Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Communities in Action Neighborhood and Opportunity bill, also known as the CAN DO bill. The Department of Justice reports that, on average, 45 people are shot and killed daily in America. Annually, there are 16,000-17,000 gun deaths in America.

The Communities in Action Neighborhood Defense and Opportunity Act is a comprehensive, community-based approach designed to address the issue gun violence. The bill calls for a four-pronged strategy in addressing gun violence in our nation's most crime-infested neighborhoods, including aggressive law enforcement, increased access to mental health and psychological counseling, additional employment training and job placement, and increased educational and recreational services for at- risk youth.

Madam Speaker, the issue of gun violence affects all Americans, white, black, Latino, Native American, and Asian. And gun violence pervades in all of our communities: urban, suburban, and rural. This issue is not a black or white issue, and it is not an urban or rural issue. This is an American issue that we must address with all of the resources we have at our disposal.

The research confirms that in order to effectively combat the causes of youth gun violence, there must be a holistic approach that provides not only aggressive law enforcement, but also provides at-risk youth with constructive alternatives to their dangerous lifestyles and gives them access to critical social services and programs.

This bill is unique in that it brings together the entire community to provide alternatives to youth by establishing partnerships between public and private agencies, businesses, community-based nonprofits, churches, schools, and universities. There is an 'all hands on' approach in order to get all of the stakeholders involved and provide a comprehensive and effective strategy that families and communities can support and get behind.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the CAN DO bill and help end the destruction that is tearing apart so many of our communities. Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Waxman, Chairman Obey, and Chairman Rangel for their hard work on the compromise legislation that we have before us today. In a time when so many Americans are in the grips of economic hardship and despair, now is the time for all of us to come together and act on the part of those who are in need.

Mr. Speaker, our people need jobs. Our people need jobs and our Nation needs jobs. And we need to invest in our infrastructure, invest in our communities, and invest in the next generation of Americans. This package includes all the tools and all the money to make our dream of a better tomorrow for all Americans a reality.

With the passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we will act by deeds, not just words. The Bible tells us that a tree will be known by the fruit it bears. This bill has good fruit in it.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. Last weekend, while my colleagues and I worked to help restore our nation's financial ship of state, the state of our urban communities continued to be plagued with an obscene level of gun violence. The Chicago community I serve tops our nation's list for gun-related violence which tragically included the second loss of life, in just two months, of a Chicago police officer. Last night, 14-year veteran officer Nathaniel Taylor, Jr., 39, lost his life while serving a search warrant and he leaves behind an orphaned daughter and a grieving city.

There were also three other gun-related murders last weekend including 34-year-old James Purifoy who was shot in the back. Two others lost their lives whose names have yet to be released. And, to top it off, five people were shot on the Near West Side early Saturday night following a dice game gone bad. Fortunately, none of their wounds were life threatening.

My condolences go out to the family and friends of Officer Taylor and to Mr. Purifoy whose lives ended much too soon at the end of a gun.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say `enough is enough, stop the killing!'

Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Communities in Action Neighborhood and Opportunity bill, also known as the CAN DO bill. The Department of Justice reports that, on average, 45 people are shot and killed daily in America. Annually, there are 16,000-17,000 gun deaths in America.

In contrast, the total number of American casualties in Iraq, over the entire 5-year span of the war, is about 4,155 and for Afghanistan, it's at least 500. The combined total of casualties for Iraq and Afghanistan is less than 5,000 since both wars began. More Americans are killed in America than American soldiers killed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

Madam Speaker, as elected leaders of this country, we must address this critical issue that inflicts so many of our most vulnerable communities. This issue of gun violence affects all Americans, white, black, Latino, and Asian. And gun violence pervades in all of our communities: urban, suburban, and rural.

This issue is not a black or white issue, and it is not an urban or rural issue. This is an American issue that we must address with all of the resources we have at our disposal.

The CAN DO bill offers a new strategy in dealing with gun violence. It combines strict law enforcement practices, along with new opportunities for mental health counseling, job programs, and educational and recreational services for at-risk youth and their families.

This bill is also unique in that it brings together the entire community to deal with the issue of gun violence by establishing partnerships between public agencies, businesses, community-based nonprofits, churches, schools, and universities. There is an ``all hands on'' approach in order to get all of the stakeholders involved and provide a comprehensive and effective strategy that families and communities can support and get behind.

As it is recorded by the Prophet Isaiah, ``They will turn their swords into plows, and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations and they will never again train for war''.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the CAN DO bill and help end the destruction that is tearing apart so many of our communities. Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop the killing''.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. Far too often, while our culture is caught up in the exciting history of our nation's political season right now or the blessed peace that some of us enjoy from living life to its fullest, there are dozens of people, each and every day, who lose their life abruptly and in silence at the hands of a gun-wielding assailant.

Such was the case, last night, on the streets of San Francisco. Twenty-four-year old Donovan Mumphrey, of Pinole, just outside of San Francisco, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Witnesses said Mumphrey was approached by someone who demanded cash and fled after the shooting.

I extend my condolences to Mr. Mumphrey's family and continue to pray for an end to this senseless violence. Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say `enough is enough, stop the killing.'

Madam Speaker, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States.

Patrick McDonald, a Philadelphia police officer pursuing an armed suspect September 23 was fatally shot. He is the fourth city officer to die in the line of duty in 11 months. The suspect was killed. An automatic weapon was recovered at the scene. Too many people have access to automatic weapons and we are all touched by the death of a police officer, killed in the line of duty.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say `enough is enough, stop the killing.'

Madam Speaker, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States.

Unfortunately, many of these shootings are the result of a relationship gone bad. On September 22, in Massachusetts, with a .35- caliber gun in his hand and a lack of judgment in his head, Scott MacLellan shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend and then fired a fatal shot into his own skull. She was ready and did move on, but Scott refused to respect her wishes. Too many people with control issues are forcing either their partners or themselves to an early grave. Too often, they use a gun to carry out their plans.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3232) to establish a non-profit corporation to communicate United States entry policies and otherwise promote tourist, business, and scholarly travel to the United States, as amended.

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 bill under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 3232, the Travel Promotion Act, was introduced by Mr. Delahunt and Mr. Blunt and will help spur the tourism industry in the United States by creating a Corporation For Travel Promotion within the Department of Commerce. This corporation will be funded by private sector money and special user fees.

Madam Speaker, I urge the bill's adoption.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), a fellow Eva Cassidy fan.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3402) to require accurate and reasonable disclosure of the terms and conditions of prepaid telephone calling cards and services, as amended.

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

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

H.R. 3402, the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act, was introduced by my friend, Mr. Engel, and will help end calling card fraud that currently plagues communities across this Nation. It requires full and accurate disclosures on the fees, charges and terms that apply to calling cards, and it will go a long ways towards protecting innocent consumers.

I urge the bill's adoption.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to my friend, the author of this bill, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

I want to assure the gentleman if the retailer knowingly sells fraudulent cards, it would be subject to FTC penalty. But if the seller, the retailer does not know that they are fraudulent cards, then the penalties would not apply, only injunctive relief.

The gentleman is correct.

Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers, and we yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. At a time when millions of homeowners are facing daunting challenges associated with the economic meltdown of the housing market, last Sunday, homeowners and residents of Athens, California were facing a crisis of a different sort. On Sept. 21, when a still unidentified man was shot to death, his loss of life marked the 14th gun-related incident, and the eighth gun-related death, in this community alone!

This latest victim, an African American man, had a life, a family and, I'm sure, someone who loved him. I grieve for him and the veil of violence that neither Athens nor any other American city should have to endure.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say, `Enough is enough, stop the killing!'

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. This year, on September 11, while the Nation memorialized more than 3,200 men, women, and children killed by terrorists; in the Denver town of Grand Junction, another child's life was senselessly taken, in part, because of the easy access to a gun.

Last Thursday night, while 13-year-old Jacob Grabe was sleeping, police report that his father, Allen Grabe, held a loaded gun to his son's face and discharged several rounds into his head, killing him instantly. Jacob was described by his mother as having a mild form of the neurological disorder similar to autism called Asperger's syndrome. Jacob's mother told police that her husband described his action this way, ``I had to kill him because you were ruining him.'' My heart goes out to Mrs. Grabe and this community on this tragic loss.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States.

Three men were charged, today, in the September 13 fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laval Crawford from Pontiac, Michigan. Laval was ambushed at his home and one of the men charged allegedly was in possession of a concealed weapon, an AK-47 rifle to be exact.

The killing was the 19th homicide this year in Pontiac, which has experienced a rash of recent violent incidents, including shootings in recent weeks, according to news reports. I look forward to a day when the news is filled with good news; news that peace has increased on our streets--not another death.

Americans of conscious must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say `enough is enough, stop the killing!'

Madam Speaker, every day, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States.

In Buffalo, New York, two people died in separate shootings on September 15. One was 51-year-old Cheryl Booker, who was inside a lounge early Monday morning when she was shot in the upper body.

In the other shooting, a 19-year-old man was hit by gunfire from a car and died at the hospital. His name has not yet been released, but we don't need to know his name. We know that it could have been your loved one, it could have been mine.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, the Department of Justice tells us that, everyday, 45 people, on average, are fatally shot in the United States. It is with a heavy heart that, today, I offer my condolences to the people of my community as I mourn the senseless loss of life of Chicago Police Officer Dannie Marchan, 29, and his daughter, seven-year-old Alizay. Police report these gun-related deaths as a murder suicide with Officer Marchan alleged to have taken his own life after shooting his two children.

This incident happened yesterday morning and, as of this time, Marchan's 9-year-old son, whose name has not been released, is still fighting for his life with his mother, Officer Marchan's ex-wife, at his side.

This senseless loss of life should not happen to anyone. In an instant that can't be taken back, Officer Marchan handled his stresses with a loaded weapon leaving devastating loss in its wake.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will we say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''

Madam Speaker, everyday, on average 45 people--a man, a woman or a child--is fatally shot. On September 11, two teens were arrested in connection with the fatal gang-related shooting of a 13- year-old boy near Santa Ana High School in Santa Ana.

An 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in connection with the murder of Rodrigo Valle. According to police, Valle was shot in the chest on September 10th after refusing to respond to the gang question, ``Where are you from?''

I personally don't know where the child was from, but I mourn over where he's not going. He's not going to school; he's not going home to his loved ones; and he's not going to discover a cure for cancer, fly to the moon, or start his own family. His life, like the lives of thousand of others this year--was taken as a result of gun violence.

Americans of conscience must come together to stop the senseless death of ``The Daily 45.'' When will Americans say ``enough is enough, stop the killing!''