ms. norton: we have had to come to the floor, mr. speaker, to speak about the folks that drove this economy into the ground and just how bad it was. but there is good news to raise the spirits of the american people coming from the labor department and from -- we know the economy has turned around, but until the jobs market turns around, nobody wanted to hear it. now analysts tell us so has the job market. all expected unemployment to plummet, go down further, ratchet it up, the numbers to ratchet up during february because of the bad weather including crippling snowstorms, instead it stood steady, too high at over 9%, but it showed confidence in the economy that so many employers stopped laying off people and kept people on. the biggest losses were where you might have expected, in construction, because of all the bad weather in the snowstorms. the best signs that our employers are feeling more confident is that they are getting their feet wet with many new temporary employees brought on which is always the first sign that they are

ms. norton. >> thank you very much, madame chair. thank the ranking member for raising an important issue. the federal building fund is going broke precisely because we do too much leasing now of course the ranking member has specific buildings he would like us to buy. but i'm right with him when it comes to what the gsa all to be giving this is their economy. they can buy and they can lease at amounts they will never be able to do again and that is why we have been having repeated hearings on the gsa and have had for tracking hearings that may account for what the gsa in fact i pleased to say has sped up in at least its obligations. mr. peck says he can't tell you what building it is that it's under contract but of course it's a matter of public record because the administration for the first time in the 20 years i've been on the subcommittee put money in its appropriation to purchase a building. that has never happened since i've been a member of the committee and it did so last year. i would like to see more of that done but of co

ms. norton: i rise in support of the health care bill. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman will be charged time. mr. miller: i ask for unanimous consent -- purpose of unanimous consent. ms. lofgren: mr. speaker, i revise and extend in favor of the bill. mr. miller: i yield for unanimous consent request. >> i rise in support of this historic health care reform legislation. mr. miller: i yield for purpose of unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from california. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. davis: i want to revise and extend and stand in favor of health care reform. mr. ryan: i want to yield to the gentleman from texas, mr. hensarling. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. hensarling: mr. speaker, the vote we take tonight may ultimately change the role of government and it's society whose most cherished birthright is freedom. there are so many reasons to oppose this legislation. taxpayer-funded abortions, the sleazy back room deals that gave us th

ms. norton, all the members of our committee have expanded in assuring that the work of the committee ons is carried out by the responsible agencies in each of you doing your respect to oversight work, mr. cummings, chair of the coast guard maritime subcommittee. at this time, i would ask without objection the statement of mr. mica, the senior republican on this committee. he had to be out of town and give his concurrence proceeding with the hearing without his presence. his statement will be on the record in full. today's hearing will focus on the work of the federal highway administration, trance, fixed guideway, wastewater trigger programs. but there's also and truck, which i started work on $1.1 billion which is 82% of amtrak's funding. those investments will result in the replacement of 80,000 concretize. restoration to service 60 and fleet passenger cars. twenty-one super liners, 15 locomotives and the improvement of 270 passenger stations. faa has completed work or is work underway on 94% of its $1.2 billion, 663 projects. those projects went up so fast because of the unique contr

ms. norton: and madness to try to repeal it.tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise? >> madam speaker request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. thompson: madam speaker, from the "cincinnati enquirer" to "the washington post" the editorials today tell the democrats to stop this health care reform and start again. i agree because i have always said health care works to increasing access. this bill fails. the senate bill expands medicaid to cover families earning 133% of poverty level. the medicare rules will exclude under this proposal. some 40% of family practice physicians currently do not accept medicaid patients. this is expected to increase to 60%. some 60% specialists do not accept medicaid patients. this is expected to skyrocket to 80%. this bill expands medicaid beyond its capacity. it cuts medicare for seniors and leaves malpractice tort reform untouched and skyrocketing costs in place. this bill

ms. norton: and madness to try to repeal it. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise? >> madam speaker request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. thompson: madam speaker, from the "cincinnati enquirer" to "the washington post" the editorials today tell the democrats to stop this health care reform and start again. i agree because i have always said health care works to increasing access. this bill fails. the senate bill expands medicaid to cover families earning 133% of poverty level. the medicare rules will exclude under this proposal. some 40% of family practice physicians currently do not accept medicaid patients. this is expected to increase to 60%. some 60% specialists do not accept medicaid patients. this is expected to skyrocket to 80%. this bill expands medicaid beyond its capacity. it cuts medicare for seniors and leaves malpractice tort reform untouched and skyrocketing costs in

ms. norton and our ranking member, mr. diaz-balart for bringing this bill forward and for honoring those who haven't been honored before in this manner. what a great day for this congress what a great day for their memory, what a great day for the united states of america and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from virginia. mr. perriello: i yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman, mr. towns. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. towns: i would like to join those who have indicated, in terms of mr. thompson from mississippi, for recognizing schwerner, goodman, and chaney. i know this does not bring them back. i think it says to the family of those that are left behind that the good that they did changed america and to move america in the right direction. when you stop and you think about it, that they gave of their lives in order to help to change america, i want to say to the gentleman from mississippi, i

ms. norton of d.c. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i was daunted and amazed, mr. calabria, notion of the middle of the crisis that have no programs and to take a program where we are essentially dealing with and, not only anticipated, but unprecedented crisis. and everybody knows we are learning as we go along. because we have never done it before. so the notion of saying well, so, leave everybody out there as my friend on the other side, it has blow my mind. i have a question here because -- >> will the gentle a yield? >> a generally will not yield that she only has a few minutes. you had your time. i'm particularly concerned about those, that a very particular he at risk and a program that may need mr. calabria's notion of rather not having that habit. that you can just leave people out there on their own. when even government can't figure out what to do. this notion about 50% -- we know that 50 percent of the homes in foreclosure had a cycling on the. so now you really have trouble here. a year ago treasury announced okay, we understand and are learning curve a