Frank Pallone

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 934, legislation which supports the goals and ideals of Plan Ahead with an Advance Directive Week. Advance directives are an integral part of any care delivery plan. Simply put, advance directives are statements by competent persons which articulate that person's medical, legal and personal wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of future incapacity. When advance directives are available, medical professionals, families and loved ones are best able to make critical care decisions should a patient become unable to make sound judgments about their health care. This resolution encourages those 18 years of age and older to prepare advanced directives. It also encourages medical, civic, educational, religious, and other nonprofit education to promote advance directive preparation, particularly amongst their constituencies. Many organizations are already leading the effort to provide guidance for patients on advance directive preparation, including the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. H. Res. 934 enjoys the support of the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care, a coalition of leading U.S.-based palliative care organizations dedicated to address the needs of health care professionals who care for patients with advanced, chronic or life- threatening illnesses, as well as the needs of patients' families. I would like to thank Representative Gingrey for bringing this resolution before us today, and I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would also urge support of the bill.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would urge support of the bill again, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), who was a key sponsor of this bill.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 864, the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, the STOP Act. The STOP Act is being reintroduced today with technical changes to further clarify the intent of this important legislation. When originally brought to the House floor on November 14 of this year, H.R. 864 passed by a vote of 373-23. Underage drinking is a major public health concern in communities throughout our Nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that annually there are over 142,000 emergency room visits by youth, ages 12 to 20, for unintentional injuries and other health-related concerns caused by alcohol consumption. H.R. 864 is a great start in moving our Nation toward the goal of decreasing youth access to, and consumption of, alcohol. This bill authorizes coalitions on the issue of underage drinking, funds national media campaigns about the dangers of underage drinking, and creates grant programs for preventing and reducing alcohol abuse in institutions of higher education and surrounding communities. The STOP Act has the endorsement of key public health advocates, as well as the alcohol beverage industry. Both endorse this legislation on the basis that it recognizes that a multifaceted national effort is key to making progress in curbing underage alcohol consumption. The issue of underage drinking deserves our immediate consideration and support. So I urge my colleagues to support this bill for a second time. But I particularly want to thank Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and the other lead sponsors of this bill, and I know she is here to speak. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Share and Care Foundation for their charitable work in India. Their annual gala was recently held at the New Jersey Performing Art Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, November 4th. I was pleased to attend that evening. This event marked the kickoff of their forthcoming Silver Jubilee of helping the challenged, especially women and children, in the fields of education, improving healthcare and social uplifting. They have also worked in emergency situations like earthquakes, floods, the tsunami, and September 11, etc. The majority of their work is carried out by volunteers who are professionals or entrepreneurs. Mr. Speaker, I would like to specially commend Dr. Ketki Shah who has been closely involved with the Share and Care Foundation. Dr. Shah, a Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, is an experienced Psychiatrist with specializations in Psychopharmacology and Addiction Psychiatry. She is a low keyed humanitarian with the sole purpose of helping people who need help. She attended a global women's conference in Geneva to promote peace in the world. Her work including field visits during emergencies like earthquakes and the 2004 tsunami are remarkable. Her work as a chairperson of the medical committee is directly correlated with over ten million dollars of medical equipment and medical supplies that have been sent to India. This has generated tremendous benefit, especially for the people who are challenged and need our attention. She has demonstrated that excess and unuseful resources of one society can be diverted for the betterment of another society. Dr. Ketki Shah's selfless work has earned the goodwill of many, especially those who are also involved in humanitarian work. This year, humanitarian Shabana Azmi and her husband Javed Akhtar appeared on stage in a riveting performance that highlighted the career of Shabana's father, a renowned poet and a freedom fighter. Shabana Azmi, leading star of Indian Cinema, is an outstanding social activist, a passionate advocate of human rights, and a prominent humanitarian. Her work in each of the areas has been exceptional and has earned her a long list of awards, recognitions and medals including Padma Shri, one of the prestigious recognitions in India. She was one of the sixteen women to whom tributes were paid by President Mitterrand of France in 1989 on Bicentenary celebrations of International Human Rights. In 1993, she was invited to Cape Town to present ``The News maker of the year award'' to President Nelson Mandela. She has been appointed the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on Population and Development. She was selected to Rajya Sabha by the President of India. On October 26, 2006, she was the first Indian to receive a prestigious Gandhi Peace award presented at the House of Commons, London. Previous recipients of this award include Nobel Laureates: Honorable Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She had lead march of 4 days for communal harmony from Delhi to Meerut. Her heart goes to the economically challenged for whom she undertook a 5 day hunger strike and as a Chairman of Nivara Hakk, she has managed to get alternative land for slum dwellers. Her struggle for the poor in India has now resulted in the construction of 30,000 homes under a tripartite agreement among charities, a private builder and the Maharashtra government. She has also addressed several Universities in the USA, such as Harvard, Columbia, Berkeley, and MIT, for the need to relate communal harmony to issues of social justices. Shabana thrived and expanded the project ``Mijwan Welfare Society'' started by her father in Mijwan, a small ``challenged village'' in Uttar Pradesh, India where emphasis is placed on education and empowerment of women. We are extremely pleased to join hands with Shabana in this project to make a difference in one of the poorest regions with a very high infant mortality rate and birth rates, low female literacy and near absence of health and sanitation facilities. They have started 2 computer training schools, training center and ``Sewa''; embroidery projects for women. Shabana's accomplishments are countless and extremely commendable, however, her dedication to humanity is what makes her a special individual. Mr. Speaker, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar and Dr. Ketki Shah are all very special individuals who have made a remarkable difference in the global community. Together they have realized the benefits of volunteerism and self-help.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a most deserving business and community leader, Mr. Kevork S. Hovnanian. On Saturday, November 18, 2006, Kevork was honored as the Honorary Life Chairman and founder of the Fund for Armenian Relief at the New York Public Library. Kevork has been a benefactor in his community for decades. His business successes have always been interposed by examples of community leadership in both the United States and Armenia. He has exemplified the pursuit of business consciousness and never compromised his commitment to providing ``homes'' and not just housing. Kevork will leave a personal legacy marked by numerous accomplishments. In the 1980s, he partnered with the city of Newark to rejuvenate the areas impacted by the riots some thirteen years before. In 1996, the New Jersey Institute of Technology awarded him a President's Medal for ``Distinguished Achievement to an Outstanding Entrepreneur.'' Not three years later, his carer ethic earned him a place among other greats like Thomas Edison and George Gallup on the list of ``Twenty Five Top New Jersey Business Leaders of the Century.'' The achievements he has earned since his immigration to the United States have not made him forget his roots. Kevork has loyally contributed to the Armenian people in times of celebration and need. The Diocese of the Armenia Church and the New Jersey Council of Christians and Jews both named him Man of the Year in recognition of his aid to earthquake victims in Armenia. He currently serves as the chairman of the Armenian Church Endowment Fund and Fund for Armenian Relief, which works for international development. This organization pledges to provide short and long-term plans for the economic and social development in Armenia. It is responsible for a variety of programs, ranging from soup kitchens to educational scholarships and implementing agricultural technology. There is a special focus on preparing Armenian youth as the future of their nation. As much as he is an active part of the Armenian community, Kevork remains vigilant in providing available health services to children and families in the local community. In 2002, Mr. Hovnanian helped establish the K. Hovnanian Pavilion and the Alton A. Hovnanian Emergency Care Center at Riverview Medical Center. The expansion of Riverview provided the facility with a new pavilion and emergency care center, which now houses the most advanced emergency and critical care centers in the area. Earlier this year, he funded the first state- designated children's hospital in New Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties, named The K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in his honor. Here, families can find dedicated and personal health professionals who treat their patients as if they were their own children. Mr. Speaker, Kevork embodies the American dream. He came to America to escape political turnmoil in Iraq, and through hard work and unwaving motivation, he is now able to realize that dream in others through his service to the community. His dedication and passion deserves the utmost recognition.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, for months now, President Bush has refused to listen to anyone outside of his war cabinet and for any counsel on the war in Iraq. Yesterday, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group came to the sobering conclusion that the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating. We lost 10 soldiers in Iraq yesterday. We have lost more than 30 soldiers already this month. I had hoped that the President would begin to reconsider his course after the November election, but the President continues to say that American troops will remain in Iraq after he leaves office in 2 years. This is simply unacceptable. We must begin the process of redeploying our troops out of Iraq now. The Iraqi Prime Minister was correct when he said that the war can only be won politically, and, therefore, it is time for us to bring our troops home. It is time for the politicians in Iraq to begin to work together to bring an end to the civil war and for the international community, particularly Iraq's neighbors, to work with Iraqi leaders to stabilize the Nation. Our troops have done everything they can, and it is now up to the Iraqis to take complete control of their country.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, over the next couple of weeks the world will see how serious Turkey takes its accession talks with the European Union. We will also learn if the European Union is serious about ensuring Turkey complies with promises it made in order to begin those talks last year. Last month, Turkey's accession talks took a turn for the worse when it broke a promise to begin trading with EU Member Cyprus. Back in July of 2005, Turkey agreed to open its ports and airports to 10 new European members, including Cyprus, as one of the conditions for beginning membership talks with the EU. Talks began later that year, but to date Turkey has refused to begin trading with Cyprus. Turkey simply cannot be allowed to defy established European Union conditions without facing penalties. It must open its ports and airports to Cyprus ships and airplanes under the conditions it agreed to back in 2005. Cyprus is a Member of the European Union, and if Turkey is really interested in joining the Union, it cannot be unwilling to trade with one of the EU members. Fortunately, Mr. Speaker, the European Union has taken note of Turkey's defiance. Late last month, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn recommended a partial suspension of eight of the 35 policy areas included in the EU accession talks. Foreign ministers of the European Union will decide next week whether to back those recommendations. I want to commend Commissioner Rehn for taking this action and strongly recommend that the foreign ministers approve it so that Turkey knows that the European Union is serious about living up to the promises it made before this process began. In response to the European Union's action, Turkey came back with a proposal earlier this week that would allow ships from Cyprus into Turkey ports only if they are air carrying Cypriot goods. Turkey also demanded again, separate from the promises they made in 2005, that one of the ports in the illegally occupied north be opened for international traffic. The Cypriot Government correctly called this latest proposal a mockery of the European Union and the EU official said the proposal is not yet suitable to end the stalemate. Turkey should not simply be able to renegotiate promises they have already made. Mr. Speaker, I am also baffled by some editorial pages here in the U.S. and around the world and some world leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who have chosen to take the collective opinion that the European Union action was taken only to embarrass Turkey and to put another roadblock up in front of it, making it more difficult, if not impossible, for them to join the European Union. This thinking is dangerous. Turkey said it would open its ports and airports to Cyprus and has yet to do it. What is the European Union supposed to do, just allow this to continue without any penalties? It is not as if the accession talks have come to a close. The talks will continue with only eight of the 35 policy areas being frozen until Turkey agrees to open its ports. This is a fair recommendation that must be approved by foreign ministers next week. If the recommendation is rejected, Turkey will come away believing that it can get away with breaking promises in the future without any penalties, and that is dangerous for a country that still must make major strides in human rights and other areas before it meets the criteria to join the European Union. Some world leaders seem to think that Turkey should not have to make some of the same concessions that other countries made in order to join simply because of its strategic position in the world. I reject this notion. I believe that the relationship between Cyprus and Turkey is one that must seriously be addressed by the European Union before Turkey is allowed to join. Today, Turkey continues its 30 year illegal occupation of the northern third of Cyprus. Not one country other than Turkey recognized the occupied section as its own nation. Turkey simply will not be able to join the European Union without finally conceding this land back to its rightful owners. I strongly urge the European Union foreign ministers to send a strong message to Turkey that it must comply with promises it made before the accession talks began. They can do this by passing Commissioner Rehn's recommendations next week and not allowing Turkey to renegotiate issues concerning Cyprus.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. Today, many American children suffer from autism spectrum disorders. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that between two in 1,000 to five in 1,000 children are classified as having an autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Whether this increase is due to a true increase in prevalence or whether it is due to changes in assessment standards, it is clear that ASDs are the second most common serious developmental disability after mental retardation or intellectual impairment. According to the CDC, autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disabilities characterized by significant impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of atypical behaviors and interests. It is important that we treat common developmental disabilities, and especially autism, as conditions of urgent public health concern, and the Combating Autism Act of 2006 certainly moves in that direction. Mr. Speaker, this bill would authorize the award of grants and contracts to establish centers of excellence on autism spectrum disorder and to collect, analyze and report State epidemiological data on autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities. It would also provide culturally competent information on developmental disabilities to increase awareness of developmental milestones, promote disabilities research, encourage early screening and provide early diagnosis and interventions for individuals diagnosed with such disabilities. A major theme of the bill is coordination and planning. This bill would authorize a strategic plan to be developed and implemented to guide Federal efforts in autism spectrum disorder research. It would also authorize the designation of an interagency autism coordinating committee to coordinate HHS efforts concerning autism spectrum disorder, make recommendations concerning a strategic plan for autism, develop and update advances in research, and make recommendations regarding public participation in the various autism programs. The Combating Autism Act of 2006 has bipartisan support, and it has the support of numerous national, State and local autism-focused stakeholder organizations, including Autism Now, Autism Speaks, Cure Autism Now and the Autism Society of America. The bill before us is an affirmative step toward addressing the serious health issue of autism spectrum disorders and toward ensuring all children are able to reach their full potential. I urge all of my colleagues to join me, along with these stakeholder groups, in supporting this potentially life-saving legislation. I would also like to thank Representatives Bono and DeGette for all their hard work and dedication that they have devoted to this issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would again urge that we pass this very important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin). (Mr. LANGEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3248, the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006, and I am glad to be a cosponsor of this legislation. Respite care programs are an integral part of the long- term delivery systems for long-term care. All too often family caregivers provide arduous and ongoing care for aging and disabled loved ones. The programs contained within this legislation seek to provide interim relief in these situations and for those overextended families. Despite the numerous Federal programs that have the potential to fund respite services, there is no single coordinated caregiver friendly program to support the development or implementation of lifespan respite care services. Even where resources are available many families cannot find providers who are adequately trained to care for people with disabilities who can provide them the temporary relief that they desperately need. The Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 would authorize the award of grants and cooperative agreements to eligible State agencies to develop or enhance lifespan respite care programs at the State and local levels. These grants and cooperative agreements would provide assistance to programs that provide training, information, counseling and access to the range of publicly supported long-term care programs for family caregivers of children and adults with special needs. State agencies would work to ensure meaningful involvement of family members, family caregivers and care recipients. This bill would also establish the National Resource Center on Lifespan Respite Care to provide technical assistance, information referral and educational programs on lifespan respite care. Without respite and other services of support for family caregivers, many are forced to quit their jobs or reduce their paid employment. Other would-be caregivers are forced to place their relatives in unwanted and more costly institutional or foster care programs. H.R. 3248 enjoys a great deal of bipartisan support, as well as support from a diverse stakeholder community, including Easter Seals, the National Education Association, the National Mental Health Association and the Children's Defense Fund. I would like to thank Mr. Ferguson for sponsoring this legislation and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the stubbornness of the White House to end. Today the President received recommendations from the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. This report should serve as a wake-up call that the status quo is simply not working, and that both Democrats and Republicans are now coming to the conclusion that we must take our troops out of Iraq. The President's strategy of stay the course is not working. In fact, things in Iraq are dramatically worse today than they were 1 year ago. Consider that last year the people of Iraq were experiencing an average of 200 attacks per week. Today those attacks have doubled to more than 400 every week. Imagine that, Mr. Speaker, living in a country or trying to stabilize a country where 400 attacks are taking place on a weekly basis. The situation is not getting any easier for American troops either. This October was the deadliest month for U.S. troops in more than 2 years, and the war is increasingly a war fought exclusively by American troops. To date 12 countries have pulled their troops out, and six more countries are planning to withdraw in the coming months. Now, what are our brave men and women accomplishing today in Iraq? They are essentially serving as referees in a civil war between Shia and Sunni militias. Mr. Speaker, we are also spending billions of dollars in Iraq, money that could be better served on domestic priorities here in the United States or in combating terrorists who are making a comeback in Afghanistan. Today we are spending $8 billion a month in Iraq, and we are not seeing any change on the ground. Mr. Speaker, the American people voiced their frustration with the problems in Iraq and demanded with their votes a change of course on election day this year. But instead of listening to the people, instead of listening to Democrats, instead of listening to countless foreign policy experts who have demanded a change of course, President Bush has stubbornly stayed the same course. He said there will be no graceful exit from Iraq, and that American troops will still be in Iraq when he leaves office in 2 years. This is President Bush's war. He initiated it, and it is now his responsibility to get us out. Mr. Speaker, we must eliminate the open-ended commitment to keep troops in Iraq indefinitely. The Iraqi Prime Minister stated that his army has reached, and I quote, a good level of competency and efficiency, and that they could be ready to take on the task of securing Iraq by June of next year. We should force the Iraqi security forces to play an increased role in securing their own country. The Pentagon must also redouble its efforts to effectively train the Iraqi security forces. This past weekend, Mr. Speaker, a classified memo penned by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld suggested that our course of action in Iraq is not working and the President should reconsider redeploying troops. Now, as Democrats, for months we have proposed this solution of redeploying troops out of Iraq, and the only thing that has happened is that we have been vilified by the President and many of our Republican colleagues in Congress. I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that I support House Joint Resolution 73 introduced by Congressman Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania last November 17 in 2005. I don't want to go through that whole resolution, but I would like to make reference to the last whereas clause and the resolve clause, and it says, Whereas Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq or the Persian Gulf region. Now, therefore be it resolved that the deployment of the United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date. That is what I believe in. That is what I would like to see us pass here. Today I think, Mr. Speaker, it is very important to mention and to note that the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan group, Democrats and Republicans, sent President Bush a strong message, and that is that the President's state of denial about the Iraq war cannot continue. The time has simply come to bring our troops home.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5798, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to modify the program for the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees by terminating the authority for the removal of chimpanzees from the system for research purposes. On December 20, 2000, the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection Act was signed into law by President Clinton. That law required the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a nonprofit sanctuary system of lifetime care for chimpanzees that have been used by the Federal Government for research. Chimpanzees within this sanctuary system were declared surplus, and any research, save for non-invasive behavioral research, was restricted. The bill before us today takes even greater steps to ensure that extremely stringent criteria are met with regard to research on surplus chimpanzees. Currently there are approximately 1,500 captive chimpanzees in laboratories in the U.S., many of whom are no longer being used in biomedical research, and this legislation takes important steps forward in an effort to protect their health, well-being and livelihood. H.R. 5798 is supported by Dr. Jane Goodall, whose work in the field of wildlife research, education and conservation with respect to chimpanzees is unmatched. I would like to thank Dr. Goodall for her significant contribution, and would also like to thank Representative McCrery for his hard work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5798. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, if I could just ask to make a minute closing remark myself, and then I will yield back the time.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say again, and again I respect my colleagues, particularly my colleague from New Jersey, who I know truly believes in this issue and has spent a great deal of time on the issue throughout his career, but I really think that in this case, that we are making a huge mistake. First of all, this is on the Suspension Calendar. It should not be. This is a very controversial issue. It is still a huge controversy in the scientific community, and for us to mandate that every woman in this situation has to get what may be, in fact, misinformation, I think is wrong. And so I would urge my colleagues to vote this bill down, that it not be on the Suspension Calendar. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PALLONE

Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, last month Americans went to the voting booth to voice their displeasure with the most do-nothing Congress in our Nation's history. It was bad enough the Republican Congress rejected our efforts to increase the minimum wage, to prevent Big Oil from price-gouging the American consumer, and to prevent seniors from falling into the prescription drug doughnut hole. But now the most do-nothing Congress of all time prepares to leave Washington without passing a budget for the current fiscal year. Under the headline, ``The lame duck Congress waddles to an irresponsible close,'' the Washington Post yesterday wrote, and I quote, ``We understand the political temptation to do mischief by doing nothing, but this is a gross abdication of lawmakers' fundamental responsibilities. It creates enormous problems across the broad spectrum of Federal agencies which have no assurance about what their final spending allowances will be.'' House Republicans refuse to do their job and have decided to throw their budget mess to the new Democratic Congress. Talk about being irresponsible.