Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed Rollcall votes on September 22, 2010. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: Rollcall No. 532: ``yea.'' Rollcall No. 533: ``yea.''

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Brother John G. Driscoll who passed away on September 21, 2010. Brother Driscoll served as the sixth president of his undergraduate alma mater, Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, from 1971 to 1995, where he also was a mathematics professor. A New York City native and long-time member of the Congregation of Christian Brothers, Brother Driscoll earned a PhD in theoretical mathematics from Columbia University. He taught at all educational levels, including elementary and secondary schools in Manhattan and the West Indies, and colleges and universities in four states. In his nearly quarter century as Iona College's top administrator, Brother Driscoll left an impressive legacy in many academic and student life areas. He was inducted into Iona's Hall of Fame in 1994 for his significant contributions in enhancing lona's athletic department, including expanding women's athletics, developing athletic scholarships in almost all sports and raising the competitive standing of lona's teams. Because of his active leadership and involvement in a wide range of educational, civic and religious organizations, he also made a lasting mark throughout the broader community of New Rochelle, Westchester County and New York State. After leaving Iona, Brother Driscoll combined his commitment to lifelong learning and teaching with his passion for Jewish-Catholic studies. In February 1989, Brother Driscoll was appointed director of the Bat Kol Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. From 1995 until recently, he served as a Scholar in Residence at Hebrew University in Israel, and presented lectures on biblical studies taught through the Jewish traditions to Christian seminary groups and in religious education study centers in the US, India, South Africa, Italy, Zambia, Canada, the Philippines and Australia, among others. His seriousness of purpose in fostering ecumenism was enhanced by his infectious Irish wit and wisdom, earning him well-deserved international respect and admiration. Among the many tributes were honorary doctorate degrees from the National University of Ireland, Galway; Pace University; St. Thomas Aquinas College; and the College of New Rochelle. But perhaps one unusual honor--the endowment of the Brother John G. Driscoll Professorship in Jewish- Catholic studies at Iona College--best captures this remarkable man's lifelong work. Its mission statement reads: ``The Professorship takes Brother Driscoll's hopes as its own: that ancient truths will be revered, that hidden truths will be revealed and that new ways will be found to touch the human heart.''

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed rollcall vote No. 515 on August 10, 2010. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, more than 70,000 Americans from every State descended upon Ground Zero to recover and rebuild after 9/11. They ran into burning buildings, they rescued trapped workers, they sorted through destruction. And just as we provide medical care for our troops, we must care for the 13,000 who are now sick as a result of their heroic actions in a toxic environment. They disregarded their personal safety for our country. Surely this Congress will not disregard their dire health needs to protect foreign tax shelters. Nearly all of us represent a responder and almost 9 years later have a responsibility to do what is right. Vote for this bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of providing urgently needed funds for our troops and diplomats to address the most pressing international crisis. This bill provides approximately $3.7 billion for State Department operations and assistance programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, which are critical, not to continue war but to execute the President's strategy to bring home our troops. My subcommittee is addressing serious concerns about the oversight of our assistance in Afghanistan. The administration must expend every dime of these funds responsibly and efficiently to advance our security interests. An additional $1.8 billion will aid recovery efforts in Haiti where 1,450,000 people remain displaced and struggle daily to survive. Other international assistance includes $175 million for Mexico for counternarcotics programs and $150 million in economic and military assistance for Jordan, an important ally facing increased economic and security pressures. While I am pleased this bill includes an increased responsibility for airlines to check passenger lists against the TSA's issued No Fly List to prevent continued air security breakdowns, I am deeply disappointed it has been stripped of funding to help prevent teacher layoffs--an emergency in our districts. I hope the House will provide additional funds to preserve and create jobs in the coming months to continue our economic recovery.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2194, the Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act. Under its current leadership, Iran is a threat--to the United States, to its neighbors, and to global stability. Stopping the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons is a top priority of this Administration and Congress. Building on the momentum of the recent adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1929, this bill will impose punitive sanctions to immediately squeeze the Iranian regime in an effort to force change in their reckless behavior. With the passage of H.R. 2194, we send a clear message backed by tough sanctions: investing in Iran's energy sector, conducting business with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, or facilitating investments that support Iran's illicit nuclear program have severe consequences. Penalties and travel restrictions on Iran's human rights abusers and new sanctions in the banking and financial sector will further isolate the Iranian government, increasing the cost to Iran's leaders for their nuclear ambitions. I thank the gentleman from California for his efforts, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor Ella Cohen and Rye Neck High School for her winning the Stephen J. Wemiel Best Oralist Award 2010 in the ``We The Students'' National High School Moot Court Competition in March. This competition brings high school students from around the world together to compete and showcase their oral advocacy skills. Students are tested on their understanding of cutting edge legal questions and the applicability of current legal issues to the high school setting. Crucial to this competition is the understanding of the Constitution and our complex judiciary system. Ella demonstrated sharp legal reasoning, addressing difficult questions about the first amendment. Ella's award as ``Best Respondent'' in this competition is a testament to the quality education she has received at Rye Neck High school and her commitment to her studies. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ella and recognizing the teachers, the administrators and her family who have contributed to her academic success.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I thank the gentleman for organizing this Special Order and providing critical details of exactly what happened. Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind: Israel has the right to defend herself and the responsibility to protect her citizens from Hamas, which denies Israel's right to exist and rains rockets down on its citizens. While Israel reviews the flotilla incident and considers the best way to implement the Gaza blockade, we must not forget that failure to prevent weapons and other illicit materials from reaching Hamas would be a dereliction of Israel's most basic responsibility to its people. I stand firmly in support of Israel's right to self-defense, and I am committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge so she can continue to defend her citizens. As the blame-Israel-first crowd continues to attack our democratic ally, Israel, over a host of challenges in the Middle East, I am reminded of a simple yet powerful concept: ``Words matter.'' The inflammatory rhetoric surrounding events in the Middle East in recent weeks and months only begets more hostility and discourages efforts towards a lasting peace agreement which the people of Israel, the people of the West Bank, and the people of Gaza deserve; and these words can incite those encouraging violence against Israel.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, let there be no doubt in anyone's mind: Israel has the right to defend herself and the responsibility to protect her citizens from Hamas, which denies Israel's right to exist and rains rockets down on its citizens. While Israel reviews the Gaza flotilla incident and considers the best way to implement the Gaza blockade, we must not forget that failure to prevent weapons and other illicit materials from reaching Hamas would be a dereliction of Israel's most basic responsibility to its people. I stand firmly in support of Israel's right to self-defense and am committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge so she can continue to defend her citizens. As the `Blame Israel First' crowd continues to attack our democratic ally Israel over a host of challenges in the Middle East, I am reminded of a simple--yet powerful--concept: words matter. The inflammatory rhetoric surrounding events in the Middle East in recent weeks and months only begets more hostility; discourages efforts toward a lasting peace agreement, which the people of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza deserve; and can incite those encouraging violence against Israel. The Administration focused today on humanitarian and development assistance to strengthen the Palestinian Authority so it can serve as a viable partner in peace to Israel. Abu Mazen must make clear to all the Palestinian people that their security and a prosperous future depends on rejecting Hamas, recognizing Israel and working with the international community and Israel to achieve a two state solution. Despite the current, tense environment, some positive steps have been taken that will improve Israel's security as well as bolster U.S. national security interests. Iran continues to be an existential threat to Israel, the region and the world, and I am pleased today's agreement by the U.N. Security Council to impose multilateral sanctions on Iran will hold the regime accountable for its reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons. I look forward to Congress finalizing strong bilateral sanctions and urge European partners and other responsible countries to do the same. We must continue to strongly support the U.S.-Israel partnership which provides invaluable benefits to both of our countries national security.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I thank the gentleman. I'm just going to complete my statement, and I appreciate your generosity. The administration focused today on humanitarian and development assistance to strengthen the Palestinian Authority so it can serve as a viable partner in peace to Israel. But Abu Mazen must make clear to all the Palestinian people that their security and prosperous future--and we've seen an 11 percent growth in the West Bank--depends on rejecting Hamas, recognizing Israel, and working with the international community and Israel to achieve a two-state solution. Despite the current tense environment, some positive steps have been taken that will improve Israel's security as well as bolster U.S. national security interests. Iran continues to be an existential threat to Israel, the region, and the world. I am pleased today's agreement by the U.N. Security Council to impose multilateral sanctions on Iran will hold the regime accountable for its reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons, and I look forward to Congress finalizing strong bilateral sanctions and urge European partners and other responsible countries to do the same. We must continue to strongly support the U.S.-Israeli partnership which provides invaluable benefits to both of our countries' national securities.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed a rollcall vote on June 8, 2010. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 337.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, each year on Memorial Day, Americans take a day to express their gratitude and honor the memory of the men and women who have given their lives in service to our nation. This experience of patriotism and civic consciousness is a time to reflect on the bravery and commitment of those who have answered the call to serve and our responsibilities to uphold the ideals for which they fought. In Congress, this is a time to recommit ourselves to caring for those who served our country and their families. They have fulfilled their obligations to the American people, and we must fulfill our obligations to them. That's why I am pleased Congress has provided historic increases of 60 percent since 2007 for health care and other services for our veterans. In fiscal year 2010, Congress increased funding by $15.3 billion over last year's level and $747 million above the administration's request. Congress and President Obama also passed a law to fund veterans' medical care one year in advance to ensure timely and uninterrupted funding for veterans' health care system. To support our active duty personnel, I supported a 3.4 percent military pay increase, a $3 billion increase in funding for Defense Health Programs, and a $3.46 billion increase for equipment in the field. While I am pleased Congress is providing robust funding to care for our military and veterans, much work remains to be done such as ensuring increased resources for PTSD and other mental health issues, resolving the continued backlogs of veterans' claims, and concurrent receipt. The courage of our military and our veterans is an inspiration to us all, and we thank them all for their service and sacrifice to protect our freedoms. The thoughts and prayers of our entire nation are with the men and women serving today, those who have bravely served, and the families of those whose ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to our nation's brave soldiers and veterans.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Samuel G. Fredman, this year's recipient of the Rabbi Amiel Wohl Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious honor is being respectfully bestowed upon Judge Fredman by the Westchester Jewish Conference for his lifetime of contributions to Westchester County and our great country. Sam Fredman has led a truly remarkable life. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the South Pacific Theater during and after World War II. After his military service, Sam received his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and law degree from Columbia University. He is a member of the New York State Bar and admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Judge Fredman has served as law firm partner, law school lecturer, and Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for nearly 14 years. Judge Fredman still practices law today as a private arbitrator and mediator at Wilson Esler Moskowitz Edelmen & Dicker and as a judicial hearing officer for New York's Ninth Judicial Circuit. In addition to his professional achievements, Sam remains a devoted family man as the grandfather of four beautiful grandchildren. Judge Fredman has already been recognized with over 22 awards and honors during his lifetime, including the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Distinguished Service Award, Pennsylvania State University Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Westchester Holocaust Commission Distinguished Service Award. The long list of Sam's admirers includes the United Jewish Appeal, Westchester County Bar Association, Westchester Holocaust Commission, Benjamin Cardozo Society, State University of New York, B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Cystic Fibrosis Society, Hebrew Academy of Westchester, Solomon Schechter School of Westchester County, Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and the Anti-Defamation League. However, it is Judge Fredman's service to the Westchester community for over 60 years that has brought him the distinguished Rabbi Amiel Wohl lifetime achievement award. Sam has given his time and talents in support of White Plains Hospital Center, White Plains Public Library, Community Chest, Heart Fund, and numerous other charitable causes. He was chairman of the SUNY-Purchase Council for 5 years and has remained active in religious leadership with the Commission on Synagogue Relations of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, Advisory Board of the Westchester Jewish Chronicle, Board of Directors of The Anne Frank Center, Hillel Foundation at Penn State University, Westchester Jewish Conference and the Westchester and Lower Connecticut Division of Israel Bonds where he served as chairman. Despite his busy schedule, Judge Fredman has also made time to coach boys baseball and basketball teams with the White Plains recreational department. I urge you to join me in honoring our great countryman and my constituent, Judge Sam Fredman.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I want to thank the chair for his leadership on this very important issue. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong support for H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, which mandates tighter sanctions against the Iranian regime. With its continued defiance of the international community and with the clock ticking on their nuclear capabilities, now is the time for action. This week, Iran announced its testing of various missiles and weapons capabilities. U.S. officials have said Iran could develop a ballistic missile capable of striking the U.S. by 2015, and they have said that Iran's continued existential threat to our strongest ally in the Middle East, Israel, presents dire global security implications. I urge the conferees to act with haste to address these urgent challenges with tough crippling sanctions. Let the speed with which Congress finalizes this legislation to sanction Iran be a message to the international community that time is of the essence if we are to contain Iran's threat to security, stability and prosperity worldwide. Again, I thank the gentleman from California and the gentlewoman from Florida for their efforts. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this motion to instruct. General Leave

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Colonel David F. Everett whose commitment to military and civilian service will be honored at the Jewish Board of Family and Community Services in New York on April 21, 2010. Col. Everett's decorated military career includes Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where, as a Major, he volunteered for active duty and served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. In 2005, as a Colonel, he volunteered for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was assigned to the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team. While in Iraq, Mr. Everett was the principal Coalition Forces advisor to the Director of International Affairs of Iraq's Ministry of Interior. In 2009, David again volunteered for service in Operation Enduring Freedom and was deployed to Afghanistan as a Senior Military Advisor to the Chief of Police of Kabul. Col. Everett was twice awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom as well as the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his service in Afghanistan. Col. Everett serves on the Service Academy Review Board for my congressional office where he works with young people in the 18th congressional district of New York who apply for nominations to the U.S. service academies. He has helped enrich the lives of countless youth seeking the opportunity to serve their country and become active citizens. In 1981, Col. Everett became a Big Brother with the Jewish Board of Family and Community Services, dedicating his time to mentoring youth. Now, Col. Everett is Vice President of the Board and has been a trustee for nearly 20 years. I urge you to join me in honoring this man who truly embodies the kind of service that makes our country great.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to National Arts in the School Day. This great program gives young people the opportunity to experience and be exposed to art of all kinds. Last year, six schools in Port Chester, New York opened their doors to 35 guest artists who shared their work with students from kindergarten through 12th grade, and I am pleased that schools will be participating again this year on April 15th. Research has shown that arts education is closely linked to academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity. Experiencing art can connect people more deeply to the world around them, encourage students to be open to new perceptions of the world, and create foundations for social bonds and community cohesion. I encourage all schools around the country to celebrate the arts on National Arts in the School Day. Through projects large or small-- school-wide performances or even inviting local artists to help children appreciate art in all forms--we can raise awareness of the importance of art and art appreciation and renew our commitment to arts education.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, yesterday, I regrettably missed a rollcall vote. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: Rollcall No. 173--``yea.''

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I rise in strong support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of enacting historic health care reform. Over the past fifteen months, I have held countless meetings with community organizations, small business owners, senior citizens, doctors, nurses, and patients, joined public forums and community meetings, and held telephone town halls. It is clear to me the status quo is unsustainable. Without action, individuals would continue to be denied coverage and care, more families would go into bankruptcy due to the costs of care, and businesses would continue to struggle to cover their employees. Some benefits will be evident almost immediately after this bill is signed. The most egregious practices of insurance companies, like denying coverage for children due to pre-existing conditions and dropping coverage when patients become sick, will be illegal. Small businesses will gain tax credits to provide affordable insurance to their employees. Senior citizens will benefit from immediate steps to close the Medicare prescription drug ``donut hole.'' I have heard hundreds of personal stories. A social worker in Ardsley earning $53,000 per year whose out-of-pocket insurance premium just increased by $110 to $831 per month. Or the man from White Plains who was denied life saving cancer medication by his insurance company until my intervention. The small business owner from Ossining whose premium costs increased 40 percent this year. I want to assure you that: Medicare benefits will be strengthened by closing the prescription drug ``donut hole,'' eliminating charges for preventive care, and extending the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund. The vast majority of families in Westchester and Rockland Counties will see absolutely no change in their income taxes due to this bill. I fought to protect our region, and I continue my work to index federal taxes to cost of living, which would help residents in our expensive area. Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees are exempt from employer requirements and some will immediately be offered tax credits to provide coverage for their employees. This legislation will not provide taxpayer funding for abortion, and in fact I am not pleased with new obstacles to reproductive health care. And finally, this bill will reduce the federal deficit by more than $143 billion in the first ten years and more than $1.2 trillion in the second ten years after passage. Instead of passing the House bill, the Senate adopted a flawed bill that I will support for the sole purpose of immediately making improvements through reconciliation to help American families and businesses. Although the legislation we passed this week is not perfect, it will rein in skyrocketing insurance premiums for families, prevent the worst practices of the insurance industry, help 30 million uninsured Americans gain access to care, allow insured Americans to keep their coverage if they like it, help small businesses afford coverage for their employees, allow children up to 26 years old to stay on their parents' plans and protect Medicare for senior citizens.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 4302 and H.R. 3457, bills originally introduced by Representative Abercrombie of Hawaii, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of our dear friend and colleague, Chairman Jack Murtha. Jack was truly an all- American, a committed public servant, decorated veteran of war, small businessman, devoted husband and father and grandfather. Many have recalled tonight and in recent weeks his service on the front lines of combat. His experience in the military made him a lifelong advocate for our men and women in uniform and a compass for this body when it came to making some of the toughest issues we face, those related to the defense of the United States. Jack Murtha exercised his power to protect the country he loved, taking seriously the trust of his constituents and his responsibility to the American people. I learned so much from Jack Murtha. I witnessed firsthand and benefited from his expertise on military strategy, intelligence, and foreign policy. His compassion and commitment to do what was right were equally impressive. On his broad shoulders, he carried a great burden to not only provide for our troops and their security but to ensure that we have made this world a better place, a safer place, including for innocent civilians in war zones and vulnerable societies around the world. And with a heavy heart he regularly gave his time to lift the spirits of men and women recovering from injuries in battles, sharing with them the appreciation of a grateful Nation. Finally, I would like to note his dedication to a goal we shared: Alleviating cancer, especially those unique to women. He not only worked to help adapt military technology to aid in the treatment of cancer, he and his loving wife, Joyce, have supported initiatives to directly support breast cancer patients and survivors. Jack was a giant among men. He was tough, he was smart, he was committed to this great institution. His lifelong service to our country will be missed. Rest in peace, my dear friend. I will miss him.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of our dear friend and colleague, Chairman John Murtha. Jack was truly an all- American--a committed public servant, decorated veteran of war, small businessman, devoted husband and father. Many have recalled in recent weeks his service on the front lines of combat. His experience in the military made him a lifelong advocate for our men and women in uniform and a compass for this body when it came to making some of the toughest issues we face--those related to the defense of the United States. Jack Murtha exercised his power to protect the country he loved, taking seriously the trust of his constituents and his responsibility to the American people. As Chairwoman of the foreign aid subcommittee and a member of the Select Intelligence Panel, I witnessed firsthand and benefited from his expertise on military strategy, intelligence, and foreign policy. His compassion and commitment to do what was right were equally impressive. On his broad shoulders, he carried a great burden to not only provide for our troops and our security, but to ensure that we have made this world better and safer, including for innocent civilians in warzones and vulnerable societies around the world. And, with a heavy heart, he regularly gave his time to lift the spirits of men and women recovering from injuries in battle, sharing with them the appreciation of a grateful nation. Finally, I would like to note his dedication to a goal we shared-- alleviating cancer, especially those unique to women. He not only worked to help adapt military technology to aid in the treatment of cancer, he and his loving wife Joyce have supported initiatives to directly assist breast cancer patients and survivors. Chairman Murtha was a giant among men, and his lifelong service to our country will be missed.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I would like to insert the following list of Shaken Baby Syndrome victims: Cynthia Gibbs from New York, Tanner Jurisch from South Dakota, Cheyanne Huffines from Georgia, Macie McCarty from Minnesota, Jake Belisle from Maine, Benjamin Zentz from Michigan, Chole Salazar from New Mexico, Madison Musser from Oklahoma, Daniel Carbajal from Texas, Nykkole Becker from Minnesota, Gianna D'Alessio from Rhode Island, Brynn Ackley from Washington, Rachael Kang from Texas, John Sprague from Maryland, Ryan Sanders from Virginia, Reagan Johnson from Virginia, Brittney Sheets from New York, Dalton Fish from Indiana, Nicolette Klinker from Colorado, Brianna Moore from West Virginia, Shania Maria from Massachusetts, Dayton Jones from Pennsylvania, Breanna Sherer from California, Evelyn Biondo from New York, Kenneth Hardy from Pennsylvania, Alexis Vazquez from Florida, Joshua True from Washington, Stephen David from California, Michael Blair from Arkansas, Olivia Thomas from Ohio, Kaleb Schwade from Florida, Aiden Jenkins from Pennsylvania, Isabella Clark from Pennsylvania, Aaron Cherry from Texas, Skipper Lithco from New York, Madilyne Wentz from Missouri, Chelsea Forant from Massachusetts, David Sedlet from California, Joshua Cross from Ohio, Taylor Rogers from Illinois, Kaden Isings from Washington, Hannah Juceam from California, Sarah Donohue from New York, Gavin Calloway from Maryland, Kierra Harrison from Nevada, Christopher Daughtrey from North Carolina, Miranda Raymond from Pennsylvania, Dominic Morelock from Ohio, Emmy Cole from Maine, McKynzee Goin from Oregon, Bryce McCormick from Florida, Dawson Rath from Pennsylvania, Joseph Wells from Texas, Stephen Siegfried from Texas, Margaret Dittman from Texas, Jamison Carmichael from Florida, Bennett Sandwell from Missouri, Amber Stone from New York, Cassandra Castens from Arizona, Gabriela Poole from Florida. On behalf of these victims and many other innocent lives lost or damaged, I look forward to working with my colleagues to see that legislation becomes law so that we can expand efforts to eradicate Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Lastly, in addition to the thousands of NGOs, I want to commend a group started by Danielle Butin in my district that has been collecting medical supplies and shipping containers daily with the help of many, many volunteers. This is a job for all of us, and I am very, very pleased that there are so many governments and individuals who are working to relieve this terrible, terrible effect of the disaster.

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1021, with appreciation for the leadership of Barbara Lee, a member of my committee; Donald Payne; and sincere condolences for the victims of last Tuesday's tragic earthquake and continuing aftershocks. Yet another natural disaster has devastated this country and its people. My deep sympathy and prayers are with the people of Haiti and all those who have lost loved ones. As the resolution notes, the U.S. Government and the American people stand in solidarity with the Haitian people and are committed to helping them in this great time of need. The intense challenges of delivering humanitarian relief are compounded in Haiti by weak infrastructure and government institutions that cannot provide the necessary support for relief. I commend the swift response by the Obama administration, especially USAID, the State Department, HHS, the Department of Defense, as well as the international community, to quickly mobilize humanitarian and disaster relief in a complex humanitarian disaster. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding work of many, many other countries; and I want to particularly commend Israel for its immediate response with search and rescue teams, fully equipped hospitals and doctors, Doctors Without Borders, and thousands of NGOs.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2611, permanently authorizing the Securing the Cities initiative. I thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member King and my New York colleagues and cosponsors Representatives Israel and Clarke for their efforts to bring this bill forward. Securing the Cities was created to design and implement a layered approach for the detection and interdiction of illicit radiological materials in New York. While this program was initially a pilot and significant progress has been made, unfortunately detection technology and systems are not yet fully in place. Given the known threats that New York faces, it is no surprise that NYPD considers this initiative the most important federal security program. We must continue Securing the Cities until all technology and systems are fully operable. As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, I have fought to fund this security imperative, and passing this bill will help ensure that funding continues in future years. I thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to ensure our most threatened cities are adequately protected, and I urge a yes vote on H.R. 2611.