Carolyn Kilpatrick

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, coming from the State of Michigan, we have our problems and we know exactly how hard it is to regionally come to this Congress with a solution and we are working very hard on that, not without obstacles and not without many of them, but we continue to work locally to see that we bring to the Congress, during its precious times of negotiations, not only the proper match that the projects will require but that the region will agree on what we come to the Congress with. This is very much a local issue and I believe that it ought to be settled locally before it comes to this Congress, Mr. Chairman. With that, I would like to yield to my good friend from New Orleans, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), in whose district the airport lies.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, to our chairman, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), I want to thank him for his leadership. What a joy it has been to work with him over this first term as a member of the Committee on Appropriations. I commend him for his leadership; and I want to also thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), who is also our ranking member and a fine gentleman, for the bipartisan way that this bill was put together. It is a wonderful bill. I urge my colleagues to support it. It has funding levels that meet the needs of the citizens of this country, both in highway, transit, airport, Coast Guard. It has really been a joy to work on this committee in the bipartisan fashion that the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Wolf) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo) let the committee operate. I commend them. I have been on other committees in this House and this transportation bill is head and shoulders above those other processes I have been involved in. The funding levels, as I mentioned, will meet the needs of our country; the first of the 21st century this bill is. I just want to say as a new member in this appropriations process, if all the bills could be worked together in a bipartisan fashion as this transportation bill has been with the leadership of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), this Congress and the country would be a better one. As the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) leaves to his next assignment, may God be with him and take his leadership skills and abilities forward as we rebuild and shape America for all of its citizens.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, due to official business in my District, I was unable to record my vote on H.R. 491 (rollcall no. 180), Naming a Room in the House Wing of the Capitol in Honor of G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery, H.R. 4251 (rollcall no. 181), Congressional Oversight of Nuclear Transfers to North Korea, and H. Res. 309 (rollcall no. 182), Sense of Congress With Regard to In-school Personal Safety Education Programs for Children. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three bills.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3519 and commend my colleagues, Mr. Leach of Iowa and Ms. Lee of California, for their initiative in crafting this piece of legislation. Some 50 million people in developing nations are infected with the HIV virus. Sub-Sahara Africa, a region which I have had the privilege to visit more than once, has been far more affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. According to one report, 23 million adults and children are infected with HIV in that part of the world. They have about 10 percent of the world's population, and 70 percent of the world's HIV-infected people. In the African continent, 13.7 million people have already lost their lives to AIDS, and we shall surely see those numbers increase dramatically unless we step up our efforts to combat this worldwide epidemic. An epidemic of such Biblical proportions is too overwhelming for just a handful of countries to attack. The AIDS epidemic requires the active involvement of our multilateral institutions, and that is precisely the objective of H.R. 3519. This bill establishes a World Bank Trust Fund to provide international grants to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. The grants would provide significant levels of funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and research in developing countries. Recently, the House and Senate sent to the President the African Trade and Opportunity Act. This bill will open new economic opportunities for the continent, provide African countries with greater access to U.S. markets and consequently attract greater foreign investment. Africa needs these investments and market access opportunities to lift up its economy. However, it will never reach the road of economic prosperity as long as the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to subjugate the African people. Until a cure is found, all other issues are of secondary importance. President Clinton and his administration want to increase resources to fight AIDS abroad in fiscal year 2001. The World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund Act will help to ensure that the federal government will continue to address this issue over the next several years. The resources supplied by these efforts will go toward distributing medications which can prolong the life of HIV-infected people and improve their quality of life. This is significant when one considers that many African countries have national annual medical budgets of as little as $6 per person. This bill will help these countries set up treatment, prevention and education programs. In return the benefiting countries must agree to implement a national HIV/AIDS program and undertake a commitment to work with multiple partners including those affected by the disease, religious and community leaders, health professionals and other entities. The bill authorizes $100 million in each of the following five fiscal years through fiscal year 2005. These funds would be authorized in addition to any other funds authorized for multilateral or bilateral programs related to HIV/AIDS or economic development. As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I want to assure the sponsors of this legislation that I will work with them to obtain a fair share of funding in this year's appropriations cycle. I join those who urge my colleagues to support this bill. This is timely legislation, and it deserves the approval of this chamber.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, due to official business at the White House, I was unable to record my vote on rollcall No. 154, raising a point of order against the consideration of H.R. 3709 as an unfunded mandate. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay''--against consideration of H.R. 3709.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, due to unofficial business at the White House, I was unable to record my vote on rollcall 154 raising a point of order against consideration of H.R. 3709, an unfunded mandate. Had I been present, I would have voted nay against the consideration of H.R. 3709.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day. As my colleagues will remember in the 105th Congress, this House did pass this bill. The Senate did not. I am happy that in the 106th Congress the Senate and the House has now acted on the African Growth bill, and I commend the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Crane), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), and the other leaders for making sure that this is brought to the House floor. We all are a bit disturbed about the process that it did move quickly; but if my colleagues will remember, it has been on the House calendar in some form over the last couple of years. I was a cosponsor then, and I am a cosponsor today of both the African Growth bill and the Caribbean Initiative bill. It is time. And I applaud this Congress and its leadership for making it a reality and bringing it to the House floor. I visited Africa on several occasions, as many of my Members know, many of us have. It is trade that our countries need so the children can prosper in those countries, so that the families can take care of themselves, and so that, again, we grow American's jobs on this side of the Atlantic. Mr. Speaker, over 300,000 jobs will be created with the signing of this law in our country. Many more children in Africa and in the Caribbean nations will find housing, health care, education services that they do not now have because of the stimulation of the business opportunities that this bill will provide. It is a wonderful opportunity to grow not only in this country, not only to satisfy and fortify our own communities and grow businesses, but to do the same across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean. I applaud the leadership. It is the right step to take. The bill, the underlying bill must be passed. I urge my colleagues to pass the rule. Yes, we could have spend more time on it, but pass the rule and then vote for the underlying bill.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1824.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I stand as a cosponsor of this amendment, and it is a good amendment. We have had several calls in our office today wondering what it is, and we took the opportunity to explain it to them. Mr. Chairman, let me first thank the gentleman from Iowa (Chairman Leach), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), the ranking member, for the fine work that they have done and the entire Committee on Banking and Financial Services. I was a former Member of that committee, and I know the hard work that they do. No church in America should be denied the opportunity to participate in a developing community. The amendment that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) and I are offering today is to say that no community development block grant funds can be used to take any church, unless that church is involved and does agree in that selection. With that, Mr. Chairman, this is a good amendment. I commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul) for bringing it to my attention. We have spoken to the minister and other people who are concerned about this issue. I would move, Mr. Chairman, that we adopt the amendment.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, due to official business in the 15th Congressional District of Michigan, I was unable to record my vote for several measures considered today in the U.S. House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on roll call no. 96, H.R. 1089, the Mutual Fund Tax Awareness Act; and ``aye'' on roll call no. 97, H.R. 3591, to Award the Congressional Gold Medal to Former President Ronald Reagan And Nancy Reagan In Recognition Of Their Service To The Nation.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, this is about the drugs in America that have devastated America, its families, its children, and its communities. If we have a supplemental before us, the first of the 21st century, and we do, that is funded by $1.7 billion tax dollars to give to Colombia, the country that sends 90 percent of the cocaine to this country, that sends over 60 percent of the heroin to this country, we are all saying, yes, we must do something with that supply, we must decrease that supply, but what we are also saying is that all those tons of cocaine and heroin that are in the American communities now, that we must in this supplemental, the first of the 21st century, allow money for treatment. Treatment on demand. Everyone who is addicted to drugs is not ready for treatment; but those who are ready for treatment on demand, we must make it available to them. In my district there is a 6-month waiting list for an addicted person who wants treatment today, not 6 months from now, when their families are more deteriorated, when the community is more deteriorated. Today, on demand. So what we asked in committee with the Pelosi amendment, and what we are asking today, a small drop in the bucket, $57 million out of a $1.7 billion appropriation to Colombia, is to allow money for treatment so that those Americans can take care of their families and become citizens again of this society and pay taxes and raise their children. Is that too much to ask? I think not, Mr. Chairman. How can the gentleman on one hand we talk about a ``Plan Colombia'' that talks about supply and not do anything to eradicate the demand? It is not fair. It is not right. As leaders of this country, of the free world, the greatest country in the world, we need to stand up to what we believe in. Many of our constituents across this country, across all ethnic, racial, and gender lines are addicted. Does the gentleman not want them treated on demand when they finally decide in their life they have had enough? The Pelosi amendment is a small piece of what we need. We ought to be putting $1.7 billion into treatment, but the amendment before us only asks for $57 million. How can the gentleman be against $57 million. My colleagues have heard the figures already. I am not going to repeat them again. We all know people who are addicted, we know families and children that have been devastated by the drugs from Colombia. Let us do the right thing, Mr. Chairman. I strongly support the Pelosi amendment. We need to begin to provide funding for treatment for those people who have finally decided in their life that they have had enough. It was said earlier that we will have to attack drugs on all bases, and we do. On the supply side, I agree totally, let us give them that money, but it is unconscionable that we will not at the same time in this bill, when we have a surplus in our government, supply money for treatment. It is the right thing to do, and I hope my colleagues will stand up and do the right thing.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, this is about the drugs in America that have devastated this country, its families, its children, and its communities. We have a supplemental before us, the first of the 21st century, and we propose to fund $1.7 billion in tax dollars in economic aid to Colombia. Columbia sends 90 percent of the cocaine to this country; it sends over 60 percent of the heroin to this country. We all agree, we must do something to decrease that supply. It is imperative that we decrease that supply, but we must also agree, as we consider this supplemental appropriation bill, the first in the 21st century, to reinforce our commitment to drug treatment and prevention. We exist in a culture that makes drugs available on demand. We must provide the funds to give treatment on demand. Everyone who is addicted to drugs is not ready for treatment; but those who are ready for treatment on demand must have access to treatment programs. In my district there is a 6-month waiting list for an addicted person who wants treatment today--not 6 months from now-- when their families have deteriorated, when their community has deteriorated. They need access now, today, on demand. What we asked in committee with the Pelosi amendment, and what we are asking today, is a small drop in the bucket, $57 million out of a $1.7 billion appropriation to Colombia, to allow money for treatment so troubled Americans can take care of their families and become citizens again of this society, pay taxes and raise their children. Is that too much to ask? I think not, Mr. Chairman. How can the gentleman talk about a ``Plan Colombia'' that talks about supply and not do anything to eradicate the demand? It is not fair. It is not right. As leaders of this country, of the free world, the greatest country in the world, we need to stand up for what we believe in. Many of our constituents across this country, across all ethnic, racial, and gender lines are addicted. Does the gentleman not want them treated on demand when they finally decide in their life they have had enough? The Pelosi amendment is a small piece of what we need. We ought to be putting $1.7 billion into treatment, but the amendment before us only asks for $57 million. How can the gentleman be against $57 million? My colleagues have heard the figures already. I am not going to repeat them again. We all know people who are addicted. We know families and children that have been devastated by the drugs from Colombia. Let us do the right thing, Mr. Chairman. I strongly support the Pelosi amendment. We need to begin to provide funding for treatment for those people who have finally decided in their life that they are sick and tired of being sick and tired. It was said earlier that we will have to attack drugs on all bases, and we must. On the supply side, I agree totally. Let us give them that money, but it is unconscionable that we will not at the same time in this bill, when we have a budget surplus in our government, provide more money for treatment. It is the right thing to do, and I hope my colleagues will stand up and do the right thing.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, the supplemental before us, and there has been much debate on it, really does not address the total problem that we have. As a member of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, and we just heard the distinguished chairman, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), I want to thank him for his leadership in helping us to solve the problem in Zimbabwe; and my thanks to the full chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), for also supporting our efforts to address the crisis in Zimbabwe. As many of my colleagues know, South Africa, Zimbabwe, as well as the tragedy in Mozambique, is of insurmountable proportions. The country has been devastated. There is money in our foreign assistance accounts today to address that problem. This supplemental, though it did not accept the amendment I had for $60 million that would put $20 million in child survival, $20 million in development assistance, and $20 million in disaster relief to replenish the account so that Mozambique today can get the assistance they need, the dollars are there; and I urge the President to request the money today to address those problems. It is unfortunate that we have not moved yet on this tragedy. It has been over 3 weeks now. This has been in the media and some assistance has been sent. The helicopters, some food, and the personnel are on the ground in Mozambique. But over a million people are homeless today. Over 50,000 children are orphaned and cannot find their parents. We are the leaders in the world community. We have the resources and the disaster assistance account there for that purpose. Both the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) as well as the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) have agreed with me and adopted my amendment in the Committee on Appropriations, and we have report language that says when the assessment is made, and I understand it is to be made this Friday, that we will send the money forward. Let us not slow down our progress. Mozambique is growing. It is one of the best countries on the continent. After years of struggle, they have put their house in order, but the cyclone has totally devastated them. Their housing, their hospitals, their food, their ability to grow their food has been devastated. I urge this Congress to adopt the language in the bill and to send the financial resources to Mozambique.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I thank the gentleman. It is my understanding the administration will be sending that information forward. With that, Mr. Chairman, and the gentleman's support as well as the support of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), I will withdraw this amendment and continue to work with the gentleman.

Ms. KILPATRICK. I yield to the gentleman from Alabama.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Chairman, a little over a month ago, there was a cyclone that hit Mozambique. There has been much discussion about that all day long, so I will not go into the details of that. A little more than 3 weeks ago, our Subcommittee on Appropriations and the full committee brought forward this supplemental that we have been debating all day. In that supplemental and in the committee, as the discussion went on, I offered an amendment for $60 million, $20 million to go in the Child Survival Account, $20 million to go into the Development Assistance Account, and $20 million to go into International Disaster Relief to replenish the accounts that I was hoping that we could take out that day and appeal to my colleagues today, as we have 3 weeks later, to go forward to Mozambique to address the tragedies that are there, with over a million people homeless, over 50,000 children orphaned, water contaminated, mines floating. At that time, in the Committee on Appropriations, I withdrew that amendment because the chairman of our Committee on Appropriations, the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young), and the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Alabama (Chairman Callahan), made the commitment that they would work with us after the assessment is finished. I understand that assessment should be finished on Friday, Mr. Chairman, or thereabouts; that the President and his advisors will be giving it to the gentleman from Alabama (Chairman Callahan) and presenting our case to my colleagues. It is important. With his commitment, I appreciate that. I appreciate the work that he has done in the committee, both the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) and working with us as we address the Mozambique crisis. The appropriations process will continue as the gentleman knows as we finish this supplemental process. I hope that after the assessment has been made, I understand that will be Friday, that they will report to the gentleman and that they will make the commitment and we carry out on the commitment that we have made in appropriations under the gentleman's leadership and with the leadership of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) to make sure that we assist in Mozambique. I appreciate the report language that both of the chairs as well as our full committee adopted in our supplemental appropriation which is in the bill today. Mr. Chairman, as we move to the assessment and its completion, as we replenish the accounts and I know that we will as the supplemental moves through the process, that we do what is proper and what is right for Mozambique.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today the House will take up the first supplemental of the 21st century. There are two problems with this supplemental. There is $1.6 billion for Colombia, who is the biggest trafficker of heroin and cocaine to our country, and no dollars for treatment for those in our country who need it. Also, there is nothing in the bill for Mozambique. We have a commitment from the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan) that the money will be forthcoming, and I believe them. We need the President to ask for the money. Mr. Speaker, there is $135 million in the International Disaster account. Spend the money. Send it to Mozambique. Do the assessment and replenish the International Disaster account. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against the rule. We need money for drug treatment. We must have it now.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule, a rule that will not allow Democrats by and large to offer amendments on this most important supplemental appropriation, the first one, I might add, for the 21st century. Eighty percent of the amendments are by the majority party. We were not able to offer many. One of the most important amendments is an amendment that would provide treatment on demand for those Americans who found themselves unfortunately addicted to drugs, drugs I might add that more than any other country in the world Colombia supplies the heroin and the cocaine that has infested our families and our neighborhoods across America. In this supplemental, we are providing $1.7 billion to Colombia and not a penny for drug treatment. I think it is horrible that the amendment by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) was not allowed, and I think we should vote against this rule. Additionally, Mozambique. We are told that the assessment must be made for Mozambique. The assessment I understand will be done on Friday. I offered an amendment in committee, $60 million, $20 million for child survival, $20 million for development assistance, $20 million for international disaster relief, but withdrew the amendment because they said we had to have the assessment. The chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), and the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), have agreed that this money should come forth and the money is in the accounts now to be released for Mozambique. Release the money. It ought to be a part of the rule. We ought to be able to debate it. We are not able at this time. Treat those Americans who are addicted to much of the drugs that come from Colombia. We are not allowed to debate; we are not allowed to offer it. It is a bad rule. Vote against it.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and the rest of the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, we appreciate them bringing this amendment forward to our committee. The resolution is most desperately needed. I want to report that last week in appropriations, we have a commitment from our chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young), as well as the chairman from the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Callahan), to see that Mozambique gets the assistance that they need. We offered an amendment that would replenish the accounts, the $37 million that has been taken from the military and DOD, as well as replenishing the child survival accounts, as well as international assistance. Mozambique, after 16 years of war, is now one of the fastest growing countries on the continent. It is our responsibility, as a partner in the world, that we address this most desperate need that they have today. Nineteen million people; 1 million homeless; 2 million land mines have been identified. The cyclone has now moved those mines, and we must go in there and assist them, as they grow and help themselves. So I would say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and the rest of my colleagues, this is one of the most important resolutions we will see in this Congress. I commend the Committee on International Relations, as well as our Members on the Committee on Appropriations, for adopting an amendment to see that Mozambique gets the financial assistance they deserve.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong and stringent support of H.R. 5, the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act. Current law limits the income of retirees ages 65 to 69 to $17,000. Social Security benefits are reduced one dollar for every three dollars earned above $17,000. Social Security Administration statistics show that nearly ``690,000 beneficiaries between 65 and 69 lose some or all of their benefits because of excess earnings resulting from their work.'' This bill, which repeals the earnings limits imposed under Social Security on our nation's working senior citizens, is a welcomed measure which will allow our seniors to continue to contribute to our growing economy. The earnings limit is an outdated relic of the depression era social security program. It was instituted based on a policy that addressed a problem of that time; however, times have changed. Then, our nation was worried about moving seniors out of the work force to make room for the growing number of younger workers. Now, labor statistics indicate that as our nation's population ages, there will be a shortage of workers available to meet our future labor needs. H.R. 5 is needed to provide incentive to seniors to help supplement the nation's future need for workers. Past Social Security policy overlooked the valuable assets that senior citizens bring to our nation's workforce. Seniors have a wealth of wisdom and experience to offer the workforce. Most enjoy bestowing the benefit of their experience and wisdom on younger workers and generally offer their knowledge for reasons other than the sheer pursuit of wealth. Seniors tend to exemplify the attributes of hard- work, punctuality and patience. In this time of instant gratification, I can think of no better teachers of the value of a work ethic which developed over time can be passed on to future generations. Seniors have much to offer and this bill will make it easier for the workforce to receive the benefit of their wisdom and experience. Seniors have worked long and hard to earn and they should not be deprived of the fruits of their labor. Today, seniors are living longer and healthier lives and they are more fit and willing than ever to contribute to our nation's workforce. Many view working as a necessary part of their well-being and quality of life. As a society we should not handicap the lifestyle of those who choose to work into their silver years. H.R. 5 reconciles past policy that punished seniors by forcing them to sit on the sidelines of the workforce. There are also many seniors who have no choice but to work. Skyrocketing, pharmaceutical prices have left seniors struggling to meet the financial burden of much needed medicine. Every year we listen to the stories of seniors who die in their home due to their inability to meet the heating or air-conditioning costs. How can we continue to penalize them for their necessary efforts to meet those costs? Unfortunately, many of the seniors who need to work most are our nation's women, who outlive their male spouse 75% of the time. Indeed, ``103,000 dependent and spousal beneficiaries are affected by the limit.'' Widowed women often are forced to reenter the work force in order to meet their basic needs. They should not be forced to lose some or all of their retirement benefits, while striving to secure the simple necessities of living. While I support and applaud this effort on behalf of our nation's seniors, I would be remiss not to mention the continued problem facing Social Security. Ensuring the future solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund is a problem this Congress still must address. It is my hope that H.R. 5, is simply a stepping stone along the path of addressing a problem that is not going to go away. I urge the leadership of this House to bring forth legislation that seeks to make the tough decisions necessary to address the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund before we are faced with even tougher more painful decisions.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, on February 29 and March 1, a family emergency prevented my return to Washington, D.C. and I missed rollcall votes Nos. 26, 27, 28. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on S. 613, The Indian Tribal Economic Development and Contract Encouragement Act; ``yes'' on H.R. 5, Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act; and ``yes'' on the Senate amendments to H.R. 1883, Iran Nonproliferation Act.

Ms. KILPATRICK

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, due to official business in the 15th Congressional District of Michigan, I was unable to record my votes for rollcall Nos. 16 and 17 considered today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall 16, H. Con. Res. 247, Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding the Importance of Organ, Tissue, Bone Marrow, and Blood Donation and Supporting National Donor Day and ``aye'' on rollcall No. 17, H. Con. Res. 76, Recognizing The Social Problem of Child Abuse and Neglect and Supporting Efforts to Enhance Public Awareness of it.