Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, during the first 6 years of the Bush administration, the President and congressional Republicans squandered away large budget surpluses that were left to them by the Clinton administration; yet they failed to properly fund key national priorities. Again this year, the Bush administration proposed a budget that ignores the real needs of American people, particularly at a time of such economic uncertainty.

This week, congressional Democrats will bring a budget to the House floor that fully funds Medicare and Medicaid, the health care programs for the Nation's most vulnerable people, including our children and our seniors. Unlike the President's budget, our budget fully invests in environmental protection and low-income heating programs such as LIHEAP so that low-income families, including those in my district in New Jersey who are facing skyrocketing home heating bills this winter, will receive some much-needed assistance. We also fully invest in the COPS program so that we can better protect our streets against crime.

Mr. Speaker, we do all of this without raising taxes by one single penny. This is a well-crafted budget, and it deserves strong bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, on the celebration of its 162nd anniversary. Metropolitan AME Zion Church, established in 1846, has a long and rich history as the oldest African- American congregation in Jersey City.

Metropolitan AME Zion Church grew out of the John Street Methodist Church, established in 1796 near the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. Since its founding in Jersey City 19 years before the United States abolished slavery, the church has occupied several locations in Jersey City and thrived under the leadership of a long line of dedicated pastors.

On March 27, 1968, Metropolitan hosted Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for what would be one of his final speeches. He addressed an overflow crowd of more than 2,000 people promoting his ``Poor People's march on Washington.''

The deep history of Metropolitan AME Zion Church is a story of strong faith and passionate work on behalf of the surrounding community. Theirs is a journey that we hope will continue for many years to come. I am pleased to congratulate the Metropolitan Church and its current pastor Reverend Nathaniel B. Legay on this momentous occasion.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in wishing the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Jersey City a joyous anniversary and best wishes for the future.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge the lifetime service of Monsignor William J. Linder, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newark, New Jersey and founder of the New Community Corporation.

Monsignor Linder has served in the Catholic priesthood for more than 44 years, spending the entire length of his ministry in Newark, New Jersey. For the past 31 years he has been the pastor of St. Rose of Lima parish, a multi-ethnic and multi-racial congregation with representation from 42 nations around the world.

The New Community Corporation celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Its history is filled with stories of service to the city of Newark. The New Community Corporation is the most comprehensive and largest community development organization in the United States, employing over 1600 individuals and providing urban dwellers with housing, day care, alternative education, social services, job training, employment services and health care.

Monsignor Linder has received many honors and awards including the HUD Distinguished Service Award, The National Association of Home Builders Housing Hall of Fame award, the Aetna Foundation Voice of Conscience Award, the MacArthur Foundation Fellows Award and the Governor's Gold Medal (NJ). He was also selected by President Clinton to attend the president's first inauguration as one of the 60 ``Faces of Hope'' and by President Bush to participate in a conference on faith-based initiatives.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in honoring a wonderful servant to humanity. I am pleased to recognize his tremendous contributions to the city of Newark and wish him the best in all his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring a very special person, Mr. Paul Costello, for his outstanding work with young men and women from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

In organizing the Washington-Ireland Program for Service and Leadership, Paul has used his boundless energy, enthusiasm and passion for peace to bring together students from varying backgrounds to learn about one another as they also gain valuable work experience in our Nation's Capital. Promoting cultural understanding among the next generation has united students to face the challenges of the future together, in keeping with the spirit of the Northern Ireland peace process.

I have been fortunate to host young men and women from the Washington-Ireland Program in my Congressional office during the summer months. I have been impressed with their commitment to positive change as well as their strong desire to develop leadership skills they can put to use when they return home. As a result of Paul Costello's vision and dedication, more than 350 young graduates

are now engaged in prestigious and rewarding careers in diverse fields including law, business, politics, communications and education. In addition, all who have come to know him have enjoyed his delightful sense of humor and his talent as a most entertaining storyteller. He founded storywise.com, the Center for Narrative Studies, here in Washington and has shared his insight with audiences nationally and internationally.

On Friday, February 29, friends, supporters and alums from the Washington-Ireland Program will come together to toast Paul Costello for 10 years of remarkable success. I know my colleagues here in Congress join me in expressing appreciation for his service and in wishing him all the best for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 909 introduced by Representative Kendrick Meek of Florida commemorating the courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American independence in the Siege of Savannah and for Haiti's independence and renunciation of slavery.

H. Res. 909 recognizes the honorable act of the Haitian soldiers of the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint Domingue who volunteered to join the fight for American independence in the fall of 1779. Already in the fifth year of the American Revolution, Americans were growing weary of gaining independence when the Haitians stepped in. Today, we give them our gratitude for their bravery in sending over 500 soldiers to aid us in our fight for independence. We also remember and honor their sacrifice of over 300 men lost during the Siege of Savannah in October 1779.

I hold Haiti's achievements of being the world's first black-led republic and the first Caribbean state to achieve independence in high esteem. However, Haiti continues to struggle against poverty and instability. This is why we need to commemorate the landmark of the brave actions of the 500 Haitians who fought alongside Americans for our freedom.

It is important that we honor the progress of states in the 21st century continuing the fight against racially driven injustice. I would like to mention that H.R. 3432, which I introduced in August 2007, was signed into law by the President last week on February 5, 2008. This bill called for the establishment of the commission on the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

As Haiti still struggles to find her own model of peace and liberty, we extend our support by commemorating the loyalty of Haitians to the U.S. Haitians played a vital role in America's path to independence and freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 283) calling for a peaceful resolution to the current electoral crisis in Kenya, 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 concurrent resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, ``Kenya is at a crossroads.'' Those are the words spoken this morning by the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Kenya in a hearing that I chaired on the current crisis today.

Kenya had been considered a linchpin on economic and political stability in the East Africa region for decades. We always were proud of the accomplishments and the achievements of them, and we often pointed to Kenya as a beacon of how other African countries and countries throughout the developing world should move towards democracy. However, we have seen very sad occurrences during the past month or two. H. Con. Res. 283 seeks to address the unfortunate and still unfolding political crisis in Kenya.

I went to Kenya last month to assess the situation and to encourage political, religious, community, and civil society leaders to find a peaceful resolution to the current situation. I visited thousands of displaced children in Jamhuri showground and met with volunteers from diverse backgrounds. It was remarkable and encouraging to see Kenyans coming together to help their fellow citizens, donating food and material to those in need.

Indeed, witnessing the violence and meeting the young victims was deeply troubling. Yet, I am confident that Kenyans will come out of this crisis united. Kenyans must put Kenya first.

Kenyans of different religious, ethnic, and economic backgrounds live together peacefully in a region long marred by civil war and political chaos. Unfortunately, like the millions of Kenyans, the more than 170,000 refugees from the Ogaden and Somalia regions in Kenya will also be affected, because when the central government is affected, those other people, refugees and other groups in need, are also affected, as will be the lives of so many others in the countries surrounding Kenya. Many depend on Kenya for economic and industrial progress for their countries to survive.

On December 27, 2007, the citizens of Kenya went peacefully to the polls to elect a new parliament and a new president, despite the logistics challenges and long lines. More than 14 million Kenyans registered to vote. That is 82 percent of the eligible voters. An estimated 2,547 parliamentary candidates were qualified to run in the 210 constituencies, a clear indication of the desire and the determination of Kenyans to participate and to be a part of the political process in their country.

Incoming President Mwai Kibaki was hastily declared the winner by the Electoral Commission of Kenya, after a series of highly irregular events which cast significant doubt on his so-called victory. Let me be blunt: The election results announced by the ECK do not reflect the wishes of the Kenyan people. The people of Kenya voted for change. What they were given was more of the status quo.

In reaction to what occurred, Kenyans went to the streets to express their frustration and anger. The protests soon turned violent, and it is still unfolding as we speak. More than 1,000 people have been killed and over 300,000 displaced as a result of unrest, including an estimated 80,000 children under the age of 5, and these young lives are being traumatized as we speak. Millions more have been adversely affected. Two members of the parliament from the opposition ODM were killed in

January, reducing a five-member lead to three.

The instability in Kenya continues to threaten and affect the economies of neighboring countries, imposing serious threats to regional stability, a fragile region in the first place. But this is going to make it even more fragile. The Kenyan economy has been hit hard and recovery may take a long time.

H. Con. Res. 283 does several critical things. One, it strongly condemns the ongoing violence in Kenya and urges all parties concerned to immediately end the use of violence as a means to achieve their political objectives. It also calls for all parties to participate in good faith and dialogue mediated by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and asks President Bush to consider imposing asset freezes and travel bans on leaders in the Party of National Unity, the Orange Democratic Movement, and other relevant actors who refuse to engage in this dialogue to end the current crisis.

Additionally, the resolution calls for the international community to respond to the grave humanitarian needs of the people of Kenya and all neighboring countries to provide assistance to those affected by the violence.

At the same time, it calls for a review of our assistance to Kenya and restrict any nonhumanitarian assistance.

Before concluding, though, I would like to point out that U.S. diplomatic efforts in the wake of the election have not been stellar. Indeed, the response to the Kenyan election crisis proves beyond a doubt that some of the administration officials are too quick to embrace a government that engages in electoral abuses and overlook rather than condemn its electoral and human rights abuses.

We saw this happen in the 2005 elections in Ethiopia. We must proceed carefully and thoughtfully and work with our partners in the EU and AU to help resolve this crisis. I also want to emphasize a very critical point. Despite statements by some to the contrary, what is happening in Kenya is not an ethnic conflict. It is a political conflict with ethnic overtones.

We must look closely at the historical and political context to really understand and to avoid making additional mistakes on how we characterize what is happening today in Kenya. However, if political leaders in Kenya do not make a serious effort to stop the violence now and address the systemic problems that exist in their political structures, the violence we are seeing could certainly reach a point of no return.

Once that happens, it will be very difficult to stop. It is critical that a transitional coalition government is established with a clear mandate to implement necessary reforms such as a new constitution, a new electoral law, a new electoral commission, and address the root causes of the crisis and prepare the country for transparent Presidential elections within 2 years. The people of Kenya deserve no less.

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

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

Let me thank the gentleman from California and commend him for the outstanding work that he did as chairman of this subcommittee and his continued interest in the subcommittee's activities.

I would like to say that I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey cosponsoring this resolution, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Wolf, who has been a true real leader on issues in Africa, too. One of the things that I must say, as I already mentioned about Mr. Royce, that our Subcommittee on Africa, regardless of which political party tends to chair it, has worked in a bipartisan manner for the 20 years that I have been a member of the committee, sometimes in the majority, sometimes in the minority.

But the thing that has been very encouraging is that in 95, 96 percent of the time, I would say we are on the same page. We see things the same way. We might have to tweak a word or two here, but by and large, we have been able to move forward on so many important issues because of the bipartisan spirit.

Once again, Mr. Royce, I appreciate your continued support, and, of course, Ranking Member Smith, who is not only doing a tremendous job here but with the Helsinki Commission, and for the fact that he is very interested in the situation in China, I appreciate your continued human rights efforts. It's a pleasure to work with you.

I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island.

Let me thank you very much. Let me also commend you for the work that you continue to do in Cape Verde and other developing countries, and your work in Haiti certainly makes all of us proud.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 947) congratulating Lee Myung-Bak on his election to the Presidency of the Republic of Korea and wishing him well during his time of transition and his inauguration on February 25, 2008.

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 I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to first thank my friend Mr. Royce of California for introducing this resolution which congratulates President-elect Lee Myung-Bak on his victory in the South Korean presidential elections.

In electing Lee Myung-Bak, the South Korean people have selected a man of exceptional accomplishment and proven leadership. During his 27 years at the helm of Hyundai Group, Mr. Lee transformed the company from a successful but relatively small local corporation into South Korea's largest industrial conglomerate with a dominant worldwide presence.

Mr. Lee and Hyundai's success helped drive the Republic of Korea's dramatic success as an East Asian economic ``tiger'' in the seventies, eighties and nineties. The parallel is particularly appropriate since in English the Korean word ``hyundai'' means ``modern.'' As Mr. Lee led the company to new heights, he played a direct role in the spectacularly rapid modernization of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Lee's extraordinary professional career is right at home among the American Dream stories of our Nation. The son of a cattle rancher who fell onto hard times, Mr. Lee was born into poverty and worked his way through

college as a garbage collector. Relying on his talents and work ethic, he eventually rose to the pinnacle of the business world.

Committing himself to politics, he became the mayor of Seoul and applied his leadership skills and his no-nonsense approach to improve that important city. Now as South Korea's president, he is uniquely able to lead and further strengthen his country, one of the United States' closest and most significant allies.

Mr. Lee's story is a potent reminder that the friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea is based not only on our shared interest but also our shared values. For over 50 years, our two countries fought together against common threats such as communism, but the foundation of our alliance is a common commitment to democracy, individual liberties, and human rights.

The end of the Cold War did not end the critical role of our alliance in promoting and protecting political and economic freedoms in Asia and around the world. Today, we work side by side to combat international terrorism, denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and promote peace and stability in northeast Asia. This work relies on our strong military alliance, bolstered by 28,000 military personnel stationed in the Republic of Korea.

We also share a dynamic economic relationship. With two-way trade approaching $80 billion, South Korea is the United States' seventh largest trading partner, and the United States is the fourth largest trading partner of the Republic of Korea. Our shared commitment to free, fair, and open political systems is reinforced by our commitment to free, fair, and open markets.

Further strengthening our bilateral relationships and our bonds of friendship are the millions of South Korean visitors that come to the United States and the millions of visitors from the United States that travel to South Korea every year. Many South Koreans who come to the United States do so to visit their Korean American family members, who make up a vitally important part of the United States' social and economic fabric.

Based on these shared interests and values, the U.S.-Republic of Korea relationship is strong and is poised to grow even stronger.

With this resolution, we in Congress rightly congratulate Mr. Lee Myung-Bak on becoming the next president of South Korea, welcome his inauguration on February 25, and look forward to the opportunity to work with him to further strengthen the relationship between our two countries.

I strongly support this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Let me once again say that I certainly support this very timely resolution and urge that our two countries continue to forge strong relations.

We, as has been mentioned, have a very strong Korean American community, even in my State of New Jersey. But also, I'd just like to mention, now that I'm thinking about it, several years ago I had the opportunity to visit a hospital in Ethiopia. A Christian organization built a hospital. Much of the funds came from individual businesspeople from South Korea. The Myung Sung Christian Hospital in Addis is the finest hospital in all of Ethiopia, and it was built by the Koreans who wanted to show their appreciation for Ethiopian soldiers who fought with them in the Korean War.

And, as a matter of fact, it's very interesting that the South Korean Government still pays veterans a monthly stipend, those who are still alive, of course, and who served in that war, they send them a check every month to show their appreciation for the Ethiopians who fought. I don't know of many countries that have done anything like that.

So, Mr. Royce, I certainly support your resolution.

Madam Speaker, I have no more requests for time, 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 concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3432) to establish the Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Madam 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.

Madam Speaker, I rise as the sponsor of H.R. 3432 and yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their leadership on this legislation. I would also like to thank

my friends in the other body and the senior Senator from my home State of New Jersey for sponsoring and ensuring the passage of this bill. And finally, I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi and Representative Clyburn for their assistance in bringing this important and timely bill to the House.

This year will mark the 200th anniversary of the act to prohibit the importation of slaves, which effectively ended the legal transatlantic slave trade.

The bill under consideration before us, H.R. 3432, the 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the Abolition of Transatlantic Slave Trade, establishes a commission to cultivate and preserve the memory of a grave injustice in American history, the transatlantic slave trade, and to mark the trade's conclusion at the hands of President Thomas Jefferson.

As you know, the transatlantic slave trade was the capture and procurement of Africans, mostly from west and central Africa, to western colonies and new nations in America, including the United States, where they were enslaved in forced labor between the 15th and mid-19th centuries.

In the early years of this Republic, the transatlantic slave trade constituted a thriving economic vein of the United States. By 1807, millions of Africans had been captured and transported to the Americas on notorious slave ships. That ship replica can be seen at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Many individuals perished as a result of torture, including rape, malnutrition, and disease. Those who survived faced the miserable prospects of a lifetime in bondage. Few Americans are aware that captured slaves resisted their enslavement until the bitter end.

During the Middle Passage, enslaved Africans defied their slave masters through nonviolent and violent means, including hunger strikes, suicide, and shipboard revolts, the most historically recognized events taking place on board the Don Carlos in 1732 and on board the Amistad in 1839.

On March 3, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed into law the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act, which prohibited the importation of slaves from any port or any place within the jurisdiction of the United States. This bill was nothing short of revolutionary at that time in 1806 when it was passed through this Congress. It single-handedly outlawed the long-standing and brutal slave trade of transporting Africans to the United States.

As we know, even before this bill was passed, free and slave persons fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of Independence against Britain. In the Boston Massacre on March 3, 1770, Crispus Attucks was the first American to shed his blood at that Boston Massacre, which was led by Major Pitcairn, at that time a British officer. Ironically, in 1775, at the famous Battle of Bunker Hill, Peter Salem and Salem Poor were two outstanding blacks who fought with the minutemen. And it was Peter Salem who fired the shot that killed Major Pitcairn, who led the Boston Massacre. So, there were blacks long before slavery was ended that fought heroically for this country.

The commission will encourage civic, historical, educational, religious, economic and other organizations, as well as the State and local governments throughout the United States, to organize and participate in anniversary activities to expand the understanding and appreciation of the transatlantic slave trade.

As we constantly admonish the prevalence of modern-day slavery worldwide, it would be hypocritical if we did not acknowledge the history of transatlantic slave trade and slavery that existed not long ago in our country.

African labor was an essential feature of economic development in Europe and our former colonies, including the United States. All of the nations involved flourished economically as a result of slave labor.

Slave trade and the legacy of slavery continues to have a profound impact on social and economic disparities, hatred, bias, racism and discrimination that continues to affect people in the Americas, particularly those of African descent.

It is important, as Americans, that we extend our highest appreciation for the contributions and struggles of African Americans to create an equitable and just society from which we all benefit today.

The commission created by this bill will be tasked with the mandate to plan, develop and execute programs and activities appropriate with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slavery. The mission is timely and the subject is critical.

The United States is a primary voice on trafficking issues. We are also the principal advocates for human rights and freedom around the world. Our Nation's willingness to confront its past and calmly assess the impact of slavery on the United States strengthens our ability to serve as an advocate on the international stage.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this timely legislation that will embrace America's history and honor its past.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Let me thank the gentleman from Texas for his eloquent statement, very well done, and thank you very much for your support of this legislation.

As we conclude, there were two other Members who indicated they wanted to speak, but I think that our time is about expiring.

But let me, once again, thank our chairman and ranking member for assisting us in bringing this bill forward. We hope that, as has been indicated, that we will be able to deal with modern-day slavery. We have problems in our country today where people are being brought in from eastern Europe and other areas where they are being exploited, and we need to really be more vigilant about wiping some of these terrible practices away.

And so, we hope that this commission will focus not only on the past, deal with the present, but also deal with the future. And we certainly appreciate the support from the other body and the senior Senator from New Jersey.

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

Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to speak to this important issue that we have been talking about that has been brought to the floor by Congressman Larson.

As we all know, the pendulum seems to be swinging in an opposite direction as relates to our young people. According to the Center for Disease Control, homicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds in this country. More closely, homicide is a leading cause of death for African Americans the ages of 10 to 24, the second leading cause of death for Hispanics ages in the same category, and the third leading cause of death for Native Americans, Alaskans, and Asian Pacific Islanders.

The recent shootings in Omaha, Nebraska; Cleveland, Ohio; Blacksburg, Virginia; and actually my own hometown of Newark, New Jersey, have shone a harsh light on the rising crime epidemic plaguing our country. Our country has a proliferation of weapons. It is estimated that there are 300 million weapons in this country, one for every man, woman, and child. There seems to be a romance in some areas with guns, the fact that they can be purchased so easily in many parts of our country. Our State of New Jersey has one of the strongest antigun laws in the country; however, people can come in from other States and bring them in. We had four children, four young people, college students executed, four at one time, in a playground, almost gangster type.

And so we have to do something to stop this epidemic which is plaguing

our country. We as a Nation, and particularly here in Congress, have a sobering choice to make: We can either continue to bury our heads in the sand and hide behind our tough-on-crime rhetoric and placing the sole blame on things like violent music and video games, or we can be proactive so that we can start seeing real reduction in crime. There are options available to us that are more cost-effective and life- saving than throwing increased resources into cameras and metal detectors and security guards and prisons.

Let it not be misconstrued that I believe that these are not important factors in our society. We certainly have to segregate violent criminals from the society. However, if we continue to unwisely spend an overwhelming amount of our constrained resources on this, we will continue to lose on the war on crime.

According to CNN, cost analyses show that for every dollar spent on youth violence prevention, $14 is saved on what would have otherwise been spent in the criminal justice system. And so many times an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

As a matter of fact, as earlier mentioned, the disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine led the sentencing commission once again to say this is discriminatory, it is absolutely wrong to have a 5-year minimum sentence, mandatory, for crack cocaine. But for the same amount, or even 10 times more, and I believe it even goes up to 100 times more for powder cocaine, you can have a suspended sentence. That is absolutely wrong. I am glad that the sentencing commission and the judiciary now are saying we should change this.

Also, I am proud to say in New Jersey, just this past week, for the first State in the Union to ban by legislative action the death penalty in the State senate, and today that is being considered in the assembly, is I think really a just way for our State to move. So let me say that I commend Congressman Larson.

Madam Speaker, while our troops continue to perform heroically in Iraq, President Bush's troop surge has not lived up to its promise of producing essential political reconciliation.

As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I helped lead the opposition to our involvement in Iraq in the first place because I felt that we should let the weapons inspectors do their jobs before rushing into a preemptive military strike.

After our Iraq policy failed, and the rationale for going to war was invalidated due to the absence of weapons of mass destruction, we're told that the so-called military surge would help bring about a political solution in Iraq. That has not happened. Senior military commanders have indicated that the inability of the Iraqi Government to achieve political reconciliation is a greater threat to our troops than the insurgency in Iraq.

Many of us here in Congress believe that the Iraqi Government will not begin to address the political reconciliation until it is clear that our troops are coming home.

Last month, House Democrats once again passed a bill that provided our troops with $50 billion in funding and a strategic plan that brings them home. We must bring our troops home. We demand a change in the direction in Iraq.

Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of World AIDS Day 2007. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, the issue of HIV and AIDS is a particular matter of concern and importance to many of us. But it is an urgent and timely matter of global concern. It is urgent because HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria kill more than 6 million people a year.

Of the 33 million people living with AIDS today, 6 percent are children. Ninety percent of these children live in Africa, the continent least equipped to care and treat HIV-infected persons. Those numbers will increase if the world does not immediately step up efforts to halt the spread of AIDS.

The topic is extremely timely because the mandate of the President's emergency plan for HIV and AIDS, PEPFAR, expires in 2008. My colleagues and I on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs are in the midst of writing legislation to extend the PEPFAR program for another 5 years.

Congress and the President worked together to create PEPFAR in May of

2003. Now, a few short years later, according to the State Department's Office of Global AIDS Coordinator, over 800,000 people are receiving anti-retro medication in PEPFAR's 15 focus countries; 12 of those countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly 50,000 new patients join those receiving the life-saving therapy each month. We have indeed come a long way. However, the battle continues, and Congress must make decisions about how to expand and improve the program if we are to bring an end to this very terrible disease.

The biggest decision before us is how much money to devote to the program. The original legislation authorized $15 billion over 5 years. Congress actually appropriated over $19 billion over that time fighting HIV and AIDS abroad.

One year ago, I said in a speech in Nairobi, Kenya, on World AIDS Day last year that we should double PEPFAR funding. Several months later, to my surprise, I must say, President Bush also called on Congress to provide $30 billion to fight the disease over the next 5 years. After holding two hearings on the status of the pandemic, however, I do not believe that this will be enough. Analysts say that supporting universal access over the next 5 years will cost an estimated $213 billion, 70 percent of which donors are expected to pay.

If the United States shoulders its traditional share of the burden, it will cost us an estimated $49 billion, $10 billion a year for the next half decade to respond to the needs of those affected by HIV and AIDS. And this does not include the cost of malaria and tuberculosis programs. Not only are we falling short in terms of prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS; we are not doing enough to address opportunistic diseases that kill people with AIDS, the deadliest of which is tuberculosis. In 2004, of the 9 million people who were newly infected with TB, 2 million died. However, TB is entirely curable.

And last year, the public became aware of an even greater threat, a new, more dangerous, multi-drug-resistant TB, MDR-TB strain, which is known as extensively drug resistant TB or XDR-TB. XDR-TB and its deadly linkage with HIV gained global recognition in August 6, 2006, with reports of an outbreak in a hospital in South Africa where 52 of 53 patients with HDR-TB died, half within a matter of 16 days.

Earlier this year I offered an amendment which passed in fiscal year 2008 Foreign Operations bill with $50 million additional funding to fight XDR-TB. I hope to work with our leaders to see additional funding next year.

The statistics about HIV and AIDS may seem overwhelming and the problem insurmountable, but it is not. We can bring an end to this pandemic if we work together.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing one of New Jersey's own--Thomas Alva Edison. H.R. 2627, the Lifetime Innovations of Thomas Edison, LITE, Act, is a testament to Edison, whose impact is still being felt today. Congress, in 1928, honored Edison with the Congressional Gold Medal for the ``development and application of inventions that have

revolutionized civilization in the last century.'' In 1997, Life magazine named Edison ``Man of the Millennium'' in recognition of his inventions that have transformed modern society, including the incandescent light bulb, the motion picture camera, and the phonograph. The LITE Act will preserve the intellectual and physical accomplishments of Thomas Edison by commemorating his lifetime achievements; re-designating the Edison National Historic Site, located in West Orange, NJ, my congressional district, as a national historic park; and authorizing appropriations to support the site.

The Edison site is actually comprised of two separate sites--Edison's home of 45 years, known as Glenmont, and his laboratory complex. The Edison site houses over 5 million pages of documents, over 400,000 artifacts, approximately 35,000 sound recordings, and over 10,000 books from Edison's personal library. Like this priceless collection of documents and artifacts, Edison's laboratory complex and home are also historical treasures. With buildings dating back to 1887, the laboratory complex was one of America's first research and development facilities, and is where Edison earned over half of his 1,093 patents. Moreover, Mr. Edison's gravesite is located on the grounds of his beloved Glenmont, a 29-room home built in 1880 that contains original furnishings and other family items.

H.R. 2627 is critical to efforts to protect the Thomas Edison National Historic Site. The Edison site has enormous historical significance for America and for the world, and is badly in need of restoration. The need for major infrastructure improvements at the Edison site has been documented as early as 1972. Additionally, the site was listed, in 1992, by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the Nation's most ``endangered historic places.'' The laboratory complex is currently closed to the public because of an extensive restoration effort. It is estimated that the first phase of the restoration effort will be completed next year and that the laboratory complex will re-open to the public some time between June and September of 2008. Renovations at Glenmont have been completed and the site is open to the public and fully functioning. Plans also exist for a second phase of the restoration project. Currently, National Park Service, NPS, staff are housed in historic buildings under less than ideal circumstances. The second phase will focus on getting NPS staff out of the historic buildings and into office space that better supports their critical mission of preserving Edison's historical legacy.

When the Edison site was fully operational, approximately 95,000 people visited the site each year. It is estimated that the number of visitors will nearly triple when the first phase of the restoration project is completed next year. H.R. 2627 would ensure this commitment by re-designating the Edison site as a ``national historical park''-- consistent with National Park Service guidelines--and authorizing appropriations for restoration work. These measures will preserve Thomas Edison's historical legacy, enhance the educational experience of visitors to the site, and hopefully, encourage more private funding for restoration projects.

Although private benefactors--most notably the Edison Preservation Foundation--have generously donated significant resources to restore the site, the Federal Government's long-term commitment to the site is critical to its longevity and educational mission. This legislation recognizes Thomas Edison's numerous contributions to American society and preserves the Edison National Historic Site as a leading educational, scientific and cultural center.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is non-controversial. Similar legislation in the 109th Congress was supported by the National Park Service and approved by the House by a vote of 399-1. I respectfully urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer House Concurrent Resolution 211, pronouncing that Congress supports the goals and ideals of World Diabetes Day.

Let me thank Representative Manzullo, who was a prime cosponsor of this legislation, and other Members, for cosponsoring this bipartisan resolution.

This global health awareness campaign established in 1991 by the World Health Organization and International Diabetes Federation is celebrated annually on November 14. This marks the birthday of Dr. Frederick Grant Banting, a Canadian medical scientist, Nobel laureate, and co-discoverer of insulin. And now, it is an official United Nations recognized day.

World Diabetes Day aims to coordinate diabetes advocacy worldwide. In almost every country of the world, the incidence of diabetes is on the rise. Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of global death by disease. In the United States, it is the sixth leading cause of death including accidents, but of deaths by disease it climbs to number five.

The economic burden on both developed and developing countries due to a dramatic increase in the prevalence of diabetes was analyzed in a new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. Diabetes currently affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 380 million people by 2025. In 2007, the five countries with the largest number of people with diabetes are India, China, the United States, Russia, and Germany. Worse, each year 3.8 million deaths are attributed to diabetes. An even greater number die from complications, renal failure, vascular loss. Soberly, every 10 seconds, two people develop diabetes and a person dies from diabetes-related causes.

On December 20, 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed landmark Resolution 61-225, recognizing diabetes as a chronic, debilitating, and costly disease. This is the first year, therefore, that the World Diabetes Day has risen to such prominence, and it is fitting that here in the United States Congress we support it this day.

Mr. Speaker, World Diabetes Day has annually focused on a particular aspect or complication of diabetes, the heart, the eyes, the kidneys, and feet. I am especially pleased that this year the World Diabetes Day's theme focuses on raising awareness of diabetes in children and adolescents who face unique challenges when diagnosed with diabetes. The campaign aimed to firmly establish the message that no child should die from diabetes.

As a senior member of the Committee on Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs, as a delegate to the United Nations since 2003 and 2005, I see this year's theme as a perfect synergy of a global health and childhood issue, with importance to the United Nations.

So as we speak here, November 1 in Bermuda, 246 people dressed in U.N. blue t-shirts to represent the 246 million people in the world with diabetes. They stood up. Tomorrow in Lagos, Nigeria, there will be a walk starting at Maryland and ending at Lagos State University, where there will be young people asking folks to have their blood sugar level checked. In Australia, from November 11 to November 20, there are children-centered activities from a Switch-Off Turn On to Play Pledge that will once again highlight this.

And so, as I conclude, while commemorating World Diabetes Day, of course I can look no further than my own congressional district of New Jersey to find shining examples of the dedication to diabetes in the area of education in St. Barnabas Hospital and Newark Beth Israel are all leaders, and we hope that everyone will join in this.

I urge my colleagues to vote for passage of House Concurrent Resolution 211, supporting the goals and ideals of World Diabetes Day.

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives to join me in honoring an outstanding friend of our Nation who has served with distinction for the past few years as director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, Mr. Tim Losty, as he heads back to his homeland.

During his tenure, Tim worked closely with members of Congress and others to strengthen the bond between our two nations at an exciting but challenging time. He helped ensure that the U.S. continued to play a supportive role as the changes brought about by the historic Good Friday Agreement were implemented. Americans have always felt a special affinity with the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland because so many have roots there. In seeking our input and keeping us advised of the economic, social, and political developments in Northern Ireland, Tim gained our respect and admiration. He will be greatly missed.

Having visited Northern Ireland many times myself, both before and after the Good Friday Agreement, I am very gratified that the peace process continues to move forward.

Prior to joining the Northern Ireland Bureau, Tim was a manager with LEDU/Invest Northern Ireland's Eastern Local Office; founding member of the Belfast Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Board in 1994; a director of the Belfast Local Strategy Board; the East Belfast Partnership; and the First Stop Business Shop. Tim also worked on the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Taskforces set up by Ministers and local politicians to address specific issues of disadvantage in the community.

Madam Speaker, I know that all of my colleagues join me in wishing all the best to Tim, his wonderful wife Lisa, and their sons Conor and Rory as they return.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to recognize and honor a good friend of my Congressional District and dedicated public servant, Junius Williams, Esq., a multi-faceted contributor to the community. Mr. Williams is being honored for his many years as a torch bearer in a variety of disciplines. Fortunately, for all of us in the Greater Newark Community, Mr. Williams has complete mastery of all these disciplines, which include academia, activism, Christianity, legal proficiency and mentorship.

In his role as an advocate for urban revitalization, Junius Williams served as the Director of Community Development and was at the helm of one of Newark's most significant projects, the Model Cities Program in the early 1970s. He also led the University Heights Neighborhood Urban Renewal Development Corporation. As a planner and developer, he had responsibility for the construction of over 1,200 housing units and accompanying amenities in Newark.

In 1978, Mr. Williams was elected as the youngest president of the National Bar Association. During his tenure as president, he presented a critique to the United Nations of the proposed constitution for the African nation of Zimbabwe. As an attorney, Mr. Williams was successful in representing Rev. Jesse Jackson in the historic court decision to bring single-lever voting to New Jersey, making it possible to cast one vote for the Presidential candidate and all of his delegates. He received his law degree from Yale University.

Mr. Williams has held other significant roles over the years including serving on the board of trustees for Essex County College, chairman of the Board of Education Law Center, chairing the board of trustees at Greater Abyssinian Baptist Church and serving as an official observer of the first South African National Elections in 1994. He is an accomplished musician, producer and performer. He currently serves as the director of the Abbott Leadership Institute, where he teaches parent advocacy skills to parents and professional educators at Rutgers University in Newark.

Madam Speaker, I am sure my colleagues agree that Junius Williams deserved to be feted at a celebration in his honor on Friday, October 12, 2007, for his many years of dedicated service to the community. I am proud to have him working in the 10th Congressional District and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.