Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, nearly 70 years ago, Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated in his second inaugural address that ``the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.'' The FY06 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriation bill has failed that test.

Although I commend Chairman Regula and Mr. Obey, our ranking member, for their tireless efforts to provide deserving citizens with necessary programs, this bill is a product of having too little to fund valuable initiatives. The tax cuts enjoyed by the wealthiest 1 percent of our population have left this Congress unable to continue funding essential programs that directly impact the least, the last, and the lost. The cuts in education, energy assistance, and healthcare services are signs of what I believe are an unraveling of our economic tapestry.

Our youngest and most vulnerable citizens will be disproportionately affected by Federal fiscal budget constraints in this Labor, Health and Human Services bill. Even at birth, this bill is putting some at a disadvantage. The Maternal and Child Health Block grant program has been cut even though scientific evidence proves the importance of prenatal care. Despite the fact that we recognize the need to provide access to care for young people whose families are unable to provide other sources of treatment, this valuable program has suffered a $24 million cut.

Beyond health care, our most vulnerable citizens will continue to bear the brunt of enormous tax cuts in education. Title I funding, aimed at helping low-income children in failing schools improve their reading and math skills, will be $9.9 billion below the No Child Left Behind funding promise. And to make matters worse, the same children who will be unable to benefit from enrichment programs due to a lack of funds will go home in the winter months to cold and uncomfortable temperatures because the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been cut by almost $200 million.

It is time to take a step back to re-evaluate the path we have chosen for the people of this Nation. I will continue to work tirelessly with my colleagues, community partners, and concerned citizens to ensure that all people are able to receive excellent care at an affordable rate--because one must not place a price tag on the health and well- being of our nation's most vulnerable citizens, our children. I would like to leave you all with some other valuable words that Mr. Roosevelt imparted to us: ``It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all try something.'' I urge all of my colleagues to try another method.

Offered By: Mr. Al Green of Texas

Amendment No. 3: Page 91, line 8, after the dollar amount,

insert the following: ``(increased by $7,700,000)''.

Page 91, line 9, after the dollar amount, insert the

following: ``(increased by $3,900,000)''.

Page 92, line 23, after the first dollar amount, insert the

following: ``(reduced by $7,700,000)''.

Mr. Speaker, some prominent members of the Vietnamese community within my Congressional District have asked that I deliver a message to Congress regarding human rights issues in Vietnam. I take this opportunity to express their sentiments on the heels of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's visit to the United States. I am convinced that while this is a historic and unprecedented visit, I believe that their concerns are equally important.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that this statement be made a part of the official Record.

Vietnam is a nation that has a record of violating human rights and suppressing religious freedom. This has been recorded in the U.S. State Department's 2004 Human Rights report on Vietnam. The report declares that the governing party, the Communist Party of Vietnam, has restricted the freedom of speech, the freedom of press, and the freedom of assembly, freedoms that our nation holds so dear. The Vietnamese government also continues to hold political and religious prisoners. It prohibits human rights organizations and political, labor, and social organizations from forming or operating. The 2004 U.S. State Department report also found that government security forces have been known to beat, shoot, and even bear responsibility for the disappearance of its citizens. These are not the government activities of a free nation.

The United States must not ignore the oppressive practices of governments with which we build economic and military ties, for our relationships with other nations reflect our own national values and beliefs. While it is my sincere hope that relations between the United States and Vietnam will become stronger in the future, we must remember that our Nation prides itself upon protecting democracy and supporting human rights all over the world.

Although Vietnam has made steps toward progress, we have seen that it still partakes in practices meant to oppress its citizens. Therefore, it is my expectation that the United States will work with Vietnam to improve its grave human rights and religious freedom records so that we may continue to take steps to strengthen and broaden our ties with that country.

Mr. Chairman, I too would like to associate myself with the comments from the Congressional Black Caucus. I would want to assure the chairman of the caucus that I think that what we are doing now is most appropriate.

Mr. Chairman, let me first say thanks to you and the Ranking Member for your work on this bill.

Despite the hard work that went into this bill, I will not be voting in favor of the bill.

More specifically, the bill cuts all funding for Area Health Education Centers, Health Education and Training Centers, and Health Professions Training Programs. All of these programs fall under Title VII and are very important to my constituents. These programs have been addressing the needs of medically underserved communities in Texas since 1991 by playing a key role in providing health services and health care professionals for our most vulnerable populations.

The bill also cuts funding in other important programs. For example, the bill provides the smallest increase for NIH in 36 years. It reduces the overall Centers for Disease Control and Prevention budget. Further it ends HHS contributions to the Global AIDS Fund. The bill also cuts substance abuse prevention and treatment and produces a continued decline in the number of research grants. While the bill provides a small increase for Head Start, it does not adopt the President's proposal to spend $45 million on new pilot programs under which State governments would take over management of the program in nine States. The bill also freezes appropriations on the Child Care Block Grant at the FY05 level of $2.083 billion, making it the fourth year in a row which this program has been either frozen or cut.

Unfortunately, the bill only provides $14.7 billion for the Education for the Disadvantaged Children Program. It saddens me to say that this amount is $115 million less than the current level and $1.7 billion less than the Administration's request. I hope more funding can be provided for this important program during conference.

Before closing, I would like to express my dismay with the $100 million decrease in funding for Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A loss in CPB funding would seriously hamper PBS' ability to acquire the top quality children's educational programming that is used in classrooms, day care centers and millions of American households to educate, entertain and provide a safe harbor from the violent, commercial and crass content found in the commercial marketplace. PBS provides valuable services that improve classroom teaching and assist homeschoolers. These could be reduced or eliminated if federal funding is cut. These services include PBS TeacherSource, a service that provides pre-K through 12 educators with nearly 4,000 free lesson plans, teachers' guides, and homeschooling guidance; and PBS TeacherLine, which provides high-quality professional teacher development through more than 90 online-facilitated courses in reading, mathematics, science and technology integration. We must not cut funding for this valuable program.

Let me also take a moment to speak on the Congressional Black Caucus Closing Disparities Agenda. Closing the achievement and opportunity gaps in education, assuring quality health care for every American, focusing on employment and economic security, building wealth and business development, ensuring justice for all, guaranteeing retirement security for all Americans, and increasing equity in foreign policy are all important issues that we as members of the Congressional Black Caucus strive to make advancements in every day.

The CBC acknowledges the unfortunate fact that disparities between African-Americans and white Americans continue to exist in 2005 in every aspect of our lives and that the historical mission of the CBC has not yet been fully accomplished. It is important to note that providing high-quality education to all public school students is very critical to achieving our objectives in all areas of our Agenda.

More specifically, we must continue supporting early childhood nutrition, Head Start and movements toward universal pre-schools. Providing education and assistance appropriate to the needs of each individual student to fulfill the promise of No Child Left Behind, dropout prevention, after-school programs, school modernization and infrastructure and equipment enhancement is important.

Increasing the availability of Pell Grants, scholarships, loan assistance and other specialized programs to enable and provide incentives to more African-American students to obtain college, graduate or professional degrees or otherwise receive training and retraining to meet changing job needs is also very important. The preservation and improving of Historically Black Colleges and Universities is also essential to our growth as a people. The following are some of the dramatic disparities that the CBC believes would be reduced by the above priorities:

In 2003, 39 percent of African-American 4th grade students could read at or above a basic reading level compared to 74 percent of white 4th grade students, and 39 percent of African-American 8th grade students performed at or above a basic math level compared to 79 percent of white 8th grade students;

High school completion rates--83.7 percent for African-Americans, and 91.8 percent for whites;

Bachelor Degree recipients--16.4 percent for African-Americans, and 31.7 percent for whites; and

Digital Divide--41.3 percent of African-Americans are capable of accessing the Internet, compared to 61.5 percent of whites.

Another important area of the CBC agenda centers on health care disparities. The twentieth century saw major advances in health care, health status, and longevity. Despite these gains, differential morbidity and mortality between Caucasian populations and people of color persist; creating what the CBC believes is one of the most pressing health problems affecting America today. Recent reports on racial and ethnic health disparities document the relatively poor health of African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, Asian Americans, and other underrepresented groups when compared to white Americans. Not only are these groups often less healthy, but they also tend to have shorter life expectancies, greatly increased rates of infant mortality, high rates of chronic disease such as diabetes, worse outcomes once diagnosed with an illness, and less access to health care.

Among the dramatic disparities the CBC believes could be reduced by taking action are:

In December 2004, the American Journal of Public Health reported that 886,000 more African-Americans died between 1991 and 2000

than would have died had equal health care been available;

While African-Americans comprised approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population in 2000, they represented 19.6 percent of the uninsured;

African-American men experience twice the average death rate from prostate cancer;

In 2002, the African-American AIDS diagnosis rate was 11 times the white diagnosis rate (23 times more for women and 9 times more for men);

African-Americans are two times more likely to have diabetes than whites, four times more likely to see their diabetes progress to end- stage renal disease and four times more likely to have a stroke; and

African-Americans are only 2.9 percent of doctors, 9.2 percent of nurses, 1.5 percent of dentists and 0.4 percent of health care administrators, yet African-Americans comprise 12 percent of the population.

As Congressional Black Caucus members, we will continue to work towards closing the gaps in education, health care, and employment.

I thank the Chairman for my time.

Mr. Chairman, I too would like to associate myself with the comments from the Congressional Black Caucus. I would want to assure the chairman of the caucus that I think that what we are doing now is most appropriate.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my support for House Concurrent Resolution 160, a resolution that honors the national significance of June 19, 1865 when slaves in Texas were finally freed. I would like to thank Congressman Davis for his leadership and all of the supporters of this important piece of legislation.

On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and announced the freedom of the last American slaves; belatedly freeing 250,000 slaves in Texas nearly two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The day coined ``Juneteenth'' was first celebrated in the Texas state capital in 1867 under the direction of the Freedmen's Bureau. Today, Juneteenth remains the oldest known celebration of slavery's demise. It commemorates freedom while acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions made by courageous African Americans towards making our great Nation the more conscious and accepting country that it has become.

Not until 1979 when my friend State Representative Al Edwards introduced the bill did Juneteenth become a Texas state holiday. It was first celebrated as such in 1980. Now 25 years later the United States House of Representatives will pass House Concurrent Resolution 160 as our Nation celebrates Juneteenth. As the Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Texas, I am pleased to join my colleagues in acknowledging the historical significance of Juneteenth as we remain ever-vigilant in recognizing that ``history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future.''

Civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ``Freedom is never free,'' and African American labor leader A. Phillip Randolph often said ``Freedom is never given. It is won.'' We should all recognize the power and the ironic truth of those statements and we should pause to remember the enormous price paid by all Americans in our country's quest to realize its promise. Juneteenth honors the end of the 400 years of suffering African Americans endured under slavery and celebrates the legacy of perseverance that has become the hallmark of the African American community and its struggle for equality.

As we celebrate the 140th anniversary of Juneteenth, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in reflecting upon its significance. Because it was only after that day in 1865 when General Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, on the heels of the most devastating conflict in our country's history, in the aftermath of a civil war that pitted brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor and threatened to tear the fabric of our union apart forever that America truly became the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program.

The 7(a) loan program is essential for our nation's small business owners. It provides accessible and affordable financing that enables such businesses to grow, which in turn leads to the creation of jobs so desperately needed in the current economy. In the past 10 years, the SBA has approved more than 424,000 loans totaling over $90 billion. These loans

have created jobs and economic opportunities for countless Americans.

Small business owners are the backbone of our nation's economy. Representing more than 99.7 percent of all U.S. employers, small businesses are the number one job creator in this nation. They employ more than half of all private sector employees and generate 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually. In Houston, 98 percent of the more than 350,000 businesses are small businesses.

Funding for this program was eliminated for FY 2005 and the cost of it was shifted to small businesses and community-based lenders. This has caused small businesses to be charged with high upfront fees which keep many from being able to obtain the financing they need. In fact, small business lending has declined every quarter for a total of half a billion dollars so far this year.

As policy-makers, we have a responsibility to the communities we represent to help them achieve economic strength. Therefore, we must provide small businesses with the resources they need to grow and flourish. One of the most effective ways to do this is to reinstate funding for the 7(a) loan program. If we fail to do this, the 9th Congressional District of Texas and Congressional Districts all over the country will suffer negative impacts.

For these reasons, I support the restoration of funding for the 7(a) loan program to its FY 2004 level of $79 million. I also urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Velazquez amendment.

Mr. Speaker, Today I pay tribute to a noble spiritual leader, a friend and my pastor, Rev. Robert Charles Jefferson. As the founder and senior pastor of the Cullen Missionary Baptist Church, he will, on Sunday, June 12, 2005, celebrate more than 28 years of loyal and dedicated service to not only the ministry but to the people of the great city of Houston, TX, as well.

Mr. Speaker, Rev. Jefferson was born on January 12, 1942 in Baton Rouge, LA. After completing his undergraduate education, he moved to Houston, TX, where he completed graduate study at Texas Southern University and InterBaptist Theological Center. For more than 17 years, before accepting his call to the ministry, Rev. Jefferson ran a very successful air-conditioning business. Because he is a great spirit- filled religious leader, in 1977, he was led to organize Cullen Missionary Baptist Church where, since its founding, he has served as senior pastor.

Rev. Jefferson is known throughout the community as a ``bridge builder.'' Over the years, he has successfully been able to distinguish Cullen Missionary Baptist Church as a center for community activism as well as a haven for those in need of care. In 1991, he established the Cullen Christian Child Development Center, a daycare center for Christian youth. A few years later, in 1998, his leadership led to the creation of the Cullen Senior Citizens Ministry, Inc., which has provided more than 54 affordable housing units for seniors 55 and older. His housing ministry also recently created: ``Brand New City, Inc.,'' which has built, since its inception, more than 500 houses for low income families and is well on its way to surpassing that number this year.

Mr. Speaker, Rev. Jefferson is not one who takes his role in the business of saving lives and souls lightly, and his membership in the Houston Branch of the NAACP, where he has served since 1987 as the Director of Religious Affairs, is indicative of that commitment. Even as he works tirelessly as a full-time pastor, he has managed to fulfill the roles of moderator of the Houston Gulf Coast Baptist Association; president of the Ministry Advisory Council of Houston and chairman of the board of Love Our Kids, Inc. He is the founder president of city- wide summer recreational programs and since 1979, coordinated programs for Houston's Ministers Against Crime, Inc.

Rev. Jefferson is the recipient of a number of honors and awards that include, but are not limited to certificates of appreciation from then- Governor of Texas, Ann Richards, and Houston Mayor Bob Lanier in 1992. That same year, he also received the Barbara Jordan Leadership Award in recognition of his uncompromising commitment to diversity and human rights. Over the years, tributes from Texas Southern University, the Houston Defender, Anheuser-Busch Companies and others have all highlighted the accomplishments of one of Houston's greatest spiritual leaders.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, when history records the legacy of Rev. Robert Charles Jefferson, I believe he will be touted as a visionary who has dedicated his life to ensuring that no one is left behind.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the people of Israel in celebrating the 57th Anniversary of Israel's Independence.

As Israel's Declaration of Independence states, ``The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people'' and on May 14, 1948, the land of their ancestors was returned to the Jewish people.

Shortly after Israel declared its independence, President Harry Truman began what has led to a strong partnership between our two countries by recognizing the provisional Jewish government as de facto authority of the new Jewish state.

Today, 57 years after declaring its independence, Israel and the United States continue to share the common values and ideals of advancing democracy and promoting human rights around the globe. As our strongest ally in fighting terrorism, Israel, a country which has had to fight against terrorism and attacks from its neighbors for its entire existence, continues to play a vital role in promoting American interests.

In return, we must continue to help Israel in its struggle for security by helping reach a lasting peace with its neighbors so that as future generations celebrate this day, they may do so without fear of the violence that has plagued the Jewish state since its independence.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege to visit Israel on several occasions, and have seen the struggles Israelis face daily. However, I have also seen their perseverance and determination to create a peaceful and prosperous state.

In the short but rich history of the Jewish state, the Israeli people have created one of the strongest democracies in the world, renowned for their scientific, technological, medical and agricultural innovations. Their commitment to promoting human rights, to protecting the rule of law, and to open and fair elections is unparalleled in the region and is an inspiration to oppressed people around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I would again like to congratulate the Israeli people and join them in celebrating the 57th Anniversary of Israel's independence, and look forward to working with them for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, recently in commemoration of Cinco de Mayo, I joined community leaders and elected officials from the City of Houston in a celebration and parade that paid I tribute to Mexican culture. As the Congressman from the 9th District I was honored to represent my constituents at this annual event.

Although Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican Army's victory over the French Army in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico, this holiday has evolved into a way to celebrate the richness of Mexican culture. Within the United States, it is also a way to join with our fellow Mexican- American brothers and sisters and to learn about their heritage.

Cinco de Mayo brings our community together. In Houston, we are very proud of the great cultural and ethnic diversity of our city. Today, Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration in which we take time to enjoy the great food, music, art, and people of our Mexican community.

Mr. Speaker, with this in mind, I feel that it is very important that we observe this holiday and the opportunity for cultural celebration of the people of this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, my heart is heavy as I pause today to pay tribute to my colleague and an outstanding public servant, Joe Moreno who died tragically this past Friday, May 6, 2005.

A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Moreno represented District 143 in the Texas State House for more than seven years after being elected with overwhelming grassroots support in November, 1998. A graduate of St. Thomas High School, he attended St. Thomas University and Texas Southern University. His unexpected death leaves a huge void in the lives of all of us who knew and respected him. As a dedicated community activist, Representative Moreno will be remembered as a champion who never wavered in his commitment to improving the lives of his constituents. An active member of the Resurrection Catholic Church, the Harris County Tejano Democrats and the League of United Latin American Citizens Council, Joe was awarded the prestigious title of ``Legislator of the Year'' in 2003 in recognition of his skills as a Member of the State House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, throughout his career, Representative Moreno has been honored by the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, the East Harris County Manufacturing Association, the Houston Gulf Coast Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and the Hispanic Contractor's Association of the Greater Houston Area, Inc. During the 79th Legislative Session, he served on the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee as well as the Borders and International Affairs Committee.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, this is a sad day, and I hope my colleagues will join me in saluting Joe Moreno, a pillar of the community whose contributions will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 6, 2005, my alma mater, Thurgood Marshall School of Law located in the great city of Houston, will designate the Andrew L. Jefferson, Jr. Endowed Chair in Trial Advocacy in honor of my great friend and mentor, Judge Andrew L. Jefferson, Jr.

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1934, Judge Jefferson has lived in Houston since the ripe old age of 2. A graduate of Jack Yates High School, Texas Southern University and the University of Texas School of Law, Judge Jefferson has, over the years, distinguished himself not only as an accomplished legal scholar, but also as a dedicated community leader.

A humble man, Andrew Jefferson has had an exemplary career that began in the early sixties when he was a partner in the law firm of Washington and Jefferson. Because Judge Jefferson displayed, at an early age, a remarkable command of the law, he was recruited to serve as the Assistant District Attorney for Bexar County, a position he held until he was appointed Chief Assistant United States Attorney and subsequently Chief of the Criminal Section for the Western District of Texas, a job he held until Humble Oil and Refining Company beckoned him to join their ranks as Trial and Labor Relations Counsel. During the early seventies, he assumed the role of Judge in the Court of Domestic Relations #2 for Harris County, and in 1973 was elected to a full four- year term. At the end of his tenure in the Domestic Court, Judge Jefferson was appointed and then elected to the 208th District Court. In 1975, believing that he could inspire young people to enter the legal profession, the distinguished barrister left the bench and re- entered private practice.

In addition to being honorably discharged as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve-Judge Advocate General's Corps, the distinguished gentleman from Texas is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Houston Branch of the National Urban League, and a Life Member of the NAACP.

Among his many awards and accomplishments, Judge Jefferson has received the Anti-Defamation League National Torch of Liberty Award, the Forward Times Newspaper Community Service Award, the Charles A. George Community Service Award and the League of United Latin American Citizens National Community Service Award from LaRaza.

Mr. Speaker, I am blessed to have the opportunity to pay tribute to a great American hero. For those of us who know the Honorable Andrew L. Jefferson, we are always in awe of his ability as a coalition builder to bridge the gap between young and old and those of different cultural backgrounds. I believe that when history records the legacy of Andrew L. Jefferson, it will honor his role as a warrior who never forgot where he came from and always worked tirelessly on behalf of the least, the last and the lost.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary woman in American history. Shirley Chisholm, an outspoken advocate for women and minorities during her seven terms in the House of Representatives, passed on January 1st. This iconoclastic political figure has been lost and forgotten in many of today's civic classes in this country but her ideals have seen a rebirth.

Born in 1924 to parents that emigrated from the West Indies, Chisholm was raised in an American society that told African Americans to stay in their place and women to stay at home. Chisholm vehemently rejected this canon which ultimately shaped and fueled her political career-- becoming both the first African American woman elected to Congress and the first black or woman to wage a serious campaign for a major party's presidential nomination in 1972.

Shirley Chisholm excelled in academics at Girls High School in Brooklyn, New York, from which she graduated in 1942. After graduation she attended Brooklyn College where she majored in sociology. It was there that she experienced blatant racism. When black students at Brooklyn College where denied admittance into social clubs, Chisholm formed alternate ones. She would go on to graduate with honors in 1946 but found herself turned away by employers time and time again. During this time many black graduates found it difficult to obtain employment commensurate to their education. It was a culmination of these events in her life that led Chisholm to vow to fight against injustices everywhere. After graduation, she would earn a masters degree in child education from Columbia University and later served as director of the largest nursery school network in New York.

In 1949, Chisholm participated in local politics, helping to form the Bedford-Stuyvesant political league. She also became active in the Brooklyn chapter of the National Urban League and in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where she debated minority rights. Chisholm's political career took off in 1964, when she won, by a landslide, her campaign for the New York State Assembly. As an assembly person (1965-1968), she sponsored legislation that instituted programs which provided college funding to disadvantaged youths, and successfully introduced a bill that secured unemployment insurance for domestics and day-care providers. In 1968 Chisholm won a seat in the House of Representatives becoming the first African American woman to be elected to Congress. She found herself one of ten women and nine African Americans in the prestigious body.

Representing an entirely inter-city constituency, Chisholm protested her relegation to the Agriculture Committee, an assignment she considered insulting. She would often criticize Congress for being too clubby and unresponsive. It was during these challenging times that Chisholm exemplified one of the most important characteristics of a pioneer--the determination to strive for more and to not accept ``no'' for an answer. With a character that she has described as ``unbought and unbossed,'' Chisholm became known as a politician who refused to allow her colleagues, including the white male-dominated House of Representatives, to deter her from her goals. She remarked that, ``Women in this country must become revolutionaries. We must refuse to accept the old, the traditional roles and stereotypes.'' She subsequently served on a number of committees, including the Education and Labor, and campaigned for a higher minimum wage and increased federal funding for disadvantaged communities. In her first term in Congress, Chisholm hired an all female staff and was an unyielding advocate of social justice, women's rights, the underprivileged and people of all races, nationalities and faith.

On January 25, 1972 Chisholm became the first African American woman to campaign for the presidency. She admitted that she stood no real chance of winning but wanted to galvanize minority communities, working class whites and young people into a sizable political force. Chisholm ran as ``the candidate of the people,'' receiving 151 delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention that year.

During the campaign, she experienced resistance from her colleagues, including the Congressional Black Caucus for which she was a founding member, and was attacked four times on the campaign trail. Chisholm's bid for the presidency was not fruitless--her legacy and work has ushered in a generation of exceptional leaders--from presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, to former U.S. Senator Carol Mosley Braun to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Shirley Chisholm once commented, ``There is little place in the political scheme of things for an independent, creative personality, for a fighter. Anyone who takes that role must pay a price.'' Mr. Speaker, I believe obscurity is too high a price for Mrs. Chisholm to have to pay. We all owe her a debt of gratitude for the work that she's done to advance the causes of all Americans and for that legacy our country will be eternally grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of William Smith Cloud, a constituent and trusted personal friend who passed away January 16, 2005, at the age of 82.

A Galena Park resident since the age of 8, Bill was a positive force in his community for all of his long life. He was a football player for the Fighting Yellow Jackets before his graduation from Galena Park High School in 1941. He then served his country in World War II in the Pacific theater of operations, as a United States Air Force B-29 Bomber turret gunner.

After the war he went to work as a pipefitter, eventually receiving his 50-year commemorative watch from Local 211. He also contributed to the Galena Park community by serving as Co-Captain for the Galena Park Volunteer Fire Department, and as a Commander of the Galena Park American Legion.

As important as these contributions are, none is more important than Bill's devotion to his family, as his wife of 58 years, Robbie Craddock Cloud, and his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren can attest.

His loss will be felt greatly by all of Galena Park, and all those who knew him, and I ask that you remember the Cloud family in your thoughts and prayers.