Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, our economy is struggling. We know the price at the gas pump is killing middle class families trying to make ends meet, farmers harvesting their crops, truckers traveling our highways. I rise in support of this bill. It's an important first step to address the concerns of millions of Americans who fear something more than just supply and demand is at play and our energy markets are not operating as they should. I want to commend Chairman Peterson for being so open and available as he worked with myself and my colleagues, Congressmen Stupak, Larson and Van Hollen throughout the summer to make this bill a priority and to bring transparency back to our futures market. This is a complex issue. Our responsibility as a Congress and the Nation is serious, however. Excessive speculation occurs when the market price for a given commodity no longer accurately reflects the forces of supply and demand. Today we can point to loopholes and exemptions that have allowed interested parties with special access to information to improperly speculate on the price of energy without oversight. That excessive speculation has contributed to rising gas prices. This bill begins to confront that speculation, providing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission new authority to gather information from currently unregulated over-the-counter energy transactions. And if it finds improper speculation is driving up the prices, the agency has the authority then to act to reduce the speculation. This is new, it's long overdue authority that will shed light on once hidden markets. The bill also makes sure we know who is participating in the market to what extent by requiring detailed trading information from index traders and swap dealers. It works to make sure hedge exemptions are not exploited, making clear only legitimate hedgers may use them. This vote follows the report last week from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission which suggested the need for a legislative fix to restore balance to the energy marketplace, recommending a significant increase in the transparency of energy markets, more careful analysis of data, and even a reclassification of swap dealers. A day earlier, hedge fund managers Michael Masters and Adam White released their own report pointing to institutional investors pouring money into energy futures and contributing to rising prices. Later, by pulling those funds out of the market, the rush for the exits helped bring the prices down. And this decline may continue, according to yesterday's Wall Street Journal which reported, and I quote, ``Evaporating access to credit, fears of an economic washout are taking a toll on oil prices, forcing speculators using borrowed money out of the market.'' Whether prices are up or down, the bottom line that growing volatility, a growing disconnect between where the market is and where supply and demand would normally put it. We have a responsibility to protect consumers from excessive speculation. We can no longer allow random speculators free rein to play these games while our entire economy hangs in the balance. It is time to empower the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to do its regulatory job and provide the kind of relief that we need to get Americans who are in great need in this faltering economy, we need to provide relief to middle class Americans and American taxpayers, and not provide relief or profit for those who are already taking the profits and making a fortune with them. Let's pass this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the members of the West Haven Italian-American Civic Association as they celebrate a remarkable milestone--their 50th Anniversary. As they mark this golden anniversary, their many members and their families can be proud of all that they have contributed and continue to contribute to our community. My hometown of New Haven, Connecticut and its surrounding communities have always had a large and very proud Italian-American population. Over the years, a number of Italian-American clubs and organizations were formed by small groups within different neighborhoods and most were dedicated to particular towns or regions in the old country or were affiliated with certain Saints or religious societies. It was, is still today, a means of preserving and celebrating the traditions and culture brought to America from Italy. The founders of the West Haven Italian-American Civic Association wanted to create a place where all Americans of Italian descent could meet and socialize--an organization that was more general in its appeal and that encompassed all that the local Italian-American communities had to offer. They also wanted to create an organization that would allow them to give back to the community and country that had offered them so many opportunities and blessings. After the official incorporation of both the West Haven Italian- American Civic Association and its sister organization, the West Haven Italian American Auxiliary, member contributions made possible the purchase of a plot of land and through the volunteer efforts of the membership, the buildings and grounds were renovated and improved. In less than a decade, because of increased membership, it became clear that they would need additional space for their meetings and social gatherings. Once again the generosity and volunteer efforts of the club's membership allowed them to build a new meeting hall which is still used today. The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association has always been more than a social organization. One of their founding principles was a commitment to give back to the community in which they and their families had found the opportunity to prosper. Through the years, local schools, service organizations, police, fire, and volunteer organizations have all benefited from the generosity of the Association's members. Through its Civic and Welfare Fund, more than $70,000 has been contributed to various causes. The Association also sponsors numerous youth sports teams and offers free use of their hall for, among many things, school bingos, sports affairs, and community fundraisers. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Association and the Auxiliary have not only realized the vision of the founding members, but have far exceeded them. For their many invaluable contributions, I am proud to stand today to pay tribute to the membership--past and present---of the West Haven Italian-American Civic Association and Auxiliary as they mark their golden anniversary. I have no doubt that they and future generations of members will continue to make a difference in the lives of others leaving an indelible mark on our community. My very best wishes for another 50 years of success!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues from Connecticut to introduce a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4 South Main Street in Wallingford, Connecticut, as the ``CWO Richard R. Lee Post Office Building.'' Chief Warrant Officer Richard R. Lee was born July 28, 1954, and grew up in Wallingford, Connecticut, attending local elementary schools in the Yalesville section of town. In his younger years, Rich loved to fish with his friends and his father, Earl. One of his favorite places was the Black Pond in Meriden. Rich attended Lyman Hall High School until 1971 when the growing town built a new high school. Sheehan High opened and his fondness for the water led him to join the swim team. Rich won the Regional Championship for Diving at Sheehan. He played soccer as well and helped Sheehan High to many victories before graduating with the class of 1972. Rich also had a love for fast cars and flying, which sent him in the direction of the military. In 1973, he enlisted in the Army, and he eventually achieved the rank ``Chief Warrant Officer''. Rich learned to fly a helicopter in the Army, became ``Civilian Rated''-Instrument Rated and planned to continue flying when he retired. Sadly, Rich's dream was not to be realized. He was deployed to the Middle East to fight in Operation Desert Storm and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country on February 7, 1991. His high school classmates, Robert J. Devaney and Debra Frost Markiewicz, first approached me about naming the Wallingford Post Office in Mr. Lee's honor. This tribute to our fallen hero is supported by many public servants in Wallingford including Mayor William Dickinson, Senator Len Fasano, Councilman Robert Parisi, Postmaster Michael Schrader, and Leigh Piscitelli of the Postal Service. The post office lies in Wallingford's parade ground directly across from the town hall and veterans' monuments. To date, there is no monument in Wallingford to remember Richard Lee's sacrifice. His parents, Earl and Helen Lee, who currently reside in North Carolina, would like nothing more than to see this tribute to their son. I hope you will join me and my colleagues from the State of Connecticut in enacting this tribute to Chief Warrant Officer Richard R. Lee.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join family, friends, and the West Haven community in wishing a very special happy birthday to Angelo DeSorbo who is celebrating his 100th birthday. Angelo DeSorbo might best be known as the gentleman selling plants and flowers at ``Kimberly Open-Air Market on the corner of Ella Grasso Boulevard and Kimberly Avenue in New Haven--a vocation he has enjoyed for more than 65 years. Kind-hearted and generous with a smile, Mr. DeSorbo is well-known throughout the community and has become a good friend to many of his customers. Even today, though he sometimes has difficulty walking, he is driven to his stand every morning, weather permitting. He may be celebrating his centennial anniversary, but Angelo DeSorbo is still young at heart and spry of spirit. In the decades that he has been at the ``Kimberly Open-Air Market,'' Mr. DeSorbo has become a New Haven institution--a community treasure. Marking decades of hard work, this occasion reflects an important milestone in Mr. DeSorbo's life. Over the years, he has witnessed remarkable changes and extraordinary progress. Living standards have blossomed for most Americans as technology has altered some of our most basic expectations. Indeed he can take pride in having participated in some of the most exciting times in our history, and can look forward to the progress of the new millennium. I am proud to stand today to pay tribute to the remarkable life of Angelo DeSorbo and to join his daughter, Adelaide; her husband, Michael; his two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, in wishing him a very happy 100th birthday. Mr. DeSorbo has left an indelible mark on our community and I wish him many more years of health and happiness. Happy birthday.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report on H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and applaud the members of the conference committee for their work in reaching an agreement on this very important legislation. I also would like to congratulate the coalition of consumer groups for their efforts, including: Consumers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Kids in Danger, National Research Center for Women & Families, Public Citizen, Union of Concerned Scientists, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. These groups were instrumental in urging the conference committee to adopt the best provisions from the House and Senate bills. After 2007 became the ``Year of the Recall'' due to the numerous recalls of toys and children's products, it was imperative that Congress act to stem the flow of unsafe products into our stores and homes. That is why I introduced legislation that would, among other things, ban lead in children's products, enhance recall and inspection authority of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, and expedite recall disclosure to the public. This bill was cosponsored by 167 of my colleagues. I am pleased that some of the important ideas and provisions in this bill were included in the final conference report, including language that would: essentially ban lead in toys and children's products; require CPSC to establish a publicly-accessible database to inform consumers about unsafe products; require third-party testing of certain children's products; and ensure that the CPSC does not preempt State or local laws. I am especially pleased that that this legislation includes provisions to provide the CPSC with the new authority to cease the distribution of toys that pose an imminent hazard from the outset. This is a provision that I worked on with Congresswoman Eshoo, and I am proud to see it in the conference report. The conference committee should be commended for insisting that the final conference agreement include a ban on toxic phthalates from children's products. Earlier this year, some of the country's largest toy sellers, including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, and Babies-R-Us notified their suppliers that they would no longer carry products containing phthalates beginning in 2009. It would have been senseless if Congress had allowed for the continued use of phthalates in children's products even though the market already has essentially banned it. Many of us who support the final conference report would agree that it could have been stronger, but we also agree that it represent a solid first step. We should remain vigilant in ensuring that our families and children are truly protected from harmful products and be prepared to make further improvements to these laws should additional problems arise in the future.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1108, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This legislation would grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) long-needed authority to regulate the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of tobacco products. As we all know, tobacco use contributes to the death of more than 400,000 Americans and costs the nation's health care system nearly $100 billion each year. The most tragic part of this statistic is that virtually all of these deaths are preventable. It is alarming that preventable diseases such as emphysema, heart disease and cancer all can be attributed to the use of tobacco. In addition to providing consumers with science-based information about tobacco products, granting FDA the authority to regulate tobacco will more importantly help protect our children from using these products. Approximately 90 percent of all adult smokers began their habit while in their teens, or earlier, and two-thirds become regular, daily smokers before they reach the age of 19. According to the American Medical Association, each day, about 4,000 children try smoking a cigarette for the first time and another 1,000 become new, regular, daily smokers. This means that one-third of these children will die prematurely. Despite their claims to the contrary, the tobacco companies continue to market their products aggressively toward children. This bill will give FDA the authority to impose marketing restrictions, labeling requirements, as well as to ban candy flavored tobacco products in order to prevent tobacco companies from addicting children to tobacco. I am also pleased that the bill before us includes language that maintains the same role of the Appropriations Committee with regard to the fees in this bill that the Committee has with regard to other FDA user fees. This bill has strong bipartisan support, and is endorsed by key groups including the American Cancer Society, the American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay special tribute to Connecticut resident Mr. Nick Donofrio who is retiring after more than 40 years in various leadership capacities at the IBM Corporation. Nick joined IBM in 1967 and spent the early part of his career in integrated circuit and chip development, as a designer of logic and memory chips. He held numerous technical management positions and, later, executive positions in several of IBM's product divisions. He has led many of IBM's major development and manufacturing teams--from semiconductor and storage technologies, to microprocessors and personal computers, to IBM's entire family of servers. Nick has always been a champion for innovation across IBM and its global ecosystem. He has been the leader of IBM's global technology strategy. In addition to his strategic business mission, Nick has led the development and retention of IBM's technical population and strives to enrich that community with a diversity of culture and thought. Nick has been focused sharply on advancing education, employment and career opportunities for underrepresented minorities and women--all issues of great importance to me as well. He served for many years on the Board of Directors for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME). He has served on the Board of Directors for INROADS, a non-profit organization focused on the training and development of talented minority youth for professional careers in business and industry, and he is co-chair of the New York Hall of Science. A fellow Italian-American, Nick was awarded the prestigious 2007 National Education and Leadership Award from the Sons of Italy Foundation. He is the holder of seven technology patents and is a member of numerous technical and science honor societies. In 2002, Nick was recognized by Europe's Institution of Electrical Engineers with the Mensforth International Gold Medal for outstanding contributions to the advancement of manufacturing engineering. In 2003, he was named Industry Week magazine's Technology Leader of the Year, the University of Arizona's Technical Executive of the Year, and was presented with the Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award by the Society of Women Engineers for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in the engineering field. In 2005, Nick was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was presented with Syracuse University's highest alumni honor--the George Arents Pioneer Medal, and he was honored by CNBC with its Overall Technology Leadership Award. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Nick Donofrio as he begins a new, exciting chapter in his life.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I want to thank Chairman George Miller for his dedication to this cause. We never could have come this far without his tenacious leadership. We are grateful, Chairman Miller. Mr. Chairman, the Paycheck Fairness Act is about valuing the work that women do in our society. One of our Nation's most enduring principles, one of our greatest aspirations, has been ensuring equality of opportunity for all. There is no more important American promise that allows us to be a country of dreams and of success, and today we can take another important step toward finally honoring that promise. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi, whose leadership today continues to build on the legacy of those who preceded us, those pioneers at Seneca Falls as well as the women who blazed a path in the House of Representatives, Jeanette Rankin, Mary Norton. Even President Kennedy's Equal Pay Act grew out of the Commission on the Status of Women led by Eleanor Roosevelt. Forty-five years later our Speaker has celebrated that history by making this movement an absolute priority. Her message has been clear: It is time to stand up for working women and their families. Well, Mr. Chairman, we can do that today by supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act, reasserting the principle that women and men should be paid the same when doing the same work and making it real by allowing female employees to sue for compensatory and punitive damages. It does so without imposing the arbitrary caps women face under title VII. It protects employees from retaliation for sharing information with their coworkers about their salary, with some exceptions. And it establishes a grant initiative to provide negotiation skills training programs for girls and women. Some will have you believe that the wage gap for women is a myth, that we already have laws in place to make discrimination on the basis of gender illegal. But just because something is illegal does not mean that it does not continue to happen. According to the Department of Labor, women still earn only 77 percent of what men earn. Opponents insist that this figure does not take into account education and experience. But the truth is the gap barely closes among women with college degrees. Recent research by the American Association of University Women found that just one year after college graduation, women earn only 80 percent of what their male counterparts earn. Ten years after college graduation, women fall further behind, earning only 69 percent of what men earn. So what is the message? No matter how advanced their degree or how hard they work, women will not be compensated fairly. The marketplace alone will not correct this injustice. We need a solution in law, just as our country has done in the past to bring down discriminatory barriers. Others will insist that we cannot open the door for increased litigation, but in the light of day, it is clear that the current system is rife with loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay scales. We all know Lilly Ledbetter's story. For so many years she was shortchanged by her employer. And years later she was shortchanged again by the Supreme Court ruling of 5-4 against her discrimination claim, drastically limiting women's access to seek justice for pay discrimination based on gender. We have an obligation to ensure that this does not go on any longer, and we must begin today by toughening remedies in the Equal Pay Act to give America's working women the opportunity to fight against wage discrimination and receive the paycheck they have earned. No one should be forced to consider a trade-off between a full wage, a family life, and a good job. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we are so fortunate to come to work every day in this extraordinary institution. We are blessed. Different regions of the country we come from, different backgrounds, and different experiences. We are men and we are women and we are paid equally. Every woman in this country deserves the same. Every family deserves to know that this institution will act today to make it real. It is about ensuring that women who work hard and productively and carry a full range of family responsibilities are paid at a rate they are entitled. I urge my colleagues to support the Paycheck Fairness Act. We should not underestimate the power of a big idea whose time has come. So many employers and companies do the right thing as a matter of course, but passing this bill today says that this is now a matter of right and wrong, that discrimination is unacceptable anywhere, and we are all diminished when we fall short. But today we have a chance to make all men and women whole and contribute to the richness of America. In 1963 President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, saying that it would ``add to our laws another structure basic to democracy'' and ``affirm our determination that when women enter the labor force, they will find equality in their pay envelope.'' Today we have another opportunity to make good on that promise. Those days come only few times in our tenure in the United States Congress. I have always been proud to serve in this institution, and I revere those lawmakers before us who on previous days took a stand for health care for the elderly or the Civil Rights Act or Family and Medical Leave and made such an impact on people's lives. They changed people's lives. That is the whole reason why we serve in this institution. It is my hope today that the House of Representatives passes this law and makes history for our country.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule. I commend Speaker Pelosi, the majority leader, Chairman Miller, and as well Chairman Slaughter and the entire Rules Committee, for bringing this important legislation to the floor. With this resolution, we take up an effort that began more than 150 years ago when visionary women came together to stand up for women's rights, to better the status of women in our society. In this tradition, more than 11 years ago I first introduced the legislation that we consider this morning, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and I cannot help but think of all the Aprils we have commemorated Equal Pay Day without legislative movement. But, today, the legislative inertia we have experienced for years comes to an end. I could not be more proud. We have made some important strides during the last quarter century. Women now make up a majority of the workforce, own 6 million small businesses and are more likely to hold an advanced degree than men. But for all of our successes, women continue to be stymied when it comes to equal pay. The wage gap is real. Over the course of her lifetime, a female high school graduate will make $700,000 less than the young man she graduates with. Compared to a man, a female college graduate stands to lose up to $2 million in the course of her career. This is true across the board. As the National Committee on Pay Equity tells us, the wage gap today finds that women earn about 77 cents for every dollar men earn. By now, we are all familiar with the case of Lilly Ledbetter, the woman whose pay discrimination case against Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company went all the way to the Supreme Court. In her testimony before the Education and Labor Committee, she said, ``Goodyear acknowledged that it was paying me a lot less than the men doing the same work, so I was actually earning 20 percent less than the lowest paid male supervisor in the same position. What happened to me is not only an insult to my dignity, but it had real consequences for my ability to care for my family. Every paycheck I received, I got less than what I was entitled under the law.'' Clearly, the marketplace alone and even our court system will not correct this injustice. We need a legislative solution. The Paycheck Fairness Act would make modest, commonsense reforms to the Equal Pay Act by closing numerous loopholes in the 45-year-old law that has enabled some employers to evade liability. It would clarify the ``any factor other than sex'' defense so that an employer trying to justify paying a man more than a woman for the same job must show that the disparity is not sex-based; that it is job related and necessary for the businesses. It would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who discuss or disclose salary information with their coworkers.

Ms. DeLAURO. Of course, employees such as human resources personnel who have access to payroll information would not be protected if they disclosed workers' salaries of other workers. And it would strengthen the remedies available to include punitive and compensatory damages. Pay equity is not just another benefit to be bargained for or bargained away. It is part of something bigger, part of a promise in which we all have a role, giving women the power to gain economic security for themselves and for their families. I urge a yes vote on this resolution.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I rise in support of this bill. It's an important first step to address the concerns of millions of Americans, families and farmers, who feel powerless at the gas station and in the grocery store, sensing that something more than supply and demand is going on, producing breathtakingly high prices. It's a complex issue. Excessive speculation occurs when the market price for a given commodity no longer accurately reflects the forces of supply and demand. We can point to loopholes and exemptions today that have allowed interested parties and special interests access and information to improperly speculate on the price of energy without oversight. This bill confronts that speculation. It says to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission this is new authority to gather the information from currently unregulated, over-the-counter energy transactions. If it's improper speculation which is driving up the prices, the agency has the authority to act to reduce that speculation. It's new, long overdue authority that will shed light on once hidden markets. It makes sure we know who is participating in the markets, to what extent, by requiring detailed trading information from index traders and swap dealers. It works to make sure that only those who are legitimate hedgers can use them. It brings relief and can bring relief to American families and says to the CFTC: Do your regulatory job.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, today, as the Societa' Santa Maria Maddalena marks its 110th Anniversary, New Haven's Italian- American community also gathers to honor one of its most outstanding citizens, celebrated author and community leader, Anthony Riccio. It is my privilege to rise today to join them in recognizing Anthony for his many outstanding contributions to our community. Since I was a child, Societa' Santa Maria Maddalena--and all of the Italian societies--have been a part of my life. People across the country struggle to create a sense of community, a sense of belonging. The Italian societies have played an important role in forging strong bonds in our community and have been charged with both preserving and celebrating our rich heritage and strong traditions. Perhaps most important was the support that they provided to families and those newly immigrating to America. Society members helped them to find employment and housing, educate themselves and their children, to become productive and active members of the community, giving them a voice and the opportunity to realize the American Dream. It has been through that sense of community--that extended family--that Italian- Americans have flourished and generation after generation share a special pride in their Italian roots. Each year, the Societa' Santa Maria Maddalena honors an individual whose contributions to the community have furthered this mission. Anthony Riccio has most certainly done much to capture and record the history of the Italian-American experience, particularly in New Haven. His passion for culture and tradition began as a child. As so many of us did, Anthony would spend many hours with his grandmother and she would often receive letters from her family still in Italy. Anthony vividly recounts his memories of their walks through the neighborhood to find someone who could translate them. His enthusiasm and desire to understand Italian culture and history only grew as he got older. As an undergraduate Anthony was given an opportunity that would later provide inspiration for his work as an author. Anthony spent two summers studying art history in Italy and traveled to southern Italy to find his family. As he traveled to the village of his ancestors, he marveled at the similarities between the villages and towns of Italy and that of his own hometown neighborhood. After studying in Italy for several years, Anthony returned to the United States and began working with senior citizens in Boston's North End, many of whom were immigrants from Italy. His passion for Italian history only strengthened as he spent more time with them and he began to record their conversations to be sure that the stories were captured accurately. Anthony's first book, Boston's North End: Images and Recollections of an Italian American Neighborhood, was a compilation of those stories and its success led to his second book, The Italian American Experience in New Haven. Collections of photographs and oral histories, each brings a unique perspective of the Italian American experience in these two cities and his hometown of New Haven could not be more proud. Today, as he is recognized by the Societa' Santa Maria Maddalena, I am honored to join all of those who have gathered this evening in extending my sincere thanks and appreciation to Anthony Riccio for his many invaluable contributions to our community. I would also like to extend my best wishes to him, his wife Dorothy, and his daughter, Annalisa, on this very special occasion.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Special Olympics. Special Olympics began through the dreams, work, and dedication of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Mrs. Shriver, along with her son Timothy Shriver, and countless volunteers have made the dream of the Special Olympics a reality for 40 years now. The Special Olympics embody the real American Dream--a world where everybody matters, where everybody counts and everybody gives their all. For four decades, Special Olympics has brought us closer to that idea by encouraging excellence, sharing and courage through year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics improves health and physical well-being. It builds confidence and self-esteem. And perhaps most importantly, it gives athletes a voice, so that they can become active and productive members of their communities. We sometimes forget what life was like for the intellectually disabled before the Special Olympics--a time when people were shuttered away in institutions, sentenced to lives of solitude, emptiness and sadness. But today that has all changed, largely because of the Special Olympics. Today, 2.5 million Special Olympians train and compete in 30 sports in over 180 countries. The Special Olympics has become a platform for breaking down social barriers--for raising the standard of public health, for helping intellectually disabled people overcome a prejudice that, for all our advances, plagues us to this day in some corners of society. I urge my colleagues to stand with me to celebrate and honor the Special Olympics on the 40th anniversary of this remarkable, inspirational organization.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is my great pleasure to rise today to join my neighborhood, Wooster Square in New Haven, Connecticut, and the Italian-American community in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Society of St. Trofimena. Founded in a home on Wooster Street in December of 1908, 100 years later, the Society of St. Trofimena continues to play an integral role in the lives of many of the families of Wooster Square. Immigrating to the United States in 2004, a group of Minoresi, families from the town of Minori, Italy, came to America in search of work and made New Haven their home. In an effort to provide mutual aid and comfort to each other they decided to form a fraternal group--the Society of St. Trofimena, Virgine & Martine. According to its original by-laws, its primary purpose was to unite all descendents of the town of Minori and to increase and spread the devotion of St. Torfimena. As a tribute, Antonio Esposito commissioned and donated to the society a statue of St. Trofimena that was made in Italy and shipped to New Haven. This statue has been used in all of the festivals honoring her and has been paraded through the streets of Wooster Square. The society flourished for more than 50 years before membership began to wane, however, in 1980 a group of descendents, spearheaded by Frances D'Amato Crisci and her brother Anthony D'Amato met to reorganize. In the years since its inception, members of the Society of St. Trofimena assumed a critical responsibility--maintaining the Italian heritage that thousands of Greater New Haven residents share. Each year, the Society of St. Trofimena keeps our community spirit alive honoring St. Trofimena on her feast day of July 13 and at a mass in memory of her deceased members in November. It is through efforts such as these that we renew our history and help pass it along. Forged through the bonds of family, the members of the Society of St. Trofimena continue to be active in the community--enriching our neighborhood and ensuring that our rich history is not forgotten by new generations. The original mission of the society is still apparent today as we gather to celebrate their centennial anniversary. It is with great pride that I stand today to extend my deepest thanks and warmest congratulations to the members of the Society of St. Trofimena on their 100th anniversary.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation that we bring to the floor today along with my colleagues, Mr. Peterson, I thank him for his leadership, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Larson. What is it about? It's about stopping the excessive energy commodity speculation that has driven up the price of gasoline by as much as 30 percent, according to independent economists. Last October, the Government Accountability Office issued a report indicating that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission did not have the resources and the authority that it needed to protect the American people. When the report was issued, a gallon of gas cost on average $2.90. Today in my State of Connecticut, gas costs $4.37 a gallon. Commodity prices have skyrocketed in the past 5 years, but those unprecedented price spikes cannot be explained entirely by increased demand from China and India or the dollar's valuation. So what is the cause? Independent economists point to one significant culprit: unregulated speculation in our futures markets. A May 2008 International Monetary Fund report agrees. Professional investors have purchased contracts for more than a billion barrels of petroleum essentially adding eight times as much demand for oil as the U.S. has added to its Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the last 5 years. The CFTC should be the cop on the beat protecting American consumers by putting a halt to out-of-control speculation. Unfortunately, the CFTC may be partly to blame for allowing loopholes and opening up exemptions. The resolution before us today is simple. It directs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use its emergency powers granted by Congress under section 4a of the Commodity Exchange Act to investigate excessive speculation in any contract market within the CFTC's jurisdiction and take the necessary action to eliminate excessive speculation that is artificially inflating gas prices. What the CFTC needs to do is to use its powers to close the Enron loophole, to end the London-Dubai foreign border trade loophole. I urge my colleagues to support this effort. What it essentially does is restore sanity to the markets, and it provides consumers with the relief that they need in order to be able to continue to lead their lives and not be forced to make choices of whether to not buy gasoline for their cars and put food on the table or other things to take care of their families.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor Congresswoman Mary T. Norton of New Jersey on the 70th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Congresswoman Norton was instrumental in passing the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, legislation which has greatly impacted our labor history and our history as a Nation. Growing up, I attended an all-girls Catholic school called Lauralton Hall in Connecticut. Last year, I spoke with Lauralton's current president Barbara Griffin and discussed her research for a master's dissertation she wrote 25 years ago about Mary Norton--the first Democratic woman to serve in Congress and the first woman to chair a major committee in the House. A few weeks later, the dissertation showed up in my mailbox and I sat down with it over the holidays. After reading Barbara's dissertation, I was thoroughly impressed by Mary Norton. Her work laid the foundation that we are building on here today. And she did it all with a skillful blend of strength and compassion. Mary T. Norton led an extraordinary life. She began her social activism in Jersey City and quickly became the first woman member of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. She was elected to the House of Representatives for the 12th Congressional District of New Jersey in 1924, where she was the only woman in the House at that time who was not filling her husband's unexpired term and one of the first women to be elected to and serve in Congress. Norton served in the House until 1951, for a total of 13 terms. During her time in Congress, Norton became the first woman to chair a major committee. In fact, she was head of three committees during her time in the House: Veterans' Affairs, District of Columbia, and Labor. One of the Congresswoman's most accomplished moments came while she was chair of the Labor Committee in 1938 when the House passed the Fair Labor Standards Act. Despite much opposition to what was at the time a controversial bill and despite the first version of the legislation being rejected, the House passed the final version of the legislation by a vote of 314 to 97. The Fair Labor Standards Act was later signed into law by President Roosevelt on June 25, 1938. The Fair Labor Standards Act plays a significant role in our labor history and our history as a Nation. It is the formative legislation for the labor rights that we today take for granted--minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor laws--and greatly improved the quality of life for so many workers in our country. Congresswoman Norton was a champion for the American worker and played in integral role in passing this critical legislation that would shape our Nation for years to come. I urge my colleagues to stand with me to celebrate and honor the life and work of Congresswoman Mary T. Norton on the 70th anniversary of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the override of the President veto. As a conferee on the farm bill I worked hard to ensure that this bill includes significant improvements to the food assistance program via the nutrition title. A nation with the agricultural abundance we enjoy should not tolerate hunger among its people. This legislation makes important progress in that regard. Many of its nutrition provisions are important and deserve mention. In the interests of time, however, I will not go into them all. One of the positive aspects of the protracted process of passing the bill is that all Members have had ample opportunity to review the conference report and floor statements surrounding its passage. This is large and complex legislation, and the legislative history accumulated on its first passage and first override is an invaluable guide to Members. I found particularly helpful the statements of the distinguished chairman of the Nutrition Subcommittee, Mr. Baca, and his distinguished fellow conferee from the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Berman. Among other things, they pointed out that this legislation takes decisive steps to preserve the longstanding ability of households on the food stamp program to seek help through the judicial system when Federal rules on how the program is to be administered are not being met. Specifically, the bill provides explicit recognition of applicants' and recipients' suits to enforce the Food Stamp Act, now the Food and Nutrition Act, food stamp regulations, and civil rights regulations. This is the right thing to do and it is important. In light of the Gonzaga and Sandoval cases, some have argued that Congress did not provide this right to injured households and that instead only USDA can require States to change practices that do not comply with the Act or regulations. Those cases were about different statutes and different programs. Nonetheless, recent decisions out of Ohio and New York either questioned the enforceability of Federal regulations or imposed special hurdles plaintiffs must surmount, such as showing a particular degree of egregiousness on the part of defendants. These cases are radical departures from the history of this program and Congress's oft- demonstrated intent. I agree with Representatives Baca and Berman that the Food Stamp Program's needs are different from those in which private rights of action are narrowly construed. And, over the years Congress has recognized that. Individuals that received, or wished to receive, food assistance brought numerous cases against State and local authorities in the 1970s to enforce provisions of the Food Stamp Act, its implementing regulations, and even USDA's certification manual. They did this because USDA lacked the resources to force States to comply with its guidance and directives, including basic services standards such as emergency food stamps for the neediest. When Congress wrote the Food Stamp Act of 1977, it analyzed the results of that litigation in detail, approving some results and writing the statute to reach a different result from others. A similar pattern has continued to this day. We set high standards for the States, counties and localities that run these programs. We do that because they are serving our most vulnerable citizens with tens of billions of Federal dollars. The high standards of compliance that we apply to State and local administration of the program can be seen in our payment accuracy and quality control measurement system, one of the most extensive in the Federal Government. This system, however, does not give equal or adequate weight to improper denials of benefits as it does to payment errors to eligible households. And it does not at all address violations of the procedures set out in the statute and regulations. For example, quality control does not deal with a State's failure to operate a proper fair hearing system, with its improper disclosure of households' confidential information, or with its delay in processing applications beyond statutory and regulatory deadlines. Claimants' litigation has proven the ideal complement to the quality control system. Where a program is being run badly in a locality, or statewide, a court can issue a corrective injunction to require the State to come into compliance with Federal regulations. This is particularly important in cases where the violation may not have resulted in a denial of benefits, such as violations of privacy protections or of the requirement that only State merit systems workers make decisions about households' ability to receive benefits. Our goal has never been to punish States and so we do not concern ourselves with why the program is out of compliance. We merely seek to ensure that States comply with Federal rules when administering this program. Litigation has proven time and again that it is the ideal vehicle for that. Past Federal appellate decisions from places such as Virginia and Oregon have it exactly right: State and local administrators need to comply fully in every case. There is no half-way or partial compliance with the programs' rules. We agree with past federal appellate decisions from places such as Virginia and Oregon that state and local administrators must comply with the rules in each and every case. States must deliver benefits consistent with the program's regulations and law to ensure that the most vulnerable and needy are protected and supported as they seek to participate in the program. Litigation has proven time and again that it is the ideal vehicle to enforce compliance where States are only partially meeting program standards. In other programs, the solution to non-compliance may be reducing or terminating federal funds. That is still possible in these programs, but it cannot be a mainstay of enforcement activities. We learned that withdrawing Federal funding led to worse, not better, program administration, depriving States of the resources they needed to correct their problems at the worse possible time. Accordingly, in the last farm bill we modified quality control to place much less emphasis on reducing funding to states. USDA over the years has similarly felt that withholding funding even for serious violations is often counterproductive. It should be clear that the long history of congressional approval of litigation by needy individuals supports the continuation of that regulation. The statute's entitlement is closely linked with States' obligation to comply with Federal regulations. Particularly with some States embarking on radical changes in their administration of the program, closing offices and turning key functions over to private contractors, it is crucial that the program's intended low-income beneficiaries have access to courts to test the legality of those changes. Although I would have preferred to have expanded the protections on public administration of the program, as the House bill would have done, our acceptance of the Senate package was a compromise that ensures households' access to the courts to test these States' practices under the current restrictions.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, there are few organizations whose name is synonymous with compassion, care, and community service. The American Red Cross is one of those few. Today, in my hometown of New Haven, Connecticut, South Central Connecticut Chapter 703 celebrates its 75th anniversary. Quite a remarkable milestone for this organization and our community. It is with the greatest pride that I rise today to pay tribute to this outstanding organization, its extraordinary membership, and the many invaluable contributions they have made to our community, our state, and our Nation. Brought together by its first chairman, William Farnam, the South Central Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross was established in April 1906. The earliest records indicate that this group of volunteers were gathering supplies for Serbia as well as provisions for charitable groups throughout Greater New Haven. Shortly after our entrance into World War I, classes in home nursing were started as well as first aid programs, home services, and a corps charged with making surgical dressings. These were all volunteers--a remarkable achievement when you consider the demands brought on by the war. In fact, records from 1918 show that the Surgical Dressings department worked in an area that accommodated 1,200 workers and that in that same year, their fundraising drive included 4,000 women dressed in white, parading for the cause. One of the greatest contributions of the South Central Connecticut Chapter was the role of one of their most distinguished members in the development and implementation of the present day statewide Blood Program. The National Red Cross pioneered the Blood Program in 1936 and during World War II the Army and Navy put out a call for donations. G. Gordon Copeland was the Chapter's assistant treasurer in 1942 and is credited with initiating the Regional Blood Program in 1950. He was chosen to represent the National Red Cross at the Centenary Congress in Geneva and served on Connecticut's Advisory Board for many years. He would certainly be proud that in Connecticut, where there are no commercial blood banks, is one of only 3 states in the Nation with an entirely free, entirely volunteer program. In 1955, the Chapter had little chance to celebrate the purchase of the ``Verdi House''--what would become their permanent home on Whitney Avenue--before the most disastrous flood in Connecticut's history came upon the State, paralyzing many communities. Always at the ready, the Chapter's offices were open 24 hours a day for 4 days and then for the following 2 weeks all personnel were on 24-hour call. Providing for 30,000 Connecticut residents, the Chapter moved 7 seaworthy boats into service, and 1,000 disaster workers faced the challenge--gathering generators, short wave radio equipment, food, clothing, water, cots, blankets and medical equipment. Their quick action earned them the highest complement from then Governor Abraham Ribicoff when he described their endeavors as ``a model of humanitarian relief.'' Today, the South Central Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross boasts a volunteer base of more than 3,000 and its programs and services stretch far beyond the Blood Program and disaster relief efforts. They offer preventative programs such as swimming lessons for children, first aid and CPR training, and workshops that help parents identify dangers in the home. Our children are introduced to citizenry and community service through their Youth Program and the Social Service Department offers counsel and assistance to veterans, seniors, and those most in need. As they celebrate their 75th anniversary, the South Central Chapter of the American Red Cross not only reflects on past accomplishments but looks to what they can achieve in the future. This extraordinary volunteer organization has become an integral part of our community--their innumerable contributions touching countless lives. It is my privilege to rise today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the organization and its many members, past and present, on this very special occasion.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this week the GAO will rule on the Boeing protest of the Air Force acquisition process for the $35 billion award to replace the KC-135 air refueling tankers that went to Northrop and a European consortium team in February. The Department of Labor's employment report for May showed a loss of 49,000 jobs and an unemployment rate that increased to 5.5 percent--the biggest monthly rise since 1986. Yet this contract will not only continue but accelerate the erosion of our industrial base and skilled workforce. According to an Economic Policy Institute analysis released earlier this month, this decision will ground at least 14,000 U.S. jobs. Roughly half the parts and labor that go into making Airbus tankers will come from overseas. Producing the Airbus KC-45 tanker would support about 14,350 U.S. jobs per year, while Boeing's proposed tanker would support at least twice as many jobs--including those for high-skilled workers manufacturing engines in Middletown, Connecticut. Our economy has lost nearly 325,000 jobs since the beginning of the year. We should not be sending more jobs overseas, outsourcing our technological base. We should be creating jobs at home, supporting local innovation, and investing in our economy.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the many family, friends, and colleagues in paying tribute to my dear friend, Linda Darnell Thorpe, as she celebrates her retirement after 36 years of dedicated service as an educator with the New Haven Public School System. She has been a teacher that is not only loved by her students, but respected by her colleagues--a reflection of all that we hope and expect our educators to be. A native of New Haven, Linda was educated locally earning a B.S. in education from Southern Connecticut State University as well as an M.S. from the University of Connecticut. She began her career at the Martin Luther King, Jr. School where she taught second grade. She spent 24 years at MLK, teaching two generations of students--literally having the opportunity to teach some of the children of the young people she first taught at the beginning of her career. She has spent the last 12 years at the Edgewood Magnet School where she has taken on the challenge of educating a more diverse group of fifth and sixth grade students. I have often spoke of our nation's need for talented, creative educators ready to help our children learn and grow. Throughout her career, Linda has been just that kind of teacher. She is well-known among her colleagues as always being the first to arrive in the morning and one of the last to leave in the evening. Linda would arrive 6 o'clock in the morning and, on more than one occasion, would have to return home when it was announced that school would be closed on a snow day. Linda's deep commitment to education is best reflected in the success of her students. Her enthusiasm and energy combined with her belief that children learn best when they are active in the learning process created an environment where children not only wanted to learn, they had fun doing so. The myriad of accolades, awards, and commendations that she has received throughout the years are testimony to the positive impact she has had on her students. Her students were excited to be in her classroom and inspired to succeed. That was her gift to them. For an educator, there is no greater legacy one could leave. In a career that has spanned four decades, Linda has touched the lives of thousands of young people. She has helped to shape their education and their character--preparing them with the tools and skills they need and building a foundation on which they will enjoy future success. She has also served as an inspiration to her colleagues. Today, as she celebrates her retirement and reflects on her career, I am proud to join her longtime companion, Stanley Welch, her grandson Vinston, and all of those gathered today in extending my sincere thanks and appreciation for her outstanding and invaluable contributions. Linda Darnell Thorpe is an extraordinary woman, teacher, and friend and we are all better for having the opportunity to know her.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. Connecticut has seen a 5.5 percent increase in commuter rail usage over the first quarter of 2008 alone. As gas prices continue to skyrocket, more Americans than ever are looking for new ways to get where they are going without filling their gas tank. While thousands of Connecticut residents who live in the southern portion of the State are well served by Metro North and the Shoreline East commuter rail, there remains hardly any commuter rail options in the central portion of our State through Hartford and up to Springfield, Massachusetts. Yet New England's traffic has increased 2 to 3 times faster than its population since 1990. When 80 percent of Connecticut commuters drive to work by themselves, we must provide a better alternative. I want to commend Chairman Oberstar for his hard work on this bill. I congratulate my colleague, Mr. Murphy, whose amendment expresses support for current discussions between Amtrak and the Connecticut Department of Transportation to create a cooperative framework by which an Amtrak-owned New Haven-Springfield rail line could serve as the conduit for increased commuter rail run by Connecticut DOT. And his amendment also requires a report to Congress on uncompleted infrastructure maintenance. Expanded commuter rail service on the New Haven-Springfield line will result in an estimated 630,000 more trips a year and over 2 million passenger miles annually. The demand is there. The benefits are clear. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank Chairman Oberstar, and I thank you graciously, Mr. Shuster, for allowing me to take the time.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this budget. It represents a downpayment on our commitment to restoring middle class prosperity, a clear, practical approach to strengthen our economy, help our workforce thrive, and allow families to reach for the American Dream. Today the Bush economy continues to weigh heavily on America's families and businesses. Incomes are down; everything else is up. Gas prices, food prices, the cost of health care and higher education. This back-to-basics budget maintains fiscal discipline, reaching balance in 2012, remains in balance in 2013. If we pass this budget, it will mark the first time since 2000 that the Congress has been able to agree on a budget blueprint in an election year. What does the budget mean? Middle class tax relief, including an extension to the refundable child tax credit and the Senate reserve fund to lower the income threshold and extend the benefit to more families. Last month we recognized the importance of expanding the child tax credit, lowering the income eligibility threshold to $8,500, providing relief to more than 12 million children. It means crucial support for energy initiatives. It means enhancing our competitive edge, increasing funding for math and science education and research. And at the same time, we reject the administration's cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, first responder grants, emergency home heating assistance, and Community Development Block Grants. We bolster our economy's long-term health and help workers by making an investment in our national infrastructure and creating quality jobs, rebuilding crumbling bridges, fixing our roads, and reducing congestion, paving the way for new growth and new opportunity. I urge my colleagues to stand behind this responsible budget. It is the foundation of a safe country, a strong economy, and future growth.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman. Madam Chairman, I rise to support this amendment because no one should receive special privileges under our tax system. I want to recognize Representative Ellsworth and Congressman Emanuel for the hard work on this important issue. It is unacceptable for the Department of Defense to pay for this war by doing business with companies that siphon money from their own workers and from their own government. What does it say about our Nation and our priorities when American companies like Kellogg, Brown & Root, by far the largest contractor in Iraq, are allowed to take their Department of Defense dollars, filter them through an offshore shell company, all to avoid paying significant Social Security and Medicare taxes? Madam Chairman, we are depleting the Social Security and Medicare trust funds by hundreds of millions of dollars, and this amendment says that must end--prohibiting Defense Department contractors from using foreign shell companies to employ American workers. When tax dodgers avoid their responsibilities, the American taxpayers suffers. We cannot afford this. Support this amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO. This is domestic propaganda. It is a military- industrial-media complex in which military analysts, many who have ties with the contractors making money off of the war and parroting DOD talking points on the air to mislead the American public, and the TV networks did nothing to prevent it. I will just tell my colleagues that if you voted for the DOD appropriations bill last year, if you did, you voted to prohibit this. You've done it since 2002. Donald Rumsfeld met with these guys 18 times, told them what to say, and then, my friends, DOD hired a company to track their remarks on the TV networks. I am proud to offer this amendment with my colleagues. This has been a secret propaganda program within the Department of Defense to use military analysts to generate positive news coverage of the war in Iraq, conditions on Guantanamo, and other activities as part of the war on terror. New York Times: 75 retired military analysts briefed often by high- level officials in a ``powerfully seductive environment'' only to be found later again parroting the administration's talking points on major television news programs, over the radio and through newspapers. Also, the Times reported internal DOD documents described the analysts as ``message force multipliers'' who could be counted on to deliver the administration's themes and messages to millions of Americans in the form of their own opinions. You know, when you put analysts on the air without fully disclosing their business interests or their relationship with high-level officials, you have betrayed the public trust. This should not have happened. Unfortunately, our leaders at the Department of Defense didn't understand it. Support this amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, Sergeant Jonathan Schulze was an Iraq war veteran who committed suicide after being denied care to address his PTSD symptoms. According to the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, today, among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of suicides may exceed the number who have been killed in combat. This is a broken promise, Mr. Chairman. After asking our soldiers to sacrifice so much, we must ensure they get the care they deserve. I was proud to work with Chairman Skelton on the DeLauro-Courtney amendment to direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct a demonstration project to assess the feasibility and the efficacy of providing face- to-face postdeployment mental health screening between members of the Armed Forces and a mental health provider. The 2-year project will include a combat stress evaluation conducted by a qualified mental health professional 120 to 180 days of the date the soldier returns. And a case manager will follow up by phone over the course of another 2 years. We have no excuse for failing the soldiers who have given this Nation everything. I urge adoption of this amendment.