of the Earth, but it's not the best. And we're paying for it. And that's wrong. Not enough people get health care. I'm happy to be a part of this Congress, to support this

bill with a strong public plan that will see to it that we can compete with the insurance industry to keep their costs down and to see that everybody has access to health care as this plan will.

I would like to yield to my Wisconsin namesake Steve and, as my father was a doctor, a fine doctor, Mr. Kagen from Wisconsin.

I would like to ask you two questions before we yield to another Member who wants to participate. What's going to happen with the doughnut hole? The seniors are very concerned about the doughnut hole. Will we be working on that?

Thank you, Dr. Kagen. Before I yield back to Mr. Yarmuth, I would just like to ask him a question.

If you have an insurance policy now that you like, can you keep it?

And if you keep it, you are probably going to get it cheaper because where the uninsured will be insured, and you won't be paying for them through that hidden tax.

Thank you, sir.

I was thinking of an old saying, and you might know where it comes from. You know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and what was the origin of that? Does that not apply to the idea of having wellness programs?

And I thought it was, too. But doesn't that apply to this program where we have wellness programs now, and if you can pay for wellness programs and preventative care, you don't have to pay for that emergency room care? It's as simple as a traditional slogan like that, a saying comes from Saturday Evening Post or wherever, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound, and that's where we're going to save a lot of money.

Before we yield back to Mr. Yarmuth to close, I just want to thank Mr. Ryan for bringing up the issue of bankruptcy. I chair the Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee of Judiciary, and next week we're going to have a hearing on bankruptcies and health care. Health care is the major cause of bankruptcies in this country, and Elizabeth Edwards will be one of our witnesses.

But when people go bankrupt because of high medical bills, then other folks lose out because they don't get paid either. Merchants don't get paid because of that bankruptcy. So that's another cost of not having this health care system, and I want to thank each of you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to applaud the efforts of Ghana in promoting good governance and civic participation. President Obama will wrap up the third leg of his international trip in Ghana. He will be there today.

I am reminded of the important role this democratic nation plays in the international world. Ghana is an active participant in the United Nations and the African Union. In its region, it has been extremely active in international peacekeeping.

Ghana, the first state in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain its independence, has shown that it is a stable nation whose government and people are accountable to one another. These acts are a good first step in developing future relationships between our Nation and Ghana.

One of my constituents, five-time karate and kickboxing champion, Anthony ``Amp'' Elmore, fulfilled his lifelong dream by visiting Ghana in 1998. The champ visited Accra, and it has changed his life.

After returning to Memphis, Amp developed his vision of educating and enlightening people about the cultural and economic importance of Africa as a continent, as well as Ghana. At his home and throughout the city, he showcased African artifacts, fabrics and arts.

This weekend, on Friday and Saturday both, he will be honoring Africa at his home and inviting the public and having a fashion show and an African dinner. I will be there. Next year, I will visit Ghana and hope to develop trade between our city, Ghana and our Nation.

Madam Chair, my amendment offered by Mr. Edwards of Texas increases the Medical Services account at the Veterans Administration by $1M with an offset of the same amount to the General Operating Expenses account.

It is my hope that this modest increase could be used toward the budget of the VA's Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP).

Started in 1998, the Education and Debt Reduction Program is an excellent asset to VA. The program is a loan repayment and debt cancellation program specifically for VA medical personnel. It helps the VA to recruit and retain the most competitive and qualified professionals.

Over the course of the year, I have encouraged the VA to review its processes for hiring and retaining its doctors, nurses, clinicians, psychologists, psychiatrists and other employees that are so critical to the treatment and care of our veterans.

In years passed, more medical personnel have wanted to participate in EDRP but were unable to enroll because of funding restrictions.

This amendment could directly address this program and I strongly encourage my colleagues to support it.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congresswoman Slaughter and staff for considering my amendment.

I also want to applaud Chairman Obey, subcommittee Chair Chet Edwards and staff for crafting a fiscally responsible appropriations bill that will benefit military construction projects, the veterans' affairs administration, and veterans throughout this country.

This appropriations bill took into consideration the most feasible parts of the President's requests as well as the concerns of our veterans and veterans groups.

For years, the Veterans Administration, Veterans Service Organizations, and veterans across the country have fought for advanced funding to ensure that the VA Healthcare system is funded in a timely and predictable fashion.

For the first time, Congress is providing advanced appropriations not just for the upcoming fiscal year but for two years ahead of time. This advanced funding will affect the medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities accounts and will enable the Veterans Hospital in Memphis and Veterans Hospitals throughout the country to plan and implement its programs early.

It offers $4.6 billion for mental health, the same as the President's request and $800 million above the budget for 2009. This increase will allow the VA to better deal with the mental health diagnosis, care, and treatment of our courageous veterans.

I support this bill and again I ask for your support of my amendment as offered by Mr. Edwards of Texas.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic acts of Charity Townsend Caldwell.

On May 2, 2009, Charity Townsend Caldwell, a great citizen of Memphis, TN gave someone a chance; but this chance wasn't a government program or a random act of kindness, it was the greatest gift of all . . . life. Charity Townsend Caldwell was arriving at her own graduation from nursing school, when her college dean had a heart attack, and was immediately surrounded by a crowd of people. Caldwell, following her instincts, ran through the crowd of people and immediately got down on her knees to assist her former administrator. Within seconds Caldwell had saved a man's life that would undoubtedly had been lost if she had not acted as quickly as she did.

What Charity Caldwell's actions prove is that when people are given great tools, they can do great things, despite their hardships. Caldwell was given a superb education from the Nursing School of Southwest Community College located in Memphis, TN, and the knowledge she gained from this institution prepared her to act in any situation, even at her own graduation. While Caldwell worked against the odds to save a man's life, it was nothing new for her, because she is very familiar with overcoming challenges. She was a single mother, held a fulltime job, and was doing this while attending nursing school. Because of Charity's tenacity and faith, she found herself saving a life at her own graduation. The story of Charity Caldwell proves, that when people are given a chance to excel, they do and in extraordinary ways. Again, I would just like to congratulate and thank Charity Townsend Caldwell for showing us that hard work and perseverance not only affect an individual's life, it can literally save another.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2014, which awarded the Woman Airforce Service Pilots of World War II with a Congressional Gold Medal. Known as WASP, these courageous women faced incredible bias and hardship while serving our country. Out of the 300 recipients, three WASP are from the 9th district in Memphis, TN.

Women were essential to our effort in World War II. In factories and shipyards throughout this nation, they provided the fundamental infrastructure and labor which allowed our military to prevail. We can't forget that just 23 years before the war, Rosie the Riveter didn't have the right to vote. Suddenly, she was the muscle behind the plane, the tank, the ship--in short the entire arsenal of democracy. The women of these times toiled selflessly. They were passionately patriotic.

The WASP were no exception. They were the backbone of the Army Air Corps and performed vital jobs such as delivering newly assembled planes to key military bases and test piloting new planes. They even flew the first jets. The WASP flew over 60 million miles in every type of aircraft. Without their work, the Army Air Corps would not have been able to function properly and domestic efforts would have been severely crippled, making it more difficult to receive crucial supplies, troops and planes.

I am very proud to have three WASP veterans living in my home district in Memphis, TN. Martha M. Carpenter, Frankie Yearwood and Lillian E. Goodman all graduated from the WASP program with extensive flight experience and training. Their jobs required incredible skill and were highly dangerous. Recently, Ms. Goodman recalled, ``in my own class there were two girls and an instructor that went up in a twin engine plane . . . they crashed and were all killed.'' The women that Ms. Goodman remembers were sent home in unmarked pine boxes. Their service was not acknowledged. They were denied military funerals and their families were not permitted to put up a Gold Star in their memory. It wasn't until 1977 that Congress finally gave the WASP veteran status and benefits.

For all their patriotism and service, the WASP--all of whom were pilots before the war--faced harassment and shocking levels of discrimination during and after their service. Sadly, they were made to pay for their own flight training and for their own trip home after being discharged. When the war ended, some male combat veterans fought vigilantly to deny them equal veteran status.

For thirty years, the federal government classified WASP records. For too long, their heroism was kept out of the history books. Grandmothers could only tell incredible stories of serving as pilots in World War II to disbelieving grandchildren. President Carter helped to change all that by finally opening up the records and allowing Ms. Goodman, Ms. Carpenter, and Ms. Yearwood's service to be public.

The WASP's exemplary record and contributions towards the war effort were referenced in the 1993 congressional hearings which led to legislation allowing women to fly aircraft in combat roles. Currently, women make up more than 14% of the military on active duty and more than 17% of the reserve and National Guard. The Air Force has the highest percentage of women enlisted, as nearly 20% of its members on active duty and 25% of the National Air Force Reserve are

women. Ms. Carpenter, Mrs. Goodman, Ms. Yearwood and the other brave women of the WASP were pioneers for the dedicated women who serve in our military today and for all who face prejudice in pursuit of equality.

This is Black Music Month. And we had a resolution to introduce and pass celebrating the 30th anniversary of Black Music Month. Because of the scheduling, it didn't come up. That is why I wanted to address that fact today.

Black Music Month is important because it reminds people of the history of music in this country and the contributions of black Americans. Much of that happened in my city in Memphis, at Stax Soulsville, home of Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave, Stax Soulsville Records, Al Green, Willy Mitchell and others, also Detroit and Motown and New Orleans and Fats Domino, Professor Long Hair, and many great musicians.

But back to Kansas City, and Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis and Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie, not all from Kansas City, but that from that jazz era, and others. Michael Jackson, of course, passed. Many great musicians whose music needs to be remembered and young people need to learn that music is a great way to pass on our culture and preserve it and a great way to enjoy their own life and experience a better way. I'm pleased this is the 30th anniversary of Black Music Month. And we need to enjoy music and soothe the soul.

Mr. Speaker, there was much media speculation as to where Mr. Steve Jobs had a liver transplant. It came out yesterday that he had his liver transplant in Memphis, Tennessee, my home town, at the Methodist Hospital, a hospital known for its liver transplant center which has the lowest morbidity rate of any transplant center in the United States.

Memphis has been a medical center for years, with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the finest research hospital for children's illnesses, catastrophic illnesses, and cancer; for Southern College of Optometry; for LeBonheur Children's Hospital; for Campbell's Clinic for orthopedics and other particular medical specialties. We are proud of our medical community.

We are sorry Mr. Jobs had to have a liver transplant, but we are happy he came to Memphis and chose the best. But it shouldn't be that only the wealthy can come to Memphis and have the best medical care available. We need to pass a health care plan that is affordable and quality with a public plan to let every American have the opportunity to get the best medical attention that is available, and come to Memphis and receive it.

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member McKeon, and former Ranking Member McHugh for their tireless work to put together this year's National Defense Authorization Act.

My amendment to the NDAA directs the Department of Defense to report on the potential effects of expanding the current statute regarding directing disposition of remains of a servicemember who dies in combat. The DOD is to report back to Congress within 180 days with their findings.

I filed this amendment because the current policy under 10 U.S.C. 1482 is too restrictive, limiting the individuals who can be designated to a spouse, blood relative, or adoptive parent.

In today's society, many families are not as simple as that.

Specialist Christopher Fox of Memphis, only 21 years old, was on his second tour in Iraq and was due to be discharged from the Army in July of this year.

However, he died in Iraq on September 29, 2008 of wounds sustained when he encountered small-arms fire while on patrol.

Specialist Fox wanted his mother-figure--the woman who was awarded temporary custody when he was seventeen--to oversee his burial arrangements.

Her name was listed on the DD93 form filled out by Specialist Fox to direct disposition of his remains, as required by the DOD.

However, due to Federal law, DOD could not allow his written intent to be carried out.

I know that Specialist Fox is not alone in wanting someone other than a spouse or blood relative to oversee their burial arrangements.

Expansion of the 10 U.S.C. 1482 is supported by the Air Force Association, AMVETS, the National Guard Association of the United States, the National Association of Uniformed Services, the United States Army Warrant Officers Association, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

We need to remember the sacrifices of our servicemembers and do what we can to honor their memory and their wishes.

It is with this purpose that I filed this amendment to require the DOD to study the current statute. I urge my colleagues to support and pass this amendment.

Madam Chairman, this amendment, which I appreciate being incorporated into the manager's amendment and was also sought in a similar fashion by Mr. Weiner of New York, would include language to increase funding to the Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant program. The Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant program is an important program that helps fund support for the not-for-profits that could be subject to attack. Nonprofit organizations often are like hospitals, which are vital to our communities' ongoing security and safety, especially if there is an attack that can spread terror and havoc on a community if they are attacked. And if you have research facilities attacked, there are other concerns in the community. The nonprofit entities can include hospitals and historic landmarks.

In my community of Memphis, which I hope has an opportunity to share, there's the Med, there's St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and other great hospitals. New York has many too; and that's why Mr. Weiner, I think, was interested in this. And the terror that could be spread by attacking a museum or a library and sending panic through the community could be very disastrous to the well-being of the people in that community and in the Nation.

So hopefully the increase in this funding will help our cities secure their funds and secure their facilities. I would like to thank the chairman for the addition of the funding and the support for the additional $3 million for the Urban Areas program. I would like to thank Mr. Price and the committee for their work in including it in the manager's amendment.

Madam Speaker, tonight the House passed five bills, four of which dealt with important veterans issues, veterans compensation, the Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, the Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, and another that directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on their Web site certain information, one on education.

I was a sponsor of the fifth bill that was on the calendar, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act, with the prime sponsor being Representative Sandlin. I was inadvertently out of the room at the time of that vote. I would have voted ``yes'' for that bill. It's an important bill. And that's why I'm a prime sponsor of it and regret the fact that I missed that vote. But I think what we did tonight for veterans was very important.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman, the chairman of the task force, the ranking member of the committee, and Mr. Sensenbrenner.

This unquestionably has the facts that are obvious for this House to vote for impeachment. This judge has abused his office and justice by pleading guilty to obstruction of justice, committing obstruction of justice and lying to an official panel, and has taken an action upon his employees and his position, women, that is an affront to all women in this country. And these are actions that are high crimes and misdemeanors worthy of the vote of impeachment. That is unquestioned.

But what is particularly impressive to me is the procedure that this House has acted in and the speed to make sure that the public Treasury and the public trust are protected.

This man does not deserve his pay. He does not deserve his position. He does not deserve his pension. For he has shamed the country, the Judiciary, and been offensive toward people and good conduct, and for those reasons it is important that this House act, that the Senate have the opportunity to try this man, and to protect the public Treasury and the public good.