Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I continue to reserve our time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would simply ask that Members on both sides of the aisle join with the gentleman from Florida in supporting H. Res. 783, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 783) recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic-Americans to the strength and culture of the United States.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as you may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present House Resolution 783 for consideration. This resolution recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrates the vast contributions of Hispanic Americans to the strength and culture of these United States. The measure before us was introduced on September 29 by my colleague and friend Representative Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and enjoys the support of nearly 60 Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, each year Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 in celebration of the many contributions of Hispanic Americans to our Nation. This observation began in 1968, following President Lyndon Baines Johnson's designation of a Hispanic Heritage Week, and was expanded to cover the 30-day period of September 15 to October 15 by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Notably, September 15 marks the anniversary of the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, the 30-day period of observance also covers the anniversary of the independence days of Mexico and Chile, as well as the anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. Mr. Speaker, according to the most recent United States Census Bureau estimate, the Hispanic American population in the United States is roughly 47 million people, which is about 15 percent of the Nation's population, making American citizens of Hispanic ancestry our Nation's largest ethnic or racial minority. Moreover, the Census Bureau has also recognized our Nation's Hispanic population as the fastest-growing minority group and notes that 16 States, including California, New York, Florida, Texas, and my home State of Massachusetts, currently include at least a half million Hispanic residents. The Census Bureau additionally estimates that there are approximately 1.1 million Hispanic American veterans, proud veterans, of the United States Armed Forces. Over the course of several generations, American life has been deeply enriched by Hispanic contributions in the fields of government, the arts, sports, education, and countless other areas. Within the past 2 years alone, we have witnessed historic firsts for Americans of Hispanic heritage that evidence the historical, cultural, and social significance of Hispanic Americans as a vital part of our Nation. Founded in December 1976, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus currently consists of 24 Members of Congress. In August of 2009, the United States Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic American to serve on the United States Supreme Court. In February of 2009, the United States Senate also confirmed Hilda Solis as the Nation's first Hispanic American woman to serve as our Secretary of Labor. And in April of 2008, renowned Hispanic American author Junot Diaz became the first Dominican American author to receive the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and only the second Hispanic American author ever to win the prestigious award. Hispanic American activists such as Cesar Chavez have fought tooth and nail to organize workers and attain the basic rights that all Americans deserve. Baseball greats, including Roberto Clemente, Juan Marichal, and Rod Carew, have helped to make America's pastime the great international sport it is today. Musicians such as Tito Puente and Carlos Santana have delighted millions with their music. And actors such as Benicio Del Toro and Jimmy Smits continue to entertain us in films and television. And celebrated authors, including Richard Rodriguez and Sandra Cisneros, continue to advance America's rich literary history with their works. Mr. Speaker, let us take this opportunity to honor the contributions of these and all Americans of Hispanic ancestry to the historical, cultural, and social fabric of our Nation through the recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Resolution 783. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 729) expressing support for designation of a ``National Firefighters Memorial Day'' to honor and celebrate the firefighters of the United States.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the gentleman for offering this resolution. I want to thank him for his kind words and eloquent words on behalf of our firefighters. I offer my own condolences to the families of Houston--the Harlow, Burke, Kulow, Jahnke, Mayo and Smith families--as well as in my own State, the Roberts family and Beverly and Kevin Kelley's family out of Local 718 in Boston because their loss has been so recent and heartfelt. I want to also mention Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, who on our side is a true champion of the cause of firefighters for all the reasons that the gentleman has articulated. I thank the gentleman. And I ask all our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution honoring American firefighters by passing House Resolution 729. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present House Resolution 729 for consideration. This resolution seeks to honor our brave firefighters across the United States, as well as commemorate those firefighters who have been disabled or killed in the line of duty by expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the designation of a National Firefighters Memorial Day. The measure before us was introduced on September 10 by my colleague, Representative Ted Poe of Texas, and enjoys the support of nearly 60 Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, according to the National Fire Protection Association, there are over 1.1 million firefighters serving throughout more than 30,000 fire departments across the Nation, including over 300,000 career firefighters, and over 800,000 volunteer firefighters. As we have witnessed time and again, whether in the midst of the terrorist attacks on September 11, in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, or in the face of the daily emergencies faced by our local communities, these brave men and women are always on the front lines in the event of a local, State, or national crisis, and are willing to serve and safeguard their fellow citizens, at great risk to their own personal safety. According to the United States Fire Administration, which annually collects data on firefighter fatalities across the country, last year witnessed 118 on-duty firefighter fatalities, including the deaths of 66 volunteer firefighters and 34 career firefighters. In addition, the United States Fire Administration has provisionally reported that to date this year, there have been 77 firefighter fatalities, including deaths of two heroic firefighters from my own home State of Massachusetts, firefighter Paul J. Roberts of the Beverly fire department, and fire fighter Kevin M. Kelly of my own Boston fire department. Notably, the bravery and self-sacrifice demonstrated by our local, State, and Federal firefighters are not limited to their public service on behalf of their fellow citizens, communities, and country here at home. Many of these exceptional public servants are currently deployed overseas in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other nations in the Middle East, as well as serving on aircraft carriers in support of our military and reconstruction missions abroad, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As reported just last week by the International Association of Firefighters, 16 IAFF members are currently serving together at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq as members of the 22nd Air Force Reserve Command. Collectively, these soldiers represent 11 IAFF affiliates and constitute one of the largest numbers of IAFF members to serve together in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, our brave local, State, and Federal firefighters stand as a shining example of the public service and principle of shared sacrifice that has come to define our Nation. It is my hope that we can honor their dedication to their fellow citizens, as well as commemorate the lives of our fallen firefighters, through the passage of House Resolution 729. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, again I urge my colleagues to join with Ms. Berkley and Mr. Wamp on the other side of the aisle to recognize and honor America's nuclear industry and uranium workers through the passage of House Resolution 790. I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the cosponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this point I would like to recognize for 5 minutes Representative Shelley Berkley of Nevada, the lead sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 790 for consideration. This legislation expresses our support for the goals and ideals of a national day of remembrance on October 30, 2009, in honor of America's nuclear weapons program workers and uranium miners, millers and haulers. House Resolution 790 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Shelley Berkley of Nevada, on October 1, 2009, and it enjoys the support of over 50 Members of Congress. In addition, the United States Senate unanimously approved a companion measure to this legislation, Senate Resolution 151, on May 20, 2009. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 790 seeks to honor the hundreds of thousands of uranium and nuclear weapons workers who have served our Nation at great personal sacrifice since World War II and during the height of the Cold War. Regrettably, many of these dedicated workers developed disabling and fatal illnesses, including cancer and lung disease, as a result of their workplace exposure to beryllium, ionizing radiation and other hazards associated with the development and testing of nuclear weapons. As noted in 2007 by Denver's Rocky Mountain News, which published a report on the human costs associated with the domestic production and development of nuclear weapons, nearly 37,000 Americans have suffered from serious illness as a result of their exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals during their employment at above-ground nuclear weapons test sites and underground uranium mines. The same publication additionally reported that at least 4,000 of these nearly 37,000 individuals have died as a result of illnesses associated with their work. Moreover, it's important to note that these statistics were only based on government figures, tracking those individuals that have been approved for compensation. As additionally noted by the Rocky Mountain News, many other nuclear weapons and uranium workers may have been affected, though they have yet to apply for compensation or have had their claims denied due to the difficulty in establishing a causal connection between their illness and their work. Mr. Speaker, these dedicated workers have served our Nation at great risk and sacrifice to not only themselves but to further generations of their families. It is my hope that we can honor their service and sacrifice through the passage of House Resolution 790. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Ms. Berkley, who is the lead sponsor of this resolution, in expressing our support for the goals and ideals of a national day of remembrance for American nuclear and uranium workers. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which they may revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 790) supporting the goals and ideals of a national day of remembrance on October 30, 2009, for American nuclear weapons program workers and uranium miners, millers, and haulers, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 2 minutes to another lead cosponsor of this measure, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter).

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield 3 minutes to another lead cosponsor of this resolution, the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 568) recognizing the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, as amended.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present House Resolution 568 for consideration. This resolution recognizes the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry in what is now West Virginia. The measure before us was introduced on June 19th, 2009, by my friend and colleague Representative Capito of West Virginia and enjoys the support of over 50 Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, the controversial but passionate abolitionist John Brown organized the raid in Harpers Ferry, which served as a precursor to the Civil War and as a driving force behind the abolishment of the unjust institution of slavery. This moment in our Nation's history also stands as a testament to the strength and courage of all of those Americans who have advanced the antislavery and civil rights movements, not only in our country, but beyond our borders as well. Intent on leading an uprising in the South that would end the practice of slavery in the summer of 1859, John Brown began to develop a plan to raid the Federal armory and arsenal in the small town of Harpers Ferry, located in present-day West Virginia. In preparation for the raid, Brown rented the nearby Kennedy farmhouse, and with his small provisional army of 21 men, with arms supplied by northern abolition groups, he took residence several miles from the arsenal site. On the night of October 16th, 1859, Brown and his men advanced towards Harpers Ferry and quickly succeeded in capturing both bridges along the Shenandoah River, the U.S. Armory and Arsenal, the U.S. Rifle Works on Hall's Island, and several hostages, including Lewis Washington, grand-nephew of John Washington, and John Allstadt. By the morning of October 17th, 1859, news of the raid had spread, and as a result, local farmers and militia swiftly descended on Brown and his men and surrounded the arsenal. A bloody battle thereafter ensued, and by the afternoon of October 17th, President James Buchanan had ordered a detachment of 90 United States Marines to march on Harpers Ferry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Lee of the United States 2nd Calvary. On the morning of October 18th, 1859, Lee ordered his men to storm the engine house adjacent to the arsenal, resulting in the capture of John Brown and his remaining men. Sixteen men were killed in the raid at Harpers Ferry, including 10 of John Brown's men. Brown subsequently faced charges of murder, conspiring with slaves to rebel, and treason against the State of Virginia. On November 2nd, 1859, following a 5-day trial, Brown was convicted of all charges and sentenced to hang on the gallows. Brown's address to the Virginia court on the last day of his trial evidenced his strong conviction regarding the justness of his actions at Harpers Ferry, when he said: ``Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right, and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.'' Brown was thereafter executed on December 2, 1859, and through his death, the slave liberation movement gained a hero. Mr. Speaker, the raid organized by John Brown at Harpers Ferry in October of 1859 was a critical moment in our Nation's history and served to move our country forward in its struggle to abolish slavery. As noted by his good friend, Frederick Douglass, who, while opposing Brown's violent tactics, said, ``If John Brown did not end the war that ended slavery, he did at least begin the war that ended slavery.'' Let us recognize the important place in our history that John Brown and the raid on Harpers Ferry played in the history of our Nation's civil rights movement through the passage of House Resolution 568. I urge my colleagues to join myself and the lead sponsor of this measure, Mrs. Capito of West Virginia, in supporting this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, we ask Members on both sides to support Mrs. Capito on her resolution, House Resolution 568. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Points of Light initiative. Established by a call to service by President George H. W. Bush, Points of Light has led our nation to tremendous gains in service and volunteerism over the past two decades. The Points of Light Foundation has recently merged with Hands On Network to form the Points of Light Institute. On this special 20th anniversary, I want to commend this organization for its extraordinary work in the promotion of service, while transforming communities throughout America. In 2008, the Points of Light Institute and its 250 Hands On volunteer action centers engaged over 1.2 million volunteers in service and managed over 520,000 volunteer projects. The value of this service is beyond measure to the neighborhoods that have been positively impacted by this remarkable contribution to the health and welfare of communities throughout the United States. One of Points of Light's affiliates is Boston Cares. This year alone, Boston Cares has mobilized 18,250 volunteers who have donated over 50,000 hours of service to 155 Greater Boston schools and nonprofit organizations. Throughout the year Boston Cares volunteers have consistently gone above and beyond, from a drive that raised a thousand pounds of food per day throughout the month of February for struggling food pantries, to generating an additional 2,000 volunteer hours during this summer's United We Serve campaign. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to commemorate this 20-year milestone for Points of Light and I congratulate them on 20 years of identifying and managing people-powered projects to tackle critical problems across the nation. I urge all of my colleagues to join with me in honoring Points of Light and Boston Cares.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3319) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 440 South Gulling Street in Portola, California, as the ``Army Specialist Jeremiah Paul McCleery Post Office Building''.