Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution mourning the loss of the seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia and expressing our deepest sympathies to the loved ones they left behind.

For those of us on the ground, space shuttle flights sometimes almost seem routine. But to those brave few who actually achieve space flight, it is anything but ordinary--in its glories, in its possibilities, and in its risks.

On Saturday we watched in horror as the Columbia came crashing down to earth. Our hearts and prayers go out to the friends and families of those on board.

Seven courageous souls reaching for the stars were aboard. Israel lost a beloved son, and India a native daughter who first went out into the world and then dared to soar above it; those nations join us in our grief. All seven on board--Commander Rick Husband; Pilot William McCool; Mission Specialists Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, and Laurel Clark; and Payload Specialist Ilan Ramon--were explorers, fliers, scientists, and heroes.

Astronauts floating in space are almost always awestruck by the beauty of the earth shining before them and they often comment on how peaceful our planet looks from space. As they were returning home, filled with thoughts no doubt of the family and friends awaiting them, I hope such a vision comforted these seven brave souls.

The 19th Psalm begins, ``The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.'' The crew of the Columbia reached upward to get a closer look at that handiwork, and though today we deeply mourn their deaths, we also celebrate their lives.

To the parents, husbands, wives, friends, and especially the children of those who were lost, our hearts and prayers are with you as we too mourn their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great spiritual and civic leader, Pastor Herbert Guice for his lifetime of ministry. In addition, he has been a tireless champion of education, empowerment, and equality for more than 89 years.

Reared by his mother, Mrs. Eulee Guice, Reverend Doctor Herbert Guice was born in Rentisville, OK. The family later moved to Kansas City, MO, where he and his younger brother grew up and where he attended Lincoln High School and Baptist Seminary. In 1942, he moved to Oakland, CA, and in 1953, he organized Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, the first Black church founded in Alameda. Bethel Missionary was the first modern Black church built from the ground up.

Pastor Guice has provided broad civic and community leadership as: organizer and first president of the Alameda branch of the NAACP; executive board member, Alameda Red Cross; Chair of the Board of Directors of the Oakland Industrial Corporation; Advisory Committee member for the Oakland Unified School District. He has also served on the Adult Minority Employment Project and Oakland Economic Development Council, the Alameda County Welfare Advisory Committee, and was president of the Baptist Ministers Union.

In 1961, Reverend Doctor Guice established an educational and scholarship program which has awarded over $1 million dollars to over 3,000 students. He instituted the Bethel Baptist Church Job Placement Program in 1971, providing full-time and part-time job placements for 2,500 young people and adults. In 1983, Pastor Guice led the church's efforts to purchase a lot and construct the Dr. Herbert Guice Christian Academy for pre-school through sixth grade, which was completed in 1997. The sixth grade class of June 2002 was the first graduating class of the Academy.

Finally, as we honor Pastor Guice today, I want to thank him on behalf of the entire 9th, Congressional District for being an exemplary role model, pastor, and preacher. Pastor Guice is known, acknowledged, and appreciated as, ``an originator not an imitator.'' He has been a friend who has shared his wisdom and has given me tremendous support. Most of all, I thank Pastor Guice for his indomitable spirit and his prayers.

I take great pride in joining Reverend Doctor Guice's friends and colleagues to salute the extraordinary Herbert Guice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this closed rule and to speak about the need for extending unemployment benefits. I'm happy to see that our Republican colleagues have finally gotten around to agreeing with us that the working people of this country need help in the economic downturn that is plaguing our country. Democrats tried to pass emergency extensions for unemployed workers across the country during our November session, but the Republican leadership only wanted to extend benefits for unemployed workers in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.

What did this legislative delay mean for my 9th California district? It meant that three days after Christmas almost 7,500 in the Oakland metropolitan area lost their federal extended unemployment benefits. It meant that these people, who are already struggling in an environment of high housing costs, are struggling to survive. It meant that in an economy that is already miserable we had fewer spending consumers.

I applaud the fact that the Republicans have agreed to extend unemployment benefits, and I will vote for this legislation. But I also want to insist that we do more. For those people who have exhausted their benefits, for instance, the President's plan provides no more help. On the other hand, the Democratic legislation would provide 13 weeks more of benefits for those who have already exhausted their extended federal benefits, perhaps the people with the greatest need.

President Bush's so-called economic stimulus package spends billions to fatten the wallets of the wealthy, but our plan focuses aid on lower- and middle-class workers who need that help immediately.

That's why I urge a ``no'' vote on this closed rule.

Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, it is with a deep sense of sadness today that I rise to express my sense of sorrow upon learning of the death of a great lawyer, a courageous civil libertarian, a constituent, a very valued and very supportive constituent, a devoted husband and father, Joe Remcho.

I had the privilege to know Joe for many years and benefited from his advice, his counsel, and his steadiness. Joe had a keen intellect, a gentle heart, and a passion for justice. He took on difficult cases because he believed in the correctness of the cause, not in the glory of the moment. Joe Remcho was a humble man. He was a humble human being who exemplified all of the values we hold so dear.

My heart is very heavy today. We have lost an unsung hero to an untimely and sad and tragic death. His family--his wife, Ronnie, and his children, Morgan and Sam, have lost a great husband and father. To his family and to all of those who are close to Joe, I just want to say may he rest in peace. We send our condolences. May God bless him.