Floor Statements

Offered By: Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas

Amendment No. 2: Page 140, line 3, before the semicolon

insert the following: ``and a program of financial literacy

and education to promote an understanding of consumer,

economic, and personal finance issues and concepts, including

saving for retirement, managing credit, long-term care, and

estate planning and education on predatory lending, identity

theft, and financial abuse schemes, that is approved by the

Director''.

Madam Speaker, it is with sadness and deep regret that many of us in this body rise to pay tribute to a wonderful lady and a close friend of mine--Mrs. Sue Sarilyn Washington. The words most often associated with her are ``grace'' and ``compassion,'' and with those I wholeheartedly agree.

Just a quick glimpse of her professional life attests to her unselfish spirit. Sue Sarilyn Washington was an inspiration to those around her, and dedicated her time and spirit to many outstanding local and national organizations, including: the VA Medical Center of Dallas; Jack & Jill of America; Links, Inc. Dallas Chapter; Carrousels, Dallas Chapter; Board of Trustees, Lutheran High School; the

Board of Directors, Children's Theater of Dallas; Deacon, Royal Lane Baptist Church; and the St. Marks Boy Scouts. Through these organizations, Sue touched the lives of countless individuals.

A devoted mother of three, Sue also consistently showed her love for God and others. She delicately balanced the rigors of professional life with the demands of caring for their family; yet, she still made time for friends.

Madam Speaker, it is a great honor for me to rise today to pay tribute to a lady who faithfully served her community with dedication and integrity. Sue Sarilyn Washington will be sorely missed in North Texas.

Mr. Speaker, during the first ever AmeriCorps week I would like to extend my support to the oranization and all of the great things that its members have done. Since AmeriCorps was created in 1994, Texas has benefited from over 22,000 young people serving a year or more in our communities.

Nearly 72 AmeriCorps volunteers have tutored 691 youths in the State of Texas including the Dallas Habitat for Humanities and the YMCA of Dallas Oak Cliff Branch.

In Texas, as in other States, AmeriCorps volunteers provide a host of services including building affordable housing, teaching computer skills to youth and seniors, and managing after-school programs aimed at youngsters who might otherwise drop out of school. Through programs such as the ``National Civilian Community Corps'' or ``City Year,'' AmeriCorps volunteers address critical Texas needs in education, public safety, disaster response and recovery, and environment preservation.

These programs serve an important role as they provide an outlet for people to serve their country in a manner that they previously had not be afforded. The AmeriCorps program has done great things for Texas and the country as a whole, as the Corps members promise to do in the pledge they take every day, they ``get things done.''

Mr. Speaker, we will not find common ground or reach higher ground if we turn national service into a partisan playground.

I will continue to work hard and do everything I can to strengthen this program, and I ask my House colleagues to do everything as well.

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, May 3, 2007, I requested and received a leave of absence from May 3 to May 9, 2007, due to my presence at previous commitments in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 315, the Tom Davis of Virginia Amendment,``no''; Rollcall No. 316, the Thompson of Mississippi Amendment,``aye''; Rollcall No. 317, on Motion to Recommit with Instructions,``no''; Rollcall No. 318, on Passage, Homeland Security Authorization Act,``aye''.

Madam Speaker, I was also unavoidably absent from the chamber from March 21, 2007 to March 22, 2007. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall No. 167, Motion to Permit to Proceed in Order on This Day,``aye''; Rollcall No. 168, the Neugebauer of Texas Amendment,``no''; Rollcall No. 169, the Price of Georgia Amendment,``no''; Rollcall No. 170, the Al Green of Texas Amendment, as Modified,``aye''; Rollcall No. 171, on Motion to Recommit with Instructions,``no''; Rollcall No. 172, on Passage, Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act,``aye''; Rollcall No. 173, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 835,``aye''; Rollcall No. 174, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 327,``aye''; Rollcall No. 175, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 797,``aye''; Rollcall No. 176, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 1284,``aye''; Rollcall No. 177, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 1130,``aye''; Rollcall No. 178, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 740,``aye''; Rollcall No. 179, on Ordering the Previous Question, H. Res. 260,``aye''; Rollcall No. 180, on Agreeing to the Resolution,``aye''; Rollcall No. 181, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, H. Con. Res. 66,``aye''; Rollcall No. 182, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 261,``aye''; Rollcall No. 183, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended,``aye''; Rollcall No. 184, on Approving the Journal,``aye''.

Madam Speaker, on May 3, 2007, I requested and received a leave of absence from May 3 to May 9, 2007, due to my presence at previous commitments in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows:

Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429): Rollcall No. 277, the Price of Georgia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 278, the Sestak of Pennsylvania Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 279, the Hirono of Hawaii Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 280, the Mica of Florida Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 281, the Putnam of Florida Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 282, the Carnahan of Missouri Amendment, ``aye''; and rollcall No. 283, the Shuler of North Carolina Amendment, ``aye''.

Rollcall No. 284, on Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``no''; rollcall No. 285, on Passage, Improving Head Start Act, H.R. 1429, ``aye''; rollcall No. 286, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, H. Res. 243, ``aye''; rollcall No. 287, the Sullivan (OK) Amendment to Honda (CA) Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 288, the Honda of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 289, the Campbell of California Amendment No. 5, ``no''; rollcall No. 290, the Campbell of California Amendment No. 4, ``no''; and rollcall No. 291, the Garrett of New Jersey Amendment No. 11, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 292, the Flake of Arizona Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 293, the Matsui of California Amendment, ``aye''; rollcall No. 294, the Price of Georgia Amendment, ``no''; rollcall No. 295, on Passage, National Science Foundation Authorization Act, H.R. 1867, ``aye''; rollcall No. 296, on Ordering the Previous Question, H. Res. 364, ``aye''; rollcall No. 297, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 364, ``aye''; and rollcall No. 298, on Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``no.''

Rollcall No. 299, on Passage, To provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, H.R. 1592, ``aye''; rollcall No. 300, on Motion to Recommit with Instructions, H.R. 1868, ``no''; rollcall No. 301, on Passage, Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act, H.R. 1868, ``aye''; rollcall No. 302, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 407, ``aye''; rollcall No. 303, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, H.R. 1025, ``aye''; rollcall No. 304, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, H. Res. 371, ``aye''; rollcall No. 305, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H.R. 1294, ``aye''; and rollcall No. 306, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 370, ``aye''.

Rollcall No. 307, on Agreeing to the Resolution, S. Con. Res. 1, ``aye''; rollcall No. 308, on Motion to Instruct Conferees, S. Con. Res. 1, ``no''; rollcall No. 309, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 1595, ``aye''; rollcall No. 310, on Ordering the Previous Question, H. Res. 382, ``aye''; rollcall No. 311, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 382, ``aye''; rollcall No. 312, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 383, ``aye''; rollcall No. 313, on Agreeing to the Resolution, H. Res. 383, ``aye''; and rollcall No. 314, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Student Loan, H.R. 890, ``aye''.

Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 299 on May 3, 2007, I was unavoidably detained in my congressional district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment that will increase the number of highly qualified African American Head Start teachers. Let me hasten to thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member.

This program has been successful. I am fortunate enough to have what has been labeled as the number one Head Start program in the country in my district, and what I am attempting to do in this amendment is to create partnerships between our Nation's historically black colleges and universities and Head Start.

It does not eliminate anyone else's participation, but we know that by 2013 every Head Start teacher has to have a degree, and it could be parents because one of the secrets to success in these programs is to have lots of involvement of the parents and volunteers in the community.

The partnerships will provide an opportunity for Head Start staff and parents of Head Start students to obtain degrees in early childhood education.

Now, why must it be in a historically black college? Mr. Chairman, that is important because 30 percent of the total number of children in Head Start are African American.

Only 6 percent of our Nation's 3 million teachers are African American and this is far too few, but also the historically black colleges and universities educate more African American teachers than all the other universities put together.

So we would like to make this collaboration so that it can reflect the diversity and the need and encouragement of both the parents and the teachers to work together. They can serve as role models, the teachers who know and understand the students that come from their own communities, and this will not only increase the number of qualified African American Head Start teachers, but it will increase the number of role models for millions of children who are at risk of educational failure.

So, today, only 6 percent of our Nation's 3 million teachers are African American. It is far too small, but this would offer a unique resource and support for those that are seeking a degree which is going to be necessary to maintain these jobs, and it also will offer I think a very positive role model situation in our Head Start program where appropriate.

I would like to move adoption of my amendment.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

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

Madam Speaker, let me say thanks to Mr. Payne and Ms. Lee for bringing this forth.

I rise today in support of this resolution to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

This anniversary marks a significant moment in not only American history but the history of the world. For 300 years the transatlantic slave trade represented one of the most horrific periods in the history of human events. During this time, 12 million Africans were captured and brought to America as slaves. Millions more did not survive this horrific trip overseas, which could have lasted as long as 3 months. These individuals forcibly gave their lives and freedom to build the economic future of America, which includes this Capitol.

While nothing can replace lives or freedom, it is important to acknowledge that the consequences of slavery still exist. While 200 years may have passed since the end of the transatlantic slave trade, the legacy of racism still persists. Today we take a step forward in healing those wounds by recognizing the past and acknowledging the impact it still has on our Nation.

I would like to thank Representative Lee for writing this and bringing it forth. Because all too often, we think nobody remembers but us, those who still suffer from this horrific period in our history.

Madam Speaker, I rise to address my concerns for the 5.4 million Texans who are without health insurance. Nearly 25 percent of Texans are uninsured. That's the highest rate in the entire country. The irony is that Dallas and other cities have great health care networks.

The problem is that of access to care. In Dallas, there are many examples of health care excellence, including Parkland Memorial Hospital, Baylor University Medical Center, Methodist Medical Center, UT Southwestern Medical School, the Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center, and others.

However, the price of insurance is robbing Texans of access to the appropriate medical care. Emergency rooms are overcrowded. Only half of Texas children are covered by employment-based insurance.

We must fix the problem of the uninsured. Affordable, accessible health care coverage should be available to every American. Health care should not be a cash cow for the insurance companies.

Madam Speaker, let me thank our leaders on the committee. This is a very important bill. It is most especially for me, because for the last 15 years that I have been here, I have been preaching about this. So I rise in strong support of H.R. 362 for 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act.

The Committee on Science and Technology has worked to produce legislation to act upon the recommendations of the ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report which was published by the National Academy of Sciences. This bill addresses the issues that they recommended to improve the quality and number of math and science teachers across the Nation.

Of particular interest to me is the Noyce teacher scholarship program. This program provides grants to universities to give scholarships to math, science and engineering students who become math and science teachers. Original law stated that for every 1 year the scholarship was awarded, new teachers must spend 2 years teaching in a high-needs school. This high-needs school requirement was softened by H.R. 362, but I am pleased that the chairman agreed to modify the bill in conference to restore incentives for teachers to serve in high-need schools. We are losing so many students because they are are from poor communities.

The new design will provide more money per scholarship for students who agree to teach in underserved classrooms. This incentive will hopefully entice passionate and high-quality Noyce scholars to share their talents with students most in need.

I want to commend the chairman's sensitivity to the great disparities that exist in availability of highly qualified math and science teachers in schools across the country. As a matter of fact, in my district we have the number one high school in the country in this area, but not without a great deal of effort.

The subcommittee chair, where I was ranking member for about 6 years, Mr. Baird, and ranking member, Mr. Gingrey, of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee have been great advocates for lessening the achievement gap as well.

H.R. 362 also contains a laboratory science partnership pilot program that I have worked on with Mr. Hinojosa from Texas, and he has been a strong advocate because many of these schools don't have equipment. Overall, this legislation is designed to strengthen our Nation's scientific competitiveness by producing thousands of talented and well- educated math and science teachers. That is the only way we are going to remain competitive in this country. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 362.

Let me proceed to thank my colleagues for bringing this rule to the House so that we can rise above the gathering storm.

Mr. Speaker, this is not to insult anyone. I know what it feels like not to be given the opportunity to offer an amendment, I truly do.

But this is a well-substantiated reason because we are in a crisis in this Nation, and we must rise to the occasion. We are moving backwards right now, or standing still. The measure is an investment in America's future, and we must move it.

We must support our American scholars so that we can get the leadership and the thoughts we need to convey to other young people. Our young scholars are not getting the support they need now. They really need more, because they are the future.

The alternative to this bill is to become a Third World nation with all the low-paying jobs, because all of the other ones will leave this country to go where the talent is. We must move fast.

We are in a crisis, and I would hope that we would accept this rule as it is.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank Mr. Gordon, Mr. Hall, and our subcommittee chair as well as the ranking member.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 362. It is an essential measure to world competitiveness for this country. We are in the storm. We cannot accomplish rising above until we invest in our teachers, teachers that are qualified. Many of our teachers love teaching and they are trying hard, but they simply do not have the background needed. A lot of it has to do with pay, because the people who are well-qualified in these areas simply do not come to the classroom because they do not pay enough.

I support the Noyce teacher scholarships, and I know that the storm of need is sure and it is now. It takes efforts and investment to deal with this issue. There are now more and more high-need schools which means we have more and more students that need special attention, and we cannot have a positive future until we include them in this education.

This is called the investment in America's future. We are depending on the home people to be prepared because the H-1B visas are causing us to brain drain other countries. This is a global need, and we must be ready to prepare our own. We will be left with no possible preparation in this area, and we will move right into a Third World nation.

We must remedy this. Implementing the provisions of H.R. 362 will go a long way in remedying this problem, and I firmly believe that with proper resources we know our young people can do it.

There is a school in my district with some of the poorest kids, but they are doing it because they have the proper resources.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank Mr. Ehlers as well as Mr. Gordon for accepting this amendment, and I fully support it and I fully support the bill.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for our committee leadership.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 363, the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act. This legislation was based on policy recommendations from the ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report to Congress by the National Academy of Sciences.

One of the greatest challenges new researchers face is getting grant funding for their research. In Dallas, the University of Texas Southwest Medical School has four Nobel laureates, where they earned them right there, and UT-Dallas has at least one. Baylor University and others are stellar research institutions, and they compete at the national level for grants and perform award-winning scientific research.

These universities depend on Federal research funding.

When new faculty are hired at research universities in Texas and elsewhere, they are expected to be able to write grant proposals and successfully win funding from Federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and others.

According to NIH, the average age at which the investigator first obtains RO1 major grant funding is age 42. If students are earning Ph.D.s in their late twenties, that means there are many years of struggle before they can establish themselves and eventually become full professors at these universities.

As a result, many scientists have dropped out of science. It is too hard to get funding. The stress level is too high.

Mr. Chairman, grant support targeted at new investigators is an important step toward resolving this problem. If Congress would fund Federal research as vigorously as our competitors overseas are doing, we wouldn't have such a problem.

H.R. 363 targets young investigator grant support at the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and other scientific research agencies under the purview of the Committee on Science and technology.

This is a good bill and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for the time.

I rise with great sadness to remember my friend, my sorority sister in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and my colleague, Juanita Millender- McDonald. And I want to extend my deep

condolences to her husband James, her children, friends, and loved ones.

I was privileged to serve with her on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and her diligent service is evident in many of California's roads, bridges, and highways. I worked with her when she was cochair of the Congressional Women's Caucus. She did it with such charm, grace, poise, and dignity. This body is diminished and dismayed by her sudden absence, but we were inspired and enriched by her presence.

Her spirit will live on. Her work will be felt by those who don't even know she helped. We celebrate her life. It was a wonderful, wonderful life. And we love her and her family.

Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness to remember my friend, my sorority sister and my colleague, Juanita Millender-McDonald. I want to extend my deep condolences to her husband, James, her children, friends and loved ones.

As chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald will be recorded in history as the first African- American woman to chair a full committee of the House.

Those of us privileged to know and work with her will remember her tireless advocacy for justice and her example of meaningful public service.

Throughout her career, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald was a friend to women's causes and to young people. Her work to end human trafficking and slow the transmission of AIDS has improved countless lives.

The results of her work--improved lives for women and girls worldwide, expanded voting rights for the disenfranchised, greater assistance for the sick and the poor--are a testament to her character.

From the beginning, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald was a trailblazer:

She was the first African-American woman to serve on the Carson, California City Council.

In her first term in the California State Assembly, she became the first woman to chair two powerful committees.

She was the first African-American woman to give the national Democratic response to President Bush's weekly radio address as well.

But for all her firsts, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald was also a champion for the least and the last. She fought injustice wherever she found it: Whether in the voting booth, the classroom, the research lab, or the workplace.

Congresswoman Millender-McDonald rigorously investigated widespread voting irregularities and disenfranchisement.

She was a vocal opponent of genocide around the world and a tireless fighter for human rights.

Her Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Transmission Act became the President's $15 billion African AIDS initiative.

Congresswoman Millender-McDonald also worked to increase diabetes research in minority and female populations; she pushed the Department of Education to improve the dismal dropout rates among minority high school students and secured millions to reduce the backlog of Equal Employment Opportunity complaints.

The first time voters in Ohio can feel more confident their votes will count because of Congresswoman Millender-McDonald.

The elderly diabetics in her home State of Alabama have a better chance of avoiding amputation because of her.

She had a hand in granting diplomas to thousands of Native American students growing up on reservations; and countless girls in Cambodia and Sudan have her to thank for a childhood free from kidnapping and assault. They may never know where to direct their gratitude, but the alleviation of their suffering stands as her lasting legacy.

Her influence is also inscribed on the physical landscape of California's 37th district. I was privileged to serve with her on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and her diligent service is evident in many of California's roads, bridges and highways.

Congresswoman Miliender-McDonald's record of exemplary public service includes life memberships in the NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

She served on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Board of Directors, and founded the League of African-American Women.

Congresswoman Millender-McDonald also founded the Young Advocates to train young people for political leadership.

This body is diminished and dismayed by her sudden absence, but we were inspired and enriched by her presence.

Her commitment to equal opportunity, civil and human rights will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of