Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of runaway youth prevention programs.

Children are our greatest resource, and positive investment in our children is essential for America's future.

We are facing a potential crisis in America. There are nearly 20 million American teenagers that are at serious risk of not achieving a positive adulthood.

For our Nation's homeless youth, this path towards positive adulthood is even more challenging.

It is estimated that each year there are 1.5 million runaway and homeless youth in the United States. Last year, in Dallas County we saw about 9 thousand children ran away from home.

We cannot simply forget these children. They need a life-line, a place to stay, and the tools to have a bright future.

The Promise House Emergency Shelter and Street Outreach Programs are exceptional programs that are vital to Dallas.

Promise House offers invaluable services for runaway and homeless youth.

I have seen first-hand the outstanding contributions Promise House has made to the Dallas Community.

Promise House not only gives these young people a safe place to stay, but it gives them a life-line, and a chance to change their outlook and situation.

I would like to commend the staff of Promise House, Dr. Harriet Boorhem, and the many volunteers for the extraordinary service they provide to the Dallas community.

I would also like to thank Mr. Porter for offering this Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to take this opportunity to recognize and congratulate the accomplishments of Bishop J. Neaul Haynes. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Bishop Haynes has a longstanding commitment to the ministry and the Oak Cliff community.

Prior to his appointment as Prelate of Texas Northeast Jurisdiction, Bishop Haynes served the Jurisdiction in many capacities. He became a member of the Texas Northeast Jurisdictional Trustee Board; appointed District Superintendent of the Dallas West District in 1967; began serving as Assistant to the Jurisdictional Secretary in 1969, and was appointed as Administrative Assistant to the Jurisdictional Bishop in 1973. J. Neaul Haynes was elevated to the episcopacy as Prelate of Texas Northeast Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in 1978.

Bishop Haynes also served the Church of God in Christ on a National level in varied capacities. In 1972 became a member of the National Trustee Board, and from 1972 to 1984 he served as Assistant General Secretary/Registration. In 1984, Bishop Haynes was elected to serve as a member of the General Board (Presidium) of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. He became the Secretary of the General Board in November, 1988. In November 1995, Bishop Haynes ascended to the position of Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. And in April, 1997, Bishop Haynes was further promoted to the position of First Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ Worldwide. In November, 2000, the Church of God in Christ elected a new Presiding Bishop, Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson. Bishop Haynes is now serving in the new administration as the Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ.

Bishop Haynes's community involvement and civic contributions demonstrate that he is a man of great vision and excellence.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand before my colleagues on behalf of the citizens of Dallas to congratulate Bishop J. Neaul Haynes on his selfless dedication to the Saintsville Church of God in Christ and to the Oak Cliff community. May God bless Bishop Haynes and allow him to continue his service to those in need of faith, hope, and charity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in great sadness to pay tribute to my good friend and one of Texas' most outstanding public servants, Greg Cooke. Greg Cooke passed away recently at the age of 51.

Mr. Cooke served as the top ranking EPA official in the area that encompasses Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

Mr. Cooke was an outstanding and dedicated citizen, and his commitment to Texas was instrumental in developing clean air plans for both Dallas-Ft. Worth and Houston-Galveston in partnership with the State of Texas. These plans contained innovative provisions that incorporated economic incentives, as well as, traditional mandatory measures. His clean air plans also included development of an innovative ``compact'' to facilitate early compliance with EPA's upcoming 8-hour standard for such cities as Austin and San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Cooke served as Regional Administrator of EPA Region VI for the past 4\1/2\ years. He was appointed to the post by President Clinton and was the only political appointee in the EPA retained by current President George W. Bush.

Greg Cooke exuded class--not only in the way he practiced law but also in the way he lived his life. He had a straight-ahead, just-the- facts writing style that belied his passion for environment.

Mr. Speaker, with Greg Cooke's passing, we have lost an impressive individual and a true leader. He championed the interests of Texas and environmental issues. Greg Cooke was a caring and compassionate man and a tremendous political leader and public servant. I extend my deepest sympathy to Greg Cooke's family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart on the passing of my dear, trusted and longtime beloved friend, the late Governor Ann Richards. I also rise to pay tribute to her many contributions and her sincere dedication of public service to our great State of Texas and to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends everywhere who share in my sadness.

I not only lost an esteemed colleague with whom I could always count on for support, since so often we agreed on social and political issues, but also a dear and trusted friend whom I shared many fond moments and with whom I shared a vision for our great State of Texas.

Our friendship expanded more than 40 years; I first met Ann when she lived in Dallas before moving to Austin where she ran for Travis County Commissioner in 1976 and I was elected to serve at the Texas House of

Representatives. Our first taste of government was as outsiders and sideline players who were mainly called upon to help others win the races. Texas in the 70's wasn't open to allowing women a seat at the political table so our admittance was earned vote by vote. As women in Texas politics, we shared the same struggles and the many sacrifices which are often not asked of men in politics.

In her popular address to the Girls State in 1993, she commented that `as a woman you cannot count on Prince Charming to make you feel better about yourself or to take care of you, like some funhouse mirror that reflects you at twice your real size because Prince Charming may be driving a Honda and telling you that you have no equal ...but that won't do you much good when you've got kids and a mortgage. . . and he has a beer gut and a wandering eye.'

Ann believed in telling people the truth, especially young girls who were in danger of not maximizing their full potential. For those of us who knew Ann, she would be pleased that her many distinguished accomplishments as a woman in the male dominated Texas politics represented a beacon of hope to many young women who shared her unconventional aspirations.

In 1982 when a seat opened as the State Treasurer, Ann sought the Democratic nomination after the incumbent withdrew from the race. As State Treasurer and as a true pragmatist with a keen eye for technology, she transformed the Texas Treasury into a modern operation which encompassed electronic funds transfer, modernized investments and cash management systems. Along the way, Ann earned the respect and admiration of the business community who appreciated her foresight and vision.

In 1990 as the first woman Governor of Texas in 50 years, Ann aligned herself with the late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock and Comptroller John Sharp and together formalized a statewide performance review of agencies that inevitably led to much needed recommendations for change.

In her tenure as Governor she was adamant about appointing minorities on state boards and commissions. Ann wanted Texas Government to reflect the people of the State and was proud of the rich cultural and vast diversity engrained in every corner of Texas.

Ann is survived by her four children: Cecile, Daniel, Clark and Ellen and their spouses: Kirk Adams, Linda Richards, Sharon Zeugin and Greg Johnson and her much beloved eight grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker in closing, it is worthy to mention Ann's legacy as an independent thinker, a strong-minded and compassionate woman with a sharp wit and charming personality who loved her State and the people of Texas so much she dedicated 12 years of her life to serve them. I am saddened at the loss of Governor Ann Richards but I am certain that her legacy will live in the minds and hearts of young women everywhere who now have Ann to remind them that there is nothing as women they cannot accomplish.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This past July, I was able to offer on the House floor a resolution recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.

The week of September 10th is officially HBCU week. I am pleased to be able to join with my colleagues today to recognize these fine institutions of higher learning.

For over 170 years, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been on the forefront of preparing our nation's youth for a bright path and successful future. Originally founded for the purpose of providing educational opportunities for African Americans, HBCUs have profoundly changed the American economic and social climate.

The fact is that until 1964, HBCUs represented one of the only opportunities African American students had to obtain a degree in higher education. HBCUs have changed the face of this nation and have opened the door for many generations of African American students.

Today, America's HBCUs continue to provide excellent educational opportunities to all Americans. Over 200,000 diverse students across the United States attend HBCUs today.

I am proud to represent Paul Quinn College, the oldest historical Black college west of the Mississippi River. For over 130 years, Paul Quinn has provided their students with the tools to become successful leaders. Because of their unique resources, HBCUs continue to be extremely effective in graduating African American students and preparing them to compete in the global economy.

HBCUs graduate over half of all African American professionals, and fifty percent of all African American school teachers. Additionally, HBCUs remain extremely successful in graduating African American Ph.D's and scientists. The fact is that we cannot move forward as a country until all our children have the opportunity to succeed academically. Each day HBCUs help us bridge that achievement gap.

National HBCU Week allows us to reflect upon the impact these institutions have had on our history and to celebrate their continued commitment to outstanding education. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support in passing the national HBCU week resolution.

Mr. Speaker, for a lot of American families it is becoming more and more difficult to make ends meet in the Bush economy. With sky-high gas prices this summer, rising health care costs and stagnant wages, working Americans are feeling a serious squeeze on their family finances.

Unfortunately, President Bush and the congressional Republicans refuse to address our economy because they think it is moving along smoothly. But that is simply not the case.

While full-time minimum wage earners face a 50-year low in buying power, and all Americans face wages that are falling after inflation, corporate profits have reached their highest share of the economy since the 1960s. It would be nice if corporate CEOs and shareholders were not the only ones benefiting from the production American workers are bringing in every day. Democrats believe it is time for them to get their fair share.

Mr. Speaker, working Americans are ready for a new economic direction, one where workers are justly compensated for their efforts and the benefits of increased productivity can be shared by all. The days of catering exclusively to the wealthiest have helped create the troubling economic conditions that our Nation now faces. It is time for a change.

Madam Chairman, I strongly oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

For this reason I am a cosponsor of H.R. 503. This bill prohibits the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption.

An overwhelming majority of my constituents from the Dallas, Texas, area are opposed to horse slaughter, and my vote reflects their will.

My office phone has been ringing off the hook with constituents opposed to horse slaughter. I have received more than 500 letters in the past few days. All are opposed to horse slaughter.

Horses are a symbol of American freedoms. They are a part of our history, our culture, and they deserve better.

Three slaughterhouses remain in the United States, and unfortunately two of them are in Texas. These meat factories kill about 100,000 American horses per year, sending the meat to countries overseas for fine dining.

Madam Chairman, I vigorously oppose this gruesome practice. And I don't agree with the argument that shutting down these slaughterhouses will hurt the local economies or be inhumane for horses.

In my opinion, this bill protects American horses from being raised-- and slaughtered--for human consumption.

I support H.R. 503 and urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. Speaker it has been almost 10 years since we've seen an increase in the Federal minimum wage.

Unfortunately, this bill here today is not about helping American workers.

The bill is full of poison pills--tax breaks for the wealthy and hand-outs for special interests.

This is nothing more than a backdoor attempt to put money in the pockets of the wealthiest among us.

We're playing politics and decent hardworking Americans are the ones paying the price.

The reality is that there are millions of workers trying to support their families on $5.15 per hour.

Each day millions of minimum wage workers are forced to choose between food, shelter, health care or clothing.

No American who works hard for a living should have to make those types of choices.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for a new direction that truly reflects our core American values.

These hardworking Americans deserve an up-or-down vote on a clean minimum wage bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to offer this resolution recognizing National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, and I want to thank Mr. Owens for all of his efforts over the years and thanks to all the cosponsors.

For over 170 years, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been on the forefront of preparing our Nation's youth for a bright path and successful future. Many struggling, almost closing, and some did close, but determined to finish their mission.

Originally founded for the purpose of providing educational opportunities for African Americans, HBCUs have profoundly changed the American economic and social climate. The fact is that until 1964, HBCUs represented one of the only opportunities African American students had to obtain a degree in higher education. HBCUs have changed the face of this Nation and have opened the doors for many generations of African American students.

Today America's HBCUs continue to provide excellent educational opportunities for all Americans. Over 200,000 diverse students across the United States attend HBCUs today.

I am proud to represent Paul Quinn College, the oldest historical black college west of the Mississippi River. For over 130 years, Paul Quinn has provided their student with the tools to become successful leaders. Because of their unique resources, HBCUs continue to be extremely effective in graduating African American students and preparing them to compete in the global economy. While they may start behind going into the college, they have always been able to compete equally and competitively on the graduate level. HBCU graduates over half of all American professionals, and 50 percent of all African American school teachers graduate from HBCUs. Additionally, the

Historically Black Colleges and Universities remain extremely successful in graduating African American Ph.D.s and scientists.

The fact is that we cannot move forward as a country until all of our children have the opportunity to succeed academically. Each day, HBCUs help us bridge that achievement gap. Celebrated the week of September 10, National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week allows us to reflect upon the impact these institutions have had on our history and to celebrate their continued commitment for outstanding education.

I would like to thank the House leadership and the Education and the Workforce Committee for allowing me to bring this important resolution to the floor, and I request the support of all my colleagues of Resolution 928.

Mr. Speaker, AIDS is a disease that knows no national borders. Approximately 40 million people across the globe are infected with this virus. There is no cure, and for many people, no hope.

Between 1995 and 2005, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS has doubled, despite efforts to prevent transmission of the disease. New infections among women outpace those among men as a result of gender inequalities and violence toward women. Ninety-

six percent of people with HIV live in the developing world, most in sub-Saharan Africa.

Life-saving drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus have been unavailable, and hundreds of thousands of infants have become needlessly infected at birth or through breastfeeding in the last year.

Bill and Melinda Gates have done a great thing to provide hope to the millions suffering from AIDS.

Yesterday, they announced that they have dedicated $287 million in the form of 16 grants over 5 years to set up an international network of HIV vaccine scientists.

What is special about the grants is that they will be shared among 16 research projects in 19 countries. Five of the grants will pay for central laboratories to test researchers' findings and foster international collaboration.

Importantly, the Gates Foundation's gift will encourage the 165 scientists receiving them to join forces. All the scientists involved have signed a collaboration agreement to openly share their data and results. This unique arrangement is designed to get an effective HIV vaccine quickly into clinical trials in humans.

I have great respect for Bill and Melinda Gates, and I admire their desire to do good things at a global level. They are a model of charity. By this generous gift, the Gates are showing all of us how to look beyond our own borders and make a real difference in this world. Global health and equality are the true keys to bringing about world peace and understanding.

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to honor a great man and a great artist, poet laureate Rayfer Earl'e Mainor. As our Nation's longest serving poet laureate, and the only current African American poet laureate, Rayfer Earl'e Mainor has shared his soul through his poetry for over 50 years.

It is the responsibility of a poet laureate to uplift and raise the status of poetry in the everyday consciousness of Americans. Since 1969, Rayfer Earl'e Mainor has embodied those ideals and standards.

All too often poetry has ignored the particular aspects and unique history of African Americans. Rayfer Earl'e Mainor's representations and imagery have shaped the way the world now views the African American experience. His poems have allowed us to reexamine and rethink our own views and experiences.

Rayfer Earl'e Mainor has authored several works that have sought to inspire us including: Poems; Poems II; A Tribute to Blackness; The Life and Times of Sister Menefee; Mammoth Melting Sugar; and To Mister or Sarah Jean: A Love Story. Through his craft, Rayfer Earl'e Mainor has enlightened us with the narrative prose of the brutal murder of Emmitt Till, and poetry relaying the 1916 lynching of Jesse Washington. His work has also detailed the reflections and expectations surrounding expectant fatherhood.

It is an honor for me to be able to recognize this outstanding man, artist, and lifelong member of Alpha Phi Alpha. His work and representations have brought reverence to the African American community and his brotherhood at Alpha Phi Alpha. I am fortunate enough to serve with several distinguished men of Alpha Phi Alpha, including: Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Congressman Robert Scott, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Congressman David Scott, Congressman Danny Davis, and Congressman Al Green. I know that my fellow colleagues and Congressional Black Caucus Members equal the respect and admiration for Mr. Mainor.

I have the highest esteem for Rayfer Earl'e Mainor and his work, and I look forward to many more bright expressions of poetry, prose, and art in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 784, the resolution that commends Iraq's first and only radio station for women.

As the women of Iraq continue to fight for their rightful place in society, we must recognize the avenues they have engineered for themselves that provide the forum for practicing their right to be heard.

Established in 2005, the radio station is appropriately named al- Mahaba, which means ``love'' in Arabic, is the first and only independent women's radio station in Iraq. The station was funded by UNIFEM, a United Nations agency that supports women's issues, and is not affiliated to any political party.

Having returned from a recent Codel trip to Iraq, I was very fortunate to have met with women representatives from the radio station who expressed their commitment to women's issues. These strong and courageous women understand much too well the importance of taking a stand against oppression and know they have found a new sense of empowerment.

The station's purpose is to reconcile women's rights, which have been arbitrarily taken away by political regimes; and to encourage them to face their fears and learn to assert themselves as women.

I support the format facilitated by the radio station because it provides women with a long overdue venue where they can tell their stories, share their ambitions and express their fears.

When calling the radio station, these women address a wide range of personal and political issues that have a direct affect on them as women. The format allows them to candidly share enduring numerous beatings from their husbands; share their frustrations with the consistent pressure from religious groups to wear the hijab; and express their fear of having a strict form of Islamic Law imbedded in their society.

For women who feel as forgotten members of society, the radio station provides them a haven to freely express themselves without fear of judgment or persecution. These women endure immense atrocities and oppressions and we must support and recognize their efforts to assert themselves as strong voices in Iraq's society.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 9, the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, without amendment.

Our values, our freedom, and our democracy are based on the idea that every eligible American citizen has the right to vote, and they also have the right to expect that their votes will be counted.

It was only 40 years ago that minorities lived under the oppression of Jim Crow, and we still do. I have spent most of my time in the last 2 weeks working on redistricting, where the Supreme Court just ruled, or a little over 2 weeks ago, that it violated the Voting Rights Act.

So, 2 weeks ago, not only the Attorney General, but the attorney general of Texas as well, had to move in for Prairie View A&M students to be able to vote, because the DA did not want them to vote for fear they would not elect the right persons.

We do still have a problem and we do need this Voting Rights Act.

It was only 40 years ago that minorities lived under the oppression of Jim Crow. As a result, millions of Americans were unable to fairly participate in our democracy.

The Voting Rights Act changed the face of this Nation.

In this battle for the most basic of rights, many heroic Americans were imprisoned, beaten, or even killed in the name of freedom and justice.

The Voting Rights Act was not and never will be about special rights--it is about equal rights.

We have made amazing progress over the past 40 years. However, progress does not mean that we stop trying.

We cannot and must not give up until every American citizen has the access and opportunity to vote--regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, or language ability.

There are still thousands of cases of voter intimidation and discrimination reported at every election.

Minorities continue to face an uphill battle of misinformation over polling locations, the purging of voter rolls, scare tactics, and inaccessible voting locations.

Prior to the 2004 elections, students at Prairie View A&M were told they could no longer register to vote in Waller County, TX.

The fear was that the 8,000 students at this historically black college may elect someone the local district attorney didn't want.

This change in voter registration was not precleared by the Department of Justice, and was ultimately overturned by the Texas attorney general and the Department of Justice.

This is just one example of why we still need the Voting Rights Act.

Now is the time to reauthorize this historic cornerstone of civil rights. It is imperative to our rights, our freedom and our democracy.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank the authors of the bill. I rise today in strong opposition to the Gohmert amendment. You know, what is considered to be punishment for some Texans protects the legal privilege of other Texans. Another native Texan added Latina protection.

The passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act has changed the face of this Nation, enabling millions of Americans the opportunity to vote. When I hear about 25 years being too long, it reminds me of how many years passed before we got the privilege. I do not think 25 years is too long, because we are in the midst of looking at a violation right now in Texas in redistricting.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the fact that this gentleman supports the Voting Rights Act, but I do not support the 10 years; I support the 25 years.

There are many who say there is no longer a need for the Voting Rights Act. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

At every election minorities continue to face an uphill battle exercising their right to vote.

In preparing for this reauthorization, the Judiciary Committee reviewed hundreds of examples of voter intimidation and discrimination.

It is unfortunate, but this level of discrimination will not be eradicated in the next 10 years.

Additionally, 10 years is not enough time to effectively review patterns of discriminatory conduct.

This is not a punishment for Southern states. It's a pledge that Congress will work to ensure all Americans have the ability to vote and to have that vote counted.

In addition, no state is force to comply with these provisions for another 25 years. There are ways for jurisdictions to exit both Section 5 and Section 203.

The Voting Rights Act is current, necessary, and protects the rights of millions of Americans.

Now is the time to reauthorize this historic cornerstone of civil rights for another 25 years. It is imperative to our rights, our freedom and our democracy.

Mr. Speaker, Senior Corporal Arthur Busby is a true American hero, who has proudly served the Dallas Police Department since 1973. His tireless devotion to the department, his colleagues and the people of Dallas is to be commended.

It has been said that the ultimate measure of a person's life is the extent to which they made the world a better place. Arthur Busby's work has forever shaped the Dallas community; not only through the lives he has saved, but the ones he has touched.

Senior Corporal Busby's contributions to the Dallas community cannot simply be measured by a time clock. His extensive involvement in community service includes work with the Boys Club of America, the Dallas Community Service Center, and the United Negro College Fund, just to name a few. Additionally, Senior Corporal Busby is very accomplished in the field of marshal arts and has extended that knowledge by means of instruction and assistance throughout the community.

As a member of the Special Operations Tactical Section, Arthur Busby has been on the front lines on many perilous situations. As part of his duties in hostage rescue, Senior Corporal Busby has bravely rescued many individuals from potentially deadly situations. In 1998, Senior Corporal Busby played a key role in freeing a 4-month-old baby from a 3-hour hostage standoff. His bravery and composure has made the difference between life and death for many citizens of Dallas.

Throughout his 33 years with the Dallas Police Department, Senior Corporal Busby's commitment to law enforcement has been an inspiration to all of us, and has made an enormous difference to thousands of our fellow citizens. Upon his retirement, I wish him the best for the years ahead. Certainly, his impact and contributions as a police officer will not be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend DeClara Nixon Bailey on her one-hundredth birthday. Born on August 13, 1906 in Midway, Texas, Mrs. Bailey has contributed an entire lifetime to serving her fellow Texans.

While in Midway, Texas, Mrs. Bailey was an elementary school teacher. By balancing a life of career and family, she stood as an exemplary female representative and role model, in an otherwise male dominated society. Her passion to serve the community and her constant strive towards meritocracy is an example for us all.

In 1954, Mrs. Bailey moved to the greater Dallas area where she volunteered her time to mentally challenged students at the John Neely Bryan Elementary School.

In the 1960's, Mrs. Bailey's devotion to assisting the disadvantaged allowed her to become Volunteer Captain for the American Heart Association in Dallas. Her amazing ambition drove her to also volunteer her time at the Dallas Family Hospital.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate Mrs. DeClara Nixon Bailey on this auspicious occasion for a lifetime of magnificent accomplishments.