Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Let's get them to pay their fair share of taxes.

Ms. DeLAURO. The fact of the matter is what we are not asking about is not utilizing funds if we don't need them.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, this month marks the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of one of our nation's most influential and eminent women authors, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and it is with great pride that I rise today to join Connecticut's Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in recognizing this remarkable milestone as well as celebrate this Connecticut daughter's life and distinguished career. Harriet Beecher Stowe was the most famous American woman of the 19th century and what earned her that status was her best-selling, anti- slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. What you may not know is that she made her home in Hartford, Connecticut, and with neighbors including Mark Twain, Isabella Beecher, Joseph Hawley, Charles Dudley Warner, and William Gillette, Stowe lived and worked in what was one of the nation's preeminent literary communities. Uncle Tom's Cabin was and still is an extraordinary story. Through its pages, Stowe brought humanity to slavery in the United States and catapulted the issue to the forefront of the time's political debate. Her informal, conversational style spoke to people, touching them in a way that political speeches and newspaper accounts could not. While there were many contributing factors to the outbreak of the Civil War, it is often said that Uncle Tom's Cabin and the debates that its publication sparked helped 19th century Americans determine what kind of country they wanted. In fact, it is said that upon meeting Stowe in the White House in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln said to her, ``So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started the Great War.'' Stowe was a prolific writer and Uncle Tom's Cabin may have been her most famous work but it was certainly not her only book. In fact, over her lifetime, she wrote more than 30 books and novels. Her broad range of interests resulted in such varied publications as children's text books, advice books on homemaking and child rearing as well as biographies and religious studies. In each of her works, Stowe's unique style encouraged discussion among everyday people and those ranged from slavery to religious reform to gender roles. Though overshadowed by her most famous of works, Stowe's ability to influence public debate on a variety of controversial topics and the influence she had on shaping public opinion is undeniable. Today, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, located in Hartford, Connecticut, uses Stowe's life story and work to inspire social justice and positive change with programs and initiatives that reach thousands across the world. In Connecticut, we are proud to call Harriet Beecher Stowe our First Lady of Literature and we could not be more proud to celebrate her life, her work, and her invaluable contributions to our society. Two hundred years after her birth, Harriet Beecher Stowe's life continues to inspire the belief that each of us can make a difference in the world--that one person, using their talent and determination, can create change.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to join the New Haven community in commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Choir of Men and Boys of Trinity Church. This extraordinary group of gifted adults and children has been in continuous service since its founding and has been nationally and internationally recognized for its talent and service. With members as young as age eight and ranging to men well into adulthood, the Trinity Choir of Men and Boys 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 have earned the choir a distinguished reputation and they have regularly appeared with other musical organizations such as the Orchestra of Old Fairfield Academy and the members of the Choir of Christ Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, the Julliard Orchestra, the Boston Philharmonic and the American Classical Orchestra. They have appeared in venues ranging from the Green in New Haven to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the White House. The boys of the choir have also performed in the United Kingdom and Italy. They have received well-deserved accolades throughout their history and they continue to make their hometown of New Haven, Connecticut proud. 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, most recently, 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 Christmas time celebrations at the White House. Their talent is remarkable, but it is the commitment they have made to bring the joy of music to some of our most vulnerable citizens that is what makes the choir so special. Today, with members past and present gathered as their year-long celebration comes to an end, the choir can reflect on their exceptional history and look forward to many more years of acclaimed performances. I consider it a privilege to have this opportunity to join the New Haven community in extending my heartfelt congratulations to the Trinity Men and Boys Choir as they celebrate their 125th anniversary. Under the leadership Music Director Walden Moore, Associate Music Director Andrew Kotylo, and Organ Scholar Benjamin Straley, I have no doubt that the Trinity Choir of Men and Boys will continue to bring distinctive and unique performances to our community and others across the world.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the supporters and volunteers gathered this evening to congratulate Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven as they celebrate their silver anniversary. In its 25 year history this outstanding organization, fueled by the generosity and energy of its volunteers, has revitalized many of our neighborhoods and enhanced the quality of life in our community. Theirs is a mission that is quite literally reflected in the theme of this celebration--building hope, lives, and neighborhoods. Over the course of its history, Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven has forged partnerships with individuals, religious and civic organizations, as well as local businesses and corporations that have translated into homeownership opportunities for more than eighty families. Offering a hand up rather than a hand out, families who qualify for the homebuyers program work side by side with community volunteers to build their home, investing a minimum of 400 ``sweat equity'' hours to the project. The families' personal investment also translates into their personal investment in the community. Founded by a group of community leaders, Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven, like its sister chapters across the country, is a real grassroots organization. It encourages people to dedicate their words and actions to the elimination of poverty housing and attracts more than 2,000 volunteers every year. The need for affordable and safe housing is as much a need today as it was when this local organization was founded 25 years ago and it is heartening to know that there are so many who so willingly devote their time and energies to these efforts. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to the many volunteers and donors who have gathered tonight to celebrate this remarkable milestone. Without their generosity, compassion, and willingness to devote their time and energy, the mission of Habitat for Humanity would not be possible. Whether they have donated funds, construction material, or simply their time, it has been through their good work that Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven has been able to make such a difference in our community. A home is so much more than simply a roof over ones head--it is a source of pride, comfort, independence and stability. This is the gift of Habitat for Humanity and I have been proud to support the good work that they have accomplished throughout Greater New Haven. I am honored to stand today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven on their 25th Anniversary. I have no doubt that they will continue their extraordinary contributions for as long as there is a need.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act of 2011, which will help provide accurate, evidence-based information to pregnant and breast- feeding women about medications, chemical exposures, foodborne illness, and other exposures associated with birth defects or health risks to a breastfed infant. This bill would establish a grant program to revitalize the national network of pregnancy risk information services, more than half of which have closed over the last decade due to lack of funding. Over 70,000 women seek information from these essential services each year. It would also establish a national information campaign to help increase public awareness among health providers and at-risk populations. The legislation has been endorsed by the Allergy and Asthma Network, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March of Dimes Foundation, Mothers of Asthmatics, Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, Spina Bifida Association, and the Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. I hereby submit for the record letters of support from these organizations. There is nothing more important than protecting our children, and this legislation will help expectant and breast-feeding mothers to obtain clear, accurate information about the potential risks of medications, illnesses, and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, helping them to both avoid risks and improve healthy behaviors like taking folic acid. This legislation will help mothers and health care professionals access critical information to help ensure their babies are healthy, and I urge my colleagues to support our efforts. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, Washington, DC, April 11, 2011. Hon. Rosa DeLauro, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Ms. DeLauro: On behalf of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, I write to express strong support for the Birth Defects Prevention, Risk Reduction, and Awareness Act. This legislation will fund the national network of pregnancy risk information services that are currently severely underfunded. These services counsel pregnant and breast-feeding women on exposures to medications, chemicals, infections, and other risks to healthy pregnancy and healthy infants. A pregnant or breast-feeding woman lives in fear of any exposure that might pose a risk to her pregnancy or her baby. This is because of the paucity of information on the impact of exposures to medications, chemicals, infections and illnesses during pregnancy and nursing. Some exposures can be avoided, but for women with chronic diseases such as asthma, epilepsy, hypertension, or depression, continued use of medication may be essential to the health of both the woman and her infant. Asthma affects about 8% of pregnant women-- over 300,000 women per year. Some women simply discontinue their asthma medications during pregnancy out of fear of a potential birth defect. However, uncontrolled asthma may pose a greater risk of complicating the pregnancy. Our organization has initiated a major study of asthma drugs in pregnancy in collaboration with the nation's pregnancy risk information services. This study simply could not be done without the resources available through these services. Unfortunately, more than half of the pregnancy risk information services in the country have closed over the past decade, and those that remain have sustained severe funding cuts. The legislation you are introducing will increase support for these important programs and assure that the vitally important counseling and research services they provide can be reinvigorated. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals, and others dedicated to improving the treatment of allergic diseases through research and education. We thank you for your leadership in support of prevention and research related to birth defects and are pleased to offer the Academy's support for your legislation. Sincerely, Dennis K. Ledford, M.D., President, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. One can only conclude that the majority has chosen its dislike, or its detest, for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over protecting military families. Elizabeth Warren is right: attacks against the bureau are now happening in the back alley. Yesterday, that back alley was the majority side of the Rules Committee, and the victims--the victims--were the brave men and women in uniform and their families. Oppose this rule.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. Earlier this year, we learned of wrongful home foreclosures on active duty military families in violation of the law. And so I submitted a very straightforward amendment that would have directed the Secretary of Defense in conjunction with the Treasury and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to prepare a comprehensive strategy to protect members of the Armed Forces and their families from unfair, deceptive and abusive financial services practices and to enhance the financial readiness of such families, families who are sacrificing so much today. The amendment would have no effect on direct spending, and it was germane. Yet, despite the majority's high claims of openness and transparency and the fact that 152 amendments were made in order, this one was not.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the Anti-Defamation League and the New Haven community in paying tribute to the outstanding work of this year's Torch of Liberty Award recipient, the Honorable John DeStefano, Jr., Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut. In the seventeen years since he was first sworn into office, Mayor DeStefano has worked tirelessly to improve our community and the quality of life for residents. It is that extraordinary spirit of public service that is honored with this prestigious tribute. Our communities would not be the same without the efforts of individuals whose work truly benefits our families and neighborhoods. Each year, the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League presents the Torch of Liberty Award to an outstanding leader in the community, recognizing their unique commitment and dedication. Mayor DeStefano and his efforts to enrich the city of New Haven are a remarkable reflection of the true spirit of community service. When Mayor DeStefano took office in 1994, the city of New Haven was facing challenges on multiple fronts. The crime rate had risen, the downtown business district was being eclipsed by the modern conveniences of mall shopping, the schools were in desperate need of modernization, and the individual neighborhoods had suffered the consequences of suburban expansion. It was no small task to turn the city's reputation around and regain the promise and prosperity it had once held. Mayor DeStefano approached all of these issues with both enthusiasm and purpose. During the Mayor's tenure, virtually every public school has been rebuilt under the Citywide School Construction Plan. Some of the key features of this program have supported universal pre-kindergarten, the largest inter-district enrollment and magnet school program in Connecticut, and college level lab and technology features. Mayor DeStefano brought the New Haven public school system into the modem era and has gone a long way in providing New Haven teachers and students with the technology and tools that they need to achieve academic success. The Mayor focused his attention on rebuilding the relationships between the city and Yale University as well as the hospital and medical communities. By strengthening these partnerships and building on its successes, New Haven has emerged as a national center of life and bio science businesses and the city center has undergone a dramatic transformation into a mixed use community. The Mayor also worked to strengthen neighborhoods through managing housing stock to mixed income and use models, promoting commercial corridors as well as implementing street smart infrastructure and public improvements. In addition, the Mayor worked with local law enforcement on a new model of community policing which decentralized police management districts which has effectively transformed public safety in the community. With all of these efforts, it is no wonder that under Mayor DeStefano's tenure, New Haven has been recognized by the National Civic League as an ``All America City'' three times. A lifelong resident of the city of New Haven, Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. has dedicated innumerable hours to finding solutions to our city's challenges and to improving the quality of life for all New Haven residents. His work and public service is a reflection of what the Torch of Liberty Award stands for and I am proud to join all of those gathered this evening in congratulating him on this very special honor. I am pleased to have this opportunity to wish him, his wife Kathy, and their two sons, Dan and Jim, all the best 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 congratulate the New Haven Preservation Trust on their 50th anniversary--a remarkable milestone for this outstanding organization. Charged to honor and preserve New Haven's architectural heritage-- historic buildings and neighborhoods--through advocacy, education, and collaboration, the New Haven Preservation Trust played an integral role in the preservation and restoration of the unique character of the New Haven community. The New Haven Preservation Trust was founded in an effort to save the James Dwight Dana House, a historic 19th century Italianate house designed by New Haven architect Henry Austin for one of the century's leading geologists, from demolition. At the time Yale University planned to tear down the home to make way for a new mathematics building. A small group of concerned citizens quickly incorporated the Trust and planned to bid on the house. In the end, the Trust came to an agreement with the University to preserve the Dana House and, through the efforts of the Trust, in 1962, it was designated a National Historic Landmark. Since that time the Trust has been involved with countless efforts to save historic buildings throughout the city including the New Haven Free Public Library, the New Haven Post Office and Federal Building, New Haven City Hall, the John Davies Mansion, and Union Station. In addition to their efforts to preserve and restore New Haven's historic buildings, the Trust has worked to collaborate with the city government and other organizations to strike a balance between protecting the city's history and allowing for its modernization. In its earliest years, the Trust worked with the city of New Haven on the Wooster Square Project--an effort to restore this architectural and historical treasure. Though the Trust's efforts, the entire neighborhood was designated a historic district and the New Haven Historic District Commission, a permanent city authority responsible for reviewing exterior architectural changes in all local historic districts, was established. In New Haven's downtown district known as the Ninth Square, the Trust worked with local property owners to plan its preservation. The Trust published guidelines and contributed architectural drawings to help owners rehabilitate their facades. Most recently the Trust was brought into discussions regarding the School Construction Program, where it prepared recommendations for moving some buildings threatened by the project to empty lots in the neighborhood. That partnership continued until the Program's work was completed last year. The New Haven Public Trust has also developed educational programs designed to teach the New Haven public about the community and its history. Plaques have been awarded to numerous buildings which are designed to draw the public's attention to their historical significance and to ensure that future generations know of their value. The Trust also sponsors New Haven Heritage Workshops which teach residents about the architectural styles and histories of the city's neighborhood. Recognizing that one of the best ways to learn about historic architecture is to visit the buildings and neighborhoods, the Trust has designed both walking tours led by local historians as well as pamphlets for self-guided tours. Through advocacy, distribution of information, historic research, tours, and private consultations, the Trust continues to be New Haven's advocate for the centuries-old architectural heritage. I am proud to join the New Haven community in thanking the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers who work so hard to ensure that our city's rich history is not only preserved but celebrated and appreciated by new generations. Congratulations on your 50th anniversary and best wishes for many more years of success.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker I am deeply honored to rise today to join the Greater New Haven Branch of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People as they recognize the invaluable contributions of an outstanding member of our community, Dr. James P. Comer. Dr. Comer is an internationally renowned psychiatrist, social scientist, and author whose work in early childhood development has changed the way that we, as a society, have approached early learning and education. This year, the Greater New Haven NAACP has named Dr. Comer the recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award--only the second time in its history that such a recognition has been bestowed. Like so many of us, the importance of education was instilled into Dr. Comer at a young age by his parents. His mother had less than 2 years of formal schooling and his father only six, but they understood that their children's future success would depend on a quality education. They worked hard and ensured all five of their children had the opportunity not only to finish their elementary and secondary education but to attend college as well. Indeed, in a recent interview Dr. Comer remarked that ``they gave us the developmental experience we needed''--a lesson that has guided his career. Dr. Comer is currently the Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center and he has been a faculty member since 1968. Over the course of his career, his focus on child development as a means of improving schools has earned him a distinguished reputation as well as international recognition. He is perhaps best known for founding the Comer School Development program--a concept that promotes the collaboration of parents, educators, and community to improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes for children that, in turn, helps them to achieve greater success in school. This model has become a national model, implemented in more than five hundred schools across America where its goals of improving the educational environment and student achievement have exceeded expectations. Its remarkable success has impacted the lives of millions of our young people--providing them the educational building blocks that have allowed them to realize their dreams. A prolific writer, Dr. Comer has published nine books and countless articles on children's health and development as well as race relations. He has also served as consultant to the Children's Television Workshop, the producer of Sesame Street and The Electric Company, as well as to the Public Committee on Mental Health, a group chaired by Roslyn Carter. He has been a member of the National Commission on Teaching and America's future since 1994 and a myriad of other national committees and commissions which have led to changes in how our country crafts public policy concerning education. In addition to all of this, he has also somehow found the time to serve on the boards of a multitude of educational institutions and community organizations. Dr. Comer's work and scholarship has been recognized across the country with forty-seven honorary degrees and innumerable awards, commendations, and honors including the John P. McGovern Behavioral Science Award from the Smithsonian Institution and the prestigious Heinz Award in the Human Condition from Heinz Family Philanthropies. His visionary leadership and exceptional contributions have changed the face of education in America. There are few have had such an extraordinary impact on our way of life which is why I can think of no one more deserving to receive the NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award. Over my years in Congress, I have had the unique opportunity to work closely with Dr. Comer and I could not be more proud to stand today to recognize him for all of his good work and congratulate him on this very special occasion. His is a legacy that will continue to make a difference in the lives of our young people for generations to come. I wish him, his wife, Bettye, and their family many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to extend my sincere congratulations to the St. Sebastian Parish as they celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the St. Sebastian Feast. This wonderful annual celebration has become one of Middletown, Connecticut's most beloved community events. This is a remarkable milestone and I am proud to have this opportunity to commemorate this very special anniversary. The Feast of St. Sebastian is a blend of faith, culture, and tradition. The three-day event reconnects city residents to their Sicilian heritage. The tradition dates back to 1414, when it is said that a statue of St. Sebastian washed up on the shores near Melilli, a small town in Sicily. No one could lift the statue except for the residents of Melilli, and they carried it to a place where they later built a church in the saint's name. In the early 20th Century, immigrants from Melilli moved in large numbers to Middletown and soon there were enough families there to form a vibrant and close-knit Italian community that desired its own place of worship. Through a massive fundraising effort, the donation of materials, and the labor of masons, plasterers and stone carvers, the Italian community realized the dream of its own church, a significant local cultural symbol and the only Italian national parish in the Diocese of Norwich. The Feast of St. Sebastian was first celebrated in Middletown in 1921 and proceeds from the feast's early years helped finance the building of the church. Today, the Feast is run by a committee of dedicated congregation members and proceeds continue to benefit the church. Carnival rides, traditional Italian fare, and musical entertainment are part of the festivities, but the heart of the event happens Sunday, when, after Mass, the church's statue of St. Sebastian is carried in a procession and I Nuri, a group dressed in white with red sashes, run barefoot or in socks in a show of devotion for the saint. The procession has grown to include hundreds of people and, as you might imagine, it is an extraordinarily beautiful demonstration of faith and culture. It is events like the Feast of St. Sebastian, those forged in the bonds of family and community, which allow generation after generation to understand and celebrate their shared heritage. They enrich our communities as well as renew our commitment to faith and family. I am honored to stand today to extend my warmest congratulations to the St. Sebastian Parish and its many families as they celebrate the 90th Anniversary of their Feast of St. Sebastian. The Feast is a real community treasure and I wish them all the best for many more successful years to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join Congregation Mishkan Israel and the Greater New Haven community in paying tribute to the outstanding efforts of Rabbi Herbert N. Brockman as he celebrates his 25th year of leadership at the synagogue. Rabbi Brockman is not only an exceptional religious leader, but has earned a distinguished reputation as an advocate for social justice and interfaith understanding. His commitment to these issues have enriched the lives of his congregation and fostered better communication and understanding among various community groups. In doing so, he has helped to mold the character of our community--going a long way in creating an environment of mutual awareness and respect. Though he originally came to Yale Medical School planning to become a psychiatrist, like six generations before him, Rabbi Brockman heard a call to another purpose. Upon completion of his rabbinic studies in the Reform tradition, he served two other synagogues before finding a more permanent home at Mishkan Israel in Hamden, Connecticut. His experiences led him to a broader world view and it has been through this holistic view of humanity that he has taught and inspired not only his congregation but the community as a whole. Rabbi Brockman holds firm to the belief that in order to really learn you must be willing to listen to opposing viewpoints and while you may not agree, you must respect that there are opinions other than your own. He is both renowned and beloved for his encouragement of the congregation at Mishkan Israel, and the community at-large, to challenge themselves by approaching political and current issues in different ways. In fact one of the members of Mishkan Israel was recently quoted as saying, ``he has brought the congregation to a place of social participation and awareness that does not happen all the time.'' It has been through his strongly held view that everybody has something to offer and that everyone should be heard that he has become a community leader in interfaith relationships. Indeed, at his Silver Salute, he will be honored by an imam, a bishop, and several ministers--a testament to his advocacy and the respect he has earned throughout our religious communities. Rabbi Brockman has inspired hundreds to not only talk about those issues that impact our community, but to act on them as well. Among those is Abraham's Tent, a program that Rabbi Brockman helped found which was created to address the problem of the many homeless men who are turned away from shelters because of high demand and limited capacity. Each week a house of worship is opened to these men so that they may have a warm place to sleep at night and volunteers from the congregation also provide them with a hot meal. This effort has not only provided shelter to many who might have otherwise been subjected to the bitter conditions of a New England winter, but has also kept the issues of homelessness at the forefront of our community's public discourse. Through his spiritual leadership and advocacy for social justice, Rabbi Herbert Brockman has left an indelible mark on our community. His infinite compassion and commitment to service inspires others to make a difference--a gift that has and continues to make the Greater New Haven community a better place to live, learn, and grow. I am so pleased to have the opportunity to extend my deepest thanks to him for all of his good work and to join the congregation of Mishkan Israel in congratulating him on his 25th Anniversary with them. I wish him, his wife, Elin, and their children Harry and Jonathan all the best for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and so I missed rollcall vote No. 296 regarding the Connolly of Virginia Part B Amendment No. 2 for H.R. 1230. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize the outstanding leadership, vision, and innumerable contributions of Dr. Gerald Tirozzi as he prepares to retire from his position as Executive Director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Gerry has dedicated a lifetime to ensuring that our children have access to an education of the highest possible quality. Through his efforts we, as a nation and a society, have changed the way we look at public education and how the policies we create impact our young people and their success. A Connecticut native, I have had the privilege of knowing Gerry for many years. In fact, I did some substitute teaching when he was the Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools. I have rarely encountered an individual with the passion and enthusiasm that Gerry possesses--particularly as he is advocating for policies he believes will make a difference in educating our young people. Gerry began his career as an educator--a science teacher--and soon moved into several administrative positions, including Superintendent of New Haven Public Schools. In 1983 he was tapped by then Governor Bill O'Neill to lead Connecticut's Department of Education. In fact, on the same day that Gerry was named Commissioner, the National Commission on Excellence in Education released its famous report, ``A Nation at Risk,'' calling for the reform of the American public school system. With the release of the report Gerry saw a unique opportunity and soon implemented reforms that have changed the face of public education in Connecticut. He reformed curriculum and advocated for raising teacher salaries and attracting more qualified candidates to the profession. Perhaps most significantly, it was under his direction that Connecticut established a statewide, systematic test that would more accurately assess student progress. This testing resulted in identifying the academic problems afflicting racial minorities and low-income students nearly two decades before it was taken up at the federal level. The Connecticut Mastery Test celebrated its 25th Anniversary last year and continues to be the single biggest influence in shaping curriculum and has become a national model for student testing. After his tenure as Commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Education, Gerry went on to serve as President of Wheelock College, Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut, and was later appointed by President Clinton as the Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education. For the last decade, Gerry has led the National Association of Secondary School Principals, an organization which acts as the national voice for middle and high school principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders. In each of the many positions he has held, his commitment and unique vision have led to invaluable improvements in our system of public education. Dr. Gerald Tirozzi has enjoyed a remarkable career and has earned a distinguished reputation as a leader in education reform. As he prepares to leave his professional life, I am honored to have this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks for his invaluable contributions to our Nation and our children. His work has improved the quality of public education for millions of young people across our Nation and helped to better prepare them for their future success. Today, as he celebrates his retirement with family, friends, and colleagues, I wish him, his wife Sharman, his son Jeff, and his grandchildren, Jason and Kayla, the very best for many more years of health and happiness.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this overreaching legislation, which raises taxes, threatens the health of our economy, and endangers women's health. This bill will raise taxes on small businesses that offer comprehensive health coverage for women. It will punish perfectly legal private health decisions by raising taxes on plans that offer coverage for abortion. Eighty-seven percent of private health plans will be impacted by this unprecedented assault, and Americans will see their health insurance options restricted or taken away. With this legislation, we have yet another example of the majority's real priorities, not to create jobs, not to grow the economy, not to reduce the deficit but to advance a divisive social agenda by manipulating the Tax Code. And they're doing more than just raising taxes. Rather than trusting women, like the majority of Americans do, the House majority is trying to force women back into traditional roles. They are risking their very health. The report that accompanied this bill goes even further; it tries to redefine rape and narrow the exception for sexual assault. This bill is unconscionable, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it. Let's create jobs. We should not be raising taxes and putting women's lives at risk to appease an ideological agenda.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this attempt to defund one of the central cost-cutting reforms of the Affordable Care Act. Like so much in the majority's budget, this bill takes money out of families' pockets and gives it to the health insurance industry. The exchanges will give all Americans the chance to prosper from what Members of Congress and large employers have enjoyed for years: large group rates, lower administrative costs, greater transparency. They also expand choices, giving everyone access to a much fuller range of plans. The exchanges work to create real competition in the health industry and thus drive costs down for everyone. But my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to place the control again in the hands of the health insurance industry and the insurance companies. Given what they are prepared to do in the Republican budget by ending Medicare and throwing seniors to the private insurance market, this is in the same vein. This bill wants to eliminate this free market reform and allow insurers to continue to act as monopolies. According to the CBO, the Congressional Budget Office, which is independent and nonpartisan, it will knock 2 million people out of the exchanges, increase health insurance premiums, and leave 50,000 more Americans uninsured. In fact, 85 percent of the so-called savings here comes from cutting off Americans' access to health insurance. This is not the direction we want to go. We want to cover more people, reduce health care costs. This bill raises premiums; it raises the number of uninsured in America. I urge my colleagues to reject it. A final point. We in this body are very fortunate. We have health insurance. Our kids have health insurance. When we get ill, we go to the head of the line, the same as our families. Every single time we take to this floor, the majority in this body wants to repeal health care reform, wants to take away the opportunity from millions of Americans to have the same kind of health care coverage that Members of Congress and their families have.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, from Wisconsin to Washington, we are at a crossroads right now about the kind of America we want to be. At this important moment, it would do us well to reflect on our shared past, when our nation reached a similar crossroads--after the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, one of the worst industrial accidents in American history, which occurred a century ago last month. I say ``accident,'' but really there was more at work here. If you do not know the story, the Triangle Fire resulted in the death of 146 garment workers--17 men and 129 women--most of them young immigrant women under the age of 25. In the months before the fire--until they successfully struck for shorter hours and better pay--they had been working 13-hour days, and getting paid 13 cents an hour. The fire happened in a garment factory that took up the eighth, ninth, and tenth floors of a New York City building, one with poor ventilation and no real safety measures in place. When the fire started, likely due to a cigarette or match, the owners of the Triangle Company were notified by phone and escaped. But nobody told the workers. And so, when the fire began to rage, these women could not get out. Fire blocked many of the exits, and one of the main stairways had been locked shut by the Triangle Company--the foreman with the key had also left. And so many women tried to escape by jumping to their deaths. Those who did not leap burned. The Triangle Fire was a nightmare that unfolded before the entire nation. Because of this tragedy, church leaders called for a renewed commitment to the principles of social justice, known as the Social Gospel. And a generation of progressives was moved to reform. Within three years, 36 new state laws passed to regulate fire safety and workplace safety, and New York became a model for the nation. Because of the Triangle Fire, all of America saw firsthand what happens when women and workers are left without basic protections. And we as a people realized that government has an important role to play in ensuring the life, health, and dignity of workers. That is why I am concerned about the many attempts by the majority to cut basic protections, or to see the assaults on employees' rights taking place in states like Wisconsin and Ohio. We know where all of this leads--Our nation has lived it, a century ago. Before us are two different visions of America. I know which I want to live in, and which I want to strive for.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I strongly oppose this budget proposal. The choices the majority is making are ill considered and wrong. Instead of working to reduce the deficit in a commonsense way, this budget ends Medicare--it ends Medicare--throws seniors to the wolves. Instead of working to control health care costs, this budget shifts them on to seniors and families. The proposal repeals health care reform, dismantles Medicaid, throwing seniors out of nursing homes while providing giveaways to the insurance industry. It gives tax breaks to corporations that shift jobs overseas, cuts critical investments in education, research, job training and infrastructure. It provides subsidies to big oil companies, while cutting services to the most vulnerable Americans, including $350 billion in food stamps. Programs such as Medicaid, Pell Grants, WIC would be gutted. It cuts taxes for the wealthiest while raising taxes on the middle class. Millionaires, billionaires get a lower top tax rate and extended estate tax giveaway. Everyone else sees deductions and credits, like the child tax credit, eliminated. This budget is Robin Hood in reverse. It takes from seniors, the middle class, working families and gives all that money to the rich and to corporate special interests. I urge my colleagues, stand up for the middle class today and for America's seniors and oppose this budget.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the proposed elimination of Learn and Serve America, the only Federal program dedicated to investing in service-learning in local schools and communities, in this budget. This decision is reckless and short- sighted, and I do not believe it reflects our values as a nation. We live in a world full of challenges that require the collective attention and action of citizens of all ages. Through service-learning, young people across the country learn to apply knowledge and skills they pick up in the classroom to address these challenges in their community. Thanks to Learn and Serve, students have conducted energy audits in their schools and homes, preserved the histories of their towns, tested the quality of water in local streams, refurbished homes of the elderly, confronted bullying and teen violence, promoted financial literacy, and helped communities prepare for disasters. By getting involved in the community in this manner, students not only learn valuable citizenship skills, they learn to succeed. Research has shown that service-learning increased academic engagement and civic engagement. It prepares young men and women for the transition to adulthood and gives them the skills they need to succeed in the careers of their choosing. Service, citizenship, community, opportunity--these are all values we treasure as a Nation, and values our budget should work to promote. That is one of the many reasons why I have been a longtime supporter of the Summer of Service, which works to increase the number of intensive summer service-learning programs for middle school youth. And yet, this budget resolution eliminates support for service-learning, and abolishes a clear pathway for youth under age 16 to engage as participants in national service. As a result of this short-sighted cut, nearly 1 million students will lose the opportunity to take part in service-learning. At a time when State and local budgets are shrinking, nearly 600 individual schools, 450 school districts, 985 community colleges, and 240 colleges and universities--as well as 35,000 of our nation's most innovative K-12 teachers and higher education faculty--will lose desperately needed funding. Almost 16,000 community-based organizations will lose more than 14 million volunteer service hours provided by students engaged in service-learning, diminishing their capacity to deliver urgently needed health and human services to those most in need. And towns and cities across the country will lose access to student volunteers, who contribute services valued at up to $310 million. In short, this cut is penny-wise and pound-foolish. I urge the administration to encourage the Corporation for National and Community Service to identify cost savings and provide a competitive innovation fund for high impact service-learning programs. Our students cannot afford to lose these opportunities. Our schools cannot afford to ignore their civic mission. Our local communities cannot afford to lose the critical support. And our future as a nation cannot afford to lose these values of citizenship.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, instead of working to create jobs, reduce the deficit and do the business of the American people, this majority has been consumed for months now with trying to repeal health care reform. Like the attempted repeal we saw in the first week of this Congress, like the Tea Party budget passed in February and like the many attempts we have seen to decimate health care reform piece by piece since, this concurrent resolution, once again, tries to take away the consumer protection of the Affordable Care Act and tries to put insurance companies back in charge. It is a further demonstration of the majority's special interest priorities and of their hypocrisy on job creation and deficit reduction. Passing this resolution will destroy jobs in the health professions. It will slow job growth by 250,000 to 400,000 jobs a year. It will increase medical spending and add nearly $2,000 to the average family's insurance premium. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, it will add $230 billion to the deficit within 10 years and $1 trillion more within 20 years. Let me repeat that. This amendment adds billions and ultimately trillions of dollars to the deficit, starting with $5.5 billion this year. This is not what we promised the American people. They want us to cut the deficit, to get rid of special interest waste, like oil company subsidies and breaks for corporate lobbyists. Instead, the majority wants to let insurance companies discriminate against people with preexisting conditions, even children with preexisting conditions once again. They want to see women denied coverage because they survived breast cancer or were victims of domestic violence or had c-sections. They want to see 4 million small businesses lose $40 billion in tax credits and seniors' health care and drug costs continue to rise at staggering rates. We are here to serve the needs of the American people, not the whims of the health insurance companies. This resolution will cost money and cost lives, and I urge my colleagues to vote against it.

Ms. DeLAURO. In that 15 seconds, let me just say they will defund health care. They will end Medicare. They're going to kick seniors out of nursing homes and send our health care back to the insurance companies. It shows you where my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are. I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. My Republican colleagues were prepared to shut down the Federal Government over women's health. If you can imagine that. Turn this country into chaos because of women's health issues. Today they continue to treat women as second-class citizens. They would treat women with a lack of respect, denigrate them, and undervalue women in our society today. That is what this debate is all about. They would deny women basic health care. And because we in this House of Representatives have health care, they don't care much about what's happening to those whose primary care is at this facility, for cancer screenings. I am a survivor of ovarian cancer. I know what it means to be screened, to be diagnosed, and to be told I have a serious illness, and that I have the opportunity to get well. Trust the women of this Nation. Trust them. Vote against this misguided resolution.

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).