Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), the Democratic leader on the Helsinki Commission. (Mr. CARDIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), a courageous fighter for human rights in all realms.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens) who has been an indefatigable fighter for human rights for all people. (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Schwartz), a new Member of the House who has already made her mark on this institution.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to express my deepest admiration to both my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who not only on the Helsinki Commission and in this body but in their own personal activities have provided extraordinary leadership in fighting bigotry and hatred in all its forms. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the Democratic whip and my good friend.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to express my sincere thanks to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for his steadfast support for this important resolution and for the ideas and values on which it is based and for his efforts to bring it to the floor today. I also want to thank him for his powerful and moving statement. Mr. Speaker, I spent yesterday at the General Assembly of the United Nations which met in extraordinary session to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, one of the horror camps of Hitler, and I had the opportunity of meeting with delegates from scores of countries across the globe which came to New York to pay their tribute to innocent victims and the heroic liberators of Nazi death camps. The special session had the strong support of my friend, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. I should mention that there are 191 members of the United Nations, and for a long time, many of us have made special efforts to have all of them support the calling of this extraordinary session. Over 150 countries have responded in the affirmative, and I will put in the Congressional Record what I can only refer to as a roll call of shame and hatred of those who failed to recognize that 6 million innocent people were put to death by Hitler, and some countries have chosen not to pay honor to their memory and tribute to the heroic liberators of the death camps. After a moment of silence in memory of the more than 6 million victims of Nazi brutality, delegates from nations around the world paid tribute to our and other allied troops who made ultimate sacrifices to defeat the Nazi regime and to liberate the innocent victims in these death camps. They also honored those who helped the survivors of Nazi brutality to return to civilized life and reaffirmed their commitment that such a nightmare will never again be repeated. The General Assembly session marked the beginning of this week of solemn observances around the world commemorating the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust. The final event will take place the day after tomorrow, January 27, at Auschwitz. The President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski, will host an international assembly, including the President of Israel, President of Russia, and a host of other heads of state and government. Vice President and Mrs. Cheney will lead the United States delegation on this occasion; and I am deeply honored that my wife, Annette, and I, along with Elie Wiesel, the conscience of the Holocaust, will be members of this delegation. Mr. Speaker, this resolution today and the commemorative activities all this week are not merely remembering the horror of the distant past. Unfortunately, the memories of mankind are all too short and new generations have been born who cannot remember, and unfortunately have not been taught, about these horrors. A recent survey reported that 63 percent of passersby on a street in Orlando, Florida, had no idea what Auschwitz was. A survey in Britain reported that 45 percent of the respondents had never heard of Auschwitz. We are all too familiar with the recent controversy over Prince Harry appearing at a party wearing a uniform with an arm band emblazoned with the Nazi swastika. Mr. Speaker, the conditions that led to the Holocaust are still very much with us today. Just 3 weeks ago, as mandated by my legislation adopted by this body last fall, the Department of State submitted to us its first annual ``Report on Global Anti-Semitism.'' Its findings, in the context of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, were chilling: ``Hatred of Jews is on the increase by hate mongers of all types; anti-Israel sentiment crosses the line between criticism of Israeli policies and anti-Semitism; Holocaust denial and Holocaust minimization find increasingly overt acceptance as sanctioned historical discourse in a number of Middle Eastern countries.'' The report also identifies ``the recent phenomenon of anti-Semitism appearing in countries where historically or currently there are no Jews.'' Mr. Speaker, this chilling report and the shocking lack of knowledge about the Holocaust only reaffirm the importance of our resolution today and the importance of the educational events that are taking place in Auschwitz and elsewhere around the globe. Our resolution calls for governments and teachers to use this occasion to speak to young people about the unspeakable brutality of the Holocaust: the gas chambers and all they imply. Not because we are remembering the past, but because it is vital to our own future that we remember why Auschwitz happened, why the horrors of the Holocaust occurred, and why we must fight bigotry, intolerance, racism, and anti- Semitism in order to make the world safer and better and more civilized for our children and our grandchildren. Yesterday, I had occasion at the United Nations to point out that genocides are not just matters of events of 60 years ago. In Cambodia, in Rwanda, and as we meet here today in Darfur, there is a genocide going on; and it is long overdue for all governments and all international organizations and all of us as individuals to take responsibility to terminate the ongoing nightmare. I urge all of my colleagues to support my resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, due to my participation in the President's delegation to Poland to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, I will miss two rollcall votes on January 25. If I were present, I would vote ``yea'' on H. Res. 39 and H. Con. Res. 16.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, all of us were excited and exhilarated as we were watching the Orange Revolution unfold in the streets of Kiev. And I want to congratulate my dear friend and the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations for his leadership in presenting this resolution to the House. Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan resolution before the House today congratulates Ukraine on having its first truly free and fair election since gaining its independence in 1991. These democratic elections are remarkable in the sense that they took place in a country which historically is closely tied to Russia, a country where, unfortunately, democracy has taken many huge steps backward over the past 4 years. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to express my admiration and respect for the Ukrainian people who took to the streets last November. The unwillingness of the Ukrainian people to accept a fraudulent and manipulated election and, ultimately, their success in forcing new, fair, free, and open elections should inspire people committed to democracy throughout the world. I hope that Ukraine's elections on December 26 will have lasting effects, not only on the future of Ukraine, but also on Ukraine's immediate neighbors: Georgia, Belarus, and Moldova, and on the autocratic regimes in Central Asia that are all slated to hold elections next year. The peaceful and powerful democratic protests in Ukraine spurred the Ukrainian Parliament to fulfill its obligations as a legislature in a democracy and to dismiss the last government. The protests sparked a rebellion among Ukraine's journalists and TV anchors who refused to be voices for government-concocted news. The judiciary in Ukraine has also found its noble and independent mission. We can only hope that the citizens of Russia and other former Soviet republics will act similarly in the months and years ahead. Mr. Speaker, as we congratulate the citizens of Ukraine and consider the way forward for Ukraine, we must also acknowledge that the situation in Ukraine is still very complex and the success of the new government is very far from certain. Mr. Yushchenko has a very small window of opportunity to pass the necessary reforms that will improve the lives of ordinary Ukrainians. The United States, the European Union, and multilateral organizations may be prepared to help Ukraine; but it is Mr. Yushchenko and his political allies in the government and in the Parliament who have to make the difficult choices to ensure that reforms are implemented. It remains to be seen whether President Yushchenko will live up to the high expectations many of us in the West have for his presidency. I am pleased with his clean and noncorrupt political record, his willingness to take on the oligarchs, and his efforts to pass long overdue economic reforms; but I caution my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to remain vigilant so that the ugly remnants of the Ukrainian and Soviet past do not overwhelm what may be a promising future of democracy in the eastern part of Europe. Mr. Speaker, among my concerns about the nature of the political forces in Ukraine today are a number of laws and executive decisions taken by the former president, Mr. Kuchma's lame duck government, which I think will hurt the Yushchenko presidency. The Kuchma government's decision to withdraw the Ukrainian contingent from coalition troops in Iraq was an insult to the American people and to the Government of the United States which have done so much to help Ukraine to earn its freedom and stood by her people in this difficult time. Today, I formally call upon President Yushchenko to reverse this ill- advised decision and, in so doing, firmly signal his desire for a strong relationship with the United States. What this new administration does with respect to its international commitments will be an important marker for its future relations with the United States, and it will undoubtedly affect Ukraine's ability to integrate into Atlantic institutions. Mr. Speaker, democracy bestows priceless privileges, but it also demands the acceptance of some burdensome responsibilities. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 16. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), my good friend and our distinguished colleague.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin), the distinguished leader on the Democratic side of the Helsinki Commission.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce important legislation to expand the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) Boundary Adjustment Act, H.R. 296. This legislation will protect and preserve an extraordinary landscape and make a valuable addition to the National Park System at a fraction of the cost to the Federal government. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a national treasure preserving historic sites and open space as well as providing recreation in the midst of a densely populated urban area. It is one of our nation's most heavily used national parks. H.R. 296 would adjust the boundary of the GGNRA to permit the inclusion of lands directly adjacent to existing parkland as well as nearby lands along the Pacific Ocean. The upper parcels of land offer spectacular vistas, sweeping coastal and bay views and stunning headland scenery. Including these lands would also protect the important habitats of several species of rare or endangered plants and animals. The addition of 4,700 new acres to the GGNRA will be accessible to more than 6 million people who live within an hour's drive of the park and will provide national park programs and experiences to millions of national and international visitors. An expansive tract of 4,076 acres known as Rancho Corral de Tierra includes the dramatic ascent of Montara Mountain from the sea, 2,000 feet in just over 1 mile. It is a spectacular sight not duplicated anywhere else in the Park and in few other places on the California coast. With this legislation, Rancho Corral de Tierra will be preserved through a tripartite partnership between the National Park Service, California State Parks and the Peninsula Open Space Trust. For the Rancho Corral de Tierra property, we will seek 50 percent of the acquisition costs from the federal government and 50 percent through state and private contributions. The other properties will be donated by the State of California. The current landowner of the Rancho Corral de Tierra is the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). They purchased the entire Rancho Corral de Tierra site for $29.75 million to save the site from development and to preserve this important natural area. POST is a local land-conservancy trust in the San Francisco Bay Area and has a remarkable track record. POST has offered to donate significant funds towards the federal acquisition of the Rancho Corral de Tierra property through private contributions. The dedicated foresight and tireless efforts of POST led by its President Audrey Rust had enabled us to bring this legacy to our National Park. My legislation enjoys strong local support. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore Citizens Advisory Commission adopted a resolution endorsing this legislation and supporting the addition of these areas into the GGNRA after holding a public hearing and receiving public comment from local residents. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting enactment of this legislation. The legislation has the strong support of local environmental advocacy and preservation groups. The proposed additions were studied by POST in accordance with National Park Service criteria and in consultation with National Park Service staff. The study found that the land meets the criteria for additions to units of the National Park Service. The study found that the properties would preserve significant natural, scenic and recreational resources that are equal to or are unparalleled in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Preserving our country's unique natural areas is one of our highest national priorities, and it is one of my highest priorities as a Member of Congress. We must save these unique and rare areas for our children and grandchildren today or they will be lost forever. Adding these new lands to the GGNRA will provide greater recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy and will protect these fragile natural areas from encroaching development or other inappropriate uses which would destroy the scenic beauty and natural character of this key part of the California coast. I first introduced this legislation in the 107th Congress. Throughout that Congress and during the subsequent 108th Congress, significant progress has been made on this bill. Concerns were raised and have been thoroughly addressed throughout its consideration. I am hopeful now that the House will expeditiously move this bill to enactment. I am pleased once again to be joined by Senator Feinstein in introducing similar legislation in the Senate. Her leadership and support on this issue as a member of the Senate Energy Committee has been invaluable to this bill's progress. I am also proud to be joined by many members of the Bay Area Congressional delegation in their continued support of this bill, including Ms. Pelosi, Mr. George Miller of California, Ms. Lee, Mrs. Tauscher, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Stark, Mrs. Woolsey, Mr. Honda. I strongly urge my colleagues' consideration and support of the Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leader for her powerful and eloquent statement. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations and ranking member of the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional requests for time. In concluding, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I again want to express my deep appreciation to my friend and distinguished colleague, the chairman of our committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). I want to say that all of us here are profoundly proud of the generosity of the American people, the generosity of our government, and the extraordinary skill and heroism of our military in facing up to this crisis. Those who cannot get over their mindless anti-Americanism should look at what the American people, the American government, and our military have done in the last few days concerning this crisis, and they will need to rethink their mindless hatred of this great Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Long before she joined the Congress, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) was a fighter for all humane and humanitarian endeavors across the globe. She expresses the views of all Democrats on this important humanitarian crisis. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren), the dean of the California delegation.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), an indefatigable fighter on behalf of suffering people across the globe. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations and the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), my good friend and distinguished colleague, the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for sponsoring this critical resolution, and I want to express my thanks to the chairman and ranking member of our Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for their outstanding work on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my deepest and heartfelt sympathy to the people of the countries so deeply stricken by the earthquake, the tsunamis and their after-effects. This disaster has taken some 150,000 lives and left millions homeless, separated from their families, with no access to clean water, shelter, food, sanitation or health care. Mr. Speaker, late in December we all watched in shock as the news emerged detailing the horrors from the earthquake and tsunami-affected region. The initial reports of some 14,000 killed were simply stunning at the time, but a week later the numbers are 10 times higher, and with the horrendous death toll, we find there are countless more who are missing, including many American citizens. The numbers of people killed, missing, wounded or left homeless are nothing short of overwhelming, and the mind struggles to grasp that a tragedy of such dimensions is possible. But the destruction and the numbers are all too real, and the needs of the survivors are real as well. Our resolution affirms the rock-solid commitment of the American people and the government of the United States for relief and long-term reconstruction assistance in the areas affected by both the earthquake and the tsunamis, and it urges continued attention by all donors to the needs of the survivors, particularly the most vulnerable population, the children. Mr. Speaker, every country has the moral obligation to help the millions of people affected by the earthquake and the tsunamis. There is a human imperative to ensure that the survivors of this tragedy obtain much-needed humanitarian relief, but we must also work with the international community to help in the long-term reconstruction of the disaster-stricken countries, reconstruction efforts which will be needed for many years to come. I want to pay particular tribute to our military for their heroic assistance in this gigantic humanitarian crisis. No organization on the face of this planet could perform the miracles that our men and women in our military are doing every minute of every day as this crisis unfolds. Mr. Speaker, I find it an outrage that some of the wealthiest oil- rich States have pledged only a pittance, even though since oil prices are at sky-high levels they have received an enormous windfall; in the case of Saudi Arabia, some $50 billion last year, that is $50,000 million. Our resolution applauds the prompt humanitarian response of the United States, the American people, many of our friends and allies, international organizations and relief bodies. We must continue to support these efforts as long as they are necessary. The gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and I will continue to work to determine the best way the Congress and the American people can continue to help the affected countries over the long run. It is only fitting, Mr. Speaker, that the first legislative act of this Congress is a truly bipartisan effort to demonstrate the generosity and the caring of the American people. I firmly hope that this spirit of bipartisanship may spread to some of our other efforts in the 109th Congress. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 12. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in profound sadness to express my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the Honorable Robert Matsui. I was shocked to learn of the untimely death of our colleague and friend Bob, with whom I was so fortunate to serve for 24 years. Bob was truly a great man who triumphed over adversity to help lead our Nation. During World War II the United States wrongfully interned 120,000 American citizens and permanent resident aliens of Japanese ancestry. From his earliest days, Bob faced this brutal devastation as he and his family were rounded up, torn from their home and sent to the desolation of a detention camp in Tule Lake, CA. Tempered by tragedy, Bob walked from the darkness of that detention to lead the fight for passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. That historic legislation acknowledged the fundamental injustice of the internment, apologized on behalf of the people of the United States and made restitution to those interned. He called upon us to serve a high purpose and reminded us that while we addressed the injustice done, we were also protecting fundamental American values enshrined in our Constitution. This remarkable accomplishment gave added weight to United States human rights policy and credibility to our statements about other countries' human rights violations. While no amount of apology or restitution fully rectifies the denial of human rights, Bob understood that the acknowledgment of this past injustice was an important step forward. Bob and I shared that commitment to improve civil rights and human rights all over the world. Bob Matsui's long involvement in public service resulted in an impressive record of success in Sacramento and Washington. Among other achievements he was a legislative leader on Social Security as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. He rallied House Democrats with integrity and spirit as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. We mourn the loss of a good and decent man, a leader with such virtue, a fellow Californian, and a friend. We will carry a heavier burden without his strength to depend upon. My wife Annette and I extend our wishes of solace and peace for his wife Doris, his son Brian, his daughter-in-law Amy and his granddaughter Anna during this most difficult time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is well documented that many states, including my home state of California, are currently suffering from a nursing shortage that, if left unchecked, will quickly reach epidemic proportions. More than 126,000 nursing positions in hospitals around the country are unfilled, according to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. In addition, the workforce is shrinking, because it's aging (and retiring) at twice the rate of other occupations. While the problem of nursing shortages will require a multifaceted solution, I was shocked to learn recently that entry into the United States by many qualified nurses was being delayed entry because of an easily correctable bureaucratic regulation. We cannot simply stand by and allow the nursing shortage to ensnarl the quality of American health care, and that is why I am introducing the Health Improvement and Professionals Act (HIPA) of 2005. Due to a change in procedures by the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) of the Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency responsible for processing citizenship and immigration applications, it became necessary to impose a cut-off date in order to process a backlog of work-related immigration applications. As a result, CIS recently announced that it would no longer consider employment-based visa applications from the Philippines, India or China that were filed after January 1, 2002. Due to the unfortunate shortage of American nurses, many of our nation's hospitals are dependent on filling their nursing ranks with new workers from these countries. My legislation, the Health Improvement and Professionals Act of 2005, would provide a common-sense, short-term solution to the problems caused by the CIS policy change, while still allowing the agency to do the necessary and important work of processing its backlog. Mr. Speaker, my legislation simply allows CIS to recapture unused work-based immigration quota numbers from countries that have undersubscribed their own allowable visa numbers. By reassigning unused quota allotments from previous years, we would allow more qualified nurses to come to this country, bringing their crucially needed skills with them. Let me be clear, the HIPA Act of 2005 does not increase the number of immigrants allowed into our country. Instead, my legislation ensures that we are putting to full use the number of workers' visas currently allowed by law, in order to fulfill a crucial and exponentially increasing worker shortage. The HIPA Act is modeled directly on the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act, which Congress passed, and President Clinton signed into law nearly five years ago, in response to the shortage of highly skilled computer programmers and information technology workers needed to fuel the Internet boom of the late 1990's. Like the HIPA Act of 2005, that law allowed for the recapture of unused employment-based visas to fill a necessary labor shortage. The growth of the nursing shortage is easily traceable--one only has to look to the fact that in 2002, 30 states were reportedly experiencing some level of nursing shortages. This number is expected to rise to 45 states by 2012. The scope of this problem is compounded by the fact that many of today's nurses are nearing retirement, and so our country is facing the compounded problem of increased retirements coupled with increased demand. This problem is well known to the federal government, as the Department of Labor has noted that one million new nurses will be needed by 2012 to meet the growing health needs of our country. Some may criticize my legislation for bringing nurses into the country instead of training American men and women to do the job. Unfortunately, enrollments in baccalaureate nursing programs at colleges and universities across the United States have declined for five consecutive years. Even in states where the programs are full, as in my state of California, nearly 70% of all nurses are trained by community colleges. Many of the programs at these schools in California are full, and some even have substantial waiting lists of eager students ready to learn about the exciting and rewarding profession of nursing. I will continue to work to expand the capacity of nurse training programs in our country to help relieve this shortage. However, the shortage in California is so severe that even if all of the nursing programs in the state were to double their enrollments, California would still not be able to meet her nursing needs in the year 2010. Mr. Speaker, the lack of nurses in our hospitals has a direct effect on the quality of the health care these facilities can provide. The shortages currently experienced in 30 states affects all patients, from those in operating rooms and intensive care units to those who treat children and cancer patients. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Health and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, over 50% of physicians surveyed believed that the nursing shortage is a leading cause of medical error. Additional studies and surveys published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations all confirm that the shortage of RNs is influencing the delivery of health care in the United States and negatively affecting patient outcomes. It is completely unacceptable in 21st century America that these preventable deaths are occurring. I hope my colleagues are as appalled about this as I am and that they will join me in supporting this common sense and critically important legislation. While we search for a longer-term solution to the problems as well as the causes of this nursing shortage crisis, the Health Improvement and Professionals Act of 2005 will provide a desperately needed injection of health care professionals into this country.