Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, as we go home to our districts, I am certain that no constituents have said they wake up in the morning wondering about what we're going to do with the debt ceiling. In my district, most wonder how they're going to get a job, how they're going to take care of their families.

So many Americans have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. They didn't commit any wrongdoing. They lost their savings. Many are homeless. They've lost their self-esteem. They've lost their health benefits, and they're looking toward this Congress to kind of put America on the right track--to restore the middle class that made us such a great and successful Nation.

Instead of talking about jobs, we find ourselves holding the President hostage by saying, unlike other Presidents, we're not going to increase the debt ceiling. This is a technical way of saying that we owe $14.3 trillion to people whom we borrowed from for unnecessary wars, for tax cuts that shouldn't have been there, and for a variety of things that unemployed people throughout the United States are just not responsible for. Instead of talking about jobs, they will tell you we have to cut spending.

So the people who have lost their jobs may lose their Medicaid, those who are poor enough to be eligible for it; the older people that soon will be or are entitled to Medicare and the hospitals and the doctors and the nurses; and, of course, Social Security that so many millions of Americans have come to depend on. Cutting these benefits are not just cutting benefits for the vulnerable, but we're cutting jobs. You can't cut benefits without cutting hospital workers, without cutting off nurses and doctors and those that provide the services for the vulnerable.

Is this the only way we can go? Of course not.

Pastors and rabbis and imams all over the country ask: Why are you picking just on the vulnerable? Why are you picking on the sick and the poor and the aged?

Is there another way that we can resolve this problem? You bet your life there is. Because, just as in biblical days, we have among us those who really God has blessed with riches that our parents and grandparents never thought could be accumulated. Are we asking them to pay just a little bit to ease the pain for those that are vulnerable?

I don't know about you, but our pastors and rabbis have spoken out. And for those of you who don't have pastors and don't have rabbis or don't have time to listen to our obligation morally, to the people that can't speak for themselves, the people who have no lobbyists, I will place into the Record what 4,000 pastors have said is not just our legal and political obligation but, more importantly, our moral obligation. I will place this into the Record for when we come back and try to decide what is our responsibility.

Some people have come to this Congress with a commitment not to raise taxes no matter what, whether we're attacked, whether the revenue's coming from obscene tax offenses, whether the Tax Code could be improved.

For those of you who remember kamikaze pilots, these were people who were prepared to lose their own lives in fighting our forces during World War II even if it meant that they were destroying somebody.

There are people here that are prepared to destroy the fiscal reputation of the United States of America so that they can go back home and say they fulfilled their commitment about not raising revenues and about slashing and cutting those people that made this great country the great country that it is.

So I see on television no one talking about the poor. But thank God we do have ministers, priests, rabbis, imams, and of all of the religions and people that have come together, most of whom from foreign lands, that say this land is my land and in this country a poor person can make it, and we never, never, never will forget where we've come from.

Some people have managed to get out of poverty. Others have enjoyed the middle class. Let's hope that our kids and grandkids will be able to enjoy the benefits of doing the right thing.

[From Faith in Public Life and Sojourners, July 19, 2011]

An Open Letter to Congress and the President--Listen to Your Pastors

More than 4,000 of them believe the federal budget is not

just a fiscal document, but a moral one.

We are local pastors. We work, pray, and do whatever we can

to remain faithful to the responsibility of every Christian

to help the poor. Still, we can't meet the crushing needs by

ourselves.

Programs like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, and Head Start aren't

just abstract concepts to us; they serve the same people we

serve. There are changes that can be made or efficiencies

that can be found, but every day we see what government can

do.

We have seen government support allow young people to be

the first members of their families to get college degrees,

ensure mothers can feed their children a healthy diet, enable

those with disabilities to live fulfilling lives, give much

needed medical care to those who can't afford it, support

seniors, provide housing for families, and help people in

finding a job.

As Christians, we believe the moral measure of the debate

is how the most poor and vulnerable people fare. We look at

every budget proposal from the bottom up--how it treats those

Jesus called the ``least of these'' (Matthew 25;45). They do

not have powerful lobbies, but they have the most compelling

claim on our consciences and common resources.

As Christian leaders, we are committed to fiscal

responsibility and shared sacrifice. We want to support you

in reducing the deficit. There is more need today than

churches can meet by themselves. This is why we join in the

``Circle of Protection'' around programs

that meet the essential needs of hungry and poor people at

home and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, as we have the opportunity to debate whether or not our brave young men and women are fighting in wars in foreign lands that have not been approved by the Congress, as we talk in terms of trillions of dollars as to the national debt that we have acquired and think of ways that we can reduce it, and as we look at our revenue code and recognize that it is just so totally unfair and should be reformed and revamped, millions of people have awakened this morning unable to really consider these important issues because they are without work. Millions of people have lost their self- esteem, have lost their jobs, and some have lost their health insurance. Many have lost theirs homes, others have pulled their kids out of college, cars have been lost for inability to pay, and creditors have been just nightmares to them.

Included in this vast amount of people are African Americans, many who have served this country, hardworking people that find themselves not at the 9.2 so-called unemployment rate but at a 16 percent unemployment rate. And this doesn't take into account the millions of people, and especially African Americans, that know that there are no jobs for them. And to be going to the unemployment office just to be counted among the faceless unemployed doesn't make sense.

Included among them are veterans that have fought for this country. Some have come home with physical and mental problems, but they have not received the support or the transitional aid that's necessary for them to assimilate in a work market that has no jobs. So many of these people have worked in local establishments, in our butcher shops, our cleaners and our shoe repair, and they are without work. So many of them are women that have toiled and raised their families without the assistance of anyone else, and they too are without work and without hope.

As we think about these people and think about reduction of our spending, we find that Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security seems to be constantly referred to as entitlements, and people talk about that it has to be protected. So many mayors and Governors are talking about how they too have to cut their budgets. And so many African Americans, for reasons that I do not have to go into, have sought public service as a way of life because of the security that's involved in it. And so when we talk about cutting the budget and cutting the services that are provided, we're talking about a larger number of minorities that will be losing their jobs as a result of budget cutting, whether we're talking about teachers or policemen or clerks that work in the city halls or the communities that have Governors that have slashed back their jobs, but certainly as we talk about Medicaid and Medicare, we're talking about hospitals. And all of you know, no matter where you come from, that you see a large number of African Americans working

in these institutions trying to get an education to move forward because we know of the large number of health care providers that we need.

We are proud in the city of New York to say that we have been able to train and educate a larger percentage of physicians than all of the teaching hospitals that we have throughout our great country, and we're proud to do that. All of a sudden, we hear that some $300 billion will be cut from the hospitals that provide this care. And it's not just by the beneficiaries that you and I know they need this care and they will be put in harm's way, but also we have to acknowledge that many of the people that work in these hospitals, a large number of them being minorities, they too will be released to join the unemployed.

So while I'm praying for our spiritual leaders to protect the vulnerable, please understand that every time we make a cut in the budget, we're cutting someone's job, and they will join the hopeless and the unemployed.

Madam Speaker and my colleagues, last week, I tried to point out that there was a serious meeting going on in the White House last weekend between the President and our congressional leaders to point out that we were facing a serious crisis and that we had to do something to make certain that the President felt sure that we would increase the debt ceiling and that we would make certain that we did stop this unnecessary spending. And of course the question of revenues has always been a part of the debate.

What I was trying to do was to point out that on one side it appeared the issue was that we shouldn't tax those people that created jobs--and these are people, as people have pointed out, who are the wealthiest corporations that have record profits, and of course the wealthy that have really had the lowest tax rates and have received more money in the last decade than in the history of the country.

And I was really trying to say that, since the vulnerable and the poor did not have any lobbyists or voices to debate this issue, that when we talk about entitlements, that when we talk about Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, these are not just political labels. The Medicaid, of course we're talking about the vulnerable, the poor, and those who are sick. Medicare, we're talking about the aged that need help. I was also pointing out that, unfortunately, Social Security has become the main income for so many Americans. And we have veterans that are coming home, we have the jobless, the homeless, the hopeless. And even though they did not have a lobbyist to say, hey, I want to have a seat at that table, that I called to all of our spiritual leaders, since I knew that in every religion there was a good Samaritan aspect which really ended up saying, just do the right thing. I didn't put politics in it, I didn't put party labels in it. And I wasn't just talking to Christians and ministers and Catholics and Protestants; I was reaching out to the rabbis, to the imams, to the Buddhists, to the Mormons, to the Muslims and saying that in every Scripture, in every religious document, taking care of the vulnerable and those who can't take care of themselves, that that moral issue should be on the table.

Well, as a result of that, some people thought that instead of just a good Samaritan, I would ask what Jesus would do. And I just want to make it clear: I haven't the slightest idea what he would do, but my very dear friend, Governor Huckabee, said one of the things that Jesus would do would be to pay his taxes. And, of course, that was something that reminded me.

He also went to Deuteronomy. And he said it on TV: ``For the Lord your God will bless you as He has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. And you will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.''

Well, again, that scored for the good Governor, but however, when you have got a $14.3 trillion debt, it's kind of late for that message to have a strong impact.

But what I want to make clear is that no matter what religion you are, it appears to me that what we're talking about are two sides of sincere Americans that do recognize that this is not just saying that the sky may fall. All economists agree that there are various ways to do it, and we cannot just cut back spending in order to resolve this serious economic problem we have.

As a matter of fact, we have to be very sensitive when we do cut back spending that we don't create an addition to the unemployment and those that provide services to the disadvantaged. And I am talking specifically about our hospitals, about our social workers. Because there is no one in this Chamber that doesn't believe that the homeless and the sick, those that are disabled and those that are dependent on these programs should be ignored as we protect those people who, for whatever reason, have not participated in the creation of those jobs, even though we all are waiting.

But more importantly, we have not heard any complaints from the wealthiest of Americans that more equity should be involved in our taxing system. When the billionaires can say that their secretaries have a higher tax rate than they do, it means that we have a responsibility not to raise taxes but at least to close the inequity that exists that would raise revenue.

So when we do get home it seems to me that we would say this is not a Democratic issue, this is not a Republican issue alone, it is a moral issue.

Thank you, Governor Huckabee.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. Lin-Manuel Miranda for all of his marvelous accomplishments. It is my pleasure to pay tribute to this prodigious composer, lyricist and actor. I want to give thanks to this exceptional constituent for sharing his vision and talents with the world for all to enjoy.

Mr. Miranda is a native New Yorker who grew up in Manhattan's diverse and vivacious Washington Heights neighborhood and is of Puerto Rican descent. He attended Hunter College High School and later graduated from Wesleyan University in 2002. While pursuing higher education he wrote his earliest draft of In the Heights in 1999. He also wrote, acted and directed several other musicals while attending Wesleyan. While in school he diligently worked to perfect his craft, so it is of no surprise that Mr. Miranda would later take such large strides toward the road of success.

His claim to fame comes from writing and starring as Usnavi in the Broadway musical In the Heights, which opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theater in 2008. This phenomenal musical composer has won the Tony Award as composer and lyricist. With his creativity and determination he was able to take an idea and catapult it into success. He took a risk and believed in his dream as well as himself. We can all learn from this fine example and believe in ourselves, especially when no one else will. We should all have the courage to live out our dreams, while inspiring others. Les Brown once said ``Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.'' This is exactly what Mr. Miranda did and now he is taking his dreams and plays to new heights.

With his countless accomplishments, it is impossible to single out Mr. Miranda's greatest achievement, but one could say that In the Heights has won critical acclaim. This extraordinary theater piece has been nominated and has won countless awards, such as the 2009 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical, 2008 Tony Award for Best Original Score, and was a Finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, among many other accolades. As a performer, Mr. Miranda has also showcased his talents on many popular television series, including The Sopranos, House, Electric Company, Modern Family and Sesame Street. Mr. Miranda is also a co-founder of the popular hip hop-improvisational group, Freestyle Love Supreme that has toured comedy festivals throughout the world and continues to perform at esteemed venues throughout the country.

The White House has taken notice of this rising star. In 2009 he was invited to perform at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word. The University of Yeshiva also took notice of his greatness and bestowed him with an honorary degree. He has also been acknowledged by former mayor of New York City Ed Koch. This young fresh talent continues to believe in his dream and make positive strides. He is currently working on a musical theatre version of Bring It On, which will start its National Tour in the fall of 2011.

Mr. Speaker, for this, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues in Congress join me in applauding this prolific artist, who is truly an inspiration.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the Republic of Korea for winning the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. I have no doubt that Korea will be an excellent host, as it was for the 1988 Summer Olympics and for the 2002 World Cup. This honor recognizes how far Korea has emerged from the ashes of war into a giant in Asia and throughout the international community.

When I first went to Korea over 60 years ago, I had no idea where it was. 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. Just as the 1988 Olympics in Seoul demonstrated the promise of the Korea to the world, the 2018 Winter Games will showcase the economic superpower the great nation is now.

I never would have imagined that the Korea I left behind after the war would now be hosting their third international sporting event. Korea will always have a place in my heart as it does in the hearts of all veterans who have served then and those who serve now and I am proud to congratulate the nation on this well deserved recognition.

Mr. Speaker, 76 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the National Labor Relations Act, which continues to protect the rights of employees and employers, encourages fair bargaining, and blocks harmful practices that hurt our Nation's workers, businesses and the economy.

This important piece of legislation in our Nation's history has allowed working Americans to enjoy their rights to assemble and organize into labor unions. Unions have been instrumental in strengthening the middle class. Leaders like AFL-CIO President Dennis Hughes, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd. SEIU Local 1199 President George Gresham and SEIU 32BJ President Mike Fishman, and AFT and UFT Presidents Randi Weingarten and Michael Mulgrew have all marched in the spirit of A. Philip Randolph and Thomas Van Arsdale to protect the civil rights of all Americans in the workplace and I stand by my fellow soldiers in our continued struggle to preserve the Labor Movement and all the victories fought and won.

With the recent change of rules enacted by the National Labor Relations Board, working Americans will be able to quickly unionize and cut the time businesses have to mount anti-union campaigns. There is still more to do for our workers. That is why I co-sponsored the Employee Non-Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender in the workforce. I will keep on supporting other bills that ensure labor rights and will work hand in hand with union leaders to create an equal partnership in revitalizing our economy.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Artists whose designs were selected through the BID on Culture banner design competition. On Tuesday, June 21, the 125th Street Business Improvement District along with the Harlem Arts Alliance, Inc. and the Harlem Community Development Corporation, unveiled the 2011 ``BID on Culture'' winning banners in recognition of June Black Music Month.

BID on Culture is a new initiative developed through the partnership between the 125th Street Business Improvement District (125th BID), the Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) and the Harlem Community Development Corporation (HCDC) to showcase and promote our rich unique heritage while bringing recognition to the many talented entertainers and venues throughout, as Harlem celebrates Black Music Month.

The ``BID on Culture'' Banners have added to the branding of 125th Street as the center of culture in Harlem, highlighting our community's diversity, history, and contributions to and throughout our Nation and the world. Currently, there are 36 new banners that are now flying on streetlight poles along the world-renowned famed 125th Street corridor. Let me now recognize the six winning designs that were selected from 41 submissions in the 3rd Annual ``Bid on Culture'' banner design competition. Corine Campbell for Billie Holiday; Misha McGlown for Jimi Hendrix and Josephine Baker; Tomo Mori for Somos la Musica; Soyca Mphahlele for New Colors; and Hubert Williams for True Colours.

Harlem resident Artist, Corine Campbell says her creativity usually starts from a simple place like spotting a color combination that she wants to incorporate into a painting, expressing feelings with lines indescribable to words or finding attractive shapes to produce a portrait. She usually depicts women, while experimenting with different media, such as, paint, ink, pencils, yarn, fabric, and computer software. ``It has been that way ever since I was a child drawing in my sketchbook in Harlem. Art allows me to escape somewhere fun while discovering numerous possibilities,'' Campbell said. Her design in the 2011 banner competition features legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday.

Detroit, Michigan Artist, Misha McGlown attended Wayne State University and Center for Creative Studies. Although she began painting professionally in 2006 and has since exhibited throughout the New York area, she is best known for her jewelry collection, under the Omo Misha brand. She was awarded her first solo exhibit by Columbia University in 2008 and on behalf of artHARLEM, she curated EVOLUTION: The Changing Face of Harlem--an exhibit, hosted by Columbia University, featuring the works of 25 Harlem artists. She is currently Curator-in-Residence for Harlem's Cafe One and has worked in programming and development for The Children's Art Carnival, and led residencies and youth workshops for numerous organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. A multi-faceted artist and visionary, Misha is a published author and creator of The Omo Misha Times--a webzine covering art, fashion, politics, fun and social awareness. She has been the recipient of artistic awards by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Puffin Foundation, and Harlem Arts Alliance. Her designs in the 2011 banner competition feature Josephine Baker and Jimi Hendrix.

Artist Tomo Mori was born in Shijonawate in the countryside of Osaka, Japan and later moved to Tokyo. There, she discovered a severe affliction with allergies that kept her house-bound, but allowed her to find a new freedom: art. At 15, she enrolled in the Tokyo Metropolitan High School for Music and Fine Arts and a year later traveled to California to study English. She returned to Japan, where her first large scale painting, ``Scream,'' was exhibited at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum in Ueno. In 1991, she moved to Atlanta, and studied at the Atlanta College of Art. Tomo worked as a graphic designer for 16 years but last year, she decided to focus on her art. She has found her artistic home at Harlem where she says she thrives from the creative energy. Inspiration struck while she was taking a dance class in Mali. She realized that her life experience among different cultures combined with her boundless curiosity fuels the engine that makes her art original. Her focus on music/dance, process, and color are the catalysts for her 2011 banner competition design submission of the vibrant dancers, Somos la Musica, which will find a stage along 125th Street.

Originally born in Zambia, Africa, Harlem resident Artist Soyca Mphahlele grew up in the Parkside Projects in the Bronx and went on to attend the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts and later graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has lived, worked, and worshipped in Harlem since he was a child. Soyca says his work ``represents the tone of the real New York and his enduring respect for the art of the streets.'' His 2011 banner competition design, New Colors, does just that.

Artist Hubert Williams was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but moved to New York in 1964. A versatile photographer, filmmaker, and visual artist as well as a musician (organist) had his first encounter with a camera in 1976. He has since gone on to photograph his viewpoint of people, places, and structures as well as weddings, fashion events, opera, and jazz concerts. ``I live to shoot,'' Williams says of his passion for photography through his vivid 2011 banner competition design submission True Colours.

In addition to the banner competition, BID ON CULTURE presents Black Music Month in Harlem featuring nearly 100 events at nine venues throughout the area. The month-long celebration features Jazz, Blues, Gospel, R&B, Classical, Caribbean, Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Funk, and Soul music performances as well as spoken word, art, and other entertainments. Known worldwide as the epicenter of Black culture, Harlem's contribution to American music and all the arts is legendary. Concerts include the Michael C. Lewis Jazz Experience at the Aloft; Nate Lucas Organ Trio, and Paul Mooney ``Live In Harlem,'' at the Lenox Lounge; the Danny Mixon Trio at Showman's Jazz Cafe; the Oral Tradition of Gospel Music in Harlem at the Dwyer Cultural Center; the Ben Williams & Sound Effect at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse; and Karaoke & Martini Thursday at Sylvia's Also.

Bid on Culture is also a participant in Make Music New York, a live, free musical celebration across the city that takes place each June 21, the longest day of the year, where hundreds of public spaces throughout the five boroughs become impromptu stages for more than 1,000 free concerts.

The 125th Street BID is a non-profit organization funded primarily from an additional tax assessment collected from the property owners within the defined boundaries. Organized in compliance with State and city laws, the property and business and business owners determine the services and programs needed for the district. The BID will utilize the competition to bring visibility to its streetscape improvement efforts and to enliven the community's central business district. www.125th streetbid.com.

The Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) is a not-for-profit arts service organization committed to its mission of nurturing the artistic growth of artists and the organizational development of arts organizations based in Harlem and surrounding communities. Comprised of over 750 individual artists and arts organizations, HAA plays an essential role by helping to build the resources, network, and capacity of its richly diverse membership. Counted among its members are young emerging artists as well as established and internationally recognized artists. Also represented are small grassroots organizations and major cultural institutions in Harlem and beyond. In addition, HAA maintains strong partnerships with numerous arts organization and institutions throughout New York State, the region, and the nation to maintain vital collaborative efforts to promote the arts in communities (www.harlemaa.org).

Harlem Community Development Corporation (``Harlem CDC''), a New York State public benefit corporation, was created in 1995 to serve the greater Harlem community, including East Harlem, Central Harlem, West Harlem and Washington Heights, through planning and facilitating the development of a range of community development projects and revitalization initiatives and restore Upper Manhattan

as an economically stable and culturally vibrant community. Harlem CDC targets the redevelopment of vacant or underutilized commercial and residential property and publicly-owned spaces (www.harlemcdc.org).

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognition of the 2011 ``BID on Culture'' Winning Banners and in celebration of Black Music Month.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to join the First Central Baptist Church of Harlem and the International Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons to pay tribute and celebrate the birthday of my dear friend and ally, the Honorable Dr. Edward R. Culvert, Publisher of the Culvert Chronicles Community Newspaper.

Rev. Dr. Edward R. Culvert is a man who possesses great qualities. He is a writer, educator, and philosopher. He attended Texas Baptist University in Austin, Texas from 1950 to 1959 graduated cum Laude. Dr. Culvert obtained his Bachelor in Arts, Master in Arts, Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity degrees.

Dr. Culvert has been a professor at the City University of New York for forty-four years. He has served in many capacities including Special Assistant to the President of City College in regards my Empowerment Zone legislation and initiative, and was on the committee that helped form the Urban Legal Studies Program. He has held many positions throughout his career and lifetime, such as the Commissioner of Labor Relations from 1977 to 1983. During that time, He handled most of the labor problems, actions and strikes that occur throughout the State of New York, and was the first and only African American to hold that position.

In addition to working at City College, he also teaches Religion, Sociology, Criminal Justice, History and Philosophy at Herbert Lehman College; and is currently teaching African American Studies. He has dedicated his entire life advocating for African American Studies, particularly stressing the importance progressive education, which is not limited to the classrooms.

The Culvert Chronicles is the brainchild of Dr. Edward R. Culvert, who observed that the African American community needed a vehicle of free expression. The paper is bi-partisan and prints positive and informative news to all of the residents of the greater New York Metropolitan area. He is quick to point out that the paper does not deal with tabloid news.

``We report news that emphasizes education, social issues and relative information. There are no hidden agendas. People who are doing positive things need be heard. The Culvert Chronicles gives a voice to the `common folk' that make up this city.''

The Reverend Dr. Culvert is a man of God who has devoted his time to teaching, not preaching, the word of God, directly from the Bible, to family, friends, members of the community and in the prison populations throughout New York State. His open door policy has prevented many youth from getting in trouble, and others to go back to school. Dr. Culvert always finds time to listen, give advice, or providing comfort to anyone in need. His compassion for people, especially the children and our youth has made him a renowned father figure and mentor for all. Reverend Dr. Culvert is the founder of the First Central Baptist Church of Harlem, where he currently serves as Pastor.

He is listed among Who's Who in American Education and was chosen as one of the top 5% of Educators in America. Dr. Culvert is also considered a ``Jack of All Trades.'' Some of his greatest achievements throughout his life-time were playing basketball, football, soccer and running track. In addition to his many talents, you will find Reverend Culvert on any given Sunday playing various musical instruments in the church, and singing Solos when the spirit hits.

Mr. Speaker, please join me and a very grateful nation in wishing my friend and ally, Reverend Dr. Edward R. Culvert, a great American hero a hearty Congressional happy birthday.

My colleagues, once again I come before this House to ask you to reconsider establishing the draft. I know some of you think politically this doesn't make sense. But after listening to the President last night, the only people that I saw that were making sacrifices in these wars that have been undeclared have been our troops. They have volunteered. They come from communities that most of them are not wealthy. But when they get there, they defend the flag.

Every war, every time our Nation is threatened, all of the American people should be prepared to make some sacrifice. Those of us in Congress, when we authorize troops to go overseas, should not say that we have volunteers willing to do it. We should say that we have Americans; they come from our families, our communities, our States, and their wealth should not even be an issue. Everyone should be up at bat.

Now that the President has dramatically reduced the need for all of these volunteers, why don't we mandate that every American make some sacrifice. Let them be trained during this transition as we withdraw our troops. Let them be able to do something to make certain that America remains strong.

This is too serious an issue. It's not a Democrat or Republican issue; it's a moral issue. Trillions of dollars are spent on undeclared wars, but who's paying for it? The poorest among us, the lesser among us--in health care, in education, in homelessness, in joblessness. And now the wealthiest of Americans have the lowest tax rates since 1950. And really, it just bothers people when you say they, too, should make some sacrifices, not just for the war that I don't support, but for the security, the economic security of this Nation, where the debt ceiling is going to be an issue, and yet those that are paying for the cuts have nothing to do with the crisis that we're in.

So I conclude, I'll be back in support of H.R. 1152. And I will ask you to consider that as we wind down from our involvement in the Middle East, think about giving some relief to our volunteers. Think about asking young Americans to make some type of commitment. Think about having an America that says, yes, I support the involvement and am prepared to make sacrifices, which includes my family, my community, and our great Nation.

We should not just have professional volunteers; it is not American, it is not moral. When our country is involved, everyone should be prepared either to stand up and be counted or don't support this type of involvement. It is not just costly financially, but how America looks throughout the world, especially among our young people--most of whom do not know any period of time that we haven't been involved in a war.

So if we're not prepared to be honest enough to call a war a war, if we're not prepared to have the Congress put every President, Republican or Democrat, on the line for constitutional reasons, for God's sake, let's find some fairness as we ask people to put their lives on the line for our great Nation. And it's not just their lives, it's not just how they come back home, but the mental disturbance and problems that we are bringing to our great country is going to be not just trillions of dollars but adversely affect our ability to deal with education and training and technology and research while we try so desperately hard to bring these people to some type of normality for the sacrifices they've made to our country.

So H.R. 1152 only says, if we have to be involved, don't have just a small segment of our great Nation pay the ultimate sacrifice while others make no sacrifice at all. Please consider a bill that mandates that everybody from 18 to 25, 26 do some type of mandatory service for our great country, and we will only select those people that we need for the military. And if indeed it is a transition that we support, it means that they can support our country, our national security, support our Armed Forces, and not really--hopefully--be in harm's way.

Please consider it, and please rest assured I will return with this plea from time to time. I thank this House for the opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend Luther Gatling who recently passed away peacefully in his home in Teaneck, New Jersey on Tuesday, May 31st. As I speak with profound sorrow, I ascend to celebrate a life well lived and to remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable man who, over his many years of service in government and credit counseling, etched his name in history as The Credit Doctor.

Luther dedicated his life to public service and championed diversity. And, as a long-time civil rights and business leader, he possessed a remarkable moral compass that inspired fiscal responsibility upon many disadvantaged people. Mr. Gatling has provided mentorship to our youth and much needed credit guidance to all. He stood for the empowerment, development, and prosperity of our Nation.

Luther R. Gatling was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on September 9, 1931. He received his Bachelors degree in business administration from Temple University. Luther then went on to serve as the president of the Waterbury City Council. He became the mayor of Waterbury before the age of 30 and later served as the assistant director at the Manpower Assistance of Boston program in Washington, D.C.

In my community of Harlem, Mr. Gatling is well known for his service as the President of the New York Chapter of the One Hundred Black Men, Inc. for 8 years. He also served on the executive committee and Board of Directors of the National One Hundred Black Men of America organization. In 1976, Luther created Budget and Credit Counseling Services, Inc. to help educate consumers with financial difficulties. BuCCS provided counseling and advocacy for more than 40,000 consumers.

Luther Gatling was an economically savvy man who never resisted sharing his wealth of knowledge with those in need. The Credit Doctor, as he was known, believed in empowering struggling and financially illiterate consumers through the power of sound credit comprehension.

Consumer credit, debt education, financial literacy are passions of Mr. Gatling. Instructing consumers on how to manage their credit wisely and pay their debts responsibly was important to my friend Luther.

Luther symbolized the American Dream. He worked vigorously with the One Hundred Black Men to expand educational and economic opportunities for African Americans and other minority communities. Mr. Gatling worked tirelessly with the BuCCS to properly educate the public on fiscal responsibility. Luther extended his guidance through practically every medium to educate the masses. He worked his first job as a taxi driver later to become the CEO of the Budget and Credit Counseling Service.

I would like for my colleagues in the Congress to join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to his wife Bonnie Gatling and their children, Dr. Sharon G Waldrum, Lydia Miller, Robbin Gatling, and Richard Patton. It is important that they know that their friends and all of those whose lives were touched by Luther over the years, are with them in spirit and the Gatling family are in our thoughts and prayers.

No amount of words can ever replace this titan. Luther bore his illness with great dignity and pride. And through his illness, he continued to persist on living and fighting for causes true to his faith and community. Now free from pain and discomfort, we can all draw some comfort in knowing that he has found peace in the eternity of God's Kingdom. He will long be remembered for his extraordinary commitment, humor, liveliness, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle and clear purpose which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and work with him during his distinguished career.

Mr. Speaker, I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience Luther's example as a personal inspiration. Though Luther is no longer with us, we will continue to keep his memory alive in our hearts and minds, and continue to honor his legacy with our advocacy for the issues he cared about the most. We as a nation are all blessed to have known a Luther Gatling, ``The Credit Doctor,'' a titan who shaped financial counseling history with his everlasting spirit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today before you in continued celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean war in honor of SGT Cornelius H. Charlton, the Hero of Hill 543. On Saturday, June 11, the Cornelius H. Charlton Memorial Society and the 369th Historical Society celebrate the bravery of Sergeant Charlton by unveiling an exhibition in his honor highlighting his historic exploits on Hill 543, a major battle during the Korean war.

SGT Cornelius H. Charlton is one of 87 African-American Medal of Honor recipients. He was born on July 24, 1929, in East Gulf, West Virginia to Van and Clara Charlton. In 1944, the family moved to the Bronx, New York. Cornelius attended James Monroe High School. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946. Initially assigned to an engineering group, Sergeant Charlton requested a transfer to an infantry unit and was placed in Company C of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry, nicknamed the ``Buffalo Soldiers,'' was the United States Army's last, all-Black, segregated regiment to engage in combat. Sergeant Major Charlton volunteered for frontline duty for this rear-echelon outfit.

On June 2, 1951, near the village of Chipo-ri, northeast of Seoul, Korea, Sergeant Charlton's platoon encountered heavy resistance while attempting to take Hill 543. Taking command after his platoon leader was wounded, he regrouped his men and led an assault against the hill. Wounded by a grenade, Sergeant Charlton refused medical attention and continued to lead the charge. He single

handedly attacked and disabled the last remaining enemy gun emplacement, suffering another grenade wound in the process. Sergeant Charlton succumbed to his wounds and died after he knocked out two Chinese machine guns guarding Hill 543. The North Korean and Communist Red troops had stalled United Nations troop advance for three days.

Prior to that tragic battle, and ultimate sacrifice, Sergeant Charlton was recommended for a battlefield commission by his Commander. On February 12, 1952, for his actions during the battle, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart.

After his death, Sergeant Charlton's body was returned to the United States and buried in his mother's family burial place in Virginia. According to family members and other veterans, Sergeant Charlton was not buried at Arlington National Cemetery because of his race. The Army later stated he was not buried at Arlington because of an administrative oversight. In 1989, the Medal of Honor Society discovered Sergeant Charlton's burial site in poor condition; and in 1990 re-interred his remains at the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley, West Virginia. Finally, on November 12, 2008, Sergeant Charlton was finally re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Cornelius H. Charlton Memorial Society, Inc., CHCMS, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2010 by the family and friends of SGT Cornelius H. Charlton. Sergeant Charlton, a member of Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Korean war, 1950-1953. The mission of CHCMS is to preserve the heroic legacy of Sergeant Charlton, while also promoting his character and leadership qualities to young people through its college scholarship fund.

The 369th Historical Society Museum is housed in the 369th Regimental Armory, home of the famous Harlem Hellfighters. The 369th Historical Society is an all volunteer non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. Established in 1960 to collect, preserve and maintain artifacts, books, papers, photographs, film and articles on the history of the 369th Regiment, its allies and affiliates, and of African American soldiers who served in the Military Service of the United States. The Museum's holdings consist of an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts of the 369th soldiers from WWI to the present.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join two very grateful nations in honor and in memory of our American hero, Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient, SGT Cornelius H. Charlton, as we continue to celebrate and remember the 60th Anniversary of the Korean war.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, recognize, and celebrate Mr. Courtney C. Brown.

Courtney C. Brown is a long time resident of Manhattan, a staple of Harlem, and a tireless advocate for human rights. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College, School of Social Work in New York City. He completed his post graduate work in Education at City College and Columbia University Teachers College, and completed the New York Seminary Program at the New School for Social Research.

Mr. Brown has been active in Harlem and throughout New York for many years. His employment experience has ranged from a caseworker for the New York City Department of Welfare in 1965, to academic Professor, to Regional Director of the Urban League of Westchester County, Inc. from 1976 until 1983. In the mid 1970's, Mr. Brown began working at the New York State Division of Human Rights as a Director of Community and Voluntary Services. In May of 1987, he earned the Position of Human Rights Specialist, a position he holds today. He was honored with the 2006 Governor's Tribute to African American Leaders of Excellence in Service State Award. Mr. Brown's dedication to our community is outstanding to say the least, and I am most proud of all the contributions to my Congressional District that Courtney C. Brown has made.

Mr. Brown's civic priorities have earned him a well regarded reputation of devout social dedication. He has served as Warden and Clerk of the vestry at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, Vice President of St. Philips Housing Corporation, Trustee of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, Chairperson of New York Chapter, Union of black Episcopalians, as well as belonging to numerous Boards of Directors. He is a member of the Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Brown has been honorably recognized for his many deeds, including in 1988, when he received the Ellen Lurie Award for thirty-five years of community and civic work in New York City, a twenty thousand dollar award, which he donated to St. Phillip's church.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Courtney C. Brown has provided mentorship to our youth and much needed guidance for our elderly. He stands for the empowerment of our community and healthy development of our families.

I ask my colleagues and our Nation to join me in this special Congressional Recognition of Mr. Courtney C. Brown.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the Northside Center for Child Development, Inc.

In March of 1946, shortly upon the conclusion of World War II, two young African American psychologists, Mamie Phipps Clark and her husband, Kenneth B. Clark founded the Northside Center for Child Development. Originally called the Northside Testing and Consultation Center, the Northside Center for Child Development's first home was in the basement apartment located in the historic Dunbar Housing Development on 150th Street in Harlem.

The research of Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark challenged the notion of differences in the mental abilities of black and white children, which played an important role in the desegregation of American schools. At the Center, the Clarks conducted experiments on racial biases in education. Their findings were presented at school desegregation trials in Virginia, South Carolina, and Delaware; and in 1954, in a famous footnote, those findings were cited in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled public-school segregation unconstitutional.

Kenneth Clark was the first African American to earn a doctorate in psychology at Columbia, to hold a permanent professorship at the City College of New York, to join the New York State Board of Regents and to serve as president of the American Psychological Association. In addition to his work as a psychologist and educator, he assisted corporations with racial policies and minority hiring programs. His books include Prejudice and Your Child (1955), Dark Ghetto (1965), A Possible Reality (1972), and Pathos of Power (1975). During Columbia's student protests in 1968, Clark, whose son Hilton (Columbia College 1968) was a leader of the Society of Afro-American Students, served as mediator between the black student protesters in Hamilton Hall and the administration.

Mamie Phipps began studying self-perception in black children as a graduate student at Howard University, where she met and married Kenneth Clark. Between 1939 and 1940, the two published three major articles on this subject. Phipps Clark continued her work at Columbia where, in 1943, she became the first African-American woman and the second African American (after her husband) in the University's history to receive a psychology doctorate. It was her work on the way black children seemed to prefer white dolls to black ones that particularly impressed the Supreme Court justices. In 1966, Columbia recognized the couple's work by awarding each the Nicholas Murray Butler Silver Medal.

Prior to the establishment of the Northside Center for Child Development (Northside Testing and Consultation Center), the Clarks decided to tackle the lack of services for troubled youth in Harlem. They approached nearly every social service agency throughout New York City with their modest proposal to urge established agencies to expand their programs to provide social work, psychological evaluation, and remediation for youth in Harlem, since at that time there were virtually no mental-health services in the community. Each agency they explored rejected their proposal and they decided to open their own developmental center to address those needs that were lacking for Harlem families and the youth.

In 1948, Northside moved to the 6th floor of the New Lincoln School, located at West 110th Street across Central Park. In 1974, Northside moved its headquarters east one block in Schomburg Plaza on Fifth Avenue.

Today, the Northside Center continues its mission to further the healthy development of children and families and empower them to respond gainfully to negative communal factors, including racism and its related consequences. By providing comprehensive, high quality mental health and educational services, coupled with research, Northside is able to assist children and families in their development to seek their full potential.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Thelma Dye, Northside Center doors are open to over 500 families and children who walk in on any given day for support, guidance, psychological evaluations, and therapeutic services or just to talk about their day or utilize the library of books available at the center.

Mr. Speaker, in the words of Dr. Dye, ``whether children and families come to Northside because they are deeply troubled and look to us for solace, compassion, direction and understanding, or they come because they are excited and happy and look forward to the next enjoyable learning adventure, we welcome them. We work toward empowering and helping them learn and grow in an environment that reinforces their strengths, their cultures, their self-worth and their dignity. What we do at Northside is important, challenging and immensely rewarding.''

I ask my colleagues and our Nation to join me in this special Congressional Recognition on the 65th Anniversary of the Northside Center for Child Development, Inc.

Let me thank Mr. Kucinich, and I support his efforts over the years, but especially today, in allowing this very sensitive constitutional question to be debated.

I asked him and almost pleaded that he allow me to follow my friend Dan Burton, because nothing could better prove to our colleagues and those that know both of us how nonpartisan this issue is and should be.

This is not a question, really, of past Presidents who always thought they were doing the best for the United States of America when they put our men and women in harm's way. Not one of them ever thought that they were doing anything immoral.

This is not a Democratic problem; it's not a Republican problem; it's not a problem of the President of the United States, not Nixon, not Kennedy, not Johnson, certainly not President Obama, certainly not the Bushes. It's a problem of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. This is a congressional problem. We have not fulfilled our responsibility.

Some people I have heard say, well, this hasn't reached a level that it should be war. Well, ask the men and women that make the sacrifices and come home and leave their fallen friends there whether this was a war. Ask those mothers and fathers and children who have lost their loved ones whether this is war.

It's easy for us to say that we are not going to get involved; let the President have the authority. But in the final analysis, when we go to the funerals, these brave men and women may not come from your districts because they don't have to make the sacrifices somehow in these United States. We know who has to volunteer, who makes the sacrifices, and we sit back and wash our hands and say we didn't think that this reached a level that we had to give approval to the President of the United States. I am not saying that the President is right or wrong. I am saying we are.

And, Mr. Kucinich, I thank you for the opportunity, because no longer should there be a debate as to whether or not it's Libya, whether it's Korea or wherever it is. We have a constitutional authority. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to talk about this as Members of the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from New York, the Honorable Kathleen Courtney Hochul, be permitted to take the oath of office today.

As pointed out, her certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to her election.