Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding and his leadership. I rise in opposition to the Republican Party's Working Families Flexibility Act. It should be named the ``Fake Flexibility Act.'' It's a failure to advertise truthfully. If you were true, you would call it the ``More Work and Less Pay Act.'' Under this bill, workers would lose the basic guarantees of fair pay for overtime work and time off from work under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would deprive hardworking men and women of their earned income and fail to guarantee them the right to use that overtime when they need to use it for a personal or family emergency. Shamefully, the United States ranks among the least generous of industrialized countries when it comes to family-friendly policies. We are one of three countries that fail to provide paid leave for the birth of a child. True workplace advancement benefits both businesses and worker interests. Instead, the Republican bill hurts employees by giving them less pay at a time when American wages are stagnant. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation and bring up the Democratic minority's alternatives for paid sick leave, paid leave for the birth of a child, and true flex time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in opposition to the majority's Working Families Flexibility Act. It troubles me to oppose a bill that has the exact same name of a bill that I've introduced in the three previous Congresses that provided real workplace flexibility for working men and women. I believe that this bill, the Republican bill, would be more aptly named the More Work, Less Pay Act. My bill would have provided employers and employees with protections in discussing flexible work arrangements. Under the More Work, Less Pay Act, workers would lose the basic guarantees of fair pay for overtime work and time off from work under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It would deprive hardworking people of their earned income and fail to guarantee them the right to use that overtime even for a personal or family emergency. Shamefully, the U.S. ranks among the least generous of industrialized countries when it comes to family-friendly workplace policies like paid family leave and paid sick leave. Congress should be focused on increasing the minimum wage, expanding family and medical leave, and providing opportunities for real flexible work options. These policies are common sense. True workplace advancement benefits both business and worker interests. Instead, the Republican bill hurts employees by giving them less pay at a time when their wages are stagnant. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation, to oppose this rule, and bring up the minority's alternatives and allow the minority to have amendments and alternatives to the rule.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to welcome His Highness Sheikh, Hamad Bin Khalifah Al-Thani, the Amir of Qatar, on his visit to the United States and express my deep appreciation for the strong and growing friendship between our two countries. I also would like to recognize the State of Qatar for their promotion of democracy and higher education. Qatar is a critical ally and is host to our troops at Al Udeid (OODADE), the largest U.S. military air base on foreign soil, in Doha which continues to be invaluable to our efforts in the region. Qatar is also particularly important because of its efforts to promote democracy and the right to vote around the world. I know this because I traveled to Qatar in 1999 to celebrate its first democratic elections--the first in which a Gulf Cooperation Council state allowed women to vote and run for office. It was a momentous occasion. Allowing women to vote and giving them the opportunity to run for office was a major step forward in the democratic transformation of Qatar. Today they continue to boldly support democratic ideals by making great strides in education. Now, with the help of the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, women have the ability to earn a college degree in Qatar's Education City. This visionary woman is the moving force behind showing people everywhere how important and powerful the voices of women can be not just in Qatar, but around the world. This has not only been important for the rights of women, but it has helped the country further develop its educational offerings. Today, Education City houses branch campuses from some of the world's most prestigious institutions of higher learning, including Cornell University's Weill Medical College, Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, Northwestern University, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. This unprecedented support for education in the region has helped women in their fight for equality and has made Qatar a beacon of higher education in the region and around the world.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Israel's 65th Independence Day. Sixty-five years ago, the day before the expiration of the British Mandate, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of Israel as the national home for the Jewish people. The celebrations taking place today in New York and across the country commemorate that inaugural event and underscore the special bond between the United States and Israel. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations issued resolution 181, which approved the Special Committee on Palestine's partition plan establishing a Jewish state. On May 14, 1948 (the 5th of Iyar, 5708 according to the Jewish calendar), the day before the British mandate expired, David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel in the main hall of what was then the Tel Aviv Museum. President Harry S. Truman waited only minutes to issue the United States' formal recognition of the Jewish State. Today, Israel remains a beacon of hope and democracy in the Middle East. Throughout its history, Israel has been a safe haven for Jews across the world who have faced persecution and repression. Nonetheless, Israelis have yet to know one day without war. Constantly under attack, Israel has rightfully defended its citizens while also searching for a true partner in peace. Americans strongly identify with Israel's historic struggle for independence and continued hope for a peaceful future. With shared values and shared ideals, Israel is the United States' closest ally in the Middle East. I remain hopeful for a long-term peace agreement so that Israel and its neighbors can finally know peace. Israel draws its strength from the diversity and tenacity of its people. Israel has demonstrated that a small country with few natural resources, surrounded by hostile nations that deny its right to exist, can still thrive, thanks to its smart investments, an entrepreneurial culture, and a people determined to succeed. Today, Israel is a center of scientific, medical and technological innovation, and a leader in agriculture, water purification, alternative energy and public health. Israel has more high tech start ups and a larger venture capital industry per capita than any other country in the world. In 2010, Israel became a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), marking it as one of the world's most highly developed economies. Adversity has challenged Israel to innovate in ways that have improved lives across the globe. Lacking potable water, Israel has invested in desalination plants that have significantly reduced its need to pump water from the Sea of Galilee. Lacking arable land, it developed drip irrigation systems that are now being implemented in other desert countries. Lacking energy, it has pioneered advances in solar and wind energy. Lacking security, it has built some of the most effective security products and strategies. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the 65th Israeli Independence Day. Today we rejoice in Israel's virtues, embrace its people, and renew our nation's commitment to standing alongside Israel in defense of its right to safety and prosperity. Am Yisrael Chai--the people of Israel live!

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The ASPCA, headquartered in my congressional district on the East side of Manhattan, was founded 147 years ago this month. The oldest animal welfare organization in the United States, the ASPCA is the leading voice for the prevention of cruelty to animals in New York City and nationwide. This past year, the ASPCA answered the call to help families and animals affected by Hurricane Sandy in my district and all across New York City. When families were displaced by the hurricane, the ASPCA set up a temporary boarding facility where pets remained safe and properly cared for while families worked to rebuild or find permanent housing. In the aftermath of the storm, the ASPCA was in Sandy-affected areas to rescue and reunite animals with their families, distribute critical supplies, and provide veterinary care for impacted animals. More than 300 animals were rescued by ASPCA responders after Sandy, and through a pet supply distribution network and mobile wellness clinics, the ASPCA assisted tens of thousands of animals in storm-affected areas of New York City and Long Island. I am proud to congratulate the ASPCA and its over 2.5 million supporters nationwide on the organization's 147th anniversary. They continue to be the voice of those unable to speak for themselves.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Boston Marathon and in learning that their next target was Times Square in New York City, I hope my colleagues who oppose gun safety laws will reconsider. We have learned that Tamerlan, the terrorist, was on the terror watch list for 18 months. Many of our colleagues say that someone should have done something to prevent the terrorist from killing; but strangely, making the next Tamerlan undergo a background check on the Internet or at a gun show to buy a gun is not one of them. The pro-gun lobby insists that the next terrorists should still be able to buy all of the assault weapons they want and all of the 100- round magazines they need--no problem, no background check necessary. The next terrorist, or the next Tamerlan, thinks they are absolutely right; but 90 percent of Americans disagree, and I hope my colleagues will reconsider gun safety legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is time to bring our nation's federal workplace policies into the 21st Century. Signed into law 20 years ago this past February, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides protections to almost 60 percent of the American workforce. This means approximately 90 million workers are covered and eligible for leave under current FMLA policies that allow for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave from work to care for a new baby or to care for a spouse, child under age 18, or parent who has a serious health condition. While this leave has provided critical work protections to individuals in times of great need, this landmark law does not go far enough in accommodating our modern workforce and families. Polls related to recent cases before the Supreme Court show that more and more Americans support marriage equality and recognize the need to extend federal rights and privileges to all American families. With that goal in mind, I am introducing the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act that will allow same sex spouses and partners, grandparents, and other loved ones eligible to take family and medical leave to care for a sick family member. Under current federal law, such individuals do not qualify for FMLA, making it impossible for some employees to be with their loved ones during times of medical need. Almost 600 employers, including more than two hundred fortune 500 companies, several states, the District of Columbia, and some local jurisdictions have extended these protections to individuals not originally included in the original Family and Medical Leave Act. The legislation I am introducing today would allow an employee to take unpaid leave from work if his or her same-sex spouse or domestic partner has a serious health condition. It also permits employees to take FMLA to care for a parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent if that person has a serious health condition. Additionally, given repeal of don't ask don't tell, this legislation includes domestic partners of service members as permissible candidates for FMLA. I thank Senator Richard Durbin for introducing this legislation on the Senate side as well as my colleagues who have signed on as original supporters. I urge swift passage of this bill.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the 150th anniversary of Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), which will be celebrated on May 1, 2013. The hospital, which is located in my district on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, was established in 1863 as a 28-bed hospital for children with severe disabilities and has grown to become an international leader in orthopedics and rheumatology for children and adults. It has been ranked #1 in the country for orthopedics for three consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report and has been among the top ranked hospitals in orthopedics and rheumatology for 22 consecutive years. Through its long and successful history, HSS has always maintained its specialized focus on improving patients' quality of life and getting them back to work and leisure. Today, the skilled medical staff at HSS perform some 27,000 surgeries each year, helping patients from across the United States and around the world maintain active lives. Demand for the hospital's services has almost doubled in the past six years, and I am confident that this trend will accelerate as people of all ages live more actively than ever before. People travel far and wide for the unsurpassed level of care provided by the hospital--in 2012, patients came from every state and 90 countries. HSS physicians are the official team doctors for the New York Giants, New York Mets, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and New York Red Bulls. Despite these high-profile relationships, everyday athletes and non-athletes are treated the same as elite athletes at the hospital. HSS nurses have been widely recognized for their excellence and caring. In 2012, Hospital for Special Surgery became the first hospital in New York State to earn Magnet Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center--the nation's highest honor for nursing excellence for the third consecutive time. In addition to outstanding clinical care, HSS conducts research that directly improves the lives of people with arthritis, mobility disorders, severe injuries, and autoimmune diseases. For example, in the 1970s a team of HSS surgeons and engineers pioneered the first modern total knee implant, called the total condylar knee, which led the way for millions of people with advanced knee arthritis to live active lives with limited pain. More recently, the modular shoulder replacement and other significant HSS implant designs improved the lives of so many more. HSS scientists continue to make breakthrough discoveries about the causes of autoimmune diseases, providing exciting new opportunities for drug therapies. Building on a rich legacy of pioneering achievement in the fields of orthopedics and rheumatology, HSS will meet the future with the same unwavering commitment to fulfill its mission in patient care, research, and education it has exhibited in the last 150 years. HSS is dedicated to finding new solutions to improve the lives of patients by striving for the highest levels of quality, making discoveries in the laboratory, pursuing innovative technologies, and training physicians who will influence and lead the fields of orthopedics and rheumatology around the world. Hospital for Special Surgery's unique culture of excellence and dedication to patients continues to be its strength, and will ensure its success in the future. I congratulate the hospital on this important anniversary and invite Members to join me in extending appreciation for its past, present, and future accomplishments.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a supporter of today's legislation that would award a Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate the lives of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robinson and Cynthia Wesley. This year we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the atrocious bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama that killed these four little girls on their way to Sunday School. While nothing can bring these innocent victims back, today we honor their legacy with this bill to award them Congressional Gold Medals. Earlier this year I attended the anniversary of Freedom March in Selma. It was a moving experience. The stories of the struggle for civil rights remind us to continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of all Americans. Today we take another step forward by honoring these four innocent girls who lost their lives on that fateful day, 50 years ago.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill that would exempt loans from the credit union member business lending cap that are made after federally-declared natural disasters, injecting much-needed funds into local communities when they need it most. Superstorm Sandy caused enormous destruction throughout the Northeast, and wildfires, hurricanes, and tornados have wreaked similar havoc across the country. Federal disaster assistance that flows after each declaration of a disaster is essential but not sufficient to get a region back on its feet. I've heard from many small businesses about their struggle to recover from Sandy. Counties in eleven states and the District of Columbia were declared major disaster areas by the President during the storm. That is why this bill is so important. It will exempt credit union 'member business loans' from the normal lending cap for a period of up to five years after a natural disaster declaration. This will enable credit unions to temporarily lend above their cap in any area where there had been a federal declaration of disaster. Exempting these loans from the cap will open up a new source of credit for struggling small businesses and untie the hands of credit unions that want to provide that assistance. Credit unions are key members of the communities they serve and want to be there for small businesses who need assistance recovering from natural disasters. This bill will provide businesses a source of capital to help them rebuild and recover. Currently, under federal regulations, Federal Credit Unions are each subject to a ceiling of 12.25% of their assets in business loans to their members. As many credit unions approach that cap, they are unable to provide needed capital to their communities. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation to help areas that so badly need access to capital to help them recover.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the bipartisan Holocaust Rail Justice Act along with my colleagues Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah E. Cummings, Charles B. Rangel, John Sarbanes, Rush Holt, Bill Pascrell, Jr., Allyson Schwartz, Gerry Connolly, Ted Deutch, Corrine Brown, Robert Brady, Jerrold Nadler, Jim Moran, David Cicilline, Alcee Hastings, Raul M. Grijalva, Peter King, Lois Frankel and Randy Weber. During World War II, trains operated by Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (SNCF) transported more than 75,000 Jews, United States pilots shot down over France, and other ``undesirables,'' from France toward Nazi death camps. SNCF willingly collaborated with the Nazi government, operating the trains as a commercial venture and were paid per head, per kilometer to deliver thousands to their deaths. SNCF has not been held accountable for its actions by never paying reparations to its victims in the almost 70 years since the end of World War II. The Holocaust Rail Justice Act allows the hundreds of known survivors, veterans and their family members living in the United States today to hold SNCF accountable. Holocaust survivors would be granted their deserved day in court, including many who have sought legal action for the past 10 years. SNCF has thus far succeeded in evading jurisdiction in the United States courts by hiding behind foreign sovereign immunity. This legislation would simply preclude, in this one limited instance, the defense of foreign sovereign immunity from being raised. As the facts make clear, this is not the type of situation foreign sovereign immunity was intended to cover. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation that would finally hold SNCF accountable for its wartime actions and provide survivors with what is likely their last opportunity for justice in their lifetimes.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, women played a tremendous role in the 2012 elections--including fighting for equal pay. Today, we commemorate Equal Pay Day, the time typically three months into the new year that it takes for women's wages to catch up to what men were paid in the previous year. This is an annual reminder that the wallets of America's women are not as heavy as they should be because women face pay discrimination. Even when accounting for education, industry, and hours worked there remains a wage gap. Women's lifetime earnings will never recover from the persistent reduction in wages they receive relative to their male counterparts. Nationwide, women make 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. While these sound like pennies, in fact they add up to a yearly gap of $11,084 between full-time working men and women. This decrease in take home pay affects not just women but also their families. In New York City, which I'm proud to represent, women who work full time are paid 85 cents for every dollar paid to men who work full time, adding up to a yearly gap of $8,429. As a result, New York City's women collectively lose more than $23 million a year because of the wage gap. This is simply unacceptable for working women and their families in New York and nationwide. In the 111th Congress, I was proud to serve as the first female Chair of the Joint Economic Committee. At the end of my tenure I issued the report, ``Invest in Women, Invest in America: A Comprehensive Review of Women in the U.S. Economy.'' This comprehensive report included research done by the Committee, testimony from several hearings, and GAO reports assessing the detrimental gender wage gap for part-time workers and older Americans as well as wider discussions of women's continued under-representation in management level positions. As I said in that report, ``The decisions we make today will have dramatic impacts on our nation's future economic well-being, and we must carefully consider what those decisions will mean for women, both as consumers and as producers.'' There is a remedy to this persistent problem of unequal pay. I have consistently supported the Paycheck Fairness Act, commonsense legislation that gives women the tools to fight wage discrimination and provides stronger workplace protections for working women. This Congress must stand up for working families and provide for the basic rights and fairness of 51 percent of the U.S. population.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, along with my fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease, Reps. Peter King and Chris Van Hollen, today I am introducing a resolution designating April as Parkinson's Awareness Month. As co- chairs of the Caucus we have worked to bring attention to the second most common neurological disease in the United States. This chronic, progressive neurological disease debilitates those living with Parkinson's and affects their families, as well. In the U.S. there are an estimated 500,000 to 1.5 million people with Parkinson's disease, with some predictions showing the prevalence will more than double by 2040. Currently, there is no therapy or drug to slow its progression and a cure has yet to be found. This resolution supports continued education and research to find more effective treatments and eventually a cure. It also applauds the dedicated organizations, volunteers, medical researchers, and millions of Americans working to improve the quality of life of persons living with Parkinson's disease and their families. As the loved one of someone afflicted by Parkinson's disease, I witnessed personally the effect of Parkinson's disease on my father. As a result, I know firsthand that we must provide support to the loved ones, caregivers and researchers attempting to improve the welfare of those living with Parkinson's. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Week, I am pleased to reintroduce the bipartisan Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Act, along with Representatives Rangel, Waxman, Pierluisi, and Grimm. Named for the honored Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal, who spent his life working for justice for those murdered by the Nazis and to hunt down those who perpetrated such atrocities, this legislation would provide federal grants to educational organizations to teach students about the Holocaust. Through grants from the Department of Education, Holocaust organization programs would be able to apply for funds to improve the awareness and understanding of the Holocaust through classes, seminars, conferences, educational materials, and teacher training. We must ensure that we learn from the legacy of previous generations of Holocaust survivors. Over 11 million people, including 6 million European Jews as well as gypsies, the disabled and mentally ill, homosexuals, and others, were systematically and brutally murdered in the Holocaust as the Nazis swept across Europe, destroying entire villages and communities. More than half a century later, persecution and murder on the basis of religion, ethnicity, and sexuality continue across the globe. We need programs in our schools that allow students to learn about the consequences of intolerance and hate, so that we can truly say, ``never again.'' The Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Assistance Act is a positive step toward that end. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the ``Prepare All Kids Act,'' which would assist states in providing at least one year of high quality, full-day pre-kindergarten education to all children, specifically targeting children from low- income families. Introduced in the Senate by my colleague on the Joint Economic Committee, Sen. Casey of Pennsylvania, I am happy to be introducing this House companion bill along with my colleague Rep. Allyson Schwartz. Children are our nation's greatest resource and providing them with high-quality early education is a critical step in ensuring that they are put on a path to success from an early age. The ``Prepare All Kids Act'' is not only the right thing to do for our children; it's a wise investment in our future. Long-term scientific research has proven the benefits of investing in early childhood education. Children who attend high-quality prekindergarten are often more successful in school, more productive adults, and greater contributors to our economy and society. That is why President Obama expressed support for pre-kindergarten education for all children during his State of the Union speech and why I am introducing this bill now. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Today, I am introducing, with my colleague Congressman Gus Bilirakis, legislation urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In 1993, the European Union defined the membership criteria for accession to the European Union at the Copenhagen European Council, obligating candidate countries to have achieved certain levels of reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, and respect for and protection of minorities. Since accession negotiations with the EU began in 2005, Turkey has failed to recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate's international status as the spiritual home of the world's oldest and second largest Christian Church that includes more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. Moreover, the Government of Turkey has limited the candidates available to the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church for selection as the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Turkish nationals and reneged on its agreement to reopen the Theological School at Halki, thus impeding training for the Orthodox clergy in that country. This resolution calls on Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by granting it the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals, and respecting the human rights and property rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Additionally, the resolution encourages Turkey to continue the processes and programs to modernize and democratize its own society and prove that it is ready to meet the criteria set forth by the Copenhagen European Council prior to its accession into the EU.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce an important piece of legislation: the Firearms Risk Protection Act (FRPA). This bill will require gun owners to purchase liability coverage and to show proof of that coverage when they purchase a firearm. This is an idea whose time has come. In fact, lawmakers in several states including Massachusetts and Illinois have introduced similar legislative proposals. In the wake of horrific tragedies like those at Newtown, Aurora, and Tucson, we as a society and we as lawmakers must provide answers. We must respect Americans' rights to own guns but limit gun violence and gun death. We must continue to enable guns to be used in a lawful and safe manner by responsible citizens and we must keep guns out of the hands of others. We must make sure the atrocities we have witnessed never happen again. This federal requirement would serve as a market-based solution to holding gun owners liable for the weapons they own. As with car insurance premiums, higher risk gun owners will face higher premiums. Actuarial determinations will be made by insurance companies, as those experts are in the best position to make those determinations based on sound data analysis. Under the Firearms Risk Protection Act (FRPA), state regulated insurance companies would be able to extend coverage to their customers--this is not a federal insurance program. Additionally, this bill poses no specific requirements on insurance companies themselves, but instead, imposes a fine of $10,000 if during the sale of a weapon the seller does not confirm coverage or the buyer has not purchased it. As lawmakers, we must stand ready to work on solutions to curtail our nation's gun violence and requiring liability coverage for gun owners should be part of the solution. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this important piece of legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. As cochair and cofounder of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise today to celebrate the 192nd anniversary of Greece's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. Against incredibly difficult odds, the Greeks defeated one of the most powerful empires in history to win their independence. Following 400 years of Ottoman rule, in March 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the traditional Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting his countrymen to rise up against the Ottoman army. The bishop timed this act of revolution to coincide with the Greek Orthodox holiday celebrating the Archangel Gabriel's announcement that the Virgin Mary was about to give birth with the divine child. Bishop Germanos' message to his people was clear: A new spirit was about to be born in Greece. The following year, the Treaty of Constantinople established full independence for Greece. New York City is home to one of the largest Hellenic populations outside Greece and Cyprus. Astoria, Queens, which I have the honor of representing, is often called ``Little Athens'' because of the large Hellenic population in that neighborhood. New Yorkers celebrate Greek Independence Day with a parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, which I have been honored to participate in year after year. Marching side-by-side with my Greek-American friends, I have always been overwhelmed by the warmth and enthusiasm which the community has brought to New York City. These events remind us of the Hellenic-American community's many contributions to our Nation's history and culture. The friendship between America and Greece is based on mutual respect, a commitment to common goals, and a sharing of fundamental values, especially ensuring stability in southeastern Europe. I hope permanent solutions can be found for ending the divisions of Cyprus and finding a mutually agreeable name for the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. I know that the Greek independence movement was an inspiration to the American independence movement, and we have learned so much from our Greek friends. I have introduced, in many Congresses, an important resolution with my caucus cochair, Representative Gus Bilirakis. This resolution urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the ecumenical patriarch. It was my privilege to meet with the patriarch last year, and I know that he is negotiating with the Turkish government for the return to Halki, the Greek Orthodox seminary, of the right and independence to educate their priests and to restore their lands to them. I want to say that I ask all of my colleagues to join me and Members of Congress in celebrating Greece's independence. It is also my sincere pleasure to pay tribute to New York's Hellenic-American community for its many contributions to our great country. Zeto e eleftheria. Long live freedom.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Overdraft Protection Act of 2013. With the rise of debit cards and the constant presence of swipe terminals to use those cards to pay for everything from dry cleaning to gas to candy bars, it's easier than ever for consumers to overdraw their checking accounts and incur overdraft fees. That's how a cappuccino can become a $35 cappuccino faster than you can say ``overdrawn''. Some institutions have responded to consumer outrage over these fees by implementing a policy of denying debit card transactions that would overdraw an account and I applaud them. But too many financial institutions don't make consumers adequately aware of the perils of overdrafts, and others reorder the posting of transactions in a way that maximizes their fees. Although the Federal Reserve issued a rule requiring institutions to obtain affirmative consent from consumers to opt into overdraft coverage two years ago, it is quite clear more needs to be done to help consumers avoid multiple overdrafts. A survey released last year by Pew Charitable Trusts highlights the need for the bill I am introducing today. More than one-third of those surveyed--people who had overdrawn their accounts in the past year--didn't know they had overdraft coverage until they incurred a penalty fee, and more than half of people did not believe they had opted in. The Pew study also found that most of the people who overdraft their accounts do so more than once. According to Moebs Services, overdraft fees brought in over $31.5 billion dollars in revenue to financial institutions in 2012. As a result of the Federal Reserve's opt-in requirement the number of overdrafts has fallen, but some institutions have responded to the drop by increasing the price of overdraft fees and continuing to intentionally manipulate the transactions' posting order in a way that maximizes the fees they can earn from this service. My bill increases disclosure to consumers, limits the fees' price and frequency, and bans the manipulation of transactions. Specifically, the Overdraft Protection Act will: require consumer consent before banks can permit overdraft fees to paper checks, automated charges and debit card swipe-terminal transactions; require that fees be ``reasonable and proportional'' to the amount of the overdraft; cap the number of fees that can be charged at one per month and six per year; prohibit banks from manipulating the sequence in which checks and other debits are posted if it causes more overdrafts and maximizes fees paid to banks; require that consumers be warned at ATMs if their withdrawals will trigger an overdraft; require the CFPB to study the practices of pre-paid cards and if necessary extend these provisions to those products. The Overdraft Protection Act will ensure consumers are protected from misleading practices and I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I yield myself such time as I may consume as I'm pleased to represent the Democratic point of view in this budget. We now have before this Congress the choice of two profoundly different paths forward for the American economy. One based on severe austerity for the many and deep cuts in programs for the vulnerable that is offered by Chairman Ryan and our friends from across the aisle. No new revenues are included in Mr. Ryan's plan. The other proposal, offered by the Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen and the Democrats, is based on a balance of targeted spending cuts, the closing of loopholes and the elimination of costly tax expenditures that benefit the very few. It uses a balance of spending cuts and new revenue. This is perhaps the most important choice that Congress will make this year. It will determine what kind of country we're going to be, what kind of economy our children will inherit and what kind of place we will make for ourselves in the world. But before we examine our differences, let's look at the things we can all agree on: the long-term structural deficit needs to be addressed. On that there is no question; there is agreement. We need to spur economic growth, which is vital. Without it, there's no hope. More jobs and opportunities need to be created. The recovery is leaving too many people behind. And wasteful spending needs to be eliminated and costs need to be controlled. On these things we can all agree. All these things need doing. This is not our argument. Our disagreement is over how to do it and how long it should take. It's also helpful to remember how we got here and how far we've come under progress under the Obama administration. As you can see from this chart--and I call it the ``V chart''--from December of 2007 through December of 2009, the economy lost a staggering 8.7 million jobs. That red section represents what was going on at the end of the Bush administration. The blue section shows what happened when President Obama took office. You can see there was quite a turnaround. Instead of going down, we started going up and gaining jobs. In fact, there have been 36 months of private jobs gained in 36 months. During this last 3-year period here, the private sector has added nearly 6.4 million jobs. Just last month, the private sector added 246,000 jobs. So we've been moving in the right direction, from the deep red valley into the hope of moving forward, and that is where we are now. The unemployment rate is down almost 2.5 percentage points from its peak in October of 2009. Our economy came very close to falling into the abyss, but since the depths of the Great Recession, as you can see from this chart, we are making progress. As you can see from the next chart, the economy has recorded 14 consecutive quarters of GDP growth. Again, we are moving in the right direction. Key sectors such as manufacturing and construction have rebounded. In 2012, the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices rose by 7.3 percent. A recovery is clearly underway. But where do we go from here, and how do we speed things up? Let's look first at the proposal from Representative Ryan and the Republicans. From what I see, there are only three things wrong with it: its priorities, its math, and its vision for America. The Ryan budget is based solely on massive cuts to domestic investments; cuts to programs that service and benefit the working millions and help the most vulnerable; and cuts in tax rates to benefit the fortunate few. For many who are struggling now, the Ryan plan would lead to a slow economic death, death from a thousand cuts. It is absolutely impossible to cut your way to prosperity. The Ryan plan would make deep and painful cuts to vital domestic programs. It would change the food stamp program--a program that helps millions--into a block grant and cut its funding by $135 billion. Medicare, as we know it, would come to an end. The Ryan plan includes a voucher system that would increase out-of-pocket health care costs by over $5,000 per senior. Here's what the AARP had to say about the Ryan budget and Medicare: Chairman Paul Ryan's proposed budget fails to address the high cost of health care and instead shifts costs onto seniors and future retirees. Removing the Medicare guarantee of affordable health coverage seniors have contributed to through a lifetime of hard work is not the answer. Cuts to Medicaid could affect as many as 60 million people annually. Half of these are children; and of the adults on Medicaid, more than two-thirds are women. The Ryan plan repeals the Affordable Care Act, which would sharply cut the overall level of health care available to tens of millions. Yet, to make his budget balance, Ryan counts the $716 billion in Medicare savings from the Affordable Care Act. It's a hoax of epic proportions. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would return us to a time when insurance companies could charge women more--it's called ``gender rating''--just for being women. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would also eliminate the ban on discrimination against those with preexisting conditions, the ability to remain on parents' health plans until age 26, and the expansion of Medicaid. Then, while tens of millions of Americans would be struggling under the harsh new austerity measures, the Ryan plan would cut the tax bills for the most fortunate. Last year, the Joint Economic Committee estimated that Ryan's tax plan would lower taxes for millionaires by about $300,000 while raising taxes for individual taxpayers earning between $50,000 and $100,000 by over $4,000. How fair is that? At a time when income inequality is widely viewed as a very serious problem in our country, the Ryan plan would make it worse. The gap between the haves and the have-nots would grow larger under the Ryan plan. The Ryan plan would ask tens of millions to bear additional burdens--pay additional taxes--and face additional hardships while it cut taxes for the fortunate few and preserved loopholes for Big Oil and spent an additional half-trillion dollars on the military over the next 10 years. Then, at the end of a decade of painful cuts, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the Ryan budget would have managed to actually add $5.7 trillion to the deficit. A close look at the math makes it clear that the Ryan budget can't recoup the revenue lost from its tax cuts without imposing large tax increases on middle class families. The Tax Policy Center was unwilling to speculate on where the lost revenue would come from. In addition, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that the Ryan budget would kill 750,000 jobs this year, 2 million next year, and would decrease the gross domestic product by 1.7 percentage points. The priorities of this budget are all wrong. It kills jobs, stifles growth and adds to the deficit, all while making life harder for seniors, women, children, and the most vulnerable in our society. The math of the budget just does not add up. Simple arithmetic tells us that the only way to pay for Mr. Ryan's proposed tax cuts for the fortunate few is to eliminate many of the deductions that middle class families count on to pay for housing and health care and to save for their retirements. The Ryan tax plan would further burden those who are struggling by substantially lowering taxes for the most fortunate--and that's not spin. That's just plain math. The vision this budget offers of America is totally at odds with who we claim to be. It's a vision of a country where the government is indifferent to the suffering of many while only paying attention to the demands of the few. Then there is the other plan that is before us, the Democratic plan, with a balanced set of priorities--a better vision for the future found in the budget offered by House Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen. It takes a balanced approach with targeted spending and new revenues. It would cut waste, add jobs, and spur the economic growth of the economy. It would reduce the deficit by an additional $1.8 trillion without jeopardizing the recovery or harming the middle class. It includes $1.2 trillion in new revenue obtained, not by tax increases, but by closing loopholes and eliminating wasteful spending that benefits the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations. It eliminates $4 billion in annual tax breaks to the oil and gas industry, an industry that is making profits. They don't need a tax break. In fact, they are making enormous profits. So why does the Ryan budget give them a government subsidy? The Democratic plan invests in infrastructure, education, job training, and innovation. It is designed, first and foremost, to help create jobs and to strengthen the economy. The House Democratic budget also makes critical investments in our future. $200 billion is invested in infrastructure, education, job training, and innovation, helping to create jobs and strengthen the economy. These investments include $80 billion for an education jobs initiative, $50 billion for transportation needs, and $10 billion for an infrastructure jobs bank. As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has said many times over the past few years, simply pursuing deep cuts in the short term will slow the rate of economic growth, bring down revenues and lead to less deficit reduction. We have two paths before us. We can choose a path of austerity and indifference that will limit economic growth and increase inequality; or we can choose one of inspiration and inclusion that invests in our country and creates opportunities for everyone. I choose opportunity over austerity. I urge my colleagues to reject the Ryan budget and to support the budget offered by Mr. Van Hollen and the House Democrats. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, the Republican House budget merely shifts health care costs to families. It makes no attempt to bend the curve to lower health care costs, and the voucher program for Medicare will only mean that seniors will be paying more for health care, by some estimates as much as $5,900 per person, and that's why the AARP and other independent organizations that track health care benefits for seniors are so opposed to it. I now yield 7 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from the Great State of Maryland, Elijah Cummings.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I grant the gentleman as much time as he may consume.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY. I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Maryland, John Delaney, a new member of the Joint Economic Committee. And may I inquire how much time remains on our side?

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, the Democratic budget has its priorities in the right place. It puts people and jobs first. The Democratic budget makes the numbers work for everyone by taking a balanced approach that includes not only cuts, but badly needed revenue. And the Democratic budget has a vision for the future that aspires to have this country lead the world in education, energy, innovation, and quality of life. It makes investments, and that means it takes some risks. But it also is a budget that confidently proclaims we are still the country of big dreams, high ideals, and limitless opportunities for everyone who is willing to work hard, play by the rules, and do their fair share. I support the Democratic budget, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, the destruction caused by natural disasters across the country affirms the need to address climate change. Conservation efforts that protect wildlife ecosystems help to mitigate these climate concerns as well as provide lands for all Americans to enjoy. Today, I am proud to introduce legislation that helps preserve the northern Rockies--one of our country's vital environmental regions. The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act will safeguard 23 million acres by establishing a system to connect biological corridors on public lands in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington. It prioritizes the health of whole ecosystems by designating all of the inventoried roadless areas as wilderness, including wild and scenic rivers. This designation helps ensure the preservation of native plants and animals. It's our responsibility to preserve our country's natural treasures for our own and future generations. I thank my colleagues Reps. Markey, Grijalva, Capps, and Nadler for their support, and I urge others to join us in helping to protect these lands.