Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to join my House and Senate colleagues today in introducing this important and necessary legislation. I would like to thank Senators Dodd and Leahy and Congressman Hulshof for their commitment to justice and to the passage of the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

Nearly 60 Members of the House of Representatives from across the country joined us in cosponsoring this important and historic bill. There is strong, bipartisan, bicameral commitment to passing and enacting this legislation

as swiftly as possible. It is long overdue. The country is ready. The victims' families friends, and loved ones have been suffering indefinitely, and Congress needs to act.

Our purpose here today is not to open up old wounds. There is a need for those who committed horrible crimes to be brought to justice. This process of seeking justice is not just good for history's sake, but it is good for the process of healing. It will help us to put this dark past behind us and to bring closure to the families of the victims of these age-old and vicious crimes.

The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act will deliver the added focus and resources necessary to get this job done. It is my hope and prayer that many murders committed during this Nation's struggle for civil rights will be solved as a result of this legislation. I will work tirelessly to see it passed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the establishment of a Department of Peace and Nonviolence as a cabinet- level office of the executive branch of our government. I agree with Representative Kucinich that war and the threat of war have dominated international relationships for much too long. As a participant in the Civil Rights Movement, as a human being who has faced the barrel of a loaded gun armed only with the philosophy of peace, it has been my belief for many years that war is obsolete as a tool of our foreign policy. But I realize that position may be too progressive for many of my colleagues to accept.

But maybe, just maybe at this moment in our nation's history, when we find ourselves struggling with the hopeless legacy of violence, maybe, just maybe we might be willing to consider the methods of peace as an intelligent, strategic alternative to war. At this very moment our sons and daughters are battling in the middle of an unnecessary war, a war we started, hoping that we could force democracy to grow.

But Mahatma Gandhi once said that violence begets violence. And a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace, Martin Luther King, Jr., once said if we as a people want peaceful ends, we must use peaceful means. When will the warring factions in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and the United States be willing to say they have spilled enough innocent blood? When will they say it is time for us to lay down the tools and instruments of war? Today, can we hear the words of Gandhi, perhaps stronger now than ever before, ``We must choose non- violence or non-existence''?

Are we finally willing to hear the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., ``We must learn to live as brothers and sisters or perish as fools''? Can we, the most powerful nation in the world, use our influence, to raise these questions and give peace a chance?

Madam Speaker, as a nation and as a people we have researched, written about, studied, constructed, deployed and spent trillions of dollars on the best ways to destroy humanity. We have used the power of fear to dominate world affairs. What would happen if the most powerful nation on earth took the lead and through this Department of Peace decided to put even half of those resources toward developing ways to sustain humanity, ways to keep the peace in spite of competing international interests, and ways to gain influence using the power of diplomacy and negotiation?

Without constructive, alternative policies, without viable tools that leaders of nations and leaders of human kind can reach for, peace will always be a vanishing ideal that holds no substance. If we truly believe that peace is our ultimate goal, then we must use the resources of this great nation to that end. We must use the brilliance of American intelligence to develop the methods and mechanisms of peace, even more actively than we develop the mechanisms of war. That's why we need a Peace Academy that will create a diplomatic corps armed with the tools of peaceful influence.

We are all one people, Madam Speaker. We are one family, the human family, and we must find a way to understand each other, to make peace, and learn to live together.

Madam Speaker, today we honor one of the most accomplished scientists of the twentieth century; a man who would not be deterred by racial bias. Today we honor the life and research of Dr. Percy Julian.

Dr. Julian worked tirelessly, and won acclaim for his work in organic chemistry. A brilliant chemist, Dr. Julian developed a treatment for glaucoma, a new process to produce cortisone, and a fire retardant used by the US Navy, which saved countless American lives during World War II. Throughout his distinguished career Dr. Julian was awarded an impressive 105 patents. His many scientific accomplishments led to his election as a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in 1973.

Dr. Percy's contribution to the study of science is remarkable, yet we cannot forget the racial barriers that Dr. Julian was able to overcome. Born the grandson of Alabama slaves, Dr. Julian was a civil rights pioneer. Dr. Julian was forced to fight through racial prejudice and intimidation to establish himself as a pre-eminent chemist. Let us not forget, as the first African-American family to live in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, the Julian house was fire-bombed in 1950. And again, on June 12, 1951, the Julian house was attacked, this time with dynamite. Yet, through it all, we should not forget the courage he displayed and his perseverance.

We, as a nation, owe much to Percy Julian and it is a privilege to honor him today.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Dr. McDermott, the gentleman from Washington, for yielding me this time and bringing this piece of legislation to us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6, the CLEAN Energy Act. More than ever, we need to get our priorities straight. We need to stop helping big oil companies and start helping American families. We need to stop dancing while Rome burns and reverse the damage we have done to our environment.

Oil companies are making record profits. They do not need our help. They are not begging for our help. They made more than $96 billion in profit in 2006. It is time to end the massive giveaway to the big oil companies. It is time to end corporate welfare. It is time to take taxpayer dollars back from the oil companies and use them to solve our energy problems.

It is our moral duty to use other forms of energy, and H.R. 6 starts us on this process. Global warming can no longer be ignored. 2006 was one of the hottest years on record. The weather in Washington during the last 2 weeks has felt more like the warm weather I am used to in my home State of Georgia. We need to act now. H.R. 6 will start to address global warming and turn back the damage we are doing to our environment.

We also need to reduce our reliance on Middle Eastern oil. It is our duty to help inspire the next generation of energy technology: hydrogen, ethanol, wind and other sources of energy that will not harm our little planet, our little spaceship we call Earth.

The American people need relief from energy costs. By improving our energy efficiency, we can all spend less to light and heat our homes and fuel our cars with gas.

Do the oil companies really deserve tax breaks while they earn billions of dollars in profits? It is time to end this waste. It is not right. It is time to start improving our quality of life. The people have a right to know what is in the air we breathe and what is in the water we drink. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6.

Madam Speaker, I just want to take a moment, just one moment, to thank Chairman Miller on behalf of hundreds and thousands of students attending the eight colleges and universities in my district for bringing this legislation to the floor. They will be more than grateful to you forever for bringing this legislation to the floor, and I want to thank you, Chairman Miller.

Madam Speaker, for too long the doors to our colleges and universities have been closed to too many of our young people. Too many of our best and brightest cannot afford to go to college, and those who do are buried under a mountain of debt when they graduate. Today we can ease that burden. Today we can make colleges and

universities more affordable by passing H.R. 5. The best and brightest American minds, rich and poor, all of our children, must have access to higher education. Our young people will be competing with young people from around the world, not just on this little piece of real estate we call America, but from around the world, and they must have every opportunity to succeed. I am the first person in my family to finish high school, to go to college.

I worked in a kitchen washing dishes, pots and pans, serving food, working as a janitor. That is how I made it through school. But today, hundreds of thousands of our young people cannot make it because of the debt, because of the high cost of student loans. American students should never, never be turned away from college because they cannot afford it.

It is unacceptable, it is a shame, it is a disgrace that our country is willing to spend millions and billions of dollars to fight a war in Iraq that we know is a mistake, while the doors to our colleges and universities are closed to too many of our young people.

Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5, vote for America's future. Vote for our young people.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend, my colleague, the chairman, for yielding.

Madam Speaker, it is only fitting and appropriate that we salute and commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as we celebrate his 78th birthday.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was a man of peace, a man of love, a man of nonviolence. He must be considered one of the founding fathers of the new America.

Because of his dedication to the cause of injustice and his fight for human dignity, he wrestled with the very soul of this Nation and pushed it to reach for its greater destiny.

Dr. King had the ability to produce light in dark places; the ability to bring the dirt and the filth out from under the American rug, out of the cracks and the corner into the open light in order for us to deal with it.

He injected a new meaning into the very veins of our society and gave his life to make our democracy real. What he did and what he said and what he sacrificed inspired an entire generation and his power still rings today throughout the Nation and around the world.

We are a different country. We are a better people today. Martin Luther King, Jr., believed in the power of love over hate, the power of nonviolence over violence, the power of peace over war. He liberated all of us, black and white, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American.

If Dr. King could speak to us today, right now, he would say we must stop the madness of the war and bring our young people home. He would say that war is an ineffective tool of our foreign policy.

We must struggle against injustice and stand up for our goals. If peace is our goal, then peaceful ends must take peaceful means.

Dr. King would say, means and ends are inseparable. He would say we must

find a way to live together as brothers and sisters or we will perish as fools.

39 years later, we must rededicate ourselves to the struggle that was his struggle, and continue to see the goals that were his goals.

We know that his dream has not been fulfilled. It must be our task, our obligation, our mission, our mandate to renew our commitment to his dream.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, our seniors are still paying too much for lifesaving prescription drugs, and today we must ease that burden.

Seniors should not have to choose between paying for their medicines and paying to heat their homes or putting food on their table, and that is still a decision that too many of our seniors have to make. Seniors saw their premiums go up and their drug prices go up. People living on fixed incomes cannot afford these increases.

The big drug companies are the big winners under the prescription drug plan. They are getting a great deal, but the seniors are getting a bad deal, a raw deal. The drug companies' profits increased over $8 billion in the first 6 months of the prescription drug plan, $8 billion, while our seniors and taxpayers pay the bill. It is wrong and it is unnecessary; and today it is our duty, our obligation and a mandate to change that and bring down drug prices.

It is common sense to negotiate with drug companies to get lower drug prices. It is very simple. It is not that difficult. The VA does it and HHS has already done it too.

It is our duty to our seniors and to the taxpayers to lower drug prices. To do anything less is unfair to our seniors and a waste of money and a gift to the drug companies.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Miller for yielding, and I want to thank him for bringing this piece of legislation before us.

Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable that we have waited 10 years to address this problem. Unacceptable. We have waited far too long. Millions of our American citizens, our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, are working long hours to receive a minimum wage and are still living in poverty. In 2007, we should be ashamed of ourselves. We can do better. We can do much better as a Nation and as a people.

American workers are suffering. They are struggling to fill their cars

with gas, to put good food on the table. They are working hard, and they are still living in poverty. That is not right. It is not fair, and it is not just. All American workers deserve good pay for hard work. This is a matter of fairness. This is a matter of human decency. This is a matter of human dignity.

Nearly 20 States have increased their minimum wage above the Federal level. It is time for us in Congress to do the same.

In my district, the basic cost of living for a family of three is $27,000. Even with the increase we are considering today, it is still $12,000 short.

This is just the first step today, and we must do more for working families in the fight against poverty. President Roosevelt said it best when he said that the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

Today, Mr. Speaker, we must pass the minimum wage. It is time that Congress's actions reflect the will of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor and congratulate Jacque Muther--a true champion in building and sustaining HIV/AIDS care and treatment services in Atlanta--on her tenure as a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief Coalition. CAEAR Coalition is a leading national voice for the treatment and care needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and Ms. Muther has served on its Board of Directors for 12 years, including eight as treasurer. She will leave the board at the end of this year and I take this opportunity to acknowledge her service at the local and the national levels.

Ms. Muther's commitment to the care and treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS goes back almost to the beginning of the epidemic. Since the mid 1980s, she has worked at the Grady Health System Infectious Disease Program--a program that now serves over 4,500 indigent people living with HIV/AIDS. She also served as Chair of Atlanta's Ryan White Title I Planning Council and as a member of the Georgia ADAP Task Force, which focuses on increasing state contributions to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. She also serves as Treasurer of HIVDent and is a member of the Board of Directors of Atlanta's AIDS Survival Project.

This impressive list of contributions does not fully capture Ms. Muther's important role in our community, nor her effectiveness as an advocate for high quality HIV/AIDS care for all who

need it. Her service and advocacy are rooted deeply in her strong sense of justice and wherever she goes she is a compassionate and effective voice for the urgent need for the nation to redouble its commitment to

Madam Speaker, I have a Special Order for tonight I am taking out with Mr. Scott and Mr. Bishop.

Madam Speaker, joining me tonight are Mr. Scott and Mr. Bishop from Georgia.

Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to tell you about a bad deal, a very bad deal. You may have read about the recent unwanted, unsolicited and unnecessary bid from U.S. Airways to take over a strong, proud, Georgia company named Delta Airlines.

But Americans have learned the hard way that bigger is not always better, and in this case, Delta's takeover by U.S. Airways will have a devastating impact on the people of Atlanta, on the east coast of this country, and it will rob the American travelers of the economic advantages that competition creates.

Mr. Speaker, today I represent thousands of Delta employees all over Georgia, hundreds of Delta pilots, and the executive leadership of that organization. Delta employees and its executive are working through some difficult problems right now as they reshape the company, but when it comes to this merger, they speak with one strong and mighty voice.

Management and employees agree on this. None of them are for this deal. I think that speaks volumes, Madam Speaker. It demonstrates how deeply they believe this takeover will impair the quality of airline transportation in our country.

You may have heard that Delta had run into some problems and was going through bankruptcy proceedings, but it is about to emerge from this bankruptcy a stronger, better airline, with a renewed commitment to serve the American people, American travelers and world travelers.

Delta had problems but it was not a failing company. They have used the hardship of bankruptcy to make tremendous progress. In spite of its challenges, it has created 70 new international destinations. It offers service to all 50 States. Employee morale has improved. Pensions for 90,000 employees and retirees were saved, and 2,500 pilots, machinists and other employees have been called back to work.

It is because of the sacrifice of Delta employees and executives to make good on its commitments to its creditors that it became a prime target for this hostile merger. It is because Delta was able to win the uphill battle of bankruptcy and is poised to emerge transformed that U.S. Airways want to take it over against its will. That is not right, that is not fair, and that is not just.

This is not a case of the survival of the fittest. U.S. Airways is in trouble. It has already gone through two bankruptcies and cannot seem to bring its merger with America West to a close.

In 2004, U.S. Airways was on death's doorstep. It had no choice but to merge with America West. It would have had to liquidate all its assets if it had not merged with another company, but 2 years later, the integration of U.S. Airways and America West is still not complete. The majority of its labor groups are still working under separate contracts. It still has two IT systems. U.S. Airways has not even repainted all of its aircraft.

Madam Speaker, even though U.S. Airways cannot seem to manage its own merger, it is hoping and praying that it can take advantage of the hard work and tough sacrifices the good people of Delta have already made so that it can survive. This is not a win-win situation. It is a win for U.S. Airways and an incredible risk for Delta Airlines and for all of its customers.

It is a risk for the people of Atlanta, a risk for Hartsfeld-Jackson Airport, the largest commercial airport in the world. It is a risk for the State of Georgia and thousands of American citizens.

At this time, Madam Speaker, I want to yield to my colleague and friend from the State of Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Scott should know we have two more Bishops waiting to speak. We have Bishop of Georgia and Bishop of Utah, and they both live in cities that are served by Delta. Bishop of Georgia from Albany, Georgia, and Bishop of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Madam Speaker, I now yield to Mr. Bishop, my colleague from Georgia.

Let me thank our colleague from Utah for participating in this Special Order. As we said earlier, Madam Speaker, this is a bad deal, this is not a good deal, and that is why we are speaking out tonight and we will continue to speak out in opposition against this proposed takeover bid until this proposal is off the table. As it has been said, we want to secure Delta's future as a strong stand-alone company. That is in the best interests

of the American people, not just to people in the Southeast, but to people in the West and all over this country.

Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to tell you about a bad deal. You may have read about the recent unwanted, unsolicited, and unnecessary bid from US Airways to take over a strong, proud, Georgia company, named Delta Airlines.

But, Americans have learned the hard way that bigger is not always better. And in this case, a Delta takeover by US Airways will have a devastating impact on the people of Atlanta, on the east coast of this country, and it will rob American travelers of the economic advantages that competition creates.

Mr. Speaker, today I represent thousands of Delta employees all over Georgia, hundreds of Delta pilots, and the executive leadership of that organization. Delta employees and its executives are working through some difficult problems right now as they reshape the company, but when it comes to this merger, they speak with one voice.

Management and employees agree on this. None of them are for this deal. I think that speaks volumes, Mr. Speaker. It demonstrates how deeply they all believe this takeover will impair the quality of airline transportation in the United States.

You may have heard that Delta had run into some problems and was going through bankruptcy proceedings. But it is about to emerge from this bankruptcy a stronger, better airline, with a renewed commitment to serve America's cities. Delta had problems, but it was not a failing company.

It has used the hardship of bankruptcy to make tremendous progress. In spite of its challenges, it has created 70 new international destinations. It offers service to all 50 states. Employee morale has improved. Pensions for 90 thousand employees and retirees were saved. And 2,500 pilots, machinists and other employees have been called back to work. And it is because of the sacrifice of Delta employees and executives to make good on its commitments to its creditors that it became a prime target for this hostile merger. It's because Delta was able to win the uphill battle of bankruptcy and is poised to emerge transformed, that US Airways wants to take it over against its will.

This merger puts the very successful efforts of an independent corporation in jeopardy, . . . and it would leave this important transportation resource in the hands of an institution that cannot seem to get its own house in order.

This is not a case of the survival of the fittest. US Airways is in trouble. It has already gone through two bankruptcies, and cannot seem to bring its merger with America West to a close.

In 2004, US Airways was on death's door--it had no choice but to merge with America West. It would have had to liquidate all its assets if it had not merged with another company.

But two years later, the integration of US Airways and America West is still not complete. The majority of its labor groups are still working under separate contracts. It still has two I-T systems. US Airways hasn't even repainted all its aircraft!

Madam Speaker, even though US Airways can't seem to manage its own merger, it is hoping and praying that it can take advantage of the hard work and tough sacrifices the good people of Delta have already made so that it can survive. This is not a win-win situation. It is a win for US Airways and an incredible risk for Delta Airlines.

It is a risk for the people of Atlanta, a risk for Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the largest commercial airport in the world. It is a risk for the State of Georgia and thousands of American citizens.

I think freedom in the marketplace is important, but when a bad business deal like this one threatens the economies of so many communities and the lives of so many citizens, I think Members of Congress must take notice. I think we must step in and take a long hard look at the economic impact of this kind of hostile takeover.

Why must the American people pay, why must the employees pay, why must travelers pay when American businesses can't get their house in order? This takeover attempt will hurt people in my district, it will damage the economy of the State of Georgia, and it will isolate communities in the Southeast that have come to depend upon air travel.

I think the Members who stand with us tonight would encourage the Justice Department and the House Judiciary Committee to review this takeover with a fine-toothed comb so we can make sure it serves the best interests of the American people.

Madam Speaker, US Airways keeps using the word ``synergy'' to describe this takeover. They want to make us feel comfortable about this deal. But, synergy is just a codeword for cutting flights and eliminating competition. And that means higher prices for American consumers.

``Synergy'' means two companies working together to accomplish what one couldn't, but that's not what will happen in this merger. Delta could emerge as an independent company from this bankruptcy in a few months.

That's something US Airways could not do when it was in trouble. An independent Delta will continue to serve hundreds of markets that US Airways will cut off or cut back. This is not synergy; it is exploitation. It is suffocation.

US Airways wants to take over the strength of a new Delta Airlines for its own benefit and raise fares so it can service the huge new debt it has to take on to pay for this merger. Meanwhile American travelers will have to pay more money for less service.

If this merger is not stopped, travelers in many American cities will only have one air carrier to choose from. If they want to fly, they will have to accept monopoly prices or stay home. And if the past is any indication, the ``New Delta,'' as US Airways likes to call the results of this merger, will take full advantage of their monopoly.

Using the name, ``New Delta,'' tells us something about which airline has real strength and a better reputation. Madam Speaker, it would seem that US Airways has more confidence in Delta, than they do in themselves.

If the proposed merger goes as planned, there may be some reduction in fares between some big cities, but service to hundreds of small cities throughout the northeast region of this country--cities that are just beginning to build a new economic life, cities like Asheville, Augusta, Birmingham, and Jacksonville. That's what US Airways did when it merged with America West. There's no reason to think they won't do it again.

Some analysts say that a merger with Delta would be good for the airline industry. But, US Airways will weigh Delta down with $23 billion in debt. $23 Billion Dollars!

Delta went into bankruptcy because it had $21 billion in debt. This plan will probably send the two airlines right back into bankruptcy!

The whole purpose of Delta's bankruptcy negotiations was to reconfigure its debt load. It was a tough struggle, but Delta did it. And now US Airways wants to pile up staggering amounts of new debt in hopes that Delta can bear some of the load, hoping that a more efficient organization can solve its problems. That's like asking an expert swimmer to save one that's drowning. It might work, but there's just as much chance that they will both die.

There is no economic model, except maybe voodoo economics, that resolves debt by adding debt. This extra burden would drain the competitiveness of the merged airline and threaten the survival of both companies.

This is not a promising plan for Delta's creditors who are taking a risk that a company which cannot complete its own merger, could somehow juggle a brand new merger at the same time. Practically and economically, it doesn't make sense. This is a win for US Airways and much too risky for Delta.

US Airways executives have said they will find so-called ``synergies'' if the merger occurs when Delta is still in bankruptcy. Don't be fooled--that just means that the Delta executives and employees who have already sacrificed a lot, will be asked to sacrifice even more. And it means that all the agreements they worked so hard to gain are up for grabs.

It means US Airways wants to make new agreements that benefit its stock price without regard to the harm it would cause Delta's employees, Delta's passengers, or Delta's creditors. That's right-- Delta's creditors!

Gaining ``synergies'' while Delta is still in bankruptcy means rejecting contracts and leases Delta has already negotiated. That is a win for US Airways and a risk for Delta's creditors.

There are some who claim that airline mergers are unavoidable and good for the industry. In some instances, like the US Airways and America West case, end-to-end mergers of that sort can be good and competitive if they are executed well. Both of those airlines had very little overlapping service.

But Delta is in a very different position than US Airways was in when it received the America West offer. Delta is returning to profitability. It will emerge from bankruptcy in a few months. Delta's network is strong.

The morale of Delta's people is good. Delta's revenue picture is impressive. In no way does Delta need US Airways to survive. But US Airways needs Delta to survive. That's why this is a hostile takeover. It knows Delta would have no good reason to participate in this deal, except by force.

Madam Speaker, I am here today to raise the question: Will this merger really serve the best interests of the American people?

Will it benefit travelers and business people in small communities to fly at the will of a monopoly? Will the service cuts and hub closures benefit business and individual citizens in those cities? Most small communities that lose service will never again see a low-cost carrier come to town to save the day.

Just look at Georgia--there are no low cost carriers today in any cities other than Atlanta and Savannah.

Airlines won't take on those routes for the very reason that they haven't up to now. They don't believe in that kind of service. There are not enough passengers for them.

Delta is proposing to maintain those routes, and US Airways now has to compete with Delta to win in those markets. That competition helps keep fares down and provides choices a monopoly carrier will not offer.

And Madam Speaker, what about justice for Delta's employees? Delta's employees have sacrificed a lot to turn the company around.

They have been through lay offs, pay cuts, and uncertainty about the company's future and even their retirement benefits. They deserve to reap what they've sown. They have hung in there. They didn't give up in hard times. And this is the kind of nation that rewards hard work and sacrifice.

Delta employees should reap the benefits of their sacrifice. They don't deserve the risks of a US Airways takeover. They have been through the worry of losing their jobs and benefits. They have fought hard to win back their security. They don't deserve to lose the seniority they've worked so long to achieve.

And that's why--they don't want US Airways! They don't want to go back. They want to move forward with a free and independent Delta airlines.

Madam Speaker, I submit to you that the U.S. Government must look at this takeover bid and measure it against our nation's antitrust laws. We must begin a rigorous antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice. House and Senate Committees must also investigate this merger proposal thoroughly.

It is our duty, it is our obligation, it is our responsibility as Members of Congress to represent the best interests of our constituents and our nation, and to hold the feet of the responsible agencies of the Federal Government to the fire to make sure that their review is thorough, careful, and fair.

I am convinced that, if they look at this deal, they will find that it is more anti-competitive than the 2000 United-US Airways merger, which the Justice Department opposed. I am convinced that this deal is more anti-competitive than almost any other airline combination possible.

Over the years, Delta has been a significant economic engine, fueling the region's growth. It has helped to make Atlanta one of the world's most important international transportation centers. The potential loss of Atlanta as Delta's home would be a tragedy--a real blow to Atlanta, to the State of Georgia, and the people of the United States.

Madam Speaker, this is a bad deal. That is why we are speaking here tonight, and we will continue to speak in opposition to this takeover bid until it is off the table. We want to secure Delta's future as a strong, stand-alone company in the heart of Atlanta.

Madam Speaker, I yield to Mr. Scott.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Vincent D. Murray, who will receive the prestigious Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. Mr. Murray has been the principal of Henry W. Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia since 1991.

Mr. Murray has been chosen for the prestigious 19th annual award for his leadership in transforming his inner-city public school into a higher achieving institution in which graduation and college-going rates consistently have risen above the district and state averages.

Sixty-six percent of Grady High students are African American and 44 percent qualify for free or reduced price lunch. When Murray joined Grady High, more than a third of all freshmen were held back and repeated their freshmen year. The student body's passing rate on the Georgia graduation test was below the statewide average.

Mr. Murray has been consistent in his efforts and focused on innovative reform. The result is that today, four out of every five graduates go directly on to college or university, including Ivy League institutions. Average scores on the graduation test, SAT and Advanced Placement exams exceed district, state and national averages. Graduation rates have risen 38 percentage points for African-American students (to 84 percent), 26 points for economically disadvantaged students (to 86 percent) and 25 points for white students (to 97 percent). As a result of Murray's success in transforming Grady High, the U.S. Department of Education recognized him in 2000 with the Department's Title I Distinguished School Award. In 2006, the governor of Georgia named him a High Performance Principal, a top honor in the state.

Mr. Murray has a bachelor of arts degree in history and English from Morehouse College, a master of arts degree in early childhood education from the University of Georgia, and a doctorate in psychology/learning disabilities from Boston University. He has pursued post-doctoral studies at Clark-Atlanta University and Georgia State University.

I salute Mr. Vincent D. Murray for his outstanding contributions to education. He has dedicated himself to improving education in this country and his accomplishments continue to make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast rollcall votes 474 through 503 from September 26 through September 29, 2006, because I was attending to a family emergency. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

On rollcall 474, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 475, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 476, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 477, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 478, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 479, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 480, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 481, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 482, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 483, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 484, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 485, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 486, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 487, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 488, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 489, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 490, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 491, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 492, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 493, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 494, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 495, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 496, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 497, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 498, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 499, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 500, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 501, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 502, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 503, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 504, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 505, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 506, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 507, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 508, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 509, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 510, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 511, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, my colleague, the gentlewoman from California for yielding and for all of her great work.

Mr. Speaker, just 3 months ago this body passed the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, admitting the sad fact that voter discrimination is still a reality in this great Nation. This Congress decided we could do better, that history required us to protect the right of all Americans to vote.

Today this bill moves us in a different direction, the wrong direction. This bill, like the unconstitutional Georgia photo ID bill and so many other photo ID schemes throughout the country, is an attack on the voting rights of millions of American citizens.

I am beyond disgusted. I am shocked. I find it hard to believe that the Republican leaders in Congress will put election year games ahead of the voting rights of American citizens. We fought too long, fought too hard, and suffered too long for the right to vote. People died to participate in the democratic process. We must not turn back the clock. We must not go back. We must go forward and open up the political process and let all American citizens come in.

Call it what you may, this bill is a modern-day poll tax; $10 or $15 for a birth certificate, $100 for a passport, this is a poll tax. There is no other way to say it. It costs money to get a birth certificate. It costs money to get a passport. Why put an extra burden on American citizens to exercise their most precious right, their right to vote? There is no reason.

Citizens will be denied the right to vote. This is no less than voter suppression. We should open up the process to each and every American citizen. Instead, this bill returns us to our dark past. Vote ``no'' on this photo ID bill.

Mr. Speaker, no discussion of our Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities would be complete without mention of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. I have the privilege of representing, in my Congressional District, this remarkable consortium of institutions of higher learning which comprises: Clark Atlanta University; Spelman College; Morehouse College; Morehouse School of Medicine; the Interdenominational Theological Institute. I also am fortunate to represent Morris Brown College, Georgia's first college founded by African-Americans for African-Americans, in my Congressional District.

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the rich history and the integral role that these institutions have played in educating African-American scholars for over a century.

Atlanta University Center--As the largest concentration of historically Black colleges and universities in the Nation, the Atlanta University Center has played a pivotal role in providing African Americans access to higher education for over 150 years. The history of the Atlanta University Center Consortium truly demonstrates the forward thinking of those who came before us.

During the 1930s, the modern organization of the Atlanta University Center emerged, with Atlanta University, Clark College, Morris Brown College, and the Interdenominational Theological Center affiliating a few years later. In 1957, the controlling Boards of six HBCU institutions (Atlanta University; Clark, Morehouse, Morris Brown and Spelman Colleges; and Gammon Theological Seminary) ratified new Articles of Affiliation, creating the present-day Atlanta University Center. In 1964, the Atlanta University Center, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization to provide services and programs to its member institutions. Today, Atlanta University Center Consortium member institutions continue to share a unique bond and a common goal of providing quality education for African Americans.

I want to commend the outstanding work of the Atlanta University Center, Consortium Executive Director, Dr. Marilyn T. Jackson, and the staff, faculty of the Atlanta University Center.

Clark Atlanta University--Formed by the consolidation of Atlanta University, which offered only graduate degrees, and Clark College, a 4-year undergraduate institution oriented to the liberal arts, Clark Atlanta University was formed in 1988. While Clark Atlanta University continues to maintain its historic relationship with the United Methodist Church, it should be noted that the legacy of both Clark College and Atlanta University extend back to the mid 19th century.

Clark College was founded in 1869 as Clark University by the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which later became the United Methodist Church. Atlanta University was established by the American Missionary Association, with later assistance from the Freedman's Bureau in 1865.

Prior to its consolidation, Atlanta University was the Nation's oldest graduate institution serving a predominantly African-American student body. By the late 1870s, Atlanta University was renowned for supplying black teachers and librarians to the public schools of the South. By 1930, Atlanta University was offering graduate coursework in liberal arts, social and natural sciences; it would later go on to adopt professional programs in social work, library science, and business administration.

Clark Atlanta University continues to emphasize sound ethical and moral principles that promote personal integrity and understanding of others. Additionally, Clark Atlanta University accepts the mandate of its parent institutions:

Atlanta University's motto, ``I'll Find a Way or Make One,'' and Clark College's motto, ``Culture for Service.''

I want to commend the outstanding work of Clark Atlanta University's current President, Dr. Walter Broadnax, and the staff, faculty, students, and alumni.

Interdenominational Theological Center--The Interdenominational Theological Center was chartered in 1958 through the mutual efforts of four denominations, representing four seminaries: Morehouse School of Religion, Gammon Theological Seminary, Turner Theological Seminary, and the Phillips School of Theology. The Interdenominational Theological Center would later add the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary; the Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Atlanta. Today, over 15 different denominations are represented throughout the center, including Disciples of Christ (Christian Church), United Church of Christ, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Lutheran, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic, as well as students who are nondenominational.

The ITC has an international reputation for producing exceptional clergy and a longstanding tradition of community outreach, and it is known for its commitment to promoting service to both the church and society. In fact, the International Theological Center is currently playing an important role in fostering a national dialogue surrounding the Black church's role in the renewal of American society.

I want to commend the outstanding work of the Interdenominational Theological Center's current President, Dr. Michael A. Battle, and the staff, faculty, students, and alumni of the Interdenominational Theological Center.

Morehouse College--Founded in 1867 as the Augusta Institute in Augusta, Georgia, Morehouse College is the Nation's largest liberal arts college for men. In addition to ensuring that its students are prepared both academically and socially, Morehouse also takes great pains to ensure that its students are spiritually prepared for leadership and success in the larger society; as a result of this unique focus, Morehouse has the distinction of conferring bachelor's degrees on more black men than any other college or university in the United States.

I am pleased to note that Morehouse's notable alumni include some very distinguished Members of this Congress: my colleague from Georgia, Congressman Sanford Bishop and my good friend from New York, Major Owens. It also should be noted that Morehouse counts former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, and former Health and Human Services Secretary Leon Sullivan, among its prominent alumni.

I want to commend the outstanding work of Morehouse College's current President, Dr. Walter Massey, in addition to its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Morehouse School of Medicine--Morehouse School of Medicine was established in 1975, as part of Morehouse College, to address both a severe shortage of minority doctors, and a shortage of doctors in rural areas and inner cities. In 1983, Morehouse School of Medicine joined the consortium of institutions known as Atlanta University Center and was granted full accreditation of its M.D. degree program in April 1985.

Recognized for taking the lead in educating primary care physicians, 68 percent of Morehouse School of Medicine alumni are practicing in primary care disciplines, while 84 percent are practicing medicine in underserved areas. Furthermore, Morehouse School of Medicine's research focuses on areas that disproportionately affect the African-American and other minorities. Its institutes include, but are not limited to: the National Center for Primary Care, the Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Neuroscience Institute, and the NASA Space Medicine and Life Sciences Research Center.

I want to commend the outstanding work of Morehouse School of Medicine's current President, Dr. John Maupin, in addition to its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Spelman College--Founded in 1881 for the purposes of educating African-American women and girls, Spelman College has empowered women to fully use their talents to succeed and to better the world, for many generations. As one of two black women's colleges in the Nation, Spelman develops its students not only academically but also emotionally and spiritually.

Spelman students are encouraged to pursue the study of fields where minorities and women are often underrepresented, such as math, science, and engineering. To this end, Spelman has forged partnerships with NASA and has been designated as one of six institutions designated by the National Science Foundation and NASA as a Model Institution for Excellence in undergraduate science and math education.

I want to commend the outstanding work of Spelman's current President, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, in addition to its students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Morris Brown College--Morris Brown College is a private, liberal arts, 4-year institution founded in 1881 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, thousands of leaders in government, education, business, technical fields and the professions are proud to have Morris Brown College as their alma mater.

While the Atlanta community was deeply troubled by the April 2003 decision of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to rescind the accreditation of Morris Brown College, we remain hopeful that the institution will soon be restored to its full academic standing. I stand in solidarity with Morris Brown College, as it moves forward through this challenging transition, and I am confident that the institution will return stronger than ever.

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong support for the goals and ideals of Historically Black Colleges and Universities week, and I encourage all of my colleagues to do the same.