Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation to an outstanding professional, Ms. Jonita Whitaker, who has served as a State Department Pearson Fellow in my Washington Congressional Office for the past year. Under this excellent program, Foreign Service Officers work on Capitol Hill, learning the legislative process and sharing their expertise in international relations. I believe the program provides tremendous benefits to both members of Congress and to the State Department professionals who participate.

Over the past year, Jonita has proven to be a shining star on my staff. As a member of the House International Relations Committee, I have benefited tremendously from her extensive knowledge, her expertise in foreign affairs and immigration law, her foreign language skills, and most of all, her passionate dedication to public service. Jonita quickly mastered the many complex global issues we deal with on a daily basis.

Jonita has played a leading role as an advisor on a number of key issues, including developments in Iraq, the movement to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, efforts to reach a political settlement in Cyprus, the peace process in Northern Ireland, daily updates on developments in Africa, and the eradication of polio world-wide, among her many other contributions. Reports she provided to me when she traveled to Northern Ireland to witness the Orange Order parades were enormously helpful.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to thank Jonita Whitaker for all of her hard work and to wish her continued success as she moves forward in her career.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2210 will dismantle Head Start, resulting in lowering the quality and effectiveness and quite possibly ending one of the most successful programs our Nation has ever had. Since its inception, Head Start has served over 20 million children. Its focus on the whole child extends through recognizing the importance of the family, not only the institution. Its full-day, full-year programs provide preschool children of low-income working families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and parental support.

The bill really does a lot. It brings in parents that work with the teachers. It brings in parents who have helped design the program. It emboldens the parents then to become interested in also improving their education. It has local vendors being able to provide services to that local Head Start program. It is a program that really has a tremendous amount of impact on a local program. And having this sent to the States, I think, goes in the wrong direction; and I ask the defeat of the rule.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the dismantling of the Head Start program, a program that has proven to be a winner since its inception 38 years ago. These changes will result in lowering the quality and effectiveness and quite possibly end one of the most successful programs in the Nation. The New York Times said on July 11, 2003:

``The Bush administration has mastered the art of producing speeches and press that bear little resemblance to the legislative program they purport to describe.''

``This block grant approach has loopholes that the President either does not understand or fails to acknowledge.'' The Boston Globe on June 16, 2003, said: ``Over Democratic objections, they [Republicans] advanced a bill that would transfer Federal control of the program to as many as eight States,'' which has 33 percent of the students, ``in a demonstration project. The measure requires those States to serve the same number of children and provide the same services. But there is no guarantee that the quality of services will be maintained, and there is no extra money to handle the new enrollees.''

The Star-Ledger of New Jersey on February 20, 2003, said: ``Against the backdrop of Bush's anemic education budget, the President's proposal is to turn Head Start into a [block] grant program, to hand responsibility for delivering preschool services for poor children to the States,'' and this is very ``suspect.''

Let me just hold up, if I can, some of the mail that I have received from my district. Some are petitions with 10 names on it. I have never received as much mail from my constituents as I have on this particular bill. So I would just say that I have not heard parents say change it. I have not heard educators say change it. I have not heard people who are researchers say change it. Let us defeat this bill and keep the program as it is.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to ask my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring a very special person whom I am privileged to call a friend, Mr. Arthur Coles III, on the occasion of his retirement.

Arthur Coles III was born in Newark, New Jersey and attended Monmouth Street Elementary School, West Kinney Junior High, and Arts High School. While at Arts High School he played varsity basketball under Coach George Voller. The playgrounds of Newark were the place to be during Arthur's teenage years and he was taught the X's and O's of basketball by legendary Charlie Johnson, Arthur Johnson Sr., Eugene Robinson and William Pony Wilson.

Upon graduation from Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio in 1967, Arthur returned to Newark, New Jersey and accepted a teaching position at Weequahic High School. Arthur has served in many positions at Weequahic High School: art teacher, teacher to assist the principal, interim head basketball coach, assistant basketball coach, class advisor, and

Father's Club mentor. He also coached at his Alma Mater, Arts High School for 2 years.

Arthur was the recipient of numerous city council proclamations; his coaching record includes league championships and other recognitions for his achievements. He is an original founding member of the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame and served as President for five years. Among his many talents, he is a gifted artist. He produced the National Urban League National Tee Shirt for two years, the Black United Fund Poster, 100 Black Men National Poster, and the Black Policeman's Association National Poster.

At Bethany Baptist Church, Arthur is a very active member, coordinator of security and supervisor of the community farmer's market. His hobbies include fishing and cooking.

Arthur's induction creates the first African American Father/Son Inductees. Married to Geri Woods Coles. God makes everything possible.

I feel especially pleased with this great achievement especially because I knew and worked with Arthur's father, the late Sam Coles. Sam is probably smiling down on us now, enjoying the success of one of his mentees, as he watched so many of Newark's finest for so many years.

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

I rise in strong support of this resolution. First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) for introducing H. Res. 194 concerning the ongoing problem of slavery in Sudan. This resolution keeps Congress on record in opposition to this inhumane practice. I also would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, for his support of this resolution and for his continued good work as it relates to the problems on the continent of Africa; and with his leadership we have been able to have many hearings and to discuss many of the problems there. I would also like to compliment the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for his interest and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), ranking member, for the strong support that he has given these resolutions.

In spite of the universal condemnation of the practice of slavery in Sudan, the government has stonewalled on issues of slavery, claiming it is a matter of rival tribes engaging in hostage-taking over which it has little control. Prior to this, they actually denied the fact that there was any kind of engaging of people in slave trade. Now they admit it, but say it is just a traditional thing.

Mr. Speaker, between 5,000 and 14,000 children have been abducted in Sudan since 1983. Millions of girls have been forced into domestic service worldwide while boys have been trafficked to the gulf to work as menial laborers. Yet the Government of Sudan only takes half measures to convince the international community that it is taking the crime of slavery seriously. While they claim that there are laws in their country that prohibit slavery, there is no aggressive enforcement of those laws and no special courts dedicated to this singularly heinous practice against children.

Mr. Speaker, this Congress has never wavered in its demand to end slavery. With this resolution, we urge the administration and all international bodies to continue pressure to end this practice of slavery.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for those comments.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who has worked very hard on this issue herself.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume just to conclude by thanking the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, 2 million people have died as a result of the practices of the government of Sudan; 4 million have been displaced. We have had the EGAT nations attempt to come to a conclusion, a solution to this problem. We continually push this issue of slavery. It must be abolished, and other human rights abuses in Sudan must end.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 80.

Mr. Speaker, House Con. Res. 80 calls on the U.S. to support the Peace Parks Foundation of Southern Africa. The Peace Parks will support the establishment of a transfrontier conservation area involving several countries in southern Africa to boost tourism and to help alleviate poverty. The effort by the Southern African Development Community, SADC, will allow the free movement of humans and animals across international borders. It represents a major advance in conservation efforts worldwide.

The Peace Parks will not only contribute to conservation but also to economic development, job creation, and peace and understanding between the countries involved. This is a big step forward.

Animals have no borders. They move throughout. However, borders that have been written by countries sort of presented a problem, and for the countries in the SADC region to come together to say that you can cross our borders, for the people to be able to cross the borders so that the animals could be protected is very important.

As a matter of fact, a tragedy has happened recently in Kenya because of the lack of rain in the game parks right outside Nairobi. There are tremendous numbers of game there, including lions and tigers. But the Masai people have cattle, a tremendous amount of cattle. Cattle is a way to express wealth. During the past 4 or 5 months, because of the drought, the wildlife has moved outside of the park grounds seeking water. As the wildlife, the zebras and other animals go out, the lions must follow them, and they have gotten near Nairobi. There have been killings of Masai cattle. Unfortunately, the Masai people have said that they need to have some protection and, actually, during the past month or so, have killed 10 lions in the area around Nairobi. They are saying we should be compensated for the last of our cattle.

So there is a very important aspect to wildlife, and I hope that the new government of Kenya will be able to have some program to compensate for the tremendous loss to the Masai people.

But this is an example where countries are coming together, creating jobs, and living with the wildlife can serve as an economic engine.

So I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 80.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for his wonderful resolution and those who support it.

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

Mr. Chairman, let me commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for bringing this important legislation to the floor.

When President Bush announced his MCA initiative, I originally was skeptical and concerned about the rigid eligibility criteria and those groups who would be determined eligible. But after considering what the MCA could do for development around the world, I offer my support; and I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure this program works and also to make sure not only that we do not cut back our other foreign assistance commitment but to keep this program and bring it to its full force.

During the recent trip of the President, he spoke about the MCA and pledged to the heads of state from Africa his commitment to make sure that the Millennium Challenge Account is fully funded. I am concerned about the

fact that the MCA is not fully funded and this Congress has only appropriated $800 million this past cycle. How will we ever make the $5 billion we were supposed to do over a 3-year period? The administration requested $1.3 billion, but only $800 million has been appropriated.

So I urge the restoring of the full amount to the Millennium account.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona. My colleagues in the Committee on International Relations and I have worked hard to ensure that the authorization of the Millennium Challenge Account stays true to its original purpose and objectives. Those were to reduce poverty, to reward good governance, and to encourage free market activity.

The MCA, as passed through the Committee on International Relations, would focus in the first year on the low-income countries that are IDA eligible, meaning those countries which are determined to be the poorest countries in the world by the World Bank, and expand the pool to include low-income countries that meet the historic cutoff for IDA in the second year, and then establish a separate competition for lower-middle-income countries in the third year. The NGO community and think tanks such as the Center for Global Development and the Brookings Institution have advocated focusing funding on just the low-income and IDA-eligible countries. However, I am not pushing for that, and we said that we do believe that the third tier should come in.

I could not agree more with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez). We have overlooked Latin America. However, we should not take what the concept of the Millennium Challenge Account is to do and, therefore, say that we should include many of the Latin American countries that are in the lower-middle-income tier. I think we need to focus on Latin America. I think that we have a responsibility to do something there. But I think it should be a separate program that we should take a look at how we adjust the problems of immigration and so forth in this hemisphere.

I stand supportive of the opposition to the amendment. There are even lower-middle-income countries in Africa, such as South Africa and Namibia, where there is a skewed income level but they are ineligible also, and they should be because we should deal with the poorest of the poor, especially those countries that are trying to have good governance, that are looking to improve.

I urge the defeat of the Kolbe amendment.

Mr. Speaker, post-September 11, 2001, and in the aftermath of the campaign in Iraq, the eastern Mediterranean is increasingly a focus of attention for policymakers, news organizations, academics and government leaders around the world. In this geographic neighborhood of perennial tensions, a U.S. ally, Turkey, continues to delay the economic and political development of Cyprus, regrettably refusing to end its military occupation of the island's northern third.

For almost three decades, Cyprus has been a country characterized by economic growth, political maturation and determination to overcome the legacy of division wrought by Turkish intervention. Even though Cyprus will join the European Union (EU) in May 2004 and will someday be in a position to weigh in on discussions regarding future Turkish membership, Ankara continues to display an unfortunate and unnecessary intransigence that is not in its own long-term strategic interests. Maintaining roughly 35,000 troops and tens of thousands of Turkish settlers in the northern sector of Cyprus since 1974, Turkey has repeatedly defied U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for the immediate withdrawal of its troops from the island.

No one underestimates the value of Turkey's geographic location and-- prior to U.S. involvement in Iraq, at least--its value as a regional NATO member. Despite this key role, Turkey's refusal to cooperate in the face of repeated worldwide calls to end its occupation of northern Cyprus cannot continue to go ignored.

As a member of the House International Relations Committee, I am troubled by this ongoing and unnecessary partitioning and weakening of what is proving to be a booming state--Cyprus. It is time we recognize this situation for what it is and insist Turkey cooperate actively in its prompt solution.

Measures that serve to build confidence should certainly continue, but not as an exercise to delay the inevitable: the reunification of the island state of Cyprus as a complex, modern, multi-ethnic Mediterranean state.

Due to this inexplicable separation, Cyprus holds the dubious distinction of being the only European state with its capital divided, as barbed wire quite literally carves the country in two. Two historically well-integrated ethnic communities of predominantly Christian Greek and Muslim Turkish heritage are required to live in a very artificial segregation. Turkey treats the northern third of the island it occupies as an impoverished, second-tier province, rather than allowing it to join in an increasingly successful Cyprus.

Despite a history of unsuccessful efforts by American and U.N. diplomacy to effect a resolution of issues that were created by the Turkish invasion, the government of Cyprus has persisted in its efforts to peacefully reunite the two communities and bring European prosperity to both. Meanwhile, the leaders of Cyprus have succeeded in creating a modern economy and have achieved a level of growth that qualified Cyprus to receive an invitation for EU membership, a Continental ``seal of approval.''

Thereafter, EU leadership made it clear to Turkey that its own aspirations to join the EU depended upon its cooperation in tolerating the accession of Cyprus to the EU, and hinted that successful resolution of the Cyprus problem would go a long way toward reducing opposition to Turkey's EU accession.

Turkey, although recently permitting limited buffer zone crossings within Cyprus, has dragged its heels on a strategy to resolve the overall situation, which will in effect deny the northern third the benefits of EU membership.

On April 30, the Cypriot government introduced a series of new economic, political, and social measures designed to ease the hardships of Turkish Cypriot compatriots disadvantaged by the status quo--such as providing improved medical care, expanded employment opportunities, facilitated trade and movement of goods, and participation in free and open national elections.

One must view these welcome developments, however, with utmost caution. Neither the recent partial relaxation of movement restrictions through the U.N. cease-fire line nor the government's pro-active recognition of its Turkish Cypriot citizens' most pressing needs should be mistaken as a substitute for formal diplomatic efforts to reach a negotiated, comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus situation based on the U.N.'s internationally endorsed framework.

Today, Turkey faces economic and social challenges, although none of them pertain to its Mediterranean neighbor, Cyprus, aside from the estimated $500 million a year that its occupation of Cyprus drains from the Turkish economy. Turkey's difficulties in reforming its military and legal system, respecting the rights of its ethnic minorities, and heeding the EU's advice on steps it needs to take if it wishes to join the EU should offer the necessary incentives for it to take progressive steps on the issue of Cyprus.

The time has come for the United States to advise Turkey's leadership--in very clear terms--that its occupation of Cyprus must quickly come to an end. Turkey, today with lessened leverage over the United States, should not be allowed to continue blocking resolution of the situation in Cyprus. The only chance Turkey has to modernize by joining the EU is to release Cyprus from the grip of its aggression and show the world that Turkey itself has turned the corner and is an increasingly enlightened global citizen.

Then, and only then, Cyprus can be reunited, bringing security and prosperity to all its citizens and a glimmer of peace to the eastern Mediterranean.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring a true American hero, Sergeant First Class Gladimir Phillipe, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country when he lost his life in Iraq two weeks ago.

At a funeral service over the Fourth of July weekend at St. Joseph the Carpenter Church in Roselle, New Jersey, hundreds of friends, family, and members of his community came to pay their last respects to this outstanding young man who strived to achieve the American dream.

The son of Haitian immigrants and one of nine children, Sergeant Phillipe wanted to

move forward in life and to make a meaningful contribution to his country. His family is hard-working and close-knit; his father is a machine worker for a manufacturing company in New Jersey. Sergeant Phillipe joined the Army in 1988, a few years after graduating from Elizabeth High School. He served admirably in both Bosnia and the Persian Gulf. He also distinguished himself by serving as an interpreter during President Clinton's trip to Haiti in 1998.

As we remember the inspirational life of this fine young man, let us offer our thanks for his service to our country. Let us also extend our deepest sympathy to his family--his father, Renisse; his stepmother, brothers and sisters, and his son, Cassidy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a magnificent individual and dedicated member of both her community and church, Mrs. Christine Reed, affectionately known as `Grahams'. Born in Summit, New Jersey, Mrs. Reed has been an active member of the Saint Paul's Calvary United Church of God for over 35 years.

On July 13, 2003, the members of the Saint Paul's Calvary United Church of God's Usher board will proudly recognize Sister Christine Reed with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Throughout her many years of membership, Mrs. Reed partook as a member of various choirs, the Missionary Department, Sunday School Teacher and the Usher Board. Mrs. Reed served as the President of the Usher Board for over 25 years. Also serving as the Vice President for a time, Mrs. Reed was a dedicated member, a hard and reliable worker, always willing to teach and lend a helping hand in any possible capacity.

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives join me today in saluting Mrs. Christine Reed for her many years of dedicated service to Saint Paul's Calvary United Church of God.

Mr. Speaker, we are members of the Congressional Black Caucus here tonight, and we stand here tonight to speak on the state of Africa as the first day of President Bush's trip concludes. The President's trip shows a level of commitment that surprised many of us when we read in the newspaper that he was intending to visit Africa, but African journalists recently said Africa appreciates the words, but is awaiting the deeds.

Many people have written Africa off as a place that has too many grave problems, and that it is irrelevant to the United States' interest. Indeed, there are still a lot of people whose views of Africa are certainly limited by disasters and civil wars. However, engagement with Africa is a vital U.S. interest. From the war on terrorism to the supply of critical resources, from the campaign against threatening diseases to the opportunities for economic trade and investment, Africa is a global player. We ignore the continent at our own peril.

If we had paid a little more attention to Africa and Sudan, where Osama bin Laden lived from 1993 to 1997, recruiting and planning the al Qaeda movements that terrorized our U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and then went on to organize the Taliban and to have havoc wreaked through Afghanistan, if we had paid attention to Africa, if we had looked at some of the requests for us to intervene in some way by assisting John Garang and the Sudanese Liberation Movement with trucks and telephone equipment and other things they were appealing to, perhaps Osama bin Laden would have been put out of existence, because the liberation movement from John Garang and his organization could have defeated the Khartum government which gave haven to Hamas and to al Qaeda and many of the other terrorists. By our ignoring Sudan, where 2 million persons have died and 4 million have been displaced, where food has been used as a weapon, if we had decided that that was an important country for us, then we perhaps could have avoided many of the things that we see today as our soldiers are in harm's way in Iraq and we continue to move through Afghanistan and Africa towns.

I will talk briefly between our speakers, but I do want to quickly bring focus to our main concern, my main concern tonight, and that is the situation in Liberia. On July 2, I wrote a letter to our Secretary of State and a week before that had the opportunity to be in his presence and asked the Secretary of State if attention could be given by the Bush administration to the country of Liberia. First of all, the Liberians have been asking us to come in and assist. People are in the streets with American flags and signs asking President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell to come to their aid, and people are saying, why should we be concerned about Liberia? There are 50 sub- Saharan African countries on the continent. Why should we be concerned?

I think many of our citizens in this country and it appears many of our lawmakers in the House and in the Senate have no knowledge at all of where Liberia's beginning came from. It was in 1822 that President Monroe, the Monroe document, President Monroe said that we should have a return to Africa movement and free black men. Many people have the opinion that these were simply illiterate slaves, ex-slaves that went to Liberia, but these were free men, some slaves, but free men, lawyers and businessmen, who went to Liberia to start that country in 1822. And in 1847, Liberia became a republic, started by African Americans who returned to Africa, to Liberia, to start this republic.

Their Constitution was based after the United States Constitution. Their laws were based on laws of the United States of America. There were very strong ties between the United States and Liberia. In World War II, the West African country allowed American troops to be positioned on their soil. Again during the Cold War Liberia was an important ally when it served as a leading U.S. base for intelligence activity against Moammar Ghadafi of Libya and other threats to the United States. Even Samuel Doe, even though he came to power in a bloody coup, the United States in the midst of the Cold War supported the government because Liberia served such a great interest to the United States during World War II when the Pacific region was cut off for rubber supplies. Liberia with Goodyear Rubber Company that had been established in Liberia for decades, for perhaps close to a century, Liberia was there to help the U.S. war effort.

So when people say why should we go there, there are many problems around. We should go there, and the reason that the British have asked us to intervene, the reason that President Kofi Annan of the United Nations have said the United States should lead a peacekeeping force, these are because Liberians, the world, look at the United States as the power that could come in and change the situation.

So I wanted to give that brief background of the country of Liberia and to say that is why this particular country is different, if we want to remove ourselves from other countries in Africa.

As I conclude my portion and will yield to the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, I would like to say that in Sierra Leone currently the British went in. They went in and they prevented the RUF, the terrible group that terrorized people in Sierra Leone,

the British went in, because that was a former colony of theirs, and they made peace; and now Sierra Leone is on a peaceful track.

In Cote d'Ivoire, the French troops went in several months ago because of disorder there, and they have saved thousands of lives and are still there.

Just last week, the French, British and Belgian troops went into Eastern Congo, the city of Bunia, where there had been a civil strife between two ethnic groups. The French came in and said that this must stop, we are coming in; we give you 3 days to get out. And they have saved thousands of lives just last week.

So why the United States? Why Liberia? We are in Iraq right now and are receiving a terrible time. It is because we are being asked. President Taylor said he will step down, he will leave the country. We could really save lives there. It is a totally different situation.

With that, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to yield to the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), who has done an outstanding job in his chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus, bringing us to the floor on every important issue to America in general and African Americans in particular.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Baltimore

for those remarks. As he has indicated, for example, in 2002, the United States exports to Africa totaled over $5.8 billion, while the U.S. imported over $18 billion from Africa, more than all of the USSR put together, including Russia. So many people do not realize the importance of Africa to the U.S.

While oil is clearly a source of U.S. interest, it is also something that must be dealt with closely and carefully as we discover new finds of oil. The Chaad Cameroon pipeline, in addition to Nigeria and other places in Africa, 16 percent of U.S. consumption of oil comes from Africa today; and it will grow to 20 percent in the next 5 years. It may exceed the point of being one-fourth, or 25 percent, of oil imports. So Africa is extremely important to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) who 2 weeks ago helped organize a rally of Liberian Americans here and has been very vocal on the issue of Liberia.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her continued support.

Democracy is moving through Africa. Mr. Speaker, 1990 saw the spread of democracy in many African countries once dominated by military dictators. As the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus indicated, many of us recently went on May 29 and spent several days in Nigeria to see the reelection and inauguration of President Obasanjo. It was Moshood Abiola that started the democracy movement, but it took General Abubakar to say, the time is up, and now we saw the election of President Obasanjo.

We saw in Zambia's recent elections where the former President and member of the same party as the new President was elected, who said he wanted the courts to look into the books to see whether the former President had run the country legally, and has now had an indictment on the former President Chiluba to look at the books to see if there was illegal activities.

This is a new breed of African leaders. In Ghana, the popular President Rollins stepped down after two terms. He could have run again and probably gotten reelected. President Moya, after many years being the Vice President under General Uhuru Kenyatta during the first movement of the Mau Maus in Kenya where colonialism was fought, stepped down. And, as a matter of fact, the grandchild of former President Kenyatta was the candidate and supposedly was supposed to win as a member of the Kenya Party. However, he was defeated because people wanted a new life, and it went on well. In South Africa we saw Mr. Mandela change from a white majority government.

So there are successes in Africa. In Timbuktu in Mali we have seen great strides going on. So we hear about the negatives, but so many positive things are happening, and that is why it gives me great pleasure to continue our Special Order. We will hear now from the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) to have his comments.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Illinois for his long years of government service in the great State of Illinois, and we look for his continued support.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a real fighter on HIV and AIDS, and a person who has served as an aide to the former Congressman and took over from Congressman Dellums and made her own footsteps; smaller feet, but very pronounced footsteps.

Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentlewoman for the outstanding work she has done.

Quickly, as I talked about how democracy was taking over, we also have seen Africans step up to the plate, the Egat process led by President Moi has dealt with the problem of Sudan; and the peace accord, even though fragile, has been done by the Egat countries of Ethiopia and Eritrea. South Africa's Nelson Mandela took over from the late President of Niari, from Tanzania, negotiating the Burundi situation where now President Thabo Mbeki has sent peacekeepers from his country to Burundi to see the new transitional government, and it is working.

We have seen Nigerians go into Sierra Leone and into Liberia, taking leadership on their own. And so when we say why is the U.S. in Liberia, it is because of the ties, as I mentioned, the British were in Sierra Leone just recently to save lives, the French in Cote d'Ivoire and in the Congo right now with Belgian troops. The Australians are going into the Somalian islands right now, as we speak, and we are in East Timor because they are the regional powers. No, we cannot go anywhere and everywhere; but I think that with the traditional history between President Monroe, the whole country of Liberia, it is the responsibility of the U.S.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who has done outstanding work for many years. We all know her. She needs no introduction.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman from California. As I indicated, she needs no introduction. We appreciate her comments.

At this time we will hear from the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), who is, as we know, our health expert, a physician, and a leader on HIV and AIDS and other health issues around the Nation.

As we conclude, Mr. Speaker, I do want to acknowledge that the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) will be allowed to speak for 5 minutes on this Special Order, and we certainly appreciate the participation of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

We hope our message is getting out loud and clear. We think that Liberia has a special place in this country with African Americans who feel very close to this situation. Our young men have fought in every war, from Crispus Attucks, the first person that died in the Revolutionary War, up to just a

week ago, when they buried a young Haitian soldier from my district who was one of the two men who were kidnapped and murdered. So we have fought in all the wars.

We hear people say that there should be a vote in Congress regarding sending 2,000 troops to Liberia. We have not heard that for the Colombians or for Panama. We did not hear that where the President is attempting to go into the Philippines now. Is there a different standard for Africa? Is it that 435 Members must get up and talk about 2,000 troops going into a country that we founded, that we colonized, that we have close ties with, that asked us to come so that the fighting will cease, and that other African countries will be there at our side? Is there a double standard? I hope not.

We have had failures before. There was a failure in Somalia. That did not mean we should no longer then go in on humanitarian issues. I hope this President and administration will have the same standard as we have had throughout this world, whether it was in Panama, whether it was in Colombia, whether it was in the Philippines, whether it is in places like even Haiti, where we went and were not asked to come. I hope that we will send those few peacekeepers, 2,000, to go in and lead the ECOWAS troops so that the cholera can stop, the children can stop dying, and the women can stop dying. They are asking us to come in. I think we have an obligation and a responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to present this Special Order to the House.

Mr. Speaker, it is with the greatest pride that I rise today to recognize an outstanding young citizen in my district, Miss Leonie Barrett. A thirteen year-old student at the Oliver Street School in Newark, New Jersey, Leonie has certainly made a significant impact on our world community.

In February 2002, Leonie and her classmate Jennifer were introduced to Mr. Harry Ettlinger. A survivor of the Holocaust, Mr. Ettlinger is a participant in the ``Adopt-a-Survivor'' program, a program that pairs Holocaust survivors with young members of the community. Through this match, the first made in the program which is sponsored by the Holocaust Council of the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, Mr. Ettlinger shared his story with Leonie. To have your voice heard and to continue to remember is a very important aspect of Holocaust history. By continuing to tell their stories, survivors of the Holocaust remind us so that we will never forget, so that history will never repeat itself, and that the voices of those who lost their lives will not be forgotten. Leonie is now a part of this commitment, to tell Mr. Ettlinger's story so that it will not be forgotten.

She has committed to tell that story until 2045, the 100th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps.

To say that Mr. Ettlinger and Leonie have significantly impacted each others lives would seem to not do justice to their relationship. In addition to committing to tell his story, Leonie has also helped to reconnect Mr. Ettlinger with his past and a dear friend, Hanne Hirsch, whom he had not seen or heard from since Nazi occupation of their small town of Karlsruhe, Germany. On a trip to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum here in Washington, Leonie noticed that one of the identity cards that are issued to visitors, recounting the lives of individuals who were involved in the Holocaust, was from Mr. Ettlinger's hometown. The two had been separated for sixty-four years, not knowing the fate of the other. With the help of Leonie the two were reunited and have been able to share their stories with each other and with Leonie.

As a member of the International Relations Committee here in the U.S. House of Representatives and a former Social Studies teacher, I understand the significance of the relationship between Mr. Ettlinger and Leonie as well as the commitment and dedication both have given to this important and significant personal history. I know that my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives not only join me today in recognizing this tremendous friendship but also in commending Leonie for her own personal dedication to continuing the voice of Mr. Ettlinger and ensuring that the stories of Holocaust survivors are not lost to future generations.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to recognize an outstanding educator and dear friend, Dr. Rose J. Campbell. An exceptional constituent and a dedicated member of the education community, Dr. Campbell is a true shining star.

Receiving her Bachelors Degree from Florida A&M University, her Masters in Education from William Patterson College, and her Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Campbell has succeeded in every facet of education. From 1968 to the present, Dr. Campbell has been an active member of the Newark Public School System. Beginning her career as a classroom teacher and moving through the ranks to her current position within the Administration as Assistant Executive Superintendent with a specialty in supervision and curriculum, Dr. Campbell has dedicated her life to education.

In addition to her dedication within the classroom, Dr. Campbell has also involved herself with giving back to the community in many other ways. Dr. Campbell is President of the Florida A&M University Alumni Association New Jersey Chapter, President of the New Jersey Unit of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc., President of the Board of Directors for Day Nurseries Inc. as well as a member of Trinity/St. Phillips Cathedral Church. In each of her civic and community endeavors, Dr. Campbell makes a difference by her devoted and committed participation.

As a member of the Education & the Workforce Committee here in the U.S. House of Representatives I am extremely aware of the growing need for quality educators in our public school systems. Dr. Campbell sets a shining example for our younger generations of the success they can achieve and of the way in which they too can one day aspire to give back to their community.

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives join me today is saluting Dr. Rose J. Campbell for her many years of dedicated service as an educator and in wishing her the very best for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today as Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee and Member of the Refugee Caucus to recognize World Refugee Day, declared on June 20, 2000 by a special UN General Assembly Resolution. The Republic of Tanzania has a solid record of supporting and harboring the largest number of refugees in Africa and therefore I extend my respect unto this nation for its vitally important work. These refugees have fled from conflicts in neighboring countries such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia. I affirm and commend the generosity of Tanzania towards refugees and asylum seekers and urge that they be fully recognized by our nation.

Statistics show that approximately 700,000 refugees have found safe haven in Tanzania. Tanzania has also displayed its generosity through the acceptance of 3,500 Somali Bantus for resettlement in the eastern part of the country. In the west, refugees fleeing conflict and genocide in countries like Burundi, Rwanda and Congo have also found refuge in this nation. Emerging from a long and bloody civil war that lasted a decade and claimed the lives of more than 100,000 people while displacing hundreds of thousands, Burundi is only now getting back on its feet. The Great Lakes Region of the African continent is one of great beauty and a long history but has in recent years been plagued by many bloody conflicts and ethnic warfare. The wars in the Congo and Rwanda are two more examples of such conflicts. Tanzania provided a safe haven for some 120,000 Congolese refugees and some 25,000 refugees from Rwanda by the end of 2001. I am hopeful that the on-going peace efforts in a number of these neighboring countries will hopefully provide the opportunity for these refugees to repatriate to their homes in safety and dignity. I must at the same time note that the resolution of the conflicts that have driven these refugees from their homes is not by any means guaranteed to be accomplished in the near future as the region is quite volatile and unpredictable. Therefore the generosity of Tanzania could very well be called upon again. This is even more reason that I offer my respect to this country that has provided this noble service.

While harboring refugees is often perceived as being a burden, Tanzania provides an example of how this service can also be functional within the context of administering a nation. Refugees can provide human and economic resources for a nation to draw upon. On this Refugee Day I recognize the efforts of Tanzania and recognize the 3.1 million refugees and more than 10 million Internally Displaced Persons on the continent of Africa. May you soon be able to return to your homes in safety, security, and health.