Diana DeGette

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I just would make two points toward the gentleman from New Jersey's comments. The first one is the Weldon- Stupak bill, which he says he supports, also would make it a crime for a woman to carry a cloned embryo in her uterus as a pregnancy. Frankly, we think that cloning should be a crime. I am surprised to hear the gentleman say that he does not think it should be. Secondly, the so-called Greenwood-DeGette bill from several sessions of Congress ago that he is referring to is a completely different bill than this bill today. People should probably read the legislation in front of them to see that all this bill does is make reproductive cloning illegal. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), a real leader on these issues. (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and so we're prepared to close. And, with that, I reserve my time.

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

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2560) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit human cloning, and for other purposes.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2560, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007. Tomorrow, the House will debate S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which will expand the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research. Similar to legislation passed in the House earlier this year with overwhelming bipartisan support, the goal of S. 5 is to accelerate scientific progress towards cures and treatments for a wide range of diseases and debilitating health conditions. When we debated the bill in January, opponents of the bill chose to muddle the debate by offering a motion to recommit involving cloning, a topic unrelated to H.R. 3. After the debate, a number of my colleagues asked me if we could address the issue of human reproductive cloning because they, like I, were opposed to reproductive cloning. So, as we prepare to debate embryonic stem cell research tomorrow, I have introduced H.R. 2560 with my colleague from Connecticut so that we can discuss this important issue. Since scientists in Scotland were able to create a cloned sheep named Dolly, some have speculated about the possibility of one day cloning human beings. But we can all agree that there is universal opposition to conducting human reproductive cloning and it should be illegal. Human reproductive cloning is morally and scientifically wrong. Unfortunately, at this time, though, there is nothing to prevent irresponsible individuals from conducting research in an attempt to achieve human reproductive cloning. The most effective way to prevent human reproductive cloning in the United States is to pass a Federal prohibition on this practice and impose severe penalties for doing so. This is why my colleague, Congressman Chris Murphy, and I have introduced the Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2007. Our bill would make it illegal to use cloning technology to initiate a pregnancy and therefore create a cloned human being. The penalty for such an act would include severe criminal sanctions, in addition to as much as $10 million in civil fines. These strict penalties are necessary to ensure that such an act is prevented from occurring. Unbelievably, people actually are opposing this bill because they are seeking to characterize it as a much broader bill. While they make many false claims, the fact of the matter is this legislation today is solely a ban on human reproductive cloning, something that all Members of Congress as well as, I think, the vast majority of the American public support. The accusations that this bill expressly allows something new are completely false. I also find it ironic that those who oppose our bill argue that one of its flaws is that it would force all cloned embryos to be killed. The bill bans human reproductive cloning. Nothing more, nothing less. So the argument of those who say they are against cloning is that we should defeat our bill to prevent cloned embryos from being killed. It defies logic, just like it defies logic why anyone would vote against this bill. Mr. Speaker, I hope today we can take the rhetoric down and that we can focus on what this bill does, which is to prevent human reproductive cloning. We all agree this practice should be banned, so let's pass this bill and make it happen. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment to be voted on today which will provide supplemental funds for the war in Iraq. As I have said before on the floor of the House, it is time we ended our military involvement in Iraq. We are not making progress, despite losing thousands of lives, expending years of effort, and spending hundreds of billions of dollars. This is a viewpoint shared by the vast majority of the American people. I strongly support our troops and understand we must provide resources for them in the field. However, today's amendment continues the President's failed policy in Iraq by not holding him accountable to his own benchmarks for success and failing to set a timetable for the redeployment of our troops. Although the amendment ties non-military aid to the Iraqi Government's progress in meeting certain benchmarks, the President can waive the requirement. Spending billions on the war in Iraq without providing a prescription for withdrawal or benchmarks with meaningful consequences for the Iraqi Government, as the amendment before us would do, does our troops and our entire Nation a disservice. It suggests that we will continue this war without end or without putting meaningful pressure on the Iraqi Government to do its fair share. Unfortunately, President Bush and most Republicans in Congress believe that this is exactly what we should do. President Bush vetoed H.R. 1591, which imposed benchmarks with real consequences on the Iraqi Government and mandated that our military forces would have left Iraq by August 2008. So far he has refused to accept any major changes in his Iraq policy, If President Bush continues to be intransigent, Congress has the responsibility to use its spending power to truly make a meaningful change in the direction of the war in Iraq. The amendment under consideration does not do that and I ask my colleagues to vote against it.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R 493, the ``Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007.'' This bill will protect people from discrimination in securing health insurance or employment based on their genetic make-up. Such discrimination is wrong and should not be tolerated. I am proud to support a bill that would outlaw it. I applaud Representative Slaughter and Representative Biggert for their hard work in bringing this bill to the floor today. During consideration of H.R 493 by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, of which I am a member, a concern was raised by Representative Stupak. The concern related to genetic discrimination dealing with embryos or fetuses, as well as adopted children and those in the process of being adopted. Like Representative Stupak, I do not want to allow insurance companies to use genetic information to discriminate. Period. I worked out language with Representative Stupak to amend H.R. 493, which addressed his concerns in a mutually acceptable way. This language says that individuals cannot be discriminated against as a result of genetic information gleaned prior to birth. It further says that women cannot be discriminated against as a result of the genetic information of a fetus, embryo, adopted child, or child they are in the process of adopting. At the same time, it does not create a new legal status or convey new legal rights to fetuses or embryos. Thus, I feel it provides the proper balance between providing protections from genetic discrimination while not addressing other non-germane issues. The compromise language was adopted by the full Committee on Energy and Commerce without objection during its consideration of H.R. 493. I am pleased that this language is included in the bill we are considering on the floor today. I encourage all Members to support H.R. 493 and I look forward to its soon becoming law.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 99. For the last 6 years we have been swimming in serious red ink. Deep red ink. Thanks to President Bush and the Republicans in Congress we have added almost three trillion dollars to our Nation's debt. This red ink also seemed to be without end. In the past the other side of the aisle put forward budgets that did not reflect a serious commitment to responsible fiscal policy. Those budgets also failed to reflect the priorities of the American people. Well, Mr. Chairman, Congress is under new management. That new management has produced a budget for the House to consider about which the American people can be proud. The Democratic budget is fiscally responsible. It reimposes pay-as- you-go (PAYGO) budgeting principles and achieves balance in 2012. At the same time, this budget puts our priorities in the proper order. For example, it provides tax relief to those who it needs it most-- the middle-class. This tax relief includes the extension of certain tax breaks, such as the child tax credit, and reform of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). This budget also increases spending on the things that matter most to the American people, such as our children, education, health care, and veterans. Today we will be providing for a $50 billion increase in funds to provide health insurance to millions of more uninsured kids. Education, training, and related programs will receive three billion more than current levels and almost eight billion more than requested by the President. Funding for veterans' health care services is increased by 14.4 percent. I am proud to support this budget. It reflects a responsible fiscal position and puts our limited resources towards programs and policies that are important to this nation. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Con. Res. 99.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1591. In considering what to say about H.R. 1591, I looked back at what I said in the Congressional Record about House Resolution 861, an Iraq resolution from the 109th Congress in June of last year. I lamented the fact that 2,500 soldiers had died, 18,000 had been wounded, and 320 billion dollars had been spent or appropriated. I said that enough was enough and that it was time to begin redeploying troops to the periphery of the conflict and bring some of them home. Sadly, in the last nine months, we have lost over 700 more troops and seen more than 5,000 additional soldiers wounded. We have little to show for our efforts, as Iraq is still in chaos and there is no peace in sight. I am afraid that if we do not take a different approach that this pattern will continue--progress in Iraq will not be made and increasing numbers of American soldiers will suffer. H.R. 1591 is a new, reasonable approach. Like most Americans, I want Iraq to succeed as a stable democracy. But Iraqis have to want this too and actually work towards this goal in a meaningful way. H.R. 1591 encourages the Iraqi government to do this by offering our continued assistance, if it meets certain political and military benchmarks. These markers were laid out by President Bush in January. A further incentive for Iraq to take more responsibility for its own security is the knowledge that, under H.R. 1591, we will not be there forever. There will now be a date certain, August 2008, after which the Iraqi government could not longer rely on our soldiers for its security. This is not just the right course for Iraq, it is the right course for America. After 4 long years, thousands dead and wounded, and hundreds of billions spent, it is time that this war comes to an end. Ending the war in Iraq will stop the losses and devastating injuries inflicted on our troops. It will also allow us to redirect the billions that would otherwise be spent on Iraq to meet needed priorities here at home, such as providing health insurance to low-income children. I ask my colleagues to keep in mind this tremendous opportunity cost should we not stop the war. While the legislation before us today will bring the war in Iraq to close over a reasonable period of time, it also supports our troops in the field. H.R. 1591 appropriates almost $100 billion for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. I strongly support our troops who have done everything asked of them with dignity, courage, and skill. It is with their safety and security in mind that I will vote in favor of this bill. Beyond Iraq, H.R. 1591 contains over $20 billion to meet other emergency priorities. These include resources for veterans' health care, recovery from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, relief for farmers and ranchers from years of drought, and money to states for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Enacting H.R. 1591 is thus important to address these emergencies, support our troops in the field, and end our involvement in the war in Iraq. I strongly encourage all Members of the House to support its passage.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the exceptional accomplishments and extraordinary life of the Reverend Paul Martin, Senior Pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. This remarkable gentleman merits our recognition and admiration as his impressive record of spiritual leadership and invaluable service has done much to improve the lives of our people. Reverend Martin's standing within our community is rivaled by few others. He has been on the front line of progress for decades and has used his skills and talents to advance the public good and care for the spiritual well-being of many of our citizens. As a dynamic pastor, educator, scholar and radio commentator, Paul Martin's leadership and service has made us stronger, more caring and more resilient. Reverend Martin began his life in South Central Los Angeles where he completed his secondary education in the public schools. He graduated with honors from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's degree in Religion, Psychology and Greek. He attained his Master of Divinity from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and went on to earn his Doctor of Philosophy at the California Graduate School of Theology. Reverend Martin also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the Denver Seminary and has done additional study at Fuller Seminary, the Claremont School of Theology, and the Union Theological Seminary. Dr. Martin's many educational and scholarly accomplishments prepared him for a life of spiritual leadership that has left an indelible imprint on all of us. Under Reverend Martin's leadership, Macedonia Baptist Church has become a beacon of hope and remains a positive force in the spiritual and civic life of our community. Not only has Reverend Martin moved us from the pulpit, he has also edified us through his numerous radio ministries. While in Los Angeles, he had four radio ministries and in Denver, he created and hosted Religion in Focus on KNUS Radio and cohosted Community Focus on KRKS Radio with his wife, Dr. Agnes Martin. He is the host of two weekly radio ministries on KLDC in Denver--Focus on Live and Charisma--and is cohost of the Agnes Martin Show on Channel 58, DCTV. Those who know Reverend Martin know it is difficult to ignore his moving and resonant voice. His words give meaning and poignancy to the spiritual aspirations we all share. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working closely with Macedonia Baptist Church as part of a church exchange with my congregation, Montview Presbyterian. As a member of Montview's choir, I have had the opportunity to lift my voice with the remarkable choir at Macedonia. I have also had the opportunity to reflect with Reverend Martin on matters of social concern and I will never forget a discussion we had concerning the War on Poverty. He reflected on how making poverty a national priority set in motion new laws and created programs such as Head Start, work study, Medicare and Medicaid. He noted how these programs brought about real results, reduced rates of poverty and improved living standards for America's poor. But what struck me was his conclusion--that this endeavor was great because it gave Americans the opportunity to care for and serve one another and that this kind of social stewardship changed our country for the better. Clearly, community service matters. But for Reverend Martin, community service is not just an empty catchphrase. It is personal commitment and active engagement in outcomes--it is stewardship at its finest. Under the leadership of Paul Martin, Macedonia Baptist Church has touched the community through a host of specialized programs and outreach ministries designed to enhance the spiritual and educational growth of our youth. His service to our community is extensive and includes being past president of the Urban League of Metro Denver; special advisor to former Mayor Wellington Webb and Mayor John Hickenlooper; member of the Denver Police Task Force; and Board Chair of the Stapleton Development Corporation. He is the first African American minister to serve as President of the American Baptist Region of the Rocky Mountains. He is an adjunct professor at the Denver Seminary and the Iliff School of Theology and an instructor with the Congress of Christian Education of National Baptist Convention. He has been a past trustee of the University of Sioux Falls, a member of the Committee on Ministry for the Presbytery of Denver, Vice President for Membership for the East Denver Ministerial Alliance and a lifetime member of the N.A.A.C.P. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Martin Luther King, Jr., once noted that everybody could be great because everybody can serve. Reverend Martin has burnished a reputation of spiritual leadership that I think is the opposite of what most people think. His leadership is not only guidance, it is service. It is caring for one another. It is serving along side those whom you lead. It is service which is ordinary and yet extraordinary. Reverend Martin's tenure as Senior Pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church is quickly drawing to a close. His leadership has been exemplary and his contributions are rich in consequence. On behalf of the citizens of the 1st Congressional District, I wish to express our gratitude and extend our best wishes to Pastor Martin, Agnes Martin and their family. Please join me in paying tribute to the Reverend Dr. Paul M. Martin, a distinguished spiritual and civic leader. His stewardship and service command our respect and they speak to the spirit of our founders and future of our country.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution. I fundamentally disagree with the President's plan to add thousands of troops to the Iraqi conflict. It is time for a new course in Iraq, a rational course, a more humane course of action. It is long past time to start a phased withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Mr. Speaker, this debate is about policy and direction. Surely, the facts on the ground cannot be used to support continued or increased combat involvement in Iraq. Iraq is in a civil war. That is the truth, and it is time we accept the implications of that fact. Our soldiers have no business acting as unwanted umpires or surrogate police officers. The latest National Intelligence Estimate concludes the term ``civil war'' accurately describes key elements of the Iraqi conflict. If this is the state of the current conflict, what do we expect the U.S. military to do about it? Settle centuries of theological or religious disagreement? Become diplomats? Whose side do they choose and what would their mission be? I do not believe combat forces permanently stop such conflicts. The troops themselves tell us they are untrained for this role, a role that puts them at extreme risk. Yet, the President mistakenly continues to believe we are fighting illusionary battalions on phantom battlefields. So, in his mind, we need more troops for victory, a surge that will overwhelm and destroy. Well, that is how he sees it, but he ignores the evidence and reports of our generals, our troops, our Iraq Study Group, our diplomats, most of our allies, the views of the Iraqi people and anyone else who actually tries to find out the nature and state of the conflict. He rapidly and recklessly proceeds ahead with one policy shift after another. He searches for a light at the end of the tunnel, but there is no light. It was extinguished long ago. There is only darkness and despair. The chaos deepens daily, and the President sits in the Oval Office hoping that somehow, somehow it will turn out all right in the end. This is neither policy nor leadership. The administration's policies are the stuff of dreams and fantasies, not hard core determinations of our Nation's interests or the best course for addressing strategic threats. Mr. Speaker, hope is not a strategy. The escalation of troop levels makes no strategic sense. We must not hesitate to describe the President's policy in words that are honest and clear. We confront a policy that is wishful thinking, not realistic assessment. The administration's policy is like a conjuring trick of denial, delusion and determined folly, which will only deepen the disaster. We are given the vision of a make-believe story instead of a responsible and realistic policy. Civil wars are solved through diplomacy, negotiation and political compromise. These are the types of developments identified by the NIE that will make a difference in Iraq. While the NIE warns against the rapid withdrawal of coalition troops, American forces can come home in a careful, safe and deliberate manner. As the Nation's Representatives, it is our constitutional duty to stop this madness. It is our constitutional mandate to conduct oversight, and it is our constitutional imperative to act. That is what the Founding Fathers wanted. They constructed the Constitution to provide checks and balances. They did not give the President a blank check. The Constitution is a sacred document to this body. We swear to uphold it and to defend it. We do just that when we demand accountability from the President. We honor our constitutional requirement when we scrutinize policy. We defend our constitutional process when we demand that the President listen to the American people and end unilateral actions that undermine our Nation's strength and place our troops in an untenable, lethal and unwinnable situation. Mr. Speaker, I did not come here to ignore my oath to the American people. I did not come here to watch our Constitution be rewritten by presidential arrogance and disregard. And I did not come here to relinquish my sworn duty to protect and defend this sacred document. I did not come here to ignore the American people who want this war stopped now. Mr. Speaker, support this resolution and begin a phased withdrawal.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Denver's East High School for winning the ``We the People'' state competition on December 13, 2006. These students will represent Colorado in the national finals, held in Washington, DC on April 28-30, 2007. This fantastic program seeks to develop the civic understanding of our nation's elementary, middle, and high school students. Each year competitions are held across the country, with students demonstrating their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. After months of preparation, the students of East will represent the State of Colorado at the national competition, ``testify'' before a panel of judges, and display their knowledge of American government and history. I am so proud to have these students representing the First Congressional District and the entire state of Colorado. I wish them luck in the national finals, and look forward to welcoming them to Washington. I want to personally recognize the participating students, including Caitlin Bell, Tucker Larson, Tessa Caudle, Sean McCarthy, Mats Engdahl, Manon Scales, Dan Aschkinasi, Matt Valeta, Catie Gliwa, Brian McQuinn, Katrina Sondermann, Tyler Castle, Davis Wert, Kaitlyn Randol, Mackenzie Gilchrist, Carlo Davis, Morgan Hall, Tim Hambidge, Emery Donovan, Rachel Banks, Rye Finegan, Charlie Fine, Michelle Murphy, Taylor Jones, Alexa Morrill, Max Viski-Hanka, Sam Keene, and Marissa Latta. Additionally, I would like to congratulate Kathy Callum, the principal of East, teacher Susan McHugh, and Loyal Darr, who coordinates the ``We the People'' program in Denver and is a tireless advocate for civic education.

Mr. DeGETTE

Mr. DeGETTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the extraordinary life and exceptional accomplishments of the Reverend James D. Peters, Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. This remarkable gentleman merits both our recognition and esteem as his spiritual leadership, service and lifelong devotion to civil rights have done much to advance the lives of our people. While many have made notable contributions to our community, few have left a legacy of progress as has Reverend Peters. He is a powerful champion of social justice and has led with those who fought for civil liberty and whose deeds changed the very fabric of our nation. Reverend Peters has touched countless lives and he has built a ministry that joins faith with equality. He is a dynamic pastor whose teaching and counsel is infused with a spiritual fervor that constantly edifies us and moves us to do what is right. Reverend Peters' journey began in Washington D.C., the son of a baseball player. He grew up poor but he grew up in church. He was a gifted student and grew to recite Longfellow, Keats and Kipling. He worked full time at the Navy Annex near the Pentagon and struggled to get an education, attending night school for ten years. Reverend Peters recently noted that ``I couldn't eat in restaurants, I couldn't sleep at a hotel or go to the movies. I could never go to school with white children. All the way through high school, I never sat in a classroom with white people, not until I went to college.'' Many of us in this country forget how far we've come. Although civil liberties have deep roots in our republic, there was a time when fundamental decency and equality for all people were not a part of our shared experience. The courage and the work of Reverend Peters during the dark days of the Civil Rights Movement helped make fairness and equal rights part of our shared values. Reverend Peters was at the founding meeting of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and he worked directly with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He faced guns and dogs during the marches and civil rights demonstrations in Albany, Georgia, in Selma and in Birmingham, Alabama. He was part of the March on Washington that led to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King gave his unparalleled ``I Have a Dream'' speech. Reverend Peters' work ethic and his service to the Civil Rights Movement molded a life of enduring accomplishment and a vocation that included ministering to congregations in Connecticut and Virginia. He became pastor of Denver's New Hope Baptist Church in February of 1979 and during his twenty-eight year tenure, he led his congregation through construction of a new church home and the expansion of services for an ever growing congregation. As a spiritual leader, he has burnished a reputation as a powerful advocate for inclusion and expanding opportunity for all people. He served as a volunteer member of the Denver Housing Advisory Board for approximately ten years assisting the twenty-two thousand public housing residents in changing the quality and image of public housing. He served as a member of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission for nine years, serving as its Chairman from 1987 to 1989, during which time he traveled throughout Colorado and held countless civil rights hearings to secure justice and equality for all citizens, Reverend Peters has received service recognitions from numerous organizations including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Martin Luther King, Jr., the Anti-Defamation League, the Denver Post and the NAACP, He is also the recipient of the Carle Whitehead Award, the highest award given by the American Civil Liberties Union. Reverend James Peters is an unrelenting advocate for the causes that elevate the human condition and his immeasurable contributions to the spiritual life of our community merit our gratitude. He has led in the struggle for freedom, justice and equality for all people. But Reverend Peters' leadership goes to the heart of what he means to be a leader. ``Nathalia Young, a pastor at New Hope Baptist Church. . . remembers how he helped homeless people himself, not delegating it to a deacon. (He) would get into his own car, and use his own money to get someone a hotel room. And then there was a Christmas season one year, when a woman and her children were suddenly homeless. `He didn't just get her connected with housing but also supplied her with gifts and food.''' Reverend Peters leads by example. In a recent Denver Post article, Reverend Peters expressed ``concern that young people don't understand what it was like before the Civil Rights Act and that some believe King's message is now irrelevant.'' At some level, I think we all share his concern. But I would submit that Reverend Peters' legacy provides a powerful example that not only affirms Dr. King's undertaking, but inspires all of us to remember the struggle and keep faith with those who have gone before. Reverend Peters' tenure as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church is quickly drawing to a close. His leadership has been exemplary and his contributions are rich in consequence. On behalf of the citizens of the 1st Congressional District of Colorado, I wish to express our gratitude and look forward to his continued involvement in the life of our community. Please join me in paying tribute to Reverend James D. Peters, a distinguished spiritual and civic leader. The values, leadership and commitment he exhibits set the mark and compel us to continue the work that distinguishes us as Americans.

Ms. DeGETTE

Ms. DeGETTE. No. He can use his own time.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield now 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio, Mrs. Tubbs Jones. (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), a member of the committee.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished new Member from Wisconsin, Dr. Kagen.

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am now very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Schwartz).

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to now yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguish gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).