Ginny Brown-Waite

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is time for America to wake up. The United Nations is a mess, riddled with scandals. In fact, the U.N. itself is a scandal. The Oil-for-Food scheme and the sex trafficking by U.N. officials in Bosnia and the Congo are only two in a long list of egregious acts. The Oil-for-Food program began as a humanitarian plan to soften the sanctions against Saddam Hussein's Iraq. The U.N. would allow Iraq to sell a predetermined amount of oil each year, provided that the Iraqi government used the profits to buy food, medicine and other necessities for its citizens. Instead, Saddam and his cronies twisted this program. These villains got rich while the people of Iraq suffered. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's own son benefited from the Oil-for-Food program. Only after extreme international pressure did Secretary Annan appoint former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker to investigate the scandal ridden program. Volcker's report found grave conflicts of interest in the program. The real question is, should the U.N. be above the law? It is blatantly obvious that the U.N. considers itself above the law of nations and answers to absolutely no one. Secretary Annan has said that he will waive diplomatic immunity for any U.N. official who has done wrong. However, his promise carries little meaning, because which government would prosecute the guilty U.N. officials? The officials are not U.S. citizens, their offenses did not take place on U.S. soil and none of the documents in question were required to follow U.S. law. There is no vote for U.N. leaders and no international referendum on its policies. The U.N. sets its own shabby standards for conduct. These are some of the very reasons why so many of our constituents oppose U.S. membership in the U.N., and it is why many fear U.N. efforts to have the power to tax, field an army or create a court system. Possessing these powers would transform the U.N. into a global governing body. America must draw a line. The United States provides large sums of money to the U.N. so that ``business as usual'' can continue. America must no longer blindly follow every policy, scheme, international conference and peacekeeping mission that the U.N. peddles. The United Nations' greatest fear is that average Americans will no longer tolerate these international scandals and demand that America withdraw from the international organization. If this ever occurred, the U.N.'s thin veil of relevance would be completely ripped away. Let us face it, the U.N. has failed. It has failed in its mission to promote world peace. While the U.N. claims to provide a forum where nations can air their differences and avoid the battlefield, more dictators have terrorized nations and more generations have been lost to genocide. Instead of removing threats to peace, the U.N. has encouraged, actually even nurtured, regimes that wage violence on their neighbors and oppress and torture their own people. Instead of a peaceful, prosperous, stable trading partner, the U.N. condones brutal, murdering dictatorships that starve and torture their own people, while once-great powers tremble and use diplomatic double- talk to ignore their responsibilities. Most of these international thugs have two things in common: Each has a voice and a vote in the United Nations. The United Nations has come under the control of outlaw nations and self-serving special interest groups. Each promotes an agenda to line their pockets with the world's wealth as they diminish the power of the United States and enslave the citizens of their Third World countries. How else could terrorist states like Libya and Syria have served on the U.N.'s Human Rights Commission, while Israel is condemned time after time? Why else would the U.N. refuse membership to a prosperous Nation like Taiwan, and give vicious brutes like Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe a prominent voice at U.N. conferences? The U.N. scandals are not isolated incidents. The scandals are ingrained in the very structure of the United Nations. The idea that a U.N. Secretary General can act as a global representative or that the U.N. staff can function as an honest and effective international servant is preposterous. While the time has come for America to wake up, it is also time for Congress to act. That is why just today we approved the United Nations Reform Act of 2005. Now it is up to the U.S. Senate to follow our lead and demand reforms. I applaud the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for his hard work to finally bring accountability and integrity to the U.N. However, reform in the United Nations has been long overdue and action must come soon. Secretary Annan's task is clear: Bring in the era of integrity and accountability you were charged with, or you will lose the United Nations' single largest contributor, the United States.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. As we debate the 2006 Defense Appropriations Act, I rise to commend the actions of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Brigadier General Casey McClain. Their swift effort to implement a tough policy against sexual assaults in the military is praiseworthy. I became aware of the troublesome issue in the military when the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues held a hearing last spring to give voice to military women who were victims of sexual assault. In this time of conflict, when brave young men and women are willing to put their lives at risk, it is essential that those soldiers do not fear the actions of their comrades in arms. The act of sexual assault is condemned in civilian society. It is especially unforgivable when one soldier sexually assaults another. The bonds of trust and respect unite soldiers on the battlefield. It therefore is imperative that this trust not be eroded because of insufficient policies addressing sexual assault among our troops. After the hearing, Congress acted last year to include language in the Defense Authorization Act that required DOD to develop a definition of sexual assault that is uniform for all of the Armed Forces. That was part of the problem before. It was no small task, yet the Joint Task Force on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response led by Brigadier General McClain carried out this charge with the utmost professionalism and timeliness. As a result of their efforts, I am pleased to report that the new policy on confidential reporting went into effect just earlier this week. The new policy provides for a confidential means for soldiers to report assaults and ensures that victims feel safe and that they are encouraged not to hide, but rather to report this violation. It is clear that the Department of Defense places a high priority on the prevention of and response to sexual assault within the military. I commend their actions, but I remind them that this Congress will continue to exercise authority over them to ensure that this policy is continued.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, since congressional passage in 1994, Men's Health Week has brought much-needed attention to the health needs of American men. Men's Health Week encourages employers, community service organizations, public health departments, and health providers to raise awareness of men's health needs and to support preventive health measures. Annual checkups, especially for men over the age of 40, are perhaps the single most important factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to CDC, women are 100 percent more likely to get an annual physical exam than men. In addition to lower life expectancies than women, men are more likely to die of strokes, heart disease, cancer, and accidents. Yearly physicals have increased awareness of risks to men's health that will save lives and keep men healthy and active. Mr. Speaker, I urge all men to take advantage of Men's Health Week and go and get a physical. Your health is worth it, and your family certainly will appreciate it.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his time and consideration and certainly look forward to working with the Chairman on this important matter in the future.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman's willingness to engage in a colloquy, and I thank him very much for yielding time to me. I wish to express the concern of many of my constituents regarding potential threats to the integrity of the Small Business Administration's loan program. Under current law, no funding for the Small Business Administration funds may be used to assist individuals who are in the United States illegally. Actually, to date, the best information we have is that SBA has never guaranteed a loan to an individual living illegally in the United States. However, SBA only guarantees the loans, while banks actually provide the funds to applicants. Thus, the burden of ensuring the legal status of loan applicants is actually placed on the financial institutions. While banks have internal measures designed to specifically prevent fraud, the success of SBA's policy hinges on prompt notification, rather than upfront security. Unfortunately, the post-9/11 world has highlighted the consequences of fraud. My constituents and those around the United States demand that Congress act aggressively to strengthen and protect the integrity of the SBA loan system rather than passively waiting for the worst. Can the distinguished gentleman describe what steps have been taken to combat this sort of fraud and to protect America?

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor four students from Webster Elementary School in Webster, Florida. These gifted and dedicated 6- and 7-year-olds were recently honored as the Southeast Division Elementary School Champions in the 2005 National Toshiba/NSTA Explora Vision Awards Contest. Each year the National Toshiba/NSTA Explora Vision Awards Contest is held for K-12 students throughout the United States and Canada. This year, the contest received more than 4,000 entries. Webster Elementary's website and research project was selected as the top entry for the entire Southeast Region. Webster's student team was Dylan Brannen, Erin Tuten, Micah Lanham and Matthew Garrepy. Their coach was Mrs. Lynn Thomas and the team mentor was Mr. Kevin Garrepy. The national contest required the students to conceive an invention that was both innovative and creative, combining imagination with scientific principles. Once the team was selected as the Southeast Champion, they entered the semifinal round where their challenge was to design five real web pages and a prototype of their invention. They should be commended for their successes. Each member of the team received a framed certificate and a VCR/DVD player for their winning project. A Toshiba representative presented the students with the certificate and player and gave Webster Elementary a new laptop to use to complete the project. Mr. Speaker, these students should be applauded for their hard work and innovation. Dylan Brannen, Erin Tuten, Micah Lanham and Matthew Garrepy have shown the ingenuity and hard work that all schoolchildren should strive for.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Sheriffs Office in Citrus County, FL. Local Sheriffs offices are the first responders to crimes and disasters and are a key element of support in our communities. It is important that we recognize the hard work and dedication of these men and women, and never take their service for granted. These deputies make daily sacrifices and put themselves at risk keeping our communities safe. This office has shown professional excellence this past year and their work has truly made our county a safer place. Events like the one today hosted by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce provide the camaraderie and support these dedicated men and women deserve. This Appreciation Barbeque allows for the employees of the Sheriff's Department to come together after a very difficult and heart wrenching year. The generosity of the community as a whole has made this event possible and I thank them for it. Unfortunately, I was unable to join them today at Liberty Park in Inverness, FL. I was unavoidably detained by Congressional votes here in Washington, DC, and could not return in time for the event. I look forward to joining them in the future when I am home in Citrus County. The Mission of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office is to maintain peace and order by providing law enforcement services that are of the highest professional quality. I would argue they have far surpassed this mission. When tragedy strikes our community, I know we can rely on these truly dedicated public servants. Mr. Speaker, I once again would like to express my true appreciation for everyone in the Sheriffs Office and all they do for our communities.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise a hard-working woman, Mrs. Mary Ann Keckler, who is dedicated to supporting local veterans. Hernando County is fortunate to have Mrs. Keckler in our community. Mrs. Keckler served in the United States Navy from 1959-1962. She currently heads Hernando County's Veteran Affairs Roundtable and is commander of the local Disabled American Veterans. Mrs. Keckler has joined forces with Hillsborough County veterans advocates to raise money for Operation Haley House, the local version of the Fisher House. Donations to Operation Haley House will provide the families of injured American soldiers a place to stay when visiting loved ones undergoing long-term rehabilitation. Many area families are faced with the high costs of expensive room and board when visiting relatives at the James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa. Plans are currently under way to begin building what will be known as the Haley House to elevate this costly burden on military families. Mary Ann's efforts to improve the lives of injured American soldiers and their families deserves to be recognized. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to represent Mary Ann Keckler, and to honor her for working with our local veterans.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come from Florida, and a lot of people think that only retirees and seniors live in Florida, but I want to put a face on a couple that was very successful with in vitro fertilization. They are 47 years old. They had a daughter born as a result of in vitro fertilization. The child was born with multiple heart problems and had to have three surgeries before she was 2 years old. This couple believes that far more good can come from donating the remaining embryos for research. They have decided not to have any more children. And ultimately what we have not heard here is what the American people want. This is a couple that wants to be able to donate the embryos, which certainly they can do now, but they also want to have Federal research dollars go toward this. This really is all about where taxpayer dollars go. And when you look at the huge book of pork that comes out every single year, when we go back home and say to our constituents, would you rather have some of this money going to, for example, some foreign countries that regularly turn their backs on us, or would you like to see some significant research done from embryonic stem cells that would be disposed of, the majority of our constituents are clearly going to say, use the money for significant research. We have to remember that this is not an either/or. Certainly the umbilical cord research is a great science. We need to move forward with that as well as the embryonic stem cell research. Remember, for this couple and her husband deciding to donate those embryos, they believe they will be saving other children's lives. They believe they will be helping an aunt who has early-stage Alzheimer's. They believe they will be able to help spinal cord injury victims. That is what this research holds the potential for. No, we do not have the cures yet; but unless we go forward, we never will. I fully support the Castle/DeGette bill, and hope other Members do, too. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005. I stand with 200 of America's most respected research organizations in support of this bill. I would like to especially thank Congressmen Castle and DeGette for their tireless efforts on behalf of the millions of people who may benefit from enhanced stem cell research. I would also like to thank Speaker Hastert and Leader DeLay for the debate today and for giving the 200+ cosponsors of this legislation a vote on the House floor. I rise today as a mother, as a concerned grandparent, and as someone who is worried that the untapped potential of stem cell research may be falling by the wayside. In my congressional district on the gulf coast of Florida, I have had the pleasure of meeting Holly, a 47-year-old mother of two. Like many Americans, Holly and her husband had trouble getting pregnant, and their first daughter was born through in vitro fertilization. Her daughter was born with a congenital heart condition, and had three surgeries before her second birthday. As with most in vitro fertilization procedures, Holly and her husband had several embryos left over after the procedure. They chose to keep the remaining embryos frozen. This couple was then blessed by a second miracle daughter who was conceived without in vitro fertilization The happy couple decided not to have any more children, and had to make a choice about what to do with their frozen embryos. Holly and her husband are well aware of Operation Snowflake and the adoption options for their embryos. But, like many other parents, they would rather donate their embryos for research to help prevent heart disease--like their daughter was born with--or cure cancer, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's. For Holly and her husband, they decided that donating their embryos for medical research would be their best chance to save other children's lives. Increasing stem cell research could find potential cures for many diseases that affect so many American families. Put another way, the issue of embryos and their ability to be used for stem cell research is kind of like a flashlight. Until you put the batteries in, a flashlight will not produce light. Likewise, only when an embryo is implanted in a uterus to grow, can life be sustained. Embryos sitting frozen in a clinic help no one. The embryo does not grow in the frozen state, so human life is not being created and nurtured. In addition, when the couple stops paying the daily fees to store the embryos, unless they have the medical donation option, their remaining embryos will be disposed of as medical waste. That would be tragic. Holly and her husband know this fact. They know that without the nurturing and love that a woman's body provides, these embryos will be wasted. Science tells us that after as short a time as eight years, these frozen embryos will begin to deteriorate, and lose their viability for implantation. Mr. Speaker, these embryos are too important to linger in a frozen test tube or to see discarded without helping mankind. Additionally, I have yet to hear in this entire debate what opponents of H.R. 810 would do with those embryos that are not adopted, and eventually go to waste in a cryogenic freezer. Would they want those embryos to be thrown out as medical waste, or instead help provide the basis for life-affirming scientific research? Holly and her husband know that the great potential and promise of stem cell research will not move forward without their donated embryos and their support. However, it is their respect for the culture of life that has brought them to this decision. They have weighed the choices available to them, and rather than donating the embryo for adoption, have chosen to let their embryos potentially save millions of lives. Thousands of people around the country have made similar decisions to support life-affirming and life-enhancing research. H.R. 810 will give hope where hope does not exist. Passage of this bill today will let the research on stem cells continue under ethical guidelines, and will provide millions of Americans suffering from terminal diseases the hope that they have been denied. All these organizations listed on this posterboard, such as the American Academy for Cancer Research and the American Medical Association, support H.R. 810. I urge my fellow Members of Congress to vote yes on the bill

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank our Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman, the gentleman from Indiana (Chairman Buyer), as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the Ranking Member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) for giving Congress the opportunity to vote on the Servicemembers' Health Insurance Protection Act. Today, when a man or a woman makes a decision to serve their country through the Armed Forces, most have to give up their employer-sponsored health care. Although TRICARE insures these enlistees, in the eyes of their health care providers, they are technically without coverage until they return, and then they are subject to unfair premium increases as a ``new employee.'' America asks these young men and women to fight for our country, then we allow their insurance costs to increase when they return. How, many would ask, is this at all fair? The bill that we have before us, H.R. 2046, specifies that when a person enlists in the military, they will return to the same low-cost, employer-sponsored health insurance that they had before their absence. This common-sense legislation enjoyed unanimous support from Committee on Veterans' Affairs members, is supported by the Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and veterans' groups around the country. I look forward to voting in favor of H.R. 2046 and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. Certainly those members of the military, whether it is active or the Reserve, when we have so many people serving today in the war on terrorism, they deserve to have this kind of legislation passed so that they can come back home and again provide the kind of health care insurance that their family needs.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for agreeing to this amendment. Mr. Chairman, water is one of the most precious resources Floridians possess. Representing several of the State's largest water reserves, protecting the quality and availability of our water has always been a top priority. Unfortunately, the EPA is proposing this dumping rule that would damage the integrity of America's water. The proposed rule which they now have said that they are not going to implement was not a very well thought out one. The blended wastewater concept would then be discharged into our waterways. The consequences of this strategy could be very dire. Certainly in a State like Florida where we have more than our share of heavy rains during rainy season, and you can be darn sure we are going to have a lot of hurricanes again, it would be virtually playing Russian roulette every time that citizens would be drinking tap water. I cannot in good conscience allow the rule to go forward and have that communicated to the EPA. I am very delighted that today a letter did come from them that they are not going forward with this. But keeping it in the legislation is very wise policy.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1817, the Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. I applaud the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) for his leadership and commitment to securing our Nation's borders. Congress has not been idle when it comes to our Nation's security, recently passing the REAL ID Act in the emergency wartime supplemental. I applaud all of these changes. They provide identification checks that will keep our vital infrastructure facilities like chemical and nuclear power plants safe from terrorists. I know firsthand the value of security, as my hometown recently experienced the unfortunate confluence of illegal immigration, Social Security fraud, and potential terrorist threats. I live in Crystal River where there is a nuclear power plant, and it was found to have contracted with a businessman who, unbeknownst to them, had actually been using illegal immigrant day laborers who provided false or stolen Social Security numbers to obtain government-issued driver's licenses. This issue brought home the vital importance of not only upgrading our identity verification processes but also of securing our borders. These people actually had been deported but sneaked back into the country and got a little too close to a critical infrastructure site for this Member of Congress to be able to tolerate. We worked to strengthen our ID laws, but we also must work to strengthen our borders. Today our borders are overwhelmed. To anyone watching today, it is clear that America needs border patrol agents. Just last week in the Committee on Government Reform, my colleagues and I heard testimony that the Department of Homeland Security does not have enough agents and that it desperately needs more. Last year's intelligence reform bill authorized 2,000 new agents. These new border patrol agents will deter illegals from entering the United States and will enhance response capabilities by almost 20 percent. However, funding was only proposed for 210 of these agents. This is unacceptable. 210 agents cannot adequately protect our borders. Accordingly, I join my colleagues on the Immigration Reform Caucus to call for the full 2,000 new border patrol agents. I thank the gentleman from California again for placing this as a priority of securing our borders and authorizing the additional agents that America needs. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge my colleagues to protect our borders and to vote in favor of the Homeland Security Authorization Act which does better protect nuclear power plants and chemical facilities.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Sanford Walke of Hernando Beach, Florida. He was the chief engineer in the army during World War II, and Mr. Walke recently was a person to whom I presented the Purple Heart for his heroic actions in battle. On a flight over Germany on July 8, 1944, Mr. Walke's plane was shot down over France. The last one to jump out of the plane, he was forced to open his parachute over enemy territory. He was then taken as a Prisoner of War and held in a German prison camp. He was put on long and arduous marches until he was able to escape with another British soldier months later. The two soldiers were hiding in a barn in a German village when the British tanks rolled in and took over the town. Thankfully, the British took care of him until he was able to reunite with his American soldier buddies. Mr. Speaker, true American heroes like Sanford Walke should be honored for their service to our Nation and for their commitment and sacrifices in battle.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Sanford Walke of Hernando Beach, FL. A chief engineer in the Army during World War II, Mr. Walke received the Purple Heart for his heroic actions in battle. Mr. Walke was in the Army from November 1942 through November 1945, serving during World War II in the European Theatre. Assigned to the 398th Bomb Group--8th Air Force, Mr. Walke was a chief engineer on a B17. On a flight to Germany on July 8, 1944, Mr. Walke's plane was shot down over France. The last one to jump out of the plane, Mr. Walke's parachute had a missing panel that made him fall to the ground faster than would normally occur. Ironically, the parachute malfunction saved his life because the enemy on the ground was shooting at him the entire time, but was unable to accurately target his fall. Mr. Walke was taken as a prisoner of war and held in a German prison camp. Months later, he and 2,000 other POW's walked for 75 days and 500 miles on a forced march before he was able to escape with another British soldier. They were hiding in a barn in a German village when British tanks rolled in and took over the town. The British took care of him from there until he was able to reunite with Americans. Mr. Speaker, true American heroes like Sanford Walke should be honored for their service to our Nation and for their commitment and sacrifices in battle. I am honored to present Mr. Walke with his long- overdue Purple Heart. He is truly one of America's greatest generation.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, since 1997, the Marine Corps League has presented trikes to handicapped children in Citrus County, FL. Local Detachment #819 was involved with the Marine Corps League Auxiliary in conjunction with the Toys for Tots Program in starting and implementing the current trike program. This past weekend I joined the Marine Corps League to help present modified tricycles to some of the handicapped children in Citrus County. Each tricycle is modified to accommodate the individual handicap of the child. I can tell you from firsthand experience that the Marines are doing an amazing service to these young children, and should be commended for their service and dedication to the community. I would hope that other Members would identify Marine Corps Leagues back home in their districts, and help participate in this worthy program.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my congratulations to Patrick and Carrie Mulvee on the birth of their first child. John Ryan Mulvee was welcomed at 9:32 p.m. on May 2nd, 2005, weighing 7 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 21 inches long. John Ryan was named after his late paternal great-grandfather John J. Mulvee. I congratulate Patrick and Carrie on the new addition to their family and wish them years of continued health and happiness.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, recently the Wall Street Journal highlighted a disturbing trend among labor union boards. They are engaging in pension fund blackmail to bully corporations into agreeing with their partisan political agenda. A top AFL-CIO lobbyist was referring to financial services funds backing the President's personal retirement account proposal and he said, ``We have no intention of letting any of these companies get away with this while they manage our workers' funds.'' And 3 trustees representing the New York City Employees Retirement System sent a letter to several investment banking companies demanding to know their Social Security stance. These union boards should be ensuring their members' pensions are being wisely invested in qualified ethical companies. How can we say that Sarbanes-Oxley has strengthened corporate responsibility if labor unions are investing in and managing corporate boards based on their political interest rather than their fiduciary responsibilities to their members and the corporations for which they represent?

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on April 27, 2005, I was out of the office and was unable to vote. Had I been present I would have voted: H.R. 748, On Agreeing to the Scott Amendment--``No''.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. While many States require parental notification or consent before an abortion procedure, others do not. The gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) introduced this bill to prohibit the transportation of a minor across State lines in order to obtain an abortion. As we have all heard in the discussion today, there are no Federal parental notification laws and not every State operates under the same rules. There are some States that do not require a parental consent form or notification, or their laws may be tied up in a court challenge, as was the case in Florida; but the voters voted overwhelmingly to have parental notification. When a minor is transported across State lines to evade these State laws, the rights of parents have been violated. I only have daughters. I have three daughters and certainly any parent realizes that their children cannot have such a minor thing as a tattoo or a body piercing or even receive vaccines in school without their consent. Is it asking too much that our children receive parental consent before they undergo an out-of-state and serious medical procedure, all without their parents' consent? Can you imagine learning that your daughter was transported across State lines because she thought it was her only option? That is just plain wrong. Mr. Chairman, we must support the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act today. Certainly Congress does not want to condone nonparents transporting young women across State lines for the purpose of evading the parental involvement laws in the girl's home State. To me that is a dangerous and unconscionable precedent to set. Across the country, officials must obtain parental consent before performing even routine medical procedures.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to clarify a few points about strengthening and preserving Social Security. Unfortunately, partisan opposition groups are playing word games with Social Security reform. Let me tell the Members what these words mean to the average American. Privatization means taking Social Security completely out of the hands of government and turning the program over to a private entity. I will never vote to privatize Social Security. Personal accounts means giving younger workers a choice to invest a portion of their tax dollars into safe and secure accounts. Most importantly, these accounts would be owned by the individuals and protected from the D.C. practice of using these funds for general spending. This is not privatization. I would hope that instead of slinging half-truths and misrepresentations, those groups opposed to any sort of reform would instead present choices of their own and meet Republicans at the negotiating table in a productive, constructive manner.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, another day in the Fifth Congressional District means that again my seniors received calls trying to frighten them about Social Security. This is the sixth set of calls that have gone into my district. The majority of the responses I receive is stop, stop, stop those calls. We trust you; we know you will do what is right. As the American public knows, the long-term future of Social Security is problematic at best. We have all heard the facts that in the year 2017 the Social Security trust fund will begin paying out more than what it takes in and that if Congress does nothing, the program will face at least a 25 percent guaranteed cut in benefits in 2041. So if we do nothing, there will be future cuts. These are the facts, and they are indisputable. What I am here to share with Members this evening is about the dangerous double talk from the opponents of any kind of reform of Social Security. I would like to read some interesting quotes from Washington politicians about Social Security. The first one is: ``If you do not do anything, one of two things will happen: Either it will go broke and you won't ever get it. Or if we wait too long to fix it, the burden on society of taking care of our generation's Social Security obligations will lower your income and lower your ability to take care of your children.'' Or how about the following: ``This fiscal crisis in Social Security affects every generation.'' Or how about this gem of a quote: ``This is the time to straighten Social Security for the future. We can and must accomplish this critical goal for the American people.'' Members may be asking themselves what right wing Member of Congress said that Social Security was in a crisis and which reformer said the program would go broke if we do nothing to fix the problem. Guess what, these are quotes from none other than former Democrat President Bill Clinton. Leaders of our country from both parties have known that Social Security needs reform. What bothers me today is when we finally have a President and a Congress that is brave enough to grab what is often termed the third rail of politics, partisan obstructionists are unwilling to even come to the table and debate reform honestly and with some substance. I represent the congressional district with the most Social Security recipients, 47 percent of my voting age population receives Social Security, a quarter of a million people on Social Security. Politically the easiest thing for me to do is to throw up my hands and oppose reform. But instead of sticking my head in the sand like the Democrats are doing and refusing to admit we have a problem, even though their former President did, I am working to find a permanent solution. If Democrats, the AARP, and the unaccountable 527 groups would be honest with themselves and with the American public, they would acknowledge the truth of President Clinton's statement that ``this fiscal crisis in Social Security affects every generation.'' Instead, what do we hear? We hear scare tactics from the liberal left about Republican efforts to privatize the system, to force our parents to eat dog food, and take away the only future our seniors have. Mr. Speaker, the time has come for them to come to the table and do what President Clinton suggested. It is time to engage intellectually dishonest partisan politicians who refuse to debate the issue on its merits. How, the American public should ask, can Congress expect to solve a substantive policy matter like Social Security when one side refuses to debate seriously. If the Democrats want to have any relevance in the lives of our seniors, it clearly is time for them to come to the table. The discussion should begin with the simple question: Does Social Security face a problem? I believe every American believes that Social Security does face a problem. ``Legislators whose answer to that problem is `no' should probably go ahead and cosponsor a bipartisan bill to do nothing in the 109th Congress and go on to other issues.'' Who said that? Well, how about former Democrat Congressmen Tim Penny and Charlie Stenholm. Congressmen Penny and Stenholm know something needs to be done. Why will they not bring their former colleagues to the table. Let me tell a story about one of the town hall meetings I had in my district. Before I began a discussion with my constituents and listening to their suggestions, I held up a 10-page packet of questions and talking points that were sent out by MoveOn.org. I told my constituents that I was there to listen to their genuine concerns and questions, not to hear canned questions from a bussed in MoveOn.org member or to read off their cheat sheet. What do you know, about 2 minutes into the question and answer period, I got question number 3 right off the MoveOn.org cheat sheet. This is a perfect example of the left wing partisans stacking events at town hall meetings that are intended to benefit our constituents. I am sure other Members experienced the same phenomenon. Getting back to the obstructionism of Washington politicians, here is another quote: ``Because of the retirement of the baby boomers by the year 2013, the surpluses built up in Social Security start to dwindle down, and sometime around the year 2032, Social Security faces a serious crisis.'' Guess who said that? It was actually former Vice President Al Gore. So the American public clearly can see that Washington Democrats are very good about talking out of both sides of their mouth if it furthers their partisan goals. Al Gore talked a good game, but where is he today when it comes to presenting a plan or encouraging his members to guarantee the solvency of Social Security for future generations? We have all read news accounts where President Clinton proposed that government directly invest a portion of Social Security money in the financial markets to capture a higher rate of return, rather than the dismal rate that it receives now. Where, the public has to ask, were the liberal opposition groups back then? They supported a Democrat President who proposed this, but they oppose a Republican one. President Bush has proposed allowing workers to invest 4 percent of their payroll taxes into personal, safe and secure accounts. To many, this is a safer route than putting our Social Security taxes straight into the stock market like President Clinton wanted. Where is the AARP with a plan of their own? We met with them in our office; and, quite honestly, all they said was, no, no, no. They did not have a plan of their own. All I have seen from them so far is a statement that personal accounts are unacceptable to their leadership. But if you think about it, Social Security is already somewhat personalized. When you get home, I challenge people to check their yearly statement from the Social Security Administration. Your future benefits are there calculated for you, not for the general public but for you. It already is somewhat personalized. Why do you not ask AARP why their leadership promotes stock and bond investing by selling mutual funds to its members or why they offer risky investment choices like a Latin American stock fund and even a junk bond fund? I personally find it very appalling the AARP sponsors trips to casinos where seniors literally gamble away their retirement. Why do we not change the subject slightly and talk about the unions that are opposed to any change? They also said, no, sir, no way, to personal accounts. But when you ask union leaders where they invest their union pension funds, once again we hear double talk. They invest them, guess where, in the stock market. Why is it good enough for union leadership but not their members? I guess so much for risky schemes. The unions, AARP and others on the liberal left already have them. Tonight I hope that I have made clear that there is one side and one side only that is honestly engaged in the debate over the future of Social Security. All the other side has thus far is fear, fear, and another hearty helping of fear. Quit trying to scare our seniors. The 527s are the ones making the calls as well as the opposition party. I want to speak to any senior listening tonight and I want to make it perfectly clear, I will not change your Social Security benefits in any way. The President has clearly said those who are 55 and above will be under the traditional plan as we know it. So I challenge the opposition to join us, and I challenge the people who may be watching this evening, help us save Social Security for your children and grandchildren. We have stepped up to the plate and made it clear that we are willing to work toward a permanent solution that benefits all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I hope that as we continue to debate this issue on the floor, back in our districts and around the kitchen table, we will all remember that it is our constituency we are working for and it is not partisan political groups.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my concern regarding continued abuses by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA as we know it. As my colleagues know, Florida suffered devastating blows when an unprecedented four hurricanes struck down in our State last year. My colleagues and I in the Florida delegation have been fighting with FEMA on its hurricane policies for the past few months. We have battled them about paying for debris removal in front of properties on a private road. These people pay taxes, too. Now a new abuse has come to light. FEMA apparently paid funeral expenses for an estimated 315 deaths in Florida, although only 123 fatalities were actually recorded. Once again, it has a disregard for accuracy, efficiency, and its responsibility, I believe, to the citizens of Florida and the United States' taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in holding FEMA to the high standards that our citizens require.

Mr. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Mr. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the late Mr. James McDowell. Mr. McDowell was a World War II B-17 pilot who flew 31 missions over Germany. On January 13, 1945, on his second mission over Mannheim, Germany, Mr. McDowell's aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The heavy flak hit the cockpit floor and sent a piece of schrapnel through his clothing into his right calf. The severely damaged plane was unable to return to the base, and was forced to land at Manston England Air Base. Mr. McDowell was taken by the medics to the hospital, treated and released with a cane. The B-17 was so damaged that it never returned to action. Last year, Mr. McDowell and his family approached me about getting his long overdue Purple Heart. Unfortunately, before I was able to present the Purple Heart to him, Mr. McDowell passed away. Mr. Speaker, while it is unfortunate that Mr. McDowell is not alive to receive his Purple Heart, I know that his family will cherish the medal and his memory for the rest of their lives. Mr. McDowell's story is emblematic of many who served in World War II and surely places him as a member of the ``greatest generation.''

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania. You know, for most seniors Medicare is their only form of health care. Congress must make absolutely certain that not one penny of it is wasted and not one penny is given to those who only want to defraud the system. When Members of Congress voted for the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act last year, we voted in favor of important measures to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. Under the MMA, which I know that the gentleman from Pennsylvania supported, the HHS Secretary was directed to conduct a demonstration of recovery audit contractors in at least two States for 3 years to identify under- or overpayments. This demonstration project allows HHS to identify more efficient ways of working with States on Medicare waste. The MMA also opened the durable medical equipment industry to competitive bidding. And why did we do that? To ensure that Medicare, that our taxpayers, get the best prices on equipment that patients use. Additionally, the MMA ended overreimbursements for prescriptions and administering costs by replacing the average wholesale price system with a more accurate and verifiable average sales price system. More importantly, for those of us who worked in favor of the Medicare Modernization Act, we voted in favor of making health care fraud a crime, a serious crime. We voted in favor of punishing those who defraud this precious program. Instead of just slapping them on the wrist, there will be serious penalties. These criminals are defrauding our most vulnerable and our elderly seniors, and they should be very strictly punished. These measures were very important steps, but more are still needed. The most conservative estimates suggest that waste, fraud, and abuse in the Medicare system is somewhere around $33 billion a year. That is billion with a ``B.'' Scam artists, however, are using innovative and cunning ways to con Medicare every year. Many use computers to scour the Internet to find holes in Medicare and Medicaid payout systems. The scam artists register also as providers and then file a slew of claims through the payment system to determine which claims would be automatically approved by Medicare and Medicaid computers. Once these claims are determined, the cons just sit back and they wait for the payments. Others set up fake medical storefronts. In one case, actually in my home State of Florida, a ``provider office'' was found to be nothing more than a couple of post office boxes, cell phone, and a beeper. The owner vanished when he caught on that Medicare officials were onto him, but not before he collected $2.1 million in payments. They are still looking for him. Today the Heritage Foundation released their study about waste in various Federal agencies, and guess what? They pointed to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, CMS, because of their paying excessive prices for medical supplies and care. They pointed out that in so many instances they paid thousands, not just hundreds of times but thousands of a percent, more than what the VA pays for the very, very same service. And my colleagues, I am sure, saw this in today's Congress Daily. There is a story in here about how the new chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations is settling in, and that the staff director of that committee is mandating that they go after agencies. And he said, ``The first rule is: There aren't any good government programs anyplace. They are chock-full of fraud, waste and abuse; frittering away millions in appropriated funds. Believe it, focus on it, find it and report on it.'' Obviously, Congress is getting very serious about waste, fraud and abuse in our system, and every Member of this body, I am sure, are very, very grateful for it. Protecting Medicare against predators should be a bipartisan issue. The last time I checked, there were no Rs or Ds in the word ``solution.'' Guaranteeing the solvency of Medicare has to be a priority of Congress, and we have to begin by ensuring that every penny going to Medicare is being spent on legitimate Medicare benefits. If both sides of the aisle do not work together to protect Medicare, the legacy of this program diminishes with every penny that is lost. I look forward to working with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy) and the other Members of Congress who are serious about making sure that the Medicare system is a sound system and one that provides necessary health care for our most vulnerable, our seniors.