Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1195 authored by my good friend from Oregon, Mr. Wu, and of which I am a proud cosponsor. H. Res. 1195 expresses our condolences and sympathy to our friends of the People's Republic of China for the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Sichuan Province.

On May 12, 2008, a massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake shook China's mountainous southwest Sichuan province. This powerful quake and its aftershocks have killed over 40,000 people, injured hundreds of thousands more, and destroyed entire communities. The full impact of this disaster will not be realized for some time as rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing.

I applaud the courage and determination of the emergency workers that are placing themselves in treacherous situations while still searching for survivors. The recent report of over 200 emergency workers overcome by a mudslide is testament to their peril.

The increased openness to news coverage in the devastated areas is also encouraging and has allowed the international community to share in China's sorrow and witness their massive emergency efforts. In support of these efforts, the United States offers any assistance that it can provide.

I would also like to reiterate my condolences and sympathy to the Burmese people tragically impacted by Cyclone Nargis, and sincerely hope that the Burmese regime recognizes the desperate need for immediate unfettered international assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 1195. In times of great natural disasters, all humanity suffers. As the people of China have come together for a moment of silence, the world community must also unify in support of those that have suffered by these natural disasters.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of California's most successful university presidents, Mr. Don W. Kassing. Don will be retiring this year and I would like to highlight some of the significant contributions he has made, not only to the university, but also to the surrounding community. It is with mixed emotions that I say farewell to Don--I am saddened to see him go, but do so with tremendous pride and respect for the accomplishments he has made to my alma mater, San Jose State University.

In August of 2004, following the unexpected resignation of his predecessor, Don leapt into action as the newly appointed interim president of San Jose State University. Accepting this position just before the start of the school year, Don moved quickly to reassure an apprehensive campus that all focus would remain on the important business of starting the fall semester. His confidence in the collective capabilities of the San Jose State University faculty and staff, his generous and collegial management and leadership style, and the trust and respect that he had garnered during his 11 years of service as San Jose State University's vice president for administration and finance quickly created a sense of stability.

One of Don's first actions as president was to galvanize the campus to organize its first-ever campuswide strategic planning process. This thorough planning involved a mobilization of all campus units and resulted in a vibrant ``Vision 2010.'' San Jose State University is now at the end of two full cycles of implementation.

Leading by example, Don repeatedly made thoughtful, public stands on tough issues. He strongly supported a student initiative to honor two San Jose State athletes and civil rights icons, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, medal winners of the 1968 Olympics, who chose a non-violent protest during the medals ceremony to bring attention to the American civil rights movement. The groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies for the campus sculpture in 2007 gave the University at long last the opportunity to appropriately honor and embrace the athletes and their actions.

Building upon the successful partnership with the city of San Jose to develop the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, Don was instrumental in forging the Beyond Martin Luther King collaborative, which initiated a broader commitment and conversation with city and San Jose State University leadership staff and community stakeholders. Since 2004, key partnership projects have sparked neighborhood development, affordable housing-to-workforce enhancement and co-production of major events. This successful collaborative effort serves as a model of how a positive, symbiotic relationship between a lively campus and a vibrant downtown can be used to enhance the stature of both a city and its university.

This year, Don led the campus in a decision to suspend blood drives, citing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's lifetime blood donor deferral affecting gay men as being in violation of the university's nondiscrimination policy. The public stand taken by SJSU has re-ignited debate across the country about FDA's policy. It is my hope that the questions raised by Don's actions will lead to a thorough, thoughtful, and scientifically sound reexamination of FDA policy.

Mr. Kassing's successes can best be summoned up in the words of its accrediting body. In a letter last July, Western Association of Schools and Colleges Executive Director Ralph Wolff said: ``The Commission would like to extend its commendation to the San Jose State University community on the truly remarkable distance it has traveled since fall 2004. The team report notes `significant progress' in assessment of student learning and enrollment management; the positive influence of recent appointments at the senior level; an operational strategic plan; innovative new programs for student success; and above all, dramatic changes in culture, energy and focus on campus.''

Madam Speaker, I will miss seeing my friend, Don Kassing, in San Jose, but wish him and his spouse, Amy, only the best as they embark on the next phase of their journey in Arizona.

Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise today to recognize

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the month of May.

As we celebrate the contributions and achievements of our community, I also want to pay special attention to the 250,000 Filipino World War II veterans President Roosevelt called into military service on July 26, 1941.

Of the 22,000 surviving Filipino veterans, I want to highlight Faustino ``Peping'' Baclig. Peping was one of the 75,000 Filipino and U.S. soldiers subjected to the 90-mile Bataan Death March. He survived the Japanese atrocities and fought side by side with the Americans only to have his service as a U.S. national and a veteran denied by the 1946 Rescission Act passed by Congress.

We now have a unique opportunity to undo the injustice of that act and give them recognition of a grateful Nation that their service to our country is just as equal as the soldiers with whom they stood shoulder to shoulder on the field of battle.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Filipino Veterans Equity Act.

Madam Speaker, this week we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week. It is a time for us to recognize the teachers who are working hard today to prepare students for the future, and the teachers who helped each of us become who we are. As a former teacher, I feel strongly about the work that today's teachers are doing. Beyond the rhetoric of ``failing schools'' there is a reality in which teachers in classrooms across the country are doing incredible work, with difficult students and limited resources. Many of these teachers are devoting extra hours to help struggling students, to learn new teaching techniques, and to develop innovative strategies and programs to improve student learning, and using their personal financial resources to acquire needed supplies and equipment.

There is no doubt that teachers are the core of our education system. As much as researchers and policymakers debate the values of standards and assessment and incentives and reform, education occurs in a classroom, and consists of an interaction between a teacher and his or her students. Good policy will help these teachers and support them in their work. America's teachers provide instruction in academic subjects, such as English, Math, Science, History, and PE, but they also teach social-behavioral skills, and look out for their students' health and well-being. Good teachers do not just teach a subject, they teach the whole child.

Today's teachers face a unique set of challenges in providing students with the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in tomorrow's workforce. To be competitive, our students need much more than they did just a decade ago. They now need advanced technology skills and a solid understanding of science. That is why I will soon be introducing legislation to improve the coordination of the Federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education efforts, helping foster cooperation between the States and Federal agencies.

As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, one of my highest priorities is increasing funding for Federal education programs that will ease the burden on States and localities to provide vital education services. We need to give our teachers more than an apple. They need well-equipped classrooms, instructional materials, and up-to- date facilities. They need smaller classes, a diverse curriculum, time to prepare, and adequate compensation. When budgets are tight, teachers are often expected to accomplish the same goals, but without sufficient help. We must increase funding for education.

I would also like to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate Mrs. Dawn O'Connor, who hails from California's 15th District, for receiving the 2008 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Since 1983, the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching have honored outstanding kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics and science teachers for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. I am honored to recognize Mrs. O'Connor as a recipient of the Presidential Award, the highest recognition that a mathematics or science teacher can receive. Mrs. O'Connor teaches seventh grade biology at Ascencion Solorsano Middle School in the Gilroy Unified School District. Mrs. O'Connor and I had the pleasure of meeting last week during her visit to Washington, DC, and I was extremely impressed by her accomplishments.

Madam Speaker, as a former teacher, school principal, and school board member I am proud to rise today to congratulate Mrs. Dawn O'Connor for receiving the 2008 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. Since 1983, the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching have honored outstanding kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics or science teachers for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. On behalf of the people of California's 15th District, I am honored to recognize one of our own as a recipient of the Presidential Award, the highest recognition that a teacher can receive--Mrs. O'Connor teaches Seventh Grade Biology at Ascencion Solorsano Middle School in the Gilroy Unified School District.

Ascencion Solorsano's students are fortunate to have Mrs. O'Connor serve as chair of the Science Department, coach of the Cross Country team, and advisor of the school's MESA program. After graduating from California State University, Humboldt with a B.S. in Biology Mrs. O'Connor completed her multiple subjects credential program at my alma mater, San Jose State University.

Mrs. O'Connor received the 2007 Horace Lucich Award for Outstanding Teachers by the Synopsys science fair and the California State Science Fair Teacher of the Year Award. She was a Summer Institute Fellow at Stanford University's Center for Probing the Nanoparticle and also participated in the Summer Leadership Institute hosted by the National Science Education Leadership Association.

During Mrs. O'Connor's tenure year at Ascencion Solorsano she has helped to expand a traditional science fair into a five-month inquiry- based project involving 98% of the students in the activities of a practicing scientist--problem identification, hypotheses generation, experimental design, experimentation, writing and presenting conclusions. Her inclusion of cross-curricular skills is indeed commendable. Through her encouragement students have performed exceptionally in the Silicon Valley science fair competition and gone on to attain awards at the State level competitions. According to Mrs. O'Connor ``It is also my goal to produce a population of capable problem solvers,'' a goal I share, one that is crucial to ensuring our Nation's competiveness in the 21st century global economy.

Mrs. O'Connor represents the spirit of innovation that is the core of my District, the Silicon Valley and the State of California, and she is dedicated to inspiring and engaging students in science through inquiry. I congratulate her and her colleagues and students for this distinguished achievement.

Mr. Speaker, while I was unfortunately absent for the vote on H.R. 5036 due to commitments in my home state of California, I would have voted in support of this legislation had I been present. I am deeply dismayed that the bill failed to pass by a wide margin.

As an original cosponsor of H.R. 5036, the Emergency Assistance for Secure Elections Act, I thank Congressman Holt for his vigorous efforts to provide emergency support to states and counties that wish to ensure that all votes are accurately counted through the use of paper ballots. This bill would provide assistance to states and counties that voluntarily choose to use paper-based voting systems. States would be able to seek federal reimbursements for emergency paper ballots that are offered in the event of technological failures. The bill would make funding available for the development of procedures to conduct hand- counted audits or to hand-count the results of elections.

Free and fair elections are fundamental aspects of a representative democracy like the United States, and we must provide the necessary support to our state and local governments to strengthen the integrity of our democracy. In the 2004 election, while widespread usage of electronic voting machines helped standardize our nation's voting system and prevented some of the problems that occurred with punch-card ballots in the 2000 election, there were reports of voting irregularities, some of which were due to glitches in electronic voting machine software. This is why it is absolutely necessary to make available paper receipts that each voter can verify for themselves.

To this end, I am also a cosponsor of H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act. The legislation would require voting systems to produce a voter-verified paper record suitable for a manual audit equivalent or superior to that of a paper ballot box system.

A few years ago, I held a town hall meeting on electronic voting at Santa Clara University to expand my knowledge and public awareness of direct recording electronic (DRE) devices. The program provided much insight into the development of DREs but it also left many unanswered questions about their security and reliability. Since then, I have supported legislation that seeks to ensure a voter verifiable record and greater openness in the testing and certification process of DREs.

Even as secure technology is developed, voter verifiable records will sustain the high integrity of our voting processes. It is imperative that Congress helps support those states and counties that are willing to use paper ballots to strengthen our democracy until electronic systems that produce a paper trail are available, and to ensure that all American votes cast will be counted.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the many contributions and achievements of Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee. After an esteemed 5 years as the chief of the Asian Division at the Library of Congress--a bookend to his dedicated 50 years in the library profession, Dr. Lee is retiring.

Before joining the Library of Congress in 2003, Dr. Lee had already achieved a distinguished career in the pursuit and preservation of knowledge. He first served at the Main Library of the University of Pittsburgh, where he also completed two master's degrees and a Ph.D. He then advanced his career working at many other libraries, including Duquesne University, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, Colorado State University, and Ohio University. Dr. Lee was Dean of Libraries at Ohio University for 21 years. During that time, he was able to transform a relatively unassuming university library into a prestigious member of the Association of Research Libraries, and ranked among the top 70 academic research libraries in North America. Recognizing Dr. Lee's numerous and incredible accomplishments, Ohio University displayed its enormous appreciation of Dr. Lee by not only naming the first floor of its main library the Hwa-Wei Lee Center for International Collections, but also dedicating a new library annex after him.

During his short tenure at the Library of Congress, Dr. Lee focused his energy on completely rejuvenating and reorganizing the Asian Division. He introduced innovative programs designed to improve and expand the division's resources, collections, services, and outreach.

As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, it has been my privilege to have collaborated with Dr. Lee and his dedicated staff at the Asian Division. Our shared pursuit to tell the complete Asian American and Pacific Islander, AAPI, story and dispel the cloak of invisibility and mischaracterization upon the community has given life to a new AAPI Collection at the Library of Congress. This is another milestone of Dr. Lee's storied career.

Dr. Lee and his lovely wife Mary will soon move to Florida to bask in the sunny rays of retirement. But I suspect that he will not slow down, and will continue his many pursuits. As anyone who has met Dr. Lee can attest, his boundless, enthusiastic spirit will not allow him to stay idle. In fact, he has already promised to visit the Library frequently and is eager to start his new role as board director of the Asian Division Friends Society.

Madam Speaker, I commend Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee for his dedication and many contributions to the librarian profession and am especially grateful for his nurturing leadership of the Asian Division and of the establishment of the AAPI Collection at the Library of Congress. I wish Dr. Lee and his family all the best for his retirement and their future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, the United States and the People's Republic of China, PRC, are friends and partners in this international community. I truly believe that the governments of both nations endeavor to support the wellbeing of not only their people, but also of those around the world. Like individuals, governments learn from experience, and learn from the experiences of others. And like individuals, perhaps with more frequency and greater impact, governments make errors in judgment. In just our short history, the United States government and its people have made more than our fair share of mistakes. We have endured social strife at home with class and racial warfare, and our Federal, State and local governments have played their ugly part, from voting rights to segregation and violence. And throughout this century, our Nation knew that the world was watching. During World War II, all eyes were on America, waiting for its actions to meet its rhetoric of freedom. It was in this backdrop that our grassroots civil rights movement pushed our society towards our own American ideals. We have learned many lessons from our own history on how to create and maintain a peaceful society, prioritizing the protection and promotion of human rights--there are many lessons to share, and many yet to learn. it

As the Olympic Summer Games near, the spotlight is now on our friend China and on its actions. China has made inroads as a new member of the global community, as their economy becomes increasingly integrated into the world economy. The groundwork for greater freedom is slowly developing, as it makes incremental gains to strengthen the rule of law. There comes a time, however, when greater scrutiny calls for greater action. As friends, I have always believed that constructive criticism should be encouraged. That is why today, I rise in support for H. Res. 1077. Friends do not always agree with each other's actions, but I know that the U.S. and China share some common values and concerns, including the wellbeing of our peoples and stability and peace in our Nations.

The Chinese government is concerned over the instability and ethnic tensions that have erupted after the protests of March 10, 2008. The widespread arrests and detentions of Tibetans and harsh statements by the Chinese government against the Dalai Lama, however, have not helped the situation, but instead have fueled the fires of resentment. Certainly, rioters and those who have perpetrated violent crimes should be tried and punished. Their departure from the doctrine of nonviolence as supported by the Dalai Lama and other great civil rights leaders, such as Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, has weakened their voice. To further social stability and sustained harmony, and to decrease resentment and anger among the Tibetan people, I believe that it is of utmost importance to differentiate between those peaceful protestors and those who have turned to violence-- violence reported by Chinese and international journalists.

Despite these reports, the government nevertheless removed all international journalists from the Tibetan Autonomous Region. It is difficult to know exactly what had transpired in the Tibetan areas, as well as the current situation in the region, because of this unwarranted expulsion. In the end, there were conflicting reports on the nature of the protests in China and on the numbers of those injured and killed by not only China's security forces, but also by certain Tibetan protestors. It is essential that journalists and international monitors have unfettered access to Tibetan areas to shed light on the situation on the ground.

Finally, to create a harmonious society, all members must feel a part of the process, thereby developing trust and confidence among all parties. When racial tensions have arisen in the United States, the best of us have acknowledged mistakes, embraced them, and worked toward solutions, together. In the same vain, I firmly believe that direct dialogue between the government of the People's Republic of China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama is necessary for any meaningful, short- and long-term solution to this dire situation. Previous rounds of dialogue between the PRC and representatives of the Dalai Lama have resulted in an apparent misunderstanding of the Dalai Lama's concept of Tibetan ``autonomy.'' While there are some proponents for an independent Tibet within the Tibetan community, the Dalai Lama has repeatedly shared his support for an autonomous Tibetan region within the governance of China that ensures basic freedoms for the Tibetan people with protections for their culture, language, and religion. The Chinese government should take advantage of his moderate position and considerable influence on the Tibetan population, and engage in peaceful, direct talks with the Dalai Lama. In fact, China's Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law has already laid the foundation by guaranteeing the rights of ethnic minorities to administer their internal affairs. This foundation should not be discarded, but built upon with further assurances and implementations of these guarantees.

It is in the spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, arid shared lessons that I rise to support H. Res. 1077. We know governments can make mistakes, and we can all work together to restore peace during times of social tension. The award of the Olympic bid to China is a global acknowledgement, a global celebration, of China's membership in the global community. As the Olympic torch is introduced in San Francisco for its only appearance in the United States, I hope that protestors and bystanders show their respect for the Olympic Summer Games and refrain from violence. As an advocate for human rights and a staunch supporter of our First Amendment rights, I admire the courage and conviction exhibited by peaceful protestors. Finally, I hope that China will use this opportunity of greater scrutiny to speak directly with the Dalai Lama to build the trust and confidence necessary to achieve the harmony it seeks.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the assassination of one of the most prominent leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King made the ultimate sacrifice advocating for civil rights when he was assassinated on this day 40 years ago while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee. His untimely death gives our nation impetus to realize the dream he espoused, and carry on his legacy.

Dr. King fought to raise the moral and political consciousness of all Americans. As a Baptist preacher, philosopher, and activist, he was most interested in creating a world where he could peacefully and righteously raise his own children. He was passionate about ending poverty and war, both in this country and abroad. Though he is revered for his role within the African American community, he believed that the struggle he led was ultimately for the liberation of the United States and all those who believed in freedom. In this time of global uncertainty and conflict, his wisdom and foresight should resonate with us all.

I would like to share an excerpt from his speech given on April 4, 1967 at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City:

``Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now. I

speak as a child of God and brother to the suffering poor of

Vietnam. I speak for those whose land is being laid waste,

whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being

subverted. I speak for the poor of America who are paying the

double price of smashed hopes at home and death and

corruption in Vietnam. I speak as a citizen of the world, for

the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I

speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The

great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop

it must be ours. . . .

The only change came from America as we increased our troop

commitments in support of governments which were singularly

corrupt, inept and without popular support. All the while the

people read our leaflets and received regular promises of

peace and democracy--and land reform. Now they languish under

our bombs and consider us--not their fellow Vietnamese --the

real enemy.''

Dr. King believed in our collective potential to stand for justice and peace everywhere. On this day, we honor his life and legacy by protecting his dream, and living up to our inherent potential.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Day of Remembrance. February 19th, 2008 marks the 66th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of over 120,000 Americans of Japanese, Italian and German ancestry. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which formally acknowledged and apologized for violations of fundamental civil liberties and constitutional rights of the Japanese Americans who were interned during World War II.

The Day of Remembrance is of particular importance to me as I spent part of my childhood in Amache, an internment camp in southeastern Colorado. My experiences at Amache helped shape my outlook on life and influenced my political beliefs.

The purpose of the Day of Remembrance is to learn from our nation's past transgressions. In 1942, our nation's leaders failed us. Some 120,000 people were taken from their homes and incarcerated, simply because of their ancestry. Those incarcerated were denied their rights as lawful U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

Though the Day of Remembrance has been established to increase public awareness of the events surrounding the restriction, exclusion, and internment of individuals and families during World War II, we must continue to work to educate the public about the internment of Americans in order to prevent similar injustices from ever happening again. We must not allow history to repeat itself.

In this post-9/11 world, it is imperative that we remain vigilant in the protection of our civil liberties. As we continue to fight the war against terrorism, we must reaffirm our commitment to the civil liberties granted in the Constitution and resist the urge to give into wartime hysteria. Falling victim to the same kind of racial prejudice and discrimination exhibited during World War II completely disregards the lessons of the war and the purpose of a Day of Remembrance. I am hopeful that my colleagues in both chambers will appropriate funds for Public Law 109-441 to ensure the historic preservation of Japanese American internment sites.-

Although the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 formally apologizes for violating the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II, we must not forget about the experience of Japanese Latin Americans who were also unjustly treated. These people were extricated from Latin America and brought to the United States, only to have their documents taken away from them. Without proper documentation, these Japanese Latin Americans became individuals without a country and were subsequently used as pawns in exchange for POWs in the Pacific theater. H.R. 662, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act, seeks to rectify the injustices committed against these Japanese Latin Americans by establishing a Commission to investigate the relocation, interment, and deportations of Japanese Latin Americans and to recommend appropriate actions. I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor H.R. 662 to continue the healing process started by the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

Now, more than ever, we must strive to balance our cherished civil liberties with the need to protect our homeland. Finding this balance is the enduring lesson that the Day of Remembrance teaches us and a lesson that cannot be lost on our nation's policymakers.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Congressman Tom Lantos.

It was with great sorrow that I learned of the passing of my esteemed colleague.

When I asked Tom Lantos for his support in defending a group of women who the Japanese Army forced into prostitution during World War II, I knew that if anyone would understand the pain of war, it would be him. For Congressman Lantos, human rights violations were not just an abstraction. He saw his family decimated by the Nazis during the same war. He himself had suffered through the horrors of a labor camp.

After surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, Congressman Lantos dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of others. He spoke for those who had no voice through his tireless advocacy as the founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. For decades, increases in college tuition have outpaced inflation, posing financial challenges to many students and families.

As a former teacher, school principal and school board member, I am committed to providing our students with greater access to a higher education, thereby ensuring that America remains competitive in the global economy. Having well-trained teachers in our classrooms is essential to preparing our children for the jobs of tomorrow.

It is estimated that over 2 million new teachers will be needed in the next 10 years. H.R. 4137 provides individuals seeking a rewarding career in teaching more opportunities to enroll in high-quality teacher preparation programs.

This legislation will enhance the teacher workforce by establishing Centers of Excellence in teacher training and providing grants to community colleges to establish or improve teacher preparation and professional development programs. H.R. 4137 will also help improve reading for as many as 10 million struggling readers.

During my tenure as a school administrator, I successfully established a program for students with dyslexia. Central to this program was the specialized training every teacher received on how to address the needs of students with reading difficulties.

After more than 20 years, there still appears to be a gap between what is known about effective reading structure and how teachers are being trained. H.R. 4137 includes provisions to expose this gap by examining the quality and extent to which teacher training programs are based on the recommendations of the congressionally requested National Reading Panel.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 932.

This resolution signifies Congress's appreciation for the critical work school counselors do to provide students and their families with guidance and support, both academic and emotional, toward obtaining a higher education and entrance into the workforce.

In his 2008 budget, President Bush proposed eliminating federal support for elementary and secondary school counselors. Under Democratic leadership, the President's proposal was wisely rejected and this Congress provided nearly $14 million of additional support to school counseling programs, for a total of over $48 million. I am proud of this accomplishment, but feel there is still more to be done to meet the needs of our children.

In California, eight in nine high school students attend a school with fewer counselors than the national average. This makes California the State with the highest counselor to student ratio in the Nation; over two times the School Counseling Association's suggested ratio. Students attending intensely segregated minority schools are most likely to attend schools with fewer counselors than the national average. Addressing the school counselor deficit is a critical component of closing the achievement gap that plagues our Nation.

As we reflect on the vital role counselors play in the lives of our children, we should remember that investing in our schools is an investment in our future; it is the best investment our country can make.

School counselors create pathways to success and H. Res. 932 will ensure our Nation comes together this February to recognize their vital contributions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 198, a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee that expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should set a national goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 10 years.

Poverty can be defined as meaning a lack of the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, security, and opportunity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006 over 38.7 million men, women and children across this country struggled to survive on an annual income well below the national poverty line. The number of people living in poverty has increased by over 5 million since the year 2000. In a country that prides itself on being the land of freedom and opportunity, and that has a level of affluence unparalleled by any other nation in the world, these statistics are both alarming and unacceptable.

I am a proud cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 198 because I believe that any nation that considers itself great must make a concerted effort to step up and do something about the problem of poverty. When the average national poverty rate is at 13.3 percent and growing, the status of poverty in this country should not be diagnosed as simply an unfortunate anomaly, but rather, as a nationwide epidemic; an epidemic that should be treated with the utmost care and concern, because it is a condition that affects all of us. Poverty erodes the health and security of our Nation's most valuable resources--our children and our communities. Strong, healthy communities are necessary for the preservation of the American way of life, a way of life that cannot exist when infected by the ills that are symptomatic of poverty stricken areas.

In addition, poverty hits hardest those with the least amount of immunity against the conditions that contribute to poverty. While minority communities have made many significant advancements over the past few decades, a disproportionate number of minorities are still impoverished and disadvantaged. African Americans comprise nearly 25 percent of people living in poverty, Hispanics 22 percent, and Asian Americans nearly 11 percent. Native American communities capture an astounding 25.3 percent of people living under the poverty level, many living in what are considered ``fourth world'' poverty conditions. Many Native Americans on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations will not make it through the winter due to inadequate housing, warm clothing, and nourishment. In this country, and in this day and age, these numbers are simply deplorable. Unfortunately, they do not stop there.

More than half of those living at or below the Federal poverty level come from single parent households, and children ages 18 and younger have the highest rate of poverty of any age group with 17.6 percent living at or below the poverty line. Instead of receiving a proper education in school, learning valuable life-lessons and leadership skills in extra-curricular activities, and partaking in the many other childhood activities that are a necessary part of growing up, nearly 13 million kids will spend the day wondering whether or not they are going to eat that night, or whether their mother or father will be drunk or in prison when they get home, that is assuming they even have a place to go home to. Nevertheless, these children are expected to perform well in schools, meet the national score on standardized tests, or risk having their school shut down thanks to No Child Left Behind system. Children who live under such conditions are not destined to succeed. Most will not graduate from high school. Many will turn to gangs, drugs, or a life of crime, and as a result, spend most of their adult life in and out of prison.

Poverty is the result of a deep structural problem that implicates our value system as well as our educational and economic institutions, and it is a problem that permeates into all aspects of society. The costs to victims of poverty are great, but the costs to us are greater.

That is why I wholeheartedly emphatically support the commitment to cutting poverty made by H. Con. Res. 198. It will not be easy, but there is a moral, and social urgency facing us. We have the opportunity today to impact the lives of millions and give others the opportunity to share in the great wealth that our nation has to offer.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1180, I was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''