Susan Brooks

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, when President Obama sold the Affordable Care Act to the American people, he told them they could keep their health insurance if they liked it. Sadly, this promise has not been kept. Jerry, an independent contractor from Westfield, Indiana, recently informed me that his policy will be terminated because of ObamaCare. Jerry has never written a Member of Congress before, but losing his coverage and seeing his premium double has caused him to speak up. For Jerry, ObamaCare is a broken promise. Victoria, a part-time teacher from the Indianapolis area, reached out on Facebook, explaining that a policy she purchased less than 1 year ago was being canceled. She has tried to get on www.healthcare.gov to see what alternatives are available to her, but the site couldn't even confirm her identity. For Victoria, ObamaCare is a broken promise. Dwight, a business owner from Indianapolis, received a cancelation notice from his insurer--the one that I am holding here in my hands. Dwight's insurer is one of several insurers that have left the State of Indiana. For Dwight, ObamaCare is a broken promise. Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve better. They deserve to keep their current insurance. ObamaCare is nothing more than a broken promise.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my friend and colleague Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, to pay tribute to State Representative Phyllis Pond of New Haven, Indiana. Rep. Pond was an outstanding Hoosier who represented both her district and Indiana with integrity, and sadly passed away on September 22, 2013 at the age of 82. Rep. Pond began her service to our great state in 1978 when she was first elected to the Indiana General Assembly. A lifelong Hoosier who grew up on a farm and graduated from Warren High School, Ball State University, and Indiana State University, Rep. Pond was the longest- serving female state representative in the history of Indiana. She was also the first woman to earn her seat in the prestigious front row of the Statehouse Chamber. We, the female Members of the Indiana Congressional delegation, are especially grateful for her leadership and guidance that has helped shape our own careers in public service. As members of the House Education and the Workforce and Armed Services Committees, we honor Rep. Pond for her outstanding work for both Hoosier students and servicemembers. As a former kindergarten teacher who taught students for 37 years, Rep. Pond worked tirelessly to ensure that our state's students received the best education and had access to exceptional opportunities. Thanks to Rep. Pond, Hoosier K-3 classrooms have no more than eighteen students, creating a healthy learning environment where students receive the attention they need to excel in school. Rep. Pond strongly believed in recognizing our servicemembers and their families. During the holiday season, she was well known for sending cards and words of encouragement to Indiana's finest. Rep. Pond also sponsored legislation to give soldiers on active duty more time with their children. We are proud that such an exceptional public servant, teacher, and stateswoman called the Hoosier State home, and we are honored to recognize her life's work today. Our deepest condolences and well wishes go out to George Pond, her husband of 62 years; her children, Douglas Pond of Indianapolis, Dr. William Pond of Fort Wayne, and Jean Grasmick of Zionsville; grandchildren, Greg and Scott Pond, Joel Aiken, and Jennifer Knepp; and great grandchildren, Beatrice, Walker, and Eleanore. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Gerald (Jerry) Mansbach. On November 17, 2013, Jerry will be honored with l'Ordre national de la Legion d'honneur (the National Order of the Legion of Honor) by Honorary Consul Diane Thomas, representing the French Consulate in Chicago. Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion d'honneur is the highest and most prestigious distinction bestowed by the French Republic to celebrate extraordinary contributions to the country. Given solely based on merit, the Legion d'honneur expresses the gratitude of the French people for the bravery of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who fought to secure France's freedom during the Second World War. It is an honor today to join the French people in expressing my gratitude for the sacrifices of America's troops during the struggle to liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany, and especially to recognize one of my constituents, Sergeant Jerry Mansbach. Jerry was born in New York City and moved to the Hoosier State at the age of ten, where he grew up and attended high school in Fort Wayne. While attending Indiana University, Jerry joined the U.S. Army in January of 1943. He defended France in the Battle of the Bulge and participated in the Normandy Invasion as a tank commander under General George Patton. Tragically, all of Jerry's fellow tank crew died in battle but he miraculously survived, though not without injury. For his courage, Jerry was awarded the Silver Star Medal for ``gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.'' He was also presented with the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Like many members of the Greatest Generation, Jerry came back home again to the Midwest to raise a family and begin a career. He worked for Merrill Lynch for forty years, retiring in 2000, and has four children, three stepchildren, and seven grandchildren. Jerry currently resides in Carmel, Indiana, with his wife Shirley. I am proud that such an exceptional Hoosier calls my District home. Jerry Mansbach is a patriot and a hero. Along with the Honorary Consul and the French people, I am honored to recognize his sacrifices and bravery during the Second World War today.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Larry Wilson of Fairmount, Indiana--a veteran who served other veterans. He passed away on June 13, 2013, at the age of 66. Larry was an outstanding civil servant who served both Grant County in my district and his country with integrity. He began his great service to our Nation in the United States Air Force, where he served as a senior master sergeant for 26 years. After retiring from the Air Force, he began a second career as a detective for the Grant County Sheriff's Department, a post he held for 20 years before retiring in 1999. However, his retirement did not end his service to our community, and he continued on to serve as a Grant County commissioner, a Grant County council member, and a Grant County Veterans Affairs service officer. He worked tirelessly for the veterans of Grant County, helping them to receive the benefits and recognition they deserved. He was a community leader and a patriot, and I am honored to recognize his life's work today. My condolences and well wishes go out to his wife of 38 years, Linda, and to his children, Laura, Jeremy, Michael, and Christopher, as well as his grandchildren. We will all miss Larry Wilson dearly, but the lessons he taught us will not be forgotten. He was a veteran who truly served his country so well. He will be missed.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of an outstanding public servant, Officer Rod Bradway, who served his city and country with principle and integrity. Tragically, Officer Bradway was killed in the line of duty on September 20, 2013. Rod Bradway served the citizens of Indianapolis honorably for five years as an officer in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. A lifelong Hoosier, he grew up in the small northern Indiana town of Nappanee and was a decorated member of the police force, having been previously awarded the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Medal of Bravery. Although I did not have the good fortune of knowing Officer Bradway, I am incredibly proud of his heroic and brave actions to protect the City of Indianapolis. He made the ultimate sacrifice while saving the lives of a woman and child held at gunpoint inside an Indianapolis apartment complex. Responding to a domestic violence call is one of the most dangerous duties an officer can perform. It is also one that Officer Bradway performed without hesitation and with tremendous courage. Each and every day, officers like Rod Bradway put their lives in harm's way to protect us. His last moments demonstrate the bravery, commitment and sacrifice that he and his brothers and sisters in uniform display every day while trying to make Indianapolis a safer and better city. As the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I am forever grateful to Officer Bradway and to police forces across this great nation who work tirelessly to protect their fellow Americans. Officer Bradway was a hero. My condolences and well wishes go out to his wife, Jamie; their two children, Jonathan and Sierra; his parents, Thomas and Cheryl; and his brother, Carl. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers are at this difficult time.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Eugene (Gene) Biccard Glick of Indianapolis, Indiana. He passed away on October 2, 2013, at the age of 92. Gene was an exceptional philanthropist and businessman who served both Indianapolis and his country with integrity. A lifelong Hoosier and resident of Indianapolis, Gene graduated from Shortridge High School and later from Indiana University in December of 1942. He bravely served in the 179th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II and saw action in Italy, France and Germany. While in Germany, Gene, an American Jew, helped liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp. The photographs he took provided evidence of Nazi atrocities and are part of the collection at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum located here in Washington, D.C. For his service, Gene received every European Theater ribbon awarded, in addition to the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. After his tour of duty, Gene returned to Indianapolis, working at People's Bank issuing GI loans. Seeing the housing shortage for returning veterans starting families, he founded the Gene B. Glick Company. Under Gene's guidance, his small company grew to become what is today one of the largest privately held real estate development firms in the nation. Gene Glick exemplified the best of the Hoosier spirit: hard work, determination and entrepreneurship. Gene Glick was not only a dedicated soldier and a business leader, but also a philanthropist and community activist. In 1982, he and his beloved wife, Marilyn, established the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Family Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the state of Indiana. Gene also established the Glick Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, the Glick Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, the Glick Eye Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and the Indiana Authors Award. Gene was a tireless advocate for Indiana's Jewish community and for disadvantaged youth across the state. His generosity and humanitarian spirit touched thousands of lives in Indianapolis and beyond. Throughout his incredible life, Gene was awarded numerous awards and honors. He was inducted into the National Housing Hall of Fame and was a Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame Laureate. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Butler University in 1989. He was recognized as a Sagamore of the Wabash--the highest award given by the Hoosier state--from Indiana governors Robert Orr (1982), Evan Bayh (1992) and Joe Kernan (2005). Gene was named an Indiana Living Legend by the Indiana Historical Society in 2002. Gene Glick was a patriot and an irreplaceable pillar of the Indianapolis community whose legacy will continue to inspire Hoosiers for generations to come. I am proud that exceptional leaders and public servants, such as Gene, have called my District home and am honored to recognize his life's work today. My condolences and well wishes go out to his four daughters, Marianne Glick, Arlene Grande, Alice Meshbane and Lynda Schwartz, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to John J. Dippel of Westfield, Indiana. He passed away on September 21, 2013, at the age of 75. John was an outstanding civil servant who served both Westfield and the state of Indiana with integrity. A graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Indianapolis, now Roncalli High School, John Dippel began his service to our great nation in the United States Army, where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division for two years. After his military service, he began working for Indiana Bell/Ameritech for over thirty years before his retirement in 1994. John then began a second career in advertising promotions before being elected to the Westfield Town Council, later the Westfield City Council, in 2007. In 2008, Westfield was officially recognized as a city. John was an instrumental part of this significant change for the community he loved. He also assisted with the planning and implementation of Grand Park as a member of the Financial Committee and the Westfield Sport Commission. This 400-acre sports campus will host athletic competitions, local, regional and national sports tournaments, and community sporting events. John J. Dippel was a community leader and a patriot. I am proud that exceptional citizens and public servants, such as John, call my district home and am honored to recognize his life's work today. My condolences and well wishes go out to his wife of 52 years, Marcyann; his sons, Nick, Joe and Daniel and daughters, Maura Kautsky and Andrea Doran; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his sister, Mary Heisig. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an outstanding school in my district that is being honored as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School. It is a pleasure to congratulate Creekside Middle School in Carmel, Indiana in celebration of this special occasion. The National Blue Ribbon designation, given by the U.S. Department of Education, is awarded to both public and private schools across our great nation. Started by President Reagan and given annually since 1982, the award celebrates great American schools that achieve very high learning standards or are making significant improvements in the academic achievements of their students. In my district and across the country, the award recognizes the great educators, students and parents who have worked so hard to ensure Indiana's children reach their full potential and achieve academic success. For all of these reasons and many more, I am so proud that Creekside is receiving this prestigious designation. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the school's commitment to providing young Hoosiers an exceptional education. While 417 schools nationwide may be nominated, only 286 are chosen as a National Blue Ribbon School, making this recognition all the more impressive. Since opening ten years ago, Creekside has grown tremendously and now serves nearly 1,500 students. Creekside has also consistently placed as one of Indiana's top middle schools. I applaud its administrators and teachers for their focus on rigorous and relevant curriculum that will help students succeed in their future endeavors. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I also want to acknowledge how important it is to our nation's future to encourage and raise a new generation of Americans who have the skills and knowledge to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Students like those at Creekside give me hope that we will accomplish this vital mission. Their outstanding work is an inspiration to students, educators and parents across the nation. Once again, congratulations to Creekside. I am very proud of you.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an outstanding school in my district that is being honored as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School. It is a pleasure to congratulate Saint Maria Goretti School in Westfield, Indiana in celebration of this special occasion. The National Blue Ribbon designation, given by the U.S. Department of Education, is awarded to both public and private schools across our great nation. Started by President Reagan and given annually since 1982, the award celebrates great American schools that achieve very high learning standards or are making significant improvements in the academic achievements of their students. In my district and across the country, the award recognizes the great educators, students and parents who have worked so hard to ensure Indiana's children reach their full potential and achieve academic success. For all of these reasons and many more, I am so proud that Saint Maria Goretti School is receiving this prestigious designation. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the school's commitment to providing young Hoosiers an exceptional education. While 417 schools nationwide may be nominated, only 286 are chosen as a National Blue Ribbon School, making this recognition all the more impressive. Since opening in 1996, Saint Maria Goretti School has consistently provided its students with an outstanding education in both academics and the Catholic faith and currently serves 460 students in grades K-8. The school starts each day with a prayer that provides guiding principles for its students. As a mother whose children attended Catholic school, I applaud Saint Maria Goretti for its work to develop each child in mind, body, and spirit. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I also want to acknowledge how important it is to our nation's future to encourage and raise a new generation of Americans who have the skills and knowledge to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Students like those at Saint Maria Goretti School give me hope that we will accomplish this vital mission. Their outstanding work is an inspiration to students, educators and parents across the nation. Once again, congratulations to Saint Maria Goretti School. I am very proud of you.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an outstanding school in my district that is being honored as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School. It is a pleasure to congratulate Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School in Fishers, Indiana in celebration of this special occasion. The National Blue Ribbon designation, given by the U.S. Department of Education, is awarded to both public and private schools across our great nation. Started by President Reagan and given annually since 1982, the award celebrates great American schools that achieve very high learning standards or are making significant improvements in the academic achievements of their students. In my district and across the country, the award recognizes the great educators, students and parents who have worked so hard to ensure Indiana's children reach their full potential and achieve academic success. For all of these reasons and many more, I am so proud that Saint Louis de Montfort is receiving this prestigious designation. It is a wonderful acknowledgement of the school's commitment to providing young Hoosiers an exceptional education. While 417 schools nationwide may be nominated, only 286 are chosen as a National Blue Ribbon School, making this recognition all the more impressive. Serving children from junior kindergarten through eighth grade, Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic School provides its students with an outstanding education in both academics and the Catholic faith. It has consistently been graded as an ``A'' school by the Indiana Department of Education and is a leader in incorporating technology and learning in the classroom, while also engaging its students in daily prayer, religion classes, liturgical celebrations, and service learning projects. As a mother whose children attended Catholic school, I applaud Saint Louis de Montfort for its work to ensure its students engage with the Hoosier community and remain service-oriented. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I also want to acknowledge how important it is to our nation's future to encourage and raise a new generation of Americans who have the skills and knowledge to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Students like those at Saint Louis de Montfort give me hope that we will accomplish this vital mission. Their outstanding work is an inspiration to students, educators and parents across the nation. Once again, congratulations to Saint Louis de Montfort. I am very proud of you.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Food and Drug Safety Act. Right now, moms and dads across this country have too many worries. They worry about whether or not they'll have enough money to pay their rent, their mortgage, and even fill up their gas tanks. They worry about whether or not their hours are going to be cut at work next month. Why should we add to their worry the list of the safety of the food that they're feeding their children at dinner tonight? One of my constituents from Fishers, Indiana, Elizabeth Armstrong, has experienced firsthand a child becoming ill due to contaminated food. Several years ago, Elizabeth's young daughter fell very ill after eating spinach contaminated with E. coli. This brave little girl luckily survived, but she now lives with kidney disease. Isn't food safety a core function of our government? Is it responsible to stop routine inspections of food processors and place our constituents at risk of developing foodborne illness. Mr. Speaker, our parents are worried, but this is one worry they should not have. FDA needs to keep food inspectors on the job. I urge passage of this resolution.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, I rise in support of the National Emergency and Disaster Recovery Act, which does provide the vital funding for Federal Emergency Management Agency, funding that can make a difference right now. And it is right now that we need to be caring about the citizens of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, as Tropical Storm Karen is in the Gulf of Mexico headed toward the gulf coast. Landfall is expected this weekend. We don't know what to expect, much like we didn't know what to expect when Hurricane Sandy hit. FEMA has begun its response of preparations and has recalled those furloughed staff because they know it's their duty to serve and protect. So this bill would ensure that all FEMA personnel and capabilities are available to respond to this storm and support the States in its path. Hurricane season doesn't end this weekend. It doesn't end officially until November 30. We have to make sure that these agencies are ready to respond, whether it's a natural disaster, a terrorist attack, or other emergency needing Federal support. I have tell you, this is not a game. This is not a charade. And until now, I have been so pleased to serve on Homeland Security, where it enjoys so much bipartisan support. We have much bipartisan support when it comes to FEMA and homeland security. And I would like to say that, until now, they do not play games when it comes to supporting first responders, when it comes to supporting flood victims, when it comes to supporting storm and hurricane victims. But I must say the time to act with Congress is now. Do the right thing. We are encouraging our colleagues across the other side of the aisle to put the politics aside and join us in supporting this resolution.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind the American people why we are here. We are here because the President and the Senate Democrats have refused to negotiate. We learned yesterday and even today about the challenges of signing up for ObamaCare. Information technology, I believe, will be ObamaCare's Achilles' heel. Many people went on healthcare.gov. They were greeted with messages, ``Please wait here until we send you to the login page,'' or, ``The system is down at the moment.'' Yes, glitches can be expected whenever a new system is started, but ObamaCare is simply not ready. Americans aren't ready. They weren't ready for the employer mandates. They are not ready for the individual mandate. We are not ready for IPAB. We are not ready for the medical device tax. We are not ready for the cuts to Medicare or to our providers. It will harm the economy. It already has. What we are ready for is for the Senate and the President to negotiate, and we are ready to reopen our government when they do.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this amendment. When the Affordable Care Act was passed, I am certain that the other side did not intend that so many jobs would be lost. Over 10,000 device jobs have already been lost or announced lost in this country. The tax on medical innovation in place since the beginning of this year has already killed these jobs, jobs like 1,700 at Abbott Labs; 2,400 announced by Boston Scientific; 300 to 400 in my State, Cook Medical in Indiana; 200, Hill-Rom; Medtronic, 1,000 jobs lost; Zimmer, 450. Twenty thousand Hoosiers are employed by the medical device industry in Indiana--many all across the country. The average wage is $60,000. This tax can result in a loss of over 45,000 jobs nationwide. It is hurting people with diseases. These innovations that these companies produce help save lives. They do help people with their diseases and with things that are happening with their bodies. It is not an exaggeration to say that this tax has deadly results. For months, I've heard there's bipartisan support. Where is it?

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the economy and jobs. The White House believes we're moving in the right direction. But for most Americans--especially for those 4.3 million Americans who have been out of work for more than 27 weeks--that is just not good enough. Progress is not happening fast enough. Sadly, our Nation's labor participation rate now stands at 63.2 percent, the lowest rate since 1978. The news for our younger Americans is even more sobering. This year, collective student debt loans toppled $1 trillion. And a recent poll by Accenture found that 41 percent of recent college graduates were underemployed relative to their education, making paying off those student loans extremely hard. What can we do to speed up job creation? Well, folks from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce visited me this week and they said we must reduce uncertainty. Washington can do that by solving our fiscal challenges, reforming our regulatory system, and stopping the job-killing taxes and disincentives set up by ObamaCare. House Republicans have a clear plan to create jobs and stimulate our economy, and it's time for our friends across the aisle to realize the status quo is just not acceptable.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, after 9/11, September became National Preparedness Month, a month to encourage Americans to take steps to prepare for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. Recent events such as Hurricane Sandy; the Boston Marathon bombing; the West, Texas, plant explosion; deadly tornados in Oklahoma; and flooding in my own district reinforce the need for preparedness planning. As chair of the Homeland Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, and as congressional cochair of National Preparedness Month, I urge all Members to promote preparedness activities in their districts. Encourage your constituents to build and maintain emergency kits, develop and exercise emergency plans, and participate in local preparedness activities. I also urge Members to learn more about how local response organizations are using social media and encourage your constituents to follow local responders on Twitter and Facebook. National Preparedness Month is also a good time to thank our firefighters, police officers, emergency managers, and their families, whose persistent sacrifices make our country more secure and more prepared.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have the name of Mr. Duncan of South Carolina removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2134.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Larry Wilson of Fairmount, Indiana. He passed away on June 13, 2013, at the age of 66. Larry was an outstanding civil servant who served both Grant County and his country with integrity. Larry Wilson began his service to our great nation in the United States Air Force, where he served as a Senior Master Sergeant for 26 years and bravely defended his country in Vietnam. After retiring from the Air Force, Larry began a second career as a detective for the Grant County Sheriff's Department, a post he held for 20 years before retiring in 1999. During his time with the Sheriff's Department, he was recognized with the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 1981. However, his retirement did not mark the end of his service to our community, and he continued on to serve as a Grant County Commissioner, a Grant County Council Member and the Grant County Veteran's Affairs Service Officer. Larry worked tirelessly for the veterans of Grant County, helping them to receive the benefits and recognition they deserved. It was his work helping our nation's men and women in uniform that Larry considered to be one of his greatest achievements. Larry Wilson was a community leader and a patriot. I am proud that exceptional citizens and public servants, such as Larry, call my District home and am honored to recognize his life's work today. My condolences and well wishes go out to his wife of 38 years, Linda, and to his children Laura, Jeremy, Michael and Christopher as well his grandchildren.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Carl Bennett. I was honored to know Carl for over two decades and mourn his passing. He passed away on May 15, 2013, at the age of 97\1/2\, but his legacy will continue to inspire basketball coaches, players, and fans for generations to come. Carl Bennett was born in Rockford, Indiana, in 1915. He began his illustrious career first by playing for Fred Zollner's Pistons softball team and later served as the head coach and general manager of the Fort Wayne Pistons professional basketball team, also owned by Zollner. Under his leadership, the Pistons were invited to leave the National Basketball League and become part of the Basketball Association of America. This meeting in Carl's Fort Wayne home led to the merger of the two leagues and, ultimately, to the modern National Basketball Association. As a result of his involvement, Carl served on the NBA's executive committee and is considered one of the founding fathers of professional basketball. Carl's influence led to many changes in the way basketball, Indiana's favorite game, is played. He encouraged Zollner to buy a team plane, a first for a sports franchise, and his coaching of the Pistons in a 1950 win over the Minneapolis Lakers led to the introduction of the 24- second shot clock. This major change resulted in a dramatic increase in average game scores. One of Carl's foremost contributions to the game was widening the lane from six feet to twelve feet, a change that is still in effect today. He also successfully campaigned for Fred Zollner's enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Carl Bennett was a man of vision and determination. My condolences and well wishes go out to his wife, Mrs. Carol Popp Bennett, his children Kirk and Gary Bennett, Sandra Dodane, Catherine Popp Hoffman, their spouses, his sister Bertha Bennett Christie, his eleven grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren. His loving touch will be missed by everyone who knew him, and he will be always remembered for transforming so many lives through the wonderful sport of basketball.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, the Student Success Act is a good bill that creates necessary flexibility for States and local school boards to best serve their students. Mr. Polis and I have an amendment that would simply make clarifying changes to H.R. 5. Our amendment adds computer science in title II, the teacher preparation title, and title III, the parental engagement title. This clarifies that Federal funds may be used to support the training and teaching of teachers of computer science and STEM subjects in K-12 education. Simply put, it allows Federal funds to be use for much-needed teacher professional development in computer science. It doesn't cost taxpayers one additional penny, and it wouldn't impose any new mandates on States or localities. Instead, it simply provides the additional flexibility to educators as they choose how to spend their Federal education dollars. Even with the 7.6 percent national unemployment rate, thousands of jobs remain unfilled because our K-12 classrooms haven't provided ample opportunities to learn computer science. The situation will become even more serious over the next few years. By 2020, it's expected that half of the 9.2 million U.S. STEM jobs, as we've heard just previously, will be in computing or IT-related. If we don't increase access to computer science education now, these jobs will either remain unfilled or employers will find workers overseas by exporting those jobs or importing the labor to fill them. This amendment is supported by Computing in the Core, whose members include companies like Google, Microsoft, and Oracle, as well as the Information Technology Industry Council. This amendment will also help more women and minorities choose computer science as a career. In 2011, only 19 percent of Advanced Placement computer science test-takers were women, even though women represented 56 percent of AP test-takers overall. Only 25 percent of the computer science workforce was female, with just 3 percent of those being African American and 1 percent Latino. Today, only nine States maintain computer science requirements to graduate from high school. One of the reasons more do not is because we don't encourage our schools to use Federal funding to support teacher professional development specifically in computer science. This amendment remedies that fact. Training a new generation of innovators requires a keen focus on the skills that will drive our 21st-century workforce. Computer science is one of those skills. Empowering our superintendents, principals, and educators to provide that robust, relevant, and effective computer science curriculum will ensure more students enter the workforce with the tools they need to succeed. It will help us close the gender and race gaps that have existed in this field for far too long. Let's do everything we can to prepare our kids for success in tomorrow's technical-driven and information-driven economy. I ask my colleagues to stand with us and pass this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. I yield 1\3/4\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers).

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from Colorado, for working with me on this amendment, as well as my colleague, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, for her thoughtful comments, particularly with respect to her State, and for their support on this issue. I believe this will go a long way towards guaranteeing our students are ready and that our teachers are ready to teach our students so they can be ready for that 21st-century job market. I encourage all Members to support this bipartisan amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana

Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 1864, a bill that bolsters existing military whistleblower protection laws to clarify that victims of criminal sexual crimes are protected from punishment for reporting those crimes. And I applaud my fellow Hoosier, Jackie Walorski, and the others from the Armed Services Committee in that this has been done in a bipartisan way. Just this past weekend as a former U.S. attorney and a new Member of Congress, I spoke to an Indiana statewide victim assistance academy, and I shared with them the shocking statistics that they weren't aware of--that 26,000 members that you've already heard about, members of our military, were assaulted in 2012. That is a 34 percent increase from 2010. Only a fraction of these victims file reports, and their abusers remain in the military to assault again. Why? For the same reasons that victims in our civilian criminal justice system face: they are afraid. They face fear. And more than 60 percent of those victims in the military never do report and come forward. But these victims just aren't on our military bases, they come home and they live in our communities. They may be reserve officers, they may be in our National Guards, and they are active enlisted officers and personnel. Unless we stop this retaliation that these victims face, fewer and fewer assault victims will come forward and report, and more and more attackers will remain free to commit these crimes, and not just on our bases. These crimes often don't happen just once with one woman or, yes, one man. These will happen again and again if the assailant and the perpetrator is not brought to justice. If we want to end the epidemic of sexual assault in our military, we must ensure that these victims come forward to report their assault without fear that they will be victimized again by the institution, the military they've chosen to serve. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.