Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation to name the Department of Education Building in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

President Johnson believed that everyone should have the right to a free and adequate education regardless of their gender, race or economic status. President Johnson fought for opportunity and access for all Americans, and I can truly think of no one better person for whom to name the Department of Education building.

President Johnson's first job was as a Texas elementary school teacher and principal at a segregated school attended by only Mexican- Americans. He held that experience with him, and continually fought for education and equality for all Americans. President Johnson recognized that education meant opportunity for millions of Americans who would otherwise never be able to achieve the American dream.

The strides made for educational equality and fairness under the Johnson administration were truly remarkable. Under President Johnson, we adopted many landmark education policies including the Early and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for Humanities, and the Higher Education Act of 1965. Perhaps no other President has ever overseen so many pioneering changes to the way that we educate our Nation's children.

I fully support Congressman Gene Green's effort to name the U.S. Department of Education building in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the legacy of an exceptional public servant, the late Governor Ann Richards.

When Governor Richards passed away in September, I not only lost an esteemed colleague, but a dear and trusted friend. I am proud to say that our friendship endured for more than 40 years.

First, we are from the same hometown. But I didn't meet her there, I met her in Dallas, Texas when she lived there in the 1960s. And then she moved to Austin, and the first thing that she did, she always helped in everybody's campaign, but the first thing she did in Austin was manage Sarah Weddington's campaign for the Texas House, and we won at the same time. Sarah Weddington is the young lawyer that defended Rowe v. Wade before the Supreme Court.

As women in politics, and especially Ann, we shared some of the same views and many of the same colleagues, and I did encourage her that she had come to her time that she can maybe serve in elective office herself. And we knew that Texans were not that supportive of women running for office, but she ran for the County Commissioner's Court and won.

She was not afraid to be herself, and she really listened to people and she was supportive of people. Her independent spirit and charm not only won

her votes, but it really generated a great deal of respect. And she often used humor to get her point across, but she did get her point across. People respected her, and they knew that she would work hard on their behalf and there was never a question about that.

She took pride in her accomplishments as Governor. First she won as Treasurer, and I had the pleasure of running her campaign in Dallas County during that time. But when she won as Governor, it was a very male-dominated situation, and she right away appointed more women and minorities to important boards than anyone else ever had done in history.

For the first time there were women and minorities on the board of regents of Texas universities all over the State and many other women positions that was on the medical examiners board. Those medical examiners didn't know what had taken place. But she was not afraid to do it.

She utilized the latest technology as Texas Treasurer. When she came into office there was a big deficit, and she hired a consultant to come down and help, and that consultant was Franklin Raines. That is when I first met him.

We did so much together. And when she was in office and was able to see how to get through those many problems, she earned the support of the business community, which was mostly white men of course. Ann broke her way from the mold.

I rise today to pay tribute to the legacy of an exceptional public servant, the late Governor Ann Richards.

When Governor Richards passed away in September, I not only lost an esteemed colleague, but a dear and trusted friend.

I'm proud to say that our friendship endured for more than 40 years.

I first met Ann Richards in the sixties when she lived in Dallas and was running for Travis County Commissioner.

As women in politics, Ann and I shared many of the same views and also many of the same challenges.

Texas in the 1970's wasn't very supportive of women running for political office, so you really had to earn each and every vote.

Ann wasn't afraid to be herself, and she compelled people to listen to her.

Her independent spirit and charm not only won her votes, but it garnered respect.

People respected her, and they knew that she would work hard on their behalf.

Ann took pride in her accomplishments in the male dominated Texas politics. She had hoped that her success may serve as inspiration to young women.

She certainly served as inspiration to me.

In 1982 Ann successfully ran for Texas State Treasurer.

As State Treasurer she utilized the latest technology to transform the Texas Treasury into a modern operation.

Along the way, Ann earned the respect of the business community who appreciated her foresight and vision.

In 1990 Ann became the first woman Governor of Texas elected in her own right.

Ann broke away from the mold of previous Governors. She wasn't afraid to shake things up and speak her mind.

In her tenure as Governor she was adamant about appointing minorities on state boards and commissions.

Ann wanted the Texas Government to reflect the diversity and culture of the people of the State.

Ann was a hands-on Governor, and she didn't let much get by her.

She did her best to eliminate inefficiency and waste within the government.

She demanded that the Texas government fully serve the people, and she did everything in her power to realize that.

She had a strong will for justice and fairness for all.

Governor Richards was one of the finest of Texans that I've ever known.

She dedicated herself to the State and the people of Texas.

She broke down barriers for women, and made us believe that anything was possible.

She was truly an original, and her absence is immensely felt.

The recognition she is receiving today is very well deserved.

Her many contributions to the State of Texas and to America will not be forgotten.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I rise today to pay tribute to the current and former African-American Members of Congress with Chairwoman Kilpatrick and my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Our Nation can feel proud today that a record number of 43 black or African-American Members serve in the 110th Congress; 42 in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. In total, there have been 119 black Members of Congress: 114 elected to the House and five to the Senate. Of those, 110 have been members with full voting rights in the House, a number that corresponds with the number of Congresses convened since our Nation's independence.

Voters sent the first black member to Congress during reconstruction. His name was Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS) and he served in the Senate in the 41st Congress (1870). His first black counterpart in the House, Joseph H. Rainey (R-SC), came during that same session.

Since then, African Americans have extended the honor roll of ``firsts'' and ``greatests,'' ``largests'' and ``most actives'' in both chambers. The 103rd Congress saw the largest class of black freshmen ever elected. Today, in the 110th Congress, we have five African- American full committee chairmen and 17 subcommittee chairs. Such a concentration of leadership is unprecedented. In addition to our constituents, we have our predecessors to thank.

Each current and former member of this august body owes a debt of gratitude to the members emeritus who came before them. Each African- American child who dreams of ascending to elected office has more than 100 trailblazers to light his or her way. It is this progress toward equal opportunity and representation that we celebrate today, during this month when we draw inspiration from an illustrious past to create a brighter future. On behalf of each current African-American member of the 110th Congress, I extend the deepest respect and gratitude to all those who preceded us.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the life of humanitarian Ray Lee Hunt in honor of his 2007 Linz Award. Mr. Hunt is not only being recognized for his humanitarian effort and his longtime dedication to community services but for his exemplary leadership in supporting the revitalizing of downtown Dallas and his strong commitment to the community's health and medical care system.

For over more than a decade, Mr. Hunt has provided health care to Dallas's impoverished population through Dallas Medical Resources. As a chairman he has sought to secure Federal funding for Parkland Memorial Hospital. Mr. Hunt has not only improved the health care system in Dallas, but he has also helped promote the city as a medical center.

The Linz Award that Mr. Hunt will receive on April 4, 2007, it's an award that is given annually to a Dallas County resident for his civic or humanitarian efforts. He is the 78th recipient of the award created in 1924 by Simon Linz, one of the founders of Linz Jewelers.

Mr. Hunt is one of those people who give so much to the community without asking any praises or interpretation. Mr. Hunt has helped raise millions of dollars to improve poor health care in Dallas County. Mr. Hunt has been chairman of Dallas Medical Resource since it was founded in the late 1980s. Mr. Hunt has also been a major benefactor to the Austin Street Shelter, the Genesis Women's Shelter and UT Southwestern Medical Center.

He has also served our government in various ways. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed him to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. He has also served as chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Madam Speaker, Mr. Hunt is a man who not only represents the spirit of Dallas but of our Nation.

Madam Speaker, the American people want a new direction in Iraq and I expect Congress to act accordingly. They really do think that this is a democracy and that this is representative government.

It has been almost 4 years since this administration declared the end of major combat in Iraq. He declared mission accomplished. Since this declaration, we have seen more than 3,000 of our military killed in combat, and more than 22,000 injured.

We cannot forget that these are not just numbers. These are our sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters. They are now more than 3,000 men and women who will never return home to be with their families. Many are so young, at 18, 19 and 20 years old, their lives have ended before they ever really began.

I started my professional career as a psychiatric nurse at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital, and I observed firsthand the physical and psychological trauma that the returning young people faced from the Vietnam war.

It is a long-term battle for them and their families as they learn to live with these disabilities. We are in a war with no end in sight, and now we are talking about troop escalation. How many more young lives are we going to lose? How many more soldiers will face long-term disabilities, life-long disabilities? The experts have weighed in on this issue, and they have said we are making a mistake to escalate.

The President sent a group of experts to design a new course for Iraq. The President's experts did not recommend additional troops. In fact, they recommended the very opposite.

Madam Speaker, it is time to listen to the experts and the commanders on the ground. Our troops are faced with an impossible task of policing a civil war. Each day we hear of sectarian attacks and bombings. Our troops are caught in the middle with no real strategy to end this violence. A great American military cannot be a substitute for a weak Iraqi government.

We need to focus on diplomatic solutions and training Iraq's security forces so they can take care of themselves and patrol their own country. With this escalation, we are just compounding the problem. We should concentrate on training the Iraqi security forces. They must know that this is not going to be an open-ended situation.

Madam Speaker, my constituents in north Texas continue to grieve the loss of their sons and daughters. They are

concerned for our troop safety and they are demanding answers. The war is costing us too many lives and too much money, $1 billion a week. At an overall cost of $500 billion, we will be paying the cost of this war for decades to come.

In my congressional district in Dallas, Texas, our share of the cost will be $1 billion. In Dallas this would have provided 400,000 children with health care or paid for 23,000 additional police officers. For our Nation's 300 million Americans, their share will be $1,300 a piece.

Accountability of Iraq war spending has been appalling. Does there exist any accountability? Last week we began the congressional hearings regarding contracting fraud. Apparently there is $12 billion unaccounted for. Contractors were being paid with large bags of cash.

This is truly an embarrassment and the height of irresponsibility as thousands of American children go to bed hungry tonight. Many are children of our troops, and now we are talking about spending more money and adding more troops. We need to end this, redeployment needs to start now.

Madam Speaker, we have before us a bipartisan resolution opposing the escalation of troops in Iraq. However, this debate is only the first step. The ultimate goal is to bring our troops home safely and swiftly. It is time for the President to listen to the American people and his advisers and refrain from changing the leadership when they disagree with him.

The best way to support our troops serving in Iraq is to say ``no'' to the President's escalation of this war. An outstanding general said recently that stubbornness cannot be mistaken as leadership and cliches cannot be called policy.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to honor the years and extraordinary work by Britt ``Max'' Mayfield the Director of the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Prediction Center. His work has been invaluable to the State of Texas and this Nation.

Mr. Mayfield has played a key role in forecast and service improvements for over 33 years.

A Fellow of the American Meteorological society, he has lectured in the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization sponsored training sessions, and provides numerous works for the worldwide media.

In 1996, Britt ``Max'' Mayfield was honored by the American Meteorological Society with the Francis W. Reichelderfer Award for an exemplary work as the coordinator of the National Hurricane Center.

His calm voice but unwavering strength has guided Florida and million others through some of the worst hurricane seasons in the history of the United States and has helped saved millions of American lives.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Mayfield was summoned to testify at six congressional hearings.

He and his staff won numerous praises for their efforts to alert the people of Louisiana and Tennessee.

As he leaves the Hurricane Center's Tropical Prediction Center, he continues to serve his nation and the world. Mayfield is the current member chairman of the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Association--IV, which supports 26 members from Atlantic and eastern Pacific countries.

Therefore Mr. Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor Britt ``Max'' Mayfield.

Madam Speaker, the role of African Americans in the Capitol's history precedes our arrival as elected officials. In fact, the very foundations on which we stand bear witness to the involvement of African American people. Some names became famous, such as Benjamin Banneker. He was a free African American mathematician who helped layout our capital city 1791.

But many more names will never be widely known. Although they labored in obscurity, their contributions stand today as monuments to their tenacity. Among them were skilled and unskilled laborers who helped build the U.S. Capitol building in 1793. Both free and enslaved people labored side by side to create this architectural gem. They were carpenters, sawyers, blacksmiths, bricklayers, and brickmakers. Ironically, it was an enslaved person who helped cast our magnificent Statue of Freedom. Another slave--Philip Reid--used his mechanical expertise to lift that statue to the top of the Capitol Dome in 1863.

Eventually, African-Americans moved into domestic service roles. They served as messengers, groundskeepers, cafeteria workers, and in similar service capacities. Yet black people were excluded from professional jobs until the 20th century.

The first African American known to be hired as a professional clerk was Jesse Nichols, a government documents clerk for the Senate Finance Committee from 1937 to 1971.

Later Christine McCreary, who worked for Senators Stuart Symington and John Glenn, was one of the first staffers to challenge the de facto segregation that existed on Capitol Hill. Sadly, this second class status for blacks persisted well into the 1960s. And to some degree it stubbornly persists.

In 1985, Trudi Morrison became the first woman and the first African American to serve as Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the Senate. Three years ago we saw another first for African Americans when the Senate appointed Dr. Barry C. Black as Chaplain. He continues to hold this position today.

And this year, Madam Speaker, you have expanded the train of firsts into the House of Representatives. The appointment of Lorraine C. Miller as Clerk of the House makes her the first African American to serve as an official of this chamber.

These are the unsung heroes that made possible all of the successes African Americans in civil service positions enjoy today. Whether elected or appointed, it is on their shoulders that we stand. In this month when we heighten awareness of African-American history, it is critical that we acknowledge them and pay down our debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on its 98th Anniversary. In 1909 the founder of the NAACP came together with the purpose of promoting the rights guaranteed under the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution. Today, the NAACP works to ensure that all individuals have equal rights and to eradicate racial hatred and discrimination.

The NAACP has influenced some of the greatest civil rights victories of the last century, including: integration of schools and the Brown v. Board decision; the Voting Rights Act; striking down segregation; and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.

Despite the advancements of the past 98 years under the leadership of the NAACP, there is still much work to be done. The NAACP continues to promote new ideas and leadership in the fields of educational and employment opportunities, ending health care disparities, and economic empowerment.

The NAACP instilled in America a sense of consciousness, and continues to do that today through the thousands of individuals who continue to fight for equality and justice.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Lorraine Miller on her years of outstanding service and much deserved appointment as Clerk to the U.S. House of Representatives. I have known Lorraine Miller a number of years, and am certain that she will prove to be an outstanding Clerk.

On February 15, 2007, Lorraine Miller will be sworn in as the 35th Clerk of the House, and notably the first African-American Clerk. In this position she will be responsible for the legislative operations of the House floor, the voting system, oversight, and supervision of more than 100 staffers.

A native of Forth Worth, and a fellow Texan, Lorraine Miller began her career with the U.S. House with the office of then Majority Leader, Jim Wright. Following her service with Speaker Wright, she went onto serve on the staffs of Speaker Foley and Congressman John Lewis. In addition, during the Clinton Administration she served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs for the House. She has also held high-level positions at the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. Currently, Lorraine Miller serves as a Senior Advisor to Speaker Pelosi, and president of the Washington D.C. chapter of the NAACP.

Lorraine Miller has dedicated her career to public service and I can think of no one better to serve as Clerk. I am certain that she will serve the House with distinction. The recognition she is receiving is imminently well deserved, and I wish her all the success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution to recognize the African American spiritual as a national treasure.

Till the passage of the 13th Amendment, African Americn slaves were prevented from speaking their native languages, playing musical instruments they had used in Africa, and practicing their traditional religious beliefs. Despite attempts to strip away the history and identity of these individuals, they relied on a strong oral tradition to pass down stories and family narratives in the form of original songs, now known as spirituals.

These African American spirituals came to represent a part of history that many tried to silence through oppression and slavery. These songs are a part of the spirit that could not be destroyed by the institution of slavery. And while the spirituals we know today likely represent only a small portion of the total number, they remain an important link to the past as we teach new generations the meaning of our roots.

For African Americans, identifying their history and researching genealogy becomes challenging due to a lack of organized records. Many are left with piecing together records of their ancestors left from former slave owners. Through song we can identify with our past, and the African American spiritual is oe of the few remaining bastions of African American tradition and history though art.

I urge my colleagues to honor our history by voting for this importance piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support for H.R. 808, as it would create a U.S. Department of Peace.

The importance of peace in the world today is often overlooked due to the severity of constant conflict, but, as a mother and lawmaker, the reality of war concerns me for the future of our Nation and this planet. The promotion of peace, not violence, should be number one on our agenda.

For years, I have worked to raise awareness in the women within our society, and around the world, so that they can spread the word of peace and build a culture of peace in this world.

Women in themselves are a powerful entity, and I believe by working together we as a society can stop the escalation of violence. We can prevail by joining together and building a U.S. Department of Peace. War is not the way, but peace is.

I am proud to support this resolution, creating a U.S. Department of Peace and urge my colleagues' support.

Madam Speaker, it has been my distinct honor over the years to take note of the extraordinary valuable work done by Douglas D. Hawthorne for the 30th Congressional District of Texas, the State of Texas and this Nation.

Mr. Hawthorne, president and chief executive of Texas Health Resources was recognized this fall, when he received the Greer Garson- E.E. Fogelson Humanitarian Award at the Greer Garson Gala. Mr. Hawthorne serves

as a national role model through his leadership and unwavering commitment to helping people and furthering the awareness of Parkinson's disease in our community.

For more than a decade, Mr. Hawthorne has conducted a ``quite revolution''' in the treatment of Alzheimer. He helped establish the APDA's Parkinson's Information and Referral Center at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas in 1990 and developed a relationship with the local chapter.

Hawthorne served as president and chief executive officer of Presbyterian Healthcare Resources from 1983 until the formation of Texas Health Resources in 1997. He is past chairman of Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council and the Texas Hospital Association (THA). In 1996, he received the Boone Powell Sr. Award of Excellence for distinguished hospital administration by the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council. In 1994, he received THA's highest award, The Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Hospital Administration. He has chaired several American Hospital Association (AHA) committees and is a former at-large member of AHA's Board of Trustees. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), he received the Gold Medal Award in 2002, ACHE Regent Senior Level Health Care Executive Award in 1991 and served as Regent for Texas Greater Dallas/Fort Worth area of the ACHE. In 2003, Modern Healthcare magazine named Hawthorne number 30 on its list of the ``100 Most Powerful People in Health Care.''

Madam Speaker, as one who has worked closely with Alzheimer patients, I know that his efforts for battling this disease are unequaled and he is certainly one of our community's great leaders. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor Douglas Hawthorne, on the occasion of his receiving the Greer Garson-E.E. Fogelson Humanitarian Award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H. Con. Res. 35, in support of the seventh anniversary of goals and ideals of National Blacks HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

This concurrent resolution will raise awareness about HIV/AIDS within the African American community and will point out the devastating impact this disease has on African American communities.

This day is a part of a national mobilization effort to get African Americans to learn about the threat that HIV/AIDS poses to the African American community.

The National Blacks HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day to remember those infected and affected by this epidemic. Since the beginning of this epidemic, 42 percent of all deaths occurred within the African American community.

Dallas accounts for one of the top 26 cities where African Americans are disproportionately impacted by AIDS.

From 2000 to 2005, more than half of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 32 states were among African Americans, although African Americans represented only 13 percent of the population of those states.

In 2004, black men had the highest rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses of any racial/ethnic population, approximately seven times the rate among white men and twice the rate among black women.

Black women are also severely impacted by HIV. During 2000-2004, approximately 69 percent of women who had HIV/AIDS diagnosed were black.

We must take the lead in supporting National Blacks HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. We must continue to educate/prevent and care for our members who have been affected by this atrocious epidemic and continue the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Madam Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to a friend of mine, a community visionary, a loving family man, and a true Texan who passed away last month.

David H. Brune was a man who lived a great life; he was dedicated to and loved his family, his church, and his work. His impact on the North Texas community was truly remarkable. As a lawyer, his expertise in water issues allowed for the Dallas County community of Las Colinas to be developed.

For five decades David H. Brune used his talents and his passion to serve the greater good of Texas. He helped to expand the potability of water, improve flood control, and turn flood plains into neighborhoods.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ``We can all be great because we can all serve.'' David H. Brune answered his call to community service and helped to shape North Texas. He will be missed, but his legacy will endure. I offer my condolences to his two daughters, Claudia Sandbach and Elizabeth Hark, his five grandchildren, and his one great- grandchild.

Madam Speaker, it has been a distinct honor over the years to take note of the extraordinary valuable work done by Douglas D. Hawthorne for the 30th Congressional District of Texas, the State of Texas and this Nation.

Mr. Hawthorne, president and chief executive of Texas Health Resources was recognized this fall, when he received the Greer Garson- E.E. Fogelson Humanitarian Award at the Greer Garson Gala. Mr. Hawthorne serves as a national role model through his leadership and unwavering commitment to helping people and furthering the awareness of Parkinson's disease in our community.

For more than a decade, Mr. Hawthorne has conducted a ``quite revolution''' in the treatment of Alzheimer. He helped establish the APDA's Parkinson's Information and Referral Center at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas in 1990 and developed a relationship with the local chapter.

Hawthorne served as president and chief executive officer of Presbyterian Healthcare Resources from 1983 until the formation of Texas Health Resources in 1997. He is past chairman of Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council and the Texas Hospital Association (THA). In 1996, he received the Boone Powell Sr. Award of Excellence for distinguished hospital administration by the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council. In 1994, he received THA's highest award, The Earl M. Collier Award for Distinguished Hospital Administration. He has chaired several American Hospital Association (AHA) committees and is a former at-large member of AHA's Board of Trustees. A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), he received the Gold Medal Award in 2002, ACHE Regent Senior Level Health Care Executive Award in 1991 and served as Regent for Texas Greater Dallas/Fort Worth area of the ACHE. In 2003, Modern Healthcare magazine named Hawthorne number 30 on its list of the ``100 Most Powerful People in Health Care.''

Madam Speaker, as one who has worked closely with Alzheimer patients, I know that his efforts for battling this disease are unequaled and he is certainly one of our community's great leaders. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor Douglas Hawthorne, on the occasion of his receiving the Greer Garson-E.E. Fogelson Humanitarian Award.