Chaka Fattah

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, Philadelphia's educational advocacy community will be losing one of its most respected and versatile leaders with the retirement of Thomasennia Amos. Thomasennia Amos is stepping down as the Director of the College Access Program at the Philadelphia Education Fund, where she has served the cause of public education since 1999. Ms. Amos also has directed the Student Success Centers, a partnership between the College Access Program and the School District of Philadelphia to create a sustainable college-going culture within local neighborhood high schools. In addition, she has supervised the Scholarship Coordinator of the Ed Fund's Philadelphia Scholars. Among her earlier assignments at the Ed Fund, it is noteworthy that she served as Director of the GEAR UP Initiative (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs). GEAR UP, which I developed and guided into law in 1998, has been a national as well as local success story, impacting the educational prospects, jump-starting the higher education opportunities and improving the life chances of 12 million young people in 49 states plus U.S. territories. The GEAR UP partnership of the Ed Fund and the School District of Philadelphia has been a particularly fruitful one. The Philadelphia Education Fund is simply the latest stop for Thomasennia Amos in her rich and varied career throughout my home town. Before joining the Ed Fund, Ms. Amos served as an instructional supervisor in the School District of Philadelphia. Throughout her career, she has worked in professional development, supporting new teachers and introducing and coaching instructional best practices to school communities. She served under several superintendents in a central office capacity. Ms. Amos is a dedicated educator who has supported students and teachers in every region of the School District of Philadelphia. She has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Arcadia University, Drexel University, and Chestnut Hill College. She is also certified as a Principal, and has a strong personal commitment to improving education for Special Education students. Ms. Amos holds an M.Ed. in Special Education from Arcadia University, and a B.S. in Elementary Education and K-12 Special Education from Pennsylvania State University. She has won countless honors for educational achievement and advocacy, including, in 2010, an award from the Philadelphia Alliance of Black School Administrators. I ask my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Thomasennia Amos on a lifetime of hard work, dedication and success instilling generations of Philadelphia's young people, especially those from underserved communities with the tools, the will and the incentive to succeed. For an educator as talented as Ms. Amos, transitioning to retirement, this is the highest honor of all.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, on December 16, advocates for educational excellence in Philadelphia will be celebrating the service of a dear friend of mine, Carol Fixman, the soon-to-retire Executive Director of the Philadelphia Education Fund. Together, Carol and I have worked to make the dreams of Philadelphia's school children a reality and to brighten the future of our city. Under Dr. Fixman's direction, the Ed Fund has been actively engaged in issues of school reform, teacher quality, college access, and community engagement in support of public education. Prior to her appointment at the Ed Fund, Dr. Fixman was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Philadelphia University, where she provided leadership for more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs in business, design, architecture, engineering, science, and health. She has held positions directing international programs at Temple University and at the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. She has also served as Director of the Philadelphia Education Fund's College Access Program and the Philadelphia Scholars, a citywide initiative to improve access to and success in postsecondary education for Philadelphia public school students. Dr. Fixman has played a critical role in GEAR UP, the nation's premier early college awareness and readiness program and CORE Scholars, a place-based scholarship program serving students in Philadelphia--two programs that I am proud to have launched, nationally and locally. Dr. Fixman has a distinguished academic record in addition to her achievements in the field of education. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in German literature from Brown University and a B.A. in Russian literature from Indiana University (Bloomington). I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Carol Fixman's dedication and perseverance toward improving the quality of public education in the Philadelphia region so that underserved youth are prepared for college and careers and thank her for making Philadelphia a better place. As she retires from the Philadelphia Education Fund, she will surely be missed by all. I urge this body to recognize her contributions and continue to support her work.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. I thank the gentleman and I thank the House. There is a time, a place, and a season for everything. I would argue to the House that this is not the time for us to be playing around with the financial fortunes of 160 million Americans that are enjoying a tax cut today that we'd like to extend and the President would like to extend going forward over the next year. Now we've had some 21 consecutive months of private sector job growth in this country. Now, I know that the President has almost had to lift this economy single-handedly since the GOP has decided they don't want to do anything to help move the American economy forward; but the idea that you would actually stand in the way of, at a minimum, keeping this tax cut in place, and to do it in the holiday season--as we prepare our Christmas tree at home and my wife and daughters have been decorating it--we all need to understand that in this Christmas season that it is wrong for us to approach the holidays and to create this uncertainty. We've got so much concern about uncertainty in the business community but no concern about uncertainty in the homes of 160 million Americans. Now, if we want to pass any bill on any day, you have a majority, you can do it. You don't have to merge the pipeline with this tax cut. You don't have to tie the fortunes of 160 million Americans' economic fortune together with the pipeline. We could move this today. The President is prepared to sign it. I would urge my colleagues, let's do this in the appropriate way.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Since this is the Thanksgiving season, maybe rather than denigrating the inheritance of a child born in our country, we can celebrate it. The truth is not that as a young American you are born with all this debt. What you're born into is as a citizen of the greatest country anywhere in the world, the wealthiest, most powerful Nation in the world, made up of decisions that are being decried here. We could not balance our budget and win World War I or World War II, or build 40,000 miles of Federal highway or build the land grant college system. In my church, we borrowed a mortgage to build a church, and you pay for it over time. These 49 States that we hear, these imaginary balanced budget amendments, all of those States borrow money. They have a capital budget. They borrow money to build bridges and highways and roads. This nonsense that families don't borrow money to buy homes or cars, Republicans in the majority can do better than this. This is not a debate between Republicans and Democrats. We don't need a balanced budget. We need a budget as a country that retains our leadership position in the world. We don't want to have a balanced budget and a weak military. We don't want to have a balanced budget but not be able to take care of the needs that have propelled our country forward. We just honored John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, astronauts who led our way into space. We didn't do that on a balanced budget. We said that we were going to lead in terms of the race to the Moon, and we led. This country deserves better. Republicans who are here, let us address the real issue. The real issue is that we have a 70-year low in the amount of resources coming into the government because we've cut taxes. The gentleman says where can we borrow a trillion dollars from? Well, we can borrow it from the trillion dollars of tax expenditures we are going to provide this tax year, many to the wealthiest people of our country. We have the ability to pay our bills. We need to make the decision to do it and leave the Constitution alone.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. I thank the ranking member, I thank the chairman of the full committee, and, most importantly, I thank my colleague, Chairman Frank Wolf. We've had an opportunity to work through the issues on this bill, and he has afforded every courtesy to the minority as we have worked through this. It's been truly a bipartisan effort; and even though there are things that we would make different final calculations on, I think that there's nothing else to be said other than that truly this is a product that reflects both input from the majority and the minority, and I thank Chairman Wolf and Chairman Rogers for the courtesies extended. This is a bill that I believe funds the most important agencies of our government in terms of securing our citizens, in terms of innovation and advancement in technology and science, in terms of dealing with the challenges of severe weather, and dealing with our oceans and the navigation of crafts throughout our waterways. This is a bill that is critically important, and I'm happy to join with others to urge that the House would favorably consider it. There are a number of things I would want to point out. One is that the conferees, all of us working together, were able to agree with an initiative focused on brain research, on neuroscience; and we've been able to put together a collaborative effort that I think portends a great deal of progress in terms of addressing brain diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, dementia, and also dealing with the question of wounded warriors. I had a chance to visit the brain research and repair center over at Bethesda. There's much more work to be done. And also for those interested in education, the whole cognitive development, this is the first-of-its-kind initiative bringing together all of the important agencies of the Federal Government. I thank Chairman Wolf and our colleagues and counterparts in the Senate for their cooperation around this. Also, we were able to increase our efforts in terms of manufacturing and advanced manufacturing, creating a new grant program to help companies bring technology onto the plant floor. Manufacturing has to be the basis for long-term prosperity and national security for our country. The investments in science, the National Science Foundation, there is no more important agency anywhere in the world; and we were able to work to fund it at a level that's appropriate, $7 billion. The investment in NASA, even though $638 million off of last year's number, when you take out the shuttle costs, it really is a significant statement around a new set of priorities for NASA, and investing in particularly space technology at $575 million and the investment in the Commercial Crew Program, knowing with a certainty that American private enterprise can help us deal with the ongoing need in terms of lower orbit travel. We have a lot to be thankful for in the bill. Most important to me, even though it's a very small number, are the efforts around youth mentoring. Our support for the 4,000 Boys and Girls Clubs and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters and other youth mentoring agencies that are funded in the Justice Department is a way to divert young people from ever getting engaged in our criminal justice system, and the funding for the Second Chance Program, which was renewed in this year's appropriations. There's a lot more that I could say, but I think, needless to say, what is important now is that we move this process forward. And there are disappointments--legal services, there will be another day. As my ranking member said, we're disappointed in the final outcome, but we remain committed to trying to find ways as we go forward to make sure people have access to our court system on civil matters. I want to thank the ranking member, Chairman Rogers, and my colleague Frank Wolf for his great work on this bill, and all of the staff, both on the majority and minority side.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. I thank the gentleman from Washington State, who's the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, and I thank our chairman, Chairman Rogers. I'm very pleased that we are having a motion to instruct and that actually we're moving appropriation bills. I rise in support of the gentleman from Washington's motion to instruct, particularly in support of additional disaster relief and also the COPS program. It's critically important that we continue the national declining crime rates, and because of the layoffs or dismissals of over 12,000 police officers and the fact that we have over 30,000 law enforcement jobs that are unfilled today in our country, we see in many cities now a rising level of criminal activity. I want to mention that in Paterson, New Jersey, we heard from the gentleman who used to be mayor of Paterson that they've had to lay off 125 police officers, a fourth of the police force there, and they've experienced a 15 percent increase in crime. And I think that one could draw a correlation between these two. In Flint, Michigan, the police force has been cut by two-thirds over the last 3 years, and its murder rate is higher than that of Baghdad. Last January, Camden, New Jersey, was cut by 163 officers, 44 percent of the total force. It's critically important that we understand the direct nexus between the Federal effort which began many years ago to put cops on the street and to assist local officers and the dramatic declines that we've seen for more than a decade now in criminal activity in our country, and I would hope that this motion to instruct would inform all of the conferees how important this is in addition to the disaster relief. When we call 911, we want to be calling for a police officer, not dialing for a prayer. So we need real help, and the conferees will have an opportunity to adjust the figures hopefully in line with what we want as an ideal. If we can fund police officers in Iraq and Afghanistan, we can fund them in Flint, Paterson, and in Camden, New Jersey, and in other cities similarly situated.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great GEAR UP Week celebrations that occurred across the country last week. GEAR UP, the Nation's most successful early college awareness and readiness program, is now in its twelfth year. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing all of the great program staff, students, families and organizational partners who have helped to make GEAR UP the success it is today. GEAR UP Week was celebrated with great fanfare last week as students and communities recommitted themselves to higher education and greater opportunity. In West Virginia, the governor and first lady honored students individually, and the program read a proclamation from the governor. In Connecticut, they held a celebration rally. In North Carolina, they read a proclamation from the governor, had a Family College Night and held a writing workshop. In Puerto Rico, students posted on a Dreams Wall and in Deep South Texas they hosted a press conference and celebration with alumni and my good friend and GEAR UP champion Congressman Hinojosa. In American Samoa, they made commemorative YouTube videos about their programs and the opportunities available to students. Just over the DC border, in Prince George's County, Maryland, they hosted parent workshops and sent an oversized ``thank you'' to their representatives in the Congress. In Arizona, they reached out to their Congressional delegation as did Laramie County, Wyoming GEAR UP students. In Virginia, the GEAR UP staff reached out to local media to share their success and schools hosted assemblies. In California, the students thanked their Members of Congress for supporting GEAR UP and the program brought the story of college-going to the radio. Roswell GEAR UP in eastern New Mexico spread the word about their programs and publically thanked their partners. In Chicago, 14 former GEAR UP students shared their experience in transitioning to college, the partnership hosted a college fair and teachers participated in a Young Adult Literacy Conference. In Nevada the governor proclaimed GEAR UP Week. Wisconsin GEAR UP students visited college campuses and attended workshops. Mansfield hosted ``GEAR UP Family Orientation Night,'' and in Eastern Michigan GEAR UP hosted a ``Legacy of Success.'' Shasta County Partnership and UC Davis Partnership in California hosted a GEAR UP celebration with community leaders, educators, public officials and business partners. Oregon engaged more than 1,000 people online in support of GEAR UP and Texas GEAR UP hosted a statewide essay contest and pep rallies at GEAR UP high schools. Palomar College GEAR UP read proclamations from school boards, city mayors, Members of Congress, and state legislators and in Maine they read a proclamation from the governor. I want to thank all of the people who worked to make GEAR UP Week a success and everyone who strives to see that college is more than a dream for our Nation's young people.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I recently visited a Boeing facility in Philadelphia where 2 years ago only 4,000 people were working. Today there are 6,000. They have three shifts working each day. They have a weekend shift on Saturdays and Sundays. They are working hard and playing a vital role in our national defense. I wanted to rise today to compliment the Obama administration for giving Boeing the largest contract in the history of our country with the tanker procurement program, well over $34 billion, which takes American ingenuity and manufacturing jobs to a new height here in America, and I want to thank the administration for their hard work on this. This has been delayed for a long period of time, and having seen these Boeing workers work so very hard and well, it just reminds me of how many other Americans want to go to work. I hope that we have a chance to support the American Jobs Act, that we bring it up and vote on it favorably so we can put many more of our fellow citizens to work.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. If we could have a vote to provide disaster relief, every Member in this Chamber would cast a vote in the affirmative. What we're asked to make tonight is a Solomon-like choice between tens of thousands of jobs for Americans who desperately need them and a limited amount of disaster relief. That is not a fair choice. And I guess the majority wasn't happy with the polling that showed that only 12 percent of the public thought that Congress was doing a good job or 13 percent. We dropped to 12. I guess we're trying to get into the single digits. What we need to do is to do our work. Now, this is a program where Ford Motor Company borrowed a loan guarantee at 5.9 to put people to work, some 30,000 people to work in Michigan and Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio. This is a program that's working, that taxpayers' money is paid back through these loan guarantees. The National Association of Manufacturers in today's National Journal says that we now, as we have, lead the world in manufacturing with 21 percent of globally manufactured products. But China is now in second place at 15 and Japan has dropped to third at 12. Why would we want to concede our leadership in this world in manufacturing? In the Republican decade under the Bush White House we lost 350,000 manufacturing jobs. We saw tens of thousands of small manufacturers close down in our Nation. Now, this administration, people talk about the number in August, but let's look at the entire 20 months of the Obama recovery--2\1/2\ million jobs led by increases consistently in manufacturing. I ask that we reject this CR. I hope that the majority would come to the House with an approach that would actually respond to the disasters that we face without asking us to put more Americans out of work.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2011 National Caucus on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health Disparities and Movement is Life. This body may not know that arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), affecting 46 million Americans, and costs the U.S economy $128 billion annually in medical costs and lost wages. The burden of arthritis falls more acutely on some members of our population, and African Americans and Latinos, and women of all backgrounds, face more severe osteoarthritis and disability, yet receive less than optimal access to diagnostic, medical, and surgical intervention than do other groups. Additionally, there is a lack of awareness about the connection between musculoskeletal health disparities, increasing physical inactivity levels, and disparities in chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease among women, African-Americans and Latinos. The Movement is Life Work Group Caucus has been established, and the second annual meeting is currently underway in Washington, D.C., to develop action plans aimed at reducing musculoskeletal health disparities. By promoting early intervention, the Caucus seeks to slow musculoskeletal disease progression, reduce disability, and encourage physical activity and daily movement in order to improve the health of those currently disadvantaged as well as the overall health of the nation. I was introduced to the Movement is Life initiative by its co-chair Dr. Ibrahim; a Core Investigator with the VA Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Chief of Medicine at the Philadelphia Medical Center, and Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. His work on understanding and intervening on racial disparity in access and utilization of joint replacement in the management of knee/hip osteoarthritis provides a national model for advancing health disparities research from first- generation studies that detected disparities in care, to second- generation studies exploring the reasons for these disparities, to the first-ever third-generation intervention trial to reduce well- documented disparity. I commend Dr. Ibrahim and Movement is Life on their second annual meeting, and for their efforts in creating a dialogue which draws attention to these health disparities that continue to impact our national economy and many lives around the country. I strongly encourage all to discuss musculoskeletal issues with their doctors and to participate in physical activity and daily movement in order to limit the exasperation of related chronic diseases and lead an independent, productive, and healthy lifestyle.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. I rise in support of this proposal, but as with many of our greatest capers in history, this is an inside job. I want to offer just in evidence that we had in the words of the Treasury Secretary for Reagan and for Bush an admittance that they were running up deficits, and that that was one of the ways to starve the government. And then we had the Republican Party at the height of its power, the Presidency, the House, the Senate, saying, no, we weren't going to have any tax increases. Even though we were running up these high deficits, we are going to cut taxes. We're going to hemorrhage trillions of dollars in revenue, and we're going to go into two wars. We're going to put a $7 trillion prescription drug plan on the financial pile of our debt. Alan Greenspan testified before the Congress in the first weeks of the Bush administration. He said Bush can leave office with our country being entirely debt-free. What happened then was the reverse. He doubled the debt and walked out with 8 million Americans losing their jobs. But as Solomon, in his wisdom, said to those who wanted to cut the baby in half, we choose not to default but to agree to this proposal.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. I assume that some think that the American people are gullible, but this is not a coincidence or happenstance. We've got a Republican majority that took us from trillions in surplus to trillions in deficit, added a $7 trillion prescription drug plan, unfunded wars, and then refused any additional revenue. In choking off our country's ability to pay its debt, now they want to walk us towards default. This is a special place in the shadows of the history books for a group of people who in order to gain power are willing to sacrifice America's leadership in this world.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Members speak with so much certainty about these things. It's not what we know that's the problem. It's what we know that just isn't so. Now, first and foremost, when we look at the Constitution of the United States, and we look at article I, when we deal with the legislature, among other things, the items or powers granted to the legislature, the first one is to borrow on credit on behalf of the United States. Now, if the Forefathers had no notion that we would be borrowing, they would not have granted this as the first enumerated power to the legislature. But let's deal with this more commonsensical misinformation that's been shared on the floor. They said, well, most families have to balance their budgets. No, our families have mortgages. They don't wait till they get homeless to then go the bank to try to get a roof over their family's head. They borrow so they can have a home. They don't wait until they need a car; they borrow the money to have the car. They said most businesses balance their budget. The manufacturers in my district don't wait until their machines fall apart to recapitalize their business. So we need to stop dealing in falsehoods here and know that our country, the greatest superpower in the world, has to act in responsible ways. I encourage a ``no'' vote on this proposal.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of the House to a recent column published in The Philadelphia Inquirer describing the accomplishments of West Philadelphia High School's Hybrid X Team. This team of students from an urban high school recently shared the winners' circle of the Green Grand Prix with the Chevy Volt. The Hybrid X Team's continued success provides a clear example of what's at stake in our current Appropriations considerations and the future of the economy. Simply put, when we invest in these innovative areas of our economy, the education and research that bring about new discoveries, technologies and processes, we are securing shared prosperity for ourselves and our posterity. If, instead, we shirk our responsibilities to young inventors and shortchange the early research that makes new inventions possible, we are conceding defeat in the global race to innovate. I encourage my colleagues to review this article and to consider the importance--and the possibilities--of a robust, innovation-minded economic policy. [From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Jun. 1, 2011.] Driver's Seat: Local Team Wins Honors for Fuel-Efficient Vehicle (By Scott Sturgis) Great moments in engineering don't always come from multinational corporations with multizillion-dollar budgets. Sometimes the feats come from hardworking young people--and perhaps a mentor or four. That's just how one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in the world was built right here, in West Philadelphia, and how the West Philly Hybrid X Team won not one but two national awards for two separate automotive projects this spring. Simon Hauger, electrical engineer turned high school teacher turned consultant, is the power behind the 15-student team from West Philadelphia High School. He formed the group 13 years ago and has led students through a variety of projects creating fuel-efficient automobiles, usually on a budget that automakers might put into a new hubcap. Hauger had the chance to visit with the head of Ford's technology division a few years back and, while touring with the students, posed a question. ``I said, `Why aren't you pursuing this' '' type of extreme fuel efficiency? Hauger said. ``His answer: `We're waiting to see where the market goes.' '' Fortunately, the country has leaders like the West Philly students and teachers--working with Hauger and the students are full-time volunteer Ann Cohen and West Philadelphia High shop teachers Ron Preiss and Jerry DiLossi. And giving them incentive are the Sports Car Club of America and the Conrad Foundation, organizers of competitions such as the Green Grand Prix and the Spirit of Innovation Competition, respectively. Green Grand Prix: At the end of this competition, the team shared the winners' circle with the Chevrolet Volt at Watkins Glen International Speedway in New York as the most efficient vehicles in their classes. Now in its sixth year, the Green Grand Prix is billed as the only road rally for alternative- fuel vehicles in the United States. The Factory Five GTM used in the competition had been part of the group's 2010 Automotive X Prize challenge, but didn't win. The team did some reworking of the vehicle, and it's now powered by a Volkswagen TDI engine running on biodiesel coupled with a hybrid system. It averaged more than 100 m.p.g., the highest mileage among nonelectric vehicles in the 100-mile test. ``That's real fuel economy from a real car from an inner-city high school with no budget,'' Hauger said. The group does have sponsorship, though not as much now as when it was competing for the X Prize. Now the main sponsors are International Battery in Allentown and Edison2, the company that won the X Prize. Funding also comes through Philadelphia Academies Inc., which as a nonprofit that works with Philadelphia schools can handle small donations and administer their funding. Hauger said the team had a ``moderate budget'' for the X Prize competition. Now, he said, ``we are back to no-budget, totally shoestring funding. In fact, we all have been blacklisted from the local blood banks.'' Although the car was up against vehicles with engines sporting three or fewer cylinders, the West Philly team had the advantage on the old- style NASCAR track--its members could fly through the hairpin turns and coast up a small hill. And the six-speed transmission allowed the car to stay barely above idle to run 45 to 50 m.p.h. ``The speed happened to be the absolute ideal speed for us,'' Hauger said. ``The car was driving at its most optimal point.'' The event drew 45 competitors--from the Chevy Volt and GM's fuel cell-powered SUV to homemade three-wheelers powered by industrial lawn-mower engines and everything in between. Four teams from the Automotive X Prize showed up, so they were competitors the West Philly teams had seen before. ``It was kind of like a grudge match,'' Hauger said. Spirit of Innovation: This contest limited entry to five members of the team, who designed a business plan around the Electric Very Light car, which is still in the production stage. More than 100 entrants from the United States and Britain entered the competition, and 35 teams were chosen as finalists. Twelve to 15 teams competed in the Cyber technology energy-efficiency category against West Philly. Led by new West Philadelphia science teacher Paul Holt as coach, the local team members went to California to give their presentation for 15 minutes and answer questions for another 15. ``It was kind of brutal,'' Hauger said.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Progressive budget substitute.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Let me thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Washington, and let me thank the chairman. I have had the opportunity to work with Chairman Wolf on the Commerce, Science, Justice activities contained in this CR. I think, notwithstanding the very challenging fiscal circumstances, Chairman Wolf has worked towards a set of priorities that will help move our country forward, and I thank him for working with me on a bipartisan basis. I want to point out our highest priority within that section of the Commerce Department, which is that of the Manufacturing and Extension Partnerships, which will see an increase above the 2010 enacted and also the Senate amendment, or H.R. 1. I am very pleased about that. There are major increases for the FBI in its important role related to national security. There have been a lot of discussions about the cuts here. We passed an omnibus on the floor of the House on December 10, which was when the Democratic Party was in the majority. We cut some $45 billion from the President's request in appropriate ways that we felt were necessary. The new majority has reduced some accounts--some we would agree with, some we would disagree with. What is critically important is to focus on the fact that the CR, even though it makes cuts, actually authorizes appropriations of over $1 trillion. These are needed appropriations in critical areas facing our country. In our section of this bill, which is relative to NASA and the International Space Station, to NOAA and its severe weather warnings and tsunami predictions, and which focuses on the Commerce Department and a whole range of agencies, it's very, very important that we get out of the temporary CR business. We can't run the greatest country on the face of the Earth on a week-by-week basis. The bill will bring this to its final conclusion. Finally, as we approach FY12, even though there has been a lot of talk about cutting, I would hasten to add that we are not shadowboxing as a Nation. We are in an international, global competition with countries that are investing a great deal of money in research, innovation and technology. We cannot sell future generations of our country short by being unwilling to make decisions to appropriate money where we need to appropriate it--in educating future generations and in investing in technology, innovation and research--so that we can both provide for our national security as well as for our national prosperity.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw the attention of my colleagues to the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). This initiative, focusing on recommendations put forth by the National Academies of Science's 2005 report, ``Rising above the Gathering Storm,'' seeks to enhance science and technology enterprise in the United States. Specifically, NMSI and the National Academies argue that the most effective way to do this is to dramatically improve K-12 math and science education. They will achieve this end through increasing the production of more, and more effective, math and science educators, strengthening the skills of existing classroom teachers through training programs, and expanding the pipeline of students with the desire and preparation to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in higher education. As the Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee Ranking Member, I have had the opportunity to hear witnesses testify to the incredible discoveries and innovations currently underway to address some of our nation's most pressing concerns--energy security, global climate change and human health and development. These same experts have repeated the same refrain--absent a significant change in course, the United States is poised to lose our global supremacy in scientific discovery and enterprise. I am greatly encouraged that NMSI has taken on this challenge and is engaging a diverse range of partners to develop a new generation of mathematicians, engineers and researchers. I would specifically like to take this opportunity to recognize one of NMSI's founding sponsors, the ExxonMobil Foundation. In a show of great community-mindedness and corporate responsibility, ExxonMobil has committed $125 million to NMSI. These funds, among other purposes, will go to increase access to and successful completion of Advanced Placement courses in the nation's high schools. I have long been an advocate of the AP program, and other efforts to increase rigor and college-readiness for all students in all schools. I am grateful to have such a partner, and to have the opportunity to engage with NMSI, ExxonMobil and others committed to addressing this critical question of global competitiveness. Difficult budget times call for creative solutions and I believe it would serve Members of this body well to turn attention to these innovative public-private partnerships which serve our nation's young people and economic future well.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate a young man of remarkable achievement. Shaun Anderson is co-founder and President of Diversity in Aquatics Inc., a visionary network that works to save lives through global efforts to reduce the incidence of drowning. But that's not all. Shaun is a consultant to USA Swimming, a college faculty member, a former coach as well as a collegiate swimmer and track team member at his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University. He began swimming competitively at age four. Citing these accomplishments and more, Penn State has named him one of 12 alumni under the age of 35 to receive the 2011 Penn State University Alumni Achievement Award. He will be honored on April 8. Let me tell my colleagues a little more about this amazing young man. His brainchild, Diversity in Aquatics, boasts members across a worldwide spectrum including Olympians, coaches, elected officials and educators. The organization is literally a life saver. It helps spread the word about water safety through advocacy, educational programs, and action, holding regional water safety clinics, and connecting individuals and groups through their website. I was pleased to provide a welcoming video for the Diversity in Aquatics Network, which has been active in support of swimming and water safety in Philadelphia's communities of color. The Network has spotlighted the work of Jim Ellis, who developed Philadelphia's first all-African American swimming team and was the subject of the biopic ``Pride.'' In 2009, USA Swimming named Shaun a diversity consultant, giving him responsibility for developing programs for under-served communities throughout the country. He has become a global spokesperson on the issue of diversity in swimming and aquatic safety. For example, he was interviewed and appeared in a Newsweek article in September 2010 about efforts to lower the rate of drowning among African American children. Shaun Anderson devotes himself to a vital but often overlooked cause. It is a sad fact that worldwide, 388,000 people a year--an average of more than 1,000 a day--are known to perish by drowning, although this data may dramatically understate the problem. In our nation and overseas, a disproportionate number of drowning victims, and victims of non-fatal injuries from submersion, are children from communities of color and from low-income backgrounds. The reasons are many, but the ``cure'' is obvious: teach youngsters how to swim, use safety techniques and respect the perils of water. I. pursuit of this goal, Shaun Anderson has assisted with clinics in Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, the Philippines and elsewhere. Most recently he helped the Bahamian Ministry of Education and International Olympic Committee in implementing a nationwide learn to swim program for the Bahamas. Anderson also serves as a faculty member in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science at Norfolk State University. At Penn State he was a varsity athlete in two sports: three years on the track team and a four-year member of the swim team. In addition to his degree in Kinesiology from Penn State, he holds an M.B.A. from California State University--Long Beach. It is no wonder that Shaun Anderson has been widely recognized and honored for his ``diversity'' of achievements. He is a multi-tasking role model and advocate who carries a life-saving message and the imperative of diversity into regions and disciplines never before imagined. Across our nation, young people of all races and communities are healthier, better swimmers--and very much afloat in life--thanks to a talented, tireless young man named Shaun Anderson.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Let me wish everyone a happy St. Patty's Day. It is unfortunate that we have so much effort here in the House to recite the problem rather than to focus on solutions. We hear this discussion about our national debt. We have these paltry efforts. We cut $6 billion on the same day that the debt went up $72 billion. We have a proposal by the majority to address the debt by cutting 1\1/2\ percent out of a small corner of the budget, doing serious damage to our Nation's efforts in education and science and innovation. I would hope that we would think for a minute about what we could actually do to take America's exceptional past and create a real roadmap for our Nation's future, ensuring it on a fiscal footing that will be stronger. I have introduced this morning H.R. 1125. It is a proposal to address the Nation's debt and create a debt-free America. I invite the House to debate on it.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jim Reed, a respected and beloved member of the greater Philadelphia business and civic community, who will be honored on April 14, 2011, at The Enterprise Center, 4548 Market Street, in West Philadelphia. Mr. Reed is Director of External Affairs for Verizon Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His service to his community both includes and extends far beyond the workplace. An active and passionate leader, Jim Reed is committed to the well-being of children, youth and adults alike. From board participation to teaching; mentoring, community service and advocating for change, he has proven his commitment to the community. Mr. Reed is a native of Savannah, Georgia, and was educated in Savannah and the School District of Philadelphia. He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology and Spring Garden College. He was a math instructor at Dobbins and Edison High Schools in Philadelphia, the Opportunities Industrial Center, founded by Leon Sullivan, and Temple University. Jim Reed has more than 45 years experience in all facets of telecommunications. He began his career with AT&T and then transferred to Bell of Pennsylvania where he moved to the External Affairs Department as Community Relations Director, and assumed his current position in 1993. Mr. Reed's community involvement includes a wide range of interests and activities. He has chaired the Mayor's Commission on Services to the Aging. He is an active board member of the Urban Affairs Coalition, West Philadelphia Partnership, Korean Community Center, Citizens Crime Commission, The Men of the 644th Engineer Battalion ``C,'' and many other organizations. Jim Reed is an active member of Tindley Temple United Methodist Church where he serves as an usher. He is a member of the Methodist Men, and also a board member of Charles A. Tindley Community Development Corporation. He has been honored by countless organizations including OIC, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, Asian American Women Coalition, Cheyney University, Berean Institute, Operation PUSH, Teenagers In Charge, Concerned Black Men, City of Philadelphia, Frontiers International, the Ducky Birts Foundation, Haddington, Multi- Service Center for Older Adults, Grands As Parents, and many others. He is a concerned community advocate in the Wynnefield neighborhood where he resides. Jim Reed is an exemplary Philadelphian who has earned the admiration and gratitude of all who know him--and will get to know him as he continues his service--in Philadelphia. I offer my warm and sincere congratulations to Jim Reed for a life well lived and brimming with accomplishment.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Well, this was started under a Republican Governor, Governor Thornburgh. I introduced this as a young State legislator with no gray hair, and it has worked very well in the State of Pennsylvania. I offered it here in this Chamber. In 2007, we hit a 50-year high in mortgage foreclosures. It makes no sense to move someone out of their home, ruin their credit for a decade and have their family be homeless when in the Pennsylvania instance, for less than $7,000 on average, you can help them over a period of difficulty. So here is the Republican majority. They say, look, we can't find it within us as a Nation, even though we help people all across the globe, to actually pause for a minute for a paltry sum and help a citizen in our own country meet a burden, and do it in a way that would actually be more cost effective for our taxpayers. We should reject this. We should reject the notion that somehow we are so much in debt that we can't afford to help our own citizens. What we should know is we are the wealthiest country in the world. Just yesterday, we should read the story about how we have a few billionaires who have trillions of dollars. We should remember that last week on the front page of USA Today, we had a story saying for a quarter-of-a-million dollars, seats on boards of directors were going wanting in our country because they weren't being paid enough for six meetings a year. We can afford to pay our bills. The Republican majority says let's cut 1.5 percent of what the Federal Government is going to spend this year in the face of a $1.5 trillion deficit. If they want to balance the budget, they should step forward for a much more aggressive plan. This is not about balancing the budget. It will not get close to balancing the budget. This is about somehow being willing to help big banks when President Bush stepped forward and said we have to do TARP. But when it comes to helping a homeowner meet their obligation, somehow we have to do less than our best as a Nation. This is not the America that has come to have great allies like the leader of Australia who spoke from that podium who said we can do anything and how the whole world looks at us as a beacon of hope. We should think again. This is ill advised, and I hope that this House rejects this bill and today stands up for an American citizen who needs a little help.

Mr. FATTAH. We heard just the other day in this Chamber the leader of our great ally Australia talk about the greatness of our Nation and how it is the belief that we can achieve anything. This lack of confidence illustrated in the rhetoric here on the floor today about the greatness of America, maybe we need to walk back a minute and look at how we invested and rebuilt Japan and Germany after the war, how we bailed out Mexico, over $40 billion. How, today, this day alone, we are spending $2 billion this week in Afghanistan. We have people all over the world trying to assist others. We will be one of the first nations rushing to help those affected by the tsunami this morning in Japan. This is a great Nation. We come today, however, to say to law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who lost their jobs because of the shenanigans on Wall Street, that even though we were able to help the banks to the tune of trillions of dollars, we can't provide a small bridge loan to help a homeowner who has been paying their bills, been abiding by the law and has been affected by the actions or inactions of the government and Wall Street. Now, this is not a new program built on hopes and dreams. This is a replication of a program that has been operating in Pennsylvania for 20 years. It actually has a history in which the State of Pennsylvania has put in $235 million and gotten back $250 million, and in which 44,000 homeowners have been able to secure their homes over a small interruption in their employment by getting help over 24 months.

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. FATTAH. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, the name ``Paterno'' is legend across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The successes of Joe Paterno, as football coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 1966, compiling an astonishing 401 victories, 24 bowl game triumphs, five undefeated seasons and two national championships, are well known to even the most casual sports fans. Not so well known, yet equally worthy of acclaim, is the generosity of Joe and Suzanne Paterno in their charitable support for educational institutions and other causes. This amazing couple, often known simply as JoePa/SuePa, has contributed over $4 million, and raised many millions more, to departments, colleges, buildings, libraries and other causes at Penn State. Sue Paterno is recognized as a philanthropist and community leader in her own right. She has served as a champion of Penn State's library system while volunteering for Pennsylvania Special Olympics, United Way, Centre (County) Volunteers for Medicine, and a tutor for student-athletes. No wonder the American Jewish Committee has selected Joe and Sue Paterno for its prestigious 2011 National Community Leadership Award. This nonsectarian honor will be presented to the Paternos at the AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey's Award Dinner on March 15, 2011, at the Union League of Philadelphia. The National Community Leadership Award is an excellent example of the service commitment and broad outreach of both the Paternos and the bridge-building, human rights promoting organization that created it. The American Jewish Committee honors stellar achievement in civic and community circles and in the world of philanthropy. Past recipients of AJC National Awards include Sidney Kimmel, Jones Apparel; Rupert Murdoch, News Corp.; Steven Spielberg, Dreamworks; William Clay Ford, Ford Motor Company; Terry Lundgren, Federated Department Stores; Cathie Black, New York City Schools Chancellor; Henry Kravis, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts; and Steven A. Schwarzman, The Blackstone Group, L.P., among many others. Earlier in my career, as a state legislator, I served on the Board of Pennsylvania State University and got to know Joe Paterno. His fan club stretches from the Delaware River to the Ohio line. In Philadelphia, some of us may cheer for Temple, Penn or Villanova. Every member of this House has his or her favorite college team. But in the fields of philanthropy and community service, I urge all my colleagues to join in cheering for the JoePa/SuePa team and for their AJC National Leadership Award.