Floor Statements

I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I received a phone call early this morning from one of my constituents. He said to me, Congressman Davis, I have had a job since I was 18 years old. I have always worked, but my unemployment benefits ran out at the end of May. My basement is flooded as a result of the heavy rains. My son is in college and can't find a summer job. Our house is almost in foreclosure. There are no jobs to be found. And now I have no unemployment benefits. What can I do? And the only thing I could say to him was, You can keep looking, you can have faith, and you can have hope.

But there is something that we can do. We can pass 5618, to extend unemployment benefits for you and your family, and for the other hundreds of thousands of families throughout America. That's the very least we can do, and we ought to do it now.

I, first of all, want to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the United States Secret Service Uniform Division Modernization Act, but I also rise today to congratulate the Chicago Blackhawks on their Stanley Cup win over the Philadelphia Flyers. As every sports fan in Chicago knows, the Hawks are proud to share the United Center which is in the heart of my district with that other historic team known as the Bulls. Mr. Speaker, as my daddy used to say: ``Life is 95 percent anticipation.'' Or to use the words of the great American balladeer Bruce Springsteen: ``It's been a long time comin', my dear. It's been a long time comin', but now it's here.''

Hockey doesn't always get its due share of attention in many parts of America, but some of the most memorable moments in sports are found in hockey. Mr. Speaker, who doesn't know of the ``Miracle on Ice'' during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, where Team USA defeated the Soviet team which was considered the best in the world. Well, Mr. Speaker, this year's Stanley Cup winner, the Chicago Blackhawks, were like Team USA, the underdogs, the David to the Goliaths of Philadelphia. We weren't the fastest or the highest-scoring team. But what we had was grit, drive, courage, determination, and vision to go with the fired-up fan base.

This is the first Stanley Cup win for the Blackhawks since 1961. The

Blackhawks' recent victory has inspired all of Chicago and aroused fans of the team to a fever pitch. Chicago is red and black all over. The Hawks dominated because of their perseverance, hard work, and dedication to the sport. Johann Gottfried Herder once said, ``What destiny sends, bear. Whatever perseveres will be crowned.'' The Blackhawks have persevered and have been rightly crowned.

I congratulate the Blackhawks' head coach Joel Quenneville for giving his team direction and instilling the determination necessary to achieve this well-deserved victory. And while handing out congratulations, let us not forget the Blackhawks' team captain Jonathan Toews. The youngest Mr. Toews possesses superior leadership skills and ability and was able to guide his team through to victory.

So I thank, again, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for yielding. I was rushing hard to try to get here before this ended because I am, indeed, proud to represent the world-famous, world-known, world-renowned Chicago Blackhawks who make up a part of the heart and the spirit of the congressional district that I have the good fortune to represent.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in supporting the designation of July 2010 as ``Braille Literacy Month,'' and in congratulating the National Federation of the Blind for seventy years of outstanding service. I am delighted that we have this opportunity to reflect on the progress made to services for the blind, and to build on this progress for the future of Braille literacy.

One-hundred-eighty years ago, the first Braille book was published-- an accomplishment that has since allowed for millions of people, who are blind or of low vision, to read, write and communicate. For a person who is blind, Braille has become a basic skill that lies

at the center of the continuing efforts for fairness and equal education. The National Federation of the Blind, as both the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the United States, is integral to this continuous tight for equality. For the past several decades, the National Federation of the Blind has advocated strongly for the translation of more books and textbooks into Braille so as to both promote Braille literacy and help integrate blind persons into society. As policymakers, we must support the advancement of equality and knowledge that is imbibed in the actions of the NFB. Declaring July 2010 as ``Braille Literacy Month'' would be one step, but an important one, in our efforts towards promoting equality and education for all persons in the United States.

In my hometown of Chicago, there is a nonprofit organization called the Chicago Lighthouse that has provided services and support for the blind for several decades, much like the NFB. Amongst their many accomplishments in education and job training, the Chicago Lighthouse is also responsible for the manufacturing of the many clocks that you see in the U.S. government today--a testament to the skills, talent, and work of the people they serve. Though only one of many achievements, the clocks that you see around you today demonstrate the continuing need to provide equal access to job opportunities and education to those who are blind so as to fulfill their potentials.

In declaring July 2010 as Braille Literacy Month, we would not only be promoting literacy for the blind, but progressing down a road of true equality as well.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support and recognition of National Homeownership Month and the importance of owning a home. Homeownership is a signifying mark of hard work and informed decisionmaking. Therefore it is in the interest of us all to ensure that our decisions about homeownership are informed.

During National Homeownership Month, there is an emphasis placed on the importance of providing first time home buyers and those who have acquired home information that is imperative to them making informed decisions. In light of the current economic recession, it is crucial that information of this nature is provided to the people in an effort to revive the economy.

The recognition of National Homeownership Month is especially important as it pertains to my constituents. In the 7th Congressional District of Illinois, the community of North Lawndale has real estate values estimated at six figures, the median income of the people that live there is estimated to be five figures, and there have been over 200 foreclosures as of June 16, 2010. I firmly believe that the foreclosure of those homes could have been prevented had the constituents been informed and privy to the information necessary to make the best decision for themselves and their families.

It is also important to recognize the importance of owning a home given the social and familial ties that are associated with and can be cultivated by homeownership. Homeownership is essential to building the foundations of longstanding social networks. It is imperative that there is stability in the society for the purpose of cultivating and expanding the social networks we develop into meaningful relationships aimed at making substantial change through these relationships.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to support the designating of 2010 as the Year of the Father. One- hundred years ago, Father's Day was founded by a mother who recognized the vitally important role of fatherhood. As a father myself, I am honored and humbled by this annual day of recognition and celebration, and happily recall all the positive memories and influences my own father had with me.

I'm sure that most people in this room already know of the importance of fathers. Fathers bring love, care, and emotional support that work in tandem with the support of mothers to bring about positive development for their children. For some, however, fatherhood is a foreign concept. Twenty-three percent of families with children in 2008 were maintained by single mothers. Approximately sixty percent of children born during the 1990s lived or would live significant portions of their lives without fathers. For minorities, the numbers are even more daunting, with only thirty-five percent of African American children living with two married parents, and only fifty percent of children having regular contact with their fathers.

For these same minority families, being a father is simply not the same. Barriers like education and access to jobs continue to restrict the involvement of men who would otherwise be involved fathers. While it is important to promote and celebrate the significance of fathers, it is equally important to recognize that fatherhood comes with varying obstacles and responsibilities for every background. To fully promote a healthy nation and support the ideals behind designating 2010 as the Year of the Father, it is crucial that we pursue more opportunities for non-custodial and would-be fathers to live up to their potential, and the potential of our present and future generations.

It is my hope that by declaring 2010 as the Year of the Father, we would not only be honoring and recognizing the importance of fathers to the family, but also encouraging reform to make fatherhood a reality for countless Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the Real Men Cook for Charity in Chicago for its annual event which was held on Sunday, Father's Day, at the Kennedy King College for the purpose of promoting healthy lifestyles, family values, and community spirit.

As is usually the case, it was well-attended by hundreds of individuals and their families as a tribute to fathers. I again commend them for this great activity.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 288) supporting National Men's Health Week.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present House Concurrent Resolution 288 for consideration. This resolution expresses our support for the goals and ideals of the annual National Men's Health Week, the observance of which is designed to heighten awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men.

H. Con. Res. 288 was introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), on June 14, 2010. It was reported out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by unanimous consent on June 17, 2010. H. Con. Res. 288 enjoys bipartisan support from over 50 cosponsors.

Mr. Speaker, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 of the 10 leading causes of death in America among men, including heart disease and cancer, affect men at a significantly higher percentage than women. In addition, the CDC has reported that women are 100 percent more likely than men to seek annual medical examinations and preventative health care. Moreover, health statistics also indicate that despite advances in medical care, men continue to live an average of approximately 6 fewer years than women, with African American men having the lowest life expectancy.

Nonetheless, many male-related health problems, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and colon cancer are treatable upon early detection. Specifically, the use of prostate cancer-specific antigen exams, blood pressure screenings, and other exams, when coupled with clinical examination and self-testing for testicular cancer, can lead to early detection and increase survival rates to nearly 100 percent.

Accordingly, we must do more to encourage healthy behavior and disease prevention within America's male population. A more concentrated focus upon male-related health conditions such as prostate, colon, and testicular cancer, along with a genuine commitment to addressing heart health, will go a long way toward ensuring that men have access to critical health information.

In addition, it is important to remember that prevention and treatment of men's health conditions are critical not only to men, but also to the health and well-being of the American family. Having just recently celebrated Father's Day, I believe that it is important for this legislative body to recognize men's health from a family perspective.

Furthermore, while an effort to encourage prevention and wellness among the male population can help meet our primary goal of improving health outcomes, in the aggregate, utilization of these preventive services can lower health costs that currently are spiraling out of control.

Mr. Speaker, since 1994, National Men's Health Week has served as a catalyst for increased attention towards men's health issues. So I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 288, recognizing the tremendous importance of these efforts.

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

Mr. Speaker, it's now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the very distinguished gentleman from Maryland, Representative Elijah Cummings.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend, again, Representative Cummings for his introduction of this very important resolution. I also want to commend the community health centers in my congressional district, and especially the Near North Health Corporation, for their focus on men's health.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 546) recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 546, a resolution that recognizes the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future. I am delighted that we can bring this measure to the floor today.

I introduced H. Res. 546 on June 15, 2009, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered it to be reported by unanimous consent on June 17, 2010. It comes to the floor with over 60 cosponsors. I am pleased to join with them in recognizing this important day.

Juneteenth, or the 19th of June, recognizes June 19, 1865, when, in Galveston, Texas, Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest.

This was the last major vestige of slavery in the United States following the end of the Civil War. This event occurred more than 2\1/ 2\ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Upon reading of General Order No. 3 by General Granger, the former slaves celebrated jubilantly, establishing America's second independence day celebration and the oldest African American holiday observance.

Since that time over 145 years ago, the descendants of slaves have observed this anniversary of emancipation as a remembrance of one of the most tragic periods in our Nation's history. The suffering, degradation, and brutality of slavery cannot be repaired; but the memory can serve to ensure that no such inhumanity is ever perpetrated again on American soil.

Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. This celebration of the end of slavery is an important and enriching part of the history and heritage of the United States. I, therefore, ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1369) recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Before I begin, I know that Representative Barbara Lee, who is the author of this resolution, had wanted to be here to express her opinions and positions on it. Unfortunately, she could not.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1369, a resolution that recognizes National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Congress has taken time each year since 2006 to recognize Americans of Caribbean descent for their contributions to our Nation, and I am glad we can bring this measure to the floor today.

H. Res. 1369 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Barbara Lee, on May 18, 2010, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ordered it to be reported by unanimous consent on June 17, 2010. It comes to the floor with over 50 cosponsors, and I am pleased to join them in celebrating the rich heritage of Caribbean Americans.

Millions of people from the Caribbean islands have emigrated to our shores for centuries. We acknowledge that many arrived here in bondage and against their will as slaves and indentured servants, and their struggles for freedom reverberate even today.

Today, we are a better Nation for having them here. Caribbean Americans include such cultural figures as the poet Claude McKay, musician and television star Hazel Scott, actor and activist Harry Belafonte, as well as political leaders from Alexander Hamilton to former Secretary of State

Colin Powell and our current Attorney General, Eric Holder. These and countless other Caribbean Americans have made invaluable contributions to our Nation, and it is right that we honor them today.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, today, I wish to congratulate the young men of the Urban Prep Charter Academy of Englewood class of 2010. As a result of the dedication these students have shown to their education, they have made a rousing achievement. The student body of this institution is 100 percent male, 100 percent African American, and 85 percent from low income families. Moreover, every single member of the Urban Prep Academy class of 2010 was admitted into a 4-year college or university. Together, these young men have earned nearly $4 million in scholarships and grants. The achievement of these 107 individuals stands not only as a testament to their efforts, but also as evidence of the commitment of the educators who prepared them for college and who encouraged them to succeed. Too often, schools that have high percentages of minority students who are low-income make the news for failure. I am proud to recognize the achievement and success of these young men from Chicago.

I also wish to recognize the contributions made to the Chicago Community by Urban Prep Academies--the non-profit organization that operates the three Urban Prep schools in Englewood, East Garfield Park, and the South Shore. Urban Prep Academies was founded in 2002 by a group of African-American leaders from the Chicago civic, business, and education communities. Their efforts were organized by Tim King, whose vision for a school that prepares male urban youth for success in college serves as the foundation of the three Urban Prep Academies. The Englewood site was the Nation's first charter public high school for boys, and the class of 2010 is the first graduating class of the three academies. The success of Urban Prep has been highlighted in over 140 media outlets including the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, ABC News, and many others. The intuition can take much pride in the achievements of the class of 2010.

It is no secret that the American public education system is struggling with meeting the educational challenges facing minority men. Schools in low-income areas with large percentages of minority families are often plagued by underfunding and high dropout rates. Nationally, only 48 percent of black men graduate high school. In Chicago, the graduation rate for black men is only 30.8 percent. A 2006 study by the University of Chicago further revealed that only 2.5 percent of African American boys from Chicago Public Schools successfully graduate from a four-year institution. This is unacceptable. The Urban Prep Academy was designed to address this injustice. The Urban Prep Academy was designed to focus on the needs of minority men, to provide them a high quality education, to support their educational success through mentors, and to create an educated citizenry that reflects the diversity of our nation. I rise today with this story of strength from the Urban Prep Academy, which provides an example of how to help minority men achieve. The achievements of the class of 2010 not only demonstrate the ability of African-American males, but they also stand as an inspiration to all the urban youth of America. I offer my hearty congratulations, and I wish the graduates much success as they begin their college careers.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted in the following manner:

Roll 347, June 10, 2010: On Agreeing to the Amendment: Waters of California Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 348, June 10, 2010: On Agreeing to the Amendment: Garrett of New Jersey Amendment no. 5 to H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``no.''

Roll 349, June 10, 2010: On Agreeing to the Amendment: Price of Georgia Amendment no. 7 to H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``no.''

Roll 350, June 10, 2010: On Agreeing to the Amendment: Turner of Ohio Amendment no. 9 to H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``no.''

Roll 351, June 10, 2010: On Agreeing to the Amendment: Edwards of Texas Amendment no. 12 to H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``no.''

Roll 352, June 10, 2010: On Agreeing to the Amendment: Maffei of New York Amendment no. 13 to H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 353, June 10, 2010: On Passage: H.R. 5072, FHA Reform Act of 2010, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 354, June 10, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: S. 3473, To amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to authorize advances from Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 355, June 14, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1368, Supporting the goals of National Dairy Month, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 356, June 14, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1409, Expressing support for designation of June 20, 2010, as ``American Eagle Day'', and celebrating the recovery and restoration of the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 357, June 14, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H.R. 5502, To amend the effective date of the gift card provisions of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 358, June 15, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1383, Honoring Dr. Larry Case on his retirement as National FFA Advisor, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 359, June 15, 2010: On Agreeing to the Resolution: H. Res. 1436, Providing for consideration of H.R. 5486, the Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act; and providing for consideration of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 360, June 15, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: H.R. 4855, Work-Life Balance Award Act, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 365, June 16, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Con. Res. 242, Honoring the NAACP on its 101st anniversary, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 366, June 16, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1422, Honoring the Department of Justice on the occasion of its 140th anniversary, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Roll 367, June 16, 2010: On Motion to Suspend and Agree, as Amended: H. Res. 1414, Congratulating Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men-- Englewood Campus, the Nation's first all-male charter high school, for achieving a 100 percent college acceptance rate for all 107 members of its first graduating class of 2010, I would have voted, ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, as we rebound from the greatest recession that has ever plagued this nation, it is important that we continue to support legislation that creates jobs and refurbishes the economic stability of American families--supporting small businesses, taxpayers and building a solid foundation for economic recovery.

Small businesses are the life blood of American communities, creating two-thirds of the new jobs over the last 15 years. However, these entrepreneurs are stifled in their efforts

to boost the American economy in that they are frequently denied loans and face tight lending standards. Some of the most impoverished citizens in this nation live in the 7th Congressional District of IL. While the national unemployment rate in October 2009 rose to 9.8 percent, these communities experienced unemployment rates of up to 40 percent. We must do all that we can to provide jobs for American citizens and boost the economic stability of this nation. For this reason, I strongly support H.R. 5486--spurring investment in small business, providing for small business penalty relief, and increasing the deduction for business start-up expenses.

These provisions are critical. They provide performance-based incentives to make sure that banks lend to small businesses and avoid what happened in 2009 when 45 percent of small businesses seeking loans were denied credit. Most importantly, as the nation continues its effort to create jobs and overcome high rates of unemployment, these provisions increase the deduction for start-up expenditures and allow entrepreneurs to focus on hiring workers and strengthening the economic stability of their businesses.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the outstanding young men of my community who unfortunately is no longer with us. I also take this opportunity to express condolences to his family as they negotiate their way through this period of transition.

Nathan Kehrein was born the same year that I was first elected to public office and that is around the time that I first got to know his parents, Glen and Lonnie.

Nathan grew up in the Austin Community, as a matter of fact a couple of blocks where I and my family live. He had a normal and exciting childhood, actively involved in youth activities organized and provided by the Rock of our Salvation Church and the Circle Urban Ministries both of which his family were founders of and are actively involved with.

Nathan was a good student and a good athlete. He attended Lane Technical High School and was an All City Football Player. After high school Nathan enlisted in the Armed Services and after a tour of duty, was honorably discharged from the United States Air force.

After Nathan returned home from his military experience he became ill and suffered from bouts with depression; but continued to live as normal a life as he could.

Nathan's life was a journey of experiences; his family lived comprehensively and was intimately associated with many different kinds of people. Nathan's life was a reflection of this upbringing; therefore, one could say that he was an ambassador of goodwill.

I salute Nathan for being the man that he was, thank him for the service he gave to our community and to his country and may his soul rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this jobs bill because this legislation would provide summer jobs for hundreds of thousands of young people, keep unemployment checks coming, provide money for small businesses, keep jobs at home in America.

It also will provide hope for those who have almost given up, wondering where their next work opportunity will come from. And, of course, it provides an opportunity for us to more adequately compensate our doctors.

Doctors are an integral part of health care delivery, and there ought not be any reason for senior citizens not to get the services that they need because we're not paying our doctors.

This is a job-creating, services-providing bill. I strongly support it and urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Emma Allen who was born on June 2, in Bessemer, Alabama and now resides at Lexington Healthcare of Elmhurst, IL.

Mrs. Allen has lived a long and fruitful life; she is the last of twelve siblings, was married to her late husband Mr. John Allen for 68 years and has one (1) daughter, three (3) grandchildren, six (6) great grandchildren, and three (3) great-great grandchildren.

I also commend Lexington Healthcare of Elmhurst, IL for providing excellent care for individuals like Mrs. Allen so that they may be able to live and enjoy life even though they may have reached the age of 100.

I also commend and thank granddaughter Ms. Janice Meeks for bringing Mrs. Allen to our attention and I wish and hope that all grandparents would have grandchildren like her.