Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the charter for the U.S. Export-Import Bank has been expired now for almost a month because Congress did not act. Because of that, thousands of American small businesses have been unilaterally disarmed in the battle for export financed business. Meanwhile, 85 foreign export credit agencies continue to help companies from their countries finance their exports. They are helping their small businesses while ours are disadvantaged. This body has also failed to act to increase the lending limits for the Small Business Administration. Without an increase, the 7(a) Loan Program will be suspended until the beginning of the next fiscal year, October 1; and the highway trust fund is set to expire, bringing vital construction work and jobs to a halt. Mr. Speaker, if this body doesn't get to work, then we are going to needlessly hurt hundreds of thousands of American jobs. It is time to stop the political bickering and to pass these important bills.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce bipartisan legislation along with my fellow co-chair on the Human Trafficking Caucus, Rep. Chris Smith. Very few Americans are aware that many of the goods they use everyday are tainted by human trafficking or the worst forms of child labor. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's 2014 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor, 136 goods from 74 countries were made by forced and child labor. This bill will require businesses to disclose policies and practices they employ to eliminate human trafficking from operations and product development. The Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act doesn't tell businesses what to do, but rather informs consumers what they are doing to eliminate human slavery from their supply chains. This legislation would help inform consumers where and how their goods are made. While there are good actors, there are businesses operating in parts of the world that rely on enslaved humans to produce their products. We believe American consumers have a right to know who these companies are. This legislation creates a market-based solution rather than relying on prescriptive action by the federal government. Large global companies already reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) simply need to include what they are doing to rid their supply chains of human slavery and post this information on their company websites. Consumers will be empowered to make their purchasing decisions based on the information provided. Very simply, this bill creates an incentive to improve practices to end slavery. Human trafficking is 21st century slavery. The International Labor Organization estimates that nearly 21 million people are working in some form of forced labor worldwide. We must use every tool available to help these men, women, and children around the world who are enslaved.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, only one of the top ten exporting countries in the world does not have an export-import agency that helps them finance new export deals, just one, and that country is the United States of America. That is because this Congress has failed to do what every Congress since FDR has done, and that is reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Today, Mr. Speaker, an American exporter is forced to compete against China, South Korea, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan with one hand tied behind its back. Their businesses get the support, their citizens get the jobs, and Americans are hung out to dry by their own government. In my congressional district alone, 66 small businesses in the past 8 years have benefited from Export-Import financing of their exports. They have exported everything from peanut butter to industrial equipment. Mr. Speaker, let's give Congress a chance to save American jobs. Let's have an up-or-down vote on the Export-Import Bank. If it came to a vote on this floor, it would surely pass.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to introduce the Teach Safe Relationships Act along with my colleagues Suzanne Bonamici and Alma Adams. Too often, young Americans engage in abusive, unhealthy relationships. In fact, young women between 16 and 24 years old are victims of intimate partner violence at three times the national average of all women. These statistics and the stories of sexual abuse and dating violence among teens and college students demand that we examine innovative approaches to curb unhealthy relationship behavior. The Teach Safe Relationships Act, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, takes a strong step to address this problem by ensuring that American students discuss safe relationship behavior as part of sex education. Through comprehensive curricula that use effective approaches to prevent teen dating violence, sexual assault, and harassment, we can ensure that our young people have the tools they need to make safe decisions in relationships and identify unhealthy or abusive behavior. I am encouraged that key provisions of this legislation have been included in the Every Child Achieves Act in the Senate, and hope that my colleagues in the House will build on that momentum by supporting the Teach Safe Relationships Act.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, there are an estimated 6-8 million constituents scattered across the world who promote our culture and values while strengthening our nation's global influence as they live and work abroad. For years I have worked to ensure that overseas Americans can fully exercise their rights as U.S. citizens by having their voices heard loud and clear by Congress. Eight years ago, I formed the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus because I wanted to bring awareness and focus to the concerns of those residing abroad. U.S. citizens remain just that, citizens, regardless of where they choose to live and should not be ignored by virtue of residence. Our constituents living and working abroad have consistently voiced concerns about the impact federal policies have on the issues directly affecting them like voting, immigration, access to financial institutions, and taxation. The time has come to take a look at the importance of federal policies for our overseas community rather than continuing to ignore the calls from our abroad constituents. That is why today I am introducing the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act, which creates an Executive Commission with the main purpose of examining those concerns. The Commission creates a 10 member panel to examine the impact of federal policymaking on U.S. citizens abroad. The resulting study would then be used by Congress and the Executive Branch when considering the best steps we can take to engage the abroad community and ensure their voices are heard. This process will ensure clearer awareness of the federal issues impacting Americans abroad and will open a path for coordination with those communities towards more robust representation. We must take a real and comprehensive look at how we, as Members of Congress, respond to U.S. citizens living abroad. Each of our constituents has a right to have their interests represented and to have a role in the political process. The Commission on Americans Living Abroad would establish a foundation from which we can work to better serve the needs of our global constituents. I welcome and urge my colleagues to lend their support to this bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as of the first day of this month, thousands of American exporters, big and small, were unilaterally disarmed in the battle for new business overseas. The conservative Members of this body succeeded in their quest to kill the U.S. Export-Import Bank. They did it. The Ex-Im's charter has expired. Now there is only the Export-Import Bank of China, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation of Australia, the Export Development of Canada, Finnish Export Credit, Hungarian Export Credit Insurance, the Israel Export Insurance Corporation, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the Norwegian Guarantee Institute for Export Credits, the Export Credit Bank of Turkey, and about 75 other foreign government-run agencies that are all helping businesses, big and small, in their quest to export and create jobs in their countries. American companies alone find themselves at a distinct disadvantage. Our colleagues have successfully cut off their nose to spite their face. It is never too late to fix a mistake. Let this Chamber vote on renewing the Export-Import charter and create more American jobs.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague from the great State of California for yielding me the time and for her leadership in so many important areas before this body. Mr. Speaker, I am very, very proud to rise today to urge the passage of H.R. 2722, the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, a bill that I authored with my good friend and colleague, Congressman Pete Sessions from Texas. I also want to add my thanks to Chairman Hensarling, Ranking Member Maxine Waters of the Financial Services Committee, and the House leadership for bringing this bill so quickly to the floor. And a very special thank-you to my partner in this effort, Congressman Sessions, who has worked with great commitment and, I would say, creativity in bringing this bill forward and has selflessly worked to have it passed in this body. With his leadership, we were able to secure over 307 cosponsors supporting the passage of this bill in writing. What we are doing together with this bill is we are going to save American lives. I am absolutely delighted that Senator Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota, who is, herself, a breast cancer survivor, has pledged to put 100 percent of her effort to making sure that the passage of this bill happens in the United States Senate. In the United States, over 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year, and more than 40,000 women will die. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and over 2,000 men will be diagnosed. Many people think that it is a woman's disease, but there will be, on average, over 400 men a year who will die from breast cancer. There is only one thing, and one thing only, that can possibly save these lives, and that is research. The Breast Cancer Commemorative Coin Act will create the opportunity to raise millions of dollars for badly needed breast cancer research without spending one taxpayer dime. Money buys research, and research saves lives. Make no mistake, there have been significant advances in medical research and better detection efforts over the years. But 40,000 women are still dying every year, and so much more needs to be done. I suspect that absolutely everyone in this body and everyone who is listening who hears my voice today knows someone that they love, some woman they admire, some family member that they care for who has been touched by the shadow of breast cancer. Through this bill, we offer them hope. Our bill directs the U.S. Mint to create up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 silver dollars, and 750,000 clad commemorative coins and make them available for purchase by the public throughout 2018 so that the American public can be involved with their dollars themselves making a decision to support breast cancer research. These coins will feature designs submitted and judged through a national art competition that will symbolize the fight against this terrible disease. The gold coin will be unique, made out of the beautiful, highly-prized pink gold to reflect the pink ribbon, an international symbol of breast cancer awareness. Like the ribbon, we hope that Americans across this Nation will be wearing the pink gold coin. Actually, Mr. Speaker, there has never been a pink gold commemorative coin made like this in U.S. history. This will be another congressional first. This bill is a creative way to raise awareness about breast cancer entirely from private funds for critically needed research that is necessary to find a cure. The proceeds will be split between two outstanding organizations: the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Susan G. Komen. Over the years, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Komen each have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for breast cancer research across this Nation. I am privileged to represent the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and appreciate the constant support and effort from its founder, Evelyn Lauder, who has passed but created this wonderful organization, and Myra Biblowit, president of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The Research Foundation has been responsible for many of the cures that have come forward and breakthroughs. There are 3.1 million Americans alive today because of cures that have been financed by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Komen. Both organizations have low administrative cost rates so that the majority of every dollar received goes directly to research. For instance, for every dollar donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 91 cents goes directly to research, and that is incredibly important. The bill requires that every dollar generated through the coin program must also be matched by private fundraising dollars that are raised by these two organizations. The coin program has the potential to raise millions of dollars to save lives--and at absolutely no cost to the American taxpayer. It can raise as much as $8 million. The money will buy research, and the research will save lives. When so many lives are on the line, every dollar counts, every dollar matters. I thank my colleagues, particularly my partner in this effort, Congressman Sessions, for their support, and I urge their continued bipartisan support in passing the Breast Cancer Commemorative Coin Act.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the ranking member for yielding and for her leadership on this committee and in so many other areas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 432, the SBIC Advisers Relief Act. And I am pleased to be an original sponsor of this bill along with my colleague, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer), a tremendous leader on the Financial Services Committee not only on this bill, but in so many other areas. The SBIC Advisers Relief Act fixes a truly unintended consequence of Dodd-Frank. Under Dodd-Frank, an investment adviser that only advises a venture capital fund is exempt from SEC registration. Likewise, an investment adviser that only advises Small Business Investment Companies, or SBICs, is also exempt. But an investment adviser that advises both a venture capital fund and an SBIC is not exempt for some reason. This makes no sense, and it provides no additional protections for investors. Moreover, it discourages investment advisers who may have experience advising successful venture capital funds that have invested in larger, more mature enterprises from bringing their expertise to SBICs who want to invest in similar startups. This ultimately restricts small businesses' access to much-needed investment capital. Our bill fixes this problem by clarifying that investment advisers that advise both venture funds and SBICs are also exempt from SEC registration. This fix does not pose any investor protection concerns because SBICs are already subject to strict oversight by the Small Business Administration, which supports SBICs by providing a guarantee on funds used by SBICs to invest in other small businesses. The SBIC program has a long history of success and has provided early-stage financing for companies that have since grown to become worldwide icons, such as Apple, Intel, and Staples. This bill is identical to a bill that passed the House by voice vote last Congress, and it passed unanimously in the Financial Services Committee earlier this year. I, therefore, urge my colleagues to support H.R. 432.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Harold Holzer who has had an extraordinary and distinguished career as a communications director and historian. He is retiring after 23 years of invaluable service to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest and most comprehensive art museum in the western hemisphere. Mr. Holzer helped broaden the media visibility of the Museum both here and abroad. In addition to his day job at the Museum, Mr. Holzer is widely considered one of the preeminent authorities on Abraham Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. Mr. Holzer's impact on New York's civic and cultural life has been profound and his contributions to our understanding of the Civil War era have been incalculable. Mr. Holzer began his career as a reporter and later editor for The Manhattan Tribune, going on to become political press secretary first for Bella Abzug during her campaigns for Senate and Mayor, and then for Mario Cuomo's Gubernatorial campaign. He served as a government speechwriter for Mayor Abraham Beame, leaving to become the public affairs director for WNET. From 1984 to 1992, he served Governor Mario Cuomo as Special Counselor to the Director of Economic Development and Executive Vice President for Public Affairs at the New York State Urban Development Corporation (NYSUDC), which was then involved in overseeing the construction of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. In 1992, Mr. Holzer became Chief Communications Officer for the Metropolitan Museum. Four years later, he was promoted to Vice President and, in 2005, he was named the Senior Vice President for Public Affairs. In this capacity, Mr. Holzer has been responsible for supervising external affairs and overseeing publicity, marketing, audience research and tourism promotion for the Museum, and has served as chief spokesman on all local, national, and international issues. During his tenure, Mr. Holzer helped persuade government grantors to deliver unprecedented levels of funding to the Museum, which have, among other things, supported educational programs and critical improvements to the Museum's physical plant. He also created broadcast marketing partnerships with radio, television and the Internet, magnifying the Museum's outreach. A prolific writer, Mr. Holzer has authored, coauthored, and edited over forty books on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. Some of his works include: Lincoln at Cooper Union, The Lincoln Image, and the 2015 Lincoln Prize-winning Lincoln and the Power of the Press. In 2008, Mr. Holzer received the National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush, the highest recognition America awarded to individuals or institutions that have had a positive impact on the nation's understanding of the humanities. Mr. Holzer authored Lincoln: How Abraham Lincoln Ended Slavery in America, the young-adult companion to Steven Spielberg's Academy Award- winning biopic, Lincoln. Mr. Holzer also served as a script consultant on the adapted screenplay for the film. President Bill Clinton appointed Mr. Holzer as cochairman of the U.S. Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which oversaw the planning of the national celebration of Lincoln's 200th birthday. Mr. Holzer served in that capacity from 2000-2009. He now serves as Chairman of the successor organization, the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation. Mr. Holzer lives in Rye, New York with his wife, Edith. They have two daughters and a grandson. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Harold Holzer's talent, dedication and erudition. His contributions to our nation's civic and cultural life, as well as our understanding of President Lincoln and the extraordinary era when he was President will last long into the future.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, there is just one more congressional workday before the charter for the U.S. Export- Import Bank expires. If Republicans allow it to expire, thousands of Americans will lose their jobs and many small-business owners will be hurt, people like Steve Wilburn. Steve is a pretty amazing guy. He is a former marine who was wounded in Vietnam; he owns a small business, and he is a Republican. Today, Steve runs a biomass-to-energy company, and thanks to the help of our Ex-Im Bank, he had a tentative $300 million deal with the Philippines; but they sent him a letter saying that, if the Ex-Im Bank goes under, so does his deal. Steve won't get the contract, and instead, it will go to a South Korean firm using a South Korean export bank. Perhaps our ideologically driven friends on the right can explain to Steve and to his employees who are going to lose their jobs why this is a good thing. We should join together. Let's pass the Ex-Im Bank for American jobs.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 893, the Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act. I was pleased to be an original sponsor in the last Congress and a cosponsor in this one. This bill appropriately recognizes the outstanding work done by Boys Town, a nonprofit organization headquartered in the village of Boys Town, Nebraska, that selflessly promotes the interest of children and their families across this Nation. Boys Town, which takes its name from Father Flanagan's Boys' Home, impacts the lives of more than 2 million families across America each year through its counseling services, outreach, and education. I am also pleased to report that each year, Boys Town directly touches the lives of thousands of New Yorkers through its community support services and homes for troubled youth. Father Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town, focused on the inherent good in children and built a world class organization that emphasized the rehabilitation of troubled youth, rather than punishment. President Franklin Roosevelt once said that America needs 49 more Father Flanagans. It is this compassionate approach and commitment to love, training, and guidance, regardless of race or religion, that has made Boys Town such a success story and a lifeline for countless children and their families. In commemoration of their centennial anniversary, the bill before us today will require the U.S. Treasury Department to mint and issue $5 gold, $1 silver, and half-dollar clad commemorative coins. Surcharges from the sale of the coins will allow Boys Town to raise needed funds that will be dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families from underserved communities across America. It is also important to note that the passage of this bill comes at absolutely no cost to the taxpayer. I would urge my colleagues to join me in passing this commonsense bipartisan bill without further delay. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Ashford), whose father and grandfather served on the board of Boys Town.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I thank Mr. Thornberry for his beautiful statement, as well as Mr. Ashford, from the great State of Nebraska. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this cost-saving legislation, which I was proud to cosponsor with my friend from Michigan. People who see the big things that Congress does, they often forget that we have to pay attention to the little things, too, and these little things are important. This is a very good example of that. This is a small bill which makes the government better, saves some taxpayers' money, and makes our coin programs better for collectors and for investors. For years, the laws that specify the production of silver coins made by the Mint have required them to be 90 percent silver. Today, the standard silver used in coins is 91 percent silver. So the Mint has had to pay extra for custom coin blanks. This legislation fixes that problem. It also allows the Mint to make a special collectible version of the American Eagle silver bullion coin, noting the popularity of the program over the past 30 years. The bill also allows the sale of American Buffalo gold coins in bulk rather than in individual packages, making handling easier for the Mint and for investors and clears the final hurdle for the Mint finally to produce investor coins made of palladium, an idea from a 2010 bill from my former colleague and very good friend, Mr. Watt. Mr. Speaker, this bill saves money and makes coin programs more attractive to collectors and investors. I ask for its immediate passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, there are just 6 more working days before the Ex-Im Bank expires, and given the critical importance of this program, I thought it would be useful to provide a quick index of hard numbers showing what this would mean to the United States economy: Sixty--the number 60. That is the approximate number of Ex-Im credit agencies that are competing with us around the world that are waiting for our Bank to expire so they can grab that American export business. 3,340. That is the number of small businesses that are supported right now by the Ex-Im Bank, helping them to export their goods and provide jobs. 164,000. That is the number of American jobs that are provided right now this year by the Ex-Im Bank that we would lose immediately. 1.3 million. That is the number of private sector jobs that have been created by the Bank since 2009, with no additional cost to the American taxpayer. In fact, it makes money to help us pay down our debt. And, finally, zero. That is what we gain by killing our Bank. Zero. We don't get the revenue. We don't get the jobs. We don't get to export our goods. Let's renew it.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, every October Breast Cancer Awareness Month is recognized--acknowledging the toll the disease takes on individuals and families, and the importance of continued research and awareness efforts. Since 1989, thanks to earlier detection, increased understanding, and improved treatment, the death rates for breast cancer have continued to decrease. Yet breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in women, with one in 36 women dying from the disease. Just this year, it is estimated that 231,840 women will be diagnosed with and 40,290 women will die of cancer of the breast in the United States. In addition, it is estimated that 2,350 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 440 men will die from breast cancer in 2015 in the United States. We need to do more to combat this disease. In 2014 alone it is estimated that $17.2 billion will be spent on breast cancer care in the United States. While the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program remain the largest funders of breast cancer research in the United States, the National Cancer Institute funding was reduced by nearly $66 million from 2011 to 2013. The funding level for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program has remained consistent since 2012; however this amount represents a 20 percent decrease from 2011 funding levels. Additional private sector support will help us find cures for breast cancer even faster. That is why my colleague Representative Pete Sessions and I are introducing the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act. Proceeds from the sale of the coins will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. These two organizations have raised more than $500 million and $847 million, respectively, for research funding. By leveraging the proceeds of the coins we will be able to increase the much needed support for breast cancer research and awareness. Clearly, more needs to be done to find better treatments and cures for breast cancer. Our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, cannot afford to wait. I encourage you to support this bipartisan legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to introduce today with Sen. Ed Markey the Handgun Trigger Safety Act-- critical legislation to prevent accidental gun deaths. Based on legislation first proposed by my friend and former colleague Rep. John Tierney, I am humbled to continue this important effort to advance life-saving technology. Personalized ``smart gun'' technology allows gun owners to designate authorized users who can operate the firearm while rendering it inoperable for all others. This technology prevents use by criminals who steal handguns as well as unintentional use by children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 591 Americans died from a firearm accident in 2011, including 74 children under 15 years old. The Personalized Handgun Safety Act would promote the adoption of technology we know can prevent these tragedies. The Handgun Trigger Safety Act would mandate that within five years all newly manufactured handguns use personalized technology and within ten years all handguns sold or transferred are retrofitted with personalized ``smart gun'' technology. In addition, the bill would also provide for grants through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to continue to develop and improve handgun personalization technology to simultaneously increase efficacy and decrease cost. These new measures will make great strides in preventing accidental gun deaths by helping keep guns out of the wrong hands. I hope my colleagues will join me to support this important effort.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to reintroduce legislation to finally permit the use of federal funds for long overdue research on firearm safety and gun violence. For too long, Congress has failed to address the public health crisis caused by gun violence. On average, there are 32,000 deaths and 76,000 injuries from gun violence each year in the United States. Gun deaths now outpace traffic fatalities in our country. It is time to address the epidemic of gun violence and prevent future incidents. Public health research will help identify effective solutions we can implement in order to save lives. The bill I introduce today, with companion legislation introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, would authorize $10 million in annual funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through Fiscal Year 2021. This funding will allow the CDC to implement the research agenda outlined in a 2013 report issued by the Institutes of Medicine that identified areas in need of study to better understand the underlying causes of gun violence and develop strategies for prevention. Federal funding for gun violence research halted in the mid-1990s. As a result, policymakers and community leaders lack the authoritative public health research they need to address the horrifying persistence of gun violence. We have more gun-related deaths than any other developed country, yet we lack comprehensive, scientific information about the causes and characteristics of gun violence. This public health crisis cannot be ignored any longer, and I'm proud to introduce this legislation that addresses the epidemic of gun violence and identifies the best strategies to prevent future incidents.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 880--another unpaid-for permanent extension of an expired tax provision offered by the Majority. I am privileged to represent many of our country's leading research institutions and innovative researchers and entrepreneurs in New York's 12th District. Like many of my colleagues, I believe that a permanent R&D credit will support critical research and create high-skilled, high-paying jobs throughout the country. This bill makes important improvements to the credit, and I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to provide incentives for businesses to invest in research and development. However, I cannot support policies that extend certain tax provisions while other critical tax credits, like those for higher education and the Earned Income Tax Credit, face an uncertain future. All told, the Majority's slate of unpaid-for permanent tax extensions would increase the deficit by nearly $600 billion, all while its budget proposes severe cuts to education, transportation, and critical safety net programs in the name of deficit reduction. Americans are not fooled by this double standard, and Congress should reject this disingenuous approach to tax policy.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Firearm Risk Protection Act, innovative legislation to promote safe gun ownership. Too often, our communities are left looking for answers after horrific tragedies inflicted with dangerous firearms. A requirement to carry liability insurance is a market-based solution that would hold gun owners responsible for the risk their firearms present, and create incentives for responsible gun safety practices. The Firearm Risk Protection Act would harness the power of insurance markets to allow professional actuaries to determine the risk presented by each gun and gun owner. Just as with car insurance, higher-risk owners of firearms would face higher premiums, while responsible owners could qualify for reduced rates. As gun violence continues to inflict scars on American families and our communities, Congress should look for new ways to promote gun safety and prevent future tragedies. I hope my colleagues will join me to support this forward-thinking legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to introduce the Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Assistance Act. This important bill will support efforts around the country to increase awareness and understanding of the Holocaust through educational programs. States across the country encourage their schools to teach about the atrocities of the Holocaust, and this bill will enhance these efforts through targeted grants to nonprofit educational organizations to support teacher training, student field trips, and the development of high- quality educational materials. A Pew Research Center report published earlier this year found that the harassment of Jews worldwide reached a seven-year high in 2013, and violent anti-Semitic attacks across Europe last year highlight that intolerance persists even in the 21st century. Programs supported by this legislation will help students learn the consequences of intolerance to work towards unity and peace. I hope my colleagues will join me to support the Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Assistance Act.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, press reports this week show that the reign of terror wrought by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria has reached appalling new depths of depravity. They have chosen to use as a weapon of war widespread, organized sexual violence against young girls and women. Hundreds of women and girls as young as 11 have been subjected to systematic, organized rape. The terrorists have also used women and children to carry out suicide bombings against civilian targets. These are crimes against humanity, which is why I am pleased to join Congresswoman Barbara Lee in support of an International Criminal Court investigation. I am also pleased that the House approved an amendment that Representative Ed Royce and I offered to the National Defense Authorization Act that calls for continued U.S. support of international efforts to combat Boko Haram. History has taught us, to our everlasting sorrow, that when such horror arises in the world, the world cannot and should not stand idly by.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the House voted yesterday to approve a 2-month extension of the highway trust fund. I am pleased we were able to pass a short-term fix, but it is time to stop kicking the can down the road. I urge my colleagues to use the next 60 days to come up with a long- term plan to invest in our Nation's transportation infrastructure, a plan that will create jobs, strengthen American competitiveness, and lay the groundwork for future economic growth. I asked the Joint Economic Committee staff to analyze the costs of U.S. underinvestment in infrastructure, and this map tells an important part of the story. Across the country, one in four bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. That is scary, and it is a matter of public safety. Americans are taking tens of millions of trips every day over bridges that are in need of repair. As you can see on the map, in some States, over one-third of the bridges are failing. Here in the Nation's Capital, 70 percent of our bridges are failing. We should fix our crumbling infrastructure as a matter of public safety and as a matter of national pride. To see how your State is doing, you can download the map and the raw data behind it from the JEC, jec.senate.gov. I urge my colleagues to support infrastructure. It is time to move beyond a 2-month extension and, instead, work on a long-term solution to this critical and important and economic development challenge.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution with my friend and colleague Marsha Blackburn to honor the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) on its 40th anniversary in 2015. Since it was established in 1975, NAWBO has allowed women entrepreneurs to collaborate and grow their businesses through 60 chapters across the country. With over 5,000 members representing a wide range of industries, NAWBO pushes for positive change to our business climate and public policy to help women entrepreneurs succeed in the American economy. I am so pleased to have worked with Rep. Blackburn on this resolution, and hope that all of our colleagues will join us to celebrate NAWBO on its 40th anniversary.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I want to thank the gentleman from the great State of Colorado for yielding and for his leadership on the Rules Committee and on so many other important issues before this Congress. Mr. Speaker, the highway trust fund, which finances highway and transportation projects all across this country, is set to expire at the end of this month. It is coming right up. Passing a short-term fix is necessary because the Republicans have ignored our Nation's transportation needs for the past 10 months, since the last short-term extension was passed. We don't need a short-term extension. We need long-term planning and investment in our infrastructure. The sad reality is that the United States is not investing nearly enough in its infrastructure. As a share of gross domestic product, we invest about one-half of what Europe does. We invest only one-quarter of what China does. As you look at this chart, it shows the amount of road traffic volume is up 297 percent; yet the public spending on road maintenance is so much lower, 125 percent. It is nearly 2.5 times faster that we are spending--and having volume go up--but we are not investing in our infrastructure to keep up with this volume. One out of every four bridges is structurally deficient or functionally obsolete in the United States. We have had two bridges with cars on them that literally collapsed in recent history. The question of whether to fix our infrastructure is not about the money. We are already spending the money, fixing our cars when they hit yet another pothole or wasting our time sitting in traffic. Why don't we have high-speed rail like the rest of the world? Let's save ourselves some time and money by investing wisely to support our transportation infrastructure through the highway trust fund.