Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Sanders-Kind Amendment to increase funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program. Although, I am aware of the worthy funding for the Committee has offered to this program, I am bothered by the neglect to follow suit in the President's request to increase funding to $288 million from its current funding level of $223 million.

The decision to not increase funding to an adequate level for the Weatherization Assistance Program will directly effect my District and my constituents. Chicago endures some of the country's most severe temperature extremes. In 2002, with on the onset of a harsh winter, Chicago residents saw their heating cost soar to record levels--nearly tripling the cost of 1999. Chicago experienced another cold winter in 2001 causing cost once again to be extremely high for residents. There were countless stories about seniors in my district, on a fixed income, making approximately $700 a month but whose December's gas bill was $400. The heating cost just did not affect residents, but small business, high-rises, and schools. The Chicago Public Schools reported in 2001 of having heating cost that were up $7 million, 50 percent more than what was called for in their budget. Historically, Chicago has experience the highest electricity rates in the Midwest and are among some of the highest nationwide.

The President's request to increase funding would have permitted an additional 25,000 poor and elderly families to be served by this program. It is estimated that each home that is weatherized will generate $275 in annual savings and $4,650 of life-cycle savings per household. These savings are critical for the countless families in my district living near or below the federal poverty level and depend on this program and programs like it to have a warm home. I am proud that in January of 2002, the city of Chicago implemented its New Energy Conservation Code which re-defines energy efficiency requirements for all new and rehabilitated homes and commercial buildings. The goal of this new code will improve energy efficiency standards by 10 to 20 percent. But this is just one small step in the process to lower energy cost for our constituents that need the federal government's assistance.

Mr. Chairman, if we do not help our constituents weatherize their homes to become more energy efficient and heating cost continue to rise, our constituents will only be spending more of their money on energy bills and less towards the growth of our economy. This amendment is good for our constituents, is good for energy conservation and is good for our economy.

Mr. Chairman, on this day, I will join many of my colleagues in voicing my disapproval of the amendment presented by Rep. Pete Sessions and Rep. Thomas M. Davis III on H.R. 2691. H.R. 2691 makes appropriations for the Interior Department and related agencies for the fiscal year 2004. This amendment strikes out Section 335 from the bill which prohibits new competitive sourcing studies.

In the Interior subcommittee's report language, a bipartisan majority of lawmakers expressed concern about the massive scale, the arbitrary targets, and the cost. This initiative remains on a fast track, without consideration for the implications or impacts of such a massive privatization scheme. The haphazard manner in which agencies are implementing privatization has had a horrendous impact on the agencies' abilities to provide basic services and due to incredibility short timeframe, agencies have been unable to designate and protect those programs that are ``inherently governmental'' as well as critical programs, which should not be subject to privatization.

While we support our federal agencies in their efforts to streamline their processes, we contend that all efforts to ensure the success of innovative process management requires due diligence, and should be afforded all resources necessary to conceptualize, plan, test, implement and evaluate said processes. As our agencies are forced into a trust relationship with contractors, they are faced with conflicts which impact their Vision, Mission and Goals of providing efficient and effective quality services to our Nation, while ensuring the solvency and viability of its organization and workforce. We must remain diligent and steadfast in our efforts to protect the Workforce of America, and we must ensure that we do not replace our existing workforce with a new Corp of Contractors, whose Statements of Work preclude them from the commitment and accountability which has remained the focus of our Federal workforce.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my fellow members of Congress, to vote ``no'' on this amendment, which, sir, is a vote ``yes'' for the future of America and her workforce.

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

Mr. Speaker, Maynard Jackson, Jr., who took on Atlanta's establishment as the city's first black mayor and later helped plan for its role in the 1996 Olympics, died last month at the age of 65.

Maynard Jackson first made history in 1973 when he was elected the first black mayor of Atlanta. He made his presence known immediately by taking on the predominantly white business leadership and demanding that doors be opened for blacks. That is why many people called him Mr. Affirmative Action in this country.

He was reelected to a second term in 1977 where he led the city through one of its darkest periods, the string of slayings of young blacks from 1979 to 1981. When he left office after 2 years, barred from seeking a third consecutive term, he could boast of many accomplishments, including the expansion of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport and the opening of the city's rapid rail system.

A lawyer by training, Maynard Jackson, Jr., was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 23, 1938, the third of six children. His father, Maynard Jackson, Sr., was a Baptist minister and his mother, Irene Jackson, was a college language teacher with a doctorate's degree in French. When Maynard was seven, his family moved to Atlanta to take over as pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church.

He enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta as an early admissions scholar and earned a BA degree in political science. He later earned a law degree from North Carolina Central University.

Maynard Jackson's family was active in early voting rights efforts. His grandfather was co-chairman of the Atlanta Negro Voters League, and his father founded the Georgia Voters League.

Maynard Jackson can be credited with not only what was accomplished

during his terms in office but also for laying the foundation for Atlanta's continuing success as one of the most desirable places in the country to live.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the rest of the time to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), the author of this resolution, a person from Atlanta who is well-known throughout America, to finish managing our time.

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

Mr. Speaker, National Men's Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father's Day. The National Men's Health Week Act was passed by Congress in 1994 and signed into law by President Clinton, becoming Public Law 103-264 on May 31, 1994.

Fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, uncles, and grandfathers should make use of this week and become aware of their health risks and ways to prevent disease, disability, and injury. The goal of National Men's Health Week is to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment for men. The focus of last month's National Men's Health Week was heart disease, cancer, injuries, and stroke.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer other than skin cancer among men in the United States. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer-related death among men. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for all men in the United States; and injuries, both unintentional and those caused by acts of violence, are among the top 10 killers for Americans of all ages. Males are at a higher risk than women for motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and homicide. This resolution will help address lack of awareness and poor health education among men and their families.

I urge my colleagues to support it, and I would commend the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his introduction and for bringing this matter to our attention.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the author of this resolution and chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

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

I would simply close by suggesting that my mother always used to tell us if we knew better, we would do better. I would hope as men become more aware as this kind of information proliferates, we will find men going to see their physicians, getting early screenings, making sure that they detect at an early stage possible illnesses so we can improve the quality of men's

health and the quality of life for all Americans.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from California today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 6, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, referred to by the acronym COPD, is an umbrella term used to describe the airflow obstruction associated mainly with emphysema and chronic bronchitis. In short, COPD is a debilitating lung disease that is characterized by severe breathing limitations. This affects everyday tasks such as washing, dressing, even light housework and routine walking. COPD leaves many too breathless to leave the home. Sixteen million Americans suffer from COPD, and it is estimated that 16 million more have COPD.

The important point to understand about COPD is the effect that it has on various populations. I was shocked to learn that, between 1980 and 2000, the annual COPD death rate for African Americans nearly doubled, going from 25 percent to 43 percent. It is estimated that 1.7 million African Americans have evidence of mild or moderate obstructive lung disease. Yet, in 2000, only half of these individuals reported being diagnosed with COPD.

In addition to COPD's effect on African Americans, this disease is now disproportionately affecting women at an alarming rate. During the same period of time, 1980 to 2000, the COPD death rate among women nearly tripled, going from 20 percent to 57 percent. Currently, more women die from COPD than do men. It is estimated that 10.6 million women have evidence of mild or moderate obstructive lung disease.

Illinois is not yet listed among the States experiencing high death rates associated with COPD. However, nearly half of the United States is now experiencing high death rates from COPD. The Centers for Disease Control now estimates that COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. By 2020, CDC estimates that COPD will be the third leading killer in the country. There is no cure for COPD, but with early diagnosis, treatment can ease the symptoms of patients who suffer from this disease.

Continued ignorance about COPD is costly. COPD is the only leading chronic illness that continues to show increased mortality rates each year. In contrast, mortality rates associated with seven of the ten leading causes of death have actually decreased.

Simply put, COPD takes a heavy toll on our economy. According to estimates made by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, in 2000 the annual cost to the Nation for COPD was over $30 billion. This included $14.7 billion in direct health care expenditures, $6.5 billion in indirect morbidity costs, and $9.2 billion in direct mortality costs. The sooner Americans learn more about COPD, the sooner they can take steps to combat it, and the sooner we can control the spiraling toll of this debilitating disease on our economy and human lives.

Mr. Speaker, a national awareness month will bring a much-needed focus for COPD and provide a further opportunity to educate Americans and heighten the awareness of COPD's increasing prevalence. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution, and I commend the gentleman from Florida for its sponsorship.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I had a friend who suffered from COPD. He liked to go to the Bulls basketball games. From time to time we would go together. He could not walk more than 20 or 30 feet without having to stop and rest. Again, I want to commend the gentleman from Florida for his introduction of this very important measure and urge its passage.

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

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of increased funding for the National Endowment of Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. I represent a district that is rich in diversity, rich in pluralism, rich in people from different walks of life, different backgrounds. The grant provided from the NEA and NEH provides opportunities for people to better understand each other, to know what is going on with other people, to know what is in their thoughts, minds and ideas. We are not really talking about funding a program; we are talking about funding a way of life, to help keep America the diverse, understanding, pluralistic Nation that it is and to know what is happening in all parts of our communities and with people from all walks of life.

As the country becomes more diverse and more pluralistic, it is absolutely essential that we find ways to better acquaint each other with cultural contributions, mores and folkways of different people within our society. Although we recognize the economic plight of our Nation, we know that inordinate resources must be devoted to anti- terrorism and homeland security measures, but we also know that education and the transference of understanding are necessary to maintain and continue growth in our democracy.

Mr. Chairman, the need for understanding is so great that we do not only pay attention to programs but we also have to keep the American Dream alive and the thoughts and ideas continuously moving. We must keep music, art, culture, and hope ever-present in our lives.

The Illinois Humanities Council and others like them throughout the Nation do an outstanding job of dividing and allocating these resources. They spread them around. And we get great mileage from the meager resources that we expend. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would urge my colleagues to vote in favor of increased funding for this great program that allows our Nation to flourish within many cultures. Again, it is not a program. It is keeping the doors of communication open and crossfertilizing different ways of life. It is important. I would urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, on June 27, 2003, this House of Representatives passed a poor excuse for a solution to the Medicare prescription drug crisis. The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 provides minimal benefits to our Nation's disabled and senior citizens and fails to address the underlying problem of skyrocketing prescription drug costs.

On July 9, Families USA released a report appropriately called ``Out of Bounds: Rising Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors.'' Between January 2002 and January 2003, the price of the 50 drugs most commonly used by seniors rose at three-and-a-half times the rate of inflation. With the Republican prescription drug plan, these rising prescription drug costs will continue to restrict patient access to much needed medications.

What is the solution to these skyrocketing drug prices? We must hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable! The cost disparity between identical prescription drugs sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico must be eliminated. Generic drugs, whose prices grow far more slowly than brand name drugs, must be allowed to quickly enter the market. Drug companies must begin to hold the welfare of patients above the richness of their own pocketbooks.

Until we convince pharmaceutical companies to treat our senior citizens justly, Congress must take action. A fall-back prescription drug benefit must be offered through Medicare, which would have the power to negotiate drug prices. We must allow drugs to be re-imported from Canada. Members of Congress must be held accountable for the prescription drug benefits we give to seniors. We must urge the conferees to maintain in the final bill Senator Mark Dayton's amendment which calls for Members of Congress to receive comparable prescription drug benefits to those of Medicare beneficiaries.

Members of Congress, I urge you, do not allow the well-being of our Nation's seniors to be controlled by the greedy hands of the pharmaceutical industry. Take a stand and fight for our Nation's disabled and seniors.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak on the State Department Authorization Bill. The bill contains key provisions that will improve international relations. I commend Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos on their hard work and dedication to international affairs.

The citizens of the United States have benefitted greatly from the strides made by medical science, but despite these advances, the health status of people living in developing countries lags far behind the rest of our citizens. Funding for the United Nations Population Fund is needed to ensure that future generations in other countries prosper. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the largest internationally funded source of population assistance to developing countries. Over the past 33 years, UNFPA has provided more than $6 billion in assistance to more than 160 countries for voluntary family planning and maternal and child health care.

The UNFPA provides great assistance to a number of African countries. UNFPA's priorities include working to increase access to reproductive health services, improve approaches to adolescent reproductive health; promote safe pregnancy and delivery, reduce maternal mortality, provide emergency assistance in refugee situations, and prevent and treat HIV/ AIDS. I am especially concerned about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The HIV/AIDS virus infected approximately 3.5 million Africans. HR 1950 calls for $1,000,000 for the fiscal year 2004 to be available for HIV/ AIDS research and mitigation strategies internationally.

In addition to health assistance, we need to do more to help countries in the continent of Africa with peacekeeping solutions. The diplomatic capacity at the UN needs to be enhanced to end the suffering of the people of Africa. In the country of Liberia, the people have endured and suffered bloody civil war and unrest for the past 13 years. This war is destroying the future of many Liberian children who are forced to become brutal soldiers at such young ages. We as a nation must assist the people of Liberia. We must help them reverse the deterioration of their country. This bill will provide $40,000,000 to implement peackeeping activities in Africa.

Heightened awareness of what we can do to improve international affairs is very important. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would urge all people throughout America and, quite frankly, throughout the world to pay more attention to our developing countries so that not only can we all maintain better health, but also so that we can have peace. Peace is the only way to gain prosperity.

I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. I also want to commend him for his outstanding leadership on not only this but a myriad of issues confronting America as he continues in his role as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. I also want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), for his outstanding leadership as chairman of the Hispanic Caucus as we come together to work on issues that are mutually important to both groups, but are really important to all of America.

For about the last almost hour, we have heard many of my colleagues extol the virtues of Head Start. Since 1965, the Head Start program has helped over 21 million of America's neediest children gain the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral skills necessary for success in life. However, the positive effects of Head Start extend far beyond the individual child in the classroom. As a matter of fact, as we have heard, it helps the entire family. One of the most important aspects of Head Start is the involvement of parents. Through their involvement in the program, Head Start parents gain invaluable skills that have a positive and lasting effect on all of their children. Research has shown that Head Start parents demonstrate improved parenting skills, are more likely to begin preparing for employment, and gain the skills necessary to effectively advocate for their children. Head Start parents learn the importance of being involved and caring role models for their children. They are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities, such as home visits, literacy classes, volunteering in the classroom, and taking part in the governing of the program. As a matter of fact, we just heard one of the most outstanding members of this body, the gentlewoman from California, talk about how she was inspired and motivated as a parent.

In the 2001-2002 program year, more than 876,000 parents volunteered at their local Head Start program. After participating in the program, Head Start parents typically continue to take a strong interest in the education of their children and are likely to continue their involvement with the program.

In fact, 23 percent of Head Start staff members in Illinois and in many other sites across the Nation are current or former Head Start parents.

The original bill sought to block grant the entire program. Fortunately, as a result of the hue and cry of Head Start activists, program directors, Democrats and Members of this body and other bodies and others have forced some back-peddling, and now the Head Start reauthorization bill seeks to implement an experimental program in eight States, providing block grants to integrate Head Start in preexisting State preschool programs.

These block grants, as we know, will undermine the comprehensive family-based intent of the program. They will allow States to determine their own standards, guidelines, and qualifications. These States could then decide to implement Head Start as a pre-kindergarten program, cutting out nutrition, vaccinations, dental care, medical care, and other important services currently guaranteed to children in the program. With the current State budget crisis, these services will almost certainly be eliminated, leaving the low-income children served by Head Start with no way to receive these extremely important services.

Unlike Head Start, typical pre-kindergarten programs are half-day programs that do not fully address parents' child care needs. These programs also focus primarily on building a foundation for academic skills, overlooking the importance of developing the social, emotional, and behavior skills vital to classroom survival.

Finally, these programs typically do not teach parents to actively advocate for their children. Low-income children deserve safe, caring environments. They deserve to have their parents involved in their lives. Low-income parents need to learn how to provide for the needs of their children. It is clear that if Head Start reauthorization is passed as written, it will be a tragedy for our Nation's low-income families and will not provide the comprehensive approach to readiness that our children so greatly need.

So, Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to reinforce what has already been said. That is, ``If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'' If it does not need change, do not change it. If it is working, then let it work in such a way that it seriously benefits all of the children.

So, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his outstanding leadership.

Mr. Speaker, recent events call our attention to the continent of Africa. The people of Africa are suffering and in pain. Africa is a continent which contains immense natural resources and is populated by people that are of diverse rich cultures. And yet, they are dying from the rampant spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. Civil war has wounded them and put their lives in chaos. The lives of their children are plagued by drought, famine and diseases.

Mr. Speaker, in 2001, the HIV/AIDS virus infected approximately 3.5 million Africans, an estimated 2.2 million Africans died due to the virus and approximately 11 million African children were orphaned because they lost their parents to the virus. It is predicted that many more Africans will be infected and die due to the virus if something is not done quickly to help Africans with prevention, treatment and health care programs. We have begun the task of aiding Africa in combating this virus, with the $15 billion HIV/AIDS package the President recently signed into law on May 27, 2003.

But more needs to be done. If Africans do not die due to the HIV/AIDS virus, they may die due to civil wars that plague many African countries today. In the country of Liberia, the people have endured and suffered bloody civil war and unrest for the past 13 years. Liberians have been killed in horrendous numbers because of this war. In one day in June of this year, over 300 civilians were killed and over 1000 were injured. This war is destroying the future of many Liberian children who are forced to become brutal soldiers at such young ages. Civilians have been executed, tortured and raped. Half of the population escaped to refugee camps in neighboring countries, where due to overcrowding, food, water and health provisions are limited. This has placed tremendous burdens on Liberia's caring neighbors.

We as a nation must assist the people of Liberia. We must help them to reverse the deterioration of their country. But we should not do this alone. France, Germany, Great Britain and Belgium have worked together with the United Nations to send troops to help with peacekeeping efforts in the conflict in Africa's Republic of Congo. By joining efforts with the United Nations, we can provide even more support and make it easier for the country of Liberia to rebuild itself into a strong, stable and lasting governmental infrastructure, knowing that all nations are behind them. By having the involvement of other countries, working together to contribute to the peacekeeping effort in Liberia, will prevent our troops from being overextended.

Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot to help Africa to grow, as many of its nations are reborn from various political, economical and social adversities. But it is not enough; we need to do more to help countries in the continent of Africa with peacekeeping solutions. Having a steady government is a good foundation. It is needed to help establish and to manage international support and reconstruction programs,

which are beneficial to the citizens of a country. Many programs we fund are beneficial to the continent of Africa. For instance, funding that we provide to Africa for agricultural productivity, accounts for a substantial portion of African countries' GDP, employment, household and national incomes and foreign exchange revenues, will help feed many African people and empower them to manage their natural resources. The end result will be a marked decrease in the level at which Africans are dying due to starvation. Also, funding we provide them for business, trade and investment programs will help African countries economically by making them self sufficient. The time has come for the U.S. to give back to a continent that feeds our great nation in the sharing of its cultures, its science, its history and its natural resources. Mr. Speaker, this strengthens the partnership that we have with Africa.

Mr. Chairman, there is not one Congressional District in our nation that will benefit from this Appropriations bill. I definitely know that my district will dramatically feel the effects of the cuts and the level funding for education, health care, and energy cost. Some of the best programs Congress has embraced and funded in the past suddenly seem to no longer be a priority.

Our young people who are in desperate situations will face dramatic cuts in the education provided to them. Low-income children attending Title I schools, children with disabilities, and young people trying to obtain a college education are facing the most critical budget cuts under education. Combined these students will lose over $1.6 billion-- and this is not even including the $8 billion that is missing from Child Left Behind Act 2004 funding target. We are allowing an extra burden to be put on deficit stricken states, local school districts, communities, and working class families that are already trying to make ends meet in our sluggish economy.

The no increase in funding and cuts extend into our health care system. In my District, I have 25 hospitals, four of which are teaching hospitals. Like in many of the hospitals in other districts, the ones in my district are already feeling the effects from the fiscal crisis facing Illinois. This bill provides no increase for child immunizations, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and the National Health Service Corps, which provides student loan repayment for doctors and dentist who work in areas with shortages of health providers. We are all very aware of the nursing shortage facing our nation's health system and I was proud that last Congress we passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act to assist in the shortage. Yet not only is there no increase in funding for those programs, there is actually $7 million less than the President's request for the program that provides scholarships to nursing students who agree to work in areas with a serious shortage of nurses. Although there have been great advances and success stories in respect to fighting HIV-AIDS, there is a cut in the Ryan White AIDS Care programs. I am particularly disappointed that this bill cuts funding by 12 percent compared to 2003, in programs that help students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for and do well in medical school and other health professionals schools.

Just two days ago, the Subcommittee on Education Reform had a hearing on the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) and LIHEAP. I was very proud that one of the individuals' testifying was one of my constituents and also my dear friend, Dr. Mary Nelson from Bethel New Life, Inc. My colleagues that serve on the Subcommittee with me were all impressed by the great work that is being performed by Dr. Nelson and the other panelist. Yet we are cutting the funds that allow Bethel New Life, Inc. and the other organizations to expand community and economic development, provide energy assistance, housing, winterizations, nutrition and countless other exceptional programs that help families get out of and remain out of poverty. The CSBG will be cut by $151 million or 23 percent. LIHEAP is cut by 10 percent at a time when projections predict that natural gas prices will be at least 50 percent higher in the coming winter as more than half of LIHEAP recipients rely on natural gas.

Mr. Chairman, this bill just does not make any sense to me. Level funding programs may be considered sufficient but is considered a funding cut to me. We are hitting the programs that have already been cut and hit by the states. We are cutting funding for programs that are basic components to our society: education and healthcare. What does America stand for? What does out body stand for? This bill does not express the American values. This bill expresses that it is acceptable to cut the basic right of education, cut the ability to provide health care, encourage unequal opportunities, and keeping our citizens on the streets instead of having a warm place to sleep. Our body has worked together to pass some great pieces of legislation that will help our nations' schools, hospitals, and less fortunate--but those bills are just pieces of paper without the funding necessary to allow them to be effective.

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

``Unfunded mandate'' is a term and a phrase that we often hear in education. Time and time again we attempt to solve problems by demanding change while refusing to provide funds necessary for schools to make that desirable change. Loan forgiveness attracts college graduates into the field of education and encourages current teachers to continue their education. However, this does not fully address the problems of teacher quality and higher education affordability; especially we need to help title I schools.

However, the labor-HHS-education appropriations bill falls $334 million short of the promised $1 billion in title I funds under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Mr. Chairman, over one-fifth of our secondary school students have taken at least one class from a teacher who neither majored nor minored in that subject in college. Today our schools lack many greatly needed and highly qualified teachers; therefore, we must improve teacher training and education. H.R. 2211 attempts to promote teacher training and development by making up for some of the funding shortfalls in education. In the labor-HHS-education appropriations bill, we were promised $3.2 billion for States to improve teacher quality; and yet, like the promise to fund title I schools, the appropriations bill falls $244 million short. As a result, 54,000 fewer teachers will receive federally supported professional development.

H.R. 2211 attempts to make up for some of the unfunded mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act. Indeed, there are some encouraging aspects to this bill which I am in great support of. However, it still lacks greater funding, which is needed for true improvement in education that will maximize the potential of teachers and the potential of students so that, indeed, no child is left behind.

Mr. Chairman, I support this legislation, but I sure hope that before it is over we will have the money that is needed to fund the thoughts and ideas.

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

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today, H.R. 2631, was crafted to ensure that legislation expanding Medicare will not reduce prescription drug benefits for Federal retirees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. While I support this legislation because it shields Federal employees from the illusive drug benefit in the Medicare proposal, the reality is it leaves millions of others unprotected.

Federal annuitants are worried, and they should be. They are worried because they see something in the government's subsidized Medicare prescription drug benefit that they do not like, and with good reason. This past Sunday The Washington Post reported that despite the Bush administration's proclamations, and I am quoting, ``The reality is that the two Medicare drug bills passed by the House and the other body do not come close to providing the level of coverage given to the 8.5 million Federal workers, including lawmakers, White House staff, and the President. Both measures would require senior citizens to buy an auxiliary prescription plan, whereas all 188 plans offered to Federal employees include drug coverage, and at far more generous reimbursement rates.''

To remedy this, H.R. 2631 would maintain prescription drug parity between Medicare-eligible retirees enrolled in the FEHB program, and active duty Federal employees and retirees. It provides that the prescription drug benefit offered to Medicare-eligible enrollees by a plan under the FEHB program be at least equal to the prescription drug benefits offered by such a plan to its enrollees generally.

This is obviously a good bill for Federal employees, but it also sheds light on what a bad bill the Medicare prescription drug benefit is for the rest of America.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation and similar legislation for the rest of America's seniors.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think we have heard a great deal of debate, and we understand the merits of this legislation. It is unfortunate we did not have a bill last week that would have covered all of the seniors looking for relief under Medicare.

I certainly agree that we do not want Federal retirees to be at risk for giving up what they have already got, and so I would agree with my colleagues that we should support this legislation to make sure that our Federal retirees maintain the benefits they have already received.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform in consideration of H.R. 1761, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9350 East Corporate Hill Drive in Wichita, Kansas, as the Garner E. Shriver Post Office Building, which was introduced by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt) on April 10, 2003. The bill has been cosponsored by the entire Kansas delegation.

Garner E. Shriver served in both the Kansas House of Representatives and the State Senate before being elected to represent the Fourth Congressional District of Kansas. Reelected seven times, Representative Shriver served on the House Committee on Appropriations. He left the House in 1977 and went to the United States Senate where he served as the minority staff director and general counsel for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs from 1977 until 1982. He practiced law until his death in 1998.

He was obviously a person who spent all of his life working from one career to another career doing outstandingly well in each and every one of them. I think the designation, or the naming, of a postal facility in his honor is appropriate and serves as an indication of the tremendous legacy of service that he left. I urge swift passage of this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2396, which designates the facility of United States Postal Service located at 1210 Highland Avenue in Duarte, California, as the ``Francisco A. Martinez Flores Post Office'' was introduced by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) on June 9, 2003. The bill has been cosponsored by the entire California delegation.

Mr. Speaker, Francisco A. Martinez Flores was 3 years old when his family moved from Mexico to California. He joined the Marines so that he could go to college. Unfortunately, at the early age of 21, Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, who was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Twentynine Palms, California, was killed in Iraq on March 25, 2003. He died when his tank went over a collapsing bridge and tumbled into the Euphrates River.

The oldest of four children, Corporal Martinez was to have become a citizen of the U.S. in April of this year. Unfortunately, he died before he could take the oath of allegiance. He was buried as an American after being granted his citizenship posthumously.

Mr. Speaker, my heart goes out to Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, with commendations, who gave his life before being granted or having the opportunity to have been granted his citizenship. I express condolences to his mother and to his siblings, and I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) for seeking to honor the memory of a fallen hero, a soldier who gave his life so that others may experience the freedom, the liberty, and the opportunities that he never got an opportunity to fully enjoy. One cannot give much more than that, and I would urge swift passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

(Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).

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

With the understanding and recognition that I agree with the gentlewoman from California that if one has the right to fight and die, one certainly has the right to citizenship, I would urge swift passage of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I also want to commend the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for the tremendous leadership that he continues to display as he projects thoughts, ideas, and helps to focus the activities of the caucus.

I would agree with the gentleman from New Jersey that Africa is indeed changing, and that change is seen throughout the continent in many places that one goes. But even as the changes occur, problems have been so profound and so severe until it is difficult to stabilize, it is difficult to have the kind of economy, it is difficult to have the opportunities to grow and develop, and that is one of the reasons why we continue to have instability, one of the reasons why we see the inability to shape governments and hold those firmly in place.

I would also agree with my colleagues who have suggested that if we can spend much of our time, energy, and effort trying to make sure that there is a world order with peace and security, then the African continent is one of those places where our resources and our efforts are needed most.

Yes, I am in agreement that we need to intervene in Liberia, and we need to do it immediately. We need to do it now. We need to make sure that there are peacekeeping forces. We also have to make sure that we do it with a level of sensitivity, that we do it with a level of humaneness, that we do it in such a way that we do not overshadow, overpower; and that we make sure that the local indigenous people have control of the operation and further development of their government, and that they continue to be liberated and be able to produce for themselves the kind

of government and the kind of governmental structures that they find desirable.

So, I say to the gentleman from New Jersey, I am pleased to have been able to join with him and other colleagues to come and simply say that the time is now. It is critical that intervention must come immediately before things escalate and before they reach other countries surrounding Liberia. So I thank the gentleman again for his tremendous effort and for his leadership.