Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Norma Carter Murphy, a constituent and family friend. On Saturday, May 7, 2011, family, friends, neighbors, students, classmates and co-workers will join together to honor Norma at the Cherry Point Marine Base in Havelock, North Carolina.

The middle child of Luke Eight Carter and Eunice Godette Carter, Norma Adelaide Carter was born on January 16, 1931. She attended Ole Godette Elementary School and the Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina, and graduated from Charles H. Darden High School in Wilson, North Carolina. Norma went on to earn a degree in Education from historic Howard University, and later earned her Masters Degree in Education from North Carolina Central University.

Norma began her long and distinguished teaching career at Queen Street High School in Beaufort, North Carolina and went on to teach in a variety of positions in North Carolina and Michigan for a period of 45 years.

Mrs. Murphy was always greatly loved by students and fellow teachers because of her passion, grace, energy, compassion and tireless focus on helping students succeed by achieving greatness.

Beyond the classroom, Norma has been extremely dedicated to her community. Along with eight other women, she chartered the New Bern Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. in order to promote academic excellence, provide scholarships and support to the underserved, and to highlight and resolve social and political problems in the local community.

While residing in Michigan, Norma was appointed to the state Board of Marriage and Family Counseling and served in that position for many years. She has also been active with the League of Women Voters and many parent-teacher associations.

Nine years ago, Norma moved back to North Harlowe, North Carolina to the dwelling where she was born. She is now close to many members of her immediate family and enjoying life to the fullest.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Norma Carter Murphy. She is truly a remarkable person deserving of our deepest well wishes for the enormous contributions she has made to her community and to the many young people she has taught and mentored over the years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express appreciation for the good work on the part of local emergency responders, FEMA, the Division of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, and the many other agencies that have been helping survivors in my congressional district recover from the devastating tornados that hit North Carolina on April 16.

I represent, Mr. Speaker, one of the hardest hit communities, Bertie County, where 12 people lost their lives, 50 were injured, and dozens are now homeless. I am grateful that President Barack Obama was very quick to announce that 19 counties were eligible for Federal disaster assistance, and the hard work toward recovery is now under way. More than 4,700 people in North Carolina have applied for State and Federal disaster assistance. We are a generous and resilient people, and I know we will recover.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in applauding the recovery efforts and in expressing deep sorrow for the victims and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in appreciation of Mr. Reynauld Merrimon Williams, Jr.'s testimony given to the National Press Club on April 4th, 2011, in support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HBCU, and Predominately Black Institutions, PBI.

Mr. Williams is a native of Ahoskie, North Carolina, and a 2007 graduate of Hertford County High School. While at Hertford County High School Mr. Williams was deeply involved in school activities and took great pride in high academic achievement. Mr. Williams was a Beta Club National Honor Society member, captain of the varsity soccer team, member of Earth Club, participant of teen court, and third place finisher in the Regional North Carolina Math Fair. Mr. Williams, an AP Honor Student, completed his high school career at Hertford County High School in the top eight percent of his graduating class.

Mr. Williams currently attends Fayetteville State University, a historically black university, where he is a member of the National Honor Society and maintains a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Mr. Williams is pursuing a degree in business and finance and has continued to excel as a student and an active member of the university community. In Mr. Williams' testimony to the National Press Club, he supported his assertion that his success as a student is directly linked to the unique and nurturing environment that HBCUs provide African American students. Mr. Williams contended that these types of environments provided by HBCUs facilitate the educational and professional development of African American students across the country. Mr. Williams is the consummate example of the positive effects that HBCUs have on the African American community, and reinforces the critical importance of maintaining support for these institutions of higher education.

The courage displayed by Mr. Williams' support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities deserves commendation. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Mr. Reynauld Merrimon Williams for giving his testimony, and in wishing him the best in his remaining academic career and future.

Let me thank the gentlelady for yielding the time this evening and thank her for her leadership in the Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus goes out of its way each week to try to present to the Nation issues that are critically important to African Americans residing in this country, and Congresswoman Donna Edwards and Congresswoman Christensen have been in the forefront of making that happen. And so I want to thank them so very much for their leadership.

I especially want to thank them for their willingness to come to the floor tonight to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. April 4 always brings back memories of a very tragic day in the life of our country. It is a day that I shall never, ever forget.

The civil rights movement and the voting rights movement took place during my years in high school. Those were very precious moments in my history, and I remember so well the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The world must remember, our country must remember, we must understand that Martin Luther King's leadership was very profound, but it only lasted for about 13 years. So many people don't recognize that.

Dr. King started his leadership at age 26, and it tragically ended at age 39. It was on December 1 of 1955 that Dr. King was drafted, at age 26, to lead the Montgomery bus boycott. That was the day in Alabama history when the black citizens of Montgomery decided that they would boycott city buses until they could sit anywhere they wanted instead of being relegated to the back when a white citizen boarded the bus. A black seamstress named Rosa Parks was denied a seat of her choice because of the color of her skin, and Dr. King at the age of 26 took the leadership of that movement and focused the attention of the world on this injustice. And the Supreme Court of this country, the following year, agreed with his position.

Then several years later, in April of 1963, it was on a Friday evening, it was Good Friday, Dr. King again led a march in Birmingham, Alabama, to end segregation in public accommodations. Dr. King was arrested and spent the next 11 days confined in jail. During that time, Mr. Speaker, he wrote that great document called ``Letter from Birmingham Jail.'' I would only wish that our citizens would look up that letter on the Internet and read for themselves ``Letter from Birmingham Jail.'' And several weeks later, the Birmingham leaders announced that local accommodations would be integrated.

After that great victory in Birmingham, and after Dr. King wrote his letter, Dr. King and other civil rights leaders planned and then they executed the 1963 March on Washington. So many of us have heard of and some of us participated in that march. It was a hot summer day here in the Nation's capital on August 28, 1963. I was there as a young 16- year-old high school student.

That march was a demand. It was a demand for civil rights legislation. President John F. Kennedy had agreed with the movement and had made a historic speech on June 11, 1963, calling on this Nation to end segregation in public accommodations. And on June 20, 1963, a bill was introduced into this House of Representatives here on Capitol Hill, and that bill was fiercely debated to provide civil rights for all citizens. But then the march took place in August of 1963. It was a great day; 250,000 people descended on the Nation's capital demanding civil rights. And less than 90 days later, President Kennedy was tragically assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

As a result of his assassination, President Johnson, becoming the President of our country, promised the Nation that the civil rights bill that was pending in the Congress would continue to be debated, and it would be signed into law, and it was, on July 2, 1964.

And so after that civil rights bill was passed, Dr. King received the coveted Nobel Peace Prize. And we honor and we celebrate that great history.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Civil Rights Act was not enough. There had to be a voting rights bill that was debated and passed by this Congress. Finally, in 1965, Congress passed the 1965 Voting Rights Act because of the work of Dr. King.

Because of the Voting Rights Act, there has now been a transformation, a political transformation in the southern part of our country where I am from. I represent eastern North Carolina, which is a community in my State that suffered from years of discrimination and electoral discrimination. But I'm proud to say that in my congressional district alone, there are more than 300 African American elected officials elected to office, and we attribute much of this success to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I want to thank the gentlelady for recognizing this great American on this day. My home town of Wilson, North Carolina, was supposed to have been the visit of Dr. King on this day in 1968. But because of the events in Memphis, Tennessee, he diverted and went to Memphis to aid with the garbage strike and to help those who could not help themselves. And so we celebrate this great legacy tonight.

Madam Speaker, I rise this morning in objection to the Republican leadership's blatant disregard for the Constitution.

Republicans' partisan extremism reached a new low this week with the willingness to ignore some of the most basic fundamentals of our Constitution. They have come up with a scheme called ``deem and pass.'' I am outraged that the Republicans could believe that their job-killing budget could become law with just the approval of the House of Representatives. Every American should be offended by such an extreme, reckless, and clearly unconstitutional scheme.

Madam Speaker, Americans want Congress to move beyond the partisan extremism and political theater. It is time to negotiate a budget in good faith that invests in our future, protects our families, and helps move America toward greater economic recovery and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, President Obama signed the historic Affordable Care Act into law. Since that time, we have seen an all-out assault by the special interests and health insurance companies.

Americans are tired of this debate. They are tired of the misinformation. Congress must stand up for the middle class. We must protect families. We must stop companies from arbitrarily canceling coverage after patients become sick, prevent children from being denied coverage due to preexisting conditions, and never again let insurance companies place lifetime limits on health coverage.

Mr. Speaker, let's give the reform a chance to work. Reject the special interests and extreme rhetoric. Make sure every American family is protected when it comes to health care.

I thank the gentlelady.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to King amendment No. 266.

It has been said that we are the sum total of our experiences, Mr. Chairman, and that is certainly true. My experience consists of growing up in a low-income minority community whose history dates back more than 150 years since slavery. I represent that district, the First District of North Carolina, the fourth poorest district in the country.

My constituents, Mr. Chairman, overwhelmingly support the Affordable Care Act. Why? My constituents know that their insurance costs are soaring, exceeding more than 18 percent per year in increased costs. For those constituents who don't have insurance, they know that they will be able to qualify for Medicaid if their income is less than 133 percent of the Federal poverty line.

My rural hospitals, Mr. Chairman, know that finally when patients walk into their emergency rooms, the hospitals will be paid for their care, and they will not continue to face bankruptcy.

Mr. Chairman, this assault on the Affordable Care Act is unfounded, it's unnecessary; and I ask my colleagues to defeat this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. As part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, the Consumer Product Safety Commission was charged with creating a publicly available, searchable database for complaints regarding consumer products. The amendment offered by the gentleman aims to bar the Commission from moving forward with this database.

The Food and Drug Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both have publicly available databases for consumers to report harms or potential safety problems about cars and medical products. Those databases don't provide any due process to manufacturers to contest those claims. However, this database provides exhaustive due process, including allowing manufacturers to refute ``materially inaccurate'' claims and, if found to be inaccurate, have the complaint removed. The Commission database also allows manufacturers to issue a response and have those responses appear along with the consumer complaint.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I've come to the well today to talk about what I call the insensitivity of the Republican majority as they seek to cut important domestic spending that will affect low-income and working class families in America.

Every Member of this Body, Mr. Speaker, understands that we must reduce the deficit. We understand that. We must put America on the path of fiscal responsibility. And so we don't need lectures from the Republican majority. We don't need partisanship. What we need, as the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee said a few moments ago, we need a bipartisan solution to these great problems.

While some of the Republican solutions in H.R. 1 will certainly eliminate ineffective programs, these cuts cannot be made arbitrarily, and they should not be made simply to make good on a political campaign promise. Many of the proposed cuts will only cost us more in the long run.

One glaring example, Mr. Speaker: Republicans want to cut $1.3 billion from community health centers. Republicans ignore the fact that, since the start of the recession, 4 million additional Americans have lost their health insurance, which means that more and more people rely on community health centers.

When the uninsured get sick, they do one of three things. They stay home and get sicker and lose productivity, or they will go to the emergency room and leave a bill that all of us will end up paying for and the insurance companies will pay for. Or, Mr. Speaker, they can go to a community health center to receive medical care.

Under their proposal, Republicans seek to eliminate funding for 127 clinics in underserved districts across 39 states and reduce services at another 1,096 community health centers nationwide. That is absolutely awful.

This cut would have devastating effects on the communities and patients who most need access to care: Patients with diabetes, and heart disease, and HIV/AIDS; pregnant women; and children, leaving them nowhere to turn for health care.

Under these cuts, more than 2.8 million people would likely lose access to their current primary care provider, and over 5,000 health center staff could lose their jobs.

The President's 2012 budget proposal, by contrast, builds on the health care reform law by boosting investment in health centers. The budget includes $3.3 billion for the health centers program, including $1.2 billion in mandatory funding provided through the Affordable Care Community Health Center Fund.

Mr. Speaker, I represent many poor rural communities in eastern North Carolina with many constituents who depend on community health centers, and I know how deeply these cuts will be felt. As we struggle with this difficult economy and struggle with difficult fiscal issues, we have an even greater responsibility, to protect our most vulnerable citizens, especially when it comes to access to health care.

Community health centers are cutting costs. They are continuing to serve our communities extremely well, and they need and they deserve congressional support.

I urge my colleagues to support worthwhile investment in community health centers and reject the unwise cuts in H.R. 1.

Madam Speaker, my colleagues, the American people are watching. More than anything else, this Congress will be judged on what it does to help move this struggling economy forward.

One of our most important and effective programs to assist workers displaced by changes in the global economy has been the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Act. Unfortunately, key provisions of this program are set to expire this week unless Congress takes action.

Last year, displaced workers in North Carolina received over $56 million through TAA, the second largest amount given to a single State, to ensure that they had the support and training necessary to transition into an emerging sector of the economy.

This program is working. We must support the economy and these workers by immediately approving a long-term extension of the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers Program.

Mr. Speaker, It is with great sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to a community giant, Dock Monteria Brown, a very special friend who passed away on Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

Dock Monteria Brown was born on January 30, 1929 in Halifax County to Nelson and Vilvie Brown. His father was a Veteran of World War I.

Dock graduated from J.A. Chaloner Senior High School in 1948 and entered Shaw University that fall. In 1951, just one year before graduation, Dock was drafted into the U.S. Army and was deployed to fight in the Korean War.

He served for 12 months in Korea before returning to Fort Bragg and his native North Carolina to serve out the remainder of his tour. Immediately after his Honorable Discharge, Dock resumed his education at Shaw University and earned his undergraduate degree.

In order to fulfill his dream of becoming a teacher, Dock then attended my alma mater, North Carolina Central University and earned a Master's Degree in Sociology and School Administration. Dock taught high school History at Weldon High School and Eastman High School for 24 years, and served as principal of Pittman High School for 10 years.

As an educator, Dock Brown made a tremendous and undeniable impact on the lives of students in Halifax County. He was truly the catalyst for many young people growing into strong, well-educated and productive adult citizens.

Over his many years of service, he served as a Halifax County Commissioner; state representative in the. North Carolina House of Representatives, Weldon Town Commissioner; Trustee at Elizabeth City State University, and as an appointee to the Governor's Commission to select Superior Court Judges. For his untiring service to the State of North Carolina, Dock was awarded the state's highest civilian honor-- the Order of the Long Leaf Pine--by then-Governor James Hunt.

Dock Brown also served on the county's health board and he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the State Mental Health Association for his tireless dedication to the issue of Mental Health.

He was also an active member of First Baptist Church in Roanoke Rapids starting at age 11, and he served in many capacities including Deacon for over fifty years.

Dock Brown was a true public servant with a legacy that will live on through the many people he inspired over the years, including myself. I had the pleasure of offering legislation to this body that was signed into law naming the Weldon, N.C. Post Office in honor to Dock Brown. It was a fitting honor, and I know his community will truly miss him.

Dock Brown leaves behind his wonderful wife, Helen, after nearly 60 years of marriage. They raised two wonderful children: Dock Brown, Jr. and Ivy Brown Singlton, who is married to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Terance Singlton, II.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the remarkable life of Dock Monteria Brown, and to join me in praying for his wife and family during these difficult times. I know they will draw comfort in knowing that he lived a great life and that he left a great and indelible mark on his community.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to a community giant, Mr. Dock M. Brown, a very special friend who passed away yesterday.

As a lifelong resident of Weldon, North Carolina, Dock Brown was an undeniable force who dedicated his 81 years to serving his community and as a champion for education. Dock Brown was a veteran of the Korean War, teacher, principal, county and town commissioner, a State legislator, 50-year deacon at First Baptist Church in Weldon, and much more.

He was a true public servant with a legacy that will live on through the many people he inspired over the years.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the life and work of Dock Monteria Brown and to join me in praying for his wife, Helen, and his entire family and community during these difficult times.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of George Henry White Day being held in Tarboro, North Carolina on Saturday, January 29, 2011. That day will mark the 110th anniversary of Congressman George Henry White's famous farewell speech Floor of the United States House of Representatives.

Born on December 18, 1853, George Henry White was the only African American in Congress when he was elected in 1896 and reelected in 1898. He was the last African American elected to Congress from the post- Civil War era.

George Henry White left Congress in 1901, and it would be almost 30 years before another African American would be elected to Congress. And, as we know, no blacks were elected to Congress from the South until 1972; well after the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.

George Henry White was a strong and gifted speaker, who often condemned the harsh and brutal treatment of blacks in the South and introduced the first anti-lynching legislation in Congress.

In 2002, the Tarboro Town Council approved a resolution declaring January 29 as the annual George Henry White Day in Tarboro. In 2003, the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners approved a similar resolution declaring January 29 as the annual George Henry White Day in Edgecombe County.

On June 25, 2004, the Tarboro Post Office was officially named the George Henry White Post Office Building after the President signed a legislation I introduced into Congress.

On George Henry White Day, January 29, 2005, the Phoenix Historical Society unveiled a commissioned portrait of George Henry White in the Superior Court Room of the Edgecombe County Court House following approval by the Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners.

In 2007, I introduced legislation urging the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to consider honoring George Henry White with a commemorative postage stamp. I reintroduced the legislation in 2009, and I will again reintroduce this legislation during the 112th Congress.

Last year, the North Carolina Historical Commission approved recommendations of the Capitol Monument Study Committee to lift a moratorium of new monuments on the state capitol square to include among others a monument to commemorate the achievements and public statements of U.S. Representative George Henry White.

Mr. Speaker, George Henry White fearlessly and consistently stirred the conscience of America to embrace racial justice and equality for all people. It was a life worthy of remembering. Please join me in recognizing George Henry White, and in sending our best wishes to the Phoenix Historical Society, which organized the George Henry White Day.

Mr. Speaker, today we continue debate on the Republicans' most unfortunate effort to repeal health care reform that we passed during the last Congress. This repeal will increase the deficit by $230 billion. No one disagrees with that but Republicans. That's why the Republican majority exempted this legislation from pay- as-you-go budgeting. You know this repeal will increase the deficit.

Keeping the law in its present form not only decreases the deficit but will provide 32 million uninsured Americans the opportunity to obtain insurance and provide dependable coverage for their families; it allows children to remain on their family's policy to age 26; it closes the doughnut hole, and it does so much more.

Mr. Speaker, I can usually see both sides of an issue, but for the life of me, I can't see what the Republicans are trying to achieve but to score political points with their right-wing base.

I call on my friends to abandon your efforts and let's concentrate on putting Americans to work. That's what my constituents are demanding and your constituents as well.

Let me thank the ranking member for the time and certainly thank him for his leadership on our committee.

Mr. Speaker, as we debate the Republican proposal to repeal health care reform, I hope--I truly hope--that the American people will open their eyes and realize that this legislation will put insurance companies back in charge of their health care.

I don't know about my friends on the other side. I don't know what kind of districts you represent, but I represent a low-wealth rural district in eastern North Carolina. My constituents need affordable health insurance. They need access to health care now.

In my district, this repeal would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to 261,000 individuals with preexisting conditions. It would eliminate health care tax credits for up to 11,600 small businesses and 193,000 families. The number of people without health insurance in my district would grow by 56,000 people. It would increase the costs to hospitals for uncompensated care by more than $65 million, and it would increase prescription drug costs for 7,300 seniors who hit the Medicare drug doughnut hole.

So I take great offense to any effort to repeal health care reform. This repeal would only lead to bigger Federal deficits and higher taxes for small businesses. Children, students, seniors, and small businesses owners would be devastated by losing these protections.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues to stop playing politics with health care.

Open your eyes, and see the pain of America's working families. Listen to the silent majority in your districts, not the loudest people in your districts. Reject this repeal effort, and let's debate ways and means of creating jobs in America.