Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I have served as the senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church for 30 years, for 30 years. And over those 30 years, I have had countless men and women who have come to me in situations of decisions that had to be made regarding family members; and in the privacy of a home or in a waiting room, we have dealt with those decisions.

Tonight, I want to talk about the shame of this debate. The shame of this debate is that in spite of the fact that we are a great legislative body, we are a body that determines peace and war, but we are not a hallowed body. And the fact that we are engaged in this debate is proof positive of the fact that we are a fractured body. And what we need to also understand is that we live in a world of echoes, a world of echoes. And a thoughtless word falling from the lips of Members here can travel around this country and do even more damage to the divisions that we have in this Nation.

We are doing that. We have even used the inflammatory word ``kill.'' We were doing damage to this country, and it is shameful that we would do this.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 23.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my opposition to the administration's budget proposal.

Although the Community Development Block Grant Program is now on its way out if this is approved, I think it is important for the Nation to know that on August 22, 1974, the Community Development Block Grant Act was signed into law by Republican President Gerald Ford, but it is the brain child of President Richard Nixon.

Today, there is a proposal that would allow for a consolidation of 18 other programs in the Department of Commerce, and the new commerce program would then be funded at a level that is 35 percent lower than the combined fiscal year 2005 appropriated level for all 18 programs.

The pro-rata reduction of CDBG alone would be $1.42 billion. That would devastate a program, Mr. Speaker.

When I was mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, we identified 60,000 homes in need of rehabilitation or repair. We were able to complete 12,000. What will happen to the 48,000 others?

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday March 8, 2005, I was unable to cast my vote on H. Res. 133 and H. Res. 122. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 53, 54, and 55.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday March 2, 2005, I was unable to cast my vote on H.R. 27, the Job Training Improvement Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 46, the Scott of Virginia amendment and ``nay'' on rollcall 48, the final passage of H.R. 27. I also would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall 43, 44, 45, and 47 and ``nay'' on rollcall 42.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 444.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 26, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.

When Tuskegee's first school officially opened on July 4, 1881, Booker T. Washington became the first principal and was the first of many magnificent leaders of that institution.

Due to the rigid racial segregation in the United States during World War II, over 966 black military aviators were trained. And one of those men, I am proud to say, was my father's older brother, my uncle, LeRoy Cleaver, Jr., of Wichita Falls, Texas.

My uncle and others served here at home, in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. They proved that they were not only some of the Air Force's best men but the military's best men.

On October 9, 1943, Tuskegee's 99th Pursuit Squadron was paired with the all-white 79th Fighter Group. These groups were integrated and no longer restricted to being escorts; instead, they were assigned to the highly hazardous duty of bombing key German strongholds.

Tuskegee Airmen destroyed over 1,000 Germany aircraft and received some of our Nation's most prestigious military honors, including 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, eight Purple Hearts, and 14 Bronze Stars; and they never lost a single ship.

On February 2, 1948, President Harry Truman of my district in Missouri did what no previous President had dared. He announced courageously in a special message to Congress that he had ``instructed the Secretary of Defense to take steps to have the remaining instances of discrimination in the armed services eliminated as rapidly as possible.''

Even in the dark and demeaning dungeons of discrimination, the Tuskegee Airmen served with dignity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 26 honoring the Tuskegee Airmen.

When Tuskegee's first school officially opened on July 4, 1881, Booker T. Washington became the first principal and was the first of many Tuskegee leaders. Due to the rigid racial segregation in the United States during World War II, over 966 Black military aviators were trained at Tuskegee. One of these men, I am proud to say, was my uncle, the Reverend LeRoy Cleaver, Jr.

My Uncle LeRoy and others serving in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe proved that they were not only some of the Air Force's best men, but the Military's best men.

On October 9, 1943, Tuskegee's 99th Pursuit Squadron was paired with the all-White 79th Fighter Group. These groups were integrated and no longer restricted to being escorts; instead, they were assigned to the hugely hazardous duty of bombing key German strongholds.

Tuskegee Airmen destroyed over 1,000 German aircraft and received some of our Nation's most prestigious military honors, including: 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple Hearts, and 14 Bronze Stars.

In January 1948, President Harry S. Truman, favorite son of Independence, Missouri and Missouri's Fifth District, decided to end segregation in the Armed Forces and civil service, due in part to the tremendous successes of groups like the Tuskegee Airmen. President Truman issued Executive Order 9981, calling for ``all persons in armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.''

On February 2, 1948, President Truman did what no previous President had dared, he announced, courageously, in a special message to Congress, that he had ``instructed the Secretary of Defense to take steps to have the remaining instances of discrimination in the armed services eliminated as rapidly as possible.''

The Tuskegee Airmen helped our Nation walk forward toward equality. Today, we honor them, including my Uncle Reverend LeRoy Cleaver, Jr., because they remain among the best advocates, soldiers, and examples in our Nation's history in that noble pursuit.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise in recognition of Missouri's Class 5 Football Champions, the Raymore-Peculiar High School football team, and their coach, Tom Kruse. Last November Raymore-Peculiar defeated McCluer North High School football team in the championship game by a score of 37 to 18. The victory was especially satisfying as it was Raymore-Peculiar's first State football championship.

The championship team was coached by Tom Kruse, an alumnus of Raymore-Peculiar. While a student at Raymore-Peculiar, he was a member of the football team. Coach Kruse returned to his alma mater and for the past five years has elevated his team to championship caliber. This year's football season established Raymore-Peculiar as a powerhouse in the Class 5 division and they proudly represent their city, State, and the Fifth District of Missouri as champions by receiving national recognition. Recorded for all time is the perfect season with a record of 13-0 for Raymore-Peculiar.

As the legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry said, ``Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.'' Congratulations to Raymore- Peculiar High School football team. You had a goal and a plan.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in warm congratulations to Missouri's Class 5 football champions. Raymore-Peculiar's team and coach have brought pride and respect to the Fifth District and it is most fitting that as we prepare for the upcoming Super Bowl we take time to recognize a new generation of football players.