Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, today we have a historic opportunity to pass HMO reform that will ensure that medical decisions are made by doctors and patients and not by insurance companies. These are sensible patient protections that all parents should have for their families. But to pass them, we are being forced to cross a mine field. The Republican leadership has teamed up with the insurance industry to obstruct and weaken the Patients' Bill of Rights. The Republican leadership has set up a series of amendments that will undermine the basic provisions of this bill, a bipartisan bill. And I stress bipartisan. The Patients' Bill of Rights simply ensures that medical decisions are being made by doctors and hospitals and that HMOs are accountable for damages caused by wrongful denials. These provisions are already working for families in California and in Texas; now every family deserves them. I call on my colleagues to defeat the poison pill amendments, pass the Norwood-Dingell bill, the Patients' Bill of Rights, which today's New York Times says, and I quote, ``offers the best place to start in getting strong protections for millions of American families.''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill. The fact is that this bill is not paid for. It is a $48 billion raid on Social Security. That is one reason to vote against it. The so-called access bill fails to provide any access for the people who truly need it most. It includes discredited medical savings accounts that only help the wealthy and the healthy. In fact, nearly one-third of all uninsured Americans would receive no help under this bill. As has been pointed out, only 160,000 people would be the beneficiaries of this bill. A second good reason to vote against it. The third reason to vote against the bill is that it represents a last-ditch effort to kill the Patients' Bill of Rights. The Republican leadership has announced that they will attach this sham bill to the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights. A strong bipartisan majority in this body supports the Dingell-Norwood bill, but we have been fighting against a small minority in the Republican leadership every step of the way. Why do they oppose HMO reform? Because they are in league with the insurance lobby, a major campaign contributor to the Republican Party. In fact, just yesterday, on the eve of this important health care debate, the Republican leadership held a breakfast with the insurance industry, a sad testament. We should not be surprised that the Republican leadership is thwarting the will of this House. There is nothing new here. It is what we saw earlier this year on gun safety legislation, it is what we saw on campaign finance reform, an unwillingness to allow an honest debate and the use of clever procedural tricks to defeat reform. People in this country are dying because our health care system is broken, and the Republican leaders' response? Meet with the insurance lobby and devise a clever way to try to kill HMO reform. Vote against this legislation. Let us have a fair and an open debate on Patients' Bill of Rights, a bill that would put medical decision making back into the hands of doctors and patients and make HMOs accountable.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the American public has consistently called for HMO reforms that put patients ahead of profits. Just as we are about to debate the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights, the Republican leadership and the insurance industry have set traps to weaken and kill sensible patient protections. Earlier this week, the Republican leadership held a fund-raiser with insurance industry lobbyists, the most rabid opponents of HMO reform, and filled their pockets with campaign donations. Their motives are transparent: set traps for HMO reform and collect checks from the insurance industry. The Republican leadership is displaying upside-down values that put campaign favors ahead of HMO reform. Mr. Speaker, I say to the Republican leadership that in this body rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans have come together around a bipartisan piece of legislation that is a good piece of health care reform legislation. The Republican leadership in this House is attempting to thwart the will of the Democrats and the Republicans here, and thwart the will of the American people that wants access to emergency rooms and specialty care, that wants to have prescription drugs, and that allows them to sue an HMO if they have proceeded irresponsibly.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of this Congress, the new Republican leadership made America a few promises. They said that they would finish their work on time, that they would not break the balanced budget spending limits, and that they would not spend money from the Social Security trust fund. Months later, all we can say about these three promises is broken, broken, and broken. The Republicans have not finished their work on time. Last week we had to pass an emergency spending measure to prevent the government shutdown. The Republicans are breaking the spending caps, proposing budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans. And their plan to bring spending back in line? Delay the small tax credit given to low-income working families, a plan so callous even GOP Presidential candidate George Bush denounced it saying, ``Republicans should not balance their budget on the backs of the poor.'' Finally, Republicans promised not to take money from Social Security, but now the Congressional Budget Office says that the Republicans have already taken $16 billion out of the Social Security Trust Fund this year. Another promise broken. They have broken the lock-box and they have taken the money out and spent the Social Security Trust Fund. Promises made, promises broken. That is the legacy of this Congress.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to congratulate the Branford Fire Department and M.P. rice Hose Company 2 for one hundred years of dedicated service to the residents of Branford, Connecticut. M.P. Rice Hose Company 2 is the only entirely volunteer company which has remained active since the Branford Fire Department was established in 1899. When it was first established, the Branford Fire Department was composed of citizens volunteering to protect their friends and neighbors from the threat of fire. With two hand drawn hose carriages and a horse drawn ladder truck, three fire fighting companies, Hose Company 1, House Company 2, and the Martin Burke Hook and Ladder company emerged. Today, the M.P. Rice House Company 2 continues in this strong tradition, a full century later, as the only remaining company which is completely comprise of volunteers. Working with career members of the Branford Fire Department, the volunteer companies provide residents with the very best in fire protection. As volunteers, the members of the M.P. Rice Hose company work arm and arm with our professionals, representing a commitment to the community that if taken up more broadly would make for stronger towns across America. As the Branford community gathers today to celebrate this wonderful achievement, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have dedicated not only their time, but their lives, to the safety of all Branford residents. Firefighters face risks that many of us can never truly comprehend. Each day they must be able to perform under intense pressure--literally in life or death situations. Few things are more important than feeling safe in our homes and workplaces. Whether hosing down flames, rescuing a child from a burning house, or waiting for our call, firefighters are always there to protect us and provide us with the peace of mind we need to sleep at night. I am proud to recognize and commend the tremendous commitment they have made to our community. Our thanks and appreciation can never repay those who put their lives on the line to ensure our safety. Today's celebration marks the 100th Anniversary of the Branford Fire Department. The courage and dedication demonstrated each day by these men and women, whether volunteer or career member, is reflective of the true spirit in which the department was established. I am indeed proud to rise today to extend my thanks for what you do each day, and congratulations on this remarkable accomplishment.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to recognize Pastor George W. Hampton as he and the Greater New Haven Community honor the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. with the 28th Annual Love March. For twenty-eight years, Pastor Hampton and the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church have celebrated the memory of Dr. King with this annual march and service. Dr. King's actions stand out as defining moments in our nation's history. Those of us who lived through those stirring times--and many who weren't born yet--can still picture Dr. King leading the bus boycott in Montgomery, going to jail for his beliefs in Birmingham, and sounding the clearest call to end segregation in his famous address at the March on Washington. His actions changed the course of our nation forever. And for twenty-eight years, on January fifteenth at eleven o'clock in the morning, the Greater New Haven Community has gathered to participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Love March--a stirring reminder of a troubled time and a peaceful soul. I would like to extend a special note of congratulations to Pastor Hampton. As founder and organizer of the Love March, his tenacity and dedication has made the March a beloved New Haven tradition. Each time I join in the March, I am inspired by the uplifting spirit of the crowd as we sing and move through the neighborhoods of New Haven. It is an opportunity for the community to come together to remember Dr. King's teachings, and their meaning for our lives today. The Love March has helped keep Dr. King's dream alive. I have heard Pastor Hampton tell the story of his meeting with Dr. King. As I recall, the Pastor told him about his work in the civil rights movement and Dr. King responded, ``That's part of the dream-- keep it up.'' Pastor Hampton has certainly followed that charge. For New Haven, the annual Love March is a cornerstone in the celebration of the life and spirit of Dr. King. It is a tremendous honor for me to join with Pastor Hampton's family, friends, and the City of New Haven to say thank you for giving us this annual opportunity to remember the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to recognize my good friends, Fenmore and Phyllis Seton, as they are honored by the New Haven Colony Historical Society with the Seal of the City Award. The Seal of the City Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have strived to improve the quality of life for New Haven residents and have demonstrated a commitment to the overall improvement of the community. First presented to Mayor Richard C. Lee in 1992, this award reflects the dedication which we, the New Haven community, have toward the continued growth and revitalization of our city. Today, Fen and Phyllis will receive this award as a token of our sincere appreciation for their contributions to our community. For over fifty years, Fen and Phyllis have been active community leaders in Greater New Haven. Recognized both locally, nationally, and internationally, they share a common interest in community revitalization. Fen has had a remarkable career in rehabilitation services as Past President of Rehabilitation International, lecturer at the United Nations, and recipient of the Presidential Award from President George Bush. Within her own distinguished career, Phyllis has served as both an officer and director of the New Haven Easter Seals-- Goodwill Rehabilitation Center, and has been honored for her work at an international assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. The Setons conceived and endowed the Elm-Ivy Award Program which for twenty years has recognized Town-Gown relationships. This local initiative honors individuals whose efforts have had a positive impact on both the City of New Haven and Yale University. They have been recognized jointly with Yale University's highest honor, the Yale Medal, as well as recently named ``Connecticut's Philanthropists of the Year'' by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Their support of and active participation with non-profit organizations has served to enhance the quality and prosperity of the City of New Haven. Their outstanding record of service sets a brilliant example for other community leaders--an embodiment of the very spirit of the Seal of the City Award. I am proud to join with family, friends, and community members to recognize my dear friends, Fen and Phyllis Seton, as they are honored with this very special award. The City of New Haven is indeed fortunate to have such dedicated individuals working on behalf of our community.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the agriculture appropriations conference report. The process was unprecedented and heavy-handed. But the substance and the policy and final version reflects the majority leadership's lack of concern for farmers of America. The summer's droughts and hurricanes have devastated thousands of farming families. In my own State of Connecticut, farmers suffered $41.6 million in losses. The pastures dried up. Fruit dropped. Trees and bushes and dairy production plummeted. Farmers across the country are begging Congress to do something and we must do something. It is our responsibility. It is why we were elected. We come here to give voice to the people that we represent. Our constituents can only conclude from this conference report that we have been silent on their behalf. This report includes only $1.2 billion in much needed emergency aid. But this is a short-term fix to a long-term problem, the lack of markets promised when the Freedom to Farm bill eliminated the farmers' safety net. Committee members on both sides of the aisle were ready to address this issue with sanction relief, but the opportunity was snatched away. It is wrong to deny our farmers over $1 billion in new sales abroad, and it is wrong to punish innocent families, children, in other countries who suffer under repressive regimes by denying them food and medicine. Finally, this report fails to reauthorize the Northeast Dairy Compact. Without that compact, Connecticut's farmers will lose $4.2 million a year as well as the security of stable prices to guarantee safe futures. We are here to help farmers address short-term disasters and the long-term problems that threaten their survival. The health of our Nation is directly linked to agriculture's future. We must do more. I urge my colleagues to oppose the conference report.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this bill, and I thank my colleagues for their hard work on this issue. We can all agree on one thing: that crimes against women that cause the loss of a pregnancy are tragic and deplorable acts. These crimes ought to be punished severely. However, this bill is not the way to achieve this goal. This bill misses the point because it completely ignores the injury to the woman and instead it attempts to give new legal protections to the fetus as a way of undermining a woman's right to choose. We are here debating a bill that will not provide any significant enhancement of our ability to prosecute criminals who harm pregnant women, because it only applies to cases prosecuted in the Federal court. Criminal acts of this type are almost never prosecuted in a Federal criminal court. Before the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary a former special counsel to the U.S. Sentencing Commission testified that ``this bill is unnecessary and current Federal law already provides sufficient authority for the punishment of criminals who hurt fetuses.'' If we are serious about protecting women and their pregnancies from harm, we should be passing legislation that addresses the real world, common sense of these crimes. What we need to be talking about today is the all-too-frequent occurrence of domestic violence. Sadly, in this country nearly one in three adult women experiences at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood. Why are we not here debating the Violence against Women Act reauthorization to provide grants for law enforcement to crack down on sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse? We could be providing training for law enforcement to help them address domestic violence, counseling for women who have been attacked or abused, and funding for battered women's shelters. I would be pleased to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to pass a bill that addresses these deplorable acts against women and provides a strong and decisive tool for punishing those criminals who commit these horrific acts. I am happy to support the substitute offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren), which establishes a sentencing enhancement of up to life in prison for an offense against a woman which results in the loss of her pregnancy. Rather than debating a back door attempt at undermining a woman's constitutional right to choose, we should be working together hand in hand to pass legislation that addresses the real nature of violence against women in this country.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, after years of fighting for HMO reform, we are at the doorstep of passing meaningful patient protections. But now, just before we enact the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights, the Republican leadership is trying to derail HMO reform. The Republican leadership has offered a plan that fails to guarantee patients the right to make medical decisions with their doctors, decisions that are free from insurance company bureaucrats. Their plan also fails to hold HMOs accountable for wrong or improper decisions, and, sadly, the only reason this plan is even being offered is to prevent meaningful HMO reform from being passed. The bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights is a good bill. It has broad support. If we pass this bill, then all HMO patients can have the ability to choose their own doctors, guaranteed access to emergency and specialty care, the right to make health decisions with doctors only, freedom from gag rules to prevent doctors from offering care, and the ability to hold their HMOs accountable. Let us do the right thing. We have an historic opportunity in the next couple of weeks. Let us pass the bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for yielding to me, and I thank him for continuing to bring us all together. I think there is no greater champion in the House for patients' rights than the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). I am delighted to be here with him, with our colleagues from Texas, because I think the proof is in the pudding; and Texas has led the way in this effort. It is working. So we have the example. Oftentimes, we can speculate as to what will happen or what will not happen with a piece of legislation, and those are legitimate concerns. But we have something that is working, it is working for the State of Texas, for the people of Texas; and it has not caused the kind of either chaos or increase in health care costs that a number of nay sayers said that it would. I also would just reinforce another thing that my colleagues have said tonight, is that, in fact, the wonderful effort, the bipartisan effort that has been put together in the piece of legislation that we are talking about, that employers cannot be sued; and that this notion that they are liable in some way is a way in which to really derail what has been such a very, very well-crafted piece of legislation by folks who are genuinely concerned about what is going on in managed care today. It is almost a historic moment because people have been working on this for such a long time that, after years of fighting for health care reform, we are on the verge of victory, of a great victory. A number of our Republican colleagues, including a number of doctors, and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Ganske) is on the floor here tonight, Republicans have joined with Democrats to support a real Patients' Bill of Rights. We have a good chance of passing bipartisan HMO reform this year. It is very, very exciting. But, as we stand on this doorstep of victory, if you will, there are some in this body that will continue to want to shut the door on that kind of reform. As a footnote, we have been able to pass good, solid legislation in this House that has come from bipartisan effort of Democrats and Republicans throughout the history of this country. We are on the verge of being able to do that again if they will give us the opportunity to do it. I would just say that, today, the Republican leadership put its stamp of approval on a new health care bill that has been referred to tonight, talked about tonight; and that, in fact, is nothing more than an attempt to kill HMO reform this year. If the Republican leadership, and not the rank and file, because there is tremendous support from rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans to support the Dingell-Norwood bill, but if the Republican leadership wants to improve health care, please join with this effort to pass a Patients' Bill of Rights. It is legislation that has been endorsed by doctors, nurses, patient advocates, consumer groups. It is, in fact, the very best way to put power back into the hands of doctors and patients where it belongs. Instead, we have, at this 11th hour, a decision to produce a piece of legislation for next week's debate. It is called the Quality Care for the Uninsured Act. The stated goal of the legislation is to improve access to health insurance, which is a worthy goal. But no matter what its stated intention is, the fact is that this piece of legislation that has been crafted is a bill that could kill HMO reform for another year. The bill is not just bad because it hurts our chances to pass HMO reform, but it is bad on its own merit as well. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) talked about this a little bit earlier. The Republican bill is dangerous because it includes risky Medical Savings Accounts. Study after study tells us that the MSAs are going to skim the healthy and the wealthy out of the health care system, leave everyone else in a weakened system, which will only drive up health care costs. This is not the way to fix our health care system. The Republican bill is a budget buster. It was recently revealed that the Republican Congress has already dipped into the Social Security Trust Fund to the tune of $16 billion. So, perhaps, the notion is, ``well, what the heck, let us go back for some more.'' What this bipartisan bill, the Dingell-Norwood bill, says is that let us fully pay for what we are talking about; that we are not going to take money from the Social Security Trust Fund. The so-called health care bill is a poison pill. It weakens the Patients' Bill of Rights. It invites a veto from the President. It took us 9 months, 9 months of fighting to be able to get a debate on Patients' Bill of Rights. We are out the door. Let us do it right. Let us do the right thing. Let us have a fair debate, an open debate about Patients' Bill of Rights. Then let us have a fair and open debate on how to improve access to health care for all Americans. Let us not use one issue to kill the other. That would be a tragedy for the American people. I would just say about this bill that has just seen the light of day today that it does not address the liability issue, the right to sue, the right to some accountability in the process. We know that there is not any accountability in the process today for HMOs, a place to turn if an HMO is involved in making a medical decision, and it might go wrong. Where do people turn? I was in Hamden, Connecticut this weekend where I did office hours, and two people came and talked to me and just begged for the opportunity to have an appeal process, a place to go, a place for accountability. A gentleman lost his wife. We do not know all the particulars of the case, but she was in the hospital. She went home. She was told she had to go home. There was no one to monitor the toxics in her bloodstream . She was put back into the hospital, and she wound up passing away. The man just pleaded with me. He said, ``Where do I go? Who do I turn to?'' We are all asking for some accountability in the process; that is all. It is not unreasonable. This piece of legislation that has been proposed today does not allow for any accountability. What the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood), which Republicans and Democrats have come together on, would do is put accountability into this process. It is critical that it exists. We need to reform HMOs. We need improve health care access. We need to help those with insurance who have lost control of their medical decisions. We need to help those who are without any insurance, we need to help them to gain entry into the system. Next week, we have the opportunity to do the right thing, to pass a bipartisan Patients' Bill of Rights that could truly make a difference in the lives of the people that we represent. My cry, I know the gentleman from New Jersey, I know my Republicans who have joined in this effort, our colleagues from Texas and all over the country, let us do it together. Health care is not a partisan issue. It is an issue that is on the minds of every American family in this country. Let us do the right thing next week. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for the role that he has played in this effort.

Ms. DeLAURO. The gentleman has just made so many accurate points here. The whole notion of this new piece of legislation at the last moment, at the same time, really is deja vu all over again. Because we are at a moment when we can pass something that is meaningful, and the Republican leadership has come up with something that is flawed in so many ways. But I think it is so interesting that the Speaker seems to be suffering from short-term memory. The Democrats joined with President Clinton in 1993 to try to offer universal coverage to people in this country. The fact of the matter is at that time Republicans joined with the insurance industry to kill the legislation. This is revisionist history when we take a look at a document that talks about dealing with the uninsured. We have stood here night after night after night for the last several years talking about medical savings accounts. This is why they call it skimming. When they pull out the people who are the healthiest and the wealthiest, the most frail are thereby left in the system, which only drives the costs up. This is a kind of a bolt from the side here to throw into the mix at the last moment, in the same way, quite frankly, campaign finance reform was handled a few weeks ago. It was an effort to put up something that was spurious, that in fact would wreck and kill campaign finance reform. This is the same thing; trying to kill HMO reform. I do not think that they will get away with it, because there is good solid bipartisan support for a Patients' Bill of Rights. And I know that my colleague from New Jersey and I will continue to be, our colleagues from Texas and California that just passed legislation in their Statehouse there, we are all going to be on our feet and talking about this and engaging the public in this debate.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we come to the floor again to talk about the Republican leadership's failure to enact common sense gun safety measures for one simple reason, children's lives are at stake. We remember the tragedy at Columbine High School, where at the end of the day, 14 students and one teacher were dead because of guns. Columbine captured headlines 5 months ago, but it should not obscure the fact that 13 children die every day due to gunfire. Many of the 13 children that die each day do so because handguns are not properly secured. This is not a question of whether or not someone should or can own a handgun. They can. This is about properly securing the handgun. The motion of my colleague from California (Ms. Lofgren) appropriately calls for child safety locks to be provided with handguns. It is a common sense measure that will stop the heart- wrenching deaths where young children find a gun in the house and they accidentally kill themselves or a friend or a brother or a sister. Providing a lock with a handgun is common sense. I think that Westbrook, Connecticut's Police Union President Douglas Senn, put it well when he said, ``You keep plugs in outlets and medicine up in high cabinets to keep children safe. Why not put a lock on a gun?'' He said this during a program to provide free gun locks to Connecticut gun owners. The Connecticut Police Union and, I might add, in conjunction with a company in Connecticut that, in fact, is a gun company, but they were cooperating in this effort in order to provide free safety locks so that our youngsters can be safe. The Connecticut Police Union president gets it. The company gets it when it comes to gun locks. What we are asking is that the Republican leadership get this. If there was any question about the effectiveness of child safety locks for guns, that should be answered by a potential tragedy in Florida, a tragedy that was in fact averted because of a gun lock. An obviously troubled young 14-year-old girl planned to kill first her mother and then her father and her sister, too. She was a troubled youngster. She held a gun to her mother's head but could not fire the gun because of the trigger lock. We must and we can do something about keeping guns out of the hands of children and of criminals. We do not want to prevent law-abiding citizens from their opportunity to own a gun and to do what is right. We want to provide a safety lock to make sure that our kids are safe.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, for 5 months, common sense gun safety measures have been stymied by the Republican leadership. Our efforts to close the loopholes that give kids and criminals easy access to guns have been repeatedly stifled. Every day results in lives that are lost. Thirteen children in this country are killed by guns every day, 13 American youngsters every single day. The other side argues that no laws can stop bad men with evil in their hearts from shooting innocent people. Perhaps they are right. But they are masking a very important truth. I am sad to say that thousands of children are killed by guns by accident. These children find loaded guns without safety locks and they pull the trigger. The frequency of these deaths is heartbreaking, and they could be prevented. I urge my colleagues to pass the common sense measures that could reduce our country's epidemic of gun deaths. Today I continue reading the names of children who have been killed by guns since Columbine: Kenneth Acoff, age 17, killed by gunfire on September 4, 1992, Cleveland, Ohio; Casey Crow, age 15, killed by gunfire on September 6, 1999, Maple Heights, Ohio; Nicholas Lenz, age 13, killed by gunfire on September 9, 1999, Clear Lake, Iowa; George Mark, age 17, killed by gunfire on September 12, 1999, Quinhagak Alaska; Joseph B. Frazier, age 16, killed by gunfire on September 14, 1999, Durham, North Carolina; Cassandra Griffin, age 14, killed by gunfire on September 15, 1999, Fort Worth, Texas.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, for 5 months many of us in this body have urged the Republican leadership to help us enact common-sense gun safety measures that will keep guns out of the hands of kids and criminals. But at every turn we have been stalled and stymied, we have been told that we are rushing, that we need to wait. Waiting means more lives are lost. Every day that passes takes a toll of 13 children, 13 youngsters killed every day by guns. Hundreds of children have been killed just in the time since the tragedy at Columbine High School. Today I join my colleagues in continuing to pay tribute to some of those children and urge the Congressional leadership to pass gun safety legislation in their memory. Paulette Peak, age 8, killed by gunfire on July 31, 1999, Chicago Illinois; Reginald McClaine, age 16, killed by gunfire on August 4, 1999, Bronx, New York; Aaron Thomas, age 16, killed by gunfire on August 5, 1999, St. Louis, Missouri; Tamara Seline, age 17, killed by gunfire on August 6, 1999, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I joined with my Democratic women colleagues to call the role of children who have died from gunfire since the tragedy at Columbine on April 20. We cannot even get through the lists. Too many children have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. Five months since Columbine, and, still, the Republican leadership has failed to take common-sense steps to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals. Yes, that is the bipartisan compromise that was agreed to in the Senate. What are we in the House waiting for? We have all watched children fleeing scenes at Columbine High School, a Los Angeles day care center, and now a church in Fort Worth. Just this week we saw a report of a teenage girl in Florida who plotted to murder her entire family but was stopped by a child safety lock. But the tragedies on the news are only the most prominent. Single killings or accidental shootings where a child kills his brother or sister with a gun thought to be hidden safely in the closet happen with sickening regularity. It all adds up to 13 American children each day dying due to gunfire. Yesterday morning, one of my Republican colleagues suggested that efforts to keep kids and crooks from getting guns were an insult to the wisdom of our Founding Fathers. Well, this Children's Defense Fund poster captures my response to that notion. It reads, ``This can't be what our Founding Fathers had in mind. Children in the United States aged 15 and under are 12 times more likely to die from gunfire than children in 25 other industrialized countries combined. This is a statistic that no one can live with. It is time to protect children instead of guns. With freedom comes a price. That price should not be our children.'' Vote for this motion to instruct. Let us pass the common-sense compromise that was passed in the Senate.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, another week in America, another mass shooting. Seven people killed at Ft. Worth, Texas, four of them children. Every day 13 children are killed by guns in America. Yet, this Congress does nothing. Opponents to gun safety laws say that no law could have prevented the Ft. Worth tragedy. They may be right. But just because we cannot save all of the children does not mean we should not try to save any of our children. Hundreds of children have died since the tragedy at Columbine High School, when Congress promised to act. Today I join my colleagues to pay tribute to some of those children and to urge the congressional leadership to pass gun safety legislation in their memory. April Bonita Turner, age 18, killed by gunfire on April 20, 1999, Washington, D.C.; Courtney Bradley, age 18, killed by gunfire on April 22, 1999, St. Louis, Missouri; James Walton, age 16, killed by gunfire on April 22, 1999, St. Louis, Missouri; Pierre David, age 18, killed by gunfire on April 28, 1999, Detroit, Michigan; Sheldon Jones, age 17, killed by gunfire on April 28, 1999, Washington, D.C.; Tonetta Smith, age 16, killed by gunfire on April 29, 1999, Washington, D.C.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to join the New Haven Hispanic community to thank my dear friend, Tomas Reyes, for his commitment and dedication to our community. I regret that I am unable to join the friends, family, and community members who will gather this evening at Casa Otonal's annual celebration to pay tribute to Tomas for his many years of service to the City of New Haven. An icon in the city for nearly two decades, Tomas Reyes recently announced his retirement as President of New Haven's Board of Aldermen. As Alderman of the 4th Ward, Tomas spent his 18 year tenure making sure the City of New Haven was able to meet the many challenges that have faced our city. Under his membership and direction of the Board, programs such as Headstart, Latino Youth Development, Inc., New Haven Family Alliance, Youth Fair Chance, and the Hill Development Corporation were implemented to meet the changing needs of our residents. Tomas was an avid and vocal supporter of city funding for these programs because they provide much needed services to our city's neediest families. Tomas once said that he wanted to be actively involved in politics in order to change his neighborhood. He challenged himself to meet a variety of needs, and he succeeded. Tomas has served the City of New Haven with integrity and has improved the quality of life for many. As the only Latino elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1981, his initial efforts were focused on strengthening representation of the Hispanic community and encouraging the Latino community to become involved in city politics. His strong character and enthusiasm have motivated New Haven's Hispanic community to be both active and vocal. Tomas has long been involved with young people in our community and continues to support many programs and projects designed to assist the children of less fortunate families. As co-founder of Latino Youth Development, Inc., he created a venue for inner-city kids to develop the skills necessary to be successful in today's technological society. I am fortunate enough to call Tomas a close friend not only in the political arena but personally as well. He has been a long-time colleague of my mother, Louisa, on the Board of Aldermen, and a dear friend to us both. His energy and conviction have been a source of inspiration--not only to myself but to the entire community. It is with great pleasure that I rise today and join the New Haven Hispanic community to honor my very good friend, Tomas Reyes for his many years of dedicated service and his continued commitment to the improvement of our community. I know that Tomas and his wife Norma will continue to make great contributions to our community. I would like to express my sincerest congratulations and heartfelt thanks for all that he has given to the residents of New Haven.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to join with the New Haven Hispanic community as they gather this evening to pay tribute to my dear friend, John U. Sepulveda. I regret that I am unable to join this evening's celebration though I am proud to convey my sincere congratulations to John as he is honored by Casa Otonal and the Hispanic community. Before setting his sights on our nation's capitol, John was an active member of the New Haven community. A graduate of Yale University, member of the Board of Education, and serving as a special assistant to former U.S. Representative Bruce Morrison, John was a driving force in revitalizing the economy and development of New Haven. Perhaps his most distinguished service to the New Haven community was his tenure as Executive Director of the Hill Development Corporation. Hill Development is a non-profit corporation located in the Hill neighborhood that works to provide low-income housing and other services to some of our community's most vulnerable families. John's tenure as the Executive Director began at a time when the agency was struggling financially and lacked essential community support. John's dedication and unparalleled commitment brought community support to the Hill Development Corporation and the direction needed to ensure its success. Today, the Hill Development Corporation is one of the city's most successful non-profit agencies--an achievement made possible through John's leadership and vision. As you may know, John is now the Deputy Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management. He has also served the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for the Federal Housing Administration and as Director of the Federal Housing Administration's office of Insured Health Care Facilities at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. It is great to know that what John and his wife, Awilda, were able to achieve at the local level in New Haven, they are now able to do on a national scale. My congratulations to both of them. It is an honor for me to take this opportunity to join the New Haven Hispanic community to offer my most sincere thanks to my good friend, John Sepulveda, for the many contributions he has made to the City of New Haven.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment. At a time when our economy is at its strongest in a generation, we should be working to ensure that working Americans can afford a roof over their heads. Unfortunately, the bill the Republicans chose to bring to the floor would leave 128,000 families out in the cold. By failing to fund the President's request for 100,000 new Section 8 housing vouchers, Republicans will leave 128,000 families out in the cold. This bill undermines low and moderate income Americans struggling to make ends meet. It fails to fund the President's request for 100,000 new Section 8 vouchers, cutting the legs out from under people making the transition from welfare to work. And it comes at a time when the number of people in need of rental assistance is at an all-time high of 12.5 million-nearly half of whom are children and the elderly. Mr. Nadler's amendment would help move us back toward investing in affordable housing opportunities for working Americans by funding 50,000 new Section 8 vouchers. We should not leave working Americans out in the cold to help pay for a tax cut that the American people don't want and that our children's future can't afford. I urge members to support this amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, the Republican leadership budget is an irresponsible plan. It jeopardizes our economic health. It undermines our values as a people and as a Nation. It fails to extend the life of social security by a single day. It does not use one penny to strengthen Medicare. It does not continue to pay down the debt, which is so critical to our economic well-being. It does not invest in working middle class families through health care and education, but it spends nearly $1 trillion on budget-busting tax breaks that benefit mostly the wealthy. It is out of step with the values of the American people. Tax cuts should go to people who need it most, working middle class families in this country. This Republican leadership scheme gives 60 percent of the benefit to the top 5 percent of Americans. Instead of investing in education and crime-fighting and national defense, this tax cut puts those very important things in jeopardy for American families. There are no values in this plan, when we put the wealthy before the pressing needs of the middle class. We need to do more for the people we represent.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Brigid Driscoll for a lifetime of service and commitment to education. Sister Brigid has pledged her life's work to furthering educational opportunity, especially for young women. She began her career at Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York as a mathematics professor, and later became Academic Dean and Director of Continuing Education. In June, she retired from her twenty year post as President of Marymount College. I was moved to recognize the great accomplishments of Sister Brigid because she has been an important force in my life. Marymount College is my alma mater. Sister Brigid served as an advisor in my residence hall, Gailhac Hall, where her wisdom and guidance were often sought by myself and the other young women in the hall. Sister Brigid was the kind of leader who tested the will of the young women like myself. Back in those days, we all thought we knew everything. As we pushed the edge of the envelope, Sister Brigid pushed us right back. Sister Brigid was very familiar with some of the antics college women are inclined to participate in. One memorable evening, after a fire started in the lounge of Gailhac Hall, some of us went to alert Sister Brigid, however, it was the night before April Fools Day and she laughed it off, telling us to just ``put it out.'' After a few more minutes, when she began to smell the smoke herself, she burst out of her room, complete with her elaborate habit, and helped us carry the burning couch out to the patio. Clearly, Sister Brigid was developing her crisis management skills as she led the young women of Gailhac Hall. She challenged us, while still allowing us to think for ourselves and determine our own path. She inspired those around her to work harder and strive to reach our fullest potential. Through her example, she instilled in us the virtues of public service. Sister Brigid demonstrated to us a lifetime commitment to furthering the ideals one holds dear and that, indeed, a woman is capable of achieving anything. As the leader of Marymount College, a liberal arts college for women, she sought to provide a rich educational environment where women are encouraged to lead and learn. As an ardent proponent of state and financial federal assistance, and the Director of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the New York State Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities, she has worked tirelessly to promote the benefits of private institutions of higher learning, and to increase access for young people of all backgrounds. Private colleges and universities have been the choice of Sister Brigid's own educational foundation. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Marymount Manhattan College, a Master's degree from Catholic University, and a PhD in Mathematics from City University of New York. This year, in recognition of her distinguished service to the school, Marymount College bestowed on her the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Sister Brigid is truly an educational visionary. In 1975, she founded the Weekend College at Marymount College. It was the first full Bachelor's Degree program in the area for working adults. She recognized that her community needed higher education that was accessible and convenient for working men and women. Because of her, hundreds of adults have earned their college degrees, and have accomplished what may have been a distant goal at one time. Many people see problems, Sister Brigid is the kind of woman who creates solutions. All who have worked with Sister Brigid are amazed at her endless energy. She is active in numerous community organizations, serving on the Boards of First American Bankshares, Inc. and The Westchester County Association. She is a member of the exclusive Women's Forum, a group of 300 leading women in the New York arts and business forum. She has also served on past boards of the Statute of Liberty/Ellis Island Commission, the United Way of America Second Century Initiative, the National Board of Girl Scouts USA, and the Axe-Houghton Funds. Although Sister Brigid has retired, those of us who know her can tell you she is not finished with her work yet. She will continue to use her talents and experience for projects which focus on furthering the progress of education for women. I am proud to stand here today to honor one of my earliest role models. I join with her friends, colleagues, and students to thank her for her years of service and wish her a very happy and healthy retirement.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, when the founders created our democracy, they did not foresee soft money. They did not anticipate PACs, they did not know phrases like ``lobbyists,'' ``fund raiser'' and ``issue ad.'' They did not know they would become part of our political vocabulary. But what our forefathers did know was that the strength of our democracy would rest upon the courage of its inheritors. Today that courage is being tested. Mr. Speaker, today we are looking for men and women of mettle to pass meaningful campaign finance reform. Campaign finance reform presents a very clear choice. Those who vote in favor of Shays-Meehan, which passed this body by a wide margin last year, vote to eliminate soft money from our campaigns. Those who obstruct campaign finance reform and try to attach their poison pills turn their backs on the American people's desire for a political system that is built vote by vote and not dollar by dollar. This is a bipartisan problem, and it needs a bipartisan solution. Let us make our founders proud; let us support and pass Meehan-Shays, remove soft money from our campaigns, and strengthen our democracy for future generations.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, as the daughter of a veteran, I rise in support of the Filner amendment to increase veteran's medical care by $1.1 billion. This amendment would designate these funds as emergency--making it possible to provide vital health care to hundreds of thousands of veterans without cutting any other essential programs. This amendment is about national priorities--if the bill passes without this amendment, our veterans will truly find their lives, and their health, in real states of emergency. We must do what's right. Our nation owes our veterans a tremendous debt. These courageous men and women sacrificed everything--whether in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War--to ensure the freedom and opportunity that we so often take for granted. It is our responsibility to repay our veterans for the tremendous burdens that they bore and the sacrifices that they made to ensure peace and freedom for this country. I urge my colleagues to fulfill our commitments to our veterans. Vote for $1.1 billion in emergency funds for veterans' medical care. Vote for the Filner amendment. Do what is right.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, as the daughter of a World War II veteran, I rise in support of the Filner amendment to add $6 million in emergency spending to help solve the benefit claim problems that have plagued our veterans. This amendment would provide funds to hire an additional 250 employees to reduce the growing backlog and waiting time for adjudication of benefit claims. Designation of these funds as emergency would make it possible to efficiently get vital health care of hundreds of thousands of veterans without cutting other essential programs. This amendment is about national priorities. Our veterans must not be left grapping with illnesses, unpaid bills, and looming expenses because their claims are tied up in red tape. Our nation owes our veterans a tremendous debt. These courageous men and women sacrificed everything--whether in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War--to ensure the freedom and opportunity that we so often take for granted. We must repay our veterans for the tremendous burdens that they bore and the sacrifices that they made to bring us peace and prosperity. I urge my colleagues to fulfill our commitments to our veterans. Vote for $6 million in emergency funds to reduce the backlog of veterans' benefit claims. Vote for the Filner amendment.