Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my warm congratulation for All Souls' Episcopal Church for its monumental 150th Anniversary. All Souls' Episcopal Church has lived up to its mission since its early establishment. Today, the Church continues to serve the Harlem community residents with great pride. For the last 150 years, All Souls' have walked through difficult paths, but each time the congregation and the leadership has been able to overcome the struggles.

All Souls' long history began in 1859 when early members gathered in a large room of a Depot on Sixth Avenue. Two years later, due to an unexpected demographic expansion, the leadership saw that it was necessary to relocate to a more suiting location. The construction of a new Church began. The consecration of the 48th Street became the home of the community up until 1906. In between this period, at least until 1902, All Souls' had reached its apogee. Under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Herber Newton, the Church was considered the most ``fashionable'' out of all churches in town. Reverend Dr. Newton's preaching and charisma were able to draw members from all classes and backgrounds. At this time, the exploding list of membership brought back the reconsideration of relocating the Church. The consecration was moved from 48th Street to 66th Street.

In 1902, Reverend Dr. Newton retired due to advancing age. The congregation was grateful for his leadership and bright visions. In 1906, All Souls' merged with the Church of the Archangel and relocated to the present location on 88 St. Nicholas Avenue. The two Churches stood side by side, sought strength for one another while reaching out to the community with high dedication and enthusiasm.

In the 1920s, the drastic change of demographic of the era was noticeable. Hispanics and African Americans began to move uptown, where at the time this area was heavily consisted of Caucasian population. A great lesson was learned with this new change. While our Nation was sunk into a deep racial violence and movements against the Black communities, All Souls' took the utmost civil action to defeat racism that occurred within the Church's leadership. The disagreement, which led to bitterness took place between the Vestry and Reverend Dodd, displays a valuable lesson for many to learn--one must stand up to speak for his or her principle despite social surrounding pressures. The courageous act of Reverend Dodd and Bishop Manning eventually enabled ``all people in the neighborhood'', regardless of race and color, to attend the services.

The livelihood of the Church was revived under the leadership of Reverend Lauder. Under his ministry, All Souls' was able to welcome old and new members. In addition, the Church was able to contribute to the community through programs. Reverend Lauder led the congregation and the community to establish a program, which reached out to assist those who needed shelters. This action

strongly reflects the mission of the church from the beginning and sends a genuine message to the community that together there is nothing we cannot do.

All Souls' Episcopal Church has contributed much to the strength and growth of Harlem. In the last few years, All Souls' has provided after school and summer programs, which were made available not only to Church members but to the entire community. This is the kind of message our community needs. Not only that All Souls' preaches the idea of openness and lending hands to those who have less than us, but it actually put the idea to practice and have certainly made an impact on one's life.

Mr. Speaker, colleagues, allow me to take this moment to wish All Souls' Episcopal Church and its congregation a special 150th Anniversary in this extraordinary moment of their history. With one and a half century of chronicle, struggles, and achievements, I can say without hesitation that All Souls' has become an essential element leading to the remarkable transformation of Harlem. The victory in the battle against racism within the Church contributed to the overall victory of the Civil Rights movement about four decades later. I am grateful for this institution's existence and its extensive efforts to reach out to all people regardless of race or color.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the AIDS Service Center of New York City, for their 20 excellent years of serving Manhattan by helping New Yorkers suffering from HIV/AIDS and providing them the support to rebuild their lives.

What started out as a small organization in 1990, the AIDS Service Center stands today as a pillar in my community's ongoing fight against the deadly disease that disproportionately affects African-Americans and Hispanics in the District. Through the leadership of Director Sharen Duke and the Center's dedicated Board and staff, the AIDS Service Center has provided services to over 1,800 people each year, and engages with 18,000 people through their peer education and community outreach initiatives.

The work done by the AIDS Service Center of New York City is so crucial and needed all throughout our nation. In New York alone, over 100,000 people live with HIV/AIDS, and thousands more are unaware that they are living with this terrible virus. I am forever grateful for the significant impact the Center is making in the lives of people in Manhattan.

I hope all my Colleagues in the House today will join my community and me in once again congratulating the AIDS Service Center of New York City for their 20 years of passionate service. We must continue to advocate and support for our fellow brothers and sisters living with HIV/AIDS until this epidemic no longer threatens the way of their lives.

Last Christmas the gift that we gave to the unemployed was the shock of their lives, as they thought that the Congress would not extend the unemployment compensation. So this morning, I'm joining with Congressmen Stark, Doggett, Levin, and Crowley to make certain that we don't do that again this year.

The opposition to the extension last year was due to a large number of Republicans truly believing--and voting against the bill--that these people really would rather receive unemployment checks than look for work. Of course it's more than just the salary when you are working. It's the pride and dignity of knowing that you are taking care of your family, you are responsible for putting food on the table, clothing on your children's backs, and all of those things that America has come to believe as just the normal way of life.

With the poverty numbers growing so fast and the unemployment going up so fast, a lot of people are losing hope in terms of finding a job. As a matter of fact, it's oftentimes forgotten that in order to qualify for extended unemployment comp, you have to be qualifying for a job. But because jobs are so scarce and people want to remain with a little bit of dignity and not just automatically increase the rolls of poverty, we ask that this body, in the name of humanity, think about these people as they would think about themselves if suddenly they found themselves without work and without their savings and without health care and without the resources to save their families from disaster.

In addition to that, when we go home next week--and again, we will be home--talk to some of the local vendors. We all recognize that it's small businesses that are really the backbone of our economy, as it's the small businesses that produce the jobs. But one of the problems they're having is, if consumers don't buy, they can't sell, and they cannot continue to hire people, which adds to the vicious cycle of unemployment.

So if those people truly believe that they want to spur the economy, allow these people to be able to buy the goods and services that they would normally buy if they were employed. And for God's sake--since the day before yesterday we made it abundantly clear that we trust in God-- so for God's sake, let's get a jobs bill on the floor. Let's put aside our party labels. Let's just put the election aside long enough to be able to get our country back to work. More and more people are not only losing their jobs, but the most important ingredient, I think, that America has: giving hope to people who don't have much.

If we take that away from them, by seeing the solid pillars of our society without work, without the ability to take care of their families, little hope that it gives for those people that have been consistently unemployed as the job market shrinks, and so I do hope that there will come a time, and very, very soon, that there will be no need in this great country for unemployment compensation because we would have been able to have a jobs bill that would include severe cuts in terms of expenditures that we make but also would include putting revenue on the table so that we just don't balance the budget at the expense of those people who have little or no resources.

The United States of America, unfortunately, is becoming one of the countries that have the widest gap between the handful of 1 percent of the people that own almost half of the wealth of this great Nation. That formula doesn't work economically, it doesn't work morally, and it doesn't work spiritually. So we all have to come to the table to save this Nation, whether we are wealthy or whether we hope one day to become middle class and wealthy, because without the country having hope for the future, there's absolutely no hope for the people who are looking for employment to raise their family and to forever protect this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, as October comes to a close, I rise today to celebrate what was Domestic Violence Awareness Month as well as bring attention to the one of many serious issues mainly women and children in our society are struggling with domestic violence. In the United States, every nine seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten by stalkers or her partner. And believe it or not, domestic violence is the leading cause of injury for women in America. According to a study, victims of domestic violence are more than rapes, muggings and car accidents combined. It really is difficult to see that even in this great Nation of ours such unfortunate events can take place. We, as a nation, must take collective action to make the case that violence is not the solution and it never is acceptable.

Each year, ten million children in this country have witnessed various forms of violence within the household. This, itself, I believe, is unfortunate. The result of these acts has weakened women's voice and positioned children in a situation where they have to grow up without parents.

There is no doubt that domestic violence creates viral impacts for our society. Each year, the Federal government injects hundreds of million of dollars fighting against the cause by creating support programs. In a smaller scale, many have suffered physically and emotionally. In addition, victims would be forced out of work due to injuries; this further positions them in a more economical disadvantage. Women in this country and around the world deserve more respect. They are the important element in our society. In fact, they are the mothers of our Nation's future. This epidemic must be stopped.

Many of us know that violence against women has existed for a very long time in our history. When the settlers set foot in America, they adopted an old English common law, which authorized a husband to use force upon his wife, for correction purposes. Not until 1871, that we began to see women's liberation movements, which ultimately abrogated men's legal right from committing violence on his spouse, at least in Alabama. It became a nationwide concern in 1970 when the issue was put under magnifying lens, while grassroots movements began to grow. Prior to the movement in 1970s, domestic violence was not considered a public issue, since violence mainly took place in one's private property. At the time, the government had taken measures to ensure victim's access to care and support. Though not until a decade later that legislations were proposed as an attempt to take on the issue. In 1994, two legislations were enacted as an effort to respond to this ongoing problem, the Family Violence Prevention and Service Act and the Violence Against Women Act. In 2006, the Congress reauthorized VAWA 2005 and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act 2005. These legislations have created new programs to assist and ensure the safety, well-being of survivors and victims. I am also pleased to see that the President has been showing strong support for this campaign. For FY2011, President Obama requests $649 million dollars for violence against women programs. As of last year, there are 1,920 shelters to house and assist victims, nation-wide. Our Nation has come a long way on this issue and we still have many more unmet challenges to face. Brighter days are ahead of us.

I would like to take this moment to recognize all my colleagues in the House of Representatives, government agencies in the great State of New York, local non-profit organizations such as Greater New York City Chapter of The Links, Dominican Women's Development Center, Safe Horizon 100 Black Women, and many others in my Congressional District who have shown tremendous dedication and enthusiasm to fight domestic violence, whether it is to seek for more protection or to ensure that support programs continued to be funded.

Mr. Speaker, in my very own district a not-for-profit organization, We All Really Matter or W.A.R.M., is leading the community to reach out to battered women who have just been released from the shelters. On the 27th of October, W.A.R.M. will be holding its Second Annual Domestic Violence Panel to present positive faces of women who have been abused. This event will be a great resource for the community to learn more about domestic violence as well as allowing victims the break the silence.

We must continue to do all we can to eradicate violence in every household in America. I strongly urge victims to speak up and reach out to your local community about the issue. Do not allow shame and fear to silence you. The best way to solve a problem is to confront it, not to shy away from it. You are the voice of change in our community. Our commitment is to ensure that there will be no more victims. We all really matter and we all deserve to live in a community where there is no place for violence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my growing concern on the current state of our Nation's immigration reform. On October 2nd, I had the privilege of attending a press conference at the Church of the Ascension. I was joined by many of my constituents, my colleague Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, State Senator Adriano Espaillat, members of New York City Council, local city officials, and numerous immigration rights advocates to discuss immigration reform and a landmark bill that will change the way the City of New York Department of Corrections works with the federal immigration authorities and to reduce unnecessary immigrant deportations in New York City.

Mr. Speaker, we all live in a nation built by immigrants. When our great grandparents first arrived, they had hope to escape from religious persecution or perhaps economic and political repression; they had hope to work hard so they can build strong families and make a decent living with respect and dignity. The United States of America is known to be a country where anyone with good moral standing, courage, endurance and the desire to do the right thing can achieve and live the American Dream. The least we can all do for one another is to pave way, not to inflict pain.

Upon their arrival, those newcomers had never been given legitimacy to help grow this Nation. They were very well welcomed, simply because this vast Nation desperately needed builders. Those people worked hard, sacrificed to strengthen the agriculture, infrastructures and all other things our generation relies on. Present day immigrants are still important to our national economy. In a time when our national economy is in peril, losing this part of our community would cause industries to collapse.

The United States would not be the same without our ancestors, who were, in fact, the product of immigrants. They have contributed enormously to the standing of our economy and will continue to do the same in the future. I believe that it only is fair to treat them with justice and fairness. We certainly do not want to look back in 20 or 30 years and have our grandchildren ask: how could we be so cruel? America can not be known as a place where Federal agencies simply disregard local people and laws in order to detain, deport immigrants, separate families and loved ones.

Folks, who are in the custody of local New York authorities, have been, in the last two or three years, subjected to be detained, questioned and can potentially be deported by ICE. Mr. Speaker, some of these folks had no prior conviction. They post no threat to our society. Thus, deserve a second chance. Ultimately, we may have an honest and extensive debate on whether or not we would like to use amnesty or banishment as a method to fix our own problem, but it is imperative that the procedure is done with respect to the law and basic human rights.

I would like to praise my colleague, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Melissa Mark- Viverito, Council Member Danny Dromm, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and Make the Road NY Organization for their enormous efforts to bring to the attention this issue. I would also like to praise the New York City Council for taking a bold action to limit the Immigration and Custom Enforcement's authority over New York City Department of Correction. We certainly can not allow agency such as ICE to detain and deport people without the appropriate legal basis. The introduction of Int.656-2011 certainly is a stepping stone to a true, effective reform.

I would like to take this moment to show my sincere appreciation for Pastor John P. Duffell for allowing the use of the site to advocate the reform. This is truly a humanitarian concern and Churches through out the country should not shy away from helping those who are in need. I encourage more mosques, synagogues, churches throughout this country to teach and advocate local people about immigration reforms. People incline to think that religion and politics should not mix and that religious institutions should stay away from this matter. Though this isn't so. This matter is not about politics; it's not about winning or losing; it's about people who just want to work hard and live well. We want to treat and praise them like we have to our ancestors.

Finally, I encourage all my colleagues to consider immigration reform as a serious concern and that we can no longer neglect to establish a legislative reform that is fair, effective and serve the best of the whole. Deporting people, tearing families apart, build a wall to keep people out is not real reform; it is a temporary solution to a problem. We need a sensible immigration policy which will allow the best, the brightest and those who are willing to work hard to continue the great chapter of our Nation's history. Mr. Speaker, America is strong because people come from all over the world with the intent to achieve the American Dream. The will of the people, as history have shown, have strive our nation to success from every corner.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the Occupy Wall Street Movement and to bring the voices of the long-oppressed 99% back to the Representatives who are supposed to represent them.

Truly, when I think of the vision of democracy today, instead of our gridlocked Congress, where we can hardly speak to each other because of deeply polarized political differences, I look to the Occupy Wall Street groups burgeoning across the country.

They took to heart the value of the freedoms of speech and assembly consecrated in the Bill of Rights, and put them to practice. They are convening in open air town halls to give voice to the voiceless and organize as a unit. Here in Congress, every vote comes with a fight. After it is all said and done, the disagreement remains and the bitterness deepens. Out there in the General Assemblies of these ``Occupation'' sites, decisions are made by consensus. Who has it figured out better?

Some are quick to dismiss the protesters as a bunch of kids who do not know what they are doing. I beg to differ.

Yes, the Occupy Wall Street groups have no established leadership team. But that is very much by choice. And in many ways, these eclectic gatherings are so much stronger as a collective of equals. Each individual, from child to senior, has taken initiative to help in a way best suited to his or her interests and abilities. They have voluntarily taken up posts to welcome newcomers, to offer legal advice, to provide medical relief, to cook, to clean, to entertain, and to be sure, to discuss policy, from sustainability to electoral reform.

And yes, these General Assemblies do not have a bill of solutions to present for deliberation on the floors of Congress to rectify the problems facing our country. But they have deliberately chosen not to present a list of demands as an organizational strategy. In the second issue of the New York occupation newspaper, cleverly named the ``Occupied Wall Street Journal'', they declared: ``No List of Demands. We are speaking to each other and listening. This occupation is first about participation.''

And they are right. All they need to know is that they are discontent with the status quo in this country and are willing to do something about it. This is what democracy is all about. If the people do not express their point of view, how are their voices supposed to be represented?

The fact is that the people have been trying to communicate their grievances--through phone calls, letters, petitions, national conferences, and other traditional methods of organizing--yet we, their elected representatives, have failed to produce legislation to adequately address their needs. Now they are mad as hell, and I do not blame them. In fact, I thank them for containing their anger and organizing in a non-violent manner.

My colleagues, it is our sworn duty to listen to our constituents and represent their views. Why are we not honoring the position of the 99%? Why do attacks on the 99% persist? What more do the American people have to do to get its Congress to wake up and actually deliver the systematic changes that are necessary to lift this country out of its fiscal recession and spiritual depression? The American Dream needs to be revived with some real changes before it withers away like the millions upon millions of dreams deferred.

Americans have been suffering long before these market crashes, bubble bursts, and quagmire wars. This movement is not about ephemeral concerns and will not be mollified by superficial fixes. The problems highlighted by Occupy Wall Street contingents around the country are deeply entrenched structural issues and we must address them earnestly and develop permanent, holistic solutions. We can no longer afford to patch one sleeve with the other. It is abundantly clear that a total make-over is needed.

The process will be difficult, but we must undertake the challenge. We cannot simply bicker on and watch more than a quarter of our children grow up in poverty. We cannot simply hype up the promises of higher education and abandon our students when they are locked down with debt. We cannot simply wait for the ``market god'' to do its wonders and leave our families to suffer as the prices go up and real wages go down. It is not only our job to rectify these wrongs, it is our moral obligation.

I call on all my colleagues to listen to the voices of the people and act. Let us collaborate in good faith and reaffirm that this is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The American public is sick and tired of waiting. It is time to get to work.

Once more I urge spiritual leaders all across the country to take an active role in this movement. Every faith tradition affirms the value of social justice. This is the time to fight for a more perfect nation, one that would more closely embody the ideals upheld in our holy books. I ask all faith leaders to encourage their congregants to contact their elected officials and make sure that their views are faithfully represented.

Lastly, I would like to remind all the leaders of the world that this movement is not stopping at Wall Street, in New York, or even within the bounds of the United States. More than 1,500 cities around the globe committed to launching united campaigns for global change on October 15, 2011. The ``Occupation'' is poised to continue, growing persistently as more and more people step out and speak up. Never forget that the power of government is derived from the consent of the governed. Their will and support are the foundations on which our nations were built. Listen to the 99%, preserve peace, and ensure justice to all.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, as we see the Nation going through such pain, I rise once again to see why we can't get along, why Republicans and Democrats find it almost impossible to try to raise some solutions to the problems we face.

There is no question that there are many Republicans in the House and Senate that believe that the most important contribution that they can make to our country is to get rid of the President. But at the same time, we have 14 million people that have lost their jobs, many have lost their homes, their savings, their hopes for the future. Probably double that number we find underemployed. And the millions and millions of people in districts like mine where people have actually given up hope that they can restore their dignity and get the resources necessary to provide for their families.

Yesterday, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would support the motto ``In God We Trust.'' I reluctantly supported it because I didn't want anyone to believe that I didn't trust God. But I felt awkward because I didn't see where that was the question.

The real question, I would think, is, does God trust us? Does God trust us to do the things that every religion says we should be doing? Are we trusted to provide care and compassion for the vulnerable? Are we trusted to know that we have a responsibility to the sick, to the aged, to the disabled? That's where God really counts, no matter what your religious background is.

And to talk about a motto and sharing that, I don't think that has to be challenged. What is challenged is, what are we going to do about it?

Why do we find people young and old around the country protesting against the disparity that exists between the poor, who God said through his servant Jesus, his son Jesus, that they should be taken care of? And the Scriptures are not too kind--at least not as kind as I am--to the rich. But common decency would expect that there be fairness in the resources this great Nation would have.

And that when we find that less than 1 percent of Americans control 42 percent of the national wealth, would we find that our educational system is definitely not going to allow us to be competitive in the future? When we see that the American Dream--and that to me is the most important part of my pride in being an American; you don't have to succeed in America, but the hope and the dream that people from all countries can come here and have an opportunity to break out of their class system, out of poverty, and join the middle class.

Even those who came as slaves and had their backgrounds just eliminated; their names, their culture, their songs, their history, but nevertheless, because of the Congress and trust in God they, too, have been able to achieve, even to the extent of becoming President of the United States and honored Members of the Congress through the Congressional Black Caucus.

So once that hope is challenged by anybody, then it means for the whole world the symbol that America is supposed to be. It's not one that improves your quality of life but finds us having people losing hope in the system. The fact that we don't speak out when thousands of young Americans, brave warriors, are being killed and have been killed in countries that their families have no idea where the countries are located or what the issues were, and the necessity of protecting oil has no longer been the issue.

So I say, yes, in God we trust, but we've got a few days left to see whether or not we can have God trust in us.

Mr. Speaker, I hope schools, businesses, the faith community, families, and community organizations in our Manhattan Congressional District will join together this week in celebration of Red Ribbon Week, taking place October 22-30, 2011. By wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events, young people have the opportunity to make a pledge to a drug-free life. Red Ribbon Week also honors DEA Special Agent Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena who died on February 7, 1985, while fighting against drug trafficking and abuse, as well as all men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit.

Established in 1988, Red Ribbon Week is the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of Americans. The National Family Partnership estimates that more than 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events each year. The campaign is a unified way for communities to take a stand against drugs and show intolerance for illicit drug use and the consequences to all Americans.

Nearly one million New Yorkers reported using illicit drugs in the past year (16%). The only way to change this trend is by educating our youth on the dangers and effects of illegal drugs with initiatives like Red Ribbon Week. I have seen firsthand how drug use can ruin a life, and the crippling effects it can have on families and neighborhoods. I ask our community to reach out to our children by helping them make a pledge to a drug-free life.

Mr. Speaker, it appeared sometime yesterday that the Congressional Budget Office looked at statistically where the wealth of this country is being held and came to the conclusion that 1 percent of America's high earners have 42 percent of the Nation's wealth. It also pointed out that one out of every five kids, American kids, is born into poverty.

Well, certainly one might look at the income tax system to see whether or not this disparity is being dealt with. But if you do, you will find out that we have aggressively protected income for people who are wealthy enough to invest it at lower rates than lower income people who work hard every day

and yet have a higher rate of their income that they have paid taxes on.

What does this unfairness mean? Well, one thing I can tell you is that you're not going to have too much noise from the spiritual community because somehow they're silent as we deal with the question of budget deficits and budget cuts. They haven't responded to the fact that many of these cuts have to deal with income after retirement, with Social Security. Others deal with the ability to pay for health care. Others just deal with the plight of not being able to put food on the table, to get health care. In other words, it's all biblical as to what is wrong about the disparities in income. But there are other things that we don't talk about. You can rest assured that this includes some of the benefits that the 1 percent have.

Why is it that we know or that we can suspect that in this war where we lost so many lives, where so many people have been wounded, that our brave men and women coming home will subject themselves to a lack of funds to deal with their physical and mental problems, and yet we somehow know that that 1 percent was not involved in defending our great Nation? Oh, we take it for granted that those people who can't get jobs would volunteer, but we can almost know without any investigation that the wealthiest of Americans never found themselves protecting our flag.

What else can we tell? Well, we can tell there's a limited amount of money that billionaires can spend. And we don't expect them to be at the local supermarket or buying a pair of socks or going to the drugstore looking for prescriptions. No, they hold on to their money. They invest their money. They don't even lend their money.

But having said that, one thing is clear, that if we have the other 99 percent of the people that are not wealthy, and if it was possible for them to get a fairer shake and have more expendable income, you wouldn't have to put out ads for them to buy, that they have the needs and they would be purchasing. And small businesses depend on these people--not the barons, not the tycoons, but they depend on the people in the neighborhood. That's why the stores are located there. So it's not a question of having consumer confidence. It's a question of consumers not having the money to buy what they need.

But I really think the worst thing of all when we just overlook and don't pay attention to that is the American Dream that is being shattered, because we do know that poverty means you're not going to have good health; you're not going to get the kind of education to get out of poverty. Poverty means that you lose the hope and the dreams of this great Nation. And more than poverty and wealth, what really is the engine that makes our Nation so great is people from all over the world believe you can make it in the United States of America.

But when you are now going through decades of poverty, kids not able to go to college, those that graduate not able to find jobs, our young people and older alike running to the streets and protesting, explosion of this type occurring all over the great United States, then the hopes and dreams that are the engine that makes our country so great are limited in their ability to bring the scientists and the doctors and the people we need for this country.

One percent of our wage earners, 42 percent of the Nation's wealth, there is something wrong with that formula.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to highlight the National Debt Crisis. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Our deficit has ballooned to the highest sum in history, 14.8 trillion. Our nation's unemployment hovers at 9.1 percent and a record 46.2 million Americans live in poverty. This problem cannot be sustained without running the risk of destroying our Great Nation.

As I stand before you, I make a plea to our spiritual leaders throughout the United States to be heard and to speak out for the gridlock that exists here in Congress. It seems to me whether we're dealing with the Koran or the Bible or the Torah, one thing that is abundantly clear is that we have a moral obligation to take care of the vulnerable among us, especially during our current economic crisis. This great nation now has broken all records in terms of our middle class actually being shrunk as people are forced into poverty. Therefore, cutting funding to entitlement programs will exacerbate this problem. Let the churches, synagogues, mosques and the temples be open so people can express themselves. Our spiritual leaders could encourage people not just to pray but to become active. So whether you're a Protestant, Catholic, Jew, Gentile, Mormon or Muslim, this is a time when America needs you.

The Congress has an obligation as well. Let this Congress attempt to be more civil and recognize that we have a responsibility that goes beyond the election. We have a responsibility to the American people and our National Debt is a priority that we must address.

Since the 1970's Keynesian economics has been the guiding principle for both parties. It stated that you should spend when times are bad to stimulate the economy and balance the budget when times are good. Therefore, the Government must increase spending to fill the void left by the private sector in a Recession. However, the Republican Party has abandoned this principle of economics in favor of ``Reaganomics.'' The Republican Party has prioritized cutting taxes and decreasing spending. While this would make sense when the economy is strong, trying to balance the budget this way in a Recession is dangerous. The tax cuts will cost the Federal Government $65 billion for 2011 alone. They will continue to add to the debt, while the Government struggles to raise revenue. Without revenue the Government cannot fund vital social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, among others.

Moreover, with low revenue the Government cannot pay its bills and its debts. As a result,

the Government has been forced to borrow from countries such as China and Japan, as well as the Social Security program and the United States Postal Service. Republicans have argued that Social Security is unsustainable and is contributing to the debt; however Social Security has run surpluses for decades. The Government has used these surpluses to fund their spending, including the high spending under President Reagan. We cannot continue borrowing from Social Security. Social Security was created to last, without contributing to the debt. The program cannot pay benefits if it does not have the resources to do so. Furthermore, Social Security cannot borrow; therefore it cannot increase the federal deficit. Hence, years of tax cuts and borrowing from Social Security have pushed the program near insolvency. Additionally, borrowing from the Post Office has caused it to go broke. Republicans have called for privatizing the Post Office because it is unsustainable and cannot be subsidized by the government. On the other hand, tax cuts have forced the Government to borrow from the Post Office to make up for lost revenue. This has resulted in the devastation of the U.S. Postal Service.

The biggest amount of spending goes to health programs like Medicare, which accounts for 15 percent of the GDP alone. That is the main reason Democrats supported the health care bill. The Health Care law was meant to bring health care costs down, but Republicans seek to repeal the law. Other developed nations have managed to keep their health related costs low on a single-payer government-backed health care system. We must control the soaring health care costs if we are to decrease spending and the national debt and repealing the health care law is not the way to do it. It is abundantly clear that Republicans only seek to benefit their base of insurance companies.

Tax expenditures should also be on the table when discussing how to cut spending. They include tax breaks on mortgage interest and employer-provided health insurance. Tax expenditures add hundreds of billions of dollars a year to our debt. They decrease the amount of taxes individuals and businesses pay, thereby decreasing the amount of revenue the Government takes in. Moreover, tax credits are also a form of spending, which ``fiscally conservative'' Republicans claim they want to cut. However in 2009, House Republicans introduced new housing subsidies that gave a $5,000 credit to Americans that reliance their homes and $15,000 in credits to those buying homes. These tax credits are a form of spending that Republicans do not have a problem with. If we are serious about cutting spending than we must look at these tax expenditures, which account for more than the total cost of all non- defense programs, excluding Social Security and Medicare. So when we consider cutting spending on programs that benefit the poor and elderly, we should also take a look at tax expenditures, which help the middle class and wealthy.

Democrats and Republicans alike should make a valiant effort to work together in other to save our beloved country. We must look at cutting spending on all programs and not excluding tax expenditures from the list. Moreover, we must increase taxes on the wealthy, so we can stop borrowing from Social Security and effectively bankrupting the program. In order to balance the budget and decrease the debt, the government must receive revenue. This revenue can only come from increasing taxes. Spending cuts alone will not help this country recover. In fact, sharp cuts can force us back into a recession and will stunt our economic recovery. Therefore the best option is to cut spending gradually, not rapidly like Republicans propose and to increase taxes. Most economists agree that this is the best method to improve our economy and to decrease our debt.

Democratic and Republican voters are in agreement on programs that should be cut and where spending should be increased. Democrats and Republicans support cuts for the highway system, air travel and railroad, medical research, subsidies to agricultural corporations with large farms and defense spending. However, both voters support spending increases for job training, energy conservation and renewable resources, elementary and secondary education, higher education and agricultural subsidies to small farmers. It seems like the electorate is much less polarized than the government.

Mr. Speaker, if Democratic and Republican voters can agree on where spending should be decreased and where it should be increased, than why can't we? At the end of day, we must work together to ensure America's prosperity and the well-being of our nation. This is the only way to get us out of the current economic crisis we are in.

Mr. Speaker, during National Fire Prevention Awareness week, I would like to encourage that we as a community make preparations to protect our families and neighbors from the tragedy and destruction caused by fires. This is a great opportunity to thank our community's firefighters who are the first to respond and put themselves at risk for our safety.

Our Manhattan Congressional District is fortunate to have many brave first responders, including those from the Uniformed Fire Association of Greater New York, FDNY Engine 69, Ladder 28, Battalion 16 ``Harlem Hilton,'' FDNY Engine 53, Ladder 43 ``El Barrio's Bravest'' and FDNY Rescue 3 ``Big Blue,'' and the Vulcan Society, Inc. We must continue to show our cooperation and appreciation towards our firefighters, first responders and those who continuously ensure our neighborhoods are safe.

Simple precautions such as installing and maintaining smoke detectors in every apartment unit and on every floor of our homes and buildings, having an escape plan, and following fire codes can save countless lives. I would hope that people in my District and all across our great nation would take proper measures to prevent fires and potential harm in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, during National Fire Prevention Awareness week, I would like to encourage that we as a community make preparations to protect our families and neighbors from the tragedy and destruction caused by fires. This is a great opportunity to thank our community's fire fighters who are the first to respond and put themselves at risk for our safety.

Our Manhattan Congressional District is fortunate to have many brave first responders, including those from the Uniformed Fire Association of Greater New York, FDNY Engine 69, Ladder 28, Battalion 16 `Harlem Hilton,' FDNY Engine 53, Ladder 43 `El Barrio's Bravest' and FDNY Rescue 3 `Big Blue,' and the Vulcan Society, Inc. We must continue to show our cooperation and appreciation towards our firefighters, first responders and those who continuously ensure our neighborhoods are safe.

Simple precautions such as installing and maintaining smoke detectors in every apartment unit and on every floor of our homes and buildings, having an escape plan, and following fire codes can save countless lives. I would hope that people in my District and all across our great nation would take proper measures to prevent fires and potential harm in our communities.''

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and pride that I welcome President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea to the United States and his address to the Joint Session of Congress on October 13, 2011. His visit to our great nation is another significant step in broadening and deepening the friendship and cooperation between our two sovereign nations.

For more than 60 years an enduring friendship has existed between the United States and the Republic of Korea which has been of enormous economic, cultural, and strategic benefit to both nations. Our countries share common ideals and a clear vision for the 21st century, where freedom and democracy are the foundations for peace, prosperity, and progress.

During the Korean War the United States and the Republic of Korea forged a bloodshed alliance. Approximately 1,789,000 members of the United States Armed Forces served in-theater along with the forces of the Republic of Korea and 20 other members of the United Nations to defend freedom and democracy of the Republic of Korea from 1950 to 1953. Since 1975, the Republic of Korea has invited thousands of American Korean War veterans to revisit Korea in appreciation for their sacrifices. Currently more than 28,500 members of the United States Armed Forces have served annually in the United States Forces Korea to defend the Republic of Korea against external aggression, and to promote regional peace.

The Republic of 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.

As a Korean War veteran, I am proud to see that in the 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, the Republic of Korea has emerged from a war-torn economy into one of the major economies in the world and one of the largest trading partners of the United States.

The success of Republic of Korea is a shining example of the peacekeeping efforts and contribution made by the United States.

I would like to congratulate President Lee Myung-bak for recently being awarded the World Statesman Award for his leadership in furthering democracy, freedom, peace and human rights, on September 20, 2011, by The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization founded and presided by my good friend, Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

I applaud President Lee Myung-bak's many accomplishments, including his tenure as the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Member of the Korean National Assembly, Mayor of Seoul, and as the 10th President of the Republic of Korea. Under his presidency since 2008, Republic of Korea has emerged as one of the key players on the international scene through hosting the 2010 G-20 Seoul Summit. Now with the passage of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, I hope that the economies of both the United Sates and Republic of Korea would continue to prosper as our partnership remains strong.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I stand once again to make a plea to our spiritual leaders throughout the United States to be heard and to speak out against the gridlock that exists here in the United States Congress.

I do this feeling very comfortable since we open up our session with a prayer and as everyone can see and many have taken for granted, it says: ``In God We Trust.''

Clearly, the protesters have caused quite a bit of inconvenience for my colleagues and the constituents in New York, but the fact remains that they speak out for a frustration that most all Americans have. Uncertain as to what the future holds for them, many have lost their jobs, their savings, pulled their kids out of school; and they are frustrated that we in the Congress hardly talk to each other because of the depth of polarization.

And yet beyond the politics of it all, whether it's Democrats or Republicans, when you think about it, this recession can only be stopped and unemployment lowered by a combination of two things, the reduction of our spending and the raising of revenue in order to increase not only the confidence that people have but the necessity of having economic growth so America can regain its status among civilized nations.

Yet we find very little movement here because there's some that have already embarked on the 2012 campaign. They do that even though millions of Americans are suffering painfully, seeking relief now and not waiting until the end of next year.

It seems to me, whether we are dealing with the Koran or whether we are dealing with the Bible or the Torah, one thing is abundantly clear, that those who believe in a superior force would know that one of the things that we have a moral obligation to do is to take care of the vulnerable among us.

This great Nation now has broken all records in terms of our middle class actually being shrunk as people are forced into poverty. One out of every five kids in the United States of America is born into poverty, and we find that a smaller number of people in our country are controlling nearly half of the wealth.

There's something wrong with that equation, and certainly this is the time to fill that vacuum. For those who believe there's no direction to the protesters, there may not be direction, but they certainly expect that their government should be there for them. Their government is gridlocked. Our spiritual leaders could encourage them not just to pray, but to become active, find out who the Members are that represent them in the Congress, ask them to be voting on these bills that can create economic growth or can create jobs.

And so whether you're Protestant or Catholic or Jews or gentiles or Mormons or Muslims, this is the time that America needs you. This is why our Forefathers have never written out religion. While it cannot dictate which religion, if any, you should have, certainly we do have freedom of religion.

And as the protesters have a constitutional right in order to speak out to release their frustrations, I think we have a spiritual responsibility to take those parts of the proclamations that they're making, the protestations that they're making, and those parts that take care of trying to get the vulnerable to get a fair shake out of this economic disaster we find ourselves in, let us take care of our aged, our sick, those that are in poverty.

Let Social Security and Medicaid and Medicare be something that's not a gamble, but something that the American people can depend on.

Let the churches and the synagogues and the mosques and the temples be open so people can express themselves, and let this Congress attempt to be more civil in recognizing that we have a responsibility that goes beyond the election. We have a responsibility to the American people. So I conclude my remarks and make my plea.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to commemorate the Bicentennial and 201st anniversary of Mexican Independence Day, which occurred on September 16, 2011. As Mexicans everywhere celebrate the historic independence of Mexico from Spanish rule, this momentous day is significant because it represents a sign of justice and equality-- rights valued and protected in our great country of the United States. It also represents the day when Mexico was able to begin its quest for freedom for the people of that beautiful and spirited country. Our two countries will continue to make sure that the rights of the people come first.

Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on the date that Father Miguel Hidalgo y Castillo, a priest in Dolores, Guanajuato, frustrated with Spanish rule, rang the church bell to gather the people of the town. Hidalgo ignited a fire among the listeners, requesting that the people of Mexico join him in rising up against Spanish rule. Just as the soldiers in the American Revolutionary War fought on behalf of our country, these courageous, patriotic men fought to gain the independence of their beloved Mexico. This event known today as Grito de Delores or ``Cry of Delores'' is joyfully celebrated every year on September 16 by Mexicans all over the world. The red, white, and green flag is proudly displayed on this day during festivities.

El Centro Comunitario Mexicano, or as it is popularly known, CECOMEX, is one of the oldest active, not-for-profit organizations for Mexican Americans in my Congressional District and the City of New York. Under the leadership of Executive Director, Sandra Perez, it has worked independently as a community organization in my beloved East Harlem community, catering to the needs of our newcomers. I want to publicly thank them for all their work. I would also like to commend Carlos M. Sada, Consul General of Mexico in New York for all his hard work on behalf of Mexico. He continues to assist and protect the citizens of Mexico while facilitating trade and extending a cordial friendship with New York.

The model of Father Miguel Hidalgo-Costilla's resolve and sacrifice for independence and liberty makes him an icon for what beleaguered peoples of the world need most today in their leaders. His martyrdom for Mexico and for the future of their republic can provide light upon all communities. Let's pay respects to those courageous men who fought on behalf of Mexico to help position the country where it is today.

Mr. Speaker, let me conclude on this, Mexico's two hundred and first anniversary of independence, by vowing a renewed commitment between the United States and Mexico as both of our nations continue to confront the global issues of our time. I call upon my fellow Members of Congress to join me in celebrating Mexican Independence Day in honor of all the Mexican immigrants and descendents, not only in my district, but throughout this great nation and the world. Viva Mexico and may God and the Virgin of Guadalupe bless The United Mexican States and the United States of America.