Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Steve Hunt, a leader in adolescent drug and substance abuse prevention in Brooklyn.

Steve Hunt is the vice president of The Alpha School Center of Progressive Living, Inc., located in the east New York section of Brooklyn, New York. His responsibilities include supervision of the Adolescent Drug Prevention Program and the Outpatient Chemical Dependency Program serving youth at risk and management of daily administrative duties.

Steve Hunt has an extensive background of 22 years in community service working with both adolescent and adult populations. His experience includes individual and group counseling in areas such as chemical dependency, HIV/AIDS, and anger management.

Steve Hunt has received several awards and has been recognized for his outstanding work with civic community organizations. He is a member of the Substance Abuse Committee for the Brownsville/East New York Child Welfare Neighborhood Network as well as the New York City Addictions Treatment Providers Association and the New York State HIV Prevention Planning Group.

Steve Hunt was born and raised in Brooklyn where he attended Tilden and Jefferson High Schools. He earned a bachelor of science degree in community health education from York College. He is professionally certified as a New York State Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, an Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, a Pre and Post Test HIV/AIDS Counselor and is certified in Mediation/ Conflict Resolution.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Steve Hunt, a visionary leader and an inspiration to all of New York.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Steve Hunt.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Harry L. Polite, Sr., a champion for the youth and the elderly of Brooklyn.

Harry L. Polite, Sr. has been active in his Brooklyn community for over forty years, serving as President of the Lafayette Gardens Tenants Association for 16 years. He is an advocate for adequate and safe living conditions in his community. He has also advocated for increased activities for senior citizens and community youth.

Harry L. Polite, Sr. is also the founder of the Lafayette Gardens Seniors Club. The Seniors Club serves 30 senior residents with lunch, computer training, job placement, and social activities. Mr. Polite has also developed youth softball and basketball tournaments. He has organized cultural and political trips for residents and coordinates the annual family celebration and block party known as ``Lafayette Gardens Day''.

Harry L. Polite, Sr. has also served as the Coordinator for the Lafayette Gardens Tenant Patrol for the past ten years. He is an Executive Member/Sgt at Arms for the NYCHA Citywide Council of Presidents-Brooklyn West District and serves on the NYPD Housing Bureau Police Service Area #3.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Harry L. Polite, Sr., a visionary leader and an inspiration to all of New York.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Harry L. Polite, Sr.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Adrian Straker, a tireless advocate for children in our community.

Adrian Mary Levell was raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, graduated from Midwood High School with honors, received her Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Northwestern University, and attended graduate school at Long Island University, receiving her Master of Science in Counseling and Development.

Following the completion of her studies, Adrian began her career in public service as a caseworker in the foster care unit at St. Vincent's Services in Brooklyn, NY. There Adrian developed her passion for helping to solve the dilemmas and socio-economic challenges of urban life. For the past 17 years, Adrian has been a guidance counselor at Public School 32 serving the Carroll Gardens-Gowanus Housing Development community, where she interacts daily with neighborhood youth and their families serving as the link between classroom teachers, parents, guardians, administration officials, and on-site medical/mental health programs to ensure a student's overall academic achievement and personal development.

Adrian also recently served on the staff of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz as the Director of Community Boards. In this role, she managed a staff of community relations personnel who maintained interactive relationships with community board chairpersons and district managers. She also served as the borough president's chief architect of faith-based relationships.

Adrian is member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has served as regional officer and charities chairperson. She is also the past vice chairperson of the Brooklyn Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Adrian sits on numerous professional and community boards including Inner City Little League Brooklyn, Northwestern University Alumni Association, St. Mark's Independent Block Association, Cornerstone Baptist Church Support Services and is a founding member of the Concerned Crew of Bedford Stuyvesant.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Adrian Straker, a visionary leader and an inspiration to all of New York.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Adrian Straker.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Santos Crespo, Jr., a visionary leader in New York City's labor community.

Santos Crespo, Jr. was first introduced to the labor movement at the age of 10, when his father, a delegate and executive board member of Local 6, H.E.R.E. (Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union) brought him to meetings where he witnessed the struggles non-unionized employees must endure.

Santos Crespo, Jr. began community organizing at the age of 14 and was recognized by the late W. H. Booth, Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights under then Mayor John Lindsay. He was a founding member of the Black and Puerto Rican Student Union at Bronx Community College and was instrumental in introducing Black and Puerto Rican Studies there. He has received numerous awards, was named by the Daily News Viva as one of New York City's Influential Latinos, and has also served in numerous committees related to youth and substance abuse prevention and intervention.

Santos Crespo, Jr. is currently the Executive Vice President of the New York City Board of Education Employees Union, Local 372, DC 37, AFSCME, the largest local (26,000 members) within DC 37 and also serves as one of DC 37's Vice Presidents. He is also a member of the New York City Chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), serves on its Executive Board, and also serves on the Executive Board of the national LCLAA, representing 1.4 million Latino Trade Unionists. He is also a member of many other labor organizations such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) along with civil rights organizations including the Congress for Puerto Rican Rights and the New York NAACP.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Santos Crespo, Jr., a champion of New York City's many labor causes.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Santos Crespo, Jr.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Manuel Burgos, a distinguished community activist of East New York.

Manuel Burgos is a true East New Yorker and operates the small business Rare Arts. Growing up in East New York during the 1970s enabled Mr. Burgos to see first hand how disinvestments, crime, lack of social services and inadequate healthcare effects the neighborhood he is from. Mr. Burgos decided to enter community service to enhance the atmosphere and nature of East New York.

Before he turned 13, Mr. Burgos had already participated in many vacant lot clean-ups throughout the neighborhood. By his late teens he worked as a youth leader in his church's efforts to provide a Friday night safe haven for other youth in his neighborhood. At the age of 16, Mr. Burgos worked on a political campaign that made him realize political participation was the necessary means to effecting real change in communities like East New York. While in college he learned of the community organizing work of other young Latinos around the country and this shaped his future in critical ways.

Throughout his twenties, Mr. Burgos worked in his church as a youth mentor providing youth programming and a safe haven for teens. He worked in several nonprofits such as Cypress Hills LDC and the East New York Urban Youth Corps (ENYUYC) as a director for afterschool programming. While working for ENYUYC Mr. Burgos partnered with local police, community leaders, residents and merchants in a pilot program called Community Safety Initiative (CSI) to create a powerful problem solving consortium that was directly responsible for significant drops in violent crime. During this time, Mr. Burgos served as co-writer of the East New York Weed & Seed.

Today Mr. Burgos continues his work as a technical assistance provider on the local level, giving back to community projects that he helped build years ago. He has authored many papers on community-based collaborative problem solving and he developed a training guide on the same subject. His business, Rare Arts, is the mold of his writing and designing skills.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Manuel Burgos.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ronald S. Clinton, dedicated community leader and advocate.

Ron Clinton's remarkable twenty year experience is highlighted by a personal dedication to organizational effectiveness and empowering others to succeed. He has devoted most of his professional services to the areas of assessment, consultation, development, planning and management services for small, mid-size and large companies.

Mr. Clinton graduated from Boriqua College with a bachelor's degree in Human Services. He continued his graduate studies at Yeshiva University where he received his Masters of Social Work and specialized in community organizing. It was during this time that Mr. Clinton pursued and developed Helping Hands Unlimited, Inc. (HHU), a not-for- profit organization. It was through HHU that Mr. Clinton created and committed himself to the mission of bringing qualified health professionals into impoverished communities to ensure the delivery of quality care.

Mr. Clinton is President and Founder of Helping Hands Unlimited, Inc. He has represented clients in various capacities working closely with inter-governmental affairs at the city, state and federal levels ensuring the public interest of his clients. One of his paramount goals is to build a creative and aspiring consulting company over a strong foundation and guiding principles of leadership and success.

As a community leader and activist, Mr. Clinton serves on numerous boards and committees. His drive and passion for effecting positive change are evident through his personal efforts and commitment to stay involved in community service. The vast influential relationships he built over the years strengthened his solid position among his colleagues. Mr. Clinton served as the vice president of Pueblo democratic club in Williamsburg/Bushwick. He was elected as the Democratic Party's Kings County delegate for Al Gore's presidential candidacy. Mr. Clinton ran for the New York City Department of Education School District 32 School Board in 2002. In 2004, Mr. Clinton ran for New York State Senate and served as co-chair of the East New York and Brownsville HIV Care Network and is currently serving as chairperson of Woodhull Medical Center North Brooklyn Network Community Advisory Board.

Mr. Clinton enjoys spending time with his ten-year-old son, Ronald, coaching baseball, basketball and wrestling.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing a man of great conviction and dedication to community service, Ronald S. Clinton.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Reverend Doctor Pastor Laurent Louis, a man dedicated to serving God, his family and the community.

Pastor Laurent Louis was born on February 12, 1956 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He attended Lycee Petion a school that stressed duty, responsibility and serving others. In June 1978, he graduated high school and studied theology at the International Seminary of California. He is a caring father, loving husband, devoted pastor and a committed community leader.

At the age of 15, Pastor Louis began serving his church and the community with great respect and responsibility. He taught Sunday school and led the youth to a spiritual and disciplined life while devoting time and energy to his community. People in his community elected him to be the General Secretary of the soccer teams of the Croix Des Bouquets. He later became a sports broadcaster and an impartial referee in his sportive career. He knew health and sports can lead to good academics and a successful life.

Pastor Louis came to New York City in January of 1981 and soon fell in love with the Big Apple. He saw the need for his community to organize spiritually, and he immediately joined Emmanuel Baptist Church. It did not take his pastor long to discover Pastor Louis' leadership and appointed him assistant pastor, youth president and leader of the missionary. He accomplished his mission so well that when there was a need for a station church at Coney Island, Pastor Louis was selected to take on the task; within a few months there were 40 members.

Pastor Laurent Louis also founded an academic club to have students help one another. He understood how to bring good people together from the community to help in this endeavor. This club saved many young students and 95 percent succeeded academically. With good will and the help of good people, Pastor Louis was able to accomplish so much for his community.

Pastor Louis has been happily married for 25 years, and enjoyed a successful life with his wife Marie Mireille Louis and their six children. His first daughter Deborah, his sons Nathanael and Benjamin are attending college. His daughters Eltamar and Jessica are in high school and Johanna is in elementary school.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Pastor Laurent Louis.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ronald Law, a dedicated public servant of New York.

Ronald Law has spent his career in both public and private sectors as an advocate for education, health care, community development, business management and human rights. Mr. Law has held key positions in city, state and federal government. He has served two governors, a United States Senator and New York City Mayor. He has an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz and is a graduate of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Mr. Law began his career in 1976 as a member of the advance and scheduling team for the mayoral candidacy of then Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton. In 1978 he joined the staff of Governor Hugh L. Carey, as a confidential assistant. In July of 1985 Mr. Law was appointed Executive Director of the Paul Robeson Health Organization in Central Harlem, a fee-for-service health care facility offering 32 medical services. Upon leaving the Paul Robeson Health Organization, he became the Executive Director of the Center for the City, an organization sponsored by the New York City Council of Churches. Mr. Law directed IDS education, drug prevention, emergency shelter and community outreach for this organization.

In 1990, Governor Mario M. Cuomo appointed Mr. Law Director of the New York State Crisis Prevention Unit within the New York State Division of Human Rights. In 1993, Mr. Law joined the staff of the U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan as the New York Regional Director. In 1996, he joined Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's administration as the chief of staff for Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington. Today he is the Director of Intergovernmental Relations for Metro Plus Health Plan, a subsidiary of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation.

Mr. Law is a member of the New Paltz Foundation which raises funds for scholarships, campus programs and student/faculty mentoring experiences. Mr. Law has published an article on health care in The Review of Black Political Economy.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ronald Law and his many contributions to New York.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dennis J. Taylor, a community activist and ordained minister who has impacted Brooklyn in countless ways.

Dennis Taylor has been living and serving the East New York and Brownsville communities for more than twenty years. He began his career as a volunteer, ministering and advocating for the rights of community residents. For a number of years, Mr. Taylor served as a community organizer for a local nonprofit organization where he assisted residents by empowering them through the creation of tenant and block associations. As a member of Community Board #5, Dennis Taylor leads the council in creating positive change for all residents, regardless of their ethnicity or culture.

As the founder and executive director of The Sabaoth Group, Inc., Dennis Taylor conceived and developed strategies that provide community support services to more than 800 families in the East New York, Brownsville, Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant communities. He is the primary coordinator of services and initiatives, in addition to securing funding through foundations, government grants and Requests for Proposals. Mr. Taylor developed strategies to create linkages between community law enforcement, community residents and faith-based organizations. He also created initiatives and developed strategies for resident advocacy, tenant organizing and community activism while conducting tenant relocations for more than 300 families. Mr. Taylor is also a founding partner in TDT Development, LLC, a community housing development organization.

Mr. Taylor began his involvement in tenant services by leading the residents of a dangerously neglected city-owned property through a process of renewed commitment from the City of New York and their subsequent resettlement. He has a reputation for producing consistent results and maintaining honor and integrity in the community. Mr. Taylor sits on various steering and advisory committees in East New York.

In 2006, Dennis Taylor became an ordained Minister who has garnered a sterling reputation in the East New York community.

Dennis Taylor is married to Anita Joyner-Taylor. He has two daughters (Danesha and Keyeira), and two granddaughters (Faith and Patience). Mr. Taylor holds an A.A.S. in Computer Technology, a Certificate from Fordham University in Social Work and numerous certificates from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Mr. Taylor is a first call advisor to many grassroots organizations seeking guidance, direction and/or logistical assistance in the acquisition of their goals and objectives.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dennis J. Taylor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Theora King, a community leader and educator who has contributed enormously to the lives of many children in need.

Theora King has worked in the field of education for over forty years. She has a bachelor of science degree in education from Mercy College where she graduated magna cum laude. In 1990, Ms. King received the Educator of the Year Award from a parent organization in District 17. Ms. King has worked in several programs including Big Apple, Head Start, Learning Through Science, Title I, Latch Key, Summer Early Childhood Program, and Platform For Learning and Special Education.

Theora King often goes above and beyond what is required of her in order to keep children who are in need from being deprived of opportunities that are afforded to other children who have supportive families. Her love for children is demonstrated by using personal monies to pay for trips, breakfast, lunch, clothing and other essentials needed when a child's parents are unable to provide for them. Ms. King has volunteered her personal time to tutor children in reading to help them gain self-confidence, a love for reading, and reading proficiency to pass State Reading Examinations.

During her career, children have demonstrated love and respect toward Ms. King and children often come to her for advice and assistance to handle difficulties they encounter at home and in school. Ms. King is never too busy to take time from her personal life to help a child and his or her family who may be in need of assistance. Ms. King is also a member of the Open Door Church of God and Christ and she has served on the Usher Board. In the past, Ms. King served as Acting Parent Teacher's Association president and secretary when her children were students at P.S. 316. Ms. King has also chaired the Social Committee at P.S. 316 from 1968 to 2005.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Theora King.

I would like to thank the Federal Workforce Subcommittee chairman, Mr. Lynch, for the outstanding job that he has done. I'd like to thank Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership on this issue. I would like to thank the majority leader, Steny Hoyer, for his work on it, and I'd also like to thank Congressman Connolly for his work as well.

The gentlewoman from New York has worked tirelessly to make the Federal Government an environment that is supportive of working mothers and fathers. I want to thank her for her efforts and, may I add, a job well done.

We need to recognize that the Federal Government is the largest employer in the United States and that its policies should set a tone for the country. H.R. 626 provides Federal employees with 4 weeks of paid parental leave for the simple reason that no employee should have to choose between caring for a new child or their paycheck.

By providing 4 weeks of paid parental leave, H.R. 626 makes a strategic investment in the Federal workforce. This bill will help the government recruit and retain young, talented employees. As the Federal Government prepares for a wave of upcoming retirements, we need to attract this segment of the population to help us take on some of the challenges facing this country.

This bill also provides potential cost savings to the American people. The taxpayers directly benefit when the government retains existing employees rather than having to hire, retrain, hire, retrain. That is expensive.

Let me also add, the country is better served by an experienced and productive Federal worker that is able to adequately provide for the health and well-being of their newborn or newly adopted child. The long-term societal benefits of promoting healthy families and early child development are enormous.

We in the Federal Government have a unique obligation to set an example for the rest of the Nation, both in values that we promote and in the way we responsibly manage taxpayer-funded programs. This bill accomplishes both goals. It benefits children and families and will enable us to recruit and retain top-notch Federal employees whose work benefits the entire Nation.

For all these reasons, I urge all the Members to support this family- friendly legislation that says to the world we care about our children.

Mr. Speaker, today, May 19, marks the second annual World Hepatitis Day, when the need for greater public awareness towards prevention and treatment of this silent killer is recognized internationally.

Hepatitis is a prime example of an issue that must be addressed now, as Congress and the administration work together to create a sustainable health care system for future generations.

Of those infected with viral hepatitis C, more than three-quarters are unaware of their infection, making the long-term consequences of HCV infection, including cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, a greater, greater danger.

A study about HCV released just yesterday by Milliman Incorporated, one of the Nation's most respected firms, tells a troubling story. They are saying that over the next 20 years, medical costs for patients with HCV infections are expected to increase from $30 billion in 2009 to over $85 billion in 2024.

Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading cause of primary liver cancer, one of the fastest growing cancers, which significantly impacts 6 million Americans and has a 5-year survival rate. The minority population will be disproportionately affected. Hepatitis C is twice as common among African Americans as among whites.

As a Member of the United States House of Representatives, I will continue to support increased funding towards public education, early detection, testing and counseling for patients. We cannot afford to be silent about this disease any longer. We must speak out and take action. That is what we need to do to curtail this very, very serious problem.

I rise to talk about the passing of Rev. John Pratt of the Zion Shiloh Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. He pastored that church for 30 years. John Pratt is going to be missed in the Borough of Brooklyn. He was the kind of person that was always involved in community efforts. Whatever you needed to have done, John Pratt was a person that you could count on. Not only that, he was unusual in many ways, because you could talk to him and, of course, he wouldn't call a press conference on you. You just could have a discussion with him and then he would do whatever it was, and you didn't have to worry about him calling a big press conference to let the world know that you had asked him to do something.

He was the kind of person that was able to pull people together. He was a coalition builder. We are going to miss John and his coalition skills because he could talk to anybody at any point in any time. And that was the thing that he was able to do so well.

I will never forget that when my mother passed, how John was there on behalf of my family. So let me say to the Pratt family that you have my support in every way. If there is anything I can do, just let me know. I would be delighted to do it, because he was there for me, and I want to be there for you.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2182) to amend the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to provide for enhanced State and local oversight of activities conducted pursuant to such Act, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 2182, the Enhanced Oversight of State and Local Economic Recovery Act. H.R. 2182 will help ensure efficient and effective use of the taxpayers' money provided to State and local governments for stimulus projects. This legislation grew out of a hearing the Oversight Committee held on the Recovery Act. Many State and local officials responsible for overseeing spending of stimulus dollars pointed out to us that in these troubled economic times, they are under tremendous pressure to conduct their normal oversight work, let alone cope with the increase that the Recovery Act requires.

Our hearings, Mr. Speaker, made clear, that State and local governments need additional resources to monitor the large infusion of funds the Recovery Act directs. H.R. 2182 will provide State and local governments with the flexibility to set aside a portion of their stimulus funds for auditing, contract and grant planning and management, and investigations of waste, fraud and abuse.

The bill also permits State and local governments to use the Federal supply schedules of the General Services Administration for stimulus projects. The GSA schedules are prenegotiated Federal contracts for a range of common goods and services.

This is a win-win situation because it will allow State and local governments to acquire certain items without engaging in time-consuming contracting procedures while guaranteeing the lowest rate price for them.

Lastly, H.R. 2182 requires the Office of Management and Budget to give detailed guidance to State and local governments to ensure consistency in their reporting of job creation data. Our State and local governments are on the front lines of the efforts to fight mismanagement of Recovery Act dollars. Their success is vital to making the stimulus work for the American people.

Let me pause here and thank Ranking Member Issa, who has worked very closely with me in crafting this legislation, and I want to thank him for that. I would also like to thank Representative Kucinich, who has worked with us, Representative Platts, and Representatives Welch and Connolly for working with me on this bill.

I should note that the legislation incorporates part of H.R. 1911, which was introduced by Representative Connolly from Virginia. H.R. 2182 is a strong bill. I urge all Members to support this critical oversight and accountability measure.

And I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to reiterate my strong support of H.R. 2182 as it provides State and local governments with the flexibility and resources they need to properly monitor the stimulus project. In our hearing, they asked for help, and of course, with Congressman Issa and with members of the committee, we are now giving them that help. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove Representative Wasserman Schultz's name from H.R. 1137.