Floor Statements

Let me thank you, Chairman Conyers, for your conscientious in bringing this legislation to the floor. I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 5283, the Help HAITI Act of 2010, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. This bill normalizes the immigration procedures for certain adopted Haitian orphans that received humanitarian parole between January 18 of 2010 and April 15, 2010. It allows their adoptive families, who are U.S. citizens, to apply immediately on their behalf to become legal permanent residents and eventually qualify for citizenship.

As a representative of the second-largest population of first- and second-generation Haitian immigrants, Haiti has been at the core of my Caribbean agenda. That is why I'm extremely concerned that more than 1,000 paroled Haitian orphans being adopted by American families remain in immigration limbo due to a legal technicality. At least 50 orphans reside in my district alone.

It is alarming that these children have to wait 2 years before they are granted legal permanent residency. If this situation is not addressed, these children will remain in this country without certain legal protection and are in jeopardy of being separated from their adoptive family and deported back to Haiti, where they have no family.

The legal technicality that puts these children in such a precarious position is yet another example of why

our Nation needs comprehensive immigration reform. That is why I'm committed to working with my colleagues to make immigration reform a reality as soon as possible. Our national security is at stake, our moral standing in the world depends upon it, and the American people, many of whom are first- and second-generation immigrants, demand it. I urge Congress to take a fresh look at the antiquated policies and bureaucratic backlog that tear families apart and devastate our communities.

Finally, I commend Congressman Fortenberry and Senator Gillibrand for addressing this issue and their continued support for the people of Haiti.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Ms. Norton, for giving me this opportunity to share with everyone how proud I am to rise in support of H. Res. 1428, which recognizes and salutes the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens on the occasion of its 100th anniversary as the preeminent horticultural attraction in the borough of Brooklyn and its longstanding commitment to the environmental stewardship and education for the City of New York.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden opened its doors to the public in 1910. Today, this 52-acre urban oasis features more than 11,000 different kinds of plants from around the world and specialty gardens, including the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden, the Children's Garden, the Native Flora Garden, the Cranford Rose Garden, the Alice Recknagel Ireys Fragrance Garden, and the Steinhardt Conservatory.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is an important part of the Brooklyn community, reaching over 150,000 children every year through various programs on site, in schools, and throughout the community. This garden contributes to the environmental and public education in Brooklyn and throughout the city of New York through partnerships with the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment High School. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Festival and has become an integral part of the cultural life and economic development of the city of New York and provides an invaluable service to its residents.

Today, under the leadership of President Scot Medbury and Board Chairman Frederick Bland, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden thrives in a dense urban setting in the heart of New York's 11th Congressional District and welcomes more than 725,000 visitors annually.

The garden serves more than 150,000 youth annually through a wide range of on-site, in-school, and community-based initiatives. It is a leader in building stronger, healthier communities through programs such as GreenBridge, which involves over 60,000 residents annually in neighborhood greening projects. Through its scientific research, plant conservation projects, and award-winning publications, the garden is a vital source of public awareness and understanding of the essential role plants play in our lives.

While the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has had 100 wonderful years of establishment, I am excited to see what the future holds for this great institution. I am happy to see that it is revitalizing its 52 acres by developing more than 4 acres of new and enhanced gardens for the enjoyment and education of the public, improving facilities to orient and serve visitors, and expanding its community horticulture programs.

The new herb garden opened in the spring of 2010 and is the first of several new and re-imagined gardens to come. The Visitor Center, currently under construction, will be an extraordinary demonstration of what can be achieved through environmentally sensitive design and will help the garden better welcome its growing audience. A series of exciting projects will continue to unfold over the next several years in response to the urgent call for beauty and renewal in urban life and for environmental stewardship at all levels of society.

As a Brooklyn native, for years I have seen how this dynamic institution has educated people of all diverse urban neighborhoods about the importance of enhancing the quality of their surroundings through the cultivation and enjoyment of plants. It has done an outstanding job of bringing public awareness to the importance of sustaining our environment and providing access to the tools and ways in which we can conserve and protect it.

I urge anyone who has the chance to visit the garden and witness firsthand the abundance of breathtaking plant life that resides in the middle of Brooklyn. All of us in Brooklyn appreciate the role that the Brooklyn Botanic Garden plays in our lives, and we look forward to continuing the enjoyment of this beautiful institution. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is truly a national treasure.

This recognition is well deserved, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this very important legislation.

Madam Speaker, on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 21, 2010, I was absent from the House and missed rollcall votes 454 through 455 and 458 through 459.

Had I been present for rollcall 454, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 292 supporting the goals and ideals of National Aerospace Week, and for other purposes ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 455, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment H.R. 725 to protect Indian arts and crafts through the improvement of applicable criminal proceedings, and for other purposes ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 458, on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 1537 Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall 459, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended to H.R. 5566 Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010 ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H.R. 5283, the Help Haiti Act of 2010, introduced by my colleague Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. This bill normalizes the immigration procedures for certain adopted Haitian orphans that received humanitarian parole between January 18, 2010 and April 15, 2010. It allows their adoptive families, who are U.S. citizens, to apply immediately on their behalves to become legal permanent residents and eventually qualify for citizenship.

As the Representative of the second largest population of first and second generation Haitian immigrants, Haiti has been at the core of my Caribbean agenda. That is why I am extremely concerned that more than 1,000 paroled Haitian orphans being adopted by American families remain in immigration limbo due to a legal technicality. It is alarming that these children have to wait two years before they are granted legal permanent residency. If this situation is not addressed, these children will remain in this country without certain legal protections and are in jeopardy of being separated from their adoptive family and deported back to Haiti where they have no family.

The legal technicality that put these kids in such a precarious position is yet another example of why our nation needs comprehensive immigration reform. That is why I am committed to working with my colleagues to make immigration reform a reality as soon as possible. Our national security is at stake; our moral standing in the world depends on it; and the American people, many of whom are first and second generation immigrants, demand it. I urge Congress to take a fresh look at the antiquated policies and bureaucratic backlogs that tear families apart and devastate our communities.

Finally, I commend Congressman Fortenberry for addressing this issue and his continued support for the children of Haiti.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4842) to authorize appropriations for the Directorate of Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal years 2011 and 2012, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, there are hundreds of thousands of Americans who work day in and day out to protect our communities and our Nation. They perform a wide range of services for the country, responding to emergencies, screening bags and cargo, watching our borders. They are outstanding public servants, and we thank them for their service. We know that without them we are less secure. They know that without science and technology they can't accomplish their mission.

So today we consider H.R. 4842, to acknowledge the importance of science and technology research, development, testing and evaluation, to ensuring the safety and security of the American people and our Nation.

H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010, reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Science

and Technology Directorate, and Domestic Nuclear Detection Office through fiscal year 2012. Since 2003, S&T has been responsible for developing technologies to address Homeland Security capability gaps as identified by DHS and its operational components, most notably Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. DNDO was established in 2006 to develop detection technologies for nuclear and radiological devices, a high-consequence terrorist threat.

This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the activities of S&T and DNDO and puts these two DHS components on a path to greater effectiveness and efficiency by requiring strategic plans, benchmarking, and accountability systems.

For nearly a year, Mr. Lungren and I worked with my colleagues on the committee to craft this bipartisan authorization bill, which would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has the right tools available to be successful. Success in this context means delivering products into the hands of our first responders, law enforcement officials, or critical infrastructure owners, to help them achieve their mission and make America more secure.

In conducting our review, we examined the Homeland Security Act and the Department's use of the authorities the Congress has vested in it. We have also received insight and information from DHS leadership, stakeholders, the R&D community, private sector leaders, and independent analysts.

I believe that by reaching out to key stakeholders, we developed a very good bill that will authorize important management functions and programs within the S&T Directorate while emphasizing efficiency and cost savings.

Within this legislation, we institutionalize the process by which research and development is identified, prioritized, and funded within DHS. We emphasize the importance of strategic planning and require DHS S&T to do so every 2 years.

We establish training programs for developing technology requirements at DHS. We authorize an Office of Testing and Evaluation designed to prevent problems that occurred in major acquisition programs like SBInet, the infamous virtual fence, which will help curb wasteful spending in the Department.

We create an Office of Public-Private Partnerships and establish within S&T a streamlined review process for unsolicited proposals. We authorize twice the current amount of funding for cybersecurity R&D.

We explore alternatives for ASP technologies for detecting nuclear and radiological materials, and we affirm the committee's support for university programs and small businesses.

I look forward to discussing these and other matters with my colleagues today.

Finally, I want to express my appreciation and thanks to our chairman, Mr. Thompson, and Ranking Member King for their support of this important legislation.

Mr. Lungren was very instrumental in crafting the bill, and I thank him for working with me on it. I want to also thank the majority and minority committee and personal office staffs for their efforts.

We often say that Homeland Security is not a partisan issue, and that is evidenced today by this bipartisan legislation.

June 25, 2010.

Hon. Bart Gordon,

Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of

Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to you regarding H.R. 4842, the

``Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act

of 2010.''

I agree that provisions in H.R. 4842 are of jurisdictional

interest to the Committee on Science and Technology. I

acknowledge that by forgoing further consideration, your

Committee is not relinquishing its jurisdiction and I will

fully support your request to be represented in a House-

Senate conference on those provisions over which the

Committee on Science and Technology has jurisdiction in H.R.

4842.

This exchange of letters will be inserted in the

Congressional Record as part of the consideration of this

legislation in the House.

I look forward to working with you on this legislation and

other matters of great importance to this nation.

Sincerely,

Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas, the subcommittee chairwoman of the Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection Committee of Homeland Security, Ms. Jackson Lee.

I yield an additional 2 minutes to Ms. Jackson Lee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu), who is a leader on the Science and Technology Committee, who worked very closely with our committee to make this legislation a reality. We want to thank him for his leadership in that regard.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important Homeland Security legislation. This legislation authorizes a program that has been very instrumental in keeping the City of New York and its environs safe, and that is securing the city. This initiative has proven to be an effective tool, and we are looking forward to a whole range of other important R&D programs to come forth as a result of this reauthorization. Securing the city should be expanded and will be expanded through this authorization to other environs throughout this Nation that could use that level of security through our efforts, as has been the case with securing the cities.

So I am urging my colleagues, once again, to make sure that this authorization passes.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the first female Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Patrice Marks. Ambassador Marks is serving as Jamaica's tenth Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS). She assumed office May 17, 2010. Ambassador Marks holds both a Bachelor and Master degrees in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and Nova University, Florida, USA, respectively. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador, Ms. Marks served on several private and public sectors Boards, including being Deputy Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Chairman of the Central Wastewater Treatment Company Limited (CWTC), Chair of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Director of the Board of RBTT Securities Jamaica Limited, Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI), National Health Fund (NHF), the University of the West Indies (Mona School of Business). She holds the distinction of being the first female President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM), an organization which promotes investment and trade between the United States and Jamaica.

``As a Jamaican American woman, and the Representative of one of the largest districts of first and second generation Jamaican immigrants, it is truly my honor to recognize and commend Ambassador Marks for her accomplishments. She has indeed made history through her appointment. Ambassador Marks is well equipped to serve the country of Jamaica. With her talent and expertise, I am positive that she will help bring Jamaica and its people into a new era of prosperity and strengthen U.S.-Jamaican relations to create a more secure and stable hemisphere.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res 1405, a resolution celebrating 50 Years of African independence. I thank Mr. Rush for sponsoring this important resolution and for his work as a champion for Africa here in Congress. Mr. Rush's leadership, along with that of Representatives Donald Payne and Ed Royce, in shaping policies that help foster economic vitality and good governance on the continent is truly commendable.

I was a lead cosponsor of this resolution because it recognizes the importance of good governance and democratic principles, which have flourished in many African countries over the past decade. Indeed, more than two-thirds of sub-Saharan African countries have held democratic elections since 2000. Moreover, several nations, from Senegal to Tanzania, and from Ghana to Zambia have seen successful power changes over the past decade. The United States Department of State has expressed its commitment to supporting African efforts to fortify government accountability and overall good governance, which is crucial to the continent's future growth and global influence.

The resolution commends the socio-economic and political progress being made by African countries, while acknowledging the associated challenges that many still face. According to a June 2010 McKinsey Global Institute report entitled ``Lions on the Move: The Progress and Potential of African Economies,'' over the past decade ``Africa's economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with new commercial vibrancy.'' Africa's combined consumer spending in 2008 was $860 billion, and America is committed to partnering with African nations to foster economic development, entrepreneurship and trade in the continent.

Kofi Annan, Chair of the Africa Progress Panel (APP) recently noted that ``Africa's future is in its own hands, but that success in managing its own affairs depends on supportive global policies and agreements.'' H. Res. 1405 comes at a time when the world is taking notice of Africa's great progress in recent years and it reaffirms the United States' commitment to growth and prosperity in Africa.

This resolution is a celebration of the hope that resonates in the hearts and minds of the many Africans, African Americans, policymakers, and NGOs that are committed to Africa's progress and prosperity. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 75th birthday of Slinger Francisco, better known as The Mighty Sparrow or The Birdie. With a career spanning over 50 years and counting, entertaining audiences from the Caribbean to Asia and all points in between, The Birdie is widely recognized as the ``King of the Calypso World.''

The Mighty Sparrow was born to poor, working-class parents in Gran Roi, Grenada and migrated to his adopted homeland of Trinidad when he was one year old. As a child, he attended New Town Boys School and sang in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where his talent was quickly recognized as he became head choirboy. His influences included Nat King Cole, Frankie Laine, Sarah Vaughn, Billy Eckstein, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as calypso pioneers Lord Melody, Lord Kitchener, Lord Christo, Lord Invader and the Mighty Spoiler.

The Birdie had found success early with his hit ``Jean and Dinah'' at the age of 20. Not satisfied with early success, he followed up with a rapid succession of hits including ``Carnival Boycott'', ``P.A.Y.E.'', ``Russian Satellite'', ``Theresa'', ``Good Citizen'', ``Salt Fish'' and ``Penny Commission'' just to name a few. His songs covered a broad range of socially conscious topics including education, tyranny in Africa, animal cruelty and the welfare of his home of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Mighty Sparrow's accomplishments include multiple Trinidad and Tobago Road March Competition titles, multiple Calypso Monarch titles, an honorary doctorate from the University of the West Indies, and his contributions to music and society led then-mayor Ed Koch to proclaim March 18th, 1986 ``The Mighty Sparrow Day.''

I hope all of my colleagues will join me in celebrating the birthday and extraordinary body of work that The Mighty Sparrow has contributed during his career as a lyricist, composer, singer, comedian and entertainer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for key provisions and amendment to H.R. 4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. The bill provides a myriad of critical emergency funding for disaster relief in Haiti, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as fully paid for investments to meet domestic needs, such as education jobs and Pell Grants. Unfortunately, this bill also includes funding for the war in Afghanistan, the longest war in our nation's history.

While I am grateful to the men and women who serve valiantly in our Armed Forces, both at home and abroad, I strongly oppose any additional funding for the war in Afghanistan. This war has gone on long enough without a clear and sufficient exit strategy. My constituents and I can no longer bear to see more Americans die or remain in harm's way, for this fruitless war. The time is now to bring our troops home, stop the unnecessary spending and stabilize our economy. That is why I support the amendments offered by CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee and James McGovern, David Obey and Walter Jones.

I commend Chairwoman Lee for working diligently to bring her important amendment for a vote. I agree we must begin to end the war by limiting funds to the safe, timely withdrawal of US troops and military contractors from Afghanistan. The people in my district demand it, I morally oppose it, and time is of the essence.

I also want to commend the Chairman David Obey and the Members of the Committee on Appropriations for their hard work on the House Amendment to the Senate bill. In particular, I want to thank the Committee for including funding for school districts, like those in New York City, that are poised to receive high concentrations of Haitian child refugees. These children are more likely to settle in already overburdened school districts. Therefore, schools receiving these children will undoubtedly need extra resources to accommodate this new population. In April, I joined my colleagues on a letter to Chairman Obey, expressing this very concern. I am grateful that this language was adopted.

Additionally the Obey amendment provides major benefits to education for all Americans. It includes $10 billion in aid to local school districts avert massive teacher layoffs and $5 billion to help close the current shortfall in Pell Grants for college students--the absence of which would seriously imperil education funding for fiscal year 2011. This will affect thousands of teachers and students in my district and in the Greater New York area.

I strongly believe that H.R. 4899 is a key tool for Haiti's redevelopment. As the Representative of the second largest Haitian population of first and second generation Haitians Americans, I am greatly pleased that the bill includes $2.93 billion dollars for the U.S. participation in the Haiti disaster relief, $130 million above the President's request. The people of Haiti, its government, USAID and the Department of State cannot move forward in their recovery and reconstruction plans without the pledged financial support from our government.

Mr. Speaker, I support our troops, veterans, and military families, and in honor of them I voted to reunite our service members in Afghanistan with their families here at home. My heart also goes out to the people of Haiti and will continue to support our reconstruction efforts there. Lastly, I am proud that the advocacy efforts of the New York congressional delegation in pushing to save education jobs in New York City have paid off.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1405, a resolution celebrating 50 Years of African Independence. The seventeen African countries celebrating their political independence are: Cameroon, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Chad, Central Africa Republic, Congo, Gabon, Nigeria and Mauritania.

This resolution is important because democratic principles have flourished in many African countries over the past decade. Indeed, more than two-thirds of sub-Saharan African countries have held democratic elections since 2000. Moreover, several nations, from Senegal to Tanzania, and from Ghana to Zambia have seen successful power changes over the past decade. The Unites States Department of State has expressed its commitment to supporting African efforts to fortify government accountability and overall good governance, which is crucial to the continent's future growth and global influence.

The resolution commends the socio-economic and political progress being made by African countries, while acknowledging the associated challenges that many still face. According to a June 2010 McKinsey Global Institute report entitled `Lions on the Move: The Progress and Potential of African Economies,' over the past decade ``Africa's economic pulse has quickened, infusing the continent with new commercial vibrancy.'' Africa's combined consumer spending in 2008 was $860 billion, and America is committed to partnering with African nations to foster economic development, entrepreneurship and trade in the continent.

Kofi Annan, Chair of the Africa Progress Panel (APP) recently noted that `Africa's future is in its own hands, but that success in managing its own affairs depends on supportive global policies and agreements.' H. Res. 1405 comes at a time when the world is taking notice of Africa's great progress in recent years and it reaffirms the United States' commitment to growth and prosperity in Africa.

I commend the House for passing this important resolution.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues, Chair Waters and Chairman Frank, for bringing this important bill to the floor today and for supporting my amendment, which is cosponsored by Representative Cuellar from Texas.

Before I speak about my amendment, I want to quickly recognize the significance of H.R. 5072. This bill will make essential reforms to strengthen the financial footing of the FHA, and it will enhance its authority to go after fraudulent lenders who have preyed on the most vulnerable of borrowers for far too long.

Mr. Chairman, many people have blamed this foreclosure crisis on the borrowers while some individuals, desperate to achieve the American Dream, may have sought to cut corners in the process. Fraudulent and unscrupulous lenders ultimately held the purse strings. These lenders bear a great deal of the burden for the foreclosure crisis, which continues to impact Americans and to devastate communities from coast to coast.

Last year, New York City saw a record 20,000 foreclosure filings. According to data compiled by the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University, in the first quarter of 2010, there were 4,226 foreclosures across New York City, up 16.3 percent from 2008. Brooklyn alone experienced 1,546 foreclosures in the first quarter of 2010.

Since the beginning of the FHA, Commissioner Stevens' tenure in 2009, the Commissioner and Deputy Assistant Secretary Bott have taken several steps to assess and to strengthen FHA's foreclosure mitigation capabilities, beginning with a thorough review of FHA and of private lender loss mitigation and foreclosure preventative activities. The FHA trained almost 2,000 staff lenders on how to better serve FHA borrowers to avoid foreclosure, to identify lenders which are underperforming and to share best practices to improve foreclosure mitigation performance.

FHA assisted more than 450,000 borrowers in the past year to avoid foreclosure through a variety of loss mitigation programs, but my constituents are telling me that more can be done to support the foreclosure counseling efforts. We must determine if enough resources are being devoted to foreclosure mitigation, especially for low-income borrowers. That is why I proposed this amendment, along with Mr. Cuellar, which would direct GAO to analyze the effectiveness of HUD's loss mitigation home retention efforts in helping distressed borrowers, especially low-income borrowers, hold on to their American Dream. While the FHA is working to strengthen its mitigation capabilities, resources for these efforts are likely insufficient for the massive size of the program.

I'd like to thank Representative Cuellar for joining me in this effort. Low-income borrowers in rural areas such as Mr. Cuellar's district in Texas are facing the same challenges as those in distressed urban areas such as parts of my district in Brooklyn.

I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment to assist our Nation to overcome our foreclosure crisis.

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

I want to thank my colleague on the other side of the aisle for seeing the usefulness in this amendment. I want to thank Mr. Cuellar for being a partner and for bringing this amendment forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5026, the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act, and urge my colleagues to support it. I thank my colleague Chairman Markey for bringing this important legislation to the floor.

The GRID Act empowers the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in the event of a Presidential emergency declaration, to take actions needed to protect our grid.

I have said this before but it bears repeating: A modern society is characterized by the presence of three things: clean available water, properly functioning sewage and sanitation services, and electricity.

I would further assert that the way our present systems function, electricity is needed to power those other critical systems. So at a minimum, we rely on electricity to function as a modern society.

It is our very reliance on this infrastructure that makes it an obvious target for attack. We know that many of our adversaries--from terrorist groups to nation states--have and continue to develop capabilities that would allow them to attack and destroy our grid at a time of their choosing.

There are two significant threats to the electric grid. One is the threat of cyber attack. Many nation states, like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, have offensive cyber attack capabilities, while terrorist groups like Hezbollah and al Qaeda continue to work to develop capabilities to attack and destroy critical infrastructure like the electric grid through cyber means.

If you believe intelligence sources, our grid is already compromised. An April 2009 article in the Wall Street Journal cited intelligence sources who claim that the grid has already been penetrated by cyber intruders from Russia and China who are positioned to activate malicious code that could destroy portions of the grid at their command.

The other significant threat to the grid is the threat of a physical event that could come in the form of a natural or manmade Electromagnetic Pulse, known as EMP. The potentially devastating effects of an EMP to the grid are well documented.

During the Cold War, the U.S. government simulated the effects of EMP on our infrastructure, because of the threat of nuclear weapons, which emit an EMP after detonation. Though we may no longer fear a nuclear attack from Soviet Russia, rogue adversaries (including North Korea and Iran) possess and test high altitude missiles that could potentially cause a catastrophic pulse across the grid.

These are but two of the significant emerging threats we face in the 21st century. Our adversaries openly discuss using these capabilities against the United States. According to its ``Cyber Warfare Doctrine,'' China's military strategy is designed to achieve global ``electronic dominance'' by 2050, to include the capability to disrupt financial markets, military and civilian comunications capabilities, and the electric grid prior to the initiation of traditional military operations.

Cyber and physical attacks against the grid could both be catastrophic and incredibly destructive events, but they are not inevitable. Protections can--and must--be put in place ahead of time to mitigate the impact of these attacks.

The time for action is now, support the GRID Act and help ensure America's future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1362, Celebrating the Life and Achievements of Lena Mary Calhoun Horne.

I want to first thank my friend, mentor, and co-author, Chairman John Conyers, Jr. working with me to craft this resolution and for bringing it to the floor for a vote.

I am here today to pay tribute to one of Brooklyn's most treasured gifts to American arts, culture, and civil society. On May 9, 2010, Hollywood actress, jazz singer, and civil rights activist Lena Horne passed away at the age of 92.

Ms. Horne was a trail-blazing performing artist whose life exemplified her commitment to social justice, peace, and civil rights. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Ms. Horne made her debut performance in the famous Cotton Club in Harlem at the age of 16, propelling her into a thriving career that took her from Broadway to Hollywood.

A major contributor to the arts, Ms. Horne's legacy as a Broadway star, movie star, and Grammy-award winning recording artist will never be forgotten. Her long career was punctuated by a number of notable firsts and industry accolades. She was the first African-American woman to perform with a white band ensemble, the first black performer to play the Copacabana nightclub, and among the first African Americans to sign a long-term Hollywood

film studio contract. Industry recognized her talents with four Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Tony Award, and a Kennedy Center Honor.

A member of the NAACP since the age of two, Ms. Horne was an avid supporter of the civil rights movement. She participated in numerous civil rights rallies and demonstrations, including the March on Washington in August 1963. Joining Eleanor Roosevelt, Ms. Horne worked to pass anti-lynching legislation.

A major supporter of the troops, during World War II, Ms. Horne initially toured with the USO performers. After criticizing the treatment of African-American troops, Ms. Horne refused to perform for a segregated military audience. When her studio pulled Horne off the tour as a response to her act of defiance, she ultimately used her own money to finance trips to perform at Army camps. I admire her dedication to honoring our troops.

Ms. Horne left behind a legacy that has forever changed the opportunities available for female African-American performers. But even more important, Ms. Horne is a role model for young women of every race who are brave enough to follow their dreams or speak out against injustice.

One of Brooklyn's finest, Lena Horne will be truly missed, but her legacy will forever remain in our memory, like a sweet . . . sweet . . . melody.

Madam Speaker, the American Red Cross has provided assistance and comfort to communities stricken by disasters large and small since it was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton. President Woodrow Wilson was the first to proclaim ``Red Cross Week'' in 1918, as a time for our citizens ``to give generously to the continuation of the important work of relieving distress.'' For over 100 years, the American Red Cross has continued to help ensure our communities are more ready and resilient in the face of future disasters. This March, I urge all Americans to not only recognize the depth and breadth of services offered by the American Red Cross, but to also join the effort and increase awareness of humanitarian work.

From rebuilding former adversaries after World War II, to combating HIV/AIDS in Africa, to saving lives after the tragic earthquake in Haiti, the American people have an unmatched tradition of responding to challenges at home and abroad with compassion and generosity. The American Red Cross has had an ongoing presence in Haiti since 2004 supporting local disaster preparedness, HIV education, malaria prevention and measles immunization initiatives. In just over one month since the earthquake, the Red Cross has provided assistance to more than 1.3 million people and will continue to aid hundreds of thousands more in the months ahead.

At home and abroad, one in five Americans is touched by the Red Cross every single year. The American Red Cross was instrumental in providing immediate response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January of this year. Currently, more than 100 people are representing the American Red Cross in Haiti. This includes 30 specialists providing relief distribution and telecommunications support and 14 employees, who were permanently based in Haiti prior to the earthquake and are helping to guide the response, in addition to over 50 Creole-speaking interpreters on the USNS Comfort. The American Red Cross is also responding to the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile on February 27, making an initial $50,000 pledge from its International Response Fund for relief operations. In addition, the American Red Cross will continue to monitor the potential impacts of Saturday's tsunami and is prepared to help the people of Hawaii and the U.S. territories in the Pacific, if there is a need.

In addition to deploying relief workers and other disaster management specialists, the American Red Cross is providing relief supplies for 130,000 Haitians including blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, water containers and mosquito nets. The Red Cross has also provided three million pre-packaged meals to the United Nations World Food Programme in Haiti as well as funding to help feed an additional 1 million people for a month. The organization has also partnered with Population Services International to provide more than 1 million water- purification sachets, to ensure that Haitian families have access to clean drinking water. The Red Cross has also provided nearly 750 units of blood for Haiti earthquake survivors. As of early February, the American Red Cross has received over $225 million for the Haiti relief and recovery effort, and 91 cents of every dollar is going directly to critical humanitarian services and programs. That is why I partnered with the Red Cross of Greater New York to help with Haiti response efforts.

Just one week after the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, the NY Red Cross, working in partnership with Local 1199SEIU, NAACP, Haitian Americans United for Progress, Councilman Mathieu Eugene and my office, was able to provide volunteer translators. The Red Cross of Greater New York has since deployed over forty Creole-speaking volunteers, to serve on the US Navy's hospital ship, the USNS Comfort anchored off the coast of Haiti. The Greater New York chapter has also helped thousands of Haitian Americans in my district connect with their family members in Haiti. Representing the second largest concentration for first and second generation Haitian immigrants, I applaud the Red Cross' Resorting Family Links programs, which has worked to register over 30,000 people affected by the earthquake. To date, the Red Cross of Greater New York has facilitated nearly 2,000 phone calls between earthquake survivors and their family abroad. Throughout the Greater New York region, the Red Cross provides invaluable services that protect the life and health of all New Yorkers.

The American Red Cross of Greater New York is a key humanitarian partner providing immediate aid to as many as 100,000 New Yorkers affected by local disasters each year. When disaster strikes a densely populated urban area, the emergency-care needs are huge and immediate. Recently in my district, the Red Cross of Greater New York launched their ``March to 200'' campaign with the goal of training 200 Red Cross volunteers in shelter leadership roles. It is this dedication to service and preparedness which makes the Greater New York Red Cross a valuable asset to all New Yorkers.

The Red Cross of Greater New York would not be what it is today without the priceless work of CEO Terry Bischoff. Her dedication and compassion have inspired us all, and her leadership has transformed the capacities of this organization. She will most certainly be missed, but the effects of her work will be lasting. Whether it is an earthquake or a single family home fire; a call for blood or a call for help, the American Red Cross is there. I ask all my colleagues join me today in applauding the hard work of the American Red Cross volunteers and celebrating March as American Red Cross Month.

Madam Speaker, we all know that health care costs are unsustainable. They're still crushing families, small businesses and large companies alike. When people lose their jobs, they lose their health insurance. Even people who do have jobs and want coverage but have preexisting conditions still couldn't get coverage.

We are closer than ever to reforming our Nation's broken health insurance system with a plan that puts America back in control of their health care choices, holds insurance companies accountable, and makes coverage more affordable.

As we move forward through this legislative process, I am confident that our bill will make health insurance affordable for the middle class and small businesses by reducing premiums and out-of-pocket costs, give millions of Americans access to affordable insurance choices through a new, competitive health insurance market, and hold insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of coverage, including for preexisting conditions. And it will close the disastrous doughnut hole that seniors are having to chose between lifesaving medication and food to eat.

For over 12 years, the once Republican-led Congress has failed to do this. We're going to do it now.