Marcy Kaptur

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. I want to thank Congresswoman Edwards for her phenomenal leadership throughout her adult life on this issue, before she came to Congress and, obviously, now, a tremendous leader here on an issue of vital concern, and I underline the word vital, to America's families, to America's women, to those in tribal communities, to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities, to our immigrant families, to our immigrant spouses. Let me just say that I don't recall ever the Violence Against Women Act being controversial. We have always, on a unanimous basis practically, passed it year after year after year. But this year, House Republicans have decided that they want to make an issue where they shouldn't be an issue. How sad. Sort of devolutionist, trying to move America backwards rather than forwards. Every American should be free from fear. They should be free from abuse, and they should have equal protection under the law. The Violence Against Women Act does exactly that. And I have two cases I just wanted to briefly mention, one from my district, where a horrible crime occurred. A woman was literally dismembered by her spouse, and each body part was put in a different trash can in the western part of one of the counties that I represent. And I thought about the agony that that woman suffered, year after year after year, fear for her own life, and eventually it was lost, and not reporting this, not going anywhere, being completely consumed by the fear that eventually resulted in her death. No American should face that. And then I recall being called in our office by a gentleman saying, Marcy, you know, up the street from me, a woman has moved in with a man, and she's an immigrant from Russia. And my wife and I believe she's being beaten, but she's not a citizen. What can we do? How can we help her? This was years ago. This was a few years ago. And I think of these cases that have come across during my period of service, and I know how important the Violence Against Women Act is to reduce domestic violence in our country and give women and give individuals a place to go. Even today, since 1994, we know that domestic violence has dropped more than 50 percent. However, the other 50 percent is still there. And I see this, sadly, in the regions that I represent. And I'm not alone. But there's still a lot of people that don't know where to go. I recall one time traveling with then-Congresswoman, now Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. We were down at the border in Texas, and we went to one women's shelter with this gigantic electric fence around it to try to protect the women in those border communities for the violence that they were enduring. And so I want to thank Congresswoman Edwards for taking this lead tonight, to help to reauthorize this important program, to assure that we have adequate refuge for those who are living in fear in order to save their lives. My goodness. This is the greatest country in the world, and we know that statistics show 1 in 4 women, this is a shocking number, have been the victims of severe physical domestic violence, and 1 in 5 women have been raped in their lifetimes, many in the U.S. military. And I want to compliment Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her phenomenal leadership on that issue to try to get justice inside the military, as well as in civilian society. So I just want to say that I'm sorry that there are those who don't want to protect the lives of all citizens that live inside our borders, and immigrants that have come here who face tremendous obstacles of various kinds that many people can't imagine, but they're actually happening, and to make sure that all those within our borders are given equal protection under the law and justice and the opportunity to live in freedom without fear. So I want to thank Congresswoman Edwards for bringing us together this evening and for making such a tremendous contribution to doing what's right and what's necessary for our country. Thank you for leading us forward.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. I thank Ranking Member Van Hollen. Well, here we are again. America is still recovering from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and the Republicans don't seem to understand that we need to focus on job creation. Our economy has been producing private sector jobs each month for the last 2 years, in stark contrast to the Bush years. But today we're not debating job growth to balance the budget. We aren't considering a transportation bill today. No, that would create the most new jobs, making real investments in America by putting people back to work and growing our economy. Today we are debating nothing more than the latest political talking points for the Republican Party. We all know that this strategy is going nowhere in the Senate. So instead of focusing on economic growth and job creation, the Republicans have decided to protect their rich friends and slash the programs that the most needy in our country depend upon. While protecting the well-heeled, here's what the Republican bill does to ordinary families: Cuts health coverage for the least among us, 300,000 low-income children. The Republican bill slashes food and nutrition support for the unemployed and for struggling children and families. The Republican bill eliminates Social Services Block Grants, which give States and local communities flexibility to target funding for essential services like Meals on Wheels, preventing child abuse and neglect, and providing child care for working parents. The Republican bill wants to repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund established under the Affordable Care Act. And what does that do? It supports cancer screenings, including for breast and cervical cancer, immunizations, education, research, and prevention, which, in the end, saves the most money. Prevention saves money. If the Republicans were serious about putting our fiscal house in order, they would put forward a serious proposal that grows our economy and creates jobs to balance the budget and involves shared sacrifice. That's how you balance budgets--you grow the economy. I look forward to that day.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Congressman Lewis for offering this amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill. The amendment is designed to prevent the U.S. Department of Justice from closing and reducing its antitrust division field offices from seven to only three in a country of over 300 million people in 50 States. The Department of Justice literally and regrettably wants to, or is proposing to, close four of its antitrust field offices in response to budgetary pressures. This is partly because the Republican budget fails to provide the administration with the resources it has requested to carry out its basic mission. Under Republican leadership, the legal activities account, which funds the antitrust division, was 2.2 percent less than the administration requested for the fiscal year 2012, and that resulted in a 5.2 percent cut compared to fiscal year 2011. When we cut 5.2 percent out of a particular account that primarily funds salaries and expenses, there are consequences. However, congressional Republicans are not totally to blame. The President's budget says that the antitrust division is expecting an increase in caseloads and requested additional funding to administer the increase in caseload. Yet the administration wants to close over half the division's offices. What sense does this even make? Also, the antitrust division is a key participant on the President's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. How can the division be a helpful participant when it is reducing its footprint across our country? In one of America's poorest cities with lingering high unemployment-- Cleveland, Ohio--that Department of Justice antitrust field office is scheduled to be closed. I'm concerned about the impact it will have, first of all, on the administration of justice in the field of antitrust, but also on the employees, businesses, and consumers that serve us in the greater Ohio area. I'm very concerned for the hardworking employees in the Cleveland field office, one of the most efficient antitrust divisions in the country because its employees are so talented. Cleveland is a community that still endures high unemployment due to the economic crisis and its lingering effects. Why would we want to do this now? From my perspective, the amount of money the Department of Justice expects to save will not actually materialize because costs will increase elsewhere as a result of a reduced footprint across the country. The reality is we should be furthering our support for the antitrust division, not closing offices or cutting funds. As currently structured, the antitrust division is one of the most efficient Agencies within the Federal Government. Its base budget was $159 million. Yet from 2009 to 2011 the division's efforts resulted in $2 billion in criminal fines and antitrust violations. That's a seven-to- one return on investment. In addition, over the last two fiscal years, the antitrust division has been estimated to have saved consumers over $650 million as a result of its criminal enforcement efforts. Furthermore, the antitrust division successfully resolved 97 percent of its criminal cases in fiscal year 2011. Without question, the antitrust division more than pays for itself seven times over. It has an outstanding track record. We should leave its current structure alone. In fact, we should seek to strengthen it and get greater return to the taxpayer for every dollar invested. No matter what happens here today or tomorrow, I'll continue to work with the other body to protect the antitrust division's presence across this country and work to ensure that the employees in communities like Cleveland and the other communities are treated fairly, because in the final analysis, the American people need a robust antitrust division at the Department of Justice. Mr. Chairman, I support the Lewis amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Reclaiming my time, I want to thank the chairman very much for trying so hard and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to look at the return on investment in one agent exacting justice for the American people with a return of $54 million over 3 years per agent. That's an amazing figure. We owe so much to them. I thank the chairman very much for his openness, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. I would like to engage in a colloquy with Chairman Wolf. There has been a dramatic increase in financial and mortgage fraud as a result of the recent economic crisis, and additional resources are needed to protect the American people and exact justice for them. The FBI is tasked with upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of the United States, but it has limited resources in the areas of financial and mortgage fraud. In fiscal year 2011, the FBI had approximately 3,000 pending mortgage fraud investigations compared with roughly just 700 investigations in fiscal year 2005. Also, in fiscal 2011, the FBI had more than 2,500 corporate and security fraud investigations, representing a 50 percent increase since fiscal year 2008. Nearly 70 percent of the pending investigations involve losses exceeding $1 million. And according to the Department of Justice, the average return on investment for one corporate fraud agent was approximately $54 million over the past 3 years. That's an incredible return on investment. While I support hiring even more agents than the President does, the committee was only able to provide $6.61 million, less than half the request. During the Appropriations Committee markup, the chairman indicated he would be open to finding the necessary funds the President requested to protect the American people from financial and mortgage fraud, but the subcommittee's 302(b) allocation prevented him from doing so. The Senate version of this bill does fully fund the President's request. I ask the chairman to further elaborate on what was said in committee and inquire if the chairman is open to adding additional support should this bill go to conference.

Ms. KAPTUR. I would be very honored to yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. KAPTUR. I rise in strong support of the Michaud amendment to keep level funding for the Economic Development Administration, and I want to thank Congressman Michaud for offering this important amendment. He is a true leader in protecting American manufacturing jobs and businesses from unfair free trade agreements and works tirelessly to promote jobs and economic development here at home. I want to say to our dear colleague from Kansas, when you look across America--and I realize this may be just your first term--but, you know, the whole State of Kansas is held up by the Federal Government, all those agricultural subsidies, CRP, rural development, wetlands reserve, etc. When one takes a look at the whole Farm Credit Administration, for heaven's sake, not every community in America has those sorts of props under them. And agriculture is a success story. Agriculture is doing very well. We, in Ohio, understand that. But there are parts of Ohio that aren't covered by programs like your State benefits from. And that's where you need Agencies like the Economic Development Administration, in those corners of America that actually manufacture but may not grow things.

Ms. KAPTUR. I'll be more than pleased to yield to the gentleman when I finish. Madam Chairman, the Republican majority claims their priority is to create jobs and promote economic development. However, here we are today with an appropriations bill that drastically cuts resources for the only government agency whose sole mission is economic development. EDA's diverse portfolio of construction, technical assistance, finance and investment planning programs are designed to help communities build upon their regional assets to foster job creation and business expansion. Particularly at a time when banks are hoarding capital and not lending, EDA's capacity becomes even more important and vital. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave America's infrastructure a D grade and estimated that over the next 5 years, $2.2 trillion is needed to upgrade our Nation's infrastructure--ports, for example, to ship some of that Kansas grain. That's why I'm a strong supporter of EDA, and particularly of its Public Works program, which funds a variety of infrastructure projects that can help America address our aging infrastructure. I don't understand why Republicans don't want to help fund investments in America's infrastructure, the greatest job creator we can possibly have in this year of 2012. EDA's work is generating real returns. So the argument of being concerned with the deficit falls short when you consider EDA. Every dollar in EDA funding is expected to leverage nearly $7 worth of private investment. We've seen it in State after State after State. In fiscal year 2010, EDA created or retained about 48,500 jobs and generated nearly $6 billion in private investment. What a good story that is. Mr. Chairman, I support Mr. Michaud's amendment to restore EDA funding to FY12 levels, and I'd be very pleased to yield to the gentleman from Kansas for any comments he might have.

Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the gentleman. Let me just state for the record that the average return on investment for one corporate fraud agent was approximately $54 million over the last 3 years in fines and restitution that they get back for our taxpayers because of their work. What a tremendous return on investment that is for every taxpayer dollar, recovering those funds from combating financial and mortgage fraud makes total common sense. Finally, I oppose the provision in the bill that repeals existing prohibitions on reductions in force at NASA. There was an agreement we reached as a Congress on how to do that. This bill does not conform to that restructuring proposal. For these reasons, I oppose the bill in its current form and, again, commend Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for bringing us to this point.

Ms. KAPTUR. I thank Ranking Member Fattah for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I reluctantly rise today to oppose the fiscal year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill, but I want to commend Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for their truly diligent work on this bill. The bipartisanship shown during the markup of the bill was remarkable in today's political climate and a tribute to both Members' willingness to compromise in order to move legislation forward, doing the work we were sent here to do. I would also like to thank the Appropriations staff for their hard work on the first fiscal year 2013 bill the House will consider. From my perspective, the Appropriations staff is the hardest working committee staff in Congress and deserves recognition for all their efforts. Mr. Chairman, the legislation we are considering today fails to make the necessary investments to promote economic growth in jobs across this country. It also fails to provide significant resources for law enforcement officials, particularly local law enforcement, as they face difficulties from austerity cutbacks by State and local governments. The total funding for this bill is the result of the Republican leadership breaking the agreement made in the Budget Control Act. The agreed-upon funding levels were an attempt to get our fiscal house in order in a fair and balanced way. It is unfortunate that the Republicans are going back on their word and slashing funding for programs that create jobs and support law enforcement. Importantly, funding cutbacks for the Economic Development Administration fail to meet President Obama's request for that important initiative to strengthen America's manufacturing base. In addition, the underlying bill fails to provide State and local law enforcement with the Federal support they deserve. Cutting nearly $400 million from State and local programs at the Department of Justice is not only unacceptable but dangerous, in my view. A particular concern for me is the lack of resources provided to meet the President's request for additional funding to combat financial and mortgage fraud. The President requested additional resources for the FBI, the Criminal Division, Civil Division, Civil Rights Division, and U.S. Attorneys. Less than half of the funding requested for the FBI is provided in this bill. No other funding is provided to investigate and prosecute financial and mortgage fraud.

Ms. KAPTUR. I'm really glad the gentleman stated that because, as a member of the Defense Subcommittee, I know exactly where the R&D comes from for fighter aircraft, for all of our support craft, for all of our Air Guard, and I know how the commercial sector benefits and why we lead the world in terms of airline exports and so forth. But that doesn't abrogate the argument, that doesn't nullify the argument I offered that the whole State of Kansas is doing very well and has a very close relationship to the Federal Government. Agriculture achieves a special place in this economy, but that's not true in many other sectors, and particularly where we're talking about aging infrastructure, which belongs to all of us. EDA is really vitally important. It's an important ingredient in helping us to modernize coast-to-coast. So I just want to say to the gentleman from Maine, thank you so very much for keeping the program level. We're not talking about egregious spending here. We're talking about trying to help to rebuild this country. And we know the most important investment we can make in order to create jobs in this country--after assuring unemployment benefits for those out of work, which gets spent immediately in the economy--is investment in infrastructure. It's too bad that the Republicans can't seem to move a highway bill, a transportation bill out of this Congress. That would be the best thing we could do to create more jobs in this country in the year of 2012. But in any case, passing the gentleman's amendment to fully fund EDA makes common sense and it certainly makes job sense. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the amendment by Congressman Davis to H.R. 5326, the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2013 Appropriations bill to provide the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with the resources it requested for Second Chance Act programs. First, I want to thank Congressman Davis for offering this amendment. He is the champion of helping offenders reenter the community and our country is a better place because of Mr. Davis's efforts. Second Chance Act programs provide employment assistance and job- skills training, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, family- based programming, individual and group mentoring and victim support for offenders reentering their communities. The Republican CJS Appropriations Bill shortchanges Second Chance Act programs by $10 million but provides $95 million more than DOJ requested for other programs. There is clearly money available to fully fund Second Chance Act programs. We should be fully funding Second Chance Act programs because the number of individuals in prison and jails is at an all-time high. Federal and state corrections facilities held one of every 201 U.S. resident in 2010 or 1.6 million individuals. These individuals will eventually come back into the community and Second Chance Act programs can help them with this transition so they do not end up back in prison. Studies show that more than four in 10 offenders returned to state prison within three years of their release. However, Second Chance Act programs have proved to help reduce this rate and we need to keep the momentum going by providing full funding in FY 13. We need to do everything we can to help these individuals stay out of prison not only because it is the right thing to do but also because the cost of incarcerating people is ballooning. If current trajectories continue, state and federal prisons will grow by 13 percent by 2013, adding an additional 192,000 prisoners at a cost of $27.5 billion. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Davis's amendment.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, right now, student loan debt is higher than credit card debt for the first time in history. College costs are growing each year, forcing students to take out more loans to get the same education--an education that gives them the keys to the American middle class. And the Republican's response? Play political games that could result in interest rate hikes from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on July 1 for student loans, affecting over 7 million students, making the average graduate pay an additional $1,000 in interest payments each year if rates are allowed to double. Ohio students alone will end up paying nearly $300 million in extra interest payments over the next year. Recent graduates have high unemployment rates and are the least prepared to deal with these increased payments. But House Republicans are content to plunge them deeper into debt while instead fighting for more tax breaks for millionaires, many of whom pay lower rates than the middle class. It's time for Republicans to come to the table and compromise. It seems logical that Congress would not stand in the way of making college more affordable by doubling the interest rates of college loans, but the Republican Party in this House is not acting logically. What a crying shame.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, our Nation's ports are critical drivers for local economies and I am disturbed by the chronic underfunding of maintenance activities to allow for their maximum efficiency. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund was set up to address this growing concern and I continue to support the full expenditure of those funds for this purpose. In my part of the country, thousand foot Lakers carry the iron ore, limestone, coal, and sand that support the manufacturing industries, which employ thousands of hard working Americans. Without efficient, reliable shipping through ports like Toledo, Cleveland, Sandusky, and Lorain, those plants could not afford to do business in the United States. These ships are also carrying millions of tons of grain and other food commodities that make dinner affordable for our working families, and they are helping American farmers reach other countries, helping to balance our trade deficit. Thriving ports make this all possible. And shipping itself directly supports nearly 50,000 jobs in the Great Lakes region alone. Nationally, that number is much higher. Unfortunately, American shipping is at risk. Huge backlogs in dredging maintenance are causing ships to operate at reduced capacity or overlook some ports where navigation has become impossible. Insufficient maintenance is undermining our national competitiveness. While the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund collects critical revenue to keep our ports and waterways open, only half those funds are currently spent. Those critical dollars should be fully expended for their intended purpose, keeping our ports open for business. I am a cosponsor of the RAMP Act and rise in support of the Boustany Amendment. I hope to continue working with Representative Boustany and other colleagues as we move towards a final bill to ensure that this critical issue of Harbor Maintenance is included.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. I thank Ranking Member Van Hollen for yielding the time and stand to say that jobs need to be America's number one priority. The Republican budget shows, once again, that Republicans don't have a jobs agenda. You balance family and national budgets by creating jobs and putting people back to work. We still have over 12 million Americans looking for work, and that doesn't even include those who have fallen off benefits or are looking for work but can't find full-time employment. I said when we marked up this bill in committee, and I will say it again, this Republican budget completely ignores the President's jobs agenda. Instead, Republicans, incredibly, criticized Democrats for taking the steps that helped save the U.S. auto industry and millions of related high-paying manufacturing jobs. Republicans opposed the payroll tax extension for middle class Americans, which will help keep demand up so that businesses can hire more workers. Republicans are pushing for irresponsible cuts that economists have warned will hurt the economy and job creation, and Republicans proposed a partisan transportation bill that would bankrupt the highway trust fund and destroy thousands of jobs. In committee, we couldn't even get the Republicans to support a modest Veterans Jobs Corps to create 20,000 jobs for our vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. I raised this situation with President Obama during one of his Ohio visits and shared with him H.R. 494, a bill I've drafted, and the President saw a need to create jobs, and his administration asked Congress to do this for our returning vets. The Republican majority has said no to our veterans as thousands and thousands of them return and remain unemployed. I ask my colleagues to reject the Republican budget, support the Democratic alternative, and put our economy first. Job creation for all Americans must be our top priority and is the first step in beginning to balance our budget which requires a growth economy.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, once again, Republicans in the House have put forward a budget that ends Medicare as we know it. This is an all- out Republican assault on Medicare and our Nation's middle class. Who benefits from this Republican budget? Millionaires certainly do. Think Wall Street Bonus Boys. This Republican budget would give them an additional tax cut of $187,000--that's for starters--yet lower and middle class Americans, people making $20,000 to $30,000 a year, they get no tax cut at all. This Republican budget also gives away $3 trillion in tax cuts and benefits to corporations. Republicans' real priorities: cutting the safety net, giving the superrich a handout, and ignoring the damage to the deficit. The Republicans would end the promise of Medicare for both current and future beneficiaries by shifting the program to private insurance financed by vouchers. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says that the Republican budget would reduce benefits to seniors and force many to spend much more than they do today. Why are the Republicans so intent on making seniors sacrifice first? Why not claw back Wall Street's bonuses? I urge my colleagues to vote against the Republican budget. Support the Democratic alternative. Protect seniors and our middle class.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this month, the world laid to rest a holy and wise spiritual leader, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic Seat of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and head of The Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, who passed from this life on March 17, 2012. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III presided more than 40 years over a worldwide expansion of the Coptic Orthodox Church. During his papacy, he appointed the first-ever bishops to preside over North American dioceses. When His Holiness became pope in 1971, there were only four churches in North America. Today there are over 100. Pope Shenouda III was well known for his deep commitment to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue. He believed that Christian unity was a matter of faith rather than of jurisdiction. In 1973, Pope Shenouda III became the first Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria to meet the Roman Catholic Pope in over 1500 years. In this visit, Pope Shenouda III and Pope Paul VI signed a common declaration on the issue of Christology and agreed to further discussions on Christian unity. He led dialogues with various Protestant churches as well as Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders worldwide. In an address he gave at an ecumenical forum during the International Week of Prayer in 1974, he declared, ``The whole Christian world is anxious to see the church unite. Christian people, being fed up with divisions, are pushing their church leaders to do something about church unity and I am sure that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us.'' A biographer aptly described Pope Shenouda III as ``A distinguished and prominent religious leader, a profound theologian, a gifted preacher, a talented author, a spiritual father, a man of God his entire life. He devoted his writings, teachings and actions to spread and propagate for the rules of understanding, peace, dialogue and forgiveness.'' I had the unforgettable honor of meeting Pope Shenouda III as our local Coptic Christian Church in Northern Ohio was being constructed. He was a man of immense faith, great humanity, and deep intellect. When I asked him about future unity among various faith confessions, I will never forget his steady, strong countenance as he advised me ``that would take love.'' He was a very profound man. President Obama called Pope Shenouda III ``a beloved leader of Egypt's Coptic Christians and an advocate for tolerance and religious dialogue,'' and said he will be remembered ``as a man of deep faith, a leader of a great faith, and an advocate for unity and reconciliation.'' The faith community around the world and people of good will everywhere joins the Coptic Orthodox Church in mourning the passing of Pope Shenouda III from this life. We extend our sympathy to church members worldwide and in our own community. His contributions to world understanding and bridging horizons yet unmet will flower in decades hence. May God bless his soul and allow his unfinished work to progress in his memory. [From The New York Times, Mar. 20, 2012] Thousands Mourn Coptic Pope in Cairo (By Kareem Fahim) Cairo--In front of a tearful crowd of thousands including members of Egypt's emerging political class, a funeral service was held on Tuesday for Pope Shenouda III, the popular and charismatic leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, who died on Saturday. The pope's body lay in an open white casket through the emotional two-hour ceremony in St. Mark's Cathedral, where he was remembered as a ``wise captain'' who built bridges to Muslims and other Christian denominations and who strengthened the identity of the church, especially among its younger members. Hundreds more people stood outside the cathedral, unable to gain entry to the invitation-only service. The scene turned to pandemonium later in the day when thousands of people mobbed a van carrying the pope's body to his burial site, in a monastery in northern Egypt. Red-faced military policemen wrestled with mourners carrying the pope's portrait who were straining for a last glimpse of him through the dark windows of the white van. The flood of grief for the only pope many Egyptian Copts had ever known--he was enthroned in 1971--underscored feelings of unease that many Christians have felt in the ongoing tumult of Egypt's political transition. Roughly 1 in 10 Egyptians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, which was founded in the first century and was the majority religion here before the coming of Islam. In recent years, long-held complaints about anti-Coptic discrimination have been replaced by deeper fears that Islamist parties will further marginalize the Christian population as they try to refashion Egypt into a more observant Muslim state. For most of his four decades as patriarch, Pope Shenouda managed a delicate balancing act, strongly supporting President Hosni Mubarak in exchange for a measure of protection as the pope strengthened the church's power and reach. He was broadly popular among Egyptians, and was especially well-known for his wit. He was also seen as rigid defender of a conservative church, and some Copts faulted him for resisting reform. Criticism of Pope Shenouda's relationship with Mr. Mubarak became more pronounced after the popular uprising against Mr. Mubarak's rule took hold in January 2011, with attacks on churches and Coptic protesters, by hardline Islamists and the government's troops following behind. Since the pope's death, though, that criticism has been laced with sadness. ``I don't disagree that he interfered with politics,'' said Mina Samy, a 30-year old physician outside St. Mark's on Tuesday. ``But when he spoke, he did it for Egypt's best interest, not for his personal interests, like others do. ``I'm hoping for another copy of him,'' he said. ``Nothing is too much for God. He was a great scholar, and he led the church through major crisis. He left us at a time when Egypt needed him.''

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this week, the world laid to rest in the Egyptian desert a holy and wise spiritual giant, Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Pope of Alexandria and the patriarch of all Africa of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He passed on March 17. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III presided more than 40 years over a worldwide expansion of the Coptic Orthodox Church. During his papacy, he appointed the first-ever bishops to preside over North American dioceses. When His Holiness became Pope in 1971, there were only four churches in North America. Today, there are over 100. He championed a deep commitment to ecumenism interfaith dialogue, not just with Catholic groups--meeting the Roman Catholic Pope of Rome for the first time in over 1,500 years in the year of 1973--but he joined with Protestant churches as well as Islamic leaders and Muslim clerics. He was a man for the world. I had the honor of meeting the Pope at our local Coptic Christian church when it was being constructed. He was a man of immense faith, unforgettable. I never will forget his steady, strong, peaceful countenance when I asked him what it would take to achieve unity among the faith confessions, and he said: It would take love. His contributions to world understanding and bridging horizons yet unmet will flower in decades ahead and progress will move forward in his memory. [From the New York Times, Mar. 17, 2012] Coptic Pope Dies in Egypt Amid Church's Struggles (By Kareem Fahim) Cairo.--Pope Shenouda III, who led the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt for four decades, expanding the church's presence around the world as he struggled, often unsuccessfully, to protect his Christian minority at home, died on Saturday after a long illness, state media reported. Pope Shenouda, who was 88, had suffered from cancer and kidney problems for years. His death comes at a time of rising fears for Egypt's to million Coptic Christians, who have felt increasingly vulnerable since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak and amid attacks on churches by hard-line Islamists and repression by Egypt's security forces. The rise to power of conservative Islamist parties has also raised concerns that Egyptian national identity is becoming more closely bound to Islam. ``It's an injection of uncertainty for Copts at a time of transition in the country,'' said Michael Wahid Hanna, a fellow at the Century Foundation. ``Whether people were fond of him or not, this will cause anxiety.'' On Saturday night, hundreds of Coptic Christians gathered at Cairo's main cathedral to grieve. Samir Youssef, a physician, called the pope ``an intellectual, a poet--strong, charismatic.'' ``On a personal level, I'm worried about the future. I think there will be a conflict, the same chaos that followed the 25th of January,'' he added, referring to the start of the uprising last year. In a statement, President Obama praised Pope Shenouda as a beloved ``advocate for tolerance and religious dialogue.'' Egypt's interim rulers, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, called on Egyptians to ``come together in solidarity and be tolerant, to take Egypt toward security and stability.'' Pope Shenouda, who became patriarch in 1971, was known as a charismatic, conservative leader for Egypt's Copts, who make up about 10 percent of the population in the majority Sunni nation. He filled a leadership vacuum as Copts--along with most Egyptians--retreated from public life under authoritarian rule, and he expanded the church's reach, especially in North America. At the same time, he was criticized for what were seen as his autocratic tendencies, which stifled internal church changes, and his support for Mr. Mubarak's government, given in return for a measure of protection that Copts increasingly felt was insignificant. The failure to distance the church from Mr. Mubarak led to greater disillusionment with the pope after the revolution, especially among younger and more secular Copts. Pope Shenouda was born on Aug. 3, 1923, as Nazeer Gayed in the city of Asyut, Egypt, according to a biography of the patriarch posted on the church's Web site. He attended Cairo University and became a monk in 1954. In 1981, Pope Shenouda was sent into internal exile by President Anwar Sadat, with whom he clashed after complaining about discrimination against the Copts. Mr. Mubarak ended that exile in 1985, with an informal understanding that Pope Shenouda would be less vocal in pointing out discrimination, according to Mariz Tadros, a researcher at the University of Sussex and the author of a forthcoming book on the Copts. That understanding was severely strained in the past decade after a series of deadly clashes between Copts and Muslims, and charges that the state, and especially its security services, stoked the sectarian divide. After 21 people were killed in a church bombing last year, some Copts criticized the pope for not confronting the government. The Coptic Church's own policies, including its almost total ban on divorce, have also increased tensions. Some have left the church specifically to divorce, either choosing another denomination or officially converting to Islam, then sometimes converting back after the split. The conversions have incited rumors that have led to episodes of Muslim-Christian violence. The next pope will face a growing desire among many Copts to expand the community's leadership, analysts said. Under Pope Shenouda, ``the church became the de facto political representative of the Copts,'' Mr. Hanna said. ``That became increasingly problematic.''

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, first, I join with my female colleagues in supporting full health coverage for every single woman in our Nation. I also rise to condemn the actions of Syria's Assad government, which are truly appalling. America and this House should not be sitting silent as thousands of Syrian civilians are slaughtered by their government. Assad is not a man of peace, as some in this body have asserted. He is an international war criminal. His blood-stained hands should be shunned the world over. The United Nations now believes that over 100 civilians are being murdered daily, including women and children. Estimates vary as to how many civilians have been killed since Assad's regime launched its brutal crackdown down on peaceful demonstrators in Syria in the spring of last year. CNN is reporting as many as 9,000 people have been killed in the last year, yet the leadership of this House remains silent. The Senate passed a resolution in mid-February. Why haven't we? I and my colleague, Congressman Keith Ellison, have introduced a resolution identical to the bill the Senate just passed on a bipartisan basis. And I urge my colleagues to speak out against the unspeakable violations that take place every moment. Doing right is long overdue. Let's stop the horrors and mobilize the world to stop the killing.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this week in Washington is Great Lakes Week. It could not come at a more important time. Last Thursday, the Administration released the 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, which is important in establishing the fight to protect our Great Lakes against invasive Asian carp that threaten our $7 billion fishing industry. No lake is more important than Lake Erie--The largest fishery on the Great Lakes. We should be thankful that President Obama is elevating Asian carp as a priority. I encourage him to do more to stop the carp from migrating into our precious ecosystem. Last month, another important study was released, outlining a necessary path forward to separate our Great Lakes from the Mississippi watershed. This is the only real solution for stopping the enemy at the gate. For the same reason, I am a cosponsor of the Stop Asian Carp Act, which calls for that barrier to be built now, not delayed for over a decade. Too much is at risk. I represent the largest portion of costal Ohio along Lake Erie-- which contains more native fish than all the other Lakes combined. We must protect this valuable ecological treasure, and the local multi- billion dollar economy it supports. This involves the lake itself, the maritime industry, coastal tourism, recreation, wildlife refuges, energy protection, industrial plants and so much more. These endowments extend far beyond Asian carp. This year, lakeside communities again are grappling with an expanding algal bloom that can be poisonous if ingested, creates biological dead-zones, and just plain stinks. Residents stay inside to avoid the putrid smell, charter boat captains suffer as fishing declines, and hotels and restaurants in popular vacation spots sit empty as travelers take their recreational dollars elsewhere. Under the Western Lake Erie Basin Partnership, I have brought together researchers, non-profits, and local-residents to work with federal agencies including the EPA, Department of Agriculture, and Army Corps of Engineers to address this huge challenge. Under President Obama, many of these efforts were integrated into a new program called the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is proving effective at addressing the enormous needs facing our Great Lakes. Through the GLRI, specific areas of concern like the Cuyahoga, Maumee, and Black Rivers are receiving much needed federal dollars to improve these watersheds. After years of work to develop the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, the GLRI is helping expand their efforts in wetland habitat restoration and enhancement. In the Black River, we are removing steel mill slag and restoring habitat for native fish species. This fall in Sandusky, we dedicated a new research vessel for Lake Erie--The ``USS Muskie.'' And, the University of Toledo is undertaking a study to assess the benefits provided by a newly created wetlands to prevent agricultural runoff that can produce algal blooms and increase nearshore health concerns, such as e coli and other bacteria. I, along with a broad range of costal stakeholders, continue to work closely with the agency officials to ensure that the most fragile Great Lakes ecosystem--Lake Erie--receives funding levels in line with the great need. And, it is essential that our Great Lakes delegation work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that we continue sufficient funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative America has done so much to help certain areas like the Everglades and expanses of Alaska that few Americans will ever get to enjoy. More than one quarter of our country lives in a Great Lakes state and depends on healthy lakes for water, farming, business and pleasure. During this Great Lakes Week, and throughout the upcoming months in which we will determine our spending priorities, I urge my colleagues, especially those in our region who have not already gotten on board, to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other programs to protect these national and global treasures for today and tomorrow.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my sisters in the State of Ohio--women elected officials, small business owners, women activists across our State--to speak out against attacks on the ability of women to get full health coverage in this country. Imagine, we can land an astronaut on the Moon, we can target and eliminate Osama bin Laden, but we can't seem to figure out as a society how to make sure that women have full health choices in the insurance programs of our country. It seems that some people just want to keep women in the corner and not see the struggles that they have had in preventive health care, in full choice for the medications that they take in order that they be able to live full and productive lives. You know, our grandmother had 16 children. Several of them died. She lived to the age of 93. In those days, there were almost no medications, and more women died in childbirth than soldiers were lost in World War I. I think the world has moved beyond closed thinking on women's health. I stand with my sisters in Ohio.

Ms. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, entrepreneur Tim Kiedrowski grew up in Lorain, Ohio and is a proud 1973 graduate of Admiral King High School, named for Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King, a Lorain native and Chief of Naval Operations during WWII. Tim was a drummer in the Admiral King (HS) Admirals band, as well as in numerous local rock-n-roll bands. Shortly after his high school graduation, in search of employment, Tim was hired by Leonard DeLuca, the owner of DeLuca's Bakery in Downtown Lorain. Len soon entrusted Tim with the responsibility of opening the bakery every morning to start the preparation of baked goods for the day. Tim continued to work at DeLuca's Bakery until 1975 and continued playing drums in area bands. Tim married his sweetheart, Terri Girz in 1977, and wanting more job security, he became a welder for P.C. Campana, Inc. in 1975 until 1981. A downturn in the local economy caused many layoffs, and Tim was one of the casualties. Terri continued her work as an OB-GYN Registered Nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain, and Tim became `Mr. Mom' for their family for the next 2 years. On Christmas Eve, 1983, Tim was hired as a baker at the Simply Delicious Bakery in Downtown Amherst, Ohio. Tim enjoyed his return to the ``dough business'', but 1 month into the job, the owner of the bakery declared bankruptcy and asked Tim if he wanted to become chief cook and bottlewasher. Never afraid of a challenge, Tim and Terri took out a small business loan to buy the bakery. Proud of their Polish heritage, the name was officially changed to Kiedrowski's Simply Delicious Bakery as of November, 1984. They remained in Downtown Amherst for 11 years. Accidents can be disastrous in a bakery, but the ``snoogle accident'' was a welcome one for the Kiedrowski's. Late one evening in the bakery, Tim was preparing Ladylocks and Terri was working on a batch of cheese Danish. With leftover ingredients, these two happy bakers set out to create something new. A little of this, a little of that, and voila!, the Snoogle was born. These airy, cheese-filled concoctions have become Kiedrowski's biggest seller, and in April, 2011, they were awarded a patent for the Snoogle. It is not unusual for the bakery to sell 100 dozen over the course of a weekend. In 1994, Tim and his crew packed up the mixers, ovens and all of the baking ingredients and moved into their current location at 2267 Cooper Foster Park Road in Amherst. In 1997, again on Christmas Eve, Tim and Terri started brainstorming about ways to get customers into the bakery during the January ``slow season.'' After much discussion with family and friends, Tim proposed to host an old-fashioned Polish wedding (aka The Paczki Ball) just before Lent. Naysayers told Tim he could never organize this type of feast in 6-weeks time, but he set out to prove them wrong. With a few ads on local radio stations WEOL and WOBL as well as word-of-mouth, Tim and Terri hoped to sell 100 tickets to the first Paczki Ball in 1998, held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Lorain. Party-goers quickly lined up at the door, and after 150 tickets were sold, the remaining guests had to be turned away. Karol Kiedrowski Peltz was crowned the first Paczki Ball Queen. Joseph Girz, Terri's father and well-known as ``Doughboy Joe'' (and the inspiration for the Kiedrowski logo) was crowned the first Paczki Ball King. The Paczki Ball was moved to Lorain Catholic High School in 1999, a larger venue, and 375 tickets were sold. In 2002, the event moved to DeLuca's Place in the Park, a large party center owned by Tim's former boss, Leonard DeLuca. In 2003, the production of paczki as well as the Paczki Ball were videotaped by Army Armstrong for a film that would debut the following year. In this same year, new entertainment was added at the ball, the ``Presentation of the Paczkis'', was the hit of the party, and continues to this day. In 2011, Kiedrowski's Bakery sold over 50,000 paczkis during the Lenten season. Life is never easy as a bakery owner. Tim and Terri had four boys: Matthew, Mark, Michael and Timmy, and there were nights that the boys did their homework and slept at the bakery while their parents did ``prep work'' for the next day's business. Terri became a self-taught cake decorator, working on birthday, graduation and wedding cakes at night after her shift was done at the hospital. Proud of their Catholic upbringing, Tim and Terri sent their boys to St. Anthony's elementary school followed by Lorain Catholic High School. Tim never had the opportunity to go to college, but encouraged his sons to further their education. Each of the boys went on to college to earn their respective degrees. At the beginning of the Lenten season in 2011, Tim was notified that he was a finalist for the first-ever ``Best Bakery in America'' online contest, sponsored by Baking Buyer Magazine and Dawn Foods. With creative brainstorming over the course of 6 weeks, Kiedrowski's Simply Delicious Bakery was declared the winner, with more than 50 percent of the votes cast. Tim remarked that all of his years of hard work provided him with his honorary ``Degree of Baking'', but the Best Bakery in America Award provided him with the validation. Kiedrowski's has celebrated its Polish heritage for 28 years through baking, and plans to share their delicious pastries for many years to come as they sweeten America's palate as America's Best Bakery.