Hank Johnson

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, in the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia, there are many individuals who are called to contribute to the needs of our community through leadership and service. Jamaal Rashard Addison was born on October 7, 1980 and began his education in the DeKalb County Educational School system and graduated from Lakeside High School with honors. Jamaal Rashard Addison enlisted in the United States Army on March 1, 2000 and faithfully served this country until March 23, 2003, when he became Georgia's first fallen soldier in the Iraq war. This remarkable young man gave of himself, his time, his talent, and his life. Jamaal Rashard Addison was a soldier, a warrior, a father, a son, a brother and a friend. I was pleased to set aside April 28, 2007 to honor and recognize Jamaal Rashard Addison for his leadership and service to our country.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we've had Federal hate crime legislation on the books since 1968. It covered violent crimes targeted against persons based upon race, color, religion and national origin. Now we've got folks who don't want us to extend this hate crime legislation to those who would be attacked because of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of the victim, and this at a time, Mr. Speaker, when one in six hate crimes is motivated by the victim's sexual orientation. And yet today's Federal laws don't include any protection for these Americans. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. It is the right thing to do. It is the humane thing to do. Let's bring protection to those who need it now, 39 years later after the act was enacted.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, the emergency supplemental conference report that will come before this House today does three crucial things. One, it supports our military men and women; two, it sets benchmarks for the Iraqis to meet; and, three, it makes clear that the war will not continue indefinitely. Unfortunately, after 4 years, thousands of lives lost, and billions of dollars spent, the President continues to demand an open-ended commitment to our American troops being deployed on the streets of Iraq. President Bush says he will veto the emergency supplemental, ignoring the views of this Congress, the American people, former military generals and the nonpartisan Iraq Study Group. While he delays signing this bill, the President continues to claim that the resources for American troops will begin to run out later this month. However, the fact is that the Congressional Research Service confirms resources will be available well into the summer. The New York Times notes this week that the real obstacle to getting the money promptly to the troops would be the veto of the President. The President should support this important legislation which sends a message that this war is not going on indefinitely.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act of 2007, which corrects a 200- year-old oversight by restoring to the citizens of the District of Columbia the right to elect a Member of the House of Representatives who has the same voting rights as all other Members of the House of Representatives. Residents of the District of Columbia serve in the military. They are dying and being wounded on the streets of Iraq. They pay billions of dollars in Federal taxes each year and assume all of the responsibilities of United States citizenship. Yet they are denied the basic right of full representation in the United States House of Representatives. Now, a compromise has been reached by both sides of the aisle, but there are some who would deny the people of Washington, D.C., a right that they themselves enjoy. The District of Columbia was created to prevent any State from unduly influencing the operations of the Federal Government due to the Federal Government's being located within the confines of a particular State. However, there is simply no evidence that the Framers of the Constitution thought it was necessary to keep residents of this District from being represented in the United States House of Representatives by a voting Member. Now, there are those who would argue that Congress lacks the power to extend this right of full voter representation to the citizens of the District of Columbia. However, article I, section 8, clause 17 of the Constitution provides Congress with the legislative authority to give the District of Columbia true representation in Congress. I quote: The Congress shall have power ``to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding 10 miles square) . . .'' So let us stand with the thousands who marched down Pennsylvania Avenue Monday for one thing, full representation by Members of the House of Representatives for the District of Columbia.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, in the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia, only a few schools excel in competition on a State level that ignites a community. Under the leadership and guidance of Coach James Hartry, the Tucker High School Boys Basketball team has won a State Championship for the school, the city of Tucker and our beloved Fourth Congressional District. These Tenacious Tigers of Tucker have demonstrated the will to win, the courage to win, the mechanics of teamwork and the astounding spirit of triumph from a mental and physical battle. The 9th day of March, 2007 will go down in history as the day that our Tucker High School Boys Basketball team became the AAAA Champions of Georgia. The team exhibited great moral character on and off the basketball court through the halls of Tucker High. I was pleased to set aside March 31, 2007, to honor and recognize the Tucker High School Basketball Team for its victory for our District.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, after nearly 33 years of service with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Bob Keegan, deputy director of the Global Immunization Division, retired on March 30, 2007. Bob spent the first 11 years of his career in STD control, first as a public health advisor in Newark, NJ, and New York City; as STD regional training instructor in Atlanta; as deputy to Marty Goldberg in Houston, TX; and finally as the STD education specialist in Atlanta. From 1985 to 1990, Bob coordinated CDC's Refugee Health Activities in Southeast Asia, helping to assure that refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos were immunized and treated for communicable diseases. In 1991, Bob joined the newly formed Polio Eradication Activity, which had a staff of six and an annual budget of $3 million. Since that time, the Activity has grown to become the Global Immunization Division, GID, with a staff of 100, and an annual budget of more than $140 million. GID has expanded to include measles mortality reduction and regional elimination, and routine immunization strengthening. As the deputy director of GID, Bob has helped CDC become a major force in the global polio eradication initiative. Bob is a recipient of the William C. Watson Jr. Medal of Excellence, Public Health Advisor of the Year Award from the Watsonian Society, the Philip Home Award from NIP, and the CDC Foundation Heroes Award. Bob worked closely with the CDC Foundation, CDC colleagues, Rotary International, and partners to help establish the Polio Eradication Heroes Fund. This fund honors those injured or killed while working on vaccination campaigns with recognition and a cash award for their families. Bob also helped the CDC Foundation establish the Endowment for Global Health Priorities, providing a flexible funding source for essential services and equipment for CDC's global health activities. This endowment has been especially useful to support activities in the field. Although not part of his official duties, Bob is the developer and administrator of CDC Chatter.net, an unofficial blog for CDC employees. Bob is known as an innovative leader, a superb manager and creative trainer, and, at times, a rabble-rouser. He has served as an informal mentor to many and has gained deep respect and friendship from colleagues around the world. Not quite ready to put his feet up, Bob plans to ride his recumbent tricycle across the United States this summer before joining Gloria, his wife, in London where she will continue her career in school counseling. I congratulate him on his achievements.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, from April 28-30, 2007, more than 1200 students from across the country will visit Washington, DC, to take part in the national finals of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution, the most extensive educational program in the country developed to educate young people about the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Administered by the Center for Civic Education, the We the People program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education by act of Congress. I am proud to announce that the State of Georgia will be represented by a class from Chamblee Charter High School from Atlanta at this prestigious national event. These outstanding students, through their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, won their statewide competition and earned the chance to come to our Nation's Capital and compete at the national level. While in Washington, the students will participate in a 3-day academic competition that simulates a congressional hearing in which they ``testify'' before a panel of judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of constitutional principles as they evaluate, take, and defend positions on relevant historical and contemporary issues. It is important to note that results of independent studies of this nationally acclaimed program reveal that We the People . . . students have knowledge gains that are superior to comparison students. Students also display a greater political tolerance and commitment to the principles and values of the Constitution and Bill of Rights than do students using traditional textbooks and approaches. With many reports and surveys indicating the lack of civic knowledge and civic participation, I am pleased to support such a superb program that is producing an enlightened and engaged citizenry. Mr. President, the names of these outstanding students from Chamblee Charter High School are: Sara Arment, Teresa Bardagiy, Amee Chowdhury, Carol Coleman, Carson Dance, Petra Ehlert, Savannah Fox, Samuel Franklin, Elizabeth Hogan, Joseph Hutton, Martin Hwang, Jasmine Johnson, Jason King, Duncan Lien, Sang Oh, Laura Ownbey, Sally Phipps, Daniel Sok, Alexander Vidor, Kayla Vinson, and Xi Wang. I also wish to commend the teacher of the class, Stephen J. Rubino, who is responsible for preparing these young constitutional experts for the national finals. Also worthy of special recognition is John D. Hoge, the State coordinator, and John Carr, the district coordinator, who are among those responsible for implementing the We the People program in my State. I wish these students much success as they prepare to compete at the We the People national finals and applaud their exceptional achievement.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, simply put, I strongly oppose this war and have done so since its inception. I stand ready to do whatever needs to be done to bring this conflict to a responsible end--and I have been working toward that goal since the first day I stepped onto this floor. As a Progressive, my first inclination was to vote against this supplemental. I still believe it's important to loudly proclaim that this war should end, but I've come to the conclusion that a vote against this bill is not the most effective way to make that statement. Even though this supplemental does not push for an immediate end, it is our best hope in the Progressive struggle to bring our troops home and finally allow the Iraqis to determine their own future. I am also strongly supportive of the funds provided in this bill to fund the S-CHIP shortfall. Georgia's PeachCare program needs immediate relief and this bill will ensure children in need in my state continue to receive the health insurance we promised them, at least for the short term. Make no mistake, I do not consider this bill to be the final statement on the war in Iraq--or the PeachCare program for that matter. But it is a good start and I will support it today.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker: Whereas Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., was born in Ontario, Canada, July 30, 1950, to Bishop Clarence L. Morton, Sr., and Mother Matilda E. Morton; Whereas Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., was called to enter the ministry on February 24, 1967; Whereas Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., in 1975 was installed as Senior Pastor of Greater St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church to shepherd the flock; Whereas Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., with his wife Debra at his side, grew that ministry of 647 believers into a 20,000 member congregation with five places of worship now called St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church; Whereas Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., is dedicated to winning souls to the Lord, whether from the pulpit or as a world renowned author and singer of the gospel; Whereas Bishop Morton's sole purpose has always been to help people to reach their ultimate potential spiritually by teaching them how to develop a personal relationship with God and showing them how to operate in ``spirit over mind''. Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr.'s commitment to God is evident; Now, therefore I, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, Jr., United States Representative of the Fourth Congressional District of Georgia, do hereby recognize the celebration of service to God on this 25th day of March year 2007 with Bishop Paul Sylvester Morton, Sr., and the membership of St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today I rise for the third time this week to speak about Georgia's PeachCare crisis. This Sunday, in just 2 days, PeachCare closes its doors to new enrollees. And if funding shortages continue, it will close its doors to all children next month. The collapse of PeachCare will leave hundreds of thousands of hardworking Georgia families unable to provide health care for their children. This Congress and the State of Georgia cannot let this happen. I call on the Governor of Georgia to use available State funds, and there are some that are available, to reinstate new enrollment and to sustain this imperative program until Federal funding can be increased. PeachCare provides health care for our most precious and most vulnerable population: our children. It simply must be saved.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today I rise to call attention to the funding emergency that threatens Georgia's PeachCare. This is the third time this week I have stood here and announced that starting this Sunday--in just 2 days--no new children will be permitted to enroll. If no action is taken by Congress or the Governor, this program will run out of funding completely within the next month. And hard-working Georgia families will no longer be able to provide health care for their children. I call on the Governor of Georgia and my colleagues in this Congress to ensure these children get the care they need. I call on my colleagues and the Governor to save PeachCare. These children deserve healthy futures.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise again to address the impending crisis threatening Georgia's PeachCare program. In just 4 days, no new children will be permitted to enroll. The program will have a $131 million shortfall, and neither the State of Georgia nor the Congress will have acted to save PeachCare. As Members of Congress, it is hard to imagine our children being uninsured, yet thousands of children in Georgia face that harsh reality every day. That is unacceptable. No child should be without health care. Congress and the State of Georgia owe it to these children to ensure that the PeachCare program survives.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the immediate crisis in Georgia's PeachCare program. Georgia's SCHIP program is expected to have $131 million in shortfall this fiscal year. This shortfall has forced the Georgia Department of Community Health to announce that by March 11, in only 5 days, it will no longer accept new enrollees. This means that by next week nearly 300,000 children in Georgia will remain uninsured and unable to participate in this hugely successful program. The leadership in the Georgia General Assembly seems to think that eliminating some children from the program will help resolve the PeachCare crisis. The Governor has so far not stated publicly that he will use available State money to sustain PeachCare during this shortfall crisis. And Congress, for its part, has been unable to act quickly enough to appropriate the funds that Georgia and the other 13 shortfall States need. The Georgia General Assembly, the Governor, and the Congress must act immediately to save the PeachCare program. Georgia must continue to provide health care to children who are currently enrolled in the PeachCare program and to all of those children who are eligible for the program. Long live the Dixie Chicks.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the dire situation in Africa that does not receive the attention it deserves. Today, along with Senator Russ Feingold, I introduced a concurrent resolution that I hope will eventually bring some peace to the ravaged region of northern Uganda. Specifically, it calls on the Government of Uganda and the so-called Lord's Resistance Army to recommit to a political solution to the conflict in northern Uganda and to recommence peace talks that are vital. It also urges immediate and substantial support for the ongoing peace process from the United States and the international community. Mr. Speaker, the tragedy in Darfur rightfully has been receiving a great deal of attention as of late. But to the southeast of that region, another tragedy has been developing for nearly two decades. More than 200,000 Ugandans have died from the violence and disease brought about by the conflict between the Ugandan Government and the LRA. What is particularly disgusting about this conflict is the forced recruitment of children by LRA. The boys are turned into killing machines and the girls into sex slaves. Former U.N. Under Secretary General Jan Egeland has called the crisis in northern Uganda the biggest forgotten humanitarian emergency in the world today.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Charlie Norwood, a great servant of the people of Georgia. By now you have all heard about his life, so I won't spend much time on his extensive biography. But I do want to bring attention to what he would have wanted us to focus on above and beyond his legislative accomplishments, and that is his family. I did not get an opportunity to get to know Charlie, but I do know enough about him to understand what was most important to him. He was a man of high character and values, and so his family was very important. So I would like to mention and send my deepest condolences to Charlie's beautiful wife, Gloria, and his two sons, Charles and Carlton, who enabled him and made it possible for him to serve so honorably, particularly at times when clearly he must have not been feeling well. But he still persisted with his duties and responsibilities as a Congressman. It takes a lot to just walk these Halls from the office to the Capitol and back again, and he walked as long as he could, and then he started taking his wheelchair. So the man had a spirit to prevail over whatever obstacles might have befallen him. That is a spirit that each one of us can learn from and live by and do the best that we can, like he did. So in addition to just being a great human being, there were a number of legislative accomplishments. I will not go over those either, but I will say as a member of the Armed Services Committee, that I want to bring attention to his military service. He was awarded the Combat Military Badge and two Bronze Stars for his service in Vietnam. While I did not always or often agree with him on the issues, by all accounts he served his State and his district well. Georgia and this Nation have lost a great man, and I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize his contributions today.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, before I begin my comments, I must admit that it seems that our friends from across the aisle have forgotten what the subject of this debate remains. I was under the impression that we were here to debate a resolution opposing the President's so-called surge plan. Yet I keep hearing commentary that appears to be designed to distract the American public from the real reason that we are gathered for a conversation on our future involvement in Iraq. Let it be known, Mr. Speaker, that when it comes time to vote, Hank Johnson will be voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 63. Now, ``help is on the way.'' Those were the watchwords of a former Presidential campaign 7 years ago. Yet here we are, neck deep into the second term of the Bush-Cheney administration. And when one considers the current state of our military's readiness, our proud military's readiness, one has to wonder, where has the help gone? Where is the help? If this was the help that was promised us 7 years ago, at the current state of our readiness, I would be reluctant to see what not helping our fine military men and women would mean. I must point out that I, along with each of my colleagues in this distinguished body, do support our troops. But the issue at hand is whether, unlike campaign promises of the past, we intend to back our rhetoric with action. We are now engaged in a debate about committing more troops to what can only be described as an ill-conceived, poorly planned, and misguided attempt to bring some sort of stability to a region that has suffered terribly since the President first decided to go it alone and make his stamp upon history, for better or worse. Although I must admit, it has even become difficult to remember the exact reason the President used to justify his decision to take us to war in Iraq; but allow me to briefly summarize for you the reasons that the President has given the American public in his attempt to justify his decision to go to war. Number 1, weapons of mass destruction. There were none. Number 2, the nuclear threat. There was none. Number 3, links to al Qaeda. There were none. And yet now, when we debate the wisdom of sending more than 20,000 young men and women into battle in this so-called surge, we are expected to trust an administration which has been so consistently wrong. It is difficult to remember that we are in Iraq fighting for a war whose justification has not yet been justified at all. So at this point, when we look at the state of the readiness of our military, it has been called into question. Recruiting, the Army has failed to achieve its recruitment goals by 17.8 percent in 2006, and moreover, recruitment quality has suffered. The percentage of Army recruits with high school diplomas has declined. The above-average middle category test scores of our recruits have declined, and the number of recruits scoring in the lowest acceptable middle category has increased. Our retention rates are soft. We have got over 3,000 killed in Iraq, 20,000-plus wounded; meanwhile we are having problems with our equipment shortfalls, which are glaring in the combat theater, and also for our nondeployed personnel who are in the process of training to be deployed to Iraq and who cannot be properly trained without adequate equipment. Then we have got the issue of multiple deployments, people having been deployed three and even four times to the theater, but yet this President proposes to send an additional 22,000 troops, plus support personnel, into this civil war in Iraq, where we are simply sitting ducks and falling victim to ever more sophisticated improvised explosive devices, i.e., roadside bombs. This killing is continuing at exorbitant rates, and so this is what we are here to talk about with this resolution. It is important for the American public to know that we support our military. We definitely want to see them do the job that they must do. However, this troop surge is wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is time to send a message to the Bush administration that change is needed in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, the resolution we are debating this week here on the House floor is the first step in this new Congress' efforts to take Iraq in a new direction. Last November the American people were clear that they wanted a dramatic change in Iraq. The President's troop escalation plan is not what they were asking for. This week this House will emphatically voice its opposition to the President's plan. We hope that this serves as a wake-up call and sends the ``Decider'' a message that he can no longer walk over Congress. We are not going to rubber-stamp his plans any more. This week's debate is only the beginning, Mr. Speaker. House and Senate committees have already conducted 52 hearings on Iraq. That is what the Congress is supposed to do, provide real oversight on the administration. Unfortunately for the first 3 years of this war, congressional Republicans rubber-stamped the Decider's Iraq plan. Those days are over. Mr. Speaker, we have an obligation to find a new course in Iraq, and a military solution is now out of the question. And that is why this troop escalation plan should be defeated.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today we got word that a fellow Representative from the State of Georgia, Representative Charlie Norwood, has gone home to Augusta after battling cancer here in Washington, DC. at various facilities. And he has handled his affliction bravely, and he has been an example of a great fighting spirit. We wish his family the best, and he is in our prayers as he continues his battle. Today, Madam Speaker, I rise to give the people of the Fourth District of Georgia a voice in the debate on Iraq. Today, I introduced the first bill of my young congressional career, House Resolution 140. I look forward to presenting plans soon to directly better the lives of my constituents and others in need throughout this great country. However, the conflict in Iraq is consuming our time, thoughts, and funds; and people of goodwill must speak when given the opportunity, and this is my opportunity to speak. In order to move toward an end to the Iraq war, we need to push for two things: number one, ending troop presence, U.S. troop presence, on the streets of Iraq; and, two, securing the Iraqi Government. United States troops engaged in street patrol throughout the country expose themselves to massive violence, and it is arguably keeping this war going long past the time it should have been completed. Our troops are doing an excellent job, Madam Speaker, but the insurgents use their presence throughout the country to justify attacks on them, and actually 60 percent of the Iraqi people support those attacks against our servicemen and -women on the streets of Iraq. So why do they continue to be sent out into the streets of Iraq, into a world of explosive devices and sniper bullets without adequate armor? Madam Speaker, I am tired of seeing our troops lose their precious lives for this seemingly unending cause. So I am requesting in this resolution, House Resolution 140, that they be taken off the streets and allowed to focus on a mission that would truly help bring about an end to this war once and for all. Make no mistake, the job of hunting insurgents throughout Iraqi neighborhoods is noble, but this is a job for the Iraqis, not American troops who should be on their way home. The time has come for a new strategy, Madam Speaker, one that focuses on taking our troops out of harm's way and pressuring the Iraqi Government to finally take the mantle. Once that government is up and running, they will be able to put the Iraqi military into action; develop a plan to ensure Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds benefit from Iraq's vast oil resources; create jobs; and do the numerous other things necessary to bring peace to that troubled land. We must also consider the lives of millions of Iraqi civilians. Are the insurgents using our presence, the presence of United States troops, on the streets of Baghdad as an excuse to blow up neighborhoods? Would they be better protected if we significantly reduce our presence? I believe so, Madam Speaker, and it is another reason that the President and the Secretary of Defense should consider instituting this plan. This is a practical solution to that seemingly unsolvable problem. The use of the Iraqis will reduce war expenses as well, lessening the burden on the American taxpayer and bring about a quicker conclusion to this conflict. Madam Speaker, it is time to bring this war to a responsible end for the American people, for the Iraqis, and for our brave troops. And I will continue to do all I can to help make this a reality.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, today I rise to call upon this Congress to assist States facing overwhelming shortfalls in funding their State health insurance programs. In 1997, Congress created the SCHIP programs to help States provide health care coverage to the growing number of uninsured children throughout the United States. Ten years later, more than 6 million children have been enrolled in this program. They are going for annual check-ups to the doctor, and they are getting their prescription medications that they need. And they are also receiving care when they are extremely sick. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, this program's success is threatened by inadequate funding, and hundreds of thousands of these children stand to lose this health care coverage they have grown to rely upon. Federal funding has failed to keep up with the program's expanding enrollment. An inefficient allocation of these funds means some States are sitting on more than $1 billion of SCHIP funding, while 14 States, including my own State of Georgia, face severe shortfalls on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. This inadequate funding has forced some States to consider stopping all SCHIP medical services. Without help from the Congress, Congress will be unable to continue to provide health care for the 300,000 children enrolled in its Peachcare SCHIP program. Without increased Federal funding, these children will no longer receive their immunizations. They will no longer get their teeth cleaned, or their eyesight checked. And worse still, they will not be able to afford emergency room care in the event of a tragedy. Madam Speaker, terminating coverage for these children would lead this country further away from decreasing the number of uninsured children in the United States. Congress must act expediently to allocate Federal funding to those States facing SCHIP shortfalls. It must reauthorize the program to ensure that all six million enrolled children continue to receive health care. It must increase Federal funding so that more uninsured children can be enrolled in this program and get the health care that they deserve. I look forward to working with my colleagues from Georgia and other affected States to rectify this increasingly dire situation.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, last night President Bush unveiled a health insurance proposal that is nothing more than a tax hike on middle-class Americans. The President's plan would provide tax breaks to Americans who purchase their own medical insurance and would pay for it by taxing so-called high-priced health insurance plans. And just who is the President referring to when he talks about those supposed high-priced insurance plans? Paul Krugman of the New York Times writes, ``We're not talking about the wealthy, we're talking about ordinary workers who manage to negotiate better-than-average health plans.'' That's right. In the same year that the President is once against submitting a budget making his tax cuts permanent, tax cuts that go overwhelmingly to the richest of Americans, he is proposing to shift more of the cost of health onto working Americans. Mr. Speaker, this is not the way to solve our Nation's health care problems. This Democratic House will work and look at creative ways to reduce the number of uninsured without taxing the health care benefits of middle-class workers.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, last week something very disturbing occurred. President Bush had an opportunity to demonstrate that he understood the country's concern, he had a chance to finally articulate a clear plan for our country's engagement in Iraq. But, instead, the President chose to escalate our involvement in Iraq's civil war by proposing a substantial increase in the number of American troops there, about half of whom are based in Georgia. Mr. Speaker, our troops have performed with great courage. They have performed admirably in the Congress, and the American people will continue to support them and provide them with every resource that they need. But we need better leadership coming from the President and his War Cabinet. This new Democratic Congress is not going to give the President a blank check, and we will continue to demand answers to the tough questions that have not been answered. Rather than escalating our involvement in Iraq, I believe that any plan should focus on shifting responsibility to the Iraqis so that we can begin a phased redeployment. The American people want change, of course, in Iraq, and House Democrats intend to keep pressing the President to provide it.

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that my first public words on this sacred floor address an issue of utmost importance to the citizens of this great Nation. Today, we will be considering H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, to give 13 million Americans a pay raise. This is legislation which I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of. Increasing the minimum wage is necessary. It is a necessary step to help 38 million Americans living in poverty. Yet the Congress for almost 10 years has failed to assist this population by increasing the minimum wage to a decent wage. An increase in the minimum wage would help nearly 700,000 Georgia workers. As I understand it, Mr. Speaker, the majority leadership of the 109th Congress felt it necessary to award themselves a pay raise despite the fact that they worked just over 100 days in 2006. Given that more than half of Americans will benefit from this wage increase, I am looking forward to Americans getting a fair wage today and have this bill pass. Given that more than half of Americans who will benefit from this wage increase work a full week every week, it is time for this Congress to increase the minimum wage and give America's hardest workers a fair wage for a fair day's work.