Mark Green

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, May 2, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes #111, #112 and #113. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes #111, #112 and #113.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, April 25, 2006. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall vote Nos. 100 and 101. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Nos. 100 and 101.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, we have an important opportunity before us today to protect the rights of all students who attend higher education institutions. H.R. 609, the ``College Access and Opportunity Act,'' includes ``Academic Bill of Rights'' language that would ensure the rights of all students to express their ideological, religious, and political beliefs without fear of retribution. I am pleased that this language has been included in the House's efforts to improve the accessibility of higher education. No student attending college in America should have to worry that they are being graded on anything other than their knowledge of a subject. This portion of H.R. 609 would simply express the sense of Congress that higher learning institutions are places for diverse approaches and viewpoints, that campus funds should be used for the selection of a variety of speakers and presentations, and that every student should feel confident in their ability to speak freely in the classroom without fear of reprisal from their teachers, classmates, or administrators. Unfortunately, I have seen first-hand how students' individual liberties can be compromised by their school's officials. Earlier this year, the administration of my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, enforced a ban on resident assistants having private, non- mandatory Bible studies in their own room. This was a blatant disregard of student's religious freedom, and thankfully, the university reversed their position on the matter after extensive debate and pressure from myself and members of the community. Simply put, this is not a conservative or liberal issue--it's just a common sense way for Congress to urge schools to take academic freedom seriously. I'm also pleased that this language would not impose any controls or limits on institutions, but would help to ensure students are afforded some protection in expressing a variety of viewpoints. Once again, I applaud efforts by the House Education and Workforce community, along with members of the higher education community, to include Academic Bill of Rights language in H.R. 609. It can only serve to strengthen the academic standards of free speech and diversity that universities already work so hard to develop, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting academic freedom for all of our nation's higher education students.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall vote No. 57 on H.R. 4939, my vote was mistakenly recorded as ``nay'' when I should have said ``aye.'' I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the Record immediately following rollcall vote No. 57.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his great leadership on child safety issues. There is one provision I wish to speak about in this bill that the people of Wisconsin are tragically familiar with: the Amy Zyla Act. It was inspired by the story of Amy Zyla, a young woman from Waukesha, Wisconsin. Amy is a young lady who has bravely crusaded to protect other potential victims. She herself was sexually assaulted by a young offender when she was just 8 years old. Her attacker was found guilty and was sentenced to a juvenile facility for this heinous act. Yet because he was a juvenile, his record was sealed. When he turned 18, he was released into the community, only to reoffend shortly after he got out. Law enforcement was not allowed to notify the community that a convicted, high-risk sex offender was back on the streets, because he had been a juvenile. As a result, he went on to portray himself as a youth minister and preyed upon others. He was given the trust of other parents because they simply didn't know that he was a convicted sex offender. These subsequent crimes were absolutely preventable. Under the Amy Zyla provision of this bill, if a sex crime committed by a juvenile offender is serious enough that it would qualify reporting under the sex offender registry had he been an adult, law enforcement has the authority to notify the community when that sex offender is released. Madam Speaker, communities, victims, and parents must be able to rely upon the sex offender registries. This provision, and certainly this bill, will help us get there.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House Miller Electric Credit Union, which was recently awarded the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award for its extraordinary service to its members and the community of Appleton, Wisconsin. Helping young people learn the value of money is one of the most significant social and economic challenges we face as a nation. Despite the principles of thrift and prudence embraced by our parents and grandparents, today the importance of saving is being overshadowed by the ease at which folks can spend. And, as a result millions of Americans have charged and financed their way into a life of debt and financial turmoil. Fortunately, there are folks out there working to break the spending cycle. Miller Electric Credit Union spends hours upon hours teaching individuals lessons on financial education. They've created innovative programs to help their members, young and old, learn how to budget and save for important purchases down the road. One program in particular-- the Undersea Saver's Club--gives prizes to kids who make a habit out of depositing, rather than withdrawing, money in their savings account. Mr. Speaker, Miller Electric Credit Union has been a valued member of the Appleton community for nearly 60 years, and its 2,800 member-owners are a testament to its success. I congratulate them on receiving this outstanding honor, and wish them continued success in the years to come.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to recognize before this House the courageous men and women of the 890th Transportation Company, who just days ago returned from their deployment overseas. For nearly one year, the Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin-based 890th served under perilous conditions in Iraq, delivering vital supplies to their comrades throughout the country. The vast majority of their missions took place in the Sunni Triangle--home to some of the most intense violence in Iraq. However, despite the threat of roadside bombs and surprise attacks, the brave men and women of this unit faithfully and successfully executed their duties. And, although they encountered enemy engagement on nearly 40 percent of their missions, the unit suffered zero casualties. Mr. Speaker, there's no question the 890th Transportation Company helped nourish the seeds of freedom and democracy in Iraq, and their service and sacrifice are to be commended. It is my honor to recognize their brave efforts today, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, I say thank you. They are our genuine heroes.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (HCCW), and its President and CEO Maria Monreal-Cameron. For over 30 years, HCCW has been helping hard-working Hispanics throughout Wisconsin, share in a fundamental slice of the American dream--running a business. A nonprofit organization founded in 1972, HCCW serves as an incubator for Latino-run businesses across the state--focusing primarily, however, on the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The organization helps create greater opportunities for Hispanic entrepreneurs by offering some of the educational and technical resources necessary to start a business, while promoting greater involvement in the Hispanic community. At the helm of this fantastic organization has been Maria Monreal- Cameron. For the past 16 years, Maria has served as President and CEO of HCCW, helping the Hispanic Chamber's membership swell to over 600 members. On top of that, under her leadership the organization has provided nearly $350,000 in scholarships to college-bound high school students in Wisconsin. Maria has left an indelible mark on HCCW, and Wisconsin's Latino community. Mr. Speaker, few have done more for Wisconsin's Hispanic citizens than the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin and Maria Monreal- Cameron, and that is why I consider it such a wonderful privilege to honor them today. I commend them for their work, and wish them continued success in 2006.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to commemorate the life of Dr. Vang Pobzeb, an extraordinary man who recently passed away on August 23, 2005 after a life of passionate service to human rights and Hmong people across the globe. Dr. Pobzeb began his activism in the mid 1970s and was among the first to achieve national recognition in the Hmong American Community. In 1987 he founded the Lao Human Rights Council--an organization devoted to improving the living conditions of Hmong people both in Laos and the U.S. Dr. Pobzeb was a tireless advocate for a people and culture that faced tremendous persecution, and he took every opportunity to remind the international community of the plight of the Hmong people in Laos. I was proud to work together with him, time and time again, in this fight. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to commemorate the life of such an incredible man. Dr. Pobzeb was truly an exemplar of compassion and dedication, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, I offer my condolences to his family, and pay tribute to his life of activism and sacrifice.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize before this House the Brown County Home Builders Association as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. As we all know, home ownership in this country has had quite a run over the last few years, with more Americans than ever before settling into their very own homes. Last year alone, 1.18 million families purchased single-family homes--a new record. This has had a direct impact on our economy at all levels, boosting revenues, attracting new business, and spurring community revitalization. The Brown County Home Builders have made the dream of homeownership a reality for thousands of families in northeastern Wisconsin. For the last 50 years they have helped create safe and affordable housing opportunities for Brown County residents, raising the quality of life in communities throughout my district. Despite its humble beginnings, this great organization has grown from a mere 18 members to over 1,100, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Brown County Home Builders Association on this wonderful occasion. Fifty years is an outstanding accomplishment, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, I say congratulations.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I was absent from Washington on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes No. 609, No. 610 and No. 611. Had I been present, I would have voted aye on rollcall No. 609, No. 610 and No. 611.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his leadership in bringing this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, in all of America's rich history there are perhaps a few dozen images that seem to summarize and symbolize the American experience, our struggles, our challenges and, yes, our triumphs. One of those unforgettable photographs is of six U.S. servicemen raising the stars and stripes over Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima. As you know, that scene has been immortalized by Hollywood and in countless publications. It makes up the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. One of the brave men in that breathtaking photograph is Pharmacist's Mate Second Class John H. Bradley. The purpose of this legislation is, as the chairman indicated, to rename the wonderful veterans outpatient clinic in Appleton, Wisconsin, for that man, John Bradley. As I hope my remarks will make clear, there are many reasons why this title is appropriate, reasons that go well beyond a famous photograph. John Bradley was born on July 10, 1923, in Antigo, Wisconsin, to parents James and Kathryn. He was the second of five children and spent his boyhood years growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin, in my congressional district. In March of 1943, John enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee, but strong protest from his father led him to receive training as a Navy Corpsman instead. He was known as Doc Bradley and was assigned to a United States Marine Corps infantry battalion formed at Camp Pendleton. He was then shipped off to the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific Theater of World War II. One of the most deadly, and most important, parts of that campaign came at Iwo Jima, where, over some 36 days, 70,000 American troops fought. That battle claimed over 25,000 U.S. casualties, including nearly 7,000 killed. The famous flag-raising moment may be how many people will remember Doc Bradley, but, of course, there is so much more to the story of Doc and his comrades. After he raised the flag on Mount Suribachi, Doc Bradley rushed to the aid of a wounded Marine under heavy Japanese fire, and he did win the Navy Cross for this selfless and heroic act. Later, he received several shrapnel wounds to his leg and was evacuated to a hospital in Hawaii. Upon completion of his service in World War II, John moved back to Wisconsin and settled in Antigo, where he and his wife Betty raised eight children. In the years after the war and until his death in 1994, he maintained a lifelong commitment to veterans and to veterans health care. Interestingly enough, Doc Bradley's family never knew he received the Navy Cross for service until after he died. Of the six men in that famous photo, three were killed in the battle itself. The survivors were proclaimed almost overnight heroes and symbols, something they were all uncomfortable with. Doc Bradley told his children, ``the real heroes of Iwo Jima were the guys who didn't come back.'' He never displayed a copy of the famous flag-raising photo in his home. Mr. Speaker, Doc Bradley would be a little embarrassed by having a clinic named after him. After all, he did not want glare and he did not want acclaim. However, his wife Betty has said that this is a fitting tribute to Jack because the clinic is involved in health care for veterans and because it is located in the community where he was raised. Through his courage, his humility and his commitment to his comrades during and after the war, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not, John ``Doc'' Bradley does symbolize the American serviceman and the American experience. I cannot think of a better name for the Appleton clinic than the John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. Dedicated professionals work hard there, and they do great things for our veterans who deserve so much. I am proud to honor one of Wisconsin's greatest veterans with this legislation, and I strongly encourage the support of my colleagues and again thank the chairman for bringing this legislation forward.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today, I voted against the conference report on H.R. 2744, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006, primarily because it did not include an extension of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. I have fought very hard for the MILC extension and was disappointed that it could not be included. In addition, the conference report is $199 million over its budget allocation. While I was given assurances that future funding will be cut to offset this discrepancy, this appropriations bill should not have been brought to the floor over its allocation. I will be watching very closely to ensure this funding is offset in future bills. That said, I support many of the provisions in this conference report. In particular, I was pleased to help secure $2.25 million for the Wisconsin and Minnesota Health Care Cooperative Purchasing Alliance Demonstrations Projects. This funding will provide health care coverage to small businesses and family farms in rural areas across the State. The bill also contains $1.75 million I requested for the State of Wisconsin to combat Chronic Wasting Disease. Despite the many positive aspects of this legislation, on balance--because of the negative factors I mentioned--I believe it was not worthy of my support.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, first and foremost, the implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommendations will provide badly needed cost savings to our Nation. With the current state of our Federal budget, the enormous estimated spending reductions of over $35 billion achieved through this new BRAC round are necessary to help put our fiscal house in order. These recommendations will also better enable our military services to confront the new threats our Nation faces today--increasing efficiency and effectiveness, and improving our national security. That said, I still firmly disagree with some of the specific BRAC recommendations, such as the closure of the 440th Airlift Wing at General Mitchell Field in Milwaukee. The closure of the 440th is the wrong decision,. and I have done everything in my power to try and convince the BRAC Commission that keeping the 440th up and running is an important priority. The 1,100 brave men and women of this unit have proven themselves often in recent missions to Honduras, Haiti, Somalia, Rwanda, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and several trips to Iraq. I believe their continued operations would have enhanced the security of our country. Today, however, we were faced with an up-or-down vote on the BRAC Commission recommendations as a whole. On balance, I found the recommendations to be worthy of approval, and voted--with some reservations--against the motion to disapprove the final BRAC report.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I supported Chairman Oxley's Manager's Amendment to H.R. 1461, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005, because it maintains progress on several key issues Congress has been working on this session. I was pleased to see that the manager's amendment gave the victims of Hurricane Katrina priority in receiving grants from the Affordable Housing Fund for the first two years after its inception. I continue to urge my colleagues to look for ways to ease the burden of recovery that currently rests on the taxpayers. I also support the sunset provision of this amendment so that a future Congress can revisit this issue and again evaluate the needs of affordable housing recipients. Finally, I would like to express my full support for the ability of non-profit organizations to compete for the funds created by H.R. 1461. I agree that there must be full oversight of the groups receiving grants from the Affordable Trust Fund, and that no dollars from the fund may be used for lobbying, travel, or election activities. However, I do have concerns that some of the language included in the manager's amendment was overly broad. Some have argued that the amendment may prohibit groups like Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services in America, and Habitat for Humanity from receiving Affordable Trust Fund grants. I would strongly urge House conferees to revisit and narrow the language included in this amendment so that these organizations, along with other well-meaning non-profit groups, can access the funds and grow their affordable housing programs.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 520.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill. It has many great programs. But there is one I would like to focus on today, one that I authored and worked on extensively as a separate bill, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. I am proud to say it is part of the bill before us, and I want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin and the gentleman from Michigan for their support to make this happen. I am pleased, and I think it is an important day for all of us. As the Members know, VAWA was originally passed 10 years ago; and since that time, it has helped us make remarkable gains in fighting domestic and sexual violence. During that decade, VAWA, quite simply, has saved lives. It has helped millions of women and children find safety, security, and self-sufficiency. Because of the Violence Against Women Act, victims have found help to escape violence and get treatment. Law enforcement and the judicial system have learned how to better help these victims through what can be a very daunting and difficult legal process, and more people recognize the signs of abuse because of our public awareness campaigns. Every step we take in fighting domestic violence helps not only save the immediate victim but it can help break the cycle of abuse that lasts, sadly, all too often generation after generation after generation. In this bill we are building on the successes of the Violence Against Women Act not only by reauthorizing effective programs but also by including innovative, cost-effective new programs that will continue the great work of those who have come before me and others, work that will help the criminal justice and legal systems better help and protect victims. This law was first created 10 years ago. When it was reauthorized 5 years ago, it was improved; and I am hoping that we are doing the same thing here today. We are doing this improvement through training grants; providing direct services for victims; providing services to children, teens, and young adults who have experienced violence in their lives, and educating young people about domestic violence and sexual assault. By strengthening the health care system's response to violence against women and investing in broad remedies and services for victims, we will continue to make progress in preventing these crimes and ensuring that future generations are safe from domestic and sexual violence. We have made great strides, but I think everyone here would be quick to admit that we have a long way to go. Any law enforcement agency will tell us that a huge portion of the violent crime they encounter is, sadly, domestic violence. If we give law enforcement better tools and training, if we go further to raise public awareness through campaigns, then we can break the cycle of violence and abuse that does seem to slide too easily from generation to generation. I recently had the opportunity to visit the courts in Milwaukee and saw some of the groundbreaking work that they are doing. What we need to do as Members of Congress is stand shoulder to shoulder with our domestic violence leaders and organizations all around this country, make sure that they have the tools and the resources they need to be effective, that they need to be compassionate. I think this legislation does just that. Again, I want to thank Members of both sides of the aisle who have worked so hard to make this legislation come forward today. It is a good day, and I am proud to be involved.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize before this House the Times-Villager newspaper in celebration of its 125 years in publication. The first edition of the Kaukauna Times-Villager was published on September 16, 1880 by C.H. Hopkins and L.A. Gates. Despite its humble beginnings, the paper's circulation has grown to include the Villages of Kimberly and Little Chute, helping record their unique history and culture. From the Great Depression to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Times-Villager has reported some of the most monumental events in our nation's history. But through it all the newspaper has remained true to its Heart-of-the-Valley roots. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the Kaukauna Times-Villager for its years of dedicated service to northeastern Wisconsin. And, on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, I say congratulations on this incredible accomplishment.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. We just heard some explosive rhetoric. Let me boil this down. This amendment really stands for two simple basic principles: Number one, that those who are in need should have the right to receive vital services from the most effective source in the most effective way possible. That should be their right as Americans. Now, in the vast majority of cases that is going to be a public entity, but in some cases and in some places it might just be a faith-based organization. It might be a faith-based organization, it might be a religious organization, that is the most effective choice for those in need, that family in need, those children in need. Should they not have the right to those services in the most effective way? Secondly, the second basic principle is if it is a faith-based organization that is providing those services and participating in the program, they should not have to surrender their religious character merely because they choose to try to help out. That is what this is really all about. These organizations that are trying to reach out, that are taking a chance to help provide these services because they see people in need, the government should not say to them if they are going to help out, I am sorry, they have to surrender much of their religious character. I think that is wrong. Let me be very clear. If we fail to adopt this amendment and fail to protect the rights of these faith-based organizations to retain their religious character in such things as hiring, it is not these groups that will suffer. They are not making money. They are not profiting by serving as Head Start providers. It will be our neediest children; it will be our families who participate in Head Start. Those will be the ones who suffer. Let us adopt this amendment and stand for the principle that kids need help and they should be able to get it in the most effective way possible.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to commemorate the life of Dr. Yang Pobzeb, an extraordinary man who recently passed away on August 23, 2005 after a life of passionate service to human rights and Hmong people across the globe. Dr. Pobzeb began his activism in the mid-1970s and was among the first to achieve national recognition in the Hmong American Community. In 1987 he founded the Lao Human Rights Council--an organization devoted to improving the living conditions of Hmong people both in Laos and the U.S. Dr. Pobzeb was a tireless advocate for a people and culture that faced tremendous persecution, and he took every opportunity to remind the international community of the plight of the Hmong people in Laos. I was proud to work together with him, time and time again, in this fight. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to commemorate the life of such an incredible man. Dr. Pobzeb was truly an exemplar of compassion and dedication, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, I offer my condolences to his family, and pay tribute to his life of activism and sacrifice.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize Green Bay East and West High Schools as they prepare to celebrate their 100-year-old football rivalry this weekend. The seed for this historic gridiron contest was planted a century ago, on November 30, 1905. Football fans from across the region came out in droves to support their teams, and their enthusiasm quickly spilled out into the surrounding communities. Now, one hundred years later, it is one of the most intense and emotional high school sporting events in the state of Wisconsin and the nation. For many years the football game between East and West High School was the largest public event in the city, with only Green Bay Packer games drawing a larger crowd. The celebration in Green Bay this weekend is one of community and pride, where friends and family can come together to reflect on the traditions of school spirit, kinship and community. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to recognize this historic football game and pay tribute to the one hundred years of tradition surrounding it. On behalf of the residents of Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, I say congratulations and best of luck to both teams this weekend!

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. More importantly, I thank the gentleman for his great leadership on the subject of child safety. Mr. Chairman, when I came to this House I hoped that I would have the chance to make a difference in the area of crimes against kids, and thanks to the leadership of the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) I have had this opportunity. In fact, we have all had this opportunity. We have made great strides in recent years: the Amber Alert System; two strikes and you are out for child molesters; the Debbie Smith Act which we passed last session which will make sure that our DNA databases are up to date and more usable and we will have better training and education for those health care professionals and law enforcement professionals who work in this field. But, sadly, we have been reminded in recent months that despite all the work that we have done we have a long way to go. Dru Sjodin, Jessica Lunsford, Sara Hunde and, sadly, other names have reminded us painfully, tragically that there is a lot of work to do. The Children's Safety Act is, in my view, a great stride towards doing what we can and what we must to protect our kids from those who would prey upon them. First off, it has tough penalties. It does have tough penalties. It does have mandatory minimums, because I believe and so many people believe that we have to send a clear, unmistakable signal that those who prey upon our kids will not be tolerated. Secondly, we increased the size of the DNA database, which means that we give to law enforcement professionals the tools they need to track down these monitors and to put them away, to put them behind bars. And, third, and I believe most importantly, we expand the use of the sex offender registry and increased notification requirements. We take that registry system nationwide, we make it accessible online, and we close up some of the loopholes that, sadly, have led to some of the crimes that we have all heard about. I would like to speak briefly about one of those loopholes that people in my home State of Wisconsin have learned about tragically. The situation, the case, the story of Amie Zyla which has led to the Amie Zyla provisions in this bill. The case of Miss Zyla, she was a young girl in the county of Waukesha, Wisconsin, when she was assaulted brutally by a young offender. He was found guilty. He was sentenced to a juvenile facility. But when he turned 18 he was released; and when he was released, because he had committed that act as a juvenile, the record was sealed. Law enforcement was not allowed to notify the community that they were having released back into the midst of this community a sex offender, a dangerous sex offender. The assailant went on to hold himself out as a youth minister; and, as you can guess, he preyed upon a number of children, destroyed lives, damaging families and causing so much terror. In fact, Amie Zyla was not notified of the release of this man until she saw him on TV, actually saw him on the news, and there was his face and she realized for the first time that the man who had done so much damage to her was back out on the street right where she was. Under this bill, we say that if the crime committed by the juvenile offender was so serious that it would have qualified for reporting under the sex offender registry if he were an adult, then that means that law enforcement has the ability, not the obligation but the ability, to notify the community when that sex offender is released back into the community. That is about giving tools to our parents, to our families, to our community leaders, to those organizations that are so important to us, giving them the tools to prevent these acts from occurring again; and nothing is more important. Now, Mr. Chairman, a lot of numbers have already been tossed around and will be tossed around in the coming debate. You have heard one out of five girls has been sexually exploited before reaching adulthood. We have heard that 67 percent of all victims of sexual assault are juveniles. But I want to suggest to you that this is not about the numbers and that people will toss around the numbers, but we cannot tell if those numbers are accurate because we know that these crimes are the most underreported crimes in society. My guess is and most experts will tell you that the damage that is done, the number of crimes is far in excess of any of the studies that are out there. More importantly, numbers do not tell the true story. Each child who is attacked and assaulted by one of these offenders represents a life damaged, an innocence stolen, and, all too often, sadly, tragically, a family destroyed. Mr. Chairman, we need to pass this legislation. We need to give tools to community leaders and to parents to make sure those acts never occur again. There is so much we have accomplished in the last few years. There is so much left to do. We do that with the Child Safety Act.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize before this House Pastor Leonard P. Buelow in observance of his 50th year in active ministry. Pastor Buelow's service and commitment to his congregations over the last 50 years has been both admirable and inspirational. He continues to serve his parishioners with the same dedication and enthusiasm as he did when he was first ordained. Pastor Buelow began his career in the Christian ministry by attending and graduating from Concordia Seminary in Springfield, IL, in 1954. He was ordained on September 11, 1955, and went on to serve the congregation of St. James Lutheran Church of Shawano, WI, until 1965. Then, from 1965 to 1992, Pastor Buelow led the congregation of the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Green Bay, WI. Following his service at Redeemer Lutheran, he went on to found Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church in Green Bay, WI, where he continues to serve as their full-time minister. During his tenure with these congregations, Pastor Buelow has earned the reputation of being a true leader of the church and a tireless servant of God. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to recognize Pastor Leonard P. Buelow for his years of dedicated service to the church and his congregation. His guidance and compassion will continue to be cherished for many years to come.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it all boils down to this: we cannot get a handle on health care costs unless we first get a handle on the least productive part of heath care costs. Excessive liability costs are unproductive. They do not increase the quality of care. They do not increase accessibility to care, and they certainly do not increase affordability of care. Here is what excessive liability costs do. They drive up insurance costs for doctors. They drive physicians out of high-risk specialties and fields, and they drive them out of high-cost areas. In some cases, they drive them out of practice altogether; and in those cases we all lose. The great thing about the bill before us is we know it will work. It is not speculative. We know it works. We know that reforms which permit injured parties to recover every last dollar of economic damages, but place a modest cap on noneconomic damages, loss of society, loss of companionship, we know these reforms can help solve the medical liability crisis. It worked in California. It once worked in Wisconsin. And it can work all across America if we pass the HEALTH Act. If we defeat this motion to recommit, we can solve the medical liability crisis. This is what we must do.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, like so many States, Wisconsin was facing a medical liability crisis, not just because medical liability premiums were soaring, not just because insurance carriers were discontinuing the sale of medical liability insurance, but because too many physicians felt forced to leave their practice, leave their specialty, or leave the State for a more affordable State. But 10 years ago in Wisconsin, we figured out a reasonable answer. I led the fight to create a new medical liability system where injured parties receive every single dollar of economic damages to which they are entitled. But where there is a modest cap on noneconomic damages, things like pain and suffering, loss of society, loss of companionship, you know what? It worked. We hear a lot about studies here. We know as a fact in Wisconsin it worked. In a short period of time, Wisconsin became one of only six States not to have a medical liability crisis. As a result, as the State medical society reported, physicians, especially those in high- risk specialties, actually moved into our State from States like Ohio and Pennsylvania and Florida and Illinois. It worked. But, sadly, Mr. Speaker, my State recently lost its way. Even though by any reasonable measure our reforms work, the Wisconsin courts struck them down. We can only hope that Wisconsin enacts a new medical liability reform act. But until then, we should pass the HEALTH Act. It will not only help Wisconsin doctors and patients but those in every State facing a medical liability crisis. This bill is State-friendly. It does not preempt State reforms. If a State like Wisconsin has a cap on noneconomic damages, whether that cap is higher or lower, that cap will take effect. More important, it is doctor-friendly. It is patient-friendly. It will help us get a handle on at least a small portion of our health care costs. It will encourage doctors to continue to practice in vital specialties, and it will attack defensive medicine. I urge support for the HEALTH Act.