Gerald Connolly

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Harleen Jassal, a 2011 Critical Language Scholarship Program Recipient. Harleen has been identified by her educators for her academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship to participate in the Critical Language Scholarship Program in Chandigarh, India. This Critical Language Scholarship Program allows students to participate in daily educational activities in Chandigarh, India, as well as the surrounding areas. The program allows participants to make friends with young leaders from all over the world with an intensive focus on the Punjabi language, one of the thirteen critical need foreign languages determined by the Department of State, for summer 2012. At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate of completion. Harleen is a student at the George Mason University. It is inspiring to see young people who are interested in educational and developmental experiences such as these. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable achievement by Harleen Jassal and wishing her continued success in her further pursuits.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Patrick Rostock, a 2011 Critical Language Scholarship Program Recipient. Patrick has been identified by his educators for his academic excellence, leadership potential, and exemplary citizenship to participate in the Critical Language Scholarship Program in Shanghai, China. This Critical Language Scholarship Program allows students to participate in daily educational activities in Shanghai, China, as well as the surrounding areas. The program provides participants with the opportunity to build relationships with young leaders from all over the world with an intense focus in the Chinese language, one of the thirteen ``critical needs'' foreign languages determined by the Department of State, for summer 2012. At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate of completion. Patrick is a student at James Madison University. It is inspiring to see young people who are interested in international educational and developmental experiences such as these. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable achievement by Patrick Rostock and wishing his continued success in his further pursuits.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Samantha Gray, a 2011 Critical Language Scholarship Program Recipient. Samantha has been identified by her educators for her academic excellence, leadership potential and exemplary citizenship to participate in the Critical Language Scholarship Program in Kyoto, Japan. This Critical Language Scholarship Program allows students to participate in daily educational activities in Kyoto, Japan, as well as the surrounding areas. The program provides participants with the opportunity to build relationships with young leaders from all over the world with an intense focus in the Japanese language, one of the thirteen ``critical needs'' foreign languages determined by the Department of State for summer 2012. At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate of completion. Samantha is a student at the University of Georgia. It is inspiring to see young people who are interested in international educational and developmental experiences such as these. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this remarkable achievement by Samantha Gray and wishing her continued success in her further pursuits.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Chairman Kline, Ranking Member Miller, Chairman Walberg, and Ranking Member Woolsey for their collaboration on this important legislation to update federal workers' compensation policy. The Federal Workers' Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act is a result of bipartisan collaboration on the Education and Workforce Committee, and it is the kind of legislation Congress should produce more often. It will save $22 million for the federal government by reducing fraudulent payments, including $16 million for the Postal Service. The Federal Workers' Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act provides a long overdue update of the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA). The Federal Employees Compensation Act is important because it provides workers who are injured on the job with replacement income to substitute for wages that they would have earned but for an on-the- job injury. Consider how outdated the statute is today: Workers whose face or head is severely disfigured by an on-the-job injury only can receive $3,500 in compensation today, based on an antiquated formula established in 1949. Clearly, $3,500 cannot compensate for lost earnings potential as a result of severe head and face injuries, so this bill updates it to $50,000. This legislation also updates the definition of war-related injuries to include terrorist attacks, a commonsense reform to reflect new realities. It also contains new reforms to prevent disability fraud by facilitating income checks by the Department of Labor and Social Security Administration. These improvements will help ensure that federal disability payments only go to injured workers, not perpetrators of fraud. The leadership of the Education and Workforce Committee deserves credit for drafting this legislation in a thoughtful, collaborative process. The Congressional Budget Office notes that this legislation will reduce total disability payments, but it will do so in a fair and humane manner. That is why a wide range of federal employee groups including postal unions, NTEU and NARFE have endorsed this bill. The legislation before us demonstrates that we can save money in collaboration with public employees rather than using them as a scapegoat for budgetary challenges. This bill's timing is propitious, because the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, of which I am a member, has reported a divisive, partisan bill which also would change workers' compensation policy. Unfortunately, that legislation (H.R. 2309) was written in a secretive, partisan manner and enjoys none of the bipartisan support that the Federal Workers' Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act does. When we marked up H.R. 2309 in subcommittee and full committee, some members noted that it intruded on the jurisdiction of the Education and Workforce Committee. Incredibly, the Committee Chairman ignored the ruling of the Parliamentarian and included a non- germane provision on FECA changes in the Subcommittee mark. Not surprisingly, federal employee organizations condemned the harsh proposals in H.R. 2309. Their criticisms were appropriate, as H.R. 2309 contains provisions of appalling cruelty. It would terminate workers compensation payments in a mere two years and shift those workers to retirement benefits. Remember, these are previously healthy workers who were crippled on the job. The only reason that they cannot support themselves is an on-the- job injury, yet H.R. 2309 would terminate those worker compensation payments and make them try to survive on small annuity payments. These annuity payments would often be insufficient to survive because the affected worker would have been injured on the job before he had time to finish his career and accrue an adequate retirement savings. Fortunately, the Education and Workforce Committee chose a thoughtful, collaborative process which saves money and protects workers rights rather than producing the secretive, partisan, and cruel workers compensation provisions in H.R. 2309. I applaud their leadership on this important legislation and urge my colleagues to support the Federal Workers' Compensation Modernization and Improvement Act.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today this House will vote on the momentous issue of amending the Constitution of the United States. All of us should understand that this is no symbolic vote. This is not a routine legislative act. We are asked to consider amending the most sacred document of a free people with a provision not contemplated by the Founders. The argument is propounded that the times demand it, there is no other choice, and that public opinion favors it. But as legislators, we must hold ourselves to a higher threshold to amend the Constitution. Is the proposal essential? Did the Founders fail to consider the issue that now must be addressed in and only in a constitutional framework? Is there no legislative remedy? What are the negative and foreseeable consequences of such a constitutional mandate? And importantly, we must remember that, but for one, all constitutional amendments are written in indelible ink. Desirous of a balanced budget, like everybody else, I must regrettably oppose the proposed amendment before us. It does not pass the higher constitutional threshold we must insist upon. We balanced the budget just a decade ago for 4 consecutive years without such an amendment. It was a matter of political will, fiscal discipline, and successful economic growth. There is no evidence that says potential cannot be resurrected. There is ample evidence, however, that this institution lacks the will and courage to undertake the policy changes necessary. Political failure can and must be addressed here and, failing that, at the ballot box. The corrective is forging a political consensus, not amending the Constitution. In fact, to leap to the latter as an expedient is to admit the collapse of our democratic institutions and to abandon all faith in our collective ability to respond. I refuse to recant my faith in our ability to make the difficult choices necessary to achieve the desired goals of debt reduction and balanced fiscal performance. The proposed amendment also fails another test: do no harm.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Had this amendment been in place during the income contraction we just experienced, we would have abandoned the economic field to the Darwinian forces at work and guaranteed that the Great Recession became the second Great Depression, condemning our citizens to their own fate, one which would have been characterized for a generation with want, double-digit unemployment, and endemic poverty. Why would any Member of this body consciously choose such a course, especially when there are alternatives, although painful ones? Perhaps it's easier to pander to the clamor of the moment or to seek out the seductively easy answers. Perhaps we seek to mask an ideological agenda to starve the government investments cloaked in the more respectable argument of a constitutional amendment made necessary to balance the budget. For me, the Founders' silence on this matter in the Constitution was intentional. They understood and expected that Congress would meet its duties and do its job.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Chair, after a decade in which 10 to 12 thousand Americans were murdered with guns every single year, the House is considering legislation to protect criminals' ability to carry concealed weapons. This reckless legislation almost certainly would add to our gun homicide rate, which is already 19.5 times higher than other developed countries. This bill will likely add to the gun violence death toll, which totals over 1 million Americans since 1968. H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, could open the door for criminals or terrorists to use fraudulent concealed weapon permits from other states. As the Virginia State Police wrote in a letter that I will submit for the record, state police in one state frequently are unable to verify a concealed carry permit from another state. For those states where verification is possible, in many cases states have already established reciprocity. It would be reckless, however, to establish a uniform reciprocity standard under which our police cannot verify many concealed carry permits. Can we risk the possibility that a violent criminal or a terrorist could be pulled over yet be allowed to continue on their way because the police officer is unable to check the validity of a concealed carry permit? Regardless of our respective positions on concealed carry laws, I would hope that we can at least legislate in a manner that preserves the ability of police to protect our communities from violent criminals. Finally, it is ironic that the self-appointed defenders of states' rights would negate public safety laws across America through Congressional fiat. This bill effectively negates any concealed carry laws in states for out of state residents in a gross abuse of Congressional power which endangers our communities and first responders. This destructive legislation only will add to the death toll that has already caused so much grief in communities like Northern Virginia. I urge my colleagues to vote against it.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, failure is not an option. Let none of us forget that we work for the American people, and they expect us to do our job. World markets are watching, balance is demanded; $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction is the minimal target we must meet. Current Federal spending is 25 percent of the GDP. It's too high. But revenue is only 14 to 15 percent of the GDP. It's too low. It is the height of irresponsibility to ignore either one of those two data points. It might be easy, but it's not rocket science. It requires both parties to do what a clear majority of Americans want us to do: break out of our respective straitjacket orthodoxies. I was proud to join a hundred bipartisan Members of this body urging the supercommittee to go big--find $4 trillion in deficit reduction. Such efforts would reduce the debt to a more manageable percentage of GDP, reassure markets, preserve our Nation's triple A bond rating and provide the stability to get America's economy growing again. I urge my colleagues on the supercommittee to join us and go big for America.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this past Friday was Veterans Day, the day we set aside to honor and remember the service of our Nation's veterans. I know that most of my colleagues attended veterans events throughout their districts. I was proud to be at the American Freedom Festival, honoring our veterans, at a jobs fair and a mega- concert at George Mason University. Although Veterans Day originally honored those who fought in World War I, in 1954 it was expanded to include the remembrance of all veterans. And, indeed, every veteran deserves such honor. They all chose to risk their lives to protect us. They bravely answered the call of their Nation. But, sadly, too many died in defense of our freedom. Of course, such noble service would not be possible without the unwavering support of their families. America is safer because of our veterans, from those who served overseas to those stationed here at home. We properly award medals for individual heroic actions, but it is their daily dedication, courage, and valor that makes each and every one of them an American hero. There are more than 21 million veterans in the United States--73,000 in my district, the 11th District of Virginia, alone. We celebrate their commitment and their sacrifice, from the Revolutionary War to the Iraq war. But our remembrance must not end simply by honoring their past service. Upon leaving the military, many veterans face significant challenges here at home. Although more must be done, the issue of providing care to our wounded veterans has been well documented. I was pleased to join many of my colleagues to support the largest single increase of funding for the Veterans Administration in history. However, there is a growing crisis among our veterans. And I want to call attention to the troubling unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans, which, at 12.4 percent, is one-third higher than the national average. And as the troops currently stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan begin coming home, it will only get worse. These are America's heroes, men and women who risk their lives to protect our families. Congress repeatedly comes together in a bipartisan fashion to support our troops overseas. Ensuring that our troops have the equipment and personnel they need to accomplish their mission has been a priority, but it can't be the only priority. It is long past time that we show the same commitment to our veterans when they come home. More than one in nine veterans who left the service in the past decade is currently unemployed. Jobs have to be our top priority. We've got to move beyond lip service. If we really want to help our veterans, hire them. The President's American Jobs Act recognizes the overarching need to create jobs. Our economy cannot fully recover while so many Americans are unable to find work. The American Jobs Act provides incentives for companies, large and small, to hire additional workers, and it cuts taxes on every working American in order to further spur economic demand. Most importantly, the American Jobs Act provides additional incentives to companies when they hire veterans. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit cuts taxes for businesses that hire unemployed veterans. The Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers even greater tax cuts to businesses who hire unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities. These dedicated men and women aren't looking for a handout; they're looking for an opportunity. And the Senate has already acted on a number of these proposals by the President. I call on my colleagues to remember that recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of our veterans doesn't stop when they leave the service. They need jobs, and they need them now.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the SkillsUSA World Skills Team for their success in the 2011 WorldSkills competition in London, winning four medals, and their overall dedication to improving their vocational training. SkillsUSA began in 1965 as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, an organization founded by teachers and students to promote increased leadership training in their various vocational fields. The participants in SkillsUSA are high school graduates who have taken the initiative to improve their capabilities in their chosen field. The technical expertise and leadership qualities they learn not only better prepare them to succeed individually; they also enable the participants to impart that knowledge and skill-set to their classmates and coworkers. Seventeen participants represented America in the 2011 WorldSkills competition in a variety of skills: Cameron McCreery competed in Autobody Repair. Daniel Lehmkuhl competed in Automobile Technology and received a Medallion for Excellence. Raychel Bland competed in Beauty Therapy. Bradley Wright competed in Bricklaying. Brett Ottinger competed in Cabinetmaking. Joseph King competed in Computer Numerical Control Milling. Maxwell Hershey competed in Computer Numerical Control Turning. Rachel Koppelman competed in Cooking and received a Medallion for Excellence. Victoria Brown competed in Graphic Design. Laina Call competed in Hairdressing and received a Medallion for Excellence. Matthew Vicari competed in IT/PC Networking. Ryan Spinden competed in Plumbing. Ben Phillips competed in Printing. John Huhn competed in Refrigeration. Melissa Rubincan competed in Restaurant Service. Brett Patterson competed in Web Design. Bradley Clink competed in Welding and received the Silver medal. Mr. Speaker, the participants in SkillsUSA embody the American worker at his and her best--proactively seeking innovation and improvement. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the SkillsUSA WorldTeam 2011 in their accomplishments both during this year's competition, and throughout their vocational careers.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Charles L. Perkins, Sr. for his selfless dedication and commitment to our community. Charlie was recently honored by Youth for Tomorrow for his humanitarian activities, specifically his actions in providing food, clothing, and financial support to assist those in need in Northern Virginia. I have had the privilege of personally knowing Charlie and his wife, Marian, for many years. Throughout this time, I have been struck by Charlie's persistent efforts to improve the lives of those in our community. Charlie, both personally and through his charitable trust foundation, has supported numerous organizations including Youth for Tomorrow, Homestretch, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Special Olympics, as well as religious organizations that provide a path to escape gang violence and feed the hungry. In addition to the many contributions to community non-profits, Charlie and his foundation provide assistance to individuals who have experienced financial hardships due to illness, unemployment or monetary shortages. Always looking ahead to build a better life for the next generation, the foundation also provides college tuition assistance. Charlie's mission is brilliant in its simplicity--to help those in need and enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals, families, and communities by seeking out those in need. Charlie has more than accomplished this mission, and he has previously received the Lions of Virginia Distinguished Humanitarian Award and was named the Jobs for Virginia Graduates ``Man of the Decade''. Through his own hard work and perseverance, Charlie rose from humble beginnings to become a highly successful business owner; however, he never rested on his many accomplishments and he always sought to give back to the community with great fervor, but little fanfare. In fact, Charlie eschews personal recognition, and it is only through the insistence of others that his many noble efforts receive the accolades they so richly deserve. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise to join me in recognizing Charles L. Perkins, Sr. and in thanking him for his steadfast support of those in need within our community. I personally feel blessed to call Charlie a friend, and extend to him my deepest appreciation and respect.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original sponsor of this important bipartisan legislation, which will remove a sizable impediment to job creation in the private sector. Repealing this burdensome 3-percent withholding regulation will offer predictability and free up capital that employers have been holding in abeyance. Those dollars now can be used to create jobs, increase wages, or fund business investments that will benefit our local economies. That is why a diverse coalition of industry and government--including retailers, telecom, and local and state government associations-- strongly support this repeal. The federal government has a historic partnership with the private sector supporting research and innovation, which has led to job creation and economic growth. Allowing this ill-conceived regulation to go into effect would damage that partnership at the very time we need to be collaborating more with the private sector. This is one repeal that enjoys bipartisan support from the House and Senate, the President and the business community. I urge my colleagues to support it and to keep this private capital where it belongs--in the hands of our job creators.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, there are 14 million Americans out of work. They need jobs. This economy needs jobs. Unfortunately, jobs have not been a focus for the House Republican leadership thus far. While private sector job growth has dwindled, House Republicans have repeatedly placed partisanship above policy. It's long past time we vote on a jobs bill. The President's American Jobs Act contains a number of important jobs initiatives which have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support: tax cuts for businesses, tax cuts for workers, tax cuts to employ veterans, and investments in critically needed infrastructure in this country. Unfortunately, the Senate Republicans voted to kill this job creator and the House Republican leadership hasn't even brought it up for debate. Today, however, we have a small opportunity to help small businesses and provide them with greater predictability by repealing the burdensome 3 percent withholding requirement on government contractors, vendors, farmers, and Medicare providers. The President has called for its repeal, and this is a bipartisan bill supported by many of us on both sides of the aisle. The 3 percent withholding regulation became law under President Bush in 2005 in a Republican Congress. The original intent may have been to ensure tax compliance among a very small number of bad actors, yet the sledgehammer approach that was adopted is creating far more challenges than the problems we're trying to solve. Since then, a number of bipartisan efforts have delayed its implementation, but temporary measures, at best, leave businesses uncertain and wary about future investment. My district here in the National Capital region is probably home to more Federal contractors than any other in Congress, and I routinely hear from them about this issue everywhere I go. They report that the 3 percent withholding will unduly restrict their cash flows, increase project bond costs, and imperil their ability to expand and create jobs. In addition, this burdensome regulation won't just harm the private sector. It actually hurts State and local governments that contract with private companies subject to the withholding requirement. I know from my experience as chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that this regulation would create an accounting nightmare for our local and State partners. An estimated 20 percent of counties throughout the country have more than $100 million in annual expenditures that would be subject to this withholding. As county chairman of such a jurisdiction, I worked diligently with an open RFP process to ensure the lowest cost and value for our taxpayers. This will be an administrative nightmare for State and local governments, which would be forced to undergo the collection and forwarding of the unnecessary withholding to the IRS. The cost to the Department of Defense to be compliant with this regulation is they would have to withhold more than $17 billion from private companies every year. Furthermore, many businesses subject to the requirement would either have to increase their business or stop bidding on projects with local governments. Either way, whether competition is limited or prices are increased, counties would be forced to pay higher costs to vendors, further burdening local taxpayers at a time they can't afford it. We need to partner with the private sector to spur economic growth and recovery from this recession. This regulation would serve only as a roadblock to that effort. The Government Withholding Relief Coalition represents more than 140 trade associations, State and local governments, and stated that the total cost of the 3 percent regulation would be $75 billion over the next 5 years. Repealing it today will provide businesses with greater predictability and remove undue government intrusion into their operations. With greater predictability, America's businesses will be better able to invest in job creation. We can provide that predictability today. I urge my colleagues to vote to support small businesses and vote for H.R. 674.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, 54 years ago this month, Sputnik knocked the United States into second place in the space race. America responded with a tremendous investment in the sciences, which produced the Apollo program, the personal computer, the Internet, GPS, and numerous other technologies; but, sadly, that may be ending. Last December, in an OECD ranking, the United States rated only ``average'' in education. Other nations are outinvesting and outeducating us. And the Republican slash-and-burn agenda is making it worse. America is now losing education jobs every month and disinvesting in R&D and critical infrastructure. The President laid out a plan to invest in our educators, innovators, and job creators--priorities that used to have bipartisan support. We cannot continue to let American performance slide. We are jeopardizing our future. Mr. Speaker, last century America fell behind, and the Soviet Sputnik was the result. It took a decade to catch up. How long will we fall behind today before we realize those investments are critical and support the President's job program?

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Imagine if Teddy Roosevelt had allowed a few gold miners in the Grand Canyon to block protection of that great American landmark. Imagine if loggers and sheepherders had blocked designation of Yosemite as a National Park. Today, we confront a similar challenge--to protect one of America's great places, Appalachia, in the face of special interest assault. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2273.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. I thank my friend. Madam Chairman, the House majority has bought yet another anti-EPA bill to the House floor. Last week, the House passed legislation to increase mercury and particulate pollution from cement factories, poisoning fetuses and increasing the incidence of diseases such as lung cancer and emphysema. This week, the House passed legislation to increase mercury and particulate pollution from industrial boilers. These follow some 125 other virulently anti-environmental bills, riders, and amendments that the majority has already tried to pass this year. H.R. 2273, the legislation on the floor today, is but the latest assault on the environment and public health. This bill would block the EPA from issuing science-based standards to manage the disposal of coal ash. Unfortunately, the majority rejected language, which had the support of a number of utilities, which would have protected EPA's authority to issue health-based standards under the Clean Water Act. If the majority had protected rather than curtailed this authority to issue regulations based on science, not politics, then I could support the legislation before us today. Mr. Waxman is offering an amendment which would protect the EPA's Clean Water Act authority. If that amendment passes, then perhaps most of us could vote for final passage of the bill. Such standards clearly are necessary, or impoundments such as the one in Kingston, Tennessee, would not be failing. When that impoundment failed in Tennessee, it released a billion gallons of toxic sludge into the Clinch River. Fortunately, that impoundment was located downstream of most of the biodiverse portions of the Clinch, which contained unparalleled populations of freshwater mussels and other aquatic species. In fact, the Clinch has more species of freshwater mussels than the entire continent of Europe. According to the Nature Conservancy, ``The Clinch, Powell, and Holston Rivers run nearly parallel courses to the remote mountains and valleys of southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. These last free-flowing tributaries of the Tennessee River harbor the Nation's highest concentrations of globally rare and imperiled fish and freshwater mussels.'' These watersheds are the most biodiverse regions east of the Mississippi River, and among the top biodiverse places in all of the United States. H.R. 2273 would increase the risk of coal ash spills in the upper Clinch, Holston, and Powell Rivers, potentially causing many species to go extinct. Human health is also at risk as a result of poorly regulated coal mining in Appalachia. Scientists from West Virginia University have conducted extensive research on the human health impacts of coal mining and local populations. They found that residents of coal mining regions have significantly higher rates of chronic heart, respiratory, and kidney illnesses. Coal mining regions of Appalachia have higher rates of cancer and premature mortality.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Ekoji Buddhist Temple on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and to recognize the commemoration of the 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Ekoji Temple, which was founded in 1981 by Rev. Kenryu T. Tsuji and Rev. Dr. Yehan Numata, shares the Pure Land Buddhist teachings of Shinran Shonin, which is based on the Nembutsu Teaching of Amida Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Life and Light. The Nembutsu Path is to become aware of the ignorant self and to transcend the petty selfishness of the individual. The aim of the Ekoji Temple fellowship is to live the life of gratitude and share the rejoicing with others. The name Ekoji, selected by Rev. Numata, means ``The Temple of the Gift of Light.'' Ekoji Buddhist Temple shares this gift with all who wish to enter. Ekoji is a place where the differences of race, color and creed disappear and all who seek the truth are welcomed. The 11th Congressional District of Virginia is blessed by its diversity. This district is more than 40% minority and is home to people of many ethnic heritages, cultures, and religions. Ekoji Temple adds to this rich tapestry and benefits our entire community by its presence. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues rise and join me in congratulating the Sangha of the Ekoji Buddhist Temple in the celebration of its 30th anniversary, and also in thanking the Rev. Kazuaki Nakata and Rev. Shojo Honda, Emeritus for their leadership and inspiration.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement--or KORUS--is economically important, for the nation and for my home state of Virginia. According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. exports to South Korea would increase by more than $10 billion. Increased U.S. exports mean more U.S. manufacturing jobs. Korea is the 14th largest export market for Virginia goods, and the trade agreement would strengthen that relationship. Upon implementation of KORUS, Virginia exporters would have a $4 million cost advantage over similar global competitors without a Korean agreement. Eight out of Virginia's ten top exports would enter Korea duty free immediately. The U.S. tech industry, which has a significant presence in Northern Virginia, also stands to gain from KORUS. According to industry groups, exports from the U.S. to South Korea could increase by up to 49 percent. Korean businesses have a strong presence in Virginia and we must ensure that businesses in Virginia and throughout the nation have equal access. I urge my colleagues to support the Korean Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Chairman, during the past 10 months, the Republican leadership has already tried to pass more than 125 anti- environmental bills, amendments, and riders. We debated yet another anti-EPA bill just the other day, and the majority rejected every single amendment that would have protected public health. I introduced a simple amendment that would have ensured no deaths or increased incidence of illness would occur as a result of the cement factory bill we debated last week. It would seem to be a modest proposition that bills passed by Congress should not lead directly to premature death or hospitalization, yet that's exactly what these anti- clean air bills do. Republicans claim that all these anti-EPA bills will create jobs, but sadly those new jobs would only be created in hospitals. The latest Republican attack on the Clean Air Act is H.R. 2250 before us today, which would block public health standards for industrial boilers. The EPA is issuing these standards in accordance with the Clean Air Act, which was passed in 1970 and signed into law by a Republican President. Since 1970, the Clean Air Act has dramatically reduced air pollution, despite population growth, while America's economy has doubled in size. The evidence is clear: We do not have to make the false choice between a healthy economy and a healthy environment. Yet that is precisely the false choice presented us in H.R. 2250. My colleagues claim we must allow more mercury pollution, more particulate pollution, more soot into our air in order to spur economic recovery. How easily some seem to forget that this recession started under the most anti- environmental administration in history, that of George W. Bush. So if attacking the environment really did spur economic growth, then we wouldn't have had the economic collapse of 2008. The consequences of acting on the false premise presented by my Republican colleagues would be catastrophic for Americans' health. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, by following the law and implementing health standards for industrial boilers, EPA will prevent 2,500 to 6,500 premature deaths every single year. By allowing the EPA to continue implementing the Clean Air Act, we will prevent some 4,000 heart attacks, 4,300 emergency room visits, and 2.2 million lost work days every single year. By preventing all of these premature deaths and pollution-caused illnesses, merely implementing the Clean Air Act rules for industrial boilers will save, taking costs into account, between $20 billion and $52 billion annually. My simple amendment would allow H.R. 2250 to go into effect if it didn't cause these illnesses and deaths. If in fact we can loosen regulations without any negative health consequences and without adding to health care costs that are already too high for most families, then by all means let's do it. By passing this amendment, my Republican colleagues can reaffirm their support for deregulation, provided that it doesn't injure or kill our constituents. My amendment says, ``The administrator shall not delay actions to reduce emissions from waste incinerators or industrial boilers if such emissions are causing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses and deaths.'' This ensures that, if H.R. 2250 passes, we won't be increasing the rate of respiratory disease or accepting more children to hospitals with asthma attacks. Since members of the majority claim to be equally concerned about the health of our constituents, I wanted to offer them the opportunity to affirm their interest in statute and pass this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, ask Americans their priority, and they'll tell you it's jobs. There are 14 million Americans out of work. There are 9.3 million more Americans working part-time because they can't find full-time employment. There are millions more Americans whose incomes have stagnated because of the persistent unemployment which has dragged down economic growth. In fact, median household income has fallen 9.8 percent since the recession first began in 2007. More troubling, although the overall economy has been growing again, household incomes continue to fall. Since December 2007, American households have lost more than $5,400 per average household. There are several factors leading to this decline. One of the most significant is that in order to find work, many millions of unemployed Americans are forced to accept lower pay. With millions of Americans still desperately searching for jobs, businesses can afford to offer lower wages. With millions of American families slipping below the poverty line and wondering where the next mortgage payment or meal will come from, prospective workers can't afford not to take the pay cut. It's clear we must pass the American Jobs Act. This is a plan that reduces business taxes to encourage private sector hiring and increases infrastructure investment to repair and rebuild America, creating jobs. And it cuts taxes for every working American. While the lingering effects of the worst recession in 80 years continue to drive down Americans' income, we can increase their take-home pay with the Americans Jobs Act, putting more money back in the pockets of average American families. Increasing American paychecks and creating jobs-- that ought to be our priority. But Republicans in Congress have a different priority: cutting. Last Congress, Republicans' big marketing blitz wasn't about creating jobs, it was about cutting. Last Congress, Democrats passed business tax cuts to spur job creation, approving infrastructure improvements to create construction jobs and backstopping faltering State and local education funding to save teaching jobs. And we saw results. The Great Recession resulted in 8 million jobs lost. But thanks to our efforts, like the Recovery Act and the HIRE Act, we created 2.6 million jobs. A good start, but not enough. But what were the Republicans doing last year? They were trumpeting their YouCut program. Perhaps if Democrats had named our efforts YouHire program, Republicans might have taken more notice. Unfortunately, through fighting and threatening, delaying and denigrating, Republicans have made clear that cutting remains their top priority. Their first bill introduced this year, H.R. 1, wasn't about jobs; it was all about cuts. In fact, economists predicted it would cost 200,000 jobs. Surely their second bill was about jobs? No. H.R. 2 tried to repeal important health reforms so that people with preexisting conditions wouldn't be protected; so that parents wouldn't be able to keep their kids on insurance, especially during tough times, through the age of 26; so that the doughnut hole for our seniors could be closed and they could get a 50 percent brand name drug discount this year. But if Republican voodoo really worked, why isn't our economy better? Why are American incomes still dropping? This entire year in place of actual job creation legislation, Republicans have focused instead on ever-increasing cuts. And since the beginning of the year, the economy has faltered. Their single-minded focus on attacking private sector employees has paid off; we've lost 535,000 public jobs all across America. It's time to invest in America again. Let's support the American jobs bill.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Jack Vorona of Falls Church, Virginia for his induction into the Defense Intelligence Agency's Torch Bearers Hall. DIA established Torch Bearers Hall this year to coincide with its 50th anniversary and to recognize former employees who have made exceptional contributions to its mission. Dr. Vorona's invaluable leadership in developing scientific and technical intelligence programs during the height of the Cold War helped keep Americans safe and secured him a spot among the eight inaugural recipients of this honor. During his 25-year career at DIA, Dr. Vorona developed many programs aimed at identifying foreign defense technologies that could threaten the U.S. and its allies, including nuclear technologies. As Deputy Director for Scientific and Technical Intelligence, he oversaw funding to address the most significant threats posed by massive Soviet investments in science, technology, and weapons programs. His work was vital in helping to ensure that the U.S. was never technologically surprised. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Vorona's remarkable achievements and in thanking him for his dedicated service to the nation.

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia

Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize ITMC Solutions, LLC, of Bristow, Virginia, for its acceptance into the National Center for the Veteran Institute for Procurement, VIP. ITMC Solutions is a woman-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, small business supplier of management consulting and technology solutions to the federal government, specializing in identity solutions, program management, portfolio management and application development, deployment, modernization and maintenance. VIP, a program of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, is the country's first-ever program to train veteran small business owners to succeed in the federal contracting market. VIP has helped more than 200 veteran-owned businesses win government contracts and continues to actively serve veterans by connecting top executives of veteran owned small businesses with leaders in government and industry. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor to be accepted into this program and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing ITMC Solutions, LLC for its accomplishment.