Anne Northup

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 563, 564, and 565, I was unavoidably absent, due to a delay in my flight. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, despite the histrionics we have seen tonight, there is not one Member of Congress that would vote for a bill that would endanger the people in this country, not the seniors, not our children, and no one in between. The false arguments, the scare tactics, the unrelated examples should not surprise anybody because we hear them every day, and these tactics have worked in the past. But Americans know the truth. Over 1 million have imported drugs every single year into this country safely. They buy drugs that are manufactured and regulated on how they are distributed the same way we regulate them in the United States. In fact, they are the same plants, and they are the same distribution systems. Our unions and our businesses are telling us that drugs are costing them a fortune, and without relief our taxpayers are going to foot the bill for our seniors who are going to have to pay extraordinary prices for their drugs. Tonight is historic. We are going to, without the money, without the staff, and without the army of lobbyists take back the House and pass this bill to reduce the cost of drugs for our seniors.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, there is not one Member of Congress who would ever jeopardize the safety of their constituents. We all agree, no matter what the costs of prescription drugs are, safety is the first, most important thing, but the wildly exaggerated claims that this bill would jeopardize safety is typical of the type of rhetoric we have heard from pharmaceutical companies. The truth is, the Americans know the truth. Over one million Americans get their drugs right now from Canada and places around the world. They reimport. We see articles like the one on the front page of my paper that talks about how to get drugs from the Internet or from overseas, and the truth is, we know that our friends, our families, none of them have been harmed by this. Why is that? Because developed countries around the world share all the same production facilities, all the same license distribution facilities, all the same licensed pharmacies so that our drugs are as safe as any in the other developed countries. This may be the wrong rule. It is the toughest bill. It is the latest hour, but I have faith that Congress will do the right thing and pass this rule and this bill tonight.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman very much.

Mrs. NORTHUP. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Chairman, I want to enter into a colloquy with the chairman of the subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, UPS's primary hub is located in my district. The United Parcel Service, known as UPS around the world, employs 22,000 people in my district. It just completed a $1 billion expansion and is the largest taxpayer in the State of Kentucky. In 2001, UPS supported approximately 7.1 million packages from overseas and exported 11.4 million packages going overseas. A significant portion of this volume is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Considering the volume of products under their jurisdiction, it is only logical to designate Louisville, Kentucky, as the port of entry for international trade in Fish and Wildlife resources in the coming year. That designation only reflects the fact that in modern day Fish and Wildlife jurisdiction has to be not only at our ports but also at the primary designations at our airports. Mr. Chairman, I know that right now there is $700,000 in the budget that is for Atlanta; but I am eager to see that moved, as the Senate has done, to Louisville.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, earlier today on rollcall vote No. 370, I intended to vote ``nay.'' I would like the Record to reflect that I was opposed to the DeLauro motion to instruct conferees. I inadvertently cast a vote in favor of the motion and reiterate my opposition to this effort.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ford Motor Company's 100th anniversary. Throughout 2003, Ford Motor Company will celebrate 100 years of manufacturing automobiles. Ford's history is an integral part of America's rise to global economic prominence. I am very pleased that my hometown of Louisville, KY has played a key and long-standing role in that history. In 1913, Ford began manufacturing Model T's in a small shop on South Third Street in Louisville. As our nation grew and met new challenges, Ford's Louisville operation also expanded. In 1942, Ford's Louisville operation began production of 44,000 trucks for the U.S. Army. During the fifties and sixties, Ford's Louisville presence expanded significantly with the construction and operation of two major manufacturing facilities. These facilities continue to produce high- quality trucks and sport utility vehicles which remain in great demand by the American public. In September of 2002, the Louisville Assembly Plant reached a historic milestone by producing the 5 millionth Ford Explorer. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to recognize the hard work of Ford's 10,000 employees in Louisville. This hard-working team of professionals is a vital part of our community's economy. In addition to producing great products, they have set an example of generosity. In 2002, Ford Motor Company and its employees donated more than $2.5 million to Louisville community organizations. I am very pleased that the House of Representatives has honored Ford Motor Company with Passage of H. Res. 100--a resolution recognizing the company's 100th anniversary. As a supporter of this legislation, I applaud its passage and commend the House for honoring Ford's contribution to American life.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 195, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 70 I was unavoidably absent. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate UPS on its 95th anniversary. UPS is an example of what a good corporate citizen should be, a model other businesses in this country should follow. UPS is the largest employer in the state of Kentucky, and with over 23,000 employees in Louisville, UPS has created thousands of jobs in my district. UPS's investment in the economy of Louisville is shown through the recent completion of UPS Worldport, a $1.1 billion expansion project to the company's package-sorting hub. The project was the largest capital project in the UPS's history. The expansion alone created jobs for over 8,000 of my constituents. UPS Worldport contains conveyors and package- sorting mechanisms that stretch 102 miles in length. With over 4 million square feet under one roof--the facility is the size of more than 80 football fields, even larger than the Pentagon. Sorting 304,000 packages per hour, it is no wonder the UPS Worldport has been dubbed the ``Hub of the Future.'' In addition to UPS's economic impact on my district, UPS has made significant contributions to the Louisville community. UPS has set up its Metro College program in which the company pays for tuition and textbooks for students at area universities who are part-time employees with UPS. UPS has done so much to help my district that I am excited to honor the 95th anniversary of this remarkable company. Please rise with me and congratulate UPS on 95 years of service.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, it is instructive to note that sometimes it is important to stay focused and that when the House passes repeated resolutions, sometimes that helps us get focused and get a bill to the President's desk. I would point to the stimulus bill that finally, after the House passed a stimulus bill four times, actually got to the President's desk and helped keep Americans on the job and stimulate our economy. So today we are here to talk about staying focused on welfare reform and to advance it the next step. We all know that in 12 days the welfare reform authorization bill will run out, and families all around this country deserve to know what the program will be in the coming years if it affects their families, and States need to know that too for their budgets. The fact is in our country freedom and opportunity depend on being able to get on the first rung of the ladder and begin a climb up that rung of the ladder, out of poverty into independence. The only way that is possible is to have a job and to build your skills and build on that job and begin to grow into independence. Our welfare reform bill helps families do that. I want to mention the way that I think it is most important, and that is the increase in child care. As I move around my community and talk to families, talk to people that are part of the support system, talk to people that are running the day-care centers in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods, what I hear over and over is that more dollars are needed for child care. Many families and many moms, as they expand their work opportunities, need to know that their children are in a good, safe childcare facility. They need to have that reassurance that their children are well cared for and that they can afford the childcare. So we help families that are in this transition period going from dependence and government control of their life to independence, opportunity, having choices they have never had before, by making sure the resources they need to make that transition are there. I am thankful that the House has passed the bill, and I want to thank the committees for passing this resolution. It will help us stay focused and make sure that we get this to the President's desk.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, the Valley Sports American Little League Team from Louisville won not only the World Series in this country, but the International World Series. This is a group of 11-year-old youngsters that not only played terrific games all the way through the playoffs, but conducted themselves with such sportsmanship and were such gracious winners that they captured the hearts not only of people in Louisville, Kentucky, but people all across this country. They were totally unknown, went into the tournament with all the confidence and all the toughness that we would expect a group of 11- year-olds to have. They won the series in this country on Saturday night, and then won the International World Series on Sunday night. They had the wonderful opportunity of meeting the President of the United States when he was in Louisville last week, and have been greeted with applause all across our community and all across this country. I just rise to recognize them.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor a very brave young man from my district in Kentucky. Mr. Justin Wells is a hero in the truest sense of the word. While driving home from the hardware store, Justin and his father came upon a near fatal car accident. Taking the first aid kit from his father's trunk, Justin rushed to help the injured man, who was bleeding profusely and whose leg had been pinned down by the steering wheel of the car. Holding a compression bandage to the man's wounds while trying to keep the victim calm, Justin used the skills he had gained as both a Medical Trainer at St. Xavier High School and as a First Aid Instructor for Boy Scout Troop 380 to attend to the injuries. Justin was not deterred by the danger of the situation, or the possibility of an electric fire from the sparks emanating from the dashboard. Instead, he courageously tended to the injured man until the rescue squad arrived. It is my great honor to pay tribute to Justin Wells, and to thank him for his courage, resourcefulness, and desire to help those in need. Justin is a very special young man, and I hardily applaud his commitment to his fellow citizens, even in the face of danger. His actions show that one person can make a great difference. Again, I offer my congratulations to Justin for his courage and good will.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 154, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Part A Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Paul

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an important group of Kentuckians who continue to exhibit an incredible dedication to serving others. Nurses remain an integral part of our Kentucky community, as they are vital to our well-being and survival. The American Nurses Association and the Kentucky Nurses Association have declared May 6 to May 12, 2002 as Kentucky Nurses' week, and I encourage all Kentuckians to join with me in honoring the nursing profession. The men and women of the nursing profession proudly represent all races, religions and creeds in a variety of settings. Whether serving in a large hospital, a small doctor's office or in one of their many other capacities, nurses are committed to providing quality health care to all citizens. As the nation's largest group of health professionals, nurses are assuming an ever increasing responsibility and accountability for their community's health care needs. They have continued to demonstrate their professionalism by striving to upgrade care standards and improve their services. In fact, I'm sure we can all remember a time where a nurse's kind words, or gentle smile, provided comfort. With a wide variety of responsibilities, nurses are always prepared to offer the best possible health care to their patients. Nurses are there to help the sick get better and to make sure the healthy stay that way. Appropriately, the Kentucky theme this year is ``Unsung Heroes.'' I am proud to call attention to all of the nurses in our Kentucky community and hope you will join with me in celebrating the tireless efforts of our ``unsung heroes.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate a truly inspiring woman in my district, Ms. Sharon Darling. Ms. Darling has been honored as a 2001 recipient of the prestigious National Humanities Medal. Next month, Ms. Darling will receive her award in a personal presentation from President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. As a tireless advocate for education and literacy, Ms. Darling has worked hard to improve and reform the education system. While serving in many capacities throughout her career, she has always remained steadfast in her pursuit of this very noble goal. Ms. Darling pioneered a program that combines early childhood education, adult literacy education, parental support and structured interaction between parents and their children. Encouraged by positive results, Ms. Darling founded the National Center for Family Literacy in 1989. Since its inception, NCFL, which is located in Louisville, Kentucky, has been dedicated to family literacy. Their efforts are internationally recognized, and NCFL is well-known for creating innovative program models, developing effective advocacy strategies and providing research, training and technical assistance to professionals working within the field of family literacy. Ms. Darling and the NCFL realize the importance of education and literacy. Without the ability to access knowledge, people will not have the tools necessary to fight their way out of impoverishment, and to empower themselves. Ms. Darling serves as an advisor on education issues to governors, policy makers, business leaders and foundations across the nation. By providing advice and creative planning strategies, Ms. Darling works toward strengthening families through education, and moving them toward literacy and self-sufficiency; both essential steps in breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. She continues to have a lasting impact in helping to shape welfare reform, education reform and develop the skilled workforce of our nation. The National Humanities Medal will not be the first time Ms. Darling has received recognition for her efforts. In 2000, she received the Razor Walker Award from the University of North Carolina for her contributions to lives of children and youth. She also has been honored with the Women of Distinction Award from Birmingham Southern University in 1999; the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism from Johns Hopkins University in 1998; the Charles A. Dana Award for Pioneering Achievement in Education in 1996; and the Harold H. McGraw Award for Outstanding Educator in 1993. Several honorary doctorate degrees and a feature on the Arts & Entertainment television network's series, ``Biography'' further exemplify the impact Ms. Darling has had in regards to education and literacy. The National Humanities Medal, the Federal Government's highest honor recognizing achievement in the humanities, acknowledges individuals or groups whose work broadens citizens' engagement with and expands Americans' access to important resources in the humanities. By providing literary assistance to children and their parents, Ms. Darling's family literacy programs are helping reverse the disturbing trend of illiteracy in families, and improve the academic achievement of children. We all know that reading is critical to overall success in school--if a student cannot read the math problem, he cannot achieve in math--if he cannot read his science book, he cannot understand our changing world. Ms. Darling has striven toward the ideals personified by the National Humanities Medal, and her distinction is much deserved. I commend her on receiving this award, and thank her for the work she has done, and will continue to do.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 71, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the hard work and dedication of the Jefferson County Police Department as they received the 2001 ``Civil Rights Award for Racial Profiling'' from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Jefferson County Police Department has served as an outstanding example to our community and the rest of Kentucky as they have fought to make Louisville a safe and secure environment. With the help of new In-Car Video cameras, made possible by the generosity and confidence of this Congress, the police officers of Jefferson County have carried out their duties faithfully and reliably and have earned the international recognition they were awarded yesterday in Toronto, Ontario. While In-Car Video Cameras have truly enhanced the police work conducted in Jefferson County, cameras were only the first step. It has been the diligent work of Chief Carcara and his department that has improved overall cooperation between the police and the community. They have implemented a proactive program that has successfully sought to reduce civil rights violations while promoting public trust and confidence in policing. Their efforts have even been recognized by the local paper, the Louisville Courier-Journal, stating, ``The willingness of the Jefferson County police department to monitor itself for evidence of racial profiling is heartening . . .'' Now more than ever, it is important that we, as a Congress and as a nation, recognize and applaud the efforts of local police departments, such as that in Jefferson County, who work tirelessly every hour of every day to make our communities as safe as possible. As our nation strives to define a new ``normal'' and seeks ways to cope with the tragedies that have befallen us in the last two months, we must remember and commend those who choose to spend their lives protecting all Americans. They are the true heroes, and deserve our unbridled gratification. Thank you, Jefferson County Police Department, for all you do for our community. You have earned this award, as well as our trust and gratitude.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 981.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 410 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 408 I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to praise a pioneering medical event that took place in my district, Louisville, KY, on July 2, 2001. The horizons of medical possibilities were expanded when, at Jewish Hospital, a team of doctors led by Drs. Laman A. Gray, Jr., M.D. and Robert D. Dowling, M.D. successfully performed the world's first totally implantable artificial heart surgery. The doctors, supported by a team of fourteen nurses and staff, completed the procedure in seven hours. I am pleased to report that the recipient of the first ABIOMED heart, Robert Tools, is resting comfortably and improving steadily in his daily physical rehabilitation. Mr. Tools fit a precise profile that was required for the first recipient, and the opportunity to receive the heart was virtually his only chance of survival after years of struggling with heart disease. Three months after the surgery, we are joined by his doctors in being encouraged by his improving strength and mobility. Not only has this surgery changed the life of one man who was facing near certain death, but it has stretched the boundaries of medical possibilities for people around the world. This outstanding achievement would not have been possible without the teamwork and unyielding efforts of the doctors, researchers and medical professionals who have worked for over twenty years toward the goal of creating a totally implantable heart. In an alliance of the public and private sectors: Jewish Hospital, The University of Louisville and ABIOMED, Inc., came together to ensure that their goal was met. In doing so, they have created an opportunity for over 100,000 people in the United States alone to have access to a life-saving procedure that did not exist prior to this breakthrough. With the current shortage in the supply of organ donors, the creation of a totally implantable artificial heart is unmatched in its medical significance. I am so impressed with the bravery shown by everyone involved in this event--from the medical professionals to the patient and the patient's family. I would like to commend the team of doctors and researchers at Jewish Hospital, The University of Louisville, and ABIOMED, Inc, who worked tirelessly for so many years toward this goal. Furthermore, it is overwhelming to imagine the courage it must have taken for Mr. Tools and his family to become part of the team, and I thank them for their irreplaceable contribution. I am proud to report that just two weeks ago at Jewish Hospital, the second totally transplantable heart surgery was performed by Drs. Gray and Dowling. The doctors report that the patient, Tom Christerson, is tackling his recovery head-on. I am hopeful that success stories such as these will begin to be told at hospitals around the country. Through continued teamwork and support for medical research, I am confident that they will. As we move ever-forward in the field of heart medicine, I will always be grateful to the wonderful team in Louisville on whose shoulders the initial responsibility of stepping forward rested. Their efforts have created an unprecedented opportunity for hundreds of thousands of patients facing fatal heart disorders. For that I am truly thankful. I hope that the efforts of Drs. Dowling and Gray, Jewish Hospital, The University of Louisville, ABIOMED and their patients will inspire us to continue striving for such medical excellence.

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 281, I was inadvertently detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''. Announcement by the Chairman

Mrs. NORTHUP

Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I think it is important to recognize how we got here. We got here because we changed the way we measured the use of electricity and the use of power at the Vice President's residence. It turns out that the Navy has been subsidizing the Vice President's use of electricity for years, for years, all of the time with the previous administration. Mr. Chairman, we are trying to make sure that we address this fairly. I have to say that I believe that it would have been nice if the previous administration had had a strategy to address energy for everybody. We all wanted a strategy. They had no strategy, and now we do have a crisis. Many of our constituents are paying for it. I appreciate the gentleman that talked about our senior citizens on a fixed income and people of moderate income, and small businesses that are closing down. They all could have used a long-range energy strategy, and it failed to materialize with the last administration. That is why our constituents are suffering. I appreciate that the current Vice President has a strategy, that he is working hard to make sure that every American's bills come down. I appreciate that he is conserving energy and using less than the previous Vice President so that what he advocates in conservation he is also demonstrating by his own actions. But the fact is that we did not have an administration that addressed these causes. In fact, last year the Vice President moved out of his residence and reminded us every day that he had moved to Tennessee, while the American people continued to pay high energy costs on his residence at the Naval Observatory. So they got hit two ways. They had nobody that was addressing energy policy, and they were paying these energy costs. The fact is that we are trying to address this now. We have an energy policy. We know the Vice President needs the staff, he needs to be able to do his job. That is why the American people support the Vice President and the Office of the Vice President. We are glad that he has decided to stay in Washington and do his work instead of moving home like last year's Vice President did. As far as his own personal bills, he does have a residence in Wyoming where he came from, and he is paying the higher bills just like every other American is all over this country. He is paying the higher bills that he is incurring in the residence that he owns. But just like every other American that goes to work someplace else than the home they own, the business, and in this case the government, is covering those expenses. That is the way every other American is treated. We certainly never send a bill to our Armed Forces when they live in our barracks and our inadequate housing on our bases and tell them to pony up for more of the energy costs, and we should not do that for anybody else that has to be away from the home they own to go to work. He is here. He is using less energy. He is addressing himself to an energy policy for the first time that will bring all American's prices down. Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for the restraint you have shown, for the hard work in leadership to stop talking about a problem and put an action plan together, and to have the courage for doing that. And thank you for staying in Washington, D.C. despite energy bills and acrimony and what is in your best political future, and for staying here and doing the job. Announcement by the Chairman Pro Tempore