Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as I was about to come over, there was a young man in my office visiting one of my staffers, Lance Corporal Jason C. Smedley, and he was proudly displaying his Purple Heart. He had been wounded in an attack in An Nasiriya, Iraq, on March 26, 2003, and is now home to recuperate, and as we talked about what he would do next, he said, ``I want to hurry up and get well so I can go back and rejoin my unit.''

I was struck by that, struck by his seriousness, by his desire, and struck by the fact that he said that there is still much work to do, to try and rebuild what we are at this moment helping to tear down.

So I simply commend again to all of the soldiers who are giving of themselves in this time in honor of their country, looking for a better future and a better tomorrow.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the chairman, in consideration of H.R. 1055, legislation naming a postal facility after the late Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Sr.

H.R. 1055, introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) on March 4, 2003, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire South Carolina congressional delegation.

Dr. Beck was born in South Carolina, attended Fisk University and received his medical degree at the prestigious Meharry College of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. After completing his residency in Baltimore, Maryland, and Mt. Sinai in New York, Dr. Beck served with great distinction in the Korean War as a medic in the Medical Corps. After winning a Bronze Star for service rendered in the war, Dr. Beck returned home to live and practice in Florence, South Carolina.

Described by the many dignitaries who attended his funeral on January 10, 2003, as a great humanitarian, physician, political power broker, accomplished musician and family man, Dr. Beck's life was dedicated to improving the quality of life for his fellow man. He organized the Florence Committee for Community Affairs, brought the first Head Start program to his town, served as chairman of the Voter Education Project, was an active member of the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the South Carolina Commission on Human Relations, and served as a trustee of the Medical University of South Carolina.

As chairman of the Voter Education Project, Dr. Beck was the driving force in promoting the need for citizens to register and vote.

As an active member of his church and community, Dr. Beck was the recipient of numerous awards and citations. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Beck, and their three children, Janice Beck, Celeste Abdullah, and Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), for seeking to honor Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Sr., in this manner. I urge swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) was trying to get here, and maybe he will come before we finish the next bill and will get an opportunity to speak to his bill naming the post office after Dr. Roswell N. Beck.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the great State of South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the author of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to simply note that it seems to me that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) ran in good company.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution introduced by the chairman of the Committee on Rules which encourages the Jump$tart Coalition's efforts to designate April as Financial Literacy Month for Youth. As the resolution notes, 83 percent of college students have at least one credit card; and of those, 45 percent have an average credit card debt of over $3,000. This is at a time when a decreasing number of States include personal finance in their education standards for kindergarten through 12th grade.

This resolution serves as a wake-up call for all of us, the administration, Congress, and the American taxpayer. The Jump$tart Coalition's aim is to identify personal finance materials for educating our youth. To that end they have established 12 must-know personal finance principles for young people if they want to make a positive difference in their financial outlook.

At this time of budget and tax cuts and a floundering economy, all of us might benefit from hearing these 12 financial principles. It does not really matter whether you are young or old. They are:

Map your financial future. Do not expect something for nothing. High returns equal high risk. Know your take-home pay. Compare interest rates. Pay yourself first. Money doubles by the rule of 72, and that is to determine how long it will take your money to double, divide the interest into 72. Your credit past is your credit future. Start saving young. Stay insured. Budget your money. Do not borrow what you cannot repay. And let me add one more, especially since the 15th is not too far away. Pay all of your taxes.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution designating April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month, and I urge all of us to strongly support it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) has a great deal of interest in this legislation and hopes to be able to speak on the legislation.

I will simply close by stating that my mother used to say that a penny saved is a penny earned and my father used to say if one takes care of their nickels, the dimes will take care of themselves. It seems to me, that kind of logic is inherent in urging young people to pay attention at an early age to their financial concerns.

I commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) for its introduction, and urge all Members to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) in consideration of H.R. 1368, a measure which names the Postal Service facility after former Representative Norm D. Shumway. H.R. 1368, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) of California on March 19, 2003, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire California congressional delegation.

Representative Norman D. Shumway served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978 until his retirement in January 1991. While in Congress, he served on a number of important committees, the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the House Select Committee on Aging.

A lifelong student of the customs and culture of the Japanese people, Representative Shumway was one of two Members of Congress who spoke fluent Japanese. As a result of his language skill and position on congressional committees, Norm participated in many seminars and conferences dealing with trade issues and U.S.-Japanese relationships.

Although retired for a number of years, Norm Shumway has remained active in his community, State and church. He is a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and in that capacity, he has served as a missionary, seminary instructor, High Priest Group leader, Bishop, teacher and ward organist. He has served as a commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission and parole board member of the California Narcotic Addiction Evaluation Authority.

Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the tradition of naming postal facilities after distinguished individuals, I thank our colleague for seeking to honor Norman D. Shumway in this manner, and urge swift passage of H.R. 1368.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe I have any additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my opposition against the

President's proposed budget for Health Care in the Veterans Affairs (VA) fiscal year 2004. Americans freedom is due to the men and women in uniform who have fought and continue to fight for us. They are the Nation's heroes, who are one of America's greatest and vital assets, to whom we owe a great debt. One way we can repay this debt is through the provision of good health care to them. Many veterans and men and women in uniform according to the American Veterans (AMVET) will agree with me that high quality health care is one of their most important benefits. Nevertheless, the President is repaying the debt we owe to them by cutting their health care benefits.

The President's budget of $27.5 billion is $2.5 billion less than what it cost to provide health care to veterans under current law in 2004. This is as a result of suspending health care enrollment of Priority 8 veterans, which will deny care to 173,000 veterans nation wide. Of the 173,000 veterans denied approximately 7,160 reside in Illinois and approximately 4,000 would have enrolled at VA facilities in the Chicago area. Nationwide, an estimated 300,000 veterans in 2002, were placed on waiting list or forced to wait for over 6 months in order for them to get an appointment for health care. Now we are going to tell over 50 percent of these people who have been expecting this benefit and bleed for their country, that we appreciate their service and are thanking them by refusing them health care access. Denying them health care tells them how much we value their service to the country and their lives. This is incomprehensible.

The budget now requires an additional annual enrollment fee of $250 for those already in the VA health care system. This will force approximately 1.25 million enrolled veterans including 425,000 active patients nationwide to drop out of the health care system due to the increased costs. In the state of Illinois, there are approximately 105,210 priority 7 and 8 veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, which will lead to an estimated 58,000 veterans dropping out due to this cost. Also, approximately 42,000 Chicago veterans and active patients would be forced to drop out of VA care due to the new fees. This new fee is telling our veterans and active men and women in uniform that their suffering for our freedom is not enough for them to earn health care benefits that they still have to pay for it.

Furthermore, those who remain in the VA health care system, will pay a lot more than they used to pay. In the State of Illinois an estimated 47,000 Priority 7 and 8 veterans will remain in the VA health care system, which will mean that their cost for VA care will increase by an estimated $16 million annually. Out of these Illinois veterans approximately 26,000 veterans are enrolled in Chicago VA facilities, their VA care cost will increase annually by an estimated $9.1 million.

Overall due to being excluded from signing up and the increased fee for VA care, approximately 65,000 Illinois 15 veterans, including 36,000 veterans in Chicago VA facilities, will lose access to VA health care. This is no way to treat our Veterans--in fact we should be ashamed. We can do better and we must begin by taking care of those who have given so much--our Veterans.

Madam Speaker, I was indeed fortunate as a teenager to attend the Arkansas Mechanical and Normal College, which is now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. While this was one of the historically black colleges and universities, it did not have a great deal in the way of material supplies and resources. However, it had some of the most profound educators and education administrators this country has ever known.

I could cite any number of them, but today I will mention three and highlight one. Prexy, President Lawrence A. Davis, Sr., had no peer as an administrator and was beloved by generations of individuals who are connected to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Mr. Ray Russell, chairman of the History Department, was one of the most exciting professors that I have ever known. I was a history major, and he was my friend, mentor, and a father figure.

However, the man that I would highlight and the man whose thinking helped to shape my own passion for democratic principles and social activism, Professor Adolph Reed, Sr., was my political science professor. I remember Mr. Reed so well, as his other students have described him, slender, suave, in constant motion, talking incessantly, keeping us in rapt attention as he waxed eloquently about Locke, Rousseau, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Daisy Bates, Martin Luther King, and the nameless sharecroppers, common, ordinary people, everyday people who would march, demonstrate, picket, boycott, and do whatever they could to try and obtain justice.

Professor Reed, like so many others of his generation, migrated from Arkansas to Chicago, where he worked as a railroad dining car waiter and sat in on classes at the University of Chicago. His experiences in the hustle and bustle in the predominantly black South Side of Chicago remained a central part of his being as he continued on the path to greatness.

He was drafted into the Army, was part of the Normandy invasion, and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge. He was involved in protests by black troops in Charleston, South Carolina, and in Manchester, England. He often remarked about the contradiction of having been sent to fight the racist Nazis in a racially segregated United States Army.

After the war, Professor Reed, like many other veterans, especially African American males who had never before had the opportunity to attend college in large numbers, enrolled at Fiske University in Nashville, Tennessee. He pursued postgraduate studies at New York University and American University.

Mr. Reed taught at Arkansas A.M. and N. College, where he was my instructor. He then moved on to Southern University, where he resigned as the result of a clash with the university's president over his expulsion of student protestors who were demonstrating for civil rights, equal opportunity, and an end to segregation. He held visiting professorships at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of California at San Diego.

At Arkansas A.M. and N., we knew Mr. Reed was spellbinding, but we did not know that while at Fiske he had been editor of an independent radical newspaper called ``Give Me a Name,'' or that during the 1940s had been active in the American Labor Party. In 1948, he was a delegate to the Progressive Party convention that launched Henry Wallace's Presidential campaign.

We did not know that he had been at Peekskill, New York, in 1949 to show support for our hero, Paul Robeson; or that he had been a reporter for the New York Compass.

After getting to know Dr. Adolph Reed, Jr., a well-known college professor who teaches political science at the New School for Social Research in New York City, and to know that Mr. Reed's grandson, Toure F. Reed is a history professor at Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois, it reinforces for me the kind of legacy that he left.

Mr. Reed taught at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville from 1971 to 1994, when he retired with the title ``professor emeritus.''

Madam Speaker, it is good to have known one who lived what he taught, who practiced what he preached, who understood that you cannot lead where you are unwilling to go, and that you cannot teach what you do not know.

I want to end this with Dr. Reed, Jr.'s, characterization of his father. ``Professor Reed as a political scientist remained convinced that both major political parties are too beholden to corporate interests, which he frequently described as the basis for the perverted priorities of American politics.''

In recent years, he became an active supporter of the New Labor Party, created in 1996, and its project of building a politics in this country based on a working-class economic agenda. He was a man for many seasons, and oftentimes thought of as a man before his time.

I am proud to have known him, and appreciate the tremendous contribution that he made to all of America.

Madam Speaker, it is so good to have known one who lived what he taught, who practiced what he preached, who understood that you cannot lead where you are unwilling to go and that you cannot teach what you do not know.

I want to end this with Dr. Adolph Reed Jr.'s characterization of his father. Professor Reed as a political scientist:

. . . remained convinced that both major political parties

are too beholden to corporate interests, which he frequently

described as the basis for the ``perverted priorities'' of

American politics. In recent years, he became an active

supporter of the New Labor Party, created in 1996, and its

project of building a politics in this country based on a

working class economic agenda that cuts across other

potential social divisions. All his life he lamented what he

perceived as the ruling class's success in inducing too many

poor and working people to identify the wrong enemies.

He stressed the roles of the news media, education system and organized religion in perpetuating that situation:

These convictions shaped his approach to intellectual and

political life. He was widely known among colleagues and in

the political science profession as a person of uncommon

honesty and integrity, a witty and engaging raconteur, big

ban jazz aficionado, a biting critic and a generous friend.

Although he never shied away from expressing intellectual and

political disagreements, he refused to take differences

personally and could maintain friendships with those with who

he differed sharply. His teaching philosophy was simply to

encourage students to think independently.

Professor Reed was an important force in the development of a generation of Black Political scientists and a prominent voice in the organization throughout its formative years. He was also a founding member of the American Political Science Association's Caucus for a New Political Science.

When I learned that Mr. Reed and his family had lived in Dumas, Eudora and Reed, Arkansas, his being became even more meaningful to me, given the fact that this is the largely rural, impoverished area where I grew up. This has provided me with even more affinity for this great scholar and tremendous teacher.

Adolph Reed Sr. 1921-2003, a man with exceptional insight, common experiences, menial work, a soldier, activist, uncompromising philosopher, served on State Constitution Committees in Arkansas and Louisiana, inspiration to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., acknowledged prominently in Race and Democracy, a book by Adam Fairclough depicting the Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana from 1915 to 1972, heralded by activists like Stokley Carmichael, featured in the Black Press for being at the core of student unrest and activism on black college campuses, intellectual giant. Mr. Reed, when your family and friends gather in Fayetteville, Arkansas to pay tribute, please know that there are thousands of us across the country who are there in spirit and of course, you will always be with us. ``Sante Sana'' ``The Struggle will Continue.''

Mr. Speaker, the great issues of war and peace have rightfully dominated the news and the focus of our attention as a people and as a legislative body during the month of March. Nevertheless, other events must continue on.

March, of course, is Women's History Month. It is not designated Women's History Month because we may ignore the role and history of women for the other eleven months of the year. Quite the opposite. We have designated March as Women's History Month to highlight, for on- going consideration, the status, condition and progress of women.

The Congress established Women's History Week in 1981 and expanded it to Women's History Month in 1987. In that short period Women's History Month has become a time when men and women learn about the history of more than half of our population, much of which is not recorded in standard history books. The rediscovery of our ``missing'' history has been a beneficent thing for America.

As for the status of women, this year we note with satisfaction that women have made progress toward equality. At the same time, we remain deeply concerned about how far women need to go before they achieve what simple fairness and justice would demand: full equality.

Mr. Speaker, just a few numbers to highlight the current status of women:

The median earnings of women age 15 and older who worked full time, year around, after adjustment for inflation, increased 3.5 percent in 2001, the fifth consecutive increase. Women in this group earn $0.76 for every dollar their male counterparts earn. This ratio represents an all-time high according to the census bureau.

The gap between men and women with college degrees has not closed completely, but the percentages are close: 25 percent of women age 25 and over now have a bachelor's degree or higher compared with 29 percent of men. For younger women, age 25 to 34, 33 percent hold a bachelor's degree or higher compared to 29 percent of their male counterparts of the same age. Young women also have a higher high school completion rate than young men: 89 percent v. 85 percent.

The percentage of women who cast a ballot in the last Presidential election was 61 percent compared with 58 percent of men. Women have voted at higher rates then men in every Presidential election since 1984.

There are now 10 million single mothers up from 3 million in 1970. Overall about 26 percent of all parent-child situations consist of a single mother and her own children up from 12 percent in 1970.

Women are far more likely than men to live in poverty, especially seniors. According to the census bureau 12 percent of women age 65 and older lived in poverty compared with 7 percent of men.

Nearly 16 percent of men age 15 and older who worked full time in 2001 earned $75,000 per year compared with 6 percent of women. About 20 percent of men earned $50,000 to $75,000 compared to 12 percent of women.

Mr. Speaker, there are especially troubling increases in the number of women who are in prison and there remain significant disparities between men and women in health care and other vital social indices.

Mr. Speaker, women may not have had their history fully recorded, but they have always assumed their full share and more in the building of our nation, in creating and protecting America's families, in developing art, culture and science, public policy, health care, education and any other field one can name. However, it has required constant struggle on the part of women.

Thus, women have always played an important part in shaping public opinion but it was not until 1916 that Jeanette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and not until 1992 that Carol Moseley Braun became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

Anne Bradstreet became the first published American writer in 1650 and in 1993 Toni Morrison became the First African American woman to win the Nobel prize in literature.

Over the course of our history we have seen an unending string of ``firsts.'' The first woman to receive her M.D. degree: Elizabeth Blackwell--1849. The first female professional chemist: Ellen Swallow Richards--1873. First American woman in Space: Sally Ride--1983. First woman U.S. Surgeon General; Antonia Novello--1900.

Mr. Speaker, the history of American women is an inexhaustible subject. No one can reduce it to a single sound byte or a single notion. One thing is clear: the march to equality is irresistible and unrelenting.

The Equal Rights Amendment was first drafted by Alice Paul in 1923. The message was simple and clear: ``Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.''

The Congress did not pass, and send to the states, the ERA until March 22, 1972. The states failed to ratify. But our responsibility as a people and as a legislative body remains. Women demand and deserve equality in every sphere of life, beginning with the law. It is high time for us to recognize and ratify that most just and basic demand.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to be associated with the comments that were just made by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey). I rise in strong support of the AMBER Alert provisions of this bill to prevent child abduction and to then do all we can in finding the child. A nationwide AMBER Alert would allow all of America to have the information to assist the family, the community, and the local police in finding a missing child. If already in place, the two Bradley sisters from Chicago would have been located.

Like most stories of missing children, 10-year-old Tionda and 3-year- old Diamond disappeared without a trace, without anyone seeing where they went or who they went with. On Friday, July 6, 2001, Tionda had left a note telling their mother that she and her sister were going to go to the store and then go to the school playground. Several neighborhood children have told police that they did see the sisters playing outside their complex around noon that day. Sadly, no one has seen them since.

The neighborhood surrounding their home and even Lake Michigan has been searched with only disappointing news. No clues, no evidence has been found to place either child. It has been 659 days since this mother has seen her two daughters. I urge America to go to the Bradley's Web site and see if you have seen either one of them.

Mr. Chairman, all of America would be benefited by the AMBER Alert system put in place now.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, it is unfortunate that we will delay the opportunity to find Tionda and to find Diamond. We will delay the opportunity because, instead of having a simple, clean AMBER Alert bill that could be passed immediately in both Houses, we have a complex, complicated, bogged-down bill with all kinds of impediments and extraneous items in it that makes it very difficult for individuals to support if they also want to support a judicial system that deals in a rational, logical, sane, sensible, less-than-punitive way.

I do not know if it is going to be possible to change that, but I would certainly hope there would be some way to extricate, to take out those onerous portions of the bill so that we can move ahead and find missing children, find children who are away from their parents, find children that we do not know where they are. So I would hope when the end comes, we will come to an alert system that puts us on the track to find missing children.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, as I listened to the debate and as I listened to the virtues of the proposed legislation and as I listened to those who expressed opposition, it would seem to me that there ought to be a middle ground, that there ought to be a point where the children come first, where finding them, making sure that their parents can wake up and see their children that they have not seen. That often requires a bit of give and take.

I think that there could be other opportunities to debate and discuss criminal justice punishment, to discuss what it is that you do as individuals have committed a crime. It would serve us well if we could arrive at the point where today we are simply talking about finding missing children, not punishing perpetrators, not putting people in jail, but finding missing children.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, March 28, at 1 o'clock, I shall join the Chicago Urban League, several Chicago land chapters of the NAACP, the National Association of Health Service Executives, the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and others in a town hall meeting to address the need for the continuation of affirmative action as a way of helping to level the playing field for all races and gender groups in employment, education, and upward mobility.

There has been tremendous progress in these areas, but not nearly enough. Therefore, we must continue to move

America towards becoming a land of equal opportunity, which affords to every man and every woman his or her chance, their golden opportunity to become whatever their manhood, womanhood, talents, and ambitions combine to make them.

That is indeed the promise of America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 113, recognizing the social problems of child abuse and neglect and to bring attention to this issue. I also want to commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for introducing such a timely and important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today we call attention to the important fact that in the year 2000 about 879,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in this country. Of this number, approximately 1,200 children died of abuse or neglect, and 44 percent of those children were under the age of 1 year. It is indeed a disturbing thought that an adult would want to hurt an innocent, helpless child; yet it still occurs daily in our country.

By the United States Congress taking a moment to bring this issue to the floor, we are not only acknowledging that there is a problem, but expressing a concern to help a child in need. I am pleased to report that in the past 7 years, the State of Illinois, my State, has seen a significant drop in its number of abuse cases. There was a 39 percent decrease in the number of cases of children that were victims of sexual abuse, as well as a 45 percent decrease in child abuse and neglect cases.

However, there is always the correlation between the state of the economy and violence. As the economy worsens and the number of unemployed rises, it is likely that we will see the number of crimes also increase. We will see the level of frustration increase. We will see an increase in the number of individuals who will take out their anger and frustration on whoever and whatever is closest to them. Oftentimes, these are innocent children.

We must ensure that crimes towards one's child are prevented as much as crimes towards one's neighbor. The National Institute of Justice reported that maltreatment in childhood increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent and as an adult by 38 percent. Therefore, we need to intervene today and every day to keep our children safe and protected before we severely pay for it tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I again commend the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for this thoughtful and timely legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

I will just make two observances in closing. One is to follow up on the comments of Mr. Faleomavaega, that there is a tremendous need for parenting classes and parenting help, for many of our young parents, especially, who have children but not much opportunity to really know about parenting. That is one of the needs that exists and one of the program areas that we need to pay serious attention to.

The other is, people often ask me, are these kind of resolutions of any value? Do they make any sense?

I thought of a story that I heard the other day that a man was walking along the beach, and he saw a silver fish, and he picked it up and threw it in the water. Another fellow walking behind him says, I hate to bother you, he said, but can you tell me what you are doing? He said, well, I am throwing the silver fish back into the water. He said, I do not know why you are doing that. There are so many of them you could never throw them all in, and even if you did all of them in this particular area, there are beaches all over the world, and so you are kind of wasting your time. Do you really think it will make a difference?

The man never answered. He just reached down, threw another fish into the water. Of course, when the fish fall into the water, they oxidate and continue to live, and he said it made a difference to that one, picked up another one, made a difference to that one.

If we only make a difference in the life of one child with this resolution, we have made a difference to that one.

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 rise in support of H. Res. 57, a bill recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of National Runaway Prevention Month, and I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) for its introduction.

Each year, more than 1 million teenagers run away in the United States, a rate of more than 1 every minute. Many of these young people leave their homes to escape abuse and neglect or because their parents could not or would not meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and a safe, supportive home environment.

While on the streets, America's children are vulnerable and may be exploited by drug dealers or become victims of crime or violence.

To survive, runaways may resort to shoplifting or prostitution to earn money for food and clothing. Medical conditions may go untreated or become aggravated by neglect, and those who drop out of school threaten their chances for economic independence.

The National Runaway Switchboard, which was founded by a group of Chicago agencies in 1971, gives help and hope to youth and their families by providing nonjudgmental, confidential crisis intervention and local and national referrals through a 24-hour hotline. The NRS, along with the National Network for Youth, are cosponsoring National Runaway Prevention Month during the month of November to increase awareness of the life circumstances of youths in high-risk situations and the need for a safe haven for these youths.

I also want to commend the Chicago public school system, the Chicago Board of Education for the work that it does of providing education for homeless children without their having to go through lots of changes in terms of identification of where they are and where they come from. This resolution supports NRS and NN4Y in their efforts to create National Runaway Prevention Month. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 57 and the runaway children it will help.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mr. Speaker, I would just again commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) for the introduction of this resolution and the work that they have done on it. It is an important one.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 44, a concurrent resolution to express support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854.

Mr. Speaker, the Grand Excursion of 1854 represents a major turning point of the settlement and expansion of the Upper Mississippi River. It started out simply as a celebration of America's first railroad link to the Mississippi River from Chicago to Rock Island. Over 1,200 dignitaries, politicians, journalists, and businessmen, including former President Millard Fillmore, boarded a rail car in Chicago for Rock Island, Illinois. This group transferred to a fleet of at least five steamboats for a trip up the Mississippi to St. Paul, Minnesota, then traveled by horseback and wagon to view the falls of St. Anthony in what is now known as Minneapolis.

When the travelers wrote home about their great adventure, word spread about what a splendid place that part of America was. The next year, the upper Mississippi saw twice the number of visitors as the previous year.

The 2004 Grand Excursion is a regional initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the incredible renaissance that has occurred throughout the upper reaches of America's river, the Mississippi. As of December 2, 2002, 48 communities and 22 regional organizations, including Moline, Illinois, have endorsed and will participate in the Grand Excursion.

The 2004 excursion is designed to celebrate the capital improvements, along with the environmental and ecological changes, that have made the upper Mississippi one of the cleanest stretches of river in the country. Steamboats, river boats, and trains will be used to honor the spirit of the 1854 Grand Excursion to draw national and international attention to the lasting legacies of the 1854 excursion.

I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 44.

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

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

I want to thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for bringing this tremendous event to our attention. I had the good fortune to drive from Chicago to Rock Island 2 weeks ago, and it is indeed tremendous territory. Looking at the mighty Mississippi is a delight in and of itself.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

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

I simply reiterate, Mr. Speaker, that this has been a tremendous event and will be a tremendous event. I strongly support it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform's Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census and Agency Organization, I join my colleague in the consideration of three postal naming bills. I would like to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for the timely consideration of these measures.

For the benefit of my colleagues, the postal naming measures before us today have met the committee requirements and enjoy the support and cosponsorship of their respective State congressional delegations.

We continue the tradition of naming post offices after individuals of enormous character who have made important contributions to their community, State and country. To that end, I commend the sponsors of these postal naming bills for seeking to recognize their respective designees by naming a United States Post Office in their honor.

H.R. 825, to Redesignate the United States Postal Service located at 7401 West 100th Place in Bridgeview, Illinois, as the Michael J. Healy Post Office Building.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 825, which names a U.S. Post Office located in Bridgeview, Illinois, after Michael J. Healy was introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), my friend and colleague, on February 13, 2003.

On June 21, 1981, Michael Healy became the first uniformed postal police officer of the Postal Inspection Service to be killed in the line of duty. Sadly, he was slain by two assailants in a foiled robbery attempt while guarding the Chicago Main Post Office located at Harrison Avenue and Canal Street, which is now known as the Cardiss Collins Post Office.

As one of our Nation's oldest Federal law enforcement agencies, founded by Benjamin Franklin, the United States Postal Inspection Service has a long and proud and successful history of fighting criminals who attack our postal system and endanger the public. Since its inception in 1772, the Postal Inspection Service has lost nine employees in the line of duty.

In 2001, the Chicago division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service honored the 20th anniversary of the passing of their fallen comrade and the Fraternal Order of Police has supported the effort to rename the local post office after Officer Healy.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to the roughly 1,900 postal inspectors who serve as fact finders and investigators, the Inspection Service maintains a security force of approximately 1,400 uniformed postal police officers assigned to critical facilities throughout the country. Postal police officers provide perimeter security, escort high-value shipments and protect and defend postal employees. As the primary law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service was very ably represented by Officer Michael Healy.

The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) is to be commended for seeking to recognize Officer Healy by designating a post office in his honor.

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

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

(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 917, which names a postal facility located at 1830 South Lake Drive in Lexington, South Carolina, after Floyd Spence, was introduced on February 25, 2003, by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson).

Floyd D. Spence, a former Member of Congress, was born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1928. He was a graduate of Lexington High School and the University of South Carolina. He served in the United States Navy first as an ensign and later as group commander before he retired as a captain from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1988.

As a Democrat, Floyd Spence was first elected to public office in 1956 as a member of the South Carolina State House of Representatives. He later switched to the Republican party and went on to serve in the State Senate. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 2nd Congressional District of South Carolina, in 1970. He served as chairman of the House Committee on National Security from 1995 to 1999 and as Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services from 1991 to 2001. In the last Congress, he served on the House Committee on Armed Services and Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, Representative Floyd Spence represented his district for 31 years until his untimely death on August 16, 2001. He truly is deserving of this honor, and I urge swift passage of this measure.

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. 981, which designates a postal facility located at 141 Erie Street in Linesville, Pennsylvania, after James R. Merry was introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) on February 27, 2003.

Mr. Merry was a former Pennsylvania State representative who represented his constituents in the legislature for 16 years, from 1980 to 1996. A graduate of Linesville School, Mr. Merry went on to operate a successful business in town and remained very active in local affairs, serving as a borough councilman and later as president of the local chamber of commerce. As a man dedicated to his community and its residents, it is truly an honor to name a postal facility after the late James R. Merry, who passed away on February 1, 2001. I join Members in support of this measure and urge its swift passage.

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