Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1311, and I want to commend my colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Chaka Fattah, for his introduction of this legislation, and I also want to commend my colleague on the Education Committee and the chairman of the Higher Education Subcommittee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).

I have spent, Madam Speaker, practically all of my life engaged with low-income communities, low-income people, low-income students. And I can tell you that I can't think of any legislative enactment that has done more to assist low-income students to experience this commodity that we call higher education.

And so Representative Fattah, I don't know if you will ever pass another piece of legislation as good as this one. I don't know how much longer you will stay in Congress, but I can tell you one thing, if you never pass another one, you did this one and it is one of the best, one of the most effective, one of the greatest that I have seen, and so I commend you for it.

I commend again the chairperson of our committee in Education, Representative Hinojosa. And, Madam Speaker, I think it is a great day because there is a group of people sitting in my office right now who are GEAR UP representatives, and I told them that I was going to have to leave them to come here, but I commend them for all of the great work that they continue to do.

Madam Speaker, the House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 6307, the Fostering Connections to Success Act, sponsored by Representatives Jim McDermott and Jerry Weller. This bill is a strong first step in reforming the foster care system, and it includes provisions supporting kinship caregivers that I have championed for years. Specifically, the bill includes the 3 core elements of my bill, H.R. 2188, the Kinship Caregiver Support Act, which I introduced with Representative Tim Johnson: (1) it allows states to use Federal funds to support family caregivers raising relatives in the foster care system; (2) it provides funding to establish kinship navigator programs; and (3) it requires notification of relatives when a child enters the foster care system.

These provisions are critical to supporting our children and youth. Nationwide, almost 19 percent of kinship care providers live in poverty, and 30 percent to 40 percent of children

in foster care have chronic medical problems. Subsidized guardianship, like the Federal adoption assistance program, provides needed support to these kinship caregivers to afford appropriate care for these vulnerable children.

Further, kinship navigator programs serve as critical supports to the millions of grandparent caregivers who preventively took on the care of their grandchildren to keep them out of the foster care system. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 2.1 million children living with grandparents or other relatives with no parent present; however, only about 145,000 children in the foster care system live with kinship caregivers. This means that just under 2 million children are being cared for outside of the system and do not have access to subsidized guardianship payments. We must promote kinship navigator programs to help these caregivers understand and access supports to support our youngest citizens.

Research clearly shows that kinship foster care families are safer, more stable placements that are more likely to keep children connected with their siblings and communities than non-relative placements. Further, these placements are cost effective. In Illinois, cost studies found a projected savings of approximately $48 million over 10 years compared to a matched control group that did not have this option. For these reasons, it is imperative that we promote kinship caregiving within the foster care system, and required notification to relatives is an important step to this end.

The issue of grandparents raising grandchildren is very significant for Illinois and for Chicago specifically. My Congressional District has the highest percentage of children living with kinship caregivers in the U.S., with two other Chicago districts following closely behind. The legislation promises critical financial support to family members raising relatives in foster care. We have more to do, but I applaud the House of Representatives for passing this bill that will do so much for so many.

Madam Speaker, I rise to express my enthusiastic congratulations and support of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority during its national Boule conference celebrating 100 years of the organization in Washington, DC. The sorority, founded at Howard University on January 15, 1908, is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by a group of nine African-American college women. The AKA sorority broke barriers for African-American women in areas where little power or authority existed due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early twentieth century.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the sorority consists of college- educated women of African, Caucasian, Asian, and Hispanic descent. The sorority serves through a membership of more than 200,000 women in over 900 chapters in the United States and several other countries.

Since its inception, Alpha Kappa Alpha has helped to improve social and economic conditions through community service programs. Members have improved education through independent initiatives, contributed to community-building by creating programs and influenced Federal legislation by legislation advocacy through the National Non-Partisan Lobby on Civil and Democratic Rights.

My wife Vera, is a proud member of Tau Gamma Omega graduate chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Two of my sisters, Ceola and Floretta, are also AKA's. Tau Gamma Omega often meet in our home and I have always been very proud of the leadership and mentoring relationship my wife has established and continues to display with younger women who join. Tau Gamma Omega is a strong voice and positive presence in the community where they serve.

As a member of the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha and the United States House of Representatives, I commend the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority on all their continuing endeavors to help the community, and I welcome the

26,000 attending members of the 2008 Centennial Boule to their founding place of Washington, DC.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my enthusiastic congratulations and support for the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority during its National Boule Conference, celebrating 100 years of its organization and existence. The sorority, founded at Howard University on January 15, 1908, is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by a group of nine African American college women. The AKA sorority broke barriers for African American women in areas where little power or authority existed due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early 20th century.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the sorority consists of college- educated women of African, Caucasian, Asian and Hispanic descent. The sorority serves through a membership of more than 200,000 women in over 900 chapters in the United States and several other countries. Since its inception, Alpha Kappa Alpha has helped to improve social and economic conditions through community service programs. Members have improved education through independent initiatives, contributed to community building by creating programs, and influenced Federal legislation by advocacy through the National Non-Partisan Lobby on Civil and Democratic Rights.

My wife, Vera, is a proud member of Tau Gamma Omega, the graduate chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Two of my sisters, Ceola and Floretta, are also AKAs. They often meet in our home. And I have always been very proud of the leadership and mentoring relationship my wife has established and continues to display with younger women who join. Tau Gamma Omega is a strong voice and positive presence in the community where they serve.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that there are 26,000 AKAs in the District of Columbia this week. And today I was very pleased to receive, along with my wife, State representative Connie Howard, and the immediate past president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the Honorable Bobby Steele and a large contingent of AKAs from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois.

And so, Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the United States House of Representatives, I commend the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority on all their continuing endeavors to help the community. And I welcome the 26,000 attending members of the 2008 Centennial Boule to their founding place of Washington, D.C.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5506) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office Building''.

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.

As a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 5506 which names the postal facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, after Bishop Ralph E. Brower. H.R. 5506, which was introduced by Representative Albio Sires of New Jersey on February 27, 2008, was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote.

This measure has the support of the entire New Jersey delegation and provides this body a chance to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of a distinguished and highly respected gentleman from the Garden State of New Jersey, the admirable Bishop Ralph E. Brower.

Unfortunately, Representative Sires is unable to join us on the floor today, but nonetheless, he asked that his statement of support be submitted for the Record.

Born into humble beginnings in North Carolina as the eldest of six children, Bishop Brower's educational aspirations led him to attend Laurinburg Institute and Kettle College of North Carolina. He received his master's degree from Kings College in Briarcliff Manor, New York, his master's in divinity from Florida State University, and his Ph.D. from Grambling State University.

Bishop Brower began to make his mark on New Jersey and the community of Jersey City in the early 1950s when he took the helm of St. Michael's Methodist Church. Over the years, he has overseen the growth of the congregation from six members to the thousands that now worship at St. Michael's.

Largely responsible for helping the church and its congregation blossom into a positive force for change in the community, Bishop Ralph E. Brower undoubtedly deserves the honor of having a United States postal facility named after him.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in support of this measure by voting in favor of H.R. 5506.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4010) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 West Percy Street in Indianola, Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building''.

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 might consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues, particularly the gentleman from Mississippi, in the consideration of H.R. 4010 which names a postal facility in Indianola, Mississippi, after the first black postmistress in the United States of America, Ms. Minnie Geddings Cox.

Introduced on October 30, 2007, by Congressman Bennie Thompson, the Representative of Mississippi's Second Congressional District, H.R. 4010 is cosponsored by the State's entire delegation. Congressman Thompson's measure, H.R. 4010, was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote.

This afternoon's postal naming bill honoring our country's first black female postmaster is designed to pay tribute to Minnie M. Cox, who served as the postmaster of Indianola, Mississippi, during the administrations of Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt.

As we can see, Mississippi has a long, glorious history, and Ms. Cox is indeed a part of it. Ms. Cox's legacy stands as a beacon for all Americans to admire and emulate, in tribute to all that she accomplished by breaking barriers and providing quality service to her hometown of Indianola, Mississippi.

So, Mr. Speaker, let us pass H.R. 4010 and designate the postal office building located at 100 West Percy Street in Indianola, Mississippi, as the ``Minnie Cox Post Office Building.''

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge passage of this resolution and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New Jersey for introducing this resolution. I was thinking that in 1954, I was a pre-adolescent, just beginning to read, write and try and understand what was going on. And where I lived, I remember the first school bus that I rode on was actually made from a flatbed truck that Mr. Arthur Dooley had. And when the schools were consolidated, he put a cabin on it and some wooden benches, and that was my first ride on a school bus.

Then I remember the next year, we inherited a school bus from the white school. Then, I remember that all of the books that I read, all of the while that I was growing up, had someone else's name in the books when we got them, after they had been used by the other school system where I lived.

And so, when I think of Thurgood Marshall, not only do I think of the tremendous impact that he continues to have today, but I think of the impact that he had on the lives of individuals like myself, who lived in an environment that was obviously very separate and very unequal.

What he did will last as long as America lasts because he clearly showed that there could be an opportunity for people to experience some of what we call the goodness and the greatness of America. And for that reason, I come to commemorate him today.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to take a moment to support H. Con. Res. 381, which celebrates the contributions and achievements of Thurgood Marshall on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 2, 1908, Thurgood Marshall was the grandson of a slave and at an early age his father, William Marshall, instilled in him an appreciation for the United States Constitution and the rule of law. He attended undergraduate school at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. In 1930, he was accepted to Howard Law School; however, he also applied to the University of Maryland Law School, but was denied admission because he was Black. This event caused the direction of his professional life to focus on equal desegregated education. As an African-American man who lived through segregation and oppression he once said, ``Today's Constitution is a realistic document of freedom only because of several corrective amendments. Those amendments speak to a sense of decency and fairness that I and other Blacks cherish.'' As an attorney and during his tenure on the Supreme Court, Justice Marshall's opinions did much to advance the decency and fairness of our laws, making America a much stronger nation.

Thurgood Marshall's tireless work within the justice system to eradicate the legacy of slavery and destroy the racist segregation system of Jim Crow clearly demonstrated his dedication to the struggle for equal rights and justice in the United States. As chief legal counsel to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, he championed one of the most important cases for equal rights, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark case that demolished the legal basis for segregation in America. He continued to push for equal rights as the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, succeeding in creating new protections under law for women, children, prisoners, and the homeless. By these accomplishments, Thurgood Marshall established a record for supporting the voiceless Americans and left a legacy that recognizes that discrimination includes factors beyond just race and gender. He built a structure of individual rights that has become the cornerstone of protections for all Americans. I commemorate the years he has served and the improvements he has made to this great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Waxman and Representative Clay for their recognition of this serious deficiency that we have in the way that we handle White House e-mails.

You know, the more I listen to this debate, the more convinced I am that we need H.R. 5811, the Electronic Message Preservation Act, and I'm convinced because even as we talk about energy, even as we talk about the solution to problems, and even as we talk about Blue Dogs and yellow dogs and big dogs, it seems to me that we ought to be able to know what the conversations are about in the White House. It seems to me that we ought to be able to look back historically and find out what was being discussed, what was being planned, what the deliberations were.

And as long as the level of secrecy exists, and I don't care which administration it is, then it means that the public does not know, and this bill simply opens up information and opportunity for the public to know.

I support it.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6061) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 219 East Main Street in West Frankfort, Illinois, as the ``Kenneth James Gray Post Office Building''.

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 my colleague from the State of Illinois and the author of this legislation, Representative Costello.

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

Mr. Speaker, obviously I rise in strong support of H.R. 6061, which designates the East Main Street post office facility in West Frankfort, Illinois, after one of our former colleagues and Member of Congress, Representative Kenneth James Gray.

Representative Costello sponsored this measure to show appreciation and gratitude for the service former Representative Gray exhibited toward his constituents and the country.

H.R. 6061 would dedicate the post office located in Representative Gray's former congressional district. I am pleased to join with Representatives Costello and Shimkus and other members of the delegation in urging passage of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5975) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 West Main Street in Waterville, New York, as the ``Cpl. John P. Sigsbee Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within 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, Representative Arcuri of New York.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise to join my colleagues in the consideration and support of H.R. 5975, which renames a postal facility in Waterville, New York, after Corporal John P. Sigsbee.

The measure being considered was first introduced by Congressman Michael Arcuri of New York on May 6, 2008, and is cosponsored by all members of the Empire State, the New York delegation. Upon introduction the measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and on June 12, 2008, our committee approved the bill by voice vote.

H.R. 5975 allows us to pay homage to the service of Corporal John P. Sigsbee who was tragically killed on January 16 while serving in Balad, Iraq. Corporal Sigsbee died as a result of wounds sustained from grenade and small-arms fire during combat operations.

Assigned to the 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Corporal Sigsbee joined the Army in October, 2005, and served his country valiantly up until the time of his death. For making the ultimate sacrifice of life, Corporal Sigsbee was awarded the Purple Heart which now rests with his parents, James and Susan Sigsbee, of Waterville, New York.

Mr. Speaker, as we pay tribute to this heroic American citizen, let us also take a moment and recollect on the thousands of men and women in uniform currently serving abroad in order to protect us here in the homeland. I ask that we all proudly commemorate both the life and the unfortunate death of Corporal John P. Sigsbee by passing H.R. 5975.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6092) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 Tallapoosa Street in Bremen, Georgia, as the ``Sergeant Paul Saylor Post Office Building''.

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.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues, particularly the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), in the consideration of H.R. 6092 which names the postal facility in Bremen, Georgia, after a fallen hero, Sergeant Paul Saylor.

Introduced on May 20, 2008, H.R. 6092 is sponsored by Congressman Phil Gingrey, representative of Georgia's 11th Congressional District and cosponsored by the entire Georgia delegation and a total of 43 Members of Congress. H.R. 6092 was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote.

Mr. Speaker, a native of Norcross, Georgia, Sergeant Paul Saylor lost his life while serving in Iraq. According to military records, Sergeant Saylor was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment from the Georgia Army National Guard out of Calhoun, Georgia, when he was killed on August 15 as a result of his Humvee accidentally rolling over into a canal in Mahmudiyah, Iraq.

Described as a good-hearted, very dedicated and hardworking gentleman, Sergeant Saylor served his country proudly and with distinction. In honor of sacrifice, Mr. Speaker, let us also pay tribute to the life of Sergeant Saylor and pass H.R. 6092 and designate the Tallapoosa Street post office building in Bremen, Georgia, after this fine American soldier.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to take a moment to express my enthusiastic support for H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which amends titles XVII and XIX of the Social Security Act and extends expiring provisions under the Medicare program. H.R. 6331 not only prevents the 10.6 percent pay cut to physicians scheduled to take effect July 1 while maintaining current payment levels for the rest of 2008, but it replaces the additional 5.4 percent cut scheduled on January 1, 2009 with a 1.1 percent increase in Medicare physician payments. By preventing these cuts, suppliers will be able to anticipate the costs that they will incur and will be less likely to withdraw from the program. H.R. 6331 also has a very positive outcome for beneficiaries as well. The provisions will improve choice and access to health care providers by changing the network requirements for the Medicare Advantage Private Fee for Service Plan. Further the bill will reduce cost-sharing for mental health services and increase coverage for preventive services.

These policy improvements will translate into significant relief for the national medical community, including the 21 hospitals in the Illinois Seventh Congressional District; a district which also has some of the most medically-underserved constituents of any in this nation. Many of these individuals are Medicare beneficiaries that seek hundreds of Chicago doctors to provide Medicare services. Therefore, it is in the best interest of my constituents as well as Medicare providers, suppliers, and recipients across this nation that Congress enacts H.R. 6331, The Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act. As a testament to the importance of this issue to Chicago, I received over 50 calls within the last few days urging me to support this bill. I stand with these constituents and Chicago more broadly to support this bill.

I would like to thank Chairman Rangel for spearheading this legislation. I have fought and will continue to advocate vigorously in Congress alongside my colleagues for the improvement of Medicare resources in support of Medicare providers, suppliers, and beneficiaries.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on the importance of early childhood education and development programs. The 110th Congress has shown strong commitment to improving education for students of all ages. Notably, we reauthorized Head Start, the premier early childhood program that prepares low income children for school. Now, we must start earlier to prepare our youngest citizens for school. To this end, the Committee on Education and Labor recently passed H.R. 2343, the Education Begins at Home Act, which will improve child well- being, school readiness, and parent involvement in their children's lives.

The Education Begins at Home Act provides the first dedicated funding stream for home visiting programs. Home visiting involves voluntary meetings between specialists in child development and parents and children in their home. The home visitors help develop parenting skills, foster positive child development, and offer support. These programs reduce the stress associated with parenting, assist parents in understanding the educational and developmental needs of their children, and promote healthy parent-child relationships. At least 37 States have these types of programs in place; however, they lack a stable funding stream to ensure effective, long-term services. This bill also targets English language learners and military families. These groups often lack natural support systems that the programs help develop.

Education can never begin too early; the earliest years of brain development are most important, as shown through studies such as those by the National Research Council. High quality early education programs have helped improve school performance and lower high school drop-out rates. They also have helped reduce the rates of child abuse and identify developmental delays early in life. These programs share common components that contribute to their success--teachers who are knowledgeable about the development of young children, strong staff development and training, and activities that stimulate cognitive as well as social skills. It is these aspects that have brought success time and time again.

Investment in early childhood is sound policy and cost effective as well. A study done by economist Robert G. Lynch in 2007 showed that high-quality programs would save both state and the federal government billions of dollars over decades. According to the study, the total annual benefits of a universal program would begin to pay for itself within nine years by growing a margin each year. According to Lynch, a universal early education program would generate $191 billion in benefits for the federal government by the year 2050. This result is achieved by creating many more productive members of society and decreasing the number of and associated costs related to incarcerated citizens.

These particular benefits are only a few of the multitude that result from early childhood education programs. Learning is a lifelong activity and children especially deserve the best, beginning with the first day of their life. I urge my colleagues and Congress to continue this investment in early childhood during the remainder of the 110th Congress and in subsequent sessions.

Madam Chairman, I rise today to emphasize the need for standards and enforcement provisions that prevent and respond to allegations of child abuse and neglect at residential treatment facilities. These facilities include both public and private programs that serve teens with emotional, behavioral, and mental health problems; wilderness camps, boot camps, therapeutic boarding schools, and behavior modification facilities are all programs that serve this purpose. The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act, H.R. 5876, would require accountability and transparency from these programs. I strongly support this bill, which would help protect these vulnerable teens entrusted to their care.

Residential programs are meant to provide help and support to teenagers. However, in October 2007, the Government Accountability Office found numerous allegations of abuse, some of which led to death, connected to these programs between 1990 and 2007. Accounts of physical and sexual abuse have been publicized, although with difficulty given that these programs are not accountable to a Federal agency or other entity. It is unacceptable for Government to facilitate this secrecy. Parents trust that residential facilities will keep their child safe and care for their children properly; however, it is often found that this is not the case. I am proud that we are taking steps to implement Federal guidelines for treatment and care for these vulnerable youth.

H.R. 5876 works to end this abuse by enforcing national standards that provide for the basic health and safety of children, along with disseminating information about programs that will help ensure compliance. The bill requires States to inform the Department of Health and Human Services of incidences of child abuse, neglect, and fatalities at covered programs; it also requires HHS to investigate any allegations and will be authorized to financially penalize programs for these offenses. A Web site will summarize information on programs and any problems they have had, including whether the problems occurred under the same management but different program names. In addition, there will be a toll-free hotline to report child abuse and neglect at covered programs. I encourage Congress to fully support H.R. 5876 and, in turn, support the teens that it has been created to protect.

Mr. MATHESON, Madam Chairman, during my 8 years representing Utah's Second District, I have always worked to protect children. The press reports of abuse, neglect, and tragic deaths in some residential therapy programs for youth are very concerning to me. Over the years, many treatment centers have been established across the Nation, including in my home State of Utah. As a result, Utah has worked hard to license and regulate residential treatment programs over the past several years and my State meets many of the standards set forth in the legislation before us. It is my understanding that some States have not developed stringent requirements and that leads to a patchwork of regulations where kids can fall through the cracks.

I'd like to thank Chairman Miller for working with me to include language in the manager's amendment requesting that HHS study

the outcomes of individuals in these types of programs through a longitudinal study. I feel this data is extremely useful to better understand the outcomes of individuals in these programs and the progress made towards the goals of the treatment programs to fully rehabilitate troubled youth and teens. I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the committee for their leadership and efforts to establish a more standardized process for overseeing residential treatment centers for children. I believe a uniform set of standards makes sense, especially when it comes to meeting the needs of the most troubled children and their families. Those centers that service families well should not fear uniform standards because they will naturally comply. However, those who say the standards are burdensome fail to recognize that we all must perform at the highest possible standard to ensure the safety of all children. These measures seek to support good actors and encourage those who are not to become so.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of the outstanding residents of the community where I live and enjoy the friendship and fellowship of my neighbors and friends. Madam, I cannot pinpoint exactly when or where I first met Ms. Linda Davis; however, I do recall that we immediately connected and soon were communicating and working together on various issues and projects.

Linda Davis had an outstanding personality which was infectious. She could be warm and disarming but at the same time tough and intimidating. She was energetic and in addition to looking after her home and family, she was a regular attendee at community meetings and events. Mrs. Davis was involved with her block and immediate neighborhood; I was privileged to attend meetings and coffees in her home. She worked with the Community Bank of Lawndale, the Austin Bank of Chicago, the Chicago Board of Education and Loretto Hospital as well with the Austin Chamber of Commerce and many other entities.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to take note of some of the contributions of this noteworthy citizen, a great wife, wonderful mother and superb human being.