Bob Inglis

Madam Speaker, I rise and invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Republic of China's National Day, known as ``Double Ten Day.'' On October 10, 1911 the Wuchang Uprising ushered in the wave leading to the collapse of the Ching Dynasty and the founding of the Republic of China. This anniversary will be a day of great celebration and thanksgiving, and I would like to offer my congratulations and good wishes to President Ma Ying-jeou and all the people of Taiwan on this special occasion.

The centennial anniversary of the Republic of China's National Day is just one year away and it is fitting and proper to recognize the great strides made by the Republic of China over the course of that century. This great country has developed a vibrant and spirited democratic system of government, created a dynamic economic engine, and developed into a fully modernized country--a model for the region.

Under the leadership of President Ma, Taiwan has also worked to improve relations with mainland China, having successfully negotiated and signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, ECFA, this year. Efforts like this can foster a new sense of cooperation within the region as the people of China and Taiwan benefit from increased trade between their countries.

So I stand together today with the people of Taiwan as they celebrate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China. May the bravery and commitment that marked that day continue to flourish in these days and in the years ahead.

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate our steps towards restoring a single

standard within our criminal justice system. For too long, Federal sentencing guidelines have placed far harsher penalties on crack users and dealers than on the users and dealers of powder cocaine.

As crack cocaine use became prevalent and made headlines in the mid- 1980s, experts suggested that crack was significantly more addictive and linked to greater urban violence than its powder counterpart. Congress came parachuting in with mandatory sentencing minimums and, for good measure, established an exaggerated 100:1 sentencing ratio.

But like so many well-intended Congressional actions, the disparate mandatory sentences have had a devastating effect on our urban communities and racial minorities. The 1986 law has contributed to skyrocketing incarceration rates of low-level, non-violent drug- offenders and even allowed these street-level dealers to be punished more harshly than drug-kingpins.

We need to punish crimes, but this unjustified disparity has tied up law enforcement resources. It has encouraged skepticism and resentment within our African-American community and undermined public confidence in our nation's anti-drug laws.

Former major league baseball player Willie Mays Aikens is a classic example of the sentencing disparity. Aikens faced a 20-year sentence for crack distribution and other crimes. Upon his release, Aikens commented that, had he been caught with powdered cocaine, he might have faced a single year's sentence, rather than the 12\1/2\ he faced for crack distribution. Aikens was grateful that the Sentencing Commission revisited his case and allowed for an early release.

A broad coalition of civil rights, criminal justice, community-based, and faith-based organizations have joined forces to rectify the disparity. With the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (S.1789), the sentencing disparity is corrected from the current 100 to 1 ratio to 18 to 1, while establishing stiff new penalties for serious drug offenses.

I am delighted that Congress has decided to act. Upon his release, Aikens interviewed with ESPN. His words capture my sentiment. ``All I can say, it's about time.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of Mauldin, South Carolina, on its Municipal Association of South Carolina Achievement Award for improving relations between the Mauldin Police Department and youth community. Through four innovative youth initiative programs, Mauldin police officers interacted with the young people in a positive, hands-on way.

The Mauldin Youth Court puts first-time juvenile defenders in a student-run trial. The jury of high school students hands out sentences typically consisting of community service, tutoring, or an essay. The program has seen success evidenced by a recidivism rate 5 percent lower than the rest of the state.

The Youth Academy program targets middle-school students who have met the police department in negative circumstances. Together the Mauldin police department and other community members interact with the students for four weeks in circumstances not involving disciplinary measures. After the four weeks have concluded, each student is delegated an officer for a year-long mentorship program.

Mauldin's police community also has made an effort to create a more formative relationship with adolescents through the Fifth Quarter program. With the help of the local high school and churches, the program hosts students at the local skating rink after school sporting events to prevent swarming and loitering. Officers serve free food and hand out prizes throughout the night. The program successfully has eliminated juvenile delinquency after football games, leading to a possible expansion of the program after basketball games.

The Mauldin Youth Academy and Explorer programs give youth community a chance to interact directly with the police department through hands- on activities and mentorship. These programs not only teach adolescents about law enforcement but also give the police department a desired pool of potential candidates when hiring new officers.

I am honored to see the City of Mauldin's novel youth programming with these four initiatives. The Mauldin Police Department is giving students the opportunity to interact with officers to proactively address juvenile crime

and garnering interest in law enforcement while serving and protecting the entire Mauldin community.