ms. tsongas of massachusetts and ms. tsongas has been with us on those trips and i know will share some of her experiences as well. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from massachusetts is recognized for three minutes. ms. tsongas: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in support of this motion to instruct. as we have heard, this motion supports bipartisan senate language that would help promote the security of afghan women and girls. since becoming a member of congress, i have had the honor of visiting afghanistan four times, several with the mother's day trips that chairman mckeon referenced, and i have been fortunate on those trips to visit in particular with some of our military moms who are serving in afghanistan. these are female soldiers who have children back home, leaving them for months on end. . thousands of soldiers, men and women, go without seeing their family and loved ones for months on end, highlighting the extraordinary commitment that accompanies military service. this service is something, this commitmen

ms. tsongas: request mer -- permission to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. tsongas: madam speaker, every corner of america has been deeply affected by the tragic loss of so many lives in newtown, connecticut. we mourn for the enormity of grief, the inconsolable loss visited upon newtown's families. and we know that our response to newtown must not and cannot go the way of the many other senseless acts of violence we almost routinely witness. the tragedy in newtown must be a call to action. members from both sides of the aisle have acknowledged that it is time for a conference -- conversation about the accessibility of high capacity weapons in our country and the culture of violence we live in. this conversation is long overdue, and it is simply not an option to allow this discussion to become stagnant or to be bullied into silence by seemingly untouchable organizations. america's laws must reasonably control gun manufacturing, sale, and usage. we must act to make real changes that will provide real protection f

ms. tsongas: i was proud to join my colleagues in bringing the middle class tax cuts to the house floor forn up or down vote. while there is much left to negotiate, there is one step that we can take today? it will provide millions of families and 97% of small businesses with the security of knowing that their income taxes will not rise on january 1. both parties and the american people agree on the need to pass an extension of the tax cuts for every family on the first $250,000 of income. the senate has passed such a bill. the president stands ready to sign it today, and i have heard from hundreds of constituents urging support for this now. i urge my republican colleagues to join us today in protecting middle class americans and send the senate-passed bill to the president. thank you and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition? >> good morning, mr. speaker. i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without

ms. tsongas: barney frank has been a family friend for many years. my sister-in-law was barney's press secretary in his first race for congress. and i was so proud to receive his support when i first sought this seat five years ago. he commented at the time that he was responsible for defeating the last woman who had served for massachusetts, and he wanted to help elect the next woman who was seeking to serve for massachusetts. it had been 25 years. and barney, as we've heard, has been a legend in everything he's done. i watched him from afar. i e young when he was working with kevin white. we knew who he was because even at that young age, he was very colorful and very able and recognized as being so extraordinarily bright. and always witty. as a state legislator as well, in here, we see it and heard about it over and over again. soon after getting here five years ago, maybe a little -- a year into it, we struggled with the collapse of wall street. and i remember thinking that we were so fortunate to have barney frank in a place where his expertise,