Corrine Brown

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to compliment Congressman Pallone for his hard work on this issue of rail-owned waste transfer facilities. Yesterday, the Railroad Subcommittee held a hearing on rail-owned municipal waste transfer facilities. We learned that there is a growing concern in the Northeast that some railroads are using Federal preemptions standards to shield themselves from important State and local environmental laws which are leading to a lack of environmental and health-related oversight of these facilities. This language may need to be refined to ensure that States and localities don't overregulate the industry, but this is the right first step in ensuring that railroad operated waste transfer stations are not posing a health or environmental risk to the communities where they're operating. I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment, and I think we will work as we go toward conference to improve it and refine the language.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 635, a resolution recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal. This resolution also commends the Muslims in the United States and across the globe for their devotion. Ramadan demonstrates the strength of each Muslim's faith with a month of prayers, fasting, charity and self reflection. It is a beautiful observance each year by those who believe in Islam. It is important to have resolutions like this that recognizes and shows respect for one of the world's most significant religions, Islam, and the nearly 1.5 billion Muslims throughout the world. Following the September 11th attacks, I am sad to say, there was an outbreak of bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims and Americans from South Asia. Intolerance is not an American value and Congress must show its support for the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world. I would like to thank Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congressman Gregory Meeks and Congressman Keith Ellison for introducing the resolution and working to bring it to the House floor today.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) reauthorization bill. This is a landmark piece of bipartisan legislation that will progress further than any other program to cover uninsured children. Currently, I am ashamed to say that there are 10 million children without health insurance. But, this bill would provide continued health insurance to six million children already covered and add an additional four million children who currently lack health insurance nationwide. It will improve health benefits for children by providing dental coverage, mental health services and surgical benefits. The bill will also improve access by providing states with incentives to lower the rate of uninsured low income children and distributing grants for new outreach activities to states, local governments and schools. Unfortunately President Bush has threatened to veto this bipartisan bill and deny 10 million low-income kids the health care they need and deserve. The President has instead expressed support for his own CHIP proposal--which would result in 840,000 low-income kids losing their health care coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The President has no idea what it might be like to go without health insurance. I saw a quote from him in July when he said ``I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, just go to an emergency room . . .'' An emergency room, Mr. President? That is the best kind of health care you want to provide to our children? Shame, shame, shame. Mr. President, this bill is going to get the children out the emergency room and make sure they don't delay health care needs until the last minute, give them regular checkups and preventative care. That is what health care is really about. Poor children cannot contribute to campaigns, but their right to medical care is no less than that of the children of members of Congress. This bill is the right thing to do and it pays for itself. I urge all my colleagues to have some compassionate conservatism and support this bill.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairmen Oberstar and Costello and Ranking Members Mica and Petri for their hard work in bringing this bill to the floor. This bill could not come at a better time for the traveling public. Airlines on-time performance is at its lowest rate since the Department of Transportation began keeping records in 1995. And this is happening at the same time that the Department of Transportation is predicting a tripling of passenger and cargo by 2025. This is why we need this bill passed so we can provide funds for increased capacity, safety enhancements, and overall system improvements. This bill addresses an important issue in my district by preserving the Military Airport Program, MAP, as a set-aside within the Airport Improvement Program. 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 translate former military airfields to commercial service that, in turn, have strengthened the Nation's aviation system and, in the case of Cecil Field, also continues to include uses by the Air National Guard and Reserve units, making this a win-win for the community and for the military. MAP grants also support projects that are generally not eligible for AIP funds, but which are typically needed for successful civilian conversion such as surface parking lots, fuel farms, hangars, utility systems, access roads, and cargo buildings. Again, I want to thank the chairman for guiding this bill to the floor, and I would encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the Members of the House of Representatives and the American public an article written by Chris Raymond for the The Director magazine. The article is a great description of what goes on at The Port Mortuary at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base, the first stop on the final journey for those who have given their life in defense of this Nation. [From The Director, July 2007] Final Post (By Chris Raymond) The Port Mortuary at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base exemplifies this nation's highest ideals and those underlying the funeral service profession as it cares for the men and women that sacrifice their lives in defense of our country-- Chris Raymond. Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals--William Gladstone, British Prime Minister. On this night, the bodies wait quietly in the darkness, their caskets in a long line, positioned with military precision before a large steel garage door. A massive U.S. flag, perhaps 30 by 20 feet, hangs silently above them. In the morning, this flag will offer one final salute to each fallen soldier as the staff of the Dover Air Force Base Port Mortuary drapes each casket with a smaller American flag, a stack of which hang ready on a rack near the exit for this purpose, before carefully wheeling each outside onto a broad cement landing. From there, vehicles will transport each of these meticulously, lovingly prepared men and women to the planes that will fly them home to their grieving families and the military honors each has earned. On March 23, 2007, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Cedric Thomas kneeled before the simple urn containing the cremated remains of U.S. Army Specialist Ross McGinnis during his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Resting his hand atop the urn, Thomas, wearing his full uniform, hung his head for a few moments, saying his silent goodbyes, lost in his thoughts. Rising, Thomas offered one final salute to the 19- year-old who sacrificed his life so he could live. A few months earlier, on December 4, 2006, McGinnis manned a machine gun atop a Humvee as he, Thomas and three other soldiers patrolled the streets of Adhamiyah, Iraq. From a rooftop, an enemy insurgent tossed a grenade at their truck. Whizzing past McGinnis, the grenade fell through the Humvee's hatch and lodged next to a radio. According to a later account written by Rodney Sherman and published in The Clarion News, Thomas recalls McGinnis shouting to his four comrades: ``Grenade! It's in the truck!'' Thomas also told the newspaper, ``[McGinnis] had time to jump out of the truck.'' McGinnis did not desert his comrades, however. Instead, he jumped through the hatch and threw his body atop the grenade. Upon detonation, McGinnis died instantly. While wounded, the four other soldiers survived, thanks entirely to the heroic action of a teenager from Knox, Pennsylvania. U.S. Army Specialist Ross McGinnis has been posthumously nominated for receipt of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award and an honor bestowed upon only 3,460 other members of the U.S. armed services since its inception shortly before the Civil War. During his funeral at Arlington, McGinnis received full military honors as three of the four people he saved in the Humvee that day paid their respects, after receiving special permission to attend the funeral before returning to the war zone. Undoubtedly, the staff of the Dover Port Mortuary prepared the remains of U.S. Army Specialist Ross McGinnis during his journey home and before his ultimate interment at Arlington because Dover processes all of our deceased soldiers. Yet, despite his heroism, not one of the roughly 1,200 other military dead that Dover handles each year receive any less care, respect and honor than McGinnis did--regardless of rank and regardless of chosen method or location of interment. That is simply how the Dover Port Mortuary operates, every day. A long bus ride from Washington, DC, to Dover, Delaware, eventually delivers me at a security checkpoint just within the fenced-in, razor-wired confines of Dover Air Force Base. After spending more than two hours chatting with the entire NFDA Executive Board, staff members Christine Pepper, John Fitch and Lesley Witter, and former NFDA At-large Rep. Charlie Hastings, who organized this private tour in his home state, the onboard appearance of a military official demanding we surrender our drivers licenses suddenly sobers me. ``Oh yeah,'' I recall. ``Several months ago, I had to provide my Social Security number so Dover could conduct whatever background checks it requires.'' Suddenly, the serious nature of an entirely different way of life floods my thoughts. This is no tour-bus lark to visit the sights of Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon, a feeling reinforced when I see a massive steel barrier descend into the ground so the bus can pass after receiving clearance. Stepping off the bus, I enter a modern, recently built facility. As the group gathers within the lobby, I gaze at a massive, curved display just inside, constructed of polished gray stone and inscribed across the top with the words ``Dignity, Honor and Respect.'' The sound of falling water fills my ears from somewhere nearby as I read the many panels beneath these words, each listing an ``incident'' and the number of dead the Dover Port Mortuary handled each time, dating back to the 1960s. The astronauts of space shuttle Challenger; the victims of the Jim Jones tragedy in Guyana in the late 1970s, when I was a kid; many soldiers from Desert Shield/Desert Storm; the remains of Lt. Michael Blassie, the unidentified Air Force pilot representing the Vietnam War at the Tomb of the Unknowns for 14 years until his identification in 1998 and reinterment; the soldiers that died during the failed attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran during the Carter administration; and countless other members of the U.S. armed services. A guy my age, dressed in a brown polo and multi-pocket khakis, begins addressing our group, welcoming us to Dover. Although William Zwicharowski--``Zig'' as we would come to address him--is a licensed funeral director, I can immediately tell he is also military; he stands ramrod straight even when he's being ``casual.'' Noting that the tour we are about to receive is extremely rare given the sensitive nature of Dover's operations, Zig proceeds to explain that the present facility was built about three years ago. While Dover's mortuary operations date back decades, some authorities felt the former facility looked like a ``warehouse'' after the attention given by the nation to victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Even if only one grieving family visits the Dover facility each year, these powers realized that this family deserves to know that their son or daughter received the highest level of care and respect, something the ad hoc nature of the former facility did not convey. Subsequently, Congress authorized the appropriation of $30 million for design and construction of the present Dover Port Mortuary installation. No other mortuary ``model'' to emulate existing anywhere else on earth, Zig and his staff helped shape the ultimate design and function of the current facility--the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs. As the tour progressed, I would grow to appreciate the government's wisdom of listening to the practitioner's point of view because every detail in the new facility--from the choice of equipment to the layout of the building itself-- reflects the expertise and experience of people that know how to care for the dead while also serving the living. After fielding our many initial questions, Zig beckons the group to walk around behind the incident display in the lobby. While certainly not hidden in any way, I am amazed to discover a large, comfortably appointed atrium just beyond. A soaring glass canopy overarches many ornamental trees and colorful flowers and plants surrounding a central bubbling water pond. The effect is soothing, even comforting, and again reflects the practitioner's insight: serving the living. Along the perimeter of the atrium, I notice numerous offices, some labeled ``Counseling,'' ``Chaplain'' or ``Meditation.'' Zig leads us to the Escort Briefing room. Inside, set up for the next morning, nine chairs at one end of the room hold green folders and clear-plastic bags. On each folder, the name of a deceased soldier. Within each bag, their personal effects. Suddenly, the body count in Iraq I hear each morning on my local news becomes personal. Those are more than just numbers; each represents someone's child, spouse, sibling, friend. And nine more of them or their representatives will sit in these chairs tomorrow with the pain of loss numbing their senses and try to follow the details about a far-away incident that took their loved ones as they view information projected from a laptop computer onto a screen at the front of the room. Some will find comfort in such knowledge. Others will caress perhaps the odd personal effect found in one of the plastic bags. A comb. A calling card. A tattered photo. Still others will hear or see nothing, numb from the immediacy of forever-loss. The roughly 12 people working full-time at Dover understand this, however. For them, the true essence of what funeral directing is all about reigns paramount, which has nothing to do with ``efficiency'' or ``volume'' or getting one family ``out'' because another is scheduled to arrive in 15 minutes--the buzzwords too often filling The Director and your other trade publications. No, the mantra of these dedicated men and women is consistency; the belief that every deceased armed services member passing through their facility deserves complete, unwavering adherence to the words inscribed atop the incident display in the foyer: Dignity, Honor and Respect. Zig and his staff hold zero tolerance for even one ``mishap.'' As he would later convey during the tour about Dover's meticulous handling of every soldier's personal effects: ``It is not okay for us to say we `only lost one item last year.' You try telling that to a family.'' Thus, whatever transpires within the Escort Briefing room the next morning, I know that these dedicated professionals will do whatever is necessary to afford every survivor with whatever comfort they require, for however long it takes. The new Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base was designed for both war- and peacetime. Given the U.S. military presence in Iraq, the facility obviously now operates on a wartime status, and Zig and roughly a dozen others work at the mortuary full-time. When the volume of deceased military personnel threatens to grow greater than this crew can handle--which they can generally anticipate courtesy of CNN within 48 hours--Dover activates other professionals from within the military, as well as civilians, to assist. The process of caring for a fallen soldier is extremely complex, but the Port Mortuary has an amazing system in place and continually strives to handle each case more effectively. Medical examiners want each body returned from the field of battle almost exactly as each man or woman fell, without any live ammunition or grenades, in order to determine if gear improvements are possible to save future lives. This possibly overlooked attention to detail recently resulted in an advancement in each soldier's body armor when Dover's personnel noticed a growing number of deaths due to neck wounds. Insurgent snipers had identified a vulnerability in American military armor--the exposed neck--and consciously aimed their rifles at this spot. Because the staff at Dover recognized this, however, American forces now wear a neck collar, saving an untold number of lives. The grim fact remains, however, that the Port Mortuary at Dover exists primarily to process those that die defending our country. This begins with the transportation of each body from overseas to another large cement area at the rear of the facility. Transported within aluminum transfer cases, the remains arrive encased in ice and in great condition, usually within 48 hours of death. Again, I feel impressed and oddly proud when Zig relates the solemnity with which Dover's staff receives each case. These are no mere factory workers handling anonymous, insignificant packages along some conveyor belt, I think. Moreover, despite helping to design and build a state-of- the-art facility, Zig acknowledges that there is always room for improvement in the care he and his staff provides. Thus, their practitioner-practical suggestions have also resulted in several innovations--most of them little things with profound impact. The aluminum transfer cases, for instance, once bore only two handles along each long side, forcing several pallbearers to ``pretend'' to carry each case and, frankly, forcing others to handle by themselves a heavy load. Because Zig suggested adding a few more handles to each case, these reused transfer cases (once sterilized) now sport the necessary number of handles. Dover's staff also suggested adding insulation to the inside of each transfer case to improve the cooling power of the ice preserving the remains during their journey to Dover. Once received, the staff at Dover initiates a comprehensive system to track every aspect of a body's progress through the facility. Nearly 200 computers, utilizing a proprietary software program, gather and communicate with each other every detail concerning each particular deceased soldier. Each transfer case is logged in electronically using handheld bar-coding units. (The reason for this will become clear later in this article.) At this point, each body is scanned in the ``EOD Room,'' which checks for the presence of live explosive ordnance. Again, I begin to appreciate the serious nature of the work these people perform as I glance at the construction of these twin chambers. The doors and walls consist of one-foot-thick, steel-reinforced concrete, which Zig tells me can withstand the blast of one pound of C-4 explosive. Later, I ask him why bodies aren't scanned for dangerous ordnance before transfer to Dover. He smiles and says, ``I wish I had a dollar for every time I hear that question... I don't know.'' Next, each body enters the ``Photography/Bar-coding'' area. Here every aspect of the deceased soldier whether consisting of a full body or merely a body part--is digitally recorded, assigned a unique bar code and tracked electronically. When/ if a body's viscera are removed, Dover even tracks them to ensure their eventual return to the proper body. Such is the dedication Dover provides to ensure that our country's military dead receive the mathematically exacting tender mercies and loyalty to high ideals each has earned. Fingerprinting of the deceased occurs next, performed entirely digitally in less than 10 minutes and again intended to ensure that no mistakes occur while each deceased soldier remains entrusted to the care of Dover's staff. Offering another practitioner-practical suggestion, Zig notes that he also recommends digital ``foot printing'' of each body. While yet uncommon, he explains that the skin patterns on the bottom of our feet are as unique as the pads on our fingertips, and while the latter is too often subject to damage, the boots issued to military personnel afford excellent tissue preservation, even in cases involving fire, which can later provide positive identification. The sophistication of the equipment is impressive, as is the networking that enables an operator to access pertinent information at any time. In fact, this system even helped Zig identify from a small body part one of the terrorists that hijacked the plane that hit the Pentagon on 9/11. Someone in the group asks what happened to the terrorist's body part. Was it returned? Was it discarded? A shadow passes across Zig's face and his gaze grows distant. ``We decided we are better than them,'' he says quietly. ``We returned the body part in a casket to his homeland.'' He leads us toward the next station within the mortuary, which focuses on dental records. As we walk down a hallway, I noticed a framed document on a wall: ``Nerve Agent Symptoms and Antidote.'' ``Truly a different way of life,'' I think again, not for the last time, before noticing 16 tan-plastic gurneys lined neatly along a wall. I recall Zig mentioning earlier that at the start of the Iraq War, Dover utilized almost everyone of its 75 gurneys. Within the Dental Station, another impressive device takes digital X-rays of each body. Again, because of the sophisticated computer network at the Port Mortuary, personnel can quickly match these post-mortem scans with existing anti-mortem X-rays, making positive identification possible if not already verified in some other way. It was this device that helped the staff at Dover identify one of the 9/11 victims from only three teeth and a piece of the victim's jawbone. Another method that Dover uses to identify the remains in its care involves a full-body X-ray. If a decedent remains unidentified at this point, this X-ray enables medical examiners to identify unique qualities within the body, such as healed broken bones. By asking a family if `` `Johnny' once broke his arm as a teenager,'' Dover staff have another tool that helps them make positive identification. It is important to remember, however, that too often, the body is not intact. In such cases, a full-body X-ray allows medical examiners to reassociate a severed limb with a torso by matching the ends of bones, joints, etc. Finally, Zig shows us one more high-tech gizmo in this area of the mortuary: a GE ``virtual autopsy'' machine. Similar in appearance (to my untrained eye) to a CAT-scan device, this unit records digital information about the decedent's physiology in case it is needed. We enter the ``Autopsy Suite'' next, a room even larger than the lobby we first visited. Late in the evening at this point, the work finished, the dozen or so autopsy stations along the perimeter sit clean, spotless, ready for whoever will need one next. Gazing about the room, I feel my hair tussled as I step into a breeze from overhead. Numerous vents pockmark the ceiling, their louvers rattling, creating a state of constant white noise. Zig smiles, explaining the importance of proper ventilation in this room and that the goal is ``windy,'' that the air is circulated numerous times each hour and that it is ``obviously not returned [to the room].'' The ``Embalming Suite'' is nearly identical to the previous room in terms of setup. Each of the dozen or so stations sits neatly ready for use. Three Portiboy Mark V machines sit near each embalming table, as does a large spool of wire, used to rewire skull fractures. Along one wall, shelves hold the requisite practitioner equipment: body bags, coveralls, pants, caps, personal protection equipment, all in a range of sizes. Above Embalming Station #4, a large American flag hangs on the wall. In a cupboard rests a broad selection of embalming chemicals in a variety of strengths from numerous manufacturers. The choice of fluid type is up to each embalmer, but Dover generally uses a weaker solution in the head and a strong mix in the body because, as Zig says, ``You never know where a body is going.'' This comment might sound odd given all that the staff at Dover does to positively identify each body and/or body part, but it stems from the electronic bar coding noted earlier, revealing a second important reason for its use. Not only does this method accurately track every item associated with a deceased soldier, but it also reinforces the staffs commitment to treating each case as if it is the single most- important one that each of these professionals will ever handle. Stripped of name and rank, digital bar coding ensures that every set of remains receives the highest level of dignity, honor and respect. Before leaving this room, Zig further clarifies the Port Mortuary's dedication to caring for the dead while serving the living by noting that every bright-red medical-waste box is X-rayed just in case some personal effect, such as a ring, is overlooked. Each box is then properly stored for 60 days, another precaution. This is also why each individual's initial aluminum transfer case is bar coded upon receipt--in case the need arises to locate a missing personal effect, which might have gone overlooked. We visit the ``Personal Effects'' area next. In one room, more than a dozen floor-to-ceiling wire shelving units, each bearing five shelves, hold the electronically tracked personal effects of each person while he or she is prepared. Dover routinely cleans all personal effects before returning them to families. As the group quietly files out of the room and toward the dressing area, two shelves at the back of the room catch my eye. Labeled ``Disassociated P.E.,'' I stand for a while, alone, gazing at the small number of personal effects that arrived at Dover at some point in the past that could not be reassociated with someone in their care despite the exhaustive efforts of its staff. A dime. Several long- distance calling cards. Two different photos of the same infant girl wearing a bright yellow dress. The combination to a Master Lock. Small stuff indeed, yet I sadly realize how significant the slightest of these might prove to a grieving family. Shaking myself from my reverie, I again feel proud of the lengths these people go to in order to serve the living before setting off to find the group. Entering the dressing area, I hear Zig explain the four stages of viewing that Dover assigns to each case: a head wrap, a full wrap, viewable for ID, and viewable. Deaths involving mutilation of the entire body and deemed unviewable receive a dignified full wrap, and Zig demonstrated this process for the group (without the presence of remains). First, Dover staff cocoon the body or body part(s) in absorbent layers of cotton gauze before wrapping it in plastic sheeting. Then a crisp white cotton sheet shrouds the body before a green Army blanket is wrapped around that. Finally, in such cases, the soldier's uniform is placed on top of the fully wrapped body within a casket. As I watch this demonstration, I sense that death from a bullet must prove easier to prepare, comparatively speaking, versus death caused by a roadside bomb or some other form of insurgent explosive device. I can neither imagine the horrors these people must witness nor fathom how they can handle such, but the respect I hold for their professionalism is undeniable at this point. ``Uniform Prep'' is the next area we visit. Here, high Plexiglas shelving units, like you might see in your local department store, contain hundreds of uniform components-- pants, shirts, ties, etc.--each in dozens of sizes and representing every conceivable military branch, as well as numerous American flags. On racks located along one wall, freshly pressed uniform jackets hang. Two walls of this area display every conceivable military medal, insignia, patch, stripe, bar and decoration you can name in plastic packages. John Fitch, a veteran of Vietnam, tells me that each military branch, each division, each unit, has its own special--often unique--insignias, explaining the vast array before us. The Dover Port Mortuary strives in every case to prepare meticulously, lovingly the remains of a fallen soldier as completely and as accurately as possible for the many grieving his or her death. While these walls hold a tremendous number of items to help them ``get it right,'' Zig later states that Dover continually adds such items because it is nearly impossible to have all of them in stock, just in case. Briefly, I find myself examining, fascinated, the many rows of shiny decorations on these walls as if I'm some dopey tourist in a souvenir shop debating which trinket to purchase for the kids. Then the realization of where I am and the horrible, sad purpose of these items breaks through my fog of denial and I feel ashamed. Finally, we visit the areas where the staff prepares caskets and urns and gets each case ready for transportation back to his or her family. The Dover Port Mortuary is almost entirely self-sufficient, further testament to its commitment to caring for the dead. Zig explains that Dover even engraves the name plates needed for urns, and will cremate a body at its own facility if a family so desires, before summarizing that Dover handles everything but ``sewing the stripes onto uniforms.'' (I later discover that he isn't kidding. Sewing duties required to meticulously prepare a burial uniform remain the only duty that Dover still outsources.) A large area at the rear of the facility holds the numerous caskets, urns and temporary containers Dover will need. The mortuary stocks only one type of wood and one type of metal casket, purchased from several manufacturers, as well as Jewish caskets and even oversized caskets, testament again to its dedication to meeting the needs of each unique case with the dignity, honor and respect that each fallen soldier has earned. The average age of the 1,200 cases Dover's Port Mortuary staff handles each year is 25. Despite the horrors of war, and thanks to the dedication, commitment and expertise of this remarkable facility's full- and part-time employees, Dover returns these young loved ones to their grieving families in a state suitable for viewing 85 percent of the time. (Again, it is crucial to understand that ``viewability'' has a different meaning here versus that used in a typical funeral home. Sadly, in some cases, only the decedent's head is viewable but not the body, or vice versa.) As I take my seat aboard our chartered bus and settle in for the two-hour return journey to Washington, D.C., I gaze at the now-illuminated landscape of Delaware through my window as the miles pass unnoticed, lost in thought, sensing the night chill through my shirt. I do not feel like idly chatting right now. I wish every funeral service professional, every citizen, had the opportunity to experience firsthand the tour I still struggle to assimilate. Learning how each set of remains that arrives at the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs is steadfastly treated as unique--as was each individual--and receives from a small group of amazing people the requisite time, attention and care their due moves me profoundly. Each is special. Each is one of a kind. Each--as well as everyone that grieves their death--is worthy of the mathematically exacting tender mercies and loyalty to high ideals each fallen soldier earned. Thanks to this facility and its staff, we--as a nation--bestow such on friend or foe alike. I will never think of them as numbers again.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that would begin to address a gaping hole in our disaster management system. Since Hurricane Katrina, many improvements to our emergency management system have been made, but there is still much work to be done. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that the current disaster management system in the United States is inadequately prepared to meet the needs of children. And there is still no national agency in the United States with a clear mandate to safeguard children before, during, and after disasters. Children see, hear, and understand more than adults may expect. But children do not experience disasters the same way that adults do. In normal times, family, other caregivers, and community institutions like schools work together to keep children safe and help them learn and develop. During disasters, family members can be separated, schools and child care centers closed or destroyed, and children's routines disrupted. These sudden changes can frighten children. The physical differences between children and adults are clear: children are smaller and have different sleep, nutrition, and other needs. In shelters, hospitals and emergency service centers, these differences matter. Congress must invest in creating effective local, state, and federal disaster response systems involving a healthy, adequately-funded, well- coordinated, and functional emergency medical services system. My bill, the KIDS WiSH Act, focuses on making sure the needs of children are addressed and met in emergency preparedness planning, and in response to and recovery from future domestic disasters. The KIDS WiSH Act establishes a National Commission on Children and Disasters that is modeled after the 9/11 Commission. The Commission will examine, assess and report on the facts and causes relating to the needs of children during and after all hazards, disasters and emergencies, and Federal emergencies. It will also build upon investigations of other entities on children's needs during and after hazards, disasters, and emergencies. This would include reviewing findings, conclusions, and recommendations of other executive branch, Congressional or independent commissions, or non-governmental entities. The bill will also establish The National Resource Center on Children and Disasters that would provide information to Federal, State, local and tribal governments, and nongovernmental entities on issues in relation to the needs of children during and after all hazards, disasters, and emergencies. The time to address children's needs in disasters is now . . . our Nation's children shouldn't have to wait any longer.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the CHAMP Act. The CHAMP Act is another achievement that the Democratic Congress can point to that is fulfilling the needs of the American people. In my home State of Florida, KidCare--Florida's CHIP program--covered 303,595 children in 2006, but 718,603 children remain uninsured. The CHAMP Act could provide Florida with approximately $2.54 billion in new federal funding and an opportunity to get more children covered. States like Florida need to step up to the plate and fund their CHIP program to the fullest extent. The CHAMP Act would provide continued health insurance to six million children already covered and add an additional five million children who currently lack health insurance nationwide. That alone should be enough to vote for this bill, but the Republicans continue to play political games. Fortunately, the Republicans have no ground to stand on this bill and they know it. They are trapped in a corner crying about tax increases instead of supporting health care for five million children. Let me tell you, this is why your party is no longer in control--you've stopped listening to the people. Opponents also say this is a fiscally irresponsible bill. Let me say that your party doesn't understand fiscal responsibility. The Republican party has run up the largest deficits in history and they call this bill fiscally irresponsible. We have spent over $600 billion on the President's war in Iraq and we can't spend less than $3.50 a day to cover a child through CHIP. Seventy-six percent of Americans believe that access to health insurance is more important than cutting taxes. This bill will be one of the most important healthcare issues this Congress will deal with and the American public will know who voted for it. The number of uninsured children in the country is an embarrassment. The Democrats are making the American public a priority again and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill and vote for the children.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairwoman Johnson as well as Mr. Mica and Mr. Baker for their hard work in completing this long-awaited bill. With the new leadership in the House and on the committee, this legislation will soon be on the way to the President's desk for his signature. These water projects and these 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, these included in this bill will put people back to work, improve our communities, and create economic activity. This legislation also ensures that workers are paid a fair rate for their hard work. It is these workers' taxes that pay for these projects, and they deserve fair wages that allow 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. I encourage my colleagues to support this conference report so we can move forward with these critical projects this bill contains and so that we can begin to work on the next WRDA reauthorization so we don't have to wait another 6 years to fund these critical water infrastructure projects. Again, I want to thank Chairman Oberstar, especially Chairwoman Johnson for making this conference a reality. I want to thank Mr. Mica and Mr. Baker again. And I am just very excited that after 6 years we are going to have a bill. And, as Mr. Oberstar always says, that our committee, Transportation is the committee that actually put America to work. And so not only do we put them to work, but we are protecting the infrastructure.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, this amendment simply reprograms funds for a project that was included in the 2002 VA-HUD appropriation bill to another project in the same city. The city of Maitland, Florida, which is located in the southern portion of my district, had money allocated to them for the construction of a community center. Unfortunately, the project was completed before funds were distributed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and they are now unable to use this money. The city of Maitland, the recipient of the funds, has requested that the funds be redirected to another EDI project that involves the redevelopment of a public park that includes the creation of age- specific exercise courses and walking and bike paths. The money promised to Maitland is still available at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and will have no financial impact on this year's bill. The community center is fully completed, making funds earmarked for this project useless to the city. Every Member knows this type of Federal funding is crucial to a small city like Maitland, and I would hate to see funds meant for my district go unspent because we could not, HUD, get their act together and make this change. I would ask the chairman to work with me as this bill moves forward to try to help the city of Maitland solve this problem. Mr. Chairman, I'm going to withdraw this amendment, but I'm hoping that as we move forward, you will work to help rectify this problem that was created by the Department of HUD and this administration. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, here we go again, trying to destroy passenger rail in this country. The United States used to be the best passenger rail system in the world. Now we're the caboose, and we don't even use cabooses anymore. For far too long this Congress has given Amtrak just enough money to limp along, never giving them the funds they needed to make serious improvements in the system. Amtrak was a first responder during Hurricane Katrina and used the Sunset Limited line to help evacuate thousands of gulf region residents while President Bush and his administration was nowhere to be found. Now they are becoming a key part of each State's future evacuation plan. 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. Vote ``no'' on the amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, due to the tragic death of my grandmother, Sarah ``Big Mamma'' Morris, I was unable to vote during the week of July 16-July 20. Had I been present I would have voted in favor of the Labor-HHS- Education Appropriations bill. The new Democratic-led Congress is determined to reverse the Republican pattern of disinvestment. Democrats have produced a bill that makes college more affordable, helps raise the achievement levels of America's students, expands access to health care for the uninsured and invests in the skills of America's workers and in community services. In addition, I would have voted against the Kline amendment to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. This amendment is another Republican farse designed to hurt those who need help most. The Kline amendment would increase funds to the Office of Labor Management Standards, an office that has enjoyed 33 percent increase in resources over the past four years and sacrifice funding to the International Labor Affairs Bureau. This bureau oversees child labor standards abroad to make sure that other countries are not using children to undercut American manufacturing. The sponsor claims that it will help rank and file workers from so-called union abuses, but in reality, those who support this amendment are the same opponents of a minimum wage increase. This amendment does not protect the American worker and I would have voted ``no''. I would have also been a part of the 310 votes for the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The bipartisan Energy and Water bill invests $3 billion--$1 billion more than the President's request--to research global warming and work on new technologies and renewable energy. I hope that it's sister bill, the Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization, will soon become law so that we can continue to improve the water infrastructure in this nation.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of this legislation, H.R. 2956. I have to remind my colleagues that I am from Florida and it does matter who is the President, and we should never forget the 2000 election because it matters who is the President of the United States. President Bush intentionally misled the American people by supplying false grounds for going to war, and I personally never supported the war in Iraq. This war has cost over a half trillion dollars. This war is now costing over $12 billion per month. I stand with the American people and I wholeheartedly support our troops; yet I cannot support a truly senseless war that has killed 3,600 Americans and left over 26,000 severely wounded. The soldiers did not vote for this war, but when given a mission, they do the best they can to complete it. The military is doing the job they were sent to do. There was a flaw in the mission from the beginning, and the flaw lies with us. I want to be clear. The President's checking account has been overdrawn. The Bush administration's manipulation of taxpayer dollars to fund this war is over, and 70 percent of the American people oppose this war. This war needs to come to an immediate end. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill. Let's redeploy our men and women. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor the life of Mr. Robert Warren, Jr. Mr. Warren was born in Jacksonville, FL, on September 18, 1940 to Robert and Alma Moore Warren and passed away on June 14, 2007. As a child he was affectionately tagged with the name Bobo, a selective and endearing form of Robert. Mr. Warren was spiritually nurtured in the Historic Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC but remained a life long member of the Historic Mount Zion AME Church in Jacksonville, FL. Robert attended school in Jacksonville and graduated from New Stanton Senior High School in 1958. While at New Stanton, Robert was a member of the National Honor Society, the Foreign Language Club, and the New Stanton High School Marching and Concert Bands. In August 1958, Robert left Jacksonville to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, FAMU, in Tallahassee, FL. While at FAMU, Robert was a member of the world famous ``Marching 100'' and served in the Beta Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Robert was also active with the French club, the NAACP, YMCA, and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor of science degree with a major in French and a minor in Spanish. Robert moved to Washington, DC to earn a master's degree in French from Catholic University of America in 1970. Also, he was a fellow at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, and studied at several other institutions of higher learning including the Universite de Basancon in France and Howard University in Washington, DC. Robert taught in the public schools of the District of Columbia and influenced many young minds throughout his career at home and abroad. Since moving to the DC area, Robert remained supportive of his university and became a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association. He continued to serve his fraternity by participating in events sponsored by all three Washington, D.C. alumni chapters. Robert was an avid swimmer and won various swimming meets sponsored by the Golden Dolphin Senior Citizens Olympics. He was a lifetime member of the Anthony Bowen YMCA. Mr. Robert Warren will not only be missed throughout the entire Jacksonville, Washington, DC, Florida A&M University, and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity communities but many more across this Nation. Madam Speaker, today I ask that you join me in honoring the life of a man who leaves behind a record of service that speaks volumes about his life.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And once again thank you for your leadership. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Obey, and Chairman Edwards for bringing this bill to the floor. The motto of the former Veterans Secretary, my friend Jessie Brown, was ``putting veterans first.'' Well, the leadership they have shown, bringing the largest increase in the history of veterans funding to the floor, over $7 billion, I have got to thank you, sir. I have served on this committee for 15 years, and for 15 years we have struggled to put the veterans first. And I am so pleased that the House of Representatives under your leadership has finally put the veterans first. Mr. Chairman, I rise on my amendment to bring attention to a travesty occurring in my district. A travesty not just affecting my district, but this regional hospital affects Florida and Georgia. The Gainesville VA Medical Center is 40 years old and looks every day of it. There are five beds to a room, no shower, and no place for families. This facility received one of the highest rates of returning Afghanistan and Iraq veterans and is being shortchanged by a lack of proper facilities. The bed tower project includes 228 single-patient bedrooms for surgical, medical, and psychiatric patients. This includes extra space for support of the psychiatric care inpatient program. Finally, the building itself was required to be structurally strengthened to protect it from potential terrorist attack since we are part of the national emergency response system. The current design will be completed in June 2007 and will be ready to be released for bid in September 2007. Since the approval by the National CARES Commission and initial funding allocation, much has changed in the construction world. The dual impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the construction boom in China have caused the costs of all construction in the U.S. to rise. The total estimated construction cost is over $103 million. The original projection was $64 million for construction. That leaves a shortfall of about $40 million. Every month of delay costs about $1.1 million. An additional $40 million is needed in order to complete the project. The men and women returning to Florida and southern Georgia will be greatly impacted, and I would like to work with the committee to resolve this matter. Mr. Chairman, do I have the word of the chairman to look into this matter?

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield to Chairman Edwards.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to ask support for my amendment to allow Orlando International Airport and Miami International Airport to be named as two of the seven airports selected to implement a pilot program to screen airport workers who enter or reenter security airport space. My interest in this stems from a very serious security breach which occurred at the Orlando International Airport, OIA, earlier this year. On March 5, a Comair customer service employee boarded a Delta flight from Orlando International to San Juan, carrying 13 handguns, 1 assault weapon and 8 pounds of marijuana. Although passengers and flight crews are required to pass through screening to obtain access to gates, mechanics and other airline employees move through the airport without being screened. In fact, the men that were arrested had employee identification that allowed them to bypass screening altogether when they brought a duffel bag full of handguns into the airport. This serves as a perfect example of a striking gap in airline security, not only at OIA, but at airports nationwide. Moreover, given an employee was willing to take the risk of smuggling illegal weapons and drugs into a flight for a few thousand dollars, one would certainly imagine that it would be possible that the airline employee could be bribed by well-financed terrorists to obtain access to the airport infrastructure. In response to this incident, report language in the bill required a pilot program for seven airports nationwide to mandate the screening of all employees as prescribed in H.R. 1314. Of the seven airport pilot projects mentioned in the report language, my amendment would require that the Orlando International Airport and the Miami International Airport be named two of the designated programs. Miami International, in fact, already had a program in place, while Orlando International has undertaken a plan to screen 100 percent of all of its employees. Given the heavy international traffic at both of these airports, I strongly believe that they serve as perfect places to begin a program which eventually needs to be implemented at all airports nationwide. The reason I include Miami is because Miami can be used as a model, since the airport has had a program in place for nearly a decade and spends about $5 million per year for this type of security. The Miami program has reduced smuggling by all employees. Under this program, all airport and airline employees are screened, though not at the same area as the passengers or flight crews. The Miami program also includes a provision that allows screening to instantly send a suspect's image to a New York center that operates around-the-clock with a staff of former NYPD technicians. As you know, the State of Florida, in particular, thrives on tourism, which forms the backbone of the State economy. Obviously, those traveling in the State need to feel safe during their commute, and increasing and enforcing the security process for airline employees would serve as an important step toward achieving this goal. I realize it is necessary to withdraw this amendment, and I am willing to do so, but this is a very, very serious situation not just for Florida, but for the entire country. I want all of us to work together to ensure that our system does not allow these huge security gaps to continue. Point of Order

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to grant additional funding to the Inspector General's office so that they may enforce section 8 and small disadvantaged business contracts at the Department of Homeland Security. Procurement at the Department of Homeland Security increased 189 percent between 2003 and 2005, which was 11 times faster than the growth of the rest of the government. Yet according to the Federal Procurement Data System, the percentage of contracting for small disadvantaged businesses has decreased. In 2003, small disadvantaged businesses accounted for 16 percent of contracts. In 2004, the number decreased to 9.5 percent, and in 2005 the number decreased to 7.6 percent. If spending is increasing at the Department of Homeland Security, then why aren't minority and small business contracts increasing, too? I've heard from several businesses about their frustration with being awarded Federal contracts as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and Women's Caucus, as well as talking with members from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Going around my district and speaking with many small businesses in general, they also feel like the government has shut them out. Of course, with the abundance of noncompetitive contracts in the Bush administration, it seems like the first place the Department does not look are minority businesses or small business. No-bid contracts go to large companies that are not minority-owned. Waste, fraud and abuse have been rampant at the Department of Homeland Security. It has long been the policy of the Federal Government to assist minority and other ``socially and economically disadvantaged'' small businesses to become fully competitive and viable business concerns. This policy must be taken seriously by all agencies, especially the Department of Homeland Security. This amendment is important to members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Women's Caucus. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the longstanding policy for assisting minority and small, disadvantaged businesses. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I am very grateful. I yield back the balance of my time.

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