Floor Statements

First, let me thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for her leadership and for her kind words, but also for her commitment to equal justice under the law.

As a former prosecutor, as a judge, your leadership and your clarity on these issues is deeply appreciated, and also for making sure that each week the Congressional Black Caucus has a voice on all of the issues that we are addressing in our country. This evening, yes, I would like to talk very briefly about the unfinished business of America as it relates to equal justice under the law.

Before I do that, let me just reflect for a minute on the contributions of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus. Any reflection on Congressional Black Caucus members' accomplishments in this Congress must begin with the recognition of the incredible leadership role members of the Congressional Black Caucus are playing. In addition to our great Democratic whip, Mr. Clyburn, from South Carolina, who is only the second African American to hold this position, more than half of our caucus members, 22 in all, are now serving as Chairs of committees and subcommittees. I have to salute and acknowledge, again, Madam Chair of the Ethics Committee tonight and her leadership, also, the first African American woman appointed to the Ways and Means Committee. It makes a difference to have, again, Stephanie Tubbs Jones's voice on both of those committees and also as a leader on both of those committees.

Also, in addition to the significant achievements in both legislation and oversight, the Congressional Black Caucus members have also continued to play a major role in so many issues. The CBC has been long referred to as the conscience of the Congress for our members' steadfast refusal to turn our backs on injustice and for our commitment to shining the spotlight of truth on issues of injustice and racial prejudice wherever they may arise. I am proud to say that in the 110th Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus has continued with this proud tradition. When Don Imus, once again, crossed the line and denigrated the women of the Rutgers women's basketball team, members of the Congressional Black Caucus were there to call him out, to document his long history of racially offensive remarks, and to help see to it that sponsors understood that supporting such behavior is just bad business.

More recently, we were part of the national call for justice for the six young people from Jena, Louisiana, whose case represents an example of racially biased justice, or injustice, that is too familiar for people of color around this Nation.

Let me address another issue which my colleague, our chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee, Mr. Thompson, just mentioned. Tomorrow, the Senate will hold a cloture vote on the confirmation of Judge Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. In August, when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send his nomination on the floor, I joined with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in speaking out against his nomination. I also expressed my profound, and I mean my very profound, disappointment as a Californian, first of all, and as an African American and as a woman, that a Senator from my home State, Senator Feinstein, would vote with the Republicans to bring the Southwick nomination to the Senate floor.

Numerous concerns had been raised about Judge Southwick's commitment to equal justice, which Congressman Thompson just enunciated. I have profound concerns about the commitment to equal justice and dignity of anyone who thinks that it is ever acceptable for someone to refer to someone else using the N word. The idea of elevating a person to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is, quite frankly, unacceptable. The fact is that the Fifth Circuit has the highest percentage of minority residents of any other circuit; yet all of the nominees over the last 22 years have been white. In fact, there is only one African American member of the court, and he is only the second since the court was created in 1869.

The recent case in Jena, Louisiana, shows the racism in the criminal justice system within the jurisdiction of the Fifth Circuit. The case in Jena makes it clear why we cannot afford to send anyone less than a civil rights champion to serve on this court, let alone someone with a record of hostility towards civil rights, someone who thinks that it is ever acceptable for someone to refer to someone else using the N word. We have come too far from the days of Jim Crow to tolerate the type of racist miscarriage of justice that we have seen in Jena and in the record of Judge Southwick.

If we are ever to overcome the legacy of racism in this Nation, we have a duty to our young people to see to it that the principle of equal justice is upheld. If we truly believe in our Nation's principle of equality before the law, then we have to make sure that everyone, regardless of race, is held equal before the law. So we are looking to our colleagues in the other body to take a stand for civil rights, to take a stand against racism, and to take a stand for justice and to block the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick.

In so doing, we will take another step in completing this unfinished business in our country that so many people fought and died for. So I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for once again stepping up to the plate, using her voice and her leadership to call for justice in our country and to help defeat the nomination of this individual, Judge Southwick.

In the California delegation, there are four African American Members of Congress: Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congresswoman Diane Watson, Congresswoman Laura Richardson, and myself.

Well, I know we attempted, on many occasions, to reach many Members of the Senate, including Senator Feinstein. We were not able to have a discussion at all about this nomination, which was really unfortunate, because I believe that people in California, all people in California, people of conscience, people of color, people on both sides of the aisle do not want to see a judge from the Fifth Circuit confirmed with this record, as Judge Southwick. We are very disappointed that we did not have the opportunity to have those conversations.

We have a very large Hispanic congressional delegation. I would believe there are probably, let's see, we have Congressman Xavier Becerra, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. We have Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. We have Dennis Cardoza. We have a very, very strong, very active and very committed delegation from our Latino communities.

They are the exact same issues that our Hispanic community raises. Also, the same issues that our Asian Pacific American community raises. In fact, to the extent that we decided several years ago to form what we called the Tri-Caucus, where I believe there are at least 73 votes that really do count and make a difference in this body, and so, yes, we are all on the same page as it relates to equal justice under the law.

Madam Speaker, House Republicans have now had 2 weeks to sift through the rhetoric and reality of the bipartisan children's health insurance bill that the President vetoed. When the President vetoed the bill, he said it was a step toward government-run health care. Surely, he can't believe that. If he understood the program, he would know that it is a Federal-State partnership to ensure that children have access to private health insurance.

The President also says that the bill attempts to expand the SCHIP program to upper middle class children who are not currently eligible. Again that is false. It does not expand the program. There are now about 12 million children who are eligible for SCHIP. Today we are reaching 6 million of those kids. Our legislation would allow us to reach an additional 4 million children who are already eligible for the program.

The President also says that our bill is too expensive. But he ignores the fact that it is fully paid for. And he is asking for $190 billion more to fund the occupation of Iraq. Even if the President does not make children his priority, let us do so by overriding his veto on Thursday. Republicans have had 2 weeks to realize that the President's reasons for vetoing this bill simply do not add up. So they should join us in overriding the veto.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding and also for his leadership as Chair of the committee for insisting that Congress exercise its constitutional responsibility of oversight of the executive branch.

The classification process is meant to protect State's secrets, not to cover administration's failed policies. The American people and Congress deserve honest answers about the extent of corruption in the Iraqi Government, and to what extent corruption is fueling the insurgency and endangering our troops. We deserve to know if our troops are dying to support a corrupt regime propped up with United States tax dollars.

But when the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform started to ask those questions, the State Department turned around and classified key sections of the report and testimony.

In a democracy, we do not run away from facts. We do not classify information just because it is embarrassing. Unfortunately, this administration has shown an alarming lack of interest in the facts. This incident looks more like the same kind of stuff we have seen coming from this administration that really wants to continue to keep our young men and women in harm's way knowing full well this is a civil war that cannot be won militarily. I urge my colleagues to support transparency and accountability and condemn this abuse of the classification process and to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, for her leadership and for her vision in making sure that really the conscience of America is heard on these Monday nights. And also let me thank Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones for her leadership and for her vigilance and also, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, for her strong voice on behalf of our country's children.

I rise tonight in strong support for overriding the President's misguided veto on the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Does the President want to relegate parents of sick children to frantic calls to 911, late night visits to emergency rooms, and tragic and preventable deaths due to undiagnosed illnesses? The Congress must say no and override his veto Thursday so that our children have access to regular checkups, preventative care, and a primary physician.

We must stand with the American people who overwhelmingly support increasing access to children's health care. We must stand with nearly every single health organization, every single children's organization in America, like the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children's Defense Fund, Easter Seals, the March of Dimes, and countless others who support their bill because they all understand the devastating impact of being uninsured.

We must stand with the largest health insurance trade association in the country, America's Health Insurance Plans, who praised expanding the State Children's Health Insurance Program as a vital step in ensuring the health security of millions of America's children.

Sadly, I believe, like many of us believe, that the President is totally disconnected from the reality of our children's lives. He has asked Congress for another $190 billion, $190 billion, to fund his occupation of Iraq, while he has vetoed a fraction of that amount for our children. This is a shortsighted assault on our Nation's children, and we cannot stand for it.

This program is one of the most successful programs in the Nation, and it should be reauthorized and it should be expanded.

When I was a State Senator in California, I helped write the California State program called Healthy Families, and now Healthy Families provides low-cost access to health care for over 800,000 children, more than any other State. The flexibility built into SCHIP has allowed California to provide access to health, dental, and vision coverage for children. And, also, let me just say that if this doesn't get overridden, we don't know what is going to happen in California, like in other States; so this needs to continue.

Comprehensive health coverage for children is also a very vital step towards eliminating the continuing health disparities that plague minority populations, including 800,000 Asian Pacific Americans, 1.4 million African Americans, and 3.4 million Hispanics.

Providing health care coverage for our children is one of the most cost-effective investments that America can make. Children are the least costly to provide coverage for, and giving children access to adequate primary health care will create a generation of healthier, better educated and, in the end, more productive adults.

It's mind-boggling that President Bush vetoed a children's health bill. It is a shame and disgrace that our children are not his priority. So the House must stand with America's 10 million children and vote ``yes'' to override his veto on Thursday. This is the right thing to do. Voting to override the President's veto is the moral and it is the ethical vote to cast. Our children deserve nothing less.

Let me thank my colleague again from Ohio, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, for making sure that the voice of children are heard once again on this floor.

He is totally incorrect, first of all, and I think that $3.50 example explains why he's incorrect.

It is about priorities, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones. It is about where we put our tax dollars. Do we care about securing the future of our country? Do we care about our children's future? And that is what this is about. He has asked for $190 billion, as I said earlier, to continue to fund this occupation in Iraq. Well, I would think that a pittance of that money, when we know how much this would cost, would go to cover our children. And our children deserve it.

When the President took office, we had a surplus in our country, and now we are in a deficit spending mode. And I will tell you, it is mortgaging and making our children pay for the mistakes of this administration. So we have to dig ourselves out of this. And I think this is a first step to making sure that our children are healthy enough to move forward to be able to take over and try to help figure out how they can secure this country for America's families and children.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the rule for H.R. 2895 and the underlying bill, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act.

As a former member of the Financial Services Committee, I helped author--along with our colleague Bernie Sanders and others--the first housing trust fund bill. I am so very pleased that our two great champions of housing, Chairwoman Waters and Chairman Frank have continued this legacy to bring this proposal before us today.

Quite frankly it's a real shame that in America we have so many people who have found the goal of simply finding shelter for themselves and their families so elusive.

I know that in my district in Oakland, where more than half of all renters are unable to afford the cost of a 2-bedroom apartment, many low-income families often have to choose between food or medicine and housing.

This doesn't have to be the case, Mr. Chairman. That's why this legislation is crucial.

By producing, rehabilitating, and preserving 1.5 million housing units over the next 10 years, this legislation will take steps to end the affordable housing crisis in our country.

By allocating up to $1 billion annually this bill will address one of the most serious social and economic problems facing our Nation.

By passing this bill, 75 percent of all funds will be used to benefit families at the poverty line or 30 percent of local area median income, bringing meaningful assistance to those most at need.

I urge my colleagues to support this important bill that will move our Nation forward in ensuring that all Americans have a decent place to live.

Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to commemorate a sad and very tragic anniversary in our Nation's history. Five years ago today, over my strong objections and the objections of many of my colleagues, Congress voted to authorize the use of force against Iraq.

This campaign of shock and awe was a campaign that shocked us all. It was hard to believe that this administration, based on what little information they had, would move in and bomb and invade Iraq.

I often wonder what would have happened had the House approved the amendment that I offered that would have allowed the United Nations inspectors to finish their jobs. If my amendment had passed, and from what I remember, there were about 72 ``yes'' votes on that amendment, inspectors would have made it clear what we believed then and what the world knows now, that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. And how sad it was to see a great general, military man, then Secretary of State, Secretary of State Colin Powell, go to the United Nations and cherry-pick information to present to the world to try to convince the world and to convince this Congress to vote to invade and bomb Iraq.

Five years later, the President's failed policy in Iraq has claimed the lives of more than 3,800 brave service men and women, nearly 30,000 wounded, and countless Iraqi civilians, and yet we heard many years ago that the mission was accomplished.

This has cost us more than $400 billion, nearly a half trillion dollars, with the President poised to ask for $200 billion more, and no end in sight. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has undermined our Nation's security and the security of the world.

Along with Congresswomen Lynn Woolsey and Maxine Waters, many of our colleagues in the Progressive Caucus and in the Out of Iraq Caucus have indicated that we in Congress have the power, and we know we have the power, it is a constitutional mandate and requirement, to end the President's failed policy in Iraq. And today, we worked together, over the last few weeks, to put together the information so that this morning we could release a poll today that shows that the American people support us in doing this.

The President wants to pretend that Congress's only choice is to provide funds that he has requested unconditionally or cut off funding for our troops. This is a false choice, and we cannot buy into that argument. We can use our constitutionally mandated appropriations power to end his failed policy, to protect our troops and contractors, and to bring them home. We have the power to fully fund redeployment, and that is what we must do.

Our poll found that 70 percent of those surveyed rejected giving the President further funding for Iraq without conditions, and people favored requiring funds be spent on redeployment over providing the administration funds without conditions. And this was by a 2-1 margin. So, with the support of the American people, we will continue to build support in Congress for fully funding redeployment.

We wrote to the President of the United States to indicate that that is the only way he will get our vote for any funds for this very tragic occupation and tragic civil war that we find ourselves in now. Now we have maybe 86, 87 Members who have committed to this strategy because they know that this is the only way we can end this.

The truth is, the President's ``stay the course'' strategy provides an exit strategy really for him at the expense of our troops. It allows him to run out the clock on his failed policy and to slip out the door, to leave the American people holding the bag.

How many of our troops should die so that the President can save face? How large of a sacrifice must we make of our children's and grandchildren's future so that the President can avoid just admitting that he was wrong?

The President is not going to take responsibility for this failed policy, we've seen that and we know that now, so the Congress must. We must act. And the best way for us to do that is to fully fund the safe, timely, and responsible redeployment of our troops and contractors from Iraq.

So on this somber anniversary, we must remind our colleagues of what happened and how we got to this place; but also we must stand tall and say we will bring our young men and women home, and we will end this occupation soon.

Madam Speaker, due to the passing of my father, on Wednesday, October 3, 2007, and Thursday, October 4, 2007, I missed rollcall vote Nos. 932 through 948. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the motion on ordering the previous question on the rule H. Res. 701; ``aye'' on the motion on ordering the previous question on the rule H. Res. 702; ``aye'' on H. Res. 702; ``aye'' on the Conyers amendment to H.R. 928; ``nay'' on the motion to recommit H.R. 928; ``aye'' on H.R. 928; ``aye'' on the motion to postpone the vote to override the president's veto of the children's health care bill; ``nay'' on the motion to recommit H.R. 2740; ``aye'' on H.R. 2740; ``aye'' on motion on ordering the previous question on the rule H. Res. 704; ``aye'' on the rule H. Res. 704; ``aye'' on the motion on ordering the previous question on the rule H. Res. 703; ``aye'' on the rule H. Res. 703; ``nay'' on the motion to recommit H.R. 3246; ``aye'' on H.R. 3246; ``nay'' on motion to recommit H.R. 3648; and ``aye'' on

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Master Artist Wan Ko Yee, a distinguished scholar who resides in the 9th District of California. His areas of expertise include literature, painting, sculpting, calligraphy, music, martial arts, and traditional medicine. As a professor at Auburn University, Master Yee is a well renowned author, researcher, and philosopher. He has created exceptional work exhibited throughout the world. His work reflects Buddhist themes and the ideas of tolerance and peace between nations. He is recognized as a pioneer in creating multi-colored sculptures.

In 2003, the United States Congress displayed selected work from Master Yee during an art exhibition held in the Gold Room in the House Office Building. He has been recognized by the Royal Academy of Arts of the United Kingdom, and the Organization of American States.

I commend Master Wan Ko Yee's artistic contributions and his efforts to promote peace through the arts and cultural exchange.

Madam Speaker, due to the passing of my father, on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 I missed rollcall votes nos. 927 through 931. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on H.R. 3087 and ``yea'' on H. Res. 635, H. Con. Res. 203, H.R. 2828, and H. Con. Res. 200.

Madam Speaker, due to the passing of my father, on Monday, October 1, 2007 I missed rollcall vote nos. 924, 925 and 926. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on H. Con. Res. 185, H.R. 2276, and H.R. 3325.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Master Artist Wan Ko Yee, a distinguished scholar who resides in the 9th District of California. His areas of expertise include literature, painting, sculpting, calligraphy, music, martial arts, and traditional medicine. As a professor at Auburn University, Master Yee is a well renowned author, researcher, and philosopher. He has created exceptional work exhibited throughout the world. His work reflects Buddhist themes and the ideas of tolerance and peace between nations. He is recognized as a pioneer in creating multi-colored sculptures.

In 2003, the United States Congress displayed selected work from Master Yee during an art exhibition held in the Gold Room in the House Office Building. He has been recognized by the Royal Academy of Arts of the United Kingdom, and the Organization of American States.

I commend Master Wan Ko Yee's artistic contributions and his efforts to promote peace through the arts and cultural exchange.

Mr. Speaker, as a staunch supporter of United States efforts to curb nuclear weapons proliferation, I am deeply concerned about Iran's nuclear program and its potential to lead to weapons development. This is especially troubling in light of the hateful and unfounded comments of Iran's President Amadenajad towards Israel, our friend and partner in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I voted against H.R. 1400 today because it is a fatally flawed approach to preventing Iran from acquiring such weapons out of its nuclear program. Instead, we should be adopting a comprehensive strategy to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, for only that will work. A comprehensive strategy includes diplomacy and incentives for Iran, and not just harsher sanctions alone, as this bill provides.

Mr. Speaker, first let me thank Congresswoman Waters for yielding and for introducing H.R. 1943, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act, and for your leadership on so many issues. But I just want to talk very briefly about what has happened since 1998 under your leadership when you were Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

I can remember when I was first elected in 1998, one of the first efforts that I was involved in with Congresswoman Waters, then as Chair, was calling together a national meeting on a moment's notice. I think we had maybe 2 weeks, 10 days to bring people from around the country here to Washington, DC to talk about a bold response to HIV and AIDS, especially

here in the African American community given the devastation and the disproportionate rates that our communities are faced with.

Out of that meeting, and it was truly a grassroots meeting in Washington, DC on Capitol Hill, we came up with several plans, several strategies, one of which was the idea to establish the Minority AIDS Initiative. Congresswoman Waters not only talked about why we needed to have a separate pot of money that would track the disease and track prevention, treatment, and education efforts around HIV and AIDS, but also she worked to make sure that happened and oftentimes was the lone voice in the wilderness calling for this.

Well, fast forward. So much has happened since then. We were in Toronto, Canada last year, and Congresswoman Waters, myself, Congresswoman Christensen, we said we have got to take on some tougher issues now because this disease is really getting worse, and the unfortunate reality is that to be black in America is to be at greater risk of HIV and AIDS. And I will never forget her saying: Now, I am going to do something really bold when I get back; now, just get ready for it.

And it was amazing to see how she moved forward with this bill, the Stop AIDS in Prison Act to help us move one step closer to our goal by providing this opt-out testing, treatment, and education at all Federal prison facilities. And she knew that it was going to be controversial, which it was.

But as I listened to the list of supporters and those organizations that have endorsed the bill, I want to just say that this is a real testament to making sure that people understood, the country understood why this bill was necessary and needed, and how she brought people together and organizations together to get this bill to the floor today.

And so it is a good day, Congresswoman Waters, and I want to thank you so much for stepping out there once again, because it is an example of what we need to do to make sure that we take on the tough issues that we are taking on.

Finally, let me say, as part of our comprehensive strategy, I am working on a bill which Congresswoman Waters has supported, H.R. 178, called The Justice Act, which would allow for condom distribution in Federal prisons as well as in State prisons, and that is something that we need to do. We have got to fund the Ryan White Care Act and the Minority AIDS Initiative this year. I think we asked for at least $610 million.

We have a long way to go and there are many now, thank goodness, bills that are coming before this body that will allow for a strong, robust response. This is really one of the major pieces of legislation that are central to this overall agenda.

Finally, let me say, we join the Black AIDS Institute to call for a national mobilization and a national plan to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America. And, in fact, this plan is bold. It is going to move forward in a very aggressive way. We must employ every strategy that we can to stamp this from the face of the Earth. And so today is another day that we are making one major step in the right direction. And again, Congresswoman Waters, thank you for your leadership and for yielding, and congratulations.

First, Mr. Speaker, let me just thank my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership, especially our Chair, Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, who has done such a wonderful job keeping us focused on ``Changing Course, Confronting Crises and Continuing the Legacy.''

I also want to thank the Chair of our Ethics Committee, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones for her leadership on so many issues and also for her service on the House Ways and Means Committee. She has truly made history as the first African American woman serving on that committee, and as we heard tonight, her commitment to children's health care is remarkable, and she has done so much on behalf of our children, and so I thank Mrs. Jones for her leadership and for this Special Order.

Let me first rise in solidarity with the tens of thousands of people around our Nation who took to the streets last week to protest the miscarriage of justice that has taken place in Jena, Louisiana.

Students in my district are as outraged as students throughout the country. The case of the Jena Six is yet another example of the institutional racism in our criminal justice system, and it is unacceptable.

We have come so far from the days of Jim Crow, but incidents like this one should serve as a solemn reminder of just how much further we must go in seeking liberty and justice for all.

Just with Katrina, the Jena Six demonstrates in a glaring and tragic manner the unfinished business of America. Unfortunately, these are issues in many instances of black and white.

If we are ever to overcome the tragic legacy of racism in this Nation, we have a duty to our young people to see to it that the principle of equal justice is upheld. If we truly believe in our Nation's principle of equality under the law, then we must make sure that everyone, regardless of race, is held equal under the law.

There are Jenas everywhere in America, and it's not just where nooses are hung from trees. Just look at the injustice and the ramifications of mandatory minimum sentences and three strikes laws. Young black men have received sentences under these laws totally disproportionate to the crime committed. It's time for America to wake up and begin to complete this unfinished business.

Now, let me just briefly talk about children's health care and say in no uncertain terms that it's really incredibly irresponsible and downright shameful that the President really does not support children's health care.

SCHIP is one of the most successful programs in our Nation, facilitating coverage for 6 million children. When I was in the State legislature, along with Congresswoman Hilda Solis and now-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, we wrote the Healthy Families program, which was the California SCHIP initiative. We were then and continue to be committed to extending the reach of the program as much as possible with the available resources, and now Healthy Families in California provides low-cost access to health care for over 800,000 children, more than any other State.

The flexibility built into SCHIP has allowed California to provide access to health, dental and vision coverage for the children that it serves, and we must continue to support that vital mission.

Providing health care coverage for our children is one of the most cost-effective investments that America can make. Children are the least costly to provide coverage for, and giving children access to adequate primary health care will create a generation of healthier, better educated and, in the end, more productive adults.

Under the Bush administration, the number of uninsured Americans has continued to grow. Employers continue to cut coverage and shift more of the burden to employees as costs continue to rise, but the SCHIP program has slowed the growth for our Nation's children.

Additionally, comprehensive health coverage for children is an important step towards eliminating the growing, continuing, huge health disparities that plague minority populations, including 800,000 Asian Pacific Americans, 1.4 million African Americans, and 3.4 million Latinos.

Minority children make up more than 5 million of the 9 million uninsured children. These children are more than twice as likely as white children to die before their first birthday, and these mortality rates are a direct result of these children being uninsured.

So, quite frankly, I think it's two months of the funding for this occupation of Iraq, this funding would cover every child in America for a year. It is a tragedy that children's health care has not been funded at the level that we're funding the occupation of Iraq.

Now, unfortunately, I have to say it seems like the President is waging war against our children, and I hope that the American people hold him accountable.

I thank you for organizing this Special Order tonight.

Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007. I want to thank Chairman Frank and Chairwoman Waters for their leadership and their commitment to revitalize the FHA and provide critical assistance to those who have been affected by this crisis, which is, unfortunately, reverberating across our country and the entire world.

Many hardworking Americans that may otherwise not have been able to qualify for a loan were lured into a fantasy universe of low rates and even lower payments by unscrupulous lenders. However, reality has kicked in, and those most affected are the elderly, single parents, and members of minority populations.

This bill is a critical first step to help those who have been caught up in this nightmare. For instance, current FHA rules prevent the FHA from making loans beyond the local median home price. This bill will increase loan limits to make FHA relevant in those areas. This is a crucial fix which will provide assistance in high markets like mine in California in the Ninth Congressional District in Northern California.

This bill also increases funding for housing counseling, which helps to ensure that those who achieve the American Dream of owning a home can keep

it. With a good job and good credit, this bill will allow, for instance, those who want to deal with down-payment assistance to qualify for a loan by providing that down-payment assistance. It addresses authorizing a zero or lower down payment on loans for borrowers.

I want to thank Congresswoman Waters and Mr. Frank for making housing an important national priority.