Deborah Pryce

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 8 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), chairman of the Committee on Agriculture; but more importantly, today, the author of this important reform legislation and a very valued member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan), my very distinguished colleague.

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. Mr. Speaker, I have one remaining speaker. Does the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) have anyone further?

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King), my distinguished colleague and a member of the Committee on the Judiciary. (Mr. KING of Iowa 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. Mr. Speaker, in closing let me just remind my colleagues that the critics had it backwards. This bill restores, rather than undermines, the principled balance of Federalism. It is the other 49 States' rights that are being protected when one State's judge is precluded from making law and determining the law and the outcome for the other 49. This is truly an example of a principle of federalism. This legislation provides important and needed reform. It will help plaintiffs that are part of a class receive more than just a coupon for a box of cereal, a coupon that goes back to the very company that was sued in the first place. It is laughable, Mr. Speaker. It will give needed accountability while preserving the rights of the truly injured. But more importantly for me as a former member of the bench, it will bring back the public's faith in our justice system, because really it has become a joke. As you listen to the debate this afternoon, it is so sad that it is almost funny. This country is only as strong as the faith our citizens have in its laws and how they are applied to them. When it becomes a joke, it weakens us. H.R. 1115 has the strong support of the administration. It is an important step forward in commonsense reform. I urge my colleagues to put the plaintiffs first. Let us get justice back in our system. Support this fair and balanced rule and the underlying legislation.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Luana Lamkin from Hilliard, Ohio, a former member of the Oncology Nursing Society's Board of Directors, and to celebrate May as the ninth annual Oncology Nursing Month. Oncology Nursing Month recognizes oncology nurses, educates the public about oncology nursing, provides an opportunity for special educational events for oncology nurses, and celebrates the accomplishments of oncology nurses. The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), the largest professional oncology group in the United States composed of more than 30,000 nurses and other health professionals, exists to promote excellence in oncology nursing and the provision of quality care to those individuals affected by cancer. As part of its mission, the Society honors and maintains nursing's historical and essential commitment to advocacy for the public good. ONS was founded in 1975, and held its first Annual Congress in 1976. Since the Society was established, 218 local chapters have been formed to provide a network for education and peer support at the community level. In my State of Ohio there are more than 1,226 oncology nurses and health professionals that care for individuals with cancer and their families. In addition, Ohio has 9 local Oncology Nursing Society chapters located in the areas of Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Mansfield, Cuyahoga Falls, Lima, Zanesville, Whitehouse, and Dayton. Luana Lamkin has been helping cancer patients and their families for the last thirty years. Luana is currently the Administrator of Cancer Services at the Grant/ Riverside Methodist Hospitals in Columbus, Ohio. Luana has been active in the Oncology Nursing Society since 1976 and recently served as National Treasurer for the ONS' Board of Directors. She has received numerous awards for her work on behalf of individuals with cancer including the ``Excellence in Nursing Administration'' from the Oncology Nursing Society and the ``Lane Adams Award'' from the American Cancer Society for Outstanding Nursing Leadership. Luana has also worked with the National Dialogue on Cancer on nursing workforce issues. A number of studies and articles that Luana has written on the impact of the nursing shortage on cancer care have been published in distinguished publications such as the Oncology Nursing Forum, Cancer Nursing: Practices and Principles, Seminars in Oncology Nursing, and the Journal of Nursing Research. Since 1982, Luana has presented thirty papers to national and international audiences on a host of cancer care issues such as staff support systems, role development, community resources, patient and caregiver perspectives, strategic planning, issues and trends in cancer nursing, epidemiology, screening, detection, negotiating professional rewards and nursing shortage issues. Over the last ten years, the setting where treatment for cancer is provided has changed dramatically. An estimated 80 percent of all Americans receive cancer care in community settings including cancer centers, physicians' offices, and hospital outpatient departments. Treatment regimens are as complex, if not more so, than regimens given in the inpatient setting a few short years ago. Oncology nurses are on the front-lines of the provision of quality cancer care for individuals with cancer. Nurses are involved in the care of a cancer patient from the beginning through the end of treatment. Oncology nurses are the front-line providers of care by administering chemotherapy, managing patient therapies and side-effects, working with insurance companies to ensure that patients receive the appropriate treatment, provide counseling to patients and family members, in addition to many other daily acts on behalf of cancer patients. With an increasing number of people with cancer needing high quality health care coupled with an inadequate nursing workforce, our nation could quickly face a cancer care crises of serious proportion with limited access to quality cancer care, particularly in traditionally underserved areas. Without an adequate supply of nurses there will not be enough qualified oncology nurses to provide the quality cancer care to a growing population of people in need. I was proud to support the passage of the ``Nurse Reinvestment Act'' in the 107th Congress. This important piece of legislation, signed into law by President Bush, expanded and implemented programs at HRSA to address the multiple problems contributing to the nationwide nursing shortage, including the decline in nursing student enrollments, shortage of faculty, and dissatisfaction with nurse workplace environments. I commend Luana Lamkin and the Oncology Nursing Society for all of their hard work to prevent and reduce suffering from cancer and to improve the lives of those 1.3 million Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2003. I wish Luana and the Oncology Nursing Society the best of luck in all of their endeavors.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in utter astonishment at my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Here we are today with a plan before us that has the potential to create 1.2 million jobs by the end of next year, a plan that would raise the total value of the stock market by at least $550 billion, a plan that has the ability to help small businesses invest in more equipment and expand operations, a plan that would guarantee working families more of what they earn through increases in the child tax credit and further reductions in their overall income tax rates. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to block it. I wonder if the small business owners in their home towns would disagree with them if they knew they did not want them to be able to buy that extra piece of equipment or keep a little more of their profit so that they could hire an extra person. I wonder if the single mother of two from their community who is working two jobs just to make ends meet would ask them to support this package so that they could provide her with a little extra spending money for food and clothes and rent. And I wonder if their neighbors, who are trying to save for their children's education and their retirement, would want them to support this pro-growth package that would increase the value of their 401(k)s. Their questions are the same as mine: Why do they oppose job creation? Why do they want to stop businesses from becoming productive and growing their operations? And why do they think they can spend working families' money better than the families themselves? Mr. Speaker, it is a clear choice before us today. We can complain, we can bury our heads in the sand and do nothing, pretending that we do not need to inject some lifeblood into this economy, or we can look to the future and understand that right now we have the opportunity and the obligation to create jobs and grow this economy. Let us get on with it, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time. In conclusion, this is a fair rule which allows us to move on to the task at hand, strengthening the workforce and equipping the worker with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. As I said earlier, an unlimited supply of jobs would not do our economy much good without workers to fill those positions. Strengthening America's economy requires both good jobs and good workers; and today, we are focused on the worker. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle would pick this apart and stand in the way of progress for America's workers. Nothing new. We see it today, we will see it tomorrow, but I ask my colleagues to put America's workers first, support this rule, and pass the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act.

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. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the great State of Ohio (Mr. Boehner), chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

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

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, we do not have any other speakers on the floor. There may be more coming; but if the gentleman is prepared, we can close.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Shadegg). (Mr. SHADEGG asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, we are reserving our time.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness and the man who has earned the nickname of the Father of One-Stop Career Centers.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 221 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 221 is a structured but fair rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 1261, the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act of 2003. This rule provides for 1 hour of general debate equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. After general debate, it will be in order to consider only the amendments printed in the report accompanying this resolution, by the Member designated and debatable for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by a proponent and an opponent. In total, this rule makes eight amendments in order, three offered by Republican Members and five offered by Democrat Members. Finally, the rule permits the minority a motion to recommit, with or without instructions. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report. Mr. Speaker, one of the greatest experiences for a Member of Congress is when we can acknowledge that a particular policy or plan that we have passed has been successful. Today is one of those times as we reauthorize the landmark 1998 Workforce Investment Act. In 1998, Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act to reform the Nation's job training system. At that time it was fragmented, duplicative and ineffective to both job seekers and employers. The path from unemployment to a job was long and winding and treacherous and often led to a dead end. There were many areas for improvement and we found them. What followed was a plan that consolidated and integrated employment and training services at the local level in a more unified work force development system. Today we can clearly see the positive results. For example, if we take a snapshot view of the program from 2000 to 2001 we see 1.1 million individuals receiving intensive training from programs and services offered and millions more accessing self-service job listings and placement assistance through the one-stop centers and 82 percent of unemployed workers finding a job, up from 76 percent the previous year, increased employment rates for low-income adults rising from 69 percent to 76 percent, and higher diploma attainment rate for youth jumping from 35 percent to 54 percent. What a wonderful accomplishment. Few can dispute this evidence of success. Few can discount the millions of lives that have been changed with greater independence and greater self-worth. So today we will build upon these achievements and pass the Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act of 2003. First, in this plan Congress goes even further in streamlining bureaucracy. Finding a new or better job is no small task, and workers will welcome few barriers allowing them to take full advantage of the employment assistance. Second, the package strengthens essential components such as adult education with vital reading and math skills. An adult education system should focus on improving results for those most in need of help, those who have already been left behind who have not attained the core skills that they need. By improving adults' basic reading and math skills and providing limited English proficiency lessons, this plan goes even further in equipping workers with tools and training necessary to enter the 21st century workforce. This bill also enhances the landmark flexibility and local involvement that Congress provided to States and communities in the 1998 law. More duplicative programs and services have been identified and consolidated, saving money and precious resources. State and local officials receive even more flexibility to target Federal resources toward the unique needs of their own communities. Finally, reauthorizing this plan helps strengthen America's economy by helping more workers find better jobs. The One-Stop Career Center system that provides job training and career information gives workers a necessary bridge to rejoin the workforce or retraining for better jobs. Such services are immeasurable and an investment into America's workforce. Tomorrow this body will consider a jobs and growth package aimed at stimulating businesses and better jobs. Tomorrow we consider how to create new jobs. But today we consider how to strengthen the worker, how to equip the worker with the knowledge and the skills needed to succeed in those new jobs. An unlimited supply of jobs would not do America's economy any good without a qualified worker for each and every one of them. Strengthening America's economy requires both good jobs and good workers, and today I ask my colleagues to remember that when considering this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, in his first year in office, President Bush has put his MBA to the test and he has passed with very high marks. Through a recession, a terrorist attack and a war, the President has amply demonstrated leadership, helping businesses and their workers pull through some pretty tough times. The President and House Republicans understand a simple concept: When America works, America prospers. And the best way to foster that prosperity is by giving businesses the tools they need to create jobs and to grow the economy. Government does not tax things. Government taxes people. When workers and business owners are not allowed to keep the money they earn, productivity suffers, wages decline and research and development gets postponed. That is why the President's jobs and growth plan is so vital, because one American out of work is too many. When America works, America grows. When America works, America prospers. And when America works, America is proud. Let us get to work along with the President, exert some leadership and get this country back to work.

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio

Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I am going to get right to the point, we have an economy today that is flat on its back. The national unemployment rate has hit an 8-year low at 6 percent. Manufacturing has dipped to historic lows, causing inventories to decline. While worker productivity may be on the rise, more and more employees are logging in 3 hours less every day. In the past 2 years, the Nasdaq has fallen over 60 percent. Americans are out of work, and those with jobs are seeing their 401(k)s and retirement savings dwindle by the day. What this economy needs, Mr. Speaker, is what we would call in Ohio a Buckeye boost. We know what the problem is, an investor-led sluggishness, that is stifling growth, new capital demand, and job creation. And we have the right solution. That formula for success begins with the understanding that government does not earn a profit. Government just does not earn a profit. Government does not create the jobs in this economy. Government can only stand in the way of progress and prosperity. So House Republicans have developed a common sense plan that targets the twin pillars of economic growth, consumers and small businesses. Let us talk about consumers first. It might surprise the average American to know that he or she comprises three-fourths of economic activity in this country. That is right. Consumer spending on goods and services represents 75 percent of the entire economy. Think about that for a minute. That is why Republicans place such emphasis on returning power and income back to the hands of the individual taxpayer. Because when they have the money, they spend it on their needs and their family's needs, and that grows the economy. So our plan accelerates income tax relief for every American who pays taxes. We give a little extra help for married couples struggling to make ends meet by eliminating the extra taxes they pay just for saying ``I do.'' I do not know about others, but I have never seen the tax man leave a wedding gift when he confiscates the extra taxes from married couples every April 15. Additionally, our plan expands the child tax credit for families, giving parents an extra $1,000 to help raise their child and pay the bills. Finally, the onerous AMT continues to push more and more families into higher tax brackets. Our plan will save nearly 10 million Americans from paying more. That is real relief. Let us talk about small businesses for a moment. Now the second and perhaps the most important part of this package is small businesses. Nine out of 10 jobs in your neighborhoods and communities were created by small businesses. That local entrepreneur who wanted to take a risk and open their own business is the reason jobs are created and this economy grows. Republicans feel it is important to help that small business owner whenever we can. Our business expensing provisions are just what the doctor ordered. Every business owner I talked to in Columbus, Ohio, tells me how important these expensing deductions are because when we lower costs, we free up income. That lets us businesses make investments elsewhere. How often do we forget that over 23 million small business owners pay taxes at the personal rates, not the lower corporate tax rates. Did you ever wonder where the Democrats come up with these bogus numbers for the ``super rich'' and then they wage class warfare with these numbers? The dirty little secret they hope Americans do not realize is that most of these super wealthy people are actually small business owners. Finally, the capital gains and dividends relief provisions in this package are an economist's dream come true. History is on our side. Every time this Congress has reduced the capital gains rate in this country, the economy has grown and revenues into Washington have increased. Conversely, every time we have raised the rate in order to tax businesses more and reduce the deficit, the opposite has happened. It is a simple economic truism. If you want more of something, tax it less. So the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) and the Committee on Ways and Means have developed a revolutionary idea to tax both dividends and capital gains less. This provision alone is projected to produce 400,000 new jobs and boost the stock market by as much as $550 billion. That is what I call a return on investment. Mr. Speaker, we have failed the American taxpayer and the American worker if we do not first commit in this body to do our level best to create more and better-paying jobs, and that is what we have done. Taken together, this package will produce 1.2 million new jobs in a little more than a year. In contrast, our opponents' plan pledges more spending and more unemployment checks, but no new jobs. There is not one guarantee for any new job under their plan because they raise taxes on individuals and businesses 1 year after they lower them. So the next time Members hear of soaking the rich or reverse Robin Hood, just ask our opponents if their constituents would prefer 1.2 million new jobs or none with an unemployment check. The choice is clear. This economy has one obstacle standing between historic levels of growth and a jobless recovery. That is meaningful tax relief. As Members, we can choose to do something about it, to make bold decisions for a bold recovery. Or we can sit on the sidelines, wring our hands, and hope, like the Democrats, that things get better on their own. Mr. Speaker, the American people did not send us here to be potted plants. We came to change the course of history, to make this country a better place to live, work and raise a family, and that is what I intend to do.