E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009 No. 39 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- impact that women have on our coun- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- nal stands approved. try. pore (Mr. PASTOR of Arizona). f Over the last century, we have made f considerable progress. However, our PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE work to ensure that women have equal DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the rights and protection from assault and PRO TEMPORE gentlewoman from California (Ms. LO- abuse are not over. Today, women con- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- RETTA SANCHEZ) come forward and lead tinue to bring home smaller paychecks fore the House the following commu- the House in the Pledge of Allegiance. than men do for doing the same job. nication from the Speaker: Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- However, I am proud that this Congress passed and President Obama recently WASHINGTON, DC, fornia led the Pledge of Allegiance as March 5, 2009. follows: signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay I hereby appoint the Honorable ED PASTOR I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Act of 2009 to help end pay discrimina- to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day. United States of America, and to the Repub- tion against women. NANCY PELOSI, lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Currently, there are an estimated Speaker of the House of Representatives. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 198,000 women serving on active duty in our military, and still we are unable to f f provide them with a safe environment, PRAYER MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE free of sexual assault and violence. In The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. A message from the Senate by Ms. addition, approximately 800,000 individ- Coughlin, offered the following prayer: Curtis, one of its clerks, announced uals are trafficked across international As people of faith, Lord God Eternal, that the Senate has passed a bill of the borders each year, and, sadly, 80 per- we believe that Your Spirit fills the following title in which the concur- cent of those are women and girls. whole world. Moved by this faith, we rence of the House is requested: While we recognize the progress we try to discern authentic signs of Your have made, we must not be compla- S. 520. An act to designate the United cent, but instead work together to tap presence and purpose in the events, the States courthouse under construction at 327 needs, and the longings which we share South Church Street, Rockford, Illinois, as into the potential of future generations with other people all the time. the ‘‘Stanley J. Roszkowski United States of women. Lord, thank You for faith, because Courthouse’’. f faith throws a new light on all things f LESS IS MORE and makes known the full ideal to (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was which You have called each Member of ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER given permission to address the House Congress and each citizen of this great PRO TEMPORE for 1 minute.) Nation. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Guide minds into great collaboration Chair will entertain up to 10 requests under the new tax proposal, those that and move hearts toward true solutions for 1-minute speeches on each side of make over $250,000 are going to have a which transcend ideology and reach the the aisle. massive tax increase so the govern- fullest depths of human potential, f ment can redistribute that money to bringing us into a greater union with special groups. Those in this high tax others and with You. Then, as Your TAPPING INTO THE POTENTIAL OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN group already pay most of the taxes free children, we will conquer the prob- and create most of the new jobs in lems which confront us, and give You (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- small busines. glory, now and forever. fornia asked and was given permission But we have got a problem. These Amen. to address the House for 1 minute.) same folks are considering cutting f Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of Cali- back their work productivity so they fornia. Mr. Speaker, in 1987 the United make less than $250,000. According to THE JOURNAL States Congress officially designated ABC News, some individuals who own The SPEAKER pro tempore. The March as Women’s History Month in an business also are going to downsize be- Chair has examined the Journal of the effort to not only increase public cause of the tax increase. last day’s proceedings and announces knowledge of women’s history, but also A lawyer in Louisiana says, ‘‘Why to the House his approval thereof. to raise the public consciousness of the kill yourself working if it is given b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H2983 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 03:35 Mar 06, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A05MR7.000 H05MRPT1 smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE H2984 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 5, 2009 away to people who aren’t working as in and day out and face dangers that the issues. They know you cannot hard?’’ can’t always be seen. Freddy is only spend your way to recovery. A dentist in Colorado said she is the 13th firefighter in the United f going to work fewer days, see fewer pa- States to die in the line of duty from GARDEN STREET LOFTS IN HOBO- tients and eliminate employees so she this virus. KEN, NEW JERSEY, HONORED BY can be underneath the tax increase. We honor Fred Pierno’s sacrifice to SUSTAINABLE BUILDING INDUS- She says, ‘‘If I am going to be working the people of Martin County. He will TRY COUNCIL just to give it back to the government, truly be missed. it is demoralizing.’’ f (Mr. SIRES asked and was given per- Mr. Speaker, this cannot be. What mission to address the House for 1 FIXING THE BROKEN HEALTH are we to do if all these small business minute.) CARE SYSTEM owners start following this downsizing Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, last week, plan, lay off employees and don’t send (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was the Sustainable Building Industry more money to Washington? Don’t given permission to address the House Council honored the Garden Street they know they can’t do that? Don’t for 1 minute.) Lofts in Hoboken, New Jersey, at their they know that they need to pay more Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Today, the Beyond Green High Performance Build- taxes to take care of the rest of us? President will convene a health sum- ings Awards. I am proud of the accom- Mr. Speaker, all citizens pay enough mit as he continues to engage experts, plishments of MAST Construction and income tax already. It is absurd to Members of Congress, health providers all those involved in the project. I am raise taxes on anybody during this re- and consumer advocates in what is one pleased that their important work has cession. of many discussions on how to best fix been recognized. And that’s just the way it is. our broken health care system and en- The Garden Street Lofts project, f sure access to quality health care for completed last November, successfully every American more efficiently and converted an 80-year-old warehouse WORKING TOWARDS COMPREHEN- effectively. into a ‘‘Leadership in Energy and Envi- SIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM We have already made a great down ronmental Design’’ silver-certified (Mr. BACA asked and was given per- payment with the expanded SCHIP, the building with 30 loft-style residences mission to address the House for 1 Medicaid and other provisions in the and over 7,000 square feet of retail minute.) American Recovery and Reinvestment space. The building also is located Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, President Act. We in this body continue to work within reach of multiple forms of pub- Obama has said ‘‘our patchwork herit- with our President through our omni- lic transportation, further increasing age is a strength, not a weakness.’’ Yet bus bill; and as we prepare to develop a its appeal and environmental benefits. there are those that are full of hate 2010 budget, we do so in a holistic way, I commend this sustainable project, and anti-immigration rhetoric that also addressing the social determinants and I thank the Sustainable Building cannot see the rich contributions im- of our health, which is critical in order Industry Council for including it in its migrants have made to this country. for us to meet our obligation to close Beyond Green Awards program. MAST Racial profiling in my district alone the gaps in health that cause pre- Construction continues to provide the is alarming and the controversy of en- mature preventive illness and death in 13th Congressional District of New Jer- forcement practices must be inves- the poor and people of color and those sey with exceptional facilities. It is my tigated. We will not stand for enforce- in our rural areas. hope that the Garden Street Lofts will ment-only approaches that create a We must remember that health care serve as a successful example for other mistrust of law enforcement amongst is a right.