[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 118 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 23, 2007

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, due to the tragic death 
of my grandmother, Sarah ``Big Mamma'' Morris, I was unable to vote 
during the week of July 16-July 20.
  Had I been present I would have voted in favor of the Labor-HHS-
Education Appropriations bill. The new Democratic-led Congress is 
determined to reverse the Republican pattern of disinvestment. 
Democrats have produced a bill that makes college more affordable, 
helps raise the achievement levels of America's students, expands 
access to health care for the uninsured and invests in the skills of 
America's workers and in community services.
  In addition, I would have voted against the Kline amendment to the 
Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. This amendment is another 
Republican farse designed to hurt those who need help most. The Kline 
amendment would increase funds to the Office of Labor Management 
Standards, an office that has enjoyed 33 percent increase in resources 
over the past four years and sacrifice funding to the International 
Labor Affairs Bureau. This bureau oversees child labor standards abroad 
to make sure that other countries are not using children to undercut 
American manufacturing. The sponsor claims that it will help rank and 
file workers from so-called union abuses, but in reality, those who 
support this amendment are the same opponents of a minimum wage 
increase. This amendment does not protect the American worker and I 
would have voted ``no''.
  I would have also been a part of the 310 votes for the Energy and 
Water Appropriations bill. The bipartisan Energy and Water bill invests 
$3 billion--$1 billion more than the President's request--to research 
global warming and work on new technologies and renewable energy. I 
hope that it's sister bill, the Water Resources Development Act 
Reauthorization, will soon become law so that we can continue to 
improve the water infrastructure in this nation.

                          ____________________