Floor Statements

I'd like to thank Stephanie Tubbs Jones for providing this opportunity for us to remember someone that I considered a dear friend before I came to the House. I met Julia in the 70s, and we bonded together because we were active in the National Conference of State Legislators, the Black Caucus. We were the two women in the Senate. And once you meet Julia, you never forget her. She had that kind of impact on you.

And I remember her sitting up in the back with her head hanging very low. And she looked up and she saw, you know, I'd say, how are you feeling Julia, and she'd say, oh, great. Well, you knew she wasn't feeling great.

But she said, you know, I want to go on a codel. So I'm taking my own codel because no one here will take me with them. That was Julia.

And then I remember going out and she was standing against one of the pillars outside and hardly able to stand. I said, well, Julia, let me stand with you. She said, no, I'm holding on. My staff is coming after me. She was the can-do-it person. And regardless how bad the time was, she never let you know.

She was the second one that went out with dignity and class and grace. And I knew that the time would not be long, because I called her office and I talked to her chief of staff; and when he said he was sitting at her bedside, I knew then that she wouldn't be back.

And I saw Julia, like all of you did, as a leader, a crusader, a humanist. She understood racism and oppression, but she was never deterred by it. It only made her more of a leader, more of a crusader and more humanistic.

As a former Congressman, Andy Jacobs relates in Julia's official biography, and I quote the Congressman: ``The only thing some people learn from oppression is hatred and revenge. Others learn compassion and empathy. From the physical pain of material poverty and the mindlessly cruel persecution of knee jerk racism, Julia Carson made her choice to be hard work, compassion and an engulfing sense of humor.'' It is therefore fitting that in 1996, Julia Carson took on the task of seeking the Congressional Gold Medal for another pioneer in the struggle for human rights, Rosa Parks.

It took nearly 3 years, but Julia did not go and she did not falter. In June of 1999, President Clinton signed into law Congresswoman Julia Carson's bill to authorize the Congressional Gold Medal for Rosa Parks, and we all came to be part of that experience.

Julia Carson, who could rightfully take her place in the company of Rosa Parks, was a woman of firsts. She was one of the first women of color to run for countywide office and then Statewide office. She was the first African American to represent Indianapolis in the United States Congress.

So I salute this incredible life of service that Julia gave to her city, her State and her country. She is a testament to a person who overcame many odds, who persevered and left a legacy on which others may proudly build.

Rest well, Julia. We know you're here, but we'll still miss you. God bless.

Mr. Speaker, we have lost Paulette Marie McFarland, 58, who was a trailblazer, an innovator in early childhood development, dying of pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, October 23, 2007, at her home in Chatsworth, California.

She was born Paulette Marie Mahan in Bluefield, West Virginia, on August 12, 1949. She received her bachelor's in early childhood education from Hampton University in Newport News, Virginia, and her master's in education from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, California.

Paulette taught in the Los Angeles Unified School System for 30 years and spent the majority of her tenure at Van Nuys Elementary. She received many accolades during her career, which included Teacher of the Year for her school region. Paulette served as a Master Teacher for student teachers for Cal State University, Northridge and University of California, Los Angeles. She participated in the Bilingual Teacher Classroom Program and reviewed the latest research in education

and applied that knowledge to her teaching strategies.

She always admired educators and their ability to create challenging and novel ways to encourage students in learning. As a bilingual teacher, she strove to make education an exciting, joyful, and motivational tool. She was one who is able to motivate and challenge students in a positive and stimulating manner where students are encouraged to reach their potential and value their own self-worth. She was that person. Most importantly, she was an outstanding teacher, and she was one who loved and enjoyed teaching.

Paulette believed some of the major challenges today are low achievers, child and drug abuse, gangs, and development learning disabilities. And she promoted the importance of the individual increase in parental involvement providing parent education, smaller classes, and tutoring programs as possible solutions.

Paulette was not only committed to her students and her family, but the community at large. For many years, she served on the planning committee for the NAACP Image Awards. She was an active fund-raiser for the Chrysalis Homeless Center, the United Negro College Fund, and other charitable organizations. She participated in the Literacy Campaign for the American Broadcasting Company, and volunteered in food and clothing drives.

For the last 2 years, Paulette served as scholarship chairperson for the San Diego African American Alumni Association, and with her husband, Roland, served as president for 4 years. She secured funding for more than 100 students, making it possible for them to pursue a college education.

On December 4, 1982, Paulette married Roland McFarland, vice president for broadcast standards and practices at Fox Broadcasting Company, at Hollywood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, California.

Her memory lives on through her beloved husband, his children, Curtis McFarland and Roslyn Daniels; mother, Odessa Mahan; father, David Mahan; sisters Beverly Cummings and Margo Mahan; brother, Garner Mahan, and many cherished grandchildren, family, and a host of friends. May she, indeed, rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, the conference report on H.R. 3074 provides critical funding for construction of new roads, repairs, and overall improvements to our Nation's infrastructure. The legislation also provides needed funding for housing vouchers and new vouchers for veterans and disabled and low-income families.

Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I was unavoidably detained and could not cast my vote for H.R. 3074, on agreeing to the Conference Report for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing, and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008.

Had I been able to cast my vote, I would have voted ``yea'' for H.R. 3074.

Mr. Speaker, we mourn the passing of a great Congressman whose public service was emulated by leaders present and past. Gus Hawkins has left us with a sterling legacy that was built on the politics of inclusion.

While in office, he authored over 100 laws in the area of adult education, apprenticeship training, slum clearance, low-cost housing, workmen's compensation for domestics, disability insurance, pensions for senior citizens, and child care centers. He was also responsible for the Fair Employment Practice Act of 1959, the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, and the Fair Housing Act of 1963. More importantly, he authored the Elementary and Secondary School Act of 1965, which was an extensive statute funding primary and secondary education.

As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, he chaired various committees and continued in his effort to enhance educational opportunities for children. He was instrumental in forming the National Council on Educating Black Children.

Augustus Hawkins' philosophy of service and leadership to the State of California and the Nation is perhaps best said in his own words, and I quote, ``The leadership belongs not to the loudest, not to those who beat the drums or blow the trumpets, but to those who day in and day out in all seasons work for the practical realization of a better world, those who have the stamina to persist and to remain dedicated. To those belong the leadership.''

Madam Speaker, last week President Bush tried to label this new Democratic Congress a ``do-nothing'' Congress. Is he serious? Or did he simply forget that he signed bills into law that were written and passed by this Congress that increased the minimum wage, made college more affordable for millions of children, and made our Nation safer by fully instituting the nonpartisan 9/11 Commission recommendations?

The President is also ignoring the fact that he's vetoed legislation that had strong bipartisan support. We sent him a bill that would insure 10 million children to have quality health care, but he vetoed it.

We sent him another bill that would have allowed for Federal funding of stem cell research so that we can discover cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's; but, again, the President vetoed it.

We also overwhelmingly approved a bill that protects our communities by building and repairing critical flood walls and levies; but, again, last week, the President said no.

This Congress is proud of its accomplishments, but there would be more if the President stopped saying no to progress. Fortunately, today we will override his veto of the water resources bill.

Madam Speaker, last week President Bush requested an additional $42 billion from Congress for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing his total funding request for the upcoming year to $190 billion.

Also last week, the Congressional Budget Office released a report concluding that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will cost $2.4 trillion over the next decade. That's nearly $8,000 for every American.

Just imagine if we rejected the President's plan to continue the war in Iraq for another decade and worked instead to responsibly redeploy our troops out of Iraq within the next year. Rather than spending $2.4 trillion over in Iraq, we could instead invest it here with our own people. This would be more than enough to provide every college freshman in our Nation with a free 4-year education at a private college or university. We could also use that money to provide health care coverage to every American for a year or could pay off 26 percent of our national debt.

Madam Speaker, it was with great sorrow that I learned of the loss of my dear friend and colleague who was a real trailblazer in the field of education in Los Angeles. I am speaking of Mr. Ron Prescott, retired Deputy Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Ron was more than a trailblazer, he was a man with a vision for all students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Although he had retired from everyday active duty in the day to day running of the Nation's second largest school district, he felt strongly about the importance of getting appropriate funding for students who had to be removed from regular schools that operated year round due to overcrowding.

Ron was an imposing figure during his tenure with the school district and later on, as a retiree, when he launched a second career as an influential and respected education lobbyist.

One of his most important achievements as a lobbyist was leading a way for new dollars to pay for integration programs. His efforts led to funding that became the genesis of L.A. Unified's popular program that created magnet schools to promote voluntary integration.

As Ron stepped into the role of the first teacher hired for a 1960's program that paired white and minority students in district schools, he also found time to found the District's Office of Multicultural Education. He was a front-runner in leading early voluntary integration efforts before the era of court ordered forced busing.

Ron's vision and focus on the education of students in the Los Angeles Unified District will be sorely missed. He stands as an icon of effective, ethical advocacy for the rights of students.

The students of Los Angeles, colleagues and friends, all mourn the loss of Ron Prescott. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, his students, his many close friends in the Los Angeles Unified District, and here on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Speaker, it was with great sorrow that I learned of the loss of a stalwart champion of political and business empowerment within the Los Angeles community. I'm speaking of Mr. Muhammad A. Nassardeen, a pioneering entrepreneur and a staunch promoter of ``economic activism.''

Muhammad Nassardeen founded Recycling Black Dollars in 1988 as a way

to encourage African Americans and others to patronize African American-owned businesses and promote the practice as a much needed strategy for revitalizing the community and addressing problems such as unemployment.

Muhammad Nassardeen never saw the City of Los Angeles as it is, but he envisioned what it could be. He was ``connector'' extraordinaire. He connected black consumers with black businesses, and black business owners with one another. It is estimated that some 2,000 to 3,000 businesses benefited from the work of Recycling Black Dollars.

Muhammad Nassardeen's vision and focus on the economic empowerment and advancement of ethnic minorities in Los Angeles will be sorely missed. He was a beacon of light out of economic darkness for many.

The City of Los Angeles, colleagues, family and friends all mourn the loss of Muhammad A. Nassardeen, and I extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, his colleagues, his many close friends in the Los Angeles business community and here on Capitol Hill.

Madam Speaker, 10 years ago, the Children's Health Insurance Program was created in a strong bipartisan fashion to ensure more low-income children have access to quality health care. Today, thanks to CHIP, 6 million children who would otherwise be uninsured can see the doctor of their family's choice any time they want.

For the first 8 years of the CHIP program, the number of uninsured children fell significantly, but that changed 2 years ago, and the trend continued last year when 700,000 more children joined the ranks of the uninsured. That was simply unacceptable to many of us here in Congress, and that's why we crafted a final bipartisan agreement that not only continues to provide health care access to 6 million kids who are already in the program, but also to 4 million others who are also eligible for CHIP. If the President had

his way, the number of uninsured children would go up by at least 800,000 over the next year. That is why we need to override his veto today.

Mr. Speaker, I regret that the Los Angeles Unified School District in California lost one of its most prestigious leaders. Ron Prescott died a week ago, and for over 30 years he represented the district in Sacramento, California, the capital.

Ron Prescott, over the years, was voted one of the top lobbyists for children. He was charismatic, he was diplomatic, but most of all, he was dedicated to the children of our State, and particularly the second largest school district.

Ron Prescott had a way of influencing you to do the right thing. When there were several attempts to break up the unified school district, it was Ron that saved our district.

When you needed to know the facts on funding for certain programs, it was Ron who was there with the facts.

He was never the kind to be obnoxious, but the kind that you could understand. He was always clear. He was always factual. He was always committed.

We have lost a great educator. We mourn his loss.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2553) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for the establishment and maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at United States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about American culture, society, and history, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First, I would like to thank Chairman Lantos, as well as my friend Mr. Bilirakis as, I think, acting in place of the ranking member (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for helping me to move this bill to the floor.

I am proud to be the author of H.R. 2553, the Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of 2007. This bill is designed to provide our diplomats abroad with additional tools to show the world the best of American society. In the 110th Congress, the Committee on Foreign Affairs is working to help redeem the status and prestige that the United States has lost around the world in recent years.

While U.S. foreign policy clearly is a key factor in how we are viewed

abroad, other factors are also critical to how the United States is viewed around the world. An important point of regaining our rightful leadership role is to find more effective ways to let the world know who we are as Americans and what we stand for.

One of the most effective elements of American public policy is the array of libraries and information resource centers around the globe. The facilities run by our State Department provide people in foreign countries the ability to freely access information about the United States, about their own societies, and about science and the arts. For years, these resources have been a testament to the principle that the greatest tool we have against tyranny is the truth.

But as we face this moment of tighter budgets, I am afraid that our public diplomacy libraries and resource centers are not getting the support they need.

That is why I have introduced this bill. The bill would not seek to disrupt the efforts that the State Department has under way to organize and run its resource centers. Rather, it would seek to put these efforts on a more stable footing by creating a clear funding stream for the State Department libraries and resource centers abroad.

Furthermore, the bill would establish the Johnny Grant film series as part of the State Department's public diplomacy effort. Johnny Grant is a legendary friend of American entertainment and is known as the honorary mayor of Hollywood for his continued efforts on behalf of the American entertainment industries. He is also an ardent proponent of the power of American film to convey the universal values of freedom and opportunity to others around the world. As of this year, he will have made his 60th trip abroad to entertain our troops.

By the way, he traveled with Bob Hope often. The Johnny Grant Film Series would provide the United States Government with the opportunity to show the world the optimism and promise of America as portrayed in our classic films.

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank both my chairman, Tom Lantos, as well as my cosponsor, the ranking member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for their extraordinary efforts to help me move this legislation forward. I would also like to specifically thank David Abramowitz and Lynne Weil of the majority staff, and Doug Anderson and Sam Stratman of the Republican staff for the kind consideration they showed to me and my staff as we sought to move this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2185) to amend the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 to provide debt relief to developing countries that take action to protect forests and coral reefs and associated coastal marine ecosystems, to reauthorize such Act through fiscal year 2010, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the Tropical Forest Conservation Act Reauthorization bill and urge my colleagues to do so as well. I would particularly like to recognize the efforts of Congressman Mark Kirk, the sponsor of H.R. 2185. Congressman Kirk is a long-time champion of this innovative debt-for-conservation program. Mr. Kirk's legislation extends and expands a vitally important environmental initiative launched during the Clinton administration.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 9 years this program has resulted in 12 Tropical Forest Conservation Act agreements in Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America. These agreements have provided $135 million to help conserve 50 million acres of tropical forests. The Tropical Forest Conservation Act has become one of the most effective foreign policy tools that the executive branch has at its disposal to encourage developing states to take action to protect and preserve tropical forests.

The program has been a tremendous success. It has provided needed funding to actively pursue debt swaps, buybacks, and debt restructuring with developing nations in return for concrete expenditures aimed at protecting vital natural resources. This mechanism inspires more prompt debt servicing and gives foreign governments a greater sense of responsibility for preserving the global heritage.

H.R. 2185 would expand the program in a very significant way by extending its debt-relief-for-conservation mechanism to expenditures aimed at protecting coral reefs and sensitive marine environments. Coral reefs and coastal marine environments provide a host of benefits to humankind. They harbor a major share of the world's marine biological diversity, and act as vital nurseries and seeding grounds for many sensitive deep sea species. They also provide the foundation for economic, social and recreational activities of immeasurable value.

Mr. Speaker, coral reefs are extremely sensitive treasures. However, the shocking reports of wide-scale coral bleaching that has occurred around the globe in recent years should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the contributions that human activities are making to this problem.

H.R. 2185 provides just the kind of creative, targeted and mutually beneficial assistance that is clearly required to tackle this important ecological threat. H.R. 2185 will also enable more key countries to participate in the program. Currently, in order to qualify for the Act's mutually beneficial mechanism, a country must have an IMF agreement in place. Under the new language, eligibility would also extend to nations that are implementing sound macroeconomic policies.

Mr. Speaker, the executive branch has partnered with us in crafting this reauthorization, and has expressed its interest in seeing it pass this year. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important measure.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 405) expressing the strong support of the House of Representatives for implementation of the July 8, 2006, United Nations- brokered agreement between President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat relating to the reunification of Cyprus, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me first thank our colleague from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) for introducing this important resolution. For years, the United Nations has attempted to reduce the potential for conflict on Cyprus and to heal and reunify that long-divided island.

Last year, Under Secretary of the United Nations Ibrahim Gambari potentially made progress towards resolving this issue. Thanks to his efforts, the Greek and Turkish Cypriots signed an agreement on July 8, 2006, that sets out principles forming the basis for a future permanent agreement.

Mr. Speaker, these important principles include, first and foremost, recognition that the status quo, with a divided island, is unacceptable. They also include a commitment to unification based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation; a commitment to form intercommunal working groups aimed at achieving confidence-building measures to improve daily lives on both sides of the island; and a commitment to promote a positive atmosphere that would allow negotiations to thrive.

All of us hope that the July 8, 2006, agreement between the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot communities will prove to be an important step on the road to reunification of Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation. The pace of the progress must accelerate. To date, it has been, at best, halting. But both parties have at least renewed their pledge to work towards a negotiated agreement.

Mr. Speaker, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1758 expresses full support for the July 8, 2006, agreement. I hope the Members of this body will reinforce that message by backing this bill, and thereby backing the unification of Cyprus. The resolution before us, H. Res. 405, expresses its support for the immediate implementation of the July 8, 2006, agreement, and it calls on the administration to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Cyprus deserve our encouragement and our support in their efforts to prepare for new talks aimed at reunification, and that is exactly what this resolution seeks to do. I strongly support it, and I encourage my colleagues to do likewise.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 651) recognizing the warm friendship and expanding strategic relationship between the United States and Brazil, commending Brazil on successfully reducing its dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy its energy needs, and recognizing the importance of the March 9, 2007, United States-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on biofuels cooperation, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I would first like to thank our colleagues, Congressman Eliot Engel and Dan Burton, for introducing this important resolution. Their leadership on Brazil-related matters is greatly appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, Brazil has the largest economy, population, and land mass in South America. It is the fifth most populous country in the world, and its economy is the 11th largest. It is high time we recognize, as this resolution does, the expanding strategic relationship between the United States and Brazil.

We in America are finally waking up not only to Brazil's importance, but to how natural this relationship should be. Brazil is also the right country with which to cooperate on alternative energy sources.

This resolution commends Brazil on successfully reducing its dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy its energy needs and recognizes the importance of the March 9, 2007, U.S.-Brazil memorandum of understanding on biofuels cooperation.

The agreement promotes greater cooperation on ethanol and biofuels between the world's two largest ethanol-producing countries. Brazil has become the world's largest consumer and producer of ethanol from sugar cane. By the end of 2006, 80 percent of new-car sales in Brazil were flex-fuel, meaning they can run on a mixture of ethanol and gasoline.

Furthermore, ethanol supplies 40 percent of the motor fuel used in Brazil and is extremely competitive with gasoline. We as Americans can learn a great deal from Brazil and they from us as we try to reduce their dependence on oil and diversify our energy resources. The U.S. and Brazil are providing technical assistance to build biofuels industries in Third World countries, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, El Salvador, St. Kitts, and Nevis.

It is also important to note that Brazil, through its leadership of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and other achievements, has emerged as a regional leader in the Western Hemisphere, a role this resolution recognizes for Brazil.

Brazil's leadership in the Americas and throughout the world signals the emergence of a vital partner and friend to the United States. That is why I

strongly urge all Members to support this important resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I learned of the loss of our colleague and four-term Representative, Jo Ann Davis, who represented Virginia's First District, referred to as America's First District. She was a great leader and a tireless advocate for all of her constituents. And for those of us who came in after her, I remember she organized a WeightWatchers class, saw that we were there every week, and that we followed the procedure for weight watching. She said, Now, be sure to weigh yourself so that you can see what kind of progress you are making. But I want you to know, I don't weigh myself because I don't think I am progressing.

Jo Ann was first in many ways. As the first elected female Republican from the Commonwealth, she set an example for women across the country who aspire to political office. She worked tirelessly on behalf of our men and women in uniform and the many Federal civil servants in her congressional district and succeeded in introducing and passing legislation that benefited these important constituencies.

We all know that we lost our colleague to breast cancer. I remember going over to her when we heard that Juanita Millender-McDonald was taking a leave, and the women's caucus wanted to send greetings, and I asked her if she would be the first. She looked at me and she said, No, because on that day, Friday, I take my chemo and I am very sick afterwards. So I said, Well, I understand. I just thought the two of you had much in common and that you could inspire her. We know that it is such a devastating disease that takes away our loved ones too quickly. I don't know at the time if it was in Jo Ann's mind, but she never let on. She seemed to be very secretive about her personal self.

So, as a reminder, this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I think it is so appropriate that we salute her and her life because she lived so well and influenced so many people and was really a symbol for how to deal with the condition that she had and she was challenged by.

Our colleague will be sorely missed, not only here, but in her home district where her constituents knew that she represented them with excellence, integrity, and tenacity. We all mourn her loss, our friend and colleague. I send my most heartfelt condolences to her family, staff, and her many close friends here on Capitol Hill and in Virginia.