Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H.R. 5501) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and for other purposes.

I would first like to thank Honorable Howard L. Berman for introducing this important legislation. The devastation of the HIV/AIDS disease does not discriminate, and impacts the lives of us all. Recent reports from the United Nations state that more than thirty-three million people globally have been infected with HIV/AIDS.

This legislation takes a comprehensive approach to combating global infectious diseases, specifically HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis by providing funding for the prevention, education, testing, and treatment. I support and applaud the substantial funding that H.R. 5501 provides to fight infectious diseases around the world. I am happy to see that this bill authorizes $48 billion in spending over five years for AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The bill would also authorize operational research and health workforce strengthening initiatives, and would eliminate the ban on HIV positive visitors and otherwise qualified immigrants from entering the United States.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic has erased decades of progress in improving the lives of families in the developing world and has claimed over 20 million lives since its inception. By supporting H.R. 5501, the U.S. government has taken another major step in keeping its commitment to the global AIDS response.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month and the wonderful implications it has for how far this country has come. To have a month in which we solely celebrate the contributions of those who have been oppressed and were deemed unequal by the very country they helped to build is recognition by the Congress of the United States that this great country is better and brighter because of their presence. Caribbean-American Heritage Month has given us the opportunity as a nation to recognize the everyday heroes in the Caribbean community that bring their hope, joy, and immeasurable talents to America.

When celebrating Caribbean-American Heritage Month in June we have the opportunity to more clearly illuminate the great economic disparities that are a reality in the Caribbean. The inception of this special month-long celebration has created an exclusive platform to zero in on Caribbean-specific issues like economic development, health, and education.

Caribbean-American Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the many wonderful people of Caribbean heritage who have gone unrecognized for their immense contributions to this wonderful country. For that, I salute Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record a July 15, 2008 New York Carib News article entitled: `` CARICOM Heads Tourism Talk.''

The article speaks of the challenges that the tourism-based Caribbean economy is facing due to high oil prices and a ``17 percent cutback on airline services from the United States.'' Caribbean officials are meeting the challenge of protecting their most profitable industry by gearing up to market the Caribbean as a brand by ``looking at the Caribbean as a single space.'' There have also been talks of combining the regional civil aviation authorities.

Increasingly, Caribbean officials are recognizing the need to unite some of their services in order to increase the viability of their tourism industry in the midst of rising oil prices. One of the discussions and outcomes of the successful New York CARICOM Conference was the possibility of Jet Blue, the popular discount airline, providing service to the Caribbean. With Jet Blue, the Caribbean can regain the much needed air service that is being lost due to high oil prices.

CARICOM Heads Tourism Talk

St John's, Antigua, CMC--Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

leaders began deliberations focusing on the tourism sector

that has been a key contributor to their countries'

economies.

There are concerns that recent global developments, such as

the rising cost of fuel and changes in flight schedules by

US-based airlines, could undermine the viability of an

industry that provides thousands of jobs for Caribbean

nationals.

The leaders will hear special presentations by St. Lucia's

Tourism Minister and Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism

Organization (CTO) Allan Chastenet and his Antigua and

Barbuda counterpart, Harold Lovell, on efforts to make the

sector more competitive in light of the new threats,

including a 17 percent cutback in airline services from the

United States, the region's main tourism market.

Chastenet told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that

oil prices were expected to reach an estimated US$170 a

barrel and that this could also be accompanied by a 20 per

cent cut in capacity by the US airlines industry.

``Clearly, as the price of oil continues to increase, that

may get more serious,'' he said.

The CTO Chairman said that the presentation would again

emphasize the need for branding the Caribbean, adding a

``brand is just not marketing, it is a promise''.

``Unfortunately we have not done that,'' he said, adding

that the introduction of the satellite accounting system to

measure the economic importance of the tourism industry to

Caribbean countries was vital.

``Tourism is never reflected in national accounts and if

something is not measurable you can't improve upon it,'' he

said.

``We are going to do a presentation because we have now

found funding to help the governments implement satellite

accounting systems in each country.''

The leaders will also discuss the air transportation

sector, with Chastenet indicating that the issue of

establishing hubs to service the region would be on the

agenda.

``Also, we would be looking at the Caribbean as a single

space,'' he said, also noting that there is need to combine

the various civil aviation authorities in the region.

``One has to consider whether we can achieve more by having

one civil aviation authority that would be more cost

effective and more prolific in what they are trying to

achieve.''

Chastenet said the crisis now confronting the tourism

industry has also shown that the operations of the regional

airlines are not viable.``One of the things that all of our

airlines are proving in this region is that they are not

economically viable, so we know that the model we have been

using doesn't work and I am really hoping that we really have

functional cooperation.

There should be at least a meeting a year in which the

regional carriers are sitting down and trying to make sure

that their schedules are coincided,'' he said.

``Why should a person have to leave the Bahamas and have to

go the (United) States in order to come to the other parts of

the Caribbean?

``Why can't that take place through Jamaica and then down

into the Eastern Caribbean. It is ridiculous that Caribbean

Airlines and LIAT don't even interlock. So those are the

things that we will be bringing to the Heads' attention and

basically saying this is now having a negative impact on our

tourism arrivals.

Host Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman Baldwin Spencer

said that increases in airfares and new airline charges were

also contributing to the ``bleak perspectives for the

region's tourism-driven economies''.

He said that while he was encouraged by the efforts of the

regional airline LIAT to fill the void created by the

reduction in airlift by US air carriers, it was not, however,

a viable proposition. ``International airlift is a present

and critical problem. So, too, regional sea and air

transportation for tourism and trade and personal and

business travel,'' Spencer said.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an article from the New York Times published on July 8, 2008 titled ``After the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at Home.''

Alcohol abuse is rising among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, many of them trying to deaden the repercussions of war and disorientation of home. The problem is particularly prevalent among those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Increasingly, these veterans are spilling into the criminal justice system. Their stories are similar: coming back from war with lost jobs, crushing debt and ruptured families.

In May, House and Senate passed bills that would require the veteran's agency to expand substance-abuse screening and treatment for all veterans. However, this legislation does not provide immediate relief to veterans. For active duty service members, the military faces a shortage of substance-abuse providers on bases across the country, while the insurance plan, Tricare, makes it difficult for many reservists and their families to get treatment. Finding treatment programs that accept Tricare often ends in frustration and few residential rehabilitation programs have the accreditation required by the plan. An advocacy group, Veterans for America, found the demand for psychological help was so great, and the system so burdened, that soldiers often waited a month to be seen.

The Pentagon's most recent survey of health-related behavior found that for the first time in more than 20 years, a quarter of the soldiers surveyed considered themselves heavy drinkers, defined as having 5 or more drinks at least once a week. Consequently, suicides have also reached a high in the Army last year in which alcohol or drugs were cited in 30 percent of the 115 cases, the Pentagon reported.

Last January, a city court judge in Buffalo, Robert T. Russell, noticed a surge of recent veterans with substance-abuse and mental- health problems in the city's courtrooms. He created the Nation's first Veterans Court, where, instead of jail, veterans arrested for low-level crimes, mostly tied to alcohol or drugs, are enrolled in treatment.

[From the New York Times, July 8, 2008]

After the Battle, Fighting the Bottle at Home

(By Lizette Alvarez)

Most nights when Anthony Klecker, a former marine, finally

slept, he found himself back on the battlefields of Iraq. He

would awake in a panic, and struggle futilely to return to

sleep.

Days were scarcely better. Car alarms shattered his nerves.

Flashbacks came unexpectedly, at the whiff of certain

cleaning chemicals. Bar fights seemed unavoidable; he nearly

attacked a man for not washing his hands in the bathroom.

Desperate for sleep and relief, Mr. Klecker, 30, drank

heavily. One morning, his parents found him in the driveway

slumped over the wheel of his car, the door wide open, wipers

scraping back and forth. Another time, they found him curled

in a fetal position in his closet.

Yet only after his drunken driving caused the death of a

16-year-old cheerleader did Mr. Klecker acknowledge the depth

of his problem: His eight months at war had profoundly

damaged his psyche.

``I was trying to be the tough marine I was trained to be--

not to talk about problems, not to cry,'' said Mr. Klecker,

who has since been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic

stress disorder. ``I imprisoned myself in my own mind.''

Mr. Klecker's case is part of a growing body of evidence

that alcohol abuse is rising among veterans of combat in

Afghanistan and Iraq, many of them trying to deaden the

repercussions of war and disorientation of home. While the

numbers remain relatively small, experts say and studies

indicate that the problem is particularly prevalent among

those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, as it

was after Vietnam. Studies indicate that illegal drug use,

much less common than heavy drinking in the military, is up

slightly, too.

Increasingly, these troubled veterans are spilling into the

criminal justice system. A small fraction wind up in prison

for homicides or other major crimes. Far more, though, are

involved in drunken bar fights, reckless driving and alcohol-

fueled domestic violence. Whatever the particulars, their

stories often spool out in unwitting victims, ruptured

families, lost jobs and crushing debt.

With the rising awareness of the problem has come mounting

concern about the access to treatment and whether enough

combat veterans are receiving the help that is available to

them.

Having cut way back in the 1990s as the population of

veterans declined, the Veterans Health Administration says it

is expanding its alcohol- and drug-abuse services. But

advocacy groups and independent experts--including members of

a Pentagon mental-health task force that issued its report

last year--are concerned that much more needs to be done. In

May, the House and Senate passed bills that would require the

veterans agency to expand substance-abuse screening and

treatment for all veterans.

``The war is now and the problems are now,'' said Richard

A. McCormick, a senior scholar for public health at Case

Western Reserve University in Cleveland who served on the

Pentagon task force. ``Every day there is a cohort of men and

women being discharged who need services not one or two or

five years from now. They need them now.''

For active-duty service members, the military faces a

shortage of substance-abuse providers on bases across the

country, while its health insurance plan, Tricare, makes it

difficult for many reservists and their families to get

treatment.

In the breach, a few states, including California,

Connecticut and Minnesota, have passed laws or begun programs

to encourage alternative sentences, often including

treatment, for veterans with substance-abuse and mental-

health problems.

In recent years, the military has worked to transform a

culture that once indulged heavy drinking as part of its

warrior ethos into one that discourages it and encourages

service members to seek help.

``The Army takes alcohol and drug abuse very seriously and

has tried for decades to deglamorize its use,'' said Lt. Col.

George Wright, an Army spokesman. ``With the urgency of this

war, we continue to tackle the problem with education,

prevention and treatment.''

That is a tricky mission in time of war.

``The problem in today's military is soldiers have to be

warriors, killers, do war, but we don't allow them any

releases like we used to,'' said Bryan Lane, a former special

forces sergeant who sustained a traumatic brain injury in

Iraq and has post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. ``You

can't go out and drink, you can't get into a fight. It's

completely unrealistic.''

The military, he said, is trying to create a contradiction:

``a perfect warrior, and then a perfect gentleman.''

Warning Signs Grow

Fort Drum, in the North Country of New York just outside

Watertown, is home to the Army's most-deployed brigade--the

Second Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division. Late last year,

several thousand soldiers returned after 15 months in Iraq.

Some had served three, even four, tours, and they quickly

overwhelmed the base's mental health system. A study by an

advocacy group, Veterans for America, found the demand for

psychological help was so great, and the system so

overburdened, that soldiers often waited a month to be seen.

Many also did what generations of homecoming soldiers have

done: they salved their wounds in local bars. With drinking

off-limits in Iraq, at least openly, they were that much more

likely to binge, that much less able to tolerate it.

The base's commander, Maj. Gen. Michael L. Oates, says that

since his arrival in early 2007, misconduct related to

substance abuse has reached ``unacceptable'' levels, despite

a toughened regimen of education, designated-driver programs

and penalties.

``The rate of illegal drug use is slightly up; the rate of

alcohol is more than slightly up,'' General Oates said. ``I'm

not a teetotaler. I'm not against people drinking. I'm

against misconduct.''

By last March, he had seen enough. He ordered the base's

newspaper, The Fort Drum Blizzard, to publish the names and

photographs of all soldiers charged with drunken driving. To

date, at least 116 have appeared. Half were combat veterans

who had returned in the last year, the general said, though

others may have deployed earlier.

Most returning soldiers readjust after a few months. But

the general estimated that at least 20 percent turned to

heavy drinking

or drugs--typically ``the first signal that there is

something wrong.''

Across the military, the precise dimensions of the problem

are elusive, especially since the different branches largely

keep their own statistics. Many studies do not distinguish

between servicemembers who have seen battle and those who

have not. What is more, behavior becomes far harder to track

when servicemembers leave the military.

Even so, a variety of surveys, as well as anecdotal

evidence and rising alarm in many military communities,

indicate growing substance abuse among recent combat

veterans. Of particular concern are members of the National

Guard and reserves, as well as recently discharged

servicemembers, who can lose their bearings outside the

camaraderie and structure of the military.

In the Army, which has the bulk of the troops in Iraq and

Afghanistan, the Pentagon's most recent survey of health-

related behavior, conducted in 2005 but released last year,

found that for the first time in more than 20 years, roughly

a quarter of soldiers surveyed considered themselves regular

heavy drinkers--defined as having five or more drinks at

least once a week. The report called the increase--to 24.5

percent in 2005, from 17.2 percent in 1998--``an issue of

concern.''

Perhaps the best monitor of recent combat veterans'' mental

health is the Pentagon's postdeployment survey. Reflecting

concern about heavy drinking, the latest report, published

last November, introduced a question about drinking habits.

Of the 88,235 soldiers surveyed in 2005 and 2006, three to

six months after returning from war, 12 percent of active-

duty troops and 15 percent of reservists acknowledged having

problems with alcohol.

While drug use decreased substantially after 1980, when the

military cracked down, it has increased slightly in the Army

and the Marines since 2002, the behavioral survey said.

Experts say that, in some cases, troubled combat veterans are

more prone to use drugs after leaving the military.

In general, studies find that drinking is more prevalent in

the military than in the civilian population; the behavioral

survey reported that heavy drinking among 18- to 25-9-year-

old men in the Army and the Marines was almost twice as

common as among their civilian counterparts.

Heavy drinking or drug use frequently figures in what law

enforcement officials and commanders at military bases across

the country say is a rising number of crimes and other

examples of misconduct involving soldiers, marines and recent

veterans.

``Alcohol and drug use starts a cascade of worse

problems,'' said Dr. McCormick, the task force member, who

recently retired as director of mental health for the state

veterans affairs system in Ohio. ``It's like throwing

gasoline on fire.''

Most cases involve low-level misconduct. From 2005 to 2006,

for example, ``alcohol-related incidents''--mostly drunken or

reckless driving and disorderly conduct--more than tripled at

Fort Hood, Tex., according to information released to the

Pentagon task force. Other statistics showed a similar

pattern throughout the Army, a task force member said.

The Marines, filled with young men drawn by the corps'

hard-charging image, have traditionally had the military's

highest drinking rates. While the behavior survey showed a

slight decrease in heavy drinking after 2002, it showed an

increase in binge drinking. The Marines also reported a rise

in alcohol-related incidents.

Sometimes, though, substance abuse becomes a factor in

major crimes. This year, a New York Times examination of

killings in this country by veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan

found that drinking or drug use was frequently involved in

the crimes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alvin Ailey, a pioneer in the art of modern dance whose work is renowned throughout the world and beloved in his hometown of Harlem. This year, the Dance Theater celebrates 50 years of enriching the lives of audiences throughout the world. The group has since won critical acclaim and has been called an ambassador of American culture.

Today, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed in 48 states and 71 countries for an estimated 21 million people. By integrating African-American tradition with classic modern dance, Ailey's Dance Theater has created a unique experience that speaks to audiences all over the world.

The innovation and freshness that Alvin Ailey brought to the world of modern dance has forever elevated the standard for performance art and has effectively engaged people of all backgrounds and world views with the Theatre's legendary ``Revelations.'' After 50 years, it is true now more than ever that to watch the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is to watch art come alive.

My colleagues, as we move toward the end of this legislative session, I would hope, at some point, that the minority just not be guided by blind ideology and to see whether we can prepare ourselves to work together in the future. In all of the years that we have had this administration, they have talked about the unfairness of taxes, and yet they have not seen their way clear even to suggest what we should do about it.

I know they are busy starting wars in various places, but it would seem as though the executive could take a deep breath.

They talk about entitlements, how we have to get rid of them, that it is causing us to go into bankruptcy. And unless I missed something during my brief illnesses, they have never suggested what you do with Social Security; not a note, not anything private, not a call from Paulson saying, can we talk?

And now we talk about----

Well, why don't you give me the additional time and----

How much time are you ready to negotiate here? We can work out something.

Why would you wait until the last day? You know, you guys have been in office all this time, and now you want to talk. This is absolutely ridiculous. And we should resolve the problem by having a trigger, and cut across the board. Just have a trigger? Is that the way you think we are going to have a system?

How much time do you yield to me, my dear friend from California?

Thirty seconds? That is no time.

Well, all I am saying is that you are not setting a tone that we can work next year in an administration that totally are not blinded, whether you call it entitlements. We are talking about providing services for the 40 million people who really don't have it. So let's stop talking about what the heck you intend to accomplish in 2 weeks. It's over. Get over it. Forget about it. Do what you have to do politically, see what you can salvage, and let's come back next year and get the job done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the work and accomplishments of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation. The Sullivan Foundation held its eighth summit this past June and was hosted by Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete.

Delegates and celebrities from Africa, the United States and the Caribbean were present for this landmark event, including NBA star Kelenna Azubuike, community leader Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, CNN News anchor TJ Holmes, and actor Chris Tucker.

The purpose of this summit was to facilitate positive change in Tanzania. This goal was not only met, but surpassed. Contributions from organizations such as; the Iovino Family Foundation, the Maasai Women's Development Organization and Books for Africa have brought about the ability to create sustainable development and education programs throughout Tanzania.

I would like to recognize the late Leon H. Sullivan for his unwavering commitment to changing the standards of living in Africa. It was his contribution that has allowed for the Sullivan Foundation's success today.

8th Leon H. Sullivan Summit Sets Historical Landmark: ``Mother of All

Summits'' Leaves Memorable Footprint in Tanzania

June 18, 2008 (Arusha, Tanzania)--In what was called the

``Mother of all Summits,'' the eighth edition of the Leon H.

Sullivan Summit hosted by President Jakaya Kikwete this June

brought more than 4,000 participants to the beautiful

landscape of Arusha, Tanzania. By the last day of plenary and

workshop sessions, what was promised to be the ``Summit of a

Lifetime'' turned out to be what many may consider a week of

transformation for Tanzania.

``The spirit of my father has definitely moved through this

year's Summit and I am truly inspired by all of the selfless

displays of generosity and support that were shown during the

week. These types of connections, the ones you can see and

touch, are what the Summits are all about. This Summit really

made a difference in the lives of others. No one can deny

that.''

With forty-seven nations represented, the spirit of

Reverend Sullivan was alive and well during the week-long

conference. On the first day alone, the Iovino Family

Foundation gave a $20,000 donation to the Maasai Women's

Development Organization (MWEDO), which aims to provide self-

sufficiency and increased access to public services and

education; Books for Africa gave an initial contribution of

40,000 textbooks and later pledged to provide an additional

$100,000 in textbooks for various schools throughout Arusha;

More than 1,200 Olyset mosquito nets were supplied to the

most endemic villages in Arusha along with school supplies

for the Manyatta Village Primary School; Frank Ski, an

Atlanta-based radio personality and youth advocate purchased

and delivered school supplies to children in local Tanzanian

villages, while other attendees sponsored and executed

additional independent outreach projects of their own to

directly benefit and impact the education and well-being of

Tanzanian men, women, and children.

In addition, NBA player Kelenna Azubuike of the Golden

State Warriors adopted an orphanage, (the Nora Childcare

Trust) and donated 40 pairs of brand new NBA basketball shoes

and shirts to the Tanzanian Basketball Federation, of which

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete is a member. The Myungsung

Presbyterian Baptist Church, using state of the art drilling

equipment was able to provide clean drinking water to a

community of 12,000 people in Arusha. The state of the art

drill used to locate and extract clean drinking water from

deep within the earth, is valued at more than $500,000.

But perhaps the most moving and memorable gesture of the

Summit, came from Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, who, during the

state dinner made a public call to guests to help raise at

least $25,000 to improve the educational facilities of

Tanzania's schools. Within thirty minutes the delegation, led

by Summit Co-Chairmen Ambassador Carlton Masters and

Ambassador Andrew Young, Sullivan Foundation President and

CEO Hope Masters, over $50,000 from individual donations

ranging from as little as $5 to $5,000 was raised. Actor

Chris Tucker and CNN news anchor TJ. Holmes were the first to

make significant contributions.

By the Summit's end, delegates were able to wind down and

relax with a breathtaking trip to Zanzibar Island. It was

there that delegates were able to reflect and acknowledge a

truly beautiful part of Africa that many admitted they didn't

even know existed.

``The beauty and history of Zanzibar was captivating to me

and others alike,'' stated Nichet Smith, Director of Public

Relations for the Sullivan Foundation. ``Moments like those I

have captured and will hold onto forever. Zanzibar is

definitely a place that everyone should see in their

lifetime.''

Remaining forever committed to the goals of the Summit--to

provide a platform for Africa's political, economic, and

cultural leaders, the Sullivan Foundation has completed yet

another piece of the ever evolving bridge of hope, change and

inspiration towards the vision and legacy of an extraordinary

man, The Reverend Leon Howard Sullivan. For more information

about the 2008 Leon H. Sullivan Summit, please visit www.the-

sullivanfoundation.org/summit or contact Nichet Smith

202.736.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Charles Edward Ballard III an outstanding son of Harlem who passed away on February 14, 2008, Valentines Day. 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 and under much adversity, fought to preserve the good-old pastime game of stickball.

The death of Charles brought immense sorrow and loss to his family and friends, and to the countless individuals associated with the legendary game of stickball. The game he fought to preserve often served to unite young people of different races and nationalities from the many diverse neighborhoods around the city of New York. The All- Star Charles Ballard was a celebrity among the many that played stickball on our city's streets, taking part in ten stickball championships.

Within the New York City stickball community, Mr. Ballard is widely considered a legend whose bat has launched more than 10,000 line drives over a 50-year career. Therefore, it was no surprise that Mr. Ballard was the first inductee into the Stickball Hall of Fame in 1973. The Hall was founded with the most modest of goals: to formally recognize the sport. The founders--all members of the Old Timers, including their manager, Carlos Diaz--picked the top players from throughout the city, including those who parlayed their street skills into professional baseball careers, like Phil Rizzuto, Joe Torre, Willie Randolph and Rusty Torres.

``Charlie'' as he was affectionately known, was an inspiration and true symbol of commitment and sportsmanship to the game he truly loved and its faithful players for more than 50 years. Mr. Ballard was a shining example of selfless love for the many generations of young bucks that came to play the game before and after. He derived significant gratification teaching the sport to kids, spending many hours in the streets and parks of the community with them. He also gladly spent equal, if not more time, mentoring youth about the game of life, offering them his wisdom, compassion, and support.

Mr. Ballard was also a member of the ``Greatest Generation'' as a veteran of World War II. He proudly fought for his country, serving in the Navy from 1942 to 1945. In addition, he had the distinction of being one of only a few African-Americans to serve as a radio operator in the Navy. Charlie achieved so much during his lifetime that his comrades will continue to benefit from his work even as they miss his ongoing presence.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 655 Honoring the life of Katherine Dunham. Katherine Dunham was a woman of astounding grace and character who has altered for the better both our country and our world.

Born Katherine Mary Dunham in Chicago, Illinois on June 22, 1909, and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Dr. Dunham was among the first black artists to form a ballet troupe and achieve renown as a modern dancer and choreographer on Broadway and in Hollywood. Dr. Dunham passed away in May of 2006 and leaves behind a tremendous legacy of art, education and activism.

She has received countless honors and awards, including more than 10 honorary doctorates, the Presidential Medal of Arts, the French Legion of Honor, and the NAACP's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Dunham was responsible for exposing to mass audiences a side of black artistic expression that was rarely seen. At a time when minstrel shows with black face were still considered an acceptable form of entertainment, her work was a catalyst that made people see and understand black dance as true art that was to be respected and acclaimed.

In 1931 Dr. Dunham founded Les Ballet Negre, the first black dance company in the United States. Les Ballet Negre later became known as the Katherine Dunham Dance Company, which successfully toured over 60 countries in the 1940s.

In the years that followed, she revolutionized American dance by incorporating the roots of black dance and ritual, and by transforming these elements into choreography accessible to all through the Katherine Dunham Technique.

Dr. Dunham has truly left her mark on society as her technique is still taught today at the world renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York. Her influence in the theaters' choreography can be seen in ``Revelations'', Alvin Ailey's most famous and internationally acclaimed performance.

As a human rights activist, she spoke out publicly about the United States' position on deporting Haitian refugees. Dunham was so passionate about the matter that in 1992 she went on a 47 day hunger strike to prove her point. Harry Belafonte stressed the notion that, ``She didn't perform miracles; she performed acts of human kindness''.

In 1967 Dr. Dunham established the Performing Arts Training Center in East St. Louis, Missouri, which functioned as an educational center, children's auxiliary company, and a semi-professional dance group that would go on to tour many parts of the United States. Dr. Dunham set out to transform lives, and did so.

We must keep her memory alive in our hearts and minds so that generations after us will know who she was and what she did. One cannot speak of dance and innovation without mentioning Katherine Dunham, for she truly is a woman who moved the world. I urge you to support H. Res. 655 Honoring Katherine Dunham, civil rights activist, performance artist, and humanitarian.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce an Opinion Editorial from the Washington Afro-American News that reflects support for educating people of color on the symptoms and prevention of coronary heart disease.

The editorial which was published on July 5, 2008 is entitled; ``Taking on the Attack: Lessons from Tim Russert's Death.'' The author of the Op-Ed, Honorable Elijah E. Cummings, recognizes the devastating reality of the disease. The fact is that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women, killing more than 700,000 people a year.

The sudden death of NBC-TV's Tim Russert brings to light the importance of heart health. In the editorial, Congressman Cummings states that ``African-American adults are less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease; however, we are more likely to die from it,'' emphasizing the disparities that exist among people of color. He advises to quit smoking, engage in regular exercise, reduce alcohol consumption, reduce stress and make healthy choices about the food that you eat in order to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Congressman Elijah Cummings encourages everyone to attack the number one killer in the U.S. by living heart-healthy lives and to acknowledge that ``everyday we wait to adopt a better lifestyle is another day we put ourselves at needless risk.''

[From the Washington Afro-American News, July 5, 2008]

Taking on the Attack: Lessons From Tim Russert's Death

(By Elijah E. Cummings)

Shocked. Even this word fails to describe the reactions of

people when they heard about the sudden end premature death

of legendary NBC newsman Tim Russert.

On the day of his wake, hundreds of people lined up at St.

Albans School in Washington, DC, to pay respect to a man whom

they had never met, but whose death had caused a deep sense

of loss in their lives. Because of Tim Russert, Sunday was

not simply a day of worship and rest. As he would say, ``If

it's Sunday, it's `Meet the Press.' ''

He was a top television journalist, a best-selling author,

a statesman in the world of politics and, more importantly to

him, a proud husband, father and son.

By all accounts, Tim was as famous as one could get and,

yet, he was an everyday man--someone to whom we all could

relate. So, when the news spread of his death from a heart

attack at age 58, middle-aged men across the country got

scared. They hit the gym and passed up dessert.

Women grabbed measuring tape to wrap around their loved-

one's waists while vowing to create healthier household diet

and fitness regimes to bring those waist circumferences down

to below 40 inches. (According to the American Heart

Association, a waistline of more than 40 inches places a man

at a high risk for heart disease.)

The fact is heart disease is the country's leading cause of

death for men and women, killing more than 700,000 people a

year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC).

In the African-American community, the outlook is even more

troubling. African-American adults are less likely to be

diagnosed with coronary heart disease; however, we are more

likely to die from it.

We also develop high blood pressure at an earlier age and,

on average, our blood pressure readings are higher than those

of other groups. In fact, the prevalence of hypertension in

our communities is among the highest in the world.

Compared to White Americans, ages 45-65, the premature

death rate from heart disease for Black men is twice as high.

For Black women, it is three times as high.

The statistics are no better in Maryland, where African

Americans make up less than 28 percent of the population, but

we experience the highest rates of heart disease deaths in

the state. According to the CDC, from 1996 to 2000, African

Americans in Maryland had a heart disease death rate of 620

per 100,000, compared with 500 per 100,000 for Whites. In

Baltimore City, African Americans are 15 percent more likely

to die from heart disease than Whites.

There is good news. Although there are risk factors for

heart disease beyond our control such as increasing age,

gender and heredity, there are steps we can take to reduce

the dangers of heart disease.

We must take better care of ourselves. We can quit smoking,

engage in regular exercise, reduce our consumption of

alcohol, reduce the stress in our lives and make healthy

choices about the food that we eat.

We must educate ourselves. In the case of a heart attack,

every second counts and we have done an excellent job of

informing men of the signs and symptoms they may have when

experiencing a heart attack (including chest pain, shortness

of breath and discomfort in the arms).

We have neglected to similarly inform women of the symptoms

that they are more likely to experience. Shortness of breath,

nausea, vomiting and back or jaw pain are all common symptoms

of heart attack in women, and far too many lives are lost

because women--and, sadly, their health care providers--are

unaware of these symptoms.

We must continue to challenge the disparities in health

care that disproportionately threaten our communities. People

of color have limited access to affordable, high-quality

health care. When heart disease occurs, we are less likely to

receive life-saving medical interventions like coronary

angiography and coronary revascularization.

We continue to face the reality that too little research

funding is being focused upon the health risks that threaten

minority communities. These harsh facts of life are now

publicly acknowledged by leaders in every political party.

The critical test will be our willingness to allocate the

public funding that is needed to eliminate race as a

mortality factor in this country.

Last year, I was proud to join Mayor Sheila Dixon, Del.

Shirley Nathan Pulliam and Baltimore City Health Commissioner

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein in announcing an initiative to reduce

cardiovascular disease and unacceptable health disparities in

the Baltimore region.

This effort relies heavily on community input to help

develop strategies to prevent suffering and save lives

through public health efforts. The proposed strategies

include launching a task force on reducing sodium intake;

expanding community health worker programs: and developing

partnerships with faith-based institutions.

We already have an effective smoking cessation program in

place that offers free counseling and free nicotine patches

and gum while supplies last. All you need to do is call 1-

800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) to get started. You can also

find more information about the initiative and how you can

become involved by visiting http://www.baltimore health.org/

disparities.htm.

We all have the power to attack the number one killer in

the United States and live heart-healthy lives. But everyday

that we wait to adopt a better lifestyle is another day we

put ourselves at needless risk.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts made by the Caribbean Community and Common Market, CARICOM, nations and New York City, to stimulate and promote new economic partnerships.

The new relationships that were formed during this year's CARICOM conference have already begun to show prosperous results. Most notable is an agreement made between the University of the West Indies and Medgar Evers College in New York. The agreement was signed by the Honorable Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas and Dr. Edison Jackson, President of Medgar Evers College.

Dr. Douglas has introduced the possibility of an exchange program between the two regions that would include educational programs in the areas of tourism, transportation, climate change, research and outreach.

This newly formed agreement will not only boost economic development in the Caribbean, but it will bridge the gap between the region and the New York based diaspora. I would like to commend the work of all parties that played a part in the creation of this agreement.

Collaboration Between Caribbean and New York

Basseterre, St. Kitts.--St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister

Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said a Memorandum of Understanding

signed between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and

the Medgar Evers College in New York would form the basis for

moving forward after the Carribbean-New York Conference last

week.

Speaking at the signing, Prime Minister Douglas, the Lead

Head of Government for Education and Health matters in the

CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, said the engagement needed to arrive

at some concrete elements of a plan for collaboration.

Among the priorities Dr. Douglas suggested that should

arise from the Conference were greater collaboration in

research and training through the establishment of CARICOM

New York Fellowships and a special Fund dedicated for

exchange at the staff and student levels; a concerted effort

to push the frontiers of knowledge by placing emphasis on

areas of Research and Development,

especially in areas such as tourism, transportation and

climate change and establishing common areas of research and

outreach that are particularly aimed at improving the quality

of life of citizens in the Caribbean and New York in such

areas that connect education to health, trade, culture and

promote greater public awareness especially to reduce the

spread of HIV/AIDS, prevention of NCDs advancing cultural

industries and thereby capitalizing on some of the assets of

the Caribbean Diaspora.

Prime Minister also suggested the involvement of the

private sector both in the CARICOM Community and New York to

sponsor goodwill tours to enhance the understanding of groups

and stakeholders that share common cultural and educational

objectives; placing greater emphasis on promoting courses on

Caribbean Studies and the American connections in the

region's Tertiary Learning Institutions (TLIs) and

establishing a Charles Rangel Professorship to commemorate

this momentous occasion in the annals of Caribbean-USA

relations.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will foster greater

ties between the two tertiary institutions in specific areas

of importance to the Caribbean and the Diaspora in New York.

Professor Nigel Harris, UWI Vice Chancellor and Dr. Edison

Jackson, President of the Medgar Evers College signed the MOU

at the Education Symposium at the New York Marriott at the

Brooklyn Bridge. The signing came at the end of the Opening

Ceremony of the Symposium which was staged as part of the

two-day New York Conference on the Caribbean which began 19

June. The Symposium was held under the theme ``Strengthening

Collaborative Ties between New York and CARICOM Higher

Education Institutions.''

The Conference is geared at boosting existing ties with the

United States in general and New York in particular, in the

areas of education, trade and investment.

High level meetings were held between Heads of Government

and key officials included Congressman Hon. Charles Rangel,

Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of

Representatives, the Hon. David Paterson, New York Governor;

Mr. Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York; Mr. Marty

Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President, and top executives of

Wall Street. In a brief statement Professor Harris extended

gratitude to Dr. Jackson for making the symposium possible

and indicated that though UWI and Medgar Evers had signed

other similar documents, this one was special since it was

aimed at building a relationship in areas of relevance to the

Caribbean and to the Caribbean Diaspora in New York such as

youth development and immigration. He expressed the hope that

the MOU would usher in a partnership that would serve as a

model for other relationships. The panelists at the two-hour

long Symposium were Professor Nigel Harris, Professor Frances

Negron Muntaner of Columbia University, Dr. Garrie Moore,

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, CCNY, Ms. Myrna Bernard,

Director, Human Development, Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Secretariat, and Dr. David Jones, President, Community

Service Society.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce an article that recapitulates the successful discussions that took place during the 2008 Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) conference on the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States. The article was written by Tony Best and was published in the July 8, 2008 edition of CaribNews. This New York based publication serves as the voice of the Caribbean community in the New York metropolitan area.

The article entitled: ``Work Together'' summarizes the forum held at York College in Queens, New York. Several Caribbean Heads of State were in attendance along with fellow members of Congress, Ms. Yvette Clarke and Mr. Gregory Meeks.

Discussions about the Caribbean Diaspora took place as many members of the panel recognized the great importance of the. Caribbean community living and working abroad. Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson was quoted as saying, ``We Caribbean leaders have recognized that the time has come for us to tap the resources available to us from the Diaspora''.

I am both proud and honored to have been able to help facilitate dialogue between CARICOM Head of State and the New York based Diaspora. Conferences such as this open up lines of communication which contribute greatly to economic growth and development in the Caribbean.

[From the CaribNews, July 8, 2008]

Work Together

(By Tony Best)

The picture at York College of the City University of New

York was essentially Caribbean.

And for good reason.

An audience of about 300 people, truly representative of

the West Indian Diaspora, gathered in the large Performing

Arts Center of the school in Queens to be addressed by a

number of Caribbean Heads of Government or their

representatives on issues chosen by the people themselves.

Billed as a conversation with the Diaspora, a ``Dialogue,''

if you will, the function was the penultimate item on the

program for a much anticipated two-day Caribbean Community

Conference attended at different times by nine of the

region's Prime Ministers and a President, Dr. Bhrarrat Jagdeo

of Guyana.

On stage were Prime Ministers David Thompson, Barbados,

Dean Barrow, Belize, Baldwin Spencer, Antigua and Barbuda,

Stephenson King, St. Lucia, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, President of

Guyana, senior cabinet ministers from Jamaica and Suriname

who headed their countries' delegations, and diplomatic

officials from Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts-Nevis, the

Bahamas, and Dominica.

It stands to reason, then, why the reality of the occasion

didn't escape PM Thompson.

``As I was sitting here I was reflecting on when last I, as

a political leader in the Caribbean, had the opportunity to

address what one might call a truly Caribbean audience like

this,'' meaning people from throughout the region assembled

under one roof,'' said Thompson.

Thompson, one of the three heads of Government invited to

make an opening statement before the function got down to

``brass tacks'', an exchange of views between the leaders and

the West Indians who now call New York home-away-home,

seemingly felt compelled to remark on the essential qualities

that separate Jamaicans, Guyanese, Trinidadians, Antiguans,

Vincentians, Grenadians and the rest of the Diaspora from

other immigrants in North America, Europe and elsewhere. The

dividing line is the desire to return to the land of their

birth and live in comfort.

Admittedly, only a fraction of the millions of West Indians

now living and working abroad ever return home and those who

do usually keep one foot firmly planted in the U.S. be it New

York, Boston, Miami, Hartford or Los Angeles and the other in

their country of birth.

``If you are living in Ireland and meet somebody from

Australia or the Ukraine, very seldom do they tell you that

they are returning to those places. But most of the people

you meet from the Caribbean they want to return home, said

the Barbados leader.

That was why, he, added, West Indians living abroad should

continue to find ways to be involved in what their countries

are doing.

As Thompson saw it, the immigrants should have another item

on their list of priorities: using their presence abroad to

help the Caribbean region achieve its social and economic

development goals.

``I don't think in your daily rounds and wherever you hold

positions of influence, authority or where you can use your

diplomacy and other skills you should forget to put the

Caribbean's case forward and advance the interest of the

Caribbean region,'' he said.

President Jagdeo added another dimension to the task: the

election of officials to federal, state and local legislative

bodies.

``While Barbados is important and Guyana and Jamaica are

important we are Caribbean people,'' he told the gathering.

``We have to work together as Caribbean people and (when we

do) it significantly magnifies the power that people have

within this society.''

One way of flexing that muscle while at the same time

pushing their own and the Caribbean's agenda was to help get

people ``who look like us and who share our views elected to

offices at the local level, the state level and hopefully at

the national level so that they can be sympathetic to the

cause of the Caribbean and to make a better life and space

for the Caribbean people who live here in the United States

of America,'' Jagdeo argued.

But he didn't stop there.

``We hope that in November you all turn out and elect the

person who we feel would be sensitive to our interest,'' he

said. ``This is a person I have seen in an image squatting

outside of a small hut in Kenya''.

``This of a person who although he is a Christian, he is

very proud of that, grew up with an understanding of the

Muslim faith,'' the president added. ``Anyone who shares

these experiences will understand us better, and will

understand our challenges. We need that kind of person to

lead the United States.''

Although President Jagdeo was careful not to call a name

and didn't pinpoint the elected position he had in mind, few

persons, if any at all, had failed to identify U.S. Senator

Barack whose quest for the White House in Washington has

captivated Americans and has warmed the hearts of people

around the world.

In his statement, PM King, who narrowly survived a recent

political attempt and power struggle by leading members of

his own ruling United Workers Party in St. Lucia to remove

him from office, said that ``it was important, vital was a

better way of putting it, for Caribbean nations to dip into

the vast human reservoir of talented human resources from the

Caribbean that can be found in the United States''. ``We

Caribbean leaders have recognized that the time has come for

us to tap the resources available to us from the Diaspora,''

he said.

What a pity then that such an atmosphere of cordiality and

interest wasn't reciprocated by a handful of immigrants, no

more than five or six, mainly Guyanese, who turned up at the

function to harass and condemn Dr. Jagdeo, and to do it in a

disrespectful and shameless manner by shouting at him from

their seats and before the microphones in an attempt to

disrupt his presentation. Fortunately, the President was able

to give even better than be got, responding to them in a

clear an unemotional tone. But perhaps the most rousing

welcome was reserved for the Belizean Prime Minister, the

first person of truly African-heritage to lead CARICOM's lone

country in Central America. Some of his enthusiastic

political supporters who were seeing him for the first time

since his election victory jumped for joy and waved their

arms in delight and in turn were warmly acknowledged by a

Prime Minister who seemingly enjoyed every second of the

acclaim. PM Spencer, the Antiguan head of government, was

upbeat as he soaked in the cheerful response from Antiguans

in the audience and regularly took the opportunity to explain

his government's and CARICOM's stance on domestic and

regional issues.

The opportunity for an exchange of ideas wasn't lost on two

members of Congress, Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn and Gregory

Meeks of Queens, two lawmakers with large Caribbean

constituents. When the time came for them to speak, they

grasped the chance with both hands and used it to pledge

continuing support for the region.

Interestingly, a public figure who wasn't there but was on

most people's minds was U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel,

Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee of the U.S.

House of Representatives.

It was Rangel who engineered the conference and opened the

doors of Wall Street to the Prime Ministers and President

Jagdeo. It was people's way of saying thanks to him. Of the

leaders who came to New York, Jagdeo was the only one who had

to face a few placard carrying hostile demonstrators. From

all indications, he handled himself with aplomb, even

breaking away from the protective shield of the Secret

Service to have an exchange with some of his critics. ``I was

not afraid to talk to them,'' he said afterwards. In the

event though, as William Shakespeare's immortal line reminds

us ``All's well that Ends Well.''

And the conference certainly ended on a high note when some

of the leaders joined U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel,

Chairman of the influential Ways and Means Committee of the

House of Representatives, for breakfast at Sylvia's, a New

York City landmark in Harlem.

The event at York College was chaired by Dr. Ivelaw

Griffith, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic

Affairs. He's an expert on Caribbean security and has written

several books and scholarly papers on the subject. The

College's President Dr. Marcia Keizs, a Jamaican, set the

tone with a welcome that reminded many in the theater-style

auditorium of their own experiences as immigrants: leaving

home to go to better education abroad but with plans to

return to the birthplace. Instead, they decide to stay on and

in the process rise to the pinnacle of academic or

professional success, or both.

Helen Marshall, the first Black person elected to serve as

Borough President of Queens, also spoke and emphasized the

value of maintaining links between the U.S. and the

Caribbean. In her own Guyana, the homeland of her parents, it

is a good example of bridging the geographic divide.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record two editorials from the June 24, 2008, publication of CaribNews.

The first editorial is entitled ``Caribbean Heritage: Building on Its Foundations In a Foreign Land.'' The piece reminds us of the distance that those of Caribbean heritage have traveled both physically and figuratively. ``Confidence in their inner strength has helped people from the Caribbean to win their independence from an imperialistic stranglehold, fight alongside their long-standing African-American allies, in the battle for respect for people's human rights, and succeed in opening up new vistas for the generations that come after them.'' Caribbean Americans have come a long way from being strangers in a foreign land to gaining recognition for their contributions to American culture.

The second editorial is entitled ``Wanted: A Productive Caribbean Community Conference.'' This piece speaks of the importance of the CARICOM Conference but also how important it is that the leaders of CARICOM take the lead on the next steps necessary for the Conference to have tangible results. To make sure that follow-up is taken care of, it has been suggested that CARICOM ``consider establishing a permanent diplomatic outpost whose responsibility would be to ensure that regional initiatives . . . are not simply talked about but are launched.'' The editorial echoes the voice of many in the opinion that the CARICOM leaders have done badly in the past with follow-up. It is now up to them to make sure that the benefits of the conference are realized.

[From the CaribNews, June 24, 2008]

Wanted: A Productive Caribbean Community Conference

``The Diaspora is essential to our success.''

Dr. Denzil Douglas was referring to the hundreds of

thousands, some say million-plus immigrants from the English,

French, Dutch and Spanish-speaking countries that comprise

the Caribbean archipelago.

Actually, he was zeroing in on a major reason why most of

Caricom's Prime Ministers and Presidents are heading to New

York City this week for a dialogue with nationals of their

countries who have made the northeastern region of the United

States their home.

For in organizing the first-ever summit of Caribbean

leaders in New York City, the planners put meetings with the

Diaspora high on the agenda. That made a lot of sense.

Caribbean-New Yorkers, indeed West Indian-Americans, as they

sometimes refer to themselves, are part of the vertebral

column, a segment of the region's economic and social

backbone.

It would be outside the realm of common sense for a two day

conference of the kind being arranged to occur without a

meaningful dialogue between the leaders and the Antiguans,

Belizeans, Bahamians, Barbados, Grenadians, Dominicans,

Guyanese, Haitians, Jamaicans, Vincentians, Kittians, St.

Lucians, Trinidadians, you name them.

U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the powerful

Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives and

easily one of the most influential members on Capitol Hill

summed up the situation well when he told this newspaper ``we

see this as an opportunity for the leaders of these sovereign

nations of the Caribbean to meet with their nationals and

have an important dialogue.''

But exchanging views is one thing, acting on the ideas is

another. Far too often Caribbean leaders come to the City,

visit Miami, Toronto, Boston, Hartford and other places with

large Caribbean immigrant populations, have meetings, promise

a lot but deliver on precious little.

The real problem is a lack of an effective follow up and

that's a commitment which the heads of government can make

and solve. Caricom itself should consider establishing, a

permanent diplomatic outpost whose responsibility would be to

ensure that regional initiatives designed to forge stronger

links with the Diaspora are not simply talked about but are

launched.

Granted, Caribbean countries have their own missions and

Consulates-General in Washington and New York to get things

done but that's at the individual nation level.

Yes, we know that the money supply is tight and that at a

time of escalating energy and food prices the countries have

other priorities. But for a region which receives billions

annually from its overseas nationals, a slender operation

with well defined set of goals can't break the bank.

But the Diaspora isn't the only major objective of the

summit that begins on Thursday and ends the following day.

Investment and trade are crucial to Caricom's future

prosperity and any concerted effort to help open the doors to

such investment would be useful. The leaders are going to

Wall Street. Goldman Sachs, one of the world's leading

investment banks and the New York Stock Exchange, another

financial services industry leader, are to host the heads of

state or government at closed door meetings. In addition,

Ambassador Susan Schwab, U.S. Special Trade Representative is

coming to New York to sit down to talk trade and explore

opportunities to increase the flow of goods from the region

to the United States and the other way around.

Now that the legislation which extends the life of the

Caribbean Basin Initiative has survived the threat of a veto

by President George Bush, Ambassador Schwab should be in a

position to tell the leaders how they can link arms so their

countries can export more to the U.S.

Congressman Rangel, who brokered both the Wall Street

sessions and the talks with Schwab, was careful to limit his

expectations to the goals of the Caribbean. That's wise.

``I would hope that the Caricom leaders get what they wish

out of the meeting with Ambassador Schwab,'' was the way he

articulated it.

It wasn't simply a matter of being diplomatic but his

approach was essentially correct because in the end it's up

to the executive branch of the U.S. government and to the

Caribbean states to agree on the architecture of trade.

Education and the relationship between tertiary level

institutions in the Caribbean and the United States are

another vital item on the agenda. The universities and

colleges in the Caribbean and the U.S. can benefit from

closer collaboration. The City University of New York, the

University of the West Indies, the University of Guyana and

the University of Suriname come quickly to mind as example of

schools that can and must fashion stronger ties.

York College in Queens and Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn

are making a substantial contribution to the educational

development of the Caribbean immigrant community. Their

leadership, Dr. Marcia Keiz at York and Dr. Edison Jackson at

Medgar Evers, are well attuned to the needs of the

communities they serve, including Caribbean students. It

would be wise to open up new lines of cooperation and

communication with the universities in the Caribbean so that

there would be an exchange of faculty and students and the

launching of innovative programs that can help all partners,

not just the Caribbean.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the efforts being made by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, CTO, and the Caribbean Hotel Association, CHA, to increase Caribbean revenue through the tourism sector.

Increasing airline cutbacks have posed a great challenge to many nations; however the Caribbean has seen an opportunity through this challenge. Through the CTO and CHA, Caribbean nations have decided to pool their resources. Many Caribbean destinations are reached with a connection in Puerto Rico, hence an increase in flights to Puerto Rico would mean increased access to the Caribbean.

I would like to recognize all who are involved in this transition for heightened cooperation and coordination within the Caribbean community. These efforts not only contribute to the unification of the Caribbean, but will build up the economies of the region as a whole.

[From the CaribNews, July 8, 2008]

Airline Challenges Lead to What Could Become Unprecedented Cooperation

Among Caribbean Governments

The current economic difficulties facing the airline

industry worldwide have provided numerous challenges to the

destinations they serve, but have led to at least one

positive in the Caribbean region: what could become an

unprecedented level of cooperation and coordination among

Caribbean governments. The airline challenges have caused

many to recognize that they can deliver far more benefits to

their citizens by cooperating with other governments than by

acting alone.

This coordination level accelerated recently when the

Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the

President of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) had the

foresight to call an emergency meeting in Antigua for

Ministers and Commissioners responsible for Tourism,

Ministers and Commissioners responsible for Aviation, and

members of the tourism private sector to find ways to

minimize the impact on their economies brought on by rapid

increases in airline fuel prices. It soon became clear to

every participant at that meeting that by cooperating on the

establishment of hubs, on the promotion of the region, on

providing revenue guarantees to airlines and on coordinating

the establishment of more efficient intra-regional carriers,

all Caribbean countries would suffer less than if each

country attempted to address the crisis on its own.

The case of Caribbean hubs, and in particular the case of

the Puerto Rico hub, was most instructive. The Government of

Puerto Rico has come to recognize that by increasing the

number of flights and seats connecting through Puerto Rico,

they increase the number of flights, seats and flexibility of

passengers traveling to Puerto Rico. This point was made most

forcefully in a recent meeting in San Juan and many of the

governments to the south of San Juan are relying heavily on

decisions being made in Puerto Rico for their continued

survival.

All governments also understand that with the current

structure of the airline industry, it is indispensably

necessary to ensure that the flights coming into Puerto Rico

can connect easily to the onward carriers such that travelers

traveling beyond the hub can connect online or through their

travel agent seamlessly. Without those connections many of

the southern destinations are invisible in electronic booking

systems. It is this interdependence that is forcing

discussions between governments at an unprecedented level and

at an unprecedented rate.

The same level of cooperation is beginning in the areas of

marketing and in providing airline guarantees. In the past

few years, an increasing proportion of the funds voted to

departments of tourism across the world are being forced into

escrow to cover airline guarantees. That leaves far less

available for the promotion. This situation has compelled

Caribbean governments to aggregate their promotional budgets

for greater promotional efficiency and to devise financial

arrangement that reduce the cost of these arrangements which

also serve to minimize the risk.

``There is a silver lining on every cloud,'' according to

Allen Chastanet, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism

Organization (CTO). ``We believe that this high level of

cooperation is being driven by the Governments, the private

sector and the people of each territory recognizing that we

in the Caribbean are more interdependent than independent,''

he emphasized. ``Governments now realize that if they do not

cooperate to maximize benefits or minimize risk to their

countries, they will be called to account by their people

asking why they refused to cooperate.''

Peter Odle, the President of the Caribbean Hotel

Association (CHA) also commented on this suddenly elevated

level of cooperation. Odle noted that, ``Even though the

cooperation between CTO and CHA has grown over the past

several years, I see increased cooperation on this issue even

at the destination level where members of the private sector

are ensuring that their governments are engaged in these

cooperative ventures. I promise you, the private sector gets

it. We will achieve much more in addressing this crisis

through intra-regional cooperation than we can ever achieve

by going alone. I will tell you that those governments that

do not cooperate will be seen as pariahs by both their own

people as well as by other governments in the region.''

At the meeting in Antigua, four task forces were

established, headed by Ministers to examine the four critical

issues. These committees will report to the CTO and CHA Board

meetings which will be held prior to the inaugural Annual

Caribbean Tourism Summit (ACTS) in Washington, D.C. The

results of these committees will also be presented to the

Caricom Heads at their meeting in Antigua on July 2nd.

Governments have also come to recognize that they need to

cooperate in speaking together with one voice to the

government of the United States on a number of critical

issues and they propose to take advantage of their presence

in Washington to begin those discussions. Thus it appears

that this unprecedented spirit of cooperation will continue

even beyond the current situation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 297 Recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the integration of the Armed Services. The bill recognizes the anniversary of President Truman's executive order declaring a policy of equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.

The legacy of racism in America is one that runs so deep that even those that were willing to die for this country did not have basic rights while living in it. The process of getting army integration to be reflected in the law took over 15 years, but just like racial inequality throughout the U.S., it took much longer de facto.

I served in the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War from 1948 until 1952. Today I am proud to see that it is a much different reality for our servicemen of color. Today we fight side by side with all races with one mission and respect for the value of each individual life. But we take this time to honor the 60th anniversary because we must continue to honor those that fought for this country while suffering under the extra burden of inequality, as well as those that fought for justice in the army and outside of it.