Ginny Brown-Waite

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I do not want to misquote. It is $33 billion. The most conservative estimates suggest that waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare is somewhere around $33 billion per year.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on December 3, 1963, Theresa Marie Schindler was born in Pennsylvania. At the time, I was pregnant with my first child and my beautiful daughter, Danene, was born 5 days later on December 8. She is my best friend and today she, too, is a mom. I certainly can relate to Mr. and Mrs. Schindler's love for their daughter and their passionate fight to keep her alive. Mothers have a precious bond with their daughters. The issues that we are discussing tonight are not because those who may speak on one side or the other are right or wrong or pro-life or pro-choice. The issue here is what Terri would have wanted. It is not what we would want for ourselves or even our loved ones. We should not be second-guessing a patient's wishes. That is not what we were elected to Congress to do, nor do I believe that our forefathers would have ever wanted us to be involved. Terri Schiavo's constitutional right to make the decision she felt comfortable with is being usurped by her parents and now this Congress by means of this private bill. Jay Wolfson was appointed guardian ad litem for Theresa Marie Schiavo. I know Jay Wolfson and often called upon him when I was a State senator chairing the health care committee, because I knew that he could always give me an impartial review of controversial matters relating to health care. Jay Wolfson's report to Governor Bush and the Sixth Judicial Circuit dated December 1, 2003, reviewed the court testimony and statements made by all family members. It is important to know that the Schindler family members stated that even if Theresa had told them of her intention to have artificial nutrition withdrawn, they would not do it. Throughout this painful and difficult time, these same family members acknowledged that Terri was in an irreversible, persistent vegetative state. Today, I burned up the phone calling health care professionals that I know back in Florida. These are people who make life-and-death decisions and realize that the 5-year-old video we see on TV of the eye blinking and apparent movements are an involuntary reflexive action known as part of the autonomic nervous system. Almost everybody in the health care profession that I spoke to are avid pro-life people, but they know the sad facts. Their comments were almost to a person, something to the effect of 15 years of being in a persistent vegetative state is far too long to suffer. To second guess the Florida legislature, Florida courts, and Terri's choice is just plain wrong. We should not be engaged in second guessing many neurologists and on-site health care profession always who have seen the patient, performed tests, and attested to the courts that Terri is not going to recover. This is a very difficult decision that I know does not come easily for any Member of this body. It is gut wrenching and reaches deep into our hearts. My daughter, who was born 5 days after Terri Schiavo, is a health care professional, who, when I asked if she would want me to battle to keep a feeding tube in if she had not signed a living will, said to me, and I want the Members to bear in mind that she is a health care professional who deals day in and day out with patients with feeding tubes, but the difference is that they are not in a vegetative state, her response to me was sufficient to help me make up my mind. She said to me, No, Mom. If you really loved me, you would want me to have rest and meet the Lord.''

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was out on Monday, March 14, and as a result, missed three votes. Had I been present: For Roll Call No. 66--H.Res. 135, I would have voted ``yea.'' For Roll Call No. 67--H. Res. 101, I would have voted ``yea.'' For Roll Call No. 68--H. Res. 151, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support including the REAL ID Act in the supplemental spending bill on the floor today. As we saw post-9/11, Congress must protect our Nation's borders against the threat of terrorism. Just last week, my district saw the unfortunate confluence of illegal immigration, Social Security fraud and potential terrorist threats meeting together. In my hometown of Crystal River, Florida, the nuclear power plant was found to have contracted with illegal immigrant day laborers through a contract who had used fake or stolen ID and Social Security numbers to obtain government-issued driver's licenses. Thankfully, these men have been arrested by the FBI and fully interviewed by Customs enforcement agents. Who is to say that the seemingly harmless workers could not have really been agents of a terrorist group that is intent on blowing up or hijacking a nuclear power plant? As we saw with flight schools before 9/11, it is often the little things that are overlooked in our constant fight against terrorism that lead to the biggest problems. As President Bush has said time and time again, we have to be right hundreds of times each and every day in our fight against terrorism, and they only have to be right once. I voted against the 9/11 intelligence reform bill primarily because it omitted the ID standard reforms that the 9/11 Commission called for and that America needed. Had the REAL ID Act been in place, the Department of Motor Vehicles would have been required to verify the Social Security numbers used by these workers. This check would have shown that the numbers were really issued to men that had been deceased for 40 years and would have disallowed the men from gaining access to a supposedly secure nuclear power facility. I would hate to see a future terrorist attack that Congress could have prevented by tightening our access to driver's licenses. We need the Senate to pass the REAL ID bill, and I am delighted it was added onto this supplemental budget. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these much-needed reforms and to vote in favor of the REAL ID Act included in the supplemental bill. Ms. SLAUGHTER: Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), a member of the Committee on Rules.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share some good news about what happened in my district this past weekend. A gentleman by the name of Fred Glass organized a welcome home to Hernando County's National Guard unit. I was there, State elected officials were there, and local commissioners and locally elected folks were there; but most important, the citizens, family members, and businesses were there to sponsor and to welcome home the National Guard unit that was deployed for a year. Our National Guard unit served in Iraq and Afghanistan and served with a great deal of dignity. The story was told about how at Christmastime the National Guard unit organized an ability to raise money and to give gifts to the children in Iraq and Afghanistan. Truly, this Member of Congress is very proud of the National Guard unit. They presented me with a flag that was flown during one of their missions. It is a helicopter unit, and let me tell my colleagues that the pride that they had in their duty as National Guard members certainly was very evident.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as indicated by the Record, I was present voting this afternoon for all recorded votes except for H.R. 841, the Continuity in Representation Act. Unfortunately my card did not register when I cast my vote for that bill. If it had, it would have read that I voted in favor of H.R. 841.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, like many of my colleagues, last year, I received hundreds of calls from angered constituents after the obscene display at the Super Bowl. What was most frustrating was that I had to explain that the FCC's hands were tied; the FCC wanted to punish the broadcasters who allowed this material to be displayed before our children during prime time, but they could not. A $27,500 fine does nothing to deter networks that generate billions of dollars in revenue. Today, however, I can tell my constituents that I voted in favor of the Broadcast Decency Act. Introduced by my colleague, Representative Upton, this bill increases the slap on the wrist in penalties to a fair punishment of $500,000 for broadcasters who break the rules. Freedom of speech should be protected but not at the cost of our children who simply want to catch a football game. I look forward to voting in favor of this bill and thank Representative Upton for his efforts.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in very strong support of the bill, H.R. 418, and also the very fine amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). I spoke on the floor last December in opposition to the conference report on the intelligence bill because it lacked the provisions that we are actually debating here today. I commend the leadership of, certainly, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), for bringing this amendment to our attention and adding it to the bill. I am very pleased that they made good on their promise that we would be here today providing for the provisions that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) had. No issue is more important to this Congress than securing our borders and protecting our homeland, and I guarantee it is very important to our constituents. When I was in the Florida senate, I headed up the Homeland Security Committee shortly after 9/11, and many of the provisions that are in this bill we actually included when we took on the driver's license issue, making the driver's licenses only last as long as the person was legally in the country. I applaud the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) and the House leadership for making good on their promise and enacting the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission. I urge my colleagues to vote for the bill and certainly for the amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), which just quite honestly makes common sense in that Members' constituents back home will very easily understand and say, Why was this not done a long time ago?

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. George A. Neukom, Jr. of Zephyrhills, Florida. George A. Neukom, Jr. is a fifth generation Floridian from Pasco County, a lifetime resident of Zephyrhills, a 1959 graduate of Stetson University and a great fifth district constituent. I would like to recognize George for his outstanding lifetime of work in Pasco County, Florida. As recognition for his efforts, George will be honored as the recipient of the 2nd annual Lincoln Heritage Award held by the East Pasco Republican Club. This prestigious award was established by the East Pasco Republican Club to recognize an outstanding community member for his or her commitment to the principles practiced and espoused by the first Republican, Abraham Lincoln, and for humanitarian services to his or her community and to Pasco County. Beginning in 1921 when his grandmother opened Neukom's Drug Store in Zephyrhills, the Neukom family has been a positive influence in the community. The store included a coffee shop where the traditional game of ``scratch'' provided a forum for local, county, State and Federal candidates of all parties to discuss current topics. In later years, George continued this practice until the store closed. An accomplished businessman in Pasco County, George is also the president and chairman of the board of Neukom Properties, Inc., a citrus and cattle company. He also founded the George A. Neukom, Jr. Insurance Agency and serves as a consultant to both Precise Power Corporation in Bradenton, FL and Neukom Groves. An active member of the First Baptist Church in Zephyrhills, George was appointed to the Florida Citrus Commission by former Governor Bob Martinez and served from 1989 to 1992. He is a member of Zephyr Lodge 198 F & AM, Scottish Rite--Shrine and Rotary Club. George serves on the hospital advisory board at East Pasco Medical Center in Zephyrhills and is also on the advisory board at the Zephyrhills City Library. George married the former Ann Brooke in 1962, and together they raised two children, Tamara and George III. They have been blessed with four loving grandchildren, Ashley and Hannah Oakley and Victoria and George Neukom IV. Mr. Speaker, George Neukom is a model Pasco County citizen and is truly deserving of the 2nd Annual Lincoln Heritage Award.

Mrs. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Mrs. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have repeatedly stated I will oppose any cut in Social Security benefits to retirees or near retirees. However, many groups are using this debate to once again bully Americans. The most recent examples are the telephone scare calls that were made anonymously throughout Florida that began actually in my congressional district. Why my district? Because I have the highest number of people on Social Security. These people who hide behind anonymity have no courage. It reminds me of the Wizard of Oz and hiding behind the great curtain. The bottom line is, under the bill that I introduced, H.R. 266, it will stop any proposal to reduce benefits dead in its track. I recommit my promise in that bill that I introduced, H.R. 266, the Social Security Protection Act. Congress would not even be able to consider a bill that reduces benefits to retirees.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the upcoming Iraqi national elections on Saturday, January 30, and to congratulate the millions of brave Iraqi citizens who plan on voting in their first free election. After suffering for decades under Saddam Hussein's brutal regime, the Iraqi people finally have an opportunity to form a representative government that truly reflects the will of the Iraqi nation. Despite ongoing pockets of violence in a few Iraqi cities, it is clear that millions of Iraqis will finally be able to shape their own futures by expressing and exercising their right to vote. Mr. Speaker, this will truly be a national election that Iraq and the rest of the Middle East can and should be proud of. More than 14.3 million Iraqi citizens have registered to vote. More than 190 political parties will be on the ballot, encompassing almost 19,000 Iraqi citizens standing for election. Finally and most importantly, nearly 80 percent of Iraqis say that they will vote, even in the face of threatened violence from the terrorist insurgency. Mr. Speaker, these are fantastic statistics.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, protecting our Nation is one of the most important duties that we have as Members of Congress. If we fail this, nothing else really matters. The conference report does contain some useful provisions, but it is incomplete, making it inadequate and therefore unacceptable. The agreement with the Senate gave away so much, and it includes some major steps backwards from the House-passed version of the bill and from the strides that we have made since 9/11. Specifically, the report ignores important suggestions made by the 9/ 11 Commission and by many Members of this Chamber regarding immigration and the use of illegal identification cards. We need to have closed borders with open doors for those who follow the law. Our offices are flooded with people asking for assistance because they are trying to come here legally. The version this House passed prohibited convicted terrorists from receiving Federal benefits, and yet the agreement before us here today fails to prevent this injustice. Remember, the taxpayers out there are going to be paying taxes and some terrorists are going to be getting some Federal benefits. That is just unacceptable. It has been 3\1/4\ years since the terrorists used illegal identification to cross our borders and to attack Americans at home, and yet Congress still ignores meaningful immigration reform. We authorize some detention beds in here; but guess what, we did not fund them. There have been so many immigration bills introduced since 9/11 that have died and had to be reintroduced again, only to die again. We are told that, oh, they will be taken care of next year. I sincerely hope that that is the case because this bill is a feel-good bill, absolutely. It is like buying a state-of-the-art alarm system, installing it in your house, never actually activating it and then you do not even bother locking your doors. Your home is not secure. Our Nation will not be any more secure under this. We need to secure our borders. That is a very important component that is simply missing from this bill. I cannot support the bill in its current form and because it is so inadequate, because it does not address the very important immigration issue. The problem with the conference report was that it ignored so many of the good immigration reform provisions that we had in the House bill. This bill is only part of what the 9/11 Commission recommended. I was a State senator. As my colleagues know, many of the terrorists came from Florida. We said the length of their driver's license expires when their visa expires. Guess what. This bill does not mandate it. So the 10 States that do not even have that provision, they are the States that the terrorists are going to go to. That is just plain wrong. We do need to have uniformity in driver's licenses. We do need to make sure that the person applying for the driver's license, who has a visa, that the visa expiration date is the expiration date of the identification or the driver's license.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, one of the major issues that are of importance to the majority of my constituents is how well we treat the veterans. And it is very important to point out that in this bill there is $19.5 billion for medical services, $4.7 billion for medical administration, $3.7 billion for medical facilities, and $385 million for medical research. What does this mean? What it means is that we are taking good care of our veterans. It is important, too, to remember that there are no increased fees as was originally proposed. What this means is something that is very important to veterans in not just my district but every single district. There are other programs in here which are very well funded, such as the National Institutes of Health. They received a bump-up, and certainly we all know that they are working on very many diseases.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for the time. I am very pleased to support Senate 2486, the Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2004, and I am glad we got it finished this year. I know that there was some question about whether or not we would have time to get this very important bill up, and I certainly commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, for their efforts on behalf of veterans, along with all the members of the committee who are truly dedicated to America's heroes. This bill includes an expansion of educational benefits for veterans and clarifies protections to servicemen and -women under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act, and it also improves the housing benefit available to veterans through the VA home loan. It is the last provision of this bill that I would like to elaborate on as it is the product of a bipartisan collaboration between the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) and myself. Certainly, the chairman of the committee was very, very generous in working so hard on the bill and all the provisions of the bill, but this particular provision is one that will certainly impact our young men and women returning from Iraq. Like so many other aspects of a soldier's life, many soldiers postpone homeownership until after they are out of the service. For these soldiers, as housing prices increase, the VA home loan value actually decreases in real terms. The rising housing market erodes the purchasing power of the VA home loan. Depending on where the veteran lives, the current maximum of $240,000 is simply insufficient to meet their housing needs. The bill, which encompasses a bill which the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) and I had worked on, which passed this House, indexes the maximum VA guarantee amount to 25 percent of the Freddie Mac conforming loan rate. The prevailing VA loan under this new change would be $333,700 in 2004, and it would continue to adjust as housing market needs increase. We are all very proud of the young men and women who serve our Nation, past and present, and I am sure that the Members will agree that the value of their benefit should not vary depending on where they live or where they choose to purchase a home. This legislation is very important and timely, and I urge my colleagues' support. I urge all the Members to support this. Again, I commend my colleagues and especially the chairman for working so hard on this, what could very easily be called an omnibus, comprehensive bill to benefit our Nation's veterans.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Benny Strickland for his service as a County Commissioner of Sumter County in the Fifth Congressional District of Florida. On behalf of the residents of Sumter County, I applaud Mr. Strickland for his years of dedication as a public servant. Since 1994, he has worked tirelessly to provide the residents of Sumter County with excellent leadership and vision. His presence on the board will be dearly missed. Benny's devotion to the residents of Sumter County is a testament to the virtue and selflessness that a public official should aspire to attain. Sumter County is truly saddened by Mr. Strickland's departure; nevertheless, we are immensely grateful for all his years of commitment and hard work. I wish Mr. Strickland the best in the future and hope he enjoys the pleasures of retirement.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Private First Class Harlow E. Kending for his valiant deeds during military service in World War II. As a member of the Headquarters Battery, 448th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, Mr. Kending fought against the scourge of Nazism that threatened to overtake the globe. On November 23, 1944, while in Morhange, France, Mr. Kending's battery was attacked by enemy artillery. During this attack, an ammunition truck was struck and a fire ensued. Disregarding the impending dangers, Private Kending heroically took command of the situation, jumped into the nearest fuel truck, and drove it to a safer location. As the salvos rained down, Private Kending remained undaunted in evacuating the remaining vehicles and labored in the thick of battle until the fire was contained. For his heroic actions, Mr. Kending was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. It is my pleasure to present to him these medals after nearly sixty years of waiting. The heroism and dedication of Private First Class Harlow E. Kending is what makes our military the greatest fighting force in the world. The courage he displayed during his service in World War II is exemplary of the American spirit. Mr. Kending's bravery will not be forgotten as Americans and freedom loving people all over the world remain forever indebted to his service.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Technician 5th Class Justice Lawson of the United States Army, a World War II veteran from Florida. His sister lives in Zephyrhills, Florida. It is my pleasure to recognize Mr. Lawson for his heroism and bravery as a United States soldier who fought in the Second World War. He served in the 3rd Tank Battalion of the 10th Armored Division. I presented Justice Lawson's sister with the Purple Heart, the oldest military decoration in the world. In the Second World War an astounding 292,000 soldiers never came home. Their loss leaves a void in the hearts of families and in the soul of a generation. The heroism and dedication of these young men is what has made our military the greatest fighting force in the world. The courage they displayed during their service in World War II is exemplary of the American spirit. Their bravery will not be forgotten as Americans and freedom loving people all over the world remain indebted to their service. Though he earned this honor, Justice never received it from the Defense Department and I am pleased to have the opportunity to present to his family the Purple Heart for his selfless devotion to duty and service to the United States.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Billy ``Tiny'' Rutter for his service as a County Commissioner for Sumter County. On behalf of the residents of Sumter County, I applaud Mr. Rutter for his years of dedication as a public servant. Since 1992, he has worked tirelessly to provide the residents of Sumter County with excellent leadership and vision. Tiny, as he is affectionately known, can without a doubt say he has raised the level of expectation for future County Commissioners. He not only made Sumter County his home; he made it better. His longtime presence on the board will be greatly missed. Tiny Rutter is my friend, advisor and mentor. Even when we were from different political parties, he helped me to make inroads with the Sumter County residents. he was such a passionate ``Lobbyist'' for the needs of Sumter County that no one could decline his ever expanding list of funding requests for the County. Tiny's devotion to the residents of Sumter County demonstrates the intensity of virtue and selflessness that a public official should aspire to attain. Sumter County is truly saddened by Mr. Rutter's departure; nevertheless, we are immensely grateful for all his years of commitment and hard work. I wish Mr. Rutter the best in the future and hope he fully enjoys the pleasures of retirement.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Robin Cox for his service as a County Commissioner for Sumter County. Mr. Cox has served the residents of Sumter County with distinction and devotion since 1996. He has tirelessly worked to the fullest of his abilities to provide county residents with the best possible representation. He can without a doubt say that he has raised the level of service provided by the board. Robin's commitment and vision have made Sumter County a better place. We will all miss him greatly. I wish Robin the best in the future and hope that he succeeds in all his endeavors.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and praise an intrepid soldier dedicated to defending his country. Tim Antonson has dutifully served as an Army Ranger in numerous war zones around the world. Tim Antonson was born in Robinsdale, Minnesota on April 3, 1979 and graduated from Springstead High School in Spring Hill, Florida. After graduation, Tim joined the National Guard and then attended Army Ranger School. Soon, he was commissioned to serve as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo. Tim's next mission was with the 10th Mountain Division Army infantry battalion to Iskandariyah, about 30 miles south of Baghdad. During his service in Baghdad, Tim helped rebuild hospitals, reopen schools, and secure energy facilities. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroism in the face of hostile enemy forces. Tim has shown invaluable bravery and admirable selflessness in his mission to protect the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, Tim Antonson represents the future of our country and should be honored for his service and dedication. It is my privilege to represent Tim Antonson of the Fifth Congressional District, and I am proud to praise him on the floor of this House.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support both for the rule and for the basic bill, H.R. 5212. Since the early weeks of August, Florida has been ravaged by an unprecedented four hurricanes. I represent northern Polk County, and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) represents southern Polk County. He has some cities in his district that have been hit by all four storms, whether they came in from the east coast or the west coast. Those areas were the most hard hit. My constituents were harmed, too, but nowhere near the harm that occurred, certainly in the panhandle and in the area of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam). Hurricanes Charley, Ivan, Frances, and Jeanne greeted the Sunshine State with a voracity and viciousness that has brought destruction and despair to nearly every resident. The aftermath of these storms has left Floridians very weary. Floridians face a very dire situation. There is much damage to be repaired and the road to normalcy seems long and tiring. We must answer the needs of Florida and other States hit by the hurricanes and provide the necessary relief. We should not forget our commitment to our constituents. Today, by voting for the rule and for H.R. 5212, Congress has that opportunity to bring a little light back to the Sunshine State. This resolution provides for the assistance that these States, including Florida, need. The Florida delegation and I have worked very closely to ensure that the trials and tribulations of Florida's residents are known by the rest of the Nation and that they are not forgotten in the bubble of the Beltway. Through a special order, my distinguished colleagues and I have worked to ensure that the needs of Florida are known and that residents' pleas for assistance are heard, respected, and, yes, answered. In the early weeks after the initial hurricanes came ashore, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) certainly stepped forward, and we worked to provide a $2 billion supplemental appropriation. Once again, we are grateful to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) for this additional appropriation which will help to get on the road to recovery, not just for Florida but for other States affected by the hurricanes.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues to recognize the Women in the Law forum being hosted by the Women's Caucus on October 6, 2004. At this forum, we honor the achievements of the first women Justices of the United States Supreme Court, the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor and the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for their pioneering achievements and service to our nation as members of the highest court in the land. Justice O'Connor was the 102nd Supreme Court Justice to be named to the bench and the first female member of the Court. A quietly determined woman who blazed new trails for her gender, Justice O'Connor is a role model for all Americans. She has left a thoughtful and enduring mark on American Jurisprudence, which has been molded through her wisdom and strong character. Justice Ginsburg, the 107th Justice to serve on the Supreme Court and second woman Justice to be named to the bench, has advanced the development of our Nation's jurisprudence in order to make our society more equitable for both women and men. Justice Ginsburg brought with her a career of advocacy and experience which she effectively utilizes to empower Americans who have been historically disadvantaged. Today, women owe their success in the legal profession, in part, to the groundbreaking actions of the women who came before us. Pioneers, such as Belva Lockwood and Susan B. Anthony, defied stereotypes and it is on their shoulders we stand today. Justices O'Connor and Ginsburg continue in this pioneering tradition as women in the law, distinguishing themselves with brilliant careers and exceptional legal minds. It is an honor for the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues to recognize Justices O'Connor and Ginsburg for their achievements. On behalf of the Congressional Women's Caucus leadership, Representative Shelley Moore-Capito, Representative Louise M. Slaughter, Representative Hilda L. Solis, and every member of the Women's Caucus, I thank Justice O'Connor and Justice Ginsburg for their courage, fortitude, and perseverance. They both serve as inspirations to every woman in America.

Mr. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Mr. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on October 4, I was detained in Florida due to a speaking engagement and as a result, missed three votes. I ask that my absence be excused and the Congressional Record show that had I been present: For rollcall No. 487--the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. Con. Res. 76, I would have voted ``aye;'' for rollcall No. 488--the motion to suspend the rules and pass S. 1814, I would have voted ``yea,'' and for rollcall No. 489--the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 567, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the second amendment to the Constitution clearly prohibits the Federal Government from denying law-abiding citizens, let me underline that, law-abiding citizens the right to own and bear arms. Yet the residents in our Nation's capital are deprived of this right. Full-time and part-time residents like Members of Congress are actually denied the right to defend themselves. This is the very city that is the home to America's experiment in democracy. It deprives its citizens of one of our most basic and sacred rights. D.C. is a prime example of the failure of radical gun-control policies. The city has one of the most restrictive gun-control policies in the country, and yet D.C. is infamous for its exorbitant amount of violent crime. The city has gun-control but not very much crime control. Since 1976, the residents of our Nation's capital have been deprived of the right to bear arms, the right to protect their homes and the right not to be victimized. For 28 years, D.C. families have been held hostage. D.C. communities and homes are no longer safe. Unfortunately, they have become targets for theft and violent crimes. Regrettably, individuals on my D.C. staff who live here have suffered the effects of poor crime control. In addition to my staff, I have personally experienced situations where I have felt threatened in and around my D.C. residence. I believe that I should be able to defend myself against assault, theft and other violent crimes in D.C., the same as I am able to do in the State of Florida because I have a carry permit. And I also have had training. I believe that the answer is tougher laws against criminal activities. H.R. 3193 ends the tyrannical reign of D.C.'s repressive gun-control laws and returns to law-abiding citizens the right to protect themselves. I urge my colleagues to also support this bill.

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of a fallen soldier, a man who made the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live free. Eric Ulysses Ramirez was killed in action on February 12 of this year. He only had 42 days remaining on his tour of duty when he was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade launched by Iraqi insurgents. Eric gave his life fighting in the sands of Iraq to secure our liberty while granting a new start to an oppressed people. As his friends and family know, Eric was a man of courage who was willing to fight to preserve a safe future for his children and for his countrymen. In his lifetime, he was a model citizen, husband, father and son, as well as a sheriff's deputy and National Guardsman. He graduated from the Mount Dora High School which is very near Mascotte, and he planned on attending the University of Central Florida, but instead, he enlisted in the Navy for 4 years. Upon his return, his commitment to public service was evident when he took a job as a sheriff's deputy in San Diego. Specialist Ramirez answered the call to duty yet again when his unit was activated to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom in February 2003. Tragically, this would be his last mission. Since the awful day that took the life of this American hero, I have come to know the family that he left behind. His wife, his children and his parents, Reverend and Mrs. Felix Ramirez, who live in Mascotte. I attended the funeral of this brave young man, and although I did not know him personally, when I attended the funeral, I felt as if I did know him. I was very obviously struck with emotion when I met his parents and learned that his father, Felix Ramirez, was the minister who was conducting the service for his own son. As he conducted the service, I was awe-struck with his courage and with his belief in our American troops and in what his son did to help make Iraq a free country. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Members of this body to join me in honoring specialist Eric Ramirez's life and his service by naming the United States Post Office at 411 Midway Avenue in Mascotte, Florida, as the specialist Eric Ramirez Post Office. The beautiful town of Mascotte is where Eric grew up and where his family now calls home. I believe it is the very least that we can do to honor Eric and to repay his family for the son, husband and father that they lost when he fought to defend our freedom. Lastly, I want to also thank my Florida colleagues for their willingness to support this measure. Passage of this bill is a tremendous bipartisan effort and shows the true compassion of the Florida delegation. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution.