Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States and to honor his legacy of heroism and military service. I want to thank Congressman Dennis Kucinich for introducing and promoting this resolution, and the gentleman from New York for yielding me this time to speak. Casimir Pulaski's contributions to both his homeland and his adopted country are immeasurable. Born in 1747, Pulaski valiantly fought Russian control and domination of his native Poland. However, instead of being lauded for his heroism and his distinguished service toward freedom and independence on behalf of his people, he was forced to flee and became an exile. Even after leaving Poland, Pulaski remained a voice for just causes and the unwavering spirit of freedom. He joined in colonial America's struggle against the British and fought alongside General George Washington during the Revolutionary War, and as the first commander of the American Cavalry, he became known as the ``Father of the American Cavalry.'' He paid the ultimate price and was fatally wounded during the Battle of Savannah. Mr. Speaker, Casimir Pulaski is a true American hero who fought and died for independence and freedom that we as Americans enjoy today. He is honored in Illinois with a State holiday in his name, and Chicago has the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw. He is a true American hero. He served our Nation with honor and courage, and I am proud today to support legislation that will finally, over 200 years after his death, grant him honorary citizenship to the country for which he died. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, and hope that we have good bipartisan support for this sensible legislation. We know that everyone, and particularly seniors who are on fixed incomes, have been hard hit by the worst recession in 70 years. The Labor Department data shows that, for people over 65, 447,000 filed for unemployment in August, which is a 127 percent increase over December of 2007. Over the past year, the number of unemployed workers 75 and older has increased by 33 percent. Why are they even going to work? Because seniors are hurting. They need the money. Now they learn there will be no cost-of-living increase in their Social Security checks. At a time when health care costs are already claiming a big chunk of their Social Security checks and at a time when out-of-pocket costs are rising and they're forgoing much of their needed care, we can't allow their part B premiums to increase. They need help right now. I strongly support the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, and I urge my colleagues to support the senior citizens and persons with disabilities by passing H.R. 3631.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my strong support for H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009. The unemployment rate in my state of Illinois is 10 percent. Illinois' unemployment rate is higher than the national average of 9.6 percent; and within Illinois, the rate in the Chicago area is higher still, at 10.6 percent. It is true that there are signs the economy is beginning to recover: fewer jobs were lost in August than in previous months. But we still have a long way to go in terms of job creation, and in the meantime, we need to help those who are looking for work but can't find it. Three hundred thousand Illinoisans have lost their jobs in the last year. Five million Americans have been out of work longer than six months. The bill before us would extend an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation for those individuals in high unemployment states who are exhausting their unemployment benefits. With nearly six people out of work for every available job, this assistance is imperative. H.R. 3548 would help at least 20,000 Illinoisans who are exhausting their benefits by the end of September and more than 50,000 whose benefits would otherwise expire by the end of the year. Extending unemployment compensation will help job-hunting Americans pay their bills and prevent more foreclosures, further bolstering the economy. According to Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Economy.com, every $1 spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.63 in new economic demand. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3548.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 738, a resolution honoring the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues I am proud to support landmark legislation that shined a light on the problem of intimate partner violence and provided women with the resources needed to escape violent relationships. This 15th anniversary, we celebrate the tremendous gains we have made in raising awareness about domestic violence and empowering women to leave unhealthy relationships and rebuilt their lives away from their abusers. President Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act on September 13, 1994, as part of the Omnibus Crime Bill. And over the last 15 years we have made tremendous progress toward ending the cycle of abuse. States have taken up the charge and have passed close to 700 laws to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. As a result, more victims are reporting their abuse and the number of women killed by an intimate partner decreased by 24 percent. The number of comprehensive service program has grown exponentially since the passage of VAMA. However, we have more work to do. Despite these gains, the anniversary of VAWA reminds us that there are many women and children still living in terror and in constant fear for their safety. Today, the cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion annually, $4.1 billion of which is for direct medical and mental health services. Nearly 1 in 4 women in the U.S. will be abused by a current or former partner at some time in their lives. We need to continue looking for a wide range of solutions to this problem. We need to devote more resources to helping women and their children begin living healthy and happy lives free of violence. I am glad we are honoring the legislation on its 15th anniversary and I look forward to reauthorizing the program next year. I hope that we will continue our efforts to protect women from abuse and encourage the building of healthy families. I urge all of my colleagues to strongly support the resolution.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, the use of massive amounts of human antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes in industrial food animal production is seriously jeopardizing the health of Americans. This practice is contributing to the emergence and spread of antibiotic- resistant bacteria, often rendering ineffective human life-savings drugs. I am submitting for the record a letter to the White House, signed by twenty reputable organizations such as the Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Pew Charitable Trusts, which supports the Food and Drug Administration's early steps to phase out the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and feed efficiency in food animals, and calls on the Administration to go further. July 24, 2009. Ms. Melody Barnes, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, The White House, Washington, DC. Dear Ms. Barnes: As organizations committed to protecting patients, public health, animal health, and food safety, the undersigned groups are writing to express our grave concern about the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture and our strong support for the Administration's new ``public health approach to antimicrobial use in animals,'' which was articulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its July 13th statement before the Rules Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Obama Administration's leadership in providing a clear path forward on this highly politically charged issue is very much welcomed after decades of inertia. Our combined memberships include the country's foremost scientific and medical experts and represent more than eleven million concerned Americans and health professionals. Our position is based on objective health interests and concerns that dangerous drug resistant infections are rapidly increasing in hospitals and community settings adding to the economic burden of the U.S. healthcare costs. Specifically, we support the FDA's calls for phasing out the use of antimicrobial drugs for growth promotion and feed efficiency, and for requiring that all other uses of these drugs be carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian and within the boundaries of a valid veterinarian-client- patient relationship--which we expect will end over-the- counter sales of tons of antimicrobial drugs annually. We also support the agency's expressed intent to clearly define the limited instances where antimicrobials may be used judiciously in food animals for purposes of disease prevention and control and are eager to work with FDA to ensure that the policy developed is the most protective of public health. We also urge the agency to make the new antimicrobial policy mandatory, retroactive to already- approved drugs, and enforceable, in order to best guarantee a significant reduction in antimicrobial use. The Administration's statement clearly demonstrates a commitment to sound and science-based policies that are backed up by scores of scientific and medical publications and will protect the health of every American. The development of antimicrobial agents to treat life- threatening infections has been one of the most notable medical achievements of the past century. Physicians, healthcare professionals, and public health and food safety advocates are greatly concerned about the growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that antimicrobial drug use in livestock and poultry contributes to the spread of drug- resistant bacteria to people. Drug-resistant organisms are plaguing Americans, including otherwise healthy individuals, in healthcare settings and communities across the country. We are pleased that these concerns finally are being recognized and addressed by the federal government to forestall epidemics of untreatable infections. Fundamental to FDA's new approach--and our support for it-- are the principles that: ``protecting public health requires the judicious use in animal agriculture of those antimicrobials of importance in human medicine'' and that ``purposes other than for the advancement of animal and human health should not be considered judicious use.''--Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA's Principal Deputy Commissioner, July 13, 2009. The Administration's vision to eliminate non-judicious uses of antimicrobial drugs, including for purposes of growth promotion and feed efficiency and non-judicious disease prevention which have been practiced in animal agriculture for several decades, demonstrates a critical public policy shift that will better protect the public against resistant infections and preserve the power of existing antibiotics. In addition, we urge FDA to formalize its position on veterinary supervision of all antimicrobial uses and ending the over- the-counter sale of antibiotics for animal agricultural uses, which are long-overdue. The sale of antimicrobials for use in human medicine requires a prescription; there is no reason to permit a lower standard for agricultural purposes where considerably more antimicrobial drugs are used annually. The Administration's new policy direction appears intended to reflect the concerns of a broad consensus of the scientific, medical, public health and international health communities. Such consensus is buttressed by the actions of expert bodies and governments. For example: Since 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called upon all nations to shift from use of antimicrobials in non- human medicine. In 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies of Science called on the FDA to ban the use of antimicrobials for growth promotion in animals, if those drugs were also used in human medicine. In 2006, the European Union banned non-therapeutic use of antimicrobials, because such use was found to raise food safety concerns, and the ban was instituted to protect against further development of antimicrobial resistance. We recognize that phasing out of antimicrobials for non- judicious uses in animals will require changes in the agricultural industry. But protection of the public's health must come first, and the phase out can be conducted in a way that that minimizes costs to the agriculture industry. Farmers in Europe have adapted to such a policy without undue disruption of production or increased consumer costs; the United States can learn from that experience while also protecting American lives. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has recognized that various production methods used in the United States today are viable alternatives to non judicious antimicrobial uses and such alternatives are employed with little negative--or even with somewhat positive--economic impact to producers. We urge you to maintain the scientifically sound positions the Administration already has taken in support of phasing out growth promotion and feed efficiency uses, and to finalize a policy that will strictly manage a narrow set of prophylactic uses while mandating veterinary-patient relationships and eliminating the over-the-counter sale of antibiotics for use in animals. We remain committed to working with the Administration to implement these new approaches in ways that will best protect the lives and health of both humans and animals. Sincerely, Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics. American Academy of Pediatrics. American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. American Medical Association. American Pharmacists Association. American Public Health Association. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Food Animal Concerns Trust. Humane Society of the United States. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Keep Antibiotics Working. Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition. National Association of County and City Health Officials. Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming. Premier, a healthcare alliance serving 2,100 nonprofit hospitals and 58,000 healthcare sites. Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists. Trust for America's Health. Union of Concerned Scientists.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the chairman emeritus for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership in creating this bipartisan bill that passed unanimously out of our committee and is so important. This is very personal to me. My dear friend, Nancy Donley, lost her son, Alex, in 1993, her only child, after he ate ground beef contaminated with E. coli. And we heard testimony from people whose children have died and whose family members and loved ones have become sick and died. Finally, we are able to pass, in a bipartisan way, an overhaul of our food safety system. And so I am pleased to be able to join in this bipartisan agreement to support this legislation. I am also glad that it includes some language directing the FDA to examine antibiotic resistance as it relates to the food supply. I hope we will continue to move forward. But I urge all of my colleagues to take this great opportunity so never again do we have to look at a victim, a family member of a victim or someone who has died because food that they believed was safe actually killed them. Let's vote for this.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 538, a bipartisan resolution I introduced to express the support of the House of Representatives for the City of Chicago's bid to host the summer Olympics in 2016. Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 2016, athletes from all over the world will come together to compete in a modern Olympiad, a series of games that has represented peace and hope since it first began more than 100 years ago. In April 2007, Chicago was selected by the United States Olympic Committee as the one and only United States bid city; and on June 4, 2008, the International Olympic Committee named Chicago as one of the four finalists to host the 31st Olympiad, and I can't think of any better place to host these games. On the edge of the Great Lakes, Chicago boasts a magnificent skyline and a diverse population that prides itself not only on its history but on what will be achieved in the future. Chicago has overcome adversity to rise up as the crown jewel of the Midwest, embracing hard work and hospitality as cornerstone values. The United States and the White House have each taken unprecedented steps to express support for the 2016 Olympics to be hosted in Chicago. Mayor Richard Daley has organized an incredible group of civic and political and business leaders in support of our bid, and it is my hope that my colleagues in the House will join in this cause by supporting this important resolution. The bipartisan resolution recognizes June 23 as Olympic Day and supports the City of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 summer Olympics. I realize that that day has passed, but I think that when we join together to support this resolution, we'll be expressing our support for our great City of Chicago, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. A health insurance company horror story about Robin Beaton, a 59-year-old woman who was a registered nurse for 30 years, healthy, with health insurance. She retired to set up her own small business and got an individual policy with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. She went to the dermatologist for acne. A word was written on her chart that, interpreted incorrectly, as meaning precancerous. Here are her words, Shortly thereafter, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer and was told I needed a double mastectomy. The Friday before the Monday I was scheduled to have my double mastectomy, Blue Cross red-flagged my report due to the dermatologist's report. The dermatologist called Blue Cross directly to report I had only acne and pleaded not to hold up the surgery. Then Blue Cross called to inform her that they were launching a 5-year medical investigation into her medical history and that she would not be able to have the surgery. She was frantic. Then she found out that the insurance policy that she had been paying premiums on was canceled altogether. She says, The sad thing is Blue Cross took my premiums, and when I was suspected of having cancer, they searched for a reason to cancel me. This happened, and 7 months later the tumor doubled in size, went into her lymph nodes; and now her prognosis is worse. We have an opportunity today to bring peace of mind to all Americans and pass health insurance reform.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hostelling International USA, which is celebrating 75 years of promoting youth travel and intercultural understanding. Hostelling International USA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1934 to promote hostels and educational programs throughout the United States, especially for young travelers. The organization aims to help travelers of all ages, but particularly young people, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people. Annually, its hostels host nearly one million overnight stays by domestic and foreign travelers. Hostelling International USA creates cultural exchange through travel and education, and its 70 hostels across the country bring jobs and tourism revenue to local economies. In my own community of Chicago, Hostelling International's local nonprofit hostel, the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Hostel, provides 85,000 overnights for travelers every year. The hostel offers an inexpensive, safe, and comfortable place for visitors of all ages to stay in Chicago, and was rated by travelers as the Best Large Hostel in the World in 2006 and 2007. Hostelling International Chicago not only welcomes international visitors, but it also serves our local community. The hostel teaches cultural understanding to over 1,500 local students each year through a variety of programs, including Exchange Neighborhoods and Cultural Kitchen. These programs are offered in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools and the Girl Scouts, as well as other youth-serving organizations. Madam Speaker, Hostelling International encourages young people to travel, to see the world and meet people from other countries, and to become responsible global citizens. I congratulate Hostelling International USA for its 75 years of service, and I thank Hostelling International Chicago for its service to the metropolitan Chicago area.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2454 and congratulate Mr. Waxman for his leadership. For over a century, the United States has embraced an energy policy based almost entirely on fossil fuels that have several dangerous consequences for today. This outdated policy has compromised our national security by making us reliant on foreign oil, has led the United States to lag behind other countries in the research and development of new energy technologies that would have created jobs, and has poison our planet. Now, today, we have the opportunity to change directions. When I was back in my district last recess, I could feel the crackling of new innovation. S&C Electric is making our electric grid much smarter and more reliable. Northwestern University is enabling entrepreneurs who are utilizing nanotechnology and applying it to the energy field. Republic Doors and Windows, a Chicago business that made Energy Star windows, shut down. But those 260 skilled workers were rehired with help from the recovery bill that we passed. These are just a few of the thousands of success stories around the country, and the 1.7 million good jobs that will be created with the passage of H.R. 2454.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I'm grateful to Chairman Skelton for including one of my amendments in en bloc amendment 2 and another in en bloc amendment 3. Both address oversight and transparency of defense contracting. The first will allow Members of Congress to access the contractor performance database created under the FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Act. The database collects information about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings that result in a conviction or a finding of fault against companies holding U.S. government contracts. Currently, access to the database is limited to the chairman and ranking members of certain committees, and limits the ability of Congress to determine the performance of contractors. The second requires annual reporting on individuals responsible for overseeing contracts, including reports of how many dollars each contracting officer is responsible for and a report on how many contracting officers are themselves contract employees. In 2008, the GAO found that 42 percent of Army contract specialists are themselves contractors. The amendment would ensure that we have access to information illustrating changes in the contract oversight workforce that will help us in improving defense contributing.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise today to recognize the extraordinary life and contributions of Judge Sandra Otaka, a constituent of mine and a dear friend, who died on June 6. Judge Otaka is remembered not just for her brilliant legal career but for a life committed to fighting for equality and justice for all. She died too soon and she will be greatly missed. Judge Otaka was appointed to the bench of the Illinois Supreme Court in 2000. In 2002, she was elected as the first Asian-American to be Cook County Judge, serving in the children protection court. While that accomplishment was extraordinary, it was just one of many exemplary moments in her career. Born the daughter and granddaughter of Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in U.S. internment camps during World War II, Sandra Otaka dedicated her life to fighting for justice. As a child, she campaigned against the Vietnam War. During college, she worked at a law firm that successfully overturned the conviction of Fred Korematsu, a Japanese- American imprisoned in 1944 for failing to report to an internment camp. Throughout her adult life, she worked tirelessly to represent those who too often had no voice. Judge Otaka was an inspiration not only to Asian-Americans in Chicago, but to legions of others, including me. I loved and respected her deeply not only for her brilliant mind, but for her tremendous heart. The outpouring of sorrow and the sense of loss are a testament to Sandra's gift for befriending people and touching their lives in ways big and small. While all of us who were Sandra's friends will miss her terribly, we can find some comfort in our memories of that beautiful, vibrant and vital woman whom we were so fortunate to have in our lives, albeit for too brief a time. My heart goes out today to her beloved son Jeffrey. Jeffrey was the center of Sandra's life and she was absolutely devoted to him. She talked about him and his accomplishments often, and Sandra always had a photo ready to share. I also extend my condolences to her sister Susan, and all of Sandra's family and friends whom she loved dearly and who loved her in return. Judge Otaka made our community and our nation a better place. I and so many people in Chicago are indeed fortunate to have had her in our lives.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 493, recognizing the significant contributions of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life on college campus communities in the United States and around the world. I would like to thank my colleague Congressman Klein for introducing this important resolution and for all of his work to celebrate Jewish life and fight anti-Semitism. This past weekend, Hillel marked its 85th anniversary. Every day, for the past 85 years, Hillel has worked to fulfill its mission of enriching the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students, helping them to become leaders in their communities. Founded at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1923 by Rabbi Benjamin Frankel, Hillel has grown to over 500 campuses around the world. Today, Hillel of Illinois is active on 17 campuses across the state, including three in my district alone, providing opportunities for Jewish students to explore their Jewish identity and create vibrant Jewish life on campuses. Hillel plays a critical role in encouraging students to be leaders in their communities, championing causes including human rights and social justice. Hillel students have been active on issues ranging from civil rights to freeing Soviet Jewry; from halting genocide in Darfur to promoting the U.S.-Israel relationship. Hillel provides students with the opportunity to engage in their communities and around the world. Today, 85 years after its founding, Hillel is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world. The organization has supported the broader Jewish community during times of trouble and tragedy and has celebrated the community's triumphs. For the past eight decades, Hillel has helped Jewish students connect with their history, culture, and identity at a crucial moment of self-discovery in their own lives. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to recognize Hillel on its 85th anniversary.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. I do it with enormous gratitude to Chairman Waxman for working for years to get legislation of this sort that would improve public health by strengthening the regulation of tobacco products. There are a lot of diseases that we don't have the cure for today. There are lots of resources put into medical research that hopefully will find a cure to cancer and to AIDS and other terrible diseases. But we do know how we can prevent over 435,000 tobacco-related deaths that occur each year, and that is by preventing smoking. There are over 44 million smokers in the United States of America. In Illinois alone, 24.3 percent of adults and 29.2 percent of youth smoke tobacco. In Illinois, 16,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses and 29,000 adults and children die of secondhand smoke in Illinois. In addition, $3.2 billion is spent in direct medical expenditures related to smoking in Illinois. And every day 4,000 kids try their cigarette, and about half of them become addicted. Finally, we have legislation giving the FDA the power and resources to regulate the tobacco industry and safeguard the public health and our children. It would lessen the cost of smoking-related medical illnesses and prevent adolescents and teens from smoking at a young age. In Illinois, I want to congratulate Alexandra Slane, an elementary school student from Peoria, Illinois, who won the Tar Wars anti-smoking annual poster contest with her drawing of a light bulb shaped as a human head. She wrote the caption in the human-shaped light bulb warning America, ``Be Bright, Don't Light.'' Let's start by passing H.R. 1256.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, it's nearly a decade ago that in my district a hate-monger came with a gun and pointed it at young men and women, people, families who were leaving their synagogue at the beginning of the Sabbath. And when he wasn't able to kill anybody there, he drove down the street and saw an African American standing in front of his house with his children in Skokie, Illinois, and shot and killed Ricky Birdsong, a community leader and a beloved member of that community. We've made some progress in extinguishing anti-Semitism and hatred. We have certainly worked toward it. And yet yesterday at the Holocaust museum, a place dedicated to remembering the lives of senselessly killed millions of people, another shooter was there. But standing in his way was Officer Johns, Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns, who died in defense of tolerance in our country, against intolerance in our country, and saved probably the lives of many, many people in doing so because that shooter was going on to kill others. We owe him and his family a debt of gratitude and send condolences to those who loved him.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I rise in strong support of the amendment offered by Congresswoman Gwen Moore and really applaud her for that and for her passionate remarks on behalf of this amendment. In the 8 years since the overthrow of the Taliban, women in Afghanistan have made major strides forward. Ninety-one of Afghanistan's 351 parliamentarians are women, and two women have announced their intention to run for President this year. However, many women in Afghanistan continue to fight for basic human rights. Violence against women, rape and forced marriages continue in the country's most unstable regions. In April we saw images of stones being thrown at a woman protesting a law legalizing marital rape. Afghanistan's future will depend on its women building more stable and healthy and thriving communities. The women of Afghanistan have borne the brunt of years of warfare, but they will also form the underpinning of a peaceful Afghanistan. This amendment recognizes that limiting the rights of women is counterproductive to all of our efforts to help Afghanistan move forward from the devastating damage of Taliban rule. I urge all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to stand up for the women of Afghanistan who are suffering, who deserve our help.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 505 honoring the life of Dr. George Tiller and condemning his brutal murder at church. I thank Representative Slaughter for this resolution. Dr. Tiller was a husband and a father. He studied at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and served his country as a United States Navy flight surgeon intern. Despite attacks and threats against him, he continued to serve as a tireless advocate for women's health and women's rights. On May 31, he was brutally gunned down in broad daylight in his place of worship by an extremist who took the law into his own hands. Enough is enough. It is time for us to condemn this act of violence and state forcefully that we will not condone murder, threats, or intimidation in the future. In addition to my condolences to Dr. Tiller's family, I extend my gratitude to them for his life, his courage, his unyielding support for women, their health, and freedom to exercise their constitutional rights.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Actually, I was a community organizer from Chicago.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Sure.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Absolutely. If you think about the cost of an automobile, which a lot of people do think about--and we certainly want to encourage people to buy American cars, but there is now more cost for health care than there is for the steel in that car. That's how much it is. Now, when you want to sell your cars around the world and be competitive and when you're competing against countries in which they have a national health care system and where they control their costs of health care, then it's pretty hard to do when employers are facing these double-digit rising costs in health insurance every year for their employees, those employers who are good enough to provide it or who have negotiated with their workers to provide health care benefits. So, clearly, we have to find a way to get these health care costs under control. One of the best ways to do that is to have an efficient and quality public plan, and that's one of the reasons it's so important. Not only is the quality going to be great, but there will be cost-effectiveness. I see you've got a chart about the administrative costs of health care. What we know is that, of all of these public plans that we have-- Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration--the administrative costs are very low compared to the private insurance companies. As a progressive and as a community organizer--and still having that mindset--one of the things that we do as progressives is to engage grass-roots support.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Absolutely.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. What we're going to have is an exchange that will allow for all these different choices for Americans. But let's face it, even the private companies now are going to have to play by different rules. For example, pre-existing conditions are not going to be a reason to exclude anyone on public or private plans any longer. There will be some defined benefits that have to be covered so you don't find out when you get sick that, Uh-oh, this wasn't covered, and we thought it was. Congresswoman Hirono, you talked about transparency and all of this whole industry of health care, which it really is in this country now, is going to be much more family-friendly, people-friendly, where you can understand actually what you're getting, and then you can decide what you want.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. That is one of the great things about our Web site, too, is that they can talk directly to us. Let's face it: as we push for comprehensive health care for all Americans, the people who are profiting from the system as it is are going to be out there pushing against us. Mainly, we're going to find that the insurance industry is fighting tooth and nail in having to compete against a public plan. They're out there now and are saying that it's unfair and that it's not right that they should have to compete. Come on. They have had the market to themselves for all of these years, and here we are right now with a crisis in our country in health care. When people think about the economy, lots of times what they're thinking about is health care. If they lose their jobs, what are they thinking about? Health care. If they had employer plans, they don't have them now. So what we have to do is organize. We have to mobilize. We have to have people out there demanding the kind of plan that's going to help their families, that makes sure that they can get the preventative care that they need and that they can take their kids to the doctor. They don't have to go to an emergency room and wait until the last minute until there is a really serious illness before they get any kind of help. So I think one of the things that the Progressive Caucus can do is to go out and help mobilize people around the country to get behind a plan that does have a robust public health insurance option in it, too, because without that, you'd better believe that we're going to see the lobbyists from the insurance companies and probably from the pharmaceutical companies, like on the Medicare part D fiasco. So we want to create a partnership in the Progressive Caucus with Americans who want real change in health care.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. No. I have had people come into my offices--I'm sure you have too--day in and day out and talk about how they're so scared. They can't get the health care they need. They have a child with a disability or a spouse who's lost his job and lost his health care. And also people come in and say, you know, I'm 63 years old. I hope I can live another 2 years so I can get Medicare, a government-provided health care for our seniors and for persons with disabilities. We know that Medicare is one of the most successful programs that we have had. It's something that passed in 1965 and lifted the burden of health care costs off of the most vulnerable people, our elderly and persons with disabilities. This is something that I think many young people are jealous of, wish they had this government-provided health care program that is really a universal program for people over 65 and persons with disabilities. Well, now we have an opportunity, something I have been working and waiting for all of my adult life, that we're going to have a health care program for all Americans. And what is it going to look like? It's going to give Americans a choice. If they like what they have, they can keep it. Nobody has to worry about anything being taken away from them that they like. But if they don't want to go back to a private insurance company and want something that we know is reliable because we have done it with Medicare and the Veterans' Administration, they can choose a public health insurance option. The good news about that is not only will it be there to provide the package of benefits that they want, but it's also going to be something that's really going to save money and make the private insurance industry have to compete with that and make them even better. Let me just read from a letter that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, from my home State, a former community organizer, sent yesterday to the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus, and the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Edward Kennedy. He wrote, ``I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest.'' The other thing he could have said is that it's also going to save us money by helping to reduce the costs all around for health care. In fact, there's been estimates that over 10 years about $3 trillion can be saved because there will be this choice of this health care option. And it is about time that the United States joined the rest of the industrial world and said, Yes, our people are going to get the health care they need, that it's going to be a right and not just a privilege for those who can afford it. Let me just tell a couple of stories before I yield back, quick ones. The other day, a friend of mine proudly showed me a picture of her daughter that just had a baby in the hospital, a darling picture of mother and baby and mom holding the baby in one arm and a cell phone in the other. I said, Isn't that adorable? She must be calling friends and family and telling about the birth of this beautiful baby. And my friend said, Oh, no. She was on the phone with her insurance company right after the birth of the baby to make sure that things are covered. You know, there are lots of insurance policies, private insurance policies, that don't cover maternity care. People sometimes aren't aware of that until they have a baby. The other is I met a farmer about a month ago who told me he and his family had a $10,000 dollar deductible policy. Now, this man is included when we count who is insured in the United States of America, but the truth of the matter is this family isn't insured for most things. Unless something horrible happens, a terrible, catastrophic accident on the farm, for everyday health care they are absolutely uninsured, paying out-of-pocket costs. So, Congresswoman Hirono, you talked about the 47 million uninsured. Over half of all Americans last year reported that they had to forego or postpone some health procedure or prescription drug that they needed. And so we know it goes way beyond those who are uninsured into most Americans. And now I got a new report today; 60 percent of all personal bankruptcies are due to health costs, and 75 percent of those people have insurance, so-called. That is, until they get sick.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker I rise today to thank and congratulate the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, which this year celebrates its 75th anniversary. Founded in 1934 to fight anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination and intolerance, the Decalogue Society has a proud record of achievement. It is the oldest Jewish Bar Association in the United States, representing the values and concerns of the Jewish community while working to protect the rights and privileges of all Americans. All of us are proud to be a nation of laws, and we strive to ensure that ``equal justice under the law'' is not just a motto but a reality. The Decalogue Society recognizes that lawyers play an essential role in maintaining a free society committed to equal justice. It works to ensure that we as a nation understand and value the role of the legal profession in reaching that goal, even as its lawyers participate in social action and cooperate in diverse movements for the public welfare. Access to competent legal representation is an essential ingredient for making sure that the laws of the land are just and fairly enforced. The Decalogue Society extends critical educational and financial support to those lawyers who work to end discrimination and represent the rights of the most vulnerable among us. The Decalogue Foundation was created in the 1960s to provide scholarships for deserving law students. It has established nine endowment funds at the Hebrew University Law School and six Chicago-area law schools. It also provides free continuing legal education to assist members and non- members alike in becoming better informed lawyers. I hope that my colleagues will join me in congratulating the Decalogue Society for its commitment to the ideals of religious freedom and racial tolerance and for its efforts to encourage and assist those women and men who want to pursue future legal careers in public service. Chicago, Illinois and the United States all benefit from its activities and from its commitment to the principles of law and equality.