Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my former colleagues who have talked about foreclosures and predatory lending.

As a matter of fact, I also want to thank the committee that I established a few weeks ago, made up of about 50 people, including State Representative LuShawn Ford, who has agreed to chair. I come from the community that pretty much led the movement for community reinvestment in this country under the leadership of a woman named Gail Cincotta who was the head of the Organization for a Better Austin, and then Gail came to Washington and went ahead and founded the National Training and Action Committee which still exists to this day.

So I simply want to associate with those comments made by my colleagues.

But, Mr. Speaker, I really also rise with a great level of sadness to pay tribute to a good son, a good husband, a good father, a good citizen and one of Chicago's finest of the men and women in blue, Police Sergeant Ralph Ford, Jr.

It has been my pleasure and that of my wife to know the Ford family for many years. I first knew Ralph's mother, Mrs. Jacqueline Ford, when she was a pioneer community activist serving on the board of the Martin Luther King, Jr, neighborhood health center. She and my wife Vera have attended Carey Tercentenary AME Church together, and I say forever.

I first knew Ralph well when he was a young Chicago police officer. I had begun to run for public office. He was a diligent and enthusiastic volunteer who was not afraid to be associated with our campaign, even though I was running as what we call an Independent against the existing political machine.

The fact that Ralph had attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff added another star to his crown because I had attended the same school when it had another name, Arkansas AM&N College, before it attained university status.

Being the excellent police officer that he was, Ralph made sergeant and outdistanced many of his peers. He was jovial, a great talker, had a great personality and a wonderful sense of humor.

Family meant everything to Ralph. He was totally devoted to his wife and children, and he had a great affinity for other members of his family, and of course, he and his mother Jackie had an absolute long- standing love affair.

Of course, Ralph passed away a few days ago. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Ralph Ford, Jr, was an absolute credit to his law enforcement profession, the apple of his wife and family's eyes and a joy to humanity. He shall be sorely missed.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pride and a tremendous sense of appreciation that I rise to congratulate Ms. Jane DeLung on an outstanding career in research, planning and public advocacy. It has been a privilege to know Ms. DeLung since the late 1960s, when she was doing community health and family planning with the Chicago Department of Public Health, which was very exciting and meaningful work.

She went on to become assistant commissioner, worked for the Federal Government, was vice president of the Illinois Family Planning Council and ultimately became president of the Population Resource Center where she served for 15 years.

During her career, Ms. DeLung has developed effective approaches to bringing people together to raise issues, foster concepts and engineer advocacy action to advance causes and put ideas about advancing quality of life on broad scale agendas.

Ms. DeLung has obviously obtained a wealth of personal experience to match her formal training, B.A. Emory University, M.A. Roosevelt University, and thousands of hours of workshops, seminars and field training.

Madam Speaker, it has indeed been a pleasure to know and work with Ms. DeLung for all of these many years. She has been a most effective social planner, researcher, engineer and advocate. I commend and congratulate her, although she is retiring as President of PRC, I know that she will remain engaged.

Best wishes and good luck.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 179) expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day.

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

Madam Speaker, I would yield such time as she might consume to the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Nancy Boyda from Kansas.

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

Madam Speaker, over 500,000 children in the United States are involved in some form of foster care. Placements in foster care have increased significantly over the past 10 years. In situations of abuse and neglect, children may be removed from their parents' home by a child welfare agency and placed in foster care. Some of the reasons for foster care placement include severe behavior problems in the child and/or a variety of parental problems such as abuse, abandonment, illness, including physical or emotional problems, incarceration, AIDS, alcohol, substance abuse, and death.

The resolution we are considering today honors foster parents. Foster parents are people who open their homes and their hearts to children in need of temporary care. The task is both rewarding and difficult. As a matter of fact, I have met individuals who have adopted children. I know one police officer who has adopted 13 children, a most unusual and unbelievable man, salt of the earth, pillar of the universe.

Foster parents take children for medical care and to school events. They may facilitate visitation between the child and the birth parents in the foster home or other approved locations. Foster parents face many challenges in caring for the physical and emotional needs of children. We need more foster parents to care and nurture our children who are unable to remain in their homes. Foster parents should be commended for their big hearts and commitment to provide stable homes for children.

This is an issue that is very personal to me in a very serious way. My congressional district has more grandparents taking care of children than any other district in the Nation, and it is followed closely by two additional congressional districts in the Chicago area. I want to commend the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. I also want to commend some of the social welfare agencies that deal seriously with foster parenting for children, agencies such as Sankofa an organization that was started out of a crisis situation and now does an outstanding job. Agencies like One Church One Child that attempts to get individuals to become foster parents to teenagers coming out of correctional facilities, which is not an easy task.

So I commend the gentlewoman from Kansas (Mrs. Boyda) for introducing H. Res. 179, and urge its passage.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I know that I had a number of individuals who had hoped to be here because they are very interested in this subject matter and who had intended to make comments, certainly Representative Melissa Bean who still might get here before we finish, Representative Michele Bachmann from Minnesota, Representative Fortney Pete Stark, and Representative Dennis Cardoza all had statements that they wanted to present.

I would now yield to the other side to see if they have got other speakers, to see if any of my additional speakers will come before we yield back.

Madam Speaker, I don't think that our other speakers are going to make it; but suffice it to say that this is a very important resolution. It is a resolution that speaks to the heart and soul of America. It is a resolution that emphasizes the words of the blues singer who said once, ``Who will save the world? Who's willing to try? Who will save the world that is destined to die?''

We are talking about saving the children, those unfortunate young people, many of whom their parents are incarcerated. There are more than 1.5 million children in America whose parents are in prison or in jail. They are in need of foster parenting.

So, again, not only do we urge passage, but I commend the gentlelady from Kansas, and urge listeners and watchers and viewers to see whether or not there is an opportunity for you to open your heart and your home and become a foster parent.

Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of our time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 625) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4230 Maine Avenue in Baldwin Park, California, as the ``Atanacio Haro-Marin Post Office''.

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

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

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 625, which names the postal facility in Baldwin Park, California, after Atanacio Haro-Marin.

H.R. 625, which was introduced by Representative Hilda Solis on January 22, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on March 29, 2007 by voice vote. This measure, which has been cosponsored by the 52 members, has the support of the entire California congressional delegation. Army Sergeant Atanacio Haro-Marin, age 27, of Baldwin Park, California, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. He was killed while manning the checkpoint when his unit came under attack from gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades south of Balad, Iraq on June 3, 2003.

Sergeant Marin was born in Momax, Mexico, and lived there with his mother while his father worked in California picking fruit and doing construction jobs to support seven children. The family reunited in Los Angeles when Sergeant Marin was 2, and they later moved to suburban Baldwin Park. He will be remembered as a proud and courageous soldier who was living out a long-held dream of serving in the U.S. military.

Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the memory, legacy, and contributions of Atanacio Haro-Marin, and urge swift passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I had expected that Representative Solis, who is the sponsor of this legislation, would have been here, but maybe she had some difficulty getting back from way out west in California today.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time and urge passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1402) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 320 South Lecanto Highway in Lecanto, Florida, as the ``Sergeant Dennis J. Flanagan Lecanto Post Office Building''.

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

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

On September 11, 2001, America was forever changed. The rancid acts of terrorism that occurred on this day struck a chord within the people. For one moment in time we were not a hyphenated people. We were not Irish-American, African-American, Asian-American, Greek-American. We were simply American.

It was with a resounding spirit of patriotism that Dennis J. Flanagan went to his local recruitment station and took the vow to serve his country. As the President waged war against our terrorist adversaries, Sergeant Flanagan took his place as a member of the air assault infantry that invaded Iraq in 2003. He returned to Iraq in September for his second tour of duty and was killed when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Hawijah, Iraq, on January 19, 2006.

Madam Speaker, I offer my condolences to the family of Sergeant Flanagan and hope that my colleagues will vote in the affirmative to pass this measure that will allow the Lecanto, Florida, post office to bear the name of Sergeant Dennis James Flanagan.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I simply want to commend the gentlewoman from Florida for introducing this resolution, which speaks directly to the greatest gift that one can give, and that is to give his or her life for the benefit of their fellow man and woman.

A young man, who had no concern, really, for himself, but was concerned for the country.

I urge passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

We have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1434) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 896 Pittsburgh Street in Springdale, Pennsylvania, as the ``Rachel Carson Post Office Building''.

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

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

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 1434, which names the postal facility in Springdale, Pennsylvania after Rachel Carson.

H.R. 1434, which was introduced by Representative Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania on March 9, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on March 29, 2007, by voice vote. This measure, which has been cosponsored by 40 Members, has the support of the entire Pennsylvania, congressional delegation.

Starting in the mid-1940s, Ms. Carson became concerned about the use of newly invented pesticides, especially dichloro diphenyl trichloroethane, better known as DDT. This turned into an amazing thesis she entitled ``Silent Spring.'' ``Silent Spring'' focused on the environment and the effect of pesticides on humans. This was known as Carson's greatest work. She worked to defend the claims in ``Silent Spring'' until her death. It is believed that Carson's ``Silent Spring'' was the catalyst for the United States taking a more in-depth look at the use of pesticides, as well as the founding of government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency.

Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the memory, legacy, and contributions of Rachel Carson and urge swift passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this bill, one of the outstanding new Members of the House, Representative Jason Altmire, from Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Madam Speaker, to close, let me just thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for introducing this legislation, and the gentleman from California for his eloquent statements in support of it.

And I sort of reflected, as I listened to Representative Moran, that it is good to have all of the eloquence and all of the youth, but to have been there and be old enough to remember, I join with him because I remember DDT as I was growing up in rural America, and the utilization of it as people would spray their crops and use it to fight pesticides, but were endangering themselves. And there was a great deal of fear and consternation.

So again, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for introducing this legislation. I urge its support.

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

Madam Speaker, I join with my colleagues from all across America who have spent much of the evening extolling the virtues of our colleague Juanita Millender-McDonald. Much has been said, and yet there is much that can, in fact, be added.

As a matter of fact, when I first came to Congress, Juanita was one of the first persons that my wife and I met. So my wife immediately became a Juanita Millender-McDonald fan. And I said to her, Vera, it is all right for you to be a Juanita Millender-McDonald fan, but don't try to dress like her. We can't afford it.

Juanita was, in fact, a charming, delightful, snazzy lady, the essence of femininity, but as tough as a nail. As a matter of fact, I don't know if a week went by that I didn't receive some communique from her talking about some issue or explaining something that she had done or something that she had worked on. And as I listened to all of my colleagues talk about her many ``firsts,'' the first African American woman to serve on the Carson City Council, the first African American woman to render the national Democratic response to President Bush's weekly radio address, the first to be named Honorary Curator of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, and the first Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues. Obviously, she was many firsts. And I guess maybe the

poet Homer had her in mind when he said that there are pioneer souls that go where highways never ran, but let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.

And I guess he had Juanita in mind as he talked about why would I live in my house by the side of the road as the race of men go by. Men who are good, men who are bad, men who are wise, foolish, but then so am I. So why would I not simply be, as Juanita has been, one who understood the relationship between people, moving across aisles, moving across boundaries to accomplish and get things done.

So on behalf of my family and me and all of the residents of the Seventh Congressional District of Illinois, we extend our greatest condolences to her family and say that we too would hope to live in the house by the side of the road like Juanita Millender-McDonald and be a friend to mankind.

Madam Speaker, It is with great pleasure that I rise to congratulate Mr. Willie Beasley on the occasion of his 94th birthday which will take place on April 28, 2007. Madam Speaker, to live a long life is indeed desirable and many of us would find it most desirable. However, to live a long, healthy wholesome and productive life is awesome. Such has been the blessed fate of Mr. Willie Beasley who has been a great husband, wonderful father, tremendous churchman and a civic leader who has understood what it should mean to live in a free and democratic society. For many years, Mr. Beasley was an outstanding leader at the Carey Certentenary AME Church, he and his family were anchored in the community and to this day his children Ward and Carol continue in his and the family's tradition.

Therefore, Mr. Beasley, I congratulate you on a long productive and beneficial life, I also commend you and your family for your active civic and community involvement. It has been a pleasure to personally know you and your family and to have had you as part of my life.

I thank you Madam Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that as sponsor of H.R. 1593 that Representative Walter Jones, Jr., be removed as a cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the District of Columbia's Voting Rights Act. As chairman of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce Postal and the District of Columbia, I have listened closely to the debate, and I am firmly and thoroughly convinced that every procedural concern has been met, every rationalization has been met with logic, and every constitutional question has withstood its challenges.

The only question before us now is: If not now, then when? If not us, then who?

The real deal is that the people of the District of Columbia have waited far too long. Justice delayed is justice denied. We must correct this injustice and do it today. I urge passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Foster Parents Day. Foster parents are vital to the development of today's children and tomorrow's leaders. As former President John Fitzgerald Kennedy once proclaimed, ``Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.'' Foster care parents dedicate their lives to care for the less fortunate children, with little compensation or recognition. They perform this noble task under very difficult circumstances with love and care. Recognizing these efforts is important.

There are 523,000 children in foster care in the United States today. Congress has made a number of improvements to foster care laws over the last decade; improvements that have helped support our children and families. It is good to recognize these advances, but we should take a moment to consider how we can improve the system further.

There are currently over 2\1/2\ million children being cared for by family members nationally. However, unless these relatives have waivers from the Department of Health and Human Services, they are not eligible for foster care maintenance payments. Withholding financial support from family providers greatly ignores the needs of these children and families. 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. It is unrealistic to expect these providers to afford appropriate care for these vulnerable children simply because they are family. This is a very personal problem to me. The 7th Congressional District in Illinois--my Congressional District--has the highest percentage of children being raised by grandparents in the nation. Two other Chicago districts follow close behind. It also upsets me greatly that the limitations in our system have a disproportionate effect on minority children and families, who tend to opt for guardianship rather than adoption.

So, I join my colleagues in supporting a day to recognize foster parents and their tremendous contribution to society.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize that, on April 14, 2007, the city of Chicago was selected as the United States' candidate for the 2016 Summer Olympics. The Chicago Olympic bid represents a choice by the United States Olympic Committee to share the hometown qualities of this great American city and state with the world's athletes, guests, and over 3.6 billion people who take part in the Olympics via global television broadcast. If Chicago is selected by the International Olympic Committee, the 2016 Games will be the first Summer Olympics held in the Americas since the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Chicago's passion for sports, record of hosting international events, and cultural heritage make it a fitting host for these momentous games. Already a professional sports powerhouse, Chicago is arguably one of the most sport-oriented cities in the United States. Indeed, Chicagoans are famous for their enthusiastic support of their home teams, be it the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, Bulls, or the World Series Champion White Sox. Chicago boasts one of the largest marathon events worldwide as well--the Chicago Marathon.

Chicago also enjoys a long history of hosting historic world gatherings, including the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, the 1959 Pan American Games, as well as matches for the 1994 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament. Although Chicago was to host the 1904 Summer Olympics, this honor ultimately went to St. Louis to coincide with the St. Louis World's Fair.

In addition, Chicago's world-class architecture, renowned skyline, multi-cultural, historical, and pop-cultural contributions are expected to weigh heavily as positive attractions in the Olympic bid considerations. The international community will be dazzled by Chicago's view from atop the Sears Tower, they will be serenaded by the deep passion of our Blues music, and they will savor our restaurants, which are second to none.

The 2016 Chicago Olympic bid offers America the chance to demonstrate not only the most amazing level of competition the world has to offer, but also to showcase the values that make America and the Olympic movement so significant, such as fair play, friendship, hope, and inspiration. The world will have the opportunity to learn surprising and amazing things about Chicago. By way of the 2016 Summer Olympics, Chicago will become the world's second home.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and groundbreaking accomplishments of Jackie Robinson, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of integrated Major League Baseball. Sixty years ago this month, Jackie Robinson overcame institutionalized opposition to become the first African-American Major League Baseball player. He proved himself to be among the best that have ever played the game. He was a member of six World Series teams and earned six consecutive All-Star Game nominations. In 1962 Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

In addition to his multiple sports accomplishments, Jackie Robinson accomplished great things in his personal life. He was a key figure in the establishment a growth of Freedom Bank. He also served with honor and distinction as a second lieutenant in the United States Army from 1942-1944. In 1984, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It gives me great pride to have served during the 108th Congress when we awarded Jackie Robinson the Congressional Gold Medal.

Throughout his life Jackie Robinson stood up against inequality, served as a great role model for all American citizens, and proved that anything is possible. I recall one story that exemplified his commitment to justice, when he faced court-martial charges for insubordination resulting from his refusal to obey an order to move to the back of a segregated military bus in Texas. I salute Jackie Robinson and commend him on his life of accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by expressing condolences to all of those who were directly affected by the gun violence that has just taken the lives of so many young people with so much promise. Again, I think it is an indication of a tremendous need to better regulate the acquisition and ownership of guns in our country, and I join with all of those who call for increased regulation.

Mr. Speaker, America's radios, televisions, newspapers, and Internet sites

have been consumed for the past several days over remarks by radio personality Don Imus.

Two weeks ago Imus referred to the women of the Rutgers University women's basketball team in language which can only be described as racist, sexist, and viciously offensive. Faced with an uproar of disgust and protest in response to those remarks, Imus apologized on one hand and on the other denied any racism and insisted that his words carried no malice.

Imus has a history of similar remarks and demands for him to be fired escalated by the hour and day. Under pressure from the public and advertisers, MSNBC agreed to drop the Imus show, and then, of course, CBS came to the same decision. I commend them for coming to the realization that this kind of rhetoric has no place on the public airways. I hope this outcome will be viewed as a victory for free speech and corporate responsibility.

I consider myself an apostle of the first amendment. Free speech is fundamental to our very notions of what and who we are as a people and as a Nation. Nevertheless, I believe that the outcry and protest over the Imus remarks and the demands for his dismissal are not only justified, but are totally consistent with the first amendment.

Nothing has eaten away at the soul of America, nothing has divided our Nation, and nothing has more persistently infected our democracy than the monstrous evil of racism.

Racism dehumanized and continues to dehumanize African Americans and others. Racism continues to ravage the lives of Black America from health to housing and from income to imprisonment. It has taken almost 150 years of struggle and sacrifice, but we no longer accept the racist practices and we no longer excuse racist speech.

No one is demanding that the government muzzle Mr. Imus. However, it is logical and just that large, extremely profitable media companies whose existence and whose profits are based on freedom of speech, would want to ensure that they are not profiting from the abuse of African American women, from the poisoning of relations between Americans, or from discrimination or oppression of any sector of our society.

Last week it was an outcry against Mr. Imus for his remarks. Today and tomorrow it must be against the rappers, hip-hop artists, and comedians who use vile language as a part of their public acts.

My mother used to take washing powder or soap and wash out our mouths if we were to use language that was unacceptable to her. Now, I know that we can't do this with some of our entertainers, but we certainly can sanitize and let them know that we are not appreciative of their language.

I join with those who commend the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, for her leadership. And I also commend Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton for the tremendous roles that they played in raising this issue.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize March as National Social Work Month. National Social Work Month affords the perfect opportunity to highlight the essential role that social workers play in working with all vulnerable populations. Social workers help all people at every stage of life, while promoting dignity for everyone, especially the most vulnerable among us.

Social workers play an essential role in alleviating some of America's most difficult problems. Through education, training, and dedication, social workers provide assistance in many different practice areas including health, mental health, child welfare, end of life, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and family violence. Social workers have the specialized knowledge and expertise to address issues facing older Americans, including providing individual and family counseling, psychosocial assessment and coordinating care.

Madam Speaker, more than 77 million Americans are considered part of the baby boom generation. Adults born between 1946 and 1964 have the distinction of being the largest generation, representing 27 percent of the population. With the aging of baby boomers and the lengthening of life spans, both the number and proportion of older people is rapidly increasing.

Social workers understand that the best elder care requires a broad view of social, environmental, psychological, economic, and health care options. It is the ability to see the intersection of these elements that allow social workers to connect clients with the best resources for them--the best resources to help them along life's journeys. Social workers strive to promote independence, autonomy and dignity for all of their clients. They offer families ways to deal effectively with long- term care responsibilities and work through hospitals nursing homes, hospices, independent and assisted living facilities, public agencies and even in client homes.

National Social Work Month is the ideal time to highlight the immediate and ongoing need for an investment in the social work labor force. As a former psychologist, educator and healthcare professional, I have had the privilege of working with many social workers. I can personally attest that social workers have the specialized knowledge and expertise to address issues facing Americans.