ms. jackson lee: madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 having responded in the affirmative -- the gentlewoman from texas. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker, i object to the vote on the grounds that a quorum is not present and i make a point of order that a quorum is not present. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i move to suspend the rules and concur in the senate amendment to h.r. 4348. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 4748, an act to amend the office of national drug control policy re-authorization act of 2006 to require a northern border counternarcotics strategy, and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from virginia, mr. scott, and the gentleman from texas, mr. smith, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the

jackson lee -- ms. jackson -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for one additional minute. ms. jackson lee: as my colleague from texas indicated, we may want to be tyre one in education but we're not trying to be tyre one in modern slavery, human smuggling, and therefore enough is enough. i look forward to this bill being signed by the president and i look forward to us bringing relief and acknowledging that slavery is here and we are ready to stamp it out. i yield back my time and i thank the gentleman. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from virginia reserves. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. poe: i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas reserves. the gentleman from virginia. mr. scott: i'm prepared to close if the gentleman will yield back. mr. poe: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. poe: i want to thank the gentlelady from new york, mrs. maloney, and the gen

ms. jackson lee of texas. under the speaker's announced policy of january 6, 2009, the gentleman from maryland, mr. bartlett is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. mr. bartlett: thank you, madam speaker. let me first note the press clippings today that caught my eye, kind of signs of the time. one of them talks about a -- a 1,900 page omnibus appropriations bill that's being prepared. you know there will be no one person in the country that has read all of that bill. and i think the mirn people -- the american people are not supportive of bringing these huge bills to the floor that nobody has had a chance to read. but that wasn't what caught my eye so much as the subheading earmarkers feast on pork one last time before diet. then in brackets it said it includes the joint strike fighter second engine. i'd like to make a couple of comments on earmarks. i know that they are symbolic of frivolous, wasteful, out of control spending in congress. even though the total amount of money in

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the distinguished gentleman. frankly i think it's important for my colleagues to recognize that we have been there, done that. and i don't know how the minority consistently managed to trample on a need that americans had and that this congress and this leadership and this president is trying to cure. robert f. kennedy was one of the first elected officials to draw our attention to the extensive poverty in america. going into the appalachian mountains he showed the world how children woke up hungry and went to bed hungry. it is well that the president commitment and the first lady's charge have been to put our children on the front pages of america. so i rise to support the underlying healthy hunger free kids act, recognizing we are discussing a suspension that involves all manner of confusion. but i want america to understand what is really being addressed which i hope my colleagues will overwhelmingly support. it is to complement the deficiencies of food stamps.

ms. jackson lee from texas. ms. jackson lee: thank you very much, madam speaker, and before i begin my tribute to my dear friends that are leave, i want to make mention again of a dear friend that we lost this week, that is the honorable richard holbrooke, who served this nation ably and who was given tribute today by h.con.res. 335 as amended. just a brief word about ambassador holbrooke as i begin to talk about the outstanding members that i wish to pay tribute. i'm reminded not only of his courage, the magnitude of his physical size, the love that he had for his family, the love that he had for the nation and the admiration that he received from around the world, but i'm reminded of his tenure at the united nations and he did something that was equal to moving the earth. he brought peace between the two giants, one, the vice president of the united states who in fact came to speak about something and he drew also to that very issue of then chairman of the foreign relations committee, foreign affairs committee, cha

ms. sheila jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker, i ask to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker, let me personally thank you for your leadership and continued focus on important issues here in this congress. i rise today to celebrate and to thank the chairman of the science committee, chairman gordon, for his years of commitment and intensity as it relates to the importance of this work. and i also add my appreciation to chairman-elect hall, whom i have worked with, as i did congressman gordon, for some 12 years on the science committee and once on the science committee one can never leave its values and its importance. as i sat on the science committee in the end of the 20th century, i always said that science was the work of the 21st century. and although bills are not perfect, and this bill that's come over from the other body is not, it is where we need to go. and i would simply remind my colleagues of the history of the model t when henry ford de

ms. jackson lee, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. ms. jackson lee: thank you very much, mr. speaker. i am saddened by the occasion of which i come to the floor of the house. but it is a privilege to be able to speak about a great american. for if we do not capture the life and the legacy of great americans, we find out -- find ourselves forgetting and some would say if we don't remember the past, we are doomed to repeat some of those hills and valleys in the future. tonight, i want to remember ambassador richard holbrooke, of whom this nation lost on monday evening. it is important that his story be told, for i would like to know him and for this nation to know him as america's peacemaker. but many will say that peacemaker had a tough edge. before i start, i want to mention his family and express my sympathy to them for their loss. his wife, two sons, and his stepchildren, all who loved him so very, very much. what i would say to you is that this was an action man. he was someone who threw himself into the world of diplomacy. and frankly,

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized for 30 seconds. ms. jackson lee: permission to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: chairman skelton, the troops in texas thank you and all the troops around the world thank you. i thank you for strengthening your commitment to service men and women and their family, readiness has been your challenge. i thank you for that and strengthening the military forces, making sure they have the right, secure and safe and the most technologically sophisticated equipment, i thank you. and likewise, let me say to you for your demeanor and spirit, for the tears you shed for those who lost their lives, you never waved and for the suffer gave as a young man in the united states military, i cannot thank you enough. i come today to support this ike skelton bill and ask my colleagues to pay tribute to this american hero. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. mckeon: mr. speaker, i have a minute and a half and

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized. ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker. i thank the gentleman very much. i'd like to make sure we classify this not as a class warfare, if you will, but a good samaritan waiving the flag. frank -- waving the flag. if we take the best of america and recognize that working people need help so the unemployment insurance that is part of this bill is a valid part of it, the child tax credit, the payroll holiday, all of those speak to the vision of this nation. that we have the willingness to share, we understand what men and women on the frontlines of iraq and afghanistan, they fight not for any one class or any one community. they fight for america. so when we provide an estate tax that blurs the understanding of america, that we need an estate tax that is $5 million and $10 million, we are not telling the truth. the present law provides for most americans. $3.5 million for an individual, $7 million for those who are couples. provides for family businesses. it provides for farmers. it works and

ms. sheila jackson lee, for purpose of unanimous consent request. eaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. jackson lee: i rise to support the senate amendment to h.r. 847, to be able to thank carolyn maloney -- the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: i ask that my statement be submitted in the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from new jersey will be charged. the gentleman from texas is recognized. mr. burgess: i'll reserve my time. i ask that the house do maintain order. this is an important debate. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is correct. members are please reminded to take their conversations out of the chamber. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. pallone: madam speaker, i have no additional speakers. i reserve. i don't know if the gentleman from texas has additional -- mr. burgess: i yield three minutes to the gentleman from new york, mr. king. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. king: i want to thank the house of representatives what it

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized for 30 seconds. ms. jackson lee: permission to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: chairman skelton, the troops in texas thank you and all the troops around the world thank you. i thank you for strengthening your commitment to service men and women and their family, readiness has been your challenge. i thank you for that and strengthening the military forces, making sure they have the right, secure and safe and the most technologically sophisticated equipment, i thank you. and likewise, let me say to you for your demeanor and spirit, for the tears you shed for those who lost their lives, you never waved and for the suffer gave as a young man in the united states military, i cannot thank you enough. i come today to support this ike skelton bill and ask my colleagues to pay tribute to this american hero. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. mckeon: mr. speaker, i have a minute and a half and

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized for 30 seconds. ms. jackson lee: permission to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jason lee: chairman skelton, the troops in texas thank you and all thtroops around the world thank you. i thank you for strengthening your commitment to service men and women and their family, readiness has been your challenge. i thank you for that and strengthening the military forces, making sure they have the right, secure and safe and the most technologically sophisticated equipment, i thank you. and likewise, let me say to you for your demeanor and spirit, for the tears you shed for those who lost their lives, you never waved and for the suffer gave as a young man in the united states military, i cannot thank you enough. i come today to support this ike skelton billnd ask my colleagues to pay tribute to this american hero. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. the gentleman from california. mr. mckeon: mr. speaker, i have a minute and a half and the ch

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from texas is recognized for two minutes. ms. jackson lee: it is so moving to hear so many members of the united states military who have served to come to the floor and honor the flag and the constitution. i am not that fortunate to have served in the military but i have been fortunate enough to travel amongst them from kosovo to bosnia to albania to iraq and afghanistan and places within those nations. if i observed anything, i have observed men and women who understand the constitution and take great pride to be on the frontlines, to be able to say i live in a country of the land of the free and the brave. so i ask today for my colleagues to be brave and to be free. to unshackle themselves from stereotypes, and repeal the don't-ask, don't-tell, and vote for the rule and the underlying bill. do it in the name of my constituent, a young man by the name of ensign provo, who had the unfortunate circumstances, i believe, to be considered someone who should not be in the united states navy. so i would call upon those who believe in t

ms. jackson lee of texas for five minutes. mr. defazio of oregon for five minutes. ms. woolsey of california for five minutes. and mr. graceson of florida for five minutes. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. under the speaker's announced policy of january 6, 2009 and under a previous order of the house, the following members are recognized for five minutes each. mr. yarmuth from kentucky. mr. jones, north carolina. mr. klein, florida. mr. poe, texas. ms. richardson, california. mr. garrett, new jersey. ms. kaptur, ohio. mr. burton, indiana. ms. jackson lee, texas. mr. moran, kansas. mr. defazio, oregon. for what purpose does the gentleman from florida seek recognition? without objection. the gentleman is recognized. mr. klein: madam speaker, i rise today to thank all my colleagues here in the house and especially my constituents back home in south florida. the opportunity to serve in this body has been the privilege and honor of a lifetime. i truly have been honored and feel honored to have been entrusted with the responsibility of fighting for fami

ms. jackson lee. the chair: the gentlelady from texas is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: revise and extend. mr. speaker, i ask that we send this bill back to the drawing board and work with the president so we can really help the unemployed, 999ers and not just grow the deficit. where are the good samaritans. we voted for tax cuts. i believe in them. the tax bill is a budget buster and just growing the deficit, the same deficit that we are going to be called upon to do something about. i want america to thrive so they cannot be giving tax cuts to billionaires who do not want them. we cannot cut into the social security costing us $120 billion and impacting firefighters, teachers and police who do not get a benefit from the holiday. i want the republicans to stop holding us hostage for hard-working americans to get a dime from this country. they work hard. i offered an amendment to ensure that the corporations that are getting the tax cuts really do save a job or hire the people who are unemployed, with billions being spent and trillions in the deficit, it is t

ms. jackson lee: thank you very much, mr. speaker. as i indicated let me thank you for your leadership. i think it is important to always engage our colleagues in reasoned conversation. before i begin a reasoned conversation and asking the hard questions, let me first of all add my appreciation to this bipartisan house that saw fit to create opportunities for young working americans and that is by passage of the dream act. and the only sentence i want to leave with you beyond the idea of equality and justice was many times we take lightly, we use it often, but it is very real, it is why so many americans pledge allegiance to the flag and have an unabiding faith and love in this country, but also this is an economic engine of investment for those young people who come to this country and perpetrated no criminal act of their own and now will be able to work and contribute to society, serve us in the united states military, perpetuate community service, and generally as we always ask of our young people, to be the kind of citizen that makes this country great. thank you for passing the dre

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from texas is recognized for four minutes. ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, thank you very much. and i thank the manager of this bill for his continuing leadership on issues of ensuring the safety of our children, to the manager for our friends on the other side of the aisle and likewise, i thank him for his long record in law enforcement and for supporting this legislation in which i rise to support s. 3998, the criminal history background checks pilot extension act. mr. speaker, our children permeate our lives and our society. not only are our children engaged in what we called organized activities such as the boys and girls club, which permeate all of our communities and districts for the boys and girls club, or little league baseball and football, soccer and basketball in schools and after school clubs, but they also do ad hoc things such as doing their own volunteer work and working with organizations that act -- ask for young people to volunteer. i rise enthusiastically to support the opportunity for nonprofits and others to be

ms. jackson lee: thank you, mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house and submit a statement into the record. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: let me thank the chairwoman of the subcommittee for her kind generosity and the excellent staff of the chairperson and as well my friend, my good friend from florida, congressman mario diaz-balart, the ranking member of this committee for their wisdom and for their staff's excellent work that has generated relief for hardworking veterans. one says the texas military museum, it speaks to individual who was found thems now living in the state of texas, for these are heroes that served the nation, proudly so. and they welcome the nation to come and to celebrate the idea of a military museum. i don't think we can have enough of these facilities. i'm very grateful that this nonprofit institution in the wisdom of my bipartisan co-sponsors of which i want to express a deep and abiding appreciation, as i indicated to the ranking member for h

jackson lee, 45 seconds. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from texas is recognized for 45 seconds. ms. jackson lee: to my friends on the other side of the aisle, these children have not broken the law. these are not criminals, and the only nightmare that i can imagine is a nightmare of violating the rights of these wonderful children who want an opportunity to serve america. first of off, they have to be in the country for five years already. and they cannot change their status for another 10 years. it could almost be 20 years. and then you have an opportunity to invest in this country after they have received their education equally up to $1 trillion. do we violate our rights and our beliefs about we are all created equal? and so i ask my colleagues to support a dream act that vests in america, that allows individuals to serve america. it is not amnesty. it is people that's wanting to serve this country, pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, stand for what is right, vote for the dream act, believe in our values. we are all created equal. i yield back. the speak

ms. jackson lee: before i start my one minute, i would like to express my deepest sympathy to the family of elizabeth edwards who passed today, a woman who i got to know and who i admire greatly. i wish for her family loving memories and i offer publicly my deepest sympathies. mr. speaker, i rise today to remind members of what opportunity means in this country. opportunity is focused in many ways, equality and justice, first amendment rights that you can find in the constitution in some way. but education is also an opportunity and a right in this country. i rise today to support the dream act so that millions of children who lived in this country speak the language, many of them serve in the united states military, who are seeking a simple education, can do so and then in turn invest $1 trillion in contributions to america. i speak today in tribute to ms. martinez who is on a 28-day hunger strike from san antonio, texas. i hope we will pass the dream act because you have been willing to sacrifice. we should pass the dream act. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: all members are remi

ms. jackson lee: let me thank the distinguished gentlemen, both of them, and thank the gentleman from indiana for his kindness in yielding. i rise to support this legislation and as i listened earlier and i had to depart from the floor, i wanted to reinforce the common sense perspective that chairman berman has announced. diplomacy is bilateral. it is a two-way street. it is a give and take. it is the ability to help all the people who are involved and it also is the ability for the world to recognize that a coming together has occurred. i have the greatest sense of concern and respect for the palestinian people, for palestinian americans, who themselves have reached out and asked for help. i believe the people of the west bank and gaza want freedom, opportunity, equality, and a peaceful existence. i believe the people in israel over the years and the many leaders have engaged in the process of peace. we in the united states are committed to a two-party state. we're committed to a peace resolution. make peace today. unilateral affirmation of one state without the recognition of the importance

ms. jackson lee: my colleagues are absolutely right. this has been be the most astute and conscious congress in the history of our nation, the 111th congress led by the very astute and courageous nancy pelosi, the historic first woman speaker. iing thank her and the leadership, thank you for wall street reform, for the reform of the g.i. bill to provide more opportunity and as well thank you for moving and pushing compassionately the repeal of don't-ask, don't-tell, the ceremony was powerful. thank you again for recognizing that the 9/11 heroes must be rewarded and i ask the other body to act now and do not go home without doing so. yet the omnibus bill that will help so many millions of americans with resources directed to them has been imploded and i call upon the senate and this house to be able to return america's resources back to them. we negotiated that omnibus, it is time to make sure that those veterans and those who need ptsd recovery and those who need health care are rewarded or given it in the omnibus bill. happy holidays,

ms. jackson lee: thank you very much, mr. speaker. it's great news that we gave opportunity to young people today by passing the dream act. but it's shame on us that we did not pass the seniors protection act of 2010. as democrats rallied to make a commitment to the nation's seniors, for $250 refund, as they listened to the horrible pronouncement that they would not get a cost of living increase, we owe them, we owe them because of the hard work that they have contributed over the decades to build this nation. they have provided us with years and years of work and investment and production and part of the manufacturing history of this country. how can we leave this session and not provide our seniors with relief? so i call upon my colleagues to rally together for what is right. for those seniors who have carried the flag, who have fought in our wars, who have nurtured the sick, who raised our children and invested in america. it is time to pass the senior protection act of 2010 and we should not leave this congress and not finish this

i now turn to sheila jackson lee of texas and yield her as much time as she may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized. ms. jackson lee: thank you, mr. chairman, thank you for your leadership on this issue and thank you to mr. fortenberry and my friend and colleague from the state of texas, judge poe, this is a response to a humanitarian crisis. some of us had the opportunity and somewhat of a privilege to be in haiti this past sunday. i'm here to report there are still 1.5 million to 1.6 million persons still displaced, many of them living in various camps. there is need for the continued removal of rubbish and debris that we all saw in horror on january 12 of 2010. so thises a an enormously important -- so this is an enormously important initiative because it addresses the status of 1,200 haitian orphans airlifted and rescued on that fateful day. they now live in limbo. it is important to note that if they were to return, it is a country that struggles to survive. let me applaud the haitian government for its concern about haitian children. and to make sure there is no abuse and misuse of those children

ms. sheila jackson lee. [inaudible] >> it is my hope that this is the last hearing. [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] -- they've been asked and answered, but i'd like to ask that question, particularly as it relates to human rights. do we know in particular that we've had a series of stoning deaths that have occurred, particularly mckinnie mohanty ash on t. i have a verdict of a debt i stoning. we know that there is discrimination, religious discrimination. should miss, what do we in the united states expect to get out of sanctions? strong or not so strong? >> i think, ma'am, we are aiming for the strongest possible set of measures that produces changes in behavior. certainly with regard to the nuclear issue, so that iran chooses a path of demonstrating to the rest of the world that he wants to pursue a responsibility peaceful nuclear program, but also in issues like human rights. i think i'm human rights will try to take full attentions of the provisions he decided. i think identifying individuals as possible for abuses as a way to hold them accountable and demons

ms. sheila jackson lee. [inaudible] >> it is my hope that this is the last hearing. [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] -- they've been asked and answered, but i'd like to ask that question, particularly as it relates to human rights. do we know in particular that we've had a series of stoning deaths that have occurred, particularly mckinnie mohanty ash on t. i have a verdict of a debt i stoning. we know that there is discrimination, religious discrimination. should miss, what do we in the united states expect to get out of sanctions? strong or not so strong? >> i think, ma'am, we are aiming for the strongest possible set of measures that produces changes in behavior. certainly with regard to the nuclear issue, so that iran chooses a path of demonstrating to the rest of the world that he wants to pursue a responsibility peaceful nuclear program, but also in issues like human rights. i think i'm human rights will try to take full attentions of the provisions he decided. i think identifying individuals as possible for abuses as a way to hold them accountable and demons