Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5146) to provide that Members of Congress shall not receive a cost of living adjustment in pay during fiscal year 2011.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, while there are positive signs of economic recovery around the country, the budget deficit is still an important issue. Therefore, it is appropriate that we continue to forego a cost-of- living adjustment at this time as we did for 2010. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I would like to yield 3 minutes to the bill's sponsor, the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Mitchell).

I would like to yield 2 minutes to the bill's cosponsor, the distinguished gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).

I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Teague).

I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to comment very briefly because my colleagues were asking for basically a freeze on a status quo of the health care that we know today.

They spoke of repugnant policies. I want to talk just for a minute about the repugnant policies that we know of today, which don't allow people to get insurance if they have preexisting conditions that have ratings which discriminate, particularly against women, and which make it almost impossible for small business to be able to take care of and to help their employees when it comes to health insurance. So, yes, we have some policies that we have been trying to change. Unfortunately, my colleagues are asking for a freeze.

Yet I do want to applaud the fact that we are here on a singular effort today, and that is to forgo the cost-of-living adjustment for Congress. I think that's a good idea. It is a very timely idea, and it is very important that we move forward with it today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Margaret ``Midge'' Costanza, a personal friend of mine, a mentor to women in politics across our country, and a naturally charismatic and colorful American treasure. Midge was outspoken and altruistic, passionate, witty and direct. You always knew where you stood with Midge and, whether you agreed with her or not, you valued her perspective and enjoyed being around her.

During her more than fifty years of public service and civic activism, Midge did more than break down barriers. She established new patterns. History records her accomplishments as a series of firsts. She was the first woman elected to the Rochester City Council. She was the first woman with an office in the West Wing of the White House. She was one of the first women in politics to grace the cover of Newsweek. But being first wasn't what defined Midge; it was what she did once there that marked her legacy.

When President Carter gave her an office in the West Wing, Midge used it to be a ``window to the nation.'' She brought constituencies into the White House that had never been there before. She met with gay and lesbian leaders, the poor, and the disabled. She was particularly active in fighting for women's equality, advocating for issues including the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and the protection of women's reproductive rights.

Midge championed women in politics, supporting female candidates at all levels and working to appoint more women to high office. When she worked in the White House, there were only eighteen women in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate. Today, seventy-six women serve in the House and seventeen serve in the Senate. As a prime example of her dry wit Midge once remarked on this subject, ``When we start electing and appointing mediocre women--then, and only then, we will achieve total equality with men.''

I attended some of the numerous trainings Midge conducted for women candidates of both parties. She coached us in the art of public speaking. She was a wonderful teacher who helped women develop confidence in their abilities. But she was more than a public speaker; she was a storyteller. She could captivate an audience with a story of her time in the Carter Administration, boasting that Mikhail Baryshnikov flirtatiously asked her to dance at a White House event, or she would show a photo of herself playfully sparring with Muhammad Ali.

Midge's gift for speaking was her ability to move her listeners. She could make an audience feel as strongly as she did about an issue, and charm them with the force of her convictions and the forcefulness of her words. And she could instantly move an audience from heartfelt passion to unbridled laughter.

I learned a great deal from Midge, and I was proud to have her as my guest at President Obama's inauguration. Part of her legacy is the fact that today, it is not just women working in the West Wing who make the cover of Newsweek, but women running for President who do as well.

Midge was fond of hearing people say to her, ``You've come a long way, baby.'' She would coyly reply, ``Gosh, have I come a long way. And I love being called baby.'' Because of Midge, our political system has come a long way, as well. Many of us in office today owe a debt of gratitude to Midge Costanza, our mentor and friend, because she was willing to go first.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the effort to bring more diversity to our national teaching force.

Striking statistics compiled by the Department of Education show a lack of diversity among teachers. During the 2007-2008 school year, an estimated 7 percent of teachers were African-American, 7 percent Latino, and 1.2 percent were Asian. More than 83 percent of teachers were white. A total of 75.9 percent of teachers were female and only 24.1 percent male.

Some educators believe this lack of diversity leaves some students without an inspiring role model to whom they can relate. The result may be lower test scores and higher dropout rates within some student demographics.

I am introducing the Diverse Teachers Recruitment Act of 2010 to address this lack of diversity. The legislation provides grants to school districts to create and implement recruitment programs to bring teachers from underrepresented groups into the classroom.

The grantee will track and compile data showing results of the program, including minority teacher recruitment rates. Data will also include the impact on student learning, growth, and attendance rates.

The Department of Education will analyze the programs and disseminate which were effective in recruiting teachers from underrepresented groups. Successful results could be replicated in other school districts.

It is a worthwhile effort to bring teachers from underrepresented groups into our classrooms. This legislation begins a national effort to build a teaching force that reflects the diverse population of the United States to enhance the learning experience of our students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of health care reform--finally.

When people are asked why they chose their profession, so many say it's because they wanted to make a difference.

We have the unique opportunity and honor to do just that.

Passing healthcare reform will impact our constituents in almost all aspects of their lives.

Good health is one of the most important things a person can have-- there is truth in the saying that it is more valuable than all the riches in the world.

The bill we're passing isn't just about reducing sky-rocketing premiums or putting patients ahead of insurance companies--it's about the total outlay for families when it comes to providing for both basic and high risk care.

Having affordable and certain health insurance translates not only to better health care but to better financial security so people can save money and use it for the betterment of their families.

It means Americans can take the job they want, not just the job with healthcare.

And it means they can strike out on their own and start the new businesses that spur our economy.

We are making a difference as we do this for the American people.

I truly appreciate my constituents whether they are for or against this measure, and I thank all of them for sharing their stories with me.

Mr. Speaker, I support the health reform bill that this body will consider tomorrow, yet section 1501 of the Senate bill needs to be modified to ensure that the insurance our brave men and women in uniform have qualifies as ``minimum essential coverage'' under the new law. I already believe that TRICARE and the nonappropriated fund health plans will meet the minimum requirements for individual health insurance coverage in the health care bill. Yet like Mr. Skelton, I believe this legislation should explicitly state that these health plans meet the minimum threshold.

As chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, I am a strong proponent of the TRICARE system and do not want that great benefit threatened in any way by health care reform in the United States. Fixing section 1501 of the Senate bill will help achieve this goal and will remove any ambiguity for men and women in uniform and for my colleagues who do not believe that the current bill goes far enough to protect those who serve.

Mr. Speaker, this language to protect TRICARE originally passed the House Education and Labor Committee on a bipartisan basis. I remember it. I was there. I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to put aside politics for this one vote and help pass

a measure that will allow our men and women in uniform to focus on their mission, not their health insurance. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I can remember when women couldn't get credit cards in their own names, when drug companies didn't run tests on women, and when women were told that secretarial school was about the only career option they had. Even as recently as a year ago, women didn't have the same fair-pay rights and protections in the workplace as men have until this Congress voted to change that.

It takes women speaking up to make unfair and discriminatory practices like those a thing of the past, which is why we must speak up for this health care bill.

I would ask opponents of this reform to think of a woman in their life--whether it's a mother, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, a daughter, or even a friend--think about her and ask yourself, is it right that insurance companies can deny her coverage based on gender? Is it right that insurance companies charge her more because she's a woman? Should women be turned away by insurance companies for such preexisting conditions as pregnancy, giving birth by C-section, or being the victim of domestic abuse? Should 80 percent of mothers in my State of California not be offered maternity coverage in the individual market? Should women who often rely on a spouse's insurance because they are taking care of children be more vulnerable if they are divorced or widowed?

If you don't think these things are right, then you should support this bill.

The American Medical Association that represents professional caretakers of our country, they support it because it protects the health of the caretakers in our families.

So, Mr. Speaker, once it passes, insurance company penalties for the women in our lives will be a thing of the past.

Let's pass the bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Gracia Molina de Pick, a distinguished activist, feminist, author, and educator in the San Diego community, upon her 80th birthday.

Born into a politically active family in Mexico, Gracia Molina de Pick moved to San Diego in 1957, and has maintained her spirit of activism through her many years of work and service in our region. Along the way, she received her master's degree from San Diego State University and participated in doctoral studies at the University of California, San Diego and a doctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California.

Gracia Molina de Pick has been fighting for the rights of Latinos and Chicanos since she was a teenager. She is the founder of IMPACT, an early community grassroots organization that fought for the civil rights of Mexican-Americans in San Diego. From 1969 to 1977 she served on the National Council of La Raza, the first civil rights advocacy group for Hispanic Americans. In 1970, she also founded the first national feminist Chicana Association, the Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional, and the following year she served as the Chicana Caucus Chair of the National Women's Political Caucus. She is the national organizer for Chicana participation at the United Nations World Conferences on Women.

Gracia Molina de Pick has tirelessly persisted in her efforts to secure equality for women. She helped to organize and found the Partido Popular, a Mexican political party that fought to secure voting rights for women. A published author, she has penned numerous articles and co- authored two books. Her most recent book, Mujeres en la Historia & Historias de Mujeres, offers readers biographies of influential women in Mexican history.

Understandably, many prominent organizations have honored Gracia Molina de Pick with well-deserved awards and recognition. In 2001, Assemblymember Christine Kehoe named Gracia ``Woman of the Year,'' and she

was inducted into the San Diego Women's Hall of Fame the year after. In 2004, she received the Jesse de la Cruz Award from the California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., a venerable legal advocacy and economic justice organization.

Gracia continues to work for equality for those who are underrepresented and underserved, particularly in the areas of service and education. For many years, she served as a professor at Mesa College and a lecturer at the University of California, San Diego, where she helped found the University's Thurgood Marshall College. She served as the Commissioner of the California Post-Secondary Education Commission, and recently initiated the Gracia Molina de Pick Endowed Fund for Chicano/a Studies at the University of California, San Diego. Currently, Gracia is a member of San Diego's Human Relations Commission, where she works to ensure that the city upholds the protections of basic human and civil rights that she herself has worked so hard to establish.

In keeping with her selfless spirit, Gracia is commemorating her birthday with a benefit celebration to raise financial support for the Logan Heights Library in San Diego. On this happy occasion, please join me in honoring Gracia Molina de Pick and her years of hard work making a difference in our community.

Madam Speaker, opponents often cite polls saying the American people don't want Congress to pass health care reform, but I've talked to my constituents and I've listened closely to what they expect from the system. They don't think preexisting conditions should stop you from getting coverage. Insurance companies shouldn't just drop you. And nobody, nobody should face one-time 40 percent increases in premiums like what just happened in California.

Madam Speaker, it has been a difficult and a long debate, but we're closer than any time in history to putting into law the health security Americans want. Let's finish the job and put patients first.

I thank my colleague from California for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, the Olympics entertain us, inspire us, and humble us. The athletes who participate are committed to a dream, a dream that we, as spectators, are all privileged to witness.

I introduced House Resolution 1128 to honor the athletes who represented the United States in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and to thank Vancouver, Canada, for showing hospitality to athletes from around the world. American athletes won 37 medals for the United States, the most medals ever won by any nation at a single Olympic Winter Games.

The Olympics fosters good-natured competition between nations and builds a sense of camaraderie in cities and communities around the world. In the United States, we don't identify our Olympians as Californians or Coloradans. We honor and respect them as Americans. With the help of families, coaches and their own inner strength, these athletes continue to break records and set new standards of athletic performance. We celebrate their victories as national achievements and respect them for their hard work and their dedication in getting there.

The athleticism and dedication of our athletes should be an example to all Americans. Adults and children alike can aspire to be dedicated to a healthy exercise regimen. We can't all be Olympic athletes, but we can all try to keep our bodies fit and healthy.

Mr. Speaker, you may wonder why a San Diegan is honoring Winter Olympians. It's true we don't get quite as much snow as they do in other parts of the country, but we have a strong connection to this Winter Games. Rachel Flatt, the graceful figure skater, and the two Shauns, Shaun Palmer and Shaun White, both accomplished snowboarders, all have ties to San Diego. And also, the U.S. Olympic Training Center south of San Diego is an important training ground for winter athletes.

Athletes benefit from the temperate climate and natural resources of San Diego. They are able to train with Navy SEALs and participate in wind tunnel assessments. This Olympic Training Center helps athletes train for alpine skiing, for freestyle skiing, for bobsled and skeleton, speed skating, luge and snowboard events.

The unsung heroes of the Olympics are the organizers and support staff who create a safe and enjoyable experience for the athletes and spectators. And I want to join all of my colleagues again in thanking Vancouver, Canada for opening its doors to the world and completing the behind-the-scenes work involved in a public event of this nature.

The first-class resources used for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games are now being used for the 2010 Paralympic Games, which began on March 12, and I certainly wish all the participating paralympic athletes an exhilarating and safe competition.

May the flame of the Olympic torch burn bright, and may the dedication and perseverance it represents inspire us for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 102, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 239) authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this concurrent resolution.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 239. As Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and as co-Chair of the Women's Caucus Task Force on Women in the Military and Veterans, I am privileged to recognize their service.

We are all familiar with the icon of Rosie the Riveter, working in war factories during World War II. Her motto was, ``We can do it.''

Well, the Women Airforce Service Pilots did it, too. Almost 70 years ago, they became pioneers for women's equality in the armed services. As civilian pilots under the direction of the U.S. Army Air Forces, flying noncombat missions from 1942 to 1944, they bravely stepped into service while their male counterparts were sent to combat.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots are referred to as the ``WASP.'' Unlike many acronyms used in the military, this is an apt name. For like WASP, their work demanded a unique combination of feistiness and strength, underlined by loyalty to their fellow WASP and their country. They flew every type of military aircraft in every kind of mission except combat. They ferried aircraft from factories to military installations. They towed aerial targets, transported cargo, and served in training exercises.

There were 38 of the, roughly, 1,100 women who lost their lives during the war. There are only about 300 surviving WASP. I am astounded by their tenacity and by their bravery. Yet, despite that dedication, these women have encountered difficulties in being recognized for their service. The WASP corps only received full military status

for their service in 1977 after having their records kept secret in classified archival files for more than 35 years.

Next week, on March 10, we will honor their legacy as the first female aviators in American military history with the award of the Congressional Gold Medal. This is the highest civilian honor Congress can give, and it is both well deserved and, certainly, long overdue.

I was proud to have been a co-lead with Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen on the bill awarding them this honor. It is wonderful to see this come to fruition.

Last year, the Union-Tribune in San Diego highlighted several of these women from my district, some of whom will be attending the ceremony next week. I look forward to meeting them, and I hope all of my colleagues will come and meet the WASP from their districts.

To quote Vivian Eddy, one of these intrepid women from my district, their desire to serve our country was ``not so much to prove anything to anybody but just to fly.''

This ceremony will be an illustrative example of our indebtedness to their fearless, selfless service. This group of unsung heroines demonstrates the courage of women in the past, the integrity with which women continue to serve today, and the enthusiasm of the young women who dream of serving this great Nation in the future.

I hope all of my colleagues will join me in thanking the WASP and their families by offering their support for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I certainly wanted to say, and I appreciate the wonderful words of my colleague, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, that we are finally having an opportunity to recognize these women in a way that we should have done a long time ago. But we are going to be recognizing the Women Air Force Service Pilots with a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. I certainly hope our colleagues will join us on March 10 in Emancipation Hall for a very special day, I know, to see and hear from these women who were far more than trailblazers; they served their country and they did it courageously. We are very proud of them and want to let them know how much we care about that service.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

As Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus Task Force on Women in the Military and Veterans, I am privileged to honor these women who, almost 70 years ago, became pioneers for women's equality in the Armed Forces.

And now, on March 10, 2010, we will honor their legacy as the first female aviators in American military history with the award of the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots are referred to as the WASPs.

Unlike many acronyms used in the military, this is an apt name.

Like wasps, their work demanded a unique combination of feistiness and strength, underlined by loyalty to their fellow WASPs and their country.

I am astounded by their tenacity and their bravery.

And yet, despite that dedication, these women have encountered difficulties in being recognized for their service.

This ceremony will be an illustrative example of our indebtedness to their service, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in thanking the WASPs.

This group of unsung heroines demonstrates the courage of servicewomen in the past, the integrity with which women serve today, and the enthusiasm of the young women who dream of serving this great nation in the future.

I am therefore honored to ask for authorization for the use of Emancipation Hall for the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.

Mr. Speaker, over the past week, the Olympics have been a reminder of how supportive and impressive our country truly is and what it can do when we come together for a common goal. But I know that feeling doesn't always translate to the issues that are weighing heavy on people across our country.

Every day, my constituents tell me that they need jobs and job security, as well as loans for small businesses and home mortgages, and they worry about excessive government spending, our debt to foreign nations, and unconscionable Wall Street payments.

We have saved our economy from the brink, but we cannot ignore the challenges still before us. We need to continue to pair fiscal responsibility with thoughtful job creation by encouraging small business growth and supporting needed infrastructure projects. And we have to keep holding Wall Street accountable by cracking down on big bonuses and making sure that taxpayers never have to bail it out again.

After spending time with my constituents in San Diego, I know what the American people want us to focus on. We need jobs, Mr. Speaker. We need to think about the future, we need to focus on our kids and their education.

This body, Mr. Speaker, is up to the challenge, and we need to move forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

As Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel and Co-chair of the Women's Caucus Task Force on Women in the Military and Veterans, I am privileged to honor these women who, almost 70 years ago, became pioneers for women's equality in the Armed Forces.

And now, on March 10, 2010, we will honor their legacy as the first female aviators in American military history with the award of the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots are referred to as the WASP.

Unlike many acronyms used in the military, this is an apt name!

Like wasps, their work demanded a unique combination of feistiness and strength, underlined by loyalty to their fellow WASP and their country.

I am astounded by their tenacity and their bravery.

And yet, despite that dedication, these women have encountered difficulties in being recognized for their service.

This ceremony will be an illustrative example of our indebtedness to their service, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in thanking the WASP.

This group of unsung heroines demonstrates the courage of servicewomen in the past, the integrity with which women serve today, and the enthusiasm of the young women who dream of serving this great Nation in the future.

I am therefore honored to ask for authorization for the use of the Capitol Rotunda for the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony.

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to introduce this resolution today.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, the House electronic voting system recorded the insertion and removal of my voting card for rollcall vote No. 977, on motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 1472, the Human Rights Enforcement Act of 2009.

However, it did not record my vote of ``aye'' on this bill.

I have long been a fervent advocate for human rights and want to ensure the recording of my support for this important measure.