Albert Wynn

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, as the House of Representatives debates H. Con. Res. 134, a resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public awareness of mental illness, especially within minority communites, I would like to submit the following eight endorsement letters for the Record. May 20, 2008. Edward S. Hubbard, Jr., Esq., Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel, Office of Congressman Albert R. Wynn. To Whom It May Concern: We, the members of the ``D.C. Divas,'' also make up the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Task Force. We are writing to strongly urge you to support H. Con. Res. 134, which establishes the month of July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. As friends and fellow advocates, we witnessed Ms. Campbell's tireless efforts to educate people throughout the country about mental health. Because a member of her family suffers with mental illness, she knew firsthand that the disease is a leading cause of disability in the United States. One out of every four American families is affected by mental illness. In her own search for information and services, Ms. Campbell found compassionate support within the community of people, who like her, had loved ones struggling with the disease. She also discovered that minorities suffering from mental illness lack access to culturally and linguistically competent mental health care. Compounding these challenges are the cultural stigma associated with mental health diagnosis and treatment, and a dearth of education and resources for minority families supporting a mentally ill loved. Always one to do whatever she could to solve a problem, Ms. Campbell joined several other people from black communities in Los Angeles to found the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill--Urban Los Angeles. Establishing July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month will raise awareness about mental illness and mental health disparities among minorities nationwide. This modest effort will improve public health by encouraging the expansion of vital care in underserved communities in every state. Ms. Campbell, a noted author whose works became New York Times bestsellers, died on November 27, 2006 of brain cancer complications. By this time, she had become a national spokeswoman for minority mental health issues, using her celebrity status and creativity to address the issues surrounding mental illness. Her last works before her death included the best selling novel ``72 Hour Hold,'' a book about a mother's struggle to get aid for her mentally ill daughter, and the children's book, ``Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry,'' about a young girl whose mother is mentally ill. The family of the late Ms. Campbell fully endorses this initiative and seeks the help of all Members of Congress in promoting this cause. Again, as 13 of Ms. Campbell's friends from Washington, DC--and fellow advocates for mental health services, we know she would be honored to have her name attached to this effort. Mostly, though, she would be thankful for the congressional commitment to expand services in underserved communities. Sincerely, Martha Jarvis, Beatrix Fields, Yolanda Phillips, Sheila Garnett, Judi Mooore Latta, Melbourne Cummings, Sidonie Davis, Patrice Gaines, LaFleur Paysour, Linda Wharton Boyd, Andrea Carter, Niambi Jarvis, Courtney Lang.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to me that this bill is met with such bipartisan support. I particularly want to thank my colleague, Mr. Smith, for his support. He is recognized throughout this institution as a champion for the wellness of our citizens, human rights, and for supporting causes which make our country better. I want to thank him again for his support and thank all the cosponsors. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 134) expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month to enhance public awareness of mental illness, especially within minority communities, as amended.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution will designate July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental illness is one of the leading causes of disabilities in the United States affecting one out of every four Americans, and victimizing both those with the illness as well as those who care for and love those afflicted. However, according to a report from the Office of Minority and National Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association, although mental illness impacts all people, African Americans experience a much greater unmet need for mental health services and receive a lesser quality of care, thereby resulting in mental health disparities. Further, according to a Surgeon General's report on mental illness, African Americans who do seek help are misdiagnosed at a higher rate within the mental health delivery system. Communities of color are in need of culturally competent mental health providers and expanding training for all health care providers to serve multiethnic consumers in order to accurately assess and treat African Americans and other minority patients. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one out of every three African Americans are more likely to stop treatment early, and are less likely to receive followup due to a lack of insurance coverage. Without adequate health insurance, mental health cannot be properly treated. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of African Americans receive mental health treatment, and a significant percentage refuse treatment or view mental health treatment as a treatment of last resort due to a stigma associated with mental illness. To address these problems, obviously we need more resources and access to health insurance. But critically we also need to improve public awareness and encourage minority citizens to confront the illness instead of denying it or being ashamed of its existence in their families and communities. This bill will, number one, raise awareness about mental illness and mental health disparities among minorities nationwide. Second, it will encourage training for health care providers to ensure proper diagnosis of African American patients and minority communities. And, third, it will improve public health by encouraging the expansion of vital mental health care into underserved communities in every State. Let me take a moment and tell you about Bebe Moore Campbell. Bebe Moore Campbell was a renowned African American author who died on November 27, 2006, at the age of 56. She was also my college classmate at the University of Pittsburgh. Through her dedication and commitment, Ms. Campbell sought to remove the stigma of mental illness in the African American community. Her novel, ``72 Hour Hold,'' and her children's book, ``Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry,'' both bring to light the plight of those with brain disorders. Her goal was to move communities to support mental wellness through effective treatment, increased resources, access to mental health services, and improved community outreach and support. July would be an appropriate month to be designated as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, since our first book, ``72 Hour Hold,'' which addressed minority mental health was released to the public in July of 2005. I want to thank my lead cosponsor, Congresswoman Diane Watson, as well as all the cosponsors of this bill for their support, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, before I yield the balance of my time, I want to recognize the gentleman and thank him for his leadership on this issue. He has been truly committed. I also again would like to recognize the work of Mr. Doyle, my colleague, and also my colleague and sponsor, Mr. Reichert, for his leadership on this issue. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1106, which designates April 2008 as National Autism Awareness Month and supports efforts to devote new resources to research into the causes and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Autism is a developmental spectrum disorder which inhibits an individual's ability to communicate and interact with others. For parents eager to communicate with their child, there is nothing more painful than watching their child fail to provide either a verbal or non-verbal cue of responsiveness. Affecting an estimated 1 in every 150 children and costing an estimated $90 billion to care for those with this disorder, the toll of autism spectrum disorder on our country is significant. The resolution before us supports the goals of devoting new resources to researching the root causes of autism, expanding programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorder across their life span and promoting understanding of the special needs of people with autism spectrum disorder. This resolution also emphasizes the need for early intervention services, starting as soon as the child has been diagnosed with autism. While there is currently no available cure for autism spectrum disorder, early behavioral intervention strategies significantly improve the outcome for those suffering from autism. These strategies can also reduce the level of funding and services necessary to treat people later in life. I would like to note for the record, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Daisy Maggette, my constituent from the Fourth District of Maryland, who has been a tireless advocate and activist in the fight against autism in our community. I would also like to thank my colleague, Congressman David Reichert, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor today. I would also like to thank Congressman Mike Doyle for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H. Res. 1106. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1106) expressing support for designation of April 2008 as ``National Autism Awareness Month'' and supporting efforts to devote new resources to research into the causes and treatment of autism and to improve training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's outstanding organizations and one of the Washington Metropolitan area's greatest gifts, specifically in the areas that I represent in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, the Metropolitan Washington YMCA. The mission of the YMCA is to ``foster the spiritual, mental and physical development of individuals, families and communities according to the ideals of inclusiveness, equality and respect for all.'' To that end, Madam Speaker: The YMCA provides child care, before- and after-school care, summer day camp, resident overnight camp, teen camps, youth and adult sports leagues, health and wellness programs, teen activities, community service programs, swim lessons, aquatic wellness programs, youth and family intervention programs, youth leadership clubs, senior health and wellness programs, senior social activities and much more. Specifically Madam Speaker, I want to honor the YMCA and Camp Letts, a 219-acre retreat center founded in 1906 on the majestic Chesapeake Bay. With children and campers from all over the country and counselors from all over the world, YMCA Camp Letts is truly a global community promoting tolerance, inclusion and diversity among all its visitors and staff members while providing a safe environment for children to make friends, participate in activities, and have a great time. Madam Speaker, Camp Letts specializes in the field of recreation with an emphasis on youth development. The diverse staff representing over 20 countries model and teach the YMCA's core values of ``Honesty, Caring, Respect and Responsibility.'' It all began in 1906, when YMCA Boys Work Director Albert M. Chesley pitched camp on five acres along the South River, initiating what is now the oldest organized resident camp in the Washington area. The camp moved in 1922 to its present location, thanks to the generosity of John Cowen Letts, and today youngsters from the Baltimore-Washington area and beyond flock to this secure and exciting environment to kindle friendships and master new skills--all the while learning more about themselves, their peers and the world in which they live. This 219-acre peninsula has miles of wooded trails for hiking, horseback riding, and nature discovery; vast green fields for a variety of team sports; tennis courts; an olympic-sized swimming pool, sailboats and small craft; certified nets, balls, racquets, hoops and targets for various sports; and much more to enjoy a broad selection of aquatic, land-based and waterfront activities. In addition to providing numerous recreational activities for youth and families, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, under the steadfast leadership of Angie L. Reese-Hawkins, is the leading human service organization and the largest provider of child care in the greater Washington area, serving over 30,000 children each year. Under Mrs. Reese-Hawkins's leadership, the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington is the 17th largest YMCA association in North America, with operating revenue of $46 million, and 84,000 individual and family members in a service area of 4 million people. Today, the Metropolitan Washington YMCA has 17 branches and program centers that touch close to 250,000 lives a year in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia and suburban Maryland. Almost 3,400 volunteers--an increase of 10 percent over 2005--served the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington in 2006. During 2006 the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington raised $1.1 million in its annual sustaining Building Bridges Campaign and gave out over $2.13 million in financial assistance to more than 12,500 families and individuals, enabling them to participate in child care, after-school and camp programs, membership, wellness, therapeutic and senior services throughout the metropolitan area. Madam Speaker, how lucky we are to have the YMCA and its committed staff working to improve opportunities for all children, but particularly those in the Metropolitan Washington area.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I'd just like to take a moment to thank Dr. Burgess for his support of this legislation. He expounded on it quite well, and we appreciate his support. Also Ms. Granger, who I indicated could not be here. I particularly want to thank my colleagues on the Democratic side of the aisle, Ms. Schakowsky, who obviously has a tremendous personal story to tell in support of this legislation, and also Mr. Kennedy, with whom I've worked with, and has had a tremendous passion in support of this measure.

Mr. WYNN. The gentlelady is granted an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, at this time I recognize the distinguished gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for 2 minutes.

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 302. This bill does three things: First, it calls for the designation of March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Second, it recognizes national and community organizations for their work in promoting the importance of prevention and early detection through regular colorectal screenings. Third, it urges organizations and health practitioners to ``earn a Blue Star'' by using this opportunity to increase awareness about colorectal cancer. And I will talk more about the blue star in just a minute. But first let me note that colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer and the second most deadly. Approximately 148,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and 49,000 will die from the disease. Every 3 minutes a loved one is diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Every 9 minutes a loved one dies from the disease. Every 5 seconds a loved one who should be screened for colorectal cancer is not. Colorectal cancer is a silent killer which often causes no symptoms until it reaches the latest stages. Colorectal screenings save lives by catching the disease in its earlier stages. If detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is 90 percent. If it is not detected until the later stage, the 5-year survival rate plummets to just 10 percent. This tragedy disproportionately affects minorities, particularly African Americans, who are less likely to have access to health insurance or see a doctor on a regular basis. As a result, African Americans are diagnosed later and are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. In 2007, 1,600 cases of colorectal cancer occurred among African Americans. Hoping to repeat the success of the red ribbon in symbolizing AIDS and the pink ribbon in symbolizing breast cancer, the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable has selected a blue star to symbolize the fight against colorectal cancer. The star serves a dual purpose; it recognizes the eternal memory of those people whose lives have already been lost to the disease, and it is a shining hope for a future free of colon cancer. This resolution recognizes the important work that national and community organizations have already done in promoting awareness about colorectal cancer, including the creation of Earn a Blue Star day. Additionally, the resolution encourages organizations and health care practitioners to earn a blue star by supporting early identification and removal of precancerous polyps. Recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month provides us a special opportunity to focus on education about screening and early detection. As we continue to work to find a cure for colorectal cancer, it is vital that we work together to increase awareness about screening in order to prevent the disease from reaching its deadly conclusion. Before I conclude, I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Kay Granger and Representative Patrick Kennedy, for their leadership on this issue. Although Representative Granger could not be here today, I know that she cares very deeply about this issue and has worked hard to bring this resolution to the floor. I now want to urge my colleagues to join me in support of the adoption of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. 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 the resolution under consideration.

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 302) supporting the observance of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and for other purposes.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Madam Speaker, I would like to take a moment to thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue. I rise to urge in the strongest possible terms that this House of Representatives override the President's veto. You know, it's really sad that in the greatest country in the world we don't provide health insurance for the children of working parents. We have 4 million additional children that this bill would cover, children whose parents work every day, who work very hard; the children of single moms who work every day; some, like my step-daughter with a 3-year-old son, who go to work every day. But if there is an asthma attack or if there is a major accident, she has to either go to the emergency room and drive the cost up for all of the rest of us or decide not to pay the rent on time so she can pay for the care she needs or go without necessary care. That shouldn't happen in America, and that is what we are trying to do with this very important bill. There is another thing that shouldn't happen in America. In America, a young child shouldn't die because he can't get dental care. That happened in my district. A simple dental infection expanded, grew into the brain and resulted in the death of a young man. We worked on language in this bill to make sure that children in America of working parents could have access to dental care. That is a very important improvement, one that seems lost on the President. Every day we spend millions of dollars. We are up to $600 billion on this war, this black hole of a war. Meanwhile, we tell Americans who go to work every day we can't provide you with health insurance. That doesn't make any sense, not in the country that we regard as the greatest country in the world. So today, Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to really think about what this means. Don't think about the politics. Think about the parents, but more importantly, think about the children who need health insurance now.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying that I rise in strong support of this measure. I want to thank our chairman, Mr. Dingell, for his excellent work in what was obviously a long and contentious process. I want to particularly note the work of the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Boucher, the gentleman from Virginia. He did an excellent job moving us through this process. This bill does several very good things. The underlying philosophy, though, is simply this: We all want energy independence. We all want to reduce global warming. But the fundamental thing we have to do here in America is change the way we live. We have to conserve and we have to save, and this bill puts us on the right road to accomplish those two goals. First, the bill addresses the question of fuel efficiency with a compromise that most people can live with, and that is significant because we drive a lot of cars in this country, and it is important that we get the best fuel economy that we can get. We also do some very simple things, such as address the question of energy-efficient light bulbs. Everybody uses light bulbs, and we can do better. This bill moves us in that direction and encourages the development of more energy-efficient lighting. Also, in the course of the hearings conducted by the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Boucher, we heard the National Conference of Mayors say that we need a partnership. If we are serious about energy efficiency and all these lofty goals, it is not just a Federal problem. It is a Federal, State and local problem, and they urged us to include a block grant program to help States and cities and counties participate in the issue of energy efficiency. That language is in this bill. It is called the Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program. It is authorized to the tune of $10 billion. It will allow cities to develop comprehensive programs; towns and counties to develop programs to create energy efficiency, such as programs for homeowners, weatherization programs for seniors, a planning guide for green buildings and more efficiency in planning, traffic flow improvements. All these things could be done through this block grant program. The bill is good. It leads us in the right direction. I urge its adoption.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, today, we are doing something great for America. This bill makes major strides towards addressing our country's growing energy demands. And it makes great progress towards a brighter and more renewable future for America's children. Energy is what drives the American economy. It is what keeps the lights on. But our use of fossil fuels is warming the planet, and may have catastrophic effects on our children and grandchildren. First, we must conserve energy. For the first time since 1975, Congress is acting to require higher fuel economy for new vehicles. This will save American consumers money, and make American car manufacturers more competitive in the global marketplace. The bill also requires that we begin to generate a significant amount of our electricity--15 percent by 2020--from renewable sources like the sun, wind, and water. The significance of this mandate is that it will encourage the development of a greener economy by creating incentives for the advancement of alternative energy sources. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Energy conservation must be a natural partnership involving Federal, State and local government. This bill contains a provision based on legislation that I introduced to this House back in May as H.R. 2447, the Energy and Environment Block Grant Act. This provision creates an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program that will help take on the problem of global warming at the local and community level. The bill authorizes $10 billion in local assistance to cities, counties, and States to continue working to reduce energy usage, increase our efficiencies, and conserve valuable energy resources. EECB Grants will give local governments funding and assistance to: implement energy conservation programs for homeowners and businesses; reduce vehicle usage through smart planning, traffic flow improvements, and telecommuting; increase material conservation; and locally generate energy with renewable energy technology like solar, wind, and fuel cells. The program will: help create and grow new energy-efficient communities; foster a nationwide market for renewable and efficient technologies; and achieve significant energy savings across this country. Healthy High-Performance Schools I am also proud to support the bill's provisions on Healthy High- Performance Schools. On any weekday, 20 percent of America is in a school building. Yet, schools are often sited next to abandoned landfills or industrial facilities. According to a 2002 five-state survey, more than 1,100 public schools were built within a half-mile of a toxic waste site. Lead in paint and drinking water, toxic chemical and pesticide use, polluted indoor air, radon, asbestos, and mold are also factors that impact the health of our children, teachers and staff in schools environments. According to the EPA, studies show that one-half of our nation's schools have problems linked to indoor air quality. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness and it is also the leading occupational disease of teachers. The Energy Security and Savings Act's provisions on Healthy High- Performance Schools amend the Toxics Substances Control Act to promote the development of healthy school environments that are free of environmental hazards and establish a grant program for states to design healthier, more energy efficient and environmentally safe facilities. I know this bill has opposition on many fronts. But I believe it is an important step for our country to take towards a better and more sustainable future. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Mr. WYNN

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. I only want to indicate that we are sensitive to the concerns that have been raised, but I do want to clarify that the bill does not specify any particular location, and DOE certainly would be in a position to take into consideration any concerns with regard to where the mercury is ultimately stored. But the point is we do need to make sure that we do not continue exporting this mercury which then comes back to our own shores. I would conclude by saying that I would like to thank Mr. Allen again for his leadership and thank our committee chairman, Mr. Dingell, as well as our ranking member, Mr. Barton. I would like to thank Mr. Upton for his kind words in support of this bipartisan legislation. I would like to recognize the contribution of Mr. Shimkus in working with us and also the role of the stakeholders in bringing together a bipartisan bill that works across the spectrum, both the environmental community and the business community, to give us a bill that I think we can all be proud of.

Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, at this time it gives me great pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen) who is the sponsor of this legislation and who has done a wonderful job in moving this bill forward and working on a bipartisan basis.