Suzanne Kosmas

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and privilege to recognize on the floor of the United States House of Representatives Dr. Pamela Carbiener for her extensive community service and spirit of volunteerism. Dr. Carbiener has dedicated her life's work to helping those in need, with a particular focus on women and children. She is the cofounder and member of the Community Outreach to Prevent Eating Disorders, medical supervisor for the Children's Advocacy Center for Victims of Assault, medical supervisor for the Volusia County Rape Crisis Center, and board and coalition member for Healthy Start of Volusia and Flagler Counties. She also serves as the chair of Daytona State College's Women's Advocacy Board. Dr. Carbiener practices at Halifax OB/GYN Associates in Daytona Beach, Florida, and she resides in nearby Ormond Beach with her husband, Frank, and their three children, Sarah, Katie, and Charlie. Dr. Carbiener's contributions to Halifax Health and their board of directors, which is the governing body of the largest health care provider in the area, are numerous, generous, and valuable. Today I would like to officially thank Dr. Carbiener for her tireless work and dedication to the health, well-being, safety, and care not only of her patients, but also to the countless citizens who are affected by her volunteerism and her work in the community. She is recognized as an accomplished and outstanding community leader for the greater Halifax region. Congratulations, Dr. Carbiener.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Daytona Beach Shores on its 50th Anniversary. Since its founding on April 22, 1960, the City of Daytona Beach Shores has been a resort and retirement community located on the barrier island bordered on the east side by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west side by the Intercoastal Waterway (Halifax River). The City of Daytona Beach Shores has a storied history, featuring a pristine beach where famed race car drivers once vied to set world speed records. The Legends Walk of Fame tribute features bricks dedicated to these famous drivers and the Otto Schultze Memorial is a tribute to the late City Councilman that includes the seven flags used in automobile racing. The City is also home to The Court of Flags, a rotating display of 12 flags representing the national originals of its residents and highlighting the cultural diversity that unifies our nation. The citizens of Daytona Beach Shores also have a strong history of responsible governance and stewardship as evidenced most recently by the approval of a local tax to fund underground placement of all utility lines, thus mitigating damages from dangerous tropical storms. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, the City will place items in a time capsule to be opened at the 75th anniversary of the City in 2035. Living up to the City's motto of ``a better life,'' the residents of Daytona Beach Shores truly have enjoyed ``50 years of a better life'' since its founding on April 22, 1960. On April 22, 2010, the 50th Anniversary of the City of Daytona Beach Shores, I encourage all residents to recognize and show their appreciation for the many memories and contributions of the community over the years.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Thank you very much. I thank you for yielding and for hosting this important forum on small business. I appreciate the picture that has been painted here on the large issues nationally and how they are affecting our economy, but I come to speak from a personal perspective as a person who has been a small business owner, self-employed my entire adult life. And that means that in my community, most of my friends and colleagues are also small business owners small- to medium-sized business owners, and I recognize the things that are important to them. We recognize them, of course, as the engines of our economy. And what we know for sure is that, over the last decade, 70 percent of new jobs created in this country have been created through small businesses. That is why they are so critically important to us during this economic time. We want to ensure that they are able to survive and thrive, and I think we all are working together in order to make that happen. We recognize that the Recovery Act has been important to these small businesses and that measures have been introduced to help them have access to loans and to capital, but I know that in my district and in others, businesses are still struggling in order to access the capital that they need in order to grow and add jobs. Just last week, I visited VaxDesign, which is a truly innovative biotech company, in my district, that wants to expand; but in order to do so, they are going to need to attract resources. And so what we really need to do is to take additional steps to open up the flow of capital to small businesses, and that is why I have introduced a bill that will eliminate the capital gains tax on long-term investments in small business stock. We have done that so that innovative companies can attract the long-term investors that they need and grow new jobs. We all recognize that that is a very important part of what we are trying to do during this particular economic downturn. As was previously stated by Representative Dahlkemper, the House has recently passed legislation that plays an important role in providing a payroll tax break for businesses and also a $1,000 credit for keeping new hirees on, and these are very important incentives. I have also introduced several other measures that I think are extremely important based on my experience in small business and my recognition of the issues that are important to them in my district. Some of these include incentives to encourage private sector investment in areas of high unemployment, which is a serious problem in many districts but about 12 percent in parts of my district. And while we have had these incentives in place in the past for low-income areas, we are now wanting to apply those incentives to high-unemployment areas. I have long suggested that we should allow sole proprietors of small businesses to be able to deduct the cost of their health care, which they are not currently able to do. This has the benefit, of course, of providing them with a tax incentive but also encouraging them to have health care for themselves and their families. We have introduced legislation that increases the new business startup deduction from $5,000 to $20,000, and also a Shop Act which we introduced that allows small businesses to pool together to purchase insurance. Some of these, of course, will be taken care of in other ways and through other pieces of legislation, but they are important initiatives that I have personally taken on as part of my own agenda for my district. We also passed an amendment to support the photonics industry through the Small Business Innovation and Research Act, and this is very key to central Florida, an area where that area is growing rapidly. These are some examples of what I call common sense, and they are bipartisan solutions that I believe will help our small businesses spur investments and create jobs. And it would be my intention to continue to work with my colleagues and to try to continue to find new ways to increase opportunities for small businesses to grow and to hire more folks in central Florida and across the country. I certainly am proud to be here this evening and concur with, as I say, the big picture that you have painted as to how small business is connected to the educational system, and the opportunity for innovation that grows out of small business is a very important component of how we see improving our educational system at all levels. So I thank you again for bringing this issue before us and for the opportunity to speak tonight.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, for her personal courage, but also for her focus on this very important issue and to commend her for introduction of this important resolution. Each of us knows, whether in our own personal lives or in that of our family and friends, how important it is that people get early detection and intervention for any type of cancer, but we know that breast cancer steals the lives of our women in this country--mothers, friends, sisters, and daughters. Despite the task force report, we need to listen to commonsense and scientific-based guidelines that tell us that breast cancer screening for women ages 40 to 49 is extremely important and should not be ignored, despite the recommendation of the task force. Because we know these things to be true, the resolution states that the task force would not be used for insurers to deny coverage for routine screenings. So through our support here of this resolution, my colleagues and I encourage all women to remain vigilant and to protect their health by getting regular mammograms at early ages.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank the chairwoman of the committee and the committee for their hard work and leadership in introducing this important bill that will give small businesses greater access to capital. H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009, establishes an early-stage investment program that will provide financing to support small businesses in targeted business sectors. By investing in fledgling companies, America's small businesses will be able to grow and create jobs. I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 3854, which would add photonics technology to the list of targeted industries qualified to receive grants under the new early-stage investment program. Photonics technology, which includes fiber optic communications and laser technology, is a key industry in central Florida and is a supporting technology for almost every industry, including energy, telecommunications, health care, robotics, astronomy, aerospace, and defense. According to the Opto-electronics Industry Development Association, the fast-growing, global photonics market is estimated to be worth half a trillion dollars today. In Florida alone, photonics provides over 27,000 jobs and brings billions of dollars to our State each year. We must ensure that America remains competitive in this industry and that, as the market expands, American small businesses and workers benefit. Numerous small businesses in the photonics industry are at the very early stages of development, and therefore, they need this support and access to capital in order to grow and become profitable. By including photonics in the list of targeted business sectors, we will ensure that the photonics industry will continue to play a vital role in developing new technologies for use in every area of our economy. And this bill and my amendment will give small businesses in this industry the opportunity to succeed. Again, I commend the chairwoman and the committee for the bill. I ask my colleagues for their support of this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS. Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Ms. KOSMAS. I rise in support of the Posey-Kosmas amendment and of this bill, H.R. 3246, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act. Our amendment would direct the Department of Energy to establish an Innovative Automotive Demonstration Program to award competitive grants for the purpose of demonstrating and for bringing to the market very high energy-efficient vehicles, achieving at least 70 miles per gallon in the near term. Creating opportunities such as this ensures that we are utilizing the expertise of both the Department of Energy and of those in the industry who have real-world experience. This program will help to ensure that our Nation remains competitive in the world automotive market. Here at home, it will not only help us to meet new mileage and emissions requirements but to far exceed them. Right now, companies across the Nation, including in central Florida, are researching and developing vehicles that will use lightweight materials and highly efficient engines, enabling them to potentially reach 100 miles per gallon. This program will help ensure that these companies are able to move past the R&D stage to demonstration and to full-scale manufacturing in the near term. Our Nation can lead the world in innovation and in technology achievements if we are willing to make the investment. I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Congressman Posey, for working with me on this important program which, I think, will be beneficial to consumers, which will help us to reduce our emissions and dependence on foreign oil, and which will lead to new jobs in central Florida and across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Posey-Kosmas amendment and the underlying bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield to Chairman Bart Gordon.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 607, a resolution recognizing and honoring the three American heroes of the Apollo 11 mission, as well as the tens of thousands of engineers, scientists, and support personnel whose efforts were essential to the mission's success and the American qualities of ingenuity, exceptionalism, and creativity that drove their achievements. In this very chamber, President Kennedy asked for every scientist, engineer, serviceman, technician, contractor, and civil servant to give their personal pledge that this nation will move forward, with the full speed of freedom, in the exciting adventure of space. When he made this request of our nation it was on a scale equaled only by two other feats in the history of the world; the digging of the Panama Canal and The Manhattan Project. Just as we honor those that made the Apollo program a success, this occasion should be a time to recognize the rich history and tradition of aeronautical innovation in our nation's past and recommit ourselves to continuing this spirit of adventure and innovation that made our nation what it is today. From the Wright Brothers and Charles Lindbergh to Robert Goddard and Von Braun's Saturn V; from Alan Sheppard and John Glenn to Neil Armstrong, ``Buzz'' Aldrin, and Michael Collins, Americans have broken technological barriers and risked their lives in the quest to push the boundaries of gravity, human endurance, and space. By dedicating themselves to pushing the boundaries of discovery at great personal risk, the three men of Apollo 11, along with the thousands of men and woman who supported them on the ground, cemented our nation's leadership in science and technology and paved the way for future accomplishments in space. It is only fitting as our nation plans to return to the moon that we honor their great accomplishments today. I would also like to remind my colleagues and all Americans that our achievements in space have led to numerous advancements on Earth. Many discoveries and innovations, including water filtration, improvements in solar energy, and advanced flight simulation training, improve our everyday lives, and it is vital that we strongly support our human spaceflight program so that we can continue to inspire, invent, and achieve over the next 40 years and beyond. I thank my friend Mr. Hall, a great supporter of NASA, for introducing this resolution and urge my colleagues to join us in honoring this historic occasion.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, pursuant to the rule, I send to the desk a modification of amendment No. 3.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009. I would like to thank the chairwoman for her support of this important amendment, which will assist small businesses in my District and across the Nation that support NASA's space shuttle program. With suppliers in nearly every State, the retirement of the space shuttle program will have a significant economic impact. In my district alone, over 300 businesses work with NASA and these small businesses had over $200 million in contracts last year. This amendment will provide that these businesses have the opportunity to commercialize and that they get assistance in doing so so that they can continue to thrive and contribute to our economy following the expiration of the shuttle program. The contributions the shuttle program has made to our economy and to the improvement of our everyday lives are countless, and we must continue to utilize the knowledge, innovation, and unique workforce that has supported NASA throughout the years. Helping small businesses by increasing their potential to produce products for the marketplace will ensure that this exceptional workforce and this small business sector will not be dispersed and lost, but will be able to continue developing vital technologies and growing our economy. NASA's innovative partnerships program has a strong history of engaging small businesses in developing technology for NASA needs and transferring that technology to the public benefit. In 2008, NASA's SBIR awards went to 205 firms spanning 31 States. NASA also identified 1,110 newly developed technologies last year that could lead to patenting and to transfer. Technologies developed by and for NASA lead to new products deployed to the fields of health and medicine, transportation, public safety, agriculture, industrial productivity, and of course computer technology. Helping small businesses affected by the retirement of the shuttle program transition to work in related or unrelated industries will encourage cutting-edge research and development and preserve the unique workforce which has made us the world leader in innovation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. I rise today in support of the 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, a bill that will improve the safety and security of our cities, ports, borders, and air travel. This bill also provides important funding for our first responders on the front lines of emergencies through State and local grants, including the Metropolitan Medical Response System. I would like to thank Chairman Price and Ranking Member Rogers for including my amendment to increase funding by $4 million for this vital program in the manager's amendment. Increasing funding over fiscal year 2009 will help ensure that high- threat, highly populated communities such as the Orlando metropolitan area will be better prepared to respond when faced with emergencies, whether it be a terrorist attack, an epidemic disease outbreak, or a natural disaster. The MMRS program assists 124 highly populated jurisdictions across the country in their efforts to coordinate among law enforcement, fire, EMS, public health, and emergency management agencies. It allows these jurisdictions to develop response plans, conduct training and exercises, and acquire personal protective equipment to respond most effectively to emergency situations. I believe, and I think we all believe, that preparedness is the key to mitigating disasters, and this additional funding will ensure that our local emergency responders will be better able to protect their citizens and to reduce damages.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I would now like to enter into a colloquy with Mr. Mollohan.

Ms. KOSMAS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify a point in the committee report related to the space shuttle program. It is my understanding that the committee's position relative to the retirement of the space shuttle is consistent with NASA's testimony and the administration's position that there is no hard date on shuttle retirement. This position that the space shuttle will fly until it completes its current manifest, even if it runs beyond 2010, has also been supported by this Congress, as demonstrated by the inclusion in this year's congressional budget resolution of shuttle funding in fiscal year 2011. We also expect the administration to fund the fly-out of the shuttle when it submits its fiscal year 2011 budget request. I hope you can clarify whether this is the committee's position as well.

Ms. KOSMAS. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this consideration. Mr. Chairman, I also rise to express my concern with the level of funding for NASA contained in the bill.

Ms. KOSMAS. According to preliminary estimates, the funding included in the bill for exploration could cause additional delays of up to 2 years and could increase the cost up to $8 billion. These levels will also mean a greater reliance on Russia, a loss of our highly skilled workforce, and it could create a situation that could be detrimental to over 1,500 businesses that supply NASA and commercialized spinoff technologies. This level would result in thousands of layoffs in 2010. This will only exacerbate the challenges related to retaining our uniquely skilled workforce, many of whom are already working on both shuttle and exploration. So we must recognize that the investments in NASA have large multiplier effects, contributing $100 billion to our economy last year and employing nearly 300,000 people in 41 States. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your consideration.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Thank you, Congressman Bright. I rise today in support of the Bright-Kosmas-Cuellar-Green amendment. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important amendment that will set aside funds for the schools that need it most. The bill we are considering will provide critical funds to modernize our schools and to turn them into green buildings, which will help our environment, reduce energy consumption and costs for school districts, and create jobs in the process. However, we must take into account that many school districts across the country are suffering greatly from the economic downturn or have been affected by recent natural disasters. Central Florida, where I reside, has been hit very hard by two devastating forces, both the recession and natural disasters. As a result, our education system is experiencing a budget crisis that has only been temporarily relieved through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Many of our schools still do not have the money in their budgets to complete basic repairs, let alone repairs needed following hurricanes in recent years. This funding will ensure that schools will not only be able to make those repairs, but also to make them green, bring them up to safety codes, and create overall healthier learning environments. This is not only a problem in central Florida. Numerous regions throughout the country are experiencing similar problems.

Ms. KOSMAS

Ms. KOSMAS. Thank you very much for your comments. I reserve the rest of my time.

Ms. KOSMAS. I appreciate your comments, Congressman Driehaus, and I urge adoption of the amendment.