Corrine Brown

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 336.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support House Resolution 1235. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5669. The Poison control centers provide vital healthcare services to Americans of all incomes and keep costs from emergency procedures under control. Through their cost-saving programs, these centers benefit the general public, the government, health care providers, public health entities, and insurers. In my district, Jay Schauben supervises a poison control center at Shans-Jacksonville hospital that treats a population of approximately six million. The Florida legislature created this center in 1989 to address overwhelming needs in the areas of exposure treatment and education, and Dr. Schauben's team has risen to the challenge and helped a countless number of my constituents. I would also like to thank Senator David Karnes, whose tireless support has been a great help in attaining funding for these important centers. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Gerold Schiebler of the University of Florida. Dr. Schiebler has been active for decades in the campaign for affordable healthcare and widespread access to poison control services. With our economy in recession, now is certainly no time to further limit access to the quality healthcare services, or to tie the hands of advocates like Dr. Schauben, Senator Karnes, and Dr. Schiebler. So, it is critically important that poison control centers are reauthorized, and that these centers receive full funding through Fiscal Year 2014. A wide variety of Americans benefit from the services poison control centers provide every day. The general public benefits by receiving cost-free poisoning prevention guidelines, emergency medical advice, and follow-up calls about treatment. These services prevent trips to emergency rooms and keep already outrageous healthcare costs from rising even further. I represent one of the poorest districts in the State of Florida, and I have seen first hand the challenges my constituents face in finding affordable healthcare. A study group consisting of medical and poison control experts has found that every dollar spent on poison centers saves seven dollars in healthcare costs. Also, poison control centers provide educational programs aimed at prevention. These programs help educate many uninsured Americans about means of poison prevention, and keep healthcare costs in the U.S. down by avoiding emergency room procedures. In addition to saving low- and middle-income Americans healthcare dollars, poison control centers provide 24-hour emergency and informational services via a Toll-Free National Hotline. This hotline is a vital source of information for many of my constituents, and Americans across the country, who could not otherwise receive medical advice or attention. This hotline also provides essential follow-up calls regarding continuing care of poison exposures. Without a national hotline, many individuals with known or suspected toxic exposures would seek significantly more costly and less accessible healthcare alternatives, such as an emergency room visit. Simply, the benefits of these centers are widespread, but are especially helpful to those whose incomes prohibit access to private health care services. Failure to reauthorize these important centers would represent a tremendous disservice to Americans in all Congressional districts. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5669.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate that 50 years ago, Eisenhower created a national highway system that changed America. Today we need to do the same thing with our rail system; and with this Amtrak reauthorization, we're doing just that. The United States of America used to be the first as far as passenger rail was concerned. And I say it over and over again, now we are the caboose. And we don't use cabooses anymore. The American people need and deserve better. Let me also mention that joining us on celebrating Amtrak National Train Day were 150 ladies from the Hope Chapel Church who rode from Jacksonville to Winter Park. And also, we had over 60 activities throughout the country. Participating in those activities were the Harlem Globetrotters and many Members of Congress. I, in closing, am very excited about moving this country forward as far as making sure that we are no longer the caboose. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield 3 minutes to the Congresswoman from California, my friend, Mrs. Grace Napolitano.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. National Train Day celebrates the 139th anniversary of the ``golden spike,'' which was driven into the final tie in Utah and marked the completion of our Nation's first transcontinental railroad in 1869. This weekend I celebrated National Train Day by holding events throughout my district, including press conferences and events in Jacksonville, Winter Park, and Sanford Auto Train station. We had a great turnout at every event, and I heard firsthand from people who use Amtrak every day to go to work and visit friends and family all over the country. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, I have had the privilege to see firsthand passenger rail systems in other countries. I have taken high-speed trains from Brussels to Paris, 200 miles, 1\1/4\ hours; and from Barcelona to Madrid, 300 miles, 2\1/2\ hours; and the advantage for travelers and for business are tremendous. We need to catch up with the world, and with gas prices edging toward $4 a gallon, some places $5 and $6, now is the perfect time for us to begin to make serious investment in passenger rail. Indeed, Amtrak ridership and revenue has never been stronger. In 2007, Amtrak set a new record for ridership, exceeding 25.8 million passengers. In the same year, ticket revenues increased by 11 percent, to more than $1.5 billion. For my State of Florida, Amtrak expenditures for goods and services in the State soared to nearly $40 million last year, and Amtrak currently employs over 700 Florida residents. I have traveled all over the country and have conducted many transportation roundtable events that feature rail and its importance, and the people I have talked to love Amtrak. It is a great way to commute to work, takes cars off our congested highways, and improves the environment. In many areas of the country, it is the only means of public transportation available. Now what I can't understand is why the Bush administration, again, in the midst of sharp increases in gas prices, continues in its efforts to destroy passenger rail in this country. Every industrialized country in the world is investing heavily in rail infrastructure because they realize that this is the future of transportation. But sadly, as their systems get bigger and better, our system gets less and less money. While the administration has spent nearly a trillion dollars on the war in Iraq, it continues to decrease their requests for Amtrak. This year they only requested $800 million for Amtrak's 25.8 million passengers. Well, that is an improvement from zero. For Amtrak, just one week's investment in Iraq would significantly improve passenger rail across the country for an entire year. This is another perfect example of how out of touch this administration is because I can assure the President that there is a whole lot more support for Amtrak in this country than there is for the war in Iraq. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about Amtrak, and it is important for people to know the facts. Ridership numbers and ticket revenue are at a record level. Outstanding debt has been reduced by $600 million over the past 6 years, and many major infrastructure projects have been completed. And this has been achieved with a workforce that has been reduced by over 4,000 employees. We still have a lot of work ahead of us when it comes to Amtrak, and it took a major step forward last week when we introduced legislation reauthorizing Amtrak at a level that would allow it to grow and prosper. The legislation developed by the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. James Oberstar and myself, and introduced with Congressmen Mica and Shuster, provides over $2 billion a year for capital and operating grants, $500 million per year for developing State passenger corridors, $345 million per year to pay down debt, $345 million per year for high-speed rail programs, $600 million to start working on constructing a new tunnel through Baltimore, and requires a plan for restoring service to the Sunset Limited, one of my top priorities. Major infrastructure improvements are also necessary to improve the safety and security of the system and its passengers and workers. Amtrak has and will continue to play a critical role in evacuating and transporting citizens during national emergencies. Unfortunately, it is also a prime target for those who wish to harm us and we must provide resources to make the system less vulnerable. Fifty years ago, President Eisenhower created the national highway system that changed the way we travel in this country. Today we need to do the same thing with our rail system, and with Amtrak reauthorization we are doing just that. The United States used to have a first class passenger rail system. However, after years of neglect, we are now the caboose, and they don't even use cabooses anymore. The American people deserve better, and I believe our Amtrak reauthorization bill will go a long way to restoring the American passenger system. I encourage my colleagues to show their support for our Nation's rail system and its employees by holding events at our local commuter train stations any time during the year, and I would also encourage Members to cosponsor H.R. 6003, the Amtrak reauthorization bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 1176.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1176) supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5522, the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act of 2008. This bill would require the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, like sugar dust, that can build up to hazardous levels and explode. Opponents of this bill claim that OSHA has enough existing standard and education materials to protect workers. However, I would strongly argue that the absence of clear OSHA standards puts thousands of American workers and innocent bystanders at risk from workplace hazards. Unfortunately, I have an example to back up my statement. On December 19, 2007 there was a chemical explosion at the T2 Laboratories in Jacksonville, Florida. According to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, CSB, this explosion was one of the worse chemical accidents in their 10-year history. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. A year earlier, there was another explosion in Daytona Beach at the Bethune Point Wastewater Plant. These two incidents demonstrate a critical need for stronger OSHA regulations. In 2002, following a series of fatal explosions and a large number of deaths and injuries caused by runaway chemical reactions, the CSB issued a report concluding that reactive incidents are ``a significant chemical safety problem'' and that OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard, PSM standard, has ``significant gaps in coverage of reactive hazards.'' The study identified 167 serious reactive chemical accidents resulting in 108 fatalities in the U.S. over a 20 year period. The CSB therefore recommended that OSHA amend the PSM standard to better control reactive chemical hazards. Reactive hazards rulemaking had been on OSHA's agenda during the Clinton administration as a result of a number of fatalities and a labor union petition, but the Bush administration removed it from the regulatory agenda. OSHA's mission is to ensure employee safety and health and as OSHA is watching the progress of H.R. 5522, I ask that they review the 2002 recommendations by the Chemical Safety Board and revise the Process Safety Management standards to prevent further workplace accidents.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I want to start out by thanking Chairmen Oberstar and Cummings and Ranking Members Mica and LaTourette for all of their hard work on this bill. We have given the Coast Guard so much responsibility, and they have been up to the challenge. I have great respect for my colleague from California, but I rise to express my serious concern with her pending amendment. As a Member from the State of Florida, which has 14 ports and numerous cruise lines, I have a particular interest in the cruise industry. The cruise industry is one of the most important economic engines in the State of Florida. Over 5 million passengers embarked from Florida in 2005 and the industry contributed more than $6 billion in direct spending. In addition, the cruise industry is the second largest employer for Florida, generating more than 125,000 jobs. Before coming to Congress I owned a travel agency, and I can tell you that a cruise is one of the most cost-effective, safe and enjoyable vacations one can take. In fact, I recently sent my mother on a cruise. The cruise industry is highly regulated by State, Federal and international laws. They ensure that passengers are safe and have a sound safety and security record. It is apparent from the FBI statistics that crime against U.S. passengers on cruise ships are very rare. The proposed amendment would unfairly penalize the cruise industry and require the public posting of crime allegations, organized by the name of the cruise line. No other private industry is required to provide such information on an Internet site. The bill unfairly penalizes the cruise industry without any evidence or justification for this measure. Requiring the reporting of allegations of crimes onboard ships would be misleading to the public as there is no distinction between an allegation and an actual crime committed. That is why if a local government requires the reporting of allegations of crime, no specific business is identified since in many instances these allegations are unfounded. In closing, I will continue to work to make sure that the cruise industry is one of the safest industries in this country.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 3547.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Stephanie C. Kopelousos, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation. Throughout her nearly 15 year public service career, Stephanie C. Kopelousos has worked in both State and Federal public policy, with a particular emphasis in transportation. Her impressive rise to Florida's Secretary of Transportation is well deserved and notable. Stephanie C. Kopelousos is the first woman to serve as Secretary of Transportation of Florida. She oversees more than 7,000 employees and an annual budget of $8 billion. In an industry so critical to our economy such as transportation, it is sad that women are underrepresented. I hope that her status inspires other women to follow in her success. I believe her leadership will fuel Florida's continued economic growth and enhance Floridian's quality of life. Secretary Kopelousos has served in several capacities in Florida's Department of Transportation since 2001. Prior to becoming Secretary, she was Interim Secretary and Chief of Staff, providing day-to-day management and directing legislative issues since December 2005. From 2001 to 2005, Secretary Kopelousos served as the primary federal liaison for the Florida Departments of Transportation and Community Affairs in Washington, D.C. Her policy portfolio included transportation, emergency management and disaster relief, and housing. Her career boasts helping Florida receive its fair share of federal transportation funding as federal liaison for Florida Department of Transportation. In addition, her efforts during two back-to-back hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005 helped Florida receive significant disaster-related assistance. A graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Political Science, Secretary Kopelousos has proven herself to be a great asset to Florida's transportation needs. I am pleased to honor Stephanie C. Kopelousos for her distinguished accomplishment and her many years of outstanding service, and to thank her for her extraordinary dedication to the people of Florida.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember a spiritual warrior for her constituents and those who could not fight for themselves, Julia Carson. She served 6 years in Congress, but her experience here far outweighed her time here. She always remembered where she was from and how she got there. This was a tough lady. She spent her initial swearing in in the hospital recovering from double bypass surgery. She was a wonderful personal friend who I enjoyed spending time with. I have my Julia Carson story. I remember a few years ago, we were going to an event at the Army-Navy Golf Club. We were going to a program, a celebration, and our driver got lost and made a wrong turn. We ended up on the seventh fairway. We were going up the hill, and the car couldn't go up and it couldn't go back. I panicked, but she was calm during this entire process. We eventually were rescued by the Capitol Hill Police. I will never forget that experience. Julia Carson was a classy lady, very classy. And I loved the way she dressed and the way she held herself. Like Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, she fought the good fight and she finished the course. But most important, she kept the faith. Julia, I will miss you.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, as a Member from Florida, I rise in strong support of the Homeowners' Defense Act, H.R. 3355. The terribly high cost for homeowners paying property insurance in my State of Florida, as well as for those on the Gulf Coast, and as we saw just recently, in California, has become a growing concern for homeowners. We saw what happened after hurricane Katrina and Rita and the four hurricanes that hit my district in Florida back in 2004. These hurricanes, and other recent natural disasters, have led the insurance companies to limit their exposure to such disasters by outright pulling out, or reducing their risk. And this back peddling on their obligations on the part of the insurance industry has resulted in homeowner insurance rates rising by 100 percent to over 600 percent in higher-risk areas. This is entirely unacceptable. How can homeowners possibly afford this? This is just outrageous. We need to take action and step in. Just last week we saw the insurance companies out in California saying they will not provide insurance to hundreds of thousands of people that lost their homes in the terrible wildfires that hit the coast, all the way from LA to the Mexican border. This is why people buy insurance: to protect themselves. How is it then that after disaster after disaster can we just sit back and allow these companies to pull out of the market. Rising insurance rates are affecting homeowners across the country, not just in Florida. Clearly, the insurance market is not working, and it is time to put through a plan to stabilize the market and lower insurance rates for consumers.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the contributions and achievements of Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Brian E. Albert, and his 21 years of service to this country as a decorated officer in the United States Army. LTC Albert began his noteworthy military career in the Ohio National Guard in June 1983. In 1986, he enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Ohio University. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on January 15, 1987, then was assigned to the Army Chemical Corps and began training at the Chemical Officer Basic Course (COBC). Always striving for advancement, he completed the COBC training and applied for, competed and won an active duty appointment with the Commandant's program. Upon graduation from COBC, LTC Albert was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, in Hanau, Germany. During this assignment, he served as the Battalion Chemical Officer, HHB Executive Officer, and the Battalion S-1. Within 2 short years, LTC Albert had already completed three rigorous training programs and won a prestigious appointment setting the tone for numerous awards and accolades including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Achievement Medal (w/two OLCs), Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), Army Achievement Medal (w/two OLCs), National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOTSM), Army Reserve Commendation Medal (ARCOM), and the Parachutist Badge. He is a distinguished member of the Order of Saint Barber (Field Artillery) and the Order of the Dragon (Chemical) military societies. LTC Albert continued to enhance his portfolio completing the Chemical Advanced Course in March 1992. Over the next several years LTC Albert would continue his education completing a masters degree in human resource management from Central Michigan University in June 1999. LTC Albert's distinctive service also extends beyond the classroom. After completing the Army's Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in June 2000, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA. While serving as a Brigade Operations officer, his Division was deployed in December 2002 to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He would go on to serve in subsequent combat operations in the gulf as his Division fought with distinction during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning from Iraq, LTC Albert was assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (OSD), Counter Proliferation Policy office. He continued to excel coordinating key changes to research and development legislation for critical chemical and biological defense programs. He also made invaluable contributions in the establishment of NATO's first multinational nuclear, biological, and chemical defense battalion. Throughout his illustrious career, LTC Albert served in several integral command and leadership roles such as Company Commander for the 91st Chemical Company, Field Grade Assignments Officer, Assistant Division Chemical Officer, Battalion Training Officer (S-3) for the 703rd Main Support Battalion, Brigade S-3 for the Division Support Command (DISCOM), and Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for counter proliferation policy. LTC Albert concludes his distinguished military career with his final assignment to the U.S. Army Special Activity Management Unit located in Dunn Loring, VA. He contributes the success of his career to a merciful God and the loving support of his wife of 20 years, Tonya, and two children, 17-year-old Brandon and 11-year-old Kristen. LTC Brian Albert, I stand in solidarity with your comrades, family, and friends as we salute you for your service and your excellence in the United States Army. May the Lord guide your steps as you transition into civilian life and continue to inspire new achievements.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and my friend, Chairwoman Johnson, as well as Mr. Mica and Mr. Duncan, for their hard work in completing this long-awaited bill. These water projects are extremely important to my home State of Florida and for the Nation as a whole and have been held hostage for far too long. Like all transportation projects, Mr. Oberstar always said that our committee, the Committee on Infrastructure, is the committee that actually put America to work. And this bill will put America back to work, improve our communities, and create economic activity. This legislation will also ensure that workers are paid a fair rate for their hard work. It is these workers' taxes that pay for these projects, and they deserve a fair wage that allows them to adequately provide for their families. By delaying the passage of this much-needed legislation any further, we are doing a disservice to the people we represent. Like so many Americans, it is hard for me to understand how President Bush can spend $600 billion on his never-ending war, but yet veto $23 billion in vital water and civil work projects for the cities and towns right here in America. This is just one more example of how out of touch this administration is. They live in a bubble. I encourage my colleagues to support this veto override and let's move forward and work on the next WRDA bill so we don't have to wait 6 more years.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of my bill, H.R. 3495, the KIDS WiSH Act. Before I start, I would like to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Norton for their work in bringing this bill through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I also would like to thank Ranking Member Mica and Ranking Member Graves for their bipartisan support. Their leadership and their staff have been instrumental in strengthening the merits of the bill and the concept of this commission. Finally, I would like to thank the House leadership for bringing this important bill to the floor so quickly. The KIDS WiSH Act will establish a National Commission on Children and Disasters that will conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess the needs of children to prepare for, respond to and recover from all major disasters and emergencies. The bipartisan commission will report to the President and Congress on their findings, conclusions and recommendations to address the needs of children and emergencies. In addition, the commission will consider the need for a permanent national resource center on children and disasters that will be a resource for emergency managers, schools, housing agencies, transportation entities and other relevant organizations. Disaster and emergencies strike all over this country, and they affect children in small and large numbers. This spring, Greensburg, Kansas, which had a population of 1,389, experienced a horrible tornado. Children aged 0-17 make up 25 percent of the population of Kansas. That translates into about 347 children who were affected. This may be a small number compared to Hurricane Katrina, but each of those children's lives were utterly changed after that one tornado. In the San Diego area, as a result of the recent wildfires, nearly 850,000 people were evacuated. In California, the population is about 26 percent children 0-17, so that translates to roughly 220,000 children who had to be evacuated. On October 24, 2007, FEMA reported that 13,000-plus individuals were housed in shelters. That translates to roughly 3,500 children. Since Hurricane Katrina, many improvements to our emergency management system have been made, but there is still much work to be done. The basic tenet of disasters and emergencies is to ``make a plan.'' You hear it in public service announcements all over Florida and the Gulf coast, and it is written on many of the materials distributed by FEMA. Make a plan, make a plan. But, for all of that talk, we do not have a plan for children. Children are one of our most vulnerable populations, and their needs are unique and cannot be easily assumed from emergency plans for adults. Earlier this year I met with the chief of the Division of Community Pediatrics from the University of Florida and he brought to my attention that emergency evacuation equipment is often brought for adults, but children cannot be transported in adult equipment, and often that type of equipment is missed. From needles and tubing to oxygen masks and ventilators, children need equipment that has been specifically designed for their size. Do you know if the hospitals in your district are prepared for children in an emergency situation? Hospitals are just one of the many areas where improvements can be made for children in emergency situations and why the commission is needed. More than 400,000 children under the age of 5 lived in and were evacuated from counties and parishes that were declared disaster areas by FEMA in response to Hurricane Katrina. In addition, 1,100 schools were closed immediately following Hurricane Katrina. Two years later, only 45 percent of New Orleans schools have reopened. Finally, the most startling statistic from Hurricane Katrina is that 5,192 children were missing or displaced and it took nearly 6\1/2\ months to unite each child with their parent. However, the effects of disasters on children are not limited to events of this magnitude. Additionally, in this day and age we cannot keep thinking that children will not be harmed in a terrorist attack. In 1995, nineteen children were killed and more than 80 children were injured at the Oklahoma City bombing. More than 6,000 children were in the immediate area of Ground Zero during 9/11, and if the attacks were more widespread, it would have reached over 1.2 million public school students. In the D.C. area we are painfully aware that during the sniper shooting, schools and children are not overlooked by terrorists. We must have a plan for children in the event of another terrorist attack. I have been working hard to bring this issue to light. I led 23 other Members to call on FEMA to have an expert on children and disasters as a member of the National Advisory Council. I offered an amendment to the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security appropriations bill that will add $1 million specifically for children and disasters. Finally, I held an important forum with experts from emergency management, pediatrics and disaster recovery to discuss how to prepare, respond to, and recover from all hazards for children. Over 100 people attended this briefing to show their support for the legislation. As adults, we may think this is unnecessary; but once again, we must think how children are different. I encourage the commission to think outside the box. Children are a diverse group and the commission should remember children in the context of private schools, preschools, after- school programs, day care facilities, pregnant women, foster children, and orphanages. Last year, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006. Congress has recognized how pets can slip through the cracks during an emergency, but has yet to have a plan for children in an emergency. Children should not be forced to suffer through another learning experience like Hurricane Katrina. Congress must look forward and discover a comprehensive strategy for children and emergencies that may happen such as pandemic flu or a terrorist attack or a major earthquake. A national commission is imperative to making progress. This commission will solidify some of the already good work that other organizations are doing and provide recommendations for better coordination at the local, State, and Federal levels. I also would like to thank organizations who have supported this bill. I want to recognize the crucial support of Mark Shriver from Save the Children who has led the coalition of children's advocate groups. Mr. Speaker, I will insert the list of groups into the Record at this point, and I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 3495, the KIDS WiSH Act. Save the Children, Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics, American Association of School Administrators, American Red Cross, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Catholic Charities USA, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Health Fund, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, The Midwives Alliance of North America, National Assembly on School-Based Healthcare, National Association of Children's Hospitals, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives, National Association of School Nurses, National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, Safermaternity.org, and White Ribbon Alliance.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Margaret Alerotek a dedicated advocate for peace in Northern Uganda. Margaret passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2007, and is survived by her adoptive mother, Abitmo Rebecca Odongkara, and siblings. Margaret participated in many meetings on Capitol Hill during her time in the United States. She was greatly impressed by the opportunity to address a group of young African Americans who are helping to shape U.S. policy. During her May 8, 2007, visit, Ms. Alerotek met with Congressional Black Associates, a Congressional staff association and provided insight regarding international efforts to alleviate poverty and to end the involvement of children in conflict throughout Africa. Sadly, Margaret passed away shortly after her return to Uganda on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at the age of 27. Margaret was born in 1980 in the Gulu District of Northern Uganda and was later adopted at the age of 3 when her parents were murdered by Lord's Resistance Army rebels. Margaret graduated from the Uganda Christian University with honors and served for almost 3 years as communications officer for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization. In December 2006 when the Lord's Resistance Army walked out of the Juba Peace talks, 26-year-old Margaret reached out to the LRA leadership and the Ugandan Government chief negotiator to break the silence. The parties recommitted themselves to the peace talks. One month before her death, at the conclusion of her briefing, with the Congressional Black Associates, Margaret was asked, ``Why do you continue to advocate for peace in Northern Uganda at great risk to yourself?'' She replied, ``Because they are my people.'' The impact of Margaret's life is immeasurable--not only because of her work, but more importantly, because of the power of her example. Margaret chose not to be consumed by the misfortune of being an orphan in a country consumed by war. She instead chose to stand on its shoulders and become a powerful advocate for peace, hope and reconciliation. Margaret was a remarkable young woman. Her leadership, sacrifice and courage serves as an example to people everywhere. For this reason, I rise today to honor the life and service of Ms. Margaret Alerotek.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to take this time to again thank Chairman Oberstar for his leadership on the issue of safety. The Managers amendment clarifies two important issues that have been dealt with in other legislation. The whistleblower protections and changes to federal preemption which the committee worked hard to fix. It also includes language that requires railroad owners to adopt measures that improve the safety of railroad bridges, and requires the Secretary to consider community concerns when granting exemptions for sounding locomotive whistles. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I know that this is something that my friend Juanita Millender-McDonald supported and worked hard to realize. Representing the Port of Jacksonville, I fully understand how important it is to efficiently and safely unload cargo and get it moving to its final destination. As business continues to grow at ports across America, it is becoming increasingly necessary to find alternatives to trucking this increased cargo through towns and communities. This pilot program is one option for transporting cargo outside major urban areas, and we need to seek other solutions. Mr. Chairman, I know that you addressed this issue, but can you tell us a little bit more how this pilot program will work? Will it limit itself to people in California, or would people in Jacksonville, all over the country, be able to participate in this pilot program?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the congresswoman for introducing this amendment. She's a great addition to the Transportation Committee, but she has come with strong support for railroad safety, and I want to thank her. This is a perfect addition to this safety legislation. This amendment prohibits Mexican companies and inspectors from performing mechanical and brake inspections unless they follow U.S. safety, training and enforcement standards. It makes no sense to apply rail safety measures in the U.S. if they are not going to apply to trains coming in from Mexico. This is just a commonsense amendment. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. First of all, let me just thank Chairman Oberstar for his leadership on Transportation. Truly, Mr. Oberstar is a transportation guru. And his motto, ``Transportation is the committee that put America to work,'' I want to thank you for ``let's put America to work safely.'' I also want to thank Mr. Mica and Mr. Shuster for their hard work on this legislation. Developing this rail safety legislation was the number one priority for the Railroad Subcommittee. Congress last passed legislation to reauthorize the Federal Railroad Administration in 1994. That authorization expired in 1998. Since that time, the railroad industry has changed greatly. Economic growth and increase in international trade has led to record traffic levels. At the same time, Amtrak and the commuter railroads, which often operate freight rail lines, are moving more passengers, which means that there's lots of pressure on the rail system, and this has a major impact on work and public safety. Since the beginning of the 110th Congress, the subcommittee has held six hearings on rail safety, examined fatigue, the role of human factors in rail accidents, and the reauthorization of the Federal Rail Safety program. We also held two hearings in Texas and California. In addition to the subcommittee's hearings, we met with labor, the railroads, government agencies, and other interested parties in crafting this legislation. Through some tough negotiations, we were able to develop a bipartisan agreement on the most difficult issues, and I believe we have a really good bill. Let me highlight a number of provisions in the bill. H.R. 2095 reauthorized the FRA as the Federal Railroad Safety Administration and ensures that it will consider and assign maintenance and safety as their highest priority. The bill seeks to help prevent accidents caused by human factors, which accounts for about 40 percent of all rail accidents, by strengthening the hours of service law, increasing worker training and qualifications, and implementing advanced safety technologies. This bill improves safety at our Nation's grade crossings. It requires railroads to establish, maintain, and post a toll-free number at all grade crossings to receive calls regarding malfunctions of signals, crossing gates, or disabled vehicles blocking crossings. H.R. 2095 directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations regarding railroads to remove all overgrown vegetation from their right-of-way to improve the view of pedestrians and motor vehicle operators. H.R. 2095 also requires railroads to develop and submit to the Secretary a plan for implementing a positive train control system by December 31, 2014. Further, it requires the Secretary of Transportation to develop a long-term strategy for improving railroad safety, which must include a plan and schedule for reducing the number and rates of accidents, injuries and fatalities involving railroads. Simply put, this legislation is going to save lives. I look forward to going to conference and putting a bill on the President's desk for his signature. I want to again thank Chairman Oberstar for his leadership on the committee. And I would encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I thank the chairman.