Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on rollcall No. 17, motion to go to conference on House Joint Resolution 2, because I am still recovering from surgery. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 17.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for inclusion into the Record a copy of a letter sent to President Bush on Monday, January 27, 2003. In the letter, I express my views as a ``pre-buttal'' to President Bush's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 28, 2003.

January 27, 2003.

Hon. George W. Bush,

The White House,

Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. President: For the past few weeks, I have been

away from my Washington office recovering from a surgical

procedure. This time away has allowed me to live as a normal

American outside of Capitol Hill. I have been an ear and a

shoulder for my constituents and many normal/working, people

who are concerned and worried about the economy, civil

rights, education, war and other legitimate fears. These

conversations have compelled me to share the thoughts and

sentiments of numerous citizens who have telephoned, faxed

and e-mailed me about the dismal state of our Union.

Mr. President, have you not noticed that there are others,

actually the majority, in this country that do not subscribe

to your very Republican morals, issues, and policies? On

Tuesday when you speak to the nation, please tell us the real

state of our Union and what you plan to do about it! The

current situation under your leadership can be better labeled

as a state of DISUNION . . . especially as it refers to your

party's policies and positions on war, civil rights and the

overall domestic agenda.

In these times of domestic disarray and homeland alarm, you

are acting as a playground bully picking fights on a global

scale when there are more pressings issues in your own front

yard. There is little doubt that world issues are very

serious and unsettling today. But, the United States of

America can not serve as world police, especially now when we

are faced with a continuing battle for basic civil rights,

the education of our children and the safety of our families

right here at home. President Bush, you are taking a hard

position and standing your ground on the wrong issues . . .

and you're standing nearly alone. Major United Nations member

countries have expressed their displeasure with your

insistence upon a personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein.

It is estimated that a new Bush war with Iraq will cost this

country $6 billion to $9 billion per month! Wouldn't that

money be better spent securing prescription drug coverage for

our seniors, keeping hospitals open and operational or

funding programs like No Child Left Behind and the Vote

America Act that have cleared the legislative process but

stand stagnant due to frozen resources.

Wouldn't this country's most important resource, our young

people, be better utilized as productive, college-educated

members of society rather than soldiers in a war that nobody

wants? Your insensitive, detached administration recently

demonstrated its misguided position on civil rights in higher

education for minorities and women. President Bush, your own

educational career was aided by preferential treatment.

The only difference between the University of Michigan's

admissions policy and your educational career is that the

Bush special treatment was based on affirmative influence

rather than affirmative action. The Michigan policy is not

far removed for other points systems that award advantages

to the children of board members, graduates of the

institution and major donors to the university. Your

hypocritical stance on the Michigan guidelines totally

ignored the fact that policies of this sort are more than

necessary and only start to alleviate the social and

economic shortfalls of the citizens they are designed to

assist. Millions of people are concerned that with the

recent attack on affirmative action will come an overall

evaporation of all civil rights for minorities and women.

Mr. President, would you please tell the American people

how you plan to promote the attainment of diverse student

bodies at institutions of higher education? We must equal

the educational opportunities for less fortunate citizens

so that those without the affirmative influence of a U.S.

President and a grandfather who sits on the board of

trustees at Yale can earn a quality/marketable education

as well.

Armed with such an education and life training, less

affluent citizens will go on to have better paying jobs that

will allow them to spend more on the necessities and spoils

of life. What better way to stimulate the economy than to put

more money in the hands of the largest section of the

population of this country . . . the middle class American?

Your new proposed tax plan would do nothing for the working

American. Tax cuts will only put money in the pockets of

those who already have it. Didn't you learn anything from

your 2001 tax cuts which reversed the positive progression of

the economy that was cultivated by the last administration

and managed to bankrupt the country in record time? The

Federal budget under your management has gone from a $236

billion surplus to a $159 billion deficit in merely 2 years .

. . a $395 billion swing of our economic prosperity. Have you

learned nothing from the $10 billion shortfall facing the

state of Texas caused by your tax cuts as its governor? If we

always do the same things we've always done, we will always

get the same results we've always gotten! Mr. President,

please tell us, the American people what you plan to do to

regain the confirmed economic success of the Clinton

administration that promoted the lowest unemployment numbers

in decades, garnered higher wages and home purchases for the

middle class, and saw industry and the stock markets

flourish. Please address the fact that millions of Americans

have lost their jobs, with their children being forced to

leave college to come home to foreclosed homes and bankrupt

parents.

What ``is'' the true state of the Union? Mr. President,

knowing your heart and compassion as I know it, would you

please address the very real issues I've put forth for and

with the American people. We all would like to hear a plan

that will benefit the masses and put us back on the path to

financial stability, civil and social equality, and PEACE at

home and abroad.

Sincerely,

Eddie Bernice Johnson,

Member of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 15, Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair (House Joint Resolution 13), had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 16, On Motion to Recommit with Instructions (House Joint Resolution 13), had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the legacy of representation and positive activism that has been fostered by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. On this its 30th anniversary, I would like to praise the Caucus members for their diligent continuation of a heritage of public service to the citizens of the great state of Texas. My gratitude and respect as well to the Honorable Senfronia Thompson, the Caucus's only active original members, for her dedicated and tireless service to the Caucus and the State. This group of state leaders has steadily fought to ensure that the policy priorities of Texas reflect the best interests of all of its citizens. The education, economic, civil and human rights initiatives have revolutionized state services and have helped ensure that all Texans are empowered to achieve the American dream.

The Caucus will be hosting its statewide conference from February 5th through 9th, 2003. This year's poignant agenda and focus is entitled, ``Without Vision the People Perish.''

As Texas lawmakers prepare to continue their concentration on such issues as Education, health Care, Insurance, Criminal Justice, Business & Industry, and Elections, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus will assert its energies to ensure that the masses of Texas are properly represented. No other organization is better suited or possesses a better track record of being accountable and holding other lawmakers accountable for the betterment of the lives of Texas citizens. I am certain that the conference will once again be a tremendous success.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the United States Congress join me in paying honor and tribute to the 16 members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus as they continue their critical fight for all Texas families.

Mr. Speaker, today, the House of Representatives passed an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for almost 3 million unemployed American workers. Although I was supportive of a much stronger unemployment compensation extension, one that would have provided benefits to an additional 1 million American workers whose benefits have expired, this legislation is albeit a small step in the right direction. I am pleased that we are finally able to provide some comfort for those touched by this recession.

Relief for America's working families is long-overdue. With 95,000 workers exhausting their unemployment benefits each week, this is the kind of immediate assistance that we should have passed long ago.

On December 28, 800,000 Americans lost their extended unemployment benefits. The Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program ended on December 28 because the President and House Republicans rejected Democratic pleas to extend the TEUC program with a compromise bill that the Senate had passed unanimously.

Initially, I was in full support of the House Democrats' comprehensive unemployment benefits bill introduced by Rep. Charlie Rangel. This Democratic bill would have reestablished and expanded the Federal extended unemployment benefits program. Most importantly, it would have guaranteed all jobless workers at least 26 weeks of extended benefits.

Unfortunately, the House GOP leadership refused to allow a vote on this Democratic bill. Instead, they only allowed members to vote on their bill, which provides an extension of only

13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits, with no extension to workers whose benefits have already expired.

Unemployment is higher now than it was when Congress first passed extended unemployment benefits in March of last year. In my home state of Texas, the most recent statistics from the Texas Workforce Commission report that 646,939 or 6 percent of the workers in Texas are unemployed and in Dallas County, the figures are 98,780 workers unemployed, or 7.2 percent.

Unfortunately, some members of our society have suffered much worse than others. After September 11, the increase in unemployment rates for African Americans and Latinos was more than double that for whites. African Americans are losing their jobs at nearly twice the national average. Unemployment among African Americans soared to 11.2 percent last year and rose to 7.9 percent for Hispanics. Yet, the GOP allowed the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation program to expire!

Although we have passed this extension of unemployment benefits, our work is far from done. We will need to provide meaningful assistance to workers by passing health care relief for those who have lost their coverage along with their jobs. I also renew my call to provide immediate tax relief by exempting unemployment compensation from Federal taxes. These are the kinds of real benefits that we owe American families.

Madam Speaker, on January 27, 2003, I unfortunately missed two recorded votes on suspension bills, House Resolution 25, and House Resolution 26, due to a minor surgery.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 13, honoring the contributions of Catholic schools (House Resolution 26), had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the Record.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 14, supporting efforts to promote greater awareness of the need for youth mentors and increased involvement with youth through mentoring (House Resolution 25), had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the Record.