Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is in the national security interests of the United States and our allies to compel Iran's leaders to halt their nuclear program.

Sanctions, combined with unified international diplomatic pressure, are our best hope for peacefully achieving this goal.

The tools we use to confront this threat should not be go-it-alone military action, but diplomacy and international pressure.

I have long believed that Iran will only be convinced to give up their nuclear weapons program if a strong, unified international community rallies against Iran's nuclear ambitions.

With President Obama's diplomatic efforts over the past 18 months, we are getting closer to this reality.

This bill follows on President Obama's successful work to pass a very strong fourth round of sanctions through the United Nations Security Council.

The U.N. resolution brought Russia and China on board for globally- binding U.N. sanctions on Iran's banking, finance, shipping and energy sectors.

Now it is time for Congress to act.

The bill before us today complements the diplomatic gains made at the U.N. by expanding sanctions on foreign companies that sell Iran goods, services, or know-how that assist it in developing its energy sector.

In addition, H.R. 2194 imposes significant financial penalties and travel restrictions on Iran's human rights abusers.

Ultimately, this bill provides Iran, and the people and companies that do business with the Islamic Republic a stark choice: comply with the will of the international community, or face the consequences of diplomatic and financial isolation.

Until Iran makes the strategic choice to abandon their nuclear ambitions, this body and the international community have a responsibility to act.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, at roundtables that I hold with small business owners in San Diego, there are some consistent themes. They all say that they need banks to lend and people to spend. A few also pointed out that when their businesses fail or fall behind on their taxes, the IRS is more than willing to work out a payment plan that they can afford but then slaps them with penalties that they can't afford.

The small business lending package we passed earlier this month provides small business penalty relief and $3.5 billion in tax incentives for innovation and growth, and it gives community banks the lending leverage they need to help small businesses keep their doors open and create jobs.

This legislation is essential for businesses in my district and across our country. I hope our colleagues in the Senate see the importance of its immediate passage.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the DISCLOSE Act. Under current law, yes, it is correct that groups must disclose their name in advertisements and file a disclosure form, but, you know, that doesn't tell anyone very much at all.

Right now, voters see TV ads sponsored by organizations they have never heard of, groups like the American Future Fund, American Leadership Project, Citizens for Strength and Security, Common Sense in America, and today I am getting calls from the Campaign for Liberty. But they will not tell us who they are. Does anybody know who they are?

In 2008, there were over 80 of these groups, and they bought $135 million in advertisements. I, for one, don't think our constituents should go through another election cycle in the dark. Voters want to know: Who's behind that ad? Who stands to gain from it? Why isn't an actual person, a corporation, or a union taking responsibility for it? The DISCLOSE Act will finally put that information in voters' hands with tough disclosure and disclaimer requirements.

I want to tell you because the DISCLOSE Act also sets some important limits to protect taxpayer dollars. I ask those opposed to the bill: Do we want ads from banks that still have TARP funds? Do we want subsidiaries of foreign-controlled companies meddling in our elections? Well, I would think the answer is clearly ``no.''

The DISCLOSE Act is just like other consumer protection bills this body has passed. I can think of no single time that I regretted giving my constituents more information so they can make wise, informed decisions.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, June 10, 2010, I was attending to a family matter and missed the following votes.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 347; ``no'' on rollcall No. 348; ``no'' on rollcall No. 349; ``no'' on rollcall No. 350; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 351; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 352; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 353; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 354.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the International Court System (ICS) as it celebrates the 45th anniversary of its founding. A non-profit charity and international social service organization, ICS is one of the oldest LGBT charities in the world, with chapters in over 68 cities within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

ICS fundraising efforts have benefited countless causes both within and outside of the LGBT community including numerous children's charities, AIDS organizations, and cancer patient advocacy groups. In fact, several AIDS social service organizations were established in the 1980's by organization members. In addition, there are over 30 student scholarship programs within the International Court System of the United States and Mexico. The ICS welcomes all and is proud of its diversity.

The first ICS chapter was established in 1965 in San Francisco, California by World War II veteran and Hispanic gay activist, Jose Julio Sarria. In 1961, he made history as the first openly gay citizen to run for public office in North America when he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. For his activism, the Board named a public street in his honor.

In 2007, Sarria stepped down as titular leader of the International Court System and was succeeded by my constituent, San Diego City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez who himself has been a Latino and gay activist for over 40 years. Commissioner Ramirez currently serves on the board of the National Gay Lesbian Task Force and is a past national board member of the Human Rights Campaign. Ramirez is a recipient of the Cesar Chavez Social Justice Award and is currently the National Co-Chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation's Citizen Advisory Board.

I commend Jose Julio Sarria and Nicole Murray Ramirez for their dedication and community service that has benefitted so many. I congratulate the ICS on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, and I am proud to honor its legacy of activism and philanthropy.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to summarize the Military Personnel Subcommittee portion of H.R. 5136, and I want to thank Mr. Wilson and Chairman Skelton for their contributions and certainly to our hardworking staff.

This bill continues to improve the quality of life for our servicemembers, their families, and military survivors who carry such a heavy burden for our country. Some of the highlights include continued support for increased end strengths for the active Army and Navy, a 1.9 percent pay raise, increases to hostile fire pay and family separation allowance, new initiatives to complement our Year of the Military Family, the authority for TRICARE beneficiaries to extend health care coverage to dependents up to age 26, adoption of the full range of recommendations by the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services, and authorization of millions of dollars for Impact Aid.

While we couldn't accommodate all the requests that were brought before the subcommittee, we were able to include many to address the needs of our military. But, Mr. Chairman, there is still a policy, a policy in place which no longer reflects the needs of our military.

We can correct that today through the Murphy amendment to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The intent of this amendment is not to freeze the DOD implementation review process or discount the findings of the DOD's comprehensive working group on this subject. We support their work and know how important their findings will be to the successful repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

A fundamental piece of this will be the opinions of our servicemembers. Congress sincerely values their point of view, and we know DOD will work hard to address their concerns. But DOD's review and the congressional action are not mutually exclusive.

We have heard that repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell will weaken unit cohesion and, by extension, national security. But this policy is forcing those in uniform to lie to their colleagues that weakens unit cohesion. And it is firing personnel during two wars just because they are gay that weakens national security.

As chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, I know that our military draws its strength from the integrity of our unified force. Current law challenges this integrity by creating two realities within the ranks. I urge my colleagues to look at this closely. I hope my colleagues will stand on the right side of history and end Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Thank you, Mr. Skelton, for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I would just like to correct a couple of issues that Mr. McKeon and others have brought up.

The committee has held hearings on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In fact, my subcommittee has held two hearings on this very topic. Every Member of the House and even those not on the committee were welcomed to attend. Unfortunately, most of the Republicans who have criticized this process failed to show up to either hearing.

The Members who did attend the second hearing, held on March 3 of this year, heard one of the cochairs of the DOD working group say, ``The issue is not whether but how best'' to implement repeal.

All along, the purpose of the study has been ``how'' to implement repeal, not ``if'' to end this policy. That is the purpose of the working group's meetings, and that is why it is so important for our servicemembers and their families to participate in whatever activities they choose which are related to this.

I just wanted to make that correction, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Chair, I yield that time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

Madam Chair, we are listening to our troops and military leaders. I held two hearings on this policy. DOD is gathering service and family member feedback. Remember, this process was set up to understand how to implement reform, not whether it should happen. That in 10, Madam Chair, is contained in the amendment.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell weakens our national security by asking servicemembers to lie, firing them for being gay, and telling able recruits, We don't want you. Please, America can do better. Vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, since the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, my office has received hundreds of letters-- not one in support of it.

We have no choice but to accept the Court's rulings, but we do not accept the idea that special interests should be able to influence the democratic process while hiding behind deceptive ads. Americans want to make informed decisions about everything:

What's in my credit card agreement? What's in my family's food? What are the side effects of this prescription?

They deserve to know these things, and our government has repeatedly responded by giving them the tools to know more, not less. So why shouldn't Congress help voters know who is trying to influence our elections?

Who paid for these ads? Who really stands to gain?

The DISCLOSE Act will bring these things to light, and it will bring the kind of accountability voters expect.

I am also pleased the committee passed my amendment to the bill with bipartisan support. The amendment puts knowledge in voters' hands faster, and it will improve government efficiency. The DISCLOSE Act is really truth in advertising for politics, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it this week.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of those relying on COBRA benefits for health coverage.

Millions of Americans have lost their jobs since the recession began in 2007. Unfortunately, when you lose your job, you generally lose your health insurance. For those with a preexisting condition or ongoing health problem, this common scenario can leave them with no health insurance and often no way to get coverage.

Section 113 of the House version of the health care reform bill gave unemployed Americans the option of staying on their COBRA insurance beyond the typical 18-month eligibility period. The provision was designed as a stopgap measure to prevent more people from becoming uninsured.

The Senate bill did not include similar provisions extending COBRA. With California's high unemployment rates, my office has received calls from San Diegans on the verge of losing their COBRA benefits with nowhere to turn for health insurance.

We know that COBRA coverage is not perfect. Premiums are generally higher because employers are no longer paying a portion of the cost. However, especially for those with significant health care costs, COBRA coverage is extremely valuable.

In fact, the average medical expenses for a patient with diabetes cost $13,000 per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC. The average cost of treating breast cancer rose to nearly $21,000 and prostate cancer to over $41,000 in 2008, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Can you imagine facing these types of health care costs without any type of insurance? Because of the high unemployment rates, I fear many Americans are close to losing their COBRA eligibility.

I'm proud to introduce the COBRA Health Benefits Extension Act of 2010 with Chairman George Miller, Congressman Robert Andrews, and Congressman Joe Courtney to help Americans keep their health insurance. Those on COBRA can stay with their coverage beyond standard eligibility periods until they find a new job providing insurance or until health insurance exchanges are available in 2014. They can also drop their COBRA coverage and enter a government-sponsored high-risk pool if they so choose. This legislation provides a bridge to those at risk of losing their health coverage so they do not have to go without insurance.

Madam Speaker, thank you very much for your efforts to make health coverage accessible and affordable.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an icon in the theater community and a treasured member of the San Diego family. On April 3, 2010, Craig Noel, the Founding Director of the Old Globe Theatre, passed away after 94 full years of life.

Craig Noel was a tenacious, witty, and warm-hearted man with a tireless commitment to the arts. San Diego is forever in debt to this talented man. He told a reporter in 2005, ``I had a vision. I wanted to make San Diego a theater town.'' And that he did.

Without Craig Noel, the San Diego arts community would not be the flourishing creative environment it is today. In addition to his directorial and artistic contributions, Craig Noel was a World War II veteran. While serving in the Army, he directed the Ernie Pyle Theater for service members in Tokyo.

When Craig returned to San Diego, his work as Artistic Director took the Old Globe to heightened levels of excellence. During his distinguished seven decades with the theater, Craig Noel staged over 225 productions of all styles and periods. These performances engaged and entertained theatergoers of all ages and backgrounds.

The Old Globe is nestled within Balboa Park, the nation's largest urban cultural park. The theater itself is actually one of the oldest nonprofit theaters in the country. Modeled after Shakespeare's Old Globe in London, San Diego's Old Globe was built in 1935 to present abridged versions of Shakespeare's plays during the California Pacific International Exposition.

After the exposition ended in 1937, a non-profit production corporation, the San Diego Community Theatre, leased the theater from the City of San Diego and remodeled it for continued use. On December 2, 1937, the renovated Old Globe opened with a production of John Van Druten's ``The Distaff Side.'' In the cast was a young actor named Craig Noel. His entrance was the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship with the Old Globe. Craig Noel's presence as an actor, director, and artistic leader guided the theater's growth through decades of artistic development and community outreach. The loyalty and dedication with which he served San Diego and the Old Globe is unparalleled.

Sadly, on March 8, 1978, an arson fire destroyed the Old Globe. I remember watching the news coverage with a heavy heart and then rushing to view the actual destruction the following day. I also vividly recall Craig Noel's passion and leadership to literally raise the theater from the ashes. Craig was pivotal in the reconstruction of the theater. He started a fundraising campaign and the people of San Diego donated more than $6 million dollars, which was a lot of money in those days given the economic conditions people were facing. In 1982, the new Old Globe re-opened with a production of Shakespeare's ``As You Like It.''

On Nov. 15, 2007, Craig Noel was awarded the National Medal of Arts. This honor is the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States Government, and is awarded by the President to those who ``are deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States.'' Craig Noel was truly deserving of this acknowledgement. His nurturing spirit and supportive presence were an inspiration to everyone with whom he worked.

While we grieve the loss of Craig Noel, we take comfort in the legacy he has left behind. You cannot walk the grounds of the Old Globe without feeling and seeing his strong hand of influence. On May 24th, the Old Globe Theatre is holding a public memorial in his honor. At that time, the Globe's lower courtyard will be renamed the Craig Noel Garden. I am confident his legacy will live on for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons that we have this worthy legislation before us--and it certainly is that--is due to a group of young people who have dedicated their voices and energy to getting the heart-wrenching situation in Uganda the attention it demands. The Invisible Children Organization, which has its headquarters in my district, has brought the awful acts of the Lord's Resistance Army to light.

The group has galvanized an entire generation of young people here to care about children halfway around the world. Their activism has painted for many people in our country the grim, intense reality that is faced by so many Ugandans, especially the children abducted by the LRA and forced to become child soldiers. The volunteers have traveled to our cities, our schools, our businesses, probably even to many of our offices here in Washington to show their films and speak out against Joseph Kony and his army's brutality.

These young members of the Invisible Children Organization know that no child should live in fear of being abducted, mutilated or killed. With that belief, they have helped make the children of Uganda visible to us. And now with this legislation, we have the chance to truly join in this cause. This bill will require the President to devise an interagency strategy to address this crisis and heighten our country's level of support for stopping the LRA.

Last August, I had the privilege of speaking with members of the Invisible Children Organization who had come to San Diego for their training as what they called them, ``roadies.'' I cannot do justice to their passion, their commitment, and their dedication to do what is right. Their energy absolutely ignites the room. Mr. Speaker, we cannot let them down, and more importantly, we cannot let down the suffering children this legislation will help.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the month of June has been designated by the American Humane Association as Adopt-A-Cat Month. The American Humane Association, which is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, was founded in 1877 and is the only national organization dedicated to creating a more humane and compassionate world by ending the abuse and neglect of children and animals. Established in 1975, American Humane's Adopt-A-Cat Month is a time to bring special attention to the need for--and the benefits of-- adopting homeless cats and making a commitment to provide them with a lifetime of loving care.

American Humane's Adopt-A-Cat Month serves as a sobering reminder of this staggering reality: every year, approximately 4 million cats and kittens end up in animal shelters in the United States. Each of these cats is in need of a ``forever'' home, but tragically, only a small percentage will eventually find one. During Adopt-A-Cat Month, American Humane--in partnership with The CATalyst Council--urges Americans to adopt a homeless cat from their local shelter or rescue group and provide it with a lifetime of love, as well as a lifetime of proper veterinary care. By championing cats as lifelong companions who enrich our lives in countless ways, American Humane is continuing its mission to promote the human-animal bond and combat the crisis of pet overpopulation, during Adopt-A-Cat Month and every month of the year.

Madam Chair, San Diegans may have ``America's Finest Weather,'' but when we do use our heating and cooling systems we want to ensure they provide the best cost-benefit for our pocketbooks and our planet.

In fact, one of our major hotels in the Gaslamp District is currently competing against 13 other businesses across our country to see which can retrofit and reduce energy use the most, as part of the EPA's Energy Star National Building Competition.

So I'm pleased that the Home Star Energy Retrofit legislation before us will let the homeowners in my district follow that example.

This is the kind of nuts and bolts legislation we need--it saves homeowners money, puts Americans back to work, and cuts energy consumption--by retrofitting the nuts and bolts of our appliances and our homes.

In fact, we've been calling this retrofitting, but ``future-fitting'' is a more appropriate name.

We are investing in the future of our country's economy by creating jobs and helping the future of our environment by lowering energy consumption.

This bipartisan legislation makes sense and shows what we can do when we reach across the aisle and work together to create jobs and protect our environment.

Mr. Chairman, for a bill designed to increase efficiency, its formal title sure is long, but the acronym gets straight to the point, just like the legislation itself.

Simply put, the IMPROVE Acquisition Act reduces waste, increases efficiency, and encourages innovation in the defense marketplace. It does this by creating a better accountability system, improving the management of the acquisition workforce, and expanding and strengthening the industrial base.

I routinely meet with small businesses in San Diego that have so much to offer the defense world in the form of quality products and efficient services. Yet it has been frustrating to hear from these very capable and resourceful companies that they continually run into barriers.

One example is the negative impact contract bundling has on our industrial base. Contract bundling is when multiple requirements are combined into a single contract. While in theory this practice generates savings and speeds up the procurement cycle, it often forces out small businesses that can't compete for large contracts. Especially now, at the brink of economic recovery, our government needs to help bring more businesses into the DOD procurement system, not push them out.

So that's why I am so pleased that the amendment I offered in committee to reduce contract bundling is included in this bipartisan bill, because smaller firms are hurt when only a select number of companies are able to bid for DOD projects, and I also must say, so is the American taxpayer hurt by that.

Mr. Chairman, I believe the IMPROVE Act will help small businesses and transform the defense acquisition process into a system the American people can trust.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes it takes a woman speaking up for other women to make unfair and inappropriate health care practices a thing of the past.

Last June, I introduced the Women's Obstetrician and Gynecologist Medical Access Now Act, the WOMAN Act, to ensure that every woman has direct access to her OB/GYN. As a State assembly member, I offered the law allowing women direct access to their OB/GYN in California. Unfortunately, many women have not had that access. But I'm happy to say that similar provisions were included in the final health care package.

Patients, employees, primary care physicians, and health plan providers all save money and time if women are allowed direct access to their OB/GYNs. Across the Nation, women will no longer have to contend with the gatekeeper system that can prevent or delay lifesaving care.

Women should not need a permission slip to receive OB/GYN care, no questions asked.