Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a dedicated public servant, fierce consumer advocate, and my dear friend, State Senator Dave Aronberg.

A native of Miami, Dave attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Shortly after graduation, Dave began his work with the office of the State Insurance Commissioner taking on foreign insurance companies that refused to honor World War II era policies issued to victims of the Holocaust.

Dave's passion for public service next took him to the office of the Attorney General, where he became an Assistant Attorney General. It was in this capacity that Dave was responsible for prosecuting consumer fraud and led the lawsuits against ``Miss Cleo's'' fraudulent business holdings.

In 2000, Dave was chosen to participate in the prestigious White House Fellows program as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury for international money laundering. During his fellowship, Dave represented the Treasury Department at a global summit on money laundering and the laundering of terrorist assets in Malaysia. He then traveled as part of an official White House delegation to meet with foreign officials and to visit refugee camps in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

After his fellowship, Dave returned to South Florida and in 2002 was elected to represent the 27th District of Florida in the State Senate. During his 8 years in the Senate, Dave continued his advocacy for strong consumer protections, was a member of Florida's Medicaid task force, and led the fight that successfully secured federal funding for the Everglades Restoration Project.

Recently, Dave has announced that he will continue his work for strong consumer protections by becoming Special Counsel to Attorney General Pam Bondi. As a special counsel, Dave will oversee the effort to eliminate pain clinics and ``pill mills'' in Florida.

I would like to congratulate Dave on his appointment in the Attorney General's office and wish him luck as he continues his dedication to public service and consumer advocacy. It has been a privilege working with him as an attorney, in the State legislature, and as a Congressman. I look forward to many years of continued service for South Florida alongside Dave.

Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress to fight for new jobs, protect the retirement security of America's seniors, and give middle class families a fair shake in this economy. Yet our efforts, the basic bricks in the foundation of a working economy, have been cast aside by my Republican colleagues.

The Republicans have sweetened the tax deal today by demanding that American taxpayers fork over $26 billion for an estate tax break that will go to about 6,600 families. I offer some perspective.

There are more than 6,600 people in Century Village, King's Point, and each of the major retirement communities I represent. There are more undergraduates at Florida Atlantic University in my district. And my teenage daughters and their high school friends are together on track to have more than 6,600 Facebook friends.

And $26 billion? 16.2 million Americans who depend on food stamps to eat could eat for a year. 3.5 million American college students at our public universities could see their tuition paid in full. And most striking, more than $175,000 could go to each of the 140,000 families whose sons and daughters are serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We can do better, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Chairman, I rise with deep concerns over the temporary payroll tax cut included in the package before us tonight, not because we shouldn't provide relief to the middle class. We must, tonight. Cutting Social Security contributions could have lasting consequences, however, for our Nation's most successful domestic program.

In a year, in this very Chamber, many of our colleagues across the aisle will likely work to make this tax holiday permanent, just as they are tonight for the Bush tax cuts. Jeopardizing Social Security's independent revenue stream will open retirement benefits to budgetary attacks for the first time and pave the way for attempts to privatize Social Security.

We could give middle class Americans tax relief without threatening Social Security in this way. The unfortunate truth is we will not accomplish that here tonight, even as we do provide struggling working families and jobless Americans with a lifeline that they desperately need.

But we must commit ourselves tonight to the fight that lies ahead. We must be ready to protect Social Security and defend our seniors and working Americans from the attacks that are sure to come.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 617 on H.R. 1402, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Raymond T. and Roberta ``Bobby'' White. Members of the Jewish War Veterans Post 266 since November 1997, Ray and Bobby's activism and efforts on behalf of south Florida's Jewish War Veterans are unmatched. Drawing on their prior experiences with veterans organizations, they have proved to be great assets within Florida Post 266.

Ray and Bobby's hard work on behalf of Post 266 was quickly noticed. Shortly after their arrival, Bobby was elevated to be commander of the Women's Auxiliary for Post 266, as Ray was named Post commander. It was not long before Ray rose to be the commander of the Department in 2003, and he did not stop there.

While serving as the Department Commander of Florida, Ray was appointed by the National Commander to the position of chairman for the first Committee for Soviet Jewry. In this capacity, Ray organized a program of installing flag poles and flags from condo organizations, the first of which was installed for Temple Emeth on Atlantic Avenue, where services are conducted annually on Memorial Day for fallen comrades.

Together, Ray and Bobby spearheaded numerous other community projects. Not only did Ray champion continued funding for hospitals and veterans' benefits, but Bobby instituted a program for hospitalized veterans of the West Palm Beach facility with monthly Bingo games. The vision and followthrough of Ray and

Bobby were also instrumental in the planning and constructing of the Governor Lawton Childs Veterans Memorial Park right in Delray Beach.

Under the leadership of this outstanding couple, their community flourished and the membership of Post 266 grew to be the largest post in the country. Undoubtedly, these two have worked immensely to further the program of the Jewish War Veterans both locally and nationally. Today, Ray and Bobby are still involved in the Post; after turning over the commander's role in January 2010, Ray now holds the position of quartermaster, and Bobby continues to assist the current commander of the Women's Auxiliary. Raymond and Roberta White deserve special plaudits for their commitment and dedication to their work, and our very best wishes for their continued service and happiness in good health together.

Madam Speaker, the holiday time is upon us when Americans from all walks of life rejoice in our shared values of generosity, good will, family, and thankfulness. Yet, this cherished holiday spirit is absent here tonight as Congress once again finds itself in partisan gridlock. This is doing absolutely nothing to ease the worry felt by families across America during these difficult times.

Tonight the clock is ticking for 2 million Americans unable to find work and on the verge of losing their unemployment insurance. They worry, and they worry greatly, how they will meet their next mortgage payment, how they will put food on the table, or how they just may be able to afford a gift or two for their children this year at this season.

Likewise, tonight millions of workers across America wonder if a tax increase is headed their way. They have been suffering from stagnant wages and fewer hours for years, but without these tax cuts they know times will get even harder. They are not asking for much, just a few extra hundred dollars in their paychecks next year, yet they are holding their breath tonight because those on the other side of the aisle are holding middle class tax relief hostage in favor of tax cuts for millionaires, holding off providing tax relief to the middle class at a time when it is so desperately needed.

Tonight, the retirees in my district and all across America worry that their needs are going unnoticed by Congress. Already just today in the United States Senate Democratic efforts to provide some measure of benefit to seniors who have now gone 2 years in a row without a cost of living adjustment to their Social Security even as their costs go up every single year, efforts to provide them with just a payment to help them through these difficult times were cut off as a result of this partisanship.

Come January, if the Republicans have their way, health care reform will be repealed and the donut hole will be reopened, saddling seniors with massive prescription drug bills. In short, political posturing is threatening to reverse the progress that this Congress has made, and more importantly, at this difficult time it is political posturing that threatens to hold up the middle class tax cuts, that threatens to hold up an extension of unemployment benefits even as 2 million Americans are starting to see their benefits end, and it is indeed this posturing that will make things exceedingly more difficult for our seniors.

So instead of giving middle class Americans some peace of mind this holiday season--which is what we absolutely ought to be doing--the Republicans in Congress are demanding another $700 billion for those who don't need that tax cut right now. At least if there is to be a debate, a further debate on the merits of that tax cut, let's do what everyone wants, what everyone knows is necessary, and provide that tax relief to the middle class, and let's do it now.

Now nothing drove home some of these misplaced priorities--placing profits all too often ahead of people, and more importantly and obviously these past few days, putting partisan gain ahead of old- fashioned compromise, compromise that Americans want us to make-- nothing drove that home for me more than a recent letter I received from a dear friend, a mother with a child who needed some medical care. I would like to read this letter on the floor of the House of Representatives today because I would like to give voice to the millions of mothers and fathers across America who have felt the anxiety and the powerlessness that comes when a child is sick and a health insurance company denies a claim.

The letter reads as follows by my friend Amy. She said, ``Losing control was a luxury that I didn't have. And yet my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I held the letter from the insurance company about my 6\1/2\ year old son's third open heart surgery. `Patient. Date of birth. Description of surgery: Replacement of aortic valve. Elective.'

``Elective? Oh, that's right, we were electing to save my little boy's life. I felt myself about to explode, literally explode. Blood and guts and that second bowl of pasta that I should never have eaten anyway would be splattered all over the over-priced Turkish rug on our bedroom floor. Three, two, one, and then I held it in because I am a mommy, and I had to keep it together for my three young, beautiful, willful boys, one a kindergartner with congenital heart disease whose heart happened to be failing again, and who just the other day asked, `Mommy, if I have to go to heaven early, will you go with me?'

``I glanced up from the letter at my husband who had handed it to me moments ago, my sweet, it-will-all-work-out husband who right now looks so small and tired and helpless, and I said with all the conviction of a mother who's got nothing to lose and everything to fight for, `I'm going to bomb them.' He burst out laughing. `No, seriously. I'm going to the store to buy vinegar and dish soap and pop rocks--or whatever you're supposed to mix together.'

``More uproarious laughter that quickly trailed off when he realized I wasn't laughing, too. `You are joking, right?'

``And that's when I understood them: those crazy people on the news who sometimes just snap. I got how someone could wake up one day and just lose it and how that someone could be me. I defiantly told my increasingly worried looking husband that the insurance companies should not mess with the mommy species. When I told one friend about my violent thought, she offered, `I'll come light the fuse.' Another said if I was sent to prison, she would go with me in solidarity. Plus, I could stand to go on a bread and water diet if I'm ever going to fit into my jeans.

``Truth is,'' my friend writes, ``there's not a single mommy I know who wouldn't go to jail to protect her kids. Certain things in life just are not a choice. They are a given. Like,'' she wrote, ``my son's upcoming surgery. I looked down at the letter and felt another wave of anger overtake me,'' she writes. ``I mean, I had my issues with our Nation's health care, but even I didn't think it had gone that far astray. And yet, how dare they, them in that office building so far removed from anything our family was going through, call our son's being hooked up to that damn heart-lung machine for 7 hours . . . elective?

``Here are some of the only things that I deem elective about fixing my son's heart:

``After his last open-heart surgery, when he started slipping into a coma, I elected to kick the nurses and doctors in the Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit out of his room and screamed at my son--yes, I literally yelled at the poor beautiful boy lying there with breathing and chest tubes and other grotesque wires spilling out of him. `This is your mommy talking, you hear? Wake up, dammit. Don't you even think about leaving me. You're just a kid--you don't even know how to swim.'

``Twenty minutes later he miraculously woke up, and we're still working on the swimming.

``Recently, soon after we had to quarantine our son so that he would be germ-free for this latest operation, I elected to have Botox injected over my eyebrows,'' she writes. ``I wanted to make myself look perkier so no one would think that I was worse for the wear from this ordeal and, God forbid, feel sorry for me.

``When a child died somewhere in the Midwest, his parents elected to sign the organ donor form so that my son could have his valve to save his own life. There are not enough benefits in the world assigned to that kind of heroism.

``But what of the insurance letter in my hand? `I'll call them tomorrow,' my husband said. `We'll straighten it out.' And then more uproarious laugher.

This time it wasn't my husband laughing, but our three willful boys who just that second ran into our room shooting one another with Nerf guns.

```I got Evan on the butt,' Noah screamed, exhilarated. `So what? That tickled.' Evan recoiled on the floor with laughter, but not before he nailed Benjamin with three foam darts in the back of his head.

``Yes, technically the family rule is not to shoot at a person, but who were we were to interfere with this kind of unbridled frivolity? That was something that we would never elect to do.''

I would like to thank my friend, Amy, for allowing me to share her story tonight.

It was horror stories like these that propelled this Congress to move forward on health care reform, to reform a system so that no family is put into a situation where life-saving surgery can be deemed elective.

And as we stand here at this holiday season, the Members of this Congress, the Members of this House of Representatives, all 435 of them, the Members of the United States Senate, all 100 of them, all 535 of us who are employed, who have the benefit of working for the citizens of the United States, have a duty to those citizens, at this time of year in particular, to ensure that those who don't have jobs don't see their benefits cut off so that they're not cast aside at this holiday season unable to pay their mortgage, unable to afford a gift for their children.

We spend a lot of time on the floor of this House debating the grand issues of the day, and I look forward to coming back here in January in the new Congress and having great debates about the future of our education system, about the war in Afghanistan, about the best ways to reduce our deficit, about how we reduce our dependence on foreign oil. These are important debates that we need to have. But how can we let partisan gridlock, let the obstructionism that we've seen these past few days, how can we see that stand in the way of extending unemployment benefits to those who desperately need it, stand in the way of middle class tax cuts for those whose wages have been stagnant for so long, and stand in the way of providing just a little bit for the seniors who are struggling as well in this terribly difficult economic time?

I heard a lot about what people expect we should learn from the outcome of this election. And the one thing that's perfectly clear to me, and should be clear to all of us, is that the American people want a Congress that works for them, that does their business, and that puts the Americans' interests ahead of the political interests of those of us who are privileged to serve here.

When we come back next week, let us resolve to do what needs to be done at this difficult moment to ensure that those who don't have work can get by, that those who have been getting by can get the benefit of a tax break, and that those seniors who have given so much for so long can receive the benefit of a payment in lieu of two straight years without a cost of living adjustment.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to coming back to perform that work. I look forward to casting those votes, and I look forward to having those debates. The days in this 111th Congress are short, but the people want us to get this done. It is time that we remember why it is that we have been sent here. Working together, we have to provide what everyone knows needs to be provided and to take those first steps as soon as we can upon our return.

Madam Speaker, that's what's at stake right now. Let us not get so caught up in this holiday season to think that the joy that so many of us feel is felt all around the country--not when things are so difficult for so many. Let us be thankful for what we all have, but let us work to ensure that everyone has at least a bit of joy this holiday season.

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

Madam Speaker, I am both honored and privileged to rise to congratulate a true pillar of the Palm Beach County community, Murray Kalish. Mr. Kalish will be honored on December 12, 2010 at Temple Emeth for his activism and leadership in South Florida.

Murray Kalish has repeatedly distinguished himself through his volunteer and civic activities throughout Palm Beach County. In 1992, Murray, who had previously served as vice president of the West Delray Democratic Club, formed the United South County Democratic Club. As president, Murray oversaw the largest Democratic club in the State of Florida. His insight has been sought by elected officials and candidates for decades.

Always looking for ways to contribute to his community, Murray has served on the Land Use Advisory Board, the Palm Beach County Board of Adjustment, and the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority Advisory Board. Murray also currently serves as a board member for the Lake Worth Drainage District. First elected over a decade ago, he has dedicated his time on the board towards maintaining clean and clear canals for the people of his district.

Beyond his volunteering and activism, Murray is the symbol of a true family man. For 72 years he was a loving husband to his late wife Rosalyn, and he continues to be a dedicated father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A true leader in every sense of the word, Murray has served not only as a friend to me, but as a mentor. I could not think of a more deserving person for Temple Emeth to bestow this

important honor. I again want to congratulate my dear friend, Murray Kalish, and his entire family on this well deserved honor.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the backbone of America's economy. More than half of American workers are employed by small businesses. In fact, 99.7 percent of businesses in the United States employ fewer than 500 people.

When I talk to small business owners in south Florida, I'm always inspired by their entrepreneurial spirit and their tireless work ethic. It's for that reason, and it's no surprise, that 97 percent of American exports to other nations comes from products made by small businesses.

I've been a Member of Congress for exactly 5 months this morning, and the one fact in common for each of these 150 days has been that Republicans have inexplicably blocked tax cuts and better credit for America's small businesses. Every day that goes by without the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act is another day during which small business owners put off investing in new equipment, avoid hiring new workers, and see opportunities to expand pass them by.

It's time to pass this critical legislation so that small businesses can get back to doing what they do best--growing America's economy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 50th anniversary of Saint Vincent's Catholic Church in Margate, Florida. Since 1960, St. Vincent's has been a leader in charity and community service, providing tri-lingual religious services to Margate and the entire South Florida community.

Founded with modest beginnings, St. Vincent's first Mass was celebrated under a donated tent. However, through the hard work of their parishioners, they dedicated their first church in 1961 and eventually as the parish grew, dedicated their current church in 1980.

St. Vincent's has long been a leader in community services towards the elderly, veterans, disabled, and youth of the South Florida community. They have provided Eucharistic services in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities and provide prayer ministries for the sick in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. St. Vincent's continues to serve its members with daily Mass and Novena ministries, and St. Vincent's is home to a thriving religious education center which provides free religious guidance to all members of the community.

During these past 50 years, St. Vincent's Catholic Church has shown its spirit and caring for the community, and I wish the Church and all of its parishioners a happy Golden Jubilee. Congratulations on this joyous occasion and thank you for your many years of service in our South Florida community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Palm Beach County, Florida. Since its founding in 2005, the Chamber has devoted itself to promoting and supporting Puerto Rican and Hispanic owned businesses, while placing a strong emphasis on Hispanic culture and values.

The Chamber has been the main sponsor of the Fiestas Patronales and Business Exposition in Palm Beach Counties, allowing the Chamber to reach out and create connections throughout the many Hispanic owned businesses of South Florida. In addition, the Chamber founded the Health Mothers/Healthy Babies Coalition of the Palm Beaches, whose mission is to promote the well being of mothers and their newborns throughout South Florida.

The Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for Palm Beach County, Florida has made a lasting impact in Palm Beach County, promoting and supporting business and culture, and by growing an organization where Puerto Ricans and Hispanics in South Florida can feel at home.

I rise to congratulate the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their excellence and leadership in promoting South Florida's Hispanic owned businesses.

The South Florida Hispanic community is truly a better place because of the hard work of the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Palm Beach County, Florida. I wish the Chamber continued success in all its future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bob Weisman's 30 years of service to Palm Beach County. Currently the County Administrator, Bob has devoted his professional life to public service and bettering the south Florida community.

Shortly after graduating college, Bob began his career civil engineer for Palm Beach County quickly rising through the ranks and became the Director of Development Engineering under the Water Utilities Department in 1981. In 1985, Bob was once again promoted to become the Assistant Director of the Water Utilities Department and, after only 6 months, became the Director. In 1988, Bob joined the county administration and was named the Assistant County Administrator, eventually becoming the Senior Assistant County Administrator. In 1995, Bob became the Palm Beach County Administrator.

As the County Administrator, Bob has been charged with the implementation of a $4 billion budget and oversight of over 6,000 county employees. Together with the over 30 county administration departments, Bob is entrusted with providing quality services, programs, and information to the over 1 million residents of Palm Beach County.

Under Bob's guidance, Palm Beach County has enjoyed supervisory and fiscal stability making Palm Beach County one of the fastest growing counties in the Nation.

I would like to congratulate Bob for his 30 years of service to the Florida community. I am honored to have his friendship and can truly say that Palm Beach County is better place because of the hard work and dedication of Bob Weisman.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats are committed to building an economy where anyone can make it in America. The oil spill compels us to do this by encouraging growth in green energy. We can do this by creating new manufacturing jobs, by improving access to credit for small businesses and investing in our infrastructure, our schools, and our communities. We can encourage job creation here at home by closing tax loopholes for companies that ship jobs overseas and ending giveaways to special interests.

Despite Republican obstruction of our efforts on behalf of the American people, Democrats have delivered 6 consecutive months of private sector job growth to the American people. We are moving in the right direction, and in America we refuse to go backward.

Until every American out of work can find a good paying job, we in Congress must make it our job to pass legislation that will spur economic growth and create good opportunities for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5156) to provide for the establishment of a Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to assist United States businesses with exporting clean energy technology products and services, as amended.

Mr. 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 bill under consideration.

I also ask unanimous consent for Mr. Rush of Illinois to control the time after my opening remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act, H.R. 5156, will help American companies develop, manufacture, and export clean and renewable energy technologies around the world. Most importantly, this bill will help create high quality jobs for American workers.

The bill establishes a fund in the Department of Commerce to promote policies that reduce costs and encourage innovation and investment in the clean energy industry. The fund, which focuses on small- and medium-sized businesses, will also help American companies target foreign markets for exports. This will help us meet the President's goal of doubling American exports over the next 5 years.

Finally, H.R. 5156 would give businesses the opportunity to provide their own voice and input into U.S. manufacturing and trade policies. As President Obama remarked last month, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs as we move out of this recession.

Despite a global decrease in clean energy investments last year, the United States continued to increase investments in this sector. For the second consecutive year, the United States added more power capacity from renewable energy, solar and wind, for example, than from conventional energy sources. But the United States still trails Germany and China in renewable energy investments. This important legislation will help eliminate this gap by harnessing the creativity and innovation of American entrepreneurs and making the United States more competitive in a global market that reached over $160 billion last year.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will help create high quality jobs for American workers. I would like to thank my friend and colleague from California (Ms. Matsui) for authoring this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to Social Security, Americans have two choices: On the one hand, there is the Democratic Party that created Social Security, strengthened it, and will continue to defend it from attacks. On the other, there are the Republicans on a never- ending crusade to dismantle this sacred program.

The ranking member of the Budget Committee plans to slash benefits, hike taxes on middle class families, and turn Social Security over to Wall Street. If former President Bush and Republicans had their way, trillions would have been lost during the financial crisis. Instead, the American people said ``no'' to privatization, and when the markets crashed, the trust fund did not lose a penny.

The American people have consistently rejected these failed Republican ideas that threaten the financial security of seniors. Don't be misled. We can protect Social Security's solvency for the ages, and we can do it without slashing benefits, privatizing the program, or making people work into their golden years.

I stand to defend America's seniors, and they deserve nothing less.

Madam Speaker, I am privileged to represent a district that's home to a large number of World War II veterans, veterans to whom I feel a tremendous gratitude for their heroic service, and so many other veterans of my district who served bravely in Korea, Vietnam, the gulf war, and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Our country has a sacred obligation to our troops, the brave servicemembers who risk their lives in defense of our country from the time they sign up to serve and well into their retirement.

I would like to thank Chairman Skelton for his work on behalf of our servicemembers, and in honoring the courage and bravery of our veterans on the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II with this resolution.

I would like to particularly mention just a few of the many Americans who served our country during World War II, veterans in my district like Will Lapidus, who sacrificed so much of themselves to serve this country in a time of great need. Josephine Anton was among the first women to join the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. She left college in her last year to serve as a lieutenant in the WAACs. And like so many veterans, Josephine continues to seek out opportunities to serve her community.

I would also like to recognize Ed Safarty, who served with my late father Bernard Deutch. Their 84th Infantry Division fought valiantly at the Battle of the Bulge. My father volunteered to serve his country as a teenager, earned a Purple Heart, and like every veteran I know, shared his passionate patriotism with his children and with his community for the rest of his life.

The legacy of service and self-sacrifice from this generation of Americans, exemplified by these veterans and so many others, is humbling. Our country owes all servicemembers an enormous debt of gratitude. It's important to recognize the tremendous sacrifices as well that the families of our servicemembers make, whose invaluable support and encouragement is a gift to our Nation, and one that is too often overlooked.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to support House Resolution 1516 here on the House floor today. And to all the veterans and those servicemembers presently serving, as well as their families, I offer you my most profound thanks.