Robert Wexler

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of Voice of America's Ukrainian Service, which is on December 11, 2009. As members of Congress know, Voice of America is the largest U.S. international broadcaster and plays a critically important role globally, broadcasting 1,500 hours a week of programming through various media forms spanning news, information, and educational and cultural topics, and reaching an audience of over 130 million people worldwide. Since 1942, Voice of America has filled a critical gap in regions of the world where freedom of the press is limited or does not exist. Today, Voice of America facilitates the free-flow of information globally. It is particularly important in Ukraine, where Voice of America will be celebrating its 60 years of service. Voice of America has been essential to advancing democratic freedoms through the free-flow of information and supporting the development of democratic institutions in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. On the front lines of international broadcasting, VOA has provided a critical outlet for the dissemination of free, uncensored news and information throughout Ukraine in multiple languages and formats. Today close to five million Ukrainians access Voice of America's services each week. VOA's Ukrainian broadcasts have also provided valuable information to the Ukrainian people as they continue their political, economic, and democratic reform efforts and build a stronger civil society. Today there are still many countries that do not enjoy freedom of the Press, which is an essential component of a functioning and successful democracy. Unconscionably there are governments that continue to deny their populations this basic liberty, creating conditions in which media and members of the press face censorship, intimidation, persecution, or far worse. Voice of America is essential to American and international efforts to change the dynamics of press freedom and human rights. To that end, I want to praise VOA and its dedicated staff that have worked diligently in Ukraine, and around the globe, to promote and facilitate the free and unfettered flow of information, opinions, and ideas. Once again, I commend Voice of America on its 60 years of promoting freedom of information in Ukraine. I also want to congratulate VOA Ukrainian Service for its efforts and leadership in successfully fulfilling VOA's core mission to ``promote freedom and democracy and to enhance understanding through multimedia communication of accurate, objective, balanced news, information, and other programming about America and the world to audiences overseas.''

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, as a founding co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, I rise today to praise the highly encouraging efforts and outcomes of the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, which took place in Moscow, Russia, on November 19 and 20, 2009. This important conference was the result of a five-year effort by a global community of stakeholders from multilateral and bilateral institutions, from governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and from academia and civil society. These groups are dedicated to raising international awareness and to mobilizing a global response to advancing road safety. Hosted by President Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian Federation, this conference brought together transportation ministers, health ministers, non-governmental organizations, and experts from across the globe and reflected a growing understanding among nations to seek opportunities to cooperate on tackling one of the world's most severe problems today--the epidemic of road crash deaths and injuries. The statistics for this epidemic are staggering: 1.3 million people are killed annually on the world's roads and 50 million more are injured. The number of deaths each year is the equivalent of 10 jumbo jets crashing every day, and the toll is continuing to increase dramatically. At the current rate of growth, road crashes will be the fifth leading cause of death overall by the year 2030, and the first leading cause of death for children aged five and older by 2020, rivaling the top and often more well-known global health epidemics. Road crashes do not discriminate by age, class, gender, race, or nationality. Nor do they respect the bounds of geography. In the United States alone the death toll is an estimated 44,000 people annually, and road crashes have become the leading cause of death among Hispanics under 34 years of age. Meanwhile, in some African countries, up to half of all hospital surgical beds are occupied by road crash victims, while in others the fatalities rank second only to HIV/AIDS. Along with the unfathomable human cost of road crashes, there are also grave economic costs to individuals, families, and communities. It is estimated that road crashes cost $518 billion globally each year. In developing countries, road crashes have a dramatic impact on their fragile economies, costing an estimated $100 billion, and often exceeding the total amount received by these countries in development assistance. Furthermore, road crashes place a preventable strain on first responder services, health care services, and health insurance services, as many victims require extensive, and expensive, critical care, as well as follow-up care and rehabilitation. In countries where a primary bread-winner is killed or injured, or must care for the injured, this can destroy livelihoods and devastate communities. The First Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow addressed each of these issues, as well as many other key components of the road safety epidemic, in an intensive two days of plenary sessions and panel discussions during which high level delegates from various nations and organizations shared experiences, ideas, and best practices. I would like to commend the U.S. delegation, which included representation from the Department of State, the Department of Transportation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partner state and federal agencies, for its robust participation and high level representation throughout the Conference. As the first global forum for road safety, this conference was truly an historic event. I am pleased that the U.S. delegation took a strong leadership role in addressing U.S. road safety goals and objectives, as well as in working constructively with the Conference to establish new benchmarks for best practices and road traffic injury prevention, as announced in the Moscow Declaration. The Moscow Declaration reinforces governmental leadership and guidance on road safety, sets regional casualty reduction targets, and offers a new framework for international cooperation on global road safety. It declares the decade 2011-2020 as the ``Decade of Action for Road Safety'' with the goal of stabilizing and reducing the forecast level of global road deaths. Finally, the Declaration encourages the U.N. General Assembly to assent to the goals and policies it proposes. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of all those who helped make the First Ministerial Conference on Global Road Safety a success. I applaud the Russian Federation for taking the initiative of hosting this critical conference in Moscow. I would also like to congratulate the U.S. delegation and other participants from around the world for having demonstrated a promising commitment to the important goal of reducing road deaths on a global scale. I and the rest of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety look forward to maintaining a fruitful dialogue with the Russian Federation, other governments, the international NGO community and other organizations, with the aim of finding further ways to improve road safety, and I am hopeful that the Congress as a whole will continue to do so as well. Finally, I encourage the Obama Administration and the American delegation to continue their strong leadership in ensuring that the casualty reduction targets and the road safety initiatives detailed in the Moscow Declaration are accomplished, both at home and abroad.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, Ms. Granger, Mr. Whitfield and myself, as Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans, Turkey Caucus, want to welcome Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the United States. We believe the Prime Minister's visit reaffirms the longstanding strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, and is a unique opportunity to enhance and foster economic, political, and security relations. As many of our Congressional colleagues know, our NATO ally Turkey valiantly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States and European partners throughout the Cold War. Over the past 20 years, Turkey has been integral to American and NATO efforts in the Balkans and has worked to enhance peace and stability in Central Asia and the Middle East. Turkey has also played a critical leadership role along with America and the international community in both Afghanistan and Iraq. We are hopeful that Turkey will continue to play a leading role alongside the United States, P5+1 partners and the international community with respect to Iran's nuclear program. We also want to highlight and praise the historic steps recently taken by Prime Minister Erdogan and his government to normalize Turkey's relations with its neighbor Armenia. With the support of the United States, both countries on October 10, 2009 signed two protocols to achieve this goal. We believe that, with the continuing support of the United States and the international community, these protocols will provide a new impetus for the solution of other conflicts in the South Caucasus region. Many of our colleagues appreciate the growing importance of our strategic relationship with Turkey which was described by President Obama during his visit to Turkey in April as a ``Model Partnership.'' We are heartened by the fact that the Turkey Caucus, which began over 8 years ago, now numbers one hundred members. The growth of the Turkey Caucus is a testament to the importance that members of Congress place on U.S.-Turkish relations and a recognition of the longstanding partnership between our two nations. Again, we welcome Prime Minister Erdogan to Washington, and believe that his discussions with President Obama and the Administration will only serve to strengthen the U.S.-Turkish partnership as we face difficult global challenges.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 197, encouraging banks and mortgage servicers to work with families affected by contaminated drywall to allow temporary forbearance without penalty on payments on their home mortgages. As a founding co-chair of the Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus, I am proud to sponsor this resolution and support its passage, which sheds further light on the plight of thousands of homeowners in south Florida and around the Nation dealing with the ``silent hurricane'' of contaminated drywall in their homes. The Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus, which now has 20 members from seven States, has been working diligently over the past year to ensure that the Federal agencies and relevant organizations in the private sector who have a stake in this issue are engaged in a dialogue that produces a swift and complete response that provides relief to homeowners affected by this contaminated product. While I believe the response has not been nearly as swift as needed, I have been encouraged by recent efforts on the part of the Inter-Agency Task Force, led by Chairman Inez Tenenbaum of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to come to a full determination of the science behind this problem, and from there determine the appropriate response to the litany of issues that victims are facing on a daily basis. One of these issues, and often one of the most critical for those affected, is maintaining their mortgage. As our economy begins to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression and our housing market begins to show signs of life following record numbers of foreclosures, victims living in homes with contaminated drywall face the continued threat of foreclosure. These innocent victims are being forced to make the choice of remaining in their homes and paying their mortgages, possibly at the risk of their own health and that of their family, or leaving their homes to find alternative housing. Should they choose to seek alternative housing, they are then responsible for both the mortgage on their contaminated home and the rent on their alternative housing. House Concurrent Resolution 197 sends a strong statement on behalf of the entire House of Representatives that banks and mortgage lenders should work with families affected by this drywall to allow for temporary forbearances on their mortgage, without penalties, to ensure victims have the ability to move their families out of harm's way without risking their financial futures or losing their homes. Providing this relief is not only the right thing to do, but is essential in ensuring affected families do not continue to put their health at risk from this defective product. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution and encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in observance of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims and their Families, which was observed on Sunday, November 15, 2009, as well as to offer my heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost loved ones to road crashes. The third Sunday in November was designated as World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims by the United Nations earlier this decade, and in support of this effort, both the House of Representatives and Senate unanimously passed concurrent resolutions during the 110th Congress. This day allows us all to reflect upon the more than 1.3 million people worldwide who die on the world's roads each year, as well as the more than 50 million who are injured. An estimated 44,000 of those deaths occur in the United States, and the global death and injury toll is rising precipitously. At the current rate of growth, road crashes will be the fifth leading cause of death by the year 2030, rivaling the top global health epidemics. Road crashes do not discriminate; they know no bounds of age, class, gender, race, nationality, or geography. Globally, more than 40 percent of all road traffic deaths occur among individuals under 25 years old, and crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 10-25 years old. Over the next decade, this is estimated to become the leading cause of death for children 5 and older worldwide. In some African countries, up to half of all hospital surgical beds are occupied by road crash victims, while in others the fatalities rank second only to HIV/AIDS. Here in the U.S., road crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics under 34 years of age. The human cost of this problem is unfathomable: 1.3 million deaths per year is the equivalent of 10 jumbo jets crashing each day. Road crashes also come at a great cost to the global economy. It is estimated that road crashes cost $518 billion globally each year. In developing countries, road crashes have a dramatic impact on their fragile economies, costing an estimated $100 billion, often exceeding the total amount received by these countries in development assistance. Furthermore, road crashes affect first responder services, health care services, and health insurance services, as many victims require extensive, and expensive, critical care, as well as follow-up care and rehabilitation. In countries where a primary bread winner is killed or injured, or must care for the injured, this can destroy livelihoods and devastate communities. Road crashes are predictable and can be prevented, however, and America is playing a critical, active role domestically and internationally to address this epidemic. Earlier this year, the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, which I am privileged to co-chair along with Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 74, supporting a decade of action for road safety with a global target to reduce by 50 percent the predicted increase in global road deaths between 2010 and 2020. This resolution also urged the Obama Administration to take a leadership role at the First Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, to be held in Moscow later this week. The House of Representatives heeded the call to action on road safety and achieved a significant step toward reversing the increase in road deaths and injuries by unanimously passing H. Con. Res. 74 on September 23 of this year. As more Americans travel abroad and more of our college students participate in study abroad programs in developing countries, many of them will be at risk of injury or death due to hazardous road conditions. Now is the time to foster the courageous initiatives building around the world to keep our citizens and our loved ones safe, and Madam Speaker, as we commemorate World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims this year and look forward to the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow later this week, I urge my colleagues to work with the Obama Administration toward enacting meaningful policy reform, both at home and abroad.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to my colleagues' attention the achievements of Leonid Nevzlin, a person who deserves recognition as a champion of the humanities in Russia, a civic leader in his adopted homeland Israel, and a philanthropist across three continents. I am proud to pay tribute to this extraordinary man, who has dedicated his life and his resources to supporting important social efforts and has provided leadership to the Jewish Diaspora around the world. His generous support for numerous organizations has made him an example to his countrymen for taking a social stand and making giving and sharing a way of life. Mr. Nevzlin has been instrumental in introducing democratic reforms and social responsibility to the former Soviet Union. He was directly involved in a number of projects to support Russian President Boris Yeltsin in an effort to boost civil society and democratic freedoms during the Russian Federation's transition from communism. In June 2003, after helping to establish several foundations arid pro-democracy organizations, Mr. Nevzlin was elected President of the Russian National Humanities University. This university, which was created to foster the country's new liberal-minded elite, has received an unprecedented $10 million in financial support. In the autumn of 2003, Mr. Nevzlin was forced to leave Russia, at which time he become a citizen of Israel and began to expand his efforts on behalf of the Jewish people. Mr. Nevzlin's private manner belies the fact that he is one of the most important international Jewish leaders today. His continuous efforts to give a contemporary meaning to the concept of ``Jewish peoplehood''--primarily through his deep involvement in the Museum of Jewish Diaspora in Tel Aviv--has re-energized Jewish communities and organizations around the world. Mr. Nevzlin is also one of the largest and earliest supporters of the Tom Lantos Foundation for Human Rights, established to honor our distinguished colleague's memory and to carry on his work for human rights around the world. In recognition of his activism and leadership, Mr. Nevzlin was recently named this year's chairperson of the General Assembly of the United Jewish Communities, the largest gathering of the Jewish community, which will take place in Washington, DC in the fall. It is for all these reasons, Madam Speaker, that I believe it is fitting that we recognize Leonid Nevzlin's commitment to advancing the cause of civil society and human rights and his leadership and generous support of organizations dedicated to serving the needs of others.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Community of Wynmoor in Coconut Creek, Florida, which is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this week. Wynmoor is an active senior community in South Florida with approximately 9,000 residents, many of whom regularly mentor in local schools, volunteer for city affairs, and greatly contribute to the vitality of the City of Coconut Creek and the surrounding communities. With a PGA-recognized country club golf course, serene lakes and sparkling fountains, Wynmoor is truly a beautiful place to live, and for many who live there, a wonderful place to retire and enjoy life. Wynmoor residents find many ways to remain active and healthy with multiple tennis courts and health and fitness facilities available to them, as well as with a multitude of social activities planned throughout the year, including cultural and social clubs, several charitable organizations, live theater, dances, movies, classes and lectures. When I visit my constituents in Wynmoor, I am always thrilled to engage with them on the issues of importance to our community because they care deeply about the issues that affect South Florida. Madam Speaker, I am deeply proud to represent the Community of Wynmoor and all of its residents in Congress, and I wish the entire community a happy and healthy 35 more years and an enjoyable anniversary celebration this week.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, as a co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, I, along with the other co-Chairs, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 74 earlier this year to shed light on an epidemic too few in this country or around the world comprehend: the devastating toll of deaths and injuries from road crashes. I want to especially thank Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros- Lehtinen for their extraordinary help in bringing this resolution to the floor as well as the several colleagues who joined with me in supporting this resolution. According to the ``World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention'' study, which was produced in conjunction with the World Health Organization and the World Bank, every year road travel causes 1.3 million deaths and 50 million injuries. This is the equivalent of 10 jumbo jets crashing every day. Sadly, many of these deaths and injuries are preventable. The upcoming Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow, which was inspired by the passing of United Nations Resolution 62/244 on March 31, 2008, is the culmination of a 5-year effort by a global community of stakeholders from multilateral and bilateral institutions, from governmental and nongovernmental organizations and from academia and civil society to raise international awareness and to call for a global response commensurate with the magnitude of the worldwide road traffic injury and fatality epidemic. The conference will work to establish new benchmarks for best practices and road traffic injury prevention. It will encourage regional casualty reduction targets, and it will provide a new framework for international cooperation on global road safety. Mr. Van Hollen of Maryland, Mr. Burton of Indiana, and I, as co- Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, encourage the Obama administration to take a strong leadership role at this conference. It is in this vein that I introduced this resolution which supports the goals and ideals of a decade of action for road safety with a global target to reduce by 50 percent the predicted increase in global road deaths between 2010 and 2020. This resolution also urges the Obama administration and the Department of State, in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to set ambitious road traffic casualty reduction targets for American citizens traveling abroad and to work with foreign governments and with international organizations to harmonize road safety regulations and good practices. Finally, it urges the Obama administration to take a leadership role at the first Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow in late November of this year, and it urges the United States to work with nations around the world to achieve the goals and ideals of a decade of action for road safety and to reduce the impact of this public health epidemic in the global community. Mr. Speaker, road safety is a rapidly growing problem throughout the developed and developing worlds alike that respects no boundaries of geography, nationality, race, age, gender or socioeconomic status. Furthermore, it is a problem that uniquely spans many key areas of concern for Members of Congress and their constituents, not the least of which is the health and safety of American citizens both at home and abroad. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the House Democratic health care reform proposal. The United States currently spends per capita almost double the money on health care as any other industrialized nation on Earth. Despite all of this spending, 45 million Americans languish without health care coverage. Every day, 850 Floridians and 14,000 Americans are added to the ranks of the uninsured. Since 2007, the number of Floridians without coverage has grown by 15 percent. Those who do have coverage face skyrocketing premiums, co-pays and fees. In recent years, the average premium paid by a family in Florida has spiked by $1,400. If we continue down this path, by 2017, health care spending will consume 20 percent of our Nation's gross domestic product. The staggering cost of health care in America is simply unsustainable. Businesses cannot compete, and millions of Americans go without care or receive care in emergency rooms and hospitals that taxpayers pay for. For 60 years, Americans have demanded health care reform; and for 60 years, Congress has failed to deliver on this most basic need. With President Obama in the White House, the time for reform has come. We must not let the opportunity to achieve comprehensive health care reform pass us by. This legislation will finally provide quality and affordable coverage to every American. This proposal will deliver all of the following: a guarantee of no insurance denials for preexisting conditions; a reduction in the doughnut hole in Medicare part D to help seniors afford prescription drugs; a cap on out-of-pocket expenses so families will not have to go into bankruptcy as a result of medical emergencies; and, finally, a robust public option that will drive costs down by competing with private plans. The skyrocketing cost of health care poses a systemic risk to our economy. The health care reform package with a strong public option is a much better deal for the American people than this unsustainable status quo. We are on the verge of finally bringing health care costs under control and improving the long-term economic health of our country. Shame on us if we lack the courage to seize this historic opportunity.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 156.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 89) supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 70th wedding anniversary of Rosalyn and Murray Kalish, a remarkable couple in my congressional district, whom I am proud to call my friends and who have been leaders and activists in our community for nearly three decades. Roz and Murray, who met while attending Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York, both had the same last name and the same birth date of February 18th. They instantly became friends, went to their high school prom together, and continued dating until their wedding on June 24, 1939. They lived in Brooklyn, New York, and later moved to East Meadow before relocating to Delray Beach, Florida in 1980, and they are blessed with two children, four grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. After moving to South Florida, Murray founded the largest Democratic Club of Florida, the United South County Democratic Club, which currently has more than 2,000 members. Together, Roz and Murray have worked on behalf of so many in our community to deal with a range of issues, and it is through their advocacy that I established my friendship with them. As this friendship has grown over the years, their guidance on the needs and concerns of my constituents has grown ever more invaluable. Madam Speaker, Roz and Murray are the true essence of community leaders. I know I speak not only for myself, but for my family and so many throughout South Florida in congratulating them on reaching this milestone. I wish Roz and Murray many more happy and healthy years together and thank them for having such an impact on my life and that of so many they have come to know.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, as cochair of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, I would like to extend my appreciation and sincerest thanks to the Board of Directors of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), who recently passed a policy resolution in support of House Concurrent Resolution 74, a resolution introduced by myself and my fellow Caucus cochairs, Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Dan Burton, supporting the goals and ideals of a decade of action for road safety with a global target to reduce by 50 percent the predicted increase in global road deaths between 2010 and 2020 and urging the Obama administration to take a leadership role at the First Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow later this year. My fellow cochairs and I believe it is critical that the United States work with nations around the world to achieve the goals and ideals of a decade of action for road safety and to reduce the impact of this health epidemic on the global community, and I sincerely appreciate AASHTO's support for this resolution and for their efforts to work with the Global Road Safety Caucus to educate Members of Congress on the issue of road safety. To that end, I encourage all of my colleagues to review the text of AASHTO's resolution, which I am including in the Congressional Record. Policy Resolution PR-2-09 Supporting House Concurrent Resolution 74 Whereas, AASHTO and its members departments remain fully committed to reducing the number of deaths on our Nation's roads as evidenced by current AASHTO policy positions and efforts to implement AASHTO's Strategic Highway Safety Plan, including the adoption by the Board of Directors in December, 1997 and revised and updated in December, 2004, a goal to reduce fatalities by half in 20 years; Whereas, According to the 2004 World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention, 40,000 people on the United States and 1,300,000 people globally die in road crashes each year; Whereas, Another 20,000,000 to 50,000,000 people globally are injured each year as a result of speeding motor vehicles and the increased use of motor vehicles; Whereas, Road crashes are the leading cause of death globally for young people between the ages of 10 and 24 years; Whereas, The current estimated monetary cost of motor vehicles crashes worldwide is greater than $500,000,000,000 annually, representing between 3 and 5 percent of the gross domestic product of each nation; Whereas, According to the World Health Organization, over 90 percent of motorist-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries; Whereas, According the World Health Organization, motorist related deaths and cost continue to rise in these countries due to a lack of appropriate road engineering and injury prevention programs in public health sectors; Whereas, The United States, United Nations, and international community should promote the improvement of data collection and comparability, including adopting the standard definition of a road death as ``any person killed immediately or dying within 30 days as a result of a road traffic crash'' and the facilitation of international cooperation to develop reliable data systems and analytical capability; Whereas, It is critical that the international community support collaborative action to enhance global road safety and reduce the risk of road crash death and injury around the world by fostering partnerships and cooperation between governments, private and public sectors, professional associations, and within civil society, as well as relationships among the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other national and international road safety authorities; Whereas, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 designating the third Sunday of November as a day of remembrance for road crash victims and their families and calling on nations globally to improve road safety; Whereas, The United States Congress passed H. Con. Res. 87, as well as S. Con. Res. 39 in the 110th Congress supporting the goals and ideals of a world day of remembrance for road crash victims; Whereas, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2008 highlighting the impact global road safety issues, encouraging nations to take action to reduce road crash risks across the world and creating the first global high-level conference on road safety in Moscow in November 2009; Whereas, The Ministerial Consultive Committee of the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety on Moscow has drafted a declaration to designate 2010-2020 as the ``Decade of Action for Global Road Safety''; now, therefore be it Resolved, By the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials that AASHTO supports the goals and ideals of a decade of action for global road safety with a global target to reduce by 50 percent the predicted increase in global road deaths between 2010 and 2020; be it further Resolved, AASHTO encourages international harmonization of road safety regulations and good practices through accession to and implementation of related United Nations legal instruments, resolutions, and manuals issued by the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration; and finally be it Resolved, AASHTO encourages the United States to take a leadership role at the First Ministerial Conference on Road Safety and for the United States to work with nations around the world to achieve the goals and ideals of a decade of action for road safety and to reduce the impact of this health epidemic on the global community.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, today in Tamarac, Florida, ten outstanding Broward elders will be honored at the Annual Senior Hall of Fame Breakfast. These ten seniors being honored have volunteered in their communities and have spent countless hours helping others. Their outstanding character and compassion have truly set them apart and make them worthy of this prestigious honor. Dorothy Arbogast of Pembroke Pines, who has been battling Lupus for many decades, has been volunteering with the Senior Companion Program since 2004, serving over 3,300 hours with people with tremendous physical, developmental, and emotional needs; as well as frail elders in their homes; adult day care centers; and providing relief to caregivers caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's. Dorothy also volunteers with the Lupus Foundation, the Street People of Oakland Park, Cancer Foundation and Leeza's Place, and serves with great compassion, dedication, and humility. Mayor Samuel S. Brown of Lauderdale Lakes was elected mayor in 1998, and under his leadership, the City made numerous positive strides in redevelopment and capital improvement, while continuing to provide quality services to its residents. A unifying force in the community, Mayor Brown is involved in many charitable and philanthropic efforts and has been responsible for overseeing several community service projects. He also organizes an annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for seniors and has made it possible for hundreds of needy children to receive gifts during the holidays through the Angel Tree Gift Giving Program. Joan Fink of Hillsboro Beach has devoted time to the Northeast Focal Point Senior Center for over 12 years and is currently Treasurer of the Children's, Alzheimer's, Seniors and Adult Services (CASA) Board of Directors, Auxiliary, and Child Development Center. She is active in many fundraising events, including the annual Auxiliary Fashion Show and the ``Cuisine of the Region.'' Joan has also volunteered at the North Broward Medical Center and has been a member and recording secretary of the American Association of University Women--Pompano Beach Chapter for the past 13 years, where she has helped raise funds to promote educational scholarships for women. Hazel Haas of Margate has used her formal theater education and vast experience with the performing arts to improve the lives of Broward County residents since 1989, adding humor to her volunteering efforts with several organizations, including the Northwest Medical Center and the Margate Chapter of the Parkinson's Support Group, and she shares her warmth, humor and knowledge of the community by presenting sessions for Continuing Education Credit at the Aging & Disability Resource Center's Annual Broward Aging Network Conference. Hazel's mother, Nettie Gross, was honored as a member of the Senior Hall of Fame in 1993, and for the past five years, Hazel has facilitated the link between generations by funding the Nettie Baron Gross Memorial Scholarship for Broward College students studying issues impacting seniors' lives. Judy Henry of Tamarac has been volunteering for many years for a number of organizations, serving as President of American Woman's ORT, President of the Coral Springs Soccer Association, and as a Board Member as one of the Founding Families of Temple Beth Orr of Coral Springs. Judy has dedicated her time to the Jewish Federation of Greater Fort Lauderdale and the United Way of Broward County, and through her role as a Board Member of Cooperative Feeding, she has assisted in providing food, counseling and other basic needs for the homeless. She has also initiated mail boxes for the homeless, and as President of Volunteer Broward, has been working on an agricultural project, teaching neighborhoods how to garden and grow food for themselves. Mayor Judy Paul of Davie has worked tirelessly for Broward County, as she is active on the boards of the 4-H Foundation, Broward County Farm Bureau, Junior Achievement, Davie Area Land Trust, Broward Extension Foundation, Davie Boys and Girls Club, and South Florida Trail Riders. Mayor Paul served on the Davie Town Council from 1998 to 2007, as well as the Davie Charter Review Board from 1996 to 2007, and is President of the Friends of Davie Farm Park, Inc., and an honorary member of the Board of Directors for Old Davie School. A retired teacher, Mayor Paul is outspoken about caring for the environment, promoting enhancing green space and working on projects to provide the general public opportunities to learn more about agriculture. Mayor Sylvia Poitier is a lifelong resident of Deerfield Beach and served on the City Commission from 1973 to 1985 and from 2005 until today, serving as Mayor in 1976 to 77 and acting Mayor since December 2008, as well as the County Commission from 1986 to 1998, and has committed herself to providing affordable housing to residents and senior program funding during her time in office. Mayor Poitier has also volunteered for many social service boards and committees, has served as an advocate for senior, Alzheimer's, and children services, as well as intergenerational programs. She is currently Chair for the Community Action Agency, a Member of the Salvation Army Board, and was the First African American President of the Broward County Council of Parent-Teacher associations. Marcia Slow Sandler of Pembroke Pines has been working tirelessly for over 15 years in many capacities, including President and Member of the Children's Cancer Caring Broward Chapter and Founder of the Angels in the Outfield Chapter of Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. She has also been a contributor to social service fundraising activities and served four years on the Aging & Disability Resource Center's Advisory Council, where she secured Fair Share Appropriations from local municipalities. Senator Nan H. Rich is a lifelong resident of Weston and serves District 34 in the Florida Senate. Prior to entering politics, Nan devoted many years to volunteering with children and the handicapped, and in Tallahassee, her commitment to elders has been evidenced repeatedly through her voice and her actions, continuing to seek and secure critical funding for necessary services. Senator Rich is active on various boards in the religious sector and is highly respected as the true voice of reason in an atmosphere that too often disregards the oppressed and the victimized. Greta Silver of Coconut Creek has an enthusiasm and energy that make her an invaluable volunteer at the Alzheimer's Family Center, where she helps clients to cope with their fears and frustrations. As a talented journalist, Greta also writes a quarterly newsletter called ``The Volunteer Vine,'' and in December 2008 she coordinated a Holiday Volunteer Day for the Center, planning lunch, entertainment, favors, centerpieces, and guest speakers. Greta is also a trained volunteer for the Project Lifesaver Safety Program and is extremely active within her homeowner's association. Madam Speaker, I would like to again congratulate these ten outstanding Broward County citizens who are being honored at the Annual Senior Hall of Fame, and thank them for their years of service to their fellow Floridians.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to welcome Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu to the United States. It is an honor to meet with Foreign Minister Diaconescu and highlight his extraordinary role, and that of our North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Union (EU) ally and partner Romania, in addressing pressing international challenges including NATO-Russian relations, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran's developing nuclear program. It is clear to members of Congress and the Administration that Romania is integral to American, European Union and international efforts to promote democracy, rule of law and human rights. As many of my colleagues know, Foreign Minister Diaconescu assumed his current role at the head of Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 2008. He has repeatedly expressed a strong commitment to enhancing transatlantic relations and has been unwavering in championing the values our two nations share. To that end, the Foreign Minister has been vocal in promoting political and economic reform in Eastern Europe by strengthening democratic institutions and structures, and working to end conflict in Europe through the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). I also want to praise Romania's efforts in supporting the EU's Eastern Partnership efforts that will bolster democratic transformation in this region and hopefully lead to closer EU and Western relations with Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. It is my understanding while in Washington, Foreign Minister Diaconescu will meet with Obama Administration officials and members of Congress to discuss issues of importance to both the United States and Romania, including economic, political and security conditions in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Black Sea regions. I welcome the discussion of these important and timely issues and the opportunity to highlight Romania's strong military and security commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside U.S. and NATO forces. I know I share the sentiments of all Americans in expressing our gratitude for the sacrifice of brave Romanian troops, including those killed in the line of duty. As a member of Congress who has strongly supported expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to critical allies such as Romania, I look forward to discussing Bucharest's progress with the Foreign Minister and his nation's future participation in this program. Madam Speaker, Romania is a strategic partner of the United States, and in its fifth year as a NATO member Romania has contributed at the highest levels in several missions worldwide. In April 2008, Bucharest hosted the largest NATO Summit in history and was recently praised by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for its commitment to NATO missions. I join all of my colleagues in applauding Romania's pledge to maintain its troops in Kosovo, as well as in Afghanistan, where it already has approximately 860 troops deployed. We are also grateful that the Romanian government has pledged to send additional trainers and medical personnel to the mission in Afghanistan. Madam Speaker, it is essential that Congress continue to support and enhance cooperation between the U.S. and our ally Romania. As a staunch supporter of American-Romanian relations, I urge my colleagues to join me in welcoming Foreign Minister Diaconescu and the Romanian delegation to the United States, and I thank the Foreign Minister for his efforts and unwavering commitment to this unbreakable bond between our two nations.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. I especially thank the chairman, and I want to point out the extraordinary effort that Congressman Diaz-Balart has made to push this issue forward. I rise in strong support of this amendment, because my constituents in Florida and citizens throughout our Nation are facing a real and a growing emergency from dangerous and harmful drywall imported from China. The level of threat to the health and homes of our citizens is akin to a natural disaster. This danger is much more like a silent hurricane, and it is touching down not just in Florida, but in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia and a growing list of other States. The Federal Government must take immediate steps to protect Americans whose homes are afflicted with defective drywall. This amendment is an important step forward. I again want to thank Mr. Diaz-Balart for his leadership on this crucial issue. The affected drywall emits a foul odor. It produces gases that corrode copper, electrical wiring, and is likely responsible for chronic health problems for the occupants of the homes. This is an acute and growing crisis with an estimated 35,000 homes in Florida affected and tens of thousands more throughout the country. Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet parents and visit with them in their homes, where young children have developed bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses that have required hospitalization and surgery. Pregnant women in my district have been advised by their physicians to move out of their homes, and children have been waking up regularly to bloody noses and sinus infections. It is in this vein that I, along with Mr. Diaz-Balart, under his leadership, have introduced H.R. 1977, the Drywall Safety Act of 2009, which would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban dangerous drywall, study drywall imported from China and make recommendations on new safety standards. Currently the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the EPA are conducting tests. While these tests are essential, the current timeframe for completion is unacceptable and results may not be known for months, especially considering the problem is expected to grow during the hot and humid summer months. We are, therefore, urging the EPA and CDC to exhaust all possible resources to expedite drywall testing. Furthermore, we have requested critical emergency funding that would allow relevant agencies to conduct the necessary investigations into the health and safety impacts of this drywall, as well as provide public information resources to alert those impacted about the risks they may be facing. I want to applaud the efforts of Governor Charlie Crist and the Florida Department of Public Health for their leadership. This is a complex and growing problem. We still don't know the extent. I want to thank the chairman, thank Mr. Diaz-Balart, and please support this amendment.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the Florida Legislature for passing the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law yesterday, a law giving police the power to stop motorists for not wearing seat belts. I believe this law is a great step forward in the effort to reduce the numbers of tragic deaths and injuries throughout Florida and should serve as an example for other state governments to follow in ensuring all Americans are safer on our roads. This measure was long championed by Irv Slosberg, a former state representative from Boca Raton whose 14-year-old daughter, Dori, was killed in a 1996 car crash on Palmetto Park Road. This accident claimed the lives of five teens and left four others, including Dori's twin sister, with serious injuries. It is unfortunate that such a tragedy needed to occur for people in our community to take notice of the need to amend the law to ensure people are wearing their seat belts, but Irv Slosberg deserves a tremendous amount of praise for his dedication to ensuring other families do not suffer from such a tragedy. Along with his efforts in the Florida State House to introduce this bill, Irv Slosberg also introduced the Dori Slosberg Driver Education Safety Act, which became law in Florida in 2002 and allows Florida counties to fund driver education programs by adding a surcharge to traffic tickets. In addition, recognizing that teen traffic crashes are the number one cause of death in Florida, Irv Slosberg also founded the Dori Slosberg Foundation, with a mission statement to educate the public about the importance of traffic safety; promote the usage of safe driving habits, especially seat belt compliance and proper child restraint devices; support and advance driver's education programs nationwide; assist the Florida Department of Transportation to ensure a safe driving environment on our roadways; and distribute tools to both teens and seniors to help them drive safely. These initiatives, along with his personal dedication to the issue of road safety, have no doubt saved and will continue to save countless lives in our community. As a co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, I understand the impact road crashes have on the global community, and while we must continue to work to establish protocols with nations around the world to reduce the number of road deaths and injuries globally, we must also set an example here in the United States by passing laws to ensure safety belts, which have been credited with saving countless lives since they were made standard in U.S. automobiles in 1968, are being used by all who get behind the wheel, especially our children. I want to once again congratulate the Florida Legislature for passing this bill, and I look forward to Governor Charlie Crist's signing this into law in the near future. I also want to once again extend my appreciation for Irv Slosberg's efforts, both while he served in the Florida Legislature and as a member of the South Florida community, to ensure our loved ones remain safe on the roads.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, as we approach the 65th Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy, it is important to take a moment to remember all of the men and women who bravely served our country in World War II. We all owe an enormous debt of gratitude to these veterans and their families. I am honored to have one such veteran in my district, Corporal Elliott M. Herring. Corporal Herring bravely served in the Battle of Normandy and in the battle which took place in St-Lo. He fought in five major battles in the 3rd Army under General Patton. Throughout his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, American Campaign Medal, European Africa Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver Service Star, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with the Germany Clasp, Combat Infantryman Badge, Honorable Service Lapel Button, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar WWII and Five Battle Stars. Additionally, he was awarded the Legion d'honneur from France. Corporal Herring is looking forward to an upcoming visit to the National WWII Memorial, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. I encourage all veterans, their families, and all Americans to visit the World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. where the announcement stone reads: Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: a nation conceived in liberty and justice. May we never forget their sacrifices as we stand here today. Let us continue to honor these brave men and women who fought so bravely to preserve our freedom.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 36 earlier this year to shed light on my constituent from Coral Springs, Florida, Robert Levinson, who disappeared from Iran's Kish Island on March 9, 2007. More than two years later, there are disturbingly few known details about his whereabouts. What we do know, however, is that Mr. Levinson, a former FBI agent, was last heard from on March 8, 2007 by his wife Christine, while he was working in Dubai as a private investigator. According to his family, he checked into a hotel on Kish Island and checked out the following morning to fly back to the United States. Unfortunately, Mr. Levinson never arrived at the airport for his flight, and there is no accounting for what happened to him after he left the hotel. In December 2007, the Levinson family, with assistance from Swiss officials in Tehran, traveled to the hotel where Mr. Levinson was last seen and passed out flyers in Farsi with his photo. They also met with local Iranian authorities to seek their assistance in gaining information about Mr. Levinson's disappearance. The authorities in Iran pledged to assist the Levinson family in their efforts to determine Robert's whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. Despite its pledge, the government of Iran has not followed through on its promises to the Levinson family. In fact, the Iranian government has stonewalled any effort to gain pertinent information--claiming they have zero knowledge about Mr. Levinson's whereabouts. I want to praise the decision of the Obama Administration to raise Mr. Levinson's case directly with the Iranian government. During last week's hearing in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I raised Mr. Levinson's disappearance with Secretary of State Clinton, and she confirmed that Mr. Levinson was mentioned in a letter delivered by Ambassador Holbrooke to Iranian officials at The Hague and reiterated her unwavering commitment to press this issue at every opportunity. While I am certain that Secretary Clinton and the Obama Administration will make every attempt to bring Mr. Levinson's home, it is critical that Congress express its unequivocal support for her efforts and send a clear statement that the Administration must employ every diplomatic tool at its disposal to locate Mr. Levinson and return him to the United States. House Concurrent Resolution 36 calls on President Obama and allies of the United States around the world to engage with officials of the Government of Iran to raise the case of Robert Levinson at every opportunity. It also urges officials of the Government of Iran to fulfill their promises of assistance to the family of Robert Levinson, and calls upon Iran to share the results of its investigation into his disappearance with the FBI. Passage of this resolution sends a clear signal that the Congress stands with the Levinson family and believes all efforts should be exhausted to ensure Robert Levinson is found and brought home safely. I want to once again express my unwavering solidarity and backing for the Levinson family and offer all of my support in their efforts to return Robert Levinson home. I urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in recognizing the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and America's commitment to U.S.-Taiwan relations and supporting H. Con. Res. 55. As many of my colleagues know, the Taiwan Relations Act has been instrumental in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait since its enactment in 1979. Over the past 30 years, Taiwan has evolved into a model democracy that respects human rights and the rule of law. It has also transformed into one the world's most dynamic economies and is counted among America's most important trading partners. To that end, it is critical that the United States Congress continue to highlight the importance of the TRA and take further steps to enhance our overall partnership with Taiwan which has been mutually beneficial for generations in both America and Taiwan. As a member of Congress who believes the United States should foster this relationship and create new avenues of cooperation, it is important in the context of this anniversary to recognize the bold efforts of Taiwanese President Ying-jeou Ma to bring peace and stability to the Taiwan Strait. I welcome President Ma's efforts and the progress he has made to reduce tensions and to extend an olive branch to Beijing. While the issues that separate Taipei and Beijing are significant and the road ahead difficult, it is important for President Ma to fulfill his stated vision and continue to pursue a policy that lays down the ``foundation for a century of peace and prosperity'' in the region.

Mr. WEXLER

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to Ms. Berkley, the gentlewoman from Nevada.

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to Mr. Space, the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. WEXLER. I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Hellenic Caucus, I want to express strong support for this resolution recognizing the 188th anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating Greek and American democracy. I would also once again like to thank my very good friend from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) who has been a leading supporter of U.S.-Greek relations in Congress. Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Bilirakis, for their efforts in moving this resolution forward. Having had the honor of meeting with the Foreign Minister of Greece 1 month ago, it is an honor to highlight one of America's most important allies, Greece, and the common commitments to democracy, human rights and laws that bind our two nations. This resolution is an opportunity to praise Greece for its efforts to bring peace and stability to the Balkans, as well as the support Athens has given the United States following 9/11 and our collective efforts on the war on terrorism. It is not lost on any of us in Congress that Greece was quick to respond to requests by the United States during the war in Iraq and immediately granted unlimited access to its airspace and the base in Souda Bay. Many American ships that delivered troops, cargo, and supplies to Iraq were refueled in Greece. Close cooperation with our NATO ally Greece continues on a daily basis, and it is essential that Congress and the administration recognize this extraordinary support and express our deepest gratitude to the Greek people and Greek government. This occasion is not only important in terms of U.S.-Greece bilateral relations, but it is an historic occasion for millions of Americans. As a Member of Congress with a large Greek American community, I am especially pleased that we are passing this resolution today, which also highlights this community's extraordinary commitments to the shared prosperity of our Nation. It is undeniable that the Greek American community, which includes some five million Americans with Greek ancestry, is the lynchpin in the unbreakable bond between the United States and Greece. As unofficial ambassadors between the U.S. and Greece, Greek Americans have for decades successfully shaped this long-standing friendship and built new bridges to forge closer relations between our nations. While this resolution recognizes an important anniversary in the independence of Greece, it is also my hope that today's floor debate will be used as a catalyst to promote our ally, Greece's, participation in the Visa Waiver Program. Greece has fulfilled all of the criteria to be included in the Visa Waiver Program, and I urge the administration to act as quickly as possible, along with Athens, to finalize this process and open the door to further enhance the relationship between the people and governments of the United States and Greece. Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the Greek people on the 188th anniversary of their independence and strongly support this resolution.