John Dingell

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I would just note that my good Republican colleagues have ignored one fact that is important, and that is that every time that there is an inclusion of anybody over the level of 200 percent of poverty, it is on an express waiver granted by the Republican White House. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, at this time I reserve my time. I have one more speaker and then the Speaker who will be closing for us.

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, before I yield to our Speaker to close, I yield myself 30 seconds. Madam Speaker, I will submit for the Record a letter from Peter Orszag, Director of the Congressional Budget Office. That office notes several things. First of all, one, this bill actually saves money for the Treasury; two, it is fiscally responsible; three, it is fully paid for. The bill also covers approximately 10 million children in 2012, but it authorizes that only through 2012. In my Republican colleague's comparison with events in the year 2017, those comparisons are both impossible and bogus. I would note that the legislation covers 4 million more children than the administration's proposal. Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, October 18, 2007. Hon. John D. Dingell, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: In response to questions that we have been asked about the enclosed enrollment table that CBO circulated yesterday regarding the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), two points are worth noting. First, as indicated in footnote 2 of the table, the enrollment figures are for SCHIP only. The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) would also raise enrollment in Medicaid by 1.3 million in 2012 relative to the baseline. Second, as indicated in footnote 6 of the enclosed table, CHIPRA authorizes SCHIP only through 2012, and the figures for 2017 are therefore based on an extrapolation of CHIPRA beyond the legislation's authorization window. Under that extrapolation of CHIPRA through 2017, SCHIP and Medicaid enrollment combined would rise relative to the baseline. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Keith Fontenot at 226-2800. Sincerely, Peter R. Orszag, Director. Enclosure.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to let my colleagues know that we recently lost one of our nation's most dedicated conservationists. Marvin ``Sam'' Washington embodied the American tradition of conservation. I want his family to know that Sam was an inspiration to us all and that he will be very sorely missed. An avid hunter and angler, Sam served on the Board of Directors of Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and was also a member of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the State Parks Advisory Committee. From 2003 to 2007, Sam served as Executive Director of the MUCC, becoming one of our strongest advocates for access to Michigan's natural resources and protection of Michigan's hunting and fishing heritage. Sam was a passionate outdoorsman who channeled his love of wildlife into action. He understood that nature must be cherished, enjoyed and preserved for future generations--not exploited. At a time when many of our natural resources are at risk, Sam stood tall, fighting for action on global warming, mercury emissions, wetlands protection and responsible land use. Sam was much more than a conservationist, however--he was an integral part of his community. He taught English and coached various sports in the Bloomfield Hills School District. He was also a minister, as well as a dedicated husband and father to his wife Peggy and two daughters, Jenny and Wendy. Madam Speaker, I would ask that all my colleagues join me in paying tribute to a great American conservationist, my friend Sam Washington.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I have followed with interest news reports from Iraq documenting some of the terrible atrocities that have been committed at the hands of military contractors hired by the United States. I have been keenly interested in the recent congressional hearings that have been held on this matter. Based on what I have learned, I am pleased today that the House of Representatives is considering this bill, which would ensure that those who do business with the United States Government in Iraq can be held accountable when they commit criminal acts. Unfortunately, I cannot be present for the vote today, but I wanted to ensure I submitted this statement of support so the record will reflect that I am strongly in favor of the goals of this important bill. This bill is a fair and sensible way to ensure that military contractors can be prosecuted for their criminal actions in a U.S. court. This is important both because it gives the government a way to police the behavior of these contractors, and also because it shows the Iraqi people that the United States is serious about the rule of law. While I am glad Congress is taking this action now, I remain concerned about the Bush Administration's failure to take steps to investigate or prosecute those who committed wrongdoing in the past. I believe Congress should continue to investigate these incidents and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, the President's veto of a bipartisan plan to help 10 million children is incomprehensible. It willfully ignores the needs of low-income children and the recommendations of Congress, 43 State Governors, more than 300 coalition groups, and the vast majority of the American people. Unlike America's children, the President has nothing to lose by vetoing this legislation. President Bush has government-run health insurance. But millions of American children do not have any coverage at all. It saddens and baffles me to think that the President would not want to make health insurance for 10 million children a positive part of his legacy. I pledge to keep fighting for this bill and to protect America's most vulnerable children. This matter is too important to the children of our Nation. I support the Leader's motion to postpone immediate consideration of the President's veto of H.R. 976 so that we may provide Members time to consider the magnitude of this vote.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 635, a resolution recognizing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. On September 13 this year, millions of Muslims throughout the world, and a great number in Michigan's 15th Congressional district, began a month of fasting, prayer, and spiritual renewal. It is an important step for acceptance and tolerance within the United States that Congress, for the first time, is recognizing this exceptional religious observance. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims engage in self-discipline and purification. From sunrise to sunset, Muslims refrain from common daily activities such as eating and drinking, and tobacco use. Muslims also spend time reading the Koran, contemplating Islam, and cleansing their spirits. Ramadan is also a time to gather with family and friends, both at the nightly iftar, as well as at the conclusion of Ramadan, during the Id-al-Fitr. It is a pleasure to join my colleagues in honoring the celebration of Ramadan, not simply because Muslims are an important and growing part of American society, but also because goals and tenets of Ramadan--self sacrifice, charity, and spiritual renewal--are shared by Americans of all faiths. Hopefully, Congressional recognition of Ramadan will lead to an increased appreciation for these shared values. Certainly, recognizing Ramadan, along with its observance in the United States, contributes to the vibrancy, dynamism, and character of our great Nation.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak briefly about the provision of this legislation which provides for a 3-month reauthorization of the Title V abstinence-only education block grant program. On August 1 of this year, the House of Representatives passed legislation which made significant and responsible changes to the abstinence-only education programs. The House-passed legislation would have provided states with the flexibility to offer programs best suited to the needs and desires of their citizens and it would have ensured that Federal funds were being spent on effective programs that provide medically accurate information. Sadly, those changes are not incorporated into the bill before us today because opponents of the House-passed abstinence language decided to hold hostage the important reauthorizations of TMA and Q1, in an effort to ensure that no improvements were made to the discredited abstinence-only programs. Because it is absolutely necessary that we reauthorize TMA and Q1, the abstinence- only education changes were sacrificed for now. Let me be clear: I am dismayed that the House-passed abstinence-only language was omitted from this legislation and I will continue to fight for those important, responsible, and necessary changes in the coming months.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Reserving the right to object, will the gentleman restate his unanimous consent request?

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, that would contravene the understandings we had with our good friends in the Senate who insisted on this language. I have to object.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard) 1 minute.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to H. Res. 675, I call up from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 976) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for small businesses, and for other purposes, with Senate amendments thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include therein extraneous matter on the bill under consideration.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to H. Res. 675, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 976, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. Ten years ago a Republican Congress and a Democratic President passed a landmark program to reach children who had fallen through the cracks of the health care system. These kids weren't poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, and their parents, most of whom worked, couldn't afford health insurance on their own. Today this program provides health care for 6 million children across the Nation. Those 6 million kids today are in jeopardy because this successful program will expire September 30. The legislation before us will continue helping these 6 million of our children and extend health care to 4 million more of our young people. This bill is for parents like Ms. Molina, a mother of two children who worked two part-time jobs but still could not afford health insurance. CHIP got her kids treatment for dental work, two sprained ankles, one broken arm, and a severe burn. It's for parents like Ms. Mingeldorff, the mother of a child born 25 weeks prematurely who would have had to turn down a job without health insurance because it would have made her ineligible for Medicaid. This bill is for every child who needs a vaccination, a cavity filled, chemotherapy, insulin, antidepressants, or other life- sustaining health care. I urge my colleagues to vote for the children in your district and to remember this legislation will provide health care for 6 million who are now deriving that and 4 million more. The issue here is are you for or against health care for the kids under the SCHIP program? Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Pallone.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo) 1 minute.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee) 1 minute. (Mr. INSLEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, with affection and respect for my good friend from Texas, I would observe that none of the abuses that he points out have been found in the years in which this legislation has been in place, and there are none of the abuses that he would find here going to come forward. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to my friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), a real expert in the field of health care and a caring and concerned practitioner as a nurse. We are grateful that she is with us.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I would observe an interesting point, and that is the Congressional Budget Office says that we are taking care of 4 million additional kids who are identical in all particulars to those we now care for under SCHIP. There is no vast increase in socialized medicine or anything of that sort, as we hear from the other side. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to a very able member of our committee, the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley).

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure and a privilege for me to yield time to a distinguished member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the respected gentlewoman from New Mexico, a very valuable member of our committee (Mrs. Wilson).

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield myself 2 minutes. We have here before us a bill which gives $35 billion to strengthen and improve children's health coverage. It protects 6 million children today covered by SCHIP. It adds an additional 4 million. It is the largest investment in children's health since the passage of the original Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997. It provides $300 million in outreach grants for the States, community organizations, tribal organizations, and national initiatives. It provides a new express lane initiative for one-stop enrollment. It facilitates enrollments for newborns so coverage starts immediately. It does more than this. It revises the current SCHIP program formula to more accurately attract State need in that it follows the House provisions. It provides the children enrollment program contingencies adjustment allotments to States to succeed in reaching the eligible but the unenrolled. It does more. It provides dental coverage for CHIP children. It also provides mental health coverage for children. It provides grant money for diabetes clarification and prevention. It clarifies the coverage of school-based clinic services through the CHIP program. It creates a new option for CHIP programs to subsidize employer options and employer coverage for children whose parents may already have access to coverage. It does not do any of the things that were charged on the other side because it does not change the law that CHIP now has in place. It just offers additional benefits to children under the SCHIP program. It is a program which will cover 4 million more kids. It has to be passed by the first of the next month or else all of these kids are going to lose their coverage. I was at the Governors' meeting in northern Michigan, and the one thing that the Governors were unanimous on is that we need to pass this SCHIP because it is an essential program and an essential part of their program for the care of our kids. It is a piece of legislation that will make this country better. Take care of our kids. See to it that we do the job that we should in making health care available for all of our kids. I yield back the balance of my time, excepting I'm going to save time to yield to my dear friend, the majority leader, to close.

Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield to the distinguished majority leader the balance of my time for purposes of closing.

Mr. DINGELL

Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Greenhills School for receiving the prestigious Intel Schools of Distinction award for 2007. Chosen from almost 1,000 entries, this prestigious award is granted to only six schools nationwide each year. The award is designed to recognize those schools that demonstrate excellence in implementing innovative programs within their classrooms, specifically in the fields of math and science. The science faculty of Greenhills School has exemplified the spirit of the award, modernizing classroom labs to incorporate wireless computers. Their efforts educated students not only in the complex field of science, but also in technology's role as a laboratory instrument. In addition, they have demonstrated an enthusiasm to connect with all students in the school. Greenhills School has always stood out as an exceptional place to learn. Located in Ann Arbor, it boasts the largest percentage of National Merit Semi-Finalists and AP Scholars of any school in the State of Michigan. With students averaging outstanding SAT and ACT scores, it is not surprising that 100 percent of Greenhills graduates enroll in college. This award is a testament not only to the science teachers of Greenhills School, but all of the 64 faculty members who work to provide students with one of the best educations in the country. Science teachers Dr. James Lupton, Dr. Deano Smith, Thomas Friedlander, Catherine Renaud, Dee Lamphear, Martha Friedlander, Ann Novak, Chris Gleason, Deborah Jagers and Michael Wilson have all demonstrated an admirable passion and dedication that benefits over 500 students at Greenhills School. They deserve recognition for their exceptional achievement. Madam Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in commending Greenhills School for their 2007 Schools of Distinction Award.