Gene Green

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 148, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Homes for Heroes Act of 2013 (H.R. 384). This bill would establish within HUD a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans receive fair access to housing and homeless assistance programs and serve as a HUD liaison to the VA. I am fully committed to strengthening the benefits and fulfilling the obligations a grateful nation owes to its veterans. The men and women of our Armed Forces unselfishly answer the call of duty to defend our freedom. Congress has a moral obligation to support their returns with housing and other necessities. I am proud to live in a country that has such brave men and women, and a country where citizens recognize and appreciate the sacrifices our military makes to defend us. I urge my colleagues to stand with our Veterans and support this bill.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013. The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to authorize private employers to provide comp time or compensatory time off to private employees at the rate of 1.5 hours per hour of employment for which overtime compensation is required. Essentially, workers would be promised comp time instead of overtime pay. Many families depend on overtime pay to make ends meet. The Fair Labor Standards Act guarantees workers will receive overtime pay for over 40 hours per week. The bill only promises the potential for future comp time without any real protections for the workers. Hardworking Americans would be unprotected against long hours and less pay without the guarantee of any compensation. H.R. 1406 falsely promises more time with their loved ones by allowing them to choose paid time off. Unfortunately, workers will only get more time with their families after they've spent long hours, for less pay, at the approval of the employer. I stand with America's workers to oppose this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. The 40-hour week has stood for 75 years, and it should continue.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to the Full Faith and Credit Act, H.R. 807. This bill would allow the Secretary of the Treasury to take all necessary actions to ensure U.S. public debt obligations are paid when due and allows the Secretary to forego obligations not related to public debt. What this means, essentially, is all foreign debt will take precedence over repaying important domestic programs, such as Social Security. We should pass legislation that Social Security be paid for first, not the foreign debt. Social Security is not contributing one penny to our national debt. We must remember that it's one of the most important commitments that America has made to its citizens. The U.S. Government has purchased credit known as ``special obligations'' from Social Security. The credits are backed by ``the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government,'' with the promise to redeem these credits. I support repaying the Social Security trust fund before any other debt is paid. Pay Social Security first before we pay other countries.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate one of the most important events in Texas history, and the history of our United States, San Jacinto Day. On April 21, 1836, Texas forces, led by General Sam Houston, dealt a decisive blow to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his oppressive Mexican Government. Approximately 900 Texan and Tejano volunteers overpowered a larger, professionally trained Mexican army of conscript soldiers, after suffering defeats at Goliad and the Alamo. These outnumbered volunteers were fighting against tyranny and for their homeland, and they triumphed because of their determination to be free from oppression. In the words of the Texas Declaration of Independence, the people's government had been ``forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism.'' The Texas Revolution proved the bonds of freedom are stronger than ethnicity, as many Tejanos sacrificed their lives for Texas' freedom at the battles of Gonzalez, Bexar, Goliad, the Alamo, and San Jacinto. The war was not between Anglos and Hispanics, it was a struggle between all Texans and the military dictatorship in Mexico City. Texans and Tejanos knew then what we know now--freedom requires sacrifice. Texas culture places high honors on heroes willing to sacrifice their lives for a better life for their fellow man, and Texans are known around the world as an honorable people who respond to the call of duty. In that spirit, I want to highlight the work by the San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Texas Republic, who made the preservation of the San Jacinto Battleground possible by petitioning the Legislature to purchase the acreage and by donating their treasury to complete the sale in 1900. The San Jacinto Chapter of Daughters and the Texans Veterans Association did extraordinary work to ensure that the legacy lived on, and the importance of the park has only expanded since then. I am very proud to have formerly represented the site of the Battle of San Jacinto commemorated by the San Jacinto Monument. This park not only has the San Jacinto Monument to recognize the brave men that defeated the military dictator General Santa Anna, it also home to the Battleship Texas, which is a symbol of sacrifices in World War I and World War II. With the understanding of where they came from, Texans and Americans will continue to respond to calls of service, thereby continuing their legacy of respect and admiration throughout the world.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 110, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Connolly

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Israel, our partner in peace and prosperity, for its 65 years of independence. On April 14, 1948, just hours before the British Mandate was due to end, Israel's Founding Fathers and Founding Mothers, led by future David Ben-Gurion declared the birth of the State of Israel in Tel Aviv. Many of the Jews who lived in Israel in 1948 were survivors of the Second World War and the Holocaust, which pushed international opinion for the need for a homeland for the Jewish people where they could be free from persecution and free to build a better life. Since that fateful day in Tel Aviv, Israel and its people have worked tirelessly to build a thriving democracy that is economically prosperous and at peace with neighboring nations. The first nation to recognize Israel's independence, I am proud to say, was the United States, which welcomed Israel into the community of nations just hours after its declaration. The bonds between our two great nations, bound together by common interests and shared values, have only grown with time. It is also fitting to take this occasion to speak on the future of a lasting peace. As I and my colleagues in this chamber have said repeatedly, the only path to peace is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Mr. Speaker, I hope on this joyous day that we reflect on the need to redouble our efforts to bring peace to the region and continue to tangibly support our friend and ally in its request for peace.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act (H.R. 1120). H.R. 1120 requires the NLRB to cease all activity that requires a quorum of Board members. This prohibits the Board from implementing, administering, or enforcing any decision finalized on or after January 4, 2012, that requires a quorum. This would essentially shut down the NLRB. I understand the concerns regarding the Constitutionality of the appointments, but on February 13, 2013, President Obama asked the Senate to confirm the two recess appointments to the NLRB. Both sides have agreed the President is doing what is required of him by the Constitution. The NLRB is an essential component of worker protections available to working men and women. The NLRB prevents and remedies unfair labor practices by employers and labor organizations. Elimination of the NLRB would leave millions of Americans without adequate protections. I urge my colleagues to join my opposition to H.R. 1120 to protect the hardworking men and women in the United States.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in observance of the six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims who perished during the Shoah on Holocaust Remembrance Day. As we commit ourselves to the memories of those lost, we must also remember the heroes and survivors of the Holocaust, whose strength and perseverance continue to inspire us to this day. Our nation and the international community must never forget what took place throughout Europe during the Second World War at the hands of the murderous Nazis. Nor can we forget the government-sponsored discrimination, repression, and persecution that took place before the beginning of the war. Throughout our country, Americans can observe the Holocaust at local community events, military bases, workplaces, schools, churches, synagogues, and museums. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, has designated ``Never Again: Heeding the Warning Signs'' as the theme for the 2013 observance. In my hometown of Houston, Texas, the Holocaust Museum Houston is observing Holocaust Remembrance Day with testimonials from survivors and for concerned Houstonians to share their views about genocide and see what can be done to end genocide in the present day. In Israel, Yom Hashoah is remembered annually with a two minute siren where the country comes to a standstill to pay tribute to the dead. Flags are flown at half mast and ceremonies and services are locally held throughout the country. Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by asking our fellow citizens to take a moment this week to remember the memories of those who did not survive the Holocaust and to reflect on what we can do, as Americans, to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I support the Democratic budget. It is a responsible roadmap that invests in our future and approaches deficit reduction in a balanced way. It accomplishes this without singling out domestic energy production with unfair tax provisions. I cannot support the Republican budget. It cuts taxes for the wealthy and pays for it by raising taxes on middle income earners and betraying our commitment to our seniors. It is misguided and does not reflect the values Americans hold dear. The Republican budget slashes Medicaid, which provides necessary care to our nation's most vulnerable, especially low-income seniors and children. Denying them the care they need does not make the costs go away, it just shifts the burden on to doctors, hospitals, non-profits, and others. The Majority budget repeats the same tired and failed tactic of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Repeal increases the deficit and means Seniors will pay more for prescription drugs, receive less preventive care, and bring back the days of abusive insurance companies capping coverage and denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions. Alternatively, the Democratic budget makes good on the commitments we have made to our Seniors. It makes sure that the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented and that the benefits are maximized to protect patients and begin to bring down the cost of healthcare. This budget also provides the necessary funding for medical research, which will spur the innovations of the future that end disease and improve outcomes. Additionally, I appreciate the Ranking Member for making education a top priority in this budget. Investing in education is key to growing our economy, strengthening the middle class, allowing for upward mobility and ensuring our children and grandchildren have brighter futures than previous generations. Robust early education programs, jobs initiatives and financial aid programs to make college more affordable invest in our future and build a stronger America in the long-term. Making it harder for out-of-work Americans to get job training or for families to access quality early learning programs undermines the strength of our workforce and diminishes our ability to compete in the global economy. Spending on domestic programs is already on track to be at the lowest level as a percentage of the economy since the 1960s, but the Ryan budget would make even deeper cuts. It imposes spending caps on non- defense programs for two additional years at a level that is $700 billion below the level set by the Sequester. It slashes billions of dollars in mandatory funding for Pell Grants and allows interest rates on student loans to double this summer at a time when student loan debt is nearing $1 trillion and is the only type of household debt that continued to rise through the Great Recession. We should be working to help Americans who seek to better their livelihood through higher education rather than allowing them to be crushed by debt or denied access due to skyrocketing costs. Under the Ryan budget, students will face larger class sizes, more debt, fewer afterschool programs, and less support for special needs. Robust funding for educational investments is critical to growing our economy. Cutting these programs shortchanges our future and threatens the ability of our children to pursue the American Dream. Finally, I want to thank our Ranking Member on the House Budget Committee and Democratic Leadership for not including provisions in this budget that would unfairly single-out and punish our domestic energy industry by repealing tax provisions for them that are afforded to any business operating in our country. The oil and natural gas industry is one of the largest employers in our country, supporting more than 9.2 million jobs. In fact, this industry delivers $86 million a day to the federal government in revenue. Any changes to these tax incentives should be addressed in the context of comprehensive tax reform and not a budget.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my frustration and disappointment with the Postal Service's decision to close the Irvington Station Post Office that serves ZIP Code 77022 in Houston, Texas, on April 30. This post office is highly valued in our district and has served residents of the Northside area in Houston for 50 years. The Postal Service announced that the Irvington office would be demolished, despite the fact that the agency has failed to ensure that local residents will still have access to essential mail services. The Irvington office's lease is expiring, and instead of finding a new location nearby or moving retail operations into the Northline Commons area as a compromise, the Postal Service has chosen to close the office. I contacted and met with postal officials without success. Moving forward with the closure is irresponsible and undermines the integrity of the agency. The people living in and around the 77022 ZIP Code will not have the same access to postal services as everyone else. I understand the Postal Service's budget constraints and support reforming the agency. However, maintaining a presence in the area makes smart business sense for the Postal Service and fulfills a need in this revitalized community. The post office is losing customers and friends in this effort.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to H.R. 890--Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act of 2013. This bill prohibits the Secretary of HHS from using longstanding authority to issue waivers that allow states to conduct demonstration projects under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It also reauthorizes the TANF program through December 31, 2013. In Texas over 68,000 families receive TANF benefits. TANF is a block grant program to help move recipients into work and turn welfare into a program of temporary assistance. In order to receive the maximum TANF benefit, families must be in compliance with work requirements and no one may remain on TANF for more than 60 months. Federal TANF law requires states to penalize families that fail to meet these requirements. In response to a request from a bipartisan group of governors for more flexibility, the Obama Administration said the federal government would consider waiving existing work participation requirements for states that were experimenting with ``new, more effective ways'' of helping welfare applicants find work, ``particularly helping parents successfully prepare for, find, and retain employment.'' The Administration hasn't gotten rid of the work requirement or laid out a new theory of what it ought to include. It has given states the ability to seek executive branch approval for new methods. This legislation is not needed, for no state has requested a waiver. This is the second time this bill has been introduced, as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. The House should focus on extending TANF benefits to needy families in the country.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act which will reauthorize certain provisions of the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. This legislation was initially passed by Congress to help the U.S. develop medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism agents and to provide a mechanism for federal acquisition of those newly developed countermeasures. Since the first part of the last session of Congress, we have been working with Senators to perfect the language. We have passed it several times in the House and after many months, the Senate has sent it back for our approval. I am pleased that we finally have a bill that can be sent to the President and I am proud to support it. This bill is important because our nation remains vulnerable to these threats because many of the vaccines and medicines that are needed to protect our citizens do not exist. Developing and stockpiling these medical countermeasures requires time, resources, and research. All of which will be provided under the legislation before us today. I am pleased that language I supported during the committee process aimed at increasing emphasis on regionalized trauma care systems was included in this final version. This bill is also very important to me because the University of Texas Medical Branch's Galveston National Laboratory is in my backyard. The Galveston National Lab is the only BSL-4 lab located on a university campus. At the lab, scientists conduct research to develop therapies, vaccines, and diagnostic tests for naturally occurring emerging diseases such as SARS and avian influenza--as well as for microbes that might be employed by terrorists. This is exactly the type of research we hope to encourage under the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act. As an original cosponsor of this bill with Mr. Rogers, I am very pleased at how quickly we have moved this rare bipartisan piece of legislation. I want to thank Mr. Rogers, Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Waxman, Ranking Member Pallone, Ms. Myrick, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. Markey for their work on this important legislation. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, March 2, 2013, marks Texas Independence Day. 177 years ago on March 2, 1836, after more than a year of negotiations, citizen delegates met at Washington- on-the-Brazos and declared Texas independent. The story of Texas independence dates back to 1830s, when a military dictatorship seized power in Mexico and abolished the Mexican Constitution. Once in power, the dictatorship refused to provide the most basic of rights, including a trial by jury, freedom of religion, public education for their citizens and the right to bear arms, this last one being the most intolerable, particularly among Texans. Failure to provide these basic rights violated the sacred contract between a government and the people, and Texans did what we still do today--stand up for our rights. At the Convention of 1836 on March 1, a committee of five delegates was appointed to draft the Texas Declaration of Independence. The committee, consisting of George C. Childress, Edward Conrad, James Gaines, Bailey Hardeman, and Collin McKinney, prepared the declaration in record time. It was briefly reviewed, then adopted by the delegates of the convention the following day, March 2. The Texas Declaration of Independence states that Texas' government had been ``forcibly changed, without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism.'' The Texas Declaration of Independence was truly produced overnight. Its urgency was paramount, because while it was being prepared, the Alamo in San Antonio was under siege by Santa Anna's army of Mexico. On March 6, four days after the signing, the Alamo fell with her commander Lt. Colonel William Barrett Travis, Colonel Jim Bowie, Former Tennessee Congressman David Crockett, and approximately 200 other Texan defenders. However, on the afternoon of April 21, 1836, the Texan army avenged their losses at the Alamo and attacked Santa Anna's camp near the San Jacinto River. The Mexican army was taken by surprise, and the roughly 900 members of the Texan army were able to overpower the much larger Mexican army. During the fighting, many of the Texan soldiers repeatedly cried, ``Remember the Alamo!'' The Battle of San Jacinto was over after just 18 minutes. Santa Anna was forced to order his troops out of Texas, thus ending Mexico's control. Today we give thanks to the many Texans that sacrificed for the freedom we now enjoy. God bless Texas and God bless America.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as the United States and Azerbaijan continue to develop closer relations--relations which have proven immensely valuable to both nations--it is important to take the time to remember the Khojaly Massacre which took place in Azerbaijan 21 years ago, on February 25-26, 1992. In a period of less than 12 hours, 1,275 Azerbaijanis were tortured and 613 were murdered, including 106 women and 63 children, in the town of Khojaly. Newsweek described the victims of Khojaly as ``ordinary Azerbaijani men, women, and children,'' separate from the on-going military conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite the shocking nature of these events, remembrance of the Khojaly Massacre has become nearly forgotten outside Azerbaijan's borders. This is unconscionable for our country, which has always fought to safeguard the human rights of all people. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Azerbaijan shared in our grief and pledged to stand by the United States as we brought the perpetrators to justice. True to their word, Azerbaijan has supported allied efforts against international terrorism by allowing unrestricted access to their territory for aircraft, troops, and supplies, as well as committing their own troops to fight alongside our own. Just as Azerbaijan has supported our nation in its time of need, so too must we not let the massacre of the 613 Azerbaijani men, women, and children drift into the dim memory of history. I urge my colleagues to commemorate this terrible tragedy and continue our nation's support for the people of Azerbaijan, our partners in peace and prosperity for the Caspian Region.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the huge education cuts that are in the sequester. Massive sequestration is an inefficient way to make spending decisions that affect millions of Americans. However, this is what we agreed to, and the House majority has not had an open and frank debate on how this Chamber can reduce our national deficit while helping our students and hardworking educational professionals succeed. On education alone, sequestration will reduce funding for the Department of Education and Head Start by an estimated $4.8 billion. Department of Education funding will return to pre-2003 levels, impacting between 8.9 million and 9.4 million students. Potential job losses in the education field are projected to be between 74,600 and 80,500. These cuts will come as schools and colleges enroll more students and the cost of services increases. I call on Members on both sides of the aisle to join me in finding a better way to reduce our deficit while protecting our children, students, and educational professionals.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor an American hero, Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle. Eleven days ago, Chief Kyle was taken away from all of us while doing what he did best--helping others, especially fellow veterans. During his four tours in Iraq, Chief Kyle served in every major battle of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His skill as a sniper became legendary among Americans and insurgents alike. He was given the nickname ``the devil of Ramadi'' by the insurgents and a $20,000 bounty was placed on his head. By the time Chief Kyle left the Navy in 2009, he had made 160 confirmed kills, more than any other U.S. military sniper in history. Chief Kyle returned home to Midlothian, Texas in 2009 to be with his wife, Taya Kyle, and their two young children. Chief Kyle continued protecting his fellow warriors through the creation of the Fitco Cares Foundation, which raised awareness and money to help veterans overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2012, Chief Kyle's, American Sniper, was published. Though his book became a best seller, he never received money from it. Instead, he used the proceeds for the families of two friends and fellow SEALs. Most notable of all, Chief Kyle was a man who loved his family deeply, watched over his friends, and did all he could to protect and help those close to him. I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Chris Kyle and offer the thanks of a grateful nation.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in remembrance of the over 130 innocent men, women, and children who were killed by the Red Army in the days following its invasion of Azerbaijan 23 years ago. On January 20, 1990, the Soviet Union, in a brutal attempt to end the growing independence movement in Azerbaijan, sent in 26,000 troops under the pretext of restoring public order, while actually aiming to forcefully end peaceful demonstrations for independence. The invasion and subsequent massacre, which resulted in over 130 killed, 611 injured, and 841 arrests, is remembered as ``Black January'' in the Republic of Azerbaijan today and has left an indelible mark on that nation's memory. It was the overt oppression of innocent people by the Soviet government that further inspired the Azerbaijani people to regain its independence after 70 years of foreign rule. Less than two years later, on October 18, 1991, Azerbaijan gained its independence from the Soviet Union and was soon recognized by the international community. Today, the United States and Azerbaijan enjoy a close and important relationship, built on trust, understanding, and mutual support. It is important on this day that America remembers the trials and tribulations our friends in Azerbaijan have had to endure for the cause of freedom and continue to support their vital role as a beacon of democracy and prosperity in the Caspian Region. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to please join me in remembering the tragic events of Black January and honor those who gave their lives in order to give birth to their country.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education program and I am a cosponsor of H.R. 297. This successful program is the most important federal investment in the pediatric workforce and must be reauthorized. Failure to do so would be catastrophic to pediatric care in our country. Since this program began, it has allowed Children's Hospitals across the country, including Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, to increase training by 35%. I believe we must spend more on Graduate Medical Education entirely, but today we have the opportunity to extend the successful Children's Hospital program which, like other GME funds, is money well spent. Despite the successes of the program, there are still many pediatric specialties that are experiencing shortages. This bill will help address this and will continue to strengthen our pediatric workforce. I look forward to voting in favor of this bill and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I support the National Pediatric Research Network Act, H.R. 225. Thank you to Representatives Capps and McMorris-Rodgers for their continued leadership on this issue. This important bill will allow the National Institutes of Health to focus funding on researching rare and genetic pediatric diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, and Fragile X. Because there are such a small number of incidences of these terrible diseases, they are extremely difficult to study. This bill takes steps toward giving our research community the tools necessary to increase research of an array of diseases that cause so much pain and suffering to children and their families. Increasing our nation's commitment to researching rare pediatric diseases is an area that enjoys bipartisan support. I look forward to voting for this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 30, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act which will reauthorize certain provisions of the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. This legislation was initially passed by Congress to help the U.S. develop medical countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism agents, to provide a mechanism for Federal acquisition of these newly developed countermeasures. Our Nation remains vulnerable to these threats because many of the vaccines and medicines to protect our citizens do not exist. Developing and stockpiling these medical countermeasures require time, resources, and research, all of which will be provided under the legislation before us today. I'm pleased that the language I supported during the committee process aimed at increasing emphasis on regional trauma care centers was included. This bill is very important to me because the University of Texas Medical Branch's Galveston National Laboratory is near our district. The Galveston National Lab is the only BSL-4 lab located on a university campus. At the lab, scientists conduct research to develop therapies, vaccines, and diagnostic tests for naturally occurring emerging diseases such as SARS and avian influenza, as well as for microbes that might be employed by terrorists. This is exactly the type of research we hope to encourage under the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act. As an original cosponsor of this bill with Mr. Rogers, I'm very pleased at how quickly we have moved this rare bipartisan piece of legislation. I would like to thank Chairman Rogers, Chairman Upton, Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Waxman, Ranking Member Pallone, Mrs. Myrick and Ms. Eshoo for their work on this important legislation. The House passed this bill twice last year, and I hope the Senate acts quickly, and we will send it to the President. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. `` . . . to borrow money on the credit of the United States; to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; to establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States; . . .''

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 41, to temporarily increase the borrowing authority of FEMA for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program. This bill would provide FEMA with an additional $9.7 billion in emergency funding to immediately assist those affected by the storm. In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast of the United States, affecting millions of Americans and killing over 100. The economic cost of the storm is still being assessed, but it has been estimated to be in excess of $60 billion, which would make it the second-costliest storm in history, after Hurricane Katrina. Our nation has a responsibility to rebuild the areas that were devastated by this terrible tragedy and I am committed to making sure that Congress helps provide the necessary resources to help those individuals and communities which were harmed by this disaster. It is important to recall that four years ago, Congress, with my strong support, provided nearly $23 billion in disaster relief for communities like our own due to the devastation from Hurricane Ike. I stand with my colleagues from the East Coast, especially from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to get the funding necessary to aid the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. As Americans, we all have a responsibility to help each other during times of need.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, which will reauthorize certain provisions of the Project Bioshield Act of 2004 and Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act of 2006. This legislation was passed by Congress to help the U.S. develop countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism agents and to provide a mechanism for Federal acquisition of these newly developed countermeasures. Our Nation remains vulnerable to these threats because many of these vaccines and medicines that are needed to protect our citizens do not exist. Developing and stockpiling these medical countermeasures require time, resources, and research--all of which will be provided under the legislation before us today. I'm pleased that the language I supported during the committee process was included, aimed at increasing emphasis on regionalized trauma care systems. This bill is also very important to me because the University of Texas Medical Branch's Galveston National Laboratory is in my backyard. The Galveston National Lab is the only BSL-4 lab located on a university campus. At the lab, scientists conduct research to develop therapies, vaccines, and diagnostic tests for naturally-occurring emerging diseases such as SARS and avian influenza, as well as for microbes that might be employed by terrorists. This is exactly the type of research we hope to encourage under the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act. As an original cosponsor of the bill with Mr. Rogers, I'm very pleased how quickly we moved this rare bipartisan piece of legislation. I want to thank Mr. Rogers, Chairman Upton, Ranking Member Waxman, Ranking Member Pallone, Mrs. Myrick, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. Markey for their work on H.R. 6672. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.