Thomas Perriello

Mr. PERRIELLO

Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the NAACP as it celebrates its centennial. Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has been a tireless crusader against racial discrimination, and it has continuously called our great Nation towards an ever-expanding horizon of liberty and justice for all. Often with support and protection from the NAACP, countless brave citizens of my district joined the great American struggle for civil rights. From slavery and segregation, through massive resistance and Bloody Monday marches, our area has passed through dark nights always to emerge at the dawn of a new era of equality. I thank the NAACP, its staff, and its members for remaining true to our Nation's highest ideals. As it embarks on its second century with new leadership and a renewed commitment to human rights, I congratulate the NAACP on this landmark year in its history and extend our deep appreciation for victories won and those that remain before us.

Mr. PERRIELLO

Mr. PERRIELLO. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 2, the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. At a time of growing unemployment, and when more Americans are losing employer-sponsored health care for their children, this bill is needed urgently for the 150,000 Virginia children currently insured by the program, and the 55,000 more who will be covered. This approach makes good public health policy. It's morally the right thing to do by our children, and it's good economic policy because it rewards the very families and parents who are working their way out of poverty. At a time when the cost of health care is crushing America's families and America's businesses, this is an important lifeline to extend to children in Virginia and children throughout the country. While I am in full support of the underlying legislation, I am disappointed to learn that the Senate bill includes a disproportionate increase in the excise tax rate on tobacco products. The proposed tobacco tax could impact jobs and State revenues in already tight times.

Mr. PERRIELLO. In these very difficult times, we are in this together as a matter of public health and as a matter of economic growth. As the son of a pediatrician, I am pleased to have the opportunity to vote in favor of this critical legislation and in favor of children in the Fifth District. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in putting America's children first and cast a vote in favor of this important bipartisan legislation.

Mr. PERRIELLO

Mr. PERRIELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support an economic recovery based on investing in America's competitive advantage. Voters in Virginia's Fifth District sent me here because they recognize two things: First, we need fundamental change to revitalize this country's economy; and second, there are no shortcuts to getting there. Somewhere along the way the world economy changed, but government responses stayed the same. The result in my district has been years of declining jobs, declining wages, and rising health care costs. These economic woes are now confronting the Nation as a whole, and we face an urgent moment as we lose half a million jobs every month. We need a recovery strategy immediately, but this plan must be based on investment, not just throwing money at the problem. This crisis reflects a failure of confidence and will only be solved by its restoration. You restore confidence by fixing problems, not by pretending they aren't there. The distinction between stimulus and recovery means more to economists than to our actual economy. I believe our Nation's economy will recover only through a visionary strategy for rebuilding America's competitive advantage. That means real commitment to investing in our workforce, our infrastructure, our innovation, and the new energy economy, and that must include investment in our small towns and rural communities. This investment will be the guidance that our constituents need to create American jobs and turn this economy around.