Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud Secretary Duncan's appointment of David Johns to head the new White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. David's expertise will be critical in helping to address the academic challenges that many Black students face. America's educational system has undergone a remarkable transformation in the years since segregation, and we must continue to move forward to ensure equality of access and opportunity for education for all.

Here in Congress, I have advocated for advancing the educational opportunities for minorities through increased funding to public schools, federal fellowships, and tuition reimbursement programs. However, substantial obstacles to equal educational opportunity still remain in America's educational system. Black students lack equal access to effective teachers and principals, safe schools, and challenging college-preparatory classes. It is no coincidence that over a third of them do not graduate from high school on time, and those that do are not nearly as prepared as their peers. I look forward to working with David to bridge this gap and to provide all Americans regardless of race or gender the skills they need to compete in the workforce.

Education is the key to success in today's world, and everyone in America is entitled to equal opportunity to obtain a degree, get a good paying job, and live fulfilling lives. America needs to come together to solve the problems of today in order to create a brighter future tomorrow. I am confident that David Johns will help us get there sooner.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to one of the most dynamic and influential members of the State of New York, Dillard T. Boone II, who has passed away recently. As I speak with profound sorrow, I ascend to celebrate a life well lived and to remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable leader.

Mr. Boone was an accomplished senior executive with extensive experience in organizational management and business administration. He was an experienced project manager in both the public and private sectors. A resident of Mount Vernon, New York for 14 years and serving in City Government for 3 of those years, Mr. Boone serves his community through arts and culture and business. He is the principal producer of many of the city's cultural activities. He has worked with local businesses in producing special events, such as the two-day Katrina Relief Concert held in Mount Vernon.

He served as the Chairman of the A'Vatar Foundation of Westchester, a non-profit, multicultural arts organization, created to fill the gap of cultural difference. The organization has collaborated with the City of Mount Vernon's Department of Recreation over the past 11 years, in producing the Summer Breeze Concert Series, which has presented a series of concerts directed at the cultural diversity of the city. Jazz, & Gospel, Traditional & Italian Classics, Brazilian Fest, Klezmer Music, Dominican Fest, Caribbean, and world music have been the core direction that the organization has successfully maintained.

Previously a Harlem resident for 30 years and a member of St. Charles for more than 25 years, Mr. Boone began his professional career working for the City of New York. He first served as a supervisor for social services, then promoted to Deputy Director, the Office of Labor Relations for Human Resources Administration. Upon graduating from Cornell University with a Masters degree in Industrial Labor Relations, Mr. Boone was then appointed to Assistant Commissioner with the Agency for Child Development. There he supervised the technical department of engineers, architects, and building inspectors, as the project manager for major construction and renovation of 140 head start and day care facilities citywide.

After leaving city government he was appointed to District Manager, Community Board #10, Manhattan (Central Harlem) where he was the Administrator of the Community Board that represented over 150,000 Central Harlem residents. Mr. Boone became manager of residential and commercial property as on-site manager at Concourse Village, (Bronx, NY), 2,000 units and 4 commercial spaces, then Rochdale Village, (Queens, NY), 6,000 units and 74 commercial spaces,

Mr. Boone then embarked upon his current professional career of arts and entertainment. He will be remembered as President of the International Entertainment Enterprises (IEE), a special events and production management company which specializes in the business of the arts and entertainment industry. He was the first manager of the renowned Boys Choir of Harlem. In addition, he was Concert Manager, for Dionne Warwick, the O'Jays, Nancy Wilson, Roberta Flack, Max Roach, Kool and the Gang, and many more acclaimed artists.

To list his numerous affiliations would exhaust the limits of this record, but I would be remiss not to acknowledge his significant and very productive years as a senior advisor to The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president, Lloyd Williams expressed, on behalf of the Chamber and HARLEM WEEK, Inc., profound sorrow to no longer have the mind, thoughts, direction, recommendations and the spirit of Dillard as a part of the annual planning and programs. Mr. Williams pledges to continue his extended family relationship with Dillard's children, two of whom are his ``godchildren.''

His was indeed a life of remarkable consequence and memorable production and he will truly be missed by so many who relied on his managerial skills and that magnificent voice and smiling face, and none more remorseful than his wife and five children.

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of the March On Washington, the Inaugural Ceremony of President Barack Obama, let us celebrate the life of our beloved Dillard Boone who dedicated his life to the black experience and African American culture.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with great sorrow to announce the death of a Harlem legend, Reverend William M. James. Revered James was considered by many the benevolent ``Patron Saint'' and Spiritual Crusader of Harlem. He passed away late last month at the age of 97. Over his time in the ministry, he dedicated more than 60 years of his life to improving the lives of the people of Harlem.

As a man of God, Reverend James spread the message of God, love, and peace throughout Harlem. For those who had the privilege of

meeting him or knowing him personally, he touched the lives of every single person in his presence. Reverend James' passion was spreading the word of God, and teaching the people in Harlem to embrace and love the Lord and Jesus. His exuberance for his job was infectious and affected everyone around him.

Harlem has come a long way over the years, and we have seen a huge amount of revitalization in my District. I know that a lot of this can be contributed to the work of Reverend James. He was a strong advocate of educational advancement. The Reverend saw education as a way to create an equal playing field for everyone, giving the underprivileged the opportunity to achieve success and the American Dream.

Reverend James was a well-connected man, but never used his connections for personal gain. Instead, through his close relationship to lawmakers, such as myself, Senator Hillary Clinton, and Mayor Dave Dinkins, Reverend James was able to fight for the people of Harlem with others whose only goal in life is to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.

Education wasn't the only thing that Reverend James fought for during his life. He was also a huge supporter of the Arts. Reverend James dedicated a great deal of time to preserving the world famous Harlem landmark, the Apollo Theater. He considered it an important link for future generations to Harlem's important musical past. Reverend James also was the Chairperson of the Harlem Urban Development Corporation that works to develop economic and industrial opportunities in order to create positive growth and change in Harlem.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me and the New York Congressional Delegation in paying tribute to Harlem's beloved Reverend. Reverend William James guided the people of Harlem with compassion and tenderness. His spirituality and faith in God guided him throughout his life's quest to enhance the lives of the underprivileged. He will be forever missed all the people of Harlem and by everyone who's life he touched.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for presenting the National Great Debate Series.

On Saturday, March 2, the NAACP New York State Conference, under the leadership of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes in partnership with Starbucks, NAACP Region II Youth and College Division, the NAACP Connecticut State Conference, Bill Lynch Associates and Positive Workforce, Inc. hosted in New York City's Village of Harlem's First Corinthian Baptist Church ``The Great Debate''--Howard University vs Columbia University.

For the first time, this highly acclaimed event took place outside of an academic building in hopes of stimulating the consciousness and interest of young people who might not otherwise be exposed to debates as a platform for the advancement of civil rights issues and education. Over 1600 youth and community leaders from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York converged at Harlem's historic First Corinthian Baptist Church to witness, support and participate in ``The Great Debate''.

Inspired by Denzel Washington's 2007 movie, ``The Great Debaters'' in 2008, Connecticut State Conference President Scot X. Esdaile, created the ``NAACP Great Debate series''. The debate series, which is one of a kind in the country, brings together highly acclaimed debate teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) to compete against their Ivy League counterparts.

The teams debate some of the most pressing social, cultural, and political issues of today. The first debate was held at Woolsey Hall on the Yale University campus where students from Howard University and Yale University demonstrated their oral prowess. Since this first debate, interest in the series has grown exponentially. In 2011, Howard University squared off against Yale University on the topics of charter schools and District of Columbia (D.C.) statehood. In 2012, the Youth & College Division hosted the Great Debate between Wiley University and Harvard University during the 103rd Annual NAACP National Convention in Houston, Texas in a debate over the controversial ``Stand Your Ground'' law. This year, moderated by Drexel University's Dr. Charles A. Williams, III, Howard University and Columbia University debated over New York City's Police Department controversial Stop and Frisk Policy, and also debated whether hand guns should be banned in urban cities nationwide.

As Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, let me congratulate my sister, Hazel N. Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Conference, Scot X. Esdaile, President of the Connecticut State Conference and Marvin Bing, Director of Region II for bringing the NAACP Debate Series to New York City and my Congressional District. I also want to give special praise and thanks to Senior Pastor, Reverend Michael A. Walrond, Jr. and First Lady and Executive Pastor, Dr. Lakeesha Walrond of the First Corinthian Baptist Church for hosting this historic debate at Harlem's landmarked faith based institution.

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of the March On Washington, the 100th Birthday of Rosa Parks, let us also celebrate the 104 years of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that has dedicated its life's advocacy and game changing work, under the leadership of Chairman Roslyn M. Brock and President and Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Todd Jealous to enhancing Civic Engagement, Criminal Justice, Economic Development, Education and Health for all Americans across this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Life of Harlem's Matriarch Ms. Fannie E. Pennington, who passed away on Wednesday, February 13 at the age of 99 years old.

On Friday, February 22, the Village Harlem joined together at Abyssinian Baptist Church to celebrate the amazing and historic life of Fannie E. Pennington who was a faithful and dedicated servant to the Lord and to our Nation. Great women like our wonderful Fannie Pennington are precious gifts we temporarily have in this world, but their assistance, contributions and accomplishments are far remembered and everlasting.

Our beloved Fannie lived a full and spiritual life--a life well spent and dedicated to the uplifting of African Americans and women. Daughter of Matthew Mark and Hattie Harris, and a descendant of the Balanta Fula Tribes of Guinea, Fannie and her late sister Amelia were baptized and christened into the family of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church by the Reverend Adam Clayton Powell, Sr.

At Abyssinian, Fannie Pennington became one of the most devoted members, serving on the Progressive Ladies Usher Board, the Welcome and Hospitality Committee, which was once known as the Adam Clayton Powell Overseas Club. Ms. Fannie Pennington greeted and hosted historic world figures and American Icons such as Haile Selassie, Mary McCloud Bethune, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.

Many of our friends will remember Fannie as a vivacious and beautiful personality, who tended bar in several of Harlem's elite dining institutions and establishments. She was also an official representative of the Barmaid Charity Organization, which raised money to send inner city kids to summer camp. I will remember Fannie for her loyalty and support to Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., her years of service to the New York City Board of Elections and the Frederick E. Samuel Community Democratic Club, where she was dedicated to registering young people to vote.

Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and the 100th Birthday of Rosa Parks, let us also celebrate the 99 years of our beloved Fannie E. Pennington.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Medal Act (H. R. 1303) in the 112th Congress. This bill is being introduced to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Shirley Chisholm.

Shirley Chisholm was a pioneer. She was the first African-American woman elected to Congress in 1968 where she served until 1982. She represented Brooklyn's 12th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. '

In 1972 Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American to seek the nomination of a major party for President of the United States.

Shirley Chisholm was a co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW).

This posthumous gold medal presentation will recognize Shirley Chisholm for her activism, independence and groundbreaking achievements in politics during and after the civil rights era. Both her election to Congress and her candidacy for the presidency raised the profile and aspirations of all African-Americans and women in the field of politics.

An historic figure in American political history and a champion for social justice, Shirley Chisholm died at the age of 80 on New Year's Day 2005. it is befitting that Congress bestow its highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, to former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm posthumously.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join millions of people across the world in congratulating Madam President Park Geun-hye as she ascends to the Presidency. This historic occasion of swearing in a female to the head of government reflects the tremendous leaps that The Republic of Korea has made to become a shining example of one of the most successful democracies in the world. South Korea has emerged from the ashes of war into a giant in Asia and throughout the international community.

As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Armistice and the mutual military treaty, I am pleased to reaffirm my commitment to strengthening the bloodshed U.S.-Korea alliance in my capacity as a Member of the U.S. Congress. South Korea is among the closest allies of the United States, having contributed troops in support of United States operations during the Vietnam war, Gulf war, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while also supporting numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout the world.

In addition to being a major military ally to the United States, South Korea is our nation's seventh-largest trading partner. As the Ranking Member of House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, I look forward to working with President Park's Administration to implement the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

As a Korean War Veteran, I could not be more proud to witness today's Dynamic Korea. Seoul's skyscrapers, booming businesses and rising apartment buildings are a testament to the resiliency and determination of the Korean people. I send my best wishes to President Park and applaud the people and country that will always hold a special place in my heart.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join millions of people across the nation to celebrate Black History Month. This year's theme, ``At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington,'' acknowledges two pivotal impacts on American history.

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation to end slavery in the South and to preserve a republic for all people. A century later, hundreds of thousands of people of all backgrounds marched to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., seeking equality for everyone in America.

It was also where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous ``I Have A Dream'' speech which echoes through the nation even until this day. Both events marked the beginning of endless opportunities for minorities serving as foundations for the structure of public organizations of the 21st century.

Fighting for equality is a constant struggle that requires the efforts of all of us in our time. As we celebrate the 150th year of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March of Washington, we must keep working towards progress by reducing poverty and encouraging higher education in our communities.

I have dedicated my life to promoting equality for all as I continue to remember the racial and social injustices that took place many years ago. I will remain persistent in advocating for progress alongside my fellow Colleagues in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to acknowledge the life and the legacy of the late Congresswoman Cardiss Collins.

Congresswoman Collins was the first African American woman to represent a Midwestern district in this Congress. During her more than 20 years in service here, she boldly represented the Seventh Congressional District of Illinois after the untimely death of her husband, Congressman George Collins. She also led her peers with distinction as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Now I ask, Mr. Speaker, for all of my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence to honor Congresswoman Cardiss Collins.

I don't think anyone challenges the fact that we have to stop overspending. You just can't simplify it and say, ``Stop spending.''

The problem that we have now is that the debt ceiling has nothing to do with the full faith and credit of money that has already been spent. We'd have plenty of time to talk about taxes and spending if we'd talk about concurrent resolutions, if we'd talk about sequestration; but if what you're saying is that if there is a budget that I have to vote ``yes'' or ``no'' on and if one budget says that one way to close and reduce the deficit is to go after the people who are the poorest, the most sick, and the oldest and call that ``entitlement cutbacks'' and if I don't vote for that then it means that the government is not going to pay me, well, I can go home very easily and tell them that a bad budget is worse than no budget and that, once again, we are holding hostage the spending cuts that a lot of people want that should be negotiated.

Perhaps we've got a 3-month reprieve, but the fact remains that this is holding up the President and our country from getting on with what we should do when the fiscal impact of this in our country and throughout the world is dangerous.

Thank you so much, Mrs. Lowey.

I want to thank Chairman Rogers for the manner in which he has handled this crisis and certainly congratulate Mrs. Lowey for the leadership that she has provided this House over the years, but especially at a time when we needed her the most, that she was there to bring the people together, Republicans and Democrats, to do the right thing.

I want to thank, too, and encourage the new Members of Congress to take advantage of this great opportunity they have to see what the House of Representatives is all about, notwithstanding the bad publicity that we get.

For whatever reasons, the 112th Congress failed to respond to what was a part of the feeling and the fabric of this great body where every American would know that if ever they were involved in a crisis-- earthquakes, floods, or fires--that they could depend on their colleagues in the House of Representatives to respond. It was never a question of whether they were Democrats or Republicans, whether they came from a red State or a blue State; it was how fast can we help, and you can depend on that help.

For whatever reason, the 112th Congress failed, but now we are asking the new Members to join with those that were here before in bringing together people in this Congress to once again rebuild that reputation that we had so rightly enjoyed, and that is that, if you have any type of problem in this great Nation and you need the help of your colleagues, you can depend on the House of Representatives, the people's House, in coming forward to provide those aids.

We cannot bring back the lives, the homes, and the hopes that so many people have lost, but we can say in the people's House that we respond to the problems that people have.

I thank you again, Mrs. Lowey, for your leadership that you've provided, and I look forward to working with you and Chairman Rogers in the future.

I was just asking my friend, Joe Crowley, is there a legislative possibility that we could bring this to the floor. I think everybody has enough compassion for the Speaker after what he's been through with his own party trying to get some bills to the floor to understand that anything, even something this enormous, could have fallen between the cracks. What a great opportunity to say let's try to put these pieces together.

In any event, nobody has said it's impossible to do it; and if it's just a question of pride in terms of party unity, I can't think of anything at this time that would be better served than to have all of America especially thank the Speaker for reconsidering trying to help the lives of tens of thousands of American people.

Once again, I don't know what my chances are going to be getting into Heaven, but the absence of listening to the compassionate support of the religious community is deafening to me. I know their strong position about same-sex marriage and about women controlling their bodies and all of those things. And I say, if you write the book, you have the rules, do what you have to do.

But, my God, when it comes to caring for people, not New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, not just the United States, but all over the world, can't there be some people that have compassion to know that this is what God expects us to do? That's why we say, in God we trust, because we're supposed to take care of fiscal calamities, which we fail, but the compassion is not in the parties, it's in the people. And these people could be your neighbors today and someone else's neighbor tomorrow.

And this great United States, what a great insurance policy to have, to have friends from different communities, different backgrounds to know, as we say in the hood, we got your back. That's what it's all about. People all over the world, when they have a problem, no matter what the political differences are, know that America will have enough compassion to put aside those differences and to send out our men, our women and our firefighters over there, to do what, to help.

How do we possibly explain to our kids and grandkids that when it came to Americans, when it came to people who fight and die for this country, that we not only didn't help, but worse than that, we turned our back on them?

This is no profile in courage for me to be voting for this bill. It reminds me of the joke we use to have on Lennox Avenue, where someone stopped hitting you on the head with a hammer and you're supposed to say, ``Thank you so much for the relief.''

We created this monster. We're the ones that have said--at least the Congress has said in the majority in the House--do what you have to do but, for God's sake, don't ask the top 2 percent of the wealthiest people in this civilized country to pay their fair share. And while you're thinking about taxing people, why don't you start talking about cutting people off from unemployment compensation? Why don't you think about not providing so much for the sick and the aged? Why don't you start privatizing these things?

This was not the America that I knew when I came to the Congress. This was something that a handful of people from nowhere came here and started preaching that we had to destroy Big Government and the vulnerable who had no lobbyists, who had no one to come to, were saved by us, by responsible people who came together and said, basically, Have you lost your mind? What are you doing? How can you go home and tell the people this is what you created?

And so we paused and common sense has prevailed, and we can at least go back home and say, Not now, but they're coming again.

They have all types of words that they're using, like the debt ceiling, but all it means is that they're coming after us and they're coming after the President. They'll be talking about sequestration. What will it mean? Cutting benefits from people that need them the most.

And with all due regards to the other body for once doing what the House could not get together in doing, we never even saw how they paid for some of these things, things that we would have handled differently when we had to pay for those doctors who work very hard for the Medicare. And people say, Well, how are you paying for them? And everyone had amnesia in not knowing. Well, after it's over, they'll get paid, but this Congress will make certain that the providers of health care are not penalized for this Congress doing the right thing.

I know there are many people watching us late this night that truly don't believe that the House of Representatives can turn their back on any Americans and any part of this great Nation. But, Mr. Speaker, maybe

you could help us by reminding the people that we have a switchboard down here. It's 202-225-3121.

It may not be able to do anything because the leadership just walked away without the courtesy of saying that they didn't have time to deal with the millions of people whose lives have been affected. Maybe, Mr. Speaker, if you can remind Americans who are just watching that maybe they should call and ask the Congress and ask the Speaker, Please, reconsider. We're going to be here tomorrow. We were told to be here tomorrow.

Whatever happened to make someone angry tonight, the people that are suffering as a result of this disaster, they're not responsible. Don't make them pay for it.

Let me thank the Speaker for the service that he's given to the Congress.

Some day someone may review our conduct here in the House, and one of the speakers on the other side, I guess he's gone, but he said shame on the Congress. I just wanted to join with him on that.

But I also want history to record that they may ask what the heck was Rangel doing down there when this was going on? What happened?

And I hope the Record is abundantly clear that this was outlined in a campaign. It was a Presidential campaign. And the President said that as a result of America getting into wars and not paying for it, and as a result of wrongdoing in Wall Street, and the result of a whole lot of people getting out of work, that we had to have a program to raise the money and to pay down on the deficit by cutting back programs.

It seems as though what has happened here is that the Republican Party missed something. Maybe it was election night. Maybe it was a small group of the Republican Party. But they really didn't believe, or don't believe that the President won.

And this whole idea of protecting 2 percent of the population actually was on a vote. The people voted, and the President said he was going to protect 98 percent of the taxpayers. And so somehow this is not being understood.

Further from that, if you have to have more savings, and I agree that we do, why would you go, of all places, to the most vulnerable?

My friend from Wisconsin often tells me how fast food stamps have arisen in the last 2, 4, 6 years. I wonder whether he's ever taken time to find out whether there's any relationship between the increase in unemployment and increase in food stamps.

So I just want to be recorded, Mr. Speaker, this ain't for real.