Ginny Brown-Waite

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, the nexus to the bill is whether or not this is the time to proceed with this bill. And so that individuals have an opportunity actually to respond, I am going ask for a recorded vote. It is directly related to the bill. It is directly related to the security of our Nation.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. As I said before, my decision to call for a recorded vote is based on the future of our country and the fact that we need to have the information out there about Mr. Clinton's involvement in the Dubai port, the whole issue. It is about hope, certainly about Hope, Arkansas. I hope to vote for this bill. I had hoped to vote for the bill because I had hoped that Mr. Clinton would do the right thing and register as a foreign agent. That not happening is the reason why I am objecting to the bill at this time. I also believe that we need to preserve birthplaces of our Presidents, and had we had enough time, I just would have asked the leadership to postpone this vote. I wanted to vote for this bill, but the more information that comes out about the millions of dollars that have been paid by the UAE to Mr. Clinton just gives many Americans the lack of hope for our security. That is exactly why I am going to call for the yeas and nays. It is not against President Clinton. It is not against him, but rather, I wish we had more time so that the public would know exactly how involved he was in what that million dollars bought when it came to the Dubai port issue.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman. And certainly the use of any funds from a health savings account for this purpose accomplishes the same thing. It gives people a tax incentive to save, to also save and preserve their assets for the future. And, you know, I recently, this past weekend, ran into a young man who was all of 55 years old. He was injured, and spent some time in a rehab center. And, you know, he said to himself, you know, he did not have insurance. When he told me the cost of that rehabilitation, it was astronomical. So, you know, we all want to believe that we are going to be as healthy tomorrow as we are today. But, that is not always the case. And I remember when I reviewed the policy with Arne, because I was a little skeptical, he was 75 when he first started looking at it, and I was amazed what it did cover and how reasonable the cost was. And, you know, I looked on every line, looking for a loophole. And it ended up being something that I did recommend to him, never realizing that a few years later he would need to have this. So I commend the gentleman for promoting the health savings accounts and any other way that we can help seniors to better prepare for their future.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fact that Mr. Gingrey is holding these to help inform people of exactly what Congress is doing on the issue of health care. I am sure when every Member here goes back into their district, people ask them about health care. In my district, of course, the issue is always not only just health care for seniors, but also veterans. And Dr. Murphy was absolutely correct that the VA was the first entity to begin computerizing their records, which is the reason why a veteran can go from New York at a VA facility down to one in Florida, and virtually with a few key strokes, they pull up his or her record. That is a good way to make sure that we have continuity of care. In Florida, of course, we have many, many nursing homes. People move to Florida, and as they age in Florida, the nursing home industry is a very, very vital part of our economy. When I was a State senator, I worked long and hard on nursing home issues. We did nursing home reform. And one of the reasons that we did nursing home reform was because we wanted to increase the staffing and make sure that nursing homes provided the kind of quality care that we all want for our seniors who are in nursing homes. But, you know, one of the issues clearly is the cost not just for those living in a nursing home, but also for younger families who have got to care for older parents or loved ones, very often termed the sandwich generation. You know, long-term care costs can be very, very stifling. And I agree about having them be able to roll into a medical savings account. It is certainly a very important component of what we are trying to do long term. You know, you do not fix health care forever. The need for health care reform continues as technology improves, as we all age, and also as we take into consideration all of the new pharmaceutical products that are out there that prevent people from going into hospitals, and, many times, nursing homes. You know, that sandwich generation I was just speaking about, they are the ones who are very often helping to care for their parents. You know, nursing home costs can be upwards of $60,000 if a person does not have insurance. And home health care costs can sometimes reach $20,000 a year. When we look at the demographics, those who are 85 years of age or older are the most likely candidates for long-term care service. But age is not the only indicator. Actually people of any age with limited self-care or mobility issues are candidates as well. For the average person over age 50, home health care can cost over $5,800 a year. Even families who have long-term care insurance are facing hefty costs. Kind of base plan premiums run between $564 a year for a 50-year-old, for example, to $5,300 a year for someone who is 79. When families can no longer cover these costs, Medicaid has to pick up the tab for those who do not have long-term care insurance. And when we look at the spending in Medicaid, one-third nationwide of all Medicaid spending goes toward long-term care. Moreover, two-thirds of these funds are used for institutional care, even though consumers prefer to remain in their own homes and communities. I am sure, Dr. Gingrey, that in your State as well as in my State, that they have applied for waivers, kind of all efforts possible to keep people in their own homes. People prefer to be in their own homes, but there are times when they do need to be in long-term care. One of the bills that I recently introduced that I know many of my colleagues are on, is the Qualified Long-Term Care Fairness Act. We want to encourage people to participate in long-term care insurance. This bill provides the same tax deduction available to those who itemize as those who do not. Currently only people who itemize on their income tax can take off the cost of long-term care insurance. This was obviously overlooked when they passed the bill, in that they only allow people who itemize. We want to make sure that this tax deduction may be used for long- term care insurance premiums, activities of daily living, diagnostic, preventative or rehabilitation services, and certainly other services prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner. My bill also, by the way, covers home health care expenses. By taking out a policy, it really and truly helps the family so very much. We want to make sure that this additional tax deduction can be claimed by people who take that extra care to be sure that if they need nursing home care that they have the insurance to cover it. You know, Mr. Speaker, in 2001, spending for long-term care services for persons of all ages represented 12.2 percent of all personal health care spending. This was almost $152 billion of $1.24 trillion spent for health care. Congress should encourage all Americans to purchase long-term care insurance. And certainly this is but one way that we can encourage our constituents to spend that money for a long-term care policy. If I may take a moment just of personal privilege to tell a story about a very dear gentleman that everyone thought he was my dad; he was not. He had three daughters and he cared about those daughters. Because he lived in the same community that I did, and because we were very close, people just thought that Arne was my father. Well, let me tell you, Arne was a very, very thoughtful father, because he took out long-term care insurance. He developed Alzheimer's, and needed to be in a long-term care facility. His wife had passed on and the progression was very, very fast. Arne passed away last year, but I can just tell the Members in the Chamber tonight and those who may be watching in the audience, that Arne's children truly appreciated the fact that he took out that long- term care insurance. Because that way, the insurance paid for all of the time that he had to spend in the nursing home. And he was able to preserve his life's savings to leave to his children, which is really what he wanted. And he also wanted to make sure that he was not a burden on the taxpayers. I would ask as many people as possible to consider that kind of insurance to make sure that they are cared for and that their children or whoever they want to leave the rest of their savings to, that they are also provided for. I think it is an excellent way to do it.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, for the very first time in American history, every senior will now have access to prescription drugs. In my district on the gulf coast of Florida, we have seen the huge success of the program, within many of the counties over 60 percent of the seniors signing up for the new benefit in just the first month and a half. As my constituents know very well, one of the strongest supporters of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit has been AARP, the leading advocate for seniors in America. Like AARP, I have long been going out into my local communities and encouraging seniors to sign up for one of the programs offered in their home area. Just 10 days ago, I hosted a Medicare outreach bus in Spring Hill. It was there that I heard from a man named Joseph Drexler, who was able to drastically reduce his yearly prescription drug costs. Skeptical of the program when he arrived, Mr. Drexler left the help station saying this about his CMS enrollment counselor: ``She deserves a medal or something.'' Mr. Speaker, it is the experiences of men and women like Joseph Drexler across America that have proven the new Medicare prescription drug plan to be a rousing success.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the chairman for yielding. Madam Speaker, today is the first day in which our Nation celebrates the achievements of American women during Women's History Month. Honoring the service of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is an excellent way to kick off this celebration. When Justice O'Connor first set out on her journey, the dream of attending law school was not something a woman commonly achieved. Women in her day were encouraged to stay in the home, supporting the men who ran the country. Justice O'Connor's success to find work in the law profession exemplifies the determination that she had to achieve greatness. By defying society restrictions, today she offers great hope to the women of every generation. Justice O'Connor is an inspiration to women across the Nation. She won acclaim as the first woman to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court and her retirement marks the end of an era. During her service of 25 years on the Court, Justice O'Connor established a reputation as a key decision maker. By sticking to her philosophy of drawing practical conclusions when determining her final decision, she would often cast the deciding vote. Widely known as one of the most influential women in the United States, this title is often attributed to the dynamic Justice O'Connor brought to the United States Supreme Court. Madam Speaker, little girls and young women take for granted today what women such as Justice O'Connor accomplished in earlier generations. As cochair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I am honored to have offered this resolution today to remind us all, both men and women, to remain true to our beliefs and question the obstacles that others have put in place. I am privileged to have witnessed the work of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and I look forward to supporting House Resolution 357 this afternoon. I certainly appreciate the Judiciary Committee and our awesome chairman for allowing this to be put on the agenda and that we have it on the floor before us today.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, last week when we were home I had the occasion to present various medals and awards to veterans in my district. The Fifth Congressional District is home to the highest number of veterans of any Member of Congress. There were medals and awards for those who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. We need to stop and pause and certainly thank our veterans from all of those wars, thank them for the freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy today. Without a doubt, these people came home from being at war, started their lives, built our country into the great country that it is today, and never really asked for anything back from their country. They did not get a lot of the medals that they deserved. Now that they are getting a little bit older, they are getting perhaps a little sentimental and they wanted to have those medals. We worked with the veterans and got the medals and presented those awards in the majority of the eight counties that I represent. My hat is off to the veterans of all of the wars and those young men and women currently serving today. We thank them for their bravery.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is March 1, and each March we celebrate the achievements of our American women during Women's History Month. This year I want to take the opportunity to honor Margaret Rogers Ghiotto from Brooksville, Florida. A decorated and accomplished business leader and humanitarian, she deserves special recognition for her good work and deeds throughout her 89 years. She was a pillar in the Hernando County community until her death earlier last month. Her story is an inspiration to all Americans, but especially women. Known by her friends and family as Weenie, her success as a businesswoman came at a time when a woman's place was supposed to be in the home. She owned and managed Rogers Christmas House, as well as Jennings House in Brooksville, Florida, that is on the National Register. It was with great reverence and admiration that friends, family, and members of the community paid their respects to Margaret on February 18, 2006. Margaret's story is an inspiration not only to women business owners but to all residents throughout the Nation.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to everyone's attention that Customs and Border Protection has recently begun confiscating and destroying prescription drugs intercepted at the U.S.-Canadian border. Unfortunately, CBP is offering no recourse to appeal this action. While we all know that reimporting prescription drugs from Canada has not been legal in the United States for decades, this practice is not helping our seniors. However, if Border Patrol is suddenly going to enforce a law that many believed that government was no longer interested in enforcing, then they certainly should notify shippers and purchasers. Instead of simply confiscating and destroying these prescription drugs, they should include a warning in the first instance. The majority of the people purchasing these drugs are seniors on fixed incomes and likely do not have the money to repurchase them once they are destroyed. I urge Customs and Border Protection to at least warn customers when agents intercept these packages. A simple letter would save a lot of grief for many, many seniors who use this procedure and not just seniors but other Americans who choose to purchase their drugs from a Canadian connection.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this country is in dire need of immigration reform and tighter border security. Officials at all levels of government and across party lines have felt this need. However, instead of acting, we are sitting back and debating the details of amnesty or no amnesty, guest worker or no guest worker, et cetera. I call on my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to move political positioning and think about the men and women that they represent. There will undoubtedly be areas of disagreement, yet this must not stop us from moving forward to secure our borders this year. Our constituents deserve to know that they are safe and that they can live out their lives without the threat of terror at their doorstep, and they deserve nothing less.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dora Kauffman of Hernando County, Florida. Dora has done something that all of us strives for, but that very few of us will ever accomplish, celebrate her 100th birthday. Born January 19, 1906 in New York, DORA says that some of her fondest memories of her childhood were times spent playing games. She remembers seeing a dog for the first time as one of the happiest events in her life. She says she loved playing with the dog everyday. Dora married and was blessed with two children, four grandchildren and several great grandchildren. She says she is happy with her life and would not change a thing if she had her life to live over. Today, Dora gets the most pleasure from visiting with her resident friends and sitting down to a good hot meal. The one thing she likes most about Hernando County is the people, in addition to the good weather. Her favorite flower is the rose and her favorite color is blue. Her advice to the young people is to, ``work hard and be good and kind to people.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Dora Kauffman for reaching her 100th birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as she has.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and sacrifice of Army SGT Dennis J. Flanagan of Inverness, Florida. Sergeant Flanagan was killed by terrorist insurgents while on patrol in Hawijah, Iraq. In times when children and families need role models to look up to and emulate, Sergeant Flanagan was a true American hero. A 2001 graduate of Lecanto High School, Sergeant Flanagan was an active member of the Junior ROTC, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant his junior year. Within a week following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Sergeant Flanagan enlisted in the U.S. Army. Serving with the 101st Airborne Division, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Sergeant Flanagan was part of the air assault infantry that invaded Iraq in 2003. Following his first tour of duty, Sergeant Flanagan re-enlisted this past September for a second tour in Iraq. He was killed January 20th, along with three other U.S. soldiers when an improvised explosive device blew up his Humvee. Only the driver of the Humvee survived the blast. Sergeant Flanagan was a soldier who firmly believed in the mission in Iraq and in advancing the cause of freedom. As a young boy, Sergeant Flanagan knew that he wanted to be a soldier in the U.S. Armed Forces. A soldier who felt we must defend America and fight for freedom, Sergeant Flanagan received glowing recommendations from his superior officers and fellow soldiers. One of the principle reasons that he re- enlisted was to act as a mentor to the newly enlisted soldiers and to help train the Iraqi army recruits. Speaking of his future as a soldier and a patriot, Sergeant Flanagan once wrote a poem that included the words, ``And now, my son, I pray to thee. Never ever forget me; that I died a soldier's death, to keep you free with my last breath.'' The speaker then passes a torch and says, ``Keep it high for liberty.'' These prophetic words show that Sergeant Flanagan knew the risks associated with serving as a soldier and that he was willing to accept that risk fighting for America and for liberty and freedom. Mr. Speaker, as a mother and a grandmother, I know the pain that comes when a child leaves home for the first time. What Sergeant Flanagan's family must cope with today, however, is the knowledge that their child will not return home. I can offer this pledge, however; that this Congress will never forget the sacrifice Sergeant Flanagan made serving his country.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Edward ``Tony'' Lyons of Citrus County, Florida. Tony was recently named the 2005 Florida Army National Guard Soldier of the Year. Born in Nicaragua, Tony moved to Floral City, Florida at the age of two. He currently lives with his aunt, who is also his adopted mother, serves in the Florida Army National Guard and works construction in Citrus Hills to help support his family. As an outstanding student athlete at Citrus High School, Tony led the cross country team, finishing sixth at the state meet and earning multiple awards for his athletic prowess. Tony signed up as a member of the Florida Army National Guard in late 2004, and immediately dedicated himself to the rigors of training. Assigned to the Hernando County-based 856th Quartermaster Battalion, Tony earned the Soldier of the Year award by finishing first among the Army Guard soldiers who completed a rigorous testing regimen conducted at Camp Blanding in North Florida. Mr. Speaker, Tony's recognition shows that hard work and dedication in pursuit of a goal can indeed bring success. I congratulate him on being named the 2005 Florida Army National Guard Soldier of the Year, and wish him good luck in the upcoming first Army Southern Region National Guard Soldier of the Year competition.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anna Porizo of Hernando County, Florida. Anna has done something that all of us strives for, but that very few of us will ever accomplish, celebrate her 100th birthday. Born September 20, 1905 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Anna attended school through the 10th grade and then went to work at the Box Company. She has fond memories of cooking with her mother during her childhood years. Anna married John Porizo and was blessed with a child, a grandchild and 2 great grandchildren. The happiest moment in her life was the birth of her daughter. Anna says that the proudest and most meaningful moments in her life were watching her daughter and grandson grow up. Anna moved to Hernando County with her daughter and says the weather is what she likes most about the county. Today, she gets the most pleasure from relaxing and enjoying a bowl of cold ice cream. Her favorite flower is the rose and her favorite color is pink. Her advice for the young people is to, ``spend more time with family and do more family things.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Anna Porizo for reaching her 100th birthday. I Hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as she has.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jesus Hernandez of Spring Hill, FL. Jesus has done something that all of us strive for but that very few of us will ever accomplish, celebrate his 100th birthday. Jesus was born November 26, 1905 in Ciales, PR. Located in the central mountain range of the island, Jesus's parents owned and operated a small farm. He grew up with his brothers and sisters where he cared for cattle and horses and performed agricultural chores while attending school. Other than the love and respect he had for his parents, working on the farm and playing sports are the fondest memories of his childhood. During the Great Depression Jesus moved to New York City to work and help provide for his family during hard times. In 1932, he returned to Puerto Rico where he met and married his wife Carmen. Blessed with two sons, five grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, Jesus says that the happiest moment in his life was the birth of his two sons, Ed and Lou. During the Second World War Jesus tried to enlist in the military like his brothers but was unable to do so because of a heart condition. Jesus instead went to work for the railroad until 1944 when he decided to return to New York City with his wife and sons. Jesus moved to Spring Hill in 2004 where he lives with his son Lou, who retired from the U.S. Army, and his daughter-in-law Marge. Today, Jesus says he gets the most pleasure from walking in the morning, playing dominos and helping to maintain the trees and plants in his son's backyard. He says that the only thing he would change if he had the chance to do his life over would be to travel the world. Jesus says that despite his health he remains a positive person and possesses a great sense of humor. Jesus's secret to a long life is that he watches what he eats, does not drink alcoholic beverages and does not smoke. His advice to the young people is to ``finish your education, have respect and consideration for your parents and everyone as a whole, work hard and save your money to be self-dependent.'' Finally, Jesus says that ``he is proud to be an American and all it stands for. God Bless America.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Jesus Hernandez for reaching his 100th birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as he has.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Sensenbrenner very much for his leadership on this bill. I rise today very proud that the House is considering the conference report of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization and so happy that it was recently agreed to by the Senate. I would like to specifically thank a champion of this, and that is Chairman Sensenbrenner, for his excellent leadership and hard work to make sure that this happened this year. I know many of us, when we went back to our districts, heard from various women's groups, various volunteers in domestic violence shelters, and they were fearful that we were going to end without continuing the Violence Against Women Act. I am very proud that it is in there. While domestic programs would have continued without this program today, had VAWA not reauthorized, the new ideas and some of the great programs in there and improvements would not have been instituted for quite some time into the future. As I said, my constituents involved in the fight against domestic violence are so happy that we were able to come to an agreement on this. When Members go back to their districts during the weekends and the holidays, it is going to spread the word that Congress has kept its word to women and reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act. It is my hope that if Members of Congress continue down this path in raising awareness about the many types of violence faced by women, men, young and old, from all walks of life, that we will eventually rid our Nation of this appalling crime. Vicious acts of violence can be combated effectively through education, support networks, increased law enforcement programs and family counseling. It has been an honor working with all those involved in this very important legislation, and I certainly encourage my colleagues to support this very important piece of legislation. I, again, commend the chairman for his countless hours, and the committee members and the people who served on the conference committee, the countless number of hours that they worked to come to this agreement.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Elsie Johnson of Hernando County, Florida. Elsie has done something that all of us strive for, but that very few of us I will ever accomplish, celebrate her 101st birthday. Born April 17, 1904 in Coventry, Connecticut, Elsie Johnson attended school in Massachusetts. She worked for seventeen years at Sears where she manufactured shears. Married to Hugo Johnson in 1921, she and her husband were blessed with four children, nineteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. She has proudly seen all of her children married and make lives of their own. Married for forty-two years, the happiest events in Elsie's life were her wedding day and the birth of her first daughter. Elsie moved to Hernando County with her daughter and says that her favorite part of the county is the nice and friendly people who live there. Today Elsie says that she enjoys her crochet work and doing her housework. Passing on the wisdom of her years, Elsie says that her advice to young people today is to ``work for what you have and don't expect it to be given to you and to develop higher values.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Elsie Johnson for reaching her 101st birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as she has.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sally Vander Est of Hernando County, Florida. Sally has done something that all of us strives for, but that very few of us will ever accomplish, celebrate her 100th birthday. Born February 2, 1905 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sally was the youngest in her family. She has many fond memories of roller-skating, ice skating and learning to drive in 1936. In fact, Sally has never gotten a ticket. Sally worked for 28 years in Health, Education and Welfare offices and for the city of Grand Rapids. Following her father's death, Sally cared for her mother into the late 1950's. The proudest moment of her life was when she married Adrian Vander Est at 59 years old, remembering the exact date and time of April 4, 1964 at 4 p.m. Sally says that her mother was an A-#1 person and her best friend, noting that her mother was always her date during her high school days. While she wishes that she had gotten married earlier in life, she remembers that when her friend got engaged, she told Sally, ``that she wanted the diamond but not what goes with it.'' While she always thought she would live to be 136, Sally now says that being 100 is a miracle. Today, reading, listening to music, especially musicals, gives her the most pleasure. She enjoys being in Hernando County and away from shoveling the snow. Her favorite flower is the rose and her favorite color is blue, because it goes with her eyes. Her advice to young people is to, ``stop smoking and stop this sex business and drinking, change your morals.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Sally Vander Est for reaching her 100th birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as she has.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Lorette Noster of Hernando County, Florida. Lorette will do something this June 3rd that all of us strive for, but that very few of us will ever accomplish, celebrate her 100th birthday. Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, Lorette was raised by her grandparents from a young age on. Lorette attended Notre Dame school in Stanbridge, Canada, and then worked with her grandparents in their house painting business painting woodwork for nearly forty years. One of Lorette's fondest childhood memories was having her own horse, a retired racehorse named Josie, that she cared for and rode for nearly 12 years. Lorette married Fred Noster in 1931 and was happily married for 65 years until his death in 1996. Blessed with both a son and a daughter, Lorette and Fred also had five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. She moved to Hernando County in the spring of 2000 to be close to her family and enjoys the county's friendly people and comfortable winters. One of Lorette's memories was her surprise 90th birthday party where she got to see so many family members and friends. Over the years she is most proud of winning prizes for her handmade clothes at the county fairs and her square dancing. Today, Lorette says that working in her garden gives her the most pleasure. She says that if she had to live her life over, she would continue her education past grade school and study music. Her favorite flower is the lilac and her favorite color is red. Lorette's advice for the young people today is, ``go to college, don't smoke and eat natural foods.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me in honoring Lorette Noster for reaching her 100th birthday. I hope we all have the good fortune to live as long as she has.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the reports of the lawlessness along our borders are unprecedented. Stories about the number of young girls and women who smugglers and society's dregs rape as they attempt to cross the border are widespread. Numerous recent articles have told stories of Minuteman members who are haunted by cries of women who are being raped and abused, who when they first heard the cries, they actually thought they were coyotes wailing in the desert. These are women and young girls being raped. All along the southern border, the sight of women's undergarments hang from border fences as trophies. This is appalling, and yet it is also very telling. There are stories of mattresses tucked in caves for more convenient access to rape young girls as young as 8- and 9-years-old crossing the border. Violent acts against females in this manner are despicable. Congress cannot and should not tolerate this behavior. H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, takes decisive action to reduce and eliminate this criminal activity. My amendment to the bill is a declaration that Congress condemns these rapes along the United States border. Additionally, my amendment urges the Government of Mexico and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to work together to take immediate action to prevent such rapes from continuing. We all understand that the best mechanism for preventing these rapes is to encourage legal citizenship and to stop people from crossing our borders illegally and therefore putting themselves in harm's way. By including my amendment in the underlying legislation, this House is sending a loud and clear message of its dedication to improving all aspects of border security. Urging both the United States and Mexico to take action is a good first step toward a peaceful, safe, and secure border. The bill also provides a tremendous overhaul of the United States immigration policies, and I am very pleased that the House is debating this issue before we adjourn for the year. As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I look forward to implementing these measures, and I also look forward to the time when reports of rape and cruelty to young girls and women are not an issue on our border. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I thank the gentleman for his recognition of this amendment's merits. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Harris). (Ms. HARRIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. I am proud to be a new member of the Homeland Security Committee and appreciate this opportunity to work with Chairman King on this legislation. Every weekend, when I go back home to Florida, I hear from constituents that our country is being overrun by illegal immigrants. Today, we truly show our constituents that Congress is listening to them and that we mean business. For starters, the bill requires mandatory detention of illegal aliens, eliminating the Department of Homeland Security's dangerous catch-and-release policy. Catch and release does nothing other than allow the Border Patrol to apprehend illegal immigrants then release them with nothing but a flimsy promise that they will return for a deportation hearing. Ha, ha. It does not happen. As Members may guess, 75 percent of them do not show up for their court date and are free to roam throughout our neighborhoods. That policy has existed for far too long. This bill requires that law enforcement hold illegal aliens until they are deported. I am also pleased that the chairman was able to include some language in the bill that authorizes Homeland Security to engage in competitive contracts with companies to help manage the transportation of illegal aliens. Allowing the Secretary to engage in these contracts will free up these resources and assist the department as it eliminates the harmful catch-and-release policy. Mr. Chairman, our Nation's lawmakers did not craft our immigration laws as suggestions or reading material for insomniacs. Our laws were made to ensure proper, secure and legal entry into our country. This bill helps to accomplish exactly that, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 579 and the tradition of Christmas. I commend my colleague, Ms. Davis, for introducing this resolution. As Americans, we enjoy the freedom to practice our own faith. This heritage inspired the American tradition of respecting individuals in their right to practice their religion, regardless of faith. However, it seems that, in recent years, zealous liberals have tried to destroy this heritage. It all started when schools would no longer call their annual winter recess a Christmas break in order to be politically correct. Now, instead, there is a holiday break, in many instances thanks to actions of the ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union. While this may be a valid point since various religions observe holidays around the same time, they would not stop there at the erosion. There is a war against Christmas. Our children cannot sing Christmas carols. They can only sing holiday tunes. And now, instead of a Christmas tree, advertising calls them holiday trees. There is no reason why we cannot honor and cherish the traditions of Christmas while also doing the same with Chanukah, Kwanzaa or any other valued religion celebrated in America. America should never single out a religion for the purposes of banning or looking down upon references to their holiday celebrations. That practice flies in the face of the principles that our Nation was founded on. Instead, we must treasure the traditions that remind us of our history and of our country while at the same time respecting Americans of different faiths. As such, I strongly support House Resolution 579 which recognizes and supports symbols and traditions of Christmas. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.