Date: 2010-09-29
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

I traveled this journey with all of you. And Congresswoman MALONEY. I wanted to come and thank you. along with the chairpersons of the Energy and Commerce and the Judiciary Committees. for never giving up. I think it is important to note that this bill will cover Pennsylvania. the Pentagon. and New York. And for those of us who listened to the families and the witnesses or the first responders themselves who saw the pain. and particularly those who already lost their lives. I think that this is a major step of balance. putting this in a system and a structure that has oversight. that provides ongoing care and provides for the coverage of those who. to this date. have suffered without coverage and comfort. So I rise to support this legislation. and I am very glad that the Judiciary Committee and Energy and Commerce continued to work. even when we were thwarted and rejected. We are now back with. I hope. the right approach. bipartisan approach. And I would ask all of my colleagues to ask the question what would they want to do for 9/11 responders. and that is. vote "yes." Mr. Speaker. I stand in support of H.R. 847. the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. As this Nation remembers. September 11. 2001. terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. An airplane was also crashed by terrorists in Shanksville. Pennsylvania. The first responders including firefighters and emergency personnel. who assisted to the heinous attacks on the World Trade Center. were exposed to extremely toxic dust resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers. This exposure has resulted in serious respiratory. related illnesses and serious medical conditions. I concur with my colleagues. enacting this offset into law has far reaching ramifications nationwide. This critical health program would monitor and provide specialized treatment through Centers of Excellence for responders including emergency personnel. rescue. and cleanup workers who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. the Pentagon. and Shanksville. as well as residents. workers. and students who returned to the World Trade Center area shortly after the attacks. Seventyone thousand individuals are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry. indicating they were exposed to the toxins. 36.000 Americans have received treatment for 9/11 related illnesses or injuries and over 53.000 responders are enrolled in medical monitoring. Additionally. over 10.000 people from across the country were on hand to assist in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. These responders came from nearly every congressional district and all 50 States. Funding for this health program to monitor and treat these responders and residents for resulting health conditions stemming from the terrorist attacks. Due diligence has been taken to assure that this offset will not adversely affect most foreign multinationals corporations by this offset. Most foreign multinationals will not be affected. given that these companies are organized in countries the U.S. has income tax treaties. It is imperative that we represent the tax payers of this Nation and close a loophole that has provided those multinational corporations. unfair competitive advantage over U.S. firmsallowing them to hide or shield their taxable income. This offset that must be enacted into law. would provide greater U.S. competition over rival foreign companies and illegal tax structures. Under the previous administration. the Under Secretary for Tax Policy clearly indicated some countries the U.S. has tax treaties negotiated decades ago. have adjusted their tax laws to become more like tax shelters. Must we allow this to continue and unfairly allow the shifting of income out of the U.S. tax jurisdiction and further erode our U.S. corporate tax base. This offset will aid U.S. based companies and eliminate their unfair competitive advantage afforded them through the U.S. tax code to these companies that have become tax shelters. Let us be clear. this offset seeks only those companies that have intentionally attempted to avoid U.S. taxes and disadvantage their U.S. competitors. As we enact fiscally sound and responsible legislation. it is important to note. this critical change is estimated to increase revenues by an estimated $7.4 billion over 2011 through We must live up to our obligation and not let the tragedy of 9/11 persist and continue to deeply scar those who we should laud as this Nations heroes. We must applaud our responders and show them that assistance is clearly at hand. I was pleased to work long years on the Judiciary Committee with Chairman CONYERS to come to this day. I thank Representative CAROLYN MALONEY and my colleagues in advance who will rise in support of this important Act and reconfirm our commitment to this nation. and our first responders. Mr. Speaker. I strongly support H.R. 847 and ask for its immediate adoption.