Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, frankly, I am getting really tired of hearing proponents of this budget argue that drastic cuts to health care are a result of difficult choices.

It is quite apparent that the choice being made is a simple one, further tax breaks for the wealthy instead of real investment into the health care needs of our Nation, the most urgent needs, as our colleague from South Dakota expressed, in her State, and also in mine, the most urgent need that our constituents want us to address in their time of need at home.

At such a time of remarkable breakthroughs, for example, in medical research, it is appalling that this budget cuts 18 of the 19 institutes of the National Institutes of Health. Again, proponents of this budget will argue that in the late 1990s we doubled NIH's budget, and it is a good thing we did. But that just shows how little is understood about scientific research, how much they are minimizing our country's need for true investment.

If this budget passes, the NIH will have 13 percent less funding than it did in 2003. That will mean that we will take giant steps backward in our efforts to eliminate cancer deaths by 2015, a doable goal if we were to stay on track with NIH. It means that our efforts will be hampered to combat the number one killer in this country, heart disease. It means that our ability to remain globally competitive in the development of new treatments is threatened.

Not only is our health research infrastructure under attack by this budget, so are our health professionals. Funding for title VII health professional training is eliminated in this budget. Despite our nursing shortage crisis, funding for nurse workforce training programs is actually less today than it was 30 years ago.

Mr. Chairman, our national security is very much dependent upon our ability to sustain a healthy and viable work force to respond to emergency situations. This budget ignores those needs. So I urge my colleagues to oppose this illogical and immoral budget.

Madam Speaker, I express my sincere opposition to this year's budget because it is immoral, especially to women.

Our health care system is in bad shape. We all know that women use health care more than men and are more likely to need it. Under President Bush, the number of uninsured has risen. Yet what does this budget propose? Health savings accounts, which would only benefit the wealthiest and healthiest, those who could already afford health coverage. It cuts or levels funds for all but one of the Institutes of National Health, and at a time when we are making important advances in medical research, when we are just beginning to learn the ways that women are affected differently than men by certain diseases. And it cuts funding for nutritional programs that are designed to keep women and their families healthier.

We have an obligation to ensure that everyone can have access to health care services. I urge my colleagues to reject this irresponsible and immoral budget, and instead, to pass a budget that lives up to our commitment to American women and their families.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 23, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I am offering this amendment with colleagues, Representative Eshoo, Representative Stupak and Representative Waxman. Our amendment is fairly straightforward. It would ensure that this bill would not preempt State laws that require proper warning on foods that do contain carcinogens, that do contain chemicals that could cause birth defects or other reproductive defects or could cause allergic reactions with sulfiting agents.

The bill as currently written would effectively wipe out important existing State food safety warning laws in these very areas. It is unconscionable that Congress could create a system that essentially conceals from consumers known possible risks to their health. This is especially troubling considering how successful these State laws have been at better informing the public about potential problems in their foods. Perhaps most importantly, some of these State laws would be wiped out by H.R. 4167 which have led manufacturers to remove harmful contents from food products altogether.

For example, food warning laws in California have resulted in the decrease of arsenic in bottled water everywhere; a reduction of lead and calcium supplements and also a removal of the potassium bromate from bread wherever it is sold in the United States.

It was under such a State law that warnings about pregnant women and alcohol first came about, a State law. However, this bill would end that process.

Mr. Chairman, public health experts everywhere recognize the importance of providing the best available information to consumers regarding possible health risks in food products, and that is why the Association of Food and Drug Officials, as well as a bipartisan coalition of 39 State attorneys general are on record opposing this.

Supporters of this bill will argue that this legislation establishes an appeals process for States seeking to establish their own food safety measures. This process would be burdensome and costly. The CBO estimates it could cost taxpayers as much as $100 million in the first years for States to apply for waivers for their State laws and for the FDA to process these appeals.

Our amendment would dramatically reduce those costs by keeping intact some of the most critical State laws already on the books which do ensure consumer protections. It would protect State laws that mandate consumer notifications for products that we know can cause cancer, can cause birth defects and may cause allergic reactions associated with sulfiting agents.

Mr. Chairman, we are fortunate to have made great advancements in recognizing potential health risks posed by certain substances. We want to ensure that this knowledge reaches the public, where the forces of the market can determine the need for arsenic in bottled water or of potassium bromate in bread.

Let us not keep consumers in the dark about what is in the foods they eat. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to submit we all agree uniformity, national uniformity is ideal. The word ``expedited'' without sufficient resources makes it really risky to entrust the Food and Drug Administration to do what States have already accomplished. States do have the resources to do that.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to my colleague the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo)

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I would submit the consumers are united in opposing this legislation and that the States have had a track record for consumer protection. I would love to see the Federal Government establish such a record.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. Chairman, I would submit to my chairman that I do not know any State that would not be willing to share its information with the Federal Government. On the other hand, the Food and Drug Administration has had top scientists quit of recent time over political pressures.

And the truth is that this bill would conceal information from consumers about known risks for cancer, birth defects and allergic reactions due to sulfiting agents. This bill guts important existing warning laws. How are we going to live with this on our conscience, that today help consumers make informed choices, have encouraged manufacturers to remove harmful substances from their products?

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden board of trustees, staff and volunteers as they celebrate the 80th anniversary of the garden. The botanic garden provides many different services to the Santa Barbara community, including conservation, education and research.

As an active member of the Center for Plant Conservation, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is the only organization actively developing and maintaining a conservation collection of rare and endangered species in the central coast region. Through cooperation with private and public resource management agencies, seeds and living plants are collected in the wild to represent genetic and geographic variation. These conservation efforts are critical to ensuring that the areas of vast beauty and great significance are preserved so that our future generations may enjoy and learn from them.

The Botanic Garden has a comprehensive education program that includes programs for school groups, various certificate programs and excursions to such regions as Anacapa Island and Lake Cachuma. Their education program aims to increase our understanding of the role of plants in the natural world. Currently, the Botanic Garden co-sponsors programs with the Los Padres National Forest, University of California Cooperative Extension and the Gevirtz Research Center in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They also have a relationship with our local schools that ensures that our children learn the importance of preserving our natural treasures and allows teachers an opportunity to help students learn in an outdoor classroom environment.

Research at the Botanic Garden began in the late 1920s and has continued to be innovative and to contribute to our understanding of the natural world. Beginning in the 1960s, Dr. Ralph Philbrick (Garden Director from 1974 to 1987) expanded the Garden's floristic research of the Channel Islands. For over 40 years, Garden surveys and inventories have significantly expanded our knowledge of these remarkable offshore terrains. As a result, the Garden's herbarium includes over 30,000 specimens of the Channel Islands' vascular plants and lichens, which are consulted by researchers throughout the world. This research on the Channel Islands is of particular importance because of its status as a National Park which possesses many native plants and animals.

I am so pleased to be able to recognize all of the hard work of the trustees, staff and volunteers as a part of this 80th Anniversary celebration. I am privileged to work and live in a community that is so physically beautiful and blessed with so many dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to maintain the many things that make this area so special. Congratulations and happy anniversary!

Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleagues that February is American Heart Month. Throughout this month, we recognize the millions of Americans struggling with heart disease and recommit ourselves to helping them. And we acknowledge the efforts of organizations like the American Heart Association, which help all of us prevent and treat heart disease.

What is not well enough known is that heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women in the United States. Each year, 480,000 women die from heart disease. That is one every minute.

In addition to experiencing classic chest pain, women often have a greater tendency to exhibit atypical symptoms of heart attack, such as difficulty breathing, nausea and unexplained fatigue. So they are often misdiagnosed.

Yesterday, Representative Cubin and I introduced the Women & HEART Disease Act. This legislation will increase awareness, education, data collection, and the detection of heart disease in women so that we can improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of women with cardiovascular disease.

I urge each of my colleagues to support this bill and other efforts to address the costly scourge of this disease.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. Con. Res. 79 and am pleased that the House leadership has decided to pursue this thoughtful and constructive response to the success of Hamas in the recent Palestinian Legislative Council elections.

With passage of this resolution, the Congress will be on record in opposition of any direct U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority if the majority party in parliament maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel.

This reflects longstanding U.S. policy. And it is clearly the right policy. Hamas is a ruthless terrorist organization with the blood of innocents on its hands. When Hamas assumes control of the Palestinian parliament, it must recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce terror. If not, the Palestinian Authority should receive no direct U.S. aid. It's as simple as that.

But I would like to use this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to point out that the outcome of the Palestinian election does not lend itself to simple analysis. And the U.S. response to this development must not be knee-jerk and simplistic.

Let us first remember that the Palestinian people went to the polls and conducted an election that was remarkably democratic, free, fair, and devoid of violence. We may not like the results, but we should take note of what is among the most democratic elections the Arab world has ever seen.

And while Hamas attracted the most votes, there is little evidence that Palestinian voters were in fact endorsing Hamas's call for Israel's destruction. Exit polls show that three-quarters of all Palestinian voters support reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians based on a two-state solution. Armed with the ballot, Palestinians gave political voice to their anger and anguish over two related problems--the rampant corruption and cronyism within the Fatah establishment, and the lack of any tangible improvement of the quality of life under Israeli occupation.

So what should the United States do in response to this election? One thing we cannot do is simply throw up our hands and refuse to engage in efforts to help Israel and the Palestinians achieve peace. We cannot turn back the clock. Every week that goes by without any progress to achieve a solution to this conflict increases the threat to U.S. national interests. This was true before Hamas came to power and it is just as true today.

Yesterday, I received a letter from the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs assuring me that the administration ``remain(s) committed to working toward the peaceful resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict . . .'' This is a positive statement, and Congress should play a positive role in partnership with the President to advance our interests in the region.

For this reason, I am concerned about some legislative proposals that have been introduced in the House which would, in my view, sharply curtail our ability to engage constructively in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Future legislation should include a mix of sticks and carrots--not just sticks. Clearly, direct aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority must be stopped right now, but we should keep the door open for future aid if the P.A. undertakes the changes and reforms we are demanding of them. Permanently restricting our assistance provides little incentive and dramatically limits the President's options. Similarly, we must distinguish between the Hamas elements of the Palestinian Government and members of the PLO with whom the U.S. and Israel have negotiated for many years. Terminating diplomatic contact with the entire Palestinian leadership will do nothing but undermine the very moderates who oppose violence and support dialogue with Israel.

In addition, I am concerned about legislative efforts that would restrict the delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people through credible and transparent non-governmental organizations. I am pleased that the recent report in the New York Times about a coordinated American-Israeli effort to ``starve'' the Palestinian people has been strongly denied by both countries. The average Palestinian on the West Bank and Gaza leads a very difficult life and the further deterioration of economic conditions will not only be devastating for the Palestinians, but will also weaken Israel's security.

Mr. Speaker, today the House is taking an important step by stating unequivocally that U.S. assistance will not flow to a government dominated by a terrorist group bent on Israel's destruction. I hope, in the weeks and months ahead, as the situation in Israel and Palestine evolves, we can come back to this floor and enact thoughtful legislation that helps the Palestinian people, secures the State of Israel, and advances our own important interests in the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to be present for the following rollcall votes and would like the record to reflect that I would have voted as follows:

Rollcall No. 5--``yes.''

Rollcall No. 6--``yes.''

Rollcall No. 7--``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan for his leadership and for yielding me this time to speak.

The opportunity to speak in memory of Coretta Scott King and the importance today to acknowledge not only what she did for racial justice in this country and the rest of the world, but what she contributed to women's rights, to children's rights, gay and lesbian rights, religious freedom, the needs of the homeless and poor, full employment, health care, educational opportunities, and the continued unrelenting emphasis on nonviolence.

She was a mentor for me and so many of us. She did not take the easy path, she took the right path. The recent confirmation of two new Supreme Court justices reminds us of the importance of expanding our civil rights, not limiting them. We can do this in memory and honor of both Martin and Coretta, and it is their lives being dedicated to the highest values of human dignity and pushing for social change that stand as a pinnacle for what we want to continue to achieve.

I have fond memory of hearing with my husband when we were studying at Yale University early in the 1960s, hearing this young promising preacher from the South come and preach in Battelle Chapel. I was touched that day, and have been ever since.

Here we have also had the mentorship of our dear colleague, Mr. John Lewis, and in taking so many of us, me included, down to Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery, I will always remember walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and of course 2 weeks later, Dr. Martin Luther King led 25,000 men, women and children on that unforgettable march from Selma to Montgomery. Within 3 years he was assassinated, and how that must have affected his young widow. She had the responsibility to raise those young children and be concerned with his legacy, but she became a champion in her own right.

I know that we now can fully appreciate what she has accomplished and are dedicated to continuing. In her words, I want to close with these three phrases that she said, ``Be a drum major for justice. Be a drum major for love. Be a drum major for peace.'' Thank you, Coretta Scott King, for your life.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to MSgt Susan Rainone upon her retirement, and wish to thank her for her service to our country. Originally from Waukesha, Wisconsin, MSgt Susan M. Rainone enlisted in the United States Air Force in January of 1986. After graduating from Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, she was sent to Chanute AFB, Illinois to attend the Airframe Repair Apprentice course.

In June 1986, A1C Rainone was assigned to the 6515th Field Maintenance Squadron at Edwards AFB, California. During her assignment at Edwards, she worked as an Airframe Repair Journeyman on a variety of airframes from the small A-37 to a much larger KC-135. In her second year in service, A1C Rainone competed and was selected for Senior Airmen Below the Zone, which allowed her to sew on the Senior Airman stripe six months early. In late 1988, she was promoted to the rank of Buck Sergeant and within the following six months she was notified of her selection to Staff Sergeant. In May, 1989 she completed the Training Systems Specialist course at Sheppard AFB, Texas and returned to Edwards AFB, to work in the Base Training office where she responsible for the training programs of the base. While at Edwards AFB, SSgt Rainone attended the Airman Leadership School and upon graduation was selected as a distinguished graduate, finishing in the top 10% of her class.

After being stationed at Edwards AFB for almost 9 years SSgt Rainone and was transferred to Osan Air Base in the Republic of South Korea. While at Osan, SSgt Rainone served as the Unit Training Manager for the 51st Transportation Squadron. During her tenure she nearly doubled the number of personnel enrolled in college courses. After her tour in Korea, SSgt Rainone was assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona where she served as the Non-commissioned Officer in Charge of the Scheduling Element. Here she was responsible for scheduling and updating training for over 3,500 aircraft maintenance personnel.

In September 1998 SSgt Rainone was promoted to Technical Sergeant. She applied and was selected for the position of Training Manager for the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, ``Thunderbirds.'' In April, 1999 TSgt Rainone relocated to Nellis AFB, Nevada where she was assigned as the Unit Safety Representative, a load team member responsible for 50,000 pounds of air show equipment. In October 1999, MSgt Rainone attended the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy and again graduated as a distinguished graduate. TSgt was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant in December 2002.

MSgt Rainone was reassigned to Vandenberg AFB, California April 2003. She was assigned to the 392nd Training Squadron as the Superintendent, Space and Missile Operations Training Development responsible for managing courses supporting the combat readiness of the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force. While at Vandenberg, MSgt Rainone completed the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy course by correspondence, earning the Academic Excellence Award by averaging 95% over five closed book exams. One year later, she was moved to Detachment 1, 345th Training Squadron, Naval Base Ventura County, where she is the Chief, Education and Training Programs and Course Manager for Vehicle and Equipment courses.

I wish to commend and thank MSgt Rainone for her leadership and dedication. She is truly a role model and deserves the many commendations and awards that she has received. I wish her a happy and relaxing retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Bob Bason on the occasion of his retirement after 35 years as fundraiser and capital campaign consultant to charities and nonprofits throughout the United States. He is truly an asset to our local community and his work has touched the hearts of people worldwide.

Mr. Bason has spent his life ministering to those in need in a variety of ways. Born in Wisconsin, Bob earned a bachelors and masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and was ordained in the Methodist Church. In 1967, Mr. Bason left the active ministry to become executive director of an organization working with the church in South and East Africa.

In 1969, Bob, his wife Carol, and their two daughters moved to Santa Barbara--a move they consider to the best decision of their lives. Here, Bob's ministry in the philanthropic community began. He became assistant Director of Development at Westmont College in 1969, Director of Development at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1972, and Director of Development at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in 1974. Also in 1974, Mr. Bason established Charitable Funding Services, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in capital campaigns. In the middle of his consulting career, Mr. Bason joined UCSB as assistant Chancellor for University Relations from 1980 to 1985 and served as the Senior Vice President for Development and Marketing at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York City from 1993 to 1995.

Mr. Bason has conducted more than 130 capital campaigns, raising nearly $1 billion, an accomplishment he attributes to the volunteers with whom he worked. His clients have included universities, colleges, hospitals and medical research institutions, museums, zoos, botanical gardens, churches, private schools and countless social service agencies. Highlights of his consulting career include one of the first national campaigns to end child abuse and a $50 million campaign for the first Africa food crisis.

Bob has volunteered with numerous charities in California and throughout the U.S. With a life-long passion for the work of Planned Parenthood, he is particularly proud of his years as a Planned Parenthood volunteer where he conducted fundraising seminars and trainings for more than 100 Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country and his 15 years as a board member for the local Planned Parenthood and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

I commend Mr. Bason's gift of talent, passion, and devotion to charitable organizations helping our most needy citizens. His work has been instrumental in making dreams come true and miracles happen. I feel deeply honored to share this community with Bob Bason and I have seen first hand the difference his work has made in the lives of so many. I wish him much happiness and much deserved relaxation in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Warren M. Dorn, a longtime resident of Morro Bay, California in my District, who died on January 10, 2006.

A graduate and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of University of California, Santa Barbara, Warren served as Mayor of Pasadena, on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisor from 1956-72, and later, as Mayor of Morro Bay. He chaired the Los Angeles Air Pollution Control District for eight years during his board tenure where he managed to have a profound impact on more than 160 laws improving our air quality. He also played key roles in the creation of the Los Angeles County Music Center and in developing airports, museums, sports areas and medical centers. He was passionate about water conservation and was instrumental in building the California Aqueduct. Throughout his time in public life, Warren Dorn was known for bipartisan efforts with all that he undertook.

This distinguished public servant also had another area of devotion: to his wife of 63 years, Phyllis, and to his three children and their families. Warren and Phyllis co-founded Morro Bay Beautiful in 1980, spending two decades dedicated to keeping area beaches clean.

The city of Morro Bay and the state of California are forever enriched by the contributions of Warren Dorn. His friendships were many, from the famous to the not so famous. Indeed, by his life's work he was a friend to us all.

Mr. Speaker, 1 month ago, elderly Americans were finally able to start choosing among plans to provide them prescription drug coverage. In less than a month, these benefits will go into effect. But now these seniors are expressing their outrage. The choices they have to make are so complex it was imperative that CMS get them accurate information. But instead, CMS sent out inaccurate information. In addition, they told seniors that they basically had to get their information off the Web or by calling a hotline, but delays on the hotline are enormous, and most seniors are not comfortable using the Internet.

So now they are having to make critical, complex choices that are going to affect their health care with far too little assistance. We need to act to help them. Let us not turn our backs on America's seniors. Let us give them all of 2006 to make this important choice without penalty, and let us make sure that they can make a switch if they make the wrong choice.

Let us pass the Medicare Informed Choice Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleague from Michigan for organizing and for allowing me to speak in this time of tribute. It is truly a high privilege and a rare moment to recognize someone who has served 50 years in this remarkable institution and, of course, that is my colleague John Dingell.

Of course, I am also privileged to call him a friend and a great mentor. And that extends to Debbie, the beautiful Debbie as he calls her, whom I knew first as a congressional spouse and got a glimpse of the partnership that now I know even better, when I saw her leadership among the spouses who add a lot to this place here and a respect for her tireless work amongst us all.

John Dingell has been a remarkable role model for me in the House and particularly on the Energy and Commerce

Committee. It is an understatement to say it is the highest privilege and a matter of great pride to be able to serve with him, to learn from him, to catch the spirit of tenacity, being a bulldog on issues that you care very deeply about. He works so hard on behalf of his constituents and it shows. No matter the issue, first and foremost, as many years as he has served and as beloved as he is by them, he goes back to them time after time.

It has been a pleasure to be in his district and to see the great affection with which he is held. For me he gave reason and definition to my being here to see that there really, truly are people in places of leadership who are champions for the working people of this country. To those without privilege and strong voice, except through those of us who serve here, he has never lost sight of why he followed in his father's footsteps to be here.

He takes a back seat to no one. Those who have opposed him on issues he cared about have learned what a strong advocate he is and how tough it is to face him. But he is also one of the best examples I have seen in this place of how to work across the aisle, how to maneuver deftly amongst the parliamentary procedures to get things done. When there is a chance to make some progress on an issue, when there is a chance to improve the lives of the American people, John Dingell will not let party lines stand in the way.

I am so privileged that I have had the opportunity to see someone here, and there are more, there are quite a few, but to see someone with the kind of respect he has for this institution. This connection that we have, going back to the beginning, and the way that he conducts the affairs, a lesson for us all in civility and the way to treat other people, particularly those you serve with and especially with whom you do not agree, making a strong point and yet doing it in such a respectful way.

He has been a most important person to me here in my career in Congress. When I was newly elected, he helped me secure a seat on the committee where I wanted to be to serve particularly on the matters of health care. He guided me through the committee's traditions and procedures and has always been there to help me with any kind of particular need I might have to fulfill the goals I have that are similar to his. And for me, for John, it is being a relentless advocate for health care, for health care for everyone.

When the committee, for example, began addressing the nursing shortage, and that was a priority of mine, he joined with me and made it clear that supporting nurses was a personal priority for him; and I can tell you that if you ask a nurse around this country who represents them and what they care about, it is Mr. Dingell. And that makes me proud as a nurse to be able to serve with my colleague, Mr. Dingell.

I watched as the Energy and Commerce Committee marked up a couple years ago now the Medicare bill, John's bill, John's father's bill. John did not take this easy. Long into the night for 3 days in a row he led our efforts to reshape that bill into a better proposal, truer to the ideals that came into being. I could go on and on, but I know this country is a better place because John Dingell has been here for 50 years. It is something that my children, though they have not met him, will appreciate. It is something for sure that my grandchildren will be beneficiaries of.

And only one thing will make my service here better than it already is, and that will be to serve with John Dingell as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Reverend Leander Wilkes, who passed away on November 24, 2005.

Leander Wilkes, the youngest of eight children, was born on September 20, 1924 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Jackson and Lillie Wilkes. After receiving his education in Arkansas and Ohio, he took a position with the government. In 1942 he met and later wed, Thelma Benson. To this union, five children were born, Deidre Gail, Lucy Naomi, Leonard Bruce, Jamaal Keith, and Leo Benson. He was ordained a Minister in Oakland, California in 1952. Subsequently, he was called to Ventura, California where he served as Pastor at Olivet Baptist Church for ten years. He moved to Second Baptist Church of Santa Barbara, California in 1969 and remained here for 35 years. Reverend Wilkes retired in July of 2004 and became the Pastor Emeritus of Second Baptist Church.

Reverend Wilkes was a lecturer in the Department of Black Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He enjoyed reading and researching Egyptology along with other ancient religions and philosophies. Reverend Wilkes was also an avid traveler, and fan of western television shows and movies. An excellent cook, he enjoyed preparing his specialties, gumbo and barbecue, at family gatherings. Reverend Wilkes was an active leader in our community who touched the lives of countless people. Family and friends will remember him for his integrity, wisdom and compassion.

I have known Reverend Wilkes for many years and remember fondly when he accompanied my late husband, Congressman Walter Capps, to Washington, DC in 1997, where he led the House of Representatives in prayer. Reverend Wilkes was a dedicated husband, father, and servant to his church community and the Santa Barbara community as a whole. His longtime service to residents of the Central Coast deserves to be recognized and celebrated. I feel privileged to have known Reverend Leander Wilkes.