Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to Mr. Jose Serrano of New York.

Mrs. LOWEY. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Mrs. LOWEY. This amendment increases funding for the National Cemetery Association account by $1 million, offset by reductions in the SBA Disaster Loan Program. As I understand it, the gentlewoman has heard from her constituents that these additional funds are needed to address extensive tree damage at New York and New Jersey national cemeteries. VA cemeteries are national shrines and a lasting tribute that commemorate veterans' service and sacrifice to our great Nation. The amendment will ensure that the VA cemeteries affected by Hurricane Sandy will be repaired in a quick and efficient manner, and I urge all Members to support this amendment.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I thank the distinguished, distinguished ranking member, Mr. Meeks, for your eloquence, as always. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I would like to thank Chairman Garrett for introducing this legislation and for his efforts to bring it to the floor with bipartisan support. The National Flood Insurance Program has hit its limit. Without an increase in borrowing authority, it will be unable to pay for claims as early as next week. And that means that 120,000 flood insurance claims payments will be delayed, nearly all of which are due to Hurricane Sandy. However, this bill is just not enough. It's not adequate. In December, the Senate passed an emergency assistance package to aid in the Sandy recovery, which included this legislation. Earlier this week, I expected, as did my colleagues, that the House would vote on a complete emergency assistance package to aid those in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York who have lost homes, businesses, and their livelihoods. Sadly, the 112th Congress ended without action, and now we are starting over on important legislation which is absolutely critical to help storm-affected areas that should have and could have been signed. We know that there's no reason it wasn't signed in 2012. However, we have now been promised a vote on the Sandy emergency assistance package by January 15, and families in my district and throughout the region are looking to Congress and asking, ``Why are you making it so difficult for us to rebuild? Why are you making us wait to rebuild?'' Today's legislation is a start, but only a first step, toward providing relief for those who suffered as a result of Hurricane Sandy. We don't need a piecemeal approach. That is not the way that Congress acts. We need a comprehensive Sandy recovery bill passed today. We hold you to your commitment of January 15 and not a day later. We need this complete bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, the Republican do-nothing leadership has an opportunity to do something--something very important--today to help the more than 17 million Americans who were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, one of the worst storms in U.S. history, more than 9 weeks ago. The Senate has sent us a good bill. We are ready to act. We have the bipartisan votes to pass it. And yet the House Republican leadership has said there will be no votes today, the last day to pass this legislation without delay before we have to start all over again in the new session of Congress tomorrow. Let me be very clear. Republican leadership has turned their backs on New Yorkers. They have turned their backs on those suffering without homes and businesses struggling just to get by. They have no valid reason for this delay--only the dysfunction with which they lead this body. This record storm resulted in the deaths of over 100 Americans. The coasts of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut have been devastated. Other surrounding States have sustained significant damage. In 2005, this body came together and passed a Federal disaster assistance bill to help the gulf recover from Hurricane Katrina 2 weeks after the storm. Congress acted to assist those who suffered damage in Hurricane Gustav and Ike within 1 month. The Governors of our States, Democrat and Republican, have assessed over $82 billion in damages. The Senate bill would have provided $60.4 billion--not everything that was requested, but a detailed, thoughtful disaster assistance plan to help these communities rebuild. More than 9 weeks since the storm hit, House Republican leadership is doing nothing, after giving us nearly virtual assurance just yesterday that we would consider this assistance bill today. When a disaster hits on American soil, we as a Congress have the responsibility and tradition of working together, Democrat and Republican, to help communities rebuild. Our citizens are counting on us to help them recover from the storm and mitigate future disasters. I respectfully urge House leadership to reconsider their decision. Support the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Put politics aside. Do the right thing. People are waiting. People need this assistance. Let's bring the bill to a vote today.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I truly feel betrayed this evening. I left this floor with an understanding that this bill was going to be brought to the floor. One of Congress' most basic responsibilities is to help families, communities, and businesses recover. Yet Republicans refuse to act to help the victims of Sandy as expeditiously as we know we can. We can pass this bill tomorrow with bipartisan support. Yet the Republicans will adjourn this session, allow this bill to be buried, and make sure that the people of our communities do not get the help that they need. Disaster knows no boundaries. This body has acted with speed and compassion to help Americans throughout the country in disaster after disaster. Dysfunction, Mr. Speaker, in this Congress, shouldn't result in punishing victims of Sandy in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. This is a sad day. I urge the majority to reconsider the decision to not put the supplemental on the floor, and I want to thank our leader, Mr. Hoyer; our leader, Madam Pelosi; and all those who have been advocating for Sandy. We need to do this, and we need to do it before we adjourn.

Ms. LOWEY

Ms. LOWEY. And I congratulate you on the wisdom which you generously share with all of us. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the bill. Instead of putting forth a serious, comprehensive, and balanced deficit reduction plan, the Republicans are taking a timeout so the House can embark on yet another futile effort to pass portions of the Ryan budget--the same Ryan budget that would end Medicare as we know it, walk away from the caps on discretionary spending agreed to in the Budget Control Act, and has no chance of being signed into law. Our constituents want us to negotiate and agree to a solution to avoid economic catastrophe. I have concerns with some of the proposals the President has made in his negotiations with the Speaker, but at least the President was seeking a workable compromise. Instead, the majority walked away from the negotiating table and away from a $2.4 trillion deficit reduction package. Given everything our country has been through in the last 2 months, from Superstorm Sandy to the tragedy in Newtown, the last thing Americans need is for politicians to refuse to compromise while risking market collapse, credit downgrade, and putting the brakes on economic growth and job creation. I urge my colleagues to end the political charade. Let's get back to the serious task of negotiating a balanced deficit reduction plan. Let's do it now, today. We can do it.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, December 1, World AIDS Day, is an opportunity for people in the United States and around the world to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS, to show their support for those living with the virus, and to commemorate the many who have died from this terrible disease. The first World AIDS Day was held in 1988, just weeks after my first election to Congress. I am proud of the work the Congress has done since that time to combat the scourge of HIV and AIDS throughout the world. Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and our support to multilateral organizations, such as UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States has led the way in modernizing the global response to HIV and AIDS. Our efforts not only save lives, but also promote economic growth and increased stability throughout the world. Recognizing that we cannot beat this epidemic with treatment alone, I am pleased that recent global efforts are increasingly focused on prevention as well as sustainability, efficiency, and program effectiveness. Today, there is more hope than ever that we can achieve an AIDS-free generation. A new UNAIDS report demonstrates the clear progress we have made in our fight. Access to antiretroviral therapy has increased by an incredible 63 percent in the last 24 months alone, and AIDS-related deaths fell by more than 25 percent globally between 2005 and 2011. The rate of new HIV infections has been reduced by more than 50 percent in the last decade across 25 low- and middle-income countries--more than half of which are in Africa. This could not have happened without U.S. leadership. PEPFAR has directly supported HIV testing and counseling for more than 49 million people in fiscal year 2012, providing a critical entry point to prevention, treatment, and care. However, despite the encouraging progress, estimates are that 6.8 million infected people still need access to treatment, and the total number of new HIV infections remains high, at 2.5 million persons worldwide in 2011. This is simply unacceptable. So while our efforts are impressive, they are clearly not enough. The spread of HIV and AIDS continues to disproportionately affect many of the most vulnerable populations, especially women and girls, and I will not rest until we bring an end to AIDS here at home and around the world. Our commitment to ending this pandemic must be smart, strategic, and unwavering. AIDS knows no boundaries, and neither must our generosity and determination to overcome it. And so, on this 25th World AIDS Day, I urge my colleagues to continue our commitment to fighting this disease.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the continuing resolution. Two of Congress' primary responsibilities are setting Federal spending levels and being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. We should all agree that is best accomplished when we comb through the budget, line by line, to enact responsible spending bills. That became impossible when the majority walked away from the agreement in last year's Budget Control Act. As a result, the House engaged in a futile attempt to adopt bills that simply don't add up to the spending levels already agreed upon. A temporary blanket extension of funding doesn't allow us to prioritize increased investments in STEM education, biomedical research, clean energy, infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and job training initiatives that will grow our economy and create jobs. And a CR also inhibits our efforts to root out wasteful spending. I will support this bill. We must keep the government operating. However, next year, we must work across the aisle to ensure adequate investments in activities that will facilitate economic growth and best serve our national interest. I would also like to take a moment to thank my good friend, Norm Dicks. It has been a privilege to serve on the committee with you, and your expertise, steady hand, and leadership will be greatly missed.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor and to work with my colleague from Illinois, Mr. Dold, to issue a commemorative coin honoring the 75th anniversary of the March of Dimes, based in my district in White Plains. Funds from the sale of the coins would be used to support the March of Dimes' vital work to ensure healthy pregnancies. The March of Dimes has a long and proud history. President Franklin Roosevelt took the four billion dimes sent to him by Americans in the Great Depression and created the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. Later renamed the March of Dimes, the foundation was dedicated to supporting the care of thousands of Americans with polio, as well as supporting research into the prevention and treatment of the crippling disease. The March of Dimes fulfilled President Roosevelt's dream of a polio- free nation by funding the development of polio vaccines, which led to its eradication in the United States and much of the world. In the decades that followed, the organization helped stamp out rubella, pushed for Neonatal Intensive Care Units, promoted folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, and brought newborn screening to every American baby. Today, the March of Dimes focuses on reducing prematurity. Every year, nearly half a million babies in the U.S. are born premature, the leading cause of newborn death. In my home state of New York, almost 600 infants are born preterm every week--representing 12.2% of all live births in the state. The March of Dimes New York State Chapter has one goal--to help babies start life in the healthiest way possible by helping moms-to-be learn to care for themselves before, during and after their pregnancy. The New York Chapter also partners with local medical groups and organizations to establish guidelines for how to care for pregnant women and premature infants. Over four million babies will be born across the United States this year, and each and every one will benefit from the March of Dimes historic legacy of scientific breakthroughs--from the polio vaccine to newborn screening. The March of Dimes Commemorative Coin will help us reach the day when we celebrate a new scientific breakthrough: preventing premature birth. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the gentleman from Illinois, and I urge your support.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I will use my time to observe a minute of silence for the Munich 11 who lost their lives at the 1972 Olympic Games. Thank you.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Douglas S. Borrebach of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), who will be departing after four years of outstanding service. Originally from the 18th congressional district, which I represent, Captain Borrebach's significant contributions at JIEDDO have contributed to tremendous success in countering the threat of improvised explosive devices. Upon Captain Borrebach's arrival to JIEDDO in June 2008, his actions significantly contributed to resource planning, programming, budgeting and execution management to maximize JIEDDO's investments in the Joint Warfighter Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) capabilities. A financial management expert and trusted steward of our taxpayer dollars, Captain Borrebach was critical in developing programmatic estimates, with JIEDDO managing a $10 billion budget for C-IED requirements. After nearly three years as JIEDDO's Comptroller, Captain Borrebach was handpicked to lead the Requirements and Resources Directorate at JIEDDO in April 2011, a testament to his keen analytical capabilities and ability to identify current and future resourcing opportunities. The confluence of his superb leadership, operational background, and expert knowledge in acquisition and financial management was instrumental in fulfilling one hundred percent of Combatant Command Counter-IED Joint Urgent Operational Need Statements. Over the past four years his efforts to collaborate with academia, industry, and the whole of government has led to the development and validation of critical C-IED solutions ahead of the threat. As a father of a West Point Cadet from the Class of 2013, Captain Borrebach has worked tirelessly to improve the protection of those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines downrange as if they were his own. Over his tenure, he has contributed significantly to the improvement of the IED found and clear rate and correspondingly has helped prevent casualties and loss of life. I am proud to share in the celebration of Captain Borrebach's remarkable accomplishments that have served this nation well in Afghanistan and Iraq. As he departs for his alma-mater, the United States Naval Academy, for his final assignment in his thirty-year career, I ask my colleagues to recognize his leadership and distinguished service.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 504 on H.R. 6082, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``no'' when I should have voted ``yes.'' Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Markey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, for the first time in the history of the House of Representatives, the House Majority has brought a contempt vote against the Attorney General of the United States, even though he has complied with federal law. This act is purely political and unnecessary. Chairman Issa has admitted that he has no evidence that the Attorney General authorized, condoned, or was even aware of Operation Fast and Furious, nor does he have any evidence of wrongdoing. Rather, the evidence shows that as soon as the Attorney General was aware of the gunwalking program he immediately halted it and ordered an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General. To date, the Attorney General has provided thousands of pages of documents and testified before Congress nine times. The House Majority's unprecedented political attack, despite any evidence of wrongdoing, flies in the face of our justice system and is a disservice to the American people. The death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry is tragic, and the criminals responsible for his death should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Sadly, the goal of today's vote is not to bring justice for Agent Terry, secure our border, eliminate illegal guns, or even uphold the law. Today's vote is an attempt to discredit the President of the United States and the Attorney General through whatever means necessary, with no regard to evidence, a fair process, or the truth. The American people want Congress to focus on growing the economy. If Congress does not act by the end of this year, taxes will rise on every American, and the government will face massive budget cuts that our economy cannot afford. The House should be focused on creating jobs for Americans, not ending the tenure of the Attorney General.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to William A. Krupman of Purchase, NY, who is being honored for his dedication to at- risk youth and their families upon his retirement as Chair of the Children's Village, a New York-based multi-service, not-for-profit agency. Mr. Krupman was elected to the Board of the Children's Village in 1974. In 2004, he was elected as Chair of the Board. Through his tireless efforts as Trustee and eventually Board Chair, Mr. Krupman helped the Children's Village to become a leader in the child welfare and juvenile justice fields. He also successfully created nationally recognized, evidence-based models of care that lead to real social impact. During his almost four decades on the Children's Village Board, Mr. Krupman has provided guidance to approximately 10,000 children and their families. He has not only motivated guardians to lead by example and teach their children the importance of social, educational, and economic skills, but has also provided guidance to orphans, an especially vulnerable group. The Children's Village's Dobbs Ferry campus includes long-term residential treatment programs, a short-term crisis intervention center, temporary placement for youth awaiting a court disposition, and a public school that educates all of these children as well as day students from around the region. The Children's Village also has offices in Harlem and the Bronx and program sites around Westchester County. Mr. Krupman's work has also had a profound impact abroad. Through his commitment and strong will, Mr. Krupman has succeeded in expanding literacy programs around the globe. In 2009, at the invitation of the Government of Iraq, Mr. Krupman traveled to the country as part of the Children's Village delegation to help train NGO's working with orphans. In Iraq, Mr. Krupman, along with a team of professionals, assessed the needs of the locals and offered suggestions on how to apply local feedback into the curriculum to ensure that the needs of Iraqi families and children were being met. The information they gathered helped Iraq's non-government service organizations develop programs for family foster care homes, social workers, and short-term crisis stabilization facilities similar to the one run by the Children's Village. Additionally, they established a team of Iraqi social service leaders to continue and develop the outstanding work started by Mr. Krupman and the team. Mr. Krupman currently serves as Chief Advisor to Litworld, an organization that strives to make the dream of world-wide literacy for children a reality. LitWorld teams work with teachers, community members, parents, and children to establish communities that will grow and expand to harbor literacy leaders. Recently, Mr. Krupman traveled to several African countries, including Kenya and Rwanda, bringing with him his enthusiasm and energy to share the gift of literacy with children by reading to them. Mr. Krupman's many outstanding achievements in providing assistance to children and youth, both here and around the world, are inspirational. I urge you to join me in honoring William A. Krupman.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, the Appropriations Committee voted to report the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill to the full House. This bill makes an insufficient investment in our national transportation system in part because the Committee had to insert placeholder language for several important transportation provisions, notably the Federal highway system and transit programs, due to the lack of an agreement on long-term funding. The House Republicans' inability to work in a bipartisan manner to reach a compromise on surface transportation reauthorization conference committee negotiations is preventing us from fully investing in our Nation's transportation systems to put people back to work and grow our economy. For every $1 billion of infrastructure investment, we create at least 30,000 jobs and generate more than $6 billion worth of economic activity that reverberates throughout our economy, improving our national competitiveness and spurring job creation for years to come. With the national construction unemployment around 14 percent and upwards of 40 percent in my area in recent years, workers need and want to get back on the job. Despite being a priority for the Department of Transportation, the Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement project in my district is stalled because the current Federal financing pipeline is too small. I join Mr. Walz in urging the conferees to file a conference report so that we can get on with our work to make the vital investments in our national infrastructure system.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. While I appreciate language in the bill set aside for high threat areas, I fear that it's simply insufficient to combat the threats we know are facing our most populated cities. This motion simply raises the floor that must be spent protecting our major population levels to be equal to current levels. The amount of money dedicated to urban areas has dropped from $887 million in 2010, $725 million in 2011, to now under $500 million, yet the threats we face have not diminished. I thank the gentleman for offering this motion and yielding, and I urge my colleagues to vote to protect our critical population and economic centers.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I would like to thank Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Price for their bipartisan work on this legislation. The fiscal year 2013 Homeland Security appropriations bill would make smart investments in our national security infrastructure, including increasing funds for cybersecurity, focusing homeland security dollars at communities most at threat of terrorist attacks, and providing our first responders with the resources to protect us. With limited resources, we must prioritize assistance to the regions most likely to be attacked. That is why I am so pleased that this bill takes a step toward restoring the original intent of the Urban Area Security Initiative by focusing resources on the 25 most at-risk cities while still providing funding for other regions through other programs. Ten years after 9/11, the threat of radiological attack and New York's status as the number one terror target remain. That is why I am so pleased that this bill would maintain $22 million to support Securing the Cities, which seeks to prevent the smuggling of illicit nuclear material into Manhattan. I am also pleased that Assistance to Firefighter and SAFER grants would be adequately funded. As local governments have faced difficult budget decisions, firefighters have been laid off, leaving our neighborhoods with inadequate protection. This legislation would fund firefighter hiring grants and would extend the SAFER waiver to allow communities to retain or rehire laid-off firefighters. I am extremely disappointed, however, that Republicans needlessly injected divisive social issues into the bill. I've served on this subcommittee or on the authorizing committee for nearly a decade. In that time, I've met with the first responders, ICE agents, Border Patrol, and many other security personnel. Not once have they said that women's reproductive health makes our country less secure--not once. Weighing down this bill with ideological riders is a disservice to all first responders. In closing, again, I would like to thank the committee for its investments in homeland security and first responders, and I hope that this legislation will not be used as a vehicle for ideological policy riders on the floor.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the nearly seventy bipartisan Members of this Chamber who joined with me last December in writing President Obama to urge him to bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously on the late Dr. Jan Karski. Earlier this week, at a White House ceremony, Dr. Karski received that well deserved recognition. The announcement that he would receive the honor was made last month by the President at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in the company of Elie Wiesel. Dr. Karski was a man of incredible courage. While others fell silent and looked the other way, his conscience and moral compass led him to do what was right. At great personal risk, he infiltrated the Warsaw Ghetto and a Nazi camp so he could report authentically about the suffering of innocent men, women and children. As he recounted the tragic images in his memoir, Story of a Secret State: ``Everywhere, there was hunger, misery, the atrocious stench of decomposing bodies, the pitiful moans of dying children, the desperate cries and gasps of a people struggling for life against impossible odds.'' He shared his eyewitness accounts with the Allied leaders including British Foreign Minister Anthony Eden and President Franklin Roosevelt and pleaded for a strong response. While those pleas were not initially successful, he was persistent in his efforts to make the world understand the reality of the Holocaust and to open the eyes of those who could--and eventually did--intervene. He was not one to be intimidated. He was one who fearlessly spoke truth to power. Dr. Karski has since been widely recognized by the governments of Israel and Poland for his contributions. Israel granted him honorary citizenship and Yad Vashem honored him as a ``Righteous Among the Nations.'' He also received Poland's highest civilian award, the Order of the White Eagle, along with its premier military decoration, Virtuti Militari. Both the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League have named awards in Dr. Karski's honor in recognition of his heroic and consistent efforts to stop the Holocaust. Many of our colleagues in the House and Senate know about what Jan Karski did to awaken the West to the horrors of the Holocaust as it was unfolding in his native Poland. In fact, several of our colleagues were students of Dr. Karski's during his forty year career as a professor at Georgetown University here in Washington. I know their chance to study under his guidance left an indelible impact on them that continues to serve the Nation. Former President Bill Clinton, who was also a Georgetown student while Dr. Karski was teaching, summed it up by saying ``as a professor, he continued to educate his students about the importance of freedom and the lessons of justice he had so courageously learned firsthand.'' Those are lessons that continue to be important for all to learn. As President Obama said at the Holocaust Memorial Museum last month: ``We must tell our children'' so they know ``about how this evil was allowed to happen.'' Educational programs are already being planned for 2014, the centennial year of Dr. Karski's birth, to continue his efforts instill in future generations the lessons of the Holocaust and the critical importance speaking out against hatred. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a well deserved recognition of Dr. Karski's life's work.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Westchester- Putnam School Boards Assocation, WPSBA for 50 years of service and dedication toward improving public education in its member districts throughout the Lower Hudson Valley of New York. Since its founding in 1962, WPSBA has helped school board members to become education leaders in their districts and the larger region. By providing training, outreach, and resources, WPSBA has worked to enhance the effectiveness of the school board members who work so tirelessly on behalf of public school students and their schools. WPSBA has also become a forum to share information and build relationships among people and organizations dedicated to public education. By carrying out its multi-faceted mission, WPSBA has strengthened the quality of education throughout Westchester and Putnam counties. WPSBA is a forceful advocate at the local and state levels for policies that support public education. It has also demonstrated its commitment through outreach to the public and the media, shaping the conversation to ensure that issues vital to public education are considered. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the past, current and future leaders and members of the Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association for their selfless commitment to public service. We wish all those involved with WPSBA a happy 50th anniversary celebration and continued success in the years ahead.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Let me thank my outstanding colleague from the State of Florida, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. I personally want to express my appreciation for the work you have done to make this day a reality so that we can all acknowledge Jewish American Heritage Month. It's because of you that this day is noted, and it's because of you that we have gathered at the White House for a really inspirational speech from President Obama. So as a Jewish American, I want to express my appreciation to you. I know that it may not be coincidental that this was a special time in your life this past week. I think it's appropriate that we talk about your family and your personal commitment to your Jewish heritage. During this month--last week, I believe--your daughter celebrated her bat mitzvah or bene mitzvah. This is such an amazing, amazing time in your life when your daughter or your son reaches that point where they have studied, they have learned what it is to be a Jewish American here in the United States of America. I am sure that your family was just overflowing with joy. And I just want to say mazel tov to you. That means good luck and congratulations. So today I not only rise, Mr. Speaker, to express my appreciation to Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz for making this Jewish American Heritage Month an annual tradition, but to express my appreciation to you for organizing this event tonight. I rise to mark the contributions of Jewish Americans to the rich culture and history of our Nation during this Jewish American Heritage Month. Jewish tradition embraces the concept of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Indeed, our actions in Congress are aimed at that concept-- helping to improve our society and create equity for all Americans through quality health care, education, and economic opportunity, regardless of their ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic background. What I am very proud of is that our commitment to justice reaches beyond our borders. The history of the Jewish people reminds us of our unique responsibility in the international community to stand up for what is right, speak out against hatred and injustice, and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are not lost to history. We have a responsibility, and we must defend those unjustly persecuted, no matter where they are, and we must stand by our ally, Israel, in the face of continued threats. I hope you will join me in celebrating the rich history of Jewish Americans and in looking forward to an even more vibrant and just future for all people. Thank you.

Mrs. LOWEY. Oh, it's the twins?

Mrs. LOWEY. Well, as a Jewish mother and a Jewish grandmother, I am very proud of my three children and my 8 grandchildren. And I just want to say, again, that you are really a role model for all women, not just Jewish women, a strong woman with integrity, who is committed to her Judaism, her family, and yet you understand so well that we have an obligation beyond ourselves, as we lift people up and hope that all people, in the United States of America and around the world, have the opportunity to raise children and have a good life, and can have a future. So I want to thank you because you are a role model that just does it all. In fact, it's amazing to me that you've done it all. So congratulations. Thank you again for marking this important month for all of us.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day. Today marks the passage of almost 70 years since the unfathomable annihilation of six million Jewish men, women, and children from Europe. In addition to working to systematically eliminate the Jewish people, the Nazis also targeted other marginalized groups such as political opponents, the LGBT community, the Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, the disabled, and other religious minorities. The effort to remove, wholly and completely, from society certain categories of human beings because of their ethnic, political, religious, cultural, and biological characteristics was atrocious. While we honor the memory of the millions lost during the Holocaust and the millions more who were never born because of this unparalleled crime against humanity, we must learn from the past in order to ensure that the worst actions in history are never again repeated. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is important not only to commemorate those who perished, but also those who refused to be bystanders to this grave human tragedy. We may take heart from the brave efforts of those who resisted the Nazi reign of terror, in the ghettos and the camps, from the cities to the countryside. We stand in awe of the rescuers who, against all odds and at great personal risk, demonstrated moral courage the world must honor, remember, and uphold as a model for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. As individuals, communities, and as a nation, we must rededicate ourselves to ensuring that the world will never stand idly by in the face of mass atrocity. We must work to extinguish the sparks of hatred, intolerance, and violence wherever they may be found, while nurturing in ourselves and others the seeds of empathy and a resistance to the indifference that enabled the unthinkable destruction of human life 70 years ago. Mr. Speaker, may we let this be our monument to the millions who perished in the Holocaust.

Ms. LOWEY

Ms. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National History Day, a year-long academic program in the humanities focused on historical research for 6th to 12th grade students. On Monday, February 13, 2012, President Obama awarded National History Day with the prestigious 2011 National Humanities Medal. The White House recognized this program as one that ``inspires in American students a passion for history,'' and today it is our privilege to echo this commendation. In doing so, we congratulate Dr. Cathy Gorn, Executive Director of National History Day, the entire National History Day Staff, its board, and its honorary advisory council on their distinguished service. It is quite uncommon for a program--rather than an individual--to win this prominent medal, and it is clear this program is deserving of our acknowledgement. The National History Day program invites students to conduct primary historical research in libraries, archives, museums, and historic sites. Their analysis ultimately results in original conclusions that culminate in papers, websites, exhibits, performances, and documentaries. These products are then entered into local, state, and national competitions. Each year, more than half a million elementary and secondary school students participate in this not-for-profit program. The organization operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as U.S. territories and is currently in the process of expanding internationally. Students walk away from National History Day with a wealth of information as well as invaluable research, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. The program has been called ``one of the nation's most successful educational efforts in the humanities.'' In fact, studies have shown that the college and career-ready skills that students acquire through participation in National History Day have resulted in substantially improved performance on standardized tests across all subjects, including science and math. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize National History Day and to associate myself with its noble cause. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this tremendous program in order to demonstrate our gratitude and to encourage the continuation of its good works.