April 19, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E585 However, since the 1996 welfare reform nomic success and it is essential for us to re- equality, the Republican majority has instead law, States have been able to expand categor- double our efforts to end discriminatory prac- been fixated on limiting women’s rights and ical eligibility beyond its traditional bounds. tices in the workplace. Although many positive freedoms. This war on women is hurtful and That law created TANF to replace the Aid to steps have been taken and much change has destructive, wastes time, and makes no eco- Families with Dependent Children, AFDC, pro- been effectuated, there is much more that can nomic sense. It makes America weaker, not gram, which was a traditional cash assistance be and should be done. stronger. It certainly does not reflect a kinder program. TANF is a broad-purpose block grant On this day, let us give attention to how the and gentler America. that finances a wide range of social and wage gap affects women, families and the Mr. Speaker, on this day—Equal Pay Day— human services. economy. Today, more than ever, women are let us resolve to honor women for the work TANF gives States flexibility in meeting its equal, if not primary, income earners in most they do to support and sustain their families. goals, resulting in a wide variation of benefits American families. Yet women in our economy Let us start by paying women equally for the and services offered among the States. SNAP and our work force are still earning just 77 honorable work they do. It is through our hard allows States to convey categorical eligibility cents on every dollar paid to men. Couple the work to ensure equal treatment of all women based on receipt of a TANF ‘‘benefit,’’ not just gender gap with statistics on race and it is in the workforce, marketplace, and society as TANF cash welfare. This provides States with even worse. African American women earn a a whole that we can resoundingly voice our the ability to convey categorical eligibility mere 64 cents on the dollar, while Hispanic commitment to support American women and based on a wide range of benefits and serv- women receive an appalling 56 cents on the families. ices. TANF benefits other than cash assist- dollar compared to men. In states across the f ance typically are available to a broader range country, women are collectively losing tens of SPORTSMEN’S HERITAGE ACT OF of households and at higher levels of income billions of dollars annually—money that could 2012 than are TANF cash assistance benefits. alleviate the financial strain countless families In total, 43 jurisdictions have implemented are facing in this tough economy. SPEECH OF what the U.S. Department of Agriculture, We must put an end to discriminatory prac- USDA, has called ‘‘broad-based’’ categorical tices in the workforce once and for all. Ex- HON. DAN BOREN eligibility. These jurisdictions generally make panding economic opportunities for women is OF OKLAHOMA all households with incomes below a State-de- critical to building an economy that restores IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES termined income threshold eligible for SNAP. security for middle class families. We must Tuesday, April 17, 2012 States do this by providing households with a promote such an economy by encouraging the The House in Committee of the Whole low-cost TANF-funded benefit or service such advancement of women in the workforce and House on the state of the Union had under as a brochure or referral to an ‘‘800’’ number by rewarding their efforts equally. We must consideration the bill (H.R. 4089) to protect telephone hotline. ensure that when a woman seeks higher em- and enhance opportunities for recreational There are varying income eligibility thresh- ployment she is able to attain it without being hunting, fishing and shooting: olds within States that convey ‘‘broad-based’’ discriminated against based on her gender Mr. BOREN. Madam Chair, as a Congress- categorical eligibility, though no State has a and more importantly that she receive equal man serving on the House Committee on Nat- gross income limit above 200 percent of the pay for equal work. We must ensure that ural Resources and the past Co-Chairman of federal poverty guidelines. In all but three of equal pay and equal opportunity go hand in the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s these jurisdictions, there is no asset test re- hand with hard work in the twenty-first century. Caucus, I support America’s sportsmen and quired for SNAP eligibility. Categorically eligi- In the 1950’s a sole income earner, histori- the acclaimed activities of hunting and rec- ble families bypass the regular SNAP asset cally a man, could support an entire family. reational fishing and shooting through the en- limits. Those days are long past, not ever to return. actment of H.R. 4089. However, their net incomes (income after We are living in an era where dual incomes H.R. 4089 is essential to recognizing the im- deductions for expenses) must still be low are not a luxury, but rather the necessary con- portance of and facilitating the expansion and enough to qualify for a SNAP benefit. That is, dition to sustain a middle class status. enhancement of hunting and recreational fish- it is possible to be categorically eligible for I applaud President Obama’s commitment to ing and shooting. It is a compilation of four dif- SNAP but have net income too high to actu- ensuring that women are treated equally in the ferent bills (H.R. 2834, H.R. 3440, H.R. 991 ally receive a benefit. The exception to this is workforce and paid fairly for their work. From and H.R. 1558) that promote and advance one- or two-person households that would still signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, to cre- these time-honored traditions. The Sports- receive the minimum benefit. ating the National Equal Pay Task Force, men’s Heritage Act reaffirms that hunting and During the decade of the 2000s, there were President Obama has fought for equality for recreational fishing and shooting are important a number of proposals to restrict categorical women in the workforce, and there is no rea- activities by providing a sound legislative foun- eligibility based on receipt of TANF benefits. son why this Congress should not be equally dation for the advancement of America’s These proposals would have limited TANF- committed to the cause of pay equality for sporting heritage. based categorical assistance to households women. Seventy-five years ago, the conservation receiving TANF-funded cash assistance. The In a time where women’s labor force partici- community, including hunters, anglers, rec- proposal was made by the Bush Administra- pation has increased dramatically and where reational shooters, and related industries, sup- tion in its farm bill proposals and several families are becoming increasingly reliant on ported the use of funds from an excise tax on budget submissions. It passed the House in a women’s incomes due to the rise of living firearms and ammunition—along with the dedi- budget reconciliation bill in 2005 but was not costs, it makes no sense that pay disparities cated revenue from hunting and fishing li- part of that year’s final reconciliation package, between men and women still persist. Women censes—to be used exclusively by state fish the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109– should not have to face greater risks for in- and wildlife agencies to professionally manage 171). come insecurity than men. The reality is that fish and wildlife populations and provide ac- Mr. Speaker, let’s not punish those in need over the course of her lifetime, these pay dis- cess for sportsmen and the larger public to any longer! Help the poor—don’t show the crepancies can cost a woman and her family enjoy the benefits of this management. This dark side of America. up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost funding mechanism was eventually expanded to include the fishing and boating communities f wages, reduced pensions, and reduced Social Security benefits. I call this ‘‘gender theft.’’ The as well as the archery community. Accord- RECOGNIZING EQUAL PAY DAY Republican majority apparently believe this is ingly, these groups produced the American an acceptable state of affairs. System of Conservation Funding: a unique HON. LAURA RICHARDSON The statistics are very clear; we cannot ‘‘user pays—public benefits’’ approach. This OF CALIFORNIA have a vibrant society if women are not doing user-pays funding strategy has produced nu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES well. The success of American women is crit- merous public benefits including: abundant ical for the success of American families and fish and wildlife populations, access to public Thursday, April 19, 2012 the American economy. Consequently, when lands and clean waters, improved fish and Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise women face barriers to participation in the wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, wetland today to celebrate Equal Pay Day and to workplace and marketplace, it affects all protection and associated water filtration and stress my commitment to closing the wage Americans. flood retention functions, improved soil and gap between men and women once and for Unfortunately, rather than concentrating on water conservation, shooting ranges and boat- all. Women are critical to our Nation’s eco- eliminating such discrepancies and ensuring ing access facilities that are available for the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:41 Apr 20, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A19AP8.004 E19APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS E586 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 19, 2012 enjoyment of the entirety of the American pub- I am honored to be speaking on behalf of lips and mourn her upon her passing at the lic—hunters and non-hunters alike. In addition, the Philadelphia Dialogue Forum and Peace age of 79. sportsmen are an economic powerhouse. Islands Institute today, as well as the five Born on December 19, 1932, Bridget Phil- They directly support jobs, generate billions of awardees who have dedicated their time to lips grew to be a woman loved and revered by dollars in Federal, State and local tax reve- promoting peace and tranquility in our society. all who knew her. Mrs. Phillips was the proud nues, and invigorate the economies of local I look forward to hearing about what you all matriarch of a three generation Michigan communities by spending their money on trav- have accomplished in the future, and I am based business. She was gifted with a gra- el, lodging, food, sporting equipment, and so grateful to represent you in Congress. cious, thoughtful and philanthropic spirit, gen- much more while participating in their sport. f erously dedicated to local organizations, such Hunting and recreational fishing and shoot- as St. Mary’s Hospital, Madonna University, ing are the beating heart of conservation in IN SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF MAT- Angela Hospice and The Fallen and Wounded the United States. This year marks the 75th THEW SHOWMAN ON HIS OFFER Soldiers Fund. Anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish OF APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND Regrettably, on April 17, 2012, Bridget Phil- Restoration Program—a program supported THE UNITED STATES MILITARY lips passed from this earthly world to her eter- and made possible by the dollars of our Na- ACADEMY nal reward. She is survived by her beloved tion’s sportsmen. Given the current celebration husband of 57 years, William and her cher- of the success of this program, it seems timely HON. ROBERT E. LATTA ished children Lynn, Donna, Lisa, Terry, Scott, to support our sportsmen by enacting legisla- OF OHIO Bob, Amy and Sean. She will be long remem- tion that will provide them with more opportu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES bered by her much-loved siblings Bill, Derm, nities to participate in their sport. We as a leg- Thursday, April 19, 2012 Mary, Fran and Terry. She leaves a precious islature must come together—overcoming par- legacy in her grandchildren Sarah, Erin, Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great tisanship and working collaboratively with our Meghan, Ben, Lauren, Max, Caleb, Haley, pleasure to pay special tribute to an out- partners in the Senate—to promote, advance Laine, Jarred, Molly, Amy, Andy, Matt, Alia, standing student from Ohio’s Fifth Congres- and protect our Nation’s sporting heritage. I Zane, Jack, Will, Luke and Owen. An amiably sional District. I am pleased to announce that support our Nation’s sportsmen and I urge you benevolent woman, Bridget will be sorely Matthew Showman of Willard, Ohio has been to join me in supporting H.R. 4089. missed. offered an appointment to the United States Mr. Speaker, Bridget Phillips is remembered f Military Academy in West Point, New York. as a devoted wife, loving mother, adored PERSONAL EXPLANATION Matthew’s offer of appointment poises him to attend the United States Military Academy grandmother, treasured sister, compassionate HON. STEVE KING this fall with the incoming cadet Class of 2016. neighbor, and a valued friend. Bridget was a Attending one of our nation’s military acad- true lady who deeply treasured her family, OF IOWA friends, community and her country. Today, as IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES emies not only offers the opportunity to serve our country but also guarantees a world-class we bid Bridget farewell, I ask my colleagues to Thursday, April 19, 2012 education, while placing demands on those join me in mourning her passing and honoring Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall who undertake one of the most challenging her dedicated commitment to her family, our No. 158, I was detained while attempting to and rewarding experiences of their lives. community and country. reach the House floor to cast my vote. Had I Matthew brings an enormous amount of f been present, I would have voted ‘‘no.’’ leadership, service, and dedication to the in- DESIGNATING THE SALT POND f coming Class of 2016. He has served in a VISITOR CENTER AT CAPE COD leadership capacity as a class officer, student IN HONOR OF THE RECIPIENTS OF NATIONAL SEASHORE AS THE council class representative, and he also tu- ‘‘TIP O’NEILL, JR. SALT POND THE PHILADELPHIA DIALOGUE tored elementary students. Matthew volun- FORUM AND PEACE ISLANDS IN- VISITOR CENTER’’ STATEMENT teered in his community by participating in OF INTRODUCTION STITUTE’S 8TH ANNUAL FRIEND- fundraisers for the Ronald McDonald House SHIP AWARD and Willard Mercy Hospital. While attending Willard High School in Willard, Ohio, Matthew HON. EDWARD J. MARKEY HON. MICHAEL G. FITZPATRICK consistently achieved high honors, with an ex- OF MASSACHUSETTS OF PENNSYLVANIA ceptional grade point average. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Throughout high school, Matthew was a Thursday, April 19, 2012 Thursday, April 19, 2012 member of the football and wrestling teams Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to and earned varsity letters in each. In addition, Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today introduce a bill renaming the Salt Pond Visitor Matthew was captain of the wrestling team to honor five awardees who are receiving the Center at Cape Cod National Seashore as the and was the recipient of the team’s Captain Philadelphia Dialogue Forum and Peace Is- ‘‘Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Salt Pond Visitor Cen- Award and Coach’s Award. I am confident that lands Institute’s 8th Annual Friendship Award. ter.’’ I am proud to be joined by the entire Matthew will carry the lessons of his student On behalf of the 8th District of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts delegation in the House of and athletic leadership to the United States I would like to congratulate Kail Ellis, Natosha Representatives, who are original co-sponsors Military Academy. Warner, Dennis O’Brien, Richard Negrin and of this legislation, along with Democratic Lead- Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Dan Gottlieb. Thank you all very much for er NANCY PELOSI, who has been the greatest in congratulating Matthew on the acceptance your fortitude and perseverance in a mission Speaker of the House since the legendary Tip of his appointment to the United States Mili- worth striving to accomplish. O’Neill. Senator JOHN KERRY (D–MA) has in- tary Academy at West Point. Our service In today’s society, it is especially important troduced companion legislation in the Senate. academies offer the finest military training and that we all do our best to work together. I This year, on December 9th, Tip would have education available. I am positive that Mat- greatly appreciate the efforts of the Philadel- celebrated his 100th birthday. Tip lived a life thew will excel during his career at the Military phia Dialogue Forum and Peace Islands Insti- dedicated to public service and lifting up the Academy, and I ask my colleagues to join me tute in working to create links of under- disadvantaged in society, beginning with his in extending their best wishes to him as he standing, acceptance, hope and trust amongst election to the Massachusetts House of Rep- begins his service to the Nation. different communities, especially the commu- resentatives in 1936. In 1949, Tip became the nities in Bucks County. f first Democratic Speaker in the history of the My Congressional District is very diverse, HONORING BRIDGET PHILLIPS Massachusetts State Legislature, serving as but it’s the efforts of organizations like these Speaker until 1952, when he ran successfully that make our community unite. By bringing HON. THADDEUS G. McCOTTER for the United States House of Representa- people together in conferences, lectures, fes- OF MICHIGAN tives to fill the seat vacated by Senator-elect tivals and community service projects, local IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES John F. Kennedy. residents are given the opportunity to interact Many of us here who served with Tip re- with one another and work to promote com- Thursday, April 19, 2012 member his warmth, his magnetic personality, mon values. It is more of these efforts that our Mr. MCCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise and his unyielding support for working families country really needs. to honor the extraordinary life of Bridget Phil- and the middle class. When I was elected to

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