E1400 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 

apply to the program. Since the program’s inception in July 2010, 69 percent of applications have been denied because individuals 

had creditable coverage within 6 months of 

applying. 

While well-intentioned, this wait period has 

shown adverse effects by incentivizing people 

with pre-existing conditions to go uninsured for 

6 months to qualify for the program. Individuals who lost their health insurance through 

no fault of their own and can no longer find 

coverage must wait 6 months to apply, thus 

exposing themselves to high out-of-pocket 

medical costs and unnecessary health risks. 

Unfortunately, because they go without insurance for such an extended period of time, they 

enter the program with a need for immediate 

care and cost more to the program. 

Furthermore, considering mini medical plans 

as creditable coverage also encourages individuals to go with absolutely no coverage for 

6 months in order to apply to PCIP. Mini medical plans are basic plans that may pay for 

portions of a doctor’s visit or prescription drug, 

but do not provide catastrophic coverage or 

enough benefits for people with pre-existing 

conditions. Individuals who choose to obtain 

such a plan within 6 months of applying for 

PCIP to limit their medical liabilities will no 

longer be eligible for the program. 

Such a misfortune happened to one of my 

constituents who lost his health insurance 

when he lost his job and has been denied 

coverage because of a pre-existing condition 

since then. In June 2010, he received limited 

coverage through a mini medical plan that did 

not cover his pre-existing condition. When he 

applied to PCIP in September 2011, his application was denied because he had such plan 

within 6 months of applying. The only way for 

him to qualify was to go completely uninsured 

for 6 months. I cannot, in good conscience, 

advise my constituents in need of immediate 

care to wait 6 months to seek medical coverage. 

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will address 

these serious issues by eliminating the 6- 

month wait period and excluding mini medical 

plans from creditable coverage. My bill will 

bring us on step closer to ensuring accessible, 

affordable, and quality health care for all 

Americans. I urge my colleagues to help make 

PCIP a more successful program by supporting this important legislation. 

f 

HONORING DR. ROBERT LIGHTFOOT, RECIPIENT OF THE SAMUEL BUFORD WORD AWARD 

HON. JO BONNER OF ALABAMA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor 

Dr. Robert Dickson Lightfoot, for being awarded the Samuel Buford Word Award. This is the 

highest award given by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama in recognition of 

service to humanity beyond the usual scope of 

medical practice. 

Dr. Lightfoot is a fourth-generation physician 

who graduated with honors from the University 

of Alabama School of Medicine in 1981 and 

completed a general and vascular surgery 

residency at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in 1986. He later returned to 

school receiving a Bachelors of Science in 

Psychology in 1997. 

After participating in several medical mission 

trips to Central and South America, Dr. Lightfoot and his wife, Tami, realized a need for affordable, quality primary adult health care in 

their own community. Out of this need, Dr. 

Lightfoot founded Victory Health Partners in 

Mobile, Alabama, in 2000 and began seeing 

patients in 2003 with incomes less than 300 

percent of the federal poverty line. 

What began as an act of faith by one physician and his wife has now turned into a fully 

functional partnership involving hundreds of 

volunteers, medical providers, and churches. 

The clinic has grown from seeing 12 patients 

on its first day in 2003, to serving more than 

18,000 in this past year. The clinic’s patients 

come over 20 counties in Alabama, eight in 

Mississippi, and four in Northwest Florida. In 

the past decade, Dr. Lightfoot has seen Victory Health Partners expand to offer dental 

and eye care, as well as wound care and diabetic classes for adults. 

Dr. Lightfoot has devoted his life to medicine and providing healthcare to the needy. 

Through his brilliant acts of generosity, faith, 

and dedication to his community, Dr. Lightfoot 

is an accomplished physician who has earned 

the respect of his patients, staff and colleagues. 

On behalf of the people of Alabama and my 

colleagues in the Alabama Delegation, I wish 

to extend a personal thank you and congratulations to Dr. Lightfoot on his monumental 

achievement and selfless acts of generosity 

for the people of South Alabama and surrounding areas. May God continue to be bless 

him, his staff and all those they serve. 

f 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT 

SPEECH OF

HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY OF NEVADA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3803, the District of Columbia 

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Although nine other states have passed similar 

abortion bans, this is the first attempt to pass 

a law of this kind on a federal level. However, 

even the nine state laws include at least a 

narrow exception to protect women’s health. 

This bill unfairly singles out the District of Columbia, but more importantly it lacks any 

health exceptions to the ban. Pregnancy can 

become dangerous, sometimes even lifethreatening. This bill fails to provide women 

with necessary health exceptions to save their 

lives or their ability to have children in the future. 

In addition to not protecting women who are 

pregnant, H.R. 3803 fails to provide exceptions in instances of rape or incest, even when 

it involves young girls. About 25,000 women 

become pregnant due to rape each year and 

about 30 percent of rape cases involve 

women under 18. This bill falls short in providing the necessary protections for these 

women. 

I would have voted against H.R. 3803. Unfortunately my plane was delayed due to 

weather coming in to Washington, DC, causing me to miss the vote. I have been a strong 

supporter for women’s health in the past and 

I plan to continue to do so. 

f 

COMMENDING THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF NORTH 

HUNTERDON HIGH SCHOOL 

HON. LEONARD LANCE OF NEW JERSEY

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. LANCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

congratulate the first graduating class of North 

Hunterdon Regional High School in Hunterdon 

County, New Jersey. The class of 1952 celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. 

As a graduate of North Hunterdon Regional 

High School and as the Representative for 

New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District, 

I have had the honor to observe the growth 

and expansion of the school’s educational excellence. North Hunterdon continues to excel 

as one of our Nation’s top high schools. In 

2002, the Department of Education awarded 

North Hunterdon the Blue Ribbon of Academic 

Excellence Award and it was recently highly 

ranked by the Washington Post. 

The class of 1952 began an outstanding tradition of academic achievement at North 

Hunterdon Regional High School that has continued for sixty years. I am proud to honor my 

alma mater and I thank the first graduating 

class for commencing these celebrations. 

f 

IN CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH 

BIRTHDAY OF EMMA SHAW 

HON. JOE BACA OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask 

Congress to congratulate Emma Shaw, a beloved and respected community member of 

San Bernardino, who is celebrating her 100th 

Birthday on August 9, 2012. 

Born in Tallulah, Louisiana, Emma was 

raised and began her education in Louisiana 

where she attended Madison Parish Training 

School. During her schooling, she met her future husband George Shaw, whom she married on February 6, 1933. 

Emma and George Shaw lived in Tallulah 

for nine years, until moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1942 in search of a better life for their 

family. Two years later, in 1944, the family 

moved to San Bernardino, California, where 

the Shaw family has resided since. 

In San Bernardino, George Shaw worked 

hard as a construction worker, and was also 

the only African American barber in San 

Bernardino for many years. Emma worked as 

a housekeeper to help provide for her 11 children. Although times were tough and money 

was tight, Emma always found extra time and 

resources to give back to her community and 

those in need. 

Since moving to San Bernardino, Emma 

and her family have been active members at 

the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, and 

later the Greater New Jerusalem Church of 

God in Christ. Emma is known for her kindness and generosity; all who know Emma affectionately call her ‘‘Mother Shaw’’. Emma 


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