Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to my pastor Reverend Dr. George Edward McRae and my fellow congregants as together we celebrate the 104th Anniversary of Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church this Sunday, February 13, 2005.

Located in the heart of Miami's Liberty City at 1701 N.W. 66th Street, this citadel of faith

has been and continues to be a beacon of comfort and hope in our community.

Under the leadership of our beloved pastor, Rev. Dr. McRae, Mt. Tabor has taken an active and progressive role in directly addressing the temporal, as well as spiritual needs of our neighbors. I want to commend him for his tireless apostolate in ministering to those afflicted with the HIV/AIDS virus, to those who are imprisoned, to the hungry, and to all those seeking the love and solace of a Church that seeks to affirm and confirm their dignity as God's children.

As we come together in thanks and reflection on our Church's 104 years of ministry, this historic anniversary takes on a meaning much greater than the passage of time, for Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church has met the spiritual needs of thousands of people who came before us, and through the grace of God will continue to do so for another century to come. It is a magnificent legacy we will celebrate.

And so I proudly join my fellow church members in celebrating 104 years of faith and good works, of caring of one another, and reaching through good works to those least able to fend for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, it is always an honor to come before the House and also the American people in this great democracy of ours to address issues that are facing our Nation right now.

I must say that earlier today we had an opportunity, the Democratic Caucus meeting and afterwards, having comments with not only the media, but other members of our caucus about the needs of Social Security.

It is important that we make sure that Social Security is secured for years to come. We know that a number of Americans count on and look forward to Social Security being a part of their lives not only in retirement, but also in their everyday lives. We have 48 million Americans that are involved in Social Security right now, and they are not all retired. Many of them are in school. Many of them are middle- aged individuals.

Tonight we are going to have a number of Members from the 30- Something Working Group, which I must add, Mr. Speaker, started in the last Congress, in the 108th Congress. I cochair that working group with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), and we are going to have a number of Members who are very, very concerned about the principles that not only the President but the majority side have put together as the way to save Social Security.

I will be sharing a few of my comments along the way, but I want to make sure that my colleagues have enough time to share their concerns about what is happening, and the lack thereof that should happen, to make sure that Social Security is not only here for those that are enrolled now, but those that will be enrolled in the future.

We know that every American participates in the Social Security program. We also know the average benefit of the person receiving Social Security now is $955 a month. I think it is important that we pay very close attention.

Now, here in this Chamber last week, and I would say, around this time, the President came into a joint session of the Congress on the State of the Union and said that Americans over the age of 55 do not have to worry about the changes that he would like to make to the Social Security plan.

I must say that that brought amounts of concern throughout the country not only with me and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, but many Americans. It was almost saying that if you are 55, do not worry about it; if you are under 55, trust us. And I can tell you that when we start dealing with generational Social Security, or one generation against the other, I think that is very dangerous. Social Security was never designed to deal with one segment of the population, giving them certain benefits, and another segment, not giving them benefits.

But I just want to mention a few guiding principles that we should think about here tonight. Number one, we should try to make sure that we have a Social Security plan, that we are not borrowing from the Social Security trust fund. The Social Security trust fund is there to make sure that when we have a rainy day, or when we have a shortfall, we are able to go to that trust fund.

What the President and the majority side are proposing now, they are saying that we are going to help save Social Security, but at the same time we are going to take us $2 trillion more into debt over the next 10 years. There has to be a better way to make sure that we deal with the Social Security issue.

Social Security is not at a crisis point. I have heard many Members, through press clips and press accounts and even here on this floor, say that there is a crisis, that there is a fire, that Social Security is going bankrupt, it is going belly up. That is not true. And I hope that through a bipartisan debate and a bipartisan plan, and I am not talking about one or two members of the Republican Caucus, I am talking about this entire Congress because we all have Social Security recipients that are our constituents that are counting on us to be able to make sure that Social Security is solvent for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I will suspend on my comments right now, but I have my cochair here, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan). He is a distinguished member in his own right.

We have the privilege of serving on the Committee on Armed Services together and even on the same subcommittee. It has been indeed a pleasure working with him. He is also on the Committee on Education and the Workforce and Committee on Veterans' Affairs. And he is a well- studied gentleman that I hold in high regard.

Earlier today I was talking with the gentleman about what we share with

not only the American people, but also with our colleagues, that this Social Security issue is so important that we are willing to take the debate not only here on this floor, but also take the debate out to America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much, and I just want to say I think that he said something that was very important.

If the $2 trillion number is not right, because as my colleagues know, under this Medicare prescription drug benefit that the administration put forth in the last Congress, we were told one number and that was wrong, and then it was revealed that the numbers were suppressed and the actual number is higher. Just today, looking at the news reports, that number is even higher, and so as these mistakes are made, future generations and even the present generation is put at risk financially.

I can tell my colleagues one thing that is fact. We do know who will benefit from this privatization scheme, which is $940 billion, Wall Street, to put these public dollars in open water, to gamble.

The other issue that I thought the gentleman really laid out was the fact there are no guarantees that the benefit level will stay where it is now. Matter of fact, we are pretty much guaranteed that benefits will be cut, even for those who do not take part in the privatization accounts, and so I think it is important for us to continue to share that with the American people.

Once again, I just want to say that Social Security is going to be solvent for another 47 years; and also, we have

48 million Americans that are now recipients of Social Security, and it has a lot to do with local economies, a lot of our disabled and very frail individuals. This is what they count on as a source of income.

I must add that we still do not have a Social Security plan. We are just talking about principles now, guiding principles; but one thing that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the minority leader, shared not only with the Nation but shared with many of us here, Democratic guiding principles to make sure that we do not increase the deficit in any Democratic plan that is put forth, a plan that does not send us further into debt; that every dollar will be paid for and not borrowed that will continue to make the problem worse.

Mr. Speaker, we also have one of our colleagues, matter of fact, one of our classmates that came in with us, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), who is past rules chairman in the Georgia senate and now serves here in the Congress on the Committee on Agriculture and also on the Committee on Financial Services. He is going to be sharing some words with us on Social Security, and it is always a pleasure working with him and being with him, and we look forward to his comments.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), and I can tell him that I concur with many of his comments. It was a thoughtful presentation.

And just to reinforce, the trust fund has $1.7 trillion in reserves and will provide full benefits for the next 50 years, and even 80 percent of the present benefits we have now beyond that. So to say there is a crisis and that the sky is going to fall tomorrow is just totally inaccurate.

Mr. Speaker, I do not believe so either.

Mr. Speaker, I am joined by one of our very fine new colleagues from Florida. We represent neighboring districts, and we served together in the State legislature and now she is here in the Congress serving on the Committee on Financial Services, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Speaker, I just want to tell my colleague from Florida that many of the individuals that are beating their chests about the President's plan, and I will not even call it a plan because there is no plan; I have not received a bound copy from the White House saying this is the Social Security plan.

Well, maybe he did not. But I do not think anyone has it, and I think there is a lot of Federal jet fuel being burned flying throughout the country, lining up individuals that are excited to see the President of the United States, but who may not fully understand the fact that they are going to receive fewer benefits, that Social Security is there for them for the next 50 years, and even beyond that with 80 percent of the benefits if we did nothing as relates to Social Security.

We have to make sure that we maintain and do the things that not only the Democratic Congress did along with President Reagan, making sure we kept Social Security sound for future generations, but we need to make sure we do it in a way that we are not scaring Americans and making them feel that the sky is going to fall when it is not.

The only thing that is guaranteed here is that $940 billion that will then fall into Wall Street and the companies, maybe the two or three that will be chosen to handle these private accounts, that will give young Americans, or even middle-aged Americans because, remember, the President said if you are over 55, do not worry. He also told us a number of things as relates to Medicare, and we are finding out it is not true. I am not saying that the President is not being truthful with us; I am just saying we are not getting good information.

Mr. Speaker, I see the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) has some examples of what can happen to many of the young people, and the gentleman knows he is in charge of the charts. I just want to say, it is important to not only give our e-mail address out, because we want to continue to talk with Americans about this issue, and also Members of Congress we would say, and even the other body, to go onto our Web site to get information on what we talked about today with the Democratic leader of going out into America, speaking to groups that want to know more information about what this Social Security privatization scheme has in store for them if we fail them as a Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure that people understand that we are not just talking teenagers, we are not just talking about 20 or 30 something. Here is Bill. Here is an example. And many of these numbers, as we start talking about Social Security being able to provide the benefits that it has now, is not the Davis, Scott, Wasserman Schultz, Meek and Ryan report, this is from the Congressional Budget Office, numbers that they have given us. This is not anything that we sat in a room and said, let us see what works towards our favor here. This is fact and this is reality.

Here is Bill, who is 48, from Georgia, probably from Montezuma where my folks are in Georgia. Let us say Bill retires at 2022. Under the present benefits, he has $1,266 in the year 2022. But under what the President is proposing under his privatization scheme that will guarantee billions for the corporations that are already prospering under his administration, and I mean the big corporations, not the small ones, he will receive under the Bush plan, $1,141.

To create a crisis, to then step into a gamble is unfair to the American worker. It is unfair to American families, and I must add family benefits and survivor benefits are holding families, people who work every day, folks who wake up and catch the early bus in the morning, people who know what it means to have a 15-minute break in the afternoon and in the morning, these are people who work every day.

Here in this Congress, we have to make choices. Here, in the Democratic Caucus and in the 30-Something Group, we have made the choice to be on the side of the individual that works every day and has paid into the system every day and expects that we will not go back on the deal as the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) pointed out earlier, as we have done to veterans, and we are doing to veterans in this budget that the President has put forth. It is very unfortunate.

It is time for not only the American people to wake up, but also for Members of Congress to wake up and stop following the so-called leader, and say, this is wrong and I am not going to move forward with a plan that is going to give my constituents less than what they had when I was elected.

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) could not say it better.

And just in closing, Mr. Speaker, as we close, we want to make sure that we want people to go on to find out more about not only what House Democrats are talking about, but as it relates to our tour throughout the country. It is democraticleader.house.gov/30something. Also, we would close with the message that Democrats want to strengthen Social Security without slashing benefits to Americans that they have earned. Private accounts make the Social Security challenge worse, enforce massive benefit cuts, and increase the national debt. Once President Bush stops insisting on private accounts, then we can have a true debate as it relates to making sure the promise of Social Security will be around for future generations to come.

It is always a pleasure to co-chair this hour with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan). And also I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for being a part of the working group 30- something. And to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott), it is always good to have a 40-something. I will go ahead and put it that way.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a distinguished actor, director, producer, screenwriter, playwright and historian. Ossie Davis was an incredible man whose life's work, both on and off screen, promoted the advancement of civil rights and humanitarian causes.

Mr. Davis' most important role may well have been as husband. He and his wife, also a prominent actor, Ruby Dee, celebrated 50 years of marriage together in 1998. Both were among those selected to receive Kennedy Center Honors in 2004.

The pair met during Davis' Broadway debut in the play Jeb Turner. Both promoted the cause of blacks in the entertainment industry and are well known for their portrayals of characters faced with racial injustice.

My thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Dee, for her loss is truly a loss for us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Fedrick Ingram of Carol City High School, who was honored this past Tuesday as Miami- Dade County Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Ingram, known for his discipline and drive, has pushed his students to excel in music and academic studies. For the first time in 10 years, Miami Carol City's Band received straight superiors in this year's District Band Competition, and was even invited to perform during the Sugar Bowl last month.

While many schools are placing less importance on fine arts, Mr. Ingram has shown what value an amazing fine arts program can have. As Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chairperson, he has motivated his students both in the classroom and the band room--and his results have been amazing. Last year, more than two-dozen of his students amassed $300,000 in college scholarships. Under his leadership, his students have increased their self-esteem and have improved their grades, test scores and graduation rates.

Ingram founded the Miami All-Stars Band Camp in 2002, giving many low-income families the opportunity to send their children. His last camp included nearly 300 students all of which were given the opportunity to work with college band directors and local musicians for an intensive one-week collegiate training course.

Mr. Ingram shares his life's passion daily. Mr. Speaker, I recognize him for his accomplishments and commend him for his hard work and innovation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warme congratulations to a very dedicated and devoted educator. Gloria Frazier Evans has given leadership and service to the students at Booker T. Washington High School for seven years. She has been the embodiment of the school's most treasured motto: ``Not The Largest, But The Best.'' On Saturday, February 5, 2005, the graduating class of 1961 from Booker T. Washington High School will honor Mrs. Gloria F. Evans for ``Keeping the Legacy Alive'' for her community.

Born in Orange, Texas, Gloria graduated valedictorian of her 1966 class at M.B. North High School. She furthered her education at the University of North Texas where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree (1970) in French and English and a Master of Education degree (1971) in English Education. Gloria completed coursework for certification in Guidance and Counseling at Florida Atlantic University (1980), and coursework for certification in Administration and Supervision at Florida International University (1986).

Gloria is the youngest child and only girl of James and Henrietta Frazier. She is married to William Evans, retired educator and track coach. They have two daughters, Erica Nicole and Erinn Monique Evans and stepchildren, Lynette Evans, Keisha Person, and Corey Evans. Gloria attends the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration. She is a member of the Miami Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Miami Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc., and the Dade Association of School Administrators.

In 1998, Gloria was selected as principal to direct the restoration of the historic Booker T. Washington Senior High School. From July 1998 to August 2004, Gloria directly supervised and monitored every aspect of the reconstruction of Booker T. Washington High School, including establishing career academies, aligning the curriculum to State standards, and establishing the athletics and activities programs. She also worked directly with the contractors for the new construction and the renovation of the school. Additionally, Gloria worked with the Ad Hoc Committee, the B. T. W. Alumni Association, and individual B. T. W. Class Organizations. She is currently principal of D.A. Dorsey Educational Center.

Mr. Speaker, I join with the students, faculty, administration and alumni of Booker T. Washington High School, and everyone in our community, in honoring Gloria Frazier Evans. Thank you for all your service, and I wish you all the best in all your future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to pay tribute to a truly great lady, Mayor Vicki Coceano, who became the City of Miramar's first female mayor in 1989 and led the city through an unprecedented period of growth. Mayor Coceano, who was known as the ``Matriarch of Miramar,'' died at the age of 81. She was a remarkable leader in many ways, a proactive and energetic public servant and a Mayor with an open door policy who spoke her mind on the dais.

Mayor Coceano first became involved in politics after a hurricane damaged her back yard in 1960 and she couldn't find the mayor at the time for help. She fought the city and her developer before running for the commission in 1966, a bid she lost.

She ran again in 1977 and won. She became one of Broward County's most recognizable and outspoken politicians during her 22 years in public office. During her tenure as Miramar's Mayor, Coceano oversaw landmark changes as the city grew from a sleepy bedroom community with cow pastures and vast tracts of empty land to a Broward boomtown, home to WTVJ-NBC 6 and a host of national companies.

Her accomplishments included weakening her own job, using a city manager to run the city and raising money in the 1980s to build the youth center that now bares her named. Vicki Coceano, a native of Italy, retired as Mayor of Miramar in 1999.

Outside of politics and family life, Coceano worked tirelessly to help senior citizens, serving on the Board of Directors for the Broward

County Area Agency on Aging for 26 years. She served as president in 1984, 1985, and 2003.

On January 12th, family, friends and city employees gathered at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church to say goodbye to Vicki Coceano and to celebrate her life. We will all remember her for years to come through wonderful memories and the indelible mark she has left on our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of the approximately one million European Jews who were murdered between 1940 and 1945 by the Nazis at the concentration camp of Auschwitz, the site of the single largest mass murder in history.

The camp was originally built to confine and control Polish dissidents that the Nazis deemed were a threat to the occupation. Polish Jews were held elsewhere, typically in ghettos. At Auschwitz, the Polish prisoners were treated atrociously and in 20 months, more than 10,000 died. In January 1942, a Nazi plan for the mass murder of Jews was developed. What was called the ``Final Solution'' was the Nazi policy to murder European Jews. In the spring of 1942, Auschwitz took on a more important role in the Nazis' ``Final Solution.'' The horrifying ability of Nazis to kill thousands per hour took time to achieve and involved such cruel methods as gassing prisoners using carbon monoxide or the lethal pesticide Zyklon B. Conservative and reliable estimates show that the Nazis gassed at least 1.1 million humans at Auschwitz, about 90 percent Jews. However, the torture and killings were not just limited to the Jews as the Nazis targeted other groups they saw as inferior such as Gypsies, the handicapped, Poles, Russians, Communists, Socialists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and homosexuals.

As the end of World War II approached, the Nazis marched Auschwitz prisoners west into Germany in the winter cold. During this march, many prisoners lost their lives. A remaining few thousand prisoners deemed too sick to travel were left at Auschwitz to be killed later by the Schuzstaffel (SS). However, the SS left them alive in the disorder that resulted when the Nazis abandoned the concentration camp on January 17 and 18, 1945. Soviet forces found the prisoners and liberated Auschwitz, the site of so much horror, on January 27, 1945.

The merciless brutality inflicted on the Jews by the Nazis over the course of World War II is unfathomable. It is still entirely unbelievable that individuals contemplated in seriousness the systematic destruction of over 6 million men, women, and children. On this, the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, as we honor the lives lost, my heartfelt condolences go out to those who lost loved ones in the Holocaust. They will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay this tribute to Ms. Thelma Stinson, Principal of Lillie C. Evans Elementary School located in Miami's Liberty City area of my district. This honor is richly deserved, for Ms. Stinson has truly made a huge contribution to our community and a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of youngsters.

Upon the leadership of Ms. Stinson, Lillie C. Evans Elementary School proudly rose from an F-graded school in 2001-2002 to an A-graded school in 2003-2004. She took the helm of this school in 1999, and through personal touch and professional acumen defined by a no-nonsense approach, Ms. Stinson was able to put together a marvelous staff and a well-motivated support system composed of paraprofessionals, parents and community leaders. At the same time, however, I am cognizant of the countless hours of meeting and lesson planning that have exacted nothing but the noblest of her efforts.

I want to applaud Ms. Stinson for having proven to us that, regardless of background or

socio-economic class, every child can learn and can succeed, given dedicated teachers, able and supportive administrators, and a manageable class-size that affords teachers the opportunity to devote more time to diagnose each student's individual learning needs and problems and, thereby, enable them to teach each child accordingly.

I believe strongly in solid classroom management . . . if the class is not under control, the teacher cannot teach,'' was her honest answer when asked recently about her secret of success.

Above all, however, I am particularly pleased that Ms. Stinson seized the challenge of putting an inner-city school in my district in the highest ranking of achievement in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the fourth largest school system in the nation. While teaching and learning continue within the halls of Lillie C. Evans Elementary School under the auspices of its dedicated and highly motivated faculty, Ms. Stinson has reached out to the community by ensuring that the parents are also schooled in the basic skills of reading, math and the sciences through regular sessions at night. Simply put, Ms. Stinson has literally bridged the gap between her school and her students' homes, making parental involvement an essential part of the teaching and learning process.

In spite of the odds, Ms. Stinson has truly demonstrated to all those called upon by public service that excellence and achievement are never beyond the reach of those willing to make the sacrifice and dare the impossible on behalf of tomorrow's leaders. This recognition truly honors her leadership and defines the nobility of her profession as an educator. I extend to her my heartfelt gratitude for a job superbly done and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise proudly to pay this tribute to Jumbo's Restaurant, a legendary business establishment in Miami's Liberty City community. On Saturday, January 8, 2005, it will celebrate its Golden Anniversary.

This place is more than just a restaurant located along the corridor of Seventh Avenue by 75th St. in Miami. It has been and continues to be the ``gathering place'' where both celebrities and ordinary folks come and congregate--and partake of the sumptuous meals that this storied establishment serves its faithful clientele. Since its inception 50 years ago, Jumbo's Restaurant has provided the magnificent backdrop of the struggles and triumphs of an inner-city trying to rise from the ashes of

near despondency on one hand and the elusive promise of prosperity on the other, as envisioned by its original owner, Mr. Isadore Flam, who bought it five decades ago.

Amidst the riots, white flight and economic turmoil, its management, cooks and waiters have continued to serve mouth-watering breaded fried shrimp, fried chicken and other familiar Afrocentric and Caribbean menus. The ambiance has virtually remained the same after all those years of socio-economic upturn and downturn. Current owner, 59-year-old Robert ``Bobby'' Flam, is gutsy enough to hold the line and continues to work hard to keep up the tradition that is uniquely Jumbo's.

To talk about Jumbo's really is to talk about the struggles of Miami's Black community as it faced the challenges of the civil rights era of segregation and disenfranchisement. Its story is as graphic as downright nostalgic, for it defined the character of a people in search of its identity as the promise of equality of opportunity and equal treatment under the law flickered--only to stumble and rise yet again amidst the changing of the times. Even to this very day, it is at Jumbo's that normal folk would forge a community of interest where the dignity of our fellow human beings was animatedly discussed.

Indeed, I am fascinated by the longevity of Jumbo's Restaurant because it tells our story of dogged determination. As we internalize the meaning of its Golden Anniversary this Saturday, we should be enthralled by its perseverance for it is symbolic of our own character of resilience and optimism. This establishment has certainly made us proud, and I want to express the utmost appreciation of a grateful people. Its presence among us evokes yet one more genuine measure of the Flam family's enduring legacy to a community that became the beneficiary of their love and caring.

Mr. Speaker, Ohio was granted an opportunity today not afforded to my home state of Florida in 2000, and for that I am thankful. I express my gratitude to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Senator Barbara Boxer of California for raising this objection, but I feel that we must now move past the documented voting irregularities that plagued the State of Ohio.

The purpose of this objection is not to change the outcome of the 2004 Presidential election, but to raise awareness to the difficulty faced by thousands attempting to cast their ballots for President in Ohio. Following the 2000 election, the people of America were promised sweeping electoral reforms aimed at preventing problems like those that happened in 2000, but those promises were only partially kept. This body let the voters of this country down, and we simply need more reform. There is still too much room for error in our election law and we must be earnest in addressing these lapses.

We know that elections are not perfect, but no American should be castigated for raising questions or concerns when valid voting problems arise. Only open debate on this issue will solve these problems; only accurate information will quell rumors and conspiracy theories that question our country's sacred democratic tradition.

As we are all aware, the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine's recent presidential elections were called into question. After the first vote, Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle condemned this election in a foreign country as fraught with irregularities and intimidation. Yet some of these same Members rise in apparent indignation when irregularities are discussed in our own elections in our own country. They do not want to talk about the voting problems in Ohio. Yet these problems are real, and they deserve the attention of the American people. They provide compelling reasons why the Congress must address election reform in the first session of the 109th Congress.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 was a good start, a necessary first step, but it was inadequately funded and unevenly implemented. More attention is needed. We must ensure that all voting machines have a paper trail that will ensure a proper recount can be conducted. We must eliminate conflicts of interest among those who administer our State's elections. No Secretary of State should serve as a Presidential campaign State co-chair as was the case in Ohio this year and in Florida in 2004. We simply must have independence, uniformity and accountability in all elections across our great republic.

These lapses, inconsistencies, lack of resources and conflicts of interest are, Mr. Speaker, worth discussing.

Again, I thank those who brought this objection. These two Members of great courage and integrity have given this country a platform for reform. Only a proper review of our voting processes will stop these kinds of electoral abuses, and I urge the House leadership to make this effort an immediate priority of the 109th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sorrow that I rise to pay this tribute to the late Mrs. Mabel Yap. She was one of Miami- Dade County's matriarchs who contributed immense good to our community.

Mrs. Yap's passing on December 27, 2004 leaves a deep void, especially for those of us who have known her quiet and dignified spirit in urging her children and grandchildren to advance the common good of our beloved community in an unselfish manner. The funeral Mass to celebrate her life is being held today, Tuesday, January 4, 2005, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church, and will be followed by her interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in South Miami.

She was the loving and devoted wife of Mr. Patrick Yap and the mother of eight children, 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Yap symbolized the dutiful mother whose home offered sanctuary and solace to all those who sought her help. Her nurturing spirit and perseverance amidst overwhelming odds transformed her into a matron of love and caring for all those who came to her seeking her advice on a myriad of things. Buttressed by her unflinching faith and her willingness to pay the price, she went about doing good, especially on behalf of the less fortunate.

Though a highly private individual, the late Mabel Yap consecrated her life to raising a family of achievers, and has been a resilient voice in articulating the need for responding to the plight of our community's immigrants. In so doing she symbolized all that is good and noble about the American spirit of idealism and optimism, and she worked long and hard in hopes that our nation truly become a land of opportunity for all.

This is the legacy Mrs. Mabel Yap bequeathed to us. Indeed, I am privileged to have been touched by the magnificent contributions she has made to our community through her family. I now join our community in thanks for her grace and for her noble and giving presence during her time with us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a pair of heroes whose courage has served as an inspiration to many in South Florida during this past holiday season.

Shortly after 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2004, an unattended candle sparked a flame that engulfed a home in the City of Miami Gardens, FL; fourteen-year-old Ramon

Butler who lives next door immediately responded to cries for help. Ramon entered the burning home without regard to his own personal safety, located and rescued a one-year-old child and then reentered the home in an attempt to locate the baby's five-month-old sister. Unfortunately, the roof began to collapse and he could not proceed any further and exited the home.

At this point, City of Miami Gardens Police Officer Corey Jones arrived on the scene. Aware that the baby was still inside and told which room she was in, Officer Jones rushed back to the home, pulled hurricane shutters open, cranked the window open and leaped inside. Though the flames were intense and smoke filled the home, Officer Jones was successful in locating the infant and bringing her out to safety.

The Miami-Dade County Police Department recently presented its highest civilian honor, the Silver Medal of Valor, to Ramon Butler, and both he and Officer Jones have been acknowledged by Miami Gardens Mayor Shirley Gibson for their acts of bravery. It is with great pride that I too pay tribute to the efforts of these two community heroes and extend my congratulations to each of them for a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of Miami's unsung heroines, the late Ms. Samaki Variety, who we recently lost at the very young age of 47. Her passing on Sunday, December 19, 2004 leaves a deep void in our community.

Throughout her life, Samaki raised a brave voice to the struggles of the poor and the homeless, especially those afflicted with the deadly virus of HIV-AIDS across our community and beyond. She also portrayed the unjust and inhumane treatment of newly arrived immigrants, particularly the Haitians, against the backdrop of policies and regulations that continue to negatively impact their lives to this very day. Samaki worked as a Community Outreach Coordinator to my mother, former Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, where she was noted and loved for her dedication, effectiveness, positive attitude and happy spirit. I reserve to her the highest respect and admiration for her insatiable quest for simple justice and fairness for the less fortunate among us, particularly the children and the youth.

Ms. Samaki Variety symbolized the resilient and unyielding voice for those who were disenfranchised and who bore the brunt of inequality of opportunity. She was a loving mother, an indefatigable community- builder and a catalyst par excellence who was completely unselfish in her endeavors. The authenticity of her stewardship on our behalf was defined by her utmost consecration to her calling as God's faithful servant, bringing laughter, hope and optimism to hundreds of ordinary folks and countless teenagers whose lives she deeply touched, never holding anyone at arm's length.

This remarkable lady was our community's friend and confidante. She will be an indelible reminder of the noble commitment and awesome power of community service on behalf of the less fortunate. Her faith was deep and genuine, and her love for us was real and unforgettable. No one who knew Samaki--and having been struck by her sunny disposition and unfailing optimism--went away unchanged. She was truly a caring and passionate person who brightened the lives of all who knew her.

We will truly miss her, and we will never forget her.

I ask that the following article from the Miami Herald be included in the Record:

[From the Miami Herald, Dec. 23, 2004]

Former Outreach Chief Raised AIDS Awareness; Samaki Variety

(By Monica Hatcher)

Samaki Variety, admired for her work within South Florida's

HIV/AIDS community, died Sunday in Atlanta of pneumonia. She

was 47.

Variety, the former community outreach director for Miami

Mayor Manny Diaz, spearheaded several city-sponsored AIDS

events, including the Tree Lighting Ceremony commemorating

World AIDS Day and the Youth March for Life, which brought

thousands of school-age children marching through downtown

last year to raise AIDS awareness.

``Her passion for HIV education may have had a great deal

to do with the amount of HIV we see in the black community

here,'' said Alex Paulmer, who worked with Variety on AIDS-

related projects. Variety was born in San Francisco and

studied psychology and social science at Fort Valley State

University. After college, she met Lee Variety. The couple

married and moved to Miami in the mid-1970s. The couple

worked as entertainers and owned Boo-key Productions, which

booked and promoted acts.

``She had a gift for singing, dancing and acting, but God

also gave her a gift for helping people,'' recalled her

mother, Annie Lacy. In the late 1980s, Variety used her

talents and her own money to host a Saturday radio youth talk

show on 1490 WMBM called ``What's on Your Mind.'' The call-in

program, aimed at teenagers, tackled such issues as pregnancy

and child abuse. Samaki and Lee Variety had two children

together, Leronce and Dom'Unique. The couple later divorced.

``She had a high spirit and was a positive thinker,'' said

Dom'Unique, 14. ``She was dedicated to her job and loved to

help people and she pushed people to be the best they can

be.''

Variety worked in the public sector as an aide to

Congresswoman Carrie Meek for five years. ``She was a rare

combination of talent, intelligence and ability,'' said U.S.

Rep. Kendrick Meek, who knew Samaki when she worked with his

mother. Variety worked for a time in the Miami-Dade County

School System and with former County Commissioner Charles

Dusseau.

In 2002, she joined Diaz's office of Faith-Based

Initiatives and Community Outreach. ``Samaki will be deeply

missed by all of the people she encountered and the many,

many lives she touched,'' Diaz said in a statement. Variety

left the mayor's office in October to care for her mother in

Georgia.

In addition to her mother and children, Variety is surved

by a grandmother, Nazaree Foster; brothers, Roland and Wayman

Hindsman; and sisters Jaqueline Shire, Jakki Kidd and Betty

Wallace, as well as three grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Chisholm charted a whole new course for black Americans. She was the first black woman elected to Congress and paved the way for dozens who came after her, including my mother, former U.S. Rep. Carrie P. Meek. Shirley Chisholm was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, a pioneer in civil and women's rights issues, and was the first black of either gender to run for President of the United States.

Her determination and passion for the issues she believed in was always perfectly packaged by her charm and eloquence. The daughter of Caribbean immigrants, she never ceased to push for a better country for all Americans.

Congresswoman Chisholm is an inspiration to me and every Member of Congress. Her legacy will never be forgotten, and I will always consider her path-breaking career as a motivation to serve the people of Florida's 17th Congressional District as best I can.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 496, a bill I cosponsored, which expresses the sense of Congress on the need for humanitarian assistance to hurricane-ravaged Caribbean countries. As you know, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne struck the Caribbean, leading to widespread destruction and devastation.

This is a matter of great concern to me because many of my constituents in Dade and Broward Counties are from, have ancestors from, or have relatives presently living on the islands of the Caribbean. I also represent the largest Haitian constituency in the country. Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Haiti was particularly hard hit. As of today, the toll was more than 2,900 dead or missing and presumed dead. An estimated 300,000 Haitians are left homeless. The extent of this destruction has severely strained the already meager resources of the government, law enforcement authorities, and the United Nations forces in Haiti.

Haiti especially has suffered. Just yesterday, the Washington Post reported the heartwrenching story of Monise Alsenor, a Haitian mother, two of whose children are missing after water tore through her house and swept her family away. She could not reach her children as they yelled ``save me!'' in Creole. She and her husband spent the night holding onto a tree while the water tugged at them and the tree thorns ripped off

their clothes. There are still reports of people living on roofs and of food and water shortages. The New York Times reported that two men were found lying in a semi-conscious state on the ground near an Argentine- run clinic. Doctors said that the two men appeared to have not eaten in several days and demonstrated signs of psychological trauma. I cite these accounts as examples of the terrible circumstances under which Haitians have suffered. Similar stories could sadly, easily be found thousands of times over throughout this poorest of nations and other countries in the Caribbean.

After Hurricane Jeanne ravaged the city of Gonaives, the international community's response was impressive. Trinidad-Tobago pledged $5 million in aid. Venezuela pledged $1 million and sent food, water, and medicine. Argentina dispatched rescue workers and supplies. Brazilians sent medical supplies. Chile also sent emergency aid, as did the Spanish, and the French.

Incredibly, the Bush Administration has been slow to respond to this tragedy. In the first several days after the disaster, as news reports out of Haiti detailed the widespread death, destruction and suffering, the United States was virtually silent while other nations, including European Union countries and Venezuela, immediately stepped in to help. For this reason, I wrote to President Bush to ask for substantial and immediate aid to help the flood victims. A copy of my letter follows this statement.

President Bush has proposed $12.2 billion for hurricane relief and recovery in Florida and the Southern states. $50 million of these funds are set aside for the Caribbean nations, and almost half is intended for Haiti. However, in the words of the Washington Post: ``The amount set aside for the Caribbean nations is a pittance--not to mention a fraction of what was spent on U.S. military interventions in Haiti and Grenada.'' Millions more will be needed to help Haiti alone recover from Hurricane Jeanne's aftermath. The Bush administration should be supportive in a more substantial way.

It is because of these horrendous conditions that I support Congresswoman Lee's resolution. I call on this administration to provide greater humanitarian and emergency assistance to Haiti and other Caribbean nations.

September 22, 2004.

President George W. Bush,

The White House,

Washington, DC.

Dear President Bush: I write to bring to your personal

attention a humanitarian crisis of the highest magnitude in

Haiti and to ask that your Administration follow the lead of

other nations and provide substantial and immediate

assistance to help ease the desperate suffering of the people

of Haiti.

Tropical Storm Jeanne caused devastating floods that

ravaged this impoverished country this past weekend. As of

this morning, the death toll in Haiti exceeded 800, with

1,000 missing. The death toll increases steadily as the water

recedes.

Haiti is already the poorest nation in the Western

Hemisphere, and this latest crisis has made conditions there

even worse. This crisis also comes on the heels of ruinous

floods four months ago when over 3,000 Haitians were killed,

missing, or presumed dead. According to eyewitness accounts,

there are bodies scattered in the streets. Some are forced to

camp on the roofs of mud-filled homes. Unimaginably, families

were sleeping in trees because of the destruction.

Numerous news reports document a desperate need for food,

water, medicine, shelter and clothing. The Bishop of the

Catholic Diocese of Gonaives said that the possibility exists

that several thousand Haitians may die of starvation. ``We

have nothing,'' he is quoted by the Associated Press as

saying. ``About 80 to 90 percent of the houses are under

water.''

The present interim government of Haiti is totally

unequipped and unable to deal with this massive crisis. It

has neither the necessary resources nor the organization.

Private voluntary groups are also reportedly overwhelmed by

the enormity of this crisis, and there are numerous reports

of mobs seizing aid vehicles. Transportation in Haiti,

extremely difficult even in the best of times, is

particularly crippled now.

However, despite the fact that this crisis struck Haiti

over four days ago, the Administration reportedly has

released only $60,000 in relief assistance to CARE. This is

wholly inadequate to properly respond to this disaster. It

pales compared to the $1.8 million provided by the European

Union and $1 million and rescue supplies from Venezuela.

Other nations are already acting. It is a national

embarrassment that the United States of America should

respond so slowly and inadequately to so great a crisis in a

country so close to our shores. While your Administration

assesses, monitors and watches, the suffering in Haiti gets

worse.

Haiti does not need expressions of sympathy; it does not

need promises. Haiti needs concrete help, and it needs it

right now. Your Administration has a responsibility to

immediately send significant U.S. emergency assistance to

Haiti in the form of food, medicine, fresh water, clothing

and emergency shelter and to immediately coordinate, with the

international community, the manpower, transportation and

distribution of these needed commodities to provide immediate

relief to the people of Gonaives and the surrounding

countryside.

The time frame for this aid should be hours, not weeks or

months. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to

your prompt reply to this urgent matter.

Sincerely yours,

Kendrick B. Meek,

Member of Congress.