Steve Cohen

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this amendment. I would first like to commend Representative Giffords and the Science and Technology Committee for proposing this great piece of legislation. I would also like to thank Representatives Titus and Teague for their work on this very important amendment. The economic competitiveness and security of the United States depend upon our ability to develop clean, affordable alternatives to oil. But this will not be cheap and it will not be easy, so I commend this legislation's promise for significant investment in the research and development of solar technology. Solar technology holds tremendous promise and has the potential to put the United States on a path to energy independence and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For in just 1 hour, enough sunlight hits the Earth's surface to supply the entire world's energy demands for 1 full year. With significant investment in the research, development, and implementation of solar technology, we will be well on our way to energy independence. However, one obstacle to solar technology exists that is currently not being discussed--the immense water usage of many leading solar technologies. Currently, plans exist for solar plants that consume 705 million gallons of water a year and are located in the heart of desert regions which receive scant rainfall and have little groundwater reserves. As the American population continues to grow and water demands continue to rise with our population, our water supply will be in even shorter supply. Thus, we cannot afford to use hundreds of millions of gallons of water a year to operate and maintain one solar site. It is imperative that we invest in research and development of solar technologies that are water efficient. While our Nation needs clean, affordable energy, we cannot produce it at the expense of our future water supplies. For these reasons, I strongly urge the passage of our amendment to the Solar Technology Roadmap Act.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I've listened to 1 minutes here, and some of my Republican colleagues have made comments I listened to. And one who I respect tremendously talked about President Reagan and President Obama, and certainly they have a lot in common. They're both dynamic speakers and great communicators. Both of them have had high unemployment rates during their first year in office. But the commonality is that those high unemployment rates were caused by their predecessors. And the press properly pointed out that Jimmy Carter's failed policies in the late 1970s and George Bush's failed policy at the beginning of this century were the cause of the economic malaise that each of these great communicators, Presidents Reagan and Obama, found themselves with. Each will find that the economies will improve. Reagan did, and Obama will, and this Congress is helping to improve this economy. Another gentleman talked about health care and said we should pray. I'm Jewish, and at our Yom Kippur holiday it's said that we should pray for national leaders that have a government that is compassionate and just. I believe that compassion and justice dictates that we have a health care plan and take care of everybody. I think it's the basis of the Judeo-Christian philosophy.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday in my office in Memphis, I had citizens come visit me. Two parents had children with spina bifida. They explained the love they had for their child, but the expenses it is causing them because our system of Medicaid is not sufficient in Tennessee to really give them the benefits they need, and how much it costs them. Another person came to my office to tell me that I had saved her life. Well, I hadn't saved her life, but she would have been cut off of TennCare, our Medicaid system. And but for 10 days when we got them back on, she wouldn't have got the transplant that did save her life. Do we need health care in America? I think those stories and stories like them say we do. I was gratified last night doing a teletown hall meeting in my district where 83 percent of the respondents said they supported President Obama's health care plan. The Ninth Congressional District of Tennessee gets it. I hope America gets it.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to join Representative Bobby Scott and Chairman John Conyers in introducing the Civil Access to Justice Act of 2009. This important legislation will expand civil legal services to low-income families and individuals. In 1974, Congress established the Legal Services Corporation (``LSC'') to operate as a private, non-profit corporation to promote equal access to justice under the law and to provide grants for high- quality civil legal assistance to low-income persons. LSC distributes more than 95 percent of its total funding to 137 independent nonprofit legal aid programs to represent low-income individuals and families in every congressional district. Programs receiving LSC grants help the most vulnerable, such as families facing unlawful evictions or foreclosures, displaced persons attempting to obtain federal emergency assistance, and women seeking protection from abuse. In fact, many programs have been besieged recently with requests for foreclosure assistance because of the subprime mortgage crisis. The current economic downturn will likely lead to more families and individuals needing legal assistance. According to a recently released study commissioned by LSC's Board of Directors, Documenting the Justice Gap in America, many recipient programs of LSC funds must turn away half of all individuals who qualify and seek their assistance because of the lack of resources. Unfortunately, state, local, and private funding and pro bono support have been unable to help close the access to justice gap. The underfunding may result in a potential catastrophe for millions of low-income families and individuals throughout the country who need, but are unable to obtain, legal assistance in matters relating to their housing, employment, and access to health care. Currently, LSC is funded at $390,000,000, which is insufficient to provide legal representation to all of the impoverished in need of legal assistance. This legislation authorizes an increase in funding for LSC of $750,000,000, which represents an inflation-adjusted funding level from fiscal year 1981. This funding will help close the justice gap and provide civil legal assistance to all potential eligible clients. Additionally, the Civil Access to Justice Act eliminates certain restrictions that have significantly limited the ability of legal aid attorneys to represent all low-income families and individuals. First, the bill would remove many restrictions on the use of state, local, and private money by LSC-funded programs. Second, it would eliminate restrictions on the ability of LSC-funded attorneys to represent clients in class action cases. Also, the bill would provide programs the opportunity to seek court-ordered attorneys' fees, which they are currently prohibited from seeking. Finally, this legislation codifies recent recommendations from the Government Accountability Office to improve LSC governance and accountability. These recommendations should lead to better management and oversight of LSC-funded programs. I urge my colleagues to join me, Mr. Scott, Chairman Conyers, and others, and cosponsor this important and timely legislation. I am optimistic that Congress can send a bill to the President for his signature so that the doors of justice will always remain open to those in need.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the United States of America and my hometown of Memphis lost one of its finest citizens, a brave soldier fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Private First Class Brandon A. Owens was 21 years of age when he died of injuries sustained from small-arms fire. His unit, the 118th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was stationed in Wardak province when it was attacked by enemy forces. Prior to joining the Army, Private First Class Owens attended Wooddale High School in Memphis, where he played on the basketball team. He was a very well-liked gentleman, small in stature but big in heart. Private First Class Owens is survived by his parents Eric and Lynda Owens of Memphis. Let us take a moment to remember the sacrifice he made for the stability of Afghanistan and the protection of its people. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the time, and I thank the Owens family for their son. He paid the ultimate sacrifice, and I will join with his family in mourning this weekend.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great Memphian and a great American, Dr. Vasco Smith. Dr. Smith was one of the true stalwarts of civil rights in the city of Memphis and in the nation. Dr. Smith lived a life of service and sacrifice. Vasco Smith served our nation in the Air Force in the Korean War. A graduate of LeMoyne College in Memphis and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Dr. Smith was a dentist by profession. In 1955, he and his wife, Maxine, returned to their beloved Memphis, completely segregated at the time, and used their passion and commitment to become leaders in the Civil Rights movement. In 1962, Dr. Smith convinced the owner of the segregated Malco Theatre in downtown Memphis to gradually integrate by selling tickets to African-Americans in the ``whites only'' orchestra level of the theatre. In their pursuit to end racial discrimination, the Smiths endured numerous death threats, many arrests by the police, and the tragic murders of their friends Dr. Martin Luther King and Medgar Evers. In 1973, Dr. Smith became the first African-American elected to an at-large position on the Shelby County Commission where he served until 1994. Dr. Smith was a compassionate and effective County Commissioner. He and I served together as Commissioners from 1978 to 1980. During this time on the Commission, we worked together to build the Regional Medical Center, our charity hospital and trauma center in Shelby County that serves people who would otherwise have no access to health care. He and fellow County Commissioner Jesse Turner, Sr., who also served as National Treasurer for the NAACP, were known as ``the freedom fighters.'' They fought for civil rights in Memphis and stood up when others did not. They were always the voices of conscience, reasonableness, and morality in our community. Vasco Smith was a loving husband to Maxine Smith. As Wendi Thomas of the Commercial Appeal noted, it is difficult to think of either Smith without the other because they were a team; indeed, together they were a force for change and progress. Maxine Smith served as the Executive Secretary of the Memphis branch of the NAACP for more than forty years and continues to serve on the NAACP National Board of Directors. For two decades, Maxine Smith served on the Memphis City School Board. She served on the Tennessee Board of Regents for over a decade. Married 56 years, Maxine and Vasco Smith were true soulmates. Together, they had one son, Dr. Vasco ``Smitty'' Smith, III, a dentist like his father, who made his parents very proud. Dr. Vasco Smith was a special man to me because he showed moral rectitude of a type that's rarely seen. He knew justice beyond color and will be remembered in Memphis as a great civil rights leader, a husband, a father, a professional, and a great Memphian. He will be buried Friday. I will be there with him. His was a life well lived.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, this week in Congress will be ending, and I have some interesting experiences to relate. In Transportation Committee today, we had a hearing, and one of our former Members is now the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, a Republican member from Illinois. Secretary LaHood reported to the committee that the ARRA is working, that much of the money has been spent or utilized in plans by State governments and that lots of employment has been made on building of roads and bridges and airport improvements and on rail programs around the country, that people are going back to work. I also have an opportunity on Tuesday to attend the National Institutes of Health for a briefing, which I plan to do with other colleagues. President Obama announced that $5 billion has been spent on cancer research through NIH. I offered an amendment to the ARRA in the House for a $10 billion improvement. That didn't make it through the House, but a similar proposal made it through the Senate. It will be interesting to see where those moneys are creating jobs and finding cures for cancer and other catastrophic illnesses like Parkinson's, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. The ARRA is working.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Charles ``Tif'' Bingham, one of the kindest and most personable individuals I have ever known. He was always thinking of people and was truly concerned about others. His smile and demeanor attracted friends and warmed their spirits. Tif Bingham graduated from Yale University and then served our country as a captain and fighter pilot in the Marine Corps. In 1960, he moved to Memphis as a Vice-President for Conwood Corporation. He was a civic leader, serving as the Executive Director of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Mid-South Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Tif was one of the founders and Second President of the Memphis In May International Festival, which highlights the best of Memphis culture: music, barbecue, and arts. Each year the festival showcases the best of Memphis and, simultaneously, brings the world to our city, exposing our citizens to people from around the globe, enriching our lives and expanding our horizons. I have had the pleasure of representing Tif and wife Sandy as constituents of the Ninth District. They were frequent visitors on Capitol Hill and were much loved by those in which they came in contact with. Several members of Congress as well as Jimmy Miller, Director of Committee Facilities and Travel for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, wish to express their deepest regrets to the Bingham family. Tif Bingham was an avid sailor and world traveler. As grandson of U.S. Senator Hiram Bingham, who discovered Machu Picchu, he inherited a curiosity and urge to explore the world, all to be knowledgeable about public affairs. He leaves his wife Sandy Dickey, to whom he was married for 27 years. Sandy loved Tif and was the epitome of ``for better or worse''. He is also survived by three children, Eleanor Bingham Mallory, Grace Bingham and Charles Bingham and six grandchildren. Tif Bingham loved life and lived it to the fullest. He enriched the lives of his family, friends and the city of Memphis. He will be sorely missed and always remembered.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a great Memphian and a great American, Dr. Vasco Smith. Dr. Smith was one of the stalwarts of civil rights in our city of Memphis and in the Nation. He served on the county commission with me from 1978 to 1980, but he served on the county commission in Shelby County from 1973 until 1994. He and his fellow county commissioner, Jesse Turner, Sr., were known as the Freedom Fighters. Jesse Turner, Sr., was the national treasurer of the NAACP. Dr. Vasco Smith's wife, Maxine Smith, was the national secretary of the NAACP. Vasco Smith and Jesse Turner worked on all things in civil rights in Memphis and stood up when others did not and were always a voice of conscience and reasonableness and morality in my community. Dr. Smith was a great county commissioner. He worked with me and others to build the Regional Medical Center, our general hospital in Memphis that serves the people that need health care. He was a dentist who served his community as a physician. He served in the Air Force and served our Nation. He was a special man to me because he showed moral rectitude of the type that's rarely seen. He knew justice beyond color. He will be remembered in Memphis as a great civil rights leader, as a husband, a father, a professional, and a great Memphian. He'll be buried Friday. I'll be there with him. His was a life well lived.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Richard Shadyac, the former C.E.O. of the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Mr. Shadyac passed away last Wednesday at the age of 80. For many years, he split his time between Memphis, Tennessee and the Washington, D.C. area. He was widowed in 2001 when he lost his first wife, Juliette. He leaves behind their two children, Richard and Thomas, as well as two grandchildren. Richard followed his father's footsteps and recently assumed the position of C.E.O. of ALSAC on September first of this year. Thomas is a celebrated comedian, producer, director and writer in Los Angeles. Mr. Shadyac also leaves behind his wife of seven years, Lynn Caruthers Shadyac of McLean, Virginia. Here in Washington, Mr. Shadyac was well known for advocating on behalf of the government of Libya. He also had a hand in the founding of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Mr. Shadyac received his Juris Doctor from Boston University in 1952. He served in the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps during the Korean War. After he left the Army, Mr. Shadyac went to work at the Justice Department. Later, he became a founding partner of two law firms: McGinnis, Berg, Shadyac and Nolan and Metzger, Shadyac and Schwartz. Thirty years after becoming a board member for St. Jude, Richard Shadyac became the C.E.O. of the hospital's fundraising operation in 1992. He held this position for 13 years, leading an effort that raised millions upon millions of dollars for the purpose of researching and treating childhood cancer and other diseases. In 1985, St. Jude seriously considered leaving Memphis, Tennessee to relocate to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. It was through Richard Shadyac's efforts that the hospital remains in Memphis today. I first met him when I was a Tennessee State Senator. He was on one of his many trips to Nashville, where he would adroitly encourage state officials to work to keep St. Jude in Tennessee. He advocated for his cause throughout the halls of the Tennessee State Capitol, and it was through these efforts that we became friends. I cherished his friendship in Memphis for many years, as well as in Washington D.C. when I joined the United States Congress. After the death of his good friend and St. Jude's founder, Danny Thomas, Mr. Shadyac took the reins to ensure that the hospital would remain stable and secure. Without Mr. Thomas to publicly promote the hospital, it was Richard who decided that the children should be the new face of St. Jude. Under his leadership, St. Jude's donations increased four-fold. Mr. Shadyac displayed a great interest in the individual well-being of St. Jude's patients. He would often visit the children and their families at the hospital. It was Mr. Shadyac who gave them a voice in the fight against cancer. Upon his retirement, St. Jude's fundraising operation, the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, was ranked among the three largest health care charities in the country. My heart goes out to Mr. Shadyac's family, as well as the St. Jude community. Richard Shadyac dedicated his life to finding a cure for childhood cancer. He leaves behind a strong legacy of good will and deeds, and will forever be remembered by the Memphis and St. Jude communities.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. I rise today to honor the life of Mr. Richard Shadyac, who passed away last Wednesday at the age of 80. He was the former chief executive officer of the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, also known as ALSAC, which is the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Mr. Shadyac leaves a wife, Lynn, and two children; Richard, who will take on his work at ALSAC, and a son Tom who is distinguished in the entertainment industry. Mr. Shadyac served as CEO of St. Jude for over 13 years. He led an effort that raised millions of dollars for the purpose of research treating childhood cancers and other diseases. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is the leading hospital and research center on catastrophic illnesses in the Nation. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by Mr. Shadyac's good friend, Danny Thomas. After Mr. Thomas passed, Mr. Shadyac knew that they needed a new public face--and the new public face was the children--the children of St. Jude, who it serves. Under his leadership, donations increased fourfold. He worked closely with the patients. He visited them often and stayed in touch with the families. He was a strong voice in the fight against cancer. He was an important force here in Washington, where he represented the Lebanese Government at one point, and was one of the founders of the American Arab groups that worked to better relations with our Nation. Our heart goes out to Mr. Shadyac's family and the St. Jude community. We will remember him for all of his good deeds and his work that will save many children's lives.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Today, the House will vote on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. It's an important bill to help education in our country. It will give higher Pell Grant amounts to students who need more money to make it through college. It will put moneys in the community colleges for fiscal improvements and also into K-12s for fiscal improvements. It will help Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which are suffering a great deal at this time and need that help. There is so much that this bill will do to help us move forward and save $10 billion towards the deficit. It will take moneys from the private sector, which has been making money off of student loans, and it will provide opportunities for students and education. It will repeal a draconian provision that particularly hurts minorities and others who can't get student loans because of Federal laws for simple possession violations of criminal laws. That shouldn't happen, and those students should have the opportunity to get college grants and loans and to go on and improve themselves and to make more of themselves. I look forward to voting for this bill which will help America move forward.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), the chairman of the committee.

Mr. COHEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would first like to commend Representative Peters and the Science and Technology Committee for sponsoring this forward-looking piece of legislation and, of course, Chairman Gordon for his outstanding work in bringing this to the floor. For more than a century the United States has been the home to automobile innovation. This innovation made the U.S.A. the world leader in automobile production and automobile design. Cars and the United States were almost synonymous. However in recent years the United States has fallen far behind Asian and European automakers and countries there with regard to vehicle innovation, especially when it comes to fuel efficiency. As gas prices continue to rise and American citizens become more concerned about global warming and energy security, they have responded by purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles. So the American car manufacturer must meet that demand to stay active and viable. Finding a safe, affordable and clean alternative to oil will not be cheap nor easy. Public and private entities will have to work cooperatively to solve this technological problem. Old-fashioned American entrepreneurship will need to be working on the cutting edge of technological advancements to keep our automobile industry alive. From hydrogen fuel cells to electric cars, these innovators are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to finding energy solutions. So with such an array of technologies holding so much promise, we cannot afford to ignore any promising technology. With this in mind, Amendment No. 9 assures electromechanical storage technologies such as hydraulics, flywheels and compressed air storage are also allowed to be researched under this Department of Energy program. These technologies hold tremendous promise and need to be explored as energy alternatives. For example, existing compressed air cars average more than 115 gas-equivalent miles per gallon and can reach speeds of up to 90 miles an hour. Most importantly, these cars emit almost zero carbon dioxide and only cost $2 to $3 to fill up. Technologies such as compressed air are not yet perfect; however, with the passage of the Advanced Vehicles Technology Act, these innovative technologies can receive the funding they need to transform a novel fuel source into an energy solution of the future. Doing so will spur development throughout the country in small scientific laboratories, and one in Memphis, Bioworks, in my district might be one that engages in this, as well as in the massive grounds of General Motors, Ford, and other American manufacturing plants. The economic competitiveness and safety of the United States depends upon the ability of American entrepreneurs to develop viable alternatives to oil. In order to ensure our future security, we must make a down payment on the future of our country by seriously investing in alternative energy research. For these reasons, I strongly urge the passage of this amendment to the Advanced Vehicles Technology Act, which simply gives another alternative to the Department of Energy to move us into the future in a progressive and sound way.

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I urge a positive vote on the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 57) expressing the importance of swimming lessons and recognizing the danger of drowning in the United States, especially among minority children, as amended.

Mr. COHEN

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

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 57) expressing the importance of swimming lessons and recognizing the danger of drowning in the United States, especially among minority children, as amended.

Mr. COHEN

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

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

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Tennessee for her remarks which are so appropriate; and I would like to add that there are efforts in Shelby County, the Blues Project and the ABC Project that the county has, to combat infant mortality and work with pregnant women and new mothers. If a child is born premature, it costs at least 20 times as much money to keep that child alive for the first year. So if their efforts could be successful to eliminate and reduce infant mortality, and some of that comes through programs such as the county and others have--Blue Cross/Blue Shield has the Blues Project--we could save money in the health system because we won't spend so much keeping premature babies alive at the trauma center. It is an example where if we have preventive care and wellness programs, by investing money, we can save money. And we can save so much with infant mortality. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 260, a resolution that supports efforts to reduce infant mortality in the United States. The United States amazingly enough ranks 29th in the world in the incidence of infant mortality. That is a shocking figure. And while there are a lot of reasons for infant mortality--there's education, there's health care, there are certain other issues that may be existent--health care is the primary one. And as we discuss health care in this Congress, it is hard to submit looking at the United States being 29th in the world in infant mortality, that we don't have a problem somewhere with our health care system. The extremely high incidence of infant death in the African American community is particularly troubling. In Shelby County, Tennessee, the county which I represent, African American babies die at three times the Nation's infant mortality rate. Prematurity is the number one cause of infant death in the United States, accounting for at least 60 percent of those deaths. Poor women are much more likely to deliver a premature or a low-weight baby as they cannot afford prenatal care or are simply not educated about what is required for women during pregnancy or have access to health clinics or inner- city doctors, general practitioners, which might be provided if we can pass a health care bill here. We must work together to lower our country's infant mortality rate, and that starts with lowering our rate of premature births and educating people and providing access to health care. I was spurred to introduce H. Res. 260 by the devastating rate of infant mortality in Memphis, in Shelby County. And I represent part of Shelby County; the honorable gentlewoman from Brentwood, Tennessee, represents a part of Shelby County, as well, on the Republican side. In 2007 the 38108 ZIP code in north Memphis, which is a predominantly low-income neighborhood, had an infant mortality rate of 31 deaths per 1,000 live births. That's almost five times the Nation's rate of 6.78 deaths per 1,000 live births; and that ranks the 38108 area worse than the developing nations of Iran, Indonesia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria, and Vietnam in infant mortality. In my own family, there was an incident of infant mortality. My mother and father's first child, Rosemary, died at 1 month of age in 1945. She was buried with some other family members, not direct family, in 1945. When my father passed in 1992, we buried him at Elmwood Cemetery, a different cemetery than where my sister was buried. But my mother was so touched and always was by the loss of her child that she had her name put on the stone with my father even though her remains were at another cemetery where her name was also. That taught me something about infant mortality: a mother never forgets the loss of a child, and it affects that mother forever. So it's a problem that affects people of all races and stays with us for all time. I recently had the opportunity to visit Africa, several countries there, one of which was Liberia, which has a very high rate of infant mortality as well. They have very few doctors there. They don't have good health care. And that has got to be a problem that we need to deal with and we try to with our foreign aid, and I commend President Bush as well as President Obama for extending aid to Africa and so many humanitarian efforts, particularly PEPFAR, but also others. This month Nicholas Kristof and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, authored a book, published it, entitled ``Half the Sky,'' which is about women in the world and how they have had difficulties rising to the level that they could and that we could empower women and have a tremendous economic advantage, particularly in disadvantaged countries, by giving women the opportunity to participate in the workforce and be educated. Much of the book is dedicated to the enslavement of women but also to maternal mortality and infant mortality as well. I encourage everybody to consider reading the book and taking up this cause. This September is Infant Mortality Awareness Month; so I am especially proud that we are considering this important resolution today. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of House Resolution 260, which supports efforts to address this important public health problem and a moral problem, and understand racial disparities that persist in infant mortality and try to make America better than 29th in the world. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 260) supporting efforts to reduce infant mortality in the United States, as amended.