Candice Miller

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this failed health care bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, this week March Madness comes to college basketball teams as teams across America meet in the NCAA Tournament. And this week March Madness also comes to this House in the culmination of this health care debate. The American people have watched as this bill has lumbered forward for the past year, and they have been outraged by both the substance and the process. The American people want jobs, Madam Speaker, but this bill is funded with job-killing tax increases. Seniors need the protection of Medicare, but this bill cuts $500 billion from that vital program. We all want freedom, of course, but this bill includes an unconstitutional mandate requiring individuals to purchase government-approved health care or face taxes, fines, or even jail. The American people have been outraged at the vote buying epitomized by the Louisiana Purchase, the Cornhusker Kickback, and Gator Aid. And now the Democratic leadership is preparing to pass this bill without actually voting on it and deeming the bill passed through trickery. It is time to end Washington's version of March Madness and do what the American people are asking us to do, and that is to start over with a clean sheet of paper and look for real health care reform.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to honor and remember the life of Thomas A. Dickensheets. Sadly, at just the age of 55 years old, he unexpectedly died on Sunday, March 7th, 2010. I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family, friends and colleagues from the City of Croswell. I know this is an extremely difficult time as they mourn his passing, but hopefully they can find comfort and solace and eventually start the healing process. Tom was a loyal and dedicated employee for the City of Croswell. He served his community with great pride and enthusiasm while performing numerous functions in many different capacities. He worked for the Croswell Department of Public Works (DPW) for 25 years, serving as the Superintendent for 11 years as well as the City's Zoning Administrator and Cemetery Sexton. In addition, he achieved 34 years of service as a Volunteer Fireman and was the Chief for the past 22 years. His knowledge, expertise, and commitment to the safety and security of this community will be significantly missed. He dedicated his life to protecting property and saving lives. Instead of running away from a threat, Chief Dickensheets hurried to the firehouse to throw on his gear and race towards the emergency and danger that awaited him. That is an admirable characteristic that many would not choose to pursue on a daily basis and as a profession. There is no doubt his impeccable integrity has created a void throughout Sanilac County, the 10th Congressional District and the State of Michigan. He truly was an outstanding person. Chief Dickensheets' life demonstrates a consistent pattern of going above and beyond the required call of duty. He served his community through numerous roles such as the City of Croswell Emergency Management, Sanilac County 911 Committee Member, and President of the Sanilac County Firemen's Association, President of the Sanilac County Police Firemen Field Day Association, Regional Homeland Security Committee Member, and a Sanilac County Fire Training Committee Member. These are just some of the leadership roles Tom pursued during his tenure with the city. I cannot imagine how heart-breaking this time is for the family of Mr. Dickensheets and the City of Croswell. Tom was an inspirational leader and a wonderful man. He loved his family, community and country very much. He always strived to improve the world around him and the fire department he served so proudly. Without question, he will be severely missed but definitely not forgotten. In closing, it is an honor to have an opportunity to recognize his lifetime of achievements and offer my sincere gratitude and thanks for his service. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who knew Chief Dickensheets. May he rest in peace and receive eternal rest.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Wolcott Mill Metropark in Ray Township, Michigan. On December 8, 2009, Wolcott Mill was listed on the National Historic Places Register thanks to the hard work of volunteer Kathie Lucas of Armada and Supervising Interpreter Bill Thomas. Wolcott Mill Metropark is a 2,380 acre park which includes a 250 acre working farm, an 18 hole golf course, 10 miles of equestrian trails, and is the home of ``Camp Rotary,'' a camping area for organized youth groups. In 1847 the namesake mill was built and continued operating as a grain grinder until 1967. This machinery is still viewable and offers visitors an opportunity to see firsthand the importance of old mills and the antique farming equipment used. I am proud to have Wolcott Mill Metropark in my congressional district and I congratulate the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority on this historic occasion. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Wolcott Mill Metropark and congratulating them on this recognition.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 49 and rollcall No. 50, I was absent due to severe weather in Southeast Michigan which delayed my flight to Washington, DC. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' and ``yea.''

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud co- sponsor in strong support of H. Res. 944, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on religious minorities in Iraq. Freedom of religion is the beating heart of our American historical and political experience. After all, it was the search for a place to worship in liberty and dignity that led to the European settlement of this continent. Our American founding fathers placed paramount importance on the right to worship freely and securely, as clear from the first amendment to our Constitution, which enshrines the right to free exercise of religion. We are grateful to live in a country where it is safe to worship according to the dictates of one's conscience. We cherish these rights and privileges because we know that in many parts of the world-- including Iraq--not all religious minorities can worship as they wish. Historically, Iraq is one of the richest and most diverse religious mosaics in the world. Its Christian traditions can be traced back to the Christian apostles. Yet Iraq today is in a moment of crisis, for many of its smallest and most vulnerable religious minorities are threatened by the ugly forces of intolerance and intimidation in Iraq. In recent years, there has been an alarming surge in Iraq of physical and psychological violence against religious minorities, and we must do our part to encourage the emphatic rejection of such violence by the Iraqi state and society. While all Iraqis have suffered greatly in past years, the suffering has been most acutely felt by its religious minorities, including Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other Christians. Many hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians have already fled Iraq to escape religious turmoil, many of them settling in my own home state of Michigan. How this crisis is resolved will be an indicator of the future that awaits Iraq. Iraq's development into a sovereign, stable, and secure country is of immense strategic importance and political responsibility to the United States. The world should know that the United States stands with the Iraqi people and its elected government against the forces of radicalism and intolerance. H. Res. 944 advances Iraq's trajectory towards a future of diversity, pluralism, and freedom. It will help to internalize and institutionalize an environment where religious minorities are protected by the Iraqi government. Informed by our own American experience, we in this House are obliged to encourage Iraq to value the rights and privileges of its religious minorities. There is too much at stake for Iraq to fail them. And neither can we.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, when I first came to the Congress in 2003, one of my new colleagues Dale Kildee shared with me what he called the three C's of service, and I am sure he has shared it with many of our other colleagues as well. But those three C's are conscience, constituents, and caucus. First of all, of course, conscience. That comes first because, as we all know, Dale Kildee, our good friend, has a very deep and abiding faith in God, and he has never and will never take any action that he believes violates the tenets of his beliefs. Constituents, second, because those are the people that we are all here to represent. And Dale Kildee's constituents, as our colleague from Michigan has said, from Flint, Michigan, are probably some of the most hardworking and patriotic Americans in our entire great Nation. And caucus comes last in the three C's, because while we all certainly want to be loyal to our team, it is far more important that we are, first of all, loyal to our beliefs and to the people who send us here. Today Dale Kildee reaches an incredible milestone, 20,000 votes and a 99.9 percent voting record, because he understands that it is our primary responsibility to make sure that our constituents who we come here to represent are heard on the issues that we consider here in the people's House. Mr. Speaker, everyone in this Chamber is addressed as ``The Honorable,'' but I think it is most fitting that this title be given to our good friend Dale Kildee because he is first and foremost a very honorable man. I have never, ever heard a bad or negative comment about Dale Kildee in the time that I have been in this Chamber, and even before that when I was the Secretary of State in Michigan. All throughout our great State, people have always thought of him in those terms, as honorable. And I just want to be here today, Dale, to congratulate you sincerely. I am very proud to call you friend.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago, our Nation received a very vivid reminder that Islamic terrorists are still at war with our Nation and are bent on killing innocent American citizens. On Christmas Day, an Islamic extremist attempted to blow up Northwest Flight 253 as it was on its final approach from Amsterdam into Detroit Metro Airport with a sophisticated bomb that was smuggled onto the plane in his underwear. This terrorist had been radicalized by al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula and trained in camps in Yemen. Following his capture in Detroit, he was only questioned by FBI agents for a total of 50 minutes. Then, after that initial questioning, the bomber was sent to the University of Michigan Burn Center, which is probably the best medical care in the entire world, all at taxpayer expense. Then Attorney General Eric Holder had to decide how to proceed. Did Attorney General Holder and the Justice Department immediately share the information that they had gathered, the intelligence, with senior intelligence officials? No. Did Attorney General Holder declare this terrorist an enemy combatant and turn him over to the military for further questioning? No. Did Attorney General Holder have the FBI continue the questioning in order to obtain more actionable intelligence? No. So what did Attorney General Holder have the FBI do? He instructed them to give full Miranda rights to this terrorist, including the right to remain silent, and gave him not one, not two, but actually three taxpayer-funded attorneys. And guess what? After he lawyered up, he shut up. The Attorney General did this even though this terrorist had fresh, firsthand knowledge of al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula, even though he had previously given actionable intelligence. And now we have made it very difficult to obtain any further intelligence, intelligence that could have led to the disruption of other planned terrorist attacks or assistance in unwinding this terrorist network. And we need to ask the question, ``Why?'' I believe that Attorney General Holder has built a culture within the Justice Department that seems to put the rights of terrorists ahead of the safety of our Nation. Let us remember that prior to becoming the Attorney General, Eric Holder and his law firm represented many, many terrorists pro bono; that is, for free. These terrorists were held in the military justice system, and they argued for their transfer to the civilian justice system, wanting to give them full constitutional rights. As well, he has placed other attorneys who have also represented terrorists held by our government into high-ranking positions within the Justice Department. The Attorney General, Mr. Speaker, has not answered questions as to why senior intelligence officials were not consulted on how to proceed or why this terrorist was not treated as an enemy combatant. Mr. Speaker, it almost seems like Attorney General Holder has gone into the Witness Protection Program with regard to the Christmas Day bomber. If this Congress is to do its duty to provide appropriate oversight in the handling of these issues, Attorney General Holder must answer these questions. Unfortunately, the lack of his consulting with intelligence officials or senior national security officials is nothing new. Attorney General Holder did not consult with senior military or intelligence officials before deciding to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 conspirators in New York City. He did not consult with the police commissioner or the mayor about security concerns before making that decision. And now New York officials have finally come forward and objected to this trial being held just a few blocks away from Ground Zero because of their security concerns and, of course, the cost that is associated as well. The administration is now looking for new locations to hold this trial as well as budgeting $200 million for the first year alone to cover security costs. So this decision not only makes us less secure and gives a terrorist a platform from which to spew their hateful, anti-American rhetoric, it will cost the United States taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, all to extend a pre-9/11 mindset that views terrorism as a criminal offense instead of illegal acts of war. Mr. Speaker, I would respectfully offer some advice to President Obama and Attorney General Holder: Hand over the Christmas Day bomber to the military and intelligence officials and allow for an appropriate interrogation that will yield additional intelligence that will protect America, and keep Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other terrorists slated for civilian trials in New York City or wherever they end up at, keep them at Gitmo and try them before military commissions. Just over a year ago, they were prepared to plead guilty before military commissions, before Eric Holder made the decision to give them special rights. We could have executed one of them by now. I sincerely hope that the President and his Attorney General rethink their current approach which, I believe, Mr. Speaker, is very dangerous for America.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the members of Wheelin' Team 457, based in North Branch, Michigan. Wheelin' Team 457 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2003 by current President Ray K. Brown. The primary mission of the group is to assist the physically challenged with outdoor and indoor sports and other recreational activities. The team also engages in an extraordinary community relations campaign to educate the public on disability issues. In addition to providing a wonderful service to the State of Michigan and the country, Wheelin' Team 457 has been very successful in competitive wheelchair sports. The team is undefeated and has posted a remarkable overall record of 13 wins and zero losses. I think it is fair to say that no matter the sport it is extremely difficult to maintain perfection over an extended time period. This accomplishment, and the increased popularity of Wheelin' Team 457, has allowed members to expand beyond the sports world and assist people with other activities like fishing, hunting, billiards and archery just to name a few. I want to congratulate Wheelin' Team 457 on reaching this notable achievement and applaud you all for your hard work and dedication to be the best. Furthermore, I want to commend team for the work they do to help citizens with physical challenges to get their lives ``moving'' once again. As human beings, we sometimes can fall victim to our own self- sorrow. But Wheelin' Team 457 has made it a priority to help those living with physical disabilities stay motivated. I know this is a constant and a tremendous challenge, but I believe the members of Wheelin' Team 457 are ready to face any obstacle head-on, fulfilling their mission each and every day! I offer Wheelin' Team 457 my best wishes for 2010! As the Team states on its Web site, ``When it comes to adapting, we have many ways to make the task of participation a reality. There is nothing more rewarding than to see someone take part in an activity that they thought was out of their ability.'' I echo these words and I urge Wheelin' Team 457 to continue to roll on!

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, prior to my service in this body I had the honor for eight years to serve as Michigan's Secretary of State. In that role I also served as Michigan's chief elections officer. I am always awed by elections where the people of this nation choose those who they wish to have serve them in government. Everyone of us who serves in this House is here because of the will of the people. The people's collective voice must always be honored and respected. Yesterday we saw another example of the voice of the people when the voters of Massachusetts went to the polls in large numbers to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Ted Kennedy. The result of that election is clear. The people of Massachusetts have chosen Senator Scott Brown to be their voice. There is no doubt of the outcome, there is no contest to the election and his opponents have conceded. When Senator Kennedy was elected in 1962 to fill the unexpired term of his brother President Kennedy, he was seated the very next day, because the people had clearly chosen him to do so. Senator Brown and the people of Massachusetts deserve the same consideration. With all of the important issues facing this nation it is vital that the people's duly elected representatives are able to exercise their important duties. I respectfully urge the other body to seat Senator Brown immediately so that the people of Massachusetts can be heard through their elected Senator.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 981, supporting continued political and economic development in Ukraine. It has been 18 years since Ukraine joined the family of free and independent nations, much of that due to the commitment shown by the people of Ukrainian heritage living throughout the world including those in Southeast Michigan. And today, Ukraine is a great friend and ally of the United States and a model for nations who made the transformation from tyranny to freedom. They have been stalwart partners in the War on Terror--sending troops to support International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and Iraq. The U.S.-based human rights watchdog Freedom House designated Ukraine as a free country for the fourth consecutive year in its 2010 Freedom in the World survey. It is all the more encouraging because according to Freedom House, 2009 marked the fourth consecutive year in which global freedom suffered a decline. It is time that we gave the people of Ukraine the recognition they deserve for their exemplary economic progress and continued democratic ambitions, especially as their presidential elections approach next week. The Ukrainian people bravely demonstrated their desire for a free, democratic, and prosperous country through nonviolent protest during the 2004 Orange Revolution and this year's election is a testament to the enduring strength of the Ukrainian democracy. It is my sincere hope that the elections are conducted in a fair, free and transparent manner. The Ukrainian population in Southeast Michigan is one of the largest--if not the largest, in the nation. These Ukrainian Americans are great citizens and great Patriots, and for years Ukrainians fought against Soviet oppression on behalf of freedom, so it is my honor to serve the 10th Congressional District and the Ukrainian-Americans who live there; and this Nation is proud to call Ukraine and her people friends and allies. A strong, sovereign, independent, democratic, and economically prosperous Ukraine is important to the interests of the United States and to achieving peace, prosperity and stability in Europe, so I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2194--Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on any entity that provides Iran with refined petroleum resources, or engages in activity that could contribute to Iran's ability to import such resources. Because Iran lacks sufficient domestic petroleum refining capability, a restriction of gasoline deliveries to Iran will become a painful sanction designed to bring Iran's leaders into compliance with their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The government of Iran must verifiably suspend, and dismantle its weapons-applicable nuclear program and stop all uranium enrichment activities. There can be no doubt that Iran poses a significant threat to the United States and our allies in the Middle East and elsewhere. Iran is proceeding with an aggressive nuclear weapons program, despite its claim that the Iranian nuclear program is for peaceful uses. Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and ending its support for international terrorism are vital United States national security interests. We know that Iran has engaged in stonewalling, deception and deceit when it comes to its nuclear program. Several weeks ago, a secret uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom was revealed--a facility the Iranians failed to disclose to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Yesterday, British intelligence revealed that it has discovered documents which indicate that Iran has been testing nuclear bomb triggers since at least 2007. This Administration is engaged in some wishful thinking if they believe that the threat posed by Iran's nuclear weapons program can be negotiated away through engagement and concessions. Mohammad El-Baradei, the former head of the IAEA said, ``Investigations into military aspects of Iran's nuclear program had reached a ``dead end.'' We have tried negotiations and inspections to convince the Iranian regime to end its weapons program and we are getting no results. So, the time has come to take decisive, concrete action and nothing less than overwhelming and crippling sanctions will compel Iran to end the pursuit of nuclear weapons. This bill provides a powerful stick to force the Iranians to end its illicit nuclear weapons program. I urge my colleges to support this bill.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to acknowledge the recent grand opening celebration of the new Harrison Township Public Library (HTPL) which was held on October 24th, 2009. I had the privilege to attend this special occasion along with other public officials, library staff and community leaders. The HTPL truly is a remarkable story and is a shining example of what can occur when people come together to accomplish a common goal. The HTPL is an all-volunteer library and operates on a budget from the sales of used books and other promotional items and also the collection of private donations. Not a single dollar of tax-payer money was used to open the new facility. It took the will power of very dedicated individuals who worked as a team to ensure Harrison Township would no longer be the only municipality in Macomb County without a library. However, the road to complete this project was anything but easy to navigate. The economic challenges were extremely difficult to overcome, and there were many road blocks along the way. At times it appeared that the dream was all but lost. In fact, many would have given up on this project. But the community volunteers would not let this dream fade away, and instead rolled up their sleeves and went back to the drawing board to get the job done. Only through hard work and determination was Harrison Township finally able to open the doors on its new library. Numerous organizations and people helped make this dream come true: The Township offered the space to house the library; Macomb County donated materials and books to stock shelves; partners from the private sector and academia provided other key resources to furnish the library with proper information technology. I certainly want to commend the numerous library volunteers for all the hours they contributed and the personal sacrifices they made to assist with this effort. I too was more than happy to lend a helping hand by donating books obtained through the Library of Congress' Surplus Book Program. Now I am pleased to say that the residents of Harrison Township have their own library! Senior citizens now have a place to read the newspaper or check out a book. Students now have a quiet place to do research, finish their homework or use the Internet. There is even a children's section that has games, toys and books for families to utilize to help their children learn. I would like to name for the record the key volunteers who made this dream a reality, for without them, this project would have never come to fruition: Marge Swiatkowski, the Director of Library Volunteer Committee, and her husband Jack; we need to also recognize Joyce Bane, John and Carolyn Bicsak, Jim and Mary Lou Bilen, Gale Brady, Tracy Champine, Natalie Cruz, Donna Dertinger, Phil and Marsh Devergillo, Julie Dries, Bobbi Gust, Ann Marie Hergott, Toni Hindman, Kathy Hunt, Jane Jones, Althea Lanuzza, Mary LaPlante, Joan Lavey, Katie LeBlanc, Madaline Mannino, Diane Marvaso, Jean McKay, Kathy McRae, Ellen McKee, Jo Mitchell, Nancy Motring, Mary Oberliesin, Beverly Ortman, Joan Schmidt, Sandy Schwab, Marty Shadel, Stephanie Simon, Thomas Sycko, Chris Hearns, Nancy Trompics, Mary Mahoney, Sheri Mathison, Jane Roda and Dee Turowski. I applaud each of you for your tireless efforts! Your display of leadership and teamwork are something to be emulated throughout the community.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the hard work, determination and teamwork displayed by the 2009 North Branch Varsity Girls Volleyball Team. These young women endured a grueling 83 match season and in the end came out on top as the Class B Michigan State Champions! They collected an impressive overall record of 76-5-2. This was a historic accomplishment because it was the first sports title ever in the school's history. Coach Jim Fish did a tremendous job leading the team and bringing them together as a cohesive unit to accomplish a common goal--winning a state title. I commend all the assistant coaches, support staff, teachers, parents and fans in the community for their help and making this a season to remember. However, the road to the state finals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek was anything but a walk in the park. Despite graduating eight players from the 2008 squad, the Lady Broncos rolled through the regular season winning the Tri-Valley East Conference Title. Nonetheless, the Lady Broncos did hit a slight speed bump when they fell to Bloomfield Hills Marian. But in all fairness, I must state that Bloomfield did go on to win the Class A State Title. Now some teams might have taken this defeat as a negative experience, but not the Lady Broncos. They learned from this loss and rebounded to attain a number one ranking for most of the season. North Branch realized the conference championship brought them just a step closer to their ultimate goal so the team once again pulled up their sleeves, laced up their shoes and got back to work. The Lady Broncos continued their memorable quest as they picked additional trophies for the school's display case winning the district title and regional title and an eventual spot in the state quarterfinals. Here the team faced-off against a feisty Cadillac Team. The Lady Broncos proved their tenacity and resilience as they beat Cadillac in four hard fought sets. Next North Branch was matched up against Delton Kellogg. But unfortunately for Kellogg, it just was not in the cards for them to win on this Saturday because destiny was on the side of the Lady Broncos. There was nothing Kellogg could do on the court to prevent North Branch from raising the championship trophy in glorious triumph. The Lady Broncos were determined to finish what they had started since the first practice of the season. And through all the sweat, injuries and difficult training sessions, the Lady Broncos saw their dreams come to fruition as they were crowned the Michigan Volleyball Class B State Champs! Teamwork, dedication and friendship all helped deliver this first- ever championship in the schools sports history. The entire North Branch community and Lapeer County should take pride in what these young women accomplished. I certainly share that pride and want to offer my congratulations to everyone who contributed to this team effort. First starting with the co-captains Kara Stuewer and Jordan Fish and team members--Katie Smillie, Danika Racknor, Taylor Wiegele, Layne Molosky, Samantha Garza, Hailey Smillie, Catherine Brusie, Laura Johnson, Macaela Deshetsky, Shanel Johnstone, Katie Owens, Stephanie Marsh, and Angela Root. You all should be extremely proud of this achievement. In addition, I must mention that not only were these young women champions on the court but in the classroom as well. The volleyball team compiled an outstanding 3.49 GPA and achieved an all-state academic recognition. My hat also goes off to Head Coach Jim Fish--Assistant Coaches Curt June, Chris Schlaud, Marian Somerville, and Sue Fish--Athletic Trainers Mike Kohler and Brian Curtis and Team Managers Jacqueline Ken and Ali Ruhlman. Great job North Branch on a successful season and I look forward to a repeat in 2010! Go Broncos!

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, this House passed what is known as cap-and-trade legislation which would place limits on the amount of CO2 that could be emitted into the atmosphere. And the reason given for the need for this legislation is that man-caused global warming poses a very grave threat to the future of our planet. We have been told that the debate is over, that the science is incontrovertible. We've been told that this action must be taken to save our world, even though it would threaten our economy and cause redistribution of wealth from our Nation to others and would lead to massive job losses and outsourcing from the United States to other nations. Particularly hard hit would be industry, agriculture, and States that rely upon coal for electricity production. Mr. Speaker, I voted against cap-and-trade because I wasn't convinced of the problem and because the solution to the perceived problem would cause further economic devastation to my constituents. I am from Michigan, where we currently have the highest unemployment in the United States. We also derive two-thirds of our electricity from coal, and our number one industry is industrial manufacturing, and our number two industry is agriculture. If cap-and-trade were to pass, Michigan's economy would be devastated, but we were told that it had to happen because the alternative is worse. Well, Mr. Speaker, a few weeks back, a series of emails from within the world's foremost climate change research facility, the Hadley Climate Research Unit at Britain's University of East Anglia, were either hacked or they were leaked by a disillusioned insider, which has blown away the scientific foundation for the manmade global warming theory. It's being called Climategate. Mr. Speaker, these troubling emails show that some of the most respected and quoted and public scientists used tricks to manipulate data, refused to release the data that is the foundation for their research, and they've attempted to silence any critics of their hypothesis and even expressed dismay that they could not explain recent cooling taking place across the globe. And these scientists seemed to have allies cooperating with them, including some here in the United States. It has become very clear that the science is, in fact, not settled, that the debate is very much alive, and that the tactics and methods used by the most trusted scientists have, in fact, very serious problems. One email said this, which suggests a manipulation of data: ``I've just completed Mike's trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years and for 1961 for Keith's to hide the decline.'' Hide the decline? An inconvenient truth that temperatures were declining required a trick to hide it. And then another email expresses frustration that temperatures are actually going down: ``The fact is that we can't account for the lack of warming at the moment, and it is a travesty that we can't.'' Mr. Speaker, another email exposes the attempts to silence dissent: ``I think we need to stop considering `Climate Research' as a legitimate peer-reviewed journal. Perhaps we should encourage our colleagues in the climate research community to no longer submit to or cite papers in this journal.'' Well, that is absolutely wonderful. Call those who disagree with their hypotheses cranks because they have not been published in peer- reviewed journals, and then when they were, to discredit the journal. In other words, Mr. Speaker, the fix is in. And most troubling of all is the destruction of raw source data that could be used to verify their work. The leader of the CRU for years refused to release source data, and now they claim the data was ``lost.'' It sounds to me like the old elementary school excuse, ``The dog ate my homework.'' That excuse didn't work for third graders and it certainly is unacceptable from scientists who are asking us to upend our economy. And even worse, emails exist that suggest that the data wasn't lost but instructs scientists to destroy data which was subject to Britain's freedom of information laws. And that is not just bad science; that is a criminal act. And now we're being asked to radically restructure our economy based largely on the research of these scientists. Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to hold hearings into this matter. We need to investigate these very troubling revelations. If we are to make policy that will so profoundly impact our Nation, that policy must be made on facts, not on articles of faith or manipulated data.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, during the past year, the Democratic majority has passed so many bills that have done absolutely nothing to help our economy. Instead, they've raised taxes, they've exploded the deficit, and they actually have killed off jobs. Then, yesterday, the national unemployment rate went up past 10 percent-- actually, to 10.2 percent, with no end in sight. So it is incredible that today this House may pass a job-killing, tax-hiking, deficit-exploding government takeover of our health care. And one of the most disingenuous things that has been said is that if you like your current health care, that you can keep it. Well, not so fast. In my county, Macomb County, Michigan, the Chamber of Commerce just did a survey of all of their members. They asked them that if, rather than continuing to provide good health care plans for their employees, they would instead take the 8 percent penalty that is included in this bill, and guess what? No surprise. The overwhelming majority said they would of course dump their employees out into the public plan. Mr. Speaker, we are going to have a complete government takeover of our health care system faster than you can say, ``This is making me sick.'' Vote ``no.''

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this job-killing, deficit-exploding government takeover of our health care system.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 867, which calls on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, commonly referred to as the Goldstone Report. President of the Human Rights Council established the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict with the mandate ``to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed during military operations that were conducted in the Gaza Strip.'' The report accused Israel of ``war crimes'' and ``crimes against humanity'', while downplaying evidence of Hamas' real war crimes and largely dismissing Israel's extraordinary efforts to minimize civilian casualties. In a turbulent part of the world, we can count on the friendship of Israel because we share the important values of freedom of religion, speech and thought--values that aren't universally shared across the Middle East. And yet when Israel responds to defend itself, it is singled out unfairly at the United Nations and elsewhere for special condemnation and criticism. It is our responsibility, as a friend and ally to Israel, to stand up for their rights and denounce those that unreasonably target Israel for reproach. While Israel is not perfect, we must be ever watchful and steadfast because there is an unfortunate double standard. Israel showed extraordinary restraint in response to terrorism and daily rocket attacks emanating from fanatical Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, and yet until Israel responded militarily, the UN and the world looked away. I can think of no country in the world that would have shown such restraint in the face of direct attacks on their civilians. Hamas launched 7,000 rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli cities between the pullout from Gaza in 2005 and 2009--Hamas' military doctrine makes no distinction between non-combatants and military targets. During the ground fighting in Gaza, Hamas used mosques, schools and hospitals as military sites and employed civilians as human shields-- clear violations of the law of war. Unintentional civilian deaths Israel caused during the Gaza conflict are condemned as war crimes; the intentional Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians are swept under the rug. There can be no moral equivalency made between Hamas and Israel, and this report's biased conclusion makes it clear, once again, that the United Nations Human Rights Council is a farce.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I come from Macomb County, Michigan. That county is also known as the home of the Reagan Democrats. It is certainly a proud heartland not only of Michigan but the heartland of America, I think. And as a mother and as a grandmother, I am incredibly concerned about the enormous amount of debt that this administration, through a number of bills and now especially this health care bill, is placing on future generations. One of the most disingenuous claims that have been made over and over again, Mr. Speaker, is if you like your current health care plan, you can keep it. Well, here's a headline in my local paper just the other day: ``Employers Ready to Dump Health Care.'' ``Under the House bill, paying an 8 percent penalty is cheaper than providing coverage.'' This was a survey that was done by our Macomb County Chamber of Commerce, and what they found is that an overwhelming majority of local companies stated they would drop their existing employee insurance coverage or avoid offering future health care benefits if this bill that the House is considering today passes. This bill is a very cruel hoax. That is the reality. A business decision that is going to be made will dump these people out on the public plan.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 729, to designate a National Firefighters Memorial Day to honor the courage, bravery, service and sacrifice of the Firefighters of the United States. Firefighters are the backbone of our communities. Of the 1,000,000 firefighters in America, 71 percent are volunteer firefighters. They are often the first to respond to an emergency, whether the emergency is a fire, transportation accident, natural disaster, act of terrorism, medical emergency, or spill of hazardous materials. These great men and women respond to nearly 2 million calls each year without hesitation. They have an unwavering dedication to protecting those that are in distress. First responders are often under-appreciated and taken for granted until crisis strikes and the public reaches out for help and rescue. Against all common sense and natural instinct, firefighters rush to the scene of an emergency and into harm's way without the slightest hesitation. While our natural instinct is to run away from the fire-- our fire fighters are running in. Without the promise of any fame, fortune, or so much as a simple ``thank-you'', firefighters remain constantly vigilant and ready to serve. On that horrendous September day in 2001, we lost 343 firefighters in the line of duty. In responding to approximately 1.6 million fires set each year, we see our firefighters rushing to the scene saving countless lives and sometimes giving theirs in return. I know sometimes younger people idolize professional athletes and cheer for their favorite sports teams. And the same could be said for some adults too. But if you really want to see true teamwork search no further than your local fire station. It is here where men and women work together and count on each other to protect lives. Their service demonstrates courage, camaraderie, and bravery. It is time that we honor those men and women who have given their lives and those that were disabled in the line of duty. I urge the President to designate a day as National Firefighters Memorial Day and I urge my colleagues to support this very important legislation.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chair, this amendment makes a simple technical correction to the Capital Backstop Program, which we were just talking about. In short, this underlying bill wisely puts restrictions on when this program can and cannot operate. The bill states two things: First of all, that the National Bureau of Economic Research, the NBER, must have declared the United States to be officially in recession. Second, the SBA loan guarantee volume must be down 30 percent from the previous year. And if these two criteria are not met, then the program is shut down. As you know, the Federal Reserve recently stated that the recession is already likely over. The NBER is sure to follow suit soon. As well, because SBA loan volume is already down so substantially, the likelihood of another full 30 percent drop next year is very low. This amendment simply says that the program being created in this bill is authorized to begin operation immediately upon enactment and is authorized to continue through September 2011, even if the recession has been declared technically over. I would note personally, being from Michigan, whatever they are saying in the Nation, the recession is definitely not over in the State of Michigan. However, our concern, Madam Chair, is that if Congress is going to take the extraordinary step of authorizing the SBA to make loans directly to small businesses, then it ought to be making these loans now, when they are needed the most. After 2011, the restrictions that are in the underlying bill will resume. Frankly, Madam Chair, at that time we certainly hope that even stronger restrictions are in place. Many of our colleagues are skeptical of having the SBA make loans directly to small businesses. Nevertheless, taxpayers have spent nearly $2 trillion trying to fix this situation. It hasn't worked. If we are going to take the step of creating this program, let us at least make sure that it is helping our constituents and the taxpayers and small businesses now, when they truly need it most. Madam Chair, I urge the adoption of this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) and I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Chair, I rise as the designee of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) and I have an amendment at the desk.