Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to one of our community's most outstanding leaders, and my good friend, Lawrence DeNardis, as he is honored by family, friends, and colleagues for his 13 years of service as President of the University of New Haven. Larry has dedicated a lifetime of service to the community and we are certainly fortunate to have been the beneficiary of his unparalleled compassion, generosity, and commitment. For over a decade, Larry has been at the helm of the University of New Haven and under his leadership and direction the University has truly prospered. I have often spoke of our nation's need for talented, creative educators, willing to help our young people learn and grow-- Larry is just that kind of teacher. Larry has spent most of his professional career in higher education. For 16 years he served as Associate Professor and Chairman of Political Science at Albertus Magnus College, Visiting Professor of Government at Connecticut College, Guest Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution, and seminar instructor at Yale University. His good work and diligent efforts to provide a quality education to his students has touched the lives of thousands of young people--going a long way in providing them with a strong foundation on which to build their futures. Larry's outstanding record of contributions to education has been recognized both locally and nationally. Immediately prior to his appointment as President of the University of New Haven, Larry served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council and was appointed by former Governor Lowell Weicker as Chair of the Connecticut Board of Governors of Higher Education. Larry was also selected by former President George W. Bush for an appointment to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, a group which oversees the accreditation of institutions and associations in higher education. In addition to his distinguished career in education, Larry has also served in public life where he demonstrated a unique commitment to public service. He served five terms in the Connecticut State Senate as well as one term as the United States Representative for Connecticut's Third Congressional District. After his term in the United States House of Representatives, Larry went on to serve as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. He was also appointed by former President George W. Bush as a member of the Board of Regents of the National Library of Medicine--a position which he held for 4 years. It is not often that you find an individual who so willingly dedicates himself to the betterment of his community. In addition to his professional contributions, Larry has worked with numerous local business and service organizations aimed at providing a better quality of life for the residents of the Greater New Haven area. Our communities would not be the same without people like Larry, who give their time and energy to make a difference in the lives of others. Through his contributions, Larry has left an indelible mark on our community. For all of his good work, I am proud to rise today to join his wife Mary Lou; his four children, Larry, Jr., Gregory, Mark, and Lesley; family, friends, and colleagues in extending my thanks and appreciation to my friend Lawrence DeNardis. My very best wishes for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I believe there is a real need for a manufacturing czar. The administration has said it much, but one would never know it from the underlying bill. They have created a position not of real authority and substance, but rather a marginal position in the trade agency, and this administration has shown its hand by doing this. The National Coalition For Advanced Manufacturing has said this position should focus solely on manufacturing. It should be an under secretary position within the Department of Commerce. Instead, the administration has named an assistant secretary for manufacturing and services within the International Trade Administration, an agency that does not have the range of expertise to address the issues before our manufacturers. As if to prove they are not serious about this position, the administration proposes no funding to support it. Mr. Chairman, what we should be doing is creating a manufacturing and technology administration that provides a comprehensive approach, and sends a signal that Congress takes this crisis seriously. Mr. Chairman, 8.2 million workers are unemployed in this country right now. They face rising health care costs, rising college tuition, and rising gas prices. What could possibly be more important than revitalizing one of the backbones of our economy? Nothing, Mr. Chairman. Support the Larson amendments.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, with 2.5 million manufacturing jobs lost in 3 years, including 40,000 in my State of Connecticut, many outsourced to other countries like China and Singapore, we all understand that steps must be taken to revive what is the very backbone of America's economy. Reauthorizing the valuable Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a critical program that supports high-risk, early-stage research and development, is certainly a part of that effort. If we are going to help manufacturers become more productive and innovative, if we are going to boost sales and invest in modernization and employment, a strong reauthorization of the MEP program is critical. But none of us are under any illusion that this program alone will revive the struggling sector; and, frankly, the other provisions in this bill are little more than a Band-Aid for an economic sector that is bleeding jobs. What our manufacturers need from this body is not window dressing; what they need is a bold vision, one that makes our Federal Tax Code work for, and not against, our manufacturers. American companies should not have to resort to transferring jobs to countries where workers make less and have fewer benefits just to stay competitive. We should encourage good corporate citizenship and incentivize work done right here on our shores. We should ban the use of taxpayer dollars to outsource or take offshore work formerly done in the United States. We should get serious about making our trading partners live up to their obligations under the World Trade Organization, and we should reform our nonimmigrant visa programs that allow companies to displace American workers by bringing foreign workers in at lower wages, and we should prohibit companies that move their headquarters overseas to avoid paying American taxes from receiving any Federal contracts. That is what we should be doing to keep this country competitive, but we are not. While I am glad the administration has finally agreed to support the MEP program at the levels that we supported 2 years ago, I believe we have missed a real opportunity to do something meaningful on behalf of all of our manufacturers, whether they be large or small. That is what the task of this body ought to be, rather than just putting off what we ought to do for manufacturers in this country.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Teacher Professional Development Institutes Act, legislation based on a unique and highly successful partnership between the New Haven Public School System and Yale University. Based on the model which has been operating at Yale for over 25 years, my proposal would establish eight new Teacher Professional Development Institutes throughout the country each year over the next five years. Today, it is more important than ever for our nation's teachers to have access to the skills and resources they need to prepare our children for the future. Since 1978, the Institute has been providing area educators with the opportunity to strengthen themselves professionally through annual seminars in the humanities and sciences-- by working with program participants to bring the curriculum and lessons of the seminars to the classroom. In this bill, every Teacher Institute would consist of a partnership between an institution of higher education and the local public school system in which a significant proportion of the students come from low- income households. The program strengthens the present teacher workforce by giving participants the opportunity to gain more sophisticated content knowledge and a chance to develop curriculum units that can be directly applied in classrooms. For example, the Yale-New Haven program it is based on has offered several thirteen- session seminars each year, led by Yale faculty, on topics that teachers have selected to enhance their mastery of the specific subject area that they teach. The result is that teachers have been found to gain confidence in their deeper understanding of the subject matter and enthusiastically deliver their new curriculum to the classroom--qualities that translate into higher expectations for their students and in turn, higher student achievement. And student achievement is what this effort is about. By allowing teachers to determine the seminar subjects--by providing them the resources to develop curricula for their classroom and their students-- this legislation lifts up our students by empowering teachers. With a K through 12 teacher shortage forecast in the near-future, those already teaching will do the majority of teaching in the classrooms in the very near future. As such, it is imperative that we invest in methods to strengthen our present teaching workforce. Like the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute before it, we believe this program can provide a model for communities around the country. And so, it is my distinct honor to introduce the Teacher Professional Development Institutes Act, and I look forward to its consideration in this body.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to thank the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Subcommittee and the Committee for their excellent work in crafting a bipartisan bill that will provide our troops with the tools they need to continue their outstanding service to our country. Our troops have done an amazing job under very difficult circumstances in Iraq and Afghanistan. I fear that their job will only get tougher in the weeks and months ahead, but this bill will help ensure that our troops will be prepared for whatever they may face in Iraq and in the war on terror. I am especially grateful to my colleagues Mr. Murtha and Mr. Lewis for including in the report accompanying this bill important language that calls for a comprehensive study of mental health services available to service members and their families both during and after deployment to combat theaters. Despite a growing awareness of the importance of mental health issues, there remains too much of a stigma associated with mental health care. The fact is that the pressures of war and lengthy separation from friends and family can take their toll on our soldiers, and we ought to do more to help our brave soldiers and their families. Mr. Speaker, I have seen this first-hand. The 439th Quartermaster Company is an Army reserve unit based in New Haven. They have performed admirably well in setting up fuel depots in southern Iraq on the road from Kuwait to Baghdad. But they have been in the Iraqi theater for 14 months now, and will be there for at least a few months more. I have been working with Yale University's Child Study Center to make sure the families of this great unit have access to mental health services. But the military ought to do more to help. I might add that our commitment to our troops should not stop when they return from the field. Experience has taught us that for service members and their families, the difficulties associated with deployment do not always cease when the service member returns. In the case of Reserve and National Guard troops, who often live far from a military installation, it is especially important that top-quality mental health services are available to them to ease the transition from deployment to civilian life. This benchmark study will give us some indications about how we can overcome barriers to care, and how we can do better by our soldiers, sailors and marines. It is my hope that the Congress will use this study as a starting point to better fund mental health services for military personnel and their families, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue. So again I thank Chairman Young, Chairman Lewis, Mr. Obey and Mr. Murtha for taking this issue so seriously and including my amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children reauthorization bill. These vital programs--school lunch and breakfast programs, after-school snack programs, WIC--improve the day-to-day-lives of American families. WIC touches the lives of every 5 people in the United States, including over 37 million children and nearly 2 million lower-income and postpartum women. It guarantees young women and their children receive adequate nutrition and health advice--preventing future illnesses and other health problems. Our experience with the WIC nutrition program shows that it is a sound and wise long-term investment that pays off by improving the health and development of the women and young children who participate in the program. Each dollar invested in WIC saves more than three dollars in other government spending on programs such as Medicaid. WIC helps young mothers and their children start off on the right foot and saves money at the same time. As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, I work every year with my colleagues to ensure sufficient funding for the WIC program and to enact measures to streamline and improve the integrity of the program. But while I am largely pleased with the bill the other body produced, it unfortunately did not expand the school lunch program to all children who are in need. There is no more important measure of our nation's values than how we care for and ensure the health and nutrition of our children--none. We still have a way to go with respect to the full funding of WIC this year. But I am encouraged by this reauthorization, Mr. Speaker, and will continue to work toward fully funding the program in the coming year.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, the American people should be outraged by the actions on this floor just a short time ago, actions that would allow the Department of Homeland Security to move forward with a $10 billion contract for a corporate expatriate. A corporate expatriate, a company that goes offshore, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, other places, sets up a shell corporation all for the purpose of diminishing their tax liability; that is, not paying the taxes that they should be paying to the United States of America. The Republican leadership has finally after 18 months relented on their opposition to closing the loopholes in the ban on Department of Homeland Security contracts to corporate expatriates, but as so often happens with the Republican House leadership, they have said yes on the one hand and no on the other. They agree that it is wrong for the government to contract with companies who go offshore in order to avoid their tax liability, but at the first possible chance they grant an exemption to this ban by allowing the largest Homeland Security contract to date to go to one of the worst offenders, Accenture of Bermuda. That is why I am offering this amendment with the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter). Our amendment will prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from spending any appropriated funds to carry out any contracts with an entity which qualifies as an inverted company or partnership under the law. The underlying bill will close loopholes that allow companies which have already incorporated in Bermuda and their domestic subsidiaries to receive contracts, loopholes that essentially gutted a ban that this House passed in July of 2002 by a vote of 318 to 100. But at the same time, without this amendment we will allow the Department of Homeland Security to move forward on a $10 billion contract to just such a company. Accenture claims they were never an American company. Let us look at the facts. They were a part of Arthur Andersen until 2000. They incorporated in Bermuda in 2001. Their chief executive officer is based in Dallas, Texas. Their stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. More importantly, let us look at numbers. Even as Accenture reported that its American earnings increased by over $319 million in 2003, its U.S. tax liability decreased by almost $240 million. Simply stated, their revenues are going up; their tax liability is going down. Accenture, this is a company which has set up an elaborate corporate structure ranging from Bermuda to Luxembourg to Switzerland so that they can shift income overseas and reduce their overall U.S. tax burden. What is the result? Good corporate citizens loyal to the United States, companies that live up to their responsibilities like the two who were underbid in this contract, they are put at a competitive disadvantage. These are other bidders, and it has been said that we would not be able to move quickly. There were two other bidders in this effort. We can move quickly on getting this task done. Stanley Works is a Connecticut company, which considered incorporated in Bermuda, reconsidered, and they have said: Not only are we disadvantaged against our foreign competitors, but two of our major U.S. competitors have a significant advantage over Stanley Works because they are already incorporated in Bermuda. Our Tax Code should not reward companies for moving overseas. It should reward them for staying here, for contributing to our economy, for creating good jobs. And by giving lucrative government contracts to companies setting up a post office box in Bermuda, Mr. Chairman, we are making matters worse. The fact is we are in a time of war. We have troops serving overseas. They are in harm's way every single day to protect this great country. We are struggling to fully equip, as this bill points out, our first responders, ensure the safety of our ports and our air transit. We simply cannot afford to reward companies that accept the benefits of American citizenship without living up to their responsibilities. We are talking about $5 billion in revenues. Such behavior is wrong. It offends our values as Americans. Very quickly, I might add, some will say that we are going to be wound up in lawsuits if we do not go forward. Not true. It is untrue. All of the legal research has concluded that the government would have little liability beyond the $10 billion contract minimum even if that work has been performed. So do not let them get up and talk about spurious argument. The fact of the matter is this is a company that has gone offshore not to pay its taxes, and they are getting a $10 billion reward. We should level the playing field and help good corporate citizens.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal), who has been battling on this issue for the last several years.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote, and pending that, I make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I have one additional speaker to close.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry).

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule. Last night the Committee on Rules issued a rule that even experts in this House on House rules could not initially decipher. On the one hand, they finally acted to close loopholes in the Homeland Security Act which allowed corporate expatriates to continue to receive government contracts, after the House voted 318 to 100 in July 2002 to prohibit those contracts. But, on the other hand, and it seems there is always another hand these days, they specifically left open a provision that would have prevented just such a contract from going through. Under this rule, it is almost certain that Accenture will be able to retain a massive $10 billion contract with the Homeland Security Department. This runs directly counter to the will of the Committee on Appropriations. Last week, on a strong bipartisan vote of 35 to 17, the Committee on Appropriations voted in favor of an amendment which I offered along with the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry) to close loopholes in the Homeland Security Corporate Expatriate Contracting Ban and to stop the department from moving forward on this $10 billion contract to Accenture. This is a company which reported that its American earnings increased by over $319 million in 2003 while, at the same time, its U.S. tax liability decreased by $239 million. Yet, today, the Republican leadership is hiding behind technicalities to reward a company which has shunned its American citizenship in order to reduce their tax liability. It is wrong. It is shameful. You ask any American worker or a responsible corporation that pays their taxes, and yet they go overseas so that they will not have to pay their taxes, and whether they are a Democrat or a Republican, they will tell you that going offshore, not to pay your taxes and coming back for a $10 billion contract from the Federal Government, it is an outrage. This company set up a shell corporation overseas and put two tax- paying American companies, companies which employ thousands of Americans in many of our districts, at a competitive disadvantage. This sends a terrible message to every good corporate citizen in America. We cannot afford to reward companies who shun American citizenship at the expense of loyal American businesses and contractors. It offends our values as Americans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, rather than have a thoughtful discussion about ways to reduce American dependency on foreign oil, this body is again recycling bad legislation, in this case a series of corporate subsidies and environmental rollbacks that indemnify companies that would poison our water, encourage the polluting of our air, and waste taxpayer dollars. Two provisions would have the gravest of impacts upon my State. The first permits a controversial Long Island Sound energy cable, the Cross Sound Cable, to be reactivated despite having been turned off by the Secretary of Energy earlier this year. The cable is in violation of State and Federal environmental permits. The bill disregards pending litigation by the Connecticut Attorney General and stifles the regulatory authority of Connecticut and the Army Corps of Engineers, who share jurisdiction over the installation of such transmission cables. This bill would also sound a death knell for States' abilities to regulate the siting of natural gas pipelines by eliminating the ability of State environmental departments to prevent the damaging environmental effects of pipeline siting. It would grant FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the sole authority to make these decisions. Remember, FERC is charged with protecting consumers; but as the people in California and the Pacific Northwest know very well, they abdicated that responsibility in support of the industry. They gave the industry every break and not one for the consumer. If we grant FERC this authority, it paves the way for the construction of Islander East, the gas pipeline, across the Long Island Sound, stretching from Branford, Connecticut, to Shoreham, New York. The results will be that Islander East, that pipeline, would be installed over and above the objections of the Army Corps of Engineers and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. This is a slippery slope, Mr. Speaker, I will tell the Members, because this will run roughshod over State authority. These provisions disregard the needs of Connecticut's economy, its environment, and the voices of millions of Connecticut citizens who will be directly affected by these provisions. By not even allowing for the amendments to address these concerns, the leadership insisted once again that it is they and not the Connecticut citizens, who are elected officials, who know what is best for our State. The Republican leadership does not know what is best for the State of Connecticut. If we want to reduce dependence on foreign oil, if we are serious about saving taxpayers' money, we should have a real debate in this body, if we are serious about what constitutes good energy policy instead of more corporate giveaways like this in this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker 35 years ago, a historic merger occurred which resulted in the creation of the Easter Seals Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center. Today, community leaders, supporters, advocates, and participants have gathered to mark this very special occasion. It is with my heart-felt thanks and sincere appreciation that I rise today to join them in celebrating this important milestone. What began as three separate agencies has become one of the most successful and effective non-profit agencies in the Greater New Haven area. This community-based organization is committed to its mission to enhance employment opportunities and the quality of life for people with disabilities and other special needs. Throughout the years, as communities advanced, those needs have changed. As an organization rooted in the community, the Center has been able to identify those changes and adapt its programs and services to meet them. This could not have been accomplished without the strength of support the Center has received from its staff and the communities of Greater New Haven. I would be remiss if I did not recognize the vision and leadership of the man who has been leading this agency for the last twenty years-- Malcolm Gill. For the last two decades, Mal has worked diligently to ensure that the Center is providing the programs and services that meet the needs of their participants. There is no one who could be more dedicated to fulfilling the mission of the organization. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with him so closely over the years and to call him my friend. For people with disabilities and other special needs, functioning in the daily activities that we take for granted is not only challenging, but it can be a source of frustration and heartache. While these men and women have a deep desire to contribute to the community, physical or mental limitations make that difficult to accomplish. That is why the Center has become such a fundamental part of our community. They provide a gift which is truly invaluable--the opportunity for success and a sense of belonging. The Center has touched the lives of thousands over the years and mere words cannot describe the difference they have made to those individuals. For the innumerable contributions it has made to our community, it is with great pride that I stand today to extend my sincere congratulations to the Easter Seals Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center on its 35th Anniversary. Through their unparalleled dedication and commitment, they have helped to change the face of our community and have made it a better place for our children and families.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to pay tribute to Linda White-Epps by renaming the Whitneyville Branch Post Office building in Hamden, Connecticut as the ``Linda White-Epps Post Office.'' Linda was an extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to making her community better. She served in town government and on local non-profit boards. Most of all, though, she was devoted to the cause of raising awareness about breast cancer among African American women. I am proud to have known her and to have called her my friend. Linda was an executive board member of the local NAACP and sat on the Board of Directors of the local Boys and Girls Club. In 2001, she was elected to the Hamden Legislative Council. But it was her work in fighting breast cancer that led her to be named a Point of Light by the Points of Light Foundation in 2001. She created Sisters' Journey, a non-profit organization that provides education and support to breast cancer survivors, their friends and their families. In 1999, Sisters Journey published a calendar featuring pictures of women who have beaten the disease. Each turn of a page provides a look at another month, more stories from ``sisters'' and words of encouragement to women. Each page says examine your breasts and have regular mammograms. The unveiling of the calendar still occurs every October at a fundraiser known as the ``Pink Tea,'' a tradition Linda started. Linda was one of the women profiled in the calendar. She beat breast cancer in 1990, and spent the last decade of her life helping other women do the same. Sadly, she finally succumbed to the disease last year. Linda faced breast cancer in such a quiet way that many of her neighbors and friends were not aware of the gravity of her illness. She approached advocacy with humility, but received several awards from the American Cancer Society. She also won the Greater New Haven NAACP Freedom Fund Award, and the ``Daily Point of Light'' award. Linda was also responsible for organizing the first ``Relay for Life,'' held in the Hamden area. The event raised about $50,000 for the American Cancer Society and also reached a larger segment of African American women participants. Mr. Speaker, Linda was the granddaughter of a postal carrier. Like her grandfather, she lived a remarkable life that made a difference in her community. Honoring her by renaming the Hamden Post Office after her would be a fitting tribute.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the memory of an outstanding member of our community, Barbara W. Winters. Throughout her life, Barbara dedicated herself to the community and to making a difference in the lives of others. With her we lose an advocate, leader, and friend. Barbara dedicated both her professional and personal life to enriching her community. With a big heart and an infectious smile, she worked hard to not only achieve her goals, but inspire others to do so as well. It is not often that you find an individual with the depth of compassion and generosity that Barbara demonstrated every day. I, as with so many others, consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to know her and to work with her over the years. I was always impressed with her vision, tenacity, and leadership. She was a role model for us all. The strength of Barbara's character is reflected in the lifetime that she dedicated to others. Whether as a community advocate, educator, or, most recently, as the Program Director for Life Haven--a temporary shelter for homeless, pregnant women and women with young children-- Barbara was always there to provide a strong voice on behalf of children, families, and the community. Barbara understood the importance of giving back to the community and utilizing your talents to make it a better place to live. In addition to her professional career, she dedicated much of her personal time to community service organizations where her efforts helped those most in need. The YWCA, NAACP, Connecticut Association for Human Services, and the Urban League of Greater New Haven are just a sample of the organizations with which she was involved. Through these organizations and others, her good work touched the lives of many. It is with my thanks that I extend heart-felt condolences to her three sons, Joseph, Mark, and Frank, and the family of Barbara W. Winters as friends, colleagues, and community members gather to remember her lifetime of achievement. Barbara has left an indelible mark on our community and a legacy that is certain to inspire many.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered to extend my best wishes to my good friend, Salvatore Punzo, as he celebrates his retirement after 35 years in education. I have often spoke of our Nation's need for talented educators ready to help our children learn and grow. Sal has been just that kind of teacher and administrator. In a career that has spanned over three decades, he has touched the lives of thousands of our young people-- helping them to build a strong foundation for their future success. We owe a debt of gratitude to teachers like Sal, who so willingly dedicate themselves to ensuring that our children have access to the best possible education. Our teachers and school administrators spend many hours with our children, ensuring that they develop the tools and skills they will need as they continue their education and move into adulthood. Sal began his career in education as a teacher with the New Haven Public School system, where he spent the next 16 years in teaching grades three through five. In that time, he developed a strong reputation for his commitment to education and to meeting the needs of his students. After being appointed to a new administrator's mentoring program, he went on to serve as an assistant principal and finally, for nearly two decades, as the Principal of East Rock Magnet School. After 17 years, Sal will now retire as the Principal of East Rock Magnet School--one of the most successful magnet schools in the State of Connecticut. Under his tenure, East Rock has blossomed--receiving numerous awards and recognitions, including being named a Vanguard School. In fact, just last year, I was honored to join Sal at East Rock to celebrate the success of the Model Laptop Program. This program, funded by one of only five such U.S. Department of Education grants in the country, tests the impact of introducing laptops in third through fifth grade classrooms. The success of East Rock, with this program and so many others, is remarkable and testament to Sal's leadership. Salvatore Punzo has dedicated a lifetime to making a difference in the lives of children through education. We are so fortunate to have people like him working with our young people. Teacher, administrator, and advocate--he embodies all that an educator should be. I am proud to stand today and join his wife, Carmela; his children Sal and Michael; his five grandchildren, family, friends, and colleagues in congratulating Salvatore Punzo on the occasion of his retirement. My best wishes for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join The Reverend Dr. Victor Rogers, members of the congregation, and the New Haven community in extending my sincere congratulations to the St. Luke's Episcopal Church as they celebrate its 160th Anniversary. This is a remarkable milestone for this community treasure and I am proud to help them celebrate this momentous occasion. 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. Luke's gives its members a place to find their spiritual center and to solidify and support their values. The members of the St. Luke's have also given much to the City of New Haven. Throughout the years, as their membership grew so did their commitment to the enrichment of our community. Over the course of its history, St. Luke's has been a prominent member of our community, not only providing traditional worship services, but by offering much needed outreach programs for those most in need. From an emergency food pantry to GED classes to volunteers who care for the sick and shut-in, the clergy and congregation have worked hard to identify the problems faced by members of our community and to establish programs which will make a difference in their lives. By providing these resources, the St. Luke's Parish has touched the lives of thousands and made New Haven a better place in which to live. For one hundred sixty years, the St. Luke's Episcopal Church has been a fixture in New Haven. In fact, St. Luke's was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places--a reflection of its deep roots and cultural importance. 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 160th Anniversary!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, time and again companies like Accenture have abused loopholes in the Tax Code to shirk their duties to the United States. They incorporate on paper in countries like Bermuda for the express purpose of avoiding U.S. taxes. There is no justification in today's world for this shameful practice, none. Accenture also outsources jobs. Now we learn that the Department of Homeland Security has given Accenture a record $10 billion contract, I assume with the blessing of this majority, which has done everything in its power to allow this practice to continue, including watering down a provision that I authored to prohibit these companies from contracting with the Department of Homeland Security. I remind my colleagues that this House passed that provision by a vote of 318 to 110, with the other body following suit. So when I hear some actually defend this practice, I think, tell that to the families of those men and women who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tell them that their loved ones gave their lives defending the right of multinational corporations to cheat the American taxpayer, because that is what they are doing. The time for putting profit before patriotism has passed. That is what these folks are doing. Rewarding companies who have abandoned our country with government contracts, as this administration is continuing to do, is not only unpatriotic, it is immoral. It should end.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this bill would establish a demonstration project that would ostensibly offer personal reemployment accounts to workers, providing up to $3,000 in assistance for the purpose of finding a job and paying for services that would help lead to employment. Sounds good on the surface, but, as with every bill this administration puts forward that impacts workers, there is a catch. Employment services now offered through the One Stop Centers, at no cost to the unemployed worker, would have to be purchased, meaning that unemployed workers would now be charged for services that they can currently receive for free. To give an idea of the difference, those who utilize One Stop job training programs right now receive an average of $5,000 to $6,000 in services, about double the maximum allowed under this bill. So we should not be fooled. The goal of this bill is not to provide additional reemployment services or job training funding for unemployed workers; rather, it is to pave the way for placing a Federal cap on these services. In an economy with a million and a half workers who have already exhausted their unemployment benefits, reducing these services without providing any job creation program is not only bad economic policy it is outright dismissive of what these families are going through day after day, particularly women in transition, nearly half of whom are already finding Workforce Investment Act services, like local women's education and training programs, insufficient. Mr. Speaker, the unemployed workers in this country do not need ``an incentive'' to look for work. Supporting a family without a job is incentive enough. What they need is a job. Congress should be expanding job training and job training access, not limiting them, as next year's budget does. We should be extending health and unemployment benefits to the unemployed, not letting them expire in the face of serious unemployment. Historically, this country, Republican or Democrat administrations, have extended unemployment benefits in time of need. As a Nation, we have said we are going to help people on a temporary basis meet these unemployment challenges that they have. Not this administration. What do they say? They say, if we extend those benefits, people will not go out and look for a job. That is the opinion they have of working people in this Nation. I say to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, walk in the shoes of the unemployed; understand what it means to live paycheck to paycheck. We do not have to worry about that in this body. There are folks in this country who worry about that every single day. The unemployed workers in this country deserve better. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation. The bills before us today do not merely amend or modernize the historic Occupational Safety and Health Act, which put in place critical workplace protections--rather, they undermine it. One discourages OSHA from citing small employers who would otherwise be in violation of the law, while another weakens the ability of the Secretary of Labor to enforce those laws. Another allows this Administration to stack the OSHA commission for political purposes, while the last gives employers more leeway in challenging OSHA citations. In every sense, these are blatantly anti-employee changes to existing law, intended to take power away from average working people and put it in the hands of employers in the hope that they will not abuse that power. All of this is being done under the guise of ``reducing red tape.'' But I suppose we should not be surprised. After all, this is merely another in a long line of anti-employee acts taken by this Administration and majority. First it was throwing out a decade of research that went into those carefully crafted ergonomics regulations--in a day, Republicans sent the American people a clear message that the corporate bottom line was more important than safety in the workplace. Then it was ramming through overtime rules that took away time-and-a-half pay for 8 million workers and endorsing the outsourcing of American jobs to other countries. Now they decimate a historic law to protect American workers from unsafe working conditions. The American people are increasingly finding themselves at odds with this Administration and its reckless disregard for working people--and it is no wonder. To them, regulations that protect people in the workplace are, quote, ``red tape.'' Mr. Speaker, tell that to families of the 60,000 employees who die every year from job-related injuries or illnesses. Tell that to the 4.7 million people who are injured each year at work. Because legislation like this not only insults the work the people of this country do everyday--it reveals a total lack of appreciation for the people, the institutions and the values that built this country and made it great. Oppose these unfair, un-American bills.