Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 581. For the last 3 years, we have been hearing the right things being said about Federal employees coming from the White House but doing just the opposite. In the July 10, 2002, speech we heard the administration say, and I quote, ``The important thing for the American people is to know that our public servants are working longer hours and working harder and working smarter to defend the American people.'' The White House went on to say that ``public service in America today is not just another job, it is an important act of citizenship. It is a way to fulfill our obligation to those who have gone before us and those who will follow after us, those who have sacrificed and died for us.''

That is all correct. One thing that we all know is that public service is not just another job. But unfortunately, those who will follow, unless we make some changes, will have less pay, less due process and appeal rights, and no right to collectively bargain. Indeed, there will be no civil service because jobs will be contracted out. Is that the way we want to say thanks to our Federal employees for working longer hours and working harder?

Then if that is the case, we certainly would not be doing our employees any favor. There are plenty of accolades and platitudes for the civilian Federal employees who perished or were severely injured in the 9-11 attacks, but now we hear that Federal employees are a lesser priority than military employees. How many Federal civilian workers have died beside their military counterparts in Afghanistan or Iraq? What about the Federal civilian workers who died in the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City? Can we tell their families that they are a lesser priority? How quickly we forget.

Mr. Speaker, I have not forgotten the arguments this administration and some of my colleagues used to justify rolling back Federal employees' collective bargaining rights. At that time, Federal employees were critical to homeland security at the Transportation Security Agency, at the Department of Defense, and at the Department of Homeland Security. Now we hear that there is a significant difference in the demands we place upon those in the Armed Forces and those in the civilian workforce.

Historically, Congress has expressed strong bipartisan support for parity in pay between our military and Federal civilian sectors in recognition of their important roles in our Nation's defense and general service to the American people. So I join with those who say, Stop the rhetoric and platitudes. It is time that we put our money where our mouths are. We have to stop this attack, this misuse and abuse of civilian Federal employees, and grant them equal status and equal pay.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the Democratic whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding me the time, as well as for his leadership on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, the concepts of equality, equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal pay have undergirded and guided the development of this Nation. One of the things that Americans have always been able to think ahead for is the idea that they are going to be treated equally, they are going to be treated fairly, and they are going to be compensated justly. We are simply talking about fair compensation. We are talking about the fact that we have an aging workforce in the civilian sector.

Recruitment is not as easy as one might think. Individuals are about to retire in large numbers, and there is a great deal of concern about our human capital, individuals to carry on the work of this great Nation.

So, again, I commend and compliment the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for initiating this resolution, I urge its strong passage, and suggest that it is not a slight in any way. We do not undervalue the importance of our military, but equally important are those in the civilian sector.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in observance of Social Work Month. Since 1984, March has officially been designated as a month to acknowledge and recognize that social workers make meaningful and humanitarian differences and contributions to people in communities all over the world.

According to government health statistics, 60 percent of the Nation's mental health services are delivered by social workers. Trained social workers provide more than 40 percent of disaster-related mental health services for the American Red Cross. Roughly 600,000 social workers are dedicated to ensuring that people of all ages, creeds, sexual orientations and nationalities have access to information, resources and services. They often make all the difference in the world to individuals and families who might otherwise fall through the cracks into hopelessness and despair. Social workers measure success by helping all those in need of basic services to achieve their goals on their own terms.

Often working behind the scenes, social workers are trained to address problems that some cannot see or issues that others hope will simply go away, drug addiction, family violence, joblessness, homelessness, mental illness, prejudice and many other conditions which affect millions of people every day, leaving them with little hope and few options.

According to the National Association of Social Workers, social workers help to open the doors of access and opportunity to those in greatest need through training and dedication. Moreover, social workers also actively advocate for changes in policy and legislation that strengthen the social safety nets that make a critical difference to so many.

Social workers have been at the forefront of many social movements. Some of the pioneers who were actively involved in creating social change include Dr. Dorothy Height, Jane Addams and Whitney Young.

Dr. Height was not only a giant in the civil rights movement, she also developed several model programs to combat teenage pregnancy, to address hunger in rural areas, worked as a proponent for AIDS education, implemented a project to expand business ownership by women and to provide funds for vocational training, and much more. She received a Congressional Gold Medal last week in recognition of these works as one of the preeminent social and civil rights activists of her time. In addition, she was awarded the Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian distinction, by President Bill Clinton in 1994. In fact, she has been acknowledged for her leadership by every President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Jane Addams, another great social worker who built Hull House, which is in Chicago in my district; Whitney Young, former president of the National Urban League, and the list goes on and on and on.

In addition, there are several social workers who serve in our body, individuals who were engaged as social workers before being elected to Congress: Representatives Susan Davis, Barbara Lee, Ciro Rodriguez and Ed Towns, as well as Senators Barbara Mikulski and Debbie Stabenow. All of these individuals have made tremendous differences.

I simply come, Madam Speaker, to commend those who engage themselves

in the profession of social work, recognize the great achievements and accomplishments that they have made and urge we recognize their importance to our society.

Mr. Speaker, we have failed to make a real TANF reform that helps the working poor low-income single parents, children of poverty stricken families, and especially the men and women who have a drug conviction.

The TANF program contains several provisions that could decrease funding for individuals who received a drug felony conviction, which includes use, possession, or distribution. There is a lifetime ban on TANF and food stamps for individuals who receive a drug felony conviction after August 22, 1996, unless the State enacts legislation to disregard the ban completely or narrow it. Only 7 States and the District of Columbia have completely opted out of the ban with another 18 states allowing benefits to be paid to individuals with drug felony conviction in certain circumstances. For instance, in only three states the ban does not apply to those who finish their sentence and comply with their parole or probation, six states do not apply the ban to those in treatment or who have completed treatment. However, 41% of States ban TANF and food stamps based on the conviction alone. A report in 2002 estimated that the ban affected 92,000 women in 23 States studied.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a State issue. This is our Nation's issue. If we do not help all of those in need, if we stop giving assistance to some of our most needy, those with an addiction or who have been falsely accused of this conviction, our Nation will end up paying for it with higher rates of crime, higher recidivism rate, and a number of individuals remaining drug-users. The National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study found that women treated in federally funded treatment programs increased their employment and decreased their use of welfare. The number who reported being employed in the year after treatment increased by 25 percent. Incomes also increased by 6 percent while the number receiving public assistance decreased by 8 percent. This clearly demonstrates that punishment and banning assistance is not the answer. Instead, federal assistance will assist to produce working, tax-paying citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I supported H.R. 3873, the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act last week on the House floor and again commend Chairman Boehner, Ranking Member Miller, Subcommittee Chairman Castle and Ranking Member Woolsey for their hard work and collaboration on a bipartisan bill which continues to feed our Nation's children.

However, due to our Nation's budget being in the red, it is bothersome that we can not feed more of our Nation's children whose parents are hard working Americans. It is bothersome that there are children whose families can not even afford the reduced price meals but are simply not poor enough to receive free lunch. With over 500 school boards and many state boards of education urging Congress to eliminate the reduced price charge--Congress has replied with ``we just can not afford to help your children eat''.

It is also bothersome that some in Congress feel that it is inappropriate to recommend what foods are healthy and should be given to students and what unhealthy foods should be kept off the menu. The argument is why would schools attempt to provide healthy foods when students can simply get the unhealthy foods outside of school. Should our schools begin to give up on a student in the 9th or 10th grade because neither parent graduated high school? Should our schools not teach a student to read because neither parent is literate nor does the home provides newspapers or books to read? Should our schools not teach algebra, geometry, or calculus because the parent can only do simply math with a calculator?

Our schools have been the stepping stone to a better life for many individuals than the life of which their parents had academically, socially, emotionally and there is no reason why nutritionally can not be added to the list.

Mr. Speaker, I supported this reauthorization last week--but only wish we could have done more to prevent more children from going hungry.

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

On Saturday of last week, I attended the funeral of Sergeant Phipps, who had been killed in Iraq in the line of duty. And, of course, as one could expect, it was a very solemn period, and there were thousands of people from his community who came to pay their last respects.

It occurred to me as this bill was coming to the floor that individuals should have the opportunity certainly to come home and visit for rest, recuperation, and to see their families and friends while they are alive and healthy.

So I simply came down to urge passage of this legislation and to indicate my support for it and to suggest that all soldiers who give of themselves should have the opportunity to experience interaction with their family.

I thank the sponsors of this legislation, and I urge its strong support.

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 with my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 3723, legislation naming a postal facility in Dallas, Texas, after Vaughn Gross. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) on January 21, 2004, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 4, 2004, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Texas delegation.

A graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in special education, Mrs. Gross has dedicated her life to teaching and working with children with learning disabilities. Her vast teaching experience has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Mrs. Gross has won the distinguished Teacher of the Year from the Richardson Association of Children with Learning Disabilities and has achieved the Parent Teacher Association life membership status.

Currently, Mrs. Gross is serving as the Assistant Superintendent in the Richardson Independent School District. She is involved in a number of community organizations such as the Psychoanalysis Professional Development and Appraisal System, the District Instructional Strategies Committee, the Central Math Textbook Committee, and the Richardson Independent School District Professional Development Strategic Action Team.

And, finally, Mrs. Gross has received her school district's Silver Cup Award for Community on Campus and has been nominated for the YMCA Women of Achievement Award.

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that Mrs. Gross has a distinguished record of

community service, and although it is oftentimes unusual while people are still available to achieve these kinds of recognitions to see that the people of her community and that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), her representative in Congress, thinks enough of her dedication to name this postal facility in her honor, I am pleased to join with him and urge swift adoption of this measure.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional educator in the 32nd Congressional District of Texas with this legislation H.R. 3723, ``To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8135 Forest Lane in Dallas, Texas, as the `Vaughn Gross Post Office Building.' ''

I am pleased to honor Vaughn Gross with the naming of this post office. It is a fitting tribute to a career educator who has served children with special needs and disabilities with excellence and distinction.

As a father of a child with special needs, I know firsthand that it takes an extraordinary person to educate children with disabilities. It requires both love and passion to be able to accomplish this tough task, and I admire Mrs. Gross for her drive and determination to improve the lives of children with disabilities.

Vaughn Gross began her career in education 36 years ago as an innovative classroom teacher for children with special needs and disabilities at Wooten Elementary School in Austin, Texas. For the past 30 years, she has served with the Richardson Independent School District. From 1993 until 1999, Mrs. Gross held the position of Principal of Brentfield Elementary School. From 1999 until 2003, she was the Principal of Hamilton Park Pacesetter Magnet School. Mrs. Gross currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

Few in school administrations come from special education backgrounds, so it is notable that Mrs. Gross has been able to continue her commitment to improving special education as she transitioned from the classroom into her current administrative position.

All too often, we as a society do not give the appropriate recognition to dedicated teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty to educate those children with disabilities and special needs. Mrs. Gross has dedicated her life to furthering the education of the countless children who have benefited from her years of experience.

I believe that this legislation not only honors Mrs. Gross, but also pays a fitting tribute to the scores of educators in Texas and throughout the country who specialize in teaching our children with disabilities and special needs.

In addition to teaching her students, Mrs. Gross has made tremendous efforts to share her successful techniques with other educators in Texas to help improve the teaching of students outside of her home school district. I have always been impressed with her abilities, and I sincerely wish her all the best as she continues her career with the Richardson Independent School District.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 3917, legislation naming a postal facility in Copiague, New York, after Maxine Postal. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) on March 9, 2004, and unanimously reported by our committee on March 18, 2004, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire New York delegation.

Maxine Postal was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1942. She grew up in Brooklyn, was educated in Brooklyn, and taught school in Brooklyn. In 1968, she opened the Busy Bee Nursery School and Kindergarten in Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Postal used her vast teaching experience and expertise to serve as president of the Hauppauge Library Board and later as president of the Amityville Board of Education.

In the late 1980s, Mrs. Postal was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature where she served for 15 years until her death of Creutzfeldt-Jakob, a rare brain disorder, on New Year's Day at a hospice on West Palm Beach, Florida.

While an active member of the county legislature, Mrs. Postal was a liberal Democrat, I like that, dedicated to improving the lives of those in her community. She was a tireless advocate for the homeless, the downtrodden, and the poor, using her position on the social services committee to better living

conditions for those living on the streets. She was a woman of the people who fought for everyone and championed the rights of all to live free from discrimination and oppression.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the sponsor in honoring the life of Maxine Postal and pleased that we are seeking to remember her good works, her good deeds, her advocacy for the poor, the downtrodden, those who are oftentimes forgotten. So it is my pleasure to urge swift passage of this resolution.

I know that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) had wanted to be present but could not make it, and I wanted to indicate that so that, as sponsor of this legislation, his name is listed in the Record as individuals pick up the Congressional Record and see or read the proceedings.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Greek Independence Day with the people of Greece and Greek Americans. March 25, 2004, marked the 183rd anniversary of the beginning of the revolution that freed the Greek people from the Ottoman Empire. It is important for us to not only recognize and celebrate this day with the people of Greece but also to reaffirm the democratic heritage from which the United States and the country of Greece were born.

I am proud to represent Greek Town in the city of Chicago, and I certainly want to extend congratulations to not only my Greek constituents but the people of Greece all over the world and especially those in Greece.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the chairman for yielding me this time. And I also want to commend the Congressional Black Caucus for putting together this budget, a budget which recognizes that reentry of individuals coming out of correctional institutions as one of the great needs and one of the great problems that exist in our society.

Unfortunately, the President's budget takes away from justice programs that would facilitate the reentry of these individuals. The Congressional Black Caucus budget restores those programs to help the 640,000 people who

come out of jails and prisons each year to find their way back into meaningful participation in society. And for that reason I strongly support the Congressional Black Caucus budget.

Mr. Chairman, I have always been told that budgets are a way of expressing one's positions and priorities in real dollars and cents; therefore, when we look at the Bush budget, one experiences mixed emotions, emotions that suggest concurrence that we need a strong defense budget, we need serious resources to fight terror and we do indeed need to provide for Homeland Security.

However, as we fight the war against terrorism, we also need to fight against illiteracy, poverty, hunger, malnutrition, poor health, inadequate housing, and environmental protection. We need to try and make sure that there is money to tackle correction reform, money to make education, rehabilitation and training viable in parts of our correctional system. We need money to help re-integrate ex-offenders back into normal life, otherwise, we keep sending them back to prison, thereby, costing the taxpayers money. Monies we should not have to spend especially, when we help them to become self-sufficient.

During the State of the Union Address in January, President Bush said, ``600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society'' this year, and these Americans are in need of help. Many of these individuals are never able to find a decent place to live; cannot access various entitlement programs such as public housing, Pell grants, and, in some instances, food stamps; and are oftentimes denied employment because of their past criminal convictions. There is little wonder that 52 percent of these individuals end up back in jail. President Bush articulated the need for education, job training and housing well when he said ``America is the land of second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.''

The Republican's budget cuts criminal justice and crime control programs for fiscal year 2005 by $494 million and continues to increase cuts for fiscal years 2006 through 2009 by $4.2 billion. I am concerned about the Republican's budget not adequately addressing certain issues within the criminal justice system that pertain to the Justice Assistance Grant Program which is cut by $468 million, Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program cut by $219 million, Department of Justice reentry program to help facilitate individuals with felony convictions back into normal community life is cut by $300 million and the Edward Byrne Memorial grant programs used to fight drugs in our communities is cut by $477 million. This budget plan is unfair, unjust and fiscally irresponsible. It shortchanges the domestic needs of our country.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is no greater gift a person can give to his or her country than to serve in the Armed Forces. Today, we honor the thousands of soldiers, men and women, serving our country at home in the United States and around the world, as well as the millions of Americans who have served in years past.

While our reasons for going to Iraq, or any other war, for that matter, can be questioned and scrutinized, one issue that should remain above the political fray is the profound courage that has always been exhibited by our troops. They have always honored America by protecting our Nation both at home and abroad in a manner befitting a great nation. Today our Nation turns to them and says, ``Thank you.''

Over 500 Americans have lost their lives thus far in Iraq, and it is crucial to the future of both our Nation and other nations that Americans, both young and old, understand that without these soldiers and the countless

others who have died in wars past, making this ultimate sacrifice, there would be no America as we know it today.

The tremendous freedoms we all enjoy, including freedom of speech, the right to representation in government and the right to assemble were all earned because tremendous human beings were willing to fight for those freedoms. Although no gesture can ever do justice to the work done by our men and women of the Armed Forces, with the designation of a National Military Appreciation Month, our Nation can do no more to thank these brave Americans for the unbelievable service they have provided to all of us.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, when I lived in Arkansas, we used to call Stuttgart the ``rice, duck and mosquito capital of the world.''

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry), the author of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will close by just simply saying that as we celebrate Military Appreciation Month, I can think of no better way to do that than by naming a post office in honor of Lloyd Burke, whose display of courage is an indication of all that has made this Nation the great Nation that it is. I strongly support this resolution.

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

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

Madam Speaker, ``Pound for pound, he's got to be the greatest living athlete'' in racing, writer Red Smith once wrote of Willie Shoemaker. This resolution honors Willie Shoemaker, who was one of the most successful and respected jockeys ever to mount a thoroughbred.

Willie Shoemaker was born in 1931 in Fabens, Texas. He later moved to southern California, where he cleaned stables and began riding thoroughbreds. Once ``Shoe,'' as he was called, began racing, he quickly learned how to win. In his career, Willie Shoemaker won 8,833 races, a record that stood for 29 years.

One of Willie Shoemaker's most memorable rides was in the 1986 Kentucky Derby. He guided Ferdinand through the pack of Derby competitors to victoriously cross the finish line 2\1/2\ lengths ahead. At age 54, he became the oldest jockey to win the Kentucky Derby.

Willie Shoemaker made an impression on our Nation not just as an athlete but as a person. In 1957, Shoemaker was poised to win the Kentucky Derby when he misjudged a finish line and eased up too soon, losing the race. He turned his mistake into something positive by honoring Ralph Lowe, the owner of the horse Shoemaker was riding, who handled Shoemaker's loss with grace. Shoemaker endowed the Ralph Lowe Trophy to be presented annually to a distinguished racing competitor for good sportsmanship.

After he was severely injured in a car accident, Shoemaker used his talents in other ways. He served as honorary chairman of the Paralysis Project and served as director of the Shoemaker Foundation, which provides support to those injured in horse racing.

This resolution honors Willie Shoemaker and expresses condolences to his family and friends. Though his loss is certainly felt by many, the memory and legend of Willie Shoemaker and his perseverance will endure. People will certainly remember him as a great jockey, but also remember him as a great humanitarian. He used his ability, his presence not only to win races but to help us all understand that when you give of yourself that is when you are really at your best. Willie Shoemaker was the best.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3769, legislation naming a postal facility in Knoxville, Tennessee, after Ben Atchley. This measure was introduced by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) on February 4, 2004 and unanimously reported by our committee on February 12, 2004.

Ben Atchley was born in Knoxville, grew up in the area and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He served in the Tennessee State Senate from the 90th through the 103rd general assemblies. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Mr. Atchley was a member of the State House. As a member of the Tennessee State Senate, Senator Atchley served as the Senate Republican leader from the 95th through the 103rd general assemblies.

As a seasoned politician representing District 6 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Senator Atchley has enjoyed a very successful career. I note that he is retiring this year after 32 years in politics. He has also been very involved in community and business organizations.

Madam Speaker, what I find most interesting about Senator Atchley is that, according to his secretary, his first apartment, after he got married, was directly across the street from the post office being named after him. The Senator also worked right next door to the same post office where he had a job with South Central Bell Telephone Company. And his high school, Young High School, was a stone's throw down the road from the post office. This postal designation was definitely meant to happen.

So I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the contributions of Senator Atchley and urge swift passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the importance of homeownership in our country; the difficulties that many Americans have becoming homeowners; and the financial strain put on Americans, particularly minorities, when seeking reasonable housing options.

Homeownership is an effective way for Americans to establish wealth and solidarity for their families. More should have the ability to pass homes from generation to generation, with the comfort and knowledge that home is more than a roof over one's head, but that home is a possession. Most consider purchasing a house a major investment, perhaps the largest that one will ever make, but to many it is more than an investment; it is the first step in achieving the American Dream. Families that own homes are entitled to an added sense of pride and a feeling of belonging to a neighborhood or community.

We should strive for all families to have the means necessary to become homeowners and

to live comfortably. The fact that homeownership is unrealistic for so many Americans is disheartening. Homeownership has proven to be a tremendous difficulty for a large number of Americans. As housing has gradually become less affordable, families are struggling to pay their rent, let alone mortgage. Housing is considered affordable when a person spends less than 30 percent of their income on rent or mortgage, but contrastingly 4.9 million Americans spend more than 50 percent of their income to remain in their homes. In Illinois, nearly 420,000 renting families, about 30 percent of the total number of renters spend more than 35 percent of their income on rent, 258,000 spend more than half of their salaries on rent; as a result many do not consider home owning an option when apartment living is a struggle in itself. Subsequently, of the Illinois residents who have been fortunate enough to purchase homes, 370,000 of them are spending more than the affordable rate of 30 percent, which is a 38 percent increase from 1990 to 2000.

Financial stress due to housing costs has become an incredible burden in the United States. Unfortunately the frustration shared amongst all Americans occurs at an increased level for minorities, particularly African Americans. African Americans lag behind the U.S. population 48 percent to 68 percent in homeownership. The great wealth gap between African Americans and the rest of the nation creates varying levels of housing affordability, thus what is affordable to some is not affordable for others. In the Chicago metropolitan area alone, there are 850,000 individuals living at or near poverty. For Americans whose everyday reality is grim and discouraging due to lack of financial resources; for Americans who are overlooked despite their hard work; the means to live comfortably are unattainable unless a considerable increase in affordable housing is made.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has joined with many partners and sponsors including Habitat for Humanity, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac to stride towards a resolution for the homeownership gap where African Americans, other minorities and low-income families are receiving the short end of the stick. The With Ownership, Wealth Initiative (WOW), was created several years ago to give African American families an opportunity to build wealth through homeownership. The Initiative recognized the rates of African American poverty and homeownership as significantly imbalanced with those of Americans as a whole, and in turn set forth to begin closing the gap. WOW offers credit counseling, housing counseling, home buying assistance and other resources which help families to get on a track that will lead to ownership. After participating in events organized by the WOW Initiative, I am proud to report 200 preapproved mortgages and 103 actual closings in the Chicago area. I commend the CBCF, WOW and its partners for understanding the urgent need to ensure housing affordability for minorities and low-income families. Further, I applaud their success leading families a step closer to our American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to stress the need for affordable housing for all Americans and further I would like to emphasize the importance of WOW and other programs which share similar goals. These programs along with an end to drastic cuts in funding for housing and the development of more affordable homes are an absolute necessity to aid our country in its current housing crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education. This case has been acknowledged as the commencement of other milestones from the civil rights struggle. As we take the time to embrace and celebrate, Brown vs. Board of Education has truly become ground zero of the civil rights movements. This movement has affected African Americans tremendously; although Brown has opened many doors for African Americans some have remained closed. It is unfortunate that our society has not truly integrated.

Brown vs. Board of Education's primary focus was to integrate schools; however it did not pertain to anything occurring outside of schools. Several schools had been integrated, but as time persists we are continuing to revert back to a time of segregation within the schools.

Fifty years ago the U.S. Supreme Court realized the truth that, ``separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'' Consequently, educational integration is an essential prerequisite to achieving a just, democratic fair society, which was finally acknowledged by the high court. If the U.S. Supreme Court had not recognized this ongoing dilemma that continuously occurred I may not be standing before you all today. There would not have been as many African American's pursuing or fulfilling their dreams and providing a better lifestyle for themselves and their family.

Although Brown opened many doors and we have experienced same success, nevertheless much remains to come, such as the problems surrounding housing, poverty, inadequate education for minority children, and increasing the enrollment for post-graduate studies. Yet today, 50 years after this landmark decision, more African American, Latino, and Native American children attend segregated and unequal schools than ever before.

Currently, Black communities in every part of the country, including schools, are experiencing an increase in segregation; although it does not surpass the stratum of the pre-civil rights of the South.

Despite the fact, in my state, Illinois is one of the nation's most segregated metropolitan communities; and has been consistently among areas in the nation's most segregated, in terms of their schools. The National Center for Educational Statistics conducted a study on African American males ages 16-24 are more than twice as likely as white males to be both out of school and out of work.

It is horrendous that children of today are continuing to experience segregation within educational institutions. For instance, a study conducted by Harvard University in 2001-2002 stated, in Illinois, 18 percent of African American students attended white schools, while 61 percent of African Americans attended minority schools. Some African American children are forced to attend school in dilapidated buildings; many do not receive an adequate education, and several are displaced into special education frequently because the teacher cannot manage the child's behavior.

The school dropout rate is higher for African Americans than for whites. According to the Chicago Reporter, 2 out of 3 African American male students who entered high school did not graduate from high school within 5 years. White high school graduates are much more likely to go to college and complete college than African Americans. The problem also persists throughout post graduate degrees. For instance, of the 17,000 dental students enrolled in U.S. dental schools in 1998-1999, less than 1,000 were African Americans, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). The Journal of Dental Education states that, African Americans instead have a higher percentage in jobs with lower skills and lower pay, such as a Dental Assistant rather than a Dental Hygienist. This clearly demonstrates the inequalities in education for African Americans.

The Supreme Court was supposed to create and continue the legacy of ``separate but equal,'' however our Nation is truly experiencing desegregation in public schools.

African American students nationwide are unbelievably disproportionately placed in special educational classes. These individuals who have been overly classified as special education students are confronted with the denial of equal opportunity. When compared to white children, African American children were three times as likely to be labeled ``mentally retarded'' or ``emotionally disturbed,'' while minority students are usually misclassified, inadequately served, receive low quality services, or segregated from white students according to a study by Harvard University.

Currently, education is perhaps the most important function of the state and local governments. Education is a principal instrument in awakening children to their cultural values, in preparing them for later professional training, and in helping them to adjust normally to their environment. If we take away a valued education, how can we expect any child to succeed in life? Education in not an opportunity, but it is a right, which the states must make available to all on equal terms. Unfortunately, as time recedes, the condition of receiving a quality education worsens daily for African Americans. Although Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream he also had a nightmare, which has been forgotten. He predicted and was concerned that the promise of Brown and the civil rights law would deceive those who dedicated their lives and souls for the struggle of justice: In his last book, ``Where do we go from here? Chaos or Community,'' he stated,

For twelve years I, and others like me, had held out

radiant promises of progress. I had preached to them about my

dream. I had lectured to them about the not too distant day

when we would have freedom, ``all, here and now.'' I had

urged them to have faith in America and in white society.

Their hopes had soared. They were now booing . . . because we

had urged them to have faith in people who had too often

proved to be unfaithful. They were hostile because they were

watching the dream that they had so readily accepted turn

into a frustrating nightmare.

Now it is our duty to realize the promise of Brown, so long deferred and still so necessary for progress to occur within our Nation. I would like to leave you with one more quote by Dr. King back in 1959. He said, ``As I stand here and look out upon the thousands of negro faces, and the thousands of white faces, intermingled like the waters of a river, I see only one face--the face of the future.'' So, too, must we. Even though we may not be here to see all the fruits of our labor, we plant these seeds for that child being born. We plant them for the young people of our future.

``Separate can never be equal!''