Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1664) to authorize grants for contributions toward the establishment of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

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, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 1664, a bill to authorize grants for contributions toward the establishment of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. H.R. 1664 was introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte on March 23, 2007. This legislation was reported from the Oversight Committee on July 19, 2007, by voice vote.

Mr. Speaker, as a statesman, scholar and President, Woodrow Wilson faced an economic crisis and a world war while serving the country as Commander in Chief. Historians believe that World War I and President Wilson's leadership radically altered the role of diplomacy as a tool of foreign policy, a policy that established a new path for America's role in promoting democracies throughout the world. His vision helped shape the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch in times of war.

H.R. 1664, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Authorization Act, will allow the National Archives to provide grants for the establishment of a Presidential library to provide educational services to honor the life of former President Woodrow Wilson.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Bob Goodlatte, for introducing this legislation, and urge swift passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, if my history serves me right, President Woodrow Wilson did not hold an elected public office prior to becoming President of the United States of America, which I think is indeed a feat in and of itself. So I want to commend the gentleman from Virginia for his introduction of this legislation, and urge its support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Conyers for, not only his leadership on this issue, but so many issues involving civil rights down through the years and for bringing this legislation to the floor.

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Brown vs. Board of Education, holding that the segregation in public schools was illegal. Three years later, nine black students entered Little Rock Central High: Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Elizabeth Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Terrance Roberts, Gloria Ray, Minniejean Brown and Ernest Green. I feel a certain amount of kinship to these nine students because, at that very same time, I was a freshman in college, just 50 miles away at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. And so over the years, I had an opportunity to interact with several of them.

Of course, the most well known is Ernest Green, who became an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor and is now the managing director of Lehman Brothers investment firm.

Minniejean Brown, I spent a weekend with, down at Southern Illinois University, where she graduated just a few years ago when we were both there for some activity.

I did student teaching with Melba Pattillo's mother, Mrs. Pattillo, who was a teacher in North Little Rock, Arkansas when I did student teaching.

And so it's been a great move. It's hard to imagine that 50 years ago I was there, but I guess I was, John. It's been a long time, but much has happened since then.

I simply want to congratulate Governor Beebe, the Mayor of Little Rock, all of the elected officials in Little Rock, for the tremendous display of commemoration and celebration that has taken place over these 3 days as they commemorate the tremendous movement. And I agree with Chairman Conyers in suggesting that not only has Little Rock, but the country has come a long way since 1957. We've made tremendous progress, even though there is much further to go.

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate National Historically Black Colleges and Universities week, which took place the second week of September. It is a pleasure to recognize HBCUs because, had it not been for a historically Black college, I would not be here today. Not only have HBCUs made a positive impact on and provided a rich heritage to me and my family's lives, they lay a foundation for many men and women of color.

At the age of 16, I left home to attend what was then Arkansas A&M College at Pine Bluff, later named the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Following in my footsteps were six of my siblings, three nephews, one niece, and a half dozen first cousins. As an HBCU alumnus, I share a history with many notable and honored leaders within our country. W.E.B. Du Bois, who is considered the father of sociology due to his thesis called ``Study of the Philadelphia Negro,'' attended Fisk University in Nashville, TN. The education and training that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., received at Morehouse College, located in Atlanta, GA, surely worked together with his experiences in the Black church to develop his incredible eloquence and keen analysis of social problems. Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, attended Lincoln University in Chester, PA, which is known as the first historically Black college founded in 1854.

As an HBCU graduate, I know firsthand the needs and values of these institutions. This is why I am especially proud that during this HBCU week, Congress can say it provided $170 million in grants for HBCUs over the next 5 years via the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. All 99 HBCUs that currently receive Federal funds will benefit from these new resources to strengthen their capacity to continue the tradition of developing Black talent into leadership. Indeed, I benefit from the leaders produced by these institutions given that at least four members of my staff had the privilege of attending an HBCU.

HBCUs are not only necessary for individuals who come from certain economic backgrounds, they contain a great deal of history and culture. The College Cost Reduction Act will enhance our ability to keep these institutions alive and vibrant. I am pleased that we can celebrate these new resources during this recent HBCU week.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have worked with Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, on the ``Federal Merit System Reauthorization Act,'' (the Act) which reauthorizes the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and the Merit System's Protection Board (MSPB) for three years. The shorter reauthorization period will allow Congress to review OSC's and MSPB's implementation of the new provisions in the Act before being reauthorized for a longer period of time.

The Act provides that OSC prescribe regulations to establish responsible and professional standards for investigating complaints; maintain open and regular communications with complainants; establish an alternate dispute resolution office in the District of Columbia; and implement procedural changes to improve agency performance. The Act also establishes a process for external investigation by the President's Counsel on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE) when an OSC employee files a complaint alleging wrongdoing by the Special Counsel or the deputy Special Counsel. The PCIE, established by Executive Order in 1992, was formed to address integrity, economy, and effectiveness issues that transcend individual Government agencies, and increase the professional and effectiveness of Inspector General Personnel throughout the Government.

In addition, the Act clarifies that employees filing an Individual Right of Action before the MSPB (bringing a case to the MSPB if OSC has not provided relief in 120 days) need to only identify the precise personnel actions being challenged in the initial complaint to OSC and that relief was not provided by OSC. The Act provides that a complainant can file an appeal to be considered on an expedited basis if an administrative law judge denies a request to suspend/delay the alleged retaliatory action. The Act outlines procedural changes MSPB must implement to improve agency performance.

While OSC and MSPB are required to submit annual reports to Congress on its activities, the Act increases reporting requirements for both agencies in addition to requiring OSC to survey individuals who make whistleblower disclosures to OSC.

Employee rights have been weakened under this Administration. The ``Federal Merit System Reauthorization Act of 2007'' sends a strong message that whistleblower protection and employee rights are key elements of the federal civil service merit system and must be enforced.

Madam Speaker, I rise in honor of National Grandparents Day, which was celebrated on September 9, 2007. Grandparents Day, although a relatively recent holiday, is a day that truly deserves more recognition. As influential anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, ``Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do. With no relatives, no support, we've put them in an impossible situation.'' As we observe the 29th anniversary of Congress' proclamation of a National Grandparents Day, it is crucial that we recognize this as a day to first and foremost honor grandparents. National Grandparents Day gives us an opportunity to recognize the countless ways grandparents show love for their children's children, and it helps children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer. After all, grandparents are the backbone of every family support system. Grandparents, especially, dedicate numerous hours to the upbringing of their grandchildren, often times receiving little compensation in return.

This is why I, along with my colleague Tim Johnson, sponsored The Kinship Caregiver Support Act (RR. 2188). Recent statistics indicate that, as of the year 2000, more than six million children, that is 1 in 12 children, live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives, and this number is steadily rising. In addition, almost one- fifth of grandparents responsible for their grandchildren live in poverty. Currently, Federal financial assistance is available only to foster and adoptive families, with only a few States receiving a waiver to provide subsidized guardianship, with these guidelines sometimes creating financial disincentives to guardianship. Unfortunately, the waiver expired in 2006. This means that if you're from one of the 15 States with existing waivers--that is if you're from Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia or Wisconsin--your State risks losing considerable Federal support in the very near future when your existing waivers expire unless legislative action is taken. If you're from one of the other 35 States or DC, you cannot benefit from the program at all unless new legislation is passed.

The Kinship Caregiver Support Act amends part E of title IV of the Social Security Act to authorize all States to opt to enter agreements to provide kinship guardianship assistance payments on behalf of children to grandparents and other relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of children for whom they have committed to care for on a permanent basis. A recent report by the GAO specifically identified subsidized guardianship as a way to address the disproportionate percentage of African-American children in foster care. The GAO found that African-American children also stay in foster care longer because of difficulties in recruiting adoptive parents and a greater reliance on relatives to provide foster care who may be unwilling to terminate the parental rights of the child's parent as required by adoption. As an alternative to adoption, subsidized guardianship is considered particularly promising for helping African-American children exit from foster care. The Kinship Caregiver bill also supplies grants to eligible entities to pay for the Federal share of the cost of carrying out kinship navigator programs.

I urge the recognition of grandparents not just on this day but every day, and I also urge Congress to take action to provide kinship caregivers, oftentimes grandparents, with the necessary resources to address their children's needs. Consequently, The Kinship Caregiver Support Act deserves your support because it is distinctly crafted to address and minimize the unique challenges these kinship caregivers face. The ultimate goal of this legislation is to assist in the reunification of these families.

Mr. Speaker, as we approach September 11, all of us have memories of that fateful day. All of us recognize that in order for our Nation to be strong and to feel secure, that not only must we be in a position to protect ourselves, but we also must cultivate friendships and relationships throughout the world.

And so I would hope as we memorialize those who gave their lives and lost their lives on September 11, that we will renew our efforts to try and make sure that we can create for ourselves and the rest of the world a more stable, peaceful environment and let that be the legacy of those who gave the last measure of devotion, their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2467) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 69 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Frank J. Guarini 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 such time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, the former speaker of the house assembly in New Jersey and a distinguished Member of this body, Representative Albio Sires.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2467, which names a postal facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, after Frank Guarini.

H.R. 2467, which was introduced by Representative Albio Sires on May 23, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on July 19, 2007, by voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire New Jersey congressional delegation.

Mr. Frank Guarini was born on August 20, 1924, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Former Congressman Guarini served his State and country in a variety of positions. Early in his career, he was commissioned as a naval officer at Columbia University and went on to serve in the United States Navy aboard the USS Mount McKinley.

In 1965, he was elected to the New Jersey State Senate where he served for the next 7 years. On January 3, 1979, he was elected to represent New Jersey's 14th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, completing seven terms before retiring in 1993.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Albio Sires, for introducing this legislation and urge swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any additional speakers, but I am going to reserve for the gentleman from Idaho, and then I will close.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2587) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 555 South 3rd Street Lobby in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Kenneth T. Whalum, Sr. Post Office,'' 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 may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the Representative from the State of Tennessee, the City of Memphis and surrounding areas (Mr. Cohen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, 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. 2587, which names a postal facility in Memphis, Tennessee, after Kenneth T. Whalum, Sr.

H.R. 2587, which was introduced by Representative Steve Cohen on June 6, 2007, was reported from the oversight committee on July 19, 2007, by a voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire Tennessee congressional delegation.

Reverend Kenneth Whalum, Sr.'s dedication and service to the people of Memphis go back many years. He was a district manager of the Michigan Postal Service before returning to Memphis as director of personnel for the Memphis Post Office. He served as a Memphis city councilman from 1988 to 1996.

Reverend Whalum is a well-respected man of faith in his community. In 1969, he became the senior pastor of Olivet Baptist Church and served until 1999.

I commend my colleague, Representative Steve Cohen, for introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of this resolution honoring this very distinguished Memphian.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2654) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 South Dumont Avenue in Woonsocket, South Dakota, as the ``Eleanor McGovern 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 now my pleasure to yield such time as she might consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentlewoman from South Dakota, Representative Herseth Sandlin.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 2654, which names a postal facility in Woonsocket, South Dakota, after Eleanor McGovern.

H.R. 2654, which was introduced by Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on June 11, 2007, was reported from the oversight committee on July 19, 2007, by a voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire South Dakota congressional delegation.

Mrs. Eleanor McGovern was the wife of former Senator George McGovern of South Dakota. She was born on November 25, 1921, in Woonsocket, South Dakota. She was the first spouse to campaign for her husband, alone, to be President of the United States beginning in 1971.

People had such confidence in her ability to articulate various issues facing the country during the early 1970s. Mrs. McGovern made a solo appearance on NBC TV's program ``Meet the Press,'' answering policy questions without hesitation and in precise detail. Also she was the first, by a candidate's wife, to appear on this show in its 25-year history.

Crowds were often moved by her speeches and drew comparisons to the former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Some questioned whether she might do her husband more harm than good.

When asked if her campaigning was worth the risk to her husband's Presidential bid, she replied: ``I would be campaigning as strongly for him if he were not my husband. Maybe there is a risk involved, but since I have the freedom to speak, and my husband doesn't know what I'm saying when I go around the country, he does not tell me what to say. He takes that risk.''

Mrs. Eleanor McGovern wrote a memorial about her personal life entitled ``Uphill: A Personal Story.'' She wrote: ``I still carry a trace of bitterness about poverty. It was not ennobling for my father and grandfather to scratch out a living on land rendered barren. The poor have few choices in life.'' Throughout her life, she learned to preserve and overcome life's challenges.

Mrs. McGovern died on January 25, 2007, at the age of 85.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, for introducing this legislation and urge swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of this legislation and again commend the gentlewoman from South Dakota for its introduction.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2778) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle, New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal Station''.

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 she might consume to the distinguished gentlelady from New York, who is the author of this legislation, Representative Nita Lowey.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 2778, which names the postal facility in New Rochelle, New York after Robert Merrill.

H.R. 2778, which was introduced by Representative Nita Lowey on June 19, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on August 1, 2007, by voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire New York congressional delegation.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Robert Merrill was born on June 14, 1917, in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As a teenager, he dreamed of either playing professional baseball or becoming one of America's top singers. In 1944, he made his professional debut singing Amonasro in ``Aida'' on a Trenton, New Jersey stage. A year later, he signed with the Metropolitan Opera, where he would sing more than 500 performances over the course of 3 decades.

Throughout Mr. Merrill's career, he sang with popular stars ranging from Frank Sinatra to Louis Armstrong and appeared worldwide at music festivals. He performed as a soloist with many of the world's great conductors, including Leonard Bernstein.

Mr. Merrill performed for several presidents, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Harry S. Truman, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy.

He died on October 23, 2004, at the age of 85.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Nita Lowey, for introducing this legislation that highlights the career of one of America's most talented artists. I commend her for this introduction and urge its passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2825) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the ``Owen Lovejoy Princeton 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 as much time as I might consume.

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 2825, which names the postal facility in Princeton, Illinois after Owen Lovejoy.

H.R. 2825, which was introduced by Representative Jerry Weller on June 21, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on July 19, 2007, by a voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire Illinois congressional delegation.

Mr. Owen Lovejoy, the son of a Congregational minister, was born on January 16, 1811, in Albion, Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, in 1832 and studied law.

In 1836, Mr. Lovejoy was ordained as the pastor of the Congregational Church in Princeton, Illinois, a position which he held for 17 years. He was a strong opponent of slavery, and he used the pulpit to attack slavery and helped slaves gain their freedom from bondage.

In 1856, Mr. Lovejoy was elected to Congress with the help of fellow Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives and continued his work as an abolitionist.

Mr. Lovejoy worked with Members of Congress in both Chambers to weaken slavery and attempted to achieve a measure of equality for all people regardless of race. When critics within his own Republican Party expressed fears that the former slaves were not going to live in the North if they gained their freedom, Mr. Lovejoy replied, and I quote, ``Let them stay where they are and work under the stimulus of cash instead of the lash.''

Mr. Lovejoy died on March 25, 1864, just 2 weeks before the introduction of the 13th amendment to the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Jerry Weller, for introducing this legislation, and urge swift passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve. I have no further speakers, so I will wait for my colleague to yield back, and then I will.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, I have no further speakers, but I, again, want to commend my colleague from Illinois, Representative Jerry Weller, for introducing this legislation.

Owen Lovejoy, in actuality, is one of the great abolitionists of his day, an individual that many people don't know nearly enough about. And so I commend Representative Weller for making sure that he will be etched in the hearts and minds of the people in that town and in that community. I urge its passage.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 257) supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, 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, 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 colleague in the consideration of H. Res. 257, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.

H. Res. 257, which has 77 cosponsors, was introduced by Representative Todd Platts on March 20, 2007. H. Res. 257 was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2007, by voice vote.

Mr. Speaker, pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the United States. It develops when cancerous cells form in the tissues of one's pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, which is a major reason why it is one of the leading causes of cancer death. The American Cancer Society estimated that 37,000 people will be diagnosed this year with pancreatic cancer in the United States, and about 33,000 of them will die.

I support the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in order to educate people about pancreatic cancer and the need for research funding, early detection methods, effective treatments, and preventative programs.

So, Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Platts, for introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from the State of Maryland, the Honorable Elijah Cummings.

I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his remarks.

Mr. Speaker, 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 rise today to pay tribute to the over 3,000 victims who died in the September 11 attacks on America; and I wish to pay tribute to all the family members of those who perished, as well as to our public officials, businesses, and private citizens who have dedicated themselves to the rebuilding of a stronger Nation.

As we contemplate the effects of September 11th and extend our deepest sympathy to those who lost their loved ones on that fateful day, let us resolve to build not just a more vigilant and stronger homeland defense, but a society that continues to protect our personal freedoms and would enable us to fulfill the American dream of liberty and justice for all.

And in pursuit of this goal, let us, Mr. Speaker, continue to be able to sing: ``O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain. America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.''

God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule for H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access conference bill.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to commend the leadership in both the House and the Senate for this outstanding legislation. This bill recognizes the fact that without investment there is no return. And it is, indeed, a strong investment in the future of America.

There are many components of the bill that are outstanding: loan forgiveness for public service, loan forgiveness for individuals who teach in high-need institutions, schools. But especially, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to note that this legislation focuses attention on the needs of primarily minority-serving institutions like Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, PBIs, predominantly black institutions, and of course Native American and Pacific Island institutions.

I want to commend Mr. Hinojosa, who is the chairman of our subcommittee, and urge that this legislation be passed.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the leadership in both the House and the Senate for this outstanding legislation. This bill recognizes the fact that without investment, there is no return. And it is indeed a strong investment in the future of America. It expands access and makes higher education more accessible for all. It increases the Pell grant maximum to $4,800 next year and to $5,400 by 2012. It cuts interest rates, provides up-front tuition for students who agree to teach in high-need public schools, provides loan forgiveness for some public employees and, Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased that it recognizes the unique needs of primarily minority serving institutions like Hispanic-serving Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Native American, Pacific American, Asian American and Predominately Black Institutions in which I took a particular interest. Importantly, it includes $510 million for these minority-serving institutions and $30 million for PBIs specifically.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the leadership in both the House for this great work and especially subcommittee Chairman Hinojosa for his strong positions on the needs of minority students and primarily minority serving institutions.

Mr. Speaker, there is broad agreement that fathers matter in the upbringing of children. Studies show that children raised in the absence of a father are more likely to live in poverty. Children whose fathers interact with them on a regular basis on such daily activities as helping with homework, enjoying recreational opportunities and sharing meals have higher self-esteem and are better learners.

Children raised in the absence of a father are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as early sexual activities, as well as drug and alcohol use. Statistics demonstrate that boys raised in fatherless homes are more likely to become violent.

No one argues that there is any one model of family structure, but the elimination of government barriers to healthy relationships and healthy marriages, the promotion of cooperative parenting skills, and the fostering of economic stability and the provision of incentives to noncustodial parents to fulfill financial and emotional support responsibilities are clearly in the best interest of millions of children.

What we have learned is that even effective fatherhood programs cannot by themselves address the growing crisis arising out of the trend toward a single-parent home. What is required is a national social infrastructure which supports effective fatherhood. Therefore, on Friday of this week, I, with Representative Artur Davis, Julia Carson, Bobby Rush and others shall introduce the Responsible Healthy Fatherhood Act.

The Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 restores cuts in Federal child support and requires States to pass through 100 percent of collected child support payments. It prohibits unfair and unequal treatment of two-parent families receiving TANF. It provides grants to help reduce barriers to healthy family relationships and obstacles to sustainable employment.

The Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 ensures equal funding for programs such as mediation and conflict resolution. It provides funding for partnership between domestic violence prevention organizations and fatherhood or marriage programs to train staff in domestic violence and domestic violence prevention.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is designed to promote healthy family living; and I encourage all of my colleagues to take a hard look at it and support it.