Gene Green

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Equity Act of 2002. Most people associate LIHEAP with home heating assistance to needy families in the wintertime, and that is an extremely important purpose of the program. However, while many people are in danger each year because they cannot afford to properly heat their homes, many across the South but also all over the country are in danger every year because they cannot afford to cool their homes. I am introducing this legislation to bring parity to the LIHEAP program between regions that are more likely to use LIHEAP for heating and for cooling. My hometown of Houston can see many consecutive days of above 100 degree temperatures, combined with high humidity. This is a potentially lethal combination for the poor, often elderly, residents who cannot afford an air conditioner or afford to pay the electricity bill. In addition, the Northern part of the country sees too many preventable heat related deaths. According to the National Weather Service, heat related deaths and injuries far outpaced cold related deaths and injuries. In 2000, there were 158 heat related deaths and 26 cold related deaths. In addition, there were over 400 heat related injuries also in 2000. In 2001, the difference was even more pronounced with 166 heat related fatalities and 4 cold related fatalities. It is time Congress and the LIHEAP program recognize the dangerous reality the heat waves pose in this country and begin to offer residents in danger from hot weather as much energy assistance as we offer to residents in danger from cold weather. Let us work together to bring some equity to LIHEAP and prevent more, senseless, fatalities of the elderly, infirm, and children who cannot afford air conditioning. I urge my colleagues to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Equity Act of 2002.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Law Enforcement Officers Flag Memorial Act of 2002. I am deeply sad that Harris County, where my hometown of Houston is located, is leading the Nation in the grim category of peace officers killed according to the National Law Enforcement Officers' Fund. Peace officers and their families know better than anyone the perils and risks involved in their job. Yet every day, they put on a badge and make our Nation a safer place. While we should never forget these officers, we also need to remember their spouses, their children and friends who miss them dearly. Our hearts go out to those survivors who are trying to cope with saying good-bye to a loved one. We are indebted to the survivors for the courage of these officers, and we share their grief and offer kind words knowing that it is a poor substitute for their loss. Every day, ordinary men and women make an extraordinary commitment when they put on a badge that symbolizes the oath they take to protect and serve. The badge also makes them a target. Every day, they leave their families behind not knowing if they will come home tonight. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me as a cosponsor of the Law Enforcement Officers' Flag Memorial Act of 2002. This legislation seeks to honor slain law enforcement officers by providing their families a Capitol-flown U.S. flag. While a Capitol flag is a meaningful and true symbol of our nation's gratitude, Congress should continue to make sure that we keep our commitment to the law enforcement community by providing funding for more officers, better equipment, and advanced training. Doing so not only saves the lives of officers, but it makes our families, our homes, and our neighborhoods a safer place.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in today in support of H.R. 11, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Reauthorization Act, which we are considering today under suspension of the rules. It is a shame that Congressional leadership allowed any lapse in the authority to write new flood insurance policies by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, I am relieved that the lapse in authority, which began December 31, 2002, is shortly coming to an end. Thousands of my constituents are mandatory and voluntary participants in the NFIP, and they deserve the convenience of renewing and beginning new policies without interference from Congressional inaction. I would like to commend FEMA and the underwriters for the efforts that they have made to reach out to homeowners and warn them of the problem and lead them to solutions. Hopefully, the Senate will take up this legislation immediately and send it to the President, and Congress will not allow this situation to occur again. The NFIP is an absolutely critical program for my constituents and millions of other homeowners, with flooding causing billions of dollars of damage nationwide every year. Since affordable flood insurance is not a sustainable business for the private insurance industry, it is essential that Congress support the NFIP. Mr. Speaker, we need to come together and take care of business for the millions of Americans who live in the floodplain or other flood hazard areas. It is our duty to ensure the smooth operation of the National Flood Insurance Program, and we have already delayed too long. I urge my colleagues to suspend the rules and approve H.R. 11, the National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorization Act.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the attention of the House an innovative program created by the Houston office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies in the Houston area. This program, utilizing grant money from the Operation Safe Home program, hires off-duty law enforcement officers to provide security and patrol housing complexes and apartments that are owned by or receive funds from HUD. This program has been a great success, and has made residents feel safer and more secure in their homes. Unfortunately, this program turned out to be too innovative. Although this initiative has been an unqualified success, it turns out that HUD did not have the authority to make these types of security decisions. I believe that we should allow our local communities and those who know them best the flexibility to pursue the solutions that will decrease violence, drug use, and other crimes that plague much of the public housing in our nation today. I do not believe that Americans who need assistance with housing costs should be forced to live in fear. That is why I am reintroducing the HUD Housing Security and Flexibility Act. This legislation would allow HUD to hire local law enforcement agencies for these purposes. It authorizes offices that receive or administer funds under either of the aforementioned programs to enter into contracts with police departments and other agencies. These contracts would be limited to three years in length, and would be solely for security, patrols, or other protective services at HUD-owned or -assisted housing. Mr. Speaker, I feel that this legislation will go a long way towards eliminating crime in our public housing, and making Americans feel safer in their homes. I hope that the Congress will take up this important legislation during the 108th Congress.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in June of 2001, Texas and other States witnessed the damage wrought by Tropical Storm Allison after it swept through Texas and up the East Coast, and the importance of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) really hit home. Thousands of my constituents suffered substantial flood damage to their homes and businesses, but many of these losses were mitigated because they had federal flood insurance. Unfortunately, not all my constituents who needed flood insurance could afford to purchase a policy. Because of a recent redraw of Houston's Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) many of my low-income folks were brought into the 100-year flood plain, but could not afford the insurance. As a consequence of my constituents' experience, I rise today to introduce the Low Income Families Flood Insurance Access Act. This legislation helps bridge the insurance gap between those that can afford a flood policy and those that cannot. The bill would provide discounted flood insurance over a five-year term for low-income homeowners or renters whose primary residence is placed within a Special Flood Hazard Area (flood plain) by a redraw of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). If their property is worth no more than $75,000, they would be eligible to receive a 50% discount on their flood insurance premiums for a five-year period. It also provides for limited retroactivity if their residence is placed within the flood plain within two years of the enactment of the legislation; otherwise, the five years would begin upon the placement of the property within the flood plain. I hope that this legislation will not only increase participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), but make this program more affordable for the economically disadvantaged. It provides an incentive for those who are most vulnerable to huge losses in floods to get the protection they need at a price they can afford. The NFIP plays a crucial role in lessening the impact of a major flooding disaster, but to make the program operate most effectively we need greater participation. I believe my legislation will extend the helping hand associated with flood insurance down to those people in greatest need of assistance. Mr. Speaker, I hope that we can speed this bill through the 108th Congress.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Labor Relations First Contract Negotiations Act. The National Labor Relations Act guarantees the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively to improve living standards and working conditions. The right to organize is a basic civil right, and unions are an avenue to equity, fair treatment, and economic stability for working people. Free enterprise includes the freedom to organize as a unit to bargain collectively. Unfortunately, current law hinders this ability. To remedy this serious situation, I have introduced the Labor Relations First Contract Negotiations Act. My legislation requires mediation and, if necessary, binding arbitration of initial contract negotiation disputes. Under this proposed bill, if an employer and a newly elected representative have not reached a collective bargaining agreement within 60 days of the representative's certification, the employer and the representative will jointly select a mediator to help them reach an agreement. If they cannot agree on a mediator, one will be appointed for them by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. In the event that the parties do not reach an agreement in 30 days, the remaining issues may be transferred to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for binding arbitration. Let us make sure that everyone has a fair opportunity to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. I urge my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a resolution which urges the United States Postal Service to commission a postage stamp commemorating Juan N. Seguin, hero of Texas' War for Independence. Juan Seguin believed in the freedoms that we enjoy today, many of which we take for granted. He was fair minded, did not tolerate injustice, and fought for basic human rights for all people, despite the constant risk of imprisonment or death. He was one of the key leaders of Texas' War for Independence. As territorial governor of Texas, he protested the dismantling of the Mexican Republic of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana, and was the first to sound the alarm in response to Santa Ana's tyrannical actions. He renounced General Santa Ana's overturning of the Mexican Constitution of 1824, which had granted all citizens and subjects of Mexico their basic human rights. This was what the men in the Alamo were fighting to restore, as represented by the famous image of the Mexican flag with the number ``1824'' painted across the middle. In October 1934, Seguin convened the first revolutionary meeting protesting the actions of Santa Ana's government. Once the revolution was underway, he fought in the successful battle to retake San Antonio from General Martin Perfecto de Cos. Later he was one of the 189 defenders of the Alamo, and his life was spared by Colonel William Travis' decision to send him with a request for reinforcements to Colonel James Fannin at Goliad, Texas. He left on March 5, 1836, the day before the fall of the Alamo and the slaughter of its defenders. He was able to rejoin the remainder of the Texas Army under General Sam Houston, and thus became the only man to fight at both the Alamo and San Jacinto. Juan Seguin was a legendary leader in the Texas Revolution and an unsung hero of Texas. Though he is seldom given credit for his contributions, he helped establish the Texas that we are so proud of today. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Geriatric Care Act of 2003, an important piece of legislation which will help our nation prepare for the health care pressures associated with the aging of the baby boom generation. Americans are living longer than ever, with the average life expectancy rising to 80 years old for women and 74 years old for men. While this is generally a positive development, there are costs associated with the aging of America. As seniors live longer, they face greater risks of disease and disabilities, such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Geriatricians are physicians who are uniquely trained to help care for the aging and elderly. By promoting a comprehensive approach to health care, including wellness and preventive care, geriatricians can help seniors live longer and healthier lives. It is critical that our nation have a sufficient number of geriatricians to help manage the aging of the baby-boom generation. Unfortunately, there are currently only 9,000 certified geriatricians, and that number is expected to decline dramatically in the coming years. Of the approximately 98,000 medical residency and fellowship positions supported by Medicare in 1998, only 324 were in geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry. The Alliance for Aging Research estimates that the United States will need approximately 36,000 geriatricians to counter the aging population. We must do more to promote geriatric residency programs. There are two barriers preventing physicians from entering geriatrics: insufficient Medicare reimbursements for the provision of geriatric care and inadequate training dollars and positions for geriatricians. A MedPac survey found that Medicare's low reimbursement rates serve as a major obstacle to recruiting new geriatricians. Due to their higher level of chronic disease and multiple prescriptions, seniors require additional care to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. Medicare's reimbursement rates do not factor the complex needs of elderly patients. Because geriatricians treat seniors exclusively, they are especially affected by Medicare's low reimbursement rates. Additionally, the Balanced Budget Act placed limits on the numbers of residents a hospital can have, based on 1996 numbers. This cap serves as a disincentive for some hospitals, and has caused them to eliminate or reduce their geriatric Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs. The legislation I am introducing today would remedy both of these problems, so that America is prepared for the aging baby boom generation. The Geriatric Care Act would modemize the Medicare fee schedule to more accurately reflect the cost of providing care for seniors. It also would allow for additional geriatric residency slots, so that we can develop an adequate supply of geriatricians for the next generation. I urge all of my colleagues to join me as cosponsors of this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, more than 56 million Americans currently live with some kind of disability. These disabilities include blindness, paralysis, mental illness, hearing loss, physical ailments, and a host of other conditions. The federal government has recognized the unique challenges faced by these Americans by allowing qualified disabled individuals to receive health insurance under the Medicare program. Unfortunately, the law includes a 24 month waiting period before disabled individuals can qualify for coverage. This waiting period poses a serious problem for many newly disabled Americans. Faced with the loss of their employment due to their disability, their situation is only made worse because they cannot access the health care services they need. The Medicare program was designed to help people in need--not make their situations worse by denying them necessary health care. That is why I am introducing legislation to eliminate the 24-month waiting period under the Medicare program. This legislation would allow individuals to enroll in Medicare immediately upon their disability determination. This is a necessary change in the law which will help countless Americans access the health care they need upon becoming disabled.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Children's Access to Technology Act providing the disadvantaged children of this country with the technology they need to succeed in life. My legislation will provide Title I schools with additional financial resources to modernize their Internet delivery tools. Specifically, this legislation will utilize any unspent e-rate funding to provide Title I schools with a maximum $25,000 award to modernize their Internet labs. Mr. Speaker, the e-rate program has been very effective in bringing the Internet to libraries and classrooms across America. As a strong supporter of that program, I was disturbed to learn that crucial e-rate funding was going unspent because recipients were not following through with their paperwork confirming receipt of service. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is working to improve the timely utilization of authorized grants to approved school and library systems, but there will always be some unexpended funds in the program. Because any unspent e-rate funding is lost at the end of each program year, my legislation will create a new funding mechanism, using any unspent monies, that will allow Title I schools to update their computer hardware. Specifically, the legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a lottery system for Title I schools to enter and be eligible to receive up to $25,000 to modernize their computer hardware. In light of President Bush's commitment to strengthen and streamline the e-rate program, I believe we must ensure that all funding made available through the USAC be spent on improving our children's access to new and innovative technology. While I understand USAC has taken steps to speed the grant process and close the unexpended funding gap, I still believe there will always be some unallocated funding at the end of each program year. In these instances, my legislation will provide an additional benefit to truly needy schools that are struggling to improve the delivery of Internet services to their students. Our children are our future; without innovating new approaches to provide better tools in our classroom, the now-passable digital divide will become an impenetrable digital barrier, unbreachable no matter how much funding we throw at the problem. Mr. Speaker, this is a complimentary piece of education legislation when compared with President Bush's proposals and will further enhance the educational opportunities of our children.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 3389, the National Sea Grant College Program Act of 2002. This important legislation reauthorizes the sea grant program in Texas and its counterparts around the country to continue the important work being done in coastal, ocean and lake resources. When Congress passed the Sea Grant College Program Act of 1966, it intended to apply the successful attributes of the Land Grant College Program to coastal and marine issues. Today, the National Sea Grant Program represents the bridge between government, academia, industry, scientists and private citizens to help Americans understand and maintain the oceans and Great Lakes for long-term economic growth. Sea Grant also serves as a bond uniting more than 350 participating institutions in 35 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia and millions of people. In short, Sea Grant is an agent for scientific discovery, technology transfer, economic growth and public education as they involve coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources. Every day, Sea Grant scientists make progress on the important marine issues of our time. A network of outreach professionals takes this information out of the laboratory and into the field, working to enhance a coastal business, a fishery, or residents' safety and quality of life. A dedicated corps of communication specialists builds public understanding of these issues for informed decision-making. Sea Grant educators bring the discoveries into the nation's schools, using them to pioneer better ways of teaching, helping to create a new generation of scientifically literate Americans. Through these research, education and outreach activities, Sea Grant has helped position the United States as the world leader in marine research and the sustainable development of coastal resources. Texas A&M University of Galveston, Texas was among the first four institutions to be designated a Sea Grant College in 1971, and its researchers had been involved since passage of the National Sea Grant College and Program Act in 1968. As a Sea Grant College, Texas A&M Galveston provides research support for university-level faculty throughout the state through a competitive grants process. In Texas, the Sea Grant program has conducted research in hyperbaric physiology, endangered species ecology, marine aquaculture, coastal processes, fisheries biology and ecosystem health. As a result of these and other Sea Grant efforts, we have seen development of a major shrimp aquaculture industry in South Texas, marina initiatives to adopt best management practices and minimize water pollution, non-point source pollution reduction from residential landscapes, improvements in seafood handling to reduced loss in the retail markets and expanding marine educational opportunities in support of the state's, and nation's, teachers and students. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Jefferson Davis High School, located in Houston, Texas. As a teenager, growing up in Houston's North Side neighborhood, I had the pleasure of attending this fine school. Opened on November 2, 1926, the first senior class of 38 students graduated on May 30, 1927. Over the decades, this school has excelled in educating our youth, giving them the skills they need to become leaders in the community, city, state, and nation. The alumni of Jeff Davis are known for a variety of achievements and accomplishments. Many have served with distinction on our local school board, City Council, state legislature, state Supreme Court, and in the U.S. Congress, as well as professionals in all fields--doctors, lawyers, architects, and engineers. It has also produced nationally known entertainers, such as country and western star Kenny Rogers. In athletics, the fighting Panthers have excelled at every level. Slater Martin led the school to two state basketball championships in 1942 and 1943. He went on to become an All-American at the University of Texas, a key contributor on several championship Minneapolis (later Los Angeles) Laker teams, and is enshrined in the NBA Hall of Fame. In the international sports arena, several boxers from Davis have excelled, including Jesse Valdez, an Olympic bronze medalist in 1960, and Ricardo ``Rocky'' Juarez, who won the World Championships in 1999 and a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics. Although our school receives recognition for our famous graduates, the most important accomplishment over the past 75 years is its continued ability to produce educated citizens who are a credit to the community they live in. Jefferson Davis is more than a school. It is a living community of goals, dreams and accomplishments where students are pushed to excel. In this community, we like to say, ``Once a Jeff Davis Panther, always a Jeff Davis Panther.'' Our alumni are key to our school, and provide critical support to our mission. You can see our graduates in the community, and they are always willing to help, regardless of the task. They serve as examples of what students can do, of what they can become, if they work hard and believe in themselves. In this spirit of giving, and sacrifice, I would note that more than 80 Jeff Davis students have given their lives to protect our freedom in the wars and conflicts of our country. The demographics of the community have changed over the years, but the commitment to excellence has never faltered. This school community sees a high school diploma not as an end product, but as a stepping stone for higher education. The focus of its program is to prepare students for post-high school education. Recently, 724 students took the PSAT exam in preparation for the SAT that is required for college admission. In partnership with Tenneco, El Paso Energy, and Project: GRAD, graduates can receive a $4,000 scholarship to pursue higher education. According to the U.S. 2000 census data, only 26 percent of Hispanics who enter college graduate, and the national Hispanic dropout rate is 34 percent. At Jeff Davis, however, a school that is more than 80 percent Hispanic, the dropout rate is less than I percent, over half of the students go to college, and 42 percent of those who go to college graduate. Some choose community or local junior colleges, but the list of universities with Jeff Davis alumni includes top-flight schools like the University of Houston, the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Princeton, Duke, Rice, Cornell, and the University of Virginia. Our school is truly a community of learners. Parents, students, educators, and businesses come together to provide support so that students can succeed. The power of this learning community to realize its potential has remained constant throughout its 75 years. Jefferson Davis High School is successful because it is a vibrant, caring, community that encourages students to not only dream big, but to follow those dreams. In that way, the first students who walked through these doors in 1926 are not that different from those here in the year 2002. Success is expected, and with support from our community, it is achieved--38 students graduated in 1927, and more than 300 will graduate in 2003. The goals, desires, and dreams of the students is the one constant over that time. I am proud of the progress this school is making, and proud to be a graduate of Jefferson Davis High School.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4757, the Our Lady of Peace Act. I'd like to thank my colleagues for their hard work on this legislation. This legislation will be a huge step forward for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). It will provide grants to states for building databases related to NICS, enhancing state capabilities to utilize the system, improving final disposition of criminal records, and supplying mental health records, court-ordered domestic restraining orders and records of domestic violence misdemeanors. This information will then be able to be transmitted by the states to NICS, ensuring that criminals and others who should not have access to weapons will not be able to purchase them. This strengthening of the background check system will save lives, and protect the ability of law-abiding citizens to purchase firearms. H.R. 4757 would also require federal agencies to annually provide the FBI with information on regarding individuals who are not permitted to purchase firearms, increasing the accuracy of these background checks and further protecting, our communities. The bill addresses legitimate concerns about the privacy of mental health records transmitted to NICS. It instructs the Department of Justice to work with states and local law enforcement on regulations for the protection of any mental health information sent to the system. I urge the department to implement the strongest possible privacy protection, so as to prevent the accidental release of this information. Finally, the most important provision of this bill is the prohibition of the imposition of a ``gun tax'' by charging fees for gun purchases through NICS. The Second Amendment provides us with the right to keep and bear arms, so the burden is on us to protect that right--without taxes, delays, or waiting periods for gun purchases by law-abiding buyers. Again, I support this legislation, and urge our colleagues in the Senate to act quickly on this bill.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, more than 56 million Americans currently live with some kind of disability. These disabilities include blindness, paralysis, mental illness, hearing loss, physical ailments, and a host of other conditions. The federal government has recognized the unique challenges faced by these Americans by allowing qualified disabled individuals to receive health insurance under the Medicare program. Unfortunately, the law includes a 24 month waiting period before disabled individuals can qualify for coverage. This waiting period poses a serious problem for many newly disabled Americans. Faced with the loss of their employment due to their disability, their situation is only made worse because they cannot access the health care services they need. The Medicare program was designed to help people in need--not make their situations worse by denying them necessary health care. That is why I am introducing legislation to eliminate the 24 month waiting period under the Medicare program. This legislation would allow individuals to enroll in Medicare immediately upon their disability determination. This is a necessary change in the law which will help countless Americans access the health care they need upon becoming disabled.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, diabetes is a serious, debilitating, chronic illness that afflicts more than 17 million Americans, including seven million Medicare beneficiaries. This sometimes silent disease causes many serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation. Unfortunately, more than one-third of people with diabetes won't realize they have it until they develop one of these deadly complications. Diabetes imposes an enormous financial burden on our health care system. More than 25 percent of the Medicare budget is currently devoted to providing medical care to seniors living with diabetes. Congress recognized the need to address this problem when it required Medicare coverage of blood-glucose monitors and diabetes education services in the Balanced Budget Act. While this was a positive development in our fight against diabetes, it has done little to help us diagnose and treat the 2.3 million seniors who do not know they have the disease. While diabetes is sometimes a silent disease, the risk factors are often obvious. Diabetes is prevalent among individuals who are overweight, aging, and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Other health conditions, such as gestational diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension often lead to diabetes. It is also more common in certain racial and ethnic groups, including Hispanics, African Americans, and certain Native Americans. Additionally, 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have pre-diabetes, which if left untreated, will develop into diabetes. Currently, Medicare does not cover diabetes screening, even if a patient has some of these risk factors. We must amend the Medicare program to ensure that individuals get treatment before it's too late. By testing high-risk individuals, we will be able to diagnose and treat individuals earlier on, and subsequently prevent many complications. Studies have shown that people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by up to 58% through lifestyle interventions, including modest weight loss and increased physical activity. That is why I am introducing this legislation, which would require Medicare to cover diabetes screening under Part B. Diagnosing diabetes and pre-diabetes through testing, would improve the lives of our nation's seniors and prevent an increase over the already huge amount of the Medicare budget devoted to seniors with diabetes. In addition to improving the health and quality of life for millions of Americans, extending coverage to cover simple testing would save Medicare money in the long run by lowering the incidence of complications. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the long career of one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game, Hakeem Olajuwon. After 18 years in the National Basketball Association, he is scheduled to retire on November 2, 2002, before the game between the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets. Though Olajuwon, known as ``The Dream,'' did not take up the sport until he was in his teens, he became an All-Star center and was recognized as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players. With his athleticism, best displayed by his signature ``Dream Shake'' move near the basket, he helped redefine how big men played the game. In 1984, the Houston Rockets won a coin toss that gave them the right to the first pick in that draft. The year before, Houston had drafted the All-American center from Virginia, Ralph Sampson, and it was rumored that they might look for a guard, perhaps the young talent from North Carolina, an exciting player named Michael Jordan. The Rockets, though, went with the ``hometown'' talent, another 7- footer, a charter member of the Phi Slamma Jamma fraternity at the University of Houston, a player then known as Akeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon had an immediate impact on the Houston franchise, teaming with Sampson to form the ``Twin Towers,'' a lineup that terrorized the NBA and created mismatches due to the height and agility of both big men. Runner-up in the Rookie of the Year voting that season, Olajuwon helped lead Houston to their second NBA Finals in 1986, after upsetting the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. There, as. in their first trip in 1981, they lost to the Boston Celtics. The road back to the NBA Finals was a long one for the Dream and the Rockets, but they returned in the 1993-94 season. That year, Olajuwon had perhaps his greatest season, and was named League MVP and NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Houston and Olajuwon showed their true mettle in that year's playoffs, as the Dream carried the Rockets to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the New York Knicks in seven games for the NBA Title. This victory had special meaning for the Olajuwon--first, for being named Finals MVP, and second, for finally beating Patrick Ewing, whose Georgetown team had denied the University of Houston a chance at the NCAA title back in the early '80s. The next year, with a target on their backs as the defending NBA champs, the Rockets faltered. In an attempt to shake up the team, Houston traded for Olajuwon's old college teammate, Clyde ``the Glide'' Drexler. While the team struggled to a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference, Olajuwon led Houston on a playoff run like none ever before in the NBA. In the second round, Houston became the first team ever to rally from a three to one deficit, and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. There, in what was known as the ``Battle of Interstate 10,'' the Rockets eliminated NBA MVP David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs. Olajuwon dominated the series, scoring at will against the Spurs, and led Houston to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year. There, he faced the future of the league, in a 7'3'', 320-lb. terror known as Shaquille O'Neal. The Rockets, though, dispatched O'Neal and the Orlando Magic in four games, becoming only the fourth team in NBA history to win back-to-back NBA titles. During this playoff run, Houston set new standards for excellence in the NBA. They won nine straight road playoff games and defeated four 50-win teams, both first ever achievements. Further, Houston became the lowest seeded team ever to win the NBA title. As for Olajuwon, he received his second consecutive NBA Playoff MVP, and averaged 33.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.85 blocks in the playoffs. For his career, Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.09 blocked shots per game, He also has a career free throw percentage of .712, field goal percentage of .512, and averaged 1.75 steals and 2.5 assists per game. He is one of eight players to reach the 25,000 point plateau, and is the only player to have both 2,000 steals and 2,000 blocked shots in a career. He is the NBA's all time leader in blocked shots, and was named to the First, Second, or Third All-NBA team 11 times. Hakeem Olajuwon was named Defensive Player of the Year twice, was on 11 First or Second All-Defensive teams, was a 12-time All-Star, and recorded just the third quadruple-double in NBA history in 1990. The Dream is a shoe-in for the NBA Hall of Fame, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to watch him play, first for my university, and later, for my hometown. Welcome home, Hakeem.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and profound sadness that I rise to honor the life of Robert Anthony Faust. After living a remarkably accomplished life, Mr. Faust, president of Faust Distributing Company, lost a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on Friday, October 4, 2002. He was an active and integral part of our community, and he will be missed. Mr. Faust first joined Faust Distributing in the late 1950s when he worked during the summers while attending La Marque High School. In 1980, he began working for the company full time as a warehouse worker. He was later promoted to a driver/salesman position and then as market manager. He had a vast knowledge of the operations of Faust Distributing and his versatile and multifaceted experience led him to become vice president and director of sales. In 1992, he became president of the company. Robert Faust was committed to the company and to the industry. He was an active member of the National Beer Wholesaler Association, the Greater Houston Partnership, the Forum Club of Houston and the Lions Club. It has been said that the ultimate measure of a person's life is the extent to which they made the world a better place. If this is the measure of worth in life, Robert Faust's friends and family can attest to the success of the life he led. Robert Anthony Faust is survived by his wife, Debbie Faust, two daughters, Marney Jones and Lori Longbotham, his mother, Beth Faust, a sister, Polly Horany, two brothers, Dr. Harry Faust and Dan Faust, and four grandchildren. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the life of Robert Faust. He touched many lives, and he will be greatly missed.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from California (Mr. Lantos) for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, this vote is the most important vote that many of us will cast in our congressional service. This vote is not one to be taken lightly or in haste. We have asked our young people who serve in our Armed Forces to put their lives in harm's way for our Nation. This vote and debate must be in the most serious of nature. It is our job as Members of Congress to protect our people, to make sure Americans can raise their families and go to work without the fear of attack. Our defenses did not work on September 11, 2001; and we saw the devastation that killed 3,000 people. Our job is to protect our fellow Americans; and that is why, after a great deal of listening, discussing and learning, I will support the resolution. Our Nation does not go to war easily. We are inherently a peaceful Nation. We want to be left alone, to live our lives, to raise our families and enjoy the freedoms of our country. We had to be attacked to enter World War I and World War II. But when they attack or threaten our Nation, we respond. As with other Members of Congress, during August I was at home in Houston meeting with my constituents, doing town hall meetings and listening to the people I am honored to represent. My Houston constituents were as surprised as I was at the aggressiveness of our administration in relationship to Iraq. It sounded like we were beating a war drum. The impression it left on many people was the administration will wage war no matter without regard to Congress or international support. Many people wondered what this threat that suddenly in August Iraq became the prominent issue discussed by President Bush. My folks were and are more concerned about our deteriorating economy, increasing unemployment, drop in the stock market, the increasing national deficit. This deficit was and is increasing without addressing additional unemployment assistance, without addressing the loss of health care, without addressing increased spending for education, without addressing the plunging stock market or without addressing a jobs program that reverses our economic decline. My folks are still concerned about their everyday lives, and that is true with this as previous generations. We need to protect our people but not lose sight of our economic problems. I will work with the President to protect our people, but let us not forget we must revive our economy. Tax cuts, permanents or temporary, are not working. We need an economic revival plan, not more foreign entanglements. Saddam Hussein has been a problem for last month, the last 6 months, and the last decade, for that matter. I am pleased that the administration and Congress has come together in a bipartisan fashion to draft a balanced resolution. I think this bipartisanship is evident in several changes contained within the resolution, issues like compliance with the War Powers Act, language more clearly defining the length and scope of any conflict with Iraq, affirmation to Congress that all diplomatic avenues have been exhausted prior to using military force. I am pleased because these changes strengthen the lines of communication between the President and Congress on this most important issue. Unity is critical if our Nation is going to move against any enemy. The United States is prepared to fight for the safety of our Nation, regardless of whether our allies choose to stand with us. It is our job to protect our people, not the U.N.'s. The time for diplomacy is short, and the only acceptable solution we should hear coming from Bagdad is that U.N. inspectors will have complete and unannounced access to anything they want to see. That includes the presidential palaces that constitute hundreds of buildings that are guarded like Ft. Knox. America will not tolerate a weapons shell game played by the Iraqi military designed to foil international weapons inspectors. Saddam needs to play by the rules or suffer the consequences. And let there be no doubt that the penalty for noncompliance will be severe.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 3580, the Medical Device Amendendments. This bill represents the kind of good public policy that can be developed when the parties work together in a bipartisan fashion. H.R. 3580 makes a number of important changes to the processes at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that life-saving medical devices are sped to the market, while at the same time ensuring that patient safety is protected. By instituting a system of user fees, this legislation will direct an additional $25 to $30 million to the FDA so that they can streamline their device approval process. The legislation also makes sure that Congress upholds its end of the bargain by requiring an additional $15 million to be added to FDA's baseline through the appropriations process. As a result, FDA will have $40-50 million more over the next five years. Additionally, by providing the FDA some flexibility in allowing third parties to perform biennial FDA quality systems regulations inspections, the agency will be able to clear the backlog, in inspections, and ensure that the facilities where these devices are made meet the same FDA standard that has been the benchmark. This legislation contains important provisions which help clarify whether a product designed for single-use has been reprocessed, and improves labeling so that individuals and health care providers know when a product has been reprocessed. However, I am most pleased that this legislation contains provisions that would improve our understanding of the long term health implications of breast implants. Current data regarding the health implications of breast implants fails to answer many questions, especially about the longterm health effects of breast implants, their effect on the auto-immune system, on neurological function, and on the children of women who have them. There is also a gaping void in our understanding of how implants affect breast cancer survivors. We have also heard from many women that they were not adequately informed of the risks associated with implants before their surgeries. We have worked very closely with the committee to get some of these concerns addressed, and I am pleased that they agreed to include our proposal to have the NIH do a study on the long-term health consequences of breast implants, This study would require NIH to delve into areas that have not been previously studied, so that we can have a full understanding of how breast implants affect women. We were also able to agree on a GAO report, which will study the FDA's current informed consent procedures, to evaluate whether women are receiving the information they need to make an informed decision, whether that information is up-to-date, comprehensive, fair and balanced, and understandable. This GAO study will give us the hard data we need to determine whether changes to the FDA's process are necessary and appropriate. I would like to thank Congressman Roy Blunt for his hard work on this issue. Roy and I have been working together on this issue for several years because we both have constituents who have experienced problems with breast implants. We have both heard first hand of the deficiencies in our current knowledge base on the effects of implants, as well as concerns about the ability of women to receive comprehensive, fair and balanced information about the risks of implants. I would like to thank Chairman Tauzin and his staff for working so closely with us on this issue. A lot of effort went into this entire bill--including these provisions--and it would not have occurred without his leadership. I would also like to thank Dr. Ganske. I know that, as a plastic surgeon, he had some concerns about what we were trying to do, but I think we were able to work out a reasonable compromise on these issues, and that the women he treats will be better served as a result. I think that is something we can all be proud of. Once again, Mr. Speaker, I voice my support for this legislation and urge its passage.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote No. 423. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. 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. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 291. This legislation will bring recognition and hope to those who suffer endometriosis. Endometriosis is a serious affliction that affects between 10 percent and 20 percent of American women of childbearing age, more than 26 million women. Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of a woman's uterus grows outside the uterus and into the abdominal cavity. This growth leads to internal bleeding, inflammation and scar tissue. This disease, which is such a mystery to the medical community, has no known cause or cure. It can strike women of any age, race, income level, and it can hamper a woman's ability to work and start a family. For 30 to 40 percent of those afflicted, this disease causes infertility. House Concurrent Resolution 291 will help raise the awareness of this devastating disorder not just to the public, but to the medical community as well. It is my hope that this resolution will lead to better support for patients who suffer from this disease, a better understanding by physicians of the needs of those who have endometriosis, and more research for treatments, and ultimately a cure for all women with this disease. I would like to thank my colleague and good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), for introducing this resolution and bringing it to our attention. I urge passage. The sooner we educate ourselves about this disease, the sooner a cure will be found. I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. 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. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.