Deborah Halvorson

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important issue, indirect land use change, which affects many of my domestic ethanol producers. It assumes that biofuel production displaces other crops which are then grown in other parts of the world, leading to deforestation, and that American biofuel producers should be penalized for that indirect release of carbon due to the unrelated actions of foreign countries. The facts are that deforestation, particularly in the Amazon, has decreased, while domestic biofuel production has doubled over the same period. The House included a provision in the Energy bill that prevents EPA from implementing this rule for 6 years while it is studied to see whether the theory is scientifically sound. Meanwhile, EPA is slated to release a rule in December which would presumably include this theory. This provision could have harmful effects on our ethanol producers, and I urge EPA to refrain from implementing ILUC until proper science can support it.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, this fall Pam Heavens celebrates her twentieth year as Executive Director of the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living. On behalf of the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, I would like to commend Pam for her years of selfless service on behalf of disabled Illinoisans. As Executive Director, Pam has fought on behalf of thousands of disabled Will and Grundy County residents. The Center serves disabled citizens young and old, including our brave veterans. By offering services ranging from the Low Vision Loan Center to the Home Ownership Program, the Will-Grundy Center for Independent Living helps people with disabilities achieve their goals. Pam has successfully led the Center through challenging times. The Center has increased services in the midst of a financial climate that has forced many organizations to cut services as they lose important funding sources. Aside from her duties running the Center, Pam has worked with non- profits and governmental agencies at the local and state level to improve the lives of disabled persons. For example, through the Accessible Cities Alliance, Pam worked to ensure disabled consumers had access to local businesses through such efforts as the creation of accessible indoor walkways and the construction of wheelchair ramps. Pam knows firsthand the importance of fighting for disability rights because she lives with cerebral palsy. Despite this challenge, Pam routinely works a sixty-hour work week on behalf of disabled individuals. Pam's dedication and perseverance should serve as an inspiration to all of us.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, we are in the middle of a health care crisis and doing nothing is not an option. I support health care reform.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Chairman, as a small business owner and as a member of the Small Business Committee, I understand the challenges that small business owners face on a day-to-day basis. I offer this amendment to help small chemical facilities in meeting some of those challenges. My amendment is straightforward and necessary. It would improve this bill by giving the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security the authority to provide facilities with less than 350 employees the guidance, tools and software to help them comply with the security requirements of this bill. We have a responsibility to make sure chemical facilities are safe, but we also have a responsibility to make sure that small businesses have the assistance and the resources that they need to comply with new security requirements. That is what my amendment does. It helps small chemical facilities to comply with security standards in an effective and profitable manner. Based on DHS analysis, we can expect that 15 to 20 percent of the chemical facilities across the country have less than 350 employees onsite. That's a significant number of small businesses that we cannot forget as we move forward on security requirements. These are facilities that create jobs that invest in economic growth. In a tough economic environment, these small businesses need to have the tools available to compete and succeed and, again, that's what this amendment does. The bottom line is that we need small chemical facilities to be secure, but we also need them to be successful. This is an important amendment, and it will help make sure that those two critical goals are accomplished. We can't forget that as we move forward. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson).

Mrs. HALVORSON. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 752, a resolution I introduced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great Cherry Mine Disaster. The Great Cherry Mine Disaster was a tragic coal mining accident that took place in Cherry, Illinois, which is a small town in Bureau County in my district. House Resolution 752 recognizes the historical significance of this mining accident, which led to the passage of landmark mine safety and worker safety legislation both in Illinois and at the Federal level. I want to thank Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member John Kline for bringing my resolution to the floor. And I also want to thank Calla Brown, Jody Calemine, and Richard Miller from the majority staff on Education and Labor for working with my staff on this resolution. Madam Speaker, on Saturday, November 13, 1909, 419 employees of the St. Paul Mine Company showed up to work at the company's coal mine in Cherry. The majority of them were immigrants working to achieve the American Dream. Most were Italian or Slovenian, but others were German, Greek, French, Irish, and British. These workers were represented by the United Mine Workers of America. In 1909, coal mining was an extremely dangerous line of work. In that year alone, there were 2,642 recorded coal mining fatalities in the United States. Two years earlier, coal mining disasters in West Virginia and Pennsylvania resulted in over 200 deaths. These deaths and disasters were often the result of inadequate workplace safety regulation, which was the case in Cherry. On November 13, 1909, the workers at Cherry were using kerosene lanterns and torches because of an electric outage in the mine. About 500 feet below the surface, one of the torches ignited some flammable material and the fire spread rapidly. Two shafts were closed in an attempt to smother the fire, which cut off oxygen to many of the workers. The lack of oxygen created a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen known as black damp, which made its way throughout the mine, suffocating many of the workers. Two hundred of the miners quickly made their way to the surface, but the rest were trapped in the mine. One of the mine managers, a man named John Bundy, led a courageous group of miners back into the mine to rescue their fellow workers. On the seventh trip, Bundy and his rescue group caught fire and burned to death. Another group of 21 miners, who became known as the ``eight-day men,'' managed to survive in the mine for 8 days before they were rescued. When the disaster was over, 259 miners had died, including four children. The Great Cherry Mine Disaster was the third deadliest mine disaster in American history. The Great Cherry Mine Disaster and other similar mine disasters moved lawmakers to enact landmark mine safety and worker safety reforms. In 1910, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation requiring mine operators to maintain firefighting equipment and certain mine workers to pass safety tests. Also that year, Congress passed legislation creating the U.S. Bureau of Mines. In 1911, Illinois enacted its first worker compensation law. The United Mine Workers and organized labor played a very important role in pushing for these reforms. Over the last century, we have made great progress on mine safety, but we still have more work to do. We learned this the hard way with the tragic Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia in 2006, which killed 13 coal miners. As we move forward, we need to continue to update and improve our Nation's mine safety laws. House Resolution 752 honors the memory of those who lost their lives in the Great Cherry Mine Disaster and recognizes the important mine safety reforms enacted as a result of this and similar disasters. As we look into the future, it's important that we always remember the important lessons of the past. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 752.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I stand today in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I stand today to recognize the thousands of individuals who have bravely fought this tragic disease. I stand today to also remember those who didn't make it. There isn't a single person who doesn't know someone affected by this disease. I will always remember my mom's fight with breast cancer. I will never forget the doctor's visits and the medication, or my parents' struggles fighting doctor's payments when she was just trying to fight the cancer. Today, there are so many just like her who must suffer through this alone and without the resources necessary to win their battle. It is up to us to be there for them and to support them through their tough times and it is up to us to encourage early screenings and to fight for better care. This month will come and go, but we must always recognize those afflicted with this disease and help them fight for what they need and for their lives.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, which includes language from legislation I introduced, H.R. 3723, the Small Business Credit Expansion and Loan Markets Stabilization Act. I commend Chairwoman Velazquez, Ranking Member Graves, and Mr. Schrader for his hard work on the bill before us today. This year, the House has already passed several pieces of legislation that will help our Nation's small business owners, but it's clear that we still have much work to do. I also want to thank the small business owners in my district for getting together regularly to let me know what is going on with their small business. In fact, we are still hearing from them every day about what's going on and especially the difficulties in accessing credit, which continues to be a major challenge. Small businesses need capital to grow and create new jobs, but the credit crunch has made it exceedingly difficult for them to obtain loans, which we know firsthand, as my husband owns two small businesses, and that also continually is a difficult time. In times like this, small businesses turn to the SBA. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes several provisions that strengthen the Small Business Administration's ability to help small businesses access capital. The legislation before us today will enhance the SBA's access to capital programs and build on the progress made by the recovery bill. H.R. 3854 will improve the SBA's flagship 7(a) loan program. It extends provisions in the Recovery Act that reduce borrower fees and increase SBA loan guarantees. We will also extend the ARC loan program, simplify the application process and increase the maximum loan. To increase lender participation, the bill creates new rural and small lender outreach programs of the SBA. Finally, we are going to help veteran entrepreneurs by fully implementing the SBA's Increased Veteran Participation Loan Program. H.R. 3854 will help get credit flowing again for America's small business owners so that they can create new jobs and jump-start our economy. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of passage of H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, which was introduced under the leadership of Chairman Filner. I want to thank Mr. Filner and the Subcommittee on Health chairman, Mr. Michaud, for their great leadership on this issue. This is an urgent issue for our country's veterans. Almost 5.5 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2008, and the VA's outpatient clinics registered over 60 million visits. This is one of the largest health care providers in the country. However, in fiscal 2009, for only one of the third or fourth times in the past 20 years, the VA received its budget prior to the start of the new fiscal year. So it isn't reasonable to expect that one of the largest and fastest-growing health care providers in the country can operate in the most efficient and effective manner if they don't even know what their budget is going to be. So this situation harms the VA's ability to plan services and deliver quality health care. As we saw again this year, the VA will be forced to defer planning until Congress can complete its budget and appropriations work for the year. Medical staff cannot be hired, equipment cannot be procured, waiting times increase, and the quality of care suffers. So H.R. 1016 will solve many of these problems by funding the VA 1 year in advance. This bill will help the VA spend taxpayer money more efficiently while at the same time providing better and more comprehensive care for our veterans. H.R. 1016 will make sure that the VA has the resources that it needs to provide quality care in a timely manner without having to question what funds will be available next month. So I'm here today in an attempt to serve our veterans' best interests and to fight to make sure that they receive the best care possible. I urge my colleagues to join me in accomplishing these goals by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 1016, as amended.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melvin J. Larson for his fifty-four years of service as a board member and founder of United Cerebral Palsy of Will County, now known as United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois Prairieland. Melvin Larson's life has been one of service to others. He has said, ``To make life a little easier for someone, I hope I can make some contribution to that end.'' That is exactly what he did. He moved to Joliet, Illinois in 1954 where he became the head of Joliet Junior College's (JJC) Department of Physical Science. Upon retirement in 1975 from a successful career at JJC, he began a quest to help others. Melvin Larson formed the first Will County chapter of the United Cerebral Palsy organization, with a vision to provide an education to children with disabilities. The organization began with just six families, but quickly grew to 35. It was not long before they outgrew their single room in the former Rehn School and began utilizing an entire grade school building. Thousands of children have benefited from the school throughout the years, and today more than 60 children are currently enrolled. The dedication, service, and commitment exhibited by Melvin Larson throughout his life merit recognition and should be showcased as an example for selflessness unto others. That is why today we must honor Mel's vision to provide an education to children with disabilities.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, Rick Daniels of Kankakee, Illinois would tell you he is not a hero, but on Friday, July 3, 2009, he did something heroic. Rick Daniels conducts himself not unlike the many great citizens of Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He is a normal guy. On July 3rd, he saw a neighbor in trouble. Although he is not a trained paramedic, he saw that 20-month old Savanna Zirbel was seriously injured from a mowing accident and sprang to action. Rick Daniels administered lifesaving first aid until paramedics arrived. Some in this situation may have been scared to help, but Rick did not hesitate to assist. He focused on what might have happened if he had chosen to simply be an observer. The consequences were life and death. Savanna Zirbel is alive because of Rick Daniel rose to the occasion. America's history has been one of ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things. Rick Daniels reminds us that we are capable of doing heroic things. On behalf of the entire 11th Congressional District, we thank Rick Daniels for his amazing efforts.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I was privileged to introduce House Resolution 679, supporting the goals and ideals of the American Legion Day on September 16. This resolution helps to honor the service and the sacrifice of the nearly 3 million members, men and women, in nearly 15,000 American Legion posts worldwide. On September 16, 1919, the American Legion was granted their Federal charter by Congress, and 90 years later they have kept their commitment to serve not only as a resource and a voice on behalf of veterans across America, but also as an organization dedicated to the betterment of America through community service. Since their founding charter, the American Legion has not wavered from the guiding principles and vision that can be found in their four pillars of service. The first pillar is a steadfast commitment to ensure that America has the best fighting force in the world. Towards this end, the Legion has been a tireless advocate on behalf of the American soldier to make sure that they have the resources and the tools they need in order to do their job. The second pillar is making sure that we proudly care for our veterans. And whether it is providing one-on-one assistance to veterans through what can be the confusing and frustrating experience of filing for a disability claim or walking the halls of Congress to educate Members like myself on the legislative issues that are important to our veterans, they do an excellent job. The original GI Bill, for example, helped set the standard for the benefits that we provide to veterans and was spearheaded by the Legion. The American Legion has been there for our veterans for over 90 years, standing up to serve those who have served. Caring for our youth is the third pillar in the American Legion vision. The Special Olympics, the Children's Miracle Network, the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, the American Legion Family Support Network, those are just a short list of the programs that the Legion supports. This is a testament to their belief that taking care of children in America, not just veterans' children, is something that makes our country stronger. The final pillar comes from the understanding of the word ``patriot.'' Having fought for and defended our freedom, Legionnaires know firsthand that being a patriot means you must take action to preserve America. They know that being a patriot means not just defending our freedoms, but also defending our heritage, culture, and our flag. This pillar has been the foundation for the Legion's support of programs that instill American values in our youth. From Boy Scouts to Boys State, they've been there setting the course for millions of American children as they learn what it means to be an American and why it's so important to preserve our country. The commitment to the four pillars of service has been the cornerstone of the American Legion ideals and their successes. It serves as a model that all Americans can use to better themselves and to better America. And it has, without question, helped make the country even greater. Millions of Americans have been encouraged, supported, and inspired by Legion programs, and this resolution is just a small way to say thank you. I would also like to take a moment to recognize and thank the American Legion Auxiliary. Also formed in 1919, the Auxiliary has shown the same devotion to our veterans and our community, and they too deserve to be recognized. Finally, I would like to congratulate Commander Clarence Hill for his recent election as National Commander. I appreciate his 24 years of service to our Nation in the U.S. Navy and wish him the best of luck during his tenure as Commander. H. Res. 679 helps to recognize this extraordinary organization whose members have not only fought to protect our country, but chose to continue to serve long after their military service has ended.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, on August 14, 2009, friends, family, and colleagues of James J. Bruno will gather to celebrate his 27\1/2\ years of service to the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District and the Kankakee City Fire Department. Today I join the chorus of praise for Jim's service. After the unfortunate death of his father of a heart attack, Jim took the opportunity to devote himself to saving lives by joining the Kankakee Township Fire Protection District. Just 6 years after becoming a fire fighter, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and was the first paramedic in the department. In 1988, Jim joined the Kankakee City Fire Department. In 1990, Jim received the Distinguished Service Award for his role in rescuing a heart-attack victim from her burning home. With the help of his partner, Steve Born, Jim entered a blazing home, located the woman, hoisted her on his shoulders, and carried her to safety. She made a full recovery. This was an obvious act of heroism. What is less obvious, but no less important, are the lives Jim saved through countless inspections he conducted of homes and businesses as well as the education programs he participated in that prevented fires. Prevention efforts like the ones Jim participated in have been highly effective. Since 1982, deaths due to fires in the home have decreased 36 percent. Firefighters like Jim have made our communities much safer. Jim has been an active labor leader for over 20 years. He has performed many roles in the Kankakee Firefighters Union including Chaplin and Executive Board Secretary. He completed many labor trainings on how to participate in productive grievance and arbitration hearings. Jim has been an effective advocate for hard-working firefighters. Jim is also a compassionate father and husband. Jim is a proud supporter of his wife, Captain Stacey Ann Bruno, who will begin her second tour of duty in Iraq in September. He is a loving father of three teenage children. The 11th District and the community of Kankakee owe Jim Bruno a debt of gratitude. I am proud to represent him and all the wonderful firefighters around my district in Congress. I wish Jim the best of luck as he enters retirement.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, this Congress is responsible for putting in place one of the largest tax cuts in American history as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We can see this benefit of the plan throughout all communities in our country. Because of this legislation, 95 percent of working Americans are receiving tax cuts through the Making Work Pay tax credit, which is a refundable tax credit of up to $400 per worker and up to $800 for couples filing jointly. This is an immediate tax relief for over 110 million working families at exactly the time they need it. Because of this legislation, families can also find tax relief through an expansion of the child care tax credit and through a new $2,500 tax credit for families to help send more of our children to college. In addition to this tax relief, the recovery plan has provided tens of millions of dollars of investment for improvement projects, like the improvements that have been made to infrastructure and to roads throughout our country.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Thank you, Mr. Filner, for yielding and for your leadership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I rise in support of H.R. 3219. Included in H.R. 3219 is the language from legislation that I introduced which would eliminate copayments from catastrophically disabled veterans who receive medical care from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Right now, some catastrophically disabled veterans are thrown into financial hardship because of copayments they pay to the VA. Catastrophically disabled veterans have conditions that compromise their ability to carry out the activities of daily living, including such basic self-care tasks as eating, bathing, and dressing. Veterans in these situations have enough challenges to face on a daily basis; having enough resources to make their copayment should not be another challenge that they have to deal with. This legislation would allow our veterans to receive the health care that they deserve without adding another burden that makes it more difficult to afford. Also included in this language from my bill, the Families of Veterans Financial Security Act, which would make permanent the extension that totally disabled veterans currently receive from the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, also known as the SGLI. The SGLI is operated by the VA and provides low-cost group life insurance to members of the uniformed services. This program was developed to make insurance benefits available for veterans and servicemembers who were not able to secure insurance from private companies due to the extra risks involved in military service or because of a service-connected disability. Currently, a temporary SGLI disability extension exists to allow servicemembers who are totally disabled to retain their SGLI coverage at no cost for up to 2 years. This extension guarantees that veterans most in need--the ones that are seriously disabled as a result of their service--won't lose their life insurance coverage. This legislation would make the extension permanent and provide financial security to the families of disabled veterans. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3219.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Thank you, Mr. Filner, for yielding. I also want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Michaud, for his leadership on this issue. As an original cosponsor, I rise in strong support of this CARE Act, which, among other things, will provide the caregivers of our injured heroes access to a wide range of services. H.R. 3155 includes language from my bill, H.R. 2898, the Wounded Warrior Caregiver Assistance Act, which authorizes the VA to make supportive services available to our caregivers. Specifically, the CARE Act provides counseling, better training and respite care for family caregivers. It makes sure that the VA conducts community outreach through PSAs and brochures and informational pamphlets. Finally, it helps caregivers locate resources for additional support from public, private and nonprofit agencies. Having a stepson that was severely injured in Afghanistan, I have firsthand understanding of how important these support services are. H.R. 3155 will give family caregivers the tools and resources they need to provide the highest quality care to an injured son, daughter or spouse. I would also like to take a moment to say thank you to caregivers across this Nation. Mothers, fathers, spouses and other family members are sacrificing their time, their energy and, in many cases, their futures to provide 24/7 health care for those who have fought to defend our Nation. For far too long, we have not provided them with the resources that they need to properly protect and care for our wounded warriors. This bill will allow the VA to care for our caregivers, something that is long overdue. For these reasons, I strongly urge my colleagues to support the CARE Act.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 550, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, on June 25th, the Empress Casino opened its doors after a three month hiatus. In March, the casino suffered a nearly catastrophic fire. Being a major employer in Will County, the impact could have been devastating. However, thanks to the tenacity of the casino and its employees, the situation has had a very successful outcome. Over the past three months, Empress Casino and its employees continued to contribute to their community. Empress Casino maintained their charitable support and paid employees their usual salaries during this time. Empress staff responded to this challenge by providing more than 6,000 volunteer hours to community organizations. Empress Casino and their employees have overcome adversity and despite the obstacles, they have continued to be a caring neighbor. Empress Casino implemented an aggressive renovation plan, which has allowed gaming revenues to be reinstated and Empress employees to come back to work. Local businesses who provide services at the Empress have also returned. I extend my congratulations to the company and its employees for their extraordinary conduct during this difficult time. They offer a shining example of leadership and compassion.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize Aeronautical Engineer John C. Houbolt, an unsung champion of space exploration and intelligence, who is going to be eternalized at the Joliet Area Historical Museum with a permanent exhibit entitled ``The Soaring Achievements of John C. Houbolt.'' Houbolt played a critical role in the infancy of space exploration when he discovered, adopted, and then championed the lunar flight path called ``Lunar Orbit Rendezvous.'' (LOB) In June 1961, LOR was chosen for the Apollo program and this critical decision was viewed as vital to ensuring that man reached the Moon in the 1960's, as President John F. Kennedy had proposed and, in the process, saved billions of dollars and time by efficiently using existing rocket technology. Houbolt never lost faith in LOR even when his theories faced strong opposition from others in his field. His humble persistence and determination are a testament to his passion for knowledge and his own ideas. It is this fervor and intelligence that allowed him to not only be an inspiration for men and women all over the nation interested in space discovery, but also other important figures in space exploration, like Buzz Aldrin, who has expressed much admiration for Houbolt. On May 15, 2005, Houbolt was granted an honorary doctorate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for his lifetime achievements, even after earning his Bachelor's degree in 1940 and his Master's degree in 1942 in Civil Engineering. Houbolt didn't stop there, however, obtaining a PhD in Technical Sciences in 1957 from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. Although no other human being contributed more in making the Apollo lunar landings possible, Houbolt's contributions to Apollo's mission do not define this man as his contributions will continue to reverberate into the future of aeronautical engineering. John C. Houbolt has left his influential mark on the field of space exploration and will continue to be an inspiration to those just entering the field or becoming interested in the universe around us. It is with great pride that I recognize all of his many accomplishments upon the event of this exhibit.

Mrs. HALVORSON

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 543) expressing support for designation of June as ``Home Safety Month''.

Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.