Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed Roll Call vote number 105 regarding the ``Ensuring Removal of Terminated Providers from Medicaid and CHIP Act'' (H.R. 3716). Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes''.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 105 on March 2, 2016 (H.R. 3716), I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, Connecticut's leading force for women's equality. Formed under State statute in 1973 to study and improve the economic security, health, and safety of Connecticut women, the Commission undertakes vital work to eliminate gender discrimination in its many forms. They have helped to shape the debate around issues that impact the lives of Connecticut women and their families, and it has created public policy that makes a difference. Notably, it had a leadership role in creating the first family and medical leave protections in the country and, in Connecticut, in becoming the first State in the Nation to pass paid sick days. I have focused much of my time in Congress on these issues and I have often turned to the Commission for guidance and for support. It is with great pride and with my deepest thanks that I rise today to celebrate their work.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman, and I thank my colleagues. I am so proud to join with you tonight And to Congressman McGovern, your unrelenting efforts to address the issue of ending hunger and doing it now, you have been singularly an individual who has never missed a beat in trying to address this issue and bring it to the floor and the public. And to my colleague from Virginia, who has taken his platform of the Education and the Workforce Committee and have had a focus on how, in fact, we improve the opportunities for our children and whether it is their health or their education, he is at the forefront. I see we have been joined by Congresswoman Gwen Moore of Wisconsin, someone who can talk about her own deep personal experiences with hunger and with the food stamp program and what it means to be able to work your way out of these efforts. She has done it to a fare-thee- well. Mr. Speaker, over 50 million people--nearly one in four--live in hunger in the United States. Don't ever let anybody use the terminology ``food security.'' It is plain and simple hunger. Kids are hungry in the United States of America. Hunger exists in virtually every community in this country. Social safety net programs are vital tools for reducing the prevalence of poverty and hunger. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP--food stamps, yes--is one of the most powerful programs that we have for ending childhood hunger in the United States. It helps millions of hardworking American families every year. SNAP works for those who need it most. It has been incredibly successful in alleviating hunger, lifting people out of poverty, and supporting our economy. SNAP continues to do more than any other government assistance program to lift Americans out of poverty. The numbers speak for themselves. In 2014 alone, the program lifted 4.7 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children. SNAP also lifted more than 1.3 million children out of deep poverty. What is deep poverty? It is 50 percent of what the poverty line is in this Nation. The program impacts children well beyond their childhood years. Research shows that, among children who grow up in disadvantaged households with access to SNAP, there is an 18 percentage point increase in the likelihood of completing high school. There has also been evidence of significant improvements in overall health and economic self-sufficiency among women. SNAP is an extremely efficient program. More than half of all of the benefits go to households in deepest poverty, and over 70 percent of all benefits go to households with children. Despite what some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would say about fraud, waste, and abuse, the food stamp program has the lowest error rate of any Federal Government program, the lowest error rate. Based on this anecdote that it is rife with fraud, waste, and abuse, they would deny children food. The data speaks loud and clear about the lowest error rate of any Federal program. Of course, it is not just children. SNAP helps millions of seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, low-wage workers, and others. However, Speaker Ryan and other Republican House Members say that we spend trillions of dollars on these programs and, yet, the poverty rate does not change. This is simply not true. I talked about the statistics earlier on in my comments. Without these critical safety net programs, more Americans would go hungry. As we have said, SNAP kept about 4.8 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children. The data belies what their conversation is and the stories they want to tell and, quite frankly, fabricate around the food stamp program. The Republican proposals for SNAP include a push to enact block grants, which my colleague, Mr. McGovern, mentioned before, an idea that Jared Bernstein, former chief economist to Vice President Biden called ``one of the most destructive ideas in poverty policy.'' Let me mention some of the statistics that have been compiled by Children's Health Watch in Boston, Massachusetts. If the SNAP benefits were reduced either through block granting or some other mechanism to reduce food stamp benefits so as to create instability in these households, this is what they say would be likely to occur: 23 percent would be more likely to have households that are food insecure; 70 percent more likely children would be food insecure; 36 percent more likely to be in poor health if this happens; 70 percent more likely to be at risk for developmental delays--this is about our kids, about our children-- 12 percent more likely to be hospitalized; children in kindergarten through third grade would be more likely to have measurably lower reading and math test scores; and reduced SNAP benefits would decrease the likelihood of mothers having a baby with a healthy weight and of a low-birth-weight baby surviving. This is not Jim McGovern or Gwen Moore or Bobby Scott or Rosa DeLauro making up these statistics. They come from an organization which tracks all of these measures. My colleagues, it would include drug testing policies for SNAP recipients and prohibitions for certain food purchases. What kind of priorities are these? We can't continue to wage a war against food stamp recipients. Nobody is asking for any other recipients who get Federal subsidies to be drug tested. Let's start with the Crop Insurance people. Let's start with that. Let's take all of the programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture where there is a subsidy and a recipient to that subsidy. Let's get them all drug tested. We are going to continue to stand up against unconscionable attacks on America's poor working families. I urge my colleagues to stand with us in ensuring that the Federal budget does not harm working families and children by decimating the hunger programs in this Nation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand today to join the Milford community and the employees of CAAP CO. Inc. as they celebrate the company's 40th Anniversary and pay tribute to its founder, Jim Moraveck. Incorporated in 1976, Jim Moraveck founded CAAP Co. Inc. with the goal of providing the Air Force with a centralized source for the newly developed rain and high temperature resistant coating for their B-1 program. Their aerospace specification material was initially manufactured for the B-1 and F-16 aircraft. Ground-breaking design and research brought CAAP Co.'s color matched, antistatic, rain erosion resistant coatings, marking a new era in radome technology and providing the aircraft industry with the first truly antistatic coatings. Today, this small company continues to be an innovative leader in the development and manufacturing of specialty coatings for the F-35, F-22 and the F-18. What began as one man's vision of improving a product has become an international leader in the industry--that is what Yankee ingenuity is all about! Over the last 40 years, CAAP Co. has earned many accolades for excellence as a small supplier. They have been recognized by Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and Vought Aircraft Industries just to name a few. This company exemplifies the greatest qualities of a Connecticut small business: innovation, reliability, and the remarkable leadership of Jim Moraveck. Jim has made enormous contributions to the aircraft coating industry, and has brought so much pride to our state, but more than that he has earned the trust, respect and admiration, not only of those companies he supplies, but of the employees that make up the CAAP Co. family. The letter of invitation I received to the event celebrating this special anniversary was signed by each of the twenty-four employees and it read in-part: ``Not only would we like to have Mr. Moraveck recognized for his technological advancements, but also for his commitment to being a wonderful boss and human being who continues to be passionate about the products his company develops. The loyalty of his employees is a testament to his dedication to CAAP Co., and his work. At 83 years old, he enjoys coming into work every day, and being involved in all aspects of his company.'' Those beautiful words of sentiment speak volumes about the person Jim Moraveck is and the incredible company he has successfully built from the ground up. I am honored to join the CAAP Co. family in extending my sincere congratulations to Jim Moraveck as he marks this special 40th Anniversary milestone Small businesses, like CAAP Co., are the backbone of thriving communities and I cannot thank Jim enough for his many outstanding contributions to the industry and the Milford community. My very best wishes for many more years of health, happiness, and success.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, It is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the friends and colleagues gathered this evening to pay tribute to Joseph Carbone as he marks his 20th Anniversary as President and CEO of the WorkPlace, Inc. It is an extraordinary milestone for Joe and this remarkable organization. Under Joe's leadership, the WorkPlace has evolved into a nationally recognized leader in skill development and worker training. His innovative vision and approach has brought a myriad of unique programs to life, expanding the agency's capacity to assist our community's vulnerable populations and transforming countless lives. Successfully pursuing both government and private funding resources, Joe has ensured that the programs and services offered at the WorkPlace continue to meet the ever-changing needs of those they serve. Over the course of the last two decades, Joe and the WorkPlace have been at the forefront of innovative programming. The SWCT Works Assisted Services Center is the first of its kind and only one in Connecticut. It focuses on ensuring the American workforce system is accessible to people with disabilities. The WorkPlace has taken the initiative to provide veterans, including those who are homeless or incarcerated, a variety of job training, re-employment assistance and support services with a particular focus on opportunities in the green energy industry. Maturity Works is a program that helps unemployed people 55 or older, gain skills to reenter the workforce through paid community service opportunities. Joe's crowning achievement is his program Platform to Employment, a privately funded program that created a pathway back to employment for individuals who have exhausted their maximum 99 weeks of unemployment benefits. P2E provides customized training in job skills, eight weeks of subsidized employment, personal support, and access to existing jobs open with local employers in several industries, including finance/ banking, media, manufacturing, and entertainment. P2E gained Joe and the WorkPlace national attention as it took on a serious problem that impacted communities and families across the country. With programs like these, the WorkPlace is more than simply a job resource center--it is a think tank for workforce solutions. Joe and his team are able to identify the challenges at the root of unemployment and develop programs and services that help them to turn their lives around. Joe is not only an extraordinary leader in our community, and he is more than a dear friend--he is family. Joe and I grew up in the same neighborhood and we have known each other for more years than either of us would care to admit. He has always been a source of inspiration and guidance for me and I am grateful for that friendship. Today, as he marks his 20th Anniversary as President and CEO of the WorkPlace, Joe can look back on his career with pride and know that his dedication, hard work, and compassion have touched the lives of thousands. I am proud to rise today to join the WorkPlace Board of Directors and staff in extending my sincere thanks and appreciation to Joseph Carbone for his invaluable contributions to this outstanding organization and our community. My heartfelt congratulations and very best wishes for continued success.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, in December of 1812, the Town Council of New Haven, Connecticut, voted to allow the construction of Trinity Episcopal Church on the town green. This vote represented a unique moment of tolerance and acceptance in the City's history as since its inception the community and indeed the state was controlled by the Congregational Church with deep Puritan roots. Four years later, construction of Trinity Episcopal Church, affectionately known locally as Trinity on the Green, was completed. Two hundred years later, the Gothic-style church, the first of its kind in North America, continues to proudly call the New Haven Green its home. Over the course of its 200-year history, Trinity on the Green has been much more than simply a house of worship. Its parish members have also given back to the community, particularly through Chapel on the Green. Serving the homeless and others, every Sunday, 52 weeks a year, outdoors regardless of weather, Trinity offers a short Eucharist service followed by a simple lunch. Gathered participants sing, offer prayers, celebrate a simple Eucharist and partake of a meal. Throughout the year the services also include a foot washing clinic, handing out of socks and clothing, and a moving memorial to the homeless who have died the past year. Trinity on the Green also donates generous resources to a variety of charitable organizations and parish members can often be found volunteering throughout the City at soup kitchens and shelters. Trinity on the Green is also home to the Trinity Choir of Men and Boys. With members as young as age eight and ranging to men well into adulthood, it is the oldest such choir in Connecticut, one of the oldest in the United States, and one of very few that have been in continuous service since inception. In addition to providing choral music at Trinity worship services, the Choir also performs at the Christmas and Spring Concerts as well as throughout events in the wider community. The dedication and talent of its membership has earned the Choir a distinguished reputation and they have regularly appeared with other well-known musical organizations. The youngest of the group have a separate identity as the Trinity Boys Choir and their service to the community is certainly something to be recognized. Their frequent outreach activities have included benefit performances for the Children's Center, Ronald McDonald House, Sage Services, Newington Children's Hospital, the Fair Haven Parents' Ministry, the Smilow Cancer Center, and for WFSB Channel 3's annual Joy for Kids Holiday Show at the Hartford Stage. They have sung in the Cathedrals of the British Isles and have been invited to appear at five Christmastime celebrations at the White House. Our churches play a vital role in our communities--providing people with a place to turn to for comfort and guidance when they are most in need. Trinity on the Green gives its members a place to find their spiritual center and to solidify and support their values. For 200 years, Trinity on the Green has been a fixture in our community--a poignant reminder of religious tolerance and acceptance. Their parish members are dedicated to making a difference in our community and have shown a remarkable dedication to serving those most in need. I am proud to stand today and extend my very best wishes to them as they mark this milestone in their history. Happy 200th Anniversary!

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to join the West Haven community as they gather to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of an outstanding organization--the West Haven Community House. Over the course of the last seven decades, the West Haven Community House has provided invaluable programs and services to those most in need--touching the lives of thousands and improving not only the quality of their lives but of the community as a whole. The West Haven Community House was a community effort from the very beginning. In 1939, social worker Pauline Lang, a visionary leader, gathered a group of volunteers to facilitate a series of public meetings where residents could talk about what issues they felt were most important to their community. Through these discussions there came a clear mandate for a community center that would enhance the quality of life for all West Haven residents, and would serve as a hub of positive activities for children. Soon after, a capital campaign was undertaken, a Victorian home at 227 Elm Street was purchased, and in August 1941, incorporation papers were signed establishing the West Haven Community House Association. The Community House has always strived to ensure that the programs and services they offer meet the needs of every community member. Since the beginning every effort has been made to create an environment that welcomed children and adults, individuals and families alike. And as the needs and interests of residents have changed over the years, so has the Community House. Teen dances, Saturday cooking classes, after- school activity programs and children's day camps were typical offerings in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Today, the Community House offers a host of programs for children, teens, and parents, and has expanded its outreach to include support for adults with developmental disabilities. Current programs and services include a Head Start Program; before and after school care for elementary school children as well as a summer program; the Positive Youth Development & Kids in the Neighborhood, an after-school enrichment program for elementary school children; and Community Connections, integration day activities and residential services for adults with developmental disabilities. It is not an understatement to describe the Community House as the cornerstone social service agency of West Haven. Serving thousands of area residents every year, the Community House stays true to its mission to facilitate healthy, productive, independent and meaningful lives for individuals with disabilities, and children, adolescents, and families. A leading voice of advocacy and quality care, this remarkable organization has left an indelible mark on the West Haven community. I am proud to stand today and extend my sincere thanks and heartfelt congratulations to the West Haven Community House on its 75th Anniversary. Their good work has made a real difference in countless lives and I wish them all the best for many more years of success.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to rise today to join all of those gathered in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Across Connecticut there will be a multitude of events paying tribute to Dr. King, but in Milford, Connecticut a remarkable milestone for an outstanding organization will also be celebrated. With this year's ``Reflections XXX: A Tribute to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'' the Milford Chapter of The Links Incorporated will mark the organization's 30th Anniversary and it is with great pride that I stand today to extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to them for their invaluable contributions to the Milford community. The Milford Chapter is one of two hundred eighty two chapters of The Links Incorporated throughout the United States and in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Established in 1946, this non-profit organization internationally includes 14,000 professional women of color who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and others of African ancestry. For each of the last thirty years, the Milford Chapter has sponsored this remembrance event. In this traditional time of re-evaluation and reflection, this annual event reminds us all to consider how we, whether as an individual or in a larger group, can make more of a difference in the lives of others and strengthen the bonds of friendship and sense of harmony within our communities. Yet this is only one of many ways the Milford Chapter supports and enriches our community. The five guiding ``facets'' for The Links Incorporated include Service to Youth, Health and Human Services, National Trends and Services, International Trends and Services, and The Arts. Throughout the year Milford Links members sponsor and participate in a variety of events and projects that promote these five pillars. From supporting projects to help recovery efforts in Haiti and bring irrigation systems to farmers in Africa to raising awareness on breast cancer and sponsoring scholarships and promoting literacy, Milford Links members are not only making a difference in the lives of others but also inspiring a new generation to give back to their community. Today, a monument stands--the first monument on the National Mall not dedicated to a white man, a war, or a president--a great granite sculpture of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And in the line of sight just beyond that statue, you can make out the columns of the Lincoln Memorial. In his iconic speech on the steps of that memorial, Dr. King spoke of ``the fierce urgency of now.'' He did not just mean a moment in 1963. Over the course of its thirty year history, the Milford Chapter of The Links Incorporated has worked with ``the fierce urgency of now'' to make our community a better place to live, learn, and grow. I am honored to rise today and extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Milford Chapter of The Links Incorporated for all of their good work on behalf of our community. Theirs is a legacy of service and generosity that serves as an inspiration to us all. My heartfelt congratulations on their 30th Anniversary and very best wishes for continued success.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to join the many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered as Dr. Laurie Harkness, founder and Director of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System's Errera Community Care Center, celebrates her retirement after decades of dedicated service to our community's veterans. To say that Laurie is a remarkable public servant is an understatement. During her tenure with the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Laurie has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to ensuring that our veterans are receiving the best possible care and have access to the programs, services, and resources they need to live healthy, independent, fulfilling lives. While her contributions to veterans care are innumerable, the most well-known is the Errera Community Care Center which she founded more than twenty years ago. Over the course of its history, the Errera Center has evolved into one of the leading centers of innovation in psychosocial rehabilitation and in the integration of the psychosocial and biomedical approaches. Serving veterans struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders, homelessness, and/or aging, the team of multidisciplinary mental health professionals at the Errera Center work together to provide an array of community-based rehabilitative programs including day and crisis intervention programs, vocational programs, housing programs, homeless outreach and advocacy and case management programs. Providing a myriad of support to hundreds of veterans every year, the Errera Center has been nationally recognized for its exceptional model of care that emphasizes evidenced-based clinical programs provided in conjunction with a comprehensive network of community partnerships and repeatedly been awarded status as a VA Center of Excellence for the Care of Individuals with Mental Illness. Laurie's work has also been recognized with numerous local, state and national awards and recognitions. She is the recipient of the Olin E. Teague Award, the highest VA clinical award given, as well as the distinguished Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in developing programs that assist veterans with serious mental illnesses reintegrate back into their own communities. She has been recognized by Vietnam Veterans of America for her service and dedication to Vietnam veterans and their families and was awarded the ``Excellence in Community Mental Health Services'' award from NAMI, the first non-MD recipient and first VA employee to be so honored. Her legacy of service will serve as a standard for which to strive for generations to come. I would be remiss if I did not extend a personal note of thanks to Laurie for her many years of guidance and assistance. Over my tenure in Congress, Laurie has been an invaluable resource for myself, my staff, and my constituents. Her expertise, compassion, and leadership has made all the difference and I consider myself fortunate to have had so many opportunities to work with her. Laurie Harkness is a reflection of the very best in public service and her presence will certainly be missed by all of those fortunate enough to have worked with her as well as the countless veterans who have benefitted from her outstanding work. Today, as she reflects on her career with the VA, she can be proud of the indelible mark she has left on the agency. It is my great honor to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Laurie as she celebrates her retirement and extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to her for her many years of service. I wish her all the best for many more years of health and happiness as she enjoys her retirement.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2017, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015. As many of you know, I have been a longstanding champion of menu labeling, and I have fought to secure its inclusion in the Affordable Care Act. In fact, I was the original author of the House menu labeling bill. When the Congress passed standardized menu labeling in 2010, what was the goal? To arm Americans with the right-to-know information they need to make informed nutritional decisions for themselves and for their families. The language was built on consensus and compromise and worked out between a wide variety of interests, including many industry partners. I can find you the quotes from the National Restaurant Association where we stood together to make the announcement to put calories up on menu boards where people could see them and make the decision about what they were going to purchase at the point of purchase. Now certain sectors of the industry want to tear down the progress that we have made. This bill would weaken and repeal a crucial step to combat the obesity epidemic in the United States. This bill increases consumer confusion and allows restaurants to list deceptive portion sizes, listing an entree as multiple servings, even though these items are often consumed by one person. For example, a restaurant could list the caloric content of one chicken wing, deciding that one chicken wing is a serving size. But people do not eat just one chicken wing. Under the proposed bill, a restaurant would not be obligated to inform a consumer that there are 12 chicken wings in an order, which can lead to consumers making misinformed decisions based on misleading information, consuming far more calories than they ever realized. This bill would also deny consumers the right to nutritional information at that point of purchase, even if 49 percent of orders are placed from in-store menus. Food establishments, what they would like to do is to bury menu labeling online. Multiple studies have shown that providing calorie menu information can help Americans make lower calorie choices. But they cannot do this if they do not have the information they need. It also weakens enforcement, consumer protection, and it would completely remove an establishment's incentive to comply with menu labeling requirements. It also removes the ability of individuals to hold retail establishments accountable for violations to the food labeling law. Many public interest health organizations are concerned about the ability of citizens to take action on noncompliance to menu labeling standards. Given that the Food and Drug Administration is chronically underfunded, this would be a serious setback. We live in a country where obesity is an epidemic. In March 2015, sales at restaurants and bars surpassed spending at grocery stores for the first time ever. On an average day, one out of three Americans eat at a fast food restaurant. Americans are eating nearly half of their meals and snacks outside the home. Nutritional information must be made readily available where the consumer is at a point of purchase. Children are especially at risk. Today, more than a third of children and adolescents are overweight and obese. Children eat almost twice as many calories at a restaurant than they do at home. The impact on our kids alone should be reason enough to oppose a measure that undermines the consumer's ability to make an informed nutrition choice at mealtime. The good news is that menu labeling works. A 2015 study at Harvard found that menu labeling could save $4.6 billion in healthcare costs over 10 years. It is a popular concept. A national poll found that 80 percent of Americans support menu labeling in chain restaurants. Over 100 nutrition and health organizations support menu labeling, along with trade associations, like the National Restaurant Association, chain restaurants such as McDonald's, Chili's, and IHOP. The existing law is flexible. Restaurants with less than 20 locations--a mom and pop small businesses--are excluded. Your local grocery store is excluded. It has been 6 years since the original labeling law passed. There has been a 2-year delay in its full implementation. The Food and Drug Administration has actually gone almost door to door to work with the industry to address their concerns. We should let them work through this process rather than complicating it with this legislation, which is just industry's answer to gutting the legislation.

Ms. DeLAURO. Let them work through the process. We would be undoing years of meaningful, impactful work on menu labeling with a single stroke. This is a special interest-driven bill. No one is suggesting that every permutation of a meal has to be changed and listed on a menu board. That is false. That is misrepresentation. You take the standard menu and you put that up there, and the same is true of pizza places, the same is true of the deli counter, and a convenience store. Do not let an industry that doesn't want to provide information to the American people about what they are eating and what the calorie content is--you know, when we first started this, we talked about calories and sodium and a whole bunch of other things, but it was by working with the industry that I did at that time, that said: No, let's just put calories up there. That is reasonable. We don't have to go further than that. They stood side by side with me and we went to restaurants where we saw what the calorie count was on the label, and they were perfectly happy with it. Subsections of this industry have refused to do what the broad-based industry has wanted to do. This is industry-driven. It is not the answer. It would undo over 5 years of progress on menu labeling. It hurts the American public. It hurts our children. And I urge all of my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, let me make a point. The fact has been mentioned that people can go online and they can find their information in that way. Forty-nine percent of orders are placed from in-store menus. Food establishments can bury anything online. Not everyone has access to that kind of information. All of the studies have determined that you make your choice at the point of purchase. I want to make one other comment because the National Restaurant Association has been talked about here this morning. Let me just quote to you Scott DeFife, executive vice president of the National Restaurant Association, who praised the menu labeling law when the two of us stood to introduce this legislation 6 years ago. He said why it was a good thing to do and why he praised it and why the National Restaurant Association was foursquare for it: ``It sets a clear national standard across the country.'' They were opposed to this bill. They have been all along. God only knows what happened in the last 24 or 48 hours to have the National Restaurant Association, which we stood shoulder to shoulder as we passed this unbelievably record-breaking bill in order to allow people to know what they are eating, make their own choice, and to know the calorie content of food, standard-sized menus. The variations are not there. So much misinformation is being peddled on this floor today about what was a bill to protect the American public.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed Roll Call vote number 38 regarding the Kildee Amendment. Had I been present, I would have voted yea.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed Roll Call vote number 2 regarding ``On Ordering the Previous Question'' (H. Res. 579). Had I been present, I would have voted ``No''. I missed Roll Call vote number 3 regarding ``Providing for consideration of H.R. 3762'' (H. Res. 579). Had I been present, I would have voted ``No''. I missed Roll Call vote number 4 regarding ``On Ordering the Previous Question'' (H. Res. 580). Had I been present, I would have voted ``No''. I missed Roll Call vote number 5 regarding ``Providing for consideration of H.R. 712'' (H. Res. 580). Had I been present, I would have voted ``No''. I missed Roll Call vote number 6 regarding ``Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015'' (H.R. 3762). Had I been present, I would have voted ``No''.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed rollcall vote number 7 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Johnson (GA) Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 8 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Cummings Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 9 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Lynch Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 10 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Johnson (GA) Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 11 regarding ``On Motion to Recommit with Instructions''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 12 regarding ``Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015'' (H.R. 712). Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' I missed rollcall vote number 13 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Johnson (GA) Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 14 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Cummings Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 15 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Cicilline Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 16 regarding ``On Agreeing to the DelBene Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 17 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Cicilline Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 18 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Pocan Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 19 regarding ``On Motion to Recommit with Instructions''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote number 20 regarding ``Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act of 2015'' (H.R. 1155). Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' I missed rollcall vote number 21 regarding ``On Ordering the Previous Question'' (H. Res. 581). Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' I missed rollcall vote number 22 regarding ``On agreeing to the Resolution'' (H. Res. 581). Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained so I missed rollcall vote No. 23 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Cohen Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 24 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Conyers Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 25 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Deutch Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 26 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Moore Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 27 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Moore Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 28 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Waters, Maxine Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 29 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Johnson (GA) Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 30 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Jackson Lee Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 31 regarding ``On Agreeing to the Nadler Amendment''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 32 regarding ``On Motion to Recommit with Instructions''. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I missed rollcall vote No. 33 regarding ``To amend title 28, United States Code, to improve fairness in class action litigation'' (H.R. 1927). Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the continued normalization of relations with Cuba and ending the embargo. Today marks the one year anniversary since the historic announcement by President Obama that the Cold War relations between the U.S. and Cuba were officially coming to an end. The reestablishment of diplomatic relations and increase in travel, commerce, information flows, and research collaboration will improve the lives of both the Cuban and American people. In the past year we have seen remarkable progress. Cuba has been removed from the list of state sponsors of terror, so that the State Department can more appropriately focus its resources on countries and regions where counter-terrorism efforts are critical. Embassies have been reopened in Washington and Havana. The Treasury and Commerce Departments continue to implement changes to make it easier to travel between our nations. These efforts are critical steps to improve relations between the United States and the Cuban people but more must be done. The trade embargo, in place since 1960, must come to an end. This misguided policy to pressure the Cuban government into democracy has clearly failed. The President has pursued normalization of relations to the greatest extent possible under the law. Now, Congress must act. Removing the embargo with Cuba could generate up to $365 million in additional American goods and would help to create thousands of new jobs in the United States, according to a study by Texas A&M University. Last year on official visit to the island nation, I saw firsthand the innovative power of Cuban entrepreneurs, especially women who are opening small businesses, restaurants, and shops for the first time across the island. We can and should continue to build momentum for economic liberalization so that these women can access the tools and capital they need to expand and grow their enterprises. I am proud to be a founding member of the re-launched bipartisan Cuba Working Group steering committee. It is time to support the Cuban people and create jobs here in the United States. I urge action in this body to remove the embargo so that we can fully engage with our neighbors across the Straits of Florida.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, just a few weeks ago, community leaders and arts advocates from across the City of New Haven gathered to pay tribute to the late Charles Newton ``Newt'' Schenck and honor his legacy with the dedication of a plaque at the Audubon Arts Center in the heart of the City's Arts District. I am proud to take a moment today to stand and join the City and its arts community in honoring Newt for his outstanding contributions. Today, the City of New Haven enjoys a thriving, vibrant arts community with local theaters, symphonies, and music education organizations as well as art studios and performance spaces providing learning and entertainment opportunities for all ages. At the epicenter of it all is the Audubon Arts District--the culmination of Newt Schenck's visionary leadership to breathe new life into a once- beleaguered area of downtown New Haven. An attorney at Wiggin & Dana, Newt served on the City's Development Commission and was a dedicated patron of the arts. He helped found the Long Wharf Theater and led the City's Arts Council for many years. Newt understood the importance of balancing revitalization with preservation and it was through this paradigm that he worked to formulate and implement a master plan for what would become the Audubon Arts District. For the better part of two decades, Newt worked to bring together the elements of his vision. He wanted the arts center to be a group of arts institutions that work together, where the whole is greater than its parts. He knew it should be mixed use with arts organizations, businesses, and residential housing. Older buildings would be preserved and re-purposed and commercial development would return money to the arts. Slowly but surely that vision became a reality. Today, Audubon is not only home to the Arts Council, but to Educational Center for the Arts, the Neighborhood Music School, the New Haven Ballet, and Creative Arts Workshop, as well as local businesses like Audubon Strings, the Foundry Music Company, the Silk Road Art Gallery, and Connecticut Public Radio. The plaza, which features beautiful sculptures designed by local artists, also has its own ``walk of fame'' with stars honoring New Haven arts leaders. The plaque, designed and installed by Westville sculptor Gar Waterman, is a special tribute to Newt's legacy. Below a beautiful relief of a tree, it reads: ``In honor of Charles Newton Schenck III, Attorney at Wiggin & Dana who, in collaboration with the City of New Haven, with vision and persistence led the Arts Council in its development of the Audubon Arts Center 1965 to 1990.'' Charles Newton ``Newt'' Schenck, through his work with the Arts Council and the development of the Audubon Arts District, changed the face of our community and planted the seeds for the New Haven arts community that flourishes as a whole today. I am honored to join the City of New Haven and the New Haven Arts Council in paying tribute to his invaluable contributions to our community and in extending my heartfelt thanks to his wife, Ann, for sharing him with us for so many years. The Audubon Arts District is a haven for artists of all mediums, of all ages, and of all talents--a legacy that will inspire the beauty and magic of the arts for generations to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, our nation lost a giant in the world of health care. Dennis Rezendes, one of the original creators of hospice care, passed away in June at his home, surrounded by family and friends and with care from the program he helped establish. The son of second-generation immigrant parents, Dennis was born in Fall River, Massachusetts and grew up during the Great Depression. Enlisting in the United States Air Force following his graduation from high school, Dennis served his country with honor and distinction for six years during which time, as a Grand Control Approach operator, he was involved in the U.S. side of the Berlin Airlift. Following his honorable discharge, he attended the University of Maine where he graduated in 1957 with honors and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Management. He went on to earn his Master of Government Administration degree from the Wharton School of Business and Finance and the Fels Institute of Local and State government at the University of Pennsylvania. Among his many professional endeavors, Dennis served former New Haven Mayor Richard Lee as the Director of Administration and Budget Officer. It was during his time with the Lee Administration that I first got to know Dennis. He played an integral role in the rejuvenation of the City of New Haven, helping to initiate innovative programs designed to improve the physical and social state of the city and its residents. Dennis' true passion was realized in 1974 when he joined a small group of doctors and nurses to create the first program of hospice care in the United States along with the construction of the first American hospice facility located in Branford, Connecticut. Dennis went on to found the National Hospice Organization where he served as its first Executive Director. He played a critical leadership role in the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid legislation and private insurance payment for hospice care as well as the enactment of innovative health legislation in Connecticut related to hospice care that was replicated in many other states. His pioneering efforts were recognized by Presidents Carter and Reagan, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Thomas ``Tip'' O'Neill, Senators Edward ``Ted'' Kennedy and Robert Dole as well as many others. Dennis' last effort in the hospice movement was the co- creation of Community Hospice Care in Anaheim Hills, California which grew to become the second largest program of hospice care in the country. Retiring in 1994, it is an understatement to say that Dennis left an indelible mark on our nation's health care system. Above all else, Dennis was a deeply devoted family man. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Beau; his daughter, Cheryl, and her husband Alan; his son Michael; his two stepsons Shane Hobart, and his wife Heather, and Seth, and his wife Nicole, as well as his six grandchildren August, Brook, Grace, Ethan, Eligh, and Jax. Dennis Rezendes was an extraordinary man whose compassion and strong desire to make a difference changed the face of how we care for the terminally ill and their families in their last days. I consider myself fortunate to have known him and, like so many others, remain inspired by his vision and leadership. His is a legacy that will continue to touch the lives of those most in need for generations to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with the heaviest of hearts that I rise today to take a moment to remember Ezra Schwartz who, at only eighteen, was taken from us all too soon when he was killed just before the Thanksgiving holiday while volunteering in the West Bank. Ezra's grandparents, Mark and Heni Schwartz, have long been involved in New Haven's Jewish community and I am heartbroken for their loss. Ezra was an extraordinary young man who had his whole life still ahead of him. Memories shared from those from every walk of his life shared a common theme--Ezra's kind heart, generous nature, and passion for making a difference. His vivacious character was contagious. He was dedicated to his family and his community, always striving to enrich the lives of others. Ezra was an accomplished young man who loved teaching others. His father, Ari, recently recounted the many ways in which he helped his younger siblings as well as his time at New Hampshire's Camp Yavneh last summer, where he won an award for leading campers in the annual sing-off. Ezra's choice to join a yeshiva program, combining service with learning, did not surprise anyone who knew him. Spending a ``gap year'' between high school and college studying at an Israeli yeshiva, Ezra was building a deeper connection to his ethnic and religious roots as well as volunteering his time to make a difference in the lives of others. His was a mission of compassion and humanitarianism and he was killed simply because he was Jewish. Though we may never fully understand why Ezra was taken so soon, his family and friends can take comfort in the full life that he led while he was here. It is an honor and privilege for me to stand today to pay tribute to Ezra Schwartz and his extraordinary young life. I extend my deepest sympathies to his parents, Ari and Ruth; his siblings, Mollie, Hillel, Elon, and Avi; his grandparents, Mark and Heni; as well as his many family and friends at this most difficult time. Well known for his generosity and kind spirit, Ezra will be deeply missed by all of those fortunate enough to have known him and will serve as an inspiration to others to make a difference in this world.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and to express great disappointment with the underlying tax extenders bill. While the tax extenders bill makes the expansion of the child tax credit permanent, along with the earned income tax credit and the American opportunity tax credit, it fails to index the value of the child tax credit to inflation. By the end of this decade, this will result in 750,000 children falling back into poverty. In the last big tax deal, Congress made the estate tax cut both permanent and indexed to inflation. Who does this benefit? The children of the millionaires and billionaires. Yet, this bill fails to provide the same benefit to working families. It means that 7,450 estates nationwide are the beneficiaries of the estate tax. Nineteen million families and many, many more millions of children would have benefited from indexing the child tax credit. Congress has also provided for many more provisions of the Tax Code to be indexed: income tax rates, the adoption credit, the earned income tax credit, the low-income housing credit, the exemption amount for the alternative minimum tax, the standard deduction, the overall limitation on itemized deductions, cafeteria plans, transportation fringe benefits, adoption assistance programs, the personal exemption, medical savings account, the maximum deduction for interest on education loans, foreign-earned income exclusion, estate tax exemption, gift tax exemption, and the list goes on and on. No family in the United States should have to struggle to raise a child. By failing to index the value of the child tax credit, we allow the benefit of the child tax credit to slowly erode away. Too many hardworking people are still not earning enough to make ends meet in this country. Middle class wages are stagnant or they are in decline. We need to do whatever we can to support working people. Working and middle class families cannot afford to continue to see the value of their child tax credit decline.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the omnibus appropriations bill before this Chamber. In many ways, this omnibus moves the Federal budget in the right direction. It begins to leave behind the shortsighted policies of austerity that have slowed our economic recovery. But I am disappointed it does not go further. I am troubled that the Labor-HHS-Education bill received only a fraction, about one-half of its fair share of the $33 billion increase provided by the recent budget deal. While we were successful on many fronts, the bill still does not adequately fund many of our Nation's highest priorities. I have also been fighting for years to remove a policy rider carried in this bill that prevents the Centers for Disease Control from funding research on gun violence. Even Congressman Dickey, who authored the rider, is now opposed. This bill, however, does begin to make incremental progress, and there are many, many successes to highlight. It provides an additional $2 billion for the NIH, which will boost efforts to develop cures to improve our quality of life. It provides an increase of more than $300 million for the Centers for Disease Control, including $160 million to address the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The bill provides a much-needed increase of $326 million for child care and a boost of $570 million for Head Start. These high-quality early learning programs reduce inequality and narrow achievement gaps. There are sizable increases of $455 million for special education, $500 million for Title I grants to support disadvantaged students, and nearly $200 million more than last year for job training and apprentice programs. But imagine if we had chosen to give labor, health, and education programs the fair funding that they deserve this year. We could be expanding access to high-quality child care and early childhood education for more children and families in need. We could be funding partnerships between community colleges and funding technical training to develop the most highly skilled workforce in the world. We could have provided the NIH with a bigger increase. Tomorrow, I will vote to support this omnibus bill. It is a down payment on reversing the austerity of the last few years. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, or the Customs bill. This legislation has historically been a bipartisan bill, but the majority has politicized the Customs legislation by adding several riders that would be harmful to our trade policy. The bill undermines our ability to address several of the most critical global issues that we face: climate change, human trafficking, and immigration. And it includes no meaningful method for dealing with one of the biggest causes of job loss and wage suppression in the United States: currency manipulation, which has cost our Nation over 5 million jobs. Ironically, world leaders are concluding negotiations today in Paris at the largest climate summit in history. They are working hard to hash out an agreement that, as the Sierra Club has pointed out, will be undermined by the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. With the bill before us today, the United States will not be allowed to address greenhouse gas emissions in future trade negotiations. Imagine. The bill also contains no funding to support the enforcement and monitoring of our trade agreements, and it lacks any automatic mechanism for ensuring compliance with our trade rules. This administration has never self-initiated a trade complaint against any of our free trade partners. It takes years for the administration to bring a case against countries that subsidize or dump their product in our markets. Lack of enforcement of our trade agreements has plagued our country for decades. Despite environmental rules in the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement, the overwhelming majority of timber from Peru is illegally logged. Despite the labor rules in the Colombia free trade agreement, over 100 Colombian trade unionists have been murdered, 19 this year alone. This bill does not adequately address enforcement. It lacks the mechanisms for ensuring compliance with trade rules. As I said, no administration has ever self-initiated a labor or environmental trade complaint against any of our free trade partners. Why would we think that this would begin now? While this bill authorizes funding for enforcement, there is no guarantee that this funding will ever be provided. We already lack the critical funding to enforce our existing trade agreements. American workers cannot afford to suffer through additional losses as their jobs are shipped to countries that do not play by the rules. Worst of all, one day after International Human Rights Day, which was yesterday, this legislation contains a provision that will weaken U.S. efforts to curb human trafficking forced labor. The bill would allow for expedited consideration of a trade agreement with nations classified as the worst offenders of human trafficking. We have already seen the administration's willingness to do whatever it takes to secure a trade deal when it upgraded the human trafficking ranking of Malaysia to conclude the TPP negotiations. Malaysia was in the same category as Iran just 5 months ago. Where are our values with regard to human life? The biggest problem with our economy today is that too many Americans are in jobs that do not pay them enough to live on. They are struggling. One of the main reasons for this is several decades of bad trade policy that has shipped millions of jobs overseas, like the policies in this Customs bill and the TPP. People in this body like to say that all of the job losses and the wage depression are because of technology and globalization. It is. It is because of the policy choices we have made over the years. It is time for us to rewrite the rules.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, millions of jobs are at stake as is the fate of our country's economy. Working class families in this Nation are struggling just to get by. Men and women are scraping together meager earnings to put food on their tables, to warm their homes, and to take care of their kids. They can't think about sending their kids to college. They can't think about vacations or retirement security. We need to decide if we are going to rebuild a land of access and opportunity, where anyone who is willing to work hard and to play by the rules can find a good job that can support a family. There is no reason to make bad trade policy even worse. This legislation, with enforcement gaps and harmful negotiating objectives is unacceptable. We can and should do better for working people. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''