John Sarbanes

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that will build a new paradigm for the financing of congressional campaigns. The Grassroots Democracy Act is a package of reforms designed to combat the influence of concentrated money in politics, raise civic engagement, and to amplify the voice of everyday Americans in our nation's electoral process. Through a three-pronged, comprehensive approach, we can ensure Americans' voices are heard over the din of big money that has dominated our politics and our public policy for too long. First, the legislation provides Americans with a $50 refundable tax credit/coupon to contribute to their preferred candidates for congressional office. With average Americans newly empowered to participate in campaign giving, candidates will have more incentive to re-engage with everyday voters rather than spending disproportionate amounts of time fundraising from moneyed interests. Next, the legislation multiplies the impact of grassroots donations ($100 or less). For candidates who forego PAC money and are willing and able to earn broad-based support from grassroots donors in their district or state, a public match will be available on grassroots donations. Suddenly, the $50 contribution can become a $300 contribution--matched at a rate of $5 to $1. For those candidates who agree to take only grassroots donations, the $50 contribution can become a $550 contribution--matched at a rate of $10 to $1. By democratizing the donor base and amplifying the impact of grassroots contributions, participating candidates will be able to run a viable, competitive campaign, while staying connected to the needs of the constituents they represent. Lastly, the legislation prevents super PACs and other big money organizations--the products of the Citizens United and other recent court rulings--from drowning out the voice of the people. In elections where outside spending significantly outpaces national norms, grassroots supported candidates will have access to a People's Fund--to make sure their voice can still be heard. Once total non-candidate spending reaches a certain decibel level, grassroots supported candidates will have the opportunity to apply for an additional 1:1 match on their grassroots base, providing the immediate, supplemental support necessary to ensure the marketplace of ideas remains competitive. Capitol Hill is full of well-intentioned people who came to Washington with noble goals and deeply held principles. Most ran for Congress out of a strong desire to serve their community and the broader American public. The problem is the moment they decide to run for office they become distracted--distracted by the endless need for more money to win the election. The Grassroots Democracy Act represents a path forward. Together, these reforms provide can begin to combat the influence of concentrated money in politics, raise civic engagement, and amplify the political voice of the American electorate. A new paradigm of financing campaigns will liberate candidates from dependence on special interests and big money, ensuring our public policy is truly fashioned in the interest of the public.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Instructional Leadership Act of 2012, which will strengthen schools by helping principals become high-performing instructional leaders. The passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) charged school principals with additional responsibilities. They not only serve as organizational leaders, ensuring that school culture and resources support teaching and learning, but they are also accountable for student achievement and the broader goals of NCLB. Unfortunately, principals often lack the appropriate training and resources needed to accomplish these goals. It is time to bring attention to the importance of developing programs that train principals on the best practices to guide instruction in schools, so that they can more effectively support teachers in improving student academic achievement. The Instructional Leadership Act of 2012 provides grants to State and local educational agencies to drive gains in academic achievement for all children by: 1) Creating innovative programs and sites to train principals in instructional leadership skills including developing a school vision, staff development, and effective instructional practices; 2) Developing pilot programs to evaluate the incorporation of standards of instructional leadership into State principal certifications; and 3) Establishing state-of-the-art principal induction programs that provide mentoring and on-the-job training for new principals. This legislation is strongly supported by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), two of the leading organizations working to develop and promote excellence in school leaders. The Instructional Leadership Act of 2012 represents a necessary first step towards developing the next generation of school leaders who are committed to, and effective in, increasing student achievement. I will continue working to include this bill in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act during the next Congress, and I urge you to join me in championing our Nation's principals by supporting this important piece of legislation.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Herbert M. Sachs for over fifty years of dedicated service to Maryland and his longstanding commitment to protecting and improving our region's water resources. In the countless water resource management projects he led to success, Mr. Sachs has made an indelible mark on our state and his efforts will have an enormous impact that will benefit us for many years to come. From the beginning of his career, Mr. Sachs has been a true leader in solving environmental and natural resource issues in Maryland. In the early 1960s, Mr. Sachs played a critical role in creating and directing both the Maryland Department of Water Resources and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. For more than 40 years, he served in various positions at the Maryland Department of Planning as well as Director of the Water Resources Administration and Assistant Secretary at the Department of Natural Resources, overseeing efforts related to water pollution control, water resources management, wastewater treatment and flood control. Mr. Sachs' model for success is distinguished by the integration and collaboration of all stakeholders. While serving as the Executive Director of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin from 1992 until 1997, Mr. Sachs supervised efforts related to the coordination of water supply and activities between Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. In 1998 he returned to the State of Maryland at the Maryland Department of the Environment where he worked on the Coastal Bay Restoration Program, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, the Patuxent River Commission and the Potomac River Basin, among others. In each position, Mr. Sachs applied his unparalleled knowledge and his spirit for team work to ensure that our water sources in the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River Basin are preserved and protected. Over the course of his career, Mr. Sachs has been recognized for his expertise, his passion and his good nature. He is a thoughtful leader who strives to find new and creative ways to solve problems and give back to his community. Mr. Sachs' dedication to the State of Maryland and to the conservation of our water resources is commendable and I thank him for his many years of outstanding service as well as for his visionary leadership and dedication to improving the environment.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 38th year of Turkey's invasion, occupation and colonization of the Republic of Cyprus. On July 1, Cyprus assumed the six-month presidency of the European Union. Turkey, an EU candidate country, refuses to recognize the Cypriot presidency and has acted to ``freeze'' its communications with the EU. While Turkey refuses to recognize Cyprus, the international community has repeatedly called upon Turkey to withdraw from its occupation of the island republic. In 1974, Turkey invaded the island citing its purported authority to intervene under the Treaty of Guarantee, a treaty meant to guarantee the independence, sovereignty, constitution and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Turkey asserts that the Constitution of Cyprus is ``null and void,'' yet it justifies its invasion and decades' long occupation of Cyprus upon the Treaty of Guarantee, a treaty which obligates Turkey as a guarantor power to uphold the Cypriot Constitution and preserve the country's independence and territorial integrity. During Turkey's 38 year occupation of the northern third of Cyprus, it has engaged in the systematic destruction of the island's Hellenic, Christian and Turkish Cypriot heritage. Turkey is extinguishing the voice of the Turkish Cypriots, the community that co-existed with Greek-Cypriots for nearly 500 years until Turkey invaded and forcibly divided the two communities. Turkey's treatment of the indigenous peoples of Cyprus betrays a broader impulse which is manifest in discrimination against Christian and other minorities in territories under its control. Turkey's conduct is so egregious that this year the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom designated it as ``a country of particular concern.'' Turkey, a nation of nearly 80 million people, has with each passing day altered the cultural heritage and demographics of Cyprus, a country of 1 million people. In 1974, Greek Cypriots numbered 506,000 and Turkish Cypriots numbered 118,000. Since then, Turkey has engaged in a radical alteration of the island's demographics. Turkey has resettled nearly 200,000 mainland Turks and garrisoned 45,000 Turkish soldiers in the occupied areas. Turkey's forced colonization of the occupied areas is eradicating the native Turkish Cypriot community and supplanting it with a Turkish community whose culture and national consciousness is foreign to the indigenous and unique Greco-Turkish culture of Cyprus. The presence of Turkish troops is justified by the pretext that Turkey is protecting Turkish Cypriots. Yet 58,000 Turkish Cypriots voluntarily carry Republic of Cyprus passports, Turkish Cypriots utilize health care facilities and other services in the Republic of Cyprus, and more than 18 million crossings over the green line have occurred without incident. The reality is that each Jay Turkish Cypriots are forced by the presence of 45,000 Turkish troops to idly watch as their culture and identity is overtaken by mainland Turkish colonialists. Recent discoveries of natural gas off the coasts of Cyprus and Israel have seen these two democracies engage in a cooperative and productive manner for the development of the only Western, democratically controlled energy source in the region. Where Israel and Cyprus have conducted themselves as peaceful democracies, Turkey is using its presence in occupied Cyprus to challenge Israeli interests in the region. It was not so long ago that Turkey held itself out as an ally of Israel. Cyprus is the canvas that reveals the true face of Turkey--occupier, colonizer and foe of Western democratic values. It is time for this Chamber and the United States to stand with the people of Cyprus and demand that Turkey withdraw its troops and ``cease and desist'' from its unlawful colonization of this small and peaceful country.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 38th year of Turkey's invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus. I do so only days after Cyprus assumed the 6-month presidency of the European Union, yet Turkey, an EU candidate country, refuses to recognize the Cypriot presidency and has acted to freeze its communications with the European Union. Since 1974, Turkey has engaged in the systematic destruction of the island's Hellenic, Christian, and Turkish Cypriot heritage. This year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom placed Turkey on its watch list ``as a country of particular concern.'' The presence of 45,000 Turkish troops on the island, along with over 200,000 Turkish colonialists, is an offense to human dignity. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Turkey to meet the expectations of the international community by ending its decades-long occupation of Cyprus.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to H.R. 2362 because I don't believe that the preferential consideration which it gives to the interest of one country, Turkey, can be justified. There is no dispute over what many of our colleagues have said today, which is that there are tremendous needs on the part of Native American tribes, and a desire I think shared widely here for economic development opportunities on tribal lands. We all know the statistics. But that goal of achieving enhanced economic development on tribal lands has been achieved through the HEARTH Act. As Congresswoman Maloney just indicated a minute ago, Michael Black, director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, testified that the HEARTH Act ``fosters the same goals identified in H.R. 2362 on a broader scale.'' We don't need this legislation to accomplish all of the important things that have been articulated here. I have tremendous respect for Congressman Cole, and he just gave a very powerful articulation of the legacy that he carries in his DNA and why he is so passionate about these issues, and we share his perspective on the important need to develop tribal lands, but this particular piece of legislation is redundant at best, and it gives this unjustified preference to Turkish interests. This presents a number of issues. First of all, there are some concerns on the trade front. Now, I understand the bill was amended because originally it would have given exclusive opportunity to Turkish enterprises without regard to the rest of the WTO nations. Now that's been changed so other the WTO nations can participate. But if you look at the bill, Turkey's interests are discussed all through it. It's infused with language about Turkey. The findings section is about Turkey. And frankly, a Turkish enterprise could take this bill, once it passed, and use it as a passport to get preferential consideration with respect to these economic opportunities. So I think it does present some continued concern with respect to trade concerns. But on the foreign policy front, even if you felt it were important to give preferential consideration for purposes of a demonstration project or a pilot project to one nation's interest over others, why would you select the country of Turkey given its record? That's why Ranking Member Berman has sent a Dear Colleague letter around urging opposition to this bill, because he knows from a foreign policy standpoint the record of Turkey. I have to mention a few of these things because they're compelling. Increasingly, Turkey has become hostile to our ally, Israel, recently threatening to mobilize its air and naval assets to escort ships to Gaza and to stop Israel from developing energy sources in its Exclusive Economic Zone in the eastern Mediterranean. Secondly, in June of 2010, NATO member Turkey voted against the United Nations resolution imposing sanctions against Iran to thwart its nuclear weapons program. Thirdly, Turkey has just now been put on the U.S. Commission on International and Religious Freedom watch list for its widespread discrimination of minority religious communities. Fourthly, Turkey has threatened the use of force to stop Texas-based Noble Energy--this is an American company--from drilling for oil and gas off the shores of Cyprus and Israel and to blacklist any businesses that work with Cyprus or Israel for natural resource extraction.

Mr. SARBANES. We've heard the discussion of how Turkey has continually denied the Armenian genocide of 1915 to 1923 during which 1.5 million Armenians perished and since 1993 has maintained a destabilizing blockade of Armenia. Now some would say these are irrelevant issues. They're very relevant. If you're going to choose a country to which you're going to extend some preferential consideration, these kinds of activities and this kind of legacy ought to be part of your consideration. Finally, for more than 38 years, Turkey has illegally occupied the northern third of the island Republic of Cyprus, which is a member of the European Union. In fact, as of July 1, Cyprus assumed the presidency of the European Union, but Turkey refuses to recognize this. These are all relevant to the question of whether a preferential consideration ought to be extended to one country. It's not justified, and it's not warranted. I join Ranking Member Markey and Ranking Member Berman in urging opposition to H.R. 2362.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I rise to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies, Mr. Latham, and also with Mr. Wolf on the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, or DADSS. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. SARBANES. I thank the chairman. As the gentlemen are aware, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, NHTSA, has been working on a public-private research program known as the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, or DADSS, that would develop a passive technology to detect if a driver's blood alcohol content is above the legal limit. I would urge the chairman to consider funding for the DADSS program as this bill moves forward, and I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. SARBANES. I yield to the gentleman from Iowa.

Mr. SARBANES. I appreciate it, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Herman ``Hank'' Tillman who passed away on February 19th 2012. Colonel Tillman received 41 citations and medals over a 31 year career of service in our nation's military, making him one of Maryland's most decorated war heroes. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Colonel Tillman was born in Baltimore, MD in 1922. He graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and went on to attend Johns Hopkins University. While enrolled in night classes at Johns Hopkins and working throughout the day in the engineering department at Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor. Six weeks later, he enlisted. Colonel Tillman first received his wings in December 1942 as part of the ``Pearl Harbor Anniversary Class,'' and by the age of 20, he was piloting the B 17 Flying Fortress, at the time the world's biggest bomber. In two years, he flew 52 missions many of which were deep behind enemy lines. He made Captain at 21 and shortly after his 23rd birthday he was promoted to Major. He received the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943 for safely landing his plane and crew despite heavy damage from German fire and serious shrapnel injuries to his leg. After his distinguished service in WWII concluded, Colonel Tillman returned home to his high school sweet heart, Elizabeth Anne Brown. They were married on June 25th, 1944 at Brooklyn Baptist Church. They had three children--Paula, Bruce, and Terri--and Betty left her position with the Coast Guard to care for the kids full-time while Colonel Tillman served abroad. Colonel Tillman's continued service in the Air Force took him to Korea and Vietnam. He later told the Baltimore Sun, `` `I was a career person,' he says, `As an Air Cadet graduate, I had taken the [officer's] oath. To me, commitment and oaths mean something, just like a marriage oath.' '' In Vietnam he flew 105 combat missions, most of which were in unarmed recon jets through heavily guarded enemy airspace. He received the Silver Star for a reconnaissance flight through heavy anti-aircraft fire near Mugia Pass that allowed attack planes to pinpoint enemy targets. Colonel Tillman retired from the Air Force in 1972 after compiling 5,000 hours of flying time and earning 23 medals for bravery. He started a family business in Baltimore called Tillman Tool Company and later retired with his wife Betty to Kent Island, Maryland. Colonel Tillman led an accomplished and fulfilled life. I would like to take this moment to thank him for his service to the United States, and to pass along my condolences to his proud family. Although we can never repay the debt our nation owes Colonel Tillman and other veterans like him, their sacrifices will always be remembered.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ms. Jerrelle Francois for her years of dedication to the people of Maryland, including her 7 years as Vice Chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Ms. Francois has a long history of service in Maryland. Beginning as a teacher at Cherry Hill Junior High School, she went on to become a Department Head, Assistant Principal, Principal and Assistant Superintendent. While holding these positions, Ms. Francois worked to establish policies and procedures for improving K 12 curriculum and instruction, as well as system-wide special student support services. Throughout her career, Ms. Francois has received numerous awards and commendations including the Richard R. Green Award, the nation's highest urban education honor, given in recognition of exceptional contributions to urban schools and students. In 2006, Ms. Francois was appointed as the Vice Chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. Utilizing her decades of experience at every level of the public school system, Ms. Francois has provided a valuable perspective which has opened up many new opportunities to students. Ms. Francois' work in Baltimore City Public Schools has been integral to the education and success of thousands of City school children. Under her leadership and guidance, Baltimore City Public Schools have made significant improvements in the scope and effectiveness of their education programs. Through all of the promotions, accolades, and awards, Ms. Francois has stayed true to her commitment to educate the youth of Baltimore City. She has dedicated her life to improving public education and has enriched and guided the lives of thousands of children. The State of Maryland is forever grateful for all that she has done. As Ms. Francois retires from Baltimore City Public Schools, I would like to thank her for her unwavering dedication and service.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Martha A. Smith for her years of dedication to the people of Maryland, including her 18 years as President of Anne Arundel Community College. Dr. Smith has a long history of service in Maryland. Prior to her time at Anne Arundel Community College, Dr. Smith served first as the dean of students, then as President of Dundalk Community College in Baltimore County. Under her guidance, Dundalk Community College instituted a diversity plan which significantly increased the enrollment of minority students. On August 1, 1994, Dr. Smith took over as the 5th President of Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). With her ``Students First'' mentality, she immediately implemented a 5-year strategy that would take the community college to new heights. Through community outreach and a realignment of the college administrative structure, she was able to open up new opportunities for students and local businesses alike. With an unwavering vision to make AACC the premier learning institution it is today, she has helped students and graduates become better prepared citizens and employees. Throughout her career, Dr. Smith has received numerous awards and commendations. In 1995 the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County honored her as one of the County's First Women in Education. A year later the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce named Dr. Smith its Business Leader of the Year. From 1998 through 2002, Dr. Smith was named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women three times. Dr. Smith's work at the college has been integral to the success of AACC and its students. Under her leadership there has been extensive construction and renovation throughout the campus. Her dedication and innovation has been recognized not only locally, but nationally as well. In 2001, the National Alliance of Business named Anne Arundel Community College the Community College of the Year. In addition, AACC's selection as a lead agency for both the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program and the Cybersecurity Careers Consortium is a testament to the innovative programming and academic achievement initiated during Dr. Smith's tenure as President. Through all of the accolades, publications, and awards Dr. Smith has stayed true to her commitment of ``Students First.'' She has dedicated her life to improving higher education and has helped shape the lives of countless individuals throughout her career. The State of Maryland is forever grateful for all that she has done. As Dr. Smith retires from Anne Arundel Community College, I would like to thank her for her visionary leadership and unparalleled innovation.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Arthur Edwards who has been an outstanding citizen and a major figure in promoting the arts in Annapolis. His unceasing devotion to Maryland Hall, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, ASO, and other art activities has raised the visibility and quality of those organizations. When working with the ASO, Mr. Edwards embodied its core values. His commitment to the highest quality of music, outreach and engagement with the community, the cultivation of its legacy, and his creativity all helped to mold the ASO into the premier orchestra it is today. Through the Patricia and Arthur Edwards Family Foundation charitable trust, Mr. Edwards was able to fund the Orfeo Alliance, a partnership between The Key School and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra that produces an annual artist-in-residence program that benefits music education programs at Key School as well as artistic programs for the Orchestra. By supporting this program, Mr. Edwards ensured that the ASO would have a long term, tight knit relationship with its surrounding community as well as the opportunity to influence young minds through the arts. Arthur has been a driving force for the betterment of the City of Annapolis and its citizens. He is the kind of person every community cherishes. Arthur's generosity with his time is well known and is only matched by his good humor. From the first day I met him, I have been amazed at the quiet humility of this man who has done so much for so many. The Annapolis area will forever be indebted for his outstanding work in bringing music and the arts to the community as a whole.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, the genocide of more than 1\1/2\ million Armenians by Ottoman-era Turkish authorities is an undeniable fact of history. In 1915, the Armenian nation which had resided in Anatolia for thousands of years was subjected to an organized barbarity that included death marches, drowning, and executions. Those who managed to survive these horrors scattered to the four corners of the Earth. Today, survivors of the Armenian genocide and their children and grandchildren bear witness to this massacre. Each year, Armenian Americans, supported by others who readily accept the teachings of history, renew their plea that the United States Government formally recognize the Armenian genocide, and every year that responsibility of recognition remains unfulfilled. When faced with the deeply compelling research and scholarship surrounding the Armenian genocide, it is wholly untenable to assert that the genocide did not occur. Instead, many in Congress offer the protest that recognition would harm our relationship with Turkey and undermine our broader geostrategic interests. Others suggest weakly that it is just not the right time to push the issue of recognition. The result is the same--the continued failure on the part of the United States to do the right thing. This failure puts salt on the wounds of the Armenian people. But it does more than that. It corrodes the moral standing of our Nation as a whole. I join those who once again, at this time of annual remembrance, implore my fellow Members of Congress and President Obama to formally recognize the Armenian genocide.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, this week, we're marking the second anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act. I wanted to take a few minutes to speak to a number of groups that have benefited from the health care reform, a reform which I strongly supported. If you think back to the time of the debate 2 years ago, it was at the height of hearing stories about people across the country, millions of people, who were struggling to access the health care system. So let me speak to the struggles of two or three particular groups. Many adults across the country had had the experience of trying to get health care coverage, health care insurance, and discovering that because they had a ``preexisting condition,'' as it's so called, that they would be denied that coverage. If you look at some of the policies even today, you can see that the list of preexisting conditions is a long one. You don't have to have some kind of exotic disease or condition. Diabetes, hypertension, other things that plague millions of Americans across the country could be the basis for an insurance company denying coverage to you. As difficult as that experience was for many adults to have when they went to try to purchase coverage because they had a preexisting condition, the most heart-wrenching stories we heard were of parents who had a child that suffered from a preexisting condition, and that child was unable to get health insurance coverage. It literally was tearing the hearts out of families across this country. One of the things that the Affordable Care Act put in place was a prohibition against denying coverage for children based on a preexisting condition. That is now law as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Those who argue that we should repeal the Affordable Care Act, I cannot believe that they want to go back to a time when a family would have to look at their child who had a preexisting condition and know that they couldn't get coverage, couldn't provide health care for that child. I can't believe that we want to go back to that. A second group that benefited are young people, many of whom after they graduated from college could no longer stay on the health insurance plan of their parents because it wasn't provided for. Under the Affordable Care Act, if you're a young person, you can now stay on your parents' health insurance plan until age 26. This is making a huge difference for millions of Americans across the country. Already hundreds of thousands have taken advantage of the opportunity to stay on the insurance plan of their parents, which means that young people, many of whom think that they're invincible but then something happens to them and they need that health insurance coverage, now they'll have it. It's still in place because, under the Affordable Care Act, there's now a requirement that health insurance plans cover young people until age 26. I cannot believe that those who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act want to go back to a situation where millions of young people can't access that health insurance coverage. And let me talk about the third group, our seniors who, 2 years ago, were dealing with the situation of having to come out of pocket for prescription drugs because of the so-called doughnut hole under the prescription drug benefit program. Under the Affordable Care Act, we put in place the opportunity now to begin closing the doughnut hole and making sure that seniors who are in the doughnut hole have access to a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs, brand-name prescription drugs. So now our seniors, many of whom before were having to make a choice between do I cover the cost of food, do I pay the rent, or do I cover the cost of my prescription drugs because they were having to come out of pocket, now, many of them don't have to make that terrible choice because of the assistance provided by the Affordable Care Act. I cannot believe that those who are urging the repeal of health care reform want to take our seniors back to a place where they have to make that terrible choice between whether to cover the rent, buy food, or pay for their prescription drugs. Madam Speaker, there are so many good things already in place as a result of the health care reform, and I cannot believe that those who want to repeal it want to deny our children, want to deny our young people, want to deny our seniors the benefits that it provides.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. I actually rise with some significant concerns about the IPO on-ramp provisions of this bill. I'm concerned because there already is exempted from the Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements about 60 percent of the IPOs that we see, and this would extend the period in which companies have the requirement of complying with Sarbanes-Oxley to 5 years for companies that exceed that $75 million and go up to $1 billion in revenues. My concern about that is that's a period of time in which a lot of mischief can be done when it comes to financial fraud, and I think it exposes investors to significant potential damage. My hope would have been that this could have been remedied along the way. Because of my concerns about it, I'm going to be compelled to vote against the bill because I think it really has the effect of gutting significant investor protections.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th birthday of Hadassah of Greater Baltimore. Hadassah, founded in 1912, is a volunteer women's organization that strives to enhance the quality of American and Jewish life through educational programs, promoting health awareness, and aiding the personal enrichment and growth of its members and surrounding communities. Established in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, the daughter of a rabbi at Temple Oheb Shalom in Baltimore, Hadassah has over 300,000 members and is the largest Jewish organization in America and one of the largest women's volunteer organizations in the world. Upon returning from a trip to Israel, Ms. Szold took it upon herself to create an organization that could aid the people of the region who were afflicted with starvation and disease. By 1918, Hadassah had sent an entire medical unit to Israel where they helped to develop the beginning of the Israeli healthcare system. In 1934, Hadassah helped to create Youth Aliyah, a child rescue program that saved tens of thousands of children from war torn Eastern Europe. Today Youth Aliyah is helping to resettle children of the Ethiopian and Russian migrations as well as Israeli children who are living on the streets. Throughout World War II, the organization sold $200 million in war bonds and was rewarded with 100 Air Force bombers who were given the names of different Hadassah chapters. By 1942 the U.S. State Department named Hadassah one of the largest contributors to overseas relief, especially due to the efforts of Ms. Szold to rescue thousands of children from Nazi Germany. Over the years, Hadassah has established itself as a powerful voice for change. They have argued for federal and state funding of stem cell research and called for legislation that supports medical privacy and freedom from genetic discrimination by insurance companies and employers. In Israel, they have established and maintained two state- of-the-art medical centers, created the Hadassah College Jerusalem, and run the country's largest touring and residency program for American Jewish youth. Today, the hundreds of thousands of women in Hadassah have upheld Henrietta Szold's commitment to improving the world we live in today. I hope my fellow members will join me in congratulating them on their 100th birthday and thanking them for the wonderful contributions they've made in Baltimore and throughout the world.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to report that the ancient Christian heritage in Turkey is being threatened with extinction. When a government compromises the right of its citizens to peaceably assemble, the right of expression, and the right of independent thought, the people of such a country are not fully free. When a government takes the property of citizens without just compensation and due process of law, the people of that country are not free. And when a government discriminates against citizens on account of their religion and ethnic origins, again, freedom is denied. While Turkey has taken some positive steps in recent times, freedom is not a matter of half measures. Our NATO ally must unequivocally and zealously defend the individual liberties of all its citizens. I support passage of House Resolution 306 to urge the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Dr. David Haltiwanger for his tireless efforts on behalf of the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. In his work as a clinician, administrator, teacher and advocate, Dr. Haltiwanger has demonstrated a deep well of compassion, a vision for true inclusiveness and a commitment to using his voice and organizing the voices of others to improve the lives of those in Baltimore, in Maryland, and across the United States. Dr. Haltiwanger has been involved in the fight against AIDS from the very beginning, first as support to friends and later as a therapist, clinical supervisor and administrator overseeing a range of mental health, substance abuse, health promotion and case management services at Chase Brexton Health Services, Maryland's largest community-based provider of healthcare services to people living with HIV/AIDS. At Chase Brexton, he served as Mental Health Director and later as Director of Clinical Programs and Public Policy. Even as his other responsibilities increased, Dr. Haltiwanger continued to see patients, giving him keen insight into the challenges on the ground and enabling him to be an especially effective advocate in Annapolis and here on Capitol Hill, where he has been a valuable resource to members and staff alike. Dr. Haltiwanger has channeled his expertise and commitment into the work of two very important national organizations. He served for six years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition, a leading national voice for the treatment and care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, and also as a Board Member and Co-Chair of the National Coalition for LGBT Health, which is committed to improving the health and well-being of LGBT individuals through federal advocacy focused on research, policy, education, and training. In his work as an advocate, Dr. Haltiwanger has been especially committed to educating others in his community about the importance of participating in public policy issues and mentoring them in those efforts. Throughout his career, Dr. Haltiwanger has made an enormous impact on Baltimore and has changed the lives of countless individuals and families in the State of Maryland and beyond. As he retires from Chase Brexton, I would like to thank him for his many years of service and his visionary leadership.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to commend the Patuxent Research Refuge on the occasion of their 75th Anniversary. Sited on almost 13,000 acres of green space, Patuxent is the largest contiguous block of forest land in the Baltimore-Washington Corridor. Some have referred to it as the ``green lungs'' of the region. Established in 1936 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Patuxent is the Nation's only national wildlife refuge created to support wildlife research. Patuxent includes the National Wildlife Visitor's Center which is one of the largest science and environmental education centers operated by the Department of Interior. Many of my constituents appreciate and value the Visitor Center's interactive exhibits which focus on global environmental issues, migratory bird studies, habitats and endangered species. Many visitors also can enjoy the hiking trails, tram tours, seasonal fishing programs, wildlife management demonstration areas and the outdoor education sites for local schools. In addition to the Visitor's Center, Patuxent is home to the Wildlife Research Center which conducts research on a diverse range of wildlife and conservation issues. The exemplary research by the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center has helped develop important management techniques for conserving and protecting our Nation's wildlife and habitat. Research at the Center has led to efforts to restore the whooping crane population from near extinction to providing the scientific research that ultimately led the ban of the pesticide DDT in 1972. Currently, the Center has over 100 scientific research projects ranging from the impact of rising sea levels to Chesapeake Bay black duck populations to nocturnal bird migrations through the Central Appalachians. Patuxent continues to be at the forefront of conserving our precious natural resources and maintaining an ecosystem that will continue to be robust and vibrant for generations to come. It provides a place for hikers, fisherman and hunters to enjoy green space in the Baltimore- Washington Corridor. I am proud that the 3rd Congressional District is home to the Patuxent Research Refuge, and hope they can continue to serve as an archetype for future environmental research facilities. I hope my fellow Members will join me in congratulating them on their 75th anniversary.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, to those who question the United States' expression of solidarity with Israel in the face of the recent Palestinian bid for U.N. recognition, the answer is that it is in America's interest to stand strong with its friend and ally. There is a chorus of political interests arguing that U.N. recognition is precisely the game-changing move needed to push forward stalled Mid-East talks. But completely up-ending the long agreed-upon structure of direct negotiations would defeat all interests. For those Palestinians who desire peace, it would unfairly heighten expectations that the United Nations offers some new path to an independent state with defined territorial borders. Most alarmingly, U.N. recognition of Palestinian statehood would encourage Israel's traditional foes, as well as emerging new ones, to abandon their grudging acceptance of the direct negotiation paradigm in favor of a coordinated assault on Israel's interests and security. That, in turn, will put America's interests at risk. U.S. support for Israel has never been more important than it is now. The winds of the Arab Spring blowing from Tunisia to Syria are dramatically altering the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the wider region. Our ally's familiar antagonists are seizing on the region's new populism to stir up anti-Israel sentiment. In recent days, Israeli diplomats had to be rescued (with U.S. help) from their embassy in Cairo when angry protesters breached the grounds. Iran is as bellicose as ever and its potential to pose an existential threat to Israel cannot be underestimated. It is expected that countries like Iran would seek to hijack the sentiment of the Arab Spring, but who would have predicted that NATO member Turkey, a country that long enjoyed a strong military and economic relationship with Israel, would turn against its erstwhile ally with such ferocity? Turkish hostility towards Israel goes well beyond the purported settling of a score over the Gaza Flotilla incident. It appears calculated to establish Turkey's strategic dominance of the Eastern Mediterranean by putting pressure on the Israeli-American alliance. One important way for the United States to discourage this kind of adventurism in the region is to continue to affirm its unbreakable bond with the State of Israel.