Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today we stand on the West Lawn commemorating and celebrating the Nation's law enforcement officers from across the Nation. As Members of Congress, we welcome you to this Congress every year, and we do so humbly and with great appreciation. Let me acknowledge the work that many of us have done with our local law enforcement in the State of Texas. We have a multitude of law disciplines and law enforcement persons to whom we in Texas owe a debt of gratitude. From the constables office to other peace officers throughout the City of Houston, we owe these peace officers a debt of gratitude. As a Member of the Eighteenth Congressional District, I have the privilege of representing the first African American constable, Mae Walker, and representing Constable Victor Trevino, a Hispanic constable. We have deputy sheriffs. We have the sheriff's department. We have the Houston Police Department, the Department of Public Safety. In many instances we find great leaders who believe not only in crime fighting, but crime prevention. Today I would like to focus upon the importance of law enforcement and their need to work in the community. I salute the former mayor of the City of Houston, Lee Brown, former chief of police of the cities of Houston, New York, and Atlanta. I consider him the father of community- oriented policing that really speaks to the hearts and minds of the people. It lets the police officers and law enforcement officers become knowledgeable about the community. The COPS program helps police officers know the ``good guys'' and the ``bad guys.'' Neighbors become comfortable with law enforcement officers when they are engaged as people who are concerned about the neighborhood and the community. At the same time as we raise up and respect our law enforcement officers, let me applaud those who I speak to all the time as I travel to Washington. We have a very effective aviation police force. I get an opportunity as I go through the airport to listen to them and to thank them. Let us be concerned about the benefits for law enforcement officers. In particular, I know that my city, a very large city, has seen the decline of senior officers. For some reason or another, because our belts are being tightened, we don't have enough resources to provide them with the upward mobility, the professional development and the protection of their pensions and to recognize the sacrifice that they and their families are making. We as communities across the Nation should be concerned about making sure they have the right kind of benefits. On the Federal level, I am very glad that the House Judiciary Committee has just passed out a COPS bill reauthorization. I think that is a very, very important aspect of the work of this Congress. The COPS program worked. It provided police officers for rural communities and urban communities. I spoke to my police personnel there and they said, yes, it would help us greatly if the COPS program were reauthorized. So as we salute our peace officers across America, let us make sure that we are actually doing as we are saying, and that is providing them with the resources that they need. At the same time, let me also add the importance of training. There is the sensitivity that our police officers are able to get through experience, but training also helps them detect those with mental illness and have the best resources to address those suffering from mental illness so that those persons can be taken away from society before they do harm to themselves or someone else. We thank those who are serving today. We offer our deepest sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives on the front lines of law enforcement in America over the last year, and we certainly acknowledge the continued sacrifice that law enforcement officers will make. We should promote and congratulate good law enforcement officers. We should not allow the bad incidents that occur, the mishaps that occur, and many of them have occurred, and I have stood up vigorously against them and I will stand up yesterday, today and tomorrow, when there is abuse. But we should not allow those kinds of situations to take away from the grandeur, the respect, the honesty, the integrity and the downright commitment that the law enforcement agencies of America, particularly those in our local communities, show every single day with the idea that as they leave in the morning and kiss their families good-bye, that they might sacrifice their lives so that we might be safe. We owe them a great debt of gratitude, and it is my pleasure to thank our peace officers. Peace officers, the sworn, public-sector officers entrusted with law enforcement authority and the power of arrest, risk their lives daily to protect our Nation. These individuals, who are responsible for safeguarding the rights and freedoms we enjoy as Americans, are true heroes. Peace Officers Memorial Day honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of their communities and our Nation. Created by Public Law 87-726, signed by President Kennedy in 1962, this day gives us the opportunity to acknowledge and pay our respect to those who, through their courageous deeds, have fallen in the line of duty. In the Houston Police Department's 168-year history, 109 officers have been killed while on duty. Nationally, the number of police officers that have fallen in the line of duty has decreased. Although the number of officers killed in the line of duty has declined in recent years, the fact that one officer is killed every 2\1/2\ days in our country is a sober reminder that protecting our communities and safeguarding our democracy come at a heavy price. There are 17,917 names engraved on the Memorial, representing officers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and Federal law enforcement and military police agencies.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution put forth by my colleague Representative Cliff Stearns. H. Res. 413, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of `IEEE Engineering Future' Day on May 13, 2009'' will recognize the importance of engineering and technology in meeting the nation's most pressing challenges. This institution has a rich history, which traces its roots to the founding of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) on May 13, 1884. The renowned inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison was the founder of AIEE. Other notable presidents of the IEEE and its founding organizations include Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Lee De Forest, William R. Hewlett, and Ivan Getting. Through its global membership, IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics among others. As technologies and the industries increasingly transcended national boundaries, IEEE kept pace and became a truly global institution. Over the years, IEEE used the innovations of the practitioners it represented to enhance its own excellence in delivering products and services to members, industries, and the public at large. Publications and educational programs were delivered online. IEEE's member services such as renewal and elections were also delivered online. The IEEE publishes nearly a third of the world's technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics. This includes about 130 journals, transactions and magazines and over 400 conference proceedings published annually. In cooperation with John Wiley and Sons, Inc., the IEEE also produces technical books, monographs, guides and textbooks. IEEE journals are consistently among the most highly cited in electrical and electronics engineering, telecommunications and other technical fields. IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. By 2008, IEEE had 375,000 members in 160 countries and more than 210,000 members in the United States. The United States must continue its efforts to maintain its leadership in science, technology, and innovation as revolutionary advances in information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and other fields are reshaping the global economy. IEEE's core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. As a leader in the development of international standards that support many of today's products and services, with an active portfolio of nearly 1,300 standards and projects under development, this non profit organization attracts the best and brightest to use their skills and experience and apply technology to benefit society and help solve humanitarian issues. In addition, IEEE provides learning opportunities within the engineering sciences with the goal of ensuring the growth of skill and knowledge among the technical profession as well as a forum for professionals to interact, collaborate, and generate new ideas and concepts. This Congress should recognize that IEEE is essential to the global technical community and to technical professionals everywhere. The IEEE is universally recognized for the contributions of technology and of technical professionals in improving global conditions. I congratulate IEEE on its 125th anniversary and support the goals and ideals of `IEEE Engineering the Future' Day and I urge my colleagues to support them as well.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 84, ``Supporting the goals and objectives of a National Military Appreciation Month.'' I would like to thank Representative Zach Wamp of Tennessee for introducing this resolution. We often take our National Military for granted, and I welcome this opportunity to reach out and recognize the importance of the National Military in the United States. I do not believe there is a person in this body, or a person in this building, who does not feel a remarkable pride in the presence of the men and women who serve in our nation's military. The success of the Armed Forces depends on the dedicated service of its members, their families, and the civilian employees of the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard. Their incredible sacrifices and courage in the face of innumerable hazards have been critical to the preservation of the freedom, security, and prosperity enjoyed that we as Americans have come to love, enjoy, and even expect. In the Iraq War, Texas has suffered over 222 resident casualties, second only to California. As a Representative for the 18th District of Texas, H. Con. Res. 84 is very close to the hearts of those I represent. Many Texans hold a passion for protecting the integrity and strength of their nation, and as the recruitment numbers show, they often exercise their passion, by joining the military. In past studies, Texas has been the number one state for military recruitment; therefore, recognition of military involvement is an important issue in Texas and in Houston. Texas is home to more than 194,965 military personnel including a number of Army, Navy and Marine, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases. H. Con. Res. will encourage the citizens of Texas to reach out to those whom are involved with the military and extend their gratitude for all that they do for our nation. Because there is a large population of military personnel in Texas, it is critical that we show them the support of their nation and their state for all the positive contributions they have brought. I firmly believe that H. Con. Res. 84 is a positive step for the recognition, acknowledgement, and gratitude that should be given to our military personnel, and I hope to see the National Military Appreciation Month become a special time for the state of Texas to recognize the national contributions. My City of Houston stands as an example of America's relationship with its military. Just outside the city stands Ellington Air Force Base, which has recently been renamed Ellington Airport. It was established in 1917 during the height of World War I, when aviation was in its infancy. In Word War II, it served as a pilot training center. In the Cold War, the base proved useful in a number of pilot training programs and for a number of famous NASA missions, as well as serving briefly as a naval base for antisubmarine aircraft. As my city works with our active military, so do we do our part in the aid of our Nation's veterans. Within city limits stands the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. It was awarded the Robert W. Carey Organizational Excellence Award in 2005, the Robert W. Carey Circle of Excellence Quality Award in 2007, and re-designation for Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Services in 2008. The MEDVAMC serves as the primary health care provider for more than 120,000 veterans in southeast Texas and over 13,000 from Houston. Veterans from around the country are referred to the MEDVAMC for countless medical services, and their outpatient clinics logged nearly 900,000 outpatient visits in fiscal year 2008 alone. All this in a state with over 1.7 million veterans, 247,000 of which are disabled and over 25,000 buried in her soil. Because of this undeniable fact of our Nation's existence, the Federal Government has a responsibility to raise awareness of and respect for this aspect of the heritage of the United States and to encourage the people of the United States to dedicate themselves to the values and principles for which Americans have served and sacrificed throughout the history of the Nation--the ultimate sacrifice of paying for our freedom and expectation of freedom with their lives. Beyond helping to make Americans more aware of something so central to our country's liberty and prosperity, the observance of events recognizing the contributions of the Armed Forces is a tangible and highly effective way of sustaining morale and improving quality of life for service members and their families. Given that the support of the families of service members enhances the effectiveness and capabilities of the Armed Forces, this is more than enough reason for us to act today. It is for these reasons that this Congress has made this resolution many times before. Ten years ago, on April 30, 1999, the Senate passed S. Res. 33, designating May 1999 as ``National Military Appreciation Month''. For that month, Congress called on the people of the United States, in a symbolic act of unity, to observe this remembrance, and to honor the current and former members of the Armed Forces, including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace. Less than 5 years later, on March 24, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 328, ``Recognizing and honoring the United States Armed Forces and supporting the goals and objectives of a National Military Appreciation Month'', a bill I gladly supported. Less than a month later, on April 26, 2004, the Senate passed H. Con. Res. 328 by unanimous consent. I have sought to do my part as well; earlier this year, I introduced to this body H.R. 228, a bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility. And so I join once again in not only giving my support for the goals and objectives of National Military Appreciation Month, but in urging the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States, all Federal departments and agencies, States, localities, organizations, and media to annually observe a National Military Appreciation Month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 388 ``Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.'' I would like to thank my distinguished colleague Representative Fortenberry from Nebraska for introducing this resolution, and today, I rise today in order to recognize and celebrate all of the mothers in our nation. Mothers are the nurturers, and caregivers that prepare our Nation's young for the challenges that life may hold. Their work may be inside or outside of the home, or both, and their contributions to this society can never be fully appreciated or valued. Jane Sellman definitely hit the needle on the head when she said, ``The phrase `working mother' is redundant.'' Our mothers are our first teachers and they should be celebrated everyday. However, like many things we can take them for granted. This Mothers Day, take a moment to call your mother or to visit with her if you can. I must pay special tribute to my mother Ivalita Jackson and my late aunt Valrie Bennett who was like a mom. Remember that being a mom is no easy feat. Our mothers are strong, determined, with big hearts and always loving. A mother must be able to juggle three things at once and still manage to make dinner and read bedtime stories. No doctor can take away all the ailments of a sick child or even an adult for that matter, like a mother can. Mothers are caring and courageous women who make a difference in the lives they touch. As the Jewish proverb says, ``God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.'' Mother's Day is also a celebration for grandmothers, mother-in-laws, stepmothers, foster mothers, godmothers, mothers who take in children, mothers who adopt, those who act as mothers, for those women who have no relations by blood but who give the gift of mothering to children. Mothers bring a unique and valuable perspective to all aspects of American life. Today, thousands of mothers in this country have become active and effective participants in public life and public service, promoting change and improving the quality of life for men, women, and children throughout the Nation. They serve with distinction as legislators, mayors, judges, doctors, lawyers, and administrators, and their impact in these areas has proved to be monumental. I could not find words descriptive enough to fully express the depth of admiration that I feel for women who fill this important role in our society. They are committed to their families and community not for public acclaim, but for love. As American author Washington Irving put it best, ``A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.'' My heart goes out to those mothers with children who are away at war, I cannot even imagine the fear that they must feel daily. I want to recognize the First Lady, Michelle Obama, who is striking a balance between motherhood and her duties as the First Lady. I want to congratulate and praise all of the mothers in America for all of their hard work. Another former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, ``If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.'' I hope that we can all reflect on all the sacrifices our mothers made for us throughout the years. A mother's love is unending and her arms are always open. This resolution will ensure that Mothers throughout this nation are formally recognized, and the United States House of Representatives will acknowledge their importance and all that Mothers contribute to our society. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 388 as well. There are few things more important than celebrating the gift of having a mother. Finally to my mom--I love you for giving me my foundation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 192, recognizing national nurses week on May 6 through May 12, 2009. I thank Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for introducing this important resolution which recognizes and acknowledges the dedication of our nursing community across America. This resolution is important because nurses represent the largest single component of the healthcare profession, with an estimated 2.9 million registered nurses in the United States. In Texas alone, according to the Texas Board of Nursing, there are 162,163 registered nurses through out the state. In Harris County, the county encompassing my district, there are 24,480 registered nurses. Nurses are patient advocates and act fearlessly to protect the lives of those under their care. Nurses care for patients, but participate in a wide range of needed scientific research, and fight cultural and ethnic disparities, and treat all patients as equals. Nurses are also teachers, not only to future generations of nurses, but to the public, educating us on health and safety. It is necessary that we acknowledge the outstanding contribution to society by nurses because nurses can be strong allies to Congress as they help inform, educate and work closely with legislators to improve the education, retention, recruitment and practice of all nurses and, more importantly, the health and safety of the patients they care for. Federal and State support is needed to enhance existing programs to educate nursing students at all levels, to increase the number of faculty members to educate nursing students, to create clinical sites and have the appropriately prepared nurses to teach and train at those sites, to create educational opportunities to retain nurses in the profession, and to educate and train more nurse research scientists who can discover new nursing care models to improve the health status of the Nation's diverse population. The services nurses can provide are linked directly to the availability, cost and quality of healthcare services, which are at the center of health reform discussions. In a year where health care reform is a top priority, it is significant to acknowledge that 33 national nursing organizations have endorsed a consensus statement from the Nursing Community that complement five of President Obama's tenets outlined in his Transforming and Modernizing America's Health Care System plan. Nurses protect families and financial health and make health care coverage affordable by providing cost-effective care at all levels of nursing practice. Nurses play a key role in the success of the President's aim for universality. Without a strong investment in the nursing workforce, the goal of reaching universality will be unattainable, particularly for rural communities and underserved populations. When the Administration and Congress invest in prevention and wellness, existing practice and care models, such as the Nurse Family Partnership, derived from nursing science will serve as national exemplars for wellness and prevention. The strength of the nursing profession lies in its contribution to improve patient safety and quality care. Nursing care is critical to improving healthcare quality and safety to ensure better patient outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a continuing shortage of professional Registered Nurses. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing released preliminary survey data showing that enrollment in entry level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by only 2 percent from 2007 to 2008. While this makes the eighth consecutive year of enrollment growth, the annual increase in student capacity in 4-year nursing programs has declined sharply since 2003 which enrollment was up 16.6 percent. Due to a lack of nurse educators over 100,000 qualified nursing candidates have been rejected to nursing programs across the U.S. according to the National League for Nursing most recent survey. These shortages have caused the current nurse educators to work on average more than 57 hours per week as well as dedicated nurses to work longer hours and care for more acutely ill patients. The nursing field needs more money invested in its future. It is only fitting that the end of National Nurses Week is the birthday of Florence Nightingale. She once said ``I attribute my success to this--I never gave or took any excuse.'' So today in her honor we must give no excuse to keep from honoring the noble and important profession of nursing, if anything we should fight to improve its condition because with improved nursing, and funds for nurses, we get a better health care system. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution and acknowledge and support our country's nurses.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I rise today to pay tribute to the Nation's registered nurses and to congratulate them for the impossible job--but remarkable job--that they do in nurturing and serving and healing America's sick. In Harris County, Texas, the county that I represent, the county presents 24,480 registered nurses. Nurses are patient advocates and act fearlessly to protect the lives of those under their care. Nurses care for patients but participate in a wide variety of needed scientific research, and fight cultural and ethnic disparities and treat all patients as equal. Nurses are also teachers not only to future generations of nurses, but to the public, educating us on health and safety. In a year where health care reform is a top priority, it is significant to acknowledge that 33 national nursing organizations have endorsed a consensus statement for the nursing community that complements five of President Obama's tenets. The real issue is that they have come together to organize around good health care. I celebrate the fact that nurses are in Washington, D.C., speaking on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. It is important to respect the contributions that our nurses make.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Let me thank the gentleman from California for his leadership and his personal commitment to these issues. It is interesting to hear a good friend on the other side of the aisle talk about protecting the taxpayers' money. In fact, this week, this Congress, this new leadership has done just that. Last week, we passed the Credit Card Bill of Rights. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I was very pleased that we passed a judiciary bill dealing with protecting taxpayers against fraud prospectively, and now we stand on the floor today protecting taxpayers and future homeowners and homeowners again with mortgage lending reform in 1728. I wonder if any of us can recall the peaking of the crisis dealing with mortgage foreclosures. Those of us who represent our constituents certainly can. I can pointedly in a hearing about 3 or 4 years ago in the lower end of Manhattan when I listened near Wall Street in a church to homeowners in that community or in New York speaking about this thing called subprime and adjustable rate, a transit worker who had purchased a home and was paying a $3,000 a month mortgage and all of a sudden it jumped to $6,000 a month. How many stories like that? And how many times can Members or others point to the actual beneficiary of the mortgagee as at fault? How many times can we blame the hardworking American taxpayer who simply tried to get a home? How many times can we blame them for papers that they signed that were then altered, ultimately? How many times can we blame the innocent who has paid over and over again? The cafeteria worker who had been in an apartment for 20 years, but the particular financial entity that she dealt with said, yes, you can get into this home. And she had been making payments, but with the economy she fell on hard times. Or the person who was divorced or catastrophic illness? But because their mortgage was fraudulently done, they suffered the consequences. So I support this rule and the underlying bill, because it will protect this structure of buying a house. Borrowers can repay the loans they are sold. Mortgage lenders make loans that benefit the consumer and prohibit them from steering borrowers into higher costs. Why isn't that protecting the taxpayer? All mortgage refinancing provides a net tangible benefit in the consumer. The secondary mortgage market, for the first time ever, is responsible for complying with commonsense standards, and so we don't have this horrible grid that shows us that it has been going up and up and up. Madam Speaker, I think it is important to acknowledge that we have made this bill better, and I am glad that my amendment is in the manager's amendment that indicates in the case of a residential mortgage--

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. The total amount of interest that the consumer will pay over the life of the loan as a percentage of the principle loan, this will help the consumer know better about what they are paying. I had hoped my financial literacy amendment would get in and also the predatory lending, but I support the underlying bill and the amendment. We are trying to work to help the taxpayer and the American consumer. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the rule for H.R. 1728. I would also like to thank Chairman Frank of the Financial Services Committee for his hard work on this issue and for sponsoring this timely and important piece of legislation. I am also pleased to have worked with Chairman Frank and the staff of the Financial Services Committee. Lastly, I would like to give a special thanks to my Legislative Director, Arthur D. Sidney, for his work on this issue. I offered three amendments to this bill. My first amendment was included in the Chairman Frank's manager's amendment.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Allow me to thank the distinguished gentleman for his kindness. Madam Speaker, I didn't want to leave and return to my district without acknowledging how humbled America is in honoring the Nation's mothers. I believe it was a great idea to set aside a day to honor our mothers and to honor our fathers. And so this weekend is a nationally declared day to celebrate motherhood. I rise today to be able to celebrate the mothers all over this Nation who link arms with those around the world who are, in fact, special. For mothers are, in fact, the nurturers and caregivers that prepare our Nation's young for the challenges that life may hold. Their work may be inside or outside of the home or both, and their contributions to this society can never be fully appreciated or valued. Jane Sellman definitely hit the needle on the head when she said, ``The phrase `working mother' is redundant,'' for obviously a mom, a mommy, a mother works. In this day and time, we find that mothers come in many shapes and sizes. Today our First Lady spoke eloquently about the challenges of being a working mother. But as we have come to understand, a mom works at home, she works in the workplace, she is a volunteer. She does many things that constitute work but are her daily duties. Our mothers are our first teachers, and they should be celebrated every day. However, like many things, sometimes we take this whole idea of motherhood for granted. Yes, we sometimes have teenage mothers, or grandmothers as mothers nurturing children of their children. We have ailing mothers. We have mothers who have passed. And there will be many in our Nation who will be celebrating or commemorating Mother's Day without their beloved mom. They will be mourning the loss. Maybe they will be at grave sites. But what I will say to them is that they will have the wonderful memories. I want the fact that this is Mother's Day to have us remember that being a mom is not easy. Motherhood is not for those who might want to give up. But many times, it is important that we encircle our moms, give them the strength to be able to carry on, be reminded that in addition to making dinner, they are reading bedtime stories. But maybe there are mothers who don't have the capabilities, don't have the time, are not able to get home before 12 midnight, work the night shift, work around the clock; we should be sympathetic to them. I'm proud that this Congress has recognized the importance of mothers. One of the first bills that we signed was the equal pay bill. We also provided and signed the SCHIP bill that provided for 11 million more children to have health care. That helps the mothers of America. We also recognize that 47 million Americans are uninsured. Many of them are mothers with young children. Many of them are mothers with ailments who have catastrophic illnesses or chronic illnesses. We want to say to them ``thank you'' by providing those mothers with full comprehensive health care. We know that mothers are caring and courageous women who make a difference in the lives they touch. As a Jewish proverb said, ``God could not be everywhere, and therefore He made mothers.'' And so this Mother's Day is a celebration for grandmothers, mothers-in-law, stepmothers, foster mothers, godmothers, mothers who take in children, mothers of all ethnicities, all backgrounds, all economic levels. We are to celebrate them. Today thousands of mothers in this country have become active and effective participants in public life and public service, promoting change and improving the quality of life for men, women and children throughout the Nation. I cannot find the words to thank all of these mothers who may be legislators, mayors, judges, doctors, lawyers and administrators. And yet I also thank those mothers who are waitresses, as I said, who are nurses aides, who drive buses, who are out on the construction sites, who are poets, who are authors. They are all part of our life. I want to pay tribute to my own mother, Ivalita Jackson, strong, determined, elderly and frail now; but having raised us, I thank her for the integrity, the determination, the spirit and the love she gave. I'm grateful for my grandmothers, Vany Bennett and Olive Jackson, my Aunt Valrie Bennett and my Aunts Audrey and Vicky. I'm grateful for my Aunt Sarah. I'm grateful for the extended family members. I'm grateful for the future mothers, my daughter Erica Lee. And so I am thankful today that we know that a mother is the truest friend we have when trials are heavy and sudden and fall upon us, when adversity takes the place of prosperity, when friends who rejoiced with us in our sunshine desert us, when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us and endeavor by her precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness and cause peace to return to our hearts. A mother is the truest friend, and we know that through an American author, Washington Irving. And today as I finish my remarks, I want to particularly say to those mothers who may be listening, to our colleagues who are likewise mothers, to the Asian Pacific mothers, as we celebrate Asian Pacific Month, wherever they might be, we want to give them a helping hand. And through a mother, I want to be able to say, I want no child to ever go to bed hungry. We want no child to ever not have an education. And we want you to have the fullest opportunity to raise children to be healthy and productive. I close, Madam Speaker, by saying simply this, in the words of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, ``If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.'' We want our mothers not to bungle. God bless them and God bless America. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today in order to recognize and celebrate all of the mothers in our Nation. They are the nurturers, and caregivers that prepare our Nation's young for the challenges that life may hold. Their work may be inside or outside of the home, or both, and their contributions to this society can never be fully appreciated or valued. Jane Sellman definitely hit the needle on the head when she said, ``The phrase `working mother' is redundant''. Our mothers are our first teachers and they should be celebrated everyday. However, like many things we can take them for granted. This Mothers Day, take a moment to call your mother or to visit with her if you can. Remember that being a mom is no easy feat. Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. Motherhood is not for women with weak stomachs or strict routines. A mother must be able to juggle three things at once and still manage to make dinner and read bedtime stories. No doctor can take away all the ailments of a sick child or even an adult for that matter, like a mother can. Mothers are caring and courageous women who make a difference in the lives they touch. As the Jewish proverb says, ``God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.'' Mother's Day is also a celebration for grandmothers, mother-in-laws, stepmothers, foster mothers, godmothers, mothers who take in children, mothers who adopt, those who act as mothers, for those women who have no relations by blood but who give the gift of mothering to children. Mothers bring a unique and valuable perspective to all aspects of American life. Today, thousands of mothers in this country have become active and effective participants in public life and public service, promoting change and improving the quality of life for men, women and children throughout the Nation. They serve with distinction as legislators, mayors, judges, doctors, lawyers, and administrators, and their impact in these areas has proved to be monumental. I could not find words descriptive enough to fully express the depth of admiration that I feel for women who fill this important role in our society. They are committed to their families and community not for public acclaim, but for love. As American author Washington Irving put it best, ``A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause ace to return to our hearts.'' My heart goes out to those mothers with children who are away at war, I cannot even imagine the fear that they must feel daily. I want to recognize the First Lady, Michelle Obama, who is striking a balance ALL between motherhood and her duties as the First Lady. I want to congratulate and praise all of the mothers in America for all of their hard work. Another former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, ``If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.'' I hope that we can all reflect on all the sacrifices our mothers made for us throughout the years. A mother's love is unending and her arms are always open. I wish all mothers a Happy Mothers Day this weekend.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman and I thank the Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whenever we attended to matters in our district over the last year, when many of our constituents are facing the most catastrophic time in their life, it may be a catastrophic illness or a personal matter that changes or skews their whole life-style. We are seeing the financial markets and the structure of financial calamity alter the lives of Americans. I think it is important to note that this Congress, this new Congress, has made an effort step by step to respond to the needs of Americans. I thank Mr. Issa for his work and that of our full committee and the leadership of the Senate to bring us S. 386 which amends the Federal criminal fraud statutes to reach the full range of fraud and other financial crimes that have come to light as the financial crisis has unfolded. It is important for America to know that we will hold those accountable for the malfeasance and the criminal acts that they have engaged in; for example, the Bernie Madoff issue, with so many people losing not only their sole possessions and resources, but in essence some would say losing their lives. This amends the security fraud statute to include commodities fraud. It clarifies that it is a felony for a mortgage banker to knowingly make materially false statements on a loan application or overvalue property. We can attest to the fact that this has happened. And in keeping with that, I am also supportive of H.R. 1728, that is, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. For those of us at town hall meetings and who have listened to any number of those who are in foreclosure, they told us that they would see papers that they had signed come back with the altering of their rates, with the altering of their income, with the altering of certain vital points that would then, in essence, put this fraudulent document in a position for the individual to receive a loan on false premises. Therein lies the underpinnings, if you will, of this collapse; the overexerting, if you will, of the market by lending to people who could not afford the homes, by miswriting on the documents. All of this came about. In the mortgage bill that we will be discussing over the next 24 hours, I was glad to argue on the point of language dealing with predatory lending which is also covered in S. 386, as we have indicated, and as well to provide an amendment that provides for an individual knowing how much their mortgage and interest would cost over a period of time. It is all right to be able to go in and fill out papers that indicate that you have a down payment of $2,000, but it is another thing to know that you are buying a house for a million dollars or $5 million, or more over a period of your lifetime, and whether or not that individual, that particular purchaser, understands the facts in the documents before them. The bill that we have before us amends Federal money laundering statutes to make them more effective in the context of fraud, prosecutions and ensures their appropriate use, and explicitly made fraud against the TARP and economic stimulus programs also a felony. There is a lot of money out there, Mr. Speaker, and there is certainly the possibility that all of those moneys can be used in a fraudulent manner. I believe it is important for the Members of this body but also the American people to know that we are working. And I also add in conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we are doing a lot of good work today. I also support the legislation, H. Res. 14, that acknowledges the importance of the Border Patrol in combating human trafficking. I am working to ensure that they have extra language to help them with additional Border Patrol agents and also to fight the guns and drugs that have a lot to do with human smuggling. The American people need to know the work that we are doing. I am in support of S. 386 because it puts a pin in the balloon of fraud that has hurt so many people. I would ask my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 386, Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act that was introduced in this Congress by the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Representative John Conyers from Michigan. This timely legislative initiative is aimed at fighting fraud and protecting taxpayers. If passed, this bill will help Americans recover from the present economic crisis. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. This legislation is designed to combat fraud by increasing vigilance and accountability concerning the manner how American tax dollars are spent. The types of fraud covered by this legislation include financial fraud, corporate fraud, contracting fraud, and mortgage fraud. Because recent history has demonstrated that large government outlays of money has attracted persons attempting to create fraud, this legislation provides the Congress with the opportunity to identify viable solutions to fraud and misuse. Current federal law enforcement uses a number of criminal statutes to prosecute fraud. The criminal penalties for fraud are found in Title 18 of the United States Code. This bill extend the application of these penalties to new areas. Specifically, this bill will increase accountability for corporate and mortgage fraud and will safeguard against future fraud on those programs that Congress recently developed to restore America's economy. This bill provides increased funding for the expanded role of the Department of Justice. Financial institutions, mortgage lenders, and other private entities are held accountable. This bill will target face statements made to financial institutions and false statements made by financial institutions, i.e. in the overvaluation of property. H.R. 1292, To amend Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, establishes a grant program to authorize funds to states to work with information sharing and training programs focused upon the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of terrorism, economic and high-tech crimes and will aid in the creation and maintenance of intelligence led police and information sharing. The bill provides the FBI with additional funding to combat financial fraud and identity theft. This additional provision of funding is responsive to the role that fraud has played in the housing crisis. This bill provides the FBI with greater funding to combat fraud. Its purpose is to address the corrupt and fraudulent practices of ``flippers'', ``scam artists'', and ``mortgage fraud rings.'' President Obama has signaled that he will freeze releasing additional TARP funds to AIG because of its mismanagement (i.e., AIG was using TARP funds to pay for employees bonuses). The TARP bill proscribed the use of the TARP funds and specified that there would be repercussions if the TARP funds were used wrongly. There are many companies that used these funds inappropriately. The fist sign of the crisis that America presently finds itself in occurred in March 2008 when investment bank Bear Stearns turned to the federal government and competitor JP Morgan Chase for assistance in addressing a sudden liquidity crisis. At that time, the Federal Reserve provided JP Morgan with funds to complete the merger. Later, in July 2008, the Federal Deposit Insurance Company seized control of IndyMac, the nation's largest home lender. In September, the federal government put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship. Since August 2008, the federal government has invested billions of dollars into financial institutions. Much of this money was given directly to large banking institutions. Other money was distributed through the Troubled Asset Relief Program. This program was supposed to increase liquidity in the credit and lending markets. Some of this money, it was later found was mismanaged and was used to buy other banks. On October 3, 2008, under the TARP, Congress authorized $700 billion for the Treasury to buy troubled assets to prevent further disruption in the economy. After the Act was passed, the Administration decided to use a portion of the $700 billion to recapitalize some of the nation's leading banks by buying their shares. Despite this purchase by the government, many banks had no intention of making new loans. In allocating the TARP fund, Treasury made a determination about which banks would survive and receive funds and which banks, usually smaller, would not. By the end of 2008, nine of the largest banks were participating in the TARP program. AIG, Bank of America, Citigroup all benefitted. For some aspects of the present crisis, I believe that there were a number of conscious decisions undertaken by bankers, financial institutions, and other lenders that have had a direct and adverse effect on borrower. I also understand that some Mr. and Mrs. Main Street Americans played a role. Many made false statements or exaggerated their income or engaged in other types of fraud in an effort to secure a mortgage that they could not afford. This bill is designed to take an even-handed approach and to stamp out fraud, mismanagement, and false statements whether they occur on Main Street or Wall Street. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 14, ``Recognizing the importance of the Border Patrol in combating human smuggling and commending the Department of Justice for increasing the rate of human smuggler prosecutions''. I have long been an advocate of human smuggler prosecutions. I have also worked on human trafficking. These issues particularly affect border States and Texas is no exception. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. There are few, if any, crimes that are both more corrosive to our Nation's security and offensive to the fundamental moral impulses of its people, than the kidnapping and exploitation--whether it is for forced physical labor, for the sexual degradation, or anything else-- of our fellow human beings. It is a practice formerly, and still largely, known as slavery; in recent years, it has reemerged in a world more interconnected than ever, under the title of ``human trafficking''. Human smuggling is a terrible crime. This activity attracts and creates the worst sorts of criminal--it is often conducted by organized crime and exposes Federal agents to increased danger in their enforcement efforts. Despite this, United States Customs and Border Protection has in the past, repeatedly arrested many human smugglers only to see them freed by the Federal Government without prosecution. These repeated encounters are extremely demoralizing to the Border Patrol, especially when under great pressure to do more to stop illegal border crossings. But we are seeing signs of hope. Federal prosecutions of human smugglers have increased in recent months resulting in decreased repeat offenses and arrests and uplifted Border Patrol morale. Furthermore, the United States is one of the leaders in the fight against human trafficking, and this is reflected in a number of acts by this body that define and expand the U.S. Government's role in the war against human trafficking--laws like the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. The interagency Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, HSTC, brings together Federal agency representatives from policy, law enforcement, intelligence, and diplomatic sectors, so they can work together on a full-time basis to achieve increased effectiveness and to convert intelligence into effective law enforcement and other action. This includes the Department of State, DOS, the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, and the Department of Justice, DOJ. The HSTC also serves as a clearinghouse for trafficking information. A week ago yesterday, in my city of Houston, a U.S. District judge passed the last sentence on one of eight defendants--a man by the name of Maximino Mondragon--in a case that illustrates much of what we condemn and commend here today. Mondragon and his conspirators lured the women to the United States with false promises of legitimate jobs. Once here, traffickers charged the women huge fees for their trip and expenses and held them as prisoners until they could work off what, for many, seemed to be impossible debts. The women were forced to wear skimpy clothes and sell high-priced drinks to men at local cantinas who were then allowed to touch them. And now many of them are beginning prison terms to last 13 or 15 years, and have been made to pay $1.7 million in restitution, a small consolation for their ordeal. I support this bill--praising the Department of Justice for increasing the rate of human smuggler prosecutions, urging the Department of Justice to continue to hunt down and prosecute men like Mondragon.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1107, to enact certain laws relating to public contracts as Title 41, United States Code, H.R. 1107. This important legislation was introduced jointly by Chairman Conyers and Ranking Member Smith. H.R. 1107 is not intended to make any substantive changes in the law. H.R. 1107 is a simple codification. There are a myriad of non- substantive revisions are made, including the reorganization of sections into a more coherent overall structure. Simply put, all H.R. 1107 does is codifies into positive law as title 41, United States Code, certain general and permanent laws related to public contracts. This bill was prepared by the Office of Law Revision Counsel, as part of its functions under 2 U.S.C. Sec. 285(b). Lawyers run into public contract law in limited circumstances. Lawyers who represent firms that operate primarily in the commercial sector, but are tangentially active in the contracting community, often find that their clients have conflicts with the federal government. Additionally, lawyers may run into public contract issues when they represent subcontractors to large Department of Defense (DOD) contractors, who have potential or ongoing disputes with the prime contractor that they want to avoid or resolve. H.R. 1107 simplifies, codifies, and streamlines public contract law. H.R. 1107 has already been subject to extensive agency and public review in the last Congress, and the Congress before last. Given the extensive agency and public review and the simplicity of the bill, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and vote for it in the affirmative.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act. Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to my distinguished colleague, Representative Brad Miller from North Carolina for introducing this important legislation. This act is designed to prevent a recurrence of the problems in the subprime market that are responsible for harming many American homebuyers. If passed, this legislation will promote financially friendly terms throughout banking establishments and mortgage lenders which will help all American citizens in the current economic crisis. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. H.R. 1728 will prohibit steering incentives in connection with origination of mortgage loans; this act will also direct the federal banking agencies to prohibit or condition terms, acts, or practices relations to residential mortgages loans that are abusive, unfair, deceptive, predatory, inconsistent with reasonable underwriting standards, or not in the interest of the borrower. These stipulations will ensure the people are not lured into mortgage loans for the wrong reasons or when they cannot afford the loan. We must establish a system of accountability in our country, and H.R. 1728 will enable a strong structure that will provide financial responsibility for both lenders and borrowers. H.R. 1728 also includes a number of other rules and regulations to help the mortgage industry. Some of these stipulations include: Permitting a consumer to assert a right to mortgage loan rescission as a defense to foreclosure Prohibits specific practices such as (1) certain repayment penalties, (2) single premium credit insurance, (3) mandatory arbitration, and (4) mortgages with negative amortization. Sets forth tenant protections in the case of foreclosure Requires a six-month notice before a hybrid adjustable rate mortgage is reset Establishes pre-loan mortgagor counseling as a prerequisite to a high-cost mortgages Prescribes mandatory disclosures in monthly statements for residential mortgage loans All these stipulations are set forth to protect the consumer from being uninformed and unknowledgeable and the process, procedures, and legal rules pertaining to their mortgage. Texas In 2007, Texas ranked fourth behind California, Florida, and Illinois in pre-foreclosures. Last year, Texas held the top seat for active foreclosures. We cannot continue to stand by as things get worse. Texas reported 13,829 properties entering some stage of foreclosure in April, a 16% increase from the previous month and the most foreclosure filings reported by any state. The state documented the nation's third highest state combined foreclosure rate one foreclosure filing for every 582 households. Many homeowners in my district are worried about missing their next house payment or their next home equity mortgage, or their interest rate going up. These families are under stress and in constant fear of losing their homes. While H.R. 1728 is not the last word in mortgage legislation, it is a great beginning. Phil Fontenot and his wife, Kim Monroe, qualified for a $436,000 dollar mortgage although they ran a small day care center. A mortgage broker approached the Fontenots and offered to get them a loan. They told the broker the most they could afford was $2,500 a month, but with their adjustable mortgage it jumped to $4,200, a price nearly twice their monthly budget. Without a lawyer, the Fontenot's failed to realize the complexity and precedence of their mortgage. In contrast, Matt and Stephanie Valdez say they knew exactly what they were doing when they bought a small two-bedroom for $355,000. They could afford the initial payments and planned to refinance the mortgage before the interest rate jumped to 11 percent. But they couldn't do it because the value of the house had fallen below what they owed on the mortgage. They say they can afford the higher payments, but see no point in making them. One first-time home buyer, a Hispanic--minority, 760 credit score, which should make her eligible for the best loan products out there, got a subprime of 2/28, which is a loan that was fixed for two years, adjustable for twenty-eight, and with a balloon payment. 760 credit score should have the best product available. She lives in an apartment, and not even in the house, because she can get an apartment cheaper and still have extra money to help pay the mortgage on the house that she owns. And she's hoping to refinance, to do something before it adjusts in 2008. These are the atrocities that subprime mortgage crisis has brought upon the American public, and H.R. 1728 is a start towards alleviating these problems. Americans are taught to work hard and make money and to buy a house, but we are never taught about financial literacy. In these tough economic times, it is imperative that Americans know about financial literacy; it is crucial to our survival. Americans need to be prepared to make informed financial choices. Indeed, we much learn how to effectively handle money, credit, debt, and risk. We must become better stewards over the things that we are entrusted. By becoming better stewards, Americans will become responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and citizens. I am reminded of how important this issue is to American society, as I was invited to attend a financial literacy roundtable panel on Monday evening at the New York Stock Exchange. The panel was sponsored by the Hope Literacy Foundation. The panel was moderated by John Hope Bryant. I was surrounded by some of the great financial literacy experts in the nation. At the roundtable, I discussed the importance of financial literacy for college and university students. It is important that students be taught financial literacy. The facts about students and financial literacy are astounding. Owning a home is the American Dream, but hundreds of thousands of people are on the brink of losing their homes and becoming the next victims of the housing crisis. Recently, I joined the Democratic Congress in passing the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, which will provide mortgage-refinancing assistance that will help keep families from losing their homes and protect neighboring home values. Through vital legislation such as this, and providing key resources and tools to my constituents, I will continue to fight and save homes and promote fair and informative mortgage policies in Houston as well as across this nation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in support of H. Res. 382, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 3 through May 9, 2009''. I would like to begin by thanking my colleague Representative Bishop for introducing this resolution in the House, as quality education should be at the top of our priorities list. I urge my colleagues to support and acknowledge charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education and improving and strengthening our public school system. Charter schools deliver high-quality education, challenge our students to reach their potential throughout the United States, and provide thousands of families with diverse and innovative educational options for their children. Charter schools improve their students' achievement and can stimulate improvement in traditional public schools as well. These unique, public schools are authorized by a designated public entity that are responding to the needs of our communities, families, and students and promoting the principles of quality, choice, and innovation. Charter schools take a revolutionary approach in educating our nation's students. Today, roughly 4,700 charter schools are now serving approximately 1,400,000 children in 40 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico this year. Charter schools continually demonstrate their ongoing success to parents, policymakers, and their communities. Some charter schools even routinely measure parental satisfaction levels while all give parents new freedom to choose their public school. Charter schools nationwide serve a higher percentage of low-income and minority students than the traditional public system and deliver higher quality education. Chartering is a radical educational innovation that is moving states beyond reforming existing schools to creating something entirely new. Chartering is at the center of a growing movement to challenge traditional notions of what public education means. Charter schools have demonstrated their commitment to high academic standards, small class sizes, innovative approaches and educational philosophies. Many parents choose charter schools for their small size and associated safety as charter schools serve an average of 250 students. I am pleased that over the last 15 years, Congress has provided substantial support to the charter school movement through startup financing assistance and grants for planning, implementation, and dissemination. In addition, these schools have enjoyed broad bipartisan support from the Administration, Congress, State Governors and legislatures, educators, and parents across the United States. The intention of most charter school legislation is to: increase opportunities for learning and access to quality education for all students, create choice for parents and students within the public school system, provide a system of accountability for results in public education, encourage innovative teaching practices, create new professional opportunities for teachers, encourage community and parent involvement in public education, and leverage improved public education broadly. I believe Charter Schools and the Nations Public Schools can work side by side to educate the Nations Children! Competition from charter schools has been shown to increase composite test scores in traditional district schools. Furthermore, twice as many registered voters favor charter schools as oppose I, them. The more people learn about charter schools, the more they like them. Congress must lend its support to these schools and their goals, especially since on average, the funding gap between charter schools and traditional schools is 22 percent, or $1,800 per pupil. The average charter school ends up with a total funding shortfall of nearly half a million dollars. Yet, twelve studies find that overall gains in charter schools are larger than other public schools; four find charter schools' gains higher in certain significant categories of schools and six find comparable gains to traditional schools. I ask my colleagues for their continued support of Charter schools and urge them to support this resolution.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 338, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of National Community College Month''. I would like to thank my colleague Representative Tom Latham for introducing this resolution, as well as the co-sponsors. The American Association of Community Colleges, the Association of Community College Trustees, and hundreds of community colleges nationwide recognize April as National Community College Month. They have many achievements to celebrate. There are over 1100 community colleges in our nation, enrolling over 11 million students nationwide. Since the first community college was founded in the United States, over a century ago, community colleges have educated more than 100 million American minds, making incalculable contributions to our country and population. To this day, they contribute more than $31 billion annually to the Nation's economic growth and, by helping to provide a skilled workforce, are critical to our Nation's continued success and prosperity in the global economy of the 21st century. I know about this from the achievements of my district, and the work done by among the finest of academic institutions--Houston Community College. Founded in 1971, under the wing of the Houston Independent School District--for example, initially using the district's campuses to teach night classes. In 1997 they began to transfer operations to community college district-operated campuses throughout the college's service area. Today, they offer students a wide array of academic and work programs, from accounting to fine arts, as well as stimulating programs such as the Spring Branch Business Plan Competition--learning and career opportunities found across the city of Houston and the surrounding area, in six different colleges. Perhaps, most notably, the Houston Community College System operates a television channel called HCCTV, which stands for Houston Community College Television, which began in 1994. It is aired on a number of local cable channels and streamed on the Internet, operating with a studio complex, which has one large studio unit, five edit suites, and a digital master control system, all of which are located at the HCC headquarters. Just this past Saturday, I attended HCC's graduation in Houston. It was a tribute to how community colleges can change lives. This is only one community college. In 2009, community colleges in the United States will award, to these young minds, more than 500,000 associate's degrees and 270,000 associate's certificates. The students are a more diverse group in terms of age, income, race, and ethnicity than students attending traditional colleges and universities, making community colleges essential to providing access to postsecondary education. They allow many older students to take courses part-time while working full-time, creating opportunities that otherwise would not be available and are affordable and close to home for most people in the United States. Community colleges provide job training for workers who have lost their jobs or are hoping to find better jobs, helping millions of people in the United States support themselves and their families. I am here before you today supporting the goals and ideals of National Community College Month, and urging my fellow members to do the same. Let us, as a Congress, and as a country, congratulate the Nation's community colleges, and their students, governing boards, faculty, and staff, for their contributions to education and workforce development, and for their vital role in ensuring a brighter, stronger future for the Nation. Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to thank Congressman Latham and my colleagues, for introducing H. Res. 338 honoring community colleges. I have long supported these institutions for the professional education they provide their students and I am happy to honor them today. Community colleges in New Jersey serve over 150,000 students at 19 campuses. They offer their students a broad array of certificate and associate degree programs--from business management to nursing, and engineering to philosophy. That is why, as Assembly Speaker in New Jersey, I created the STARS program that allowed star high school students to attend any community college in New Jersey for free. Now that program has been expanded to allow these students to attend a four-year college after two high- performing years at their community college. I recognized the great education these institutions provide to students and I wanted to ensure that they remained a viable option for future students. Community colleges play a vital role in our communities and for the students who attend them. I am proud to show my support for these fine institutions and H. Res. 338.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 103, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of Malaria Awareness Day'' and I would like to thank my colleague Representative Payne for introducing this resolution. Every year, April 25 is recognized internationally as Africa Malaria Day and in the United States as Malaria Awareness Day. Although, malaria is a completely preventable and treatable disease which was eliminated from the United States over 50 years ago, more than 40 percent of the world's population is still at risk of contracting malaria. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1,000,000 people die from malaria each year, the vast majority of whom are children under the age of 5 in Africa. I feel that the target of ending malaria deaths by 2015 is an achievable goal that the United States must aid in accomplishing. As chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, this resolution is important to me because roughly every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, and more than 3,000 children die from malaria every day. The malnutrition and consequent chronic illness that result from childhood malaria leads to increased absenteeism in school and perpetuates cycles of poverty. In addition to threatening the lives of children this disease also takes a great toll on women as well. Malaria poses great risks to maternal health, causing complications during delivery, anemia, and low birth weights, with estimates by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that malaria infection causes 400,000 cases of severe maternal anemia and from 75,000 to 200,000 infant deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 90 percent of deaths from malaria occur in Africa and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership estimates that malaria costs African countries $12,000,000,000 in lost economic productivity each year. The World Health Organization estimates that malaria accounts for 40 percent of health care expenditures in high-burden countries, demonstrating that effective, long-term malaria control is inextricably linked to the strength of health systems. Fortunately, the heightened efforts over recent years to prevent and treat malaria are currently saving lives. Progress and funding to control malaria has increased ten-fold since 2000, in large part, due to funding under the President's Malaria Initiative (a U.S. Government initiative designed to cut malaria deaths in half in target countries in sub-Saharan Africa), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank, and new financing by other donors. The President's Malaria Initiative has purchased almost 13,000,000 artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), protected over 17,000,000 people through spraying campaigns, and distributed over 6,000,000 insecticide-treated bed nets, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has distributed 7,000,000 bed nets to protect families from malaria and provided 74,000,000 malaria patients with ACTs, and the World Bank's Booster Program is scheduled to commit approximately $500,000,000 in International Development Association funds for malaria control in Africa. At the moment, public and private partners are developing effective and affordable drugs to treat malaria, with more than 23 types of malaria vaccines in development. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vector control, or the prevention of malaria transmission via anopheles mosquitoes, which includes a combination of methods such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying, and source reduction (larval control), has been shown to reduce severe morbidity and mortality due to malaria in endemic regions. The impact of malaria efforts have been documented in numerous regions, such as in Zanzibar, where malaria prevalence among children shrank from 20 percent to less than 1 percent between 2005 and 2007, and in Rwanda, where malaria cases and deaths appeared to decline rapidly after a large-scale distribution of bed nets and malaria treatments in 2006. A malaria-free future will rely on consistent international, national and local leadership, and a comprehensive approach addressing the range of health, development, and economic challenges facing developing countries. It is important that this Congress commits to continued leadership in efforts to reduce global malaria deaths, especially through strengthening health care systems that can deliver effective, safe, high-quality interventions when and where they are needed, and assure access to reliable health information and effective disease surveillance.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker; I rise today in support of H. Res. 230 ``Recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo'' and I would like to thank my colleague Representative Baca for introducing this resolution in the House. May 5, or Cinco de Mayo in Spanish, is celebrated each year as a date of great importance by the Mexican and Mexican-American communities. This holiday commemorates May 5, 1862, the date on which the Battle of Puebla was fought. However, Cinco de Mayo is not ``an obligatory federal holiday'' in Mexico, but rather a holiday that can be observed voluntarily. Cinco de Mayo has become one of Mexico's most famous national holidays and is celebrated annually by many Mexicans and Mexican- Americans, north and south of the United States-Mexico border. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on significance beyond that in Mexico. The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese ancestry respectively. Similar to those holidays, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin. Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a civil war, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume. The English, Spanish and French refused to allow President Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. The French, confident that their battle-seasoned troops were far superior to the almost amateurish Mexican forces, expected little or no opposition from the Mexican army. The French army, which had not experienced defeat against any of Europe's finest troops in over half a century, sustained a disastrous loss at the hands of an outnumbered, ill-equipped, and ragged, but highly spirited and courageous, Mexican force. After three bloody assaults upon Puebla in which over a thousand gallant Frenchmen lost their lives, the French troops were finally defeated and driven back by the outnumbered Mexican troops. Although the Mexican army was victorious over the French at Puebla, the victory only delayed the French invasion on Mexico City; a year later, the French occupied Mexico. The courageous and heroic spirit that Mexican General Zaragoza and his men displayed during this historic battle can never be forgotten. While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. However, a common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, which actually is September 16, the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico. The Cinco de Mayo holiday is not only the commemoration of the rout of the French troops at the town of Puebla in Mexico, but is also a celebration of the virtues of individual courage and patriotism, which all Americans can appreciate. Cinco de Mayo also serves as a reminder of the close spiritual and economic ties between the people of Mexico and the people of the United States, and is especially important for the people of the southwestern States where millions of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans make their homes. In a larger sense Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the right of a free people to self-determination and should be recognized and honored by this Congress.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today in support of H Con. Res. 111, recognizing the 61st anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel. I would like thank my colleague, Representative Scott Garrett, for introducing this act of solidarity. I would also like to thank my fellow co-sponsors. On May 14, 1948--61 years ago--the Jewish people of Palestine declared their independence as a sovereign state. Across the world, the Jewish people saw a new opportunity to reestablish their ancient homeland--the possibility of living, not as eternal outsiders, but as a nation. Eleven minutes after this declaration, the United States became the first country to recognize the new state. This began a long, strategic partnership based on shared democratic values, friendship, and respect. To this day, Americans share an affinity with the people of Israel and view their country as a strong and trusted ally. The new nation provided a refuge to millions who had survived one of the most glaring examples of man's greatest inhumanity to man. These survivors helped to found a democracy that made use of all the freedoms, we, as Americans hold dear ourselves, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and government by the consent of the governed. Israel continues to serve as a shining model of democrat values by regularly holding free and fair elections, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and vigorously exercising, in the Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of its citizens. The leaders in this parliament have, as the times have required, led Israel as the nation defended itself from repeated military and terrorist attacks. Likewise, when they saw the opportunity, the democratically elected leaders of Israel have worked for peace, as they did with the neighboring governments of Egypt and Jordan to establish peaceful, bilateral relations. These efforts continue to this day--despite the deaths of over 1,000 innocent Israelis over the last several years at the hands of suicide bombers and other terrorists--as the people of Israel continue to seek peace with their Palestinian neighbors, I will continue to work for a two-state solution and the saving of lives in Palestine and in Israel. This is all to say nothing of the country's many other accomplishments, including significant global contributions in the fields of science, medicine, and technology. That is why I stand here today--to recognize this simple truth--that the independence of the State of Israel is more than a single event--it is the stabilization of a region, it is the lasting friendship of a like-minded country--and it is the bond of sovereign friendship. That is what this resolution does. To the administrations and Congresses that have, since its creation, stood by the people of Israel, working for their security and well- being, we give our praise. We further commend our allies who have helped us to strengthen our bilateral relations in recent years in the fields of defense, diplomacy, and homeland security. We also encourage them to continue their cooperation in resolving future mutual challenges, as we resolve, today and always, to continue ours. For that is also in this resolution. Finally, I extend the warmest congratulations and best wishes to the people of Israel as they celebrate the 61 years of their noble nation's independence and sovereignty. May they know many more, and thrive as a country.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, this has been a week for America, fighting the H1N1 virus and coming together as a Nation. But at the same time, this Congress and this administration have invested in America's going forward with passing our budget resolution and thank, thank, thank whoever you desire to thank, including the sponsors of this bill, finally a credit cardholders' bill of rights. Last year in 2008, $19 billion in penalty fees on families with credit cards dealing with late fees, over-the-limit fees, and other penalties. This year, $20 billion. This is crashing down on the heads of hardworking families, college students. Enough is enough. I am proud to stand up and support legislation that says to the American people you are in charge, not the abusive, under-the-table focus of credit card companies who continuously handle their business wrongheadedly, charging over-the-limit fees. And, therefore, this bill will limit to three the number of over-the-limit fees companies can charge for the same transaction. Can you imagine, they were doing it over and over and over again. It ends unfair double-cycle billing, ends the fact that you might be paying your bill on time and yet they raise your interest rate without notice. An amendment that I support as well is one that indicates if you were to lose your card, the credit card company should notify credit cardholders 30 days before closing their account, give the reason foreclosure, options to keep the account open, programs available to repay the balance, and the resulting impact on their credit card score. Sometimes people are surviving on their credit card, but they're paying their bill. But yet the credit card companies have no mercy. And they don't have any mercy when they go after our children on college campuses and the parents don't even know that the children have it. Limit the credit card balance or the amount when young people are involved. This is a great bill. Thank goodness for the credit cardholders' bill of rights for the American people. Madam Speaker, Americans are taught to work hard and make money and to buy a house, but we are never taught about financial literacy. In these tough economic times, it is imperative that Americans know about financial literacy; it is crucial to our survival. Americans need to be prepared to make informed financial choices. Indeed, we must learn how to effectively handle money, credit, debt, and risk. We must become better stewards over the things that we are entrusted. By becoming better stewards, Americans will become responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and citizens. I add my appreciation to Carolyn Maloney and Luis Gutierrez for their hard work. I am reminded of how important this issue is to American society, as I was invited to attend a financial literacy roundtable panel on Monday evening at the New York Stock Exchange. The panel was sponsored by the Hope Literacy Foundation. The panel was moderated by John Hope Bryant. I was surrounded by some of the great financial literacy experts in the nation. At the roundtable, I discussed the importance of financial literacy for college and university students. It is important that students be taught financial literacy. The facts about students and financial literacy are astounding. In 2008, 84 percent of undergraduates had at least one credit card. This figure is staggering. Young people who themselves might not even have a job are able to get credit cards. This is astounding because it begins the cycle of indebtedness. Recent studies have indicated that young people do not even know basic financial topics such as the impact of student loans on one's credit, how to balance a checkbook, and the impact of automobile loans on one's credit. Because of my concern that young people are not sufficiently informed about financial literacy, I have offered this amendment: To require financial literacy counseling for borrowers, and for other purposes. This amendment is important because approximately two-thirds of students borrow to pay for college according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Moreover, one in ten of student borrowers have loans more than $35,000. Passing this legislation will ensure that our nation's college students will be more prepared when incurring student loan debt and help them to avoid default as student loans severely impact one's credit score. Currently there is about $60 billion in defaulted student loan debt. Many students do not understand the reality of repaying student debt while taking out these loans. While most Americans have debt of some kind, student loan repayment is especially scary, as one cannot just declare bankruptcy and have their loans discharged. Due to the lack of financial literacy counseling for borrowers, student loan payments are often higher than expected. Recent grads are unable to afford the monthly payments resulting in them living paycheck to paycheck, acquiring credit card debt and in extreme cases, grads leaving the country in order to avoid repayment and debt collectors. Students and parents are not currently receiving the proper or any information of the burden that their student loans will have once they graduate. This is possibly a result of the relationship between student loan companies and universities, as some lenders offer universities incentives to steer borrowers their way. College campuses are one place that young Americans are introduced to credit and the possibility of living beyond their means. With proper loan and credit counseling the burden of debt incurred in college could be greatly reduced. Especially in this time of recession, financial literacy is one of the most important tools that we can give to our students in order to ensure their success in the future. This amendment will provide financial literacy training to students taking out Federal Student Loans and will require a minimum of 4 hours of counseling including entrance and exit counseling. Counseling will include the fundamentals of basic checking and savings accounts, budgeting, types of credit and their appropriate uses, the different forms of student financial aid, repayment options, credit scores and ratings, as well as investing. I support the rule and urge my colleagues to do likewise. The rule prevents card companies from unfairly increasing interest rates on existing card balances--retroactive increases are permitted only if a cardholder is more than 30 days late, if a promotional rate expires, if the rate adjusts as part of a variable rate, or if the cardholder fails to comply with a workout agreement. The rule requires card companies to give 45 days notice of all interest rate increases or significant contract changes (e.g. fees). Requires companies to let consumers set their own fixed credit limit that cannot be exceeded. Prevents companies from charging ``over-the-limit'' fees when a cardholder has set a limit, or when a preauthorized credit ``hold'' pushes a consumer over their limit. Limits (to 3) the number of over-the-limit fees companies can charge for the same transaction--some issuers now charge virtually unlimited fees for a single violation. Ends unfair ``double cycle'' billing--card companies couldn't charge interest on debt consumers have already paid on time. If a cardholder pays on time and in full, the bill prevents card companies from piling additional fees on balances consisting solely of left-over interest. Prohibits card companies from charging a fee when customers pay their bill. Many companies credit payments to a cardholder's lowest interest rate balances first, making it impossible for the consumer to pay off high- rate debt. The bill bans this practice, requiring payments made in excess of the minimum to be allocated proportionally or to the balance with the highest interest rate. Protects Cardholders from Due Date Gimmicks. Requires card companies to mail billing statements 21 calendar days before the due date (up from the current 14 days), and to credit as ``on time'' payments made before 5 p.m. local time on the due date. Extends the due date to next business day for mailed payments when the due date falls on a day a card company does not accept or receive mail (i.e. Sundays and holidays). Establishes standard definitions of terms like ``fixed rate'' and ``prime rate'' so companies can't mislead or deceive consumers in marketing and advertising. Gives consumers who are pre-approved for a card the right to reject that card prior to activation without negatively affecting their credit scores. Prohibits issuers of subprime cards (where total yearly fixed fees exceed 25 percent of the credit limit) from charging those fees to the card itself. These cards are generally targeted to low-income consumers with weak credit histories. Prohibits card companies from knowingly issuing cards to individuals under 18 who are not emancipated. Requires reports to Congress by the Federal Reserve on credit card industry practices to enhance congressional oversight. Requires card companies to send out 45-day notice of interest rate increases 90 days after the bill is signed into law; the remainder of the bill takes effect 12 months after enactment. I urge my colleagues to support the rule. Seventeen amendments were made in order. I will discuss my views on each below. 1. Gutierrez Amendment. This amendment offered by Representative Gutierrez, would allow issuers to charge consumers for expedited payments by telephone when consumers request such an expedited payment, and would make technical corrections; would require that all credit card offers notify prospective applicants that excessive credit applications can adversely affect their credit rating; would direct the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve to suggest appropriate guidelines for creditors to supply cardholders with information regarding the availability of legitimate and accredited credit counseling services; would require all written information, provisions, and terms in or on any application, solicitation, contract, or agreement for any credit card account under an open end consumer credit to appear in no less than 12 point font; and would require that stores who are self-issuers of credit cards display a large visible sign at counters with the same information that is required to be disclosed on the application itself. I support this amendment and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. This amendment addresses the issue of financial literacy and ensures that the consumer is afforded information to make an informed decision about applying for and ultimately securing a credit card. Credit counseling is a key element and is of paramount importance. This amendment provides credit counseling to the consumer before the consumer gets into financial trouble. 2. Frank (MA), would require the Federal Reserve (1) to review the consumer credit card market, including through solicitation of public comment, and report to Congress every two years; (2) publish a summary of this review in the Federal Register, along with proposed regulatory changes (or an explanation for why no such changes are proposed). The amendment also requires the Federal banking agencies and the FTC to submit to the Federal Reserve, for inclusion in the Federal Reserve's annual report to Congress, information about the agencies' supervisory and enforcement activities related to credit card issuers' compliance with consumer protection laws. I support this amendment and encourage my colleagues to support this amendment. This amendment ensures that the FTC and the Federal banking agencies are engaging in supervisory and enforcement activities related to credit card issuer's compliance with consumer protection laws. This is important to ensure that another credit crisis is not looming and is an appropriate step to take to prevent such crises from occurring in the future. 3. Slaughter (NY)/Duncan (TN)/Hastings, Alcee (FL)/Johnson (GA)/ Christensen (VI), would set underwriting standards for students' credit cards, including limiting credit lines to the greater of 20 percent of a student's annual income or $500, without a co-signer and requiring creditors to obtain a proof of income, income history, and credit history from college students before approving credit applications. I support this amendment. During the 1990s and 2000s, credit companies began a massive campaign of inundating university students with credit card offers. Such advertisement and easy availability of credit to students had the effect of enticing students to apply for credit. The students would then become indebted and subsequently face economic hardship. This amendment would help ensure that a student would be qualified for credit that he or she could afford. This amendment is practical and it makes sense. I support it and I urge my colleagues to do the same. 4. Gutierrez (IL)/Peters, Gary (MI)/Edwards, Donna (MD), would require credit card issuers to allocate payments in excess of the minimum payment to the portion of the remaining balance with the highest outstanding APR first, and then to any remaining balances in descending order, eliminating the pro rata option. I support this amendment. The inclusion of this amendment would inure to consumers. I support it and urge my colleagues to do the same. 5. Pingree, Chellie (ME), would require the Chair of the Federal Reserve to submit a report on the level of implementation of this bill every 90 days until the Chair can report full industry implementation. I support this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same. 6. Polis (CO), would clarify that minors are allowed to have a credit card in their name on their parent or legal guardian's account. I support this amendment. I believe that if young people are afforded credit cards and are taught how to effectively and safely use credit that it can be beneficial to them. This amendment would help in making children more financially responsible. 7. Jones (NC), would require the Federal Reserve Board, in consultation with the Federal Trade Commission and other agencies, to establish regulations that would allow estate administrators to resolve outstanding credit balances in a timely manner. I support this amendment. Its inclusion would ensure that debts are not passed off to the state. I support this bill and urge my colleagues to support. 8. Maloney (NY)/Watson (CA), would require credit cardholders to opt- into receiving over-the-limit protection on their credit card in order for a credit card company to charge an over-the-limit fee. Allows for transactions that go over the limit to be completed for operational reasons as long as they are of a de minimis amount, but the credit card company is not allowed to charge a fee. I support this amendment. This is the same principle that applies with respect to over the limit fees in banking accounts. The premise is reasonable and makes sense. I urge my colleagues to support it. 9. Hensarling (TX), would allow issuers to raise rates on existing balances if they provide consumers clear notification 90 days in advance, provided that the issuer has previously specified this ability to consumers in their contract and at least once every year thereafter. I do not support this amendment. The whole idea behind this bill is to extend certain rights to the consumer. This amendment allows credit card companies to continue to raise rates without any regard as to whether the rates were reasonable in the first instance. I urge my colleagues not to support this amendment. 10. Hensarling (TX), would allow creditors to use retroactive rate increases, universal default, and `double cycle billing' practices as long as they offer at least one card option that does not have those billing features to all of their existing customers. I do not support this amendment. The whole idea behind this bill is to extend certain rights to the consumer. This amendment allows credit card companies to continue to raise rates without any regard as to whether the rates were reasonable in the first instance. I urge my colleagues not to support this amendment. 11. Minnick (ID), would provide that the amount of a balance as of the 7-day mark, instead of the 14-day mark, following a notice of a rate increase would be protected from the rate increase. I do not support this amendment. Allowing the balance as of the 14- day mark following a notice of rate increase that would be protected would help the consumer. I urge my colleagues not to support this amendment. 12. Price, David (NC)/Miller, Brad (NC)/Moran, James (VA)/Quigley (IL)/Lowey (NY)/Stupak (MI)/Sutton (OH), would require credit card issuers to provide enhanced disclosure to consumers regarding minimum payments, including a written Minimum Payment Warning statement on all monthly statements as well as information regarding the monthly payment amount and total cost that would be required for the consumer to eliminate the outstanding balance in 12, 24 and 36 months. Would require credit card issuers to provide a toll-free telephone number at which the consumer may receive information about accessing credit counseling and debt management services. I support this amendment. It makes good sense and would help the consumer make informed decisions. It affords the consumer with credit counseling and debt management services which can be vital informational tools for consumers. 13. Davis, Susan (CA)/Carney (PA), Would require card issuers to notify cardholders 30 days before closing their accounts, the reason for the account closure, options to keep the account open, programs available to repay the balance, and the resulting impact on their credit score. I support this amendment and urge my colleagues to support it. This amendment offers the consumer the last clear chance to self-help and to fix the consumers bad credit situation. Should the consumer not be able to improve the situation, the consumer must be informed about the resulting impact upon the consumer's credit score. This amendment makes sense. I urge my colleagues to support it. 14. Perriello (VA), Would require a 6-month period for a promotional rate for credit cards before the standard rate may be increased. I support this amendment. 15. Schauer (MI), Would require creditors to post their credit card written agreements on their Web sites, and requires the Board to compile and report those agreements on its Web site. I support this amendment. It promotes transparency. 16. Teague, Harry (NM)/Nye (VA)/Boccieri (OH)/Kissell, Larry (NC), Would restrict credit card issuers from making adverse reports to credit rating agencies regarding deployed military service members and disabled veterans during the first two years of their disability. I support this amendment and I encourage my colleagues to do the same. This amendment ensures that veterans and servicemen are not prejudiced in their credit ratings because of deployment or disability. It is a small sacrifice for our servicemen and veterans who have given so much to protect this country. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. 17. Schock (IL), Would allow consumers who have not activated an issued credit card within 45 days, to contact the issuing institution to cancel the card and have it removed from their credit report entirely. If after 45 days the card has not been activated it is automatically removed from any such report. I support this amendment. It is a good commonsense amendment. I urge my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I support the rule and the amendments that I enumerated above. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, enough is enough. Today, I rise to add my appreciation to Carolyn Maloney and to all of those who finally got it all in place to be able to say ``no'' to the credit card abuses that have been abusing Americans on a constant basis. H.R. 627, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights, is imperative to be passed today. It ends unfair, arbitrary interest rate increases, and lets consumers set hard credit limits. It stops excessive over-the- limit fees, ends unfair penalties for cardholders who pay on time, requires the fair allocation of consumer payments, protects cardholders from due-date gimmicks. As well, it has amendments that will stop the proliferating and the sale of credit cards to college students. Can you imagine having a credit card and having a contract, and all of a sudden, like an adjustable rate, your rate spikes up without any knowledge and without any notice? It stops the small print where they can say all manner of things and never, never get the truth told. Thank you for H.R. 627.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Conference Report on S. Con. Res. 13, Chairman, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2010, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2009, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2011 through 2014. I thank Chairman Spratt of the Budget Committee for his leadership and hard work on spearheading the effort to bring a budget to the floor that the American people can live with, helps fuel the engine of the government, makes America thrive, and makes it place that we all can be proud of. The President, the Conferees, and this Congress, should all be commended for helping bring this budget to the floor. I support the budget and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I support the budget for several important and distinct reasons. Unlike the last Administration, which inherited a $5.6 trillion surplus, this Administration inherited an economy in steep decline, a budget in record deficit, and faltering public services due to persistent underfunding and inattention. The Congress has already taken steps to create jobs, help Americans regain their home, help Americans pay their bills and put food on the table for their families. The Congress has also taken steps to rebuild our economy. The Congress has done all of these tasks by enacting the Recovery Act. The budget is an economic blueprint for the future that builds from these initial steps by making strategic investments to rebuild our economy over the long term. The budget provides for increased investment in health care reform, education, and energy independence and at the same time puts the budget back on a path to fiscal responsibility and sustainability. The budget is to be applauded as nothing short of a miracle. It makes strategic investments in education, health care reform, and energy independence and puts the country back on track to remain globally competitive. It puts us on track to cut the Federal budget deficit by more than half by 2013. The budget reflects the Recovery Act. The Obama Administration inherited a deficit of well over $1 trillion and the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The budget builds upon the President's plan. It provides tax relief to middle-income families, creates jobs through investment in infrastructure, and extends unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. The budget addresses eight years of Republic policies that have brought on America's current economic woes. So far, we have seen 25 straight months of housing price declines; 14 months of job losses and 4.4 million jobs lost, the most since World War II, with 651,000 jobs lost in February alone; unemployment is currently soaring above 8.1 percent and in the double digits in the minority communities across this great Nation; and 45 percent drop in major stock markets from their highs. The budget supports the President's goals for Health Care Reform. The President's principles for healthcare reform include making health coverage affordable and available to all, improving safety and quality, and improving and providing Americans with a choice of health plans and physicians, including the choice of keeping their current health plan. The budget begins to address the rising health care costs. The average cost of an employer-sponsored health insurance policy exceeded $12,000 in 2008, more than twice what it cost ten years ago. The President's plan would reduce the inefficiencies that have caused these prices to soar. The budget sets us on a plan to increase coverage. The number of people without insurance grew from 38 million in 2000 to nearly 46 million in 2008. Nearly 1 out of 6 Americans is without health care coverage. Most uninsured are in working families. Millions more are underinsured. The budget assumes that health care will be paid for, so it does not add to the deficit. Importantly, the budget supports improvements to medicare's payment system for doctors. The budget supports legislation on medicare physician payments to provide for efficiency and higher quality care, promote fiscal sustainability, ensure that primary care receives appropriate compensation, and improves coordination of care. The budget invests in education. The budget builds upon the Recovery Act's historic investment in education. The budget includes the $100 billion in education funding provided for in the Recovery Act to help states maintain elementary, secondary, and higher education services. The Recovery Act targeted funds to Title I (Education for the Disadvantaged), Head Start, and special education, where the funding can be used to train more teachers to provide needed services. This supports Congress's efforts that resulted in increased maximum Pell Grant awards to $619 to a total of $5,350--the largest annual increase in history--and created the American Opportunity Tax Credit for eligible students receive a partially refundable tax credit of up to $2,500 to cover college costs. Simply put, the budget makes education more affordable and accessible and increases education funding. It supports early childhood education and supports improved school breakfast and lunch programs. The budget will afford over 31 million children a healthy and nutritious meal. The budget builds upon significant funding and tax incentives in the Recovery Act by increasing our investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency by some 18 percent for 2010. These investments will spur new sources of energy that we can produce here, creating ``green collar'' jobs for American workers. It will promote energy independence over the long term. I urge my colleagues to support the budget. It takes the appropriate steps to put the budget back on track for fiscal responsibility and sustainability. It will cut the budget deficit by more than half in four years. Specifically, it will cut the budget from $1.7 trillion in 2009 to $586 billion in 2013. It also improves responsibility through statutory pay-go. It includes investment in oversight and enforcement yielding savings. Youth Jobs The budget includes funding for summer jobs for youth. Our youth, and individuals that have opted not to go to college or institutions of higher learning, need to be engaged and employed. Employment will provide them with skills and aptitudes that are necessary to be productive in society. Healthcare The budget accounts for the cost of healthcare reform to ensure that the 45 million uninsured Americans (four million of which are children) have access to quality and affordable healthcare. The budget accounts for the following: Funding the Minority AIDS Initiative to build capacity among minority run non-governmental organizations and to conduct outreach services among minority communities. Funding the Ryan White CARE Act to support care and treatment programs at the local level to address the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Funding the CDC Prevention activities for HIV, STD, TB and Viral Hepatitis to fund testing initiatives and support innovative prevention efforts at the local level. Funding for Housing for people living with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) to provide supportive housing for people with AIDS. International Affairs I commend the President for requesting an increase of $15 billion for the Department of State and other international programs in FY2010, which is a 40% increase over the FY2009 level. The budget includes this increase in the budget resolution. I am hopeful that these additional funds will go towards the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; USAID; migration and refugee assistance; peacekeeping efforts in Darfur; education, healthcare and cultural exchange programs; child survival and health programs; and development assistance. National Defense I support the robust funding for our troops and America's national defense. I support reducing funding for the failed Ballistic Missile Defense program and reallocating those funds within the Defense Department to fund increases in shipbuilding, troop readiness, military and civilian pay, cancer research, and mental health services. I have consistently fought for funding to weed out waste, fraud and abuse within the Department of Defense. The Defense Department has already saved an estimated $89 billion between FY01 and FY07 by implementing 1,682 of the Government Accountability Office's recommendations. The present budget, as does President Obama's FY2010 Budget Overview, reflects a similar commitment, as has the House Budget Committee under Chairman Spratt's leadership. Income Security As the economy continues to worsen, the budget accounts for the increased need for income security programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Unemployment Insurance, Medicaid, and the Recovery Act's COBRA subsidy. Housing Programs The housing crisis lies at the center of the economic problems we face today. After the series of TARP bills, the Congress has just found out that bank executives have used over $100 million in TARP funds to pay for executive bonuses and other forms of compensation. The budget reverses eight years of underfunding of the nation's affordable housing programs and we are pleased that the Administration has proposed a HUD budget that increases funding for the Department by 19 percent. The budget matches this aggressive budget authorization and to support large investments into the Community and Regional Development and and the Income Security functions in order to account for increases in Affordable Housing programs. The budget supports the Administration's proposal to fund the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund at $1 billion and to fully fund the Community Development Block Grant program. It funds HUD's housing programs for the elderly, disabled, and Native Americans, as well as for those programs that prevent homelessness. It increases funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which allows states, localities, and nonprofits to buy up and rehabilitate abandoned and foreclosed properties. Justice Programs The budget accounts for funding efforts to combat and reduce juvenile crime and efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders. Removing barriers to reentry has proven to reduce recidivism, which in the long run reduces crime. In addition, the budget accounts for much needed increases in youth crime intervention programs. Research has shown that targeting funding towards intervention rather than incarceration is more effective at reducing crime and saving the taxpayer money in the long run. I have long supported efforts to increase funding for the Justice Assistance Program, the Juvenile Justice Program, Civil Rights Enforcement, the COPS Program, the Byrne Justice Grant Program, and State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance. The budget accounts for sustaining many of the important increases for these programs that was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Education As the Chairwoman of the Children's Caucus, I support the budget's effort to reform and expand the Pell Grant program. Pell Grants are way to make education affordable to disadvantaged youth. This is very important to me. The budget has sustained increases in education funding, especially for Title I and IDEA. Even though Congress is to consider the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act this year, the Budget Committee should still account for the need to address the substantial funding shortfalls of this program over the last eight years. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act made substantial increases, the budget accounts for sustaining many of these new investments. The budget also account for needed increases in funding for Head Start, TRIO (including Upward Bound), GEAR UP, Youth Build, and vocational education programs. The budget accounts for funding for expanded grants to states for workplace and community transition as authorized in the Higher Education Opportunity Act. These grants will better assist and encourage incarcerated individuals who have obtained a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent to acquire educational and job skills. The budget accounts for funding for the historic increases in funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions authorized in the Higher Education Act reauthorization enacted last year.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I would like to thank Chairman Conyers of the House Judiciary Committee for his leadership in bringing this timely legislation to the floor. H.R. 1913 will provide assistance to state and local law enforcement and amend federal law to streamline the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. The key element of the bill is its expansion of federal jurisdiction to cover crimes motivated by bias against a victim's perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. This legislation would make tremendous strides in garnering the civil and human rights of all Americans. Its passage would secure the equal protection of all Americans under the law. It is a landmark and long overdue piece of legislation. This is an important bill and I have introduced similar legislation in this and prior Congresses. While I support this bill and urge my colleagues to support this bill I am disappointed that the bill did not include my amendment which I offered last Congress.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. __ the Rule on H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I urge my colleagues to support this rule. The rule will provide assistance to state and local law enforcement and amend federal law to streamline the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. The key element of the rule is its expansion of federal jurisdiction to cover crimes motivated by bias against a victim's perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. This legislation would make tremendous strides in garnering the civil and human rights of all Americans. Its passage would secure the equal protection of all Americans under the law. It is a landmark and long overdue piece of legislation. This is an important legislation and I have introduced similar legislation in this and prior Congresses. While I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to support it, I am disappointed that the rule did not include my amendment which I offered last Congress.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Will the gentlelady yield?

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I agree. I would just ask the gentlelady if she has read section 3 that indicates the State would ask for the assistance, and then page 12 of the bill that indicates, it is part (d), I don't want to go back to the section, but page 12, line 9, indicates that no voice where someone is speaking or making expression will be in evidence to prove that that person is engaged in a hate crime. I would ask the gentlelady if she looked at that thoroughly?