Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Colonel David Arthur Lerps, USMC (RET), who died on October 21, 2014 after a long and valiant struggle with Parkinson's disease, and his career of service to our nation. Born in Chicago, Illinois on June 28, 1931, he spent his early years in Eastchester, New York and was an honors graduate of Duke University where he was Commandant of the Naval Battalion and participated in every sport, winning distinction as quarterback of the 1954 Blue Demons Football Team. His flight training at NAS Pensacola prepared him for many years in the Marine Air Wing. During his 30-year military career, he served three tours in Japan and flew 312 missions in Vietnam in 1968, where he was awarded 23 Air Medals and nominated for a Distinguished Flying Cross for valor in an especially dangerous mission to the DMZ. He later served in strategic planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC; was both student and teacher at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College; and attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces while gaining his MBA at George Washington University. He concluded his active duty as Chief of Staff, LFTC Pacific Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. Upon retiring from active duty in 1984, he was appointed Chief of Staff at the Academy of the Pacific, a post he held for 18 years. After retiring from AOP, he became a student once again, studying Shakespeare and music at the University of Hawaii. Col. Lerps was a board member of Hawaii Opera Theater and member of the Hawaii Wagner Society. He was an ardent ocean canoe paddler, a board member of the Lanikai Canoe Club and coordinator of the Duke Kahanamoku Long Distance Canoe Race for four years. Even with the decline in mobility and speech and the loss of the ability to swallow, he never lost his deep love for opera, sports, for his family, Catholic faith and Marine Corps. As life-long friend John Schwarz wrote, ``Dave never really left the Corps . . . `once a Marine always a Marine.' He was `SEMPER Fl,' a Marine to his final breath!'' Dave is survived by Mary, his wife of 55 years, his children Kathy Lerps, Karen Pittman, Robert Lerps, six grandchildren: Vito and Dylan Higgins, Ashley Snow, Amber Lerps, Kylie and Kassidy Barker; and a sister Ann Falkenberg and brother Kurt Lerps. I learned of Col. Lerps' life of service from his brother-in-law and my good friend Father Robert Oldershaw.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, Americans watching this debate must be shaking their heads in astonishment. The question on everyone's mind at this moment is: Are we doing everything we can to prevent a Paris-like terrorist attack in the United States? Americans would be right to suppose the Republican majority is rushing to finally adequately fund the Department of Homeland Security after they already delayed funding by making it a political football on immigration; but, no, it seems the Republicans can't help themselves, even when it comes to national security. They can't simply vote for the necessary funding to keep the American people safe; instead, the Republicans view this potentially dangerous moment as an opportunity to undermine the President's executive actions on immigration going all the way back to 2011, putting 600,000 young people in jeopardy of deportation and refusing to let the government prioritize for deportation felons over families. Shame on them. We should stop playing games with our national security by defeating these amendments and passing a clean Homeland Security funding bill.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Section 3: ``No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, . . .''

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I was unavoidably detained during the vote on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act of 2015 and H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' (By unanimous consent, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ was allowed to speak out of order.) Moment of Silence on Tucson Shootings' 4-Year Anniversary

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, today the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 30, which is really more properly called the ``Sabotage American Workers Act,'' a bill to provide a major change in ACA's requirement that larger employers offer health coverage to employees who work 30 or more hours a week or face a penalty, raising the threshold to 40 hours instead. The GOP claims the 30-hour threshold is a destructive barrier to more hours for workers. However, in reality, this GOP bill would lead to fewer hours and more part-time workers, the exact opposite of what the Republican rhetoric about restoring the 40-hour workweek implies. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the Urban Institute have found no compelling evidence that part-time employment has increased as a result of ObamaCare. H.R. 30 would lead to more part- time work, since large employers could avoid providing health care coverage by reducing employees' work schedules by even just an hour. Even conservative analysts agree. Yuval Levin recently wrote in the National Review that changing the definition to 40 hours ``would likely put far, far more people at risk of having their hours cut'' and ``would make for a worse effect on workers.'' Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans remain unmoved by the facts, choosing instead to launch yet another attack on working families. According to the CBO, this bill would increase the Federal deficit by $53 billion over the next decade. So I would urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule and then ``no'' on H.R. 30.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, at the end of last year, over my strenuous objections, we wrapped up a big present for Wall Street. We put taxpayers back on the hook for losses that are connected to certain derivatives trading, among the riskiest bets that banks make. Well, Christmas is over, and Hanukkah is over, but the gifts keep on coming for Wall Street. Within this bill is another provision that cuts at the heart of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform legislation. It delays a portion of the Volcker rule, which bans federally insured banks from making those risky bets or investing in risky funds, including packages known as collateralized loan obligations, or CLOs. Mortgage-backed securities brought our economy almost crumbling to the ground in 2008, and we are still recovering. Taxpayers bailed out the big banks; yet for millions of homeowners who were forced from their homes and millions of others who are still under water, there hasn't been any assistance. People are right to be angry about this, and they are right to object to this new giveaway to Wall Street interests. CLOs are similar to toxic mortgage-backed securities. The only difference is that instead of bad mortgages, these packages involve junk-rated corporate loans and a mix of other risky assets. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said last month that the corporate debt market is overheating and becoming increasingly dangerous, and CLOs are the big reason why. This has all the markings of another economy-crushing disaster. Who gets the upside if Wall Street is able to continue packaging and selling CLOs with taxpayer backing? Wall Street. Who loses if and when those bets go wrong? The rest of us. It is heads, Wall Street wins; tails, everybody else loses. Mr. Speaker, as Dennis Kelleher of Better Markets said, ``The attack on the Volcker rule has been nonstop.''

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the American people deserve better, and we are tired of really bad Wall Street giveaways being tacked on to other legislation. This looks like a Republican strategy to put Wall Street over Main Street.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Frances ``Fran'' Roehm, a librarian extraordinaire at the Skokie Public Library in my district who is retiring after 18 years of remarkable service to our community. Fran graduated from the University of Illinois and received a Bachelor's degree in History. As a single mom, she was awarded a scholarship from the then Secretary of State Jim Edgar. This scholarship allowed Fran to return to school and earn her Master's Degree in Library of Sciences, also from the University of Illinois. Fran Roehm has worked as the Skokie Net Librarian and Community Liaison with distinction and has guided consumers to resources in the community. Fran is a leader in the library community who works hard to bring the best resources to patrons at the Skokie Public Library. She shines a bright light on our community and the rich resources available at the Skokie Library. Her compassion and leadership inspire the people around her to advocate for others. She was nominated by State Senate President John Cullerton to serve on the ``Eliminate the Digital Divide Committee'' and has proudly served on that committee, which distributed $4,000,000 in grants to organizations that serve low-income populations. This important grant program seeks to provide access to computers, telecommunications technologies and related training to disadvantaged communities--a major interest of Fran. Fran also offered a wonderful form of outreach to my office. She realized that the library would be a perfect location for neighborhood office hours and from there, we began bringing our constituent services to the Skokie Library in the evenings, once a month, for constituents who cannot meet with our staff during the day for help. This service also allows the public to become more civically engaged. In addition, Fran helped make our annual Artistic Discovery high school art event, which we hold every year at the Skokie library, an extremely successful and welcoming event. Fran is masterful at putting resources and people together. She has been a great advocate and ally to our office. Fran is the proud mother of son, Christopher, who lives in California and a proud grandmother to 5-year-old Twyla. Fran is a warm, kind, generous person who has touched and enriched countless lives. I join others in the Skokie area and in Illinois in offering my deep gratitude and appreciation of Fran's decades of work and lifelong commitment to providing equal access to community resources. Although she is leaving the Skokie Library, she will remain a leader in our community advocating for the underserved. I wish her well and ask this body to do the same.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to join with many of my colleagues in celebrating John Dingell and recognizing the many, many things that he has achieved for our country. It is not just that John Dingell has been the longest serving Member in history; it is what he did in his 30 terms in the House. Many today will honor him for his support of civil rights and voting rights, his lifelong support for working men and women and their unions, for the environment and much, much more. But for me, it is his passionate advocacy for national health care. I came to Congress with the number one priority of winning affordable, quality, and comprehensive health care for all Americans. I worked to join the Energy and Commerce Committee so that I could learn from John Dingell, who has been called a legend in the fight for universal coverage. Following in the footsteps of his father, a key player in the passage of Social Security in 1935 and himself a strong fighter for national health care, Chairman Dingell introduced the U.S. National Health Insurance Act in his very first term, and he has been fighting to make health care a right ever since. John Dingell sat in that chair when we passed Medicare and Medicaid and gaveled it into law. He pushed for the Patients' Bill of Rights. He led the way as we created the Children's Health Insurance Program, and he was a key reason we were able to pass the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Because of John Dingell, today more than 120 million Americans have access to health insurance in large part because of his leadership and vision. I am so grateful to have had the privilege of serving with and learning from John Dingell. I hope that we will follow his strong legacy and continue to make improvements in health care so that we can improve the lives and well-being of all Americans. Thank you, John Dingell, for your unparalleled service to this country.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join those celebrating the month of November as Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month and to thank the Pulmonary Hypertension Association for its work in furthering understanding of this life-changing disease. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a chronic, complex, and life- threatening lung disease marked by elevated blood pressure in the lungs. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is a nonprofit organization that seeks ways to prevent and cure pulmonary hypertension and to provide hope for the PH community through support, education, advocacy and awareness. I am particularly proud of the work that the PHA Midwest Chapter is doing to provide support for people living with pulmonary hypertension and those who care for them. Their efforts to raise awareness and push for research into improved treatments and, ultimately, a cure are critical. PHA is a young organization that is changing the history of this illness. From simple beginnings--four women around a kitchen table in Florida in 1990--PHA has evolved in size and complexity. When the association was founded, there were no support groups to help individuals and caregivers cope with this disease. Today, PHA serves more than 13,000 members and supporters with over 245 support groups that provide knowledge, support, hope and empowerment for the PH community. PHA continues to work every day to find a cure for pulmonary hypertension and believes that no one should face this disease alone. On November 22, PHA Midwest and the PH community will mark Pulmonary Hypertension Month by hosting the inaugural O2 breathe Hearts PHor Hope Gala. The gala is an opportunity both to focus attention and to recognize the accomplishments and advances made in the PH field, while honoring those who made these advances possible. This special evening will honor Stuart Rich, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine with the 2014 Heart PHor Hope Legacy Award. A dedicated researcher, passionate physician and continuous supporter of PHA, Dr. Rich has been a groundbreaking leader in the pulmonary hypertension field for more than three decades and continues to show his dedication and support of the PH community. The PHA Midwest Chapter is a valuable resource, and I am grateful for the job that it is doing to raise awareness through next week's gala and the annual marathon, to provide assistance, and to push for greater research and medical breakthroughs.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, in 1982, in the State of Illinois, a 31- year-old man announced his candidacy for United States Congress from the 17th Congressional District. His name was Lane Evans. He was a Marine veteran and a young legal aid attorney helping poor people in his home community. It was viewed initially as kind of a suicide mission that he was not going to be able to win, but some of us decided that we were going to get involved in that campaign even though we weren't necessarily from his district and, gathering with people who supported him from his area, ran a campaign that elected the first Democrat since the Civil War from that area, a young man who impressed the people of his district with his incredible modesty, but also clarity. Lane Evans was so clear that his mission was to represent the ordinary people of that section of western Illinois, to represent unions and veterans and poor people, and to be their voice in the United States Congress. It turned out to be one of the most important elections in my view, in history, certainly in the history of the State of Illinois. Lane served for 25 years in the Congress. Again, this was a district that was considered kind of a swing district, but year after year, election after election, Lane Evans would be elected with very wide margins. Lane Evans was fearless. He would stand up for what was right even when some of us would say, ``Lane, are you sure? This may not go over so great in your district. What do you think?'' He would look at us and say, ``Absolutely. This is the right thing to do. I don't have any qualms about it.'' He would vote his conscience, and people respected that, whether they totally agreed with every vote or not. Lane Evans was the first member--or maybe Danny Davis--the second--in our delegation to endorse for Senator a young Barack Obama. Lane proudly brought him to western Illinois and was always a great supporter. When Barack Obama won his election for President in 2008, he sat next to Lane Evans, who was already somewhat debilitated by Parkinson's disease, a disease that finally took his life after two decades, holding his hand and telling him that, if it weren't for Lane Evans, that Barack Obama wouldn't be President of the United States of America. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease almost two decades ago. Lane Evans lived so modestly. I think some people have impressions of Members of Congress as having drivers and black limousines or something. Lane Evans lived exactly like the ordinary person in his district. As his funeral procession led through the Quad Cities, we went down, in Rock Island, Lane Evans Way. It was a neighborhood of very modest, middle class--I would even say working class--homes. That is where Lane Evans grew up, and that is where his heart and his mind always were. Lane Evans was honored by the Marines as he was leaving Congress with the tattoo that they do, an amazing performance and then an honor for Lane. Lane, as a Vietnam era veteran, was the first really to talk about agent orange and the impact that it had on the long-term health of many of our Vietnam veterans and, finally, to get care for our veterans for agent orange. He was one of the early people to understand the unseen injuries of PTSD and to call attention to that as ranking member on the Veterans' Affairs Committee. He was such an inspiring person, such a fearless fighter for the middle class, for veterans; and it is apt that we now name the VA clinic in Galesburg, Illinois, in the 17th Congressional District, for Congressman Lane Evans. It is part of his legacy, but only part of his legacy. For many of us, we will always believe that, because of Lane Evans, it is good politics as well as good policy to stand up for the principles that you believe in for a just society, for an equal society. And I am sure Danny Davis will talk about that. Before I was elected to anything, we went to El Salvador, so Lane Evans' sense of justice extended beyond the borders of the United States of America to major conflicts in Central America. Lane Evans will be sorely missed but ever remembered.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for so much, including his voice and his leadership on this issue. There are three numbers that we all ought to know as we consider this bill approving the Keystone XL: 2 degrees Celsius--the amount the Earth can warm before climate change becomes truly catastrophic and irreversible; 565 gigatons--the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted before we reach irreversible global warming; 240 gigatons--the amount of carbon that would be emitted if the Alberta tar sands are fully developed, nearly half of all the carbon the world can burn. Keystone XL is the fastest and perhaps the only way to fully develop the Alberta tar sands. Keystone XL would move almost 1 million barrels per day of the dirtiest oil on Earth directly through the middle of our country. It would pass through some of our Nation's most important land and water sources, including the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies 30 percent of the United States' irrigation and drinking water to millions of Americans. And those who claim there is no serious risk of a spill have a very short memory. There were 12 spills in the first year of operation of the original Keystone pipeline, and there have been 30 spills in just over 4 years. So what I am saying today is that this is dangerous, and it is also not the best way to create jobs. Three times as many jobs are created for every dollar invested in renewable energies over the pipeline. And so if we want jobs, if we want clean energy, we want a good environment, we should vote down this legislation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, the Medicare Rights Center was created. Since then, seniors, people with disabilities, their friends and family members, and policymakers have benefitted from the Center's expertise. Since its founding in 1989, the Medicare Rights Center has provided critical advice to individuals who want to find out about Medicare's benefits, learn about enrollment and eligibility, and get help in resolving any problems that they may face. My constituents--and constituents around the country--have called the Medicare Rights Center's hotline and received help--whether from the Center's excellent staff or from one of its many well-trained volunteer counselors. The Medicare Rights Centers' newsletters--``Dear Marci,'' ``Medicare Watch,'' and ``Inside Medicare Rights''--are invaluable. ``Dear Marci'' is a great tool for individuals who want clear and user-friendly information about how they can get the most from their Medicare benefits, avoid problems, get help and voice their views. Other publications and special reports provide those of us in Congress with critical information about the specifics of the law and its implementation. Because the Medicare Rights Center sees the actual, on- the-ground impacts of Medicare policies, they help us determine the actual effects of current policies and identify specific improvements that can be made. Medicare Rights Center president Joe Baker and federal policy adviser Stacy Sanders are frequently found on Capitol Hill, testifying and responding to information requests from Congressional offices. The Seniors Task Force, which I co-chair, has been privileged to have Medicare Rights Center representatives join us to brief members and staff about Medicare trends, policies and impacts. I want to congratulate and thank Diane Archer, the founder of the Medicare Rights Center, and all the past and current staff, volunteers and board members for the work that you have done to provide quality, affordable care for seniors, people with disabilities and all Americans. Congratulations on your first 25 years of service to America, and I wish you many more productive years in the future.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3522 marks the 53rd vote to repeal or undermine ObamaCare. But worse, it means taking away guaranteed benefits for the consumers that you seem to be so concerned about. Does anyone really believe that Americans want insurance companies to be able to deny them coverage or charge them more due to a preexisting condition? Do they want insurance companies to be able to refuse to pay for their lifesaving treatments because they have hit an annual limit? Do they want insurance companies to be able to not cover maternity services for pregnant women, as so many plans did? I believe we can all agree the answer is ``no.'' That is why we have to reject H.R. 3522 and all other efforts to repeal or undermine the consumer protections of ObamaCare. Americans simply can't afford it. They can't afford to have insurance companies back in charge of their health care. This isn't about consumer choice. This is about turning over decisions to insurance companies that want to cut the benefits. I want to end my remarks by just mentioning one story of why the Affordable Care Act is so important to constituents. This is from John. He says: I wanted to share with you the good news that by accessing health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, my little business, a law firm, was able to avoid a substantial premium increase and, in fact, obtain the same full coverage at reduced deductibles and copayments and add dental care for thousands a month less than our old premiums costs, which we had just been advised was to be raised approximately 14 percent. I have been practicing law for over 37 years and have always felt a responsibility to provide full health care benefits for all my employees, including clerks and staff, paying the total premium for all participants. My firm expanded at one point to include my then-partner, seven associate lawyers, and multiple staff, though we are now downsized to three lawyers and two office staff that we now are able to provide insurance for. Thanks for your efforts. Thanks for the Affordable Care Act.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Dennis C. Bless, CRNA, MS, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. Bless will soon complete his year as national president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) whose headquarters are located in my Congressional district. I am proud that Mr. Bless was elected as the 2013-2014 president of this prestigious national organization. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses who administer approximately 34 million anesthetics to patients each year. They work in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered, including hospital surgical suites, obstetrical delivery rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, and the offices of dentists, podiatrists, and specialty surgeons. They also provide acute and chronic pain management services to patients in need of such care. CRNAs provide anesthesia for all types of surgical cases and are the sole anesthesia providers in many rural hospitals. As a CRNA for nearly 20 years, Mr. Bless has contributed greatly to the health care community in Minnesota and nationwide, serving as a clinical nurse anesthetist at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota. Mr. Bless also serves as an adjunct instructor for St. Mary's University of Minnesota and clinical/didactic instructor for the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. He has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to his professional education and development. Mr. Bless was awarded his Master of Science degree in nurse anesthesia from St. Mary's University of Minnesota, a certificate in nurse anesthesia from the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia, a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Minnesota and his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Iowa State University. In addition to his service as AANA President, Mr. Bless has held various leadership positions in the AANA, including President-elect, Treasurer, Director Region 4, and as a member of numerous AANA committees. Mr. Bless also serves on the Board of Directors for the AANA Associations Management Services and is a distinguished speaker on anesthesia topics, lecturing nationwide on the safety, value and cost- effectiveness of CRNA care. During his AANA Presidency, Mr. Bless has been a prominent advocate for patients and for the practice of nurse anesthetists before federal agencies and members of Congress. He has worked tirelessly to promote anesthesia patient safety and the value of CRNAs to our healthcare system: recognition of CRNAs as Full Practice Providers in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), proper implementation of provider non- discrimination requirements, and appropriate recognition of the full scope of CRNA practice, including pain management and related services in the Medicare system. I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Bless today on a job well done. His service to the AANA, his patients and his commitment to high quality health care nationwide are truly commendable. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing his notable career and outstanding achievements.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I enter into the Record the story of a 17-year-old girl who fled her country with her 2-year-old daughter to escape constant physical and sexual abuse from the baby's father. [From the National Immigrant Justice Center] Lauren, a 17-year old, fled the country with her 2-year old daughter due to constant physical, sexual and verbal abuse from the baby's father. While in DHS custody, Lauren and her baby were held in two ``hieleras'' for a total of six days without adequate food and warmth. Lauren is a 17-year-old who came to the United States with her two-year-old daughter, Charise. Charise's father, Juan, was physically and verbally abusive. He has hit, choked, and raped Lauren and threatened to kill her and take their baby. Lauren fled to the United States with Charise to live with her parents and U.S.-citizen sister. While in DHS custody, both Lauren and her baby were held in two ``hieleras'' for about six days total. Lauren had to use her own clothing to keep Charise warm because DHS only gave her an emergency mylar blanket for Charise, despite the cold. Lauren slept on the floor of her cell with Charise in between her legs. DHS gave Charise two small burritos to eat each day, and gave Lauren a piece of bread with deli meat and an apple twice a day. When she asked for more food for her baby, who was hungry and cold, DHS told Lauren there wasn't any more food available.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring up the Paycheck Fairness Act and a minimum wage increase, which would jump-start the middle class, instead of this partisan lawsuit attacking the President.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Frank Alschuler on his 90th birthday, September 10, 2014. Frank is a lifelong Chicagoan and Cubs fan. He graduated from George B. Swift Elementary School, the University of Chicago Lab School, Dartmouth College and Yale University School of Architecture and he served in the United States Navy. He and his late wife, Marjorie Traxler, married on July 24, 1960. In 1965, they moved to Junior Terrace in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood where they raised their two children, Matthew and Mimi. Frank was a founding board member of C4 (Community) Counseling Centers of Chicago, formerly known as EUCMHC, Edgewater Uptown Community Mental Health Center). Recognizing the need to serve the many low-income residents living with mental health concerns in the Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods, the mental health center was opened in 1972. As a licensed architect, Frank volunteered his services to help the organization every step of the way. Now with five locations and an additional one under construction, C4 currently provides mental health services, crisis intervention, and substance use treatment to more than 10,000 at-risk children, adults and families annually. Now, 42 years later, Frank is still on the board and still helping with space planning. In addition to C4, Frank also served on the board of Voice of the People in Uptown for over 40 years. Voice of the People has worked for and with low-income individuals and families in Uptown to create quality affordable housing. Working with early directors Irene Hutchinson and Anne Dee Harper, Frank helped build a tenant organizing group into a full-fledged neighborhood housing development organization. With Frank's expertise on the Board, the Voice went from managing one 6-flat to developing and managing hundreds of units of family housing in Uptown. Frank and his late wife Marjorie instilled in their children and grandchildren the importance of giving back to the community. I wish him a happy celebration of a life well-lived, and good health in the coming years.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate John Marshall Law School in Chicago for spearheading a critical discussion about the needs and rights of older persons. Along with Roosevelt University in Chicago, John Marshall Law School has led the drafting of a model international convention to provide legal protections and guarantee human rights for older people. That model convention, the Chicago Declaration on the Rights of Older Persons, will be presented on August 1 before the 5th Session of the Open-ended Working Group on Ageing at the United Nations. According to Ralph Ruebner, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at John Marshall and a leader of the effort, ``It is vital that the world's aging citizens receive comprehensive legal protections and support under international law. This proposed convention will go a long way in helping achieve this.'' The drafting of the document involved months of work by experts and advocates in Chicago and from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Paraguay, and United Kingdom. On July 10 & 11, 2014, the 21st Belle R. and Joseph H. Braun Memorial Symposium hosted by John Marshall Law School, together with East China University of Political Science and Law and Roosevelt University, brought elder law and policy experts from around the world to Chicago to discuss issues from social protection and income security to fighting elder abuse to health care and caregiving. As co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus Seniors Task Force, I work hard every day to ensure that older Americans can remain productive, participate in their communities, and age with dignity. I also know the importance of ensuring that ageism and other forms of discrimination are addressed and that legal rights are incorporated within a comprehensive framework. The Chicago Declaration on the Rights of Older Persons embodies those concepts, and I hope that next week's meeting in New York furthers movement toward an international convention. To give a sense of the importance and scope of this initiative, I am including Article 1, Purpose and Core Principles, and Article 2, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Older Persons. I encourage my colleagues to read them, learn more about the Chicago Declaration, and join in the fight to promote the rights of older Americans. The following are excerpts from the Chicago Declaration on the Rights of Older Persons. Article 1--Purpose and Core Principles (a) The purpose of this Declaration is to provide, advance, and promote a basis for the development of a convention on the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by older persons, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. (b) The principles recognized by this Declaration are: 1. Respect for inherent dignity; 2. Respect for individual autonomy, including the freedom to make one's own choices; 3. Respect for the independence and capabilities of older persons; 4. Respect for interdependence and caring relationships; 5. Respect for non-discrimination and equality under law; 6. Respect for family relationships and intergenerational solidarity; 7. Respect for full and effective participation and inclusion in society; 8. Respect for and recognition of older persons as part of human and cultural diversity; and 9. Respect for aging as an integral and continuous part of life. Article 2--Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Older Persons Older persons have the following rights and nothing in this Declaration diminishes any greater rights granted to them that may be contained in local, national, regional, or international law. (a) Equality, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity: Discrimination against older persons on the basis of age is prohibited. (b) Quality of Life 1. Older persons have the right to the effective enjoyment of the right to life, to live with dignity in old age, and to make decisions about the quality of their lives. 2. Older persons have the right to support in making decisions regarding their present and future circumstances. (c) Liberty 1. Older persons have a right to liberty and security of person. 2. Old age should never justify a deprivation of liberty. 3. Older persons have the right to personal mobility with the greatest possible independence. 4. Older persons have the right to liberty of movement, freedom to choose their residence, and the right to a nationality. (d) Equality Before the Law 1. Older persons have the right to equality before the law. 2. Older persons have the right to access to justice on an equal basis with others. 3. Older persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection and equal benefits of the law. 4. Denial of legal capacity on the basis of old age is prohibited. 5. Older persons have the right to assistance and support in the exercise of their legal capacity. (e) Health and Long Term Care 1. Older persons have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and long term care without discrimination on the basis of age, including access to public health, preventive medicine, palliative care, and rehabilitation. 2. Older persons have the right to the benefits of scientific progress and health and long term care related research. 3. Older persons have the right to self-determination in health and long term care related matters and to make such decisions based on informed consent. 4. Older persons have the right to dignity, privacy, and autonomy in making health and long term care related decisions. 5. Older persons have the right to express their wishes and preferences regarding future health and long term care related decisions and to have those expressions respected. 6. Older persons have the right to assistance and support in receiving, understanding, and processing information in making informed health and long term care related decisions. (f) Adequate Standard of Living: Older persons have the right to an adequate standard of living, including the right to food, water, clothing, and housing, and to improve their living conditions without discrimination on the basis of age. (g) Housing 1. Older persons have the right to adequate housing. 2. Older persons have the right to choose on an equal basis with others their place of residence, the persons with whom they may live, and they are not obliged to live in any particular living arrangement. 3. Older persons have the right to security of tenure free from disproportionate interference. (h) Living Independently and Being Included in the Community 1. Older persons have the right to live independently and to make choices to facilitate their full inclusion and participation in the community. 2. Older persons have the right to access and choose a range of in-home formal or informal care and other community support services. This includes personal assistance necessary to support independent living and inclusion in the community and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community. 3. Older persons have the right to community services and facilities that are responsive to their needs. 4. Older persons have the right to participate fully in all aspects of life, including equal access to the physical environment, transportation, information, communications, technology, and other facilities and services open to the public. (i) Education: Older persons have the right to education, training, and life-long learning without discrimination. (j) Work and Employment 1. Older persons have the right to work, including the right to participate in a workforce that is open, inclusive, and accessible to persons of all ages. 2. Mandatory retirement based on age is prohibited. (k) Land and Other Property 1. Older persons have the following rights without discrimination on the basis of age or gender: to use, own, transfer, inherit, and participate in the redistribution of land and other property. 2. Older persons have the right to exercise self- determination with respect to their property and the right not to be arbitrarily or unlawfully deprived of their property. (l) Freedom from Torture or Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: Older persons have the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. (m) Freedom from Exploitation, Concealment, Violence, Abuse, and Neglect 1. Older persons have a right to be free from all forms of exploitation, concealment, violence, abuse, and neglect. 2. Older persons have the right to recovery and reintegration when exploitation, concealment, violence, abuse, or neglect is committed against them. 3. Older persons have the right to recovery and reintegration in an environment that fosters dignity, health, well-being, self-respect, and autonomy, and is sensitive to self-identification and personhood. 4. Older persons have the right to be free from medical abuse, including nonconsensual treatment, medication, experimentation, and hospitalization. 5. Older persons may not be denied medical treatment or have medical treatment limited on the basis of age. (n) Freedom of Expression and Access to Information: Older persons have the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including, the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice. (o) Freedom of Association: Older persons have the right to freedom of association and to create their own associations. (p) Respect for Privacy: Older persons have the right to privacy, in all aspects of their lives, including, in their home, family life, communications, intimacy, health, and financial matters. (q) Social Protection: Older persons have the right to social protection, including income security, without discrimination on the basis of age or gender. (r) Participation in Social, Political, and Cultural Life 1. Older persons have the right to participate in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport. 2. Older persons have the right to exercise political rights, including the right to vote, stand for office, and participate in the political process. (s) Right to Assistance: Older persons have the right to assistance in exercising the rights in this Declaration.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada, Dina Titus, from a place that certainly benefits from tourism and is a place where many of us go to have fun.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, can I ask how many minutes remain on either side?

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, I am pleased that this bipartisan bill, H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, was reported out of the full Energy and Commerce Committee last week. The bill, which authorizes the Brand USA program through fiscal year 2020, is an important achievement for our committee. I appreciate the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), the chairman of our committee and subcommittee, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the full committee ranking member, for helping to bring this legislation to the floor. I strongly support Brand USA's mission of promoting international travel to the United States, and I have heard from travel and tourism professionals across my district about the need to reauthorize this program, but it is not just the Chicago area that benefits. Brand USA supports an estimated 53,000 jobs and $3.4 billion in visitor spending each year from coast to coast, according to the U.S. Travel Association. I would like to thank Mr. Bilirakis and Mr. Welch, the sponsors of H.R. 4450, for their continued commitment to the promotion of international tourism. The sponsors worked with me to make some important improvements to this legislation during the committee markup process. The amendment we made to the bill will make Brand USA even more accountable and economically viable, moving forward. Due to our efforts, the bill incorporates several recommendations that the Government Accountability Office made in a 2013 report. The Department of Commerce is now required to establish specific publicly available timeframes and conditions for how Brand USA revises and resolves disagreements related to its in-kind contribution policy. Having a set policy will not only promote greater transparency, but it will also, in the words of GAO, ``enable productive interactions and facilitate collaboration.'' GAO has also suggested that Brand USA be directed to develop a plan that specifies timeframes, methodologies, and data sources for measuring its performance and the campaign's impact. By explicitly requiring those criteria, the bill now gives the organization more direction on the type of information it should collect and establishes metrics that can more effectively determine the success of the program. I was glad that the bill's sponsors proposed lowering the cap on in- kind contributions in the underlying bill, and I am thankful that Mr. Bilirakis joined me to offer an amendment to lower the cap even further during the full committee markup last week. Every contribution to Brand USA, whether public or private, cash or in-kind, is important to the organization's ongoing success, but I believe that the program is in the best possible position to maintain and build on its success through robust cash contributions by the private sector. Brand USA's continued long-term success is essential to communities that--like my district--realize the economic and cultural benefits of tourism and travel. Brand USA has been successful in its first few years, and I firmly believe that this legislation improves the program even more. Again, I applaud Brand USA for its ongoing efforts to encourage people from all over the world to enjoy everything our country has to offer, and I assure the chairman of our subcommittee that we will benefit not just coast to coast, but also the center of the country as well. I thank the sponsors for their continued efforts to ensure the longevity of this valuable program and strongly encourage my colleagues to support this important bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I have no more speakers, but I want to just make a couple of comments. I think in addition to this being a really important bill and recognized in a bipartisan way, I hope Members on both sides of the aisle will realize how good it feels when we work together, and maybe this could be the beginning or a model for how we can deal with legislation. There were some changes to the bill. We sat down. We agreed on them. We worked it out, and we have a product at the end of the day. It is called compromise. It is not a dirty word. We have achieved, I think, an excellent product. The other thing I wanted to mention, we have talked about Big Sur, Carmel, Las Vegas, and other places. I just wanted to say that I am kind of pushing an idea for an organization called To Chicago, which is our tourism bureau to bring people to Chicago, especially for the summer. I thought a really good idea would be to promote: Come to Chicago, swim in Chicago, no sharks. And so I thought I would use this opportunity to push my ``no sharks'' idea for Chicago. You could add ``no salt'' as well, but I thought particularly ``no sharks.'' We have beautiful beaches in Chicago. So I am trying to get To Chicago under the banner of brand Chicago to promote my good idea of no sharks. But there are so many ideas I think that we have for many small communities. I was in the delta of Louisiana at the original blues bars and blues restaurants down there, and all of us have something wonderful and unique in our communities. That is what Brand USA is about, to bring tourists not only to the likely suspects of places but to so many of our communities so they get the real flavor of the people, the diversity, the color, the smell, the feel, and the sound of the United States of America. So this is a great piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I am going to continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I will close by just thanking the gentleman--all of the gentlemen--and ladies who have participated in making this important legislation come to fruition. I do hope we are able to move it very quickly and, hopefully, unanimously here, move it over to the Senate and get it done right away. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill to extend the Brand USA program and ensure it is successful, accountable, and transparent going forward. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. It is now my pleasure to yield for such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), who is from a beautiful area of the country.