Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and contributions of Henry Chang, Jr. An energetic public servant and advocate in the Greater Bay Area, Henry will retire this year from his elected position on the Oakland City Council.

Mr. Chang has tirelessly served the community of Oakland, California as a councilmember-at-large for 14 years, serving as the city's vice mayor for 4 terms. Mr. Chang is sincerely committed to his community, and has employed his diverse life experiences and studies to improving the quality of life for his constituents and to adding greatly to the collective efforts of policy-makers, stake holders, and public advocates in my district.

Henry was born on December 17, 1934 in Shantou, Guangdong Province, China. During the Japanese invasion of Shantou City, Henry and his siblings were separated from their parents for 4 years. In 1950 he moved to Sydney, Australia to study at Knox College. At that time, Mr. Chang was one of only two foreign students at his college. In 1952, Henry again made a bold move to further his education and opportunities, traveling to the United States in the hopes of attending the prestigious University of California, Berkeley.

In 1960, while attending UC Berkeley, Mr. Chang met and married Constance Poon. He graduated in 1961 from the School of Environmental Design at Berkeley. Mr. Chang worked for both the Novelli Engineering Company in Downtown Oakland and the Hugh M. O'Neil Company as an architect before founding his own architectural practice, Henry Chang, Jr. and Associates, Incorporated in 1971. Mr. Chang established his firm in the heart of Oakland's Chinatown District and immediately began using his skills to contribute to the vibrant business community and innovative urban planning needs of that area.

During this time, Mr. Chang began a long and impressive career of service. He has served in countless capacities on local and regional commissions and boards including founding member of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, several State and city anti-crime commissions, the Oakland Cultural Art Committee, the Lincoln Square Advisory Council, the Oakland Chinese Businessmen Association, serving as that board's president for 2 terms, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, the Oakland Port Commission, the S.F. Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the Oakland Community Development Commission, and the Oakland City Planning Commission. He was also a founding member of the Friends of Parks and Recreation Board. So great were Mr. Chang's contributions to Oakland, the city named September 27, 1990 ``Henry Chang, Jr. Appreciation Day.'' In more recent years, Mr. Chang has served on the executive board of the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Alameda and Oakland Base Re-Use Commissions, the Alameda County Transportation Authority, and the A.C. Transit Major Investment Steering Committee.

On December 6, 1994 Mr. Chang was elected to the councilmember-at- large seat he has been continuously reelected to until his retirement this year. As a councilmember-at-large, Mr. Chang has sponsored important city legislation and has always been proactive in bringing stakeholders, community leaders, and residents of our area together to work on the complex issues facing the diverse and dynamic city of Oakland and its neighboring cities in Alameda County.

Just one example of Mr. Chang's tireless advocacy and thorough approach to policy making is his comprehensive legislation addressing the serious issue of gun control. Henry has authored bills to ban junk guns and ultra compact guns from being sold in Oakland as well as legislation requiring trigger locks on all guns sold. He also sponsored a tax on guns and ammunition sold in Oakland to offset the high cost of violence caused by guns. These laws became regional models for urban safety and firearms regulation. While on the city council Mr. Chang also initiated the City Management Academy which trains neighborhood activists so that they can better understand how the city works and established the Citizens' Assistance Center to help residents get the assistance they need from their city officials and agencies.

Perhaps most memorable of Mr. Chang's achievements as a councilmember-at-large is his work to bring giant pandas to the city of Oakland on loan from the China Zoological Garden of the Ministry of Construction and to build a state-of-the-art facility for their care while in the United States. I have had the privilege to travel with Henry to China and Cuba. He has a deep sense of respect for people throughout the world and uses his diplomatic skills to bring good will to our Nation. I am proud to call Henry my colleague and my friend.

On behalf of California's 9th Congressional district, I would like to salute the honorable Henry Chang, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement from public office. It is clear that his dedication, innovation and involvement in the accomplishments of the city of Oakland will not end here. I wish him all the greatest happiness in his retirement years and thank him for a lifetime of service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleague, Congressman Pete Stark, to honor the extraordinary life accomplishments of the Reverend Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. He is a leader, teacher, spiritual guide, and inspiration to all who know him. Pastor Smith will be retiring this year from his position as Senior Pastor at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, California.

Pastor Smith has led this church and our community for 40 years. In that time he has positively influenced countless lives and left an indelible mark. It is without doubt that his legacy will continue to inspire people and promote the strong ideals and unwavering humanity Pastor Smith has always stood for.

Throughout his life and tenure as Senior Pastor, Dr. Smith championed the causes of the poor and the disenfranchised. Through his many publications, interviews, and sermons, Dr. Smith reminded us everyday of our human obligation and the standards of dignity, charity, and common love that we must all live by. In the Greater Bay Area, he also spearheaded groundbreaking programs to reach out to those most in need and assist them in their struggles. He is an individual who never failed to practice what he preached, and who has used his own life as an example with grace, humility, and an unsurpassable kindness and empathy for others.

The ministries and message of Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. has made an impact locally, nationally, and internationally. From testifying before the United Nations in New York City in 1989 against the apartheid government in South Africa to securing affordable housing for seniors, he has dedicated his career to promoting peace and equality. His work has inspired and uplifted people from all faiths and backgrounds to dedicate their lives to this same noble pursuit.

This is Dr. Smith's true gift to us all--the gift of positive influence. He has inspired our leaders and our children to carry on the difficult fight for justice in a way that is both compassionate and relentless.

Through the many programs for youth that he has created and supported, Dr. Smith has invested himself fully in the education of the

next generations. By doing this, he has created irreplaceable opportunities which would not have existed for these children without him. By remaining personally involved in their experiences and progress, he has empowered them to believe in the importance of their own efforts and to commit themselves to carrying others up behind him, as he has done for so many years. Dr. Smith has shown our community that we can live our lives with eloquence, devotion, and with a deep respect for all of God's children.

In Pastor Smith's retirement years, it is certain that he and his brilliant and beautiful wife, the Reverend Bernestine Farley-Smith, will continue to contribute to our society immensely and spread the benefits of their many collective years of experience by serving their community, enjoying their family, and most importantly walking and talking with God.

Today, the residents of California's 9th and 13th Congressional Districts join with the members of Allen Temple Baptist Church, its community allies, fellow congregations, and Pastor Smith's loving family to celebrate his years of service and wish him a most happy and fruitful retirement. Our sincere gratitude goes out to Dr. Smith's three sons, two daughters, fourteen grandchildren and seven great- grandchildren for sharing this visionary leader and wonderful human being with us. We are all better people for having had the blessing of this man's friendship and guidance. May he and his wife rejoice and enjoy their time together for many happy years to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and accomplishments of one of our nation's greatest trailblazers. The renowned journalist and activist for truth in media, Nancy Hicks Maynard, passed away on September 21, 2008 at the age of 61. Her vivacious and extraordinary presence will be greatly missed, however her life's work has ensured that future generations will continue to benefit from her courageous impact indefinitely.

A news pioneer and the first African-American woman to own a major daily newspaper in America, Nancy Hicks Maynard was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her incredible journalism career began in 1966 when, outraged by inaccurate and destructive reporting on her neighborhood, Nancy broke onto the scene as a reporter for the New York Post at the age of 20.

From there she went on to work at the New York Times. At that time she was the Times' youngest staff reporter. However, that did not prevent Nancy from covering the hottest issues. From the Apollo space missions to African-American student takeovers at Columbia and Cornell universities, and the mid-sixties urban rebellions, Nancy was on the ground working nonstop to ensure that these stories were reaching the public not only through an objective lens, but from the viewpoint of a young person of color--something shamefully nonexistent in the media at that time.

In 1975 she married Robert C. Maynard, who wrote for the Washington Post and was already a news giant in his own right. At that time in our nation's history, Nancy and Robert were among the best and most accomplished of the fewer than 50 black journalists who held significant roles in the newspaper, radio and television journalism industries. However, rising up within a damaged and biased system was not enough for the Maynards. Not content with their own personal accomplishments, they both believed that their greatest civic duty was to level the playing field and bring others up behind them.

Two years later, they both resigned from their lucrative posts to pursue their shared fundamental ideals. This included, demanding a higher standard of ethics and accountability in journalism and promoting equal opportunity for people of color in the media industry. They moved to the West Coast to pursue what was right and just and to establish a non-profit dedicated to training minority reporters and pressing newsrooms to ``reflect the diversity of thought, lifestyle and heritage in our culture.''

In Berkeley, California, Nancy and Robert joined with eight other co- founders and launched the year-round Institute for Journalism Education--the first of its kind in this field.

In 1983, the couple purchased the financially struggling Oakland Tribune from the Gannett Company. For nearly a decade, the Maynards co- published the daily paper. It was at the Oakland Tribune that their vision of diversity in staffing and coverage took physical form and set an example for the conservative, overwhelmingly white newsroom managers they had been trying to reach out to for so many years. The Maynards sold the Tribune in 1992 and Robert passed away a few months afterward. During the ten years of their proprietorship, the company contributed approximately $300 million in payroll revenue alone to the city of Oakland and its residents.

Nancy was the child of an African-American jazz musician and a Caucasian mother. Through her personal and professional experiences, she understood the need for the most talented and committed minds in journalism to work together to break down racial barriers and report the truth back to the community. She carried this rich heritage and strong sense of purpose with her throughout her life. In 1998, the National Association of Black Journalists awarded her its annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes Nancy Hicks Maynard and honors her legacy. We thank her family for sharing this amazing spirit with us, especially her partner, Jay T. Harris, her mother, Eve Keller, her sister, Barbara Guest, her brother, Al Hall, her sons, David and Alex, and her daughter, Dori. May her soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time and for his tireless work.

I want to thank Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., for associating himself with my remarks this morning.

Madam Speaker, I think we need to be honest about the bill before us. It is a bailout. We should be honest with how we got here: reckless deregulation policies and greed. We should be honest about the fact that we don't know that this is the appropriate economic strategy. Some economists say yes; some economists say no. But I must be honest about the fact that I can't afford to risk the consequences of inaction based on what I know today.

I spoke with our California treasurer this week, and he assured me that people will suffer greater pain, including cuts to critical State- funded social services, county services, and schools, if we don't do something to stop this hemorrhaging. That is why I will vote for this bill today.

As a former small business owner, I know access to credit will make or break your business. Without it, people will lose jobs. We will not magically turn the economy around, reverse the rise in unemployment, or end this recession which we are in now. We must be honest about that.

But I must err on the side of caution so our seniors can have some confidence that their pensions are safe. And I hope that we will be able to prevent this financial crisis from exacting an even bigger toll on the everyday lives of our constituents.

Congressman Jackson and I will continue to fight for regulatory reform and a direct economic stimulus package that we fought to be included in this bill. We must have bankruptcy reform and a moratorium on foreclosures. But I am glad to say that our fight has helped slow this bill down. Thanks to our Speaker's leadership, we have a bill today to extend unemployment compensation insurance on the floor. That is the least we can do for those in need on Main Street. I urge the other body to take it up immediately.

As Senator Obama said, there will be a time to punish those who set this fire, but now is the moment for us to come together and put the fire out. Congressman Jackson and I join him in that effort and we will vote for this flawed but necessary legislation. It is a very difficult vote for both of us, but I must do everything I can to stop this bleeding in the lives of people living from paycheck to paycheck, that is if they have a paycheck.

I am really confident that this is the right vote, but I know that it is not the popular vote. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to thank Congresswoman Maxine Waters for her leadership in trying to make some sense out of this foreclosure mess. Hopefully we will stop the bleeding, but I know that we have a lot of work to do.

Let me thank Chairman Frank for your efforts to improve this administration's $700 billion blank check bill.

Madam Speaker, as a former member of the House Financial Services Committee for 8 years, I can tell you that the situation that we find ourselves in today is the direct result of the deregulation-happy, turn-a-blind-eye approach of this administration and its allies in Congress.

Now we see the horrific price of these reckless deregulation policies. More than 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. People need jobs to obtain credit, to pay their rent, to pay their house notes, to buy a 401(k) or to really have a retirement account. Millions of people are living paycheck to paycheck if they really have a paycheck. Home foreclosures are skyrocketing; home values are plunging; banks are failing, and we are still spending more than $10 billion every month on a war in Iraq that did not have to be waged.

So I'm convinced that this bailout is not the solution to this mess. It does little to address the underlying problem--the foreclosure crisis. We need a moratorium on foreclosures, and we need bankruptcy reform to help people stay in their homes. This bill should be paid for by the high-flying industry that created this problem. $700 billion should not be given to Wall Street and to the Bush administration unless those who caused this mess pay for it.

As my bill indicates, the Income Equity Act, we should also prohibit the tax deductibility of executive compensation in any company where the highest paid corporate officer's compensation exceeds by 25-1 that of a worker's of the lowest wage.

Third, we need an economic stimulus package to deal with the crushing reality of the recession that is hitting people hard each and every day. I cannot vote to reward those predatory and subprime lenders who are really creating havoc in the lives of millions of Americans. There has got to be a better way.

Let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for your loyal opposition to this very bad requirement for us now to approve this. Let me thank Mr. Berman also for your leadership and for your hard work in managing this.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly disapprove of this agreement, and urge my colleagues to do likewise. In withholding my approval, I seek not to penalize the people of India but, rather, to affirm the principle of nuclear nonproliferation and to maintain the integrity of the international nonproliferation standards.

Several years ago, I had the privilege of visiting India, and I witnessed firsthand the brilliance, the spirit and the commitment of the democracy of the Indian people. The United States and India are the two largest democracies in the world and have for many years enjoyed an excellent relationship.

Given the tremendous progress India has made and can be expected to make in the future, strengthening the ties that bind our countries together is a critically important strategic goal of the United States, but the suggestion that we can only do so by jettisoning adherence to the international nuclear nonproliferation framework that has served the world so well for more than 30 years, as approval of the agreement before us would do, is just simply unwise. It is also reckless.

Approval of this agreement undermines our efforts to dissuade countries like Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. By approving this agreement, all we are doing is creating incentives for other countries to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Why should we expect, for example, Brazil or South Korea to continue playing by the rules in foregoing the development of nuclear weapons in exchange for civilian technology when they see that India receives the benefits while flouting the rules?

Mr. Speaker, the fact that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is sufficient reason for me to disapprove the agreement, but for those of my colleagues who may have supported the bill, there are many other compelling reasons to disapprove this agreement.

So I ask all Members to say that we want to adhere to nonproliferation and not pass this approval.

I thank the gentlemen for yielding, I also thank Chairman Berman for his hard work in managing the consideration by this body of the U.S.- India Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, which comes before the Congress for approval pursuant to section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

I strongly disapprove of this agreement and urge my colleagues to do likewise. In withholding my approval I seek not to penalize the people of India but rather to affirm the principle of nuclear nonproliferation and to maintain the integrity of international nonproliferation standards.

Several years ago I had the privilege of visiting India and witnessed firsthand the brilliance, the spirit, and the commitment to democracy of the Indian people. The United States and India are the two largest democracies in the world and have for many years enjoyed an excellent relationship. Given the tremendous progress India has made and can be expected to make in the future, strengthening the ties that bind our countries is a critically important strategic goal of the United States.

But the suggestion that we can only do so by jettisoning adherence to the international nuclear non-proliferation framework that has served the world so well for more than 30 years, as approval of the agreement before would do, is not simply unwise. It is reckless.

Approval of this agreement undermines our efforts to dissuade countries like Iran and North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. By approving this agreement all we are doing is creating incentives for other countries to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Why should we expect, for example, Brazil or South Korea to continue playing by the rules and foregoing development of nuclear weapons in exchange for civilian technology when they see India receive the benefits while flouting the rules?

Mr. Speaker, the fact that India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is sufficient reason for me to disapprove this agreement. But for those of my colleagues who may have supported H.R. 5682, the Henry J. Hyde United States India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act (``Hyde Act''), there are two other compelling reasons to disapprove this agreement.

First, the agreement will indirectly assist India's nuclear weapons program because foreign supplies of nuclear fuel to India's civil nuclear sector will free up electricity generation capacity to produce weapons-grade plutonium.

Second, the Hyde Act requires that the provisions in any agreement governing safeguards on civil nuclear material and facilities remain in effect ``in perpetuity'' and must be ``consistent with IAEA standards and practices.'' The requirement that India be bound to comply with these safeguards in perpetuity is not satisfied because Indian governmental officials have publicly suggested that India may withdraw from the safeguards agreement if fuel supplies are interrupted, even if the interruption is the required response to a breach of the agreement by India.

Mr. Speaker, we should not forget that unlike 179 other countries, India has not signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and is one of only three countries never to have signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. And it is noteworthy that while it continues to produce fissile material, India has never made a legally binding commitment to nuclear disarmament or nonproliferation.

To sum up, this deal will not advance America's interests or make the world safer. It will, however, deal a near fatal blow to the stability of the international nonproliferation regime. For these reasons, I will vote to disapprove the agreement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6983, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, to require equity in mental health and substance-related disorders under group health plans.

I want to thank Representative Patrick Kennedy for his leadership in developing and negotiating the passage of this critical law.

It's also right that this bill be named in honor of Senator Domenici and our friend, the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Senator Wellstone was truly a champion for mental health and this Act honors his memory.

As a former psychological social worker, I appreciate the necessity of mental health parity and the significance of this bill. Many diseases go hand in hand with depression, substance abuse, and a variety of other mental health issues that cannot go untreated.

For example, when a person is diagnosed with cancer or HIV, they and their families go through a range of emotional responses. To treat only the physical signs of illness is to ignore the broad ranging emotional implications of a disease.

Currently, companies can limit both the number of visits that a person makes to a mental health professional in a year and the network of doctors a patient can see, even where no such limit exists for medical or surgical benefits. That is ridiculous.

Disease treatment must provide individuals with the ability to adapt their lifestyle and manage the changes associated with their illness. Whether it is anxiety, stress, or even stigma--the diagnosis of a disease always impacts an individual's mental health. To downplay the necessity of mental health care in treatment is simply counterproductive.

By enacting this bill to require mental health parity, we take a crucial step forward in guaranteeing that our constituents can access the level of health care that they need. I believe however, that fundamentally, we need to move to a universal health care system.

Additionally, the Act prohibits insurance companies from charging different rates for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of- pocket expenses for mental health.

These commonsense changes will help expand access to mental health services throughout the country, and I am pleased to support them.

I urge the president to sign HR 6983, the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and to recognize that mental health care is a crucial tool in promoting the overall health and well-being of the American people.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary history of the Chabot Space and Science center as it celebrates 125 years of serving our community and literally expanding our understanding of the universe.

In 1883 the Oakland Observatory was founded through a gift from the prestigious Mr. Anthony Chabot to the City of Oakland. Originally located in downtown Oakland, the observatory provided a public telescope to the community and served as the official timekeeping station for the entire Bay Area for decades. Anthony Chabot, a prominent businessman throughout the Greater Bay Area, died only five years after the creation of the observatory, however in that short time the observatory had already become an integral part of the community. Due to its increased use and immense popularity, the observatory has consistently grown and improved throughout the past century.

In 1915 the observatory was moved to the Oakland Hills, and in the mid-1960s the facility was considerably expanded with the addition of a 90-seat planetarium, laboratories, classrooms, workshops, an exhibit room, and a library. By this time, it had been renamed as the Chabot Science Center. Until 1977, the science center was staffed mainly by the dedicated personnel and volunteers of the Oakland Unified School District and visited frequently by public school students. Unfortunately, this ended when seismic safety concerns terminated access to the original observatory facility.

Eager to reinstate the educational opportunities such a facility would bring the young people of the Bay Area, the Chabot Observatory and Science Center (COSC) was formed in 1989 as a Joint Powers Agency with the City of Oakland, the Oakland Unified School District, and the East Bay Regional Park District. Guided by the Eastbay Astronomical Society, this collaboration has exemplified the energy and contributions of this remarkable non-profit organization which has facilitated the renewal and revitalization of the center in the last two decades. The fruit of many years of dedicated leadership from several community groups, individuals, and local elected officials, construction of the new Science Center began in May, 1998.

The Chabot Observatory and Science Center became the Chabot Space and Science Center in 2000--a name which better conveyed the organization's focus on astronomy and the space sciences, while communicating both the broad range and the technologically advanced nature of programs available in the new Science Center. On August 19, 2000 the new 86,000- square-foot, state-of-the-art science and technology education facility on a 13-acre site opened to the public.

On September 13, 2008 the Chabot Space and Science Center celebrated its 125 year anniversary. The legacy, promising future, and unique character of the Chabot Space and Science Center stands as an accomplishment for our entire community. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional District, I am pleased to applaud the tireless volunteers, staff, and relentless supporters of this indispensible asset to our community. Most of all, I would like to congratulate the residents of the Greater East Bay for their participation in making the 9th Congressional District one of the most diverse, active, and enlightened areas in the nation. May the Chabot Space and Science Center continue to enrich the lives of our people for many generations to come.

Madam Speaker. I rise in strong support of H.R. 5244, the Credit Card Holder Bill of Rights.

I want to applaud Congresswoman Maloney for introducing this timely and commonsense legislation that will help our constituents and will protect hard working families. It is critical that during this time of financial crisis in America, that we do more to help households who are increasingly burdened by rising gas prices, falling home values and rising credit card interest rates and fees.

As we discuss a massive $700 billion bailout of lenders and banks, I believe that taking this small step to protect credit card consumers is the least that we can do.

This bill seeks to protect consumers by putting very reasonable and fair limits on some of the most unfair practices of the credit card industry. It will require a fair notice to consumers before an interest rate can be arbitrarily raised. It doesn't stop them from raising their rates, it just requires that consumers be notified in advance.

It will stop the unfair practice of billing customers for interest and fees on balances that they have already paid. It will require that payments be split fairly between higher rate balances and any lower rate balances so that families have some chance to reduce their debt's principal instead of companies reducing only the debts that carry the lowest interest rates first.

Frankly, I wish that this bill were even stronger and that we were talking about requiring just the opposite. We should be requiring that all payments are applied to the highest interest rate balances first, but this is a strong step in the right direction.

I urge my colleagues to support protecting minors from predatory credit card companies, I urge my colleagues to limit so called sub prime credit cards with huge annual fees tacked automatically onto the debt on the cards, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 5244.

Mr. Speaker, when this Defense Authorization bill cleared the House last May it included an amendment which I authored requiring congressional approval of any agreement negotiated between the President and the Government of Iraq which commits the United States to the defense and security of Iraq from internal and external threats. But because the White House threatened to veto the bill over this prudent and reasonable provision, the version of the bill returned to us from the Senate no longer includes that limitation. That is reason alone to oppose this bill, which I do.

Although I cannot support the bill as amended, I want to thank my good friend Mr. Skelton, the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, for strongly supporting the Lee amendment and for his valiant efforts to retain it during the negotiations with a stubborn an unreasonable White House.

An agreement to commit American troops to the defense and security of another country is not routine or typical or minor. It is a major commitment that must have the support of the American people. And that popular will can only be reflected by the Congress of the United States. That is why the Lee amendment was necessary. I regret we have lost a valuable opportunity to bring much needed accountability and transparency to our relationship with Iraq.

I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for your patience and for your understanding and for your really very skillful way in bringing us all together to make sure that there is a resolution that we all can support.

I do support H. Res. 1361, putting the House, first of all, on record in support of the United States leading a high-level diplomatic effort to ensure that the Durban Review Conference, better known as Durban II, serves as a forum to review commitments to combat all forms of racism.

The resolution also directs the United States to strongly oppose any effort by any party to use the forum as a platform for attacking Israel, for promoting anti-Semitism, or undermining the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Madam Speaker, in 2006, the United Nations General Assembly voted to hold a conference to review the process and progress made by member nations in implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. This declaration was the signal achievement of the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, which was held August 31 through September 7, 2001 in Durban, South Africa. The conference known as the ``Durban Conference'' was attended by more than 10,000 persons from all corners of the globe. The Review Conference, or Durban II, is scheduled to convene in Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2009.

This resolution is an important resolution warranting the support of all Members. But it's also important for my colleagues to know that, once again, without the leadership of Chairman Berman and Chairman Payne and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, we really wouldn't have this opportunity to put the House on record directing the United States to exercise the strong leadership that we've all talked about at the Durban II Conference, and to resist any attempt by any party to launch anti-Semitic attacks on Israel.

So let me just say it has been a privilege working with all of you over these past several months in crafting this language that reflects our shared commitment to combating racism in all forms and condemning anti-Semitism.

I want to say also that I was part of the Durban Conference. Actually, we wrote a letter to the Secretary of

State, then Secretary Colin Powell, under the leadership of our Congressional Black Caucus Chair then, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. And we told the Secretary of State and the State Department then that in no way did we believe Durban I should turn into a forum to attack Israel or become an anti-Semitic forum, and that, in fact, we believe this Durban Conference was so important to African Americans and to all minorities in America that we thought then that it was even important on Durban I to try to stop all of the things that the NGO forum allowed to happen.

But I want to clarify that that was the forum; that was not the full Durban conference. We were there. The United States did not send an official delegation. And in fact there was some delegates there who actually left the conference. But Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, myself and others, we said we would end up just being the official delegation. I think there were seven or eight of us at Durban because we felt it was so important to first stay there to make sure that we could try to ensure that it was focused on combating racism.

And, secondly, there were hundreds and hundreds of African Americans at that conference. This is one of the first conferences where African Americans could go abroad and talk about all forms of racism; what had happened, what the trans-Atlantic slave trade really was all about, its legacies and its vestiges. So this is an important conference.

Let me just mention what this resolution is and summarize some of the provisions of this resolution. First, to review the progress and assess implementation of the declaration by all stakeholders.

To review the progress and assess the implementation of the Durban Declaration, to assess the effectiveness of the existing Durban follow-up mechanisms and other relevant United Nations mechanisms dealing with racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, to promote the universal ratification and implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and to identify and share good practices in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

We should support this resolution because it says very explicitly that we will not allow, impugn and support behavior at any of these conferences, including we condemn what happened at the 2001 NGO forum as it relates to anti-Semitism and attacks on Israel. And this is important because it really does encourage this active participation by the United States in this conference, because I can guarantee you, just as the seven or eight of us members of the Black Caucus who went to Durban the first time tried to beat back any type of anti-Semitism we saw bubbling, we will do that this time. And we want an official, high- level delegation along with us to go to Durban so that we can do the business and move forward to participate in a world forum to combat racism and discrimination.

I'm proud of the fact that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights supports this. Mr. Berman laid out who all is involved in that conference. It's a good resolution. It's a resolution that deserves our support on both sides of the aisle.

Thank you, again, Mr. Berman, for your leadership.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say once again that I want to expressly thank the Chair of our committee, Mr. Berman, for his leadership and for his support in bringing this resolution to the floor.

Also, I want to thank our ranking member, Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, for her assistance in making sure that we can have a bipartisan resolution.

Every now and then, I think we ought to talk about peace. You know, that seems not to be a word or a term that we discuss very often on this floor, so we have a chance to just say ``peace'' a few times today.

Thank you, Mr. Berman and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for giving us that chance.

This resolution recognizes the vital role of nongovernmental organizations in peace-building efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, and it encourages them to remain steadfast in their commitment to nonviolence, in their recognition of Israel's right to exist, in their dedication to achieving a two-state solution, and in their work towards building trust and cooperation between the two peoples.

Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan resolution is strongly endorsed by many organizations and groups that have been long dedicated to the cause of peace, justice and of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians. I'd like to mention for a minute the supporters of this resolution:

The Churches for Middle East Peace, which is a coalition of 22 public policy offices of national churches and agencies--Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant--working to realize the vision of a region where two viable states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders; the Alliance for Middle East Peace, which is an alliance of 57 NGOs that are promoting people-to-people coexistence, cooperation and reconciliation between Israelis, Palestinians, Arabs, and Jews in the Middle East; the Israel Policy Forum, which is an independent, nonpartisan organization advocating for sustained American, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between Israel and her neighbors and to actively promote the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and the Middle East Policy Advisory Committee, which is a coalition of organizations that my congressional district formed to bring a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

Mr. Speaker, in a region that has suffered so much loss and seemingly interminable conflict, these efforts are critically important in addressing the daily struggles and challenges faced by Israelis and Palestinians.

Sixty years ago, the great Senator Hubert Humphrey said that people are the issue of the 20th century. I might add now the well-being of people is the critical issue of the 21st century, and peace is needed for people to flourish.

As the great theologian Saint Augustine reminds us, peace is the necessary condition in which people can be free to work out in their private destiny.

That's why it's fitting and proper to recognize, as my resolution does, the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian individuals and of nongovernmental organizations that have been working, really, for decades to build bridges between the two peoples--to address humanitarian concerns and to further the cause of peace.

Although the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has cost too many innocent lives and though it continues to bring terrible sufferance to both peoples, we can all be thankful that there are many nongovernmental organizations comprised of men and women of goodwill, working to build schools and hospitals, to foster cultural exchanges, to increase commercial ties, economic development, and to promote interreligious dialogue and understanding.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is currently at a critical juncture. Sustained progress toward peace depends on the commitment of individuals and of organizations that choose dialogue, friendship and openness.

So this amendment recognizes the efforts of those unsung heroes and sheroes, and it encourages them to continue their important work.

It also salutes them for their commitment to nonviolence, to the recognition of Israel's right to exist and to their dedication to achieve a two-state solution.

I would like to thank our staff, Mr. Berman. I would like to thank Alan Makovsky and Matthew Zweig of the staff of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I would also like to thank Gregory Berry and Scott Exner on my staff.

This is the spirit in which I hope we can move forward in terms of nongovernmental peace builders and move

toward achieving a just and lasting peace. Let's be cognizant of the fact today that peace is possible.

Thank you, Mr. Berman. Thank you, Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I thank the committee for the resolution.

The Rebuilding Alliance,

Palo Alto, CA, September 23, 2008.

Dear Representative, I am very proud to support H. Res

1369, a positive and constructive resolution to advance the

cause of peace and justice in Israel and Palestine and I urge

you to vote for it. I am really proud that Representative Lee

was willing to work with us at the Rebuilding Alliance and

the Middle East Policy Advisory Committee to bring this

resolution to the floor.

At its heart, H. Res. 1369 recognizes those people--

Israelis and Palestinians-- who continue to pursue peace and

justice with every breath they take, despite their own

overwhelming personal losses. These are the people who make a

difference in their communities, and it is to them we offer

encouragement. Let me tell you about some of them:

I want Congress to care about the peacemakers in the

Village of Al Aqabah and all those who seek to help them:

Last week, Mayor Haj Sami Sadik came, in his wheelchair, to

Washington DC to meet with Congressional and Senate staff. He

is the mayor of the Palestinian West Bank Village of Al

Aqabah and he came to ask your help to save his kindergarten

and village from demolition. Israeli Architect Shmuel Groag,

a founder of BIMKOM: Planners for Planning Rights, joined

him, along with me, American Donna Baranski-Walker, executive

director of the Rebuilding Alliance, the SF Bay Area

nonprofit that helped the village build their kindergarten

and brought them here to ask Americans to help save it.

I care about Al Aqabah. I care about their kindergarten

with 130 students. The village holds full title to its land,

without question--and they even won an earlier case before

the Israeli High Court of Justice to remove the Israeli

Army's training camp from the village gates. As they were

rebuilding their kindergarten, the Israeli Army issued

demolition orders against the kindergarten, the medical

center, the mosque, and nearly all the homes in the village.

The village held to their belief that justice will prevail as

Mayor Haj Sami Sadik again petitioned the Israeli High Court

of Justice to recognize their village's right to exist. Now

he filed the village's own master plan with the Israeli

Army's Civil Authority and asks the world's help to see the

village's plan approved, and to help his village thrive.

I care about the Rachel Corrie Charity in Rafah, Gaza,

holding their soccer tournament on the land where 2200

Palestinian homes once stood, as a way to build community and

goodwill near a very traumatized refugee camp. The Rebuilding

Alliance brought one of the founders of this group, Khaled

Nasrallah, to the U.S., joining Cindy and Craig Corrie,

parents of the late American Rachel Corrie, in a six-state

speaking tour three years ago. The Rachel Corrie Charity is

being sponsored by the Gaza Community Mental Health

Organization, a Palestinian non-governmental organization

that deeply opposes violence and is itself an outspoken

advocate of freedom, fairness, and democracy--and many

congressional staff met with one of the founders of Gaza

Community Mental Health Programme, Mr. Husam El Nounou, along

with Rebuilding Alliance board member from Jerusalem, Rabbi

Jeremy Milgrom, helping Mr. El Nounou return home when the

Gaza's borders were first blockaded in 2006.

I care about the Free Gaza Movement and the Americans,

Internationals, Israelis, and Palestinians who worked

together to steer their boats through international waters to

break the siege of Gaza last month. My friend and

Representative Lee's constituent, Paul Larudee, was on one of

those boats. It is important to recognize their nonviolent

activism and urge an end to the collective punishment of 1.4

million people in Gaza and speak out against using blockades

and siege as tools of diplomacy.

I care about the Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers who

are part of a group called Combatants for Peace. These are

Israeli former soldiers and Palestinians who have been in

Israeli jails who now pledge not to use violence, but instead

to work together for peace and justice. Their Palestinian

cofounder, Bassam Aramin, lost his daughter Abir to a

soldier's rubber coated bullet. Their Israeli cofounder, Elik

Elhanan, lost his sister when a suicide bomber detonated.

Together they and 500 more like them, choose peace.

Combatants for Peace has launched the Abir's Garden Project

to build playgrounds at Palestinian schools in memory of Abir

Aramin.

These are but four groups working to bring about a real

peace in Israel and Palestine. I look forward to inviting all

the peacemakers in each congressional district to forums with

their Representatives to describe their work for peace in

Israel and Palestine. Honorable Representatives, I hope each

of you will send letters of encouragement to those

Peacemakers in Israel and Palestine who they support.

H.Res 1369 moves beyond condemnation to begin a process of

recognition and encouragement.

I believe that this form of recognition can open doors and

I urge your support. To the peacemakers, may you know that

your work makes a difference. May you continue your efforts

and may the Congress of the United States join you to help

you realize your goals. To the honorable members of the U.S.

House of Representatives, I urge you to vote for H.Res. 1369

and recognize these and many more peacemakers in Israel and

Palestine. Please use your influence to keep them safe, help

them achieve their goals, and press for a negotiated peace

agreement between Israel and Palestine that is viable and

fair to all.

Sincerely,

Donna Baranski-Walker,

Executive Director of the Rebuilding Alliance.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

First, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to her entire family, especially her son Mervyn and her sister Barbara. I want to also offer my condolences to the constituents of Ohio's Eleventh Congressional District, to all of her many friends, her colleagues-- especially in the Congressional Black Caucus--and of course to her staff here in Washington and in Ohio.

On August 20, 2008 the people of Cleveland, this Nation and the world lost a giant in the fight for equality and justice when we lost my beloved friend and colleague Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

So many know Congresswoman Tubbs Jones for her exceptional work on behalf of her constituents and for the many barriers she broke and trails she blazed as the first African American woman elected to Congress from Ohio, as the first African American woman to serve on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, and as the first to chair the House Ethics Committee.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones and I came to Congress about the same time. We worked closely together for a decade and she was one of the most remarkable persons I have ever known. Whether it was standing up for Ohio voters and fighting for election reform or fighting to end the unjust war and occupation in Iraq, she always stood on the right side of justice.

She was a political giant, a skilled legislator, an incredible orator, but she was much more than that to me. She was also my sister in arms, my confidant, and my friend. We spent many an evening in Washington together throughout our decade long friendship.

From attending events together, to just grabbing dinner or an occasional down moment, we've spent a great deal of time throughout the years. We also spent many mornings together. You see Stephanie was also my gym partner along with Congresswoman Laura Richardson.

Stephanie and I also had the chance to travel together on several occasions to places like Cuba and Israel. I will always treasure those times and memories. It was during some of our travel together, and our work together for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, that I got the chance to know her husband, Mervyn Jones, whom she loved dearly and tragically lost in October 2003.

In the wake of his death, Stephanie created a scholarship golf tournament in his memory, which has become a successful annual event. I know she would be pleased that a scholarship has been now arranged in her honor.

Unquestionably, her passing has left a tremendous hole in the Congress, in the Congressional Black Caucus, and in my heart. I will miss my beautiful friend and sister, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones so very much.

My thoughts and prayers remain with the Congresswoman's entire family, her son Mervyn, her sister Barbara, her staff, her friends and her many supporters.

May her soul rest in peace..

Madam Speaker, due to personal matters, today I missed rollcall vote No. 585 on approving the Journal, rollcall vote No. 586 on H. Res. 1420 regarding the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, rollcall vote No. 587 on final passage of H.R. 6532 to restore the highway trust fund balance, and rollcall vote No. 588 on the motion to adjourn the House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of these four rollcall votes.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of a great woman, my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

First, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Stephanie's entire family, her son Merv and her sister Barbara. I also want to offer my condolences to the constituents of Ohio's 11th Congressional District, to all of Stephanie's many friends and colleagues, and, of course, to her staff here in Washington, DC and in Ohio.

On August 20th, the people of Cleveland, this Nation and the world lost a giant in the fight for equality and justice when we lost our beloved Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. When I walked on to the floor tonight, I looked for Stephanie. She wasn't in the Speaker's Chair presiding. She wasn't on the floor moving around, energizing and inspiring our deliberations. It is hard to accept the fact and to believe that her physical presence won't be with us anymore.

So many knew Stephanie Tubbs Jones for her exceptional work on behalf of her constituents and for the many barriers she broke and trails she blazed as the first African American woman elected to Congress from Ohio, as the first African American woman to serve on the Ways and Means Committee, and the first to chair the House Ethics Committee.

Congresswoman Tubbs Jones and I came to Congress about the same time. We worked closely together for a decade, and she was one of the most remarkable persons I have ever known. Whether it was standing up for Ohio voters and fighting for election reform, or fighting to end the unjust war and occupation of Iraq, she was always on the right side of history. And, like for many, Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a very, very good friend.

Friendship means different things to different people. Stephanie's friendship for me meant trust. She was my confidante. Stephanie's friendship for me meant support. Stephanie Tubbs Jones' friendship meant spending girl time, shopping, eating, traveling, talking about matters of the heart, like her man-child son Merv, who was her heart and her soul. Stephanie's friendship to me meant being for real in discussions about political and legislative issues. And Stephanie's friendship for me meant a lot of love.

I always remember last year when my father passed away, the love and concern for me and my family that she displayed. With the loss of her husband, her mother, her father and her sister, she assured me that I needed to grieve, and she called me day and night to make sure I wasn't planning on coming right back to work after the funeral. And, oh, how right she was.

From attending events together, to just grabbing dinner or an occasional down moment, we spent a great deal of time together throughout the years. Stephanie was my traveling partner. We shared magnificent experiences in Israel and in Cuba. I will always cherish those times and memories.

It was during some of our travel together and our work together for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation that I got the chance to know her husband, Mervyn Jones, whom she loved dearly and tragically lost in October of 2003. In the wake of his death, Stephanie created two very successful Golf and Bid Whist Tournaments in his memory through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. And she insisted that her friends and her colleagues participate with her.

She loved young people, and made sure that these annual events helped raise money for countless scholarships. I know she would be pleased that a scholarship now has been established in her memory.

Some have spoken of Stephanie's culinary experiences and skills. She would bring some of her fabulous chili here to share with us, and always loved to it share her recipes, especially her mustard-based fried catfish and her mother's fried corn recipe.

I can remember calling her on her cell one day. She was in a meeting in Cleveland while I was preparing her fried corn recipe. Of course, I didn't quite get it right, so she stepped out of this meeting and she walked me through this recipe, step by step.

We all have so many Stephanie stories. She was a woman for all seasons, a devoted mother, a devoted sister, a brilliant legislator, a dedicated representative of Ohio's 11th Congressional District, and she was a history maker, as the first African American woman to break many glass ceilings. And, yes, she was my trusted friend, a true friend, and a fabulous woman whose smile lifted us all up and forced us to be positive, even on days when we were down. Stephanie was my gym partner, as we both tried to get our physical fitness regimen back on track.

Yes, the Honorable, and that she was, Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones, was a great con- gressperson, and she never lost the common touch. She would help people find their seats on the airplane, she mentored young people, and she would constantly remind us to be strong advocates for working men and women. Recalling her father's work as a skycap, she never forgot who she was, and she used her positions to help those shut out and those underrepresented.

So, yes, we owe Stephanie Tubbs Jones a debt of gratitude. I thank her son Mervyn and her sister Barbara and her entire family for sharing this brilliant and beautiful woman with us. Her spirit is smiling tonight on us. It continues to move around this floor, nudging us to do the right thing.

May God's grace and His love undergird her family during these difficult days, and may we redouble our efforts in Stephanie's memory, our efforts for justice and peace and equality and to make this a better world for all.