Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I am proud to reintroduce the National Parents Corps Act of 2009. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to protect a family.

Unfortunately today, American families in every corner of our country are working harder and longer hours to just make ends meet. They labor frantically to keep food on the table, gas in the tank, and a roof over their heads. As you can imagine the troubled economy makes it especially hard for parents to fully shepherd their children through those critical formative years. Study after study shows how vulnerable pre-teen and teenage young people are to developing life-long, harmful behaviors such as smoking and drug abuse.

The National Parents Corps Act of 2009 helps address this problem, by providing parents with the resources necessary to organize and protect their children in unique but proven methods. This legislation will create a national network of parent leaders who will educate and mobilize other parents in their children's schools. These full-time, professional parents will serve as liaisons between teachers, parents, and administrators to build much-needed safety nets among police, social workers and community based organizations in schools across our country.

The program has proven successful in both identifying and preventing dangerous behaviors and trends among their middle and high school children. Thousands of parents were recruited, and their collective efforts resulted in significant decreases in criminal activity, drop- outs, and disciplinary problems in their schools and communities.

Madam Speaker, we must adapt our methods to better address the challenges facing American families. This legislation is a common- sense, modern way of building families and communities to support our most vital assets--our youth. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the National Parents Corps Act of 2009. It is an investment in the core of our society.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague and friend from Georgia for yielding the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell the full story of our Nation's Capitol Building. We must recognize all of the hands that helped to construct this temple of freedom. We must continue to teach the full history of this country, and to do that, we must recognize the role that African American slaves played in the construction of our Nation's Capitol.

I would like to thank Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Lungren for all their efforts to bring this bill to the floor, and also the staff of the House Administration Committee, and Jesse Uman, of my own staff, for their work and perseverance to pass this bill.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to thank and recognize Senator Blanche Lincoln, who has championed the work of the Slave Labor Task Force in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, for too long, the use of slave labor in the construction of the United States Capitol has gone untold. We look back today, not to open old wounds, but to ensure that we tell the story, the whole story, the complete story of those slaves, so their toils are never forgotten.

Slavery is part of our Nation's history of which we are not proud. However, we should not run or hide from it.

The history of the Capitol, like the history of our Nation, should be complete. As thousands of visitors walk through our Nation's Capitol, they leave without knowing the full history of its construction. Today, there is nothing, not one thing, not one note, that tells the story of the African American slaves who helped build this magnificent building: no drawings, no murals, no statues, nothing but nothing.

Mr. Speaker, with this resolution, this untold story will now be told. Thanks to the work of the Slave Labor Task Force, we will now honor those slaves who built our temple of freedom. We need something that visitors can see, that visitors can feel and which communicates the back-breaking labor that slaves completed to help construct our Capitol.

Passage of this resolution will create a historic marker in the Capitol Visitor Center, made of stones quarried by the hands of slave laborers to stand testament to their sacrifices. This physical and permanent marker will pay tribute to the blood, sweat and toils of the African American slaves who helped build this magnificent building and ensure that their story is told and never forgotten.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution.

Mr. Chair, I rise today as a cosponsor of this important amendment and urge of all of my colleagues to support it. I thank the Gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for his tireless advocacy on addressing human rights issues, and I would like to recognize Cindy Buhl on his staff and Jamila Thompson in my office for their hard work on this issue.

The McGovern-Sestak-Bishop-Lewis amendment would allow public access to the names of graduates and instructors at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation formerly known as the School of the Americas. This military institution, based at Ft. Benning in Georgia, is known throughout the region for its questionable teachings and record of its graduates.

This amendment is simply about transparency. By revealing the names of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation attendees, we can shine the light of accountability and truth on an institution that is unnecessarily shrouded in secrecy. We can show our regional neighbors that we seek to be their partners in peace, and not coconspirators of aggression.

I urge all of my colleagues to support the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop- Lewis amendment. Mr. Chair, with this amendment we can show that the intentions of the United States reflect a more cooperative foreign policy and a renewed commitment to international human rights standards.

Madam Speaker, on June 8, 2009, I underwent surgery and have been recuperating for the past 3 weeks. In my 24 years in Congress, I have missed very few votes and have taken pride in having a voting record of over 90%. This is the first time I've missed this many votes. Had I been here, I would have cast the following votes:

On rollcall 311, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 312, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 313, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 314, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 315, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 316, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 317, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 318, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 319, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 320, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 321, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 322, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 323, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 324, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 325, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 326, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 327, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 328, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 329, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 330, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 331, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 332, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 333, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 334, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 335, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 336, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 337, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 338, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 339, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 340, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 341, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 342, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 343, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 344, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 345, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 346, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 347, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 348, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 349, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 350, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 351, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 352, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 353, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 354, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 355, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 356, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 357, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 358, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 359, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 360, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 361, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 362, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 363, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 364, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 365, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 366, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 367, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 368, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 369, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 370, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 371, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 372, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 373, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 374, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 375, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 376, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 377, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 378, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 379, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 380, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 381, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 382, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 383, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 384, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 385, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 386, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 387, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 388, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 389, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 390, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 391, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 392, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 393, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 394, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 395, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 396, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 397, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 398, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 399, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 400, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 401, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 402, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 403, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 404, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 405, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 406, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 407, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 408, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 409, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 410, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 411, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 412, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 413, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 414, I would have voted present.

On rollcall 415, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 416, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 417, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 418, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 419, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 420, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 421, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 422, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 423, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 424, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 425, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 426, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 427, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 428, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 429, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 430, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 431, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 432, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 433, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 434, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 435, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 436, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 437, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 438, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 439, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 440, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 441, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 442, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 443, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 444, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 445, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 446, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 447, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 448, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 449, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 450, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 451, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 452, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 453, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 454, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 455, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 456, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 457, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 458, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 459, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 460, I would have voted no.

On rollcall 461, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 462, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 463, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 464, I would have voted yes.

On rollcall 465, I would have voted yes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in proud support of H. Res. 931, a resolution recognizing National Foster Care Month. I thank my friend and colleague on the Ways and Means Committee, Chairman McDermott, for sponsoring this important resolution.

During National Foster Care Month, we pay tribute to the half million children presently in the child welfare system and the many others in the network--mentors, volunteers, friends, extended families, and organizations who fill in the gaps in Federal and State coverage to help these young people find their way.

In Georgia, there are thousands of children living in foster care. These young people--of all race, ages, and backgrounds--were victims of neglect and abuse. Madam Speaker, as parents we know that children require stability and permanency to thrive. Love and security help the development of healthy and confident young adults. Sadly, due to circumstances beyond their control, foster children are uprooted from their homes and represent the one of largest constituencies of displaced people in the United States. In fact, numerous studies show the increased difficulties foster children must overcome, especially the lack of support for foster care youth as they transition to adulthood and independence.

Child welfare services have a shared goal to find safe, stable, and loving homes for these young people. Unfortunately, this dream is not always realized. Last year, Congress passed and the President signed the Fostering Connections to Success Act. This legislation was an important step in improving the nation's child welfare system, but more can be done. I look forward to continuing to work with my friends and colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support to improve the experiences of those young people living in and preparing to exit foster care.

Madam Speaker, each and every young person has a right to a childhood. During National Foster Care Month, I hope that communities around the country really come together and think of ways to improve the lives of young people in the child welfare system.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Highway Trust Fund Fairness Act of 2009. I urge all of my colleagues to support this common-sense legislation.

This year, Congress is tasked with the much larger mission of reauthorizing the country's surface transportation programs to meet the needs of a constantly-evolving highway and transit system. Later this year, we will have to really look at ways to make the Highway Trust Fund more solvent, but in the meantime, we can make smaller changes that would help ease the burden.

The Highway Trust Fund Fairness Act does just that. It allows the Highway Trust Fund to be treated like other federal trust funds by allowing refunds and credits through the General Fund. The bill will also allow the Highway Trust Fund to accrue interest on its balance. These are very basic, common-sense changes that will save money in the long-run.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy created National Transportation Week. He recognized that transportation was fast becoming one of the most sensitive and important issues facing our nation. It affects every person, every day. How do you get to and from school and work safely and efficiently every day? How do you visit family, friends, and loved ones?

When I was first elected to Congress, I served on what was then the Public Works and Transportation Committee. It is now the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chaired by my good friend and colleague Mr. Oberstar. I went on to eventually serve on the Ways and Means Committee where I chair the Oversight Subcommittee. Although we

don't work directly on transportation issues in this Committee, we do have the opportunity to deal with how our nation's infrastructure is funded.

The Highway Trust Fund was established in 1956 to provide a dedicated source of federal support for highways and transit programs across the country. Unfortunately, the Highway Trust Fund's balance continues to diminish every year. First and foremost, the Highway Trust Fund is financed primarily through fuel taxes. Combined with high gas prices last year and greener living, people are driving less. This means there is less money going into the Trust Fund. Second, the projects funded out of the Trust Fund are more costly. Consequently fewer initiatives can be funded from the Trust Fund.

As you can see, Madam Speaker, since National Transportation Week was first created, our Nation's transportation and infrastructure has become much more complex--as has our economy. Jobs are created where there is good connectivity--roads, trains, bridges, public transit, walkable, bikable streets and communities. Before we tackle these larger issues, we can start with the basics. I urge all of my colleagues to support this very simple legislation.

Madam Speaker, i rise to reintroduce my resolution urging the United States to ratify and implement certain fundamental international conventions.

This resolution is supported by a variety of organizations including Free the Slaves, Human Rights Watch, AFL-CIO, Amnesty International USA, Global Rights, Citizens for Global Solutions, Oxfam America, the National Alliance of HUD Tenants, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Justice and Human Rights.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Universal Rights. It is the foundation of the current human rights movement. Americans, led by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, helped craft this historic convention, and next week, the United States will again seek a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Last week, I joined my colleagues to protest the genocide in Darfur at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Three years ago, many of us were arrested doing the same thing; three years later, millions continue to suffer.

Our case against this and other humanitarian crises would be so much stronger if the United States had ratified the U.N. Conventions that address the rights of women, children, and forced disappearance. How can we ask for our global trading partners to respect international labor standards, when we ourselves have not ratified ILO standards on the right to organize and bargain collectively, or against forced child labor, or age discrimination? How can we fight poverty and homelessness if we do not support UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights? How can we stand up for civil rights when we do not support hemispheric efforts to recognize historic struggles of marginalized communities?

Our country was founded on the principles of civil and human rights. Many, many people--men, women, and even children--have sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today. Madam Speaker, this is a time of war. This is a time when the global economy is struggling This is a time when access to food, water, shelter, and resources impacts every person on this planet. It is during periods like these when it is most important to protect our values and our commitment to universal human and civil rights.

Simply said, this resolution is our recommitment to our own American principles and to our neighbors and friends around the world. We must always be vigilant. We must be vocal. But we must remember--actions speak louder than words.

Mr. Chair, for too long now, credit card companies have toyed with the lives and financial health of the American people. For far too long, credit card companies have seemed to offer hard-working Americans a lifeline, but that lifeline is really an endless web of debt.

Cardholders are surprised by huge hidden fees that are buried in the fine print.

Credit card companies aggressively prey on our young college students who are not yet working. These companies rove college campuses and entice students with gifts, with the intent of collecting interest payments as the student ravels herself in debt.

We are in the midst of a horrible recession. Millions of Americans are without work, trying to keep their homes, feed their families, and stay healthy, because a trip to the doctor could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. But credit card companies remain cold, chasing the almighty dollar.

Many people have a hard enough time just paying monthly interest charges, yet these companies add on additional fees and increase interest rates by 10 and 20 percent--all without notice.

The truth is they do not want consumers to pay off their balances. It is much more profitable to feast on the interest.

We must put an end to this. We can no longer allow these unjust practices to continue. We cannot allow this industry to continue to profit on the hardship of Americans who use their services.

Mr. Speaker, while it is an honor to be able to participate today's debate, I must say that it gives me feelings of both joy and sorrow. Sorrow, because in the year 2009, I would hope that we should not have a need for such a bill.

I find it most ironic that some of the very same voices in the community who speak out against this bill are the very same voices that question whether racism and prejudice no longer exist simply because a person of color has been elected President. Racism, prejudice, and hate did not disappear on November 4th, 2008. Nor did they disappear on January 20th, 2009.

Yet it gives me joy that we are able to do something about it. I grew up in the Deep South and faced vile hatred up close, and it gives me joy to vote ``yes'' on the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Today we proclaim that our country will not stand for, and will not tolerate hate crimes.

This bill is the right thing to do. It protects our citizens, our nation; our principles and our values.

We are all Americans--

Black Americans, White Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native American, Christian Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, Gay Americans, Straight Americans--all Americans. We are one people and one nation, the American nation. This bill will bring us one step closer to the Beloved Community, a nation at peace with itself.

A constituent came by my office just yesterday and spoke about her son who fought in Iraq. Her son completed two tours in Iraq. Her son has said that he was indeed concerned about his safety. But her son said that he was even more concerned about the safety of his father--a transgender woman, walking the streets of the United States of America every day.

President Obama has talked repeatedly about renewing America's promise. Today, I urge my fellow Members to vote ``yes,'' and keep America's promise.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague for yielding.

I must tell my friend, the gentleman from California, that on Monday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business; on Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning-hour debate and noon for legislative business. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

We will consider several bills under suspension of the rules. The complete list of suspension bills will be announced by close of business tomorrow.

In addition, we will consider H.R. 1728, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, and the Fight Fraud Act of 2009.

I want to thank my friend for yielding.

You know by now that we have had a very busy agenda during this break period, including the bills we have already completed: National Water Research and Development Initiative Act, credit card legislation, hate crimes legislation, the budget conference report; and next week, we expect to pass the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act and the Fight Fraud Act of 2009.

I must tell you that in addition before the Memorial Day break, we will need to pass the supplemental appropriation for Iraq and Afghanistan. The President sent his request on April 10 for more than $83 billion. We expect the House and Senate to act on the request before the Memorial Day recess.

I must tell my friend, again, that we have not discussed that with the majority leader, with others in leadership. But right now it is our intention to pass a bill that includes the two wars.

The Chair of the Appropriations Committee has informed us that he expects to mark up the bill next week, and we will make that information available at that time.

At this moment--things can change--but at this moment, we plan to have the two wars in the bill.

Thank you for yielding again.

We have not had any discussion about benchmarks in the bill. We will wait to hear from the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Obey, and his members.

Looking down the road, we will be working on energy and climate change. We would like to see these bills on the floor in the near future.

That is correct, my friend.

We do not expect to see it coming up anytime within the next few weeks.

Thank you, my friend, for raising the question.

I must tell you that we cannot make any type of commitment on that. We're working on it, and we will continue to work on it, and we hope to work with you and others in a bipartisan fashion before we act.

I want to thank my friend again for yielding.

If you turn the pages of the past few days and the past few weeks, I think we have a record of bipartisanship. First, I am happy to remind my friend that we have passed a number of bills recently with bipartisan support, including the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act. The vote was 410-13. Today we passed credit card legislation, 357-70. And the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, which we expect on the floor next week, passed out of committee on a bipartisan vote of 49-21, with eight Republicans supporting it.

So I say to my friend, I hope there are many more opportunities in the future to continue to build on our record of bipartisanship, and I look forward to working with you to find opportunities to do much more. We want to work with the President. We want to work with you to cut waste.

I think our leadership and the Chairs of committees are prepared and ready to work with your side and to work with the President in finding a way to cut waste.

I must say to you, my friend, while $100 million may be only a small fraction of the overall Federal budget, I remind you that it is $100 million more than the previous administration cut in 8 years, with the help of the Republican-controlled Congress. In fact, with the Republicans, we went from a surplus of $5.6 trillion to a deficit of $4.5 trillion, a turnaround of almost $10 trillion.

We are going to work with you. We are prepared to do what we can to work in a bipartisan fashion to cut waste and to save the taxpayers' dollars.

I thank my friend for yielding.

I am so glad and pleased that you are raising the issue of trade agreements. It is an issue that Democrats and Republicans have a history--and a long and rich and gloried history--of working together, and we will work together.

I know that the Majority Leader, Mr. Hoyer, is very focused on the issue of trade, Panama FTA, and that he is working with the administration and with Members on your side of the aisle--including Mr. Kirk and your leadership--to get this trade agreement done in a timely manner. I promise you that. And I know if Mr. Hoyer was standing here, he would make the same promise.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I cannot assure you, I cannot guarantee you that we will have it done by July 4. But I will assure you that we are going to work together, as a member of the Ways and Means Committee, and I am sure the Chair of our subcommittee, Mr. Levin, is going to work with the ranking member and others, and the full committee Chair and the full ranking member, to get it done as soon as possible, but hopefully in a timely fashion.

We all must work together in a timely fashion to save the jobs, create more jobs, and put all of our people back to work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday next for morning-hour debate.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 627, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section numbering and cross-referencing, and the insertion of appropriate headings.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. John Hope Franklin.

Dr. John Hope Franklin grew up in segregated Oklahoma. He was only 7 years old when his new family home was burned to the ground in the Tulsa race riots of 1921.

As a child, he was evicted from white-only train cars. He was forced to attend segregated schools. And on one occasion he was threatened with lynching. John Hope Franklin tasted the bitter fruits of segregation and racial discrimination, and he didn't like it. But he did not give up, he did not give in, he did not give out.

His parents taught him to hold his head high, that he was the equal of every human being. They told him to forget any thought of oppression and spend his time improving his own value and worth. So he followed his father's

example and began spending every evening reading and writing, a habit he continued until he died just a few days ago.

Dr. Franklin attended Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he graduated at the top of his class. Then he earned a master's and a Ph.D. degree from Harvard College. He had planned to be a lawyer like his father.

But one of his professors encouraged him to tell the story of African Americans, to tell their history. His first book, called ``From Slavery to Freedom,'' sold 3.5 million copies. He became a full professor at Brooklyn College, and he taught one of our colleagues in the Senate. He was appointed Chair of the history department at the University of Chicago, and many years later he became a professor at Duke University.

I knew John Hope Franklin. He was a beautiful human being. He never gave up on the promise of America. Even though he dug deep into America's dark past, he never lost faith in the dream of a new day. He believed that if we were willing to take a hard look at where we have been, we could reconcile the future of all humanity. He believed in a nation and world community at peace with itself. And he did his part.

John Hope Franklin was not only a great historian, but he was a champion of civil rights and social justice. He worked alongside Thurgood Marshall to help dismantle legalized segregation and racial discrimination. In him we have lost more than a brilliant scholar, more than a noble historian, more than a father of African American history. We have lost one of the great men of our time.

There was a gentle power in his presence, an abiding respect in his name, a brilliance and humility in his spirit that changed us all. He is an inspiration to everyone who met him.

John Hope Franklin was a prince of a man. By sharing the riches of his mind and the wealth of his knowledge, he helped not just to educate but to free a people and an entire Nation. He will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Family Smoking Prevention Act; and, Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time to thank Mr. Waxman for all of his great work in making it possible for us to have a vote on this bill.

We all know that tobacco is a killer. We all know that it causes cancer and respiratory problems. We all know that smoking is addictive and that most people who are hooked began smoking as children. We cannot and we must not wait a moment longer to protect our children from this killer. We must break the cycle. This bill is the right approach.

Children should not see cigarette advertisements from their school playground and at sporting events. Children should not be able to buy cigarettes in a vending machine. And children should not be the target of advertisements designed to get them hooked on smoking.

We should know what it is in the cigarettes that people smoke. People try to fool us and say that certain things are not in the cigarette. With the passage of this bill, for the first time, the FDA will know the ingredients in a cigarette, and they will be able to reduce or eliminate harmful ingredients.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot and must not allow another child to get hooked on cigarettes or on tobacco. We must pass this rule, and I support the rule and I strongly support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 169, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''