Lois Capps

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and to the underlying bill that will actually roll back protections for women across this Nation. The Violence Against Women Act is a vital piece of legislation to be sure. It established a comprehensive response to prevent relationship violence, sexual assault, and stalking; to support survivors; and to hold perpetrators accountable. It is also a symbol that relationship violence and sexual assault is real and that it is unacceptable. For the past 20 years, this law has been a shining symbol that Congress can put aside its petty differences and we can come together to do what is right for violence victims and survivors. Now the bill before us tarnishes that symbol. H.R. 4970 marks a backsliding in violence protections, leaving more women out in the cold without legal resources or social supports, just when they need it most. And the issues are not just for immigrants or the LGBT community-- although the way the bill before us ignores their pain is shameful--but also for women on college campuses, those in need of safe housing, tribal women. And that is why hundreds of groups across the country-- service providers, law enforcement, health care workers--have come out against this bill. Now we could address the problems in this bill if we were allowed an opportunity to vote on the Moore-Conyers amendment, which I cosponsored. The Moore-Conyers amendment mirrors the recently passed bipartisan Senate bill. But the House leadership unilaterally decided to block it from even coming to a vote. The majority has, once again, put rigid ideology over commonsense compromise, and this time at the expense of violence survivors and their families. Reauthorization is critical for the Violence Against Women Act, but it needs to be done right. I urge the majority to drop the partisan politics, join a bipartisan coalition, and support these survivors.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Mr. George Gaynes on the occasion of his 95th birthday. Mr. Gaynes is a distinguished member of the Santa Barbara community. He is a man who has devoted his life to the arts, a man who has delighted us all with his wonderful talents both on-stage and on-screen. George Gaynes was born in 1917 in Helsinki, Finland. In Europe, he served in the Dutch and British Navies during World War II. Mr. Gaynes served as a translator on battleships since he spoke, and still speaks, six languages fluently. Mr. Gaynes, blessed with a wonderful singing voice, started his career in opera companies in Switzerland and London, and later in the New York City Opera Company singing basso. After moving to the United States, Mr. Gaynes became an accomplished Broadway actor, best known for his on-stage role in Wonderful Town. He also had notable roles in the Cole Porter musical Out of This World and in the U.S. on-stage tour of My Fair Lady. Mr. Gaynes has also enjoyed a distinguished career on-screen. He is perhaps best known for his role in the Police Academy series as Commandant Eric Lassard, as Henry Warnimont on the NBC television series Punky Brewster, and as Arthur Feldman on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. Gaynes is also remembered for his role as Frank Smith on the popular soap opera General Hospital, and has appeared in movies such as The Way We Were, Tootsie, and The Crucible. Gaynes met the love of his life, fellow dancer and actress Allyn Ann McLerie in 1952 in New York where they were both performing on Broadway. The couple has been married for 58 years and has two wonderful children, Iya and Matthew. They have one grandchild, Nicole Falcone Stryjak and are expecting their first great-grandchild, Portia, in June 2012. George and Allyn Ann moved to Santa Barbara in 1989 and the couple immediately became involved in the issues important to our community and could always be counted upon to support those causes they believed in deeply. In fact, George has continuously contributed various ``Letters to the Editor'' on both local and national issues in several local newspapers. The couple were also founding members of the State Street Ballet Company in Santa Barbara. George Gaynes is a man who has devoted his life to the arts and his community. Today I am pleased to recognize him as we celebrate his life as a distinguished actor and entertainer, a man dedicated to making the Central Coast and this Nation a richer, more vibrant place.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2072, the bipartisan Securing Jobs Through Exports Act. Other nations are aggressively supporting their businesses' exports, making it more important than ever to help American manufacturers secure the financing they need to compete in foreign markets. The Export-Import Bank helps make this happen, creating middle class jobs here at home and boosting our economic competitiveness by investing in a strong manufacturing sector that builds and exports products around the world. Just last year, the Bank provided $32 billion in financing to thousands of companies, which supported nearly 290,000 American jobs. Over 80 percent of those transactions directly supported small businesses. In my district alone, the Bank supported over $36 million in sales over the last five years, helping innovative Central Coast businesses like Mafi-Trench and CoreSulpher grow and hire. The Securing Jobs Through Exports Act will provide the necessary tools and resources for the Bank to continue this important work. It reauthorizes the Bank for three years, giving U.S. businesses the certainty they need, and incrementally increases the exposure limit to $140 billion by fiscal year 2014 in response to the growing demand for Ex-Im financing. The bill will also make Ex-Im more effective and accountable by funding technology upgrades and requiring additional reporting to Congress. This bipartisan legislation has broad, bipartisan support from both labor and business groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, NAM, and Business Roundtable. Mr. Speaker, as our fragile economy continues to recover, we must ensure American businesses have the tools they need to compete in the global market place and create jobs for workers here at home. This bipartisan legislation will help do exactly that. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2072.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Nurses Week. This week it is important for us to come together and pay special tribute to the women and men who make up the largest segment of our healthcare workforce. Nurses are truly the backbone of our healthcare system. They not only work in our hospitals and clinics, but are present in our schools, our workplaces, and in so many facets of our everyday lives. However, our increasing demand for nurses continues to grow at a rate faster than the current supply can alleviate. By 2020, the overall need for new nurses is expected to reach a staggering 1.2 million. For the nursing workforce to meet this demand, we must ensure that federal investment in nursing does not falter. The Nurse Reinvestment Act, which I authored and was signed into law in 2002, set the framework to do this. But we all must come together, on both sides of the aisle, to support these crucial programs and to support nursing education and a robust nursing workforce. I encourage my colleagues and all Americans to take time out this week to thank the nurses in your life and to join me in recognition of these professionals who tirelessly care for the health of ourselves and our loved ones.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, this is the final--it's the only--amendment to this bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. Instead, if the House adopts this amendment, it will immediately move to final passage. It appears that we now all agree that we cannot let student loan rates double come this July--that's good--but I wish we were also looking for a bipartisan solution to funding the continuation of low rates on student loans. Instead, the majority is engaging in another partisan attack on public health funding, funding that improves the lives of Americans and the productivity of our workforce. I strongly oppose this position and the proposed cuts to the prevention fund, funds that will make women and children healthier, and that's why I've offered this straightforward amendment. It would ensure that poor policy decisions made here in Congress, namely, to get rid of the only dedicated funding we have for public health and prevention, do not give insurance companies an excuse to cut benefits or to increase the costs of preventative services for women and children. These services include critical access to contraception, mammograms, cancer screenings, and immunizations. Whatever our strong disagreements are about the underlying bill, we surely can agree that no insurance company should use this as an excuse to hinder access to basic preventative services. The Public Health and Prevention Fund is a critical investment in both our Nation's health and our economic future, especially for women and children. Its value cannot be understated. A healthy mother is better able to raise a child; a healthy child will be ready and able to learn in school; and a healthy worker is more productive for American businesses. Moreover, this fund is critical to bringing down health care costs. It targets the most prevalent and preventable of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The fund has been used to ensure that our children have the vaccines they need to avoid painful and expensive childhood illnesses. It supports programs to prevent birth defects and autism surveillance. And the fund supports critical women's health screenings. There will be 600,000 screenings cut with the repeal of this fund. These are not frivolous programs. As mothers and grandmothers, we know the importance of preventing birth defects and having access to vaccines, knowing we're doing everything we possibly can to ensure that our children have a healthy start. As a nurse, I know the importance of preventing chronic diseases and catching cancer early. As a taxpayer, I surely know that we cannot afford to keep ignoring the cost benefit of prevention, programs that have a 5-to-1 return on our smart investments. States and counties all over the country are realizing the importance of prevention programs. That's why they've all embraced the prevention fund that this bill wipes out, and it wipes it out completely. In fact, 760 nonpartisan groups across the country have signed on in support of the prevention fund. I would like to insert this list of organizations for the public record, 760 nonpartisan groups. This investment in public health has been a long time coming. To abolish it now will send us back to square one, just when we can least afford to do that. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the women of this country are watching. They're watching us here today. They have watched as countless bills and budget proposals have moved through this House attacking and zeroing out programs that keep women healthy, their children fed, and families above water. Now is the time to stand up for women. Vote for this final amendment to this bill to show the women of America that we support them and we support their families and we support the services that they need to lead a happier and healthier life. I yield back the balance of my time. Groups Supporting the Prevention and Public Health Fund [Total count: 760 (3/26/2012)] National Organizations 317 Coalition; A World Fit for Kids; AARP; AcademyHealth; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Action for Healthy Schools; Active Network; Adapted Physical Activity Council; Adult Congenital Heart Association; Adventist HealthCare, Inc.; Advocates for Better Children's Diets; AIDS Alliance for Children Youth & Families; AIDS Foundation of Chicago; AIDS United; Alliance for a Just Society; Alzheimer's Foundation of America; American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of HIV Medicine; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Academy of Physician Assistants. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; American Art Therapy Association; American Association for Health Education; American Association for International Aging; American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy; American Association of People With Disabilities; American Association of Poison Control Centers; American Association of School Administrators; American Association on Health and Disability; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; American College of Cardiology; American College of Clinical Pharmacy; American College of Gastroenterology; American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; American College of Preventive Medicine; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; American Council on Exercise. American Counseling Association; American Dental Education Association; American Diabetes Association; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; American Federation of Teachers; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; American Health Planning Association; American Heart Association/American Stroke Association; American Hiking Society; American Journal of Health Promotion; American Kidney Fund; American Liver Foundation; American Lung Association; American Medical Student Association; American Muslim Health Professionals; American Nurses Association; American Organization of Nurse Executives. American Physical Therapy Association; American Psychiatric Association; American Psychological Association; American Public Health Association; American Sleep Apnea Association; American Social Health Association; American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy; American Society of Clinical Oncology; American Thoracic Society; amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research; Aniz, Inc.; Applied Research Center; Arthritis Foundation; Ascension Health; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum; Association for Prevention Teaching and Research; Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Association of American Medical Colleges; Association of Black Cardiologists; Association of Community Health Nursing Educators; Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; Association of Public Health Laboratories; Association of Population Centers; Association of Schools of Public Health; Association of State & Territorial Health Officials; Association of State & Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors; Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors; Association of State and Territorial Directors of Nursing; Association of University Centers on Disabilities; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention; Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law; Building Healthier America; Campaign for Community Change; Campaign for Public Health Foundation; Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; Campaign to End Obesity Action Fund; Caring Ambassadors Program; C-Change; Center for Adolescent Health & the Law; Center for Biosecurity, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Center for Health Improvement; Center for Science in the Public Interest; Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Children Now; Children's Dental Health Project; Children's Health Fund. Coalition for Health Funding; Coalition for Health Services Research; Colon Cancer Alliance; Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service; CommonHealth ACTION; Community Access National Network; Community Action Partnership; Community Catalyst; Community Food Security Coalition; Community Organizations in Action; Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine; Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. DC Breastfeeding Coalition, Inc.; Defeat Diabetes Foundation; Defeat Diabetes Fund; Dialysis Patient Citizens; Digestive Disease National Coalition; Directors of Health Promotion and Education; Disability Policy Consortium; Doctors for America; Epilepsy Foundation; Every Child By Two--Carter/Bumpers Champions for Immunizations; Faces & Voices of Recovery; Families USA; Family Violence Prevention Fund; Family Voices; Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences; Fight Colorectal Cancer; Friends of AHRQ. Friends of NCHS; Friends of SAMHSA; Global AIDS Alliance; Grassroots Organizing; Health Care for America Now; Health Promotion Advocates; Health Rights Organizing Project; Healthcare Leadership Council; HealthHIV; Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights; Hep C Connection; Hepatitis B Foundation; Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, D.C. (HBI DC); Hepatitis Foundation International; HIV Medicine Association; HIV Prevention Justice Alliance; Immunization Action Coalition; Infectious Diseases Society of America. INSPIREHealth.org.; Institute for Alternative Futures; Institute for Public Health Innovation; Institute of Social Medicine and Community Health; Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium; International Association for Indigenous Aging; International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC); International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association; Interstitial Cystitis Association; Iron Disorders Institute; Laotian American National Alliance; League of United Latin American Citizens; Lung Cancer Alliance. Lymphoma Foundation of America; Main Street Alliance; March of Dimes Foundation; Media Policy Center; MedImmune; MEND Foundation; Mended Little Hearts; Mental Health America; Metropolitan Community Churches; National Alliance of Multi- ethnic Behavioral Health Associations; National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors; National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association; National Assembly on School-Based Health Care; National Assoc. of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a); National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems; National Association for Sport and Physical Education; National Association of Chain Drug Stores. National Association of Children's Hospitals; National Association of Chronic Disease Directors; National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc.; National Association of Counties; National Association of County and City Health Officials; National Association of County Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability Directors; National Association of Hepatitis Task Forces; National Association of Local Boards of Health; National Association of People with AIDS; National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems; National Association of School Nurses; National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors; National Association of State Head Injury Administrators; National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors; National Athletic Trainers' Association; National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; National Business Coalition on Health. National Center for Healthy Housing; National Coalition for LGBT Health; National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity; National Coalition of STD Directors; National Coalition on Health Care; National Committee for Quality Assurance; National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare; National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians; National Council of Jewish Women; National Council of La Raza; National Council on Aging; National Education Association; National Environmental Health Association; National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health; National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention; National Health Council; National Health Equity Coalition; National Indian Project Center; National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality; National Kidney Foundation; National Korean American Service and Education Consortium; National Latino AIDS Action Network; National Latino Tobacco Control Network (NLTCN); National League of Cities; National Minority AIDS Council; National MS Society; National Network of Public Health Institutes; National Nursing Centers Consortium; National Nursing Network Organization; National Patient Advocate Foundation. National Physicians Alliance; National Psoriasis Foundation; National REACH Coalition; National Recreation and Park Association; National Rural Health Association; National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable; National WIC Association; National Women and AIDS Collective (VT); Nemours; North American Management; North American Quitline Consortium; Northeast Business Group on Health; Northwest Federation of Community Organizations; Novo Nordisk; OCA; Oncology Nursing Society. Out of Many, One; Pacific Business Group on Health; Partnership for Prevention; Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group; Pew Children's Dental Campaign; Physician Assistant Education Association; Physicians for Social Responsibility; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; PolicyLink; Population Association of America; Prevent Blindness America; Prevent Cancer Foundation; Prevention and Public Health Fund; Prevention Connections. Prevention Institute; Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association; Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV and AIDS; Project Inform; Public Health Foundation; Public Health Institute; Public Health Law and Policy; Public Health Management Corporation; Public Health Solutions; Pulmonary Hypertension Association; Rails-to-Trails Conservancy; Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need; Rescue Social Change Group; Research Institute for Independent Living; RWJF Center for Health Policy; Safe Kids USA; Safe Routes to School National Partnership; Safe States Alliance. Samuels and Associates; Service Employees International Union; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.; Small Business Majority; Society Against STI's & HIV; Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine; Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research; Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America; Society for Public Health Education; Society for Vascular Surgery; Society of General Internal Medicine; State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association; State Associations of Addiction Services; Strategic Health Concepts; Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association; Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc.; Tethys Bioscience, Inc.; The AIDS Institute; The Arc of the United States; The Center for HIV Law and Policy. The Corporate Hepatitis Alliance; The Global Justice Institute; The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health; The National LGBT Cancer Project--Out With Cancer; Treatment Access Expansion Project (MA); Trust for America's Health; U.S. PIRG; United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries; United Fresh Produce Association; United Ostomy Associations of America; United States Breastfeeding Committee; United States Conference of Mayors; United Way Worldwide; Up2Us; Upstream Public Health; Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services; U.S. Soccer Foundation; Voices for America's Children; VSP Vision Care; WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. YMCA of the

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. CAPPS. Yes, I am opposed to this bill in its current form.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, we all know if Congress doesn't come together soon, interest rates on student loans will double on July 1. Rates will go from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Right now in our country, student loan debt is higher than credit card debt. This is a huge challenge and barrier facing students, their families and our economy. We cannot have our graduates leaving school with crushing debt. It limits the careers they can pursue, and we certainly don't want young people shying away from continuing their education because they know they'll never be able to afford it. We must keep open the doors of opportunity for all and, in the process, produce a well-educated workforce that's going to grow our economy. But, if Congress doesn't act soon, more than 7 million low- and middle-income students nationwide will be required to pay more for their student loans. This would mean adding thousands of dollars to a college bill, and that's why I am a proud supporter of legislation to address this issue. I support ending some of the lavish subsidies we give to extraordinarily profitable oil companies and using that money to keep student loan rates from doubling and, at the same time, reducing our deficit by billions of dollars. We must get our priorities straight. We should be investing in our students and bringing down our deficit instead of handing over taxpayer dollars to some of the richest corporations in the world. I urge my colleagues to join in this effort.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague from New York for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the majority's misguided budget. Forty-seven years ago when seniors were the most uninsured group in our Nation, we made a promise that their health care would be guaranteed; and because of that promise, millions of older Americans today have quality, affordable health care, and they and their families have peace of mind. But the majority's budget seems to break that promise by ending Medicare as we know it. Instead of a guarantee, seniors would get a hope and a prayer, otherwise known as a voucher. This voucher, fixed in price, would be worth less and less each year, and health care costs incurred by individual seniors would increase by at least $6,000 a year. Their plan would raise Medicare's eligibility age, delaying the promise of a sound retirement for millions of working Americans, and the bill would whack away at Medicaid which provides long-term care for low-income seniors and the disabled and pass the buck to cash-strapped States where its future would be uncertain in tough budgetary times like today. Mr. Speaker, those promoting this plan to end Medicare argue that we have no choice if we want to bring down our deficits, but their plan doesn't bring down health care costs. It just shifts those costs onto the backs of our Nation's seniors. Today's seniors will lose important benefits that they currently enjoy today, like access to free preventive screenings and reduced prescription drug costs through the closing of the doughnut hole under ObamaCare, a term I am proud to use. The plan would weaken Medicare itself. As the voucher program draws off healthier, younger seniors, it leaves behind the oldest and sickest, those the private insurance market won't cover. This plan will cause untold harm to our Nation's seniors and their families who today rely upon Medicare for the promise of quality, affordable health care. You know, 47 years ago we did make a promise, a promise that is working for millions of American seniors and their families. We cannot break that promise. I urge my colleagues to oppose the majority's budget, the Ryan budget.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the Majority's misguided budget. Forty-seven years ago, when seniors were the most uninsured group in our nation, we made a promise that their health care would be guaranteed. Because of that promise, tens of millions of older Americans have been assured of quality, affordable health care and a life of dignity. Because of that promise, tens of millions of Americans have avoided bankruptcy and upended lives trying to find a way to ensure they or their aging parents receive the medical care they need and deserve. But the Majority's budget seeks to break that promise by ending Medicare as we know it. There are a host of problems with this proposal: Instead of a guarantee of health care seniors would get a fixed amount voucher to help them partially pay for an insurance policy, assuming they can find one. And given that the Majority also seeks to repeal the law that outlaws preexisting condition exclusions, as well as annual and lifetime coverage limits, there is no guarantee a senior would be able to find a plan, much less an affordable one. This voucher would be for a fixed amount, meaning it would be worth less and less with each passing year. In California, this would mean seniors' out of pocket costs would rise by at least $6,000 each year. The bill would also raise Medicare's eligibility age, delaying the promise of a sound retirement for millions of working Americans. This would mean over 5 million Californians would face the struggle of finding and paying for health care for 2 more years before they even qualify for the limited promise of care of the Majority's voucher program. In addition to ending Medicare, the Ryan budget would whack away at the Medicaid program, which provides long term care for indigent seniors and the disabled. Medicaid funding would drop and the responsibilities would be pushed onto the states, where seniors and persons with disabilities would have no assurances of coverage. Anyone who has seen what has happened to state budgets across the country over the last few years should be under no illusions that hard pressed states won't cut Medicaid funding in tough times--they are doing it today! Mr. Chair, my colleagues promoting this plan to end Medicare and slash Medicaid have argued that it's really the only choice we have. They will argue that health care costs are bankrupting our nation and we simply have to make these changes in order to bring down our deficit to manageable levels. And they will argue that these changes don't affect seniors today, only those off in some distant future. None of those arguments hold water. First, we do need to address our deficit and that means getting health care costs under control. But their plan doesn't bring down health care costs--it just shifts those costs onto the backs of our nation's seniors. Second, it is stunning that their plan again puts the onus for deficit reduction completely on seniors and working Americans, while providing huge tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. Under this budget, no sacrifice is too large to ask of our nation's seniors and any sacrifice is too much to ask of our nation's most well off. Third, this plan will affect today's seniors. For example, it repeals important benefits--like access to free preventive screenings and annual wellness physicals--that seniors are already enjoying under Obamacare. These benefits would be taken away from almost 60,000 seniors in my district. The Ryan plan would also reopen the infamous ``donut hole,'' immediately increasing annual prescription drug costs for millions of seniors. This would affect over 6,000 seniors in my district immediately and cost them hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each and every year. And finally, the Ryan plan would weaken Medicare as the voucher program draws off healthier seniors and leaves behind the oldest and sickest, thereby undercutting the financial stability of the program. I can already hear the calls that would come saying we just can't afford traditional Medicare. Adopting this plan will cause untold harm to our nations' seniors and to the millions and millions of American families who today rely on Medicare for the promise of quality, affordable health care. We made a promise--a promise that is working for millions of American seniors and their families. We cannot break that promise. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the ways that young people in my congressional district and around the country are benefiting from the Affordable Care Act. Before health reform, young adults were the age group most likely to be uninsured, losing their coverage right after they left home and entered the workforce; but thanks to the health reform law, 2\1/2\ million young people, including nearly 10,000 in my communities, now have health insurance. And some of them have reached out to tell us how the law is working for them and for their families. Jamie from Santa Barbara wrote: I got back on my parents' insurance and was finally able to visit the dentist and get a new prescription for eyeglasses that I desperately needed. Maria from Oxnard says: As a recent graduate. I felt completely vulnerable. With health care reform, I am now able to stay with my parents' health insurance, which has given me peace of mind while I search for employment. Madam Speaker, health reform is working for young people on California's central coast. We must ensure the law stays strong to keep them and their families healthy, and I'll say the same for this entire Nation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. As I said initially, this amendment is simple and it's straightforward. It simply ensures that the provisions of the bill are actually helping small business grow and hire more workers. It's an amendment about oversight and accountability, and it focuses especially on the manufacturers and high-tech innovators that are so critical to future economic growth. Madam Chair, how much time remains on our side?

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer a straightforward amendment to H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act. My amendment would simply direct the Securities and Exchange Commission to conduct a study 1 year after enactment of the law to determine the increase in initial public offerings, or IPOs, resulting from this legislation. The study would also include data specifically on the increases in the manufacturing and high-technology industries. Though I have concerns about the underlying bill, I plan to support it because I believe it will help small high-tech manufacturers, particularly many in my congressional district, to grow and to hire. However, I also believe we must take steps to ensure these provisions are actually working and our innovative entrepreneurs and small business are getting the support they need. Madam Chair, as our Nation has struggled these past few years from the economic crisis, we have taken a hard look at what is required for our economy to grow and to thrive into the future. One thing we have all agreed upon is the need to Make It in America. Of course, this means rebuilding and re-energizing American manufacturing, especially in high-tech. America's greatest export has always been our innovative ideas. For decades, we excelled at both imagining and building new products here in America. But in recent years, we've lost so many manufacturing plants and the millions of quality middle class jobs that came with them. Small start-ups and local companies have been replaced with large global corporations who have exported our best ideas and our jobs overseas. This has to stop. Encouraging growth in high-tech manufacturing here at home is critical to rebuilding our economy to better compete in the 21st century. Whether it's in clean energy, defense, or computer science, high-tech manufacturers are creating jobs, spurring economic growth, and helping our Nation regain its rightful place as the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. What my amendment will simply ensure is this bill is actually accomplishing what it is supposed to accomplish. It will ensure that these reforms are helping high-tech entrepreneurs and small businesses grow and hire more workers. I'm fortunate in my district to see firsthand the tremendous success these innovative high-tech manufacturers can have in the 21st century economy, companies like Transphorm, Inogen, Trust Automation, MariPro, Owl Biomedical, and Wyatt Technologies. They're all homegrown, often with ideas first hatched at our public universities like UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. These companies, and so many more like them, are all innovating, expanding, and creating quality local, good-paying jobs on California's central coast. These innovative businesses have weathered the economic crisis better than anyone else, and they've done this not by outsourcing jobs or cutting pay and benefits. They are doing it the old-fashioned way by constantly innovating and outthinking their competition. They demonstrate the critical link between education, innovation, and our economy. Well, the reforms in the underlying bill are certainly important. We can't lose sight of the many other critical policies that help nurture and grow small business. As I meet with small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout my district, I hear about access to capital and cutting red tape, of course. But I also hear about the importance of funding our local community colleges and universities, improving local infrastructure, and protecting critical Federal programs like the Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR, under the Small Business Administration. This bill certainly moves us in the right direction, but we need to do so much more. We need to take up a long-term transportation bill that rebuilds our crumbling roads, bridges, and railways without partisan gimmicks and giveaways. We need to address the ongoing housing crisis that continues to drag down our economy and force families from their homes. We need to close the gaping loopholes in our Tax Code that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas. Madam Chair, this bill is a positive step forward, but as many of my colleagues have pointed out, there is room for improvement. While I hope this bill can be improved as it moves forward, I plan to support it because it includes important reforms that will help small businesses. We must also ensure these reforms are actually helping the businesses that need it most, our small manufacturers and innovators. My amendment will make that happen, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPPS. I yield the balance of my time to my ranking member, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life and contributions of our colleague and friend, Donald Payne. Don will always be remembered for his commitment to his community, which he served with distinction as a local elected official; to his country, evident by 23 years of service in Congress in which he championed education and fair labor practices; and to the global community, where he was a champion for global health, especially malaria prevention and treatment. Don was a joy to travel with. He combined gentleness with strength, stood with and for the underserved and underrepresented, and always spoke of his commitment. But as he did, he had this warmhearted smile, even his eyes smiled, as he gave voice to the voiceless. Our thoughts and prayers are with Don Payne's family, with his staff and the people of the Tenth District of New Jersey, and for all of us as we keep his legacy alive. Don, you will be missed.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Chair, I rise to speak against this hazardous piece of legislation. H.R. 1837 is an assault on the environment and on the state of California. It would lead to gridlock in the Delta with potentially disastrous consequences for ecosystems and communities throughout our state. This bill would undermine years of bipartisan compromise, and would prohibit California from following established precedent in managing its own water resources. The policies in place today have been carefully crafted by broad consensus and represent the needs of a variety of stakeholders. The success of these policies prove that cooperative and fair governance are the best way to protect natural resources, promote conservation and boost California's economy. For example, the Delta Protection Commission has determined that the Delta region provides nearly $800 million in annual agricultural revenues and $250 million in revenue related to recreation. This is due to sound management of the commons by an extensive network of public- private partnerships in my State. But H.R. 1837 would reduce water quality and reliability for Delta communities and farmers--diverting water supply from North of the Delta to agribusiness in the South, and seriously damaging Delta agriculture, a $4.2 billion dollar industry. Nearly every environmental group in the country opposes this bill because of the devastating effects it would have on the San Joaquin River Valley. And, hundreds of fishing groups oppose this bill because it would divert water from the Delta, leaving 40 miles of the San Joaquin River completely dry in most years. This would devastate the restoration of the river, and the salmon and steelhead that depend on it, hurting our state's fishermen, including many that call the Central Coast home. This bill also disregards the best available science, repeals environmental protections, and damages local tourism. That's why our state's two Senators, the California Department of Natural Resources, and the California Attorney General oppose this bill. Mr. Chair, water management is a growing challenge across the nation, particularly in the West. Developing balanced water solutions is essential to California's long-term economic and environmental health. California deserves sound water policy that benefits all Californians, not just the needs of a few. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I mistakenly voted ``no'' on rollcall 94 when I intended to vote ``yes.'' personal explanation

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 556, which condemns the Government of Iran for its persecution, imprisonment, and sentencing to death of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. H. Res. 556 rightfully condemns the Government of Iran for its state- sponsored persecution of religious minorities, and calls for the exoneration and immediate release of Pastor Youcef and all other individuals held or charged on account of their religion. Pastor Youcef is a 34-year old father of two who was arrested over two years ago for the crime of converting from Islam to Christianity. In October 2009 he was tried and found guilty of apostasy. Adding to this atrocity, his sentence of death-by-hanging was recently upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran. Only in oppressive regimes like Iran could this fundamental human freedom to worship as one sees fit could be considered a crime, let alone one punishable by death. And sadly, the case of Pastor Yousef is only one of many other deplorable religious freedom cases in Iran. It demonstrates the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlights Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. It is deplorable, and this House should denounce it in the harshest of terms. Pastor Youcef deserves to be free. He deserves to practice his faith and be home with his wife and young children. He deserves to have his rights as a human being upheld and respected. I urge a yes vote on H. Res. 556.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to correct the Record. I mistakenly voted ``no'' just a few moments ago on rollcall 94 when I intended to vote ``yes.'' I do support H. Res. 556 and strongly condemn the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of religious minorities. I concur with the resolution in calling for the exoneration and immediate release of Youcef Nadarkhani and all other individuals held or charged on account of their religion.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the extensive attacks made on women's health in recent weeks. We have seen an almost unprecedented number of attacks on women's access to health care, reproductive options, and even prenatal care. From a hearing on women's health that included a panel with no women witnesses, to public statements diminishing the importance of women's access to a full range of preventive health services, to accusations that prenatal testing is in some way a pathway to abortions, it has been open season on women's health. This is not acceptable. We need to trust women to know what is best for their families and for themselves, and those of us in Congress should always have their best interests in mind. Women do not deserve to have their health used as a political football.

Mrs. CAPPS

Mrs. CAPPS. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion to recommit, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, there are many times when we come to this floor and engage in heated debate, and we've heard some heated debate on this bill. But my final amendment offers us the opportunity to come together and to do something extraordinarily important: to contain the escalating cost of higher education. I want to be clear: passing this amendment will not prevent the passing of the underlying bill. If it's adopted, my amendment will be incorporated into the bill, and the bill will be immediately voted upon. Regardless of how one feels about the bill, we should all agree on a major problem facing students and their families. I'm talking about the skyrocketing cost of higher education putting the American Dream way out of reach for far too many students. Mr. Speaker, my final amendment is very simple. It says that nothing in this bill should limit the Secretary's ability to reduce the cost of higher education for students. In 2007, Democrats, working with President Bush, lowered the interest rates on need-based student loans to 3.4 percent at no cost to taxpayers. This change is saving college graduates thousands of dollars in student loan payments. But unless we act soon, the interest rates on these loans will double this summer. That will cost more than 7 million student borrowers at colleges and universities across the country more than $2,800 in additional interest payments. Mr. Speaker, students cannot afford graduating from college with mortgage-size debt. Student loan debt now surpasses overall credit card debt. We can do something about this. We need our graduates to be developing the next clean energy source and discovering the cures for life-threatening diseases. We need them to fill vital jobs in our communities, such as nurses, teachers, firefighters, and police. We don't need them to leave school overwhelmed by student loan payments, and we don't want them avoiding higher education in the first place due to the threat of crushing debt. Instead, we should make sure they are prepared for good-paying jobs in the global marketplace, and we can do that by making college more affordable. But, incredibly, this bill limits the Education Secretary's ability to protect students and taxpayers from higher education costs. With more than $200 billion in aid distributed each year, the Secretary must have the tools to lower costs for students and their families and to protect our Nation's investment in education. We shouldn't be tying the Secretary's hands at a time when we must be utilizing every tool available to keep college costs down. In particular, we should not do this while students face a potential doubling of interest rates on their loans, which will happen this summer if Congress doesn't take action now. The cost of borrowing for a student loan is already too high. Let's not make the problem worse. Again, my amendment simply states that nothing in the bill shall limit the Secretary's ability to reduce the cost of higher education for students, something we can all agree upon. So I urge a vote to lower costs for students and hardworking American families, and I'm pleased to yield to my distinguished colleague from California (Mr. George Miller).