Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend Jordi Reyes-Montblanc who recently passed away. 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 as an outstanding advocate for the West Harlem community, fought strongly and passionately for his ideals regardless of how popular the issue.

Jordi was a larger-than-life figure in the West Harlem community. For decades he was one of the area's most energetic activists, fighting for safe streets and cleaner parks, and especially championing the cause of affordable housing and homeownership for New Yorkers of modest means. Jordi delighted in his many contradictions. He was staunchly proud of his Cuban heritage. He was a fierce opponent of Communism who nonetheless fought for not-so-Capitalistic affordable housing policies.

Jordi's story was the stuff of novels. He fled his native Cuba as a young adult in 1958, escaping the winds of communism that eventually swept the island. He joined the U.S. Marines, where he engaged in covert operations in Southeast Asia. Though, he never spoke much about his past to those outside of his closest circle of friends. He was an avid hunter who often demonstrating his trademark frankness.

Jordi was a pioneer in the movement to allow low- and middle-income families to purchase their own apartments through the city's Housing Development Fund Corporation program, and in 1993 he lead the conversion of his own building to a limited-equity co-op.

This activism on housing issues secured his appointment to Community Board 9 in the mid-1990s. It was during that period when he developed a close bond to Councilman Stan Michels, another significant local leader who passed away late last year. As Chair of Community Board 9, Jordi was fearless in speaking his mind on local issues, regardless of who he might offend. That quality could have earned him nothing but detractors on the Board, but instead the reverse happened: he was almost universally respected for his even-handedness and devotion to the community.

Columbia University's plan to expand to a new campus in Manhattanville defined Jordi's tenure as Chair of the local community board. While maintaining that he wasn't opposed to the expansion per se, he became a vocal critic of the displacement of local residents and businesses which would result from the specific plan Columbia was advancing. Jordi thrusted his community board into the center of the fight on this issue, and he become a fixture in the city's media as an outspoken critic of the expansion.

In his blog you can still find his thoughts on what he felt he was about. He states, ``I don't lead, I don't follow and I do the things my heart and conscience tells me are right for me to do, any one is welcome to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me freely.''

Jordi Reyes-Montblanc will be long remembered for his extraordinary commitment, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle, and clear purpose which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and work with him. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration.

Madam Speaker, rather than mourn his passing, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Jordi by remembering that he exemplified greatness in every way.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the optimism of the Caribbean people in response to the historic inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20th, 2009. The New York CARIB News has deemed the 44th presidency ``a watershed, a significant departure from where we once were as a nation.'' What a great feeling it is to know that when Mr. Obama put his hand on the Bible used by Lincoln to vow to uphold the nation's constitution, it was well received by people of the Caribbean and around the world. I share the sentiment expressed by the reporters of New York CARIB that it was a moment to savor. A news article in the publication titled, ``U.S./Caribbean-Relations: On the Verge of a new Chapter in America and World History,'' makes the case.

[From the New York CARIB News, Jan. 20, 2009]

On the verge of a New Chapter in America and World History

As a soldier in the civil rights movement of almost half a

century ago, a person on the front line of the battle for

equality has lived through and has helped to break down the

barriers that have opened the flood gates to next week's

historic event.

Naturally, John Lewis, a Congressman from Georgia and a

sharecropper's son who shared the stage of the ``March on

Washington'' in 1963 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., quite

clearly understands the monumental significance of the

official swearing in Washington on January 20th, the

inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of

the United States and the nation's first Black Commander-in-

Chief. It has been a long time in coming. The road to the

inauguration was soaked in the blood, sweat. and tears of

millions, both Black and white, who like John Lewis, Marcus

Garvey, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Roger Wilkins,

and a long list of thousands of major iconic figures in

American history, had a vision of what was possible in a

country in which race was at the core of public policy.

``Without the Emancipation Proclamation, the sit-ins, the

Freedom Rides, the march on Washington, there may not be a

Barack Obama,'' was the way John Lewis summed up the set of

building blocks, which have placed us on the cusp of a new

chapter in America's history. It signals the promise of more

than a new way of thinking but a fresh and inclusive approach

to decision-making in a nation whose influence affects almost

every corner of the globe.

``It's the pinnacle,'' said Roger Wilkins, a former

university history professor in Washington, as he reflected

on the impact of Obama's November 4th victory at the polls.

It stands to reason, therefore, that as we look forward to

Tuesday's momentous step we cast our minds back to the days

when in 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark Dred

Scott case decided that Blacks ``had no rights which any

white man was bound to respect.'' Next, it took President

Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation on

January 1, 1863 to free all slaves in Confederate States.

Just in case, you think we are delving into ancient history

to prove a point, just remember that it was about 50 years

ago, George Wallace, Alabama's most notorious segregationist

Governor, vowed ``segregation today . . . segregation

forever.''

Less than 20 years before that, African American servicemen

and women defended this country during the Second World War

fighting or serving in segregated units. Who could have

imaged back then that we would have lived to see the day when

Colin Powell, a Black man with Caribbean family roots, would

in less, than 40 years, become the Chairman of the Joint

Chiefs of State and much later the U.S. Secretary of State.

And it was during Obama's lifetime, when he was two years

old that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became the law of the

law, officially removing the stain of racial prejudice from

our lives. It would take decades and scores of legal tests at

the highest levels of our state and federal judicial systems

to ensure that the Act was accepted by most Americans.

Small wonder, then, that President Bill Clinton once

described racism as ``America's curse.''

That's why when Chief Justice Roberts administers the

presidential oath of office and Obama puts his hand on the

Bible once used by Lincoln to vow to uphold the nation's

constitution that people everywhere, not simply in the 50

states and in the U.S. territories would fully appreciate how

far we have traveled and where the country is heading.

But his mere presence in the White House wouldn't be enough

to make the nation what we hope and dreamed it would be: a

place where all persons would be judged on their merits and

not on the color of their skins.

Undeniably, America is not the same. Obama's election and

his inauguration are like a watershed, a significant

departure from where we once were as a nation. As a matter of

fact, he couldn't have captured the presidency without the

support of four of every 10 white voters who cast their

ballots for him, alongside the 95 per cent of Blacks and the

more than 60 per cent of Hispanics.

On Tuesday, people of all ethnic groups, sizes and shapes,

not only in the United States but around the world will savor

the moment and thank God, Allah, Jesus, you name the supreme

being, that they have lived long enough to see it.

It's a feeling like no other.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for providing 100 years of legal advocacy and justice for all Americans.

One hundred years ago today a coalition of activists, scholars, and intellectuals of various shades gathered together to challenge our United States to live up to the words of the Constitution for all Americans. This founding group was diverse in ethnicity but united in their thirst for equality.

The catalyst behind the group's formation was the 1908 racial attacks against Blacks in Springfield, Illinois, the state capital and the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln. Disheartened by the violence, which took the lives of two Blacks and five accidental Whites; the group formally organized on February 12, 1909, the birthday of President Lincoln.

A year later, the national office of the NAACP was opened in New York City. W.E.B DuBois founding publisher of The Crisis, the organization's official publication, was instrumental in attracting distinguished African-American literary figures who became the voice of the Harlem Renaissance. The iconic scholar also became the intellectual leader and voice of the NAACP, where he took a strong position in demanding full integration for his people over Booker T. Washington's policy of accommodation.

Due to the rabid racism of the day, the organization grew quickly and reached the peak of its membership during the civil rights struggles of the 1950's and 1960's. Rosa Parks, secretary of the NAACP chapter in Montgomery, Alabama, triggered the famous boycott of the bus system by refusing to give up her seat.

The NAACP's greatest achievements were in the courtroom, where it challenged many of the laws that enshrined segregation. One of the best known cases was Brown vs. Board of Education, which in 1954 challenged the ``separate but equal'' doctrine that was the bulwark of the nation's segregationist policies. Thurgood Marshall, special counsel to the NAACP, led legal arguments before the Supreme Court in that case, as well as many other laws that promoted segregation. Marshall would go on to become the first African-American Justice on the Supreme Court.

The NAACP fought against lynchings, Jim Crow laws, and otherwise challenged the system of laws which denied full citizenship for Blacks. The election of President Barack Obama represents a culmination of the NAACP's efforts over the years, particularly in gaining full voting rights for African-Americans.

The work of the NAACP has not been without danger. Many NAACP members and staff have been victims of racial violence. Perhaps the best known, was the assassination of Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, in 1962.

The NAACP has many heroes across the country who have sacrificed in order to fulfill our nation's promise of democracy and freedom. Among the organization's heroes are my good friends, Hazel Dukes and Percy Sutton. Ms. Dukes participated in many NAACP marches and was arrested several times as a protester. She has also served as president of a New York chapter and national president of the organization. Percy Sutton, a long time member and former president of the NAACP, represented many civil rights workers, including Malcolm X. I salute them for their dedication to this organization.

Ben Jealous, the new leader of the NAACP, has pointed out a new set of challenges to be addressed in the years ahead. Among them are racial injustices in the criminal justice system, improving educational resources, and removing any remaining obstacles to economic development. The challenges may be different from those addressed during the first 100 years, but they are no less important.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you and my colleagues in joining me in honoring the NAACP for 100 years of distinguished service to our country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Randolph D. Sturrup and Kurt Williamson for creating BET Network's latest television series, ``Harlem Heights,'' premiering on March 2, 2009 at my beloved Harlem's grandest stage, the Apollo Theatre.

Harlem Heights is a half-hour reality docu-drama highlighting the ups of and downs of seven young African-American professionals struggling to balance hectic work schedules with complicated social lives. It offers a window into the fascinating world of New York's young, Black and fabulous crowd. Picking up where college leaves off, the show features a diverse cast of twenty-somethings with different backgrounds and personalities but common goals: making the post college leap into adulthood and finding love and success in the big city on their own terms.

The concept of Harlem Heights evolved from the creator's deep fascination with Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance. Some of our most prolific leaders from the past in the world of literature and music such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston, and Richard Wright all lived in Harlem and started their careers there. Randy and Kurt wanted to tell the story of a group of friends all between the ages of 25-30 who represent the new Harlem renaissance and all live within the world's most famous neighborhood. The show explores the ups and downs of being in your mid-twenties in the chapter post college. Some of the issues they explore in the series include: career transition, love, life challenges, and community.

Harlem has gone through many changes. In the 1950s Harlem was predominately Black and was a thriving community. The pulse of American culture always began in Harlem through the musical and literature influences. Also Harlem is the home of some of our great political figures during the civil rights movement. There are so many historical landmarks in Harlem such as the Apollo Theater, Cotton Club, Grant's Tomb, and Abyssinian Baptist Church. Over the next two decades Harlem became a symbol of urban decay with crime and drugs that infested the community. In recent years, the Harlem community has emerged as a place of opportunity and resurgence. There's a climate of change and progression within Harlem that is symbolic and parallel to the lives of the cast of Harlem Heights. This show represents the new renaissance of young, talented and successful African-Americans that are emerging as leaders and trendsetters within the Harlem community.

So Madam Speaker, I ask that in this Black History Month, that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating the creation of such a remarkable and impressive series that all Americans can equally enjoy.

Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend Gilberto Calderon who recently passed away. 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 in music, etched his name in history as Joe Cuba, ``Father of Latin Boogaloo.''

The death of Joe Cuba on February 15, 2009, brought immense sorrow and loss to his family and friends, and to the countless fans and individuals associated with Latin Rhythms and Salsa in the music world. The salsa band leader was famed for weaving a fluid and bilingual mix of musical influences dubbed ``The Boogaloo.''

Born Gilberto Calderon in 1931 in New York to a family from Puerto Rico, the band leader and conga player helped change the sound of salsa in the 1960s. Until then, most popular salsa had been played by orchestras. But Cuba led a six-member band with three singers who also played percussion and danced a routine.

He had a dynamic group with a signature vibraphone-fronted sound that caused a craze because it was different. Albums such as 1966's Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push incorporated elements of salsa, Latin jazz and R&B and featured lyrics in both English and Spanish.

Joe Cuba's music career started with La Alfarona X in 1950. In 1955 the Joe Cuba Sextet came into being and his vibra-harp sound caught on. In 1962, when the group recorded ``To Be with You'' for Seeco Records, the band began to soar to popularity because of Nick Jimenez's arrangements and the vocals of Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater.

When the boogaloo era arrived, the majority of the popular New York bands were put out of work. The Cuba sound changed with its recordings of ``El Pito'' and ``Bang Bang.'' He not only sold millions but enabled The Cuba Sextet to enjoy the No. 1 spot in the Latin music world along with the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra for years to come.

The musician, a friend and contemporary of the late salsa giant Tito Puente, was an extraordinary man who lived a life of achievement which advanced a music that was at the forefront of the Nuyorican movement. Through these melodies brought by America's last citizens, the children of Puerto Rican emigrants, evolved new culture, arts, and politics.

Joe Cuba will be long remembered for his extraordinary commitment, 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 in and around music. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration.

Madam Speaker, rather than mourn his passing, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Joe Cuba by remembering that he exemplified greatness in every way.

Madam Speaker, today I join with the hundreds of thousands of Dominican residents of my congressional district and across our Nation to commemorate February 27th, the 165th anniversary of the Dominican Republic's Day of Independence. This celebration comes at the tail end of Dominican Heritage Month.

Dominican Heritage Month gives us the opportunity to acknowledge and applaud the economic, cultural, and social contributions Dominican Americans have made to this great nation. Dominicans living in our shores have been motivated by the value of hard work and the bonds of family--the same pillars of our society that have built this great Nation for over 230 years.

It also gives us an opportunity to consider the many Dominican achievements, on the island and in the United States. Many of our hemisphere's first institutions were established on the shores of Quisqueya, including the first cathedral and the oldest university.

Since the initial wave of Dominican migration in the 1960s to the most recent arrivals of today, Dominicans have worked hard to contribute to our national identity, educating us all on their culture and traditions and enriching the quality of our shared futures. Their contributions can also be found in every facet of U.S. life--from the many baseball stars in our national pastime, to fashion legend Oscar de la Renta to the thousands of professionals that do battle as soldiers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, educators, and public servants.

This past year, the Dominican community and I shared the loss of our fallen soldier, Army SGT Jose E. Ulloa, who lost his life tragically in Sadr City on August 9, 2008, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. We also shared the grief of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna, the deadliest storms of the 2008 hurricane season, along with hurricanes Ike and Fay responsible for approximately 14 deaths and the displacement of more than 20,000 people in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican people are known to triumph in the face of tragedy. They first began their campaign for the independence of the Dominican Republic in 1831 under the leadership of Juan Pablo Duarte, who formed a secret society named The Trinity. Thirteen years later, he succeeded in commanding a decisive uprising, which resulted in independence for the Dominican Republic. After the long and hard campaign for freedom had ended, a ceremonial musket shot fired on February 27, 1844, marked the Dominican Republic's first official Independence Day.

Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in marking this celebration of not just the independence and triumphs of the Dominican people, but also the invaluable impact that this small island nation has had on our country and the world.

Let me thank you for the tremendous job that you and the leadership have done during this historic period in our Nation's history.

There is a common expression that we have in our committees, and that is, ``How is the gentlelady and gentleman recorded?'' You don't have an opportunity to say you were confused, you didn't know what you were doing, or you wish there was another way.

And I gather when you get back home, people will be asking, ``And how were you recorded?''

How were you recorded when you had an opportunity to give some assistance to the working people in this country, where 95 percent of them will be receiving a tax cut so that they will be able to assist them in keeping their kids in school, paying their rents, their mortgages, keeping up their health insurance?

How were you recorded when we said that this Nation should take care of those people who unfortunately lost their job, lost their dignity, lost their health insurance?

Are we going to explain that we thought there was a better idea?

How were we recorded when there comes a time that we're saying that we have to find alternative ways in order to fuel the country's energy needs?

How were we recorded when the bridges and the tunnels and the hospitals and the schools are in trouble, when the mayors and the governors are asking and screaming for help?

How is history going to record what you have done at a time when everyone is screaming out, every economist is asking us to come to our Nation's economic savior?

And how are we recorded when it comes time to make certain that there is hope for those people who are not only jobless but hopeless?

I do hope that people recognize that we're not talking about a Presidential plan, a Republican plan, or a Democratic plan. We're talking about the heart of America, just as patriotic as the flag is, is the energy of people who want to be middle class. Are we going to give them an opportunity or are we going to ask the question how were we recorded because we didn't know what the right thing to do was.

Well, I suggest to you, just as people talk about how they voted in support of Roosevelt, how they went and tried to give assistance not just to the big-time CEOs who were hardly embarrassed and never even inconvenienced--these are people that are our constituents. To put them back to work means that we're helping small businesses out. To put them back to work means that we're talking about their dreams and the aspirations that we have. To restore our schools mean that we're going to, once again, become imaginative, be able to go to the international market with the genius that this great Nation always had.

These are hard times, and we have an opportunity to say how were we recorded and to be proud of our vote, or to try to do the worst thing that any legislator can do, whether it's local, whether it's State, or whether it is a Member of this august body, and that is trying to explain your vote if you don't support this effort.

I think that it's a rough time for the Nation, but we've always responded with ways that we can show that we will persevere and come out of this stronger than ever. And your kids and your grandkids who know that you've been privileged to serve here, historians are going to look to see one thing that's going to be so important to all

of us, and that is, how were you recorded.

So we can't talk about the process, we can't talk about what we wish will happen; but we can talk about how are you recorded in this vote that would long-time be remembered.

At this time at the request of the chair, I'd like to yield to the chairlady of the Small Business Committee and thank her for the great work that she has been doing.

Mr. Speaker, the following letters relate to a matter of jurisdiction with respect to a provision included in the conference agreement to H.R. 1

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, February 13, 2009.

Hon. Charles B. Rangel,

Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, Longworth House Office

Building, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Rangel: I write regarding the section

entitled ``Grants for Specified Energy Property in Lieu of

Tax Credits'' in H.R. 1. Although originally passed by the

House of Representatives as a program administered by the

Department of Energy, under the conference agreement on this

bill, this program will reside at the Department of the

Treasury.

I am pleased that the consultation process between our

Committees has resulted in an

understanding that this grant program will be under the

jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce despite

its administration through the Department of the Treasury.

I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming

this understanding with respect to this program. I would also

ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be

included in the Congressional Record during consideration of

the conference report on the House floor.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the actions of the pilot, crew, and rescuers who risked their lives to save the passengers of Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009.

US Airways Flight 1549 lost engine power and began to fail shortly after its take off from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, headed to Charlotte, North Carolina. The lives of 155 passengers and crew were at risk. Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III and First Officer Jeffery B. Skiles acted with immense valor and dexterity to land the plane in the best option available, the Hudson River. The actions of both of these men demonstrate that they were cognizant of the lives on and off of the plane and choose to avoid populated areas. Additionally, the skilful control of the aircraft and decisions made by Sullenberger and Skiles allowed for the effective assistance of flight attendants Shelia Dail, Doreen Welsh, and Donna Dent, to prepare passengers for the impact in a short amount of time. In this time, passengers had to prepare for their landing and from all reports they did so with great discipline and concern for each other. Local ferry boats, official police boats and U.S. Coast Guard craft were incredibly quick in their response, rescuing passengers and crew from the near freezing water in minutes. Thanks to the heroic efforts of all parties responsible for the passengers of Flight 1549, 155 passengers and crew survived without serious injury.

As a result of the courageous initiatives taken place by these individuals, I urge that the House of Representatives give recognition and credit where it is due by passing the Resolution introduced by our colleague from New York, Joseph Crowley. In doing so we applaud Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III,

First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, flight attendants Doreen Walsh, Donna Dent, and Sheila Dail, rescue boats, and private citizens for their quick thinking, and bravery amongst many other heroic actions demonstrated.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the impending transition our nation will be facing on their television broadcasts from analog to digital. Despite efforts that have been made by the government to advise the public as to what steps would be necessary to prepare for the transition such as continuous advisory commercials and convertor box coupons, there are still those who are not prepared.

Whether it is because of a lack of accessibility to applying for the coupons or a delay in receiving the coupons, no one should be left ``in the dark'' when the transition occurs. The government to this point has been doing what it can to help those upon whom this transition is being forced by offering coupons to offset the cost of the converter boxes needed to continue receiving television broadcasts. Nonetheless, with the transition date of February 17, 2009, only a few days away, there are still more than 2 million households that are on a government waiting list to receive assistance in purchasing the converter boxes.

It is for this reason that I am urging Members to support the DTV Delay Act, S. 352, sponsored by Senator John D. Rockefeller, which seeks to delay the transition date from February 17, 2009 to June 13, 2009 and it would also extend the deadline of applying for government converter box coupons to July 31, 2009, provided that funding is available. This bill would also provide extra time for those who have not applied or received converter box coupons to still do so. Although this bill would not prevent stations from transitioning from analog to digital and letting others use the recovered air waves, it does allow for these same analog channels to have an extension in their broadcasting license on analog channels thus allowing people to continue viewing television broadcasts with their regular antennas.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and contributions of Robert (Bob) Nesta Marley and the impact that he has had on the world. This is a man whose music has inspired the world over and whose lyrics began a movement of revolution not just in actions and words but in the core being of individuals and he made his contribution and achieved his wonderful legacy in a short life cut off by cancer at the age of thirty-six. On his birthday on February 6th of this year he would have been only sixty-four.

Bob Marley's humble beginnings in a small town in Jamaica instilled in him an appreciation of the various stations in life and especially that of the most unfortunate. His early life influenced the majority of his music which heralded the strength of the worker and denounced the unfortunate plight of the disenfranchised. Throughout his life Bob Marley strove to create music that would inspire people for generations to come. His music was born in a time of turmoil and heavy racial prejudice throughout the world and his music absorbed the hatred and bigotry only to release lyrics that spoke of reconciliation and harmony.

One of his most celebrated songs, ``One Love'' is a perfect example of his music that seeks to find the beauty in the midst of darkness. He sings of a nation with ``one love'' and ``one heart'' that is united towards the achievement of harmony and peace. This song is rightfully acclaimed as a global anthem and recognized as one of the most influential songs of the 20th century. Bob Marley asks ``Let's get together and feel all right, I'm pleading to mankind'', and in so doing, he challenges us all to respond to our better selves.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fixture in New York State politics and journalism, M. Paul Redd--the strong- willed publisher of the country's only black-owned newspaper, the Westchester County Press. The weekly celebrated its 80th anniversary last year, just a few months prior to the passing of its longtime publisher and muse. Redd was an African American leader whose foray into journalism and politics made him a premier advocate for equality and fairness. With a seriousness of purpose, outpouring of passion, and great eloquence, he and his paper prodded politicians towards responsible, progressive stances and held them accountable to the people and communities they served. He traversed the world of media and public service, blurring the line that separates them and serving as vice chairman of the state Democratic Party for a number of years.

A voice--when as clear, cogent, and powerful as his was--cannot be silenced, even in death, as the following WVOX radio tribute titled ``M. Paul Redd Dies Suddenly'' makes clear. He will continue to reverberate and resound in the minds of those he touched, in the words of those he influenced, in the work we public servants have yet to do for our constituencies, our state, and our country.

M. Paul Redd Dies Suddenly

One of Westchester's most prominent and durable African-

American leaders has died.

Word came within the hour from the office of NYS

Assemblyman George Latimer that M. Paul Redd died suddenly

last night of a massive heart attack. He was in his mid-80's.

Paul Redd published the Westchester County Press which last

month at Manhattanville College celebrated its 80th

anniversary as the county's only black-owned newspaper.

Paul Redd purchased the weekly many years ago from the late

Dr. Alger Adams. In addition to his publishing activities . .

. M. Paul Redd was very active in New York State and

Westchester politics serving as Vice Chairman of the State

Democratic Party for many years. He was married to political

activist Orial Redd and their daughter Paula Redd Zeeman is

the County's Director of Human Resources.

He was also a fixture at many WVOX broadcasts. For almost

40 years, Mr. Redd attended this station's St. Patrick's Day

salute broadcasts. (WVOX is dedicating this year's broadcast

to Mr. Redd).

One of the features of his newspaper--the Westchester

County Press--was the ``Snoopy Allgood'' column which tweeked

politicians in a good natured, if occasionally pointed, way.

Mr. Redd never revealed who actually wrote those Snoopy

Allgood columns.

He was also a frequent guest on our radio and tv talk shows

and discussion programs.

Madam Speaker, there may be a lot of people that have objection to the process in which we have moved forward, but one thing is abundantly clear and that is, the President of the United States, and every economist from the left to the right, believes that if we don't do something and do it fast, that our economy would be in far worse shape than we find it today.

To think the number of people that are losing their jobs, losing their health insurance, losing their families and losing their hope are things that are not labeled Republican and Democrats. This is what the core of America is all about.

I cannot think of anything that's more American, even the American flag, than our middle class citizens, our middle class taxpayers. Whether we've been involved in war, whether we've been involved in depressions, it's been the guts of these people that's been able, with pride, with dignity, to be able to come back stronger than ever. And now we find that their demands have increased, but at the same time, their resources have decreased. These are people that work hard every day; that have families with kids in school, that want to protect their health. And the one thing they can't do is purchase.

I don't understand this word that you have to build the confidence of people in the market. But one thing is that if you're the working poor, $500 or $1,000 in the family, that's not confidence, that's filling a gap, that's filling a need. And it seems like it makes so much sense, no matter what town or village that you live in. If people can't afford to buy, if they can't afford to buy from the small businesses in their towns and villages, then these people have inventory that has built up, but they also have staff and clerks and employees that they can't afford to hire. Once these people are discharged, fired, laid off and go right back into the general economy, these are the middle class people. They're not the rich. They're not the poor, they're not the homeless, but there are people that believe that this country will never let them down.

And so the President says that 95 percent of people who work hard every day would be receiving some type of a tax cut. It would seem to me that, whatever objections you have, that time is not our friend. We find more small businesses closing, more people going into unemployment, losing their benefits for health. And in this bill we try to ease the pain, to try to stop the hemorrhage that we have from job loss, to try to make certain that someone who wants to buy would believe that they can keep their kid in school, that they will be able to have a job the next day and they don't have to hold back.

I'm hoping that we try to break this partisan past that we have, because I don't see how anyone can explain to anyone that's in trouble as to what their party label would be.

Our country is involved in an intensive care unit, and it seems to me that they're saying that we need an infusion of resources, an infusion of health care, an infusion of economic assistance. If we don't help this patient, our great Nation, then most every economist has said that she could come to near death. And every day we hold back this care, every day we hold back this injection of having funds, whether it's the earned income tax credit that allows people to work, even though they may be below poverty, they still are able to work and have their dignity, to be able to have children that are deductible where we can receive an additional two or $3,000 a year. It may not be much to people who are in the upper income, but to the people who have to count their salaries each and every week to see whether or not they can put food on the table, clothing on their children's back, or to be able to fulfill that dream, once the dream that Americans have, that they will not be able to succeed, to me, that's even more important than the economic loss that they would have.

To believe that in this great Nation of ours, no matter what the economic setbacks will be, that we can and we will recover, we've done it before, during bad times. We've come back after World War II stronger than ever. And I think this President, this new President has given hope to people, not only throughout our towns and villages, not only throughout the United States of America, but indeed throughout the world.

I don't see how any Democrat, having a Republican President, could not say during this time for our Nation that we'll put our party labels behind, we'll work together and try to save the economy of this great country. Now's the time, I really think, if you're talking about bipartisanship, that this is the time to see whether or not we can work together because this word ``confidence'' means not Democrats and not Republicans, but Americans working hard together.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to former light-heavyweight boxing champion Jose Torres, who sadly passed away on January 19th this year. Mr. Torres was an extraordinary man who achieved a life that advanced the cause of civil rights, community empowerment, and equality of opportunity. Of Puerto Rican descent, Mr. Torres was fiercely proud of his heritage and made New York his home for 50 years.

Mr. Torres learned to box in the Army and captured the light- middleweight silver medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. After that, he served as a sparring partner for Sugar Ray Robinson. Mr. Torres boxed professionally from 1958 to 1969, sporting a record 41 wins, three losses, and one draw. He was a light-heavyweight champion, successfully defended his title three times, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997.

He captured the light-heavyweight crown in 1965 by defeating then undisputed champion Willie Pastrano. His victory sent an outpouring of joy and pride into the streets of Spanish Harlem which held a parade in his honor, and he dedicated his title to the people of Puerto Rico.

Mr. Torres had a passion for civil rights and became a voice for the Latino. He joined Robert F. Kennedy's 1968 Presidential campaign to serve as a liaison to the Puerto Rican community. After boxing, Mr. Torres began his journalism career as a columnist for the New York Post. He became the first Hispanic columnist for a major English- language paper, writing about politics and life in the neighborhoods of Spanish Harlem. He also wrote for the Spanish-speaking New York newspaper El Diario La Prensa. His was a powerful voice because people trusted him. You could not find any one in New York who would not talk to him. Mr. Torres' literary interests extended to authoring the celebrated biographies of boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.

In the mid-eighties, Mr. Torres served as the chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, becoming the first former professional boxer and first Latino to head the boxing oversight agency. He understood the social disadvantages that many boxers faced and vowed to promote educational opportunities for fighters ``at least so they can read their contracts.''

Mr. Torres dedicated his life to helping others professionally and personally. Over the decades, he befriended and nurtured aspiring journalists and up-and-coming fighters. Mr. Torres is revered among the people of Spanish Harlem and Puerto Rico, which declared three days of mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half staff.

Once again, I pay tribute to Jose Torres, a trailblazer for his people and a renaissance man who made a positive impact in boxing, literature and civil rights. Those of us who had the opportunity to observe and experience his example consider ourselves blessed.

Madam, Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the family of the late and great Hazel Scott and the author of Hazel Scott's first memoir, Karen Chilton for writing such an important biographical book on a stellar Caribbean American pianist, singer, actress, and activist.

In 1939, when Cafe Society, New York City's first fully integrated nightclub, was all the rage, Hazel Scott was its star. Still a teenager, she wowed audiences with her jazz renditions of classical masterpieces by Chopin, Bach, and Rachmaninoff. A child prodigy, born in Trinidad and raised in Harlem in the 1920s, Scott's musical talent was cultivated by her musician mother, Alma Long Scott, as well as several great jazz luminaries of the period, namely, Art Tatum, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, and Lester Young.

Career success was swift for the young pianist--she auditioned at the prestigious Juilliard School when she was only eight years old, hosted her own radio show at fourteen, and shared the bill at Roseland Ballroom with the Count Basie Orchestra at fifteen. After several stand-out performances on Broadway, club impresario Barney Josephson proclaimed Hazel Scott the ``Darling of Cafe Society.''

By the time Hollywood came calling, Scott had achieved such stature that she could successfully challenge the studios' deplorable treatment of black actors. She would later become one of the first black women to host her own television show.

During the 1940s and '50s, her sexy and vivacious presence captivated fans worldwide. She was known for improvising on classical themes and also played boogie-woogie, blues, and ballads. Her marriage to the late and great Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., whom I succeeded, made them one of the country's most high-profile African American families.

In a career spanning over four decades, Hazel Scott became known not only for her accomplishments on stage and screen, but for her outspoken advocacy of civil rights. Her relentless crusade on behalf of African Americans, women, and artists made her the target of the House Un- American Activities Committee (HUAC) during the McCarthy Era, eventually forcing her to join the black expatriate community in Paris.

By age twenty-five, Hazel Scott was an international star but, before reaching thirty-five, she considered herself a failure. Plagued by insecurity and depression, she would try twice to take her own life. Her life came to a close, dying of pancreatic cancer, at the age of 61 on October 2, 1981.

Karen Chilton, a New York-based writer and actor who also co-authored ``I Wish You Love,'' the jazz memoir of legendary vocalist Gloria Lynne, traces the fascinating arc of this brilliant and audacious American artist from stardom to ultimate obscurity. Readers will learn from the prelude to the civil rights movement to the dark moments in our nation's history where racial, ethnic, and political discrimination ran rampant.

So Madam Speaker, I ask that in this Black History Month, that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in honoring the life of Hazel Scott and thanking Karen Chilton. Karen truly authored a book that many generations of future stars will cherish.

Madam Speaker, what a great opportunity for us in this august body, whether we are Republican or Democrat, to think in terms of the comfort that we are giving parents and grandparents by having assurances that, if anything happened to these very special people, that they would have health insurance.

There is hardly a weekend that goes by that I don't thank God for my three grandchildren, and not have to worry that if anything, God forbid, should happen to them, that at least we would know they have access to health care. It reminded me when I was a young father and how precious my son and daughter would be. And then you think, of course, of the so many millions of people that go to work every day not being able to concentrate on their jobs and being productive and competitive, but thinking what would happen if their child became ill.

And it is not just the compassionate and right thing to do, to know that all of us would be able to go to sleep at night and to know that we made our contribution to provide health care to 11 million kids, but even from a national security or fiscal point of view, as doctors and researchers indicate, the great burden of fiscal costs for diseases and ailments that could have been detected if the children had access to health care. So many kids drop out of school with people not even knowing that they couldn't hear, that they couldn't understand properly, that they couldn't see minor things that could have been detected if the child had the availability of health care. And, of course, in the long run I don't think any on the other side and certainly none of ours can challenge the fact that it is in the later years of life things that could have been prevented that increase the need for health care and of course increase the costs for health care. In other words, we can dramatically improve the quality of care and cut down the ever increasing costs of care by preventing these things from happening.

I sat here trying to listen to some argument about why anyone would be against this bill. Sure, no one likes taxes. I am opposed to excise taxes. But, my God, cigarettes? You almost

feel like you are doing the right thing by making it difficult for kids and others to smoke cigarettes. Indeed, from a Ways and Means point of view, it is a question of whether or not the bill could be adequately funded because last year we collected more taxes because there was more consumption. So something is really working in terms of curtailing of people from destroying the quality of their own lives.

And so I do hope that we continue to have this as a bipartisan bill, that we can walk out at least and go home and say that we worked together on one initiative that was good for our children, good for our community, and good for our country.

I now ask unanimous consent to yield the balance of my time to the chairman of our Health Subcommittee, and to have Dr. McDermott determine which Members he would like to yield to.