Donna Christensen

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Conyers. Mr. Speaker, I rise with Chairman Conyers and my esteemed colleagues to stress the need for comprehensive health care reform that not only tackles the core issues but substantively transforms the foundation upon which this Nation's health care crisis is existing. And the story that Congressman Conyers told about Taylor could be repeated over and over again across this country. The pursuit of and desire to have good health and access to reliable, high quality health care cuts across geography and gender; across race and ethnicity and political affiliation. These wants and needs are basic to all human beings. And because they are basic human needs, the time has come for health care to be affirmed as a basic human right. As an American and as a physician, I am embarrassed that, today, the United States is the only industrialized Nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. So I think that we have much to learn from the industrialized nations who, through either single payer universal health care systems or a multipayer universal health care system, have put the health and wellness of their residents at the top of their agendas and, as a result, are healthier than we are today. For example, compared to the rest of the world, the United States ranks 41st in maternal mortality rates, which means that 40 other nations, most of which have fewer resources than we do, have lower mortality rates than us. Additionally, we are ranked 42nd in infant mortality, which means that 41 nations, including Cuba, the United Kingdom, Anguilla, Japan and Singapore, have a lower infant mortality rate than we do. The underlying reason for these shameful numbers is this country's failure to address health disparities and to put into place effective, comprehensive and culturally appropriate programs to eliminate them. Not only do people of color make up most of the 45 million uninsured and the additional 50 million underinsured, but because of this as well as because of discrimination and the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate care, they also are the majority of those who die prematurely from preventable causes in this wealthy and technologically advanced country. It's very important to note that the millions of Americans who comprise our Nation's un- and underinsured population are not people who are lazy. They're not people who are looking for a handout. They are hardworking, honest Americans. The overwhelming majority of the uninsured are members of working families who do not have access to employer-sponsored health coverage. In fact, more than 8 out of 10 uninsured Americans make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not nearly enough to purchase health care insurance on their own. The provision of health care to Americans living in the territories paints an even worse picture. And that's my individual story this evening, the story of 4.5 million people living in offshore areas. Those of us who live in the offshore areas of the United States have an additional burden when it comes to accessing health care services. For Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program is capped, and it is capped far below what is needed to provide the most basic of services to those who are at or below the poverty level. So, even in those families at 100 percent of poverty, they can't qualify. There's not enough money in our programs. Many who need long- term care cannot get it because our Medicaid program cannot afford it. Other programs that are taken for granted in the States are not available to us because the funds are just not there to cover them. And in fact, the level of funding per Medicaid patient, even at the low numbers that are enrolled, is one-tenth of that spent on Medicaid beneficiaries in the States. Many of those States are richer than we are and have lower health care costs, and yet they get 10 times more funding per Medicaid beneficiary. Both on the mainland as well as in the offshore areas, our Nation's un- and underinsured Americans are paying the ultimate price for the absence of universal health care. They pay more out-of-pocket health costs, as we heard, and worse, they pay for it with poorer health and even with premature disability and death. And everyone, including those who have insurance, pay for it in rising premiums, higher deductibles and co-pays, and reduced quality of health care services for everyone. The grim statistics and analyses prove one thing: We need to expand access to health care and completely eliminate un- and underinsurance in this country. The only way to accomplish this is through universal health care. Access, however, is but one issue that we need to address within a comprehensive health care reform package. There is another issue that must be addressed because it, too, has to be an integral component of our health care reform discussions and efforts. And that issue is health disparities. The direct and indirect impacts of health disparities are well-known, and we know that they cut across every aspect of life. Additionally, we know that these disparities leave millions of African Americans, Native Americans and other people of color, women and rural Americans also, in a particularly precarious position as it relates to their health and health care. Not only are those most affected by health disparities disproportionately more likely to be un- and underinsured, as I mentioned, but they also are disproportionately less likely, far less likely to receive the high quality of health care services and treatments available for everyone else. For example, the rates of hospital admissions for uncontrolled diabetes, which is an indicator of the quality of care received, for Hispanics and African Americans were more than three and five times, respectively, higher than the rate for Whites. The same scenario holds true for hospital admissions for asthma. African American children and adults have hospitalization rates for asthma that are five and four times, respectively again, higher than Whites. African American diabetics and Native American diabetics are three times more likely than White diabetics to have lower limb amputations. The differences in health care quality are not just evident in the hospitalization rates, but also in the disparate rates of utilization of services and treatments. African Americans are disproportionately less likely than whites to be referred to undergo cardiac catheterization or to receive more aggressive treatments for lung cancer or colorectal cancers, although they are known major causes of death in the African American community. In fact, studies confirm that across several dozen health care quality measures, African Americans receive a poorer quality of care than whites almost half, 43 percent, of the time for African Americans; for Hispanics, they receive a lower quality of care more than half of the time, 53 percent of the time; and for American Indians and Alaska Natives, they receive a lower quality of care more than one-third of the time, 38 percent. These differences in quality, like the differences in access, have a profound and detrimental impact on their health, wellness and ability to achieve their full lives' potentials. Additionally, these racial and ethnic differences in quality persist, even when insurance status, educational level, socioeconomic status, and disease severity are taken into consideration. Mr. Speaker, the time for comprehensive health care is upon us, and the time to ensure that our efforts not only surmount access barriers but also achieve health equity is now. As we as a Nation engage in increased discussions about health care reform, propose solutions to our under-and uninsurance plight and mounting health care costs, and finally move the idea of universal health care from concept to reality, we must address the health disparities and the root causes of health inequities, the social determinants of health, in order to be successful. The Nation's public health and health policy experts agree that a health care reform effort that fails to incorporate and integrate health disparity elimination as a core benchmark and objective is an effort that is flawed. So I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and all of our friends off the Hill to work together to ensure that as we work towards a health care system where everyone is in and no one is out and to reform the system, that we do so in a manner that positively transforms the lives of the millions of Americans for whom quality health care has been denied and deferred for far too long. I thank Chairman Conyers for holding this Special Order this evening on this very important issue.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I picked that up from the American Student Medical Association. I believe that was their slogan.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker and colleagues, I rise today to honor the legacy of an outstanding educator, Mrs. Louise Brady. I am proud to join the entire Virgin Islands community in extending best wishes to Mrs. Brady, as she retires after 56 years of exemplary service to Virgin Islands children and families, as a teacher and principal at the All Saints Cathedral School. In that capacity, she demonstrated the highest degree of integrity and humanity. Mrs. Brady has inspired and instilled in our young people fairness, honesty, respect, tenacity, and a firm commitment to achieving one's aspirations. Mrs. Brady migrated to St. Thomas in 1952 and started work as a teacher at All Saints Cathedral School. In 1975, the Cathedral Church of All Saints, through its rector, The Very Rev. Thomas W. Gibbs III and vestry member Mrs. Reubina Gomez, invited her to accept the post of principal of the school. As principal, Mrs. Brady worked feverishly to shape the school into the Virgin Island's premier institution of education for students from pre-school through grade 12. Over the years, the school has produced persons who have gone on to serve the Virgin Islands, the United States, and other parts of the world in various capacities. Mrs. Brady is not just an icon of All Saints, but of the community of the Virgin Islands as a whole. During her years at the Cathedral School, she married, and with her husband, raised four children; all of whom are accomplished in their sphere of work. Her children, Alonzo, Stephen, Beverly, and Deborah, were educated at All Saints Cathedral School. Mrs. Brady has also been a faithful Anglican/Episcopalian, who has a strong belief in payer which she also instilled in the students. Every activity at All Saints, to this day, begins with prayer. With her love and eagerness to see all students achieve their full potential, Mrs. Brady ensured that the students participate in both academic and extra curricula activities. The numerous trophies, plaques, and commendations that are prominently displayed on the office walls are a testimony to the numerous successful competitions in which the school participated. Activities such as the Christmas concert, Black history fair, music and art festival, science and social studies exhibition, maypole are some of the initiatives that the school has introduced to enrich the lives of the students and make them well- rounded individuals. Mrs. Brady has always embraced, encouraged, and welcomed children of all nationalities, creeds, and races; therefore, making all Saints a true rainbow of an integrated society. Mrs. Louise Brady has directly or indirectly impacted the lives of just about every family in the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, mine included as my brother Adam and sister Rebecca were among those who benefited from her tutelage. Madam Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute to this phenomenal woman. The Virgin Islands are truly blessed to count her among our most treasured jewels.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of these Homeland Security bipartisan measures. I would like to commend Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member King for their efforts to bring these bills to the floor today. I would also like to congratulate the authors of these bills Congresswoman Harman and Congressmen Carney, Langevin, King, Bilirakis, Reichert, and Perlmutter. Individually, the bills presented today improve operations within the Department of Homeland Security, including issues related to privacy, information sharing and enhanced security. Collectively, they improve on the provisions of H.R. 1, the Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act. Protecting the privacy of our citizens is an important but very difficult issue to balance in our Nation's war against terrorism. Under H.R. 1570, the presence of a full-time Component Privacy Officer would ensure that privacy considerations remain at the forefront and are integrated into the decisionmaking process at all of the DHS Components. Through our oversight work, it is clear that DHS's information systems have been penetrated and remain vulnerable to cyber attacks. H.R. 5983, the Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act of 2008, represents a critical step toward improving the cybersecurity network at DHS by ensuring a robust defense of its information systems, and holding individuals at all levels accountable for mitigating vulnerabilities. While protecting DHS information systems is critical to our Nation's security, we also need to be mindful of the importance and need for information sharing. H.R. 6193, H.R. 4806 and H.R. 3815 address the need for information sharing in a secure manner. H.R. 6193--Improving Public Access to Documents Act of 2008--dovetails with H.R. 4086's effort to remove obstacles to more and better information sharing in the unclassified category. Our offshore territories are the first point of entry to the U.S. for many foreigners and our shores are extremely vulnerable to illegal and possibly terrorist activities. I am pleased that H.R. 5531 will put in motion a plan to deploy next-generation radiological detection technology at our ports of entry to more effectively and more efficiently scan persons and cargo as they enter the United States. I fully support the ``Biometric Identification At Sea Pilot Project'' which has allowed the Coast Guard to collect biometrics from individuals interdicted in the Caribbean to run them against terrorist and criminal databases. H.R. 5531 and H.R. 2490 address the vulnerabilities of our Caribbean shores. Madam Speaker, the implementation of these bills would not be possible without our State, local and tribal entities. Fusion Centers provide much needed support to these entities in the implementation of Homeland Security programs. H.R. 6098 requires DHS to allow State and local governments to use Homeland Security grant funding to hire and keep analysts in fusion centers--for however long State and local officials see fit. I urge my colleagues to support these bills and their passage.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, first I want to thank Chairman Dingell, Chairman Pallone and Chairman Waxman for your leadership and for working with us on the CBC to address some of our concerns about the bill. Colleagues, we've heard and read of all the methods and additives tobacco companies have allegedly used to target young people and communities, particularly African Americans and Hispanics, as well as to increase the likelihood of addiction. We also know that tobacco is the leading cause of death in this country, with or without menthol. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1108 because we will finally end these practices and put in place the strongest standard for product regulation ever, as well as a mechanism for funding to support research and enforcement. Madam Speaker, this bill does not contain everything that all of us wanted, but it is supported by the public health community because it is the important first step we must take in order to get to the point where products like menthol, that we believe may injure the health of minorities and others, will no longer be available. I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``aye'' and the President to sign this bill so that we can move forward, after long years of trying, to finally protect the health of our constituents. And I will place in the Record a statement by the CBC. We, the undersigned members of the Congressional Black Caucus, issue the following statement: Recognizing the difficulty in getting a bill which would garner the sufficient votes in the House and Senate for passage, we the members of the Congressional Black Caucus stand firmly with the Public Health Community in support of: The strongest standard for product regulation ever given to the FDA (stronger than food, drugs or medical devices); Barriers to and serious consequences for those who try to market and sell to children; The banning of additives used to manufacture flavored cigarettes, which are marketed to children and which are used to get children of ALL racial and ethnic backgrounds addicted to cigarettes in the first place; A faster track for the development of smoking cessation and nicotine-replacement therapies; and The authority for greater regulation--including of menthol--in the future. And the other provisions of H.R. 1108. Taking into consideration the disproportionate rates of cancer in the African-American community and the high use of menthol in our community, and given the fact that an attempt to ban menthol has already been offered and failed, we feel that this important first step which gives the authority to the Secretary to ban menthol and speeds up the research recommendations and report of the Scientific Advisory committee, is worthy of our support. The Congressional Black Caucus has a long history in promoting smoking cessation programs in our community and will continue to make this a priority both as a Caucus and through partnership with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Our objective has been and will always be the well-being of the African-American community, other communities of color and all Americans. With our support for H.R. 1108 we continue this proud tradition. Banning menthol and regulating tobacco are priorities for the CBC. We are pleased with the leadership role we assumed to accomplish both because this bill, which regulates tobacco, also represents a giant first step toward the elimination of menthol.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in full support of the rule and the bill to adopt the Senate version of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008, which will reauthorize, expand, and strengthen the PEPFAR program. First, I want to thank and applaud Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her steadfast leadership. We would not be here today were it not for her hard work. And also our colleague Congressman Luis Fortuno for his successful efforts to include all Caribbean countries for the first time. I am proud to have been a part of that effort. And let me also thank the Honorable John Maginley, the Health Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who played a pivotal role in our efforts here as well. This is very important because the Caribbean is second in prevalence to sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, last year in the Caribbean, there were 230,000 adults and children infected with HIV, a prevalence rate of 1 to over 3 percent, depending on the nation, and there were 11,000 deaths. Without support from PEPFAR, the Caribbean will continue to experience noted and detrimental economic, public health, and sociopolitical repercussions that this bill will help to thwart. I have had the opportunity to see the work of PEPFAR firsthand. With this bill we will be able to do so much more: prevent 12 million new cases, treat and support millions of newly infected individuals, and expand the health care workforce that we need. So today I rise in strong support of this rule and the bill and for this program that saves countless lives and a program that, with the strengthened focus and increased funding, let the millions of innocent human beings with HIV around the globe know that they will be able to live healthier and more productive lives. This bill represents our country at its best. I am proud to support the rule and the bill and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution and play a key role in ensuring that we do our part to bring this world one step closer towards beating the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 364, which recognizes the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. I am proud to have joined my friend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee in sponsoring this resolution once again. Madam Speaker the term ``Heritage'' is the amalgamation of things that make us who we are and where we are, as individuals, the people we are and, in this case, the nation we are. During ``Caribbean American Heritage Month,'' we celebrate the great contributions of Caribbean Americans to the framework of the United States of America. This celebration should mark an accolade to the common culture and liaison that create the unity between the United States and the Caribbean. The ``Caribbean American Heritage Month'' marks our appreciation for the many ways in which Caribbean Americans have contributed to our great Nation. We may look as far back as the period of 1900 to 1920 which marked the initiation of mass labor migration from the Caribbean to the United States and the formation of the first large Caribbean communities in the United States. Let us not forget World War I when the recruitment of labor from the Caribbean became imperative. These laborers atoned for the reduced number of the European immigrants to the United States. More than 100,000 Caribbean laborers were recruited for agricultural and tedious jobs as part of war labors. Some of them were men and women who fought for our country upon being granted citizenship. We should acknowledge the Caribbean American men and women who served our country and those who continue to serve this nation today. When we look at the history of the Caribbean Americans, we see the enormity of their contribution to our Nation. Likewise, we see the similarity in the senses that just like America; the countries of the Caribbean faced slavery and were colonized. We now have millions of people who have emigrated from the Caribbean to the United States. We should acknowledge the enrichment that they have contributed to the United States. The uniqueness in their culture has helped in diversifying and shaping America; thus, pulsating our States, cities and towns. The countries of the Caribbean have also played a role in the economic growth of the United States. As a daughter of the Caribbean myself, I also honor the contributions of Virgin Islanders such as D. Hamilton Jackson, a famous laborer; Alexander Hamilton, one of our Nation's Founding Fathers and raised on the island of St. Croix; and Frank Rudolph Crosswaith, who created the Trade Union Committee for Organizing Negro Workers, the Negro Labor Committee and became a founding member of the anti-Communist Union for Democratic Action. These and several other factors should be reflected during the Caribbean American Heritage Month. Let us honor, value and show gratitude to those who contribute in making us the nation that we are.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, every day Americans are struggling to drive their kids to school or run important errands. Every day Americans are struggling to fill up their gas tanks. And every day President Bush opposes a different Democratic solution to bringing down prices at the pump. Today is day 9 of our efforts urging the President to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a move that has a history of real results. But the White House has slammed the idea, saying it has been ineffective in the past. I guess President Bush doesn't remember when his father released oil from the Reserve in 1990 and oil prices dropped 33 percent immediately. Or when President Clinton took action in 2000. Real relief was apparent before oil even reached market. He also forgot when he himself released oil from the SPR only 2 years ago, and a barrel of oil dropped $5. This is action Americans are demanding; relief at the pump now. Madam Speaker, releasing oil from the reserve is a tested and proven solution to providing struggling Americans with relief today. It is time President Bush stands up for consumers and taps into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 6331--The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. I also rise to urge all of my colleagues--on both sides of the aisle--to do what this President won't: to protect the millions of seniors and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare to preserve their health and well-being. As a physician and as the Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, I find it more than unfortunate that this President would veto a piece of sound health legislation that would help our Nation's most vulnerable, and that would prevent the catastrophic payment cuts to physicians. With this override, we will ensure that seniors and active-duty military personnel and retirees have access to doctors who they not only know, but who they trust. Additionally, I feel strongly--as do more than 150 national organizations--that H.R. 6331 is a bill that needs to be enacted because it will reduce many of the health inequities that disproportionately and detrimentally affect millions of racial and ethnic minorities, as well as rural Medicare beneficiaries, by: strengthening the collection of data to better assess and identify solutions to health disparities; enhancing the scope of preventive and mental health benefits; bolstering low-income assistance programs for Medicare beneficiaries; improving access to quality health care for the millions of rural Americans--a disproportionate number of whom are racial and ethnic minorities--who currently experience insurmountable barriers to care; strengthening and reforming the Medicare Advantage plans without reducing access to the services needed by the tens of thousands of seniors who rely on them to stay healthy; and protecting access to pharmacies so that our seniors have consistent and reliable access to their medications and so that our pharmacies--particularly those in low-income communities--are reimbursed promptly and adequately by Part D programs. Madam Speaker, this bill passed in the Senate 1 month after it passed in the House, and did so with a veto-proof margin. We--as a Congress--have not had many successes with introducing and passing smart and sound health policies that are as socially and medically appropriate as they are fiscally responsible. This bill could be one such success and I therefore urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Conyers for yielding, and I rise in support of H.R. 6344, the Responsive Government Act of 2008. Before I speak to that bill, I also want to register my support for the previous bill, H. Res. 1293, which honors the memory of the three brave young men, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner, who gave their lives to ensure that the right to vote would be guaranteed to every American. We thank them and their families for their service and their sacrifice. Among its provisions, the Responsive Government Act of 2008 will make a minor but important amendment to the landmark Hatch-Waxman Act patent act of 1984. This act of 1984 has done much to make medicine available and more affordable for countless people in this country. Inadvertently though, in patent term restoration, there is an inflexible deadline provision which has the potential to limit the good that the act can do. Within H.R. 6344 is a provision which will grant discretion to the Patent and Trademark Office to excuse minor filing errors as is the case with other patents. This will ensure that needed medication that treats sometimes life-threatening illnesses, like Angiomax and others, will be more readily available, while continuing to ensure patient protections. This is an issue I have worked on as Chair of the Health Braintrust of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I am glad that it is on the floor for passage today. I applaud my colleague from Massachusetts, Mr. Delahunt, for his work on this bill, and the Chair and ranking member of the committee for their leadership, and I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 6344.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 2 today, which I introduced on the first day of this Congress and which expresses the sense of Congress that children in the United States should understand and appreciate the contributions of individuals from the United States Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands to the U.S. history. I am joined in this bill by 46 cosponsors. This bill began with young people and it is for young people, but it is also for all Americans. A few years ago, I was on the campus of the Charlotte Amalie High School in St. Thomas, and as I was leaving some students gathered around to greet me and ask questions. It is because of one of those questions that I introduced this resolution. A young lady expressed her concern and frustration that so many stateside children and adults as well knew so little about the Virgin Islands. Is it is a complaint I have heard often from other students coming up for Close Up and other legislative classrooms. They challenged me to do something about it. While it has taken longer than I would have liked, I am pleased that House Concurrent Resolution 2 is being considered today, and I would like to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member McKeon, and all of the committee members for their support as well as my staff and the staff of the Education and Labor Committee for their work on bringing this resolution to the House floor. Madam Speaker, the United States presently maintains sovereignty over three unincorporated territories and two commonwealths, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands. All, including the now Freely Associated States of Palau, Micronesia, and Marshall Islands, have contributed to the defense and the richness of the United States in politics, music, arts, science, sports, education, as well as in many other areas. And there have been many historic events in the past that unfortunately are not well known by the rest of our country. As depicted in this painting that is the cover on a book about many of the relationships between the then Danish West Indies and the early years of this country, it is reported that it was a ship in Christiansted Harbor in St. Croix that gave the first foreign recognition to the early Stars and Stripes in June of 1776. In another fact, one of the earliest flags was designed by a Markoe, again from the then Danish West Indies. Madam Speaker, among outstanding Virgin Islanders in American history, we are also proud to count Alexander Hamilton, one of the great Founding Fathers of our Nation, the first Secretary of the Treasury and the author of the Nation's financial system. Hamilton lived in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, then the Danish West Indies during his formative years and before coming to the then Colonies. It is while on the U.S. Virgin Islands that, according to noted historian Richard Brookhiser and others, that Hamilton learned accounting and trade which spanned international borders and where he began to develop his philosophy of life and politics. One of his earliest recorded writings is a descriptive and moving account of a hurricane which was published in the local newspaper when he was around 16, in 1772. More recently, one of New York's premier politicians of the mid 1900s was J. Raymond Jones, also known as the Silver Fox, from St. Thomas, who ran politics in New York City and is credited as a mentor by our own greater leader in this Congress, Congressman and Chairman Charles Rangel. He played an important role in laying the political foundation of that city, which continues to this day. We were active and remain active in the U.S. labor movement. Men like Ashley Totten was one of A. Phillip Randolph's lieutenants, and instrumental in the founding of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. In the entertainment business, people like Kelsey Grammer grew up in St. Thomas, and he is well known for his character on Cheers and its spinoff, Frasier. Benny Benjamin, the well-known songwriter of songs like ``I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire,'' John Lucien, and others were from my home. There are also individuals like Casper Holstein who played a role in the Harlem Renaissance, and Barbara Christian, an influential feminist literary scholar and critic who was born in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. And, of course, we have also made major contributions in sports, with Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns who both hail from St. Croix. And in the past we had Giants catcher Valmy Thomas whose daughter Shelley works in our office, Joe Christopher and Horace Clarke, and many others in major league baseball. Boxing legends such as Emile Griffith and Julian Jackson are from the Virgin Islands. And none of us could match the number of major league football players who come from American Samoa. But it should not take an NBA game or a boxing match to bring about awareness of the U.S. territories. Our children should begin to learn about the U.S. territories within the context of U.S. history. Madam Speaker, it is the diversity of the citizens of the United States that strengthens this Nation, and individuals from the territories have contributed to that diversity and continue through today. The sad reality is that far too many of our fellow Americans do not even know where the U.S. territories are located, not to mention the important contributions that they have made not only to U.S. history but to world history. A full history program should include curricula that give students a balanced learning of all of the historic contributions that impact people who live in the United States, including contributions made by the people of the territories, the Commonwealth of the United States, and the Freely Associated States. This bill will be a giant step forward in ensuring that all Americans, however separated by geography, are fully a part of the told and taught history of our great country, as we are today an integral part of its unfolding future. And to the children and young people of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Freely Associated States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, this bill is for you. I urge my colleagues to pass House Concurrent Resolution 2.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for these six bills brought forth by the Committee on Homeland Security. I would like to commend Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member King for their continued efforts and leadership on presenting legislation to enhance and strengthen our Nation's security. I would also like to congratulate my colleagues on the committee who authored these bills--Chairman Thompson, Congresswoman Clarke, Congresswoman Lowey, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, Congressman Dent and Congressman Langevin. The enactment of H.R. 1, The Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act, was a major milestone for this Congress and I was proud to be a conferee to H.R. 1. With the passage of H.R. 1, Congress took the lead in making America more secure. H.R. 1 was a comprehensive measure to enhance our Nation's homeland security capabilities in profound ways. The Homeland Security Committee has conducted numerous hearings to investigate the many areas covered by H.R. 1 and has worked diligently at developing legislation that focuses on specific areas of homeland security that require fine tuning in order to make H.R. 1 as effective as possible. The bills being considered today will do everything from providing redress to Americans misidentified against the terror watch lists to enhancing DHS' capability to address the threat of improvised-explosive devices to ensuring the integrity of aviation security covert tests. H.R. 4179, the Fast Redress Act of 2008, would enhance information sharing at DHS and between DHS and other Federal agencies that use the terrorist watch list or database. The bill also includes measures that would make the redress process more efficient and protect the civil rights of individuals on TSA's ``Cleared List'' and ``No Fly'' or ``Selectee'' lists. H.R. 5909 is vitally important given the Committee's knowledge of at least three incidents that compromised the integrity of covert tests at TSA's screening checkpoints. It provides for security measures that would prevent disclosures that will jeopardize covert testing. H.R. 5982 will also enhance airport security by requiring information sharing on best practices for using biometrics to improve airport security. H. Res. 1150 recognizes the continued importance of rail security and ensuring that it is given equal importance in our national transportation security plans. Bombing prevention is an integral part of our national security and requires that we provide the necessary resources for this purpose. H.R. 4749 does this by increasing funding and the capabilities of the Office of Bombing Prevention. Along similar lines, The Nuclear Forensics Attribution Act authorizes programs within DHS to develop an international framework to identify and intercept nuclear materials further reducing the possibilities of nuclear threat worldwide. Lastly, I support H.R. 1333 which calls for both GAO and the DHS Secretary to examine and prepare a report on how the Civil Air Patrol can be integrated in our efforts to enhance national security and our war against terrorism. This is a positive effort in using local resources in supporting our homeland security mission. I strongly urge my colleagues to support these bipartisan bills that have been thoughtfully crafted to enhance national security measures that are important to the implementation of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5680) to amend certain laws relating to Native Americans, and for others purposes, as amended.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5680, introduced by our colleague, Mr. Grijalva, contains multiple proposals to address the needs of several Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages. I would like to commend Mr. Grijalva for his hard work on this legislation. Without his dedication and commitment, we would not be here this morning. Some of these provisions may seem small and insignificant, but they mean much to those they affect. Under this legislation, the Colorado River Indian Tribes would be authorized to receive funds from the Secretary of the Interior in order to establish and run an Office of Energy Development. Funds are available for such purposes under section 1(b) of the Act of June 1938. The establishment of an Office of Energy Development will allow the tribe to better oversee and manage the operation, management and funds derived from the BIA power system located on their reservation. This legislation would authorize the Gila River Indian Community to agree to mediation over construction contracts. It supports the right of an Indian tribe to dispose of land held in fee simple status. It further authorizes two Indian tribes to enter into long term leasing of tribal land. Finally, this legislation clarifies certain powers of Alaskan Native Regional Corporations with respect to the issuance of common stock. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5680, as amended. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I could not travel to Haiti with my colleagues last week, but I have been there several times over the past 12 years, and it breaks my heart to see a country which ought to have had so much promise in the critical state it now is. I have to agree with what I have heard from many Haitians, that the day to day existence of the people is worse than it ever was during the Duvalier period. The people of Haiti welcomed the democracy our country helped to bring. They participated enthusiastically in the electoral process. They were patient as they waited for the assistance that never came in full. Today they are in the middle of a terrible food crisis--one that we can and must do what we can--and we can do a lot--to abate. The food crisis in Haiti is responsible for recent riots, killings, and the ousting of the country's prime minister. In just the past few weeks, five Haitians and one United Nations worker were killed in the violent protests stemming from the overwhelming food shortage. The situation, which has been labeled a ``silent tsunami'' by the U.N. World Food Programme, has not received the attention and action it warrants. Haiti is our neighbor. In my estimation, we have not done all that we could and should have to avert this and every other crisis it has faced in recent years. The instability that is increasing every day, not only threatens the life of every Haitian but can destabilize the region and send adverse ripples here. Madam Speaker, I applaud the current administration's commitment to provide $200 million in emergency food aid. I implore my colleagues to join me in urging the President to commit no less than $60 million of the $200 million for Haiti. We need to pass the HERO Act to provide investment and create jobs. I am also calling on this Congress to pass Temporary Protected Status for the people of Haiti in this time of great peril. In the face of the inequity in treatment of Haiti under immigration, it is the least we can do. It is time for the United States to take seriously our obligation as the lead Nation in this hemisphere and assist our neighbor in this time of extreme need.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, the fact that more than half a million women die in what is the most natural of processes and what should be one of the happiest, pregnancy and birth, is totally unacceptable and should call everyone in this world to action. But for simple and inexpensive medication, adequate trained providers, and because of poverty and poor sanitation, but mostly from the lack of an adequate global response to this tragedy, a mother somewhere dies every 60 seconds. These same factors, in addition to lack of access and other social determinants of health, also cause maternal mortality rates among black women in the United States to be three to four times higher than that of white women. Because of this, the United States ranks 41st in the world, with many poorer countries having lower mortality rates. Reducing maternal mortality is the fifth Millennium Goal and we are so far from reaching it. Last year, Johnson & Johnson and the Government of Norway stepped up in a big way to help. Just having celebrated Mother's Day, this is a good time for other companies and other countries, especially ours, to make sure we meet this goal and keep our, and all, mothers alive.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to commend a soldier from my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Major Bernard Warrington, Jr., who will be promoted today to lieutenant colonel. Bernard Warrington, Jr., was born in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands in 1970. He attended public school there and graduated from Central High School in 1988. Since that time, he has distinguished himself as a soldier and a scholar, working his way up in the military, first as an infantry officer in 1992, in the 2nd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 24th Infantry Division at Ft. Benning, Georgia. While assigned to the 3rd Brigade, he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 1996, he relocated to Ft. Hood, Texas, where he served with the 1st Cavalry Division Support Command, (DISCOM), as its Plans Officer and Assistant Brigade Operations Officer. He was then reassigned to 615th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB) to command its Headquarters and Supply Company (HSC) and deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division to Bosnia, Herzegovina, in support of Operation Stabilization Forces Four (SPOR4). Major Warrington then served as the Combat Service Support (CSS) Team Chief for the 348th Training Support Brigade (TSB) Ft. Buchanan, Puerto Rico, responsible for training U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard Forces. He was next assigned within the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) as a G4 Power Projection Logistics Planner and Crisis Action Team member for CENTCOM during Operation Enduring Freedom. He was deployed in 2003 to meet the 101st Corps Support Group (CSG) in Mosul, Iraq, where he served as its Brigade Operations Planner, Deputy Brigade S3 during Operation Iraqi Freedom I during its reconstitution at Ft. Campbell. From July 2004 to December 2006, he served as both the Battalion Executive Officer and Support Operations Officer for 8th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, during which time he redeployed in 2005, with the battalion to Tikrit, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom IV. Since December 2006, Major Warrington has been assigned as a plans officer to HQDA DCS g-3/5/7. He also served as an Army Congressional Associate within the office of Senator Claire G. McCaskill. He currently serves on the Army Staff in the Army Transformation Office. During his time in the military, Major Warrington has earned an associate of arts degree in business administration and military science from Georgia Military College, a bachelor of business administration from Georgia College and State University, a masters of business administration in industrial operations management from InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico and has graduated from the Command and General Staff College with the Combined Logistics Officer Advance Course and the Infantry Officer Basic Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Army Superior Unit Award Badge, the U.S. Army Staff Badge, the Honorable Order of St. Michael, and the Honorable Order of St. Martin. Major Warrington is married to the former TaMekii Clark of Conyers, Georgia, and they have two children, Naomi and Claude Nigel. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the 110th Congress, I am pleased to recognize the achievements of Bernard Warrington, Jr., as he is promoted from Major to lieutenant colonel and I wish him continued success in his illustrious military career.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3658, to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel to United States territories for members of the Foreign Service, sponsored by my good friend and neighbor, Mr. Fortuno of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, the Foreign Service Act unfortunately is not consistent in the way it treats citizens from the mainland and those from the territories. While it allows for the State Department to pay for Foreign Service members to return home, to any of the 50 states or U.S. territories, after being posted abroad, it only permits residents of the 50 states who are at hardship posts, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, to be granted R & R for a period of time while posted. This bill, at its core, is about equal and fair treatment for residents of the U.S. territories. When most of us hear the word home, we have a clear picture in our head of where that is. But for these Foreign Service members, it is not that simple. Under current law, these diplomats must pay their own way if they want to visit their family and friends back home in the territories, while diplomats from the states have their travel costs covered. Although these members are from a U.S. territory, they are our fellow citizens and commit their lives to the diplomatic causes. They join for the love of their country and risk their safety in dangerous posts. The bill before us today would eliminate this unequal and unfair treatment between Foreign Service members who reside in the territories and those that reside in the states. I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 3658.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for those kind remarks. And I am pleased to rise in support of S. 2739, which includes two bills that I sponsored, H.R. 3079, the CNMI Immigration, Security, and Labor Act (ISLA), which also includes the NMI Delegate Act, and H.R. 2705, the Compacts of Free Association Amendments Act of 2007. Both were unanimously passed by this Chamber this year. ISLA resolves two issues which have been before this Congress for decades. First, it would extend U.S. immigration laws to the CNMI. And second, it would authorize a CNMI nonvoting delegate to serve in this body beginning in the 111th Congress. For two decades, the CNMI has had local control over immigration policy, and it has never been represented in this Chamber. For those unheard voices, for the prosperity of those islands, and for the security of our Nation, the path should now lead in a different direction. ISLA provides the needed policy flexibility to transition immigration from local to Federal control. It ensures that employers can fill jobs, residents receive vocational training, nonresident guest workers be protected, the region's economy be diversified, and the Marianas archipelago be strategically secure. H.R. 2705 makes technical corrections to the Compact Agreements of 2003 and ushers in a new disaster assistance regime between FEMA and USAID for the FAS. I'm grateful to Chairman Rahall for his commitment to prioritize issues affecting U.S. territories in the Freely Associated States. I thank the committee ranking member, Mr. Young, and the subcommittee ranking member, Mr. Fortuno. I also want to thank the staff of the subcommittee. I want to especially acknowledge Mr. Faleomavaega and Ms. Bordallo, both members of the subcommittee, for traveling with me to the CNMI to conduct our hearing. They are tireless in their support of the subcommittee's agenda, and Ms. Bordallo worked closely with me to ensure that the interests of all the people in the Marianas, as well as the priorities for our Nation's security, were included in ISLA. I urge my colleagues to pass S. 2739.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2830, ``The Coast Guard Authorization Act'' and would like to commend Chairman Oberstar and Ranking Member Mica for their work on the bill and their efforts in bringing it to the House floor today. The development of this bill has been a long process and a collaborative effort. We are pleased that it is before the House for passage. I would also like to commend Chairman Thompson, my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee and staff for their work on the Port Security section of this legislation. I would like to thank Chairman Cummings and Ranking Member LaTourette for theirs on Deepwater and their support of the Port Security provisions in H.R. 2830. The United States Coast Guard has a broad and important role in homeland security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental pollution response, and the maintenance of river, Intracoastal and offshore aids to navigation. Yet it has been grossly underfunded and therefore understaffed and under-resourced. This bill provides much needed resources and capacity building to effectuate these changes without compromising security. In addition to increasing funding by $8.4 billion and the bill provides a much needed increase from 1,500 coast guard personnel to 47,000. There are many important provisions in the bill but I am particularly pleased with the provisions to improve Port Security, particularly for the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. Section 419 of the bill authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to station additional Coast Guard assets in the U.S. Virgin Islands for port security and other purposes. Currently, the Virgin Islands are without a coast guard cutter and have to depend on Puerto Rico for use of their vessel. This provision is a step forward in establishing a permanent Coast Guard unit in the Virgin Islands. Another very important issue to the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean is cruise security. It is estimated that 10.6 million Americans took a cruise from a U.S. port in 2007. These ports include locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and points throughout the Caribbean. H.R. 2830 includes incident notification requirements that would enhance cruise ship security. This provision would make our ports more secure and thus more attractive to cruise ship travelers. Enhancing Port Security has been a priority for the Homeland Security Committee and The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 will give the Coast Guard much needed reform as well as strengthen our homeland security, protection of the marine environment and maritime safety. It reflects our commitment to improving port security. We all remember with gratitude the stellar work of the U.S. Coast Guard during Hurricane Katrina. Were it not for them many more lives would have been lost. This bill is a down payment on the gratitude we owe them for this and their work in the waters of our Nation. I encourage my colleagues to support the bill and urge its final passage.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mr. Roland Roebuck, on the occasion of his retirement. Mr. Roebuck is a Virgin Islander who has served the Government of the District of Columbia, his adopted community, in an exemplary manner, for 25 years. Roland, or Rolando, as those in the Hispanic community affectionately refer to him, has been an advocate for the social, economic and political causes of people of color. Roland grew up on St. Croix, the protege of a Puerto Rican mother and a Crucian father, where he was able to bridge the two cultures and gain the best of both worlds. Later, he served in the U.S. Air Force, giving back to the Nation that he loves, before furthering his education and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the District of Columbia. In 1984, Roland joined the District of Columbia Government and worked in various positions over the years. He excelled in ensuring that the rights of Latinos were protected and facilitated the understanding of their cultures and more. As a guardian of culture, Roland travelled around the world, giving lectures and workshops in understanding the lives of others who were different. As a former board member of the St. Croix Landmark Society, he used the opportunity to dialogue with the people of Denmark, a country that sold the then Danish Virgin Islands to the United States for $25, 000,000 in 1917, to preserve and incorporate their influences on the lives of Virgin Islanders. He assisted in developing an archival program that has allowed my constituents to search their genealogical connections and get a sense of their ancestry. Roland is a dependable, compassionate person, who truly cares about those with whom he has come in contact. His responsiveness to those who seek his knowledge and wisdom, speak to his dedication. He is always there, giving support to his family, friends and community and he has left a fitting legacy in the Government of the District of Columbia that others will do well to exemplify. Madam Speaker, on behalf of myself and my family, my entire staff and the communities of the United States Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia, let me express our gratitude to Roland for his many contributions over the years. We know that he will continue to work on behalf of his many causes as he begins his retirement. Roland, thank you for a job well done.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 5613--the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. The millions of people who depend on this critical safety net and I thank and applaud Chairman Dingell for once again protecting our Nation's critically important Medicaid program. It is a shame that every year Democrats have to fight back at least one attempt to cut funding and provisions in this program that is so vital to the Nation's poor--the majority of which are people of color. The administration and the Secretary's policies are going in the absolute wrong direction. Rather Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance funding needs to be increased to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of un- and under-insured which includes 9 million children. This administration's failed economic policies have left more people vulnerable. Racial and ethnic minorities suffer worse morbidity and mortality because of lack of access. Caps on Medicaid in the territories don't even allow us to cover residents at 100 percent of poverty and per capita spending is a shamefully small fraction of that of our fellow Americans in the States. This Nation's healthcare system as we all know has become a sick-care system and not only is it not doing a good job at that, it is in crisis and on the verge of catastrophe. The proposed actions restricting payments for graduate medical education and blanket regulations against payment for certain services, threaten to not only make the healthcare situation in this country worse for the poor, but for everyone, and to threaten the competitiveness and security of our Nation. I look forward to the new Democratic administration, who will work with Chairman Dingell and others to transform health care in this country and reduce the skyrocketing costs through emphasis on prevention and equal access to quality, comprehensive culturally competent care for everyone who lives here. The foundation of this effort must be stronger Medicaid and SCHIP. By stopping the assault on these two programs; by stopping payments to hard working providers and for the training of the healthcare workforce needed, we set the stage for that transformation to begin. Thank you Mr. Chairman, for your continued leadership. I urge passage of H.R. 5613 to protect this important safety net.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 865, welcoming the recommendations contained in the March 2007 World Bank report ``Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean.'' I would like to commend my colleague and sister from the Caribbean, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke inroducing this legislation. Too often the Caribbean is overlooked when issues of global economy and diplomacy are discussed. I am pleased that H. Res. 865 urges the United States, other drug-consuming countries, and the Caribbean countries to increase counter-narcotics efforts in the Caribbean region. As a member of the House representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, I know firsthand the negative impact that crime can have on the economy of Caribbean islands. The report indicates that high rates of crime and violence in the Caribbean are undermining growth, threatening human welfare, and impeding social development. For the most part, the economy of the Caribbean is tourism driven. Safety and security are vital to providing quality tourism, and crime is a direct threat to the Caribbean tourism industry. One contributing factor to the growing crime problem in the region is our country's deportation program that sends individuals who have lived in this country for years--almost all their lives in some cases-- back to their native country, if they have committed a crime. The individuals who learned their trade in this country are sent back often with no notification, many times without any known family and sometimes not knowing the language, as in Haiti. As long as we continue to deport criminals as we do now, we will continue to seed the growing drug and criminal activity in the Caribbean. Churches, especially those associated with Prison Ministries International are concerned and actively pursuing programs to address this situation. Today, H. Res. 865 takes a positive step toward addressing the crime in the Caribbean by recognizing that a resolution requires an approach that ``transcends Caribbean national boundaries.'' I am encouraged and hopeful that this report will provide a basis for developing good practices to eradicate crime in the Caribbean.