Rush Holt

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Edith Savage- Jennings, a paragon of the Civil Rights Movement whose accomplishments on behalf of the movement are surpassed only by her humility about them. ``It was just the work that was called for,'' she has said. As I understand, she is currently working on a book to be entitled ``Behind Closed Doors,'' she said, because that is where the most important work on any movement is done. Let me open the door for you, just a little, so you will come to know and appreciate this paragon of the Civil Rights Movement as I do. First, she started early--when she was 9. She would tell her mother she was going to the library, but instead she would go to the Statehouse in Trenton and watch the proceedings of the New Jersey Assembly from the balcony. Despite getting in trouble for that fib, she persisted in her efforts to learn and to lead. When she was 13, movie theaters in Trenton were still segregated. Black moviegoers--like Edith--were required to sit in the balcony. But she went to the theater with several friends, including future Mayor of New York, David Dinkins, and they sat downstairs. When asked to move to the balcony, they refused. And she's been making history quietly, but forcefully, ever since. Whatever road the civil rights struggle took her down, she did her best. In 1963, she was one of six woman asked by President Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy to ferret out particular areas of unrest in the struggle to desegregate schools in Mississippi. She became one of the ``Wednesdays Women,'' who travelled in interracial teams to Mississippi in 1964 to advance the cause of desegregation through what you might call white-glove diplomacy. Accompanied by Helen Meyner, wife of New Jersey Governor Bob Meyner, they landed in Mississippi, only to be greeted by white men spitting on the floor in front of them. ``They'd never seen a black woman and a white woman travelling together,'' she said. They continued on. On Wednesdays, they would bring supplies to rural communities on the front lines of the struggle to end segregation. On Thursdays, dressed in heels, pearls and white gloves, they would meet white and black women for tea and cookies to discuss peaceful ways to desegregate the elementary schools and to resolve the white women's suspicions about the Civil Rights Movement. On this visit, as Mrs. Meyner introduced herself, she shook everyone's hand. In another quiet act of rebellion, Edith took off her white glove, and the women wouldn't shake her hand. But the schools were desegregated. Over the years, she has been praised and followed for her leadership skills and prowess. She was introduced to Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1957 at a rally in Trenton because, the minister at Shiloh Baptist Church said at the time, she's ``a great fundraiser.'' She became a lifelong friend of the Kings. In 1964, she accompanied Fannie Lou Hamer onto the floor of the Democratic National Convention, where she delivered her famous ``I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired'' speech. She has visited the White House under five different Presidents. She was close friends with Rosa Parks, and brought her and many other civil rights leaders to Trenton. She's been a member of the NAACP for life, and won more than 80 awards for her selfless, tireless work. In 2005, her name was added to the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama, to honor her 50 years of civil rights service. Last year, she was inducted into the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the hotel in Memphis where King was assassinated, and the National Park Service Archives for Black Women's History in Washington DC. But her humility is one of her most endearing qualities. When President Kennedy called her to action in 1963, she didn't believe it was him. So he put his brother Bobby on the phone and said ``Bobby, say hello to Mrs. Savage so she'll know I'm the President.'' When she was inducted into the National Civil Rights Museum, among other personal items she donated was a pair of red loafers she had worn in 1968 while demonstrating in the rain and mud at the Poor People's Campaign commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. The shoes still bore the mud from that day. ``I put them in a box [and] never pulled them out,'' she said ``but I saved them because to me they were part of a historical situation.'' I am proud to say Edith Savage-Jennings has been a resident of Trenton since the age of 2. At the mass in her honor after her induction into the National Civil Rights Museum she said ``I want people to know that no one does this alone.'' Even so, the particular manner, the quiet resoluteness, and the tide of contributions of some simply stand out. Edith Savage-Jennings is one such person.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, Reverend DeForest B. Soaries has dedicated his life to improving the lives of others. Whether it was organizing a campaign in college to stop drug use on campus, starting non-profit groups to improve the lives of his church community or working for the Federal Government to improve the voting system, he has been and will continue to be a true asset to the state of New Jersey. And while we were once adversaries in a political campaign, I am honored now to call him a good friend. Reverend Soaries' leadership positions within our community, State and Federal Governments show the commitment he has to helping people move forward. As the Secretary of State for New Jersey, he was the first African-American male to serve as a constitutional officer and worked across party lines to achieve progress in the government, including increased funding for the arts. His time as a Secretary of State and his years of ministry prepared him to be the first chairman for the Federal Election Assistance Commission. The agency was created to help improve the election system in America and to stay ahead of the curve on technological advancements in voting. Reverend Soaries' character was tested as he helped get the agency off the ground without the resources originally promised. While not all of the plans were accomplished during his time as chairman, Reverend Soaries did lay the ground work for the operation of the EAC. I have appreciated Reverend Soaries insight and collaboration with my efforts to enact election reform. His contributions have strengthened my election reform legislation, and I greatly value his efforts. Reverend Soaries has also made significant contribution to his community and the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens over the last twenty years. He has and is continuing to help create better family units by encouraging people to become foster parents or adopt. He is also creating new homes for low and moderate income families, while providing numerous financial and employment support groups to meet the needs of the community. Recently, he hosted a program that allowed those who had run into trouble with the law to come to church and deal with their pending arrest warrants or other legal issues in a safe environment. The First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens has grown from a parish of a few to over 6,000 people. However the goals of improving the community have not changed. Reverend Soaries has helped the church maintain their goals of ``spiritual growth, educational excellence and economic empowerment'' through his continuous dedication to creating a debt free parish. He has created a four part program called ``dfree'' that teaches people how to live a financially responsible life and get out of debt. Reverend Soaries facilitated the construction of the inspirational $17 million church complex that makes possible a number of church programs and has greatly benefited the surrounding community and Central New Jersey. Reverend Soaries is a valued pastor of his parish and I congratulate him on the celebration of his 20th anniversary with the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, and look forward to the accomplishments yet to come in the next 20 years.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from California. I rise to express strong support for House Resolution 1677, offered by Mr. Manzullo, and I rise to denounce the flawed, undemocratic election that took place in Burma earlier this month. For nearly half a century now, the liberties of the Burmese people have been held hostage by successive military rulers. The regime refused to honor the results of open elections held in recent decades and then forced the acceptance of a new, illegitimate constitution in a sham referendum. Last week, the junta once again chose to disregard the will of the Burmese people by staging a fraudulent election. When I first visited Burma decades ago, I learned what a difference a misguided regime could make. Burma had been a vibrant country known as the ``rice bowl of Asia.'' Burma had had a rich history, fertile land, abundant resources, and a productive population. In the years following the coup in the early 1960s, the authoritarian regime impoverished a nation and brutalized a people. The generals have rejected the choices of the Burmese citizens, imprisoned or killed political dissidents, and failed to address humanitarian suffering caused by their own mismanagement and by tragic natural disasters. The United States has a duty to stand firmly against the military's human rights abuses and to work for justice, reconciliation, and the rule of law in Burma. I join with those around the world celebrating the recent release from house arrest of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has led the nonviolent struggle for democratic reforms in Burma, at great personal sacrifice, for over three decades. The outpouring of support and affection for her is a clear signal that the spirit of liberty endures among the Burmese people. Yet we must be mindful of history's lessons. The military junta will not tolerate actions that threaten its iron grip on power. That is why the United States must continue to pressure the regime to end its repressive practices and to accept an immediate transition toward a more democratic government that respects human rights and respects the aspirations of the Burmese people. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. I thank the gentlelady, and I rise in support of H. Res. 1654. We would like to see the week of April 11, 2011, designated as ``Undergraduate Research Week.'' Mr. Speaker, as a scientist and an educator, I know the value of undergraduate research both for the students and for the research enterprise. Undergraduate researchers formed the backbone of my research program when I was a faculty member at Swarthmore College, and they also contributed valuable work to my research at New York University and at Princeton University. I watched as their hands-on experiences with the process of discovery helped them develop skills that cannot be obtained just in the classroom, and I watched as it heightened their understanding of science and their enthusiasm for research. I might add, they produced excellent research. Around the country, thousands of students at hundreds of colleges and universities are involved in undergraduate research experiences that will shape the trajectories of their lives and their careers. Yet we would benefit if thousands more were involved. Recently, the National Academies followed up on their ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report from 2005 with an account this year of America's progress over the previous 5 years. They concluded, in part, if the United States is to remain competitive, we need to preserve an adequate supply of creative, leading-edge, innovative American researchers. Early involvement in the real-world practice of science is very valuable in meeting this goal, and it is equally vital to our economic progress. It produces a scientifically literate society as well. I commend the students and faculty who are participating in undergraduate research programs across the country and in organizations that support their work, such as the Council on Undergraduate Research, the Research Corporation, the National Science Foundation and many others. I encourage our colleges, universities, and Federal agencies to continue robust support for these programs, and to work together to develop new opportunities for all interested students to participate in undergraduate research.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Hawaii. I rise in support of House Resolution 1655 that I introduced to establish October as National Farm to School Month. I want to thank the leading cosponsor, Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, and Chairman Miller for their help in bringing this to the floor today. It should not be a surprise that I, as a representative of the Garden State, support bringing Jersey tomatoes and sweet corn into schools. But this is not just a local or provincial resolution. Farm to School programs are a key priority for Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, and First Lady Michelle Obama has planted a garden at the White House with the help of local students to symbolize the good nutrition that comes from fresh foods as well as to educate students about where food comes from. Farm to School programs can help in the fight against childhood obesity and economically support our local farmers. These programs also help address the troubling rate of childhood obesity. Currently, there are 31 million children who eat school meals 5 days a week, 180 days a year. While the National School Lunch Program does a good job feeding these children, the program has the potential to provide fresher and more healthful foods to millions of children in the United States. Farm to School programs fight obesity by increasing children's daily intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Farm to School programs also benefit small- and mid-sized agricultural producers by providing access to consistent markets, and they're a great stimulus for the local economy. For every dollar spent on local foods in schools, several dollars circulate in the local economy. While there are presently more than 10,000 Farm to School programs operational in all 50 States, it is but a fraction of the 94,000 public and nonprofit private schools that are operating the National School Lunch Program. Establishing October as National Farm to School Month would increase awareness and provide the recognition that the existing programs have earned. Farm to School programs exemplify the best use of Federal school lunch dollars, and I am pleased that this legislation that I wrote to provide $40 million in mandatory funding for Farm to School competitive grants is included in the pending reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act on which we will vote soon. I would like to take a moment to thank Megan Lott at the Community Food Security Coalition and Beth Feehan, the director of the New Jersey Farm to School Network, for their efforts in support of this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to join us in helping to spread and strengthen Farm to School programs across the country.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, I urge passage of this important bill. Today the House has the opportunity to honor the rescue and recovery workers who served our Nation after the devastating attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and, more important than empty honor, to provide for their care. My district suffered causalities that day and nine years later, the memory of that terrible day is still fresh in our minds. Along with the victims of 9/11, there were thousands of rescue and recovery workers who came to the aid of our Nation that day. These brave women and men rushed to Ground Zero to help the fallen and to participate in the clean-up effort without thinking about their health or safety. These workers were exposed to environmental hazards and have developed significant respiratory illnesses, chronic infections, and other medical conditions. Further, many first responders are only now being diagnosed with illnesses that are related to their exposure at Ground Zero. The Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 would create the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). The program would provide medical monitoring and treatment benefits to first responders and workers who were directly affected by the attacks. Additionally, the program would establish education and outreach programs and conduct research on physical and mental health conditions related to the 9/11 attacks. The program would continue until 2020 and the total federal spending would be capped at $4.6 billion. The WTCHP program would serve more than 75,000 survivors, recovery workers, and members of the affected communities. This bill provides long-term health care and compensation for thousands of responders and survivors. By passing this bill, we will be paying tribute to the sacrifice and courage of these women and men and we will be paying a debt. This bill will be paid for with a partnership with New York City and by closing tax loopholes. When this bill was considered by the House before, some in the minority party put politics over these brave first responders. Today, we get a second chance to approve this important piece of legislation. We cannot let our first responders down.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2378, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act. For every worker, every business, and every nation to get a fair shake in today's global economy, everyone must play by the rules. For too long, China has violated the rules of the global economy by deliberately undervaluing its currency. This practice reduces the costs of Chinese exports and makes it more expensive to export U.S. products to China, giving China an unfair advantage and making it difficult for U.S. companies to compete. I hear far too often from workers in central New Jersey who have been victims of this unfairness. They are laid off as their employers are undercut by Chinese competitors and forced to cut jobs or go out of business. That story is repeated time and again around the country, and our economy suffers. The U.S. trade deficit with China ballooned from $10 billion in 1990 to $226 billion in 2009. Economists estimate that China's currency manipulation reduces U.S. Gross Domestic Product by 1.4 percentage points annually and has led to the loss or displacement of millions of manufacturing jobs over the last decade. One recent study concluded that the increasing trade deficit with China will cost over 500,000 U.S. jobs in 2010 alone. The Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act gives the Department of Commerce the necessary tools to combat unfair manipulation of foreign currencies. Upon finding that currency manipulation meets the criteria for an export subsidy, the Department will have the authority to correct the unfair advantage by impose countervailing duties that are consistent with World Trade Organization regulations. When they have a level playing field, Americans can and will out-compete their international counterparts every time. Passing this bill is an important step in preserving a fair world market for U.S. goods, revitalizing our domestic manufacturing base, and creating jobs for American workers.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Reyes, for bringing this bill to the floor today. It has required a lot of effort, some compromise and hard work. The bill advances a number of my priorities, including a sustained emphasis on improving our foreign language capabilities, expanding the Government Accountability Office's ability to conduct investigations of intelligence community activities, and a long overdue declassification review requirement of the gulf war illness-related records at the CIA. I think we can still do more to provide strong congressional oversight of our intelligence activities. And I am also disappointed that the other body blocked the inclusion of language that I developed that would mandate the video recording of detainee interrogations by the Central Intelligence Agency. A similar version of this language has been law since last year and governs video recording of detainees in custody of the Defense Department. And multiple studies have documented the benefits of video recording, electronic recording of interrogations, and law enforcement organizations across the United States routinely use the practice to protect both the person being interrogated and the officer conducting the interrogations. Clearly, in the intelligence community, this would be a valuable tool as well. And of course we know that at times the intelligence community does think this is a valuable tool. Otherwise, it would not have made recordings of interrogations of high-value detainees after they were captured in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Should a future President direct the CIA to hold detainees for interrogation, those interrogations certainly should be recorded. Accordingly, I hope we will be able to remedy this in next year's bill. I also wanted to say a word about the so-called Gang of Eight briefings. Because of the importance of this issue, it can get obscured by ``inside the beltway'' jargon. I want to make it clear that in this legislation, we are not and we should not cede the congressional prerogative to compel the President to share information on covert action programs. So as you read the language of this bill, as my colleagues read the language of the bill, I hope they will understand that we have a constitutional obligation, independent and separate from the executive, to oversee the activities of the executive branch in this area.

Mr. HOLT. I opposed the previous administration's effort to subvert congressional oversight of intelligence activities, and I am not convinced that we have struck the right compromise language in this legislation. But even so, the requirement of written notification of covert actions is an important step forward, and passing this bill will not mark the end of our reform process. Given what is accomplished in this bill, I am pleased to vote for the bill, and I urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the bicentennial of one of America's premier private secondary schools, The Lawrenceville School of Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Founded in 1810 as the Maidenhead Academy and run under such names as the Lawrenceville Classical and Commercial High School for more than 70 years, the school was ``refounded'' in 1883 to become The Lawrenceville School as we know it today. And for 200 years this remarkable institution has provided its students with an education that challenges the mind and has instilled in them a strong commitment to community service. The Lawrenceville School facilities are designated a National Historic Landmark. Designed by the esteemed American landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted who designed New York's Central Park and Cadwaladar Park in Trenton, the campus contains several houses where students live, based on their gender and year of graduation. Most of the faculty lives on the campus as well, some in the houses with the students, and others in residences with their families. This provides a community rich in teaching and learning. Classes are held around oval wooden tables rather than in the traditional rows of desks. Students are held to the highest academic standards, and each day students practice their team sports, study or work at fulfilling their social service requirements. Many of the leading figures in almost every field come from the Lawrenceville School. Lawrenceville has a proud history of public service. Graduates include three New Jersey Governors, Charles Olden, Joel Parker and Rodman Price, who also served as a Member of Congress; Lowell P. Weicker, who served as both Senator and Governor of Connecticut; Charles Fried, who was appointed by President Reagan as Solicitor General of the United States; J. Harvie Wilkinson, III, who sits on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals; Ricardo Maduro, who was President of Honduras from 2002 to 2006; Brigadier General Horace Porter, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in the Union Army; and World War I Aviator, Jarvis Offutt for whom Offutt Air Force Base is named. Under the inspired leadership of Elizabeth A. Duffy, the first woman to be selected as Head Master, The Lawrenceville School has been faithful to its traditions as it prepares its young men and young women for leadership and service in a changing world. I ask all my colleagues to join me in congratulating this American treasure, The Lawrenceville School, which on October 8, 2010 will be celebrating its 200th birthday.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us this week addresses a painful issue: the problem of international parental child abduction. Over the last several years, I've gained a greater understanding of this problem through the travails of one of my constituents, Mr. David Goldman of Tinton Falls, New Jersey. As the case involving his son, Sean, has received international media attention, I will not revisit all of the details of that case now. Suffice it to say that even with a treaty on his side--the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction--Mr. Goldman needed my help and that of our State Department, along with countless other generous Americans, to finally secure the return of his son in December 2009. Their 5\1/2\ year separation and the legal maneuvering surrounding the case helped focus the world's attention on the problem of international parental child abduction, but unfortunately, the overall problem remains. Over the last decade alone, thousands of American children have been kidnapped by a foreign-born parent and taken to other countries, where the American-born parents inevitably face a years-long process of trying to recover their children. In the case of Japan--which is not a signatory to the Hague Convention--it has proven literally impossible for American parents to recover their parentally-kidnapped children. The resolution before us calls upon the government of Japan to facilitate the resolution of all such abduction cases, and to ratify the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Nearly a year ago, the members of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission received testimony from parents whose children had been parentally kidnapped to Japan. Each story was heartbreaking, and the frustration and sense of despair of the affected parents was palpable. H. Res. 1326 will send a clear message to the government of Japan that the Congress remains seized of this issue, and it will also remind the affected parents that we stand with them and that we know we have much more work to do on behalf of their abducted children. I'm proud to be a co-sponsor of this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act. I regularly meet with Central New Jersey small business leaders and hear the difficulty they have finding the loans and credit needed to expand and hire more employees. The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act will help small businesses on Main Street to create jobs through a new $30 billion Small Business Lending Fund for small- and medium-sized community banks. In order to participate in this program, these banks will have to turn around and provide the credit that small businesses need to grow. The $30 billion fund, could leverage up to $300 billion in lending. These small- and medium-sized banks are staples in communities across the country and critical sources of capital to help small businesses get off the ground, but the financial crisis on Wall Street and subsequent recession diminished these banks' ability to lend. The bill also will support a State Small Business Credit Initiative, which will provide $2 billion in funding for new or existing state lending programs. These programs already exist in about 30 states, including my home state of New Jersey, and use small amounts of public dollars to generate substantial private financing. By supporting existing expertise in states around the country and using an easy-to- replicate model, this program will be able to quickly increase small business lending and create jobs. In addition, this bill will improve access to credit by increasing Small Business Administration loan limits and lowering costs for small business to access SBA loans. But this bill does not merely expand access to credit--it contains billions of dollars in tax relief for small businesses. It will spur investment by giving a 100 percent exclusion from capital gains taxes on small business investment and by allowing businesses to write off immediately 50 percent of the cost of new equipment. It also will increase the tax deduction for business start-up expenditures. By allowing entrepreneurs to recover more start-up expenses, small business owners can focus more growing their businesses. It is unfortunate that this bill was held up by partisan obstructionists, because this is something that could help small businesses now. The small business owners I talk with in New Jersey are not concerned about political gamesmanship--they're concerned about lack of credit and tight lending standards. Passage of this legislation is long overdue and I urge my colleagues to support it and support our nation's small business leaders.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. I thank the gentleman from Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 1582, to honor and salute Americans for the Arts on its 50th anniversary. My colleagues should not be surprised that two of the scientists here on the floor, the gentleman from Michigan and I, would rise to speak in favor of the arts. I want to commend Representative Slaughter for introducing this important resolution but especially for her tireless work to champion the arts and to remind us all of the importance they play in our lives and in our society. As a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I believe that the arts play a crucial role in our society--enhancing our creativity, promoting critical aspects of education, and providing Americans with opportunities to view works of beauty and personal expression. Through the arts, we as a Nation, as a people, come to know ourselves. We push our boundaries, and we break free of our prejudices. Furthermore, the arts inspire our children to explore their own creativity and to encourage positive development in the course of their educational careers. Has anyone here not observed how a student can blossom academically after the student finds a sense of accomplishment and achievement through artistic expression? The arts are a fundamental component of our society and warrant Federal funding. Americans for the Arts was chartered in 1960 in North Carolina with the ``mission of enhancing public and private support for the nonprofit arts and serving local arts councils in the United States.'' Fifty years later, we all owe Americans for the Arts a debt of gratitude for successfully accomplishing this mission year in and year out. A few years after they were formed, Americans for the Arts helped establish the National Endowment for the Arts, which, to this day, has exposed millions of Americans to the arts and has supported local artists in a multitude of disciplines. Even in this difficult economy, Americans for the Arts has continued to lead by supporting local public and nonprofit arts agencies. Americans for the Arts has also continued to help expose a new generation of students to the arts, both in and out of school. Further, as the gentlewoman from New York reported, Americans for the Arts has noted in its report of ``Arts and Economic Prosperity'' across the country that the ``nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year.'' The report also details that the arts support 5.7 million jobs and generate $29.6 billion in government revenue. So not only are the arts good for our cultural development as a society, but they are good for our economic development as well. While today we are recognizing Americans for the Arts for their first 50 years of accomplishments, we here should wish them well for the next 50 years. We need Americans for the Arts to remain, for years to come, a vital institution in our society.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Indiana, and I rise in strong support of this legislation to award Dr. Muhammad Yunus a Congressional Gold Medal for his efforts to fight global poverty. This bill already has passed by unanimous consent in the other body. I am pleased to have introduced the House version of this bill, which garnered 297 bipartisan cosponsors, an indication of the remarkable impact of Dr. Yunus's work. Muhammad Yunus is widely known as the banker to the poor, and is one of the world's great humanitarians and an economic genius. In 1974, as Bangladesh was struggling with a terrible famine, this professor of economics led his students out of the classroom and into a village nearby. There they discovered that impoverished people could not get ahead because of the oppressive business practices of money lenders who exploited their poverty and desperation. With just $27, as we have heard today, of his own money, Professor Yunus liberated 42 victims of these unfair practices from their debt burdens. And from that first experience with the power of a small amount of money, Dr. Yunus developed the concept of microcredit. With just a few dollars to work with, the poor are able to become entrepreneurs. They sell vegetables or clothing or handmade goods and other products in order to slowly generate and accumulate profits, or they devise clever service industries with a cell phone or a computer that they can buy with their microloan. And it turns out that the poor are wary of debt and are careful stewards of money. Repayment rates for microloans are consistently near 97 percent. And step by step, these borrowers build individual ladders on which they can climb out of poverty and into the mainstream economy. Within a few years of his first trip to that destitute village, Professor Yunus created the Grameen Bank to act as a bank to the poor in Bangladesh. Today, Grameen Bank has over 2,500 branches. It serves over 8.3 million people in 81,000 villages. It has disbursed nearly $10 billion to the poor, with a recovery rate around 97 percent. Most importantly, it is estimated that nearly 60 percent of Grameen Bank's borrowers have crossed the poverty line. Many of these are women. Over the last three decades, Dr. Yunus has made the elimination of poverty his life's work. And the concept of microcredit has been widely adopted as an idea. And the idea has evolved from microcredit into the field of microfinance, which now serves the poor with a portfolio of financial services, including savings accounts and insurance and fund transfers, educational loans, and pension plans. The World Bank estimates that microfinance institutions now serve 160 million people in developing countries. Women, who make up 60 percent of the world's poorest citizens and disproportionately shoulder the burdens of poverty, receive over 95 percent of the microloans. The funds allow them to increase their independence and improve the quality of life for their entire families. Children of borrowers are more likely to attend school and enjoy better nutrition. Yet even with these accomplishments, there is more to be done. There are 2.6 billion people around the world who live on less than $2 a day. And the poorest 1.4 billion live on less than $1.25 per day. Microfinance still needs to take deeper root in Africa, where 75 percent of the population lives on less than $2 per day. We must commit ourselves to addressing their needs, and microfinance can be a key component of that work. Muhammad Yunus and those who have followed in his footsteps have made it possible for the working poor to transform themselves into an entrepreneurial middle class and for beggars to become business people. Professor Yunus has been recognized with the Nobel Prize for Peace and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. He continues to challenge economic preconceptions and to challenge the acceptance of poverty around the world. We, with this, further honor his achievements and his extraordinary vision of making poverty, as he spoke in Oslo, a concept that future generations may understand only by visiting a museum. Finally, I would like to acknowledge some of the people who helped bring this bill to the floor. My colleagues Representative Moran of Virginia, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Representative Carter, Representative McDermott have been instrumental. Grassroots members of the RESULTS advocacy organization from around the country have helped raise awareness about microfinance and the effort to recognize Muhammad Yunus for his efforts. I commend Senators Durbin and Bennett for their leadership in moving this bill through the Senate, and I thank Chairman Frank for his assistance in expediting consideration here in the House.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, this week the House pauses to remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on our nation some nine years ago. My district suffered casualties that day, including Cranbury, New Jersey businessman Todd Beamer. Todd's words, ``Let's Roll'', were the prelude to the first act in striking back against the terrorist who had hijacked Flight 93. His sacrifice and that of the other passengers and crew aboard Flight 93 undoubtedly save many lives that terrible day. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Lisa, and his children, David, Drew, and Morgan Kay, and to all the other families who lost loved ones on that day. Nine years later, the memory of that terrible day remains fresh for those who lost someone dear to them. At the memorial service in Middletown in my district, we recalled the names of the fallen, including Stephen Cangialosi, Kathleen Hunt, Robert Parks, Edward Desimone, and Brendan and Roseanne Lang--just some of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. My thoughts also turned to Richard Guadagno, formerly of Trenton and the manager of the Humbolt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, who perished on Flight 93. We owe debt of gratitude to the families of the victims for pressing for an investigation into how the attacks happened and how to prevent future tragedies. Kristin Breitweiser, Nikki Stern, Ginny Bauer, and other affected families from across the country demonstrated the power of citizen action. We will never forget these people, nor the courage and dedication of those they left behind and who continue to remind of us of the need to honor their memory and their sacrifice. I've spent many of my years in Congress since the 9/11 attacks working to prevent a repeat of that tragedy. We are safer today in many ways than before 9/11, but there is still much for us to do. The best way we can honor those Americans who lost their lives on that day is to continue working to make our country safer still. Osama bin Laden and his band of murderers inflicted great physical harm on our country and our citizens, but neither he nor terrorists like him will never be able to break our spirit or cause us to walk away from our friends around the world.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, which also authorizes the Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program. Residential housing accounts for one-third of the Nation's total electricity demand and about 22 percent of all energy use in the United States. Moreover, it is estimated that existing technologies and practices could reduce energy use--and therefore home energy costs for American families--by up to 40 percent per home. This legislation will allow electric utilities and co-ops to make low-interest loans of a few thousand dollars to consumers who wish to make energy efficient upgrades to their homes. The loans can then be repaid on the consumers' electric bill, with most of the loan costs covered by their savings in electricity. The Rural Energy Savings and Home Star Energy Efficiency programs will help homeowners with the upfront costs of installing energy efficiency retrofits while boosting markets for U.S. manufacturers of energy efficiency products and creating new jobs for our construction workers and contractors. It is estimated that the two programs will create nearly 200,000 jobs in the construction, manufacturing, and retail sectors that have been devastated by the recent recession. At the same time, these programs will help curb our Nation's carbon emissions and reduce our unsustainable dependence on fossil fuels. This legislation is good for our economy, good for American worker and consumers, good for the environment, and good for our Nation's energy security.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of the floods that began on July 29, 2010 in northwestern Pakistan. Twelve million people have already been affected, and the Pakistani government estimates that millions more could be affected as the floods spread to the lower half of Punjab and the Sindh region. Already, there are counted more than 1600 dead, and the flooded regions have become plagued by water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery. The death toll could escalate tragically if major dams, such as the Guddu and Sukkur, fail as a result of the flood waters. The United States has taken an active role in responding to this disaster in Pakistan. The U.S. military has rescued hundreds of people and delivered tens of thousands of pounds of relief supplies. Hundreds of thousands of halal meals have been provided to victims and relief workers. The U.S. Agency for International Development is coordinating the $35 million in U.S. assistance funds that will help provide food, health care, water, sanitation, and shelter for those displaced by the floods. I commend the humanitarian efforts of our troops and civilian personnel in the region. We must continue to do all we can to assist the Pakistani people at this terrible time.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the commencement of Ramadan, which begins tonight at dusk. Most Americans are not familiar with Ramadan. In New Jersey, with our diverse, cosmopolitan population, we understand well the significance this month has for America's millions of Muslims and for Muslims around the globe. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, a time of fasting, prayer, spiritual renewal, and contemplation. The observance of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is a time when adherents to the faith give generously to charities both locally and around the world. Ramadan is a time to strengthen ties to family and community in the form of meals shared among friends and neighbors at sunset, when the fast is broken. During Ramadan, our American-Muslim neighbors in the 12th District volunteer their time at area soup kitchens in places like Trenton and New Brunswick. It has been my privilege to represent the American-Muslim population in Central Jersey, a vibrant, thriving community of doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, U.S. servicemen and women, and working class Americans. Their concerns are the same as those of many Americans--maintaining high standards of education to ensure that their children can compete globally, sustaining their small businesses, rebuilding our economy, and seeking new energy sources to reduce waste. There is no greater testament to the American way of life than the fact that Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus--people of all faiths--live and work side-by-side in our local communities across the nation. The vast majority of our Muslim neighbors reject the extremist ideologies that have taken root on the fringes of Islam, tarnishing the name of that religion. As I visit with my friends in the American-Muslim community of Central New Jersey, I see clearly that the relationship between American democratic values and a moderate Islam has been, and will continue to be, mutually beneficial. I look forward to participating in Ramadan iftaars in the 12th District and to continuing to serve American-Muslims and members of all the faith communities in Central New Jersey.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, last month we marked the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Prior to this law's enactment, disabled Americans experienced discrimination in almost all aspects of society. They were denied educational opportunities and employment, denied access to buildings and transportation, and denied basic civil rights. In passing the ADA in 1990, Congress strove to provide to people with disabilities full participation in society, defeating the false stereotype that they would not be able to live and work independently and self-sufficiently. Today, more than 50 million Americans with physical or mental impairments legally are protected from discrimination in the areas of employment, public accommodation, public services, transportation, and telecommunications. Two years ago, we strengthened the ADA by passing legislation broadening coverage to individuals with disabilities who had been excluded from protection as a result of several Supreme Court decisions. Our Nation has come a long way since the passage of the ADA. Prior to the law's enactment, even the halls of Congress were not accessible to disabled Americans. On the 20th anniversary of the passage of the ADA, Congressman Langevin (RI-02), the first quadriplegic to serve in Congress, presided over the House, marking the first time a Member in a wheelchair ever has presided over the House of Representatives. I have heard some comment that the Speaker's platform was specially modified to accommodate Representative Langevin. When we made it possible for Representative Langevin to preside over the House, we were not accommodating an individual--we were realizing the dream that any American, regardless of their circumstances, can preside over ``the people's House.'' The same point can be made with regard to construction and modifications in some schools to comply with the ADA. I have heard school officials comment that an expensive change was made for a particular student. I react strongly against that way of thinking. We should all remember that the changes should not rest on a single student; rather, they are part of our ongoing attempt to provide full equality of opportunity in our great country.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I have taken some time to review some of the previously classified documents on the war in Afghanistan that were published by the WikiLeaks.org website. Before rushing to judgment about this very large, unauthorized disclosure of information, I wanted to review some of the documents myself to determine if indeed potential human sources of information had been compromised. After reviewing some of these documents, I have concluded that their release could indeed cause real harm to real people. I have frequently taken the executive branch to task for over- classifying documents. There have been many episodes in our nation's history where the classification system has been used to hide improper acts or to shield policy-makers and bureaucrats from scrutiny or embarrassment. The Pentagon Papers episode is perhaps the most well publicized example of the executive branch seeking to keep information classified because it is embarrassing. That is not the case with the so-called ``Afghan War Diary'' of WikiLeaks.org. Some of the documents I reviewed contained the names of real Afghan insurgents who turned themselves in to U.S. or Afghan government forces. Those same reports say these defectors were interrogated, and we may presume that after they are released from custody they and their families could be in danger of assassination by other insurgents. The government has a legitimate need to keep secret any sources and methods that are truly important for our nation's security. The individual or individuals responsible for the release of these unredacted documents should be prosecuted. A criminal investigation into this matter is underway.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5900, the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act. Today we have the opportunity to make good on the promise we made to the Families of Flight 3407 when we passed the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act in October of last year. Our promise that Congress would act to correct the lack of oversight and safety standards that contributed to the crash of Continental Flight 3407 in Buffalo, NY in February of 2009, taking the lives of 50 people. Three residents of New Jersey's 12th Congressional district were on this flight; Lorin Maurer, Ron Gonzales and Coleman Mellett. I have spoken with and heard from their families and friends, and my thoughts and prayers go out to them as they cope with the loss of these outstanding individuals. Lorin was a rising star at Princeton University whose positive attitude and volunteerism served as a shining example for the community. Ron was a tireless advocate for his community and he worked hard to save children who were in crisis due to domestic violence, drugs, gangs, and other social ills. And Coleman was a talented musician. Their passing was a huge loss to our community. I have been vigilant in working to ensure that we address the serious safety concerns that led to the crash. A series of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearings exposed the disturbing fact that the crash of Flight 3407 was preventable. The pilots had received inadequate training on how to recover from a stall and how to proceed in icing conditions. Severe pilot fatigue also was identified as the cause of the crash. The NTSB found that regional carriers are held to lower safety standards than national carriers despite regional airlines' accounting for one-half of all scheduled flights in the United States. As a result, five of the last seven fatal commercial plane crashes involved regional carriers. As more Americans rely on commuter airlines for air service, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must take aggressive action to ensure that there is no difference in the level of safety provided by different air carriers. The NTSB hearings also made clear that the FAA has failed to issue regulations based on previous NTSB recommendations to establish uniform standards for training and performance. We owe it to the families and friends of the victims of the Flight 3407 to take action to prevent such tragedies in the future. Last year I joined my colleagues from Upstate New York, Christopher Lee and Brian Higgins in introducing the One Level of Safety Act. Our legislation would require regional carriers to meet the same training and safety standards of national carriers. Additionally, it would require the FAA to implement the unfulfilled NTSB recommendations that were found to be responsible for this crash. I would like to thank Chairman Costello for including these important provisions in the Airline Safety & Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6080, which will provide $600 million to bolster ongoing security efforts and to reduce violence along our nation's southern border. Like many of my constituents, I am concerned about the influx of illegal immigrants into America. The level of violence stemming from the drug trade in Mexico, which has spilled over into the Southwest, is unacceptable. The Obama administration has committed more than 17,000 border patrol agents to the southern border, a historic high, yet we must do more. The bill will provide $176 million for 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents to be deployed along the southwest border and $68 million to hire 250 new Customs and Border Protection officers at ports of entry along the border. It also will fund two new unmanned aerial vehicles for Customs and Border Protection to monitor the border. The bill will provide $80 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hire more than 250 special agents, investigators, intelligence analysts, and mission support staff to investigate and reduce narcotics smuggling and associated violence. Additional funding will go to the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Project Gunrunner, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and to the Federal government's efforts to incarcerate criminal illegal immigrants and to reduce the backlog in the nation's immigration courts. Importantly, this bill is fully paid for by increasing fees for visas that permit foreign workers to work in the United States and by reallocating $100 million of unspent funds at the Department of Homeland Security. These fee increases would apply only to companies with more than 50 employees with a workforce predominantly comprised of visa-holding foreign workers. The history of America is a history of immigration and of immigrants. From the first settlers in Jamestown and Plymouth to the masses greeted by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island fleeing poverty and persecution in the old world, millions have sought a new life in America. Immigrants continue to this day to be a vital part of our social fabric and a key contributor to economic growth. While Congress needs to address immigration reform in a comprehensive manner, our first priority must be securing our borders by providing additional tools and resources to those who patrol the border. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, the bill before us makes critical investments in education which are fully paid for by closing tax loopholes that reward corporations who ship jobs overseas and by finding savings in other programs. Just this week, the New Jersey School Boards Association released a survey that found that 80 percent of school districts expect to have larger class sizes and fewer teachers when school starts this fall. Our children do not get a second chance to succeed in school, and our future economic growth depends on a well educated and innovative workforce. We cannot afford to shortchange our children or risk laying off our teachers. The current economic downturn has hit the tax base hard, schools have suffered and many are being forced to cut services. Previously, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act made several sound investments in public education to keep teachers in the classroom and help school districts avoid painful cuts. Most, if not all, of this emergency funding has been spent. Further, at this most critical time, Governor Christie made the wrong call in cutting state aid to our local schools. Already he has cut $1.2 billion from education programs statewide. The $10 billion included for the Education Jobs Fund will help keep teachers in the classroom and make sure that class sizes do not balloon next fall. This funding will help keep 161,000 teachers in the classroom and at work, 3,900 in New Jersey and 160 in Central New Jersey. I am deeply concerned that Governor Christie is considering not applying for the funds our state is slated to receive. If he fails to do so, the legislation allows the U.S. Secretary of Education to make awards to other entities in New Jersey so our students do not suffer.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the week of August 9, 2010, as Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week. This important event is sponsored by the American Nephrology Nurses' Association, ANNA. The week helps remind us and all Americans of the needs of patients suffering from or at risk of End Stage Renal Disease, ESRD. I have met with nephrology nurses from my district to discuss ESRD and hear from them firsthand about their work. According to national reports, over 400,000 Americans have irreversible kidney failure. The only treatment for ESRD is dialysis or kidney transplantation; however, transplantation is limited due to the shortage of donors. The majority of patients undergo regular dialysis treatments to sustain life. In my home state of New Jersey there are 10,882 people who suffer from ESRD and require regular dialysis. Nephrology nurses play a critical role in providing kidney disease patients with dialysis and related care and treatment to patients with ESRD across the entire country. ANNA's Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week provides a great opportunity for everyone to learn about the excellent work being done by nephrology nurses across the country. Finally, I want to commend the nephrology nurses in New Jersey for the great work they do every day.

Mr. HOLT

Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Virginia and join with him in our concern for the workers, the restaurateurs, the small business owners, all those who depend on the Gulf of Mexico for their livelihoods. This gives us ample motivation to close this loophole which allows oil companies to shift the cost for cleanup from the oil company to the taxpayers. Current law would allow an oil company subsidiary that is responsible for an oil spill to declare bankruptcy. We must not depend just on the good word of the oil companies. We have been given ample reason to question that good word. Even today, the new CEO of BP says he's entertaining the idea of scaling back the cleanup in the gulf. We must close every loophole. This amendment of Mr. Connolly, Mr. Welch and I, and others, would ensure that companies like BP pay every last cent that they are liable for, that the spill not spill over to the taxpayer.