Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1853, the Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police Training Act.

Mr. Speaker, more than 1.5 million U.S. troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and according to an Army study, 20 percent are showing signs of post-traumatic stress syndrome. But surprisingly, most VA police officers do not receive any training on how to deal with patients suffering from mental illness. That is why we must prepare VA law enforcement officers to deal with the tens of thousands of veterans returning from Iraq that are expected to utilize VA medical centers for mental health services.

H.R. 1853, the Jose Medina Veterans Affairs Police Training Act, will ensure that our veterans are treated with dignity and respect when they seek treatment at VA facilities. Veterans' mental health needs should be one of this Congress' top priorities, and I urge your support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1700, the COPS Improvements Act of 2007. As a daughter of a police officer, I believe this bill is essential to keep our citizens safe and help communities combat crime.

Improving the COPS program is very important to the constituents I represent in California's 33rd Congressional District. If this bill passes, my district alone will get at least 25 new police officers, an additional school resource officer, along with more funding to be used for technology in Los Angeles' law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Speaker, today our children are killing one another in my district at an appalling rate. The Los Angeles Police Department recorded 7,714 gang crimes in 2006, a 14 percent jump over the previous year. I believe we need to take a comprehensive approach to combating gang violence and ensure that our youth have safe, quality schools that give them an alternative to the streets.

But there is one action we can take right now that will immediately reduce the level of violence and protect our kids, and that is to put more police on the streets.

We have the bill here today that does just that, the COPS Improvements Act, and I urge colleagues to support this measure.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to announce the passing of a great American, Ira O'Neal, Jr., who happened to be my cousin, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen recently honored with the Congressional Gold Medal here in the Capitol.

Ira O'Neal was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on June 11, 1918. He was drafted into the 1st Army Corps in 1942, where he served in the 42nd Aviation Squadron as a first lieutenant.

In 1948, President Truman issued his famous executive order that racially integrated the military. At the same time that Truman issued his order, the military was moving from a wartime to a peacetime footing. As a result of our Nation's reduced force structure, Ira was one of the many thousands of soldiers who was discharged.

Although Ira had been discharged from the military, he was not deterred from serving his country. In 1949, Ira was able to reenlist in the U.S. Air Force. He proudly served his country until he retired in 1972.

After retiring, he started a security service that contracted with the Watergate apartments. He hired a young man by the name of Wills, who discovered the Watergate break-in. Ira was contacted, and his report started the Watergate episode.

Ira has been a resident of the District of Columbia for 56 years and has always been active in his community. In 2004, he received the Roots in Scouting Award recognizing a lifetime of work with the Boy Scouts of America.

I was honored to be with Ira at the Bolling Air Force Base Officers' Club on March 28 of this year when Kerwin Miller, Department of Veterans Affairs, presented him with a proclamation declaring Tuskegee Airmen Day in Washington D.C.

During the same ceremony, a room at the Officers' Club, the Tuskegee room, was also dedicated. A day later, I was again honored to share with Ira that proud moment at the rotunda of the Capitol when he and the other Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award that Congress bestows.

Mr. Speaker, for his dedicated military service, during and after World War II, and for his ongoing public service on behalf of the District of Columbia, I am proud to acknowledge and to salute First Lieutenant Ira O'Neal's service to his country, his community and family.

May God bless him and rest his soul.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that we received the word of the passing of Roscoe Lee Brown on April 11, 2007. Mr. Brown was a distinguished Californian whose deeds and life merit the grateful acknowledgment of his community, his State, the Nation and the world.

Roscoe was born on May 2, 1925, in Woodbury, New Jersey. He graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1946, earned his post- graduate degree at Middlebury College, and did graduate studies at Columbia University.

In college, Roscoe was also a star athlete, winning the world championship in the 800 meters in 1951. After finishing his college and post-graduate career, Roscoe returned to Lincoln, where he taught French and comparative literature.

At a dinner party in 1956, Roscoe announced his decision to become an actor, auditioned for and won a role in Julius Caesar the next day at the newly formed New York Shakespeare Festival, and found his life-long artistic passion, performing five more roles with that company.

In 1961, Roscoe appeared with James Earl Jones in the original off- Broadway cast of Jean Genet's landmark play, ``The Blacks.'' He won an Obie for his role in ``The Old Glory,'' received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for both ``The Dream on Monkey Mountain'' in 1970, and ``Joe Turner's Come and Gone'' in 1989.

He wrote and directed ``An Evening of Negro Poetry and Folk Music,'' 1966, returned to Broadway in Tommy Tune's 1983 ``Kicking the Clouds Away,'' and earned a Tony nomination in August Wilson's ``Two Trains Running.'' That was 1992.

In 1962, Roscoe made his debut in films, appearing in ``The Connection.'' He has also appeared in ``The Comedians'' in 1967; ``Up Tight!'' in 1968, Hitchcock's ``Topaz'' in 1969, ``The Liberation of L.B. Jones,'' ``Superfly,'' ``Uptown Saturday Night,'' ``Logan's Run,'' ``Legal Eagles,'' ``The Mambo Kings'' and ``Dear God.''

Roscoe's television career included memorable appearances on all the top 1970 sitcoms, including ``All in the Family,'' ``Maude,'' ``Sanford and Son,'' ``Good Times,'' and ``Barney Miller.'' He replaced Robert Guillaume on ``Soap,'' and in 1986 he won an Emmy guesting on ``The Cosby Show.''

His resonant baritone was heard in documentaries, live-action fare and animated films, as well as the spoken-word arena with such symphony orchestras as the Boston Pops and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. For many years he and actor Anthony Zerbe toured the United States in ``Behind the Broken Words,'' an evening of poetry and dramatic readings.

Roscoe Lee Brown was a person of exceptional talent and accomplishments. He was among the first generation of African-American actors who sought to ply their craft during a period that rarely acknowledged or provided opportunity to persons of color.

It can truly be said that the Denzel Washingtons and other younger black actors in movies and television stood on the backs of giants like Roscoe Lee Brown, who blazed a trail for them through perseverance, hard work, and uncommon displays of exceptional talent.

May he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 328) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to our most distinguished Speaker, Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Madam Speaker, I call on the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick), the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, for 3 minutes.

Madam Speaker, with pleasure I yield 3 minutes to Ms. Barbara Lee from California.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to give 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Mr. Oberstar of Minnesota.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Linda Sanchez.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas, Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio, Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Hilda Solis.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to Ms. Marcy Kaptur from Ohio.

Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise this evening to celebrate the life of my very good friend and colleague, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald.

I personally have known Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald for over 30 years. Our time together spans back before her days as a Member of this distinguished body when I was member of the Los Angeles Unified School Board and she was there as an administrator and then as a California State legislator. And then on that road she was elected to the Carson City Council.

Juanita's distinguished life is a life of ``firsts.'' She is the first African American woman in history to chair the Committee on House Administration, which oversees the operation of the House, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Zoo. The Committee on House Administration also oversees all Federal elections. Juanita worked tirelessly to investigate all reports of voter irregularities and voter disenfranchisement. She was one of the first Members of Congress to call for a congressional hearing on reported voting irregularities in the State of Ohio. She played an important role in congressional election reform.

Juanita Millender-McDonald was also the first African-American woman to serve on the Carson City Council and the first to hold the position of chairwoman for two powerful California State Assembly committees in her first term.

Like myself, Juanita Millender-McDonald at heart was an educator. After raising five children, Juanita, at the age of 40, returned to school and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands and a master's degree in educational administration from Cal State L.A.

She spent her early career in the classroom, teaching high school and working at a career center. It is here that Juanita first demonstrated her ongoing interest in the lives of young people and issues that impact the lives of women and their children. But above all, Juanita worked tirelessly for all the people in her community. And I want to say, all the people. She was a people person who had an uncanny skill to build and sustain networks.

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Juanita worked, again, tirelessly to secure much-needed Federal assistance for Southern California's transportation needs, including funding for her passion: for the Alameda Corridor.

Juanita's passing is a great loss to this institution as well as her constituents and as well as this Nation. She was a great citizen as well as a great person and would have made a lasting and important contribution to this body in her position as House Administration chair. She was making that contribution every single day.

And I would say to her, Juanita, you missed the caucus. You missed the California Caucus. You missed the Black Caucus.

She said, I am so busy working, I don't have time for the caucuses. She was committed.

And on a personal note, Madam Speaker, when she was sworn in as a Congresswoman in her district, I went there. She had been sworn in here, and when she got up to speak, she said, You know, I was raised on a farm and I married early. And she said, I was so naive, when I had five children one after another, I just knew it was that orange juice, being raised on a farm. So I would tease her. I said, ``Juanita, watch out for the orange juice.''

She was one of my closest friends and colleagues. She will be missed. And I want you to know she was raised by a father and her older sisters. She was the youngest. So she said, You know, on a farm we were wealthy. And she said, But it was my father who played the role of both parents. He set down the principles and values by which I run my life. So in honor of my father, I am adding as my middle name, my maiden name, his last name. So, therefore, she became Juanita Millender- McDonald. And if you ever saw her signature, it was one of the most beautiful, graceful signatures. And she always took time to write ``Juanita Millender-McDonald.'' And I would go on correcting people when they said ``Juanita McDonald.'' I said, ``No. Juanita Millender- McDonald.''

So, Juanita, we celebrate you and we know that you are here in these Chambers today. And to end my piece and allow the others, we did a taping with our voices on it, and at the end we sang to her ``Dreamgirls.'' We will always be dreaming of our Juanita Millender- McDonald.

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 in the Record on H. Res. 328.

Madam Speaker, this Wednesday, April 19, 2007 marks the 12th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing that claimed 168 lives and left over 800 injured. 19 of the victims were children. On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, I want to acknowledge those who lost their lives as well as the family and friends left behind. I further acknowledge the selfless sacrifice and courage Oklahoma City family members made in their embrace of 9/11 family members following the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. The exchange that has taken place since that time is great evidence of how Americans come together in time of need.

Let us never forget those who lost their lives on this day of infamy as well as the living who have been so profoundly affected by this national tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 988) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the ``Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office''.

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, H.R. 988 is legislation introduced by Representative Ken Calvert to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office.

On October 31, 2003, somewhere in the Iraqi desert between Fallujah and Baghdad, First Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant was killed when his Humvee was struck head-on by a rocket-propelled grenade. His life was taken instantly at age 23. He was assigned to C Company, 1-34 AR where he assumed duties as platoon leader, 3rd Platoon.

First Lieutenant Todd Bryant received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon for his distinguished service to his country.

First Lieutenant Todd Bryant is survived by his wife, Jenifer, his parents, Larry and Linda Bryant, his brother, Major Timothy Bryant, USMC, and his sister, Tiffany Bryant.

The memory of this jovial fun-loving man will live on forever through his family and friends. Jenifer Bryant said, ``There was a lot more to him than just a soldier. He was my best friend. His goal in life was to make people think that he was the most hilarious man alive.''

I support H.R. 988 and urge its passage.

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

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. 273) supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, the importance of financial and fiscal responsibility cannot be overstated. Personal financial literacy is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared to manage money, credit and debt and become responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and citizens. That is why I am pleased to support H. Res. 273.

Personal savings as a percentage of personal income decreased from 7.5 percent in the early 1980s to a negative 0.2 percent in the last quarter of 2005.

As the resolution notes, 92 percent of college students acquire at least one credit card by their second year in college, yet only 26 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 21 reported that their parents actively taught them how to manage money.

The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy seeks to improve the personal financial literacy of young adults. Jump$tart's purpose is to evaluate the financial literacy of young adults and to develop, disseminate and encourage the use of financial education standards for grades K-12 and promote the teaching of personal finance.

To that end, Jump$tart has established 12 must-know personal financial principles for young people to improve their financial future. These 12 principles should be followed by adults as well.

The 12 financial principles stressed during the Financial Literacy Month for Youth are map your financial future;

Do not expect something for nothing, and high returns equal high risk;

Know your take-home pay, compare interest rates, pay yourself first, and money doubles by the rule of 72; to determine how long it would take your money to double, divide the interest into 72;

And your credit past is your credit future;

Start saving young, stay insured, budget your money, do not borrow what you cannot repay, and let me add one more thing, pay all your taxes.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution supporting the goals of Financial Literacy Month and urge all my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading association for the Nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes.

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, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 71, to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, a leading association for 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution, and I thank Mrs. Maloney for her leadership as the author of the resolution and as one of the Chairs of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus.

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, known as AHEPA, was born out of the cruelty and subjugation imposed upon many minorities by hate groups during the early 20th century. The organization was founded in Atlanta in 1922 to respond to growing attacks on Greek Americans and Greek American businesses by the Ku Klux Klan. It has since grown to become the largest and oldest American- based, Greek-heritage grass-roots membership organization.

AHEPA's initial interests were to cultivate Greek-owned businesses and help its members assimilate into American culture. Today, AHEPA's mission is to carry the legacy of Greek culture throughout generations. The organization continues to do this through diversification, language immersion and educational enrichment. AHEPA is known for its philanthropic resources which fund equal opportunity housing, hospitals, specialty schools and academic scholarships.

While AHEPA primarily is a membership organization for Greek Americans or Americans of Greek descent, membership is open to all Americans who support the organization's mission. This is the finest tradition of Philhellenism, and reminds us that the modern relationship between the people of America and of Greece was forged by their parallel struggles for freedom from foreign tyranny, and by the inspiration we both take from the democracy first developed centuries ago in Greece.

For 85 years the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association has remained an organization that embodies the true meaning of America. I commend AHEPA, and ask that my colleagues support this commendation. I urge all my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 71.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 88) honoring the life of Ernest Gallo.

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.

Ernest Gallo, who learned his craft of winemaking from a recipe in the basement of the Modesto public library with his brother Julio and with $5,900 of borrowed money, developed one of the largest wine empires in the world. They founded the E. & J. Gallo Winery in 1933 at the end of Prohibition. The Gallos rented a building and made an ordinary wine for 50 cents a gallon. They made $30,000 their first year of business. Mr. Ernest Gallo was an aggressive business leader who worked long hours and then went home and worked some more. His company made wines under more than 40 labels and employed 4,600 workers with wine sales in over 90 countries.

For decades the name ``Gallo'' was synonymous with inexpensive California wine. Mr. Gallo battled that image with advertisement; with humor; and to a large extent, by buying up wineries with more exclusive labels than his own company.

Robert Mondavi of Napa Valley, and a friend, said, ``Ernest was a visionary. He was committed to making America a wine-drinking country.''

Mr. Gallo lived and breathed wine. He aired wine commercials on TV and participated on wine promotion boards. He chaired the Wine Institute and mentored generations of winemakers. He erected wine billboards and traveled the country checking on wine displays in supermarkets. He enjoyed drinking his own wines, particularly a product that morphed over years from ``red table wine'' to ``Cabernet Sauvignon.''

Mr. Gallo had an uncanny talent for tapping into consumer tastes with sweet products such as Boone's Farm, which was so popular in the 1970s, which caused a worldwide shortage in the apple concentrate it was made from, and other products like Ripple and Thunderbird.

He moved upscale in 1974, introducing high-quality, cork-finished varietal wines, but the venture failed. He also developed E. & J. brandy and Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers. Additionally, Mr. Gallo developed its Gallo of Sonoma line and began buying upscale competitors, including the Mirassou and Louis M. Martini labels, and introducing foreign brands Ecco and other types of wine.

Mr. Gallo died unexpectedly in his Modesto home on March 6 of this year. He lived to the ripe old age of 97. And his brother Julio Gallo passed in 1993.

I commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) for introducing H. Con. Res. 88, honoring the life of Ernest Gallo, and I urge its swift passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Representative Dennis A. Cardoza of California.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to submit the following poem for the Record, written by Albert Carey Caswell:

At A Way Ed

At A Way Ed,

To our world you so gave, all in what you said!

In how you so searched for the truth, for in your heart we so

found the proof . . . as you read!

A--pioneer

Who to all hearts so endeared, a man who knew no fear!

For your mission was so clear, with your words of wisdom here

. . . to enlighten all, so very clear!

A man of color, of Great Hue!

Who lived & fought for what is right & what is true! An

inspiration, a hero for our children to view!

Another great American, in this our great land . . . of That

Old Red, White, and Blue!

A tall man,

Of kind voice, of quiet warm grace the peoples choice . . .

who above all others would so stand!

With his beard and ear ring, to the cause of truth himself he

would bring . . . this man!

Ed, you had such charm . . . in your own soft grace!

The coolest of cool, that's what we'll remember whenever we

hear your voice and see your face!

For in the world of journalism, you shall always hold such

this your fine high place!

From the jungles of Nam,

With Bob Dylan your lyrics were on, With The King Ali . . .

all hearts were so touched so warm!

As forever in our hearts, you shall now live on!

For Life is so short,

But, in your Sixty Minutes . . . In your time, here on earth

are so many magic moments to report!

You were Champion, A Fine Man . . . a great work of art, who

now so stands . . . you were that sort!

At A Boy Ed,

You made it iook so easy, a bright ray in the light of truth

. . . in all you did and what you said . . .

How you taught so many, all in this . . . the fine life you

led!

Ed . . . You've got one more exclusive,

You've got one last bag to pack, One last plane to catch . .

. as an Angel who'll now so etch!

God's waiting in Heaven for you, for that greatest of all

interviews . . . we'll miss you, God Bless!

At A Way Ed

Madam Speaker, I just want to say that this is long overdue.

Madam Speaker, I am elated that this bill is finally reaching the House floor for a vote--that we might finally be granting a voice in Congress to half a million patriotic taxpaying Americans. I know that my colleague, Eleanor Holmes Norton, is elated as well.

Democracy for District residents is long overdue. There are over 500,000 residents living in DC and they pay some of the highest income taxes in the Nation, but they do not have full representation in Congress. This is unacceptable. DC residents should have the voice and voting rights that the other 50 States in this country share.

Voting is fundamental to the Democratic process. It is the one act that allows the widest participation of the American public in our political process. Every voter who goes to the polls should be assured that his or her vote will be counted and the candidates they put in office will be able to have the voting power to voice their needs in this House.

Madam Speaker, I am hopeful that when this bill passes, I will soon be able to call my colleague from the District of Columbia Congresswoman Holmes Norton and she will be joining me on the floor to vote and represent the people of Washington, DC to the fullest.

Mr. Speaker, every day the Bush White House is losing more credibility with the American people and with the Congress. Late last year the Justice Department fired eight U.S. Attorneys for purely political reasons. Last week, Attorney General Gonzales came to Capitol Hill and swore that the terminations had nothing to do with politics. But then 2 days ago we learned that these decisions were not made exclusively by the Justice Department. The political purge reached the highest levels at the White House and was actually prompted by President Bush. So much for no political involvement from the White House.

Mr. Speaker, this information would have never come out if the new Democratic Congress did not take its oversight responsibility seriously. U.S. Attorneys should be free of political pressure and that is simply not the case with the Bush White House.

We will continue to demand answers from an administration that is not too interested in working with Congress. It would be nice if they would finally learn their lesson and realize that it is time to level with both the Congress and the American people.