January 14, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H201 

One cable news host already is on 

record as saying it’s his job as a journalist to ensure that this presidency is 

successful. The media can provide a 

valuable service, but we need to hold 

them accountable and need to insist on 

objective reporting. 

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SCHIP 

(Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute and to revise and extend 

his remarks.) 

Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, 

today is a great day. 

This morning, I woke up with great 

optimism, knowing that, today, the 

House will once again take up the Children’s Health Insurance Program that 

will cover 11 million children. 

Providing health insurance to children whose families simply cannot afford it has been a top priority for the 

people I represent in Missouri. With 

rising unemployment, covering children is even more important than ever, 

and the need grows each day. No longer 

will children be forced to visit an emergency room to receive basic medical 

care. This is commonsense legislation 

at its best. Now children will be better 

prepared for learning and for success in 

today’s world economy. 

The broad coalition of supporters behind this bill will soon have a friend in 

the White House. President-elect 

Barack Obama is committed to making 

health care readily available to every 

American, starting with America’s 

children. 

This bill will not be voted on today 

without the leadership of Chairman 

WAXMAN, Chairman Emeritus DINGELL

and Congressman PALLONE. I thank 

them for their continued leadership. 

America’s children are on the threshold of a healthier future. 

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b 1015 

WEYERHAEUSER OF ELKIN MARKS 

ONE MILLION ACCIDENT-FREE 

HOURS 

(Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) 

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, bad economic news dominates the headlines 

every day. But back in the Fifth District of North Carolina, there are still 

success stories. 

Last month, the Weyerhaeuser manufacturing facility in Elkin, North Carolina, was recognized for more than 1 

million work hours with no accidents 

resulting in lost time. This is an impressive feat resulting in Weyerhaeuser 

executives giving the Elkin plant the 

Senior Management Gold Award—an 

honor bestowed only 20 times in the 

company’s 108-year history. 

I am pleased to recognize the hardworking Elkin employees at 

Weyerhaeuser for their impressive accident-free safety record. This accomplishment is more than a milestone. It 

is a reflection of a commitment to putting employees and their safety first. 

That’s why, in a time of constant bad 

news, it’s my pleasure to highlight a 

story of success. Congratulations to everyone at Weyerhaeuser of Elkin, 

North Carolina, and I hope to be back 

here soon marking your celebration of 

200 million accident-free hours. 

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SCHIP IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW 

THAN EVER 

(Mr. WILSON of Ohio asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute.) 

Mr. WILSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 

State Children’s Health Insurance Program, a program also known as SCHIP. 

With both Ohio and our Nation’s unemployment level above 7 percent— 

with job losses expected to continue to 

rise—it’s more important than ever 

that American families have access to 

affordable health care. Reauthorizing 

SCHIP will serve as the first step toward providing hardworking Americans 

with the help they need to take care of 

their families during these difficult 

times. 

Children in rural areas, like my district, Ohio’s Sixth District, depends on 

Medicaid or SCHIP for health insurance. Reauthorizing this vital program 

will ensure that more than 230,000 children in my home State of Ohio can 

continue to receive quality health care 

coverage. 

At a time when our Nation is facing 

unprecedented job losses and increased 

economic strain, it’s critical that Congress work together to pass this legislation. 

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EXPAND SCHIP SENSIBLY 

(Mr. REHBERG asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. REHBERG. Madam Speaker, the 

State Children’s Health Insurance Program is important to the people of 

Montana. In fact, in November, we 

voted to expand eligibility within our 

State. SCHIP was created by a Republican Congress and a Democrat President in 1997. It was one of those rare 

government programs that really 

works like its supposed to, and I am 

proud to support it. 

Unfortunately, as is often the case, 

when a Federal Government program 

works, the temptation is to add to it 

until pretty soon, the original program, the one that worked so well, is 

overwhelmed by well-intentioned 

changes. Eventually the good parts of 

the program are smothered. 

So let’s expand SCHIP sensibly. Let’s 

do it in a responsible way that does not 

undermine an effective program. Let’s 

keep the Children’s Health Insurance 

Program about children. 

COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION 

REFORM IS NEEDED 

(Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to speak on behalf of the 14 million undocumented immigrants who 

otherwise would not have a voice. 

Our country is in desperate need of 

comprehensive immigration reform to 

ensure the security of America and to 

bring vulnerable families out of the 

shadows. We all believe in strong enforcement of our borders and the rule 

of the law, but we are a Nation rooted 

in family, faith, in core values. 

What should be done about the 12 to 

14 million undocumented immigrants 

in this country? Immigrants are part of 

American fabric. In fact, the work 

ethic of immigrants is what built this 

Nation and still continues to do so. 

Immigrant families are facing more 

than just a failing economy; they live 

in constant fear of being torn apart. We 

must work together towards comprehensive immigration reform that 

respects families and includes family 

unification. 

I urge my colleagues to help these 

working families by passing comprehensive immigration reform. Let’s 

make America great; let’s not divide it. 

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KEEP THE F–22 PRODUCTION LINE 

OPEN 

(Mr. GINGREY of Georgia asked and 

was given permission to address the 

House for 1 minute and to revise and 

extend his remarks.) 

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam 

Speaker, the future of the F–22 will be 

decided in the coming weeks by the 

Obama administration. Congress has 

spoken. The National Defense Authorization Act of fiscal year 2009 passed by 

Congress and signed by the President 

contained the funds necessary to continue with F–22 production. However, 

only a small portion of those funds 

have been obligated, and thus far, a go/ 

no-go decision on the rest of the funds 

must be made immediately or the production line will begin shutting down. 

For the sake of our Nation’s air superiority, we must not let this happen. 

The Air Force is still nearly 200 F–22s 

short of its stated requirement, a fact 

that we must not overlook as Russia 

and China develop Raptor-like technology. Moreover, over 100,000 jobs in 

our Nation are directly or indirectly 

tied to this program. 

For these reasons, nearly 100 of our 

colleagues have joined Representatives 

Kay Granger, Norman Dicks, David 

Scott, and myself in a bipartisan letter 

to President-elect Obama encouraging 

continued F–22 production. I encourage 

all Members to show their support for 

the continued United States air dominance and keeping the F–22 production 

line open. 


smartinez on PROD1PC64 with HOUSE