Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Melvin Barber. A successful businessman, an avid traveler, and a beloved member of my extended family, Mr. Barber had an exceptional ability to make friends wherever he went. Mr. Barber passed away on Monday, January 11, 2010, at the age of 87.

Melvin Barber was a native of Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he was born to Alfred Barber and Eva West in 1922. Mr. Barber remained in Oklahoma throughout his youth, growing up in the nearby towns of Drummond and Enid. Upon graduation from Booker T. Washington High School, Mr. Barber matriculated at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. Mr. Barber's college education was interrupted by the onset of the Second World War; he was drafted in 1942 and began a term of service which lasted for the duration of the war.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in 1946, Mr. Barber moved to Washington, D.C., where he enrolled at Howard University. While at Howard, Mr. Barber became a Brother of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. For over 50 years Mr. Barber was a committed member of the fraternity, striving to embody their motto of ``Achievement in Every Human Endeavour.''

Once Mr. Barber had completed his degree at Howard, he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in pursuit of career opportunities. In Cincinnati, Mr. Barber found a position as a Medical Research Associate in the Institute of Environmental Health at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Mr. Barber dedicated himself to this position, staying at the Institute for over 30 years.

In addition to being an accomplished researcher, Mr. Barber was a successful businessman and a cherished member of his community. For many years, Mr. Barber owned and operated Highland Computer Systems. He was also an active member of Allen Temple AME Church of Cincinnati, extending his ministry to the community by acting as a sponsor and mentor for many disadvantaged youth throughout the Cincinnati area.

In 1996, Melvin moved from Ohio to Arizona, where he took up residence in the town of Peoria. In his retirement, Melvin indulged his passion for travel, visiting countries and making friends around the world. When not travelling, he followed sports, particularly the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks, and created beautiful works of stained glass artwork.

Melvin left us on Monday, January 11, 2010. I will always remember the treasured moments we shared at family events, where he loved to play dominoes and cards with his sister, Gertrude; my mother, Mildred; my sisters, Beverly and Mildred; and my brothers in law, Martin and Calvin. He always enjoyed good food, and he was consistently engaged with current events. I recall in particular his excitement at the election of our first African American President, President ``Obaama,'' as he insisted on calling him. I will deeply miss his laugh, his kindness, his dedication to my 98-year old Aunt Juanita, and his tremendous love for life.

Today we salute, honor, and celebrate the life of a great human being, an outstanding member of his community, and a true renaissance man. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise with my colleague, Mr. Garamendi, today to honor the exceptional life of Dr. Bill Cavala. Known throughout California politics as a brilliant democratic strategist and shrewd tactician, Bill Cavala was also renowned for his professionalism, teaching prowess and strong sense of loyalty. With his passing on December 26, 2009, we look to Bill Cavala's political legacy and the outstanding quality of his life's work.

Born William Lester Cavala, February 23, 1943 to Lester and Margaret Cavala, Bill was the oldest of three sons. He grew up in Sacramento and Oakland, exercising early political interest in the Junior Statesmen youth organization. He went on to earn bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Bill's political studies never ceased as he amassed an encyclopedic and institutional knowledge of state legislative districts, California voter patterns, campaigning tactics and reapportionment. For a time, Bill Cavala worked at the university as a professor of political science, but for much of his 40-year political career he employed his passion for hands-on, field experience.

In 1971, Bill Cavala joined the staff of late Democratic Assemblyman Bob Crown, and worked with the Select Committee on Criminal Justice. Later, while teaching at UC Berkeley, he continued to perform constituent work within the offices of Assembly members John Miller, Ken Meade and Bill Lockyer, his former classmate. In 1981, Bill Cavala joined the staff of California State Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Jr. as Senior Aide, where he served for 14 years. Bill Cavala was three- time Director of the Speaker's Office of Majority Services and worked as deputy director under seven different directors. He served Minority Leader Richard Katz and other Speakers of the Assembly, including Cruz Bustamante, Antonio Villaraigosa, Robert Hertzberg and Herb Wesson, Jr.

Bill Cavala fulfilled a crucial, behind-the-scenes role as he played a part in important decisions regarding redistricting, election law and the state budget. Throughout his career, he kept in mind the counsel of his much-admired mentors the late Congressman Philip Burton, wife Sala, and brother, John. Through their influence, Bill gained a deep appreciation for the role of public service and his potential to make meaningful societal contributions via the political process.

Despite his hefty workload from the California State Legislature and his commitments at UC Berkeley, Bill Cavala had a role in every election cycle over a 40-year span. His deft and daring campaign approaches resulted in countless winning campaigns, most recently in the congressional elections of Representatives John Garamendi and Jackie Speier. Friends and colleagues on both sides of the aisle admired his singular focus and political passion. In addition to politics, Bill Cavala had a love for baseball, golf, fine wine, gourmet cooking, mentorship, travel and film.

Today, we mourn the loss of a political pioneer, respected strategist and campaign mastermind who was considered by many the driving force in California politics for the past 40 years. Bill Cavala was a dear friend and he will be deeply missed by an extended group of loved ones, friends and colleagues. I offer my sincerest condolences to Bill's family and to the many friends and associates whose lives he has touched over the years.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1021) expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution which expresses our deep condolences and solidarity with the people of Haiti, and all of those who have lost loved ones or have otherwise been affected by the tragic earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Let me first thank our Speaker, Chairman Berman, Chairman Payne and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for helping to bring this resolution to the floor today. Also I want to express my deep gratitude to our staffs for working on this to make sure that the resolution came forward today. I would also like to recognize my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus.

The CBC has a long history of working with the Haitian people and the Haitian American community and the Haitian Government. And many of us have traveled to that country many, many times. During the current crisis, the CBC has and will continue to work closely with the Obama administration and outside organizations to provide whatever assistance is needed for ongoing relief and recovery efforts. And I am very proud of the fact that each and every member of the Congressional Black Caucus has signed on as original cosponsors of this resolution.

More than a week has passed since the 7.0 earthquake. Again, many aftershocks, just today another 6.1 aftershock, which has devastated the country of Haiti. We have all seen the horrific images, and our hearts are heavy for the Haitian people and all of those affected by this tragedy. An estimated 3 million people have been directly affected by this catastrophe, leaving over 1 million homeless, and many at risk of long-term displacement and vulnerability.

The latest figures estimate 200,000 people may have been killed as a result of this disaster. The massive number of casualties, as well as the extensive infrastructure damage, including to roads, ports, hospitals, residential dwellings, marks this earthquake as the worst natural disaster to strike Haiti in over two centuries.

Currently, our government is engaged now in one of our largest humanitarian relief efforts in our history. To date, USAID has provided $100 million to Haiti for relief efforts, and more is likely on the way. So I have to commend at this time the men and women of the Government of Haiti, of our own government, of our Armed Services, the United Nations, the international community, our NGOs, our neighbors in the Caribbean and Latin America, and throughout the world in their immediate response to assist those affected by this calamity.

We continue to work around the clock to provide as much food, water, and emergency health care as possible under these unimaginable circumstances. So it is important that these emergency supplies be expedited, and not caught up in bureaucratic hurdles. The same goes for many relief and rescue organizations trying to evacuate survivors for emergency care. The red tape must be cut to save as many lives as possible.

Let me applaud the Haitian American community for providing relief to family and friends and the entire country. Also I have to praise the efforts of the American people at large, who have once again demonstrated their compassion by providing aid to people they have never met, never met, but who are suffering nonetheless just miles off our shore.

This resolution summarizes the unfortunate facts that have occurred in Haiti, but also, in addition to supporting the efforts of the Haitian people and being in solidarity with the Haitian Government and the Haitian people at this point during this rescue and recovery phase, this resolution also recognizes, in a bipartisan way, support for the recovery and long-term reconstruction of Haiti, and also recognizes that the recovery and long-term needs of Haiti will require a sustained commitment, mind you a sustained commitment by the United States and the international community, based on a comprehensive strategy based on what the Haitian people and the Government of Haiti have deemed necessary and required for their full recovery and reconstruction.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield to my friend from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request.

(Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield such time as he may consume to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Affairs, also the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus's International Affairs Task Force, a real leader who has worked on Haiti all of his life, Congressman Donald Payne from New Jersey.

I would like to yield 1 minute now to our majority leader, Representative Hoyer from the great State of Maryland.

I would like to now yield 1 minute to our great Speaker from the State of California, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on The Western Hemisphere, the gentleman from New York, Chairman Engel.

Before recognizing the next speaker, I yield to my friend, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request.

(Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 10 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the Chair of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, before I recognize my next speaker, I yield to my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request.

(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to a member of the Committee on Natural Resources, who is the second vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 15 seconds.

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding and also for her strong support and her assistance with this resolution.

Let me now yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, a member of the Committee on Small Business, who also serves as an officer of the whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, hails from the Caribbean, a leader on so many issues, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

I now yield 2 minutes to the Chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, a leader on so many issues who has been involved with Haiti since I have known her, and that has been since the 1970s, who has led the charge for debt relief, Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague and friend from California (Mr. Schiff), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

I yield the gentleman 20 additional seconds.

Before I close, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my friend from New Jersey, Chair of the African Global Health Subcommittee, Chairman Payne.

Madam Speaker, let me thank all of the Members today for coming down to the floor in support of this resolution but, more importantly, in support of the people of Haiti.

I end by calling on all my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure to express our deepest condolences, our steadfast solidarity, and our sustained commitment to the people of Haiti in the wake of this ongoing tragedy.

As we move forward, let us not waiver in saying to the people of Haiti: Your resilience, your dignity, your courage, even during your darkest hour, continues to inspire us. And during your darkest hour, the United States, and the American people, will not abandon you as you continue to struggle for a brighter tomorrow.

I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1013) condemning the violent suppression of legitimate political dissent and gross human rights abuses in the Republic of Guinea, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the Chair of the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY 2010.

Critical provisions have been added to this bill in order to help those facing incredible hardships during this difficult economic time.

The extension of expanded unemployment benefits until the end of February is a vital stopgap measure for those in dire need, and I would like to stress that this is only a piece of our urgent responsibility to restore the economic livelihood, and promise of opportunity to so many individuals and communities across the country.

I am also pleased to see that H.R. 3326 includes language prohibiting the establishment of permanent military bases in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, I cannot support the $125 billion included in this bill for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, nor can I support a continuation of runaway defense spending especially at a time when individuals and families across this nation are facing enormous challenges in simply trying to make ends meet.

Madam Speaker, I have been clear in my respectful disagreement with the President's decision to escalate the United States military presence in Afghanistan, as well as my belief that the situation in Afghanistan will not be solved with a military solution.

This bill does not include additional funding for the proposed troop deployments, and I am hopeful Congress will hold an honest debate and up-or-down vote on the issue of a military escalation prior to obligating federal resources.

The direct costs of two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have reached nearly $1 trillion, and the indirect costs to our national security, our economy, and to our brave men and women in uniform are immeasurable.

We further cannot afford to squander our resources on costly cold-war era weapons that in many cases are outdated and truthfully inappropriate for reducing the real threats facing our nation.

The fact is, as we work to reform our nation's healthcare and education systems, invest in housing and infrastructure, and put American's back to work, sending more than 50 percent of the federal discretionary budget to the Pentagon represents a clear and unacceptable tradeoff.

For those reasons I cannot support this bill.

Madam Speaker, today I missed rollcall vote No. 1, on a quorum call of the House. Had I been able to, I would have voted ``present'' on this rollcall vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise to ask for a moment of silence for the people of Haiti, for the American citizens in Haiti, for the Haitian American community, and for all of those whose families and friends have been injured or killed in this devastating earthquake. Of course, Haiti has suffered through many challenges and crises-- earthquakes, hurricanes, food insecurity, hunger, poverty. Haiti needs increased attention and resources from the United States and the international community to help it recover during this difficult period. Of course, at this moment our priority is search and rescue.

We have been in touch with the administration, and the President is quickly deploying all available assets and resources to assist. We ask the global humanitarian community to help us in this massive, massive undertaking. Our commitment to Haiti must extend beyond this emergency period to recovery and to rebuilding efforts. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to all of those who have been impacted by this catastrophe of enormous proportions.

As Chair of the 42-member Congressional Black Caucus, let me first begin by saying that our thoughts and our prayers go out to the people of Haiti and the Haitian-American community, those Americans and others in Haiti affected by this devastating earthquake.

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are continuing to monitor the situation in Haiti, and are committed to providing whatever emergency humanitarian assistance is needed. The Congressional Black Caucus has a long history of working with the Haitian people and the Haitian-American community on a variety of issues. We share a close and long-standing relationship. Many members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including myself, have visited Haiti many, many times.

Since learning of the devastating earthquake yesterday, my staff and I have been in contact with the State Department and other officials to assess the situation on a regular basis. Congressman Donald Payne of New Jersey chairs the International Affairs Task Force of the Congressional Black Caucus, and has held several meetings today to coordinate our legislative and humanitarian assistance efforts. The CBC is working to help to ensure that the United States can and will continue to do everything it can to provide emergency humanitarian assistance. The President has quickly deployed all available assets and resources to respond to this emergency.

Over the last several years, Haiti has experienced an extraordinary set of challenges, from high food prices and food shortages, to natural disasters. Haiti will need increased attention and resources from the international community to help it recover during this very difficult time.

United Nations reports say thousands of people may have died in this earthquake. At least 100 people are believed to be buried in the rubble of the United Nations headquarters building in Port-au-Prince. The head of the United Nations Mission is among the missing. Search and rescue teams have been sent to Haiti from several countries. A United States military official says tentative plans are underway for the hospital ship USNS Comfort to dock off the coast of Haiti to assist with sick and wounded. We are asking the global community to help us with these efforts.

In response to the earthquake in Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development is dispatching a disaster assistance response team, and has activated its partners the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Team and the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue Team. Now, more than ever, Haiti needs our help.

Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the Western Hemisphere, with an average per capita income of $500 per year. But the Haitian people are resilient and proud people. The country ranks 146 out of 177, lower than Bangladesh and even the Sudan on the United Nations Human International Development Index. And also one in eight children will die before the age of five. That is one in eight.

Over the last 2 years, Haiti has been devastated by a triple blow of rising food and energy prices, the succession of hurricanes and tropical storms, and the global economic downturn. In May of 2008, the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick of Michigan, and I, led a Congressional delegation to Haiti to examine the conditions on the ground. We were joined then by 10 members of the Congressional Black Caucus and one member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Later that month, the House passed an emergency supplemental that included funding for international food aid, and also other food security initiatives. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, we worked to ensure that Haiti's needs were addressed in the context of the global food crisis.

Thanks in large part to the leadership of many members in the Congressional Black Caucus, in September 2008 President Bush signed H.R. 2638 into law, which amended the Department of Homeland Security Act to include 100 million in additional disaster relief to the Caribbean, of which 96 million was appropriated to Haiti. During Haiti's time of need then Congress stepped up to lend support. And of course we expect no less this time around.

As we deliver urgent and immediate support to the people of Haiti and all of those who have been affected by this earthquake, we must also identify long-term solutions to Haiti's problems. Haiti's food shortages, severe deforestation, poor sanitation, lack of family planning and health care services, high unemployment and underdevelopment, and also the lack of an agricultural sector, these issues, these problems cannot be solved by emergency assistance alone. And so that is why, working with Chairman Engel, many of us are working on my bill, H.R. 417, which is called the Next Steps for Haiti Act of 2009.

This bill would provide technical expertise and build human capacity to help Haiti address its own problems. Many Haitian Americans living in the United States have technical expertise in areas such as agriculture, education, health care, and infrastructure and would like to return to Haiti to assist their people. My bill creates a mechanism to transfer this knowledge in order to meet the needs and the goals of Haiti.

Beyond that, we need to ensure that we find innovative ways to build human capacities, such as educational exchanges, programs such as I have proposed and other Members in H.R. 416, the Shirley Chisholm U.S.- Caribbean Educational Exchange Act.

Now more than ever Haiti needs the support of its neighbor to the north. Even as we deal with our own problems during these tough economic times, we must not turn a blind eye to the untold human suffering just off our shores. Today, we express our continued support for Haiti. We stand in solidarity with the Haitians and the Haitian Americans who have lost loved ones, with the United States citizens still trapped on the island. We stand in solidarity with the rescue workers who have devoted their time and their treasure to help people they do not know. We stand hand in hand with them today and renew our continued support.

Our thoughts and our prayers go out to the Haitian people and to all of those who have been affected during this very trying time. We are asking everyone in our country to help in this assistance with the Haiti effort. Of

course individuals can go online, USAID.gov, for more information. The administration is urging cash donations. There are many, many efforts taking place by our administration in this immediate emergency response in terms of a search-and-rescue effort at this moment.

Thank you again for giving us the opportunity to speak tonight. I would like now to turn the floor over to Congresswoman Donna Christensen from the Virgin Islands, who has led on many efforts as it relates to the Caribbean, who knows Haiti very, very well, who knows what natural disasters mean in terms of the dislocation and the tragic deaths that occur and what we have to do as a country to help respond to such a tragedy of this magnitude.

Thank you, Congresswoman Christensen.

Thank you very much, Congresswoman Christensen.

Now I would like to yield to the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus' International Affairs Task Force, Congressman Don Payne, who also chairs the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman Payne today has been working hour by hour coordinating an emergency response strategy for the House of Representatives. Thank you very much, Congressman Payne, for being with us here tonight and for your leadership.

Thank you very much, Congressman Payne. Let me thank you for that presentation and also for putting Haiti in a historical context. It is important that we recognize and remember the history of how our foreign policy and our relations with Haiti have been so important in the past, which now has brought us to this day.

So, today, we are talking about how we can respond in an emergency way and in a manner that will help the Haitian people take care of the sick and that will help with these search and rescue efforts. I also thank you for reminding us that we have to help Haiti to move forward and to rebuild and recover.

Now I would like to ask Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to speak. Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a member of the Homeland Security Committee, but also she was very instrumental in the Katrina response. She provided many, many ways and vehicles for Katrina survivors to live and to have a decent place to stay until they could return home, and she ensured that FEMA was responsive to their needs. She really took on many, many issues as it relates to hurricane survivors. Now she is working very hard as it relates to the earthquake in Haiti.

So thank you again, Congresswoman Jackson Lee. Let me just remind you, and I was listening to Congressman Payne, that I come from an area that is earthquake-prone. It is hard to imagine what a 7.0 or a 7.1 earthquake is on the Richter scale given our experience with, maybe, a 4 or a 5 or a 6. So this is really an earthquake of enormous magnitude that those of us who come from earthquake-prone regions recognize and understand.

Thank you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

Will the gentlelady yield?

I believe the Web site is USAID.gov.

Thank you very much. And thank you for that very powerful statement, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, and also for reminding us that this is a global response and the United States is leading.

General Leave

We, tonight, would like to ask the Speaker if we could keep the record open for 5 days for those who would like to add their statements to the record.

Once again, our thoughts and our prayers go out to the people of Haiti, to the Haitian American community, to all of those, our American citizens, all of those who have been impacted by this horrible, horrific earthquake.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Andrea Lewis. A talented journalist, radio news anchor and a true renaissance woman, Ms. Lewis had an uncanny ability to broach any subject with her impressive knowledge, affability and confidence. Ms. Lewis passed away Sunday, November 15, 2009 at the age of 52.

Andrea Lewis, a native of Detroit, Michigan, earned her B.A. from Eastern Michigan University, where she studied music, English literature, and art history. After moving to the Bay Area in 1983, she became an editor for Plexus: West Coast Women's Press, and in the late 1980s, she worked as a research editor for Mother Jones magazine. After gaining further publishing experience as an editorial assistant at Harper Collins Publishers in San Francisco and senior editor at Third Force Magazine in the early 90s, Ms. Lewis joined Pacific News Service as an associate editor.

Ms. Lewis, known for her rich, resonant voice, made an effortless transition to radio in 1999, joining the KPFA Morning Show as co-host of the two-hour weekday public affairs program. Though the warm tone and timbre of Andrea's voice was often praised, she is most remembered for voicing sound and well-researched opinions.

A tireless advocate and champion for civil rights, Ms. Lewis was particularly interested in combating sexism, racism and homophobia. Ms. Lewis acquired a following throughout her career, and was especially admired for her thoughtful and compassionate equanimity when discussing difficult subjects on or off the air.

More recently, Ms. Lewis took a year off to complete a 2008 Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University. She returned as evening news co-anchor and host of a two-hour Sunday morning interview and call-in program that she dubbed ``Sunday Sedition.'' She was also a fellow in the Society of Professional Journalists Diversity Leadership Program from 2006 to 2007.

Among Ms. Lewis' many accolades were The National Federation of Community Broadcasters' Golden Reel award in 2002, the California Teachers Association's John Swett Award for Media Excellence in 2004, and many well-received published articles. Ms. Lewis was a regular contributor to Madison, Wisconsin's Progressive Magazine, and I am honored to hear that she was proud to have had a quotation from our 2005 interview included in the Progressive's 100th anniversary edition in April.

Ms. Lewis exercised a life-long passion for music as both a member of her university's choral group, which toured Europe, and for the last 20 years, as a talented alto in the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Both Ms. Lewis and her family were so proud when the chorus

had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall. She was also an avid reader, a sports fan and a lifelong golfer. She will be remembered by family, friends and colleagues for her laughter, her insight, her honesty and her vibrant spirit.

This evening, we salute and honor a great human being, Ms. Andrea Lewis. Our community is indebted to her life's contribution in countless ways. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Lewis's family and to all who were dear to her. May her soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional life of Mr. Jason Hodge. A devoted son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend and colleague, Jason Hodge was taken from us too soon, on December 6, 2009. Today, let us find comfort in the joy he inspired and his wonderful spirit. He was a bright, confident, ambitious and kind man, who will be deeply missed.

After graduating from Skyline High School in 1992, Jason Hodge was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley. He soon learned how to overcome obstacles, however, when the local college funding program meant to help pay for his UC Berkeley tuition ran out of money. Although this was a terrible shock to Jason, he decided to utilize ingenuity and diligence to create a solution.

After attending Merritt College for two years, Jason was awarded a tuition scholarship from the Rotary Club of Oakland, enabling him to transfer to UC Berkeley as a junior. At this time, in addition to his studies and community involvement, Jason became the youngest person to ever win a seat on the Oakland School Board--he was only 21 years old.

Jason was elected to the School Board in 1996, after he offered fresh ideas and a student perspective in bringing change to local education programs. Although he had suffered disappointment as a result of the failed ``Promise'' college funding program, he wanted to do his best to provide opportunity and change for a new generation of Oakland students. He helped administer programs to protect children as they walked to and from school, and to provide transit passes for a safer commute. Jason was one of the first voices to decry the state's lack of funding for local public education, a problem which our community faces in even greater severity today.

Jason served two terms, and decided not to run for re-election to the board after the state took control of the district due to local financial troubles. For the last several years he served as the Vallejo City Unified School District spokesman, also serving as special assistant to Vallejo's superintendent and public information officer.

Jason will be remembered as a warm, compassionate person who was very close to his family. In his free time, he made sure to spend time with the people he loved, and also recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of traveling cross-country by train. He leaves behind his mother, father, three siblings, extended family and many loving friends. Although these days are difficult, I pray that our fond memories of Jason will bring us comfort and strength as we celebrate his life.

Today, California's 9th Congressional District salutes and honors a great human being, Mr. Jason Hodge. The contributions he made to others throughout his life are countless and precious. May his soul rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Ms. Marian Wilson-Sylvestre, who has dutifully served the American Red Cross, Bay Area Chapter and touched the lives of those in need for nearly 30 years. Her work has affected countless people beset by fires, floods and other disasters, and has ensured that volunteers and communities throughout the 9th Congressional District are ready and resilient in the face of adversity.

Ms. Wilson-Sylvestre has been involved in community-building, volunteerism, education and healing for the length of her career. After attending Columbia University in New York City, Ms. Wilson-Sylvestre received a Master of Social Work at New York's Adelphi University.

Her career in alleviating affliction and pain for others began at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic at New York Hospital, where she observed and aided patients as a Psychiatric Assistant. Next, her skills in social work and teaching brought her to the Cardinal McCloskey Home and School for Children where she worked with foster children.

In 1978, after arriving in the Bay Area, Ms. Wilson-Sylvestre served Bayview Hunter's Point Mental Health Clinic as a child and family therapist, and also began teaching at San Francisco Community College. Her career with the Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross began when she became Director of Project New Pride in 1980. For the next 29 years, she worked her way up through the ranks of the American Red Cross, both fulfilling and exceeding her duties as Case Work Supervisor, Regional Manager, County Executive, and, for the last 14 years, Senior Executive Officer.

Marian has truly utilized leadership, skill, dedication and a penchant for compassion in her life's work, and I am certain she will continue to do so in her future endeavors. As member of many quality organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers, Rotary Club of Oakland, the California Personnel and Guidance Association, the East Bay Women's Political Action Committee, and the boards of City of Oakland Emergency Management, Travelers Aid Society and Allen Temple Baptist Church Health Ministry, Ms. Wilson-Sylvestre has served the community in innumerable ways.

Her work has been celebrated throughout the 9th Congressional District, and beyond, including an award from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Tiffany Award for Management Excellence, a 2002 Congressional Recognition Award, the 1990 National HIV/AIDS Cultural Diversity Award, being named the 2002 Honoree for Black Women Organized for Political Action, and the Oakland Unified School District's recurring honor of Principal for a Day.

On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I salute you, Marian Wilson-Sylvestre, for a successful career of service and your unwavering commitment to others. I extend my heartfelt congratulations on your retirement, and I wish you the very best.

Madam Speaker, as one who has worked for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation efforts throughout my life, I share my colleagues concern regarding the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran.

I strongly believe Congress must support the Administration's diplomatic efforts and provide tools to help that diplomacy succeed in curbing Iran's belligerent and deceptive activities as related to their nuclear program, as well as put an end to the unjust and inhumane tactics used by the Iranian government to suppress democratic dissent amongst their own people.

I have serious concerns regarding Iran's violation of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT.

I believe strongly that the international community must work in a united collaboration to compel Iran to renounce and cease all activities that are in violation of the NPT, and submit fully to the international inspection regime.

Let me also be clear that I strongly oppose the use of military force and while sanctions, particularly, with international support, can be utilized effectively if designed appropriately and in the right circumstances, they cannot be viewed as a checkmark on the path to war.

Madam Speaker, there certainly may come a time for additional unilateral sanctions against Iran and those that would do business with them.

Iran's recent rejection of international overtures and threats of expanding their nuclear enrichment program without allowing for improved transparency demand that Congress work with the administration to effectively increase pressure on Iran should multilateral diplomacy fail.

But let us do everything we can to support the Obama administration during this very critical juncture.

Iran's failure to-date to grasp this opportunity for engagement has opened the door to a multilateral sanctions regime that will be necessary to compel Iran to change course.

I have grave concerns that H.R. 2194, as currently written may jeopardize these efforts by:

Setting inefficient monetary thresholds and penalty levels

Risking unintended foreign policy consequences as a result of potential punitive measures against the very international partners from which we are seeking cooperation on this issue; and

Narrowing the President's waiver authority in a manner that may undermine the President's flexibility as he pursues a dual track of engagement coupled with increasingly unified international pressure.

Madam Speaker, after decades of levying unilateral measures against Iran with little effect, and in recognition of the essential support of our international partners, I cannot fully support moving forward with this bill in its current form.

In placing my vote today, I recognize that this bill is not in its final form-but in its current form it does not meet the test of efficacy for achieving our non-proliferation goals with respect to Iranian behavior.

It is my hope that changes to address these concerns will be reflected in the bill when it returns to the House floor.

While we are not able to make changes to this legislation here today, I plan to work with, and in support of Chairman Berman and the Administration, to ensure any sanctions package ultimately signed into law most effectively serves U.S. interests in preventing a nuclear armed Iran.

Thank you very much.

Let me take a moment to thank Congresswoman Fudge for really consistently raising the alarm and setting forth what the agenda is every Monday night of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is an agenda that speaks not only to the issues in communities of color in the Congressional Black Caucus but issues which really will allow for the American Dream to be real for all.

So thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, and I know you come from a State where the unemployment rate is critical. People are suffering, housing foreclosure rates are off the scale, and especially in the African American community. Communities of color have been hardest hit, I know, in Ohio. So thank you so much for your leadership.

Let me just talk for a few minutes about our economy. We all know that the economic security of all Americans is extremely fragile. Communities of color, especially the African American community and Latino communities, have been disproportionately hit by this recession. Last week, we released a letter which we forwarded to President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Miller which outlined our priorities as members of the Congressional Black Caucus. We are continuing to work with House leaders and the administration to ensure that our priorities for job creation and economic growth are included in a jobs package which should be finalized hopefully before Congress adjourns this year.

After the release of our letter, it was interesting to read some of the bloggers, some of the pundits. They actually argued that targeted relief was unneeded. And what we propose is not based on race. I just want to be clear on that. It's based on need. We want to ensure that our resources are targeted to areas of greatest hardship.

For example, here are some of the facts regarding the African American community that are indisputable:

The unemployment rate for African Americans is nearly twice that of whites. 49.4 percent of African Americans 16 to 19 years of age were unemployed in November.

Nearly 28 percent of African Americans received food aid compared to 15 percent of Latinos and 8 percent of whites.

Recent African American college graduates are unemployed at higher rates than their white counterparts and African American workers remain unemployed an average of 5 weeks longer than the rest of Americans.

More than 24 percent of African Americans are living below the poverty line and African Americans are 55 percent more likely to be unemployed than white Americans.

African Americans have 2.3 times the infant mortality rate as non- Hispanic whites. They are four times as likely to die as infants due to complications related to low birthweight as compared to non- Hispanic white infants.

Additionally, African Americans have shorter life spans.

The Congressional Black Caucus in its continued role as the Conscience of the Congress is morally obligated to address these systemic inequalities. Moreover, as members who represent so many constituents who are disproportionately suffering, we have an obligation as policymakers to write legislation to address these moral gaps. That is why I convened a task force to develop targeted proposals to address the acutely unemployed and the crisis in our communities and throughout the country and also to spur job creation for the chronically unemployed who happen to be black and Latino, many are white, and many are Asian Pacific Islanders. This task force is chaired by Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.

We must maintain support for vital extensions of unemployment insurance and the COBRA health insurance subsidies as millions of Americans continue to face job loss and extended periods of unemployment. We also must continue to invest in education and job training programs that fully support housing initiatives like the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to bring some stability to our hardest hit communities.

We must raise and index the minimum wage so that every working person can be assured that they will earn a wage that will lift them up and out of poverty each and every year without having to rely on the legislature to keep up with increases in the cost of living. We need to ensure access to early education, guarantee a high quality public education for every American student, and make sure that every working family has access to the affordable, quality child care that they need so that they can get to their jobs. Also, we need to reconnect with our disconnected youth and the formerly incarcerated individuals with increased support for job training and education for a new wave of environmentally friendly and economically green jobs which are going to be competitive but also which will require skills and the knowledge and the qualifications to be able to be eligible for these jobs. That's why we suggested a strong training program for these jobs. And we must remove Federal barriers to provide for a second chance.

Last week, President Obama delivered a speech that was another sober reminder of the important work we must do and we must continue to work to grow our economy and create jobs. And we agree with the President that support for small businesses, infrastructure investment and green jobs is essential. We also believe that as Members of Congress we must do more.

In order to do this, the Congressional Black Caucus has outlined four areas of focus laid out in our letter. They are: Direct job creation and training; infrastructure; small businesses; and State and local relief. These areas are essential to create real and meaningful economic opportunities to provide pathways out of poverty and opportunities for all.

The Congressional Black Caucus remains committed to working with President Obama and our congressional leadership--Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Miller--to address the real economic crisis gripping our nation. We will not shy away from the fight for targeted relief for the chronically unemployed. In our letter, we suggested that there be a requirement that the amounts appropriated shall allocate no less than 10 percent for assistance in qualified areas of economic hardship, provided that for the purpose of these sections ``qualified areas of economic hardship'' means any census tract or block numbering area where 20 percent or more of the population is at or below the Federal poverty line. The term ``poverty line'' means the official poverty line defined by the Office of Management and Budget.

So let me be clear. What we propose is not based on race. It is based on need. We are asking for no more or no less than what Wall Street got. When there was a crisis on Wall Street, the Nation responded with a sense of urgency. We're asking for that same sense of urgency to the economic crisis that is gripping the hardest hit communities in America. There was no problem when that money was targeted to Wall Street. We're asking for the same targeted help for communities under the gun. It would be a tragedy if the economy recovers and we leave communities of color behind. We know money is going to be spent for jobs. The question is, where will the money be spent? And we want to make sure that we leave no community behind.

We will certainly become stronger as a nation if we ensure that a jobs bill recognizes these huge disparities. I believe strongly that it is our moral obligation to tackle poverty and unemployment and that in the richest country in the world, we simply have no excuse not to do so.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the members of the Congressional Black Caucus are committed to continuing to work together with our President and our congressional leaders to fix our economy and to create jobs that address the true depth of this recession. There is no question that by our collective efforts, we can make a real difference in the lives of all Americans.

Thank you, Congresswoman Fudge, for your leadership and for giving me a few minutes to speak tonight.

Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 4173 and Chairman Barney Frank's manager's amendment.

I want to thank the Chairman for his hard work and dedication to Comprehensive financial reform and strong protections for consumers. It is vital that we have a stand alone agency whose sole mission is to protect the rights of consumers.

For too long our financial regulatory framework put the protection and stability of financial institutions first and too often ignored the impact on American consumers and retail investors.

The Consumer Financial Protection Agency will help ensure that Wall Street will not be able to bring our economy to the brink of disaster ever again.

I also want to thank Chairman Frank and the members of the Financial Services Committee for working with Congresswoman Maxine Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus to include several important provisions in the bill.

Specifically, thanks to their focused work, this bill will include $3 billion in funds to provide relief for unemployed homeowners. It will extend credit for the recently unemployed that will help save homes from foreclosure.

This bill will stop the spread of foreclosure rescue scams and includes a vital $1 billion increase in Neighborhood Stabilization Funds to protect our hardest hit communities.

Lower income communities and communities of color were targeted for these unaffordable and unethical products that are now driving millions of families into foreclosure.

Access to financial services and insurance products for historically underserved communities is strengthened.

The Office of Minority Inclusion, whose goal will be to make sure that all Americans have the equal protection of the work of the entire Federal financial regulatory framework is included in this bill.

Fairness of access and opportunity, transparency and strong enforcement of securities regulations are vital to bringing our economy back from recession and ensuring that the uncontrolled risk taking on Wall Street will never again have such a devastating impact on the entire economy.

Again, thank you Chairman Frank, Congresswoman Waters and the Financial Services Committee for such an important bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in opposition to further restrictions on the constitutionally guaranteed right to abortion.

Last night the other body wisely defeated an amendment mirrored on the Stupak language that would have gone far and away beyond the current Hyde Amendment restrictions on abortion law.

That amendment, like the Stupak amendment we adopted in the House represented a blatant attack on women.

It attempts to dictate how individual Americans can spend their own money. That is simply outrageous.

The federal government has no place inserting itself between the medical decisions that a woman makes with her doctor.

This is a democracy, not a theocracy. The religious views of some should not dictate public policy for all.

We've got to follow the Senate's lead and strip the Stupak language from the final health reform bill and ensure that woman can exercise their right to seek an abortion.

We cannot and should not compromise away the rights of women to win votes.

We have already compromised far too much.