Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for giving me the opportunity to make these comments prior to the hour that she will be using on behalf of the majority.

Mr. Speaker, this week, residents of Chicago lost three of its most prominent citizens. Earlier today, the funeral was held for a blues singer, a fellow named Tyrone Davis, who has had great popular songs such as ``Mom's Apple Pie'' and ``Turn Back the Hands of Time.'' Tyrone grew up in Mississippi, rural Mississippi, as a matter of fact, not far from Greenville. He came to Chicago and ultimately became one of the top recording artists in the country. He also happens to be a resident of the neighborhood that I come from. He came and lived on the west side of the city of Chicago and interacted in the night clubs and blues joints before he rose to the top.

And so I simply want to express condolences to the wife and family of Tyrone Davis, great blues singer. We also lost this week attorney Earl Neal, one of the most accomplished lawyers that the country has ever seen.

Earl distinguished himself as a great attorney, great trial lawyer, but also was actively engaged and involved in civics and community affairs, chairman of the board of trustees of the University of Illinois, his alma mater; chairman of the University of Illinois Alumni Association; and also chairman of the Urban Health Program, where, through his efforts, the University of Illinois trained more African American physicians and dentists than any college or university in the Nation, with the exception of Howard and Meharry.

And so certainly we want to extol our condolences to Earl's wife, Isabella, his son, attorney Langdon Neal, and other members of his family.

And finally Milton Davis, who was chairman of Shorebank, little group of people got together, started a bank, they called it south Shorebank. It emerged as the number-one community lending institution in the Nation. Right now its assets are more than a billion dollars, and Milton Davis and I collaborated, and he put a bank in the neighborhood where I lived, called the Austin branch of Shorebank.

So I simply want to express condolences to his wife and family, and all of those who are associated with Shorebank, one of the top community lending institutions in the Nation, on the life and legacy of Milton Davis, its former president and chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to commend the life and work of one of America's most skilled, most effective and most influential lawyers, Attorney Earl Neal. Over the years, I have often heard Earl Neal referred to as a lawyer's lawyer or as the city's expert on may issues, no matter who the mayor or city's management might have been composed of. I have been involved in court cases and litigation where I was on one side and Earl was on the other. In each instance, although we were (in fact adversaries) I always found myself wishing that we were on the same side. There were instances where we were on the same side of issues and I always had the highest level of assurance that were being represented as well as humanely possible.

In addition to being an outstanding lawyer, Earl and his wife Isabella were prominent civic and social leaders in the State of Illinois. He was intimately associated with his alma matter, the University of Illinois serving on the Board of Trustees, President of the Alumni Association and Chairman of the Urban Health Advisory Council which resulted in the University of Illinois training more African American physicians and dentists than any medical school in the USA with the exception of Howard and Meharry.

To Mrs. Neal and Attorney Langdon Neal and other members of the family, you have the heartfelt condolences of myself, my wife, Vera and our entire family. Earl has been as Harold Washington would say, ``fruit of the loom, best of the breed, in a class by himself.''

Mr. Speaker, we may soon know the official count from the elections in Iraq but it is already very clear we will not know the real long term impact and results for some time.

Will the election unite the Iraqi people or further divide them? Will the new government represent the interests of all sectors of Iraqi society? Will the rights of minorities be protected? Will the new laws of the land be promulgated on a secular or religious basis?

The elections do nothing to increase the legitimacy of our so-called ``preventive war.'' The official end for the search for weapons of mass destruction confirms what a majority of the American people have known for some time: we were misled as to the need for military action in Iraq.

There was no link between Saddam Hussein and 9/11. U.N. sanctions and inspections were, in fact, highly effective in disarming Iraq after the 1991 war.

There is no doubt that those Iraqis who did vote, and already the controversy is growing over what share of the population participated, were expressing their profound hope for an end to the violence, for an improvement in the quality of their lives, for a say in their own futures and an end to the occupation of their country.

And why not? Estimates by reputable experts such as the British medical journal, The Lancet are that more than 100,000 Iraqis have died as a result of the war and the on-going violence under the occupation.

The Iraqi government has reported that malnutrition among young children has doubled since the war began and that they are experiencing soaring rates of disease exacerbated by a decimated health system.

Iraq is no closer to a stable democracy today than it was two years ago. The Iraqi insurgency appears to be growing significantly faster than the security forces we have attempted to train. It is questionable if Iraqi security forces can ever achieve authority as long as our troops have the real responsibility for maintaining order.

The presence of more than 130,000 U.S. troops has, in fact, become a rallying point and an endless source of fodder for propaganda by terrorists.

At a time when American prestige and leadership is more necessary than ever, when the light of hope for a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people once again flickers to life, U.S. ability to serve as a broker for peace has been crippled by the perception of many of our actions in Iraq.

We face the massive and difficult task of rebuilding international alliances and renewing the mechanisms of international diplomacy and security. And what has been the cost to America? As of yesterday, 1,449 American troops killed. 10,740 wounded as of the end of January. Extended time of service for tens of thousands of service men and women and reservists at immense cost to families.

The diversion of tens of billions of dollars from homeland security, health, education, housing, and a host of other needs have left some of our most urgent needs here at home untended and unaddressed. The long term impact on our military has not yet been examined, but based on our experience after Vietnam there is good reason to expect that there will be a negative impact.

Mr. Speaker, in the interests of stabilizing the situation in Iraq, in the interests of peace and security in the region, in the interests of our homeland security, and in support of our troops, it is time to bring our troops home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of America's most shining and influential artists, Ms. Marian Anderson. The recent issuance of a commemorative stamp in her honor provides an opportunity to recognize her impressive achievements.

Few musicians in history can claim the number of achievements Ms. Anderson can. As an opera singer, she proved to be among the world's best. Her range and ability to communicate a song's emotion were envied. Ms. Anderson often sang in the original language of

the songs she performed, feeling that she would better connect with the native audience. By the end of her career she had performed in eight languages and traveled all over the world--living and studying for extended periods of time in Europe. Her voice graced President and Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House and the Inaugural ceremonies for Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. After hearing her, the world renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini commented that hers ``. . . is a voice one hears once in a hundred years.'' How true.

During her life, Ms. Anderson witnessed and contributed to some of the greatest changes in history. She lived through two world wars, a depression, and the civil rights movement. As an African-American, female performer during a period of history in which that combination provided particular challenges, she overcame prejudice and social limitations. For example, she was the first black singer to perform on stage at the New York Metropolitan Opera House. One of her most notable concerts was on Easter morning on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Broadcast nationwide via radio, Ms. Anderson sang before a crowd of over 75,000 and millions of listeners after she was prohibited from performing at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the Revolution.

In addition to receiving awards for her musical talent, like the Grammy Lifetime Achievement, she received numerous other honors for her commitment to peace and equality. She was appointed goodwill ambassador to Asia and a delegate to the United Nations. She received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, the United Nations Peace Prize, the NAACP's Sprigarn Medal for outstanding achievement by a black American, and the President's Medal of Freedom.

Clearly, Marian Anderson had a resonating and inspiring voice with the heart and conviction to match. Ms. Anderson's voice was a vehicle of communication, and music her universal language. Hers' represented the voice of so many others who were unable to speak out against the injustices they faced.

I am honored to celebrate the issuance of the Marian Anderson commemorative stamp today. Ms. Anderson is quite deserving of this recognition. In doing this we eternalize the courage, conviction, and talent of this remarkable woman.

Mr. Speaker, I was saddened earlier to learn of the passing of Mr. Milton Davis, the former chairman and president of Shorebank.

Shorebank is one of the most innovative, creative community financing operations in the Nation.

Milton Davis was a pioneer in community banking. I simply want to extend condolences to his family, and I trust that his legacy will continue to live as neighborhoods and communities reap the benefits of the lending policies and practices that he developed.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller ), who is the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt), a cosponsor of this resolution and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus,

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and admiration that I rise to support H. Con. Res. 25, recognizing the contribution of Jibreel Khazan, David Richmond, Joseph McNeil and Franklin McCain, the Greensboro Four, to the civil rights movement.

Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 1960, Franklin McCain, Jibreel Khazan, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond sat down for lunch at the counter of a Greensboro, North Carolina, Woolworth's. This may not seem like much today, but in 1960 that was an extraordinary act. Extraordinary because the four men were black and the counter inside Woolworth's was segregated. They did not serve people of color.

When the four young men from North Carolina A&T were refused service, they remained seated. The restaurant called the police in an attempt to force them to leave. When the police and other white people in Woolworth's used threats of violence and imprisonment to force the four men to leave, they remain seated. This form of resistance became known as a sit-in, a form of peaceful protest that was used extensively during the civil rights movement. The idea worked so well that, rather than serve the four men, the owner closed the store early.

Undeterred, the Greensboro Four returned to Woolworth's the next day and sat at the counter. This time, however, they brought with them reporters and local TV news crews to cover the story. By the following day, news of the sit-in had spread and was receiving national attention. The sit-in had grown to include whites as well.

After months of sit-ins, Woolworth's decided that they had had enough. On July 26, 1960, they agreed to the Greensboro Four's demand that they integrate the restaurant. This may seem like a small victory in light of later accomplishments in the civil rights movement, but victories like this one laid the foundation for many of the rights people of color enjoy today.

The surviving members of the group, Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and Jibreel Khazan, have settled into their

own private lives; but their impact on race relations in the United States was profound. It is only fitting that we honor them today in this manner.

Mr. Speaker, I reiterate my strong support for this legislation, remember my own days as a student at that time, not in North Carolina but in the State of Arkansas where conditions were very similar, and all of us were touched, moved, inspired, motivated, and activated by the Greensboro Four. I thank the gentleman for introducing this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 324, legislation naming the postal facility in Altamonte Springs, Florida, after Arthur Stacey Mastrapa. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney) on January 25, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on February 9, 2005, enjoys the support and co-sponsorship of the entire Florida delegation.

Mr. Mastrapa was a city letter carrier at the Arthur Springs Post Office who served in the United States Army Military Police in Iraq when he was killed in action on June 16, 2004. He was 35 years old and due to return home the week that he was killed.

Arthur Stacey Mastrapa joined the U.S. Army in 1992 and served at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and later in Germany. He left active duty in 1998 and joined the U.S. Army Reserve. He became a letter carrier casual in Altamonte Springs and soon earned a career appointment.

Sergeant Mastrapa was called back to active duty in 2003 to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom. During his military service, he earned medals for good conduct and service in the national defense. He received two Army Achievement medals and ribbons for service in military law enforcement.

Sergeant Mastrapa was a loving family man. He left behind a wife and two children and many, many relatives in the central Florida area, Cuba, Michigan, and Australia. He was also loved and respected by his co-workers at the post office.

Designating the post office in Altamonte Springs, Florida, is an excellent way to honor the memory of Arthur Stacey Mastrapa.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for sponsoring this measure. I urge swift passage of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), a son of New England and a very proud Patriots fan.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close for our side.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 86, which pays tribute to the New England Patriots, their owner, Robert Kraft, their coach, Bill Belichick, and their dedicated fans for the team's historic achievement of winning Super Bowl XXXIX.

As an avid, patient, and optimistic Chicago Bears fan, I understand how having a great football team can lift the spirits of an entire community. The fans of New England have stood loyally with the Patriots in tough times since their inception in 1962. However, over the last 4 years their dedication has been rewarded with three Super Bowl victories.

In spite of their previous success, this season's Super Bowl championship did not come easily. Headed into the playoffs, the Patriots suffered two disappointing losses, and it was predicted by many that they would lose their first playoff game.

The Patriots had a different plan. They first shut down Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in New England by a score of 20 to 3. The Patriots then headed to Pittsburgh to play their rivals, the Steelers, a team that had beaten them decisively earlier in the year.

Despite being dubbed the ``team with no stars,'' the Patriots easily disposed of the Steelers by winning 41 to 27, and quieted their critics. Their final test would come in the Super Bowl. Technically favored to win the Super Bowl in Jacksonville, many people believed that Coach Belichick and his players would be outplayed by Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens, and the rest of the Eagles' high-scoring attack.

Once the game was played, however, it was the Patriots who celebrated. After falling behind early in the game, the Patriots players displayed the hearts of champions by clawing their way back and ultimately winning the game by a score of 24 to 21.

By winning their third championship, the Patriots solidified their place as one of the National Football League's greatest teams.

Mr. Speaker, I take a moment to commend the efforts of the mastermind behind the operations, Coach Bill Belichick, who has solidified his standings as one of the great coaches in National Football League history. With this win, Bill Belichick improves his playoff record to 10 and 1, the best playoff record of any coach with three Super Bowl wins. His record even eclipses that of the legendary coach, Vince Lombardi.

Congratulations to the New England Patriots and their fans and, once again, for a terrific year. I am sure that it will not be their last, and I know that the Chicago Bears have been waiting and watching and hoping to emulate their success.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, every year fires and other emergencies take thousands of lives and destroy property worth billions of dollars.

Fire fighters help protect the public against these dangers by rapidly responding to a variety of emergencies.

They are frequently the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to put out a fire, treat injuries, or perform other vital functions. State fire chiefs associations serve to provide educational resources to fire fighters, to facilitate the exchange of information, to promote regional cooperation between firefighting entities and to provide professional development workshops and training to all state-wide and regional fire fighters.

These efforts in recent years have been broadened to include protecting the homeland. The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association is dedicated to promoting excellence in the fire service by providing the network of information sharing and opportunities for its diverse membership and associated partnerships through education, legislation, and technical means.

The fire chiefs associations help us do our jobs, which is to serve and protect the American public. I commend the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and all fire chief associations for their hard work and dedication. They function for all of us and in our best interest.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my time out of order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company for being a leader in minority business development by entering a multiyear master service agreement with All Printing and Graphics Incorporated, a certified minority business enterprise headed by Mr. Hoyett Owens.

This agreement goes beyond the ordinary tier one vendor relationship and creates a new model that encompasses the spirit of minority business development. This alliance enables an important minority-owned business in Chicago to draw on R.R. Donnelley's manufacturing, information technology and product development resources, making All Printing and Graphics one of the leading minority-owned printing companies in the country.

R.R. Donnelley is a premier, full-service global print provider and the largest printing company in North America. It was founded 140 years ago and serves the largest companies in the world through a comprehensive range of verifiable printing services and market-specific solutions.

All Printing and Graphics provides award-winning graphic design and imprinting services. Under the leadership of Mr. Hoyett Owens, it developed from a small printing company to a multimillion-dollar business that was selected by Chicago's Civic Committee of Inner City Business Development and the city of Chicago for a unique program connecting strong minority companies with large corporations.

The relationship between R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company and All Printing and Graphics, Incorporated, can serve as an example of a possible solution to the problems facing small businesses.

There are an estimated 25 million small businesses in America. They employ half of our workers that account for half of our gross domestic product and create three out of every four new jobs. Small businesses have and will continue to pull the U.S. economy out of recession. They anchor our neighborhoods, employ and train our workers, and take care of our families. They are the reason that the United States economy has consistently been known as the strongest in the world.

Despite all of their contributions, they still have many problems and face many barriers, access to capital, opportunity for new markets.

The agreement between R.R. Donnelley and All Printing and Graphics is an example of something called BusinessLINC, where a major business links with a smaller business in order to provide not only resources but also technical assistance and open markets for the smaller unit.

And so I commend R.R. Donnelley and All Printing and Graphics as an example of how to strengthen and develop small business enterprises in this country and make sure that small businesses continue to grow, thrive and develop.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 26 honoring the heroic accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen. At a time when race narrowed the horizons and limited the opportunities of many Americans, the Tuskegee Airmen soared high above the low expectations of the day.

The Tuskegee Airmen served their country with great valor and distinction and set in motion the movement to desegregate the Armed Forces, a crucial moment in the civil rights struggle. Black History Month is a good time to remember the American heroes that were not given the full recognition that they were due. The Tuskegee Airmen are deserving of all of the praise that they will surely receive today. All took great risks for their country and some made the ultimate sacrifice. Americans remember our heroes and hold a special place in their hearts for the Tuskegee Airmen.

Those that are still with us have continued to serve their country on the home front in various ways and have received not all of the attention. However, a friend of mine from Chicago, Rufus Hunt, who served with the Tuskegee Airmen, has helped to keep the memory and spirit of these brave Americans alive by serving as their chief historian. Others have taught flying skills to underprivileged youth, and still others have worked as mentors.

We have a great active group of Tuskegee Airmen in the City of Chicago, the DODO Chapter, and they are still teaching young people how to fly. They have a Young Eagles program. One of my proudest possessions is a jacket that I have that the Tuskegee Airmen's DODO Club has given to me.

So I join with all of us as we extol the virtues of those brave men and now women who are members of the Tuskegee Airmen who continue the great tradition of providing the greatest of service and tremendous aviation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard statistic after statistic. We have heard number after number. It is very clear that HIV/AIDS is indeed an emergency situation in the African American community. It is a real problem across the country in all communities. The question that comes is: What do we really do about it?

I commend the President for mentioning in his State of the Union address an additional focus on the issue. I agree with my friend from Florida who suggests that we need abstinence and education information, but we really need a comprehensive approach to the problem. We must have enough resources for treatment, we must focus on prevention, and we must focus on changing and altering lifestyles.

Mr. Speaker, America has within it the resources to really deal with this issue; we just need the will. I commend the gentlewoman from California for her leadership and all of those who have pledged to do what they can. I also commend all of those individuals in my community. I have been publicly tested three times to help convince individuals to be tested, to do the things that are necessary. Churches are getting more involved, as they should. We must continue.

Mr. Speaker, according to the 2000 Census, African Americans make up 12.3 percent of the Nation's population but account for 40 percent of the estimated AIDS cases diagnosed since the epidemic began. Through science, research, and medical advancements, there are better treatments, prevention efforts, and a decline in AIDS diagnoses and deaths, except for African Americans. Between 1999 and 2003, AIDS diagnoses among African-Americans increased by 7 percent, compared to a 3 percent decline among White Americans. Deaths among African Americans remained fairly stable but declined by 18 percent among White Americans over this period. In 2003, 59 children younger than 13 years of age in our country had a new AIDS diagnosis, 40 of the 59 were African- American. Of the 90 infants reported as having HIV/AIDS in 2003, 62 of the 90 were African-American.

It is important Congress takes time to focus and support January 7th as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, especially since the startling statistics continue. In 2002-2003, the HIV/AIDS rates for African-American females were 19 times the rates for White females and 5 times the rate for Hispanic females. Although African-American teens ages 13-19 represent only 15 percent of the teenagers in our Nation, they accounted for 65 percent of new AIDS cases reported among teens in 2002.

In Illinois and Chicago, we also continue to lose our African- American mothers, sisters and young people--the future generation-- incredibly more than any other group in American to AIDS. Approximately 66 percent of Illinois women living with HIV are African-American, while African Americans only make up 15 percent of the Illinois female population. In Chicago, African-American women are 12 times that of White women and 4 times that of Hispanic women to have AIDS. In Illinois, African-Americans accounted for 58 percent of reported AIDS cases among teens ages 13 to 19.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today rattling off statistic after statistic because HIV/AIDS is plaguing and destroying African-American communities. Yet, I wonder how many of my colleagues or how many Americans, including African-Americans, know how devastating and destructive this disease is on one population in our country. It leads to the questions, why is more not being done? Why has this not been considered a national public health emergency? With more African- American males in prison, more African-American females living and dying with HIV/AIDS, what is to happen to the African-American children and families?

We all must get behind the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day slogan ``Get Educated, Get Involved, Get Tested''. I am proud to have joined individuals in my congressional district last year on Worlds AIDS Day and got tested. I am also very excited and pleased that the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, AFC, introduced its new Faith in Prevention initiative last year, which aims to include 12 churches and faith-based organizations to reduce the impact of HIV and AIDS on the health of African-American men and women in Chicago. Each received a leadership grant to support activities such as HIV outreach and education, HIV prevention Ministries, support groups and awareness events.

Again, I support this legislation and thank the gentlewoman from California for her dedication to HIV/AIDS and for bring this legislation to the floor. But I remind our country--more needs to be done.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the originator of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barrow).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), another contemporary and friend and colleague of Ossie Davis.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have left.

Mr. Speaker, could I indulge my colleague to yield to us maybe 6 minutes?

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Detroit, Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the energetic gentlewoman from Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson- Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I believe that all of our speakers who are here have had an opportunity to speak. I will use the rest of our time to close.

I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding a portion of the time, and I want to thank all of those who came over to speak. There were a number of additional individuals who had signed up but were not able to get here, people like the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns), and unfortunately, they were not able to come.

I simply want to indicate that Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were as much a part of being activists as they were being actors, and I want to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) for giving us all the opportunity to share in his life today.

In November of 2003, we launched something called the State of the African American Male, and Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were the luncheon speakers. Of course, the luncheon had standing room only, people trying to get in; and it was at that gathering where Ossie Davis stated that it was his personal mission to reverse the trends affecting young black males, such as drug tradition, high dropout rates and criminal issues.

Ossie Davis will forever live in our hearts and minds through his community outreach, his talents on and off camera, and as a loving father and husband. He will also be recognized on the world stage as a pioneer of the civil rights movement, fighting for justice, equality and what he knew were the right things to do.

Ossie Davis felt a collective effort of change was needed in our community and our country, but as he once said, ``It's not the man, it's the plan.''

Today, we honor the man, but we will never forget the plan, the life and the influence of Ossie Davis.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the remainder of our time to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), for our final words, as she has just dashed in, another contemporary and friend of his.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the great life and legacy of Ossie Davis, a leader, innovator, and inspiration to us all.

Ossie Davis was the older of five children born in the small town of Cogdell Georgia in 1917, but mainly grew up in nearby Waycross and Valdosta Georgia. In 1935 he left home, hitchhiking to Washington DC, where he entered Howard University as a student of Drama. At the time he had plans of becoming a playwright and expressing his artistic ability on stage. In 1939 his career as an actor began with the Rose McClendon Players in Harlem where he developed for 3 years and gained his first professional acting debut in 1941 performing in ``Joy Exceeding Glory''. During World War II, Mr. Davis spent close to 4 years serving his country as a surgical technician in an Army hospital in Liberia, tending to wounded troops and the people of the country.

After the war in 1946 and back in New York, Mr. Davis debuted on Broadway in ``Jeb'' a fitting story about a soldier returning home from the war. His co-star in this love story was a well known actress Ruby Dee. In December of 1948, the couple jumped on a bus to New Jersey and got married on a day off from rehearsal. Since meeting on the 1946 Broadway production, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee have stood out as a collaborative beacon of light leading generations of African Americans to follow in their footsteps in the field of fine arts and at the same time standing in the foreground of social consciousness.

The era of the Cold War brought with it feelings of uncertainty concerning political ideas and racial issues. During this period of social upheaval, Mr. Davis and others as Black performers found themselves under a watchful eye with McCarthyism on the rise. While the Cold War was in full swing, Mr. Davis stood by, most notably, Paul Robeson, a fellow actor and singer who was a well known communist sympathizer. Mr. Davis stood by his side like a true friend when others severed ties to Robeson, and along with his wife Ruby Dee, they resisted the ever growing threat of McCarthyism. Davis was remembered to have said, ``We young ones in the theater, trying to fathom even as we followed, were pulled this way and that by the swirling currents of these new dimensions of the struggle.''

Mr. Davis was also a leading activist in the Civil Rights era of the 1960's. He stood side by side with Martin Luther King Jr. in the movement for freedom, equality and unity within our Nation for all. As close friends of the Reverend Dr. King, Ossie and Ruby Dee served as Masters of ceremonies for the historic 1963 March on Washington. As a strong advocate of the African American identity, Mr. Davis stood by the stimulating words, moving persona, and in his words, ``The manifestation of Black manhood'' that was Malcolm X. He full heartedly felt Malcolm's message of determination, self Love, and Knowledge of self.

When Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King passed away Mr. Davis eulogized them both at their funerals. Many believed Mr. Davis would lose his career as an actor for delivering an eulogy for Brother Malcolm X, an enormously controversial figure in American History. The courage of Mr. Davis to brave the fire for his allegiance to Brother Malcolm X displays his sensitivity to issues affecting the hearts and minds of the African Americans, and the strong foundation of his heritage that was rooted in his soul.

His efforts as a Civil Rights leader, activist and vanguard as an actor in Black Hollywood are a testament to his views on equality and freedom. Mr. Davis was also a firm believer of self love and righteousness within the Black community. His choice of acting roles and his written works reflect these ideas in a clear and unmistakable manner. Mr. Davis used his charisma and sheer talent on and off camera to explore and unfold the complex issues which affect our society and are most often swept under the rug. As a socially conscious actor, he could not sit back while such complex issuers go unnoticed, making himself a part of such classical projects as Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X and most recently She Hate Me, all projects of writer, actor, director Spike Lee.

Before his untimely death, Ossie Davis began to give back to the community in a number of different fashions. He did not simply throw money at a problem, but took a more nurturing hand on approach to his philanthropy efforts. In 2004 Mr. Davis returned home to his Alma Mater, The Mecca-Howard University where he became a visiting professor in the John H. Johnson School of Communications. Additionally, he served as the orator for Howard's 2004 Charter Day where he also received a special citation of achievement.

In his community service Mr. Davis was also an advocate for issues affecting young Black males. In 2004 Mr. Davis and his wife Ruby Dee were the luncheon speakers and kicked off the State of the African American Male (SAAM) Conference which I hosted. Mr. Davis stated that it was his personal mission to reverse the trends affecting our young black males, such as drug addiction, high drop out rates and criminal issues.

Ossie Davis will forever live in our hearts and minds through his countless efforts to the community, his effortless talents on and off camera, and as a loving father and husband. He will also be recognized on the world stage as a pioneer of the Civil Rights movement, fighting for justice, equality and what he knew was right during a time of social uncertainty. Ossie Davis knew as a person not afraid to think outside the box that the issues facing this country were bigger than you or I and no one person could lead this country to the promised land. He felt a collective effort of change was needed and is quoted as saying. ``It's not the man, it's the plan.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska for his leadership in bringing this resolution, recognizing National Mentoring Month, to the floor today; and also want to commend the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller of California), ranking member, for their leadership roles in making this legislation possible to be heard.

Since coming to Congress, the gentleman from Nebraska has worked to make youth issues a national priority, and this resolution is another example of his dedication to this effort.

Without a doubt, Mr. Speaker, mentoring is a proven strategy that can change the lives of children and youth, and I might add, add value to the lives of those who provide the mentoring service.

When a young person is matched with a caring, responsible individual, this relationship often makes a positive difference in the quality of life for that young person. For too long we have focused on providing remedies to problems that only address negative behavior, rather than looking at ways to promote the positive and healthy development of our young people. This resolution directs us to focus on what children need in order to grow into healthy, safe, and well-educated adults, making sure that children have access to a caring and responsible adult relationship.

A recent report from the Greater West Town Community Development Project showed that nearly 18 percent of Chicago public school students drop out. Another report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation showed that more than 200 Chicago-area children are living in severely distressed neighborhoods. These are among the tens of thousands of Chicago area youth who could dramatically benefit from having a mentor, since without one, some would never be exposed to healthy, productive lifestyles and the development of real-life skills. Research shows that young people who are mentored had a stronger attachment to school, have higher graduation rates, and decreased involvement with drugs and violence.

Mentoring opens young people's eyes to a brighter future, and every young person deserves that opportunity. But right now there are simply not enough mentors to go around. Only about 1,000 of the more than 1 million school-age children in the Chicago area are fortunate enough to have a mentor. A mentor, of course, is an adult, who along with parents, provides young people with support counsel, friendship, and a constructive example. The average mentor spends 8 to 10 hours a month with his or her mentee on activities such as doing homework, going to the library, playing in the park, and playing sports.

This resolution brings much-needed attention to the value of mentoring and encourages communities to focus their efforts on recruiting more mentors so that we can fill the gap that currently exists. I am proud of the many mentoring programs that are already in place in the Chicagoland area, such as Mercy Home's Friends First Program and Sinai Mentoring Program, which links Mount Sinai Hospital professionals with youth from North and South Lawndale High Schools.

I also congratulate Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, which is spearheading a number of local events to mark National Mentoring Month. It has partnered with organizations, including Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Community Resource Network, Cook County Juvenile Court Mentoring Network, Horizons For Youth, the Jewish Children's Bureau, Lifelink Latino Special Services Program, Mercy Home For Boys and Girls, and Uhlich Children's Advantage Network and Working in Schools.

I also want to commend the Chicago public school system, the board of education, for the development of a program called Cradle to the Classroom,

where they had mentors who worked individually with young parents and students who had become pregnant and who had children and yet have been able to finish their high school education and graduate with the help of a mentor.

In Chicago and across the country, it is clear that the framework is in place. Now we just need more people to volunteer their time and help change the life of a child.

I am very pleased to be associated with many groups and organizations like the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, which has a great national mentoring program, and especially my local chapter, Mu Mu Lambda. I am also pleased to be associated with the 100 Black Men of America, who have mentoring programs and chapters throughout the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, once again I want to commend the gentleman from Nebraska for his insight, dedication, and continuous work with the development of the young people, as expressed in this resolution. I urge strong support for it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), my colleague on the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis), a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and I also say a member of the Davis Caucus.

(Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I simply would want to thank all of those who have spoken on behalf of this resolution. Again, I commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) for his leadership, and would urge all adults who want to be helpful to become mentors.

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