Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Resolution 66, supporting the goals and ideals of `Lights On Afterschool!', a national celebration of after-school programs. Passage of this bill will not only recognize this celebration, but also reaffirm the United States Congress' continuing commitment to providing our children after-school programs. The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' celebration was started in October of 2000 and was hosted in over 1,000 communities across the nation. The goal of the program at its inception was to call attention to the importance of after-school programs for America's communities. Last year, 7,500 communities celebrated Lights On Afterschool! events. This October, the Afterschool Alliance, the founding organization, expects 1 million Americans to participate in ``Lights On Afterschool!'' In this time of political pressure for budget cuts, ``Lights On Afterschool!'' seeks to celebrate the importance of after-school programs to American Society, and assert the need for even more programs. The worth of after-school programming is not lost on the American public. Nine in ten Americans think children need organized activities or a program to go to after school where they have learning opportunities. Nine in ten also support funding for after-school programs in low-income neighborhoods. The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' program calls for expanding after- school opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access to one. This is not only a good idea on paper, but a good idea in practice. Teens who participate in after-school programs are three times less likely to try drugs, and less likely to smoke or drink. Teens who do not attend after-school programs are three times more likely to skip class. Students who participate in after-school programs have better grades, are more likely to attend college, and reach higher levels of achievement. The benefit of these programs also extends to the tens of millions of parents of school aged children, who, with the help of these programs, were better able to balance family and work life. It seems like a simple decision to support the ``Lights On'' program, but budget-tightening is forcing many programs to cut back or even close. There is a tremendous unmet demand for after-school programs. Today, millions of children have no adult supervision after school. Mayors surveyed in 86 cities reported that only one-third of the children needing after school care were receiving it. Over two-thirds of principals whose children lack after-school programs claim a lack of funding as the reason for not having sufficient programming. The ``Lights On Afterschool!'' program is scheduled next month on the 20th of October. Supporting this program--and after-school programs in general--should be a high priority for this country and this congress. I support H.J. Res. 66 for the foregoing reasons, and I urge my colleagues to follow suit.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for yielding me this time; and let me thank the chairman, first of all, for his willingness to include, or to continue to include, an important amendment dealing with early release for Federal prisoners. That is why I rise, because I believe we can work this issue out. I would ask the chairman and the ranking member, as we move toward this legislative finality of the authorization bill that we take a second look at this language that was included that has to do with racial ethnic minorities. Let me join my colleague, or allow me to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren) in the work that she has done on the Violence Against Women Act. I have also included language in the omnibus immigration bill dealing with racial ethnic minorities, and this language is key to be reincluded. Why? Because too often, racial and ethnic minorities have lacked access to services and their safety has been compromised. I want to compromise, frankly, Mr. Chairman, with all of those individuals who, for some reason or another, believe that this is a preference, a quota. It is not. It is an outreach mechanism to ensure that States who receive Federal monies, and we have done this often before, we have done this with the issue dealing with procurement. We have insisted on it not being quotas. This is only to say that ethnic and racial minorities many times are not able to access the questions of dealing with domestic violence. We know that that is not an occurring incident in high numbers in these communities, language barriers that do not allow individuals to access resources. This is where the Congress can intervene, because VAWA intended for all underserved communities to have a fair chance of addressing these crimes in holding perpetrators accountable. Even when these women will go to court, we need culturally sensitive individuals, whether it is individuals from Southeast Asia, whether it is individuals from Africa or the Caribbean, whether it is individuals from the poor areas of America. This is a viable amendment, language that should be reincluded; and I ask my colleagues, let us work together. Let us not misinterpret and make this a racial issue when it is not. It is an outreach issue. It is an aspiration issue. It is a goal issue. And I would ask my colleagues to support the language being reinstated at this time. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the underlying legislation that has been introduced by my colleague on the Committee, Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. The spirit of bipartisanship that went into crafting H.R. 3402, the ``Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2006 through 2009'' is to be commended. H.R. 3402 will reauthorize the Justice Department and its various offices and components. While the Appropriations Committee is responsible for issuing funds to government bodies, it is the purview of authorizing committees to permit the agencies to spend those funds. Congress last authorized the Justice Department in 2002, through the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act. While the House passed authorization legislation in the 108th Congress, the Senate failed to act before adjournment. I am particularly pleased that this bill contains provisions from my bill entitled ``Save Our Children: Stop the Violent Predators Against Children DNA Act of 2005 (H.R. 244)'' and the ``Enhanced Protections for Trafficked Persons Act of 2005.'' Furthermore, I would like to highlight the fact that the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 that is part of the legislation we are considering today, contains important provisions that will enhance protections to immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. I am happy that these provisions resulted from bipartisan efforts of members of this committee. They will significantly improve safety for immigrant victims. I thank Congresswomen Lofgren and Solis for their leadership. While VAWA 1994 and 2000 made significant progress in reducing violence against immigrant women, there are still many women and children whose lives are in danger today. Many VAWA eligible victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse or trafficking are still being deported. This bill will implement VAWA's original intent by stopping the deportation of immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking who qualify for VAWA immigration benefits. Very importantly the bill contains provisions designed to deter Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from arresting immigrant victims seeking help from domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers and protection orders. It also removes obstacles in immigration law that cut victims off from VAWA cancellation of removal and adjustment of status including improved rules for VAWA motions to reopen. VAWA 2005 will extend immigration relief to all victims of family violence by preventing victims of incest and child abuse perpetrated by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident parent from being cut off from VAWA's immigration protections when they turn 21; by protecting non-citizen parents abused by their adult U.S. citizen sons or daughters; by protecting adopted and abused children; and by securing protection for children of immigrant victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking. Very importantly this bill contains provisions that will guarantee economic security for immigrant victims and their children by granting employment authorization to adult victims who have filed valid immigration cases. Yet I am very opposed to the Manager's amendment that eliminates the outreach to racial and ethnic women who are victims of domestic abuse. We must add that language back into the underlying bill and I will vigorously oppose the Manager's amendment. The trafficking provisions in this bill are of particular importance to me and I am very pleased that additional protections for trafficking victims and tools to help prosecute traffickers have been included in the bill. These VAWA 2005 provisions will extend the statute of limitations on bringing charges for trafficking, slavery, and involuntary servitude to 10 years. This legislation will protect family members of trafficking victims from retaliation by traffickers abroad by helping family members reunite with trafficking victims in the United States, including the use of parole. It will also allow for extension of duration of T visas when needed to facilitate prosecution of traffickers. We will also require reports to Congress on the number of law enforcement officers trained on identifying trafficking victims and on the T and U visa protections and law enforcement certification process. Finally the bill will shorten the time T visa victims have to wait before filing for lawful permanent residency, particularly in cases in which the prosecution against the traffickers has been completed. In addition, I thank the chairman and ranking member for their cooperation in incorporating the language of an amendment that I offered that expresses a commitment of Congress to continue exploring the benefits of granting ``good time release'' to non-violent Federal incarcerated persons. This is an initiative that I have pursued for a long time and will continue until we make real progress. The language of my amendment to this effect was passed in the 108th Congress as part of H.R. 1829 and in the Subcommittee on Crime this Congress as H.R. 2965. Mr. Chairman, I hope that this legislation will pass into law retaining all of the beneficial provisions that I have enumerated above.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I support the intent of the gentleman from Iowa's amendment, which is to ensure that persons who have been convicted of certain types of abuse be prevented from sponsoring the immigration of family members whom they may, in turn, abuse. However, while noble in its intent, this amendment is overly broad and could have serious, negative, unintended consequences on innocent immigrants, as it is currently drafted. First, it threatens the operation of the family reunification system. Every U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident who files a petition to bring a family member here to join them would become subject to criminal background checks. Not only does this raise privacy concerns, but it also raises constitutional concerns by limiting the rights of some U.S. citizens to live here with their immediate family members. Second, the amendment makes no distinction as to the degree of the crime or rehabilitation of the offender. A person with a 30-year-old misdemeanor conviction of assault who has successfully completed a domestic violence rehabilitation program, has no further domestic violence convictions and has no other record of violent crime, is barred from sponsoring family members, just as an abuser with a string of domestic violence convictions culminating in the murder of his wife would be barred. Third, the amendment does not specify where the crime must have been committed. It is not limited to domestic violence crimes committed in the United States. It may well require DHS to ask foreign governments to investigate and reveal the criminal histories of U.S. legal permanent residents and citizens who have lived in other countries and are now trying to sponsor a family member. DHS may then go to countries with long histories of politically motivated persecution or human rights abuses--such as Cuba, Sudan, or Iran--and inquire about the criminal history of one of their citizens who has received asylum or refugee status here due to persecution they suffered in that country. Not only might this lead to inaccurate information from untrustworthy governments, but it also may lead to reprisals against the family members of refugees who fled persecution by the foreign government. Fourth, this amendment will also keep some victims of domestic violence from bringing family members to join them in the U.S. Unfortunately, perpetrators of domestic violence are sometimes able to get their victims arrested for domestic violence offences, especially when the abuser has superior English-speaking skills to the victim. Furthermore, battered immigrant women who are arrested often receive bad legal advice and are often likely to take a plea offer, even when they did nothing wrong. Among other changes, the amendment needs to include an exemption for victims of battering or extreme cruelty. Approved VAWA, T-visa trafficking victims and U-visa crime victims need to be exempt, as do immigrant victims with domestic violence convictions who already qualify for waivers under VAWA 2000 protections. The safety of immigrant victims can be enhanced by expanding their support system to include close family members. We should not bar victims of domestic violence from sponsoring their children, siblings and other close relatives. If this amendment passes as it is, it will do just that. Mr. Chairman, I am not encouraging opposition to the King amendment today. However, should the House adopt this amendment, I hope that the House Conferees will work with our colleagues in the other body to ensure that the unintended negative consequences of the amendment are mitigated, while still preserving the vision that is embodied within it.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Ohio for yielding me this time. I am a cosponsor of this legislation; and, of course, there could be no more eloquent speaker than the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) on this question. But I think if there is anything we emphasize with this resolution it is that in this instance research is equal to pounds and pounds of cure. So I rise to support H. Con. Res. 178. This legislation recognizes the need to research the cause of and find a treatment and cure for IPF. It also recognizes the Coalition of Pulmonary Fibrosis and urges the President to designate an IPF Awareness Week. As the number of over-50 bipartisan cosponsors indicates, there is very strong support for this legislation. Let me just mention a few points that I think are worth emphasizing. The disease is debilitating and generally fatal, causing an irreversible loss of the lung tissue's ability to transport oxygen to the organs. It moves very quickly. There is no proven cause of IPF, and 83,000 Americans are living with this disease and 31,000 are diagnosed each year. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, often causing disability or death within a few short years. So the movement of research has to be key. I know that research will lead to solution. And when we start determining in the budget reconciliation, Mr. Speaker, I am asking that our colleagues be considered in their thoughts that not only is it most important to cut, cut, cut, but it is important to be able to find the resources to do the important work that our constituents have sent us to do. Furthermore, a recent study found that IPF may be five to 10 times more prevalent than previously thought. It is unknown whether this may be due to an increased prevalence of the disease or to a previous lack of definitive guidelines for diagnosing IPF. This research effort will help us understand that. Unfortunately, many patients, particularly in the early stages of the disease, can continue to go about their normal activities for months or years before the disease runs its course. IPF can strike anyone, but the disease tends to affect men more than women and usually strikes people between the ages of 50 and 70. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join in the leadership of this resolution and support it enthusiastically. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 178. This legislation recognizes the need to research the cause of, and to find a treatment and cure for IPF. It also recognizes the work of the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis, and urges the President to designate an Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week. As the number of over 50 bipartisan co-sponsors indicates, there is strong support for this legislation. Let's take a moment to mention a few important facts about this issue: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a serious lung disorder causing progressive, incurable lung scarring. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common form of interstitial lung disease. There is no cure or treatment for this disease. The disease is debilitating and generally fatal, causing an irreversible loss of the lung tissue's ability to transport oxygen to the organs. There is no proven cause of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. There are 83,000 Americans living with this disease and 31,000 are diagnosed each year. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progresses quickly, often causing disability or death within a few short years. It is often misdiagnosed in the early stages. The median survival rate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients is 2 to 3 years, and about two thirds of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients die within 5 years of developing the disease. Furthermore, a recent study found that IPF may be 5 to 10 times more prevalent than previously thought. It is unknown whether this may be due to an increased prevalence of the disease or to a previous lack of definitive guidelines for diagnosing IPF. Unfortunately, many patients, particularly in their early stages of the disease, can continue to go about their normal activities for months or years, before the disease runs its course. IPF can strike anyone, but the disease tends to affect men more than women and usually strikes people between the ages of 50 and 70. In closing, I support this legislation and the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I thank the distinguished ranking member and the distinguished chairman. Let me also thank my staff, Assad Akhter for his work, and the staff of the Committee on Science both on the majority and minority side. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the chairman of the full committee and the ranking member of the full committee, and if I might add my appreciation for the cooperation of both staffs and both the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Ranking Member Gordon) for helping with this amendment, and as well the cooperation and the timeliness of this amendment. My amendment would ensure that minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, have access to the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Program. The ATE program promotes improvement in technological education at the undergraduate and secondary school levels by supporting curriculum development; the preparation and professional development of college faculty and secondary schoolteachers; internships and field experiences for faculty, teachers, and students; and other activities. We have often, Madam Chairman, spoken in the Committee on Science about the broadness of opportunity, and here lies in this bill the opportunity to enhance that with this amendment. The Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005 is a perfect vehicle to emphasize the involvement of a diverse community, and the focus of science and technology in our Historically Black Colleges and Hispanic-serving colleges. With an emphasis on 2-year colleges, the program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our Nation's economy. It is vitally important that this high-value program is made available to minority-serving institutions, including HBCUs. Unfortunately, we do not have nearly enough minority representation in the fields of science and engineering. Minorities represent only a small proportion of scientists and engineers in the United States. Collectively, blacks, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups, the latter includes American Indians and Alaska natives, constituted 24 percent of the total U.S. population but only 7 percent of the total science and engineering workforce in 1999. Blacks and Hispanics each accounted for about 3 percent of scientists and engineers and other ethnic groups represented less than 0.5. Furthermore, for science and engineering graduates, there are only 835,000 scientists who are female in the United States. Meanwhile, white students number 2 million, black students account for only 121,000 scientists, and Hispanic students for only 120,000 scientists. Madam Chairman, I want to see all Americans be engaged in the sciences because that is the wave of the future. I have always said that science is the work of the 21st century, and we are in the 21st century. I believe it is important to offer an amendment that provides for the opportunities for minorities. Might I say, in the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, I want my colleagues to know that two of our Historically Black Colleges, Xavier and Dillard, are now underwater in New Orleans. We know that Dillard produced the most number of undergraduates that went into the sciences and then went on to medical school. So this amendment may be timely because of what we are going through, and prospectively what we might be going through with Hurricane Rita. All I can say is that the opportunity for more in the sciences and more having the opportunity under this very important competitive bill, I believe makes a first step and a good step toward the improvement of the sciences and science graduates in America. Madam Chairman, my amendment would ensure that minority serving institutions including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HBCUs, have access to the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Program, ATE. The ATE program promotes improvement in technological education at the undergraduate and secondary school levels by supporting curriculum development; the preparation and professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; internships and field experiences for faculty, teachers, and students; and other activities. With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our Nation's economy. It is vitally important that this high-value program is made available to minority serving institutions including HBCUs. Unfortunately, we do not have nearly enough minority representation in the fields of science and engineering. Minorities represent only a small proportion of scientists and engineers in the United States. Collectively, Blacks, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups--the latter includes American Indian/Alaskan Natives--constituted 24 percent of the total U.S. population and only 7 percent of the total science and engineering workforce in 1999. Blacks and Hispanics each accounted for about 3 percent of scientists and engineers, and other ethnic groups represented less than 0.5 percent. Furthermore, for Science and Engineering graduates, there are only 835,000 scientists who are female in the United States, meanwhile white students number 2 million-plus, black students account for only 121,000 scientists and Hispanic students for only 120,000 scientists. This problem extends into the salaries paid to minorities in the fields of science and engineering. The median annual salaries of individuals in science and engineering show amongst individuals with less than 5 years experience, i.e. recent graduates, white individuals make an average of $61,000, while their black and Hispanic counterparts make only $53,000 and $55,000 respectively. Clearly, there is a disparity here that needs to be filled and I believe this amendment makes a positive step in that direction. For most of America's history, African Americans who received a college education could only get it from an HBCU. Today, HBCUs remain one of the surest ways for an African American, or student of any race, to receive a high quality education. Seven of the top eleven producers of African American baccalaureates in engineering were HBCUs, including #1 North Carolina A&T State University. The top three producers of African American baccalaureates in health professions (#1 Southern University and A&M College, #2 Florida A&M University and #3 Howard University were HBCUs. The twelve top producers of African American baccalaureates in the physical sciences, including #1 Xavier University of Louisiana, were all HBCUs. Hispanic Serving Institutions, HISs, are also instrumental in educating a growing minority population. According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Hispanics are historically underrepresented in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. HSIs receive only half the Federal funding per student, on average, accorded to every other degree-granting institution. Indeed it seems sadly clear that HSIs are a long way from Federal funding parity with other institutions of higher learning. I hope every Member of this Committee can agree on the importance of HBCUs and HSIs and I hope they will support my amendment to create equity in the fields of science and engineering.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I thank the distinguished chairman of the committee. Again, that speaks to the work we do on this committee. Madam Chairman, I am very honored to likewise yield to the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon).

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005 represents an important piece of legislation for this Congress as it did previously in the Science Committee and it is because of that I hoped this body would have taken into account all points of view. After 8 years I am pleased that the Science Committee has decided to move an almost complete authorization for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST. H.R. 250, the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005, authorizes all of NIST's programs except for the Advanced Technology Program, ATP. I have always strongly supported NIST and fully recognize the importance of all of its programs to the US industrial sector. However, H.R. 250 purports to be a bill to help the American manufacturing base. I unfortunately feel that H.R. 250 falls far short of this goal. This is virtually the same bill that passed the Committee and House a year ago and that the Senate never took up. The U.S. manufacturing sector is facing a crisis--since 2001 we have lost 2.7 million manufacturing jobs. In the first 3 months of this year, we have lost another 24,000 manufacturing jobs. A year ago, the administration announced its Manufacturing Initiative, the creation of an Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services supported by a $40 million dollar-plus bureaucracy, and established a Manufacturing Council. Since these announcements, very little has been heard from these organizations. While there is bipartisan agreement that the Federal Government needs to retain high-skill, high-pay, manufacturing jobs in the U.S., I am disappointed that this crisis has received so little attention from the Administration, the House, and the Senate. This legislation directs the President to establish or designate an Interagency Committee to plan and coordinate Federal efforts in manufacturing research and development, with an Advisory Committee from the non-Federal sector. In addition, this bill amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, NIST Act, to establish: (1) a pilot program of collaborative manufacturing research grants; (2) manufacturing sciences research fellowships; (3) manufacturing extension center competitive grants; and (4) standards education grants to develop higher education curricula on the role of standards in engineering, business, science, and economics. Clearly, these provisions are positive in their intent, but they can be expanded without interfering with the core of the legislation. My Democratic colleagues have offered a number of good amendments which should be adopted in order to take in all points of view. Together this body can enhance the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 450 which recognizes Space Shuttle Commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, and the contributions of all other women who have worked with NASA following the successful mission of Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-114. Let me offer my own personal congratulations to these women who have not only advanced the cause of aeronautics through their work, but also they have advanced the cause of women through their determination. Let me take a moment to recognize Commander Eileen Collins who successfully returned NASA to flight. LTC Eileen Marie Collins was born in Elmira, New York on November 19, 1956. As a child, Eileen dreamed about space and of becoming a pilot. Her parents often took her to the airport to watch the planes take off and land. The Collins family wanted Eileen to attend college, but did not have the money to send her. After high school, she attended Corning Community College. While there, she studied hard to earn a two-year scholarship to Syracuse University. In 1978 Eileen Collins graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University. Later, she went on to earn a master of science degree in operations research from Stanford University and a master of arts degree in space systems management from Webster University. In 1979, LTC Collins graduated from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base. In 1990, while attending the Air Force Test Pilot School, she was selected for the astronaut program. Eileen Collins became an astronaut in July 1991 and the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle on February 2, 1995. She made history once again in 1999. On July 23 LTC Collins became the first woman to command a Space Shuttle mission. Eileen Collins is also a wife and mother, but on top of all these titles and distinctions, she is an inspiration for many women throughout the world. I also want to take a moment to recognize CAPT Wendy B. Lawrence who served as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery. CAPT Lawrence is a native of Jacksonville and has flown on four missions to space. Lawrence graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 with a degree in Ocean Engineering. She went on to earn a master of science degree in Ocean Engineering from M.I.T. in 1988. Her mission aboard Discovery was to transfer payloads back and forth from the International Space Station using the robotic arm. She's made history, too. She was one of the first two female helicopter pilots to make a long deployment to the Indian Ocean as part of a carrier battle group while stationed at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Six. Clearly, she made history again when the Shuttle Discovery returned NASA to flight. Both these women deserve great recognition for their work aboard the Shuttle Discovery and their lifetime of service to our Nation. Truly, many women from Sally Ride to Mae Jemison have made great strides to get to this day when a woman can command a space shuttle. To paraphrase a historic statement once made from the moon: `This is one small step for women and one giant leap for womenkind.'

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, as we have begun to attempt to rebuild the gulf coast region, tonight the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation will host and hold a candlelight vigil on the west steps of the United States Capitol at 8 p.m. As we do that, we hope that it will recommit both this government and our Nation to the survival of the survivors and the rebuilding of their region. Might I also say that I join in offering the immigration relief for hurricane victims' legislation that will be on the floor, which is H.R. 3827, that will provide for benefits for immigrants that may have lost those papers or documents relevant to their pending case, and we should be concerned. Finally, as Hurricane Rita comes upon us in the gulf coast, in my city of Houston, might I ask for FEMA to be prepared and on the ground. And might I say to Houstonians and Galvestonians and others, follow the instructions, go to the evacuation sites, and make sure that all of the people of that region are safe. Our prayers are with you.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the esteemed ranking member for yielding me this time, and I thank the sponsor of this legislation and the bipartisan effort that has been offered here today. Mr. Speaker, as the Members well know, Hurricane Rita is fast approaching the gulf coast again. My own community of Galveston, Houston, and other surrounding areas that many of us represent is about to face the unknown, and it is important for the face of Congress today to be bipartisan. I want to congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery), and all of the supporters, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), all who have lived this in a very unique and special way. But as we move toward this legislation, might I reinforce some concepts that are so very important, particularly if the New Orleans region is hit again and the tragedy of the levees again spills water into that region, we want to go forward in the reconstruction in a bipartisan way. We want Members and local leaders to be consulted. We also want regional development authorities to be developed. And, particularly, as I was asked today, we want an inspector general or a recovery czar to make sure that, as we give tax relief, that we also give dollars for reconstruction. These dollars will be used effectively and invested not only in the large corporations, the standard bearers of Rebuild America that have gone on to Iraq and other places, but let us put those dollars that will help rebuild small businesses in the hands of small businesses, minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. Let us make sure that the relief that has been given impacts individuals in their properties that still exist in New Orleans, for example, although under water. The physical structure of the house may be leveled, but they will need to have the tax benefits so that they can make sure that they are able to rebuild. This legislation, for example, exempts income from forgiveness of debt from tax. It prevents loss of tax benefits such as the earned income tax credit, waives the 10 percent penalty on early distributions from retirement plans, provides the work opportunity tax credit, and many others. It also deals with the charitable incentives that will allow people to give. But I think the main point is we are still facing the forward road. It is time to work together for the rebuilding of the region and to prepare us for whatever the results are of Hurricane Rita. May God bless those in Houston and the surrounding areas and those who will be facing this horrible storm. May they know that we are focused on their work and on their future. May God bless them, and our prayers are with them.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, hurricane Katrina may be the worst natural disaster to hit the United States in the last hundred years. As of September 15, 2005, Federal disaster declarations have been issued which cover 90,000 square miles of affected areas. More than 71,100 federal personnel have been deployed; 122,000 people are housed in shelters throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia; and 509,000 households have received $1.1 billion in disaster assistance. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, I also am concerned about the impact the hurricane has had on the foreign nationals who were residing in the disaster area. I rise today in support of a bipartisan bill that was introduced by my colleague Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner which would provide relief to these disaster victims too, the Immigration Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims Act of 2005. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this bill. I want to thank Congressman Sensenbrenner for his leadership on this issue and for his willingness to work with me and with my colleague, Congressman John Conyers, in drafting the provisions of the bill. The Immigration Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims Act is an example of what can be accomplished when we work together. Among other things, it would provide special immigrant status for aliens who were the beneficiaries of immigrant petitions or labor certification applications pending on the date of Hurricane Katrina's arrival. It also would provide special immigrant status for the grandparents of orphans in cases where both parents died as a consequence of the hurricane and one of the parents was a citizen or a lawful permanent resident. It would provide nonimmigrant status for aliens who were disabled, or whose spouse or parent died or was disabled, as a consequence of Hurricane Katrina. It would provide that the spouses and children of citizens who died as a consequence of the hurricane would continue to be considered ``immediate relatives'' for visa petition purposes. It would provide further that the spouses, children, and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents who died as a consequence of the hurricane while a visa petition was pending in their behalf, would continue to be eligible for the preference classification they would have had if the deaths had not occurred. The Immigration Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims Act would provide relief for nonimmigrant students and exchange program participants by giving them enough time to enroll in a new program. The Immigration Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims Act also would provide a variety of fixes for administrative problems. For instance, it would extend the deadline for notifying the Department of Homeland Security regarding a change of address. It would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to postpone employment eligibility requirements for employers for a 90-day period when a natural disaster has been declared. It would authorize the Secretary to provide immediate assistance for replacing documents issued by the Secretary that were lost, stolen, or destroyed due to the hurricane. Where replacement of a document is not feasible, the Secretary would be authorized to issue temporary substitute documents. One of my goals in working on this bill was to ensure that people will be able to establish eligibility for the relief that they are entitled to receive. For instance, it may not be possible to obtain a death certificate as proof that a spouse or parent was killed by the hurricane. The Immigration Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims Act would provide the Secretary with the authority to make a determination of death in the absence of a death certificate where this is appropriate. In other situations, it would authorize the Secretary to make the death determination solely on the basis of a sworn affidavit. I urge you to vote for the Immigration Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims Act of 2005.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that despite the fact that the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005 represents an important piece of legislation for this Congress as it did previously in the Science Committee and it is because of that I hoped this body would have taken into account all points of view. Unfortunately, four key Democratic amendments were rejected by the Rules Committee. Mr. Honda's amendment would have authorized $140 million for the vitally important Advanced Technology Program for Fiscal Year 2006. Mr. Stupak's amendment would have also authorized $20 million for the Advanced Technology Program to hold a competition and issue awards for research to improve energy efficient and reduce domestic dependence on gasoline and heating oil. Clearly, this kind of amendment is desperately needed at a time when people can barely afford to heat their homes and still have money left over to buy food. Mr. Costello's amendment would have required the Department of Commerce to release all staff reports done by Technology Administration staff relating to the off-shoring of American jobs, an issue that has never been fully addressed. Finally, Mr. Carnahan's amendment would have struck the current language creating an Advisory Committee and established a Presidential Council on Manufacturing. It would have directed the Council to issue reports on selected topic areas and within 18 months issue a National Manufacturing Strategy. Clearly, these four amendments would have provided a more comprehensive approach to solving our manufacturing crisis. In essence H.R. 250 is simply an authorization bill for all of the programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, except for the NIST's Advanced Technology Program, ATP. H.R. 250 does authorize full funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, MEP, which is also a NIST program. With the exception of ATP funding, H.R. 250 is an acceptable NIST authorization bill. However, it purports to be a manufacturing competitiveness and innovation bill--in these goals it falls far short. Clearly, some of the provisions of this bill are positive in their intent, but they can be expanded without interfering with the core of the legislation. My Democratic colleagues have offered a number of good Amendments which should have been allowed through the Rules Committee in order to take in all points of view. Together this body could have truly enhanced the Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for his support and advocation for NASA and its work. I thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert); and of course the ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), for their leadership, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), chairman of our subcommittee; and of course the ranking member, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall). I am especially appreciative that we would come today to acknowledge not only the leadership of women but also NASA's contributions to America. So I rise to speak as well to H. Res. 441 and H. Res. 446. I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has been steadfast in reminding us of the importance of the involvement and the empowerment of women. Is it not exciting that we can rise today as the Discovery crew comes to the United States Capitol to be able to acknowledge that Colonel Eileen Collins was, in fact, the commander of this particular outstanding effort to return United States to space. One would wonder with Hurricane Katrina behind us and Hurricane Rita in front of us why we can stand before our colleagues to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of women to the safety and the advancement of humankind and Americans and as well that of NASA. And I say this: NASA equates to science and scientific discovery and advancement, and I am very proud to say that our lives have been made better by the contributions that NASA has made to society. We were told early on that the use of NASA technology could have predicted or maybe not predicted, foreseen, detected the tsunami. We know now that we have seen the constant repetitiveness of hurricanes that NASA will be a very strong partner in determining how we can better detect the coming of hurricanes and be more safe. So it is with great pride that I rise to thank Sally Ride, a neighbor in our community in Houston; Kathryn Sullivan; Christa McAuliffe, who lost her life in the earlier Challenger flight; and Judith Resnick; Mae Jemison, of course, who served as a role model for many, many young girls; Shannon Lucid; and of course Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark, who lost their lives in Columbia in the 2003 mission. But today we have a lot to celebrate because Eileen Collins and Wendy Lawrence were part of that great Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-114. With their leadership, we return to space; and I believe we return to the opportunities that space allows. I am always reminded, whenever we have the opportunity to salute what NASA does, to say that the research has generated successes in detection and cure of strokes, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, cancer. So we know that NASA is part of our society, and it has the ability to enhance our society. My congratulations to the Discovery crew, to the many women we honor today, such as Ellen Baker, Yvonne Cagle, Tracy Caldwell, Bonnie Dunbar, Anna Fisher, Marsha Ivins, Susan L. Kilrain, Wendy Lawrence, Ellen Ochoa, Judith A. Resnick who has passed of course, Sally K. Ride, Nicole Scott, and many, many others. It is for us to carry forth their dream by providing the support from the United States Congress but, more important, it is to announce that these women are leaders but also that NASA has laid the groundwork for this society and all around the world to be advanced to a better quality of life. My salute to NASA and to the fellow employees and as well to the leaders, women, who have taken us into space. I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. Res 450 which congratulates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Discovery crew. Let me offer my own personal congratulations to this brave crew who returned NASA to flight and made history in our Nation through the advancement of aeronautics. Being from the City of Houston, which is home to the Johnson Space Center, I take great pride in the accomplishments of NASA. I am proud to say that I was among the Congressional Delegation that was at Cape Canaveral for the anticipated launch. While the correct decision was made not to launch that day, this brave crew was able to successfully complete its mission. The launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery came more than 2 years after the tragic Columbia shuttle accident. The crew of the Discovery included astronauts Steve Robinson, Jim Kelly, Andy Thomas, Wendy Lawrence, Charlie Camarda, Eileen Collins and Soichi Noguchi. With implementation of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommendations completed, this crew of seven astronauts flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-114 to test new safety techniques and deliver needed supplies to the International Space Station. Two crewmembers, Steve Robinson and Soichi Noguchi, ventured outside the Shuttle three times on spacewalks. The first demonstrated repair techniques on the Shuttle's protective tiles, known as the Thermal Protection System. During the second spacewalk, they replaced a failed Control Moment Gyroscope, which helps keep the station oriented properly. Finally, they installed the External Stowage Platform, a sort of space shelf for holding spare parts during Station construction. STS-114 will also be the third trip of the Multi Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) named Raffaello to the Station. It's essentially a ``moving van'' that transports supplies to the orbital outpost. I have consistently stated that since the Columbia shuttle accident, safety must be our number one priority. All Americans can look proudly upon the achievements of our space exploration when they look upon the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Truly, we as a Nation have come a long way in the area of space exploration since President John F. Kennedy set the course for our Nation when he stated in a speech at Rice University in 1962: ``We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of preeminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war . . . The great British explorer George Mallory, who was to die on Mount Everest, was asked why did he want to climb it. He said because it is there. Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it. And the moon and the planets are there. And new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And therefore, as we set sail, we ask God's blessing, on the most hazardous, and dangerous, and greatest adventure, on which man has ever embarked.'' Our Nation has seen great tragedy and yet we continue to move forward because that is the only path that knowledge will accept; truly it is appropriate that this shuttle was named Discovery.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my fellow Texan for the time, and I rise to congratulate NASA and, of course, the Discovery crew for the outstanding work and for the history that they made. It is history for the United States to be able to return to space. Though, we have had a longstanding commitment, and NASA has been the agency and arm and focal point of Americans', if you will, fascination with space and science and the wonderment of exploration, it is important to celebrate this Discovery crew, not only because of Eileen Collins, but because of the bravery which they showed. One of the issues we have been grappling with and working with since the tragedy of both Challenger and Columbia is the issue of safety. Even in the most scrutinized of Space Shuttle Discovery, it was determined that there was a deficiency in the launch, and a difficult posture was set for those who were now on board and in space. The cool- headedness, the cohesion of the crew, the guiding hand of the commander and the work of the Kennedy Space Center staff and the Johnson Space Center staff and all of the others created this opportunity for a safe return. At the same time, I think what Discovery proved to us is that there is no measure we should leave, no stone unturned as relates to safety, and I look forward to my colleagues moving forward on hearings to address the question of how we can be even more safe and move more resources toward the question of safety and research. So my salute to the Discovery crew for what they have done not only for their places in history, but what they have done with respect to the United States return to flight and our first step toward the Nation's Vision for Space Exploration. We have now re-begun where we started in the 1960s, with CAMRA. We have never given up hope. We have never given up the light that space provides for our young people. Might I say that I am excited by the interest of our committee in working on funding sources to be able to encourage more young people in America to take up the sciences; more girls, and certainly boys, but an emphasis on young girls and young women to go into geology and biology and chemistry and the earth sciences and astronomy and to be able to be part of this new vision of science and exploration in the 21st century. I thank the Discovery crew. I thank them for their place in history. I thank them for the place in history they have put America and Americans, and I thank them for helping us return to our vision and that is the Nation's Vision for Space Exploration. Congratulations to all and to their families.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I never rise on this floor addressing the question of Hurricane Katrina without thanking all of the enormous outpouring from Americans of charity and concern, particularly commenting on my city and my State that have welcomed now almost 245,000 survivors into the State of Texas and now close to 100,000-plus in Houston, in my congressional district and other congressional districts in the area. One of the first things I did in visiting those survivors in the Astrodome was to apologize on behalf of the Federal Government. Each meeting I subsequently went to and each time I was able to touch a survivor or hear their story of pain, I again apologized for the complete collapse and ineffectiveness of our ability to deploy in advance of Hurricane Katrina, to be able to be on the ground with resources whether they be the National Guard or the military or FEMA or anyone else that might have contributed to the saving of lives or, in fact, providing the survivors with a pathway out of Mississippi or Alabama or New Orleans. So I accept and respect the apology and the acceptance of responsibility by the President, by the Governor and anyone else who chooses to do so, because the Federal Government is a safety net; and I think Americans understand that. But, Mr. Speaker, moving checkers on a checker board is not, in fact, a solution to our problem. So we cannot make, if you will, anew something that is broken. The idea of a commission similar to the 9/11 Commission speaks volumes for the accuracy and the responsibility that so many elected officials have spoken about. Be reminded that the 9/11 Commission working in a bipartisan fashion, equal numbered in population, if you will, reflecting different views, was able to bring out the dirty laundry but also the good points. They reminded us that one of the key elements of failure in 9/11 was the lack of interoperability. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee of the Congress, I believe a 9/11-type Commission for Hurricane Katrina would pay tribute to the survivors and deceased alike and provide America with the necessary truth!

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman's generosity. I understand his generosity and if he would allow me to conclude two or three comments about what I saw, I would be happy to accept a voice vote. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to put in the Record, why, if you are kind enough to accept this, this is so very important. As I spoke to the evacuees, what they said to me was that in the Superdome there were outright examples of rape and abuse of children. They may not have been the family members; but in that instance, if the family members are lost, an expedited foster care and an expedited adoption would be relevant. If in this instance of this law we can expedite those background checks and have this language in this bill, I certainly know that it would help the thousands of children that may be impacted. Let me conclude by saying that I hope, as I indicated before, that we will initiate a children's initiative to address the concerns of these children. But if this language is placed in this bill, at least they will have a placeholder that their cases will be expedited so that their lives can be put back in place and so that sex offenders will not be the ones to be adopting and/or have foster care of these vulnerable children. As was the case with September 11, Hurricane Katrina has left many children without their natural parents. Many kids are now wondering who will care for them and how their needs will be met. Not only is this enormous pressure on a child but it greatly diminishes the joys of childhood. My amendment would set forth a sense of Congress that background checks conducted as a precondition to approval of any foster or adoptive placement of children affected by a natural disaster or terrorist attack should be expedited in order to ensure that such children do not become subjected to the offenses enumerated in this act. While family members often step in to take care of children who have lost their natural parents, these family members usually only have limited resources and as a result, the child may be passed from family member to family member. As we all know, this can be a very unstable environment for a child. This amendment attempts to move the background check process along in a timely manner so these displaced children can enter a loving and caring family and get back to a normal life. As we all watched the devastating stories of Hurricane Katrina unfold, it was very disturbing to me to learn that several minors were raped while waiting to be rescued from the New Orleans Superdome. This is a prime example of the many negative situations that can arise as a result of a natural disaster which displaces children from their parents, or even causes the parents lives to be lost. As a parent and Chair of the Children's Caucus, I am very concerned with the well being of our nation's children. As natural disasters seem to be more prevalent in our society, we must begin to think about how we care for those children who lose their natural parents. This amendment is not intended to circumvent the precondition background check for approval of any foster or adoptive placement; it is only intended to speed the process up so we can get these displaced children with loving and caring families. In closing, just like most other States, Louisiana has an open and searchable sex offender registry. The primary party responsible in most communities for checking up on the status of sex offenders who have served their sentences but must register is the local police. However, the police and local law officials are swamped with the task of rescuing survivors and ensuring that every one gets out of the city. This makes it difficult to monitor the moves and whereabouts of registered sex offenders. In addition, as the citizens of New Orleans and other states wait for assistance in cities around the country, sex offenders are among innocent children who have lost their natural parents and are vulnerable. In these troubled times, let us not leave our children helpless. [September 4, 2005] I have a feeling I could be accused of a kind of insensitivity, or at worst a sort of obsessiveness by bringing this up now, but after reading about some of the terrible things that have been said to have happened in New Orleans after the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, this idea occurred to me in a kind of lightbulb moment. Sex crimes are part of war. War produces an anarchic mindset. So does a disaster on the scale of what we have seen in Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. Just as invading soldiers from various countries in the past have made sexual assault a part of their subjugating of a native population, so the criminals loose on the streets in New Orleans and even inside the SuperDome have made sexual assault another part of their overall orgy of violence. In the entry I wrote earlier today I wrote briefly of the horrific story coming out of the SuperDome of the rape and murder of a little girl, followed by the beating death at the hands of 10 men of the perpetrator. I began thinking about how many people must be unaccounted for in New Orleans and the surrounding region devastated by the storm. The number must be astonishing, just as we keep hearing the final death toll will be. Of the survivors who have made it this long and perhaps been able to get to refuge in other states, whatever procedures officials who run shelters in these states have in place for registering who stays there must certainly take into account the fact that many people left their homes so quickly and under such duress that they may have only the clothes on their backs--no identification, money, etc. Registered sex offenders, of course, are more closely accounted for than other citizens. Louisiana has an open and searchable sex offender registry just like many other states across the U.S. The primary party responsible in most communities for checking up on the status of sex offenders who have served their sentences but must register are the local police. As we know, it is all the New Orleans P.D. can do at the moment to maintain their number and keep cops from walking off or getting killed themselves. Just like everyone else, the cops have lost family, homes, in a sense, their lives. We can surmise that if the death toll from Katrina in Louisiana alone is as high as 10,000, as has been reported in the mainstream media, a number of sex offenders will have succumbed to the storm and its aftermath. We can also guess that if the larger portion of the population of New Orleans was able to leave before the storm, or has now been taken to refugee centers in surrounding states, a larger number of sex offenders are now not just out of the residence registered in the Louisiana offender database, but quite possibly off the grid completely and free to throw off what many of them surely must view as the shackles of having to register and have their faces placed on the internet next to a summary of whatever crimes they were convicted of committing. Of that number, a percentage will be considered what many states refer to as level III sex offender. The most likely to use violence in the commission of their crimes, and the most likely to re-offend. Click on the thumbnail inserted into the first paragraph of this blog entry to see a screen capture of a map I made at mapsexoffenders.com, the service that matches up sex offender databases with maps and satellite photos and marks the registered offenders' homes with a red balloon. The blue balloon on the large map you see when you look at the screen cap I made represents the city center of New Orleans. The red balloons, which you will see are numerous, represent all the registered offenders' addresses. As I said, some of those offenders are likely victims of this epochal storm just like many other residents of the Big Easy. But a larger number of them probably survived. Of those who survived, there will be some who truly are trying to live the `straight' life, and they will likely be dutiful in reporting their identities and true status as a registered sex offender. But there may even be a larger number who realize that a remarkable opportunity has presented itself.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to be able to cosponsor this amendment, and I thank the distinguished gentleman from Michigan for presenting this amendment on identity theft, and I thank the chairman. I think the key element of the purpose of this amendment which we present today is to realize that children are vulnerable. Documents have been lost, and now that we know that identity theft is as prolific, unfortunately, as Katrina was and the rain and the floods, these children need protecting. So I would hope we could work together. I would like to work with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) if this amendment could be accepted. As chair and founder of the Children's Caucus, I am very concerned with the well being of our Nation's children. Unfortunately, children have increasingly become targets for identity theft. Sharp rises in incidents of fraud involving children's Social Security numbers have been documented. Crimes using this stolen data are typically credit card fraud or the issuance of fraudulent driver's licenses. However, it is not too far fetched to think that the misappropriation of the personally identifiable information of a person who has not attained the age of 18 years could be used in a way that could bring about many of the offenses set forth in this act. The objective is to protect our children at all costs. My amendment would do just that by making it a crime to knowingly misappropriate the personal identification information of a minor in interstate or foreign commerce. The offense will be punishable by fines or imprisonment for not more than 10 years. Identity thieves often target children for these types of crimes because they are much less likely to notice that someone else is using their identity. Even infants have had their identities stolen by identity thieves. These crimes may be discovered only when bewildered parents get the bill. Some children never learn that fraudulent activity has taken place in their name until they are refused a driver's license because one has already been issued to their Social Security number. Worse still, some apply for student loans only to learn that their credit has been ruined. Sadly, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 percent of children in this situation learn that a member of their own family had actually perpetrated this fraud. Fixing these credit reports can be very time-consuming and particularly expensive for young adults just entering the job market. Victims now spend an average of 600 hours recovering from this crime, often over a period of years, at an average cost of $1,400. These crimes against unsuspecting and defenseless children are among the most insidious that can be committed because they rob children of opportunity. Instead, their entry to adulthood is a setback with massive debt, legal bills, and an extraordinary battle just to get a fair chance in life. This amendment provides stiff penalties to criminals who prey on a child's future. I would like to thank Mr. Conyers for offering my amendment and therefore I join him as a cosponsor of this amendment. After being detained in a meeting on Hurricane Katrina, I was grateful that my amendment was able to be offered by Mr. Conyers, the ranking member.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, there is not a time that in the backdrop of the tragedy of Katrina that I cannot rise and thank the many volunteers and supporters around the Nation and particularly my home town of Houston and the State of Texas. With that in mind, as I watched the evacuees come into the Houston Astrodome and the George R. Brown Convention Center, Mr. Chairman, one of the striking aspects of it was the enormous number of children, thousands of children. In fact, it is calculated that 300,000 to 400,000 children will be homeless and will be impacted by this tragedy. This very bill impacts our children by seeking to protect them. So I raise an amendment and a cause of concern that I would like to include and the specific language involved, making sure that the process of adoption and foster care can be expedited through the language of a sense of Congress, that background checks conducted as a precondition to approval of any foster or adoptive placement of children, affected by a natural disaster or terrorist act should be expedited in order to ensure that such children do not become subjected to the offenses enumerated in the Children's Safety Act.

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.