Jackie Speier

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, Anthem Blue Cross should be ashamed of itself for raising premiums in California by 39 percent. People in my district have complained of increases as much as $2,400 a year. How can anyone afford that kind of an increase? This at a time when the insurance lobby has spent millions of dollars to defeat health care reform in America. This at a time when Anthem passed $4.2 billion to the parent company, WellPoint, in profits alone. It's beyond my comprehension how any Members of the people's House can continue to defend this behavior. It's time to demand an answer to a question asked many years ago by Pete Seeger, ``Whose side are you on?'' You're either with the American people or you're with the insurance lobby. You either stand up for those who want affordable health insurance, or you lay down with the corporate titans who continue to care less about the American people. Whose side are you on?

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, in Bob Marley's iconic anthem he describes the plight of the Buffalo Soldiers as ``fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.'' No troops in American history have given more and received less in return than the African American regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers. They also played a pivotal role in the creation of our national parks. Each spring, these sons of slaves hiked hundreds of miles from San Francisco and Monterey to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, serving, in effect, as our country's first park rangers. Regrettably, I have lived my entire life within walking distance of the Buffalo Soldiers Trail and until recently never knew this part of our history. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4491, which directs the National Park Service to study and promote the Buffalo Soldiers.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, it is with an abundance of appreciation and admiration that I pay tribute to the life's work of Dr. Sarah D. ``Sally'' Stewart, who recently retired--after 26 years--from the Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees. She leaves the district having served longer than any other trustee in the district's history and, prior to her service there, served eight years on the Board of the Portola Valley School District. During her impressive tenure, Sally became known as a thoughtful and energetic board member who always saw the big picture. Educational opportunities, principles and challenges have evolved quite a bit over the past three-plus decades and Sally always kept one step ahead, urging her colleagues to embrace new ideas and ever striving to serve the myriad needs of students, parents, educators and the community. Sally distinguished herself through her passionate contributions to the underserved youth of East Palo Alto. She provided leadership and guidance to the Youth Court and was instrumental in the founding of two nonprofit organizations, including what eventually became EdSource, a foundation dedicated to providing access to quality education for all children and encouraging an informed and involved citizenry to strengthen California's schools. Dr. Stewart's commitment to education transcended the boundaries of her own community. She served on the San Mateo County School Boards Association, where she instituted the J. Russell Kent Awards to recognize the work of area teachers. She served as President of the California School Boards Association and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and has given her time, energy and intellect to numerous charities, causes and campaigns that benefit children and education at all levels. Next month, Sally will be duly honored with her induction into the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame. Sally was born in Albany, New York in 1932 and received her Bachelor of Arts from New York's Smith College. She also received a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from Stanford University. Madam Speaker, Sally Stewart is one of those rare public servants whose quiet and competent leadership gives others something to aspire to. For decades I have stood in awe of her capacity to understand the intricacies of school finance and the subtleties of achieving district- wide academic excellence. While I regret to see her go, she has certainly earned her retirement. No doubt she will spend her newly- found free time doing more reading, walking her beloved dog and continually pushing for reforms that improve California's educational system. Our nation owes Sally Stewart a debt of gratitude. I would also like to extend my thanks to her sons--Ed and Willie--and her two grandchildren--Teddy and Sam--for sharing this remarkable woman with the greater community for so many years. Imagine how much better our nation's schools would be if every community had a Sally Stewart. But since there is only one, I am selfishly grateful that she chose the San Francisco Peninsula to call home.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Jack Crist, who recently retired from his post as City Manager of Belmont, California. Jack has served his Nation and his community in many ways. In 1965, he joined the United States Army, earning his Army Aviator wings a year later. He went on to fly 375 combat missions in Vietnam, resupplying Special Forces units along the treacherous border between Vietnam and Cambodia. Upon returning home, Jack trained pilots at Fort Ord before being discharged in 1969. He graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Economics and upon earning his CPA license, joined the City of Sacramento as Chief Accountant. His excellent work in that rapidly growing city inspired the local leaders to promote him to the post of Director of Finance, a job he held for ten years before being named Deputy City Manager. After a long run in that post, Jack moved to Modesto to become City Manager, finally landing in the post for which I honor him tonight: City Manager of Belmont. During Jack's tenure, he oversaw the reorganization of the fire department through the establishment of a Joint Partnership Agreement with neighboring San Carlos. He also helped the City Council draft and implement the Nation's strictest no-smoking ordinance. Jack and Margaret, his wife of more than forty years, are tireless travelers and no doubt, Jack's retirement will afford them time for more adventures. A consummate family-man who spends his free time plotting the Crist genealogy, he will surely be able to spend more time in Ohio--with daughter Patricia, her husband Roger and grandkids Kyle and Jack--and Texas, where daughter Jacklyn lives with her husband Michael and baby Nicolas. Madam Speaker, City Manager Jack Crist has served his fellow citizens to the utmost of his ability, whether in municipal government or wearing the uniform of the Unites States Army. For these reasons and so many more, I commend him and wish him a long, healthy and fascinating retirement.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, Americans' thirst for real change did not end with the election in 2008. Across this country, people are mad, mad that the rampant speculation in our financial markets which led to the current economic meltdown and the double-digit unemployment have not yet been addressed. I want to thank President Obama for his announcement this morning acknowledging what former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker has been saying for months: It's time to reinstate the institutional protections that safeguarded our country for more than half a century, the Glass- Steagall Act, ironically repealed in 1999 at the behest of the financial services industry. The only thing in America that can ever be deemed too big to fail is America itself. It is time for those of us in Congress to grow a backbone, to have the courage of our convictions and stand up to the big banks. No longer can we allow the greed of a few to put the entire Nation at risk. Just as we are united in our effort to combat threats from abroad, we must be vigilant to those very real threats from within. We were sent here by the voters to take care of them, the taxpayers and the consumers. The banks can take care of themselves.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, our Nation, and specifically, the San Francisco Peninsula, lost a true leader and dedicated public servant with the passing of A.C. ``Bud'' Harrison. Bud served his community in many ways. He was an appointed member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and served twelve years on the Burlingame City Council, including three terms as Mayor. But Bud's greatest influence was as an educator. He was a favorite American Government teacher at both Capuchino and Burlingame High Schools before moving on to teach Political Science at the College of San Mateo. Over his 33-year career in the classroom, he not only taught government, but encouraged his students and fellow faculty to get involved. He even helped run the campaign of fellow Capuchino teacher Leo J. Ryan when he ran for the State Assembly. In fact, I remember then-Congressman Ryan telling the story of how he and Bud were responsible for getting the Capuchino marching band to perform at John F. Kennedy's Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC in 1961. The story went, the two teachers flipped a coin to see who got to accompany the band and Leo won. Madam Speaker, Bud is a native son of San Francisco, a graduate of the University of San Francisco and a 48-year resident of Burlingame. With his loving wife of 56 years, Dolores, they raised four children-- Chuck, Mary, Terry and Cheri. And anyone who knew Bud was well aware of how proud he was of his six grandchildren and one great-grandson. The entire Harrison family deserves our gratitude for graciously sharing their husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather with so many others who benefited from his wisdom, good humor and generous spirit. Bud Harrison was no stranger to awards, having been honored by the Burlingame Lions Club as its 1997 Citizen of the Year, awarded the President's Award by the Burlingame Chamber of Commerce, named San Mateo County Citizen of the Year and received the Outstanding Citizen Award from Shinnyo-en USA. But awards and personal acclaim were never what Bud Harrison was about. First and foremost, he cared about the betterment of his community for his family, his students, and everyone who chose to make the Peninsula their home. Madam Speaker, not all of us leave an indelible mark on our community when our time on earth is done. There is no doubt that A.C. ``Bud'' Harrison did just that. We are all fortunate that Bud Harrison lived here and chose to give back so much to his community. I was privileged to call him a friend and confidant for nearly 30 years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Chair, during rollcall vote No. 961 on H.R. 4173, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``aye'' when I should have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. Peters

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Chair, there are a couple of things I have asked Santa for Christmas. One of them is that our colleagues on the other side might tell the truth once in a while. The words we have heard tonight, ``overregulation,'' ``government control,'' ``job loss,'' ``government takeover,'' ``bailout funds,'' couldn't be further from the truth. Let's go back in history. For over 60 years, the Glass-Steagall Act worked in this country. It worked because the banks, the investment banks, the commercial banks, the insurance companies had to be separate. And then the financial institutions came in 1999 and we offered them, on a silver platter, what is called the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which allowed them all to merge, which allowed them to become too big to fail. So what this particular bill is going to do is reverse that in many respects. It is going to create accountability. That fund that we're talking about is not going to be paid for by the taxpayers; it's going to be paid for by the companies themselves. It means that we are not going to see the kind of job loss we've had over the last few years because that all came under a period of time where there was no regulation, where the SEC was allowed to reduce the number of enforcement actions by 80 percent and disgorgement actions were reduced by some 60 percent. So, Madam Chair, there's only one other thing I ask Santa for Christmas, and I think we're going to get it, and that is that the Wall Street firms are going to find something new in their Christmas stockings, and it's called accountability.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, this evening the city of Millbrae, California will say thank you and farewell to a true public resource as City Treasurer Mary Vella Treseler retires from the post she has held for eight years. Mary Vella Treseler was elected by the voters of Millbrae in 2001 and re-elected four years later. She brought thirty years of experience in the banking industry to her job and helped guide the city through the many challenges that local governments have had to deal with in recent years. This City Treasurer, however, serves her community in many ways. She has donated her time and talents to the Constitution Bicentennial Planning Committee, Millbrae Beautification Commission and Public Access Television Committee. Ms. Treseler also took an active part as a member of the Mayor's Civic Coordinating Council and Millbrae's Smoking Ordinance and 50th Anniversary Committees. In addition, she represented Millbrae on the San Mateo County Sesquicentennial Committee and was President of Soroptimist International of Millbrae-San Bruno. As if that is not enough, Mary has somehow found the time to serve as President of the Millbrae Historical Society for the past eight years. As should be expected, Mary is no stranger to civic honors. She was named ``Millbrae Woman of the Year'' in 1999 and is the recipient of the Millbrae Historical Society's ``Living History Award.'' Mary moved to Millbrae in 1977, where she and her husband, Joseph Amoroso, raised their children, Adonna and Joseph Raymond, in Millbrae schools. Sadly, Mary was widowed in 1985. Her response was to get more involved in her community, which began her quarter-century of service to Millbrae. In 1990, Mary married then-Mayor Robert Treseler and her involvement in local government increased. So, too, did her family as Mary embraced the addition of step-children Robert Jr, William, James and Catherine. Sadly, we lost Mayor Treseler two years ago. Madam Speaker, this is a remarkable woman with boundless energy and a passionate interest in her community. On behalf of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives, I want to thank City Treasurer Mary Vella Treseler for her longtime service to the people of Millbrae and to our nation.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, Redwood City, California said good-bye to one of its most effective leaders when Councilman Jim Hartnett retired from public service this month. Jim Hartnett is a story of ``local boy makes good.'' Raised in Redwood City, he attended Mount Carmel School, Sequoia High School and Canada College. The son of a long-time captain in the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, Jim grew up well-versed in local issues and with a passion for public service. He, too, is passing on this tradition to his sons, Josh and Jake, and daughters, Julia and Lydia, all of whom have grown up in the city that Jim loves so much. Anyone who has attended a Council meeting in Redwood City over the past fifteen years has witnessed Councilman Hartnett's intellect and ability to explain dry, complex issues in accessible language that everyone can understand. Equally important to thinking clearly is a public official's willingness to take the lead on contentious issues. Councilman Hartnett was never timid about speaking his mind and his constituents always knew where he stood. I have had the privilege of working with Jim on numerous thorny topics over the years and found him to be, not only quick to grasp the issues, but equally effective at developing solutions. His leadership will be sorely missed. Prior to being elected to the City Council, Jim served on the city's Planning Commission and Charter Review Committee. He has also served as chair of the Housing and Human Concerns Committee and the San Mateo County Business Development Commission and was President of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce. Madam Speaker, Mr. Hartnett has given much to the community where he was raised. He has dedicated decades of his life to improving Redwood City and San Mateo County and for that, deserves our thanks. While he is retiring from office, I know that Jim Hartnett will not wander far. He will certainly continue his involvement with Redwood City Little League and other youth activities and will very likely be pressed into service in other ways by his wife, current Redwood City Mayor Rosanne Foust.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, in an era of increased animosity in public life, Redwood City Councilwoman Diane Howard has been a breath of fresh air. Fans of good government and humble leadership are sorry to see her retire after fifteen years serving the people of Redwood City. Diane was born in Rockville Center, New York, the first of eight children. In 1981, after graduating from nursing school, she and husband Steve moved west. Upon arriving in Redwood City, Diane jumped into her community, serving on the Housing and Human Concerns Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission and Child Care Advisory Committee. She has also been active on the Economic Development Committee of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce, the San Mateo County Medical Auxiliary Board, and the Redwood City Housing Advisory Board. Her work with the Redwood Shores Neighborhood Association led to the financing and development of schools, fire stations and a community center. Diane was elected to the City Council in 1994 and was re-elected three times. Passionate about the issues of concern to her, Councilwoman Howard is nonetheless known for her kindness, warmth and positive attitude. Even those of opposing views will attest that Diane brought a new tone of civility to the City Council and its meetings. She is known for her patient willingness to listen to all points of view and has advocated for increased cooperation between City Hall, local businesses and community groups. Madam Speaker, I have worked closely with Councilwoman Howard over the years and enjoyed every minute of our interactions. I wish there were more people in public life like her. On behalf of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives, I thank Diane for her service. I also wish to thank her husband, Steve, and son, Geoffrey, for sharing this remarkable woman with the greater community.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, every community should be so fortunate as to have a dynamic and committed public servant like Millbrae Mayor Robert Gottschalk. Mayor Gottschalk is stepping down after eight years on the City Council, including two stints as Mayor. Bob's tenure on the council has been defined by his steady advocacy for the people of Millbrae, giving special emphasis to youth and senior programs, improving downtown and mitigating the impact of BART on Millbrae residents. Mayor Gottschalk graduated from San Jose State University and went on to receive an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of California at Berkeley and a J.D. from UC Hastings College of the Law. He served our nation with distinction, retiring as a Captain from the U.S. Navy Reserves and worked for 21 years in banking before becoming an attorney. Mayor Gottschalk represents Millbrae on the Association of Bay Area Governments, Peninsula Congestion Relief Alliance and the Joint Powers Authority for County Emergency Medical Response. He has also served as a member of the Millbrae Community Preservation Commission and was citizen advisor to the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. Madam Speaker, I have worked closely with Mayor Gottschalk and my impression of him can be summed up as ``leadership with a velvet glove.'' Bob has always led with gentility and a sense of decorum and the simple fact is that Millbrae, California is a better place to live because of his work. I know of no better barometer for public service than that.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, this week the City of San Bruno will see a changing of the guard as Mayor Larry Franzella steps down from the post he has held for a decade. A native of San Francisco, Mayor Franzella moved to San Bruno as a boy and attended local schools, including Crestmoor High School, Skyline College and the College of San Mateo. He's a classic example of ``local boy makes good.'' He began a successful real estate career in 1975 and over three decades has risen through the ranks of his profession, serving as President of the San Bruno Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of San Bruno and the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, and as Regional Vice-President of the California Association of Realtors. He currently serves as President of Prudential California Realty in San Bruno. Larry Franzella has served his adopted city of San Bruno in a myriad of ways. Besides his aforementioned community and business associations, Larry served as a member of the Personnel Board and was a founding member of the city's Citizens Crime Prevention Committee. In 1987, the people of San Bruno elected Larry to his first of two terms on the city council. Then in 1999, after a two-year hiatus, voters chose Larry to serve as Mayor--a post he held for five consecutive two- year terms. In this role, he also represented San Bruno as a member of the regional Airport Roundtable. Madam Speaker, everyone in this chamber knows how important it is to have dedicated, intelligent people serve on local boards, commissions and city councils. The work can be difficult, the hours long and the pay virtually non-existent, yet we ask these selfless public servants to give far more than they receive to assure that the residents and taxpayers under their care are provided for. Mayor Larry Franzella is one of those dedicated and selfless leaders. Larry has certainly earned his retirement. However, knowing Larry like I do, I am sure that he will never retire from community service. On behalf of my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives, I want to thank Mayor Larry Franzella for his longtime service to the people of San Bruno and the County of San Mateo.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, for twenty years, the people of Burlingame, California have depended on Rosalie O'Mahony's intelligence, hard work and love for her adopted city. First elected in 1989, Rosalie O'Mahony has served five terms on the City Council, including five separate stints as Burlingame's mayor. To know Rosalie is to know her passion for her community. For the more than three decades that I have had the immense pleasure of Rosalie's friendship, we have never had a conversation where she did not speak about a person or group in need or an intersection that could be safer. Rosalie lives and breathes community service and our entire region has benefited greatly by her inspired decision to move to Burlingame in 1965. The reason for her move was so that Rosalie could accept a job on the faculty of the College of San Mateo's mathematics department. For more than forty years she has shared her knowledge with generations of students and continues to do so now as an adjunct instructor. In a region where some of the best jobs are in technological fields, excellent math instruction in our local colleges is vital to our area's economic success and Rosalie O'Mahony certainly has been a big part of that success. Madam Speaker, one mention in the Congressional Record could not possibly hold all of the accomplishments of this incredible woman. Her community service includes being chair of The American Cancer Society and board member of The Easter Seal Society and The Suicide and Crisis Prevention Center. She also served on the San Mateo County Grand Jury and has been--or continues to be--a member of The Burlingame Newcomers Club, The Irish Literary and Historical Society, the Burlingame Historical Society, Burlingame Beautification Commission, the San Mateo County Transportation Citizens' Advisory Committee and the Burlingame Aquatic Foundation. As part of her official duties, Rosalie has represented her city on the Airport Roundtable, the County Emergency Services Committee, the San Mateo County Investment Oversight Committee, City and County Association of Governments, Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. In recognition of her years of service to her community, earlier this year Councilwoman O'Mahony was chosen as Burlingame's Citizen of the Year for 2009. Madam Speaker, any day that includes a chat with Rosalie O'Mahony is a day where I learn something new. Burlingame won't be quite the same without Rosalie on the City Council but, without a doubt, Burlingame would not be the city it is today had Rosalie not moved here and volunteered to serve.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a special woman who goes above and beyond the call of duty to educate the children of our fine city of San Francisco. Valerie Ziegler was one of only five teachers--out of the more than 310,000 who serve in California public schools--to be honored as a 2009 Teacher of the Year. She is the first teacher ever from the San Francisco Unified School District to receive this honor. Perhaps most impressive is that she gave up a more lucrative career, as a technology consultant, so that she could teach. In just her sixth year in the profession, Ms. Ziegler carries an impressive load, teaching U.S. History, Economics and Advanced Placement U.S. Government at San Francisco's Lincoln High School. In addition to her course-work, she partnered with other Lincoln teachers to start the ``green academy'' to prepare students for careers in the new clean-energy economy. Praise for Ms. Ziegler from parents, administrators, fellow teachers and--in particular--her students, is virtually unanimous. Tales abound of her devotion to those she teaches and the extra effort she puts in to not only teach but instill a lifelong love of learning in her students. But Madam Speaker, Ms. Ziegler will be the first to say that the credit doesn't belong solely to her. Valerie is the daughter of a 30 year public school teacher who worked primarily with hearing-impaired students. Valerie spoke glowingly about the examples her mother set-- how she spent her own money on hearing aid batteries for her students, drove them to appointments, even visited former students in jail. We hear a lot about family values in our line of work, but the Ziegler family lives it. With the daunting challenges facing public education in San Francisco, California, and indeed the nation, teachers like Valerie Ziegler must be encouraged and rewarded. Society as a whole is benefited by these special people who choose to devote their lives so that our children have every opportunity to achieve all that they set their sights on.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, tonight as we prepare to pass a historic health care bill that provides expanded health care coverage to Americans and is more than sixty years in the making, I am concerned that we must first fight to block a direct assault on a woman's right to choose. America's Affordable Health Choices Act is fair and equitable in its approach to abortion and respects the rights of those who want to purchase a plan that provides abortion coverage and those who do not. It guarantees that no public funds are used to pay for abortion services--codifying the long standing Hyde amendment. The anti-choice Stupak Amendment seeks to take away a woman's right to pay for her own abortion services, forcing millions of women to retreat to the shadows and an era in which back alley abortions were too often the norm. That is why I will stand up this evening and vote against the Stupak Amendment--ensuring that every woman in this country has the reproductive freedom that she desires and that her mother and mother's mother fought so hard for.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of health care reform, as it will guarantee coverage for maternity and well-child care.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, today is indeed an historic day, a day we can all be proud that on behalf of the American people we are doing something. So what is it the American people are going to get? Well, if you're a senior citizen in America, you're going to have $500 more in your prescription drug benefit. You're going to be able to get your drugs that are brand name for 50 percent less if you're in the doughnut hole. And by 2019, that doughnut hole will be terminated. What's in it for young people? Well, if you're good to your parents, you can stay on their health insurance until you're 27. And how about for women? For women, you are no longer going to pay 140 percent more for your health insurance than a man of the same age. And by the way, you don't have to fear getting pregnant, because health insurance will cover your pregnancy. And for everyone else in America, we are going to be paying $1,400 less a year in uncompensated care. There is nothing to fear. There is much to be jubilant about.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, today, I look forward to keeping my promise to the voters and taxpayers who sent me to Congress by casting a vote for a historic health care reform bill that has been sixty years in the making. Still, with any effort as far-reaching as reforming health care, Americans are right to ask: ``What's in it for me?'' Well, I'll tell you. If you are a woman, this bill has plenty for you. You know, far too well, that our fight for equality is not limited to the board room. We must fight for our rights in every line of fine print in every insurance contract. The fact is that women's health care premiums cost, on average, more than 145 percent of the price of a similar man's policy. Even then, women are more likely to be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, including for things as common as getting pregnant (or the inability to get pregnant) having a c-section, even being a survivor of domestic violence. With the passage of this health care reform bill, these practices will be tossed on the ash-heap of history atop corsets, chastity belts and other limitation on women's rights and equality. In fact, with this bill, America's mothers, wives and sisters will finally enjoy the same health care coverage that their fathers, sons and brothers have. If you are an American of retirement age, this health care reform legislation contains provisions that ensure high quality, effective health care throughout your retirement years. We have heard your frustrated calls to end the ill-conceived Medicare Part D donut hole and responded by immediately reducing the hole by $500 and, by 2019, getting rid of it once and for all. The bill also cuts in half the cost of name-brand drugs. No older American should ever have to decide between purchasing food or the life-saving medicine prescribed by their doctor. When Congress voted for Medicare nearly 45 years ago, this House promised seniors quality, affordable health care in their retirement. They did this despite a future president, Ronald Reagan, decrying Medicare as socialism--sound familiar? Well, by cutting waste, fraud and abuse, eliminating the out-of- pocket payments for preventative care and banning overpayments, this Congress is making good on that promise and extending the Medicare trust for future generations. If you are one of the 14,000 Americans who lose their health insurance coverage every day, this bill offers comfort and hope when you are most in need. Just last night during a telephone town hall a constituent told me how, at 55 years old, she lost her job and her health coverage. She wonders if, even after the economy recovers, she will be able to get a job--at her age--that provides health care. Today, when workers like her lose their job and their coverage, they are forced into the snake pit that is the individual insurance market where insurance company practices like denying coverage because of a preexisting condition are common. Fortunately this practice, along with dropping customers once they fall ill, has been outlawed in this bill. Also, while the health care exchange--which will provide access to affordable, quality health care--is being set up, a high-risk insurance pool will be available so that you have coverage in the meantime. For the majority of Americans who have health insurance through their employer, you get the best news of all. I don't have to tell you that, since 2000, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have more than doubled. Your employer's real health care costs have risen at a rate that is three times faster than wage increases and business profits. This is, quite simply, unsustainable. If we took a page from the opposition party and did nothing, the cost of employer-sponsored family health insurance plans would reach $24,000 in less than ten years. This same price spike would result in families spending 45% of their income on health insurance. Also, the insurance exchange will allow you or your employer to purchase coverage from health plans that meet guaranteed benefit levels, cap annual out-of-pocket spending and end annual and lifetime benefit limits. There will also be a public option that is completely self-supported by premiums. This is not a decision that has been made in haste. No issue has been studied, scrutinized and debated more than health care reform. And, like every time in our nation's history when sweeping changes are proposed-- whether it be Social Security, Medicare, civil rights, women's suffrage or the creation of the Veterans Administration--emotions have run high in this debate and there has been no shortage of opinions on every side. The bill we are set to vote on is a compromise between many different points of view. It is the result of the most exhaustive and transparent review process of any bill in our nation's history, with hundreds of hours of bipartisan committee meetings being devoted to it and the final text being posted on-line more than three days prior to a vote being taken. Compare that to the Republicans Medicare Part D bill in 2003 which was forced to a vote just hours after the bill was printed. It will be a proud day for this Congresswoman--and for America--when Congress finally sets our nation on a path toward greater access, greater equality and greater accountability and competition in our health care system. This is what my constituents sent me here to do. And I am happy to oblige.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, San Francisco's Community Alliance for Special Education (CASE) was formed in 1979 in response to an unmet need to protect the educational rights of children with disabilities. As CASE celebrates its 30th anniversary, we can all celebrate their good and inspired work supporting children with disabilities by ensuring the fair and just implementation of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and state special education laws. Perhaps most impressively, CASE recognizes the financial hardship that can beset a family raising a child with a disability and has never turned away a client based on their ability to pay. Their excellent work has led to impressive results over the past three decades, including 94% of children served by CASE receiving appropriate educational services and 95% of clients being connected to local parent networks to help them address other family needs. Over the last thirty years, CASE has provided more than 20,000 consultations to parents and professionals, represented upwards of 3,000 families and trained in excess of 25,000 people. In addition, their handbook, Special Education Rights, is the most widely-used resource guide in California on the special education process. Madam Speaker, you and I are both blessed to represent what San Francisco legend Herb Caen called ``The city that knows how''. I am happy to report that CASE furthers San Francisco's proud legacy by successfully harnessing the power of collaboration and communication to engage children, parents, educators and the community to advance the admirable goal of improving educational opportunities for children with disabilities so that they, too, can become happy and productive members of the community. It is with great admiration that I commend the Community Alliance for Special Education for making our world a better place by advocating for those who otherwise might not be heard. I congratulate everyone who has had a part in making CASE the success story it is and look forward to more great work over the next thirty years.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend our former colleague and current Secretary of the Army, John McHugh. He rightly stated last weekend that the United States Army--the proudest and most professional fighting force on Earth--is fully capable of accepting openly gay and lesbian Americans into service and ending the unworkable and unconscionable policy of ``don't ask, don't tell.'' We have all heard the tired arguments of why all Americans who choose to serve should not be allowed to serve, but those arguments belong to an intolerant past. The men and women who make up today's Armed Forces are modern, highly informed Americans who have grown up in an era more accepting of individual differences. As Secretary McHugh said, ``The Army has a big history of taking on similar issues with predictions of doom and gloom that did not play out.'' At long last, the United States military is ready to be representative of all the people of the United States. It's time now for Congress to act and send legislation to the President asking him to end ``don't ask, don't tell'' once and for all.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, this year marks the 50th Anniversary of William H. Crocker Middle School in Hillsborough, California. Crocker Middle School has been recognized as a California Distinguished School seven times, most recently in 2007, and is one of only three schools in the entire nation to be awarded a National Blue Ribbon for Secondary Schools on four occasions. Among the school's many other rewards, in 1993, Crocker was named to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Science's ``Top Five World Class Schools.'' Crocker Middle School has served the community by constantly reviewing and improving its curriculum and continually striving for academic excellence. The newest addition to the Crocker campus is a building housing a state-of-the-art studio for Hillsborough Television (HTV), band and music instruction rooms, a lecture hall modeled after facilities at Harvard University, and much needed classrooms. This completed a ten year Hillsborough School District renovation project. Madam Speaker, William H. Crocker Middle School has educated my own children, Jackson and Stephanie, so I can vouch first-hand to its excellence and the caring and passion of its incredible staff. In addition to strong academic programs in English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language, and physical education, Crocker offers electives in the arts and personal development skills such as leadership and public speaking. The entire Crocker School family believes strongly that its role is to help each child build a foundation that will serve her or him for their entire life. Every aspect of its educational curriculum is designed to build a close, caring community in which every child and every adult is recognized and respected. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be a William H. Crocker Middle School parent and I salute Crocker's longtime principal, Janet Chun, who has been a beacon of expanded learning that includes a strong community service component. She follows in the impressive footsteps of her predecessors, Fred Schwartz, Carl Zon, Marilyn Loushin Miller, Dan Kreuzer and Larry Raffo, all of whom deserve our recognition and our gratitude. I congratulate everyone in the Crocker community for half a century of academic and community achievement.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 2442 and salute my good friend and colleague, Mr. Miller, on his good work. This bill will provide, as has been said already, 2.6 billion gallons of water per year to drought-stricken California, adding enough water supply to meet the demands for nearly 25,000 households, and it will also generate, either direct or indirectly, 3,500 jobs. Mr. Speaker, attacking a water recycling measure that is designed to help all of California is truly counterproductive. The North Coast County Water District, based in Pacifica in my congressional district, has said, ``As California continues to experience drought conditions, increased demand for water, and strain on the Delta ecosystem, alternative water supplies like those authorized in H.R. 2442 provide a long-term sustainable solution essential to California's economy.'' The bottom line is that Republicans and Democrats alike agree that water recycling helps reduce stress on California's fragile freshwater system, and they have approved water recycling projects for California and across the Western region on a bipartisan basis in Congress. I hope we can do that again.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Berman, Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, the subcommittee chairman Mr. Faleomavaega, and Ranking Member Manzullo for shepherding this resolution through the Foreign Affairs Committee so swiftly. I also want to single out Chairman Faleomavaega for his exceptional leadership representing American Samoa. I am blessed with many Samoan friends and constituents in my district, and I am a proud cosponsor of the chairman's resolution recognizing the relief efforts in American Samoa and Samoa. Likewise, I want to commend Congressman Burton for introducing a similar resolution recognizing the devastation in Indonesia, of which I am also a cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 800, which I introduced shortly after two successive typhoons hit the Republic of the Philippines. Tragically, the situation has worsened since then, and the death toll is now estimated at more than 600. In addition, millions more are displaced and estimates of damage run well into the billions of dollars. On September 26, Typhoon Ketsana battered Manila and nearby provinces, resulting in at least 337 deaths, 308 injured, and 37 missing. Then, just one week later, as Filipinos labored around the clock on recovery efforts, Typhoon Parma struck Luzon, the heart of the Philippine agricultural region which supplies half of the nation's supply of rice. Typhoon Parma decimated roads, bridges, entire villages, and vast tracts of rice patties waiting to be harvested later this month. Nearly 200 have perished from this second typhoon, with many still missing and countless more families grieving their loved ones. It is clear that the people of the Philippines will be profoundly affected by these twin tragedies long after the water has receded and the streets swept clean of mud and debris. House Resolution 800 recognizes the hardship caused by Typhoons Ketsana and Parma and salutes the resilience and strength of our friends, the Filipino people. My resolution also urges our government to continue providing emergency relief, logistical support, and financial assistance, and to work with Philippine officials and nongovernment organizations to improve disaster preparedness programs to mitigate the heartbreak, havoc and loss of life that could be caused by future storms. Mr. Speaker, the historical and cultural links between the Philippines and the United States run deeper than any flood waters. I am honored to represent the largest Filipino American community of any district in the continental United States. Nationally, Americans of Filipino descent are the second largest population of Asian Americans in our country, numbering some 3.1 million Americans. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 800 to show our friends, the good people of the Philippines, that as they stood with us in World War II, the American people stand with them during this time of great need.

Ms. SPEIER

Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, more than one in 10 of fellow Californians is out of work. This is due in part to decisions made 3,000 miles away by analysts at America's credit rating agencies ranking funds at AIG and Lehman Brothers as AA or AAA one day, only to have these companies bankrupt the next. Last week at the Financial Services Committee hearing, I asked the executives of the rating agencies why they kept Lehman Brothers so highly rated when there were plenty of warning signs they were in trouble. The answer I got was astounding. They kept Lehman highly rated because they assumed the government would bail it out. I then asked how many of these analysts who base these decisions on assumptions rather than evidence lost their jobs. Again, the answer was unfathomable: none, not one. Mr. Speaker, I did not come down to the floor this morning to seek retribution, but rather some common sense. This situation underscores the urgent need to enact strong financial regulatory reform and specifically make the rating agencies accountable for their decisions. When the decisions of a few in a Manhattan skyscraper affect the livelihoods of hardworking Americans all across our country, there must be accountability.