Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank my great friend and colleague from the great State of New York for yielding me time and for her leadership on so many important areas before this Congress. I rise in strong support of the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act. I would also like to commend the Democratic whip, the distinguished leader from Maryland, Steny Hoyer, for working with the other side of the aisle to bring this bill to the floor today with a 3- year reauthorization and an increase in the Ex-Im Bank's exposure cap. I hope that we'll see more of this type of cooperation on important legislation from both sides of the aisle, as we have seen on this bill. The Ex-Im Bank has provided $32.7 billion in financing and supported 290,000 jobs across our great country. Eighty percent of those companies that were supported were small businesses--and at no additional cost to the taxpayer. It is critical to America and critical to districts such as mine in New York. The bank has financed $1.7 billion in export sales in my district alone and $4.4 billion in the State of New York over the past 5 years. And the bank supports 128 firms in my district, either directly or indirectly. These are jobs for my constituents, and it is critically important that we reauthorize this bank before its charter expires at the end of the month. Some important changes and improvements have been made to the bill over the past few weeks that will strengthen taxpayer protection provisions and that will enhance transparency at the bank. So I commend my colleagues, and I urge support for this bill. I hope we see more examples of bipartisan support on important projects, as we're seeing today.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following materials in support of H.R. 2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act, as amended. May 4, 2012. To Members of the United States Congress: We are writing to urge your support for reauthorization of the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the United States, and a simultaneous increase in its lending cap. Ex-Im Bank--which is set to expire on May 31--is a vital resource in helping U.S. companies both large and small to successfully engage in international trade. The Ex-Im Bank is a self-sustaining federal agency that assists In financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. In the five years since Congress last reauthorized the Bank's operations, it has returned about $3.4 billion to the U.S. Treasury above and beyond the cost of its operations. For the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2011, Ex-Im Bank supported $40.6 billion worth of U.S. exports at more than 3,600 U.S. companies, helping to create or sustain 290,000 export-related U.S. jobs. This past December, Congress extended Ex-Im Bank's authorization until May 31 at its current lending ceiling of $100 billion. Due to unprecedented demand for export financing over the last few years, Ex-Im Bank estimates that it will reach this limit well before May. As a result, unless Ex-Im Bank is reauthorized quickly and at an increased lending cap, it will be forced to halt new transactions-- depriving U.S. businesses of a vital financing source at a time when exports are becoming an increasingly vital part of our nation's economic recovery. Ex-Im Bank is particularly critical for small businesses, where--in 2011 alone--Ex-Im Bank lent more than $6 billion to almost 2,000 such companies. In many cases, the trade finance supplied was essential for the completion of the export transaction, and would not have been available from the private sector. Ex-Im Bank's support extended to exporters in industries as diverse as aerospace, wine, global health, clean technology and agriculture. Ex-Im Bank is also critical to the ability of U.S. exporters to compete on a level international playing field, where competitors receive aggressive support from their own countries' export credit agencies. The U.S. trails countries like Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, and Italy in official export credit volumes as a share of each country's national economy. According to the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, export credit banks in Brazil and China provided 10 times more financing to their exporters as a share of GDP in 2010 than the Ex-Im Bank did for American exporters. Even the export credit agency of Canada--which has an economy about one-eighth our size--does more lending volume. Without Ex-Im Bank reauthorization, our country's exporters won't be able to compete effectively in the global marketplace. We urge you to join us in supporting swift Ex-Im Bank reauthorization. Yours truly, Birmingham Business Alliance (AL), Business Council of Alabama (AL), South Shelby County Chamber of Commerce (AL), Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (AR), Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AZ), Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce (AZ), Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce (AZ), Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (AZ), North Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce (AZ), Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (AZ), Alliance of Chambers of Commerce of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties (CA), California Chamber of Commerce (CA), Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce (CA), Greater Oxnard Chamber of Commerce (CA), Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce (CA), Irvine Chamber of Commerce (CA), Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce (CA), Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (CA), Orange County Business Council (CA), Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce (CA), Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce (CA), San Francisco Chamber of Commerce (CA), Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau (CA); Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce (AL), Shoals Chamber of Commerce (AL), San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce (CA), Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce (CA), South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce (CA), Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce (CA), Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry (CO), Crested Butte/Mt Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce (CO), Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (CO), Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and EDC (CO), Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CT), Fairfield Chamber of Commerce (CT), Delaware State Chamber of Commerce (DE), Florida Chamber of Commerce (FL), Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (FL), Barrow County Chamber of Commerce (GA), Georgia Chamber of Commerce (GA), Greater Rome Georgia Chamber of Commerce (GA), Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce (GA), Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (HI), Hong Kong.China.Hawaii Chamber of Commerce (HI), Kauai Chamber of Commerce (HI), Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce (HI), Maui Chamber of Commerce (HI), Molokai Chamber of Commerce (HI), Greater Craigmont Area Chamber of Commerce (ID), Greater Pocatello Chamber of Commerce (ID), Batavia Chamber of Commerce (IL), Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (IL), Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IL), GOA Regional Business Association (IL), Illinois Chamber of Commerce (IL), Joliet Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IL), Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce (IL), Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce (IL), Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce (IL); Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (IL), Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce (IL), Rockford Chamber of Commerce (IL), Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce (IL), Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce (IL), Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce (IL/IA), Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce (IN), Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce (IN), Fredonia Area Chamber of Commerce (KS), Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce (KS), Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce (KS), Greater Louisville Inc--The Metro Chamber of Commerce (KY), Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (KY), Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce (KY), World Trade Center Kentucky (KY), Baton Rouge Area Chamber (LA), Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce (LA), East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce (LA), Greater New Orleans, Inc. (LA), New Orleans Chamber of Commerce (LA), Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (LA), The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (LA), Chambers Southwest Louisiana (LA), Associated Industries of Massachusetts (MA), Carroll County Chamber (MD); Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce (MD), Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce (MI), Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce (MI), Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce (MI), River Heights Chamber of Commerce (MN), Missouri Chamber of Commerce (MO), St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (MO), Covington County Chamber of Commerce (MS), Montana Chamber of Commerce (MT), Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce (NC), Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce (NC), Charlotte Chamber of Commerce (NC), Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce (NC), Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce (NC), Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce (NC), Laurinburg/Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce (NC), North Carolina Chamber of Commerce (NC), Rowan County Chamber of Commerce (NC), North Dakota Chamber of Commerce (ND), New Hampshire Business & Industry Association (NH), Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce (NJ), Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce (NJ), New Jersey Chamber of Commerce (NJ), Boulder City Chamber of Commerce (NV), Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Authority (NV), Henderson Chamber of Commerce (NV), North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce (NV); White Pine Chamber of Commerce (NV), Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (NY), Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce (NY), Buffalo-Niagara Partnership (NY), Business Council of New York State, Inc. (NY), Chamber of Schenectady County (NY), Long Island Association (NY), Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (NY), North Country Chamber of Commerce (NY), Rochester Business Alliance (NY), Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce (OH), Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe & Trenton (OH), Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce (OH), Clermont Chamber of Commerce (OH), Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce (OH), Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce (OH), Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce (OH), Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber (OH); Cushing Chamber of Commerce (OK), Tulsa Metro Chamber (OK), Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce (OR), Lebanon Chamber of Commerce (OR), Portland Business Alliance (OR), Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce (OR), Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership (PA), Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce (PA), Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry (PA), Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce (PA), Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce (RI), Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce (SC), Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce (SC), Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce (SC).

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this negative amendment that would eliminate funding for the American Community Survey. Some have labeled the Majority the do nothing party. This amendment would make them the ``know nothing party.'' The ACS is the only source of national, annual socioeconomic, housing, and demographic data. It is used by Congress to help allocate $450 billion a year in federal grants to state and local governments, including the distribution of funds for veterans' job training programs and for improvements to low-income schools. The business community uses the ACS to help guide investment decisions like location and expansion plans. Congress has required, directly or indirectly, all of the data gathered in the ACS. The ACS passed with bipartisan support under the previous Administration to ensure greater accuracy and streamline the decennial census. Wade Henderson, CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, recently wrote about the ACS and asked, ``Why would some members of Congress want to run the government without the most accurate information available to guide their decisions?'' I urge a ``no'' vote on the Webster amendment.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on April 26, 2012, I missed votes on various amendments to and final passage of H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. On the Langevin amendment, rollcall No. 184, which would expand eligibility to participate in the voluntary information sharing program created in the bill to include critical infrastructure owners and operators and ensure that all critical infrastructure entities are able to receive vital cybersecurity information and better secure their networks against cyberthreats, I would have voted ``yea.'' On amendments including rollcall Nos. 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, and 190, I would have voted ``yea.'' On the Democratic Motion to Recommit, I would have voted ``yea,'' and on final passage of H.R. 3523, I would have voted ``no.'' I strongly support efforts to improve information sharing among the various stakeholders critical to keeping Americans safe from cyber threats, but not at the expense of our civil liberties. This legislation does not effectively protect privacy and ensure that Americans' rights are upheld.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th Anniversary of Marymount Manhattan College. Since opening its doors in 1936, Marymount Manhattan has evolved from a two-year Catholic women's college, founded by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, into a four-year nonsectarian liberal arts college of 2,095 students who can choose from 18 individual majors and 40 minors. Faithful to the vision of its founders, Marymount Manhattan has a long history of reaching out to diverse populations in need of higher education. Over the years, Marymount Manhattan's mission as an urban, independent, coeducational liberal arts college has expanded to include a greater variety of students, including men, nontraditional students, and students from a variety of ethnic and geographic backgrounds. A record number of 130 international students from 60 countries were part of the student body in the fall of 2011. The College's growth has also resulted in a greater diversity of academic opportunities in the Fine and Performing Arts, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Accounting and Business Management, and the Humanities and its commitment to intellectual excellence and community service in my home state of New York deserves to be recognized and applauded. The faculty at Marymount Manhattan College is passionate about their work and their academic integrity is reflective of their talent as educators. Marymount Manhattan College's size offers the luxury of individual attention and allows for ease in cross-disciplinary studies to provide a well-rounded academic experience. Marymount Manhattan College's commitment to community service is best exemplified by its Bedford Hills College Program, which successfully transforms and rehabilitates women incarcerated through educational and intellectual pursuits. The Bedford Hills College Program graduates many students summa cum laude and is a proven success, elevating the quality of these women's lives and improving our society. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Marymount Manhattan College's commitment to providing its students with a robust intellectual atmosphere, fostering a diverse student body, and serving the community. I commend their 75 years of success and I am sure this is only an indication of continued growth and achievement for many more years to come.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, Israel is celebrating the 64th Anniversary of its declaration of Independence, issued one day before the expiration of the British Mandate. For 64 years, Israel has grown from an agricultural nation of pioneers to an ultra-modern high tech powerhouse. Israel has repeatedly absorbed hundreds of thousands of immigrants, found employment for them and used their skills and ingenuity to build a remarkable country. Since its founding, Israel's population has grown tenfold, thanks in part to the arrival of Jewish populations fleeing discrimination in Europe, Arab countries, Africa and the Soviet Union. As a nation of immigrants, Israel draws its strength from the diversity of its people, much as the United States does. Against all odds, Israel has grown into an economic powerhouse. It was welcomed in 2010 as a member of the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD), marking it as one of the world's most highly developed economies. Israel has shown that a small country with few natural resources can succeed by investing in its people and supporting its emerging companies. Israel has more high tech start-ups than any other country in the world other than the United States, and it attracts more venture capital per capita than any other nation. Israel has succeeded by transforming its challenges into assets. Adversity has made it innovative. Lacking potable water, it is at the forefront of desalination efforts. Lacking arable land, it developed innovative ways to grow produce in a desert. Lacking energy, it has pioneered advances in solar and wind energy. Lacking security, it has built one of the world's best militaries and produces some of the most effective security products. Lacking space, Israel has invested in developing information technology which requires intellectual capital but little land. Some say that Israel's culture is ideal for innovation, with its lack of hierarchy, comfort with risk-taking and drive for individualism. Despite Israel's great advances, Israel continues to face a hostile neighborhood and is surrounded by hostile nations that deny its right to exist. In my view, the bond between the United States and Israel is unbreakable. As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel faces the challenges of a pluralistic society. Israel shares our devotion to a free press, freedom of association and adherence to the rule of law. Although Israel's economy is currently thriving, it has spent its entire existence in a state of war. In light of the challenges that confront it, Israel has the absolute right and sole discretion to take whatever steps may be necessary to defend itself and its citizens. Today on Yom Ha'atzmaut we rejoice in Israel's successes and renew our commitment to support the right of Israel's citizens to live in safety and security.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Fortune, the venerable and leading business magazine, as it plans to release its 58th Fortune 500, the definitive list of the country's largest public corporations, on Monday May 7. The companies on the very prestigious Fortune 500 list are putting America to work with a collective 17 million U.S. jobs and are a major force in driving economic growth in this country; their combined revenues exceeded $11.7 trillion last year. To mark the release of this list, Fortune magazine is convening Fortune 500 CEOs and military leaders, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, on Fortune 500 Day, for a forum at the New York Stock Exchange to put a spotlight on one of this nation's greatest resources: our military veterans. As Fortune reported in a recent cover story, U.S. companies are quickly realizing the value of hiring talented veterans with their special set of leadership skills, and the goal of the event is to bolster this positive trend in corporate America. Mr. Speaker, I am proud and honored that Fortune, a New York-based institution, headquartered in my congressional district, is continuing to set the gold standard for American business with the release of its Fortune 500 list, and is turning this high-profile platform into an opportunity to help our military heroes become the next generation of American business leaders.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on Holocaust Remembrance Day--we remember the 6 million Jews who were brutally murdered by the Nazis and their allies. The world stood silent while Jews were rounded up and shot, while families were taken from their homes while entire communities were ``liquidated''--and Jews were transported to concentration camps or murdered. While millions perished in the gas chambers. There was no outrage. There were no protests. And the world stood by while one-third of the Jewish community was murdered. The numbers are almost incomprehensible. And perhaps the world stayed silent because the threat was simply unbelievable. Who could believe that civilized Germany, with its musicians and philosophers, could possibly mean to murder so many? But now we know better--we know that when a dictator rises up--when he swears that he will destroy Israel--when he denies that the Holocaust ever took place--when he murders his own people and suppresses democracy--should not be allowed to develop the capability to murder millions of people with a single bomb. We know that we have an obligation to stand up--we know we have an obligation to act. We know that a nuclear Iran can blackmail the world, threaten oil supplies and carry out its threat to wipe Israel off the face of the map. If Iran develops nuclear bombs, it will have the ability to do in a matter of minutes what it took the Nazis six years to do. The best way to ensure that there's no possibility of a new, deadlier holocaust is to make sure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. I support efforts in Congress and by this administration to implement strong sanctions to force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. But above all, Israel has an absolute right and sole discretion to take whatever steps may be necessary to defend itself and its citizens. A nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire world and we all have a responsibility to act. We cannot afford to stand by in silence.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4628. While I fully support extending the Subsidized Stafford student loan interest rate of 3.4 percent, the cost of it should not defund efforts to reduce health disparities, especially for America's women and children. I am glad the Majority in the House recognizes the need to extend the interest rate but they are toying with students by tying the extension to the elimination of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. Already this Fund has awarded more than $62 million to New York State to combat obesity and tobacco use, prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and train the State's public health workforce to meet modern health care needs. These and other critical services, including screenings for breast and cervical cancer, are being offered all across the country. I am committed to the House Minority's effort to prevent the student loan rate from doubling for millions of Americans. My Congressional district is home to numerous colleges and universities, and I know the amount of debt that students incur by attending these schools. Federal loan and aid opportunities are critical to giving students the opportunity to pursue higher education. In his 2012 State of the Union, President Obama called on the Congress to advance new reforms to address the rising costs of college so that the American workforce is prepared for 21st century jobs. Now is the time to work to make college accessible and affordable. I urge my colleagues to support the Minority's legislation that would extend the lower interest rate for students without hurting the health of our nation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership, and I thank the chairman for his leadership. This is truly a bipartisan effort, and one that is sorely needed, as we can see from the hearing that we held last week in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the General Services Administration. And it was just outrageous that they would spend over $800,000 for some conference with mind readers and clowns when so many Americans are struggling and working hard. This bill will help prevent this type of abuse from happening again, and I am rising in strong support of H.R. 2146, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act. It is good government, it is bipartisan, it is something that we can all agree on. It is common sense, and if it had been in place earlier we could have possibly prevented the type of abuse that we are both dedicated to cleaning up. This bill will improve congressional oversight of how Federal dollars are being spent. This bill does this by creating a single online portal for information about where Federal spending can be tracked. The bill requires recipients of Federal grants, loans, and contracts to disclose how much money they receive and how that money is spent, and reduces the compliance burden on recipients of Federal funds by streamlining reporting and establishing universal data standards. The Congressional Budget Office has certified that: H.R. 2146 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates, as defined by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), and would impose no additional costs on State, local or tribal governments. This is designed to save money and to save the taxpayers, and to allow the public to have insight into how these dollars are being spent, too. The DATA Act capitalizes on the reporting required under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and President Obama's executive order establishing the Government Accountability and Transparency Board, and it will give legislative teeth to increase transparency and accountability over Federal spending across the government. The DATA Act also caps nonmilitary travel spending at 20 percent below FY10 levels and limits both the number of and amount spent on agency conferences, which will save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars per year. So this is truly something we can all agree upon. The technology is there. This bill puts the political will behind having this accountability. We do know how to track this. This will be in one centralized place, it will be available to the public, and it's an improvement in all ways. Currently available data on Federal spending is incomplete, confusing, and inconsistent. This act would centralize and simplify the convoluted reporting that is in place now, and everything would be reported in the same way. The bill also includes uniform reporting from the recipients of the Federal funds and, very importantly, all of this would be available to the public. The independent commission that would be established by this would be responsible for publishing and monitoring Federal spending. A number of diverse groups have come out in favor of it. I have roughly 20 groups that have written in support of the bill, from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, to the Taxpayers for Common Sense, to POGO, to OMB Watch. I believe this is an important bill. I believe it will make the government perform better, save taxpayers money, and the time of those who are tracking where these dollars are going. It is well overdue, and it should pass today. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for this important piece of legislation. POGO and Partners Strongly Support Passage of the DATA Act April 23, 2012. Members of the House of Representatives: We, the undersigned organizations, are writing in strong support of the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act), H.R. 2146, which is planned for a floor vote this Wednesday. The DATA Act is an important step towards improving federal financial transparency and would empower the public to better understand how their federal dollars are being spent. Currently available data on federal spending is incomplete and inconsistent. The DATA Act would centralize and simplify the convoluted spending reporting standards so that every government agency reports their spending in the same way. Importantly, the bill also includes uniform reporting from recipients of federal funds. All of this information will be readily available to the public. The DATA Act establishes an independent commission responsible for publishing and monitoring federal spending, modeled after the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board. It also sets consistent government-wide standards for financial data reporting. Its enactment will greatly improve the scope, granularity, timeliness, usefulness, and accuracy of public reports on federal spending beyond what is currently available. Concerns many of us expressed with earlier versions of the legislation have been addressed. For example, the bill provides for continuity of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act and USAspending.gov. It ensures that reporting requirements will persist even if the Commission sunsets. It requires prime federal award recipients to identify all sub-awards, and expands Treasury Department reporting requirements. It also strengthens the Government Accountability Office's ability to obtain certain agency records. This bill, introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R CA), cosponsored by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D MD) and 13 others, was passed unanimously by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and enjoys strong bipartisan support. We urge that you be present and vote ``yes'' on the DATA Act to shine a light on the spending of our tax dollars. For more information, please contact Daniel Schuman of the Sunlight Foundation, Angela Canterbury of the Project on Government Oversight, or Sam Rosen-Amy of OMB Watch. Sincerely, Center for Responsive Politics, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, (CREW), Cost of Government Center, Data Transparency Coalition, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fore See, Global Financial Integrity, iSolon.org, Jubilee USA Network, Liberty Coalition, Missionary Oblates US Province. National Freedom of Information Coalition, National Priorities Project, OMB Watch, OpenTheGovernment.org, Progressive Librarians Guild, Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Tabulaw Inc., Taxpayers for Common Sense Action, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, The Sunlight Foundation, U.S. Transparency, Washington Coalition for Open Government, WashingtonWatch.com.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing legislation urging the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to work within the framework of the United Nations process with Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of resolving the name dispute and encourages the United States to work with its NATO allies to uphold previous NATO Summits decisions, with regard to the enlargement issue. Negotiations are ongoing between Greece and the FYROM to resolve the name dispute. Historical and archaeological evidence shows that the ancient Macedonians were Greek. Macedonia is a Greek name that has designated the northern area of Greece for 2,500 years. In 1944, the name of the Skopje region was changed to Macedonia as part of Tito's imperialist campaign to gain control of the Greek province of Macedonia. NATO's Heads of State and Government unanimously agreed in Bucharest (April 3, 2008) that ``. . . within the framework of the UN, many actors have worked hard to resolve the name issue, but the Alliance has noted with regret that these talks have not produced a successful outcome. Therefore we agreed that an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be extended as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached. We encourage the negotiations to be resumed without delay and expect them to be concluded as soon as possible''--an agreement for which the heads of State and Government participating in the NATO Summit meetings in Strasbourg/Kehl (April 4, 2009), as well as in Lisbon (November 20, 2010) reiterated their support. This resolution urges the FYROM to work within the framework of the United Nations process with Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of resolving the name dispute and encourages the United States to work with its NATO allies to uphold previous NATO Summits decisions, with regard to the enlargement issue and extend an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, held every April, Equal Pay Day signifies the point in the year that a woman must work to earn what a man made in the previous year. Only in April will a woman finally earn what a man has made. In my own state of New York, women make 83 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. According to a report by the National Partnership for Women & Families, full-time working women in New York lose approximately $24,257,741,976 each year due to the wage gap. The national average is even worse: on average, women in the United States earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by male coworkers. Though the Equal Pay Act was signed into law in 1963, when women earned 59 cents for every dollar earned by men, it is nearly 50 years later and women STILL aren't being paid equally. The work women do matters--women make up nearly half of the labor force and mothers are the primary earners or co-earners in two-thirds of all families. Equal pay isn't merely a women's issue--when women don't earn fair pay, the families that rely on their wages struggle. Families increasingly rely on women's wages to make ends meet. In typical married households, women's incomes accounted for 36 percent of total family income in 2008, up from 29 percent in 1983. This Equal Pay Day, I recognize the many achievements and contributions of women across the country to our economy and pledge to work towards economic equality for women, to a time when women can finally receive the wages they have worked for and rightfully earned.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 9, the so-called Small Business Tax Cut Act, which, instead of helping small businesses or growing the economy, is merely another tax giveaway to the rich. Americans are demanding that we take action to create jobs and spur economic growth, but this legislation before us today adds $46 billion to the deficit in the next year alone, fails to create jobs and actually discourages the investments our economy needs. Now is the time to support American small businesses and grow the economy, as Democrats would do in an alternative proposal, by allowing companies to deduct 100% of the cost of capital, or ``bonus depreciation,'' in the first year for new investment in machinery and equipment--a proposal even conservative economists consider one of the most productive ways to boost economic growth. This is not the time to hand another tax cut to our nations' wealthiest as H.R. 9 proposes, and I urge my colleagues to oppose this misguided legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, throughout the country, affordable and safe child care is essential for working families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70 percent of children have one or more parents in the labor force. A survey commissioned by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies revealed that 57 percent of parents reported in 2010 that child care was a necessity, compared with 49 percent in 2006. Despite the great need for affordable child care, there is a wide gap between what today's families are earning and the cost of child care and household expenses. In 2010, the average cost of full-time care for an infant in a child care center varied from $4,650 in Mississippi to over $18,000 in the District of Columbia. In my own state of New York, the average yearly cost of part time care for a school-age child is an exorbitant $10,400. The amount of assistance offered by the current federal credit for child care costs is a minimum of only $600 for one child and $1,200 for two children. Unfortunately, this amount does little to offset our country's extraordinarily high child care costs. To ease the burden on our working families, today I am introducing the Child Care Affordability Act. This legislation would create a new tax deduction for child care and dependent care expenses and expand the current credit for child and dependent care expenses, so families receive a truly impactful level of assistance. Parents would be given the choice of utilizing the tax deduction or the tax credit to select the option that provides them with the greatest amount of relief. During tax season, it is important to offer working families who are struggling to afford child care.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease, I am pleased to recognize April as Parkinson's Awareness Month. It is critical that we raise awareness of this debilitating disease and continue to work towards discovering treatments and eventually, a cure. As the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, it's estimated that there are between 500,000 and 1.5 million Americans living with Parkinson's and as the baby boomer generation ages, this number will only increase. Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that debilitates those living with Parkinson's and affects their families, as well. There is no therapy or drug to slow its progression and a cure has yet to be found. As the loved one of someone afflicted by Parkinson's disease, I witnessed personally the toll that Parkinson's disease took 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 call for continued research funding to identify treatments and a cure. I also applaud the many advocates, medical staff, volunteers, and organizations who work tirelessly to advance the quality of life for those living with Parkinson's disease and their loved ones.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, while the Augusta National Golf Course is known as a premier golf course and for hosting the Master's tournament, the club is also known for its discriminatory policy of denying women membership. Yet Augusta is not the only `boys club'--over 20 other clubs throughout the country prohibit women from joining. In addition to these unfair and unjust policies, Augusta and other clubs around the country are benefitting from federal tax breaks that allow deductions of business-related entertainment, business meals, and business expenses associated with travel and meetings. The government currently indirectly subsidizes discrimination by allowing tax deductions when individuals and corporations do business at private clubs that discriminate. It is simply outrageous that taxpayers barred from joining these clubs are forced to pay for business expenses associated with them. This is why I am reintroducing the Ending Tax Breaks for Discrimination Act of 2012 so that clubs that discriminate will not be subsidized by the government. This legislation would deny all deductions for business expenses associated with the use of a club that discriminates on the basis of sex, race, or color. Discriminatory clubs will have to state on their receipts that their expenditures are nondeductible. It's time to end tax breaks for discrimination--plain and simple.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Instead of being called the ``Road to Prosperity,'' the Ryan Republican budget should have been named the ``Road to Austerity,'' because it is a plan that is most noteworthy for the harsh austerity it demands of the many and the lavish benefits it extends to the few. Nobel Laureate in Economics Paul Krugman has called this budget proposal the most fraudulent budget in U.S. history, calling its priorities inconceivably cruel. Our recent economic history has shown that while Republican budgets might poll well, they do not perform well. The Bush budgets produced stagnant income growth for the middle class, a jobless recovery, and a huge deficit. The Ryan Republican plan is the Bush budget plan on steroids. If we look at what actually worked in the past, the single best model for growing jobs, sustaining economic growth, and reducing the deficit can be found in the 8 years of the Clinton administration, which created 22 million jobs, erased the deficit, and left this country with a huge surplus. A more balanced approach to deficit reduction will work for everyone. Let's pass a budget based on facts, not on fictions. Pass the Democratic budget.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute an admirable public servant and a dear friend. Ann Kaplan, a celebrated constituent from the great state of New York, has served selflessly and diligently as a member of the American Red Cross Board of Governors since 2003 and next week will complete her third and final term on the Board. The American Red Cross depends upon experienced leadership that understands the significant operational challenges it faces in delivering a full range of services each and every day. From supporting the armed forces around the world to safely supplying nearly half the Nation's blood supply to directly helping the American public and businesses prepare for and respond to over 70,000 disaster annually, the American Red Cross Board of Governors plays an integral role in developing effective strategy for the organization. During Ann Kaplan's service on the Board of Governors, the American Red Cross has gone through an unprecedented internal transformation including comprehensive governance reform resulting in bold changes that are a model of corporate governance, and internal restructuring in order to eliminate a significant operating deficit, streamline operations, and improve service delivery. Ms. Kaplan has made significant contributions to the organization through her service on the Board including leading the Board-directed mandate to address the organization's operational and financial issues and to restructure the oversight of investments. Her service on the Board includes the following leadership positions: Vice Chair, Finance Committee (2005 2006); Chair, Finance Committee (2006 2008); Vice Chair, Compensation and Management Development Committee (2009 2012); Chair, Investment Committee (2010 2012); and Vice Chairman of the Board (2007 2012). While Red Cross Board members normally serve two terms, Ms. Kaplan served a third term at the unanimous request of the Board during a critical period because of her passionate and able leadership and financial expertise. Ms. Kaplan has been a generous supporter of the American Red Cross and has served the organization in various other capacities including Co-Chair of the Chairman's Council, which recognizes individuals and families whose cumulative giving to the American Red Cross exceeds one million dollars. She also served as a disaster relief volunteer with the New York City Chapter, which serves my district. I rise on behalf of my Congressional colleagues, the Hon. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, the Chairman of the American Red Cross, and, the entire Board of Governors, Gail J. McGovern, President and CEO and all the staff and volunteers of the Red Cross to thank Ms. Kaplan for her extraordinary service as a member of the Board of Governors. March might be American Red Cross Month in America. But the first week of April will be a week to honor and celebrate Ann Kaplan's contributions to strengthen the organization as it strives to better serve this great Nation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I honor Ellie Smeal, a true global leader for women and a national treasure on the Feminist Majority Foundation's 25th Anniversary. Since its founding in 1987, with Ellie's leadership, the Feminist Majority Foundation has advanced the legal, social and political equality of women, challenged the hostility that women's advancement faces, and recruited and trained countless young feminists to foster future leadership of the feminist movement. The Feminist Majority Foundation received its name after a Newsweek/ Gallup public opinion poll revealed that the majority of women in the United States self-identified as feminists. With the belief that feminist men and women are the majority, the organization has been on the forefront of the women's movement, championing women's equality, reproductive health, and non-violence. The Feminist Majority Foundation has achieved many triumphs that benefit women in the United States at the local, state and federal level and abroad: ballot initiatives to repeal state-wide abortion bans, recruiting an unprecedented number of women to run for elected office, resulting in 1992 being the Year of the Woman, and amending the 1991 Civil Rights Act to award monetary damages to women who win sexual harassment lawsuits in court. The Feminist Majority Foundation is the sole publisher of Ms., a feminist publication dedicated to covering issues impacting women around the world. For more than two decades, Ellie Smeal, the President and Founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation, has fought for equality for women. She has held pivotal roles in nationwide and state efforts to achieve women's rights legislation and key court cases to advance women's rights. A gifted strategist and organizer, Ellie was the first to identify and highlight the ``gender gap'' and the differences in the ways men and women vote. While President of the National Organization for Women, Ellie led the fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment through the largest grassroots effort in the modern women's rights movement. She continues to work tirelessly towards ensuring that men and women are granted equal rights by the United States Constitution. Last week, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Congress's passage of the ERA and Ellie was front and center, staunchly affirming the need for the ERA. A tireless advocate of women's reproductive rights, she developed a program to train clinic defenders in nonviolent clinic defense and fought a 12 year battle to allow American women access to mifepristone. Her organizing abilities have brought together all segments of the women's movement, including young feminist leaders. Ellie has been critical in recruiting the next generation of female leaders through her creation of the Choices Campus Leadership Program, which has produced nationwide campus based feminist groups. Under Ellie, the Feminist Majority has focused on increasing the ranks of feminists running for office and has achieved numerous key legislative victories for women: the Violence Against Women Act, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Civil Rights Restoration Act and many state and federal campaigns. Through her global advocacy, Ellie and the Feminist Majority called worldwide attention to the Taliban's treatment of women and prevented the United States and the United Nations from officially recognizing the Taliban government. Having worked with Ellie on the ERA and so many other initiatives, I can personally attest that there is no one more determined and dedicated to advancing women's equality than Ellie Smeal. In Ellie, the women's movement has a tireless advocate and through her leadership of the Feminist Majority, women are closer to achieving political, social and economic equality. We are all fortunate to have witnessed and benefitted from Ellie's passionate commitment and determination. I am proud to have worked with Ellie and to call her my dear friend. In appreciation for her all she has accomplished, I am proud to congratulate her on the 25th Anniversary of the Feminist Majority Foundation and look forward to continuing our work to achieve equality for women.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Congressman Fattah.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am afraid that our colleagues have made a slight mistake in naming their plan. This budget should be called the ``Road to Austerity'' because it is a plan that is most noteworthy for the rather harsh austerity it demands of the many and the lavish benefits it extends to the few. It clearly envisions a rising tide of selective tax cuts that would lift all yachts, but leave most dinghies. Our Republican friends like to talk about making the hard choices. What they propose here would indeed make things much harder for millions of Americans, but it will also make things much easier for a fortunate few--millionaires and billionaires. That's their plan. But before we get to the specifics of the plan tonight, it's important to examine where we are before we decide where we want to go. Because of President Obama's economic policies, there are continuing signs of economic progress and recovery. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2011 and through the beginning of this year, there is fresh new data showing that the recovery is gaining strength. The economy has added more than 200,000 jobs for 3 straight months. As you can see from this chart, private sector employment has increased for 24 consecutive months; And during these past 24 months, the economy has added almost 4 million private sector jobs. On this chart, the red bars are the Bush administration. It shows that in the closing days, the closing months, this country was losing over 700,000 jobs per month. The blue bars are the Obama administration. And you can see the steady, slow gains and the 24 months of gains of jobs in the private sector. This chart is similar to one that was presented by Chairman Bernanke in his testimony before the Financial Services Committee in the Humphrey-Hawkins hearings. This is from his report. It shows the low, deep area we were in when President Obama took office, losing so many jobs, and because of his policies, the steady gain and the continuing gain we hope to see. Actions taken by the President and Congress, including passage of the Recovery Act and recent legislation to continue Federal Unemployment Insurance and extend the payroll tax cut through 2012, have played an important role in driving this economic recovery and private job gain. Few would disagree, however, that to reach this point has taken longer than we would have liked. It has required fiscal interventions to sustain and strengthen the economy and to support those harmed by the Great Recession. And it has required a variety of creative and effective approaches from the Federal Reserve to ease monetary policy and boost growth. I would also like to show the chart on unemployment. It shows that the unemployment rate has fallen significantly, from 9.1 percent last August to 8.3 percent in February, which is well below the peak of 10 percent reached in October 2009. So, again, these are positive signs under the Obama administration. Still, there are far too many Americans hurting. The reality is that we have a long way to go to regain the ground that we lost during the Great Recession: 12.8 million Americans remain unemployed, and more than four out of 10 unemployed have been jobless for more than 6 months. The share of those unemployed and out of work for more than 6 months has been greater than 40 percent since December of 2009, a period of time that has been unprecedented. Clearly, cutting further into the unemployment rate and bringing down the rate of long-term unemployed must be continuing priorities of this Congress. I can say that Democrats will not be satisfied until every American who wants a job can get a job. So while we have made some economic progress, there are many challenges ahead. While GDP has grown for 10 straight quarters, GDP growth in the first quarter of 2012 is projected to slow to an annual rate of just 1.9 percent. This is far from robust economic growth. The European community's economic weakness may present new headwinds in the months ahead. And the recent spike in U.S. oil and gas prices leaves consumers with fewer dollars in their wallets for other purchases, putting new pressure on the recovery. Clearly, we need Congress to stay vigilant on the fiscal side. Part of this fiscal vigilance is rejecting austerity plans and short-sighted budget cuts that will jeopardize the recovery while harming the most vulnerable among us, including low-income Americans and senior citizens. The reality is that the majority's Ryan budget harms those who need help and doles out tax breaks and benefits to those who don't. Let me be as clear as I possibly can. The Ryan budget, if it were passed by this House, would risk our recovery. The majority's budget resolution for 2013, the Ryan budget, abandons the economic recovery, contains policies that ship American jobs overseas, and harms our Nation's economic competitiveness. And by slashing programs that low-income and elderly Americans count on, while cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthiest individuals, the Ryan budget provides the latest, clearest example of Republican economic priorities. Just like last year, the Ryan budget ends the Medicare guarantee, shifts the burden of rising health care costs onto seniors, and shreds our Nation's social safety net. These are bad choices for America. The Ryan budget extends the Bush tax cuts and lowers the current top tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, giving millionaires and billionaires a 10 percentage-point tax cut. Instead of asking the wealthiest Americans to do what they can to help restore fiscal responsibility and preserve vital services, Republicans would choose to slash support for tuition assistance and other services in order to pay for tax cuts that provide a huge benefit to millionaires and hurt America's working middle class. The Ryan budget includes the latest attempt to end Medicare as we know it. Instead of strengthening Medicare, Ryan's plan would replace Medicare's guaranteed benefits with a voucher for Medicare or private insurance, creating higher costs for seniors and unraveling the traditional Medicare program. Initial analysis shows that the plan would cut future spending by $5,900 per senior, shifting costs to seniors and diminishing their access to quality care. Republicans continue to propose ideas to end Medicare, even though 70 percent of Americans support keeping the program as it is. The Ryan budget would strip away health care benefits for millions of American families. By repealing the Affordable Care Act, Chairman Ryan's plan would eliminate benefits that are providing stable and secure care for millions of Americans and go back to the days when insurance companies would deny coverage or jack-up prices, or just refuse coverage because of preexisting conditions whenever, and however, they pleased. The Republican budget would get rid of benefits Americans are already receiving, such as the following: Free preventive health services for 32 million seniors; $3.2 billion in prescription drug savings for 5.1 million seniors by reopening the doughnut hole; reducing drug coverage; preventive services like mammograms, cervical cancer screening, and contraception for over 20 million women; coverage for 2.5 million young Americans who have already gained coverage on their parents' insurance plans; protections from insurance companies canceling coverage when people get sick; and denying coverage to children with preexisting conditions. And the Ryan budget also eliminates benefits slated to help Americans in the coming 2 years, such as access to stable and secure care for 32 million Americans; protections against being discriminated against due to gender or preexisting conditions; or facing limits on coverage for over 105 million Americans. Chairman Ryan's budget does something else. It breaks the agreement made last year to reduce the deficit, backing out of the bipartisan deal Republicans and Democrats made on government spending. Many will recall last year, in order to avert an unprecedented national default, Democrats and Republicans passed the Budget Control Act. The Ryan budget breaks that agreement, that bipartisan agreement, by slashing government services by $19 billion more than was agreed to in the Budget Control Act. Republicans would break their word on spending and reduce services and investments, all while slashing tax rates for millionaires and billionaires. The Ryan budget block-grants Medicaid, slashing $810 billion from the program, jeopardizing nursing home care for seniors, and shifting costs to States. Chairman Ryan's plan reaffirms the Republican call to end Medicaid as a safety net, jeopardizing vital services that seniors depend on, like nursing home care and home health care aides, and shifts the burden of rising health care costs to cash-strapped States. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, these dramatic reductions in spending ``might involve reduced eligibility coverage of fewer services, lower payments to providers, or increased cost-sharing by beneficiaries, all of which would reduce access to care.'' The Ryan budget increases the burden on low-income Americans. The Republican budget block-grants and slashes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by almost $123 billion over 10 years, jeopardizing economic security for millions of Americans. The Ryan budget would also just pull the plug on America's clean- energy industries. Instead of moving toward a clean economy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, Chairman Ryan's plan pulls the plug on support for clean-energy technology and simply calls for opening more land to drilling, even though American oil production is at its highest level since 2003, and the oil and gas industry is using less than one-third of the 75 million acres of land offered for development. And it continues the subsidies to the oil industry. This plan would pull Americans out of the race to create well-paying new jobs and dominate the growing global market for clean-energy technology. The alternative, of course, is the Democratic plan, which takes a totally different approach, a balanced approach of shared sacrifice that meets the Nation's need to invest in the future, keeps our country strong, and preserves Medicare and our social safety net, while continuing tax relief for working families. For me, the choice is easy, not hard. I urge you to join me in supporting the Democratic plan, supporting Medicare, supporting working families, supporting the middle class, and supporting the firm belief that the American Dream is alive and well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlelady from Pennsylvania, a member of the Budget Committee, Allyson Schwartz.

Mrs. MALONEY. I inquire of the Chair as to how much time remains.

Mrs. MALONEY. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee, Congressman Cooper.