Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.

My friends, this is almost an historic occasion because, like the President of the United States said, it is our intention to extend health care to cover 10 million kids.

I don't care how you cut it. You can call it socialized medicine. You can say it's outside of the budget. But when you go home, the question basically is going to be were you with the kids or were you not? It is not just the human and right thing to do, but from a fiscal point of view, how many billions of dollars do we save by providing preventative care to these youngsters? And certainly from a tax writer's point of view, how many of these kids are going to grow to be productive workers so that they can pay taxes and make a contribution to this great Republic?

I don't know how you're going to explain how the kids can go to emergency wards if they get ill, as the President of the United States has indicated; but I know one thing, those of us who have kids and grandkids want the very best for them, and we do have this occasion now.

Now, there are a lot of complaints from the other side that they did not participate in the writing of this bill. Having been in the minority for so long, let me say that every one of you on the Republican side that did not participate, that complained, you have good cause. You were not involved. And I might heartily add, neither were Members on the Democratic side involved.

If you really want to find out who called the shots on this bill, which is not the House bill, it's those people on the other side of the Capitol that believe that everything that has to pass the Senate, that you need 60 votes for. And that's the long and the short of it. So, you may call it the Democratic majority, as I once did, but they're being held hostage by the Republican minority.

And so I participated in terms of seeing what they wanted to do. And believe me, what they said to the House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats alike, take it or leave it. And so if you want to join with me in looking for someone to criticize, after the debate we can meet in the lobby and talk about it.

But you had an opportunity to vote for a better bill; it was here. And for those who are concerned that legal immigrants can't get services, I hope you voted for the House bill because it was in there. But if you really want to complain about it being un-American, walk with me to the other side, and we'll find the culprits who did it, and they're not Democrats.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

I have a parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.

Does it violate any of the House rules if I refer to the bill before this House as the ``Republican-controlled Senate'' bill?

Well, does it violate any of the House rules if I refer to this bill as a bill that is a Senate bill controlled by the Republicans on the other side of the House? I want to make it clear it's not a House bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume because I want to share a lot of complaints about what those Republicans did to a good, decent House bill. So if you want to join with me with your criticism, don't criticize anyone here. It is not my fault that your leaders were excluded from the so-called ``conference.'' We had no conference.

I know how it feels to have been in the minority, having been there for a decade. So I share with you why you were left out. But had I been in charge, and not the Senate, I would have wanted you there, your judgment. Even if it was just to read the bill over and over and over, at least you would have been participating.

I yield to the chairman of the Health Subcommittee. No one is in a better position to let you know that this is not the House bill. As hard as he worked to reform Medicare, to make certain that we preserved it, to reform that bill, to get $5 billion for the people in the rural areas, to help the aged poor, and really to help the doctors that work hard every day and deserve a decent reimbursement, that, my friends, was in the House bill. But our friends on the other side, the Republicans said, ``No, take it or leave it.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman that worked hard for the House bill, the gentleman from California (Mr. Stark).

(Mr. STARK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am going to act as if I didn't hear that gentleman call this bill a fraud four times. I was in that back room with Senator Grassley, Senator Reid and our dear friend Orrin Hatch. It's their bill. So you call it what you want. But please don't call it a fraud, because it is a Senate bill. And they are very sensitive over there. So I just want to make that clear.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to give 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood). I cannot think of a Member of this House that has worked harder in trying to bring civility, no matter what the issue was. I heard he wasn't going to run for reelection. I just want him to know publicly that both sides of the aisle will miss him.

(Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Let me tell you what it means, distinguished ranking member. Distinguished ranking member, what it means is that the deal that we cut, if we change anything over here, the Republicans on the other side are going to drop everything. So we are trying to cooperate with this Republican Senate bill. So even if the distinguished gentlemen here would want to agree, we can't do it. We are held hostage by the other side.

Let us put down our arguments and march over there and correct this thing. But I agree with you, that language should have been corrected with both Houses, but the Republicans objected to any changes or any additions.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel), a member of the Ways and Means Committee who is a leader in the Democratic Party, a leader in our Congress, and a leader in our country. We are proud to have him on this bill.

(Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I can discuss it in some detail.

If we can get them to open up this, we can do business.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Schwartz) who is an outstanding member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I think my time along with Mr. McCrery's is short. If you can give us the amount of time, I think I am going to pass right now.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to Mr. Jason Altmire, a distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield 1 minute to Dr. Steve Kagen, who would share his views with us.

Mr. Speaker, I have two speakers so I think I will reserve my time at this time until we can get a little equality in the time. I think I only have 2\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to an outstanding member of the Ways and Means Committee from the sovereign State of New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

(Mr. PASCRELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, when Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi shattered the glass ceiling and made history as the first woman to become Speaker in the history of the United States Congress, the one picture that remained to commemorate this great event was the children that were there when she was sworn in. It wasn't a symbol of the war or the deficit or the Republicans or Democrats; it was this Congress sharing with the rest of the country our deep commitment to the children of our country. And that is our investment.

Whether you are liberal, conservative, Republican, or Democrat, no one can challenge that our most precious human beings are those who cannot protect themselves. We have this opportunity to join with the Speaker as she closes this argument to set aside the partisanship and to be able to say, no matter what our differences, it was the children, it was the children that prevailed, and I voted with them.

I yield the balance of my time to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Fellow Members, I want to thank Chairman Costello and Chairman Oberstar for their cooperation and working together as a team with our Republican colleagues to get this job done.

Quite frankly, I thought it was almost going to be pro forma when I knew that the Ways and Means Committee was going to receive this bill for the purposes of providing revenue. So I was a little surprised that when the issue actually came before the full committee, rather than dealing with the question of revenue, I had to deal with the question of outrage. There was not a liberal, conservative, Republican or Democrat that didn't believe that this was our time to tell these aviation people that we passengers have been suffering in such a way that we were going to express it through the tax system.

People on the tarmac for 3, 4, 5 hours; flights being cancelled; weather conditions we never heard of; overcrowding. And we were of the belief that when they came to raising the revenue, that General Aviation, these small planes were congesting the airs and we were going to make them pay dearly for it, and Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Costello was asking us to take a deep breath. I told them it wasn't me. But the committee said that this bill is not going to leave our committee unless we have some fingerprints on this thing to let them know that we feel the outrage for our constituents and we want them to know it. And so we made the political mistake of having Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Costello come to a caucus and to share with us what the problem was. It was one of those times that you really felt better if you didn't know the extent of the problem and just did what you were supposed to do.

He had the people explain that, yes, we have problems with General Aviation, but these commercial airlines are having these routes being filled with smaller planes and so they are filling the air. And then FAA was saying that we have a plan that will go in effect for 2020, but we don't have enough money to implement it. And then the air traffic controller said, and we need 2 or 3 years to train our people and they won't pay us for it. And then they said that they could handle twice the congestion in the air if only they had more landing fields, but geographically there was no space for additional landing fields. And so then we said: What is it you really want, Chairman Oberstar?

And we have really walked away thanking them for incorporating some of the ideas of our committee, as Mike Thompson and Lloyd Doggett, and having the Passengers Bill of Rights.

But we want the FAA to know that these long-ranged plans of modernization, for those of us that are in advanced years, we don't really believe that we are going to have to wait in order for us to be treated as human beings. Not as congresspeople, not as big shots, not as VIPs, but we know that changes can be made. And we will be depending on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to continue to work with us to make certain that we fulfill our commitment to the American people to make it easier for us to use the airways.

I want to thank you for your cooperation, and I look forward to working with you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 26th anniversary of the Independence of Belize, which will be on September 21, 2007.

On September 21, 1981, Belize became an independent nation within the Commonwealth of Nations, formerly British Commonwealth. Belize is located in South America and is a member of the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM.

Belize is an extraordinary country because of its people. Nowhere else in the world are people with diverse ethnicities and heritage so unified and harmonious. The country's population consists of people with Mayan, African, European, Afro-European, and Afro-Amerindian ancestry, just to name a few. In recent years, people of Asian descent have made Belize their home.

Due to globalization and other factors the world is getting smaller and smaller. It will be important for countries to be unified in order to interact politically, economically, and culturally within the world. Belize's diverse and unified characteristics can serve as a model to other nations struggling with internal conflict and peace.

I offer congratulations to the people of Belize as they celebrate their independence. I encourage people from all over the world to look to Belize for inspiration and hope for a better world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a report written in the New York CARIB News on July 24, 2007 entitled, ``Who Will Become the World's Top Teen?''

This article highlights the accomplishment of Hal Jackson, the group chairman of Inner City Broadcast Holdings, Inc., who created the Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International Scholarship Competition, The scholarship competition is now in its 37th year of existence and has promoted hundreds of Black teenaged women to a greater awareness of their beauty and intelligence. The most recent competition was held on Saturday, July 28, at the Harlem State Aaron Davis Hall.

I applaud Mr. Jackson for his contributions in providing the opportunity for young women of every color the chance to compete for scholarships to the college or university of their choice.

Who Will Become the World's Top Teen?

Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International Scholarship Competition

New York.--Long before reality TV competitions became a

part of American culture, Hal Jackson, group chairman of

Inner City Broadcast Holdings, Inc., created a unique

opportunity for young women of every color to compete for

scholarships to the college or university of their choice,

based on talent, personality and achievement and appearance.

Now in its 37th year of existence, Hal Jackson's Talented

Teens International returns to New York, for its annual

competition, which will be held Saturday, July 28 at Harlem

Stage, Aaron Davis Hall, 135th and Convent Ave., New York

City.

Approximately 40 young ladies, ages 13 to 17 will vie for

the coveted title of Miss Talented Teen International,

currently being held by Raquel Winchester, a 16-year-old

opera singer from Trinidad. Miss Winchester has spent the

past year representing her country by making a series of

personal appearances where she has displayed her exceptional

winning talent.

Unlike other contests, Hal Jackson's Talented Teens

International features contestants who are role models in

their communities who have mastered public speaking ability

and skills which enhance their scholastic ability. Each

contestant will have two minutes to perform the talent of

their choice to judges who represent a myriad of fields.

During the week of July 21-28, 2007, the contestants will

tour New York City, visit Mayor Mike Bloomberg's office, and

have an opportunity to visit 1190 AM-WLlB, and 107.5 FM-WBLS

and the station for which Hal Jackson has broadcast his

Sunday Classics for well over 20 years.

In addition to touring the sites and rehearsing production

numbers for the upcoming July 28th show, they will sample

some of New York's finest cuisine. One of the week's

highlights will be a dinner honoring individuals who have

supported Talented Teens International on Thursday, July 26th

at Tavern on the Green. During the dinner, special

recognition will be given to various professionals, including

musical legends Ashford and Simpson, who have donated their

services to Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International in the

past. For more information regarding Hal Jackson's Talented

Teens International, contact 212-592-0413.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Gisele A. Marcus from Harlem who was awarded the distinction of being ``Top 50 Under 50 Corporate Executives with MBA Degrees'' by Diversity MBA Magazine. I appreciate the effort of Diversity MBA Magazine for recognizing the achievements of young minority corporate executives.

Ms. Marcus was born and raised in my hometown, Harlem, NY. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and her master's degree in business administration from Harvard University. Ms. Marcus is currently the North America customer business director for Johnson Controls' building efficiency business and manages a portfolio of more than $15 million. She leads a team of facility and workplace management staff in the Global Workplace Solutions operation in the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to her impressive career achievements, Ms. Marcus has also contributed to civic leadership which shows her commitment to the community. She is a board member of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, the Gateway Foundation, a 2007 leadership fellow at the Leadership Greater Chicago, a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association, and is the recipient of the ``Distinguished Women in Business'' award.

I am very proud of Ms. Marcus for all her achievements and look forward to hearing more about her in the future. I wish her well in all her future endeavors.

Harlem's Own Selected By Diversity MBA Magazine As ``Top 50 Under 50

Corporate Executive''

New York, NY.--Johnson Controls executive and Syracuse

alumnus, Gisele A. Marcus, was selected by Diversity MBA

Magazine for the publication's ``Top 50 Under 50 Executives

with MBA Degrees''.

Marcus is the North America customer business director for

Johnson Controls' building efficiency business. Johnson

Controls is a global leader in automotive experience,

building efficiency and power solutions that's creating a

more comfortable, safe and sustainable world. Managing a

portfolio of more than $15 million, Marcus leads a team of

facility and workplace management staff in the Global

Workplace Solutions operation in the U.S. and Canada. She

directs Johnson Controls' facilities management business for

Ericcson, the world leading supplier of telecommunications,

coordinating their project, leasing, and space planning

requirements.

Marcus, who was born and raised in Harlem, N.Y., has an

undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and a master's

degree in Business Administration from Harvard University.

Along with her professional accomplishments, Marcus has an

extensive list of civic leadership and involvement that

demonstrates her commitment to the community, including:

Chicago Children's Advocacy Center, board member; Gateway

Foundation, board member; Leadership Greater Chicago, 2007

leadership fellow; National Black MBA Association, life

member (prior vice president, Chicago chapter), and Women of

Color in Technology ``Distinguished Women in Business''

award.

``To be recognized by such a significant publication is a

tremendous honor,'' Marcus said. ``I am fortunate to work for

a global company that sees the value of providing a diverse

workplace environment and promotes excellence, leadership and

teamwork. I hope the magazine's recognition for the entire

group of 50 can be an inspiration to women and people of

color.''

This is the third year that Diversity MBA Magazine has

identified the ``Top 50 Under 50 Executives with MBA

Degrees''. Awardees must hold a management position within a

for-profit or non-profit organization, must currently serve

on a board or be an active member of a volunteer organization

for at least two years, and be responsible for a minimum

budget of $1 million. In addition, each honoree must have

profit and loss responsibilities and/or hold a position

critical to growing the bottom line. Johnson Controls is a

global leader in automotive experience, building efficiency

and power solutions. The company provides innovative

automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable,

safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and

services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and

security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for

automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems

engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls (NYSE:

JCI), founded in 1885, is headquartered in Milwaukee,

Wisconsin.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce an article written by George Gedda entitled ``Light in Liberia'' published in World View. This article is about President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who assumed the office of presidency in Liberia on January 2006 after a democratic election in a country which in recent years suffered under the dictatorial rule of Charles Taylor. First Lady Bush and Secretary of State Rice attended her inaugural ceremony on January 16, 2006.

President Sirleaf is the first African woman to be elected president in Liberia. She is on a mission to lift her people from the dark political legacy of ex-presidents, Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe when fraud, corruption, human rights abuses, and ethnic conflict were rampant. From 1989 to 1996, a civil war in Liberia claimed the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displaced a million other people in refugee camps in neighboring countries. President Sirleaf herself endured torture as a military prisoner of Doe's rebel forces. During Taylor and Doe's administration over a 25 year period, the per capita income in Liberia dropped from $1000 to $120 according to the World Bank.

President Sirleaf's leadership brings hope to Liberia. Seven months after her presidency, the lights came on in Liberia for the first time in 14 years on July 26, 2006 and water was turned on in some areas of the country. During her first year in office, school enrollment increased by 40%. Additionally, service to 350 health facilities in Liberia was reported restored. President Sirleaf is also taking a stance against corruption and increased transparency in her country by requiring all senior level government officials to publicly declare their assets.

I praise President Sirleaf for these accomplishments and for her determination in steering her country towards the right direction. One of the biggest challenges that Liberia faces is addressing its national debt which, without relief, will continue to consume an inordinate amount of resources and cripple development in the country. The United States is providing support to Liberia. Just earlier this year, Secretary Rice announced the cancellation of Liberia's $391 million U.S. debt.

President Sirleaf's tenacity and contribution is inspiring, and I applaud her for her leadership.

Light in Liberia

(By George Gedda)

How bad off was Liberia after back-to-back civil wars? This

is what President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said she found after

taking office in January 2006: ``There was no electricity and

no water. Schools and clinics had crumbled, and roads were

impassable. Institutions of governance had completely

collapsed, and corruption was rampant. Many youths have spent

more time in war than in school. Average incomes had fallen

80 percent. Exports had collapsed. Over three-quarters of our

people lived below the poverty line of one dollar per day.''

In November 2005, Sirleaf became the first African woman to

be elected president. It was a hopeful sign after a

generation of catastrophic misrule and warfare in Liberia.

She brought a genuine commitment to her people and,

seemingly, the wherewithal to make a positive difference. Her

resume included a Master's degree from Harvard and 10 years'

work on development issues at the World Bank, the

International Monetary Fund and the United Nations.

She was a clear pick-me-up for Liberians following the era

of Charles Taylor, responsible for many of the more than

200,000 deaths that occurred during the successive civil

wars. Taylor fled Liberia in 2003 and, as of this past April,

was awaiting trial before an international tribunal on

charges of crimes against humanity for sponsoring a brutal

rebellion in neighboring Sierra Leone. A 15,000-member UN

peacekeeping force has been deployed in Liberia for four

years. Its current mandate expires Sept. 30.

The combination of war and repression forced Sirleaf to

spend parts of two decades outside of Liberia, including most

of the 1980-90 rule of President Samuel Doe. In an interview

with the Los Angeles Times, she recalled the terror-filled

moments when Doe's forces detained her in the mid-1980s:

``I was taken to the military prison. In fact, as we were

going, they told me they were going to take me to the beach

and bury me alive. They started in that direction, changed

their minds, put me through tortures, put matches to my hair.

They said, `We're going to burn your hair off,' but didn't do

it. They would come as close as possible. It clearly was just

meant to terrorize me.'' After her release, Sirleaf fled the

country. In 1990, rebel forces tortured and murdered Doe, the

same fate that befell his predecessor, President William

Tolbert, in 1980.

Sirleaf is now trying to help lift Liberia out of that grim

political legacy and show what responsible leadership can

achieve. With First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State

Condoleezza Rice in attendance at her inaugural on Jan. 16,

2006, Sirleaf told her countrymen: ``We know that your vote

was a vote for change, a vote for peace, security and

stability, a vote for individual and national prosperity, a

vote for healing and leadership. We have heard you loudly.''

One of the brighter days of Sirleaf's tenure occurred on

July 26, 2006, when the lights came on in Liberia for the

first time in 14 years, albeit only in a small section of the

capital. The lighting illuminates streets, hospitals and

office buildings. But most Liberians still have to fend for

themselves

after dark. Those with means use generators. Poorer folks

rely on candles.

Another milestone occurred when water was turned on in some

areas. ``Our children danced in the streets. Some who only

knew that water came out of a bucket realized that it could

come out of a tap,'' Sirleaf recalled.

Seldom has any country sunk as far as Liberia did under

Taylor and the predecessor regime of Samuel Doe. During that

25-year period, per-capita income dropped from $1,000 to

$120, according to the World Bank. Donor countries have been

generous with pledges of assistance to Sirleaf's

government but slow to fulfill them. She says: ``We need

to shorten the road between commitments and cash.''

Health and education have been among Sirleaf's priorities.

Official figures show that during her first year in office,

the government increased school enrollment by 40 percent and

provided school furniture throughout the country. Also,

service is reported to have been restored to 350 health

facilities in the country.

In a speech on March 27 in Toronto, Sirleaf highlighted

other advances: deactivation of 17,000 members of the old

security forces, enrollment of more than 75,000 excombatants

in reintegration programs, accommodating the return of over

100,000 people who had been forced from their homes during

the war, balancing of the budget and increasing government

revenues by 48 percent.

Women are occupying more high government posts than ever

before. Sirleaf, 68 and a grandmother of six, also is doing

battle against Liberia's culture of corruption, requiring all

senior level government officials to publicly declare their

assets.

She has repeatedly told her countrymen that the most

reliable path to prosperity is relief from Liberia's huge

international debt. The subject is discussed on radio talk

shows, street corners, bars and even hospitals.

Except for the periods of civil strife, the United States

has had exceptionally close ties with Liberia, both symbolic

and otherwise, almost from the founding of the country by

freed American slaves in the 1840s. The capital, Monrovia,

was named for James Monroe, the fifth American president.

Liberia uses the dollar as its currency and may be the only

country besides the United States and Burma to shun the

metric system. A Liberian major general named George T.

Washington once served as the country's top military officer.

When the United States entered World War II, Liberia quickly

announced its support. Among African countries, Liberia has

often been among the major recipients of U.S. assistance.

The United States has been eager to help Sirleaf succeed.

Appearing at an international donor conference sponsored by

the World Bank in February, Rice announced the cancellation

of Liberia's $391 million U.S. debt. Other countries

eliminated an estimated $300 million in bilateral debt. When

Sirleaf returned home from the conference, Liberians cheered

her successes as they lined the road on her 30-mile ride from

the airport to the capital. The cancellations reduced

Liberia's debt to $3 billion, the largest share of which is

$1.6 billion owed to international lending institutions.

There is also a $1 billion commercial debt.

For technical reasons, Liberia does not yet qualify for

relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC)

initiative, a 1996 International Monetary Fund-World Bank

program designed to assist poor countries with unmanageable

debts.

Anwarul K. Chowdury, an advocate at the United Nations for

the interests of the world's poorest countries, says Liberia

should be entitled to HIPC benefits because of its ``recent

tumultuous history and current postconflict reconstruction

efforts.''

The Campaign to Cancel Africa's Debt, an activist group,

believes it is an outrage that Liberia is being asked to

continue making payments on the ``odious and illegitimate''

debt accumulated by Sirleaf's authoritarian predecessors.

``Liberia needs 100 percent debt cancellation without harmful

conditions in order to invest in its economy, rebuild the

nation's infrastructure and fund essential public social

services,'' the campaign said in a recent report.

In her Toronto speech, Sirleaf said Liberia's total

liability is equal to over 3,000 percent of the country's

exports. She is urging wealthy countries to come up with a

formula for a prompt easing of the debt burden.

Even with generous debt relief, progress would be slow in

coming. As an example, Sirleaf points to the decay of the

tourism infrastructure. ``The roads, the hotels, the lights,

the water, all of those things that tourists will require for

their comfort are not there yet,'' she says. Also, she adds,

there is no easy path for securing electricity for rural

areas. Painstaking studies will be required just to determine

whether hydroelectric power is the most suitable option.

Sirleaf believes that Liberia could become an agricultural

power, citing its abundant fertile soil and rainfalls.

Liberia has been a principal world market supplier of latex,

derived from rubber trees. The country also is believed well

suited for rice, oil palm, pineapples, cassava, citrus,

coffee and cocoa. Other potential revenue producers are gold,

iron ore, timber and diamonds. And U.S. investors are showing

interest. A one-day conference on private investment

opportunities, held in conjunction with the donors conference

in February, drew an overflow crowd of 400 registrants.

Exports of timber were banned during Taylor's government by

the U.N. Security Council because revenues were being used to

finance the war in Sierra Leone. The ban was lifted last

year, opening the way for a potentially lucrative market for

Liberia. A Security Council prohibition on diamond exports

remains in place pending certification that the stones are

not used to finance conflict--as they were under Taylor's

rule.

Shortly before Sirleaf's visit to Washington, she welcomed

China's president, Hu Jintao, to Monrovia. There was no

official account of the outcome but a Liberian official said

beforehand that plans called for the signing of commercial

agreements involving rubber, timber and minerals. Further

demonstrating China's interest in the resource-rich country

is the presence of 500 Chinese peacekeepers in Liberia.

Sirleaf says she's happy to receive assistance from China, so

long as it doesn't increase her country's debt.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce an article published in the New York CARIB News on July 24, 2007 entitled, ``OAS- African Union Meeting Ends.'' This article is about the first working meeting between the Organization of American States (OAS) and the African Union (AU). The goals of this meeting were to strengthen the cooperation and to build on the democratic partnership between the member states of these two organizations. Secretary Rice was present during this meeting.

The working sessions of the OAS-AU meeting covered several topics including: Promoting Democracy in Latin America and Africa: From Rhetoric to Reality; the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Inter-American Democratic Charter; Strengthening Democratic Institutions and Promoting Democratic Values; Political Dialogue and Conflict Prevention; Protection and Promotion of Human Rights; and Santiago to Bamako: Democracy Promotion within the Community of Democratic Process.

I am positive that the OAS-AU meeting was productive and strengthened the channels of communication between the two regions. I am eager about the prospect of an Americas-Africa Summit since the countries in both regions are sure to benefit from increased partnerships, knowledge exchange, and cooperation.

[From the New York CARIB News, July 24, 2007]

OAS-African Union Meeting Ends

Washington.--The Organization of American States (OAS) and

the African Union (AU) recently ended their first working

meeting, resolved to strengthen their cooperation around the

promotion of democracy, amidst calls for an Americas-Africa

Summit to consolidate the ``democratic partnership'' of these

regions.

OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin wrapped up

the historic two-day working session, calling for ``a meeting

of both regions at the highest political level--an Americas-

Africa Summit,'' which would help translate the noble

objectives and intentions articulated at the two-day meeting,

into ``real action to the benefit of both regions'' in the

areas of trade, economy, security, health, and other areas.

``An Africa-Americas Summit could provide a valuable platform

from which to build this democratic partnership between our

regions; with a targeted, realistic and executable action

agenda,'' Ramdin explained. Asserting that the strengthening

of cooperation by regional organizations is even more

relevant today than ever before, he said the just-concluded

meeting focused on shared experiences and challenges faced by

the Americas and Africa alike as they seek to promote and

defend democracy.

According to Ambassador Ramdin, the discussions underscored

how challenges such as poverty, inequality, and social

exclusion can undermine positive efforts to build democracies

and peaceful societies in both continents.

``For democracy to be truly meaningful, the fruits of

democracy must also nurture and feed the social and economic

well being of our citizens,'' Ramdin went on to state, noting

that ``expectations in both Africa and the Americas are

high.''

During the meeting, the participants heard from a range of

speakers, including United States Undersecretary of State for

Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky; former

President of Cape Verde Antonio Mascaranhas Monteiro;

Guatemala's Vice President Eduardo Stein; OAS Assistant

Secretary for Political Affairs Dante Caputo; and AU

Commissioner for Peace and Security Said Djinnit.

The working sessions of the OAS-AU meeting covered a range

of topics, among them: Promoting Democracy in Latin America

and Africa: From Rhetoric to Reality; The African Charter on

Democracy, Elections and Governance and the Inter-American

Democratic Charter; Strengthening Democratic Institutions and

Promoting Democratic Values; Political Dialogue and Conflict

Prevention; Protection and Promotion of Human Rights; and

Santiago to Bamako: Democracy Promotion within the Community

of Democracies Process.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce an article entitled ``Promises of More To Come,'' published in the New York CARIB News on July 27, 2007. This article highlights the National Association of Barbados Organization's (NABO) Annual gathering in Queens, NY where 200-plus Bajans, people from Barbadian descent, were present.

The NABO convention in Queens is a prime example of the rich diversity of cultures and people in New York City where a multiplicity of peoples from all over the world have come to live. It is exciting for me to know that events such as the NABO convention take place in New York City because I believe that the city benefits from the richness of cultures and exchange of ideas. The NABO convention is a fine example of this type of cultural exchange.

[From CaribNews, July 27, 2007]

Promises of More To Come

(By Tony Best)

The spacious hotel overlooking La Guardia Airport may not

be in the heart of busy New York City but it is far from a

drab, unexciting place to hold a convention.

The Crowne Plaza's large ballroom, its theater-style

meeting room, and the quiet Queens neighborhood may not offer

the atmosphere of a City that never sleeps but it offered its

own charm that grabbed and held the attention of the 200-plus

Bajans who attended the National Association of Barbados

Organization's annual gathering.

The Bajans came from the across the U.S., the Caribbean,

Canada and Britain.

``It turned out quite well for us,'' said Mike Cummings,

Chairman of the NABO, an umbrella organization that brings

together more than 20 associations of Barbadians in the U.S.

and the Caribbean. ``The convention was one of the largest

and among the best we have had so far.''

Pat Sobers-Fergusson, President of the Barbados-American

Organization of Philadelphia, shared Cummings' assessments.

``It was my first NABO convention and I enjoyed it,'' she

said.

The convention, which began with an opening reception and a

launching of a three-day EXPO, organized by the Barbados

Investment and Development Corporation, BIDC, ended with a

church service at the hotel.

And with eyes focused on Barbados where NABO plans to hold

its 2008 convention, the meeting with its emphasis on youth

may have set the stage for an interesting gathering on ``the

rock,'' as Bajans often call their birthplace.

``I look forward to welcoming the membership of NABO,

together with counterparts from Canada and the United Kingdom

when you hold your joint homecoming conference in Barbados in

2008,'' said Dame Billie Miller, Barbados' Foreign Minister

and Minister of Foreign Trade during a feature address at the

awards banquet.

``The New York convention may have set the stage, the

appropriate tone and atmosphere for what's to follow next

year,'' said Jessica Odle, Consul-General in New York.

The workshops, breakfast sessions, luncheon meeting, the

EXPO, a dance in Brooklyn and other events were followed by

the highlight of the convention, the awards banquet.

Dame Billie took the opportunity to bring the Bajans up-to-

speed on the recent U.S. Caribbean Conference in Washington,

which she described as ``an unprecedented event on the

landscape of Caribbean-United States relations.''

The Minister pointed out that the region's leaders, the

West Indian Diaspora and the top officials of the Bush

Administration, including President George Bush, senior

members of Congress, the private sector, ``eminent scholars

and entrepreneurs'' came together ``to build out a work

program for interaction between the Caribbean community and

the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States of America.''

Focusing on the Convention's theme of ``Rekindling Pride

and Industry by mentoring our youth.''

Dame Billie said that with the 18-35 year olds accounting

for about 30 per cent of the region's ``productive labor

capacity,'' the youth in and out of the Caribbean and the

Diaspora ``must be encouraged to contribute and produce.''

She cited the work being done by the ``Young Barbadian

Professional Society as an example of what could be done,

explaining that the ``mission of this Society is to use the

intellectual capital of its members to further advance

positive transformations in the Barbadian and Caribbean

communities.''

Five Bajans were honored, some of them in their absence for

their work at home and abroad. Rupert ``Rupee'' Clarke, the

well-known entertainer was presented with the ``Pride of

Barbados Award'' and Jonathan Ethelbert Graham, who has

devoted ``a lifetime of service to cricket in Barbados'' was

given a special recognition award. Community citations were

presented to the Rev. Dr. Hamilton Taitt, a prominent pastor

in the Wesleyan Holiness Church in Florida; Martin Ervin

Greenidge, a ``role model'' in the California community where

he lives and works; and the Rev. Canon Dr. Llewellyn

Armstrong, Rector of Calvary/St. Cyprian's Church in

Brooklyn.

``We all left New York with a feeling of satisfaction,''

said Ed Bushell, Consul-General in Miami who chaired many of

the sessions during the convention. ``We all are looking

forward to Barbados next year.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 2467, a bill to designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 69 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, NJ, as the ``Frank J. Guarini Post Office Building.'' I also urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Congressman Guarini was born on August 20, 1924, in Jersey City, NJ. His career in public service began in the United States Navy during World War II, where he served on the USS Mount McKinley from 1944 to 1946. After the war, he decided to pursue higher education, earning a B.A. degree from Dartmouth, a J.D. degree from New York University, and a LL.M. from the same institution in 1955.

From 1965 to 1972, he served in the New Jersey Senate and was elected to represent the 14th Congressional District of New Jersey in 1979 and retired in 1993.

He was an active and productive member of the Ways and Means Committee, where I was proud to work closely with him to ensure income security and health care coverage for many Americans. In the spirit of this historic committee, Frank was a colleague who always sought to achieve bipartisanship.

Congressman Guarini is a dear friend with whom I enjoyed working in this great body. I admire him not just because we have very similar backgrounds, but because I share his pride in his Italian-American heritage. He is fully entitled to the honor being bestowed today.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to take a moment to remember all of our military men and women who died in the line of service during this recess period. Men like Cpl. Juan Alcantara, who died on August 6, 2007, in Baqubah, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

According to Department of Defense reports, Corporal Alcantara died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol. This news was especially heart wrenching for me because Cpl. Alcantara was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Washington, the same infantry division that I served in during the Korean War.

This fallen hero moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 5 and graduated from Edward Reynolds West Side High School in my district. Like many soldiers who are fighting in Iraq, he enlisted in the Army with the hopes of one day being able to earn enough money to attend college and to secure the military's lucrative post-service benefits. He dreamed of obtaining 60 college credits to become a police academy cadet and following the footsteps of his sisters, Cathy and Ferdelinda Pena, by joining the NYPD.

My District, like many communities in this country, have seen too many of their best and brightest come home in body bags. Young Americans searching for opportunity to get a college education, decent health care, and/or own a home are increasingly having to make the choice to stare into the barrel of a gun or dodge a roadside bomb in order to have their fair shot at the American Dream.

Because this young warrior's service was extended as part of the president's new ``surge'' strategy, he asked the Army if he could come home to New York to see his daughter, who was born on June 29, 2007. His request was denied and his life tragically came to an end, never being able to feel the warmth of his newborn baby girl, Jayleni Alcantara. She will hear the heroic tales of her father but she will never experience his smile, affection, and the sanctuary of a fatherly hug.

In the eyes of some, CpI. Alcantara's selflessness and willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for this Nation is made even more remarkable when one considers that he was not even an American citizen. However, it should be no surprise that immigrant soldiers defend their newly established homeland with the same vigor as American born citizens. I've lived in this country long enough to know that no birth certificate can ever determine how deeply one loves this country. It only saddens me that he died never having realized so many dreams, including the one of taking the oath to our Constitution. Yet I am proud to call him a constituent and now that he has been awarded citizenship posthumously, a fellow American citizen.

Gen. MacArthur once said, ``The soldier above all others pray for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.'' Let us all hope that

his death was not in vain and that it moves our forces one step closer to home and to peace in the Middle East.

We may disagree with the wars that are being waged by our Commander in Chief, but that should never negate the courage of our Nation's immigrants who have answered the call to duty and have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for H. Res. 34, a bill recognizing the 75th birthday of Desmond Tutu, South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient. I thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee for introducing this bill to give us all an opportunity to celebrate the life of this remarkable leader.

Words alone can't express my sincere admiration for Desmond Tutu and what he has contributed to the ending of apartheid and the founding of the new South Africa. He is one person who truly embodies and exemplifies in word and deeds justice, peace, courage, humility, dignity, strength, patience, understanding, leadership, and compassion.

I truly admire Desmond Tutu for committing his life to changing South Africa and the world. One of the most oppressive eras in world history for black South Africans was living under the apartheid system. This awful system, which began in 1948, legally classified Blacks, Indians, Whites, and Colored people and called for segregation. The apartheid rules created ethnic based territories, in which those for Colored people were not equal to those for Whites. Thus, creating a nation in which Colored people, although the majority, were formally and legally justified to be oppressed, marginalized, and disenfranchised. Despite such injustice, Desmond Tutu worked tirelessly to reverse apartheid utilizing a non-violent approach. I believe his heart and soul rejoiced when apartheid was finally dismantled in 1994. His spirit is truly admirable.

Desmond Tutu has been recognized with many prestigious awards for his contribution to mankind, all of which has made the world a better place. I'm so grateful to have witnessed his life and work. I urge my colleagues to honor him by supporting H. Res. 34. I also encourage people all over the world to learn about and become inspired by his life, work, and commitment to inspire world peace.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to support the naming of this post office on 125th Street after Percy Ellis Sutton.

Madam Speaker, 125th Street is the economic corridor of the village of Harlem. It is the exciting comeback of a community that is enjoying the creation of jobs through the Empowerment Zone. But it is also where our former President, Bill Clinton, has his offices and also one of the institutions that is driving it, the Apollo Theater. It is there because Percy Sutton brought it back from the ashes. So when tourists come and they see this wonderful new community that has come back, they will be able to look at our post office and maybe ask the question, but who was Percy Sutton?

Not too long ago, the President of the United States, George Bush, right here in the Capitol, gave the President's Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen. My brothers and sisters, every day that we are fortunate enough to live in this great country, we fail to realize that we are making history, especially those of us who are honored to be elected.

As the House and Senate head toward getting the bill approved, with the help of Senator Levin on the other side, the President spoke to these people that sometime in 1941, black and as African American as they were, were denied the opportunity to join the United States Army Air Force in order to fight the enemies of the United States of America.

Under great protest, they were allowed to try a pilot project in Tuskegee in order to see whether the outrageous charges that they were cowardly, that they couldn't learn, and they never would be able to manipulate these fighter pilots were true. And while they shattered all of the myths and turned out to be one of the most decorated outfits that survived World War II, the President, as he looked at them right here in Statuary Hall, reminded them that he knew that even though they became officers, that many of the enlisted men refused to return the salutes to them because of prejudice, racism and discrimination.

But the President said that, on behalf of the people of the United States of America, allow him to salute them. It was so moving. There wasn't a dry eye in the whole group as these warriors, these courageous fighter pilots that have done so much for this country, were able to hear the present Commander in Chief and President of the United States thank them.

So, in a way we are privileged by naming this post office not to be able to thank each and every one of the Tuskegee Airmen, but to thank at least one of them that comes from the village of Harlem, that you would say that our ``thank you'' may not be a salute from the Commander in Chief, but we are saying thank you for having confidence in this country and having confidence in this democracy and giving us a chance to honor Percy Sutton.

He came back home, got involved in the NAACP, got involved in politics, became an assemblyman, became a borough president and became a well-known business person. But no matter what part of the United States you come from, we have to take time out to thank those of us who made the sacrifice, and Percy Sutton is one of them.

So I am glad that this committee has come together to pay tribute to him, because by doing this, we pay tribute to ourselves and for those people who we don't know their names but have made sacrifices, so that we could have the honor to serve this great country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 954, a bill I introduced to designate the post office located at 365 West 125th Street in Harlem as the Percy Sutton Post Office Building. I express sincere thanks to Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member and Member Tom Davis of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform as well as Chairman Danny Davis and Ranking Member Kenny Merchant of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce Postal Service, and District of Columbia for their support of this bill. It is appropriate to designate the post office in Mr. Sutton's honor because he worked at a New York post office as a clerk while attending law school.

Percy Sutton, my very dear friend, was born the youngest of fifteen children on November 24, 1920 in San Antonio, Texas. His family owned land, a farm, and a funeral home. His entrepreneurial spirit was developed while working for the family businesses as a youngster. He was educated at Prairie View A & M University, Tuskegee Institute, Hampton University, and Brooklyn College Law School.

His career as a public servant began in 1941, when he was selected to work in Army Intelligence during World War II as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. Just prior to that selection, he was not allowed to fly fighter planes for the Army Air Corps because of racial discrimination. Despite being subjected to racial discrimination, he was committed to serve his country.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, he decided to study law. To support himself while attending law school, he worked for the United States Post Office in New York as a clerk during the evening shift and later as a conductor in the New York City subway system. He maintained this schedule for 3 years. His dedication to finish law school still inspires me today.

Motivated to fight racial discrimination, he represented the controversial revolutionary Malcolm X and other activists during the civil rights era. He also served as president of the New York chapter of the NAACP. His commitment to fight for justice and equality for African Americans was bold and admirable.

A strong interest in politics led him to campaign for the New York State Assembly several times. Finally, in 1964, he was elected and served for two years. Immediately thereafter he became the president for the Borough of Manhattan and remained in that role until 1977.

As an entrepreneur, his love of business and his Harlem community led him to purchase and totally revitalize the legendary Apollo Theatre in 1980. As the Harlem business district has flourished, the Apollo Theatre remains a community landmark and symbol. Another successful business venture he created is the Inner City Broadcasting Company, which housed the first African American owned radio station in New York. Today, there are nineteen radio stations in the Inner City network.

On March 29, 2007, I had the honor and privilege to see Percy Sutton honored with the Congressional Gold Medal along with over 300 other Tuskegee Airmen. It was a great day to see him and other African American veterans finally get the recognition that was so long overdue.

Percy Sutton is a great American and living legend. I'm certain America is a better place because of his contributions. Designating the post office building in Harlem is a great way to keep his legend alive for years to come. Since he is 86 years old and his health is fragile, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank my New York delegation colleagues for cosponsoring this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Ruby Dee, an American actress, poet, playwright, and civil fights activist. Her career in acting has crossed all major forms of media over a span of eight decades. Ms. Dee has been active in civil rights causes and is a living legend whose grace and life has inspired many.

Born Ruby Ann Wallace on October 27, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, she grew up in Harlem, New York. Ms. Dee is a graduate of the famed American Negro Theatre in Harlem where she studied with Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, often working along their side in movies. Her acting career began during a time when Blacks were fighting for civil rights. She earned national acclaim for her performance in the 1950 film, The Jackie Robinson Story. Her film credits include A Raisin In The Sun, Roots, and Do The Right Thing.

She was the first African American woman to secure major roles at the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Connecticut, serving as a trailblazer for Blacks in American theater. Ms. Dee and her beloved husband, the late Ossie Davis, were honored in 1995 by President Clinton with the Presidential Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts and in 2004 by the Kennedy Center for their contributions to the performing arts in America. In 2007, their album titled, ``With Ossie And Ruby: In This Life Together'' won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.

In the fight for racial equality, she was a member of several civil rights organizations. She and her husband served as masters of ceremonies for the historic 1963 March on Washington. Along with W.E.B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Malcolm X, and other leaders of the civil rights movement, she has been an advocate and activist of equal rights for all Americans.

Ms. Dee is a courageous woman who was far ahead of her time. She and her husband raised three children: Guy Davis, Nora Day and Hasna Muhammad. I'm grateful for her friendship, talent, and commitment to uplift and inspire African American people. Ms. Dee has touched the lives of all Americans, not to mention New Yorkers. The village of Harlem is proud to claim her as its own and America is a better place because of her life and immeasurable contributions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, my brother, Mr. David Dinkins, for his public service career, and to congratulate him on his 80th birthday. I feel it quite appropriate to honor David by highlighting his accomplishments and the contributions he has made, and continues to make, to the city of New York and this great Nation.

David Dinkins, born July 10, 1927, in Trenton, NJ, moved to Harlem in 1953 and has been an integral part of New York since then. He served his country during World War II in the United States Marine Corps, and later by entering the world of politics.

Mr. Dinkins graduated from Howard University in 1950. With politics on his mind, he decided to further pursue his education at Brooklyn Law School in 1953. Mr. Dinkins went on to start a family, marrying Ms. Joyce Burrows and raising two children, Donna and David Jr., in Harlem.

With the support of his family and friends, Mr. Dinkins became more involved in politics. With friends, including Basil Paterson, Percy Sutton, and myself, we became pioneers in the politics of New York City, eventually being named the ``gang of four.'' David went on to become very influential, swiftly moving up in New York's political structure.

Mr. Dinkins has held numerous positions in New York including: New York State Legislature, and New York city clerk. He was elected Manhattan Borough president in 1985 which was a sign of his determination, as this was his third run for office. Mr. Dinkins later ran for mayor, and was elected on November 7, 1989, becoming the first African American to serve as the mayor of New York City.

Inheriting a city in distress, including a budget deficit close to $2 billion dollars and a seemingly uncontrollable crime rate, David Dinkins had his hands full. The city also faced racial tensions that needed attention quickly, which Mayor Dinkins provided. Mayor Dinkins was able to soothe the city amidst times of turmoil, stemming from disagreements across ethnicities, which were very common during his tenure as mayor. Mr. Dinkins left office after turning the budget deficit into a surplus, and acting as the peacemaker in the city.

As a professor of public affairs at Columbia University, Mr. Dinkins continues to work for others by providing young adults with an education. He is to be commended for his achievements. David Dinkins is a dear friend, and serves as an inspiration to me, as well as many others. As Americans, we should honor him by joining his family in celebration of his 80th birthday.

Madam Speaker, today I rise up to honor what is expected to be an exciting first in the history of my congressional district-- New York's first ever African Day Parade and Street Festival this Sunday, August 5, 2007.

I can think of no better place to hold such an event than in the village of Harlem. Although many people around the world hold common African value and traditions, unity of purpose and a shared history does not equal a monolithic culture. Too often ``Africa'' is presented without the richness of diversity, an oversight that helps continue backward stereotypes and misconceptions.

This event presents a unique opportunity for all New Yorkers to learn about the different cultures within the continent's diaspora. It will bring together a wide range of representatives from dance groups and vendors to fashion designers, writers and musicians--all of whom promise to showcase their own perspective of the continent's tapestry.

This grand celebration is also a great opportunity for our recently arrived African brothers and sisters to build bridges--both within their smaller communities, but also with their African American and Latino cousins. Only by growing these relationships can we achieve common goals and dreams. Only by working together can we move closer to the country and the world that all our children need and deserve.