Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentlelady for yielding and for her leadership not only on this but so many important issues. I want to make it very clear, in response to the gentleman's statement, there are no taxpayer-funded abortions now. There weren't any yesterday, and there won't be any in the future. H.R. 3 goes far beyond current law. It is stunning in its scope, appalling in its indifference, and outrageous in its arrogance. The right to choose is absolutely meaningless without access to choice, and H.R. 3 creates obstacles for women to access safe, legal, and constitutionally protected health care. This makes access to abortion coverage incredibly difficult, and I would say that the bill is not only an attack on women's rights, but it is also an attack on the rights of the private insurance companies and small businesses. It tells private insurance companies how to run their businesses, raises compliance costs for small business, and even tells the local government how they may spend their money. The bill manages to offend nearly every high-sounding principle the other side says they stand for. So if you truly believe in the freedom of the individual and the wisdom of free market, vote ``no'' on this absolutely appalling piece of work. It is anti-woman, anti-choice, anti-respect, and anti- business. It is a totally flawed bill, goes far further than any existing law, and it is the deepest and strongest attack on a woman's right to choose that has come before this body in my lifetime. And the Republican majority says its priority is jobs and job creation, but their actions speak louder than words. They want to come into the bedroom. They want to come between a woman and her doctor. It is an appalling bill. Please vote ``no.''

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the First Annual Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival, which took place last month on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City. This ``Celebration of Hope'' featured the dedication of a beautiful grove of cherry trees along the Island's west promenade, which offers breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline, as well as numerous cross-cultural offerings. Proceeds from the Festival are being donated to the Roosevelt Island Japanese Association relief drive to aid those affected by the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which is also being supported by the Japan Society in New York City and designated charities. The Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival featured performances by four different traditional music groups and by Roosevelt Island's own ``Karate Kids''. It also featured numerous gastronomic exhibits and tastings, including a continuous tea ceremony, a sushi and sake tasting offered by Roosevelt Island's Fuji East Restaurant, and a beer tasting put on by the Roosevelt Island Bar & Grill. In addition, the Festival included many offerings in the visual arts, including origami folding lessons, a photography contest, and an art auction hosted by the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association (RIVAA) Gallery. The Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival truly offered something for everyone: It was free and open to the public, but the proceeds from all sales will be donated toward Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief. Roosevelt Island holds a unique place in the history of our nation's greatest metropolis. It began to be developed into a largely residential community by the State of New York in 1969 with a master plan designed by the world-renowned architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee as its guideline. This design envisioned a diverse mixed-income community in a largely traffic-free environment, a plan that has been successfully implemented. The first residential housing complex on Roosevelt Island opened in 1975, followed a year later by three additional developments. Today, Roosevelt Island is famous for its parks, historic landmarks, first- rate health care facilities, and its scenic Tramway, the only commuter tram in the United States. It also offers a warm and comfortable environment to a thriving population of active and involved New Yorkers who call it their home. Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to the first annual Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival and all its organizers and volunteers. The Festival's mission of serving others offers inspiration to us all.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, in honor of Melanoma Monday, I am reintroducing bipartisan legislation with my colleagues Representative Charlie Dent and Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.: the Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act. This legislation will empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine whether the current performance standards and regulations placed on tanning beds accurately reflect their safety and effectiveness. Despite the known health risks associated with indoor tanning, more than two million people, the vast majority of whom are women and young girls, tan indoors every day. The United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified indoor tanning beds as a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance), the same category as tobacco smoke, asbestos and uranium. Research shows people who tan indoors are 75 percent more likely to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, which is now the most common form of cancer among young adults 25-29 years old. We can no longer ignore the startling health effects of indoor tanning. In spite of the facts, the FDA currently classifies tanning beds in the lowest risk category, Class I. Other examples of Class I devices are Band Aids and tongue depressors, devices that pose no risk to consumers at all. The Tanning Bed Cancer Control Act requires the FDA to examine two sides of tanning bed regulation. First, it requires a study be conducted to determine whether or not tanning beds are appropriately classified in accordance with the risks of their use. The bill also addresses performance standards--factors such as the strength of the UV rays emitted and the recommended amount of time a consumer should remain in the bed. These standards have not been updated since 1985. Finally, the legislation calls on the FDA to carry out its own findings published in a 2008 Report to Congress and to edit the warning label requirements to clearly and more effectively inform consumers of the health risks associated with tanning bed use. The link between skin cancer and indoor tanning is undeniable and we need to protect Americans from harmful UV rays. We cannot afford to stand by and watch people suffer as a result of misinformation and poor regulation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I am reintroducing the bipartisan September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act with Representatives Peter King, Jerrold Nadler, Gary Ackerman, Rush Holt, Raul Grijalva, Yvette Clarke, Anthony Weiner, Eliot Engel and Steve Israel. The losses that resulted from terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are tremendous. For a dozen individuals, the turmoil of the attacks continues as they remain in jeopardy of being deported since their immigration status was linked to a family member who was employed at the World Trade Center. To address this situation, I am reintroducing the September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act, which would provide for the adjustment of status or the cancellation of removal for those who are the spouse, child, dependent son, or dependent daughter of victims who were killed on 9/11. The Department of Homeland Security under the Bush administration and the Obama administration has allowed the affected spouses and children to stay here while a permanent solution is crafted by Congress. Nearly ten years later, the surviving spouses and children of legal employment-based visa holders and undocumented workers who were killed during the attacks should no longer be in limbo. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Those who lost so much on 9/11 deserve answers and should be given legal status in the U.S.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to reintroduce important bipartisan legislation, the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Registry, SAFER, Act, with my colleagues, Representatives Poe, Moran, Costa, Grijalva, Richardson, Gwen Moore, Bartlett, Deutch, Aderholt, Rooney, and Wasserman Schultz. I have been working on the issue of DNA technology since 2001 when I, along with former Representative Steve Horn, held a hearing in the Government Reform Committee where we heard from a courageous rape survivor, Debbie Smith. It was for Debbie, and the thousands of rape survivors like her, that I authored ``The Debbie Smith Act'' to provide federal funding to process the unconscionable backlog of DNA evidence. This legislation passed as part of the Justice for All Act of 2004, authorizing the necessary funding to start processing the backlog through the creation of the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. Since 2004, millions of dollars in funding have been appropriated under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. Efforts to eliminate the national backlog of rape evidence samples that have not been tested for DNA have been slowed or stymied by the lack of solid data on the extent and nature of the remaining backlog. While there is extensive evidence that we are making progress towards eliminating the backlog, policy makers lack a reliable estimate of the number of kits awaiting testing, or even how many kits remain at each stage of the process (in police custody, at labs awaiting processing, etc.). This legislation addresses these issues to reduce rape kit DNA backlogs nationwide by allocating existing program funds for incentives to local jurisdictions to audit rape kits awaiting processing, the hiring and/or training of staff to handle the backlog, and establishing a national database of every individual rape kit result. It also requires the Attorney General to report on best practices for testing and using DNA evidence in criminal investigations of sexual assault. As Congress considers legislation to amend the Debbie Smith Act or make other changes to DNA testing policy, it is crucial that we first gather reliable, comprehensive backlog data. DNA evidence does not forget and it cannot be intimidated. By processing this evidence, we can prevent rapists from attacking more innocent victims and ensure that the survivors and their families receive justice.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as we argue the merits of various budget proposals, we must not forget that the wallets and savings accounts of our mothers, sisters, and daughters are not as heavy as they should be. Today, on Equal Pay Day, we recognize the discrimination women continue to experience each time they receive a paycheck. Women earn roughly 77 cents to every dollar a man earns. This translates to almost an $11,000 reduction in annual female median earnings. Over her lifetime, a woman will see a reduction in her savings for retirement, including Social Security and pension plans, and in her ability to save for lifetime goals such as buying a home and paying for a college education. In the 111th Congress, I was the first female Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, and as such I made a commitment to look at women's current role in the economy through numerous reports and hearings. As a capstone, in December 2010, the Committee issued a comprehensive report compiling 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 and the positive impact of health care reform and financial reform on women and their families. 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.'' Regardless of demographics, industries, occupations or education, gender wage discrimination touches nearly every family. When you discriminate against a woman, you discriminate against her husband, her children, her entire family. In these economically difficult times, more than ever women find themselves to be the sole or primary household breadwinner, which means the wage gap undermines the economic security of our nation's families. The persistence and stagnation of the gender wage gap is inexcusable. That is why I am proud to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that provides women with the tools to fight wage discrimination and improve the economic security of working families. I urge my colleagues to stand up for the basic rights and fairness of 51% of the U.S. population.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, at a time when the American people are asking Congress to help create more jobs, it is equally important to put in place policies that create a positive workplace environment. That is why today I am introducing the Family Medical Leave Enhancement Act. Eighteen years ago, President Clinton signed into law the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA, P.L. 103-3), legislation that allows employees to take time off from work to care for a new baby or sick family member. Federal workplace policies have not kept pace with the growing need to fit work commitments with the sometimes conflicting needs of children and elderly parents. This is especially so given the continued increase of women in the workforce. It's time to enhance this landmark legislation. In our current economic recovery, many families are finding both their budgets and their time strained. The legislation I introduced today would enhance the FMLA by providing up to 24 hours of unpaid Parental Involvement and Family Wellness leave (during any 12-month period), which will allow parents and grandparents to go to parent- teacher conferences or to take their children, grandchildren or other family members to the doctor for regular medical or dental appointments. The bill also expands coverage to allow employees in companies with more than 25 employees to take family and medical leave. If we as a country truly value families, then we need new policies and investments that support our working families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chair, the bill before us today is bad for America's health and reduces progress in our nation's energy independence. I oppose this `dirty air act' that would eliminate the ability of the EPA to address the very serious public health threats from carbon pollution. The Clean Air Act requires that if the EPA finds carbon pollution to be detrimental to our health, then the EPA must regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court upholding this authority, today's legislation would exempt our nation's largest polluters from regulation, eliminate public health protections, and push back efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign energy resources. By preventing the EPA from setting carbon pollution national automobile standards, this bill does nothing to reduce consumption and reliance on foreign oil. The EPA helps protect our nation's most vulnerable--including children, seniors and those suffering from respiratory ailments--by guaranteeing the air we breathe is safe and healthy. Dirty air has been linked to an increase in asthma rates, especially among young people, an increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and an increase in heart attacks and strokes. In New York, pediatric asthma affects an estimated half million children and an additional estimated 1.5 million adults 18 and over have asthma, based on 2009 rates. All across the country, Americans overwhelmingly support EPA protections for the air we breathe and the water we drink. Supporting this bill disregards science, ignores public health concerns, and does nothing to curb carbon emissions. I urge a no vote.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise with the New York delegation to honor the memory and many contributions of one of our favorite daughters, Geraldine Ferraro. Last Thursday, New Yorkers poured out in great numbers to honor her at her funeral. Her three children--Donna, Laura, and John, Jr.--spoke eloquently and movingly in support and love of their late mother. And at the funeral and speaking in a eulogy beautifully for her, Vice President Mondale, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Congresswoman Jane Harman, Senator Mikulski, and former President Clinton. It would have thrilled her to see four women precede a President in eulogizing and speaking about her, two of whom were Secretaries of State, because it was her life that helped inspire and move women forward in our national life, not only in politics but in every area-- business, finance. All areas of American life, Geraldine Ferraro inspired with her life and her historic run for Vice President of the United States. With her passing, America lost a leader who was as wise as she was warm; a trailblazer who broke down barriers for women. For women everywhere, not just in the United States but across the world, Geraldine Ferraro was a champion and a heroine. For me, personally, she was a dear, dear friend and a mentor. What seemed to non-New Yorkers as a feisty and fast-talking woman seemed to us as just another mom from Queens. She inspired us with her personal story. The daughter of Italian immigrants, raised by her seamstress mother after her father died at 8, she became a public school teacher, a lawyer--one of just two women in her law class--and a Member and leader of Congress, elected in 1978. She also, after her historic run, became a commentator on television, a delegate to the United Nations. She headed the World Conference in Beijing in 1995, and I was proud to be part of her delegation at the World Conference on Women. Last August, on her 75th birthday, we renamed the Post Office in Long Island City in her honor. It used to be in her district; it is now in mine. And I was honored to be able to author the legislation and work with my New York colleagues and others to pass it. And she was so thrilled at that naming to see so many of her friends, not only from New York and her district but across the country, come in one place to honor her. Later that day, which happened to also be Women's Equality Day, she rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of the progress for women. I know that a post office is only the start of the memorials to this wonderful, charming, talented trailblazer who continued blazing trails her entire life. I met with her shortly before she died, and she had a list of constituents she wanted helped and causes she wanted completed. We do stand on her shoulders and women like her who came before us. I will never forget, as an eager, young delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention, and I can tell you firsthand that Geraldine Ferraro thrilled us when she took the stage as the first woman ever nominated by a major political party to be its candidate for Vice President of the United States. It was absolutely electrifying. She changed my life, and she changed the lives of women everywhere. She changed the aspirations of women and how they view themselves. I will never forget being on the floor. Many of the men gave their delegate card to the women delegates who were part-time delegates. So the floor was filled with women. People were handing out cigars saying, ``It's a woman.'' And when she went to the floor, there was literally applause for over 10 minutes. I shall miss her dearly and shall honor her passing by redoubling my efforts to complete her unfinished work to pass the ERA. It is time to enshrine in our Constitution the high principle of gender equality that Geraldine Ferraro so courageously stood for in her life. Geraldine, we will miss you, we honor you, and we thank you for your many, many contributions to American life.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on April 1, I missed rollcall vote numbered 213. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 213, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1255) to prevent a shutdown of the government of the United States.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on March 31, I attended the service and funeral of my dear friend and mentor, Geraldine Ferraro, and missed rollcall votes Number 205 and 206. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 205, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 658) to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2011 through 2014 and 206, to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides in or near navigable waters.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, what holiday is this, again? Is it April Fool's--or is it Groundhog Day? This bill, whether it's labeled H.R. 1 or H.R. 1255, is a distinct attack on the quality of life for women and their families in this country. While the proposed cuts would be devastating to Americans as a whole, this bill would change the daily lives of women for the worse--and American women should understand. Yet the Majority insists on ignoring the Constitution in order to ravage programs and policies that disproportionately impact women. Today, I released a report documenting how this bill impacts women from birth to old age, every single step of the way. The report shows that this bill cuts industries that disproportionately employ women and attacks programs that women depend on, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This bill zeros out Title X funding, so that obtaining primary care and preventive screenings becomes far more difficult for many women. This bill cuts childcare programs and afterschool programs so that women are forced to choose between working--and supporting their families--or providing child care at home. We cannot stand by as this Majority attacks women from all sides. We must fight against this assault on American women and their families. I voted no on H.R. 1, and I urge a no vote ``on'' H.R. 1255.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, imagine a country where women are systematically raped, children are given guns to fight wars and most of the population struggles to live on $2 a day. This horrific almost unimaginable scenario is the reality for women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This month, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights held a very timely and important hearing on the crisis in the DRC and what America can do to help address the situation and end the violence. The systematic and relentless sexual violence faced by women in the DRC is an unconscionable violation of human rights. In 2008, I introduced H. Res. 1227 which reaffirmed our chamber's abhoration and condemnation of rape as a weapon of war in the Congo. The systematic rape of women in the DRC must end and this was forcefully were raised at the hearing by witnesses including Cindy McCain and Ms. Francisca Vigaud-Walsh of Catholic Relief Services. I could not agree more. In the Congo, many international actors are working to end the violence and they need the support of the US as they work in a very difficult political environment to end the violence. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, plays a key leadership role on the ground in addressing sexual based violence in the DRC. UNFPA aids survivors of sexual violence by providing medical care, economic and social rehabilitation, and legal assistance. The Fund has trained thousands of armed forces on protection and care for survivors. In Kasai Oriental, North and South Kivu, thanks to global support for UNFPA's efforts, over 15,000 sexual violence survivors have received medical care. In camp Kibaki, home to 200,000 displaced people, UNFPA provides kits to test for and treat sexually transmitted infections, post exposure cleansing for rape cases and clean safe delivery kits. Moreover, UNFPA played a key advocacy role in the 2006 adoption of the DRC law on sexual violence, expanding it to include sexual harassment, forced pregnancy, forced sterilization and other brutal practices. Yet, the House Republicans passed an appropriations bill calling for zero funding for UNFPA. This is both unconscionable and nonsensical. Why would we have a hearing to call attention to the dire situation in the DRC and how America can help and then at the same time defund one of the key international organizations addressing the needs and well being of rape survivors? I recall back to 2008 when my colleagues in the U.S. Senate held a similar hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee several Republican Senators expressed their shock and dismay in learning about the violence and in particular the incidence of traumatic fistula from rape. Why, they asked, is not more being done? These were the same Senators who had voted to defund U.S. support to UNFPA--the lead agency addressing fistula. This would be ironic if it was not so irresponsible. My Republican colleagues raised the same tired and discredited arguments about UNFPA's country program in China earlier this month. UNFPA is clearly and firmly on the record in opposition to the heinous ``one-child policy'' and continue to promote changes in China to a human-rights-based and voluntary approach to family planning. It is UNFPA who has raised the issue about the dramatic gender disparity and societal imbalance that results from sex-selection abortion and how critical it is to end this practice and promote the well being of girls. Indeed, what UNFPA's small human rights based program in China is doing are exactly the kind of pressure my Republican colleagues claim they want to see happen in there. Moreover, we have a longstanding agreement on language that ensures that in our contribution to UNFPA, no U.S. funds are spent in China, no U.S. funds are spent on abortion services and all U.S. funds are kept in a segregated account to be able to track these things. We are the only one of UNFPA's 180 donors who put restrictions on our contribution. In the coming weeks as decisions are made on the final budget, it is imperative that the United States continues its financial and moral support for the life-saving work of UNFPA. The women in the Democratic Republic of Congo and everywhere else where UNFPA works are counting on us.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Edie Fraser, a remarkable woman who has devoted herself to promoting diversity, advancing women's equality, and serving others throughout her career, and who I am proud to call my friend. A remarkably devoted and effective activist and philanthropist, Edie D. Fraser is a successful entrepreneur, an inspirational and visionary leader, and a selfless and dedicated philanthropist and mentor to countless other women and girls. She has a long and distinguished track record as an advocate for diversity in the corporate sector. The remarkable effectiveness and astonishing energy that she has demonstrated in her advocacy inspired her friend Cynthia de Lorenzi, the founder of the ``Success in the City'' program, to give her the nickname, ``the Magical Bumblebee.'' A top official at Diversified Search Odgers Berndtson, Edie Fraser is widely respected throughout corporate America. She has a rich history in diversity advocacy, having been the founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Women's Network and the Public Affairs Group, Inc., whose divisions include Diversity Best Practices and Best Practices in Corporate Communications. More than 135 corporations participated in the programs created and developed by her company. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of several important organizations dedicated to promoting diversity in the workforce and to encouraging women's equal participation in every sector of business and society. She was recently featured on the cover of WOW magazine's ``Mentoring Leaders'' issue, and is being honored in Washington this month. Edie Fraser has dedicated her life to serving others in countless ways. She is the co-author of Do Your Giving While You're Living, a work that reached the best-seller list of BusinessWeek magazine and which offers inspirational portraits of prominent women leaders like Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, the Chair of the Board of Red Cross; Jennie Chin Hansen, the President of the American Association of Retired Persons, and the renowned singer and recording artist Dionne Warwick. Ms. Fraser is also a longtime supporter of Latina Style and of Robert Bard, as well as non-profit institutions like Big Brothers and organizations serving persons with disabilities. In recognition of her service to others, she has won more than 35 major awards for promoting diversity, advancing women's equality, and far-sighted philanthropy. She has served as Chair of the Public Affairs and Government Relations Sections of the Public Relations Society of America, and has been a keynote speaker for the International Association of Business Communicators. Edie won the highest award possible in the field or communications, the Silver Anvil, for a specialized international campaign on U.S. and Japan communications and trade promotion. Throughout her long career as a corporate leader and community and civic activist, Edie Fraser has been deeply devoted to her family and friends, above all to her beloved husband, Joe Oppenheimer. Mr. Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the enormous contributions to our civic and political life made by Edie D. Fraser, a leader, activist, and philanthropist in the finest traditions of our great republic.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I proudly join in a bipartisan effort with Representatives Jean Schmidt, Gwen Moore, Susan Davis, Barbara Lee, Tammy Baldwin, Janice Schakowsky, Doris Matsui, Raul Grijalva, Karen Bass, Pete Stark, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Jackie Speier, Cynthia Lummis, Sandy Adams, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Marsha Blackburn, Madeleine Bordallo, Barney Frank, Judy Biggert, Alcee Hastings, Jo Ann Emerson, Marcy Kaptur, James Moran, and Yvette Clarke in introducing the National Women's History Museum Act of 2011. This bill directs the General Services Administration, GSA, to house a National Women's History Museum (NWHM) in one of their properties in Washington, DC. NWHM must pay fair market value for the property and reasonable timeframes are included for the transfer of the property and for construction to begin. NWHM will be built and maintained with private funds. No federal dollars will be spent on this important, new museum. Women's history is largely missing from textbooks, memorials, museum exhibits and many other venues. In contrast, men have hundreds of years of written and available history to reflect upon and use for inspiration. Of the 210 statues in the United States Capitol, only 9 are of female leaders. Less than 5 percent of the 2,400 national historic landmarks chronicle women's achievement and according to a survey of 18 history textbooks, only 10 percent were dedicated to women. The museums and memorials in our Nation's Capital demonstrate what we value. We have museums dedicated to flight, postage stamps, law enforcement and many other important people and issues of interest, but not to women. This bill would provide women, comprising 53 percent of our population, a long overdue home on our National Mall to honor their many contributions that are the very fabric of our country. I urge my colleagues to join me in filling this void and honoring our Nation's foremothers by becoming cosponsors of the National Women's History Museum Act of 2011.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the late Geraldine Ferraro. There will be services held for her tomorrow in New York, which many of us will be attending. It was the night of July 19, 1984, in San Francisco that Geraldine Ferraro changed the game, changed the rules, and changed history when she accepted the Democratic Party's nomination as Vice President of the United States of America. I was there on the floor that night as a young delegate, and when Geraldine Ferraro walked out on that stage it was electrifying and inspiring beyond words. What her nomination meant to me and to millions of women everywhere, what she accomplished in that moment and what she said that night was all so important that her words still ring in my ear as if it were yesterday. She said, ``By choosing a woman to run for our Nation's second highest office, you send a powerful signal to all Americans. There are no doors we cannot unlock. We will place no limits on achievement. If we can do this, we can do anything.'' That moment served as a hammer blow to the glass ceiling and a clarion call for a greater gender equality in our country. I remember reading Time Magazine, and Time Magazine heralded her selection as ``A Historic Choice.'' But even more than that, it was a life-changing event. It changed the course of women's lives for the better. I know beyond question that it changed mine. Because even in that not too distant era, it had been all too commonplace for those in power to believe that: She simply cannot do that. She is a woman. It didn't matter if you had the talents, the education, the abilities and the drive to be the best one to get the job done if it was a job that many believed women simply could not do. That was the kind of thinking that was all too often applied to roles in politics, to career choices, and to sports. And Geraldine Ferraro changed all of that. When she gained admission to Fordham Law School, an admissions officer said to her: You're taking a man's place, you know. You really should not go to law school. Geraldine Ferraro knew a woman's place was in the House, the Senate, or any job she wanted to take. When she first ran for Congress in 1978, all the political experts said she could not win in her home district in Queens. She not only won; she went on to become a leader here in Congress, and she went on to become a friend, a mentor, and a role model. That is one of the reasons that, to honor her, I have redoubled my efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and to add to our Constitution the simple words: ``Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States on or by any State on account of sex.'' Those words embody the principles that Geraldine Ferraro lived by and the equality of opportunity that she sought. I saw her several weeks ago. She was full of energy and plans and had some constituent issues she wanted me to take care of. She never gave up. She never gave in. Towards the end, Geraldine Ferraro fought her own battle against cancer with the same dignity, courage, tenacity, and grace that she brought to all of her fights, whether it was battling for equal rights or for human rights, for women and men alike. It can truly be said of Geraldine Ferraro, this heroin and role model for the ages, what was once said of the great heroes of old. She was, as Tennyson wrote, ``One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.'' Geraldine Ferraro. We shall never forget her. And I remember one of her great sayings was, ``Every time a woman runs, women win.''

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 471, the DC voucher bill. I opposed the creation of the DC Voucher Program when it came before the House in the 108th Congress and I oppose today's bill that would extend this unsuccessful program. As a mother and a former educator, I understand the desire and the value of giving children the best educational opportunities. That is not what this bill would do. This program has neither the same accountability standards for improving student academic achievement as public schools nor do students in the program have the same civil rights protections as students in public schools. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) evaluated the Washington, DC voucher program in both the Bush and Obama Administrations and issued reports indicating the program was ineffective and has not lived up to its promises. In its 2010 Final Report, the ED concluded that the use of a voucher had no statistically significant impact on overall student achievement in reading and math. There also is concern that students in the voucher program who have special needs, including those with learning disabilities and those in ESL courses, do not have access to programs or resources to address these needs. Unlike our nation's public schools, the private schools in the DC voucher program are not accountable for the public dollars they receive. In 2007, GAO issued a report on the DC voucher program documenting concerns with the accountability of the program operator, questioning whether the operator has sufficient oversight to govern the use of federal funds. Furthermore, the GAO report found that this program does not proportionally reach the students it is meant to target, those from schools in need of improvement. It also raised concerns that many teachers in the voucher program do not have adequate educational attainment or certification to teach. This bill extends and expands the only federally funded voucher program in the U.S. At a time when the utmost fiscal responsibility is needed, and especially when our public schools are facing giant cuts, we should not be wasting money on programs that do not work and fail our students. My colleagues who support this bill have neither paid for the $300 million cost nor have they kept to their own legislative rules by making the cost offset by cuts to other programs. This voucher program is clearly not the best use of federal taxpayer dollars and does not provide the youth of our nation's capital with the best learning opportunities. I fully support measures that encourage our children and youth to rise to new heights. However, this legislation extends a program that does not do what the title suggests and usurps DC's prerogative of self-governance. Congress should be focusing on providing the best educational resources to youth from every part of our nation. I repeat, that is not what this bill would do. I oppose H.R. 471.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chair, for everyone that cares about the issues of poverty, housing, economic growth, and community life, the last couple of weeks have brought some troubling news. Wednesday came the news that purchases of new U.S. homes declined last month to the slowest pace on record, and new home prices dropped to the lowest level since December, 2003. And yet over the past 2 weeks, House Republicans have said with their votes again and again that their policy to help homeowners is to just give up; to throw in the towel and to say that there's just nothing that Congress can do or will do to address the problem to help struggling American families. They have already voted to terminate three Federal programs that help Americans who are struggling to stay in their homes. And now we are considering yet another one that has helped more than 32,000 New Yorkers stay in their homes--over 600,000 across our great country. What bothers me is that they are leading the effort to eliminate these programs, voting against them, and yet they have no plans of their own to address the foreclosure crisis that is hurting neighborhoods and disrupting lives throughout their country, like the jobs bills they said they would have. We have yet to see them. The only initiative to help housing is to eliminate the programs that are already there. The HAMP program has been successful in helping, as I said, over 600,000. And with over 30,000 mortgages modified each month nationally, HAMP is continuing to provide relief to struggling families across this country. My amendment will add findings to the bill with the number of trial and permanent modifications stated under the HAMP program. The findings will also state the number of seriously delinquent mortgages in the U.S. that may be eligible for HAMP modifications but won't be because the program is being terminated. I believe it is important for the public to understand State by State the number of mortgages--the number of families--who are still in their homes because of the HAMP program. Families are saving an average of over $500 per month on their mortgage payments. This amounts to nearly $5 billion in savings since the program started. These are real families and real savings. If our friends who have proposed to terminate this program want to talk about savings, they should think about the number of people in these States who have benefited from HAMP and are now saving money every single month. They should also think about the number of seriously delinquent mortgages out there that are on the verge of foreclosure. Currently, over 2 million families in our country are in this situation. Many of these could be eligible to participate in the HAMP program. But by terminating it now, our friends are saying that these families are on their own. The numbers speak for themselves, and I think it is important that we highlight how we have helped families across this country and how many more are not going to be helped or are not being helped by terminating and closing this program. So I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and to oppose the underlying bill, and I will place in the Record a statement of administration policy from the Executive Office of President Barack Obama in support of the HAMP program, urging a ``no'' vote on the efforts by the Republican majority. Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, March 29, 2011. Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 839--HAMP Termination Act (Rep. McHenry, R-NC, and 8 cosponsor) The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 839 which would eliminate the Department of the Treasury's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). This program offers eligible homeowners an opportunity to lower their mortgage payments, helping individuals avoid foreclosure and leading to the protection of home values and the preservation of homeownership. The Administration is committed to helping struggling American homeowners stay in their homes, and has taken many steps over the last two years to stabilize what was a rapidly-declining housing market. As tens of thousands of responsible American homeowners struggling with their mortgages receive permanent assistance each month from HAMP, the Administration believes that continuation of HAMP is important to the Nation's sustained economic recovery. If the President is presented with H.R. 839, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

Mrs. MALONEY. The number of over 2 million delinquent mortgages in the United States is the range of people that could be eligible, who could apply for the program, but not all of them would qualify. You have to reach certain standards to qualify to enter the program. So this is the range of the people who could be helped. The difficulty with my Republican colleagues is that they have no alternative. They're abolishing a program without coming forward with any idea to help themselves. As Mark Zandi said in his recent report, housing remains fragile in America. And housing is roughly 25 percent of our economy. So to the extent that we can help people stay in their homes, thereby not only helping that family but helping their community and helping their country, helping to stabilize the housing prices around that house so it doesn't become delinquent and abandoned, pulling down the values in the communities, this is an important program. And it should be continued. It's no taxpayer dollars used. It's from the TARP program, funded by the banks. This is an effort to help the overall economy.

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing legislation to honor and recognize the heroes of the Battle of Crete and commend the PanCretan Association of America for preserving and promoting the history of Crete and its people. During the Battle of Crete in May 1941, Allied forces and the people of Crete joined together to fight against an advancing Nazi army. Although unsuccessful in defeating the Nazi invaders, this coalition of forces inflicted enormous casualities to the airborne Nazi assault, resulting in more than 3,700 German troops killed and the destruction of multiple transport aircraft. In addition to these losses, the Allied forces were able to hold off the Nazi victory long enough to ensure that the German army would face a harsh and destructive winter as it proceeded to Russia. This resolution observes the memory of the brave men and women who perished and honors the living that fought in the Battle of Crete.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing bipartisan legislation along with my colleagues Representatives Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, Jerrold Nadler, Ted Deutch, Luis Gutierrez, Maurice Hinchey, Allen West, Gary Ackerman, Elijah Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz that will finally grant holocaust rail victims justice in their lifetimes. During World War II, more than 75,000 Jews and other ``undesirables'' were transported from France to Nazi death camps aboard trains operated by the Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (``SNCF''). Among those transported to death camps on SNCF trains were American airmen shot down over France. SNCF operated the trains as a commercial venture and were paid per head, per kilometer to deliver thousands to their ultimate deaths. In the 66 years since the end of World War II, SNCF has never made restitution or reparations to its victims, and recently went so far as to tell a member of the California Assembly that ``SNCF will never pay the survivors anything'' and that the company ``would rather not do business in California'' than pay reparations. Hundreds of known survivors and family members of those who have perished live in the United States today--although the number of living survivors is rapidly growing smaller--and litigation seeking to hold SNCF accountable for its actions during World War II has been ongoing for over ten years. SNCF has unfortunately thus far succeeded in cloaking itself in the veil of foreign sovereign immunity and thus evaded jurisdiction in United States courts. 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. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing 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. Turkey, which began accession negotiations with the EU on October 3, 2005, has failed to recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate's international status as the spiritual home of the world's oldest and second largest Christian Church including more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. Moreover, the Government of Turkey has limited to Turkish nationals the candidates available to the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church for selection as the Ecumenical Patriarchate and reneged on its agreement to reopen the Theological School at Halki, thus impeding training for the Orthodox clergy in Turkey. 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 achievement of 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. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, once again we are debating this issue. And once again I will vote in support of ending our involvement in Afghanistan. Our ongoing commitment in Afghanistan has proved exceedingly difficult and costly--and at a time when we can ill-afford the $100 billion a year to sustain it. After years of war, the economic and military costs are straining our servicemembers, their families, and the country--they are simply too high. President Obama increased our commitment there while also defining a goal of withdrawal. But our increased efforts have not yielded enough progress. I have joined with my colleagues in sending a letter, led by Rep. Barbara Lee, to the President supporting his planned drawdown of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan beginning no later than July of this year. It is time to bring this war to a responsible end. Our brave men and women in uniform have fought well and continue to deserve our full support and commitment to return them home safely to their families and loved ones. They have fought with honor, at great cost, in the face of great challenges. I am humbled by their sacrifice. While I support the President and our military leadership, I believe we must send a message that the U.S. cannot sustain further commitments in Afghanistan. I believe the resolution before us today sends that message, and that is why I support it.