Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Glen Kehrein, a neighbor, a good friend, and one of the most dedicated, committed, and focused individuals that I've ever known. He was founder and CEO of Circle Urban Ministries in Chicago, Illinois. A few days ago, Glen Kehrein passed away, but he leaves a legacy that will live for many, many years to come.

More than 30 years ago, Glen and his family and a circle of a few friends moved into the Austin community of Chicago which was undergoing rapid change from a predominantly white community to what is now a more than 95 percent black, or African American, community. With his circle of friends, Glen organized Circle Urban Ministries, which has lasted for more than 30 years and has become one of the most effective faith- based urban redevelopment organizations in the Nation.

Under Glen's leadership, programs in health care, legal assistance, housing rehabilitation, management, youth outreach, leadership development, homelessness, ex-offender reentry, food distribution, and education are bringing hope and help to thousands of people each year.

Glen coauthored an award-winning book with a black minister and friend of his, Reverend Raleigh Washington, entitled ``Breaking Down Walls,'' a model of reconciliation in an age of racial strife. He has traveled extensively to speak on the topic of racial reconciliation and has been a frequent guest on television and radio. He has been a contributing author of three other books about inner-city life and work, and has written many other articles for publication.

Glen has a B.A. in Bible theology from the Moody Bible Institute and a B.A. in sociology from Wheaton College. Except for a brief 2-year period while studying at Wheaton College, Glen; his wife, Lonnie; and their three children have lived in the Austin community for more than 30 years. In 1997, he was recognized for his contributions by becoming the first American to be awarded a Doctorate of Peacemaking from Westminster College. In receiving this honor, he joined the ranks of previous grantees: Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire of Northern Ireland; Mrs. Leah Rabin, wife of the slain prime minister of Israel; and the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr. Muhammad Sayed Tantawi, the highest authority on Islamic law in Egypt.

Glen is a legend in our community. His family, neighbors, friends, and community will truly miss him; and may he rest in peace.

A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution represents bad economics and bad social policy. The ability to borrow to help our States and citizens is a critical tool to aid our Nation during economic crisis.

One of the most egregious consequences of this bill is the dangerous cuts to Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and other safety net programs that would result. Given the vast deficit that exists due to reckless tax cuts for the wealthy, this bill would achieve balance on the backs of the elderly, the poor, and the disabled.

To achieve balance in the short term, massive reductions to critical safety net programs would have to occur--$750 billion in cuts from Medicare, $1.2 trillion from Social Security, and $85 billion from veterans' benefits through 2021. Dramatic cuts to other safety net protections for citizens, such as food stamps and supplemental security income for the disabled, poor, and the elderly, would almost certainly occur.

To add insult to injury, nonpartisan economists with Macroeconomic Advisers estimate that a balanced budget amendment would eliminate 15 million jobs, increase unemployment to 18 percent, and shrink the economy by 17 percent--catastrophic economic losses at the same time that Federal safety programs to support citizens experiencing such hardships are eviscerated.

This is a terrible piece of legislation. It's a bad bill. I could not, would not, and I don't think anybody should vote for it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Charlie Calvin, who has distinguished himself as both an outstanding community leader and political organizer for over 30 years.

Mr. Calvin graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science/Pre-Law; he subsequently earned a Master of Arts Degree in Political Theory and Government from Governors State University and two Juris Doctorate Degrees, one from LaSalle University School of Law and the other from the National Conference of Black Lawyers College of Law and International Diplomacy.

For the past 31\1/2\ years, Charlie Calvin has worked tirelessly as a community and political organizer--addressing issues of family, community, public education, the justice system, and the destruction of the African American male. Mr. Calvin has addressed concerns and advocated for help to feed and clothe the needy. As Deputy Register, he has helped to register thousands of new voters and has held town hall meetings relative to vital issues, such as disproportionate incarceration, the adverse effect of the criminal justice system on the African American Community, and leadership through political forums.

Charlie Calvin has affected people young and old though his motivational speaking engagements, Criminal Justice Conferences, and Adjunct professorships at the National Conference of Black Lawyers, LaSalle Law School, Harold Washington College and Chicago State University. Mr. Calvin is affiliated with many organizations ranging from the NAACP to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.

Charlie Calvin entered the Democratic Political Primary of 1978 where he was a candidate for County Clerk--which at 22 years of age, made him the youngest and first African American in the history of Kankakee County to run for a seat in county government. He later assisted a number of local politicians to be elected as judges.

Recently Charlie Calvin became the Division Administrator for the Presiding Judge's Office of Juvenile Justice.

Charlie is married to Mrs. Dorothy Calvin, and they have three children; Charlie Jr. is a graduate of Governors States University, Felicia is a junior at Northern Illinois University, and Thomas is a high school student.

I am pleased to commend and congratulate Mr. Calvin on an outstanding career and wish him well in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring the Montford Point Marines for their great sacrifice and courage in becoming the first African Americans admitted to the Marine Corps, and their service to our country during multiple wars, including World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Their service to the country was great, which is why I voted in favor of H.R. 2447 to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines. The Congressional Gold Medal is a prestigious honor that these men truly deserve.

After President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Fair Employment Practices Commission in 1941, allowing for equal opportunity in all branches of the armed forces, the first black recruits entered boot camp at Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina. The recruits were prohibited from training with white recruits in nearby Camp Lejeune, and the conditions during their training in the snake- infested swamps of New River were much more difficult than those of their white peers. These men dealt with unsanitary drinking water, inferior barracks made of cardboard, and freezing living quarters, all of which were unfit for any American, let alone the men and women that protect our country.

As a testament to the resolve of the Montford Point Marines, after completion of their training in North Carolina, the 8th Ammunition Company and the 36th Depot Company were deployed to Iwo Jima on D-Day during World War II, receiving praise from fellow officers for their actions under fire. In addition, Marines trained at Montford Point participated in the seizure of Okinawa and helped with clean-up of debris from the atomic bomb attacks in Japan.

After the announcement of U.S. victory in the war, nearly 17,500 of the 19,000 black marines were discharged from the Corps. A few of the Montford Point men remained in the service completing tours of duty in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. Today, few of these men are still with us, but their legacy continues to inspire young men and women who strive for participation in the U.S. Armed Services.

I salute the Montford Point Marines for their endless determination to bring about change in the Marine Corps, and for their exceptional contributions to equality in this country. Their sacrifices opened doors for many individuals seeking to serve this country, and we are forever grateful for their accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and commend my constituent, Mr. Lou Lori, on his remarkable achievement of becoming an Eagle Scout. In this centennial year of the Eagle Scout Award, Mr. Lori has earned his place among a very prestigious group of young men. His tenacity and dedication to his community impresses me; such commitment deserves public recognition and appreciation because these qualities are critical to building a strong nation.

Mr. Lori's Eagle project involved collecting and donating nine thousand books from the now-closed Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary. Mr. Lori identified local and national organizations--such as Chicago schools, the Cook County Sheriff's office, and a seminary in Dallas--in need of the books. Mr. Lori's original goal was to donate the books to aid programs for English language learners; given that the reading level of the books did not match program needs, Mr. Lori donated the books while still raising funds for programs for English language learners. So, in addition to donating nine thousand books, he raised over $500 for programs benefiting those learning English.

Mr. Lori's project represents a well-conceived demonstration of the Scout values, particularly the duty to others. The coordination required for this project was daunting--organizing, identifying potential parties interested in, and transporting the books all involved an impressive amount of time and commitment. Putting old assets to new use is a hallmark of leadership and efficiency. Further, giving books delivers immeasurable value via the knowledge gained about oneself and the world upon reading; this information is the key to opening many doors. It is a key that Mr. Lori has shared with so many. With his efforts and leadership, Mr. Lori delivered an essential ingredient to the growth and development of hundreds of readers.

I served as District Commissioner for the Austin District for the Boy Scouts for 13 years; I know becoming an Eagle Scout is an honor and a standard of excellence for young men across the country. I am proud to recognize Mr. Lori for the dedication, perseverance, and community involvement he demonstrated in achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. I wish Mr. Lori all the best in his future endeavors. Chicago, Illinois, and the country will benefit tremendously from his continued commitment to the Scout Oath and Law for all the days of his life.

I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio not only for yielding, but for convening this discussion this evening.

I was speaking to a group of young people a couple of days ago, and they wanted to know why did we think this whole question of voter suppression was such a big deal. They said, But doesn't everybody have the right to vote? And of course it was necessary to convey to them some of the experiences that people like Representative Lewis and others have had.

All of us recognize, from a historical perspective, the evolution of the development of our country. Of course when we started, there were only a few people who actually had the right to vote, and they were the individuals who made most of the decisions. Ultimately, we fought a war, and after the war we saw the expansion of opportunity; and yet there were millions of individuals who were denied the same opportunities that others had.

People often ask about Southern States. And you don't pick up on any State, but I remember reading the history of Mississippi, where in 1890 the State of Mississippi devised a system that effectively disenfranchised most African Americans or blacks who were there and adopted a system that other States picked up. But you've got to remember that at that time African Americans made up 58 percent of the population in the State of Mississippi. They elected delegates, and the delegates who were elected--134--consisted of 133 white men and one black, or one African American.

I am afraid--and I wish that it wasn't so--that there are cynical efforts to manipulate and control and prevent individuals from having the opportunity to exercise the most important franchise in a free and democratic society, and that is the right to help make decisions. And sometimes it's done in so many ways. There's an old saying that if you fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

There are places where the polling places just got changed. People have been accustomed to voting at the Johnson school, and all of a sudden they wake up and it's time to vote and they're now voting at the American Legion Hall. Well, they don't know where the American Legion Hall is; they just go to the Johnson school. And once they get there, they can't vote, then they decide that they'll go on to work or do whatever else it is that they're going to do, and they will miss voting that day.

Poll taxes sound kind of way out and farfetched. But I actually grew up in rural America. It is true that I live in Chicago, a magnificent city, probably the most magnificent city in the United States of America and many other places throughout the world.

But I grew up in rural Arkansas, and there was a $2 poll tax. My parents paid a $2 poll tax. Now, the average person who worked in an agrarian environment at that time, the wages were $4 a day. Four dollars a day. That's what people earned driving tractors. That's what they earned chopping cotton. That's what they earned baling hay.

And to take $2 out of $4 that you might earn working a whole day to go and get registered to vote? Well, that meant, for all practical purposes, that many of the people, not just African Americans, mind you, but many of the people who were low-income were not going to participate because they couldn't afford to pay $2 to register to vote.

And so I join with all of my colleagues who say that this issue is most important, that we must watch it, keep our eyes and hands on it. And we have to make sure that even in places like where I live, I can recall voter suppression during one Presidential election where the whole idea was simply not to vote. People were not going to vote for a different political party at the time. But if they didn't vote, that was the same as voting for the other guy.

So don't fool us. We kind of know what's happening.

I thank you for calling this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted ``aye'' for the following votes:

Roll 801, October 24, 2011: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 320: To designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

Roll 802, October 24, 2011: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended H.R. 1160: To require the Secretary of the Interior to convey the McKinney Lake National Fish Hatchery to the State of North Carolina, and for other purposes.

I want to thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding me this time.

I also want to commend and congratulate Representative Corrine Brown for her introduction of this legislation and for the tremendous work that she did to get it to the floor this soon today, and I commend you for that.

I have an uncle who was at Okinawa, and of course he talked a great deal about his experiences. But I also remember being a young boy during Korea, and two or three of our older guys went and joined the Marines, and how proud they were to come home wearing their dress uniforms. All of the younger people were running kind of behind them, looking at them when they would come to church or dress up. I have a large Montford Point Marine Association in my congressional district that I visit quite frequently, especially Veterans Day and other times such as Memorial Day when we pay tribute to veterans.

So I simply come to say thanks to all of them who have helped to make America what it is and have helped to keep our country strong. I urge passage.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the National Opinion Research Center on the occasion of its 70th anniversary. Known by its acronym, NORC, is one of the nation's oldest, not-for-profit, independent research organizations. It is headquartered in downtown Chicago with additional offices on the University of Chicago's campus and in the D.C. Metro area.

NORC is a national leader in social science research. Numerous data collection and analytical tools that now set the industry standard

were pioneered at NORC. The organization's capabilities in the areas of study design and survey methodology, statistical design and analysis, survey data collection (including biomarker and environmental data collection), evaluation and performance measurement, policy analysis and recommendations, dissemination and knowledge management, and technical assistance set it apart as an authority in the field of social science research. Further, its research expertise is enhanced by its interdisciplinary approach, innovative study designs and research methods, commitment to the highest standards of research excellence and scientific rigor, and strong collaborative relationships with prominent experts, senior government officials, and leading scholars.

Given its expertise in social science research, NORC plays a leadership role in numerous wide-reaching studies and surveys that provide vital insight and information into today's most pressing issues. For example, NORC manages the National Immunization Survey sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which produces national- and area-level data on vaccination rates for children and teens. It conducts the General Social Survey, which is regarded as the best source of data on societal trends and is routinely used by policymakers. NORC also advances health care innovation and effectiveness through its evaluation of four projects for the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology. These projects are critical to understanding adoption of health IT and what resources are needed to achieve measurable gains in health care quality and efficiency. Other NORC projects of note include the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the National Children's Study, and a series of international impact evaluations for the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

As a policymaker, I am especially impressed by NORC's unique ability to conduct high-caliber social science research and analysis designed to inform policy decisions on complex issues. Research to inform policy must be intentional as well as carefully designed and executed; I am grateful to NORC for its commitment to applying social science research to social policy, be it in the areas of health, education, economics, crime, justice, energy, security or environment. True to its mission to perform high-quality social science research in the public interest, NORC has proven a tremendous resource to my office over the years. Indeed, I have sought their expertise on multiple occasions, including recently with regard to the National Children's Study and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. I greatly appreciated their insight into these studies so that I could advocate for policies to improve the well-being of children and youth.

It is rare to find an organization that is skilled at both research and application of its findings. NORC has enriched public policy debate and decision making by gathering and distilling critical information. NORC's work and expertise have spanned seven decades, and I am confident the organization and its outstanding researchers will continue to have a positive effect on our nation's knowledge base and policymaking processes well into the future. This year, I celebrated my 70th birthday as well. As I look back on my own life, I can personally attest to the fortitude that it takes to have gotten this far and to have remained relevant. I commend NORC on its commitment to high quality social science research that informs so many aspects of our society. I am proud to have NORC in my congressional district, and I wish NORC and its employees in Illinois and throughout the nation all the best on the occasion of the organization's 70th anniversary. I look forward to your continued success and excellence in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, Dorothy Leavell migrated to Chicago, Illinois from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and began her newspaper career as an office clerk with the Crusader Newspapers in 1961. She took over as publisher in 1968 after the death of her first husband, Balm Leavell, who was one of the two founders of the Crusader.

In the ensuing years Mrs. Leavell distinguished herself as a militant minded muckraking journalist, community activist and business person. She joined the National Newspaper Publishers Association and for more than 40 years she has been a dedicated and active member and leader of the organization. She has been its Chairperson, Chairwoman of various committee and task forces. As well, she also led a controversial 20 member group to Nigeria to investigate its political crisis.

As a media advocate she also was a staunch and critical supporter for the confirmation of Alexis Herman to become the U.S. Secretary of Labor. As publisher of the Crusader, Ms. Leavell has been a strong supporter of affirmative action, parity in advertising and civil rights pursuits. Dorothy Leavell has been an outstanding journalist and a brave publisher and a great humanitarian; therefore, I am pleased to commend her and wish for her fifty more years of productive service.

In addition to her journalist work, Ms. Leavell is the wife of Mr. John Smith, her second husband, the mother of two children, three grandchildren and has also raised a niece and a nephew. She is actively involved in her church, Holy Name of Mary in the Morgan Park Community of Chicago.

Under Ms. Leavell's tutelage the Crusader has become the City of Chicago's largest locally Black owned paid circulation newspaper. May it long live and may the legacy of Ms. Dorothy Leavell last forever.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of my constituents who's spent a great deal of her life bringing joy, happiness, and direction into the lives of others. I

come today to pay tribute to Ms. Faye Stevens-Jett and the Up2Us organization that is in town this week.

Athletics has been and continues to be a road to success and a better life for thousands and thousands of people. For many of them, it has been because they had a coach, a mentor, or a friend with whom they connected and formed lasting friendships and relationships in their athletic endeavors.

One such coach has been Ms. Faye Stevens-Jett, a physical education teacher and athletic director at the Morton School of Excellence in Chicago, Illinois, located in my congressional district. Ms. Stevens- Jett is a single mother of two boys, and yet finds time to be engaged with a large number of other young people through her coaching of double Dutch, cheerleading, and pom-pom teams.

Ms. Stevens-Jett has been selected by Up2Us as a coach of the year. Up2Us is an organization that supports programs that use sports to address critical issues facing youth in America. It also helps to address serious health issues such as obesity and other childhood illnesses and diseases.

Ms. Jett is a member of my congressional district, and I take this opportunity to commend and congratulate her and Up2Us for their outstanding work.

I also urge support to increase physical fitness as a part of our everyday lives. It is up to us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to pay tribute to a great American who lived in the State of Illinois, who represented it and the country well, Senator Charles Percy.

I recall that when Senator Percy was elected, I was a young schoolteacher, community activist. I also was an individual who interacted with lots of people who were very cynical about government, politics, whether or not there was any potential for change. So we had an opportunity to see in action one of the most forceful individuals in public life, one that you didn't describe necessarily as a Democrat or a Republican. You didn't characterize him as a conservative or a liberal. You really thought of Senator Percy as simply a good, solid United States Senator who represented well not only his constituents, but who provided leadership for the Nation and for the country.

I think I learned at that time the meaning of town hall meetings because Senator Percy would hold those; and although he was a Republican by political stripe--and many of the people where I lived and interacted with were Democrats in terms of political stripe--we just would turn out at Senator Percy's town halls to know what was taking place, what was going on, what was happening. I personally owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to him for helping to shape my own political philosophy, some of my political ideology, some of the things that I dream about and hope for and work towards.

And so I extend condolences to his family, wish them well, and know that America is a better place because Chuck Percy served in the United States Senate and served all of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the topic of underage drinking. It is an issue that challenges every generation of public officials, parents, educators, law enforcement, industry members, and concerned citizens. But through bipartisan leadership and almost three decades of public and private effort, our Nation has made some substantial progress. I mention ``bipartisan'' because it was President Reagan who teamed up with Democrats in Congress to enact the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.

At the signing ceremony, the President's remarks are a great lesson in federalism and national leadership that remains very important today. He said that underage drinking is a problem that is ``bigger than the individual States.'' He called underage drinking a ``grave national problem'' that ``touches all our lives.'' President Reagan concluded, ``With the problem so clearcut and the proven solution at hand, we have no misgiving about this judicious use of Federal power.''

I said that this was a bipartisan effort. Our colleague from the other body, Senator Lautenberg from New Jersey, was instrumental in guiding the measure through Congress, and he continues to be a forceful advocate for young people today.

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the number of fatalities in teen drunk driving crashes has declined 74 percent since the early 1980s. Studies from the Department of Transportation and Government Accountability Office indicate that the 21-year-old drinking age has saved tens of thousands of lives. Most government measures of underage drinking have also declined.

Parents, educators, and other adults who have influence on young people need to recognize that older teens are still capable of making youthful mistakes, and some of these mistakes can be fatal. We should not do anything that allows our young people to obtain alcohol before they reach the legal drinking age. We need to remain involved in their lives and do everything we can to encourage and insist that they make responsible decisions.

Back in 2006, our colleague Lucille Roybal-Allard led the effort to enact the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, better known as the STOP Act. The law established a framework for cooperation among Federal agencies with responsibility to address underage drinking. In mid-July, we received a report from the Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee that was formally established by the STOP Act. It documents Federal Government prevention initiatives across

17 agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission, which created the We Don't Serve Teens program as a public education and outreach initiative.

The 2011 launch of We Don't Serve Teens occurred last week in Chicago and throughout the Nation. One purpose of the We Don't Serve Teens initiative is to inform parents and all adults that teen drinking is not inevitable. Crown Imports and MillerCoors, the number two and number three American beer suppliers, are both headquartered in the district I represent in Chicago. Both companies have supported the We Don't Serve Teens program since it began in 2006.

I am pleased that these two companies have joined the FTC, Members of Congress, Chicago officials, and thousands of concerned citizens to support We Don't Serve Teens. We need everyone at the table. Industry members have a unique ability to reach out directly to local stores, bars, restaurants, and other places where alcohol is served.

The We Don't Serve Teens message is reinforced. I commend these efforts. I especially commend the distributors of these alcoholic beverages in their effort to make sure that teens handle alcohol responsibly. The best way is to not drink at all.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 1161.

Let me, first of all, thank you, my classmate, Donna Christensen. We got here about the same time, and it seems as though the longer we're here, the more alike we think. So I want to thank you for your leadership.

I also want to commend the Congressional Black Caucus because we have just completed what I will call a very successful tour, a tour where some people were able to actually obtain jobs, where other people were able to renew their faith and hope that out there somewhere waiting for them is a job.

As the minority whip talked about pain and frustration, it reminded me that there are thousands of people in my congressional district who are experiencing that pain just as there are millions across the country.

I dug out an old record of mine the other day. I was going through my collection, and there was a fellow singing a song about getting a job. He says, Every morning about this time, she brings my breakfast to the bed, crying, ``Get a job.'' He says, When I read the paper, I read it through and through, trying to see if there is any work for me to do-- get a job.

But he kind of ends by saying, It was difficult to get a job that did not exist. It was difficult to get a job that he couldn't find.

So I was pleased a few nights ago when a job plan was articulated and presented. That's a very simple kind of plan in a sense. I couldn't find much controversy. I couldn't find much that one couldn't buy no matter which side of the aisle they were on, no matter what their political stripes.

I mean, who can argue with rebuilding roads and bridges and highways and giving people the opportunity to just ride on roads that are not bumpy or to ride on streets that are not filled with potholes-- meaningful kinds of work that anybody can know is an investment and is not any kind of giveaway?

Who can argue with unemployed teachers getting an opportunity to work? Who can argue with small businesses being able to receive incentives if they hire people who have been unemployed for more than 6 months? Who can argue with that? I don't think anybody that is serious could argue with any of that.

So jobs must be found. Jobs must be had. And I am pleased to join with my colleagues to say that we must turn around that there are no jobs so that the guy can sing, I got a job, I got a job.

Thank you, Congressional Black Caucus.