Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Capt. Nick Bariski, a man who lived a remarkable life, and who made many contributions to his community before recently passing away. Captain Bariski served his country for many years in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Captain. After settling in Marin County, Captain Bariski continued his dedication to the Armed Services by serving as local chapter President of the Retired Officers Association for an unprecedented three separate terms. As the President of this esteemed organization, Captain Bariski continually lobbied for the rights and interests of both retired and current members of the Armed Services. He represented his local chapter at various regional and State meetings, served as a member of the executive committee, and was present to provide valued counsel to other retirees. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to the life of Captain Nick Bariski, a man whose generous contributions to his country and his friends will always be remembered, not only in the hearts of those he touched personally, but in the lives of those who have benefited from his tireless work on behalf of all military retirees.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of the confirmation hearings for Alexis Herman, a real American success story. I commend the President for choosing this outstanding woman for Secretary of Labor. Ms. Herman has devoted her life to public service. Ms. Herman has been involved in job placement programs throughout her career. Some of her accomplishments include leadership of the black women's employment program of Atlanta and director of the Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor during the Carter administration. More recently, Mr. Speaker, Alexis Herman worked closely with former Commerce Secretary, the late Ron Brown. She made the White House Office of Public Liaison a dynamic part of the President's office. Throughout Alexis Herman's career, she has made equal opportunity for women and minorities a top priority. I urge the other body to confirm Alexis Herman without delay. She is a great woman and a great role model for all of us.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today's debate sounds like a line from a popular song: ``Isn't It Ironic?'' Is it not ironic that the majority party is demanding the President submit a second budget when they have not yet come about to present any budget plan? Is it not ironic that the budget process is behind schedule for the third year in a row under Republican leadership? Is it not ironic that one Member of the majority party's leadership has stated it would be inappropriate for Republicans to produce a budget while another Member of the same leadership had said they will produce a budget resolution in May. Is it not ironic? Enough of this budget gridlock, Mr. Speaker. The President has submitted a budget; the Republicans have not. Today's resolution is nothing more than a diversion. It is simply an attempt to distract, an attempt to distract the American people from the fact that the majority is not doing its job. Do not fall for this trick. Vote no on House Resolution 89.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's most dedicated and caring public servants, John Scharer, who recently retired after more than 2 decades of public service. John has served the city of Petaluma, CA for more than 24 years as an accountant, finance director, and, for the past 16 years, as city manager. His courage and creativity have helped to turn the city's economy around and prepare Petalumans to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Under John's leadership, the city built a beautiful 24,000 square foot community center, developed a wonderful marina and municipal airport, and converted a mortuary into a state-of-the-art police facility. I was fortunate to have served on the Petaluma City Council for 8 years during John's tenure as city manager. Although we seldom disagreed on important issues, when we did, I never questioned John's commitment to the people of Petaluma. Through John's efforts, projects such as the Factory Outlet Village, the Auto Mall Plaza, and new industrial parks have allowed Petaluma to grow without losing its small-town charm. He also brought a Santa Rosa Junior College campus to Petaluma and came up with the successful plan to turn an empty agricultural experimentation center into a shelter for homeless families. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to John Scharer this evening. It would be difficult to find a person as committed to the future of Petaluma as John. Petalumans owe a great deal of gratitude to him for his tireless efforts on their behalf. He will certainly be missed.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this legislation, which would kill American support for the international family planning programs. I oppose this bill for several reasons. First, it is a bill to correct a problem which does not exist. Right now, no American aid, I repeat, no American aid pays for abortions overseas. Since 1973, Mr. Speaker, it has been illegal for American aid dollars to support abortion services in any way. I also oppose this bill because the attempt to reinstate the Mexico City policy will have a chilling effect on family planning services. We know that the other body will not pass this legislation, and the President has vowed to veto it. This bill will only continue the current delay in services which will lead to real human misery and environmental degradation. I want to make it clear, Mr. Speaker, that to delay is to devastate. Listen to what the National Council for International Health has had to say on this matter. They say: Last year's reduced aid for family planning is resulting in 7 million couples losing contraceptive services. That is 7 million couples. This will result in 4 million unwanted pregnancies. It could mean 1.6 million abortions and 8,000 maternal deaths. Passage of the Smith bill would make this worse. Oppose this bill. Oppose further restrictions to family planning. Let us release urgently needed American aid.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to join with my colleagues in celebrating the 50t anniversary of Americans for Democratic Action [ADA] Americans for Democratic Action was established 50 years ago by some of the most important progressive leaders of this century including Hubert Humphrey, John Kenneth Galbraith, and one of my great role models, Eleanor Roosevelt. These great Americans came together because they believed it was time for a political action and lobbying group that looked out for the interests of the forgotten, the disenfranchised, and the most vulnerable in our society. Fifty years later, I am proud to say that Americans for Democratic Action has lived up to those noble intentions. Americans for Democratic Action was a leader in the civil rights movement and helped define the Democratic Party's commitment to civil rights and social justice. In fact, ADA has been at the forefront of every progressive cause for the past half century, including stopping the Vietnam war, increasing public awareness of Watergate, fighting for nuclear arms control, workers' and women's rights, and ending apartheid. As a current vice president of Americans With Democratic Action, I am awed by ADA's past accomplishments. Working with my colleagues in Congress and Americans for Democratic Action, we must follow in the footsteps of Roosevelt and Humphrey and continue to move this Nation forward without leaving anyone behind.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's most dedicated and caring public servants, the Honorable Judge Richard H. Breiner. Judge Breiner is being honored for a lifetime of exemplary service to his community as presiding judge of the Marin County Superior Court for the past 20 years. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join many of his friends, colleagues, and family to celebrate his remarkable accomplishments at his retirement party in January of this year. As an appointed judge to the Marin County Superior Court, Judge Breiner earned an excellent reputation, and received the prestigious California Judges Association President's Award in 1992. In addition, his ongoing commitment to improve the community led him to take leading roles in numerous civic and law-related organizations. Since his arrival to Marin County in 1975, he has served as trustee of the Big Brothers of Marin, as director of the Marin County Drug Abuse Advisory Committee, as director of the Women's Foundation Advisory Committee, and as founding member and director of the Marin County Park and Open Space Foundation. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to the Honorable Judge Richard H. Breiner and to thank him for his tireless efforts to serve his community, both as a judge and as an involved citizen. The people of Marin County owe him a great deal of gratitude. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Judge Breiner, his committed wife, Dottie, and his two children, Daniel and Deborah, for continued success in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, in rise today to honor one of my district's most dedicated elected officials, Marin County Supervisor Gary Giacomini. Gary Giacomini was elected in 1972 to represent the Fourth Supervisorial District of Marin County. He has served the people of Marin County well in this capacity for over 24 years, being elected to six successive, 4-year terms, and serving as chair of the board for 6 years. Currently, he holds the distinction of being the longest serving county supervisor in the State of California. As we celebrate Supervisor Gary Giacomini's years of service to this community, I wish to recognize Gary for his commitment to the people of Marin County, and to thank him for his lifelong record of public service. I was pleased to have worked closely with Gary over the last several years on important issues such as transportation and improvements along the 101 corridor, securing the purchase of the Northwestern Pacific Right-of-Way, conversion of Hamilton Field in Novato, and our ongoing efforts to preserve agriculture in west Marin and protect the lands adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore. It was a pleasure to be working hand-in-hand with him, and in continue to be impressed by his dedication and vision. In addition, Gary has been a leader on numerous local boards and commissions. He chairs the Marin County Congestion Management Agency, and is a member of the California State Coastal Commission; the Bay Conservation & Development Commission; the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District; the Local Agency Formation Commission and the Mental Health Advisory Board. As a member of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, he has been instrumental in protecting the environment and agricultural land in Marin County. Now that he is leaving the Marin Board of Supervisors, Gary is creating an organization that will work to protect our coast and our natural resources. He advocacy group is already making a difference on this important issue. Gary Giacomini is a native of Marin County, and currently lives in San Geronimo with his wife, Linda. Gary graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, and is a member of the Law Journal, Thurston Honor Society, Order of Coif. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Supervisor Gary Giacomini. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for his tireless efforts over the year. Time and time again he has extended himself on behalf of many people and for many causes. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Gary, Linda, and their family for continued success now, and in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, this veto override is a cruel attempt to make a political point. Make no mistake about it, this debate, with all the emotional rhetoric and exaggerated testimony on the other side of the aisle, is a frontal attack on Roe versus Wade, plain and simple. The Gingrich majority wants to do away with Roe, the radical right wants to do away with Roe, and H.R. 1833 is the first step. So let us be honest about what this veto override is really about. This bill, which the President courageously vetoed, will outlaw a medical procedure which is rarely used but sometimes required in extreme and tragic cases when the life or the future fertility of the mother is in danger or when a fetus is so malformed that it has no chance of survival. Like when the fetus has no brain or the fetus is missing organs. Or the spine has grown outside of the body. When the fetus has zero chance of life. When women are forced to carry a malformed fetus to term, there is danger of chronic hemorrhaging, danger of permanent infertility or death. Let me read a brief list of organizations that oppose H.R. 1833: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the American Public Health Association; the American Nurses Association; the American Medical Women's Association. The list goes on and on. These medical professionals oppose this bill because they know that H.R. 1833 will cost women their lives or their reproductive health. Mr. Speaker, the Gingrich majority has proven time and again its resolve to make Roe versus Wade ring hollow for most American women. Do not let this happen. Protect women's lives and women's health. Protect a woman's right to decide with her doctor what is the best medical procedure during very tragic times. Vote ``no'' on the veto override. But if you cannot vote ``no,'' just vote ``present.''

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my district's most dedicated and caring individuals, Sister Patricia Lyons. Sister Patricia is being honored for a lifetime of exemplary service to her community. I wish that I could have joined with her colleagues, friends, former students, and family last Friday to celebrate her remarkable accomplishments. Over 50 years ago, Sister Patricia founded and served as the first director of the Garden School at Dominican College in San Rafael. At Garden School, Sister Patricia has introduced generations of youngsters to the joys of math and reading, the challenges of computers, and the freedom of expression through art. Through her work for the Garden School, which was the first school for early childhood education in Marin County, Sister Patricia has touched the lives of over 3,000 children. Through her work Sister Patricia has instilled in her students a sense of social responsibility and concern for other cultures, while providing a strong academic base that ensures their future success. Today her classroom is filled with the children and grandchildren of former students, and this multigenerational tradition testifies to the love and high esteem in which Sister Patricia is held by her community. In addition to numerous awards and honors, Sister Patricia has been named Marin County's Private Schoolmaster of 1996. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Sister Patricia Lyons during this special evening at Dominican College. Marin County owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless efforts of Sister Patricia. She has long championed the importance of early childhood education in our community. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Sister Patricia for continued success in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's ``Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, CA, 1972-76'', which occurred in the district I am privileged to represent. I wish that I could be present at the Valley Ford Post Office as we celebrate and remember this remarkable achievement. ``Running Fence,'' was completed September 10, 1976 and displayed for 14 days. Marin and Sonoma Counties owe a great deal of gratitude for Christo and Jeanne-Claude's tireless efforts to construct this temporary, 24\1/2\-mile-long work of art. In order to realize this successful collaborative project ranchers and residents, engineers and elected officials, lawyers and members of the business community, as well as many dedicated workers, came together for the purpose of art. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude and to thank them for realizing the ``Running Fence,'' vision in Marin and Sonoma Counties and for the wonderful lasting impression they have left us. In fact, it should be noted that a print of ``Running Fence,'' is hanging in my congressional office in Washington, DC. I appreciate those who are working to remember ``Running Fence,'' and I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes for continued inspiration in the years to come.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of California, which is being called the epicenter of the school enrollment explosion, 5.5 million students are returning to school this week, 100,000 more than last year. Nationwide enrollment is expected to rise by 7 percent over the next 6 years. Instead of responding to this crisis, the majority, however, is contributing to it by proposing tax cuts on the rich while voting to cut education spending by 7 percent, 7 percent below 1995 levels. President Clinton, on the other hand, and the Democrats want to help our schools, help our schools prepare for the future by ensuring that every child enters the classroom ready to learn, by training more teachers and raising learning standards through Goals 2000, by expanding the use of technology in our classroom and by making college more affordable. Mr. Speaker, it is time to make education our No. 1 priority and ensure that every student enters the classroom ready to learn and has the opportunity.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of California's most dedicated and caring public officials, Assemblyman Dan Hauser. I wish that I could be there with his family, friends, and colleagues tomorrow evening as we celebrate his remarkable accomplishments. Dan Hauser is particularly recognized for serving the people of the north coast of California. A pioneer in ocean protection, Dan has been a strong advocate against offshore oil drilling and has passed landmark legislation making the north coast an ocean sanctuary. His environmental efforts earned Assemblyman Hauser ``Legislator of the Year'' awards from the Planning and Conservation League, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, and the League for Coastal Protection. As the long time chairman of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, Dan authored and worked on many pieces of legislation to promote affordable housing, improve building standards, protect historic buildings, and assist mobile home residents, condominium owners, veterans, seniors, native Americans, and other groups obtain better housing and living conditions. The California Aging Network named Dan ``1988 Legislator of the Year,'' and he received the ``1989 Rural Housing Award'' from the Rural Builders Council of California. In 1992 Dan was recognized as the ``Legislator of the Year'' by the League of California Cities. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to pay tribute to Assemblyman Dan Hauser during this special evening in Bodega Bay. The north coast owes a great deal of gratitude to him for his tireless efforts throughout his over 20 years of public service. I extend my hearty congratulations and best wishes to Dan and his wife Donna for continued success in the years to come. They will be missed.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it is about time. It is about time to make work pay more than welfare. When I was on welfare 28 years ago, I had to go for aid for dependent children because my wages were so low that I could not afford the health care, the child care and the food that my three small children needed. Too many American workers face that same situation today. In fact, many minimum wage earners look like I did 28 years ago. Sixty percent of minimum wage earners are woman; one-fifth are single parents. Increasing the minimum wage will mean that these parents and others can depend on work rather than welfare to support their children. Increasing the minimum wage will prevent the need for welfare in the first place. Increasing the minimum wage is the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do, and it makes work pay. It is about time, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, we all agree that the welfare system does not work for the welfare recipients and for the taxpayers. The challenge we face as lawmakers is to improve the system so we can invest in getting families off welfare and into jobs that pay a liveable wage, and also to answer the ``what ifs''. What if a mother on welfare cannot find a job? What if she is not earning enough to take care of her family? What if she cannot find child care for her 6-year- old? Unfortunately, this conference report will not ensure families can live on the jobs that they get, that they will earn a liveable wage, and this conference has made sure that it does not answer our ``what ifs''. It kicks families off of assistance, even if parents are trying hard to find a job. It does not even invest in the education and training parents need to get jobs that pay an actual liveable wage. Even though the House and Senate agreed that single parents with kids under 11 should not leave their children home alone if there is no child care, the majority went ahead without discussion and lowered that age to under 6. How many of my colleagues would leave their 6-year-old home alone? I ask my colleagues, do not take this vote lightly. Do not leave any child behind. The lives of millions of children are at stake. It will be too late tomorrow if the what-ifs are not answered today.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I know about work schedules and overtime from two perspectives. In fact, I am an expert on this issue. First, as a human resources/personnel manager for over 20 years. And, second, as a working mother. I have raised four children--now four wonderful adults. I know what its like to have a job and try to find the time to go to a parent/teacher conference or a child's plan or sporting event. I know what it means to get that phone call early in the morning that the babysitter is sick and will not be coming that day. Believe me, I know how important it is for working parents to have flexible work schedules. But this bill before us today, H.R. 2391, is not about flex-time for workers. It is about more flexibility for employers. As a human resources professional, I know how this can work. Like mandatory overtime, comp time can become just as mandatory because it allows the employer to restrict use of comp time to the employer's schedule--when it will not unduly disrupt the business. Let me tell you that means--plain and simple--the boss will stay the boss, not only in deciding on who works overtime and when, but, also when comp time can be used. That is flex-time for the employer. If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are so concerned about working families, they should use their influence as the majority party to make the use of comp time truly voluntary and to get a bill to the President increasing the minimum wage. In fact, my colleagues should work overtime on getting the minimum wage bill passed, and then take some comp time to get in touch with what working families really need--a livable wage and a truly flexible schedule.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Business and Education Sharing Technology Act [BEST]. As a member of the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, and as the Representative from one of the most technologically literate congressional districts, I know that technology is the future of education in America. Education technology has the potential to ensure that every student in America achieves the highest learning goals. However, education technology can accomplish this goal only if every student has access to technology and all educators know how to use it. President Clinton has endorsed this goal in his Technology Literacy Challenge. The Technology Literacy Challenge asks public and private resources to join together to ensure that all children in America are technologically literate by the 21st century. The BEST Act supports the Technology Literacy Challenge by recognizing businesses which show an exemplary commitment to joining with local schools to improve the teaching and use of education technology. Members of the House and Senate who choose to participate in this program ask local and State education agencies and schools for nominations. The business to be honored is then chosen by a board of qualified individuals. All the businesses which are chosen are honored locally by the participating Member of the House or Senate. In addition, each year the White House holds a national ceremony to give recognition to these businesses. It is important to note, however, that no taxpayer funds are used for this ceremony. My bill specifically states that the ceremony does not take place unless all costs are donated by private contributions. Mr. Speaker, education has always been a bipartisan issue in Congress. Last year, when the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities and the Science Committee held a joint hearing on education technology, Members on both sides of the aisle were excited to hear about the ways education technology is being used in many schools right now to help students achieve the kind of critical thinking they need to perform in the high skill jobs of today. But, it is not enough for a few lucky schools to offer education technology to their students. The BEST Act will encourage public/private partnerships in every community and every State that will ensure that all of our students and their teachers have the equipment and the know-how they need today to learn to the standards of tomorrow. I hope my colleagues from both sides of the aisle will cosponsor the BEST Act. Join with me, schools, and businesses across the Nation to make sure that every school in America has the education technology it needs to make American students the best in the world.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a concurrent resolution with Senator Rick Santorum calling for an official investigation of Dr. Hans Joachim Sewering by the German Government. At the time of Hitler's reign in Germany, Dr. Sewering was a member of the Nazi SS and the medical director of the Schenbrunn Sanitarium in Bavaria, Germany. During his tenure at this clinic for mentally and physically handicapped children, Dr. Sewering ordered the deaths of 909 innocent children. After the war, Dr. Sewering was not punished. His crimes were never even acknowledged by the German Government. In fact, Dr. Sewering went on to achieve a successful medical career in the German State of Bavaria. He thought that the world had forgotten the children that he sent to death. But, in 1993, four Franciscan nuns who were witnesses to this atrocity broke their vow of silence in order to bring Dr. Sewering to justice. Yet, to date, the Bavarian Government refuses to investigate this matter or press charges. Thanks to the Anti-Defamation League and my constituent, Michael Franzblau, M.D., the world has not forgotten the helpless children who dies at the hands of this man. Dr. Hans Joachim Sewering must be exposed for what he is, a Nazi war criminal. Please join me, and this resolution's 10 original cosponsors, in calling for the investigation and prosecution of Dr. Sewering for his crimes against humanity during the Second World War.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, we will agree that the welfare system does not work for taxpayers and it certainly does not work for families on welfare. That is the easy part. The challenge and responsibility we face as legislators, however, is to fix the system so that it helps parents move from welfare to work while at the same time ensuring that children are safe, healthy and protected. We have to do that because parents cannot succeed in school, training or work if their children are not taken care of. They cannot do their best when their children are home alone or in a car or if they are sick or hungry. Take it from me. I was on welfare. Even though I was working, I needed Aid For Dependent Children for one reason and one reason only, to give my children the food, the medical care, and the child care they needed. Without those crucial support services, Mr. Speaker, without that safety net, I do not know what would have happened to my family. So, conferees, Members of this body, remember, the lives of millions of children are in your hands. Take this responsibility very seriously. If you err, err on the side of our children. Make sure that no child is left without proper health care, nutrition, or child care. Make sure that no child is left behind. Remember how the safety net saved my family. Remember the children. I urge my colleagues, protect our children.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I want to express my strong support for increasing funds for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Mr. Chairman, 3 years ago, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped from her bedroom in Petaluma, CA. That is where I live, that is part of my district. She was later found brutally murdered. While it is too late to help Polly, it is not too late to help others like her. Since Polly's death, thousands more children have been abducted and many are still missing. Today we have an opportunity to help these children by creating a National Training Center for the Recovery of Missing and Exploited Children, and by improving reporting procedures that the Deutsch amendment has incorporated in the bill it will improve the likelihood that these children will be returned safely to their families. For Polly, for 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce, it is too late. But for the thousands of children that are still missing, by our support of this important amendment we will have made a great difference.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] be allowed to present her amendment.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I am going to make a prediction. When historians write books on the Gingrich Congress, they are going to write chapter upon chapter about the new majority's assault on reproductive choice. In the first session of the Gingrich Congress, the House of Representatives voted 21 times to compromise a woman's right to choose; 21 votes to undermine a constitutionally guaranteed right, in just 1 year. This is a new appropriations season and the march continues. But this time the anti-choice forces are making sure that not only will they maintain what they gained last year, but they want to expand on every one of their gains, including prohibition of abortion services in Federal prisons. There are really two main reasons why passage of the amendment of the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia [Ms. Norton] was important. First, this is a pro-choice vote. If Members say they are pro-choice, how can they in good conscience not vote for the Norton amendment, an amendment which affirms reproductive choice for women in prison? I know that speaking on behalf of women in prison may be unpopular. Obviously these are women who have committed crimes. They are serving their punishment. They are incarcerated. But the Norton amendment is not only about women in prison, it is about fundamental protection for Roe versus Wade. If Members are truly pro-choice, then they cannot support the language in this bill, language that will make the right to choose ring hollow for one more group of American women. Second, Mr. Chairman, I want to talk about the women who need abortion services in prison. Many women prisoners are victims of physical and sexual abuse. In fact, many of them may have had that drug, that date rape drug that the gentleman was referring to in the last amendment. These women have almost no access to prenatal care. They are isolated from family and friends and they face almost certain loss of custody of their child once the child is born. To require that imprisoned women bring unwanted children into wretched circumstances is wrong because we are not considering who will support these children once they are born, wrong because women in prison are not able to care for these children, wrong because denying women in prison abortion services undermines the fundamental principle of reproductive choice. I urge all of my colleagues to consider the Norton amendment, to pay attention to it, to accept the issue as an affirmation of the right to choose because, Mr. Chairman, it is the right thing to do.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, each year over 150,000 incidents of domestic violence involve a gun. In April, a woman in the district I represent was shot to death by her husband, even though she had a restraining order against him. Last week, a Ventura County sheriff's deputy, responding to a domestic violence call, was killed by a man with a long criminal record. Mr. Speaker, it is time to put an end to this insanity. That is why I am applauding President Clinton for announcing his support today for legislation, sponsored by Congressman Bob Torricelli, which will prohibit people convicted of a domestic violence offense from purchasing a gun. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense way to prevent tragedy. It is simple: Wife-beaters, child abusers, and other domestic violence offenders should not have access to a gun. Period.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, for certain it is getting closer to election day. I understand that my friends on the other side of the aisle want to take credit for getting tough on welfare. But what they are really doing is getting tough on children. You see, when I look at the welfare reform bill, it leaves me asking, What about the children? Two out of three welfare recipients are children. Have they forgotten about the children? Apparently so. Because, Mr. Speaker, this bill demands that mothers go to work but fails to provide the education, the training, and the support that these mothers need to take care of their children so that they can get off welfare permanently. When a mother is kicked off the welfare rolls, there is no safety net for her children, no guarantee that her children will receive food and shelter, no guarantee that they will have any medical care, no guarantee that they can survive. In fact, this bill says to poor children, ``Don't get hungry, don't get sick and for heaven's sake, don't get cold, because your time is up and we don't think you're important enough to protect you.'' Mr. Speaker, no other Member of this body knows better than I do how wrong this is. This is the wrong way to fix the welfare system. When I was a single working mother with three small children, my children were 1, 3, and 5 years old, I could not have stayed in the work force without the safety net of health care, child care, and food for my children. That safety net was provided by the welfare system. I urge my colleagues, do not take this vote lightly. Do not vote for this rule. This bill is not about helping welfare recipients, about helping people get off welfare and into jobs that pay a livable wage. Rather, it is a vote for making poor children even poorer despite the political hoopla, despite all this rhetoric around the debate. Your vote today is a matter of life and death for millions and millions of children. Make no mistake, your vote will have consequences for children long after election day.