Extensions of Remarks E998 HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE HON
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E998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 28, 2010 providing funding for civilian infrastructure im- distinguished colleague from New York, Rep- Is anyone prepared to argue that our mili- provements required as a result of the realign- resentative NADLER. tary has suffered from the full participation of ment of military installations and the relocation The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a African-Americans in its ranks? of military personnel on Guam. Congress has serious issue in the United States. A growing I hope we all remember this history lesson granted this authority before, most recently body of empirical research shows that HIV pa- as we prepare to vote on a repeal of the Don’t during the realignment of forces to Bangor, tients’ housing and other socioeconomic fac- Ask, Don’t Tell policy, an embarrassment un- Washington. The authority granted to the Sec- tors are of equal or even greater importance worthy of a great country and a great military. retary addresses concerns raised by the U.S. than their medical care or personal health be- It is responsible for the discharge of 13,000 Environmental Protection Agency and our havior in determining their long term health honorable Americans, men and women who community in regards to mitigating the impact status. 70% of all persons with HIV or AIDS were told their service is dispensable . not of the buildup on our local infrastructure. The have reported periods of homelessness or un- because of how they behaved, but because of authority granted in Section 2822 also ex- stable housing in their lives, the rates of HIV who they are. pands on President Obama’s request for $50 infection are 3–16 times higher for those who It does violence to cherished American val- million in transfer authority to modernize infra- are homeless or have unstable housing, and ues like equality, inclusion, and tolerance. And structure at the Port of Guam. To accommo- the HIV/AIDS death rate is 7–9 times higher it damages our national security too. date the influx of servicemembers and their for homeless adults than the general popu- Given the military’s recruitment challenges dependents, our island will have to modernize lation. at a moment that we’re still, unfortunately, aging infrastructure, build and repair roads, The link between poverty and HIV risk and fighting two wars . it is incomprehensible improve water and wastewater capacity, and outcomes is well established. Poor living con- to me that we would reject any capable per- increase capacity at the Port of Guam among ditions such as homelessness and over- son who wishes to serve. many other preparations. This authority will crowding undermine safety and efforts to pro- It was particularly galling to watch as hun- assist our island in preparing for the realign- mote responsible sexual behavior. A lack of dreds of language specialists who could speak ment of forces to Guam and mitigate impact to stable housing greatly reduces people’s ability Farsi and Arabic were dismissed just when our community. to reduce their risk of HIV, as people who are they were needed most, when our occupation Section 2824 is also important as it allows homeless or have unstable housing are 2–6 of Iraq began. The assertion that openly gay service mem- the Secretary of Defense to transfer rights and times more likely than the general population bers would undermine unit cohesion is just management authority of Navy’s water and to use hard drugs, exchange needles, or trade bunk, Madam Chair. wastewater system to the Guam Waterworks sex for money or shelter. It is an argument based on fear, not fact. Authority. This provision will create one single Despite this evidence that adequate housing The research suggests that Iraq and Afghani- water and wastewater system on the island, is an important effect on HIV prevention, the stan veterans are comfortable serving side-by- create economies of scale, and will remove housing resources devoted to the national re- side with fellow soldiers who happen to be gay redundancies in our current system. sponse to HIV/AIDS have been inadequate Most importantly, I worked to include an or lesbian. and housing has been largely ignored in policy To suggest otherwise is to insult our troops, amendment that incorporated the full text of discussions at the international level. as the author of the amendment Mr. MURPHY H.R. 44, ‘‘The Guam World War II Loyalty H. Con. Res. 137 recognizes that stable, af- has pointed out. Because the morale argu- Recognition Act,’’ to the National Defense Au- fordable housing is a key component of any ment assumes our soldiers are so unpro- thority Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This provision effective strategy to prevent the spread of HIV/ fessional—and even unpatriotic—that they would recognize the people of Guam for their AIDS, as well as its treatment and care. It fur- would let another soldier’s sexual orientation sacrifices during World War II when Guam ther recognizes that the United States should distract them from the mission. was occupied by enemy forces. With the re- make a serious commitment to providing ade- Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint alignment of forces to Guam, it is important quate funding for developing housing as a re- Chiefs of Staff, may have put it best when he that this longstanding issue be resolved so sponse to the AIDS pandemic. I am proud to said, ‘‘I cannot escape being troubled by . that the military build-up on Guam is imple- support this resolution, and strongly urge my a policy which forces young men and women mented with community support. The Guam colleagues to join me. to lie about who they are in order to defend World War II Loyalty Recognition Act was f their fellow citizens. For me personally, it adopted by the House as an amendment to comes down to integrity—theirs as individuals the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis- NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011 and ours as an institution.’’ cal Year 2010, but was subsequently removed And now it comes down to our integrity, the during conference with the Senate. I thank my SPEECH OF integrity of those of us privileged to serve in colleagues for voting to adopt this provision the people’s House. once again. HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY We must have the integrity to do what’s KE KELTON I want to thank Chairman I S of OF CALIFORNIA right . to support our troops and strengthen the House Armed Services for his leadership IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES our military . by repealing the cruel and on issues affecting the readiness of our mili- un-American Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. tary forces. I look forward to working with my Thursday, May 27, 2010 f colleagues toward passage of H.R. 5136 by The House in Committee of the Whole the full House of Representatives. House on the State of the Union had under RECOGNIZING NYASHA SPROW AS f consideration the bill (H.R. 5136) to authorize A STATE HONOREE IN THE 2010 appropriations for fiscal year 2011 for mili- PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMU- SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING tary activities of the Department of Defense, NITY AWARDS PROGRAM HOUSING FUNDING TO COMBAT to prescribe military personnel strengths for AIDS such fiscal year, and for other purposes: HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Chair, we’ve heard OF VIRGINIA SPEECH OF these arguments before. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Secretary of the Army said he was con- HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE Friday, May 28, 2010 OF TEXAS cerned about how the proposed change would IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES affect ‘‘the efficiency . of the Army.’’ Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speak- A five-star General warned of ‘‘social experi- er, I rise today to recognize Nyasha Sprow Monday, May 24, 2010 ments’’ and worried that with reform in military from Prince William County, Va., for being a Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, I rise today in personnel policy ‘‘. we may have difficulty state honoree in the 2010 Prudential Spirit of strong support of H. Con. Res. 137, ‘‘Express- attaining high morale.’’ Community Awards Program. Nyasha is a vol- ing the sense of the Congress that the lack of Those are not quotations from 2010 about unteer with the Prince William Chapter of the adequate housing must be addressed as a the right of gay and lesbian Americans to American Red Cross and a seventh-grader at barrier to effective HIV prevention, treatment, serve openly in the military. They’re from more Virginia Virtual Academy. Additionally, she has and care, and that the United States should than 60 years ago, during the debate over ra- become a passionate advocate for organ and make a commitment to providing adequate cial integration of the armed forces. tissue donation. funding for developing housing as a response Does anyone believe they were right? If so, Nyasha has become a spokesperson for the to the AIDS pandemic,’’ as introduced by my please speak up. National Kidney foundation and she works to VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:55 Sep 24, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\RECORD10\RECFILES\E28MY0.REC E28MY0 mmaher on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE May 28, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E999 stress both the importance of protecting one’s Female Award as well as their Lifetime As the language of H.R. 3943 reflects, it is organs and the need for more organ donors. Achievement Award. In addition, she was hon- the intent of this amendment to strike ‘‘high She makes presentations at elementary ored with the Career Achievement Award from need’’ from the stipend participation language schools, distributes literature at health fairs the Television Critics Association, the Life in the Troops to Teachers statute.