Katherine Harris

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, today the House of Representative stands at the threshold of passing landmark legislation that protects and improves Medicare while providing our seniors with a real prescription drug benefit. While the debate remains properly focused upon this moral obligation to our seniors, I wish to highlight another exciting component of health care reform that we will address today. H.R. 2596, the Health Savings and Affordability Act of 2003, authorizes the creation of health savings accounts which will enable every American to pay their basic medical expenses from tax-free money. In almost every purchase of goods and services except health care, individuals bargain directly with vendors and providers. Assuming an adequately competitive market, suppliers will not charge more than buyers are willing and able to pay for very long. The structure of our current health care system pushes consumers to the sidelines. Big insurance companies negotiate prices with big health care conglomerates, producing a distorted market and more expensive health care, prescription drugs, and health insurance premiums for the uninsured and self-employed. H.R. 2596 allows Americans, particularly Medicare-eligible seniors, to use health care savings accounts to pay for medical expenses, prescription drug costs, retiree health insurance expenses, long-term care service, and COBRA coverage. It permits family members and employers to make tax-free contributions to these accounts. The nature and uncertainty of health care expenses will always require critical programs such as Medicare and an efficiently-operating insurance industry. That is why the reforms that we will adopt in H.R. 1 are so vital. Nevertheless, through the magic of the free market, H.R. 2596 will reduce costs that many Americans pay for the most basic health care needs, while forcing our entire health care system to become more efficient.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an extraordinary group of high school students, who have set the gold standard for leadership, compassion, and selflessness in my hometown of Sarasota, FL. In September of 2002, Zak Tanjeloff, a student attending Sarasota High School, founded the Why Me? Club to implement his vision of providing relief to the poverty-stricken children of South America. Demonstrating amazing dedication and skill, Zak and his fellow students have organized and managed major relief efforts entirely on their own. Motivated by a soul-searching question--``Why am I lucky enough to live the life I live when so many suffer so greatly throughout the world?''--they have collected and delivered medical supplies, school supplies, sporting goods, dental supplies, toiletries, toys, and other items that most children and adults take for granted to impoverished locations in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Surinam. While their fellow students vacationed on Florida's beaches during Spring Break 2003, the Why Me? Club, in partnership with Operation Serving Children, delivered over $100,000 worth of much-needed medical supplies to the people of Chisec, Guatemala. Moreover, a second group of Why Me? members recently traveled once again to Chisec with yet another $100,000 in medical supplies. Mr. Speaker, these exceptional young men and women deserve our thanks and our acclaim. Their generosity, their global awareness, and their commitment to the most vulnerable members of the human family demonstrate that the greatest virtues of our Nation still illuminate the hopes and dreams of our children.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8, which will finally free America's hardworking farmers, small business owners and their families from the specter of the death tax. Benjamin Franklin said, ``In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.'' This observation notwithstanding, I doubt that even the imaginative Mr. Franklin foresaw the taxation of death itself. Americans are taxed when they earn money. They are taxed once again when they spend what is left. And at last, not even the cold head of death can stay the grasping hands of the tax collector. By pursuing taxpayers beyond the grave, government visits devastating consequences upon their grieving relatives, forcing some to sell the family business or the family farm just to pay the taxes. The National Federation of Independent Businesses has estimated that the death tax will compel one-third of small business owners today to sell some or all of their business. Moreover, according to the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, simply planning for the death tax costs small businesses an average of $125,000 over 5 years. Worse yet, mainstream economists of all political stripes have concluded that the death tax stifles the creation of jobs and opportunity. Economist Allen Sinai, a consultant for presidential administrations of both parties, has concluded that the permanent repeal of the death tax could create 160,000 new jobs and an increase in GDP of over $10 billion. Mr. Speaker, the opponents of H.R. 8 cannot provide any economic justification for the continued existence of this useless relic. It may even cost more in compliance and to collect this onerous tax than it generates in revenue while it punishes thrift, deters investment and diverts capital to unproductive activities such as tax avoidance.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, despite the large amount of attention that matters of national security have demanded, the House has remained steadfast in confronting the threats to security here at home. We passed decisive measures to revitalize our financial security and our economy. Moreover, we continue to confront the corporate greed that has threatened the life savings of millions of Americans. These dramatic efforts to restore America's economic security will mean little, however, until we address the moral obligation to our seniors. After all, they are the people who built America's prosperity in the first place. The enactment of the Medicare program constituted a sacred pact with our seniors. It reflected our Nation's belief that the health concerns associated with advancing age should not raise the specter of grinding poverty. Nevertheless, while our society enjoys an unprecedented level of wealth and material comfort, our seniors still suffer sleepless nights worrying about how they will afford critical medical and life saving prescription drugs. Far too often, good politics has taken precedence over good policy. Meanwhile, men and women who spent their lives investing in this country have paid the price of political inaction. Yet, thanks to the visionary leadership of the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), the gentleman from California (Chairman Thomas) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Chairman Tauzin), our seniors at least have reason to hope. The Speaker has articulated four principles for improving Medicare and providing our seniors with a real prescription drug benefit. First, we must lower the cost of prescription drugs now. Second, all seniors must have prescription coverage. Third, Medicare must have more choices and more savings. Finally, Medicare must be strengthened for the future. The bill that the gentleman from California (Chairman Thomas) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Chairman Tauzin) have proposed passes these four essential tests with flying colors. It recognizes our seniors deserve the right to choose their doctor, their health care plan and their prescription drug plan. Most important, this bill completely covers the prescription drug costs of low income seniors, as well as the catastrophic medication needs of every senior. Further, it modernizes the Medicare system through the use of new technology, health, education and preventive care. Mr. Speaker, I applaud our leadership for developing this outstanding legislation, and I look forward to a strong bipartisan effort to achieve its passage.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1474, the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act. Every day banks assume enormous risks in order to create jobs and build opportunities. They have infused our economy with its lifeblood of capital and credit, while maintaining the health of our global economy's circulatory arteries. Nevertheless, banks still must cope with costly and antiquated laws and regulations that do not accurately reflect the realities, demands, and opportunities of today's cyber economy. Under the current law that governs the check-clearing process, banks must physically transport checks to a recipient bank, unless an electronic exchange agreement is in place with that recipient bank. This requirement is costly, time-consuming and completely unnecessary in light of the safeguards and security available through digital imaging and electronic transmission. H.R. 1474 helps us bring our banking system into the 21st century by granting full legal standing to substitute checks which can be digital images of the front and back of the original check that contain all of the information in readable form. This bill modernizes the check collection process enabling banks to provide customers with faster and less expensive service. Moreover, H.R. 1474 retains and enhances all of the legal protections against fraud and errors that consumers enjoy under the current system while preserving the flexibility of recipient banks to process an electronically received check in the same way they would process the original. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this long overdue legislation which will play a critical role in preserving the health of our financial system and revitalizing our economy, and I applaud the leadership and the sponsors this bill.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take the time of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton).

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I am amazed by the revisionist history that continues to accompany these arguments against the jobs and growth package. We continue to hear the accusations that the President's 2001 economic plan has not worked. Against what benchmark are we evaluating the success of this policy? President Bush inherited a speculative bubble that had burst into the Clinton-Gore recession when this body first passed that plan. September 11, of course, worsened our economic outlook even more dramatically. What was the result, then, of the President's 2001 economic plan? A potential depression became one of the shortest recessions on record. Now the economy is growing again, but the American people continue to fear for their own economic security and for the dreams they nurture for their children and their grandchildren. The recovery remains sluggish because the temporary nature of the 2001 tax cuts has restrained businesses from fully returning to an investment and growth mode. An unpredictable and ever-changing Federal tax policy is inimical to the long-term, predictable model that businesses require. Thus, this year's jobs and growth package finishes the job that President Bush and Congress started in 2001. Mr. Speaker, President Bush's plan to revitalize our economy is rooted in values instead of expediency. It reflects the belief and the genius of the American people instead of the power of government. It follows the principle that the American people are better than Washington bureaucrats when it comes to creating jobs and wealth. John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan understood the power of this idea. They featured tax cuts as the centerpiece of their economic agenda, launching two of the longest economic booms in American history. When Ronald Reagan inherited a shattered economy wracked by double-digit inflation, 20 percent interest rates, long gas lines, and stagnant productivity, he turned the conventional economic wisdom on its head. At the time, the so-called experts told us that high inflation was a necessary evil of a growing economy. They also said that the Reagan tax cut plan would not fix the economy; it would only worsen inflation. They were wrong. President Reagan once quipped that when a friend of his was asked to a costume ball, he slapped some egg on his face and went as a liberal economist. President Bush's plan will rescue us from the economic morass the last administration left behind, just as Ronald Reagan's visionary leadership accomplished more than 20 years ago. The jobs and growth package the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) has proposed includes all of the President's priorities, including the acceleration of individual rate cuts, marriage penalty relief, an increase in the child care tax credit, and a dividend cut. It also includes a capital gains tax cut that our economy desperately needs. Balancing the budget remains a very important objective, and growing the economy while controlling spending is the best way I know how to achieve that goal. I am concerned about deficits, but I am much more concerned about making certain that Americans have jobs. The Federal Government's tax revenues increased after the 1981 Reagan tax cuts. The deficits of the 1980s occurred because spending increased at a more rapid pace than revenue. Thus, we must keep spending in check. This legislation will provide immediate stimulus to the economy and to the stock market, creating more jobs and opportunity. Moreover, this bill will produce the prosperity over the long term, providing desperately needed tax relief for every American who pays our bills.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I remain amazed at revisionist history which continues to accompany arguments against this visionary jobs and growth package. We continue to hear accusations that the President's 2001 economic plan has not worked. Against what benchmark are we evaluating the success of this policy? President Bush inherited a speculative bubble that had burst in the Clinton-Gore recession when this body passed that plan. September 11, of course, worsened our economic outlook even more dramatically. What was the result, then, of the President's 2001 economic plan? A potential deep depression became one of the shortest recessions on record. The economy is growing again, yet the American people continue to fear for their own economic security and for the dreams they nurture for their children and grandchildren. The recovery remains sluggish, because the temporary nature of the 2001 tax cuts has restrained businesses from fully returning to the investment and growth mode. An unpredictable and ever-changing Federal tax policy is inimical to the long-term, predictable model that businesses require. Thus, this year's job and growth package finishes the job that President Bush and Congress began in 2001. Mr. Speaker, President Bush's plan to revitalize our economy is rooted in values instead of expediency. It reflects his belief that the genius of the American people is more powerful than the power of government. It follows the principle that indeed the American people are far better than Washington bureaucrats when it comes to creating jobs and wealth. John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan understood the power of this idea. They featured tax cuts as the centerpiece of their economic agenda, launching two of the longest economic expansions in American history. When Ronald Reagan inherited a shattered economy wracked by double-digit inflation, 20 percent interest rates, long gas lines and stagnant productivity, he turned the conventional economic wisdom on its head. At the time, the so-called experts told us that high inflation was a necessary evil of a growing economy. They also said that the Reagan tax cut plan would not fix the economy; it would only worsen it. They were wrong. President Reagan once quipped that when a friend of his was invited to a costume party, he actually slapped some egg on his face and went as a liberal economist. President Bush's plan will rescue us from the economic morass the previous administration left behind, just as Ronald Reagan's visionary leadership accomplished more than 20 years ago. The jobs and growth package Chairman Thomas has proposed includes all of the President's priorities, including the acceleration of individual rate cuts, marriage penalty relief, an increase in the child tax credit and a capital gains and dividend tax cut. Balancing the budget remains a very important objective and growing the economy while controlling spending is the best way to achieve that goal. I am concerned about deficits, but I am much more concerned about making certain that Americans have jobs. The Federal Government's tax revenues increased after the Reagan tax cuts. The deficits of the 1980s occurred because spending outpaced revenue. Thus, we must keep spending in check. This tax plan will create 1.2 million new jobs for Americans, and we must pass it.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, as our Nation confronts the threats of terrorism, tyranny, and weapons of mass destruction, we must not forget the ethical and practical imperative to fight nature's weapons of mass destruction which manifests themselves in the form of global epidemics, such as AIDS. President Bush and this Congress have demonstrated extraordinary courage and moral leadership in focussing our Nation's attention on this critical matter of national security. H.R. 1298, the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act, implements the President's visionary proposal to combat AIDS and other infectious diseases in Africa as well as on a global scale. This legislation models programs that have experienced tremendous success throughout the world, most notably a program that has proven effective in Uganda. Such programs work with within existing cultural dynamics to combat the existing humanitarian crisis, while promoting the essential long- term societal changes that will stop the spread of these dreadful diseases. As a freshmen Member of Congress, I am heartened to note the bipartisan support and the healthy debate that has accompanied our consideration of this vital legislation. The speed and effectiveness with which we have joined the fight against the global scourge of AIDS tuberculosis, and malaria shows the American people that we can indeed work together to make the world freer, safer, healthier and more just. I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for his extraordinary vision and leadership in this momentous bill. I urge the passage of the legislation.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary work of the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation, as exemplified by an exhibit entitled ``From Sea to Shining Sea: A Celebration of Marine Sanctuaries,'' which is currently on display in my District at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. Due to the generous support of the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation's Board of Directors and contributors, ``From Sea to Shining Sea'' is traveling the country, taking the wonders of our nation's thirteen underwater marine sanctuaries to communities from coast to coast. The National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation was established in 2000 to support the education and outreach activities of the National Marine Sanctuaries Program, which Congress created in 1972 through the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act. Congress passed the Act in 1972 in response to growing awareness nationwide of the intrinsic environmental and cultural value of our coastal waters. This legislation has led to the designation of thirteen unique marine areas as National Marine Sanctuaries, which has ensured the conservation of these natural treasures through comprehensive resource management, education, and research. As they provide a secure habitat for wildlife as well as a preservation zone for shipwrecks and prehistoric artifacts, our national marine sanctuaries serve as natural classrooms and laboratories. For example, as a result of the establishment of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in November 1990, my home state is assured of the continued protection of a marine ecosystem that contains the largest coral reef in the continental United States as well as one of the most diverse assemblages of underwater plants and animals in North America. ``From Sea to Shining Sea'' features an original painting by renowned artist Robert Lyn Nelson, as well as touch screen, interactive, DVD video and exhibits that introduce visitors to all twelve national marine sanctuaries. This stunning exhibit will continue on display at the Mote Marine Laboratory through May 31, 2003. Founded in 1955, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is a long time partner with the NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary Program. Mote Aquarium educates and entertains almost 400,000 visitors per year, bringing the wonders of the marine world to visitors of all ages. Mote's Center for Tropical Research, located in Summerland Key, studies the coral reefs, other habitats, fauna and flora of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Mr. Speaker, I am especially proud to recognize artist Robert Lyn Nelson for his amazing contribution to this exhibit; Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Director Dan Basta, for his vision and dedication to our country's marine treasures; Ms. Lori Arguelles of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for leading the public outreach effort; Superintendent Billy Causey of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; Aquarium Director Dan Bebak; Mote Marine Laboratory Executive Director Dr. Kumar Mahadevan; and Mote Marine Laboratory Board of Trustees for their continued dedication to excellence in marine science, education and conservation.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 138 I was unavoidable detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Madam Speaker, this afternoon the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity of the Committee on Financial Services will begin hearings on President Bush's visionary plan to extend the dream of homeownership to tens of thousands of low-income families and individuals across our Nation. As I have consulted with housing advocates throughout my district, I have repeatedly heard that a great number of low-income Americans could meet a monthly mortgage payment were it not for that initial obstacle of the closing costs and down payment associated with the traditional residential loan. H.R. 1276, the American Dream Down Payment Act, removes that barrier for an estimated 40,000 low-income families and individuals every year. Madam Speaker, the extension of affordable quality housing opportunities to every American is a moral imperative for a decent, compassionate society. H.R. 1276 represents a powerful step toward this goal, providing thousands of men, women and children across our Nation with the dignity, stability and economic empowerment of homeownership.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 86 (H. Res. 160, Previous Question on the Rule for consideration of H.R. 1104, Child Abduction Prevention Act), I was unavoidably absent due to a request from the President of the United States that I travel with a Congressional Delegation to MacGill Airforce Base in Tampa, Florida. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, for the opportunity to briefly discuss the importance of ensuring that Miami, Florida, is selected as the location of the Permanent Secretariat for the Free Trade of Americas. Due to its role as the headquarters of the FTAA, the Permanent Secretariat will operate as the critical nerve center of an unprecedented economic colossus twice the size of the European Union. The Permanent Secretariat will provide vital administrative services for FTAA member nations, while providing the situs for dispute resolution and other critical proceedings established under the FTAA agreements. Although the FTAA will not be established until 2005, the site selection process for the Permanent Secretariat is currently ongoing. I wish to bring to the committee's attention the fact that should the FTAA become a reality, its success as well as the effective promotion of our national interests will depend significantly upon the placement of the FTAA's Permanent Secretariat in Miami, Florida. The Permanent Secretariat's ability to effectively discharge its crucial functions will depend upon its geographical proximity to member nations, the reliability of the communications, the security of its facilities, and the quality of the transportation infrastructure. Only a location in the United States can meet all of these criteria, and Miami is uniquely qualified. Miami is also universally recognized as the top of three prenegotiated candidates for the Permanent Secretariat, which also includes Panama City and Mexico City. Due to the Bush administration's drive to accelerate negotiations, the beginning of negotiations next week, and the occurrence of a ministerial meeting in November, the committee's attention to this issue could not be more timely.

Ms. HARRIS. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his acknowledgment of my request and his support.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the embodiment of an American dream. Born and raised in Honduras, Miguel Estrada arrived in the United States at age 17 as an immigrant who knew little English, but who understood the essence of America. Five years later, as a result of his unparalleled drive, perseverance and vision, he earned a Bachelor's Degree magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia College in New York City. Within the following 5 years, he had graduated magna cum laude again from Harvard Law School, where he had served as editor of the Harvard Law Review and had become a clerk for the Supreme Court of the United States. He became an eminent practicing attorney who had argued 15 cases before the Supreme Court of the United States before he was age 40. He served both in the Republican and Democratic Justice Departments, demonstrating a matchless strength of character and an incomparable depth of professional integrity. Ron Kind, who served as chief of staff to Vice President Gore and the Solicitor General for President Clinton, described Miguel Estrada as ``An extraordinary legal talent and genuinely compassionate.'' On May 9, 2001, President Bush nominated Miguel Estrada to serve in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit. He would become the first Hispanic in history to serve on that court, which is widely recognized as the second highest court in the land. The American Bar Association unanimously awarded its highest rating to Miguel Estrada, deeming him well qualified to serve in this capacity. Mr. Speaker, the Senate has not acted on this outstanding opportunity Mr. Estrada's nomination presents to our Nation. As a judge on the U.S. District Court for the D.C. circuit, his story would inspire Americans of all backgrounds, while his legal acumen would provide our system of justice with an eminently talented defender and advocate.

Ms. HARRIS

Ms. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, as a seasoned ticket holder of the Tampa Bay Bucs since the beginning of their creation, I can only tell my colleagues that we are so thrilled over their victory, and I rise to congratulate the world champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their extraordinary victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. This season the Bucs epitomized what Americans admire most in a champion. They won because of an incredible defense and an effective offense, which they built with outstanding talent and refined through extraordinary coaching. This championship did not emerge overnight. It followed many years of grit and perseverance, during which the Glazer family, general manager Rich McKay, and former head coach Tony Dungy built a winner brick by brick. Head coach John Gruden brought this sleeping giant to life. Like the leadership of this great body, he united a team of diverse talents and personalities behind his vision, flawlessly executing his championship blueprint through his team's discipline, dedication, and character. On behalf of the citizens of southwest Florida, I congratulate Coach Gruden and the entire Bucs organization for a job very well done. They have made our Tampa Bay region very proud.