Ann Wagner

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the chairman very much for his leadership on this issue and so many others. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and all of the House-passed human trafficking legislation that was incorporated into this Senate bill. Mr. Speaker, today marks the culmination of a long journey for myself and many Members in both Chambers who have worked on this important issue. This legislation represents a significant step forward in the Federal Government's efforts to combat the scourge of modern-day slavery, known as human trafficking. This bill makes enormous progress in the fight against trafficking by providing resources to law enforcement officials and collecting fees from sex traffickers that go into a new fund for victims. It also includes my signature legislation, the SAVE Act, which make it illegal to knowingly advertise the victims of human trafficking, especially on the Internet. I thank my friends and colleagues, Senator Mark Kirk and Dianne Feinstein, for offering the SAVE Act as an amendment to this very important legislation. Beyond the multiple tools and resources it gives to law enforcement and survivors, this legislation also serves an important symbolic purpose. This bill symbolizes the longstanding and steadfast commitment that Members of Congress have towards protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. No longer will the cruel exploitation of women and children be allowed to continue unchecked. No longer will sexual predators be allowed to torture, rape, and kill young Americans in the name of financial profit. Mr. Speaker, with this legislation, we are providing voice to the voiceless and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud of all of the good, bipartisan work done by my colleagues here in Congress on this issue of human trafficking. Years of work by many of my colleagues, including Representatives Poe, Smith, Noem, Paulsen, Beatty, Maloney, and many, many others, Mr. Speaker, have laid the foundation for this long overdue action. I am grateful that many of my colleagues have held events in their home districts to raise awareness and educate the public about human trafficking. Awareness, training, and education are the key to preventing this horrible crime from happening in the first place. Young people must be warned about the devious and manipulative strategies employed by traffickers to ensnare them in the trap of sexual slavery. The children at risk are not just school students. Pimps or traffickers are known to prey on victims as young as 9 years old. Traffickers may target minor victims through social media Web sites, afterschool programs, shopping malls and clubs, and through friends or acquaintances who recruit students on school campuses. One of the best ways to combat human trafficking is through education. Many States have successful programs that train school personnel about how to identify the victims. We should work with schools to develop policies and protocols and partnerships to address and prevent the exploitation of children. Partnership between public and private sectors is the key to combating human trafficking. Many times, frontline employees in the transportation and hospitality industry are the ones best suited to identify trafficking victims or their predators. Increased awareness and training will lead to more victims being identified, which is the critical step in breaking the cycle of exploitation and victimization. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation and all efforts to combat human trafficking, and I look forward to continuing this work in the House of Representatives, and this Congress as a whole, for years to come.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of life. Life begins at conception. We know that after 3 weeks, the baby has a heartbeat. After 7 weeks, the baby begins kicking in the womb. Believe me, as a mother of three, I know it well. By week eight, the baby begins to hear and fingerprints begin to form. After 10 weeks, the baby is able to turn his or her head, frown, and get the hiccups. By week 11, the baby can grasp with his or her hands. By week 12, the baby can suck his or her thumb. By week 15, the baby has an adult's taste buds. By week 18, that baby can flex his or her arms. And by week of 20, Madam Speaker, not only can that baby recognize the sound of his or her own mother's voice, but that baby can also feel pain. Madam Speaker, it is not only the pain of the child that we must be concerned with, but it is also the pain of the mother. H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, provides protections for both the woman and the child. This is not a bill restricting women's rights. This is a bill that supports and protects life. This bill is prowoman. It encourages discussion, medical treatment, and counseling for women who have been victimized. This bill is prowoman. It empowers women with a civil right of action if this law is not followed. This bill, Madam Speaker, is prochild. It ensures that a baby born alive will be given lifesaving treatment. This bill is a prowoman and prochild solution to what our science and our values--our deeply held values--already tell us: that a baby at 22 weeks can feel pain, and that that baby deserves protection. Madam Speaker, I am for life at all stages. I am for the life of the baby and the life of the mother. I will continue to work for the day when not only is abortion illegal but, Madam Speaker, it is unthinkable.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1, 2015, I was proud to join my son, Raymond Wagner, III in Fort Campbell, Kentucky and participate in the ceremony marking his promotion to Captain in the United States Army. Due to the extraordinary nature of this event, I was unable to be in Washington, D.C. and vote on legislative business during this time. On Adoption of the Conference Report to accompany S. Con. Res. 11-- FY2016 Budget Resolution (Roll Call Vote #183), had I been present I would have voted yes. On Passage of H.R. 2029--Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (Roll Call Vote #193), had I been present I would have voted yes. On Passage of H.J. Res. 43--Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Reproductive Health Non- Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014 (Roll Call Vote #194), had I been present I would have voted yes. On Passage of H.R. 2028--Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (Roll Call Vote #215), had I been present I would have voted yes.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for all the work that he has done to protect life and religious freedom. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong disapproval of religious discrimination in the District of Columbia's local government. Mr. Speaker, one of the founding principles of our great country is the freedom to worship without government interference. Our forefathers fought and died for that liberty, and I stand before you today to make sure they did not die in vain. The law passed by the D.C. City Council attacks the core religious beliefs of faith-based organizations, schools, and pro-life advocates. Under this law, these groups could be forced to pay for health services that are in direct conflict with their fundamental religious beliefs. Under this law, a D.C.-based nonprofit whose sole mission is to end abortion could be forced to pay for abortion services. This is not only unacceptable but stands in direct opposition to the Constitution and Federal law. This is why I am proud to cosponsor Congresswoman Black's resolution that formally expresses Congress' disapproval of the D.C. pro-abortion law. I stand here to defend the rights of religious institutions and pro-life companies to honor their faith and respect the sanctity of life. Mr. Speaker, I believe that life is our greatest gift. I admire the work that many of these faith-based and pro-life organizations do to change the hearts and the minds in this abortion debate, and I will not stand idly by to watch their religious freedoms trampled. I urge my colleagues to do the same and vote in favor of this resolution.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I come before you today to thank my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee--in particular, Chairman Mac Thornberry and Ranking Member Adam Smith--for all the hard work they have put into crafting our country's national priorities for the upcoming year, way into the wee hours of the morning. Specifically, I want to thank them for responding to a critical Navy shortfall and a national security need by including the authorization for funding of 12 F/A-18 Super Hornets in the National Defense Authorization Act. The Super Hornet is truly the workhorse of naval combat operations against the Islamic State and is playing an important role in protecting our warfighters abroad. Twelve additional Super Hornets will help keep a critical production line open that will allow for additional strike fighter jets and electronic warfare attack in the future. However, our worked isn't finished. I look forward to supporting the NDAA when it comes to the House floor and fighting for Super Hornets to be included during the appropriations process.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 162 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to express my outrage that Senate Democrats have refused to allow consideration of desperately needed sex trafficking legislation. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act would strengthen punishments for perpetrators and increase Federal funding for the victims of human trafficking. But instead of supporting this vitally important legislation, Senate Democrats are playing political games. They have refused to support the legislation despite its having a bipartisan group of cosponsors and unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Speaker, trafficking is a real problem in every State in the United States of America. Right now, almost 300,000 American children are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. Children are being sold into sexual slavery right now while some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have been holding up this critical legislation for 2 weeks. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Senate Democrats to drop their protests, support the thousands of vulnerable women and children this legislation would protect, and join Republicans in the fight against human trafficking.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this very, very important issue. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 285, the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation, or SAVE, Act. But Madam Speaker, I also rise today in support of all the good work done by my colleagues here in Congress on the issue of human trafficking. Madam Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level. I witnessed and reported on the devastating consequences of human trafficking, where innocent women and children were dragged into the dark abyss of sexual slavery. But never, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States of America. Madam Speaker, right now there are young women being forced into prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, has been identified as one of the top 20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States. Madam Speaker, this is a problem that is hiding in plain sight. Every year, thousands of young American lives are impacted by this despicable crime. However, there is hope. I take hope from the work that is done by law enforcement professionals who are on the front lines every day protecting our Nation's children from those who would seek to exploit them. I take hope from those who work in victims' services and their tireless efforts to help survivors recover, heal, and forge new lives out of the horrors of sexual enslavement. Most importantly, I take hope from all the survivors of this hideous crime. This bracelet, Madam Speaker, was made by survivors at a safe house called Crisis Aid International in my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Their strength gives us strength, their resolve gives us inspiration, and their steadfast commitment to ending sex trafficking gives us the courage to fight. I am grateful for the many colleagues that I have who have supported legislation and held events in their home districts to raise awareness and education of this crime. Our work has yet to begin. However, Madam Speaker, there is much, much work to do still. Legislators, we have an obligation to come together and to do something because we can, because we should, and because we must. Over the last 10 years, prostitution has slowly but persistently migrated to an online marketplace. Classified services like backpage.com and others are the vehicles for advertising the victims of sexual slavery in this world. Pimps and traffickers blatantly advertise their victims' sexual services with provocative photographs and unsubtle messages, complete with per-hour pricing. The traffickers pay Web sites like Backpage and others to display their messages, and these Web sites, accordingly, reap enormous profits at the expense of victims of sex trafficking. Many of these ads feature children and trafficking victims, and they are resulting in thousands of children every year being openly sold for sex on the Internet. Madam Speaker, government intervention is necessary to end facilitation of sex trafficking by Web sites like backpage.com and others who commercially advertise this criminal activity. Companies that base their business models off the profits made by selling sex with children should not be allowed to operate. The SAVE Act seeks to criminalize this behavior, thereby dramatically reducing the victimization of vulnerable children and women forced into sexual slavery in the United States. Madam Speaker, this legislation passed the House last year in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 392-19. I recognize that it is critically important that innocent actors are protected from the liability, while giving prosecutors the means to combat human trafficking. To be clear, Madam Speaker, this legislation prohibits only those advertisements that the government can prove actually offer sex with a child or sex with an adult who is involved due to force, fraud, or coercion. There is well-established precedent for Congress to criminalize the advertising of legal goods and services, as the chairman has outlined previously. Surely, advertisements offering sex with children should also be subject to the same restrictions. Criminalizing the advertisement of trafficking victims will stem the flow of money, resulting in a reduction of both demand and supply. The victims of sex trafficking are not nameless, faceless children. They are our daughters, our granddaughters, our nieces, and our neighbors. They are the vulnerable youth of our society, the ones who should be protected the most, Madam Speaker, not exploited for money and greed. I urge my colleagues to support the SAVE Act because it will provide the tools necessary for law enforcement to combat the sexual exploitation and enslavement of women and children in the United States.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the subject of my Special Order.

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank Congressman Walker for his leadership, and congratulations on your first piece of legislation--it is so very important--that you will be bringing forward tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure for me to cosponsor with the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) this Special Order on human trafficking. I look forward tomorrow to a number of bills that are going to pass in this United States House of Representatives. I look forward to speaking tomorrow on the SAVE Act that will go after advertisers of this hideous and heinous crime. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield back the remainder of my time so the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) may speak. She has been a friend and a partner on the issue of human trafficking since her time in Congress. She has been a real partner to me as we moved this legislation forward. We were able to move, as I said, five pieces of legislation last Congress and will be moving 12 tomorrow with her leadership and support on this very, very important issue. She has a wonderful piece of legislation, H.R. 350, the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015. I am a proud cosponsor and look forward to its passage tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this issue and so many others. It is now my pleasure to yield to a brandnew freshman Member, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker). Combating human trafficking is a priority for Congressman Walker, and this is his very first bill introduced here in Washington, the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015. It aims to help end this unconscionable industry. North Carolina is ranked as a top State for labor and sex trafficking, and this vital legislation works to effectively train and inform Department of Homeland Security personnel to better detect and intersect human traffickers and their victims.

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and her friendship. Thank you so much, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. Next, Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Ted Poe. Judge Poe has been a longstanding advocate for victims of crime. He has dedicated his life to promoting justice and giving voice to survivors and, as a Member of Congress, has been a tireless advocate for legislation that provides a comprehensive approach to address the problem of human trafficking in the United States. Congressman Poe has been a friend and a colleague and a kindred spirit to me in the House of Representatives. His championing of victims' rights has inspired countless survivors of crime to stand up for their rights and demand change. I yield to the Congressman from Texas, Judge Ted Poe.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to this bracelet that I have on that many of my colleagues are going to be wearing over the next 2 days as we pass 12 pieces of human trafficking legislation. This tab bracelet was handmade by dedicated volunteers to raise funds for Crisis Aid International safe homes in my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. The safe homes provide comfort and support for young women rescued from the horrors of sex trafficking. The bracelet project, which was inspired by an 11-year-old victim wanting to make a difference, has become the symbol of hope for these precious young people. Join me. I ask all my colleagues to join me in wearing this bracelet to spread awareness about the scourge of sex slavery. Next, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio, Representative Joyce Beatty. Last year, Congresswoman Beatty partnered with Senator Portman from Ohio to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Bringing Missing Children Home Act, to improve law enforcement reporting and response procedures in cases of missing children, the most vulnerable victims of child trafficking and sexual exploitation. This Congress, she introduces H.R. 246, which would improve and update the Missing Children's Assistance Act in order to reflect the current state of Federal law and reinforce that children who are sex- trafficked or sexually exploited are victims and not criminals. I am a proud cosponsor of the gentlewoman's legislation, and it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlelady from Ohio, Representative Joyce Beatty.

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentlewoman from New Hampshire for her leadership and her friendship on so many matters that we come together. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to introduce the gentlewoman from Tennessee, Representative Diane Black. She was an original cosponsor of my SAVE Act that we will be introducing tomorrow and that I will have the pleasure to talk about on the floor during debate tomorrow. She has sponsored roundtables in her district with law enforcement and community leaders on the impact of human trafficking in her home State of Tennessee, and she has worked with End Slavery Tennessee to see firsthand their efforts to combat trafficking in her State. She is a leader among us for all victims, all those who have no voice. She is a friend and a dear colleague. It is my pleasure to yield to the representative from Tennessee, Congresswoman Diane Black.

Mrs. WAGNER. Thank you, Judge Poe, for your tremendous leadership in this area and so many others dealing with victims' rights. It is now my pleasure to recognize the gentlewoman from New Hampshire, Representative Ann Kuster. Representative Kuster has been a strong proponent of human and women's rights, advocating for a number of bills that support fighting sexual assault and human trafficking, including her bipartisan legislation to improve whistleblower protections which was passed into law last year to protect military members who report instances of sexual abuse. Last Congress, Representative Kuster and I joined together in coauthoring a letter condemning the kidnapping of nearly 300 girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram and calling on the United States Government to work with the United Nations to enact more comprehensive financial sanctions against the organization. I thank her for her leadership on this area, and it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire, Representative Ann Kuster.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of packages of human trafficking legislation to be considered by the House of Representatives this week, 12 different pieces of legislation. I also rise today in support of all the good work done by my colleagues here in Congress on the issue of human trafficking. Mr. Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level. I witnessed and reported on devastating consequences of human trafficking, where innocent women and children were dragged into the dark abyss of sex slavery. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States of America. Americans are being forced into sexual slavery by ruthless human traffickers. Mr. Speaker, right now there are young women being forced into prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. It is hiding in plain sight. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, has been identified as one of the top 20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States. Mr. Speaker, this problem is before our eyes. It is in our communities, it is in our neighborhoods, and it is in our cul-de-sacs. It is right here before us. Every year, thousands of young Americans' lives are impacted by this despicable crime. However, there is hope. I take hope from the work done by the law enforcement professionals who are on the front lines every day protecting our Nation's children from those who would seek to exploit them. I take hope from those who work in victims services and their tireless efforts to help survivors recover, heal, and forge new lives out of the horrors of sexual enslavement. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, I take hope from all the survivors, the survivors of this hideous crime. Their strength gives us strength, their resolve gives us inspiration, and their steadfast commitment to ending sex trafficking gives us all the courage to fight. Mr. Speaker, because of the efforts of many individuals and groups, I am happy to report that Congress has taken notice of this serious problem. Years of work by Representatives Noem, Poe, Paulsen, Hultgren, Reichert, Smith, among many others, have raised awareness of this issue and have laid the foundation for the long overdue action Congress is presently taking. I am grateful that many of my colleagues have held events in their home districts to raise awareness and education of this crime. Last year in St. Louis, I participated, along with Judge Poe, in a conference at which the private and public sectors came together to share best practices about combating human trafficking. Representatives Davis, Hudson, Walberg, Roskam, Coffman, Huizenga, and Heck, among so many other Members of my colleagues, have all held human trafficking events in their districts to raise awareness and offer solutions to end sexual assault and human trafficking. I applaud these efforts, and I look forward to continuing this work for years to come. However, Mr. Speaker, there is much, much work to be done. As legislators, we have an obligation to come together and do something because we can, because we should, and because we must. The legislation that we are voting on this week in the House of Representatives will provide prosecutors with the tools they need to prosecute traffickers and will provide social service providers with the resources they need to assist victims in healing. These bills will mandate much-needed awareness and training, and will provide government agencies with the accurate, dependable statistics they need to combat this terrible crime. I am so proud of the action this body has taken to recognize and address this problem, which has so long festered in the shadows. I am equally proud of all my colleagues today who have come to the floor to speak up for the victims of human trafficking, to show them they are not alone, that we are with them, and that we will no longer be silent in the face of such depravity. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to one of my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren). He is reintroducing his bill, the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. The bill urges nations to recognize the link between the purchase of commercial sex and the prevalence of human trafficking in society, and to confront the former in order to effectively combat the latter. The bill targets demand. He has hosted anti-trafficking forums for Members of Congress at which the anti-trafficking documentary ``Nefarious'' was shown. The producers of the film from Exodus Cry attended. He is a member of the House leadership Human Trafficking Task Force and the Human Trafficking Caucus, and he has worked with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on efforts to help human trafficking victims both in the U.S. and abroad. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois, Randy Hultgren.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. I also want to thank Judge Poe, who has fought this fight for so very many years. It is marvelous to have seen in the 113th Congress five pieces of legislation on human trafficking move through this Chamber. Now, tomorrow, we will pass 12 pieces of human trafficking to end the scourge of sex slavery in this country and beyond, and I could not be more proud of this Chamber and of the bipartisan effort to get this done. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 469, the Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015, sponsored by Representative Karen Bass. Congresswoman Bass has been a long-time leader in Congress on the issue of human trafficking. Her legislation will strengthen the child welfare response to trafficking by ensuring that each State develops a plan that would identify children at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. According to the Department of Justice, upwards of 300,000 American children are at risk of becoming the victims of crime. One of the greatest challenges we face in combating this problem is a lack of accurate and reliable statistics. Frequently, those most at risk of falling victim to human trafficking are not identified early enough to intervene. By ensuring that child welfare agencies have systems in place to properly identify, to assess, and to document child victims of trafficking, H.R. 469 will move us towards a comprehensive, total solution to the scourge of human trafficking in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to be sponsoring, at the end of our debate here, a Special Order on the issue of human trafficking. I invite all of my colleagues to join me on the floor as we talk about this important issue and about the 12 pieces of human trafficking legislation that will come forward tomorrow.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this very, very important issue. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of life. Today is a very joyous and hopeful day on what is a very sad anniversary. Today is the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates from across the country, and many from my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, will be on The Mall as we march in honor of the over 56 million precious angels we have lost over the last 42 years. Madam Speaker, I believe in the sanctity of life, I believe that life begins at conception, and that every life is a gift. There is an area where most Americans agree and where elected officials should all come together, and that is on the Federal funding of abortion. The majority of Americans do not want their hard-earned tax dollars going to pay for abortions, and Congress has consistently worked together over the years by attaching the Hyde amendment to appropriations bills to prevent taxpayer funds from going towards abortions. That is why I am proud to cosponsor and support H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act. There is no more appropriate day than today to consider such important legislation. This bill does exactly what the name implies. It permanently ensures that no taxpayer dollars go to pay for abortion or abortion coverage. This bill codifies the Hyde amendment and also addresses taxpayer funding for abortion that, unfortunately, the Hyde amendment does not cover. For example, ObamaCare expressly allows funding for plans that include abortion through taxpayer subsidies. During the health care debate, the President assured the American people that no Federal dollars would be used to fund abortions under ObamaCare. It was yet again another broken promise. However, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act not only prevents taxpayer funding for abortion under ObamaCare, it also requires transparency to ensure the consumers are fully informed about which plans on the exchanges contain abortion coverage and surcharges. Madam Speaker, throughout my life I have worked to draw attention to the pro-life movement--to change hearts and minds and to approach this issue with love and compassion. I will continue to work throughout my time in Congress towards the day when abortion is not only illegal but abortion is unthinkable. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important legislation.

Ms. WAGNER

Ms. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate and thank the gentleman for yielding and for hosting this very important Special Order today and for his lifetime of service in protecting the rights of the unborn, those who have no voice. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the sanctity of life. Sadly, tomorrow is the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and hundreds of thousands of people, including pro-life advocates from my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, will gather in our Nation's capital in honor of the over 56 million precious angels we have lost since that infamous Supreme Court decision, not to mention the millions of women who have been adversely affected in the aftermath of their abortion, both physically and emotionally. I first participated in the March for Life 25 years ago this week, in 1990. I was 28 years old with a real bad hairdo, and I was 12 weeks pregnant with my son Stephen. At that point, at 12 weeks in my pregnancy, Stephen was able to suck his thumb. A few weeks later, at 15 weeks, he could make facial expressions and he had taste buds. By 17 weeks, Stephen began to kick. By week 18, his ears had developed and he could hear. By week 20, not only was Stephen able to recognize my voice as his mother, but he was capable of feeling pain. While killing an unborn child is unconscionable at anytime, it is especially abhorrent at the 20-week mark when a child is able to feel the pain of an abortion. Mr. Speaker, the theme of this year's march is ``Every Life is a Gift,'' and I truly believe that life at all stages, from conception to natural death, is, indeed, a gift. I am for the life of the baby. I am also for the life of the mother and oftentimes the victim. I will continue to work and to pray for the day when abortion is not only illegal, but abortion is unthinkable.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3329) to enhance the ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, increase individual savings, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding the time and the gentleman from Vermont for his always kind and compassionate words about our fallen heroes and these great opportunities that we have to represent them and give living testament to their bravery and their sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a great American hero, Sergeant Zachary M. Fisher, of my hometown of Ballwin, Missouri. On July 14, 2010, Missouri's Second District lost a brave young man when United States Army Sergeant Zach Fisher was killed by an IED while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant Fisher was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion of the 20th Engineer Brigade based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was, indeed, 24 years old when he died at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Afghanistan. Zach was, again, from my hometown of Ballwin, Missouri, and he graduated in 2004 from Marquette High School, where his history teacher remembered him as a patriotic student with an interest in how the United States developed as a country. Zach met his beautiful and loving wife, Jessica, just before his earlier deployment in Iraq. At the time of his death, they had been married for just 2 years. Zach is survived by his parents, Sue and Jim Jacobs and Bob and Alicia Fisher; three brothers, Andrew, Clayton, and Alexander; and two sisters, Emily and Zoe. Zach initially enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, and when he told his parents that he wanted to report for Active Duty, they asked him to give two good reasons why he would choose to put himself in harm's way for the service of his country. His reply said a lot about the character of the man, Zach Fisher. First, he wanted to join the Army because he wanted the discipline it would provide, and, more importantly, he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself. Although the United States of America can never fully repay the priceless debt we owe to Sergeant Fisher, we can do our part to ensure that his memory lives on. Therefore, it is my honor to sponsor H.R. 5794, a bill that names the Chesterfield main post office after such a courageous young man, immortalizing a hero who gave up his life in service to the Nation that he loved. All of Zachary's friends would say that Zach was their best friend. He was a dedicated warrior whose commitment to family, friends, and country will be long remembered. I am proud that this legislation will serve as a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of Sergeant Zachary Fisher, standing as a physical reminder of the bravery of one American from Missouri's Second Congressional District who chose to serve a cause greater than oneself.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend and colleague from North Carolina for yielding me this time, and the gentleman from Vermont also for his tremendous support and commitment to honoring our fallen heroes. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a great American hero. On March 16, 2006, Missouri's Second District lost a brave young woman when United States Army Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson was killed in a mortar attack while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of this young patriot. Army Sergeant Amanda Pinson was a signals intelligence analyst assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment of the 101st Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. On a personal note, I have to say that the Screaming Eagles are very personal to me, as my oldest son is presently serving as an Army officer in the 101st. Amanda is survived by her mother, Chris; her father, Tony; and her younger brother, Bryan. Growing up in Lemay, Missouri, Amanda enlisted in the Army after graduating from Hancock Place High School, where she won several scholarships and was on the basketball and the softball teams. Amanda was always concerned about helping others. In high school, she started her own group called HELP, the Hancock Environmental Leadership Program. She enlisted all of her friends to join, and Amanda and the HELP group planted trees at local parks and volunteered with local seniors. The group also planted and maintained flowers at the entrance of Jefferson Barracks Park. The park where she used to plant flowers is adjoined to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where Amanda is laid to rest. Amanda also had the respect and admiration of her fellow soldiers. She was described, indeed, as a model soldier and ``a breath of fresh air'' by Lieutenant Colonel Lucinda Lane, who spoke at her service. Upon her death, Sergeant Pinson was awarded a Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and a Purple Heart. Her impact on the people privileged to know her during her life is evidenced by the many memorials honoring Amanda. In 2006, the U.S. Army honored Amanda by dedicating the building where she worked in Tikrit, Iraq, naming it ``Pinson Hall.'' A pink willow tree was planted in her honor at her alma mater, Hancock High School, in 2006. And now, the Amanda N. Pinson Post Office will join these memorials as a testament to the bravery, valor, and kindness of this American hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice for her country. It is my honor to sponsor H.R. 5385, a bill that names the Affton branch, Grasso Plaza post office after such a courageous young woman, immortalizing a hero who gave up her life in service to the Nation she loved. May it bring comfort to her family and friends and give witness to Sergeant Pinson's bravery and her sacrifice. To quote the phrase that adorns so many of the tributes and memorials to Amanda: ``If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.'' So today, on behalf of a grateful nation, I say: ``Thank you, Amanda, and you are, indeed, loved.''

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to speak about one of our greatest national security challenges: the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. I am deeply troubled by the Obama administration's recent 7-month extension of nuclear negotiations with Iran. The extension means that Iran will continue to have access to $700 million a month in sanctions relief. Every day that we continue these talks is another day given to Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. A nuclear-armed Iran would start a new arms race in the Middle East and pose an intolerable threat to the national security of the United States and our allies, especially Israel. The House has passed H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which would increase sanctions on the Iranian regime. Now it is time for the United States Senate to do its part and pass legislation that would impose additional sanctions on Iran.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 529 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. I would like to say that I have had the great pleasure and honor of sponsoring several of these post office namings for our fallen heroes, and I have to say it is one of the most moving, touching, and important things that we can do, I think, for our entire community and certainly for the families. So it is a great privilege and honor for me to support the Riordan family today, and I thank the gentleman for his kind words and the chairman for putting all of this forward.