Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to control the remaining time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Montana's words are eloquent. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\3/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, with this supplemental appropriations bill, we continue to confront urgent business which the 109th Congress left unfinished last year and which the President continues to want to leave unfinished. Today, that includes an important relief package for agricultural disasters which occurred in 2005, 2006 and 2007. I do not have to remind my colleagues about so many instances of devastation that have struck every corner of our Nation. And the President's response to these disasters is, ``You are on your own.'' With severe drought in the Midwest, wildfire in the Southwest and floods in the Upper Plains, the United States Department of Agriculture designated nearly three-quarters of all U.S. counties as primary or contiguous disaster areas over the past 2 years. Hardworking farmers struggling just to get by, struggling to deal with each disaster's painful consequences, struggling to understand their deeply felt impact on our businesses, our communities, on our everyday lives. What is the President's response? ``You are on your own.'' These events are described by many as ``slow-motion disasters,'' but they are disasters nonetheless. And we cannot turn our backs on those who are hit hardest. Indeed, we have a responsibility to look honestly at all of the hard choices which have been put off far too long by this Congress and our President. Outside the gulf region, there has been no disaster assistance in the past 2 years, even though natural disasters hit our farmers hard. In 2000 and 2001, we had disaster assistance bills that cost over $11 billion in one year and $14 billion in the other. Our proposal is a fraction of those. While some time has passed since these natural disasters occurred, it does not mean that they have ceased to be emergencies, and it does not mean that we no longer have an obligation to help those in need. What the Democrats tonight are telling those who are struggling in the face of these disasters is that you are not alone. We are on your side. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. DeLAURO. I would like to recognize the gentleman from Minnesota, the Chair of the Agriculture Committee (Mr. Peterson) for 2 minutes.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join Connecticut NOW and all of those gathered in extending my sincere congratulations to my good friend, Dr. Carolyn Mazure, as she is honored with this year's Elizabeth Blackwell Award. Carolyn is a remarkable woman whose outstanding accomplishments have had significant impacts on women's health research. Each year, Connecticut NOW presents the Elizabeth Blackwell Award to an individual for ``outstanding achievements in facilitating women's holistic health: emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual.'' I cannot think of a more appropriate or deserving recipient that Dr. Carolyn Mazure. She has dedicated her professional life to the advancement of women's health. Perhaps her most important contribution, to her field and to women everywhere, is the establishment of Women's Health Research at Yale--a program dedicated to advancing the study of women's health and gender differences across all areas of biomedical and psychosocial study. Carolyn first came to New Haven to complete her postgraduate education at Yale University. Upon completion of her degree she was offered a faculty position at Yale--the University could not have made a wiser investment. Beginning her career as a clinician and researcher, Carolyn has built a distinguished reputation as a recognized scholar, esteemed clinician, teacher, mentor, and accomplished administrator. It was through her unique vision and respected understanding of the value of gender-specific research and data that Women's Health Research at Yale was developed. Carolyn has served as the organization's director from its inception--setting a new standard of practice for medical research. In under a decade, Women's Health Research at Yale has initiated work and issued invaluable findings on some of the most pressing problems in women's health. The genetics of breast and ovarian cancer; the role of estrogen in memory; cancer screening in HIV-positive women; prevention of domestic violence; and gender differences in cardiovascular disease are just a small example of the more than 50 major projects they have initiated to date. This research, combined with the program's active educational community outreach, has translated new findings into practice as well as influencing public policies on health--making a real difference in the lives of women across the country. I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Carolyn for many years and have often found myself in awe of her energy and enthusiasm. I have had the honor to introduce Carolyn on two of three occasions she provided testimony to the U.S. Congress regarding the importance of research on women's health and it was without hesitation that I supported her nomination for the 2005 American Association of University Women Achievement Award. I am grateful to Carolyn for her inspiring vision of what truly comprehensive medicine can be and so proud to have the opportunity to work with her. Carolyn is a visionary leader who not only possesses the ability to explain the issues that confront us, but to also identify the path that stimulates change and builds alliances that unite us. She is dedicated to the common good and draws us to shared goals through her personal warmth and deep convictions. Guided by clear thinking, intense intellectual curiosity as well as integrity and honesty--this is a woman who has a genuine concern for the well-being of others and is committed to improving our lives and those of women in the future. I could not be more pleased to rise today to join Connecticut NOW, family, friends, colleagues and community members in extending my heart-felt congratulations to Dr. Carolyn Mazure as she receives this very special award. Carolyn has left an indelible mark on her field, our community and indeed our nation. It is a legacy that will continue to influence public policy and the health of women for generations to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Let's be clear. The 2008 budget resolution, the Democratic proposal leaves the tax cuts in place, it plans for their extension, and it extends the child tax credit and will do that. If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle cared a whit about the child tax credit, they would entertain lowering the eligibility threshold so that families who make less than $10,500 a year in this Nation could be eligible for the child tax credit. They refuse to do that. So take their words with a grain of salt today, my friends. As a nation, we face great challenges, challenges in education and in health care, challenges that the Federal Government has the ability, the capacity, the resources and the moral obligation to help us meet. Our job is to help create real opportunity, to give people the tools that they need to succeed. The budget that we consider today reflects our Nation's values and puts us on the right path to meet our obligations. I am proud of the work that we have done with this budget because I believe it addresses our most urgent priorities, and for the first time in 6 years we have a budget that makes an investment in children and in families. It puts children first by addressing their health care needs. It rejects the inadequate funding level proposed by the President for the SCHIP, the children's health care program. Our Nation's health care problems have become increasingly desperate. SCHIP is virtually the only success story that we have, covering nearly 1 million more children and working families today than even President Clinton anticipated when he created it. And Republicans agree. Recently, I received a letter from my Republican Governor from the State of Connecticut saying as much. This expands coverage to the estimated 6 million children eligible but not currently enrolled in SCHIP. This budget focuses on education. A quality education is more closely tied to our economic prosperity than ever. It is critical to staying competitive in today's global economy. The President's budget reduces our commitment to education investment for a third year in a row. As we face record school enrollments, the academic requirements under No Child Left Behind and rising college costs, to say nothing of increased competition from China and India, the President's budget takes us in the wrong direction for this country. Now is the time to invest more in education and not less. The funding allows for an infusion of new resources for No Child Left Behind and IDEA, where the Federal Government has a promise to keep, and it works to make higher education more affordable through a commitment to the Pell Grants. Madam Speaker, I support this rule. I support this budget. It represents a commitment to fiscal responsibility and a greater investment in our future.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with the pride and excitement that I rise today to join our community and the State of Connecticut in congratulating this year's NCAA Division II Women's National Basketball Champions, the Southern Connecticut State University Owls. Led by coach Joe Frager and the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Kate Lynch, the Owls earned the national title after a 61-45 win over previously undefeated Florida Gulf Coast--making the victory that much more thrilling. Unlike the Division I tournament, where teams are seen from coast to coast throughout the season and information on the strengths and challenges of each team are well documented, the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University began their journey with little knowledge about any of the opposing teams. They did not waiver from the teamwork that brought them to the tournament. Navigating this uncharted territory with the trust they built throughout the season and an indomitable spirit, the Owls steadily moved through the tournament. With four teammates posting double figures in the final game against Florida Gulf Coast, the Owls cruised to a blow-out victory and proudly brought the championship trophy home, where they were greeted with a confetti-strewn welcome. The people of Connecticut are tremendously proud of the Owls, who have set an example for us all with their teamwork and standard for perfection. This victory was a team effort--because of their hard work, absolute determination and a commitment to teamwork on and off the court, these talented young women have earned the title champions. Their outstanding success and unbridled enthusiasm for the game will certainly be remembered, serving as an inspiration for future players. It is with my heartfelt congratulations that I stand today to honor the women of the Southern Connecticut State University basketball team on this outstanding victory. They played hard, they played smart, and they have made us all proud. Go Owls!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to honor Dr. Christopher Coppola as he is honored by his alma mater, Xavier High School, with their distinguished Saint Francis Xavier Award. This prestigious award recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding character and leadership--qualities which are at the core of an Xavier education. Chris has achieved many great accomplishments throughout his life. He is a loving husband and father, dedicated pediatric surgeon, and proud member of the United States Air Force. It was just last year that Chris, a member of the 859th Surgical Operations Squadron, was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his 4 month tour, Chris fought to save the lives of hundreds--American and Iraqi alike. It was from his experiences there that he recently published the book, ``Made a Difference for That One: A Surgeon's Letters Home From Iraq.'' As a doctor and surgeon, Chris has witnessed a myriad of incidents and battled to save the lives of countless patients. Even with all of his experience, Chris was unsure of what he might find waiting for him in Iraq. He began writing to his wife, Meredith, and family as a way to purge the horrific scenes he saw day in and day out. Chris wrote about every aspect of the war--from what he was eating to descriptions of the patients he was treating. One of the most telling letters described his experience with two young girls whose home had been fire bombed. Both burned badly, Chris and the surgical team fought to save them-- unfortunately they lost one. In a twist of fate, Chris also saved the life of a man whom he later discovered was responsible for the bombing of the girls' home. Meredith saved all of Chris's letters, often sharing them with their three sons and other family members. Chris is one of my cousins and I received a package from his parents containing some of his letters. I was touched, not only by his description of his experience, but by the dedication and commitment he showed to his own mission. I was proud to discover that, upon his return home, Chris and Meredith decided to publish this poignant collection of letters and use the book as a means to further support members of our military and their families. All of the proceeds from the sales of ``Made a Difference'' will be donated to the Fisher House Foundation, an organization which supports America's military and their families in times of need. Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates ``comfort homes,'' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times--during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. As a husband, father, doctor, surgeon, and Air Force Major, Chris has touched countless lives--exemplifying the very spirit of Xavier's educational mission and I cannot think of a more fitting recognition than the Saint Francis Xavier Award. It is with great pride that I rise today to join all of those gathered to join his wife, Meredith, his parents, Dr. Paul and Eileen Coppola, family, friends, and Xavier High School in congratulating Dr. Christopher Coppola on this very special occasion.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and its reauthorization. I commend the congresswomen who have spoken tonight, Mrs. Myrick and Ms. Baldwin, for their dedication to this important program and for their work to ensure its continued success. Cancer is a disease that affects almost all Americans in one way or another. It is as indiscriminate a disease as you can find. It does not care about your age, your family, your sex, your race, your religion. It reminds us that we are human and we are vulnerable. But as every survivor knows, it brings out our resilience, our strength, and it makes us value and really savor every moment of our lives afterward, and I can say that as a survivor of ovarian cancer. It has also taught us just how critical early detection can be; and when detected at its earliest stages, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is nearly 98 percent. When detected at its earliest stages, the 5-year survival rate for cervical cancer is more than 92 percent. However, many women have limited access to life-saving early cancer detection. So in 1990, Congress created a National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and I was proud to be part of that effort. It provides access to critical breast and cervical cancer screening services for underserved women in the United States, especially those at high risk for breast cancer, including minority women and women with a family history of breast cancer. Since its launch, the program has served more than 2.9 million women, and it has provided more than 6.9 million screening examinations and diagnosed more than 29,000 breast cancers; 94,000 precursor cervical lesions; and 1,800 cervical cancers. Any way you look at it, these numbers represent incredible success, and they translate into lives saved. We have made tremendous progress in the fight against cancer, but there is no doubt we have a long way still to go. Today, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program reaches only 20 percent of eligible women. We need to work together to make sure that all women can take advantage of the medical advances we have seen, so that everyone has a fighting chance of beating this disease. That is why this legislation is so important. It provides this critical and proven program with the resources for 147,000 more screenings per year. Through a five-State demonstration project it extends assistance to rural communities and special populations, providing an emphasis on education and on outreach, while ensuring that women continue to have access to life-saving screening services. Reauthorization is critical. We know that more challenges lie ahead, and so we must keep up the drumbeat. Outreach, education, screenings: these make early detection possible. They make beating cancer possible. They are powerful tools that give us real hope. We do a lot of things in this institution. We deal with roads, bridges, any number of parks. This is life and death.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this week Congress takes up its obligation to finally change course in Iraq. This week as we enter the fifth year of the Iraq war, more than 3,200 American lives have been lost, tens of thousands more are wounded, and sectarian violence threatens to spill over into the entire Middle East with no prospect for a stable, constitutional democracy in Iraq in sight. We must judge this war not for what we wish it were, but for what it has so clearly and tragically become, a mistake of historic proportions. I believe America should be sending a clear signal by beginning to reduce our troop levels now so the Iraqi Government takes responsibility and diplomacy can begin for real. I support phased redeployment over the next year and will seek every opportunity to mandate such change in law. Let us serve our men and women fighting overseas and recognize their sacrifices by charting a new course in Iraq. By voting for this supplemental appropriations bill, we vote for accountability in Iraq. We vote to force a change in policy and in law, requiring a phased, responsible redeployment of our troops over 12 to 18 months. There are too many lives at stake here, and, personally, I have crossed the Rubicon on this war. Regardless of whether this bill is blocked by a filibuster from Senate Republicans or a threatened veto from President Bush, we must support this bill today. Passing this bill in the House will be the first formal act, the first step toward requiring a new course in Iraq. We all know our troops will do anything their country asks. But let us make sure their courage and their sacrifices advance a mission that enhances our security and our interests. We need to begin reducing our troops and pursuing a new strategy in order to achieve a stable Iraq, a peaceful Middle East, and a more secure America. That is our obligation. Let us honor it by voting in favor of this supplemental bill.

Mrs. DeLAURO

Mrs. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, due to a death in the family, I missed a series of suspension votes, the vote on Water Quality Investment Act and the Living Kidney Organ Donation Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall number 121, ``yea'' on rollcall number 122, ``No'' on rollcall number 123, ``Aye'' on rollcall number 124,``yea'' on rollcall number 125, and ``yea'' rollcall number 126.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Chairman, the National Labor Relations Board was created to ensure that workers enjoyed the same freedom of association in the workplace that they did in the political arena, to guarantee free and fair union elections. And today the democratic principles in the workplace that built our vibrant middle class are at risk. Instead of holding companies who violate labor law accountable for their actions, the board routinely rules on the side of employers. In my community we have had several disputes in which a strong, just NLRB would make such a difference: employees at a hospital, a uniform company, graduate teaching assistants at a local university. The time has come for Congress to reform the NLRB. That is why I support the Employee Free Choice Act. It simplifies the organizing process. It expands remedies for employer interference and intimidation. It commits labor and management to collective bargaining. This legislation is about standing up for the efforts of working people to improve their lives, honoring their commitment and dedication that they bring to their jobs. It is our core responsibility as government to support the Employee Free Choice Act.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this week the Congress finally takes up its obligation to change course in Iraq. We have arrived at a new moment. Few responsibilities are more solemn for a Member of this body than one in which he or she is obligated to register a vote of no confidence in their President in a time of war. Under different circumstances, I think most Americans would want to give their President the benefit of the doubt on matters of war, that they would want to trust the President's judgment to do what is right for our country, for our national security interests, and for our troops and their families who never leave our prayers. It is a measure of how desperate matters have become in Iraq that the Congress considers this resolution of disapproval. Today, we find ourselves embroiled in a war that is not winnable, a religious war that is inconsistent with our original mission there, a war the American people no longer support. And with 3,100 American lives lost, sectarian violence threatening to spill over into the entire Middle East, and no prospect for a stable, constitutional democracy in Iraq in sight, today we consider this war for not what we wish it were but for what it has so clearly and tragically become, a mistake of historic proportions. As such, I will support this resolution opposing the escalation of this conflict. And with this debate, the Congress takes up its constitutional responsibilities with a sense of urgency and accountability that the public so desperately seeks from us. For too long the Congress has asked too few questions and been all too willing to put politics and ideology before our Nation's security. To be sure, matters of war are the most serious that I will deliberate over in the United States Congress. Indeed, such a vote was my first in the Congress in 1991. But with this moment, Congress now has the opportunity to take the country into a new phase of this war. To me, nothing matters more than getting this right. Four years ago, I voted against authorizing the President to go to war because, as I said on this House floor, I believed taking unilateral action against Iraq would ``weaken our moral authority, our military effectiveness and our ability to keep events under control afterwards.'' Today, 1 month into the new Congress, and for the first time since the previous majority rushed to authorize this war in October of 2002, every Member of this institution, Democrat or Republican, will face a different choice. With the situation so clearly out of control, Members can trust President Bush one more time as he escalates the conflict in Iraq, or they can support a change in direction that begins to redeploy our troops out of Iraq, that uses our military in the right way, to make our country safer and raise America's standing so that we have both allies and moral authority to address our threats. To be sure, of all the concerns we take to the floor with, it is the deteriorating welfare of our troops that is most alarming. Of course, every American takes comfort in the heroism and the determination that our soldiers have shown. They have performed magnificently, but they have been charged with an impossible mission that undermines their incalculable sacrifice and has strained our military in countless ways, from manpower to morale. As the father of one marine whose son has been deployed for the second time to Iraq wrote to me, ``You forget what it is like to actually sleep through the night without waking up to the horrible thought that you might not ever see your son again.'' Mr. Speaker, we all know our troops will do anything their country asks of them, but let us not ask them to escalate an unwinnable war. Today, virtually everyone agrees we need a new strategy, everyone, that is, except for the President who continues to pursue an objective the consensus judgment of our Nation's intelligence agencies says has no chance of success. Indeed, in proposing an escalation of the current strategy, the President rejects conclusions drawn by the National Intelligence Estimate, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, his own generals and, perhaps most importantly, the American people. In so doing, he sends what could be as many as 170,000 troops into a civil war that is being waged along sectarian fault lines that have existed for more than 1,300 years. Such a policy will not only make matters worse, in my view and that of the Iraq Study Group. It will also postpone Iraqis taking responsibility and postpone diplomatic efforts that we so urgently need to reach a political settlement in Iraq and avoid an all-out civil war that spills into the entire Middle East. Mr. Speaker, I am not willing to stand here in the well of the House of Representatives and not move to change our policy in Iraq. There are too many lives at stake, our security at stake. I support the conclusions and recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, but I have crossed the Rubicon on this war. I support phased redeployment over the next year and will seek every opportunity to mandate such a change in law. But that begins with stopping this escalation Mr. Speaker, I harbor no illusions about the President's willingness to hear this message from the Congress. Before long, it may be necessary to mandate reductions in troop levels. But the President must understand that the public and the Congress do not support his policies in Iraq--that if we can even hope to achieve a stable Iraq, a peaceful Middle East and a more secure America, our strategy must change. That is what this vote of no confidence is about. That is our obligation-- let us honor it.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the Reverend Anthony Kopka, members of the congregation, and the Stratford community in extending my sincere congratulations to St. Joseph's of Stratford National Catholic Church as they celebrate its 100th Anniversary. This is a remarkable milestone for this community treasure and I am proud to help them celebrate this momentous occasion. St. Joseph's was first organized in Bridgeport, Connecticut by a group of Polish Catholic immigrants in 1907 and later moved to Stratford, Connecticut after building a new church complex. St. Joseph's was born out of the congregation's desire to exercise more control over their parish. It was important to the Polish congregants that their church be led by a Polish priest, services held in Polish-- in all, it was of the utmost importance to the congregants that their ethnic traditions and customs be preserved. In an effort to meet these needs, the Church became a part of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC)--a denomination which began in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The PNCC blends traditional Apostolic and Catholic teaching with American democracy which is governed by a constitution patterned after that of the United States. The Church established executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government at national, diocesan, and parish levels. The result is a democratic Catholicism that among other things provides for ownership of parish property by the congregation, a voice and a vote for every member in most matters of the parish, and the election of parish delegates to meet with clergy at synods to elect bishops and determine church policy. Since its inception in 1907, St. Joseph's has been an integral part of our community and has now grown to its current 300 parish members from 20 different Connecticut communities. 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, St. Joseph's gives its members a place to find their spiritual center and to solidify and support their values. The members of the St. Joseph's have also given much to the City of Bridgeport and the Town of Stratford. Throughout the years, as their membership grew so did their commitment to the enrichment of our community. For 100 years, the St. Joseph's of Stratford National Catholic Church has been a fixture in communities of Bridgeport and 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 very best wishes to them as they mark this milestone in their history. Happy 100th Anniversary!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation that would recognize the African American spiritual as a national treasure, and would like to say thank you to my colleague from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) with whom I introduced this legislation in the Congress, as well as my colleagues on the floor this morning, the gentlewoman from California and the gentleman from Michigan, and also the chairman, Mr. Miller, for bringing the bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, even though they sprang from one of the darkest periods of our Nation's history, a period of turmoil that Americans still live with to this day, as we all know, African American spirituals have inspired many of America's most remarkable and enduring musical accomplishments. Name the modern music form, and it owes a debt to the spiritual. Jazz, blues, rock and roll, gospel all trace their origins to this particular musical heritage. Today people around the world play, listen to, and find the deepest of inspiration in the music of Africans who lived their lives in slavery. In so many ways this is a uniquely American music, one born of our uniquely American experience, reminding us who we are, where we come from, and all that we are capable of as a society and as a Nation. The African American spiritual is as poignant and powerful a genre of music as any in history. And throughout history the African American spiritual has been kept alive through that oral tradition. For certain, this was so before the abolition of slavery in 1865 when these songs provided comfort and an outlet for spiritual yearning for so many, but also in the years immediately following abolition when few wished to sing African American spirituals, so acute was the pain and anguish they called to mind. Thankfully there were some who recognized in the power of these songs the collective experiences from which they came and their intrinsic cultural and musical value. And by the late 19th and early 20th century, the spiritual was kept alive by churches and singing groups like the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who traveled and performed these remarkable pieces in the face of hostility and intolerance. Indeed, in 1872, the Jubilee Singers sang at the World Peace Festival in Boston and were invited to perform at the White House that year by no less than President Grant himself. Today African American spirituals are not only performed in spirituals and concert halls across the world, they are also studied by sociologists and musicologists across the country. The University of Denver's Spirituals Project puts it aptly in its mission statement: ``Spirituals uplift in times of crisis, heal, comfort, inspire, and instill hopes and dreams, thereby transforming individuals, communities, and whole societies.'' And in much the same spirit of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, I want to say thank you to a good friend, a musicologist himself, for bringing to my attention the need for the Congress to honor this vital piece of our national heritage, Calvin Earl. As the youngest of nine children in North Carolina, Calvin taught himself the guitar at age 7, forming his first rhythm and blues group while serving in the Army before spending several decades performing jazz and big band music. Since 1989, Calvin has dedicated himself to preserving and sharing spirituals with a new generation of Americans. Traveling the country, he builds on the traditional words and melodies to illuminate the history and complexity of this unique art form. It was from Calvin that I learned about this remarkable tradition, how spirituals enabled slaves to teach their children, record their history, and surreptitiously communicate with one another. Indeed, songs such as ``Wade in the Water,'' ``The Gospel Train,'' and ``Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'' all reference the Underground Railroad. Another, ``Follow the Drinking Gourd,'' even contained a coded map to the Underground Railroad. As these songs were spontaneous, their authors are not known, though they were the inspiration for the writers of the first gospel songs, from Charles Albert Tindley to Harry Thackert Burleigh to John Rosamond Johnson. Mr. Speaker, no less than Frederick Douglass remarked that such spirituals ``told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension. They were tones loud, long, and deep. They breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains.'' Indeed, in so many ways the African American spiritual embodies who we are as Americans. The impact it has made on the cultural heritage of America, and indeed every American, is incalculable. I thank all who have allowed us to bring this resolution for consideration today. I urge my colleagues to support honoring this national treasure and this timeless reminder of the enduring human spirit.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this continuing resolution and want to thank the Chairman, Mr. Obey, for his leadership and that of his staff. Indeed, in the last few weeks alone, I think we have seen more leadership and more courage than we saw at any time in the last 6 years. You made hard choices--unpopular choices. But you took the first steps toward restoring fiscal discipline and order to a process that for too long had been broken. And so, Mr. Obey, I want to thank you--for reminding us that our first obligation is not to the special interests, but to the American people. To the business of governing responsibly. I am honored to call you my Chairman. Mr. Speaker, this bill is only being considered for one reason and one reason alone--and that is because when the Republican majority left town last year they did so without passing a single domestic appropriations bill. No funding for health care. No funding for our veterans or our seniors. That is what the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars got them last year--nothing. And so, I would say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle-- you had your chance to make this an open, transparent, functioning process. You had your opportunity to crack down on earmarks and special interests. You had that opportunity last year--for the last 6 years. And you squandered it and left a mess. This bill is but the first few steps Democrats are taking toward cleaning up the mess left by the previous majority. It is by no means a perfect process. We are under no illusions. But by suspending this institution's broken earmark process, we have an opportunity to look toward next year with some optimism. Indeed, we used this opportunity to strengthen our capacity to respond to the needs of the public and restore funding to a few key priorities that had for too long been neglected by the previous majority. This is true in area after area--first and foremost, with respect to our troops. Under this bill, men and women wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan will receive the health care they need, as will 325,000 additional veterans. We have restored some funding for Head Start and early childhood education, for special education and for Pell Grants which will help 5.3 million students pay for college. And by providing an additional $125 million for the President's underfunded, undermanned No Child Left Behind program, we can begin to help 6,700 underachieving schools turn around. So, too, are we restoring funding to the National Institutes of Health, which the previous majority cut for the first time in 36 years. This bill supports an additional 500 research project grants, 1,500 first-time investigators, and expands funding for high risk and high impact research--the future of medicine. As the chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I am pleased we were able to hold the line on rural development programs which provide assistance for rural utilities systems, business development, community facilities and housing--programs that otherwise would have seen draconian cuts under the President's FY07 request. We provide $65 million to help us counter the avian flu threat. And having been alarmed by breakdowns in our food safety and drug safety processes these last few years--from Vioxx to spinach--I am pleased we were able to provide some increases in this bill to help us begin to restore public confidence in these areas--at the USDA and FDA. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, with this bill, we are sending the same message to the American people about their Congress. And so, I want to again commend my friend and chairman, Mr. Obey, for doing remarkable work under the most difficult circumstances imaginable. It is time to put the public interest before the special interests. And with this bill, we take the first steps necessary to doing that. It is about time.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, our community recently lost a treasure, a man whose reach extended to communities across the world for the last three decades. Father Phillip Cascia made an indelible mark on the lives of thousands, thousands of people at his parishes, like St. Anthony's Church in Prospect, CT, and indeed across the globe. His commitment to children and families was as strong as his reach was long. Father Cascia will long be remembered for many things. For starting the St. Vincent dePaul Society Shelter and Soup Kitchen in Waterbury, CT, not only the largest soup kitchen in Connecticut but also its largest homeless shelter, a thrift store, a mental health center; for when the United States State Department called upon him to help youth in St. Petersburg, Russia, paving the way for his work opening an orphanage for victims of earthquakes there; and for his work founding Intersport USA and other remarkable international exchange programs he started in Sao Paulo, Brazil, China and Vietnam, work that led this Congress, this body to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Most of all, he will be remembered for being a builder of bridges. Mr. Speaker, Father Philip Cascia was never content to live his faith confined within the walls of his church. He reached out. Whether you knew him for a moment, a few months or a few decades, as I did, you were touched by his values and moved by his compassion. Few lived their faith with greater commitment, dignity and hope. Father Cascia will be missed, but he will always be remembered.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest pride that I rise today to extend my sincere congratulations and very best wishes to the USA Tap Dance Team, based out of the Greater New Haven area, as they celebrate their tremendous success at the 2007 World Tap Dance Championships recently held in Reisa, Germany. In all, 51 dancers ranging in age from 10 to 20 years old made the trip and returned with a total of 11 medals! Our communities certainly have cause for celebration with the wonderful accomplishments of these young people. Participating in three divisions, the USA Tap Dance Team has worked very hard over the last several months to be able to compete in this year's competitions. Coming together from across Connecticut and even New York, the dancers practiced for countless hours for solo, duo, small group, and formation events. The commitment these young people have demonstrated is truly inspiring. They have worked so hard to master the required high-level skills and the necessary symmetry of their movements. I had the distinct honor of joining them for a very special evening as they prepared to leave for Germany and, as a former tap dancer myself, I was truly impressed with the level of dedication, passion, and talent of the team. It was this combination of drive and spirit that led to the team to come home with three gold medals, seven silver medals, one bronze medal, and several other finishing places--placing and medaling in each of three divisions--a remarkable showing! I am also pleased to recognize the incomparable Gloria Jean Cuming for her outstanding leadership and instruction as well as the six choreographers who worked with the dancers and traveled to Germany with them. Their work with individuals and groups helped to secure this outstanding triumph. In addition, I would also extend a note of thanks and appreciation to the parents and volunteers whose support has enabled the dancers to practice and travel for their competitions. Without their efforts, the success of the USA Tap Dance Team would not be possible. I am thrilled to stand today to join our local communities in extending my sincere congratulations to the USA Tap Dance Team on their great success at the 2007 World Tap Dance Championships. You have all made us proud!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the need to move our Nation toward energy independence has never been clearer, yet this administration has stood by, leaving consumers struggling to pay their winter heating bills as oil companies continue to enjoy billions in record profits. With this legislation, we can recover $14 billion in unnecessary oil and gas subsidies and target that money toward where it should have been going all along, into renewable energy sources created right here at home, into alternative fuels grown on our farms and energy- efficiency technologies, creating jobs, protecting our consumers and our economy. We could generate over 800,000 jobs by 2010, jobs from the Great Plains to the Northeast. In Bethlehem, Connecticut, we have the first biodiesel production plant in New England, in partnership with Maryland and Delaware soybean growers. By supporting this legislation, we have an opportunity to begin bridging the cultural, economic and social divide growing between rural America and other parts of the country. It starts with investments. It starts with this bill. Let us take control of our energy policy. Let us put our country on the path to energy independence and reenergize our farm economy. Let's pass this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, of all the barriers that families have faced these last several years, from the rising cost of health care and energy, to the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs, few have had as chilling an impact on opportunity as the skyrocketing cost of college tuition. The last 5 years, tuition at public universities shot up more than 40 percent. These kinds of financial barriers prevent about 4.4 million high school graduates from attending a 4-year public college over the next decade, 2 million high school graduates finding themselves unable to attend any college at all. This, when the United States has talked about a proposed projected shortage of up to 12 million college- educated workers by 2020. There are so many challenges before us, breathtaking challenges that impact every American. This Congress has to recognize how closely tied access to a quality education is to our economic prosperity, our national security, our civic health. Strengthening those bonds, reaffirming our commitment to our Nation's family, that is what this legislation is about. Cutting the interest rate for undergraduate students with a subsidized student loan in half over the next 5 years, we can help 5.5 million students fulfill their dream. In Connecticut, more than 33,000 students currently take out 4-year loans. They have an average debt of $14,200. We are going to help these youngsters save more than $2,300 over the life of the loan. I happen to represent an area with many first-rate universities. The time has come to make these universities and the lifetime of opportunity they unleash accessible to every American, to every parent who wants to send their child to college. Lowering college costs is about expanding opportunity. It is what government should be all about. It is the reason why the people in our communities send us here, to try to help them have the opportunity to have an education for their children at a rate that they can afford, an interest rate that they can afford. Let's help them with the college loans. This legislation deserves our support.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Every family in America, every business struggles in some way with the rising cost of health care. The key to driving those health care costs down is getting control of skyrocketing prescription drug prices. It starts with negotiating better prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries, something the previous majority expressly and senselessly prohibited when the Medicare prescription drug law was passed in 2003. Now, this legislation is not about establishing formularies, setting price controls, or picking and choosing on behalf of seniors. It is about empowering the government to act on behalf of consumers and seniors. And, yes, that is a proper role for government, particularly when we have drug companies reporting double-digit profit increases while raising prices on top-selling medicines. We can get our health care crisis under control. Allow government to negotiate drug prices as private insurance plans do for their customers and the VA does so successfully for our Nation's veterans. Support this bill. Let us for a change do something for the public interest rather than continually doing something for the special interests.