Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 756, the ``National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009.'' I would like to thank Congresswoman Lois Capps from California for this important health care legislation. background This legislation requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to seek an agreement with the Institute of Medicine to convene a Conference on Pain that: (1) Increases the recognition of pain as a significant public health problem in the United States; (2) Evaluates the adequacy of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute and chronic pain; (3) Identifies barriers to appropriate pain care; and (4) Establishes an agenda to reduce such barriers and significantly improve the state of pain care research, education, and clinical care in the United States by allowing the Secretary to enter into an agreement with another appropriate entity if the Institute of Medicine declines. This legislation will also amend the Public Health Service Act to require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue and expand, through the Pain Consortium, an aggressive program of basic and clinical research on the causes of and potential treatments for pain. The Secretary will be required to establish the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee to: (1) Develop a summary of advances in federal pain care research relevant to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of pain and diseases and disorders associated with pain; and (2) Identify critical gaps in basic and clinical research on the symptoms and causes of pain. Most importantly, it allows the Secretary to provide for education and training to health care professionals in pain care including the requirement to establish and implement a national pain care education outreach and awareness campaign to educate consumers, patients, their families, and other caregivers. general The American Pain Foundation provides its members and the public with several tips to dealing with pain relief, they advise pain sufferers to be active in their pain management. Sufferers should not be afraid to speak up. Only you know the extent of your pain and how it affects your quality of life. Knowledge is power. There are a variety of drug and non-drug therapies (e.g., physical therapy, yoga, meditation) available to effectively control pain; these are typically used in combination. People need to ask their healthcare providers about ways to relax and cope with pain. Tell your provider what over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements you take, at what dose and how often. Also let him or her know about other personal health habits (e.g., smoking tobacco, alcohol use), which can interfere with some pain treatments and increase pain levels. Write down questions you have before each appointment, and tell your provider(s) if there is something you don't understand and bring a relative or friend to the appointments for support. It is often the little things that make all the difference in pain management. I urge my colleagues to remember that everyday persistent pain can interfere with people's enjoyment of life. It can make it hard to sleep, work, socialize with friends and family and accomplish everyday tasks. When your ability to function is limited, you may become less productive. People find themselves avoiding hobbies and other activities that normally bring them happiness in order to prevent further injury or pain. Ongoing pain can cause you to lose your appetite, feel weak and depressed. This legislation provides more resources to manage their pain and reclaim their life.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 60, supporting the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I want to thank my colleague from Texas, Representative Kay Granger. This important legislation recognizes the devastating effects of colorectal cancer, which kills 49,960 Americans each year, and raises awareness regarding the realities and severities of this disease. Colorectal cancer includes both colon and rectal cancer and is the second most common cause of cancer deaths for both men and women within the United States. This form of cancer does not discriminate between men and women, race and ethnicity, while the rates of diagnoses are slightly higher among the African America community. The survival rate of those who have colorectal cancer is 90 percent when detected in its early stages while that rate dramatically drops to only 10 percent when colorectal cancer is detected after it has spread to distant organs. However, colorectal cancer is very preventable. If Americans age 50 or older were screened regularly for colorectal cancer, the rate of those affected by the cancer will be cut tremendously. It is not surprising to note that uninsured Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with late stage colon cancer. Only 18.8 percent of Americans without health coverage in the United States have currently been properly screened for colorectal cancer. Regular colorectal cancer screening makes economic sense because it has been ranked as one of the most cost effective screening interventions available, with the potential to save more than 30,000 lives a year. Treatment costs for colorectal cancer are extremely high and are estimated at $8,400,000,000 for 2004. Although the treatment costs for colorectal cancer is high the risks associated with non- treatment are even higher. Colorectal cancer awareness is important year round, but should definitely be emphasized during the month of March. The potential deadly effects of colorectal cancer should encourage Americans from all walks of life to be tested and treated by their doctors. Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Colorectal cancer causes 655,000 deaths worldwide per year. This month should also raise public awareness for the need of colorectal cancer testing for those Americans who are unable to afford such testing. It is imperative that Congress find a way to ensure every American at risk is tested and treated in the early stages to prevent an even higher death rate. March is an important month and should be recognized by all Americans to focus on the special opportunity to offer education on the importance of early detection and screening. Today, I support the observance of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. For these reasons, I strongly support H. Con. Res. 60 and urge all members to do the same.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1171, ``Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.'' I want to thank my colleague Congressman John Boozman of Arkansas for introducing this legislation. I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans after every conflict, and I remain committed, as a Member of Congress, to both meeting the needs of veterans of previous wars, and to providing a fitting welcome home to those who are now serving. All too many of our veterans are left without the help and support they need to transition from the horrors they bravely face on the front lines of battle to successful civilian life. H.R. 1171, ``Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009,'' reauthorizes, through FY2014, the Department of Veterans Affairs homeless veterans reintegration programs such as job training, counseling, and placement services to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force. Furthermore, this bill directs the Secretary of Labor to make grants to programs and facilities that provide dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and requires grant funds to be used to provide job training, counseling, placement services, and child care services to expedite the reintegration of such veterans into the labor force. Veterans are some of America's most valued members of society. These are people who served our Nation in a time of need, people who risked their lives to protect our own. Yet, many of these same veterans who fought so bravely and risked so much in lands far abroad have come back to their Nation and are now homeless. The problem of homeless veterans is far more prevalent than we would like to believe. About one-third of the entire adult homeless population has served their country in the Armed Services. On any given day, as many as 250,000 veterans, both male and female, are living on the streets or in shelters, and perhaps twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the course of a year. There are approximately 16,000 homeless veterans spread across the state of Texas. Many other veterans are considered near homeless or at risk because of their poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and dismal living conditions in cheap hotels or in overcrowded or substandard housing. This legislation is necessary not only because this problem is so devastating and prevalent, but also because homeless veterans have special needs that are unique from those faced by the rest of the homeless population. Almost all homeless veterans are male, with three percent being female, the vast majority are single, and most come from poor, disadvantaged backgrounds. Homeless veterans tend to be older and more educated than homeless non-veterans. But similar to the general population of homeless adult males, about 45% of homeless veterans suffer from mental illness and slightly more than 70% suffer from alcohol or other drug abuse problems. Roughly 56% are African American or Hispanic. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1171 helps to address the homeless veteran population by increasing and extending through FY 2014 the authorization of appropriations for homeless assistance to veterans furnished through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 gives authority to the Department of Veterans Affairs through FY 2014 to make grants to furnish assistance to homeless veterans through: outreach; rehabilitative services; vocational counseling and training; and transitional housing. I hope we will all take the time to show appreciation to those who have answered the call to duty. As Winston Churchill famously stated, ``Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.'' I urge my colleagues to support the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 because this comprehensive program is needed if we are to fight this scourge that is a blight upon our Nation. Our Nation's veterans did not risk their lives abroad so that they could come home and feel a cold shoulder. We must all have outrage that so many of our Nation's veterans live this way, only then can we find a way to correct this injustice.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the gentlewoman for not only providing this facilitation for this institution of higher learning but for helping out the Bureau of Prisons, which is the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction. As I close, let me just acknowledge the legislation, H. Res. 290, that Congresswoman Barbara Lee offered today and add my sympathy to the people of California. I thank Congresswoman Lee for bringing forward legislation that honors the lives that were lost--Sergeant Mark Dunakin, Sergeant Ervin Romans, Sergeant Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege, who were members of the Oakland Police Department in California. In the month of May, we will be honoring law enforcement officers who have fallen across America. We have done that every year since I have been in the United States Congress. Tragically and sadly, we will do it again, even honoring those who have come from Texas and Houston. So H. Res. 290 has my sympathy as well. Before I closed, I wanted to acknowledge that. Let me now close on this legislation, H.R. 838, and indicate my support and ask my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act, introduced by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, will authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons to convey a parcel of land to Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida. Currently, the BOP's Miami Federal Detention Center's satellite parking lot occupies the land. Miami Dade College plans on building an educational facility on this land, which will include covered and secured ground floor parking for BOP employees at no cost to the agency. The Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to transfer this parcel of land to the college. However, this bill, which the agency supports, would permit the transfer to take place. The college will make good use of the 47,500-square-foot area of land while also providing as many as 118 Bureau of Prisons parking spaces. This, obviously, is a good, collegiate way to work with an institution of higher education and our need for detention facilities, and this legislation allows that decision and that action to go forward. I urge all of my colleagues to support this helpful legislation. H.R. 838, the Miami Dade College Land Conveyance Act, introduced by Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, will authorize the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons to convey a parcel of land to Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida. Currently, the BOP's Miami Federal Detention Center's satellite parking lot occupies the land. Miami Dade College plans on building an educational facility on this land, which will include covered and secured ground floor parking for BOP employees at no cost to the agency. The Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to transfer this parcel of land to the college. However, this bill, which the agency supports, would permit the transfer to take place. The college will make good use of the 47,500 square foot area of land, while also providing as many as 118 BOP parking spaces. I urge all of my colleagues to support this helpful legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 577 ``Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009.'' I want to thank my colleague Congressman Gene Green of Texas for introducing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell my colleagues that our nation's children are our future. They should be the center of all of our legislative efforts to improve the lives of all Americans. The Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009 is a necessary grant program aimed at bolstering children's vision initiatives in the states and encouraging new community-based children's vision partnerships. This legislation amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to award matching grants to states to complement existing state efforts to: (1) provide comprehensive eye examinations from a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist for children who have been previously identified through a vision screening or eye examination by a licensed health care provider or vision screener as needing such services, who do not otherwise have coverage for vision services, and who are low-income children, with priority given to children who are under the age of nine years; (2) provide treatment or services as necessary to correct identified vision problems; and (3) develop and disseminate to parents, teachers, and health care practitioners educational materials on recognizing signs of visual impairment in children. We used to hold our child's hands when our child takes their first step. However, not many help our children to learn how to use their eyes properly, how to see properly, and how to relax their eyes and protect their vision. Today's education system requires our children to give close attention, read many books, add or subtract numbers or operate a computer for hours. Therefore, it is important to learn to guide our children to attain good child vision health at various stages of their development. Ten million children suffer from vision disorders, according to the National Parent Teacher Association. Vision disorders are considered the fourth most common disability in the United States, and they are one of the most prevalent handicapping conditions in childhood. According to data from the Making the Grade: An analysis of state and federal children's vision care policy research study, 32 states require vision screenings for students, but 29 of them do not require children who fail the screening to have a comprehensive eye examination. Because up to two-thirds of children who fail vision screenings do not comply with recommended eye exams, many children enter school with uncorrected vision problems. Undetected and untreated vision deficiencies, particularly in children, can take a large toll. Studies have shown that the costs associated with adult vision problems in the U.S. are at $51.4 billion. Undiagnosed and untreated vision problems for children are serious issues. Vision problems can affect a child's cognitive, emotional, neurological and physical development. While vision disorders are considered the fourth most common disability in the United States, two- thirds of all children entering school have never received a vision test. For the one-third of children who do receive a vision test, approximately 40-67 percent who fail the test do not receive the recommended follow-up care. I urge my colleagues to support the Vision Care for Kids Act of 2009 so that we can protect our children of America.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, thank you very much for your leadership. I would like to associate myself with the 1 hour of the Congressional Black Caucus in honoring John Hope Franklin, and I want to thank the leadership of the gentlelady from Ohio and the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. John Hope Franklin was, in essence, a storyteller that was long awaited for by the United States of America. His ``From Slavery to Freedom'' indicated the broadness of the history of African Americans in the United States. It was a singular treatise that everyone had to read to find out about themselves, about America, and about the question of race and racism. His work on the President's Race Commission was without comparison. And he was the only one, I believe, that could have taken the helm with the President's appointment, appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton. His easy hand, his comfort level with race and racism, of where we had come from and where we were going, helped us tell the story and balanced the role and responsibility of this commission. We lost a warrior, a hero, a storyteller, one that could only be told by him, a scholar. We thank you. And may you rest in peace.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 282, ``Recognizing the 30th anniversary of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.'' I want to thank my colleague Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska for introducing this resolution. As we near the 30th anniversary of the Camp David Accords, relations between Israel and Egypt, though peaceful, remain cool. In recent days, news headlines have proclaimed positive news for a troubled region. According to reports, rival Lebanese leaders have agreed on steps to end the political crisis which has gripped the country since late 2006. The Middle East peace process is a complex and multi-faceted issue, requiring the good-faith work and cooperation of a number of countries. Egypt has, historically, been a key player in any effort to establish peace in the region. While relations between Israel and Egypt have been labeled as the ``cold peace'' and truly difficult points of conflict remain unresolved, the two nations also have areas of common interest. Further, the peace treaty signed in 1979 between Egypt and Israel has remained an important foundation for all subsequent efforts to build a broader peace in the region. The Arab-Israeli peace process is absolutely vital to achieving security and stability in a crucial region of the world. An Iraq Study Group testified before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, stating that: ``You cannot get anything done in the Middle East without addressing the Arab-Israeli issue. We want these other countries, especially the Sunni Arab countries, to help us. When we go to talk to them about Iraq, they will want to talk to us about the Arab-Israeli conflict.'' Mr. Speaker, the United States has played an active role in creating and maintaining peaceful relations between Egypt and Israel. In 1978, the U.S. played an integral role in the Camp David negotiations, helping Israel and Egypt take the risks necessary to sign a peace treaty in 1979. Since that time, the peace has been maintained, due in no small part to the high amounts of economic and military aid that the United States continues to give to both nations. Between FY 1979 and FY 2008, the United States provided a total of $89.73 billion to Israel, and $62.36 billion to Egypt. While the peace established in 1979 has been maintained, close diplomatic, political, and economic ties between the two neighboring nations have never been achieved. Despite some specific initiatives, including energy and economic cooperation agreements, relations have never truly warmed between Egypt and Israel. Part of any successful negotiation between Israel and Egypt must be the question of Hamas, a group which poses a threat to the entire region. Hamas is an Islamic fundamentalist organization formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which became active in the early stages of the intifada, operating primarily in the Gaza District. Various Hamas elements have used both political and violent means to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. Particularly since Hamas's 2007 takeover of Gaza, there is a growing need for the Egyptian government to take a strong stand against Hamas. In the tense climate of today's Middle East, Egyptian silence on this issue will be viewed as tacit approval, and will stand in the way of any attempts for lasting peace with Israel. Mr. Speaker, the successful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is essential to any effort to build a positive relationship between Israel and Egypt. Currently, decades of mistrust coupled with ongoing regional violence are at odds with any attempt to secure improved relations. President Obama recently stated that the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel shows that ``peace is always possible'' even in the harshest of conflicts. Mr. Speaker, I continue to believe in strong diplomacy and multilateralism. The United States has a history of concerted leadership on the development of Israeli-Egyptian relations, and I believe that we have the opportunity now to continue this legacy. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to commemorate this reach for peace.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished Speaker and the distinguished gentleman from Virginia for his leadership in the management of this bill and Mr. Fortenberry for his vision. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I cannot imagine a better time to rise to the floor of the House and to speak about long- lasting peace. This Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty as articulated and led by President Jimmy Carter, along with Menachem Begin, and, of course, Anwar Sadat, captures the possibilities of the impossibilities. We can have peace in the Mideast. Having traveled to Israel any number of times and certainly in the 1980s and now into the 1990s and now in the 21st century, I know the people of Israel love peace. Having met with the present president, President Mubarak of Egypt, speaking directly to him on the issues of peace and the security of the border, I understand the sacrifice that Egyptians have made to ensure that peace may be had. Therefore, it is a possibility. And as we look at the exact language of the features of the peace treaty, which included the mutual recognition of Egypt and Israel, the end of the state of war between the two nations dating back to the 1948 War of Israeli independence, the complete withdrawal by Israel of its armed forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula, the freedom for passage of Israeli ships through the Suez Canal and the recognition of the Strait of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba as international waterways, that means major obstacles of peace can be overcome. And the peace and the question of peace between Palestinians and Israelis are before us. The envoy that has been appointed by this President, President Barack Obama, it is a serious statement in Senator Mitchell's position to know that we mean business, good business, for peace to happen. I thank Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton and, of course, this new envoy who will capture the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and understand that the American people believe in strength, believe in integrity and the security of Israel, and they believe in peace. This commemoration of the 30th anniversary of this particular agreement says to us that peace is real. I thank my colleague for yielding.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Allow me to thank the distinguished gentleman from Oregon and to emphasize the point that he just made of the importance of the budget markup and also of the very important issues that he comes to the floor to discuss this evening. There is another important event that occurred today, and that was the 97th birthday of Dr. Dorothy Height. I don't think I have to remind my colleagues of how important a person Dr. Height is today and how important she has been over the years. She is now the chairman and president of the National Council of Negro Women, but she was the only woman present at the 1963 March on Washington. She has previously been an icon, working with Presidents as far back as Franklin Delano Roosevelt. A civil rights leader she is, but an empowerment of women is her calling. She has led the National Council of Negro Women now for decades. Today, at that very building--really, at the only building owned by African Americans on Pennsylvania Avenue, women gathered from around the Nation to celebrate Dr. Height's birthday. Dr. Height was a pillar in the civil rights movement, standing alongside of A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King and numbers of others. She has also been someone to encourage women to participate in the governmental process, to be educated, to stand strong. She is a spokesperson for the unempowered, and of course, she is a mentor to so many of us. She is a friend of the Congressional Black Caucus, of the NAACP and of the National Urban League. When there is an issue of concern, you have the need to call Dr. Height. She is also a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal along with many, many other awards. I am privileged today to be able to stand on the floor of the House to recognize an American icon, a patriot, a woman of valor and courage. Madam Speaker, it is again my great pleasure to salute Dr. Dorothy Height for a happy, happy birthday, now some 97 years old, and to thank my friend and colleague for allowing us to share this with all of our colleagues and to celebrate, again, a life that has been worth living and is still worth living--a champion of the people. Dr. Dorothy Height, happy birthday. I yield back to the gentleman.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution recognizing one of our strongest partners in business and in democracy, Taiwan. I would like to thank my colleague Shelley Berkley of Nevada for her continued strong leadership on issues affecting Taiwan, and Asia in general. Whether you refer to it as the Republic of China, Formosa or Taiwan, this is a free society that has been a beacon of light and freedom in the Taiwan Strait. April 10, 2009 will mark the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, codifying in law the basis for continued commercial, cultural, and other relations between the United States and the Republic of China, or Taiwan. The Taiwan Relations Act has been instrumental in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait since its enactment in 1979. When the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted, it affirmed that the United States decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China was based on the expectation that the future of Taiwan would be determined by peaceful means. I truly believe that all of Asia wants the future of Taiwan to be peaceful and that this glorious society continues to be a beacon of light, freedom and commercial opportunity. My district in Texas is home to a very strong Taiwanese American community, and while I understand that Texas is not known for it's Asian population, it is very vital and an important part of the tapestry of diversity that the state of Texas must get recognition for. The Taiwan Relations Act makes it a policy of the United States to provide defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. Our continued desire is that these articles remain unused. The Taiwan Relations Act also makes it a policy of the United States to maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan. That is why we must remain vigilant on what happens in the Taiwan Strait. This is still one of the most peaceful and prosperous areas of the world. It also has one of the most steadily growing populations. Taiwan's democracy has deepened with the second peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another after the presidential election in March 2008. The new President has made it a point of fostering an atmosphere of peace and.harmony, while seeking to secure Taiwan's place as an economic growth engine. This is particularly important when the global economy is faltering. The relationship between the United States and Taiwan has strengthened with Taiwan's evolution into a free society and a full- fledged, multi-party democracy and the development of Taiwan's robust free-market economy, with Taiwan becoming the 9th largest trading partner of the United States in 2007 and imports from the United States in that year totaling over $26 billion. Our economic and trading relationship is one of our most important to both Taiwan and to the United States. Also Taiwan's determined effort and collaboration with the United States to combat global terrorism, as demonstrated in part by its participation in the Container Security Initiative and its generous contribution to the Pentagon Memorial Fund are further evidence of our strong partnership. I would also cite the leadership role Taiwan has demonstrated in addressing transnational and global challenges, including its active engagement in humanitarian relief measures, public health endeavors, environmental protection initiatives, and financial market stabilization efforts. These reasons are why it is important that we continue to pursue peace and harmony in this region and why Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made Asia her first overseas trip in her new role. The symbolism is not lost on our Asian partners and why we must support this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Let me thank the gentlewoman for her leadership. And I appreciate my good friend and colleague, Congresswoman Sanchez, and the manager of this bill for your great leadership, as well, in handling this legislation that simply says a huge and overdue ``thank you.'' And so I am pleased to stand on the floor of the House to support H. Res. 234 because I believe I was touched by this experience in this war, recognizing that as I would listen to Vietnam vets, those returning soldiers, speak in a language that we did not understand, talking about the places where they fought, speaking as if they were distant. Now I understand and hope we all understand as Americans that the war of a soldier is America's war. It is not a public-policy war. So we should stand with our soldiers who fight for our freedom no matter where they are. I am honored today to be able to support this legislation because as a member of the Houston City Council, I joined with former council member Ben Reyes to raise the first POW/MIA flags in tribute to our fallen and missing soldiers in Vietnam. Those flags now stand today in front of the Houston City Hall. And I'm honored to have had the opportunity to be part of it. Our soldiers deserve this welcome home. And more importantly, they deserve our understanding. So many of the Vietnam vets are homeless. And we should stand alongside of them. For many years, I participated in what we call ``Stand Down'' to bring our soldiers together. I want to thank the Medal of Honor winners who always come to our Memorial Day service and sing their heart out and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I want to thank Vietnam vets like Antonio ``Tony'' Roman and John Footman, who today serve their country by being part of the Military Order of the Purple Heart working with our young soldiers. Mr. Speaker, there is no honor--there is no honor that is too high for the soldiers who shed their blood, suffer and, of course, sacrifice on our behalf, those soldiers whose lives are lost, those soldiers who have come back to us, Vietnam vets deserve our honor. Today now we stand to welcome them home. Never will we turn our back. Always the light will be on. We welcome them home. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 234, ``Expressing support for designation of a `Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.' '' I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman Linda Sanchez of California for introducing this resolution. Few groups of Americans have sacrificed for our nation than those who have served in the Armed Forces. The war in Vietnam no longer makes headlines, but for many families it remains a daily reality, and I urge my colleagues to recognize the challenges that the families of these brave soldiers face and support this resolution in their honor. Mr. Speaker, 2,637,100 people fought through the triumph and tragedy of the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, 58,000 never returned home again! If these now silent patriots have taught us anything, it is that because of these men and women who were willing to sacrifice their last blood and breath, the United States remains a symbol of freedom and a country whose ideas are still worth defending. As a result, these brave men and women memories should be preserved and honored for future generations in this great nation. It was Edmund Burke who once aptly stated: ``The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.'' The birth of our nation itself was due to good men who refused to submit to an unjust rule. Time after time, in battle after battle American men and women have not fled from mortal danger, no instead they have rushed towards it. Our brave soldiers built this nation, first with independence, then with the righteousness of eliminating slavery, and finally in the last century they built this nation in the eyes of the world, not only as a superpower, but as a nation that values humanity and kindness over the tyranny of others. I see this same courage and strength in the eyes of our current generation of soldiers. They bear the burden of a new world, in which the greatest threats against our life and freedom are often unseen. They also bear the hope of a nation and a world that clings to the hope of peace and stability. It was the great statesman Adlai Stevenson who said: ``Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.'' It is clear that the torch has been passed to a new generation of men and women willing to dedicate their lives to protecting ours. Our nation is truly blessed in so many ways, but our soldiers continue to be the greatest protectors of our blessings. Because I feel so strong about our men and women fighting abroad and our veterans who served our nation, I will continue to advocate for their rights in Congress, and I urge my colleagues to fight as well. Mr. Speaker, now is the time for the U.S. government to again fulfill our moral obligation to those who have fought for freedom and democracy. In the State of Texas we have 1,701,118 veterans, in fact in the 18th Congressional district of Texas alone there are more than 38,000 veterans and they make up almost ten percent of this district's civilian population over the age of 18. Yet we often forget about our men and women fighting abroad once the war is over. We must never forget veterans and we must never stop fighting for their rights as they fought for ours. Vietnam Veterans like Antonio ``Tony'' Roman and John Footman, who continue to give back to their country and their fellow young military forces by working with the Military Order of the Purple Heart and by standing in the rain or the heat to be there when our Soldiers and Marines return from deployment. I meet with great men from Texas who are Vietnam Veterans, and our newer Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom--and I see their continuing need for our support. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 234, ``Expressing support for designation of a `Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'.''

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1148, a measure that will help protect our nation from another attack. This bill may not make headlines but it is at the essence of what protecting the American people is all about. We cannot wrap our nation in bubble wrap but we can take thorough and effective steps to thwart potential attacks. As we have seen, the forces of evil will go to enormous lengths to accomplish their insidious goals. That is why I join in a bipartisan spirit my colleague from Florida, Gus Bilirakis in support of this measure. This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security, no later than one year after the date of enactment, to conduct a maritime program for the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, including terrorists. Biometric identification is defined to apply to the use of fingerprint and digital photography images. The Department of Homeland Security must ensure that the maritime program is coordinated with other biometric identification programs. The Department of Homeland Security must submit a cost analysis no later than 90 days after the prospective enactment of this bill, expanding its biometric identification capabilities for maritime use to the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees, and to the Senate Appropriations, and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees. The analysis could include a tiered plan for the deployment of the program that gives priority to vessels and units more likely to encounter individuals suspected of making unlawful border crossings by sea. It is clear that we must try to secure our borders from all sides and often the liquid borders are forgotten in the discussion. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, this legislation passed the House of Representatives and I, like 394 of my colleagues, both Democratic and Republican voted for it. Fighting against terrorists and other criminals must remain a bipartisan effort. It is also something that we must take up on all fronts: land, sea and air. Last weekend, in my role as Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I had the opportunity to meet some of the fine professionals who work for the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration division. They work tirelessly to defend our nation's airports. They make a stressful job seem effortless, and often are invisible, which is the hallmark of good security. And just as the transportation security professionals I met in New York City's LaGuardia Airport make our nation safer, so will the maritime security professionals from the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is made of truly dedicated and able professionals. Again, Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support and urge my colleagues to support this legislation that will further strengthen our nation's ability to protect ourselves from both criminal and terrorist attacks.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 1617, legislation that will greatly enhance the security of the Department of Homeland Security, thereby making our nation safer. I wish to recognize my colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Christopher Carney, for his work on this bill. In addition, I would like to thank the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Bennie Thompson for his continued leadership in making our nation as safe as possible. This bill amends Subtitle C of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, mandating a full-time privacy official within each part of the Department of Homeland Security. The privacy official will act under the direction of the senior appointed official of the Department of Homeland Security. The privacy official will work within the following components: The Transportation Security Administration. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Customs and Border Protection. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Coast Guard. The Directorate of Science and Technology. The Office of Intelligence and Analysis. The Directorate for National Protection and Programs. The privacy official will be the senior official's eyes and ears regarding matters of privacy and matters that are within the Department of Homeland Security's jurisdiction. The bill requires the new component privacy officials to monitor the Department of Homeland Security's component's compliance with all applicable federal privacy laws and regulations, implement corrective or preventative actions, and notify the senior privacy official for the department. The privacy component officials would assist in drafting and reviewing privacy impact assessments, privacy threshold assessments, and the system of records notices, for any new or changed program or technology that collects, maintains, or disseminates personally identifiable information within their components, or for proposed rulemakings and regulations within their components. The level of hands-on involvement gives me confidence that the privacy officers in the various divisions will be able to perform their jobs effectively. The privacy component officials would be required to conduct supervision of programs or procedures, to ensure protection of privacy, as well as implement and monitor privacy training for employees and contractors. The privacy officials would provide the senior privacy official with written materials and information regarding the relevant activities of the component, including privacy violations or abuse, that the senior official needs to prepare reports for Congress. These are protective measures which could be deemed intrusive, but that is exactly what we want from our privacy officials. A hallmark of the new administration is transparency in government. I believe that as the American people see more of what we do in Congress their confidence in government. Any other responsibilities could be assigned by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security or the senior privacy official for the Department. Nothing in the bill should be considered to abolish the role and responsibilities of the senior privacy official, or diminish their capacity within the Department of Homeland Security framework. This is an important job and my wish is that the new appointees are put in place in regular order and fashion so that they can get on with the job of protecting our homeland.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1541. The Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953, and has a current business loan portfolio of roughly 220,000 loans worth more than $50 billion, which makes it the largest single financial backer of U.S. businesses. My district is home to many of these businesses, many of which are struggling to hang tough in this trying economy. In the 110th Congress, several short-term SBA authorization measures were enacted; the latest was signed into law on May 23, 2008. Under that law, authorization for SBA programs is scheduled to expire on March 20. I am hopeful that President Obama continues the recognition and support for small businesses that he demonstrated yesterday. His leadership, along with that of my colleague Nydia Velazquez on these issues could not come at a more important time. Small business is frequently viewed as an incubator for employment and economic growth, and is a continuing legislative and oversight concern for Congress due to its constitutional role, through the interstate commerce and general welfare clauses, to promote economic well being and prosperity. While many analysts believe a very significant percentage of the nation's jobs are created by small businesses, others note that a great many small businesses fail every year thereby eliminating jobs. The 111th Congress is likely to consider many small business issues as it debates reauthorization for the many Small Business Administration (SBA) programs that are scheduled to expire in 2009. Our small business owners need certainty to plan for the future and I will continue to work hard for a more permanent solution to complement the authorizations that many businesses have to endure. A primary issue in the reauthorization is likely to be the cost to the government of various small business assistance programs. The Bush Administration had proposed that certain loan programs be cut back or eliminated, that borrowers in the SBA's basic loan program be charged higher fees, and that interest rates for disaster loans rise to market levels after five years. I hope that a full review of these policies is underway by the new administration. Ways to insure that small businesses benefit from economic stimulus programs are likely to be considered. Finding ways for small businesses to provide health insurance to employees could be vital in getting elements of the business community to be actively supporting and working with Congress as we press ahead with legislation on health care. I understand that we in Congress cannot run your businesses for you. I just want to be there to help fashion fair and reasonable legislation that affects small business. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes Small Business Administration programs and authority through July 31 and again it is my hope that we continue to engage the business community as this Congress seeks to move America from recession back to prosperity.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1388, the ``Generations of Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act or the `GIVE Act'.'' I would like to thank my colleague Congresswoman McCarthy for introducing this important legislation, as well as the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Congressman George Miller, for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Chair, this legislation will expand the already highly successful volunteer programs that empower community activists and improve the education and economic conditions of cities throughout the United States. It supports and increases funding for key community services programs, including AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, VISTA, National Civilian Community Corps, and Senior Corps. The GIVE Act creates opportunities for green jobs that will contribute to energy conservation and environmental protection. It will create critical educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth and will create incentives for students to improve their communities. Every year, more than 70,000 Americans participate in the AmeriCorps program alone, which provides relief to cities during natural disasters and reinvigorates communities. Over 50 million American volunteers build homes, organize food-drives, and improve schools through national service programs. The GIVE Act will broaden the opportunities for students and activists to participate in national service via education rewards that keep up with soaring costs of universities and Summer Service programs. After Ike and Katrina, thousands of local students worked to help rebuild communities and provide necessary services to distressed families. The GIVE Act is the critical lynchpin in sustaining this civic activism. Specifically, the GIVE Act would expand the job opportunities for Volunteers in Service to America, or VISTA, to re-integrate youth into society, increase literacy in communities through teaching opportunities in before and after-school programs, and to provide health and social services to low-income communities. VISTA is a critical step toward poverty alleviation, and the GIVE Act will equip it with the resources to fulfill its obligations. I am pleased to see that my colleague, representative Cuellar, revised the legislation to increase the number of volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000 members and added provisions for unemployed individuals to be included in the national service workforce, a step that will be a critical step to combating the employment crisis afflicting millions. I am also pleased that Congressman Miller further specified that the increase in volunteers is not just designed for AmeriCorps, but for all national service programs such as the Peace Corps and Opportunity Corps, and also included language promote community based efforts to reduce crime and recruit public safety officers. In addition, the GIVE Act will create 4 new service opportunities including a Clean Energy Corps, an Education Corps, a Healthy Futures Corps, and a Veteran Service Corps. These volunteer opportunities will further improve environmental protection, health-care access, and services for veterans. These new service corps will address critical concerns in low-income communities. I am very happy that Congressman Teague revised the legislation to aid veterans in their pursuit of education and professional opportunities, and help veterans with the claims process, and assist rural, disabled, and unemployed veterans with transportation needs. Moreover, the GIVE Act will recognize colleges and universities that are strongly engaged in service through grants and rewards that will in turn improve educational access in the United States. I am pleased to see the Retention of my Language from the 110th Congress that gives special consideration to historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal universities, and colleges serving predominantly minority populations. So strong are these universities' support of service, that ``veritas et beneficium,'' or ``truth and service'' in Latin, is inscribed on their insignias. The GIVE Act will create a Campuses of Service Program that will encourage and assist students in pursuing public service careers. It will also focus on recruiting scientists and engineers to keep America competitive for years to come. The Act will expand the Senior Corps as a way to keep Older Americans including seniors engaged in public service, and will create a Youth Engagement Zone to increase the number of young students in volunteer services. Moreover, it expands the focus of The National Civilian Community Corps to include disaster relief efforts and infrastructure improvement to allow quicker and more effective responses to disasters like Katrina and Ike that devastated numerous communities in the United States. Finally, the Give Act will launch a nation-wide Call to Service Campaign that encourages all Americans to engage in national service and to recognize September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. I am honored to cosponsor this legislation that will add service before self to America's future leaders. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I would like to thank the gentlelady from Ohio, first of all, for her leadership in helping to share with our colleagues hour after hour enormously important issues facing not only the United States but facing the world. And I join her this evening. And I was very appreciative of joining with my chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, who I just saw at another meeting who was able to be here, Congressman Barbara Lee. I want to thank her for her leadership. The chairperson of my Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Chairman Donald Payne, who speaks volumes about Africa, and as well, chairs the Foreign Affairs Task Force, of which I am a member of the Congressional Black Caucus; and one of our great leaders as well, Congresswoman Gwen Moore. I know there were probably others that were here, and I did not get a chance to see them on the floor. But I do want to acknowledge that this is an important hour for us. And I am pleased to be able to join my colleague. Let me just suggest that there are many ways that we can look at Liberia, Haiti, and Sudan. And it is my intent because I think we have talents here in the United States, Representatives of African nations, that, frankly, we don't get a chance to interact with as much as we would like. And I am going to accept the challenge given to me to host a meeting of African ambassadors that our colleagues will have a chance to sit down with and hear their story, their insight certainly on the issues that we're now raising, particularly Liberia and Sudan-- obviously Haiti is in the Caribbean, and I will speak to that issue. But let me tell you why I want to offer that suggestion. And the reason is because I sat down with one of our distinguished ambassadors last week who mentioned that with all of the meetings on the economy, the worldwide crisis in the economy, interestingly enough, the Continent of Africa is not on the agenda. We heard an eloquent speech by Prime Minister Brown, and all of us were moved by his passion and his values, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. And I am told that he is as eloquent and as energized before his own Parliament and in international meetings as he was with us in the joint session. And we are very blessed, if you will, by having an administration that has the cultural nexus and the heart and the intellect to be concerned about these issues. President Obama has been received overwhelmingly, his election, on the continent. I think we are poised to be of a gigantic opportunity to do what Prime Minister Brown has charged us to do: Don't forget the impoverished. Don't forget the journey we were on trying to address the question of poverty. And that was a big issue as it relates to Africa. Now, of course, the economy has come and there may be donor nations who have made pledges who have not completed their pledges, but Africa still has the same concerns and therefore, it will be very important to hear from these ambassadors on the issues that we're talking about, which I expect to talk about here tonight. For example, our esteemed president of Liberia who came out of the World Bank and who has a great respect of not only women of this country, but certainly of our administration and our past administration. She came to Liberia after Charles Taylor in a country that was void of infrastructure, void of water, void of--when I say ``water resources,'' infrastructure that would have clean running water; void of infrastructure that would have utilities or any mode of, if you will, phone, utility service; void of operating school systems. So we know that she has made great strides, and I have details here. But at the same time, we are well aware that she needs more resources. We have to have this on the agenda. We have to be able to partnership with the African Union, for example, strengthen it as the African Union attempts to develop its own mission and mandate on how it addresses the issue of conflict. So I think if I said anything about Liberia, there are certainly two major points: one, the Liberian Americans, but Liberia and the new president, Mrs. Johnson, is someone who has the, if you will, the monetary knowledge because of her experience here in the United States and her training in some of the financial structures of our country, but, also, the will to do it. We must not forget Liberia in its journey toward economic independence, but it is a microcosm of the needs of the continent. I also want to thank the administration, President Obama, for heeding the cry of many Members who wrote a letter about Liberian Americans. I'm told by our chairperson, Chairperson Payne, Liberian Americans will be here in the Congress or on the West steps to highlight their plight of continued TPS status, deferred, if you will, deportation that has been going on and on and on. We have got to solve that. That is something we can look to as we reform immigration. Many times when we discuss immigration, people start thinking it's not their problem, it's a global problem, it's a problem that faces many different ethnic groups. And we all need to come together as a family and fix it so people can be here legally; they can pay taxes; they can, in essence, be separated from those who want to do them harm. So I want to put Liberia in the eye of the storm as it relates to the economy, and the challenge that the ambassador gave me was why don't you consult with us who are here and let us tell you the economic impact on the continent, what we need to be involved. The second is, of course, Sudan and I might have been one of the last CODELs, congressional delegations, of three that were able to actually get into Darfur, into the camps. And I had spent time in Chad as well some years back before I was able to get into Darfur. I've been denied--it's a very long story of how long it took, and I frankly didn't know whether I'd get in the time that I went since we were among those who got arrested in front of the Sudanese embassy. But we went into those camps, and the key thing that I want to say to the distinguished gentlelady is how valuable the NGOs were. They were literally the lifeline of the camps. They were a lifeline of the children. They were the lifeline of the women. And the women were the anchor of the camps because any man that would venture out to try to be a supportive family member, to provide income, would be killed by the janjaweed, or whatever the conflicts, they were targets. And so, mostly, it would be the women. Tragically, the women would be raped, and so things are not well. And the complete disregard that the leadership of Sudan, the President of Sudan, has for the indictment, for the world family, there is no respect there. And we have a challenge, and we have got to be able to match the will of this country and our foreign policy, our belief in democracy, our belief in the security of children and family and the ability to live on your land without threat and danger and murder and pillage, we've got to the match that with the will of the countries on the continent, the African countries, the heads of States. This is a new day now. This is in essence an America that has a commonality, that people are not only interested and are sacrificing on behalf of Sudan and the crisis there, but likewise, we have an administration that accounts Susan Rice, who is the U.N. envoy who I worked with on the crisis between Ethiopa and Eritrea. She is a committed and knowledgeable person about the world but particularly about Africa, and I count on her wisdom. I count on the wisdom of the Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and I count on that foreign policy team, along with the envoy that our President has just selected, Major Scott Gration, that adds to the team that can now focus on Sudan but also focus on the continent of Africa. I join in denouncing the treatment of our, if you will, NGOs. Just about a year or so ago, we lost a valiant State Department employee that was killed in Sudan, and I frankly have never gotten over it, and I offer my deepest respect and sympathy to his family. It was a horrific act. And so it is important that we put our foot down on the atrocities that has occurred in Sudan, and people should understand, people are in Darfur because they have been moved off of their land. You can't help to rebuild this area, irrigate it, give people--these are farming people. Don't tell them, well, just go to the city and get another life, get a life. These people have lived on their land, and they have bothered no one. They've raised their families, and now they're being literally torn apart. Southern Sudan, that tried to get on its feet, that has a lot of oil, it's still in conflict between the Khartoum government and Sudan. Southern Sudan, who has all the oil and cannot seem to get an agreement, to my current knowledge--and I may have need of some additional update to my current knowledge--has not been able to solve the distribution of the oil moneys, and so they're suffering. This is an immediate crisis that needs to be fixed. As it relates to Haiti, let me again mention the work of the Congressional Black Caucus. We have been working on Haiti for, I don't know, as long as I've been here, but we have had wonderful conversations with President Preval who is a committed and dedicated leader, who is looking for funding for infrastructure, funding, if you will, to rebuild after the terrible onslaught of hurricanes that they had in the last year, 2008. He is looking to work with us and the Congressional Black Caucus in the appropriations process, and we're looking to work with him. Haiti is a wonderful ally of the United States. We can never pay them for the blood that they shed standing alongside us in the Revolutionary War, and their victory was our victory. Our victory was their victory, and they're hardworking people. You can see that here in the United States, and you can see that obviously in Haiti. And so what I think, as I close, that you selected hot spots that symbolize the need for us to be engaged, and as I said, finally with respect to immigration, Haiti, too, so many distraught cases of Haitians treated unfairly in the United States because they don't have the parity that happens when Cubans are fleeing persecution as is defined. Haitians have been fleeing persecution, economic persecution, political persecution, who are here and cannot return back. I want them to get parity, and any immigration bill that I have any hands on, it will be part of that bill. And so I think it is extremely important, Mr. Speaker, that we look at these issues and be assured that we work on behalf of all of these people. It is our commitment to make their lives better by our statements here today on the floor, but also our collaboration to continue to work on the issues that impact people's lives and as well the quality of life. We need to save lives and we certainly need to save them. I just want to put on the record that I am working with a Haitian teacher who has suffered so much. She teaches math. She's well- respected. She had a court order that said she was not going to be deported. It's a long story, but I simply want to let the Haitians in Houston know we have not forgotten her, and we want her to stay united with her family. Thank you very much for your leadership. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of Sudan, Liberia and Haiti. These are three of the most troubled nations in the world, desperately in need of support from other nations, including the United States. sudan and darfur I am pleased that President Obama has appointed a Special Envoy to Sudan. Major General Scott Gration is both a humanitarian and a professional soldier. He has proudly served our country but more importantly brings to this position the experience and gravitas necessary to lead our mission. The United States has for most of our history been a leader among nations in attempting to help foment democracy and bring peace to warring parties in regions throughout the world. Sudan's western region of Darfur has been embroiled in violent conflict since 2003, which has brought a weighty death toll and displaced over 2 million people. Just recently, Darfur rebels killed 200 people near the capitol city of Khartoum. With violence continuing to worsen in the region, I call on the international community to renew it's commitment to finding a solution to the conflict in Darfur. In 2007, I had the chance to lead a Congressional Delegation to the region of Darfur to see the first hand devastation that has swept through the region. As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am very concerned about the displaced children who suffer due to the lack of nutrition and access to clean water. Additionally, child mortality remains a significant problem throughout the region. I am also concerned that the global food crisis could exacerbate the conflict, placing more children at risk. We, as a Global community, must unite to address this issue. Let us not let race, religious ties, or bureaucratic systems hinder us from fight for the people of Darfur. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will continue to work towards a solution for the ongoing conflict in Darfur. We must remain steadfast to gaining peace in the region. Darfur has been embroiled in a deadly conflict for over four years. During that time, at least 400,000 people have been killed; more than 2 million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes and now live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad. And more than 3.5 million men, women, and children are completely reliant on international aid for survival. Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter. Since early 2003, Sudanese armed forces and Sudanese government- backed militia known as ``Janjaweed'' have been fighting two rebel groups in Darfur, the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The stated political aim of the rebels has been to compel the government of Sudan to address underdevelopment and the political marginalization of the region. In response, the Sudanese government's regular armed forces and the Janjaweed--largely composed of fighters of Arab nomadic background--have targeted civilian populations and ethnic groups from which the rebels primarily draw their support--the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa. The Bush Administration recognized these atrocities--carried out against civilians primarily by the government of Sudan and its allied Janjaweed militias--as genocide. Antonio Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has described the situation in Sudan and Chad as ``the largest and most complex humanitarian problem on the globe.'' The Sudanese government and the Janjaweed militias are responsible for the burning and destruction of hundreds of rural villages, the killing of tens of thousands of people and rape and assault of thousands of women and girls. With much international pressure, the Darfur Peace Agreement was brokered in May 2006 between the government of Sudan and one faction of Darfur rebels. However, deadlines have been ignored and the violence has escalated, with in-fighting among the various rebel groups and factions dramatically increasing and adding a new layer of complexity to the conflict. This violence has made it dangerous, if not impossible, for most of the millions of displaced persons to return to their homes. Humanitarian aid agencies face growing obstacles to bringing widespread relief. In August 2006, the UN's top humanitarian official Jan Egeland stated that the situation in Darfur is ``going from real bad to catastrophic.'' Indeed, the violence in Darfur rages on with government-backed militias still attacking civilian populations with impunity. On July 30, 2004, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1556 demanding that the government of Sudan disarm the Janjaweed. This same demand is also an important part of the Darfur Peace Agreement signed in May of 2006. On August 31, 2006, the Security Council took the further step of authorizing a strong UN peacekeeping force for Darfur by passing resolution 1706. Despite these actions, the Janjaweed are still active and free to commit the same genocidal crimes against civilians in Darfur with the aid of the Sudanese government. International experts agree that the United Nations Security Council must deploy a peacekeeping force with a mandate to protect civilians immediately. Until it arrives, the under-funded and overwhelmed African Union monitoring mission must be bolstered. And governments and international institutions must provide and ensure access to sufficient humanitarian aid for those in need. The Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2006, H.R. 180, sponsored by my colleague Barbara Lee would require: The Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Division of Corporate Finance and the U.S. Treasury to require all companies listing securities on United States capital markets, either directly or through a parent or subsidiary company, including partly-owned subsidiaries, having business operations in a country with a genocide declared by the Department of State or Congress, to disclose the nature of their business operations. The United States Government (federal) to prohibit contracts with multi-national business enterprises if: They maintain business relationships and investments with national, regional and local governments involved in genocide; and they participate in business activities with any warring parties or rebel groups perpetrating genocide. States and Cities that have divested or are in the process of divesting State and City funds from companies that conduct business in Sudan; and United States colleges and universities that have divested their funds from, or placed restrictions on investments of their funds in, companies that conduct business in Sudan. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the existence and extent of all Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board investments with national, regional and local governments involved in genocide; or business activities with any warring parties perpetrating genocide; or related to debt-obligations issued by the government of Sudan. Also, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission is charged with maintaining and publishing a list of the names of the business enterprises identified by the Securities and Exchange Commission as having ties with perpetrators of genocide. It also reasserts Section 11 of the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act (stripped from the Senate version) that nothing in that act or any other provision of law shall be construed to preempt any State law that prohibits investment of State funds, including State pension funds, in or relating to the Republic of the Sudan. liberia Mr. Speaker, A part of the world that has been neglected for many years is West Africa. And one of the gems of this region is Liberia. I am pleased that Liberia's temporary protective order was extended. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is the statutory embodiment of safe haven for those aliens who may not meet the legal definition of refugee but are nonetheless fleeing--or reluctant to return to--potentially dangerous situations. There are numerous regions throughout the world where discrete and insular minorities might need this type of relief. TPS is blanket relief that may be granted under the following conditions: there is ongoing armed conflict posing serious threat to personal safety; a foreign state requests TPS because it temporarily cannot handle the return of nationals due to environmental disaster or there are extraordinary and temporary conditions in a foreign state that prevent aliens from returning, provided that granting TPS is consistent with U.S. national interests. The Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of State, can issue TPS for periods of 6 to 18 months and can extend these periods if conditions do not change in the designated country. To obtain TPS, eligible aliens report to U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), pay a processing fee, and receive registration documents and a work authorization. The major requirements for aliens seeking TPS are proof of eligibility. The regulation specifies grounds of inadmissibility that cannot be waived, including those relating to criminal convictions and the persecution of others. The United States currently provides TPS or deferred enforced departure (DED) to over 300,000 foreign nationals from a total of seven countries: Burundi, El Salvador, Honduras, Liberia, Nicaragua, Somalia, and Sudan. Liberians have had relief from removal for the longest period, first receiving TPS in March 1991 following the outbreak of civil war. Liberians currently have DED until March 31, 2009, and has now been extended by the Obama Administration. Liberia is Africa's oldest republic, but it became better known in the 1990s for its long-running, ruinous civil war and its role in a rebellion in neighboring Sierra Leone. By the late 1980s, arbitrary rule and economic collapse culminated in civil war when Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) rebels overran much of the countryside, entering the capital in 1990 and killing then President Samuel Doe. In 1995, a peace agreement was signed, leading to the election of Mr. Taylor as president. Another war began in 1999, escalated in 2000, and ended in 2003. It pitted the forces of Charles Taylor, elected president in 1997 after Liberia's first civil war (1989-1997), against two armed anti- Taylor rebel groups. It also destabilized neighboring states, which accepted Liberian refugees and, in some cases, hosted anti-Taylor forces and became targets of the Taylor regime. In 2003, Mr. Taylor--under international pressure to quit and hemmed in by rebels--stepped down and went into exile in Nigeria. A transitional government headed by Chairman Gyude Bryant steered the country towards elections in 2005. Around 250,000 people were killed in Liberia's civil war, and many thousands more fled the fighting. The conflict left the country in economic ruin and overrun with illegal weapons. 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers were deployed to help in stabilizing the country. Liberia held elections in October 2005, with a presidential runoff in November, a key step in a peace-building process following its second civil war in a decade. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, an economist, won the presidential runoff vote, with 59.4 percent of votes cast and took office in mid-January 2006, becoming the first female president of an African country. Most observers viewed the vote as orderly, free and fair. It fulfilled a key goal of an August 2003 peace accord that had ended the second civil war and led to an ongoing, U.S.-aided post-war transition process, which is bolstered by the multifaceted peacekeeping and development-focused U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Liberia's security situation is stable but subject to periodic volatility. Liberia's economy and state structures remain devastated by war. Humanitarian conditions are improving. Liberia receives extensive U.S. post-war reconstruction and security sector reform assistance. In March 2006, former President Taylor was arrested in Nigeria and transferred to the U.S.-supported Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) to face war crimes charges. He was later transferred to The Hague, the Netherlands, where he is on trial by the SCSL. In addition to providing substantial support for Liberia's post-war peace and reconstruction processes, Congress has maintained a continuing interest in the status of Charles Taylor and in ensuring funding for the SCSL. Other legislation proposed in the 109th and noth Congresses centered on immigration, debt, and tax haven issues, and the commendation of Liberia for successfully holding elections. The United States has voiced continuing support for President Sirleaf's government since she took office. In February 2008, former President Bush and Mrs. Bush traveled to Liberia, among other African countries. The general aim of the trip was to discuss continued U.S. partnerships with African countries in the areas of democratic reform, respect for human rights, free trade, open investment regimes, and economic opportunity. In Liberia, President Bush's trip focused on U.S. help in strengthening Liberia's post-war democratic institutions, Governance and Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP) efforts to improve management of public finances and combat corruption. It also highlighted Liberia's status as a target country of the President's Expanded Education Initiative, which through a program component called the Ambassador's Girls' Scholarship program had as of early 2008 supported 2,700 scholarships for girls in Liberia, and its status as new President's Malaria Initiative recipient country. It also drew attention to U.S. security sector reform efforts in Liberia. Former First Lady Laura Bush and Former Secretary of State Rice, among other prominent U.S. guests, attended President Sirleaf's inauguration in 2006. Their presence, Sirleaf noted in her inaugural speech, ``manifests a renewal and strengthening of the long-standing historic special relations which bind our two countries and peoples.'' She also stated that it ``reflects a new partnership with the United States based on shared values'' and that Liberians are ``confident that we can continue to count on the assistance of the United States [. . .] in the urgent task of rebuilding of our nation.'' President Bush awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sirleaf in November 2007. President Sirleaf has made several official visits to the United States, including in February 2007, when she attended a World Bank-organized Liberia Partners' Forum donor meeting in Washington, DC. She made another such visit in March 2006, during which she addressed a joint session of Congress on March 15 and met with President Bush on March 21. She reportedly closely consulted with U.S. officials regarding her priorities for Liberia and the status of Charles Taylor. During a pre- inaugural December 2005 trip to the United States, Sirleaf also met with key U.S. and international financial institution officials. Liberia-related activities by the 110th Congress built on those pursued by the 109th Congress. Congress continued to monitor the activities of the SCSL and, in particular, the Taylor war crimes case, and provide funding for the SCSL. Congress's focus on Liberia also centered on aiding Liberia's efforts to consolidate its post-war governance and economic rebuilding processes. Issues that drew particular congressional attention included: Efforts to rehabilitate schools, clinics, roads and other public facilities; Progress under the GEMAP transparency initiative; Progress of U.S.-backed security sector restructuring, and possible expansions of related assistance, e.g., for the creation of a quick reaction gendarme unit; increased mobility capacity building for the police and military; and maritime waters and land border monitoring and interdiction capacity building. Consideration of potential continued support for UNMIL and the pace of its projected draw-down; and U.S. decision-making on debt relief for Liberia and the status of future Brooke Amendment restrictions on Liberia. The U.N. voted to lift a ban on diamond exports, which fueled the civil war, in April 2007. A ban on timber exports was lifted in 2006. Liberia's security situation is stable but subject to periodic volatility. Progress in governance under the interim government that preceded that of President Sirleaf was mixed; widespread corruption within it was widely reported. Liberia's economy and state structures remain devastated by war. Humanitarian conditions are improving. Liberia receives extensive U.S. post-war reconstruction and security sector reform assistance and in addition to providing substantial support for Liberia's post-war peace and reconstruction processes, Congress has maintained a continuing interest in the status of Charles Taylor and in ensuring funding for the SCSL. I hope that President Obama makes his way to Africa very soon. And his presence in a country like Liberia would be a bold statement that change is on the way. haiti Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in solidarity with my colleagues on the Congressional Black Caucus, to speak against the United States' unfair treatment of the people of Haiti. Haitians should also receive a Temporary Protective Order. Haiti is one of the most impoverished countries in the western hemisphere and the fourth poorest country in the world. There are 8.3 million people residing in Haiti. The people of Haiti are also facing a severe medical crisis as a result of their poverty. Haiti is the home of 90% of all HIV/AIDS patients in the Caribbean. Over 200,000 Haitian children will be orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Child mortality rates in Haiti are also excessively high. For every 1,000 births in Haiti, 74 infant deaths will occur. The social conditions in Haiti are as deplorable as the medical condition. Of the millions of Haitian residents, only 46% have access to clean drinking water. Furthermore, 53% of all Haitian residents are malnourished. Despite our close proximity to Haiti, and the widespread publication of the social and medical plight of Haitian residents, the U.S. government has insisted on blocking humanitarian aid. The U.S. government is attempting to shape the political landscape in Haiti to the severe detriment of the innocent people of Haiti. The United States government owes Haiti substantial funds in foreign aid. Substantial loans have been negotiated for the people of Haiti. Some estimates have the loans valued at as much as $146 million dollars. The United States government is delaying the disbursement of these funds to advance their political aims. While the U.S. government stubbornly maintains these restrictive policies the people of Haiti are suffering and dying. The U.S. government has promised Iraq $80 billion in aid to rebuild their war torn country. The people of Haiti have suffered as well. But instead of providing much needed aid, the U.S. government blocks humanitarian efforts and refuses to honor outstanding loans. Mr. Speaker, it is a disgrace that our Congress stands by while the people of Haiti suffer and die. I join my colleagues on the Congressional Black Caucus in imploring the U.S. government to let Haiti live.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 629, the ``Patent Judges Pilot Program in Certain District Courts.'' I urge my colleagues to support this bill. This bill will provide more expertise in skill in a difficult area of law: patent law. Americans hold the patents and patent law as important, integral to our very lives. Patents reward ingenuity and creativity. As the Blackberry litigation demonstrated, deficiencies in the current system have the ability to paralyze America. Indeed, the New York Times noted that ``[something] has gone very wrong with the United States patent system.'' The Financial Times opined that ``[i]t is time to restore the balance of power in U.S. patent law.'' Indeed, there has been a cry for change in the patent system and increased expertise for many years now. The Constitution mandates that we ``promote the progress of science and the useful arts . . . by securing for limited times to . . . inventors the exclusive right to their . . . discoveries.'' In order to fulfill the Constitution's mandate, we, as Members of Congress, must examine the system periodically to determine whether there may be flaws in the system that may hamper innovation, including the problems described as decreased patent quality, prevalence of subjective elements in patent practice, patent abuse, and lack of qualified persons to study patent law. H.R. 628 attempts to correct some of these problems. H.R. 628 creates a pilot program to increase the expertise of U.S. District Court judges who wish to hear cases that involve issues related to patents or plant variety protection. The bill provides for the designation of not less than 6 United States district courts in at least 3 different circuits to take part in the pilot program. In the designated courts, judges who elect to hear patent or plant variety protection cases will be designated to do so by the chief judge. Cases will be assigned randomly, but undesignated judges may decline to accept patent and plant variety protection cases. The bill authorizes the expenditure of not less than $5 million per year for up to 10 years to pay for the educational and professional development of designated judges, and for compensation for law clerks with technical expertise related to patent and plant variety protection cases to be appointed by the designated courts. The high cost of patent litigation is widely publicized. It is not unusual for a patent suit to cost each party upwards of $10 million. Appeals from United States district courts to the Federal Circuit are frequent, in part because of the perception within the patent community that most district court judges are not sufficiently prepared to adjudicate complex, technical patent cases. In 2008, 45 percent of the patent cases that were appealed to the Federal Circuit were reversed in whole or in part or vacated and remanded. This bill seeks to promote consistency among United States district courts by increasing the expertise of district court judges, thus providing for more certainty in intellectual property protection. Taken together, these improvements would bring the American patent system up to speed for the twenty-first century. Instead of remaining a hindrance to innovation and economic growth, the patent system should work for inventors, ensuring America's patent system remains the best in the world and prevents risks to innovation. I am encouraged by this bill, and I am hopeful that minorities and women take advantage of this pilot program. The patent judges pilot program and pilot program for law clerks provides for the educational and professional development of the designated district judges in matters relating to patent and plant variety protection, and for compensating law clerks with expertise in technical matters arising in patent and plant variety protection cases. This is yet another step that America is taking to ensure that its patent system is the best in the world. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1429, ``Stop AIDS in Prison Act of 2009.'' I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California for introducing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1429, which is designed to address the growing impact that HIV/AIDS is having on minority communities. According to the Black AIDS Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics reveal that African Americans account for half of all new HIV/AIDS cases. Racial and ethnic minorities comprise 69 percent of new cases, according to the 2005 data released by the CDC. African-American women account for the majority of new AIDS cases among women (67% in 2004); whereas white women account for 17% and Latinas 15%. The CDC estimates that 73% percent of all children born to HIV infected mothers in 2004 were African American. HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death among African Americans ages 25 to 44--deadlier than heart disease, accidents, cancer, and homicide. The CDC reported that Hispanics accounted for 18% of new diagnoses reported in the 35 areas with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting in the United States, and that most Hispanic men were exposed to HIV through sexual contact with other men, followed by injection drug use and heterosexual contact; and that most Hispanic women were exposed to HIV through heterosexual contact, followed by injection drug use. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, African Americans made up 41 percent of all inmates in the prison system at the end of 2004. Since African Americans are disproportionately represented in jails and prisons, the Stop AIDS in Prison Bill is one way to begin addressing this problem. The Stop AIDS in Prison Act of 2009 directs the Bureau of Prisons to develop a comprehensive policy to provide HIV testing, treatment, and prevention for inmates in federal prisons and upon reentry into the community. The bill would require initial testing and counseling of inmates upon entry into the prison system and then ongoing testing available up to once a year upon the request of the inmate, or sooner if an inmate is exposed to the HIV/AIDS virus or becomes pregnant. Furthermore, the Bureau of Prisons will be required to make HIV/AIDS counseling and treatment available to prisoners, and give testing and treatment referrals to prisoners prior to reentering the community. The bill protects the confidentiality of prisoners, and allows prisoners to refuse routine HIV testing. Finally, the bill contains a requirement that the Bureau of Prisons report to Congress, no later than one year after enactment, the number of inmates who tested positive for HIV upon intake; the number of inmates who tested positive prior to reentry; the number of inmates who were not tested prior to reentry because they were released without sufficient notice; the number of inmates who opted-out of taking the test; the number of inmates who were tested following exposure incidents; and the number of inmates who were under treatment for HIV/ AIDS. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1429 because we must reverse these costly trends. Currently, the only cure we have for HIV/AIDS is prevention. Had the bill gone through regularly and been marked up, I was planning on offering an amendment that would permit those infected with HIV to elect, on their own volition, to be housed separately from the general population as long as the prison had the facilities. This way, those infected with HIV could be housed in safety. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is indeed a state of emergency in the African- American and Hispanic community. We must use all resources necessary to defeat this deadly enemy that continues to devastate the minority community. As Americans, we have a strong history, through science and innovation, of detecting, conquering and defeating many illnesses. We must and we will continue to fight HIV/AIDS until the battle is won. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 1429, ``Stop AIDS in Prisons Act of 2009,'' and urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1512, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and for other purposes, introduced by my distinguished colleague from New York, Representative Charles B. Rangel. This important legislation will extend funding in order to improve transportation for Americans across the nation. The costs of air travel have increased rapidly in the last few months. Airlines have not only increased the price of air fare, but they have been forced to put charges on extra baggage, cut flights, and lay off hundreds of employees. Air travel is essential, as it is beneficial environmentally, socially, and especially economically. Without the ability to travel by air cheaply and easily, the flow of people, goods, and ideas would substantially decrease. If we do not extend funding to airline programs, many negative consequences will ensue, including cutting services, such as air traffic control, certification, and inspection, as well as the inability by the airlines to buy new equipment for the aging infrastructure. It is obvious that something must be done to solve this pressing problem. It is necessary for airlines to look into 2 alternative means in order to increase their effectiveness. However, it is also necessary for the United States to fund several programs. The Airport and Airway Trust Fund was established in 1970 ``to provide for the expansion and improvement of the nation's airport and airway system.'' Since then, it has provided funds for the Federal Aviation Administration. Various pieces of legislation have come before the Congress to extend this fund, and yet partisanship has stalled these bills. It is necessary for us to extend this program in order to modernize our air traffic control system. NextGen, a state-of-the-art air traffic control system would allow control towers to pinpoint the exact locations of aircrafts, making the skies less chaotic, and air travel much more efficient. Additionally, the extension of the Airport Improvement Program is necessary in order to improve safety and efficiency in our air travel. Airports are sites used by millions and millions of Americans every single day. It is vital that airports, travelers, and air flight personnel be secure, and thus it is important to continue to fund this program. Even though air travel is obviously important, other forms of travel contribute to the nation as well. The Highway Trust Fund was created by the Highway Revenue Act of 1956 to ensure a dependable source of financing for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. This is the premier fund for government spending on highways, with approximately 45% of all highway spending coming from this fund. The Congressional Budget Office predicts the fund will run a deficit of $1.7 billion at the end of 2009 and $8.1 billion by the end of 2010. The Highway Trust Fund balance must be restored. This bill will extend the taxes that fund The Airport and Airway Trust Fund, extend the expenditure authority of The Airport and Airway Trust Fund, extend the Airport Improvement Program, and restore the Highway Trust Fund balance. This is a vital bill for cities like Houston, Texas, which happens to have one of the top 10 airports in the Nation. I urge my fellow members of Congress to support H.R. 1512 in order to increase efficiency, safety, and functioning of our nation's transportation systems.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I want to thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Colorado for her leadership, and it's a pleasure to be on the floor with her today. Let me as well thank the Speaker for the opportunity to educate the American public and to dialogue with my colleagues. I think it's important to note that about 1.1 or 3 trillion of the debt that we are facing is the result of the past administration. We are now climbing a very difficult mountain because of the enormous amount of irresponsibility that occurred. Today we are trying to fix problems that were contractually based, already existing. And certainly we recognize that we have a combination of a deficit, we have an increasing unemployment rate, and we have an important challenge of fixing the collapsed financial markets. Everybody has heard of AIG. They finance and insure almost every aspect of our lives. And it was this leadership that focused on the recovery of providing stimulus dollars to our community. It was this leadership that infused into the stimulus package unemployment benefits to extend to hardworking Americans. And certainly it is this leadership that intends to fix this debacle. We will do it together. We will ensure that the moneys that were given to those, either unjustly or unfairly, are returned to the American public. I don't like the format that we are dealt or the cards that we are dealt. I don't like the idea that we were told that these were existing contracts, that these were retention bonuses. But now as the transparency opens up, good news. The American people, all of us, can see the structures of capitalism that we'd like to change. But we do believe in Americans being able to recover their investments. We want small businesses to survive. We believe in a capitalistic system. But it has to be fixed. Today is the day we fix it and provide the return of taxpayer dollars. I am supporting the underlying rule because it is a sense of urgency now. And what we are doing is giving the opportunity to give money back. I'm a lawyer. I realize that this may be subjected to constitutional challenge and/or the courts, but you know? I'm prepared to battle in the courts. Why? Because they look at issues of equity. What does equity mean? It means who's in here with unclean hands, and if there is a situation where they are taking Federal money, such as AIG, and all of a sudden they give retention bonuses, our courts will look at this legislation and say it is fair to give the money back to the American people because the circumstances have changed. So I'd rather take the chance of going forward on your behalf. And I am grateful to the leadership for allowing us to debate legislation that will help return the money. We also protect those recipients. If you are making under $250,000, we do not take that money back.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with pitchfork in hand to take back from the executives at AIG, monies that rightfully belong to the taxpayers of this country. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1586. The understanding that most Members of Congress had when we passed the TARP legislation was that these measures were necessary to keep our financial system from collapse. I believe the term is systemic risk. We then voted last month for another economic recovery package of over $700 billion dollars which contained language that limited executive compensation for companies that received certain TARP funds. It appears that the AIG executives may not have broken the law but certainly the spirit of the law. In other words, if AIG has received over $190 billion in funds from the federal fiscal coffers in the last year, the company is acting in broad contravention of the essence of the law to use $165 million of that for bonuses. The country is now $12 trillion dollars in debt after passage of last month's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. We literally cannot afford irresponsible uses of taxpayers' dollars. Last September, the House and Senate voted on one of the most extraordinary pieces of legislation in the history of our country. During the same time, the federal government loaned the American Insurance Group (AIG) $85 billion, as the company could no longer access credit to fund its day-to-day operations. In addition, an economic ``bailout'' package enacted in October (PL 110-343) provided a total of $700 billion in federal aid to financial institutions to remove ``toxic'' debts and infuse capital into the credit market. AIG has now received more than $180 billion in taxpayer money and is now nearly 80 percent owned by the government. As part of a restructuring plan announced by the Treasury Department earlier this month, AIG is set to receive an additional $30 billion in federal rescue aid. The news that AIG paid $165 million in retention bonuses, including bonuses of at least $1 million each to 73 employees who worked in the financial products division that contributed to the company's troubles, has incited fervor among lawmakers and the public over the past week. Eleven of those top bonus recipients--including one who received $4.6 million--have since left AIG. If these payments were intended to motivate them to stay with the company it truly scares me to think what they might have needed to stay--$1 million not being enough. Edward M. Liddy, the chief executive of AIG--selected in consultation with the Treasury Department after the first large infusion of government assistance--testified before a House Financial Services subcommittee that he has called on employees who received in excess of $100,000 to give back at least half of their bonuses, but which he also said are a legal obligation of the company. The reason that Mr. Liddy was selected is because he was expected to have the common sense as well as the financial sense which his job now entails. Over two million Americans have lost their jobs in the last four months. Many of them still owe taxes from last year and will not get a stimulus check, TARP payment or waiver to pay those taxes. Neither will they have access in many cases to teams of topflight lawyers from swanky law firms to defend this excess that reminds me of the biblical tale of Sodom and Gomorrah. Previously, Merrill Lynch paid $3.6 billion in bonuses days before its merger with Bank of America to avoid collapse. Bank of America, which acquired Merrill Lynch on January 1, 2009 received $45 billion in bailout money, some of which it used to acquire. I was pleased to learn that Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Towns sent a letter to Bank of America's chief executive last week asking for details on the bonuses. It appears they are ready to comply with Chairman Towns's request. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner sent a letter about the AIG matter to lawmakers this week saying the Treasury Department will ``deduct from the $30 billion in assistance an amount equal to the amount of those payments.'' This bill taxes bonuses given to individuals at a rate of 90 percent--if their employer received more than $5 billion in federal assistance under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). It applies to individuals whose total family adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 per year, and affects bonuses received after December 31, 2008. Employees or former employees of covered TARP recipients would face a tax on their income minus the TARP bonus as determined by existing tax code, plus a 90 percent tax on the bonus. The term ``TARP bonus'' is defined by the bill to include any retention payment, incentive payment, or other bonus that is in addition to the amount paid to the individual at a regular rate, but it does not include commissions, welfare or fringe benefits, or expense reimbursements. Employees who waive their entitlement to the bonus payments, or return them to their employers before the close of the taxable year, would not face a TARP bonus tax. This exemption would not apply, however, if the employee receives any benefit from the employer in connection with a waiver or return. Any reimbursement of the tax by a TARP recipient would be treated as a TARP bonus to the taxpayer. The TARP recipients that are covered under the bill include any entity that received, after December 31, 2007, capital infusions exceeding $5 billion under the financial industry ``bailout,'' as well as the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). It would also apply to members of affiliated groups or partnerships with more than 50 percent of the capital or profits owned by TARP recipients. Any tax increase as a result of the measure would not be treated as income tax for purposes of determining the amount of any credit against the alternative minimum tax. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to seek redress from AIG with this strong piece of legislation so that we may get on with the business of moving our economic recovery forward.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to listen to my colleagues not try to be problem solvers. The work of this body is to in fact solve problems, fix the capital markets, ensure that we restore the confidence in the capitalistic system. And yes, to overcome mishaps and issues that raise concern with all of us. Today we create the opportunity and the vehicle to solve these problems. The taxation on retention bonuses speaks loudly on behalf of the American people. The expression of opposition to actions that occurred speaks loudly on behalf of the American people. This body has many committees that will engage in oversight. My colleagues don't think that the work will be done--and it will continue--on how these issues came about, but maybe they should look at the past and understand the reason we are here is the $1.1 trillion debt that was created by the past administration. We are fixing the problem. Let's join those of us who want to work it out on behalf of the American people. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution that I believe only begins to express the outrage that the American people and many Members of Congress are feeling right now. Our constituents feel like they have been handed a raw deal from the executives at AIG. They have given out large bonuses that would make most people blush with shame. The understanding that most Members of Congress had when we passed the TARP legislation was that these measures were necessary to keep our financial system from collapse. However, the reality of a few months has proven quite different. Last month, we voted for another economic recovery package of over $700 billion which contained language that limited executive compensation for companies that received certain TARP funds. It appears that the AIG executives may not have broken the law but certainly the spirit of the law. This is unconscionable. It is an outrage that these businessman have bucked the system and chosen to dole out federally appropriated dollars to their own bank accounts. Where is the fairness? Where is the equity? $165 million is no small change. In other words, if AIG has received over $190 billion in funds from the federal fiscal coffers in the last year, the company is acting in broad contravention of the essence of the law to use $165 million of that for bonuses. The country is now $12 trillion dollars in debt after passage of last month's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. We literally cannot afford irresponsible uses of taxpayer dollars. The unemployment rate is on the rise across the country. In fact, in my state of Texas, the unemployment rate has hit 6.4 percent. And that rate is even higher for minorities. Many of the people of Texas, like many Americans, are suffering through this economic downturn. By voting for this resolution we are not just voting to take the money back, we are voting to get our country back on the right track. The U.S. dollar has traditionally been one of the strongest in the world. But just last week, an official from China appeared to question the holding of U.S. paper. The losses that led to AIG's essential failure came largely from two sources: The state-regulated AIG insurance subsidiaries' securities lending program, and the AIG Financial Products (AIGFP) subsidiary, a largely unregulated subsidiary that specialized in financial derivatives. And is it not ironic, Mr. Speaker, that most of the bonuses in question went to AIG executives in those two divisions. Bad actors should not benefit from poor performance. The American people should not be required to pay for the missteps of the AIG top brass, particularly during a time when the unemployment rate is creeping up. Financial derivatives are products that came into the public consciousness during the Orange County default of 1994. Typically derivatives are used to diversify investment portfolios for institutional and retail investors. If we thought that the derivatives beast had been tamed--apparently we were wrong--it has roared back to bite us. The securities lending losses were largely due to investments in mortgage-backed securities, and are relatively well-defined at this point. At the end of 2008, the outstanding obligations from the AIG securities lending program were approximately $3 billion, down from over $82 billion at the start of 2008. The credit derivative losses from AIGFP, however, are potentially ongoing despite actions taken to limit them. AIG reported approximately $300 billion in continued notional net exposure to credit derivatives at the end of 2008, down from approximately $370 billion at the start of 2008. The government assistance to AIG began with an $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve in September 2008. This loan was on relatively onerous terms with a high interest rate and required a handover of 79.9 percent of the equity in AIG to the government. As AIG's financial position weakened after September, several rounds of additional funding were provided to AIG and the terms were loosened to some degree. The lessening of restrictions was necessary because of the overall deterioration of the economy and certain financial services companies. The second major restructuring of the assistance to AIG was announced in March 2009 and has yet to be completed. Once it is completed, the assistance to AIG will comprise: (1) Up to $70 billion in capital injections through preferred share purchases by the Treasury; (2) up to $40.3 billion in outstanding loans from the Fed; (3) up to $34.5 billion in Federal Reserve loans retired by securities and equity interests provided to the government by AIG; and (4) up to $52.5 billion in loans for troubled asset purchases--assets which are now owned by the government. In addition to possible continuing losses on AIG's derivative portfolio, the ongoing weakness in the economy may weigh heavily on AIG's future results. It is not clear whether the ongoing government involvement in AIG might strengthen or weaken AIG's core insurance business, as consumers could conclude that their policy with AIG is safe due to the government involvement or they could conclude that their policy with AIG is more risky since the government could change the terms of its involvement at any time. That is why we must, as a Congress, send a strong message to the American people. They need to know that when we write a bill that is circumvented--Congress will act quickly to address it. Parliamentary Inquiry

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am so grateful for a President that believes in the American people. I thank him for his budget, thank him for his outrage regarding outrageous AIG employees receiving bonuses, thank him for recognizing the 47 million plus that are growing who need health care reform, and thank this leadership that is beginning to open the discussion on American health care reform that is so very important. I happen to believe a single-payer system is a health care payment system, not a health care delivery system. Health care providers will be in a fee-for-service practice and will not be employees of the government. Therefore, it is not socialized medicine. Single-payer health care is not socialized medicine any more than the public funding of education is socialized education or the public funding of the defense industry is socialized defense. What we simply want is the ability for that single payer to negotiate prescription drug prices, hospital prices, nursing home prices. We simple want the ability to give the American people the insurance on health care that they and their children need. Interestingly enough, polls show that 60 to 75 percent of Americans believe in this type of system. But the most important aspect is, we have a leader--and the leadership in this Congress--that says Americans count. Let us change the health care system today, not pay AIG employees bonuses.