Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I was absent from the Chamber for rollcall vote 49. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Chairman, the FAFSA form that students and their parents have to fill out every year for student aid is over 100 questions, over eight pages long. If a company is applying for an export/import loan from the government, it's 13 questions, one page long. But a kid is going to college and his parents have to fill out over 100 questions.

Let me read you some of the questions. Go to page 8 and complete the columns on the left of worksheets A, B and C. Enter the student totals in questions 44, 45 and 46, respectively. Worksheet B, first of 12 items; payments to tax deferred pension and savings paid directly or withheld from earnings, included, but not limited to, amounts reported on the W-2 form in boxes 12-A through 2D, codes, D, E, F, G, H and S. If you can fill that out, skip college, go to graduate school.

Now, thankfully for the chairman, we have now put in here to streamline this and create an easy form so this is not one of the leading causes of divorce in America, the College Aid Plan. And if a company can get lawyers and accountants to fill out a one-page form and get a big loan for $200 million from the government, taxpayer subsidies, kids trying to go to college and achieve the American Dream should have something as easy as a big company has. And, thankfully, this legislation would accomplish that.

When I ran for office, I used to, and I still do, visit fire stations. And Pat Kehoe, who is a captain in the Chicago Fire Department, was the one that turned me on to the notion of what he and his wife have to do every year to try to get student aid so their kid can go to the University of Illinois. And every year they have to fill out a form like this.

The goal here is for government to finally catch up and get to where the private sector has been, which is creating easy forms, things that they can do online and get rid of all the bureaucracy and all the paperwork.

Earlier this year, we passed the largest increase in college aid since the GI Bill. This legislation will build on that reform so we finally make sure that college aid, in the period and the era of where you earn where you learn, is accessible to middle-class families and their dreams that they have for their children.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my chairman.

While other speakers have noted some of the shortcomings and their reluctant support, I enthusiastically support this legislation. Unlike the 2001-2003 tax cuts, in 2001, 36 percent of the tax benefit went to folks earning more than $200,000 a year. In the 2003 tax cut, 67 percent of the tax rebates and tax refunds and tax cuts went to those earning over $200,000 a year. In this stimulus package, zero. The lion's share of the tax rebate goes to people earning between $40,000 and $80,000 a year.

I enthusiastically support the middle class of this country, and we are doing it in this bill. Thirty-seven million Americans who were left out of the 2001 and 2003 tax cut will get close to $28 billion of this tax cut. I enthusiastically support that type of economic prosperity.

Like my colleague on the other side from Michigan, once we right this economy hopefully with this stimulus package and interest rate cuts, we need to deal with long-term issues. On those issues, how did we get here? In the last 7 years, our debt went from $5.7 trillion to $9.2 trillion. President Bush inherited 3 years in a row of surplus, to 6 years in a row of deficit spending. Health care costs went from $6,000 for a family of four to doubling to $12,000 for a family of four. College costs increased by over $2,000 a year for a middle-class family. Energy costs went from $1.39 a gallon to $3.07 a gallon.

So I look enthusiastically to debating long-term future economic challenges the middle class have been feeling. The reason this is so important is because we are reversing and beginning to reverse the economic policies leading, and have been the leading causes, to middle- class squeeze: rising energy costs; rising health care costs; rising home values that shut out the middle class; depleting savings rates in this country; and a median household income that has shrunk by $1,000 in the last 6 years, while in 2000, over the last 6 years leading into 2000, median income rose by $6,000.

So in the long-term debate about this country, we have got to come to the rescue of middle-class families, and this stimulus package begins to do that.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from California. Two weeks ago, President Bush came to my district to highlight Horace Greeley School. It is a Blue Ribbon School and is recognized for Leave No Child Behind for its accomplishment in teaching children and raising their standards.

I went to that event with the President, because as he said, making sure you had qualified teachers in that school was important. I would also like to say that you need qualified nurse technicians. While you want to test kids for math, we believe you also must test them for measles. While you must worry about the principal, we also want to worry about the pediatrician. And you must have a comprehensive approach to those children, from their pediatrician to the principal, from testing for measles to testing for math and from a teacher to a technician.

One-third of the children at Horace Greeley, slightly more, are children enrolled in SCHIP. Now, those children do well because we raised their standards. They also do well because they have good health care, and we did right by them. Their parents work. Predominately, 50 percent of the school are Hispanics. The rest is mixed. About a quarter are Caucasian.

The President of the United States picked a school in the inner city of Chicago, because of the about 200 schools across the country that are Blue Ribbon Schools, those kids met the standards. Their teachers met the standards. But we did it in a comprehensive fashion. We made sure that they had qualified teachers. We are making sure that they have qualified technicians. We made sure they have a qualified principal. They also must have a qualified pediatrician. And that is what made those kids and our future brighter.

I was proud that the President came to my district and recognized a school

in a tough area doing right by kids. And the question is, will this floor do right by those children? And I am not sure. No, we won't have the votes to override the President's veto. And I told him then, ``You want to reauthorize No Child Left Behind because it raised the standard. We want to also reauthorize the SCHIP program.''

Last November, the American people said they want a change in Washington to set the right priorities, and one of those things was to work together across party lines. We did that here. Unfortunately, one thing didn't change, and that is enough Republicans that want to rubber-stamp policies that I believe are misdirected. Investing in 10 million children for the cost of 41 days in the war in Iraq will give those children more than just a blue ribbon; it will give them a chance at the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my warmest congratulations to Mr. Scott Sperling on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday. Scott is a man known for his intellect and business acumen, and I am fortunate to call him a friend.

Scott is currently Co-President of Thomas H. Lee Partners and Trustee and General Partner of various THL Equity Funds and is also President of TH Lee Putnam Capital. Additionally, he keeps busy as Director of Hawkeye Holdings, Thermo Fisher Corp., Univision Communications, Inc., Warner Music Group, and several private companies.

In addition to his business commitments and accomplishments, Scott is also a director of several charitable organizations including the Brigham & Women's / Faulkner Hospital Group, The Citi Center for Performing Arts and Wang Theater and Harvard Business School's Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.

Scott started on his illustrious career path after earning a B.S. from Purdue University and an MBA degree from Harvard University.

Scott and his wife Laurene have four children, Michael, Jenny, Zach, and Melanie. It seems as if each Sperling is more intelligent than the next, and much of the credit for that should probably go to Laurene.

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to wish a happy 50th birthday to my dear friend, Scott Sperling.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize sixty eight distinguished teachers from Illinois' Fifth Congressional District who have been honored with National Board Certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

National Board Certification is the highest level of certification in the teaching profession, and these teachers have earned this distinction through their service, commitment, and excellence in teaching.

Those who are honored with this award are widely considered to be at the peak of their profession, providing countless opportunities for children to learn and excel. National Board Certified teachers are also statistically proven to increase financial opportunities within their districts, strengthen the teaching practice, and improve student learning.

Applicants for this award may spend up to three years proving themselves, while undergoing peer reviews by 12 separate teachers, passing competency and skill testing within his or her individual specialty, and demonstrating educational outreach beyond the walls of the classroom.

Teachers everywhere play a critical role in our children's lives, and these sixty-eight individuals have exemplified that spirit and motivation, guiding students with patience, compassion, concern, and most of all, dedication to their profession.

Madam Speaker, I am proud tp honor these distinguished educators on their award of National Board Certification. I have no doubt that their efforts have had a tremendous impact on countless children throughout the Chicago-area, and that they will continue their profound effect for years to come.

I wish to congratulate:

Cynthia Ahn of O.A. Thorp Elementary Scholastic Academy; Cynthia Anderson of Highcrest Middle School; Wendy Anderson of Audubon Elementary School; Rolando Argumedo of Nobel Elementary School; Anita Aysola of Walter Payton College Preparatory High School; Rosemary Barilla of Sauganash Elementary School; Pamela Barreda of McPherson Elementary School; Becky Benkiser of Mitchell Elementary School; Jessica Bezares of Avondale Elementary School; and Patricia Bonness of Vaughn Occupational High School.

Daniel Caldwell of Northside College Preparatory High School; Elizabeth Campe-Montcalm of Sullivan High School; Paul Carrera of Lane Technical High School; Jennifer Catron of Depriest Elementary School; Holly Clark of Roosevelt School; Jennifer Cline; Alan Demski of Taft High School; Adlin Dominguez of Roque De Duprey Elementary School; Edward Dziedzic of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School; and Catalina Fernandez of Vaughn Occupational High School.

Laura Floyd of Mayer Elementary School; Anna Franczyk; Tiffany Frayer of Moos Elementary School; Mary Galligan of O.A. Thorp Elementary Scholastic Academy; Christopher Gamble of Whitney M. Young Magnet High School; Valerie Gemskie of Walter Payton College Preparatory High School; Donna Goode of Solomon Elementary School; Laurie Green of Bridge Elementary School; Francese Guerrero Borrull of Roosevelt High School; and Samara Guzman of Newberry Elementary Math & Science Academy.

Deidre Habetler of Dever Elementary School; Arthur Helbig of Casals Elementary School; Patricia Jones of Haugan Elementary School; Sarah Kissell; Renee Kreczmer of Sauganash Elementary School; Phyllis Kuziel- Perri of Hitch Elementary School; Wendy Lambie of Gray Elementary School; Joan Leber of Talcott Elementary School; Carrie Lewin of Donoghue Elementary School; and Martin Lombardo of Foreman High School.

Eileen Luciano of Sumner Elementary Math & Science Community Academy; Erin Luzadder of Palatine High School; Katrin Machaj of Lane Technical High School; Dona Maldonado of Hamline Elementary School; Gladys Maldonado of Haugan Elementary School; Martha Maly of Jenner Elementary Academy of The Arts; Mary Martin of Hawthorne Elementary Scholastic Academy; Tricia Mcgann of Sheridan Elementary Math & Science Academy; James Mcintosh of Roosevelt High School; and Traci Meziere of Central Elementary School.

Michelle Nash of Hammond Elementary School; Jennifer Nelson of New Field Elementary School; James Newman of Taft High School; Thomas O'Brien of Flower Career Academy High School; Marguerite O'Connell of Foreman High School; Alicia Peshel of Mitchell Elementary School; Johonna Pollack of Saucedo Elementary Scholastic Academy; Holly Pruett of O.A. Thorp Elementary Scholastic Academy; Ana Romero of Mckinley Park Elementary School; and Selma Saidane of Kellogg Elementary School.

Richard Sasso of Hinsdale South High School; Julianne Soble of Solomon Elementary School; William Spain of Amundsen High School; Darlene Stone of Donoghue Elementary School; Jennifer Trejo of Taft High School; Patrice Turk; Yoni Vallecillo of Senn High School; and Kristen Wilkens of Best Practice High School.

A lot of people have mentioned that in fact this extension will cover the children that presently are in the program. That is half true and half not true. Kids who are on the program will be covered. But if you live in 14 States in the United States, because of the President's executive order, if you live in California, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Washington, kids in those States will actually come off the rolls in August because of the President's executive order. And in those States, the Governors will have to begin to develop plans to notify those kids and their parents because of the President's executive order.

So not all kids who are on the program will actually stay on the program. And that is just a consequence, after passing two bills to give 10 million children health care, two bills with 45 Republicans and 220 plus Democrats here in the House, and 18 Republicans in the Senate and every Democrat in the Senate, we were unable, which is unique around here, but we were unable to get the President to sign this legislation. And so what we couldn't resolve, the American people will resolve in November.

President Kennedy once said, to govern is to choose. We have made our choice, the President and some on your side made your choice, and in November the American people will make their choice. And that is how differences get resolved here. I think we should understand that.

And so, as the President has said, a lot of children will have universal health care in this country because we have an emergency room in hospitals. A lot of kids will end up in emergency rooms that didn't need to go to emergency rooms.

We did right in a bipartisan fashion to get a bill. In my own view, this will be the first thing that the new Democratic President will get done. We don't need March 9. It will get done within

the first month. It will be a major accomplishment for a Democratic Congress, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic President.

Starting this August in those 14 States, kids and their parents that did have health care will be notified they will no longer get health care. Now, there is a consequence to that, because August 2008 is 2 months before the election. And I don't think that is a problem. As a matter of fact, we can't protect the American people from the consequences of the President's decision, and a number of Republicans stand by him. We did right. There was a bipartisan bill to resolve a major problem to give 10 million children health care. We didn't accomplish it. We will be back and we will get it done because the American people deserve and the kids deserve the same health care that their Members of Congress and their kids get. This is what that would have done.

Madam Speaker, the President and the Republican leadership in Congress never miss an opportunity to not miss an opportunity. There was a bipartisan consensus for 10 million children to have health care, and because the President didn't agree with it, he vetoed it.

Now, some people here say that we could have this vote now. We can have this vote in January.

The truth is the real vote will be in November of 2008. Some of us disagreed with the President of the United States on stem cell research. There was an election, and now we have a new Senator from Missouri, we have a new Congressman from Arizona, all because of that issue.

And the real vote, and people don't want to talk about it, say it's political, that's what a democracy is about. And there will be a vote about this, and the American people will vote on this. And those Members of Congress that are happy about denying 10 million children health care will get a chance and an opportunity to explain that vote. Those of us who think it's important will get that.

My own view, I wouldn't want to mix politics with policy, if there's going to be a few less Members who vote against 10 million children because the American people will make a judgment about that. And we shouldn't deny that.

And so I give you credit. You never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. So, remember, some have talked about for 40 days in Iraq you could fund 10 million children's health care. Forty days in Iraq.

President Kennedy once said, ``To govern is to choose.'' Well, you've made your choice. We've made our choice. And the American people in November are going to make their choice.

Will my good friend yield?

Okay. I come from a family. I believe politics is a good thing, because we have differences, and you work them out on election day and the American people make a decision, except for when you do special redistricting. But usually you let it out on election day. And I believe in that. I don't have a problem with that.

It's not about scoring points. There's differences. You don't support this. And I won't go through this. I was in the room when we negotiated this in 1997. When President Clinton proposed this, the Republican leadership at the time, and he said there will be no balanced budget without a children's health insurance program that had eye, dental and pediatric. The Republican leadership said at that point it was welfare. President Clinton said there will be no balanced budget agreement without this. Finally, you guys offered pediatric care but no eye and dental. And then the deal we cut was the SCHIP we have today. And the very flexibility that you oppose that our Governors are exploring was what you demanded back in 1997. But the original children health proposal wasn't a bipartisan agreement. It was President Clinton saying there will be no balanced budget agreement without 6 million children getting their health care. I believe that politics is a good thing, and that's what it proved.

Can I ask the ranking member to yield?

First of all, it wasn't part of welfare reform. Welfare reform had a 1-year transitional for Medicaid. It wasn't part of that, which is a point you made.

Second is, SCHIP was so successful, while the rest of the population actually had an increase in uninsured, the only group in America for the last 7 years that had actually a decrease in the uninsured was children until last year. This is a product of answering the shortcomings between Medicaid and private insurance.

The fact is there have been a million additional children in the last year and a half whose parents work full-time who don't have health care and this would cover.

And to the other point you said, actually there have been Democratic and Republican Governors and principally signed by this President where the adults have come from. This President signed those waivers for Democratic and Republican Governors.

Mr. Speaker, in less than 12 months this Congress will do what previous Congresses have failed to do for 32 years. Today, after 32 years of failure, we can take America's energy policy in a new direction. And that failure was through Democratic Congresses and Republican Congresses alike.

Today this House has the opportunity to pass modern energy legislation that will accomplish a hat trick. It will make our vehicles more fuel efficient, help limit our dependence on foreign oil, and protect our environment, all in one act.

The new fuel efficiency standards will save the American family up to $1,000 a year for gas at the pump.

More importantly, this bill offers us an opportunity to look to the future and prepare for it. Make change an ally, rather than an adversary.

Each and every one of us knows, Democrat and Republican alike, that our Nation consumes too much energy. We know that we are dangerously dependent on an unstable region of the world and we know that this isn't news to anybody here, and we have recognized these facts for years. But when faced with this problem, we, as a country, have turned our back on that problem, hoping it will go away. This legislation allows us to face those challenges head on and prepare for America's future.

Mr. Speaker, the problem will not go a way, and today we have a chance to confront it when faced with the facts and vote to make our Nation more secure, reduce oil consumption, and finally plan for a more energy-independent future.

We can bury our heads in the sand and hope the problem disappears, or we can take action today and prepare for the future and make the challenges of America's future an opportunity for industry, for new jobs, for new businesses and, most importantly, for foreign policy and national security policy that is less dependent on an unstable part of the world.

I am proud that today we are taking action that for 32 years past Congresses failed to meet and challenge. By finally having the fuel efficiency standards that are modern and look to the future, America is taking a step that's important for its security. We will do in 12 months what has failed to have been done for 32 years.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. on his election as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

On November 13th, Cardinal George was elected by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to the position of president during the bishops' November meeting in Baltimore. He is the first cardinal to be elected president or vice president of the conference since 1971. Cardinal George will serve in this position for the next three years.

As President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal George will act as spokesperson for the Roman Catholic Church in America and will represent the U.S. church in meetings at the Vatican. Additionally, Cardinal George will accompany Pope Benedict XVI during his first papal pilgrimage to the U.S.

Prior to his election as president of the conference, Cardinal George served as Vice President since 2004. Cardinal George also served on numerous USCCB committees including Liturgy, Doctrine, Pro-Life Activities, and the sub-committee on lay ministry. Since 1990, he has been Episcopal Moderator and member of the board of the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities.

A Chicago native, Cardinal George has been an exemplary leader for Chicago's Catholic community. He currently serves as the Archbishop of Chicago, a position he was appointed to in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. In January 1998, Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop George's elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals. Cardinal George has been an invaluable asset to Chicago's Catholic Community, and his tenure as Archbishop has been a successful one.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate Cardinal Francis George on his election as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and I wish him the best of luck in his new role.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished career of Commander Charles Dulay of the Chicago Police Department. After 39 years of honorable and dedicated service to the people of Chicago, Commander Dulay will be retiring, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and dedication.

Since assuming control of the 17th Police District in the Albany Park neighborhood, Commander Dulay has been my partner and a valued ally in helping the people of our community.

Commander Dulay began his career with the force as a part of the Special Operations and Tactical Unit, and then spent 14 years as a captain and district watch commander. Mr. Dulay was promoted to the rank of district commander of the 17th Police District on June 1, 2005.

Throughout his career, Commander Dulay's achievement and public service have been recognized by prestigious honors and awards including two department commendations, 35 honorable mentions, and a unit meritorious citation.

Commander Dulay's community commitments also extend far beyond his work for the Chicago Police force. The commander is a member of the Chicago Police Captain's Association, the Asian-American Law Enforcement Association, and National Association of Asian Law Enforcement. An academic, Mr. Dulay, who holds a master of arts in urban studies from Loyola University, also has 14 years of experience as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Morton Community College, where he has taught Introduction to Criminal Justice as well as Criminal Procedure.

Commander Dulay has been married for 36 years to his wife, Diane, and is a grandfather of 2-year-old Tadgh. He has also spent the past 5 years perfecting his own award-winning red wine that he crafts alongside a close friend.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Fifth Congressional District of Illinois and the people of Albany Park, I congratulate Commander Charles J. Dulay on his accomplished career and thank him for his tireless service to the people of Chicago. I wish him the best of luck and continued success in all of his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Alexander Hamilton Elementary School on receiving the 2007 Outstanding School Partnership Award.

Third, fourth, and eighth grade students of Alexander Hamilton were ranked in the top 5 out of 40 schools in their area in several categories. The students that were at or above national norms were as follows: third grade reading--91.7 percent, fourth grade science--87.5 percent, eighth grade math--93.3 percent, and eighth grade composite-- 93.3 percent. The overall combined composite score for third through eighth grades indicated that 80.3 percent of students were at or above national norms.

In recognition of these achievements, Chicago Public School's CEO Arne Duncan and Mayor Richard Daley presented Principal Dr. Mila Strasburg with the 2007 Outstanding School Partnership Award.

Alexander Hamilton Elementary School has a long history of excellence in academic achievement. It has been an Illinois State Board of Education ``Spotlight School'' for several years, a Chicago Public School ``School of Distinction'', and has been recognized by the ``Designs for Change'' for fifteen consecutive years for high student achievement.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate Alexander Hamilton Elementary School on receiving the 2007 Outstanding School Partnership Award and for setting a shining example for our Nation's public schools.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of my good friend, Mike Biondi, and I offer my deepest condolences to his family after his passing last night at the age of 50. Mike's sudden and tragic passing came as a great shock to me, as I had planned to see him early next week, and I hope that we can do as good of a job remembering Mike as he did living an outstanding life that had a positive impact on so many across the country.

Mike was a founding partner at Wasserstein Perella & Co., and rose to become chairman and CEO. I had the honor of working with Mike at Wasserstein, and I am privileged to have been able to call him a friend. Mike took me under his wing during my time at Wasserstein and became my mentor.

While working as an investment banker at Wasserstein Perella & Co., Mike helped establish Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, one of the Nation's largest electric utilities. Mike could literally take credit for helping to keep Chicagoans warm during our coldest winters.

Mike joined First Boston's mergers and acquisitions team after serving as an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He spent the past 4 years at Lazard LLC, where he served as cochairman of investment banking. No matter where he worked, Mike was held in high esteem and widely recognized for his intellectual acumen, wisdom and integrity.

Mike graduated from Dartmouth University where he played on the baseball team. He also received graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Wharton business school. Mike continued to be active with the Dartmouth community and co-chaired the Dartmouth College Fund Committee with his wife Cynthia.

No matter where he went--Dartmouth, Penn, Lazard, Wasserstein--Mike had a profound effect on people. He was not just my mentor or the mentor for others at his firms, but he was also a role model for the people whose lives he touched and a mentor to students both during his time on campus and as an alumnus.

Madam Speaker, Mike was a titan in his field, and a tremendous human being. He is survived by his wife Cynthia, his four sons, Michael Jr., James, William, and Cameron, and his two brothers, Frank and Robert. I extend my deepest condolences and gratitude to his family. We will all miss Mike, and I know that I will never forget the lessons he taught me both in business and in life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Victor H. Cibelli, who passed away on Monday, November 12. I consider myself privileged to call him a friend, and I extend my condolences to his family on their loss.

Vic was a leader. A Navy veteran of the Korean war, he spent decades fighting for veterans as an officer in the VFW, the Jewish War Veterans, and the Combined Veterans Association of Illinois. I was fortunate to be able to rely on Vic for advice on a range of veterans' issues, and he always stood ready to help me organize an event to honor veterans or to promote their causes.

From teaching school children about citizenship and history, to organizing a service to honor the World War II warship Dorchester's four chaplains who gave their lives so others could survive, or running a Patriot's Pen student writing competition, no task was too big or small for Vic to help enrich his community.

People cherished the opportunity to work with Vic, and took pleasure in coming together for a good cause at his invitation. While Vic took the work of improving the lives of veterans and their families seriously, his generosity of spirit and infectious humor made the work enjoyable for him and everyone around him.

Madam Speaker, the Veterans community and the Fifth District of Illinois have lost a great advocate and a true friend. My deepest sympathies go to Vic's widow Mary, to his children and grandchildren. We will all miss him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of former Representative Augustus F. Hawkins. Congressman Hawkins served in this chamber for 28 years, and I offer my condolences to his family and friends after his passing this past weekend at the age of 100.

Congressman Hawkins was dedicated to public service throughout his life. Beginning in 1935 as a California State Representative, he served the people of Los Angeles for 28 years. In 1962, Augustus Hawkins made a monumental breakthrough in civil rights history, becoming the first African-American elected to Congress from the State of California.

During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Congressman Hawkins continued to lead the way for the American Civil Rights Movement. In 1970, he and several of his colleagues joined together to found the Congressional Black Caucus. Then, in just his second term in Congress, he introduced and sponsored Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ground-breaking legislation created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and outlawed discrimination in the workplace based on race.

For over half a century, Congressman Hawkins dedicated his life to our Nation with steadfast dedication, humility, and geniality. In the hearts of the residents of Los Angeles, and anyone who was ever influenced by his presence, Augustus Hawkins' legacy of leadership and courage will remain for years to come. Congressman Hawkins is succeeded by his two stepdaughters, Barbara A. Hammond and Brenda L. Stevenson, and a stepson, Michael A. Taylor. I extend my deepest condolences and gratitude to the family of Congressman Hawkins.