Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of U.S. Army PFC Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, who was killed on April 29th in a car bomb attack in Iraq. He served his country with dignity and honor, and he was a true hero.

Private First Class Ewing's death is particularly saddening to me as he grew up in our community and was one of my constituents. He graduated from Miami Central High School in 2000. He was known for his independence and ambition, and for his sense of duty. He enlisted shortly after the September 11th attacks and became a member of the 1st Armored Division of the Army's 4th Battalion's 27th Artillery Regiment.

The 1st Armored Division's tour of duty was recently extended due to increased insurgency in Iraq. Private First Class Ewing, 22, was one of eight soldiers mortally wounded last Thursday, in a car bomb attack on his Army convoy near Mahmoudiyah, south of Baghdad.

Private First Class Ewing is a symbol of bravery and freedom, and the sacrifice he has made for his country will never be forgotten.

My heartfelt condolences go out to Private First Class Ewing's parents, Arthur and Hilda Lewis, and to his family and friends. All of America mourns their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of a quiet and dignified matriarch, the late Theodora Johnson. Her passing last week has cast a veil of deep sadness over our community.

``Momma Dear'' Johnson was an extraordinary person by any measure. Her life was a delicately drawn picture of a calm, confident, dignified and strong woman with an unwavering commitment to the well being of her family and to those who shared her vision of a community of service and faith. She volunteered her time at Christ the King Catholic Church in South Dade--she was a founding member of the parish--and dedicated countless time and effort to enhancing her community.

She taught and volunteered in her parish school because she firmly believed in the high stakes involved in the education of children. Her work with children literally transformed their lives. She was keenly aware of the fact that giving our children the care and attention they need in life was her vocation.

She understood full well that either we pay now or we pay later. And so, she reached out to the parents of these children because she instinctively knew that the future of society is inextricably linked to the education of the young. Her approach to motivating youth emphasized personal responsibility and communal sharing.

Theodora Johnson lives on in the lives of the people she touched, in the good works she left behind, and in the wonderful memories we have of her. I know that I speak for all my colleagues in extending to her family our deepest sympathy and condolences.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, who was killed on April 24th in a suicide attack in the northern Arabian Gulf. He is a true hero--a man who served his country and did the nation's work in the most dangerous part of the world. Our entire community grieves his loss.

Petty Officer Bruckenthal, 24, along U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Michael J. Pernaselli, 27, and U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Christopher E. Watts, 28, boarded a small boat that approached the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal in the northern Arabian Gulf in order to inspect it. As it turns out, the boat was carrying bombs and exploded, killing all three young men.

Petty Officer Bruckenthal was stationed at Air Station Miami at the Opa Locka Airport in my Congressional district prior to his deployment in Iraq. He and his wife had their home together in nearby Ft. Lauderdale.

Our brave men and women in the U.S. Coast Guard have long fought alongside our other members of the U.S. Armed Forces, but Petty Officer Bruckenthal's death is the first combat death of a member of the Coast Guard since the Vietnam War. He will be buried on May 7th at Arlington National Cemetery.

My heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Petty Officer Bruckenthal and those of the other young men who were mortally wounded in this terrorist assault. They gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country, and we will never forget them.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to address the House and the American people on this afternoon. I must say that this is not only a great opportunity but a historic opportunity to address the House. I was very honored to see and hear the Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, share her appreciation for the 30-Something Caucus that she created here in this House to address the American people on a weekly basis. And so this is our first evening coming together. We will have some Members that are 30-plus, maybe in their lower 40s, but all of the ladies that will come forth tonight, they are all in their 20s, so they do not quite want to admit that they are in the 30-Something Caucus, but we do have Members that have been in this body and as a part of this body on the Democratic side who came in at a very young age.

I think, Mr. Speaker, Members of the House and also the American people, it is very important that we have Members here so we have a diversity of not only representation but a voice as it relates to the future and especially for those individuals, I am 37 years old and I am going to be in a situation very soon, I have young children that are going to have to attend college. So what is happening right now in this House and what is happening in this country is so very, very important to me, not only as a Member of Congress but also to individuals that work hard every day.

I just wanted to rehash what the leader shared with us a little earlier today when she took the floor this evening, about maybe 30 minutes ago. She created a 30-Something Caucus, Leader Pelosi did, amongst House Democrats. There are 14. We work day in and day out to make sure that we talk about the issues and point out issues that are happening here in this House and making sure that we have results or recommendations for results. There is only so much that we can do in the minority; but if we continue to work hard toward those issues, then we can bring about the kind of change that is needed for the country, that means for individuals that are Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Also, this is going to provide an opportunity for us to be interactive with the American people through e-mail and also through other means of communications to make sure that we provide the best kind of representation that is possible, especially for individuals that are approaching college, parents that are thinking about sending their children to college, making sure that it is affordable and that it is there for them.

I would like to call on the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez), who has been such an outstanding Member of this body and also a good voice not only for her district in California which she represents, the 39th District, but being my freshman sister here in this 108th Congress.

I thank the gentlewoman from California so very much. I want to say on just a few of her points, talking about the real cost of tuition, we talk about students, we talk about the cost of young people having to foot the bill, we talk about students leaving the college experience, the higher educational experience if they get through, if they can afford it, carrying on a great deal of debt that starts them off in the working world already in the hole. They went to school to be able to help America be stronger and also help themselves to be able to get the kind of job they need to be able to provide for their families and be able to buy a home.

And what she is saying is very real. She took part in the 30- Something or the Young Leaders conference that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) had, and we all participated in it. And I just would appreciate it if she could share a few of the stories that some of the students shared with her about their experiences about trying to afford college because many of them work here in this House, many of them attend school right now, and they are running into you know what trying to pay for college.

Mr. Speaker, we have two different educational experiences beyond high school now. We have our 2-year institutions that are community colleges that many working people have to use to be able to receive a higher education, not because they could not get into a 4-year institution. Many times they have to stay home, Mr. Speaker, to help pay bills. They cannot afford, because of a lack of income or a sick family member, to move away.

So they do their first 2 years at community colleges. Then we have another group of individuals that graduate from high school, moving on to a 4-year institution, and they also have to foot their own way through college, or a parent has to pick up an additional job or ask other family members to participate in helping to pay for one's educational experience.

And while the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) is here, I want to make sure that we share with the American people what is going on in this Congress now. Many times people ask, Okay, Democrats, what do you stand for? I mean, it is one thing to describe the problem. It is another thing to make sure that we can talk about and act upon solutions. And I will tell my colleagues that as it relates to doubling the maximum Pell grant award to $11,600 by 2010, I must say that this is a commitment that should be fulfilled because right now we have the typical student that nearly doubled themselves in debt.

Sixty-four percent of them are $17,000 in debt when they walk across the stage, thinking that they are going to a job, that is, if they have a job, that may be able to help pay down that debt, and we have more students in America, young people, whose loans are falling in default, and one of the things that I picked up at the conference, so it is so very important that we listen, the banks are now marching to the Hill with the majority. Republicans are saying, well, we have a plan for student loans. And I get kind of concerned when banks start coming with a plan for students.

And I do not know, I am not speaking from experience, but I know people who have gone through this. Right now we have banks, Mr. Speaker, that if one overdraws, it is a $29 fee. These are the same individuals that are coming to the Hill that are getting the attention of congressional leaders that they have a plan for young people. They are trying to do away with making sure that students can have a fixed rate to be able to make sure that they can pay their loans down, and when we do not have this fixed rate, the Congressional Research Service that we call CRS said ``by eliminating the current consolidation low- fixed rate benefit would force a typical student who has borrowed within $17,000 in debt to pay an additional . . . ''

This is a tax, Mr. Speaker. I am going to put it this way. When we have a $7.1 trillion deficit, the highest deficit in the history of the republic, and at the same time we are providing tax cuts to millionaires who are not even asking for it because we can, this is what happens. We continue to fleece our future and fleece the dreams of these Americans. And I just want to mention, before I yield to the gentlewoman, that under the fixed rate as it relates to interest, $3,948. Under a variable rate, that is the banks' plan, the big banks' plan that I must say is getting wind behind the sails here in this Congress, which is the reason why I am glad the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) has brought us together because she needs the opportunity to be the Speaker of this House so that we can get some legislation and make sure we insulate the protections that students have now, under a variable rate, $9,432.

So when we look at it, $3,948 under a fixed; under a variable where banks make more money, students pay longer, and more students go into default, $9,432, this is counterproductive. These are the things that we have to talk about, and these are the things that we have to legislate against.

Mr. Speaker, we just had another colleague join us. But I want to share with the American people, like I said, we are interactive here. We want to make sure that we hear from the American people. We want to make sure that we take them up on their suggestions. And the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) is welcome to stay as long as she can. I know we all have schedules. But we are here to listen, and we are here to act.

For the Democratic leader, and I must add, female leader of any major party, to come here tonight to put emphasis on a weekly commitment of being here in this Chamber to make sure that we do not continue to see young people and families in debt because we feel that we are giving them one thing, okay, we will give them a $200 or $300 tax cut, but at the same time, we are pulling the carpet out from under them to allow their family to educate themselves better, to be able to provide for their families.

I want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) for pulling us together, letting us know that our purpose here in this Congress is very important.

I want to give an e-mail address out. I want to make sure that the American people know that they can communicate with us on the topics that we should talk about in the future or topics that we are talking about now and also personal stories that not only working families are going through, trying to make sure they put money aside for students to be able to receive affordable tuition or that they can be able to provide for their children, [email protected]. They can send us e-mails. They can send us battles that they are fighting. They can also send us recommendations so that we can legislate better on behalf of them.

We also have someone who is joining us who is also one of our anchors here tonight, and I am so glad. I know the American people, nine times out of ten, think there is probably not a lot going on here, but there is a lot going on and we are so glad the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) can join us. He is from Ohio, Congressional District 17, one of the youngest members, if not the youngest member, of the 30-Something group that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) put together, and is a dear friend and colleague. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I want to thank the gentleman for identifying this, and really this is about a discussion. We want everyone to share opening statements, but I think it is important that we talk about these issues.

Once again, I want to make sure this is not the report of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) or the report of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) or the report of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) or the report of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).

These are reports produced by the Congress. These are reports produced by reputable institutions in the United States of America that are looking out for costs to the American people and looking out for our future as it relates to a workforce.

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, let me share one other thing with the gentleman. I want to make sure the American people understand we are listening, and we will continue to listen. Not only young people, but parents that are facing this problem and grandparents that are now having to reach into their honey pot, however big it may be, of money they put aside, hard-earned money they put aside to help educate their children. Because the future of the bloodline is to make sure we have an affordable education system.

Democrats, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) and all of us in this Chamber, stand united in ending the $500 unfair student loan tax, which is the origination fee that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) spoke about. That is the fee that banks celebrate. That is the cream on the top. That is the ``we are already going to make a load of money off of interest rates, but we are going to add another fee on.'' These are the things that individuals do not realize that are taxes that they are paying that they should not have to pay.

Also providing the Public Service Scholarships for up to $17,500, and loan forgiveness for high-qualified graduates to teach in our schools, in nursing, child welfare and other high-priority public service careers that are there, and at the same time doubling the maximum Pell grant award to $11,600 by the year 2011.

Mr. Speaker, I want to bring on the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks). We spoke of the $7.1 trillion deficit. That is a lot of money. As we go to make tax cuts permanent, this means that the education opportunity for young people and for parents who want to educate their children, I know this time of night I am usually either eating or we are putting children to bed, and I am going to tell you what is on my mind. On my mind is, can I afford it? And let me tell you, this is not about me, because, guess what? Many of us in this Chamber, we are going to be okay. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez), we are going to be okay, because we are Members of Congress and we are respected members of our community and we have some level of influence. Individuals may want to help our children.

But what happens to that individual who is not a Member of Congress? What happens to that individual that works every day, that is punching in and punching out, trying to live honestly? How do they educate their children? That is where the rubber meets the road. That is why we need the opportunity.

My good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), no relation, he said that he is ``meek'' when he is in Miami and I am ``meeks'' when I am in New York. I thank the gentleman for joining us.

What I am glad to hear and see, especially the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), many times I think people know the glory, but they do not know the story. The story is real. The story is, as one comedian said, you had to move back in with your parents, write your name on the orange juice container, and sleep in the den. But you had to do it.

The real issue is, especially for a majority of this Congress on the Republican side, standing firm to make sure that millionaires receive a permanent tax break, so that we would have in the very near future a $7.1 trillion deficit.

I am looking for the deficit hawks every day. I am saying, where are they? The folks that used to take the floor on the other side, the Republican side used to jump up and talk about the deficit every 2 minutes, when it was this Congress, the Democratically controlled Congress that balanced the budget. President Clinton balanced the budget that put forth the opportunities for young people.

And when we are talking about young people, I say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), we are talking about you. We are talking about what you have to pay, what your constituents have to pay, my constituents, towards educating their children in the real world.

In the real world, many of these individuals that we are talking about here tonight, they cannot walk into a conventional bank and say, I want to get a loan for my children's education. They have to go and mortgage their homes. They get a second mortgage. They even go into the sub-prime mortgages, which is the high interest rate, because it is their children. As a parent, you will do anything to make sure that your children have a better opportunity than what you have had.

Just for a minute, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) shared with us where he came from and how he got here and what he had to do as a young prosecutor in New York.

I know the story of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan). I remember when we first got here, the gentleman said, the last time I was here I was passing out papers in the hall and I worked for a Member of Congress.

I thought that it was not only quite amusing, but I want to make sure that people know we did not just drop out of the sky and end up here in Congress.

We also are Americans. We have gone through some things. We want to make sure that people like us do not have to continue to go through things, especially when we can provide and do better.

Mr. Speaker, just to the point, I have some information here. I am so glad the gentleman from Ohio segued into summer jobs. I worked in the summer and I worked every summer. I had to because my mom was like, you are going to go out and you are going to work. So right now, we have the Center For Labor and Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston saying, right now we are experiencing the lowest job opportunity; summer jobs for teens this summer are expected to be at the worst since World War II, since the end of World War II. And I think it is so very, very important for us to see that and understand that.

Kids that are going to be released from school soon that are going to have all day and idle minds to sit at home or even to get in trouble. They are usually productive because we provide an opportunity for those individuals to go out and get a job to hopefully help mom, dad or grandpa, whatever the case may be, are not going to have that opportunity.

Not only the fact that we have a bad job growth experience right now in the United States, but the fact that companies that would usually carry out that goodwill gesture of saying, I am hiring some kids this summer, I am putting them to work, I am going to do the right thing, they cannot afford it. They cannot afford to do so, because they do not even have the job to give to a full-time person, their unemployment has expired and they do not have health care.

I just wanted to give that point out.

Mr. Speaker, I find comfort in the fact that we will be back next week to have a similar discussion, and each week we are going to try to move to another subject on the issues that have arisen that week. But I just want to pause 1 minute and make sure that folks know, because we want to continue to listen to the American people and what they have to say about this. Thirty-Somethingdems at mail dot house dot gov, that is 30somethingdems, all one word, D-E-M-S, at mail.house.gov. I want to make sure that we understand how this thing works.

I used to be a member of the State legislature in Florida for about 8 years prior to my arrival here. I want to make sure the American people understand, because Members of Congress definitely understand, but the majority, the Republicans are looking the other way. That is the reason why we need an opportunity, Democrats need an opportunity to stand for all Americans. We are not here talking about the Democratic young person or working family experience. We are talking about the American family experience. We are talking about where the rubber meets the road. We are not talking about a cable news show where you have 30 minutes on there and the dialogue is already slanted towards a particular position. We are talking about what is happening every day in America.

I have constituents, and these student loan individuals call every day, harassing them, terrorizing them. And then, better yet, we have the banks that are fueling these individuals to say, we do not want a fixed rate, we want a variable rate, and they will say, well, it is low at the beginning and then eventually it has ballooned to the point where the interest rate is a tax on individuals. So I just want to mention how these things work.

The gentleman from New York mentioned a $7 trillion deficit. So when we cut the Federal commitment to the States, the State governments, they look for the prey. Where can they cut? They are not like us. I mean we can go and, well, let us see, what credit card are we going to use today? We will use this one. We are just going to continue to charge. We are going to continue to knock on the door of the Bank of China saying, we need more money to pay down on the interest, not the debt, but just on the interest of the debt. They cannot do that.

So what they do, they go and they pull in the chancellor of the university system and say, hey, listen, it all rolls downhill and students end up footing the bill of additional tuition increases. So what does that mean, an increase? One may say, well, it is not bad. They are just students. No. It hits home. Because guess what? Parents have to help. I mean the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) talked about it. You have to come up again out of your wallet and guess what? You cannot afford to pull out your credit card every time. You have to go in this part of your wallet, which mine is empty at this particular time, you have to go into this part of your wallet and pull cash out or go to a family member or go to the credit union, or go to the title loan company, or go to a prime interest rate to make sure that your kid can stay in school.

I just want to make sure the American people understand how this thing rolls downhill. When a Federal commitment is cut, the State has to cut their commitment, tuition rates go up and, I must say, just on case in point, for individuals that have a fixed rate that we have now, that I must say, senior members of the Republican Party are joining in with the banks to come up with this variable rate scheme that is put on by the banks, I must add, that borrowers default 8 percent of the time when they are able to consolidate their loans and 24 percent of the time with when they fail to consolidate their loans.

So when you look at it, the 24 percent, guess who wins? Well, the American people lose because they back the loans. But the banks win because, guess what? They are able to do that $500 fee all over again.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman can, before we run out of time, which I think we have about 10 minutes left, the gentleman from Ohio has to talk about this scheme that books are higher here in the United States than they are overseas. But before that, I am sorry, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) was in the middle of something.

Mr. Speaker, my son's birthday was yesterday and I pulled the wallet out. I have been married 12\1/2\ years and someone asked me for a 20 and I said, I have not seen one in 12 years. So I ended up opening my wallet and somehow gifts and things, and I am here and I am waiting for the end of the month.

Well, I can tell my colleagues right now, this whole issue of taxes, who pays them and who does not pay taxes is the defining issue here. I think it is very important that the American people understand that I am so glad that we are here tonight talking about solutions. We have a bigger job, identifying and describing the problem, that is good, because we are the Congress, we are an investigative body, we are hopefully a body of action and correction. But I will tell my colleagues this: if we stand idly by and allow individuals to come in, rob future blood lines of families, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, you name it, like David Letterman said, if you live in Sioux City, Iowa, you should be able to receive a higher education, your grandchildren and your children.

I will say once again, there is no greater prayer or hope that your children do better than what you have done, and the grandparents' philosophy is that their grandchildren have a better opportunity than what they had. And right now the way we are going, that is not happening.

Now, we talk about how we are going to do certain things, we talk about promises, and I am so glad that the gentleman from New York mentioned what Mr. Kerry is talking about.

Mr. Bush, I can go forever talking about things that President Bush has said he was going to do that he has not; but tonight is not that night.

It is what he said that he would do for students, what he would do for working families, and he said that he would make good on his promise in the 2000 election, that he would raise the maximum Pell grant award to $5,100 for college freshmen. That is just for college freshmen.

The gentleman mentioned Senator Kerry wants to give a $4,000 tax credit every year. That is just not, we want to get you in school, but we are not necessarily concerned about you finishing school. Because, guess what, you got to take out that loan to make sure our friends at the banks are happy. That is what keeps this thing rolling.

Instead of producing young minds, making them bright, making our country strong, we have a number of visas where we are shipping in people constantly to do the work that Americans could do if they were trained and if they had an opportunity to get that education.

I am glad the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) mentioned his lawn cutting. I used to be a State Trooper in Florida. The gentleman was in Ohio so I did not pass him out on the highway while he was cutting grass. So I am glad the American people know that we are not from Mars. We are from the ranks of working people.

I want to mention one other thing that is very, very important, that Americans that are able to receive good jobs, they are able to support our economy, also provide health care for their families, if they do not receive a college experience, fewer and fewer students are going to school today, are being denied education, more and more students are being denied education because of what? Cost and also the availability of classes and community college systems and the 4-year institutions because they are having to cut.

Some of the chancellors, God bless them, they say we cannot go up on tuition any more, but what do they do then? They cancel classes or courses.

As we close here tonight, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and also the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) for their assistance and help here today.

We ask American people to continue to tune in and communicate with us. I want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) for putting this together. We thank the Speaker for the opportunity to address the House and the American people tonight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life and recognize the accomplishments of a truly great lady, Mrs. Sherry Ann Littman, who passed away on April 11.

Sherry Littman can perhaps best be described as a person of untiring energy and a great big heart, who also had a strong ethic of community service and cared deeply about the opportunities, welfare and well- being of other people. She was an activist and a respected advocate for her Eastern Shores community in the City of North Miami Beach, but her interests extended far beyond the city limits.

When Sherry Littman saw a need, particularly among people without the resources to address that need themselves; she flung herself into the task. One example is hunger and malnutrition. Almost 25 years ago, when Sherry and her husband, former North Miami Beach Councilman Jules Littman, saw gaps in the social services network in South Florida, they founded a nonprofit organization known today as Stop The Hunger. Today, Stop The Hunger serves a half-million meals a month to children and adults all over Florida.

I know I speak for our entire community in extending our heartfelt sympathies to Sherry's husband, Jules, her daughter, Phyliss Diskin, her son, Paul Levin and her four grandchildren.

No one whose life was touched by Sherry Littman could ever forget her. What is even more remarkable about her, however, is that she will be dearly missed by countless thousands of people who never met her, but whose lives were nonetheless touched by her life and work.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the following newspaper articles from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel appear in the Congressional Record immediately following my statement:

[From the Miami Herald, April 29, 2004]

U.S. House OKs Bill Naming New Federal Courthouse for Late Judge Wilkie

Ferguson

(By Larry Lebowitz)

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously

passed a bill that would name the new federal courthouse in

downtown Miami after the late U.S. District Judge Wilkie D.

Ferguson Jr. and sent it to the President for his signature.

``His career is an inspiration to hundreds of young

attorneys, and his honor and integrity make him a symbol of

fairness on the federal bench,'' said Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-

Miami. ``. . . Naming the new federal courthouse after Judge

Ferguson is an honor that will reinforce his legacy for

decades to come.'' Only seven U.S. courthouses nationwide

have been named for black jurists, none of them in Florida.

The Senate version, introduced and co-sponsored by Florida

Democratic Sens. Bob Graham and Bill Nelson, passed on March

12.

The $163 million courthouse, which will feature two 14-

story towers connected by a mammoth atrium, is located at 400

N. Miami Ave. It is slated to open in late summer 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to not only report to the American people an unfortunate event we are going through here in the United States, living under the highest deficit in the history of the Republic and losing 2.8 million jobs since the Bush administration has been in control of our government.

I think it is very, very important for the American people to understand that Democrats in this House are looking for sensible tax relief and also reducing the deficit along with creating manufacturing jobs. I am talking about those 2.8 million Americans that are out of work and who had jobs and were paying taxes and were also providing health care, or trying to pay for health care, for their families.

I think it is very, very important the American people pay very close attention to those that are trying to push forward reasonable tax relief, student loan opportunities for the middle class, and who want to make sure we can move forward in building America and manufacturing jobs and making sure that we close the gap on the 2.8 million jobs that have been lost under this administration.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I want to also thank the chairman for his very kind comments about Judge Wilkie Ferguson.

I just want to share with the House and the American people that the local community in Miami Dade County and within the circuit there in south Florida, that it is just a high honor that this House would not find it robbery and also the other body to name this courthouse after Judge Wilkie Ferguson. Many of our viewers and also Members of the House had an opportunity to hear my colleagues speak so eloquently about his past contributions to our society. Unfortunately, but some may say fortunately, he moved on to a higher place on June 9 of 2003.

I think it is very, very fitting for the American people not only to hear of his contributions, but also for judges and those that are involved in our judicial system, from the Supreme Court all the way down to a hearing officer at the county court level, to hear the contributions of this great man. He stood on behalf of not only people financially challenged or people of color, but he stood on behalf of the law and what the Constitution spoke of as it relates to representing everyone and making sure that they have a fair share.

In south Florida, we have a very diverse community, Mr. Speaker, and I must say, as it relates to Judge Ferguson and as it relates to this courthouse being named after him, we had unanimous support as it relates to individuals coming forth and saying we want to name this courthouse, which is in downtown Miami, one of the most outstanding buildings that is being erected that will be ready to open its doors in the fall of 2005, for those workers who are working on that courthouse, for those individuals that walk by every day as they walk to the county courthouse and also to the courthouse that is existing now, they will know that the American people stand behind the Wilkie Ferguson philosophy in making sure that everyone is represented.

For every judge that walks into those doors, it will remind him and her and, even as it relates to the magistrates, it will remind them of the importance of standing on behalf of all Americans and standing on behalf of individuals until they are proven guilty.

It will remind those individuals, those court reporters that walk into that Federal courthouse of the importance of making sure that as they type down the words of witnesses and defendants and prosecutors and individuals that are trying to seek justice, families that are looking to be made whole through our justice system and finding some sort of resolution, whether it be to a civil offense or to a criminal offense that may take place, that Judge Wilkie Ferguson once walked through that area in that vicinity and that his spirit will forever live in the hearts and minds of those individuals that work there every day of their lives.

I just want to also share with the House that it is very, very important that we remember the importance of the contributions of those individuals that came up on the rough side. Wilkie Ferguson did. His wife Betty Ferguson also did, who also offered her life and is still offering her service to our public there in the Miami-Dade Commission.

Wilkie Ferguson spoke to individuals, ordinary individuals at his level. Being a Federal judge, serving and being very respected in the community, he spoke to the individuals that were out there clipping the hedges. He spoke to the individuals as it relates to getting a cup of coffee for people such as himself. He is the kind, and was the kind, and I say he is the kind because in my heart and my mind he is still living with us, even though he has passed on his spirit is still alive and well, he spoke to those individuals. He made sure that people felt like people.

He represented in a way that he should. He wrote articles to our local paper about what should be happening in our judicial system. He was an advocate judge, but an advocate judge on behalf of every American.

And I am so honored; I am pleased that my community came together on this. I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their forward thinking in saying that this was appropriate to name this courthouse after him. I thank this House for coming together and making sure that we honor a man of great dignity and integrity on the bench and even before he got on the bench.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the American people for this opportunity to address the House.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to join with my community and my colleagues to recognize Yom HaShoah, the day established to remember the state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.

Yom HaShoah, the Hebrew word for destruction, is the term used to describe the war that swept up the souls of six million Jews between 1938 and 1945. A war in which unspeakable atrocities were perpetrated against a defenseless and blameless people, whose only ``crime'' was their religious beliefs.

Men and women, young and old alike, perished at the hands of the Nazis and their allies. Every year, on Yom HaShoah, we remember the martyrs who perished in the camps, in the ghettos, and in the gas chambers.

It has been 60 years since the Holocaust. To survivors, and those who lost friends and family members, it remains real and ever-present. But to many people, who did not directly experience the Holocaust or have a connection to those who did, 60 years makes the Holocaust seem like ancient history.

It is for this reason that we meet here today, for the world must never forget the unspeakable horror of the Holocaust. Every person has a responsibility to fight against ignorance, intolerance and prejudice in all its forms.

So let us rededicate ourselves as we commemorate this day of Yom HaShoah, so that the memories of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust can live on for eternity and that a tragedy like this will never happen on the face of the earth again.

Mr. Speaker, once again, it is a great honor to address the House of Representatives and the American people on a recent armed services trip that I took to Haiti and also talk about Haiti and the U.S. relations as we move forth from this point on.

Many Americans understand the changes that Haiti has gone through and the Haitian people, but tonight I wanted to share a few things because

many times we hear on the news and read in the newspaper about what is going on in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; what happened today in Port-au- Prince, Haiti; what happened as it relates to government, a lack of a parliament and the legislature in Haiti; an interim government in Haiti; what is happening as relates to AIDS and HIV in Haiti; also, as it pertains to hunger in Haiti and transportation. I think it is so very, very important, since Haiti had so much to do and does have so much to do with our very own independence.

Haiti took part in helping us fight for our own independence. ``Us'' is the United States of America. There are many Haitian Americans that are playing vital roles not only in our government but also in our democracy here in the United States, and I must say that this is a very pivotal time for Haiti. So I would ask the American people and Members of the Congress to just take a moment and pay attention to some of the things that I would like to share with my colleagues this evening to talk about this country, and I am going to have a map put up here beside me talking about why it is important that the United States of America plays a very strong role in not the rebuilding of Haiti but the building of Haiti, a country that is comprised of people that work every day, a country that wants to continue to move forth as a democracy, and I am going to address that. I am going to continue to address the issue of democracy because democracy is very, very important.

As my colleagues know, many thousands of miles away from the United States of America we are working hard to create and to also maintain democracies throughout the world; but I will tell my colleagues, as it relates to Haiti being in our own hemisphere, being the poorest country in our hemisphere, in the Caribbean, the very same Caribbean, I myself being from Miami, cruise ship capital of the world, many Americans and people throughout the world cruise the Caribbean for celebration, relaxation and sun; but Haiti that sits in the middle of our Caribbean, northern Caribbean, is a country that is in desperate need of assistance.

With the United States being the largest, most vibrant free society on the face of the Earth, the richest country on the face of the Earth, we are doing, in my opinion, more to Haiti than for Haiti; and that is the reason why we have to go through a paradigm shift.

First of all, I just would like to point out here, Haiti is actually only 600 miles away from the United States; and as we start talking about Haiti, we have to look at the Bahamas. That is up here. That is our friend and ally that has been really working with the United States as it relates to making sure that we not only stop the flow of illegal narcotics but also the flow of illegal immigrants to the United States of America. We have Jamaica down here that has also been very helpful to the United States in making sure that we fight the war against drugs and also illegal immigration.

I think it is very important for us to understand, 600 miles away, Cuba is actually 90 miles away, and we have many Haitians that are looking for safe harbor in the United States due to political persecution. I just want to talk for a moment, since we know exactly where Haiti is now and we know exactly where it sits as it relates to our own homeland security and where it sits as it relates to our responsibility of being able to assist Haiti as much as possible with the United Nations, I want to just share a few things with my colleagues.

Last Tuesday, I took the opportunity to travel to Haiti along with Senator Bill Nelson of Florida and also General Hill of SouthCom, who I think the commander of Southern Command is doing an outstanding job. He has a number of Marines that are there as a part of the international force to bring about peace in Haiti, and they are doing the best job that they can do under the circumstances. There are also French troops that are there in the north.

General Hill and I, we flew to northern Haiti. We actually flew to three cities in northern Haiti, and these cities are small cities but large as it relates to the population in Haiti.

The first place we traveled to was Fort Liberte, which is a city of over 5,000 people. French troops are up here securing this area of Haiti. It is close to the Dominican border, and there are a number of poor individuals there that are mainly fishermen and peasants. We walked through the streets of this city, dirt roads, and spoke to everyday Haitians; and I was stopped by a father that had two daughters that were dressed the same. They had matching umbrellas, in the heat of the day. This is Haitian time, maybe around 10:30, eleven o'clock. It was lunchtime. He was walking his daughters home, and I asked him how is life, through an interpreter, and he said, well, it is quite difficult because we have not had power in our city since December of last year.

Being from Miami and understanding hurricanes and disasters and power being knocked out, it is very difficult to survive. It is very difficult to be able to maintain some level of normalcy without having power and utilities; and that is so very, very important. It is an area that we have to make sure that we get more humanitarian assistance in the area of food, also in the area of clean drinking water; and definitely electricity should be provided up in this area.

We then moved from Fort Liberte that we see here over to Cap Haitian, which is also a border area. It is not a border area, but they have a port that is there, a deep water port that could be open for commerce, but right now the main business that they have now is humanitarian aid that actually comes in from that particular area. They have the World Food Programme that is there in that area that is providing meals every day. The population there is approximately 100,000 Haitians.

I met with representatives from the Catholic Relief Services and also the archdiocese of Cap Haitian and from the World Food Programme. I also met with local school educators, which it was a very good meeting that we had, also a representative from a local orphanage.

We met there at the airport, and I must say that when we met there, it was more like an airport hangar. And in that region of Haiti, it is still a very dangerous region. Rebel forces still control half of Haiti. Now, I am not saying that rebel forces are violent or not violent, but what I am saying is that danger is still present there in Cap Haitien and throughout certain parts of Haiti. Even though we have French troops in the area, there is still a level of danger that is there.

We met with the school representatives that were there, the principal of a primary elementary school and also a principal of a number of the high schools that we would call our ninth grade through twelfth grade experience. They both said that they have the issues of power. This is a major, major issue in this country, and Haiti has to have some level of commerce, some level of economic development to be able to help itself. And I think for very little investment from the United Nations and from the United States of America we can achieve that.

So we had the opportunity to meet for about an hour and 15 minutes while General Hill moved on, meeting with the French troops, making sure our coalition is strong there in order to provide the right atmosphere for another larger United Nations force to take over.

I also spoke with one of the representatives from the archdiocese of the Catholic Church, and Catholic Relief Services, and he spoke to me in Creole, and through an interpreter he said, Congressman, that is fine. It is fine that you are here. We are glad that you are here. But we have had other visitors from the United States of America, though this was the first time he said he had personally met with a Member of Congress. But people come and people go, and Haitians are used to hearing, using his words, oh, this is wonderful; and, yes, we will take our notes, and we appreciated the meeting, and we will be back. And he said many people board planes and boats, and they leave, and they never see them ever again.

But this issue of hunger, the issue of the lack of having the opportunity to build jobs, the issue of children needing to be educated are very important. This is a very fertile area for economic

development. We can put local peasants to work. And I am going to come back to that a little later on.

We moved from Cap Haitien by helicopter, a very mountainous area along this area between Cap Haitien and the city of Gonaives. Gonaives is an interesting city because this is where the rebellion started, right here in Gonaives, which many of the rebels are still there in that city. It is a very dangerous place.

The security responsibility of Gonaives is in the hands of the French troops that are there, and I commend those men and women that are there serving on behalf of the United Nations' international presence. I met with representatives of the CARE organization, which is one of the three to four providers that provide food through USAID, and he shared with me that, once again, energy, power, being able to keep the lights on in Haiti, in Gonaives, why power is so important; because, guess what, it generates clean drinking water.

They have four pumps in that city. Three of them work, but one of them needs repairs. These are very small things. These are issues that usually a city government or a county government may have an issue, and they appropriate a very small number of dollars towards repairing that, and the problem is solved. But fuel and petroleum is an issue in Haiti right now because of the lack of power. In Haiti they have to use gas generators, which is very expensive, so this means some days the pumps work, and other days they do not work.

They also provide meals for 60,000 people in this city of 200,000 people, which he said they can do a lot more. It is 70 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Now, one would say, why would you have to travel by helicopter? Well, Haiti is a very mountainous area, and the roads in Haiti, if Americans have experienced a dirt road experience, magnify that by 10 times. The best built road in Haiti was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1994. So it is very, very difficult to travel from Port-au-Prince to Gonaives.

We returned back on that Tuesday, back to Port-au-Prince, and flew back to Miami, Florida. Senator Nelson flew back to South America on another mission. The reason why we could not stay overnight in Haiti, my colleagues, was due to the fact that they still have a departure order in Haiti. It is that dangerous. It is so dangerous that even myself, a Member of Congress, not only had U.S. Marine security but State Department security on top of that and Haitian national police security.

Imagine. I can walk down the streets of the United States of America, even here in Washington, D.C., without security. I might be a little security-conscious, but without physical security, and without M-5 semiautomatic machine guns, but I cannot stay overnight in Haiti. The State Department will not allow me to stay overnight in Haiti. So imagine some who may feel any credible claim of fear or persecution, imagine what they may feel without security, without having armored vehicles to ride around the streets of Port-au-Prince in.

So we flew back to Miami Wednesday, stayed there, Thursday returned back to Haiti and spent that day, all day, in Port-au-Prince, and met with the USAID mission that is there, Director David Adams, who I believe is doing an outstanding job. And I want to say not only to his staff but to the administrators here with USAID, you could not have a better, more committed staff in Haiti than what you have under the leadership of Director Adams. He is emotionally attached to the work. But they need more resources to be able to do the things they need to do to develop jobs in Haiti, and I will address that in a few seconds.

I think it is important for us to remember that we have a lot of people doing great things in Haiti, but more needs to be done. We met with nongovernmental organizations from Haiti's southern claw.

Now, let me just point out the southern claw of Haiti. This looks pretty much like a lobster claw or a crab claw, but this is the southern claw. This is Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the capital, where the Presidential palace is located. You hear a lot about events taking place here. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is the most populated city in Haiti, and it is its nation's capital. There is the southern claw, along this area here, south of Port-au-Prince.

This southern claw is not secured yet. This southern claw is still controlled by rebel forces. This southern claw is where many Haitians are hungry. This southern claw is where there is no power at all to be able to stimulate any level of sensible adult education, any level of humanitarian assistance. Everything is run by generator in the southern claw.

We have to remember that because I am going to talk a little about migration and the reason why Haitians leave Haiti. And I think it is important that we remember and we set the stage for the environment that they have to live in and the environment that we allow them to live in, because they are the poorest country in our hemisphere. We seem to have more interest in areas thousands and thousands of miles away, while we have this democracy, as shaky as it may be, with hungry, starving people, and very little assistance from the U.S. or from the

Mr. Speaker, I just want to say to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) quickly that I appreciate his speaking out not only here on the floor of this great House of Representatives but also speaking out in the halls of Congress. As the gentleman knows, we partner in a bipartisan effort to try to do what is best for Haiti. Regardless of the politics, regardless of who is in control, we are supporters; and I know that he joins me in that, of democracy. And the only way we are going to get to truly elect a democracy is making sure that we bring the level of safety, number one, up in Haiti; number two, set the real stage for elections, which the United Nations is going to play a role in it.

And I am glad that he points out the fact that we are not trying to impose anything on the Haitian people. We want to make sure that we are there to be the bridge for the Haitian people to

move forth and elect its government. And the interim government that is in there that, I must add, cannot continue on past the 2005 elections, that is in the agreement, that they have the necessary tools to be able to provide some of the things that I talked about here tonight. But it is good to have not only a partner like the gentleman from New York but someone who is willing to look at the big picture on behalf of the Haitian people. That is just the bottom line.

Mr. Speaker, they have some of the best beaches in the world, and the cruise ships used to go there all the time. Now there is a little small part of Haiti on the northern tip that is gated, secured, and they go there.

Does the gentleman from New York wish to share with us anything else this evening? Because I am going to close because I know we have an early morning and we have other Members who have to address the House.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot tell the gentleman how much I appreciate his saying that. I hope my mother was watching, who is a past Member of this body. Hopefully, she will see how important and how my colleagues think of me. I thank the gentleman from coming down.

I just want to say this very quickly in closing, Mr. Speaker, that it is very important we do what is right on behalf of this Nation. It is very important, if we are going to have a policy and interdict Haitians at sea and we want to save lives so that the Coast Guard will not have to pick bodies out floating face down around the waters of Haiti and between the United States of America that we provide the kind of atmosphere for economic development, and I would also say to the Members that it is vitally important that we continue to pay very close attention in a bipartisan way and do what is right on behalf of this nation that helped us fight for our independence.

Mr. Chairman, I must say that we cannot speak enough about what this budget does to first responders, and I will tell you it is definitely a travesty when we have a budget in this time of the homeland being at threat as it relates to the Secretary of Defense stating yesterday before the 9/11 Commission, cutting by 32 percent, $959 million, away from the COPS program. I must say that it is something we should really look closely at.

Those are the frontline responders, and for us to cut those dollars is a travesty in the light of making sure that people that make over $1 million annually are able to get their tax cut so it can be permanent.

I will tell you it is a sad day if this Congress allows this budget, handed

from the President, to come to fruition and become a part of the template we use to be able to fund the necessary means toward protecting the homeland. Every police officer, every sheriff, should call the Members of Congress to let them know these dollars are important to protecting the homeland and local communities and making sure we are prepared to prevent terrorist attacks from happening in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this very flawed, very inadequate and blatantly political resolution.

Every Member of this House wants to honor our troops. That view is truly non-partisan. Each of us is deeply grateful for the patriotism and courage our troops have exhibited in Iraq, and for the sacrifices that they and their families are making. But House Republican leaders should be ashamed of themselves for playing politics and trying to score political points by pushing this partisan resolution through the House, and using the brave men and women in our armed forces as cover in order to do it.

This resolution does not even mention the thousands of wounded soldiers from this war, many of whom I met at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC. Their sacrifices will not end when they come home and leave the military. For those who lost limbs or suffered other serious, debilitating injuries, their sacrifice will be with them for the rest of their lives. That is certainly true for the parents, brothers and sisters, spouses, children and friends of the 564 Americans who have lost their lives so far in this Iraq War.

They clearly deserve our recognition and our gratitude, but they are not mentioned in this resolution.

Republican leaders are so single-minded and so dead-set on justifying the President's decision to go to war that they use the opportunity to honor our troops as an excuse to explain away the war. And they purposely excluded Democrats in the drafting process so that they could have it their way, and their way alone. Their failure to reach across the aisle and make this resolution bipartisan is wrong and disgraces the memory of those who serve, and those who have sacrificed, and those who have died.

As written, this resolution states that the ``United States and the world have been made safer by the removal of Saddam Hussein and the Baath party from power''. There is certainly not unanimity on that point. The Bush administration has tried hard to change the reasons the President took this country to war. We were told that Saddam Hussein was hand-in-hand with Al Qaeda; that he was constructing weapons of mass destruction; and that he had a program to create nuclear weapons. We were led to believe that Iraq was arming itself to attack us--and to attack us imminently.

But now little of what they told us appears to be true. It now appears that the President's rationale for war in Iraq was fundamentally and deeply flawed. Judging from the 27 people killed in a car bombing in Baghdad this afternoon or the 200 people killed in Madrid only 6 days ago, it appears that the undisputed enemy that all Americans recognize, Al Qaeda, is as strong as ever. No weapons of mass destruction have been found. The sober warnings from the President about an Iraqi nuclear program were exaggerated and based on discredited and unverified reports.

So, while every Member of Congress is glad that Saddam Hussein is no longer in power and no longer a menace to the people of Iraq, it is certainly not clear that removing Saddam Hussein has made the United States any safer, or that it was worth the terrible cost of 564 American lives, thousands of Americans wounded, and over $150 billion-- so far.

It seems to me that, if the Republican leadership really wanted to salute the troops involved in this year-old war, they would join with Democrats to draft a resolution of praise and honor that every Member would support. Even more fitting would be an immediate vote on legislation to ensure that all of our troops are properly armed and outfitted, and that they and their families will be taken care of. The President's budget request shortchanges our troops and the generations of American soldiers before them.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I will vote against this resolution. We must support our troops with action, not with political rhetoric.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay homage to one of Miami-Dade County's leaders, the late Lester L. Goldstein, who passed away on March 16, 2004. His passing has cast a veil of deep sadness over our community, and I would like to extend my condolences to his widow, Bella, his children, Jeff and Tina, and his grandchildren, Jason and Ian.

Lester Goldstein was a partner in the Bilzen, Sumberg, Baena Price & Alexlrod law firm in Miami, but he was so much more. He was an extraordinary man of service, a quiet but tireless and effective leader who felt at ease with people throughout our diverse community, and he devoted his life to improving their lives by his service and his example.

He served as the chairperson of the Greater Miami Service corps, the founder of the Alzheimer Care Committee of Douglas Gardens, a founder of the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged, and a founder of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center. These are but a few of the great initiatives his humanitarian spirit willed to come to fruition, and these programs now serve to improve the lives and lessen the burdens of countless residents of our community.

He spearheaded civic fund-raising efforts to help the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the Zoological Society of Florida, and he was a member of the American Arbitration Association, the Builders Association of South Florida, and local infrastructure and water management advisory groups.

As a highly competent professional in real estate development, zoning and land use, administrative law and environmental compliance, he conscientiously advocated protection of our environment. His counsel was sought in matters ranging from developments of regional impact to the rezoning of local projects, including coordination of efforts among community groups, government agencies, scientists and environmental regulators. Our community feels the loss of a truly decent and caring man who made it his personal business to advocate for the well-being of our community.

The numerous tributes and accolades with which government officials and various organizations have honored him during his lifetime are testimony to the utmost gratitude and respect he enjoyed from a grateful community. He truly personified the resilience and compassion of a people servant whose life exemplified what Martin Luther King, Jr. said that ``. . . everybody can be great because everybody can serve.''

This is the legacy Mr. Lester L. Goldstein bequeathed to us. I am privileged to have been his friend, for his genuine advocacy on behalf of the less fortunate evoked a caring heart and a compassionate humanity.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I just want to let you know that this whole resolution is stomach turning for many Members, especially myself and I know the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) as ranking member on strategic forces in the Committee on Armed Services, and I am proud to serve with him in that committee, but to have a resolution that does not even recognize the men and women that have lost their lives in Iraq is just stomach turning. It is beyond comprehension on how this administration, the Republican side of this Congress, could pass a resolution and not mention those individuals that came back in a box.

I mean, I am very concerned about that, and I think what we need to focus on now is making sure that we come straight with the American people. We have to make sure that we talk about accountability. We have to make sure that we talk about troops that are coming back. I am not even addressing right now, and in this resolution does not address, those individuals that are in Walter Reed right now, right now in Walter Reed Hospital, and I think it is important, and I am glad that Iraq Watch continues to be here night after night sharing with the American people the importance of making sure that we stand on behalf of our troops, that we also make sure that we make sound decisions and we continue to change the chart.

I am concerned about some of the comments that Vice President Cheney has made. I am concerned about some of the comments the President is making. I think that the comments of ``bring it on'' and ``complete mission'' and ``I guarantee you that they will not shake the resolve of America,'' it is good to have a talk of confidence, but to be able to egg on these individuals, and to pass a resolution when a hotel has been leveled in Iraq, many Iraqis lost their lives, many national media individuals lost their lives, and not even recognize that and say that it is safer now, I think is a huge understatement.

So I think that we need to continue to share with the American people, if Democrats were brought in a part of this resolution, H. Res. 557, today, we could come together as a Congress, and it would be a much better resolution.

I know I voted for the first resolution commending the troops, but I think this resolution divided this House instead of bringing us together to fight against the war on terror

Mr. Speaker, just quickly, I want to say this to the American people and I hope that it is not the case that we value oil over American blood. I am just saying that right now, and I think it is very important to make the message very simple tonight for Americans to understand.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ms. Floris Ingraham Johhson, who celebrated her centennial birthday on Monday, March 15, 2004.

Born in 1904 to the late Eldred and Helena Moss on Governor's Harbor- Eleuthera, The Bahamas, Ms. Johnson will be feted during ceremonies this Sunday at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church in my District. The Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Brown, the distinguished Pastor, will lead his congregation in paying this unprecedented tribute to our centenarian celebrant.

I would like to join the family, relatives and friends of Ms. Johnson toward reserving the utmost respect and genuine admiration for her 100 years of living, working and serving the less fortunate of our community. In fact, she worked to take care of the elderly until she was 83 years old. It is my understanding that she was genuinely inspired to focus her vocation of service to the elderly by a genuine devotion to her Christian stewardship. She joyfully welcomes the challenge of each day, abiding by her favorite Scripture passage: ``This is the day which the Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad!'' This is the simple recipe of good living with which she manages to define every passing day by looking at it as an opportunity to perform yet another work of love and another work of compassion for those yearning to see God's design in their lives.

Ms. Johnson's quest for the quiet and dignified life is remarkably characterized by her passion for the simple things in God's wonderful world of creation--beautifying her surroundings with the planting of flowers, especially roses, and embellishing her home with varied knick- knacks she has picked up from nearby nickel-and-dime stores. She has also devoted countless days in defining the longevity of her life by volunteering for the Feed the Hungry in Africa organization and by working with the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

Although she immensely enjoyed independent living until she was 97 years old, she is now a resident of the Franco Nursing Home where she is genuinely loved and respected by her fellow residents and the nursing staff. Indeed, she is uniquely blessed in that she never had to suffer any sick day in her life with ``. . . no pains, no aches--just old age.''

I join the Rev. Dr. Jimmie L. Brown this Sunday as he leads the congregation of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in thanking God for the blessings He has bountifully given to our birthday centenarian, Ms. Floris Ingraham Johnson. We are comforted by her exemplary life of simplicity and devotion, and it is this legacy that she bequeaths to us, and for which we will honor her.

Happy centennial birthday, Ms. Johnson, and God bless and love you!