Tammy Baldwin

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations on two momentous occasions for an organization that has made a difference in the lives of girls and women around the nation. In the same year that the local Black Hawk Council chapter of the Girl Scouts in Madison, Wisconsin celebrates 75 years of scouting, the Girl Scouts of the USA are celebrating 90 years of ``helping girls grow strong.'' Girl scouting began on March 12, 1912, when Juliette Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia for a local Girl Scout meeting. Low believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and spiritually. Today, 3.7 million strong, the Girl Scouts continue to carry out their goal by encouraging girls to discover and develop their full potential. They focus on empowerment of girls by engaging in cultural exchanges, going on field trips, participating in community service projects, and learning about non-traditional fields for women such as science and technology. The Girl Scouts emphasize that their mission is to help all girls grow strong. They emphasize that Girl scouting is available to every girl in every community, reaching beyond racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and geographic boundaries. I experienced this first-hand when I was a girl scout in the Black Hawk Council as a girl in Madison. I continue to support the Girl Scouts as a member of ``Troop Capitol Hill.'' While the main focus of Girl Scouts is to help girls grow, there is something for everyone to learn from the Girl Scout Law, which states: I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place . . . I wholeheartedly congratulate the Black Hawk Council of Madison for 75 years of empowering girls, and the Girl Scouts of the USA for 90 years of community service, education, and leadership.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, one of the issues that I hear most about is the high cost of prescription drugs and the incredible struggle that senior citizens have to pay for them. It is clear that this is a major source of worry and distress for seniors and their loved ones. It is time for Congress to listen to our greatest generation and make affordable prescription drug coverage a priority. Unfortunately, a prescription drug benefit that is affordable for all Medicare beneficiaries is not a priority in this Republican budget. This budget replaces the President's inadequate proposal with its own inadequate proposal. What they are calling a Medicare reserve fund, using numbers from the OMB, this budget claims to increase Medicare spending about $89 billion over 5 years, and $350 billion over 10 years. However, if we used the CBO numbers rather than OMB, this is drastically reduced. Like the rest of the budget, using OMB numbers makes their increase in Medicare spending appear higher than it actually is. And if this were not enough, the budget also holds the Medicare prescription drug benefit hostage to Medicare reform and a provider payment adjustment. The Medicare reserve fund can only be tapped when a proposal that includes modernization, prescription drugs, and provider payment adjustments is before this House for consideration. All three issues must be addressed before we can assist our seniors with their prescription drug crisis. A detailed plan for Medicare reform has not yet even been proposed. Meanwhile, seniors have to continue to struggle and wait for prescription drug help. In addition, an independent commission which advises Congress about Medicare provider payments estimates that the adjustments that are coming will consume half of this Medicare reserve fund that has been set aside for all three purposes. How long must American seniors wait to see a Medicare prescription drug benefit? I believe that this is not the way to treat the retirees of the greatest generation who worked hard, lived through a depression, won a war, raised their families and created the strongest economy in the world. They deserve access to the affordable drugs that they need to stay healthy. I urge my colleagues to vote against this flawed budget. Mr. Chairman, I rise to join my Democratic colleagues in opposition to the budget on the floor today. I would like to talk about how unfairly this budget treats the senior citizens in our country. Last year the President and House Republicans went on record saying that the Social Security and Medicare surpluses should be protected and pushed several ``lockbox'' bills. However, this year their budget spends more than 86 percent of the Social Security surplus in the next five years and spends the entire Medicare surplus for the foreseeable future. While the Republicans want to send ``certificates'' to seniors guaranteeing that Social Security checks will keep arriving, they are raiding the Social Security and Medicare surpluses. Then they try to hid the extent of their invasion of these funds by using Office of Management and Budget (OMB) numbers and obscuring from view the effects of their tax policies after 5 years. Seniors are not going to be swayed by this sham budget, especially when it puts their future and their health at risk. When I'm home in Wisconsin, one of the issues I hear about most (whether in the grocery store on main street or in listening sessions) is that middle class seniors cannot afford to pay for their prescription drugs. It is clear that this is a major source of worry and distress for seniors and their families. It is time for Congress to listen to our greatest generation and make affordable prescription drug coverage a priority. Unfortunately, a prescription drug benefit that is affordable for all Medicare beneficiaries is not a priority in this Republican budget. This budget replaces the President's inadequate proposal with its own inadequate proposal: What they're calling a Medicare reserve fund. Using numbers from the OMB, this budget claims to increase Medicare spending by $89 billion over 5 years, and $350 billion over 10 years. However, if we use the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) rather than OMB numbers, this increase is drastically reduced. Like the rest of the budget, using OMB numbers makes their increase in Medicare spending appear higher than it actually is. But if this were not enough, this budget also holds a Medicare prescription drug benefit hostage to Medicare ``reform'' and provider payment adjustments. The Medicare reserve fund can only be tapped when a proposal including ``modernization,'' prescription drugs, and provider payment adjustments is before the House for consideration. All three issues must be addressed before we can assist our seniors with the prescription drug crisis. A detailed plan for Medicare reform has not yet even been proposed. Meanwhile, seniors will have to continue to struggle and wait for a prescription drug benefit. In addition, an independent commission that advises Congress about Medicare provider payments, estimates that provider payment adjustments will consume half of the Medicare reserve fund that has been set aside for all three purposes. How long must American seniors wait to see a Medicare prescription drug benefit? I believe that this is not the way to treat the retirees of the greatest generation who worked hard, lived through the depression, won a war, raised their families and created the strongest economy in the world. They deserve access to the affordable drugs they need to stay healthy. I urge my colleagues to vote against this flawed budget.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations to the oldest student newspaper on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, The Daily Cardinal, on its 110th anniversary on April 4. The Daily Cardinal is a steady and celebrated component of campus life--as vital a presence as the Union Terrace, Camp Randall, or Bascom Hall. For more than a century, The Daily Cardinal has informed students, faculty, and staff on the UW-Madison campus. Through the years, the paper's staff has met serious challenges with courage and determination while maintaining standards of journalistic excellence. The success of The Daily Cardinal must be attributed to its hardworking staff members, past and present, who juggle their roles as students and journalists or businesspeople, often with little or no recognition. The enduring success of The Daily Cardinal is most certainly due to their dedication and hard work. It's truly an honor for me to represent the students, faculty, and staff of the UW-Madison and especially those who sustain its award- winning student paper, The Daily Cardinal.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the University of Wisconsin--Madison male basketball team who through a season of intense hard work made the 2002 NCAA basketball tournament. After being picked to finish ninth in their league by most pre-season publications, the UW Badgers ended the season with a share of the Big Ten Championship, and a number one seed in the Big Ten Tournament. This championship title was the first the school has seen since the 1946-'47 season. The team began the season with a new coach, Bo Ryan, and had graduated four out of its five starters from last season, and before the season even got underway, lost two of its star freshmen. Under the motivating leadership of Ryan, however, the team finished its regular season with an impressive six-game winning streak to finish the Big Ten season with an 11-5 record and an 18-11 mark overall. Ending Michigan State's, fifty-three home game winning streak in January, and their one-point victory over Indiana, providing the first UW victory over Indiana at Indiana in twenty-five years, were just a couple of the highlights of this exciting Badger season. Their last game, in which the team beat Michigan by twenty points, ended with a sold-out crowd chanting ``Big Ten Champs. Big Ten Champs.'' These Big Ten Champs ended up with an eight seed in the NCAA tournament and will be playing their first game against St. John's University on the evening of Friday, March 15, at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. I wholeheartedly congratulate the University of Wisconsin Males Basketball Team on their successful season and wish them the best of luck in the NCAA tournament.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 358. We are all deeply troubled by the ongoing civil war in Colombia. Efforts to attain a peace agreement have not been successful so far, but the recent setbacks to the peace process do not change the fundamental nature of the conflict and should not result in a rush to radically revise U.S. policy. This conflict did not arise from drug trafficking. It is a forty- year-old conflict stemming from fundamental economic, political and social tensions in Colombia. All parties have been implicated in drug trafficking. And all parties have been responsible for serious and repeated human rights abuses. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known by their Spanish acronym FARC), the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), and the National Liberation Army (ELN) have all contributed to the murder, kidnapping and extortion now endemic in Colombia. This Congress is clearly on record condemning these actions. While Congress and the United States have condemned the revolutionaries, the paramilitaries and the Colombian government for human rights abuses, we have been very careful to avoid becoming entangled in the Colombian civil war. As a very large and geographically diverse country, military action in Colombia is quite difficult and could easily drag our nation into a quagmire like Vietnam. We have wisely recognized this risk and have limited military assistance to anti-narcotic activities. In addition to limiting the use of U.S. military assistance to anti- drug efforts, Congress has taken numerous steps to try to break the links between the Colombian military and the paramilitary forces of the AUC. U.S. and Colombian non-governmental organizations have clearly and definitively documented significant and ongoing collaboration between the paramilitaries and the Colombian military. Paramilitary violence has increased even as the record of the Colombian military has improved. Most estimates indicated the paramilitaries commit more than 75% of the non-combatant killings. The resolution under consideration by the House states that the ``Colombian Government has made progress in its efforts to combat and capture members of illegal paramilitary organizations and taken positive steps to break links between individual members of the security forces and such organizations.'' Well, saying it does not make it so. This simply isn't the reality. A report last month from Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International (AI) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) concluded exactly the opposite. Their report noted that President Pastrana has ``failed to take effective action to establish control over the security forces and break the persistent ties to paramilitary groups.'' The report further noted that high-ranking officers ``failed to take steps necessary to prevent killings by suspending security force members suspected of abuses, ensuring that their cases were handed over to civilian judicial authorities for investigation and prosecution, and pursuing and arresting paramilitary leaders.'' Despite our efforts, we have not seen any significant progress. As part of the FY02 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, signed by the President on January 10, 2002 (Public Law 107-115), the Secretary of State must certify that Colombia has met certain human rights conditions in order for aid to be released (Section 567). According to the HRW, AI and WOLA report, the conditions required for certification have not been met. I am very concerned that approval of this resolution by the House will be a signal to the Colombian Government and the U.S. Secretary of State that we believe these conditions have been met. I do not believe that they have been and certification should not take place at this time. Rushing this resolution to the floor is unnecessary and a mistake. As my colleague from Massachusetts, Mr. Delahunt, has said, we need to have comprehensive hearings on Colombia. Using the war on terrorism to justify leaping into a forty-year-old civil war with little debate or consideration is the wrong thing to do. We must step back and evaluate our policy toward Colombia. The United States has become embroiled in civil wars in the past, and we've come to regret those actions. Let's not let that happen with Colombia.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, tomorrow is International Women's Day. This is a day when women from all countries come together to celebrate a common struggle for justice, equality, and peace. It is a day that celebrates the acts of bravery and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women's rights. Women have made incredible progress in the last 9 decades since the first International Women's Day was celebrated. However, we are still seeing overwhelming numbers of acts of violence against women. Worldwide, domestic battery is epidemic, and it is estimated that one of every three women and girls has been beaten or sexually assaulted in her lifetime. We must reaffirm our commitment to ending discrimination and violence against women. Those who say that ending domestic violence is impossible need only look at the progress made in Afghanistan to know that we can make a difference. On this International Women's Day, we should be proud of the progress we have made, but recommit to end violence everywhere.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, high-speed Internet access is as important to our constituents and our Nation's economy in the 21st century as access to electricity or telephone service was to our forebearers in the 20th century. My district is geographically diverse, one-third urban, one-third suburban, one-third rural. Some have high-speed Internet access but most do not. I want all of my constituents to have broadband access no matter where they live. The question before this House is, what can we do to facilitate high- speed Internet access? Over the past couple of years, I have considered that question very carefully. Last year, I participated in a technology roundtable discussion in Dodgeville, in Iowa County, Wisconsin. It was sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce and included local business leaders, educators, students, public health professionals and local government officials. Lands' End Corporation, headquartered in Dodgeville, the county's largest employer, told of their need for high-speed Internet services for their website. In the mail order clothing business, the Internet has become a critical tool. But they had to base their website in the city of Madison rather than in their headquarters in Dodgeville. I also have a constituent who lives in a farmhouse six miles north of Dodgeville who makes specialty cheeses that he wishes to market over the Internet. He needs high-speed data capacity to expand his business. The service will help the library, the public health nurse and the local lumber company. I am convinced that Tauzin-Dingell is the best way to achieve broadband deployment to all of my constituents.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the anniversary of Hadassah, the 90th Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc. Hadassah, a women's volunteer organization founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, is today the largest women's and largest Jewish membership organization in the United States. With more than 300,000 members, Hadassah seeks to promote the growth and unity of the Jewish community within the United States as well as strengthen its partnership with Israel. During the past nine decades, Hadassah has been devoted to initiating and supporting health care, education, youth institutions, and land development in Israel. The Hadassah Medical Organization, one of Hadassah's greatest achievements, currently provides the highest standard of health care to individuals throughout the Middle East. In accordance with Hadassah's humanitarian mission and its strong support of a peaceful and secure Middle East, service is provided to individuals regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The Hadassah Medical Organization also serves as an excellent tool for training health care professionals around the world. In addition to its efforts in Israel, Hadassah has been involved in many issues concerning women and the American Jewish community. The Rachel Szold Henrietta Chapter in Madison, one of Hadassah's earliest chapters, has been very active in the community, providing programs concerning the advocacy of women's issues as well as health issues. In the past, they have held a ``Fun and Fitness Day,'' which is an active health fair with workshops. Last September, Hadassah, along with other local Jewish women's organizations, held a medical education discussion on hereditary cancers in Ashkenazi women. These are just a few of the events that the Madison chapter, and other chapters across the country, have held to benefit women and health. I wholeheartedly congratulate Hadassah for many years of success as a volunteer organization. I am proud to recognize this organization on its 90th anniversary.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, this past Tuesday the State of Wisconsin did something no other state has done, and something this chamber has failed to do. Wisconsin did what was right and decided to help unemployed workers by extending their unemployment insurance benefits for an additional 8 weeks. They did it without playing political games or attaching controversial measures intended to score political points but not help America's workers. Only a few short days after September 11, Congress quickly rushed to rescue the airline industry and provided a $15 billion package. This package provided airline executives with a guarantee that their million dollar salaries were safe, but included no provisions that helped the thousands of airline workers who were being laid off at an alarming pace. The economic downturn, combined with the terrorist attacks, has caused many people to lose their jobs. Our unemployment is at its highest rate in about a decade. Yet, the House passed an economic stimulus bill that included millions of dollars is special tax breaks for big corporations, including Enron, but left behind those who needed financial help the most--Americans who have lost their jobs. I applaud the State of Wisconsin for providing unemployed workers financial help for an additional 2 months while they look for a job. That means the people of Wisconsin will also have another 2 months to make their car payment, pay their house mortgage, and feed their families. I believe we must extend this assistance to all out-of-work Americans. It is our responsibility, our duty, to make sure that all unemployed or displaced workers have their benefits extended. Today, this House had an opportunity to pass a bill that would have extended unemployment benefits to unemployed workers and gotten a prompt signature from the President. Sadly, tying unemployment benefits to another so-called economic stimulus bill will cause it to meet the fate of the previous 2 bills this House passed--it will go nowhere. We should follow Wisconsin's example and pass legislation that extends unemployment insurance benefits for at least another 13 weeks in a stand-alone bill. To do so otherwise is to turn our backs on the American people.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Casey FitzRandolph, Olympic Gold Medal winner at the Salt Lake City games. This year's Olympic Games have a special meaning to Americans who have come together with unity and pride in these troubling times. I rise today to pay tribute to a constituent whose incredible accomplishment made us all proud to be Americans. Casey FitzRandolph, of Verona, Wisconsin, won the Gold Medal yesterday in the 500-meter Men's Speed skating competition. He is the first American to win the Gold in this competition since Eric Heiden, also from the second district of Wisconsin, swept the Olympics in Lake Placid in 1980. When he was five years old, Casey FitzRandolph proclaimed that he would grow up to be just like Eric Heiden, who was there cheering Casey on in his Gold Medal victory last night. Another Wisconsite, Kip Carpenter, took home the Bronze Medal as well, skating in the final pair with Casey in a very special Olympic moment. In the spirit of Eric Heiden, Dan Jannsen and Bonnie Blair, this new generation of Wisconsin speed skaters has made their state, their nation and the entire world proud. In recognition of the sacrifice of his parents, Jeff and Ruthie, his grandparents, his sister Jessi, and his fiancee Jennifer Bocher, I want to wholeheartedly congratulate Casey FitzRandolph for his accomplishment.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Shays- Meehan substitute and against the Ney substitute before us. Americans in my district and across the Nation are disillusioned and have been calling out for reform for years, only to discover their collective voices have fallen on the deaf ears of the leadership of this House. Since my constituents sent me here as their representative, as their voice, hundreds upon hundreds have contacted me regarding this very issue: campaign finance reform. They want public servants who are beholden to the voters of their district, not to special interest groups and their soft money contributions. They want policy and laws drafted by those acting in the public interest, not those carrying water for narrow private special interests. No comments were more compelling than the one young author from Wisconsin who contacted me regarding Shays-Meehan. As a young voter, he said, ``I am encouraged by the possibility that this bill will be one necessary step. People will again trust their government. There is nothing more important to our democracy.'' We must pass this bill.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in honoring my esteemed colleague, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, and celebrating her election to the post of Democratic Whip of the House. This is not just an important moment for Representative Pelosi, it is an historic moment for this great body, and a deciding moment for women in our country. This year, we celebrate the 85th anniversary of the swearing in of Jeannette Rankin of Montana to the Congress. Representative Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, and a leader of the women's suffrage movement, would, indeed, be pleased and proud to see Nancy Pelosi ascend to her position of leadership in the House. And she probably would have asked, ``What took you so long?'' We've never had a woman whip. We've never had any woman in one of the top leadership positions in either house of Congress. In the race, Nancy got encouragement from unexpected places. The elevator operators, the high school pages in the hallways, the wait staff in the dining room, were whispering, ``Go Nancy, Go'' as she walked past. They cheered because they saw in her a little bit of themselves-- people who, traditionally, have no seat at the table or in the back room. Every time a woman or a person of color or a person with a disability enters the halls of power, they bring with them the multitudes of people whose voices, typically, are not heard. By being in those halls, in those Chambers, in those boardrooms and backrooms, and on the podium, we make those places look a little bit more like America. As women we bring our life experiences to the job. We can effect change because we prioritize issues as we know them, as we understand them. And because of that, having a seat at the table matters. Having a seat at the head of the table matters even more. Nancy Pelosi brings a woman's perspective to the House leadership and it is long overdue. She also brings her keen intelligence, her political savvy, her deep-seated principles, her energy, and her desire to make our world more decent and democratic. Nancy Pelosi now makes the leadership of our great House of Representatives look a little bit more like America and we are all better for it.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the House to pass H.R. 1343, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Passage of hate crimes legislation is long overdue. As the House of Representatives fails to act, the list of victims of hate crimes grows every day. One such victim was murdered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last month on November 11. Juana Vega was shot repeatedly by her girlfriend's brother outside her girlfriend's family home. According to friends of the victim, the suspect made repeated threats, explicitly stating that he would kill the victim because of her sexual orientation. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this tragic situation repeats itself far too often in our country. We must act to address it now. It is unfortunate that hate crimes occur, but they do. It is irresponsible to deny that there are individuals who seek to commit violence against an individual because they may be gay, lesbian, a woman, or disabled, the people that we seek to protect with the passage of this legislation. It has been argued that we cannot see into a criminal's heart or mind, that we cannot determine their motive and intent, and therefore, cannot dole out appropriate justice. Yet, the most ancient concepts of justice still with us today consider the intent of those perpetrating a crime. Should we not consider the intent of a man or woman who kills or maims because of their hatred of an entire group, class, or race of people? A Member of the other body, the former chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, said last year, ``A crime committed not just to harm an individual but out of the motive of sending a message of hatred to an entire community is appropriately punished more harshly or in a different manner than other crimes.'' Hate crimes are different than other violent crimes because they seek to instill fear in an entire community, be it burning a cross in someone's yard, the burning of a synagogue, or a rash of beatings of people in proximity to gay-identified establishments. This sort of domestic terrorism demands a strong Federal response because this country was founded on the premise that persons should be free to be who they are without the fear of violence. Mr. Speaker, this House needs to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act as expeditiously as possible. We need to do everything that we can to prevent hate crimes like the murder of Juana Vega.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Kucinich- Lee amendments to the FY02 Defense appropriations bill and urge my colleague to vote in favor of this excellent amendment. Since the horrible events of September 11, Americans are more concerned than ever about our national defense. They want to know that our national leaders are working to ensure their safety from terrorist attacks. Protecting American lives must be our top priority as we address these new threats. In this new context, it is critically important that we prioritize funding for those threats most likely to endanger American lives. The Kucinich-Lee amendment wisely allocates additional funding to respond to weapons of mass destruction. It increases funding for Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams to ensure that every state and territory can respond to a chemical or biological weapon attack. It would also provide much needed funding for development and production of vaccines against biological agents. Finally, the amendment provides additional funding for the Nunn-Lugar counterproliferation programs to prevent the spread of nuclear material from the former Soviet Union. As we prioritize those threats that pose the greatest danger to Americans and those solutions that are most cost effective, it becomes quite clear that a National Missile Defense (NMD) system is not an effective use of our resources. The Kucinich-Lee amendment would eliminate some of the accelerated NMD programming, while leaving in place a significant increase in NMD funding. While I firmly believe that the entire proposed $7.9 billion in NMD spending would be more effective if applied to other priorities, the Kucinich-Lee cut of $786.5 million is a good start in using this money more effectively. By cutting funding for construction of the ``Pacific Test Bed'' ballistic missile defense facilities, we maintain our compliance with the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, which has been the foundation for nuclear arms control. I urge my colleague to adopt the Kucinich-Lee amendment.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, we have heard a lot from representatives who clearly are articulating with great passion for their own constituents, their own farming constituents. But make no mistake about it, if you utilize this tool, these interstate dairy compacts, to help your farmers, you are hurting the ones I represent. And any extension or further expansion of dairy compacts will hurt the farmers I represent even more. We must find a dairy policy that helps all dairy farmers in this country, not just regional interstate dairy compacts that help some. There are hard-working Members of this Congress who are seeking to do that. I hope that we will have a debate later on a germane amendment to this bill that seeks to do precisely that. But, unfortunately, the reason this was not germane is because we are using a very archaic tool in the form of interstate dairy compacts in order to achieve something that should be achieved in another manner, a way to help all dairy farmers. I serve on the Committee on the Judiciary and its Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, and I wanted to respond to the comment that there might not be the sufficient expertise on that committee to deal with this issue. The gentleman who just spoke from Louisiana and myself both represent dairy farmers. We both sit on that subcommittee and sat on it last year when we spent almost 7 hours dealing with this issue in markup and debate. The committee has dealt with this issue. As to those who have made comments about the necessity for a debate and a fair vote on this floor on the compacts, I just want to remind you how we got compacts in the first place, because my constituents never got a fair debate or a fair vote when compacts were first approved. When it was stuck into a conference committee report in the middle of the night, that issue was never debated on this floor; it never got a vote. My constituents have suffered from the results of that. I feel I have a responsibility to them, and I take that responsibility very seriously. We have got to find another way to help all dairy farmers and the dairy industry in these United States, other than interstate compacts.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Chairman, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his farewell address in 1961, he spoke about the ``military-industrial complex.'' He said, ``In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.'' It is forty years later, and yet his words still ring true. The corporations and organizations that profit so much from military build- ups are unaccountable to the American people. That was true in 1961, it was true on September 10th, 2001, and it remains true today. In America, the nation's military priorities ought to be set by the people. For that reason, I have been a harsh critic of our nation's military budget. I have regarded its priorities as misplaced. I have vehemently opposed deploying National Missile Defense. I have disagreed with the decision to build the F-22 Raptor. I have questioned the need for new attack submarines, battleships and guided missile destroyers. I lament our failure to adequately compensate the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces and our failure to keep our promises to our nation's veterans. I decry the failure to fully fund our non-proliferation efforts and nuclear disarmament programs. I have opposed every defense authorization and defense appropriation bill put before me since I came to Congress. And I would expect to do so again in the future, if I am not able to have greater influence on their content, their magnitude and their priorities. But today is different. I have struggled with this vote as I have struggled with no other. Here is where that struggle has brought me. I regard my two central duties at this unprecedented time to be the protection of American lives and the protection of the American way of life--our freedoms of speech, our expectation of privacy, our right to due process. I do not know what our President is being told by our intelligence agencies or by the criminal investigators. I do not know what tools our President will need to protect our families from further attacks and threats. I could not accept the responsibility for denying those charged with protecting our immediate safety and security with the tools they need. The Administration has told us that these are the tools they need. Not knowing what they know, I take them at their word. No one should interpret this vote as any indication that I will not continue to question and criticize policy that I believe is wrong. No one should take this vote as an indication that we should not push to reconfigure, rethink and reprioritize our national defense program. In this unprecedented time, we give our President what he has requested in order to protect American life. At the same time, I do not forget General Eisenhower's caution that we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence by the military-industrial complex.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, I would associate myself with the comments of some of my colleagues commending the Committee on Appropriations and subcommittee process that resulted in this bill. Nevertheless, I rise in strong opposition to the Weldon amendment. At a time when 43 million people in our country lack health care coverage, this amendment would maintain barriers for certain citizens of our capital city to obtain health insurance. This amendment would prohibit the implementation of the District's plan to extend health care coverage to domestic partners of city employees with its own local funds. This amendment stands as the only barrier between affordable health care for countless families of city employees. This amendment could mean the difference between a person having a sensible health care plan or no plan at all. It could mean the difference between wellness and illness for the families of city employees. I implore my colleagues, do not continue to overrule the democratic process that brought this benefit in the first place. The people of this city have spoken, and they have made it clear that health care coverage for domestic partners is wanted and absolutely needed. This amendment is a slap in the face, both to the citizens and the leaders of this city. I can only imagine the uproar that would occur if this House sought to directly overturn the municipal law of any other city in this Nation. Let the democratic process stand. Let the District leadership do their job. Let the District spend its own money. Vote ``no'' on the Weldon amendment, and let the District implement a health care benefit plan for domestic partners and their families for city employees.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. Our nation was viciously attacked on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, leaving children without fathers and mothers, parents mourning their missing children, families experiencing terrible emptiness and loss. All Americans feel the horror, shock, fear, and anger. The country has been attacked, and as Commander-in-Chief, the President has the power to act to defend the United States of America. Congress recognized this nearly thirty years ago in the War Powers Resolution. Yet by recognizing the authority our President already possesses under the War Power Resolution, we send a strong statement of national unity. By approving this resolution today, we stand united, as one nation, stating clearly to the perpetrators of this crime, and those who would attack our country in the future, that we will protect our citizens and ensure the guilty are punished. The horrible crisis is also an opportunity. It is an opportunity for the United States to once again demonstrate to the world the sources of its strength and greatness. I am not speaking of our military might, although it is powerful. We will demonstrate our greatness by the way we seek justice and the way we promote freedom. We will determine with certainty who is culpable and punish them and those who aid them, rather than let our rage lash out indiscriminately. Community leaders in my district have produced a statement expressing their outrage and sorrow. Wisely they noted that the victims of this attack reflect the diversity of America. They wrote in fact that: ``the backgrounds of its innocent victims are representative of the world's diversity, from Africa to the Americas, Europe to Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.'' As we move forward in seeking justice for the many victims, we must direct our punishment only upon the guilty. The American people stand behind this quest for justice. With our many friends around the world, we will fight to end the scourge of terrorism. As we rise to this challenge, we must do so relying on America's strengths without sacrificing our cherished principles. Our constitutional liberties stand as an example to the world of what freedom means. We must never forget that we pursue justice in order to secure liberty.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, each and every day I am humbled to serve as a Member of the United States Congress. I am humbled by the honor of representing my Wisconsin constituents. I am humbled by the privilege to serve this great Nation. I love this country. I cherish our freedoms. I have great regard for the leadership and courage that has been demonstrated in these very Chambers throughout our Nation's history from its birth onward. Time and time again our Nation has risen to the challenges posed by evil, violence, intolerance, and injustice. These were challenges of immense proportions, and we did not shrink from them. Of course, all of us hoped that these sorts of challenges, these attacks on our very own soil were part of our Nation's history, not our Nation's present or future. Most Americans yesterday and today saw television images that will be indelibly inscribed in their minds and consciences. In New York, Pennsylvania, and our Nation's capital, other Americans witnessed these tragedies firsthand. Our Nation and our Nation's families have suffered unimaginably from the unspeakable evil acts of yesterday. We will not shrink from facing this challenge either. I have been so deeply moved by the capacity of the American people to respond to this crisis. Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel and want to convey to our Nation's emergency workers, the paramedics, nurses, doctors, firefighters, police officers, members of National Guard and so many others. Words are also inadequate to express the depth of the sympathy that I want to share with the victims and their families. I join all my colleagues in condemning these despicable acts. We must bring the perpetrators to justice. The greatness of this country in our own eyes and the eyes of the world is the promise that we will act against the perpetrators only when we are certain of their culpability. I also know that it is the American people, our freedoms and our democracy that make this Nation great. Our constitutional liberties shall not be sacrificed in our search for greater security, for that is what our enemies and all enemies of freedom and democracy hope to achieve. I have never been more deeply moved to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 30th anniversary of Community Shares of Wisconsin, an extraordinary social action fund in Madison, WI. Founded in 1971 to fund grassroots organizations and projects working for social change, Community Shares was the first social action fund in the country. Community Shares of Wisconsin is committed to working together with its donors and member agencies to address social, economic and environmental problems through advocacy, research and public education. Through cooperative fundraising, sharing resources and coordinating activities, Community Shares of Wisconsin supports and promotes innovative programs for Wisconsin citizens. Community Shares of Wisconsin member agencies work to help restore Wisconsin's prairie, protect and enhance its land and waters, build sustainable communities, provide for the needs of children and families and promote a fair, humanitarian society. In 1971, Community Shares of Wisconsin, known then as the Madison Sustaining Fund and Community CHIP, supported 14 groups. After 30 years of hard work, Community Shares of Wisconsin now helps support 44 groups around the State. I wholeheartedly congratulate Community Shares of Wisconsin for the 30 years of success as a social action fund. I am proud to recognize this organization and the city and people of Madison, WI.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 140th Anniversary of the Farmers & Merchants Union Bank in Columbus, Wisconsin. The bank began business 140 years ago, and became nationally recognized when it moved into its new, current home in 1919. With its famous structure designed by the great American architect from the Midwest, Louis Sullivan, the bank is a cornerstone of the city of Columbus. It is remarkable that this small bank has been able to retain its independence through the tumultuous 19th and 20th centuries to the modern era of megalithic corporate banking, the New Economy, and the information age. In 1861, when the bank first began, the United States was a very different place from now. Abraham Lincoln was President, and the Civil War between the states was in its infancy. Wisconsin had been a state for only 13 years, but already had its sixth governor, Alexander William Randall. Columbus had not yet incorporated as a city--that was not to come for another 13 years, in 1874. Though all these years, the Farmers & Merchants Union Bank has remained a truly local, independent, community bank and continues today to serve the people of Columbus and the surrounding areas. It is a profound achievement for any business to remain in operation for 140 years, and I am proud to recognize this bank and the city and people of Columbus, Wisconsin.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the City and people of Portage, Wisconsin, and their annual celebration of the life and work of Zona Gale (1874-1938), a leader of the women's suffrage movement, civil and minority rights advocate, poet, journalist, Pultizer Prize winning playwright, novelist, University of Wisconsin Regent, and community leader. As a leading suffragette, Zona Gale, who was born on August 26, 1874 in Portage, took an active role in the creation of the Wisconsin Equal Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination against women. While the original intent of the law was to implement the federal suffrage amendment in Wisconsin, in fact, the law went well beyond women's suffrage as it stated, ``Women shall have the same rights and privileges under the law as men in the exercise of suffrage, freedom of contract, choice of residence for voting purposes, jury service, holding office, holding and conveying property, care and custody of children, and in all other respects.'' The law was upheld in Wisconsin's courts, and Wisconsin women were among the first in the nation to gain fully equal legal standing with men. As a writer, Zona Gale achieved early prominence as a novelist, later winning the Pultizer Prize for drama in 1921 at her career's zenith with ``Miss Lulu Bett'' (1920), a village comedy depicting a single woman's attempts at self-assertion in a small town--a loosely fictionalized Portage. Portage hosts its annual celebration each August remembering Zona Gale and her remarkable contributions. Of special note in Portage's work to remember Zona Gale is Blanche Murtagh, Project Director for Friendship Village Celebrates Zona Gale, who continues to lead these recognition efforts. Among the many who also continue to continue to this important effort are Edward Rebholz, President of the Portage Historical Society; Hans Jensen, Director of the Portage Public Library; Nan Rebholz, President of the Women's Civic League; Sandra Gunderson, President of the Zona Gale Center of the Arts; Irene Ludlum, President of the Portage Area Community Theater; and Ken Jahn, Director of the Portage Area Chamber of Commerce. These community leaders, and the citizens of Portage--Friendship Village as Zona Gale called it--are to be commended for their work in ensuring that the pioneering Zona Gale continues to be remembered for her greatness in American history.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chairman, families in Wisconsin are anxious about the state of their health care. Too often, profit takes priority over patient need. Patients are losing faith that they can count on their health insurance plans to provide the care that they were promised when they enrolled and paid their premiums. As Members of Congress, we have all tried to help our constituents who were denied care by HMOs. We have all heard their heartbreaking stories. Just this morning, I heard from a constituent of mine whose 12-year-old daughter, Francesca, has Cerebal Palsy. His daughter requires surgery to halt deterioration of her walking abilities so that she will not have to be dependent upon a wheelchair. This father asked his HMO to allow his daughter to have surgery at a particular hospital that is not a provider in their plan because the hospital that is a provider in their plan no longer employs a specialist in this type of treatment. Instead of giving this father a referral, the HMO recommended that he switch plans. No one should fear that their insurance company would abandon them when they need it most. I urge my colleagues to support the Ganske-Dingell bill and oppose these three amendments that will serve to deprive Americans of the patient protections they deserve. Make no mistake about it, if these amendments pass, the bill should be renamed the HMO Bill of Rights.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection was created to help farmers in crisis keep their family farms. H.R. 333 makes Chapter 12 permanent. While waiting for this comprehensive bankruptcy reform legislation, Chapter 12 has expired five times. Just during the current Congress, we have been forced to pass two extensions to Chapter 12. It is time to treat our family farmers with the respect that they have earned. Adjusting eligibility to more properly reflect the needs of real family farmers would make a significant improvement to the underlying bill. This motion on H.R. 333, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2001 would instruct the House conferees to accept Senate language on Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection. The other body expanded the definition of family farmer to allow more family farmers to file under the protections of Chapter 12. These changes do three simple things to allow more of our family farmers to qualify for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection. First, the amendment will increase from $1.5 million to $3 million the amount of aggregate debt that may be accrued by the family farmer. This is necessary because many family farmers accrue more than the $1.5 million in debt before filing for bankruptcy. Second, the amendment will reduce from 80 percent to 50 percent the value of a family farm's aggregate noncontingent liquidated debts that must be related to the farming operation. Again, this expanded definition will allow for more families to keep their farms under chapter 12 rather than having to liquidate their farm assets. Finally, under current law, the person or family must earn more than 50 percent of their gross income from farming in the year prior to bankruptcy. The amendment would look at one of the last 3 years prior to the bankruptcy rather than just the prior year. This change is very important because many farm families split their time between farm and other employment out of necessity. It is not at all unusual for one spouse to work on a nonfarm job to secure health or other benefits for the entire family. In a year prior to declaring bankruptcy, that nonfarm income may easily exceed farm-related income, since low prices and crop failures can dramatically reduce gross income in that year. Looking at one of the 3 years prior to bankruptcy filing will keep true family farms from being denied chapter 12 relief. During committee consideration, I proposed similar language to expand the definition of family farmer. The majority did not accept the amendment due to a desire to maintain the language negotiated by the Bankruptcy Conference Committee in the 106th Congress in an attempt to avoid a conference committee in this session. My discussions with the bill's author and others in the majority revealed no substantive objection to expanding this definition. Now that the other body has decided to include it in their version of the bill, I hope the House will incorporate it into the bill. This motion also instructs conferees to accept the Senate language with respect to extending chapter 12 bankruptcy protection to family fishermen. Family fishermen face the same type of financial pressures that are beyond their control as family farmers do. They harvest the oceans like our family farmers harvest the land. Allowing family fishermen to reorganize their debts without losing their equipment that is essential to their livelihood will ensure the continued viability of our family fishermen. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this motion to instruct conferees to accept the chapter 12 positions from the other body. These commonsense amendments will improve the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2001 to protect some of the most vulnerable families in America and allow them to maintain their farms and their livelihoods. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. General Leave