Sue Myrick

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, on May 7, 2010, we recognized Military Spouse Appreciation Day. On this day, I received a letter from Mrs. Anthony Massey, the wife of a diver in the United States Navy. Her letter is attached, and it very eloquently talks about the sacrifice, support and dedication provided by military spouses to our men and women in uniform. Have You Thanked a Military Spouse Today? In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated the Friday before Mother's Day as Military Spouse Appreciation Day, a day set aside to recognize the many contributions and sacrifices military spouses make in support of military members and our country. Yesterday, President Obama made this declaration: When Americans answer the call to serve in our Armed Forces, a sacred trust is forged. Our men and women in uniform take on the duty of protecting us all, and their spouses and families also help shoulder this important responsibility . . . At the heart of our Armed Forces, servicemembers' spouses keep our military families on track. They balance family life, military life, and their careers all while supporting other military families and giving back to their communities . . . Today, let us honor the spouses and families who support our servicemembers and, in doing so, help defend our Nation and preserve our liberty. For many military spouses, we have essentially no idea what it means to be a ``military spouse'' when we say, ``I do''. We, like many, simply make a pledge that day to support our loved one through good times and bad. However, it quickly becomes apparent that military life is unlike anything we have experienced. When standing at the alter, whether we know it or not, we are making a commitment to serve our country, many times forsaking our desires for a greater cause. Rarely, will you ever see a military spouse seeking the approval of others for the hat he or she wears. Rarely, will you ever hear a military spouse ask for ``Thank Yous'' after he or she has kissed their loved one for the last time for 7 months (or longer). Rarely, will you ever witness a military spouse demand compensation for raising their children as a single parent while their loved one deploys for the fourth time in five years. In just really is not our style. When you say, ``I do'' to a Sailor, Marine, Soldier, Airman, or Coast Guardsman, you are immediately inducted into a special society of spouses . . . one that is built on a legacy of those who have sacrificially dedicated their life to the service of their country. A legacy that only understood by those who have walked the walk and talked the talk. From this legacy, we are inspired, encouraged, and supported. We know many before us and along side of us have gotten through it, have overcome the challenges, and persevered when the going gets tough. We know that there is at least one spouse who has celebrated an anniversary alone and one spouse who watched their child graduate from preschool/high school/college alone. We know there is at least one spouse who moved from one state to another alone. We know there is at least one spouse who has given birth to their first, third, or sixth child alone. Nevertheless, we are quick to remember that we are never alone. For me personally, Jesus is always by my side. However, for all of us, every military spouse, past or present, is standing side-by-side with us as we continue to overcome the challenges of daily life. There is a joy like no other when your Sailor, Marine, Solider, Airman, or Coast Guardsman comes home from deployment or training. There is an excitement that wakes you up at all hours of the night and keeps you from falling back asleep in the days leading up to their return home. There is a sense of relief as soon as they are in your arms that you have defeated the odds. These moments make it worthwhile. That first eye-to-eye contact . . . that first embrace . . . that first kiss all remind you why you fell in love with them the first time. It is the overwhelming sense of pride you feel when you see them in uniform as they step off the plane or ship that reminds you that the hat you wear is worth it. It is that first morning that you wake up in their arms that gives you the strength to begin preparing for the next separation. Military spouses are a breed like no other. While the United States Military has no official authority over us, they really do because they tell us when our loved one will work, when they will stand watch, when they will deploy, and to where we will move next. Their system can be archaic and rigid at times . . . but without it, our loved one's life is at risk. We grow to appreciate this rigidity. We learn to communicate in a language based on acronyms. Moreover, we learn to roll with the punches. Before we got married, Andy told me that military life is like the tide, frequently changing on a daily basis. There are no certainties to military life other than constant change. Frequently, deployment dates move up and return dates are pushed back. Departure times become earlier and arrival times get later. To be a successful military spouse, you must be resilient because without resiliency, you crack. We are stretched to our limits and then some, with little power to change the situation. Military spouses are woven together with the same strand of thread when we accept this responsibility with a gracious heart and sacrificial love for our Sailor, Marine, Airman, or Coast Guardsman. And for the military spouses whose loved one has paid the ultimate price in service to our country, we, as a nation, are forever indebted to them for the price they paid as a military spouse. I write this out of the pride I have to be ND1 Massey's wife. Pride in him as a Mighty Man who serves an Awesome God first and our country second. Pride that reduces me to tears whenever I think of him. So if you know one, thank one. While they may react humbly, chances are it will mean a great deal to them. Our Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen are so frequently the ones who are thanked . . . and they should be. They are the ones that leave their families at home to fight for a cause they may not always support. However, every once in a while, when we are thanked for wearing this hat, it reassures us that we are remembered and appreciated and it encourages us to face the next challenge head on.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Thank you for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the American people get it. They understand Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac need to be reformed. The Federal Government has spent, as you have heard over and over, $145 billion in taxpayer dollars to prop up these two government entities. And through YouCut, the American people have voted to have shrink the portfolios of Fannie and Freddie. And, most importantly, they have demanded transparency, something that has been missing for a long time in the Federal Government relative to spending. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these changes will save up to 30 billion taxpayer dollars. And it's no secret, we can't keep spending money that we don't have. The American people know this, and they have gone to YouCut to have cast hundreds of thousands of votes over the last 3 weeks to demand we cut reckless spending out of our budget. We need to do what we were sent to D.C. to do, and that is to vote for the wishes of the people that we represent back home. And a vote to reform Fannie and Freddie is a vote to save the American people, taxpayers, $30 billion.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following vote. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 203, on motion to suspend the rules and agree-- Expressing sympathy to the people of Poland in the aftermath of the tragic plane crash that killed the country's President, First Lady, and 94 others on April 10, 2010--I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication and service of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, also known as the Old Guard. The oldest active duty infantry unit in the U.S. Army, the Old Guard conducts all memorial affairs honoring fallen soldiers, escorts the President at official events, and has the high honor of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. For 62 years this month, since April 6, 1948, the Old Guard has held watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, rain or shine. When they're not on guard, members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment study the history of the Cemetery, clean weapons and provide assistance to their fellow guardsmen going on or coming off duty, also known as The Changing of the Guard, one of the most sacred and awe-inspiring ceremonies within our military. Madam Speaker, we owe thanks to all members of our armed services and their families, who daily serve our country with honor and dignity. We especially owe thanks to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, for their dedication and commitment to honoring those servicemembers who are ``Known But To God.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following votes. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote No. 67, on motion to concur in Senate amendments--H. R. 3961, Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act--I would have voted ``aye.'' Rollcall vote No. 68, on motion to suspend the rules and agree, as amended--H. Con. Res. 227, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Urban Crimes Awareness Week--I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor and recognize Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC. Steele Creek Presbyterian was founded in 1760, and this year, they celebrate their 250th anniversary as a church community. As one of the oldest churches in our area, Steele Creek Presbyterian Church is a cornerstone in the Charlotte community. Its membership is dedicated to the service of others, whether by providing food to area shelters, manpower to local Habitat for Humanity projects, or any number of other volunteer efforts in our community. The congregation at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church continually sets an example of living a life of faith by raising our future generations in an atmosphere that fosters love, service and a sense of community. Madam Speaker, today it is my honor to recognize Steele Creek Presbyterian Church. They have demonstrated a level of commitment to community that is well appreciated, and it serves as an example for us all. It is a privilege to represent the Steele Creek congregation, and I wish them many more years of worship and service.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following vote. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: December 14, 2009, rollcall vote 969, on motion to suspend the rules and agree, as amended--H. Res. 779, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month--I would have voted aye. Rollcall vote 970, on motion to suspend the rules and agree--H. Res. 942, Commending the Real Salt Lake soccer club for winning the 2009 Major League Soccer Cup--I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. I also thank my friends on the other side of the aisle, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Lois Capps in particular. The two of them have been very, very up front and aggressive in leading the charge on these issues, and I'm grateful for it. As you have already heard, the government's Preventive Services Task Force recently advised that women under 50 don't need mammograms, that those over 50 don't need them every year, and that doctors shouldn't encourage breast self-exams due to false positives. This is really shocking, because what message does that send to women? We all know mammograms aren't perfect, and we hope that before long we are going to have better technology that will do the job. But cancer is a tricky disease, and breast cancer exams, sure, could lead to some tests that maybe aren't necessary, and the same with mammograms, and some people can say it's all nerve-racking to do it. But as a breast cancer survivor, I know that screening works. It saves lives. And it's not always easy. I had to go to several doctors before my cancer was detected. If I hadn't been persistent and sought the timely screening which did find mine, I might not be standing here today. The simple truth is that screening does save lives. It makes a difference for many women, whether they are 40 years old, 65 years old, or 70 years old. It doesn't matter. Many women look for excuses anyway. They don't want to get screened for cancer. They really don't like to do it. And some of them say, I don't even want to know. Well, this recommendation certainly doesn't help that problem. Statistically, maybe mammograms are a bit more likely to save your life if you're over 50, but they save lives for those under 50 every day, and we know that. What if your 45-year-old sister or daughter or your mother doesn't know she has cancer until it's too late? And as I said before, the recommendation even advised doctors to discourage breast self-exams. Come on. What more sensible, simple tool do women have to guard against what can be a very aggressive disease? After all, we don't know what causes cancer. And women need to pay close attention.

Mrs. MYRICK. Women need to pay close attention to their bodies, because if something is wrong, they need to be aggressive about testing and finding the answers, and it doesn't matter how old you are. As was mentioned, too, so many younger women are getting cancer today, so many more than ever did before, and we need to find out why. But in the meantime, we need to give them the options that they need. And this resolution is a sense of Congress that these new recommendations shouldn't be used to deny women coverage or screening tests, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. MYRICK

Ms. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following vote. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 967, On Motion to Recommit with Instructions--H.R. 4173, The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009--I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor and recognize the students, teachers and administrators at Waxhaw Elementary School in Waxhaw, North Carolina. During the month of November, Waxhaw Elementary students collected 2,742 food items for the school's 2009 Food Drive. The food went to provide Thanksgiving meals to twenty-five families in the area. Families were able to come to the school to ``shop'' for Thanksgiving items, and were able to select either a ham or a turkey to complete their meal. At a time when families across our area struggle to put food on the table, I am so impressed by the compassion and willingness to help others shown by the Waxhaw Elementary family. Students not only contributed to the food drive, but were able to experience the reward that comes with helping others. What better lesson can we teach our young people, especially during the holiday season? Madam Speaker, I am honored to say that I represent Waxhaw Elementary School. In a day and age where people tend to think only of themselves, here is a shining example of a group of young people who have reached out to make their community a better place by helping the less fortunate. I hope that this wonderful effort will continue at Waxhaw Elementary for many years to come.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of one of my constituents, Mrs. Sara Bissell, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Mrs. Bissell passed away after a brave 11-year battle with cancer on November 8, 2009 at the age of 71. Born in Charlotte and the granddaughter of former North Carolina Governor Cameron Morrison, Mrs. Bissell attended Charlotte Country Day School and graduated from Bennett Junior College in New York. Mrs. Bissell took over her mother's fine furnishing store in 1964 and ran it until recently. Her interior design influence can be seen throughout Charlotte's buildings and landmarks. Sara's contributions to her community were many and varied. She worked tirelessly, both out front and behind the scenes, to make Charlotte a better place. She served on the board of directors for Charlotte Country Day School, University of North Carolina--Charlotte, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, and Queens University. The Chancellor's residence at UNCC is named in her honor. Sara married H.C. ``Smoky'' Bissell, a successful developer, in 1960. Together they had four children and nine grandchildren whom they loved and cherished. She was also the sister of Charlotte businessmen, Johnny and Cameron Harris. Mrs. Bissell will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the Charlotte community.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the great work of one of my constituents, R. Lee Myers, mayor of Matthews, North Carolina. Mayor Myers has recently completed his ninth term in office. Lee is a wonderful public servant--he's given over 20 years of his life to serve the citizens of Matthew--as mayor and as a town commissioner. During this time, he's overseen the rapid development of Matthews into one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the Nation. Born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1951, Mayor Myers graduated from East Mecklenburg High School, received a B.A from East Carolina University in 1973, and received a law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1976. Mayor Myers and his wife Lucinda have two children, Matthew and Amanda. He currently practices law alongside his son, Matthew, at the Myers Law Firm, PLLC. Mayor Myers' civic activities also include serving on the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization from 1989 until the present, having served as chairman from 1997 to 2005. He has also been the Matthews representative to the Metropolitan Transit Commission since its formation. Today, I join the nearly 30,000 residents of Matthews in thanking Mayor Myers for his two decades of outstanding service to them and to Mecklenburg County. His dedication is to be commended, and I wish him and his family all the best.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, Americans are struggling with health care costs. We all know that. Too many families can't afford coverage, and small businesses are struggling to find coverage for their employees. However, this bill does not fix the underlying problem, the cost of health insurance. It is an unprecedented expansion of Federal Government spending that will only dig a deeper hole of debt for generations to come. Margaret Thatcher once said, ``We want a society in which we are free to make choices, to make mistakes, to be generous and compassionate. Not a society in which the State is responsible for everything, and no one is responsible for the State.'' The majority's bill creates a society that resembles the latter, and it is a mistake. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following vote. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 858, on motion to suspend the rules and agree--H. Res. 868, honoring and recognizing the service and achievements of current and former female members of the Armed Forces--I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, when I am at home in the district, I am not getting questions about health care. I am getting questions about jobs. People are saying, what are you doing to help create jobs? Unemployment nationally is at a 26-year high. In my district, it is between 11 and 15 percent, and small business people say to me all the time, new taxes on businesses that can't afford health coverage is not going to help. We all know that leads to fewer jobs and lower wages for workers. Health care reform is important, but the country can't afford it under the proposed bill. Half of the tax dollars collected by the health care bill's new surtax are from small business. It is terrible for innovation and kills ingenuity, which made America great. It is the American people that keep this country growing, and they want health reform done the right way, that lowers cost and is affordable.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to be here today to support Representative DeLauro's Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day resolution. As has already been mentioned many times this month, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we see it all over by the pink ribbons everywhere, media campaigns. Throughout the last 30 days, there has been good exposure. The month is nearly over, but the need for breast cancer awareness and education continues all year long. October 13 has been recognized as National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, and I would like to thank the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network for their continued community outreach. Awareness and education has assisted in the annual decline in deaths from breast cancer. The Centers for Disease Control has stressed the importance of women receiving regular mammograms, which can help doctors diagnose breast cancer in its early stages, which was my fortunate experience. It is because of these successful programs and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month that encourage early diagnosis before the cancer cells travel from the breast to other parts of the body, including the most well-known and, unfortunately, the places they go the most often, the bones, the liver, the lungs, and the brain. And that describes metastatic breast cancer. It's commonly known as stage IV breast cancer because it is diagnosed when the cancer has spread to one or more of these distant sites in the body. For all intents and purposes, it is the scariest form of the disease and one that is very difficult to fight. People face reality when they're first diagnosed and are told that they're at stage IV. For others, it's a diagnosis they face later on as they go through their treatment, which is happening to one of my friends currently. For these women, time is truly of the essence, and the support of family, friends and of the medical professionals is crucial. Sadly, metastatic breast cancer is deadly in most cases, but the good news is that research continues to make great strides in survival rates and in the quality of life for these patients. So I am very proud to support this resolution to designate October 13 as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. I thank my good friend, Representative DeLauro, who is also a cancer survivor, I might add--long term--for sponsoring this bill. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am very pleased to yield so much time as he may consume to the other sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo).

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1717. Within this request is funding for the Veterans Health Care Center in Charlotte, NC. We currently have a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic that cannot meet the demands of our growing veteran population. Based on VA numbers, our veteran population is slated to increase 31 percent between 2007 and 2025. This new Health Care Center will help the VA expand its service offerings in our area, and offer new ones which means that our veterans will not have to travel out of our area for the services they need. We cannot thank our men and women in uniform--and their families for the sacrifices they make in defending our country. However, with this new Health Care Center in Charlotte, we can ensure that they are taken care of in a matter which fits their dedication and service.

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Thank you so much. I really appreciate Ms. Wasserman Schultz for her efforts in organizing this Special Order tonight. I especially want to commend her for the courage that she had in being willing to share her story, because she won't have any idea of how much this is going to mean to people. There will be people that will be touched by what you did for years to come because you were willing to speak out and to do this legislation. So thank you for introducing the bill as well. As was noted, October is the 25th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And we have made great strides. Just this week, it was announced that scientists in Canada have, for the first time, decoded all of the 3 billion letters in the DNA sequence of a certain type of tumor. And in the process, they found all the mutations, or the spelling mistakes, that caused the cancer to spread. We know there is a lot to be done in this fight. And I'm also particularly concerned about young women who are diagnosed with aggressive cancers. We've been concerned for some time. That's why we worked with the National Institutes of Health and the environmental people to see if there are links there to figure out why young women in their 20s and 30s are developing breast cancer. It used to be an older person's disease. So there is a lot of work to be done in that area as we move forward. But in my city of Charlotte, there was a group of young women in their twenties who were survivors of breast cancer, which they didn't expect. They really just felt so alone, and they formed a group called Breast Friends as a support group. The unfortunate part is this group is growing. It's growing a lot faster than we would like to see it grow. That's one of the challenges we're facing is that so many young women are being diagnosed with this disease. That's the reason I'm pleased to be the lead cosponsor on this bill, the EARLY Act. Representative Wasserman Schultz has done an excellent job, and it does address some of the needs that younger women who are breast cancer patients and survivors have because it's a unique battle. It's different than has been faced in the past when it comes to diagnosis and treatment and decisions that need to be made. It's a lot different than what those of us who are older, who are survivors have had to face and will have to face in the future. I have always supported breast cancer research funding over these many years, and there is no doubt that it's an important piece of the puzzle, but education efforts like those in the EARLY Act are also an important piece, because most younger women don't think they can get breast cancer and society tends to tell them, Wait until you are older to get a mammogram. Now there is even talk that self-exams aren't really the way to go. Well, I disagree with that. You are a good example of that one. We all need to help spread the word. We have got a lot of work to do, not only in our districts, but we need to continue this fight to find a cure. So I thank all of the colleagues that have joined us tonight in this Special Order. It means a lot to everyone, and I also know that they're going to go home to their own districts and do all the advocacy work that we all do over a period of time, and hopefully we will find a cure one day. With that, I yield back.

Mrs. MYRICK. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I wanted to make a couple of points before I do that, and one of them is we can't spend an evening talking about breast cancer without remembering our dear friend JoAnn Davis who was a Member here. And she fought a courageous, courageous battle. She truly did. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed late. She had a very aggressive cancer and she lost that battle a couple of years ago. And it's still hard every time I think of her. She was a tremendous, tremendous person and very valiant. The other thing I wanted to just mention was when we talk about the awareness that this bill is promoting, women still today don't want to get mammograms simply because they're afraid they will hurt. And you know, I have had so many women say that to me; and then I have other women say, Well, I really don't want to know. And you know, we really need to make women aware that they better find out sooner rather than later. And that's why this legislation is so important. And men, too. I have two male friends in Charlotte who both have breast cancer and never had any idea--and one of them, unfortunately, because they didn't think he had breast cancer, he isn't with us any longer. So there is a lot of work to do, and again I commend you for this. And I have the pleasure of introducing a gentleman who is also new to Congress, and we're delighted he's here, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cao). I will yield to him 2 minutes.

Mr. MYRICK

Mr. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I was unable to participate in the following vote. If I had been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 743, on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended--H.R. 2442, Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009--I would have voted ``nay.''

Mrs. MYRICK

Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, I am a 9-year breast cancer survivor, and I believe that I'm alive today because I was able to access and get the early diagnostic tests that I needed. In 1999 I knew something was wrong and I went to five doctors, had three mammograms, and they all said you're okay. Finally the sixth doctor said, Let's do an ultrasound. He found my cancer. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened? Under a government health care system like they have in the U.K. and in Canada, I really wouldn't have had that opportunity to get those tests so quickly and they may have found out too late. Survival rates for cancer in countries that have government systems are much lower. In the U.K. breast cancer survivor rates are 11 percent lower than they are here in the United States. So we need to look at sensible policies. We need to not be creating a huge new program for health care that only limits the care that not only cancer patients but all Americans receive.