Elijah Cummings

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Felix Chin for his outstanding, dedicated, and professional service to the United States Congress. Mr. Chin's federal service started in 1959, when he honorably served his country in the United States Army. His 3 years in the U.S. Army included a tour of duty in Vietnam. His service to Congress began in 1965 in the Library of Congress' Aerospace Technology Division where he translated and analyzed intelligence documents from Chinese sources on economic, political, military and social affairs in Communist China. He then served as an economics bibliographer in the Library Services Division of the Congressional Research Service beginning in 1969. After more than 38 years, he has concluded his library career as a senior bibliographer and information research specialist and will be retiring in the ``Old Line State.'' During his tenure with CRS, Mr. Chin responded to numerous congressional inquiries on economics-related research and authored many CRS annotated bibliographies and other information research products for Congress. He assisted in the development of SCORPIO through his participation on the SCORPIO Advisory Group and participated in the implementation of other congressional services such as the Selective Dissemination of Information Service. In 1973, he received a Meritorious Service Award for the large burden he carried as the only CRS economics bibliographer. He also received a Special Achievement Award in 2004 for the creative training he presented to Government and Finance Division analysts in the use of databases in the areas of international banking and foreign debt, and treaties. He was recognized by analysts in the former CRS Economics Division for his research expertise, bibliographic support, and enormous contribution to their work. He is greatly admired and respected by his colleagues and friends throughout the Congressional Research Service. Mr. Chin received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from George Washington University in 1968 and a master's degree in Supervision and Management from Central Michigan University in 1979 as a member of the first graduating class at the Library. Mr. Chin is a dedicated and kind mentor; he has inspired many young professionals to begin and continue a public service career. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join Felix Chin's colleagues, family, and friends in commemorating his nearly 50 years of Federal service. It is my honor to have this opportunity to wish him well as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement. In addition, I join my congressional colleagues in thanking Mr. Chin for his many years of service to Congress and wish him much success in his future endeavors.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Chairman, I want to thank Ms. Waters for this absolutely brilliant legislation, very comprehensive, and I also want to thank Chairman Barney Frank. Madam Chairman, later today the Fed is expected to lower interest rates for the first time in 4 years to protect the economy in hopes of making homes less expensive for people to finance certain credit card debt and for homeowners to take out popular home equity lines of credit, which often are used to pay for education, home improvements, or medical bills. The Fed's actions today will have a positive impact on homeownership, as will our consideration of H.R. 1852. This legislation will allow FHA to carry out its function of assisting creditworthy, low-income and credit-risk citizens in becoming homeowners. Most importantly, the FHA will be able to steer these people away from the predatory practices of the subprime mortgage industry. Some of the most important features of H.R. 1852 include raising the program's loan limit to $417,000; providing refinancing opportunities to borrowers struggling to meet their mortgage payments; authorizing zero and lower down-payment loans for qualified borrowers; and enhancing FHA's reverse mortgage program to help seniors pay for health and other expenses, by removing the loan cap to avoid program shutdowns and raising loan limits. Again, I applaud Chairman Waters for her outstanding leadership in this area, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, this evening I will continue my discussion on a growing and often deadly plague on our society, witness intimidation. Each day, there is a story reported about civic-minded citizens being threatened with violence or becoming victims of fire bombings or shootings, all of which are designed to prevent them from testifying to crimes that they have witnessed. Unfortunately, these tactics are working to form what has become commonly known as a ``conspiracy of silence.'' Witnesses are literally afraid for their lives. If you do not believe me, listen to these recent reports: in Newark, New Jersey, for 2 years Reginald Roe was the star and sole witness that prosecutors were relying on in a case involving an ambush gang killing in a parking lot there. Having picked two men's pictures out of a photo array and sworn before a grand jury, he said: ``I saw everything, I was there.'' But when the case came to trial, with a group of gang members glaring at him in open court, Roe changed his story, testifying that he had heard the shots, but never saw who fired them. The two suspects were acquitted. In Philadelphia, as the culture of fear continues to deter witnesses from coming forward, a Federal grand jury accused a drug dealer and his girlfriend of conspiring to intimidate a government witness by having the witness's neighborhood plastered with flyers labeling him ``a rat and a snitch.'' In Parachute, Colorado, Garfield County deputies arrested five teenagers they believed threatened to beat someone with a baseball bat who planned to testify against them. In my hometown of Baltimore, a 16-year-old witness in the case of the murder of 15-year-old Christine Richardson was moved from the city by relatives due to mounting threats. Indeed, the teenager was beaten the day after the murder occurred and was threatened by three girls, one of whom brandished a gun. Mr. Speaker, the current situation is simply unacceptable. We should be making it easier for witnesses of crime to come forward. It should be the norm, rather than an odd occurrence, for criminals to be prosecuted. This issue must be addressed because without witnesses, there can be no justice in America. Some success stories do exist. On August 31, Baltimore City State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy was able to get a witness to testify, which helped secure the conviction of 39-year-old Joseph Brinkley on two counts of attempted first-degree murder and handgun charges. In November of 2005, Brinkley approached two men as they hailed a cab and shot them in the back multiple times with a 9 millimeter semi-automatic handgun. The victim originally told detectives that he did not see the shooter, but recanted his statement after Brinkley approach him and his 9-year-old son. Unfortunately, such bravery is rare. Our constituents must know that taking an interest in their community and reporting crime is the right thing to do and that the government will do everything possible to ensure their safety. This is why I urge my colleagues to become a cosponsor of H.R. 933, the Witness Security and Protection Act of 2007, and to support its passage when it comes to the House floor. Upon enactment, this legislation authorizes $90 million a year over the next 3 years to assist State and local law enforcement for witness protection while fostering Federal, State, and local partnerships. Priority will be given to prosecuting offices in States with an average of at least 100 murders during the immediate past 5 years; however, smaller entities also have a chance to receive funding. State and local prosecutors will also be able to use these funds to provide witness protection on their own or to pay the cost of enrolling their witnesses in the short-term State witness protection program to be created within the U.S. Marshal Service. Mr. Speaker, finally, improving protection for State and local witnesses will move us one step closer toward alleviating the fears of and threats to prospective witnesses and help to safe guard our communities from violence

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks 6 years since America experienced its worst foreign terrorist attack. I send my solemn prayers to the families of the victims and the survivors of the September 11 attack, where nearly 3,000 persons lost their lives. Although no amount of time can ever bring back the ones you cherish or erase the memories of the tragic event, it is my hope that their wounds have begun to heal. While the world and the United States mourned the loss of innocent lives that day, we also sought answers as to who had attacked us and what would be our next steps. Rather than focusing on those responsible for organizing these attacks, President Bush and his administration diverted our efforts and refocused our resources to fight the global war on terror by waging war against the regime of Saddam Hussein via a preemptive strike. The administration presented its erroneous case by drawing on allegations that Iran had weapons of mass destruction, that it was a clear threat to the United States, and that it was connected with al Qaeda. While failing to gain the support of the global community, this administration continued on with its ill-conceived stance on Iraq, convincing the majority of the Congress to vote in favor of entering a war where only 5 years later we continue to pay heavily. And what exactly has been the cost? It has cost over $450 billion in taxpayers hard-earned dollars, according to the Congressional Research Service. It has left families of servicemembers and the larger population mourning the deaths of over 3,750 servicemembers, 69 of those being from the great State of Maryland. It has resulted in a strained family situation for those who endure multiple deployments, and has led to strikingly low levels of recruitment and retention of our mid-career armed servicemembers. It has undercut our efforts to ensure adequate protection of the home front because much of the needed equipment has been left behind unaccounted for in Iraq, as the National Guard testified before a Senate committee last April. It has belabored the economy, where the Government Accountability Office, GAO, has reported that the United States simply cannot continue spending at its current rate. And it has, in reality, resulted in the establishment of al Qaeda in Iraq, as reported by the National Intelligence Estimate. Mr. Speaker, the GAO testified before the House Armed Services Committee, upon which I sit, last week that only three of the 18 benchmarks established by the Congress have been met. Four have been partially met, and 11 have not been met at all. Specifically, only two of the nine security-related benchmarks were met, two were partially met, and five not met at all. Furthermore, in a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, September 6, the Jones Commission made clear that political reconciliation is a key component of resolving the issue of sectarian violence. Accordingly, political reconciliation requires the diplomatic and international support of the global community. Presently, the President and this administration's efforts to gain this pivotal support are less than adequate. The Bush administration, as it has done in the past, continues to try to buy the patience of this Congress and the American people by pulling for excuses. Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago I expressed my disapproval of the war by voting against the United States military operations in Iraq. Today, I still remain unwavering in my support of our troops and the urgent need to make a responsible and timely redeployment of our men and women in uniform as a means to end the continued bloodshed. I urge my colleagues to support our troops, support saving taxpayer dollars, and support the victims of September 11 by ushering in measures that will ensure diplomatic multilateral and bilateral support for political reconciliation in Iraq. A more focused and more determined strategy that will refocus and better utilize our efforts to fight the global war on terror is necessary to ensure that the victims of September 11 have not died without adequate retribution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 257, a resolution that recognizes the goals and ideals of the National Pancreatic Awareness Month, which is in November. Today's consideration of this legislation comes on the heels of a recent tragedy that shook the Nation and the world. Last week, Italian operatic icon Luciano Pavarotti died in his home in Modena, Italy, from pancreatic cancer. He was 71 years old. Pavarotti's flawless, rich sound left audiences awe-struck, earning him the nickname of the ``King of the High Cs.'' I count myself among the millions of fans who were moved by his powerful voice. Like Enrico Caruso and Jenny Lind before him, Pavarotti's talent was recognized beyond the standard opera audience. He became a household name in the 1990s with his popular ``Pavarotti and Friends'' charity concerts, performing with rock stars like Elton John, Sting, and Bono. The maestro's moving music and charismatic demeanor will be remembered for generations to come. As we celebrate the life and legacy of one of the greatest tenors the world has ever known, we must also reflect on the need to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease that tragically took his life, pancreatic cancer. That is why I am a lead sponsor of H. Res. 257, which highlights the need for improved investment in pancreatic cancer research. Pavarotti might still be alive today if we had made a greater commitment to fighting this very tragic disease. Pavarotti's story is like so many other individuals who suffer from pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed in 2006 and underwent surgery in July of that year. Treatment failed, however, and he eventually succumbed to the disease. Far too many Americans and people around the world find that a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is a death sentence. Seventy-five percent of all patients with pancreatic cancer die within 12 months of diagnosis. Only 5 percent of pancreatic cancer patients survive more than 5 years, making it the deadliest of any cancer. Of the 37,170 Americans who are expected to be diagnosed in 2007, an estimated 33,000 will die this year. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States and the third leading cause of cancer death among 40- to 59-year-old men. It is a disease that disproportionately affects minorities. The incidence rate of pancreatic cancer is 40 to 50 percent higher in the African American community than in any other ethnic group. Unfortunately, our financial commitment to the disease has not matched its impact. Only 1\1/2\ percent of the National Cancer Institute's $4.747 billion cancer research budget for 2006 went to pancreatic cancer. No significant improvement in survival rates has been made in the last 25 years, and pancreatic cancer research is still in the earliest scientific stages. There are no early detection methods and minimal treatment options for pancreatic cancer. Sadly, when symptoms of pancreatic cancer present themselves, it is usually too late for an optimistic prognosis; and the average survival rate of those diagnosed with metastasis disease is only 3 to 6 months. This is simply unacceptable. We can do better, and we owe it to our citizens and to the legacy of the great Pavarotti to do better. For this reason, I have joined my colleague, Congressman Todd Russell Platts of Pennsylvania, in introducing H. Res. 257. We are also joined by 83 of our colleagues who are cosponsors of the bill. I want to thank Congressman Platts for his leadership on this issue, subcommittee Chairman Danny Davis, and full committee Chairman Henry Waxman for bringing this legislation to the floor, and our friends on the other side. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution and to join efforts to increase Federal support for pancreatic cancer research.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, the new military strategy in Iraq is simply not working. President Bush misled Congress and the American people when he led our troops into Iraq. To this day, he continues trying to mislead us, most recently with reports that violence is down in Iraq since the surge of the United States troops. This is absolutely untrue, and I am utterly shocked at the audacity of this administration and many of my Republican colleagues to so boldly manipulate the facts to serve their own political agenda. Overall, violence in Iraq has risen since the troop surge. That's right, violence has risen. Newly released statistics for Iraqi civilian deaths in August show a 20 percent increase since July. The President and the Pentagon are picking and choosing which numbers will be included in death tolls to give the appearance that the violence is down. According to information from the Iraq Study Group and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, they do not count deaths of people who have been shot in the head from the front. They do not count deaths of Shiite or Shiite violence which is on the rise in the oil-rich south, nor do they count the intra-Sunni violence in the Sunni Triangle. Mr. Speaker, it is reported they are not even counting deaths from car bombs. We read about deadly car bombs in Iraq nearly every day, and these deaths are not being counted by this administration. I'm also greatly concerned about the Defense Department adjusting its figures for sectarian killings in the 5-month period before the surge began. There's a major discrepancy between the data on the March 2007 report and the June 2007 report for this period. The original number of approximately 5,500 deaths was increased to 7,400, offering the appearance of significantly decreased violence since the troop surge began. I must ask, why is this administration working so hard to create the appearance of success in Iraq? Is it to justify the more than $368 billion we have spent since the inception of Operation Iraqi Freedom? Is it to rationalize the staggering $10 billion a month we continue to spend in Iraq while we put the lives of our brave soldiers at risk? During every month of 2007 there have been more U.S. military fatalities than in the same month of 2006. How can anyone possibly say that this new surge is working? Mr. Speaker, I was hopeful that the administration had perhaps begun listening to the cries of the American people to bring our troops home when reports over the last couple of weeks indicated that General Petraeus was considering a draw down of our current troop levels. Unfortunately, we learned today that our hopes of redeployment of our military servicemembers will continue to fall on deaf ears, as General Petraeus announced earlier today that he has no intention of scaling back our troop levels in Iraq. In failing to do so, this Nation's attention will remain distracted from adequately protecting the home front, building an adequate health care system, reforming Social Security and decreasing the deficit. Mr. Speaker, President Bush loves to talk about the success of the al Anbar province where he made a surprise visit for a photo opportunity on Labor Day. But there are many conflicting opinions about why violence has decreased, whether or not this is the result of the troop surge, and whether the success in this region is indicative of success in other more complex regions of the country. Many believe this success may be the result of multilayered issues. It may be an indication that ethnic cleansing has been completed in many neighborhoods and that there are just not as many people left to kill. It may be the result of militants moving to other regions of the country where violence has increased. It may be the result of Sunnis befriending the United States simply as a means to accomplish a larger goal of stepping back into power. It may be the result of Sunnis finally rejecting the routine abuse by al Qaeda. It may be a combination of all of these. Regardless, we cannot ensure that any success in al Anbar is a result of the troop surge, nor can we ensure that this success can be transferred to other parts of the country. In fact, the overriding component of ensuring success in Iraq is political reconciliation, as pointed out by the GAO and the Jones Commission before the House Armed Services Committee this week. Military and security progress cannot be made without political reconciliation, which will open the door to resolving the underlying issues that have caused sectarian violence in Iraq. President Bush has yet to discuss the failing grade given by the GAO to Iraq on political reconciliation. Mr. Speaker, ignoring reports and underreporting violence is not the answer. This administration has misled the American people for far too long. Enough is enough.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the deeply troubling issue of terrorism right here in our own backyard. It is a problem that is endangering our children, threatening our families, and plaguing our neighborhoods. I am talking about the brazen acts of violence, fire bombings and shootings that are preventing the good people in our communities from testifying to the crimes that they have witnessed. Who can blame them, when they are sitting targets for those who have no shame? In cities across America, people are murdered in broad daylight and their killers are walking free because we cannot adequately address the issue of witness intimidation. We have all heard the news reports regarding the ``anti-snitching'' campaigns that have appeared in so many of our communities, but few of us are aware of what these efforts really mean to the people on the ground. But all around us, evidence of these campaigns' impact is present. Murder rates are at a record- breaking high this summer in my hometown of Baltimore City and indeed in communities across the country where criminals have persistently evaded law enforcement. In order to combat this problem, I introduced H.R. 993, the Witness Security and Protection Act of 2007. Upon enactment, this legislation authorizes $90 million per year over the next 3 years to assist State and local law enforcement with witness protection, while fostering Federal, State, and local partnerships. Priority will be given to prosecuting officers and States with an average of at least 100 murders during the immediate past 5 years. However, smaller entities will also have a chance to receive funding. State and local prosecutors will also be able to use these funds to provide witness protection on their own or to pay the costs of enrolling their witnesses in the short-term State Witness Protection Program to be created within the United States Marshals Service's office. The U.S. Marshals Service has a wealth of expertise and experience that will assist State and local entities in developing more comprehensive programs. In over 30 years under the Federal Witness Security Program, not a single witness that followed security procedures has been harmed while being protected by the program. More to the point, cases involving the testimony of these participants have an 89 percent conviction rate. In contrast, State witness protection programs are severely underfunded and enjoy virtually no Federal support. While there has been tremendous support for this initiative in Congress, the lack of support from the administration has certainly been startling. On April 24, 2007, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Witness Security and Protection Act. During that time, the Department of Justice official opposed this legislation based on the claim that it does not have the capacity or the will to implement a grant program. DOJ officials argued that running a grant program distracts from its ability to carry out its mission. Since when has inconvenience been an excuse for shortchanging justice in America? On May 24, 2007, I met with officials from the DOJ and the U.S. Marshals Service to discuss my concerns. I left the meeting feeling optimistic about a compromise. However, this has not been the case. I have even given DOJ staff the opportunity to come up with a counterproposal to achieve the same goal as the Witness Security and Protection Act of 2007, that is, the goal of strengthening State and local witness protection programs without a grant program. Unfortunately, DOJ officials have not been able to come up with a compromise, or even an alternative, to H.R. 933. In light of DOJ's failure to cooperate, it is extremely disappointing to learn that it has no problem supporting efforts in other countries, while dodging our efforts to set up similar programs in places such as Maryland and Washington. The U.S. Marshals Service, Mr. Speaker, has been assisting about a dozen countries, including Colombia, Israel, Italy, Brazil and Thailand, with the creation of witness protection programs in response to increasing threats against key figures in foreign prosecutions. International demand for the program is so great that Interpol, the world's largest law enforcement organization, is hosting a conference this month with the Marshals Service at Interpol's headquarters in France to address the needs of foreign governments. It is so very tragic that we can assist those abroad, but we will not fight terrorism right here in our backyards. Mr. Speaker, improving protection for State and local witnesses will move us one step closer toward alleviating the fears and threats of prospective witnesses and help to safeguard our communities from violence. I want my constituents in Maryland's Seventh Congressional District and the people across this great Nation to know that they are not alone. This is a priority issue for me, and I will not stop until this issue is addressed. This is why I am calling upon all of my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 933.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3218) to designate a portion of Interstate Route 395 located in Baltimore, Maryland, as ``Cal Ripken Way''.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, I want to thank again Mr. Sarbanes for sponsorship. I want to thank you, Mr. Duncan. I didn't know you had that kind of relationship to baseball and to the Baltimore Orioles. As I listened to Mr. Duncan and Mr. Sarbanes, Madam Speaker, I was just reminded that, sitting on the Government Reform Committee, in that committee we dealt with the whole issue of steroids. We saw players come before our committee, many of them having to put their heads down when asked certain critical questions about character. And it is so good to know that there is somebody like Cal Ripken around, somebody who does not mind accepting the role as a role model and being just that. So many young people look up to sports figures, and they try to emulate them. All you have to do is go to a baseball game and you will see them with the jerseys on with names of players on the back. And if you go to Memorial Stadium, now called Oriole Park, you will see a lot of jerseys with little kids, trying to dream the Cal Ripken dream, with his name on their backs. So it is with great honor that I ask all of our Members to support this resolution.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise in support of H.R. 3218, which was authored by my colleague from Maryland, Congressman John Sarbanes, to designate a portion of I-395 in Baltimore as ``Cal Ripken Way.'' Cal Ripken, Jr. played for 21 seasons with my hometown team, the Baltimore Orioles. Known as the Iron Man, he is perhaps most famous for playing in 2,632 consecutive games, breaking the record for consecutive appearances that was set by another legend of baseball, Lou Gehrig. However, his career was not only about his resilience but about the dedication and the hard work he brought, both to the field and to our community. He finished his career with more than 3,000 hits, an incredible achievement that is one of the most difficult to accomplish in baseball. These hits included 431 home runs, and they produced 1,695 RBIs. He began his career by earning the Rookie of the Year award. He went on to receive two Golden Glove awards, and was twice named the American League's Most Valuable Player. He was also twice named as the Most Valuable Player at the Major League All Star Game. In recognition of his achievements and of his importance to the game of baseball, he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame this year, the first year in which he was eligible to be so honored. Cal Ripken represents the very best that we have ever seen in the game of baseball. Since leaving baseball, he has come to represent the very best of our community and, indeed, of our Nation by finding new ways to help build the same dedication to excellence in our young people that he brought to his incredible career. He established and manages the Cal Ripken Baseball Division, in which literally hundreds of thousands of youngsters have participated, learning not only the skills of baseball, but the work ethic that will help them succeed in whatever they choose to do in life. With his brother, he also established the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in honor of their father to give underprivileged youth the opportunity to participate in baseball and softball. In recognition of his ability to motivate and inspire, he was recently selected to serve our Nation as a Special Sports Envoy for the United States Department of State. At the time of his appointment, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted that Cal Ripken brought ``integrity to the game of baseball,'' and I think his personal integrity is truly his greatest legacy. Cal Ripken is not only a sports hero who has achieved extraordinary accomplishments through hard work and sheer perseverance, he is a popular figure who has cultivated, in a way that increasingly few sports figures do, his ability to be a positive role model. Cal has synchronized his personal character with his physical abilities and has consistently used his extraordinary gifts to make a difference in the lives of others. As a Baltimorean, I thank my colleague Congressman Sarbanes for his work on this legislation. I join all of my colleagues from Maryland in recognizing the incredible legacy that Cal Ripken has given not only to our city but to our Nation of excellence on the field and service off the field. I can think of no more fitting way to honor Cal Ripken than by naming the interstate that passes by Camden Yards, which is only a few blocks from my house, where he played his entire career in his honor, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3218. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland, sponsor of the legislation (Mr. Sarbanes).

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3218.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. I want to thank Mrs. Tauscher for this very important legislation, and I support it wholeheartedly. I want to say to the last gentleman that spoke, it is because we support our troops, because we care about them and their families, that we support this legislation. 159,000 of our troops are currently deployed in battle to stabilize Iraq. On Tuesday, the United States Department of Defense reported that another 20,000 will be sent to Iraq for rotation duty. In the meantime, our servicemembers continue to suffer through multiple deployments with little time for rest or to retrain. The DOD has continuously failed to meet the goal of deploying active duty troops for 1 year and allowing them to rest for 2, along with ensuring that Reservists are deployed for 1 year and rest for 5. This failure has often been called a backdoor draft. Not only has ongoing multiple deployments had a detrimental physical and emotional impact on our troops and their families, but it also has hindered the Armed Forces' ability to reach its retention and recruitment goals. Namely, both the Army and Air Force have failed to reach their retention goals for the mid-career and career personnel. At the current rate, there will be few officers and enlisted soldiers left to lead. Who will be our next generation of soldiers? I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule and to express my strong support for the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act of 2007, which makes great strides in improving our Nation's health care system. It chills the conscience to think that approximately 9 million American children are currently without health insurance. There can be no justice until all of our children, our most valuable resource, are granted access to the most technologically advanced medical system in the world. The CHAMP Act commits $50 billion to reauthorize and improve SCHIP, our Nation's health care safety net for low-income, uninsured children. The CHAMP Act would lift enrollment barriers and increase funding so that we can get our children the care that they need. I'm also very pleased that Chairman Dingell shares my commitment to improving children's access to dental care by including a guaranteed dental benefit and two other dental-related measures that I have requested in H.R. 3162. Chairman Dingell also recognizes, as I do, that oral health is an important component for overall health. With that, I urge the Members to vote for the rule and for the Act.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House of Representatives resoundingly supported efforts to strengthen the management of the Coast Guard's $24 billion, 25-year Deepwater procurement effort by passing the Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act, H.R. 2722, which I authored, and they voted by a sum of 426-0 for that bill. I want to again thank Congressman James Oberstar, the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for his leadership on this legislation. I thank the ranking member of the full committee, Congressman Mica, and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Congressman LaTourette, for their work on this bill. And certainly I thank the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson, for his wise counsel and his efforts to get the bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I'm confident that the enactment of H.R. 2722 will help restore the trust of the American people in the ability of the United States Coast Guard to manage taxpayers' resources and to hold contractors accountable for the quality of the assets that they produce. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and with my colleagues in the Senate, particularly Senator Maria Cantwell, the chair of the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard Subcommittee, to take the steps necessary to put legislation forward to strengthen the Coast Guard's management of Deepwater on the President's desk. The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, which it is my honor to chair, continues to work diligently to oversee not only the Deepwater project but, indeed, all of the operations of the United States Coast Guard. Yesterday, the subcommittee held a hearing to examine the Coast Guard's administrative law system, which weighs allegations of misconduct or negligence to determine whether a mariner's credentials should be suspended or even revoked. The subcommittee received testimony from two former administrative law judges suggesting that during their tenure they worked in an atmosphere that did not support their exercise of judicial independence in the consideration of their cases. Additionally, serious allegations were raised that, if true, would imply that improper actions may have been committed to direct an ALJ to decide matters in the Coast Guard's favor. Such testimony is obviously deeply disturbing, and again, I emphasize, if true, we suggest that the scales of the Coast Guard's justice and administrative law system are not evenly balanced. While we continue investigating the allegations raised, I do know that any administrative law system must not only ensure that there is no impropriety in the conduct of administrative proceedings but that there is not even the appearance of unfairness in the system. I now believe that the administrative law system reviewing cases against mariners should be separated from the Coast Guard, and I look forward to continuing to work with the ranking member of the subcommittee and with all subcommittee members to consider how best to achieve that objective. Our subcommittee will conduct a second oversight hearing this week. Tomorrow, we will examine the Coast Guard's marine safety program. This hearing will provide a comprehensive examination of whether the Coast Guard personnel have the expertise, the experience and the continuity necessary to effectively inspect vessels, license mariners and develop the regulations that will make vessels safer and protect our natural environment. The Coast Guard is our thin blue line at sea and a critical part of our Nation's homeland security system. The Deepwater bill passed by the House and the oversight hearings held by the subcommittee this week will help to ensure that this thin blue line is as strong as it possibly can be and that the service is working effectively and efficiently to meet the highest expectations of the American people. Again, I applaud the passage of the Deepwater bill and express my gratitude for the dedication of the great men and brave women that serve in the Coast Guard.

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 735) to designate the Federal building under construction at 799 First Avenue in New York, New York, as the ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building''.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 735.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Rangel.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I merely want to associate myself with the words of the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Rangel. I urge all Members to vote in favor of the bill

Mr. CUMMINGS

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield back my time.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2722, as amended.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2722) to restructure the Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater Program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.