July 12, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7661 in the history of this country. It comes SCHIP I commend India for its economic out to about $290-some-billion. But (Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was progress, but I urge government lead- that means to the average household a given permission to address the House ers to ensure that all people in India $3,000 tax increase. What household can for 1 minute and to revise and extend have basic human rights, and espe- absorb a $3,000 tax increase in just 1 her remarks.) cially the 250 million Dalits. year alone? Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, in f Unfortunately, that is not the only 1992, I was proud to spearhead one of THE IRAQ WAR record being set by the Democrats. the first State initiatives to enable They have doubled that record in terms working families to purchase private (Mr. HODES asked and was given per- of how much money they have spent, health insurance for their children; 5 mission to address the House for 1 over $800 billion, which would come to years later Congress passed the State minute and to revise and extend his re- $6,000 per family. American people Children’s Health Insurance Program, marks.) would be better if we didn’t set records SCHIP, enabling every State to imple- Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, the war in like that. ment its own plan. Iraq is in its fifth year, but the Bush f Today 6 million American children administration still refuses to develop NASA ASTRONAUT SUNITA have health coverage thanks to SCHIP. a realistic, strategic plan for the Mid- WILLIAMS We in Congress are building upon the dle East and Iraq. The Iraq War has destabilized the re- (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given extraordinary success of SCHIP to ex- gion, and the United States must re- permission to address the House for 1 tend it to almost 9 million American assert and protect its fundamental na- minute.) children who are now uninsured. The tional security interests by actively Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, it is goal of insuring all American children taking the necessary steps to stabilize truly a pleasure to rise today to ac- is within our reach. the Middle East. knowledge the achievements of NASA Yet, instead of working with Con- Today Congress will debate a plan astronaut Sunita Williams. gress to reach this goal, the President On Friday, June 22, Sunita returned this week made it clear that health in- which stands in stark contrast to the to Earth after spending 195 days in surance for children is not important delusional policies of the Bush admin- space. She now holds the record for the to him. istration which have sapped our mili- longest duration space flight by a Does the President really believe tary readiness, strengthened al Qaeda, woman. Also, after completing four that America’s children do not deserve wasted our resources and betrayed the space walks lasting a total of 29 hours, quality ongoing health care? Does the trust of the American people. 17 minutes, she is a record holder for President really believe that emer- There is a way forward, and we must the most hours outside a spacecraft by gency rooms are the best place for pri- be bold, courageous and strategic. a woman. mary care for children? Without leadership in the White House, I was at the emotional STS–117 crew It is clear to just about every Amer- we must continue to exercise leader- return welcome a few weeks ago at ican that health insurance is expen- ship in the people’s House. And I assure Johnson Space Center and saw first- sive, and for too many American fami- the American people that we will. hand how Sunita’s achievements serve lies, it is simply too expensive. f as an inspiration to so many young Congress recognizes the urgency of MISSING OR CAPTURED AMERICAN people, particularly young ladies, in- the situation, and we move ahead, un- SOLDIERS terested in pursuing their dreams of like the President, to take this oppor- space exploration. She has shown them tunity to cover every American child. (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked that if they work hard and are dedi- f and was given permission to address cated, they too can one day reach the the House for 1 minute and to revise stars. DALITS and extend his remarks.) f (Mr. PITTS asked and was given per- Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. You mission to address the House for 1 know, we shouldn’t even be discussing b 1015 minute and to revise and extend his re- surrender in Iraq today because 2 THE CAUSE OF CLEANING UP CON- marks.) months ago today, three American sol- GRESS HAS GROUND TO A HALT Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, earlier this diers were captured in Iraq. Tragically, (Mr. KIRK asked and was given per- week I hosted a screening of a docu- the body of Private First Class Anzack mission to address the House for 1 mentary entitled, ‘‘India’s Hidden was found a few days later in the river. minute.) Slavery,’’ a film about contemporary DOD has changed the status of Spe- Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, despite slavery in India among the 250 million cialist Jimenez and Private Fouty from promises that are only 6 months old, Dalits or untouchables. unknown to missing/captured. Consid- the cause of cleaning up the Congress The caste system has at the top the ering that the military found their IDs has ground to a halt. Brahmin or priestly class, the ruling in an al Qaeda safe house, I’m sure We should kill pensions for Members class. That includes politicians. At the they’re being mistreated. And I hope of Congress convicted of a felony. And very bottom, not even considered a and pray that they can stay alive until after passing a shadow bill in January, caste because they’re too low, the we can rescue them. this action has completely stalled. No Dalits. Today, in the world’s largest As a former prisoner of war for near- action in February, March, April, May democracy, an unknown hidden system ly 7 years in Vietnam, I know what or June. exists with people without basic human these guys are going through. We must Now the real surprise. Despite prom- rights. find them, and we must bring them ises of spending reform, Congressional In contrast to the economic progress home. Naysayers in Washington should leaders blocked efforts to stop funding in some sectors in Indian society, not be talking about pulling the plug the construction of the bridges to no- below the surface is a society still on our troops in Iraq when we have our where. That’s right. Democratic lead- racked by caste, with millions suf- own men missing in action who need to ers in Congress now support building fering and held hostage to a social be rescued. the bridges to nowhere, one structure, structure that reinforces segregation, f connecting to an island with just 50 poverty, injustice and slavery. Re- people, the other to an island with only cently, village leaders just condemned SCHIP 22, at a cost to the U.S. taxpayer of to death a couple that married outside (Mr. ENGEL asked and was given over $1 billion. Only 6 months into a their caste. permission to address the House for 1 new Congress, and now Congressional While the government of India has minute and to revise and extend his re- leaders do not want to kill pensions for taken some small steps to outlaw the marks.) Congressional felons, but do want to caste system, in reality, it permeates Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in our En- build the bridges to nowhere. every aspect of life there. ergy and Commerce Committee, we’re

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Mr. Speaker, countries in providing policies that dren currently enrolled in the program. today I will vote for the Responsible help families balance the competing Nationwide, 6 million children are cov- Redeployment from Iraq Act. I agree demands of work and family respon- ered by the SCHIP and another 9 mil- with the 70 percent of Americans who sibilities. lion are uninsured. If there was ever a want our troops out of Iraq. And I Critics argue that implementing such question of where our priorities are, it agree with the comprehensive report policies here could have a negative im- should be with strengthening and mod- called ‘‘Strategic Reset’’ from the Cen- pact on the economy, but many coun- ernizing the SCHIP program. ter for American Progress, written by tries with strong work-family policies I’ve just come from a meeting with three authors, one of whom is Law- are among the world’s most competi- our Governor, Eliot Spitzer. New York rence Korb, former Assistant Secretary tive economies in the world and have operates a separate stand-alone pro- of Defense. unemployment rates that are the same gram under SCHIP, Child Health Plus. They write, ‘‘The current Iraq strat- or lower than the United States. As of December 2006, nearly 400,000 egy is exactly what al Qaeda wants, the More and more businesses are finding children were enrolled and receiving United States distracted and pinned that doing right by workers is good for comprehensive health coverage in the down by Iraq’s internal conflicts, the bottom line. Paid parental and sick program. Our stand-alone SCHIP pro- trapped in a quagmire that has become leave, flexible work schedules and ac- gram has increased enrollment by over the perfect rallying cry and recruit- cess to child care provide a boost to a quarter of a million children since ment tool for al Qaeda. The United worker productivity, retention, and re- the start of the program. States has no good options, given the cruitment that outweigh the cost of Nationwide, we have to remember strategic and tactical mistakes made implementing such policies. that the SCHIP program is a critical in Iraq since 2002, but simply staying U.S. workers, businesses, and the part of our health care safety net, pro- the course with an indefinite military economy would benefit from stronger viding health coverage to more than 4 presence is not advancing U.S. inter- work-family policies. million low-income children who do ests.’’ ‘‘A copy of the GAO report is avail- not qualify for Medicaid. SCHIP has Today we will vote to change the able on the JEC website at http:// served New York and our country well, course to bring our troops home by www.jec.senate.gov/Documents/ and I will continue to work to improve April of 2008. I will proudly vote in Hearings/06.14.07%20Work-Life%20 access for children’s health care cov- favor of that bill. Balance/GAO%20-%20Kay%20Brown%20 Testimony%20--%20FINAL.pdf.’’ erage. f f WAR IS NOT WON BY EVACUATION f THE GROWING ECONOMY (Mr. POE asked and was given per- (Mr. WALBERG asked and was given ELIMINATING INFECTIONS FROM mission to address the House for 1 permission to address the House for 1 MEDICAL DEVICES minute.) Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker: ‘‘Many people minute.) (Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania think the best way to escape war is to Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, this asked and was given permission to ad- dwell upon its horrors and to imprint week, news reports came out indicating dress the House for 1 minute and to re- them vividly upon the minds of the our Federal budget deficit has contin- vise and extend his remarks.) younger generation. They flaunt the ued to drop and our economy continues Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. grisly photographs before their eyes. to grow due to tax relief policies passed Mr. Speaker, at least half of all cases They fill their ears with tales of car- by Congress in 2001 and 2003. of hospital-acquired infections are as- nage. They dwell on the ineptitude of In spite of that good news, Demo- sociated with medical devices. These generals and admirals. They denounce cratic leadership in Congress is dis- medical devices include items ranging the crime and the folly of human counting advancements made possible from tongue depressors to catheters strife.’’ by this tax relief by trying to slap U.S. and heart valves. These words of Winston Churchill in taxpayers with a $400 billion tax in- These preventable infections infect 2 1934 stressed upon the people of Great crease that will slow our economy and million patients per year and end up Britain that the cynics, who don’t be- its current progress. costing 90,000 lives and over $50 billion lieve some things are worth fighting Additionally, Democrats piled $6 bil- annually. These are unacceptable costs for, should not have their way. They lion in new spending onto January’s for patients, taxpayers and Congress. ignore the victories and accomplish- omnibus budget bill to finish the 2007 Up to this moment this morning, we ments and, instead, focus upon set- appropriations process, passed a budget already have over 1 million cases, you backs. for 2008 that is $20 billion more than can see on this chart, 47,000 deaths and War is hard. It has always been hard. the President’s budget request, and a cost of over $26 billion, and that’s Congress will once again debate a time- added billions in extra spending to the just as of today. table retreat for American troops to few appropriations bills the House has Yesterday we passed the Medical De- leave Iraq. The timid will want to turn passed. vice User Fee Act which included an their back on the enemy and leave a Raising taxes hurts American fami- amendment in there that I placed in desperate people and a nation floun- lies, discourages innovation and that allows for the government, the dering; all this because war is hard. hinders job creation. Let’s work to- GAO, to study these issues. They note Retreat tells the enemy that if they gether in this Congress to make tax re- that even after rigorous cleaning and wait America out, we will bow out of lief permanent and continue to grow sterilization, virus and bacteria still the fight. our economy. Together, this Congress exist on reused medical devices. Mr. Speaker, Churchill also re- can foster further prosperity and build Manufacturers, providers and facili- marked, ‘‘war is not won by evacu- a better, brighter future for our coun- ties should take measures to reduce ation.’’ try. the rate of infections. I urge my col- And that’s just the way it is. f leagues to refocus our Nation’s health f care system on patient choice, patient MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT safety and patient quality and join me WORK-FAMILY POLICIES A message in writing from the Presi- in working on these things together (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked dent of the United States was commu- where we can save lives and save and was given permission to address nicated to the House by Ms. Wanda money for our Nation. the House for 1 minute.) Evans, one of his secretaries.

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