Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the service, courage and commitment to the United States displayed by the men who fought in the 761st Tank Battalion in World War II. The 761st Tank Battalion, also known as the Black Panthers, made history as the first all black tank unit to see combat.

Like the pilots of the 332nd Fighter Group, more affectionately known as Tuskegee Airmen, the men of 761st enlisted for service during a period in United States history characterized by strict segregation and barbaric acts of violence perpetrated against people of color. At home and in the military, these men experienced discrimination, were relegated to menial service positions and were called to duty only in times of intense crisis. Federal law prohibited black soldiers from serving alongside white troops and although all black regimens were formed few expected to see combat.

Following the efforts of Louisiana General Leslie J. McNair, the commander of the Army Ground Forces and the Black Press, who successfully argued that ``colored'' units should be employed in combat, the U.S. Army began to experiment with segregated combat units. On October 10, 1944, the 761st landed in France on the Normandy Peninsula. They were the first battalion deployed. Thirty black officers and 676 black enlisted men were assigned to General Patton's U.S. Third Army. Despite Patton's vocalization of doubts surrounding the use of black soldiers, the soldiers of the 761st committed themselves to fighting for their country on behalf of their race; an action some undoubtedly hoped would change perceptions of black people as inferior and subhuman. The battalion first saw combat on November 7, 1944. For 183 days, these men engaged and defeated the German Army in towns throughout France and Germany.

Although it would take years for historical records to be amended and rightfully reflect the courage and skill employed by the 761st we know now just how integral they were to achieving victory in WWII. Throughout their tour in combat the battalion helped to liberate more than 30 towns under Nazi control. Collectively, the men of the 761st were awarded 11 Silver Stars, 70 Bronze Stars, 250 Purple Hearts and a Medal of Honor. In 1945 a recommendation for a Presidential Unit Citation was submitted. President Jimmy Carter awarded it in 1978.

The men of the 761st fought for the right to represent this country during the Second World War. Before leaving and upon returning they continued to fight the bigotry, hatred and racism that served to thwart the great promises of this Nation. At all times they acted with dignity, conducting themselves admirably and

always with grace. Because of their efforts, and the efforts of other Black soldiers in segregated units, black soldiers now fight alongside white soldiers today.

I rise today in recognition of the efforts of the 761st battalion and in honor of Black History Month. I commend them for their resolve and hope that their courage, conviction and commitment forever be remembered by all.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible work happening at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Schomburg Center, a milestone worthy of celebration. Over the past 80 years the Schomburg has organized many firsts in African-American history including the first orchestra of classically trained black musicians (1971); established a scholar in residence program attracting many of the world's most renowned scholars and intellectual leaders; collected and exhibited hundreds of thousands of items for collections and galleries organized around important themes from the history and lived legacies of African-Americans and the African Diaspora. It is with great pride that I recognize the accomplishments of the Schomburg over the past 80 years.

This past summer, from June 19th through July 18th, the Schomburg held its second Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute. A joint venture between the Schomburg Center and the Mellon-Mays Foundation, the Humanities Summer initiative is designed to increase the number of minority students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in the humanities in fields related to African-American and African Diaspora Studies. The Summer Institute identifies carefully selected prospective scholars and develops and nurtures their interest over the course of 3 years. Providing students with requisite intellectual skills and presenting them with challenges and orientations helpful in the pursuit of humanities careers, the summer institute fills a much needed role in attracting, retaining, and supporting the next generation of scholars and researchers concerned with issues relating to African Americans and the African Diaspora.

The students, culled from schools throughout New York City as well as from Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout the country, spent the summer exploring the theme ``Africana Age.'' They engaged in discussions, visits, and projects that compelled them to explore the dominant political, economic, and cultural periods of the 20th century; black achievements in social, artistic, and cultural realms that challenged the myth of white supremacy; efforts to forge political and cultural relationships among African peoples across boundaries; and commonalities and differences across time and geography. More than 25 distinguished scholars from around the country conducted seminars, facilitated conversations around works of art, tours of significant African-American landmarks, and aided in conducting research related to the aforementioned themes and subjects. Participating scholars created a research prospectus to aid them in fulfilling academic requirements during their senior year. They also worked both independently and collectively on research projects.

The Schomburg-Mellon Summer Institute continues to provide minority students with opportunities that are instrumental in becoming personally and professionally ready to compete in the ever expanding global marketplace. By providing minority students with mentors; providing them with requisite skills such as conducting research and writing research papers; creating rigorous academic programs rooted in historical truths about the contributions made by people of color; and championing them to fulfill their full potential, the Schomburg-Mellon Summer Institute its part to continue the legacy of producing compassionate and capable intellectual leaders.

The Schomburg-Mellon Summer Institute is but one of many initiatives aimed at uncovering and preserving truths in black culture. There is the annual book fair, a plethora of programs commemorating significant events and themes throughout African American history, and symposiums on important matters such as the African Burial Ground. This fall marks the sixth year of the Junior Scholars program. A program similar to the Summer Institute teaches history and culture while using insights gained to devise solutions to improving quality of life, for African Americans in particular, today. Another program dedicated to connecting youth with living legends, authors, scholars, artists, and business people in ways that show them they can choose to be anything they apply themselves to becoming while providing them with tools that will prove necessary along the way, the Junior Scholar's program epitomizes the Schomburg's commitment to preserving the legacy of descendants of Africa.

While celebrating the Schomburg and its achievements over the course of 80 years it is important to continue to invest in the production of even more scholars, thinkers, and leaders committed to the same goal.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 976) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for small businesses, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, as our colleagues know, we passed overwhelmingly the minimum wage bill. But it got into trouble in the Senate as they attempted to attach an $8.2 billion tax cut.

I shared the problem that we faced with Mr. McCrery, and we thought that small business certainly did deserve some assistance, with or without the minimum wage bill. And we talked, and Mr. McCrery said, well, if we are going to have a bill, are we going to pay for it? And let's select what we thought would be the best interests of small businesses in view of this dialogue that we had with the Senate.

Our staffs got together, gave us several options, and we agreed that we would increase and extend the small business expense, increase the work opportunity tax credit to include veterans and disabled veterans, protect the current benefit of the FICA tip credit, allow small businesses to use the work opportunity tax credit, and to enjoy the alternative, to exclude alternative minimum tax, and to simplify the tax filing system for businesses that are owned jointly by husband and wife.

We then tried to figure a way to pay for it. And what we agreed to is to make certain that the capital gains tax cut that was dramatically made lower for people in low income, that we would prevent people from transferring the capital stock to their kids who have little or no income and enjoy a benefit that was designed to assist low-income people.

Letters commending our efforts were received, it was supported by the Chamber of Commerce which says that it is going to have a key vote; but since I don't follow them that closely, I don't know what it means; the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Restaurant Association, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, American Bankers Association, the American Farm Bureau, Federation to Secure the Industry and Financial Markets Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Coalition.

I urge you to join with me and the ranking minority member in supporting this legislation, which is supported as well by the Small Business Association.

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

Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that so many Members have travel engagements, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 976.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the birth, life and legacy of renowned musician, champion of peace, and provocateur of thought; Bob Marley. His music stirred emotions of love; his life inspired the hope of peace. February 6, 1945 marked the beginning of his journey as an ambassador of humanity. Bob Marley was with us such a short time, but left such a rich legacy that on each birthday we ask ourselves what greatness we would have seen if he had lived a full life. We are sad that he died so young and that after all these years he would have just turned 62 this month.

Bob Marley's international appeal is due to his commitment to the unity of mankind. He awakened the consciousness of society as a spokesperson for equality in Africa and for the poor and underprivileged across the world. His efforts to shine a light on the darkest regions across the globe gave a platform to the voiceless to let their stories be heard. Bob Marley was an activist of world peace, and he encouraged us that if we come together ``we can make it work.''

Bob Marley's ability to empathize with the plight of the poor and destitute is a characteristic that we all must internalize. When we are faced with the widening gap of the haves and have-nots, with our neighbors affected by Hurricane Katrina, and with the citizens of Haiti and Darfur, we must have the compassion and the courage to ensure that all are given the opportunity to live fulfilling lives.

With the revolutionary spirit of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Bob Marley empowered us to realize our inner strength and to continually strive for spiritual maturity. His famous lyrics in ``Redemption Song'' gave insight in overcoming inner dissonance, advising to ``Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.'' His conviction to personal growth was seen in his commitment to the principles of his faith, and his unyielding desire for others to become fully actualized human beings.

Having a special talent to recreate the scenes of everyday life, Bob Marley gave us the opportunity to experience the joy, love, pain, and redemption that characterize our humanity through his music. With a message which transcends the reality of which he sung, he speaks to us in this day and time as meaningfully as he did when he lived, leading us to reflect on the complexities of our world, and the enjoyment of the pleasures in our lives.

His numerous awards and accolades reflect his dedication to creating music and a message unhindered by culture, race, time, or space. He and his beloved anthem ``One Love'' was voted as the most popular international song of the 20th century. Bob Marley's music lives on to remind us to strive for peace in our society and within ourselves. Because of his contribution to the world of music and the consciousness of humanity, I celebrate the birth, life, and legend of Bob Marley.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, on its 98th anniversary.

On February 12, 1909, the NAACP was founded by W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells-Barnett, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, and William English Walling to embark on fight for the civil rights of Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Jewish people. These brave men and women had a vision of equality and a commitment to fight for the downtrodden, in an era when people of color, meaning anyone who was nonwhite, were denied rights and subject to harassment and intimidation. Their commitment to establishing an organization that would stand up to power was unparalleled. The words, from the original charter, prove the need and urgency to establish such an organization. It stated, ``To promote equality of rights and to eradicate caste or race prejudice among the citizens of the United States; to advance the interest of colored citizens; to secure for them impartial suffrage; and to increase their opportunities for securing justice in the courts, education for the children, employment according to their ability and complete equality before law.'' With the spirit of fighting for equality as the motivation and the constitution as the tool, the battle for equality would be with the courts and thus, they marched on.

In the beginning, the NAACP's efforts focused on fighting the segregation laws under Jim Crow. I vividly remember living with separate but equal as the accepted doctrine. I also recall stories of people who gave their lives fighting that injustice. Despite the struggle, the NAACP did not waver in the face of adversity and took its fight with separate but equal education to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, with the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education and was victorious.

Today, the NAACP continues to be a voice for minorities and does excellent work with the continued fight for civil rights and equality. On this day, the 98th anniversary, I pay homage to the NAACP for work done in the past, present, and it is to be expected in the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Percy Sutton, a true leader in the Harlem community. He has worked as a stunt pilot, train conductor, military intelligence officer, civil rights attorney, broadcast company owner, TV producer, and borough president. But Sutton is most notably known as a mentor for young leaders in my congressional district.

Percy Sutton was born in San Antonio, TX on November 24, 1920, the youngest child of Samuel and Lillian Sutton's 15 children. Sutton attended and graduated from Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee Institute, and Hampton Institute. A skilled pilot, Sutton served our country during World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen and won combat stars as an intelligence officer.

After receiving an honorable discharge with the rank of captain, Sutton enrolled in the Brooklyn College Law School and received his law degree in 1950. During the 1950s and 1960s, Sutton became one of American's best known lawyers, fighting for civil rights and representing many prominent African American figures, including Malcolm

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate, Las Aguilas Cibaernas, the team representing the Dominican Republic at the 2007 Caribbean Series, for winning the championship on February 7. Wearing jerseys emblazoned with the words ``Dominicano Soy'' (I am Dominican), their pride in their country and in the game of baseball was evident as the team dominated this year's Caribbean Series, where they won a record five of their six games during the Series. Dominicans have once more demonstrated that they are the forerunners in the all-American sport of baseball. The Dominican Republic has now won 16 Caribbean Series titles, the most by anyone country in the history of these championship games. The Dominican Republic has won seven out of the last 11 Caribbean Series, demonstrating their passion and commitment to the sport.

Baseball is the national sport of the Dominican Republic and many of the best Dominican born baseball athletes play for U.S. Major League Baseball teams. Even in the poorest rural villages throughout the Dominican Republic, boys are swinging bats in well-tended baseball fields. They move with an athletic grace and throw without fear. They play barefoot sometimes, and swing with the entire body in one fluid poetic arc. They practice day in and day out with hopes of one day being the baseball player. They play for the love of the game, which is why professional baseball scouts from the United States go to the Dominican Republic in droves.

About 500,000 Dominicans live in New York, the city's second-largest Latino group after Puerto Ricans, according to census officials. The majority of New York's Dominicans live in and around Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, part of my Congressional district. Baseball is a year-round sport for them. In the winter, after the baseball season finishes in the United States, they enjoy the Dominican baseball season, which includes the Caribbean Series games. This year the Series was watched by over 700,000 fans all over the world, the highest viewing ever.

Please join me in congratulating the team from the Dominican Republic for an outstanding demonstration of commitment, dominance and pride at the 2007 Caribbean Series.

Mr. Speaker, I didn't come down here, my colleagues, to talk about General MacArthur, but I guess I knew of him better than anyone in this room.

General MacArthur was called out of Korea. He was the commander of the entire Armed Forces there, and left us in the Second Infantry Division completely surrounded by the Chinese in November of 1950. The last I remember, he was called back by the Commander in Chief, Harry Truman, for defying his direction. So with all due respect to the great late general, this is hardly a time to talk about what soldiers have to do when they defy authority.

I want to thank those who have given us an opportunity today to express ourselves under question of life and death. Very few people have this responsibility, yet those here in this House, you didn't get elected to do this, but today you have to decide whether or not you want this war to continue and how many people have to die before it is stopped.

You here talk about me supporting a draft, but I challenge anyone to tell me that their feelings about this war in Iraq would not be different if they thought that their loved ones, their family, their community, would be placed in harm's way.

Whether you are for or against the war, or no matter how you voted, when you see the casualties mounting up, when you visit the hospitals and see young dedicated people without their skulls, their faces, their legs, their arms, you don't have to know any of these kids to start crying. But if you have children and grandchildren, and your imagination allows you to believe that they would be included in the 21,000, and no matter how many times they go, there has to be a feeling that maybe this is the last chance I have, you have to have a different feeling if you are not dealing with someone else's children.

Now, people would say these kids want to fight. I mean, they are different from most kids. They volunteered. They want to do it.

It is strange how most of them sought the $40,000, $30,000, $20,000 bonus or sought educational benefits, or don't come from families that are affluent in this country. It is strange that you never heard the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense ever make a plea to the patriotism of America to say, Give me your young, your able body, give me your patriots, we have a war to fight. You have never heard that.

Oh, no, we applaud those who enlisted, but there has never been a plea out there for America to make sacrifices. A country at war, and the President doesn't ask people to sacrifice anything.

Well, my son in the Marines got out of the Persian Gulf. He is out, and he too enjoyed the GI Bill. But recently I attended a funeral in my district of a young man who died in Iraq, and I have gone to others, and the family was outside, and they pled with me, please, Congressman, tell them our son was a hero. Please, Congressman Rangel, we thank you that you are here, salute my son, please.

I have gone to these funerals before. Most of these young men and women were marines. So I was so used to seeing this blue uniform with the red stripe. The family actually walked me to the coffin, and my knees buckled. Why? Because as sensitive and as passionate I am about the loss of life, instead of seeing a brown-skinned Dominican in a marine outfit, I saw a soldier about 20 years old. I saw a soldier of about 20 years old in an Army uniform, not a Marine uniform. Guess what, he looked just like me.

I ask my colleagues to try to figure, if you were involved as an individual, as a kid, or your family was involved, that this great country and this great Constitution has given you the right, right in your hand, to determine who lives and who dies. You cannot make a mistake in supporting this resolution, it is not going to hurt our beloved warriors, it is going to help our country, it is going to help them, and it is going to make us proud one day to be able to say, when asked, What did you do when this was going on in the world, and your Congress was asked?

You would be able to say, There was a resolution. It may not have been a profile in courage, but I supported it, and I am proud that I did

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the historic meeting of two wonderfully talented African-American coaches, Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts. These two men have made history by leading their teams to Super Bowl XLI. February 4, 2007 will remain a significant day in the pantheon of sports history, as well as American history. Prior to this date, there was never an African-American coach at the helm of a team that qualified for the big game. It is important for us to recognize the historic nature of this meeting--the meeting of two extremely successful coaches and two very talented teams--because the victories celebrated on this date extend far beyond the length of the football field and speaks to significant changes from a time when Black players and coaches were not allowed to join White sports leagues. The leadership of African-American coaches who pride themselves on their Christian ideals and coach using positive reinforcement demonstrate the resilience, perseverance and desire to partake in all aspects of the American dream of people of African descent. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution to H. Res. 90, congratulating Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts on becoming the first African-American head coaches of National Football League teams to qualify for the Super Bowl.

We should pause to commemorate this historic event, but it is important that we remain critical while celebrating. Though there have been significant improvements in racial inequities in the NFL, there is still much work to be done. Frederick Douglass ``Fritz'' Pollard became the first African-American head coach of an NFL team in 1921 with the Akron Pros. It would be another 70 years before another head coach joined the ranks. Throughout the 1980s, there was not a single African- American head coach in the NFL, in fact all head coaches were Caucasian. In 1989, Art Shell joined the Oakland Raiders as head coach. He would be joined by two more Black coaches in the years that followed while the number of African-American assistant coaches continued to grow. The stark contrast between the number of Black coaches, always very few in numbers, and the number of Black players has sometimes drawn critical attention from those outside of the Black community; however, it was extremely difficult to avoid discussing these discrepancies in the coming weeks. I hope that as we move forward and continue to remember the first meeting of two great African-American men and continue to push for true equality, throughout the ranks, in the NFL and in other professional leagues.

Football, in America, has always been more than just a game. It is the American game, deeply entrenched in the fabric of our society and a symbol of our culture as Americans. Travel to any city or town throughout the Nation and you will see people of all races, ethnicities, religions, socio-economic classes and social backgrounds discussing, celebrating and playing football, sharing in the losses and successes of their favorite teams. While tremendous progress has been made, especially in the area of racial equity, there is still work to be done in extending equality to all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to point out the Bush administration's policy of isolating Cuba and bringing down the Castro government (or its successor) has no chance of success and enter into the Record the first of two parts to an article in the current issue of Foreign Affairs by Julia E. Sweig entitled ``Fidel's Final Victory.'' Dr. Sweig's article analyzes the reality of the current relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and advocates the lifting of the embargo as a means to a more effective advance U.S. interest in establishing an economic relationship with Cuba.

I have long opposed U.S. policy towards Fidel Castro and Cuba, specifically the embargo, as I strongly believe that restricting travel and trade is a failed policy that hinders the American People from competing in the Cuban market and works against the promotion of democracy on the island. It also denies citizens of the United States the fundamental right and freedom to travel where they want and denies Cuban Americans to visit their relatives living in Cuba.

Current United States policy toward Cuba is markedly out of touch with current world realities. Almost every nation has normal trade and diplomatic relations with Cuba, especially many of our allies such as Israel, Spain, China and other European nations. Instead of collapsing, the Cuban economy is growing at a rate of 8 percent a year, and the government has new and profitable relationship involving crude oil drilling operations off of the Cuban coast with China in conjunction with India, Norway and Spain.

It is evident that continuing the current course and making threats about what kind of change is and is not acceptable after Fidel, the Bush administration will only slow the pace of liberalization and political reform in Cuba, guaranteeing many more years of hostility between the two countries.

The best approach to dealing with post-Fidel Cuba is by immediately proposing bilateral crisis management and confidence-building measures, ending economic sanctions, and by stepping out of the way of Cuban Americans and other Americans who wish to travel freely to Cuba. Further, lifting the embargo now will prevent American businesses from falling even further behind as foreign competitors in this market. I urge you to consider H.R. 624, a bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba and for other purposes.

Fidel's Final Victory

(By Julia E. Sweig)

Summary: The smooth transfer of power from Fidel Castro to

his successors is exposing the willful ignorance and wishful

thinking of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The post-Fidel

transition is already well under way, and change in Cuba will

come only gradually from here on out. With or without Fidel,

renewed U.S. efforts to topple the revolutionary regime in

Havana can do no good--and have the potential to do

considerable harm.

Julia E. Sweig is Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior

Fellow and Director of Latin America Studies at the Council

on Foreign Relations. She is the author of Inside the Cuban

Revolution: Fidel Castro and the Urban Underground and

Friendly fire: Losing

Friends and Making Enemies in the Anti-American Century.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Father Robert F. Drinan, his enduring faith, and lifelong commitment to human rights. Father Drinan passed on January 28, 2007, at his residence in the Georgetown University Jesuit community in Washington, DC. He was 86 years old and had recently been ill with pneumonia and congestive heart failure.

Father Drinan was an unwavering defender of the civil and human rights of all Americans. His commitment to these principles was anchored by his religious conviction and a fundamental belief in the rights of all people to be respected and protected by their governments and elected leaders. It was this conviction that led Father Drinan to politics in 1970 when he sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure in Congress, Father Drinan was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam war and was the first person to call for the impeachment of President Nixon. Father Drinan was re-elected four times, serving from 1971 until 1981. He stepped down in accordance with a directive from Pope John Paul II, barring priests from holding public office.

Father Drinan was the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of the U.S. Congress. I had the honor of serving with him on the Judiciary Committee during the Watergate proceedings. He was a man of deep convictions, a passionate leader and a good friend. Long after he left Congress, Father Drinan continued to be a vocal supporter of human rights. Through his words and his actions he demanded morality in our political leadership. Ever committed to his work, Father Drinan spent the past 21 years as a professor at the Georgetown Law Center where he focused on legal ethics and international human rights.

We all mourn the loss of Father Robert F. Drinan, a man who committed his life to standing up for what he believed. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fully support the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. In 2005, African Americans accounted for nearly 50 percent of all new HIV infections, despite representing nearly twelve percent of the total population. The HIV/AIDS infection rate among Black men is six times that of white

men and the rate among Black women is sixteen times that of white women. More children with AIDS are African American than all other race and ethnic groups combined. There is no question that we must continue to devote considerable attention and resources to support the efforts of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and its mission to build capacity and increase the awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African Americans in particular. For these many reasons, I urge you to support the passage of H. Con. Res. 35, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

While a cure for HIV/AIDS remains just beyond our reach, there are many known factors that contribute to the devastating effects that HIV/ AIDS continues to have in the African American community in particular. For example, we know that the stigmatization surrounding those with HIV/AIDS deters many from being tested and learning about treatment needed to prolong their lifespan. We also know that economic issues such as the need for more inexpensive housing, substantial increases in livable wages and affordable health care, weakens community ties making it difficult to build capacity, disseminate information and target interventions. It is also evident that funds are needed to support these initiatives, perform meaningful outreach and provide organizations with the resources necessary to serve this vulnerable population.

It is important for us to increase knowledge about preventative measures, educational techniques, capacity building and outreach to find targeted solutions to the problem of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community. In the State of New York alone there are 33,747 Black Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, this number will continue to grow at exponential rates without the attention, care and resources supported by the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While it is important to direct resources to Black Americans and others who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, we must remember that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. It is estimated that between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 infected persons live in the United States and approximately 40,000 new infections occur each year. Those affected belong to all gender, racial, ethnic, religious, socio economic and regional configurations. Those affected are mothers and fathers, sisters and our brothers, bosses, friends, and children.

The devastating effect of HIV/AIDS impacts us all. Confronting this international crisis will require the collective efforts of researchers, legislators, clergy members, community activists and organizations, and all others committed to reducing the force of HIV/ AIDS. We must work together to find solutions that are scaleable and make possible innovations that result in value adding and sustainable positive changes.

Observance of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day provides an opportunity for governments, national AIDS programs, churches, community organizations and individuals to communicate the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS. If we have any hope of ending conversations about the injurious effects of HIV/AIDS, we must immediately devote the time, energy and resources needed to educate, treat and prevent against future transmission.

Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to acknowledge the importance of the economic relationship between the United States and the Caribbean and to enter into the Record an article from the Carib News by Tony Best entitled ``A Picture of U.S.-Barbados Trade.''

For many years, the United States has cultivated a trade relationship with the Caribbean that goes far beyond rum. As a result, both the U.S. and the Caribbean have benefited. In recent years, trade in the areas of natural gas, garments, seafood, sodium hydroxide, peroxide, and textiles are noteworthy.

A focus on Trinidad and Tobago is particularly important because Trinidad and Tobago is an abundant energy producing nation with 60 percent of the oil reserves in the Caribbean. The U.S. receives the majority of its natural gas imports from this resource rich nation and imported over $1.7 billion of various energy commodities in 2005. That is remarkable.

In turn, the U.S. has exported approximately $491 million in industrial commodities such as computers, cell phone transmission equipment, and lab furnaces, just to name a few, to Trinidad and Tobago.

Another key trade area is with textiles. The nation of Haiti exported $169 million in garments, while the U.S. reciprocated with imports of $124 million.

The Caribbean U.S. trade relationship continues to grow and provide mutually beneficial benefits for both the U.S. and the Caribbean nations.

A Picture of U.S.-Barbados Trade

(By Tony Best)

How solid is your knowledge of U.S.-Caribbean trade? To

find out take the trade test.

First question: Name the Caricom state which has a whopping

$6 billion trade surplus with the U.S.?

Second query: Identify the country which exports tens of

millions of dollars in live crustaceans--mostly aquatic

species with a hard shell and many legs, such as lobsters,

crabs and shrimp--every year but ends up with a $1 billion

deficit with the U.S.

How about the nation whose beer exports went through the

roof but its garment exports have fallen sharply in recent

years. At the same time, this country bought large amounts of

sodium hydroxide and peroxide from the U.S.

Then there is the coastal state, which often sells more

sweaters, pullovers, vests and other garments to the U.S.

than it buys American made T-shirts and tank tops?

Finally, list the island whose Cricket World Cup

construction could boost its trade with the U.S.

If you identified Trinidad and Tobago as the Caribbean

nation, one of the 16 Western Hemisphere nations with a

healthy trade balance with the economic giant next door, you

would be right on the money. But if your answer about the

exporter of $45 million in lobsters and crabs to Florida and

other parts of the U.S. as the Dominican Republic you would

be away off base. Actually, the country was the Bahamas.

On the other hand Jamaica's textile industry was not a

strong exporter in 2005, the latest year for which there was

trade data. Exports of Jamaica-made garments plunged to $55.5

million down from $82 million the year before. However, it

did export $23.5 million in beer, up by 82 percent over 2004

but bought $113 million in sodium hydroxide and peroxide, a

119 percent jump. It exported 60 percent more aluminum ores

and concentrate to the U.S. in 2005 than it did in 2004.

Those exports amounted to almost $69 million.

Like Jamaica, Haiti exports large amounts of textiles but

unlike its Caricom partner, the French-speaking republic

exported almost $100 million more in garments to the U.S.

than it bought, $169 million in exports as compared with $124

million in imports of T-shirts, tank tops and knit or

crocheted items. But the U.S. turned around and sold an extra

$52.4 million in miscellaneous knitted or crocheted fabrics

to Haiti.

Barbados, which will play host to the Cricket World Cup

final in April, is experiencing a construction boom and

analysts believe the major sporting event could trigger more

trade with the U.S.

The picture of Caribbean-U.S. trade was sketched from U.S.

Census Bureau data and published in a guide on U.S. trade in

the Western Hemisphere distributed by World City, a journal

that emphasizes global trade.

What the figures and analyses show, according to trade

specialists, is that as Caribbean nations continue their

efforts to diversify their economies, export trade with

the U.S. hasn't come close to reducing the dominant role

played by the U.S.

Energy-rich Trinidad and Tobago is by far the most

successful Caribbean exporter and that's attributed to the

fact that the twin-island nation is the largest natural gas

supplier to the U.S., which bought $3.3 billion in liquefied

natural gas from the ethnically diverse country. Trinidad

controls 60 percent of Caribbean's oil reserves. In 2005, for

instance, it sold $3.3 billion in petroleum gases to the

U.S.; $1.2 billion in ammonia; $1.2 billion in crude oil;

$972 million in non-crude oil; $714 million in acyclic

alcohols; and $101 million in nitrogenous fertilizers.

On the other side of the trade ledger, the U.S. exported

almost $250 million in machinery to Trinidad, over $46

million in electrical equipment for line telephony; $36

million in computers; and $29 million in ``transmission

apparatus for cellular phones. Add another $28 million in

industrial or lab furnaces and ovens; $84 million in low

value shipments; and $18 million in iron or steel tubes and

pipefittings and it would become clear that Trinidad and

Tobago's industrial base is expanding.

In much the same way that Jamaica's oil imports from the

U.S. skyrocketed to unbelievable levels in 2005, Barbados saw

its refined oil imports rise by 127 percent, going to almost

$18 million.

In the end, Barbados sold a mere $32 million in goods to

the U.S. while it imported close to $400 million. Its deficit

with the economic colossus in the north was $360 million.

Between them their trade rose by 10 percent, reaching $424.7

million.

Guyana was another Caribbean state whose trade with the

U.S. rose in 2005. Exports went up marginally, by less than

two percent but the amount of U.S.-made goods jumped by 26

percent, reaching $175 million, less than half of what

Barbados bought and close to 10 percent of Jamaica's imports

of American commodities, which were valued at $1.6 billion.

Guyana's key exports were aluminum ores and concentrate

valued at just under $50 million; $32 million in live

crustaceans; and $11 million in diamonds. Interestingly, the

top U.S. commodity exported to Guyana was listed as

``charitable items,'' with a value of about $42 million.

As for Guyana's neighbors, the Census Bureau's data stated

that in 2005:

St. Lucia-U.S. trade rose by almost 40 percent in 2005,

reaching $167 million. The U.S. had a surplus of $107

million.

U.S. trade with Antigua jumped by almost 50 percent,

reaching $149 million. U.S. export went up by 51 percent and

Antigua's by less than two percent.

St. Kitts-Nevis exported $49 million to the U.S.

That was more than the combined totals of Dominica $3.3

million, Grenada $5.8 million; St. Antigua's $4.4 million and

Vincent's $15.6 million.

It exported more than Barbados did to the U.S. Electrical

supplies, transformers and other power supplies, electric

motors, generators and sets accounted for more than $36

million of the total.

The Bahamas, whose negative trade picture of $1 billion

made it Caricom's largest, was third on the list of Western

Hemisphere countries with large trade deficits.

Barbados was fourth on the trade deficit ridden partners of

the U.S. followed by Haiti, Antigua, Belize, St. Lucia,

Suriname, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts-Nevis, and St. Vincent.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Congressional Record an article in the Washington Post discussing a Brown University committee's call for the institution to make amends by building a memorial, creating a center for the study of slavery and injustice and increasing efforts to recruit minority students, particularly from Africa and the West Indies. It is good to see the subject of slavery and the question of reparations being addressed with integrity and grace.

The article announces the findings of the university's Committee on Slavery and Justice. Appointed three years ago by Brown's president, Ruth J. Simmons, the committee recently investigated Brown's historical legacy, focusing specifically on its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The descendant of slaves and the first African American president of an Ivy League institution, Ruth Simmons has been steadfast in her commitment to uncovering the truths of Brown's past in ways that are academically and historically rigorous and just.

Arguably one of the most traumatic events in western history, the issue of slavery continues to instigate debate. Most recently questions of reparations, repairing the lives of those forced into the barbarous institution of slavery, often discussed in the form of repaying debts owed to descendants of slaves, have proven divisive at best and controversial at least. Although not called reparations, as reported in the article, the committee's recommendations are substantive and represent a form of repair. The committee's findings offer an example of the many ways that conversations and inquiries around reparations may be had in intelligent and sensible ways.

As stated in the article, the argument around reparations is not about a simple monetary gain, rather at the core of the debate is the need to acknowledge a part of our history that not anyone has fully come to terms with. It is important that we recognize and champion Brown's lead. This issue is central to who we are as a people and to who we are as a country.

[From the New York Times, Oct. 19, 2006]

Panel Suggests Brown U. Atone for Ties to Slavery

(By Pam Belluck)

Boston, Oct. 18.--Extensively documenting Brown

University's 18th-century ties to slavery, a university

committee called Wednesday for the institution to make amends

by building a memorial, creating a center for the study of

slavery and injustice and increasing efforts to recruit

minority students, particularly from Africa and the West

Indies.

The Committee on Slavery and Justice, appointed three years

ago by Brown's president, Ruth J. Simmons, a great-

granddaughter of slaves who is the first black president of

an Ivy League institution, said in a report: ``We cannot

change the past. But an institution can hold itself

accountable for the past, accepting its burdens and

responsibilities along with its benefits and privileges.''

The report added, ``In the present instance this means

acknowledging and taking responsibility for Brown's part in

grievous crimes.''

The committee did not call for outright reparations, an

idea that has support among some African-Americans and was a

controversial issue at Brown several years ago. But the

committee's chairman, James T. Campbell, a history professor

at Brown, said he believed the recommendations ``are

substantive and do indeed represent a form of repair.''

The committee also recommended that the university publicly

and persistently acknowledge its slave ties, including during

freshmen orientation. Dr. Campbell said he believed that the

recommendations, if carried out, would represent a more

concrete effort than that of any other American university to

make amends for ties to slavery.

``I think it is unprecedented,'' Dr. Campbell said, adding

that a few other universities and colleges have established

memorials, study programs or issued apologies, but not on the

scale of the Brown recommendations. It was not clear how much

the committee's recommendations would cost to carry out.

``We're not making a claim that somehow Brown is uniquely

guilty,'' Dr. Campbell said. ``I think we're making a claim

that this is an aspect of our history that not anyone has

fully come to terms with. This is a critical step in allowing

an institution to move forward.''

Even in the North, a number of universities have ties to

slavery. Harvard Law School was endowed by money its founder

earned selling slaves for the sugar cane fields of Antigua.

And at Yale, three scholars reported in 2001 that the

university relied on slave-trading money for its first

scholarships, endowed professorship and library endowment.

Dr. Simmons issued a letter in response to the report,

soliciting comments from the Brown community and saying she

had asked for the findings to be discussed at an open forum.

She declined to give her own reaction, saying, ``When it is

appropriate to do so, I will issue a university response to

the recommendations and suggest what we might do.''

She said ``the committee deserves praise for demonstrating

so steadfastly that there is no subject so controversial that

it should not be submitted to serious study and debate.''

Initial reaction to the recommendations seemed to be

appreciative.

``It sounds to me like this makes sense,'' said Rhett S.

Jones, a longtime professor of history and Africana studies

at Brown. ``I did not expect the committee would emerge

saying, Well, you know, Brown should write a check.

``I never thought that was in the cards. I'm not sure I

think it's even appropriate that a university write a check,

even though it's pretty widely agreed on that Brown would not

be where it is if it were not for slave money. These

recommendations seem to me to be appropriate undertakings for

the university.''

Brown's ties to slavery are clear but also complex. The

university's founder, the Rev. James Manning, freed his only

slave, but accepted donations from slave owners and traders,

including the Brown family of Providence, RI. At least one of

the Brown brothers, John, a treasurer of the college, was an

active slave trader, but another brother, Moses, became a

Quaker abolitionist, although he ran a textile factory that

used cotton grown with slave labor.

University Hall, which houses Dr. Simmons's office, was

built by a crew with at least two slaves.

``Any institution in the United States that existed prior

to 1865 was entangled in slavery, but the entanglements are

particularly dense in Rhode Island,'' Dr. Campbell said,

noting that the state was the hub through which many slave

ships traveled.

The issue caused friction at Brown in 2001, when the

student newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, printed a full-

page advertisement produced by a conservative writer, listing

``Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery Is a Bad Idea And

Racist Too.''

The advertisement, also run by other college newspapers,

prompted protests by students who demanded that the paper pay

``reparations'' by donating its advertising fee or giving

free advertising space to advocates of reparations.

The Brown committee was made up of 16 faculty members,

students and administrators, and its research was extensive.

``The official history of Brown will have to be rewritten,

entirely scrapped,'' said Omer Bartov, a professor on the

committee who specializes in studying the Holocaust and

genocide.

The report cites examples of steps taken by other

universities: a memorial unveiled last year by the University

of North Carolina, a five-year program of workshops and

activities at Emory University, and a 2004 vote by the

faculty senate of the University of Alabama to apologize for

previous faculty members having whipped slaves on campus.

Katie Zezima contributed reporting.