Deborah Pryce

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the very distinguished Chairman of the Rules Committee. (Mr. Dreier asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from the State of New York (Mr. Reynolds), my very good friend from the Committee on Rules. (Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings), my friend from our Committee on Rules.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the State of Florida (Mr. Shaw), from the Committee on Ways and Means, who worked so hard on this bill. (Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield for a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. (Mr. SHAW asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. I have one remaining speaker.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that. Earlier today, and once again now, a statement was placed in front of me, a statement which was a long, drawn out document, and he was asking me to explain it, and it is very unfortunate that we were not provided with that in advance.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining and how many speakers the gentlewoman from New York has?

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. I have one speaker.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), my friend and colleague.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We have heard a lot of rhetoric tonight, as the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito) mentioned. You would think we were talking about different bills. But the truth is the 35 million seniors that the AARP represents cannot be wrong. This bill is what America's seniors need. They know it and we know it. We have heard them. And let me remind my colleagues that we have before us today a historic opportunity, an opportunity to make the most sweeping changes to the outdated Medicare program since it began in 1965. Bring our seniors the financial relief and the lifesaving medications that they so desperately need and deserve. Support this rule and the bipartisan legislation that it supports. The text of the amendment referred to previously by Ms. Slaughter is as follows: Strike all after the resolving clause and insert in lieu thereof the following: ``That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 1) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary program for prescription drug coverage under the Medicare Program, to modernize the Medicare Program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction to individuals for amounts contributed to health savings security accounts and health savings accounts, to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements, and for other purposes. All points of order against the conference report and against its consideration (except those arising under clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule XXII) are waived.''

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his strong leadership on this measure. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for America's children. Today we will stand with the President of the United States on an extraordinary piece of legislation, legislation that will have the effect of dramatically improving the health and well-being of our Nation's children. About this time last year, my good friend and former Member, Connie Morella, and I introduced this legislation to put into law the Pediatric Rule, a rule that required drug companies to conduct safety tests of adult medicines that were likely to be given to children. We introduced that bill even before a U.S. district court struck down that rule finding that the FDA did not have the authority to enforce it. We felt then, as we do now, that this rule must be strengthened and codified to ensure advancements and effectiveness in medicines that we give to our children. In light of the district court's ruling, Members of this body renewed our efforts this year to see that the rule would be put into law for good. With the hard work of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo) and the blessings of the gentleman from Louisiana (Chairman Tauzin) and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), ranking member, we have found ourselves today ready to move forward. The rule is so important for a few very simple reasons. Many people wrongly assume that children's bodies are just smaller versions of adult bodies. That is just not the case. Simply reducing the dosage of medicine for the treatment of a child is not always effective and is definitely not always safe. By protecting this rule, the Pediatric Rule, and continuing to provide incentives for testing medicines for kids, we will give doctors the information they need to provide our children with the best quality health care. Mr. Speaker, when I told my constituents at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, that this legislation would be up for consideration today, I was greeted with elation. Those who care for and treat our children want the very best for them. They know what they need to deliver the very best. They need the Pediatric Rule and believe it is critical to preserving the long-term health and safety of our kids. That is exactly what this bill does. I am proud to be a part of making these safeguards permanent and this bill a reality. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strengthening the health of our children by adopting this legislation. Every pediatrician will rest easier. I am certain that every parent will.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for that clarification, and I will proceed with my statement. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill that will make much needed improvements in the efficiency and security of our Nation's energy supply. Three months ago we experienced a blackout in the Midwest and Northeast unlike anything we have seen in almost 20 years. We never want to see a dark day like that again, a day where storefronts are dark, factories are shuttered, and the economy is brought to a halt. The repercussions of that day stretched far beyond the cities directly affected. They made every American feel vulnerable. They made every American wonder if their city was next. And after the lights came back on, everyone agreed on one thing, that the crisis could have been prevented if the system had not been neglected. If reliability had been fostered, and if the correct incentives for maintenance, modernization, and expansion of our electricity grid had been created by an energy policy. Americans would not have been left hunting for candles or stranded in subway cars. The lack of a modern and coherent energy policy to ensure a consistent supply of energy left us very vulnerable. Approving a comprehensive overhaul of our energy system will accomplish two very important objectives: It will enhance our national security, and it will strengthen our economy through job creation. We are making incredible progress on a prescription drug bill that will pass in a few days, I believe, but before our seniors can worry about drugs, they have to be able to keep themselves warm at night. So the leadership of this House has worked tirelessly to ensure that we formulate an energy policy that keeps the lights on while lighting the fire of our economy. This bipartisan plan will create nearly 1 million jobs in the energy and manufacturing sectors, recovering some of the lost jobs that high energy prices have stripped from Americans. This plan will put construction workers back to work. It will put truck drivers back on the road transporting raw materials for our energy needs and engineers back on their jobs designing a modern energy system that will propel us into the 21st century. This is how it should be. This is how our economy and our energy sector should work together, strengthening, rather than weakening, each other. And, lastly, this bill will increase our supply and use of renewable fuels and, very importantly to Ohio, ethanol. Ethanol makes our gas burn more cleanly and helps our skies become more clear. The bill contains important steps towards fixing the ethanol tax penalty on the Highway Trust Fund. This fix could mean more than $100 million for Ohio's transportation needs alone. Now is the time when the rubber meets the road. Let us pass this bill without further ado and demonstrate our commitment to keeping the lights on in America's homes and businesses and our commitment to keeping Americans at work. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this fair rule and look forward to what I expect to be a very spirited debate today.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like at this point to engage the chairman in a colloquy as well. Mr. Chairman, I seek clarification of section 704 which amends section 303(c) of the Energy Policy Act. I understand there are basically two ways vehicles are procured by Federal agencies. Either GSA acquires the vehicles and sells or leases them to agencies or in some cases agencies may acquire the vehicles directly. Is it the intent of this provision to require GSA to allocate the incremental cost of all alternative vehicles it procures for other agencies, either by lease or purchase, so that the costs are allocated on a Federal Government-wide basis and not just across the vehicles procured by an individual agency? In other words, under this amendment will GSA be required to allocate the incremental cost of all alternative fuel vehicles it procures each year across the entire fleet it is responsible for?

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, as the leader of the first all women's United States Congressional Delegation to Iraq, it is my pleasure on behalf of Representatives Jennifer Dunn, Sue Kelly, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Marsha Blackburn, Katherine Harris, Darlene Hooley and Carolyn McCarthy, to commend the excellent work being done at the Women's Social and Cultural Society of Mosul. Today, with great honor and privilege, I would like to recognize the major milestones the organization has achieved. The Women's Social and Cultural Society, comprised of more than 200 members, represents a variety of ethnic, religious and professional affiliations. These women are truly creating a new ideal within their country as they promote social, political and educational equality for all Iraqis. For too long, Iraqi women have suffered without equal or even adequate access to education, justice within the legal system, employment opportunities, and representation within the government. The members of the Women's Social and Cultural Society of Mosul must be applauded for their commitment to end decades of oppression against women by fighting to give them a voice and a respected role of leadership within their communities. The challenge is immense, but their determination is steadfast and unwavering. We commend and praise the Women's Social and Cultural Society of Mosul today and urge our colleagues to wish them continued success as they pave the way for future generations of Iraqi citizens.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today the House considers legislation that makes important progress in our fight against crime. H.R. 3214 represents months of bipartisan work by Members who are dedicated to improving law enforcement in our country. Through the increased and improved use of DNA evidence, law enforcement officials will be able to better identify criminals while protecting the innocent. I wholeheartedly support this bill. Across the country, States are experiencing unprecedented backlogs in analyzing DNA evidence in criminal cases. These backlogs create interminable delays, robbing our system of the accuracy and efficiency necessary to identify the innocent, punish the perpetrators, and provide justice to victims. President Bush has recognized the gravity of this problem, and H.R. 3214 provides $755 million to help enact his initiative to reduce the backlogs of unanalyzed DNA evidence. More specifically, H.R. 3214 includes essential provisions that provide for the testing of thousands of unexamined rape kits. According to the Department of Justice, across the United States there are at least 350,000 rape kit DNA samples that need to be analyzed. Many of these kits have been sitting on the shelves of laboratories for years. As a woman and as a Member of Congress, I find the delay in the processing of these kits appalling and unacceptable. DNA evidence from rape kits can provide solid evidence of a perpetrator's identity. Often, these samples are the key piece of evidence, providing ``cold hits'' in cases for which there is no suspect. It is a crime in itself that the processing of these kits has been delayed so long. It is time for the Federal Government to provide the States with the assistance and direction needed to correct this injustice. The bill we consider today provides $151 million each year for the next 4 years for States to eliminate their rape kit backlogs. The bill also ensures that private laboratories can assist in processing rape kits. These measures will ensure that thousands of women in the United States will finally have closure. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, everyone in this Chamber needs to support this important funding package. The President made it very clear when he articulated his plan to fight the war on terror. In no uncertain terms he declared that Iraq is now the central front in this war. The job is only half done, though. Terrorists still roam the globe and threats still exist. If we leave Iraq now, we essentially allow the country to become a terror magnet, a flypaper that attracts terrorists from all over the world to its vast deserts and its countless caves. Iraq will become their home base as they wage their war against freedom, their war against civilization. Mr. Speaker, to vote against this funding package and the goals it seeks to achieve would be to vote in favor of terror and against America's homeland security. It is that critical. This package will provide the funds necessary to establish a working society in Iraq. A government that is run by free Iraqis is a government that provides hope to her people. A free government responds to the wishes and desires of those whom it governs. People who live under a responsive and fair government have no need for terrorism. They do not experience the desperation and destitution that so often are the precursors to a life dedicated to terror. So, Mr. Speaker, a free Iraq keeps terror out of that country and, therefore, out of ours. A free Iraq will send a clear message to people of the Middle East and around the world that freedom and democracy, not violence and terrorism, are the best paths for the future. Hope and stability in Iraq translate into security and peace for Americans here at home. We are close. Iraq is experiencing the first fruits of freedom and now they must be completely transitioned into a state of stability. So far, the coalition provisional authority has made significant progress on infrastructure improvements and governmental restructuring. All of Iraq's hospitals are now fully functional. Schools are opening and running. They are now places for young minds to receive information, not indoctrination. Colleagues of ours who have been there talk of wheat fields and oil fields and cotton fields. This is progress. It is a beautiful picture of what comes of our noble pursuit in the fight for freedom and the war against terror. But more is needed to secure Iraq to bring our troops home soon. The funding in this package will provide the body armor that is so essential to protect them from terrorists. It will provide extra pay and benefits to the soldiers who are already sacrificing so much on our behalf. It will provide our troops the weapons and systems necessary to finish the mission we started and get our troops home to their families. Finally, this package will effectively help to revolutionize Iraq, turning this country from a terrorist breeding ground into yet another beacon of democracy in the Middle East. Terror will be shunned rather than invited. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill to secure America by stabilizing Iraq.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), the very distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules. (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, when Members of Congress met in the subcommittee to write this appropriations package, planning the most effective and efficient way to fund many of these programs, they did not pick random funding level. Quite the contrary. The gentleman from New York (Chairman Walsh) and the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Young) had a good solid record of success to guide them upon which to build. They were able to look at all of the significant battles that Congress has fought and won for our veterans in the past, the measurable steps we have taken to provide better and better and better benefits and care for our veterans. In the fight to enhance veterans access to high-quality health care, we have won many battles. Through the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act, we ensured quality medical staff through competitive compensation for VA nurses. Through the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, the House has increased access to geriatric evaluation, nursing home care and adult day care. In our fight to improve job training, education and employment placement for veterans, we have won many battles as well. Through the Jobs for Veterans Act, Republicans have provided a new system of incentives and accountability measures aimed at enhancing economic security. Through the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Benefits Improvement Act, the House has provided veterans with assistance in starting and growing small businesses. In our fight to enhance veterans survivor benefits, we have won many battles. Through the Survivor Benefits Improvement Act, Republicans have provided $100 million in new health care benefits for surviving spouses and extension in life insurance coverage to families in their time of need. In our fight to improve the overall quality of life for veterans and their loved ones, we have won many battles. Through the homeless veterans law, we have provided $1 billion to help homeless veterans receive housing vouchers and assistance for those veterans undergoing treatment for mental illness and substance abuse. Today we are here to add to that long list of successes. Today we are claiming victory. Today we have an opportunity to make greater gains for our veterans and their communities by approving this significant funding plan. This bill provides $27.2 billion in total budgetary resources for the Veterans Health Administration, a $1.4 billion increase over last year. A $1.4 billion increase over last year, that is not a cut, Mr. Speaker. This package includes nearly $16 billion for medical services, $4 billion for medical facilities, $408 million for veterans medical and prosthetic research. In addition, this plan makes significant investments in America's communities. There is more in this bill than what we have just discussed today. Over $2 billion to assist low-income families in making down payments as they purchase a home, invest in their communities, and achieve the American dream; $850 million for safe drinking water, nearly $16 million for NASA further space exploration. In nearly every way, this funding package builds on our past successes for our veterans and for our own communities. Is it everything on our Christmas list? No, it is not. Is it everything that we had ever hoped to provide our veterans, their families and America's communities? Not even close. But is this progress? Yes, sir, this is progress. It is one more achievement that will encourage us to return and fight harder tomorrow, next month, and next year for more for our veterans and for our communities. Mr. Speaker, America's veterans have served our Nation in invaluable ways. Repaying them for upholding our values of liberty and freedom seems nearly impossible, but we will continue to try. Each year we will work harder and harder to reward their sacrifices. Each year we make progress, and each year we fall short because, very honestly, freedom has no price tag. We can never repay what we owe them. But step by step, bit by bit, we can continue to make gains in honoring their service with better health care, enhance access to housing and job opportunities and more generous benefits for their loved ones, and that is what this plan does. It places us one step further in the ongoing and never-ending quest to reward those who have upheld the liberty we all enjoy. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass the rule and approve the underlying bill.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), the chairman of the Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations.