Carol Shea-Porter

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I now yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I yield 1 minute to the House majority leader, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I will keep myself totally neutral as a graduate of the University of New Hampshire. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman for his hard work on the underlying bill. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know just how important it is to focus on vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, and I'm glad that my amendment was included in the manager's amendment. My amendment broadens review of global supply chain vulnerabilities to include the risks not only from counterfeit products but from original products. Considering the number of foreign state-owned or state-invested enterprises in the technology industry that manufacture products for our market, original products present serious risks to our defense and intelligence systems. The amended review also assesses the impact of the provision of services by foreign-owned companies, which also creates vulnerabilities in the supply of parts and equipment, causing increased vulnerability to cyberattack on our intelligence systems. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and the manager's amendment.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the selfless efforts of 182 students and faculty members at Londonderry High School in New Hampshire. These students and faculty members at Londonderry High School recently organized an event at school to donate their hair for wigs for cancer patients. Losing one's hair to chemotherapy is an incredibly heart-wrenching experience, and these students and faculty members wanted to ease the pain. Londonderry High School has seen the pain of cancer. A former student who cut her own hair has now suffered a relapse with leukemia. Two young women who donated their hair recently lost their mother to brain cancer. The school's ability to experience and to help others who are suffering is really a tribute to the school, to the volunteers, and to the students and faculty, and I congratulate them for their generous spirit.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a founding member of the Populist Caucus to urge my colleagues to support the plan to create jobs and rein in Wall Street. We must end these big corporate bonuses to executives at financial firms that were bailed out by the taxpayers. Just yesterday, it was reported that AIG is spending another $100 million in bonuses. The people who helped to get us into this mess should not be rewarded while their companies still owe money to the American people. That is why the Populist Caucus is supporting H.R. 4426, the Wall Street Bonus Tax Act. This bill would tax the bonuses of the bailed-out companies to help small businesses by providing direct lending and other financial assistance. In addition, the Populist Caucus is supporting H.R. 4191, the Let Wall Street Pay for Restoration of Main Street Act. This bill would create a small transaction fee on certain trades--not the small trades of individual investors or retirement accounts--and it would use those funds to support job creation and to pay down the debt. Madam Speaker, Wall Street has gone right back to their old ways, but small businesses and families are still suffering. Wall Street must now help small businesses and workers. These bills would help, and I urge my colleagues to support them.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank Chairman Gordon for his hard work on this bill. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know just how important it is that we focus on cybersecurity and combating the threats that we face. It is an incredibly important area, and I commend him for his work. Mr. Chair, as cyberattacks become increasingly common and alarming, the government needs more expert cybersecurity personnel to protect us. The Scholarships for Service program is an important means to recruit such expert personnel. However, I believe that considering the high value of the education and security clearance, which is all provided at government expense, the current service obligation is insufficient to recover the significant Federal investment we are making. My amendment extends the service obligation for recipients of cybersecurity scholarships or fellowships on a sliding scale depending on the degree program. Those in bachelor's degree programs would see their service requirement extend by 1 year to 3 years, those in a master's program by 2 years to 4 years, and those in a Ph.D. program by 3 years to 5 or 6 years, depending on the program. Graduate students in cybersecurity programs need to have security clearances, and most students will need a clearance before beginning work in this field for the Federal Government. The cost of a clearance, which is a pricey $15,000, is an investment by the taxpayers and should be recovered by the Federal Government through an extension of service. Extending the work requirement will also help slow the revolving door from government to industry and promote retention of valuable employees. Because these employees will have a security clearance, which is generally good for 10 years, they may be tempted to take their expertise into the private sector where they can make higher salaries. This amendment will help ensure recruitment of those who want to serve in the government and will prevent this valuable program from being used solely as a bridge to private industry. It is fair to scale the extra work commitment according to degree, because a graduate degree with a clearance is far more valuable than an undergraduate degree with a clearance. The longer the educational investment, the longer the service requirement should be. A Ph.D. graduate should serve longer than a master's graduate who should serve longer than a bachelor's graduate. The extension of service allows us to retain those we train at government expense for a longer time, leading to a positive impact on retention and on our cybersecurity. My amendment will increase retention of our valuable personnel who are trained at taxpayer expense. It is a good deal for the government and the student and represents a wise use of taxpayer funds. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I yield to the chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) such time as he may consume.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I thank the chairman and his staff for the work on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I was proud to work with my colleague, Representative Debbie Halvorson, on this amendment. It is critical that we ensure every opportunity for our veterans who have served our country so admirably. This commonsense amendment makes sure their service is taken into consideration when being selected for the Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I understand how critical it is that we defend against cyberattacks. That means that we need a workforce dedicated to protecting our country. Our men and women who have volunteered in our armed services have showed exceptional courage and dedication. That service should always be met with our gratitude and our support. This amendment ensures that when someone has served our country, we give that service due consideration when they ask to serve again. I thank my colleague for offering this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the 111th Congress and the President have pulled the economy back from the brink. After 8 years of the previous administration's lax oversight of Wall Street, tax cuts for the very rich, and dishonest budgets that hid the true costs, this Congress and President Obama are busy reversing the damage. The House passed a Wall Street reform bill that will protect consumers and ensure that taxpayers are never again on the hook to bail out big Wall Street banks. We also passed Cash for Clunkers, which helped to jump-start the U.S. auto industry and get new, cleaner cars on the road. And the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has invested in Main Street America, creating jobs and building infrastructure projects. These projects will serve their communities for decades to come. When the President took office in January, the economy was shedding over 700,000 jobs a month. Last month, there were 11,000 job losses. Every job loss is a tragedy, though; and that is why we have been working to create jobs while we also extended unemployment benefits to those still seeking work. We are still turning America around, but in just 1 year we have come a long way.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 914, recognizing November as National Diabetes Awareness Month. I would also like to thank Congresswoman DeGette for sponsoring this resolution. Because someone in my family has diabetes, I know how awful it is. Diabetes affects nearly 24 million adults and children nationwide. Even more frightening is the fact that an additional 57 million more are at risk for Type II diabetes. According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, diabetes is currently the 7th leading cause of death in New Hampshire. Approximately 7.2 percent of the population between 18-64 years of age have been diagnosed with diabetes. We need to increase awareness about this epidemic. Not only is it a health issue, but it is a financial issue. Diabetes treatment costs total $174 billion a year in this country. If we place emphasis on prevention, we can drastically reduce these costs. We must be more aggressive in preventing, diagnosing, and treating this disease. We also must continue striving for a cure. Raising awareness and increasing funding to tackle the root of the problem is essential. As a proud cosponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the fight against diabetes.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I support health care reform because more than 14 million women with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty are uninsured.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Affordable Health Care for America Act. This is a historic moment for our Nation. In my district, this bill will provide coverage for 37,000 uninsured residents; 128,000 households will qualify for credits to help them afford the coverage of their choice. We will invest more in community health centers. We make Medicare stronger, which is why AARP has endorsed this bill. We start to close the Medicare part D doughnut hole in 2010, and it will be completely closed by 2019. We will provide a 50 percent discount for name-brand drugs for those in the doughnut hole, and we eliminate copayments for preventative care. Today, we make history for our seniors, for our children, for the middle class--for all Americans. Today, we vote for an America where discrimination based on preexisting conditions is a thing of the past. Today, we vote for an America where getting sick doesn't mean losing your home. Today, after decades of debate, we finally vote for a healthier America.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 841 on H. Res. 884, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen and their staffs for their support and work on this resolution. It is important for the House of Representatives to recognize the devastating toll that pneumonia takes on children around the world, and I am proud that we are considering this resolution today. Yesterday marked the first annual World Pneumonia Day. Almost 100 global health organizations joined together to bring awareness to this terrible disease. The world's leading killer of children, pneumonia, is undernoticed, underfunded, and undertreated. This disease kills 4 million people each year, 2 million of them children. It takes the lives of more children under the age of 5 than measles, AIDS, and malaria combined. Every 15 seconds, a child dies of pneumonia. The horror of this disease is that it is so preventable and treatable. Consider these facts: Studies in developing countries indicate that only one in four caregivers know the two key symptoms of pneumonia: fast and difficult breathing. This leads to pneumonia going untreated, which is deadly; Fewer than one-third of the children who develop pneumonia receive the antibiotics they need to fight the illness, even though the antibiotics are available for less than a dollar. Half of the cases of pneumonia that occur could be prevented by ensuring that these children have access to the vaccines they need. Mr. Speaker, these facts paint a bleak picture. Millions of lives are being lost each year when they could be saved. They could be saved by international cooperation to educate and train caregivers. They could be saved if people could have access to the vaccines and medications they need. My resolution affirms this body's commitment to saving these lives by supporting programs that focus on the protection, prevention, and treatment of pneumonia. It commends the health professionals across the globe who every day work in the world's poorest countries to treat and care for the victims of pneumonia. And it reaffirms the United States' commitment to reducing child mortality. Finally, this resolution recognizes World Pneumonia Day. In doing so, the House of Representatives joins with dozens of global health organizations working to raise the awareness of this disease and to focus resources on protection, prevention, and treatment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to encourage international cooperation to combat this disease. Lives can and should be saved. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to read the comments in a letter I received from Mr. Bradley Ball, one of my constituents in New Hampshire, because I don't think his voice is being heard on the floor today. He said that he was lucky enough to have insurance, but he had to pay for it himself, almost $7,000 a year. He said, ``So to keep my current health care policy is just less than $7,000 a year, and my copay for Thalidomide could be as low as $810 a month. That translates into $16,620, rounding off, just including that one medication in health care expenses for a year. Of course there are more. My monthly income is $1,660, $19,920 a year, through disability and pensions. How can I pay for my other expenses--heat, electricity, food, clothing, shelter, et cetera, on the remaining $3,300 I will have each year? Do I have some savings? Yes. But very soon I am going to run out of all my possibilities. What will you have me do next?'' Then he goes on to say that he could live if we could get the prescriptions for him and help him pay his health insurance. And then he says, ``I don't think that in the United States of America this is what anyone would wish on anyone else. I know you would not want to be in this situation. I don't care whether it's called a right or a privilege, the current system is broken. Please help fix it.''

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to honor the life of Sergeant Joshua Kirk. Sergeant Kirk was tragically killed in Afghanistan on October 3. On Tuesday morning, I attended his funeral at St. Michael's Church in Exeter, New Hampshire. There were so many relatives and friends in attendance for a somber and moving ceremony. His wife, Megan, a native of Exeter, and his daughter, Kensington, have lost a husband and father, and this Nation has lost a hero. Sergeant Kirk selflessly put himself in harm's way in service to America. He and his family are owed a debt of gratitude. Sergeant Kirk, a native of Maine, joined the United States Army in 2005. He was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan when his base was attacked by insurgents on October 3. Kirk and seven of his courageous fellow soldiers, all based out of Fort Carson, were killed during the long battle. Sergeant Kirk's memory lives on with his wife, daughter, mother and sisters. We will always remember his sacrifice, and theirs, and we are forever grateful for their patriotism and service to America.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I rise in strong support of the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act. This bill is what Americans have been waiting for. There's a military pay raise of 3.4 percent to say thank you to our troops. We prohibit fee increases on TRICARE patients for 1 year, something many of my constituents have worried about; increases the size of the military and relieves the burden on so many of our troops. It provides money for the National Guard and for Reserve construction projects, saying thank you to the National Guard and recognizing their hard work. It prevents permanent bases in Afghanistan and Iraq. I'm also pleased that my amendment to repeal the National Security Personnel System has been included in the conference report. The Department of Defense employees will be returned to the previous system, the one that 80 percent of them liked and approved because it was a fairer system.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I thank Chairman Miller for yielding me time and for his leadership on this bill. Madam Chair, as a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, I rise to express my support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. With this legislation, we are investing in our students. We are providing needed dollars to improve our early education programs and to rebuild our schools. We simplify the student aid application, the dreaded FAFSA. We invest $40 billion in Pell Grants. We do this, and we produce a savings of $10 billion over the next 10 years. I am pleased that we also recognize the important work done by the local nonprofits in our communities by ensuring them a continued role in the servicing of student loans. In my home State of New Hampshire, we have one of these local nonprofits, the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation. NHHEAF is a well-respected member of our community, and it provides many jobs. I am proud that, through our working committee, we were able to ensure that NHHEAF continues to provide services to our students and to their families through both loan servicing and new grant programs provided for in this legislation. I am proud to be an original cosponsor, and I urge a ``yes'' vote so we can help American students and their families.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, here's the problems Americans are facing today: no money, no insurance, get sick, disaster; preexisting condition, no insurance, get sick, disaster; laid off, no insurance, get sick, disaster; employer drops coverage, no insurance, get sick, disaster. This is what the Democrats are trying to fix. This is what the public option and the exchange will fix. It allows people who like their insurance to keep it, and it will cover those who do not have insurance. The Republican health plan very simply is: just don't get sick.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, whose side are they on? Whose side are they on? This is the same party that in the 1960s told the country that Medicare would destroy the country. Whose side are they on? We are on the side of the American people. In 2007, three out of 10 young adults had no health insurance, none. Whose side are they on? We will eliminate the doughnut hole with this bill, the doughnut hole that sticks so many senior citizens with full prices for their prescriptions. We'll take care of that with this bill. Whose side are they on? We'll end medical bankruptcies. So many people have lost their homes because of illness. We'll take care of that. Whose side are they on? They are making these false claims that the government will come between you and your doctor. Insurance companies come between you and your doctor right now. They say that you'll wait in line. Don't believe it. Don't believe it. We're finally putting people in line and saying, You can walk in and make an appointment just like they can. Before I yield back, I have one last question: Whose side are they on?

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. The Democratic Party has a new and better idea about health care. The Democratic Party, under the leadership of Barack Obama, is going to give Americans and American businesses what they've been asking for--begging for--relief from the problems in our health care system. For the first time, people who are considered uninsurable will not have to worry about how they're going to get the money to go to the doctor to take care of their child. They will be insured. Everybody in this country will be insured. There will be the insurance companies, but there will also be a public option so people who can't find health insurance who do not have jobs will be able to be insured. I find it interesting that the opposing party talks about no competition and no choice. I have seen too many constituents who have no choice; they can't go to the doctor, they can't get surgery because they don't have health insurance. And I have also seen the so-called ``competition'' refuse to insure some of my constituents because of preexisting health conditions. So what we have now is the ability to keep your insurance. If Americans want to keep their insurance, they should, but if they don't, or they can't, then they finally have a public option. I urge my colleagues to vote for this health insurance plan.

Ms. SHEA-PORTER

Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would ban the use of open-air burn pits overseas after 12 months. Such a dangerous waste disposal method should only be used temporarily while a permanent and safe alternative is developed. The amendment specifically prohibits the burning of medical and hazardous waste or solid waste containing plastic in open-air pits. The burning of such wastes produces chemicals that have proven toxic to humans and represents an unacceptable health risk. The U.S. military has been disposing of hundreds of tons of war zone waste through burn pits. All who live and work on these bases are routinely exposed to the smoke from these pits, which includes waste from medical facilities, dining facilities, maintenance facilities, as well as trash. To imagine the scale of these burn pits, the one at Balad Air Base in Iraq has increased from 2 tons per day early on to several hundred tons per day. We simply must protect our troops who have had repeated exposure to this. We do not wish to see an Agent Orange situation develop here. And so I ask that we set some limits on the burning of these pits. These pits pose a very serious health risk to our troops. Of the nearly 2 million servicemembers who have deployed, a significant portion has been exposed to the fumes and smoke from such burn pits. Up to now, we have continued to dispose of solid wastes this way. But 6 years in Iraq and 8 years in Afghanistan is far longer than anyone can possibly justify as an emergency measure. I understand that sometimes they may have to do this for 3 or 6 or even 12 months, but it has been 8 years! In the past, we've been to slow to acknowledge the health effects of Agent Orange and Gulf War Illness. We cannot let that happen to our servicemembers again. For decades, it was impossible for them to access the VA medical services they needed and deserved because there was no recognition of the damage Agent Orange had done. We saw this again, after the Gulf war. In 2008, a study by the National Academy of Sciences validated what veterans of the Gulf War already knew--that Persian Gulf War illness is very real. There is a good reason why it is illegal to have open-air burn pits for disposal of medical and hazardous wastes in our country: they pollute and degrade the environment, and harm people's health. If we wanted to burn those chemicals here in America and expose people here, the EPA would swoop down, and we'd be penalized because you can't do that. And why can't you do it--because it's dangerous to our health. If we support the troops, don't we also support their health? Don't we have the same concerns about their health when they're supporting our country and fighting overseas as we do when they live here in our communities? When they deploy, our servicemembers put their lives at risk to fight for us, and do not deserve to suffer this added, unjustifiable risk. Preventable environmental hazards must not result in ruined health or lost lives. This amendment takes a critically important step toward addressing the health risks that burn pits pose to our troops. It has been endorsed by the American Legion, DAV, IAVA, MOAA, the National Guard Association, Veterans and Military Families for Progress, and the VFW. And I thank my friend, Mr. Bishop, for being a leader on this issue and standing up for our troops.