Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it was disgusting. They were talking about why were we rushing. I would have passed the bill on September 12. Here we are 7 weeks later and we are rushing? I am on the House Committee on Transportation and the Infrastructure. We have not had a discussion, a debate. What we passed out should have been on the floor. But we have the leadership refusing to take up a bill. The Senate passed a bill on October 11, I think.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, some of the changes are just cosmetic. Unless we agree to screen all of the luggage, have background checks and communication between the FBI and CIA and the airport security, it does not work. We need to put a system in place that protects the American people. This is not a game. We talk about bipartisanship. I am for it. I am for it as far as it goes, but that is not what we have. It is my way or nothing at all. That is the rule of the House of Representatives. It matters who is in charge of the House of Representatives. This is the people's House. The people should have an opportunity to put their issues on the floor and have an up-or-down vote.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. First of all, I want to commend the gentleman for his leadership on this matter. I really stand with my colleague and all of the people from his area, all those families, who after 9-11 their lives will never be the same. I hope the gentleman will take a look that I have on black and orange for Halloween. This is October 31. But, my colleague, we might be in for another trick tomorrow. Tomorrow, the House leadership may not bring up the aviation security bill after all. Would that not be a horrible trick on the people of the United States? After September 11 we all pulled together to stand by this country and to make sure that we moved forward together with one voice. I cannot believe that 7 weeks after September 11 we have not had an opportunity to vote on an aviation bill. When we were passing the airline bailout bill, I told my colleagues then that we should have included airline security in that bill. We should have made sure, as the airlines were getting $15 billion and not a dime for the workers, and to this date not a dime for the workers. In addition to that, I have not heard anything about those schools that train pilots. As we speak here on the floor, there are aviation schools training pilots today, terrorists, today. Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that people can walk into a school and give $25,000 cash, and they will train pilots; for what? It is ironic that one of the planes that went down in Pennsylvania on September 11, that the people on that plane pulled together. They took a vote and they voted that they were going to stop this plane and those people. They are heroes. Here we are in the House of Representatives, the people's House, 7 weeks after September 11, and we have not had a vote. We have not had a discussion on the floor. The Senate on a bipartisan vote of 100 to zero passed the bill. We need to take up that bill and pass that bill. By tomorrow afternoon that bill can be on the President's desk. He can sign it and we can move on to other things. Aviation security is just one area that we need to work on. We also need to work on port security, rail security, bus security. We need to change the way we do business in this country. The economic stimulus package which passed this House, the same old big dogs were eating. Nothing in there for all of the areas of security that we need to address, like the United States Coast Guard, giving them additional monies to patrol our ports. The list goes on and on. A lot of people during election times say it does not matter who is in charge. It does matter because if the Democrats were in charge, we would have had an aviation security bill on this floor, and not one person would be delaying and delaying and delaying that bill. Mr. Speaker, I am outraged that on October 31 we have not yet discussed or debated an aviation security bill and what should be included in the bill. One of the things that should be included is cockpit security. The pilot and the flight attendants all agree that is one of the things that should be included, one of the things. In addition, marshals, U.S. Marshals on all of the planes. The only question it seems is whether or not the people that screen the luggage should be Federal employees. We have Members here who say they do not like Federal employees; but more than that, they might join the union. They might join the union. I have something to say, Mr. Speaker. We have been honoring some great Americans, the pilots that went down on September 11, the flight attendants, the police and firefighters, every single one of them were union men and women who were fighting and died for this country on September 11. We have not done one single thing to make sure that does not happen again. I am very disappointed in the leadership of this House. This is the people's House. We should have been first in addressing the needs of the American people. One of my colleagues said that the big dogs always eat first. A lot of people want to know what do we mean by the big dogs. I am talking about the lobbyists with the money. That is what is driving it. There are some people that want to make sure that the companies that really failed us on September 11, those are the ones that are going to continue to have the business and pay minimum wage. Minimum wage with no training, what do Members expect. America is better than that. I am hoping tomorrow we will pass an aviation security bill, and that tomorrow evening at this time that bill will be on the way to the President's desk and that we can move forward and look at other security needs in this country. It may not be a perfect bill. I have been here for almost 10 years, and we have never passed a perfect bill; but it is a perfect beginning. Let us pass that Senate bill tomorrow and move forward for the American people.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. We understand who runs the House. People talk about we are working together, but the proof is in the pudding. Let us pass an aviation security bill for the people of the United States.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. If the gentleman will yield, is the technology available to screen the luggage?

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, let me just point out that I am the Member from Florida, Florida, who does not know how to conduct an election. But we do know how to do tax cuts. For the past 3 years, we have had these same kind of cuts in Florida. And what are the results? The Florida State legislature is in session today as we speak cutting the budget because of these tax cuts that have been going on, over $1 billion in tax cuts to the rich. Yes, Republicans know how to rob from the poor to give big tax cuts for the rich. Shame on you. Shame on you. Let me tell you something. One of the things that we are talking about cutting, Medicaid, hospitals, school lunch programs. Someone asked the question on the floor and I am going to ask you, why is it when the Republicans present something on the floor that the big dogs always have to eat first? And, in fact, in this bill that you have on the floor, they are the only dogs that are eating.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Madam Chairman, as you may know, the Senate has authorized another round of military base closures. I rise in opposition to any attempts to weaken our national defense through another round of base closing. Another round of base closing will subject the future of our national defense to a political and arbitrary process of back-room-deals and broken promises. All of the past BRAC rounds have been full of last- minute games, empty promises, false cost savings and unreliable data. At a time when our nation has been attacked by terrorist forces, further base closures would make our country look weak and further undermine the security of the American people. Closing additional military installations will make our remaining bases easier targets. Why should we be shutting down existing bases when we are only beginning to understand the extent of our enemies evil wishes? Why should we be shutting down existing bases when we are still learning of our enemies' ability to completely surprise even our best defenses? Why should we be shutting down existing bases when we need all of our people and materials to fight against the terrorist enemy? I rise in strong opposition to another round of base closing and encourage our conferees to do the same.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. First of all, let me say that everybody in this House feels the pain of what is going on in the country, and certainly we all want to be supportive. I personally sat through the testimony of the CEOs in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I know that our carriers need some relief. But I refuse to vote for a bill that was never debated in committee, and does absolutely nothing for the thousands of employees and businesses that rely on the airline carriers for survival. We are handing over $5 billion, a blank check, to the airline CEOs, and over $10 billion in loan guarantees, with no questions asked; but not one single dime for the over 100,000 employees who the airline carriers are laying off. How can we go back to the district and tell those hardworking men and women that we were not able to provide a dime for them, but yet we are giving the CEOs $5 billion? Mr. Speaker, the airline carriers are taking advantage of us. We are being chumps.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. I would like to do so with caution. This is a resolution that comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility. I support the President, but we are treading on new grounds here today. As my favorite scripture says, ``To whom God has given much, much is expected.'' Let me repeat that. ``To whom God has given much, much is expected.'' On September 11, for the first time in 175 years, the capital of the world's greatest military power was attacked. This was a well-thought- out and organized attack, and it demands a well-organized and powerful response. Members of this group that designed this attack cannot go unpunished. Nor can the Nations that trained, supported or gave them shelter. The United States must deliver a swift and immediate response to this horrible act against the people of this great Nation. God bless America

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, God bless America. Yesterday, on September 11, for the first time in 175 years, the capital of the world's greatest military power was attacked by a cowardly and totally spineless enemy. We, the United States, the leader of the free world, the country that saved Europe from Nazi Germany, the country that had the courage to stand up to communism and dictatorships worldwide, the one Nation in the world looked to for leadership cannot submissively stand by while our Nation is attacked. This was a well-organized and thought-out attack and it demands a well-organized and powerful response. Members of these fanatical groups cannot go unpunished, nor will this nation support them. Those nations that give them shelter, weapons, support and training, we will deliver a swift and immediate response to this horrible act. Congress and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure must take steps to implement new safety standards for air travel and, in fact, all modes of transportation. I have received numerous calls today from pilots saying that we have to absolutely secure the cockpits on our airplanes and that we need to put U.S. marshals on each and every plane again just as we did in the 1990s. My heart and prayers go out to the families of the victims, and I want to commend the volunteers and emergency personnel on their great efforts. How can you help? I am donating blood tomorrow and asking my constituents to do the same. For all the people out there that are watching, if you have any information that could assist this ongoing investigation, please call the FBI hot line. In closing, I want to make it clear, whether we are a Democrat, a Republican, male or female, black or white, we stand behind the Commander in Chief. War has been declared against the American people, and you are either with us or against us. There is no in between.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker and fellow Members of Congress, I want to alert you to a matter of concern that I have regarding business owners and their employees, particularly small business owners, within our country. This problem has been told to me by some of my constituents and is a problem about which business owners throughout the country have written to you. We are a nation that is built upon the rule of law. This has assured a system of accountability for our conduct as individuals, businesses and institutions. Congress, as elected representatives, meets and acts to improve and refine the system in order to protect the people and their property. The foundation as framed by our nation's founders in the Constitution is the concept of due process and the right thereof. We each have the assurance that the law protects our person and property from libelous, slanderous, and otherwise tortuous interference with our reputation or business. Unfortunately, I have learned that we have within our country a private organization that with the appearance of being quasi-governmental and without any legal or regulatory oversight and control can libel and slander and tortuously interfere with a small business. They can do so with virtual immunity. This organization is the National Better Business Bureau and their franchise local Better Business Bureaus. At times, some of these bureaus classify small business owners as unsatisfactory, libel and slander them with opinion and innuendo, and provide them no due process to correct the problem. If sued in court, they argue qualified immunity under the guise of the public good. No one disputes the right of a Better Business Bureau to print facts. It is when they print falsehoods, opinion, or negative innuendo that a mechanism for redress or correction must be assured. When closely examined, however, one finds that there are Better Business Bureaus that arbitrarily and capriciously exclude and negatively classify those they don't like. They also frequently rate companies with terrible records as being satisfactory. No written guidelines or rules are available that require the Better Business Bureau to adhere to any legal standard in their dealings with business. (With the internet, the conduct of one local Better Business Bureau is then taken as true and disseminated everywhere.) The Better Business Bureaus also charge money for these reports. They make money without responsibility for how they make it. Why are they above the law and other businesses? On a first-hand basis, I recently inquired of the National Better Business Bureau regarding the process and I was met with hostility and rebuke. Prominent members of my community who tried to ascertain information about how to redress a concern with a local Better Business Bureau were hung up on by senior ranking National Better Business Bureau employees. The process I have described is not in the public's best interest. It is not appropriate for us to allow our business owners and their employees, the men and women who make our country strong, to be exposed to this arbitrary and capricious process. A right to redress the actions of the Better Business Bureau when libelous, slanderous, arbitrary, or capricious action is apparent is a fundamental right we must insure. Thank you.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, during last year's campaign, a patients' bill of rights was the top priority of the American public. But just like the Presidential election, the American people are not getting what they voted for. The President and the leadership of this House is pushing amendments that are a complete sham on the American people. Instead of a patients' bill of rights, they are pushing an HMO bill of rights. The Republican amendments side with special interests over patients, provide special protections for the HMOs, and roll back patient protections. In last year's election, the Green Party candidate claimed that there was not a dime's difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. I can guarantee Mr. Nader and the rest of the American public if we had a fair election, we would really be debating a patients' bill of rights and also a prescription benefit for our seniors. The American people deserve quality health care. I ask my colleagues to do the right thing for their constituents, not the big insurance companies. Vote for a real Patients' Bill of Rights. Put the doctors back in charge of medical care, with insurance company accountability, that sometimes kills and harms patients.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for bringing this amendment to the floor. Twenty-seven thousand of my constituents were disenfranchised in the last election. The whole nature of the last presidential election, from the roadblocks set up in black areas, to innocent people labeled as felons and kicked off the voting rolls, to thousands and thousands of votes being thrown out, is not acceptable. Our current President was selected by the Supreme Court and not by the American people. This last election has destroyed people's faith in our very system of government. Yesterday I heard a Member on this floor speaking on the Foreign Ops bill about the flaws in another country's election. It is shameful for us to discuss another country's election when we have our own American coup d'etat here in the United States. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, so that we can begin the process of finally getting over this shameful election.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo), chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Our U.S. Coast Guard performs to the same high standards and faces many of the same dangers as our Armed Forces, but does not get funded in the larger Department of Defense budget. Each year they compete for funding with major agencies in the transportation budget, and for the last several years has been forced to either decrease operations or transfer money from maintenance to operations. Just 2 weeks ago we passed a Coast Guard authorization by 411 to 3 that added $300 million more than this bill provides. Without this additional funding, the Coast Guard will be forced to reduce operations by 20 percent including deactivating two medium cutters, two TAGOS ships, and 13 Falcon jets. This is not how we should be treating the men and women who risk their lives stopping drug smugglers and illegal immigrants, protecting our ports, and performing search-and-rescue missions. I urge our colleagues to vote yes on this amendment and support a budget for the United States Coast Guard that meets our Nation's priorities.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. ENGLISH and Mr. SHOWS changed their vote from ``no'' to ``aye.'' So the amendment was agreed to. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded. Amendment Offered by Mr. Deutsch

Ms. BROWN of Florida

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

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1699, the Coast Guard reauthorization Act of 2001. This legislation is vital to the future operation of the United States Coast Guard. Most importantly, H.R. 1699 authorizes an additional $300 million above the President's request for Coast Guard operations. This means more money for law enforcement, drug interdiction, fishery enforcement and migrant interdiction. For the past several years, the Coast Guard has been forced to either decrease operation or transfer money from maintenance to operation. Each day the men and women of the Coast Guard are putting their lives on the line to save those in distress, stop migrants and immigration, drugs, enforce maritime safety laws, and provide security to our Nation's ports. The time has come to provide the Coast Guard with the financial resources it needs to successfully carry out its operations. The $300 million in additional funds for operations will help pay for the backlog in maintenance for aircraft, allow the aircraft and cutters that were to be mothballed to continue to operate, and enable all of the Coast Guard's vessels and cutters to operate to their full capacity. In addition, H.R. 1699 authorized $338 million for the Coast Guard's Deepwater Acquisition Project. The Coast Guard has been a wise guardian of the people's money. They have managed to keep cutters operating that was built in the 1940s. However, it is time to modernize the Coast Guard aircraft and fleet of cutters. I am hopeful that the money authorized will allow the Coast Guard to successfully award the Deepwater contract early in fiscal year 2002. The bill before us is a clean authorizing bill. It contains no changes to Coast Guard policies or programs. We are hopeful that the Senate will agree with us that it is in the Nation's interest to enact a Coast Guard authorizing bill in time for the Committee on Appropriations to provide the authorizing funds. Mr. Chairman, failure to enact a bill authorizing appropriations to the Coast Guard is a failure to fulfill our obligations to the American people. A vote for H.R. 1699 is a vote to provide an extra $300 million to support Coast Guard operations. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 1699, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2001. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird).

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this is National Safe Boating Week. In the year 2000, over 72 million Americans participated in recreational boating activities. However, between 700 and 800 Americans will be killed in recreational boating accidents this year. It will take a continued effort by State Boating Law Administrators, Manufacturers, boating safety educators, and the many other organizations involved in boating to decrease the number of Americans killed every year on our waterways. Today, I would like to ask the cellular telephone industry in the United States to join this effort by designating ``*CG'' as the emergency response number that boaters can use in an emergency to make free calls to the nearest Coast Guard unit. Over the past decade, more and more Americans are carrying cellular telephones wherever they are--including on their boat. I am pleased to recognize that companies such as Verizon and Alltel wireless allow many of their customers to call the Coast Guard using *CG. However, the use of *CG is not universal. For example, in Woods Hold, Massachusetts, *CG will reach the Coast Guard if you are using a Verizon phone. However, if you happen to be using a Sprint Cellular phone you reach a recording that says ``invalid code entered''; on Cellular One and Nextel you get ``call cannot be completed as dialed.'' Even within a singular cellular telephone company, designation of *CG for emergency communications is not universal. For example, Verizon has *CG connections in Seattle and Massachusetts, but not in Norfolk, Virginia. Mr. Speaker, when a boater is in distress they need to be able to reach the local Coast Guard unit as soon as possible. They may not have a VHF radio on board and the only way to reach the Coast Guard is by using their cellular telephone. Time is of the essence, and they can't wait to go through the operator to reach the nearest Coast Guard unit. Today I would like to call on the U.S. cellular phone industry to designate *CG as the nationwide phone number for boaters to reach the Coast Guard during emergencies using cell phones and to ask them to program their networks to route these calls to the nearest appropriate Coast Guard facility. They too can join the coalition of people in the United States striving to save boaters lives. The Coast Guard has a template agreement that they have been successfully implemented around the country. Once all of these companies are on board, we can initiate a boating safety campaign to educate the boating public about the universal access to *CG during emergencies. Please help us save lives by establishing a national *CG system. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the record an article about Version Wireless use of *CG in the Seattle area. Verizon Wireless Links Boaters to Coast Guard Don't Cast Off Without Your Wireless Phone Seattle, May 2 /PRNewswire/--With the official arrival of a new boating season on May 5, Verizon Wireless reminds boaters that it offers its customers a direct connection to the U.S. or Canadian Coast Guard by dialing *CG (*24) from their Verizon Wireless phone. There is no access fee to use *CG. Airtime is deducted from customers' calling plan bundle. ``While VHF-FM maritime channel 16 should be used as the primary means for reporting an emergency,'' said Kelly DeLaney, Verizon Wireless regional president, ``our extensive marine coverage gives boaters another reliable means of communication while on the water that increases convenience and enhances safety and security. Boaters can use *CG to get help if there is an emergency, or to pass along information about a navigational hazard that could endanger boats.'' Just as wireless users are encouraged to exercise caution when driving and dialing onshore, boaters should keep safety in mind when navigating and dialing. To recognize National Safe Boating Week, May 19 through May 25, Verizon Wireless asks all boaters to think ``safety,'' by following these tips: Safe boating is your first priority. Make sure your phone is positioned where it is easy to see and reach. Use the speed dialing features on your phone to program frequently called numbers. Let your wireless network's voice mail pick up your calls when you're unable to answer the phone. If you're heading into a navigational hazard, it's easy to retrieve your messages later. Use your wireless phone to notify those on shore of your whereabouts and destination.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, election reform is a priority for the American people and it should be a priority for this Congress. We should never forget that 180,000 uncounted ballots were cast in Florida last November. Florida has not forgotten. Unfortunately, election reform is not a priority with the Bush administration. The President's administration has shown no interest whatsoever in the issue of election reform. In fact, the budget that President Bush submitted to Congress provided no funds whatsoever to help States update their voting equipment. We send people all over the world to monitor elections. If this Congress fails to act on election reform, we will forever lose our standing as the world democracy. Shame on us, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Hyde- Smith amendment. As a member of the Russia Duma Study Group, I have seen firsthand how important these funds are to women around the world. I have met with family planning providers from around the world; and they consider this aid to be the most important assistance that they receive from the United States, especially the providers in the former Soviet Union and African nations. This is not about promoting abortion. It is about helping women and their families. When I was coming up in the 1960s, there used to be a program with Sergeant Joe Friday, and he would say, ``Just the facts.'' The facts are we do not spend a dime of U.S. taxpayer money for abortions and have not since 1973. This is not about protecting the taxpayers' dollars. This is about the fact that each year more than 600,000 women die of pregnancy-related deaths that are preventible. This is about the fact that more than 150 million married women in developing countries want assistance. Vote against this ill-fated amendment.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Lee language included in this bill. President Bush's gag rule is a destructive policy that threatens women's health around the world. This is not about abortion or protecting the tax money of the American people. This is about the fact that each year, more than 600 thousand women die of pregnancy-related deaths that are preventable. This is about the fact that more than 150 million married women in developing nations want contraceptives, but have no access to them. This is about giving women an option, and some control over their lives. The Global Gag Rule does not prevent abortions. Instead, it forces women around the world to resort to life-threatening acts of desperation in the attempt to get rid of unwanted pregnancies. Mr. Speaker I have met with family planning providers from across the world and they consider this aid to be the most important assistance they receive from the United States--especially the providers from the former Soviet Union and African nations. This is not about promoting abortion--it's about helping women and their families. Remember, foreign countries have been prohibited from using US funds for abortions since 1973. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Lee language in this billl.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a longtime friend of mine who passed away this weekend, Mr. Doug Jamerson. He was a former Florida Education Commissioner, Secretary of Labor, and State Representative. He was 53 when he died from cancer this weekend. Mr. Jamerson was a lively and forceful man. He was a true educator and a great leader. In 1982, Mr. Jamerson and I were both elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where we served together for 10 years. He was a wonderful family man and he is survived by his wife Leatha and his son Cedric. Jamerson was a true Democrat who championed the cause of quality education for all children. He was a close friend of mine, a friendship that we developed when he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1982. For 11 years he represented District 55, which covered South Pinellas County and a small part of Manatee County. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) who served with Mr. Jamerson along with myself.