Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this is a historic vote. With passage of health care reform, 32 million people without insurance will now be covered and 94 percent of Americans will now be guaranteed health care coverage. In New York State, close to 2.5 million people who are currently uninsured will have health care coverage once this bill is passed. The reforms we are considering today will help improve the lives of millions of Americans--starting immediately, and continuing over the course of their implementation in the next ten years. Starting immediately: No insurance company can deny coverage for pre- existing conditions or gender; Young people can stay on their parents' coverage until age 26; If you're self-employed or a small-business owner you'll be able to buy health coverage on competitive exchanges; If you've taken early retirement over age 55 but before you're eligible for Medicare, you'll be able to continue your employers' coverage until age 65; And if you're over 65 and have Medicare's Part D drug coverage, the ``donut hole'' has been eliminated. The reconciliation bill we are voting on vastly improves the Senate bill's impact for states like New York who will not be penalized for having served New Yorkers and having an expansive Medicaid program. This provision will give more federal Medicaid funding support for New York State, which would have suffered a loss under the Senate-passed bill. Instead of costing millions, New York State will now save hundreds of millions in the first full year of implementation. New York's public hospital system is the leading provider of uncompensated care to the uninsured and underinsured. Though this bill lowers the ten-year reduction in Medicaid and Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments by $3 billion, I remain concerned these cuts will weaken our health care safety net in New York. After all, while significant coverage expansions will be achieved through health care reform, there will still be populations that will remain uncovered or underinsured, and our hospitals will continue to bear the burden and cost of their health care. It seems like the best approach would have been that DSH cuts would be made contingent upon reductions in the uninsured. Instead of expansion triggers in the Senate bill, the reconciliation bill is improved with set levels of reductions per year and require the Secretary of Health and Human Service to develop a methodology to reduce states' Medicaid DSH allotments to achieve mandated savings. More broadly, I support this bill because of the positive impact it will have on women's lives. As Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, I prepared a report that looked at the specific health care challenges facing women and how women would benefit from comprehensive health care reform. More than two million women have lost their health insurance since the recession began due to their own job loss or their spouse's job loss. 1.3 million women lost their health coverage when their spouse lost his job and an additional 800,000 women lost their health care as a result of their own job loss. More than two million women have faced the brutal double-whammy of a lost job and lost health care. While job losses during this recession were much greater for men than women, women have fared worse than men in recent months. And this has had real consequences for women's health care coverage: in the last six months, the number of women losing health insurance benefits due to their own job losses has increased by nearly 50 percent. Over one quarter (28%) of women ages 19-24 have no health insurance at all. Part of that number is likely explained by the economic challenges facing young women. Young women have been hit hard in the recession, facing an unemployment rate of 13.1 percent, significantly higher than the national rate of 9.7 percent, and making it less likely that they will have job-based coverage. Health care reform will help us to overcome inequities at the center of the current system--where women pay more than men for the same coverage, or even, where women who are not smokers pay more for coverage than men who are smokers. My report and the reality is that the health care system is serving women poorly, the recession has made the situation worse, and now more than ever, we need health care reform. While I am speaking of women's health care, I must mention my opposition to the restrictive language on abortion included in the Senate bill which remains in reconciliation. While not as onerous as the Stupak language that was part of the final House bill, this language will directly impact a woman's right to legal reproductive health services and I oppose it. But the value to women and American families of finally achieving health care reform is far too important to risk losing it. Mr. Speaker, a great deal of the discussion today focuses on the moral reasons for extending health care coverage. While I agree with the moral imperative, the fiscal necessity is clear. This bill cuts the deficit by $143 billion in the first ten years and then cuts the deficit by $1.2 trillion in the second ten years. The bill is fully paid for and will not add a dime to the deficit. While it will cost $938 billion over a decade, it is critical to note that Americans spend nearly $2.5 trillion every single year on health care now and nearly two-thirds of the bill is paid for by reducing health care costs. We must not let this moment pass without recognizing its historic nature. Today, millions of Americans will win basic rights--the right to health care, the right to live without the fear of chronic disease, and the right to never having to worry about losing insurance coverage because of a pre-existing condition or exceeding a lifetime cap. While not perfect, this bill will hold insurance companies accountable; provide billions of dollars in tax breaks for small businesses to help them insure their employees; and, above all, expand access to quality, secure, affordable health care coverage for millions of Americans. I'd like to thank and commend the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Chairmen Waxman, Miller and Rangel and of course, Chairman Emeritus Dingell who has been working on health care reform since he first came to Congress. The time is now. Our current system is broken. Costs continue to increase at unsustainable rates and too many families and businesses are feeling the debilitating burdens brought on by these expenses. Too many Americans have inadequate coverage or lack coverage entirely and are suffering or dying as a result. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this momentous reform. I urge my colleagues to reach beyond the rhetoric and the politics. Instead, recognize that today we will make a lasting difference in people's lives. Today we change the health of our nation for ourselves, for our children, and for our grandchildren.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share a resolution conveyed to Attorney General Eric Holder, from the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants in recognition of the outstanding work of the Office of Special Investigations at the United States Department of Justice. Resolution of the Governing Board of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants Whereas the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants is the umbrella organization of Holocaust survivor groups and Landsmannschaften in North America, representing some 80,000 Holocaust survivors and their family members; Whereas the Office of Special Investigations (OSI) was created in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice in 1979 in the wake of the shocking public exposure by the then-Representative Elizabeth Holtzman and others of decades of U.S. government inaction in the face of the documented presence in the United States of numerous perpetrators of Nazi crimes; Whereas, most unconscionably of all, some of those Nazi war criminals were brought to this country by U.S. government agencies that were aware of the Nazi crimes that they had committed; Whereas OSI recently marked the 30th anniversary of its establishment by Attorney General order; Whereas, under the courageous and tenacious leadership of Eli Rosenbaum and his predecessors, OSI has been, for the past three decades, by far the most dedicated and successful government agency in the world in tracking down, investigating, prosecuting, and obtaining law enforcement justice in cases of fugitive Nazi war criminals and has accordingly won bipartisan praise from the Congress, awards from Jewish organizations, and plaudits from the media; Whereas OSI has won more court cases against Nazi criminals than have authorities in all of the other governments of the world combined during the period of OSI's thirty-year existence; Whereas OSI has prevailed in its crucial mission despite (1) daunting investigative obstacles rarely if ever encountered by other American prosecutors, (2) determined efforts made over many years by former White House Communications Director and later presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan, then-Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Rep. James Traficant, organizations of Nazi supporters, and others to undermine, disable and even close that office, (3) threats of violence directed at OSI personnel by Nazi criminals' supporters, (4) the immoral and ongoing refusal of European governments to accept the return of Nazi criminals against whom OSI has won deportation orders in U.S. courts, and (5) receiving funding that is but a tiny fraction of the moneys allocated by the U.S. government to support international efforts to prosecute a smaller number of perpetrators of atrocity crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia; Whereas OSI launched the only law enforcement effort in postwar world history to identify suspected Axis perpetrators systematically in order both to identify them for investigation and to prevent their entry as immigrants or visitors, with the result that nearly 200 such persons have been stopped and turned away at U.S. airports--a world- leading program from which our government might learn much as it struggles to identify terrorist and bar them from entering this country; Whereas the fruits of OSI's extensive efforts to assist other nations in pursuing justice in the Nazi cases may be seen around the world, including in the ongoing Munich trial of former Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk; Whereas OSI has done more than has any other component of the federal government to restore the honor of the United States government in the Nazi cases and to secure a measure of law enforcement justice on behalf of the Holocaust's victims; Whereas OSI's efforts have also succeeded in obtaining a great measure of historical and remunerative justice on behalf of Holocaust victims and survivors, especially in (1) conducting investigations and prosecutions involving genocidal crimes committed in the former Soviet Union that were previously little know in the West and whose perpetrators had not previously been identified; (2) proving and publicly disclosing the fact that Gestapo archcriminal Klaus Barbie, Nazi V-2 program slave master Arthur Rudolph, Eichmann cohort Otto Albrecht von Bolschwing, and other Nazi war criminals were employed by U.S. intelligence and military agencies after World War II and were assisted by those agencies in escaping postwar justice; (3) proving, for the first time, and in direct contradiction of more than half a century of Swiss government denials, that looted gold, some of it ripped from the mouths of murdered Jewish victims in the Nazi camps, was melted down by the Reichsbank and traded to the Swiss National Bank; (4) discovering that certain artwork stolen by the Nazis from European Jews was in the possession of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.; (5) laboring indefatigably from 1999 to 2007 to locate, declassify, and disclose to the public, despite the opposition of some other federal agencies, fully eight million pages of classified documents in the U.S. government possession relating to Axis war crimes; (6) successfully leading the U.S. government's effort, in conjunction with Israeli and German authorities, to trace the fate of the infamous Auschwitz selector and experimenter Dr. Josef Mengele; and (7) undertaking a worldwide investigation that confirmed the allegations first made by the World Jewish Congress that former United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim took part in Nazi crimes against humanity and persuading the Reagan Administration to bar him forever from reentering the United States; Whereas, as a result of the expansion of OSI's mission in 2004, the unit has also won acclaim for its efforts in pursuit of justice on behalf of the victims of atrocities in Rwanda, Bosnia and elsewhere, while it continues to investigate and prosecute Nazi criminals; Whereas the Department of Justice has announced that OSI is soon to be merged with Criminal Division's Domestic Security Section in order to consolidate the Justice Department's human rights enforcement efforts: Now therefore be it Resolved by the Governing Board of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, meeting in Washington, D.C., this 14th day of February 2010, That the Governing Board: (1) Praises and expresses deep gratitude for the matchless dedication and unique accomplishments of the prosecutors, historians, and other professional staff, both past and present, of the Office of Special Investigations, and especially its remarkable director, Eli Rosenbaum, who devoted his storied career to bringing justice and hope to Holocaust survivors, the families of those who perished in the Shoah, and the families of the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives in the historic battle to end the nightmare of Nazi inhumanity; (2) Expresses abiding gratitude to Eli Rosenbaum, the longest-serving investigator and prosecutor of Nazi criminals in postwar world history, for his courageous, tenacious, and extraordinarily successful efforts, undertaken at great personal sacrifice and risk, to pursue justice--and historical truth--on behalf of those Jewish men, women and children whose blessed memory was summoned by Israeli Attorney General Gideon Hausner in his opening address in the Eichmann case in Jerusalem when he declared that he did not stand alone to present the case, because he was joined by ``six million accusers'' who ``cannot rise to their feet and point their finger at the man in the dock and cry `J'accuse' . . . for they are now only ashes--ashes piled high on the hills of Aushchwitz and the fields of Treblinka and strewn in the forests of Poland''; (3) Thanks Eli Rosenbaum and his predecessor Neal Sher for being among the first to expose and publicly refute the Holocaust calumnies of Patrick Buchanan, long before such criticism became a mainstream phenomenon; (4) Considers OSI's landmark work to have been the key post-Nuremberg American realization of the solemn commitment to justice made to the Third Riech's surviving victims 55 years ago by former Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson when he first stood at the podium before the judges of the International Military Tribunal; (5) Deems the Justice Department's continued pursuit of justice in the Nazi cases to be an undeniable moral imperative notwithstanding the lateness of the date; (6) Very strongly supports OSI's continuing efforts to identify, investigate, and prosecute the perpetrators of Nazi crimes and also postwar crimes against humanity; (7) Calls on the Department of Justice to ensure that its personnel will continue to leave no stone unturned in the effort to pursue justice on behalf of the victims of Nazi crimes; and (8) Urges those nations of Europe that, despite having provided the henchmen who massacred a third of the world's Jews, continue to violate their moral obligation to accept the return of Nazi criminals whom the United States seeks to deport to observe that time is short in the Nazi cases and therefore to desist at once from their obstructionist conduct.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of establishing a National Siblings Day, a day in which we all reflect upon the ways siblings have enriched our lives. We have a Mother's Day to celebrate our mothers, and a Father's Day to celebrate our fathers. Establishing a Siblings Day would allow us an opportunity to celebrate and honor our siblings and would give every family member a day to be celebrated. Claudia Evart is a constituent of mine in New York. She has worked tirelessly over the past several years to make April 10th the official day we reflect upon the importance of our siblings. April 10th would mark the birthday of Ms. Evart's sister, Lisette, who died tragically in an accident that also took the life of her father in 1972. Lisette was only 19 years old. Just 14 years later, in 1986, Ms. Evart's older brother, Alan, died in an accident in his home at the young age of 36. Siblings significantly affect our lives and shape who we are. Siblings are a major part of our family, and often when our parents are gone our siblings are the only family we have left. And sometimes we lose our siblings at an early age, as with Ms. Evart's tragic experience. A National Siblings Day would help us honor and celebrate siblings and aid us in remembering the siblings that we have lost. I applaud Ms. Evart's hard work over the past 14 years to create a National Siblings Day, and with it a loving tribute to her deceased siblings. Her dedicated efforts are inspirational. Since 1998, 33 governors have issued gubernatorial proclamations in their states for Siblings Day: AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, FL, IL, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, VT, VA, WV, WA, WI and WY. I urge my colleagues to recognize the importance of siblings by adding their support to Ms. Evart's endeavors, and to the goals of a National Siblings Day.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing legislation, with my colleagues, Mr. Dent, Mr. Towns, and Mr. Pascrell, and with a companion bill being introduced in the Senate by Senators Carper and Coburn, that would ensure that the Census Bureau has the independence and transparency it needs to carry out its essential, constitutionally- mandated function. This bill would ensure the Bureau is focused on the ten-year process of preparing for the Census despite the four-year cycles of Presidential administrations. This bill would mandate the Director at Census report directly to the Secretary so there is clear responsibility for supervision of the Census and to submit his or her own opinion in testimony to Congress even if it differs from the administration. It would make the Director of the Census Bureau a Presidential term appointment of five years, with the ten-year decennial cycle split into two, five-year phases-- planning and operational, creating continuity across administrations. And it would require that the Director, when submitting the Bureau's budget request to the Secretary, also share that request with Congress increasing transparency and oversight. The time to start worrying about the 2020 Census is now. Currently, the 2010 Census seems to be on a path to success, but if we are going to stop the repeated operational crises that have plagued each of the last four censuses, we need to change how we administer the census. I am confident the bill we are introducing today will move us toward that goal. And I want to thank my colleagues for joining me in starting the process for 2020 now.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, as chair of the Joint Economic Committee, I ask the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to come before my committee and report on the latest employment situation. In February 2009, the BLS Commissioner reported grim employment statistics. At that hearing we learned that in January of 2009, total nonfarm payroll employment fell by 779,000 jobs. That was a staggering number. A number like that made it abundantly clear that the task of turning the economy around was going to be enormous. The bursting of the housing bubble and the stock market decline vaporized trillions of dollars in household wealth, leaving consumers reeling and unwilling or unable to spend. It was a situation that called for unprecedented interventions, swift action, and--let me acknowledge it--a thick skin. It was a situation where we needed to act on many fronts all at once to get the economy on track and restore the stability of the financial system. The Fed prevented another Great Depression and the stimulus bill proved central to our recovery. The stimulus bill included the fastest and one of the largest tax cuts in our history. Tax cuts went out almost immediately for 95 percent of working Americans. We passed 24 tax cuts to date including some for small businesses, first time homebuyers and families with kids in college. We helped struggling State and local budgets with badly needed funding to keep teachers in the schools, and police on the streets. We extended unemployment benefits to help those who had lost a job through no fault of their own. We passed tax cuts for 1st time homebuyers. We passed Cash for Clunkers. We passed the HIRE Act to provide tax incentives for private sector businesses that hire out-of-work Americans. The House is now set to pass the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act, which will, among other things, extend the ``Build America Bonds'' program from the Recovery Act. This program has been extremely successful at reducing the cost of financing for State and local governments which use the money for rebuilding of schools, sewers, and hospitals, rebuilding America and putting people back to work. I urge every one of my colleagues to vote for this bill. And the actions we have taken have begun to have effect. Not as fast as any of us would like--but turning a supertanker of an economy like ours around--just can't happen on a dime. First, the jobs losses began to moderate--decreasing month after month. Then our Gross Domestic Product turned around from minus 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2009 to a plus 5.9 percent last quarter. At the last two jobs hearings before the JEC, the BLS Commissioner reported that the number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged. The punishing job losses had been stopped. In November 2009, the economy actually created jobs, on net. I expect that soon the economy will start creating jobs every month and Americans will start going back to work. It was also important for our long-term economic health that we took the historic step of reforming health care. Left unchanged, the soaring costs of health care insurance were a problem that would be certain to act as a drag on our economy. And, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, health care reform will produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the next ten years. And it is estimated, by $1.3 trillion over the next 20. It sometimes seems that in all the noise, ill will, and the invective, what has really been accomplished by this country has been lost or overlooked. 18 months ago, we stood on the brink of an economic abyss so deep and dark it was fearful to even contemplate. The voices of doom were many, the predictions grim. The outlook was uncertain. Though much remains to be done, so much has already been achieved. It has been a tough year--it is tough for millions still. But we are making progress. We are not there yet--but without question we are moving forward. As I look out on America and contemplate our future--I am filled with hope and optimism. The steps we have taken--have put us on the path to recovery and renewal. And as we prepare for spring recess, let's be mindful of the season and the ``green shoots'' that are beginning to push upwards.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, this chart was produced by the Joint Economic Committee, and it shows the constant process of the creation and loss of jobs that occurs in our economy. The solid black line shows the number of private sector jobs created. The dotted line shows the number of private sector jobs lost. When the economy is expanding, as it did under Clinton, the job creation line just kept going up. At point A, the beginning of the Bush administration, you can see that the number of jobs created is much lower than during the Clinton administration; and in 2008, you can see that it literally fell off the cliff. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has suggested, job creation during the Bush expansion was artificially inflated by the housing bubble and the false wealth that it created. As a result, we faced a rapid decline in job creation when the housing bubble burst. Point B represents the beginning of a new administration with new policies and different results. The lines change direction rather sharply. Madam Speaker, this is the picture of progress.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to reaffirm the strong bonds between Israel and the United States. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. We share the same values, the same commitment to education, the same commitment to development, the same commitment to helping others. Israel is situated in a dangerous neighborhood, with many of its neighbors overtly calling for its destruction. I was pleased to hear both President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton reaffirm America's close ties to Israel and our commitment to Israel's security in recent days. And I hope that this signals a desire to reduce the appearance of a rift. During Vice President Biden's recent trip to the Middle East, Palestinian leaders participated in naming a public square for Dalal Mughrabi, the terrorist who led the most devastating attack in Israel's history. In 1978, Mughrabi and her cohorts hijacked a bus and murdered 37 innocent civilians, including 13 children and an American citizen. Further, during Vice President Biden's visit, senior Fatah leaders, including Mahmud Dahlan, called on Muslims to protect the Temple Mount from the Jews, during the dedication of the reconstructed historic Hurva Synagogue located in the Jewish quarter 500 yards from the Western Wall and not on Temple Mount. President Obama has condemned the rioting that resulted, as was appropriate. I hope America will also take a strong stance against Palestinian leaders who foment violence. As long as Israelis fear a third intifada and worry about the safety of their families, they will be far less likely to participate in peace talks in which they know they will be asked to take risks for peace. Israelis have already taken risks for peace--they withdrew from Lebanon, they withdrew from the Gaza Strip, they signed peace treaties with Jordon and Egypt, they abandoned the city Yamit in the Sinai desert, and they have released hundreds of terrorists, many of whom have had blood on their hands and many of whom have returned to their terrorist activities. I believe very strongly that both the Palestinians and the Israelis would benefit from a real, lasting peace agreement and I hope talks will soon resume. But they will not resume if the Palestinians believe they will gain more by not talking. And they cannot resume if Israel feels that its existence or its people are being threatened. In previous administrations, there were direct talks. Today, the best we can hope for are proximity talks. I urge the administration to take every possible action to quell the tensions between the U.S. and our great friend, Israel, and to create an atmosphere in which both the Palestinians and the Israelis feel comfortable about resolving their differences. Madam Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of maintaining a warm relationship with Israel, our strong ally and good friend.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor one of my constituents, Captain Tejdeep Singh Rattan, for graduation today from the U.S. Army's Officer Basic Leader Course. Captain Rattan was recruited and commissioned by the U.S. Army in 2006 as part of the health professionals scholarship program. After completing his final year of dental work, he joined the U.S. Army Officer Basic Leader Course. Before joining the Officer Basic Leader Course, Captain Rattan contacted me to indicate his strong desire to continue serving the Nation he loves as a U.S. Army dentist while abiding by his Sikh articles of faith. These articles of faith include wearing a Sikh turban and maintaining uncut hair, including a beard. At the time of his recruitment, he was assured by Army recruiters that his articles of faith would be accommodated, only to later be informed that he must abandon his Sikh articles of faith in order to continue his duties as a United States Army officer. After learning of his case, I led a number of my House and Senate colleagues in sending letters to Secretary Gates, requesting that the accommodations be made for Captain Rattan and all other Sikh Americans who wish to serve. Thanks in part to our efforts, Captain Rattan's accommodation request was granted. I am grateful to Secretary Gates and then-Secretary of the Army Pete Geren for reviewing and ultimately granting the accommodation. They have both shown tremendous foresight in recognizing that our Nation's 21st-century fighting force should incorporate all aspects of American society. Sikhs fought bravely in defense of our Nation in both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. At present, Sikhs serve in the militaries of Great Britain, Canada and India, among others, and as United States peacekeepers, often working closely with American troops in troubled regions. Throughout our Nation's history, the military has succeeded in training individuals from diverse backgrounds and communities to achieve one unifying goal, to protect and defend the United States. By denying Sikh officers the ability to appropriately practice their religion while serving, the Army denies itself access to the important talents and abilities of these individuals who are willing to fight and die for our Nation. No American should have to choose between his religion and service to our country. At a time when this country is fighting two wars overseas, we can ill afford to turn away skilled, accomplished and patriotic young Americans like Captain Rattan who wish to serve. Captain Rattan's achievement today underscores the importance of preserving diversity in our Armed Forces. It is a testament to one of the most fundamental values, freedom of religion upon which our Nation was founded and which makes the United States a beacon of hope and liberty throughout the world. I wholeheartedly congratulate him on this very important occasion.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership. I rise in support of the health care bill. Mr. Speaker, this is an historic vote. With passage of these health care reforms, 32 million people without insurance will get it-- including almost 2.5 million uninsured in New York State. It will end discrimination for preexisting conditions, make progress on cutting high medical costs, and reduce the deficit by over $1 trillion over the next two decades. This package of reforms that will make a real difference in the lives of Americans, over their entire lives: If you're 21 and just graduating college, you'll now be included on your parents' coverage until your 26th birthday. If you're self-employed in your thirties or forties, you'll be able to shop for more affordable coverage on exchanges set up by states or the Federal Government. If you're 56 and have taken early retirement, you can continue to be covered under your employer's plan until you sign up for Medicare. And if you're a senior with Medicare Part D Drug Coverage, the so- called ``donut hole'' has been closed. The Senate version penalized states like New York which were already doing more than most to provide care to the needy. And that's one of the things this House is fixing. The impact on the New York State Medicaid budget went from a projected increased cost of over $700 million to increased aid of $1.3 billion in just the first year. That's a ``swing'' of over $2 billion. Finally, these reforms will do more for women's health despite the restrictive language on reproductive health services contained within the Senate bill--than any other legislation in my career. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this momentous reform and urge my colleagues to remember that today we will make a lasting difference in people's lives. Today we change the overall health of our Nation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, for years, the mission in Afghanistan was poorly defined and managed by the Bush Administration--despite the 9/11 attacks having been perpetrated by those trained and based in Afghanistan. Still, President Bush diverted attention and resources to Iraq, misleading the American people and Congress as to the true source of the threat to our nation and the world. After considerable and careful review of military options in Afghanistan, President Obama submitted to the American people a sober assessment of the realties on the ground and a plan to end U.S. involvement. I believe that the President is committed to ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I support his efforts, but I believe we must expedite his timetable. Undoubtedly, our brave men and women in uniform have fought well and deserve our full support and commitment to return them home safely to their families and loved ones. Our troops have fought with honor and professionalism in the face of great challenges, and at great cost--I am truly humbled by their service and sacrifice. While I support the President and our military leadership in bringing this war to a responsible end, I believe the time has come to send a message that the United States cannot sustain an open-ended commitment in Afghanistan. I believe the resolution before us sends that message. That is why I vote in favor of the resolution today.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 267, which recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz. As an original cosponsor of H. Res. 267, I am pleased that we are using this occasion to reflect on the many contributions Iranian Americans have made to our society. I am proud of the ethnically diverse district that I represent and greatly appreciate all that Iranian Americans have added to the rich and varied culture of New York City. Nowruz marks the traditional Iranian New Year and dates back more than 3,000 years. Nowruz, literally meaning ``new day,'' celebrates the arrival of spring and occurs on the vernal equinox which this year will happen on Saturday, March 20th. Through the ages Nowruz has provided the occasion for renewal and rejuvenation, displaying new resolve in settling old issues, and making new beginnings. Nowruz celebrates the core of our common humanity and our relation to Mother Nature. Although colored with vestiges of Iran's Mazdian and Zoroastrian past, Nowruz celebration is neither religious nor national in nature, nor is it an ethnic celebration. Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Baha'i, and Christian Iranians as well as many other peoples celebrate Nowruz with the same enthusiasm and sense of belonging. Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz and in its observance, I want to wish Iranian Americans and all those who observe this holiday a happy and prosperous new year. I would like to thank Representative Honda for introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, every year roughly 36,500 women are violently assaulted in the workplace and yet their only remedy is workers compensation. In an effort to protect the rights of victims of workplace violence, I am reintroducing a bill to protect the civil rights of victims of gender-motivated violence. This legislation is intended to prevent employers from invoking workers compensation when employer negligence results in sexual assault and rape of an employee. This important bill will allow employees to sue their employers in the case of a gender-motivated crime of violence rather than be subject to the exclusive remedy of workers compensation. Workers compensation systems were designed to encourage employers to create accident-free workplaces and provide a means for employees injured during the course of employment to receive payment for medical expenses and lost wages. They were not created to shield employers from suit when their own negligence led to violence against employees. When rape occurs on the job, employers should not be able to hide behind a system designed to compensate for job-related accidents. Rape is not an accident and should not be treated as an everyday occurrence on the job. Under my bill victims of gender-motivated violence at work can hold employers liable for negligence through a federal civil rights cause of action that is not subject to state workers compensation law. This bill will encourage employers to create a job environment free of violent sexual assault and rape, because it is tragic when rape is considered all in a day's work.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as we contemplate a historic vote to reform health care, I would like to emphasize how critically important this bill is to the women of this country. According to a report prepared by the Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, an estimated 64 million women in this country lack adequate health care; over one- quarter of our daughters between the ages of 19 and 24 lack health care, and women between the ages of 55 and 64 are particularly vulnerable. That's because so many women depend on their spouse's employer-based health care, and, all too often, they discover they are not age eligible for Medicare when their older husbands retire. A staggering 39 percent of all low-income women lack health care. Ultimately, this is a vote about who we will be as a country. For our sisters, our daughters, and our mothers, yes, vote ``yes'' for them.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, as we face what may be one of the most important decisions Congress has made in our lifetime, I would like to highlight what a huge, positive impact the passage of health care reform will have on the lives of American women, on the health and the economic well-being of our mothers, daughters, your wives, and your sisters. First and foremost, passing reform will expand dramatically the number of women and children who have access to quality health care throughout their lifetime. The Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, has issued a report entitled ``Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform: An Essential Prescription for Women,'' which documents that, in America today, 64 million women lack adequate health insurance. Over one quarter of our daughters between the ages of 19 and 24 do not have any coverage; 39 percent of all low-income women lack health insurance coverage. Passing health care reform will expand the availability of care, improve the affordability of care, and will expand the minimums of care. Today, due to costs, 1 in 5 women over age 50 has not had a mammogram in the past 2 years due to costs. The health care reform bill will require coverage of annual mammograms for women, including coverage for those under 50. Passing health care reform will bring badly needed changes to a system that places a particularly unfair burden on women who seek to buy insurance in the individual market. In a report by the National Women's Law Center titled, ``How the Individual Insurance Market Fails Women,'' investigators found there are huge and arbitrary variations in each State and across the country in the differences in premiums charged between women and men. The report found that insurers who practice gender rating might charge a 40-year-old woman anywhere from 4 percent to 48 percent more than a 40-year-old man. Passing health care reform will put an end to that. Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to charge women higher premiums simply because they are women. Health care reform will also put an end to discrimination based solely on the prospects of motherhood. In most States today, individual market insurers are allowed to deny health insurance coverage to an applicant simply because she is pregnant. A previous C-section can also be the basis for denying coverage. Passing health care reform will put an end to discrimination based on preexisting conditions. And they call pregnancy a preexisting condition. Reform is also urgently needed because, under the status quo, even if you are not pregnant now but at some point in the future you may become pregnant and so you may wish to buy maternity coverage now, coverage simply may not be available. In the capital cities of four States, Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota, the NOW Women's Law Center investigators were unable to find an offer of maternity coverage in the individual market at any price. It simply was not available. Under the status quo, only 14 States require maternity coverage in policies that are sold on the individual markets. No wonder then that 79 percent of women with individual market policies don't have any maternity coverage at all. And if you don't have maternity coverage, heaven help you if you have a problem pregnancy because your insurance company will not be there to help. Passing the health care reform will put an end to all of this and require that maternity care is a part of an essential benefits package. And then there is the problem of rescission. Evidence presented to the House Energy and Commerce Committee told a story of a Texas woman who had a policy with WellPoint. After she received treatment relating to a diagnosis of a lump in her breast, the insurance company investigated her medical history. They concluded that she failed to disclose that she had been diagnosed previously with osteoporosis and bone density loss, and so they rescinded her policy. Well, Mr. Speaker, I believe practically every woman alive has some form of bone density loss. They refused to pay for medical care for the lump in her breast. According to the Committee's investigation, this case was not unusual. Under current practices, the majority of States do not require a showing of fraud or intent before insurance companies may rescind coverage. A simple mistake, an oversight, a typo can result in a life altering denial. Health care reform will put an end to such cruel and heartless practices. While I strongly support the passage of health care reform, I must state my opposition to any restrictions on women's access to reproductive health services. At a time when we are making historic changes in the delivery of health care, we must not deprive women of the very health care they both need and deserve. We must work against any serious constraints on abortion coverage that could cause women to lose ground in health reform. Mr. Speaker, we cannot and we must not turn our backs on the urgent need, on the call of history, on the millions of uninsured, on the tens of millions who cast their votes in the last election and on the promise the we made loud and clear: We will pass health care reform-- and we will pass it now. Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi--Fact Sheet, March 18, 2010

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. My colleagues, a great injustice is that they have considered a pregnancy as a preexisting condition. Now, you hear that children are our future, and they are our future; yet in health care plans, to cover the cost of having a pregnancy--really, in some States, they didn't even offer the coverage. So there are many fine parts about this bill. But I think one of the strongest is that it has very strong maternal health care coverage and treats health care as health care and does not treat, really, the necessities of life, of having a child as a preexisting condition.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, this chart is a quick way to assess the direction things have been going in our efforts to recover from the Great Recession. While it is not success, it is definitely progress. It shows the monthly change in nonfarm payrolls over the past 2 years. Point A on this chart is when the Great Recession and the job losses began in December of 2007. Back then, we were assured the fundamentals of the economy were sound. For over a year, the economy went straight downhill and shed jobs at an increasing rate, with no change in direction. The last month that the former President was in office, President Bush, we lost over 700,000 jobs. Point C represents the jobs report from the last 2 months, clearly a dramatic improvement from 1 year ago--in fact, a 96 percent improvement, from over 750,000 jobs lost to 35,000 jobs; again, progress in the right direction. In addition to this general trend, I would like to point out that the temporary help sector continues to improve. More than 40,000 workers have been added to the temporary help sector, a clear indication of improvement in the job market. We still have a distance to go before we get every American back to work, but as this chart clearly shows, we are slowly and steadily moving in the right direction. Again, this is progress.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Thank you, my dear friend, for your leadership and for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 1107 and as co-chair and cofounder of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I rise today to celebrate the entrance of Greece into the Visa Waiver Program and to celebrate the 189th anniversary of Greece's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire. Against incredibly difficult odds, the Greeks defeated one of the most powerful empires in history to win their independence. Following 400 years of Ottoman rule, in March 1821, Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the traditional Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavra, inciting his countrymen to rise against the Ottoman army. The bishop timed this act of revolution to coincide with the Greek Orthodox holiday celebrating the archangel Gabriel's announcement that the Virgin Mary was pregnant with the divine child. Bishop Germanos' message was clear: A new spirit was about to be born in Greece. The following year, the Treaty of Constantinople established full independence for Greece. New York City is home to the largest Hellenic population outside of Greece and Cyprus. Western Queens, which I have the honor of representing, is often called ``Little Athens'' because of the large Hellenic population in that neighborhood. New Yorkers celebrate Greek Independence Day with a parade on Fifth Avenue, along with many cultural events and private gatherings. These events, hosted by the Federation of Hellenic Societies and other Hellenic and Philhellenic organizations and friends, remind us of the Hellenic American community's many contributions to our Nation's history and culture. I am also pleased that President Obama is continuing the tradition of holding a White House celebration in honor of Greek Independence Day. Relations between the United States and Greece remain strong with a shared commitment to ensuring stability in southeastern Europe. I hope permanent solutions can be found for ending the division of Cyprus and for finding a mutually agreeable name for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Additionally, I have reintroduced legislation which urges Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It is time for this suppression of religious freedom to come to an end and for Turkey to move in the direction of freedom and democracy. I, along with my colleagues, have worked to ensure that the process for Greece's entry into the Visa Waiver Program has continued to move forward. I have had legislation before this body for well over 6 years. In September of 2007, Greece was formally nominated for the Visa Waiver Program by the U.S. State Department and was the only member of the original 15 European Union nations not to belong to the Visa Waiver Program. In light of this, I was very, very pleased to learn that, just today, Secretary Napolitano announced the inclusion of Greece into the program. This is a most welcomed and long overdue development for Greece, the birthplace of democracy and one of our Nation's closest allies. I ask the Nation to join me in celebrating the Greeks' independence. I also join my colleagues in welcoming Prime Minister Papandreou, who is visiting this country for 4 days. It is also my sincere pleasure to pay tribute to New York's Hellenic American community and to its many contributions to our city and Nation. Zeto E Eleftheria. Long live freedom.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in moving this bill to the floor. I also would like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa, along with Congressmen Clay and Lynch, for their support and cooperation. The 2010 census is here. Later this week, on March 12, 2010, forms will be hitting the mailboxes. That is why we must act quickly to ensure a fair and accurate count without disruption or confusion. Many may not realize this, but the constitutionally mandated census is used to determine the distribution of billions of dollars in Federal funding into our States and our communities, in addition to determining the number of congressional seats per State. Participation in the census is essential to ensuring a brighter tomorrow for our communities and a representative government for our country. It is because of this we must do everything possible to protect the integrity of the United States census and ensure that it is both accurate and cost-effective, and it's why the Congress has appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars to the Census Bureau to encourage participation. Unfortunately, while the U.S. Government is working to encourage participation, there are some organizations that are causing confusion by sending mailers that resemble official census documents. These deceptive mailings include the words ``census department,'' ``census document,'' and ``official document,'' but are instead letters seeking support for other purposes. If we allow organizations to send mock census documents or mock look- alikes of the census forms, we stand to confuse people and risk a lower response rate, which ultimately would increase the cost of the entire count. In fact, every percentage decrease in the mail response rate costs approximately $25 million for the additional expense of sending enumerators to the homes of those who do not respond to the mailing. After all, when people simply fill out the form and mail it back, it costs the least to our government. Former Census Director Dr. Barbara Bryant, who served under President George H.W. Bush, has noted that there are documents that are intentionally made to look like the census in an effort to deceive. That is why I introduced H.R. 4621, the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act, and why I am grateful that we will pass this bill today with bipartisan support. H.R. 4621 would require any mailing with an envelope marked ``census'' to clearly indicate the sender and return address. It would also trigger an existing requirement in Federal law to include a disclaimer that the mailing is not from or affiliated with the Federal Government. The bill would not prohibit the use of the word ``census'' on a mailing if an organization wants to do a census and call it that. That is fine. However, the mailer must be absolutely clear that it is not the United States Government's census. This bill will serve as an important tool in protecting the integrity of census mailings and save the taxpayer money in fulfilling the constitutionally mandated census by limiting any confusion that a deceptive census look-alike mailer could cause. Finally, I would like to note that Senator Carper intends to move this bill to the Senate floor once we pass it in the House. I thank my colleagues for moving swiftly on this issue, and urge my colleagues to vote yes.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2847, include my statement for the Record, and also submit to the Record excerpts from recent joint economic hearings underscoring the need for targeted, timely action to boost employment. Madam Speaker, at recent hearings of the Joint Economic Committee, which I chair, economists, forecasters, and business leaders have laid out the need for targeted, immediate action to spark job creation. H.R. 2847--Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act--delivers timely incentives for businesses to hire, including a temporary tax break for businesses that hire workers who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf recently told the JEC, by bringing down the cost of adding new employees, employer tax credits like this one will spur new hiring and strengthen our economy. In January, I sent a survey to the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies and leading small businesses seeking their ideas on job creation. The ideas I got back were varied. But there was broad agreement that Congress needs to act now. I urge my colleagues to support the HIRE Act to create jobs and put Americans back to work. Finally, I would like to submit for the Record excerpts from recent JEC hearings underscoring the need for targeted, timely action to boost employment. Manpower Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Joerres, Joint Economic Committee Hearing, February 26, 2010 Manpower has been in the business of jobs and job training for over 60 years. We've seen the economic ups and downs. It's clear that this recession is by far the most severe in this downturn. It's been a privilege [to hear] some of the thoughts that we get and feel from on the ground, and those actions that I've presented this committee. We consider that partnerships between government and industry is critical for this to move very quickly. Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf, Joint Economic Committee Hearing, February 23, 2010 What we have--what we have said in our initial report, and in our letter to you, and you can see in the--in those bars, is that in our judgment policies that cut employers' payroll taxes are more cost effective in terms of stimulating employment over the next couple of years, than many of the other policies that we've considered. And our judgment--what firms will do with a cut of that sort is partly to take advantage of their lower cost by cutting the prices of their goods, and thus trying to stimulate demand. And it's the--really the shortfall in demand that is the crux of the recession, or the crux of the problem in hiring. Additionally these tax credits provide an incentive to use more labor by lowering the cost of labor in particular. Dr. Richard Berner, Co-Head of Global Economics and Chief U.S. Economist, Morgan Stanley, Joint Economic Committee Hearing, February 26, 2010 A refundable payroll tax credit, perhaps for firms that increase their payroll, would be among the most effective short-term remedies. CBO estimates that a well-designed credit could boost employment by about 9 years of full-time equivalent employment per million dollars of budgetary cost. General Leave

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to say goodbye to a friend. New York City, and the rest of the world, lost a friend when Jack Murtha died. Jack Murtha served his country in every possible way. He served it in Vietnam as a Marine; he served in western Pennsylvania as a son, husband and father; and he served it for over 40 years in Harrisburg and in Washington, as a legislator's legislator. He won respect for the honest, plainspoken, compassionate way he played all of these roles. But to me, he played those roles like a brother. He spoke often of the strong women in his family being essential to his success in life. His great-grandmother, he once recalled, told him at age 6, ``You're put on this Earth to make a difference.'' Boy, did he ever. He volunteered as a Marine, first in the 1950s during the Korean war. He re-enlisted at age 34 and served in Vietnam--earning the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry. He became the first Vietnam veteran to be elected to Congress, in a February 1974 special election, starting a legendary Washington career as a member of the Appropriations Committee. When I came to this chamber for the first time, the ``Pennsylvania Corner'' was in full flower. We grew close and even though we didn't agree on everything, we worked together often--on issues ranging from breast cancer research funding to the Intrepid Museum on the Hudson. When he decided that the Iraq war was unwinnable in 2005, he earned his stripes all over again, providing leadership on this crucial issue. He visited my district, and so many others, explaining how he came to his decision. Madam Speaker, as a Congressman, Jack Murtha won respect in these halls and on this floor . . . but as a man, he earned our love. We will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joyce, and the entire Murtha family.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, at a recent hearing of the Joint Economic Committee, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Elmendorf, testified that CBO's latest assessment of the Recovery Act found that it had increased our real GDP by as much as 3.5 percentage points, increased the number of people employed by between 1 million and 2.1 million people, and lowered the unemployment rate by as much as 1.1 percent. In short, the stimulus spending bill worked, but we need to do more to grow jobs now. He also testified that one of the most powerful generators of job growth would be an employer tax credit for businesses that increased their payrolls similar to one I proposed in H.R. 4585 and to one Congress intends to send to the President. These historically difficult times and this growing, but fragile, economy cry out for us to take action, help create more private sector jobs, and get our economy working again for everyone.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to Edward Gersh, an outstanding and dedicated educator and athlete. A life-long advocate, he has worked to improve the lives and minds of students across New York State. While attending Dewitt Clinton High School, Mr. Gersh was an all scholastic tackle, which earned him a full scholarship to New York University (NYU) and George Washington University (GW). He briefly attended GW before transferring to NYU. During his sophomore year at NYU, he was injured and unable to continue playing football. He made the transition from football to boxing, eventually winning the New York City Golden Gloves Championship Open Heavyweight Title in 1943, the only Jewish fighter to ever do so, and entering a brief, yet successful, professional boxing career. He was a boxing and wrestling referee for the New York State Athletic Commission. For years, Mr. Gersh trained, managed and promoted professional boxing. Mr. Gersh began his career in the New York City Public School System as a physical education instructor and an assistant football coach. He also taught physical education and coached boxing at the City College of New York. In 1950, the New York City Board of Education hired Mr. Gersh. Within three years, he was named Dean of Jefferson Park Jr. High School, where he directed the guidance program and helped countless students achieve their aspirations. He also taught history at the New York Institute of Technology, where he was appointed to the Office of Student Affairs. In 1967 Mr. Gersh became one of the founders and members of the original Board of Trustees of Wilmington College, serving two years as the Executive Vice President. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for Dowling College of Oakland, Long Island for ten years, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Woodstock Day School in Woodstock, NY. Mr. Gersh has received numerous awards for his excellence as an educator, starting in 1960, when he was named ``Teacher of the Year'' by Youth Development Incorporated. In 2006, he was given the prestigious NYU Steinhardt Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award. That year he was the commencement speaker for the Steinhardt School of Education at a ceremony that look place at Radio City Music Hall. His impressive dedication to education at all levels deserves our highest praise. In 1955 Mr. Gersh helped open West Hill Day Camp in Huntington, NY, which he continues to serve as the Chairman of the Board and President. He holds similar titles in E. Gersh Realty Corporation, University Gardens, Okee, LLC, and EG, LLC which owns and manages real estate on Long Island. He is also a founding partner and owner of Crestwood Country Day School, the Woodland Academy, and Camp Kent. Mr. Gersh's generosity is compounded by his commitment to scholarly achievement. He has established the Edward & Holli Gersh Charitable Foundation, and the Edward Gersh Scholarship at the Steinhardt School at New York University. Mr. Gersh has been hailed as a modern Renaissance Man. His autobiography ``A Strong Collected Spirit: A Fighter's Memoir'' was published in 2005. Madam Speaker, I salute the remarkable achievements of Mr. Edward Gersh and I ask my distinguished colleagues in this House to join me in recognizing his extraordinary service and contributions to education.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, as the 2010 Census begins, there are an increasing number of reports from around the country about mailings with bold lettering saying ``Do Not Destroy,'' ``Official Document,'' and ``Census Document Registered To:'' on the exterior envelope without any return address, when in fact, the mailing is not associated with the U.S. Census Bureau or the decennial census at all. These mailings, many sent by political organizations, appear to be designed to resemble official census documents. I believe that no political organization, whether Republican or Democratic, should use the census for fundraising in this type of manner. The constitutionally mandated decennial census has begun. It is a massive operation that includes a multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded advertising campaign to urge Americans to respond to the census and return it by mail. Return by mail is the cheapest and most accurate way to be counted. My concern is that mailings that are designed to look like census documents and come in envelopes marked ``Census,'' without clearly defining the sender, will confuse people and might affect the response rate. We must do everything we can to ensure an accurate, cost- effective census. That is why today I am introducing the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act. I am joined by original cosponsors Edolphus Towns, Chair, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Wm. Lacy Clay, Chair, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives. The legislation would (1) require any mailing with an envelope marked ``Census'' to clearly indicate the sender and would (2) trigger an existing requirement in federal law to include a disclaimer that the mailing is not from or affiliated with the federal government. If organizations do not comply, then the U.S. Postal Service will take the appropriate action to stop them. We must protect the integrity of census mailings, and the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act will be an important tool in achieving that goal.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, since the recession began in December 2007, 8 million jobs have been lost in America. The unemployment rate has more than doubled since then to 10% and the underemployment rate is at 17%. To keep pace with population growth, 127,000 jobs must be created each month just to keep unemployment from rising. Historically, small business has generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years, according to the Small Business Administration. That is why today, along with Congressman Gene Green, I am introducing the Small Business Job Creation Tax Act 2010. This bill will provide tax cuts to employers who increase their payroll over one year based on a percentage of that increase. This legislation will provide businesses a tax cut worth 15 percent of the cost of a new job. Small businesses would receive an additional 5%, allowing them to deduct 20% of their increased payroll costs. The tax cut would be structured based on a firm's quarterly payroll increase over the previous year, meaning companies would also have an incentive to expand part-time workers to full-time, or eliminate salary cuts instituted during the downturn. This would also provide protection against fraud by preventing employers from firing and re-hiring employees to claim the tax cut. The legislation would also contain additional protections against abuse by including a limit on the tax cut claimed by any one firm to $500,000 and excluding mergers or acquisitions where no new jobs are actually created. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama stressed the importance of creating jobs. I cannot think of a more important action we can take as a Congress than creating incentives for businesses to grow their job force. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. MALONEY

Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1044, Commemorating 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. January 27, 2010 marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where at least 1.1 million were murdered from 1940-1945. Last week, the United Nations, which is located in my district, commemorated the liberation with events designed to carry on the stories and lessons that Holocaust survivors have made their legacy. Here in Congress, the resolution we pass today honors the victims of Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps. It also reaffirms Congress's commitment to enhance Holocaust education to ensure that what happened in Auschwitz is never allowed to happen again. To that end, I have introduced separate legislation, the Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Assistance Act (H.R. 2089), which would provide federal grants to educational organizations to teach students about the Holocaust: The legislation is named after the renowned survivor of the Nazi death camps who dedicated his life to documenting the crimes of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, many students across the country have not learned about the Holocaust because their schools do not have the necessary funds or tools to teach them about this horrific event in humanity's history. It is imperative that students learn about the consequences of intolerance and hatred, so that we can truly say, ``Never again.'' As the numbers of Holocaust survivors dwindle, we must make sure their stories live on forever and that those who would deny the Holocaust never have the ability to rewrite history.