Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Colonel Stephanie E. Dawson Service as Brigade Commander of the 369th Sustainment Harlem Hellfighters Unit. Col. Stephanie Dawson is the first female officer in New York National Guard history to command a brigade level unit.

Col. Dawson became the Commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade on October 1st, 2008. Prior to that time, she was the Deputy Commander of the 369th Sustainment Brigade, a position she held for two years. As a Lieutenant Colonel, she commanded the 27th Rear Area Operations Center. Dawson's unit was one of the first New York Army National Guard units to be mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in February 2003 and returned in April 2004.

Colonel Dawson also served as Battalion Executive Officer; Support Operations officer; Ammunition Officer; Maintenance Officer; Tank/ Automotive Officer; Material Maintenance Management Officer; 42nd Division, Material Management Center; Commander, Headquarters & Light Maintenance Company; Operations Readiness Platoon Leader; and Automotive Maintenance Platoon Leader.

As executive officer for the 369th Corps Support Battalion during the unit's 9-11 activation, she helped spearhead battalion relief, security, supply, transportation, and other logistics support missions for initial Ground Zero operations. Colonel Dawson was credited and acknowledged by her colleagues and company commanders for her quick and decisive response during the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center and their aftermath.

Dawson is a 2007 graduate of the Army War College, as well as the Army's Command and General Staff College and the Combined Arms and Services School. She also completed the Support Operations Course; the Senior Transportation Officer Advanced Qualification Course; the Ordnance Advanced Officer Course; the Ordnance Basic Officer Course; and the Academy of Health Sciences (AMEDD) Officer Basic Course.

Colonel Stephanie Dawson's military honors and awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

In civilian life she is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and works for the Chief Operating Officer for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey where she is the Chief of Staff of Operations, and has previously served as the Assistant Director of Capital Programs; General Manager and Program Manager for Security Systems at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Prior to joining the Port Authority, she was an Operations Manager in banking and then held a number of positions at the Department of General Services in New York City. Col. Dawson's civilian education includes a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Marist College, and a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Cornell University. Dawson is also a life member of her local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and 369th Historical Society.

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, April 10 at 1300 hours, Colonel Stephanie E. Dawson will conclude her service as Brigade Commander of the 369th Sustainment Harlem Hellfighters Unit during the Change of Command Ceremony taking place at the 369th Harlem Hellfighters Armory in my 15th Congressional District. Please join me and a very grateful nation in a special House of Representatives salute and thank you to Brigade Commander Colonel Stephanie E. Dawson for her continued distinguished service to the New York Army National Guard and the United States of America.

The 369th Sustainment Brigade is one of nine such support units in the Army National Guard. A Sustainment Brigade provides command and control for combat service and combat service support units which enable the Army's combat teams to fight by providing fuel, ammunition, medical supplies, repair parts, and medical and other services. A Sustainment Brigade can support from one to 10 brigade combat teams depending on the number of service and support units it controls.

The 369th traces its heritage back to the 15th Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard, an all African-American unit organized in 1916. In 1917 the regiment was sent to France and renumbered as the 369th Infantry, but because American Army officers maintained segregated combat formations, the Soldiers were initially used for supply duties. The French Army, though, was more than happy to have these Soldiers fight for them and in May 1918 the 369th went into the trenches.

Corporal Henry Johnson, a railroad porter from Albany, New York became the first American to win the French Croix de Guerre, when he fought off a German attack on his listening post. During this hand-to- hand combat, Johnson saved another soldier from capture. In tough fighting in France the 369th unit won a regimental Croix de Guerre from the French Army, and 200 individual Croix de Guerre were awarded. The unit also sustained 1,500 casualties and won itself the nickname ``Harlem Hell fighters'' and the respect of the German opponents and French allies. The 369th saw more frontline service than any other American unit in World War I.

In World War II the unit served as the 369th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, and in the Gulf War of 1991 it served as the 369th Transportation Battalion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the Life, Legacy, Leadership and Love of our Village Mother of Harlem and my longtime friend and confidant, Dr. Thelma Davidson Adair.

On Sunday, April 3, 2011, the Mount Morris Ascension Church and the Greater Harlem community join together to celebrate the wonderful legacy and work of our ``Educator, Pioneer, Activist, Mother, Grand & Great Grandmother,'' Dr. Thelma Davidson Adair.

Dr. Adair, a Harlem icon and matriarch, is a graduate of Barber- Scotia Jr. College, Concord, North Carolina and Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina. She earned a Master's Degree and Doctorate of Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. This outstanding remarkable woman has been an outstanding educator, world- renowned church leader, advocate of human rights, peace and justice issues, writer and public speaker.

Beginning her life in the ``Jim Crow South,'' in North Carolina, she refused to let social limitations stand in the way of sharing her gift for teaching with the world. Thelma Davidson met and married the Reverend Dr. Arthur Eugene

Adair, founder and Senior Pastor of the landmarked Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church. Eugene and Thelma through God's unyielding hand contributed their talent, energy, generosity and educated minds in service to the children and families of Harlem, New York City and beyond. They are responsible for organizing many of Harlem's first Head Start programs, including the Mount Morris New Life Children's Day Care Center.

In 1976, Dr. Thelma C. Davidson Adair became the first African- American woman to be elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Church 188th Assembly. Her efforts and involvement with the Presbyterian Church have been nationally recognized by foreign and national heads of states and United States presidents.

An expert in early childhood education, Adair is Professor Emeritus of the City University of New York's Queens College, where she taught for 31 years. She also taught religious education at Union Theological Seminary, was a lecturer at the University of Ghana and Columbia University, and trained members of the U.S. Peace Corps for service in Africa, South America and the Caribbean.

Through all her tremendous efforts and achievements, Dr. Adair has been duly honored, receiving countless awards and numerous Honorary Doctorate Degrees. Her impressive resume of accomplishments does not speak to the deep connections the community feels for her as a mother to all. Dr. Adair shares her wisdom and love with so many people in unofficial contexts, providing mentorship and friendship to Harlem's youth. Her role as a community leader does not end when she leaves the church and her life of service to the world in the face of very real social challenges sets an example for us all.

The Arthur Eugene and Thelma Adair Community Life Center, Inc. Head Start serves over 250 children and their families annually in five Head Start Centers in Harlem. Dr. Adair's publications on early childhood education have become an authoritative guide for early childhood educators throughout the United States. Today, Dr. Adair is an ordained elder in the Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church of New York City, the church founded by her late husband the Reverend Arthur Eugene Adair.

Her numerous awards and degrees include: The Thelma C. Adair Award on Presbyterian Senior Services; Barber-Scotia Alumni Award for Meritorious Service in the Field of Education; Columbia University, Teacher's College Distinguished Alumni Award; United Negro College Fund Distinguished Award for Outstanding Service and Commitment of Higher Education; and Woman of the Year Award.

Her current affiliations include: Chair, Presbyterian Senior Services; Advisor, Church Women United, National Board; Board of Visitor, Davidson College; Advisory Council, National Council of Churches; Member, Harlem Hospital Community Advisory Board.

During her prestigious career of service, Dr. Adair has worked closely with leaders, including the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter, to bring about social justice and economic empowerment. She even was a part of President William Jefferson Clinton's delegation that attended the historic inauguration of South African President Nelson Mandela.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in tribute of the living life, legacy, leadership and love of our beloved Village Mother of Harlem, Dr. Thelma C. Davidson Adair's 90 years of service to a very grateful nation.

My colleagues, I rise to pay tribute to one of the great Americans that we have ever had in this body, Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. Most of the people remember her as an exciting Vice Presidential candidate, but those of us in the New York delegation remember her as just a great personality, a great legislator, and a great American.

We in the New York delegation have been fighting for time in which we could express ourselves, but the legislative calendar has not been very kind to us. So this morning we have two of her dear friends in Congresswoman McCarthy and Congresswoman Maloney, and I suspect that every time a New York Member gets an opportunity, we will grab that time so that no one will ever say that she did not leave footprints here that all of us were just so proud.

She succeeded Jim Delaney, who was known to be a very conservative Democrat from Long Island. And we all awaited to see just who was going to succeed Jim. And to see this beautiful, intellectual former teacher, former assistant district attorney to come here, we all waited with breath held back to see just what type of woman she would be.

And even though she held closely those conservative views, it has never been presented to this body in a more eloquent, a more charming way as we found ourselves with this new exciting candidate who later became a Member and became a part of the leadership of the New York delegation. And once Tip O'Neill saw her, she became a part of the congressional Democratic delegation and just went on. Wherever she went, she excelled with her smile, with her brains and contributed so much in raising the standards of Members of Congress and those who would run for national office.

I worked pretty closely with Senator Fritz Mondale when he ran for President of the United States. And while he was looking for a Vice Presidential candidate, I was so pleased, much surprised that Tip O'Neill said that he thought that within our delegation the answer to Fritz Mondale's problem would be the nomination of Geraldine Ferraro. I was surprised but so excited that I could serve on the Mondale team and to be able to say not only do we have a New Yorker, but we have an exciting candidate that could provide that shot in the arm that the Mondale campaign so badly needed.

And I felt so much like an American when we found out that her background was one of near poverty. Her dad had come here from Italy. She just made the Italian American community just so proud. She made women from all over the country proud. She made New Yorkers proud. And certainly while she did not succeed in becoming a Vice President, as Mondale did not get the numbers that he needed, she became a national figure, a compassionate figure serving in the United Nations, serving on television in terms of the expression of views of the Democratic Party, raising funds for candidates.

Then when she was stricken with this terrible disease that she died from, you would only hear her talking about her husband, John, her beautiful children, and how she can help to make it a better, more effective Democratic Party as well as what contributions can she make to this great country.

So we in the New York delegation feel extremely proud that she was a part of us. She had her own personal family that she loved, her own church, her own community. She had the respect and support of all Americans and the deep-seeded feelings Italian Americans have. She was so well respected in Democratic circles and congressional circles.

But most of all, we remember what a gentle lady she was. We have an expression in this House of Representatives, ``the gentleman from Wisconsin,'' ``the gentlewoman from New York.'' But anyone who had known Gerry, as we so affectionately called her, would know that she was indeed a strong leader but a gentle leader from Long Island and from New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Modeen Brown in honor of Women's History Month. I thank you for giving us all an opportunity to celebrate the life of this truly remarkable leader.

Mrs. Modeen Brown rose from the cotton patches of Georgia to the Governor's Mansion in Colorado. As an African American woman, Modeen is a shining example of how minority women can succeed through a commitment to excellence in education. Prior to 1980, Women's History Month did not exist. Ms. Brown, like many other women, validated the necessity of celebrating women. Raised in a time when few African Americans--let alone women--attended college, Modeen was determined to change that standard. A devoted mother of five, she had always instilled in her children the importance of education.

Modeen was born on a Georgia farm and raised by her loving aunt upon the death of her mother. Inspired by her aunt's strength and selflessness, Modeen developed a strong work ethic. She passed this essential trait on to her children, evident in the fact that all of- them have obtained bachelor degrees or higher. Three of Mrs. Brown's children have graduated from the University of Florida and her oldest daughter, Angela, has served as a teacher for children with special needs for the past thirty years. Her daughter, Carolyn, is currently a major in the Sheriff's department of Bradenton, FL. Shariel, her third child, once played for the Florida Gators and now works for ESPN. Mrs. Brown's only son, Ernest, is a physician and her youngest daughter, Nyra, is an actress. Mrs. Brown is a proud grandparent of seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mrs. Brown's high expectations and strong work ethic have been clearly passed down, apparent from her 13-year old granddaughter who is a straight A student attending a specialized school and Ernest's daughter, Charisse, who recently graduated from Harvard with a PhD in biochemistry.

Modeen's strong dedication and hard work was not restricted to education. In her professional life, she coordinated the fundraising for former Lt. Governor of Colorado George Brown, who later became her husband. Mr. Brown, who passed away in 2006, was the first African American to hold statewide office in Colorado.

Mrs. Brown is a prime example of the fact that women can accomplish great things. Her daughter, Carolyn, and her granddaughter, Shariel, are a testament to women succeeding in nontraditional career paths and her granddaughter, Charisse, has proved that education is the great equalizer among races and classes. Modeen's support of her late husband exudes what it means to lead by serving. Mrs. Modeen Brown has truly made a difference in the lives of many, and I am privileged to recognize her as a hard worker and brilliant leader in honor of Women's History Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm, who was the first African-American woman elected to Congress (1969-83). She served with me as part of New York's congressional delegation and as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

My dear colleague from Brooklyn was also the first African American to run for President of the United States when she declared her candidacy in 1972. Challenging all accepted practices of politics, this very junior Member of the House, an African American woman at that, by declaring for the Presidency, single-handedly raised the profile and aspirations of all those newly empowered Blacks and women of that era.

In addition to her inspiration as a pioneer of political achievement by minorities, Chisholm was a champion for improving the quality of life in inner city communities, and a tireless advocate for protecting the rights of women and children throughout the United States.

A historic figure in American politics who broke glass ceilings and set examples for future generations of leaders, Shirley Chisholm passed away at age 80 on January 1, 2005.

I introduced legislation today to posthumously award a gold medal to my former colleague and trailblazing friend, in marking this week's 40th Anniversary of the establishment of the Congressional Black Caucus, and in commemoration of National Women's History in March.

Above all of her firsts, Shirley wanted most to be remembered as a `woman who lived in the twentieth century and who dared to be a catalyst for change.' I believe her legacy continues to inspire all of us to work for progress, and urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Shirley Chisholm.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a day in honor of Abiodun Oyewole, founding member of the legendary Last Poets and architect of Poets Haven--Open House Sundays @ 110 Morningside Drive.

On Sunday, March 27, 2011, Harlem's beloved National Black Theater hosted and joined the community of Black Diasporan Artist and Poets to celebrate and honor the legacy of Abiodun Oyewole and his most prized institution, ``Open House Sundays @ 110 Morningside Drive,'' a true rendition of free art, expression, and family love.

Abiodun Oyewole, a founding member of the legendary and original spoken word group, The Last Poets, has for over 30 years opened his apartment every Sunday, feeding his fellow artists food for thought, body and soul. Sunday's participants would gather at Poets Haven to celebrate each other, eat delicious foods, and gravitate to the elders. For many aspiring and renowned artists and poets, this is home, a place where one can help oneself to salmon croquettes, grits and home fries. In his living room you can find griots, storytellers and poets sharing their work with people who have an appreciation for the arts and yearn to be around love and expression of Black Consciousness.

Shortly after the assassination and murder of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., along with the changing domestic landscape came the New York City-hip group called The Last Poets. They used obstreperous verse to chide a Nation whose inclination was to maintain the colonial yoke around the neck of the disenfranchised. Their name, ``The Last Poets,'' is taken from a poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who posited the necessity of putting aside poetry in the face of looming revolution. ``When the moment hatches in time's womb there will be no art talk,'' he wrote. ``The only poem you will hear will be the spearpoint pivoted in the punctured marrow of the villain. . . . Therefore we are the last poets of the world.''

So Abiodun Oyewole and founding members Umar Bin Hassan, Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Felipe Luciano, Gylan Kain, David Nelson and percussionist Nilaja Obabi formed The Last Poets on May 19, 1968, Malcolm X's birthday, at Marcus Garvey Park (formerly Mount Morris Park) in the East Harlem/El Barrio neighborhood part of my Congressional District in New York.

These young radical poets and musicians rose to become the rappers of the civil rights era. During the late 60s and early 70s, Abiodun and members of The Last Poets connected with the violent factions of the SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee), the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), and the Black Panther party. They went through confrontations with the FBI and police, arrests for robbing the Ku Klux Klan and various other ventures with Revolution in mind. Abiodun Oyewole received a 12- to 20-year jail sentence, but served less than four years.

Post the revolutionary Civil Rights era, Abiodun went into teaching. He was a Columbia University Fellow, where he taught biology, and also spent 15 years with the New York City Board of Education teaching children.

The Last Poets have been cited as one of the earliest influences of what would become hip-hop music and for paving the way for all socially committed Black and diverse emcees. So, Mr. Speaker, I ask that today we pay homage to Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan, Felipe Luciano and percussionist Don Babatunde Eaton. Without fame or fortune, they continue to raise the consciousness of America and influence the world through the spoken word of the ``Legendary Last Poets.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Greater New York Chapter, The Links, Incorporated--2011 Women of Distinction Spirit Award Luncheon which takes place on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the elegant and scenic Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

Established in 1946, The Links, Incorporated, is one of the Nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who, linked in friendship, are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of African descent. The Links, Incorporated is a not-for-profit organization, which consists of nearly 12,000 professional women of color in 272 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Bahamas.

On May 21, 1949, the Greater New York Chapter was chartered in response to an invitation extended by Margaret Roselle Hawkins and Sarah Strickland Scott, co-founders of The Links, Incorporated. Co- founder Sarah Strickland Scott attended the installation of the new charter members at Harlem's famous Hotel Theresa, which included Dorothy Reed, Bernia Austin, Myrtle Howard, Estelle Jarrott, Ethel Lowry, Emilie Pickins, Mable Trent, and Marie Vidal. The Links National Emblem was designed by Ethel Lowry, who served as the National Corresponding Secretary.

The Greater New York Chapter was the first chapter in New York and comprises members from all five boroughs in New York City and Long Island. Today, under the leadership of President Gerri Warren Merrick, the Greater New York Chapter is committed to fostering community outreach throughout the New York metropolitan area by developing quality programs with a long-term impact on the well-being and enrichment of African-Americans.

The Greater New York Chapter honors two women of distinction and spirit--Ms. Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET Networks and Ms. Rhonda Mims, President of the ING Foundation and Senior Vice President of the Office of Corporate Responsibility and Multicultural Affairs.

Award recipient Debra L. Lee is responsible for helping guide BET's reinvigorated approach in producing programming that supports, embraces and encourages African American families in a very positive light, focusing on the issues that are important to the Black family, while presenting the freshest talent and entertainment to American Television and beyond.

Award recipient Rhonda Mims is responsible for creating an enterprise-wide community relations platform, focusing on financial literacy, children's education and diversity, including advancing the company's workforce diversity and inclusion strategy.

Please join me in recognizing the Greater New York Chapter, The Links, Incorporated and the Women of Distinction Spirit Award honorees.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, which was founded by Dr. Maurice J. Lewi in 1911 within my Congressional District. Chiropody was a craft that existed up to 1885, when men and women learned through training the skill to alleviate pain and discomfort for those afflicted with minor foot ailments. The New York State legislature awarded chiropodists the right to organize and to determine the fitness of individuals who were interested in practicing chiropody in 1905.

This historic legislation paved the path for the founding of the New York School of Chiropody. Dr. Maurice J. Lewi, who during that time was serving as Secretary to the New York State Board of Examiners, was an effective advocate and educator in the field of Chiropody, and became the school's first President.

Dr. Lewi created and organized the curriculum and drafted the legislation governing the practice of chiropody. He was most effective in advancing the specialized profession of podiatry through evidence- based science, research and strategic partnerships.

Since its founding, the New York College of Podiatric Medicine has been an active source of education, training and research in the field of podiatric medicine, and has emerged as a leader and facilitator in creating and establishing multi-dimensional programs in podiatric medicine. Its impact has been guided and nurtured by its current president, Louis L. Levine, and its board of trustees.

In recent years, NYCPM has expanded into the international educational arena with twice-yearly programs for podologists from Spain; a program at Foot Center of New York for podiatry students from Canada, and an affiliation with their school in Quebec.

NYCM also has an externship at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. The College also features prominent guest speakers from around the world. NYCPM has reached out to its surrounding community, offering foot screenings at numerous neighborhood health fairs, including the American Diabetes Association's annual Diabetes Expo and the Central Harlem Health Revival.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and its affiliate, The Foot Center of New York. I would also like to congratulate Louis L. Levine, President and Chief Executive Officer; Stanley Mandel, Chairman; the Board of Trustees; and the NYCPM staff as leaders in enhancing the level of acceptance, understanding, and knowledge regarding podiatric medical education and training, podiatric technology development and podiatric research throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride, admiration and sadness as we in the United States House of Representatives pay tribute to our dear friend and Buddy, Stanley J.``Bud'' Grant. We join with the many family members, friends and colleagues at Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Manhasset, New York to celebrate the life of Stanley J. ``Bud'' Grant who passed away Saturday morning, March 26, 2011, after a short illness.

My wife Alma and I want to extend our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy to Richard, Suzanne, Robert, Thomas, Joanne, Steven and the entire Grant family as we honor the memory and the legacy of your dear beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle and all the wonderful times you shared together as a family.

Stanley J., affectionately known as Bud, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and served our nation in the Pacific theater during World War II with valor in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from St. Francis College and attended Fordham University and the New York University School of Public Administration. Bud lived in Douglaston for over 40 years with his late wife, Suzanne Gobel Stabnick, and raised six children who all attended local schools. Bud was very active in the community, particularly with the Saint Anastasia's Roman Catholic Church parish where he was long-standing member of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus.

The New York Congressional Delegation worked very closely with Bud in his efforts as a representative of the Medical Society of the State of New York and other important medical associations. Bud established a special interest in Health Care, Health Administration and Health Economics; and also served on the Board of Directors of Wagner College and New York Hospital Division of Queens.

As we entered into a new millennium in the year 2000, Bud Grant inspired me to lead a group of my Congressional colleagues, which included Ed Towns, Mike Oxley, Mark Foley, and Donna Christensen to create and co-found the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus. This organization would be dedicated to helping all Americans prevent the scourge of glaucoma and other eye diseases. Through Bud's advocacy and enthusiasm, we were quickly joined by more than two dozen other Members of Congress.

After the Glaucoma Caucus was established, Bud formed the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, a federally funded, non- profit foundation which screens disadvantaged populations for glaucoma and other eye diseases across the United States. Under his leadership as President, the Foundation provided the first Mobile Eye Screening Unit.

Since that historic day, the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation has performed over 300,000 total screenings; has made over 40,000 referrals; has identified over 50,000 other eye diseases; and has routinely followed up with over 200,000 patients. Through Bud's efforts, the foundation's Student Sight Saver Program had partnered with many of our elite universities, colleges and Ivy League schools throughout the nation. I am so proud of the foundation's work with our federally funded health clinics and the screenings that take place at our neighborhood health fairs.

Bud Grant was a true New Yorker who tirelessly fought to bring health care to the underserved and stem the tide of all eye diseases in every major way. We are a grateful nation for the life of my Buddy, Stanley J. ``Bud'' Grant.

This afternoon sometime, I will reintroduce my bill calling for a mandatory draft, making certain that every young person has an opportunity one way or the other to serve this great nation of ours, whether we're talking about in our schools, our hospitals, or just to provide some public service.

But the main part of this bill is that the President, when he asked us to declare war, or however we get involved in these things with loss of lives, we're going to have these people that come to the well and explain how we have to get involved, we have to fight, we can't give up, to see whether or not if their kids and grandchildren were mandated that they would have to go into these areas and put themselves in harm's way, how soon it will be before we take another look at this.

Let me congratulate the gentleman from Ohio for allowing our priests, our rabbis, our ministers to recognize that

we're talking about human lives being lost because of our concern about oil in this part of the world. It hasn't got a darn thing to do with our national security. I just hope and pray that one day we would be able to say we know we made a mistake and withdraw from this type of thing now and for the future of this great country.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the Children of the Founders in recognition of National Each One, Teach One's 44 Years of Service and to celebrate the 70th Birthdays of its Founding Fathers, Bob McCullough and Fred Crawford.

The National Association of Each One, Teach One, Inc.--``Where Knowledge is Power,'' is a non-profit (501c3) youth developmental & mentoring program, which uses sports as a vehicle to motivate youngsters to pursue higher education and explore various careers. They conduct college tours; provide guest speakers from public, private and the entertainment sectors, while fostering self respect, community awareness and self empowerment.

``Each One, Teach One,'' was a motto coined by Holcombe Rucker, who organized basketball tournaments as way to help keep kids off the street and out of trouble through life lessons. Born and raised in Harlem, Holcombe Rucker played guard at Benjamin Franklin High School in East Harlem before dropping out to serve in the United States Army during World War II. Upon his discharged from the Army, Rucker earned his General Equivalency High School Diploma and was hired as a Playground Director in Harlem for the New York City Department of Parks.

The Playgrounds and Parks would double-up as his office and meeting place, where people, whether they liked basketball or not, would come to Rucker for advice and words of wisdom. The word was that he spent more than half his day--thirteen to fifteen hours--at the park, beginning around 8:30 am. He even ate dinner there, which consisted of his favorite meal--Chinese food, vegetables with rice and brown gravy and was followed by a cup of coffee and a cigarette.

In 1962, Rucker would prove the importance of education and enrolled at the City College of New York, CCNY. While taking night classes, Holcombe took his work ethic and thirst for education and completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in only three years. He used the degree to teach English at Junior High School 139 in Harlem. In 1965, Holcombe Rucker passed due to cancer complications at the young age of 38 years old. Before he died, Rucker would set the standard for years to come.

Over the years, Holcombe Rucker would help youth to obtain over 700 intercollegiate

athletic scholarships. Bob McCullough and Fred Crawford are two of the many prodigies and leaders, touched by Holcombe Rucker, and most important cats in New York basketball history. In 1967, under the guidance and vision of the legendary New York City Parks Department Playground Director, Coach and Mentor, Bob McCullough and Fred Crawford developed, The Each One, Teach One Basketball Program, where NBA Legends, Nate ``Tiny'' Archibald and Dean ``The Dream'' Meminger served as the program's first counselors. Bob and Fred also served as the Commissioners of the Holcombe Rucker Park Tournament and League.

Bob McCullough played basketball for Benedict College in South Carolina from 1962-65. He is considered one of the all-time greatest basketball players in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He was recruited by Coach John E. Brown and scored 2,135 points for a 28.4 career average during his three years with the Tigers. As a freshman in 1961-62, Bob canned 54, 56, and 64 points in exhibition games. In 1963-64, he was the star of Benedict's national scoring championship basketball team that averaged 101.2 points per game. In 1964-65, he was the second leading scorer in the nation averaging 36.4 points per game. He netted over 45 points on four occasions, 49 points twice and a single career high of 51 points against the South Carolina State Bulldogs. Bob was inducted into the Benedict College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

McCullough was the first black athlete to be selected for the All- Southern Textile Basketball All-Star Team in Greenville, SC. He was named to the All-American Honorable Mention team by sportswriters for United Press International and Converse Magazine in 1965, and was offered a contract by the Harlem Globetrotters. Bob was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals of the National Basketball Association, and was dropped from the Royals when All-Star guard Oscar ``Big O'' Robinson renewed his contract. In 1967, Bob played with the New Jersey Asbury Park Boardwalkers in the Eastern Professional Basketball League, now known as the CBA. He averaged 22 points and five assists per game and was selected to the All-Rookie Team. McCullough earned a Master of Science degree from Lehman College and studied additionally at New York University, Cornell University and Hunter College.

Fred ``Freddie'' Crawford was a 1st team, All-City player at Samuel Gompers High School in the Bronx and played basketball for St. Bonaventure University, from 1960-64. In 1961, during St. Bonaventure's first venture into the NCAA tournament, sophomore Fred Crawford scored 614 points and led the Bonnies to their first NCAA Tournament in school history. Crawford continued his torrid scoring pace in his junior and senior seasons. He averaged 19.7 points per game during his junior campaign, scoring 492 points. In his senior season, he scored 631 points, earning All-East honors. Crawford also averaged 10.3 rebounds per game for his career. He was inducted into St. Bonaventure University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970.

Forward Freddie Crawford was selected number one in the fourth round of the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks in 1964 and spent five years in the league. Crawford had his best season in the NBA in 1968 with the Lakers when he averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. A team that featured West Virginia's Jerry West, Keith Ericson, Providence's Johnny Egan, Saint Joseph's Cliff Anderson, USC's Bill Hewitt, Seattle University's Elgin Baylor, Oregon State's Jay Carty, UCLA's Keith Erickson, Notre Dame's Tom Hawkins, Oregon State's Mel Counts and Kansas University's Wilt ``The Stilt'' Chamberlain. During his stellar NBA career, Freddie Crawford, has also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The impact that Bob McCullough and Freddie Crawford have made, on young men and women, on and off the court through the Each One, Teach One Basketball Program, has averted generations of young people from falling into illegal activity on the streets, by promoting education, discipline, drug prevention and mentoring.

Former Each-One Teach One Counselors were, NBA legends Julius Erving, Emmitt Bryant, Connie Hawkins, Mike Bantom, Willis Reed, Wilt Chamberlain, Dave Stallworth, Hawthorne Wingo, Butch Lee, Steve Sheppard, Arnold Duggar, Larry McNeil, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Charlie Scott, Jo Jo White, Joe Bostic, Bill Bradley, Hubie Brown, Al McGuire, Mel Davis, Joe Dupree and St. John University's outstanding Hall of Fame college coach, Luigi P. (Lou) Carnesecca, to name just a few.

Today the program is run through SCAN/El Faro Beacon Center in East Harlem, where we celebrate the National Each One, Teach One's 44 years of service. Please join me in saluting my good friends Bob McCullough and Freddie Crawford as we celebrate their 70th Birthdays.

Well, thank you so much. I was in my office doing a lot of work, and I couldn't figure who you people were talking about; it must be some foreign enemies of the United States that really were not supporting the things that, as far as I am concerned, it just makes common sense. It's just a patriotic agenda. It's just something that if America has given us the opportunity to get to where we are, and our parents are where they are, it just seems to me that we cannot afford to talk like Democrats and Republicans. We're talking about America, an America that can be and continues to be a beacon for countries all over the world.

You mentioned manufactured, made in the United States. I remember I was on a trade mission in the Caribbean and there were some difficulties some Members had about whether or not we should give preferential trade to these small countries. My contribution was I just walked around everything that was in the places where we were. The corn flakes came from the United States. The cars came from the United States. The lamps came from the United States. The furniture came from the United States. Doing trade with them meant we were encouraging our base to do what we do best, and that is to make things. So it just seems to me that when we get a flicker of hope coming out of Detroit-- and, oh, my God, Detroit, when I was a kid after World War II, I really thought I was in heaven to see middle class people with cars and little boats and kids going to college, and their parents never dreamed it. But they were making things. They were making money. They were investing in our future.

And now that they're coming back, I cannot see why any police cars, fire cars, commuter cars, anything, how we can say that--we ought to go to Detroit first before we go to Tokyo, before we go to Taiwan and all of these other countries. It is the sense in saying that you made an investment in a country that created an atmosphere that makes us all proud.

To me, I like fighting Republicans. I mean, it's what the country should be all about. And I have been here for four decades. It has been exciting. And people said, well, didn't this happen in 1994? No; we fought then, but we were still friends. We didn't have people putting down our country. We had different ideas how to reach the same objectives. We were concerned about jobs always, but also education, also health care.

It's inconceivable how anybody, Republican or Democrat, can cut programs when, if you go into an emergency ward in a hospital, they don't ask for your voting card. They don't ask whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. If you are laid off, and you go home and you have to tell your wife or pull your kids out of school, the loss of self-esteem, the loss of the security you have, the embarrassment that you are going to lose your house, nobody asks, are you a Democrat or Republican, are you liberal or conservative. And it gets contagious as to what happens in one block when a house is foreclosed. Then it happens in a community, and then is happens to America. And that is what is happening today. It is happening to our country.

And so it seems to me that when people have campaigned and said that they want to stop spending, they want to stop borrowing and they want to raise revenue, they want to balance the budget, that's not Republican, that's American. But where do you ever get the concept that just stopping spending in certain areas, it means that you have savings? I mean, you can cut someone's foot off, but still you're going to have a problem with the rest of the economy. And if, indeed, the specialists, Republicans or Democrats, economists can tell you, that their H.R. 1 continuing resolution is going to lose 700,000 jobs, how in the world could we not debate that? How in the world can we not discuss that?

How can not a group of Democrats and Republicans say, well look, we made these campaign promises. They were ridiculous. We really believe we ought to make sensible cutbacks. Let's see how we can cut back without causing more economic problems for our country. Let's see whether or not the environmental problems still are going to continue, whether or not health problems are still going to be there.

And my God, education. Education, the United States of America. Education has been the key to opening the doors for imaginations to capture the entire world. And you don't have to have any bad feelings about other people in other countries; it's just that we're so used to being proud as Americans. We're so used to saying that if

it's made in America, it must be better. And what we're not used to is asking for handouts. And what we're not used to is having people say that they're not going to help us with unemployment insurance when we didn't want that, we wanted employment. And they say no, they can't even give us assistance while we're waiting for a break.

Right here in America, there are so many people who have lost their jobs. And do you know, John, those jobs will never be there for them because productivity, technology, has closed the opportunity. My God, they have to be retrained; and they reach a certain age where retraining is not even an option.

For our young people to go to school or for them to continue to believe in their communities, in their families and in their country, you've got to have training and education to find out what the demand is going to be. It won't be the same demand that we had, perhaps, when I was a kid or when my parents were kids; but there should be great opportunities in the greatest country in the world.

Make no mistake about it: We are not broke. We are not broke. We did not get into this thing in a Democrat way or in a Republican way. People made big, big, big mistakes, but it wasn't the guy working on the job or the guy in the union who made the mistake. It wasn't that we overcompensated public employees. They didn't cause this deficit.

It just seems to me, John, that we shouldn't have to have this debate on this floor. People listening ought to recognize that cutting billions of dollars of resources and causing pain to our young people and to our senior citizens is a campaign promise that shouldn't have been made and that certainly shouldn't have been carried through.

Will the gentleman yield?

Just on what you were talking about, the tax policy, and knowing that the top 1 percent of the wage earners, or the income people, in this country own 40 percent of the Nation's wealth. The President of the United States has to go to the United States Chamber of Commerce and remind them of the hundreds of billions of dollars that taxpayers have given to them so that they will be able to survive. Yet they won't take a gamble with their country in terms of helping us in partnerships to create the jobs that we need so badly. If we cleaned up the Tax Code, we could find so much that we could reduce the rates and make certain the incentives that we have would be to encourage people to invest in the good USA.

So let me thank you so much for the contribution you're making. To me, anyone watching this ought to throw away Republican and Democrat ideas and try to find out what's good for our great country.

Thank you for your great contribution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Women's History Month to recognize the 125th Anniversary of the American Association of University Women New York City Branch. Since 1881 the American Association of University Women, AAUW, has been the nation's leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls. Through its vital nationwide network, AAUW influences public debate on critical social issues such as education, civil rights, and health care.

AAUW sponsors community programs; publishes groundbreaking research on women, girls and education; provides the world's largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women; and fights sex discrimination in education. AAUW's work extends globally through its membership in the International Federation of University Women, 72 national federations and associations worldwide.

The New York City Branch was founded in 1886 and is the second oldest established Chapter in the nation. In 1949, the New York City chapter purchased their Victorian Italianate Brownstone headquarters at 111 East 37th Street in the historic Murray Hill district of Manhattan. Under the leadership of President Dr. Nkechi Agwu, the Association continues to carry out the mission, value statement, vision and diversity of this great institution.

In 1951, under the Presidency of Dr. Ruth Wright, the New York City Branch began to honor women who have contributed immensely to the city, nation and the world. These were women who made outstanding contributions in many fields--education, the arts, business, science, medicine, anthropology, law and journalism. Some notable past ``Woman of Achievement'' honorees include African American trailblazing history makers like operatic and concert singer, Marian Anderson; American journalist and former foreign news correspondent, Charlayne Hunter- Gault, who was also one of the first Black students to attend the University of Georgia and graduate; and ``The Mother of Medicine in Harlem,'' Dr. Muriel Petioni, who founded the Susan Smith McKinney Steward Medical Society for Black women physicians.

This year's theme, ``She Touched Me,'' will salute distinguished women who have played an important role in spearheading women and girl issues throughout this Nation and around the world. Please join in recognizing the 130th Anniversary of the American Association of University Women and the 125th Anniversary of the New York City Branch Chapter.

Madam Speaker, I would have hoped that today we would have taken advantage of the fact that all of us want to get rid of a part of the President's affordable health bill that we believe has not reached the objective that we wanted. Everybody, including the President of the United States, believes that 1099 in the present form should not be there. Republicans and Democrats have voted to make certain that it not be there. The last time we attempted to correct it, we felt that because of the billions of dollars that would be lost by trying to get rid of it, we passed a law and it was rejected because the majority party didn't like what we call the pay-for. Since that time, the pay-for has been passed into law, it has been accepted, and now we are trying to find a new one.

I don't know why in God's heavens as to why we couldn't have sat down to find one, as long as we certainly wanted to avoid fraud on the taxpayer, and work out something that is fair. I can't believe that the majority doesn't believe that what we are trying to do is to avoid having an unintended tax on hardworking people.

And so if this is going to hold it up and cause us now to throw the baby out with the bath water, to have us rejecting what we want to do, and that is to get rid of 1099 in its present form, I think it is unfortunate.

Now, I do recognize, Mr. Chairman and members of our distinguished committee, that political promises were made before the election. The question now has to be that even though there have been commitments by certain parties in the majority, that they have to provide savings through cutting, those two things should be somehow related. Every cut that we have in the budget, whether it is the continuing resolution or the budget of 2011 or 2010, doesn't mean that there is a savings.

So telling the voters and our constituents that we have slashed something out of the budget, it really goes beyond politics because never in the discussions that I have had in the Ways and Means Committee with the majority or with the Democratic Caucus have we ever said: Are those people who are going to be helped or hurt Democrats? Are those people Republicans? Or did we not say that we were sincerely trying to help all Americans to make certain they have affordable health care.

For the majority not to want to correct whatever they think is wrong, but to make a campaign commitment they are going to eliminate the bill, eliminate the President, and just make certain they have $100 billion in cuts, I think is really unfair to present these political problems to the American people.

So I do hope that after we reject this, not because the goal is not one that is bipartisan and with the support of the administration, but because how it is paid for is detrimental to the taxpayer, whether he or she be Republican or Democrat.

Mr. Speaker, in the last two and a half years, through Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Mainland China's Association for Relations Across the Trait Strait (ARATS), Taiwan and Mainland China have held several rounds of talks and concluded many economic and trade agreements, most important of which was the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) inked last June 29 in Chongqing China.

ECFA boosts Taiwan's economy and creates tens of thousands of job opportunities. Further, the agreement will help Taiwan's economy to benefit from regional integration and develop new international markets while attracting foreign direct investments in Taiwan. In addition to the economic benefits for both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, the signing of this agreement has significantly eased tensions across the Taiwan Strait. The two sides are now linked by more than 300 direct flights per week. Mainland China is Taiwan's largest trading partner with cross-strait trade totaling close to $110 billion in 2009, according to Taiwan statistics.

Clearly, the Straits Exchange Foundation is to be congratulated on its 20th anniversary for its good work. SEF has brought prosperity and peace to the Taiwan Strait. As we celebrate the successes of the SEF, we know much lies ahead for the SEF and the ARATS. For instance, the people in Taiwan and the international community continue to have strong concerns about China's military expansion and deployments.

So far, China has yet to renounce the use of force regarding Taiwan and China's military build-up across the Taiwan Strait continues unabated with more than 1,100 missiles pointed in Taiwan's direction. Although tensions have abated and there seems to be no danger of China using force against Taiwan, China's military deployments worry policymakers in both Taipei and Washington.

While the United States is happy to see rapprochement between the two sides, it is my opinion that to ensure Taiwan's future, we must help Taiwan develop the confidence to resist any outside aggression. We should and must continue to stand by our commitment to provide Taiwan with defense articles and defense services. Our recent decision to notify Congress of the approval of arms sales to Taiwan worth $6.4 billion is an indication of our commitment to meet the obligations spelled out in the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). This has been a U.S. policy followed by successive Administrations for more than 30 years.

Again, I congratulate the leaders of Taiwan's SEF, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and ROC President Ma Ying-jeou for their vision and hard work in improving cross-strait relations. Together they have restored U.S. trust and reversed the deterioration in cross-strait relations that took place prior to May 2008.