Laura Richardson

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 731, the ``National Preparedness Month Resolution.'' September is National Preparedness Month and this resolution honors the public servants of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Response Personnel for their commitment to securing our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, for calling on Members and the rest of the country to join her in commending and recognizing the men and women who dedicate their lives to preventing and preparing for any future terrorist attack. The Department of Homeland Security was born out of the tragedy of September 11 and through the hard work and commitment of the employees of the Department of Homeland Security, our Nation has remained safe and secure from terrorist threats for the past 8 years. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Department of Homeland Security and other emergency response personnel for committing themselves to this noble and necessary cause. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the employees of the Department of Homeland Security that work tirelessly in my district, the 37th Congressional District of California. These men and women can be seen hard at work in various local branches of the Coast Guard, Immigration Services, Law Enforcement, Army, and Navy. I appreciate the sacrifices and commitment of those men and women who work every day to secure the community of Long Beach, California. As we celebrate National Preparedness Month, I urge all Members to take a moment to honor the men and women that dedicate their lives to emergency preparedness and protecting this country from another terrorist attack.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to lend my voice in support of the Surface Transportation Extension we are considering today. We must continue to fund ongoing projects and ensure ongoing programs don't grind to a halt. However we must continue to build on the work of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and reauthorize our surface transportation programs. Transportation is an issue that affects virtually every American every day and should never be put on the back burner. When I came to Congress I fought to become a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee because I know the importance of these issues for the people of the California 37th as well as every American. I support limiting the extension to 3 months so these issues stay on the forefront of our agenda. Report after report has outlined the unacceptable current state of our deteriorating transportation system and called for major and immediate reform. As a country we waste billions of dollars every year with unnecessary delays due to a crumbling and over-congested surface transportation system. We need to fundamentally rethink the way we move people and goods. We must simplify our transportation programs and focus on a performance based system. Finally, we must make the tough choices about how to fund these programs and avoid having to continuously patch the highway trust fund. Transportation experts around the country agree this is a time for a bold new transportation vision and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Program before the extension before us today runs out.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 186, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month.'' Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects nearly 100,000 Americans. This disease causes red blood cells to mutate and deliver less oxygen to the body. Numerous medical complications result including bone pain, fatigue, fever, jaundice, chest pain, rapid heart rate and ulcers. Most people afflicted with the disease also suffer painful episodes called vaso-occlusive crises, which vary in frequency and severity. Ultimately, this disease limits a person's average life span to just 45 years. In the United States, while 1 in 1,000 infants are born with the disease, the rate of disease for African-American infants is 1 in 500. The sickle cell disease gene is carried by 2,000,000 Americans, yet this number is 1 in 12 within the African-American community. If both parents of a child have sickle cell, there is a 1 in 4 chance that their child will inherit the disease. Millions of people world-wide suffer from sickle cell disease, and those of African and Caribbean ancestry are primarily affected. Despite these devastating statistics, a cure has not been found. Researchers are hopeful that if sickle cell disease is properly treated and diagnosed early, it will not interfere with the growth and mental development of afflicted children. Educating our communities about this disease will enable researchers and advocacy organizations to develop effective treatments and ultimately a cure. I thank Congressman Danny K. Davis for introducing this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues to raise awareness of sickle cell disease.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kilpatrick for introducing this resolution honoring Howard University School of Law's 140-year legacy of social justice and commitment to training social engineers. If it were not for the legal battles waged by and won by lawyers from the Howard University School of Law, it is very unlikely that neither the progress or individual accomplishments obtained would have reached the heights we enjoy today. As the first law school dedicated to educating African Americans, the doors of Howard University School of Law opened in 1869. The school was created to meet the need to train African Americans in protecting their newly established rights granted by the 13th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution. During this first year, six students committed to legal activism met in the homes and offices of part-time faculty. As the years progressed and the number of students and the number of faculty grew, the school's commitment to public service was unwavering. The mission of this school is guided by the wise words of Charles Hamilton Houston, who is widely regarded as the ``man who killed Jim Crow.'' He later went on to serve as the NAACP litigation director and Dean of Howard University School of Law. Charles Hamilton Houston once said, ``A lawyer's either a social engineer or a parasite on society.'' These inspiring words have led many students to enroll in the law school because of their interest and devotion to public service. This quote and many other quotes from African American leaders line the halls of the school to inspire students, professors, and visitors every day. Indeed, the men and women who graduated from Howard University School of Law became early pioneers and changed the fabric of our Nation. The law school served as a training ground for graduates such as Oliver Hill, Spottswood Robinson II, and Thurgood Marshall who all played important and influential roles in the Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. Thurgood Marshall was the lead litigator in Brown, where the Supreme Court ruled that the segregation of students in public schools ultimately led to unequal educational opportunities. This case, which was decided in 1954, led to the abolishment of racial segregation. The very halls of this Congress are filled with Howard Law School alum who are dedicated to social change and public service. Mariel Lim, an able and exceptional attorney who is a member of my staff, spent her most formative year of law school at Howard and applies the formidable skills she acquired there in the service of the residents of the 37th Congressional District of California and the Nation. My Legislative Director, Gregory Berry, taught Torts, Legal Methods, Legal Writing 2, Legal Reasoning, Research and Writing to hundreds of students who graduated and became social engineers. During the 8 years he taught at Howard, Gregory coached Howard's acclaimed National Moot Court Team, which afforded students the opportunity to hone their writing and advocacy skills in intercollegiate competitions. Additionally, Gregory Berry was counsel of record on the amicus curiae brief he and two faculty colleagues submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Howard's law students in the Grutter v. Bollinger case, which upheld affirmative action in law school admissions. I am not the only Member who benefits from these dedicated graduates. There are numerous other Howard alumni serving the cause of justice here on the Hill. I congratulate the Howard University on their 140th anniversary of its extraordinary law school. I know our Nation will be well-served for years to come by its graduates who will continue to provide, ``Leadership for America and the Global Community.''

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3548, the ``Unemployment Compensation Extension Act.'' This bill will provide much-needed relief to the millions of unemployed American workers who are struggling to find jobs today. With the adoption of this bill, Congress will provide up to 13 additional weeks of desperately needed unemployment benefits to workers who are about to run out of unemployment benefits, particularly focusing on those people who live in states where unemployment rates are highest. California has the 4th highest unemployment rate in the Nation and in terms of my district the numbers are staggering: Carson--12.6 percent Compton--20.9 percent Long Beach--13.7 percent Signal Hill--9.4 percent Mr. Speaker, although job losses have begun to decline more recently, unemployment is still too high, and the American people need relief now. With the national unemployment rate at 9.7 percent, we must enact legislation that will assist the American people during this precarious economic time of availability at an all-time low. At least 300,000 will run out of their unemployment benefits by the end of September and over 1 million people will run out of their benefits by the end of December. It is very important that we pass H.R. 3548, but let us not forget that our real task in the coming months is to ensure that every American that wants a job has one. I have been working in Congress to continue to create and pass meaningful reform that will spur job growth and help communities in crisis. One of the most powerful pieces of legislation that we have already passed is the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, which helped create and save 3.5 million American jobs. The American people are struggling to make ends meet while they search for new jobs in this challenging economy. I urge my colleagues to support this necessary and timely legislation. If we do not pass this bill, we will not only face a financial crisis but a moral deficit in this country as well. We cannot allow that to happen. I urge all members to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 620, I am recorded as voting ``aye''. That was not my intention. It was my intention to vote ``no'' on the Hensarling Amendment.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. The American people know something for sure, and that is premiums have doubled over the last 9 years growing three times faster than what we've seen in wages. The American families know that they're spending more than $1,000 a month than what they have had to do in the past. So let's talk about what really the American solution is. It's having lower costs for consumers to no longer have copays or deductibles for preventative care, to have an annual cap to end that cap on out-of- pocket expenses, to end the rate of increases for preexisting conditions and, of course, looking at group rates. We're ready for action. We've had six decades of discussions; we've had 45 hours of bipartisan debate, and 79 House hearings. It's time and it's time to move now.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. And from mine.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Colleagues, it's with great pleasure that we come before you to announce the incredible success that we had last night at the First Annual Congressional--may I say--Bipartisan Women's Softball Game. We want to recognize our two captains, Republican JoAnn Emerson and, of course, our fearless leader who did it all, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. We want to thank all of you, our teammates.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize June 19, 2009, or ``Juneteenth,'' the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. The observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day originated in Galveston, Texas in 1865, and is now celebrated around the United States. This day was chosen because it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free--a full two and a half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation became official on January 1, 1863. The day was largely celebrated within African-American communities until the Civil Rights movement, when Reverend Ralph Abernathy called for people of all races, economic levels, and professions to come to Washington, D.C. to show support for the poor at the Poor People's March on Juneteenth in 1968. Many of the participants returned home and initiated Juneteenth celebrations in their own communities. Every year, the celebration of Juneteenth grows in popularity across the United States. It is a day when we recognize and remember the evils of slavery and the suffering it caused. But it is also a day that celebrates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. Participants of all races, nationalities and religions celebrate and take the time to reflect on the past and rejoice in the present and future. Madam Speaker, I would also like to note that in California's 37th Congressional District the city of Carson, Compton, and Long Beach, which I am proud to represent, celebrated Juneteenth in a very special way. In Long Beach, The MusicUntold Orchestra and Chorale performed the Bicentennial Symphony, by composer Roy Harris, which is considered the most powerful musical statement ever made on slavery in the United States. Ollie Woodson, formally of the Temptations, performed at the Carson celebration and the Compton celebration featured Howard Hewitt and the Whispers. As we celebrate Juneteenth, Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to recognize this day and take a moment to honor the women and men that dedicated their lives to ending slavery.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, America cannot afford to wait for health care reform. Right now, more than three out of four Americans are dissatisfied with the total cost of health care. That is why Congress is working hard to craft legislation to fix the health care system for American families, for American businesses, for future generations, and of course, for our own fiscal survival. Since 2000, wages have only increased 3 percent while health insurance has increased more than 50 percent. This has caused many families to delay visits to the doctor, to skip treatments and to allow their health coverage to lapse. Despite having the most expensive health care system in the world, Americans are no healthier than many of our global partners. President Obama and this Congress are working together to provide adequate, accessible and affordable health care now.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 435, celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I thank Chairman Towns and my California Delegation colleague, Congressman Honda for their work in bringing this resolution to the floor today. This is a very exciting time for the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and with the Obama Administration to advance the AAPI objectives. The 37th Congressional District of California, which I am privileged to represent, is home to one of the largest Asian constituencies in the nation, including large representations of Filipinos, Samoans and Cambodians. My district is home to the largest Cambodian population in the United States, and the second largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia. Because of the diversity of my district and in our nation, I am a proud member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. This year's theme for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is ``Lighting the Past, Present, and Future.'' The past is filled with rich cultural, economic, and technological contributions from the Asian community. The month of May was chosen to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage for two significant reasons. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived to our country and on May 10, 1860, the first transcontinental railroad was completed. The transcontinental railroad transformed our nation and could not have been completed without the inclusion of Chinese immigrants. Here in Congress, Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian American elected in 1957 and less than a decade later, Patsy Mink became the first Asian American woman elected to Congress. Both overcame adversity to pave the way for all minorities, including a distinguished American and Medal of Honor winner, Senator Daniel Inouye, who has served in the other body for nearly a half century. Today, we have seven Members of Congress of Asian descent and 25 Members of Congress, including myself, in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. The AAPI theme, the ``present'' demonstrates the great progress we have made as a country. Despite the challenges and adversity that Asian Pacific Americans have experienced, many have forged ahead and made significant contributions. History was made when this nation elected a President with such significant personal ties to the Asian Pacific community. President Obama spent his childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia. One of President Obama's first guests to the Oval Office was the Prime Minister, Taro Aso of Japan. Further, President Obama appointed three Asian Americans to his cabinet: Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu; Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke; and Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki. I have much hope for the future because Asian Pacific Americans and all Americans are working together hand in hand with others to ensure equality and advancement not only of their community, but all communities. Madam Speaker, let me again thank Congressman Honda, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, for his leadership in introducing this resolution. I look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans this year and for years to come.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 2744, the Equal Rights for Health Care Act--Title 42. The concept of equal rights is a pillar of our Nation and the reason why so many immigrate here to the United States. Indeed, the U.S. was founded on the principle that all Americans should have the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In order to enjoy this blessing of life and liberty, however, one must be healthy, and that means they have the benefit of equal treatment and research. For example, men and women have different symptoms when it comes to heart disease. Unlike men, most women do not experience chest pain. Instead, 71 percent of the women report having flu-like symptoms, and patients, doctors, and researchers need to make sure that emergency attendants, tests, and prescription drugs are informed about the differences that we might have. H.R. 2744, the Equal Rights for Health Care Act--Title 42, will prohibit discrimination in health care services and research programs that receive Federal funding based upon sex, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status. Civil rights laws have historically been a powerful mechanism for effecting necessary change in the United States. Each law represents a national commitment to end discrimination and to establish a mandate to bring the excluded into the mainstream. These equal rights laws ensure that the Federal Government delivers on the Constitution's promise of equal opportunities so that every individual has the right to develop his or her talents. Health care should be no exception. In 1971, only 18 percent of women, compared to 26 percent of men, had completed 4 years or more of college. In 1972, the title IX amendment was introduced by Representatives Edith Green of Oregon and Patsy Mink of Hawaii. In 1980, I attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I played on the women's basketball team. I witnessed firsthand that there was a difference between playing on the women's team and the men's team. For example, for women, we had to travel in two or three vans to go to all of our away games, where the men were allowed to fly on a plane. You might say why is that something that was important? Well, we lost instruction time, we had time in general lost, preparation was lost, and recuperation was lost. That's why title IX was so important. In 2007, we celebrated the 35th anniversary of title IX, which assured the women's right to education equality. And the U.S. Department of Education showed that 56 percent of all women, compared to 44 percent of men, now have achieved 4 years or more of college. So title IX has been working. Federal law prohibits discrimination across a wide array of public policy arenas, none more than when you consider the difference between voting, public education, and now what we should do in health care. H.R. 2744, the Equal Rights for Health Care Act--Title 42, seeks to have the same effect on the health care community. Despite access to health care, patients are not always in geographic proximity to medical facilities that can provide the consistent care that is needed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the age- adjusted death rate for all cancers for African Americans in 2001 was 20 percent higher than Caucasian Americans. In 2002, the percentage of Hispanics and Latinos who were 65 years or older and received adult immunization shots was only 47 percent, as compared to 70 percent of Caucasians. In 2000, the infant mortality rate among Native Hawaiians was 60 percent higher than Caucasians. And the rate of leg amputations as a result of diabetes is four times greater of African Americans who receive Medicare than their counterparts, Caucasians. A list of disparities can go on and on, and so we must put an end to this inequality. Therefore, I have introduced H.R. 2744 so that Congress can take another step towards equal rights, and I look forward to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle joining me. I'm proud to have a long list of diverse organizations that are supporting this legislation, groups such as the Family Equality Council, the Families United States of America, and, lastly, the National Minority Quality Forum. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation that ensures that equal services once and for all will also extend to health care as well, from diagnosis to treatment, and it's a part of the fast-growing health care debate. It's important that a statement of beliefs is made when we reform health care. Equality must be a founding principle, and we must insist that as health care debates move forward, we take the time to ensure that all Americans have the same rights. Let's move forward on title XLII as we did in title IX.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee reached an agreement on the framework for transforming our economy for decades to come while saving the planet in the process, which should be all of our goal. Before the end of the year, we hope to pass comprehensive energy and job-creating legislation to make clean, American energy available for all of us. The clean energy jobs plan is the next step to create millions of American jobs in clean energy, efficiency, modernization, and a smart electrical grid. Energy, as a matter, is critical to our own national security and to our self-determination to stop our overarching dependence on foreign oil. And in terms of our environment with the same successful bipartisan American solution that we use to fight acid rain, we can crack down on the persistent polluters who damage our air and water. The time for clean energy legislation is now. It will create millions of jobs, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and it will retool America's industries.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 109, honoring the 20th Anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the Nation's Capital and its transition to the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure on June 6, 2009. I'd like to thank Chairman Waxman and the gentleman from Virginia, Representative Connolly, for bringing this resolution to the Floor today. It is my strong hope that twenty years from today we will be celebrating the cure and marveling at all the lives that have been saved. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, with more as than 1.3 million diagnosed each year. It is also the leading cause of death among women, 465,000 die each year worldwide. Breast cancer is a disease that knows no boundaries based on age, ethnicity, geographic location or socio-economic status. Fortunately, the United States has 2.5 million breast cancer survivors and we need to work together to educate our community and encourage participation in screenings and mammograms. Madam Speaker, Nancy Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything possible to eradicate breast cancer. By launching Susan G. Komen for the Cure in 1982, a movement began and more than $1.3 billion in breast cancer research, education, and community health services has been invested by this organization. Today, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest grassroots network fighting breast cancer and is led by thousands of survivors. Local activists are present in 125 communities and have mobilized one million friends for events such as the Komen Race for the Cure. Komen is a unique organization where 75 percent of the net proceeds stay in the communities where they were raised. The remaining 25 percent of the funds are given to Komen's National Grant Program, an innovative leader in breast cancer research. Because of publicly and privately funded research, the five-year survival rate for women with localized breast cancer has increased. In the 1950s, the survival rate was 80 percent and last year the survival rate grew to 98 percent. Last year, the Komen Race for the Cure raised an unprecedented $3.7 million in the National Capital area. As the National Race for the Cure becomes the Global Race for the Cure, we will work with our partners around the world to eradicate breast cancer, a disease that affects everyone in some way. As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Race for the Cure in the Nation's Capital, we will not rest until a cure is found. I urge all Members to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 109 and honor the women and men who have lost their lives to breast cancer, and celebrate the survivors and friends who are participating in the Global Race for the Cure. I yield the remainder of my time.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Butterfield amendment. This amendment authorizes a study to combine facial and iris recognition that would rapidly identify individuals at security checkpoints. Additionally, this study authorizes the ability to consider environmental and operational factors and any capabilities that would hinder future acquisitions. As a member of this committee, I support Mr. Butterfield and our chairman in his leadership with this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 2200, and I welcome the opportunity for us to get back on topic of what we're really here to discuss today. I want to applaud Chairman Thompson who has brought forward this legislation in a bipartisan manner. And if it's not my mistake, I believe this very legislation was brought forward to our committee and supported in a bipartisan fashion. So let's really talk about what this bill is about. This bill is about ensuring that passengers in the United States, Americans everywhere, that we can have a greater ease and comfort as we travel. The power of this particular bill ensures that, yes, we will have the legislation in place to ensure that we can have training and adequate inspection. In my district I have the Long Beach Airport and the Compton Woodley Airport less than 30 miles from Los Angeles International where we move over 3,000 tons of air cargo and 3 million passengers. Now is not the time to play games. Now is the time to pass this legislation. I urge my colleagues, let's get past the rhetoric. Let's read the bill and look at the facts. The facts are, this bill will assist travelers, increase training and ensure that we have a vibrant economy. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2200, the Transportation Security Administration Act of 2009, which fully reauthorizes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the first time since enactment of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001. I want to thank my Chairman, Mr. Thompson for his leadership and skill in shepherding this important legislation to the floor. I also want to acknowledge the efforts of Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, the chair of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, who worked so hard to produce a bill that will strengthen the ability of TSA to fulfill its mission of securing all modes of transportation including rail, mass transit, trucking, bus, and aviation. Mr. Chair, H.R. 2200 authorizes nearly $16 billion for TSA for the next two fiscal years. This legislation is the result of months of bipartisan negotiations and cooperation and consultations with key stakeholders, including labor organizations, industry groups, the Government Accountability Office, and the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Chair, let me list a few reasons why I believe all Members should support this bill. My district is home to two airports--Long Beach International and Compton Woodley--and is less than 30 miles from Los Angeles International. Long Beach International alone handles more than 3,000 tons of air cargo each month and 3 million air travelers every year. So this legislation has a particular impact on my district. It protects the travelers and the cargo coming in and out of California that helps to drive the local, regional, and national economy.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Ms. RICHARDSON. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. RICHARDSON. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chairman, I have offered an amendment today which would give the FAA administrator 180 days to issue regulations to mandate giving consumers an option for text message and/or e-mail notification from carriers in the event of a delay or canceled flight. The amendment would, consistent with the existing regulations, apply to 18 major carriers who earn at least 1 percent of the domestic passenger service revenue and in that way those carriers could, in fact, provide a commonsense option for all passengers. The reason for the amendment is that a limited number of carriers offer this service, and those who do often only provide the service to those who are willing to participate in membership clubs or incentives to join. With well-known horror stories of delayed and canceled flights, combined with the widespread capabilities for the use of cell phones and BlackBerrys nationwide, it's time to provide a 21st century solution to the American flying public. Americans and worldwide travelers are calling for solutions that would enable critical information people need to ensure proper planning in the case of a delay or cancellation. There is overwhelming evidence that delays and cancellations continue to be a common nuisance. About 24 percent of all flights, that is almost 1 out of 4, were delayed or cancelled in 2008. In a 2006 example that garnered media attention, thunderstorms shut down American Airlines' operations in Dallas-Fort Worth and passengers were stranded for nine hours or more. Major chokepoints for travelers have been large, hub airports. Even when Chicago, New York, Atlanta or San Francisco is not your final destination, thousands of passengers are routed through those hubs for a connection. Although, with a decline in air traffic due to our economic condition, progress is still slow in many of our major airports such as JFK or LaGuardia in New York, or Chicago's O'Hare. Even worse, San Francisco International actually saw an increase in delay times by 6 percent from 2007 to 2008. There are many reasons that a delay could occur and unfortunately most passengers are not aware, for example, of poor weather conditions in other cities that indirectly affect their flight. In one example, a direct flight last year from Denver to Alabama was delayed 8 hours because the airline did not have a plane available. The plane was grounded in Aspen, Colorado due to snow and could not make the trip to Denver. This is a common example of an airline having prior notice of an upcoming delay. The airline could have sent each passenger who requested it an email or text message, and those passengers could have more time to plan a different route or contact their family with the news. This past March, snow slammed the East Coast unexpectedly. In the New York region alone, the storm caused 350 cancelled flights at Newark Airport, 115 at JFK, and 450 at LaGuardia. One woman, Ms. Marreta Rashad, did not find out her flight home to Houston was cancelled until she had already made the long trek to LaGuardia. ``I'm not unhappy about the snow,'' she said. ``I'm unhappy about the fact they don't notify you.'' Customer service matters. Why? It is in the economic interests of this nation for the continuation of a stable aviation industry while protecting their customers and providing them with the tools to make informed traveling decisions. The summer travel season is coming and it is important for every American business, large and small, that folks travel around the country to keep our tourism sector strong. It is important to note that this amendment does not call for the aviation carriers to provide the service at no cost; similar to if someone makes a 4-1-1 information call on their cell phone, passengers will pay whatever their telecommunications or electronic plan requires. But, passengers should have the piece of mind to know that if they choose, they will be armed with the latest information. I want to thank Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Costello for their feedback on this amendment. I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment.

Ms. RICHARDSON. I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. From my brothers and sisters of the Cambodian community, Arkon. Chem re lear.

Ms. RICHARDSON. Yes, she did

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, it's with great pleasure that I come here today to stand with my colleague, Representative Mike Honda. Some people might ask what would make me come and stand in support. In my district, very recently, this Congress, in addition, with the support of the President, we authorized the long-time held benefits of Filipino Americans who served in a war side by side with many of our soldiers protecting them, and that was a great day in my district. As I was growing up and I went to college, I had an opportunity, when I was getting my master's, to travel to China and to go to Shanghai and Beijing and Hong Kong and to see the beauty of different cultures and to understand how people have come here now to the United States, not as a separation or a wall, but, rather, for us to work together and to see the things of how this country could grow. So that's why I am here today, Madam Speaker, and I have a few comments that I would like to share. I rise today in support of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I proudly represent California's 37th Congressional District, one of the most diverse districts in the United States. Asians make up 11 percent of my district, and I am the 37th largest Asian population congressional district in this country. That means we are in the top 10 percent. In fact, my district has the largest Cambodian population outside of Cambodia, only second to the population in Cambodia. And for the last 8 years, I have worked with the Cambodian community as we look at the challenges that we have and how we can better assure that folks understand the resources that we worked so hard to deliver to our communities that they know they are there to help them. Because of this diversity, I am a proud member of CAPAC, which is the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. I am a member of 30 other caucuses that also advocate to this very Congress. But, together, the three caucuses, the Hispanic Caucus, the Black Caucus, and the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, were members who worked together advancing the goals of minorities and underserved communities. Although Members represent everyone, there's an inadequate delivery of resources to many of those that we represent. This year, for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the theme is ``Lighting the Past, the Present, and the Future.'' The past is filled with rich contributions of cultural, economic, and technological value from the Asian community. One of the main reasons the month is used, this month of May, to honor the Asian community is, as Mr. Honda mentioned, the transatlantic railroad that we saw that traveled thousands, hundreds of miles across the United States, that we would not have had, that we would not have progressed at the level and the speed that we did in this country, had we not had working people who wanted to come and to contribute. The present demonstrates the great progress we have made as a country together. I have much hope for the future, though, even more so of Asian Americans in our country, but realize that we must all work together and work hard to achieve equality amongst everyone. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Asian American elected to Congress in 1957. Less than a decade later, Patsy Mink, whom many of us think of fondly, became first Asian American woman elected to Congress; both overcame adversity and paved the way, not only for Asian American Members of Congress, but Members such as myself as well. Today we have seven Members of Congress, and Mr. Honda is leading the charge of this caucus today. And recently, we had an unprecedented number of three Asian Americans who were recently named to President Obama's cabinet: Energy Secretary, Steven Chu; Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke; and Veterans Affairs Secretary, Eric Shinseki. One of the simplest ways for Asian Americans to ensure a brighter future that we can all participate in, because isn't that what this country is all about, is to fully participate in the 2010 census. Everyone in our Nation must be accounted for so that Members like Mr. Honda and I, together, can garner the appropriate resources to those communities which they so richly deserve. Minorities are historically undercounted, sometimes due to language, sometimes due to a concern of why someone is knocking at their door, and they don't know the process of what's happening every 10 years, and sometimes it's just understanding differences. In other countries, it's very common for many members of the family to live together. And that may not necessarily be the tradition in all of our cities or all of our communities; but in some, it's very much the case. Minorities historically have had these challenges. In California, we have the largest Asian population in the United States, which both Mr. Honda and I serve. Currently, there are over 5 million Asians--and this number is growing rapidly. Between 2006 and 2007, the population grew 106,000--that's 2.9 percent--which reflects the largest percentage growth of any group of individuals in this country. In addition to participating in the census, health care is going to be one of the largest and most important issues that we will tackle on this floor this year. It is critical that within the broad scope of health care reform that there's focus on eliminating racial disparities of research and accessibility. Last year, I introduced a piece of legislation, and I plan on reintroducing it again this year, and it's very similar in building upon the work of former Congresswoman Patsy Mink as she brought forward title IX legislation. We all know what a tremendous effect title IX had on gender equality in sports and in programs. I was one who benefited from that. I was one of the first girls in my grade school who got to play with the boys on the playground, playing baseball and basketball. And it took legislation like Patsy Mink's to show that we could work side-by-side and that there should be an equality. Today, we face another tremendous challenge, and that inequality is health care. Finally, I want to thank Congressman Honda, the chair of CAPAC, which I proudly serve with him, for organizing this time tonight to celebrate the accomplishments and the work that we still have yet to do. I'm looking forward to celebrating many more accomplishments this year, and beyond, and we're just beginning. I stand side-by-side as we take that trip together.