Todd Platts

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise here today to welcome as guest chaplain on the floor of the House of Representatives Rabbi Irwin N. Goldenberg, a constituent, friend, well-liked and well-respected religious leader in my home community. Rabbi Goldenberg has served at Temple Beth Israel in York, Pennsylvania, since 1973. With Rabbi Goldenberg's retirement set for June 2008, numerous members of Temple Beth Israel approached my office and suggested he be invited as a guest chaplain. I was very pleased to have forwarded the request along to Father Coughlin and am grateful that Rabbi Goldenberg was able to give the opening prayer this morning. Rabbi Goldenberg is a graduate of Rutgers University and Hebrew Union College. He is married to Joyce Meschmar and has two grown children, Rachel and Dahlia. In addition to his general rabbinic duties, Rabbi Goldenberg has taught countless adults, children and teens at Temple Beth Israel and its religious school. He has also taught at York College and Gettysburg College, both located in the 19th Congressional District. Rabbi Goldenberg has also been extensively involved in his community, from being a member of the board of the York Jewish Community Center to teen pregnancy mentoring at the YWCA to serving on the task force on domestic violence. It is a true honor to have Rabbi Goldenberg with us here today. I thank him for the prayer that he offered and I wish him the best for an enjoyable and relaxing retirement in the years to come.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 895 (H.R. 1400), I missed the vote due to extenuating circumstances. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support House Resolution 257. This resolution will to help increase awareness for pancreatic cancer, the deadliest of all cancers. Mr. Speaker, few Americans may understand that pancreatic cancer is a horrific killer. This year alone, over 37,000 people will be diagnosed with this disease. Sadly, 99% of those diagnosed will lose their lives due to a lack of early detection tools. Many Americans are not aware that pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers; only 4 percent of patients will survive beyond 5 years after diagnosis. This is why it is a moral imperative for Congress to work to increase awareness of this deadly cancer. I became aware of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (known as ``Pan CAN'') through a constituent of mine, Bob Hammen, who lost his wife to this terrible disease. Pan CAN is the only national advocacy organization which provides support for pancreatic cancer patients and their families. In their efforts to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer, Pan CAN regards each November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. H. Res. 257 supports Pan CAN's efforts to raise the awareness which is desperately needed to improve early detection methods and treatment for this disease. Mr. Speaker, because all of our fellow citizens have family, friends, and neighbors who are regrettably vulnerable to this dreaded disease, I urge support from my distinguished colleagues for this resolution here today.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding, and I certainly appreciate his leadership on this very important issue. I do appreciate the ranking member's issues he has raised and that perhaps this amendment doesn't go far enough in what it includes in the type of renewable energy that is acknowledged. I would say that this is a starting point. If we support this amendment, if we get into conference, then we can build on this to look at other options. But we have to start somewhere. I think this is a good starting point. So I rise in support of this amendment which would establish a National Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard of 15 percent by 2020. A 15 percent RPS is an important step that we can take to meet our growing energy needs in an environmentally friendly manner and decrease our dependence on foreign oil and create more jobs. A study by Woods McKenzie found that a 15 percent RPS would decrease the price of natural gas by 15 to 20 percent, decrease wholesale electricity prices by 7 to 11 percent, for a savings of $240 billion to consumers and would avoid almost 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide by the year 2030. In addition, a Federal RPS would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. In fact, the top five States that have been hit hardest with the loss in their manufacturing economy over the past 6 years, California, Ohio, Texas, North Carolina, and my home State of Pennsylvania, would benefit most from the creation of new agricultural and manufacturing jobs because of the passage of this amendment. My home State of Pennsylvania has established an RPS of 18 percent by 2020. Since its inception in 2004, the Renewable Energy Standard is associated with the creation of several thousand new jobs. Projections show that a national RPS would create an additional 7,000 jobs in my State alone. Momentum has been steadily growing for a national RPS. Currently, almost half of all States have implemented such an RPS standard. Mr. Chairman, I believe a national RPS is an important step to make to reduce pollution and lessen addiction to foreign energy sources. I urge a yes vote, and I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Chairman, I will quickly just say that I am honored to have joined with the gentleman from Connecticut in offering this amendment. I want to commend him for his leadership both in the State legislature and now here in Washington on issues important to our Nation's youth. I also want to reference I am the ranking member of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee of the Committee on Education. And our chairwoman, Chairwoman McCarthy, has been a great leader this year on issues dealing with juvenile justice and the needs of our youth. And I just appreciate the efforts here in trying to strengthen our juvenile justice system and our treatment programs so that our youth get the services, the treatments they need as well, as the appropriate imposition of justice based on their age and stage of development. And that is what this amendment sought to do. I very much appreciate the chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking member for their efforts in addressing the funding needs of this area and their efforts to work with the gentleman from Connecticut and me and others as we go forward to strengthen the funding for these very important programs so we can do right by the youth of our Nation and help those who are troubled and get into difficulties with the law to be treated and be rehabilitated and, as the title of the underlying act, the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act, to prevent delinquency in the years to come. So, again, I appreciate the gentleman from Connecticut's leadership on this issue.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Chairman, before I address my amendment I certainly want to commend Chairman Obey and the ranking member, Mr. Walsh, and their staffs for their dedicated work on this very important appropriations bill. I sincerely appreciate their efforts. Madam Chairman, literacy skills are the cornerstone of our education system. I think that we can all agree that students who struggle with reading face challenges in all subject areas in school. Unfortunately, children of parents who themselves have difficulty reading English are even more likely to perform at low literacy levels. For this reason, my predecessor, the Honorable Bill Goodling, former Republican chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, established the Even Start Family Literacy Program. Even Start is the only Federal education program that teaches literacy skills to both parents and their children. Through this program parents receive the necessary skills to become a teacher to their children and to improve their lives. Even Start serves the most economically and educationally disadvantaged population in the country. According to a Department of Education report, 84 percent of Even Start's families are at or below the Federal poverty level. Nearly half of Even Start families have an annual household income of under $6,000, and 84 percent of Even Start adults do not have a high school diploma or GED. Even Start is a program that provides disadvantaged families with an opportunity to provide a better life for their children. Parents enroll in Even Start to become better parents, to further their education, and to improve their children's chance of success in school. At the Even Start centers in my hometown of York, Pennsylvania, I've witnessed firsthand the positive and significant impact that this program is having on parents and children alike. The Even Start program has yielded successful results. A 2005 Texas A&M study has found that, on average, employment rates rise from 17 percent to 51 percent after program completion. In addition, wages increased by more than 25 percent. Despite these positive results, and even with the Appropriations Committee's approximately $17 million proposed increase over the fiscal year 2007 funding level, the underlying bill's proposed funding level for the Even Start program is 60 percent less than the amount provided in 2002. Even Start centers struggled this past year to keep their doors open, and many had to close their doors permanently because of this drastic funding cut. For these reasons, I've introduced this amendment to H.R. 3043. My amendment would increase the appropriations for the William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy Program by $50 million, bringing its total appropriation to $149 million. While this increase may seem significant, it's important to put the proposed level of $149 million into perspective. Even with the increased proposed in this amendment, the total level of funding for Even Start will still be 40 percent less than the funding levels provided in fiscal years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively. In fact, the underlying bill's funding level is less than what was provided even 13 fiscal years back, in 1995. I certainly thank Chairman Obey for his support and advocacy of the Even Start program throughout many years. The Even Start program helps our most disadvantaged parents better their lives for themselves and their children. I hope all Members will join me in supporting the Even Start program. I urge a ``yes'' vote. Madam Chairman, I yield back my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Presbyterian Homes, Inc., located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, for reaching its 80th anniversary. Presbyterian Homes, Inc., (PHI), originated in 1927 when Mrs. Ellen Parker donated her farmhouse to care for 10 older women from Central Pennsylvania. Today, PHI is dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable healthcare, housing, and retirement services to older Americans in 19 communities. More than 2,500 administrators, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare staff provide care to over 5,100 residents of PHI. Throughout its system of care, PHI provides independent living facilities, assisted living and personal care, skilled nursing care, specialized Alzheimer's and dementia care, rehabilitation therapy, adult day services, and operates a meals-on-wheels program. Madam Speaker, please join with me congratulating Presbyterian Homes, Inc., on their 80th anniversary. I wish them luck as they begin their traveling exhibit which makes its debut in the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in May.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution to support the goals and ideals of National Community College Month. Community colleges are centers of educational opportunity. For over 100 years, they have been inclusive institutions that welcome all who desire to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage or previous academic experience. Since their creation, community colleges have grown tremendously in numbers and have changed with the times. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, there are over 1,000 community colleges in this country serving about 11 million students. No other segment of higher education is more responsive to its community and workforce needs than the community college. The community colleges help provide the country with professionals in fields like computer technology, law enforcement, homeland security, nursing and other health care fields. About 50 percent of new nurses are educated at community colleges, and close to 80 percent of firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medicine technicians received their credentials from community colleges. Not only do community colleges serve a unique role in graduating students with specific skills, but they are also extremely affordable. Tuition and fees at public community colleges average less than half of those at public 4-year colleges and one-tenth the tuition and fees at independent 4-year colleges. In my congressional district, the Harrisburg Area Community College is a shining example of the important and successful role of community colleges in our Nation's higher education system. In fact, I am fortunate to have two branches of the Harrisburg Area Community College in my congressional district, in York and Gettysburg. Graduates from HACC begin careers in fields currently experiencing shortages such as nursing, early childhood education, and law enforcement. I have seen firsthand the successful partnerships created between the community college and local businesses. We hope to continue to build on the support being given to community colleges through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The reauthorization is an opportunity to look at every program individually and determine if it is helping us meet our goal of providng a quality and affordable post-secondary education to every American. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring the goals and ideals of National Community College Month. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Does the gentlewoman have other speakers?

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time then.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I again urge a ``yes'' vote and want to commend the sponsor, Mr. Miller, and others supporting this, and my chairwoman, Mrs. McCarthy, for her advocacy here on floor. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 112, supporting the goals and ideas of a National Child Care Worthy Wage Day. I would like to thank my colleague from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) for her leadership on this issue and for introducing the resolution we are considering here today. Child care is an integral part of the daily routine of millions of families with young children. Working parents depend on child care so they can earn the income needed to support their families, as well as ensure that their children are well cared for in safe environments while they are working. As a result, approximately 63 percent of children under 5 years of age are in some type of regular child care environment each week. High-quality child care, care that provides a stable, safe, stimulating environment, helps children enter school prepared to learn. Research has repeatedly shown that children who receive high-quality child care demonstrate greater mathematical ability, greater attention and thinking skills and fewer behavioral problems than children who receive low-quality care. Quality care is directly linked to the quality of the educators, helping children to grow, learn and gain new skills is rewarding. However, it's very physically and emotionally taxing, as educators work long days, must be constantly alert, deal effectively with disruptive children, anticipate and prevent trouble, and provide firm but fair discipline. As a result, many child care workers leave the profession. The turnover rate in this industry is roughly 30 percent per year. Compensation and additional training are important variables to ensure a high quality child care environment for our children. We need to attract and retain educators who have the caring, consistent relationships that are critical to children's development. I am pleased to commend our Nation's child care providers for their dedicated service to our Nation's children and their families. I think it's important that we are taking time to recognize the critically important work of child care providers and the importance of doing better when it comes to their pay and benefits. As a parent myself, my children, now second grade, fourth graders, went through a preschool program that was exceptional, it was certified. In that facility, we had both the preschool program and a very high-quality child care center as well. We saw the benefits to our children personally of that professional setting. An important part of being able to retain professional workers, staff, in those settings, is the pay and benefits. When we look at the quality of these facilities, if we don't reduce that turnover rate, that 30 percent turnover rate, we will continue to be challenged to get somebody new in and get them up to speed. That impacts the quality of the care provided. So I, again, commend the sponsor of the resolution for helping to raise national recognition and the importance of this issue, and urge a ``yes'' vote. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) as much time as he may consume. (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as the gentleman may consume to another distinguished member of the Florida delegation, Mr. Keller.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, we have got a great group of very proud Floridians here today. I am pleased to yield again as much time as the gentleman may consume to the gentleman, Mr. Bilirakis, from Florida.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Florida Gators team will certainly go down as one of the best teams in the history of college basketball. After winning back-to-back championships this year, Coach Billy Donovan said, ``I sit up here very, very humbled, because I think I was fortunate enough over the last 2 years to coach a group of guys that has to go down in history as one of the greatest teams of all time.'' The love for the game and each other, the hustle and hard work that the players exemplified the past 2 years is something they certainly learned from their head coach, Billy Donovan. At the young age of 41, Coach Donovan is now in some elite company being one of only four active coaches to have won multiple championships. I extend my heartiest congratulations to Head Coach Donovan, all of the hardworking players, their fans, and all members of the University of Florida family, including another distinguished graduate of the University of Florida who I would be in trouble with if I didn't mention when I go home tonight. My next oldest brother, Mark Platts, graduated in 1987 with a master's degree from the University of Florida. I am happy to join with my chairwoman as well as my colleagues from Florida in honoring this exceptional team and all of its accomplishments and wish them continued success, unless they are playing my alma mater in the years to come. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany).

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support House Resolution 344, congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education. Charter schools are innovative public schools with a simple interest in providing a quality education to children in their communities. They explore new educational approaches, such as longer school days or extended school years, and are free from most rules and regulations governing conventional public schools. These schools meet the student achievement and accountability requirements under No Child Left Behind in the same manner as traditional public schools and they often set higher individual goals to ensure that they are of high quality. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues from New York, Louisiana, Connecticut, elsewhere around the country in recognizing these innovative public schools, and I am proud to recognize this week as National Charter Schools Week. I commend President Bush for his recent proclamation stating, quote, ``recognizing the important contributions of charter schools,'' as well on the executive branch side; and again urge a ``yes'' vote for this resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 293, which supports the goals and ideals highlighted through National Volunteer Week. I would like to thank my colleague from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea- Porter) for introducing this legislation and bringing it to the floor here today. As we have heard, National Volunteer Week has been celebrated since 1974, when President Nixon signed an executive order establishing this annual celebration of volunteerism. As we now celebrate another National Volunteer Week, we are reminded that community service takes place through efforts both large and small throughout our great country. This year's Volunteer Week theme is Inspire by Example, and countless individuals of all backgrounds and ages inspire others every day through their efforts to address the common concerns of our neighborhoods, communities, Nation, and world. And I know personally that it was the example of my parents, Babs and Dutch Platts, volunteering in our community as a Sunday school teacher, a Little League coach, running the school candy sales; their example of volunteerism for me and my four siblings helped to inspire my interest in public service and pursuit of this very position I now hold. Our country has seen the inspiring example of our citizens' willingness to serve others in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/ 11 and rebuilding efforts along the gulf coast, and in response to countless other tragedies, large and small, that touch lives every day. Community service isn't just about responding to disaster. It is also about lifting a hand to help a neighbor, teaching a child to read, restoring a neglected park, and numerous other acts of good will that reaffirm our common humanity. As cochair of the National Service Caucus here in the House with Representatives Chris Shays, Doris Matsui and David Price, I am particularly interested in seeing the spirit of volunteerism celebrated and extended to as many Americans as possible. As this resolution says, more than a quarter of this country's population volunteered in some capacity from September of 2005 to September of 2006 at an estimated value or benefit to our country of $280 billion. I certainly hope these numbers continue to grow. I also want to express my thanks to the thousands of organizations and their leaders across the country that capture the spirit of our volunteers and bring that spirit to bear in a concentrated way to relieve suffering, provide opportunities to the needy, to clean up our communities, and bring hope to millions. These organizations and the public and private partners that support them provide needed infrastructure to support the energy of our community service providers. As this resolution states, National Volunteer Week will continue to raise awareness of the role that volunteers play in local, national and international communities, and their commitment to improving lives, strengthening communities and fostering civic engagement. Again, I thank my colleague, Ms. Shea-Porter, and urge my colleagues to support National Volunteer Week and to support House Resolution 293. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PLATTS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut, cochair of the National Service Caucus (Mr. Shays).