Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. First of all, I want to be clear that I support the funding to protect the citizens of the Midwest from flooding. And, in fact, Louisiana has gotten more money than probably anybody else. I come from Florida. We have disasters, natural disasters, all of the time. But the reason there is no funding for flood protection is because the Republican leadership cut the funding and the Republican Members supported it. Let me be clear. I support the funding for the disaster. As the ranking member of the Transportation Subcommittee on Rail, I find that these funding cuts which would block all of the remaining unobligated high-speed rail funding approved by the economic stimulus entirely unacceptable. And I am sick and tired of Members coming to the floor saying that the stimulus money was a disaster. It is not a disaster that we put people to work in Florida and throughout this country. And, in fact, if it wasn't for the stimulus dollars, teachers would have lost their jobs. In one area, we kept firefighters and police officers employed. And that is a job while this economy is turned around. And let's not forget how we got in this mess. Institutional memory is in order. When you have your head in the lion's mouth, you pull it out, you ease it out. What happened? How did we get here? When Bill Clinton left, we were operating with a surplus. But we had 8 years of Bush and two wars. And do you think this mess started 18 months ago? No, it did not. We have been practicing what I call reverse Robin Hood for 8 years. Nobody remembers that, when you kept giving tax breaks to the rich and billionaires. What happened here in December? Almost $800 billion that you gave to the not just millionaires, billionaires. And yet you come up saying in June and April, we can't send the pension checks. Yes, we're spending money up here, but it's the priorities you have. You don't have the priorities of taking care of the elderly people. You want to cut Medicaid and Medicare and Social Security while you give billionaires--billionaires--tax breaks, and millionaires. And now you want to cut money for high-speed rail. But we know for every billion dollars that we spend for high- speed rail, it generates 44,000 permanent jobs. But yes, we have some Governors that are shortsighted, like my Governor Rick Scott of Florida that sent back almost $3 billion. We have 11 percent unemployment. What was he thinking about? I guess he was thinking he didn't want to see those people going to work and making Barack Obama look good, even though we have the most congestion in that area, and that our competition is there. If you look at Spain, if you look at France, you look at Germany, 200 miles, 1 hour and 15 minutes. That is the future of our country. But we have some shortsighted people here, people who only want to see, you know, well, we need to balance the budget. Well, where were you when they were giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires? And you do it over and over again. That's the sad thing. If you put it on the board, put it on the board today, you would have the same vote. You would have the exact same vote. And every opportunity you have to vote, you vote to give millionaires and billionaires tax breaks. So, you know, we started the rail system, and we are now the caboose, and we don't even use cabooses any more. I am hoping that the American people will wake up. It is shameful that over and over again in the people's House, in the people's House, we attack the people who do not have lobbyists on Capitol Hill. And so I yield back the balance of my time, but I do know that elections have consequences. The American people are watching you. I have voted five times to raise the debt ceiling. Why did I do it under Bush? Because I knew it was in the best interest of this country and not the politics of the time. Announcement by the Acting Chair

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with many of my colleagues to introduce a resolution to grant the Montford Point Marines a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed for an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States. On June 25, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order No. 8802 establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission and opening the doors for the very first African Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. These African Americans, from all states, were not sent to the traditional boot camps of Parris Island, South Carolina, and San Diego, California. Instead, African American Marines were segregated-- experiencing basic training at Camp Montford Point near the New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Approximately 20,000 African American Marines received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949. On August 26, 1942, Howard P. Perry of Charlotte, North Carolina, was the first Black private to set foot on Montford Point. During April 1943 the first African American Marine Drill Instructors took over as the senior Drill Instructors of the eight platoons then in training; the 16th Platoon (Edgar R. Huff), 17th (Thomas Brokaw), 18th (Charles E. Allen), 19th (Gilbert H. Johnson), 20th (Arnold R. Bostic), 21st (Mortimer A. Cox), 22nd (Edgar R. Davis, Jr.), and 23rd (George A. Jackson). The initial intent was to discharge these African American Marines after the War, returning them to civilian life. Attitudes changed as the war progressed. Once given the chance to prove themselves, it became impossible to deny the fact that African American Marines were just as capable as all other Marines regardless of race, color, creed or National origin. Black Marines of the 8th Ammunition Company and the 36th Depot Company landed on the island of Iwo Jima on D-day, February 19, 1945. The largest number of Black Marines to serve in combat during World War II took part in the seizure of Okinawa in the Ryuku Islands with some 2,000 Black Marines seeing action during the campaign. Overall 19,168 Blacks served in the Marine Corps in World War II. On November 10, 1945, Frederick C. Branch was the first African American Marine to be commissioned as a second lieutenant, at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia. In July of 1948 President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 ending segregation in the military. In September of 1949, Montford Marine Camp was deactivated--ending seven years of segregation. I am honored to offer this resolution to recognize their service and sacrifice and acknowledge today's United States Marine Corps as an excellent opportunity for advancement of persons of all races due to the service and example of the original Montford Point Marines.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida, I rise to offer heartfelt condolences and pay tribute to the life of Elizabeth Watkins Saul, a humanitarian, social service advocate and life activist. I am moved and encouraged when recalling the life achievements of the gentle and loving spirit of an accomplished woman who lived such a brief and beautiful life of service. She strived for excellence in every endeavor and she exuded boundless energy and love that was shared in the field of community and social activism. As a wife, community leader and social service advocate, we embrace her husband, family and the community that embraced her service and humanitarian efforts. A woman for whom education was important, Elizabeth Watkins Saul received her B.S. Degree from the historic Texas Tech University with a degree in political science and public policy. On this special occasion and celebration of the life of a phenomenal woman, I join with the immediate family, and loved ones in saying farewell and praising God for the life of a woman of God who was selfless and lived a productive life of purpose. Elizabeth enjoyed fishing, painting, traveling, decorating, BINGO, reading and spending quality time with her friends and family. Elizabeth was dearly cherished by her loved ones, colleagues and her community in Fort Worth, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Alexandria, Virginia; Orlando, Florida; and Tucson, Arizona. Elizabeth's employment spans from Clinique Cosmetics, Capitol Hill, The Metropolitan Orlando Urban League, Raytheon and Tuskegee University Resolution Team. She most recently worked as a successful and well respected Senior Manager of Human Resources at Raytheon Missile Systems, where she played an integral role in the recruitment of Tuskegee graduates for careers in engineering and management. Elizabeth was a Tuskegee University presidential transition team member. In addition to being an essential part of President Gilbert Rochon's Transition Team; Ms. Saul was a member of two Transition Team committees: Improve the Management and Performance of the Kellogg Center and Improve Staff Quality and Productivity. Tuskegee will establish the Elizabeth Watkins Saul Scholarship at the University beginning in the fall of 2011. As a woman of integrity and character, Elizabeth was both gifted and inspiring, always leaning on the everlasting tasks of making a difference in her community. Where she saw pain, she sought to relieve it with personal interaction; where she saw potential in others, she gave them impetus and encouragement; where she saw despair, she brought direction and promise; and where she saw the need for love and caring, she unselfishly gave of herself. The life of Elizabeth Watkins Saul was one of accomplishment and service. In her passing, we pay tribute to an accomplished woman and her life of service to each of us. She will be remembered for the love of her family, friends, Sorority Sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and colleagues. This attribute set her above and beyond all selfless giving. She has a special anointed gift of discernment and those that had an opportunity to be in her presence were blessed to experience her tireless energy for service and were beneficiaries of her boundless generosity. It is my prayer that by her example that each of us become the bearers of her humanitarian legacy. We come now to join in prayer for her parents, and a host of loving relatives, friends, whose lives have been forever changed by this exemplary woman of excellence and peace. I thank our Heavenly Father for allowing us to be blessed with the time spent with Elizabeth, our friend. Elizabeth was a devoted wife and leaves memories and love to her husband H. Rock Saul of 17 years; father and mother George, Sr., and Carolyn Watkins; Siblings Gerald Cook, George Watkins, Jr., Darnetta Kay Watkins-Owens (Michael); Mother-in-law Arleen Haydel; Sister-in-law Nicole Saul, six nieces and nephews, one godchild (Evans); Grandmother Dear Watson and a host of family members and special friends.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest last night on the debate pertaining to cutting funds for children and women with the Department of Agriculture. And I'm greatly disturbed by the assertion that we should do that and cut programs for senior citizens and the disabled because of the budgetary problems that we're having here in Washington. Yes, we're having problems; but those problems did not start 18 months ago. Those problems have been going on for a very long time. And we're making decisions. And when we voted--not I--in December to give billionaires and millionaires $780 billion and then in June and April you say you don't have money for pension checks and you don't have money for senior citizens and you don't have money for children and babies, it's a mispriority. And for people to get on this floor and constantly talk about the recovery and the number of jobs, well, I want to submit just for the record the number of jobs that were saved in Florida and Georgia and other places because of the Recovery Act.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I move to strike the last word.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. When you're born, you get a birth certificate. When you die, you get a death certificate. That dash on your tombstone in the middle is what you've done to make this place a better place. I rise in strong opposition against this bill. I can't believe that the Republicans are attacking the disabled, the seniors, and now the children. I really do believe the Scripture, To whom God has given much, much is expected. They really do expect more out of this Congress, the people's House. I may be the only person in the House with any institutional memory because it seems as if no one remembers that we didn't get in this mess 18 months ago. No. When President Bill Clinton left us, he left us with a surplus. And then we had 8 years of what I have called reverse Robin Hood. You know what I mean. You've got to be a certain age to know who Robin Hood was. But robbing from the poor and working people to give tax breaks to the rich. My colleagues talk about the fact that the President insisted on passing that $780 billion--not just for the rich and the millionaires, but the billionaires--in December. And everybody was slapping themselves on the back, what a great job because we didn't raise the taxes on the average American. And I would have voted not to raise it on the average Americans, but I knew that in April we were talking about cutting funds, pension funds, and now cutting funds for the children, the babies. It is inconceivable that we would cut funds to WIC, providing food for new mothers, babies, and children under 5 years old. Nearly 50 percent of the babies born in our country are on the WIC program. In my State of Florida, as many as 19,000 people would be affected by this cut. Lawton Chiles, former Governor of Florida, former Senator, used to have a slogan: ``This dog don't hunt.'' Folks, this dog don't hunt. The American people will wake up and wake up to what you're doing and wake up to the fact that when you have your head in the lion's mouth, the deficit, you've got to ease it out. You don't destroy programs affecting children and babies and senior citizens while giving tax breaks to billionaires and millionaires. And the sad fact is, if we put it on the board tomorrow, the Republicans would vote again to give the tax breaks to the billionaires and millionaires and yet leave the children and elderly people holding the bag. The American people need to wake up to what's going on. There is money in the House of Representatives, but you're choosing to give it to millionaires and billionaires. As I close, I really do believe what the Bible says: To whom God has given much, much is expected. And He's expecting more out of the people of the House of Representatives. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 382, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida, I rise now to offer my heartfelt condolences and pay tribute to the life of Margaret Cason Ward, a humanitarian, life activist and friend. As a woman who served her community as a renowned educator and community activist since moving to Leesburg in 1947, Mrs. Ward has been a ``Pillar'' within the many communities she was a part of. I am moved and encouraged when recalling the life achievements of this extraordinary woman of faith and community service. As a woman for whom education was important, Mrs. Ward was hired by the Lake County School District in 1947. By 2004, Mrs. Ward touched the lives of so many that she was recognized by receiving a place in the Governor's Wall of Fame as an `Outstanding African American Educator.' Mrs. Ward also founded the Dabney Minatee Heritage Group, Inc. and became the founding CEO. Realizing where her heart is committed, for the next seven years of her glorious life, she served as the Lake- Sumter Community College Reach-Out Director. As Director, she initiated the McKnight Achievement Program at LSCC. Mrs. Ward was able to construct the first job shadowing program at Disney World. All of these great accomplishments lead to Margaret Cason Ward in becoming the first African American female to be nominated by the Lake County Commissioners and placed in the Hall of Fame. Mrs. Ward continued her regime of excellence by securing the position of the first African American that was elected President of the Church for Women United. At the state level, she was recognized and named as the Prestigious Valiant Woman of the CWU. She continued to serve the education system as a member of the Associate Board of Trustee for Bethune Cookman College. Another great life accomplishment of Mrs. Ward was in 2004 she was presented the key to the City of Orlando by Mayor Buddy Dyer. Mrs. Ward was elected President of the Central Florida Conference Women's Missionary Society and was later elected the first Vice President of the 11th Episcopal District WMS. After her term as Vice President, she was appointed WMS Episcopal President. Mrs. Ward was also appointed Connectional Chairperson of the Christian Social Relations Committee. As a community activist, she gave of herself and her talents to benefit both the individuals and the organizations she served. Mrs. Ward was a Charter member of Epsilon NU Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, is a lifetime member of the NAACP, and has served as a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church since 1947. As a woman of integrity and character, Margaret Cason Ward was both gifted and inspiring. Where she saw potential in others, she gave them impetus and encouragement; where she saw despair, she brought direction and promise; and where she saw the need for love and caring, she unselfishly gave of herself. She has impacted the lives of so many that the Leesburg African American Museum was named in her honor. In Margaret Cason Ward's passing, we pay tribute to an accomplished woman and her life of service to each of us. She will be remembered and respected because she chose to care. We pray that by her example that each of us becomes the bearers of her humanitarian legacy. We come now to join in prayer for her loving daughter Randreta Ward Evans; her three grandchildren, Rhonda, Chad and Regina; and her great- grandchildren, Kishawn, Kivante, James and Madison; and a host of loving relatives and friends throughout the community, whose lives have been forever changed by this woman of excellence and peace. We thank Our Heavenly Father for allowing us to be blessed with the time spent with Margaret Cason Ward, our friend and sister.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I was unavoidably detained yesterday hosting a Job Fair in Jacksonville, Florida. Had I been able to attend the vote here yesterday, I would have voted, ``yea'' on rollcall Vote 330. I support H.R. 1627 Honoring American Veterans Act of 2011. This bill will allow certain monuments to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery, allow for a memorial marker to honor the memory of the Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States to be placed on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery. On rollcall vote 331, I would have voted, ``yea'' to support H.R. 1383, Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011. This bill resolves a provision that certain veterans who were retroactively affected by a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. The tuition these veterans were paying was increased by as much as $10,000 a year, and they should not be penalized for a change in law after they have begun their college education. However, an offset should be found that does not penalize the housing allowances of other GI bill recipients. On rollcall vote 332, I would have voted, ``yea'' to support H.R. 1657, a bill to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. The bill directs the VA to establish timelines to take action to debar non veteran-owned firms who fraudulently misrepresent themselves as veteran-owned firms, and sets a mandatory 5 year debarment period.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer to H.R. 1231 an amendment that would make the current ban on drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico permanent. This amendment would not have any effect on the budget as scored by the Congressional Budget Office. However, it would have a significant impact on the economy of Florida, given that the State's tourist industry will be protected from future oil spills which could destroy our beautiful beaches and coastal areas. Certainly, Florida's coastline is a treasure, not just for Floridians but for all Americans and people throughout the world. For years, the Florida delegation has worked together to protect our coastline and natural resources, and as long as those rigs are in this area, the potential for devastation to Florida beaches persists. If an accident was to occur causing oil to wash ashore and to Florida beaches, both the environmental and the economic damage would be devastating to the State. And following the disaster off of Louisiana's gulf coast last year, we saw a quick glimpse of what could happen to Florida's economy in the event of an oil spill. I toured the region by helicopter last year and witnessed the devastation firsthand. That said, before any new areas are opened and Florida's pristine beaches are put at risk, I would very much like to see drilling in the areas that are already open and increased funding for research for new technology. I strongly believe that any drilling off of Florida's gulf coast would be extremely deterrent to the State economy and ecosystem. As we saw in the BP oil spill last year in the Gulf of Mexico, wherein 11 workers died and an estimated 5 million barrels of crude oil poured into the Gulf of Mexico, the risks of drilling oil off of Florida's shores bring about extreme risk to our State in an already depressed economy, and with unemployment in the State of Florida still hovering at 11 percent, the last thing we need is to endanger nearly 1 million tourist-related jobs and the $60 billion tourist industry in the Sunshine State. Drilling off the coast of Florida is a misguided miscalculation. The risk of danger to the environment and the economy greatly outweighs any potential benefits. I would very much like to see increased drilling in areas already open and increased funding for research for new technology. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. More than 20 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, we have yet to clean up Prince William Sound in Alaska. Oil is still being found buried in sand from the BP oil spill. The frequent occurrence of extreme weather that the eastern gulf coast experiences, including hurricanes and severe storms, could easily produce an oil spill, even with the technological improvements in oil and natural gas operations. Storms along the gulf coast in 2005 caused 124 oil spills in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Katrina caused a 233,000 gallon oil spill, and Hurricane Rita worsened the damage with 508,000 gallons of oil spilled. If these rigs were in the gulf coast, our beaches would face complete destruction. As we have seen recently, cleanup methods for these spills are incapable of removing more than a small fraction of the oil. In addition, from the BP oil spill alone, Florida has over 284,000 claims with only 117,000 paid. That is less than half, for a total of over $1.45 billion. For the total gulf region, there have been 10,000 fishing claims, 122,000 food and lodging claims, 74,000 retail and sales claims, and a total of $1.6 billion paid on even more lost earnings and wages. We cannot afford another disaster of this magnitude. With more drilling, we still are living on borrowed time. Support the Corrine Brown amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 1016, a bill to measure the progress of relief, recovery, reconstruction, and development efforts in Haiti following the earthquake of January 12, 2010, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee of California. Immediately following the earthquake, Congress passed a bipartisan resolution expressing our determination to aid Haiti through this tragedy. I strongly believe that our nation needs to once again pledge unwavering support to continue to lead an aggressive, coordinated effort to aid Haiti's ongoing recovery and reconstruction. In the wake of the disaster, the American people and the global community rallied in solidarity with the Haitian people to provide one of the largest relief efforts in history. And today, nearly one and a half years after this tragedy, we must renew our support for the people of Haiti as they struggle to combat an ongoing cholera epidemic, curb post-election violence, and rebuild their neighborhoods, livelihoods, and their country. As this legislation stipulates, President Obama, ``in consultation with the heads of all relevant agencies . . . shall transmit to Congress a report on the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction, and development efforts in Haiti . . .'' and analyze the recovery efforts being made in Haiti to date, and ensure that ``our government is in line with the priorities of the Government of Haiti and actively engaging and working through Haitian ministries and local authorities'' to assist the island nation in their attempt to recover. As the representative of Florida's Third Congressional District, I have been a staunch advocate for the Haitian people throughout my congressional career of nearly 20 years, and have led numerous Codels to the island nation of Haiti. Moreover, as a Member from Florida with a large Haitian community in my district, and considering the island nation is located less than 700 miles from the Florida Keys, I feel it is my duty to do everything I can to provide assistance and improve the lives of the Haitian people. Certainly, even before the January 12th earthquake, Haiti was the least-developed country in our Hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world. The island nation had a per capita income around $400, horribly acute economic inequality, and over 80 percent of its 9 million inhabitants surviving below the poverty level. To me, this is entirely unacceptable, particularly given the island's proximity to the state of Florida. In October 2009, just two months before the earthquake, I led a Congressional delegation to Haiti to meet with President Rene Preval to discuss issues ranging from improving the nation's infrastructure, the high unemployment rate and poor standard of living. Yet the horrific earthquake that struck last January 12th made a dire situation for the majority of the people of Haiti unimaginably worse. Today, the nation remains devastated. A million displaced Haitians remain in tent camps. Mountains of rubble are piled in the streets, and billions in assistance pledged by the international community has yet to be delivered. Meanwhile, there have been many quests regarding the recent elections and incoming government's ability to capably lead in recovery and development efforts. As I'm sure everyone here knows, the massive earthquake that struck Haiti killed 230,000 people, displaced an estimated 2 million people from their homes, and affected one third of the country's population. The main port, the presidential palace, the parliament, the majority of ministry buildings, more than 50 hospitals and health centers, 1300 educational institutions, and more than 100,000 homes were left in ruins. The earthquake, which came less than 2 years after a series of devastating hurricanes, left millions of people in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country living in absolutely horrific conditions. Immediately following the earthquake, there was an outpouring of sympathy from people in the United States and around the world. American families opened their hearts and contributed millions to non- profit organizations that were working around the clock to save lives. The United States Government provided emergency medical care and distributed food, water, and tents to the displaced, and world governments committed more than $9 billion in aid for reconstruction at a donors' conference in March, including more than $1 billion pledged by the United States. For my part, immediately following the earthquake, along with the local community and tremendous assistance from church leaders, we organized food and clothing drives, and encouraged people to make donations to non-profits on the ground in Haiti. With assistance of area churches, businesses, local community leaders and nonprofit organizations, we transported seven 53-foot tractor-trailers filled with supplies with nearly $50,000 it food, water and other items from the Jacksonville and Orlando areas to Haiti's shores, and had the Coast Guard's assistance in their delivery to Food for the Poor, a non-profit group operating in Port-au-Pays, on the north side of the island. As a key Member of the House Transportation Committee and Chair of the Railroad subcommittee, I will continue to work hard on Capitol Hill to find ways in which the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure can provide technical assistance to the nation; in particular, in the area of rebuilding the ports, roads and general infrastructure system throughout the island. Indeed, getting the ports up and running, including improving customs procedures, is an essential element in the nation's struggle to turn the corner and prosper economically. If successfully carried out, this advancement would be a key component in the nation's efforts to successfully recover and prosper in the future, and improve the standard of living for the proud, hardworking people of the island nation Haiti.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day. National Train Day is on May 7th and celebrates the long history and critical importance of rail in the United States. In May 1869 the ``golden spike'' was driven into the final tie at Promontory Summit, Utah, ceremonially completing the first transcontinental railroad and therefore connecting both coasts of the United States. Suddenly, the country was united in a way it never had been and the sound of a train whistle was the soundtrack of happy reunions and tearful farewells. It heralded the arrival of mail, supplies and change. The train station became a focal point of every community, from New York City's Pennsylvania Station to the tiny stations that dotted rural America. Today, passenger and freight service are increasing dramatically, making this a perfect time to celebrate the strength of the railroad industry and passenger rail service in the United States. For many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major intercity transportation link to the rest of the country. Indeed, Amtrak ridership and revenue have never been stronger. During 2010 Amtrak welcomed aboard more than 28.7 million passengers, the largest annual total in Amtrak's history. An average of more than 78,000 passengers rides more than 300 Amtrak trains per day. We are experiencing a renaissance in passenger rail in this country, and if we want to keep up with our international competitors, we need to make a significant investment in passenger and high-speed rail. I've advocated for and support a dedicated source of funding for rail and would encourage the committee to include a minimum of $50 billion dollars for high-speed and intercity passenger rail over the life of the bill. Compared to the funding levels in the overall bill and the money being spent in other countries on rail, $50 billion is a drop in the bucket. Although we have some very small thinking Governors, support for high-speed rail is still high. The FRA received more than 90 applications from 24 states, the District of Columbia, and Amtrak for the $2.4 billion that Florida just gave up. The requests total nearly $10 billion dollars. Finally, I want to thank the hard working men and women who work at Amtrak and make it possible for millions of Americans to get to work, travel for business, and visit friends and relatives.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my name is Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and I'm from the great State of Florida, the home of Claude Pepper. Claude Pepper was the champion for senior citizens and the elderly, and he would be so appalled by the bill that the Republicans are bringing to the House floor tomorrow, which will gut and privatize Medicaid and Medicare in order to give tax cuts to the millionaires and billionaires. That's shocking--that's shocking to me--but Republicans are doing it after one hearing, which is unacceptable. You talk about open government. Why is it that we have not had hearings where we bring in our stakeholders and talk about how this would affect senior citizens? How can you dare to propose that people who may not even make $6,000 a year have to pay an additional $6,000 a year for health care insurance? It's so sad that, in the people's House, only the big dogs eat.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of Senate bill 307 and am pleased today to speak in support of the bill that names the Federal building located at 217 West King Street in Martinsburg, West Virginia, as the W. Craig Broadwater Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Judge W. Craig Broadwater was born August 8, 1950, and grew up in Paden City, West Virginia. Judge Broadwater served as both an active district judge in the Northern District of West Virginia and as assistant adjutant general for installations and homeland defense for the West Virginia National Guard. Judge Broadwater worked as a public servant for almost 25 years before his untimely death. Judge Broadwater's public service ran the gamut from his time as a hearing examiner for the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Fund, two terms as special prosecuting attorney in Ohio County, West Virginia, and as a circuit judge in West Virginia. In 1996, President Clinton appointed Judge Broadwater to become a U.S. District judge in the Northern District of West Virginia. During his nearly 10 years on the Federal bench, Judge Broadwater was well respected as a smart, fair, and hardworking member of the judiciary. Judge Broadwater's service in the military was just as impressive as his service to the judiciary. After serving as a member of the elite Green Beret division of the U.S. Army during the latter stages of the Vietnam war, Judge Broadwater joined the National Guard in 1976, where he served continuously until his death. Not one to sit idly by when there was work to be done, Judge Broadwater was recently deployed overseas in 2005 to support U.S. military operations in Iraq, as well as several other overseas missions in support of U.S. combat operations. During his deployment to the Horn of Africa, he oversaw the administration of personnel records issues for Reservists and Guardsmen in addition to oversight of the renovation of schools and medical clinics and the administration of veterinary and civil programs. Judge Broadwater also was just as active in his local West Virginia community, where he was instrumental in establishing the Veterans Center in Ohio County, where he served on the facility's advisory board. He also served on various boards and commissions in the legal community. Judge Craig Broadwater died on December 18, 2006, at the age of 56 from cancer, and he was laid to rest with full military honors. This designation is a fitting tribute to Judge Craig Broadwater, and I support the passage of S. 307, which honors his service to our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, the Veterans Affairs' Committee held a hearing where the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs stated, because of the budget cuts that the Republicans are advocating and a likely government shutdown, veterans' pension checks may not go out on time. Believe it or not, this is not April Fool's. At the same time that the veterans' checks may arrive late, my Republican colleagues want to extend tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. Just last December, we were forced to vote on extending the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, adding $700 billion to the deficit. The Republican plan for the FY11 budget, as well as the new budget plan they just released, are nothing more than a reverse Robin Hood--taking from the poor and middle class people to give huge tax breaks to the rich. You know, Mr. Speaker, you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. The American people will wake up.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today in the VA we had a hearing on how would the shutdown affect the veterans. You know, you can tell something about a country or an organization as to how they spend their money. In December, when we gave $700 billion tax breaks to the richest people in the world, then we are worrying about in 2 or 3 months whether or not we are going to have money to pay for the veterans' pensions or their health care, it is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that we continue to practice what I call reverse Robin Hood, robbing from the poor and working people to give tax breaks to the rich. Unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Mica and Ranking Member Rahall for their work in bringing this bill to the floor. I think the aviation community deserves a long-term aviation bill so they can plan for the future needs of the traveling public. We have had 18 extensions already, and it is time for the House and the Senate to find a compromise and send a bill to the President. Sadly, we're missing a great opportunity to invest in our airports, allowing them to prepare for the expected growth in air traffic and put people to work improving our aviation infrastructure. Without additional PFC revenues and AMT relief, airports will have little capital to invest in their facilities. We keep talking about creating jobs and rebuilding the economy, but we don't do anything about it. My home State of Florida relies on air service to support our tourism-based economy. We have 20 primary airports, 22 reliever airports, and 57 general aviation airports, with our top three airports alone generating nearly 45 million enplanements a year. These airports create jobs and help grow the economy, and we're not going to get out of the recession we're in by starving our airports of funds for our infrastructure. This bill does address an important issue in my district by preserving access to the Military Airport Program, MAP. The MAP program provides critical support to those communities which have been given the responsibility of converting closed military bases to civilian use. The participation of the Cecil Field Airport, which is just outside of Jacksonville, is a prime example of how this program can successfully transform former military airfields to commercial service that in turn help strengthen the Nation's aviation system. In the case of Cecil Field, continuing to include uses by the Air National Guard and Reserve units makes this a win-win for the community and for the military. And I want to add that we have more landings now than we did before we turned the facility over. MAP grants also support projects that are generally not eligible for AIP funds, but which are typical and needed for successful civilian conversion such as surface parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems, access roads, and cargo buildings. I know this bill still has a long way to go in the process, so I hope we can make improvements as we move to conference. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, although I am not opposed to the amendment, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to oppose this spurious legislation to eliminate a program that has just begun to help our constituents recover from the horrible housing crisis that has taken hold of our communities. This program has helped more than 600,000 families stay in their homes while helping neighborhoods avoid the associated blight that comes with vacant and foreclosed homes. The legislation allowed hard-working American families in danger of losing their homes to refinance into lower-cost government-insured mortgages they can afford to repay. Florida has had over 82,000 permanent and trial modifications under this program. This is over 82,000 families who do not have to worry about where they are going to sleep tomorrow. 82,000 families who know where their kids are going to go to school tomorrow. I was able to hold foreclosure workshops in cities and towns throughout my district to help these families at risk of losing their homes. With this program's help, these families were able to stay in their homes, keeping neighborhoods intact. I believe that more money should be used to keep people in their homes. To the administration's credit, they attempted to create other programs that would do that. The Republican majority has spent the last weeks attempting to eliminate those programs also. Eliminating this program without a replacement program for the people on the front lines of this recession is heartless and should be criminal. Defeat this legislation and vote to keep people in their homes and our communities living and vibrant.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise today to oppose this spurious legislation to eliminate a program that has helped our towns and cities recover from the horrible housing crisis that has taken hold of these communities. The intent of this program which I voted for was to stabilize neighborhoods. The legislation allowed hard-working American families in danger of losing their homes to refinance into lower-cost government-insured mortgages they can afford to repay. I was able to hold foreclosure workshops in cities and towns throughout my district to help these families at risk of losing their homes. With my community's help, many families were able to stay in their homes, keeping neighborhoods intact. I believe that more money should be used to keep people in their homes. To the administration's credit, they attempted to create other programs that would do that. The Republican majority has spent the last weeks attempting to eliminate those programs also. The intent of the NSP legislation, begun more than three years ago, was to quickly and efficiently distribute funds to neighborhoods and communities that have a large number of foreclosed, vacant, or bank- owned properties. The local government's goal should be to utilize the funds to secure communities and neighborhoods that have unique needs as a result of the foreclosure crisis. The use of non-governmental agencies in the NSP program was innovative. HUD could have further been innovative and used rent to own to keep people in their homes. NSP also seeks to prevent future foreclosures by requiring housing counseling for families receiving homebuyer assistance. HUD seeks to protect future homebuyers by requiring States and local grantees to ensure that new homebuyers under NSP receive homeownership counseling and obtain a mortgage loan from a lender who agrees to comply with sound lending practices. Defeat this legislation and vote to keep people in their homes and our communities living and vibrant. I would like to submit this article from the Florida Times-Union into the Record about the amount of Jacksonville homes underwater. [From the Florida Times-Union, March 8, 2011] Nearly Half of Jacksonville Home Mortgages Underwater at End of 2010 (By Kevin Turner) March 8.--Nearly half of mortgages residences in Jacksonville were underwater at the end of 2010--47 percent-- primarily because their values have sunk below the amount their owners owe on their mortgages. The phenomenon is also known as ``negative equity.'' According to real estate data aggregator CoreLogic, another 4.8 percent of all mortgaged Jacksonville mortgages were in ``near negative equity'' status, or owed the same or nearly the same as much as their homes were worth. Combined, 51.8 percent of Jacksonville homes are underwater or nearly so, according to a report released today by real estate data aggregator CoreLogic. Although sinking values are thought to be the chief cause, increases in mortgage debt are also a factor, CoreLogic noted. The local combined underwater percentage is significantly higher than the national average of 27.9 percent of mortgaged homes nationwide that are underwater or near underwater. Some 23.1 percent were fully underwater. The difference in the statistic locally and nationally underscores the lingering effects of bursting of the real estate value bubble in hardest-hit Florida, Nevada, Arizona and California. The Associated Press also reported: Nationally, the number of Americans who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth rose at the end of last year, preventing many people from selling their homes in an already weak housing market. The percentage of homes underwater at the end of the fourth quarter, at 23.1 percent, was up from 22.5 percent, or 10.8 million households, in the third quarter. The number of underwater mortgages nationally had fallen in the previous three quarters, mostly because more homes had fallen into foreclosure. Underwater mortgages typically rise when home prices fall. Home prices in December hit their lowest point since the housing bust in 11 of 20 major U.S. metro areas. In a healthy housing market, about 5 percent of homeowners are underwater. About 2.4 million people have only 5 percent equity or less in their homes, putting them near the tipping point if prices in their area fall. Roughly two-thirds of homeowners in Nevada with a mortgage had negative home equity, the worst in the country. Arizona, Florida, Michigan and California were next, with nearly 50 percent of homeowners with mortgages in those states underwater. Oklahoma had the smallest percentage of underwater homeowners in the October-December quarter, at 5.8 percent. Only nine states recorded percentages less than 10 percent. When a mortgage is underwater, the homeowner often can't qualify for mortgage refinancing and has little recourse but to continue making payments in hopes the property eventually regains its value. The slide in home prices began stabilizing last year. But prices are expected to continue falling in many markets due to still-high levels of foreclosure and unemployment. That means homes purchased at the height of the real estate boom are unlikely to recover lost value for years. Underwater mortgages also dampen home sales. Homeowners who might otherwise sell their home refuse to take a loss or can't get the bank to agree to a short sale--when a lender lets a borrower sell their property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage. Home sales have been weaker in areas where there are a large number of homeowners with negative equity. The total amount of negative equity increased to $751 billion nationwide, up from $744 billion in the previous quarter.