Nancy Pelosi

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and joy that I rise today to acknowledge the history that you are making. By your leadership and your inspiration and your education of the Congress, you have helped take us to a place that honors the tradition and the goals of our founders; to improve liberty and equality for all Americans. Today, through technology, under the leadership of the Architect of the House, we are able to, in a way that is almost magical, extend to you the privilege that you deserved all along, to be able to preside over the House. I'm pleased that we are joined by our former colleague in the House, and now a Senator, Senator Harkin, who was such a champion in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act; our former colleague, Tony Coelho, also a leader in that regard; our colleagues who have worked so hard on that subject, Mr. Markey, Mr. Kennedy; and the champion in our House on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Steny Hoyer, our distinguished majority leader. Mr. Sensenbrenner has made this part of his legacy in the Congress. Not so fast with the legacy, I know. More to come. But we thank you for being the champion on civil rights that you are. And I see now that we have been joined by our distinguished Republican leader of the House, Mr. Boehner. This is bipartisan effort. It has been all along. It is a cause for celebration. It is a source of liberation. And it's important to note that there's a reason Mr. Langevin is first. He is first because of his courage. He is first because of his inspiration, and he is first because when I became Speaker, he said to me, Now that you are presiding, I want to preside too. So on that day, when we made history of having the first woman Speaker of the House, it became clear that we had to make history today in having Jim Langevin preside on this historic occasion, which is a source of pride to all of us but also a source of challenge as to how we go forward addressing the new technologies so that we can continue to remove barriers to participation to all Americans. It's better for them and it's better for our country. Now we can go forward clearly saying that we respect people for what they can do, not judge them or limit them for what they cannot, and that we can more fully honor the Pledge of Allegiance that Mr. Kennedy led us in just earlier, one Nation under God, with liberty--and this is about liberation--with liberty and justice for all. Congratulations, Mr. Langevin.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call to the attention of our colleagues the historic moment that we are all enjoying right now. Today is the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What better way for us to observe that important legislation's anniversary than to have this be the day that, for the first time in our country's history, a gentleman with the challenges that Mr. Langevin faces is presiding as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker. It is appropriate for us to address our remarks to the Speaker and, in this case, the outpouring of appreciation for this special occasion is marked, not just because you are a person with disabilities, but because you are Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, who it is an honor for all of us to call colleague. It's important that you are the first, because when you came to the Congress, you inspired us, you transformed our thinking about respecting people for what they can do without hesitating about any limitations they may have. My colleagues, many of you were present when I took the gavel from Mr. Boehner as the first woman Speaker of the House, and it was a highly emotional day for some of us. Today is a similar day. It is a day when we are making history in this body. Thanks to the work of the Architect of the Capitol, but practically invisible to the eye, a system has been developed so that Mr. Langevin, with great dignity, can take the chair to preside. Any one of us in our families or in this body is one phone call away from, or a diagnosis, news of an accident, whatever it may be that may physically limit our participation here. But that should not deprive anyone of the honor and the prestige of presiding over the House. And from this day forward, this House will be an example to the rest of the country that these physical obstacles of three stairs, and to the extent that you may be interested in the engineering of it all, it's very interesting. But not to take away from the fact that the person who is the first to do so is Mr. Langevin. His leadership in the Congress is recognized. And so it is with great emotion, with great pride, with a great sense of history that today we are making history and making progress for the American people. I am pleased to yield to the distinguished Republican leader, the gentleman from Ohio.

Ms. PELOSI. Reclaiming my time, I want to concur with the sentiments of the distinguished Republican leader in acknowledging the bipartisan support that the Americans with Disabilities Act received in the House. Mr. Sensenbrenner, a champion for civil rights across the board, a champion on this issue, inspired by his wife, Cheryl; in the Senate, Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator Robert Dole in the leadership of the Senate was such. So it has been bipartisan in both Houses. Senator Harkin was with us earlier today. Patrick Kennedy acknowledged his and his father's participation. But our champion on this side of the aisle and, I think, really in the entire Congress, has been our majority leader, Steny Hoyer, who not only was instrumental in passing the legislation, he was instrumental in its enforcement and implementation of the amendments to correct misunderstandings that the Supreme Court may have had about it. He has been a champion. And it is appropriate on this, the 20th anniversary, that we acknowledge his tremendous leadership as well. And if I may, because he won't say it, and Mr. Langevin is in the chair, so he can't say it. But earlier today at a reception, Mr. Langevin said, because of the leadership of Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Sensenbrenner and others, but he pointed out Mr. Hoyer, on this ADA legislation, well, that legislation enabled Mr. Langevin to be successful in what he did and to be our colleague, and now preside over the Congress today. I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Maryland, the distinguished majority leader.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank him for bringing this important legislation to the floor today. And indeed, there is some good news in it, but there is some not-so-good news in it as well. I listened very attentively to the previous speaker talk about why these unemployment benefits had to be paid for, and I was struck by the inconsistency in his remarks and that of the Republicans in the United States Senate and in the House of Representatives. It's important to note that while they demand that these benefits be paid for--$34 billion in unemployment benefits going to those who have played by the rules, worked hard, who are unemployed through no fault of their own, $34 billion, which injected into the economy will indeed create jobs-- while they have said that $700 billion of tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America shouldn't be paid for. ``Inconsistent'' is the politest word I can use to describe that. Thirty-four billion dollars for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Last week the Economic Policy Institute released a report making it clear that not only do unemployment benefits protect those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own, but would lead to more jobs, higher wages, and a stronger economy for all Americans. And why is that so? That is so because these benefits are given to people who need them. The money will be spent immediately on necessities injecting demand into the economy, creating jobs. In fact, the Economic Policy Institute figured that would be 1.4 million jobs relating to the unemployment benefits that are out there now. The Congressional Budget Office which is independent and nonpartisan has confirmed that extending unemployment benefits is the most efficient way for the government to generate economic growth. Now, I know why the gentleman may want to change the subject to other things. He mentions Katrina. We all supported Katrina. Did anybody talk about paying for that emergency? No. It was an emergency. We have a compact with the American people in the time of a natural disaster-- even though that disaster was exacerbated by cronyism in the Bush administration. But let's not go there. Let's just stay on this subject. And the subject at hand is when this bill was introduced today, this resolution, I'm sure you all heard that it was an amendment to an amendment. Well, the Senate amendment that we are voting on, the amendment that they put in took out the jobs initiatives. And those initiatives were paid for. Build America Bonds. That was part of the original bill, to build the infrastructure of America, the highways and infrastructure of America in a new green way creating new green jobs and new green technologies. And the Build America jobs that went beyond those investments; FMAP to stabilize our State economies. Thirty States have written their budgets already on the basis of this funding being in the legislation and paid for--not increasing the deficit. We passed it in December. The Senate only now is sending it back to us because the Republicans have objected to that, and the amendment to the amendment eliminates that stability for States. Summer jobs, well, it's too late for summer jobs, so youth jobs. In December, we passed the bill for summer jobs for America's youth. The amendment to the amendment takes out those youths. And they were paid for, because on the one hand they say everything has to be paid for. Well, when it's paid for, then are they just plain opposed to summer jobs for youths? Are they opposed to Build America Bonds to grow our economy and meet the needs of our country infrastructurewise? The Housing Trust Fund, very, very important initiative. Concurrent receipt: I don't think there's any doubt that every person in this Congress supports our veterans. One issue that is a high priority for America's veterans when we meet with them on a regular basis is the issue of concurrent receipt. You may not be familiar with that term, but it's a disability tax on our veterans, and with so many veterans returning home with disabilities from Iraq and Afghanistan this is very, very important. It was in the bill. It was paid for. Again, money given to people who need it for necessities who would spend it, inject demand into the economy and create jobs. So the amendment to the amendment that the Senate Republicans would finally let pass in the Senate removed concurrent receipt, paid for, for our veterans. The list goes on and on, a list of paid-for initiatives that benefit our veterans, grow our economy, create jobs, help our workers, help our young people, stabilize our States, all paid for. The Republican Senators said ``no,'' and they held up this particular amendment to the amendment for over 6 weeks because they said it had to be paid for. At the very same time, they were saying we must pay for $34 billion for benefits for the unemployed but we don't have to pay for the $700 billion for the wealthiest people in America to have tax cuts. Those same tax cuts, during the 8 years of the Bush administration, did not create jobs; they increased the deficit. And the Republicans have said they want to go back to the exact agenda of the Bush administration. They look with increased fondness on the Bush administration. Well, let me say this here today. The good news about this is finally our unemployed will get their benefits. It will be retroactive. It's really sad that it has to come to this. Nonpaid-for tax cuts for the rich; paid-for benefits for our workers. But it's important to note, contrary to what you might hear from some in this Chamber, that in the first 8 months of the Obama administration, more jobs were created--well, by the time we finish August, more jobs will have been created than in the 8 years of the Bush administration. While they increased the deficit by trillions of dollars, while we lost jobs, where they took us to a brink of financial crisis of our financial industry, where they took us deep into recession, where they took us deep into deficit, they want to return to the exact same agenda. We are not going back and our step forward into the future, one step into the future is being taken today when we say to American workers, You have played by the rules. You have worked hard. You have lost your job through no fault of your own. You have these benefits, but we must do more to create jobs, to create more jobs. I urge our colleagues today to understand how important this is, the distinction between those who support our workers. Respect the contract that we have with them so that when the economy ebbs and flows and the cycle of employment and unemployment is not in their favor, that we will be there for them. And being there for them is not just about them. It's also about the entire economy, the entire economy. The economy cannot flourish and be entrepreneurial unless it knows that there's a safety net in case the economy comes down. The Republicans are saying ``no'' to that. They've said ``no'' over and over again, and they're saying ``no'' today unless it is paid for, again, while they still say, We want tax cuts for the wealthiest, $700 billion worth, 20 times more than this bill for unemployment insurance. But don't forget what they took out of the bill and don't forget that that includes concurrent receipt for our veterans. I urge our colleagues to proudly vote for this legislation. I commend my colleague Mr. Levin for his hard work on this and other legislation, and I know, because it's absolutely essential, that at some point we will get a jobs bill that will come back from the Senate. We agree that it should be paid for. We've sent it over to them paid for, and that they will recognize that we need to create jobs, good- paying jobs that take us into the future and, most of all, that we're not going back to the failed economic policies of the Bush administration. I urge a strong ``aye'' vote on both sides of the aisle.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I am most grateful to him for bringing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I saw the hope in the eyes of the victims of the oil spill who came to my office. These families came. Eleven of the families were suffering from the loss of a loved one on the rig. They came to me and said that they were on their way to see Chairman Conyers. They were filled with hope that he would advance the SPILL Act. I heard their stories. They made their appeal for legislation, about safety, and about the SPILL Act. We held hands. We prayed. They told stories of their loved ones, and they kept coming back to the point that they did not want the families to be forgotten, and they did not want other families who could be the victims of future accidents or incidents of this kind to be forgotten. Very hopefully and prayerfully, they left the Speaker's office and went to see Mr. Conyers, with great emotion in terms of the stories they had to tell, but with great wisdom about how their families had been affected and what a difference the SPILL Act would make. The chairman has very well described it in terms of the Death on the High Seas Act, which would be changed by this legislation, which was passed in the middle of the 19th century and amended dating from the 1920s, as we know. This legislation will modernize it in terms of distance from the shore and who would be compensated for a loss, not just a pecuniary loss, but also pain and suffering. So I want to thank the chairman because of what I saw in their eyes, the hope they had and the message this legislation will send. More important than all of that, for the difference that it will make in the lives of these people, who are the backbone of America, who work so hard to grow our economy, to keep the community together there. I want to thank Mr. Melancon for the important role he has played in representing those people so well and making sure this legislation addresses their concerns. I once again thank the distinguished chairman for anticipating the needs of these families and meeting them by bringing this bill to the floor.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I commend the gentleman for his great leadership, and I thank him for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, as I listened to the debate here, I can't help but remember, and I have a vivid memory of it, a couple of years ago, almost 2 years ago, September 18, a Thursday afternoon, we were gathered in our office, and had just seen in the week and a half preceding, a week and a half to 2 weeks preceding that day, some unusual events that related to Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and then AIG and the Fed bailout of AIG. I called the Secretary of the Treasury and said, We are meeting here in my office, and wondered if we could be helpful in any way in terms of public policy, because what we seem to see coming out from the executive branch is chaos. Different responses to different challenges that were not adding up to us. Could you, Mr. Secretary, come to the Congress tomorrow and give us a report on what is happening? And I said could you be here at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning to tell us what is happening to the markets? Secretary Paulson said, ``Madam Speaker, tomorrow morning will be too late.'' Tomorrow morning will be too late. ``Why, Mr. Secretary, have you not notified Congress? Why have you not called us sooner? Why would it take a call from me to ask you to report to us to tell us that tomorrow morning will be too late?'' Without going into his response, which I am happy to do, but in the interests of time I won't now, I then called the Chairman of the Fed, Chairman Bernanke, and asked him to join the Secretary of the Treasury at my office later that day. The meeting turned into a meeting that was House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans gathered together to hear from the Secretary of the Treasury the condition of the markets. The Secretary, who had told us that we couldn't even wait until the next morning, described a very, very grim situation. The chairman of the Fed, who was an expert on the Great Depression, told us that the situation was so grim that if we did not act immediately, there would be no economy by Monday. This is Thursday night. There would be no economy by Monday. How could it be? We, the greatest country in the world with the strongest economy, yet we needed to act immediately. The response from the Bush administration was a bailout of the banks. And at a 24-hour/48-hour period they produced a bill, $700 billion, that they asked the Congress to pass to bail out the banks. It was necessary to do because of the recklessness of the Bush administration's economic policy, because of the lack of supervision, discipline, regulation. The recklessness on Wall Street had taken us to the brink of a financial crisis of such magnitude that the chairman said there wouldn't be an economy by Monday. Took us into deep recession where 8\1/2\ million jobs were lost. People lost their jobs, therefore in many cases their health insurance. They lost their pensions, they lost their savings, they had to live off savings, and they lost their investments for their children's education. Because of recklessness on Wall Street, joblessness was rampant on Main Street. One of the reasons was there was no credit. It's interesting to hear my colleagues talk about the importance of credit to Main Street, but not one of them voted for the Small Business Credit bill that passed in this Congress about a week ago. But in any event, joblessness, lack of credit, suppressing the entrepreneurial spirit of the United States of America, because there were some, not all, but some on Wall Street who decided it was okay to privatize the game as long as they were making money and nationalize the risk. Send the bill to the taxpayer when they were not. That's why we are here today to make sure that never happens again, to say to them that the party is now over. And it's interesting to note that in that message, not one Republican participated when this bill came to the floor originally. And that was the end of last year. Years of allowing Wall Street to do anything it wants, beyond laissez faire, to be overleveraged, no transparency, no accountability, produce the most severe financial crisis and economic downturn since the Great Depression--and the American people paid the price. Again, 8 million jobs, nearly $17 trillion in net worth disappeared. A record number of foreclosures ravaged our communities. And, again, credit disappeared from small businesses. This also had a tremendous impact on construction in our country because of the lack of loans. Today, I rise with the clear message that the party is over. No longer again will recklessness on Wall Street cause joblessness on Main Street. No longer will the risky behavior of a few threaten the financial stability of our families, our businesses, and our economy as a whole. The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act has been appropriately named for Chairman Dodd and Chairman Frank, and I thank them for their leadership. In doing so, in bringing this legislation before the Congress, Chairman Frank and Chairman Dodd are making history. For decades to come their names will be identified with historic reforms to protect the economy of our country and the financial and economic security of the American people. I also want to acknowledge Chairman Collin Peterson who carefully negotiated some of the most contentious positions of this legislation working with Chairwoman Lincoln on the Senate side. All of the Democratic conferees, I thank you for your commitment for making the strongest bill possible and for always putting America's consumers first. Today we will follow the lead of those on the committee enacting historic legislation to bring transparency to our financial markets, lowering the leverage that got us into this trouble in the first place, bringing tough oversight to Wall Street, and bringing consumer protection to Main Street and to the American people. By voting ``yes,'' we will pass the toughest set of Wall Street reforms in generations. This comprehensive and far-reaching legislation injects transparency and accountability as it lowers leverage and to the financial system run amok under the Republicans' reckless economic policies. This legislation makes commonsense reforms that end the era of taxpayer bailouts and ``too big to fail'' financial firms. It establishes a new independent agency solely dedicated to protecting Americans from anticonsumer abuses. The bill closes the door on predatory lending and regulates payday lenders. It includes provisions to allow us to conduct oversight over the Fed, establishes tough rules for risky financial practices, enhances oversight for credit rating agencies, and reins in egregious CEO bonuses by giving shareholders a say on executive pay. It sheds light on the darkest corners of the derivatives market and is fully paid for. And how is it paid for? By shutting down the Bush- era bailout fund known as the TARP and using the savings for financial reform. As we cast our votes today, each Member of this body faces a choice. We have had these choices before. Democrats wanted to rein in health insurance companies; the Republicans said no. Democrats wanted to rein in Big Oil; the Republicans said no. Democrats want to rein in the recklessness of some on Wall Street; the Republicans are saying no. Each Member of this body will have a choice. We can place our bet on the side of those on Wall Street who have gambled with our savings and lost, or we can stand with Main Street and the middle class. Will we preserve a status quo? And if this bill were to fail, we would be preserving a status quo that has left our economy in a wretched state. Or will we guarantee the American people strong reforms and effective vigilance to prevent another financial crisis? How can we possibly resist the change that must happen? How can we forget that the chairman of the Fed said if we do not act, we will not have an economy by Monday--4 days from when we were having the conversation? How can we let the status quo that created that condition to continue? I urge my colleagues to choose on the side of Main Street. I urge you to build a future of stability and security for America's families, consumers, and small businesses. I urge you to vote ``aye'' on the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Walter Shorenstein. When word of Walter's passing came to the Capitol, sadness was felt throughout this building. Not only did we lose a great American, but for many of us in public office, we lost a great friend. We shared stories of Walters's life and his legacy. Before I left Washington last Friday, I received messages from all over; from Members of Congress and from people around the country. On my way home to California this weekend, I went to four states, and in every state I heard stories about Walter. I hope it is a comfort to the Shorenstein family that so many people share their loss and respect their father. The outpouring of respect and affection for Walter Shorenstein brings to mind a passage from Ecclesiasticus, ``Now let us praise great men the heroes of our nation. They led the people by their counsel and their knowledge of the laws. From their font of wisdom, they gave instruction. These are godly men whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. Their wealth is their descendants and their inheritance is their children's children. Their bodies are buried in peace and their names will live forever. The people will tell of their wisdom and the congregation will continue to sing their praise.'' I want to praise Walter as a patriot and a patriarch. He loved America and served his country his entire life. In the Air Force in World War II, as a civic leader, and as a philanthropist, he worked to strengthen our Nation. Walter knew that our democracy depended on people having a chance to get ahead. In that respect he was a democrat with the small ``d.'' He practiced this in his professional life and advocated this as public policy, and in that respect he was a Democrat with a capital ``D.'' It was also part of his family tradition. He always smiled with pride talking about Hyman Shorenstein, his uncle, and the Democratic boss of Brooklyn for over 30 years. He even told me on a number of occasions that to cross Hyman, you might be ``Shorensteined.'' In other words, it was a verb. Walter understood how essential freedom of the press was to our democracy. With that in mind he founded the Joan Shorenstein Center for Press, Politics and Public Policy. He brought together great minds on the subject and honored Joan's understanding on the relationship between the press, at which she excelled, and power, which she covered. Walter understood power and was an advisor and friend to Democratic Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. He was also a friend and advisor to many who aspired to be president, too numerous to mention. He had a special relationship with Secretary Hillary Clinton, and Ted Kennedy was family. His leadership was acknowledged and praised by President Barack Obama. Much has been said about how generous Walter was financially to political causes. He was also a great intellectual resource and mentor. He was politically astute and his views were respected. My colleagues in Congress, such as Congressman George Miller, Congresswoman Ann Eshoo, Congressman John Garamendi often spoke of how prepared you had to be when you went to visit Walter. You always left with words of wisdom, and assigned reading. Walter wasn't always easy. He was very competitive. We always knew that on our visits and our phone calls, we'd be challenged. And the most annoying part was that Walter was always right. Walter was successful because he was smart and he was always ready for the task ahead. When we would ask him what he thought about bringing the Democratic Convention to San Francisco, my running for Congress or for leadership, Walter would say, ``Just do it.'' Walter coined that phrase well before Nike did. And when Walter said ``just do it,'' he would also say, ``I will help make it happen.'' You knew you would succeed with Walter at your side. Walter was a patriarch to the community, but what mattered most to him was to be a devoted father to his family. Today as we pay tribute to Walter, we must also remember Phyllis and her quiet, dignified, and strong demeanor. If anyone wanted to see the powerful Walter Shorenstein melt, they just needed to see him around Phyllis. Everyone knows how much he loved his children: Joan, Carole, and Doug, and he glowed with pride in their success. They honored their parent's traditions, which included making their own extraordinary mark on the world. And he loved his grandchildren Sarah, Wally, Grace, Brandon, Sandra and Danielle. What a great legacy you all are to Phyllis and Walter. Walter Shorenstein died as he had lived: surrounded by his family and loved ones, in charge of his own situation, and ready. Now that he has passed, we take comfort that his spirit is with Joan and Phyllis. Patriot, patriarch, especially family man and friend, today Walter Shorenstein is mourned and praised across the country. But he is especially mourned in the community of San Francisco, where we knew him the best and loved him the most. He had a wonderful life. May he rest in peace.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I am honored to join you, Chairman Rahall and Congresswoman Capito, in singing the praises of a great man, Senator Byrd. I rise today to remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, a man who loved his State, loved this country, and was a such important part of this Congress. Throughout his remarkable career, he worked for all Americans, and he never stopped fighting for the people of West Virginia. While we are here, we all take pride in bearing witness to history. Senator Byrd shaped it, and in shaping history, he built a better future for all Americans. His story was the true embodiment of the American dream. An orphan at a young age, Senator Byrd refused to allow his circumstances to limit the reach of his potential or his ability. A son of West Virginia's coal country, he was the first in his family to be educated above the second grade. He worked as a butcher and a welder and entered office to serve his community and his neighbors. In doing so, he would ultimately make America a better place for every American. Though many note his mastery of the Senate, I note that Robert Byrd's service began in the Congress here in the House of Representatives in 1953. His service in the House is a source of pride to all of us, though Senator Byrd remarked that he was happy to leave behind the limitations on speaking time that apply on the House floor. In fact, I checked the Congressional Record myself on that. In the year that Senator Byrd first came to Congress, I found that in one single floor speech he managed to quote the ``Book of Ecclesiastes,'' Shakespeare's ``The Merchant of Venice,'' Daniel Webster, and Rudyard Kipling, all while discussing trade policy. That was a sign of the great oratory that would come over the next 57 years. In that time, Senator Byrd would become Congress's foremost scholar on the institutions of our democracy. He always spoke truth to power. He served as a voice of reason. He was always a gentleman, charming any friend or foe. Today, the entire Nation mourns the loss of this great champion, leader, and public servant. For more than 57 years, Congress has benefited from his wisdom and passion. For generations to come, Robert C. Byrd's name will remain etched in history books for his accomplishments and for his courage. Senator Byrd has gone home to be with his beloved Erma. We hope it is a comfort to the Byrd family that so many join them in grieving their loss at this sad time.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his great leadership in bringing this very important legislation to the floor. And I want to commend Leader Hoyer and Whip Cantor for the bipartisan spirit with which this bill was brought to the floor. The leadership of the committee, Mr. Berman, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, thank you to both of you for your leadership in bringing us together around this very important issue. I am proud to rise in strong support of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, which will provide the President with more tools to address the looming nuclear threat from Iran. All Members of Congress, regardless of party, agree: A nuclear Iran is simply unacceptable. It is a threat to the region, to the United States, and to our allies across the globe. The Iranian regime has demonstrated time and again its refusal to work in good faith to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons in the Middle East and around the world. In the last year, Iran has concealed major nuclear facilities, repeatedly blocked U.N. nuclear inspectors from doing their job, and openly threatened to, as the Iranian President said, ``wipe Israel off the face of the map.'' These actions reflect a clear record of defiance. Now Iran must take steps to demonstrate its willingness to live as a peaceful partner in the international community, and we must use all of the tools at our disposal to stop Iran's march toward nuclear capability. This month, under President Obama's leadership, the U.N. Security Council passed its most far-reaching set of sanctions yet, targeting Iran's nuclear program and financial system. Today, with the passage of this legislation and when it goes to the President's desk to be signed, we will give the President new tools to impose sanctions against companies that sell Iran technology, services, know-how, and materials for its energy and petroleum sector. And we offer foreign banks a choice, they can deal with institutions that support weapons of mass destruction and terrorist activities or they can do business with the United States. This is the strongest Iran sanctions legislation ever passed by the Congress. My colleagues, no discussion of Iran at this time is possible without condemning the actions of the Iranian regime of 1 year ago when they responded to public protests with deadly force. The American people stand for peace and security for the people of Iran. We look forward to a relationship with them. We look forward to a day when Iran is a productive partner for us, for its neighbors, and the world. Until that day, we must ensure that Iran is prevented from obtaining the nuclear weapons that would threaten global and regional security. Again, I thank our distinguished chairman, Mr. Berman, Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Hoyer, and Mr. Cantor for giving us this opportunity, in a strong bipartisan way, to support the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, and hope that we can have a unanimous vote today.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for making the point he just made. Madam Speaker, I also would like to make a further point, which is that 87.5 percent of the American people support what the DISCLOSE Act will do, which is to shed light on elections. Madam Speaker, nearly a century ago, Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis wrote about the dangers of corporate interests dominating our economy, stifling competition, and harming our Nation. And he reminded us in the face of these forces that sunlight is the best of disinfectants. Today, many of us will rise, and I do now in that same tradition, to shed sunlight on our democratic process and preserve the integrity of our elections, to call on my colleagues to pass the DISCLOSE Act, and in doing so to protect the voices and the votes of the American people. I want to acknowledge key leaders on both sides of the aisle who have taken leadership on this legislation. Chairman Chris Van Hollen certainly has been tireless in his efforts to pass this DISCLOSE Act, as has Chairman Robert Brady, chair of the House Administration Committee. I also thank Congressman Mike Castle and Congressman Walter Jones, who early on supported this legislation. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court overturned decades of precedents in a court case called the Citizens United case. The decision undermines democracy and empowers the powerful. It opens the floodgates to corporate takeover of our elections and invites unrestricted special interest dollars in our campaigns. And it even left open the door to donations from companies owned by foreign governments. Imagine. In response, Congress and the President immediately went to work on the DISCLOSE Act. This legislation restores transparency and accountability to Federal campaigns and ensures that Americans know when Wall Street, Big Oil, and health insurers are the ones behind political advertisements. The bill requires corporate CEOs to stand by their ads in the same way candidates do, prevents corporations controlled by foreign or even hostile governments from spending money in Federal elections, and keeps government contractors and TARP recipients from making political expenditures. Imagine a TARP recipient getting taxpayer money to bail them out, using that money to impact elections. And it compels corporations and outside groups to disclose their campaign spending to shareholders, members, and the public. In the spirit of Justice Brandeis, these landmark provisions will add sunlight to our campaigns, which is why the DISCLOSE Act has gained the support of good government advocates such as the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, Public Citizen, Democracy 21, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, to name a few. These organizations, like so many Members of Congress, agree with the words of the President's State of the Union Address this year when he said, ``Elections should be decided by the American people.'' The DISCLOSE Act reaffirms a fundamental American value: The right to vote is afforded to the people, not the special interests. With this bill, no longer will corporations be able to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens. By voting ``yes,'' we are putting power back into the hands of the voters. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye'' today on this legislation.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of a much beloved San Francisco community leader and decades-long advocate for our elderly and physically-disabled residents: John King. Until we lost him on June 8, John was the Godfather of Visitacion Valley, bringing hope and dignity to the elderly. Born in Texas, John King moved to San Francisco in 1948, where he worked for many years as a butcher. He also worked for nearly two decades as a Merchant Seaman, circling the globe seven times. Upon retirement John King turned his attention to his underserved neighborhood, Visitacion Valley, especially the safety and well-being of its elderly population. He started Visitacion Valley Escort Services to provide transportation for the elderly, frail and physically challenged. The crime-ridden, dilapidated Geneva Towers apartments had been demolished creating a critical low-income housing shortage for the seniors and families who had lived there. Working together, John and I helped to secure funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to build the John King Senior Center. It stands today as a testament to Mr. King's vision, knowledge and perseverance. In his lifetime, John was proud to witness its growth and success. The John King Senior Center is an oasis in our city: its beautiful garden is tended by seniors, meals are an opportunity for celebration, and holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas are made special for the residents. This multi-purpose, multi-ethnic neighborhood center provides a safe haven for seniors, including transportation services, social opportunities, hot nutritious lunches, health and nutrition education and housing assistance. In John's name, it offers love and care to those who need it most. John will be remembered by its residents for his secret, and mouth- watering, barbecue recipe, but also for the concern he showed to every member of the community. John King's contributions to Visitacion Valley and the City of San Francisco demonstrated remarkable generosity, and we all benefitted from his vision, leadership and service. I have lost a wise and cherished friend. I hope it is a comfort to his beloved wife Violette, his sons John `Subiani' King, Jr. and Jerome King, and his grandchildren that countless San Franciscans join them in mourning John King's passing.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a longtime literary advocate and community leader, Effie Lee Morris, who died in San Francisco last November 10. On June 14, family, friends and San Francisco dignitaries will gather at the San Francisco Public Library to celebrate her lifetime of work as a librarian and advocate for underserved children and the visually impaired. They will pay tribute to her life as a visionary who recognized the power of literacy and education in overcoming racism, inequality and poverty. Morris began her life's work as a literary activist as a public librarian in Cleveland, Ohio more than 60 years ago. Recognizing that education is the most important investment we can make in our future, she focused primarily on children's literacy in African American communities and low-income urban areas, and helped to establish the first Negro History Week. In 1955, she moved to New York City where she worked for the New York Public Library. There she continued to work with children and began advocating for the rights of the visually impaired, eventually becoming a children's specialist at the New York Public Library's Library for the Blind from 1958 to 1963. In 1963, San Francisco was blessed when Morris arrived in our city and became the first Coordinator of Children's Services at our Public Library, where she established the Children's Historical and Research Collection. It stands in tribute to her today. The children's literature section that she created is named in her honor. In 1968, Morris helped found the San Francisco Chapter of the Women's National Book Association and served as the first African American president of the Public Library Association. Upon retirement, Morris continued to serve the San Francisco Bay Area community, and taught courses on children's literature at Mills College and the University of San Francisco. Morris served as the first female chairperson of the Library of Congress as well as the President of the National Braille Association for two terms. She also served on the California State Library Board, and was a lifetime member of the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society. We grieve Effie Lee Morris' passing, but celebrate her legacy, which will live on in the many lives she touched.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for his recognition and also for the excellent job he has done to bring this bill to the floor today, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility here, almost an ethical one really, to create jobs for the American people. Equally important is to reduce the deficit. So any of the pieces of legislation that we bring to the floor must strive to do both, to strike that balance. I congratulate the chairman on this important legislation because it does both, creates jobs and helps to reduce the deficit. If I had four words to describe the bill, it would be the same four words--it's a four letter word, I prepare you for that--jobs, jobs, jobs, and jobs. It's about jobs, it's about summer jobs for young people, it's about Build America bonds, jobs and the infrastructure sector, it's about jobs that are produced by our investments in research and development tax credits in the legislation to have research into higher skilled jobs and bring us to a different place technologically. That's very important. It's about helping people who have lost their job through no fault of their own. And that's important to them individually; but it's also important, as economists tell us, that unemployment insurance is the fastest way to inject demand into the economy, thereby creating jobs immediately. These and in other ways in this legislation we are creating jobs. And we are doing so in a way, as I say, the unemployment insurance will create jobs, create a revenue stream which will help to reduce the deficit. The rest of the bill is all paid for in a fiscally sound way, and I congratulate distinguished Chairman Levin for making that so. I am particularly pleased about a benefit for our veterans as we go into Memorial Day. Other Members have mentioned the SGR, how important it is to have that provision in this legislation. I myself wish it were permanent. It's 19 months. We have to move to giving more certainty to our physicians and to our seniors. This is about our seniors and their ability to keep the doctors that they have if they so wish, and under this legislation they will do so. But as I close, I just want to make note that as we gather here on Memorial Day weekend, as we go forward, there is a very important provision in this bill that I hope all Members will take home and convey with our gratitude to our men and women in uniform, and that is the issue of concurrent receipt. We call it the veterans disability tax repeal. Its technical term is concurrent receipt. If you are a veteran and if you are disabled, you will recognize this term. And in this legislation there is funding--it is paid for--there is funding to cover the concurrent receipt, the repeal of it for the next--to address it in a positive way for the next 2 years. So if it's about young people and summer jobs, if it's about building the infrastructure of America, if it's investing in research and development and the high technologies that will make us competitive and keep us number one, if it's about helping those who through no fault of their own have lost their jobs, but recognizing that that investment injects demand into the economy and creates jobs, this is a bill that does just that in a fiscally sound way, while honoring our veterans on this Memorial Day. So I thank the gentleman for this very important legislation and urge my colleagues to give a big strong ``aye'' vote to the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. It's named that for one very important reason. In this legislation, which is job creating, it closes the loophole which has allowed businesses to ship jobs overseas. Can you believe that we have a tax policy that enables offshoring? So if you have one thing to say about this bill to your constituents, you can say that today you voted to close the loophole to ship U.S. jobs overseas and giving businesses a tax break to do so. It's not right. It will be corrected today. Thank you, Mr. Levin. I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye.''

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Herb Shanks, the Cloakroom attendant of the House Democratic Cloakroom for the last 38 years. Herb is retiring today after serving this institution much longer than probably most Members of the Congress. Indeed, he has served under seven Speakers of the House, and generations of Members have depended upon him. As the Doorkeeper and Cloakroom Attendant, Herb has ensured the safety and security of House Members and staff by controlling access to the Democratic Cloakroom. He has also been a face of warm welcome to all Members. Herb's dedicated service is representative of the many staff who serve this institution, particularly those who work in both the Democratic and the Republican Cloakrooms, and the nonpartisan officers who ensure smooth operations on the House floor. They may not be household names, but they proudly serve our Nation's families. Herb is joined here today by his twin daughters, Andrea and Angela; we thank them for sharing their father with us. We also note that Herb is the proud grandfather of four and great grandfather of three. Today, we will present Herb with a flag that flew over the Capitol in his honor on this, his day of retirement, after 38 years of service. It is a fitting tribute to this great patriot, Herb Shanks. Thank you, Herb. I would now like to yield to the distinguished majority leader, Mr. Hoyer.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership and service to our country. Madam Chair, this weekend, on Memorial Day, America will come together to honor all those who have served our Nation in uniform, and those brave Americans have no better friend than the chairman of our Armed Services Committee, Mr. Skelton. Today, by repealing the discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, we also honor the service and sacrifice of all who dedicated their lives to protecting the American people. We honor the values of our Nation, and we close the door on fundamental unfairness. In 1993, I spoke on this same House floor, calling on the President ``to act definitively to lift the ban that keeps patriotic Americans from serving in the U.S. Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation.'' Instead, despite everyone's good intentions, Don't Ask, Don't Tell was enacted--a policy which has been discriminatory to our brave men and women in uniform. Under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, more than 13,000 men and women in uniform have been discharged from the military. Thousands more have decided not to reenlist. Fighter pilots, infantry officers, Arabic translators, and other specialists have been discharged at a time when our Nation is engaged in two wars. That is why I support repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and that support has come from all over the country. Nearly 8 out of 10 Americans want to end this era of discrimination. Admiral Mullen, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said, ``It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. We have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.'' He went on to say, ``For me, personally, it comes down to integrity--theirs as individuals and ours as institutions.'' General Colin Powell, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs when this policy was implemented, has said that he now thinks this restrictive policy should be repealed. Then, in a letter to Congress, 51 retired generals, admirals, and a former Army Secretary called for the repeal of this policy, saying that they ``have dedicated our lives to defending the rights of our citizens to believe whatever they wish.'' Passing this amendment today respects the timeline of the Pentagon's Implementation Study Group. Repeal would take place only after the study group completes its work in December 2010 and after the President, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense all certify that repeal will not hurt military readiness or unit cohesion. No one in this body would jeopardize our national security. America has always been the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are so because of our brave men and women in uniform who have been willing to fight for our country. Let us honor their service by recommitting to the values they fight for on the battlefield. I urge my colleagues to vote for the repeal of this discriminatory policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and to make America more American.

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding and his leadership on this important bill before us. I commend Congresswoman Eshoo for her attention to this important matter, her leadership in bringing this amendment to the floor. Mr. Chairman, as you all know, protecting American people is our first responsibility. Their security is what we take an oath to uphold, protect, and defend. In order to do that, we recognize the importance of intelligence gathering to preventing violence and to protecting the American people, especially in this age when we're fighting terrorism at home and abroad. The issue before us is if the responsibilities of Congress can be honored without the knowledge that we are entitled to. This is a very important issue. We all recognize, as the gentleman said, the importance of having information be kept secret when it's in our national security interest to do so. Not to overdo that to the extent of having Congress not have the information it needs to do its job of proper oversight to protect the American people. We are preventing harm. And if we're going to prevent harm, we have to have information to do so. And the members of the Intelligence Committee have a responsibility to hold that information close. This doesn't apply to every piece of information of intelligence that comes to the committee, but it does say that the GAO has a proven track record of conducting thorough and professional investigations. Their work has informed the Congress and led to significant changes that have enhanced our government's effectiveness. GAO staff are professionals who protect information held by the intelligence community. A vote for this amendment is a vote for enhancing intelligence oversight. It is a vote for Congress. I urge our colleagues to support the Eshoo amendment.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record a copy of a letter signed jointly by myself and the Republican Leader, Mr. Boehner. It is addressed to President Obama. In it, we express our views on the limits of the ``pocket-veto'' power. I also submit a copy of the letters referenced therein. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, May 24, 2010. Hon. Barack Obama, The President, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. President: This is in response to your actions of December 30, 2009, on House Joint Resolution 64, a short-term continuing resolution of appropriations that was presented to you on December 19, 2009. That measure was intended to accommodate your review and approval of the regular appropriations but was rendered unnecessary when you were able to act swiftly on the regular appropriations. You therefore decided not to approve the joint resolution. Although you cited The Pocket Veto Case, 279 U.S. 655 (1929), you returned the parchment to the House with a memorandum of disapproval stating that you wanted to leave no doubt that the joint resolution was being vetoed as unnecessary. You acted on the joint resolution on the ninth day of the 10-day period during which you could approve it. The standing rules of the House made the Clerk available to receive your message. The House and Senate stood adjourned sine die but with provision for reassembly of the first session and with the certainty of reassembly for the second session of the instant Congress. Thus, each body was in a position to reconsider the vetoed measure in light of your objections, either in the second session or even in the first session. The circumstances surrounding the presentment and return of House Joint Resolution 64 and the readiness of Congress to reconsider the joint resolution in light of Presidential objections compel us to question the assertion that a pocket veto did or could have occurred. We think you agree that the pocket veto and the return veto are available on mutually exclusive bases and, therefore, during mutually exclusive periods. We think you also should agree that the constitutional concern that a measure not become law without the President's signature when an adjournment prevents a return veto does not arise when the President is able to return the parchment to the originating House with a statement of his objections. Accordingly, we believe that your return of House Joint Resolution 64 with your objections is absolutely inconsistent with this most essential characteristic of a pocket veto, to wit: retention of the parchment by the President for lack of a legislative body to whom he might return it with his objections. Your successful return of House Joint Resolution 64 establishes that you were not prevented from returning it. After an enrolled measure is presented for Presidential approval, the parchment ultimately meets one of four ends. It might be tendered to the Archivist by the President because he signed it or allowed it to become law without his signature. It might be referred to committee by the first house to sustain a veto. It might be tendered to the Archivist by the second house to override a veto. Or it might be retained by the President because he ``pocketed'' it. If the President returns a parchment to the Congress, then he has not pocketed it, and it therefore is subject to reconsideration. Either the Congress has prevented the President from returning the parchment with a statement of his objections or it has not. By returning the parchment a President is admitting that he is not prevented from returning it. The House has treated your message of December 30, 2009, on House Joint Resolution 64 as a return veto. On January 12, 2010, the message--comprising the parchment and your memorandum of disapproval--was laid before the House. After the memorandum was read, your objections were entered in the Journal and the House obeyed the command of the Constitution to ``proceed to reconsider'' the joint resolution. Rather than immediately considering the ultimate question of overriding or sustaining the veto, the House chose as its first mode of reconsideration a postponement until January 13, 2010. On that day the House reconsidered the joint resolution in light of your objections and voted by the yeas and nays on the question of overriding or sustaining the veto. The House sustained your return veto. We enclose for your consideration copies of previous letters to President George H. W. Bush, to President Clinton, and to President George W. Bush, respectively dated November 21, 1989, September 7, 2000, and April 14, 2008. Those letters from Speaker Foley and Leader Michel, from Speaker Hastert and Leader Gephardt, and from the two undersigned, respectively, expressed the profound concern of the bipartisan leaderships over similar assertions of pocket vetoes. We echo those concerns and urge you to give appropriate deference to such judicial resolutions of this question as have been possible. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Best regards, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. John A. Boehner, Republican Leader.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, the flood waters in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi have begun to recede, but the thoughts and prayers of all Members of Congress remain with the residents of those States. As thousands of Americans work to put their lives back together in the aftermath of record-breaking flooding, this Congress stands with them. We are particularly saddened by the tragic loss of more than 20 people. For families who have lost loved ones, the sympathies of all Americans are with them in these tragic times. The Nation has been particularly affected by the situation in Nashville, where entire neighborhoods were under water. But as Russ Hazelton, resident of Nashville, said, ``We have no choice but to solve this problem, and we're going to solve it with enthusiasm . . .'' That enthusiasm will be matched by the Federal Government. President Obama has declared the situation in Tennessee to be a major disaster. Congress will continue to work with those Members whose constituents have been affected by this tragedy to provide the assistance necessary. With this resolution today, we also honor the efforts of our brave first responders, and State and local government officials, who have risked life and limb and worked tirelessly to safely evacuate people and return communities to normalcy. We stand with them today, and in the days ahead.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Before I begin my remarks on the legislation before us today, I want to join my colleagues in saluting the wonderful work of Muftiah McCartin. She began her work on the Hill--it couldn't be 1976. I can't believe that. She has worked on the Appropriations Committee and is now leaving her tenure as staff director on the Rules Committee. We all know that she loves this institution. She has poured her heart and soul into her work. We were all so proud when she became the staff director of the Rules Committee. Her policy and technical expertise have served both sides of the aisle over many years. She is a mother of four children. It's hard to imagine she is now a grandmother. We have been blessed with her service over many, many years. She will be sorely missed. Muftiah, thank you very much for all that you have done. This is coming as news to me, by the way, so I'm quite taken aback by the fact that you're leaving us. But thank you for your service. I wish you well in the future. We have been very blessed by your service. Congratulations on where you're going next. Madam Speaker, 10 years ago, President Kennedy summed up America's commitment to innovation when he launched the ``man on the Moon initiative'' to send a man to the Moon and back--in those days, they said a man--but a man to the Moon and back safely in 10 years. At that time, he said, ``The vows of this Nation can be fulfilled only if we are first, and therefore, we intend to be first. Our leadership in science and industry, our hopes for peace and security, our obligations to ourselves as well as others, all require us to make this effort.'' Over the past half century since then, Americans have lived up to these words. Science and technological innovation have formed the backbone of our progress as a people and our prosperity as a Nation. And today in passing this innovation bill, this COMPETES Act, we are reaffirming our leadership in science and in industry, and we are keeping America first. Few have done more for the cause of innovation in the Congress than Chairman Bart Gordon, and I'm sorry he is not on the floor yet--he will be momentarily to manage this bill--who was first in sounding the alarm and heeding the call of the report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm.'' That was a report presented by a great innovation leader, Norm Augustine, and the National Academy of Sciences. It provoked us to send a team of Members, legislators around the country. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren from the Silicon Valley invited Chairman George Miller, chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee and the Education and Labor Committee, to a meeting at Stanford University to launch a series of meetings in a bipartisan way to develop an innovation agenda. We met, of course, with academics. We met with workers. We met with venture capitalists to see where the private dollar would go because we believed that this had to be a market-oriented initiative to build the competitiveness of America. We met with every aspect of putting together an innovation agenda, and we met all across the country to do that. We had particularly strong presentations from members of the Asian American community who were quite impatient with the lack of progress that was happening in terms of public policy, and that accelerated the pace of our time table for this. So what came from that was the COMPETES Act that Chairman Bart Gordon was instrumental in bringing to the floor in 2007. We had strong bipartisan support in passing that legislation, I am pleased to say. And again, we are here today to reauthorize the COMPETES Act, to spur innovation, invest in cutting-edge research, modernize manufacturing, and increase opportunity. And I thank you for your remarks, Mr. Perlmutter, and your leadership on this subject as well. As a result, new industries will provide good jobs for our workers, markets for American products will expand, we will reassert our leadership throughout the world and give future generations a better chance to realize the American Dream. It's about jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. Simply put, this legislation supports our efforts to keep America number one, following President Kennedy's lead to keep America first and following the call of President Obama at his inauguration for swift, bold action now to do just that. The COMPETES Act will keep our Nation on the path that we promised, to double the funding for the scientific research over 10 years, create jobs with innovation technology loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized manufacturers and enhanced manufacturing extension partnerships--these MEPs are a very valuable tool for job creation, promote regional innovation clusters--this is new--that strengthen regional economies and expand scientific collaboration, and invest in high-risk/high-reward research through ARPA-E--again, this is a major initiative of Mr. Gordon-- helping ensure American energy independence. Since we know that innovation begins in the classroom, I want to commend Mr. Miller for yielding to Chairman Gordon because we didn't want this bill held up by one jurisdiction or another of committee, and Mr. Gordon has carried that principle that innovation begins in the classroom, and we have those considerations in the bill. This bill will help raise up the next generation of entrepreneurs by improving science, math, technology and engineering education at all levels. It will also train young people to think in an entrepreneurial way and will secure a central role for women and minorities in these fields. As we go forward with this innovation--we had the industrial revolution, we had the technological revolution, and now we have this revolution--we want to do so in a way that brings everyone into the fullest participation in the new prosperity of America and will strengthen and diversify our workforce as, again, we create jobs, jobs, jobs, and jobs. In this Congress, in addition to jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, which is a four-letter word we use all the time, there are four words that describe our agenda. They are: science, science, science and science. Science to provide health care for all Americans. And in our health care bill that we passed and in the Recovery Act of last year, we have major investments in science and technology to make America healthier; science to keep America number one in innovation. In the new technologies to protect the environment and the rest, we have to be competitive. Science and technology will take us there; science to keep our air clean and our water clean for our children and the safety of the environment in which they live; and science to promote our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and to advance the technologies to keep us preeminent in terms of our country's defense. This bill comes down to good-paying jobs for Americans, strong American leadership in the global economy and long-term growth for America's workers and families. It does so in a way that doesn't just put people back to work as we are trying to address the need for more jobs. It puts them back to work in better jobs. It puts more people to work, some who have been unemployed no matter how well educated they are or how economically deprived their areas have been. Some of this is really ground floor, ground floor. We're bringing women, minorities, people from urban areas and rural areas, again, people with a wide range of educational backgrounds but with a prospect for great success. So with this, we are not just solidifying the disparities in our economy. We are opening up avenues for, again, everyone to participate in the prosperity for our country. With that, Madam Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to make a very strong bipartisan vote for jobs, for science, and to keep America number one by voting for the COMPETES Act.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for bringing this resolution to the floor so that we can all rise and sing the praises for the vigilance and sense of community of New Yorkers, the courage of our first responders, and the professionalism, commitment, and determination of our local, State, and Federal law enforcement officers. We salute them. They were prepared. They were ready to act. They calmly did what was necessary. And because of their swift action, the people of New York and the entire Nation remain safe. I thank Congressmen McMahon, Himes, Hall, and all of our colleagues who have sponsored this resolution, recognizing the bravery and, again, the vigilance of individuals and officers of New York and Connecticut as well as the leadership of the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Obama administration. In the wake of this foiled terrorist plot, we are inspired by the true character of the American people. We recall that our country's spirit can always be found in the hearts and deeds of its citizens, people like Lance Orton and Duane Jackson, ``two alert citizens''--and aren't we fortunate for that--as this resolution calls them, who notified the NYPD of a suspicious vehicle in Times Square. The whole country learned of their vigilance and their sense of community. Our country's resolve rests with police officers such as Wayne Rhatigan of the NYPD, who responded immediately to the scene and, with his fellow officers and with the men and women of the New York Fire Department, thwarted the detonation of the car bomb. Our country's strength remains with first responders who run into danger when others run out, who safely and promptly evacuated Times Square, protecting those in harm's way. Our country's determination lies with law enforcement at the local, State, and Federal levels who worked together, pursued leads, and detained the bomber within 2 days of the attempted attack, never resting until the job was done. At moments like this, Congress reaffirms our responsibility, as we do each day, Mr. Speaker, as we pledge to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic. That responsibility is to protect the American people as well. That is our first responsibility. As this resolution states, we ``urge all Americans to remain vigilant about potential terrorists or suspicious activity within their own communities.'' We must follow the example of the people of New York who, as President Obama has said, ``have reminded us once again of how to live with their heads held high.'' Mr. Hall, in his closing remarks, said that the attempt by this terrorist to instill fear was thwarted. The goal of terrorists is to instill fear. The damage is one thing to them, but the fear is really their goal. In that way, in both parts of the attempt, it was thwarted. The violent attack was thwarted, but also, as the President said, we will not be intimidated. This past weekend, everyday Americans joined our police officers, firefighters, first responders, Homeland Security officials, FBI agents, and other law enforcement personnel as heroes. They are all heroes, and we salute them as such on the floor of the House. Their efforts represent the best in America. Their response serves as an inspiration to us all to stay prepared and do everything we can to keep our great country safe. Again, I thank Mr. Pascrell for bringing this resolution to the floor and join in a bipartisan way in saluting the heroes of New York.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay final tribute to a great champion of the environment, Dr. Edgar Wayburn. At age 103, Dr. Wayburn passed away on March 5th surrounded by his beloved family. His accomplishments on behalf of our planet are unsurpassed. Joining me in tribute today is Congressman George Miller. Working for five decades as a physician, Dr. Wayburn understood that the human condition is inextricably linked to the environment. When Dr. Wayburn first arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1933, he was stunned by the uninterrupted expanse of green beginning in San Francisco and crossing the Bay to Marin. He made a lifelong commitment to ensuring that it remained protected. He had the same experience when he first visited Alaska fifty years ago with his wife Peggy. They were captivated by the unique beauty of the Alaskan landscape. The national campaign that flowed from that first visit resulted in the Alaska Lands Act: the largest public lands legislation in the history of the U.S. Congress. Today, more than a million acres remain wild largely because of Dr. Wayburn's first trip to what he called ``the last frontier.'' Dr. Wayburn simultaneously fought to preserve and expand one of America's pristine ancient forests, Redwood National Park in Northern California. Today, these giant redwoods have a permanent home and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Preserve. In San Francisco he orchestrated the creation of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), an almost continuous greenbelt stretching down the Pacific Coast from Point Reyes Seashore to the Peninsula. In the 1960s, the idea of an urban national park was an alien concept to Congress and the National Park Service. Thanks to the tireless labors of Congressman Philip Burton and Dr. Wayburn, along with the support of the local community and local environmentalists, GGNRA is today the most visited national park and one of our nation's great natural treasures. Within its boundaries are redwood forests, beaches, dramatic headlands, marshes, abundant wildlife, historic forts, islands in the Bay, and a world-famous prison--and all of this incredible diversity lies within easy reach of one of the largest metropolitan populations in the United States. It is a living testament to the tenacity of Dr. Edgar Wayburn. Many of us were fortunate to work with Dr. Wayburn on the monumental achievement of transferring the Presidio of San Francisco in 1994 from a military post to an urban national park. He helped craft a model for the nation in a place which respected the stewardship and traditions of the military Presidio's tradition as a military base, while enhancing the opportunities for volunteerism and environmental education for youth. Dr. Wayburn received many awards to honor his accomplishments: the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism from Johns Hopkins University, the Starker Leopold Award by the Nature Conservancy, the John Muir Award by the Sierra Club, and in 1999 Dr. Wayburn's life work was recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that our country can bestow. As President Clinton said at the time, Dr. Wayburn ``saved more of our wilderness than any other person alive.'' Dr. Wayburn, the honorary president-for-life of the Sierra Club, was the stealth force behind so many environmental movements to save the world's wild lands, forests and waters for the benefit of future generations. The magnificent landscapes that he preserved for future generations will stand as a lasting monument to him. Above all, Dr. Wayburn was devoted to his family: his beloved late wife Peggy who was his partner in preserving the environment, his children Diane, Laurie, Cynthia and William and three grandchildren. We celebrate his life and we honor his memory.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding, I thank him for his leadership, and I am very pleased today that we have bipartisan support for this important legislation to benefit our veterans. I, too, join my colleagues in rising to honor the sacrifice and service of the bravest among us, the men and women of our Armed Forces. In the name of our safety, they lay their lives on the line. In the name of our security, they fight our enemies far from home. In the name of our values, they serve as our Nation's greatest ambassadors, as champions of America's families. Each and every day our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines earn the respect of a grateful Nation. And as long as those in uniform continue the battle abroad, we must do everything in our power to support them here at home. I would like to thank all Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who worked so hard to strengthen this bill and bring it to the floor today. Again, I want to commend Bob Filner, the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Chairman Mike Michaud of the Health Subcommittee of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. I also want to recognize the hard work and commitment to those who have worn our Nation's uniform by three key freshmen Members of Congress, Congressman Tom Perriello, Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson, and Congressman Harry Teague. In both Houses, this has been a bipartisan effort, and I commend Ranking Member Buyer for his leadership. I know that everything is not in this bill. There is an endless list of everything we want to do for our veterans, but we are very proud of Senator Burr and the role that he has played in the Senate and all of the Members here. Thank you, Mr. Buyer. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act is a landmark moment in the ongoing effort to give back to our veterans and their families. It's a tribute to their service. In the words of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, it will ``provide valuable benefit for veterans and their families, benefits they need, have earned and so richly deserve.'' This legislation will support family members and others who care for the disabled, ill or injured veterans. This is very important to families, military families. Our wounded soldiers and their families have made a serious sacrifice for our country, and this bill will bring them some relief. It will expand mental health services and health care access for veterans in rural areas and prohibit copays for our most severely wounded warriors. Thank you, Chairwoman Herseth Sandlin, as this bill marks a step forward for the 1.8 million women in uniform, removing existing barriers to female veterans seeking medical care. In a sweeping change long overdue and with strong bipartisan support, we will provide care for newborns in the first time in history. Thank you, Congressman Henry Brown, for your leadership as well, my friend. Today's vote is one in a series of actions taken by this Congress to give back to America's veterans. Our signature achievement remains our new GI Bill, providing those who serve with a full, 4-year college education. This is also transferable to a family member, and also a new improvement that we made was if a serviceman or woman dies in combat, that this opportunity is provided for their children or another family member. Late last year, again in a bipartisan way, we celebrated the passage of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, ensuring that the VA has timely and predictable funding and our veterans receive the high quality care they have earned. Working to make sure that our economic recovery truly benefits all Americans, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act offered a tax credit for hiring veterans and a $250 payment to disabled veterans. Just this past month we passed the TRICARE Affirmation Act, stating explicitly that our health care reform legislation will not impact the excellent health coverage our veterans and servicemembers already receive. In the last 3 years, we have given our troops a pay raise, helped restore military readiness and bolstered support for our military families. Today we strengthen the benefits our men and women in uniform receive. Mr. Speaker, in the course of our meetings with the veterans service organizations and with the families of our men and women in uniform and our veterans, we hear directly from them what their needs are and try to establish their priorities and to make it a priority in allocating the resources of our country. In the course of those conversations, we have heard from the families that in the survey they took of their own membership of Blue Star Families, that 94 percent of them thought that most Americans did not have a clear understanding of their needs. We promised them that in all we do here we will remove doubt in anyone's mind among our military families that we understand their needs, especially if they present them in a prioritized way and will make them our priority in the Congress. In every action we strive to live up to that commitment. Just as the military on the battlefield has said, on the battlefield we will leave no soldier behind. So too when they come home, we will leave no veteran behind. As the leaders of the American Legion have stated, this legislation offers bold solutions to major challenges facing servicemembers, veterans and their families on behalf of every American who wears the uniform. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Ms. PELOSI. Thank you, Mr. Buyer. The chairman has this legislation, as you may be aware, and it is going to Ways and Means and we will be taking it up soon, but we will look forward to working with you and will bring it together in a bipartisan way in the spirit that we owe our veterans. They are all Americans and so are we.

Ms. PELOSI. Thank you, Mr. Buyer, and thank you, Mr. Brown, for your leadership as well.

Ms. PELOSI

Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him and Mr. Lungren for bringing this important resolution to the floor. It is indeed a joy for us to salute our friend, our Chaplain, but our friend, Father Coughlin. I am rarely in awe of anybody's opportunity. As the Speaker of the House, I am afforded many. But when Mr. Sensenbrenner said that he and his wife Cheryl were present at the 50th anniversary of Father's ordination as a priest, I was frankly jealous. What a great honor for you to be there. What a great honor for Father Coughlin that you were there. And Mr. Lipinski, the maker of this motion, he was there as well. So we were proud to be represented in a bipartisan way at that celebration. And it was a reflection of the esteem that we all have for Father Coughlin in this House. Father Coughlin has told me with great pride--now, not usually a proud man, usually a humble man--with great pride that 35 priests concelebrated the Mass that celebrated Father Coughlin's 50th anniversary of his celebration. How proud we all are of you. But the proudest person in the world is Father's mother Lucille, 95 years old. To see her precious son 50 years a priest of the church, for 10 years the Chaplain of this House of Representatives, the first Catholic. It's really a remarkable achievement. Every day of those 10 years when Father has opened the House with a prayer we have all listened attentively because we know that we will be guided well, that he will be our anchor, he will inspire us with words that reflect the values of faith and country. His particular strength I believe springs from a sense of humility that he conveys. After his ordination, he spent time at a Trappist monastery in Kentucky, building strength and his religion and his faith. He spent time working among the poor in Calcutta, India, again living his faith. St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of my City of San Francisco, has said, ``Preach the Gospel. Sometimes use words.'' While using words or deeds, Father Coughlin has been preaching the Gospel for these many decades. And we have been blessed that his path has crossed ours in this Congress. Every Sunday in Catholic churches, and I know in other Christian churches as well, we hear the words ``Do this in memory of me,'' the words of Christ at the Last Supper. But I view it as not just about doing what happened at that Last Supper, but doing the good works that Christ performed here and set as an example for us. And every day in saying the Mass, Father Coughlin does this in memory of Christ. But beyond the Mass, in his personal guidance to us and his work among the poor in India and his prayerfulness in the Trappist monastery in Kentucky, in his stint--is that the word, stint, Father, in Vatican City?--his stay in Vatican City, his enrichment, the enrichment of his faith and religiosity became more intense. So we are all grateful to Dennis Hastert as Speaker of the House and the committee that worked with him to make the choice of what would be a new Chaplain for us 10 years ago. We were blessed that Father Coughlin had worked with Cardinal Bernardin in Chicago and Cardinal George after that, and he was recommended to our former Speaker, who was from Illinois and was well known to the people in Chicago. That connection is a connection that has blessed all of our lives. So as we honor his 10 years of service to the Congress, that is a small number of years--I mean it is a long time to be in Congress and to serve as Chaplain--he has seen us through the dark and through the bright. He has helped us personally, and he has helped us understand our responsibilities to God's creation. And he has always understood. His generosity of spirit has given him an understanding so that when he speaks to any of us we know that we are hearing words of wisdom, words of values, words that are faith-based, but words that recognize our responsibilities to this great Nation as elected officials. He knows to render unto Caesar and to render unto God. We could not be better served. And so it is with great joy that I join our colleagues, some little regret that fate had not placed me in a situation where I could be where Mr. Sensenbrenner and his wife Cheryl were last weekend, and Mr. Lipinski and 35 concelebrants of the Mass of Holy Eucharist to celebrate the 50th anniversary of--how could it be 50 years, Father? Congresswoman Eshoo and I were just talking about when we all went together in a bipartisanship delegation to Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul, and what a moving experience that was. And what a force you were for all of us. To have us see the role that His Holiness played in history of course is well known to us. And I just want to mention Paula Nowakowski here, former staff person to John Boehner, for whom John Paul II was a hero, as he was a personal hero to many of us. But the guide that you were to us to that funeral, to that liturgy, to that transition is something that we will never forget. So for this and for every reason every single day that we serve, we thank you. Anyone who cares about the success of our Nation and our ability to work together is deeply indebted to you. Thank you, Father Coughlin. God has certainly blessed America with your service to this House and to our country. We love you. Thank you.