Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the importance of continued political and economic development in Ukraine. The United States-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, signed in December 2008 by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, signifies the strong relationship between the United States and Ukraine. We continue to support the expanding cooperation on defense, trade, energy, democratic development, and cultural exchange.

During the IX Lvov International Economic Forum, international experts noted Ukraine's strong areas and the areas that are worth working on. Areas of strength include the market's scope, the system of higher education, macroeconomic stability, and effectiveness of the job market. The following drawbacks, however, were noted: lack of preparedness for the introduction of new technologies, the financial sector, the instability of government institutions and the country's policies as a whole, and the ineffectiveness of the commodities market.

Ukrainians have a strong presence in Chicago and have greatly contributed to the city. There are almost 14,000 Ukrainians living within city limits and more than 45,000 Ukrainians living within the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The core Ukrainian neighborhood in the city is known as Chicago's ``Ukrainian Village.'' Even though Ukrainian Chicago extends far beyond the Ukrainian Village, this area continues to function as its hub with three major Ukrainian churches, two Ukrainian banks, a Ukrainian grammar school, the Ukrainian National Museum, a Ukrainian Cultural Center, two Ukrainian youth organizations, and many Ukrainian restaurants, stores and businesses.

I am honored to represent such a diverse and multi-cultured congressional district, and I

continue to welcome the people of the Ukrainian Village and honor them for their continued service and dedication to Chicago.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in full support of honoring and continuing to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday.

Dr. King's birthday was first recognized in the great state of Illinois in 1973, 5 years after being introduced to Congress by my good friend John Conyers. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a very prominent African-American clergyman and political leader of the twentieth century; the most prominent member of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, during that time he became famous through his promotion of nonviolent methods of opposition to segregation, such as boycotts of segregated city buses, or sit-ins at lunch counters that would not serve Black people, and organized marches that will forever be remembered in our nation's history. One such demonstration was the march at Marquette Park, in Chicago, IL, where Dr. King was struck in the head by a rock for protesting the open housing laws in the city. When asked why he put himself at risk he said ``I have to do this--to expose myself--to bring this hate into the open.'' The marches led to an accord that year between the protesters and the Chicago Real Estate Board, which helped start the cultural change in Chicago. Dr. King's most memorable march was the March on Washington in 1963 where he delivered his ``I Have A Dream'' speech; it was a speech of hope and determination, epitomizing the day's message of racial harmony, love, and a belief that Blacks and Whites could live together in peace. Even after his death, he has evolved from a prominent civil rights leader into the symbol for the civil rights movement in the United States. He is studied by schoolchildren of all backgrounds; monuments have been dedicated in his honor and institutions such as the Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta which bears his name, have been established to carry on his work. The message of racial harmony and equality for all is a message I still believe in and fight for everyday, so it is an honor to support this resolution honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his life and legacy.

Madam Speaker, I wish to take a moment to voice my strong support for a bill offered by the gentleman from Illinois and my delegation colleague, Mr. Quigley. H. Res. 860, supports two key environmental initiatives within Illinois: the Chicago Wilderness and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.

Chicago Wilderness is alliance of public and private organizations dedicated to promoting conservation and strengthening the natural ecosystems of the Chicago region. With over 240 members, the alliance includes government agencies, conservation organizations, scientific organizations, cultural institutions, schools, universities, and business partners. A few such members with whom I have worked closely over the years include: Blacks in Chicago; the Chicago Park District; the Chicago Botanic Gardens; the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency; the Chicago Zoological Society; the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; and the Village of Oak Park.

Chicago Wilderness has four long-term efforts: The Green Infrastructure Vision initiative promotes the creation and maintenance of green, open spaces; the Leave No Child Inside initiative promotes environmental education and experiences for children and youth; the Restoring the Health of Local Nature initiative engages in active restoration and land management to improve the health of natural areas as well as their plants and animals; and the Climate Change initiative involves examining, making recommendations, and taking action to limit the Chicago area's impact on global climate change.

The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights is a joint resolution passed by the Illinois General Assembly to establish goals for children to experience nature. The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights states that every child should have opportunities to ``. . . discover wilderness-- prairies, dunes, forests, savannas, and wetlands; camp under the stars; follow a trail; catch and release fish, frogs, and insects; climb a tree; explore nature in neighborhoods and cities; celebrate heritage; plant a flower; play in the mud or a stream; and learn to swim.''

Understanding and interacting with nature are positive ways for children and youth to develop their minds and bodies. Outdoor play encourages independent learning and creativity and develops public awareness about the critical, interdependent relationship humans have with nature. As a child, I remember fondly the time I spent outside with my siblings, exploring my rural community, studying animals, and learning about nature. These experiences contributed to my appreciation of and commitment to improving the environment.

I join Mr. Quigley in recognizing the importance of and supporting these two Illinois environmental initiatives--the Chicago Wilderness and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights.

Madam Speaker, let me, first of all, thank Chairman Lynch for yielding. And I want to commend Representative Butterfield for introducing such as outstanding resolution paying tribute to such an outstanding individual as Mr. Wilkins.

As I listened to Representative Butterfield talk about Mr. Wilkins, I couldn't help but be reminded of my own parents, my uncles and aunts, who were all part of that generation of individuals who did outstanding work that has been unheralded in many instances. So I simply want to congratulate Representative Butterfield for recognizing such an outstanding person.

I also want to take this opportunity to commend Representative Platts for his resolution honoring the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, who lived in the neighborhood where I lived the little time that he spent in Chicago, and I got a chance to know him and to see him. And so I simply recommend that all of us spend a day of service and a day of work in his memory.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a wonderful woman who devoted most of her life to the well-being of her friends and family. Dear Me was born to the parentage of Offie and Lillie Floyd Pitts in Opelika, Alabama on January 23, 1926. The Pitts raised Dear Me and her siblings in Salem, Alabama. Dear Me attended Flint Hill School and changed her name to Ruby prior to beginning high school. Ruby was raised in a God-loving, God-fearing home and accepted Christ at an early age. She attended the Weeping Mary Baptist Church in Salem, Alabama.

Offie and Lillie Pitts moved their family to Knoxville, Tennessee in the late 1950's. Ruby worked as a domestic while in high school and married Frank Butler. They relocated north to Chicago and raised four children-Lucy, Charles, Juanita and Earl.

Ruby worked at various factories and plant jobs in Chicago, including W.F. Hall Printing Co. and retired from Goodwill Industries. Ruby was highly religious and was a member of the Greater Rock Church, was delighted to see Barack Obama elected president of the United States, and often prayed for him and his family and their safety.

Ruby loved children and made her real lifetime career caring for her own children and for the children of others. I am told by one of her grandchildren, Ms. Wynona Redmond, that she had a tradition of giving members of her family monetary gifts that matched their age on birthdays and that she often thought and acted on behalf of others before considering herself, and that is one of the reasons she will always be ``Dear Me'' to all of those who knew her. We salute Mrs. Ruby Butler, Dear Me, for being an outstanding humanitarian with a big heart who was more concerned about others than for herself.

Mr. Speaker, no one can start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. A. Philip Randolph was one of the many to make a new ending for not just himself, but the world around him. A. Philip Randolph was a prominent twentieth-century African-American civil rights leader and the founder of both the March on Washington Movement and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, a landmark for labor and particularly for African-American labor organizing. Inspired from the writing of W.E.B. Dubois, Souls of Black Folk; this graduate of Bethune-Cookman College and son of an A.M.E. preacher took his beliefs and made them manifest through serving others.

Randolph had some experience in labor organization, having organized a union of elevator operators in New York City in 1917. In 1925 Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. This was the first serious effort to form a labor institution for the employees of the Pullman Company, which was a major employer of African- Americans. With amendments to the Railway Labor Act in 1934, porters were granted rights under federal law, and membership in the Brotherhood jumped to more than 7,000. After years of bitter struggle, the Pullman Company finally began to negotiate with the Brotherhood in 1935, and agreed to a contract with them in 1937, winning $2,000,000 in pay increases for employees, a shorter workweek, and overtime pay. Randolph maintained the Brotherhood's affiliation with the American Federation of Labor through the 1955 AFL-CIO merger.

Randolph was also responsible for the organization of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 with the help of Rustin and Martin Luther King, Jr. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is often attributed in part to the success of the March on Washington, where Black and White Americans stood united and witnessed King's ``I Have a Dream'' speech. As the U.S. civil rights movement gained momentum in the early 1960s and came to the forefront of the nation's consciousness, his rich baritone voice was often heard on television news programs addressing the nation on behalf of African-Americans engaged in the struggle for voting rights and an end to discrimination in public accommodations. He was also an active participant in many other organizations and causes, including the Workmen's Circle and others.

Madam Speaker, I ask to have my name removed as cosponsor of H. Res. 951.

Let me first of all thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 4213, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009. There are multiple provisions within this bill that are needed by individuals, businesses as well as State and local governments. This bill is good for Chicago, it's good for the State of Illinois and, indeed, it is good for the Nation.

This bill helps individuals with the cost of education, both for teachers who pay out of pocket for supplies and for students who pay for tuition and books. It helps families cover the cost of property taxes and sales taxes. It helps business invest in research and development, equipment, maintenance and certain capital improvements.

It promotes charitable giving of food, equipment and inventory. This bill also supports critical community assistance programs. It encourages empowerment zones and renewal communities in economically depressed areas. It supports areas that experienced natural disasters, such as the gulf coast and the Midwest.

The Chicago Reporter, a newspaper that does an outstanding job, found that the west and south sides of Chicago have unemployment rates of over 20 percent. It is obvious to me that the city of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and, indeed, the Nation, need this bill. I am proud to support it.

Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Salvatore F. Perry on the occasion of his 70th birthday which was November 16, 2009 and to salute him for his many years of outstanding service as a businessman and civic mainstay in the Taylor Street area of Chicago, commonly known as Little Italy.

Madam, Speaker, Salvatore F. Perry was born on November 16, 1939 at Mother Cabrini Hospital in Chicago to Francis and Grace Perry, both of whom were born in Sicily Italy. Sal was educated at St. Phillip High School and graduated in 1957. When he was 9 years old, his father bought Perry's Bakery at 1052 West Taylor Street. Sal worked there all through high school. After graduation he worked at the South Water Market and later joined the Army and served 2 years at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri as a quartermaster. On November 12, 1962, Sal married Roseanne Raimondi Perry and they had two children, Cynthia and Salvatore.

In 1962, Sal opened Westside Foods at 1152 West Taylor Street and operated the store until 1990. In 1990, Sal opened Rosals Cucina and it continues to operate to this day. During this time Sal has won the Humanitarian Award from Holy Family Church and contributed to many charities in the form of food donations and volunteer work to improve the community in which he has lived and worked.

On several thanksgivings, working with Congressman Danny K. Davis, he has donated dinners to seniors and the children at The Boys and Girls Club on Taylor and Racine. He helped to promote the rehabilitation of Holy Family Church by soliciting donations and other forms of marketing.

Madam Speaker, Sal retired in 2008, yet he continues to donate food and time to local charities. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and spending time with his grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, Salvatore F. Perry is a true humanitarian who has contributed significantly to humanity and I take this opportunity to commend him for his great work.

Madam Speaker, I rise to express congratulations to Ms. Florence Logan of Hillside, Illinois on the occasion of her 100th birthday which took place on October 27, 2009.

Ms. Logan is one of rare individuals who have not only lived a long life, but have lived a long and productive life. She has been a bright shining star whose life has been a beacon of hope. She has been active in politics for many years. She worked as an Election Judge, volunteer, ran a family store in the Garfield Park Community before moving to Hillside. She and her husband were married for 72 years and represented the true essence of family. She and her husband have five children, twelve grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, it is a great honor for me to offer this tribute to Ms. Logan, congratulate her on her accomplishments and wish her well as she continues a very productive life.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 25-year anniversary of the Jesse Jackson run for President of the United States.

As a resident of Chicago, I have been privileged to be up front and close to the Jesse Jackson phenomenon. I have seen his positive impact on Chicago as he globalized a world vision for change. I know how he has helped the Democratic Party to become more democratic and the Republican Party to focus more on the Republic.

He has advanced the causes of all minorities, helped Illinois become a State where African Americans and other minorities can be elected to the highest of public offices, and he laid the groundwork for the election of the Nation's first African American President, Barack Obama.

Rev. Jackson, we salute you.

Yesterday, as STS-129 lifted off, there was a very definite glint of pride in my eyes and spring in my step because one of the astronauts on board was Mission Specialist Robert Satcher, doctor, chemical engineer, and native of Oak Park, Illinois, and the Seventh Congressional District.

Dr. Satcher is the second astronaut to hail from Oak Park on the western border of Chicago. Any community to boast of such a record of producing astronauts deserves a second look, but for a community with just over 50,000 residents to accumulate such a record, something must be going on that is very right. But, of course, in the end, it is up to the individual to determine what to do with the circumstances of their lives.

Dr. Robert Satcher has done some amazing things with his life. An orthopedic surgeon who practices at Northwestern Memorial and Children's Memorial hospitals, teaches at Northwestern University Medical School, does research at the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern and the Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Advanced Medicine at Northwestern, Dr. Satcher is a nephew of former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher. He is married to Dr. D'Juanna Satcher, and they have a daughter, Daija.

Dr. Satcher was a Schweitzer Fellow at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambarene, Gabon, completed numerous medical missions for outreach care to underserved areas in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Gabon. He held internships at DuPont in the Textile Fibers Research Group and the Polymer Products Division.

Growing up, he was a National Merit Scholar and received the Monsanto Award and the Albert G. Hill Award from MIT, fellowships from both the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the UNCF/Merck Research Foundation, and is a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He is a Leadership Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, ABC Fellow of the American Orthopedic Association, Bloomberg Leadership Fellow, and has completed 12 research grants and has 15 peer-review publications and over 25 presentations at national and international research meetings.

He has been active in the Big Brother for Youth at Risk Counseling Program; Department of Corrections, San Francisco, California; a tutor for the Black Student Union tutorial program at MIT; the National Society of Black Engineers; the American Institute of Chemical Engineering; a supervising adult for Cub Scout Camp for Boys in Nashville, Tennessee; and he is a lay Episcopal minister with primary responsibility for visiting the sick and

shut-in members of the church at St. Edmonds Episcopal Church in Chicago and St. James Episcopal Church in Houston.

He was selected for Astronaut Candidate training by NASA in May of 2004 and completed training in February of 2006. On STS-129, Dr. Satcher is scheduled to perform two EVAs--space walks--among other assignments. For those who want to follow Dr. Satcher on Twitter, he will be tweeting as astro_bones and ZeroG_MD.

Godspeed to you, Dr. Satcher. Bobby, you have a lot of fans back on Earth, and especially those in Oak Park, Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill will move us closer to the realization that all men, women, and children in this country can have access to quality health care. It will reduce the waiting time in emergency rooms and shorten the length of time you have to wait to see a doctor. It makes it possible for people to have health insurance who have never had any before in their lifetime and to see a doctor on a regular basis. It recognizes the needs of people with disabilities. It seriously increases the number of community health centers, protects disproportionate share and teaching hospitals, and promotes health awareness and education. But, most importantly, it prolongs and enhances life, as well as its quality.

This is the most significant health legislation passed in this country since Medicare and Medicaid. Residents of my district have been calling all day asking that I would vote for them, that I would vote for Illinois, that I would vote for America. I tell them, yes, I will, because I believe that health care ought to be a right and not a privilege.

I wanted a single-payer system, but I will vote for H.R. 3962 because it is good for Illinois, it is good for me, it is good for you, and it is good for America.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman McDermott for yielding. I also want to commend the Senate for its work.

I simply rise in support of this legislation. It will provide an opportunity certainly for individuals who are unemployed to continue to receive unemployment compensation, and it will indeed help stimulate the economy by allowing individuals credits for the first time if they are purchasing a home.

It is good legislation. I am pleased to support it and urge that all Members do so.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1849) to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World

War I, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Skelton.

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

Mr. Speaker, to close, let me just, first of all, commend all of our colleagues with lineage and heritage to the great State of Missouri. Let me also commend Representative Cleaver for his introduction of this legislation.

And I couldn't end without paying special tribute to the family of Representative Skelton for the tremendous service that they have provided to this country, both in the military, and of course Chairman Skelton here in this House of Representatives.

As we move towards Veterans Day, where we will honor and pay tribute to all of our veterans because they have given all of us the opportunity to live in a free and democratic society--and I don't think there is anything more important than that--I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1849.

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

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