Chris Van Hollen

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 263, which would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. I commend my colleague from the District of Columbia for introducing this resolution for this worthy cause. This annual event is in its 25th year of bringing together nearly 50 Federal and local law enforcement agencies to show support for Special Olympics DC. Each year, law enforcement officers across the country and around the world participate in local Torch Run events to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics. In 2008, the Torch Runs raised over $34 million for Special Olympic programs. Funds raised from the Torch Run help support year-round training and programs for Special Olympics DC. It makes an impact in the lives of our community's most vulnerable citizens and enables thousands of children and adults with disabilities to participate in Special Olympics programs. Mr. Speaker, the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run is a fitting way to continue the legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver so that everyone has the opportunity to compete and reach their full potential.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy of Brian K. Betts. A resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, Mr. Betts served his community as a teacher and principal in the Montgomery County and District of Columbia public school systems. Tragically, on April 15, 2010, Mr. Betts lost his life in an act of senseless violence. Mr. Betts was born in Manassas, Virginia to Delbert and Doris Betts. He attended public schools there and graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School. He continued his education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Hood College, receiving his Bachelor's and Master's degrees, respectively. From the beginning of his teaching career as a middle school physical education teacher, Mr. Betts aspired to improve the quality of education in our community. With a boundless enthusiasm that motivated his students and gained the admiration of his peers, he made an impact in the lives of everyone who knew him. An unparalleled work ethic and passion for helping children succeed enabled Mr. Betts to quickly be recognized for his extraordinary talents and dedication. He was recognized early in his career for his outstanding leadership at Neelsville Middle School, located in Germantown, Maryland, and received the prestigious Washington Post Agnes Meyer Award in 1999. Part of what made Mr. Betts such an exceptional educator was his unique style of teaching that stressed self-improvement and personal goal-setting over more traditional teaching methods. Mr. Betts put his innovative teaching methods into wider use at the Loiederman Middle School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he developed a magnet program that drew in students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds regardless of their academic achievement. As with most of Mr. Betts' efforts, the program became a rapid success. Under his guidance, the percentage of students with passing reading and math scores jumped by double digits within a two-year period. Eager to take on new challenges, Mr. Betts accepted a position as principal of Shaw Middle School at Garnet-Patterson in Washington, DC, and worked tirelessly each and every day to bring positive change to a school that had been plagued with difficulties. With the death of Mr. Betts, our nation has lost a rising star in the field of education. Yet, even in the face of this tragedy, we can take solace in knowing that his legacy and memory will be carried on in the lives of the countless students he touched and inspired. Mr. Betts is survived by his parents, sister, and nieces, whom we hope find comfort in knowing how much Brian was loved by so many people. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the remarkable life of Brian K. Betts.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for their efforts in crafting this important, bi- partisan bill to reform the acquisition system of the Department of Defense. I would also like to commend Congressmen Andrews and Conaway for their leadership and for their many vital contributions to the legislation. Reports of waste, fraud and abuse in the DoD acquisition system have been the source of great concern for Members of Congress for many years. As a result, a congressional panel was established to carry out a comprehensive review of the DoD acquisition system. Led by Representatives Andrews and Conaway, this panel held more than a dozen hearings exploring a broad range of issues within the acquisition system. Their findings and recommendations resulted in a report that is the basis of the IMPROVE Acquisition Act of 2010. The IMPROVE Act is designed to overhaul the entire defense acquisition system. It requires DoD to introduce effective accountability measures into its requirements process to create an acquisition system with clear objectives and meaningful consequences for success or failure. Not only will the bill encourage the development and deployment of improved financial management techniques within the DoD, it will also enhance competition and increase access to more innovative technology. As our Nation struggles through these difficult economic times, this common sense initiative will both strengthen our defense and save money for the taxpayer. I commend the members of House Armed Services Committee for their efforts and encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, we meet today to consider a motion to appoint conferees to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the Iran Sanctions Act. Though both versions would impose sanctions against companies that support Iran's petroleum sector, especially in the area of gasoline and other refined petroleum products, the Senate version includes additional provisions that would direct the president to freeze the assets of Iranian officials and prohibit the U.S. Government from providing contracts to companies that supply Iran with communications monitoring technology. These provisions must be reconciled before the final version can be presented to the President. Stopping Iran's illegal nuclear enrichment program is an urgent matter, requiring a comprehensive strategy that targets Iran's important energy sector, and its access to the global financial system. These bills can help to achieve these goals. Last year, Iran admitted the existence of a secret enrichment facility in the holy city of Qom that set in motion a renewed international effort to pursue more aggressive penalties against Iran for its nuclear activities. Using a variety of measures, including the United States led sanctions efforts in the United Nations, penalties currently under consideration by the European Union and the sustained campaign by the U.S. Treasury Department and others to persuade banks and other businesses to curtail their activities with Iranian businesses, we must significantly increase pressure on Iran to persuade it to end its nuclear program. The United States and the international community must send a very clear signal that Iran faces a stark choice--Iran must end its illegal nuclear enrichment program or it will face increasingly severe consequences. All options for ending that program should remain on the table.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and, in particular, to honor Earth Day's Founder, the late Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI), whom I am proud to say chose to spend the latter part of his career in my hometown of Kensington, MD. Senator Nelson's public service spanned more than three decades, including two terms as Governor and three terms as Senator from the state of Wisconsin. Although active on issues ranging from civil rights to consumer protection to the Vietnam War, Senator Nelson was perhaps best known for his pioneering advocacy on behalf of the environment. He cosponsored the 1964 Wilderness Act, and successfully fought for legislation protecting the Appalachian Trail, banning DDT and curbing phosphate detergent. In 1970, Senator Nelson's call for a day of education and action on behalf of the environment drew 20 million people from across the United States to participate in the very first Earth Day. Since then, Earth Day has grown to become an international event involving 500 million people from 175 countries around the world. After leaving the Senate in 1981, Senator Nelson joined the Wilderness Society as its first Chairman and continued to serve the organization until shortly before his passing in 2005. Senator Nelson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Clinton in 1995 and was recognized along with President Teddy Roosevelt as one of the two most important political figures of the 20th Century by the Audubon Society. He was an extraordinary public servant, who was famously well liked by colleagues from across the political spectrum. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day tomorrow, it is fitting that we pause to remember the vision of its remarkable founder Gaylord Nelson and recommit ourselves to the necessity of a healthy and sustainable environment that was his life's work.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, today, not only do we celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, we also celebrate the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Our country, under the leadership of President Harry Truman, was the first country to recognize the State of Israel. And he later said, ``I had faith in Israel before it was established. I have faith in it now. I believe it has a glorious future before it, not just as another sovereign nation but as the embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization.'' President Truman was right and we need to maintain the special relationship we have with Israel based on shared values, common strategic interests, and moral bonds of friendship. Today, we honor not only that country's independence but the significance of what Israel stands for. It represents the centuries-long yearnings of the Jewish people for a homeland of their own in the land of their forebears. The pogroms in tsarist Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the Holocaust under the Nazi regime in the 1930s and 1940s made the idea of a Jewish people having a state of their own where they could feel secure and never again be subjected to such horrors and brutality even more compelling and necessary. After many years of struggle, Israel emerged as an independent state. It gave refuge to tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors, many of whom had been languishing in temporary resettlement camps in Europe. Israel also became the home for Jews from scores of countries around the world and continues to provide a refuge to those who face anti- Semitic persecution. In 62 years, Israel has transformed itself from chiefly an agricultural exporter to an international high-tech superpower, and it has used its wealth and power to come to the aid of others in times of need. I want to especially commend the people of Israel, its defense forces, and the team of 250 Israeli doctors, nurses and relief workers who worked tirelessly to bring aid and comfort to the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. Since its creation, Israel has continually confronted hostile forces that threaten its existence, and the United States must remain steadfast in ensuring the security of Israel. With the assistance of the United States, Israel was able to achieve peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively. These agreements made Israel more secure and greatly lessened the chances for another Arab- Israeli war with those two countries. Despite the threats it continues to face from hostile neighbors and violent militants, the people of Israel have established a vibrant, pluralistic democracy that incorporates the freedoms cherished by all Americans. It is my sincere wish that peace negotiations between Israel and its neighbors will succeed, and that the Israeli people and all peoples of that troubled region will be able to live in a lasting peace. On the occasion of its 62nd anniversary, I wish the people of Israel continued growth and prosperity. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress, with the Administration and with the American people to ensure that the enduring bond that unites our two peoples endures for the years and centuries to come.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of this resolution to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. Widely recognized as the godmother of the civil rights movement, Dr. Height devoted her life to the cause of equality and justice for all people. A social worker by training, Dr. Height served on the staff of the Young Women's Christian Association for thirty three years and as president of the National Council of Negro Women for four decades. With uncommon dignity and her trademark hats, Dr. Height advised Presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama. In the 1960s, she organized the ``Wednesdays in Mississippi'' initiative to further understanding between white women and black women in the north and the south. She penned a regular column called ``A Woman's Word'' in the venerable African-American weekly the New York Amsterdam News. And she chronicled her unique experience in the leadership of the civil rights movement in her 2005 memoir ``Open Wide The Freedom Gates''. For her service to our nation, Dr. Height was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Reagan in 1989, the Presidential Medal of Honor from President Clinton in 1994 and the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2004. Today, I add my voice to those celebrating her life's work and achievements, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Taxpayer Assistance Act of 2010 and the common sense, bipartisan reform it represents. Consistent with its oversight responsibilities, the Ways and Means Committee routinely reviews the tax code with an eye towards updating antiquated provisions and making it more taxpayer-friendly. Towards that end, today's legislation modernizes the rules governing employer- provided cell phone use to eliminate nuisance paperwork. It requires the IRS to pay interest on refunds related to individual tax returns that are filed electronically if the refund is not paid within thirty days. And it provides taxpayers with better notification on issues ranging from the Earned Income Tax Credit to identity theft. Since the April 15 tax deadline is tomorrow, I would be remiss if I did not point out that the improvements made by today's legislation come on the heels of one of the largest middle class tax cuts in American history. Under the Recovery Act's Make Work Pay credit, over 95 percent of Americans got tax relief at a time when families and our economy needed it most. As a result, recent economic data clearly show we are transitioning from recession to recovery and laying the foundation for future economic growth. Mr. Speaker, the Taxpayer Assistance Act of 2010 is common sense reform and part of a growing chorus of good news for Americans and our economy. I urge a yes vote.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Act. This important legislation will modernize our air traffic control systems, improve safety, and protect passenger rights. This bill will provide historic funding levels to improve airports, streamline operations, and update our air traffic control system to make it safer and more efficient. It strengthens air carrier oversight and revises training requirements to ensure that all the pilots in the cockpit have the most advanced certification. Finally, it provides vital consumer protections to make sure that when there are long delays on the tarmac, passengers have the option to leave the plane. I hope my colleagues will join me to support this bill and that we move quickly to reconcile differences with the Senate and enact this much-needed legislation.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, once again the House is voting on legislation that strengthens the new health care reform law that was enacted earlier this week which will bring quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all Americans. Tonight, we bring this exhaustive, year-long process to a close. The new health reform law will bring down health care costs for American families and small businesses, expand health coverage to an additional 32 million Americans, and end the abusive practices of insurance companies. By the end of this year, children with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied coverage, health plans will be prohibited from placing lifetime caps on coverage, young people will be able to remain on their parents' health insurance policies up to their 26th birthday, small businesses will get tax credits so that they can provide affordable health coverage to their employees, and seniors will get help in paying for their high prescription drug costs. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad we finally got the job done on a very important issue that so many people have fighting for over so many decades.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, everyone in this body is entitled to their own opinions, but we are not entitled to our own facts. I wish some of our colleagues would read this bill. It does not add one penny to the deficit. First, we have a speaker on the other side of the aisle complaining about the fact that it adds to the deficit when it doesn't; because the next speaker then complains about how we want to pay for it. Which is it? This bill is paid for. This bill will help small businesses just like the economic recovery bill has helped stabilize the economy. Just a little over a year ago when President Obama was sworn in, our economy was in free fall. We were headed from recession to depression. Now we are here 14 months later, the economy has begun to stabilize. We went from 5.7 percent negative growth to 5.6 positive growth, the biggest swing in growth, 10 points, in 30 years. People are beginning to go back to work. Obviously, we have not turned the corner there, but it is a vast improvement from where this country was a little over a year ago. This is another important step by assisting small businesses to keep the engine going.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, they called it ``a dangerous device invented in Nazi Germany'' and a ``method of imposing Stalinism.'' Those were the statements made by the opponents of Medicare, Medicare that now provides health coverage to 45 million Americans. This legislation will ensure that 32 million more Americans have access to affordable health care and that no American is held hostage to the abusive practices of the insurance industry. As in 1965, we have the rhetoric of mass distortions. This morning, Republican Leader Boehner even said this bill means Armageddon. The day after this legislation is signed by President Obama, Americans will see the world is not coming to an end, that there are no death panels. They will begin to see a system that works for them, not the insurance industry who is spending millions of dollars to kill the bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution. The immediate withdrawal of American and NATO forces from Afghanistan would put our Nation at greater risk of another 9/11 type attack from al Qaeda. Unlike the Iraq war, the war in Afghanistan is not a war of our choosing. As President Obama pointed out during his speech at West Point last year, our troops are in the field because on September 11, 2001, al Qaeda launched a direct attack on the United States--killing thousands of innocent Americans. The United States is fully justified in taking action against al Qaeda and the Taliban and we continue to have the strong backing of our NATO allies and the international community. Unfortunately, under the Bush Administration, many of our troops and resources were diverted away from Afghanistan to Iraq. As a result, al Qaeda and the Taliban began to regain strength and al Qaeda continues to plot against Americans from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. During his campaign for president, Barack Obama made it clear that he would end America's involvement in the war in Iraq and focus U.S. efforts on al Qaeda. While there is no doubt that al Qaeda operates in parts of Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and other areas, the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region remains the operational and ideological center for al Qaeda's global operations. The president is right to conclude that allowing al Qaeda to operate there unchecked poses a serious security risk to the U.S. and American citizens around the world. The immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan would have two immediate consequences. First, it would immediately strengthen the hand of the most extremist Taliban leaders (those most closely tied to al Qaeda), undercutting any leverage behind ongoing efforts to get some Taliban fighters to lay down their arms and it would also undermine Afghan President Hamid Karzai's new initiative to reach a political accommodation with the members of the Taliban open to national reconciliation. If such a political solution is undermined and the old Taliban regime retakes control of Afghanistan, they will again turn that country into a safe haven for expanded al Qaeda operations. It would also lead to the return of an extreme Taliban regime that encourages horrendous acts like pouring gasoline into the eyes of girls who attempt to go to school. Second, an immediate withdrawal of NATO forces would weaken Pakistan's resolve to confront the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, and al Qaeda. The most promising development over the last year has been the Government of Pakistan's willingness to fight the growing menace of the Pakistani Taliban. In addition, very recently, the Pakistani government has also shown a willingness to confront elements of the Afghan Taliban. The recent capture of Mullah Bandar, the operational chief of the Afghan Taliban, and two Afghan Taliban shadow governors, demonstrates this progress. The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan would sabotage those nascent efforts. Why should the Pakistani forces confront the Afghan Taliban if the U.S. walks away now? President Obama has developed a carefully considered and comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan that relies not only on the use of troops but also on the use civilian resources. The strategy has three parts. First, coalition forces will reverse the Taliban's momentum by working to stabilize major population centers and accelerate the expansion of the Afghan national security forces. Second, the U.S. will work with its partners to create a more effective civilian strategy--with the goal of establishing sustainable economic opportunities for Afghans and strengthening the country's national and local governance structures. Third, the strategy engages Pakistan as a full partner in these efforts. As a result of better coordination between our two countries, for the first time since the beginning of the war, al Qaeda and the Taliban are being genuinely challenged by the Pakistan military. The president's strategy contains a timeline which initiates a responsible redeployment of American troops in July 2011. He has established this timeline to send a clear message to the Afghan government that they must take seriously their role in creating a stable Afghanistan and to communicate to the people of Afghanistan that the U.S. has no interest in an open-ended engagement in their country. The new strategy has already shown promising signs of success. We should not undermine this effort by the immediate and total withdrawal of all U.S./NATO forces.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 4783, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation and urge its immediate enactment to support the ongoing recovery efforts in Chile and Haiti. This bill does two simple things. First, it allows anybody making a cash contribution for earthquake relief in Chile before April 15, 2010, to receive a charitable deduction for the qualifying contribution on their 2009 tax return. And second, it provides the same tax benefit to those wishing to support relief efforts in Haiti, by extending the original March 1, 2010, deadline for Haiti contributions to April 15, 2010, as well. These simple steps are consistent with our nation's tradition of responding to those in need and will provide an extra incentive for generous Americans to make timely contributions to these crises when the assistance is needed most.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, As a lead sponsor of this resolution, I am proud to stand with my colleagues to commemorate the 189th anniversary of Greek independence. We gather here today not only in recognition of Greece's proud history, and in appreciation of the warm friendship our two countries share, but also to thank the Greek people for standing by our side in good times and bad, in peace and in war. The U.S. connection to Greece reaches back to the days before the United States was even a country. It is well known that the Founding Fathers were well versed in Greek political philosophy and drew on that knowledge in their efforts to lay the political foundation of this Nation. Thomas Jefferson once said of Greece that it was ``the first of civilized nations, (and) presented examples of what man should be.'' Indeed, many of the political ideas attributed to the United States today, such as freedom of speech and the respect for democratic governance can trace their origins back to ancient Greece. On this 189th anniversary of Greek independence, let us all reflect on what we as Americans owe to Greece for our historical ties, for the role ancient Greece played in the shaping of our democracy and for the enduring friendship between the peoples of the United States and Greece.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the League of Women Voters, which celebrated its 90th anniversary on February 14, 2010. Since 1920, the League of Women Voters has worked to increase understanding of major public policy issues, encourage informed and active participation in government, and influence public policy through education and advocacy. With organizations in every state and hundreds of local chapters across the country, the League is one of the strongest grassroots activist networks in the country. Throughout its history, the League has played a vital role in transforming our society and preserving responsive government. Whether fighting McCarthyism, helping to end segregation, protecting our environment, organizing our Nation's presidential debates, strengthening the Voting Rights Act, or upholding the decision in Roe v. Wade, the League of Women Voters has been at the forefront of nearly every major policy issue in the last 90 years. Through its dedication to good, responsible government, the League has been influential in overseeing the passage of Congress' most important pieces of legislation, including the Social Security Act and child labor laws. The League's decentralized structure enabled it to keep pace with our Nation's dynamic societal changes in the last century, ensuring that its legislative priorities reflected the needs of society and critical issues of concern. Today, the League remains true to its mission of education and advocacy, focusing on global climate change, health care reform, and voting rights for the District of Columbia. Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the achievements of the League of Women Voters and the contributions it has made to our Nation and to American history. Its efforts honor the legacy of the women who assembled at Seneca Falls, New York over 160 years ago. With the same courage and belief in equality, the League of Women Voters continues to make history.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment, HIRE, Act as an important part of the ongoing jobs agenda Congress will continue to prioritize in the months ahead. Simply put, we will not stop until every American who wants a job can find one, and we have launched a new era of broadly shared American prosperity. To boost near term employment while tackling our nation's infrastructure backlog, the HIRE Act extends the current surface transportation law through the end of 2010 and provides $77 billion to get our nation's highways, roads and public transit systems back into shape. A new direct payment option for states and localities that issue tax credit bonds for school construction, energy conservation and renewable energy will further support job creation in these vital sectors. I am pleased that this legislation continues support for our job- generating small businesses by extending the enhanced expensing begun in the Recovery Act. Under this provision, small businesses will be able to immediately write off up to $250,000 for qualified capital expenditures incurred in 2010. Finally, as a signature initiative, this bill will encourage businesses to hire new workers by providing a payroll tax holiday equal to the employer's share of social security taxes for every new hire made between February 3, 2010 and January 1, 2011. An additional $1000 tax credit is provided for every employee kept on for a full calendar year. Madam Speaker, the HIRE Act will put more Americans back to work providing for their families and participating in our ongoing economic recovery. It is fully paid for and deserves my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Keeping All Students Safe Act, a commonsense measure to provide guidance for teachers and schools on the use of seclusion and restraints. Last year, the Government Accountability Office found hundreds of cases of alleged abuse of seclusion and restraints, including cases that resulted in death. And while federal law provides minimum safety standards for the use of these interventions in hospitals and other facilities supported by federal dollars, there are no federal rules for public or private schools. Today's bill sets basic standards and gives states 2 years to implement their own policies, procedures, monitoring, and enforcement systems to meet them. It provides grants to help train school staff and implement positive behavior support programs. And it increases transparency and oversight by requiring states, for the first time, to collect and report data annually to the Secretary of Education. With these measures, we can ensure the safe learning environment that all our students deserve. I encourage my colleagues to join me and support this bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I stand in support of the 2010 Intelligence Authorization Act. This measure continues congress' commitment to delivering to the men and women who serve in the country's intelligence community the resources they need to conduct the vital work of protecting American lives. This bill ensures that these resources are delivered in a manner that strengthens accountability. In addition to authorizing funding for 16 U.S. intelligence agencies and intelligence-related activities of the government, the bill contains important provisions to expand independent government oversight of the intelligence community so that the American public can be confident that the essential work of intelligence gathering is done in a manner that comports with the highest moral standards. To ensure that all relevant members of congress are kept abreast of all important intelligence developments, the bill repeals the ``Gang of Eight'' provision which has for years limited some congressional intelligence committee member access to intelligence information and activities. With the passage of this measure, the president will be required to brief all covered members of congress on the covert actions and programs of the government. This will ensure that all officials who have been elected to oversee intelligence matters are briefed and aware of events as they unfold. To help combat waste, fraud and abuse, the bill creates a new Office of the Inspector General and invests the office with subpoena powers and important protections to ensure its independence. Madam Chair, Congress has not sent an intelligence authorization bill to the president for his signature in more than 5 years. That means for five years, congress has not been a full partner in the development of this country's national security policy. We need to pass this bill, not only to fulfill our oversight responsibilities, but also for the sake of the brave men and women in and out of uniform who have dedicated themselves to the important work this bill helps to fund.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in strong support of legislation that will end the unfair advantages that health insurance companies currently enjoy today. I want to commend my colleagues Representatives Perriello and Betsy Markey for their leadership and advocacy on this very important issue. I hope most of us would agree that health insurance companies should play by the same rules as every other industry in America. For far too long, the health insurance industry has been exempt from the Federal antitrust laws that govern other businesses. As a result, they are not subject to Federal laws banning price fixing, market manipulation, collusion, or other anticompetitive business practices. It is apparent that there is no real competition in parts of the health insurance market. In the last few weeks, we have seen health insurance companies impose huge premium increases on consumers. Anthem Blue Cross of California announced a 39 percent price hike in premiums for their consumers. The Department of Health and Human Services has reported that several large health insurance companies across the country have requested premium increases of anywhere between 16 percent and 56 percent. These huge premium increases come after a year of record profits for the top five health insurance companies in America. Last year, as Americans struggled to pay their health insurance costs, insurance companies' profits jumped by 56 percent. Quite simply, the legislation we are considering today will repeal the blanket antitrust exemption afforded to health insurance companies under the McCarran-Ferguson Act. We must hold health insurers accountable when they engage in anti-competitive behaviors that benefit their profit margins at the expense of American families. Mr. Speaker, we are taking a small but very critical step towards health insurance reform and fixing a part of our broken health care system while Congress continues to work on comprehensive health care reform to bring more affordable and accessible care for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support this much-needed bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009. I'd like to thank Representative Lipinski, Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall for crafting this important piece of bi-partisan legislation. Cybersecurity is a critical issue in a world with increasing reliance on information systems. So much of our personal lives, from bank accounts to medical records are online. And much of our world, from traffic signals to water purification, operate with industrial control systems that are vulnerable to hacking. Indeed, a Wall Street Journal article in April of this year reported that cyberspies had penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind potentially-disruptive software programs and, more recently, the Chinese government was accused of being behind a number of cybersecurity attacks which targeted U.S. networks, including a breach of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter development program. Congress takes this growing threat to the Nation's cyber network seriously and has gathered here today to consider a bill designed to harness relevant U.S. government resources into a coordinated approach to the problem. The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009 authorizes $395 million for the National Science Foundation programs aimed at improving cybersecurity research--$69 million in FY 2010, $73.5 million in FY 2011, $79 million in FY 2012, $84 million in FY 2013, and $90 million in FY 2014. It reauthorizes existing research and development programs and includes ``identity management'' as a new supported research area. The bill reauthorizes cybersecurity workforce and traineeship programs at NSF, as well as cybersecurity research program, and authorizes $609 million in FY 2010 through FY 2014, and $319 million after FY 2014, for NSF programs. A key player in the Nation's cybersecurity effort will be National Institute of Standards and Technology, which has already done pioneering work in information security. I am proud to have NIST in my Congressional district. This measure places a number of new requirements on NIST, which is responsible for setting cybersecurity standards for nonclassified Federal networks. Among its many important provisions is a requirement for NIST to develop a coordinated plan for U.S. involvement in the development of international cybersecurity technical standards that ensures adequate U.S. Government representation; the bill requires NIST to develop a cybersecurity awareness and education program that would disseminate best practices and technical standards for individuals, small businesses, state and local governments, and educational institutions; NIST is required to engage in research and development programs to improve identity management systems, which include health information technology systems; and, NIST is required to establish technical standards to improve interoperability, authentication methods, privacy protection, and usability of identity management systems. The bill authorizes $30 million in FY 2010 through FY 2014 for these programs. According to the Office of Management and Budget and The Government Accountability Office, despite spending an estimated $6 billion a year protecting nearly $72 billion in information technology infrastructure and more than $350 million in cybersecurity research and development each year, U.S. information technology infrastructure remains vulnerable to attacks, and agencies tasked with its protection are not fulfilling their responsibilities. Dennis Blair, the director of national intelligence, told members of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee yesterday, that ``in the dynamic of cyberspace, the technology balance right now favors malicious actors rather than legal actors, and is likely to continue that way for quite some time.'' Madam Chair, this bill and the important amendments we will also consider today are part of Congress's ongoing efforts to meet this growing challenge to the cyber and national security infrastructure of the country. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I thank my colleague. We're all entitled to our own opinions but not to our own facts, and it is a fact that the day President Obama put his hand on the Bible to be sworn in as President of the United States, he inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit, a record deficit in this country. This is an opportunity for all of us to stop just talking about the deficit and debts and actually do something about it. For the first time since 2002, Congress will bring, as a matter of law, the commonsense proposition that the Federal Government should pay for what it buys. And the history of success on this is clear. When the Congress lived under the PAYGO rules in the 1990s, we did turn deficits into record surpluses. After PAYGO was abandoned, deficits skyrocketed, our national debt clearly doubled. Much has been made by the other side of the aisle about the deficit in the first year of the Obama administration. The Congressional Budget Office analysis is pretty clear that the contributors to that were two wars, unpaid for; a record mandatory prescription drug bill, unpaid for; and, of course, two tax cuts that disproportionately benefited the wealthiest Americans, all on our national credit card, all running us deeper into the red. This legislation says enough is enough, and it says that virtually any new policy that reduces revenue or increases mandatory spending will have to be offset elsewhere in the budget. That is just common sense to every American family. And it says that if for some reason we don't abide by that discipline, you're going to have an across-the- board enforcement mechanism that will sequester the funds. It's time to do what every family has to do and pay as we go.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I commend Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member Camp for bringing this timely legislation to the floor and support its swift enactment. Simply put, H.R. 4462 will allow charitable cash contributions for Haitian earthquake relief made before March 1, 2010 to be deducted on the contributor's 2009 tax return. As the ongoing rescue and recovery effort in Haiti is still very much an issue of life and death, this targeted initiative will reward those who have already given while providing an extra incentive for those who are considering a contribution. Additionally, I applaud Secretary Napolitano's decision to grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals living in the United States, which will enable these individuals to stay in the U.S. for up to 18 months past their visa expiration. America is a generous and compassionate Nation that has always responded to our neighbors in need. I'm proud to support this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Families Flu Vaccination Day and Families Fighting Flu. Influenza is a serious disease that kills nearly 100 children younger than five years of age every year in the United States. In fact, more children die from the flu than from chicken pox, whooping cough, and measles combined. The flu is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. With the recent development of H1N1, a deadlier strain of the flu, it is more important now than ever to vaccinate our children and educate the American public. Indeed, more than 240 children in the United States have died from the H1N1 virus. I commend the efforts of Families Fighting Flu, a non-profit, volunteer-based organization of families who have experienced firsthand the death of a child or have had a child experience severe medical complications from seasonal or H1N1 influenza. Families Fighting Flu and its medical advisors are dedicated to educating people about the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children against the flu every year. The members of Families Fighting Flu have suffered terrible personal losses as result of the virus. We are grateful that they are sharing their personal tragedies so that others will not have to suffer such loss. Influenza is unpredictable, but we know that the more people who are vaccinated, the less likely the disease will spread. Every year in the United States more than 20,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized due to influenza. Additionally, children are two-to-three times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu because of their less developed immune systems. Because the flu vaccine is typically 60 to 90 percent effective when administered to children, getting an annual flu vaccination is an easy way to help stop the spread of the virus. This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week, a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of the flu vaccine after the holiday season into January and beyond. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children 6 months through 18 years of age get vaccinated against the flu every year. In addition, the CDC recommends that all contacts and caregivers of children from birth to age five should be vaccinated. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Families Fighting Flu. This non-profit organization is determined to help prevent the tragedy of losing another child by encouraging annual flu vaccinations for all children. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support Families Flu Vaccination Day and make influenza immunization for children a national health priority.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Jobs for Main Street Act. Now that recent initiatives aimed at stabilizing our financial system and stimulating our economy are beginning to have their intended effect, this targeted legislation is laser-focused on job creation to ensure that all Americans will have an opportunity to participate in our ongoing economic recovery. Specifically, the Jobs for Main Street Act invests $48 billion in our nation's highways, transit systems, school facilities, water infrastructure and housing stock. In addition to putting hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work, these funds will make needed improvements and renovations to our nation's aging infrastructure. $27 billion is provided to hire, train and equip an estimated 820,000 teachers, police, firefighters and other public service personnel. Job- generating small businesses will get greater access to Small Business Administration (SBA) loans by eliminating fees and by providing higher guarantees to the private banks that lend to them. These measures, in addition to the small business Recovery Act initiatives that preceded them, will help generate well over $9 billion in new small business lending. To help Americans who are out of work or have lost their employer- provided health insurance, this legislation extends emergency unemployment and COBRA benefits through June, 2010. States will receive an extra six months of federal matching funds to help cover their Medicaid costs through June, 2011, and the families of 16 million low-income children will get a tax cut through greater access to the Child Tax Credit. Madam Speaker, this Congress on a bipartisan basis extended support to Wall Street during a period of potentially catastrophic systemic risk and extraordinary need. It is now high time we make an equally extraordinary effort on behalf of creating jobs for Main Street so that the prosperity we are creating is broadly shared by all.