Diane Watson

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in enthusiastic support for H. Res. 194 a resolution supporting the goals of International Women's Day. For the last century March 8th has been a day for people to unite in their commitment to honor the women who courageously fight for gender equality and women's rights across the globe. The course of women's history through the 20th and 21st centuries has been on an upward trajectory, and while we celebrate how far we have come, it is important to pause and reflect on the reality that women continue to face political and economic obstacles, discrimination, and violence all over the world. While there are many who deserve our appreciation, I would like to recognize the women of Afghanistan who have begun to steadily chip at the steel grasp of patriarchy, and begun to fight for safety and justice. Before 2003 the idea of a women's shelter in Afghanistan was unheard of, and domestic abuse victims who did seek protection from law enforcement were often thrown in jail or returned to their husbands, perpetuating a culture of silence around the practices of beating, torture, and forced marriage. Now, shelters like the Women for Afghan Women in Kabul and the Afghan Women Skills Development Center provide protection, treatment, and legal services to women who might otherwise have resigned themselves to a life of quiet misery, or resorted to suicide. These shelters, like others around the world, provide solace and safety for women with nowhere else to turn. They provide the basic hope of possibilities for those seeking a safe haven from abuse. Before these shelters existed many Afghan women could only dream of a life in their own control, and now they have hope. I would like to thank my colleague Congresswoman Schakowsky for sponsoring this important resolution which allows us to stand and celebrate our common ideals with the 3 billion women across the globe in dignity and certitude that one day women will live free of discrimination and violence no matter where they were born.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from the Chamber during the evening of Monday, February 23, 2009. As a result, I was unable to cast my vote on rollcall No. 73, which occurred on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea,'' and also ask that the record reflect my strong support for the enactment of H.R. 44 and the fact that I am an original cosponsor of this bill which was reintroduced by our colleague from Guam, Ms. Bordallo, on January 6, 2009.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, last week President Obama continued to bring real change to Washington by announcing his plan to bring honesty and accountability to the budget process. For the last 8 years, the Bush administration and Washington Republicans masked the true costs of their budget by refusing to include funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and refusing to include any funding for natural disasters, even though we all knew they would happen. These accounting gimmicks were used to make deficit projections look smaller than they actually were. These tricks will soon be a thing of the past, as President Obama wants the American people to have facts so they can hold us all accountable. That's the way government should work, and thanks to President Obama's commitment to honesty in government, it will be instituted as part of his budget outline later this week. Mr. Speaker, for years, congressional Democrats criticized the Bush administration for using these gimmicks, and so we commend President Obama for this very welcome change.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my two colleagues for allowing me this time, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 153. This is the resolution that is honoring the University of Southern California-- ``USC,'' as we call it in my district--Trojan football team for their historic 2009 Rose Bowl victory. During the 2008-2009 season, USC achieved several historic feats, with seven being the magic number. The Trojan football team finished the season with an unmatched seventh consecutive season with 11 or more victories. They appeared in an unprecedented seventh consecutive Bowl championship series game. Then the team won an unparalleled seventh consecutive Pac-10 title, and achieved a seven straight Top 5 finish. USC defeated Penn State by a score of 38-24 in the 2009 Rose Bowl game, and I was there to witness it. With the win, USC became the first team to win three consecutive Rose Bowls. Also, USC has won now more Rose Bowls than any other collegiate football team in the Nation. They are now tied for the record for the most Bowl victories of all time. USC's coach, Pete Carroll, completed yet another successful season. Since becoming head football coach in 2001, Carroll is 88 and 15, an average 85.4 percent win. Coach Carroll's winning percentage is the best among any NCAA Division I coach with at least 5 years of experience. USC's quarterback, Mark Sanchez, threw for 413 yards and a record- tying four touchdown passes. For his performance, Sanchez was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the game. USC's linebacker, Kaluka Maiava, made four tackles and two pass breakups. For his performance, Maiava was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the game. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 153. Let's recognize the achievements of the players, the coaches, the students, the alumni and staff who were instrumental in helping USC win the 2009 Rose Bowl. I would like to thank my colleague for yielding to me.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, to commemorate the heroism of the Captain and crew of US Airways Flight 1549, as well as the emergency personnel of the New York fire and police departments, Congresswoman Diane E. Watson would like to submit this poem to the Congressional Record. This poem is dedicated to the valor and heroism of Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III; First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles; flight attendants Sheila Dail, Doreen Welsh, and Donna Dent; the fine men and women of the New York fire and police Departments; the Coast Guard; ferry boat captains; and the citizens of New York. In That Moment In . . . In that moment . . . When who lives or dies! But, to see another sunrise . . . All in their hand's which lies . . . All of those most precious lives . . . Whose loved ones, upon them rely Who will be left to cry . . . When high above, up in those blue skies . . . With just seconds to react . . . Just moments from the black . . . With eminent death approaching, the facts . . . With only a few choices . . . Listening, to their most inner voices . . . A lifetime of training . . . All for this one moment counting . . . With the time to live or die, so waning Most precious moments in time which lie . . . Now remaining . . . Determining, who lives and dies . . . With but no room for error . . . As born, all in this moment such heroes . . . While, all around them crisis looms . . . As they must keep their cool . . . as their fine hearts must swoon . . . While, against all odds . . . they give to this our world this jewel . . . This gift, which will now forever over our hearts so rule . . . This moment, when they stood strong . . . with hearts full . . . Full of courage and might, to win the day . . . to win that night . . . To carry with us until we grow old . . . As God was with them on that day, in this miracle on 48th street in so many ways . . . On A Wings of A Dove, as he helped bring them down so safe . . . As City, once again must unite . . . Police Officers, Firefighters, Citizens, Coast Guard, Ferry Boat Captains bringing the light . . . As the echoes of a past were all heard in their hearts that night . . . A Gotham City, with Gotham Hearts . . . as on this day, all did their part . . . And what child will be born? Who might save the world, or upon it such great things unfurled . . . Because of that moment! And what loves will be worn? Given that second chance now to now continue on . . . For only a future knows . . . From these moments as time will tell us . . . will show . . . When in that moment . . . Quiet Heroes so . . . We would discover, the true meaning of that word heroes . . . our new lovers . . . Bless them, bless them all . . . For each and everyday, our lives on them so depend so all . . . For we will long remember . . . This winter day, all in the embers . . . of our hearts . . . When, in the moment of truth . . . A Magnificent Captain and Crew gave us the proof . . . That miracles do come true . . . And how courage can come shining through . . . In That Moment . . .

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, it is with profound sorrow that I learned of the passing of my associate and colleague, Wayne Thompson, in December. Over the past two years, Wayne had become a trusted advisor to me on the Freedmen's efforts to secure full citizenship in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. I will deeply miss Wayne's knowledge, wisdom, and sage advice. I have prepared the following resolution in honor of a man who defined the meaning of a purpose-driven life. Resolution Whereas Wayne C. Thompson was born January 15, 1946, in Spencer, Oklahoma, the fourth of nine children of Tasso and Daisy Lee Thompson; Whereas Wayne Thompson completed his secondary education in Spencer, Oklahoma and received a BSC in Social Psychology from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda; Whereas Wayne C. Thompson served in the United States Army with tours of duty in Vietnam and Germany; Whereas Wayne C. Thompson dedicated his life to the promotion of human and civil rights around the world, including his participation in numerous marches and sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement and service to the international wing of the Black Panther Party; Whereas Wayne C. Thompson was the longstanding Executive Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Project through which he was involved with the Community Health Centers movement, Responsive Intervention Prevention Program for Community Organizations, the Young Black Men's and Women's Forums, Agent Orange Class Assistance Program, Developmental Outreach Program for Minority Communities, the Seminole and Cherokee Freedmen, World Health Organization, numerous delinquency prevention and youth violence intervention programs, All of Us or None, and the defense of political prisoners and the San Francisco 8; Whereas Wayne C. Thompson was a founding member of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and a coordinator of the Haiti Support Project and had an abiding and profound interest and commitment to eradicating social and economic injustice in Central America, Mozambique, Haiti, and the developing world; Resolved, (1) That Wayne Thompson led an exemplary and selfless life in service of those less fortunate; (2) That Wayne Thompson was a fighter for justice who sought no notoriety for his efforts to help oppressed people around the world; and (3) That Wayne Thompson was a warrior with the biggest heart, one of the greatest civil rights soldiers the world has known, whose good deeds and works have left the world a better place, and whose memory will be carried forward by the legions of people he touched with his remarkable human spirit.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, the current economic recession is putting a lot of pressure on American families. Today, millions of our constituents are fearful that they could lose their jobs any day now. Last night, my sister told me that she lost hers in New York. They've seen family members or work colleagues already let go, and they are uncertain about their futures. They are also working for less money than they did 10 years ago. Yet they face skyrocketing bills for their children's education, for health care and for their own groceries. They hear the bleak economic forecast on the news every night, and they're looking for help. We all know that the U.S. economy is in trouble, but now the question is: What are we going to do about it? Democrats and Republicans must come together to pass a robust economic recovery package that includes tax relief to middle class families so we can begin to relieve the pressure that they feel every time they pay a bill. Madam Speaker, the American people are looking to us for help and for help to jump start this economy. Let's go to work.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6625, the Veteran Voting Support Act. In May of 2008, the Department of Veterans Affairs passed Directive 2008-25 that prohibited third party nonpartisan voting rights groups from holding voter registration drives on VA grounds. Outraged by this stance that the VA had taken, I, along with 54 of my colleagues, including Chairman Brady and Chairman Filner, sent two letters to VA Secretary James Peake requesting he overturn the policy. As we returned from the August recess, on September 9, 2008, the VA passed a new policy directive, 2008-53. The new directive now allows State and local election officials and nonpartisan groups to give veterans access to their fundamental right to vote. We applaud the VA for overturning its previous directive, and I believe it is a step in the right direction. But the new policy still falls short of providing veterans complete access to voting in VA facilities. So H.R. 6625 will fix that problem. The Veteran Voting Support Act would designate VA facilities as voter registration agencies under section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 which requires public assistance organizations provide voter registration opportunities by offering information related to requesting an absentee ballot, making absentee ballot applications available, and require the VA to work with elected officials to ensure the delivery of absentee applications and absentee ballots. Currently, our Nation is fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as a consequence, our veterans are returning home with catastrophic injuries that require them to reside in a VA facility for extended periods of time to receive treatment for their wounds. This is why it is absolutely imperative that we give the selfless stewards of the Constitution complete access to voting in our elections. It is because of the sacrifice of men and women in the Armed Forces why we are free. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Brady and Chairman Filner for working with me on the legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6625.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year Senator McCain said he needed to study up on the economy because it was not his strong suit. You can certainly say that again. Yesterday Senator McCain once again said, and I am quoting now, ``The fundamentals of our economy are strong.'' His comments came on a day when the stock market fell 500 points, its worst drop in 7 years, and Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. What fundamentals is Senator McCain referring to? It certainly can't be the fundamentals of ensuring more Americans have a job. Every moment this year, the Bush-McCain economy has shed tens of thousands of jobs. To date, more than 600,000 jobs have been lost. Nor can it be the fundamentals of ensuring that middle-class Americans are prospering. Over the last 8 years under the Bush-McCain economy, real wages have actually fallen by $300, while basic necessities like food, gas, health care, and education have skyrocketed. Mr. Speaker, Senator McCain needs to study up more on the economy and reject the failed economic policies of the last 8 years.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it was with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of my dear friend and constituent, Tina Allen. Tina dedicated her life to documenting the spirit of black Americans through her sculptures. Each of her subjects, famous or not, were her way of writing our history in bronze. As an artist, she was an inspiration. As a person, she was a beacon of life as she brought to life the features of great people. She often said that ``great people should have great monuments.'' Her work includes abolitionist Frederick Douglass at the African American Museum of Birmingham and featured in the movie, ``Akeelah and the Bee''; Rev. Martin Luther King in Las Vegas, Nevada; botanist George Washington Carver at the St. Louis Botanical Garden; Sojourner Truth, City Hall Park, Battle Creek, Michigan; and more recently, entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. Tina worked on projects big and small. She was best known for her monumental statue of ``Roots'' author, Alex Haley, which was installed at Haley's Heritage Park in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1998. Her hands were able to create life-like images from simple mounds of clay. As a result of her work, Tina was interviewed as a featured artist on the ``Best of CBS Sunday Morning.'' Ms. Allen was a child prodigy in sculpture and at age 11 was taken under the wing of internationally renowned abstract sculptor, William Zorach. After earning her BFA from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, she continued her studies in New York and also in Italy. To her family and friends, I extend my sincerest condolences on their loss. Her sculptures will live on as a testament and inspiration to others. She will be sorely missed, but forever remembered. And Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield the remaining part of my time to the distinguished Congresswoman from California, Maxine Waters.

Ms. WATSON. Thank you, Ms. Waters.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, with 8 straight months of job losses, the Bush economy has now shed 605,000 jobs this year. The state of our Nation's economy is a direct result of economic policies Washington Republicans have been waiting decades to implement. But it wasn't until they had control of all levels of power from 2001 to 2007 that they fully implemented their strategy. Middle class families are now paying the price. For 7 years now President Bush and congressional Republicans have been looking out for the wealthiest few while 2.5 million more Americans are unemployed and nearly 5 million more Americans live in poverty. While the price of groceries, gasoline, and health care have all gone up, the purchasing power of a middle income salary has fallen over the last 7 years. Real wages have only grown .3 percent since 2000, compared to 7.7 percent growth during the Clinton years in the 1990s. Mr. Speaker, middle class families fair much better economically when a Democrat inhabits the White House. The American people should support real change in November.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Thank you so much, Madam Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had some prepared remarks, but I think the intimate stories really speak to who she was and how we felt about who she was. After the untimely passing of our colleague Juanita Millender- McDonald, Stephanie called and she says, ``Hey girl, I am coming out there to spend some time. I just want to be in Juanita's space.'' So she came out, and I picked her up. And representing Hollywood, I took her with me that weekend, and she met Ben Vereen and she met other celebrities, and she was so thrilled. She said to me, ``I'm coming out again, girl. I'm coming out again.'' After we had our AKA Boule several weeks ago here and we had our pink and green, she came in the last I saw her in her red. And she came strutting down this aisle, and she said, ``See, I got my red on. We are getting ready to have our Boule too.'' I said, ``Well, your red is just a deeper pink.'' We laughed. And that was the last time I saw her. Stephanie was that kind of person, who, as everyone has described her as being, she lived life to the fullest. She was a fighter with a tremendous presence. She stood up for tens of thousands who could not stand up for themselves, and she fought for justice, equality and opportunity for every American. In her home State of Ohio and in her beloved city of Cleveland, she led the fight for election reform to assure that every American's vote was counted and was valued. Stephanie was also loved and respected by her colleagues here on Capitol Hill, where in relatively short order she was appointed the first, among her many firsts, African American woman to the prestigious Ways and Means Committee. She also served as chairwoman of the Committee on Ethics and made great strides to work across the aisle in a nonpartisan manner. I admired her enthusiasm for public service, her integrity, her warmth and her keen intellect. I extend to the family my condolences, to her friends and to all of her colleagues. Her presence will be missed. But I know she is in this assemblage at this moment. Her shoes will be hard to fill, but, Stephanie, we feel the surge of energy as we speak of you this evening. Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, Americans are driving out of their way to fill up on the cheapest gas and are skipping summer vacations and important appointments because gas prices today are just too high. And while Americans are paying record-high prices, Big Oil is reaping record-high profits. But instead of investing those profits for exploration on the 311 million acres of land open to new energy production, Big Oil spends their money on stock buybacks and dividends. In 1993, oil companies spent only 1 percent of their profits on stocks. Last year, that number rose to 55 percent. And yet Big Oil continues to spend only in the single digits on finding new oil. It's no wonder that 68 million acres of land already leased to Big Oil sits undeveloped because Big Oil is spending all of its profits buying back its stock rather than searching for new oil. And yet House Republicans continue to allow Big Oil to get away with this. Last week, for the second time, House Republicans could have forced Big Oil to use it or lose it, but once again, they sided with Big Oil. How high do prices have to get before House Republicans will join us in providing relief for the consumer?

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the integration of the U.S. Armed Forces. The policy that opened the door to full integration of the military was executive order 9981, signed by President Harry Truman on July 26, 1948. Despite the fact that President Truman signed this order, African Americans have served in this Nation's military with distinction since the Revolutionary War. Some of the storied accomplishments of blacks in the military date back to the War of 1812. During the Battle of Lake Erie in September of 1813, which this event is depicted in a painting at the head of the east stairway in the Senate wing of the Capitol, nine small ships defeated a British squadron of six vessels, and due to the shortage of personnel, about 25 percent of the sailors involved were black. During the Civil War in September, 1864, the Battle of New Market Heights was one of the last major fights before the war came to a conclusion. During the conflict, 14 blacks won the Congressional Medal of Honor for their bravery in the line of fire. This event marked the largest amount of blacks to receive the Medal of Honor for a single battle. This accomplishment has almost been left out of the history books, but today we recognize their honorable service and contributions to freedom. During World War II in 1943 and 1944, a group of young determined black men who called themselves the Tuskegee Airmen, which my late first cousin, First Lieutenant Ira O'Neal, served as one of the original pilots, fought in the skies over North Africa and Europe with honor and with courage. The Airmen flew over 15,000 sorties and over 200 bomber escort missions. Some individuals have questioned their record of never losing a bomber to enemy fire, but, nevertheless, their accomplishments blazed a trail of fire towards integration in the Armed Forces. Even after the signing of executive order 9981 in 1948, neither the Army nor the Navy planned to alter their existing racial policies, and it wasn't until October 30, 1954, when the Secretary of Defense finally announced that the last racial segregated unit in the Armed Forces of the United States had been abolished. In April of 1948, there were only 41 black officers in the regular Army, and that was up from 8 in June of 1945. By the end of June, 1948, there were only 5 warrant officers and 65,000 black enlisted men and women. During fiscal year 2004, the total strength of the Armed Forces was over 2.2 million people. Military demographics showed that African American men and women made up over 16,800 commissioned officers, more than 3,300 warrant officers and over 313,900 enlisted. At that time blacks made up 16.7 percent of the total strength of the Armed Forces. We have come a long way as a Nation in 60 years to integrate the U.S. military. African Americans in defense of this Nation are now commanders of warships, advisers to Presidents, but there is still more work to be done in terms of diversity in the senior levels of military leadership. Currently, less than 5 percent of officers at the rank of one star general and above are African American. As this Nation moves forward and we realize the future threats we will face, it is imperative that we tap into our full potential and give minorities opportunities to hold senior leadership roles in our military. That is why I would like to thank Representatives Cummings, Meek, Johnson, and Castor of the House Armed Services Committee for sponsoring the Senior Military Leadership Diversity Commission. The commission will study the development of minorities to reach the general and flag officer ranks of the Armed Forces. For many years blacks have fought on two fronts in their military careers. One front was on the battlefield in pursuit of freedom for our country, and the second front was on the city streets, where they fought against racism and discrimination. So, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues to further diversify the senior ranks of the military, and I look forward to the official celebration of the 60th anniversary of the integration of the Armed Forces in the Capitol rotunda. And I would just like to add that our new superintendent of schools in Los Angeles is a former admiral, Admiral Brewer, and we're very proud to have him. Not an educator, but a well-proven military leader.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, Americans continue to suffer pain at the gas pump due to 7 years of missed opportunities and outdated policies. President Bush's energy strategy was literally written by the oil companies--give more public resources to the same oil companies that are raking in record profits while Americans are reeling from record prices. Every day we hear House Republicans demanding the need for more domestic drilling in order to reduce gas prices. What we don't hear is anyone on that side of the aisle demanding that Big Oil drill on the 68 million acres of land they are sitting on, refusing to develop. Legislation on the floor today will force those oil companies to produce oil and gas or diligently develop the 68 million acres of public land they already have, otherwise they will lose the leases. Experts estimate that these reserves could produce an additional 4.8 million barrels of oil.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, just how long are congressional Republicans going to follow President Bush's lead? Thanks to 7 years of Bush policies, Americans are facing skyrocketing costs for basic necessities. Millions of families have lost their homes, unemployment is rising, and 7 million more Americans are uninsured. You would think any one of these statistics would send congressional Republicans looking for a different solution. Instead, it appears a plan to blindly follow until the finish. When the President vetoed a bipartisan bill that would provide health coverage to 10 million children, House Republicans stood with President Bush twice in supporting his veto. When the President vetoed legislation for stem cell research that could lead to cures for diseases such as diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's, House Republicans once again stood by President Bush and upheld his veto. Then last week a majority of Republicans refused to provide relief to 3.8 million Americans who are struggling to find new jobs. When are congressional Republicans going to realize that following President Bush is not the answer?

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, it was with great sorrow that I learned of the loss of my dear friend, Pat Tobin. Pat was the Founder and CEO of Tobin and Associates, one of the most prominent minority, female-owned public relations firms whose clientele included celebrities, entertainment companies, non-profit/political organizations and national/international corporations. Pat was more than an astute business woman, she was a ``people person.'' She always had a big, beautiful smile that graced her face at all times. She was the epitome of ``grace under pressure.'' Pat was a mover and shaker in the public relations industry. She was a founder of the National Black Public Relations Society and a committed member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She was a dedicated activist for causes that impacted minorities, women and youth and she secured financial support from corporations and philanthropic organizations for a variety of important initiatives. She was selfless and dedicated in everything she did. She was regarded as a standard bearer for public relations professionals of all races due to her innovative, hard working and compassionate nature. One of her NABJ colleagues wrote the following poem about Pat: I will not mourn Pat Tobin. I will not be sad. I will not let her passing depress me. Instead I will continue to use the model she shared for life's personal journey. I will take the attitude that personal and professional setbacks are an opportunity to make one-self stronger. I will look at seemingly insurmountable road-blocks as mental, emotional and sometimes physical challenges as opportunities to become a force to be reckoned with. I will choose to be what she believed all of us are capable of. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to Pat's family, her colleagues, her many close friends in Los Angeles and around the country. She will be sorely missed.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, for 7 years now, Washington Republicans have allowed Big Oil to run our Nation's energy policy. From the very first days of this administration, Vice President Cheney was meeting in secret with energy executives to develop its energy proposal. Today we see the results of that secret policy that was approved by a rubber- stamp Republican Congress. When President Bush took office, the average price of gas was $1.47. Today, it has more than doubled to an average hovering around $4. Since taking control of Congress last year, Democrats have rejected the failed Republican policies that are responsible for these record high prices. We are working to lower prices by cracking down on price gouging, holding OPEC accountable for price fixing, repealing subsidies for profit-rich oil companies, and instead investing in renewable energy. Each of these efforts have received some partisan support, but the Republican leadership of this House and the President continue to oppose our efforts.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, this will be the first of a special order pinpointing and focusing on the need for universal health care insurance. There will be speakers today that will point up various areas of need. But in opening this hour, I would like to say that over the past 15 years there has been incremental reforms that have expanded health care coverage to limited populations and have crowded out an increasing number of Americans from the private insurance market. Preventable and mismanaged chronic disease, such as asthma, cancer, diabetes and heart disease, are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and account for the vast majority of health care spending. They have affected the quality of life for 133 million Americans and are responsible for 7 out of every 10 deaths in the United States, killing more than 1.7 million Americans every year. Chronic diseases are also the primary driver of health care costs, accounting for more than 75 cents of every dollar we spend on health care in this country. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control, in 2005, this amounted to $1.5 trillion of the trillions spent on health. Despite worldwide problems, the issue of chronic disease does not register with large segments of the public. As policymakers, we must raise the awareness of the health care crisis on this issue of the uninsured and underinsured as a primary concern in Congress. Now, there is legislation to ensure that all Americans will have access guaranteed by law through the highest quality and most cost- effective health care services, regardless of their employment, income or health status. The following Members will be speaking on this issue, and I call up as the first speaker the young lady from Texas, Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee.

Ms. WATSON. I thank you, and call on the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Ms. WATSON. We thank you for your depth of understanding of the issue. Now I yield to the distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Ms. WATSON. We would like to thank you, the Honorable Jan Schakowsky, for a thorough analysis of what the problem in access to health care really is. Thank you. The Representative from Kansas, Nancy Boyda, Dr. Representative Christian Christensen, Mr. Speaker, you were on our list to make a presentation in this hour. Would you like to do it? And I don't know what's protocol. Mr. Speaker, Representative Schakowsky will take your place temporarily so you can make your presentation if you choose.

Ms. WATSON. I just want to say that Members in this first hour have struck a chord with the American people and the needs. And when we talk about homeland security, it is not the land, it's the people on the land. And I am very disturbed that we're losing too many of our people who help defend this land to all kinds of diseases and health problems that need not be. With the proper kind of access to health care, we wouldn't be seeing so many of our viable citizens perish. We could do something about it. So we intend, Mr. Speaker, to have a series of these discussions with America. And we do hope that maybe we can pull in CNN, Nightline, that's ABC, Channel 7, to hold a periodic series of these discussions about access to health care. We do hope that you're able to make your presentation at this time, Mr. Speaker. All right. I understand that you won't be speaking at this time, so let me--how much time do we have left on this hour?

Ms. WATSON. I would just like to read some of the 51 stories of Americans with cancer who suddenly find themselves overburdened with medical bills, and they have gaps in their coverage. These are real people, Mr. Speaker. These are real Americans who are calling out to us. As you know, we've had two very fine proposals coming from Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama that would address access to health care. Over on our side, in our House, we have the valiant efforts over the years of Congressman John Conyers, Jr. He would have been here today, but there was a conflict. But he will continue the drum beat and the call for us to get down to business so we can have accessible health care. I'd like to take some time to read you the plight of real Americans. This one is Susan M. She said, ``My husband, Tom, was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1996, just 4 months after our daughter was born. He underwent three series of chemotherapy before dying of encephalitis in 2001. At that time the entire family was insured through his employer. ``The monthly premiums went to $900 per month, and since I had left my job to care for him, I didn't have many options. I was able to get the kids covered by Medicaid, and I signed up for Ingram Health, which only covers doctors visits and prescriptions, not hospitalization or long-term treatment. This carried us along until a mammogram showed I had breast cancer in 2006, then I was put in to the breast and cervical cancer program. I received excellent care and am currently cancer-free. ``Earlier this year I took a contract position for 6 months at 20 to 30 hours per week. Working again helped my attitude tremendously. The depression I had struggled with for 10 years started to lift, and I was feeling positive about my future prospects. ``But, of course, the extra income meant that my kids were no longer eligible for Medicaid. So I had the added stress of finding insurance for them. I was afraid that my eligibility in the breast and cervical cancer program was also in jeopardy, so I never told my case manager about working. ``Now, the contract has run out and I'm looking for work again. I'm afraid that my coverage under the breast and cancer program will end before I can get a job with benefits. And the bill for the children's insurance will be due in a few weeks. And I worry about what impact a pre-existing condition will have on my job prospects. ``It doesn't seem fair that my health should be tied so punitively to a job. It just adds to the emotional stress, which is already too high. ``Thank you for reading and thank you for caring.'' That was from Susan M. Jennifer G says, ``My mother suffered and died with ovarian cancer. It was terrible. And as with many ovarian cancers, hers was not detected until it was way too late for successful treatment. I am 36 years old now. My husband and I are finished having children. My doctor recommended that I have a hysterectomy because my risk of getting ovarian cancer is much higher now. I am lucky enough to have health insurance. Unfortunately, an accountant working for the insurance company is able to override what my doctor recommends because they don't want to pay for it. They would rather take the gamble that I may or may not get the cancer. I, of course, would rather not gamble with my life. ``I am all for everyone having health insurance and having access to whatever health care they need. However, being covered by health insurance does not guarantee that you will get the treatment you need or any treatment that your doctor might recommend. ``It is not enough to demand coverage for all people. Insurance companies would still have the power to say no any time they want to save some money. ``And I don't have the solutions. I can just recommend that this is a problem on two levels. Getting some kind of universal health care coverage will just be the first step. Getting insurance companies to cooperate with doctors decisions will be the next step. This is where much of the reform will need to happen. ``Plus, I know several people who are fighting cancer and recovering from cancer. All of them have health insurance. Most of them are being denied coverage for medicine to fight their cancer. It is pathetic to have health insurance and not be able to count on it to help you when you need it the most.'' And Mr. Speaker, just this morning, I was called to be told that one of our dear friends and PR persons died of cancer at 2 a.m. this morning. Her name was Pat Tobin. She came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Los Angeles a couple of decades ago. She has a daughter, a sister. And we went to her bedside on Friday, and I could see at that point that she possibly would not make it through the night. But she did. She made it until 2:00 a.m. this morning. And I tell about that particular account because if we could set priorities in this country to cover the health needs of all Americans, rather than pour billions of dollars into a conflict 10,000 miles away, that I see never ending, and I see us involving ourselves in sectorial problems that we don't even understand. We don't even understand the language the people speak. How in the world could we understand their customs and their conflicts with each other? If we could take that money out of the gopher hole it's in and put it into research in this country to stop this deadly epidemic of cancer throughout our land, wouldn't this make our country stronger? We're losing 4,000, we have lost 4,090 people, and countless innocent Iraqis and others. I hear it could be as much as 300,000. But no, we stupidly, stupidly and incorrectly continue to dump monies, and we don't even take care of our own domestic priorities. We argued over health care for children? Every child in this country, whether that child is here with legal papers or not, not only deserves an education, but deserves health care. What kind of country are we that let its own people die because insurance companies are saying oh, no, that's too much? And we never see their actuarial data, by the way, Mr. Speaker. That actuarial data could go into investments that fail. We don't know it. They just up the premium. And when you have a catastrophic illness or a long-term illness, it could bankrupt you. Look at Ed McMahon, Tonight Show host, along with Johnny Carson, for decades. And now he's on CNN on the Larry King Show, talking about his broken neck and his injuries, and now his Malibu home is in foreclosure. That's an American of prominence who was worth at one time $100 million. But a catastrophic illness could run you into bankruptcy. And that story is told many, many times. I will not take the time now, Mr. Speaker, but these are actual people with actual stories. And we are the policymakers, and we're going to continue to tell their stories night after night until we, as a body, until we, as the Congress, can come together and set our priorities on what is really necessary to keep America strong. And it might take a new administration. So we're going to lay the groundwork for the next President and Commander in Chief of these United States to choose prosperity, to choose health care, to choose education, to choose social services over profiteering by your best buddies in the oil industry. You can read between those lines. And we hope that the next President of the United States will set, as its higher goal, to keep America healthy and be sure that every single American and persons here can get that kind of health care. So together we can conquer. We should not lose another person to cancer. We should not in this country because we should have done the kind of in-depth research and tests so that we could come up with various prescriptions and remedies to save the lives of so many worthy people. Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, for this time. We will be back again another night.