Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Hiroshima- Nagasaki A-bomb Exhibition at the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda. Because of the dedicated efforts of a coalition of Madison organizations, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-bomb Exhibition Committee, and the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, this exhibition has made an incredibly important contribution toward educating Wisconsinites and our country about the devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused by nuclear weapons.

I am heartened by the mission of these organizations to spread peace and international understanding and grateful to the citizens of Madison who helped bring this vital message to our Capitol. I further commend the Exhibition's goal to raise awareness about abolishing nuclear weapons. This is an issue that demands our close attention.

I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm my support for nonproliferation strategies designed to eliminate weapons of mass destruction from U.S. and worldwide arsenals. I strongly support the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which sets forth objectives to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology and further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament. I also believe we need to terminate efforts to enhance U.S. military capabilities of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

My thanks go out to the citizens and organizations of Wisconsin who have dared to imagine peace and help make it a reality.

Madam Speaker, I regret that due to inclement winter weather, I missed recorded votes on February 6, 2008, and February 7, 2008.

Had I been present on those days, I would have voted in support of H. Res. 867, H. Res. 942, H. Res. 943, H. Res. 956, H. Con. Res. 283, and

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Veridian Homes for receiving Professional Builder magazine's Builder of the Year for 2008, one of the homebuilding industry's most prestigious and coveted awards. This honor not only demonstrates a unique level of innovation but also a vigorous dedication to quality and customer service.

As the largest residential builder in the State of Wisconsin, Veridian builds nearly 500 homes and condominiums each year. This level of productivity has earned it a market share of over 30 percent while offering a variety in price, style, and size. In only 4 short years, Veridian Homes has claimed the spotlight as an industry leader despite the uncertainties presented by the current market.

Co-founders David Simon and Jeff Rosenberg have successfully combined the conventional wisdom of community development with a creative blend of environmentally conscious business practices and quality improvement strategies. All of Veridian's homes and condominiums meet Green Built Home and Energy Star program standards. The company has also built six LEED-certified homes and initiated its own recycling program, in addition to actively experimenting with more resource and material- efficient processes.

Even more impressive, though, is their attention to partnership and accountability. Simon and Rosenberg have consistently demanded feedback from their employees, trade partners, and customers alike to ensure a level of continuous development. This customer and product-first approach leaves no aspect of quality improvement unattended.

To the truest extent, Veridian Homes has made Wisconsin a great place to live. I am proud to have such an extraordinary innovator and trendsetter right here in Dane County. I wish Veridian Homes many more years of success as a model for excellence and customer satisfaction.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team for their courageous and improbable victory in the 35th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to capture the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III national championship.

With Salem Stadium as the backdrop, Whitewater capped off an incredible season by beating the undefeated and top-ranked Mount Union College Purple Raiders to give the university its first football national championship. The Warhawks' third trip to Salem, Va., in as many years proved to be the charm. Mount Union had defeated Whitewater in each of the previous two Stagg Bowl games en route to a 37-game winning streak that has now been snapped thanks to the tremendous dedication and determination of all the Warhawk players, coaches, staff, and fans.

To add to his already long list of accolades including 2007 Gagliardi Trophy winner, National Player of the Year Justin Beaver was named the game's Most Outstanding Player. Beaver carried the ball 31 times for 249 yards and a touchdown, raising his season rushing total to 2,455 yards and breaking the previous Division III record he set two years ago. Beaver's play was complimented by the strong performance of the 22 other seniors who took the field for the last time at the Stagg Bowl.

In a phenomenal first season, head coach Lance Leipold led Whitewater to a 14-1 record, going undefeated in league play to secure the Warhawks' third straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. Leipold took the reins of a storied program with a rich history that includes the likes of long-time coaches Bob Berezowitz and stadium namesake Forrest Perkins.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater represents the best of student-athletics and this title serves as a major accomplishment for the entire state of Wisconsin. I sincerely congratulate the team and the university and wish them luck in their quest to repeat as national champions.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Filner.

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 855, the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act that I introduced earlier this year. This bill fixes an inequity in the current paired organ statute that has resulted in a denial of appropriate disability compensation to blinded veterans.

Congress has rightly recognized that some human organs or limbs are designed to work in pairs: legs, hands, kidneys, lungs, ears and, of course, eyes. In the instance of eyes, blindness in one eye profoundly affects depth perception even if sight is fully retained in the other eye. The paired organ statute was written to assist those veterans who experience a service-connected loss of a paired organ or limb. The statute recognizes the interdependency of paired organs and endeavors to treat the combined disability created by a nonservice-connected loss, injury or degeneration of the remaining paired organ or limb as though it was the result of a service-connected disability. In general, the paired organ statute accomplishes this task, with the exception of its treatment of eyes and loss of sight.

I want to share with you the story of Dr. James Allen, after whom this legislation is named. Dr. Allen is a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in my district. He has worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital for 33 years and treated numerous eye patients, including veterans who are blind.

One example is Mr. Donald May. Don is a World War II veteran who lost his right eye in a hand grenade explosion. A few years ago, Mr. May became legally blind in the nonservice-connected left eye. He applied to the Department of Veterans Affairs for help and was denied further benefits. He was told that the current law in regard to paired organs did not apply to him, even though he was legally blind in his service- connected right eye.

After Dr. Allen brought the plight of his patients to my attention, I began to research why these veterans were being denied the benefits I felt they deserved, benefits that I believe Congress intended to grant them. Through my work with the Blinded Veterans Association, we discovered that while the current paired organ statute covers blindness, in practice few, if any, veterans have ever been able to qualify for such compensation.

In theory, the statute provides that a veteran who is service- connected for blindness in one eye could qualify for additional disability compensation if they become blind in the remaining eye for nonservice-connected reasons. However, the statute does not define the term ``blindness,'' nor is any provision made for impairment of vision in the nonservice-connected eye short of blindness.

Rather than using visual acuity of 20/200 or loss of field of vision to 20 degrees as the definition of legal blindness that has been adopted by all 50 States and the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs uses a much more restrictive definition, 5/200, as a rating for legal blindness, which in rough layman's term is the equivalent of having an eye with light perception only. As a result, few, if any, blinded veterans are able to qualify for additional compensation under the paired organ statute.

H. Res. 855, the Dr. James Allen Veterans Vision Equity Act, fixes this problem. It defines blindness as impairment of vision where the impairment is to a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or of a peripheral field loss of vision of 20 degrees or less. This change in the law would only affect a small percentage, estimated to be roughly 5 percent of the 13,000-plus veterans who are service-connected for loss of vision in one eye. Yet such a change would send a powerful message that our Nation's blinded veterans and the hardships that they have faced are not forgotten.

Indeed, our Nation's blinded veterans face significant challenges in the labor market. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research found that for individuals with visual impairments, to the extent that they are unable to read letters, the employment rate is only 30.8 percent, compared to 82.1 percent for those without disability.

I want to mention that this resolution complies with the PAYGO rules. The costs associated with H. Res. 855 are fully offset. This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to match and compare VA needs-based pension benefits data, parents' dependency and indemnity compensation data, health care services data and unemployability compensation data with the National Directory of New Hires maintained by DHHS, for the purpose of determining eligibility for such benefits and services. According to the GAO, such data matching will help reduce fraud and abuse within the VA system as it determines eligibility and benefits to those veterans thought to be unemployable but are indeed working.

I would like to just thank Chairman Filner, Subcommittee Chairman John Hall, as well as Congressmen John Boozman and Vic Snyder for their unwavering support of this bill. I also want to thank the staff of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their help in advancing this legislation.

H. Res. 855 is a modest but important step in restoring fair treatment to those veterans blinded due to their service to our country and to further our commitment to them. Their sacrifices and their service to this Nation should be matched by our desire to improve the quality of life for them and their families.

Earlier this year, the Blinded Veterans Association had found over 200 soldiers returning from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom who are blinded in one eye due to their service-related injuries. They could be benefited in the future by this legislation.

I strongly encourage all my colleagues to support H. Res. 855.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself 3\1/2\ minutes.

Madam Chairman, in the United States, the law forbids discrimination in employment on the basis of a person's race, color, sex, religion or national origin. It forbids discrimination based on age or disability, perceived or real. These protections were not easy to achieve, but we are better for them.

Today, ENDA seeks to expand the law to prohibit job discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation, and my amendment would also include gender identity.

We have worked steadily over the years to rid our Nation of irrational hate and fear against gay and transgender Americans that too often results in violent hate crimes, ostracism, bullying and discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations or education.

Today, at least 282 cities and towns and 19 States across the country have protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation in both public and private sector jobs. And more than 93 local jurisdictions in 11 States have laws that include protections based on gender identity.

195 American businesses employing more than 8.3 million American workers have exemplary policies that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors; 58 percent of these firms provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity.

It is time for Congress to catch up to our communities and American businesses. Today we can strengthen our laws against discrimination in the workplace.

While gay and lesbian Americans are now out and accepted in record numbers, not everyone understands the issue of gender identity. Few understand how a person's body might not match their internal sense of gender.

This is not a new phenomenon. It is not a fad. And it is certainly not a reason to lose one's job.

Some have asked why it is essential to include protections for transgender Americans in this legislation. The answer is that this community shares a common history with the rest of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community, a history of suffering, discrimination, and too often violence, just for being who they are.

The importance of nondiscrimination laws cannot be overstated. Substantively, they provide legal remedies and a chance to seek justice. Symbolically, they say that in America we judge our fellow citizens by their integrity, their character, their talents; and not their sexual orientation or gender

identity, race or religion, age or disability.

Irrational hate and fear have no place in our society. If we truly believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; if we truly want to protect the most vulnerable in our society; if we continue to profess that all men are created equal, then we must work towards achieving the American Dream for all, and not just for some.

Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

My amendment reflects my belief that we should be acting on an inclusive ENDA, covering both sexual orientation and gender identity. Now, those of us in politics know that it is much easier to protect a provision in a bill from removal on the floor than it is to add a provision to a bill once it has been reported out of committee. This amendment is no exception to that rule. But while I believe that a roll call vote on this amendment would demonstrate strong support for an inclusive ENDA, I believe that it will fall short of adoption.

People have asked why I pressed for and insisted upon bringing an amendment to the floor and maintaining the option to withdraw it without a vote. The reason is simple: I believe that those who will be left behind by this bill deserve to hear on this House floor that you are not forgotten and our job will not be finished until you too share fully in the American Dream.

So at the moment at which the closing arguments are made, I will withdraw this amendment with a commitment to my colleagues and all Americans committed to equality of opportunity and ending discrimination that I will do everything within my power to make this measure whole again.

If I withdraw right now, I will preclude the gentleman from making his closing. I do not want to preclude him from doing that; so I will just wait to withdraw until he has finished with his remarks.

Madam Chairman, I withdraw the amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 230) supporting the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 230, a resolution supporting the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As an original cosponsor of this resolution, I am proud to speak out in favor of greater support for breast cancer awareness and prevention. Through my work with Congresswoman Sue Myrick in reauthorizing the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, I am well aware of the challenges that lie ahead in preventing and ultimately finding a cure for breast cancer.

As my colleagues may know, breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women between the ages of 45 and 54. Many of us have witnessed a family member or a friend struggle with the devastating effects of breast cancer. We must ensure that these women do not suffer alone.

With this resolution, we affirm our solidarity with the 2 million- plus breast cancer survivors as we seek to find a cure for this and other cancers. We also pay tribute to the volunteers and health care professionals who work to combat breast cancer every day.

H. Con. Resolution 230 supports the observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reemphasize the importance of monthly breast self-examinations and annual mammograms. As in the case of many diseases, early detection goes a long way toward ensuring survival. As many of my colleagues know, approximately 98 percent of women who are able to detect breast cancer in its most early stage survive. We must use this opportunity to educate women, all women, to ensure that they take the necessary steps to protect themselves from this potentially fatal disease.

I also rise to pay tribute to our friend and our colleague, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who lost her life to breast cancer earlier this month. We are reminded that breast cancer can strike anyone. This resolution also expresses our gratitude to national and community organizations, such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, that have made us all aware of the power of the pink ribbon, been on the forefront in raising awareness about this disease and provided information to better understand this disease.

I also want to thank my colleague Representative Ginny Brown-Waite and the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues for their leadership on this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of its adoption.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this very important resolution. Observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to educate the

public on the importance of monthly breast self-exams and annual mammograms. It also gives us an opportunity to salute those who work every day in raising awareness about breast cancer and our health care professionals who work with patients to fight it.

Again, I want to commend the work of my colleague, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, for her work on this important issue, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 20) to provide for research on, and services for individuals with, postpartum depression and psychosis, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 20, the Melanie Blocker-Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act of 2007.

The birth of a child can be a joyous and exciting time, but following childbirth, some women may experience postpartum disorders that can adversely affect a woman's mental health. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, about 10 percent of new moms experience postpartum depression, a form of depression that can develop within the first 6 months after giving birth.

For women with postpartum depression, feelings such as sadness, anxiety, and restlessness can be so strong that they interfere with daily tasks. Rarely, a more extreme form of depression known as postpartum psychosis can develop. Postpartum depression and psychosis can have an adverse effect on a woman's mental health and impair their ability to bond with their newborn child.

The legislation before us today will go a long way towards helping to increase awareness of postpartum depression and psychosis. H.R. 20 encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the National Institutes of Health to expand and intensify research on postpartum depression and to conduct and support research in an effort to find a cure for postpartum depression and psychosis.

Furthermore, this legislation encourages the NIH to carry out a national campaign to increase awareness of postpartum depression, and it directs Health and Human Services to make grants to help with coordinating the effective delivery of essential services to individuals with postpartum depression, as well as their families.

I would like to extend a special thank you to our Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Rush, who has championed this bill's cause. His commitment to ensuring that women who suffer from postpartum depression better understand their condition and have access to the resources that they need has been unwavering. I commend him for his hard work, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this life-saving legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois, the bill's author, Mr. Rush.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I wish to urge my colleagues to support this important bill. As we have heard, postpartum depression is a very serious women's health issue. This bill will raise awareness about postpartum depression and will further research in an effort to find a cure.

Again I want to commend my colleague (Mr. Rush) for his incredibly hard work on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2295) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2295 the ALS Registry Act. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal, progressive neuro- degenerative disease affecting approximately 5,600 Americans each year. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 Americans have ALS at any given time with an average life expectancy of 2 to 5 years from the time of diagnosis. Today, no single national patient registry collects and stores information on the prevalence and incidence of ALS.

The ALS Registry Act would create a nationwide registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for ALS and other related motor neuron disorders. The patient registry would collect data which is urgently needed for ALS research, disease management, and the development of standards of care. This will allow us to make real progress toward better understanding ALS, and to develop measures for prevention, treatment and cure of this dreaded disease.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Representative Eliot Engel, for his dedication to bringing this bill before us today. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2295.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the bill's author, the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from South Dakota, Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I strongly support this bill. As we have heard, this bill would collect data which is urgently needed for ALS research and will go a long way toward moving us closer to treatments and a cure for this devastating illness.

Again, I wish to recognize my colleague (Mr. Engel) and other colleagues who have spoken today who put a personal face and a personal story behind this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I yield back the remainder of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1727) to enhance and further research into paralysis and to improve rehabilitation and the quality of life for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1727, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act. I am honored to have known Christopher and Dana Reeve, and it is fitting that we are considering this bill today just after the 3-year anniversary of Christopher's death.

As we know, sometimes hardships and painful experiences are the starting point for an incredible advocacy, and this was certainly the case with Christopher and Dana Reeve. In turn, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act reflects our desire to carry out their work and improve the lives of, and hasten better treatments and cures for, people living with paralysis.

Madam Speaker, as many of my colleagues may be aware, millions of

Americans live with paralysis. Two million Americans live with paralysis of the extremities; a quarter million Americans live with spinal cord injuries; 4 million Americans live with the effects of stroke; 250,000 to 350,000 Americans have been diagnosed with some form of multiple sclerosis; half a million children and adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy; and 30,000 Americans, as we have just heard, live with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

This legislation is multifaceted and seeks to address several aspects of paralysis research and quality-of-life issues. The bill expands research on paralysis at the NIH by encouraging collaborative research to connect scientists doing similar work and enhanced understanding and speed discovery of better treatment and cures. The bill also encourages research to enhance the daily function of people with paralysis, including improving their functional mobility, assessing the efficacy and outcomes of medical rehabilitation therapies, and developing improved assistive technology to improve function and independence.

Lastly, the bill seeks to improve the quality of life and health of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities by supporting programs to disseminate information involving care and rehabilitation options. It also coordinates best practices designed to support and advance quality-of-life programs for persons living with paralysis and other physical disabilities.

Madam Speaker, Christopher and Dana Reeve used their visibility to work on behalf of families in all parts of this country who face the challenges of paralysis and impaired mobility. I have been honored to carry on their work and am honored to work on this legislation with Congresswoman Bono, Congressman Langevin, and Congressman Bilirakis. I am also thankful to have had the opportunity to work with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and the thousands of paralysis advocates who have worked for the passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further Members seeking time, and continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in closing, as we remember Christopher Reeve just after the third anniversary of his passing, we honor him by having the House consider today and pass one of the truly first comprehensive bills focused on paralysis research and care for those who are paralyzed. I urge Members to strongly support this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 133) supporting the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and exclude extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 133, supporting the goals and ideals of a Long-Term Care Awareness Week. Long-term care is an often overlooked part of the continuum of care for many Americans, and many of us find ourselves ill informed and ill prepared to make choices for our own long-term care needs and those of our loved ones.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, long- term care represents a variety of services that include medical and nonmedical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. Most long-term care is to assist people with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. It is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age. The need for support and health services for persons who have diminished capacity for self-care is projected to strain both public and private resources.

Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 133 calls for public education about the need for long-term care so that people of all ages throughout our Nation are better prepared to meet their own long-term care needs. Planning for long-term care requires us to think about possible future health care needs. Making the right decision about long-term care requires us to look at all of the options before us and to make informed decisions.

I want to recognize and thank my colleague from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin) for introducing this resolution and carrying it to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of it.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the bill's author, the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth Sandlin).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I too want to add my words of congratulations to the bill's authors, the gentlewoman from South Dakota and the gentleman from Louisiana.

I know from my own personal experience you are never fully prepared for having to make some of these choices on behalf of loved ones, and it can happen at any time. We are going to be very well-served by the passage of this bill to increase awareness among people of all age groups about the decisions and options they have. We have to understand that long-term care is part of the continuum of health care in this country. More education is needed. I recommend its passage.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 448) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a National Cancer Research Month, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 448, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a National Cancer Research Month.

Preventing and ultimately finding a cure for cancer is a major public health challenge. The resolution before us calls for the establishment of a National Cancer Research Month, a time to bring public awareness of the nearly 200 forms of cancer and bring hope and a cure that cancer research provides. Providing a National Cancer Research Month will remind us that basic, clinical, epidemiological, and behavioral research are integral to identifying causes and developing strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cures for cancer.

This resolution also highlights the contributions of the American Association for Cancer Research, an organization that has been on the forefront of cancer research for more than 100 years. The American Association for Cancer Research was founded in 1907 by a group of 11 physicians and scientists interested in cancer research.

As the oldest and largest scientific organization in the world focused on every aspect of high quality, innovative cancer research, the American Association for Cancer Research has established a reputation for scientific breadth and excellence as premier researchers in the field.

Today, the American Association for Cancer Research accelerates progress towards the prevention and cure of cancer by promoting research, education, communication, and advocacy

and fostering the exchange of knowledge and new ideas among scientists dedicated to cancer research, providing training opportunities for the next generation of cancer researchers and increasing public understanding of cancer.

On this, their centennial year of service, we commend the work of the American Association for Cancer Research and applaud their effort to make cancer research a national and international priority. We owe a debt of gratitude to organizations like the American Association for Cancer Research for their contributions in advancing the public awareness of cancer and for excellence among its membership in the field of cancer research.

I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson), for his work in raising this important issue, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time to close.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. As our Nation's researchers continue to move us closer to a cure for cancer, it is important for us to recognize the work that these researchers do. Each piece of research, each project is a vital part of the solution that we will achieve when a cure is discovered. I thank my colleague, Mr. Matheson, for his work on this issue and urge passage of the resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 182) recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution now under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 182, recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, treatment and eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IPF, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Week, and for other purposes.

IPF is a debilitating and generally fatal disease which afflicts more than 128,000 Americans, with more than 48,000 new cases diagnosed each year. IPF is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed and is a disease marked by progressive scarring of the lungs, causing an irreversible loss of the lung tissue's ability to transport oxygen.

The legislation before us today recognizes the need to pursue research into the causes of IPF. H. Con. Res. 182 expresses support for the work of advocates and organizations in educating, supporting and providing hope for individuals who suffer from the disease and supports the designation of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week.

This is an important piece of legislation, and I would like to commend my colleague and friend Mr. Deal for all of his hard work on this issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my friend and colleague from Washington State (Mr. Baird).

Madam Speaker, in closing, I think my colleagues have most eloquently made the case for support of this resolution.

IPF is a debilitating disease and increased awareness will certainly move us closer to finding the answers to the many unanswered questions surrounding IPF.

Again, I commend my colleague Mr. Deal for his authorship and urge passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 524) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as may consume.

I rise in support of H. Res. 524, expressing the sense of the House with respect to Diamond-Blackfan anemia, DBA.

DBA is a rare genetic bone marrow disorder affecting children and adults, 90 percent of whom are younger than 1 year of age when they are diagnosed. DBA results in severe anemia due to the failure to produce red blood cells. The symptoms may vary greatly, from very mild to severe and life-threatening. Unfortunately, because DBA is a rare disease, there is limited research being done, and treatment options are not optimal.

The resolution before us today as amended expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that we should encourage further efforts to clarify the natural history of DBA, continue efforts to raise awareness and ease access of information about DBA, encourage research efforts that will advance treatment options and seek a cure and encourage cross-institutional research initiatives to study the intricacies involved in this rare inherited disease.

This is an important piece of legislation, and I would like to acknowledge and thank my colleague Representative Carolyn McCarthy for her hard work and dedication on this issue. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am now proud to yield 5 minutes to my colleague, the author of this resolution, the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. McCarthy).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my colleague from New York, Congressman Bishop.

Madam Speaker, Diamond-Blackfan anemia is such a serious condition; and because it is such a rare disease, there is a real need for increased awareness and research. I commend my colleague Mrs. McCarthy for her advocacy on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 970) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the distribution of the drug dextromethorphan, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 970, the Dextromethorphan Distribution Act of 2007.

Dextromethorphan, commonly known as DXM or DEX, is an active ingredient in many over-the-counter cough and cold medications. When used as directed, DEX has proven to be an effective cough suppressant; but sadly, an alarming number of teenagers and young adults are abusing prescription and over-the-counter medications by taking much larger than recommended doses to get high.

H.R. 970 attempts to curb the misuse and abuse of DEX by restricting the sale, purchase, trade, and distribution of DEX to registered producers of drugs and devices. The legislation is aimed at preventing would-be drug dealers from purchasing DEX wholesale and selling it over the Internet and on the streets.

Similar legislation passed the House during the 109th Congress but was not enacted into law. Today, we renew our commitment to America's young people by passing this legislation. We are also reminding parents and guardians to remain vigilant in the often difficult task of talking with our young people about drug misuse and abuse. Even if your child does not abuse products containing DEX or any other over-the-counter medications, odds suggest that they know somebody who does.

I want to acknowledge and commend our colleagues, particularly Congressman Fred Upton and Congressman Rick Larsen, for their committed work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 970.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to state that this bill and its passage will certainly begin to curb the abuse of dextromethorphan. I would like to thank the gentleman also for his leadership on this bill and that of Mr. Rick Larsen's. This will begin a process of educating about the harm that such abuse of over-the-counter drugs can cause, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.