Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, the national healthcare reform bill passed by this Congress was an historic achievement that will improve the lives of millions of Americans. This reform would not have been possible without the tireless efforts and advocacy of so many individuals and organizations across the country, including local governments whose own healthcare initiatives improved access to medical care and advanced the cause of nationwide reform. That is why I commend the County of San Mateo's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Adult Health Coverage Expansion. A broad-based coalition comprised of representatives from healthcare providers, labor, chambers of commerce, local governments, and community advocacy groups, the Task Force achieved meaningful gains in the quality and efficiency of San Mateo County's healthcare delivery system and expanded health coverage to more than 2,000 previously uninsured adults through the Access to Coverage for All program. Originally funded in-part through a federal grant, this program has since become a mainstay of the effort to expand access to healthcare in the county. The work of this Task Force is an enduring symbol of the compassion, commitment, dedication and talent of the residents of San Mateo County and the 12th Congressional District, whom I am fortunate and honored to represent. Madam Speaker, I commend the County of San Mateo's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Adult Health Coverage Expansion for its leadership in helping to solve one of our nation's most pressing issues, and for its courage to think globally and to act locally.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day to support the millions of people around the world who are dedicating their time and service to protecting our environment. I commend all of our citizens for their efforts to clean up our environment, but most of all, I look forward to seeing what we in Congress will do to support them. I hope this will include passage of legislation I've recently introduced that will restore and protect the largest estuary on the west coast--the San Francisco Bay and its watersheds, which are a national treasure and a resource of worldwide significance. I also encourage all of us to stand with our constituents this week who are lending their time and service to activities to clean up our environment. One town in my district expects over 5,000 people to dedicate their day to clean up the local shoreline. Earth Day is truly about service, and it's a great opportunity for friends and neighbors to come together on behalf of our planet.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Kevin Raffaelli, who retired as a Captain with the San Mateo Police Department in December of 2008 after 30 years of dedicated and loyal service. I must note that last year Kevin continued his law enforcement service on an on-call basis and on August 24, 2009 was credited with preventing a pipe bomb suspect from carrying out a potentially catastrophic event at Hillsdale High School. For this heroic action he was awarded the prestigious Medal of Valor, proving again, that some of us get better with age. The list of commendations for Kevin is long and meritorious and many involve the apprehension of burglary subjects during the commission of a crime. He is well known throughout San Mateo County for his expertise in tactical deployment and special operations at events. He was, for example, commander of the Countywide Tactical Chemical Assault Team, a model operation replicated by other municipalities after 9/11. He played key roles in coordinating security for numerous dignitaries visiting the San Francisco Bay Area, including President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush, President Jimmy Carter as well as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Kevin grew up in the city of South San Francisco where his brother, Mark, served as the chief of police, so Kevin's thirst for public safety runs deep in his family. Madam Speaker, Kevin Raffaelli has served his fellow citizens to the utmost of his ability and he has saved lives in the process. I commend him and wish that he and his wife, Elizabeth, enjoy this well-earned retirement.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I yield to my good friend, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Inslee), as much time as he may consume.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1262) expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the fire at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 1262. This measure expresses condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims of the fire at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington. This resolution was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Washington, Representative Rick Larsen, on April 15, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which worked with leadership to get it to the floor quickly. The measure has the bipartisan support of over 60 Members of the House. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the Representative from Wisconsin, Representative Tammy Baldwin.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 255) commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and honoring the founder of Earth Day, the late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, as amended.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 255. This measure was introduced by my colleague the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) on March 19, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent on April 14 of this year. The measure has the support of 70 cosponsors. Madam Speaker, tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Our planet faces serious environmental challenges, challenges we must face not just in the coming years but now. Right now. The effects of the most serious challenge, global climate change, are happening today, and if we do not act deliberately now, right now, the future consequences for our country and our planet will be grave. I encourage everyone working towards this end to continue their efforts, and I hope that we in Congress will stand up and demonstrate further leadership to address this threat. Of course, Earth Day is also a reminder of the other environmental challenges we face, such as developing sustainable and renewable sources of energy, preserving wildlife and their habitat, protecting our water and our air, cleaning up pollution, and so much more. As Representatives, I encourage all of us to stand with our constituents this week who are lending their time and services to activities to clean up our environment. Across the country thousands of events have been organized in the cities, in the countryside, along our roadways and parks and on our beautiful coast to put words into action. One town in my district expects over 5,000 people to dedicate their time and effort to clean up the local shoreline, and I will be there, and I know that all of my colleagues will be just as fortunate to witness similar local efforts in their districts. Earth Day is truly about service and it's a great opportunity for friends and neighbors to come together on behalf of our planet. The relationships we can build with one another as we do this work are lasting, and I am confident that they will foster even greater work in the years to come. Once again, it is incumbent upon us in Congress to transform the work our constituents do at the local level into solutions for our country. Protecting the environment is the right thing to do, but as we all know, it's also a win-win for our economy and for our national security. We have made great strides on this front since the first Earth Day. The 1970s saw the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency as well as a series of important environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. But much work still lies ahead, and, unfortunately, some of our most important environmental policies have been watered down in recent years. No pun intended. However, I know that the efforts of millions of people in the United States and around the world who support the goals and ideals of Earth Day will pay off. I commend them for their work, and I look forward to seeing what we in Congress will further do to support them. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I am glad the gentleman from Arizona said that and not me. I now have the pleasure of yielding 5 minutes to the gentleman who is the author of this legislation, and a great leader from the State of Wisconsin (Mr. Obey).

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

Ms. SPEIER. I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I would just like to echo the words of the great leaders from Wisconsin who have spoken already on this. We are indeed stewards. Earth Day should be something we celebrate every day. And this, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, is a great time to start. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 855) expressing support for designation of May 1 as ``Silver Star Service Banner Day''.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. SPEIER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 855, a bill supporting Silver Star Service Banner Day. H. Res. 855 was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Missouri, Representative Roy Blunt, on October 22, 2009. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which reported it favorably by unanimous consent on April 14 of this year. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 cosponsors. Madam Speaker, our Nation continues to face two long and difficult wars, and I am very glad that we can take time now to honor the men and women of our Armed Services. They deserve our thoughts, our prayers, and our support. The Silver Star Families of America understand this well and work hard to help the American people recognize the sacrifices made by the wounded and ill members of the Armed Forces. Tens of thousands of American troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, risking their lives in service to our country. They also risk their lives in deployments throughout the world. I ask my colleagues to join me in giving thanks to them and to their families for the sacrifices they continue to make and for their service to our country. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the great leader.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I had the privilege, and I call it a privilege, earlier this year to travel to Kuwait, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and then to Germany, where I had the privilege of meeting our troops who are committed, passionate, have an incredible love of country, and then to visit those wounded warriors at our facility in Germany. And I must say that there's nothing like having that interpersonal connection, that opportunity to make us realize the extraordinary sacrifices that are being made every single day. So it is fitting that we have this resolution before us, and I urge all my colleagues to support this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. If the gentleman will yield, in many respects, it's worse because, 10 years ago, there were probably 60 big banks. Today, there are only five. Because of this financial meltdown and because of the purchase by many of these banks of other banks, they are now too big to fail unless we take steps to make sure that they are contributing to a resolution trust fund and that there is a basis by which, if a systemically risky enterprise is deemed to be so by a council of advisers, that that particular entity can, in fact, be made smaller. Right now, we can't say that nothing is too big to fail for they are all too big to fail right now.

Ms. SPEIER. There ought to be a law. You are absolutely right.

Ms. SPEIER. That's correct. So you have your broker at any one of the brokerage firms, and you think he is actually there, trying to find good deals for you to invest in. What you don't know is that many of them are captive, much like in the insurance industry, where they only sell certain products so you're not getting the panoply of opportunities that you deserve. Furthermore, you don't know what fees they're getting. They might be getting more fees if they sell this particular product, so they promote that product and not other ones that may be safer and that may be more inclined to provide you with the kind of security that you're looking for.