Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, we have no further requests for time. I yield back the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. My sincerest thanks and congratulations to the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Urban Search and Rescue team for their heroic efforts in aiding the relief work in Haiti. Their courage and dedication to helping save lives are examples for us all. Under the leadership of Division Chief Dave Downey, an 80-man team was sent to Haiti 1 day after it was ravaged by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. I would like to commend Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, under the direction of Fire Chief Herminio Lorenzo, for their courageous commitment and dedication to saving lives in south Florida and worldwide. As a result of their work in Haiti, lives have been saved and many more individuals have been aided. Their selfless dedication and sense of mission are testaments to our Nation's highest principle. The team's experience in disaster relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina, in the aftermath of 9/11, and the 1999 earthquake in Turkey, as part of the national Urban Search and Rescue Response System, were invaluable to their rescue efforts in Haiti. Congratulations to all.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the outstanding work and selfless commitment of Mr. Pius Bannis. Mr. Bannis is the Field Office Director in Port-au-Prince for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty in the weeks since the horrific earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12. Working around the clock, Mr. Bannis has helped to process hundreds of adoption cases, helping to unite American families with their Haitian children in the aftermath of this tragic disaster. Mr. Bannis is a hero. Because of his tireless efforts and compassion, many of the most vulnerable children in Haiti are able to look toward a much brighter future. I am inspired by the selfless dedication, and again thank Mr. Bannis, as well as all of the employees of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, for their extraordinary service in helping Haitian children.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the most decorated ships of the United States, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham. For 52 years, the Ingham protected our shoreline. Entering service in 1935, the Ingham delivered critical assistance to the United States in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The Ingham protected Allied ships that were ferrying supplies to Great Britain during the Second World War. With the American flag flying high on her mast, the Ingham battled stormy weather, dodged German U-boats, sank an enemy submarine, and eluded enemy aircraft. The Ingham also served in the Pacific, acting as the amphibious flagship for four of the Philippine Islands invasions. It was from aboard the Ingham that General MacArthur planned and oversaw the critical capture of Corregidor. More recently and closer to home, in 1980 over 125,000 Cubans fled north from the oppressive Castro dictatorship in battered rafts and stormy weather. The Ingham was instrumental in rescuing many refugees adrift in these makeshift rafts and bringing seven refugee vessels to safety, saving 122 lives. She is the only ship in our history to receive two Presidential citations and has been awarded an astounding 14 Battle Stars and 19 ribbons. The Ingham and the many crew members who have served both on and below her decks are a testament to our great Nation. A total of 912 casualties are honored on a memorial plaque on her quarterdeck. Having paid the ultimate price for our freedom, these men and women earned our respect. When the Ingham was decommissioned in 1988, she was the second oldest American warship afloat. Now a floating museum, it is through the exhibits and memorials within the Ingham that we can honor and remember all of those 912 service men and women and all that they have done in the service of our Nation. The Ingham is a national historic landmark and serves as a national memorial to all Coast Guard men and women killed in action. It is through the leadership of former Key West Commissioner Bill Verge, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve member and a Vietnam veteran who serves as the executive director of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Memorial Museum, as well as Beth Nowell, development director for the museum, that the residents of Key West and I were able to welcome the Ingham to our maritime family with open arms. Towed in to stand tall alongside the active USS Mohawk, the Ingham will be open to the public as a living and breathing museum. This historic ship has saved so many lives and helped shape the course of American history. She and her crews have performed every mission in the best tradition of the United States Coast Guard. I give thanks to the unwavering dedication and work of the crew of the Ingham for over half a century of service. The Ingham is a demonstration of what it means to be an American and why we should always be proud to say so. So please come to Key West and see for yourself this beautiful museum, a testament to the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of my bill, House Resolution 1044, commemorating this year as the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi extermination camps. Over a million people were systematically tortured and brutally murdered there. The Nazis at Auschwitz conducted cruel medical experiments on prisoners, including children. They intentionally infected prisoners with diseases and performed forced sterilizations and castrations on adults. Most of those who perished at Auschwitz were Jews. But others that the Nazis perceived as enemies or inferior to Hitler's Aryan image were also murdered at Auschwitz. It was hell on Earth. Leo Schneiderman, a Holocaust survivor said the following about his arrival at Auschwitz, and I quote: ``When we came in, the minute the gates opened up, we heard screams and barking of dogs, and then we got out of the train. And everything went so fast. Men separated from women. Children torn from the arms of mothers. The elderly chased like cattle. The sick, the disabled were handled like packs of garbage. My mother ran over to me and grabbed me by the shoulders, and she told me, `Leibele, I'm not going to see you no more. Take care of your brother.' '' After years of misery and suffering, only a few thousands had remained when the Soviet Army arrived on a snowy day in 1945. Most of those survivors were too weak to realize that they had been liberated. We must remember what happened and ensure that humanity always prevails over hateful savagery and oppression. The resolution we are considering today, Mr. Speaker, commemorates the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and honors the victims who perished at the hands of the Nazis. It expresses gratitude to the people whose efforts helped defeat the Nazi regime. It reaffirms the commitment of the House to bolster Holocaust education here in the United States and abroad, and to ensure that what happened during the Holocaust is never allowed to happen again. And it also urges all countries to enhance their efforts to fight bigotry, racism, intolerance, and anti-Semitism. We must heed the lessons of history, remain vigilant, and stand firmly against purveyors of hatred who incite to violence against Israel, against the Jewish people, and all of us who stand for liberty and the fundamental rights of all human beings. As Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a ceremony last week which marked the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and I quote: ``We will always remember what the Nazi Amalek did to us, and we won't forget to be prepared for the new Amalek, who is making an appearance on the stage of history and once again threatening to destroy the Jews. We will not take this lightly and believe that these are empty statements. We will never forget and always remember to stand guard.'' So as we commemorate the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, I urge my colleagues to keep those words in mind and work to support and ensure that the world will never again see another Holocaust. I would also like to use this opportunity to say that I will be introducing a bill this week that will open the door for Holocaust survivors to bring Holocaust-era insurance claims against insurance companies in the U.S. courts. This bill will force insurance companies to disclose the names of Holocaust insurance policy holders. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to render their full support to this resolution. I reserve the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Judge Poe, a member of our Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and we yield back the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the brave work and the supreme dedication of the command and crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk. The Mohawk has just returned from a 2-month deployment and is now home at Coast Guard Sector Key West. During their deployment, they were diverted to Haiti in response to the earthquake that hit on January 12. The Mohawk was the second cutter on the scene and the first to have Coast Guard crew members on the ground in Port-au-Prince. On behalf of our grateful Nation, I thank each and every crew member for their role in this humanitarian mission. My most supreme appreciation goes out to Corpsman Second Class Elias Gomez. Corpsman Gomez will certainly be receiving commendations and awards in the coming months for his heroic actions in the gruesome scene that was Port-au-Prince. Corpsmen Gomez set up a minihospital and triage directly in the streets of the capital. He set broken bones and he closed wounds, all the while having to create tools and making do with limited supplies. His actions were as resourceful, were as inventive and as innovative as they were lifesaving. Corpsman Gomez's ``dirt medicine'' was an example of American values at its finest. This great young American and father of four truly led by example, and I join with those whose lives he saved in thanking him for all that he has done. Through efforts like those of Corpsman Gomez, the wonderful crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk helped save countless lives and performed their mission in accordance with the best traditions of the U.S. Coast Guard. Their assistance was both essential and invaluable. We have all seen the devastation that is present at the island nation of Haiti, and it is beyond words. The United States has a unique duty to protect, to defend, and to support freedom, and all peoples, around the globe. As proven by the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, this noble cause lives on in our Nation's oldest continuous seagoing service. The efforts of the command and crew of the Mohawk have supplied a lifeline of humanitarian assistance to Haiti and will certainly help ignite the spirit of hope for recovery in that devastated island nation. Every day, I give thanks to our local Coast Guard personnel, no matter how they serve. Their efforts are first and foremost to safeguard our Florida coastline. This fact is never lost on me or anyone else in south Florida. We feel their presence every day and take comfort in the fact that the men and women of the Coast Guard Sector Miami, as well as the Sector Key West, truly lived their motto, ``Always ready.'' We as a nation can never repay those who serve, but we can take pride in knowing that those men and women have served not just our community but our neighbors in need as well. Their humanitarian mission reminds us all of what it means to be an American and why we should be so proud to say, every day, ``I am an American.'' The commitment of the U.S. Coast Guard is illustrative of how we must all do our part to help with continuing relief efforts in Haiti. To each and every crew member on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, I say thank you: Commanding Officer Robert T. Hendrickson, Executive Officer John J. Driscoll, Corpsman Second Class Elias Gomez, and all of the crew as well as the families who support these heroes, thank you. Your works are testimony to our great Nation. ``Always ready,'' and we thank you for it. Thank you, U.S. Coast Guard. Thank you, Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk. Welcome home. Godspeed.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I rise today to recognize two outstanding Americans, my good friends, Ronald and Glenda Krongold, constituents of my congressional district. For decades, the Krongolds have dedicated themselves to the safety and security of our democratic Jewish State of Israel, including through their leadership in the National Israel Bonds Campaign. Ron served as vice chairman and chairman of new leadership. Their work on Israel bonds has contributed greatly to Israel's thriving economy and its booming scientific, technological, and entrepreneurial sectors. Ron's expertise has also benefited our home State of Florida. He played a pivotal role in the negotiations of the Trade Understanding between our State of Florida and Israel, signed by then-Secretary of Commerce for Florida, Jeb Bush. Ron and Glenda, for your dedication you have the appreciation of this House and of countless Americans and Israelis. Thank you for your work. Keep it up.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask how we can break the national 10 percent unemployment barrier which has now hit my home State of Florida hard with a totally unacceptable 11.8 percent unemployment rate. The congressional leadership has created a cloud of uncertainty over the economy, with support for more oppressive regulations, skyrocketing deficits, tax increases, and trade barriers. The administration's spending policies, including the nearly $1 trillion stimulus bill, have drastically increased the national debt by 23 percent, while unemployment has increased by more than 3 million. And today the CBO announced that the U.S. deficit for the current fiscal year will come in at $1.3 trillion, which means that in the 1 year in which the party controlling the White House and Congress has been entrenched, the annual deficit has increased by over 300 percent. We need to do everything we can to encourage entrepreneurs and small businesses to once again create jobs through sensible regulation, through reduced government spending, lower taxes and greater investment in education. I am looking forward to the President's State of the Union message to see what course he has set for this year and will look forward to working with Members in a bipartisan manner to help bring our economy to full employment as soon as possible. National School Counseling Week

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Later on, Mr. Speaker, we will be discussing an important resolution which designates the week of February 1 as National School Counseling Week on behalf of each and every child that these counselors have helped. As a mother, as a grandmother, and as a former Florida certified teacher, I recognize just how important it is to fully support our children at every turn. School counselors across the Nation share the same commendable goal to meet the needs of every child. They work each and every day to offer our children their expert guidance and compassionate care. Whether at home or in school, every child will face new and sometimes difficult situations as they develop into young adults. Through a strong family, many children are able to navigate potentially difficult situations, emotions and decisions from a positive base. But even with the most cohesive and supportive of families, there are times when a growing child needs outside counsel. Our school counselors can offer children this vital resource: trusted and impartial guides in times of uncertainty as well as thoughtful friends for uncomfortable questions. And they willingly work with all children, regardless of their background or history, and are often the last lifeline for our troubled children. We all recognize that children go through tremendous social, personal and emotional development, all while being tasked with achieving academic success. Ensuring that our children are prepared to be tomorrow's adults requires that each of these components come together seamlessly. Our children are being forced to grow up faster than any generation before them. Today's children live in an interconnected world that is vastly different from the one that our parents, or even we, knew. In this sea of rapid and radical change, it is reassuring to know that our school counselors will be there to support those children that need it most. They offer each child an indispensable link between the classroom and the real world. School counselors are without a doubt a vital link in our children's emotional and academic educations. Always willing to lend their sympathetic ear and advice, school counselors are never far at hand when a child needs to express his or her fears, hopes and aspirations. School counselors are helping our children to develop into wonderful young adults each and every day. We should all welcome the opportunity to say congratulations to these unsung protectors of our children. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues later on today as we take up this bill to honor school counselors across the United States to vote in favor of this resolution, for it is a fine tribute to people whose life's mission is to turn today's children into tomorrow's leaders. Thank you very much for the time, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2949. Two weeks ago today, Haiti was devastated by its largest earthquake in over two centuries. The United States has been unparalleled in its efforts to assist Haiti in the wake of this catastrophe and it only makes sense that we would show the same compassion and generosity to the many Americans who were victims of this tragic disaster. As my colleagues have shared, this bill will provide important temporary assistance to help U.S. citizens on a need basis as they return from Haiti and re-establish themselves here in the U.S. When the earthquake struck, there were an estimated 45,000 Americans living in Haiti. Since then, nearly 12,000 Americans have been evacuated. This bill will help to cover the costs related to these repatriations. Again, I rise in support of this important measure and if I may, would also like to take a moment to acknowledge the many Americans whose lives were lost as well in the earthquake. My most sincere thoughts and prayers go out to all of the family and friends who lost loved ones that day.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the largest of the Nazi extermination camps. Over 1 million people were systematically murdered at Auschwitz in gas chambers or shot or tortured or starved to death or any cruel combination. Most of those who perished were Jews, but others that Nazis perceived as enemies were also murdered there. As we honor the victims of the Holocaust and those who helped to defeat the Nazis, we must also reaffirm our commitment to enhancing Holocaust education programs in our schools and urge all countries to bolster their efforts in fighting bigotry, racism and anti-Semitism. In the words of Elie Wiesel, who is an Auschwitz survivor, ``There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.'' Let our voices be heard loudly and clearly. Never again. Tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Let's honor their struggles every day.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute Miami attorney Ira Leesfield on receiving the 2010 American Jewish Committee's Judge Learned Hand Award for Preferred Excellence. The American Jewish Committee must have had Ira in mind when this prestigious award was created to honor the memory of Judge Learned Hand and the principles that he so well represented: individual rights and the importance of democratic values in an orderly society. With his very strong professional background, outgoing personality and true compassion for our community, Ira Leesfield has been a strong voice for civil rights in south Florida for many years, and I am honored to count him as a friend. As the senior and managing partner of Leesfield & Partners, P.A., Ira has received many other honors, including the Anti-Defamation League's Jurisprudence Award, and he was the first Florida recipient of the American ORT Jurisprudence Award. I am pleased to join the American Jewish Committee, his family, friends, and neighbors in their celebration of Ira's countless contributions to our community and, indeed, to our Nation.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois, for his leadership on this crucial effort to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime, and I rise in support of his resolution to congratulate Ambassador Nancy Goodman Brinker for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Since her sister's death 30 years ago, Nancy has been devoted to finding a cure for breast cancer. As founder of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the 5K Race for the Cure, Nancy has helped to raise almost a billion dollars for this noble effort. In my congressional district, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Race for the Cure has raised more than $4.5 million. Our yearly local events reach hundreds of thousands of people as an educational outreach tool and as a grassroots movement builder. The research grants from Nancy's foundation have contributed to many of the new treatments that have truly saved lives. Through efforts like hers, we have made important strides in increasing breast cancer awareness throughout our Nation. Today, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is recognized as the leader in the fight against breast cancer. In solidarity with the countless survivors, like my good friend and Florida colleague, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, I thank Ambassador Brinker for all that she has done and certainly all that she will continue to do in this noble fight against breast cancer.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for the time. I rise in support of this resolution for the designation of an Early Detection Month for breast cancer. I do so in solidarity with and through the strength of thousands of breast cancer survivors. Almost everyone in this country, unfortunately, knows someone who has suffered from breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, but it is becoming one of the most survivable cancers if the disease is detected early, which is the purpose of the bill before us. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to educate and diagnose and treat. With these three pillars--education, diagnosis and treatment--we can and we will save lives. Let us make sure that we educate one another on the dangers of breast cancer and the need for early and routine checkups. Early detection makes the difference in surviving this terrible disease. In memory of Congresswoman JoAnn Davis, who passed away at the age of 57 while serving last Congress after a 2-year battle with breast cancer, and for my baby granddaughter, Morgan Elizabeth, let us make sure that our efforts to defeat this terrible disease continue with the same strength, and even stronger, in our efforts at early detection for all individuals in our country and, indeed, the world.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from California for the time. I rise today as an original cosponsor of this bill. As my colleagues have explained, this important measure would accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions to our relief efforts in Haiti. This means that those who are able to contribute now may receive the tax deduction for the 2009 filing period. With over $40 million in private and corporate donations already made, this will be a great incentive for the American people to reach even deeper into our pockets and help our friends in Haiti. This, in turn, will augment U.S. Government efforts, demonstrating the clear benefits of public-private partnerships. And it is an important step at a time when we must do more with less in the face of rapidly rising deficits here at home. There is no doubt that the United States, as a government and as a people, stand side by side with the people of Haiti during this most tragic time. Our assistance efforts so far are unparalleled, and last week, President Obama pledged $100 million in U.S. funding toward the relief efforts. It is my hope that, after expeditious surveys of the damage, a significant portion of this funding will come from the $845 million in international disaster assistance that this Congress has already appropriated for fiscal year 2010. By pulling from these funds, we will be able to quickly address the humanitarian needs in Haiti right now. In addition, I urge President Obama to immediately begin efforts to convene an international donors' conference to bring together other responsible nations and international organizations that can join the United States in committing efforts to help the Haitian people recover from this horrible disaster. Keeping in mind the urgent nature of this much-needed assistance, it remains incumbent upon the U.S. to work to ensure that international donations are pooled and integrated, that pledges are tracked, and that transparency measures are put in place to help ensure that aid reaches those who need it. Further, we should encourage joint ventures and public-private partnerships as we consider the many ways that we may help promote not only the immediate but also the long-term recovery of Haiti as well. The United States will do its share, but the rest of the world must do its best also. Other nations must not forget about Haiti, once the attention on the crisis has subsided, and leave the U.S., as has been often the case, to bear most of the responsibility for the recovery of Haiti.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, we have all been deeply moved by the outpouring of support that we have seen from communities across the United States. Unsurprisingly, the Haitian American community has shown invaluable leadership in the aftermath of last week's tragic earthquake. Now more than ever, the U.S. must focus our efforts on engaging these communities to make sure that they are involved in the rebuilding of their native homeland. The Haitian diaspora is a valuable resource that must be tapped to ensure that the stability, freedom, success, and prosperity that the Haitian people deserve finally come true. I would like to thank Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member Camp for introducing this important measure. I strongly urge my colleagues to support its passage. I thank the gentleman again for the time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today proudly as the lead Republican sponsor of House Resolution 1021, expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010. Last week Haiti was hit by the largest earthquake to strike that Nation in over two centuries. Today Haiti was affected by a 6.1 magnitude quake or aftershock. When the original quake hit last week, it was a day like any other. With elections on the horizon, a sense of stability slowly starting to be felt on the island, some believed that things were finally starting to look up for Haiti. And then without a warning tens of thousands were suddenly victims. Millions were left homeless, or hungry, or both. Buildings collapsed, countless disappeared, and the world was left asking how and why. The tremendous loss caused by this tragedy will stay with us long after the roads have been cleared and the physical wounds have healed. My most sincere prayers and thoughts go to all who have been impacted by this horrible catastrophe. The desolation left in its wake is beyond words. And yet there is one thing that has been made clear. The people of Haiti are not alone in this trouble. Since news of the earthquake reached our shores, the American people have opened their hearts and their wallets to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Both through the many donations of money, food and water, volunteer work, and through the U.S. agencies providing disaster relief assistance, our Nation has been working around the clock to provide immediate help to all who have been affected by this horrific tragedy. U.S. Coast Guard aircraft began arriving almost immediately to transport injured persons and conduct aerial assessments of the situation on the ground. Coast Guard cutters with medical and other humanitarian supplies arrived soon after, followed by our USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team, multiple U.S. urban search and rescue teams, including two from my area of Miami-Dade County, the 82nd Airborne Division and Marine contingency, emergency medical teams and food assistance, and of course the remarkable contributions made by private U.S. citizens and corporations, totaling over $40 million as of last week and still growing. In addition, we have seen an outpouring of support from countries and people around the world. Among many steps taken by countries around the world, Israel sent a 220-person medical delegation and set up a much- needed field hospital. The European Union has reportedly pledged 200 million euros to help rebuild Haiti, over and above emergency aid that is already being sent by them. The British Government will triple its aid to Haiti to $10 million. Israel quickly set up a full-service field hospital, as I mentioned before. But let me tell you, Madam Speaker, what it was equipped with: operating rooms, an intensive care ward, a maternity ward, a pediatrics ward, incubator units, a pharmacy, x-ray equipment, 10 tons of medical equipment, 90 beds, 66 intensive care beds, two delivery beds, approximately 250 personnel, including 40 doctors and specialists, 20 nurses, and several paramedics. The search and rescue teams of the Israeli Defense Forces were also quickly deployed to Haiti, and include about 30 operators, and dozens of operations personnel, comprising logistics, information technology, communications, and even canine units. More IDF delegations are scheduled to depart to Haiti this very week. As a result, this resolution importantly calls for certain accountability measures to be put into place in order to ensure that the support is delivered in a way that is immediate, that is targeted, that is coordinated, and that is transparent. Now more than ever it is critical that our assistance go where it is supposed to go, when it is supposed to get there, and how it is supposed to get there. We have a responsibility to the people we represent and to the people we wish to help to ensure that the aid reaches its intended recipients and is used for its intended purposes. This is particularly important moving forward. Again, I extend my most heartfelt condolences to all of those who are impacted by this series of earthquakes, and I reiterate the pride I feel as I look at how the American people, our constituents, have responded to the cries of anguish and the cries for help of the Haitian people. Madam Speaker, with that I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), an esteemed member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank and applaud the American people for the generosity and the compassion they have shown in the wake of this horrific tragedy. According to our State Department, the American Red Cross effort has received over 2 million contributors and raised over $23 million so far. In addition, we continue to see admirable contributions from many American corporations and businesses. My own district of Miami, Florida, has sent two urban search-and-rescue teams to Haiti and has pledged $60,000 to relief efforts. The Port of Miami and Miami International Airport are waiving certain fees for relief- related efforts. Also, several other assets from south Florida are also being utilized, including U.S. Southern Command, or SOUTHCOM, which is serving as the operation center for the U.S. response in Haiti. Coast Guard Key West and Coast Guard Miami Beach, also Homestead Air Reserve Base, a departure point for the C-130s that are carrying relief, supplies, and personnel to Haiti, are playing an important role in this relief effort. And just today, the USNS Comfort received its first Haitian patients, a 6-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man. They were flown via helicopter to the hospital ship. This is a nearly 900-foot floating hospital. The Comfort is reported to be carrying about 550 medical staff and about 60 civilian mariners. So the American people have opened up their hearts and their wallets to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti. As a people and as a Nation, the United States will continue to move hand in hand with the people of Haiti to swiftly respond to and recover from this tragedy. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.