Ann Marie Buerkle

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, for over 14 years, I have worked at Vera House as a pro bono legal volunteer. The Women's Bar Association in Syracuse, New York, put together a program where all attorneys, male and female, go through training to begin to address the needs of the victims of domestic violence. Through those 14 years, I began to get an up-close, clear understanding of the issue of domestic violence. The fact is that domestic violence transcends socioeconomics; it transcends race. Domestic violence is an issue that everyone faces. It crosses racial lines; it crosses economic lines; it crosses social lines. I recall one of my meetings with a woman whose husband was well-known in the media in our town. You would never suspect. You would never think that she would be a victim of domestic violence--educated, with financial means. Yet she was a victim. This is the pervasiveness of sexual assault and domestic violence. At this time, I yield to my esteemed colleague, Judge Poe.

Ms. BUERKLE. I thank my esteemed colleague from Texas for his kind comments, and I thank all of the gentlemen who have the courage to stand up and call awareness to the issue of domestic violence, who stand against the violence against women, men, and children. Domestic violence is known by many names: domestic abuse, spousal abuse, family violence, intimate partner violence. It also takes many forms, from physical violence involving small things such as hitting or kicking, biting, shoving, or restraining. It can be emotional or it can be verbal, which manifests in many types of behavior: controlling, domineering, threatening, or humiliating. And we as a society have an obligation to raise the awareness of domestic violence so that women know, just as my esteemed colleague was talking about, it's not their fault. It is the fault of the perpetrator, whether that perpetrator is male or female, and that is the person who should be held accountable, not the victim. It can also be economic abuse in which the abuser controls the victim's money, and this abuse we often see with the elderly. Another issue that we need to raise society's consciousness about, the issues of elder abuse. Tragically, domestic violence is not a rare phenomenon, Mr. Speaker. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that domestic violence is a public health problem affecting over 32 million Americans, or 10 percent of the population. This is a tragedy of national proportion that society, again, we must raise up the consciousness of this horrific issue. The effects of domestic violence are staggering. Physical abuse can be bruises, broken bones, head injuries, lacerations, but those are just the external physical wounds. Internal bleeding, chronic health conditions such as arthritis, irritable bowl syndrome, ulcers, migraines, miscarriages can also be linked to physical abuses that victims sustain. But there are other effects as well. Many victims experience anxiety, stress, fear, guilt, depression, guilt that what is happening to them is their fault. Again, we have to raise the awareness and raise the consciousness of society that it is the perpetrator's fault, not the victim's. Abused victims also frequently manifest a condition we think of relative to our veterans: posttraumatic stress disorder. Victims with conditions have flashbacks, nightmares, or exaggerated responses. The effects of abuse can also be financial. Many victims courageously leave their abusers but often lack the education, the skills, and the resources to find gainful employment to care for themselves and any children they might have. Mr. Speaker, I can recall sitting with women who are helpless. They sit across the table from you, and they are helpless because they don't know what to do. They don't know how to get out of the situation. They don't understand that there is help and that society is willing to step up and provide safe haven for them and for their children. I spoke to a prosecutor who had a program that would go after deadbeat dads and go after the support so that women would be able to leave, be safe, and get support in order to support their children. I think that our society is coming around. We have wonderful organizations like Vera House, but we in this House must work hard. We must continue to raise awareness about these issues. The other societal scourge I referenced in my opening remark is sexual assault. Sexual assault is, simply put, any unwanted contact of a sexual nature. It does not matter if the victim is on a date or drinking when it occurs. It's never okay to force sexual contact on you against your will. Again, it's raising the awareness. It's letting society know, the vulnerable know, that it's not your fault and that you don't have to withstand these abuses. Like domestic abuse, sexual assault knows no privileged class immune to its ravages. Men, women, children, all ages, all races, all religions, and ethnicities are victims. The effects are often similar to the victims of domestic abuse, and the effects can be especially troubling for children and men. I serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I am passionate about veterans' issues. It is a committee that is bipartisan. It's a committee that works together because we all understand, we all understand the service and the sacrifice of our men and women in the military. I am the daughter and sister of veterans and believe that we owe a debt of gratitude to our men and women in uniform, but part of that debt extends to making sure that we don't turn a blind eye to sexual assault of women and men in our armed services. We have much to do, but I applaud the U.S. Air Force's recognition that sexual assault against both male and female airmen is a serious problem that needs a systemic solution. And while the Air Force has emphasized sexual assault prevention in responses for several years, they acknowledge that sexual assault is still a problem in the Air Force, as it is for our military services. In the Air Force's own words, Sexual assault continues to burden our airmen and degrade our mission effectiveness. Sexual assault is a crime and there is no place for this or this behavior in our Air Force. We must demand better of ourselves and of society. Consequently, they contracted with Gallup to conduct an anonymous poll about sexual assault in the Air Force. The findings were, to put it mildly, disturbing. The results of the survey in the 12 months prior were that 2,143 women and 1,355 men reported that they had been sexually assaulted, with the majority of female victims reporting that their assailant was a fellow airmen. Even one victim is one too many. Sadly, it is unrealistic to think that our Armed Forces would be immune to the kinds of problems endemic in our society. We must engage as men, women, moms, dads, community leaders, airmen, soldiers, marines, sailors, and guardsmen; churches, synagogues, mosques, youth centers, sports teams, schools, colleges. The list goes on. It will take all aspects of society to change a culture that increasingly devalues human life. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that we are created in the image of God and that for each of us, He has a purpose in our lives. No woman should ever, ever have to fear for the safety of her unborn child because of an abusive husband. No child should ever dread going to bed because of a parent who is molesting her. And no man should be raped because justice turned a blind eye to prison rape. I have six children and 11 grandchildren, Mr. Speaker, and as a parent and a grandparent, I think about the lessons I have tried to teach to each of them. Some of those lessons were very successful, some less so, but I taught my kids to help others. Helping others includes living up to the pledge I mentioned earlier, that I am making by wearing that white ribbon: I will not commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women, men, or children. And I commend the other Members of this body for the white ribbons that they courageously wore to, again, raise the awareness of domestic violence and sexual assaults. We have a serious problem in front of us, Mr. Speaker, in every community in America, but I have hope. America is an amazing country, and I am so privileged to be an American, to be free. I believe that the greatness of this country is a reflection of both the greatness of our founding and the greatness of our people. We are up to and equal to the task of fighting domestic violence and sexual assault if we put our American minds and our American spirits to it. So, today, as I stand before you, Mr. Speaker, again, to call attention to the scourge of domestic violence and sexual abuse, it's, at the same time, celebrating the wonderful agencies and shelters and volunteers and people who have stepped forth who are willing to take this issue on, who are willing to address it, who are willing to help the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. We are blessed by their service, by their commitment to society, by their appreciation of the value of human life and their desire to help those who need that help. Mr. Speaker, I thank the House for the ability to be able to call attention to these issues. At this time, I want to say to Vera House in Syracuse, as well as all of the shelters and all of the agencies throughout this country, thank you for your service. Thank you for what you do for the victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 471, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, because today I stand here not only as a Member of Congress but also as a mother of six children and a grandmother of 11. I know from personal experience the process that parents follow when they're choosing which school is the best choice for their children. Each child has different needs, different strengths. And as a parent reaches out to make that choice, we can realize that school choice is not cookie cutter. It should not and it must not be. And who better to make that decision than the parents of that child? Who knows best the needs of that student? Certainly, not the government bureaucracy. The SOAR Act is about empowering parents to make the choice that's best for their own child. The Act is about giving them the freedom to pursue educational opportunities not available to them in failing public schools. The parents of the D.C. public school children deserve the same opportunities as Members of Congress, the Secretary of Education, and the President of the United States. Sadly, the parents of the children in the D.C. voucher program do not have the ability to pick up and move elsewhere for better public schools, and they can't afford private schools. The D.C. system needs substantial and sustained reform, but that reform process does not have to come at the expense of the children who live in the District. I stand here and I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 471.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Elimination Act. Too often, Congress and the Federal Government pass and institute regulations without counting the cost to America's businesses, the lifeblood of our economic success. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's 1099 reporting requirement for small businesses will be, in the words of Nathan Andrews, vice president of Morse Manufacturing, an 88-year-old company in East Syracuse, ``a paperwork nightmare.'' He further adds that the requirement will hamper the ability of his company ``to function, grow, and create jobs.'' This mandate is really indicative of a larger problem--the stranglehold that regulations have on our country. And while regulations are sometimes necessary and often well-intentioned, they have been increasingly becoming an obstacle to our success as a Nation. By success, I mean creating an environment where businesses can flourish, providing jobs so that the American people can obtain health insurance while still benefiting from the best health care system in the world.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding his time. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 72. Last November, the American people sent a message to all levels of government: get the government out of the way so that employers can create new jobs. Many in Washington seek a solution to our country's economic slowdown through a revision of the Tax Code and broad cuts in all levels of spending. I support these initiatives, but I do not believe they are enough. We must provide a climate for economic growth and job creation. Congress must relieve the American people from the hidden tax of excessive regulation and red tape. It is a tax that affects everyone, passed on every day in increased costs of products and services. To put things in perspective, according to a report issued last year by the Small Business Administration, the approximate economic cost of regulation is a staggering $1.75 trillion annually. Increased regulations stifle job creation and the expansion of businesses, both large and small. It cripples their competitiveness in a global market while smothering the innovative spirit that has made the United States of America great. Moreover, businesses are not the only ones who are harmed by these unnecessary regulations. Municipalities, school districts, not-for- profits, health care providers, and others serving the public pay a high cost to comply with the Federal bureaucracy. Regardless of who I talk to in the great State of New York, I ask, What regulations burden you? Businesses of all sizes and from all industries talk about how they incur unnecessary overhead for compliance.

Ms. BUERKLE. School districts tell my office of receiving Federal grants that will cost them two to five times the size of the grant to administer the grant. Not all regulations are unwarranted. Most Americans would agree on the need for regulatory protection, and to assume otherwise of this committee is irresponsible. Congress must address the cost to both business and the public before a new regulation is adopted. As Members of Congress, we cannot cede over the responsibility of legislation to the unchecked regulatory regimes that end up levying this hidden tax.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2 because I believe that the American people deserve health care reform that will actually reduce costs and improve access without damaging the quality of our health care. Last year's enacted health care reform was a victory for Big Government and an affront to our Constitution. This law is so fundamentally flawed, it must be repealed. When our Founders envisioned this legislative process, it was meant to be a deliberative one--thoughtful and respectful of the American citizens' freedom. Last year, that vision faltered; and Congress failed in its duties to the American people when they enacted this Affordable Care Act. As a registered nurse and an attorney who represented a major teaching hospital, I am aware of the problems of our current system, in particular, the problems arising from government restrictions on the purchase of health insurance, government regulations on hospitals and businesses, and tort liability issues. Unfortunately, this Affordable Care Act does not alleviate these problems and will further damage an overburdened system. According to the Health Care Association of New York State, my home State, we will face a $15 billion reduction in Medicare and Medicaid--affecting our hospitals, our skilled nursing facilities, our home health agencies and hospices over the next 10 years. We need to implement true health care reform in a manner that preserves patient choice, protects access to health care, and controls costs without hurting job growth.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Thank you to the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding us time and for his unwavering support of life. Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a decision that fundamentally altered the moral landscape of America. For much of those 38 years, I have been very involved in the pro-life movement, both as an advocate for the unborn and a counselor of troubled women and teens, the unspoken second victims of abortion. As we reflect upon the sobering anniversary and the tremendous loss of life that it represents, I see reasons for hope. Attitudes are changing, and more and more young people are rejecting abortion as a choice for their lives. Technology has opened remarkable windows to the womb. So much of the early pro-life movement emerged from a frustration of the time. No one seemed to be listening, and we tried to get people to care. Now technology, such as the 4D ultrasound imaging, has aided us in our quest to preserve life, showing women that their unborn is not a clump of cells, but a child that they can see rubbing her eyes or sucking his thumb. As we continue to fight for the unborn, we must not cede the ground we have won. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act circumvents the Hyde amendment by allowing government subsidies in Medicaid, Federal Employee Health Benefits Programs and international aid to be used to cover abortions. For over 30 years, the Democrats and Republicans have worked together each year to ensure that taxpayer dollars do not subsidize abortion. The Affordable Care Act represents a departure from that compact. Specifically, this law will allow $11 billion in taxpayer funds to be used for abortions at community health centers. In addition to the Federal subsidizing of abortions through the Affordable Care Act, I join other pro-life Members of this Congress in expressing my concerns about the use of Skype technology to perform telemed abortions. Planned Parenthood of Iowa is dispensing the abortion-causing drug RU-486 through a teleconferencing system, resulting in more than 1,900 abortions. Our Forefathers understood that ``all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'' Among these, the most fundamental right is the right to life.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House of Representatives that on January 8, 2011, central New York lost a great friend, and this august body lost a former Member, William Francis Walsh. William Walsh, World War II veteran, former mayor of Syracuse, and Member of this House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979, passed away at his home in Marcellus, New York, at the age of 98. Mr. Walsh played a significant role in the shaping of the political landscape of central New York for more than 30 years. He returned home from World War II, during which he served as an Army captain, and completed graduate studies at the University of Buffalo in social work. His training and experience as a social worker would provide him with a values reference point for his future political career. In 1959, voters elected him to the post of County Welfare Commissioner. Over the course of his political career, he consistently demonstrated his compassion for the less fortunate, and he was instrumental in developing welfare-to-work programs. William Walsh was elected mayor of the City of Syracuse in 1961 and, during his tenure, supervised widespread major changes to the Syracuse downtown. Syracusans remember Bill Walsh for his approachability and his emphasis on constituent service. That attention to the needs of the constituents served the district residents well when Mr. Walsh became a Member of Congress in 1973. Bill Walsh loved Syracuse. The child of Irish immigrants, Michael and Mary Alice Walsh, Bill Walsh always remained connected to the community he grew up in. His strong sense of community colored his commitment to public service, and he passed that commitment on to his children. He and his wife, the late Mary Dorsey Walsh, raised seven children. Their son Jim Walsh served in Congress from 1989 to 2009. Two of their other children, Bill Walsh and Martha Walsh Hood, currently serve as Onondaga County judges. Mr. Walsh enjoyed hunting, golf, and outdoors. Most importantly, though, he was a devoted father who spent time with his children teaching them about life, people, and public service. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and the Syracuse community.

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Amendment 19, passed by Congress June 4, 1919, ratified August 18, 1920: ``The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. ``Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.''

Ms. BUERKLE

Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 3, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''