Chris Van Hollen

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend my constituent Laura Cohen Apelbaum on her 15 outstanding years as Executive Director of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington. Laura's leadership, creativity and vision have profoundly benefitted the Jewish Historical Society. Under her guidance, the organization has grown in numerous ways, from the size of its staff and facilities to the breadth of its educational programming, to the resources of its extraordinary archive--making it the premier source in our region for Washington Jewish history. Laura has a passion that distinguished her among her colleagues early on in her career. Within a short time of assuming her position with the Jewish Historical Society, she became President of the Council of American Jewish Museums--the first national President of this Council to come from an institution of such limited size and resources. In addition to leading the growth and success of the Jewish Historical Society, Laura championed the preservation campaign of the historic synagogue at 6th & I Streets, N.W. The synagogue's restoration has enabled the Society to complete a Historic Structures Report and an Interpretive Plan to implement a permanent installation in the synagogue. Laura also guided the development of the award-winning exhibition and companion guide Jewish Washington: Scrapbook of an American Community. This work, and the 22 other exhibitions developed under her tenure, have reawakened pride in our community's past and provided countless individuals in our area and across the country with a new and deeper understanding of Jewish life throughout the centuries in Washington. Laura's commitment to the Jewish community goes beyond activities in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2006 she worked with Congress to establish the first Jewish American Heritage Month to acknowledge the contributions of Jewish Americans. Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Laura Cohen Apelbaum for her 15 years of accomplishments. My appreciation extends as well to her husband, Perry Apelbaum, to her children Benjy and Sara, and to her parents, Faye and Sheldon Cohen. I am proud to represent Laura and her family in the U.S. Congress and am honored to extend my congratulations and appreciation to her today.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Financial and Governmental Services Appropriation Act of 2010. The bill appropriates a total of $46.2 billion to fund the important operations and functions of the U.S. government. This support will help fund federal government salaries, including a 2% pay raise for all federal civilian employees, the U.S. postal service, and it will help to rebuild the regulatory, enforcement and oversight structure of the federal government. This bill supports our efforts to protect consumers and investors by strengthening the oversight of Wall Street and large financial institutions. Enhancing the regulatory authorities and oversight functions of government agencies will be a major focus of these efforts. This legislation contributes to this process by increasing the flow of government resources to the agencies that will be on the frontlines. The bill appropriates $1 billion for the Securities and Exchange Commission, $149 million to fund the operations of the Treasury Department Inspectors General; $292 million for Federal Trade Commission; $113 million for the Consumer Product Safety Commission; and $38 million for the FDIC Inspector General. The bill also acknowledges the key role the nation's small businesses will play in the recovery by providing resources for the government programs that are helping small businesses weather current economic conditions. Small businesses drive economic growth and job creation in the U.S. Protecting the health of existing small businesses and fostering the growth of new ones is a congressional priority. In addition to providing $847 million for the Small Business Administration, the bill further illustrates Congress' commitment to supporting healthy small businesses by reinstating agreements with auto dealerships that were dropped as part of the recent General Motors or Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings. This bill funds the important functions and operations of the federal government, while also supporting the financial reform, enforcement and oversight priorities of Congress. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of the bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are now adjusting to a new imperative, which is to make sure that we, as a Nation and as communities, move in the direction of clean energy technology and energy efficiency. These funds would be used by Montgomery County on a competitive basis to provide seed funding for startup small businesses, companies that have to meet very rigorous criteria, just as the kind of criteria they used and was applied in the biotech sector. So I think this is an incredible example of strong public-private partnerships. Again, these will be distributed on a very competitive basis. There is going to be a long line of people waiting for these requests, and they are going to have to meet the competition requirements. I'm pleased to join in this request with my colleague Donna Edwards. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, we're in Ways and Means marking up the health bill, so I am going to have to turn it over to my colleague.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to commend my colleague from Arizona for taking the time to scrutinize many of these projects. I am pleased with the changes we have made in this body with respect to the transparency and accountability of the earmark reform process. It's something that my colleague has fought for for many years, but those changes did not actually take place until the new Congress was sworn in in January 2006. I am pleased we have gotten to this point, and I think the gentleman performs a very useful function here. Montgomery County, Maryland, has become one of the Nation's centers in the biotech area. It is one of the top 10 biotech centers in the country. One of the reasons they were able to do that is they pursued a successful strategy of creating incubators. Mr. Chairman, I include for the Record a whole list of success stories for the Montgomery County Incubator. Montgomery County Incubator Network Success Stories--June 2009 1. Avalon Pharmaceuticals. Ken Carter, Ph.D., President, 20358 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Germantown, MD 20876, 301-556-9900. Admitted: January 2000. Graduated: October 2000. Current Employees: 50+. At admission: 3. Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc is a bio company that utilizes an innovative forward chemical genetics approach to create safer and more effective small molecules medicines-focused in the area of cancer. The company has received more than 60 million in venture capital funding. In December 2004 the company was selected as a Top 100 Innovator by Red Herring. Red Herring covers technology innovation, venture financing, and the deals that make a difference. Its award-winning journalists go deeper, providing a comprehensive, critical analysis of what's new and why it matters. Red Herring's editorial staff evaluated over 1,200 submissions from 900 public and private companies, and selected the Top Innovator companies. The company executed an IPO in 2005 and was sold in 2009 to Clinical Data. 2. Nextone Communications. Ravi Narayan, COO and Co-founder, 101 Orchard Ridge Dr., Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, Tel. 240-912-1300. Admitted: April 1999. Graduated: January 2003. Current Employees: 100+. At admission: 4. Nextone develops carrier-grade products that provide scalable session management of voice over IP (VoIP) and other real-time services. Nextone's portfolio of core and edge session management technologies enables service providers and carriers to interconnect their voice networks in the most simple and cost effective way. Nextone has offices in Asia and Europe. 3. Systems Integration & Development, INC (SID). Ajay Agrawal, President & Founder, 15200 Shady Grove Road, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20850, Tel. 301-840-2120. Admitted: January 1999. Graduated: July 2002. Current Employees: 110. At admission: 4. SID specializes in designing, developing, and implementing superior quality web based software solutions for commercial enterprises and government agencies. SID has developed several web based COTS tools as solutions for workflow management, document management and tracking systems. 2004 has been a stellar year for SID. The company has been named members of several key ``who's who'' lists in the IT world, including Maryland Technology Fast 50 (ranked 21st), Washington Technology Fast 50 (ranked 13th), and the Technology Fast 500 for North America (ranked 483rd.) 4. GeneDX, Inc. Sherri Bale, Founder, President & Clinical Director, 207 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, Tel: 301-519-2100, x102. Admitted: July 1999. Graduated: September 2002. Current Employees: 25. At admission: 2. GeneDx specializes in genetic testing for rare hereditary disorders. Its mission is to make clinical testing available to people with rare genetic conditions and their families. 5. Opgen, Inc. Noel Doheny, CEO, 708 Quince Orchard Boulevard, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, Tel: 301-919-6635. Admitted: March 2008. Graduated: July 2008. Current Employees: 56. At Admission: 2. Opgen holds the record for the fastest graduation in the Incubator Network. The company owns a proprietary molecular detection system. The purpose of its technology is to detect and identify pathogens. Opgen's technology was utilized by the U.S. FDA to detect and trace the source of e-coli and salmonella that broke out in the produce markets. The company has received $50MM in venture funding and has contracts with the FDA and DARPA. 7. Aeras Global TB Foundation. Jerald Sadoff, MD, President & CEO, 1405 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850, Tel: 301-547-2900. Admitted: February 2004. Graduated: September 2006. Current Employees: 110. At Admittance: 5. Aeras is the recipient of over $200MM in grants, namely from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The organization is focused on developing a new and improved vaccine for tuberculosis, as well as diagnostics and therapeutics. 8. Advanced Vision Therapies, Inc.--``Finding Solutions to Prevent Blindness''. Michael Kaleko MD, PhD, President, 9 West Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Admitted: June 2003. Graduated: January 2007. Current Employees: 18. At Admittance: 4. Advanced Vision Therapies, Inc. (AVT) is focused on the treatment of sight-threatening eye diseases, such as age- related macular degeneration and finding a cure that works. AVT recognized that an improved delivery system is required to enable the broad application of ocular therapeutics. The company has identified two novel therapeutics and developed a proprietary delivery system, which, with a single administration, will provide sustained, possibly life-long therapy. AVT was aquired by the Wellstadt group who was subsequently aquired by Roche. 9. 20/20 GeneSystems, Inc. Jonathan Cohen, Esq., CEO, 9430 Key West Avenue, Rockville,

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. I rise to claim the time in opposition, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the FY 10 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Under the leadership of President Obama, the United States is committing itself to a new national clean energy policy for the 21st century, and this legislation advances that critical objective. Additionally, I am pleased with the important investments this bill makes in our nation's water infrastructure. The Department of Energy will receive $26.9 billion to fund five primary mission areas: science, energy, the environment, nuclear non- proliferation and national security. Specifically, DoE's Office of Science will receive $4.9 billion--an amount exceeding the goals of the America COMPETES Act--for its basic and applied research in support of our nation's future energy needs. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will receive $2.25 billion for research, grants and demonstration projects in areas ranging from solar power to industrial energy efficiency. This legislation also provides $5.4 billion for environmental clean-up related to contamination from nuclear weapons manufacturing, and $592 million is dedicated to safeguarding Russian nuclear materials and combating international nuclear trafficking. To support our nation's water infrastructure, the Army Corps of Engineers receives $5.5 billion for operations, maintenance and construction of vital water projects across the country, and the Department of the Interior is provided $1.1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation's important work on the nation's dams, canals, water conservation and rural water projects. Finally, I am heartened by the wide-ranging support for Chesapeake Bay restoration initiatives included in this legislation. Mr. Chair, this bipartisan bill reflects the clean energy and water infrastructure priorities of the American people. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, on June 22, our legion experienced a terrible tragedy as two metro trains collided on the red line, resulting in 9 deaths and nearly 80 injured. I rise to express deep sympathy to the families of all those who lost their lives--Mandy Doolittle, Veronica DuBose, Dennis Hawkins, LaVonda ``Nikki'' King, Major General David Wherley and Ann Wherley, Cameron Williams, and train operator Jeanice McMillan. I also want to especially recognize the life of my constituent, Ana Fernandez of Hyattsville. Ana will be remembered for her dedication to her family, especially her six children ages 2 to 21. She emigrated to the United States 20 years ago to secure a better life and worked tirelessly to support her parents and son back in El Salvador and her five children here in the U.S. She was able to realize her dream of sponsoring her eldest son for a visa, and he arrived only 18 days before the accident. Her family and community speak of her kindness, generosity, and indomitable spirit. I send sincere condolences to her children, her husband, her parents, and her entire family. In the hours and days after the accident, we received reports of courage and kindness on those metro trains--from the passengers who comforted and assisted each other to the first responders who rushed to the scene and treated the injured. Almost immediately, local and federal agencies, including WMATA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Tri-State Oversight Committee, as well as the Amalgamated Transit Union, got to work to find out what caused the crash and what must be done to ensure the safety of the system. I want to particularly commend John Catoe and the staff at WMATA for their efforts in these past few weeks. Out of this tragedy, we must renew our commitment to America's subway and make the safety improvements necessary to ensure that such a devastating accident never happens again. I am pleased that the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee included $150 million for WMATA in its bill, which is the full federal share of the dedicated funding authorized by last year's Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act. I urge my colleagues to support that vital funding. This accident must be a wake-up call--we cannot afford to wait.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010. This important piece of legislation authorizes $680 billion for training, equipment, healthcare, and for important quality of life improvements for our troops and their families. The rising cost of goods and services and rising unemployment is taking an especially serious toll on our men and women in uniform and their families. As military commanders demand more time in theater for active duty personnel and rely more on the contribution of reservists, many of whom leave higher-paying jobs to be activated, demands on the limited financial resources of military families increase. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 was crafted with the concerns and urgent needs of these dedicated public servants and their families in mind. The legislation authorizes $135 billion for personnel needs and $27 billion for healthcare. It raises the basic pay of our service members at a time when a pay-raise is dearly needed and the bill helps fund re- enlistment bonuses for active-duty members and reservists. To enable service members to spend more time with their families between tours, the bill increases the maximum leave days that a service member can accumulate and carry over from one year to the next. And, to ensure that our service members have a safe and secure home to return to, the bill contains $2 billion for the construction and renovation of new and existing family military housing. I am pleased to report to my constituents who have concerns about traffic congestion as the region prepares for the move of Walter Reed Hospital to Bethesda, that the bill instructs the Department of Defense to use all available resources to implement the Defense Access Road Program near the National Naval Medical Center. The provisions and funds authorized by this act will help our men and women in uniform serving in the field, and help give them more peace of mind that their families back home are being cared for in their absence. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill. Today, there was also a vote on an amendment to this legislation offered by my colleague Massachusetts Representative James McGovern, which would require the Department of Defense to report an exit strategy for military forces in Afghanistan by no later than December 31st of this year. While I do not oppose the intent of my colleague's amendment, I did oppose the amendment on the grounds that President Obama has already laid out his strategy for Afghanistan in a speech delivered in March 2009. Like President Obama, I want to bring our troops home as soon as possible consistent with our national security needs. As the President emphasized in his speech, Afghanistan is where the plot to attack the United States on September 11th, 2001 was developed and put into motion. It is of vital importance to U.S. national security that we do what is necessary to eliminate the threat posed to the American people from al Qaeda. Madam speaker, I urge that we support the National Defense Act of 2010.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill. This bill reflects the bipartisan priorities of Congress in the areas of national security and counterterrorism, diplomacy, development, global health and oversight. This bill appropriates $48.8 billion for State Department operations, programs and foreign aid, including $13.4 billion for national security, counterterrorism and counternarcotics programs, $7.8 billion for global health programs, $5.8 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, $2.5 billion for general development aid, and $2.4 billion for the Child Survival and Disease Fund. And, to assist and enhance our diplomatic efforts around the world, the bill provides funding for over a thousand new Foreign Service officers and $746 million for international broadcasting activities such as the Voice of America. To honor our strategic and diplomatic commitments to our partners around the world, the bill appropriates $2.2 billion in aid for Israel, $1.3 billion for Egypt, and $513 million in economic and security aid for Jordan. The bill also funds such commitments closer to home in Mexico where in 2008, more than 6,200 people died in drug-related violence, more than twice the number killed in 2007. More than 1,000 people have died so far in 2009. This problem has grown so severe that the Department of Homeland Security is reviewing ways to assist Mexican law enforcement to stop the flow of guns, assault rifles, and cash from the U.S. into Mexico. This bill recognizes this challenge and provides $987 million to support counter narcotics and alternative development programs in Mexico, Central American, the Caribbean Basin, Colombia and Peru. U.S. peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts are also served by this bill. The bill appropriates $2.4 billion for various peacekeeping operations, including missions in Darfur and Somalia, where the United States continues to be the leading donor for emergency refugee and humanitarian assistance. For Sudan alone, this bill provides over $700 million in combined assistance for African Union and United Nations missions there. I want to thank Chairman Lowey and Ranking Member Granger and all the members of the Appropriations Committee for crafting a bipartisan bill that responsibly satisfies our strategic, development and diplomatic commitments around the world. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the FY 2010 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill for the investments it makes in protecting the public health, bolstering food nutrition and conserving our natural resources. I am pleased that the Food and Drug Administration will receive $2.338 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $299 million over last year. Serious gaps have been exposed in FDA's ability to protect the American public due to recent outbreaks and recalls of food-borne illnesses. We need to ensure that the FDA has the necessary tools and resources to fulfill its vital mission in protecting the American public from unsafe products. This substantial investment in the FDA will significantly improve food and medical products safety. In addition, the bill fully funds the President's request for the Food Safety Inspection Service, providing over $1 billion for FSIS for the first time in history for the inspection of meat, poultry and egg products. To help those low-income and elderly Americans struggling with rising food costs in this current economic crisis, this bill strengthens food nutrition programs by providing $61.4 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, an increase of $7.4 billion over last year's amount, and $7.5 billion for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The funding the legislation provides will help an additional 700,000 women, infants, and children, which will increase WIC participation to over ten million people. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I am particularly pleased that the bill provides almost $4 million through the Natural Resources Conservation Services for Chesapeake Bay restoration activities. Providing adequate technical assistance to farmers, landowners, watershed groups and communities is critical to implementing the Farm Bill conservation programs that are the single most vital tool to improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay. This legislation provides $980.3 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Program to help face the demands for cleaner water, reduced soil erosion, and more wildlife habitat. Mr. Chair, I commend Chairwoman DeLauro, Ranking Member Kingston and the rest of the subcommittee for its work on this legislation and urge my colleagues' support. Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the underlying legislation, H.R. 2997 the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. My district is home to some of the most fertile farm land as well as some of the hardest working families farmers in the nation. As you drive through my district, you see fields full of dry beans, sugar beets, corn, wheat, soybeans, various vegetables, and other crops needed to feed our nation and indeed the world. We have thriving cattle, pork, and dairy industries as well. While so many identify Michigan with manufacturing, we sometimes forget that agriculture is Michigan's second leading industry--and the bright spot in a struggling Michigan economy. This bill is important because it provides much needed funding for the Farm Services Agency which administers disaster and loan programs, farm commodities and conservation programs directed toward producers. The bill also goes a long way in providing money for continued agriculture research which is so important in increasing yields and furthering education for our producers. This measure also includes essential programs to assist those living in rural communities and extends programs that keep the quality of our food safe. Finally, this bill also provides an important benefit to the Great Lakes, a national treasure which represent 20% of the world's freshwater supply. This bill exceeds the President's Budget and the FY2009 levels for funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service which help protect wetlands and wildlife habitat. While there are certainly challenges with this bill--namely an increase in spending over last year--it is vital that we move this important funding bill forward. It is my hope that in conference we can find additional savings to bring total spending down, but this bill does represent spending that will provide sufficient support for an industry that is important to our national economy and necessary to make certain that America remains the greatest food producer in the world. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, this is an historic day for this House of Representatives. After years of delay and inaction, we're finally poised to embrace America's clean-energy future and adopt an energy strategy for the 21st century. This act delivers on the change that President Obama has called for in our energy policy. It will strengthen our national security by slashing our dependence on foreign oil by as much as 2 million barrels a day by 2030, which is as much as we export from the Persian Gulf today. We will use those hundreds of billions of dollars instead right here at home on homegrown, clean energy. And by doing so, we're going to create millions of jobs, high-skilled, well-paying jobs that will focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency. And we will do all that without adding a single penny to our national debt. Mr. Speaker, I especially want to thank Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Markey, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Gordon, and their staff for the collaborative effort that went into the final provisions establishing a Clean Energy Deployment Administration. As a result of this effort, America is going to have an independent----

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Well capitalized bank charged with the exclusive mission of accelerating the deployment of clean energy.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this FY 10 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill for the investments it makes in our infrastructure, natural resources and cultural life--as well as its commitment to tackling the ongoing challenge of global climate change. This legislation provides $10.46 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency to safeguard our nation's land, air and water. Of that amount, $2.3 billion will go to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and $1.4 billion will go to the Drinking Water State revolving fund to help over 1500 communities improve their wastewater and drinking water systems. One and a half billion dollars will go to clean up hazardous and toxic waste, including $605 million for our nation's most toxic Superfund sites and $100 million for brownfields cleanup and redevelopment. And $601 million is provided at President Obama's request to enable the EPA to enforce our nation's environmental laws. Our national parks receive $2.7 billion, which includes $100 million to support the park service's 10-year initiative to upgrade park facilities before the National Park System's Centennial Anniversary in 2016. Our national wildlife refuge system is provided $503 million for its conservation efforts. And the U.S. Forest service is allocated $2.77 billion to manage of (Air federal forests--including targeted support for the Legacy Road and Trail Remediation program protecting streams and water systems from damaged forest roads, as well as the Forest Legacy Land Conservation Program to help protect environmentally important, privately owned forest lands. To support our nation's cultural heritage, this legislation invests $340 million, split evenly between the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. And the Smithsonian will receive $774 million for reducing its backlog of deferred maintenance and the planning and design of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. Finally, this bill provides a total of $420 million on climate change related initiatives--including $50 million for the EPA's Energy Star program, $17 million for the development of a Greenhouse Gas Registry necessary for monitoring greenhouse gases and $10 million for new grants to empower local communities to find innovative ways to cut their, greenhouse gas emissions. Madam Chair, I commend Chairman Dicks, Ranking Member Simpson and the rest of the subcommittee for developing this thoughtful bill, and I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010. This bipartisan legislation funds the homeland security priorities of the country and strengthens our commitment to our state and local homeland security partners. To help address the unique security needs of our high-risk urban areas, such as the Washington Capitol Region, the bill requests $887 million for Urban Area Security Initiative grants. These grants fund the security services and equipment needs of the nation's highest- threat, high-density areas and helps to ensure that our state and local leaders have the resources they need to protect these areas from terrorist attack. In addition to appropriating funding to secure our passenger rail and air and sea ports, the bill provides funding for interoperable communications and for the nation's emergency operation centers. For our firefighters and other first responders, the bill adds $800 million for assistance grants for training and equipment. These funds will also be used to stem the tide of layoffs that are weakening our fire services and putting the public's safety at increased risk. The House considers this bill just two days after the Washington Capitol Area experienced one of the worst passenger rail tragedies in our nation's history. We owe a debt of gratitude to the first responders who arrived from across the region to provide aid and comfort to the victims of this tragedy. By funding these and other important programs, the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010, helps make our country more secure in times like these. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this vital piece of legislation.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, at its core, the Commerce-Justice-Science bill is designed to keep our economy strong, our people safe, and our research and development efforts thriving. This legislation accomplishes all of three of these objectives--and it does so in a fiscally responsible manner by scrutinizing each of the bill's existing programs, eliminating eleven of them and trimming thirteen others. In particular, I am pleased that science, technology and innovation receive $30.6 billion under this legislation, an increase of $1 billion over last year. Of that amount, $6.9 billion will go to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support promising scientific research at America's universities. $781 million will go to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), including $125 million for Manufacturing Extension Partnerships to help small and mid-size companies compete overseas and $70 million for the Technology Innovation Program to fund high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need. $18.2 billion will go to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its groundbreaking research into space and aeronautics. And $4.6 billion will go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for its indispensable analysis on climate and weather. Importantly, the bill also provides $1.08 billion for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to properly train America's future workforce. To keep our communities safe, this legislation also invests $3.4 billion in state and local law enforcement--including $802 million for the COPS program to hire more than 7000 police officers, $385 million for juvenile justice programs that support our nation's youth, and $400 million to prevent violence against women. Mr. Chair, I commend Chairman Mollohan, Ranking Member Wolf and the rest of the subcommittee for its work on this legislation and urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 2410, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011. I want to commend my colleague, Mr. Berman of California, for his leadership in moving this important bill through the Committee on Foreign Affairs and bringing it to the Floor today. This important legislation represents an opportunity for the U.S. Congress to assert its proper advisory role in shaping civilian elements of our national security infrastructure. This legislation firmly launches the U.S. on an effort to invigorate our frontline defense: Diplomatic and development capabilities at the heart of our vast global engagements. Of course, diplomacy is effective only if backed by a robust military, but we know even heroic efforts by our military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan won't secure stable victories without complementary civilian efforts. This bill reinvests in our ability to build global consensus that favors U.S. interests. It increases Peace Corps programs and expands public diplomacy, broadcasting, and educational exchanges that will forge lasting bonds and build allies. Finally, this bill removes our arrearages to the United Nations, boosting our credibility in this key forum that lends legitimacy and effectiveness to so many of our multilateral endeavors. It also seeks to realign U.S. policies on controlled exports, streamlining licensing to help protect U.S. jobs and preserve the competitive edge of U.S. businesses while preserving nonproliferation goals. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill that represents a significant step towards restoring diplomacy as our Nation's first line of defense. By expanding dialogue, diplomacy, and development today, we will avoid the far greater costs of solving crises that instead would emerge from our indifference.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of the FY 2009 Supplemental Conference Report. The funding provided in this Report is part of the President and Congress' comprehensive effort to keep our nation safe. The brave men and women in our armed forces are central to our national security. From ensuring our troops have appropriate equipment to fully funding military pay and providing compensation for stop-loss, President Obama and Congress are committed to providing for our troops and their families. The Conference Report also allows the extension of the new GI-Bill benefits to children of members of the armed forces who die while on active duty. Another central piece of our national security is implementing the comprehensive plans that President Obama has laid out for Iraq and Afghanistan, and this Conference Report is consistent with those plans. It also funds new initiatives in Pakistan as part of our continued effort to improve their ability to confront the threat posed by the Taliban and al Qaeda. Working to improve our health security, the Supplemental Conference Report provides billions for pandemic flu response to expand detection efforts, supplement federal stockpiles, and develop, purchase and administer vaccines. Congress is working with President Obama every day to keep our nation safe--this legislation is a key piece of that effort. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today in support of House Resolution 529, condemning the violent attack on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10, 2009 and honoring the bravery and dedication of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum employees and security personnel. I also rise to pay tribute to officer Stephen Johns. A Maryland resident, Officer Johns was a devoted husband and father. He was a man who lived his life protecting other people, and worked every day to ensure the safety and security of the patrons of the National Holocaust Museum, a place devoted to the pursuit of peace and the end of intolerance. It was a responsibility Officer Johns took very seriously, and one he gave his life to uphold. Moments like these are the most painful of reminders that when hate results in violence, it robs us of our family members, neighbors, and friends. It claims the best and bravest among us. Yesterday, in a place dedicated to ending such bigotry, a well-liked and thoughtful man was stolen from us. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of Stephen Johns and in renewing our vow to be united in our effort to extinguish the flames of bigotry and intolerance in this country and around the world once and for all.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, this is a very important and historic day for the American people. I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, of which I am a proud original cosponsor. I want to thank and acknowledge the leadership of Chairman Waxman, Senator Kennedy, and so many others who have fought the battles for so many years to see this day happen. Granting the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products is long overdue. The legislation is a critical step in protecting the health and well being of millions of Americans from the deadly effects of tobacco use. It is a shame that tobacco products were not regulated in this country. Though the FDA has the authority to regulate products that are not addictive, we always had this gap in their regulatory authority when it came to the very addictive products of nicotine and tobacco products. For far too long, the tobacco companies have taken advantage of this loophole and have exploited it by marketing their deadly products to young people. Generation after generation, the tobacco companies knowingly targeted our kids through flavored cigarettes, manipulating the ingredients in their products, false advertising and other deceiving methods--all to ensure that their profit margins remained high. In fact, they had to do that. In order for these companies to continue to make their profits, they had to find ways to hook people on tobacco products. I am very proud of the efforts Maryland has taken to curb the effects of tobacco use. It has increased the tobacco tax and youth smoking has declined. Maryland also passed a comprehensive smokefree indoor air law in 2007. I am also proud that the Congress took steps earlier this year to decrease tobacco use by increasing federal excise taxes on cigarettes as part of the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Let's make sure that future generations of young people do not get addicted to tobacco products. Addiction to tobacco products has had a huge cost to our society in terms of lives and money by killing over 400,000 Americans each year. This legislation will save lives and money. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in putting an end to this deadly cycle and vote yes on this very important bill.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the CARS Act for the fleetwide fuel efficiency gains it will create, the energy security it will enhance, the air quality it will improve and the boost it will give our flagging economy. Under this ``Cash for Clunkers'' legislation, consumers with vehicles getting less than 18 MPG can get vouchers for $3500 towards the purchase of a new vehicle that gets at least 4 MPG better than the vehicle they are retiring--and $4500 towards the purchase of a new vehicle that gets at least 10 MPG better than the vehicle they are retiring. While I am among those who would favor even stronger standards, this legislation nevertheless points American drivers in the right direction and will stimulate new car sales during a period of time when the auto industry and their dealer networks can use that business the most. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Security and Prosperity Enhancement Act. The legislation, originally introduced as H.R. 1318, was subsequently incorporated into H.R. 1886, to authorize Democratic, Economic and Social Development Assistance for Pakistan, introduced by Congressman Berman, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. This legislation is aimed at protecting our homeland and those of our allies in the fight against Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan by providing tools for economic development. We worked with the Bush Administration to craft the framework of this legislation. This initiative was subsequently embraced by President Obama who specifically incorporated it into his counterinsurgency strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan. This bill authorizes the President of the United States to designate specific trade zones, known as Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs), in Afghanistan and in certain regions of Pakistan to create economic opportunities. These ROZs will allow qualified businesses duty-free access into U.S. markets for designated products, thereby providing significant employment opportunities where few currently exist. A ROZ program could go a long way to bolster economic development in this critical region of the world where extremists have tried to exploit the lack of economic opportunities to gain recruits for their radical agenda. Enhanced security efforts by the United States, as well as a strong foreign and military assistance program, are needed to disrupt and weaken Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban. These extremist groups exploit the poor socio-economic conditions, such as high unemployment, in the border areas, to gain adherents to their nefarious causes. With no meaningful alternatives, young men in particular are vulnerable to their entreaties. This legislation was endorsed by the Washington Post in an editorial on March 22, 2009. Moreover, in a letter to the Speaker this week, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, the State Department, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, reiterated the Administration's support and noted that ``ROZs are an important component of the President's comprehensive national security strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and we need enactment of ROZ legislation as quickly as possible to help facilitate success.'' I urge all Members of the House to support this valuable program and vote for this bill today. I ask unanimous consent to insert, into the Record, the speech of President Obama, the letter of Ambassador Holbrooke and the Washington Post editorial with my statement. Department of State, Washington, DC, June 10, 2009. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives. Dear Madam Speaker: Thank you for giving me the opportunity on Monday to discuss legislation creating Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and to reiterate the Administration's support. As you know, the House version (H.R. 1318) of this bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Representative Chris Van Hollen. Allow me to reaffirm, in writing, the key points, in the hope they will be useful as you proceed. First, let me emphasize that ROZs are a vital component of our policy toward Pakistan in a moment of great challenge, indeed crisis, for that critically important nation. Pakistan's stability and security are directly related to our own national security and the ROZ legislation addresses issues central to the very area in which, at present, there are well over 2 million internal refugees and in which the Taliban and al-Qaeda are operating. Military power alone cannot bring peace to Afghanistan and Pakistan. ROZs are an important component of the President's comprehensive national security strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and we need enactment of ROZ legislation as quickly as possible to help facilitate success. As the President put it earlier this year in calling for Congress to enact this bipartisan bill, ROZs will ``develop the economy [in the border regions] and bring hope to places plagued by violence.'' By spurring economic growth and job creation, ROZs will provide legitimate job opportunities in high-unemployment, high-poverty areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan where livelihood choices are extremely limited. We need ROZs now-- economic opportunities must be expanded to quickly follow up military operations with economic development to prove to populations in critical targeted areas that there are benefits to defeating the militants. Simply put, ROZs are crucial to the ``build'' part of our ``clear-hold-build'' counterinsurgency efforts and will help us to assist the Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to create conditions on the ground that will help marginalize the insurgents. ROZs will enhance our ``whole of government'' strategy and will be a highly visible example of U.S. commitment to the long-term prosperity of the Afghan and Pakistani peoples. On my trips to Pakistan and Afghanistan, I hear a constant refrain from all quarters in these societies about the importance of this legislation, including the signal its passage would send about the strength of the long-term relationships between our peoples. Thank you again for your leadership. I am committed to working with you and other Congressional leaders to quickly enact Pakistan and Afghanistan ROZs into law. Sincerely, Richard C. Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the President's decision not to make these photographs public for the reasons he has already expressed. Namely, the publication of these photos would not provide us with any additional benefit and may inflame anti-American sentiment and endanger our troops. However, the proper mechanism for this is through the courts or by issuing a Presidential Executive order, not through Congress. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has been an essential tool for promoting a more open, transparent, and accountable government. The Congress should not be addressing each separate FOIA request on an ad hoc basis. Amending FOIA through the legislative process sets an unwise precedent. I would urge my colleagues to allow the courts to rule on this very important matter.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. H.R. 626 provides four weeks of pay to federal employees to use while they are on family or medical leave. Having this option is of special importance to our younger employees and employees seeking to start a family. As the federal workforce ages, the government will have to hire many new workers. Indeed, by 2010, more than 50 percent of managers, and almost 50 percent of other federal workers will be eligible for retirement. The federal government will have to compete with the private sector to attract the best and brightest to federal service to replace them. But the federal government lacks an important benefit enjoyed by 75 percent of Fortune 100 companies--paid leave for parents of newborns. This legislation permits federal employees to take up to four weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. For younger employees, the lack of paid leave forces them to choose between using accrued sick leave or vacation time, which for newer employees is in short supply, or to simply go without pay when having a newborn. I encourage my colleagues to join me in helping to show the public that the federal government values families. Support H.R. 626, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act to clarify Congressional intent and help parents of students with disabilities ensure that their children have access to the free and appropriate education guaranteed by this Congress in 1975. I thank Mr. Sessions, who joins me in offering this bill, for his work on this important issue. It is vitally important that parents and schools cooperate and collaborate to educate our nation's children. When Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, it recognized the value of this partnership in special education. For the most part, this relationship has worked very well. But occasionally, the school system cannot or does not provide an appropriate education. In those rare cases, the Congress recognized that parents should have the ability to challenge the school's decision and advocate for a new Individual Education Plan. As both school systems and parent build their cases, they bring expert witnesses to assess the student and testify about the quality of the education plan. In 1986, when Congress amended IDEA, it explained in the Conference Report that when parents win their case, a judge could award attorney's fees, including, and I quote, ``reasonable expenses and fees of expert witnesses and the reasonable costs of any test or evaluation which is found to be necessary for the preparation of the parent or guardian's case.'' For years, prevailing parents were awarded expert witness fees, as Congress intended. But unfortunately, while Congress was very clear in its explanation of the bill, it did not include this provision in the legislative language. In 2006, the provision was challenged and the Supreme Court ruled that because Congress did not make its intention explicit in statute, courts could no longer award these fees. IDEA guarantees students with disabilities a free and appropriate education. But, as a result of this decision, parents can be faced with many thousands of dollars of expert witness fees in order to ensure their child gets the education plan he needs. A single expert witness can charge anywhere from $100-$300 per hour. Confronted with these costs, parents are discouraged or outright barred from bringing meritorious cases to secure the rights of their children. Low-and middle-income families are particularly hard hit. Today, I introduce a bill to clarify Congress's intent and restore the expert witness fee provisions. It will allow parents to recover the high cost of expert witnesses if, and only if, they win their dispute with the school district. I want to be very clear--this bill does not impose any additional costs on school districts that comply with IDEA. The provisions apply only when a school system has been found, after an impartial hearing, to have wrongfully denied a child an appropriate education as defined in IDEA. Madam Speaker, we must ensure that we keep the promise of IDEA and provide every child with a free and appropriate education. This bill will level the playing field and help parents be effective advocates for their children's best interests.

Mr. VAN HOLLEN

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Credit Card Holders' Bill of Rights. In these unpredictable economic times, as American families struggle to pay their bills, the last thing they need is to find an unwelcome surprise on their monthly credit card statement. Since the start of the financial crisis, my office has been inundated with complaints about unexpected interest hikes, mysteriously shifting due dates and indecipherable new charges on their credit card bills. These tricks and traps are unfair and can lead to devastating financial consequences for families already teetering on the edge. The Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights protects consumers from these abuses with strong, forward looking protections. The bill ends unfair, retroactive interest rate increases; prohibits excessive ``over-the- limit'' fees; protects cardholders who pay on time; forbids a card company from unfairly allocating consumer payments or using due date gimmicks; enhances restrictions on card issuance to young consumers; and prevents deceptive marketing practices. Similar protections have been finalized in the rule making of the Federal Reserve and other agencies. But they do not take effect until July of 2010. By codifying many of those proposals into law now, the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights helps to protect consumers more quickly and when they need it most. President Obama asked Congress to deliver for his signature, in time for the Memorial Day Recess, a strong bill that protects consumers from abusive practices. This is that bill. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting it.