Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the Day of the African Child, which has been celebrated on June 16 each year since 1991 when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union.

This year, the African Union has designated child survival as the theme of this year's Day of the African Child.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most difficult place in the world for a child to survive. Each year in sub-Saharan Africa, 1.2 million babies die in their first month of life. Roughly, one in every six children fails to reach his 5th birthday. In response to these shocking statistics, the African Union made child survival a theme for their 15th meeting coming up in 2010.

The top five killers of children under age 5 include neonatal causes such as respiratory infections, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea, and HIV/

Thank you. Let me commend the Congressional Black Caucus and its chairperson, leader this evening, Barbara Lee from California, for the outstanding job that she is doing as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. As the caucus moves forward, being the conscience of the Congress, let me also commend Representative Fudge, who is from the great State of Ohio, who continues to lead the Special Orders on our evenings, and of course our Caribbean queen, Delegate Donna Christian- Christensen, who, as you know, is our representative from the U.S. Virgin Islands. Not only is she an expert on the Caribbean but, as we all know, she is an internist, a physician and has been very, very helpful as we move forward in very difficult health care reform. Her input is invaluable. I also want to commend her for the recent involvement in a documentary about the relationship between St. Croix and Puerto Rico that went through the history of the sugarcane industry back at the turn of the century in the late 1800s, early 1900s and the number of Puerto Ricans who came to St. Croix to work there. This was shown last weekend, will be shown in New York, and has received many praises for the interesting history that it brings about.

Let me just say that it's a pleasure to be here--as chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health but also as Chair of the Caribbean Caucus, the bipartisan caucus that we have here--to kind of expand our relationship with the Caribbean. This Caribbean American Heritage Month is well deserved. It's recognizing the diversity and success of people from the Caribbean. You've heard other speakers talk about the many people from the Caribbean who have been so outstanding. The achievements and impacts made from Caribbean people have continually made a positive contribution to the well-being of American society. We could go back to our beginning with Alexander Hamilton, who came from St. Kitts, our first Secretary of the Treasury. Secretary Colin Powell is from the Caribbean as well as Cicely Tyson, W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson, Malcolm X, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and, in my own district, two people that I might talk about here, Antoinette K. Ellis-Williams and Dr. Claire Nelson. Dr. Claire Nelson, the founder and president of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, is known for her leadership in making Caribbean Americans heard. I am proud to say I work with her on a regular basis, as many of us do; and we admire her and the great work that she does. We just had the opportunity to be with her last week, and we are extremely pleased at the outstanding work that the institute is doing. The second person that I mentioned, Dr. Antoinette K. Ellis-Williams, a leader in my congressional district, currently serves as president for the Essex Valley Health Care and serves on the board of East Orange General Hospital. She is a proactive member of the Caribbean Medical Mission, a nonprofit organization of doctors, nurses, health care workers, engineers and other professionals who give back to the community through their services. She is a founder and director of the Statewide Female Leadership Development Institute and Research Center at the New Jersey City Institute.

The Caribbean community's presence also plays a wide role in our elections, especially in my district, where the greater settlement of many people from the Caribbean in East Orange, Irvington and Newark make their voices heard. In past elections we have seen many people from the Caribbean community educate fellow Caribbean Americans about the U.S. political process and encourage their participation in the democratic process.

In recognizing June as Caribbean month, in my work with the caucus, this Congress has continually focused on enhancing relationships between the United States and the Caribbean states by reviewing proposals and pending legislation that have a direct impact on the Caribbean. I believe that by facilitating an ongoing dialogue, we can continue to recognize the Caribbean as America's third border for trade, for political stability, for the fight against drug trafficking and for economic development. We need to remember that the Caribbean is not just a place for vacationing, but it's a place in need of economic development. With the current open trade regime, the challenge for the Caribbean is to quickly develop high productivity sectors that could drive the region's development. We know that the same problems that have stricken us in the U.S. have stricken the Caribbean. HIV and AIDS has become a problem, but we're very pleased that the PEPFAR program now has been expanded to 14 Caribbean countries. In 2005 an estimated 300,000 adults and children in the Caribbean were reported living with HIV, making it the leading cause of death among adults aged 15 to 44. We know that in Haiti, life expectancy has also been impacted tremendously by HIV and AIDS.

However, like I said, we have a tremendous relationship with our friends in the Caribbean. There are several problems that we need to help them with.

Deportation. As you know, in 1996 the U.S. law changed that anyone convicted of an offense had to face deportation from the United States; and as a result, many of these small nation countries have had to absorb persons who may have come to the United States as infants but have engaged in crime and now are sent back 20, 30, 40 years later as hardened criminals; and many of the countries in the Caribbean are having a difficult time dealing with these deportees. Another problem that we see is with the drug trafficking in Mexico. We're finding that they are pushing drug trafficking into the Caribbean, and we need to assist the Caribbean in fighting this and give them assistance with law enforcement, training and Coast Guard assistance. But we are very proud of many of the Haitians, as I mentioned. Track and field is something that they have excelled in. I

recall when I was running back in the early fifties, George Rhoden was a quarter miler who won the gold medal in the Helsinki Olympics. George Rhoden and many other Jamaicans came up and went to Morgan State University. At the Penn Relays, these Jamaicans in the late forties and early fifties started to get recognition. And we know that in the Beijing Olympics, Usain Bolt, at 20, 21 years old, won the 100 meters and the 200 meters. He was one of the youngest persons to ever win those events, and the first person since Mr. Lewis from New Jersey to win both sprints in the Olympics. We have had many outstanding people that started politics in New York, Hulan Jack, way back, a fellow from St. Lucia. He was born in 1905, moved up to New York, a high school dropout, went to work for a company, and worked his way up from a janitor to become a vice president of the firm. He became active in politics, and he became a New York City Democratic political leader, loyal to the Tammany Hall operation, which was run then by a fellow named Carmine De Sapio. But in 1940 Hulan Jack won seven straight elections to the New York State Assembly, representing his Harlem district. And in 1953, Hulan Jack was elected to borough president of Manhattan, becoming the first African American to hold the post. Elected more than a decade before the rise of big city black mayors in the sixties, Hulan Jack was the highest ranking African American municipal officer in the Nation. With an annual salary at that time of $25,000, he was the highest paid black office holder in the country. He served as Manhattan Borough president for several terms; and because of his emerging strength, the powers that be interrupted his career, and he left office. But Hulan Jack showed that politics was something that many of our Caribbean folks brought to the leadership of politics in our country.

I'll just finally end with a person that we all admired so much and has been mentioned earlier, Mr. Michael Manley, son of Norman Manley who served as the Prime Minister from '59 to '62. Michael Manley came in and became a three-term Prime Minister from '72 to '80 and '89 to '92, and he stepped down because of bad health. But just look at what Michael Manley did in Jamaica: Minimum wage for all workers; free education at secondary and university level, to the extent that space was available; instituted a literacy campaign; subdivision of what he called idle land to poor blacks, a formation of agrarian cooperatives where they worked together; price control on numerous staples to benefit the poor; reduction of the voting age to 18, thus increasing the black vote that then was able to continue to move forward. Listen to this--institutionalizing paid maternity leave and free milk to mothers. This was way back then in Jamaica where, as you know, we are still fighting to get family leave instituted in some of our States in the United States of America 30 years later. A person like Mr. Michael Manley did such an outstanding job. So we're just pleased to celebrate this heritage month.

Once again, I certainly commend the gentlelady from the U.S. Virgin Islands for her leadership. I know that we will have a wonderful month as we celebrate the great attributes that people from the Caribbean have made not only to the United States, and Europe but of course the Caribbean.

Mr. Speaker, the time has come to take decisive action on health care reform. We simply cannot afford to wait any longer. American families and small businesses have seen the cost of health care coverage steadily rise to the point where many can no longer afford to pay their premiums. We know that our system is broken when we have 46 million Americans, many of them in my home State of New Jersey, who are only one illness or one accident away from being wiped out financially.

As President Obama and the majority in Congress work to take our Nation in a new direction, we are firmly committed to making improvements in our health care system in a way which will reduce costs, preserve a patient's choice of doctors and plans, and ensure quality, affordable health care for all.

It is important that we promote wellness by investing in prevention and educating about healthy life choices. Health care reform is an issue that we can resolve if we work together in good faith for a solution. Just saying ``no,'' as some in Congress have chosen to do, will only worsen the problem.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition and rise in strong opposition to the Royce amendment.

Mr. Chairman, the Royce amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, H.R. 2410, which would designate Eritrea as a state sponsor of terrorism and call on the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions against Eritrea, I strongly oppose.

While I certainly respect my esteemed colleague from California, Ed Royce, who served as an excellent chairman on the Subcommittee on Africa for several years, and we worked closely together on many issues, and I have a great deal of respect for him, I must oppose this amendment. This amendment could undermine critical engagements currently going on between the U.S. and Eritrea. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

The Royce amendment expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should designate Eritrea a state sponsor of terrorism and that the U.N. Security Council should impose sanctions against Eritrea. I urge you to vote against this amendment for the following reasons:

First, some of the assertions made in the amendment are factually wrong and dated.

Second, the geopolitical dynamics and interstate rivalries in the Horn of Africa cannot be addressed properly without concerted diplomatic engagement. Declaring Eritrea a state sponsor of terrorism and imposing international sanctions would do nothing to further our diplomatic aims and would impose further hardship on the people who are struggling to survive on a daily basis.

Thirdly, while Mr. Royce's amendment lays out a long list of reasons why he feels Eritrea should be placed on a state sponsor of terrorism list, the proposed amendment does not recognize the diplomatic efforts currently underway by the State Department to address the complex issues surrounding the Horn of Africa. Just last month, Eritrea President Isaias Akwerki sent a letter to President Obama expressing the desire to engage on these issues and is sending a high-level delegation to Washington. Additionally, a senior State Department official is expected to visit Asmara in a few weeks. Moreover, the Somali Government has said they want to engage with Asmara.

Lastly, putting Eritrea on a sanctions list would have limited effect on our effort to try to stabilize the region and build alliances with governments in a wider battle against extremism.

We should urge the administration to take careful note of the issues raised by Representative Royce, and I have written a letter to the President to that effect. The administration is engaging Asmara. We must allow these diplomatic discussions to continue.

In my last trip to Asmara 1 year ago, I met with the President and did indicate changes that would have to be made. The current President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was in Asmara and went back, and now is trying to lead a government which is fighting against al Shabaab and al

Qaeda. And so at this time, I think that this amendment would disrupt sensitive diplomatic issues that are going on. I urge my colleagues to vote against the Royce amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge the St. John's Baptist Church of Scotch Plains, New Jersey on the celebration of its centennial anniversary. Established in 1909, St. John's has continuously served the needs of its congregation and the community.

Throughout the illustrious history of St. John's Baptist Church, effective leadership has been at the core of all the accomplishments the church has had. Beginning with Pastor Parson and continuing with Pastors Gatewell, Hamlett, Sweeney, Glover and the current pastor, Rev. Dr. Kelmo Curtis Porter, Jr. St. John's has made many physical enhancements over the years. In addition to its leadership, the success of all of St. John's initiatives can be attributed to the faith, hope, commitment and prayers of the loving membership that fill the pews of this landmark facility. In fact, many of St. John's congregants have been members of the church all of their lives and some are second or third generation members. Clearly, this degree of devotion is representative of the marvelous ministries taking place within the church.

A Gala being held on May 17, 2009 at Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey in honor

of this important milestone will feature a variety of distinguished supporters, ministers and friends. The theme of the centennial, ``100 Years Working for the Lord'' celebrates the story of a church deeply rooted in faith and Christian values. Those values include integrity, caring and preaching the word of God. St. John's is blessed to have a membership that is proud of its roots, passionate about its present and hopeful for its future.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues agree that St. John's Baptist Church and the surrounding community have every right to be pleased with the lasting contributions the church has made to the residents of Scotch Plains. I am pleased to congratulate St. John's on its first 100 years.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to commend Congregation B'nai Israel in Millburn, New Jersey on its groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Congregation B'nai Israel, under the leadership of Rabbi Steven Bayar decided to commit to an over six million dollar renovation project in spite of the tenuous economy and worrisome financial markets.

Congregation B'nai Israel is blessed to have financial commitments of $5.2 million from its members for this important project. The most significant part of the renovation will be a new, two story building for B'nai Israel's nursery and religious school. Fortunately, the decision to go ahead with the renovation will guarantee jobs for local construction crews and a revenue stream for suppliers of building materials.

It is a pleasure for me to celebrate with the members of Congregation B'nai Israel, Rabbi Bayar, Mayor Sandra Haimoff and others as they take this leap of faith in moving forward with the project. This initiative will serve as a model to other entities that may be contemplating similar projects but have been reluctant to proceed in today's challenging economic times. It is this kind of dedication and steadfastness that will help propel our Nation forward and bring us back to a sense of prosperity and hopefulness.

Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues agree that Congregation B'nai Israel has made the right decision in continuing with its renovation project and demonstrating its faith to the community it serves. I am pleased to recognize Congregation B'nai Israel and proud to have it in my Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the gentlelady from Ohio, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, for anchoring this evening's Special Order on health care. I want to say that her continued diligence in bringing issues that confront our Nation, in general, but African Americans, in particular, week after week has been a great addition to our Congressional Black Caucus, and let me commend you again for your diligence.

I want to also recognize our distinguished Chair of the CBC Health Brain Trust, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, for her leadership in health care debates and for introducing legislation which you will hear about tonight which will address the root causes of our Nation's health disparities and the crisis that we find ourselves in.

You've heard from other Members, Congressman Scott, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and you will hear from others tonight, because health care is one of the most important issues that confronts our Nation in general, as I mentioned before, but in particular, communities of minorities, whether they be black, Hispanic, Native American, foreign born.

Mr. Speaker, I join and I am pleased to join the other Members tonight to talk about the costs, health care access, the lack of it, the need for quality care, and the eradication of health disparities which are so important to us.

Our Nation's health care costs are increasing rapidly. In 2007, the United States spent $2.2 trillion on health care. We also spent twice as much on health care than any other developed countries.

In 2006, the U.S. spent $6,714 per capita on health care, more than double that for any country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, with an average of $2,915, and these are developed nations in the world.

Our health care quality system compares poorly to other developed nations. For example, the U.S. ranks 22nd out of 30 OECD countries on life expectancy. We have the third highest infant mortality rate in OECD countries, with 6.9 deaths per 1,000. Only Mexico and Turkey have worse infant mortality rates.

As alarming as that is, though, if we take out the infant mortality rate for

African Americans, it's astounding. If you take the city of Minneapolis, 9.2 per 1,000; Seattle, 10.3; Los Angeles, 10.1; Phoenix, 12.9--that's per 1,000 live births in the African American community-- Detroit, 17.3 deaths, when 6.9 deaths are in OECD countries. My own city, 15.5. It's an abomination. It's wrong. It should not be in a Nation, a developed Nation of this--13.6 in Philadelphia; and the Nation's capital, 14.4; Charlotte, 14.1; Orlando, 13.8; New Orleans, 13.2; Miami, 11.8, when it's 6.9 in OECD countries.

And so we really have to talk strongly about health care reform, and we have to go into the disparity of health care in our communities. The costs of health care are straining American families' pocketbooks. Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. More than 80 percent of the 47 million Americans in this country are uninsured, and these are many working families.

Mr. Speaker, there is strong support for comprehensive health care reform. In fact, a solid majority of the public, 59 percent, believes health care reform is more important than ever. Sixty-seven percent of all Americans favor a public health insurance option similar to Medicare to compete with the private health insurance plans, and I am a strong supporter of that public health insurance option.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that our Nation's health is its most precious asset; however, health disparities plague this country and lead to deteriorating conditions for millions of Americans. Because of deficiencies in health insurance and health care access, minorities suffer at greater rates and greater levels of severity from health- related issues than their like counterparts.

Education and awareness alone cannot combat these issues. While vigilance and groundbreaking health research have reduced the incidence of death and illness among white Americans, health statistics on minorities remain staggering. Even though deaths caused by breast cancer have decreased among white women, African American women continue to have higher rates of mortality from breast and cervical cancer.

While the national HIV and AIDS mortality rate lessens, this disease remains a leading cause of death among African American men. In 2002, more than 2.5 times more African American newborns died than white newborns at that time.

Research shows that quality health care could eliminate some of these health-related issues and reduce the onset of others. Unfortunately, especially during the current state of the economy, health insurance and quality health care continues to be widely unavailable.

I represent one of the most expensive States for health care. In New Jersey, health care and health insurance remain out of reach for many low-income citizens--a large percentage of them living in my congressional district.

Many of my constituents are aware of habits and actions that lead to health complications. Despite awareness efforts, non-Hispanic black males and females continue to have the highest prevalence of hypertension. Diabetes disproportionately affects the ethnic and racial minorities. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for African Americans. Its prevalence is double that of the broader community.

Access to health care and the lack of health insurance prevents even some of the most knowledgeable from avoiding illness.

In conclusion, on May 9, Congresswoman Christensen and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation cosponsored a Health and Wellness Expo in my district. It began on Friday evening. We were fortunate enough to have Congressman Albio Sires and Congressman Ed Towns join Congresswoman Christensen in my district. That was on May 8th. The next afternoon, the next day, Congresswoman Clarke came to the district to the Health and Wellness Expo.

We served over 400 people, with an overwhelmingly positive response to screenings and workshops, where people were told on the spot that they should immediately see a physician. I know that we saved the lives of many people because we had screenings of blood pressure and a bone marrow drive and bone density and cholesterol and depression. We had a screening for diabetes and glucose. We had a glaucoma screening. HIV/ AIDS screening was held, kidney disease, oral and dental, and on and on.

I, again, would like to thank Donna Christensen, our Congresswoman who heads our Health Brain Trust, for her being there. This is the third time she's been to my district. We have a serious problem in my district, but I will continue to work to bring those statistics down. They should not be the way they are.

So, Mr. Speaker, our society's institutions, from government to business to not-for-profits, must provide opportunities to bring affordable and quality health care to all Americans. More importantly, I believe that our society's leaders and major institutions must create incentives and lower barriers so that individuals and families can take steps to achieve healthier lifestyles. Finally, in order to reduce the cost of health care, there must be an increased focus on spending for prevention.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop policies that will improve the delivery of our health system in the most effective and efficient way that we can.

With that, thank you once again, Congresswoman Fudge, and thank you, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, for the outstanding work that you are both doing.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 230) recognizing the historical significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo, as amended.

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

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

Let me begin by thanking our colleague from the great State of California, Joe Baca, for introducing this resolution.

H. Res. 230 recognizes the historical struggle for independence and freedom of the Mexican people and requests that the President issue a proclamation recognizing that struggle and the importance of Cinco de Mayo. This is a celebration we should all join in.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates May 5, 1862, on which the Battle of Puebla was fought by Mexicans who were struggling for their independence and freedom, along with their comrades and against the French soldiers.

This is a celebration of the virtues, courage and patriotism of all Mexicans and a point of pride for Mexican Americans, who have fought for freedom against foreign forces. Cinco de Mayo has become one of Mexico's most famous national holidays. It is a unique reminder that both Mexicans and Mexican Americans, north and south of the United States-Mexico border, observe in honor.

Grand celebrations take place in cities and towns all across the United States of America, the biggest being in western and southwestern cities such as Los Angeles. Festivities often include sporting events, parades, mariachi music, Mexican food and dancing. Sometimes the celebration goes on for weeks.

In a larger sense, Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder to all Americans that the foundation of our great country was built by people from many nations with diverse cultural backgrounds who were willing to fight and to die for their freedom.

Cinco de Mayo can be understood both as a moment to celebrate the significant Mexican roots that have grown in the United States, as well as to symbolize more generally the right of all people to self- determination. It was a valiant struggle. They fought brilliantly. We urge our colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I certainly at this time reserve the balance of my time.

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

This Tuesday marks Cinco de Mayo, a regional holiday in Mexico that commemorates Mexico's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. For generations, however, Cinco de Mayo has also been recognized throughout the United States.

The strong ties between our two nations are demonstrated around the country as family and friends join together to celebrate Mexico's culture and experiences. Through efforts like the Merida Initiative and NAFTA, these ties continue to grow--only stronger.

Our mutual commitment to democracy and security in the region will prove increasingly important as some in the hemisphere work to advance their illicit agendas. Already, we have seen the transnational impact of the drug cartels and organized crime groups operating in Mexico. Joint efforts by our countries to thwart criminal activities within Mexico have sent these criminals north into the United States and south into Central America.

We must continue to work with our democratic partners and allies to present a united front against those who pose a threat to U.S. interests, security, and values.

So, as many throughout the United States and Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo this week, I hope that they are reminded not only of Mexico's proud past, but also of her ongoing shared commitment to independence, democracy, and security.

I thank Congressman Baca for introducing this timely resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca).

I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute

I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).

It is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi).

At this time I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 111) recognizing the 61st anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 111, recognizing the 61st anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel, and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Since its founding 61 years ago, the modern State of Israel has been a strong ally of the United States, Israel has established itself as a dynamic, pluralistic and democratic nation with a booming economy, a thriving culture and intellectual life. Contemporary Israelis have contributed to world civilizations as scholars, inventors, artists and educators, and Israeli citizens have been awarded the Nobel Prize. Israel is the home to many outstanding scientists, engineers, doctors, musicians and other hardworking people. This is an impressive record for a country of barely 7 million people.

Since Israel's founding, the United States has had no greater friend in the Middle East. The close bond is based on shared values, including a commitment to democracy and respect for human rights. The United States and Israel also share a common history as a nation of immigrants, many of whom fled persecution from other parts of the world. The United States and Israel have worked to welcome people in their borders.

Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, providing opportunity for Jews from all over the world to reestablish their ancient homeland. Israel remains the home of many religious sites which are sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Israelis continue to serve as a model of democracy and democratic values by holding free and fair elections, promoting free and fair exchange of ideas, having open press, open media and vigorously exercising in its Parliament, the Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of all its civilians. As a matter of fact, in the Knesset, just about every small group may be represented, and it is considered to be for Israel, as compared to

other nations, the most democratic by the manner in which it is created. I am certainly convinced that America and Israel will remain and retain their very strong and special relationships for years to come.

H. Con. Res. 111 reaffirms these bonds of friendship and cooperation and expresses a commitment to strengthen them as we move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution commending the 61 years of Israel's existence as a beacon of democracy and hope in the Middle East. I look forward to future anniversaries and to the day when Israel and her civilians can live in true peace and true security.

I strongly support this resolution, and I strongly urge that all my colleagues do the same.

For thirty-one years, not one of Israel's Arab neighbors recognized the Jewish State. Finally, in 1979 and 1994, in respectively, visionary Arab leaders Anwar Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan embraced the path of co-existence and signed peace treaties with Israel. I am convinced that someday the other Arab states will follow suit.

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

At this time, I yield 5 minutes to the delegate from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 103) supporting the goals and ideals of Malaria Awareness Day, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, H. Con. Res. 103, supporting the goals and ideals of Malaria Awareness Day.

April 25 of each year is recognized internationally as Africa Malaria Day and in the United States as Malaria Awareness Day.

I introduced this resolution with my colleague and Congressional Malaria Caucus co-Chair, Congressman John Boozman of Arkansas, a true partner in the fight against malaria and so many other good causes, and I would like to thank him for his partnership and his continued commitment to ending malaria, and to so many other important issues pertaining to Africa.

We introduced this resolution to remind the Congress, the country, and the world that malaria is preventable and is treatable.

Malaria was eliminated from the United States over 50 years ago, yet more than 40 percent of the world's population is still at risk of contracting this disease. The World Health Organization reports that malaria claims the lives of nearly 1 million people each year, the vast majority of whom are children under the age of 5 in Africa.

I ask you to reflect on the statistics: malaria takes the life of a child roughly every 30 seconds. This is simply astounding and unconscionable in 2009. Malaria also causes a great risk to maternal health, causing complications during delivery, anemia, and low birth weight, with estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that malaria infection causes 400,000 cases of severe maternal anemia and from 75,000 to 200,000 infant deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa.

An estimated 90 percent of the deaths from malaria occur in Africa. Malaria also perpetuates poverty. The Roll Back Malaria Partnership estimates that malaria costs African countries $12 billion annually in lost economic productivity.

The malaria burden also weakens governments' abilities to provide services. The World Health Organization estimates that malaria accounts for 40 percent of health care expenditures in high-burden countries, demonstrating that effective, long-term malaria control is inextricably linked to the strength of the health systems.

However, there is good news. Heightened efforts by our own government and by other partner nations have made significant progress in the fight against malaria.

The President's Malaria Initiative has purchased almost 13 million artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT), which will protect over 17 million people through spraying campaigns, and has distributed over 6 million insecticide-treated bed nets.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has distributed 7 million bed nets to protect families from malaria and provided 74 million malaria patients with ACTs. As the World Bank's booster program is scheduled to commit more than $500 million in International Development Association funds for malaria, this will help to move forward the control of malaria; approximately $500 million by the International Development Association.

Public and private partnerships are developing effective and affordable drugs to treat malaria, with more than 23 types of malaria vaccines in development. Years ago, there were virtually no vaccines in development. And so we have seen that the world has taken a real look at this dread disease and we are moving forward to its elimination.

This resolution calls our attention to Malaria Awareness Day which the Congressional Malaria Caucus marked by holding briefings, a roundtable with African health officials, and will conclude with Special Orders this evening. The resolution also reaffirms the goals and commitments to combat malaria outlined in the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 which provided critical funding, $6 billion, to fight malaria and tuberculosis.

Let us remain committed to ending malaria for the health and wealth of the entire world. I strongly support this resolution and I urge my colleagues to do likewise.

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

At this time I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

I yield the gentleman 30 additional seconds.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 283) honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Rabbi Charles H. Rosenzveig, as amended.

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

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 283, a resolution offered by Mr. Peters of Michigan, honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Rabbi Charles H. Rosenzveig. Although Rabbi Rosenzveig passed away last December, I think it is extremely and particularly appropriate that the House honor him now after having recently marked Holocaust Remembrance Day.

While Rabbi Rosenzveig will always be remembered as a loving husband and father with a wife, Helen, and four children, one of whom followed in his father's footsteps into rabbinate and became a rabbi, many of us knew him as a path-breaking educator about the Holocaust and the founder of an important Holocaust museum and memorial.

His life story of survival, escape and renewal serves as a model for all of us. Though he escaped the clutches of the Nazis who invaded his native Poland, Rabbi Rosenzveig lost much of his family in the Holocaust. After making his way east through the Soviet Union, he found refuge in the United States in 1947. After attending Yeshiva University in New York City, he became the spiritual leader of Congregation Mount Sinai in Port Huron, Michigan. In 1984, Rabbi Rosenzveig founded the Holocaust Memorial Center, a national freestanding memorial to the horrors of the Holocaust, in Farmington Hills, Michigan. In 1993, he left the pulpit to devote his energies full time to the center. The center serves not only as a memorial to those who perished at the hands of the Nazis but as a Jewish history museum and an educational institution dedicated to tolerance to future generations.

While it is fitting that Rabbi Rosenzveig's memory and his many accomplishments be noted here today, the Nation's other Holocaust museums, many modeled after the center he founded in Farmington Hills, form perhaps the most enduring tribute to his achievements. We mourn the loss of Rabbi Charles H. Rosenzveig and pay our respects to his family and to those who knew him well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from Michigan, Representative Peters, as much time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend and express my appreciation to the gentleman from Arkansas who has worked very closely in a very bipartisan manner on many issues. It is a pleasure to work with him as we continue to move forward the needs of the people, not only of our country, but of the world.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, let me commend the gentlelady from California for presenting this very important budget. And let me also state, to the gentleman from California, that it's no question that in our parameter we provide for providing for the common defense but we also say that it's a part of our country to promote the general welfare. It seems that that part tends to be left out in many instances.

So I rise in strong support of the Progressive Caucus budget. As a member of the caucus, I am proud of the work we have done to restore common sense to the Federal budget by addressing our Nation's most pressing domestic needs.

As I travel around my congressional district in New Jersey, it is obvious that families are suffering as a result of many of the decisions of the previous administration, including their determination to siphon valuable resources away from our communities and direct them towards the ill-advised invasion and occupation of Iraq.

It is time to rebuild our own Nation by embracing the priorities embodied in this bill: providing a strong economic stimulus package of $300 billion that includes an extension of unemployment insurance, as well as improvements in transportation infrastructure, school construction, and needed water projects. Our budget pays for these domestic needs by redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq and repealing the Bush tax breaks for the wealthiest among us.

I urge that we support this commonsense Progressive Caucus budget because it puts America first.

Let me commend the Congressional Black Caucus and its chair, Congresswoman Lee, and to our leader on the Budget Committee for many, many years, Representative Bobby Scott from Virginia, for presenting this very sound budget.

As we know, we are supposedly a country that not only promotes the general welfare, as it does to provide for the common defense but, in many instances, we find that promoting the general welfare is lost. The Congressional Black Caucus budget takes care of that.

But, in the meantime, as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, I have been deeply disturbed by the damage done over the past 8 years to the reputation and the standing of the United States of America around the globe.

By replacing diplomacy with the use of force and military threats in the Middle East and other regions and dismissing our longtime allies, France and Germany, as ``Old Europe,'' the previous administration alienated those who had looked to the United States for moral leadership.

Under the Obama administration and the Democrat Congress, we now have the opportunity to move in a more constructive and positive direction by investing in overseas development and restoring diplomacy to our international relations efforts.

In crafting the international affairs portion of the Congressional Black Caucus budget, we have allocated increased funding to assist other nations in lifting themselves out of poverty, a critical part of the plan to restore America's reputation and prestige around the world.

We were pleased that in the Budget Committee our chairman's mark increased funding for international affairs by 11 percent over FY 2009 levels. The CBC budget provides for an additional $2.5 billion on top of that, which puts funding for international affairs closer to the President's request.

The President's request puts us closer to there. The additional allocation would go toward increased funding for the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria; USAID programs; Iraq humanitarian assistance; migration and refugee assistance; peacekeeping efforts in Darfur; education, health care, and cultural exchange programs; child survival and health programs; and development assistance.

Vote for the CBC budget and let's restore America's promise and America's greatness in the eyes of the world.

Mr. Speaker, after leading our Nation to the brink of financial disaster through their reckless economic policies, our Republican colleagues now have the audacity to launch attacks on the budget proposed by President Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress.

After taking the healthy budget surplus left by the Clinton administration and turning it into the most disastrous deficit in history, Republicans are actually attacking a budget proposal which cuts the deficit by nearly two-thirds by the year 2013, cuts taxes for middle-income families by $1.5 trillion, creates jobs with investment and reforms in health care, clean energy, education, and reduces nondefense discretionary spending to its lowest level as a percentage of the economy in nearly half a century.

By contrast, the Republicans have put forth a so-called budget which, unbelievably, contains no numbers. None. What their budget does is propose more of the same failed policies that got our country into this deep financial economic crisis.

Let me thank the gentlelady from Ohio for her continued leadership in the Congressional Black Caucus' weekly address to the Nation.

As you may recall, last week we talked about the activities in Africa and problems in our Caribbean neighborhood of Haiti, the problems in Darfur and Sudan and the Congo to show that the Congressional Black Caucus is universal. We are the conscience of the Congress, not only for domestic issues but issues worldwide where people are in need.

And so this evening, Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a great historian, and let me thank, as I mentioned before, Representative Fudge for her consistent support for our debates and discussions on Monday, but let me just speak about Dr. John Hope Franklin.

As you've heard several of our previous speakers, he was just a great American. As a former teacher and a strong advocate for the inclusion of African American history in the school curriculum for all students, I place enormous value on the work of Dr. Franklin, the extraordinary man whose loss we mourn and whose life we celebrate.

As a professional historian, he worked tirelessly to ensure the accurate sharing of American history--of course, as we know, history was distorted, and it took Dr. Franklin to lay it out properly--with its tragedies, as well as its triumphs, at a time when there were few voices willing to listen, to explore the painful legacy of enslaved people.

In forging the inclusion of the African American experience, Dr. John Hope Franklin was instrumental in championing civil rights issues and breaking color barriers. He was engaged in the most pressing issues of the past and present.

As the Chair of President Clinton's Initiative on Race, which he served with the former Governor of New Jersey, Tom Kean, who talked about how great Dr. Franklin was and how difficult it really was to get Americans to speak about race. People just wanted to avoid it, but it's something that Dr. Franklin and Tom Kean, in their responsibilities on the commission, attempted to have an honest dialogue.

Dr. Franklin offered recommendations on ways to eliminate racial disparities. Dr. Franklin was quoted in the Emerge Magazine in 1994 as saying, ``I think knowing one's history leads one to act in a more enlightened fashion. I cannot imagine how knowing one's history would not urge one to be an activist,'' John Hope Franklin said. And he lived for nearly a century, and during that time, his scholarship inspired many activists.

The permanent impact of Dr. John Hope Franklin's public service has cultivated a richer understanding and greater appreciation of African American history. He was a man of immense strength, courage and wisdom, and his contributions to American society are invaluable.

As we celebrate the life of this great historian, we also mark this evening the important contributions of women of our Nation's rich history. As we are commemorating Women's History Month, we pause to remember the women who laid the groundwork, often at great personal risk, for rewards that future generations would reap.

We remember a great woman in history, Harriet Tubman, who secretly guided 300 enslaved people to freedom on the Underground Railroad, the network of safe houses that enslaved people followed during the Civil War era. Many records still exist which document the dangerous journeys to freedom. Interestingly, because enslaved people were forbidden to read or write, many created quilts in order to leave messages and pass down stories about their lives.

During Women's History Month, we also recall the great debt of gratitude we owe to strong women of the past like Sojourner Truth, the abolitionist and orator who risked her life to speak out against slavery. She even refused to sit in the back of a trolley car way back when she lived here in Washington, D.C. She defied the law.

In most recent times, we have seen women trailblazers in all professions.

The first African woman to join a space mission, Dr. Mae Jemison, traveled aboard the space shuttle Endeavor on September 12, 1992. Dr. Jemison is a chemical engineer, scientist, physician, and astronaut who worked as a Peace Corps medical officer in Sierra Leone and in Liberia in West Africa.

Of course, we now have a wonderful role model in the White House for our daughters and our granddaughters in Michelle Obama, our First Lady, who graduated cum laude from Princeton University in my State of New Jersey and went on to earn her law degree from Harvard before taking a position at a Chicago law firm.

I would also like to remember a good friend and colleague, one that our Representative has replaced, a wonderful woman whom we lost last year, Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a true pioneer who was the first African American woman elected to Congress from Ohio. A former county prosecutor and a former judge in the Cleveland municipal court, she went on to break another glass ceiling when she successfully sought and won a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which no other African American woman had ever achieved before that time.

In my congressional district, we are fortunate to have many accomplished women who are working actively every day for the betterment of their communities. The executive director of the Newark Day Center, Trish Morris-Yamba of South Orange, has worked tirelessly to provide services for local seniors and to send young children to summer camps through the Greater Newark Fresh Air Fund. She has been active in many organizations, including the Newark Public Library, where she served as board president. Prior to that, she ran an organization called CHEN, which was one of the very innovative day care centers in our City of Newark.

Another dedicated community volunteer, a woman I have known and admired for many years, is Blanche Hooper, who has given generously of her time to serve as a senior citizen's commissioner and, up until 2007, served as the director of the Nellie Grier Senior Citizen Center in the south ward of Newark. In addition, she is active in Mt. Zion Baptist Church, vice chairman of the South Ward Democratic Committee, and has been the recipient of an award for living the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Barbara Bell Coleman has given her considerable energy and intelligence to a number of important causes in New Jersey. Barbara Bell Coleman, during the 1990s, served as the president of the Amelior Foundation, established by Newark philanthropist Ray Chambers to support urban education and other programs. As chairman of the board of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, she helped to coordinate youth development programs for thousands of young people in the City of Newark. She is the recipient of a United Way award for her outstanding work with youth.

And last week, I had the pleasure of attending a retirement ceremony for a woman who has touched many, many lives in the course of her career, Dorothy Knauer, executive director of the Community Agencies Corporation of New Jersey. Over the past three decades, this remarkable woman has devoted her life to community service, notably through programs like Project Babies, the James Street Neighborhood House, Reading is Fundamental, and Community Partners for Youth. She has been honored by New Jersey's Office of Volunteerism and was recognized as a woman of distinction by the United Nations League.

Madam Speaker, I know that my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives join me in expressing gratitude to these women and the countless others who are contributing their time and talents each and every day towards making our communities a better place for all of us to live and to work.

Thank you very much, Representative Fudge. Let me commend you for taking the leadership for this hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus. We certainly have appreciated your experience as a former mayor and as a person involved in politics in the State of Ohio and how you have come in, not as a trainee, but fully running. We know of the untimely death of your predecessor, Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, but we certainly appreciate your taking up the mantle and moving forward.

I would just like to speak briefly on several of the countries that we have mentioned.

We have just heard the gentlelady from Wisconsin talk about Haiti, and I might just mention briefly that Haiti has had a long and difficult history, highlighted by prolonged poverty, political instability and underdevelopment, resulting in a politically fragile state with the lowest standards of living in the entire western hemisphere. With the assistance of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and large amounts of international aid, Haiti has been attempting to establish a foundation for longer economic development. Security issues have presented the primary risk to stability while restoring economic growth, investment, employment, and access to basic services have been the major and equally formidable challenges to sustainable development.

President Preval, since assuming his second nonconsecutive term in office in May of 2006, has emphasized the importance of rebuilding democracy, rebuilding Democratic institutions and of establishing conditions for private investment, which is key to the development of any country to create jobs.

The success of his government will depend largely on its ability to improve security and social economics.

The condition in the country: 76 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day. These are conditions that make it very difficult. Security conditions have improved, but Haitians have seen their already substandard living conditions deteriorate further with the rise in global food prices and in the recent devastation by a series of hurricanes.

When people say, ``Why Haiti? Why should we be concerned?'' number 1, they are very close to our shores. Number 2, there has been a history of United States' involvement in Haiti. As a matter of fact, in the Battle of Savannah, when we fought for independence of the United States of America from Britain, Haiti sent soldiers over to fight in the Battle of Savannah. As a matter of fact, recently--and I visited last year--the statue that has been dedicated to Haitian soldiers who fought for the independence of the United States' 13 original colonies away from Great Britain.

Also, as we know, Haiti became the first revolt of enslaved people to defeat the colonists, and that sent a message throughout Central and South America. As you know, Haiti in 1804 defeated the forces of the great Napoleon's army, and as a result of this 12-year war between France and Haiti, France was defeated. There is great wealth that France would get from Haiti, which actually was more than all the 13 colonies of the United States provided for Britain. The one portion of the island of Espanol, of which Haiti is half of it and the other half is the Dominican Republic, gave more wealth to France. So, when France lost Haiti, it lost economics, and as a result, the Louisiana Purchase came about.

As you may know, at that time, the United States was landlocked. The United States only went to the Mississippi River, and it was the land that was owned by France. Because France after the long war with Haiti needed cash--it was land rich and cash poor--it sold the Louisiana Territory for, I think, about $15 million and, therefore, opened up the West. The Lewis and Clark expedition started in St. Louis as a result of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory. So Haiti has had a tremendous impact on the United States of America.

Finally, about Haiti, part of the erosion which we see was spurred along in World War II. With the U.S. being cut off from the Pacific region, there was a need for rubber to be grown and produced. There was a Haitian grower who said that it was going to be impossible for rubber trees to grow in Haiti. However, the Haitian leadership wanted to help in the war effort and wanted to placate President Roosevelt, and so they cut down natural kinds of ecology, and tried to introduce rubber trees, which would not grow, which was already known by Haitian farmers, but they did it anyway. As a result, erosion started. This was one of the areas that, with the natural habitat taken down and the foreign intervention of other plants, Haiti's erosion also began.

So I just would like to say that we need to take a look at the status of Haitians in America. We need to change that situation so that people who have come to this country will definitely have an opportunity to become full-fledged citizens of our country.

Let me just quickly talk about the Liberians who we have heard about, another country. We just heard our previous speaker talk about the fact that there was Deferred Enforcement Departure status which expired on March 31 of 2009 for Liberians as a result of the war with Charles Taylor. People got TPS, Temporary Protective Status, from Liberia. Then when that ran out, they had the Deferred Enforcement Departure, and we have gotten word that we believe that Liberians will be able to have a 1-year extension of the DED, from words that I received from President Obama's office.

Let me just say that, once again, in 1820, $100,000 was funded by the U.S. Congress that went to help start Liberia. As you know, Monrovia was named after President Monroe, and many free black men and women went to Haiti. As a matter of fact, there was an integrated group of blacks and whites that went back originally, but the whites all died, and were unable to survive. Only the blacks survived.

And so we have had a long relationship with Haiti and with Liberia, and we should, certainly, with the 3,600 people who are in the DED current status, I hope that within the next year--and there will be a rally on Wednesday at 1:30 here at the west terrace at the Capitol that will allow Liberian leaders to come and show their appreciation for the extension, and we urge anyone who is free on Wednesday of this week at 1:30 to come and participate in the rally.

Finally, we've heard about Darfur. I was pleased that we were able to get the genocide resolution through, but I did expect more to happen from the world, and I have been disappointed.

I went to eastern Chad, and I spoke to an elderly woman who talked about what happened in her town: a pregnant woman was bayonetted there, a neighbor was shot. Even in huts they would lock, tie the door together and burn the huts and the boys would be burned to death, all of this by al-Bashir, the president who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and should stand for trial.

As has been mentioned, there's been a long, north-south battle between the NIF government, the National Islamic Front, and the SPLA, the Sudanese Freedom--South Sudanese Liberation Movement, the late Dr. Garang, for 21 years. Four million people have been displaced, two million people have died.

And 21 days after Dr. Garang was able to get the comprehensive peace accord signed, his plane mysteriously crashed and Dr. Garang was killed

I immediately went there and participated in the mourning and attended the funeral of him. His wife and children--Rebecca, his wife, is very strong and continues to move forward on the question of South Sudan, the comprehensive peace agreement must be upheld and Darfur, the International Criminal Court, should go forward with the prosecution of al-Bashir. He has put out 13 nongovernmental organizations who are feeding people and are bringing in food and so forth. This must not stand, and he must be stopped.

We could talk about the Congo, but I will yield back the balance of the time so our chairperson of tonight's special order may be able to conclude in any manner that she sees fit. But let me once again thank you for taking this hour, and we still have much to do. The CBC, the conscience of the Congress, will continue to move forward, not only domestically, but internationally.