Lois Capps

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Thank you to my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I am rising in strong support of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act, and I want to add my thanks and my acknowledgment to the great work of our committee's chairmen, the ranking members, to swiftly move this extension through the process in a bipartisan and bicameral manner. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program has been the critical safety net for Americans diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. Since its inception, we have watched diagnosis and treatment evolve to a point where we can now manage HIV as a chronic condition rather than as a fatal disease. This issue is especially important in my home State of California, which has the second-largest disease burden in the United States and a significant number of new cases each year, particularly among the Latino population. And in today's world, California--like some other States--is experiencing a severe budget crisis. State HIV and AIDS funding has been drastically reduced. My district serves as the main source of HIV services between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and I want to ensure that central coast providers have all the resources they need to care for their patients. We need to make sure HIV patients and their families' livelihoods aren't interrupted by our failure to act. This legislation really is a stopgap measure that we need to ensure that nobody loses their existing services. I am pleased that we haven't hesitated to address the most pressing funding and logistical needs, especially those that affect distribution of funds to population centers. I am looking forward to the next authorization, when we can address all of the lingering improvements that are necessary to make Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs operate in an even better way for patients. As HIV research and care evolves, we must also respond accordingly. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. As one of the co-Chairs of the House Cancer Caucus, along with my friend and colleague Sue Myrick, I am so pleased to join my colleagues here tonight. I applaud you Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sue Myrick for organizing this Special Order, this time together, and for the legislation that you have introduced. I acknowledge my own sister, a breast cancer survivor, and I acknowledge our sisterhood. There were men and women standing on the Capitol steps today who have worn pink today in recognition. It's a lot deeper than that, but there is a sisterhood of those who have been touched by this disease, and the men who have been touched as well, some with breast cancer, also men who love people with breast cancer and have stood by them and supported them, and that network has really made all the difference. I applaud the amazing work of the advocacy groups for all that they do on behalf of breast cancer patients and their families. It's because of them that we've really come such a long way in the fight against this disease. And because of them, we've taken this disease out of the closet. The advocates against breast cancer and for understanding it have paved the way for many other disease entities to have survivors, and those touched by it really become vocal and become the strong voices. When I first became a nurse--and that was many years ago--the word ``cancer'' was hardly ever said out loud in public, and you never said the word ``breast'' in public. But everyone who has worked so tirelessly over all the years to make sure that people understood that these are not words to be embarrassed by or shamed by but, rather, to be empowered by, they encourage us to know how to be more aware of how to take care of our own bodies through prevention and early detection, and that's a lot about what this legislation is about. So now we've reached an age and a time where more and more women know the importance of self-exams, of learning about family histories and risk factors and taking advantage of early detection mechanisms like mammograms. But far too many women still face barriers. Too many women are discriminated against by insurance companies for having this disease. Whether it's the egregious practice of kicking you out of the hospital too soon after reconstructive surgery or posing barriers to accessing annual mammography, we need to put an end to these practices, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of legislation to do so. I also applaud efforts to target populations that are still marginalized--minorities and young women. Both of these populations need better access to information and better access to quality care. We need to pass legislation to make information and quality care more accessible. So I proudly stand with my colleagues who are championing efforts in Congress to improve breast cancer research, awareness, detection, and treatment. I do this on behalf of my constituents, my family, my friends, people who know all too well what it's like to receive the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, Mr. Murphy, for yielding. I am so honored to be with you this evening, and I thank you for organizing this time and for your leadership on this issue. It's a humbling experience to come to the podium and come to the well following the eloquent testimony that you and our colleague Tim Walz have given us, the two of you having distinguished yourselves in uniform serving our country on the battlefield. And your eloquence in your statements and also your testimony to the importance of this legislation gives credibility to it and credence to it that you alone uniquely, I believe, in this body have that ability to do, and I thank you that you are stepping up and leading this effort. I am honored to join you. I believe it takes those of you who served to express your leadership in this way, but I also believe that the rest of us who didn't have that experience of serving but who are so grateful to those who did want to join you in this kind of effort. I am so honored to stand here this evening tonight with our colleagues from different parts of the country, from different backgrounds and experiences, all with this conviction that we have and lending our support to the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. It's been stated already, and it's going to be stated again, Don't Ask, Don't Tell is discriminatory, detrimental to the productivity of our Armed Forces, and it really contradicts the very foundation of equality that the United States of America is founded upon. Plain and simple, it is way past time for this prejudiced policy to end. As you stated before, over 12,000 men and women have been discharged from the military since 1993 because of their sexual orientation, because of their sexuality. That's over 12,000 gifted and qualified individuals our military could not afford to lose in the first place. We must keep the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell on our priority list in this Congress, and this issue must also remain on the national conscience as well. We have to seek out every opportunity that we can to educate our constituents that Don't Ask, Don't Tell threatens not only our national security but all of our inherent rights as Americans. I'm very grateful for the countless individuals who are working in our communities to do just that. Many of them are current and former members of the military, and they do their service and they do our country a great honor by doing that, but I want us to widen that. We can't leave it up to those who have served to tell their story out of their own personal experience. We have to also join them because we are part of that movement as well. And there are numerous organizations working across the country to inform people and citizens, all citizens, about the injustice of this policy. I am very proud that one of these organizations, the Palm Center, is located at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in my district. Nathaniel Frank is a senior research fellow at this center. I have listened to him and had him explain his research to me, but he has written also extensively about how detrimental this policy is in a book that he has published entitled, ``Unfriendly Fire.'' He explains how Don't Ask, Don't Tell has added to the challenge of recruiting and keeping qualified soldiers in the military, and he also describes how the ban undermines the unit cohesion that it is supposedly designed to protect. The very reasons for establishing this policy have had the effect of undermining troop morale and troop discipline. And this is evidence that has been gathered now, substantial enough, that it is way past time, as I said, for us to act on it. With the assistance of organizations like the Palm Center, important volumes like ``Unfriendly Fire,'' and the testimony of our civilian and military allies, we can and really we must overturn the ban on gays in the military. I applaud our President's stance on this issue, and I look forward to getting the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to his desk as soon as possible. I believe that's our goal, and I'm grateful, again, for the effort of this hour to lay the groundwork for it. Every day that passes with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy continuing in place, the United States military loses out on more and more qualified applicants. For a country at war, this is simply inexcusable, and it threatens the safety and security of our overstretched deployed troops today. Every effort needs to be taken to ensure that those serving in our Armed Forces have the materials, the support, and the work environment that they need to function most effectively. The brave men and women serving today in our Armed Forces deserve nothing less than the ability to be honest about who they are. Thank you again, Mr. Murphy. Thank you to my colleagues for organizing this hour for giving us the opportunity to speak out on this very important issue, for holding this special order to bring further attention to the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 710, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Day. I want to thank my colleague Kathy Castor for introducing this resolution, which I have cosponsored. We both represent coastal districts that are home to amazing estuarine systems that are of great importance to our communities and constituents. In my district, the Morro Bay National Estuary is an ecological treasure. Lagoons and wetlands that were once common along the southern California coast are now nearly all filled and developed. But we are fortunate that the Morro Bay Estuary has largely survived. And we must continue to protect this natural resource. The Estuary provides vital habitat for birds and fish. It is an important stop-over for over 150 species of migratory birds during their annual migration. And it is a critical winter home to several other bird species. The estuary also acts as a nursery for more than 75 percent of commercial fish species in the area. Since the Morro Bay Estuary was incorporated into the National Program in 1995, the inspiring team of staff and volunteers has spearheaded numerous efforts to preserve and restore the estuary. For example, partnering with local ranchers, the Estuary Program has installed riparian fencing along nearly 75,000 feet of creek to limit cattle access. This has protected water quality and improved riparian habitat on seven creeks. The program has provided funding to the City of Morro Bay to remove derelict vessels before they pollute local waters and damage habitat. They have also established the Estuary Nature Center and WaterFest, to educate the general public about the beauty of the estuary and its importance to water quality and conservation. In addition, more than 75 dedicated volunteers collect and provide important water quality data for the Estuary Program each year. These data are critical to evaluating the health of the estuary and watershed, as well as compiling a plan to address problems. Estuaries are among the richest habitats known on earth--providing immeasurable economic and ecological benefits. But they are threatened by pollution and other human activities. We must change our course and work harder to protect them. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 710--to recognize National Estuaries Day and the community organizations that fight to preserve these invaluable resources.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, for 60 years our country has been trying to come up with a better way to deliver health care. Despite the lingering differences of opinion over how to achieve this goal, we really have come along further than we ever have before. We all agree we need to put an end to insurance companies' most egregious practices. We need to lower the costs of health care for everyone. We need to better incentivize preventive and primary care. These are all accomplished by the bill which has now passed out of our three House committees. Of course, it's much more interesting for the media to talk about the few areas where disagreements still exist rather than the accomplishments we have made so far. But the legislation before us means so much more security for America's hardworking families. Right now, when you lose your job, it can mean your entire family loses access to health insurance. And if you are unfortunate enough to have a preexisting condition, which in some States can be defined as having been the victim of domestic violence, then you may not qualify for any affordable health insurance coverage. Worse yet, when you buy health insurance on the individual market, there is a team of people ready to comb through your records to find a reason to drop you if you are ever diagnosed with a condition that is costly to treat. Now a few States have protections against these practices. But don't we agree that all Americans deserve access to these protections? Ironically, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have often touted a supposed ``solution'' to our health care troubles by allowing insurers to sell across State lines. If anything, their proposal would essentially allow insurance companies to continue their very worst practices because insurers would simply begin a race to the bottom. They would move their operations to whichever State affords the least consumer protections and sell those policies across State lines. I'm especially concerned because I come from California, a State with some of the strongest consumer protections from health insurance company abuses. Here are some examples: California law requires that insurers cover a minimum stay in the hospital after a mastectomy. Our neighboring States of Nevada and Arizona do not. California law requires that patients have the right to appeal decisions by insurance companies and receive an external review. Idaho and Mississippi do not. And California has stricter laws defining what may and may not qualify as a preexisting condition. In Florida and Georgia, there are no definable conditions that insurers may classify as ``preexisting,'' which means that a preexisting condition could mean pretty much anything. So to my friends on the other side of the aisle who believe that selling insurance across State lines will solve all of our problems, I remind you that your suggestion would do just the opposite. It would strip away vital consumer protections that exist for many patients now at the very time our focus needs to be on increasing consumer protections for American families. We also agree that we need to lower costs. I'm very heartened by provisions in this bill that will achieve this shared goal. For seniors, we're taking immediate steps to reduce their prescription drug costs by closing the doughnut hole. Since the rollout of Medicare part D, my constituents and seniors across the country have begged for relief from the doughnut hole. The doughnut hole is the period of time during which you pay an insurance company to not cover the cost of your medications. I have objected to this policy from day one. Under our plan, seniors will see relief immediately. As we begin to close the doughnut hole, prescription drugs will be available at deep discounts. Eventually, the doughnut hole will disappear completely. This is the relief that America's seniors need, and we all can agree that they deserve it. We will bring down costs by introducing a public option to compete with private insurers. Currently, private insurance companies have every reason to increase costs for patients and to reduce reimbursements to physicians in order to line their pockets. Why? Because there's no competition. There's no one else in the market offering consumers a choice. But the public option will finally bring greater choices to consumers in the individual insurance market. Once that happens, premiums will become more affordable as insurers compete for customers. Insurance companies will be enticed to reimburse physicians better in order to retain them in their networks. The necessity for more affordable choices is something we can all agree on. We can also agree that we need to do a better job of improving preventive care and giving people the tools they need to be more personally responsible for their health and well-being. As a public health nurse, I spent decades educating people about the importance of adopting healthy habits. But too many people in this country don't have access to primary care and never see a health professional until an otherwise preventable disease has worsened. How tragic is this? H.R. 3200 encourages better primary and preventive care. It does away with copays for preventive services. It increases primary care service reimbursements under Medicare and Medicaid. It makes smart investments in community-based prevention and wellness programs. These are the things we can all agree upon. I urge my colleagues to join me in enthusiastically supporting H.R. 3200, supporting these principles on which we all agree.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, even today we have come further than we ever have before on the path to achieving comprehensive health insurance reform. Now is not the time to take a step back. Now is the time to keep the momentum going. The American people want access to affordable health insurance when the small business they work for can't provide it for them. The American people want to know they won't lose their health insurance if their company has to make another round of layoffs. The American people want more doctors and nurses in their communities so they know health care is always available. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3200 accomplishes all these goals and more. I urge my colleagues to step up and seize this moment. Support this legislation to bring affordable and quality care to all Americans. Join me in strong support of H.R. 3200.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. This critical legislation would extend unemployment benefits by up to 13 weeks in states with high unemployment, such as my home state of California, where the unemployment rate has reached a record 12.2 percent. In California alone, this bill will provide additional benefits for over 150,000 jobless workers who would otherwise exhaust their unemployment benefits before the end of this year. These new benefits will help the millions of Californians who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own feed their families, heat their homes and pay their mortgages. Extending these benefits is also one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy because the money is spent quickly. According to Moody's Economy.com, every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.63 in new economic demand. There is no question that this legislation is needed. Yes, our economy is beginning to recover. But millions are still out of work and struggling to stay afloat. I support this bill because it will provide real money for real workers who need it in California and across the nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting yes on H.R. 3548.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I was not able to be present for the following Roll Call votes on September 16, 2009, I would have voted as follows: rollcall #704: ``yes''; rollcall #705: ``yes''; rollcall #706: ``yes''; rollcall #707: ``yes''; rollcall #708: ``no''; rollcall #709: ``yes.''

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, CBO projects that the public plan option would likely attract around 10 million patients. That certainly puts to rest the assertion that private insurance would go out of business. Not surprisingly, the estimates that opponents of the public plan are citing to prove their mistaken point were arrived at by the Lewin Group. Guess who owns the Lewin Group? An insurance company. I urge my colleagues to stop repeating the false message of the health insurance industry. The insurance industry opposes a public option because they know it would force them to be honest, to keep their premiums down for patients. I urge my colleagues to pay attention to the facts, not the rhetoric, and I urge you to join me in reiterating our strong commitment to true health reform. Let's pass a bill with a strong public option before we adjourn. We were elected to make tough decisions and take important votes. We must fulfill this obligation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 556, the Southern Sea Otter Recovery and Research Act. I want to thank my neighbor, Sam Farr, for introducing this legislation, which I have cosponsored. We both represent districts that are home to the southern sea otter, and so this topic is of great concern to me and my constituents. Sea otters on the California coast are dying. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that otter populations are down 3.8 percent from last year, the fastest decline since the 1990s. We need to act, and we need to act now. Scientists believe that these elevated mortality rates are linked to water pollution, but continued research is needed to clearly understand the pathways of diseases and to learn how to protect the sea otter. And we need to take concrete action to recover the population. H.R. 556 requires the Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, to carry out just such a research and recovery program. This program requires monitoring, analysis, and assessment of population health and mortality, and directs the agencies to find ways to reduce or eliminate those factors that might be causing the decline in sea otter populations. The health of Central California's marine ecosystem and economy depends in large part on the health of the sea otter. Sea otters are keystone species and economic drivers. By foraging on sea urchins they help to maintain a lively kelp forest environment. Kelp forests, in turn, influence oceanographic patterns, ensure a healthy habitat for many commercially important fish species, and provide countless recreational opportunities. As a symbol of California, sea otters also bring in droves of tourists who want to nature watch and purchase merchandise. This bill is not just about preserving one species, but about preserving an ecosystem, an economy, and a way of life. In these uncertain times, we must fight to preserve all that we can. The science is clear; the sea otters need our help. And, quite frankly, we need theirs. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 556.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a true humanitarian. Isabel P. Ruiz passed away on July 2, 2009 after a life devoted to her family and community. She will be sorely missed by her husband Napoleon, her two children David and Diana, and all who knew her. Isabel came to the United States from Peru, where she was born and completed her residency as an OB/GYN. In addition to her role as a mother and wife, Isabel served as director of EOC Health Services, clinic manager of Community Health Centers, social worker for the San Luis Obispo County Health Department and board member of French Hospital Medical Center, the American Cancer Society, the Latino Outreach Council and the Oceano Community Center. Throughout her exemplary career, she developed a local medical clinic, established sex education and senior health screening programs, started free mammogram programs for uninsured women and organized community health fairs in San Luis Obispo County. Her name lives on in the Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award, designed to recognize ``. . . demonstrated selfless desire to help others, community leadership in the county, steady ongoing advocacy to create change and an ability to influence others to create change.'' Serving tireless community advocates like Isabel in Congress is a great honor. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this difficult time.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, recently a constituent called me distraught. She has health insurance, but that company is denying life-saving surgery for her daughter born with spina bifida. Why? Because when this mother took a new job recently, she got new health insurance, and this health insurance company says they don't have to pay for her daughter's surgery because spina bifida is a preexisting condition. Sadly, this is not an isolated story. Every one of us here has constituents who are going through similar situations. These are the people I am fighting for. Our health reform bill seeks to insure the nearly 50 million people who don't have any health insurance, but just as important is fixing the currently broken health insurance for people who have or think they have coverage. We will force insurance companies to change these policies, and we will guarantee that every American has access to a plan that will always be there for them. This can be a private plan or the public plan, but there will always be an option And that's why we need to pass this health reform bill, and we need to do it now.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, the time for health reform is now. The American people want it. The American economy needs it, and we will pass a comprehensive health care bill out of this Chamber before we break for August recess. We will pass a bill to reform health care that ends the current system of insurance company executives lining their pockets by denying you the care you need. We will pass a bill that keeps your health coverage intact even if you lose your job or face a sudden illness, and we will pass a bill that brings health care spending under control. It's easy to get caught up in the politics of Washington as we work on this legislation, but this is about so much more. It's about the American people. When we pass this legislation, when the President signs it into law, everyday families will finally be able to have access to reliable, affordable, quality health care. Let's get it done.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1018, the Restore Our American Mustangs Act. This timely legislation would help ensure the safety of wild horses and burros while saving the American tax payers millions of dollars. This is commonsense legislation that will establish a humane process for managing the large population of free-roaming horses and burros in the West. The American horse is a symbol of the American West, yet we have failed to responsibly manage this great animal. The current BLM management system consists of forcing these wild horses to roam land that is too small to support them and then rounding up excess horses to be sold, adopted, or slaughtered. This process is inhumane, ineffective, and very expensive. This bill will improve our current system in several ways. First, the BLM currently rounds up thousands of perfectly healthy horses and places them in holding facilities to await adoption or slaughter. By strengthening the adoption process and utilizing contraception methods, as this bills proposes, we will drastically reduce the number of excess horses, thus reducing the need for the expensive holding facilities. Second, this legislation will close a loop-hole that allows horses and burros to be sold for slaughter. While there are no slaughter houses in the United States, this loop-hole allows people to buy excess horses and ship them to Mexico to be slaughtered. This is clearly not the intent of the current law and we must close this shameful loop- hole. Third, this bill will save the tax payer millions of dollars. Holding facilities are very expensive. In fact, in 2008 alone, the BLM spent a third of its budget, $27 million, on the upkeep and operation of holding facilities. And finally, this legislation will end the BLM's practice of constantly reducing the range size for wild horses and burros. Specifically, this bill urges the BLM to restore wild horses to the full 19 million public land acres that were originally designated for their habitat. Mr. Speaker, the Restore Our American Mustangs Act is good legislation for both wild horses and tax payers. We must pass this legislation and implement these humane policies to protect this symbol of the American West. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in the supporting this timely legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 550, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I was not able to be present for the following rollcall votes on July 15, 2009, and would like the Record to reflect that I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 540: ``yea''; rollcall No. 541: ``yea''; rollcall No. 542: ``yea.''

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, we have an historic opportunity to finally improve health care in America, to finally bring access and quality of care to all Americans, not just the lucky few. I'm so proud to support the bill introduced by the three committees of jurisdiction and to play my part in seeing us pass legislation in both the House and Senate before the August recess. What's great is that there is something for everyone here. There is affordable access to coverage for people who've never been insured before; there is help for seniors stuck in the dreadful part D doughnut hole; there are consumer protections against longstanding egregious practices by insurance companies; there is amazing investment into our health care workforce, including physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals; and there is finally an incentive to practice wellness- based health care instead of illness-based disease treatment. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing America's Affordable Health Choices Act and enacting the health care reform our constituents so desperately need and Americans deserve.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for a strong public option as part of our health reform bill. Health care is not a place for playing political games; it is simply too precious. That is why we need to pass a meaningful bill, one that actually achieves the goal of providing everyone with affordable access to quality care. If private competition alone could have achieved this, it would have already. I am supporting comprehensive health reform for patients, for each one of us who has a loved one who has needed care but was denied by their insurance company and couldn't afford the out-of-pocket expenses. Let's give those companies a reason to provide us with better, more affordable coverage, and give patients greater choice in who will be their insurer. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the inclusion of a viable public option in our health reform legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pride today to express my support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Over the last two Congresses, thanks to tremendous leadership, we have built a record on energy and climate policy that indicates that the time for action is now. America is ready. The world is watching. We must transition to a clean-energy economy so that we can create jobs, achieve energy independence, and protect our planet. We have before us a powerful, thorough, and effective bill. It includes a nationwide renewable electricity standard. It contains critical investments in energy efficiency. It requires immediate significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that are harming the health of our people and our planet. The bill also makes substantial investments in domestic, international, natural resource, and public health adaptations that are crucial to the continuing prosperity of our Nation and our world. Madam Speaker, to protect our health, to protect our economy, our national security, and our planet, we must enact comprehensive climate legislation and we must enact it now. We cannot sit idly by. I hope others will join me in seizing this opportunity to transition our economy to a new, clean-energy economy. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Again, I thank the chairman, and I look forward to working with him in the future.

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank the chairman for his commitment to improving the health and welfare of our Federal firefighters. Forty-two States have already recognized this link by providing some sort of presumptive disability benefits for their State, county, and city firefighters. This creates a serious difference in benefits between Federal and municipal firefighters, which is basically unfair. More States enact presumptive disability legislation each year, so this is a problem that continues to grow and the disparity continues to be more apparent. Clearly, there is a pressing need for this legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to ask for your help in providing fair and adequate disability benefits to our Nation's Federal firefighters. Together with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts), I introduced the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act to create the presumption that Federal firefighters who become disabled by heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers, and other infectious diseases contracted the illness on the job. This effort is strongly supported by all five major fire organizations and has 130 bipartisan cosponsors. I offered this bill with an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act; however, it was not made in order due to PAYGO issues.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 505, with deepest sympathy for the family and loved ones of Dr. George Tiller and in strongest condemnation of his murder. Murder in any setting is horrific. It is unconscionable but to commit a heinous crime of violence inside a place of worship that teaches a message of tolerance and nonviolence is especially reprehensible. Dr. Tiller was guiding worshippers to their seats and his wife was singing in the choir when he was gunned down. This is so precisely the opposite of where humanity should be in 2009. Violence, especially murder, should never be a recourse for differences in beliefs. So I ask my colleagues to join me in condemning acts of violence and intolerance. And I ask that we resolve to honor the memory of Dr. George Tiller, a physician and a man of God, by working harder than ever to promote tolerance and to promote nonviolence. I urge all of my colleagues to stand unanimously and vote in favor of this resolution.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and service of my constituent, Navy Commander Duane Wolfe. Commander Wolfe died Monday, May 25, at Al Asad Air Force Base in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb. Mr. Speaker, words can't describe the loss felt throughout our California coastal communities by Commander Wolfe's death. He was truly a pillar in his community, spending the majority of his life on the central coast with his wife of 34 years, Cindi, and their beautiful family. Commander Wolfe served in Iraq as a Seabee. He worked at Vandenberg Air Force Base as a civilian for over 20 years and served as well as a deacon of the Los Osos Church of Christ. By those who knew him best, he is remembered as a dedicated husband and father with a clever wit, a strong sense of work ethic, and a kindness toward those in need. My thoughts and prayers are with Commander Wolfe and his family and friends during this heartbreaking time, as well as the families of all of our military personnel serving as they do in such danger and with such bravery. We owe our brave men and women serving in the Armed Forces and their families nothing but our full support and gratitude for their tremendous sacrifice.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.