Floor Statements

I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, we're voting on a tax package that gives away $139 billion in tax breaks to the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans over the next 2 years in exchange for $57 billion in unemployment compensation benefits for the next 13 months. The math just doesn't add up.

Many Members are opposed to this bill because it's bad economic policy. But it's also morally wrong. Last Friday, the Congressional Black Caucus, led by Congressman Bobby Scott, a member of the Budget Committee, proposed a fair deal by eliminating the tax giveaway to the richest in our country and by extending the middle-income tax cuts, unemployment insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Build America Bonds, affordable housing provisions, and the earned income and child care tax credit. Our proposal would also protect Social Security by offering a tax rebate instead of a payroll tax holiday to ensure that Social Security is not cut in the future, and it would create the same amount of jobs at half the cost.

We should let the Bush tax break for the rich expire. Period. Extending them for another 2 years digs us deeper into this deficit hole--and we know who will end up paying for it. It won't be the rich. It will be the poor, low-income communities, and communities of color, who lack well-paid lobbyists to look out for their interests here on Capitol Hill. I am reminded also of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., called to our attention: ``A bad check such as the one being written today will come back marked `insufficient funds.' ''

Instead of stuffing the stockings of the super rich, we need to stimulate direct job creation and economic recovery efforts. And we should not leave the chronically unemployed, those who have exhausted their 99 weeks of unemployment compensation, out of this deal. They should not be left out in the cold due to insufficient funds.

We should not allow the other side of the aisle to shove these tax breaks for the super rich down our throats in exchange for middle- income tax breaks.

As AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said yesterday in opposition to this bill, ``Working families must not continue to bear the cost of unnecessary giveaways to the wealthiest,'' due to insufficient funds.

Congressional Black Caucus Alternative to the President's Compromise

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are

overwhelmingly opposed to the President's compromise with

Republicans on extending all of the Bush-era tax cuts for two

years. While we are an ideologically diverse Caucus, the CBC

has reached a consensus that we cannot support extending the

Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans; we can

support moving forward on the following:

A 13-month extension of Emergency Unemployment Insurance

Benefits plus additional assistance for the chronically

unemployed--those Americans who have been unable to find work

for more than 99 weeks.

A payroll tax holiday or equivalent payment, such as a tax

rebate check, with guarantees that Social Security will not

be deprived of revenue.

Targeted tax relief through a 2-year extension of the Bush-

era tax cuts for hardworking middle- and low-income families

and extending the enhanced provisions included in the

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the Earned Income

Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and the American

Opportunity Tax Credit.

The CBC proposal will cost less than half of the

President's proposed trillion dollar compromise.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are keenly aware

of the day-to-day struggles of hardworking American families

and the unemployed. In the long-run, we believe permanently

extending the Bush-era tax cuts will add trillions of dollars

to our national debt thus jeopardizing the fiscal solvency of

the United States Government.

This nation has difficult decisions to make in the years

ahead and the CBC believes that vital programs, such as

public education funding, financial aid for students to go to

college, child nutrition programs, Veterans benefits, Social

Security and Medicare, will all be put at risk if we

permanently extend all of the Bush-era tax cuts. We believe

the benefits of these vital programs to all Americans,

especially to middle- and low-income Americans, far outweigh

any tax cut.

It will take strong political will to make the tough

choices necessary to bring our fiscal house in order. One

such choice the Caucus made was to consider and reject

support for the proposed reduction in the estate tax, which

has a two year price tag of $60 billion and only benefits the

wealthiest 2% of American families. Rejecting that choice is

particularly timely in light of the recent defeat of a $250

payment to struggling Social Security recipients who are

going another year without a Cost-of-Living-Adjustment. As we

move ahead on ways to accelerate our economic recovery and

balance our budget, the CBC stands ready to assist the

President in a meaningful and responsible way.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Matthew Abbate, Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps. Loved and respected by his family, friends and fellow Marines, Sergeant Abbate was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan on December 2, 2010. It was his second tour of duty.

At just 26 years of age, Sergeant Abbate had already accomplished many things--including his life-long dream of joining the Marine Corps. He had traveled the world, started a family, and achieved satisfaction and recognition in his military career.

Sergeant Abbate grew up in Piedmont, California with his father Sal Abbate, a local business owner, and his stepmother Jane

Whitfield. He attended Beach Elementary School, Piedmont Middle School and Piedmont High School for his freshman year, before residing with his mother and stepfather, Karen and James Binion, in Fresno, California. As a youth, Matthew Abbate was charming, athletic, independent and free-spirited. After graduating from high school in 2002, he moved to Hawaii in search of work that would support his interest in world travel.

As an employee on the Norwegian Star cruise ship, he enjoyed adventures throughout Asia and the Pacific, including Thailand, Australia, Fiji and the Panama Canal. Following those travels, he attained his goal of enlisting in the Marine Corps, and, by the age of 20, was training for his first 10-month tour of duty in Iraq.

Sergeant Abbate's passion and steadfast dedication to the Corps led him to re-enlist after finishing his first tour, and to spend a year in sniper training. Just three months into his mission in Afghanistan, Sergeant Abbate's commitment to service resulted in the ultimate sacrifice.

Among the many sources of pride Sergeant Abbate found in being a Marine, the brotherhood he had with his fellow troops was foremost. He was a stalwart team member and a leader who inspired his peers to vote him as the Marine they'd most like to be.

As we gather in remembrance, we celebrate the life of a man who took great pride in being a loving father, a good person and a brave Marine. Sergeant Abbate leaves behind an extended network of loved ones, including his wife, Stacie Rigall, his two-year-old son, Carson, his parents, stepparents and four siblings.

His contributions to our nation will be remembered for generations to come, and his legacy continues in the hearts of those whose lives he touched in remarkable ways.

Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors United States Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Thomas Abbate. His exemplary spirit and sense of public duty will continue to guide others toward courage, fortitude, selflessness and service. Sergeant Matt Abbate was truly a great man and he will be deeply missed. May his soul rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the more than 800,000 young people looking to make better lives for themselves. I stand with these children and the DREAM Act because it's smart for the future of our country. But it's the right thing to do for these young people.

The DREAM Act does not reward illegality. It provides the opportunity to achieve the American dream for a select group of students who deserve to realize this dream. Shall we further punish these 800,000 young people through deportation or by keeping them in legal limbo, or should we allow these highly motivated youth to attend colleges and become productive members of our society? The answer really should be quite obvious.

I support the DREAM Act because it is in, of course, our national interest, but it reflects the best of our American values and it is long overdue. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say the overwhelming majority of the Congressional Black Caucus supports the 800,000 young people who will be able now, if we pass this, will be able to live the American Dream. It's in our national interest to pass this. But more importantly, this is the right thing to do.

Please vote for the DREAM Act. This is an important moment in our country's history. This demonstrates our

American values and who we are as a people.

Madam Speaker, today I missed rollcall vote No. 583 on H. Res. 1736. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus it is with great pleasure and pride that I rise today to extend my best wishes to Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick as she prepares to retire from the United States Congress after 14 years of service to the people of the 13th congressional district of Michigan and our nation.

Congresswoman Kilpatrick was an exemplary chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who I served with as First Vice Chair during the 110th Congress. I have also had the pleasure of serving with Congresswoman Kilpatrick as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where she has been a forceful advocate for her constituents and the state of Michigan. A brilliant and focused lawmaker, Congresswoman Kilpatrick is known for her inspirational leadership, her outstanding passion for public service, and her steadfast commitment to education and equality.

While serving on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Kilpatrick has worked to level the

playing field for minority-owned media outlets and advertising firms that face discrimination from major advertisers. Spearheading a movement to foster greater equity, she hosted groundbreaking forums on diversity in advertising and was a leading force in the successful effort to secure a Presidential Executive Order compelling all federal agencies to increase their contractual opportunities with minority businesses.

Prior to coming to Washington, Congresswoman Kilpatrick was a devoted mentor and educator who taught Business Education in the Detroit Public School system. From there, she was elected to the Michigan State House, where she served for 18 years and made history as the first African American woman to serve on the Michigan House Appropriations Committee. A tremendous role model to her students, supporters, colleagues, constituents and fellow Michigan residents, Congresswoman Kilpatrick has consistently demonstrated a pioneering fearlessness throughout her career.

She established the Sojourner Truth Project to inspire young African American women to be leaders, and has developed many projects to underscore her deep commitment to secure future opportunities for our young people. And, as an international leader, Congresswoman Kilpatrick has led efforts to enhance trade, cultural and educational efforts between the American people and the people of Africa. She has led delegations abroad to solidify these ties, including leading the Congressional delegation to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the independence of Ghana. Congresswoman Kilpatrick has long been a strong voice for a rational United States foreign and military policy, and her unique insight will be missed by colleagues and friends throughout Washington, DC.

Congresswoman Kilpatrick is a superb legislator and public servant, who throughout her illustrious career has always given voice to the voiceless and demonstrated an unyielding commitment to improving the human condition. There is no doubt that Congresswoman Kilpatrick has made an indelible mark on the world, and that she will continue to contribute the strength of her spirit, compassion, and intellect as she moves forward to this next chapter.

On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I honor and salute Congresswoman Kilpatrick for her legacy of service to the residents of Michigan's 13th congressional district, to the American people, and to our global family.

Let me first thank the chairman for his leadership and for yielding and for his longstanding commitment and support for child nutrition programs and for our children.

On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, first of all I want to thank our Speaker, Congresswoman DeLauro, and, again, Chairman Miller for their leadership. I have to thank the First Lady for her commitment to child nutrition and for launching the Let's Move program to fight childhood obesity. This program supports the First Lady's goal by reauthorizing and expanding our child nutrition programs to provide healthy, nutritious meals to our Nation's needy children.

The Census Bureau's latest poverty statistics show that poverty is rampant throughout America in both Democratic and Republican districts.

Let me just say, Madam Speaker, I personally know the value of these child nutrition programs. When I was a single mother on public assistance, raising two sons and going to college, I relied on school lunch programs for my children and I was on food stamps. This was really the only way, mind you, that I could feed my kids during some very difficult times.

Unfortunately, this bill, however, feeds low-income children at the expense of the food stamp program. I know that the President and First Lady share this concern--I know Chairman Miller, our Speaker, Congresswoman DeLauro, the entire body shares this concern--and I know that the President will do everything that he can do to restore these unconscionable cuts, as he guaranteed to us yesterday. He has a deep commitment to our children and to our families, and his leadership on this bill really does demonstrate that.

Today, more people are falling into poverty. Unemployment is at 9.6 percent, and double that in the black and Latino communities. We've got record foreclosures, and we still haven't

passed an unemployment insurance compensation benefit package. We haven't extended this for those who desperately need help.

Addressing the deficit on the backs of the poor while arguing for a $700 billion tax cut for the wealthy is really not who we are as a country. So I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us, to join the CBC in supporting this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

This really should not be a Republican or a Democratic or a Green or an Independent issue. Providing a safety net for those in need during dire economic times is a moral and ethical responsibility that we have.

The Congressional Black Caucus, of course, has always been known as the ``conscience of the Congress,'' and we recognize that, while not perfect, this is a bill that will create healthier children, healthier families, and a healthier country.

And so we thank President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Miller, and our leadership team for moving this bill forward, and we look forward to continuing to work with you to restore the cuts which have been made to the food stamp program.

[From the Census Bureau]

United States--Congressional Districts by State; and for Puerto Rico

(111th Congress)

GCT1701. Percent of People Below Poverty Level in the Past 12

Months (For Whom Poverty Status Is Determined)

Universe: Population for whom poverty status is determined

Data Set: 2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Survey: American Community Survey, Puerto Rico Community

Survey

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the recent successful efforts of the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute (MCLI) in persuading the California State Assembly and Senate to adopt Assembly Member Bill Monning's ACR 129, making California the first state in the nation to agree to publicize the text of three, U.S- ratified U.N. human rights treaties, and to make the required periodic reports on race discrimination, police conduct, health care, prison conditions, treatment of the homeless, immigrant rights and many other violations of civil and political rights in all cities, counties and state agencies.

Templates will be furnished for the state-wide reports, which seek ultimately to protect all civil rights, including those of arrested people, the unemployed, welfare applicants, members of the LGBT community, the disabled, children, seniors and union members.

The treaties and protocols included in ACR 129 are: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD); and Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), ratified by the U.S. in 1992 and 1994. Two Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, ratified by the U.S. on December 23, 2002, are also covered. Yet, there is still much that can be done to ensure compliance with these treaties.

MCLI was founded in 1965 and soon established its Human Rights Reporting Project dedicated to educating lawyers, legal workers, judges, legislators, and non-governmental organizations on existing international human rights law.

Under the U.S. Constitution, Article VI, Clause 2, a treaty is the supreme law of the land and its terms apply to state governments. These treaties require that their terms be publicized and that periodic reports be made at the federal and local levels. However, until attorney Ann Fagan Ginger of MCLI proposed the resolution, no state had publicized the treaty text or submitted information to be included in U.S. reports to the U.N. Committees administering the treaties.

In 2008, MCLI persuaded the Berkeley City Commission on Peace and Justice to ask Berkeley City Council to require that each of its agencies prepare periodic activity reports and submit them to the U.S. Department of State for inclusion in its reports to the four U.N. Committees. On September 29, 2009, the Berkeley City Council adopted the United Nations Treaty Reports resolution on the basis that the human rights treaties reporting process had heightened concern about human rights in the city.

On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I want to extend my congratulations on this important milestone for the State of California. Thank you, MCLI staff and supporters, for all that you do to promote and protect human rights throughout the United States. I wish you continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Michael I. Jordan, who this year was inducted as a Fellow into both the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences, a dual honor that has not been achieved in the past 150 years. In the sheer rarity of earning two invitations into separate Academies in the same year, Dr. Jordan distinguishes himself in the international science community, as well as in our Bay Area constituency, for his immense contributions to academia and the greater good.

After receiving a bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in Psychology from Louisiana State University in 1978, Dr. Jordan went on to complete a master's degree in Mathematics (Statistics) at Arizona State University and a PhD in Cognitive Science from the University of California, San Diego. Prior to being recruited to the University of California, Berkeley in 1998, Dr. Jordan served for 10 years as a faculty member of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Jordan currently serves as the Pehong Chen Distinguished Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Department of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Jordan's scholarly work focuses on statistical machine learning, Bayesian nonparametric statistics, graphical models, as well as human

motor control and speech production. Additionally, he has authored or edited over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles, 39 book chapters and six books.

Dr. Jordan is a devoted member of many professional organizations and has received myriad accolades throughout his career, including the 2009 ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award and the 2006 IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Award. He is also a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and President of the International Society for Bayesian Analysis (2010-2011).

Moreover, Dr. Jordan's status as an internationally recognized, eminent scientist has allowed him to travel throughout the world to provide hundreds of invited lectures and scientific presentations at refereed conferences.

On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I want to thank Dr. Michael I. Jordan for his groundbreaking scientific work. We congratulate Dr. Jordan on his acceptance into both The National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Sciences, and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, small businesses are job creators. During this economic downturn, it is very important to support the engines of our economy which created two-thirds of the new jobs over the past 15 years.

As a former small business owner for 11 years, I personally know what it takes to create jobs. For the life of me, I can't understand why Republicans have opposed the eight tax cuts for small businesses and the $30 billion lending fund for small businesses and community banks that will create $300 billion in investments.

Republicans continue to deny small businesses the pro-growth initiatives that will help create jobs. Their true motives, to favor big business over small business, Wall Street over Main Street, and the wealthy over the middle class and the poor, have been exposed.

Democrats are working day and night to help America recover from the Republican recession. Republicans should really try to make up for shattering the lives of millions by at least supporting small businesses to help turn the economy around.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 60th Anniversary of Children's Fairyland, the quintessential storybook park on the shores of Oakland's Lake Merritt. Since its debut in 1950, Fairyland has been an affordable and charming haven for children to play, dream and explore the reaches of their imaginations.

It was the vision of local businessman Arthur Navlet in 1948 that led to the civic-minded Lake Merritt Breakfast Club's endorsement of an innovative children's park consisting of fairytale and storybook sets, farm animals and live entertainment for families. With the support of Oakland's Parks Superintendent William Penn Mott, Jr., the Breakfast Club's record-breaking fundraising efforts, and the creative design of architect William Russell Everitt, Fairyland opened its gates on September 2, 1950.

Word of the whimsical attraction soon spread, due in large part to the efforts of City of Oakland Parks and Recreation information representative Burton Weber, who helped to create publicity through the famed ``Fairyland Personalities'' program for eight- to 10-year-old community representatives. Since then, Fairyland has enchanted countless children and families throughout the nation, and its success has relied on the commitment and ingenuity of generations of volunteers, community leaders, patrons and staff.

One of Children's Fairyland's famed visitors was the then unknown, Walt Disney. In fact, it is believed that the park inspired some of the ideas for his world-famous Disneyland Magic Kingdom, which opened in southern California in 1955.

In the early 1990s, after falling into some disrepair, Fairyland enjoyed a renaissance when its long-time patrons and supporters in the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club proposed that it become a nonprofit organization. Now, as a 501(c)(3) organization, Children's Fairyland can apply for grant funding to support its upkeep and growth. Part of Fairyland's universal appeal is its simple ability to entertain all types of families, especially the underserved. Through a grant from Alameda County's Every Child Counts, Fairyland currently waives the cost of admission for approximately 4,000 low-income children each year.

In a rapidly changing 21st century, Fairyland is a local treasure--a place where both children and adults can find the time and space to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. While it hearkens back to times of pastoral bliss and fanciful characters, it also provides a sense of timelessness and calm in the midst of an urban city. Fairyland's long list of accolades includes being named ``Best of the Bay'' from the San Francisco Chronicle, ``Best Amusement Park'' and ``Best Children's Theater'' from Bay Area Parent, and ``Best Birthday Party'' from Diablo Magazine.

On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I want to extend my congratulations on this important milestone. I want to thank all of the many people who have contributed to the continued success of Children's Fairyland. I wish you the very best.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. David Harold Blackwell, world-famous statistician, the first African American inducted into the National Academy of Sciences, professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, and the university's first African American tenured faculty member. He was an elegant theoretician, an accomplished scholar and a devoted friend, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and colleague. Dr. Blackwell passed away on Thursday, July 8, 2010, in Berkeley, California, at the age of 91.

Born April 24, 1919, David Harold Blackwell was the oldest of Mr. and Mrs. Grover and Mabel Blackwell's four children. During his humble upbringing in Centralia, Illinois, David taught himself to read by studying the labels of supplies at his grandfather's store. In 1935, at the age of 16, he entered the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign with plans to become an elementary school teacher. At a time when there were no African American professors, David Blackwell graduated with a B.A. in mathematics and continued at the university, earning a master's degree in 1939, and a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1941, at the age of 22.

After being awarded a Rosenwald Fellowship for black scholars and winning a top fellowship to Princeton University's Institute for Advanced Study, Dr. Blackwell experienced the first of several career obstacles caused by racial prejudice. Undaunted by unequal treatment at Princeton and a blocked appointment at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Blackwell sent out applications to over a hundred black colleges. He eventually joined the faculty at Howard University in 1944, fast becoming the head of the mathematics department.

A lecture in Washington D.C. by Agriculture Department statistician Meyer A. Girshick not only influenced Dr. Blackwell's interest in statistics, but also initiated a close friendship and collaboration between the two colleagues. Their 1954 book, ``The Theory of Games and Statistical Decisions,'' established them as leaders in the burgeoning field of game theory, a mathematical analysis of winning strategies that can be applied to economics, biology, engineering, military strategy, political science and international relations.

From 1948 to 1950, Dr. Blackwell used his expertise in game theory as a consultant to the U.S. military and RAND Corporation. His innovative take on established studies in multiple disciplines led to groundbreaking work in the mathematics of multistage decision-making, a textbook on Bayesian statistics, the independent invention of dynamic programming, and the development of the Rao-Blackwell Theorem.

In 1955, more than a decade after Dr. Blackwell withstood racial discrimination and the loss of an appointment, he accepted tenure as a UC Berkeley professor. He became Statistics Department Chairman, as well as assistant dean of the College of Letters and Science from 1964 to 1968. A self-described ``teacher,'' Dr. Blackwell mentored 65 Ph.D. students, wrote two books, and published more than 80 papers during his long career. He held 12 honorary degrees, including from Harvard, Yale, Carnegie Mellon and Howard universities. Throughout his life, Dr. Blackwell's worldwide accolades and professional and philanthropic associations became too numerous to count.

Though Dr. Blackwell was preceded in death by his devoted wife of 62 years, Ann Madison Blackwell, and four of his eight children, his surviving family members, including 14 grandchildren, are proud to celebrate his remarkable life as they mourn his passing.

Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors Dr. David Harold Blackwell. Named one of the Four American Mathematicians Who Changed the World, we also recognize that he changed countless lives for the better. Our community is indebted to his life's contribution in myriad ways. He was a tremendous role model for the African American community and a compassionate, progressive advocate for peace and equality. We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Blackwell's family and his extended group of loved ones. May his soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Vonetta McGee, a trailblazing actress and local Bay Area community member. Known for her fearlessness, elegance and mastery of her craft, she was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. Vonetta McGee will be remembered for her warm and vivacious presence in daily life, as well as her myriad film roles, acting beside screen legends such as Jean-Louis Trintignant, Klaus Kinski, Clint Eastwood and Sidney Poitier. With Ms. McGee's passing on July 9, 2010, we are reminded of her life's journey and the joyful legacy she inspired.

Named for her father, Lawrence Vonetta McGee was born on January 14, 1945 in San Francisco, California. She graduated from San Francisco Polytechnic High School, and briefly studied law at San Francisco State University before moving to 1960s Rome, Italy to pursue her passion for acting at Cinecitta film studios.

With the emerging popularity of Spaghetti Westerns, Ms. McGee was cast in ``The Great Silence,'' which opened in Italy in 1967, and ``Faustina,'' a comedy directed by Luigi Magni in 1968. She returned to the United States to appear with Sidney Poitier in ``The Lost Man'' (1969). And, in the early 1970s, she appeared in a string of blaxploitation pictures which made her famous, including ``Blacula,'' ``Melinda,'' ``Hammer,'' and ``The Big Bust-Out'' in 1972, and ``Shaft in Africa'' in 1973.

These popular genre pictures starring African-American actors are a contested, yet important, part of cinematic history. Ms. McGee, believing that the ``blaxploitation'' label was a misnomer, imbued all of her characters with strength, grace and pride. She was a true professional who well knew the value and variety of entertainment. Her cast members, crew and directors often noted her kind approachability and her commitment to excellence.

In 1974, she starred in ``Thomasine & Bushrod'' and landed a role in Clint

Eastwood's ``The Eiger Sanction'' the following year. In 1977, she starred opposite Bernie Casey and Ron O'Neal in the film, ``Brothers.'' Her later movies included ``Repo Man'' in 1984 and ``To Sleep with Anger'' in 1990, followed by an increasing amount of episodic television work.

In the mid 1980s, Vonetta McGee met and married the love of her life, actor Carl Lumbly, when she was cast as his detective character's wife in a Cagney & Lacey episode. They had a son, Brandon, and enjoyed many years together as soul mates. Vonetta is survived by her devoted husband, son, mother, three brothers and her sister.

I was always inspired by Vonetta's positive attitude, her clear thinking, her politics and her love for humankind. I still remember her genuine friendship and her gracious hospitality when she welcomed me and my family into her beautiful Berkeley home. She was a friend and an amazing talent who will be deeply missed.

Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors a wonderful human being, Ms. Lawrence Vonetta McGee. The contributions she made to others throughout her life are countless and precious. My thoughts are with Mr. Carl Lumbly, his family, and Vonetta's extended group of loved ones as we celebrate her incredible life. May her soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Oakland Housing Authority Executive Director Jon Gresley for his extraordinary career of public service and leadership on the occasion of his retirement. Known for his innovative vision of affordable housing, his steadfast commitment to those in need, and his talent for creating and sustaining important relationships among his staff, colleagues and community, Mr. Gresley has touched thousands of lives through his work in the Bay Area.

Three decades ago, Mr. Jon Gresley turned a temporary assignment with the Oakland Housing Authority, OHA, into what has become a transformative legacy for our city's public housing. Under Mr. Gresley's excellent leadership during the past 32 years, OHA has achieved success through effective partnerships and offers a groundbreaking combination of services, safety and choice for its residents.

The award-winning OHA, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2008, operates--directly or indirectly through partners and affiliates--about 4,000 affordable housing units and administers more than 11,000 Section 8 Vouchers. In keeping with Mr. Gresley's commitment to teamwork and ingenuity, OHA has formed a collaborative model that is an example within the affordable housing industry nationwide. Additionally, OHA is one of only a handful of housing authorities in the United States that has its own police department.

As a key architect of OHA' s participation in the HOPE VI and Moving to Work, MTW, program applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Gresley helped to make OHA one of only 35 housing authorities in the Nation to receive special MTW designation. This designation has resulted in increased flexibility and opportunities for the Authority. OHA also obtained four HOPE VI grants, which allowed it to remodel nearly 400 rental units, and rebuild and expand 394 dilapidated public housing units into 939 units of self- sustaining, mixed-income developments. As can be seen at developments such as Tassafaronga, Mandela Gateway and Lion Creek Crossings, the creation, preservation, expansion and enhancement of affordable housing has defined Mr. Gresley's OHA tenure.

Widely respected in his field, Mr. Gresley was sought after by leading groups such as the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, NAHRO, and the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, CLPHA, where he serves as Treasurer. His talents were also put to use as a presenter to various congressional committees, as well as the Federal Reserve Bank.

I personally appreciate Jon's vigilance and his wisdom. I could always count on Jon whenever I needed good information to present to Congress regarding public housing. He has been a tremendous asset, not only to the 9th Congressional District, but to the entire country.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gresley has been praised for his strategy, strong leadership, integrity and compassion. His work has

created countless opportunities for community members to enjoy a better quality of life, secure hope for the future and reach their full potential. OHA will continue his work of building a brighter future for generations to come.

On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional District, Mr. Jon Gresley, I salute you. I congratulate you on your many achievements, and I wish you and your loved ones all the best in this next chapter of life.

Mr. Speaker, today I missed rollcall vote No. 519 on H. Res. 1052, and rollcall vote No. 520 on H. Res. 1571. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on both resolutions.