Lynn Woolsey

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. This past Monday was Workers Memorial Day. Workers Memorial Day is the day when we remember those who have lost their lives or have been injured as a result of unsafe health and safety conditions in the workplace. On Workers Memorial Day we also recommit to the fight for safe working conditions for every single worker in America. So, Madam Chairwoman, it's fitting that today we are considering H.R. 5522, the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act, which was introduced by Chairman Miller and Representative Barrow, a bill that requires OSHA to develop a standard for combustible dust. I am proud to be a cosponsor of that bill, and I want to commend Chairman Miller and Representative Barrow because they introduced it. Like other Members of Congress, I was absolutely shocked and saddened by the combustible dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar Company in Port Wentworth, Georgia, which resulted in 13 deaths and 60 injuries. My heart goes out to the families of those who died, and my hopes and prayers, all of our hopes and prayers are with those workers who were seriously injured. The survivors have a tough road ahead of them. Unfortunately, Madam Chairwoman, this explosion, like so many other workplace incidents that have occurred lately, could have been prevented. That is the most important part of it. It didn't need to happen. Lives were senselessly lost, and more workers remain in critical condition. That is why immediately after the explosion, Chairman Miller and I sent a letter to OSHA demanding that the agency begin work on a standard for combustible dust. Such a standard was recommended not last year, but longer than that ago, a year and a half ago, at least, by the Chemical Safety Board. That is an independent Federal agency charged with investigating chemical accidents. But OSHA has failed to act on this recommendation, and unfortunately, but not surprisingly, OSHA has failed to respond to our letter in a timely manner. So that is why we in Congress need to act, and we need to act now. We must act just as we did when we passed H.R. 2693, the Popcorn Lung Disease Prevention Act. That was legislation that requires OSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard to regulate workers' exposure to diacetyl, a chemical used in butter flavoring for microwave popcorn and other food products, a chemical that was killing and injuring workers. I wish that we could trust OSHA under this administration to do the job that was laid out for them. But we cannot. So that is why I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 5522. Take care of our workers.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to announce that Representative Chris Shays of Connecticut and I have introduced an important bipartisan bill in the House today that can help bring desperately needed reconciliation to the people of Iraq. The bill is called the International Partnership for Reconciliation in Iraq. By the standards of the Federal Government, it is a tiny outfit. But few government agencies have delivered more bang for their buck or done so much with so few people. The USIP Institute has an impressive track record of conflict management and peace building in the Balkans, the Philippines, Nigeria, the Sudan, Rwanda and other parts of the world, including Iraq. This bill is vitally important, because, as Ambassador Ryan Crocker has said, ``reconciliation is perhaps the most critical challenge that Iraq faces right now.'' Our bill would encourage reconciliation by supporting the work of a remarkable but unheralded organization called the United States Institute of Peace. The Institute was established by Congress 24 years ago today. It has 142 employees and a budget of $32 million. It has been successful because it is unique. There is no other organization like it. It is a center and a clearinghouse for best practices in preventing and dealing with conflict. Its staff includes many of the world's top experts in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. These incredibly dedicated experts travel to some of the world's most violent places to facilitate reconciliation efforts on the ground. And the Institute is impartial, it is nonideological. Its only axe to grind is peace. That is why USIP has gained the respect and trust in all sides in conflict. In fact, you can say the Institute is one of the world's top brand names when it comes to making peace. In Iraq, the Institute has been working to inspire reconciliation at the regional, at the national, and at the community levels. It has been particularly effective in the city of Mahmoudiya, which has been called the Triangle of Death. There, it has worked to bring Sunni and Shiite factions together. Its work has been so effective that the U.S. Army's provincial reconstruction teams have asked the Institute to help with reconciliation efforts in other parts of Iraq. Not bad for an organization whose annual budget is less than what we spend in Iraq every 3 hours. There is an excellent article on the Institute's work, Madam Speaker, in the current issue of the National Journal, and I urge all my colleagues to read it. The bill that Representative Shays and I introduced today would provide assistance to the Institute to do the following in Iraq: Prevent violent conflict, promote post-conflict stability and development, increase conflict management capacity, promote tolerance and forgiveness, and facilitate regional dialogue. We believe that the Institute's work will also encourage nations from outside the region to get involved. Reconciliation in Iraq has become something like the weather: Everyone here in Washington talks about it, but no one can really do anything about it. We just sort of sit around and wait for the Iraqi government to meet their reconciliation benchmarks. Then, when they don't, we make speeches. This bill is an opportunity to do something about reconciliation by supporting an organization that knows how to get the job done. And this bill we can all get behind, because no matter where we stand on the Iraq issue we all support reconciliation. I am proud to join with Representative Shays in asking all of our colleagues in the House on both sides of the aisle to cosponsor this critically important bipartisan bill.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 1073 and House Resolution 49.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, China is facing growing criticism for its record on human rights. It has been condemned for its recent crackdown on Tibet, its oppression of dissidents at home, and its support for the regime in Sudan that is responsible for the genocide in Darfur. Russia is another country that has received justifiable criticism for cracking down on freedom. President Putin has rolled back many of the democratic gains Russia made after the Cold War. And the recent elections in Russia were a sham, clearly rigged to favor Putin's candidate. Because of all of this, you would think that the people of the world would have a much higher opinion of the United States, the world's greatest democracy, than they would have of anti-democratic China and Russia. But that just isn't the case. Incredibly, according to the most recent annual survey of international attitudes, America is viewed more negatively around the world than China and Russia. The Study of World Opinion was conducted by the BBC World Survey. According to the BBC, America's image abroad plummeted after our invasion of Iraq in the year 2003, and continued to decline in the following years. The latest survey, which was released on April 1, however, has shown some good news. America's image is a little better than it was last year. But it is not because the world has suddenly changed its opinion about the Bush administration and its policies in Iraq. The director of the survey was quoted as saying, ``It may be that, as the U.S. approaches a new presidential election, views of the U.S. are being mitigated by hope that a new administration will move away from foreign policies that have been so unpopular in the world.'' Mr. Speaker, what the world thinks of America matters. And it is not just because we want to win popularity contests. It is far more serious than that. Our ability to lead the world is badly damaged when our reputation is in tatters. We cannot lead the world in the fight against terrorism when so many people in the world, even our best friends, believe that we are a threat to peace ourselves. We cannot lead the world in the fight against the many other global problems, including poverty, disease, climate change, and the lack of educational opportunity when we have lost our moral authority and credibility. When you go to war under false pretenses, devastate a nation that never attacked you, and condone torture, you don't make America stronger, you make America weaker, because you undermine values that are the real source of our strength. America's great values are democracy, the rule of law, peace, and compassion for the people of the world. Our occupation of Iraq has trampled on all of these values. The veto of Congress' effort to outlaw waterboarding is just the latest example of what I am talking about. And what was gained by trashing our values? Nothing. A report written by the National Defense University, the Pentagon's premier military educational institute, called our occupation of Iraq a major debacle. Mr. Speaker, 92 Members of the House have written to the President to tell him that we will fully fund the responsible redeployment of our troops out of Iraq, but we will not approve another penny to support the disastrous policy of open-ended occupation. After more than 5 years of occupation, it is time for us to redeem America's reputation, restore our values, rebuild Iraq, and lead the world in the fight for peace once again.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5613, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act. This important bill would place a moratorium on seven harmful medicaid regulations. Medicaid provides valuable services to some of our nation's neediest children and families and these regulations would severely impact state budgets and ability to continue to offer the same level of services. If these regulations are implemented, California could lose up to $12.5 billion in Federal Medicaid funds over the next 5 years. In a growing recession, this is the last thing we should be doing. Instead, we should be helping states help those who need access to the medicaid services. To succeed, every child needs access to the best opportunities. A quality education can help these children succeed, but too many children come to school with other issues that need to be addressed: They haven't had breakfast or a meal since the before the weekend, they have been sick and need medication but lack health insurance, or they need some kind of additional help and therapy because of disabilities. These children depend upon the coordination of the state and schools to connect children to these services. A school nurse can help connect a student and his or her family to Medicaid services and help him or her through the enrollment process to ensure that the student can receive asthma medication, eyeglasses, preventative care, or emergency healthcare to come to school and focus on learning. One of these regulations would cease the Federal Government's reimbursement to States for this service. Less outreach will mean fewer children will receive Medicaid services. As we move deeper into an economic recession, more families may lose jobs and health insurance. More children will need access to Medicaid, not less. Schools are a great place to find these children and walk their families through the process to enroll in Medicaid to ensure no child will go without important medical care. Under the Individuals With Disability Act (IDEA), schools are required to provide specialized services to students with disabilities, such as speech and physical therapy. The schools have been allowed to be reimbursed by Medicaid for the cost in transporting the students to these various services. One of the new regulations would eliminate this reimbursement. This would be a terrible burden upon these schools that are already short on funds. We need to help schools get students the education and services they need, not make it more difficult for schools to help these students. These are just two of the seven Medicaid regulations that will do more harm than good and two examples of why we need to pass H.R. 5613 and place a moratorium on these regulations for the time being. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5613.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, those who support our occupation of Iraq often justify it by saying that there will be a terrible humanitarian crisis if our troops leave. They must have missed the memo about the humanitarian crisis that already exists in Iraq. And they must be blind to the humanitarian crisis that goes on every day right here in America because of the occupation. Last week, the Rand Corporation issued a shocking report which measured the crisis at home. The report found that 300,000 troops who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression; that's about 20 percent of all the troops who have been deployed. The numbers are truly staggering, but when you add all the family members who are affected, you realize that we will never be able to calculate the full human toll of the Iraq invasion. Mr. Speaker, the study was the first complete analysis of PTSD and depression problems. It should have been conducted by our government, our government, which, by the way, has the greatest responsibility for the care of our veterans, but it wasn't. It was conducted by the Rand Corporation, a private, nonprofit organization. The codirector of the report said one of the reasons that RAND did the study was because the Pentagon didn't, and they wanted to have the numbers. It is outrageous that our own Department of Defense didn't know how many of our veterans were suffering from PTSD and from major depression. How did our government expect to address this health crises if it didn't know the full extent of it? This is another example, Mr. Speaker, of the administration failing our troops. But it's hardly the only example. Over 125,000 veterans of the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are on disability for hearing loss and other hearing problems. One of the chief reasons is the Pentagon's failure to fully anticipate the problem of road-side bombs. The blasts from these bombs cause violent changes in air pressure that can rupture the eardrum and break bones inside the ear. And most tragically, we are learning that the government may be trying to cover up the problem of suicide among veterans. In a trial that opened yesterday, two organizations are suing the Department of Veterans Affairs for failing to provide adequate care to prevent suicides among veterans. An e-mail written by the head of the Mental Health Services for the VA was shown at that very trial. The e-mail referred to approximately 1,000 veterans under the VA's care who attempt suicide every month. And the memo said, ``Shhhh! Is this something we should carefully address ourselves in some order of press release before someone stumbles on it?'' This is incredible. The Veterans Administration is trying to figure out whether to hide the truth from the American people about the extent of the suicide problem among our veterans. What a disgrace. Mr. Speaker, we have a solemn duty to care for our veterans, to honor them for their sacrifice, and the best way to honor those who have been injured is to make certain that more aren't injured. That means we must responsibly redeploy our troops out of Iraq. And it means we must get on with the task of helping the people of Iraq to rebuild their lives and their country, and healing the wounds of our veterans right here at home. The administration will not do it. It is up to Congress to do it. We owe it to our veterans, to the American people, to the Iraqi people. And Mr. Speaker, we owe it to ourselves.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, on April 8, 2008, I was unavoidably detained and was not able to record my vote for rollcall No. 193. Had I been present I would have voted: Rollcall No. 193--``yes''--Providing for consideration of H.R. 2634, Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Collection Act.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modem State of Israel. Israel has been a constant friend of the American people and a strong proponent for the spread of democracy. In my travels, I saw the future for Israel and for the region: The children. It is our moral obligation to current and future generations to support a true path to peace and reconciliation. We must work towards a time free from conflict. The children of Israel and the region deserve the right to hope and dream of a world that is secure and stable. Today, I join my colleagues in recognition of this important anniversary and look forward to a peaceful role for the U.S. throughout the region.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 5715, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008. Everyone deserves access to the best possible opportunities, which include a college education. No student should be denied a college education because he or she can't afford it. That's why we must continue to find ways to increase student access to financial aid to ensure that students and their families have every possible opportunity to acquire a college education. We can't let the current credit crisis limit any student's opportunities to receive a college education. This bill would give the Secretary of Education the tools to help schools in need find a lender and give students access to the money they need to attend school. To keep America competitive in the global market, we must continue to ensure that every student receives access to the best possible college education. This bill serves as a preventative measure and goes a long way towards averting any possible crisis in July or August when our Nation's students and their families are looking for ways to pay for the next school year. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5715.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to bring to the House's attention a potentially, very dangerous new turn in the administration's policies in the Middle East. In recent weeks the administration has been stirring up the pot on Iran again, and that has caused many Americans to worry that the administration is getting ready to launch another attack in the region, this time in Tehran. In fact, there's more than enough evidence to show that the administration may be laying the groundwork for military action. In an interview last month, the President said that the Iranians, and I quote him, he said, ``the Iranians have declared they want to have a nuclear weapon to destroy people.'' That would be troubling, Madam Speaker, if it were true. But the Iranians haven't said anything of the kind. It is shocking to me that our Commander-in-Chief would make unsubstantiated and misleading statements about a subject as important and as serious as nuclear weapons. Another troubling sign came last month when Admiral William Fallon retired. Admiral Fallon was a bulwark against the Iran hawks in the administration, and his departure raised fears that he was, first, forced to retire, and that next, the rush to war was on. And several weeks ago, Vice President Cheney said that he has ``high confidence'' that the Iranians have an ongoing nuclear enrichment program. Of course, the most recent national intelligence estimate reported that the Iranians stopped working on a suspected nuclear weapons program 4 years ago. And finally, General Petraeus told Congress last week that Iranian- backed special groups now pose the greatest long-term threat in Iraq. For years, the administration told us that the main enemy was al Qaeda or Sunni insurgents, or Shiite militia. Now they tell us, forget them; it's Iran. In my mind, this raises legitimate concerns that the administration may be inventing new excuses to stay in Iraq by trying to convince the American people to support war against Iran. Madam Speaker, I too am concerned about Iran. The Iranians should stay out of Iraq. They should not develop nuclear weapons. No country should develop nuclear weapons. But if we want Iran to behave well, we must stop threatening to attack them. Instead, our first line of defense must be engagement and aggressive diplomacy. The absolutely essential first step in that process must be the redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. How can we expect Iraq's neighbors to cooperate in stabilizing the region while we insist on an open-ended foreign occupation with 140,000 troops and tens of thousands of military contractors? Ending the occupation will allow us to launch a broad initiative to bring the nations in the region to the table, to address the relevant, the political, the economic and the security issues. And Madam Speaker, when it comes to Iran's nuclear challenge, we must retake the high moral ground in the United States of America. When we turn our backs on nuclear nonproliferation, abandon the comprehensive test ban treaty and develop new nuclear weapons of our own, under what circumstances can we tell another nation to abandon their nuclear dreams? The American people do not want a wider conflict in the Middle East. They want our leaders to spend every waking moment working to bring peace to the region. This is not the time for heated rhetoric, for bullying and new threats. It is time to try the one thing we haven't tried, diplomacy.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding me the time. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2634 and am proud to recognize Chairman Frank, his Ranking Member Bachus, Congresswoman Waters, Representative Lee and Representative Payne because they are leaders in this very, very necessary important issue of debt relief. And I want to tell you I admire their absolute stick-to-itiveness on this important issue, because 7 years ago, grass-roots groups asked Congress and the administration to release heavily indebted poor countries from their overwhelming debt. In many cases, the debt was acquired under dictatorships and despotic regimes. These emerging developing nations could not move forward while buried under seemingly crushing debt. With bipartisan support, and this is bipartisan in the way it has come to the floor, it passed the first time. Now it is improved upon and going forward again. It is stronger than it was before. In so doing, we forgave debt owed by poor countries, countries that were spending vast sums on debt servicing while forgoing investment into education or health care, infrastructure and other social services so desperately needed in their small countries. With this bill, we are putting a downpayment on the future of the developing world. We are getting more kids into classrooms. We are providing life-saving health care. We are building the pathways for entrepreneurship. And I thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership, and I honor one more time, as we all have, Congresswoman Waters for her stick-to- itiveness in making these wonderful, important issues come forward and pass positively.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, today is April 15, Tax Day. Right now, millions of Americans are hurrying to report their incomes to the IRS. Usually, ``IRS'' stands for ``Internal Revenue Service,'' but today, it might as well stand for ``Iraq revenue suppliers'' because so much of our tax revenue is paying for the occupation of Iraq. Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize winning economist, has calculated the occupation will cost at least $3 trillion. That means that the occupation will cost each of our 300 million citizens $10,000, or an incredible $40,000 for a family of four. America's hardworking families are struggling to keep their heads above water as we sink into a deep, what I call, Iraq recession. Yet, they're being asked to hand over $40,000, most of which goes to the foreign nations that are lending us the money to keep the occupation going. And that $40,000, Madam Speaker, will get much bigger if the occupation goes on for another few years, for 100 years as some cheerleaders for the occupation are discussing. What have we gotten for our occupation money? General Petraeus told us last week that the security situation in Iraq has gotten much better. But 19 of our incredibly brave soldiers died last week. And our top military leaders continue to warn us that our obsession with Iraq is breaking our military and that we may wake up one day to find that we can't meet a real threat to our national security. Next month, the IRS will mail out economic stimulus checks. I'm glad that that relief is on the way. But the best economic stimulus plan would be to end the occupation of Iraq. The American people agree. A recent New York Times/CBS poll found that 89 percent of the American people believe that the cost of the occupation has contributed to our economic problems. Last month, the Progressive Caucus put forth an alternative budget that showed that we can actually achieve an end to the occupation in Iraq and re-order our spending priorities. The budget is truly remarkable. We were able to fully fund the education that our children deserved and that our Nation must have to remain competitive in the global economy. We were able to invest in green jobs that could employ millions of our citizens and put our Nation on the path to the energy independence we must have to fuel our economy and ensure our national security. And we were able to provide health care coverage to every American who lacks it, not only fulfilling our promise to care for each other, but making our country stronger and more competitive in the process. But instead of revving up these engines of economic growth and social justice, the administration will soon send to Congress yet another request for emergency Iraq funding. This time around, the request will be for $108 billion. Madam Speaker, I agree that we must spend money on Iraq but not the way the administration wants to spend it. It wants an open-ended occupation. Instead, we must fully fund the safe, responsible redeployment of our troops and military contractors out of Iraq. And we must help, not do it all, but we must help to reconstruct Iraq. We've all heard of the so-called Pottery Barn rule: If you break it, you own it. We need to expand that saying: If you break it, you have a moral obligation to help rebuild it. It's time for the madness to end, Madam Speaker. It's time to bring our troops home, get our fiscal house in order, give the Iraqi people back their sovereignty and help them rebuild their country and their lives.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, as we enter the sixth year of the seemingly endless occupation of Iraq, the International Committee of the Red Cross published a worrying report about the State of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. In its entitled ``Iraq: No Let-Up in the Humanitarian Crisis,'' the publication shows just how far we need to go to meet the most basic needs of the Iraqi people. Despite the rosy picture being painted by some in the administration, too many Iraqis are still without health care, clean water, and/or education. And many families have been torn apart by the civil war wracking the country. Family members have gone missing or have been killed. Some have been shipped off to detention centers. Estimates range on how many people, mostly men, have been locked up. According to the Red Cross, ``Tens of thousands of Iraqis, almost all of them men, are currently in detention often far from their homes.'' One camp is situated in the southern part of the country near Basra and is managed by the United States-led multinational forces in Iraq. At the same time, this is the largest detention facility in the country. And there are more than 20,000 inmates in that detention camp. The situation means that many families have lost their breadwinner. The new heads of household, many women and many children, have to cope in a world that seems to be without home or promise for the future. And their day-to-day life is just as bleak. Instead of improving, the supply of electricity has become even more unreliable. Because of this, water sanitation plants are breaking down and hospitals find they cannot provide adequate care, even if they had the medical supplies to meet the demand, which they very seldom do. Parents the world over, Madam Speaker, American, Iraqi, or anywhere else, only want the best for their children. They want their kids to be happy. They want them to be healthy. They want their kids to go to school, to grow up and to have a chance to achieve their dreams. That is why ongoing occupation is about more than statistics or numbers. The Red Cross reports helps to put a human face on the administration's so-called foreign policy. One such story actually highlights the struggle faced by too many. Here is Ruba's story. She says, ``My children and I left my home in Anbar province almost 2 years ago. My husband had been killed right in front of us.'' She continues, ``I had to protect my children, so we fled the same night with nothing but some money. For me, today, there is no past, there is no future, only a horrible present. I only wish I had some photos of my husband, photos of my family. I can see it all in my mind, but I don't know for how long I will remember. There was a time when we always sat down together for lunch and laughed. Today, we are living with my cousin's family.'' She goes on to say, ``There are 12 of us in one room. I don't want my old life again, because I know it is impossible without my husband. All I want is for my children to go to school and lead a normal life.'' The story of this mother, Madam Speaker, a woman just 38 years old, is heartbreaking. We have a solemn obligation to help the Iraqi people achieve a future that is both secure and stable. In the 5 minutes we stand here to deliver our special order speeches, the administration spends over $1 million to prolong the endless occupation. I think the people of America could find a better way to show our commitment to the Iraqi people. The American people's generosity and commitment to humanitarian assistance is boundless. But our patience with this administration's foreign policy follies is actually not boundless. This Congress must stand up to the administration. We must say ``no'' to a blank check. Let us redirect our resources to where they are really needed, towards aid, not ammunition.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert materials relevant to H. Res. 1097 into the Record.

Ms. WOOLSEY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1097) expressing support for the designation of the month of April 2008, as National Child Abuse Prevention Month to provide attention to the tragic circumstances that face some of our Nation's children on a daily basis and to underscore our commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect so that all children can live in safety and security, as amended.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, a child's safety should never be put in jeopardy. That's why I rise in support of H. Res. 1097, authored by Congressman Courtney from Connecticut. H. Res. 1097 is a bill to designate this month as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We need to shine a light on the tragic circumstances, Mr. Speaker, that face some of our Nation's children on a daily basis. As people across the country recognize this month as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and promote awareness activities in order to reduce the cases of child maltreatment, this resolution moves us one step closer to securing the safety and well-being of all children. The latest data shows us that in the year 2006, approximately 1,530 children died, died in the United States of America, due to maltreatment, and an additional 905,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect. Even more disturbing, Mr. Speaker, is that our most vulnerable children are at greatest risk. Approximately 90,000 victims of child abuse and neglect in the year 2000 were less than 1 year old. More than 84 percent of those child abuse victims were less than 1 month old. These facts are appalling. We must work together to bring attention to this important issue and begin to strengthen our families and our communities and to keep our children safe. We need to emphasize the need for more prevention programs because prevention works by reducing risk factors, by promoting protective factors and by fostering a commitment for social change. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Courtney for introducing this important bill. It is my hope and it is my goal that all of my colleagues will join me in supporting H. Res. 1097 so that together we can reduce child abuse and neglect by increasing public awareness. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the author of this great resolution, Mr. Courtney from Connecticut, and a member of the committee.

Ms. WOOLSEY

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 259) honoring and recognizing the work of the Meals On Wheels Association of America, its member senior nutrition programs throughout the country, and their annual March For Meals campaigns.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 259 into the Record.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 259, authored by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. LoBiondo). H. Res. 259 honors and recognizes the work of the Meals on Wheels Association of America and their annual March For Meals campaigns. The Meals on Wheels Association of America is the oldest and largest organization that provides meals to people in need. Through their many programs, Meals on Wheels strives to support the social, physical, nutritional, and economic needs of vulnerable individuals. Meals on Wheels offers tools and information to programs across the Nation and supports these organizations in making a difference in the lives of those at risk. They do this through professional training, creative leadership, and cash grants. Meals on Wheels helps local senior meal programs provide food and other nutrition services nationwide. Hunger continues to be a profound problem in our country, Mr. Speaker. Nationwide nearly 38 million people live in households suffering from hunger, up from 33 million in the year 2000. Meals on Wheels is at the forefront of combating hunger by providing nutritious meals to people across the country, those who are elderly, those who are homebound, disabled, or at risk and who are at the greatest risk of going hungry. Even with these impressive efforts, a great need still exists. At this moment 40 percent of Meals on Wheels programs across the country report that there are waiting lists for their nutrition services. Furthermore, the needs for Meals on Wheels will continue to grow. The elderly population in the United States has grown exponentially over the last few decades and will continue to increase well into the mid 21st century. The demographics that will experience the most growth is that of adults age 85 and older. At the same time, the economic insecurity of this elderly population will continue to rise, creating a dire need for services such as those provided by Meals on Wheels. Mr. Speaker, at the conclusion of the annual March For Meals campaign, I want to join my colleagues in recognizing the important role that Meals on Wheels programs play all year long all over the country. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to honor and recognize the important role of Meals on Wheels and the role that it plays in combating hunger for the neediest among us. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H. Res. 259, a resolution honoring and recognizing the work of the Meals on Wheels Association of America and their annual March for Meals campaign. I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, Representative LoBiondo, for asking me to join him as a lead sponsor of this important legislation. We all know the statistics related to senior nutrition programs and Meals on Wheels. In my home State of Rhode Island alone, there are an estimated 2,200 meals delivered each day to homebound and elderly clients and over 600,000 meals delivered each year by over 1,000 volunteers. The cost to provide one meal each day for one month is less than $100, by far less expensive than the cost of a nursing home, which averages nearly $5,000 per month. I often cite these statistics because I am proud of the work of my local Meals on Wheels program, but these numbers fail to illustrate one of the more important results from the program. Because these clients are homebound, they are too often isolated from their communities and spend their days alone. Even a brief visit from a friendly Meals on Wheels volunteer provides much needed social interaction and a connection to the community. I have participated in March for Meals in my community, and I encourage other Members of Congress and elected officials to take the time to visit their homebound constituents who receive meals. Unfortunately, one in ten seniors lives in poverty in our Nation and the need for home-delivered meals continues to increase. It is critical that Members of Congress know firsthand the powerful effects of these delivered meals on our seniors, not only to feed their bodies, but to feed their souls. Thank you, again, to my colleague, Representative LoBiondo, for introducing this important resolution and to Meals on Wheels and their volunteers for their tremendous work in taking care of our most vulnerable Americans. I urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 259, and to participate in March for Meals in their home districts.

Ms. WOOLSEY. I yield back the balance of my time.