Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Conference Report. Two weeks ago, I stood on the House floor and listed the top ten reasons to support this bill. Here we are today and the only thing that has changed is that more Americans are losing their jobs, homes and healthcare. We have to stop the economy from continuing to spiral out of control before it is too late. Our country is facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression--we lost 2.6 million jobs last year--the largest job loss since 1945. In Illinois, the unemployment rate increased by 40 percent in one year. We are seeing job losses at iconic American companies like Kodak and Ford, and at major Illinois companies like Caterpillar. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help get our economy back on track and put America back to work. The bill will create 3.5 million jobs, cut taxes for working families, rebuild our infrastructure, prevent state and local cuts to crucial services and programs, and invest in the long-term health of our economy. Under this bill, Illinois will receive billions of dollars and it is estimated that this bill would save or create over 148,000 jobs in Illinois. This bill isn't a hand out to Wall Street fat cats and corporate CEOs; this is a hand up for the American people. The bill helps working families in Illinois, and across the country, by providing income tax credits, making college and health insurance more affordable, giving first-time homebuyers a tax credit and providing assistance to low-income families to make their homes more energy efficient and lower their energy costs. As President Obama has said, this bill is not perfect, but it provides immediate and targeted relief to American families and will help lead our country out of the greatest economic crisis we have faced since the Great Depression. American families are depending on us to act--not tomorrow, not next week--but today.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution and to recognize my dear friend, John Dingell, on his lifetime of public service. Over the last 53 years, John Dingell has stood larger than life. His dedication to his district, state and country has been a tremendous source of inspiration to me and my colleagues. I know that the United States of America is a safer, cleaner and healthier country because of his tireless efforts. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have had the privilege of serving under Chairman Dingell. As Chairman, his wisdom and judgment were only outdone by his kindness and generosity. I know that every member in this chamber is a better representative today because of the lessons we have learned from him. In the 111th Congress, I look forward to continue working with, and learning from, John Dingell as he continues to fight for American families. This year we plan to work to provide universal health care, improve safety standards in toys, and find a solution to address global climate change, and John Dingell will be a major factor in each of these efforts. On a personal note I also deeply appreciate the friendship extended to me and my family by John and Debbie Dingell. They are always there for friends who need comfort and care. I congratulate and thank John Dingell for everything that he has and will accomplish in the years ahead.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to express my condolences to the family and friends of the six Chicago-area residents who were recently killed in an airplane crash in West Virginia. On January 31, a twin-engine Piper PA-34 plane carrying four members of Chicago's American Polish Aero-Club and two guests crashed in the woods near Kenova, West Virginia. The plane had taken off from Lake in the Hills Airport and was bound for Charlotte, North Carolina and Clearwater, Florida, where the four members of the club were going to view planes for sale. The club was hoping to purchase a plane to pull glider planes, according to President Chester Wojnicki. The four club members were all licensed pilots, and all four had immigrated to the United States from Poland. Ireneusz Michalowski of Des Plaines, Kazimierz Adamski of Morton Grove, Wesley Dobrzanski of Niles, and Stanley Matras of Chicago shared not only their cultural heritage but also their love of flying. Also aboard the plane were Monika Niemiec, a reporter for a local Polish radio show, and her father Stanley Niemiec, both of Harwood Heights. The Polish American Aero-Club is, by its own claim, the largest Polish flying club outside of Poland. Its approximately 60 members form a close-knit community of enthusiasts who fly both regular planes and gliders. Like the four members killed in the crash, many of the club's members came to the United States from Poland to seek new opportunities. During this difficult time, Chicago's Polish American community continues to demonstrate strength and resilience as it celebrates the lives of the victims. About 1,000 mourners came together for a memorial service for the victims, held at St. Constance Catholic Church in Chicago, on February 1. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me tonight in remembering the six men and women who were killed in this tragic crash. I wish to express my sincere condolences to the families and all the friends of the victims. Our entire community has been diminished as a result of this tragedy. On behalf of all the residents of the Ninth District, I extend a hand of friendship and a heart filled with sorrow to all those who knew and loved them.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to add my voice in celebration of today's Lincoln Bicentennial. In Illinois--the Land of Lincoln--we always cherish our 16th President, taking pride in a man who steered this nation through turbulent times and whose legacy continues to guide us today. Today we all join in recognizing his greatness. There have been many, many books written about President Lincoln, detailing his remarkable life and his towering achievements. I want to encourage my colleagues to explore one of those books, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America. Written by Garry Wills, my constituent and a professor at Northwestern University, this Pulitzer Prize-winning analysis underscores why the Gettysburg Address remains the most well-known speech in American history. President Lincoln spoke on the battlefield where 50,000 Americans were killed or wounded. He certainly didn't realize that the words in his short oration would be recited by schoolchildren across the nation. He said that ``the world will little note nor long remember what we say here.'' In this instance, he was wrong. President Lincoln didn't just speak in memory of those who had fought and died in the battle. He used his oration to instruct, inspire and set a vision for our nation's future. He asked those who were present at Gettysburg and those of us who today study his words to remember the very ideals on which our nation was founded. He began by asking us to recall that our nation was ``conceived in Liberty'' and equality. As Professor Wills writes, Lincoln was able to achieve the loftiness, ideality, and brevity of the Gettysburg Address because he had spent a good part of the 1850s repeatedly relating all the most sensitive issues of the day to the Declaration's supreme principle. If all men are created equal, they cannot be property. They cannot by ruled by owner-monarchs . . . Their equality cannot be denied if the nation is to live by its creed, and voice it, and test it, and die for it . . . a nation free to proclaim its ideal is freed, again, to approximate that ideal over the years, in ways that run far beyond any specific or limited reforms . . . The theme of liberty and equality runs through the Gettysburg Address, just as it ran through the entire life of President Lincoln. His very life was a symbol of our country--a boy of humble beginnings who through hard work and his own talents was able not just to become President of the United States but to become a symbol of democracy across the generations and across the globe. Because of his confidence in the ideals and potential of America, he was able to give a speech of hope at a time of unprecedented crisis in our country. The Gettysburg Address ends with a clarion call for ``a new birth of freedom.'' His faith in our country--in a ``government of the people, by the people, and for the people''--continues to inspire us in the United States and proponents of participatory democracy across the globe. President Lincoln is recognized for what he did for our country--not just his actions but also his words. As Professor Wills says, ``Words were weapons for him, even though he meant them to be weapons of peace in the midst of war.'' He continues, Lincoln does not argue law or history, as Daniel Webster did. He makes history. He does not come to present a theory, but to impose a symbol, one tested in experience and appealing to national values, with an emotional urgency entirely expressed in calm abstractions (fire in ice). He came to change the world, to effect an intellectual revolution. No other words could have done it. The miracle is that these words did. In his brief time before the crowd at Gettysburg he wove a spell that has not, yet, been broken--he called up a new nation out of the blood and trauma. As we celebrate the Lincoln Bicentennial, our nation is faced with serious economic and global challenges; and President Lincoln's words still guide us today. He understood that the core of our nation is our commitment to liberty and equality--not just under the law but in the opportunity for every individual to achieve and prosper. He reminded us that our government must recognize its responsibility to the public good and encourage public participation and investment in that government. In these trying times, we are fortunate to have another President who has the ability to inspire, to lead and to act to bring us out of crisis. Like President Lincoln, President Obama's life is a model of not just what an individual can achieve given the opportunity to succeed but what our nation can accomplish when we remember our founding values of liberty and equality.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I am delighted to rise today in support of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. I thank Chairman Waxman and Chairman Pallone for their hard work on bringing it to us today. As a mother and proud grandmother of four, I can think of no higher priority than ensuring that our children get the health care they need. Unfortunately, 7 million children nationally and 350,000 children in Illinois are at risk of losing their coverage if we don't reauthorize this program. But this bill will not only prevent SCHIP from expiring on March 31, it will also expand coverage to 4 million uninsured children nationally and 300,000 children in Illinois. It makes many needed improvements, including dental coverage and providing mental health parity. I am particularly pleased that it gives States the discretion to cover more women and children by lifting the 5-year ban for legal immigrants. I am also pleased that after many thwarted efforts, we finally have a President that will sign this bill into law. It represents a renewed commitment to health care. This is the first step in making sure that every child, woman, and man in the United States has health care that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank you for yielding. I rise today in strong support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan and to give you just 10 of the many good reasons to support this particular bill. One, it will save and create three to four million jobs; Two, it provides a critical boost in Medicaid assistance to States so that budget shortfalls don't harm access to health care; Three, it will help those who lose their jobs maintain health insurance; Four, it invests in renewable energy technologies and research; Five, it provides a 100 percent increase in weatherization funding to help make homes and businesses energy efficient; Six, it extends unemployment insurance coverage through the end of the year and increases the benefit by $25 a week; Seven, it increases the maximum Pell Grant to help more people go to college; Eight, it helps rebuild our schools and gives them financial support; Nine, it increases funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs; Ten, it will give a tax credit to 95 percent of American workers, a credit worth up to $1,000. This is a good bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to draw my colleagues' attention to recent attacks on synagogues and Jewish day schools in my district and the Chicagoland area. These acts of intimidation and destruction are hate crimes, and I strongly condemn them. On Saturday, January 10th, vandals shattered windows, broke down doors, and scrawled slogans including ``Death to Israel'' on Jewish synagogues and schools in the Chicago area, including Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation, Lubavitch Mesivta, Young Israel Synagogue of West Rogers Park, Congregation Anshe Motele, and Hanna Sacks Girls High School. These recent attacks came just over a week after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at Temple Sholom in Chicago, Illinois; and a bomb threat naming several area Jewish schools was mailed to the Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Local police are working with the FBI to determine if these attacks are linked. Regardless of anyone's political views, attacks against religious groups, threats to schoolchildren, and the desecration of places of worship are contrary to the principles of religious tolerance upon which our country was founded and are serious crimes. Similar crimes have been reported in other cities and communities across the country. In Knoxville, Tennessee, vandals threw rocks at two synagogues, smashing four stained glass windows. Signs supporting Hamas and comparing Israeli actions in Gaza to the Holocaust were reportedly posted at two synagogues in Irvine, California. As a proud member of Chicago's Jewish community, I know that we are strong, vibrant, and resilient. The day after the vandalism, synagogue members put tarps over windows and returned to classes and other activities, while several hundred people gathered to denounce the attacks. Both the American Jewish Committee and the American-Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee have condemned the vandalism, and local and national groups, including the Jewish Federation of Chicago and the Anti-Defamation League, are working tirelessly in support of our community. I am proud that people of all religions in my district have come together to decry these hate crimes, just as they have come together in the past to condemn attacks on people of other religions. Madam Speaker, what we have seen in Chicago in recent days goes beyond politically-motivated demonstrations. The intimidation and terrorization of the Jewish community is a hate crime, perpetrated against these institutions because of their religious identity. I hope that these prove isolated incidents and not a pattern of violence. I have every confidence that the police and FBI, working with the local community, will find and prosecute those responsible for these crimes.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of two critical pieces of legislation, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. It is high time for the United States to end gender discrimination in the workplace and to start paying women equal pay for an equal day's work. As the Democratic co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I'm particularly concerned about how the downturn in the economy will impact women and their families. Today in the United States of America, women earn just 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. African American women earn just 63 cents on the dollar, and Latinas earn only 53 cents for each dollar males earn, and single women earn just 56 cents for every dollar earned by a man. These alarming statistics, coupled with the fact that women are losing their jobs at a frightening rate, makes passing the Equal Pay Act even more important, and I thank Rosa DeLauro for her leadership on that legislation. But the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act provides adequate legal protections for wage discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter worked for 19 years at a Goodyear Tire plant and was routinely paid less than her male colleagues, including in her last paycheck. Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court, in essence, said to employers, if you can just keep your underpaid women in the dark for 180 days, then you're free to deny her fair pay and leave her to attempt to meet her family's expenses on a salary that denies her rightful payment. My colleagues, in this 21st century, it's time we made fairness the law of the land. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of two critical pieces of legislation, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. It is high time for the U.S. to end gender discrimination in the workplace and start paying women equal pay for an equal day's work. As the Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I am particularly concerned about how the downturn in the economy will impact women and their families. Today, in the U.S.A. women earn just 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. African American women earn just 63 cents on the dollar, Latinas earn only 53 cents for each dollar males earn and single women just 56 cents for every dollar earned by a man. These alarming statistics coupled with the fact that women are losing their jobs at a frightening rate makes passing pay equity legislation even more important. I thank Rosa DeLauro for her leadership on this legislation. The Paycheck Fairness Act will help put women's wages on par with those of their male colleagues. We must also pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to provide adequate legal protections from wage discrimination. Lilly Ledbetter worked for 19 years at a Goodyear Tire plant and was routinely paid less than her male colleagues including her last paycheck. Unfortunately the U.S. Supreme Court in essence compounded this problem when it overturned the lower court and denied her the right to seek relief from our legal system by telling her she waited too long to seek relief even through she had no way of knowing she was paid less. The Supreme Court's decision means that if an employer discriminates in paying a women but she isn't aware of it for six months, the employer can continue to discriminate for years or even decades under an immunity shield that gives that woman no legal recourse. In other words, if employers can just keep under paid women in the dark for 180 days, they are free to deny her fair pay and leave her to attempt to meet her family's expenses on a salary that denies her rightful payment. Women should be allowed to seek legal remedies for employment discrimination and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would remove existing barriers that prevent women from turning to the courts for help. It is time that we help the many women this 21st century. Its time we make fairness the law of the land. Finally, I would strongly recommend to all my colleagues if you want to do the right thing, if you want to be on the side of the women in your district, and if you do not want to be on the wrong side of history, cast a proud yes vote for the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6867, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008. Today we learned that for the ninth straight month the economy has lost jobs--159,000 jobs in the last month alone. That represents the largest 1-month loss of jobs in more than 5 years. Over the last 12 months, more than 2 million Americans have joined the ranks of the unemployed. The national unemployment rate is now at 6.1 percent, and in my home State of Illinois it is at 7.3 percent. Today's news come at a time when millions of people in Illinois and across the country are already struggling to figure out how they can pay their bills, feed their families, and keep a roof over their head. H.R. 6867 will help ease some of that pain and fear by extending unemployment benefits to millions of Americans who have lost their job as more businesses are forced to cut shifts and lay people off because of rising prices, a decline in business, and the credit crisis. H.R. 6867 would provide 7 weeks of extended benefits for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation, with workers in high unemployment States like Illinois eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits. Nearly 800,000 workers are projected to exhaust their current extended unemployment benefits in October unless Congress acts. On the day that we are directing billions of taxpayer dollars to stabilize the financial markets, it is incumbent on Congress to provide direct relief to those struggling to make ends meet. In addition to unemployment insurance, I believe we also need to make investments in our highways, bridges, transit systems, and schools; we need increases in food stamp benefits; and we need a crucial temporary increase in Medicaid payments to States. Studies have shown that those are some of the quickest forms of economic stimulus because those benefits and investments are spent quickly. Again, I urge strong support of the legislation and look forward to working with all of my colleagues to support policies that create jobs and jump start our economy.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise in reluctant support of H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. On Monday, the House failed to pass a rescue package, and the stock market dropped 777 points--the biggest one day point drop in US. history. The impact of that drop wasn't just felt on Wall Street; it was also felt on Main Street. On Monday alone, Americans lost $1.2 trillion in the stock market. Almost 50 percent of Americans are invested in the stock market in some way, whether through retirement accounts or private investments, and they rely on credit and their investments to make ends meet. This legislation is about protecting people's retirement accounts and pension plans. In the last year, investments have declined by nearly 24 percent, putting the retirement security of millions at risk; I am worried that without this package, they will continue to the downward spiral. This legislation is about making sure that there is enough credit in order for students and families to take out loans to afford to go to college. It is about letting businesses make their payroll. It is about helping people stay in their homes. That is why dozens of groups representing educators, colleges, the homeless, pension managers, and others support this legislation, I want to make it very clear that I think this legislation is far from perfect--and, like many of my colleagues, I would have written a very different bill. However, I believe that Monday demonstrated that we had to act. Years of harmful Republican policies that pushed for deregulation and tolerated an almost total lack of enforcement, and a misguided philosophy that insisted that an unregulated market can heal all ills, have now led us to the brink of economic collapse. And I am deeply concerned--and hundreds of economists agree--that the failure to act could lead to a major economic depression. Again, the rescue plan, while still imperfect, has come a long way from where we began. Instead of giving the President $700 billion with virtually no oversight or safeguards, we require Congressional review after the first $350 billion. And this legislation requires equity sharing, so taxpayers would benefit from future growth in the investments they have bought, and it requires Wall Street to pay back any losses to the Government. We are stopping forms of executive compensation that would encourage executives to take excessive risks, eliminating golden parachutes for executives who take part in the Government program, and cracking down on excessive compensation practices for the first time in history. And we include strong, independent oversight to protect the taxpayer, including two oversight boards to ensure that the Treasury Secretary is acting on good faith, as well as judicial review over the Secretary's actions. While I would have liked to see the tax provisions paid for by rolling back some of the President's tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and closing corporate loopholes, there are also important tax fixes that will benefit millions of Americans and small businesses across the country. The legislation provides property tax relief to up to 30 million homeowners--extending a new $1,000 property tax deduction for non-itemizing couples through the end of 2009. It extends the qualified tuition deduction for low- and middle-income Americans. It extends the child tax credit, which will benefit millions of Americans with children age 17 and younger. It extends the Research and Development tax credit, which spurs innovation and job growth in the technology sector. And it extends critical renewable energy and energy efficiency tax credits to help the green economy take shape. This legislation also contains critical, comprehensive mental health parity legislation that will bring mental health insurance benefits in line with physical benefits. I have not held a health care meeting in my district without the issue of access to mental health care being brought up by my constituents who have faced discrimination or difficulty obtaining affordable care. I am proud that we are continuing Senator Paul Wellstone's legacy by passing a bill that guarantees equal access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. I also want to thank Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad for their persistence and passion in passing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. There is so much more we should do. I am strongly committed to enacting a second stimulus package that will truly benefit the American people. Today the House enacted 7 weeks of extended benefits for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation, with workers in high unemployment states eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits. However, I believe we also need to make investments in our highways, bridges, transit systems, and schools; we need increases in food stamps benefits; and we need a crucial temporary increase in Medicaid payments to States. Studies have shown that those are some of the quickest forms of economic stimulus because those benefits and investments are spent quickly. This bill represents unfinished business. I will fight my hardest to make sure that we rein in the excesses of corporate America in the next Congress, and to see to it that this crisis does not happen again.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me and for his support on this legislation. I rise to proudly support S. 3197, the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act. This legislation is the Senate companion to H.R. 4044, legislation that I authored, along with my friend and colleague, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, which passed the House unanimously on June 23. S. 3197 was introduced by my very good friend and colleague from Illinois, Senator Dick Durbin. Since 9/11, more than 460,000 Reservists and Guardsmen have been called to active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. These men and women have left their families and their jobs to selflessly serve their country, often with little or no notice to get their finances in order. Many servicemembers are small business owners who have to put their businesses on hold while they serve their country, and some are forced to sacrifice those businesses altogether. And, of course, some may face losing their homes when they return because of their financial distress. Many servicemembers face unexpected extended tours of 15 months or longer, leaving them with almost no way to prepare financially. S. 3197 would simply allow National Guard and Reservists to file for bankruptcy without the burden of the means test that assesses their eligibility for bankruptcy protection. H.R. 4044 allows members of the National Guard and Reservists to file for chapter 7 bankruptcy without the added paperwork burden and obstacles of the means test. This is why: when veterans face the means test, it has a particularly adverse impact on them. That is because the combat pay of soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan is often higher than their salaries at home, and they have fewer expenses overseas, if any. The problem is when they return home, these individuals return to face lower incomes and higher expenses, and because the means test factors in a person's income and expenses for the 6-month period preceding the bankruptcy filing, a veteran's income is artificially inflated and their expenses seem disproportionately low. As a result, they risk failing the means test and facing chapter 11 or 13. This bill is narrowly drafted to apply to servicemembers who have served in the Armed Forces for more than 90 days since 9/11 and would grant them an exemption from the test for up to a year and a half after they return home. The legislation also requires a GAO report that will help us quantify the hardships our veterans face when they return home by tracking how many apply for bankruptcy protection. With unemployment at the highest levels in 7 years and the credit crisis and recession squeezing the budgets of families across the country, we must give these returning heroes any relief we can. Eighteen percent of veterans recently back from tours of duty are unemployed. Twenty-five percent of those who have been able to find work earn less than $22,000 a year. There are currently 1,500 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are homeless. And thousands of veterans return from the war with physical and mental injuries which make returning to work difficult or impossible. We should all be outraged at those statistics. Simply put, the men and women who have risked their lives to protect us deserve protection from us in return. These selfless individuals should not face harsh bankruptcy procedure if they are in financial distress when they return home. When the changes to the bankruptcy law were made in 2005, Congress exempted disabled veterans from the means test. It is time to include the Guard and Reserves as well. The legislation that we're considering once again today is virtually identical to the one we passed unanimously, with minor, five-word, technical, clarifying corrections added during consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee; and like H.R. 4044, the bill passed the Senate with unanimous support. I urge its support in the House once again today so we can send it to the President for his signature. I'd like to thank Chairman Conyers, again, for working with me to pass this legislation, as well as Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sanchez for her commitment to this bill. And I want to thank the staff on both sides of the aisle who helped, particularly my legislative director, Daniel Penchina. And, again, I thank my colleague, Congressman Rohrabacher, who has been a formidable and effective partner in moving this legislation through the House this year.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7110, the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act. Millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet during these extremely difficult economic times. The budgets of American families are being squeezed as the price of gas, food, housing and healthcare continue to increase, while wages are down and unemployment is up. The number of unemployed Americans is the highest it has been since 1992. The economy has lost jobs for 8 straight months, with 605,000 American jobs lost this year. Last month alone, 84,000 Americans lost their jobs. In February, I was pleased to vote in favor of the first economic stimulus package when it passed the House. However, I was disappointed that, because of Republican opposition and the need to move the bill quickly, it did not include increases in unemployment benefits, Food Stamps, Medicaid payments to States, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program benefits, or infrastructure investments, all of which would have a significant stimulative effect on our economy. As a result, a number of studies have concluded that the stimulus package only had a negligible effect on our economy. Seven months later, the recession has only worsened. The crisis on Wall Street continues to expand, with the largest bank collapse in our Nation's history occurring on Thursday, and more and more banks coming to government, hat in hand, asking to be bailed out. The time has come to take care of the millions of working families across America who have been struggling for years under the Bush economy, before we swoop in to rescue Wall Street with billions of taxpayer dollars. H.R. 7110 provides a critical additional 7 weeks of extended benefits for workers who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation, with workers in high unemployment States eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits. Studies have shown that extending unemployment insurance is one of the quickest forms of economic stimulus because workers who have lost their jobs spend those benefits quickly. This package also provides a crucial temporary increase in Medicaid payments to States. These funds will help States offset the increased cost of Medicaid as more people apply for assistance while healthcare costs continue to skyrocket While Governor Blagojevich is struggling to maintain benefits in Illinois, we have already seen other States cutting eligibility and services, and more reductions will occur if we do not provide increased temporary assistance. As we know from past financial downturns when we took similar action, increased Federal payments are not only important to the children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities and others who rely on Medicaid but will stimulate the economy quickly and substantially as well. Finally, this package also contains $12.8 billion for our Nation's deteriorating highways and bridges; $1 billion for repair and construction projects of public housing units; and $3 billion to repair crumbling schools, including technology upgrades and energy-efficiency improvements, which likewise will have an immediate stimulative effect on the economy. These projects provide short-term benefit by putting people to work immediately--with funding, work can begin on many of them tomorrow--and they provide long-term improvements that will benefit Americans for years to come. This is an excellent package, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in creating good jobs and providing assistance to those struggling in today's economy.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to say that I will support H.R. 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, not happily, and not because I think the titans of Wall Street are deserving of our help. I am casting my yes vote because I am concerned about hardworking families in my district, the homeowners, small businesses and those who rely on modest pensions and investments. These are the people who knew well before the President or Wall Street woke up to the fact that our economy was in serious trouble, because they have friends and loved ones who have lost their jobs or house; they saw the price of gas and milk hit $4 a gallon, and they are struggling to afford good health insurance. Yes, we must do something and today is the day. But we must also recognize how we got here. This is, in fact, the predictable result of years of misguided policies of the Bush Administration, the misguided belief that regulation of the markets, any regulation, was bad. Couple this with a lack of enforcement of regulations that did exist, and now we have a financial crisis that requires government intervention. As a freshman member of the House Financial Services Committee, I was one of only 57 Members of Congress to vote against the Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act in 1999. By deregulating the financial services industry and removing consumer protections, that legislation set in motion the crisis that we are facing today. My colleague and friend, Barney Frank, now the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, a true progressive and the chief negotiator for this bill, also voted against that reckless measure. I have consulted with many of the Nation's top economists, including top progressive economists, and virtually all have agreed that a failure to act would have devastating effects on the global economy-- including your block and mine. Without quick action, employers might fail to make payroll, private student loans are already drying up, pensions would continue to lose value, and mortgages would become sparse. While I am not certain that this legislation will be able to fully stabilize the economic turmoil, I believe that we need to vote for the possibility of success over the certainty of failure. The House Democratic leadership, and especially Chairman Frank, has worked to make the very bad bill presented by President Bush and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson better. The administration came to Congress with a breathtakingly arrogant plan--a mere three pages, 800 words, which basically said give us $700 billion for a plan that is ``non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.'' Today, we are offering our 110-page reply, and while it is certainly not perfect, I believe it is substantially improved. Today we are saying ``no'' to a blank check! Congress cut in half the Administration's automatic $700 billion, requiring Congressional review for future payments. We are making sure that none of the CEO's who have run their companies into the ground and created this mess will retire with a ``Golden Parachute.'' We make sure that taxpayers get a share of the profits of participating companies, and require the next President to submit a plan to ensure that taxpayers are repaid in full by Wall Street. We help prevent home foreclosures destroying our neighborhoods by allowing Government to work with loan servicers on new mortgage terms. Finally, we ensure tough, independent oversight and transparency, including judicial review of the Treasury Secretary's actions. Unfortunately, because of the need to obtain bipartisan support to move a bill quickly, this bill is by no means perfect. I believe that this legislation should have included bankruptcy protections and mandatory mortgage restructuring for homeowners in or at risk of foreclosure. I believe that we need to crack down on the lobbying practices and stop campaign contributions from companies which are clearly too irresponsible to manage themselves. I am extremely disappointed that, even as we address part of the economic crisis, we failed to enact a second economic stimulus that would immediately create jobs and put money in the pockets of middle class families and struggling State and local governments. Unfortunately, the plan to extend unemployment compensation, increase food stamp and health care funding, and create jobs by rebuilding our infrastructure failed in the Senate last week. This is clearly unfinished business. Today's vote represents the first step in reforming Wall Street and restarting our economy. For the first time in history, this Congress is addressing the excesses in executive compensation. This legislation gives the Treasury Secretary authority that could be used, if he or the next Secretary so choose, to significantly help low-income and working families. Finally, we are setting in motion the process of a comprehensive reform of the financial services industry. Wall Street better get the message that Congress will never be ready with a blank check to clean up the messes that they made in the first place. I look forward to working with the next Administration and my colleagues in Congress to enact sensible regulations to ensure that this will not happen again.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3402, the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act. After years of deceptive and abusive marketing practice by the calling card industry, I am pleased to be here today to offer protection to our constituents who rely on the cards to stay in touch with their loved ones. The victims of calling card fraud are often the most vulnerable among us--they are low-income, immigrants, military families--in short, the ones who can least afford it. I think this is sensible legislation, and I thank my colleague and friend Congressman Eliot Engel for all of his hard work to enact this bill. I am proud to represent a diverse constituency and am proud to support the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act to crack down on those abuses. Too many people are lured in by promises of cheap overseas calls but end up getting less than half of what they paid for. These cards use hidden fees so creative and outlandish that they would almost be funny if they weren't so awful, and the practice must stop. The legislation before us today goes a long way toward solving this problem. It would require calling cards to clearly present what services they offer and any additional fees associated with the card. Most importantly, if someone buys a card that says it's good for 250 minutes, they will receive those 250 minutes. Consumers deserve to get what they paid for. While I support H.R. 3402, I do want to express my concern with a couple of provisions in the bill, especially those that involve State standards and enforcement. Many States and the Federal Trade Commission, FTC, already have tools to address the many abuses related to the sale of prepaid calling cards. As we heard from the FTC Commissioner in our hearing, those States are at the forefront of cracking down on deceptive practices. Therefore, we need to be very careful about preempting States from setting or enforcing standards related to the cards. I believe that the disclosure preemption provision in H.R. 3402 should set a floor, not a ceiling, and allow those States that want to enact stricter disclosure standards to do so. Illinois is on the forefront of policing calling cards, and our State law mandates strong disclosures that should not be preempted with weaker ones. I also hope that the FTC will solicit input from the States as they work to establish minimum standards. Finally, I also believe that retailers should be held responsible for selling cards that do not meet the Federal and State standards. Illinois State law requires retailers to obtain a proof that the underlying carrier is certified, with the underlying carrier and all resellers responsible for ensuring that the required disclosures are made. This is not a burdensome step for retailers to ensure that the product they sell is in compliance with the law, and this is a commonsense provision that should be included in H.R. 3402 as well. I look forward to working with Rep. Engel, my colleagues on Committee, and my friends on the Senate Commerce Committee to improve this bill and to see it enacted into law.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge my friend and colleague Representative Ray LaHood, who is retiring from the House after 14 years of service to the 18th District of Illinois. I have had the pleasure of working with Ray LaHood on many issues of importance to our State. We have not always agreed on every policy issue, but we have always been able to discuss our differences with respect and good will and we have always been able to work together to promote the interests of Illinois. His common sense and sense of fairness are recognized and valued not just within the Illinois delegation, but within the entire House of Representatives. A member of the House Appropriations Committee, Ray LaHood has been a strong advocate of Illinois farmers and rural communities. When the Republicans were in the majority, he was often called on to chair the House, not only because of his knowledge of procedures but because of his ability to maintain order in a calm and fair fashion. Representative LaHood has a long and distinguished record of serving his district, from his leadership in establishing the Abraham Lincoln President Library and Museum in Springfield to his work to spur economic growth while protecting the environment. A teacher by training, he has worked to preserve and improve the Library of Congress--our Nation's preeminent library. I will miss Ray LaHood and, like his constituents, I wish him all the best and thank him for his years of public service.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S.J. Res. 45, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. This bill will help protect the Great Lakes by ensuring that water taken from the Great Lakes does not exceed the rate the lakes can be naturally replenished. Lake Michigan is, without question, the most treasured resource to residents in States that border it and is our ``Grand Canyon,'' something in which we take enormous pride. In addition to its sentimental value, the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, serve as an important resource, providing 20 percent of all the surface water in the world, Despite their size the Great Lakes are a fragile resource. Only 1 percent of the water in the Great Lakes gets replenished by snow and rainwater every year. As a result, the Great Lakes have been put in jeopardy by efforts to divert large portions of water from the Great Lake basin to support business efforts throughout the midwest and Canada. The Compact will prohibit new or increased Great Lakes basin diversions to outside the region, except under special circumstances to provide public drinking water. It will also require all Great Lakes States to develop water resource inventories and efficiency programs, and give public notice of large proposed new water uses. Finally, it will establish uniform standards across the Great Lake States for evaluating new in-basin uses of Great Lakes water. These all are good practices of stewardship of the Great Lakes, and will allow us to preserve the Lakes, while at the same time exercising intelligent use of it as a natural resource. The Great Lakes Compact has been approved by the Governors and State legislators of all eight Great Lake States, the U.S. Senate and the Bush administration. I believe that it is vital that the House joins them in supporting the Compact. Doing so will protect the people and environment of the Great Lakes by ensuring that the uses of its resources are done in a deliberate and consensual manner between the Great Lakes States. Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a number of bipartisan public health bills to come before this body. These bills are the products of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where my colleagues and I are working hard to improve the overall health and well being of all Americans. I am especially pleased that we will finally pass H.R. 1014, the Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research, and Treatment for Women Act, introduced by my friend Congresswoman Lois Capps. Close to 40,000 people in Illinois die annually of heart disease and it is the leading cause of death in my state. More people in Illinois die of heart disease than from cancer, unintentional injuries, lung disease, pneumonia, the flu and diabetes combined. It is imperative that we start making connections between diseases and drugs, devices, and biologicals. We also need to continue to raise awareness about this disease and identify concrete ways to prevent women from becoming victims. The HEART Act starts us down that path. I also want to highlight and express my support for H.R. 1532, the Comprehensive Tuberculosis Elimination Act. We know that TB kills approximately 2 million people annually and is a common cause of death among the roughly 3 million people infected with the AIDS virus who die each year. Although the United States has been able to reduce the incidence of the disease, we still must take an active role in eradicating TB nationally and internationally through increased funding for research, public education and treatment programs. Similarly, it is time that we passed H.R. 758, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. I have cosponsored this critical legislation since coming to Congress in 1999, and I am thrilled to finally see it considered on the floor. Although we've made great strides in the areas of breast cancer research, treatment and outcomes, there are still over 43,000 women who die each year from the disease. Finally, after debating this critical issue for many years, we are on the verge of finally enacting comprehensive mental health parity legislation. I have not held a health care meeting in my district without the issue of access to mental health care being brought up by constituents who have faced discrimination or difficulty obtaining affordable care. This was a top priority of Paul Wellstone, and I want to pay tribute to him today. Paul Wellstone, Paul and Sheila, his wife, were friends of mine. They were both leaders in ending discrimination and in making sure that every person in our nation has access to affordable, comprehensive health care--including comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services. I'm proud that we are continuing Senator Wellstone's legacy by passing a bill that guarantees equal access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. I also want to thank Representatives Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad for their persistence and passion in passing the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. It is hard to overstate the importance of increasing public health resources for research, public education and treatment. Our public health workforce is being stretched to its breaking point--and multiple natural disasters have only exacerbated the problem. I hope that we will continue our efforts to improve public health and meet this growing demand in the next Congress. I urge all of my colleagues to strongly support these bills.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 633, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman. Despite the administration's senseless decision to protect Blackwater and companies like it, I will continue to fight to make sure this won't happen. And I thank the gentleman for letting me say this remark.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment that the provision I drafted, that would prohibit private security contractors from performing inherently governmental functions in combat areas, was stripped from this bill. The House unanimously adopted this provision, and the Senate bill contained a nearly identical provision. I am extremely disappointed that the Bush administration threatened to veto this bill over this commonsense provision, forcing the Armed Services Committee to only include a sense of Congress on the use of private military contractors in this legislation. The horrible incidents like that involving Blackwater Worldwide in which 17 Iraqi civilians were killed, for which no one has yet been held accountable, have damaged our already tattered image in the eyes of the Iraqi people. Private contractors are being tasked with extremely sensitive jobs like gathering intelligence and providing armed security, and they severely damage the credibility of our military with their sometimes violent and almost always unaccountable behavior. Inherently government functions should be performed by people in the U.S. military or who are U.S. Government personnel, people who proudly wear the badge of the U.S. and pledge their allegiance to it.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the exemplary career of Denver architect Mr. Richard Leslie Combs, who will be retiring at the end of this year. Throughout his career, Mr. Combs has made significant contributions to the practice of architecture on the local and national levels. Richard Leslie Combs was born in Glendale, California on July 17, 1945. The son of Leslie and Annabelle Combs, Dick grew up in Hereford, Texas with his brothers Greg and Brent. In 1970, Mr. Combs obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Shortly after graduation, he relocated to Denver, Colorado where in January 1971 he was hired by the office of Charles S. Sink, Architect. Serving in the role of project architect and project manager, Mr. Combs' contribution to the office was immediate and he was named an associate that same year. As a licensed architect with his certification from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), he managed some of the firm's most influential projects, including the McNichols Sports Arena. Upon its completion in 1975, McNichols was hailed as one of the first major league event centers in the country and quickly became an iconic piece of architecture for the city of Denver. In 1979, Mr. Combs became a principle of the firm, whose name was changed to Sink Combs and Associates. He served as Vice President and Secretary and acted as the firm's quality control officer, ensuring that the work executed by the firm was of the highest professional standard. During this time, Mr. Combs oversaw projects such as the Panorama Point Office Building, 183 Inverness Office Building, SOCO Place, and 1900 Grant Office Building. In 1985, with the addition of Don Dethlefs as a principal, the firm-- now Sink Combs Dethlefs and Associates--began to expand its sports architecture expertise throughout the local and national markets and in Canada, completing projects such as the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, the San Jose Arena, which is now known as the HP Pavilion, the Save Mart Center at Fresno State University, and the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada. The successful completion of those projects enabled Mr. Combs and the firm and to build a national reputation for exceptional client service, cost-effective building design, and expertise in sports and recreation architecture. With the retirement of Charles S. Sink, Mr. Combs naturally assumed the role of the firm's leader. He became responsible for managing the company and nurturing relationships with the community, clients, and firm employees. Under his leadership the depth of experience and breadth of knowledge of the firm has expanded. His has retained key employees and groomed the firm for growth by naming Andy Barnard a Principal in 1993 and Chris Kastelic a Principal in 2004. Mr. Combs' accomplishments reach far beyond the projects he has managed. Through his warm and caring nature, he has attracted and trained a new generation of architects and fostered an atmosphere of camaraderie within the office. He has mentored numerous young architects through their career paths encouraging personal growth, accountability, and public duty. He has demonstrated that architecture is not just about designing buildings but about serving clients and the community. Under his leadership, the firm has won numerous design awards and has participated in countless charitable pursuits and community outreach programs. Richard Combs is a leading architect and businessman in Denver. He is the current President for the Denver Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, where he is working to promote sustainable, energy efficient building design, including resource conservation. As Congress increases its efforts to promote green buildings, his guidance has been extremely valuable. Richard Combs has contributed over thirty-seven years of service to the practice of architecture while maintaining a rich and fulfilling personal life. Dick is married to Sue Combs and has three children-- Leslie, Patrick and Daniel, and one granddaughter, Sadie. He is retiring from a career that has left an outstanding legacy. I want to join his partners, employees, friends, and family in expressing my respect and appreciation and wishing him many well-deserved years of health, rest and relaxation.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of all those in my district who have responded to the destruction that Hurricane Ike left in its path. After ravaging Texas and Louisiana, Hurricane Ike's rains made their way through the Midwest, devastating the area with record-level rainfall and causing massive flooding in northeastern Illinois, including parts of my district. Throughout the Chicagoland area, the amounts of rain broke records--almost 7 inches of rain fell in my district on just 1 day, the most in history. More than 90 billion gallons of rain were dumped on the area. Governor Blagojevich declared seven counties in Illinois disaster areas. This will set in motion a process that will allow the Federal Government to make a major disaster declaration so that Illinois can be eligible for Federal assistance to help individuals, families, and businesses and help local governments; and hazard mitigation assistance so affected areas can implement projects to reduce future flood damage. In the meantime, I have encouraged my constituents to avoid flooded areas, to report instances of price gouging, and to be prepared with a solid inventory of the items they have lost when they contact their insurance companies to report damage. Every single community in my district was affected, particularly the towns of Des Plaines and Park Ridge. I would like to thank and commend the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, local first-responders, the American Red Cross, and local elected officials like my friend Des Plaines Mayor Arredia--who has been a leader in the effort to prevent flooding in the region--for quickly mobilizing the response and providing relief for the flood victims. I also want to recognize the neighbors who helped their neighbors, and all of the people who came together in the face of hardship. Their response to Hurricane Ike was a great example of the heart of the people of my district. Yesterday, I joined Governor Blagojevich and other State, county, and local elected officials at the Prairie Lake Community Center in Des Plaines, which is serving as a relief and relocation shelter, to visit with people displaced from their homes with nowhere to go and thank the Red Cross volunteers who are doing such great work. I promised those people taking shelter that I won't stop working with the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the Des Plaines River Project. Those parts of the project that have already been completed made a difference and saved homes from being flooded. I will also keep working to ensure that local municipal projects that address flood prevention get the funds they need. Congress needs to appropriate funds to respond to the devastation that Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Gustav left in their wake. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in making sure that we allocate sufficient resources to help FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and States and communities across the country rebuild in a coming spending package.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, one year ago today, Blackwater contractors opened fire in Baghdad's Nisoor Square, killing 17 Iraqi civilians. This wasn't the first time private security contractors used excessive force. It has now been 21 months since the Christmas Eve murder in the Green Zone, and 3\1/2\ years since a Blackwater helicopter dropped CS gas on a traffic jam in Baghdad. Yet there have been no arrests, no charges, no trials and no conviction. In fact, the Blackwater contractor responsible for the Christmas Eve shooting is now employed as a prison guard in Washington State. Instead of holding Blackwater accountable for violating the law, last April the State Department rewarded Blackwater by renewing their billion dollar contract. Before we even consider giving Blackwater another penny of U.S. taxpayer dollars, we should hold private security contractors accountable under the law. On the 1-year anniversary, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Stop Outsourcing Security, SOS, Act, H.R. 4102, to begin phasing out the use of private security contractors. The longer we wait to fix this problem, the worse the situation is going to get, not only for Iraqi civilians, but for our troops on the ground.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, Stephanie and I were in the same class. We came in in 1998, and immediately bonded as friends and classmates. She and my husband became very good friends. We would joke about it that my husband, Bob, was her boyfriend, and at their last conversation, it ended with his saying, ``Love you, Stef,'' and her saying, ``Love you, Bob.'' I'm jealous of that because they had that moment where they actually said the word that I feel so much tonight, that I loved Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Stephanie was a force of nature. She was a big woman and she filled a room. I can just picture her now. Can't you just picture her coming down and speaking from this podium right now and just filling the space with her presence, with her sense of justice, with her passion, and with, of course, her smile? Stephanie was fiercely loyal. She was a supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton's. Some of us were on the other side, but that didn't challenge our friendship. Connie Schultz, who is a Pulitzer Prize winner for the Cleveland Plain Dealer said, ``Our friendship was forged by her to the bones understanding of what it means to be a woman, willing to stick your neck out for your beliefs.'' Stephanie was fearless and she was loved. I loved her. I love you, Stephanie.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Health Care for Women Resolution of 2008 with my colleague in the Senate, Senator Debbie Stabenow. As we move towards enacting comprehensive Universal Health Care we cannot leave out the important and unique health care issues of women. Women are often responsible for safeguarding the care for their families and they must be a central part of every universal health care debate. I believe that the Health Care for Women Resolution recognizes the numerous of women as health care decision makers, caregivers and providers and requires that lawmakers acknowledge their needs during health care reform conversations. We know that women face exceptional challenges and have a very personal stake in fixing our broken health care system. It is unacceptable that more women are uninsured and pay more for health care than their male counterparts. This resolution calls on Congress to take notice of these obstacles and make significant gains in solving these problems. This resolution asks Congress to pass legislation within 18 months that provides health care for women and health care for all. I am all too familiar with how tough it is to provide care for our families. As a mother, grandmother and member of Congress, I will fight to make sure that women play a central part in every health care discussion. The need for this resolution is clear. More than 17 million non- elderly women were uninsured in 2006, an increase of 1.2 million women since 2004. Women also pay 68 percent more than men for out-of-pocket medical costs, largely because of their reproductive health needs. Thirteen percent of all pregnant women are uninsured making them less likely to seek prenatal care and more likely to experience an adverse outcome after giving birth or pregnancy-related mortality. Older women are particularly at risk. They often receive care through their husband and can become uninsured if their husband dies or loses private insurance by becoming eligible for Medicare. Because they have less disposable income, older women also have trouble paying growing out-of-pocket costs for the care they need. Moreover many older women have periodically left the workforce to raise families or care for aging family members they tend to have lower Social Security and pension benefits required to help them with increasing chronic care conditions. Any health care discussions must also take into account the barriers women of color face in accessing quality care. Hispanic and Native American women and children are 3 times and African Americans nearly twice as likely to be uninsured that non-Hispanic whites. I along with 32 of my colleagues in both the House and Senate agree, it is time to start acknowledging women in all efforts that we make to solve our nation's growing health care crisis. I urge all of my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation.