Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to bear witness to the reports of the remarkable response I know is taking place in Chicago and other parts of the United States in the aftermath of the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday.

Thankfully, that response is being led by a fully engaged Obama Administration who, right now, is rapidly transporting critically needed food, supplies and relief workers--both civilian and military-- in an aggressive effort to save lives within the next, critical 24 hours.

My prayers are with the departed souls who lost their lives, yesterday, and for the families and loved ones they left behind. I pray that their loved ones find the strength to carry on in spite of the horrific circumstances they face.

I come from a city that was founded by a bold Haitian explorer, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable. My hope is that the people of Haiti will tap into a boldness of spirit, and determination, that will help them find the collective will to rebuild. My hope and prayer for Haiti is that this nation will emerge even stronger than they were before yesterday's devastation.

I commend CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee and the rest of the leadership of this caucus, and others, who are marshalling our combined resources to help the people of Haiti rebuild.

May God bless the people of Haiti and those who are risking their lives to help them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and honor a legendary singer and songwriter, Jerry ``Iceman'' Butler, on the occasion of his 70th birthday today. An award-winning performer, producer and composer, and one of the architects of Rhythm and Blues, Mr. Butler, has enjoyed a 51-year career that began at the young age of 18, when he and Curtis Mayfield formed a rhythm and blues group, The Impressions, in Chicago in 1958.

The same year, Butler wrote a song titled For Your Precious Love, which became ``the first of the Soul Music recordings'' and a ``landmark recording,'' according to Rolling Stone Magazine. The single, on Vee-Jay Records, became the first for The Impressions to ``go Gold.''

Mr. Butler, named ``The Iceman'' in 1959 by Philadelphia radio personality Georgie Woods for Butler's ``cool as ice'' delivery and debonair, effortless style has had numerous million selling recordings (``Gold'') during his career: For Your Precious Love (with The Impressions, Vee-Jay, 1958); He Will Break Your Heart (Vee-Jay, 1960); Moon River (Vee-Jay, 1961); Never Gonna Give You Up (Mercury, 1976); Hey Western Union Man (Vee-Jay, 1968); Brand New Me (Mercury, 1969); Only The Strong Survive (Mercury, 1969); and Ain't Understanding Mellow (Mercury, 1973).

Nominated for three Grammys for singing and composing, Butler is the recipient of numerous awards, including several from

ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) for his songwriting and publishing work; two Billboard Magazine Awards as a writer and artist; two Humanitarian Awards and several BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) Awards as a writer and publisher. Butler was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 as ``. . . one of the architects of Rhythm & Blues;'' and was the recipient of a Rhythm & Blues Foundation ``Pioneer Award'' in 1994.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Butler, married for 50 years to Annette and the father of adult twin sons, is now using his considerable talent to serve the public as a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. First elected in 1986, Mr. Butler is currently the longest serving member of the Board. In his official capacity, he has led efforts to improve the quality of health services in the second most populous county in the United States, serving as Chair of the Board's Health and Hospitals Committee. Butler also serves as Commissioner and past President of the Northeastern (Illinois) Planning Commission, responsible for the planning and consultation for the six counties of Northeastern Illinois.

Madam Speaker, it is my great privilege and honor to my friend and colleague, The Honorable Jerry ``Iceman'' Butler on the occasion of his 70th birthday and I am privileged to enter these words into the Congressional Record of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2221) to protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information, and to provide for nationwide notice in the event of a security breach, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, the first bill that I am urging adoption of is H.R. 2221, the Data Accountability and Trust Act, known as the DATA Act.

H.R. 2221 addresses data breaches by requiring for-profit entities holding data containing people's personal information to have reasonable and appropriate security measures in place to protect that data. H.R. 2221 would also require them to notify consumers who are U.S. citizens or residents and the Federal Trade Commission when a breach occurs.

For the past 5 years, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse contends that nearly 340 million records ``containing sensitive personal information'' have been involved in security breaches. High-profile data breaches have plagued financial institutions, nationwide retailers, online merchants, information brokers, credit card processors, health care institutions, high-tech companies, research facilities, and government agencies.

Currently, several laws address data security requirements for narrow categories of information or specific sectors of the marketplace. These laws include the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Safeguards Rule, which contains data security requirements for financial institutions and the Fair Credit Reporting Act Disposal Rule, which imposes safe disposal obligations on entities that maintain consumer report information.

In addition, FTC has used its enforcement authority under the FTC Act to bring actions against companies that have made misleading claims about data security procedures or who have failed to employ reasonable security measures in circumstances causing substantial injury.

However, there is no comprehensive Federal law that requires all companies that hold consumers' personal information to implement reasonable measures to protect that data. Also, there is no Federal law that requires companies that experience a data breach to provide notice to those consumers whose personal information was compromised. Those entities who determine that there is no reasonable risk of identity theft, fraud, or other unlawful conduct would be exempt from providing nationwide notice to affected persons under H.R. 2221.

The DATA Act establishes a rebuttal presumption in the law that encryption-based technologies and methodologies adequately meet the determination standard in section 3, subsection (f)(2)(A) of the bill. More narrow exemptions are provided for a defined category of personal information holders known as ``service providers'' in addition to information brokers who handle protective data but only for the limited purposes of preventing fraud.

In promulgating the regulations under this subsection, the FTC may determine to be in compliance any person who is required under any other Federal law to maintain standards and

safeguards for information security and protection of personal information that provide equal or greater protection than H.R. 2221.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as has been noted, and as is obvious here, H.R. 2221 is a bipartisan bill that is the result of a cooperative process. This bill was first introduced in the 109th Congress by Representative Stearns as the lead sponsor when the Republicans were in the majority. It was voted out of full committee by a unanimous recorded vote. This year, it was introduced by myself as lead sponsor, and after making further improvements to the bill, it was voted out of full committee by voice vote. Compromises were made on all sides to produce an effective piece of legislation.

I would like to thank both Members and staff from both sides of the aisle for their work on this bill. I want to thank Mr. Stearns, Mr. Barton, Mr. Radanovich, Ms. Schakowsky, and the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Waxman, for working in a bipartisan fashion to move this important legislation forward.

Mr. Speaker, it is, again, unacceptable that in 2009 there is no comprehensive Federal law that requires all companies that hold consumers' personal information to protect that data. It is equally unacceptable that there is no Federal law requiring companies that experience a data breach to provide notice to those consumers whose personal information was compromised. This bill creates uniform, nationwide standards for breach notification. That's not only good for consumers, but uniform standards are also good for business, good for Americans, and good for our constituents. We need this law, and I urge my colleagues to support and pass H.R. 2221.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1319) to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of information on a computer through the use of certain ``peer-

to-peer'' file sharing software without first providing notice and obtaining consent from the owner or authorized user of the computer, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, this second bill which I am urging adoption of is H.R. 1319, the Informed P2P User Act.

H.R. 1319 was originally introduced by the gentlelady from California, Mrs. Bono Mack; Ranking Member Barton, the gentleman from Texas; and Mr. Barrow, the gentleman from Georgia.

H.R. 1319, similar to H.R. 2221, would better enable consumers to secure personal information. The focus under H.R. 1319 is on personal information which resides on ``protected computers.'' By making these users of file-sharing software programs more aware of the risk involved in downloading and running these programs, the P2P Act will reduce inadvertent disclosures of sensitive information over the Internet.

Under H.R. 1319, developers of file-sharing software programs would be prohibited from installing their software or from making it available for installation or downloading without first notifying consumers that their software is capable of searching and copying files from their computers. Developers would also have to provide consumers with a reasonable means to disable or remove the file-sharing program. H.R. 1319 would not require user notice prior to installation for software that was installed prior to the initial

sale of a computer so long as notice of the installation of a covered program is provided in some other form.

The P2P Act would also provide the FTC with discretionary rulemaking authority and expressly states that it does not apply to the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to now yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume for a closing statement.

Mr. Speaker, again, as the gentleman from Florida has indicated, this is a bipartisan bill. It is the result of a very intense and cooperative process. It was voted out of the full committee by a unanimous recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank both Members and the staffs on both sides of the aisle for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. I want to thank, in particular, Mrs. Bono Mack, Mr. Barton, Mr. Barrow, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Radanovich, and others for working in a true bipartisan fashion to move this important piece of legislation and to move it forward.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill and to approve this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to congratulate and thank Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Thank you, Rev. Jackson, for your historic run for President in 1984.

But I really want to thank you for what you did for me back in the summer of 1969. My friend and fellow member on the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther party was assassinated while he slept in his bed at 4 a.m. by the Chicago Police Department and Cook County State's Attorney's Office. The very next morning, at 5 a.m., they came to my apartment, seeking to kill me. I was not there. I was running for my life over the next few days, until Saturday, December 8, 1969, I turned myself in to Operation PUSH and the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson.

Mr. Speaker, if it had not been for Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, I would have been killed. If it had not been for Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, I would not be here today. If it had not been for Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, I would not be representing the people of the First Congressional District.

Thank you, Rev. Jackson. I love you, and you can't do nothing about it.

Madam Speaker, today it is my distinct honor and privilege to rise to acknowledge and congratulate one of my state's unsung jewels. Seventy-five years ago today, on October 15, 1934, Melvin E. Banks was born into this world in the, then, relatively small town of Birmingham, Alabama. From his humble beginnings in the segregated South, through hard work, perseverance and an abiding faith in God, today, Melvin Banks presides over the strong and thriving Urban Ministries, Inc., the largest independent African American-owned Christian publishing company in the United States.

UMI is located in Calumet City, Illinois, and this global, family- operated business is a vital part of our state's thriving, south suburban community. With all of the accolades and accomplishments that Dr. Melvin Banks has rightfully earned over the years, I stand here, tonight, Madame Speaker, simply proud to call him my friend.

Melvin Banks' life story is uniquely American. He often tells the story of discovering his faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at the age of 12. Even at that young age, his sense of faith and guidance was so strong that he accepted his personal call to minister the gospel to all who would listen. His evangelism began, literally, on some of the dusty back roads of Birmingham. One day, young Melvin encountered an elderly gentleman who recognized his spiritual gifts and referred him to a scripture that influenced his life's work. That scripture, Hosea 4:6, states, ``My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.'' Upon hearing those words, young Melvin knew that God's purpose for his life was to help spread the knowledge of the gospel of Christ through the unique, cultural lens of the African American experience. And from that moment on, Melvin Bank's dreams and life's work continued to grow and to prosper.

As Melvin Banks grew in the Lord, he also embraced the value of a good education. Banks graduated from Parker High School in Birmingham, in 1952, and he went on to study at the Moody Bible College, in Chicago, where he graduated in 1955. Continuing his education, Banks attended Wheaton College, earning a B.A. degree in theology, in 1958, and his master's degree in biblical studies in 1960.

After graduation, Dr. Banks chose to remain in Chicago and he soon got a job with Scripture Press Publications, a job that included sales. Dr. Banks' work with Scripture Press gave him his first opportunity to begin to understand how to market to African American consumers. It was that passion to serve his community coupled with his godly vision, professionalism and drive that ultimately led him to launch Urban Ministries, Inc., in 1970.

After founding Urban Ministries, Dr. Banks and his small staff operated out of the basement of his home for 12 years. As Dr. Banks' faith grew, so did his media ministry. In 1982, Urban Ministries occupied the second floor of a building located at 1439 West 103rd Street in Chicago. Guided by a vision that continues to serve him well to this day, Dr. Banks moved Urban Ministries, in 1996, to its current 46,000-square-foot headquarters in Calumet City. Shortly before that milestone, it's worth noting that, in 1993, his alma mater, Wheaton College, conferred its esteemed graduate with an Honorary Doctorate in Literature, a recognition of his consummate stewardship over the written and published word.

And so, Madam Speaker, as I enter these words into the Congressional Record on this day, it's my pleasure to note these words from UMI's website:

UMI is the largest independent, African American-owned and

operated Christian media company. UMI publishes Christian

resources, including Christian education and Vacation Bible

School curricula, books, movies and websites designed for

African American churches and others seeking a diverse,

Christ-centered perspective on faith and life issues.

Today, UMI is the largest, independent African American Christian publisher in the United States. UMI, literally, serves thousands of churches nationwide with curriculum resources, teaching materials, videos and other products aimed at instilling character in the youth and adults of our nation.

Madam Speaker, today, more than 10,000 churches utilize UMI materials, on a weekly basis, and a dozen different denominational groups call UMI their publishing partner--a distinction that gives this Illinois-based company its national and global impact.

Madam Speaker, for the more than 50 years that Dr. Melvin Banks has been a citizen of our great state, I'm proud to report that he has also been a devoted husband to his wife and business partner, Olive Banks, and the father to his children, Melvin Banks, Jr., Patrice Banks Lee and Reginald Banks, all of whom have worked with their father to help make this company the global leader it is today.

As I conclude this well-deserved tribute, let me also say that as my heart breaks for the thousands of children in this nation whose lives are cut short because of violence and unrealized dreams, my hope is that as these words enter the permanent annals of history that some young boy or girl will look upon these words and be inspired by the tremendous life of Dr. Melvin E. Banks.

My hope is that they will see in his life the hope, the determination and the abiding faith that God gave him. While every child may not have all the spiritual gifts that Dr. Banks enjoys, my hope and prayer is that they will see in his life what a made up mind can do.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great entrepreneur, community leader, humanitarian and family man, the late Jimmy Leatherwood who made his heavenly transition on Sunday, September 27, 2009. It is often difficult to find words to express the depth of one's feelings with the passing of a good friend and constituent.

Mr. Leatherwood served with distinction for nearly 30 years as a member of the Cook County, Illinois Sheriff's Department. He was a Board Member of the Westside Association for Community Action of Chicago, a member of the famed Rat Pack-Chicago Chapter and served on the School Council of a local Chicago Public School. He worked tirelessly with various organizations to provide scholarship opportunities to young people and annually donated food to those in need in his home town of Leland, Mississippi.

Jimmy dedicated his life toward making a difference in the lives of other people. He was a shining example of how God can use a life to help make this world a better place. Indeed, many who have had the privilege of knowing him have come to recognize that they are a much better person as a result of his life.

Madam Speaker, I want to encourage his devoted wife Joann, their daughter Nazaree, the entire family and the many friends of Mr. Jimmy Leatherwood to always remember to look to the hills from which comes all of their help, trusting that their help will surely come from the Lord. I am truly blessed to have known and worked with him. I am honored to pay tribute to this outstanding gentleman.

Madam Speaker, today marks a historic chance to move our great country forward and transform our economy for the demands of the 21st century.

I fully support this bill. It will not only make our country more substantive and energy efficient, but it would also provide jobs and economic opportunities for all of our citizens while opening an entirely new sector of our economy. I really must begin by thanking Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey for their hardworking staffs and for all the work that they have done to improve this bill as it made its way through the legislative process and onto the floor today.

With the chairman's help, we were able to strengthen this legislation by not only protecting low-, moderate-, and middle-income families from rising energy costs, but also providing real assistance for communities like the one I represent for new career pathways to move out of poverty and to move into quality, career-oriented jobs in construction and energy-related fields.

Some of these provisions that we were able to get in the bill are the low-income allowances, 60 percent of all the total allowances go to low-income people; local targeted hiring for middle class careers in construction; Low-Income Community Energy-Efficiency programs. The LICEEP program, the Low Income Community Energy-Efficiency Program, will provide loans, technical assistance, and grants to community development organizations to provide financing to minority entrepreneurs.

The Public Housing Retrofit program, which I worked with the gentlelady from California, Ms. Waters, as well as my colleague from Vermont, Mr. Welch. It's a new program that provides grants to public housing agencies for energy retrofits and green investments in property.

Madam Speaker, this is a great bill. This is a good bill. This bill should pass. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Madam Speaker, American music legend, KoKo Taylor, the ``Queen of the Blues,'' died June 3, 2009 in Chicago. Her masterful voice represented the spirit of Chicago--proud, loud and full of life.

Born September 28, 1928, in Bartlett, Tennessee, on a small farm to a family of sharecroppers, Cora Walton would one day be known throughout the world as ``KoKo Taylor.'' She earned her nickname because of a love of chocolate. Orphaned by age 11, along with her five brothers and sisters, Koko developed a love for music from a mixture of gospel she heard in church and blues she heard on radio stations. With one brother accompanying her on a guitar strung with baling wire and another brother on a fife, made out of a corncob, Koko began her career as a blues woman.

In her early 20s, Koko and her soon-to-be husband, the late Robert ``Pops'' Taylor, moved to Chicago looking for work. With nothing but, in Koko's words, ``35 cents and a box of Ritz crackers,'' the couple settled on the city's South Side, the cradle of the rough-edged sound of Chicago blues. Taylor found work cleaning houses for wealthy families in the ritzy northern suburbs. At night and on weekends, Koko and Pops would visit the South and West Side blues clubs, where they would hear singers like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Magic Sam, Little Walter and Junior Wells. And, thanks to prodding from Pops, it wasn't long before Taylor was sitting in with many of the legendary blues artists on a regular basis.

Ms. Taylor's big break came in 1963 when, after one of her signature fiery performances, songwriter/arranger Willie Dixon approached her. Much to Koko's astonishment, he told her, ``My God, I never heard a woman sing the blues like you sing the blues.'' Dixon first recorded Koko for USA Records and, then, secured a Chess Records recording contract for her. He produced several singles and two albums for her-- including her huge 1966 hit single Wang Dang Doodle--firmly establishing Koko as the world's number one female blues talent.

Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, Ms. Taylor received numerous awards for her music. She signed with Alligator Records in 1975 and recorded nine albums for the label, eight of which were Grammy-nominated, and came to dominate the female blues singer ranks, winning 25 W.C. Handy Awards, more than any other artist. In 1984, she received a Grammy for the live, multi-artist album Blues Explosion on Atlantic Records. In 2004, KoKo was presented with the coveted National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for The Arts. She also earned 25 Blues Music Awards, more than any other blues artist, male or female. On March 3, 1993, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley honored the songstress with a Legend of The Year Award, and declared ``Koko Taylor Day'' throughout Chicago.

In 1998, Chicago Magazine named Koko ``Chicagoan of the Year'' and, in 1999, she was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame. ``There are many kings of the blues,'' said The Boston Globe at the time, ``but only one queen. Koko's voice is still capable of pinning a listener to the back wall.''

There is no doubt she was the queen of the blues and Koko Taylor's legacy will live on through her music. She has influenced a number of musicians including Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland and Janis Joplin. Her voice lives on in her recordings. We all are forever indebted to her for her contributions to America's rich music history.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to and recognize Dr. Angelia Marie Roberts-Watkins on the occasion of being awarded the Doctorate in Education from the Chicago State University. This degree is particularly noteworthy in that the Educational Leadership Doctoral program at Chicago State is a newly created program and as such Dr. Roberts-Watkins holds the distinction of being the first recipient of a Doctoral degree in the 142-year-old history of this academic institution.

An authority in middle school philosophy, Dr. Roberts-Watkins' dissertation was entitled ``Crossroads to the Middle School Movement: Are Teachers In Step with the Tenets and Practices of the National Middle School Association?'' She is a former middle school teacher and served as Middle School Manager for the Chicago Public School system. Dr. Roberts-Watkins has also worked as a Teacher-In-Residence on an U.S. Department of Education Middle School Teacher Quality Enhancement (MSTQE) grant program and has presented at national conferences on middle level education.

A 1981 graduate of Mundelein College, Dr. Roberts-Watkins also holds an M.Ed in Educational Administration and a M.S. in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Chicago State University. She is a Visiting Lecturer at Northeastern Illinois University and an Administrator at Illinois State University.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to have known this outstanding Educator for nearly two decades and I want to encourage Dr. Angelia Marie Roberts-Watkins to continue demonstrating the passion, perception and power necessary to allow this nation's citizens, both young and old, to meet the demanding needs of a global society.

Madam Speaker, this bill breaks down barriers for minority and women owned businesses through amending the Small Business Act to allow for greater participation in the Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program. It also makes permanent increases made by the Obama Administration for greater bonding capacity in addition to broadening the definition of contract bundling so that small businesses are better able to compete for and secure government contracts.

Modify the Small Business Administration's Disadvantaged Business Program to allow for greater minority participation by raising the personal net worth (PNW) threshold and allowing firms to complete a federal contract before losing the assistance of the program.

Make permanent the Surety Bonding Guarantee increase made in H.R. 1.

Broaden the definition of contract bundling to force contracting officers to break up large contracts to increase small business participation.

Increase oversight of contract bundling by allowing the SBA Administrator to review any contract they feel is bundling and allow OMB to mediate any disputes between parties.

Increase the government wide small business procurement goal to 25%.

Prohibit contracting officers from coding a minority business in any more than one other minority category to make reporting numbers more accurate.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 225 I was unavoidably detained in a strategic meeting of significant interests to my constituents. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mrs. Maloney

Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize an outstanding American who has worked tirelessly to stem the tide of youth violence that has gripped many communities in our country. Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., M.S., attended Loyola College in Maryland and, while working towards his doctoral degree, tragedy of the worst kind struck--his son, Kenneth Barnes, Jr., was murdered. Rather than do nothing, Mr. Barnes established the organization Reaching Out to Others Together Inc., or ROOT, Inc.

ROOT, Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to advocacy, education and intervention on behalf of victims of gun violence and their families. ROOT, Inc.'s mission is to motivate and mobilize communities to take a proactive approach in reducing homicides as well as the senseless gun violence and youth violence that plague cities throughout America. Mr. Barnes has conducted workshops and seminars, locally and nationally, as well as testified on numerous occasions before the D.C. City Council. Mr. Barnes has also worked with my office and played an instrumental role in helping me to draft the Communities in Action Neighborhood Defense and Opportunity Bill, or CAN DO bill, which also addresses the issue of gun violence through a community- based comprehensive approach to the problem.

Madam Speaker, each April since 1981, the Office for Victims of Crime within the U.S. Department of Justice has helped lead communities throughout the nation in their observances of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Rallies, candlelight vigils, and a host of commemorative activities are held each year to promote victims' rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf.

This year, Kenny Barnes has been nominated by the United States Department of Justice Office of Victim Services to receive the National Service Award for his work on behalf of victims of crime and he will receive this prestigious award on April 24, 2009. This is a great honor being bestowed upon a great man and I would like to congratulate Mr. Barnes for his commitment and dedication to an issue that is so dear to my heart and the hearts of millions of others throughout our nation.

Madam Speaker, it's my sad responsibility to call your attention to the anguish that Ms. Rita Sallie is experiencing. Hers is a pain felt by so many mothers and families across this great nation. Losing a child is a tragedy that no parent should have to endure but, once again, an innocent child whose life was so full of promise abruptly lost her life due to gun violence in my Chicago community.

Rather than add more of my own words, I'm taking this opportunity to enter into the record the entire statement by Ms. Rita Sallie. Somehow, she found the courage to speak through her pain and wrote a heartfelt statement to the Chicago Sun-Times--a statement aimed, directly, at the convicted murderers of her daughter, 15-year-old Schanna. It is important that history remembers her petition as it sadly resonates for millions of parents throughout the United States.

Here's her statement, in its entirety:

They stole the life of a beautiful, kind, free-spirited

girl and made her a statistic. Why? To get revenge for an

argument? A fight? The leader should have gotten over it and

walked away. But he was mad, you see, so the only reasonable

thing for a coward to do was to get an idiot to shoot up a

park where children play, only to hurt my child who was feet

away.

She was born on Dec. 16, 1993, and was a cute, bald bundle

of quiet joy. She grew to be a sincere, respectful, loving,

selfless spirit filled with the joy of life. Her smile is

infectious and no one can deny her energy and pure heart. She

has a confident yet modest bearing and a smile like a balm to

the soul. I would not realize until after I saw her smile how

much I yearned for it.

The child I anticipated seeing everyday was gunned down in

the middle of a park, behind Funston Elementary School, by

two nothings. She was supposed to start 8th grade in the fall

of 2007, but she never made it. She will never have the

chance to show herself to the world. I will never have the

chance to watch her make her way.

Schanna has always been so full of life. Her energy and

vitality would leave me rolling my eyes in exasperation

because sometimes I just wanted her to sit still and take a

breath. They took the energy that left me breathless and left

her lying, unmoving in the park behind Funston Elementary

School where people could see her at her most vulnerable.

They denied her the right to live, breathe, laugh, love and

dream.

Schanna has such a generous spirit. She thought nothing of

sharing her time or her possessions with you. She hated to

see others unhappy or angry. There was nothing that she had

that she wasn't willing to share. This child would take her

birthday money and buy Christmas presents for everyone else.

She was supposed to donate her organs so that others could

continue living, even though she would not. They denied her

that right, as well, because her heart stopped before her

organs could be harvested, leaving them unusable and the

recipients to wait and maybe even succumb themselves.

I have always been amazed by her. Over the years I would

ask myself what did a barely passable person like me do to

earn the privilege of having Schanna as my child? Somehow I

was blessed to have a little girl with a brilliant mind, a

big heart and a generous spirit. Although I struggle with

being a better person, I do try to teach my children to know

right from wrong, to make principled decisions and to have

good moral character. Schanna took what I taught her and

magnified it. She not only listened to what I advised, she

put it into practice so much that she became the teacher, and

I, the student. She is the person that I have struggled all

my life to become.

People have always been drawn to her. Even as a toddler,

people would stop me on the street to admire her and buy her

small gifts, a piece of candy, or lollipop. That never

changed. Up until she was taken from me, I would watch her

walk to school by herself and before she made it, she would

be surrounded by so many friends that I would no longer be

able to tell her apart from the sea of blue and white

uniforms.

All I have left are memories. The memories of our life

before they intruded. The memories that I cannot call up

because they are pushed aside for what they did to her on

June 25, 2007. I saw my baby lying in the park, eyes open

staring, with bits of her favorite fruit scattered around

her. I struggle to recall the constant twinkle in her eye,

the bright smile and the distinctive cackle of her laugh. I

am embarrassed to admit that I try to avoid thinking of her

at all because I don't want to recall that day and all the

days that came after. I have to put her away, for now. Maybe,

in the future, but not now.

She had a life plan at 12 years old and they denied her all

of her dreams and aspirations. She'll never experience going

to high school, or college, or even the 8th grade. She will

never be consumed by her first love and I will never have the

chance to help her through her first broken heart. There will

be no stories of her travels, the people she would meet and

the things she would see and do. She never even got the

chance to ride public transportation by herself.

Over the years, people have told me that I was a strong

woman. On June 25, 2007, I was exposed as a fraud. I'm not

the strong woman I've always considered myself to be. My

armor is only as strong as its weakest point. My weakness is

my family, my children. They not only put a chink in my

armor, but shattered it and left it lying at my feet, leaving

me fearful and weak. I have gone from a strong, independent

person to someone who would like nothing more than to crawl

into a dark hole and lick the wounds that will never heal. My

sleep is restless. I am overly emotional and struggle to make

the simplest decisions and have felt no true happiness since

that time.

Since losing her, I have tried to find some sense of

normalcy to my life. But I can't, because I know that I'm

supposed to kiss three children before I go to work, not two.

I know that I'm supposed to cook for four people, not three.

I know I am supposed to hear three voices when I come home

from a long day. I know I'm supposed to talk to three

children about what is going on in their lives. I know that

I'm supposed to hug three children. It's impossible to return

to normal when you know these things in your heart and mind

and that knowing is not enough. Her absence is the 800 pound

gorilla in the room that everyone notices but tries to

ignore, hoping that someone else will mention it first. The

emptiness is physical and must be kept at bay.

They left me powerless. I would do everything to help my

children through crises real and imagined, and they knew it.

They took away my power when they hurt my little girl. I had

to leave her in the care of the paramedics, police, hospital,

morgue and funeral home, only to lay her to rest in a

cemetery surrounded by strangers.

She could forgive people for anything. Make her sad or

angry and a few minutes later all would be forgiven, whether

you apologized or not. Knowing her, she's probably forgiven

them. For years I wished I were more like her, but I'm not

and despite my best efforts, I never will be. Schanna is a

better person that I am in every way. She may have forgiven

them, but I hate them. I have a fiery hatred for both of them

that I know will one day consume me. The anger eats away at

my mind and heart, knowing what they did to her, I seethe at

the very thought of them as part of our history, that they

are an asterisk on my family tree. We don't want them there,

but they are, forever.

When the situation occurred, my imagination made them seem

big, menacing, nearly otherworldly. Upon actually seeing

them, I realize they are two nothings. One, a pint-sized,

arrogant wannabe outsider and the

other, a stupid and spineless follower. Two insignificant,

pathetic nobodies who barged into my life and took away my

child. They had no right to decide if anyone lives or dies,

yet they took the liberty of walking away with the life of my

child.

The leader made the fateful decision to have his lackey

discharge a weapon in broad daylight into a park behind a

school where scores of children congregated because he was

mad. Even after hurting my child, he neither ran like the

coward he is nor admitted his involvement like the man he

should have been; rather he stood on the street and drank

alcoholic beverages as though hurting a child made him

thirsty. The circumstances surrounding the loss of my little

girl makes me light hearted with nervous rage.

The leader came to my country, my state, my city, my

neighborhood, took my child's life and stole her future.

Because he was mad, he committed an act from which none of us

can ever recover. Not my family, not the shooter's family or

even his family. His arrogance and leadership over those in

the gang made for a potent mix and we, my family and the

community, paid the price for it. He came here thinking that

he could do whatever he wanted to whomever he wanted,

whenever he wanted and would suffer no consequences. This

makes him extremely dangerous to the general public.

After the guilty verdict for the shooter, I happened to run

into Susanna Rosa, who proceeded to tell me that that shooter

was a good kid and that the gang threatened him. They told

him to do it or else they would kill him. She let me know

that he'd graduated from high school and everything. Well,

the shooter is stupid and lacks moral character. He let a

person who is of no importance tell him to commit an act with

wide-ranging consequences. Why? To defend him from an

argument that he could have and should have walked away from.

The only person wielding a gun out there was the shooter. He

hid near a car like a 2-year-old and came out gun blazing

like an Old West villain to defend someone else. Nothing Ms.

Rosa told me changes my opinion at all. I will accept no

excuses. My hatred has not dimmed but flares white-hot at the

idea of the destruction he's caused in our lives, throwing

away his own in the process for a nothing, a nobody.

I had the opportunity to observe the shooter and watched

him smile. He neither smirked nor grinned, but smiled a big

smile when he sat at the defense table towards the end of the

trial. My stomach clinched and my skin became flushed. I was

mad, just like his leader, the arrogant nobody who he came to

rescue, but I did nothing, nor did I try to enlist anyone to

do anything. The leader and his defender should have done the

same thing and none of us would be here today and my little

girl would be finishing her first year of high school.

During the trial, the shooter had a number of family

members and friends at court to support him. He didn't

consider those same people who sat behind him and gave him

them their strength. He didn't think about those people then.

No. He thought only about rescuing his leader from an

argument by using armed violence. High school diploma or not,

if he's stupid and dangerous enough to let someone convince

him to hurt others, then he needs to be taken off the street

for the rest of his life.

They took away her life and her future, her sister Joyce's

best friend, her brother Antwun's protector and my dearly

loved child and teacher.

What they did is nothing less than an act of domestic

terrorism. They took Schanna Danielle Gayden, just 13 years

old, and left in their wake a destroyed family, distraught

friends and a traumatized community. Despite their actions,

Schanna actually brought the community together. People

recognized how special she is and they came together for her

and for us. They stood vigil with us during the darkest hours

of our lives and they stand with us still. Schanna touched

more people in her 13 years than I have during my entire life

and continues to do so. She has an intangible gift for which

people would recognize and respond.

A tree was planted and a stone set up in her memory in the

park where she suffered such a terrible hurt. The park has

also been dedicated to her memory. This is the same park

where so many children came to play or just watch the world

go by. In fact, had they been just a little earlier, I could

have been their victim, and my Schanna would still be here to

continue the path she set out for herself. I've done all I'm

going to do in this life, whereas she hadn't even begun. But

it says something about her as a person that a park would be

dedicated to her and a memorial tree and stone placed in her

memory. On June 27, 2009, there will also be a tree planted

at the cemetery where she has been laid to rest. It will be

dedicated to her and all of the children lost to violence.

These actions say that she is not disposable, the damage done

is not collateral. She is important, not just to her family,

but to her friends and community.

It is fortunate for them that I was not responsible for

charging them with a crime. If I were, they would have been

charged with aggravated theft for stealing my baby's life, a

gift which is truly priceless and cannot be replaced; and

attempted murder, for all the people who were there who could

have also been victims. Were it up to me, life without parole

is nothing less than they would receive. With that sentence,

Your Honor, I am being generous.

However, I do request that because of their deplorable and

thoughtless actions, sickening behavior and blatant disregard

for all life, and the convictions that stemmed from these, I

am respectfully requesting that you, the Honorable Judge

Nicholas T. Ford, sentence both defendants to the maximum

punishment allowed by law.

Thank you for your consideration.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom's Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act of 2009.

I would like to thank Chairman Waxman, Ranking Member Barton, my colleague Congressman Frank Pallone, and the Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee who unanimously supported this legislation's passage out of the committee.

After eight long years, today marks an important step forward in the journey for Congress to fully recognize postpartum depression as a national women's health priority. This bill comes to the floor today with strong, bipartisan support. No longer will postpartum depression be dismissed as mere ``baby blues.''

Mr. Speaker, today, 60 to 80 percent of new mothers experience symptoms of postpartum depression while the more serious condition, postpartum psychosis, affects up to 20 percent of women who have recently given birth. Experts in the field of women's health like Susan

Stone, Chair of the President's Advisory Council of Postpartum Support International, says that these statistics do not include mothers whose babies are stillborn, who miscarry, or who are vulnerable to these devastating disorders which raises those at risk into the millions. The most extreme form, postpartum psychosis, is exhibited in about one percent of all new mothers.

At what should be the happiest time in a woman's life these mood disorders result in feelings of despondency, tearfulness, inadequacy, guilt and fatigue. In the worst case scenario, if left untreated or not treated properly, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis has resulted in suicide and infanticide. The consequences of untreated maternal depression in the mother range from chronic disability to death of the infant as well as learning and behavioral disabilities that can negatively impact a child's development.

In light of all these sobering facts, sadly, I was finally compelled to author H.R. 20 in December 2007 after watching the news accounts of the missing Melanie Blocker Stokes. This bright, vibrant woman who loved life was a first time mother, a successful business woman and my constituent. Despite her family's valiant interventions, Melanie's psychosis was so severe that she slipped away and ended her life in solitary agony.

As news of her death swept throughout Chicago, I reached out to Melanie's mother, Carol Blocker, who told me her daughter's diagnosis and suicide was the result of postpartum psychosis.

And, sometime later, Dr. Nada Stotland of the American Psychiatric Association, also a constituent of mine, also reached out to me. Dr. Stotland detailed the value of additional research and discussed the under-reporting and misdiagnosis of postpartum depression and psychosis in our country.

There is no denying the fact that the need for resources to combat postpartum depression grows more and more each and every year. Here are the facts: H.R. 20 will finally put significant money and attention into research, screening, treatment and education for mothers suffering from this disease. Research indicates that some form of postpartum depression affects approximately 1 in 1,000 new mothers, or up to 800,000 new cases annually. This data does not include the additional cases of women who may be vulnerable to these illnesses even after they've miscarried or who deliver stillborn infants.

Of the new postpartum cases this year, less than 15 percent of mothers will receive treatment and even fewer will receive adequate treatment; however, with treatment over 90 percent of these mothers could overcome their depression. Every 50 seconds a new mother will begin struggling with the effects of mental illness.

Mr. Speaker, these facts are profound and, in the words of Carol Blocker, ``. . . hundreds of thousands of women, who have suffered from postpartum depression and psychosis are still waiting for Congress to act eight years after legislation was first introduced.'' Mr. Speaker, thank you for this day because, today, Mrs. Blocker and hundreds of thousands of mothers will not have to wait any longer for Congress to act! By passage of H.R. 20, today, we will put mothers first.

When this bill becomes law, my legislation will:

Encourage the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue: (1) activities on postpartum depression; and (2) research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and treatments for, postpartum conditions.

Express the sense of Congress that the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy in various ways.

Amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with a postpartum condition and their families.

Direct the Secretary to ensure that such projects provide education and services with respect to the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions.

Moreover, this bill is an affordable approach to research and services. This is good policy, good politics and a good public health bill.

Before I close, I'd like to take a moment to remember and honor the hundreds of thousands of women--women who have lost either their ability to ``mother'' or, in far too many cases, their lives to postpartum depression.

Mr. Speaker, this bill, this day and this moment would not be a reality had it not been for a beautiful, young Chicago native, the late Melanie Blocker Stokes, and the valiant effort her husband and her family made to save her lift but to no avail. And, even though Melanie did not survive her battle with postpartum psychosis, Melanie's battle and her ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten because of our efforts, here, today.

I would like to thank Carol Blocker, my friend, constituent and fellow activist, who with grace and dignity found a way for her daughter's memory to live on.

I would also like to thank all the groups who support this legislation. Groups like, Postpartum Support International, the Family Mental Health Foundation, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

I'd also like to acknowledge the tremendous work of groups like the Children's Defense Fund, the Melanie Blocker Stokes Foundation, Suicide Prevention Action Network, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Mental Health America, NARAL, National Alliance for Mental Illness, Community Behavioral Healthcare, the March of Dimes, The National Association of Social Workers, National Organization for Women and North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics and Gynecology.

I thank these groups and various activists for their relentless efforts to address this issue including calling their congressional representatives and mailing or faxing letters in support of H.R. 20. Our work will not be done until this bill is signed by the President. And, the good news is, this time we have a friend and fellow Chicagoan in the White House.

And, finally, let me once again thank the hundreds of thousands of unsung women, and their families, who have battled postpartum depression in silence or isolation, in some form, for far too long. To those women and their families I say, you will never suffer in silence again. And, with that, I proudly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on