Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, from negative economic data on wages and consumer prices to a falling stock market, there is almost no margin for error in today's tight economy. We face an urgency and a mutual obligation to get it right and ensure no American is forced to live in those margins. Today's economy weighs very heavily on America's families--and lately, things have gone from bad to worse. In December, the unemployment rate shot up to a 2-year high of 5 percent. December's sales and consumer confidence were at a 5-year low. Oil prices topped $100 a barrel, and home foreclosures are at an alltime high. And growth last quarter slowed to a glacial .6 percent. This legislation represents a strong bipartisan agreement on an economic stimulus package that will begin to provide financial relief and income security to the middle class working Americans most at risk in a prospective recession. The Senate voted 18-16 in favor of the package to jumpstart our slowing economy and create jobs here at home, and I am proud of our quick action in both houses to get this done. Last week, the House approved strong stimulus legislation, and this version continues in that spirit with two additions expanding recovery rebates to an additional 20 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans. Our men and women in uniform fought for our Nation, and they deserve all the respect, care and support we can provide. Building on our work to extend the Child Tax Credit--and my belief that all hard-working low- and middle-income families should receive at least a partial credit--this package will ensure that any family that pays taxes and earned at least $3000 last year, will get a $300 rebate per child. The bill provides refundable child tax credit rebates to approximately 34.2 million children. Families with children will receive a total of $21.8 billion in refundable rebates, including $9.8 billion specifically in refundable child tax credits. It is long past time we finally recognize that the child tax credit should be available to all families, including those who serve in the military. With the economy in so much difficulty, this is the right approach-- immediate, focused on those who need resources and who will spend it. Unlike previous efforts to stimulate the economy, this package is focused on the middle class and provides real, not token relief. That includes $28 billion in tax relief for 35 million families who work but make too little to pay income taxes--families who otherwise would not have been included in this recovery effort, more than 19 million of them with children. To meet our obligation, to boost our struggling economy, and provide real assistance for working and middle-class Americans, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. Last year I participated in Teach for America's guest teacher program, leading a class of first graders at Clemente Leadership Academy in New Haven. I saw some of our brightest teachers, active and engaged teachers, raising expectations, building the foundations to create opportunity. That is what Teach for America is all about. The studies show that these teachers make more progress in reading and math. That's expected. They obtain significantly greater gains in math. They work in the highest need classrooms in the country. Their alumni work in full-time positions in education. They support the program's mission, and what they do is they have closed that achievement gap. Support this amendment and confront the inequity; pursue educational excellence. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to rise in support of H.R. 1528, the New England Scenic Trail Designation Act, which would designate portions of the Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett, or the MMM Trail System, as a national scenic trail. I commend Representative Olver for his leadership on this issue, and I thank him for bringing the entire region together to make this happen. This is a simple commitment to act as responsible stewards of our natural resources. We have an obligation to our communities and to generations that follow to preserve our Nation's scenic beauty, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. Now we have the opportunity to make good on that great promise, every step of the way along the 190-mile MMM trail system as it winds through 39 communities in central Connecticut and Massachusetts. The trail route, which has been in existence for over half a century, hosts numerous scenic features and historic sites. But more than that, this unique trail passes through some of the most densely populated parts of the country, 2 million people live within 10 miles of the trail, and offers users exceptional recreational opportunity near urban areas. That is why this legislation is so critical. By protecting against increasing pressures from residential subdivision growth, national scenic trail designation will provide an opportunity for long-term viability. It will offer residents safe, healthy recreation options free of smog, congestion, and stress. In an age when we are constantly trying to combat sprawl in our communities, we need to recognize that these kinds of projects are a real investment in our communities and in community spirit alike. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, from negative economic data on wages and consumer prices, to a falling stock market, there is almost no margin for error in today's tight economy. We face an urgency and a moral obligation to get it right and ensure no American is forced to live in those margins. This legislation represents a strong bipartisan agreement on an economic stimulus package that will begin to provide financial relief and income security to middle-class Americans most at risk in a prospective recession. Building on our work to extend the child tax credit, and my belief that all hardworking low- and middle-income families should receive at least a partial credit, this package will ensure that any family that pays taxes and earned at least $3,000 last year will get a $300 rebate per child. It is long past time that we finally recognize that the child tax credit should be available to all families, including those who serve in our military. With the economy in so much difficulty, this is the right approach: immediate, focused on those who need resources, and who will spend it. Unlike previous efforts to stimulate the economy, this package is focused on the middle class, and provides real, not token, relief. That includes $28 billion in tax relief for 35 million families who work but make too little to pay income taxes, but they pay sales tax, FICA tax, property taxes, families who otherwise would not have been included in this recovery effort, more than 19 million of them with children. To meet our obligation, boost our struggling economy, and provide real assistance for middle-class Americans, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, due to medical reasons I missed a suspension vote and the vote on the motion to postpone consideration of the veto message for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1154 and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1155.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, when the toys our children play with are no longer safe, government must respond. Today's bill represents a first step forward, an active response to an agency which has failed to take its regulatory responsibilities seriously for far too long, an agency that does not understand its regulatory function. We are addressing the Consumer Product Safety Commission's mandate, and trying to reform it in a meaningful way. I have been proud to work with my colleague, Congresswoman DeGette, and other colleagues from the Energy and Commerce Committee to hone, to strengthen this bill. We all recognize that the American people must be able to depend on the system responsible for protecting them. I especially want to thank Congresswoman Anna Eshoo who fought to strengthen the mandatory recall provision governing products that pose an imminent hazard. This new authority will allow the CPSC to provide notice and halt distribution without protracted legal proceedings. I am pleased that I could partner with my colleagues to strengthen this bill in other ways as well, requiring tracking labels and product registration cards for durable and nursery products, providing the additional resources the CPSC needs to get its act together, instituting a ban on industry-sponsored travel, and providing for protections for children under the age of 12. I do not believe that we have gone far enough and that we must go further. I look forward to making this bill stronger still, working through the conference to address its shortcomings. Under this bill, we must make it clear that States will not be preempted. Attorneys General should not be limited when pursuing remedies or penalties. At a time when the number of dangerous products entering our markets are skyrocketing, this is a problem we need to fix now. We should be bringing more allies to our fight, not fewer. Also, we are still not tough enough on third-party testing. There are still loopholes that leave manufacturers to conduct their own tests. The days of industry self-policing must come to an end. And I believe the current provision banning lead, although long overdue, has problematic exemptions. Health advocacy experts have testified to the need to place its threshold at 40 parts per million and urge more timely implementation. With our children's health at stake, we should listen to the experts. Government has an obligation to its citizens; it's that simple. This bill represents a first step forward in meeting that obligation, striving to make sure dangerous toys and products do not slip through the cracks and into our children's hands. During this holiday season, we cannot afford to wait any longer. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, while today's Consolidated Appropriations bill falls far short, the Democratic Congress has made sure it is far better than the President's budget request for fiscal year 2008. We have made very real changes to the administration's original budget proposal, and made real responsible investment in new domestic priorities that are long overdue. Despite absurd limitations imposed by the administration and from Republican obstructionists in Congress, we have fought to meet our obligations as a Nation and a congress. Getting our work done when we are supposed to, and getting the big things right. Yet, while we worked to find common ground, the administration played political games. Still, as chair of the FDA Agriculture Subcommittee I am proud of the bill we put together under tremendous constraints: Reinvesting in rural America--restoring $44 million for rural business enterprise and opportunity grants, $119 million over the President's request for critical water and waste programs to ensure rural areas have access to clean water, and $20.3 million for community facility grants to help rural areas build day care centers and police and fire stations. Protecting public health, increasing FDA funding by $145 million over 2007; $56 million for FDA food safety activities, with $28 million withheld until July 1 pending the submission of a comprehensive food safety plan by the FDA. A $21 million increase for drug safety and $6 million more for the FDA's Office of Generic Drugs. It has $633 million above the President's request for the WIC nutrition program; and $472 million above for bio-energy and renewable energy R&D, including loans and grants in rural areas. Mr. Speaker, this is about meeting our commitment to the American people. And, although at a much lower level, this bill finally funds our domestic priorities: from rural development to local law enforcement, Pell grants to No Child Left Behind. A new direction with new priorities for our Nation--the American people demand nothing less.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule we are considering and the bill, the AMT relief bill. Last month, this Congress stepped up. We passed responsible legislation providing millions of hardworking middle-class families with the tax cuts they need and they deserve. And we're back today, working once again to protect over 23 million middle-class families from the encroaching alternative minimum tax. In my home State, Connecticut, failing to act on the AMT would mean new taxes on 358,842 households, including almost 67,000 in my district. This is must-pass legislation for our families and for our changing economy. I commend Chairman Rangel for leading the way for providing relief in a way that allows us to get our fiscal house in order by sticking to the PAYGO rules that this Congress adopted. This legislation also includes a long overdue expansion of the child tax credit. Last year, because of the way the laws were written, 7 million children, most of them infants and toddlers, in working families across the country remained ineligible for even a partial credit. This year we do better. We return to the original intent of the child tax credit. By lowering the earnings threshold to $8,500, we will capture additional millions of children who will be eligible for the tax credit, and the families of 10 million others will receive larger refunds. With this bill, we have an opportunity to help these kids. I urge my colleagues to vote for this rule and to pass this legislation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, due to medical reasons I missed a series of suspension votes, the vote on the Motion to Close Portions of the FY08 Defense Authorization Conference Report, H.R. 1585 and the vote to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 1585. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1127, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1128, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1129, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1130, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1131, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1132, and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1133.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, due to medical reasons I missed a series of suspension votes and the vote on the Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2082, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1123, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1124, ``no'' on rollcall No. 1125, and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 1126.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we know what is possible for our Nation if we choose to move seriously and quickly down the path to energy independence. We know what this choice means. Energy independence means demanding more efficiency and smarter technology for our cars, homes, businesses and industry. Energy independence means investing in our communities and creating the resources and workforce necessary for expanding markets. It means developing new technologies that create new jobs through America's economic backbone: our innovation industries. If we want to make opportunity real for more Americans--if we want to keep our Nation strong even as our new economy continues to change-- there is no better way to do it than by investing in a new energy future. The Energy Independence and Security Act meets our obligations as a nation at every point along the spectrum: promoting renewable energy, growing our economy, creating new jobs, lowering energy prices, and beginning to address global warming. We are taking on an initiative more ambitious than ever, to be sure, but nothing less will secure our Nation's energy future. Of course, our energy challenges have never been more urgent-- threatening our environment, our economy, and our national security-- but we have been dealing with many of these issues for quite a while: As far back as 1925, Henry Ford touted ethanol as the fuel of the future. Well, more than eight decades later we still have some work to do when it comes to potential solutions like biofuels, especially in my region of the country. There are still no E85 fueling stations in Connecticut, and the first public biodiesel station in the State opened just last week. We must understand that despite some of the current drawbacks of corn-derived ethanol, biofuels are a critical first step--not so much a panacea or a solution, but a transition into a more sustainable process toward cellulosic ethanol. But the real question is: How do we respond? How do we in New England respond when access remains limited? And how do we as a Congress respond right now, as families and businesses across America struggle with skyrocketing gas prices and escalating home heating costs. Do we bury our head in the sand or do we aspire to achieve something great. If we give consumers and businesses the opportunity to be it part of a real transformation, our entire Nation will reap the benefits. It is already happening: Last year, I was very proud to help unveil the first large-scale biodiesel plant in my State, in the town of Bethlehem. Today, the BioPur Company is producing over 400,000 gallons of pure biodiesel annually and plans to double production within a year to meet the growing demand. Spurring that kind of change is why I came to the Congress, and I believe it is at the core of our mission on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee which I chair. With this year's House Agriculture Appropriations spending bill we made significant new investment--$1.2 billion; a 215 percent increase over the president's request--to promote renewable energy, strengthening research and education to make biofuels a priority and moving us further down the path to energy independence. And we can do that again today by passing the Energy Independence and Security Act, providing a historic commitment to the homegrown biofuels that will fuel our cars and trucks: diversifying our energy crops from coast to coast with a robust increase in the renewable fuels standard; requiring 9 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2008 and progressively increasing to a 36 billion gallon requirement by 2022; incentives to boost their production and increase the number of flex fuel and hybrid vehicles. And, of course, we are taking the long overdue step to increase vehicle efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020--Providing the automobile industry the certainty it needs, while offering flexibility to automakers and ensuring that we keep American manufacturing jobs and continue domestic production of fuel efficient vehicles. The Union of Concerned Scientists, UCS, reports that these higher standards will cut oil imports by 1.1 million barrels per day in 2020. That is about half the amount we currently import from the entire Persian Gulf. If these standards had already been in place this year, the average driver would have used 160 fewer gallons of gas, and saved $500. But let's not look back, when we can move forward and embrace tomorrow's great challenges. This is an investment in the generations to come. But we also have it responsibility to working and middle class families today. A 2006 study from the National Renewable Energy Lab, NREL, identified the shortage of skills and training as a leading non-technical barrier to renewable energy and energy efficiency growth. The NREL study identified a number of critical unmet training needs, including lack of reliable installation, maintenance, and inspection services, the shortage of key technical and manufacturing skills, and failure of the educational system to provide adequate training in new technologies. That is why this bill authorizes $125 million to establish national and state job training programs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency fields, training a quality workforce for ``green'' collar jobs--such as solar panel manufacturer and green building construction worker. In Connecticut we have already seen the local job growth that comes with investment and innovation in biofuel and fuel cell technology. Now, for example, this bill provides an 8-year extension of a tax credit for investments in fuel-cell properties with a credit of $3,000 per kilowatt capacity--expressed in the tax code as $1,500 per half kilowatt capacity--or 30 percent, whichever is less. Looking forward, we know that major investments in renewable energy could create 3 million green jobs nationally over 10 years. And we are doing it responsibly. This legislation does not add to the deficit and all revenue offsets resulted from bipartisan negotiations. It is time to stop talking about energy independence and start moving toward it. The American people get that and they want us to act today. It is no wonder this bill has won the support and praise from such a broad coalition of environmental, business and labor organizations-- from farm groups to faith groups, from the United Auto Workers to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. For years, President Bush has talked about breaking our addiction to fossil fuel, State of the Union after State of the Union. But now that he actually has an opportunity to make good on that promise, it seems he would rather make a hollow political gesture with his veto pen. We deserve better. This bill represents a critical turning point and bold statement: On the path toward energy independence, the status quo is not an option. There is nothing America cannot achieve if we put our minds to it, harnessing our future to our own spirit of ingenuity and innovation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the Reverend Robert Stuhlmann, members of the congregation, and the Stratford community in extending my sincere congratulations to Christ Episcopal Church as they celebrate its 300th Anniversary. This is a milestone for this community treasure and I am proud to help them celebrate. As we gather to celebrate this anniversary, we can also reflect on the inspiration the Christ Episcopal Church had in the creation of the United States of America. The Church holds a unique place not only in Connecticut's history, but in that of our nation as well. The first parishioners of this parish were actually forced to worship secretly in people's homes to avoid harassment by the then dominant Congregationalists who had fled to the New World to escape persecution by the Church of England. In fact, many of the twelve men who established the parish were jailed for their defiance of the General Court of Connecticut which deemed there could only be one church--and it was Congregational. Reverend Robert Stuhlmann, the 30th pastor of Christ Episcopal Church, has described the birth of the Anglican Church in the United States as mirroring that of our nation. Just eighty years after the formation of Christ Episcopal, the Church would play a direct role in the creation of our Constitution. Among the Connecticut delegation, the framers of the Constitution, was William Samuel Johnson, son of Samuel Johnson, the church's first resident priest. It is said that the Constitution took its final form based on the experiences of the Christ Episcopal parish as they encountered the opposition of an established religion in Connecticut. Samuel Johnson, who also served as the first president of Kings College, or what is known today as Columbia University, also left his mark on the Declaration of Independence. We all know the phrase ``life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness'' but what many may not know is that the phrase pursuit of happiness was one which Samuel Johnson frequently used in his preaching--believing that God desires humanity to be happy. Since its inception in 1707, Christ Episcopal Church has been an integral part of our community and has now grown to its current 223 parish families like 100-year old Clint Brelsford who has derived happiness as a parishioner for 97 years. Our churches play a vital role in our communities--providing people with a place to turn to for comfort when they are most in need. By strengthening our bonds of faith, Christ Episcopal gives its members a place to find their spiritual center and to solidify and support their values. The members of this special parish have also given much to the Town of Stratford. Throughout the years, as their membership grew so did their commitment to the enrichment of our community. Christ Episcopal Church is so much more than simply a place of worship--it is the center of spiritual and community life for its members. For three hundred years, Christ Episcopal Church has been a fixture in Stratford. Through their ministry and outreach efforts, they have left an indelible mark on our community and continue to enrich the lives of others. I am proud to stand today and extend my best wishes to them as they mark this milestone in their history. Happy 300th Anniversary!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to change the mission of the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and undertake their redeployment. It is time to set a real plan to end this war, fought courageously by our troops on the ground, but recklessly mismanaged by our administration at home. 2007 has been the deadliest year for American troops since the start of the war in Iraq; 860 U.S. casualties since January. And almost 1 year after the President announced a so-called surge, the Iraqi Government has made no progress toward political reconciliation and is nowhere near taking responsibility for security in all of its provinces. Without any progress or end in sight, the cost of the war continues to rise. The recent Joint Economic Committee report estimates the cost of the war at $1.3 trillion from 2002 to 2008; yet just this week the President vetoed critical funds for education, job training and health care, and, yes, he vetoed the children's health care bill. With its latest $200 billion request for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the administration has asked for a total of $800 billion, all paid for with the government's credit card. Mr. Speaker, with this bill we put forth a plan and a clear path toward change. We require the start of the redeployment of U.S. forces within 30 days of enactment, with a goal for completion of redeployment by December 15, 2008. It prohibits the deployment of U.S. troops to Iraq who are not fully trained and fully equipped, and changes the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq to diplomatic and force protection, targeted counterterrorism operations, and limited support to Iraqi security forces. And notably, the bill prohibits torture once and for all. We provide $50 billion to meet the immediate needs of the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and defer consideration of the remainder of the President's request. The President and his stubborn Republican allies in the Congress have acted recklessly in Iraq and with our Nation's standing in the world. And the American people pay the price. Our young men and women are paying the price. The Bush administration rushed to war and never had an exit strategy. If we, in the Congress, do not provide one, who will?

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join the New Haven community in celebrating the 25th anniversary of Columbus House, a shelter and service provider for the homeless of the greater New Haven region. Throughout their 25 years, Columbus House has given countless people the support they need to become self-reliant and productive members of the community, providing a path to recovery and the ability to attain their goals. The shelter was the brain child of Cynthia DeLouise, founding executive director, members of the Downtown Cooperative Ministry and the city of New Haven. Columbus House opened in November 1982 and provided shelter for its first person in need--a 19-year-old woman who needed housing and food. In the first two years, Columbus House served more than 1,000 individuals. Most all of the beds were filled by men, but in the fall of 1984, Columbus House designated 16 beds specifically for women. It was New Haven's first shelter for homeless men and women. The original mission was to provide basic food and shelter services, however, the organization quickly learned it needed to understand and address the problems that lead to homelessness. Columbus House began to broaden its mission by providing case management services in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and trauma/abuse. Columbus House has also been nationally recognized for its innovative programs. One such program is the 90-day length of stay program, in which the residents set goals for themselves and develop a timetable in which to achieve them. This program proved to be a powerful incentive tool to enroll clients into counseling and treatment services. Columbus House also charges residents a nominal fee for their stay, a practice which promotes the ultimate goal of self-reliance. The dual mission of Columbus House is what makes it so unique, remarkable and valuable to the New Haven community. Providing emergency shelter is a critical community service. Columbus House is not only emergency shelter beds; its wide array of shelter services is extraordinary. Its outreach services include a mobile crisis van and outreach workers who try to link the mentally ill with the treatment and services they require. Columbus House also launched the Citizens Project in 1996, which trains formerly homeless individuals to participate on boards and committees of social service agencies. In 2002, it implemented the mentor project which trains people in early recovery to become mentors in social service agencies throughout the community. Columbus House strives to help residents become self- sufficient and able to maintain permanent housing. In addition to providing counseling job training and medical care Columbus House aims to cultivate a sense of self-worth, self-dignity and self-reliance in those who feel that their lives are beyond their control. It is rebuilding the client's sense of self that is the key to the program's success. Columbus House gives residents the tools to handle life on their own and to effectively seek resolutions to their problems. In September 2002, Columbus House literally broke new ground with the opening of its new facility, three times the size of the former shelter. This new shelter building has increased the capacity to 101 beds, doubling the amount of clients it is able to serve. This new building is clean, safe and accessible and provides a sense of pride and accomplishment for the staff, volunteers, and all of the clients. It is unconscionable to know that homelessness remains a crisis in our communities and across the Nation; people are still hungry, seeking refuge under bridges, and living on our streets. The sad truth is that approximately 33,000 people are homeless in Connecticut, and approximately 2,000 are living in New Haven. Without the caring and compassionate work of the staff and volunteers at Columbus House, these numbers would be even more devastating. I would be remiss if I did not mention the incredible work and creative vision of Alison Cunningham, the executive director of Columbus House since 1998. It is also important to note that volunteers provide some of the most essential services of medical care, dental care, legal counseling, and spiritual guidance. Volunteers over the years have also brought gifts for holidays and have organized various fund-raising events. Our communities would not be the same without the efforts of folks such as these, whose energy, compassion, and commitment touches people's lives every day. I have tremendous admiration for community service and those who provide it. The work of caring for the homeless has become increasingly difficult. Many people no longer care about the plight of the homeless and are frustrated by the complex issues that contribute to homelessness. I commend Columbus House for facing all of the issues that surround homelessness and continuing to work every day to resolve them for the past 25 years. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone and for all the lives in need that you have quietly touched every day. I thank you, and I am grateful for over two decades of service to the greater New Haven region.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Temporary Tax Relief Act. This is sound legislation. It will provide millions of hardworking middle-class families with the tax cuts that they need. We all know this bill will protect over 23 million middle-class families from the encroaching alternative minimum tax. In my home State of Connecticut, failing to act on the AMT would mean new taxes on almost 400,000 households including 67,000 in my district. Along with addressing the AMT, I want to commend Chairman Rangel for including in the bill a long overdue expansion of the child tax credit. Last year minimum-wage families working full-time were not eligible for the tax credit, excluding almost 7 million children, most of them infants and toddlers. Military families, fighting and dying for the United States, were not eligible. With this bill, we get back to the intent of the child tax credit, providing relief to the working-class families that need it most; 2.9 million additional children will be eligible for the tax credit, and the families of 10 million others will receive larger refunds. We have an opportunity today to provide tax relief to 23 million middle-class families. Let us not fail them today, and let us not fail our children. This bill represents the values of this Nation and its priorities. I urge my colleagues to vote for the rule and pass this legislation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give voice to many of my constituents who, as we approach the fifth Veterans Day since the Iraq war began, are as concerned as ever over our seemingly endless presence in that country and the ever-dimming prospects for peace. I've received a surge of prayers from my constituents regarding the war in recent weeks and would like to read two: From Orange, Connecticut: ``Loving God, inspire our leaders in Congress to release Your spirit of wisdom, courage and love and end the war, death and suffering in Iraq.'' From Hamden, Connecticut: ``I pray that the hearts and minds of those making decisions concerning the war in Iraq be opened to finding viable, peaceful alternatives to continuing the war. I pray that the withdrawal of troops commence immediately, and continue steadily over the shortest period possible, to bring them all home. I pray that the light of God will fall upon the country and Iraq and bring about peace in that place.'' It is well past time to listen to these prayers, redeploy our troops and bring them safely home.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. It really is disingenuous when I listen to my colleague from California talk about ammo, armor and equipment from the folks who brought our young men and women into a battle without appropriate ammo, without armor, and without the appropriate equipment that they needed to be able to fight this war from the outset. In fact, it has been the Democratic majority over and over and over again who have increased that funding for our troops in the field. Let me also say to our distinguished minority leader, and you should not be fooled by the commentary, this issue is about the Labor, Health, Education and Human Services bill. And the folks who are playing games are the minority and the Republicans on that side of the aisle. This is bill where we know that we will increase funding for veterans health care, offer pay raises for active duty soldiers, provide additional support for military families. Let me just tell you what this President wants to veto: the investment in lifesaving medical research, the investment in increased education funding, and he would like to veto our being able to strengthen job training in this Nation. Two or three examples, my friends. The President's budget cuts funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health. He would cut that by $480 million. That is 800 fewer research grants than last year to study deadly diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, leukemia, Parkinson's, heart disease. We rejected that on our side of the aisle. We invest $1 billion above the President's request or roughly the cost of three days in Iraq. That's what the President wants to veto. Let's take a look at the Centers for Disease Control. When the chairwoman testified before the committee, she said we face as a nation the issue of the daily health challenges: 4 million seniors living with Alzheimer's, 583 women diagnosed with breast cancer every single day, and 176,000 teens who will struggle their entire lives with diabetes. And so if we fail to pass the Labor-HHS appropriation conference report, we cut that CDC budget by $475 million. The President wants to veto that $475 million for those efforts. Let's take a look at what he said last month, that is the President: ``Don't go backwards when it comes to educational excellence. We have come too far to turn back.'' Yet he will recall millions in Perkins loans funds and cut the special education program by $291 million. Going backwards is exactly what he is proposing to do. We invest $5.9 billion in education, the cost of just 18 days in Iraq. What will we do with it? We will benefit 8.5 million students to prepare our Nation for the 21st century economy. Let's talk about the President last week. An additional $42 billion from Congress for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that will in the next decade cost $2.4 trillion, or $8,000 per man, woman and child. Let's fight for people, not dollars, and the people of this Nation understand that.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee, and I rise in support of House Resolution 726, calling on the President of the United States and the international community to take immediate steps to respond to and to prevent acts of rape and sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur, Sudan, eastern Chad, and the Central African Republic. I was proud to introduce this resolution, and I have been proud to work with my colleague Chairman Lantos, whose attention to the crisis in Darfur has been unrelenting. His dedication made it possible to move this important legislation through the committee and onto the floor of the House so quickly. My friend Congressman Brad Miller also took a lead on this resolution, and following his trip to Darfur this summer, he has shared his unique insight about the region and our responsibility. And today it is also important to note that we have reached this point together with my colleagues from across the aisle. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen led our bipartisan collaboration, and we now have the support of more than 100 cosponsors from both parties. That broad support from Members at every point along the political spectrum makes sense because this is not a political issue; it is a moral issue. And it is urgent. We have an obligation to act and to act now. As Members of the United States Congress, we believe we must do everything in our power to protect the basic human rights of individuals around the world, and there may be no greater violation of a woman's or a girl's basic human rights than when she is a victim of rape or sexual violence. All too often during war, rape and sexual violence are used systematically as a weapon of intimidation, humiliation, terror, and ethnic cleansing. There is no other way to put it. These crimes are crimes against humanity and war crimes. And we cannot ignore them. The use of rape as a weapon of war is as prevalent today as ever. An average of 40 women are raped every day in the ongoing armed conflict in the Congo. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 women were raped during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the early 1990s. And it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped during the genocide in Rwanda. Now, as these atrocities occur in the Darfur conflict region, we must ask ourselves, again, when will we learn from history? The answer, it seems, is not soon enough for the untold number of Darfuri women and girls beaten, kidnapped, and raped, often multiple times by multiple attackers, and held as sex slaves by the Sudanese armed forces, the janjaweed, and other armed combatants. Since the current conflict began over 4 years ago, instances of rape and sexual violence have all been documented by NGOs like Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders. And the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported on widespread and systematic mass rape occurring in the region as well as grave health risks, psychological trauma, and resulting pregnancies. In July, the United Nations Security Council adopted its most recent Security Council resolution relating to Darfur in which it expressed strong concern about the ``continued and widespread sexual violence'' while ``emphasizing the need to bring to justice the perpetrators of such crimes.'' But we cannot simply talk about the downward spiral in Darfur or the conditions that have only worsened since the so-called Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in May 2006. As we saw just this weekend, peace talks in Libya appear to be breaking down because key rebel groups refuse to participate, demonstrating that we are a long way from peace and security in Darfur. We cannot sit idly by as women and children are targeted. The resolution before us today calls for action. It calls on the President and it calls on the international community to do the following: One, develop within the State Department and USAID a Women and Girls of Darfur Initiative to, among other things, provide victims and potential victims of rape in Darfur, eastern Chad, and the Central African Republic with all essential and quality medical supplies and health care services, psychological counseling, and legal advice; Two, to ensure that a hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force is deployed that can properly protect women and girls from and respond to acts of rape and sexual violence; And, three, through the U.N. Security Council, find Sudan in noncompliance with its obligations to protect women and girls and call on Khartoum to bring perpetrators of rape and sexual violence to justice. Our State Department and USAID must make this a top priority. As the rape and murder in Darfur goes on, the perpetrators of these atrocities go unpunished. And while the rhetoric of the administration and the international community have hit the mark, their action has fallen far short. Too much is at stake to allow these atrocities to continue. We have the power, the will, and the moral obligation to stop sexual violence and rape in the Darfur conflict region. There is no reason that we stand by when we should be acting. I plead with my colleagues to understand what women and girls are undergoing in Darfur and to please pass this resolution. Let's act together in the best interests of women and girls around the world.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed rollcall vote No. 891 regarding ``Recognition of Hunters across the U.S.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye''.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this rule to allow the House to consider the Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act. This is important legislation. It would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a standard to minimize worker exposure to diacetyl, which is an artificial butter flavoring chemical that has been linked to irreversible, deadly lung disease known as ``popcorn lung.'' By passing this rule and bill, we meet our obligation to protect thousands of American workers and ensure the public health. More than 7 years ago, a physician contacted the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to report eight cases of fixed obstructive lung diseases, bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as ``popcorn lung,'' in workers from a Missouri microwave popcorn plant. Follow-up investigations by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found diacetyl to have caused the lung disease. Since that time, cases of popcorn lung have been identified in microwave popcorn workers in several States: Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey, and Illinois. In all, NIOSH conducted six investigations at 10 microwave popcorn facilities, finding respiratory impairment among workers at a majority of the plants. The science on this chemical's danger is clear. Beyond the NIOSH investigations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for health care providers to report additional suspected cases of respiratory disease in workers exposed to food-flavoring chemicals. That was 5 years ago. This past April, the CDC again recommended that employers implement safety measures to minimize worker exposures to flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl. When I asked Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, during an appropriations budget hearing why OSHA was dragging its feet on issuing an ``emergency temporary standard,'' she responded, ``This is a difficult evaluation because of the relative lack of specific scientific information concerning the health effects of diacetyl and other butter flavoring chemicals.'' Indeed, we should not be too surprised by the fact that, even after all these years, OSHA has failed to issue a standard to protect workers from exposure to diacetyl, preferring to rely instead on voluntary efforts. The science is there. Scientists have called diacetyl's effect on workers' lungs ``astonishingly grotesque.'' They likened it to ``inhaling acid.'' Workers who are exposed to diacetyl today cannot afford to wait. This legislation would require engineering controls, respiratory protection, exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, and worker training. It would also apply to popcorn manufacturing and packaging as well as to the food flavorings industry. Let me just tell you what the industry has done. ConAgra Foods and Pop Weaver, two major producers of microwave popcorn, have already announced that they will no longer used diacetyl to flavor their microwave popcorn because they understand it. They see the science and know that we have to act. We have a responsibility in this body to both consumers and to workers. Yesterday, however, Kraft Foods announced a new toasted butter flavor which contains diacetyl; in fact, Kraft Company flavorist, Susan Parker, told reporters, ``To some customers diacetyl is not an issue; to others, it is. We're moving forward to formulating solutions to meet customer need.'' But what Kraft fails to realize and fails to mention is that diacetyl is an issue for all workers. This much we know, and that is why we need this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this rule.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, we know what is possible for our Nation, if we choose to move seriously and quickly down the path to energy independence. We know what this choice means. Energy independence means demanding more efficiency and smarter technology for our cars, homes, businesses, and industry. Energy independence means investing in our communities and plugging their resources and workforce into vibrant, expanding markets. It means developing new technologies that create new jobs through America's economic backbone: our innovation industries. If we want to make opportunity real for more Americans--if we want to keep our nation strong even as our new economy continues to change--there is no better way to do it, than by investing in a new energy future. This bill--The New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act--makes investments across the spectrum, to promote renewable energy, grow our economy, create new jobs, lower energy prices, and begin to address global warming. It is time to reduce our reliance on foreign oil--an addiction that threatens our environment, our economy, and our national security. It is an ambitious initiative, to be sure, but nothing less will secure our nation's energy future. It is time to stop talking about energy independence, and start moving toward it. We can do that today with this legislation, by providing a historic investment in homegrown biofuels and giving incentives for plug-in hybrid vehicles rather than Hummers. We can promote and improve the use of truly efficient products from mass transit and fleets of cars to lighting and buildings, and we are finally doing our part, to make the federal government a leader in reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. But this is not just about specific provisions from today's important legislation. It is also a recognition that by embracing tomorrow's great challenges we create great opportunity. That when it comes to addressing those energy challenges--from the soaring price of gas to rising temperatures around the world to the dangerous actions of hostile regimes abroad--we need the right leadership with clear direction and bold vision. That there is nothing America cannot achieve if we put our minds to it, harnessing our future to our own spirit of ingenuity and innovation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2707 reauthorizing the activities of the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program through FY 2012. Passed in 1998, the original amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965 authorized the Secretary of Education, in consultation and cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior, to make grants to nonprofit educational organizations established to research, display, interpret, and collect artifacts related to the history of the Underground Railroad. I commend my colleague Representative Kucinich for his hard work on this issue and this legislation. Since its passage, the program's centerpiece in Cincinnati--the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center--has become a nationally important cultural center and valuable education resource center, reaching more than 160,000 school-age children and their teachers who have toured the Freedom Center. The changing exhibitions as well as the pre- and post- visit teaching curriculum have offered valuable opportunities for our children to learn from and be inspired by the lessons of the history of the Underground Railroad. I am also proud of Amistad America, an initiative based in New Haven, Ct., which has been able to receive funding from the Department of Education through The Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. By bringing together local organization advocates, educators, and historians, the Amistad America recognizes and honors the historical and educational significance of the Freedom Schooner Amistad Ship. In 1839, 53 Africans were illegally kidnapped from Sierra Leone and sold into the transatlantic slave trade. The captives were brought to Havana, Cuba, aboard the Portuguese vessel Tecora, where they were fraudulently classified as native-born Cuban slaves then sold to Spaniards Jose Ruiz and Pedro Montez, who transferred them to the coastal cargo schooner, La Amistad. While being transferred from Havana, Cuba, up the coast in the Amistad, the African captives revolted after 3 days and ordered the schooner to head east back to their native Africa. On the evening of the rebellion, the Amistad was secretly directed back west and up the coast of North America, where after 2 months the Africans were seized and arrested in New London, Ct. The captives were jailed and awaited trial in New Haven, Ct. The case became historic when former President John Quincy Adams argued on behalf of the enslaved Africans before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning their freedom. This summer the Freedom Schooner Amistad, a recreation of the original Amistad embarked from New Haven on its first transatlantic voyage to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. The journey is an opportunity to call to public attention the evils of slavery, the struggle for freedom, and the restoration of human dignity. As with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, each of these institutions remind us that even the darkest hours of our Nation's history can ultimately provide the tools for change.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the family, friends and colleagues who have gathered this evening to celebrate the retirement and the remarkable contributions to our community of Dr. Kay Hill--one of my dearest friends. An educator, mentor, advocate, and friend, Kay has touched the lives of tens of thousands through her teaching, writing, and constant self-learning, even as she devoted herself to her family, through tough times and good times. Upon graduation from Yale University, Kay began her career with the New Haven Public Schools system as an English as a Second Language instructor at the Welch School. Just a year later, she became the Supervisor of the World Language Program for 38 elementary, middle and high schools. Through intelligence, a strong work ethic, and compassion, Kay has earned the love and respect of her students and colleagues alike. It has been under her leadership that the program has grown from 24 to 80 teachers and currently has 6,370 foreign language students and 690 dual language students enrolled. Perhaps the most telling examples of the success of this program have been the outstanding achievements of its students who have excelled at the state COLT poetry recitation contest as well as on national and state exams. Kay has always had a passion for foreign language and education. To understand her enthusiasm and her deep commitment to education, one only has to look to the inspiration she received from her parents. Her mother traveled to Paraguay at a young age on a missionary trip sponsored by her Mennonite church. It was during her time with this program that she learned the Spanish language--a passion which she passed on to Kay. Kay's father had an illustrious career as a minister with the Church Center for the United Nations and later as a minister for world peace in Tampa, FL. Even in his retirement, he continued to make a difference as writer and editor of a social justice newsletter. Like so many of us, Kay took the lessons she learned as a child and made her own mark on the world. In her position as supervisor for the World Language Program, she traveled extensively, opening the doors of opportunity for her students. Her first trip was to Russia where she and 30 students spent 3\1/2\ weeks touring the country visiting Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Nizhny Novgorod. Kay's dedication to education--especially foreign language education--has been recognized on many levels. She attended an international conference for compensatory education in Paris where she was the only educator representing the United States and was sent by the Connecticut Department of Education to recruit and interview prospective educators. Just last year, Kay traveled to China with a group sponsored by the Chinese government aimed at learning more about their culture and to promote Chinese language education. As an educator, Kay's leadership and vision opened many doors to her students, however, it is through her dedication and love as a parent that one truly sees the difference she can make in the life of a young person. As the mother of an autistic child, Kay has diligently sought out every possible program and opportunity for her son, Peter, to learn and grow--and what a young man he is. She and her husband, Mitch, make each other stronger, as they knock down the barriers that fate has put in front of them. Reflecting their determination and leadership, their daughter, Lily, recently co-chaired the annual State Prejudice Reduction Conference--a leadership conference of more than 1,000 students from across the state. I also must take this opportunity to thank Kay for her many years of special friendship. As an educator, parent, and colleague, Kay has inspired greatness in others, including myself--leaving an indelible mark on their lives. I am proud to join her husband, Mitch, her children, Peter and Lily, as well as all of the friends and colleagues who have gathered this evening to extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Kay Hill as she celebrates her retirement.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join the community of my hometown, New Haven, CT, as friends, colleagues, and community leaders gather to celebrate a remarkable milestone--the 100th anniversary of the New Haven County Bar Association. Founded in the late 18th century and incorporated in 1907, this organization serves as the professional association for judges, attorneys, and legal paraprofessionals throughout the greater New Haven area. As one can see from the historical exhibition currently on display at the New Haven Museum and Historical Society, the legal community has long played a unique and integral role in the rich history of New Haven. From the earliest days of the colony and the Amistad case in the 1840s through the Black Panther trial in the 1970s and Connecticut v. Griswold in 1965, New Haven attorneys and judges have been at the center of legal decisions which have helped to define our Nation. Beyond those cases which garnered national attention, the exhibit also reminds us of the many local lawyers who had a significant impact on the character of our community. Theophilus Eaton wrote the laws of the New Haven Colony in the 1600s, Joseph Sheldon actively hired African- American law students in the 1880s and was influential in the development of the American Red Cross, Geroge Dudley Seymour who was known for his dedication to civic duty in the 1900s, and Mary Manchester, who, in 1938, was the first woman to be named a law partner in Connecticut. Today, the New Haven County Bar Association is more than simply a professional association. It supports its members in many ways including continuing legal education programs, new attorney mentoring opportunities, annual social events and working to foster relations between its members and the courts. The Bar Association is also the sponsor of the New Haven County Lawyer Referral Service--a not-for- profit public service that, for more than 50 years, has referred members of the public to private attorneys experienced in the appropriate field of law. The Bar Association also works closely with its charitable arm, the New Haven County Bar Foundation, Inc., which provides charitable outreach and educational programming. As members gather this evening in celebration of the New Haven County Bar Association's 100th anniversary, we pay tribute to the many invaluable contributions the legal minds of our community have made locally, statewide, and nationally--but most importantly for the countless hours of hard work they do every day for their clients. While New Haven certainly has had its share of compelling legal cases which have caught the public's attention, more often than not, our lawyers, judges, and legal paraprofessionals are working on cases which--while they may not make national headlines--have a real impact on the lives of those they are representing. For the outstanding work they do every day and for the many contributions they make to our community, I am honored to stand today to extend my sincere congratulations to the New Haven County Bar Association and its membership as they celebrate their centennial anniversary.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield myself 2 minutes. I rise in strong opposition to this amendment from the gentleman from Texas to cut the Community Facility grant program. These are grants, please understand, that assist in the development of central community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population. These are small communities, low populations, low income, and they receive a higher percentage of the grants. What are they used for? To construct, enlarge, improve community facilities. What are those community facilities? It is about health care, public safety, community, public services. When you have seen what has happened to rural America with the loss of jobs, globalization, you have families and livelihoods which have become marginal, you also see the fabric of the community and those institutions cannot be sustained, and these things go away. And so that the local community has an opportunity to create some of these services that are necessary, it is vital to small communities, to impoverished communities. And they build fire stations, hospitals. They purchase ambulances and other critical facilities. And if you don't deal with the health care where they have limited availability and accessibility, we are going to continually have a shortage of health care providers in rural America, and that is a disaster. Major investments in transportation, telecommunications, and other critical services are necessary in many rural areas, and local tax bases are unable to support necessary investments and improvements. And we know what the topography is in rural areas with the remoteness from metropolitan areas adds only to their difficulties. This is essential, this program, to really help communities get a critical infrastructure. This is building infrastructure in rural America, which every report, every study says we need to do in order to reenergize and revitalize rural America. I urge you not to vote for this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.