Floor Statements

Shame, shame, shame. You know, I am really glad that I am not a Republican. You know, Christianity is not what you say; it is what you do. And today you all practice what I call all the time reverse Robin Hood. During Christmas time you are robbing from the poor, the working people, to give tax breaks to the rich. Humbug.

The Republicans today are trying to be the Grinches that stole . . .

Not Christmas, but health care from the poor.

Republicans are practicing what I call reverse Robin Hood, robbing from the poor to give to the rich.

In this season of giving, the Republicans are taking from the poor to line the pockets of the wealthiest Americans.

Well, I say Bah Humbug!

Bah Humbug to you and your policies.

Those who will suffer will be: single mothers seeking child support; students struggling to pay their college loans, foster kids; the sick and the poor whose only access to health coverage is Medicaid; and those whose nutrition depends on food stamps or school lunches.

Christianity what you say not what you do.

If you are going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk. And the Republicans today are not walking with the poorest among us.

Mr. Speaker, on September 10th, 2004, Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) and I convened the 16th Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust issues forum titled: ``Honoring African American Women Veterans Who Served,'' because we both care a great deal about the well being of African America veterans. Moreover, for these past 12 years we have worked so very hard building the Veterans Braintrust, and carrying the torch for America's service men and women.

Nevertheless, we would be remiss if we did not recognize the special service to this Nation, and to this institution of Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, a distinguished and decorated Korean War veteran in his own right, who is the father of the Congressional Black Caucus' Veterans Braintrust, established in 1988, and has carried the torch for African American veterans for over half a century. Since Congressman Rangel's first Braintrust, the Veterans Braintrust has emerged as an institution ``think tank'' and ``advisory group'' for the Congressional Black Caucus and for other Members of Congress on the critical issues of education, health care, mental health, aging, research, employment and training, homelessness and affordable housing, small business development and veterans benefits and services.

Next, we were happy to extend a very warm welcome and deepest appreciation to our distinguished guests, panelist, moderator, and Bishop Imagine Stewart for performing our invocation. Which included State Senator Ed Harbison, Chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus special presentation to Spc. Shoshanna Johnson, who was captured in Iraq two years ago with other members of the 507th Maintenance Company. Shoshanna is the only African American women to be held captive in Iraq. But more importantly, Shoshanna truly exemplifies the best that America has to offer--her courage under the most extraordinary of circumstances shows us all just how important the service of our ordinary airmen, marines, sailors, and soldiers are to our Nation. Thus, all those who serve, serve equally and should be awarded based on their service, and not by the color of their skin, or gender.

This led us to the issues we were there to discuss, the treatment of women in today's military, and as veterans. However, the discussion of the current state of affairs would be incomplete without a brief history, or stories of those who paved the way for the modern military woman. Early on, African American women played major support roles during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Civil War. For example: Harriet Tubman served as a Union spy, an unpaid soldier, a volunteer nurse, and a freedom fighter. While another runaway slave, Susan King Taylor, became famous for her volunteer service as a nurse and launderer as she traveled with her husband's unit, the 33rd United States Colored Troops (USCTs). She formed the Boston Branch of the Women's Relief Corps after the war. Her memoirs published in 1902, became the only written record of Black volunteer nurses in the Civil War. Again, during the Spanish American War black women played the role of nurses. Yet, during the war, over 75% of all deaths resulted from typhoid and yellow fever. Many black female volunteer nurses were told they were immune to the diseases because their skin was darker and thicker. Because of this, many of them exposed themselves to the diseases and became casualties when they returned home. And because of segregated living areas, the Whites never knew the high rate of casualties that these women suffered.

However, during World War I for the first time in military history, African American females had an official organization where they found leadership and direction to use their abilities. The National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses founded in 1909 by Mary Mahoney, Adah Thoms and Martha Franklin. In 1917, the co-founder of the Red Cross urged Black nurses to enroll in the American Red Cross, although they were not accepted until two months before the end of the war in November of 1918. But it wasn't until World War II (1942) that women were officially allowed to serve in great numbers in the armed forces. The Army had the Women's Army Corps (WAC), the Navy had Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES); and the Coast Guard had the SPARS. With the majority of African American women serving in the Women Army Corps (WAC), where they remained in segregated units, as did African American men. Out of the highest number of women in the military during the period (271,000), only 4,000 were African American women.

Moreover, African American women continued to serve from the Korean Conflict through Vietnam to Operation Desert Storm. Of the 35,000 women who went to Desert Storm, an estimated 40% were African Americans. And today, the statistics tell us that over 30% of military women are African American, approximately 33.6% enlisted, and 13.1% commissioned and warrant officers. Notably in 2002, African American women were over-represented in the armed services as compared with their proportion in the civilian population. This is simply to say that, African American women made up 30.8% of all military women, while making up only 12% of all civilian women.

Equally important, the purpose of this forum was to discuss issues pertaining to women in the military and veterans, but particularly black women veterans. The overarching questions however were: What happens to these women socially, economically, and politically, when they return to the civilian sector as military veterans? Or what effects does military service have on their subsequent lives? With the second question being: how can we systemically help the masses of young women veterans in order to inspire them to reach their fullest potential?

To address these questions we had two distinguished panels with us that day to discuss a range of issues pertaining to the African American woman veteran. Among the topics discussed were those of post traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, physical disability, and sexual harassment, or assault. Our first panel of presenters consisted of Attorney Herbert Fenner of the law firm McKenna Long and Aldridge who presented the case of Jemekia Barber; Muriel Gibson, Senior Staff Assistant to U.S. Senator Patty Murray's office discussed several cases. We also heard from three African American women veterans themselves: Kericia Smith, SSgt. Vanessa Turner, and Carolyn Williams. Followed by a second panel consisting of Dr. Laura Miller, Social Scientist with the Rand Corporation, who has researched extensively women in the military, including sexual harassment and assault; Dr. Saharra Bledsoe, Executive Director of Mozella's House for Women Veterans; Zerell Johnson-Welch, Director of the Southwest Veterans Service Center, and Ms. Deborah Scott, a disabled veteran having a lot of problems receiving fair and just treatment at the VA.

While Shoshanna easily connected with the audience with both humor and humility, what we heard from her female counterparts was gut wrenching emotion, anger, and frustration, with more than a few VA officials expressing utter surprise at their anger. From Senator Patty Murray's Senior Staff Assistant Muriel Gibson, who shared strategies that she helped develop through her women veterans group and advocacy work leading the state of Washington to some improvement in their options for VA healthcare and timeliness; Deborah Scott, an Army veteran, whose physical illness was misdiagnosed by VA medical personnel as ``personality disorder''; Kericia Smith whose attempts to get adequate treatment and support for her struggle with PTSD have been repeatedly mishandled by VA officials; SSgt. Vanessa Turner, whose critical illness still has not been diagnosed by Army medical personnel since returning from Iraq, and who has struggled to find and maintain adequate affordable housing and/or timely treatment for her health through the VA; to Carolyn Williams speaking of her struggle for over 30 years to have her sexual assault recognized and addressed by both Navy and VA officials. Although the outward appearance seemed to be ``VA bashing,'' we all realized that their problems arose from systemic problems, or inadequate governmental policies and practices, and were compounded by human errors.

Although issues were brought up which are undoubtedly begging for attention, this forum was just our beginning. Of those concerns addressed, however, it was abundantly clear that there were three vital issues: First, the inadequacy and sometimes absence of adequate Veterans' Administration services and programs for female military veterans. Second, the invisibility of their struggles which are quite often ignored and their frustration with the lack of methods available for redress. Third, the need to consider organizing some type of national conference where the issues facing African American women veterans might be highlighted, discussed, and strategies for addressing these challenges suggested. Such a national conference where these issues are addressed through panels and workshops, with the latter focused on sharing strategies that have proven effective and creating new possible roads to take for the future. Why, because we also heard comments such as, I wish to thank you to the experience at long last gave them an opportunity to find not just an ear that would hear their story. Or their first real opportunity and chance to speak publicly regarding fighting for VA benefits over many

years. But also left them with hope for the creation of an avenue that would rightfully address the life altering negative injustice that black women have and continue to be confronted by while in performance of their military duties, as well as afterward as ``veterans'' seeking help through the VA. For many years they did not believe that anyone cared, or would ever be concerned about the injustice that black women have endured at the hands of the U.S. military.

Again, the generosity of Wayne Gatewood, Jr., President and CEO of Quality Support, Inc., and Amistad Associates paved the way for a gala evening of socializing, recognition and public acknowledgement for the following female veterans and groups from the Civil war to World War II to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq: Deborah Bretey, Antoniette Edwards, Mary Jackson Fears, State Representative Gloria Fox, Vernessa Franklin, Sgt. Casaundra Grant, Col. Delores Hampton, USA, Ret., Hattie Harris, Vera Haskins (now deceased), Lorenza Hilliard, Lt. Col. Patricia Jackson, USA, Ret., Sarah Jackson, Willette Jenkins, Lillie B. Johnson (known as Miss Lillie B, now deceased), Spc. Shoshanna Johnson, Pfc. Sarah L. Keys (Sarah Keys Evans), Noel Mitchell, Capt. Margaret Oglesby, MNG, Col. Marie Rogers, USA, Ret., Mildred Smith-Kidd, Willie Whiting; House of Imagene, Mozella's House, My Women Veterans Group, Black Women's Leadership Caucus, Center for Women Veterans (Department of Veterans Affairs), National Association of Black Military Women, Harriet Tubman Home, League of Women for Community Service, and the Colored Ladies Christian Relief Society of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteers.

In return, they especially thanked us for giving accolades to the female veterans of color, and for always remembering heroine Harriet Tubman. Some felt humbled to receive their awards, other felt good to read the words of acknowledgement and appreciation in addition to giving them motivation to continue on in both their personal and professional lives. As well as for providing one of the few venues that allows them to smell their flowers, or roses before they die.

In closing, I thank Sarah Ann Shaw, Drs. Brenda Moore, Laura Miller, Leisa Meyers, Robenia Gary, A.V. Hankins, Shari Miles and Ron Armstead for their continuing help in making the Veterans Braintrust an ongoing success. Also speaking on behalf of all my colleagues I thanked our African American veterans in the audience for coming and their service to our great nation. Needless to say, it was overwhelming to be in a room with so many true heroines and heroes, because it makes me very very proud that this is one of the best-attended issues forums during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (ALC).

Lastly, Representative Sanford Bishop, Jr. and I agree Gen. George Washington had it right when he said, ``the morale and strength of the nation's military forces would be directly proportional to how well veterans who already served and sacrificed for the country are treated and appreciated.''

Mr. Speaker, as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando in the Third Congressional District of Florida and an advocate for poor and homeless people in Central Florida, it was in the early 1990's that Rev. Maxwell founded the Grand Avenue Economic Development Corporation. Then, in 1994, due to the tremendous and continually increasing need for permanent housing opportunities for the homeless in the community, Maxwell with the aid of ``his Member of Congress'' Congresswoman Corrine Brown, led an effort to apply for grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create permanent housing for single, disabled homeless persons, a group rarely assisted. The effort was successful and the organization was awarded $4,800,000 to create 100 units of permanent single room occupancy housing.

As a community advocate, economic development pioneer, and spiritual leader, Rev. Maxwell worked as a catalyst for change for more than a decade to bridge the gap between the rich and poor and black and white communities in Central Florida.

In addition to his public sector work, Rev. Maxwell was an author, ``Where Is Thy Brother,'' a book of his sermons; a radio pastor for 22 years; started a community credit union; construction development company; tax preparation business; transportation company; citrus business, and even appeared in commercials promoting Florida orange Juice.

Rev. Maxwell received the divine call to the ministry in 1926 at the age of 19, but it took him 20 years to heed the call in 1946. In 1950 he became the pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Orlando, and at the same time serving as pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Alachua, also know as one of the oldest Black churches in Alachua County. In 1964 he was called to pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church located on Carter Street in the City of Orlando. In 1971, he organized the purchase of St. John's current location at 2025 West Central Boulevard, Orlando.

In the early 1980's many poor and homeless people were affected by major winter storms in Central Florida and Pastor Maxwell used the church's fellowship hall to provide food, shelter and clothing to people with no homes. It was at this time he became an advocate for the homeless and prayed, ``Lord, let your will be done. I desire to do something to make conditions better for some homeless people, Lord, teach me, lead me, and guide me.''

Maxwell retired as Senior Pastor of St. John Missionary Church in 2001, but never from the ministry and stated, ``Retired, but not slacked up one bit.''

[From the Orlando Sentinel, Dec. 14, 2005]

Revered Minister, Mentor Dies at 98

(By Jeff Kunerth)

The Rev. Fred Maxwell, a man considered the father of

Central Florida's black preachers, died Tuesday. He was 98.

Maxwell, who served as pastor of St. John Missionary

Baptist Church for 37 years, was a civil-rights leader,

ardent advocate for the homeless, human history book and a

man so universally respected that he often was called in to

mediate church disputes.

``This was a man anyone would want to know--similar to Rosa

Parks to me. The Reverend Maxwell had that kind of

presence,'' Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum said. ``You

are talking about an icon.''

To ministers such as the Rev. Randolph Bracy of New

Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando, Maxwell was a mentor who

encouraged them, and helped resolve the problems that arise

with pastoring.

``He knew how to bring calm to a very raucous situation. He

had a special gift that way,'' Bracy said. ``I have lost a

dear friend. I have lost a mentor.''

Orange County Commissioner Homer Hartage remembers Maxwell

as a tireless advocate for the homeless.

Maxwell was instrumental in securing a $4.8 million federal

grant to convert a former motel on Colonial Drive and John

Young Parkway into a 127-unit rental complex for the homeless

that became known as Maxwell Terrace.

But he didn't stop there. When Maxwell came to Hartage

seeking support for another motel conversion on South Orange

Blossom Trail, Hartage turned him down--four times.

Maxwell kept coming back until Hartage finally relented.

Two years later, Hartage had a cousin who got out of prison

and needed a place to transition back into society. He found

an apartment at Maxwell Gardens on South Orange Blossom

Trail.

``He ended up living in the same place I had problems

approving,'' Hartage said.

Maxwell, who used a wheelchair, was still active and alert,

working on a land deal in Maitland just a few months ago,

Hartage said.

``He was still strong, and he was still able,'' Hartage

said. ``You really, in your heart, wanted to see him around

forever. You just expect him to be there.''

Eatonville Mayor Anthony Grant called for a moment of

silence at a Town Council meeting Tuesday night to honor

Maxwell.

``He stood up for everything that was right. We have lost a

good leader,'' said Ella Dinkins, 87, a volunteer at the Zora

Neale Hurston Museum.

Born in Williston on Aug. 2, 1907, Maxwell grew up in Lake

County as the son of turpentine industry workers.

He said he first heard the calling to the ministry when he

was 19 but rejected it. He worked as a carpenter, grew citrus

and started a janitorial business.

Decades later, when he finally answered the calling, he was

the father of six children.

Maxwell preached throughout Central Florida. He became

minister of Orlando's St. John Missionary Baptist in 1964 and

remained there until 2001.

A man who left school in the third grade, Maxwell obtained

his high-school diploma later in life and would become known

for his intellect and eloquence. That was his entry into the

worlds of the humble and the mighty.

``He was not pretentious, even though he was very

intelligent, very capable,'' Lynum said.

``He is going to be remembered as an advocate, but not just

for the homeless. He worked in the community unselfishly.''

Maxwell's life spanned the Ocoee race riot of 1920 to the

civil-rights struggles of the 1960s to the election of blacks

to public office.

And he remembered it all until the end.

``He was just a rich repository of African-American history

in Central Florida,'' Bracy said. ``He was a living legacy.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 612. I honor and support our troops and request an open debate in the people's House on the Iraqi war on the floor of this House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I support Jack Murtha but I do not support this fraudulent Republican Resolution.

In my district back in 2000, tens of thousands of ballots were thrown out, spit out by faulty machines.

The Republicans stole the election back in 2000 and now we are at war.

It's time for the Republicans to talk the talk and walk the walk.

If they want war, give them a gun and make them go fight.

Those in the White House who have deferred 5 times and others over there who were called to duty yet never showed up . . . how dare they call Mr. Murtha a coward!

John Murtha has been the most ardent supporter of our troops on the ground in Congress.

In his 37 years in the Marines, John Murtha won two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Combat ``V'', and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the Marine Corps Commandant when he retired from the Marines.

John Murtha earned his bona fides to comment on what the troops are going through when he volunteered for duty in Vietnam.

And yes, Mr. Speaker, I can't speak for Congressman Murtha but I will tell you straight out that I AM calling the President, and the others in the White House who have intentionally misled the Americans into this war liars.

They knew from the outset that there weren't any Weapons of Mass Destruction over there.

They knew from the outset that there was no connection between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

But yet, Mr. Speaker, we went in there anyway.

And now over 2,000 of our brave soldiers have lost their lives; over 30,000 have suffered permanent injuries and their lives, or the lives of their loved ones will never be the same.

This war is a sham, it was a sham from the get go, and it is a sham today.

Now, I support the troops but I do not support the leaders of this Nation who led them into battle without enough equipment, and without any exit plan whatsoever.

Mr. Speaker, when I was coming up, my favorite television program was Robin Hood. The Republican budget coming up this week is one example of what I call ``Reverse Robin Hood,'' robbing from the poor and working class to give tax breaks to the rich, billions of dollars of tax breaks.

Let me tell you one of the examples of this policy and who it is going to hurt: single mothers seeking child support, students struggling to get ahead and pay for their college loans, foster kids, the sick and the poor whose only access to health coverage is Medicaid, those whose nutrition depends on food stamps or school lunches.

The budget is an outrage, one that clearly and forcefully paints a world of two classes of Americans. And with insult added to injury, it punishes those who have committed no crime but to be old, young, sick or uneducated. It punishes the working poor.

Mr. Speaker, the Republicans practice reverse Robin Hood.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation to authorize a memorial to the victims of Ukraine Famine.

The dreadful famine that engulfed Ukraine, the northern Caucasus, and the lower Volga River area in 1932-1933 was the result of Joseph Stalin's policy of forced collectivization.

The heaviest losses occurred in Ukraine, which had been the most productive agricultural area of the Soviet Union. Stalin was determined to crush all vestiges of Ukrainian nationalism.

Thus, the famine was accompanied by a devastating purge of the Ukrainian intelligentsia and the Ukrainian Communist party itself.

The famine broke the peasants' will to resist collectivization and left Ukraine politically, socially, and psychologically traumatized.

The death toll from the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine has been estimated between six million and seven million.

This memorial will authorize the Government of Ukraine to build a memorial on federal land so that no one will forget what the Ukraine people suffered at the hands of a dictator and the horrible consequences of forced collectivization.

Again, I urge passage of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this bill.

It is imperative that we get a cost of living adjustment to those who have put their lives on the line to protect the freedom of this country. The 4.1 percent cost of living increase is very important to our veterans.

I am pleased that Congress is passing a clean bill. There are no riders that would dilute the effectiveness of our commitment to our Nation's veterans.

However, it is important to continue this bipartisanship into the heavier lifting that will occur in the next days and weeks.

It is imperative we keep the reconciliation bill free from cuts in veterans healthcare. It is imperative we do not subject veterans healthcare to an across the board cut. It is imperative we fully fund veterans healthcare next February, when the President submits his Fiscal Year 2007 budget.

We do not need another emergency supplemental appropriations bill to cover shortfalls in operations and maintenance.

Let us do right by our veterans and not pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and recovery efforts from Katrina with cuts in veterans healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House regarding the proposed $70 billion cuts.

Let me just say that this weekend I went to the Florida-Georgia game, and it was a real tough game, but at that game was the head of the Police Athletic League who had just read an article in the Times Union, which is one of the most conservative papers in the United States. It talked about the proposed cuts in the food stamp program, and he was appalled that we are going to cut programs for school lunch and senior citizens programs while we are trying to give tax breaks to the rich.

I mean, just picture this. The head of the Police Athletic League, conservative group, giving me the going over.

I told him, you know what, you are singing to the choir. I do not support these cuts. You need to talk to the people on the other side of the aisle, the people that you play golf with, the people that you run around with. Those are the ones that are planning on doing these cuts, and I recommend that you talk with them and let them know that you do not support those cuts.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Buyer and Ranking Member Evans for bringing this important bill to the attention of the House of Representatives.

This legislation will empower the chief information officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs to control and influence information technology in the Department.

I fully support H.R. 4061 and am very pleased to be an original cosponsor.

This bill helps the Department of Veterans Affairs construct a balanced, responsive, and accountable system to manage information technology at VA.

As we have all seen from the emergencies that have recently affected this country, it is important for all of the computers to be able to communicate with each other in every region. A veteran needs to know that he or she will be served when they enter any VA facility.

Under this bill, we are taking the first steps to make sure this happens.

I encourage my colleagues to approve this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairmen Young and LoBiondo and Ranking Members Oberstar and Filner for their hard work in bringing this bill to the floor.

The Coast Guard has been protecting our shores for more than 200 years, and has done an outstanding job. The Coast Guard was the first Agency to react to the terrorist attacks on September 11th, and within minutes was guarding our ports and bridges, and directing maritime traffic out of New York. Right now they're in the Gulf region evacuating victims and cleaning up neighborhoods. And we now have a Coastie heading the recovery effort.

Like many Members, I had major concerns when they moved the Coast Guard into the Department of Homeland Security because I feared that it would prevent them from doing their core missions of Search & Rescue, Drug Interdiction, and Enforcing Maritime and Fisheries Laws. We now know that they can also get caught up in the red tape of the Department of Homeland Security, and we need to keep the Department's feet to the fire, so they don't stand in the way of the Coast Guard's traditional mission.

Fortunately the Transportation Committee realizes how important the Coast Guard is, and we are providing them $861 million more than the Administration. This is just one more example of where the money being sent to Iraq could be used right here by our own Coast Guard.

I encourage my colleagues to support full funding for the Coast Guard. It's simply the right thing to do for America.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, would the gentleman please explain to me, because I quite do not understand it. I heard what he said about the Halliburtons of the world. But could he explain why minorities and women, the people that are most affected by this hurricane, cannot participate in the recovery.

Just a follow-up, Mr. Speaker.

Can he give me the criteria, how they participate? Is it some kind of campaign contribution? Is there some kind of criteria? I need to be able to go somewhere and tell my small businesses who want to participate how to participate. Whom do they have to write the checks to?

Mr. Speaker, let me commend the congresswoman for her leadership in this area. Let me commend the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership; and I also want to commend the American people, because the American people have come forward, the private businesses, the private organizations.

What has been blatantly clear to all Americans is that the Federal Government has been missing in action. We have two Americas. It is tragic. We have one black. Yes, I said it, black, African American. One white. One rich and one poor, and the poorest Americans are still the most vulnerable. We need to ensure that all Americans, regardless of where they live, can find a quality of life and work.

This hurricane has put a spotlight on the tragic situation that exists with this administration, and I call it reverse Robin Hood, robbing from the poor and working people to give tax breaks to the rich. I am going to repeat that. Reverse Robin Hood, and I have said it over and over again. Robbing from the poor to give tax breaks to the rich. That has been the policy.

There are two things that I want to discuss today. In light of the hurricane, why are we doing away with Davis-Bacon? And, two, why are we doing away with affirmative action contracting programs?

Almost as disturbing as this administration's horrible response to the hurricane is their suspension of all labor rules for hurricane- related contracts. Just like in the past, the Bush administration is taking every opportunity to destroy organized labor but has taken it to a new level by suspending all affirmative action programs in contracting. This is a new mandate by this administration, and it will do absolutely nothing to ensure quick or better service for those suffering from the hurricanes but will certainly ensure that none of them are involved with rebuilding their homes and communities. The very same people whose tax dollars will be paying for the reconstruction will be shut out of the opportunity to participate in the cleanup.

Just like in Iraq, where we never had any oversight, we cannot afford to see the repeat of this situation in the gulf States. And let me say again, Iraq, no oversight, over $1 billion, no accountability. If this had been a Democratic administration, somebody would be in jail, and certainly the Congress would be investigating and investigating, and there would be hearings and hearings and hearings.

Nothing, nothing goes on in the people's House. The only thing that we do is vote on somebody's courthouse. No discussions about the issues of the day. If it was not for this Congressional Black Caucus, no discussion.

As always, President Bush talks the talk. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that our government is a paper tiger. We talk the talk, but we do not walk the walk. He and his political cronies continue their assault on minorities and the working poor, while lining the pockets of their political cronies and filling their campaign coffers.

Lo and behold, whom do we see getting the biggest contract in the cleanup of the hurricane? I heard one of my sisters last Tuesday night ask the Secretary, the Secretary that was here, can anybody do any business with the Federal Government other than Halliburton? A $588 billion contract, no bid, no opportunity for anybody else to participate. If I am incorrect, please somebody speak up. None other than Dick Cheney's Halliburton. So while the poor in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi suffer from Federal neglect, Dick Cheney and his cronies keep getting rich. I said it. If Hurricane Katrina's high winds, rain, and furious power were not enough, the Federal Government's inadequate response to this tragedy just adds gasoline to the fire.

I want to take a moment to thank the people locally in my area of Jacksonville. We have sent over 18 tractor trailers full of goods and services. Goods. I asked them to give me their wish list, and everything on their wish list we filled. And, in fact, I got a call today. We have got another one filled, and we are getting ready to send it to Mississippi.

And let me tell my colleagues something. People from Mississippi and Louisiana are calling me. To this day no one has been to their community. They do not have communication. They do not have water. They do not have lights. What is the problem in the richest country in the world? We are not a third world country. We still have not gotten services to these local communities.

As I bring it to a close, remember to whom God has given much, much is expected. We cannot continue to run around the world talking about our fighting for democracy, fighting for our neighbors, when we do not fight right here at home for the people who pay the taxes. We have got a lot of work to do in this Congress, and it is not just passing a bill naming a post office.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, on that question, I understand I cannot discuss their personal motives, but I understand that I can raise their names.

This inquiry should not be on the time of the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Speaker, I did not understand what you are saying, sir. Would you repeat what you just said?

Mr. Speaker, what we are witnessing in Louisiana and in Mississippi right now is the complete meltdown of the Federal Government, and in particular, the Department of Homeland Security. Given that the Federal Government can't even dole out adequate assistance to this one area of the country during this tragedy, how can U.S. citizens feel safe at a time when we are faced with the threat of a terrorist attack on a national level?

What I find truly amazing is that the disaster planners have said that a direct hurricane strike on New Orleans is one of the top 3 catastrophic scenarios facing our Nation. So how is it that the agencies have been so slow to respond to this crisis, claiming to have been caught off guard? The President himself said that the levee breach was not anticipated . . . how can that possibly be true? In addition, while the Superdome has long been considered as the city's main hurricane refuge spot, no supplies were stocked there before the storm hit on Monday. It is simply incomprehensible to me how Federal officials had not deployed equipment and relief supplies before Katrina struck land, or even bothered to mobilize in the region beforehand? This lack of response is outright shameful, an outrage, and an embarrassment!

This is one more example of the complete failure of the Federal Government under the Republican led administration. Since 9/11, the Republican led Congress has given natural disaster preparedness secondary status in the Federal budget, undermining the effectiveness of FEMA, and has cut funding for the Army Corps floor control projects in and around New Orleans, and throughout the Nation.

In the post 9/11 reorganization, FEMA joined 21 other agencies to form the new Homeland Security Department, and was stripped of the Cabinet rank that had allowed it to report directly to the President. Later, in a further department shuffle back in July, FEMA lost its mission of working with State and local governments on preparedness plans even before a disaster hits. FEMA used to be a very powerful organization, with veteran staffers, that is, up until the Bush administration threw everything together into one huge department, ironically labeling it ``Homeland Security.'' What the new department should have been called is the ``Department of Insecurity!''

And now, as many here in Washington and around the country have been urging for the agency to have its independence restored, the Republican Congress has just taken away people and money, as well as power and authority from FEMA, doing away with our national security while doling out tax cuts for the rich. This agency, which in the past has given out hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to State and local responders, has now lost the ability to do so, leaving grant giving in the hands of the overextended Homeland Security Department. Moreover, the Bush administration has canceled other FEMA programs, including a Clinton administration-era disaster mitigation effort known as Project Impact. And what's more, at a time in our history when homeland security experts are calling for a greater emphasis on preparing for calamity, Michael Brown, FEMA's current director, has faced years of funding cuts, personnel departures and the downgrading of the department. And of course, worse yet, Michael Brown himself is a mere political appointee, who obtained his current position because of his close friendship with Joe M. Allbaugh, who managed President Bush's 2000 presidential campaign. I think many would agree with me that for a position as important as this one, past experience in emergency management is crucial.

One other terrible decision made previously in the administration was the transferring of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security. Let us remember that the Coast Guard was the first agency to respond to the terrorist attacks on September 11th. Within minutes after the attacks, their ships were guarding our bridges and waterways.

In closing, it is clear that we really need to evaluate our country's ability to handle national disasters. It is simply unacceptable for the Federal Government to wait until there are bodies floating down rivers to begin activating the National Guard! Again, I would have hoped that FEMA would have had a contingency plan in the case of a major hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast. Yet obviously, they did not.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again. With the economy in shambles, we are here today discussing free trade in the form of CAFTA. My colleagues, if passed, this free trade bill would be a net loss for American workers, for the environment, and for the local workers in Central America as well. So you may ask . . . who wins if CAFTA passes? Simple enough. As has too often been the case with this administration, the folks at the country clubs would win. Yes, the same people who benefit from the Bush administration's tax cut plans for the wealthy . . . the very same people who have been benefiting since President Bush took office back in 2000, all at the expense of our Nation's working people!

CAFTA does not care whether or not you use child labor or forced labor. It does not care whether multinational companies pollute our planet's water and poison our air. This is a treaty that clearly says we do not care how safe the products are that we import, no . . . this trade agreement, just like NAFTA and free trade policies in general, serves just one purpose: To make the richer even richer, while keeping our Nation's workforce at the bottom of the barrel.

Even under the Clinton administration, we were promised more jobs, yet what happened? Millions and millions of American workers found themselves out of work! Workers' lives have been ruined, their families have been torn and uprooted, and in fact, entire agricultural industries like the tomato industry in Florida have suffered. In fact, for the past decade, Florida vegetable growers, especially tomato and bell pepper farmers, have been nearly put out of business! My State's citrus crop, which is often considered the jewel of Florida's agriculture production, is facing greater and greater pressure from Mexico every day. Indeed, if this trade agreement passes, it could easily drive this important industry right out of business!

I yield back the balance of my time and encourage everyone in this building to cast a vote against this bill, and to vote in favor of America's workers, in favor of our farmers, in favor of the environment, and in favor of what's right for our Nation!

Mr. Speaker, we need a fix for our healthcare system, but H.R. 5 is not it. Limiting patient's legal redress and compensation is not it. The punishment should fit the crime and if a doctor or drug company does harm knowingly or negligently to a patient they should be compensated to make them whole. That is the standard and it should be decided on a case by case basis according to the facts of each case. It makes me very uncomfortable to place a cap and effectively a dollar amount on what an impact an injury has on an individual's life.

The main group that benefits are big drug companies who will be able to evade their responsibilities injured parties.

The bill will seriously restrict the rights of injured patients to be compensated for their injuries, while rewarding insurance companies for bad investment decisions and doctors for practicing bad medicine. It will do almost nothing to make insurance more affordable or available for doctors. That is the bottom line. In a State like Florida where topic of healthcare is on the tip of every tongue it is important that we take the right steps to solve our mounting healthcare costs.

I am sensitive to the physicians and medical students who plead with me to make it affordable to practice. I know that physicians are now being forced to make specialty choices based on how much malpractice insurance costs, but let's be honest to our colleagues if not these poor students, the Republican leadership has trotted this bill out for purely political purposes--no hearings were held on the measure, nor did either committee with jurisdiction mark up the bill. This bill was only introduced last week.

If H.R. 5 becomes law, this bill would have serious consequences for sick and injured patients. The measure's $250,000 cap on non-economic damages will hurt those at the bottom of the income scale the most. While corporate chief executive officers would receive economic damage awards that could easily reach into the millions of dollars, minimum- wage workers and stay-at-home moms would receive a pittance. The cap on punitive damages is similarly unjust. It imposes an impossibly high standard of proof, completely eviscerates the deterrent that effect punitive damages have on egregious misconduct of defendants, and would not affect how large drug companies test and market their products.

When investment income decreased because of stock market declines, insurance companies hiked premiums, reduced coverage and then blamed the legal system for a ``liability insurance crisis.'' This bill also contorts the American legal system, first by taking the issue of tort litigation out of the hands of the states, where it has traditionally resided, and by severely limiting juries' abilities to adequately compensate victims of malpractice. We place our trust in juries every day to judge the facts and to decide what constitutes justice. If we can trust juries to make life and death decisions on death-penalty cases, we can surely trust them to decide the appropriate level of compensation for those injured by medical malpractice.

Our current tort system is the great equalizer in the civil justice system--it allows ordinary citizens to take on billion-dollar companies and millionaire doctors defended by $500-an-hour lawyers so they can get the compensation they deserve. The contingency fee system also deters frivolous lawsuits--no lawyer would agree to take on a case he believed would result in no award for his client and no payment for himself.

Tort reformers often ridicule million-dollar jury awards, saying that the plaintiffs must feel like they have won the lottery. Tell that to the parents of the 17-year-old transplant patient who died after being given organs with the wrong blood type, or the Wisconsin woman who had a double mastectomy, only to discover after the operation that the lab had made a mistake and she did not have breast cancer after all. It is doubtful that any family that loses a loved one or suffers years of pain and suffering because of a medical error feels like celebrating after fighting their way through the court system and finally receiving compensation.

The Institute of Medicine estimated in 1999 that as many as 98,000 people are killed by medical errors every year--that is as many people as live in the president's old hometown of Midland, Texas. Instead of penalizing innocent victims of medical malpractice, Congress should be focusing on reducing the number of mistakes made. According to data from the National practitioner Database, 5 percent of all doctors are responsible for 54 percent of malpractice claims paid. The medical profession needs to crack down on these repeat offenders. It is disgraceful that the House leadership is using this bill as filler round out its ``health care'' theme for next week's floor schedule. Medical malpractice insurance rates and medical errors are important issues that reserve the full attention of Congress. These issues need to be studied by Congress in a bipartisan manner to address both problems and should not be used as political fundraising tools.