Floor Statements

I want to thank the chairman for yielding.

I note that the State of Illinois has received $4.853 billion in bonds up through January of this year. Many of those have gone to communities that are represented by individuals who certainly are not described as Democrats. As a matter of fact, they've gone to communities throughout the State.

These bonds are about building schools, roads, hospitals, creating jobs. There is no way under the sun that I could imagine not voting for this bill. It stimulates the economy, it builds jobs, it puts people to work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express congratulations to the small liberal arts college that I attended that started with seven students when it began, a historically black college, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Of course on Friday evening, they played Duke University. It was a major accomplishment for their athletic department. They didn't win, they didn't place, but they did show; and I congratulate them for a tremendous effort.

Thank you very much, Donna, and I want to thank you for the tremendous leadership that you have shown the whole time that we have been together in Congress. As a matter of fact, we came in at the same time, and you've been engaged in health activity before getting here and you have been a leader ever since.

As I listened to Representative Butterfield, I was reminded of the fact that the Bible says that where there is no vision, the people perish. And I think we have been very fortunate to have a bold, courageous, and visionary President as the leader of this country. As a matter of fact, he was bold enough, brave enough, and visionary enough to say that we are going to reform health care delivery. And many people thought that that was a far stretch, that it was a far reach because people had been trying to do it, had been talking about it, but had not been able to accomplish it. And I guess as the boys on the street would say, And then along came Barack. Along came President Obama.

I know that there are thousands and thousands of people who have been engaged in the struggle to push health care forward. And, Donna, I can imagine that you have been in thousands of hours of discussions over the years with the National Medical Association, with the American Public Health Association, with the Black Nurses Association, with the National Dental Association, with the National Association of Social Workers, all of these groups.

I was thinking of my own experiences in terms of having worked in health care prior to running for public office having sat on the boards of hospitals, having worked in neighborhood clinics, having been president, as a matter of fact, of the National Association of Community Health Centers; and so that goes back at least 30 years. Individuals have been opened.

And although the 1-hour that we're doing tonight was taken out under the auspices of the Congressional Black Caucus and your leadership, the last person who called my office just before I came over was not black. It was not an African American. As a matter of fact, he was a non- African American gentleman who called the office, and I happened to answer the phone. And he says, Is this the office of Congressman Danny Davis? And I said, Well, yes, it is. He says, Well, I just want to leave a message for the Congressman. And I want you to tell him that I actually cried when this bill was passed, when that vote was taken. And I just want him to know that people in my community and my family and my neighborhood have been waiting for this day. And I said, Well, I want to thank you for calling. He said are you the Congressman. I said, Well, yes, I am.

And I represent a district--I call it the most interesting piece of geography in North America. There is nothing quite like it. It includes the Gold Coast in Chicago, all of downtown Chicago, the Magnificent Mile, downtown Chinatown, Greektown, Old Town, New Town, Brushfield. But it also includes pockets of poverty. It includes suburban districts. It has 21 hospitals in it, four medical schools, 92 community health center sites, of course, research institutes. So you can imagine what a bill like this means to the people of my district.

For example, it will improve coverage for 334,000 of my residents. Not 3,000. Not 4,000. But 334,000. It will provide tax credits for up to 158,000 families, 14,000 small businesses.

The doughnut hole, it will remove the doughnut hole ultimately for 76,000 beneficiaries who right now have those experiences. It's going to extend coverage to 52,500 uninsured individuals who currently go to the county hospital when they have to get the health care who experience episodic care and living in a county where the taxpayers are always crying, of course, about the heavy burden of having to pay for health care for these individuals. And so the coverage is so impactful.

My congressional district also trains an awful lot of medical personnel. As a matter of fact, at the University of Illinois of Chicago, we train more African American physicians than anybody else in the country other than Meharry and Howard. We train nurses, we train inhalation therapists, we train medical personnel that go all over the world because we have the largest medical center district in the country.

And so health care is a big piece, a big part not only of the service but a big part of the economy. And people who have never, ever before in their lifetimes had any health insurance at all now can feel safe, comfortable, and secure in having the coverage that they need.

This legislation, in my mind, is the most impactful health legislation that we have seen since Medicare and Medicaid. And someone was asking me the other day, they said, Well, you know, the Medicare, the money that we spend--I said, Well, you know, there is no point in talking to me about Medicare. I am confident that both my mother and my father would have died sooner had there not been Medicare. As a matter of fact, my mother went 150

miles sometimes to get to the hospital so that she could receive dialysis for an ailment that she had.

There are people that live all over rural America who've had no access to health care at all. There are people in inner-city America who live close to the medical center district where we have all of these resources; we have resources but they have no money. Therefore, they cannot access the resources, and they have to pass by all of these hospitals. They have to pass by all of these resources and know that they cannot access them.

I agree with my colleagues who have suggested that that has been a magical piece of work. African Americans often wonder where are people placed. Well, it just happens that there were African Americans on all of the committees of Judicial--all of the committees. Three members of Energy and Commerce--of course you, Donna, Representative Butterfield, Congressman Bobby Rush, all on Emergency and Commerce; five members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Ways and Means. Much of the time that we were discussing and debating this bill, Charles Rangel was in fact the chairman and had a great deal to do.

I will just mention that in addition to the health components of this legislation are the tremendous increases in education for minority- serving institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic serving institutions, Native American institutions, institutions for Pacific Islanders. So comprehensively it does education, it does health, and it is just great. And I'm so delighted.

You know, you wouldn't think it but, yes, as a matter of fact. Gee, I would hate to be in a situation especially at my age and not have health insurance and preexisting conditions be a factor in whether or not I could get a policy. I mean, it would probably be sky high, off the roof. You could never get it.

And this is just such a great development. It's enough for us to be talking about for the next 5 years again.

I want to just thank you, Donna. I really do. Because much of what we do is process. I mean, consent is certainly a part, but it takes hours and hours. It takes negotiations, interaction. You've been there all the way. You've been our leader on health care, and it's such a pleasure to serve with you and know of your tremendous dedication to this cause.

Mr. Speaker, as I was growing up, our parents always taught us that right was right if nobody was right and that wrong was wrong if everybody was wrong. Well, I can tell you it would be wrong to deny 32 million additional Americans the right to health insurance coverage. It would be wrong to keep people cooped up in institutions when they could live at home. It would be wrong to keep senior citizens struggling to try and pay for their prescriptions.

Let's do the right thing. Let's vote for this legislation. Give 32 million people the right to have insurance coverage. Let's do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, when I was growing up my parents taught us that right was right if nobody was right and that wrong is wrong is everybody is wrong. It would be wrong to deny 32 million people health insurance coverage. It would be wrong to deny millions of people with pre- existing conditions the right to have insurance coverage.

It would be wrong to keep filling up the emergency rooms of hospitals because people don't have regular doctors. It would be wrong to keep senior citizens struggling to pay for their prescriptions. It would be wrong to keep people with disabilities cooped up in institutions when they could live at home. It would be wrong to deny people health coverage because they have lost their jobs. It would be wrong to deny health coverage to people who work in small businesses.

It is right to provide coverage to as many people as we can. It is right to reduce the deficit and save as much money as we can. It is right to save lives. It is right to do the right thing. It is right to vote to pass this bill and provide health coverage for 32 million additional Americans.

It is right to do the right thing.

Mr. Speaker, the beginning of March marks the one-month process of one of the most important collective actions that our country partakes in, the national Census. Thus I want to express my support to House Resolution 1096, deeming this month designated as Census Awareness Month. The Census provides an opportunity to not only count how many people live in our great nation, but to also collect valuable data that will help to provide services to millions of Americans. According to information collected from the Census, over $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to State and local governments. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I want to ensure that all African Americans are counted as the Census has significant importance in the black community. The implementation and evaluation of programs like the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act are based on Census data. In 2007 the Black community grew to 40.7 million from 33.5 million in the year 2000. Underrepresentation of minorities is the leading cause of underfunding programs that these communities utilize the most, such as education, health care, housing and transportation programs.

The myths that further discourage people from participating in the Census must be dispelled. The Census is not a long process; there are merely 10 questions to answer, making it the shortest Census form in history. By law the Census Bureau cannot share individual responses with anyone; that includes immigration authorities, IRS, FBI, CIA or any other government agency. The U.S. Census preferred method of participation is through forms sent through mail and returned through mail and Census workers will only visit households that do not return their forms. This snapshot of our nation also effects Congress itself; the distribution of U.S. House of Representative seats are based on the Census. In order to have proportional representation as well as programs and funding that directly serve the American people, everyone must participate in the 2010 United States Census. Underrepresentation of our population must be avoided; thus from March to April, I urge everyone to go to www.census.gov to find out more on how you can be involved in the 2010 U.S. Census.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 248, and I commend the gentleman, my friend from Ohio, for his introduction of it.

Madam Speaker, I yield to no man, no woman in terms of my support for the heroic sacrifices that our troops in the military make each and every day of their lives and each and every day of our lives. They make sacrifices on the battlefield. They fight the wars. We are elected to be decision makers, and we can decide whether there is war or whether there is peace or, at the very least, whether there is peaceful pursuit.

I believe, as the people do in my congressional district, that there is a time and a season for everything, and after several years of war and hundreds and thousands of casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, that the time has come for us to draw a line in the sand and say that it is time to bring our troops home. It is time to have a concrete strategy and a concrete date by which we can extricate ourselves from Afghanistan.

I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio for having the courage and the strength of his conviction to provide the opportunity to debate this issue. The people in my congressional district unequivocally and without a doubt are in agreement, and I strongly support passage of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate Read Across America Day, designated as March 2nd, 2010, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. For the past thirteen years, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers across our nation have participated in Read Across America Day by bringing together families and books. It is a pleasure to use this occasion to also recognize the importance of reading and the successes of reading interventions.

Read Across America Day focuses on motivating children and teens to read by providing parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to make reading a year-round event. Read Across America Day has encouraged more than fifty national nonprofit organizations and thousands more local partners to join in celebratory events to promote children's reading. An estimated forty-five million people will participate in the Read Across America program in 2010.

Members of our communities are working hard to motivate children to read because they know that reading is an important factor in student achievement. Children who spend more time reading do better in school and develop lifelong passions for reading. In order to prepare our youngest citizens for a successful academic career, it is critical that we encourage parents to read with their children on a consistent basis.

Theodor Geisel, known as Dr. Seuss, spent his life encouraging children of all ages to love reading. Through his playful prose and cheerful rhymes, Dr. Seuss created books that are an effective tool for teaching young children the basic skills they need to be successful. As we celebrate Dr. Seuss and reading, we send a clear message to America's children that reading is important and exciting.

The continued support of Read Across America Day is essential in creating more opportunities for children to thrive in education and become the leaders of tomorrow. Reading is a lifelong activity and children especially deserve us to contribute to their success. In the words of Dr. Seuss, ``the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act. At the outset, let me thank Chairman Miller, Congresswoman McCarthy, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers, and Congressman Platts for their leadership on this bill.

Last year, the Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing that examined the disturbing and shocking use of restraint and seclusion in schools. The hearing made clear that federal and state officials have little information about the frequency, nature, or effectiveness of these potentially-deadly practices in educational settings. Witnesses expressed concerns that certain groups of children and youth-- especially those in special education--may be at heightened risk to experience these interventions. The hearing further presented numerous studies, including one by the Government Accountability Office, documenting the need to restrict these practice to emergencies, provide staff training, and report data about which students experience these practices.

Given that minority students are disproportionately referred to special education and given that minority students are disproportionately suspended and expelled, a number of my colleagues within the Congressional Black Caucus and I have serious concerns that minority children disproportionately experience these harmful and sometimes deadly restraint and seclusion practices. Given our concerns, we asked Chairman Miller to lead a federal effort to document these practices and limit abuses. This bill provides such leadership. Passage of this important legislation will help regulate the use of seclusion and restraint, further document its use, and eventually eliminate the use of abusive restraint and seclusion through appropriate training.

H.R. 4247 provides basic protections for students within schools while still giving states and local districts the flexibility to tailor policies and procedures to meet their needs. This bill provides a balanced approach. It recognizes that there are times when danger is imminent and when restraint may be necessary. It also recognizes that seclusion and restraint are not educational services or therapeutic treatments and, consequently, should be administered by trained personnel and should be monitored.

The Keeping All Students Safe Act is bipartisan legislation that provides overdue federal leadership to document and regulate these techniques and to eliminate abusive tactics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dear friend of mine, and a friend of many of those who knew him, who passed away a few days ago, and whose visitation services are being held even at this moment as I speak. While I was not able to be at

those services, I am able to take the floor and pay tribute to Mr. James Hadley, a businessman, a banker, community advocate, a civic and church leader, and a friend to all of those who knew him.

For most of his adult life, James Hadley spent it building financial and business enterprises in low, moderate income, and disadvantaged communities. And Jim worked with many, many programs and projects, business ventures, and financial institutions.

And while he worked with many throughout the City of Chicago, I believe that that which gave him the greatest sense of pride and accomplishment was the work that he did with the Community Bank of Lawndale, where he, Cecil Butler, Diane Glenn, Reverend Shelvin Hall, and others pioneered the development of a community-owned bank, which has changed its name and is now named the Covenant Bank, and is under the leadership of Pastor Bill Winston of the Living Word Christian Center.

James Hadley and I both grew up in Arkansas not very far from each other, I in a little town Parkdale, and he in another town, Warren. And I really didn't know him at that time. But as fate would have it, we both migrated to Chicago. And as I got to know Jim, he became a role model for me. He was seriously committed to every endeavor to which he was a part of. He was loyal to whatever he was engaged in. He was a great family man, dedicated to his family, had a comprehensive approach to life, and was just a pleasure to know, to be around, and to work with.

As a matter of fact, I commend James Hadley for a life well lived, take note of his many contributions, and thank him for helping to make the world a better place in which to live.

As a matter of fact, he served on the board of many not-for-profits, the hospital board, Mount Sinai Hospital, was an active member of the Carter Temple CME church, worked with the Boy Scouts, worked with the male initiative in his church, and was simply known as a good man to all of those who knew him.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I extend condolences to his wife Gloria, his daughter, and all of the James Hadley family, and trust that there will be others who will come along like him, who was willing to give of himself continuously for the benefit of others.

James Hadley, he lived a good life. Well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with the millions of Asian-Americans who are celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming year 4708, the Year of the Tiger. The origin of Lunar New Year is centuries old and is the most important celebration in the Lunar Calendar. It is also recognized as the Spring Festival. The celebrations traditionally last for 15 days and provide an opportunity to give thanks for one's blessings, celebrate family, resolve arguments, and prepare the community to embark on a new year with hope and charity.

In Chicago, the Lunar New Year was celebrated on February 14, 2010 with the 27th annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in Chicago's Chinatown, which I am proud to say resides in my Congressional District. Approximately 40,000 Chicagoans enjoy a Chinese heritage. Restaurants celebrated the holiday by serving special dishes, and thousands of people attend multiple events to commemorate and cherish the traditions of the New Year.

Every year, thousands of Asian-Americans will gather with their families and friends to enjoy the New Year festivities and the company of loved ones. The New Year offers a time for sweeping away misfortune and welcoming the New Year with hopes of prosperity and good luck. We should all take advantage of the opportunity to explore and share in this treasured tradition with family and friends. Embracing this tradition honors the richness of our diversity as Americans.

I congratulate the Asian-American community for their successes and thank them for their contributions to our country this past year. And I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. I wish all a Gong Hay Fat Choy.

Madam Speaker, I rise this evening in commemoration of Black History Month as we celebrate and honor the tremendous achievements of African Americans.

At no time in history has there been a greater need to rethink the role of government given the current socio-economic conditions of African Americans residing within disinvested communities wrought with:

Poor performing schools that fail to provide African American children the math, science, and reading skills vital to securing jobs in today's global economy;

Lack of access to sustainable and gainful employment to become productive members of society; and lastly,

Lack of self-sufficiency of income and wealth to ensure the well- being of our children and our nation.

In celebration of the resiliency of African Americans past and present, as the Chair of the Child Welfare Brain Trust, I am hosting a forum tomorrow examining the pathways out of poverty.

This forum will introduce a platform to assess the efficacy of human service programs in light of current socio-economic and budgetary constraints at this crucial time in history. As policymakers, we must decide how to address the needs of all American families living at and below the poverty line, of which Black families constitute a disproportionate share.

We will also examine ways in which select federal programs can be realigned to create more interagency cooperation and collaboration, especially in light of current budgetary constraints. Our nation's future depends on it.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we celebrate with a forward focus in addressing the holistic needs of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures on February 2, 2009. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of the following:

Roll 26, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H.R. 4495, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the Jim Kolbe Post Office.

Roll 27, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 957, Honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Roll 28, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1014, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.

I want to, first of all, commend Chairman Rangel and Ranking Member Camp for their quick action and leadership on this legislation.

I rise today in strong support of this bill to accelerate the income tax benefits for those who make cash contributions to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Americans are deeply saddened at the level of devastation caused by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, resulting in tremendous damage and loss of life.

There are enormous needs in Haiti. It is important to have the Federal Government, our government, demonstrate leadership in providing relief. I also wish to acknowledge and recognize all of the organizations and groups, not-for-profits, churches. Over the weekend, I visited several churches, and I was tremendously impressed at the level of giving that people out of the goodness of their hearts were pouring out. And especially do I congratulate and commend Bishop Blake and the Church of God in Christ churches for the enormous contribution that they are making; the Baptist churches, Methodist churches. All churches. People are demonstrating what it means to give of themselves and to help others.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1021, expressing condolences to and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Madam Speaker, Americans are deeply saddened by the tremendous damage and loss of life caused by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th.

The earthquake was truly a devastating natural disaster. There are enormous needs in Haiti. Authorities say that the earthquake may have killed 200,000 people. Three million people in Haiti need food, water, shelter, and medical assistance, according to an estimate given by the United Nations.

Tens of thousands of people sleep in the streets or under plastic sheets in makeshift camps. The spread of disease has become a major concern in Haiti. Tens of thousands of children have been orphaned by the earthquake.

I join with my colleagues in expressing the sympathies of the Congress, recognizing the long-term need for American assistance, and urging the President to adopt multiple approaches to assisting those affected by this tragedy now and in the future.

It is important to have the federal government participate in the broad, international relief effort. Action by the federal government demonstrates leadership from the highest level of government in helping meet the deep need for humanitarian aid.

Booker T. Washington captured well the importance of assisting people in need when he said, ``The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.''

I am very proud that the American response to the Haitian tragedy is not limited to our government. Individuals, businesses, and philanthropic organizations have joined with our global colleague to respond to this tragedy.

During this time of extreme difficulty in Haiti, charities have raised more than $210 million in donations for Haiti earthquake relief. A campaign using text messages brought in over $21 million for the Red Cross for relief efforts.

In Chicago, I know that many churches, especially the Church of God in Christ, are rising to meet the tremendous needs of the people affected by the Haitian tragedy. The international community has come together to assist Haiti by sending emergency funds, search and rescue teams, food and water, and medical teams.

I want to emphasize that this resolution recognizes that Haiti's needs will be great, both in the short-term and the long-term. I believe that Americans and our government will rise to help meet these immediate and future challenges.

The people of Haiti and the United States have a long and complex relationship dating back to pre-slavery days. Our cultures, and our respective economic histories and destinies, are deeply intertwined. It is natural and just for our nation to take the lead in extending a hand of immediate relief to the people of Haiti in the aftermath of this horrific disaster and ultimately a hand in rebuilding their shattered nation so that the Haitian people can join with the developed nations of the world in a 21st century standard of living and security.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the staff, students, and faculty at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy for winning the 2009 Star Innovator in the Intel Schools of Distinction competition.

Supporting mathematics and science in education is crucial to our national prosperity. The U.S. workforce is dramatically changing, and the demand for highly skilled jobs is rising. In the recent years the employment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics--or ``STEM''--fields increased by an estimated 25 percent.

Every year, Intel honors U.S. schools that demonstrate 21st century teaching and learning environments that promote excellence in math and science with the Intel Schools of Distinction awards. To be considered, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks put forth by national mathematics and science content standards.

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy uses competency-driven learning experiences to enable students to acquire strong bases of disciplinary content knowledge and skills. Students at IMSA design and conduct hands-on experiments, make observations, analyze data, draw conclusions, and communicate evidence-based principles. Students also delve into the scientific literature and build understanding by synthesizing information and investigation through writing. These skills and abilities are then extended with electives and through the Student Inquiry and Research, SIR, program. Through SIR, students partner with cutting edge scientists on diagnostics, nanotechnology, medical research, and much more.

I am honored to join Representative Foster in congratulating the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in receiving this prestigious honor, the Star Innovator in the Intel Schools of Distinction Award.