Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, if a Nation is judged by how it treats its weak, its vulnerable, and its children, then American families can be proud of the fiscal year 2008 Democratic budget.

For the past 6 years, this administration and its allies in Congress have pit ordinary people and their struggles against the interests of the wealthiest in our society.

The Democratic budget represents a dramatic change of course, putting children and families first by investing in health care and education, accommodating tax relief to middle-class families, and providing assistance for hurricane-ravaged communities and supporting the poorest of the poor, those who have no tax liability. We budget for expansion of the State children's health insurance program.

We often hear folks say that education is the key, but, of course, money is what unlocks the door. The chairman's mark increases funding for education and social services, job training by almost $8 billion over the 2008 program level in the President's budget for vital services such as Head Start, IDEA, and programs under No Child Left Behind.

We reject the President's cuts to critical social services programs by helping struggling families make ends meet, and in doing so, we recognize that the number of Americans living in poverty has increased by 5.4 million since 2000. We provide the resources to help support energy assistance, food stamps, and child care for low-income families. The Democratic budget rejects the President's proposal to eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, serving nearly 5,000 seniors each month in my district.

This evening's budget debate is about our priorities as a Nation as well as our morality. In short, the Democratic budget represents a downpayment to fulfill the commitment we have made to our Nation's children and families.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a compassionate leader and volunteer from the Fourth Congressional District, Gwen T. Jackson. Her involvement in the voluntary and nonprofit arena has been a lifelong pursuit: she has served on the board of over 50 different organizations in the Milwaukee metro area. Mrs. Jackson is a recognized leader at the national, regional and local level for her work in the community.

Mrs. Jackson was a pioneer for women in management and executive business positions and was vice president of human resources when she elected for early retirement in 1981 from BRlLLS, Inc. where she worked for over 30 years.

Mrs. Jackson is well known as the consummate volunteer and her commitment to civic involvement includes the following leadership roles: chairman, Women's Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation; United Way of Greater Milwaukee; Volunteers of America of Wisconsin; Alliance for Children and Family; Milwaukee County Department on Aging; African American Women's Project and chapter chair and chairperson emeritus of the red cross of greater Milwaukee among others. Mrs. Jackson's over 40-year tenure of volunteering at the Red Cross is held as her signature volunteer service. Further, she served as the national chairman of volunteers and part of the senior management team for the American National Red Cross in Washington D.C.

Mrs. Jackson's advocacy and leadership on a myriad of issues including the fields of aging, health, women and youth has earned her the respect and heartfelt admiration of Milwaukeeans. She has not only been the recipient of countless awards including an Honorary Doctorate from Cardinal Stritch University and Outstanding Citizen Award from the National Council of Christians and Jews, but she has also had awards and scholarships named in her honor including the Gwen T. Jackson Angel Fund to provide quality of life assistance to frail elderly and mentally challenged adults who live in Volunteers of America of Wisconsin group homes.

Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to Mrs. Jackson's contributions to the Fourth Congressional District. She is a community treasure and the many honors and awards she has received are a testament to the positive impact she has had on Milwaukee.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for yielding.

First of all, I must humbly acknowledge what a difficult situation we face in Iraq, and I respect the passionate debate on both sides. And I must concede that I don't really have a cohesive, comprehensive plan for fixing Iraq. And, indeed, the Iraq Study Group has indicated that really no one can guarantee that any course of action in Iraq at this point will stop sectarian warfare, growing violence, or the slide toward chaos.

Our intelligence community recently found that the violence in Iraq is now a self-sustaining sectarian struggle. Our military leaders have indicated that a prolonged occupation cannot prevent what already exists: little political accommodation, hardening sectarian divisions, and a growing civil war.

It has been asked what the majority is for. Well, I can tell you that I am for standing down from these policies in Iraq that have been based primarily on fear and pride. Fear can be false evidence appearing real, and fear is one of the most destructive afflictions that can affect the human mind, and often, as we have seen, feeds aggression. Pride, of course, is one of the seven deadly sins, and it is an excessive belief in one's own abilities and is often called the sin from which all others arise. Oh, we are going to be great liberators.

Fear can appear and make you see a false reality. As the ancient author Lactantius said, ``Where fear is present, wisdom cannot be.''

In 2003 America's fear of weapons of mass destruction, Saddam Hussein, and al Qaeda bolstered arguments for going to war. Fear outraced the facts, and 4 years later our troops find themselves in a civil war.

Today this debate, this call for an escalation, is led by fear. We hear the dire predictions about withdrawing from Iraq: Oh, if we leave, civil war and bloodshed will continue. Sadly, the reality is if we stay, civil war and bloodshed will continue. Pride blinds our actions just as much as fear, and some have said that ego is the defender of fear. A requirement of pride, indeed a symptom, is that each challenge to our pride drives us harder to improve our illusions and keep up appearances. Oh, we are going to achieve victory. Oh, we have got to maintain the morale and pride of the forces. Oh, if we don't succeed, we don't support our troops. And if we send more troops, we are sending the wrong message. A very precarious warning about pride that I think we are all familiar with is that ``pride cometh before a fall.'' In order for us to consider what our real interests in Iraq and the Middle East are, we have to get past stoking fear and pride.

Fact: The U.S. is not going to impose democracy on Iraq by military force. And no matter how proud we are, no matter how much we may wish, no matter when we leave, the U.S. will leave an Iraq that is in pieces, not at peace. The U.S. alone cannot stabilize the Middle East. Will our pride prevent us from reaching out and being honest brokers and invite others in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, to help stabilize Iraq? It is said that the punishment for pride is being broken on the wheel, and our budget and military readiness is being broken on the wheel.

There are a lot of things I would like to see in Iraq, Madam Speaker: more political and economic opportunities for women, respect for law, the emerging of democratic institutions. But as the Iraq Study Group noted, achieving the goal of having an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself will require much time and depend primarily on the actions of the Iraqi people, not American troops.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and achievements of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, the grandson of Alabama ex- slaves who rose to become an American research chemist of international acclaim. Dr. Julian's son, Percy Julian Jr., works on social justice issues as a practicing attorney in my home state of Wisconsin.

While working on the West Side of Chicago for the Glidden Paint Company, Dr. Julian worked in soybean research where he developed foam that put out oil and gas fires. During World War II the Navy saved many lives by using a foam fire extinguisher.

He later discovered a special process to synthesize cortisone from soy beans and yams, allowing the widespread use of cortisone as an affordable treatment of arthritis.

Dr. Julian's achievements did not come easily. Because formal education for African Americans in Alabama stopped at eighth grade, he was forced to move from Montgomery to Greencastle, Indiana where he attended De Paul University as a subfreshman. As a student, he worked as a waiter and a ditch digger in order to pay his tuition and make ends meet. During the night he laid the groundwork for his future discoveries by devoting his energies to study of chemistry.

Dr. Julian's perseverance and determination paid off and, in 1920, he graduated from DePaul University in Indiana at the head of his class and was honored as Phi Beta Kappa orator and valedictorian. In 1923, he earned his master's degree from Harvard University, again in the top group of his class.

Madam Speaker, Dr. Julian also overcame adversity in his private life. His home in the

all-white neighborhood of Oak Park in Chicago was firebombed. He refused to move from the area, determined to break down the walls of segregation around him. An activist for civil rights he composed and delivered numerous speeches in an effort to bring about equality for African-Americans.

It is a true honor to support this resolution, H. Con. Res. 34, which honors the life of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian and recognizes his incredible accomplishments.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my constituent, Mr. George Paz Martin, a longtime activist, community leader and cherished friend who is being honored this month with the Lifetime Peacemaker Award by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. I can think of no more appropriate recipient for this award. Throughout his life, Mr. Martin has exhibited tireless activism, a limitless command of skills and approaches, and a relentless pursuit of justice and peace.

There is scarcely a social justice issue on which George Martin has not served a crucial leadership role. Coming of age in the civil rights movement, he fought for equality and desegregation in housing, education, and employment, among other things. He has served numerous organizations that provide community development and services for housing, healthcare, and economic development. An internationally renowned peace activist and Green Party leader, he is also extremely involved in local efforts to address the needs of the veterans' community.

Not only do his social justice interests know no bounds, but his combination of skills and approaches to the pursuit of justice make him a relentless champion. Having worked in the corporate world, he understands the utility of marketing and promotions in broadening the peace movement. He has built local, national and international coalitions against violence within neighborhoods and among nations. He is a highly sought-after public speaker, who has participated in nearly every major peace rally since the invasion of Iraq. He has traveled throughout the world building relationships with other peace movements, and serving as a witness to the devastation caused by war and violence.

Finally, Mr. Martin demonstrates seemingly limitless personal commitment. He brings care and compassion to every struggle. It is the hallmark of his style that he has crafted a movement against the Iraq war that takes account of the humanity of everyone involved, including those involved in the fighting, the policymakers, the peace leaders and those who support the war.

I am indebted to George for his expertise, his friendship, and the example of his leadership and I am honored to have this opportunity to thank him for his lifelong commitment to equality, peace, non-violence and justice.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee.

Since 1916, this non-profit organization in my district has provided invaluable legal services to low-income people and other vulnerable members of society. Now serving over 8,000 people a year, the Legal Aid Society specializes in advocating for children, people living with HIV/ AIDS, the elderly, immigrants, those with mental illnesses, prisoners, and victims of domestic abuse. As a result of their work, thousands of people in my district have been protected from exploitation and discrimination, and many others have received redress when their basic human rights were violated.

The Legal Aid Society has been a pioneer not only in representing vulnerable people, but also in developing mechanisms to ensure consumer relief, protection against discrimination, and equal access to legal representation. The Legal Aid Society took the lead in establishing the first small claims court in Milwaukee and together with the Milwaukee Bar Association, set up the state's first lawyer referral service. In 1957, the Legal Aid Society initiated the state's first public defender system.

Widely recognized throughout the State for these innovations, the Legal Aid Society is one of the foremost organizations in Wisconsin working to make sure that the law serves everyone. Several current and former Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justices worked at the Legal Aid Society before ascending to the high court, a testament both to the quality of legal representation this organization provides and to the role it plays in ensuring that attention to consumer law and the issues that affect low-income people are considered throughout the legal system.

I am very grateful to the Legal Aid Society, and its current and former employees, for their commitment to ensuring that everyone has a voice in the system. It is a privilege to thank them for their dedicated service and salute this impressive progressive record.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my disappointment about H. Res. 1082, a resolution condemning the decision by St. Denis, France to name a street after Mumia Abu-Jamal, being rushed to the House floor as a suspension bill.

The resolution condemns the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Danny Faulkner and urges the municipal government of St. Denis, France, to change the name of a street named after Mumia Abu Jamal immediately. It also urges the French government to take appropriate action against the city to change the name of the street.

I do not support the killing of police officers or any law enforcement officials and my heart goes out to the family of Officer Danny Faulkner. However, I respect the rights of other countries and sovereign nations. I do not believe it is the place of the United States House of Representatives to dictate street names in France or any other country.

I also respect the balance of powers in our Nation and the jurisdiction of our courts. Appeals by both the prosecution and the defense are scheduled to be reviewed by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals next year. As Members of Congress, I do not believe it is our place to interject our views on a particular case currently pending in the Federal Courts.

With only three legislative days left in the 109th Congress, there are far more pressing issues we should be addressing, such as education, health care and minimum wage. This resolution invokes too many controversial and sensitive issues to be simply placed on the suspension calendar without any hearings and limited debate.

Mr. Speaker, you have heard earlier today that the HIV/AIDS pandemic has wreaked havoc on the African American community across the Nation.

And that is also true for my own district in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where since 1983 over 50 percent of the diagnosed AIDS cases were among African Americans. And while these data are appalling and frightening, we must remember that this is entirely preventable.

We must spread the hope of preventing AIDS. So despite this terrible human tragedy, we must never yield to complacency and silence and ignorance, because complacency and silence and ignorance, of course, leads to death.

We must encourage people to get educated, to get tested, to get involved in the fight against AIDS. But quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, it is this Congress's responsibility to fight this national epidemic by providing the resources for people to be involved in setting aside this pandemic. It is not enough to just say no to sex.

This commitment would involve reauthorizing the Ryan White Care Act. It would involve increasing funding for the Minority AIDS Initiative. Mr. Speaker, we must never look the other way and say that nothing can be done. And I urge my colleagues to take action and to fund these critical initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life and work of Mr. Leonard Sykes, Jr., a highly respected, deeply principled and thoroughly knowledgeable Milwaukee journalist. Mr. Sykes died September 17, after suffering a stroke earlier this summer.

Mr. Sykes dedicated his professional life to ensuring that the practice of journalism in Milwaukee and across the country should grow to reflect the full range of life in communities of color. He came to Milwaukee in 1986, having already established a strong journalism career with stints at Jet Magazine and the Waukegan, IL, News-Sun. During his tenure at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he covered issues that were at the heart of the urban, African American experience, including civil rights, poverty, job training, and anti-violence efforts. He was dedicated to highlighting community efforts that helped hold families and neighborhoods together. A one-time city editor at the Journal Sentinel, he was working as urban affairs reporter at the time of his death.

An award-winning journalist and consummate professional, Mr. Sykes was known throughout the Milwaukee area for bringing dignity and passion to his work. His writing never failed to highlight a keen understanding of the issues. His unique insights derived from skillful research and encyclopedic knowledge of Milwaukee and its people. His no-nonsense approach to the issues sometimes touched a nerve with policymakers, power brokers, and the community at large. Perhaps because of his commitment to seeking truth and airing out the assumptions that underlay conventional wisdom, his work was well respected among the powerful and disenfranchised alike.

As chair of the Journal Sentinel's Minority Caucus, and through his work with the Wisconsin Association of Black Journalists, Mr. Sykes endeavored to expand coverage of communities of color across the state and throughout the country. Notwithstanding this effort--and the glimpse it afforded into the African American community--his reach, focus and scope transcended race. I will miss his powerful intellect and his commitment to using his position to speak truth to power. His death leaves a void not only in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newsroom, but in the Milwaukee community as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, I would like 5 minutes to address the body.

Mr. Speaker, I, like other Members of this body, am very reluctant to use inflammatory rhetoric, and it is very, very inflammatory to label what is going on in Darfur as genocide. It is inflammatory, it is accusatory, it indicts the government. And, moreover, Mr. Speaker it pricks our humanity, because if we were to not deny that it were genocide, there is no way that we could just sit back and do nothing. If we deny that it is genocide, it is just easy to walk away and say that what is going on there is somebody else's business.

Well, the international legal definition of the crime of genocide is found in Article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. It describes the two elements that constitutes genocide as, one, a mental element attempting to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group; and, two, a physical element, which includes five types of violence, Mr. Speaker: killing of members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Now, if you look at what is happening in Darfur, if you pull off the blinders, you will find that more than 400,000 people have been killed by the government forces and militias from 2003 to the present time, and the killing continues.

Bodily and mental harm certainly has occurred as young women and girls are raped by soldiers and militias. Such physical and mental harm will continue to affect these women and families for generations to come.

Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost to the deliberate destruction of homes, crops, water resources; physical displacement of over 2 million people, resulting in conditions of famine, disease, epidemics in both inaccessible areas and in camps for displaced people; the killing of pregnant women; the use of rape as a weapon of genocide, as many perpetrators have been arrogant enough to state that their intent is to change the ethnic identity of the child conceived by rape.

2004, July, this House and the Senate declared that the atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide. 2004, September, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell announced that the killing, raping, and other atrocities occurring in Darfur was genocide. But 2 years and much empty talk later, the violence continues, Mr. Speaker.

The U.N. and humanitarian organizations continue to report a continuing deteriorating situation. Twenty-six thousand Sudan Armed Forces are headed to the Darfur region for a major offensive against people. Humanitarian groups have remained concerned that

their ability to continue to provide aid to over 2 million displaced victims are insecure as the violence continues.

The time for debating this genocide or declaring it genocide is over. It is time to do something now.

There are only two options, Mr. Speaker, as I leave to go back to my seat. One would be to extend the African Union peacekeeping force mandate; or, two, to send in the U.N. peacekeepers in Sudan, even though the Sudanese Government refuses to accept them.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, there is one other option: To continue to do nothing. For evil to triumph, it is only necessary that good men do nothing.

Madam Speaker, I have grave concerns about what the future holds for the Middle East. The violence in Israel and Lebanon, which began with Hezbollah rocket attacks on an Israeli town and a military incursion into Israel and abduction of Israeli soldiers, threatens to engulf the entire region. Unless swift action is taken by the international community, further escalation and bloodshed will soon be upon us.

As we consider this resolution, H. Res. 921, civilian lives hang in the balance. Hezbollah's rocket attacks against innocent Israelis are indiscriminate tools of terror against a civilian population. Reports indicate that Israeli retaliations have resulted in the loss of innocent lives.

It seems clear that Hezbollah has raised--or lowered--the suicide attack to a new level: they have dragged the entire nation of Lebanon and all its people into harm's way because of the group's attacks on Israel.

I wish that this resolution made more mention of these innocent Lebanese civilians and innocent Israeli civilians who are caught in the middle here. They are the ones paying the price.

I wish that this resolution made more mention of the urgent need for the U.S. to step forward, use its considerable influence, and take diplomatic action immediately to try to end the bloodshed affecting millions on both sides of the border.

The finding in paragraph 4 of this measure asserts that Israel is making every effort to prevent civilian casualties. And while I am a staunch supporter of Israel's right to defend itself, it is disturbing that some sources report that over 300 Lebanese civilians have been killed due to the violence. I hope that Israeli forces truly are making every effort to prevent civilian casualties, as indicated by this measure.

Finally, I want to tell you how deeply saddened I am that recent events have reduced the power of moderates in the region and dimmed prospects for long-term peace. The earlier abduction in Gaza came just as talks among Palestinian officials seemed to be reaching a point that may have allowed Hamas to open negotiations with Israel. And the attacks across the Israeli-Lebanese border will undoubtedly serve to diminish and muffle--now and in the immediate future--the voices of moderation who would otherwise call for peace.

It is my hope--no, my demand--that moderate voices in the international community, including the United States, will promptly work to quell this crisis. Clearly, Madam Speaker, right now we need solutions and not just condemnations.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the ``Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act.''

Today we are reauthorizing critical components of the Voting Rights Act that will ensure that all citizens can carry out the fundamental right to vote and have the opportunity to elect their candidate of choice.

I know there has been push back from certain colleagues about certain provisions, such as the language assistance provision. I wanted to remind everyone that these are all U.S. citizens that are helped by this provision and a majority of the people who will benefit from these language assistance services are native born citizens.

It's not only citizens of Spanish-speaking heritage or Asian Americans, we are also talking about American Indians and Alaskan natives. These are people whose ancestors were here long before yours or mine and deserve every assistance possible when it comes to voting.

Today, as we consider the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, let us reflect on our ancestors and those who dedicated their lives toward civil rights causes, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King and her husband Dr. Martin Luther King.

Dr. King led the symbolic voting rights march from Selma, Alabama to the capital city of Montgomery, which motivated Lyndon Johnson to push Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Some of the provisions in the Voting Rights Act itself were first outlined in a March 14, 1965 article in The New York Times written by Dr. King.

In his speech after the Selma to Montgomery March, Dr. Martin Luther King said:

Let us march on ballot boxes, march on ballot boxes until

race-baiters disappear from the political arena. Let us march

on ballot boxes until we send to our city councils, state

legislatures, and the U.S. Congressmen (and women) who will

not fear to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly [with thy

God]. Let us march on ballot boxes until brotherhood (and

sisterhood) becomes more than a meaningless word in our

opening prayer.

The Voting Rights Act empowers us to confront the deceitful tactics used to undermine minority voters.

The Voting Rights Act empowers us to seek justice and support the policies in which we believe.

The Voting Rights Act empowers us to achieve the true definition of democracy, and ensure that every American has the right to vote.

In memory of the many great civil rights leaders that have passed on and in unity with many of the great ones to come, I urge my colleagues to pass the Voting Rights Act and reject any amendments that undermine this monumental bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and work of a man that has been called the conscience of Milwaukee. The Honorable Frank Zeidler, who died this week at the age of 93, served 3 terms as Mayor of Milwaukee. He dedicated his entire adult life to improving the quality of public policy and government services in this community.

A life long resident of the City of Milwaukee, Frank Zeidler grew up in Merrill Park, and raised his own family in a modest neighborhood on North Second Street. He is widely remembered for his vigorous intellect, strong commitment to the use of government to solve problems, and unparalleled integrity.

Prior to serving as mayor, he was elected to be county surveyor and served 2 terms as member of the Milwaukee School Board. As Milwaukee's mayor from 1948-1960, Mr. Zeidler implemented a wide range of initiatives that reflected his contention--often attributed to his adherence to socialist ideology--that government could serve as a powerful tool for improving the lives of residents. He devoted considerable effort to improving government services, upgrading garbage collection and the fire department, expanding library access, starting a public television station and a public museum, and ensuring high quality infrastructure. He oversaw the development of thousands of units of low-income and veterans'

housing. He was strongly committed to working to combat poverty and ensuring respect for the civil rights of all.

After 12 years as mayor, he reentered life as a private citizen, but continued to champion these ideals through community action. A true public servant, he was lauded by friends and foes alike for his principled behavior, and for his evident commitment to seeking the best solutions to the problems we face as a community. I am honored to pay tribute to him, and to thank him and his family for their efforts to make Milwaukee and the Fourth Congressional District a better place in which to live for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a woman in my district who has dedicated her career to improving the quality of life for African American children and their families. June Perry, co- founder and Executive Director of New Concept Self Development Center, retires this month after 31 years at the helm of this multifaceted human services agency.

Equipped with a master's degree in social work and experience working in Milwaukee County's child protective services, June Perry started New Concept Self Development Center in 1975. Understanding that intervening in the cycle of poverty requires prevention as well as treatment, she built an institution to provide appropriate and high quality mental health and social services to residents of Milwaukee's central city. Over the last three decades, New Concept tackled a wide range of issues, ranging from teen pregnancy and high school drop-out prevention to crisis counseling for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Always on the lookout for new ways to approach old problems, June Perry's leadership has been characterized by a passion for innovation, a strong commitment to collaboration, and the determination to do what it takes to serve the community.

Not only has Ms. Perry developed innovative social service programs, she is also a noted leader and expert in the field of non-profit management. She has participated in management programs at the Denali Institute, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the prestigious Stanford University School of Business. She has received numerous national and local awards for her work, including the Women of Influence award from the Business Journal, the Trailblazer award from the Black Women's Network, and the President's Points of Light Award.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is safe to say that June Perry's efforts have touched the lives of tens of thousands of Milwaukee residents, over the course of several generations. Rather than wait for someone else to address the problems that plague our community, she has never hesitated to step up and marshal resources to implement solutions. I am honored to have this opportunity to thank her for her tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment to the children and families of our community, and to wish her a long and rewarding retirement.

I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, would the chairman of the Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations subcommittee engage me in a colloquy?

Thank you for yielding and engaging in this colloquy on the Small Business Administration's New Markets Venture Capital Program.

Mr. Chairman, we have talked before about the many small businesses located in low-income urban and rural areas that lack access to capital in the form of equity, and that presents a serious barrier to growth.

Although it is widely recognized that small businesses create 75 percent of all new jobs and account for 99 percent of all employers, conventional venture capital firms simply overlook low-income areas; and it handicaps these businesses' ability to leverage resources needed to expand existing operations and hire and train qualified employees.

The Small Business Administration's New Markets Venture Capital Program was established precisely for this purpose, to fill the access to capital gap that exists for a number of these small businesses in these communities. The program was designed for the purpose of making equity investments in growing small businesses located in economically stressed urban and rural regions through the creation of privately managed new market venture capital companies.

The overall objective of these equity investments is to provide patient capital to help promote economic development and the creation of wealth, not for individuals but wealth to support employment opportunities in underserved areas, as well as among the residents living in such neighborhoods.

Six new market venture companies were created during the initial phase of this program, Mr. Chairman; and these firms are still operating and making critical equity investment in small businesses, primarily located in low-income urban and in rural areas. It is imperative that the new market venture capital program is given a chance to succeed in order to continue its mission in bringing much- needed equity investment capital to small businesses in these communities that need them the most.

I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your concern. As you may know from our previous conversations, my congressional district includes the City of Milwaukee, a city that currently ranks 48th out of the 50 largest U.S. cities in venture capital investment dollars, 7th among the poorest cities in the Nation, and has a 52 percent unemployment rate among African American men.

I recognize that these SBICs offer another source of equity capital for small businesses. However, as you can see, more needs to be done to ensure that these investment dollars are specifically geared toward those urban and rural neighborhoods that continue to be left behind. It is so crucial that we do our part to provide the necessary incentives to encourage venture capital investments in these communities, and I respectfully ask for your help in this effort.

Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman; and I look forward to working with you.