John Sarbanes

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Women's History Month. Though we have designated March as the particular month for this celebration, every day could rightly be designated to honor the contributions of women to our society. On this occasion I would like to highlight the achievements of two women who through their work have deeply impacted Maryland's Third District and our State as a whole. Just this past year Karen Rothenberg, Dean of the University of Maryland Law School, was inducted into the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. The Maryland Women's Hall of Fame was established through the efforts of the Maryland Commission for Women and the Women Legislators of Maryland in 1985. Its purpose is to honor Maryland women who have made unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural and social life of the State, and to provide visible models of achievement for tomorrow's female leaders. This year, Dean Rothenberg is being honored by the Daily Record as Maryland's Top 100 Women. Dean Rothenberg has demonstrated leadership and scholarship in her role at the University of Maryland Law School, and in her field. She graduated as part of the first class of women at Princeton University. She has served as a member of the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Legal and Ethical Issues Relating to the Inclusion of Women in Clinical Studies, on numerous NIH panels on prenatal care, the recruitment and retention of women in clinical studies, and the ethical, legal and social implications of genetics. I have had the privilege to work with Dean Rothenberg this year on an effort to bring more lawyers into public service. This is an area in which she has been recognized on numerous occasions for her efforts. She has established loan repayment programs, grant opportunities and scholarships for law school graduates that wish to pursue careers in public service, and they in turn have enriched our community. She has worked with students to provide volunteer relief in New Orleans, and has facilitated opportunities for students to pursue public interest studies abroad. This is only the tip of the iceberg. In addition to having been the first woman elected to serve as Mayor of Baltimore City, Sheila Dixon has spent more than 20 years in public office, dedicating her career to improving the lives of women, children and minorities. She has worked tirelessly on public health issues, and brings a wealth of experience and insight into business development in the city. Among her numerous awards and honors, Mayor Dixon was recently admitted to the Daily Record's Circle of Excellence for her third selection as one of ``Maryland's Top 100 Women.'' She serves on numerous boards, including the Institute of Human Virology, the Transplant Resource Center, the Urban Health Initiative, the Baltimore Public Markets Corporation, the Living Classrooms Foundation, and the Walters Art Gallery. This year Mayor Dixon launched the YouthWorks campaign, which brings together businesses, community organizations, foundations and city and State agencies in an effort to engage Baltimore youth in meaningful summer activities. She is strongly committed to accomplishing the goal of ensuring that any Baltimore youth who wants a summer job can have one. This program will not only benefit youth by providing valuable work experience, it will also provide businesses with talented and motivated workers. Though I have not had the privilege of working with all of the following women, I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight Maryland's Top 100 Women for 2008 as honored by the Daily Record: Judge Theresa M. Adams, Circuit Court for Frederick County; Dr. Susan C. Aldridge, University of Maryland University College; Dr. Janet D. Allan, University of Maryland School of Nursing; Dr. Sharon D. Allison- Ottey, The COSHAR Foundation; Judge Nancy V. Alquist, United States Bankruptcy Court; Rev. Dr. China M. Ashe, Hope Ministries; Judge Vicki Ballou-Watts, Circuit Court for Baltimore County; Lisa R. Bands, My Cleaning Service, Inc.; Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, Court of Special Appeals of Maryland; Traci A. Barnett, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland; Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers; Cathy S. Bernard, CSB Management Corporation; Dr. Meredith Bond, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine; Annie L. Burton- Byrd, The Signature Group, LLC; Ellen A. Callegary, Callegary & Steedman, PA; Wanda G. Caporaletti, Law Office of Wanda G. Caporaletti; Diane Lillibridge Caslow, MedStar Health; Marie A. Cavallaro, Cavallaro Cleary Visual Art Foundation; Rev. Mary W. Conaway, Register of Wills for Baltimore City; Patricia E. Cornish, PEC Financial Consulting; Dr. P. Ann Cotten, University of Baltimore Schaefer Center for Public Policy. Diane D'Aiutolo Collins, Tydings & Rosenberg, LLP; Janine M. DiPaula Stevens, Vircity; Anna M. Dopkin, T. Rowe Price Associates; Councilmember Valerie Ervin, Montgomery County Council; Carolyn Wilson Evans, Sengstacke & Evans, LLC; Margaret (Meg) Z. Ferguson, Baltimore County Executive Office; Jodi Finkelstein, Domestic Violence Center of Howard County; Ellen R. Fish, Towson Community Bank, a div. of AmericasBANK; Mary Ellen Flynn, Andalman & Flynn, PC; Taylor L. Foss, LifeBridge Health; Commissioner Jan H. Gardner, Frederick County Government; Sandra N. Harriman, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Carrie Harris-Muller, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. Dr. Elizabeth A. Hunt, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Sara T. Jacoby, The Legacy Group, Inc.; Deborah E. Jennings, DLA Piper U.S., LLP; Senator Verna L. Jones, State of Maryland; Leronia A. Josey, Law Office of Leronia Josey; Pamela J. King, Open Society Institute- Baltimore; Julie Lenzer Kirk, Path Forward International; Marcy K. Kolodny, Dyslexia Tutoring Program; Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp, State of Maryland; Jennifer Kozak, J Kozak Creative; Senator Rona E. Kramer, State of Maryland; Judge Sherrie L. Krauser, Circuit Court for Prince George's County; Dr. Martha Joynt Kumar, Towson University. Judge Theresa A. Lawler, Orphan's Court for Baltimore County; Linda Thater Layton, Attorney at Law; Cynthia L. Leppert, Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber, PA; Eileen M. Levitt, The HR Team, Inc.; Dr. Leslie D. Mancuso, JHPIEGO; Sister Patricia McCarron, SSND, Notre Dame Preparatory School; Annette Merz, LENPEX, LLC; Bonnae J. Meshulam, Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, Inc.; Dr. Redonda G. Miller, Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine; Elise Davison Morris, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP; Paula T. Morris, Kids of Honor; Nhora Barrera Murphy, The Media Network; Alice Neily Mutch, Capital Consultants, BaySmart Gardening, LLC. Myra W. Norton, Community Analytics; Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales, Ober Kaler Grimes & Shriver; Beth Pepper, Law Firm of Beth Pepper; Trudy E. Perkins, Office of U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings; Beth S. Perlman, Constellation Energy; Liz Pettengill, Greater Baltimore Committee; Bonnie Lamdin Phipps, St. Agnes HealthCare; Barbara Portnoy, PLDA Interiors; Randi Alper Pupkin, Art with a Heart, Inc.; Stephanie L. Reel, Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System; Dr. Donna L. Reihl, The Community College of Baltimore County; Juliette Rizzo, U.S. Department of Education; Dr. Marcella L. Roenneburg, Mercy Medical Center. Karen H. Rothenberg, University of Maryland School of Law; Dr. Lisa Rowen, University of Maryland Medical Center; Dr. Cynda Hylton Rushton, Johns Hopkins University and Children's Center; Hannah Sassoon, Montgomery County Office of the Sheriff; Judge Katherine D. Savage, Circuit Court for Montgomery County; Lynne C. Schaefer, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Rosa M. Scharf, Howard Bank; Mary Fulton Shock, Philanthropist; J. Patricia Wilson Smoot, Prince George's County Office of the State's Attorney; Felicita Sola-Carter, Social Security Administration; Yolanda F. Sonnier, Randall & Sonnier, LLC; Sally L. Sternbach, Rockville Economic Development, Inc.; Ferrier R. Stillman, Tydings & Rosenberg, LLP. Karen D. Stokes, Greater Homewood Community Corporation; Anita H. Thomas, University of Baltimore; Dr. Rosemary M. Thomas, Salisbury University; Suzanne C. Thompson, Heritage Financial Consultants, LLC, Advanced Benefit Solutions, Inc.; Margaret Witherup Tindall, Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman, Hoffberger & Hollander, LLC; Marlene Trestman, Office of the Attorney General; Jenny J. Trostel, Saab of Baltimore; Judith Vaughan-Prather, Montgomery County Commission for Women; Laura Neuman Volkman, Springboard Enterprises; Stephanie T. Willey, Comcast Spotlight; Deborah Smith Williams, M&T Bank; Jeanne M. Yeager, Mid- Shore Council on Family Violence; Terry Slade Young, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; and Gina Monath Zawitoski, DLA Piper U.S., LLP. I salute these women as examples of the many others who have made, and continue to make our country great.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, on the occasion of its 21st annual TUgis Conference, I rise today to recognize Towson University for its excellence in geographic information sciences. In 1984, Dr. John M. Morgan III, with tremendous vision, created a GIS lab at Towson University. He hosted the first statewide GIS conference in 1988. Since then, the Towson University Center for Geographic Information Sciences, CGIS, has grown to include approximately 35 full-time, degreed professionals dedicated to assisting government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations that use GIS to carry out their mission. As the program has grown in size, its reputation has also grown. CGIS has developed strong partnerships with several organizations throughout Maryland and has attracted first-rate students to Towson University who are interested in CGIS and its enormous potential. The theme for TUgis 2008 is ``Democratizing GIS: New Tools for Meeting the Public Demand for Geospatial Information.'' As a member of Congress, I have been interested in better understanding the needs of those I represent. One way I have been able to gain this understanding is through geospatial information about my district. One of our interns, Matthew Sadecki, who will be graduating from Towson University with a master's in GIS, has been able to construct maps of the district displaying a wide range of information. These maps help me to visualize statistical information related to the geographical layout of Maryland's Third Congressional District and better address the needs of those who live there. Madam Speaker, I want to again thank Dr. Morgan and Towson University for all they have done to advance GIS to its current form and wish them great success with all they have yet to achieve.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today in recognition of the 187th anniversary of Greek independence. The Greek people have proven to be the greatest of allies to the United States over many decades. Today we have new opportunities to demonstrate our support of Greece on key issues. Most immediate is the dispute over the name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. I urge the administration to help us celebrate Greek Independence Day by supporting Greece's position on this important issue. Greece's position makes sense for NATO, it makes sense for the United States, and it makes sense for peaceful international relations.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Miller, Chairwoman McCarthy, and others for putting together the GIVE Act, which reauthorizes the National Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. This act supports the Nation's priorities in a number of important areas. Mr. Speaker, Americans are hungry to serve. Last year, 62 million Americans contributed 8.2 billion hours of volunteer service. And the question is, are we ready to absorb that energy? Do we have a way of capturing it and channeling it? What the GIVE Act does is it creates that infrastructure; and that's why we need it, because if we don't have an infrastructure to respond to that volunteer energy, then people will go away even more disillusioned. So the GIVE Act steps up and does exactly the right thing. And here are some of the things that it does: it sets a goal of 100,000 AmeriCorps volunteers by 2012 putting 25,000 additional volunteers into our communities; it engages youth through a summer of service; and it creates a new energy conservation corps. That corps will focus our service corps apparatus on some of the Nation's most pressing problems: energy efficiency and conservation training for green jobs and rehabilitation of our Nation's critical infrastructure. It will enlist both seniors and young people in that enterprise. The act will also do right by our veterans. I was pleased to work with Mr. Miller and Mrs. McCarthy to include language in this bill that would require the Corporation for National and Community Service to initiate a national conversation by commissioning a study to develop and test a service corps program that both targets veterans as recipients of community service and utilizes their service as participants and volunteers. This national conversation would provide a framework for better targeting the needs of veterans in the community. Mr. Speaker, I commend the committee on its work on these important issues. It is said that the pulse and time of a Nation are best reflected in its service to others. The GIVE Act launches a new era of service and, in so doing, will showcase the best of what America has to offer.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Chairman, I rise today to commend Chairman Miller, Chairwoman McCarthy, Ranking Member McKeon, and others for putting together a very strong reauthorization of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. It supports the Nation's priorities in a number of important areas. In particular, I'd like to thank the committee's leadership for recognizing the critical role that veterans and older Americans can play in solving problems and strengthening communities, by recommending several new provisions. Our veterans are simply the best of what this country has to offer, both with respect to their exemplary character and the technical, professional, and administrative expertise which they acquire during their years of service. They are an invaluable and untapped resource to underserved communities. America should embrace the opportunity to establish a well-defined veterans-centered and -integrated community support system based on national and community service. The GIVE Act begins a national conversation on how to make this happen. Every day nearly 8,000 of the Nation's 78 million baby boomers turn 60. We know from research that the vast majority plan to work or stay engaged in their community well past traditional retirement age. This is a wonderful opportunity, given their stated interest in helping others and the ever-worsening labor shortage in education, health care, government, and nonprofit work. I'm a strong supporter of the idea that those who have finished their mid-life careers can be a force for social good in the 21st century. By turning the aging of America into a positive story, we can tap into this energy. It is going to take creativity, experimentation, bold action, and looking to the future more than the past. Congress has a critical responsibility, along with the States and the private sector, to ensure baby boomers will have the opportunity to serve. We talk about this wave of returning veterans, and we talk about the demographic wave of aging Americans. How you respond to a wave depends on how you position yourself. That wave can either come crashing down on us, or it can be a wave that lifts us up and moves us forward. I look forward to continuing to work with the committee and this Congress to explore additional proposals to capture the energy, idealism, and talent of our veterans and millions of older Americans who want to make a major contribution to the public good.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I just want to say that I am in strong support of this amendment. I am glad to cosponsor it with Congressman Inslee. The way we are going to make improvement with our environment is when hundreds of thousands of people develop the habits that clean up the environment instead of having the habits that hurt the environment. There is no better way to do this than to establish this Energy Conservation Corps which brings a service dimension for our young people and for our seniors in the Learn and Service programs to support this green frontier that we are embarked upon. So I think it is a critical boost to the other efforts that we are making on the energy horizon.

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I rise as well to oppose this amendment, which really overlooks the incredible positive impact that a summer of service can have on our youth. The Summer of Service is a program which fills a policy gap which helps communities create positive alternatives for young teens. The middle school years in particular are extremely pivotal years for young people. Most youth are making the difficult transition from middle school to high school, and many of them have no organized activities during those periods when they are out of school. Many are left unsupervised and at risk of being engaged in potentially harmful activity. We want to engage them. We want to make sure that they have something to do. I was recently, Mr. Chairman, at a conference held in Baltimore that is focusing on what some refer to as the summer learning slide or summer learning lost. Basically, what do you do to engage students over those summer months to make sure that you are complementing the educational opportunities that they have during the regular school year? And the Summer of Service is a perfect opportunity to do that and to support them so that continuum, that trajectory is always upward. It is not a kind of roller coaster where you get two steps forward and you slip one step back. How our youth spend their time during the summer period may determine whether they embark on a course of active citizenship and civic engagement and engaged learning or whether they go down a different path. This was a conclusion of a conference that the White House convened in 2000 to look at the issues that are facing teenagers. The Summer of Service initiative will offer youth the chance to spend a summer in service to their communities. I urge that we vote against the Flake amendment that would eliminate the Summer of Service.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network (CBGN), which will otherwise expire at the end 2008. The CBGN provides grants to parks, volunteer groups, wildlife refuges, historic sites, museums, and water trails throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Network ties these sites together to provide meaningful experiences and foster citizen stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay. Since 2000, it has grown to include 156 Gateways in six States and the District of Columbia, and over 1500 miles of established and developing water trails. My own Congressional District includes several such Gateways sites. For example, the Annapolis Maritime Museum, which sits on the banks of Back Creek, promotes an understanding of the maritime heritage of Annapolis and how that history has influenced the evolution of the State of Maryland. The museum campus occupies the site of the old McNasby's Oyster Packing Company. For years, from the shores of the Back Creek and other tributaries, watermen came and went delivering their daily catch. Boatwrights and craftsmen ran boatyards to sustain the industry. Employees of McNasby's and other businesses shucked, canned, and shipped oysters and other seafood as far as the Rocky Mountains. The maritime and seafood industry made Annapolis a prosperous town--and they were all connected to and dependent upon the Chesapeake Bay. The Annapolis Maritime Museum teaches current residents and youth about this connection to the water and how it continues to influence our culture and economy to this day. As reported in the Baltimore Sun late last year, the museum has established a program with Eastport Elementary School to connect students with the Chesapeake Bay through activities that fit into their studies in reading, math, and science. The students participate in activities such as ``measuring water temperature, salinity and clarity; they observe, measure and document the museum's terrapins and oysters; and account for funds they're raising to support the upkeep of the terrapins.'' These kinds of programs have a profound and long lasting impact on students as evidenced by the feedback from one parent who said, ``My child has become more excited and interested in the bay and what it means to the area where he lives.'' By maintaining the Gateways network and providing access to sites such as the Annapolis Maritime Museum, we can help develop the next generation of environmental stewards, which is one of the best ways to truly ``Save the Bay.'' It is therefore critical that we act now to reauthorize the Gateways program so that the Network and its partners can continue to educate residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed about how their communities relate directly to the health of our largest estuary and a national treasure--the Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Peace Corps volunteers from my district: Jessica Ayd, Laura Burke, Gwyneth Caverly, Christopher Chapman, Erin Dahan, Aaron Degraffenreidt, Colin Doyle, Craig Edmonds, Jennifer Forster, Mark Gormley, John Gudger, Jonathan Katz, Oluseyi Lawoyin, Anne Lilly, Robi Marbury, William Marbury, Martha Moiforay, Anna Moyer, Hannah Stocks, and Sheena Washington. I'd like to thank them for their terrific work in countries far and wide, and for helping make America's image abroad stronger at a time when we need it most. Additionally, I'd like to congratulate the Peace Corps on its 47th anniversary. Our country has truly been enriched by the experiences of the Peace Corps volunteers.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and honor the many accomplishments and contributions made by African Americans throughout this country's history. Today, I want to speak about the richness of America's cultures and the role that African Americans have played in making our country great. As a nation we are so diverse and when the gifts and talents of each group are shared and blended together, we are so much stronger. For many years in our history, we largely ignored the strength of our diversity instead of seeking to celebrate it. We now celebrate Black History Month to reflect upon the struggle for civil rights but also to honor the enormous contributions African Americans have made to our country. These contributions cover every aspect of American life--from business and education to the arts and sciences and, importantly, the sacrifices and heroic efforts of those who serve and have served our country to preserve the freedom and democracy that we hold so dear. The theme for Black History Month this year is: Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism. This theme embraces the beliefs and teachings of Dr. Woodson, ``The Father of Black History'' and a pioneer of multiculturalism. Through his research, he fostered a movement to educate Americans about the rich heritage that many had to that point ignored. He stressed the need and importance to recognize and celebrate the gifts and talents Black Americans have shared with this country. In so doing, he taught us also to embrace the diverse cultures living here in the United States. In 1927 Dr. Woodson stated that ``. . . we should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nation, but the history of the world, void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice . . .'' Dr. Woodson along with other noted scholars, such as W.E.B. DuBois, wanted to make sure all Americans were aware of the contributions made by African Americans. Today, because of their efforts, the many contributions of African Americans such as civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks, and historical leaders such as Sojourner Truth are put into context of what they have meant for African Americans, but also the Nation as a whole. Many, such as Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, and Harriett Tubman, have roots in my home State of Maryland and have added to our rich history as a state and a nation. Finally, while there are many who fit this category, I want to mention two African Americans who are currently making an enormous difference through their work in the Third Congressional District of Maryland: Reggie Brody and Karen Ndour. I think they offer terrific examples of what many others are doing across the Third District and the State of Maryland to make our community and our society a better place to live and work. Reggie is the chief professional officer of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Highly respected in the Anne Arundel community, he has received various awards including the Organizational Trustee Award and the Community Trustee Award for an extraordinary commitment to his community and his commendable service. He is well known for his stellar communication skills and his unique ability to work with a wide array of community groups and lead them to achieve a common goal. Karen, an administrator and former attorney, is currently the Principal of the National Academy Foundation High School of Baltimore N.A.F., that opened in 2002 and is located at Baltimore's Digital Harbor. Stressing academic excellence and professionalism, her school has four successful programs that partner with local urban businesses and industry to provide training for young men and women so that they are able to either enter access level positions in their chosen field upon graduation or qualify for the college of their choice. While teaching law at an East Baltimore High School, Karen was featured in a 2005 article in the Baltimore Sun for implementing the Baltimore City Student Court Project. Karen was approached after teachers and the administration felt the need to lower the suspension rate at the school and help make the young men and women who attended the school accountable for their actions. Much of the discipline was thereby transferred from the ``adult'' administration to the student court. The approach has seen significant results: fewer children are finding themselves in situations that lead to diminished opportunities for their future success. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak about the importance of Black History Month and to acknowledge the work that my constituents and others are doing for their communities and for our Nation.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Civic Works' service to Baltimore and to congratulate the organization for earning the Corps Network's Excellence in Corps Operations (ECO) Status. Civic Works' strong commitment to the local community is defined in its mission to assist Baltimore residents in creating a better future for their city. With the help of approximately 200 AmeriCorps volunteers each year, Civic Works serves Baltimore by performing a variety of tasks such as tutoring and mentoring children, building community parks and gardens, and rehabilitating abandoned houses for low-income families. The volunteers participate in team-based projects and weekly academic enrichment to effect positive change in their lives and their community. Each year, Civic Works also trains and helps 200 Baltimore residents find employment through its Health Care Careers Alliance partnership with five of Baltimore's hospitals and the B'more Green environmental technician training and certification program. Since its creation in 1993, Civic Works has trained and assisted more than 2,500 Baltimore area participants. The ECO Status is bestowed upon various Service and Conservation Corps that make a commitment to high-quality standards and continuous improvements. Each organization's performance is reviewed in several areas through self-assessment and peer reviews. This year's evaluation revealed that Civic Works ``exhibits a strong commitment to its local community which can be seen throughout all its programs and projects. Community partners and residents clearly benefit from the work Civic Works completes.'' ECO also recognized Civic Works for their ``consistently clean financial record and for Board members and staff that are extremely engaged.'' One reason for such glowing reviews is the leadership of its president and executive director, Delegate Dana Stein. Mr. Stein is one of the original co-founders of Civic Works. He has served as a leader in the Baltimore community in several capacities, most recently being elected to the Maryland House of Delegates from the 11th District. Dana is committed to improving the lives of those who live and work in the Baltimore community and that commitment is replicated by those who have worked with him to help Civic Works achieve this status. Madam Speaker, on behalf of all those who have benefited directly and indirectly from this commitment, I want to once again congratulate Civic Works on achieving the Excellence in Corps Operations Status.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague Representative Pallone on his work on H.R. 4848 which is important for us to support because it does extend certain mental health coverages. But as we've all been saying here today, it is just as important that we continue to work very hard to enact and pass H.R. 1424, which is the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, and I want to salute Representatives Ramstad and Kennedy for their tremendous work on this bill. Mental health parity is the right thing to do. Clearly, there are so many individuals and families that are in pain in this country because they are not receiving the mental health counseling services, the substance abuse and addiction treatment services that they deserve and that our society ought to provide to them. But it is also the smart thing to do. All of the statistics, even if you just wanted to look at this through the cold, calculating lens of what the bottom line represents in terms of cost to our system and our society, all of the studies that have been done show that there are tremendous savings to be had if we focus on these kinds of service. There have been many statistics that have been cited today. I will cite a few more. Depressed workers lose 5\1/2\ hours per week of productive work time. That adds up to tens of billions of dollars lost a year to employers. Alcohol-related illness and premature death cost over $130 billion in lost productivity in 1998, and the statistics go on and on and on. Even the most tightfisted insurer will discover very quickly once we have mental health parity in place that the costs are a lot and that, in fact, there are savings to be had as you reallocate dollars to mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment in terms of the savings in related medical treatment. So it is absolutely the right thing to do, and particularly at this time when we have so many stories of returning veterans who are suffering from traumatic brain injury, from mental health issues and need the support that can come from this, from this larger bill, from the Paul Wellstone Act. So I urge my colleagues to support this extension through H.R. 4848 of certain mental health coverages, but I join all those who are advocating very strongly that we move forward and enact the larger bill, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Kiara Delle Hargrove, an outstanding educator who has been selected to receive the Milken National Educator Award. The Milken National Educator Award is given to outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers, principals. and other education professionals. The recipients must demonstrate exceptional educational talent through their instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and the school. They must also represent themselves as leaders who engage and inspire students, colleagues, and the community. Ms. Kiara Delle Hargrove, a chemistry teacher at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, makes learning exciting by turning science experiments into competitions. She places importance on making sure her students are well-rounded individuals by integrating reading and writing strategies into her science lessons. She also differentiates instruction in order to teach a variety of academic levels at once. To ensure that students enter high school with the proper skills, Ms. Hargrove teaches remedial math and science study skills to incoming freshmen through the Summer Bridge Program, and serves as the ninth- grade advisor. As co-advisor of the Math Engineering and Science Association (MESA), she helps elevate the study of math and science among girls, especially African-Americans, at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School. Ms. Hargrove was chair of the School Improvement Team, is co- author of the School Improvement Plan, and has influenced many of her fellow teachers to go beyond traditional approaches to teaching. Ms. Hargrove's love of her profession and the students that she teaches is evidenced by the energy she puts into her work and the achievements of her students. As someone who has been active and keenly interested in education policy throughout my professional life, I have the utmost respect for teachers like Ms. Hargrove; she represents the passion and commitment of so many others across Maryland and the Nation who are working extremely hard to educate our children. As we work to rewrite the No Child Left Behind Act, the Congress ought to be doing all it can to provide these dedicated men and women with a law and the resources to empower this commitment and passion. Madam Speaker, I want to again offer congratulations to Ms. Kiara Delle Hargrove who has been recognized as an outstanding educator and will receive the Milken National Educator Award.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Mabrooka Chaudhry, an outstanding educator who has been selected to receive the Milken National Educator Award. The Milken National Educator Award is given to outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers, principals, and other education professionals. The recipients must demonstrate exceptional educational talent through their instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and the school. They must also represent themselves as leaders who engage and inspire students, colleagues, and the community. Ms. Mabrooka Chaudhry, a social studies teacher at Atholton High School in Columbia, Maryland, has proven her ability in all of these areas. She empowers her students to debate and explore ideas in a safe, student-centered environment. Through online discussion groups and extensive writing assignments, she encourages students to articulate their ideas while improving their overall academic performance. Her students consistently perform well on the district's quarterly assessments in U.S. History, and 100 percent of her 2005-06 students earned a three or above on the AP American Government exam. She is currently serving as the U.S. History Curriculum Team Coordinator, and has facilitated the Multicultural Club, the Human Rights Awareness Club and the Muslim Student Association. Ms. Chaudhry's love of her profession and the students that she teaches is evidenced by the energy she puts into her work and the achievements of her students. As someone who has been active and keenly interested in education policy throughout my professional life, I have the utmost respect for teachers like Ms. Chaudhry; she represents the passion and commitment of so many others across Maryland and the Nation who are working extremely hard to educate our children. As we work to rewrite the No Child Left Behind Act, the Congress ought to be doing all it can to provide these dedicated men and women with a law and the resources to empower this commitment and passion. Madam Speaker. I want to again offer congratulations to Ms. Mabrooka Chaudhry, who has been recognized as an outstanding educator and will receive the Milken National Educator Award.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate those honored by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation for their outstanding contributions to the provision of legal services and access to justice to the poor. While every American has a constitutional right to counsel when facing criminal prosecution, when faced with a civil action--including eviction, debt collection and bankruptcy--financial means too often determine access to our courts. The Maryland Legal Services Corporation has fought against this barrier to equal justice, raising funds and distributing grants to nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal assistance to low-income Marylanders. Established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1982, MLSC has been at the forefront of the civil legal services movement for 25 years, awarding grants totaling over $81 million to help provide services in more than 1.2 million legal matters for Maryland's families. In 2007, MLSC honored the following five individuals and one organization for their extraordinary efforts to expand access to justice for the poor-- The Robert M. Bell Medal for Access to Justice was presented to Hon. J. Joseph Curran, Jr., former Attorney General for Maryland and now counsel to the Maryland Injured Workers Fund, for his extraordinary commitment to furthering access to justice for the poor throughout his distinguished career. MLSC created this award in 2004 and presented it to Chief Judge Bell, after which the award was named in his honor to be given only when warranted. The Arthur W. Machen, Jr., Award was presented to Connie Kratovil Lavelle, who has been a legal services attorney, private practitioner and now deputy director of the Department of Family Administration of the Administrative Office of the Courts, for her extraordinary public service by providing legal representation to the poor and improving the delivery of legal services in Maryland. The Benjamin L. Cardin Distinguished Service Award was presented to Lauren Young, director of litigation of the Maryland Disability Law Center, for her outstanding work as a public interest lawyer providing civil legal services to the poor and the developmentally disabled. The William L. Marbury Outstanding Advocate Award was presented to Maureen Larenas, manager of the Tacoma Park Silver Spring, TESS, Community Service Center, for her outstanding advocacy in Maryland on behalf of low-income persons. The Herbert S. Garten Public Citizen Award was given to The Daily Record, which has provided Maryland's business and legal news since 1888, for demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to increase access to justice for the poor in Maryland. MLSC also presented an Award of Special Recognition to John H. Michener, former director of Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and director of the Department of Human Resources Legal Services and Judicare Programs. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me today in honoring the recipients of the 2007 Maryland Legal Services Corporation Awards for their exceptional dedication and exemplary commitment to public service, equal justice and the welfare of the most vulnerable Marylanders.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the people's House to give voice to the pain and courage of Rebecca Showers, one of my constituents. I do so, believing that we must take every opportunity in this Chamber to tell the stories of the American people. With Rebecca's permission, I would like to read part of a letter she sent to me earlier this month. Rebecca's husband had every expectation of completing his service in the Army after two tours in Iraq. But recently he received word that he now faces a third deployment, this one for 15 months. Speaking of her husband, Mrs. Showers writes this: ``I don't want him to miss a year and a half of our lives. Our son is 2, and he will miss the most important times in his life, the forming of sentences, learning new words, learning the alphabet, even two of his birthdays, which, by the way, he already missed him turning 2 on October 17. ``He will also miss two Christmases and two Thanksgivings. Just to let you know, in the last 6 years he has only been home twice for Christmas, and not once for Thanksgiving. I'm sure you hear this a lot from other Army spouses, but I just want my husband to be home with his family, where he belongs. I would like to know what the government is willing to do about getting our guys home sooner, or at least if they are willing to send them over for shorter tours. A year and a half is just too long, and I am not sure they understand that. ``Is there anything you can do for me and my son or know anything else that maybe I could do? Please help me, Mr. Sarbanes. He shouldn't have to go for so long. It's tearing me apart.'' Mr. Speaker, I don't know whether it's possible to accelerate this young man's return, but I have contacted the Department of the Army, asking for its consideration based on these circumstances. In the meantime, my colleague, Ellen Tauscher, has introduced legislation to require that between these extended tours, our troops would at the very least receive the same amount of time home with their family that they have spent deployed in Iraq. I again salute Rebecca Showers's courage and her husband's service to our country.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I want to join with all the others who have spoken tonight about Dean Aguillen and his service to this Chamber. Ten years is a long time. It's no surprise that Dean rose through the ranks and was counted on by so many. I got to know him, as you've heard, in those early days. We were elected last November. We came in here, and it was like drinking out of a firehose, trying to absorb everything. And everywhere we turned, Dean, you were there as a calming influence and continued in that role over time in the Chamber, in the hallways, on the phone, always a resource when we needed it. So I wish you the very best. I know you go on to great things, whatever you choose to pursue. I know you will be taking with you a tremendous amount of knowledge and expertise and skills away from this Chamber. But I also know that you've shared it with so many that the benefits of what you brought to this Chamber will continue for years and years to come. So congratulations on your service.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge an historic victory that occurred over last weekend, when the United States Naval Academy football team, for the first time in 43 years, upset the University of Notre Dame. As we recognize the accomplishments of this Midshipmen football team, we also recognize the commitment that each middie has made to our country. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Midshipmen for their historic victory over the Fighting Irish. It is in this spirit that I submit further remarks for inclusion in the Congressional Record as well as an editorial from the Baltimore Sun recognizing the extraordinary accomplishment of these young men. And also for the record, I would like to say, Go Navy. Beat Army. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the United States Naval Academy Football Team for Saturday's thrilling victory over the University of Notre Dame. The Midshipmen defeated the Fighting Irish 46-44 in triple-overtime, marking the first Navy victory in the annual match-up since 1963. A tradition since 1927, the Navy-Notre Dame series is the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in Division I college football. This year's installment of this great football rivalry was, for the first time, tied at the end of regulation and featured 90 combined points, the most ever in the 80-year-old series. The Midshipmen victory in the third overtime snapped Notre Dame's 43- year win streak in harrowing fashion. Navy made what appeared to be its last stand against the Fighting Irish Offense, stopping a Notre Dame attempt at a two-point conversion to tie the game. A controversial pass interference call allowed Notre Dame one more chance to force a fourth overtime. It looked as though the streak was destined to continue. But the Midshipmen again held their ground and defeated Notre Dame. On this Saturday, the disadvantages that a service academy team has to overcome relative to its ``Big Name'' Division I competition did not matter. The Naval Academy does not have an exclusive television contract. Its recruiters cannot promise top-tier high school seniors access to a network of NFL scouts and alumni. When the United States Naval Academy beat the University of Notre Dame, a team of young men celebrated an athletic victory that had escaped two generations of Midshipmen--two generations of Academy graduates who led our Navy and our country through the Cold War and into the twenty-first century. As we recognize the accomplishment of this Midshipmen Football team, we also recognize the commitment that each Middie has made to our country. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Midshipmen for their historic victory over the Fighting Irish. It is in this spirit that I submit for inclusion in the Congressional Record this editorial from the Baltimore Sun recognizing the extraordinary accomplishment of these young men. For the record, ``Go Navy. Beat Army.'' [From the Baltimore Sun, Nov. 6, 2007] One for the Middies Please forgive the irrepressible grins, the sunny outlook and the other outward signs of deep satisfaction displayed this week by fans of U.S. Naval Academy football. Navy's 46- 44 triple-overtime victory over the Fighting Irish on Saturday in South Bend, Ind., was bound to have a lasting effect. Beating a rival once every 43 years will do that. The Notre Dame-Navy match-up is one of the more lopsided annual events in college football. One fields a team of high school all-Americans, the other with future Navy and Marine Corps officers. Unless Roger Staubach is behind center taking snaps (as he was for Navy in 1963), the results are generally predictable. But the combination of a solid Navy team with a potent offense and postseason ambitions opposed by a Notre Dame squad mired in a losing season of record-setting proportions helped turn the unthinkable into the wonderful--at least from the Midshipmen's perspective. No doubt coach Paul Johnson will tell his players that this was just one victory and Navy needs more wins to get to another bowl game. And, of course, their fans will expect them to beat a certain military academy from the Hudson River Valley next month. No season would be complete without a win over West Point. Nevertheless, this is a moment to savor. Even a Notre Dame fan has to admit it's nice to see an underdog come out on top once in a while. Navy still needs a 60-year winning streak to even its career record against the Irish. That's not likely, but at least it doesn't seem quite as improbable today.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, once again, we have a vivid, vivid example of this President's misplaced priorities. Earlier this month, the President vetoed the Children's Health Insurance Program, which would have extended private health insurance coverage to 10 million children in this country at a reasonable investment of $35 billion over a 5-year period. It costs too much, the President said. We can't afford it. Yet, last week the President requested additional funding for this misadventure in Iraq to the tune of $189 billion. We can't find money for children and health care in this country, but we can find, apparently, endless supplies of dollars to fund the war in Iraq. Madam Speaker, this President on this issue and on many other issues is gravely out of touch with the American people.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues for passing H. Con. Res. 405, which promotes the United Nations' sponsored efforts to bring about a negotiated reunification of Cyprus. The division of Cyprus has endured for 33 years, far too long by any measure. Today, I met with Alexis Galanos, the distinguished mayor of Famagusta, Cyprus, which prior to the Turkish invasion was the main town of the second largest district of Cyprus, both in terms of its population and surface area. A few weeks after the initial invasion on August 14, 1974, Turkish military forces bombarded Famagusta relentlessly. Greek Cypriots were forced to flee their homes in fear and terror, rendering Famagusta a ghost city. Turkish forces then sealed off the area with barbed wire fences; 45,000 inhabitants of Famagusta became refugees in their own country. They lost their land, their properties, their homes and businesses and many of their own people. The city and the mayor elected by its displaced residents who can't go home have now become a symbol of the injustice that persists in the occupied region. The two waves of the invasion by the Turkish troops forced nearly 200,000 Greek Cypriots, over one- quarter of the Cypriot population at the time, from their homes, making them refugees in their own country. The equivalent in the U.S. would be around 80 million people. For the last 33 years, 36.2 percent of the island continues to be under occupation by 43,000 Turkish forces. The July 8, 2006, agreements reached under the auspices of the United Nations Under Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, by President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat establishes a set of negotiating principles that will lead to a unified Cyprus. The July 8 agreement supports the Greek and Turkish-Cypriot efforts to find common ground for the peaceful reunification of their country within the framework of a federal bi-zonal and bi-communal nation state. These agreements call for the implementation of specific confidence-building measures, starting with the practical steps of establishing bi-communal working groups and technical communities to examine and discuss issues affecting the day-to-day lives of the people of Cyprus. Mr. Speaker, there is no viable justification for the continued division of Cyprus. The people of Cyprus have every reason to seek out reconciliation. They aspire to a reunified homeland. In the last 4 years, there have been more than 13 million peaceful crossings across the Green Line by Greek and Turkish-Cypriots, a remarkable achievement for an island whose total population is less than 800,000 people. Turkish-Cypriots cross into the Republic of Cyprus to go to work every day. Approximately 35,000 Turkish-Cypriots have applied for and received passports from the Republic of Cyprus. On the ground, there is clear momentum for peace and a desire on both sides to work together. Today, Cyprus has evolved into a dynamic country, endowed with a robust economy and incredible democratic institutions. Its qualitative capacities are showcased by its recent entry to the European Union and its imminent membership in the Eurozone. Located off the western shores of the Middle East, Cyprus has the capacity to be a vigorous participant in the wider NATO security architecture. For us in the United States, therefore, there is great purpose in facilitating peace and unification beyond any moral and altruistic imperatives. As expressed by the House last week, the July 8 agreement lays the groundwork for accomplishing this goal. I commend the House for its passage of H. Con. Res. 405 and implore our government to continue its support for the full and immediate implementation of the July 8, 2006, agreements.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter a letter cowritten by my Maryland Attorney General which raises concerns about the impact that the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007 would have on the power of the States to make and enforce their own gambling laws. In my view, the letter raises questions that merit the consideration of my colleagues. September 28, 2007. Dear Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Bachus: We, the Attorneys General of our respective States, have grave concerns about H.R. 2046, the ``Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007.'' We believe that the bill would undermine States' traditional powers to make and enforce their own gambling laws. On March 21, 2006, 49 NAAG members wrote to the leadership of Congress: ``We encourage the United States Congress to help combat the skirting of state gambling regulations by enacting legislation which would address Internet gambling, while at the same time ensuring that the authority to set overall gambling regulations and policy remains where it has traditionally been most effective: at the state level.'' Congress responded by enacting the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA), which has effectively driven many illicit gambling operators from the American marketplace. But now, less than a year later, H.R. 2046 proposes to do the opposite, by replacing state regulations with a federal licensing program that would permit Internet gambling companies to do business with U.S. customers. The Department of the Treasury would alone decide who would receive federal licenses and whether the licensees were complying with their terms. This would represent the first time in history that the federal government would be responsible for issuing gambling licenses. A federal license would supersede any state enforcement action, because Sec. 5387 in H.R. 2046 would grant an affirmative defense against and prosecution or enforcement action under and Federal or State law to any person who possesses a valid license and complies with the requirements of H.R. 2046. This divestment of state gambling enforcement power is sweeping and unprecedented. The bill would legalize Internet gambling in each State, unless the Governor clearly specifies existing state restrictions barring Internet gambling in whole or in part. On that basis, a State may ``opt out'' of legalization for all Internet gambling or certain types of gambling. However, the opt-out for types of gambling does not clearly preserve the right of States to place conditions on legal types of gambling. Thus, for example, if the State permits poker in licensed card rooms, but only between 10 a.m. and midnight, and the amount wagered cannot exceed $100 per day and the participants must be 21 or older, the federal law might nevertheless allow 18-year-olds in that State to wager much larger amounts on poker around the clock. Furthermore, the opt-outs may prove illusory. They will likely be challenged before the World Trade Organization. The World Trade Organization has already shown itself to be hostile to U.S. restrictions on Internet gambling. If it strikes down state opt-outs as unduly restrictive of trade, the way will be open to the greatest expansion of legalized gambling in American history and near total preemption of State laws restricting Internet gambling. H.R. 2046 effectively nationalizes America's gambling laws on the Internet, ``harmonizing'' the law for the benefit of foreign gambling operations that were defying our laws for years, at least until UIGEA was enacted. We therefore oppose this proposal, and any other proposal that hinders the right of States to prohibit or regulate gambling by their residents. Sincerely, Douglas Gansler, Attorney General of Maryland. Bill McCollum, Attorney General of Florida.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ann Watson, Planned Parenthood of Maryland's Volunteer of the Year and honoree at the first annual William G. Robertson, Jr. Volunteer Award Luncheon, for her 31 years of support for Planned Parenthood and 8 years of volunteer service in the Towson Health Center of Planned Parenthood of Maryland. The William G. Robertson, Jr. Award is given in honor of the late Bill Robertson's more than 60 years of service as a former board member and the sole board member emeritus of Planned Parenthood of Maryland. Ms. Watson is truly deserving. She has been involved with Planned Parenthood since she was a 19-year-old junior at the University of Arizona. She served as a volunteer and as assistant clinical director for Planned Parenthood in Tucson, Arizona. She has also served on the boards of directors for Planned Parenthood in San Antonio, Texas as well as Planned Parenthood of Maryland. Ms. Watson has served actively in the Planned Parenthood of Maryland Speakers Bureau, teaching about contraception in Maryland schools. She is a former chairwoman of the Planned Parenthood of Maryland Education Committee. Throughout her time as a Board member in Maryland, Ms. Watson has made her position as a volunteer in the Towson Health Center a top priority, advocating on behalf of the Center staff at board meetings. She has worked tirelessly to keep the people who come to Planned Parenthood seeking accurate information and access to preventive care at the center of strategic discussions. Madam Speaker, I ask that you join me today in honoring Ann Watson. She has served as an exemplary volunteer and advocate for reproductive rights--demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the mission and vision of Planned Parenthood.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anne Arundel Community College and its efforts to assist the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families as they return from combat overseas. Anne Arundel Community College is now offering free counseling for military families in a four week course entitled ``Reunited: Family Life After Deployment.'' The purpose of this course is to assist the men and women returning from service overseas reintegrate into their family and civilian life. These four, two-hour classes, which will be offered free to all service personnel thanks to the Friends of The Parenting Center scholarship program, will help participants identify the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It will also help returnees learn how to deal with the emotional responses that arise from separation during service, how to adjust parenting styles, and to balance disciplinary roles within the family. This course is the most recent example of how Anne Arundel Community College, and its President, Dr. Smith, continually strive to embrace the community that surrounds the campus. Outreach like this does not just happen by itself; it takes the time and energy of concerned individuals who hear of a community need and take the initiative to make a difference. Individuals like Dr. Lou Aymard and his staff at the Parenting Center who made this course a reality, as well as Bruce Turnquist, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist who will be leading the class discussion, are to be commended. To these individuals, and those at Fort Meade and the United States Naval Academy who shared their insight, I offer my sincere gratitude on behalf of all the returning men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. Since 2001, over 1.5 million soldiers have been deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan. A 2004 Army survey found that nearly 20 percent of soldiers returning home suffered from clinical anxiety, depression, or PTSD. More recent surveys show that 27 percent of those who serve longer deployments or multiple deployments have some form of mental illness or PTSD. I have heard first hand during hearings in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and meetings with veterans' groups about how these conditions can often lead to alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, and financial and legal problems. It is tragic and wrong that these treatable conditions continue to have such a devastating impact upon the families of these veterans. The sad fact is that almost 80 percent of these returning veterans who need assistance to deal with these mental illnesses are not referred to treatment. Because of this phenomenon, I have joined as a cosponsor of the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2007, which would require that all veterans who serve on active duty during a period of war receive mental health screening and, when necessary, mental health treatment and family counseling. We have already passed significant legislation during this Congress to improve the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs health care delivery system and I hope that we will soon be able to take up and pass this legislation as well. This initiative by AACC represents how much can be done if we simply take advantage of the resources and opportunities within our communities to address this problem and to assist a population that has sacrificed so much. Madam Speaker, I want to again thank all those at Anne Arundel Community College involved in the ``Reunited: Family Life After Deployment'' program. Anne Arundel Community College is a first-class institution and they have truly stepped up to support our Nation's veterans.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Foundation for a Fit Nation Act, legislation to establish the National Physical Fitness and Sports Foundation which would fund the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Despite the undisputed benefits of physical activity, most Americans continue to lead alarmingly inactive lifestyles. Studies by the Center for Disease Control show that more than 50 percent of American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits, and 24 percent are not active at all in their leisure time. According to the CDC, 61.5 percent of children between the ages of 9 and 13 do not participate in any organized physical activity outside of school; however, the American Heart Association found that schools are cutting back on physical education, the best method to combat childhood obesity. In the United States, obesity among both children and adults has become a problem of epidemic proportions. The number of Americans who are overweight and obese is staggering. The American Obesity Association reported 127 million overweight adults in the United States. The most disturbing statistics, however, revolve around the growing rates of obesity of American children. The Department of Health and Human Services predicts that 20 percent of American youth will be obese by the year 2010. Mr. Speaker, we cannot afford to ignore these statistics any longer. We owe it to ourselves and our Nation to support a healthy lifestyle for our constituents. We should be especially cognizant of the importance of instilling in our young people an appreciation of the value of maximizing physical fitness. The creation of the National Foundation on Physical Fitness serves as an important first step towards reaching these goals. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is an advisory committee created in 1982 to promote physical activity and fitness in the United States. Currently, the President's Council on Physical Fitness operates on a shoestring budget, a mere $2.1 million, a figure which is vastly incommensurate with the importance of the PCPF mission. The Council is among several departments within the Center for Disease Control which are eligible to receive private contributions, however it is currently not authorized to solicit contributions. When the Foundation for a Fit Nation Act is passed, it would direct the President's Council on Physical Fitness to establish a nonprofit foundation designed to promote and encourage the solicitation of private contributions as an independent source of funding for the Council. This budget increase would allow the President's Council on Physical Fitness to expand its scope and activities with no cost to taxpayers. This bill would help further an important national goal, encouraging and fostering physical fitness and well-being through three specific measures: First, establishing the nonprofit National Physical Fitness and Sports Foundation to promote and improve physical fitness and sports programs in conjunction with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; second, allowing the Foundation to solicit, receive and administer private contributions for the President's Council; and third, establishing a bipartisan nine-member board of directors to oversee the Foundation. Physical activity is not only vitally important for our health, but serves as an enjoyable means for the development of commitment, perseverance and teamwork, all of which foster strong societies. I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation which would provide a private source of funding for an organization critical to the well-being of our constituents.

Mr. SARBANES

Mr. SARBANES. I thank my colleague. And I know we have a number of people here that are going to speak, and if at any time I say something where you would like me to yield to add to the discussion, please let me know as we move forward. There is no more important issue than children's health insurance coverage. And I think it's incomprehensible to certainly all of us here this evening who are talking about the issue, but I think to most Americans, that the President of the United States initially even threatened to veto, but then today took the action of vetoing this bill which would increase to 10 million children the number that are covered under this health insurance program. I wanted to speak just a moment about two faces on this issue that my life has intersected with. They come from the State of Maryland, and actually over the last few months they've become known to millions of Americans across the country. The first face is the face of Diamonte Driver, who was a young man in Prince George's County, Maryland who had a toothache and ended up dying because he didn't get the treatment that he needed. If his family had had the coverage available that SCHIP provides, his mother could have gotten him to a doctor, a dentist. He would have been seen early, like is the experience of most of us when we have a toothache, and his life would have been saved. I came to know Diamonte because I worked for years with an organization called the Public Justice Center in Maryland. And the Public Justice Center has been championing increasing Medicaid coverage for children in the State of Maryland. And they had worked with the Driver family. They were actually working with Diamonte's older brother, trying to get him some help that he needed through the Medicaid program, and got to know the family that way, and then Diamonte's situation occurred. So that hit me right there because I was aware of what had happened with this family through my personal interaction with that organization. That's the terrible tragic face on this issue. That's what happens when the coverage isn't there, when children don't get the health care coverage that they need. There is a positive face on this issue, which was illustrated by the Frost family, Graham and Gemma Frost. Graham Frost was part of the Democratic statement across the country this past weekend where he talked about how his sister and he were in a terrible car accident, and because they were covered by the SCHIP program, they got the treatment they needed, it did not bankrupt the family, and that family is intact, healthy and able to move forward because of the SCHIP program. So, on the one hand you have the example of Diamonte Driver, someone who didn't have access to this kind of coverage, and on the other hand you have the experience of Graham and Gemma Frost, who did. I don't understand how the President can line himself up against 10 million children in this country. It is mind-boggling to me, and I've been trying to figure out why he would do it. I think there's maybe a philosophical imperative that he is laboring under, this notion that somehow a government program, already proven to work well, can't continue to work well because there is this investment in the notion that government can't do good things, that government can't design programs that work effectively. And so that philosophy apparently this administration is prepared to sacrifice. At the alter of that philosophy, the government can't do anything right, they're prepared to sacrifice the interests of millions and millions of children across this country. The President made a statement the other day where he said, ``Well, what's the problem? If children need to get treatment, they can always go to the local emergency room.'' I know we all heard that. Some of us were stunned with the callousness of that comment. But I was impressed as much with its callousness as I was, or in addition to its callousness, as with its lack of insight. I have spent 18 years working with hospitals. I know that the emergency room of a hospital is the highest-cost part of our system. Why would you want children to go there to get treatment when you could build clinics and otherwise empower our health care providers, through the SCHIP program, to provide service at an earlier stage? Not only is it less expensive, but you intervene before children reach a more acute condition where the cost of treating them is going to be higher. So this, I think, illustrates a fundamental lack of understanding of how we can enhance coverage in our health care system. Let me just make a couple of final comments here. We didn't send the SCHIP bill to the President. We, the Members of the House and the Members of the Senate who voted for it, didn't send it to the President. We delivered it to the President. We delivered it on behalf of America's children. That is what we did. That is our job. We are an instrument of the American people, and in this case, of America's children, so we delivered this to the President on behalf of America's children. His decision to veto it is not a rejection of this Congress. It is a rejection of the interests of America's children. What I hope Americans all across this country will do, starting tonight and going forward over the days to come, is make it perfectly clear that they want this Congress to override the veto of the President on SCHIP. Call us. Call every Member in this Chamber and make that point. Because if you do that, you are going to send a powerful message to the President that he made the wrong decision here. In spite of the decision he made, we can move forward on behalf of America's children. I yield back to my colleague and thank him for the time.