Betsy Markey

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Windsor High School Marching Band for being selected to march in President Barack Obama's inauguration parade. In May of 2008, a mile wide tornado cut a 35 mile path through northern Colorado. The tornado resulted in one death and displaced hundreds of residents in the Windsor community. It would be easy to focus on the tragedy of the Windsor tornado when acknowledging the successes of the Windsor High School Marching Band, but to do so would overlook the extraordinary achievements of the band under any circumstance. In 2008, the WHS Marching Band won division first place in three different regional competitions, as well as ``High Musical Performance,'' ``High General Effect,'' and the 2008 Colorado Bandmasters Association Class 3A ``State Marching Band Championship.'' For President Barack Obama's inaugural parade, the WHS Marching Band performed an original composition by Frank Sullivan entitled ``The Four Freedoms.'' This piece is a musical interpretation of President Franklin Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union Address to the United States Congress. In the ``Four Freedoms'' address, FDR made the case for American assistance in World War II by enumerating the four universal freedoms worth fighting for: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Want, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom of Fear. The state of Colorado and I were privileged to be represented by the Windsor High School Marching Band at the historic inauguration of our 44th president, and I congratulate them on their much deserved success.

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado

Ms. MARKEY of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, the reauthorization of SCHIP. When our Nation faces tough economic times, we must look beyond the grim statistics to see the true cost of our struggles. Seven percent of this Nation is unemployed, which leaves too many families without health insurance. 170,000 children in Colorado alone have no health coverage. That's more than one in eight. How we as a Nation approach health care for our children speaks not just to our economic priorities but to our moral priorities. Colorado ranks seventh worst nationally in the rate of uninsured children. As the mother of three kids who knows the worry and heartache that comes with caring late into the night for a sick child, that is one statistic I hope I have a hand in changing. I as all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pledge their support for our children and vote for this bill.