Paul Hodes

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, I missed the following votes from Friday, December 17 through Wednesday, December 22, 2010. I would have voted ``yes'' on the following votes: Friday: H.J. Res. 105--Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 (Representative Obey--Appropriations) (Voice vote) 1. H. Res. 1377--Honoring the accomplishments of Norman Yoshio Mineta (Representative Honda--House Administration) 2. Senate Amendment to H.R. 1107--To enact certain laws relating to public contracts as title 41, United States Code, ``Public Contracts'' (Representative Conyers--Judiciary) 3. Senate Amendment to H.R. 628--To establish a pilot program in certain United States district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges (Representative Issa-- Judiciary) 4. H. Res. 1733--Recognizing Mark Twain as one of America's most famous literary icons on the 175th anniversary of his birth and the 100th anniversary of his death (Representative Snyder--Oversight and Government Reform) 5. H. Res. 1621--Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the historic founding of Catholic Charities USA (Representative Holt--Oversight and Government Reform) 6. H. Res. 1767--Commending the Wisconsin Badger football team for an outstanding season and 2011 Rose Bowl bid (Representative Baldwin-- Education and Labor) 7. H. Con. Res. 335--Honoring the exceptional achievements of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and recognizing the monumental contributions he has made to United States national security, humanitarian causes, and peaceful resolutions of international conflict (Representative Lowey--Foreign Affairs) 8. S. 3874--Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act (Senator Boxer-- Energy and Commerce) 9. H.R. 6533--To implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service (Representative Doyle--Energy and Commerce) 10. H.R. 6523--Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Representative Skelton--Armed Services) 11. H.R. 2142--Government Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Performance Improvement Act of 2009 (Representative Cuellar--Oversight and Government Reform) 12. H.R. 5510--Aiding Those Facing Foreclosure Act of 2010 (Representative Kaptur--Financial Services) Tuesday: Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5116--America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Representative Gordon--Science and Technology)(228-130) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2142--Government Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Performance Improvement Act (Representative Cuellar--Oversight and Government Reform) (216-139) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2751--FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (Representatives Waxman/Dingell--Energy and Commerce) (215-144) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3082--Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 (Representative Obey-- Appropriations) (193-165) 1. S. 3592--A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Commerce Drive in Tyrone, Georgia, as the ``First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins Post Office Building'' (Senator Chambliss--Oversight and Government Reform) 2. Senate Amendment to H.R. 81--Shark Conservation Act (Representative Bordallo--Natural Resources) 3. Senate Amendment to H.R. 5809--Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2010 (Representative Inslee--Energy and Commerce) 4. H.R. 6540--To require the Secretary of Defense, in awarding a contract for the KC-X Aerial Refueling Aircraft Program, to consider any unfair competitive advantage that an offeror may possess (Representative Inslee--Armed Services) 5. H.R. 6547--To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require criminal background checks for school employees (Representative George Miller--Education and Labor) 6. S. 118--Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act (Senator Kohl--Financial Services) 7. S. 1481--Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act (Senator Menendez--Financial Services) 8. S. 3243--Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010 (Senator Pryor/ Representative Shuler--Homeland Security) 9. S. 2925--Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010 (Senator Wyden--Judiciary) 10. Senate Amendment to H.R. 4748--Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act of 2010 (Representative Owens--Judiciary) 11. Senate Amendment to H.R. 1746--Pre-Disaster Mitigation Act of 2009 (Representative Oberstar--Transportation and Infrastructure) Wednesday: Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 847--James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (Representative Maloney--Energy and Commerce)(206-60) Bills Adopted By Unanimous Consent (13): 1. Senate Amendment to H.R. 6523--Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Representative Skelton--Armed Services) 2. S. 3481--Amending the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Federal responsibility for stormwater pollution (Senator Cardin--Transportation and Infrastructure) 3. House Amendment to S. 372--Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (Senator Akaka--Oversight and Government Reform) 4. H. Res. 1461--Supporting Olympic Day on June 23, 2010, and congratulating Team USA and World Fit participants (Representative Langevin--Oversight and Government Reform) 5. S. 4036--A bill to clarify the National Credit Union Administration authority to make stabilization fund expenditures without borrowing from the Treasury (Senator Dodd--Financial Services) 6. S. Con. Res. 67--A concurrent resolution celebrating 130 years of United States-Romanian diplomatic relations, congratulating the Romanian people on their achievements as a great nation, and reaffirming the deep bonds of trust and values between the United States and Romania, a trusted and most valued ally (Senator Voinovich-- Foreign Affairs) 7. Senate Amendment to H.R. 6560--Removal Clarification Act of 2010 (Representative Hank Johnson--Judiciary) 8. H. Res. 1779--Honoring the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders (Representative John Lewis (GA)--Judiciary) 9. Senate Amendment to H.R. 5901--Real Estate Jobs and Investment Act of 2010 (Representative Joe Crowley--Ways & Means) 10. H. Res. 1783--Technical Correction to H. Res. 1757 (Representative Brady (PA)--House Administration) 11. S. 4058--Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2010 (Senator Kerry--Veterans' Affairs) 12. S. 3903--To authorize leases of up to 99 years for lands held in trust for Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo (Senator Udall--Natural Resources) 13. Senate Amendment to H.R. 6517--To extend trade adjustment assistance and certain trade preference programs, to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify temporarily certain rates of duty, and for other purposes (Representative Levin-- Ways and Means)

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, due to unforeseen circumstances, I missed one vote in a series of votes on Thursday, November 5, 2009. I would have voted ``yea'' on the following vote: H.R. 878, a resolution expressing support for the goals and ideals of National Family Literacy Day.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the legislation I introduced, House Resolution 159. My resolution honors the New Hampshire State Senate for becoming the first statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States. New Hampshire has a proud tradition of being a first-in-the-nation State, and with this historic achievement, the Granite State continues to lead the way in providing equal opportunity for everyone. I am proud to represent the great State of New Hampshire, which today shines as an example for the entire country. I want to recognize all 13 women who are currently serving in the New Hampshire State Senate. They are the Honorable Sharon Carson, Jacalyn Cilley, Martha Fuller Clark, Betsi DeVries, Peggy Gilmour, Margaret Hassan, Molly Kelly, Sylvia Larsen, Bette Lasky, Amanda Merrill, Deborah Reynolds, Sheila Roberge, and Kathleen Sgambati. These leaders comprise the majority female body of the New Hampshire State Senate and were elected to office on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on December 3, 2008. I would also like to recognize the following women, who played critical roles in the history of New Hampshire government: Senator Jeanne Shaheen was the first woman in the State of New Hampshire to be elected Governor in 1997. She is currently serving as the first female senator from the State of New Hampshire. The first woman to serve as a member of the New Hampshire State Senate was E. Maude Ferguson, who served from 1931 to 1933. Vesta Roy served as the first female State Senate President, and in 1983 she became the first female Governor of the State of New Hampshire. In 1994, the Honorable Sylvia Larsen was elected to the New Hampshire State Senate and has served 7 consecutive terms thus far. She is currently serving in her second term as President of the New Hampshire Senate. In 1996, the Honorable Terie Norelli was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives and has served 6 consecutive terms thus far, and in 2008 was re-elected to serve as Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives for a 2nd consecutive term. Thank you for bringing this important resolution on the New Hampshire State Senate's historic achievement of being the first statewide legislative body with a majority of women in the United States to the floor of the House of Representatives for consideration. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Thank you. I am glad to be with you tonight to talk about what is perhaps the most critical issue we face as a nation if we are to thrive, if our economy is to prosper again, and if we are to deliver to the American people, people of my State of New Hampshire, what they have been long asking for, which is real reform on health care. We are going to lower costs for everybody, we're going to deliver better quality care, and we are going to put the people of this country back in control of their health care. Because right now, with all the noise that's been out there--and you've referenced the notion that's been put forward of a government takeover of health care. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. But at the moment what is between us and our health care are insurance company bureaucrats who are making life-and-death decisions and are able to discriminate against the American people based on profits for the insurance companies. That simply has to end. I'm going to tell you a story. It's a story of how change happens. It's a story of tragedy and it's a story, ultimately, of triumph. But it talks to the issue of what kind of situation we're in with our insurance companies. In my district in New Hampshire at Plymouth State College there was a young woman named Michelle Morse. She was in her senior year. Beautiful young lady, 3.6 grade average, an honor student. She was looking forward to graduating at the end of her senior year and moving on with a happy life. She woke up one day with a stomachache. By the next morning, she was diagnosed with cancer--serious, aggressive, fast-moving cancer. And her doctors said to her, You've got to leave school and take a leave of absence in order to get treated for your cancer. And so she and her family--because she was on her family's insurance policy--went to their agent. They called their insurance company and they explained the situation and they said Michelle has to leave school to get treated for cancer. What came back from the insurance company was, Well, that's up to you. That's fine. If Michelle needs to leave school, she leaves school. Let her take a leave of absence. But if she's not a full-time student, if she takes a leave of absence, she will no longer be covered by your insurance. The Morse family couldn't believe it. But, sure enough, buried in the print of that insurance policy was exactly that--unless Michelle was a full-time student, she wouldn't be covered. So they made the difficult decision. Michelle stayed in school. She took three courses of chemotherapy. She finished with honors--an incredible achievement. And sadly, Michelle died. Now her mother, Ann Marie Morse, is a teacher. She's a teacher that teaches elementary school kids. She had never been involved in politics a day in her life. But she decided that what happened to her daughter, what happened to her family, was wrong. She decided that she would make it her business to make sure that what happened would never happen to another family again. Now this is just a very small slice of the larger debate about health care; a very small piece of what it takes. So first, Ann Marie Morse, a teacher, went and lobbied everybody in Concord, New Hampshire, the capital of New Hampshire and got a State law passed, thanks to her efforts, that said college students can take a 1-year leave of absence without getting knocked off their parents' insurance policies. But that wasn't enough because it's Federal law that controls. ERISA controlled. And ERISA needed to be amended. So I worked with Ann Marie Morse. We worked here in Congress on a bipartisan basis. We got every health insurance association, we got everybody involved, because even the health insurance companies knew that what happened to Michelle Morse was wrong and it shouldn't be allowed to happen. Even the insurance companies knew that. So with Ann Marie Morse in the gallery of this House, the House by unanimous vote passed Michelle's Law to allow college students to take a 1-year leave of absence for serious medical conditions without getting knocked off their insurance. Because the Morse family had nowhere to go because now Michelle couldn't find other insurance. She had a preexisting condition. And they couldn't afford private insurance--single, private, individual insurance--because it was just priced too far out of the market because the insurance companies had a monopoly. There was nowhere to go. She couldn't get Medicaid. She couldn't get Medicare. She couldn't find any alternative. She had to stay in school. So when the House passed it, then the Senate passed the bill. President Bush signed it into law. And this Friday, October 9, Michelle's Law becomes the law of the land. So that what happened to Michelle Morse will never again happen to any college student in this country. Thousands, thousands of college students are affected. Mike Castle on the other side of the aisle was the cosponsor. He understood. A responsible Republican understood that what was wrong shouldn't happen again. So he worked on the law because he had somebody in his district who it happened to. I'm betting if we all look, all my colleagues who are here tonight, we'd find people in our districts, other people that this has happened to. It took 2 years to get that done, this small slice of the health care problem. Two years. And now we face a bigger test. Are we going to hold the insurance companies responsible for reasonable action on the part of the insurance companies? The insurance companies now are regulated by a patchwork of 50 different State rules and regulations. Fifty different schemes for regulating. We are talking about, finally, for the first time, saying to the insurance companies, as the people of the United States of America, No discrimination for preexisting conditions like diabetes or heart condition or cancer, no dropping your coverage because you become sick--both of the things that happened to Michelle Morse, which Michelle's Law is designed to affect for that small slice of college kids. No refusal to renew your coverage if you paid in full and become ill. No more job or life decisions made based on loss of coverage. No need to change doctors or plans if you like the coverage you have. No copays for preventive and wellness care. No excessive out-of-pocket expenses, deductibles, or copays. Yearly caps on what you pay, but no yearly or lifetime cost caps on what insurance companies cover. These are reasonable rules that we are finally going to set down on the insurance companies. Reasonable rules. The kind of rules of the road that the American people deserve and that our health care reform plan is going to deliver so that what happened to Michelle Morse will never happen to any family or anybody, whether they're in or out of college. It's time for real reform. With that, I'm going to turn it over to my colleague, John Sarbanes of Maryland.

Mr. HODES. I think it's a very important discussion because really what we're talking about, Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, is consumer choice. It is a hallowed principle here in this country. The American consumers want choice. And what we are doing here with the House bill is really designing a uniquely American system that delivers more choice, more competitiveness, and more control for consumers of health care. It's especially important in my State of New Hampshire because in New Hampshire, small business is big business. Some 65 percent of people in New Hampshire are employed by small businesses. What has happened in small business on the health care front is a lot worse. As bad as it is for many individuals and big businesses, for small businesses, it's a lot worse. In the same time that individual premiums have gone up 100 percent or 117 percent, for small businesses in this country premiums are up 129 percent. Since the early 1990s when 68 percent of small businesses offered health care, we are now seeing that drop off; whereas today it's about 38 percent of small businesses who are able to offer health care to their employees because the costs are simply too high. There is not enough choice in the marketplace. So what we are doing is what many of us talked about to our constituents, which is saying we think that you folks ought to have the same kind of choices that we have as Members of Congress. If an exchange, the choice, is good enough for us, it ought to be good enough for you. And what the exchange does is finally deliver stability and security and choice. Stability, security, and choice. It's the security of knowing that if a small business can't find private insurance that they like--and, by the way, what's really critical to say is if people like their insurance, there is nothing in this bill, nothing that says you've got to give up your insurance. You keep your insurance if you like it. But if you don't, you have the option. You have a choice and the security of knowing that there is a consumer choice provision. It's called public option, consumer choice, available to you that will insure you on a level playing field with competitive provisions and competitive costs that means you will be able to find insurance. That's what is critical.

Mr. HODES. Thank you. And that's exactly the point. We are simply saying that it's time for everybody in this country to have real choice in their health care because I trust the people of this country to make good choices when they have the choices to make. And I find it somewhat surprising that my colleagues in this Chamber, most of them across the aisle, say it's good enough for me, but what I've got, oh, no, you don't need it, you don't want it. Let's just leave it all to the private insurance companies. Let's just leave it all there. I don't know what's going on with that, but I would think certainly choice is the right way to go. And I can't imagine any constituent, any person we represent, wouldn't want more choice in their health care because we thrive on choice, and our competitive system in this country, our economy thrives on competition. So having it out there where private insurance companies, now there are some real rules. Folks, you're going to have to compete on a level playing field with the people of this country. Here's our choice, and the people of the country get to make the choice. I think it's a really important statement that we are making in terms of trusting the American people to make the right choices if they have the right choices, and it's high time that we gave it to them.

Mr. HODES. Thank you. I want to speak to the importance of finding common ground if we can find it, because health care is not a partisan issue as far as I'm concerned and I think most of us are concerned. Democrats need doctors and hospitals. Republicans need doctors and hospitals. Independents need doctors and hospitals. We are all in this health care system together. And I would hope that my colleagues on the other side can begin to put aside the name calling and fear tactics that have characterized so much of the debate and speak directly to the real needs of the American people for a system that delivers stability and security, that delivers real choice in health care, that keeps the good that we have in the system because we have terrific hospitals and terrific doctors who are laboring under real impediments to delivering high-quality care. If you think about what the typical doctor has to go through to fill out the forms for the insurance companies, and the stories that I have heard from my physicians in New Hampshire about the advocacy and fighting that they have to do just to deliver basic health care to their patients because of all the forms and the paperwork and the bureaucracy and administrative costs that go into it, you begin to get a picture of why costs are going up so high and what we have to do for our doctors to help them deliver better care. One of the things that we haven't talked about in the bill is an important investment in cost-saving measures like medical information technology. Currently, many of our doctors, most of our doctors and hospitals, are dealing with paper records. They're dealing with paper records and there is not a coordination of records. It has led to less quality of care than we could have. And what we are going to do in this bill is make significant investments in information technology that help all our doctors and our hospitals deliver better care. Now, my mom is 83 years old. The last time I talked to her, she was up to about six different doctors for her various needs and ailments. As far as I can tell, she has to walk from office to office carrying her records and her x rays and her pills in bags under her arm, trying to tell one doctor what the other doctor said or did, and you can see in there the kind of problems that our current system has. We have the ability to make an investment in medical records technology, which is going to deliver better care for everybody. It's an important part of the bill, and it's one of the things that has to happen to bring our system into the 21st century. We're going to protect privacy. We're going to preserve patient confidentiality. But we are going to make the necessary investments to bring the medical records technology into a place where we reduce medical errors, which reduces costs for everybody and improves the quality of care throughout our system. It's a very important component of this bill. And I can't begin to think that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would object to making that kind of investment, because in the end, when we invest in health care reform and health insurance reform, two different things, by the way, when we invest in health care reform and health insurance reform, we save billions and billions and billions of dollars over time because the system, as it is, is unsustainable. There are investments we have to make to make sure that our economy thrives and that we deliver choice, we deliver better care and better quality, and we put the American people in control of their own health care with a stable and secure system. That means they can't get thrown off their insurance. They'll have access to the medical care they need when they need it. It will be portable and affordable. And those are the hallmarks of a system that will help this country's economy thrive and, I dare say, is perhaps the single biggest economic boon we can deliver to businesses large and small, reduce our deficit, and keep us competitive in the global economy.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, due to inclement weather I missed the following votes on Monday, July 27, 2009. I would have voted as follows: (1) H. Res. 593--Recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the entry of Hawaii into the Union as the 50th State (Rep. Abercrombie--Oversight and Government Reform)--``Yes.'' (2) H.R. 1376--Waco Mammoth National Monument Establishment Act of 2009 (Rep. Edwards (TX)--Natural Resources)--``Yes.'' (3) H.R. 1121--Blue Ridge Parkway and Town of Blowing Rock Land Exchange Act of 2009 (Rep. Foxx--Natural Resources)--``Yes.''

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Chair, I congratulate Chairman Obey and the Ranking Member on all of their work on this important appropriations bill. I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by Mr. Pence. This amendment is an attack not only on Planned Parenthood but an attack on women's health. A grocery store clerk in my district recently described her difficulties with her extremely limited health insurance. It did not provide for preventative coverage. She had not received a routine health screening in more than 18 years when her cancer was discovered. If services like those provided by Planned Parenthood and other family planning health centers had been available to this woman, her cancer would have been caught earlier. She might have avoided the radical--and expensive--treatment that was the only option left to her by the time she made it to the doctor. In New Hampshire, Planned Parenthood does more than any other organization to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, serving over 18,400 patients a year. In my home state, Planned Parenthood is a trusted provider of high quality affordable health care. In fact, more than 90 percent of services provided at Planned Parenthood are for preventive and primary health care. We should be doing more to strengthen the Title X programs, and reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in this country. Planned Parenthood is the biggest provider of Title X services in New Hampshire, serving over 63 percent of the women who need these services. The proposed amendment would severely reduce access to family planning services for more than 60 percent of women in New Hampshire, and reduce access to primary health care for women across the country. Planned Parenthood should be commended for the work they do every day, helping millions of women and their families get preventive care they need. If it were not for Planned Parenthood, thousands of women in my state would not get the basic health care they need. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HODES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment I have offered, amendment No. 98. I begin by congratulating Chairman Mollohan and the ranking member on all of their important work on this legislation, and I thank the Rules Committee for making this amendment in order. Mr. Chairman, currently once taxpayer dollars have been appropriated by Congress to grant accounts, there is no accountability required of those funds. My amendment would fix this problem and make sure taxpayer dollars are accounted for after we have appropriated those moneys. In an August 2008 report on grants management, the GAO recommended that the Office of Management and Budget report annually on expired undisbursed grant accounts, but unfortunately no action has been taken on this recommendation, and taxpayer dollars are sitting unused in these accounts. My amendment is similar to what was required in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. My amendment ensures that there is clear oversight of taxpayer dollars. The amendment requires oversight and accountability of expired undisbursed grant accounts. The amendment would instruct all executive departments and independent agencies to track undisbursed balances in expired grant accounts and report the results to the Office of Management and Budget. This will help lower the national deficit because my amendment also requires the reports to identify which accounts could be returned to the United States Treasury. Now the group Citizens Against Government Waste has advocated similar policies. Most recently they advocated rescinding funds earmarked by Congress for the Federal Transit Administration that remain unobligated after 3 years. With so many families struggling in this tough economy, we must invest wisely to help our constituents and to be vigilant with taxpayer dollars. We need to ensure there is strong oversight and accountability once taxpayer dollars are appropriated. This amendment is a critical step in keeping track of our dollars once they've gone out the door. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this fiscally responsible amendment.

Mr. HODES. I yield to the gentleman from West Virginia.

Mr. HODES. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, I missed the following votes on June 8, 2009. I would have voted as follows: (1) Rollcall vote 311--H.R. 1736--International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009 (Representative Baird--Science and Technology)--``yea'' (2) Rollcall vote 312--H.R. 1709--STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009 (Representative Gordon--Science and Technology)--``yea.'' (3) Rollcall vote 313--H. Res. 420--Celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day (Representative Latta--Oversight and Government Reform)--``aye.''

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Tonko, and I join him in voicing my support for President Obama's plan to limit dangerous carbon emissions, put us on a path to energy security, and create millions of American clean energy jobs. Right now Americans realize that our American energy policy is not working. The last administration gave billions of dollars in tax subsidies to oil companies despite the fact that they were earning record profits, and despite their willingness to gouge the American people. We clearly need a new energy policy that invests in renewable energy that will be cheaper for American families and will be homegrown, American energy that will create jobs and lead the world in a 21st century energy economy. Right now we are facing the most severe economic crisis in a generation, the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression; and at the same time, our scientists are clearly telling us that our inaction is threatening the planet. Fortunately, by Congress taking one single action and passing what will come to the floor as climate legislation, we will take a giant leap towards mending both of our problems. The President has laid out an ambitious agenda, recognizing that as Americans we can do great things when we come together and work together for the common good. The President has presented us with a clean energy jobs plan that will: create new, 21st century American jobs throughout the product-supply chain; protect existing jobs; reduce our dependence on foreign oil; save money on energy costs for American taxpayers in the long run; reduce carbon pollution, and, with it, combat the dangerous effects of climate change. By forcing those who have long polluted our air and water for free to finally pay for their carbon pollution, we will begin to shift away from our dependence on dirty, outdated, obsolete energy technology. Instead, we will provide incentives for American business. We are going to unleash the American entrepreneurial spirit and create clean energy jobs. We will lead the world in technology and manufacturing that will drive a new, much more prosperous energy economy. Think of the cost savings. This plan to shift American energy production to domestic alternative sources like solar and wind and biomass, which means wood in New Hampshire where I come from, will be cheaper and cleaner and will save Americans billions of dollars in the long run. By forcing our Nation to tackle climate change and develop new energy, the plan will create millions of new jobs and whole new industries here in the United States, employing everyone from construction workers to secretaries to salespeople to engineers. It will open new markets for us. Just imagine what it is like if we can become the world leaders in renewable and alternative energy. Think of the products and services we can sell around the globe and the goodwill we will get. Inaction is no longer an option. Doing nothing about climate change will cost exponentially more than the President's plan. One respected study on this says that inaction could end up costing between 5 and 20 percent of the total world GDP. We must act. Now, my friends on the other side of the aisle are either scared of change, pessimistic about the American entrepreneurial spirit, or are denying the scientific consensus because they rely on campaign funds from oil and coal interests. The truth remains, we must act. President Obama's plan provides the support and incentives needed to help the American can-do spirit of innovation and creativity to build the new clean technologies of the future. Just as we led the world in developing the automobile and the computer, we will once again lead the world in developing new, cheaper, cleaner technologies to lead the world for the 21st century. In addition, we will provide lower-income Americans with a clean energy tax credit to assist them in this transition to a prosperous new clean energy economy. I have proposed we have a commission to make sure that Congress knows the impact on small businesses and low- and moderate-income folks of the climate change legislation that we are going to pass. We are already feeling the effects around this country of a changing climate. We ignored the warnings of the experts of the risks for far too long. We have learned the dangers, and the costs are mounting to clean up the mess after the crisis has hit. We need to act as good stewards of the Earth. The American people are trusting us to act to protect our children and our grandchildren and to be stewards of the public trust. We need to remember that there will be tremendous unsustainable economic costs of dealing with the impacts of climate change once they have occurred because Mother Nature doesn't do bailouts. So let me conclude by rejecting the charge of those who would defend the polluters and put our kids at risk. They are simply wrong. President Obama's clean energy plan is the opposite of a tax increase. It is regulating polluters to protect our country, protect our environment, create jobs, invest in American business, and save American families money via a direct tax credit and increased energy efficiency. It is time to act. Congress will have the legislation before us. We will create a new economy for the 21st century. We will create jobs. We will protect this country.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to the Republican budget because, simply put, their plan represents more of the same failed policies that caused our economic collapse. Their plan is designed to move us backwards. I support our budget because it will move our country forward. Our plan is honest because it gives the American people a true picture of what we are facing. It is visionary because it invests in health care, energy, and education. And, it is fair because it gives middle-class families real tax relief. It is fiscally responsible because it cuts the deficit in half by 2013. Our economic plan provides for the overhaul of our health care system, because we can't afford half-hearted reform. Our plan invests in renewable energy to make us energy independent, and creates green jobs to power America for the 21st century. Our plan invests in educating our citizens, and building a 21st century workforce that can beat the global competition. Our plan will cut the deficit in half by 2013, and provides the largest tax cut for middle-class Americans in history. It is the economic plan to help families who have lost their jobs, who are worried about paying their bills, concerned about how they will afford their children's education and pay for health insurance. Our economic plan will move our economy forward for the millions of working families who are struggling in this economy. I urge my colleagues to reject the Republican alternative and support our plan to invest in America's future.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate the McAuliffe- Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire today on its official opening. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors two of New Hampshire's pioneers--Christa McAuliffe, the winner of the NASA Teacher in Space Project, and Alan Shepard, the first American in space. The incredible courage and curiosity of these two Granite Staters allowed for them to reach for the stars. Christa McAuliffe taught middle school and high school students at Rundlett Junior High, Bow Memorial Middle School, and Concord High School between 1978 and 1985. On July 19, 1985, she was selected from a field of roughly 11,000 applicants to participate in NASA's Teacher in Space Project. Christa McAuliffe's mission on the flight was to teach schoolchildren lessons from space, and to encourage students to pursue careers in science and mathematics. Sadly, in 1986, her life was cut tragically short in the Challenger disaster, but her legacy of teaching children is remembered by her quote, ``I touch the future. I teach.'' Christa McAuliffe's incredible commitment to teaching is being honored by the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. This interactive center will be the first air and space center in New England. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors her life as well as her dedication to education. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard piloted the Freedom 7 mission and became the first American to travel into space. Alan Shepard also commanded the Apollo 14 mission, and was the fifth person to walk on the moon. Following his incredible work with NASA for over 13 years, he has been honored in many different ways including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Naval Astronaut Wings, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The McAuliffe- Shepard Discovery Center is another wonderful way to honor his service to our country. I would also like to applaud the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center's dedication to green building and energy efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, buildings are responsible for 39% of U.S. carbon emissions per year and account for 39% of U.S. primary energy use. By incorporating natural lighting and energy efficient HVAC systems, the Center is helping decrease total carbon emission. It also highlights how important it is for all of us to preserve our energy, resources and planet. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a great opportunity for Concord and New Hampshire to have a facility that can be a national leader in introducing the next generation to space exploration and provide a valuable education resource to both students and teachers in science, math, engineering, and technology. Education is one of the best investments we can make for our children. It provides an increasingly important advantage in the workplace and helps our students to succeed in the 21st Century. Education, and science, math, engineering, and technology education in particular, should be within the reach of all children. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center helps us towards that goal. I am honored and humbled by the incredible legacy of these two astronauts from New Hampshire, and congratulate the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center on its grand opening.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. I want to commend Chairman Obey and members of the Appropriations Committee for working together to bring this continuing resolution to the floor today. One area I want to specifically address is LIHEAP, the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program. Thousands of the people I represent in New Hampshire are staring out at a cold winter ahead and record-high home heating oil prices. This continuing resolution provides $5.1 billion for the heating assistance program. While this is a record amount of funding for the program, it unfortunately will do little more than provide the same amount of fuel to the same number of families as New Hampshire covered last year, leaving thousands of families with no assistance at all. I am deeply disappointed that we could not find more to help meet the needs of families in my district and in districts around this country. What this lack of funding will mean is that many eligible families for this program will not be able to receive assistance to keep their homes warm this winter. I will reluctantly support what is before us because this crisis is too important for us to come home emptyhanded this winter. But I want to express my frustration that we cannot find more funding for the families in New Hampshire and around the country who will not be able to get critical heating assistance this winter. Many folks are going to have to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families. This week, Congress is discussing and debating the proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. It is bitterly ironic that this Congress will shortchange families struggling to keep their homes warm this winter but still find money to bail out Wall Street. As we debate the administration's financial package this week and contemplate their reckless disregard for the welfare of the American people, Members and leaders on both sides of the aisle should think long and hard about spending $700 billion of taxpayer money on bad Wall Street debt, while millions of our own taxpayers will not be able to heat their homes this winter.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, due to illness that required hospitalization, I missed the following votes. I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 567--S. 2403--A bill to designate the new Federal Courthouse, located in the 700 block of East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Spottswood W. Robinson III and Robert R. Merhige, Jr. Federal Courthouse''--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 568--S. 2837--A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse''--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 569--S. 2135--Child Soldiers Accountability Act-- ``yes.'' Rollcall vote 570--H. Con. Res. 344--Recognizing that we are facing a lobal food crisis--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 571--H. Res. 937--Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the emergency communications services provided by the American Red Cross are vital resources for military servicemembers and their families--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 572--H. Res. 1069--Condemning the use of television programming by Hamas to indoctrinate hatred, violence, and anti- Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian children--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 573--H. Res. 1307--Commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 574--H.R. 6168--Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building--``yes,'' Rollcall vote 575--H.R. 6630--To prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border unless expressly authorized by Congress--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 576--H. Res. 1419--On Ordering the Previous Question Providing for consideration of H.R. 3667, Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2008--``yes.''. Rollcall vote 577--H. Res. 1419--On Agreeing to the Resolution Providing for consideration of H.R. 3667, Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2008--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 578--H.R. 1527, The Rural Veterans Access to Care Act-- ``yes.'' Rollcall vote 579--S. 2617, The Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 580--H.R. 3667, On Motion that the Committee Rise-- ``yes.'' Rollcall vote 581--Grijalva of Arizona Amendment to H.R. 3667-- ``yes.'' Rollcall vote 582--H.R. 3667--Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 583--H.R. 3667--On passage of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2008--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 584--H.R. 4081, The Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2007--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 589--H. Res. 1200, Honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 590--H. Con. Res. 390, Honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting the United States--``yes.'' Rollcall vote 591--H.R. 6889, To extend the authority of the Secretary of Education to purchase guaranteed student loans for an additional year, and for other purposes--``yes.''

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important partnership between State Veterans Homes and the Federal Government during its 120th anniversary. State Veterans Homes are important long-term care providers for veterans. State Homes provide quality health care for elderly and disabled veterans across the country. State Veterans Homes are one of the largest long-term care providers in the United States. There are 135 State Veterans Homes throughout the United States with more than 30,000 total beds. In a typical year, State Veterans Homes will furnish nearly 7 million days of nursing home care and about 1.5 million days of domiciliary care. These numbers continue to grow in order to meet the needs of our Nation's veterans. State Veterans Homes began after the Civil War, when a large number of indigent and disabled veterans were no longer able to earn their own livelihood and needed care. 2008 marks the 120th anniversary of the State and Federal partnership in providing quality care for veterans in the State Veterans Homes. The State Veterans Homes try to ensure that each and every eligible U.S. veteran receives the benefits, services, long term health care and respect which they have earned by their service and sacrifice. I had the honor of visiting with veterans at the State Veterans Home in Tilton, New Hampshire. Under the dedicated leadership of Commandant Barry Conway, New Hampshire veterans have a place to receive top quality long term care in a community of fellow veterans. The Veterans Home in Tilton has provided Concord native Dave Clark with top-quality health care. Dave is a disabled veteran with a can-do attitude, wheeling around the Veterans Home in his electric wheelchair, with a State of New Hampshire veteran's license plate that says ``GROOVY.'' Dave was born on September 28, 1945 in Concord, NH. He lived with his parents, his sister, and his three brothers for the first six years of his life, until his parents separated. Dave's sister was adopted, but he and his brothers spent the next 3\1/2\ years at an orphanage in Manchester. Dave was in and out of foster homes, dreaming of becoming an astronaut or attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dave changed his course when he was called up to serve his country in the U.S. Army. Dave honorably and bravely served, spending 2 years in the States before deploying to Vietnam. In Vietnam, Dave's vehicle was hit by enemy fire and the troops he was carrying were killed. Dave joined a small group of Marines in a firefight, and he was hit. Four of the Marines carried him to an aid station--and Dave credits these courageous Marines for saving his life. Dave was badly injured, and then spent the next 2 years in hospitals in Seattle, WA, Washington, DC, Fort Dix, NJ, and Manchester, NH. Dave recovered, and restarted his life in New Hampshire. Dave met and married his wife Doris, with whom he lived in Penacook, New Hampshire until Doris's death. Dave worked at Franklin Regional Hospital as a crew leader in the Environmental Services Department, continuing to serve his State and his country with honor. His new life was interrupted in March of this year when he had another stroke, leaving him paralyzed on his left side. Dave could only move his neck and his head. Dave thought he was finished after the last stroke. Dave was overwhelmed with terrible memories of the orphanage and frustrated that once again he was losing his independence. But when Ellen Douville from the New Hampshire Veterans Home Admissions Office came to visit, Dave realized the Veterans Home could give him the support he needed. The Tilton Veterans Home's staff and residents helped Dave regain mobility in his left arm and taught Dave to control a wheelchair with his chin. After 7 months, Dave was kicking a beach ball around in ``Move It or Lose It,'' an exercise program for residents. Dave is active in the Writing Group and art classes and is vice- president of the Resident Council at the Tilton Veterans Home. He has a girlfriend, Mary Tucker, who works for another healthcare organization, and this week the Veterans Home van took him to Applebee's, where he and Mary had a lunch date. Dave says that coming to the Tilton Veterans Home has been the best thing for him. But, Dave continues to be determined to get back the full use of his left side again. After he regains the use of his left side, he plans leaving the Tilton Veterans Home and marrying his girlfriend Mary in the Veterans Home gazebo down by the pond--where everyone from the State Home will be invited. This resolution honors the contribution of veterans like Dave to his country, and recognizes the leaders and staff of the Veterans Homes, like Barry Conway and Ellen Douville, who spend each and every day with patience, friendship, and care for veterans like Dave. I am proud to honor the contributions of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces and recognize that we as a Nation have a duty to serve those who have served our country faithfully. And I am proud to honor veterans like Dave and the hard working community of the Tilton Veterans Home, and State Veterans Homes across the Nation.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I want to thank the chairman for his extraordinary leadership on this important issue and for standing up for veterans around the country. I rise today to echo the concern of my colleague, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter. New Hampshire remains the only State in the Nation without a full service VA hospital, forcing many veterans to drive long distances to get the care and treatment they desperately need and that they've earned. With record high gas prices, New Hampshire veterans are simply paying more to get critical medical care, and that's plain wrong. I would like to echo the concerns of my colleague and also ask the chairman to clarify that the increases in fee-based care contained in the underlying bill are meant to address issues like those we have in New Hampshire. And I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman and members of his committee on this important issue for Granite State veterans.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of this bill, Michelle's Law, which honors the memory and life and struggle of Michelle Morse. Michelle's mother, AnnMarie, and her brother, Michael, are with us today to remember and honor her. Michelle Morse was a college student in Plymouth, New Hampshire. She was like other students. She went to class and hung out with her friends. She was a happy and gifted student preparing to be a school teacher like her mom. She picked her major, childhood studies, because she wanted to dedicate her life to help children. But Michelle Morse and her family were forced to make a choice that students should never have to make: a choice between her health and her health insurance. You see, while in college, Michelle was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. She had her health insurance through her mother but could only keep her health insurance if she remained a full-time student. Since she was undergoing rigorous chemotherapy treatments, her doctors urged her to take time off from school to focus on her treatment. Michelle was faced with a daunting choice: to keep her health insurance and maintain her full-time student status, or follow her doctors' orders and face colossal health bills for her and her family. Michelle chose to stay in school and keep her health insurance. She continued her chemotherapy treatments and maintained a grade point average above 3.5 which, by anyone's standards, is inspiring and shows just what a strong person Michelle was. Unfortunately, despite her valiant fight against cancer, she succumbed to the weight of the cancer and the rigors of being a full-time student and passed away after she graduated. But this story isn't just about Michelle. It's about Michelle's family who fought with Michelle and continue to fight for Michelle to this day. Michelle's family, led by her mother, AnnMarie, made it their mission to ensure that this choice doesn't have to be made by any other family. AnnMarie Morse began a relentless campaign to change the law in New Hampshire so that students could have a medical leave of absence from college without losing their coverage under their parents' health insurance. When the law was changed in New Hampshire after her tireless efforts and leadership, AnnMarie Morse wanted to make sure that students across the country would have the same protections. So she brought her campaign to Capitol Hill and began her efforts to lobby. She lobbied me, she lobbied other Members of Congress, she lobbied everybody. And let me tell you, there is nothing stopping this mother's love. She called everybody she could and anyone she could in her campaign to protect other people's children from being faced with the same terrible choice she and her daughter had to make. I'm honored to know AnnMarie and the Morse family and to have introduced this legislation aptly named Michelle's Law, a law fueled by a family's love and a special young woman's memory. Michelle's Law would change current health insurance law to allow college students a year of medical leave of absence. Michelle's Law has worked in New Hampshire and can now work for students and families across this great Nation. This commonsense legislation has been embraced by Democrats and Republicans and by groups across the board from the insurance industry to patient advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, which has been a leader in advocating for this bill. Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record the letters of support we've received. American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, Washington, DC, June 25, 2007. Hon. Paul Hodes, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Hodes: On behalf of the volunteers and supporters of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), the sister advocacy organization of the American Cancer Society, we are writing to express our support for the Michelle's Law legislation, which you recently introduced. H.R. 2851 will expand access to health insurance for college students required to take a medical leave of absence from their studies in the event of a diagnosis such as cancer. We commend you for your leadership in addressing this gap in health insurance coverage for students, and for your commitment to advancing the interests of cancer patients and their families. As you know, this legislation would allow college students to take medical leave while battling a serious illness and still maintain eligibility for their parents' health insurance. Statistical studies show that the number one factor determining whether a person who has cancer will survive is whether that person has insurance. Only the insured have access to the timely, appropriate, and affordable health care that is crucial in fighting cancer or any other serious illness. No student should be presented with the dilemma that Michelle Morse experienced when she was forced to maintain a full college course load while undergoing debilitating medical treatment. If we are to ultimately conquer cancer, our system must ensure that all Americans have access to high quality care. This legislation is a meaningful step toward this goal. Again, we applaud your efforts to preserve health insurance for seriously ill college students, and we look forward to working with you on this important legislation. If you have questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Jaimie Vickery, ACS CAN Senior Federal Representative at (202) 661-5720. Thank you again for your leadership on this important issue. Sincerely, Daniel E. Smith, President. Wendy K. D. Selig, Vice President Legislative Affairs.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague. I also would like to thank Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller, for their strong bipartisan leadership in helping to bring this bill to the floor today. This bill would establish an Office of the Ombudsman in the Department of Veterans Affairs to help our veterans cut through the red tape of the vast Veterans Administration bureaucracy to get the health benefits they have earned. After serving their country with honor and distinction, the last thing our veterans need is to fight the VA back home. Yet, unfortunately, many veterans have told me stories of drowning in bureaucracy at the VA. The good news is there are lots of numbers to call; the bad news is there are lots of numbers to call. This bill was filed in response in part to the story of one of my constituents who was one of those soldiers trapped between active duty and veterans status. He was on active duty, but stuck at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, without knowing where to turn. Chris was in a Humvee which had been blown up with by an IED. His arm was shattered in 13 places. He had metal fragments implanted in his head. He was suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Fortunately, he turned to us and we were able to work with his family and fiancee to advocate for him. He ultimately got the treatment he needed and was honorably discharged. Last week, I saw Chris and his new wife and new baby. He is working in Newport, New Hampshire, as an auto mechanic and owns his own home. He will likely need continuing treatment in the VA system. This legislation will help veterans like Chris get the care and treatment they deserve, especially during the transition from active duty to the VA system. Our veterans who sacrificed for their country need help navigating that VA medical system. I wish it weren't so, but it is. Under this bill, veterans and their families will have advocates in the VA. Let's honor our veterans by providing them with the advocates they need and deserve and support the creation of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mr. HODES

Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman of the committee for yielding time and for his leadership on this important, innovative and historic legislation. We are fortunate to have him at the helm of the committee at this time. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the housing crisis is getting worse. In my home State of New Hampshire, foreclosures have increased nearly 100 percent this year. Across the country, credit is a hard to come by. The markets are unstable, and in my judgment we haven't heard all of the bad news yet. There are many important specific reasons to support this bill today. Fundamentally, however, the housing markets and the institutions which deal with mortgages are the cornerstone of our economy. There is some risk in change, and the provisions for Fannie and Freddie are not without some risk, which through the excellent work of the chairman, in consultation with our colleagues in the Senate, have been minimized to taxpayers. But the far greater risk we face is inaction. I urge bipartisan support for this bill. It must be passed.