Stephanie Jones

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. I rise today not only as a lawmaker but also as a former judge who tried many malpractice cases in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to voice my disapproval of H.R. 5, the medical malpractice legislation that irresponsibly limits what might be rightfully owed to an injured plaintiff. My previous experiences have taught me to respect the independence of our court and the jury system. Our judicial system must remain uninhibited in order to be effective. In direct contradiction to this fundamental democratic principle, H.R. 5 limits the capacity of a jury to deliver a fair verdict by capping the amount of noneconomic damages at $250,000. I say that the facts of each case should be able to control. Thomas Jefferson once stated: ``I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its Constitution.'' By handcuffing the jury, this Congress would be trampling on this democratic principle. Let me say that we can sit here on the floor of this House and talk about a number, $250,000. But it does not reach to a courtroom where we have an injured plaintiff who has the ability to put evidence on in the courtroom to say to the jury and to the judge that these are the facts of our case that deserve to have the law applied to it and have the jury render a verdict. It would be unfair in my mind as we look at the drug company advertisements. It used to be that the doctor would recommend the drug to the patient. Anymore, you turn on the TV and the TV is telling the patients, Get that purple pill; it will make a difference in your life. Why should we allow drug companies who spend millions of dollars to entice parties into getting a particular drug without knowing any information to be let loose or let go for these reasons. I say vote against H.R. 5, the medical malpractice legislation, because it is not what we need to help our plaintiffs.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York for this opportunity to be heard. Mr. Speaker, I rise today against CAFTA because the agreement not only lacks significant labor protections for workers in the CAFTA countries, but also lacks necessary support for American workers. Charity begins at home. Let us not talk about our neighbors' workers. Let us talk about our own workers. With international trade comes economic pain. The United States has lost 2.8 million manufacturing jobs since January 2001. In Ohio, we have lost 200,000 jobs. Past administrations and Congresses have acknowledged a relationship between international trade and domestic job losses by having created the Trade Adjustment Assistance program in 1962 and subsequently expanding it. The program assists workers who have lost their jobs due to international trade by extending unemployment compensation and providing job training. Training is arguably the most important TAA component, as education and learning new skills is essential to finding a new job. During the Ways and Means Committee markup, I introduced an amendment that addressed that problem in order to keep up with worker demand. Unfortunately, that amendment was rejected. Additionally, during CAFTA markup, the Senate Finance Committee adopted an amendment that would have expanded TAA. Unfortunately, that provision was stripped from the CAFTA legislation. So right now there is nothing in TAA or in this final CAFTA legislation to assist American workers that have lost their jobs. Even a provision that Chairman Thomas originally included in the bill is stripped from the legislation. That study would have looked into whether TAA should be expanded as a result of any negative effects of CAFTA. So I ask, where is the commitment to the American worker in the CAFTA bill? NAFTA, CAFTA, SHAFTA for American workers.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews), for offering this substitute. I live in the city of Cleveland. We have a great organization representing many of our smaller enterprises called COSE, and COSE has come together in an attempt to provide health care coverage to small businesses. I wanted to vote for a piece of legislation that will allow small business to have insurance policies for their people, but I did not want to vote for a plan that did not provide the same kind of coverage that everybody else has, meaning that it did not have to be responsible for State insurance regulations as did other policies. So by presenting this amendment, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) have offered me an opportunity to say to the small businesses in my community, I support you, and I want to make sure you can provide health care coverage to your employees. What is also of particular concern to me is that offering something that does not provide the same safeguards is like offering nothing. All we have to do is go back and look at the MEWAs, the Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement, I guess that is what they call them, the Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements, which have been used by employers as vehicles to provide benefits. The public record is filled with instances where they have failed, left employees and employers alike with unpaid medical bills. Mr. Speaker, the other thing that we have to look at is, and the prior speaker said something about subsidies, and you give them to people, and they do not get anything in return. We gave subsidies to the drug companies in the Medicare prescription drug bill, and they got money that they did not even have to use towards a prescription benefit. So do not talk to me about subsidizing anything. Let us make sure that the people of America and the small businesses have an opportunity to have health care. If we do preventive health care, we would not have so many people coming into hospitals with acute problems because they have not had any prevention. It is so wonderful that we have a substitute that offers coverage to small employers. Vote for the substitute and vote against H.R. 525, the Small Business Fairness Act.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all the women, particularly the African-American women who participated in the suffrage movement, in the 19th and 20th centuries. The historic women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848 first brought the issue of women's suffrage to the forefront of the women's rights movement. This conference ignited passion for women nationwide to pursue a right they have previously been denied for far too long. A second convention held in Akron, OH, in 1851, not far from my district in Cleveland, was equally historic for the powerful speech given by Sojourner Truth, entitled ``Ain't I a woman?'' Her rousing oratory and trying personal experiences provided a unique perspective to both women's rights as well as the institution of slavery. Another historic female figure, Harriet Tubman, spoke of her desire for women's rights while she was a slave runaway. Ms. Tubman, as many other African-American women, correctly recognized the hypocrisy in the patronage of women even after the abolition of slavery. The shackles of subservience still weighed down on African-American women at that time. Although the 19th amendment, which extended voting rights to include women, was not passed until 1920 the indispensable contributions from African-American women helped usher in the long overdue law. With the passage of this amendment came a big step toward the gradual deterioration of a system of patronage that has made the battle for gender equality an uphill climb. It gives me great pride to rise with the my fellow congressional colleagues to honor the women who fought tirelessly for this amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I just completed a panel discussion with Harper's Weekly about what happened in Ohio in election reform, and I just want to bring to the attention of the American public once again the need for this House to pass legislation that will provide for electoral reform, no excuse absentee balloting, holiday voting so that people can get to the ballot box and vote, an assurance that the head of a company who is involved in the process of computer machines will not have the ability to be the cochair of the campaign of someone running for office, the assurance that the Secretary of State cannot be Secretary of State and then have the responsibility of being a cochair of a campaign. Elections are so important in our country. We go across the world trying to assure democracy and freedom across the world. We need to make sure that we assure that every vote counts in the United States of America. I ask my colleagues to join me in signing on to the Count Every Vote legislation as well as supporting the same legislation in the U.S. Senate authored by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of a wonderful facility, the DFAS center in Cleveland, the Defense Finance and Accounting Services Center in the city of Cleveland, originally founded in 1942 as the Navy Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. It was renamed in 1955, and then DFAS was created in 1991, established six field sites in 1995, a reorganization in 2000, and unfortunately this year DFAS in Cleveland has become a victim of a BRAC reorganization. I am pleased to stand here today with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) from the Tenth Congressional District from Ohio, and we were joined earlier today by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) from the 14th Congressional District. And in that process, we had an opportunity to meet with the BRAC Commissioner. He was a wonderful general by the name of ``Fig'' Newton, who came to give us a site visit on this particular issue. And I am pleased to now engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich). Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, it is very interesting that today we had an opportunity to have a rally with the DFAS workers and more than 1,000 of these workers came out in support of keeping their jobs. I am confident that with the work that we will do that we will be able to establish in this BRAC hearing on Monday in the city of Buffalo that the city of Cleveland deserves to hold on to this facility and that the 1,200 people along with the 1,000 people in county jobs who facilitate these services will be able to stay on. I yield to the gentleman.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. And, reclaiming my time, the interesting thing about this BRAC facility in the city of Cleveland, it has developed a system for garnishment, which is one of the ways in which we are able to collect child support for young people across this country. They have developed a system for retired annuitant pay that is one of the finest systems in the country. It just seems to me that they could not be considering the economic situation in the city of Cleveland in deciding to take this BRAC on. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio to talk about that.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) for cosponsoring this amendment. Our amendment deals with the issue of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I am a former trial lawyer for the EEOC and also want to add the name of the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) as a supporter of this amendment. She would be here, but she had another piece of legislation to work on. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Virginia so much for the support he has given me with regard to repositioning of the EEOC, but the issue is so important to the people that I represent that I must continue to argue my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. As I said, I served as a trial lawyer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the Cleveland district office. As a part of that responsibility, we were required to oversee parts of Kentucky, parts of Cincinnati, and several other areas. It is very, very important that a sufficient number of workers are available to handle EEOC cases. The other thing that is so very important is the fact that training in the laws of EEOC are very important. It is my understanding that there is a proposal to put in place in area offices temporary workers to answer the phone who have no experience in EEOC laws or litigating or being able to advise persons calling in. That is the reason that I would offer the amendment that says that none of the funds made available in this act may be used to close or consolidate any office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or to make any reductions to the number of full-time officers or employees in any such office, or to reduce the number of full-time officers or employees serving as supervisors. Currently the caseload of the EEOC continues to rise at the same time we are reducing the number of workers available to try, litigate or even consolidate or settle some of these cases. I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), chairman, and other members of the committee for the support they have given me with regard to the EEOC, but I would continue to say this area is so very important, we cannot afford to sit down on the issue. Mr. Chairman, just for the record, I would like to thank my staffer Terence Houston for all the work he has done on this issue.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two very bright young men from the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio, Alec Lai and Atreya Rajagopalan. These two students from Hawken Middle School in Lyndhurst, Ohio received first place honors in the Exploravision Awards. Exploravision is a competition for students of all interest, skill, and ability levels in grades K-12. The purpose of the competition is to encourage students to combine their imaginations with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of a future technology. Alec and Atreya's project was titled ``Visible-Light Photocatalysis,'' this technology is intended to be used to clean and detoxify water and air, to create self-cleaning walls, and to prevent bacteria contamination and spreading. Their project was selected as a regional winner and then given the first place award for the middle level (grades 7-9) at the national competition. I am very proud to say that such creative young men from my district have been honored so greatly. They are part of the next generation of great minds that keeps our country leading in the field of new and profound ideas.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. On House rollcall vote No. 239, H.J. Res. 27 a bill ``Withdrawing approval of the United States from the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization.'' I voted ``yea'' on this vote, and intended to vote ``no.'' I am asking that the record show that I am supportive of he United States membership in the World Trade Organization.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Velazquez Amendment and in support of America's small businesses. It is vital that we as the United States Government do all we can to foster the growth of jobs in our economy. To accomplish this we must provide the businesses with enough affordable capital to start and grow. Mr. Chairman, this will create those jobs. I am sad to say that we have not done enough to help out the small businesses that need it most. Over the last decade we have drastically reduced the appropriated amount for the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program, in 1995 it was funded at nearly $200 million but last year a mere $79 million. Mr. Chairman, I am from Cleveland, Ohio, which at the moment is the most impoverished city in the Nation. Ninety-five percent of the private sector jobs are provided by small businesses, therefore the creation of jobs and the growth of our small businesses is vital to our economic recovery. The Small Business Administration's 7(a) lending program is essential for small business owners who cannot access capital through conventional markets. However, the program has been and is being underfunded and the burden has been shifting increasingly onto small business owners. Recent changes in the program have increased the fees to access the 7(a) program, which diminishes access of small business owners. The 7(a) program was created to provide capital to those businesses that need it most. By making the program more expensive, we are defeating its original purpose. I stand in support of restoring the FY 2004 appropriated level of $79 million. It is the least we can do to help small businesses grow in our country.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I concur with my Ways and Means Democratic colleagues regarding the United States continued participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO). I do not agree with House Joint Resolution 27 and withdrawing Congressional approval of the WTO agreement. Our society is becoming global. There is growing interdependence of countries, resulting from the increasing integration of trade, finance, people, and ideas in one global marketplace. So, as international trade expands due to globalization, we need a set of trade rules and an international body to enforce those rules--the WTO. The WTO, and its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, have opened foreign markets around the world for U.S. goods and services. This has created new opportunities for U.S. businesses, farmers, manufacturers, and workers. The U.S. economy is stronger because of the WTO. There are improvements, however, that can be made. There has to be better collaboration in understanding the relationship between trade and labor issues. We must ensure that core labor standards are enforced, particularly in developing economies. We must have more meaningful dialogue about environmental issues in trade discussions. We can accomplish this by fully integrating the work of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment into the work of WTO negotiating groups. Furthermore, the WTO needs to be fully aware of the vulnerability of our domestic steel industry. Ohio is the nation's leading producer of steel. China's strategy of undervaluing their currency, the yuan, and dumping steel into our domestic market puts Ohioans in danger of losing their jobs. Ohio manufacturers produced $4.59 billion in value-added steel production and processing last year. The steel industry generates over 110,000 jobs in the State of Ohio. We cannot compromise the strength of our domestic steel industry. The WTO must be cognizant of the trade challenges faced by U.S. steel manufacturers. I believe that the United States should continue to be a member of the WTO and remain committed to free trade. However, we must ensure that our domestic concerns are properly addressed within the WTO.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to the Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations, which would require that all information used by the Secretary of Defense to implement its current base closing recommendations be released to Congress, the public, and the BRAC Commission before any actions on base closings can take place. Mr. Chairman, first things first. Why are we proposing base closures during a time of war? This BRAC round should be delayed until the following actions can be completed: recommendations of the review of overseas military structures are implemented by the Secretary of Defense, a substantial number of American troops returned from Iraq, the House and the Senate Committee on Armed Services receive the Quadrennial Defense Review, the National Maritime Security Strategy is implemented, and the Homeland Defense and Civil Support Directive is implemented. In addition, all information used by the Secretary to determine base closings should be released to the Congress and the American public. It is important these be addressed before implementing the BRAC process because once a base is closed, it can never be reopened. Mr. Chairman, in the 11th Congressional District and in northeast Ohio, over 1,100 jobs will be lost due to the BRAC process. These job losses will have a tremendous economic impact on the City of Cleveland, which has been named the most impoverished city in the country. Now is simply not the time for BRAC, in Cleveland or around the country. Mr. Chairman, I realize the importance of the BRAC process; however, I feel that all information should be released in order for communities to prepare adequate defense tactics for future hearings. Now is simply not the time for BRAC. I commend my colleagues, the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth) and Senator Thune for introducing legislation to address this issue. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mrs JONES of Ohio

Mrs JONES of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, in closing, I am so pleased that Senator Snowe is offering a similar piece of legislation in the Senate with regard to data information on specific projects. I thank all of my colleagues for coming to the floor to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time in the name of the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I intend to withdraw this amendment, but what I wanted to have in the Record before I do the withdrawal is the fact that in many of the prior base closures there are still environmental issues that have not been addressed, that have not been remedied; and we really need to take a look at that as we go through the next round to make sure that the dollars we have allocated and the closures we have put in place under BRAC have been taken care of. Mr. Chairman, in order to ensure the movement of this legislation through the house, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.