Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Well, we've heard many, many wonderful things about Jim Oberstar, and we have many, many people present today who love and who've worked with him. And we are here as a delegation, strong and proud members of Minnesota's Farmer Democratic Labor Party; and that comes as no surprise that Jim fought hard for working people. As has been pointed out, he comes from the Iron Range. He worked in an iron mine in his youth, and his father was an iron miner and a union official. He fought to include Davis-Bacon prevailing wage provisions in Federal infrastructure. But he also had a unique side to him that many people were always taken by surprise. This iron ranger spoke French, and that's because he taught French to U.S. Marines for 4 years in Haiti, and he taught English to Haitian military personnel, another way in which Jim Oberstar served our country. Jim, when I first came here as a Member of Congress, as people have been speaking personally, I came here under bittersweet circumstances. My mentor, my Member of Congress, had passed. When I came here the office had been closed for several weeks. There was no sharing of supplies. There was no one to turn to. I had two big brothers in the delegation who welcomed the first Member in over 50 years to serve here; and so I not only thank you, as a Member of Congress for all the work that you've done, but I thank you for extending all the courtesies you did to me when I first arrived here to make sure that my constituents were well served. But also all the support you've been to me during my personal tragedies. Thank you, Jim. Jim's unique expertise should be shared with the next generation of public servants. So we're very happy that the Star Tribune reported last week that the University of Minnesota Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs is talking to Chairman Oberstar about become a guest lecturer or a seminar leader. I think that would be a terrific thing to have happen. And I hope to see a book written by Chairman Oberstar in the bookstore across the aisle from my congressional office in St. Paul, but I've got a feeling it'll probably be more than one volume. So Chairman Oberstar, unless you would like to have the last word, we want to thank you for the last time so much for your service.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentleman. I would now like to recognize the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cao).

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentlelady. I would now like to recognize the delegate from Washington, D.C., Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentleman from Minnesota. I would now like to recognize the gentlewoman from Texas, Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Thank you. Madam Speaker, I would now like to recognize Tim Walz from Minnesota's First Congressional District, another member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I would now like to recognize the majority leader, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the topic of this Special Order.

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, now I would like to yield to Congressman Jim Oberstar.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentlewoman. I would now like to recognize the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentleman. I would now like to recognize the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Richardson).

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentlelady. I'd now like to recognize the Representative of Hawaii, Ms. Hirono.

Ms. McCOLLUM. I thank the gentleman. I now would like to recognize the Representative from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, today, 25,000 girls--some as young as 10 years old--will be robbed of their future when they are forced to marry much older men. This isn't marriage when a 10-year-old girl is given to a 40-year-old man; it's sexual abuse. The practice of child marriage is wrong, and it must end. The United States must take a strong stand against child marriage. Democrats and Republicans must come together and pass the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act as soon as possible. Every Senator agreed to this bill when it passed last week. It passed unanimously. There is a lot of talk in Congress about the need to protect children from abuse. It's time for action. It's time for a vote.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to state plainly and clearly my belief that al-Qaeda and its affiliates continue to pose a serious threat to the United States. During a candidate forum on October 21, 2010, I was asked a question regarding U.S. policy in Afghanistan and Iraq. During my response, I stated that the United States went to war in Afghanistan--an action that I supported--to remove the Taliban from power and eliminate al- Qaeda. I also noted that top U.S. intelligence officials have stated publicly that al-Qaeda no longer poses a threat to the United States from within Afghanistan. For example, on June 27, 2010, CIA Director Leon Panetta stated that fewer than 50 to 100 al-Qaeda operatives remain in Afghanistan, saying ``there's no question that the main location of Al Qaeda is in the tribal areas of Pakistan.'' According to then-National Security Advisor Gen. James L. Jones on October 4, 2009, al-Qaeda has no bases inside Afghanistan and ``no ability to launch attacks on either us or our allies.'' Unfortunately, my political opponents rejected these official assessments from America's top national security experts and chose to distort my position by taking my comments out of context. Playing politics with American national security is a reckless distraction. The threat from al-Qaeda now emanates from within countries such as Pakistan and Yemen, and even from would-be terrorists within the U.S. who are inspired to violence by al-Qaeda. However, due to the courage and effectiveness of America's military men and women and America's NATO partners, al-Qaeda's ability to attack U.S. citizens from inside Afghanistan has been greatly diminished, if not eliminated. For this reason, I support an end to full-scale combat operations and a shift to a long-term counterterrorism mission that will prevent al-Qaeda from re-establishing safe havens from which to attack the United States. Madam Speaker, there is no doubt that al-Qaeda continues to pose a significant threat to the United States and our allies. Its operatives are as determined as ever to promote their brand of extremism through fear, violence, and hate. The United States must remain vigilant and resolute in the face of this serious threat.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 (HR. 4853). This important legislation will extend middle class tax cuts, help spur economic growth in America, and assist the vast majority of Americans, many of whom are struggling through a recovering economy. In January 2001, when I was sworn-in as a new member of Congress, President Clinton was ending his second-term, and the Federal Government was projected to run a 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Clinton administration, the U.S. economy created 21 million private sector jobs and incomes of middle-class families were rising. It was a time of economic prosperity. Tax rates allowed America to grow, fully pay for the cost of the Federal Government, and reduce the national debt. These years proved that responsible fiscal policymaking and a strong economy were not compatible with the Republican governing ideology we see today. Only weeks into my first-term, President George W. Bush Republican leaders in Congress made cutting taxes and massive increases of federal spending their priorities. In 2001 and 2003, Republicans in Congress passed the Bush tax cuts at a cost to the federal budget of $2.3 trillion. I voted against these tax cuts because they were fiscally irresponsible and unnecessary. During the Bush presidency, I also voted against the pre-emptive war in Iraq and the Medicare Part D giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry. Combined these irresponsible policies added $4 trillion to our national debt in less than 10 years. Today, our country is slowly recovering from a severe economic recession, private sector jobs are starting to be created, and families across America are fighting to get ahead. President Obama and Democrats in Congress have taken aggressive actions to create and save jobs while preventing a second Great Depression from crippling our economy. The 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts are scheduled to sunset at the end of this month. Republicans included a sunset in those laws because exposing the real cost of making them permanent threatened congressional support. In other words, the cost of the tax cuts were so fiscally unsustainable that Republicans were forced to allow them to expire, placing their fate in the hands of a future Congress. With these tax cuts about to expire and the federal budget in crisis, it is time for honesty with the American people and responsible policymaking. At a time when federal taxes are the lowest share of GDP since 1950 and the budget deficit is at $1.3 trillion, we should all have concerns about our country's fiscal future. At the same time, we have a fragile economy and high unemployment which is squeezing middle- class families. Congress has hard choices to make on taxation, spending, and entitlements that will impact our economy, our federal budget, and the long-term security of our families. To protect the economy until robust job growth returns, I will vote in favor of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 (HR. 4853), which extends the middle-class tax cuts on taxable earnings of up to $250,000 and up to $200,000 for individuals. Under this legislation, 97 percent of American families and small businesses will receive a tax cut. It includes an extension of marriage penalty relief, the earned income tax credit, and the $1,000 child tax credit. In addition, the bill also permanently extends the reduced rates on capital gains and dividends for middle income families. For the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans, I do not support extending the Bush tax cuts. The cost of extending these cuts would cost the American taxpayer $700 billion dollars over the next 10 years. History shows that tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are the wrong way to strengthen the economy and do not create jobs. President Bush had the worst jobs record of any President since the Great Depression, actually shrinking the private sector by and losing 4.6 million American manufacturing jobs over eight years. At a time when we have soaring budget deficits, our country simply cannot afford to borrow the $700 billion cost of these tax giveaways just to give the most fortunate Americans another tax break. The passage of H.R. 4853 will help millions of middle class families all across the nation weather the economic storm, while letting the tax cuts for wealthiest Americans expire. Congress has an obligation to work to sustain this economic recovery, help the private sector create jobs, and ensure the long-term fiscal well-being of the Federal Government. This is a critical time for our country and I believe we must work together to provide tax relief to the middle class families hit hardest by the recession. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act, and Cobell and Pigford II settlements now included. In 1996, Indian plaintiffs, including Eloise Cobell, filed a class action suit against the federal government for mismanagement of Indian trust land and other assets. During the 13 years that followed, courts repeatedly ruled in favor of the plaintiffs assertions that the government violated its trust responsibility, did not provide accurate accounting, and did not provide Indians with their share of the revenue from the Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. One year ago, on December 8, 2009, the plaintiffs and the U.S. Interior and Justice Departments announced a $3.4 billion settlement for this long-running suit. This settlement should have been approved by Congress in a timely manner. Too many deadlines for Congressional action have passed this year, requiring the settlement parties to keep extending the approval deadline. Tribal members whose trust accounts were mismanaged have waited too long for compensation. Already this year, I have voted for funding the settlement twice. Both times the funding passed the House only to have the funds stripped by Republican obstruction in the Senate. Finally, on November 19, the Senate passed the approval for the settlement in the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4783, the Claims Resolution Act, and sent it back to us. In addition, I applaud the $1.15 billion settlement of the Pigford II class action lawsuit for finally rectifying an injustice that is an inexcusable stain on our Nation's history. In 1910, African American farmers owned 15 million acres of land. Now, that number has dwindled to two million acres. This settlement represents an important step forward towards ensuring the fair and equal treatment of all farmers, regardless of their race. These injustices have been perpetrated for decades, and today the House has the opportunity to vote again to uphold our end of the trust relationship with all American Indians and Alaska Natives and settle discrimination claims made by African American farmers. Though these funds come decades too late for many of the people affected, it is important for the U.S. Government to recognize the many past wrongs inflicted on the indigenous people of this country and black farmers who have been discriminated against. This is a vote that will make a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives, finally beginning to right some wrongs. For far too long, American Indian trust account holders and African American farmers have had to wait for justice. Today there will be justice, but it will not come without a fight against bigotry, intolerance, and the champions of inequality. The fact that some Republican voices, including a Member from Minnesota, are calling the settlement with African American farmers a fraud and a scam reflects the very racial intolerance and discrimination that are at the root of this settlement. With this legislation, the Federal Government can honor its commitment in a fiscally responsible manner. The funding is completely offset. The Senate passed it by unanimous consent. If it passes the House today, it will go directly to the President for his signature. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4783 because American Indians and African American farmers have waited long enough.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I introduced House Resolution 771 on September 24, 2009 to recognize the 3,000 Americans diagnosed with Mesothelioma each year and raise awareness about this rare form of cancer. After more than a year of work, a coalition of support came together to mark September 26, 2010 as the first ever ``National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.'' I have to thank 58 of my colleagues--both Democrats and Republicans--who co-sponsored this resolution and all the advocates for their work. Mesothelioma is an asbestos-linked cancer most often found in a person's chest, lungs, or abdomen. More than a million Americans are exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos while on the job, including military personnel, firefighters, and construction workers. In fact, workers in our own Capitol complex are suffering from asbestos exposure. Many of these individuals are unaware of the risk at the time of exposure. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease. Although over 50 countries have banned asbestos, the United States has not. It is found in millions of products sold in this country, including brake pads, roofing materials, and gaskets. The fight against Mesothelioma is a personal issue for me. In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma. The news was devastating for his family, friends, and all of us in Minnesota that knew him. Bruce represented Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District from 1977-2000. During his service in Congress, he was tireless advocate on behalf of his constituents and a national champion for environmental protection and the rights of the homeless. Awareness is critical for early diagnosis and treatment. ``National Mesothelioma Awareness Day'' honors those living with Mesothelioma, those that have died from the disease, and their families. House Resolution 771 is an important step toward educating the nation about the causes of this deadly disease and the need for better treatments and additional research. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support passage of this bipartisan resolution.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of extending emergency unemployment. This legislation, of which I am a proud cosponsor, is a common sense, non-controversial measure that will help American families. The unemployment situation in our country is a national emergency. Over the past two years, millions of jobs have been lost as a result of the worst recession in 70 years, caused by Wall Street excesses and an unregulated housing market. Millions of Americans are unemployed today--but through no fault of their own. Our neighbors, our friends, and our families are the ones who agonize as the economy slowly recovers. We cannot afford to abandon the unemployed members of the American workforce, and I won't stand by silently and allow these lifelines to expire. Unemployment benefits help millions of unemployed Americans help meet the basic needs of rent, food, and transportation while they search for jobs. Any family receiving unemployment insurance would tell you that these benefits do not provide for a luxurious lifestyle without financial worries. These same families would tell you that without these benefits, they will lose their home, lose their car, and lose the ability to feed their children. If the Federal Government does not assist these out-of-work Americans with emergency unemployment compensation, then they will fall to the next level of the social safety net, requiring public housing assistance, seeking medical care in hospital emergency room, or turning to food shelves to put dinner on the table. We have seen the proof that these benefits significantly stimulate economic growth while making the difference in the lives of struggling Americans. Economists from both sides of the aisle agree that unemployment benefits go directly into the economy, stimulating the kind of activity that creates jobs. And we have never before let federal emergency unemployment expire while the unemployment rate is anywhere close to this high. I challenge my Republican colleagues who say this legislation is unaffordable to come to the floor right now and tell me how they can pay to give the richest 2 percent of Americans $700 billion while holding this lifeline hostage. Every single vote against this extension is a vote to impoverish more American families. Every single vote against this legislation is a vote against economic growth. Every single vote against this bill is a vote against the middle class. Our economy will recover. But until our economic growth is fully restored, I simply refuse to abandon America's families during their time of greatest need.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the faculty, students and staff of Saint Paul College on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the school. Founded in 1910, Saint Paul College is an outstanding community and technical college that is a part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). Saint Paul College has further distinguished itself by earning the nation's top ranking among community colleges according to the 2010 September/October edition of Washington Monthly Magazine. Located on Cathedral Hill near downtown and overlooking at the State Capitol, Saint Paul College is a model two-year higher education institution, providing academic excellence and trade and technical skills to prepare students for success in the workplace. Saint Paul College offers thirty-eight associate degree programs and sixty-one occupational certificate and diploma programs, including transfer and articulation agreements with 4-year colleges and universities that provide pathways for students to transfer and continue their higher education. The first-place ranking and national recognition conveyed by Washington Monthly Magazine is a testament to the school's long- standing commitment to academic excellence and to the students and families in the community it serves. Generations of crafts and trades people in Minnesota have earned their education at Saint Paul College, and the school is poised to help more generations develop the skills they need for successful careers. In honor of the 100th Anniversary of Saint Paul College, I am pleased to recognize the many achievements of the faculty, staff and students through this statement in the Congressional Record.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297). This legislation will extend much needed credit and reduce taxes for small businesses all across the country. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in our economy and are playing a crucial role in helping America recover from the worst recession in 75 years. Still, small main street businesses are struggling to expand due to a lack of credit. The Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297) helps small businesses expand by creating a new $30 billion fund for small and medium-sized community banks. This fund is expected to leverage up to $300 billion in small business lending. The economic impact of this legislation would be significant. It will create up to 500,000 jobs and provide loan guarantees to approximately 8,000 community banks. H.R. 5297 provides $12 billion in tax breaks for small businesses, including write-offs on capital investments and credits for new hires. More importantly, his bill will not add a dime to the deficit because it is fully paid for by closing tax loopholes. Congressional Republicans repeatedly say they support small businesses while at the same time deliberately delaying and obstructing this legislation, which cuts taxes and expands access to credit for small businesses. When our economy is recovering and small businesses need access to credit, new American jobs should not fall victim to the gridlock caused by Republicans in Congress. There is no question in my mind that we will get America's economy back. Until credit is flowing and houses are selling, until customers are confident and job creation is back on track, I will continue to take actions that place our country on a sustained path of broad-based economic growth. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute today to one of Minnesota's outstanding community leaders and a longtime resident of my Congressional District, Marcia Avner. This month, Marcia Avner is transitioning from her position as Public Policy Director for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), a position she has held for the past 14 years, to Senior Fellow at MCN, where she will continue to do what she has done best for so many years; advising and training emerging nonprofit sector advocates at both the state and national levels. Marcia has distinguished herself in several realms. She is an incredibly effective and inspirational advocate and organizer, a teacher and promoter of the art of public advocacy, and a distinguished public servant at the local, state and federal levels of government. Her work includes advocacy and civic engagement training and education as well as lobbying on election reform, tax policy, and many other issues important to nonprofits and the people they serve. Marcia teaches with her husband, Wy Spano, at the Center on Advocacy and Political Leadership at the University of Minnesota--Duluth, where she is inspiring the next generation of great nonprofit leaders. She has traveled all over the country and abroad, to England, Poland and Hungary, to conduct national advocacy and organizing institutes and seminars for nonprofit centers, academic centers, and for Wellstone Action, a nonprofit dedicated to progressive social change. Marcia gives a presentation called ``Lobbying for the Truly Intimidated,'' in which she tells the story of her own first legislative experience, testifying on hearing aid reform as a parent of a hearing impaired son. She went to the wrong building with a dome: the Cathedral of Saint Paul instead of the State Capitol. It was a fitting recognition of Marcia's dual roles that in 2003 she was recognized as ``Teacher of the Year'' by Hamline University for her course on Public Policy and Nonprofits, and in the same year received ``Activist of the Year'' from the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action. Marcia has played a key role in developing the field of nonprofit advocacy, with numerous articles and two books: ``The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations: Shaping Public Policy at the State and Local Level'' (2002): and ``The Board Member's Guide to Lobbying and Advocacy'' (2004). Marcia's effectiveness in local, state and federal government relations is the result of her experience working as Communications Director for the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Deputy Mayor of St. Paul, Executive Director of The Minnesota Project, Assistant Commissioner of Energy for the State of Minnesota, and Legislative Director with the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG). Not everyone knows that Marcia served in several key roles for MCN before she became Director of Public Policy: as one of the original planners in 1986 at a retreat at Wilder Forest; one of the three incorporators when MCN filed with the Secretary of State, and as MCN's first Board Chair and convener of the first MCN Annual Conference in 1987. Marcia built MCN's public policy program and developed a national reputation for MCN in the areas of public policy and capacity building. Marcia is always generous with her time and her insights, meeting and speaking with small groups on nights and weekends as well as serving on numerous community and nonprofit boards. Her work includes serving on the board of directors of Lifetrack Resources, Inc., the Governor's Commission on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, Wellstone Action, the Wellstone Action Fund, and the Nonprofit Information Networking Association which publishes The Nonprofit Quarterly. Marcia has a BA from Carnegie Mellon University and an MA from the University of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, as we honor Marcia's service to the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, it is fitting to quote from the dedication of her book, ``The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations.'' As she quotes her grandmother, Marcia tells us something about why she has been and will continue to be such an effective advocate for nonprofit organizations in Minnesota and across the nation: ``This book is dedicated to nonprofits' achievements in shaping public policy--past, present, and future. Remember: `You Don't Ask, You Don't Get' Grandma Mania Zaludkowski.' ''

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I recognize the Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council on the occasion of 100 years of Scouting in Minnesota and nationally. Residents of Saint Paul are proud that the Northern Star Council has its headquarters located in Minnesota's Capital City. Since it was established in 1910, Boy Scouts of America have been dedicated to training young adults in the promotion of community service, outdoor education, and good citizenship. The Northern Star Council shares equally historic roots as the national organization. The council was originally organized as two councils. The St. Paul Council was organized on October 1, 1910. The movement was spearheaded by St. Paul businessman C.F. Proctor, who happened to be a friend of Sir Robert S.S. Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scout Movement in England. A group of businessmen meeting at the Minneapolis Commercial Club organized the Hennepin Council on October 15, 1910. Former President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid supporter of the fledgling Scouting movement and Honorary President of the National Council, spoke at the Council's first general meeting in 1911. Sir Robert Baden-Powell himself presented a lecture to the Twin Cities Scouting community at the Minneapolis Auditorium in early 1912. Over the next ninety years, both councils expanded. By 1960, the St. Paul Council had increased in size nine times, acquiring counties east of St. Paul, including four in western Wisconsin. In 1954, the council chose a new name to better reflect all of its membership: the Indianhead Council. During the same period, the Hennepin Council expanded westward to the North Dakota border and changed its name to the Viking Council. On July 1, 2005, the Viking and Indianhead Councils merged to form today's Northern Star Council, one of the largest in the country. The council includes a band of communities reaching from the North Dakota border on the west to the communities of Ellsworth and Roberts, Wisconsin, on the east. Boy Scouts of America is a group that has had a positive impact on generations of young people in Minnesota. I am pleased to honor the members and volunteers for their hard work and constant dedication to our community. Madam Speaker, please join me in rising to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America and the Northern Star Council.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res 1251, which recognizes and honors the United States troops who fought and died on D-day at the Battle of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, the Western Allies landed in Northern France and opened up a major military offensive against the Nazi German forces. After 5 years of worldwide warfare, the Normandy invasion proved to be a critical turning point in pushing the United States and its allied forces to victory. D-day remains one of the greatest beach landings in world history, involving nearly 3 million troops crossing the English Channel from England to Normandy in occupied France. The collective cost to the United States was terribly high, including more than 29,000 killed and 106,000 wounded and missing. As a Member of Congress and the daughter of a World War II veteran, I believe I have a duty to honor the men and women who courageously served our country and gave their lives at the Battle of Normandy. Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of visiting the Battle of Normandy Memorial Museum during a congressional delegation and was able to get an up-close look at the strength and resilience of the Americans who served in the United States armed forces during the invasion of Normandy. Our country owes all veterans of this conflict a great debt for their service.