Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my colleague on the Rules Committee, my good friend Mr. Arcuri. Mr. Speaker, as vice chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I know that the intelligence community is the first line of defense against terrorists, proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, and other rogue elements who wish to do us harm here at home and across the globe. This legislation, for the first time since 2004, is an opportunity for the Congress to guide the 16 agencies of the intelligence community while making significant strides in improving oversight of the intelligence community. I have had the honor and privilege of meeting many of our intelligence professionals during my oversight travel as a member of the Intelligence Committee. I cannot overstate how much I appreciate and am humbled by their service. The past year has been a busy one for the intelligence community. There have been some very low points, including the loss of seven brave Americans in an attack on the CIA in Afghanistan and the attack on Northwest Airlines flight 253. At the same time, there have been some high points, like the roll-up of the Russian illegal intelligence operation and the significant intelligence gained by the FBI and DOJ in several counterterrorism cases. But the danger is as high as it ever was. Our enemies are motivated to strike us, as they always have been. The constant threat from violent extremists reinforces that now more than ever. We must give the intelligence community the resources and flexibility it needs to thwart the continuing and emerging threats to U.S. national security. Since 2004, this country has gone without an intelligence authorization bill. Each year the House Intelligence Committee has passed a bill, but we have not seen one signed into law in recent years. The intelligence community needs strong and independent oversight. This bill would make great strides in that direction. First, it would create a statutory Inspector General for the entire intelligence community. This bill also contains a new provision that I believe the chairman talked about in reforming the ``Gang of Eight'' process. I believe that the administration has a statutory and constitutional duty to keep members of the entire intelligence community fully informed, and this bill, for the first time, requires all members of the intelligence community to get information about all covert actions. The bill also traces the challenges of GAO access to the intelligence community, a priority subject for many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. It directs the DNI, in conjunction with the Comptroller General, to issue a written directive governing GAO access to information in possession of the intelligence community. In my tenure, Mr. Speaker, on the committee, I have consistently pushed for greater diversity in the intelligence community. I have stated time and again that the intelligence community is not diverse enough to do its job of stealing and analyzing foreign countries' secrets.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a concurrent resolution to support the goals and ideals of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, in recognition of the people who have died on our streets, in emergency shelters, condemned or abandoned properties, and from elements directly related to homelessness. On or near the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, National Homeless Persons' Memorial events have been held nationwide every year since 1990 to remember the homeless persons whose lives and deaths might otherwise go without any public recognition. Throughout my home state of Florida, this important day is being recognized, along with over 200 other local municipalities, organizations, and statewide organizations throughout the United States. With the support of the National Coalition for the Homeless, National Consumer Advisory Board, and the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day brings attention to the tragedy of homelessness and to remember our homeless neighbors and friends who have paid the ultimate price for our nation's failure to end homelessness. The statistics are daunting: more than half a million people in the United States do not have a place to call home each night and half of them are without shelter; nationwide each year, an estimated 2,000,000 people experience homelessness; and the mortality rate among homeless populations has been shown to be almost four times that of the general population. As American citizens, it is not only our desire to help those in need; it is our duty to provide every homeless man, woman, and child with a place to sleep at night, an opportunity to sustain economic stability, and the right to access health care. On June 22, 2010, President Obama and Members of Congress were presented with ``Opening Doors: the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness'' which describes how the federal government will partner with states, local communities, non-profit organizations and the private sector. This resolution provides us with the opportunity to commend the efforts of the States, territories, and possessions of the United States who support the goals and ideals of National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day, to encourage those not already doing so, and to salute the dedicated professionals and organizations who provide assistance 365 days a year to people in need. It is time we acknowledge, as a nation, all of the people in our country living on the streets who have paid the ultimate price for our failure to end homelessness. In remembering those who died on the streets, the cause of ending homelessness is kept urgent as is the Nation's collective commitment to preventing such deaths in the future. I urge my colleagues to support this House Concurrent Resolution and reaffirm Congress' commitment to ending homelessness by promoting a comprehensive national response that addresses the housing, health care, income, and civil rights causal factors and consequences of extreme poverty. Let us make this year's first night of winter and longest night of the year, December 21, 2010, a true national day.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. William ``Bill'' Kling for his continued service to America's veterans. Mr. Kling's unwavering patriotism and continued dedication to America's heroes are to be highly commended. Bill Kling served in the Navy during the Second World War. It was during his time in the Navy that Mr. Kling developed an unceasing devotion to his fellow servicemen. For over 35 years since, Mr. Kling has served his fellow veterans living in south Florida through community service and political activism. Mr. Kling currently serves as the chair of the Broward County Veterans Council (BCVC), a coalition of 57 organizations in Broward and Palm Beach Counties that operates under a common plan to protect and implement benefits for veterans. Uniting behind its mission ``To Serve and Unite our Veterans,'' the BCVC has achieved substantial benefits for our veterans under Mr. Kling's leadership. As an advocate for better health care for veterans, Mr. Kling led the drive to build the new state-of-the-art Broward County VA Outpatient Clinic in Sunrise, FL. In addition to a successful campaign for a veterans state nursing home located in Pembroke Pines--a crucial service for veterans living in south Florida--Mr. Kling and the BCVC were also instrumental in delivering a VA hospital to Palm Beach, FL. Mr. Kling's leadership has even had a national impact. Mr. Kling and the BCVC are responsible for the implementation of the handicapped parking signs that are now ubiquitous in shopping malls and public areas across America. Bill Kling's most recent service to America's veterans has focused on national legislation and keeping the BCVC's member organizations informed so that they may act accordingly. Mr. Kling has been an outspoken critic of the military's ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy and a leading voice in the fight for its repeal. Additionally, Mr. Kling has been actively working to ensure that military families receive the same benefits as private citizens under America's recent landmark health care reform. Mr. Kling's leadership will help 700,000 young adults whose families are members of TRICARE, which covers military families, become eligible for health insurance coverage. I have always valued Mr. Kling's insights and advice, and I proudly salute his exceptional service to our nation's veterans and, indeed, to all Americans. Not only is Bill Kling an American hero, Madam Speaker, he is a living testimony to the spirit of national service and a true role model.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution supporting the goals and ideas of the Decade of Action for Road Safety. This is a critically important issue, as millions of people in every corner of the globe are affected by traffic accidents, inadequate public policies, and underdeveloped or neglected transportation infrastructure. The United States can take the lead in furthering the goals of the Decade of Action declared by the United Nations General Assembly, saving millions of lives and billions of dollars. The leading cause of death for people ages 5 to 29 is not disease or war but road crashes. Nearly 1.3 million people are killed in road crashes every year and another twenty to fifty million are injured in traffic accidents. On average, over 1,000 people under the age of 25 die every single day on the world's roads. And these numbers are going up dramatically. Madam Speaker, the world cannot afford such needless, heartbreaking losses. In addition to the catastrophic human costs--not only the lives lost but amongst their friends and families as well--road crashes cost the global community over $518 billion a year, an enormous sum when you consider that many of the countries most plagued by road crashes are underdeveloped or developing nations. The global community must build on the initial, important steps already taken to enhance international cooperation to improve road safety. In November 2009, the Moscow Declaration, signed by 150 countries, encouraged the establishment of a Decade of Action for Road Safety from 2011 to 2020, and laid the foundation for United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/255 adopted in March 2010. This U.N. resolution recognizes that the devastation caused by road crashes negatively impacts the social, economic, and health targets of the Millennium Development Goals, and reaffirms the importance of international collaboration during the Decade of Action. It is critical that the nations of the world work together to stabilize and reduce traffic fatalities by taking advantage of opportunities at the global, national, regional, and local level. The United States can set an example for the rest of the world by improving transportation management, infrastructure, vehicle safety, education, and post-crash care and rehabilitation here at home. We must continue to support public policies designed to reduce key risk factors like speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, and the failure of many Americans to use seat belts, child restraints, and other safety devices. Madam Speaker, this Decade of Action for Road Safety has not been declared to merely raise awareness, but also to take action. We all use roads, cars, buses, and bicycles every day. It is easy to take our safety for granted. But too many tragedies remind us that road fatalities and injuries have an enormous impact on our lives. This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the Decade of Action and encourages the federal government to support efforts to reduce road fatalities, preventing needless deaths and injuries both here at home and around the world. I appreciate the support of my good friends Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Dan Burton on this matter, and urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Taiwan's 99th National Day on October 10, 2010. Also known as Double Ten Day, this event marks the anniversary of the 1911 uprising that soon led to the establishment of the Republic of China. I congratulate Taiwan, our good friend in Asia, on numerous successes in recent years. An economic powerhouse, millions of Americans have come to depend on Taiwanese products like notebook computers, and Taiwan serves as a major export market for a huge range of American products, from agriculture to raw materials to technology. This past year has seen highly positive political progress between China and Taiwan, benefitting not only the entire East Asian arena but U.S. interests, as well. Taiwan's President Ma Yingjeou has established conciliatory and cooperative cross-strait relations, producing agreements in a variety of areas including transportation, tourism, agriculture, and trade and financial matters. For the first time in decades, the two great nations are pursuing productive, peaceful negotiations to ensure a better future for their citizens. I am pleased that these efforts have enabled Taiwan to play a greater role in international organizations, such as with Taiwan's participation as an official observer to the World Health Assembly. Such progress should not go unnoticed or unremarked upon. Madam Speaker, each time I have visited Taiwan I have come away with a deep appreciation for the Taiwanese people's commitment to hard work, democratic traditions, environmental protection, and productive and peaceful international relations. I offer my sincere congratulations on their 99th National Day and look forward to celebrating the 100th next year.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge James Lawrence King on the 40th anniversary of his investiture as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida. Judge King was nominated by President Richard Nixon for his appointment as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida in 1970. Judge King was approved by the Senate and sworn in later that year. In 1984, Judge King was elevated to Chief Judge of the Southern District of Florida, where he served for the duration of his seven year term ending in 1991. In 1992, Judge King achieved Senior Judge status. Throughout his career, Judge King has carried himself with great integrity, respect, and dedication in everything he has done for both his profession and community. After graduating from the University of Florida College of Law, Judge King served active duty as a First Lieutenant in the Air Force Judge Advocacy General's Department during the Korean War. In 1955, Judge King began his career in private practice, joining the Miami Beach law firm of Sibley & Davis as an associate. Judge King advocated in private practice until 1964, when he was appointed Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Judge King remained on the Eleventh Circuit until his appointment to the federal bench in 1970. During his time on the Eleventh Circuit, Judge King served temporary appointments to the Florida Supreme Court as well as the Second, Third, and Fourth District Courts of Appeal of Florida. Judge King has been recognized on numerous occasions throughout the state of Florida including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Commerce and Professions' Attorneys Division and an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from St. Thomas University. He has been the commencement speaker at both the University of Florida College of Law and St. Thomas University School of Law. On April 30, 1996, the United States Congress renamed the United States Courthouse in Miami: The James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building. The Judge is my personal friend of longstanding. I know no one that has done more to insure justice, fairness, and equality. Madam Speaker, I am privileged to recognize Judge King for his dedication to the legal profession, public service, and to the South Florida community as a whole. I take this moment of personal privilege to acknowledge his service to our nation and the many years of friendship we have enjoyed together.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6132, the Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010. This important legislation extends much-needed improvements to benefits and services for our Nation's veterans, who deserve the best we can offer. This legislation makes a number of critical corrections and updates to streamline services, expedite benefits, and ensure that veterans can take advantage of educational and vocational training opportunities to develop skills relevant to today's job market. I am extremely pleased that the underlying legislation includes my bill, H.R. 4541, the Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2010. This legislation protects veterans from losing their pension benefits because they received payments to cover expenses incurred after an accident, theft, loss or casualty loss. Under current law, if a veteran is seriously injured in an accident or is the victim of a theft and receives insurance compensation, he or she may lose their pension if the money exceeds the income limit set by the VA. This means that the law effectively punishes veterans when they suffer from such an accident or theft. Such a tragedy happened to one of my constituents, a Navy veteran with muscular dystrophy who was hit by a truck when crossing the street in his wheelchair. His pension was abruptly cut off after he received an insurance settlement payment to cover medical expenses for himself and his service dog, and material expenses to replace his wheelchair. As a result, he could not cover his daily expenses and mortgage payments and almost lost his home. This is unacceptable. The Veterans Pensions Protection Act exempts the reimbursement of expenses related to accidents, theft, loss or casualty loss from being included into the determination of a veteran's income. I want to thank Chairman Bob Filner as well as Subcommittee Chairman John Hall and Ranking Member Doug Lamborn for their support on this issue. Mr. Speaker, at a time when our Nation's service men and women are fighting two wars abroad and engaged in action in other parts of the world, we have a duty to our past, present, and future veterans to provide the very best in health care, job training, housing assistance, educational opportunities, and other services and benefits. We owe our veterans an enormous debt, and cannot thank them enough for their service. I urge my colleagues to give their unanimous support to this legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, our Nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, ADAPs, are experiencing a funding crisis. Thousands of our most vulnerable citizens are counting on Congress to ensure that they have access to the medications they need to stay alive. To make matters worse, the Census Bureau reports that the number of uninsured Americans rose sharply last year to an all-time high of 50.7 million due to the difficult economy. It is projected that tens of thousands more individuals will soon require the vital services that State ADAPs provide to low income, uninsured and underinsured individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The issue hits close to home. Currently, of the 3,214 individuals on ADAP waiting lists, Florida has 1,712 of them. This is outrageous. Congress must increase its commitment to State ADAPs while continuing to fund other AIDS programs. This problem is not going away. We need a long-term solution until the Affordable Care Act takes full effect in 2014. I urge this body to bring an emergency supplemental of $25 million to the floor for a vote.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution that seeks to raise hypertension awareness and help reverse its prevalence in our nation through education, further research, and efforts to reduce the excess salt content in our food. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is the most commonly diagnosed chronic health condition in the United States, disproportionately affecting the Southeast and African Americans. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and third leading causes of death in the United States, as well as congestive heart failure and kidney disease. Approximately one out of three adults (74.5 million people) in the United States is hypertensive. Furthermore, about one in four adults is pre-hypertensive, which means that they are at greater risk for developing hypertension. Hypertension is directly and indirectly responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year, and its prevalence is expected to grow due to a large aging population and high rates of obesity and diabetes. Hypertension is called the ``silent killer'' because there are often no symptoms that indicate that an individual's blood pressure has reached a deadly level. Sadly, more than one out of five individuals is unaware that they have high blood pressure. African Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension in the United States, and are more likely to develop it at earlier ages, develop cardiovascular morbidity and disability, and die from hypertension or hypertension-related illnesses. Furthermore, Hispanics often have low levels of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control. Fortunately, through education, healthy lifestyle habits, advances in medical science, research, and smart health care policy, we can begin to reverse these alarming trends. In particular, addressing high sodium (salt) intake can decrease one's risk for developing high blood pressure. The average person in the United States consumes almost 1.5 times the daily maximum value of salt established by the Department of Health and Human Services. According to a study by the American Medical Association, 150,000 lives could be saved each year if the sodium content in processed foods and restaurant foods were decreased by 50 percent. In addition, we must improve access to affordable, healthy foods for all Americans as well as nutrition labeling to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about their food purchases. My resolution encourages all individuals to take control of their health by becoming knowledgeable of their blood pressure as well as their risk for hypertension. Furthermore, it supports community-based programs that use culturally competent and evidence-based strategies to address hypertension; recognizes the importance of linking hypertension awareness programs to other existing programs that address health conditions such as obesity and diabetes; and supports further research that provides a better understanding of how hypertension disproportionately affects different communities. Finally, my resolution calls for the Food and Drug Administration to set mandatory national standards, including improved nutrition labeling, for the sodium content in foods, especially those sold in grocery stores and served in schools and restaurants. Madam Speaker, health care providers, patients, communities, governmental entities, the food industry, and health-focused organizations must work together to raise awareness about high blood pressure and to develop sustainable solutions for prevention, treatment, and control. I remain committed to supporting national, state, and community efforts to address potentially deadly health conditions like hypertension and to combating health disparities.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the American Infrastructure Investment Act. Policies passed by the Democratic controlled Congress helped to begin pulling our economy out of recession. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently predicted it could be 3 years before the unemployment rate returns to its pre-recession level. My legislation extends a number of successful job creation programs that are set to expire. It is incentives like those included in this legislation that will help this nation and restore employment levels to what they once were. By providing federal support for private sector infrastructure investment, this legislation creates real jobs through investment in long-term sustainable economic development. These infrastructure investment programs are used to fund the construction of projects such as bridges, roads, schools and hospitals. Some communities in my district have unemployment rates as high as 40 percent. If you were to go there and ask folks, I'm sure the answer would be, ``Yes, we need more jobs,'' and ``Yes, we want more of the programs that create those jobs.'' A project in Palm Beach County set to receive benefits from both the Recovery Zone Facility Bonds and New Market Tax Credits, two incentives extended under the American Infrastructure Investment Act, is responsible for 360 construction jobs, 300 permanent full-time jobs and $1.5 billion in gross regional product within the first 5 years. Legislation passed by Democratic-led Congress has directly led to the creation of 83,000 private sector jobs in June and nearly 600,000 private sector jobs this year. Build America Bonds are also extended under this legislation. Created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, these bonds have allowed State and local governments to invest more than $100 billion in infrastructure projects nationwide and supported more than 1.7 million jobs. These are the very kinds of successful private investment incentive programs that the government should sponsor to kick-start the economy. Madam Speaker, make no mistake about it--job creation is my number one priority. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and help create jobs that are desperately needed now.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Essie ``Big Mama'' Reed for her outstanding contributions to the Ft. Lauderdale community. Big Mama stands apart as an exemplary citizen and living testimony to compassion and generosity. Big Mama's impact on Ft. Lauderdale began in 1988. When her youngest son was just a month old, Big Mama's husband abandoned the family, leaving them homeless. For the next three years, Big Mama and her three sons slept on the concrete floor of the fish market she owned. Despite being destitute and unable to provide her sons with such basic things as school supplies, Big Mama and her boys regularly prayed after school at the Royal Assembly Church. It is her triumph over personal adversity that inspired Big Mama to begin a crusade of personal outreach. Realizing how fortunate she was to have caring neighbors who provided her and her sons with basic needs, Big Mama decided to give back by helping at-risk youth avoid the common street predators of drugs, gangs, and prostitution. In the early 1990s, Big Mama solidified a values-based approach that, when coupled with her uncommon bravery in the face of long odds, has helped keep over 1,300 area youth on a promising path. Big Mama's contribution has been particularly meaningful to the Ft. Lauderdale School System. With scores of students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, Big Mama provides personal afterschool care and guidance for students who might not get the attention they need at home. Big Mama also holds popular ``shut-ins'' four times a year at her church, where local school children are exposed to a ``selfless passion for excellence in education and social advancement'' through self- reliance. All this prompted Rhoda Gawlowski, assistant principal at New River Middle School, to say of Big Mama: ``I have never, ever met a person like her. She helps everyone in our school: the children, the parents, members of the community. I don't know how she does it, but she manages to find time to spend with every student who seeks her out.'' Big Mama's commitment to service, however, is not limited to Ft. Lauderdale Schools. After Hurricane Wilma devastated Florida in 2005, leaving residents without power and food, Big Mama made sure everybody had something to eat. And I mean everybody. Working together with local leaders, Big Mama was able to secure enough donations to personally cook for 1,000 low-income residents in a week. All of this from a woman who recently faced her second bout with homelessness because her house--what people in Ft. Lauderdale refer to as a sanctuary--did not meet local code with its leaky roof covered, in some parts, with a plastic tarp. Big Mama also founded the Team of Life, a Ft. Lauderdale nonprofit, to allow her personal outreach efforts to reach even more people in her community. The organization regularly organizes charitable drives during the holiday and back-to-school seasons with great success. In addition to an annual turkey drive that collects turkeys for needy families--20,000 in 2009 alone--so that they may enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, Big Mama organizes an annual health drive to immunize local children whose families otherwise could not afford such vital care. Through it all, Big Mama has never asked for recognition. All she wants is for Ft. Lauderdale children to experience the reality of a better tomorrow. Because of such uncommon grace, compassion, and generosity, I stand before you, Madam Speaker, to recognize Ms. Essie ``Big Mama'' Reed as a true American hero.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross on receiving the Outstanding Chapter Award from the International Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center for the work of chapter volunteers in their community outreach programs. This is the top honor awarded by the International Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, a national clearinghouse for persons seeking the fates of loved ones missing since the Holocaust and its aftermath. The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter has been delivering lifesaving services for over ninety years, providing relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, teaching lifesaving skills, and supporting military members and families. This chapter, which covers most of the 23rd Congressional district, serves the counties of Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach, and reaches a population of 1.5 million residents. The Red Cross has operated this specialized tracing service for the past 19 years. I commend the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter's leadership, staff and volunteers for their commitment to engage the community and diligently manage the influx of new requests to the Red Cross Holocaust Tracing Center. The Tracing Service offers to search for information about missing and deceased family members through personal services that are comprehensive, confidential and free of charge. The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter has engaged the local Jewish communities, agencies and volunteers through notable educational outreach programs. The Outstanding Chapter Award will be presented to volunteer leaders from the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross at a special luncheon celebrating the Tracing Center's 20th anniversary in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 27, 2010, featuring keynote speaker Gail McGovern, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross provides an exemplary paradigm for providing support and answers to Holocaust survivors and their families. The Tracing Center is seventy percent successful in its tracing cases, having reunited 1,500 families and provided documents such as birth certificates and concentration camp records to others. Madam Speaker, I am especially pleased with this Chapter's award because, in a sense, it brings my involvement with the Tracing Service full circle. Years ago I, along with several of my colleagues, was a strong advocate for opening the Tracing Service's archives to the public and worked with the German government and the International Committee of the Red Cross to do so. In opening the archive in 2007, Germany and the ICRC provided an invaluable service to humanity. The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter award demonstrates the extent to which thousands of Holocaust survivors and their families in South Florida have benefited from this service. Madam Speaker, the Center for Information on Holocaust Restitution estimates that five to ten survivors die each day. The urgency of affected family members initiating tracing services cannot be overstated. My local Red Cross has shown true dedication in assisting families in telling the stories of those who perished in the Holocaust, in discovering names and dates that have long been thought to be lost, and in giving families the necessary information so that they may pass on legacies and the truth. The Tracing Center's motto says it best: ``Every Answer is a Gift.'' Again, congratulations to the Greater Palm Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross on gaining national recognition for their enduring commitment to Holocaust survivors, their families, and the memory of those who were lost.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution recognizing the important role zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife organizations have played in the response efforts in the Gulf region following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Even in difficult economic times, zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife institutions have provided valuable staff and resources for rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the Gulf region. This resolution would give these organizations the praise and support they deserve for their dedication and selfless contributions. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have identified zoos and aquariums as important partners in the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of the wildlife impacted by the oil spill. Many of these institutions already have in place established programs for animal rescue and rehabilitation as well as the resources needed to address short-term and long-term impacts of the oil spill on animals and habitats in the Gulf of Mexico region. The unique expertise of the professionals at zoos and aquariums is invaluable to responding to environmental disasters like that in the Gulf region following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Additionally, their contributions to conservation programs, science education, and community development deserve our continued support and appreciation. One of these valuable organizations is the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA. Established in 1924, the AZA has been dedicated to advancing the work of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. There are over 200 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums in 46 states, where they support more than 126,000 jobs and attract 180 million visitors annually. Of these AZA-accredited institutions, 70 have contributed to the rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which began on April 20, 2010. I am proud to have the Palm Beach Zoo, an AZA-accredited institution, in my district. The Palm Beach Zoo actively promotes conservation and education programs, including the incorporation of Species Survival Plans and Population Management Plans through the AZA. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the important work that these organizations do and for their partnership in the recovery efforts in the Gulf region. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and the important contributions zoos, aquariums, and other wildlife organizations make in our communities.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today and ask my colleagues to join me in wishing a happy 75th birthday to Ms. Delores Hastings. Throughout her life, Ms. Hastings has worked tirelessly as a leader in her community. Most recently, she donated her time volunteering for a program that provides mothers and their children in rehabilitation centers with Thanksgiving Day food baskets. Additionally, Ms. Hastings was a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign, registering over 200 individuals to vote. In February of this year, she solicited medical donations to send to the victims of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010, a cause very near to my heart. Ms. Hastings has also volunteered her time teaching inmates with children important parental skills before they are released. As a result of her work, these inmates are allowed visitation with their children prior to their release and have a smoother transition back into civilian life. Ms. Hastings has always emphasized the importance of receiving an education. She has worked as an advocate for young African American men who are pursuing higher education, ensuring that they have the necessary resources available to them. In 1958, Ms. Hastings received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. Additionally, in 1963 she was awarded her Master's degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Florida A&M University. She has consistently utilized her knowledge, experience, and education working with families living in depressed areas as well as children with special needs. Madam Speaker, on September 10, 2010, Ms. Delores Hastings will be celebrating her 75th birthday with her son Jody, her cat Tranz, and her service dog Dolce. It is my distinguished honor to wish her a very happy 75th birthday.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address the comments made by French President Nikolas Sarkozy that have caused quite the media flurry in the past few weeks. On July 16, French police shot and killed a Romani man when he apparently tried to run a roadblock. This shooting sparked two days of rioting by some 50 members of his community damaging the local police station and private property. In a story that has now been covered by the media from Vancouver to Moscow, French President Sarkozy subsequently announced that he would look into ``the problems created by the behavior of certain travelers and Roma,'' with a view toward the closing down Romani camps and driving out Roma. Government statements have indicated these measures would focus on finding and expelling Romani citizens from Bulgaria and Romania--two European Union countries. Despite the fact that the Romani man in the July 16 incident was actually a French citizen--Mr. Sarzkozy later spoke of stripping citizenship from nationalized French citizens convicted of serious offenses. Not surprisingly, human rights groups have condemned the President's remarks with one voice. Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg rejected the notion of holding Romani people collectively responsible if one among them commits a crime. Good for you, Mr. Hammarberg. (It is a shame that the European Union has been so utterly silent and paralyzed in the face of this downward spiral.) Many of the reports and analyses of these events, such as last Friday's editorial in the New York Times, rightly placed these developments in the context of French politics and President Sarkozy's political imperatives. Understanding the current political dynamic in France, particularly the ongoing debate over ``national identity'' and the situation of Muslim and African-origin minorities in France, is extremely helpful in understanding the President's expansion into anti- Roma mudslinging. But there is a wider, broader European context for his remarks that I think must be addressed. French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux has stated that the new measures targeting Romani camps are not aimed at ``stigmatizing a community'' but rather at stopping illegal activity. This sounds remarkably like the rhetoric of Hungary's far right wing party, Jobbik, which claims it is not against ``Gypsies,'' just ``Gypsy crimes.'' In fact, rhetoric linking Roma to criminal activity or broadly portraying Roma as criminals--traffickers, prostitutes, thieves, and so forth--is pervasive throughout Europe. In early July, in the wake of a mass expulsion of Roma from Copenhagen, Danish Minister of Justice reportedly made remarks tying Romani culture to criminal behavior. Romania's foreign minister remarked in February about ``the natural physiology of Roma criminality.'' For two years now, Italy has been gripped by anti-Roma policies, included targeting Roma for fingerprinting, that are built on a perception of the Roma as criminals. The idea of Romani people as inherently criminal is not new. In fact, it was at the very center of Nazi racial theories regarding Roma. According to these theories, Roma--as descendents of an Aryan people-- we're just fine on their own. But Nazi racial hygienists concluded that, as a result of intermarriage between Roma and non-Roma, Roma had been left with mixed, ``degenerate'' blood and were genetically predisposed to criminality. Moreover, Roma were ``unadaptable''--that is, this condition could never be changed. These Nazi racial theories provided the rationale for the sterilization, persecution, and eventual extermination of Roma. Unfortunately, as Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, has observed, ``Even after the . . . Nazi killing of at least half a million Roma, probably 700,000 or more, there was no genuine change of attitude among the majority population towards the Roma.'' In other words, Nazi racial theories regarding Roma remain remarkably entrenched and are regularly given voice in the rhetoric about ``Romani crime.'' Madam Speaker, last year Senator Cardin and I, as Chairman and Cochairman of the Helsinki Commission, wrote to Secretary Clinton regarding the situation of Roma in Europe. In particular, we noted that ``racist rhetoric directed against Roma today often uses terminology or images that have been in continuous use since the Nazi era,'' and we argued that teaching about Romani experiences during the Holocaust is essential to successfully combat prejudice against Roma today. Perhaps this could start in France.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 2(b) of House Concurrent Resolution 308, 111th Congress, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dear personal friend and dedicated public servant, the Honorable Sylvia Poitier, who will be celebrating her 75th birthday on September 4. Sylvia is currently serving her second consecutive term as District 2 Commissioner of the City of Deerfield Beach, Florida. Sylvia is a public servant, community leader, educator, philanthropist, and entrepreneur whose commitment to civic duty and the citizens of Deerfield Beach is truly inspiring. A lifelong resident of Deerfield Beach and of District 2, Sylvia has spent her entire career working to improve the lives of children, young people, and all those who live in Deerfield Beach. After opening the Deerfield Beach Cleaners and Laundry in 1956, Sylvia pursued a career in Early Childhood Education and earned a certificate in Early Childhood Development from Broward Community College. Combining her business expertise with her passion for children, she opened Kiddies Kollege Kindergarten and the Children's Cultural Center, Inc. In 1973, Sylvia was elected to the Deerfield Beach City Commission, where she served from 1973-1985. Furthermore, she served as Vice Mayor in 1975 and as Mayor from 1976-1977. Following her three distinguished terms on the City Commission, Governor Bob Graham appointed her to the Board of Broward County Commissioners in 1985, where she served from 1986-1998. During her tenure as City and County Commissioner, Sylvia provided affordable housing to residents in Broward County, served as a founding Board Member of the Deerfield Beach Boys and Girls Club, and was involved in the development of Westside Park. As Commissioner of District 2 since 2005, she is now engaged with creating economic development along the Dixie Highway corridor and bringing a sense of unity to the City at large. In addition to her many professional achievements, Sylvia also takes an active role in many public service, social, and community organizations. Currently, she serves as Chairperson for the Community Action Agency and is a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. In addition, Sylvia has served on several boards and committees, including Deerfield Beach's Unclassified Civil Service Board. She was also the first African American president of the Broward County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations, an Advisory Board member to the Red Cross, Broward County Chapter, and a member of the Community Service Council and Man Power Planning Association. Madam Speaker, Sylvia Poitier is truly a friend to me, the City of Deerfield Beach, and to the State of Florida. It is with great honor and joy that I wish her a very happy 75th birthday.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution that recognizes the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, a unique initiative that seeks to improve health outcomes in black communities across the country through education, community involvement, research, and culturally relevant strategies. African American men are especially vulnerable to the impacts of racial health disparities, with the lowest average life expectancy of any group in the United States. Due to various factors, including inadequate access to quality health care services, African American men suffer from disproportionately high rates of hypertension, diabetes, and other health conditions that are largely preventable and manageable. While a lack of trust, culture, and access to routine primary care has prevented many black men from significantly benefiting from interventions and treatments for these conditions, black-owned barbershops have served as cultural institutions in the black community for generations and provide health advocates with an opportunity to empower and educate black men about their health in a trusted and familiar space. In 2007, the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program was launched by the Diabetic Amputation Prevention Foundation in an effort to increase public awareness about cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension among black men. By partnering with black-owned barbershops, as well as local leaders, facilities, and organizations, the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program provides culturally specific education and health services to black men. These include screening for hypertension and diabetes; disseminating information on early detection, management, and prevention; conducting research; and referring men to facilities that can address additional health and medical needs. Since its founding, the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program has expanded its initial focus on hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease to include prostate cancer, and continues to build upon its success. To date, it has screened over 10,000 men in 230 black-owned barbershops for diabetes, hypertension, and prostate cancer across the country. The project's organizers plan to screen 20,000 men in 2010 and 500,000 men by 2012. Furthermore, the Black Barbershop Health Program will also target black-owned beauty shops to reach black women, and take a holistic approach to diagnosing, preventing, and managing cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes in the black community. My resolution commends the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program for its valuable contribution to community health and the national fight against racial health disparities. In addition, my resolution expresses a commitment to supporting organizations, programs, and initiatives like the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program that empower individuals to become informed health advocates in their communities. Madam Speaker, culturally competent health education and delivery methods are essential to preventing and combating racial health disparities, and to maximizing the effectiveness of interventions and treatments that seek to achieve and support better health at the community level. I commend the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program for the important work it does and remain committed to supporting community-oriented approaches to health reform in health legislation and initiatives arising at both the state and federal levels.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, you know, Paul Krugman wrote an article in The New York Times sometime back, and he is the Nobel Prize winning economist. On July 20 he talked about ``Tax Cut Truthiness.'' Without reading the entire article, he cites to Erick Erickson and says, ``But I think we have part of the key to how Republicans can believe that returning to the Bush agenda is exactly what we need: they've invented themselves an alternate history in which wonderful things happened under Bush, and earlier booms have been sent down the memory hole.'' Now, I have had the good fortune of being here in the minority and in the majority. I served 8 years under President Bush in the minority. I also served 8 years during the Clinton administration. My late mom had a statement about all of us as politicians. She used to say, if you are going to say that George H.W. Bush did it, then you have to say that Jimmy Carter did it and then somebody else will say that Reagan did it. She said why don't you all just admit it that George Washington did it and get it over with so as how you don't have to keep pointing fingers at each other. My distinguished colleague from North Carolina just certainly misspoke and didn't mean to when she said that this particular measure isn't scored. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the Preliminary CBO Estimate of Changes in Revenue and Direct Spending of the Investing in America Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010. I might add that it points out that it is revenue neutral, as I said previously. [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TH29JY10.001 I am so glad that my colleague and I come from virtually all the same kinds of backgrounds, if you read her biography and you read my own. We also have been advantaged in this society by taking advantage of the opportunities that were presented to us. But where we parted company somewhere along the line, well she didn't want, evidently, to give opportunity to those who have no opportunity. I have been taught all of my life to do everything I can for the least of these in society. Now, I heard her, and I agree that the role of government identified in the United States Constitution clearly points out that national security is the role, and a primary role, of the Congress. But promoting the general welfare is also a role of Congress. When I see, as I do, at the pantry in Fort Lauderdale, them not having the funds to carry forward, when I see the food bank on Oakland Park, that's less than nine blocks from the office where I am privileged to serve the people of the State of Florida, when I see it robbed by thieves so that they can't help the needy, I know that out there somewhere are people that are hurting, and they are hurting that people need our help. And they need our help whether it's from the Federal Government or the State government or the local government, they need our help. And to suggest by any stretch of the imagination that it is wrong for us to help those who are in need is anathema to my background. And that isn't because I am a liberal Democrat; that is because I am an American citizen who believes in America and who believes in all of its people, whether they are rich or whether they are poor. Now, I don't believe at all that this YouCut project that my friends have created allows that States do anything less than be incentivized by using the temporary assistance for needy families. No less an authority than the former chairman of the National Republican Party, Haley Barbour, who is now a member of the National Governors Association--and I might add, support for this temporary assistance program is expected to and sought to be brought onboard by the National Governors Association; they support it, the National Conference of State Legislatures, they support it, and the National Association of Counties have all urged Congress to continue the TANF as a way to create jobs and assist families. Listen to what Haley--who I happen to know and I happen to think is a distinguished American and an outstanding Governor of Mississippi--listen to what Haley said on February 17. He said, I hope the program will be extended so more jobs could be created. Now that's a conservative for you. Now my colleague on the other side, I have been very anxious and very concerned that evidently people in this body do not understand how much Iraq cost this country. I did not vote for us to go to Iraq, and I am glad I didn't. I did not vote for the supplemental that we passed 2 days ago, and I am glad I didn't because it didn't include things that should have been included. I might add that I can't make Afghanistan make sense when I see the number of young Americans that are being killed in that particular theater. But I do know this: Joseph Stiglitz, who is a economics Nobel Laureate, claimed the Iraq war will cost the United States more than $3 trillion, and he said the final tally is likely to climb much higher than that. There are others who believe that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost Americans a staggering $1 trillion to date, second only, in inflation-adjusted dollars, to the $4 trillion price tag for World War II. It cost us $1.1 million per man and woman in uniform in Afghanistan. Now somebody make it make sense to me that it's all right for us to continue down that path while it's not all right for us to have temporary assistance for needy families. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today is another tool that State and local governments can use to invest in infrastructure development and put much-needed cash and jobs into the economy. I am well aware that Republicans object to the expeditious nature of this legislation. However, the provisions in this legislation have already been debated and considered on numerous other occasions, and we do need to act quickly. When we sent it, Mr. Speaker, to the United States Senate, these are the things that were included. My colleague began her remarks today by saying that it's outrageous. I find it interesting that she cited as one of the definitions of outrageous, ``exceeding the limits of what is normal or tolerable.'' It also describes outrageous as ``whatever is so flagrantly bad that one's sense of decency or one's power to suffer or tolerate is violated.'' Now, I fall into that second category and believe that small business lending is not outrageous. That was what was sent to the Senate that Republicans said no about. I believe that infrastructure investments are not outrageous. Much of that that was sent to the Senate was what Republicans said no about. Business tax relief; I certainly don't believe that that is outrageous, and that's what was stripped out in the United States Senate by Republicans and was not voted on by Republicans in this particular body. Individual tax cuts. TANF jobs and emergency funding that we now have some of. Veterans concurrent receipt, I don't think that's outrageous. The National Housing Trust Fund, I don't think in a time of downturn in this economy, with one out of every five Americans facing foreclosure or in foreclosure, I certainly don't think that that is outrageous. I don't think it's outrageous to hold harmless the provisions for low- income families in this country. They stripped out, by saying no, oil disaster response. National Flood Insurance, something that has been around that has helped a lot of us all over America, they stripped that out. I don't think that it's outrageous that it was in there. Mine safety--and we've seen what happened in West Virginia--I don't think taking that out was the right thing to do; I certainly don't think it was outrageous to leave it in there. Federally declared disaster areas, where floods and drought and other matters have gone on. Agriculture disaster relief was taken out of this measure, and I'm here to believe that it was outrageous? Other expiring disaster relief programs were as well. Now some of the things that are in there, some of the things that are in it that I don't think are outrageous: It extends the Build America Bonds program that everybody in this institution knows has been successful for State and local government. It makes additional allocation of recovery zone bonds to ensure that each local municipality receives the minimum allocation or equal to at least its share of national employment in December of 2009. I certainly don't think that's outrageous. And I might add my colleague Mr. Dreier also referred, as did Dr. Foxx, to the outrageousness. I don't think it is outrageous to exclude bonds financing facilities that furnish water and sewage from State volume caps estimated to cost $371 million over 10 years. Is it outrageous to eliminate the cost imposed on State and local governments by the alternative minimum tax, estimated to cost $224 million over 10 years? Is it outrageous to have new market tax credits? Is it outrageous to have emergency job fund creation and assistance, scheduled to expire on September 30, to extend that through 2011? I don't think it's outrageous to suspend the recognition of foreign tax credits. And even though it is a legal entity in our law, as my colleague has said, I don't think it's outrageous that we close tax loopholes that allow American corporations to take American jobs abroad and cause this economy to continue to be exacerbated. I don't think it's outrageous for us to offset the cost of this bill. However, the provisions in this legislation, as I indicated, have already been debated and considered on numerous other occasions. In fact, we have already pared down this legislation from the larger measure that I just talked about that the House already passed because the Senate could not get enough votes from the Republicans for passage in their body. Now, America can continue to put up with these people that drove us in the ditch and give them the keys if they want to and expect that if we return to that era, that we are going to have prosperity. I don't think so. I saw what happened. I believe Americans saw what happened. The programs that we are considering are designed especially to assist the American people in times of economic hardship, just like the one our Nation is currently facing. We need to act to help Americans, not find evermore excuses not to help. Republicans have been consistently saying ``no'' on every jobs package and economic development legislation that we have put forward in this House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in this Chamber are against everything coming their way from the Democratic side of the aisle. They want to block any job creation legislation in order to make Democrats look bad for the upcoming election, but they are doing so at the expense of the American people. This legislation will help. This legislation does not add one nickel to the deficit and does not contain wasteful spending. Democrats are hard at work on an agenda to improve our economy, to create jobs, and to ensure that all Americans--all Americans--will be able to take advantage of opportunities and to have an opportunity to have opportunity as our economy recovers. I hope that my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle will unite with us to help Americans in these most difficult economic times. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to urge a ``yes'' vote on the previous question and on the rule. I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I believe that the distinguished chair of the Ways and Means Committee answered my good friend from California yesterday with regard to the immediacy. Among the things that he said to you was we had waited for the United States Senate, which, if you recall, much of what is in this provision, and he said to you there is nothing new in here that we haven't voted on before.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to my good friend from Houston, Texas, the distinguished gentlelady Sheila Jackson Lee.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentlelady 1 additional minute.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased at this time to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, would you be kind enough to tell me how much time I have remaining.