Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, for years, reckless Republican economic policies and lax oversight of the financial industry led to an historic economic collapse for which everyday Americans are still paying the price, but now we are beginning to turn the corner.

Today, we are creating jobs, not losing jobs. The unemployment rate is beginning to fall, and confidence is rising.

Just as we are beginning to grow this economy, Republicans are prepared to stop the recovery in its tracks by blocking desperately needed job creation legislation. If we don't act now, the bedrock of our communities--our teachers and police and firefighters--will be laid off. Yet Republicans have blocked needed emergency aid to State and local governments.

If we don't act now, unemployment assistance will be cut off for so many of our citizens--for the mothers and fathers who only want to find work to support their families. If we don't act now, up to 300,000 teachers will be fired.

Instead of punishing the unemployed teachers and police, Republicans must stop blocking this urgent economic legislation. The time to act is now.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

``Today, this body has the opportunity to profoundly advance the security of our nation and our allies. Today, this body can pass crippling new economic sanctions on Iran and at long last deliver the bill to the desk of the President.

``The stakes could not be higher. Again and again, Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of our ally Israel and he has spoken of a world without the United States. This behavior is intolerable and today Congress sends the clear message to Iran that their pursuit of nuclear weapons will not be allowed.

``The past 30 days have marked the most serious steps forward in preventing a nuclear Iran. Beginning with the UN Security Council resolution, followed by the actions of the European Union, culminating today with the efforts of this Congress to craft the most comprehensive, results-oriented legislation, Iran will finally feel the burden of crippling economic sanctions.

``This legislation is the most important step Congress can take today to thwart the development of an Iranian nuclear power. Now we look to the Administration to hold those violators accountable and ensure the stringent implementation of these crippling sanctions. Now is the time to act to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program. I urge this body to act decisively today by passing this important piece of legislation.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 4 p.m. tomorrow, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday next for morning-hour debate, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, for morning-hour debate and noon for legislative business.

Madam Speaker, ``A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others.'' Today I would like to honor Marna S. Davidson for the path she has lit for us and congratulate her on her retirement. Ms. Davidson is the paradigm of a true educator: she has dedicated her life to teaching others both inside and outside the classroom.

Ms. Davidson came to Florida after a distinguishing career in the New York City Public School System. As an active teacher, Ms. Davidson was recognized with the Smallheiser Award by the United Federation of Teachers and helped her school achieve the prestigious Trechenberg Award.

When Ms. Davidson retired from New York and moved to Florida, she became politically active. Some will suggest that Ms. Davidson then found the most bullish and obstinate students of her career, the Florida legislature. In true form, Ms. Davidson took to lobbying the Florida legislature on educational issues with the same passion and zeal she taught with her whole life. There is no doubt that the children of Florida are better off due to the hard

work and dedication that Ms. Davidson advocated on behalf of their education.

I wish Ms. Davidson an enjoyable and peaceful retirement.

Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my Democratic colleagues to discuss the challenges facing seniors in America today. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from California, Representative Speier, for her ongoing commitment to our Nation's seniors, as well as Representative Schakowsky and Representative Matsui for their outstanding work as co- chairs of the Senior Task Force, an effort launched by the Democratic Caucus to protect the health and financial security of our Nation's eldest Americans.

Today I would like to focus on an issue of great importance to me and the many residents in the 19th District of Florida, and that is the issue of Social Security.

Social Security is a sacred trust that provides over 50 million Americans each year with a measure of financial security. In my district and across the country, Social Security guarantees seniors the ability to enjoy their golden years free from abject poverty or financial reliance on their children.

As the representative from Florida's 19th District, I have the privilege of serving so many seniors who fought in World War II and rebuilt this country after the Great Depression. These wonderful Americans have worked hard every day of their lives, and for them, Social Security does what it was designed to do--it provides them with a secure, basic source of income after a lifetime of hard work.

Seniors know they can count on Social Security to never be a day late or a dollar short, and they know that checks will never come back marked with ``insufficient funds.''

Many of my constituents saw their lifelong retirement savings vanish overnight due to the irresponsibility on Wall Street that led into this recession. And many of them lost all of their savings to predatory Ponzi schemes. However, for them, one thing is certain in this time of economic uncertainty: Social Security is still there, on time, every month. This critical program is working just as it should for millions of people.

Mr. Speaker, if President Bush and the Republican Congress had their way and had enacted a risky privatization scheme for Social Security, the savings of all America's seniors would have been gambled away on the stock market.

Today, I stand here with my Democratic colleagues to say that we will never let the private market gamble away the financial security of our Nation's seniors and our Nation's most vulnerable. Mr. Speaker, it's clear the stock market is no place for Social Security. It would take the security out of Social Security.

Just this year, the Republican alternative budget called for cuts in payments to seniors and a risky privatization of the overall system. Clearly, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle didn't run this idea by my constituents who saw what happened to their pensions invested in the private market.

The large, vibrant senior communities of south Florida share a common value: that a lifetime of hard work should be honored with a secure retirement. I stand with them when I say that Social Security must remain a reliable program, not just for this generation of seniors, but for generations of Americans to come.

To the opponents of this popular program, I say that we will tirelessly fight for the due benefits of our seniors who have spent a lifetime of earning. We will not yield. We will not back down. And for this generation of seniors and the next and the next after that, we will not let Social Security be privatized.

And while this social program keeps millions out of poverty, the work of improving how we care for our Nation's retirees has not ended. The current cost of living formula that ties seniors' COLA to the Consumer Price Index tracks inflation across the economy. Our Nation's economic downturn has prevented America's seniors from receiving an adequate cost of living adjustment, and that's not right.

The Consumer Price Index for wage earners tells us that goods and services are less expensive than they were in the third quarter of 2008, but the seniors in my district and across America know that their prices continue to go up. The fact is, our Social Security cost of living calculator is insufficient and just doesn't reflect the true cost of living for seniors. The measurement of determining seniors' cost of living should be indexed to, well, seniors' cost of living.

I have trouble explaining to my constituents that even though their part B premiums went up and their copay went up, and even though prescription drug prices are through the roof, they don't get a cost of living increase because the price of cell phones and supporting equipment went down.

In the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, seniors are losing their pensions, watching their home values drop. And, on top of all that, the agenda that the Republicans have put forth threatens to privatize this sacred trust.

And while this Congress has had to make the hard choices after inheriting an economy in shambles, the men and women serving our country on the commission, on the task force looking at the challenges facing our country fiscally, have the unenviable task of reducing our deficit and getting our national debt under control.

I would simply remind the distinguished members of the commission that before this great recession, Social Security has run a surplus every year since the 1980s and, in fact, today has $2.5 trillion in reserves.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of America's seniors, I would say to the members of the commission that a deficit commission should not undercut a program that contributes nothing to our deficit.

Just a month ago, the good people of Florida's 19th District sent me to Congress to fight for our seniors, our community, and our values. And I'm happy to tell them that, with my Democratic colleagues here today, this Congress is making these values a top priority.

And I'm pleased to reassure the seniors in Palm Beach and Broward Counties that, as a part of the Seniors Task Force, I'll be a tireless defender of Social Security and Medicare and a dedicated advocate for policies that protect the health and financial security of America's seniors.

I'm thrilled to stand here with my colleagues.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the American Jewish community's many contributions to our Nation's society and culture. I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for her outstanding dedication to preserving Jewish history and culture in America.

Jewish American Heritage Month gives all Americans the opportunity to recognize Jewish Americans as leaders in every facet of America's life, from athletics, entertainment, the arts and academia, to business, government, and our Armed Forces.

Florida's 19th District is home to the largest, one of the largest Jewish American populations in this country.

I'm privileged to represent many first generation Americans whose parents arrived on our shores seeking a better life. Many of these Jewish Americans are members of the Greatest Generation. They stepped up to serve in World War II and rebuilt this Nation after the Great Depression. In fact, over half a million Jewish Americans fought for the United States in World War II, and 11,000 of them perished fighting for our country.

For those who arrived in Europe as the Holocaust raged on, this war became very personal. As a quote from a Jewish Air Force officer reads, As a Jew, it was Hitler and me. That is the way I picture the war.

While the contributions of Jewish American soldiers during World War II cannot be understated, the truth is that Jewish American soldiers have been fighting for this country since the Revolutionary War.

Colonel Isaac Franks and Major Benjamin Nones were aides de camp to General George Washington. Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy, who served in the War of 1812, was court-martialed six times due to his defiance of anti-Semitism. And by the time the Civil War broke out, there were 150,000 Jews in the United States, with 7,000 fighting for the North and 3,000 fighting for the South. Senator Judah Benjamin even served as Secretary of State for the Confederacy. And although Jews only made up 2 percent of the population during World War I, they made up 6 percent of the United States Armed Forces.

Jewish Americans have served in Korea and Vietnam. They've served in Operation Desert Storm and in countless operations around the globe. They're among the brave young men and women who served after September 11 in the war on terror and who are serving bravely and valiantly in Iraq and Afghanistan, even as we speak.

And as we approach Memorial Day, I recognize those Jewish war veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, like Major Stuart Wolfer, a Jewish American major from my district, a loving father of three daughters who was killed by rocket fire in Baghdad 2 years ago.

Since the Congressional Medal of Honor, Jewish Americans have been awarded this high honor for their dedicated service to this Nation since it was created. Six Jewish Americans received the award in the Civil War, two in the Indian wars in the late 1800s, three in World War I, two in World War II, one in the Vietnam conflict.

I am proud to also note that Florida's 19th District is home to one of the

largest chapters of the Jewish War Veterans of America. These brave men and women embody true patriotism, and their dedication to this great country is captured in their mission statement, which reads:

We, citizens of the United States of America of the Jewish faith who served in the wars of the United States of America, in order that we may be of greater service to our country and to one another, associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America;

To foster and perpetuate true Americanism;

To combat whatever tends to impair the efficiency and permanency of our free institutions;

To uphold the fair name of the Jew and fight his or her battles wherever unjustly assailed;

To encourage the doctrine of universal liberty, equal rights, and full justice to all men and women;

To combat the powers of bigotry and darkness wherever originating and whatever their target; and

To preserve the spirit of comradeship by mutual helpfulness to comrades and their families.

The mission of this wonderful organization holds a special significance to me. I'm the proud son of a Jewish war veteran who volunteered as a teenager to serve our country and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he earned a Purple Heart.

My dad's no longer with us today, but with every veteran that I meet, I hear his voice and remember his love of country. It's a love of country that so many Jewish Americans hold in their hearts. Those who practice the Jewish faith hold in high regard a value for service, for justice and progress for all people.

These are values also embedded in the very fabric of this country. And it's for this reason today, on the fifth anniversary of Jewish American Heritage Month, that I am so proud to recognize the Jewish American men and women who, for centuries, not only have shaped our national culture, but have defended our people in times of great challenge.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz for arranging this wonderful evening.

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of talk in Congress about restoring financial security for the American people. This week everyone in this body has a chance to turn their words into action. This week, we will have the opportunity to vote to preserve access to doctors for millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare.

No senior in Florida's 19th District or anywhere in America should see the

door to their doctor's office slammed shut as a result of ill-advised cuts in Medicare reimbursements. Likewise, no veteran should have to worry that their TRICARE benefits no longer enable them to see a physician that they trust.

So many doctors in south Florida do everything they can to serve Medicare beneficiaries and America's veterans. This legislation will stop a 21 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement rates so that the doctors in our community can continue to do their important work.

Our seniors deserve access to more than simply Medicare; they deserve access to doctors. Let's show our doctors and the seniors and the veterans who rely upon them the respect that they rightly deserve, and let's continue to help restore financial security to the American people.

Mr. Speaker, fishing has been barred from one-fifth of the Gulf of Mexico. That is 29 million acres off limits to the American citizens who rely upon the seafood industry to support their families. Globs of oil called ``tar balls'' have landed in the Florida Keys, a warning of the threats to Florida's vibrant tourism industry. The consequences of this devastating oil spill will not be felt by Democrats or Republicans, but by all Americans, and for years to come.

The oil spill cleanup could cost more than $14 billion; but today oil companies are required only to pay a measly $75 million toward those damages. For that reason, it is outrageous to see legislation forcing BP to pay for this mess fail once again on partisan lines.

Most shops have a long-recognized policy: you break it; you buy it. The same should apply to oil companies.

I urge my Republican colleagues to join a bipartisan effort protecting taxpayers from a massive bailout of the oil industry. It is time to worry less about oil company profits and more about the American people.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Theodore Kaplan on his 100th birthday. Mr. Kaplan is an active constituent in my district who still walks, drives, and plays bridge. We should all be so lucky to live such a fruitful life! Congratulations to Theodore on this joyous occasion.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tracey Grossman, recently honored as the recipient of the 2010 Daniel Ginsberg Award by the Anti-Defamation League.

The Anti-Defamation League's Daniel Ginsberg Award is given annually to young ADL leaders who show the enthusiasm and creativity of Daniel Ginsberg and ADL leaders whose interest and involvement covered virtually the entire spectrum of ADL issues. Since 1995, ADL has recognized many of their young and most dedicated leaders with this great honor.

Tracey's advocacy on behalf of the goals of Florida's chapter of ADL, and her guidance of Florida's ADL Glass Leadership Institute carries on the spirit of Daniel Ginsberg's great leadership.

I would like to congratulate Tracey, her husband Gabriel, and her parents Wes and Maddi for this great honor. I am proud to have their friendship and wish Tracey continued success in all of her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, as the old saying goes, ``Save one life, you're a hero. Save 10,000, you're a nurse.''

I rise today on the birthday of Florence Nightingale to honor America's nearly 3.1 million registered nurses as they celebrate this year's National Nurses Week themed ``Nurses: Caring Today for a Healthier Tomorrow.'' Nursing is a profession that welcomes dedicated people with a variety of interests, strengths, and passions attracted by the numerous opportunities that the profession offers. Their dedication to improving the health of our Nation is unmatched, and with the recent passage of health reform, America's demand for nurses is greater than ever as we recruit more nurses to ensure patients' access to high-quality, affordable care, now and in the future.

America's nurses are especially important to our rural and underserved areas as they are the most cost-effective and often the only preventive and primary health care providers available. Our registered nurses are there for patients during times of disaster and crisis, and they serve us well in our schools and at our offices. They devote their lives to improving the quality of life of others and frequently adapt to meet the public's growing needs. The indispensible contributions of our nurses to our health care system are far too often overlooked.

I urge my colleagues to join with me in thanking America's nurses for their role in ensuring the health and well-being of our Nation. Nurses are experts in addressing patient needs. They make a difference every day in all of our lives. When you see a nurse today, thank them for their exceptional work because our caring nurses are ensuring a healthier tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1299) supporting the goals and ideals of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Mr. 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 under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution honors our law enforcement community by supporting the observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Since 1962, May 15 has been recognized as Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the week of May 15 has been designated as Police Week.

For nearly 50 years, we have continued this observance as a way to honor the men and women of our Nation's law enforcement agencies. They protect our neighborhoods, our homes, and our loved ones; and we are grateful.

The men and women who dedicate their careers to our safety do so at the expense of spending long hours away from their families, putting themselves at great risk, and in too many instances, making the ultimate sacrifice.

On average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in this Nation every 53 hours. Unfortunately, since the beginning of this year we have lost 58 officers.

Despite this ever-present danger, these dedicated professionals continue to make sacrifices for their communities without asking thanks or praise. The law enforcement professionals and police officers who toil in our communities across this Nation deserve our unwavering support and our thankful recognition.

I commend our colleague from Texas (Mr. Poe) for introducing this important resolution.

I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1094) commemorating the life of the late Cynthia DeLores Tucker.

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 under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1094 commemorates the life of the late Cynthia DeLores Tucker. Cynthia DeLores Tucker dedicated her life to eliminating racial barriers by championing civil rights and the rights of women. In particular, Ms. Tucker realized that voting was the most important civil right denied to African Americans and the key to changing this country. She spent her career in service to the principle that there could be no equality without equal access to the ballot box.

Born October 4, 1927, the 10th of 11 children, she grew up in Philadelphia during the Great Depression, overcoming a childhood marked by economic hardship and segregation, to attend Temple University and later the University of Pennsylvania.

In what would become the first step in her long career as a civil rights activist, Ms. Tucker worked to register African-American voters during the 1950 Philadelphia mayoral campaign. Shortly thereafter, she became active in local politics, serving as the first African American and first woman on the Philadelphia Zoning Board.

Driven by her belief that no one should be denied the right to participate in our democracy, Ms. Tucker went on to participate in the White House Conference on Civil Rights and to march from Selma to Montgomery with Dr. King in support of the 1965 Voting Rights Bill.

In 1971, Ms. Tucker was named Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by then-Governor Milton Shapp, making her the first female African American to hold this position in any State in the Nation. Under her leadership as Secretary of the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania became one the first States to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, and to institute voter registration through the mail.

After leaving her position in Pennsylvania State Government, Ms. Tucker continued to dedicate her time to public service and the promotion of civil rights through private organizations. She served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the NAACP, and on numerous other boards, including the Points of Light Foundation and Delaware Valley College.

In 1984, Ms. Tucker co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women, now known as the National Congress of Black Women, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the educational, political, economic and cultural development of African-American women and their families.

Mr. Speaker, Cynthia DeLores Tucker was a crusader for civil rights and the rights of women. Through her dedication to voting rights and the civil rights movement, she helped transform the perception of race and gender in the United States.

I'd like to commend my colleague, Diane Watson, for introducing this resolution. It is important that this Nation remember and honor the outstanding work of civil rights activists like Ms. Tucker.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to commemorate the life and to honor the legacy of Cynthia DeLores Tucker by supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act is an important bill that will create jobs, lower energy bills, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Improving efficiency is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to reduce pollution, and I am pleased to support a bill that encourages consumers to consider a more energy-efficient option when retrofitting or repairing existing appliances or systems.

Residents of south Florida and other disaster-prone regions know far too well the process of home repair, as my constituents have had to replace roofs and windows after powerful and damaging storms.

The underlying bill offers rebates for renovations, and my amendment simply ensures that the program will still apply if a natural disaster removes or destroys existing equipment. If a repair is required as a result of a hurricane or other natural disaster, the repair may no longer involve existing equipment and would therefore be ineligible for a rebate. For people who are making these repairs, we should ensure that it is our policy to encourage them to consider the most energy- efficient equipment. That is the purpose of this amendment.

The amendment is limited in scope and will not alter the intent of the underlying bill. It will only apply to federally declared disaster areas and only

extend eligibility to an appliance or system destroyed by the disaster. For example, if a hurricane takes off a roof, this amendment will ensure that the homeowner still has access to a rebate for purchasing an energy-efficient roof even though there is no longer a roof to retrofit.

Fire season just began in California and hurricane season is right around the corner. We ought to be mindful of the challenges faced by Americans who live in regions vulnerable to natural disasters. This amendment ensures that a south Florida family can rebuild to a higher energy efficiency standard after a disaster and does not have to wonder why they don't receive the same tax incentive offer to any other homeowners who choose to renovate their homes.

I would like to commend Mr. Welch, Chairman Markey, and Chairman Waxman for this important energy and jobs legislation and for accepting this amendment. I respectfully request that my colleagues join me in supporting this valuable, commonsense amendment and the underlying bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I appreciate the comments and the support, and I ask that my colleagues all support this amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 6th annual HeartCaring Meeting of the Spirit of Women Hospital Network, advocating on behalf of early diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.

There are far too many misperceptions about cardiovascular disease in women. Cardiovascular disease is the single most common cause of death among American woman. In fact, more woman die of heart disease every year than every cancer combined. Nearly 37 percent of all female deaths, or roughly 400,000 deaths a year, are the result of cardiovascular disease, many of which can be prevented with early detection and preventative care.

Spirit of Women's dedication to having an impact on the lives of women by advocating for improved health and lifestyles of America's women is unmatched in the health community. Spirit of Women's HeartCaring program uses an innovative approach that engages hospitals, clinicians, and consumers in early diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The HeartCare program not only lowers health care costs by focusing on preventative care, but their focus on providing healthy lifestyles to American women adds quality years to women's lives.

I wish to congratulate the Spirit of Women for their 6th Annual HeartCaring Meeting. Through their commitment to improving the health of American women, the Spirit of Women Hospital Network has proven that action is health.