Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ben Jealous, the new president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, and to enter into the Record an article from the New York Carib News for the week ending June 3, 2008 titled ``NAACP Picks Youngest Leader Ever.''

The NAACP was founded in 1909 by an interracial coalition that battled segregation and lynching and helped win some of the Nation's biggest civil rights victories. The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

With a background in communication, community activism and extensive civil rights experience, Ben Jealous has strong credentials for leadership of the NAACP. Ben, who will start his position September 1, is a former managing editor of Mississippi's historic Jackson Advocate. In 2000, he became executive director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, NNPA, the Black press of America. He left NNPA after three years to become director of Amnesty International's U.S. Human Rights Program. He comes to the NAACP from the San Francisco- based Rosenberg Foundation, where he has served as president since 2005.

Among his plans for the organization are strengthening online presence to connect with activists, mobilize public opinion, and build a database for tracking racial discrimination and hate crimes. His agenda includes ensuring a high voter turnout among the Black community in the November election, pushing an aggressive stance on civil rights, and retooling the national office to make it more effective at helping local branches effect change in their communities.

As a young Black activist, he is poised to attract young African Americans who have criticized the NAACP for being out of step with people who still face racial discrimination after the demise of legalized segregation. Ben Jealous has the smarts, talent, and leadership experience to modernize the organization and lead it into the 21st century better able to continue its historic record of achievement on behalf of the Black community.

[From the NY Carib News, June 3, 2008]

NAACP Picks Youngest Leader Ever

The 64-member Board of the National Association for the

Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation's largest

civil rights organization, decided that it was time to invest

in the youth when it announced the decision that 35-year old

Ben Jealous will become the organization's President making

him the youngest leader in its 99-year history. He will take

the helm of the NAACP this September.

``I'm excited. I think that it's a real affirmation that

this organization is willing to invest in the future, to

invest in the ideas and the leadership of the generation that

is currently raising Black children in this country, Jealous

said after his confirmation.

Jealous is not a politician, minister or civil rights icon.

His background is in communications and community activism.

It is hoped that Jealous will provide the NAACP with a new

youthful face in order to attract more young people to the

organization's ranks. He will bring another invaluable

asset--a young but connected chief familiar with Black

leadership and social justice issues. He takes the helm as

the NAACP's 17th President just months before the

organization's centennial anniversary and as the group looks

to boost its coffers.

``There are a small number of groups to whom all Black

people in this country owe a debt of gratitude, and the NAACP

is one of them.'' Jealous said. ``There is work that is

undone. . . . The need continues and our children continue to

be at great risk in this country.''

He succeeds Bruce Gordon, who resigned abruptly in March

2007 after serving just 19 months. It has been public

knowledge for some time that he has had a number of bruising

clashes with board members over management style and the

NAACP's mission. Dennis Courtland Hayes had been serving as

interim president and chief executive officer since that

time.

Jealous was born in Pacific Grove, Calif., and educated at

Columbia University and Oxford University, where he was a

Rhodes Scholar. He began his professional life in 1991 with

the NAACP, where he worked as a community organizer with the

Legal Defense Fund working on issues of health care access in

Harlem. His family boasts five generations of NAACP

membership.

During the mid 1990s, Jealous was managing editor of the

Jackson Advocate, Mississippi's oldest black newspaper. From

1999 to 2002, Jealous led the country's largest group of

Black community newspapers as executive director of the

National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Jealous left the Publishers Association for Amnesty

International to direct its U.S. Human Rights Program, for

which he successfully lobbied for federal legislation against

prison rape, public disapproval of racial profiling after

Sept. 11, and exposure of widespread sentencing of children

to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Since 2005, Jealous has served as president of the

Rosenberg Foundation, a private institution that supports

civil and human rights advocacy. His experiences caught the

attention of the NAACP's search committee, and Jealous said

mentors encouraged him to take the job.

``Like all black people in this country. I am deeply

grateful for what the NAACP has accomplished in the 20th

century, and I want to make sure it's as strong and as

powerful in the 21st century,'' he said. ``If I thought that

I could help rebuild, if I thought that I could help bring in

more funds and give direction to the national staff and

increase morale, I needed to take it very seriously, and

that's what I've done.''

The NAACP was founded in 1909 by an interracial coalition

that battled segregation and lynching and helped win some of

the nation's biggest civil rights victories. But in the wake

of racial advances, the organization has struggled

financially.

Among his plans for the group are strengthening its online

presence to connect with activists, mobilize public opinion

and build a database for tracking racial discrimination and

hate crimes; ensuring high voter turnout among Blacks in the

November election; pushing an aggressive civil rights agenda,

regardless of the makeup of the Congress or White House; and

retooling the national office to make it more effective at

helping local branches affect change in their communities.

What Jealous lacks in oratorical appeal, he makes up for as

an administrator skills he honed during his tenure with the

Publishers Association. And his foundation experience could

help with fundraising especially as the NAACP looks to raise

$100 million in conjunction with its 100th anniversary in

February.

Madam Speaker, I rise today because a visionary in the field of education has left her post at a premier New York institution after championing the cause there for over a decade. Augusta Souza Kappner, endearingly nicknamed ``Gussie,'' has stepped down from the helm at Bank Street College of Education--a one-of-its-kind, independent graduate school, set beside its own K8 day school, that offers dynamic programs in professional development and community service. She came to Bank Street 13 years ago with unimpeachable, history-making credentials, having served as the first African-American woman to preside over the City University of New York, and afterwards, as the assistant secretary for vocational and adult education in the Clinton Administration's Department of Education.

Besides the obvious heft, intellect, and insightfulness a woman of her caliber inarguably brought to the position, those around her cite a contagious sense of humor, an aura of accessibility, and a profound loyalty to the institution as her defining assets. During her tenure at the college, Kappner launched a series of innovative programs, ones dealing with teacher preparation, early childhood education, leadership development, and dropout prevention and college preparation for adolescents. She oversaw as the college developed a new center to advocate for high quality literature for all children, led efforts to universalize pre-k for New York students, and built partnerships with hundreds of public schools, creating in one instance a project that trained more than 400 principals and assistant principals in the city. She was committed to the Bank Street mission, motivated by its push to address every and any contemporary challenge in American education, guiding the institution through a strategic planning process to affirm and interpret its ambitious aims and increasing its endowment sevenfold through its capital campaign.

Kappner's unrelenting work ethic can be traced to her modest beginnings, raised a poor kid in South Bronx, looking after her dependent mother. She went on to earn a degree from Barnard College, a master's degree

in social work from Hunter College, and a doctorate in social welfare policy from Columbia University.

She leaves with a trail of notable achievements to her name and legacy, and she is well-poised, prepared, and positioned for her next endeavor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and to pay tribute to one of America's heroes, Captain Evelyn Decker. Captain Decker recently passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Northport Veterans Medical Center in Northport, New York. Captain Decker was one of the first African American nurses accepted to serve in the armed forces' Army Nurse Corps during the Korean War. She served with distinction for 13 years, in World War II and the Korean War, receiving the following medals and citation: American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Korean Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars; United Nations Service Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Army of Occupation Medal with Japan and Germany clasp; Service Lapel Button WWII; and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

Specifically, Captain Evelyn Decker belonged to the 38th Parallel Medical Society of Korea, and served as a nurse in the 8055 MASH unit. Nurses were on the front lines facing danger day and night, and Captain Decker was no exception, having been stationed on the front lines for months longer than normal tours of duty called for. During this time, she helped to save many lives and provided incalculable comfort to countless American soldiers. In addition, she did this as an African American woman serving in a segregated military. I know from my Korean War service that nurses valiantly went into harm's way in order to provide medical care for wounded American soldiers.

Aware that her war duty had compromised her health, making it impossible for her to serve to the standards she wished, Captain Decker left the army. It was many years before she would receive a 100 percent service-connected disability rating for lung disease caused by her tour of duty in Korea. Furthermore, it would take a full 50 years after her leaving the service before Captain Decker, at the age of 92, would finally be presented with her captain's bars and the several medals to which she was entitled.

During all this time, Captain Decker continued to participate in military-related activities, up to and including the current events surrounding the commemoration of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. Though frail and wheelchair-bound in recent years, Captain Decker felt it was important to stay involved and ensure that young people understood the contributions and sacrifices made by so many of all races and genders for our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the amazing accomplishments of one of America's greatest composers, Irving Burgie; and to enter into the Record an appreciation by Tony Best from New York CaribNews for the week ending June 3, 2008, titled ``Hailed Irving Burgie with Honorary Doctorate, Tribute to Composer of Some of the World's Most Memorable Music.''

Mr. Burgie is most known for his work with Harry Belafonte for whom he composed 34 songs between 1955 and 1960. He composed 8 of the 11 songs on Belafonte's Calypso album, which was number 1 on the Billboard Charts for 32 weeks and remained on the charts for nearly 2 years. ``Calypso'' was the first album of any kind to sell over a million copies, thus making Burgie and Belafonte one of the most successful singer-writer collaborations in recorded music history.

Growing up in the West Indian section of Brooklyn, Mr. Burgie became interested in music of other cultures in his travels as a soldier in World War II. He enrolled in the Julliard School of Music, developing a broad knowledge of song literature. His songs not only changed the culture of music but changed the way people taught their children about music. The article describes his music, as music ``that brings hope and puts smiles on faces of people across the globe.'' Mr. Burgie has left a lasting mark on music for many generations.

In addition to his outstanding musical career achievements, Mr. Burgie has been very generous in his philanthropic efforts to improve the lives of students interested in pursuing a career in music. Mr. Burgie has dedicated his life to making the world a better place through his artistic and charitable efforts and he is truly deserving of the honorary doctorate presented to him by St. John's University.

[From the Caribnews, June 3, 2008]

Irving Burgie Hailed With Honorary Doctorate

(By Tony Best)

``Concrete examples of committed lives.''

The Rev. John Kettleberger, St. John's University's

Director of Residence Ministry was describing two outstanding

public figures in the United States, Irving Burgie, composer

of some of the world's most memorable music and Sister

Anthony Barczykowski, Executive Director of Community Service

for the Catholic Church's Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Both the composer, an artiste with strong Brooklyn and

Caribbean roots, and Sister Barczykowski, whose work in New

Orleans after the Hurricane Katrina disaster ``brought hope''

to the survivors of the floods and gale force winds that left

thousands homeless were hailed before an audience of at least

10,000 students, faculty, parents, relatives and friends of

the 2008 graduating class.

Each was presented with honorary doctorates of Humane

Letters and they were praised for their ``commitment to

service'' to others and for the way they channeled their

energies and outstanding talents for the good of humanity.

Actually, the Rev. Kettleberger spoke about the two

honorees as he delivered the invocation at the beginning of

the 138th commencement exercises at one of America's leading

Catholic schools of higher learning. With almost 3,000

students graduating with Bachelor's, Master's and doctorates,

the afternoon of pomp, ceremony and stirring commencement

addresses by the Rev. Dr. Donald Harrington, St. John's

President, and Whitney Coleman, a graduating senior of the

College of Liberal Arts and Science, who spoke on behalf of

all the students, was underscored by the smiling faces and

tears of joy that flowed freely as proud parents and some of

the students themselves were affected by the emotions of the

moment. ``It was truly an emotional moment for me,'' Burgie

said afterwards as he reflected on the tears he shed on being

lauded and presented the doctorate from the University's

President. ``I was thinking of my wife who died recently,

about the pleasure she would have enjoyed if she were present

on this occasion,'' he said.

``But it was also emotional to have my sons, their wives

and a granddaughter to share this honor with me,''

Burgie, who had previously received an honorary doctorate

from the University of the West Indies, was described by Dr.

Julia Upton, Provost of St. John's, as a ``man who used his

special gifts to lift the hearts'' and the ``spirits'' of

tens of millions of people around the world.

As she explained it, Burgie, the son of a West Indian

mother used his music to ``bring hope'' and put ``smiles'' on

the faces of people across the globe, often at times of great

challenges. Indeed, few artistes anywhere had enhanced the

national and global landscapes with their music like Burgie,

whose songs, among them ``Day-O,'' ``Island in the Sun,''

``Mary's Boy-Child,'' and ``Angelina,'' were made famous by

Harry Belafonte, Dr. Upton said. They sold more than 100

millions in the 50-plus years since they first came onto the

musical scene in the 1950s. Most of the songs on the Harry

Belafonte album, Calypso, propelled the collection to the top

spot on the Billboard Charts and enabled it to become the

first album in the history of recorded music to sell a

million copies. But he wasn't simply recognized for his

artistic triumphs. Burgie, who was recently inducted into the

Song writers Hall of Fame in the United States was heralded

for the more than $100,000 in scholarships he gave over 25

years to Bajan youth to encourage their writing skills and

the musical scholarship endowed by ASCAP to help American

students pursue their musical careers.

In essence, then, both Sister Anthony and Burgie had

devoted their lives to the task of making the world a better

place and proof of their success can be seen in the hope they

had inspired in successive generations, St. John's University

stated.

The emphasis on ``hope'' was at the core of the President's

commencement address. He pinpointed many of the serious

challenges the world was facing and they ranged from the

global economic downturn; starvation in Africa; and the

global food crisis to the divisive presidential campaign in

the United States; and the devastating wars in Iraq and

Afghanistan which have cost more than 4,000 Americans and

trillions of dollars in U.S. and British taxpayer money.

But he wasn't disheartened by the monumental task at hand.

Indeed, the President said he was ``optimistic'' because of

the many, ``wonderful people'' who had worked hard to

transform society, Burgie and Sister Anthony included, and

because of the young people, especially the members of the

graduating class who were prepared to assume their roles in

society.

Coleman, the Black student who spoke for the entire class,

emphasized the importance of ``giving back'' and the need for

individuals and society to ``re-fuel'' when their tanks were

running low. Just as important was the need to put the

``exemplary education'' the students had received at St.

John's to produce. It was, she asserted, a kind of

``roadmap'' that would guide them at the beginning of life's

journey and would help them along the way. At the end of the

ceremonies, Burgie who was born and grew up in Brooklyn but

whose music has made him a world citizen summed up the

situation: ``It was simply wonderful. I thank St. John's for

the honor.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the Ali Family for 50 years of contributing to the economic vitality and culture of Washington, DC's historic U Street corridor, the ``Black Broadway.''

In each decade in which the Chili Bowl has been in operation, Ben and Virginia have faced challenges that for others contributed to the closing of their business. The violent unrest following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, disinvestment in Washington commercial districts throughout the 1970s and 80s, the complete upturning of the

1200 block of U Street to make way for Metro's green line extension during the late 1990s. Many entrepreneurs have come and gone, but the Ali's and that familiar long white counter with red-vinyl stools have remained stalwart and true.

As we enter into a moment in time when the possibility for change is right at our finger tips, it is comforting to know that for which we hope to attain is possible, and can be seen in our not too distant past. Ben and Virginia opened a business to be part of a community, to contribute. Through hard work and commitment, they have been able to raise a family, guide young employees in the lessons of good business, and make and keep appreciative patrons. The neighborhood has changed around them, but their devotion to creating a place where everyone feels welcome, where what is expected is what is served, and where you can listen to the rhythms of what makes U Street so special. They created a place of character. It is in these things that for 50 years we have seen the best part of ourselves when looking through the plate glass window of Ben's Chili Bowl. It is with the next generation of Ali capable hands that the business moves forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Caribbean- American Heritage Month and the many contributions of persons of Caribbean descent into the American fabric.

Despite the lack of wealth and resources available to many in the Caribbean, the region continues to produce exceptional talent and is endowed with a capacity to overcome incredible odds. Our Nation has thrived as a country of immigrants, and we are more vibrant and hopeful because of the talent, faith, and resilience of Caribbean Americans. For centuries, Caribbean Americans have added to the strength of our country. They have been leaders, innovators, athletes, artists, entertainers, doctors, and lawyers.

The world has had the privilege of reading the words of internationally recognized Caribbean writers and poets like Jamaica Kincaid, Derek Walcott (who won the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature), and Edwidge Danticat (a finalist for the National Book Award). We have listened to the creative sounds of Kompa that has its origins in Haiti, Zouk from Guadeloupe, Soca from Trinidad and Tobago, and Reggae from Jamaica. Steel Pans, the only musical instrument invented in the 21st century originated from Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica's First Lady of Theatre and Film, Leoni Forbes, won the Gemini Award for best actress in a comedy.

During Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the great contributions of Caribbean Americans to our Nation. We recognize that without them, our country would not be what it is today and we pay tribute to the common bonds that unite the United States and the Caribbean.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support of the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act, introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney.

The bill H.R. 5781 provides Federal employees with 4 weeks of paid parental leave for the birth or adoption of a child. The introduction of this important bill is crucial to Federal workforce and American families. Paid parental leave will create the opportunity for many employees to become new parents while keeping the balance between work and families. Many of those who oppose this critical bill deny not only the chance for happy family living, but also productivity and effectiveness of the Federal workforce system. Paid Parental Leave Act does not increase the deficit of the budget; it will be paid for through discretionary spending, without hurting the economy or taxpayers.

In many countries all over the world, the paid parental Leave is introduced and supported by the government. The U.S. Federal Government should be an example of the family-friendly workplace policies. Members of Congress must understand how crucial the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act is and must strongly support its enactment.

I want to thank Majority Leader Hoyer, the Speaker, certainly Chairman Obey, Mr. Lewis and my good friend, John Boehner, for inviting me to participate in just one part of this very complex problem that we have faced.

I just want to make it abundantly clear that what we were fighting for when we were talking about providing resources for those people that have lost their jobs was not a Democratic position or a Republican position, but it was a position that I'm glad that the minority leader understood, that affected not only the ability of Americans to put food on the table or to clothe their children or to pay their bills, but it really involved the dignity of the middle class.

And I will speak briefly to that, because Jim McDermott has the passion and truly understanding that we're not talking about being liberal or being conservative. That Statue of Liberty is up there for people all over the world, for centuries, for people to dream the American dream.

And what is it? It certainly isn't to be some type of tycoon that gets preferential tax treatment, and we know that it's not those people who are jobless and homeless. But it's those people that really think that they can have some dignity and pride in providing for their family, sending their kids to school, and maybe buying that first house.

When I heard that they were excluded from the stimulus package, because if you give these people money they might be inclined not to seek jobs, that struck me to the heart just as much as if someone snatched the flag and threw it in the street because it's these people that are the consumers. It's these people that dream for a better America. It's these people that everyone does and should aspire to be.

And for them to be ignored at a time when, through no fault of their own--and I stress that, through no fault of their own--find themselves without disposable income, find themselves losing the dignity in their communities and in their families, it would have just seemed to me that it would not have been a partisan issue, that we all should just come there and not to give a handout, since there's $35 billion that they paid into, but to be able to say, ``there but for the grace of God goes me.''

And so I want to thank John Boehner, because he never pushed that point in terms of we can't afford to do it. It was just a question of how much can and should we do.

I hope when we start looking at some other issues, and we're looking to see how we're going to jump-start this economy, that we recognize that it won't be the homeless and the hopeless that we'll be going to. They're not even in the system. It won't be the wealthy, that the President insists that we extend their tax cuts, because they wouldn't even know what the check came in for.

But it would be what makes this country so great, what fights our wars, what runs our jobs, what produces for

trade, and what makes it the greatest country in the whole world, and that is the middle class. And when they get into trouble, as they are now, I think this Congress should not have a political debate. We should be there to help them because they're what makes our country great.

So thank you for giving me the opportunity and thank you, John Boehner, for understanding what we were trying to do.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise the efforts of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke with regard to the bipartisan resolution that addresses crime in the Caribbean. The prevalence of crime in the Caribbean and its particular importance to the United States are discussed in the editorial ``Resolution Passes House of Representatives'' and ``Crime and Violence in the Caribbean: Clear and Present Danger,'' which appeared in this week's edition of the New York Carib News.

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke introduced the resolution to the House floor in the hopes that it would raise awareness about the horrific situation of skyrocketing crime rates in the Caribbean. The resolution unanimously passed the House and hopefully will be followed by support from the Senate and the administration. Crime is threatening the pillars on many Caribbean nations' economies: tourism and agriculture. Crime destroys both people's perception of safety and companies' perception of a sound location to invest funds. Whether America likes to admit it or not, we have played a crucial role in causing this crisis. Contagion is a real concern as extremely high rates of violent crime can easily pass through our porous borders.

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke has done America a great service in bringing this very serious issue to the forefront of American politics. I urge Americans to remain informed on the situation by reading the editorials ``Resolution Passes House of Representatives'' and ``Crime and Violence in the Caribbean: Clear and Present Danger'' in Carib News.

U.S. Rep. Clarke's Caribbean Crime Resolution Passes House of

Representatives

Washington, D.C.--Today a bipartisan resolution addressing

crime in the Caribbean region introduced by Congresswoman

Yvette D. Clarke passed unanimously in the House of

Representatives. The resolution (H. RES. 865) expresses that

the United States Government should assist Caribbean nations

in taking specific measures toward reducing crime in that

region.

Below are Congresswoman Clarke's prepared remarks on H.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise and congratulate the Broadway musical ``In the Heights'' for winning four Tony Awards on June 15, 2008 in the categories of Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestrations.

``In the Heights'' written by Lin-Manuel Miranda a Puerto Rican native of Washington Heights, highlights the lives of a Dominican and Puerto Rican community in Washington Heights during three days allowing the viewer to delve deeper into a community that is especially dear to me in that they are my constituents. Not only does this Broadway musical showcase issues that affect any family but it also takes the viewer a step further by seeing how specifically the Puerto Rican and Dominican Latino community in Washington Heights is affected by everyday life and also their perspectives on various issues.

I would like to commend the cast and crew of ``In the Heights'' for their hard work and also the very pertinent issues raised in their musical. As Congressman for this specific constituent community I am very proud that this Broadway musical has had so much success and I congratulate all those involved in making it come to fruition.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and pay special tribute to John Mercer Langston, America's first African- American Congressman from Virginia, a prominent abolitionist, and founder of Howard University's law school.

While the world is watching America's historic presidential election, with Barack Obama as the first African-American Democratic nominee, it is necessary to recognize the trailblazers that have come before him and the barriers that they have brought down.

John Mercer Langston was born in a small county, Louisa, Virginia, in 1829 to a wealthy white plantation owner and an emancipated slave of Indian and Black ancestry. During slavery Langston was able to overcome several racial obstacles. He moved to Ohio when he was young where he attended Oberlin College and obtained a bachelor's and master's degree. He tried to pursue a law degree but racism stopped him from taking the usual route of getting a law degree. He was admitted to Ohio's bar after studying law under attorney and Representative Philemon Bliss. Similar to Obama, Langston was a strong leader and organizer. Langston organize antislavery societies at a local and state level. He recruited African-American men to fight in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a law scholar, a dean and founder of Howard University's Law School. He was elected in 1888 and served as a shining example to those that came after him.

Barack Obama's historic achievement would not have been possible if it was not for people like John Mercer Langston who triumphed over racial hurdles. It is important to acknowledge that it has taken about 180 years to finally see an African-American so close to the Presidency. This is all possible because of the collective bravery and sacrifices of so many before him, and especially the catalyst of John Mercer Langston's, from Louisa County, great accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the work and accomplishments of Ms. Harriet Michel. I would like to thank Ms. Michel for all of her hard work and her contribution to the minority business community.

Harriet R. Michel's work as president of the National Minority Supplier Council, NMSDC, has created a platform for the growth of minority business development. Ms. Michel has contributed greatly to the empowerment of minority business owners by creating opportunities to compete for corporate contracts.

I would like to again thank Ms. Michel for her great contribution to the minority business community and I would like to wish her luck in all her future endeavors.

[From the CaribWoman, June 3, 2008]

NMSDC President To Retire in 2009

New York, NY.--Harriet R. Michel, president of the National

Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), announced that

she will retire after 20 years of service effective January

31, 2009. Ms. Michel was named president of NMSDC in

September 1988.

``I'm very proud of what the NMSDC has accomplished in my

20 years with the organization,'' said Ms. Michel. ``We have

created programs to assist our corporate members in improving

their minority supplier development processes, offered

valuable training for supplier development professionals and

provided thousands of minority business owners with the

opportunity to compete for corporate contracts. While it

saddens me to leave NMSDC, I have the comfort of knowing that

the organization is as strong as it's ever been, and will

certainly remain an invaluable asset to corporate America and

minority business owners.''

During her tenure, NMSDC'S corporate membership nearly

quadrupled, and corporate member purchases from minority-

owned businesses increased from $10.5 billion to more than

$100 billion. The organization's staff increased from 8 to

22, and its annual budget grew from $2 million plus to $16

million, which has strengthened the affiliate network, too.

Since Ms. Michel became president, nine chairmen from major

corporations served as chairman of the NMSDC board, including

David E. Miller (JCPenney Stores and Catalog, 1986-88);

Joseph E. Antonini (Kmart Corporation, 1988-1991); Robert C.

Stempel (General Motors Corporation, 1991-93); Arthur C.

Martinez (Sears, Roebuck and Co., 1994-1997); George A. David

(United Technologies Corporation, 1998-2000); Daniel P.

Burnham (Raytheon Company, 2001-03); John M. Barth (Johnson

Controls, Inc., 2004-05); and Steven S. Reinemund (PepsiCo,

Inc., 2006-07), Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and

chief executive officer of Macy's, Inc., is the current

chairman.

Under Ms. Michel's leadership, the NMSDC experienced

tremendous financial growth and implemented all of the core

national programs available to its corporate members and MBEs

today.

Under Ms. Michel's guidance, the organization expanded the

size of its annual conference from 700 attendees in 1998 to

more than 7,000. A one-day business opportunity fair was

added to the conference, which is considered the nation's

benchmark forum for minority supplier development.

The NMSDC's Minority Business Information Center was

created in 1994. It is the only national centralized source

of information about minority business development and

trends.

The Center's resources include access to online databases;

a vast collection of magazines, newspapers and journals with

articles pertinent to minority business development;

statistical data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census; books

containing corporate facts and figures; information on

legislation affecting minority business development; links to

relevant sites for the government, media, and other

organizations; publications, order forms, audio and video

cassettes; NMSDC Council referrals for certification; and the

organization's e-Newsletter and archives.

In 1990, the NMSDC created the annual Minority Business

Leadership Awards Dinner-Dance to recognize MBEs and

corporations for their long-standing achievements in minority

supplier development. Today, more than 1,700 guests attend

the event.

Ms. Michel will remain in her position through the end of

January 2009. An NMSDC search committee will work with a

national executive search firm that specializes in non-profit

leadership recruitment to fill the position.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support of the Paycheck Fairness Act introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLaro on March 6, 2007.

The first step towards the achievement of equal pay for women was made with the passage and signing of the Equal Pay Act by President John F. Kennedy on June 10, 1963. President Kennedy understood the importance of addressing the ``unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job.'' As a result of the enacting the Equal Pay Act, the wage gap between women and men has shrunken significantly. At the time the Equal Pay Act was signed, women's average wage was roughly a half of what men earned. At the present time, women earn around \3/4\ of the wage paid to men. Undoubtedly, the gap is narrowing consistently, but the rate of such improvement is quite slow. The inequality of payments between women and men not only affects American families, but also American society and the American economy. Despite the fact that the enforcement of the Equal Pay Act and many other civil rights laws contributed to narrow the wage gap, many important disparities remain and need to be addressed. The enactment of the Paycheck Fairness Act creates the opportunity for the Federal government to be more active in preventing and fighting wage discrimination.

I hope that many Americans understand how crucial it is to have equal workplaces with equal opportunities for workers and equal pay for comparable jobs, regardless of gender. The American government should take firm actions in delivering concrete steps proposed by the Paycheck Fairness Act in narrowing the unequal wage gap.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to inform my colleagues of the coming of a thoroughly New York and Caribbean affair, a first-of- its-kind Big Apple meeting between the heads of state of the CARICOM nations, the financial movers and shakers in Wall Street, and the city's loyal Caribbean constituency. This two-day Caribbean Community Conference, to be held in New York City June 19 through 20, aims to connect the Caribbean Diaspora with the leaders of their ancestral homes and promote a dialogue regarding the region's economic and social development. The conference arrives at an opportune time, as these nations push forward with their plan for a single, integrated market economy and are faced with the challenges of rising food and energy costs, the contagiousness of a slumping U.S. economy, and the staggering impacts of a skyrocketing inflation. This unprecedented coming together of the minds will emphasize the role of trade and investment as engines of growth.

The idea of inviting CARICOM leaders to New York came to me at last year's CARICOM summit in Barbados. It seemed natural to me that these leaders gather in the city where perhaps the largest concentration of Caribbean descendants outside of the region is found. The well-being and livelihood of the Caribbean nations are of paramount importance to these expatriates, but also to New York, and America, as well. We mean to extend a friendly hand to our neighbors to the south--from the member states of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada Carriacou & Petite Martinique, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and the Republic of Trinidad to the territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos Islands--and communicate to them that they have neighbors in New York and in this country who are friends and supporters who want to contribute to their successful economic development.

These leaders will have the opportunity to interface with the industrial and financial leaders of the city, including meeting with the leaders of the investment banking community in a meeting at Goldman Sachs and being welcomed at a lunch hosted by the New York Stock Exchange, at which a relationship between the Exchange and stock exchanges in the region will be announced. In order to spur their small-market economies, they will need an increased amount foreign direct investment and a disposition to trade that will elevate the living standards of the Caribbean people.

The conference kicks off Thursday with a breakfast in Brooklyn, an education symposium at Medgar Evers College, and a luncheon where Governor David Paterson will give the keynote address. That afternoon will feature state and federal trade meetings, capping off with a dinner at Gracie Mansion, hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Friday will offer private meetings where investment, small-market economies, tourism, agriculture, and technology will be the topics of discussion. After a tour of Harlem and a visit to the Schomberg Center, the day closes with a Diaspora Forum at York College.

I introduce into the Record an article and two editorials from the New York CARIB News that preview the event as a boon for Caribbean and American relations and having great promise in the establishment of new initiatives that will contribute to the economic development of the region.

As partners in the Western Hemisphere, intent on improving the quality of life in their regions, these heads of sovereign nations merit our attentive ear and an outreached hand. May this historic gathering--on New York soil--be that first step.

Caribbean Conference Initiative, From Brooklyn to Wall Street

Rangel, Great Friend of Caricom Sees Opportunity for Diaspora to

Display Pride and For Leaders to Pursue Paths for Economic Expansion

It's an initiative with twin-goals, one aimed at the large

Caribbean Diaspora in the United States and the other to

promote the economic and social development of Caricom

nations.

And if they are achieved U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel,

one of the most influential elected representatives on

Capitol Hill in Washington, would be more than just

satisfied.

Actually, he was describing the objectives of the two-day

Caribbean Community Conference in New York City on June 19-

20. It's a meeting he first suggested to Caricom Heads of

Government when he attended their summit in Barbados last

year, a few weeks after the region's Presidents and the Prime

Minister had completed a highly successful conference in

Washington where they met with Congressional leaders as well

as U.S. President George Bush and Condi Rice, the U.S.

Secretary of State.

``I believe it is important for the heads of government of

these sovereign states to come to the City where perhaps the

largest Caribbean community can be found outside of the

region itself and to meet with their nationals,'' he told an

Editorial Board meeting of Carib News and said later in an

interview with the paper.

``I would like everybody of Caribbean ancestry and those

that work with and love them, to be able to see in person the

Heads of Government of these sovereign countries, the Prime

Ministers and the Presidents and to be able to identify

beyond the United States to reflect on their culture, their

backgrounds with pride and enthusiasm,'' Rangel, the Dean of

the New York Congressional delegation, added. ``It's our hope

that the heads of state and Heads of Government realize that

they have very strong friends politically and culturally in

New York and in the country. It's our hope that there would

be an explosion of pride and joy in what would be a Caribbean

and New York celebration.''

But that's not all about the conference. The other plank in

its foundation is on the economic side.

``The leaders are very busy people, who come from small

market economies and we want to bring them together with the

industrial and financial leaders of the City, including the

Wall Street executives in order for the Heads of Government

to show that their nations are keen to welcome foreign direct

investment and boost trade as part of their drive to improve

the living standards of their people,'' he said. ``These

countries are our allies and friends and their track record

of respecting human and property rights and their commitment

to the free enterprise system and the rule of law should be

recognized for what it is: an outstanding history that

shouldn't be ignored by anyone.''

And as if to underscore the emphasis on trade, investment

and economic development, Congressman Rangel was instrumental

in getting Wall Street to give the Caricom leaders red carpet

treatment on June 20th with meetings at Goldman Sachs, the

large investment bank whose Chairman and Chief Executive

officer, Lloyd Blankfein, is to

serve as the host of a breakfast and later an investment

meeting at which Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, St. Vincent's Prime

Minister, is to be the region's key spokesman.

The New York Stock Exchange, perhaps the world's largest

and best known, is hosting a lunch for the Prime Ministers

and Presidents, the first of its kind ever arranged for the

Caricom leadership.

``We see these as important steps forward because they will

enable the leaders to exchange ideas about economic growth in

the Caribbean and to speak about their aspirations for their

own countries and the region as a whole as they push ahead

with plans for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy,

CSME,'' said Rangel.

The Ways and Means Committee Chairman also told the

Consuls-General and community leaders who attended the

Editorial Board meeting that the Congressional Black Caucus

was fully behind the Caribbean's efforts to accelerate the

pace of their economic and social expansion.''The Caucus has

been fully on board on this initiative from the inception,''

was the way he put it. ``Congressman Donald Payne,

Representatives Gregory Meeks of Queens, Yvette Clarke and Ed

Towns of Brooklyn, Bennie Thompson, Chairman of the House

Homeland Security Committee and a host of others are very

supportive of this undertaking and are confident of its

success.''

Several top consular officials including the Consuls-

General of Antigua, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and

Haiti attended the Editorial Board Meeting where Rangel

explained that he had recently requested the U.S. Trade

Commission to ``evaluate the resources in the islands'' and

prepare a report on trade and economic opportunities in the

Caribbean.

``I am sure that Caricom and other agencies in the

Caribbean have already prepared a similar report but I want

to find out where can our (American) investors go and what

they would be looking for in terms of mutually beneficial

economic opportunities.

``This would be a resource book, not any plan for the

Caribbean, but one that would inform us about the thinking of

the leaders of these sovereign nations. We want to find out

what they believe they can accomplish individually and

collectively and in our case to accelerate growth in their

countries,'' he said.

The Chairman is said to have been instrumental in

encouraging the U.S. Special Trade Representative, Susan

Schwab to come to Brooklyn on June 19th to meet with Caricom

leaders behind closed doors to discuss U.S. and Caribbean

trade issues.

Rangel considers the Diaspora forums, the sessions on

education and other issues designed to give Caribbean

immigrants a chance to exchange ideas with their leaders from

``back home'' as being of ``critical importance'' to the

successful outcome of the conference because ``they would

boost the pride and interest'' of the people who live in New

York in the lands from which they came and to which they are

inextricably linked. ``There is a sense of unbelievable pride

among people from the various islands and nothing would

please me more than to see them demonstrating it as they meet

their Prime Ministers or Presidents,'' he added.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concern about the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infections in the Caribbean.

Caribbean nations are the areas of the highest occurrence of the HIV/ AIDS disease. United Nations reports that Haiti, Belize, Barbados, the Bahamas and other neighboring countries have the prevalence ratio which comes second only after the sub-Sahara region. The developing countries are hit hardest by these epidemics, which are devastating families, labor forces and economies. Undoubtedly, substantial progress has been made in preventing and treating the disease. Many people in the Caribbean are provided with life-prolonging anti-viral medications and therapies. A growing number of pregnant women are receiving drugs that prevent passing the viruses from mother to child during pregnancy and child-labor. Still, many more people are urgently in need of medications to keep them alive. In 2007, nearly 2.5 million people were newly infected, mainly from the Caribbean and sub-Sahara regions. Developing countries work hard on providing the poor with life-saving medications. It is crucial that they continue such important work.

Universal access and reduced cost of disease-fighting drugs remain the main issues in dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I hope that many more Americans are concerned about the spread of the HIV/AIDS disease and join in the struggle against the deadly virus.