Mark Foley

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, today is Asthma Awareness Day, and as a former suffering asthmatic, I want to commend this Congress for the work and research efforts that have been undertaken by the National Institutes of Health. I want to give my colleagues a few of the statistics that are startling: 4.8 million children have asthma; 10.6 million people have experienced an asthma attack or episode in the past 12 months; 3.9 million asthma-related outpatient visits to private physicians; and another 2 million asthma-related visits to emergency departments. Over 12,288 people died of asthma-related symptoms. The cost, of course, is staggering, $12.7 billion. Missed school days, 10.1 million annually, and missed work days, over 3 million. Much work needs to be done, but the first most important work is to continue to promote asthma awareness and research, hopefully to bring a breath of life to young children and cure this disease.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, about 30 days ago, the INS sent a notice to a flight school that Mohammed Atta could continue training on an aircraft. It was a big blunder, a colossal mistake, and the President described the following day that he was very mad. Thirty days later, the President and this Congress have worked on a bill to restructure the INS. It is coming to the floor today, and I want to commend the President, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the chairman, and all who have worked to bring this important bill to the floor today. We need to bring some credibility to this agency. We need to be fair on immigration. We need to be just. We need to operate with respect, but we also have to enforce the laws of the land. Strengthening our borders, strengthening the integrity of the system, finding those who have slipped through the cracks and have ill intent in this country, that should be our priority; not focusing on hardworking people that are here legitimately, but finding those who wrought terror on us on September 11 and seek to continue to undermine the country. This is a good bill. I urge its adoption.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform you that yesterday I inadvertently misvoted on rollcall No. 97 on final passage of H.R. 476, the Child Custody Protection Act. I have supported this legislation in the past and continue to do so and my intention was to vote in support of it yesterday. I did not realize until after the voting had closed that I had mistakenly voted otherwise. I regret any confusion this may have caused and want the Record to reflect my support for H.R. 476.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, in 1996 this House passed historic welfare reform legislation that fostered family independence by moving people into the workforce. Welfare reform is an issue of monumental proportion. Six years ago we had a positive effect on the lives of millions of needy Americans. Today we have another chance to improve the lives of many more. Since 1996, statistics have shown that welfare families have begun to achieve independence. While we celebrate the progress of 1996, we must charter a plan that guarantees future success. This Congress must move forward to reauthorize welfare reform and assist those Americans that have not yet achieved their goals. Welfare reform works. But we must continually improve the system today for tomorrow. By reaching out to Americans in need, we will change not only lives, but put a smile on the face of our society. We are making progress, Mr. Speaker, but it is time we turn the corner. Let us strengthen the path towards independence by empowering people to support themselves. I encourage my colleagues to support reauthorized welfare reform.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am humored somewhat by the debate today. There seems to be a lot of hand wringing and shock and outrage over the deficit. It reminds me of a cross between the pit bull and a collie: It rips a person's arm off, and then it runs for help. What we have heard from the other side, 40 years of managing this process, of running up untold debt, placing it on the back of taxpayers, watching Social Security become insolvent, and all of a sudden we hear all of this outrage. When we have debates on appropriations, I do not hear the same kind of a conservative approach from the other side of the aisle in holding down spending. April 15 just passed. I am hopeful that everybody on both sides of the aisle concluded their tax return. If Members are so outraged with the tax cut, they could have easily used the old numbers from the old charts. When we handed out the $500 or $600 checks to individuals, $300 checks, I did not see this rush of Members from the other side of the aisle coming to hand their checks back to the Treasury. The American hard-working taxpayers, police officers, teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, janitors, have benefited from this tax policy that we have initiated. Americans are getting to spend more money on their kids. People are talking about buying a new washer-dryer, or get to go on vacation. The appetite for spending in this process is unbelievable. If they hold up numbers of debt, let us talk about how it originated. Let us talk about the spending. Let us bring that into the debate. We cannot talk about doing it as the American family would do, because if we used that analogy, the neighbors would be being robbed by us because we would have encouraged them to take something that is not theirs, use it for someone else, and call it fairness. This bill on the floor today gives every American a chance to project over their time how they will deal with their finances. It is certain, it is important, and it is fair.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, the United States Supreme Court ruling Tuesday on the Child Pornography Prevention Act drew strong reaction, mostly negative, regarding the High Court. However, the ruling did receive some support from some in the adult movie industry. ``We are extremely disappointed with this decision,'' said the American Center for Law and Justice. The Supreme Court clears the way for pornographers to use the first amendment as a shield and gives them a green light to engage in this kind of Internet activity.'' I say whether in movies or photographs, it does not make a difference whether or not the person engaged in sex is actually a child. If it looks like a child, is said to be a child, pedophiles have found their fix and their search for true child pornography will only be enhanced. Attorney General Ashcroft said the ruling makes prosecution of child pornographers immeasurably more difficult. He offered to work with Congress on new legislation that could withstand the Court's scrutiny. Mr. Ashcroft, I join you today in hoping we can craft a bill that meets the fitness test of the Supreme Court so we can rule this to be an illegal activity.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for the Richard David Kahn Melanoma Foundation and to recognize May 6, 2002 as Melanoma Monday, Skin Cancer Awareness Day. This year alone, over one million Americans will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer. Out of the one million diagnosed--10,000 of those will die--that equals one person every hour. This number is unconscionable given the fact that skin cancer is 100 percent preventable and curable when detected early. Our most powerful tool against this disease is education. I commend the actions of the Palm Beach County-based Richard David Kahn Melanoma Foundation for its relentless efforts in educating the people of South Florida about the dangers of melanoma and the steps needed to prevent it. The Foundation reaches more than 10,000 local residents directly each year through the many school and community-based presentations and special events. I would encourage my constituents, and the American people at large, as we come close to the summer of 2002, that they avoid peak sunlight hours (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), when the Sun's rays are most intense. I would also recommend that anyone going outside use the appropriate sun block and minimize their exposure. Every year we spend billions of dollars on curing thousands of diseases. Melanoma can be cured by simple education and awareness. I am proud of the work that the Foundation has done and am proud to recognize May 6, 2002, Melanoma Monday, Skin Cancer Awareness Day.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. First, let me commend the House, Mr. Speaker, for its passage of the very, very important retirement security bill today, the Pension Security Act of 2002. I state emphatically, the bill brings about some necessary reform. My best quote, if you will, relative to this important legislation is, if it is good enough for the brass, it ought to be the same for the middle-class workers. So hopefully we have leveled the playing field, provided some protection, and it is well overdue. I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for his outstanding efforts on leading us in this direction. He has been working on this for years. This is not as a result of Enron, but it certainly has been aided and abetted by that scandal that took place in Texas, so I am thrilled we are able to pass it to the floor today. Let us turn our attention to a very serious issue that is confronting the world, if you will, and that is what is going on in the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reiterate my strong support for Israel. There is no escaping the mire of violence that has taken such a horrible toll in the Middle East. All of us wish collectively that peace would come sooner rather than later for the Israelis and the Palestinians. But in the interim, we must look past the graphic images being broadcast on the nightly news and fully appreciate why the United States has such a stake in what is happening there. Israel has been a strong, true partner of the United States, anchoring our policies in the Middle East. A strong, true partner, I want to underscore those important words. Whatever second-guessing anyone might have over tactics, Israel must have the ability to protect itself and its people in what has become a dangerous and hostile everyday environment. From its inception, Israel, which is the most stable democracy in the region, has shown strength and resolve in the face of adversity. The war of terrorism that has increasingly been waged against it has become untenable and inexcusable. Both Israelis and Palestinians now live in a constant state of fear, a fear that their lives may end in a restaurant, an open-air market, or simply crossing the street. Let me underscore, this is not between military personnel on each side, this is about average citizens, men, women, and children, going about their daily lives, being blown up in the streets of these cities. Before September 11, few Americans could imagine such fear. Even after September 11, it remains hard to envision living our everyday lives with the ghost of death almost hovering. Yet, this is what Israel faces and Israelis face every day. Since the new wave of terrorism has swept over the land, this is what many Palestinians also face. Yet, the Palestinian leadership continues to escalate the violence, plunging the region further into chaos. We have a moral obligation to both the Israelis and the Palestinians to forge ahead for peace, but we also must keep in mind that many of Israel's enemies have sworn to destroy the country of Israel. They hate Jews. The Jihad, the Islamic Jihad, the Hezbollah, the Hamas are all desperate to destroy others because of their ethnicity or religious belief. For Americans, the shells that fall in the Middle East impact us here close to home. Just as the carpenter would not start building a home on a soft sand foundation, we cannot hope to defeat terrorism at home and abroad when terrorism in the Middle East undermines the very foundation of peace we seek to achieve. This has certainly not been lost on my constituents, many of whom have mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends in Israel. It should not be lost on anyone who recognizes that the United States cannot fight a successful war against terrorism unless and until the Arab world in general and the Palestinians in particular join us in seeking peace, not war in the guise of Jihad, and certainly not in martyrdom. It is a troubling time for us, it is a troubling time for them, and I urge that we all work collectively in support of Secretary Powell's visit there on behalf of the President of the United States. I think it is clear that we must do all we can to achieve peace, but it has to be a just peace for all. I have often felt that if average Israelis and Palestinians could meet together and sort this out, they probably would. I have very little confidence in Mr. Arafat. I have very little confidence. He attempts to show a good face and smiling demeanor when he talks peace in the United States, as he has many times, and then he goes back home and straps a rifle to his waist and swaggers around and insists that he has no interest in dealing with Israelis, in order to keep his job. It is about time we stopped worrying about keeping our jobs and started worrying about saving lives. I urge all sides to begin immediately, before more deaths take the innocent.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Let me commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for his hard work on this legislation. He has been at this for many, many years; and I salute him. What this bill says loudly and clearly: if it is good for the brass, it ought to be the same for the middle class. We are taking care of employees; we are defining benefits; we are giving investment advice; we are providing advanced notice of blackouts; we are giving diversification; we are taking off, if you will, the corporate handcuffs that have locked many employees in their employee stock option plans. It improves access to retirement planning services so the average line worker, or the CEO, can take advantage of up-to-date, latest investment advice. I am encouraged by the action of this House, and I applaud the leadership on this issue. There is no question that Americans need security and safety in their pensions. This is a fantastic step in that direction. I salute all who have participated. I urge my colleagues, as they prepare to leave this Capitol, that when they vote for this bill, they are giving an underlying security to the pensions of all American workers.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, just briefly, my chief of staff, Kirk Fordham, graduated from the University of Maryland; and I watched with great excitement as his alma mater racked up those points and won kind of a come-from-behind team, a Cinderella team, if you will. Florida has been lucky enough to produce many champions: University of Miami, Florida State and, of course, the University of Florida, and to watch a team that displayed such class and such enthusiasm and, even though all of the pundits pretty much ruled them out at the very beginning, to watch them emerge each time after a game up the ladder to the Final 4 and then, of course, to victory, I salute you. I salute your team. I salute the parents, the coaches, all of those in the athletic department that support us. Because it does take a colossal effort to move the enthusiasm to the level where you reach a national championship. So I salute the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) on his phenomenal team and his phenomenal State. My brother-in-law, in fact, was born in Havre de Grace, so I take a little bit of pride to being at least a distant relative of Maryland and share with my colleagues their great victory.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and, thus, giving me the opportunity to praise so many fabulous and phenomenal workers at the Pentagon. I would first like to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, for expediting this important resolution. The Committee worked especially quickly with the staff from the Pentagon to move this resolution forward, House Resolution 368, for which I know all of us are grateful. Within 48 hours, 70-plus colleagues on both sides of the aisle quickly joined me in saluting the men and women at the Pentagon. Mr. Speaker, anyone who has driven by the Pentagon recently has been a firsthand witness to the amazing determination and depth of the American spirit. That spirit is embodied in all the workers who are resurrecting the Pentagon in a reconstruction project aptly named Project Phoenix. Just 6 short months ago, terrorists attempted to attack and raze a symbol of America. They found they could barely scratch the surface. From the individuals who immediately responded to the attack delivering triage, to the many people affected by the explosion, to the ongoing efforts of Project Phoenix, America's resolve and strength are clear and evident. Anyone who has seen the Pentagon lately has seen a miracle of reconstruction, and behind that miracle are all the workers who have clearly taken hold of this project, showing the world that what evil tries to destroy can be rebuilt stronger, bigger, and better. It is as clear as the Pentagon itself that these workers are adding more than bricks and mortar to this cherished building; they are leaving an imprint of their dedication that rose from the ashes of September 11. Starting almost immediately after the attack, workers labored 24 hours a day to clear the area of over 400,000 square feet of debris, a project they completed amazingly in only a little more than 1 month. They are now 6 weeks ahead of schedule, with an ever-visible goal in site. Above the construction site on the building is a clock counting down to September 11, 2002. The workers made a commitment that they would have Pentagon employees working back at their desks in the outer ring of the Pentagon by September 11, 2002. And as that clock counts down, it is a constant reminder of the importance of this work. Mr. Speaker, what these workers have displayed is a deep, true dedication that cannot be feigned. It must come from within. And it for that dedication that I introduced this resolution and received such overwhelming support from my colleagues. I know others will speak today: the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), and others joining us on the House floor today. We invite everyone on Thursday, at 1 p.m., to the Pentagon for a formal presentation of this proclamation. One more word, Mr. Speaker, and I know that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) know this personally, we have spent a lot of time talking about the tragedy in New York, and at times I feel we have actually slighted those brave men and women who were killed in the ashes of this devastation just a short mile and a half from this complex. I salute their families as well and the memory of those loved ones lost, and just want to assure them that every person's life that was taken by terrorists will never be forgotten. While we salute the tremendous accomplishments of the men and women on the construction site, let us not leave this floor without spending a moment to commemorate those brave men and women who serve us daily in uniform, those who lost their lives, who never returned home, but stood vigil over this great Nation of ours.

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a man who has been a true asset to his community. His caring and guidance have touched many families and friends in need of support. I speak of Dr. Stephen Lipman, Senior Pastoral Counselor for Hospice of Palm Beach County for the past 19 years. Fortunately, Steve is not retiring, but is offering his services as the Pastor of the Jupiter Medical Center. We all know of the fine work Hospice offers and what kind of a person it takes to counsel the individuals and their families whose loved ones are in the transition for their final stages of life. Dr. Lipman's services have gone beyond that: whether it is counseling young children, lending kindness to the terminally ill or simply offering a smiling face, you can always count on Steve. He exemplifies all that is good in a individual. I would like to join the communities of South Florida and thank Dr. Lipman for his sincere dedication and years of service. Mr. Speaker, please let the record reflect the 107th Congress' appreciation for all he has done.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, following up on the comments of the majority whip, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), I am also concerned about what has happened here with NPR. Although I had supported NPR's public funding in the past, I know when someone has been wronged. It does not matter if it is the Traditional Values Coalition or the ACLU, right or left wing, they simply did not deserve to be treated this way, to be forced to prove or disprove a negative. America is still recovering from September 11, and the fight ought to be Americans versus terrorists, not Americans versus Americans. When such reckless, irresponsible accusations are pulled out of thin air, we are doing exactly what Osama bin Laden would like us to do, to turn on each other. I am happy to see NPR has technically apologized. I can only hope they do so again much more loudly and much more often. It is a disgrace to journalism to make such a reckless accusation against a fine organization operating in this country. I insist, before I continue to support their organizations, that they, in fact, do apologize more forcefully.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday, February 27, 2002.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding any adjournment of the House until Tuesday, February 26, 2002, the Speaker, majority leader, and minority leader be authorized to accept resignations, to make appointments authorized by law or by the House.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it shall be in order for the Speaker to appoint two Members of the House, one upon the recommendation of the minority leader, to represent the House of Representatives at appropriate ceremonies for the observance of George Washington's birthday to be held on Friday, February 22, 2002.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the motion just agreed to.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I know how proud the residents of the Old Dominion, Richmond, Virginia, are to see you in this chair leading this great Congress today. I also want to wish a happy Valentine's Day to all of the employees of our Capitol complex and their families. As we continue to work on issues that are important to America, I wanted to talk about, since today is Valentine's Day, some issues we are identifying by the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition for American Heart Month. The heart, of course, represents Valentine's Day, and it is more important to the body than anybody can ever imagine. Let me give you a little background. About 62 million Americans suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease. One million die from such conditions each year. One American every 33 seconds dies of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, followed by cancer, Alzheimer's and HIV and AIDS. For women heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart disease and stroke kill more American women than men, and one in five women have some form of cardiovascular disease. Economic burden: Heart disease and stroke are expected to cost the U.S. $392.2 billion in 2002. Though heart disease was once considered an inevitable consequence, if you will, of aging, today these diseases can be treated aggressively with a variety of procedures. Treatment options include medicines for high blood pressure, a leading risk factor of heart disease and stroke; medicines that lower cholesterol; clot-buster medicines that can save the lives of heart attack patients; and drugs that can prevent second heart attacks from occurring. Education of the American public is still necessary. Over 61 percent of the American public is considered overweight by the U.S. Surgeon General. We must enforce the idea of including diet and exercise into daily living. I would like to talk about a few things I cosponsored along with Senator Bob Graham of Florida, and one is House Resolution 2508, which is the Medicare Wellness Act of 2001. Congress added, due to our legislation, the first preventative benefits to Medicare in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Medicare Wellness Act of 2001 seeks to add more benefits. Among other things, the bill provides for Medicare coverage of cholesterol screening and medical nutrition therapy for those with cardiovascular disease. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and I will work with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and, of course, the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) and the House leadership to try to move that bill forward this year. The greatest challenge will be the cost of the bill, but let me suggest that cost of doing nothing is enormous, as I mentioned that $300-plus billion tab that we are paying one way or the other. Another bill we have filed is H.R. 630, which is the Teaching Children to Save Lives Act, and that authorizes the Secretary of Education to make grants to State agencies to award grants to local agencies in targeted schools or school districts for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, training in targeted localities; requires such training to use nationally recognized training courses and to be in the public schools which includes students of any age between the ages of grades 6 through 12. Grants must be to ensure in conjunction with local efforts that training sites have the ability to start up and foster community partnership among public and private agencies to help provide such training. I work with the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps), my cochairman of the caucus, in which to see this legislation come to fruition. Health care is probably the number one domestic issue facing Congress this year. The President articulated it in his State of the Union message, and he also spoke about it while he was in Wisconsin, and he continues to remind the public of the importance of health care as we deliberate the important issues of the day. We must continue to provide funding for research to stop the number one killer of Americans this year. And I will continue to work as cochair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition to increase awareness of heart disease and stroke among the Members of Congress and the administration.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, if this is the most important bill to be sent to the floor by discharge petition by the minority, then why is it they call for adjournment on the day of the bill's presentation on the floor?

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, does the bill, as presented under the rule, comply with the dictates of the discharge petition, or are we operating under a substitute version?

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to start off the second session of the 107th Congress on a positive note, and take a moment to remind those listening when anthrax first hit our Capitol, there was a decision made by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), the Speaker, in conjunction with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the minority leader, to move our employees out and close the House for a couple of days to see the difficulty that we faced and the problems with anthrax spores in the Capitol. I commend both gentlemen because they were concerned about the safety of the employees and the health and welfare of the people in their charge. The headlines screamed chicken, and blamed the Speaker of the House for Congress abandoning our responsibilities. I call attention to today's headlines in USA Today, ``Anthrax at Senate offices deadlier than first thought.'' My colleagues may remember that in the other Chamber there was bravado saying we are going to stay and work. We cannot believe the House Members would leave and run for cover. Let me repeat the headline. ``Anthrax at Senate offices deadlier than first thought.'' Mr. Speaker, let me read from the same paper. Greg Martin, Bethesda Naval Hospital, took samples from Congressional aides and used them to grow cultures in the lab. He is a medical professional working for the U.S. Government. The words ``weaponized'' and ``highly concentrated spores'' were still days away from making their way into the headlines. But Greg Martin, a physician in the hospital's medical corps, became so alarmed that morning that he asked for beds to be reserved at Bethesda. He was expecting staffers to become ill from their exposure to anthrax. Let me read more on why the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) was so concerned for the employees of the Federal Government, the children of American families who work in our Nation's Capitol. Nasal swabs from the Daschle aides had been incubating overnight in the laboratory. Not enough hours had passed by usual research standards for cultures to grow. Martin did not expect to see anything out of the ordinary, but he was shocked. ``I was horrified to see there was heavy growth on numerous plates. That is when it all hit home that we had an extensive exposure.'' Mr. Speaker, the House made the right decision, and I said days later I would rather be called a chicken than a moron for staying and leaving the citizens of this Capitol city exposed to deadly bacteria until we were able to find out whether it was in our offices. Let me take a moment, though, to commend the senior Senator from Massachusetts for saying to the Press Club, I want to raise taxes. He said what was on the mind of many Democrats, but they were afraid to utter. They went on national talk shows and said, We think the President needs to figure out a solution for the recession. We think the President brought us to a recession, blaming the chief executive of this country for the recession but not offering their own solutions. But the Senator said it clearly. Let us raise taxes. Let us reverse the tax cuts, the same thing. Everyone now agrees. Mr. Speaker, I have to commend him for his courage. I have to commend him for saying it like it is on the record, for people to compare and contrast the political parties and what their intents are for the future of this debate. American families are struggling. Businesses are struggling. People are frightened. Consumer confidence is down. The last thing we should do is raise taxes in a recession. John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1961 decided when the recession looked bleak and our economy was teetering, he boldly suggested tax cuts, remarkably successful in those years. Today, a relative suggests that is not such a smart economic principle. That is great reflection. I will stick with our course any day of the week. As a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, I salute the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for addressing the economic needs of this country. We can throw fear into the hearts of citizens and make them scared with talk of gloom and doom. I hope one party stands on this high hill above the city and suggests a way for Americans to have confidence in their country, which we have displayed in our war against terrorism, and give this President the same kind of confidence and backing that he will need to bring us to an economic certainty, to bring us to a time when people feel good about the direction of this country.

Mr. FOLEY

Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all the members of this chamber for passing H.R. 3487, the Nurse Reinvestment Act. This bill will provide immediate relief to a sector of the healthcare industry in desperate need of our support. The nursing shortage is approaching critical levels and it is clearly affecting patients throughout our Nation. These men and women who work on the front lines of our healthcare system everyday face tremendous hurdles. I have met with nurses and their representatives who have thoroughly explained the problems with mandatory overtime, the need for staffing standards, and protection for those employees who report unsafe conditions or practices in the facilities in which they work. H.R. 3487 is a step in the right direction. It will provide for funding public service announcements to recruit nurses, loan repayment programs, and scholarship programs. It also requires the GAO to report to Congress on several key issues in the nursing arena--including nursing faculty shortages and disparities among hiring practices of nurses between not for profit and for profit entities. Again, I thank my colleagues for their support of this very important piece of legislation.