Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman. My God, what we could do if we had the will to do it. That's what this is about. It's a question of our values and where our priorities are. Is it about our kids, or is it about the richest 1 percent of the people in this Nation getting $150,000 or $187,000 in a tax break? The gentlewoman from California has been extraordinary in her fight for the food stamp program, and she hasn't been afraid to take on anyone in any party on this issue of making sure that the food stamp program is secure. I recognize the gentlelady from California (Ms. Lee).

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentlewoman from California, and I want to make sure that we have the opportunity to hear from three more of our colleagues and our colleague from New York, Congressman Tonko. Thank you for being here tonight. And then we will hear from Congresswoman Schakowsky and Congressman Larson.

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentlelady. I am delighted to be joined by my colleague from Connecticut, who is chair of the Democratic Caucus and whose career, whether it was in the State senate in Connecticut in our legislature there or his work here, has been remarkable. At its core, again, are our children and our families. I recognize Congressman John Larson of Connecticut.

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman and I thank my colleagues for joining us tonight.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, in tonight's Democratic Special Order, we will be highlighting the severe and immoral cuts made to antihunger and nutrition programs in the House Republican budget. Right now, millions of American families and children are suffering from food insecurity. As the map here clearly shows, food hardship is a national tragedy. It is present in each and every congressional district. The districts that are highlighted in pink and in red have the most food hardships, while the districts in yellow are not far behind. Districts highlighted in blue have the lowest food hardship, but the national average is that nearly one in five Americans struggles with food hardship. Simply put, they are at risk of going hungry. According to a study done by the Center for Budget Policy and Priorities, the Republican budget, composed by Chairman Paul Ryan and endorsed by Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, would ``impose extraordinary cuts in programs that serve as a lifeline for our Nation's poorest and our most vulnerable citizens.'' Not the least of these are America's critical antihunger initiatives like food stamps and the Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, program, all of which the Ryan Republican budget threatens to slash by as much as 19 percent. That means, for example, that over 8 million men, women, and children could be cut from food stamps, and 2\1/2\ million pregnant and post- partum women, infants and children may be slashed from the WIC program. The Ryan budget slashes these antihunger initiatives while preserving subsidies for Big Oil, tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. It is a reverse Robin Hood budget that, in the words of Robert Greenstein, the head of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, would ``likely produce the largest redistribution of income from the bottom to the top in modern U.S. history, and likely increase poverty and inequality more than any other budget in recent times and possibly in the Nation's history.'' As many religious and ethical observers have noted this week, the decisions made in this budget are antithetical to our basic moral values. Last Friday, 60 Catholic leaders and theologians wrote a letter to Chairman Ryan arguing that his budget was ``morally indefensible and betrays Catholic principles of solidarity, just taxation, and a commitment to the common good. A budget that turns its back on the hungry, the elderly, and the sick while giving more tax breaks to the wealthiest few can't be justified in Christian terms.'' This Ryan Republican budget is particularly cruel when you consider the scale of need in the current economy where 13 million are unemployed and one in six are living below the official poverty line. As another group of Christian leaders, the Circle of Protection, has urged, Congress should ``give moral priority to programs that protect the life and the dignity of poor and vulnerable people in these difficult times.'' Our antihunger initiatives like food stamps and WIC are just such programs. Tonight, I'm proud to be joined by my colleagues. We will discuss the profound impact the Ryan-Romney Republican budget will have on these programs. With that, I am so pleased to ask my colleague from California (Mr. Farr), who is the ranking member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, to continue our dialogue for this evening.

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentleman from California. And as this is, as I said, an issue that is coast to coast, I'd like to recognize our colleague from Massachusetts, someone who has been an unbelievable champion of eliminating hunger in the United States, Jim McGovern from Massachusetts.

Ms. DeLAURO. I want to thank my colleague. I want to thank him for his eloquence. He makes a comment that these are not just statistics about the people who are being hurt. The fact of the matter is last week in my district during our district break I did an event on hunger in our community. And there I had the head of the Connecticut food bank, the woman who heads up the End Hunger Connecticut organization, and a young woman, her name was Susan Vass from Branford, Connecticut. She stood up and with tears in her eyes talked about her circumstances. Out of a job, that's someone who is a former pension adviser, a human resources director who's now unemployed, cannot find a job. She has three boys 18, 14 and 10 years old. They eat--she stood there crying-- one meal a day. If we cut back on food stamps, and because she's now not eligible, she can't get them because her unemployment benefits take her over the mark, so she relies on the Connecticut food bank. And when the food stamps are cut, the food banks don't get the emergency assistance program funding. So her ability to feed her family will continue to drop. It's wrong. It's immoral in a land that has plenty and we are bountiful with food in this Nation. I'm so delighted that our colleague, Jackie Speier from California, has joined us tonight for this conversation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, April 14th will mark the 100th Anniversary of the Titanic tragedy and for one family, the Kellys of New Haven, Connecticut, it will mark the anniversary of the loss of a very special member of their family, James Kelly. The Titanic Kellys, as they have been known since the days of this tragedy, will gather for a reunion and a celebration of the strength and resiliency of this wonderful family. In the early part of the 20th century, life in Leixlip, Ireland was difficult to say the least and James Kelly determined that it was time for his family to seek a new life in America. In order to obtain the necessary money to move the family, the eldest daughter, Margaret left her home and family and immigrated to New Haven, Connecticut where she would work until she had earned enough for her father to join her. The plan was for Margaret and James to then work to bring the rest of the family to New Haven. Margaret worked at the garment company Strause-Adler and soon had enough wages saved to send to her father. It is not fully known exactly how James Kelly obtained passage on the Titanic, but what is known is that he boarded at Queenstown, Ireland and his ticket number was 330911. This third class passage ticket was purchased for approximately $40.00 and being third class, James was segregated from the other passengers and, while his movement was limited, some of the accommodations were actually better than what he saw at his two room house in Leixlip. It is not hard to imagine the hope that was in his heart--the dreams of a better life for his family. Unfortunately, fate had different plans. James Kelly did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was discovered by the Mackay-Bennett, which was one of the ships chartered by White Star Lines to recover bodies. Each body discovered was given a number and entered into a ledger--James Kelly was number 70. The ledger indicates he was buried at sea on April 21, 1912 wearing a dark suit, vest, trousers, white socks, black boots and a set of rosary beads. Even in the face of this tragedy and the loss of their patriarch, the Kelly family did not waiver. James' widow, Catherine, and their other children left Ireland and arrived in New Haven in June of 1912. While life in America was not without its challenges, they took it upon themselves to fight through the hardship and build a better life for their respective families. There are now more than 100 proud descendents of James Kelly living in our great country. The Kelly motto, ``God is My Tower of Strength,'' perfectly reflects the will power and vigor of the Titanic Kelly's and I am proud to join them as they celebrate their remarkable history.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to extend my very best wishes to the members of the New Haven Lions Club as they gather to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of this extraordinary community organization. Over the course of its history, the New Haven Lions Club has enabled its members to contribute to our community in a positive and meaningful way. Indeed, in the last century, members of the New Haven Lions Club have helped to shape the very character of our community. Founded in February of 1922, the New Haven Lions Club was only the second such club started in New England. From the very beginning, member's work in the community concentrated on assistance to local blind persons and underprivileged children. In its earliest years, Lions would repair radios for the blind and transport them to and from local meetings as well as donate dinners and presents to needy families during the holidays. Over time, the Lions club has expanded both its membership and its activities on behalf of those in need. Today, the New Haven Lions Club can be very proud of the two very special Service Projects it supports on an on-going basis. The first is Camp Cedarcrest, a forty-two acre facility located in Orange, Connecticut that began its operations in 1928. The New Haven Lions have partnered with four other service organizations--the Kiwanis, Probus, Quota and Rotary Clubs--who own the grounds and buildings, set policy, and provide capital improvements. In partnership with the New Haven Department of Parks and Recreation which provides a resident Ranger as well as organizes and supervises day camping and other activities, Camp Cedarcrest is available for recreation to thousands of young people and adults each summer season. In addition to the substantial financial support provided by the Club, over the years, New Haven Lions have contributed hundreds of hours of voluntary labor to ensure the upkeep of the grounds. The second service project to which the New Haven Lions have dedicated themselves is the One-To-One Program. This project, which is organized as a hands-on personal involvement of one Lion and one blind person, was first established in 1975 and has been a great success ever since. In addition to these two service projects, the Lions also give back to the community by supporting Leo Clubs in local schools, volunteering their time and energies to other local service organizations like the Salvation Army and the Special Olympics, and providing scholarships to young people beginning their collegiate studies. In fact, as of their annual report last year, the New Haven Lions Club had spent in excess of $750,000 to assist the less fortunate--all of which was raised by members. The New Haven Lions have had an extraordinary impact on our community and we cannot thank them enough for all of their good work. As they celebrate their 90th anniversary, I am proud to stand to congratulate them on this remarkable milestone and to extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to members past and present for their outstanding efforts on behalf of our community. I have no doubt that they will continue to do so for many more years to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me the greatest pleasure to rise today to extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to the Society of Santa Maria Maddalena of New Haven--the oldest American fraternal organization in Connecticut--for their many invaluable contributions to our community. Located in Wooster Square, the neighborhood in New Haven where I grew up, the Society of Maria Maddalena has played an important role in forging the strong bonds of our community. Founded in 1898 by immigrants from the town of Atrani in the Salerno Province, south of Naples, Italy, the Society of Maria Maddalena has been a resource for neighborhood families for generations. Named for the patron saint of Atrani, the Society of Maria Maddalena was originally established to assist fellow Atrani immigrants with housing, employment, English translating, and legal matters. It was a place where families faced with the many challenges of starting a new life in a new country could turn for support, comfort, and friendship. Over the years, the Society's purpose has become more community oriented, helping any worthwhile cause or individual regardless of ethnic background. It has donated tens of thousands of dollars to numerous charities and organizations in New Haven and across the State. St. Michael's Church in New Haven, the Salvation Army, Columbus House, Connecticut Hospice, and Iwo Jima Survivors are just a few of those organizations who have benefitted from their generosity. The Society has also provided scholarships to inner city youths. The Santa Maria Maddalena Society preserves the traditions, heritage and culture of its members' ancestors, and also maintains ties to Atrani by providing assistance to the Santa Maria Maddalena Church in Italy and the society's Italian sister organization for its annual Festa to Santa Maria Maddalena which coincides with the feast day in Connecticut. During the week of July 22, a replica of the original statue of the saint, which was brought to the United States in 1914, is carried through the streets of Wooster Square. The saint is adorned with jewelry provided by the original members of the society. The feast procession culminates at St. Michael's Catholic Church where a high mass is celebrated. The feast celebration extends for four days with Italian music and food, and on Saturday evening, Neapolitan music is featured. The holiday is a time for reuniting with friends and providing younger generations with opportunities to learn about their culture. People across the country struggle to create a sense of community--a sense of belonging. Over the course of its one hundred-fourteen-year history, the Society of Maria Maddalena has helped the families of Wooster Square do just that. For their many invaluable contributions as well as their continued support and friendship, I am proud to stand today to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the members, past and present, of the Society of Maria Maddalena. The bonds of community that the Society has helped to shape will continue to impact generations to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I was just saying to the previous speaker that I have a 98-year-old mother. Let's hand her a voucher and say, Go figure it out. That's precisely what you want to do. Go figure it out on Medicare. Unbelievable. She could really figure it out. Chairman Ryan and the House majority have put together a lopsided budget, tries to break the middle class, gouges deeply into our commonsense national priorities and ends the Medicare guarantee. According to estimates, more than 4 million Americans would lose their jobs because of this budget, but they provide a $150,000 tax cut to the richest 1 percent of people in this Nation. The Republican budget would slash the social safety net cutting the food stamp program by over 17 percent, or $133.5 billion. That's more than the amount of food stamp funds going to 29 States and territories. Over 8 million men, women, and children would go hungry. If their plan to turn food stamps into an underfunded block grant goes through, even more damage is done. Coming out of the deepest recession since the Great Depression, food stamps help to feed 46 million Americans, 21 million children. Seventy-five percent of the program participants are families with children. This is Robin Hood in reverse. It takes from the middle class, gives to the rich. I urge my colleagues to oppose this disastrous budget.

Ms. DeLAURO. I thank the gentlelady. In 21st century America, three women die every day at the hands of their husbands, boyfriends, or former partners. Domestic violence causes 2 million injuries a year. Sadly, it is something that one out of every four women will experience in their lifetimes. This is particularly a difficult problem for young women today. Women between the ages of 16 and 24 have the highest rates of relationship violence, and one in every five women will be sexually assaulted while they are in college. Even more worrisome, we know that when couples are experiencing economic difficulties, domestic violence is three times as likely to occur. Victim service providers have seen an increase in demand since the recession began while also seeing their funding cut. More than 70 percent of shelters credited ``financial issues'' for increases in abuse that they have seen in communities across the country. In 1994, our now-Vice President Joe Biden wrote and championed the Violence Against Women Act. In 17 years it has cut the rate of domestic violence in our country by over half. It is past time to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act again, and my colleague's amendment would allow us to act now. This bill reauthorizes the programs that have been proven to work to stem domestic violence and to help law enforcement and prosecutors do their jobs. This reauthorization enjoys bipartisan support in the United States Senate, with 59 cosponsors. In addition, over 200 national organizations and 500 State and local organizations have urged us to pass this bill, including the National Association of Attorneys General, National District Attorneys Association, National Sheriffs' Association, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. Why do they want us to do this? Because it helps to make their jobs easier, and it gives women the tools to be able to protect themselves. Everyone, everyone in this Chamber wants to see an America where no woman ever has to endure the scourge of domestic violence. The Violence Against Women Act is helping us realize this vision. We must reauthorize the law so it can continue to help our constituents. And I am also proud to tell you that the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform legislation, now says that if a woman is a victim of domestic violence, her insurance company can no longer say that that is a preexisting condition, and she can get the kind of health care coverage that she needs. That's the value of reauthorizing this legislation and the value of the Affordable Care Act. I urge you to support this amendment so we can act now. Let's move forward. Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act once again.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with the heaviest of hearts that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of one of our community's most outstanding entrepreneurs and my dear friend, Murray Lender, who we lost on March 21st at the age of eighty-one. A bagel baker, food executive and philanthropist, who helped bring the bagel to kitchens across the nation, Murray was a close friend and I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Murray never forgot his roots and humble beginnings in New Haven while he worked to foster good will and humanitarianism. He was a special person and leader, part of a special family that takes care of each other, bringing jobs to networks of friends and serving the larger community. Along with his two brothers, Marvin and Sam, Murray turned the dream of ``bagelizing'' America into a reality through the process of freezing the bagel, which the family pioneered in the early 1960s. Murray, who began counting bagels in the family's backyard bakery before he was eleven, became a food marketing innovator. He took what was formerly only an ethnic product and made it a national staple, available to all. In 1963, Lender's introduced a branded retail pack of frozen bagels. Murray saw frozen foods, which was a new category of products, as an opportunity for greater distribution and expanding the market to new users. Free publicity was also a key to their success. Murray could be seen presenting a life-sized bagel on the Tonight Show to Johnny Carson, or on Capitol Hill presenting Tip O'Neill with a giant green bagel on St. Patrick's Day. Whether in animated form, or live, lying on the bread shelf in the supermarket, there wasn't much that Murray wouldn't do to sell his product. Lender's Bagels was sold to Kraft food in 1985, but Murray remained with the company to continue his work as spokesman. Murray was forever passionate about the concept of frozen foods and became involved in all associations directed at strengthening its image. He was Chairman of the National Frozen Food Association, NFFA, as well as the chairman of the 50th Anniversary of Frozen Foods, a national promotion staged in 1980. He pioneered and co-chaired the first National Frozen Food Month in March of 1984, an industry wide month of promotional retail and foodservice activity among frozen food manufacturers. Murray would never go a day dressed without a penguin-- the frozen food marketing symbol--whether it be a tie, a pin, socks or a hat. He was recognized by this industry with numerous awards throughout his lifetime. In more recent years, Murray directed his focus toward philanthropic work. His energy and creative thinking had a major impact on anything he undertook, particularly in his hometown of New Haven. Active in both the local Jewish community, as well as his Alma Mater, Quinnipiac University, Murray's influence can be seen throughout the city, which has recognized him with a school playground in his name, the ADL Torch of Liberty Award, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Quinnipiac University, to name a few. Murray Lender was an extraordinary human being and I consider myself fortunate to have called him my friend. He leaves such a legacy that we celebrate, even as we mourn his passing. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Gillie; his children, daughter Haris and her husband, Evan, and sons Carl and Jay as well as his brother Marvin and his wife Helaine. We can see the unfailing smile in the face of adversity and all his work that carries on. He lit up the world. We will miss him.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it's with the heaviest of hearts that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of one of our community's most outstanding entrepreneurs and my dear friend, Murray Lender, whom we lost on March 21, at the age of 81. Murray Lender was a bagel baker, food executive, and philanthropist who helped bring the bagel to kitchens across the Nation. Murray was a close friend, and I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Murray, the son of immigrant parents, never forgot his roots and humble beginnings in New Haven while he worked to foster goodwill and humanitarianism. He was a special person and leader, part of a special family that takes care of each other, bringing jobs to networks and friends and serving the larger community. From counting bagels in the family's backyard bakery before he was 11, Murray rose to become a food marketing innovator who took what was formerly only an ethnic product and made it a national staple available to all. In more recent years, Murray directed his focus toward philanthropic work. His energy and creative thinking had a major impact on anything he undertook, particularly in his hometown of New Haven. Active in both the local Jewish community as well as his alma mater, Quinnipiac University, Murray's influence can be seen throughout the city, which has recognized him with a school playground in his name, the ADL Torch of Liberty Award, and an honorary doctor of humane letters from Quinnipiac University, to name a few. Murray Lender was an extraordinary human being, and I consider myself fortunate to have called him my friend. He leaves such a legacy that we celebrate even as we mourn his passing. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Gillie; his children, daughter Haris and her husband, Evan, and sons, Carl and Jay; his grandchildren Olivia, Adam, Jessie, Raquel, Sheva, Julian, Diego, and Claudia; as well as his brother Marvin and his wife, Helaine. We can see the unfailing smile in the face of adversity and all his work that carries on. Murray Lender lit up the world. We will miss him. Mr. Speaker: It is with the heaviest of hearts that I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of one of our community's most outstanding entrepreneurs and my dear friend, Murray Lender, who we lost on March 21st at the age of eighty-one. A bagel baker, food executive and philanthropist, who helped bring the bagel to kitchens across the nation, Murray was a close friend and I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing. Murray never forgot his roots and humble beginnings in New Haven while he worked to foster good will and humanitarianism. He was a special person and leader, part of a special family that takes care of each other, bringing jobs to networks of friends and serving the larger community. Along with his two brothers, Marvin and Sam, Murray turned the dream of ``bagelizing'' America into a reality through the process of freezing the bagel, which the family pioneered in the early 1960s. Murray, who began counting bagels in the family's backyard bakery before he was eleven, became a food marketing innovator. He took what was formerly only an ethnic product and made it a national staple, available to all. In 1963, Lender's introduced a branded retail pack of frozen bagels. Murray saw frozen foods, which was a new category of products, as an opportunity for greater distribution and expanding the market to new users. Free publicity was also a key to their success. Murray could be seen presenting a life-sized bagel on the Tonight Show to Johnny Carson, or on Capitol Hill presenting Tip O'Neill with a giant green bagel on St. Patrick's Day. Whether in animated form, or live, lying on the bread shelf in the supermarket, there wasn't much that Murray wouldn't do to sell his product. Lender's Bagels was sold to Kraft food in 1985, but Murray remained with the company to continue his work as spokesman. Murray was forever passionate about the concept of frozen foods and became involved in all associations directed at strengthening its image. He was Chairman of the National Frozen Food Association (NFFA), as well as the chairman of the 50th Anniversary of Frozen Foods, a national promotion staged in 1980. He pioneered and co-chaired the first National Frozen Food Month in March of 1984, an industry wide month of promotional retail and foodservice activity among frozen food manufacturers. Murray would never go a day dressed without a penguin--the frozen food marketing symbol--whether it be a tie, a pin, socks or a hat. He was recognized by this industry with numerous awards throughout his lifetime. In more recent years, Murray directed his focus toward philanthropic work. His energy and creative thinking had a major impact on anything he undertook, particularly in his hometown of New Haven. Active in both the local Jewish community, as well as his Alma Mater, Quinnipiac University, Murray's influence can be seen throughout the city, which has recognized him with a school playground in his name, the ADL Torch of Liberty Award, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Quinnipiac University, to name a few. Murray Lender was an extraordinary human being and I consider myself fortunate to have called him my friend. He leaves such a legacy that we celebrate, even as we mourn his passing. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Gillie; his children, daughter Haris and her husband, Evan, and sons Carl and Jay, grandchildren Olivia, Adam, Jessie, Raquel, Sheva, Julian, Diego, and Claudia, as well as his brother Marvin and his wife Helaine. We can see the unfailing smile in the face of adversity and all his work that carries on. He lit up the world. We will miss him.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, among the many beneficial reforms for women in the Affordable Care Act passed 2 years ago this week is an end to the discriminatory practice of gender rating in which individual women are charged more than men for the same coverage. We know for a fact that these sorts of discriminatory policies are not something that insurers would just change on their own. According to a report that the National Women's Law Center released earlier this week, over 90 percent of the best-selling plans in States that have not already banned gender rating still charge women more than men for the very same coverage. This costs women and their families approximately $1 billion a year. Because we fought--and we fought hard 2 years ago--gender rating will be a thing of the past in 2014. At long last, a woman's health will be put on equal footing with that of her spouse, her son, or her brother. This is just one of the many benefits for women in the Affordable Care Act. I could not be more proud to have helped pass this piece of legislation, which will transform women's health in this country.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise today to join the many friends, family, and community leaders who have gathered to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Alfred L. Marder as he celebrates his 90th birthday. Al is one of our community's most active advocates--dedicating much of his life to fighting for social justice and the improvement of the quality of life for all. Al Marder is an institution in our community. He is perhaps best known for his work to promote peace, social justice, worker's rights and equality. His commitment to these issues is unwavering--regardless of controversy, he always stands firm in his fight to protect human rights. Over the course of his 90 years, Al has made innumerable contributions to our community and our nation. In his early years, Al served as Executive Director of the Connecticut CIO Youth and Sports Organization and was President of the New Haven Youth Conference. He served in the United States Infantry during World War II and was stationed in the European Theater where he received the Bronze Star. Following the war, Al completed his college education at the University of Connecticut and soon found a passion that he would pursue for the rest of his life. During the McCarthy era, Al was one of those singled out for proudly sharing his thoughts and ideas. Standing firm in his support of civil liberties and the right of every American to freely express themselves, Al discovered his passion for civil and workers rights--two issues to which he has dedicated a lifetime of advocacy. Here in New Haven, Al has made many contributions that have changed the face of our community. One of those outstanding efforts was his work to bring light to story of the Amistad captives and its lessons of unity to achieve freedom. The Amistad story has a special connection to the New Haven community and its resurrection and celebration has become a great source of pride. It has led to the erection of a statue of Sengbe Pieh at City Hall, the re-creation of the Amistad ship at Mystic Seaport, and the formation of the Connecticut African American Freedom Trail. Through each of these efforts, the story of the Amistad and its captives' fight for freedom teaches new generations of the fundamental liberties on which our nation was built. It has had an extraordinary impact on our community and would not have been possible without Al's commitment to ensuring its success. I am honored to have this opportunity to join all of those gathered today in wishing Alfred L. Marder a very happy 90th birthday. At 90- years young, Al continues his work on behalf of those whose voices are too often silenced. Al has left an indelible mark on our community and a legacy of advocacy and compassion that will certainly inspire generations to come. I extend my very best wishes to him, his children, Rebecca and Kenneth, and his grandchildren, Emily and Adam, for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to stand today to join the many family, friends, colleagues and community members who have gathered to pay tribute to an outstanding member of our community and my good friend, Dr. Bernard Siegel, as he is honored by the Connecticut Children's Center of Hamden. Bernie, an Oncologist who earned national and international acclaim for his focus on the correlation between a patient's emotional state and the healing process, has not only brought a powerful voice to patient empowerment, but has also devoted much of his time to supporting local organizations like the Children's Center of Hamden. His work has touched countless lives around the world and I am honored to have this opportunity to join our community in recognizing his remarkable career and invaluable contributions. Bernie has dedicated a lifetime to teaching those facing the most difficult of life's challenges about the healing power they hold within themselves. Well before its time, Bernie recognized that the better a patient was able to cope with the emotional complexities of health issues, the more improved their overall health outcome was--the mind- body connection. Upon this simple, yet innovative idea, Bernie has built a distinguished career. He is the founder of ECaP, an individual and group therapy program for recovering cancer patients, the author of twelve books which have been invaluable resources to patients and loved ones alike, and retired from Yale-New Haven Hospital as the Assistant Clinical Professor of General and Pediatric Surgery. I would be remiss if I did not extend a personal note of thanks to Bernie for his many years of special friendship and counsel. During my tenure in Congress, I have focused much of my attention on health issues and I have often sought Bernie's expertise and guidance. He has always made himself available, proving to be a wealth of knowledge on even the most complex of matters. I, like so many others, consider myself fortunate to call him my friend. Physician, author, advocate, mentor, community leader, and friend, Dr. Bernard Siegel has changed the face of how we view the relationship between the patient and the healing process. His compassion and generosity has also gone a long way in helping those most in need in our community. For his many invaluable contributions, I am proud to rise today to join the Children's Center of Hamden and all of those who have gathered in extending my deepest thanks and appreciation to Bernie Siegel as well as my very best wishes to him, his wife, Bobbie, and their five children and eight grandchildren for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join the many families and community leaders who have gathered today to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Society--a remarkable milestone for this very special organization. Like so many others of its kind, the formation of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Society was rooted in the common need of immigrants to support one another. Milford, Connecticut was an ideal location for Polish farmers who had recently immigrated to America to settle because of the agricultural opportunities the land presented. In a new country and beginning new farms, these families faced many challenges. Seeing the need to have someone or something available to them to assist in a time crisis, a group of seven men met on Sunday, April 1, 1912, and established an organization through which they could not only help each other, but also future generations. Their mission, as stated in their original bylaws was simple: ``To promote social activities, recreation and mental improvement among its members and to provide relief benefit therefor in cases of sickness or trouble.'' From that handful of farmers, the Society has grown throughout the years. Many of today's seventy-five members are descendents of the original seven. Throughout its 100-year history, the Society has often been a source of comfort and support for newly immigrated families. Over that time, the Society Treasury, funded by member dues and modest fundraising events, has enabled the Society to provide financial support to relatives and survivors of the sick and deceased as well as more than $50,000 in scholarships to students of Polish decent seeking higher education. Keeping with the practice started by their founders, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Society still meet once a month on a Sunday afternoon and their Annual Summer Picnic, now a well-known community tradition, is still held on a mid-summer Sunday afternoon. Though times and the needs of members have changed, the Society continues to make a difference in the lives of those in need, strengthening the bonds of friendship and community from one generation to the next. Today, as they celebrate their 100th Anniversary, they can proudly look back on their rich history and be secure in the knowledge that the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Society will remain a source of support and encouragement for many more families in the years to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I was lucky, had excellent doctors who detected the cancer by chance in Stage 1. I am alive today by the grace of God and biomedical research. Many women today are not so lucky. Ten women in the U.S. are diagnosed with a gynecological cancer every hour, and yet we know that using contraception for a year reduces the risk of ovarian cancer by 10 to 12 percent, using it for 5 years reduces that risk by roughly 50 percent. Twenty-six thousand women will die from these terrible cancers each and every year. This is just one of the ways that access to contraception is beneficial to women's health. Improved access to birth control is directly linked to declines in maternal and infant mortality and helps to reduce unintended pregnancies. It significantly reduces a woman's risk of endometrial cancer. That is why, after an impartial and comprehensive review of the scientific data, the Institute of Medicine made the decision to include contraception among covered preventive services under the Affordable Care Act because contraception is very much part of women's health. It can help prevent ovarian cancer. It can save women's lives.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join family, friends, and the City of Middletown in honoring one of its most outstanding community members, Joseph J. Vinci, Sr. as he celebrates his 100th birthday--a remarkable milestone for this extraordinary citizen. A lifelong Middletown resident, J.J., as he is affectionately known, married his wife, Mary, in November of 1934. Together, they not only raised three wonderful children, Joseph J. Jr., Robert, and Rosemarie, they also opened and ran the family business, J.J. Vinci Oil. The home heating oil business is not the easiest of businesses to run, but J.J. and Mary worked hard every day to build the business and provide for their family. For more than seven decades, J.J. Vinci Oil has been a staple in the Middletown business community and its success over the years has been because of the dedication of its founder, J.J., who at 100 years young can still be found in the office every day. J.J. has not only been an outstanding business leader, but an exemplary civic leader as well. He has always understood that his community is only as strong as those who give back to it. Throughout his life, J.J. has devoted countless hours to a variety of local service organizations. The myriad of awards and commendations which have been bestowed on him are testament to his unparalleled efforts on behalf of the community. He is a charter member of the New England Association of Fire Marshals, Connecticut Chiefs of Police Association, twenty-five year charter member of the Connecticut Independent Oil Men's Association, life member of the State of Connecticut 100 Club, one of the original founders of the Middletown Italian-American Civic Order, twenty-five year Chairman of the St. Sebastian Cadillac Committee, member of the St. Sebastian Renovation Committee, lifetime member of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks, Moose Club, and Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, to name but a few. Through his work with each of these organizations, J.J. has made a difference in the lives of others and has enriched the community. Marking decades of hard work, this birthday celebration reflects J.J.'s extraordinary resilience and strength of spirit. Over the course of his life, he has not only witnessed remarkable changes and tremendous progress he has helped to shape the very character of the City of Middletown. It is with my warmest regards that I join his children, Joseph Jr., Robert, and Rosemarie, his grandson, Michael, and his great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Lauren, and Christian in extending my heartfelt congratulations to Joseph J. Vinci, Sr. as he celebrates his 100th birthday. Happy birthday J.J.! My very best wishes for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Chairman, I rise in opposition to this legislation which will enable even more fraud and abuse in the for-profit college industry. Right now, many for-profit colleges are engaged in the same sorts of predatory lending schemes that we saw in the housing market. According to Holly Petraeus at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, recruiters from for-profit colleges have been signing up marines with serious brain injuries, marines who cannot even remember what they signed up for, in order to inflate their profits. According to a 2009 Pew study, even though only 1 in 14 students, or 7 percent, attend these proprietary schools, they make up nearly half, 44 percent, of the default rate on student loans. So, if anything, we need more comprehensive oversight over for-profit colleges. Instead, this bill repeals regulations that are already on the books and makes it easier for the institutions to commit fraud at the expense of students and taxpayers. What the bill does is it overturns regulations for awarding the Federal student aid that are aimed at ensuring accountability and reducing fraud. It removes the ability of the Secretary of Education to define a credit hour without providing an alternative. It removes the Federal Government's ability to protect students from being overcharged and ultimately overcome by costly student loans. By getting rid of the State authorization requirement, it opens the door to billions of taxpayer dollars going to institutions that are openly flouting the law. It's about manipulating credit hours in order to receive more Federal aid. Instead of deregulating for-profit colleges, we should be working to ensure that these institutions are fulfilling their obligations to their students. We should work to fix the real problems that students face right now: growing student debt and the upcoming interest rate increase on student loans. This bill will only cause more fraud and abuse in a sector that is already rife with it, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join community leaders, literacy advocates, and the many members of the New Haven Free Public Library as they gather to celebrate the organization's 125th Anniversary. This is an extraordinary milestone for this very special City landmark. Following the passage of legislation authorizing its establishment and with a funding allocation of only twelve thousand dollars, the New Haven Free Public Library opened its doors on February 21, 1887 offering twenty-six newspapers and eight periodicals to its first patrons. By June of that same year, circulation of the Library's thirty-five hundred volumes began--and they have gone strong ever since. Libraries are an integral part of our communities. Most of us can remember that unique feeling of holding your first library card and checking out your first book. Over the course of time, libraries became central gathering places for community members--in fact, in many towns across the country libraries are still home to town meetings and social gatherings. The New Haven Free Public Library is no different. Housing scores of volumes from biographies to fiction, science to current events, libraries have always been a place where adults and children alike can allow their imaginations to run wild. Over the course of its 125-year history, the New Haven Free Public Library has not only been home to a growing collection of literary work, but within its walls the doors of opportunity have been opened to many. Literacy programs, computer learning classes, and many more innovative programs and services have been offered to support the members of our community. The New Haven Free Public Library represents the very best of our community. That they are celebrating their 125th Anniversary--that the community has always ensured its availability to its citizens--is testament to its special place in all of our lives. It is part of our past, present and future and I am proud to join all of those gathered today in celebrating this very special occasion. I have no doubt that the New Haven Free Public Library will continue to serve our community well for generations to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep thanks and appreciation that I rise today to pay tribute to my good friend, Jeanne Milstein, as she steps down after serving nearly twelve years as Connecticut's Child Advocate where she oversaw the protection and care of Connecticut's most vulnerable and youngest citizens. First appointed Child Advocate by former Governor John G. Rowland and, while the Office of the Child Advocate is an independent agency, has been reappointed and served in three different administrations. Guided be the simple adage, ``if you are not outraged, you are not paying attention,'' Jeanne has been an outstanding advocate and has become one of Connecticut's foremost authorities on issues impacting children. Jeanne has dedicated her entire professional career to advocating for our young people--giving a voice to those who all too often cannot be heard. In fact, in 2009, she served as the representative from the United States at the 2008 Summit of Ombudsmen for Children from G 8 countries. Prior to her service as Child Advocate, Jeanne was Director of Government Relations for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and Legislative Director for the Connecticut Commission on Children. Earlier in her career, she was responsible for child care in the Connecticut Department of Human Resources and previously served as Executive Director of the Women's Center of Southeastern Connecticut and Legislative Director of the Permanent Commission of the Status of Women. With her extraordinary passion and commitment, Jeanne has not only identified the failures of state agencies and public policies to care for our children, but has authored numerous reports on how to make them work for those they are supposed to protect. During her tenure, she oversaw the investigation and resolution of thousands of complaints, concerns, or reports by citizens about the welfare of children in the community and in state or private institutions. She has also spoken frequently on many of the most difficult issues facing today's children ranging from conditions at the state's juvenile corrections and residential facilities to the quality of child protection and the delivery of children's mental health services as well as services to children with special health care needs or disabilities. Jeanne has been a champion in every sense and we have been fortunate to benefit from her outstanding service. On a more personal note, I am glad to have this opportunity to extend my thanks and appreciation to Jeanne for her many years of friendship and support. I have often sought her expertise and her door has always been open. Jeanne was the third person to serve as Child Advocate in Connecticut but it can be said that she has helped shape the position into the dynamic, respected office that it has become. She leaves a lasting legacy that will continue to influence public policy for years to come. I am proud to join all of those gathered today to thank Jeanne Milstein for her outstanding service to our state and especially our children. I have no doubt that though she is closing this chapter, she will find new opportunities to continue her good work.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. As both a Catholic and an advocate of women's health, I believe that these guidelines strike the necessary balance between increasing access to health care services for women while respecting the religious beliefs of all Americans. These guidelines are based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit, independent organization that is grounded and rooted in science. They have recommended that women have access to a wide range of services, such as screening and counseling for domestic violence, that pregnant women have access to services such as a screening for gestational diabetes, that women have access to at least one well-woman preventive care visit a year, and that all women have access to a range of contraceptive services, counseling, and methods. Let me be clear: The Catholic Church and its employees are exempt from these guidelines. They apply only to church institutions that serve the larger community, employ people of different faiths on a nonreligious basis, and do not meet the clear requirements for a religious exemption. There are thousands of non-Catholics who work in Catholic hospitals and in Catholic universities. Improved access to birth control is directly linked to declines in maternal and infant mortality and helps to reduce unintended pregnancies. That is why 28 States, including Connecticut, already mandate the coverage of contraceptive service and why many private employers already cover these services. I'm proud to support what I believe to be a moral decision by the administration and a well-drafted compromise that maintains the existing Federal conscience protections and at the same time allows women access to contraceptive service and other preventive health care services without mandating in terms of contraceptive services that one use it or be required to dispense it. I would like now to yield to my colleague from Washington, DC, the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago this week, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law. Named after a true hero who was shortchanged by her employer for decades and who fought back all the way to the Supreme Court, the Lilly Ledbetter Act ensured that women who are discriminated against have the right to sue as long as their unequal pay continues. This was a good first step, but we have to do more to achieve real pay equity in America. Today, women are still only paid 77 cents on the dollar as compared to men for the very same job. They lose out on between $400,000 and $2 million over a lifetime. This is an injustice. It is time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act already passed twice by this body. It would give real teeth to the Equal Pay Act. It has been almost 50 years since Congress passed the Equal Pay Act. It is time to ensure that one-half of America's workforce is paid as fairly as the other half.