H1160 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 6, 2012 I wouldn’t want them buried—any part of some sort of birth control at some deadly tornados descended upon south- them—in the landfill.’’ point during their lives. Birth control ern Indiana communities, leaving be- f can cost up to $600 a year. So for a col- hind a 50-mile path of destruction from WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AND A lege student, a woman who’s had mul- New Pekin to Chelsea and beyond. Our WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE tiple children and is still in child- people are still assessing the costs, but bearing years, low-income women or we know this much: 13 Hoosiers have The SPEAKER pro tempore. The those who are underinsured, insurance died, scores have lost their homes and Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from coverage means the difference between businesses, and citizens across the re- California (Ms. RICHARDSON) for 5 min- accessing contraceptive services or gion have suffered untold damage to utes. not. their personal and public property. Ms. RICHARDSON. In this month of b 1040 As hard as it is to imagine, the trag- March, as we celebrate Women’s His- edy might have been worse were it not tory Month, I would like to take a mo- Quite simply, Madam Speaker, all for the bravery and resilience of rank- ment to recognize some of our great fe- women should have the choice and ac- and-file Hoosiers. Our firemen, police- male leaders who, throughout history, cess to contraception and have the re- men, EMTs, and local officials deserve sources no matter where they work, have persevered in the face of monu- our thanks. Those who serve in Indi- where they live, or where they go to mental opposition and successfully ana’s National Guard, our State police, college. This is why I’m proud to sup- have accomplished great things on be- and our Department of Homeland Secu- port President Obama’s Affordable half of the American people. rity stepped up, too. From the initial Care Act, which I voted on, which will From the words of the great poet, response through the ongoing efforts make a positive impact on women and Maya Angelou, from the beautiful sing- today, their service has been exem- children in their access to health care ing voice of Marian Anderson, from the plary. and greatly decrease the number of tireless activism of Dolores Huerta, to But it has been concerned citizens, women and their families who are un- the groundbreaking leadership of Sec- so-called ‘‘ordinary’’ Americans who retary of State Hillary Clinton, Sec- insured or underinsured. Studies have shown that women who have restored a measure of stability to retary of Labor Frances Perkins, and, a region pummeled by forces beyond of course, our own Democratic leader have health insurance don’t always re- ceive the medical care they need be- our control. There was a bus driver in NANCY PELOSI, these women and many Henryville who, in the nick of time, more have played an integral role in cause their policies don’t cover certain services or the women simply can’t af- rushed dozens of children back to the history in this Nation. school to protect them from the ap- Madam Speaker, every day, women ford the high deductibles and copay- ments. The Affordable Care Act proaching twister. There were the take great strides to help others and to EMTs off Interstate 65 who saw a improve the quality of life for every- changes this unfortunate reality by as- sisting women in gaining access to woman thrown from her car and saved one. Unfortunately, in matters involv- her from being pummeled by hail by ing health care, women are still facing basic preventive health care in order to prevent life-threatening diseases in the dragging a large metal sign across the these challenges. Whether it’s on the road and holding it over her. They like- Senate floor last week during a debate future. Our country is facing great chal- ly saved her life. on the Blunt amendment or whether lenges. People need jobs. Students need There were parents and friends and it’s during a House Committee on Over- affordable education. Seniors and even strangers across southern Indiana sight and Government Reform hearing, working families need affordable who, as danger approached, took a mo- women continue to face unwarranted health care. But one thing we don’t ment to extend a hand to others and attacks on their reproductive health need is to continue to waste time de- said, Come inside, we’ll find room. rights and their access to contracep- bating extreme legislation that is dan- After the storms left their mark, Hoo- tives. gerous to women’s health, disrespects siers immediately turned to accounting More disconcerting, these debates the judgment of American women, and for loved ones and comforting neigh- and veiled attacks have escalated be- is nothing less than the most com- bors. yond misguided attempts to repeal the prehensive and radical assault on wom- The damage was and is severe. One Affordable Care Act. Now they’ve en’s health in our lifetime. tornado—by some accounts a half-mile taken aim at restricting women’s Madam Speaker, as people all over wide—carved a clear path through choices in the area of reproductive America pay tribute during the month southern Indiana, ripping trees out of health altogether. This is wrong. Med- of March to the generations of women the Earth, hurling automobiles and ical decisions about a woman’s health who have committed to progress and combines long distances, severing must leave the political arena and be have proved invaluable assets to our power lines, and decimating countless left to the discretion of the patient and society, let us in Congress renew our homes and businesses. Here, again, their doctor, not employers, and cer- commitment to support women—not Hoosiers didn’t sit around and wait for tainly not the government. with certificates at banquets, but by others to help us out. We got to work. It is astonishing and disappointing working to ensure equal treatment of Now, over the weekend I spent time that more than 50 years after the land- all women in society, providing women surveying the damage and meeting mark Supreme Court decision in Gris- with equal access to health care, and with those who lost the most. Every- wold v. Connecticut, a decision which protecting women’s rights, and their where I visited, I met citizens wearing found that women have a constitu- families, to choose once and for all work boots and work gloves who were tional right to use contraceptives, con- their own health care. busily beginning to sort through the tinued attacks on women’s rights of piles of rubble. I met others who had f privacy and health care still persist, fired up their chainsaws and were and at an alarming rate. HOOSIERS MAKE INDIANA PROUD clearing debris from roadways. I saw The American people want us to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The clusters of cars and pickup trucks work towards addressing their top pri- Chair recognizes the gentleman from parked outside homes that were hit ority: creating jobs, not their reproduc- Indiana (Mr. YOUNG) for 5 minutes. hardest. tive rights. However, this Congress Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Madam In the aftermath of such a tragedy, seems to be more focused on bringing Speaker, I rise today because I’ve never one would be forgiven for asking: Why forward legislation that targets wom- been prouder to call southern Indiana me? But I never heard it. Instead, time en’s access to basic health care. In this home. Late Friday afternoon, in our and again I heard Hoosiers sympathize Congress alone, we’ve taken eight part of America, a disaster brought with those who lost more than they. votes on antiwomen health legislation. neighbors together, turned strangers And more than one person told me A 2011 Guttmacher Institute study into friends, and reminded us all what that, in the end, stuff doesn’t really found that over 90 percent of women, it means to be part of a community. matter; it’s people that are important. and over 90 percent of Catholic women, Over the course of several hours, I heard sincere, caring people ask between the ages of 15 and 44 have used fierce winds, softball-sized hail, and their neighbors: How can I help? In

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:19 Mar 07, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06MR7.007 H06MRPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE March 6, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1161 Henryville, a pizza shop was mostly de- I can tell you from firsthand experience transportation in America for the ben- stroyed, except for the freezer. The that this proposal would have a profoundly efit of all of our citizens. negative impact on the ability of our clients couple who owned it, rather than wor- f rying about the loss of their business, to go about their daily lives. Many clients use public transportation to access our serv- REMOVE THE FOREIGN TERRORIST asked officials how they could donate ices, seek and hold employment, and remain ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION food from the freezer to those who independent. This legislation puts jobs and FROM THE MEK needed it most. the services this agency provides to vulner- In Marysville, the local Christian able populations at risk. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from church remains intact, but little else. A constituent from Prince William Texas (Mr. POE) for 5 minutes. Pastor Bob Priest told me their dec- County bemoaned the dearth of transit ades-old building is no longer struc- Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, investments and commented: for nearly a decade the United States turally sound, but the congregation For nearly 30 years, beginning with Presi- has never been stronger. has invested money, sweat, blood and dent Reagan, a portion of Federal motor tears, all in the name of a free and For those of us who have seen the fuels tax revenues has been dedicated to pub- scale and scope of destruction up close, lic transportation investment under Federal democratic Iraq. we know the path back will not be law. These revenues are a dependable and Before the war, Iraqis suffered from easy, but we will fix all that Mother predictable source of funding and should re- the oppressive dictatorship of Saddam Nature broke. Government at all levels main dedicated to public transportation. The Hussein, and recent events have led me to believe that perhaps the new govern- will and must be there to help, from House Ways and Means plan would eliminate ment does not value freedom any more local authorities, to the State of Indi- this reliable funding source and provides no funding for public transportation after 2016. than the last one did. ana, to our congressional offices. My A senior citizen from Springfield, As a Member of Congress, I’ve been staff and I, in particular, are eager to fortunate to go to Iraq several times to connect our constituents to whatever Virginia, worried about the impact of this legislation on alternative trans- visit with our troops. And during my Federal services and funds might be last visit with a bipartisan congres- available to help them get their lives portation options, said: I strongly encourage you to vote ‘‘no’’ on sional delegation, we also met with back on track. But make no mistake, Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki. During it will be the people of Indiana, the H.R. 7. I am 65 years old and have spent the last 10 years of my life utilizing the paths the 2-hour-long discussion covering people of tight-knit communities like and trails around Fairfax County and this many things, I asked one question: Henryville, Marysville, Chelsea, and area of the country for safe biking and exer- ‘‘Can we go see Camp Ashraf?’’ New Pekin, who will rebuild their bro- cising. Their existence has been critical to Now, Madam Speaker, Camp Ashraf ken lives. my efforts to improve my personal health. houses Iranian dissidents who are Now, during these tough times, Hoo- These trails cost so little compared to build- called the MEK, and I represent a good siers are reminding us what it means ing highways and using automobiles and number of Iranian Americans who have to be a community of citizens—one Na- have tremendous benefits to all of us. Please family members in this camp. They are tion under God, indivisible, come what do not allow this bill to halt the great particularly worried at this point in may. That sense of community has al- progress that this country has made in its trails. Please vote ‘‘no’’ on H.R. 7. time, since Iraqi forces had recently ways bound Americans together in killed 36 residents at the camp just a tough times, and it will get us through b 1050 few weeks before. Here are the pictures this tragedy as well. A constituent from Gainesville, of those real people that were killed by May God be with those Americans Prince William County, Virginia, the Iraqi forces that came into the who are putting their lives back to- where they have one of the longest camp. gether. We’re praying for you and here daily commutes in America: Here is an example. You notice this for you. I am writing in opposition to the proposal is an American-made HUMVEE coming f to pay for any of H.R. 7 through cuts to Fed- into the camp. And over here on this far picture, you see an Iranian dis- VOTE ‘‘NO’’ ON AMERICAN ENERGY eral workers’ pay and benefits. I urge you to vote against any plan that unfairly targets sident being run over by one of those AND INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS ACT Federal workers and retirees to pay more for HUMVEES driven by an Iraqi soldier. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The their fair share. Our nation’s Federal work- So that is why the question was Chair recognizes the gentleman from ers are already doing their part to address asked: can we go see the camp and see Virginia (Mr. CONNOLLY) for 5 minutes. America’s deficit problem, which they did these Iranian dissidents? And of course, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam not cause. Their pay freeze will have contrib- Maliki said, ‘‘no way that’s going to Speaker, last month, the House Repub- uted over $60 billion to debt reduction. happen.’’ It left me wondering why he lican leadership commemorated Valen- A constituent from Fairfax echoed would refuse to let us see and talk to tine’s Day by planning a shotgun wed- those concerns: these people and get the other side of ding between transportation reauthor- Congressman Connolly, I am contacting this invasion by the Iraqi soldiers. So ization and the Arctic National Wild- you about H.R. 7. I’m disgusted and appalled we didn’t get to go. And later I learned life Refuge; between highway funding that those in public service are being tar- that one reason we were actually told and Federal pension cuts. Many Mem- geted yet again to fix Federal budget short- to leave the country is because we falls they didn’t cause. As a Federal em- bers of this House spoke for and asked to go see this camp and what ployee, I’m acutely aware of the shared sac- happened to these 36 Iranian dissidents. against this troubling bill, but I think rifices Federal employees have made in these it’s time Congress started listening to turbulent times. I appreciate your support And now we have Camp Liberty. the people. and representation in defeating this bill. Camp Liberty, Madam Speaker, is the result of the fact that in Camp Ashraf, Consider what my constituents wrote Madam Speaker, my constituents the Iraqi government is moving these me when they asked me to oppose this make a compelling case. Americans are transportation disinvestment plan. One dissidents to another camp called looking for a long-term solution to Camp Liberty. These dissidents are concerned citizen in Vienna said: transportation. Like any successful re- I’m writing to urge you not to support the commonly referred to as the MEK, and lationship, this one must be balanced, Camp Liberty, ironically, should be proposed American Energy and Infrastruc- with sustained investment in high- ture Jobs Act. This bill is anti-jobs, anti- symbolic of a name of freedom, but it’s business, anti-transit, and anti-environment. ways, transit, and non-motorized anything but that. It slashes funding for transit, guts our Na- transportation. We can’t slash funding Now the Iraqi government, having tion’s environmental laws, and green-lights a in 45 of the 50 States, including my moved these dissidents from Camp set of controversial and damaging new drill- home State of Virginia, while elimi- Ashraf to Camp Liberty, is still op- ing projects, including in the Arctic National nating all dedicated funding for transit pressing these Iranian dissidents. The Wildlife Refuge. and hope to solve our transportation reality is Camp Liberty is worse than The director of a nonprofit in Dum- problems. Camp Ashraf. fries, Virginia, worried about the utter I urge my Republican colleagues, Former New York Mayor Rudy lack of transit support in the proposed junk this bill. Let’s start over again Giuliani said it best: ‘‘This isn’t a jail, legislation, wrote: and work in a bipartisan fashion for it’s a concentration camp.’’

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