Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1086, a resolution recognizing the designation of May 6 through May 12, 2008 as the National Nurses Week. I commend my colleague Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson for introducing this resolution and am honored to be a cosponsor of the legislation. This is an overdue resolution that recognizes the vital service that nurses provide to health of our citizens.

I need to acknowledge that it is because of the efforts of the nurses that are helping the health care system to survive in its fragile state. It is only fitting that the end of National Nurses Week is the birthday of Florence Nightingale who is the founder of modem nursing that has initiated the blossoming of about 2,500,000 registered nurses in the United States.

I would like to specifically recognize the 190,000 registered nurses in Texas for their unprecedented service tending to the needs of my State. This legislation is a testament to our Nation's ability to honor those that dedicate their lives to humanitarian causes.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution allows everyone to realize the foundational contributions that they have and continue to contribute to everyone. I would like to point out that everyone has interacted with a nurse in their lives and nurses should never be taken for granted.

Not only does this recognition honor the servants of humanity, but also paves the way for inspiration and education for those that aspire to serve in humanitarian needs. Our Nation is facing hardship through the shortage of nurses and medical care is essential to the viability of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, it is imperative for the government to recognize the importance of nurses in our country. I urge my colleagues to wholeheartedly support this resolution and other initiatives to properly recognize National Nurses Week.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1113, ``Celebrating the Role of Mothers in the United States.'' I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska, for introducing this heartfelt legislation.

Mr. Speaker, as a Mother myself, I am extremely proud to stand before you on a day recognizing mothers. Mothers are the strongest link in the family chain. She holds the family together, nurturing both child and husband.

I want to thank my own mother and grandmother for their support over the years. I also want to thank all of the mothers who take care of not only their natural children but also the children in the community, the children in foster care, and children overseas.

The annual number of Texas children in foster care has risen steadily in recent years. In November 2003, there were about 16,000 children in foster care and an additional 5,000 in other care, such as kinship care; 2,146 children were served in emergency shelters and homes; 671 children were served in placements outside the foster care system, such as nursing homes, mental health/mental retardation facilities, hospitals and juvenile justice facilities.

In a study by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees the Department of Family and Protective Services, they stated that Black children stay in foster care significantly longer, are less likely to be reunited with their families, and wait longer for adoption than white or Hispanic children.

They are everybody's children, and nobody's children. They are the forgotten children in the Texas foster care system. Black, White, Hispanic, Asian--they all need the love of a mother, the nurturing of a family, and the support of their community. Some of them find homes with caring foster parents, or in treatment centers with experienced and caring providers. And some do not.

Some foster children have been moved among 30, 40, or even more all- too-temporary ``homes.'' Some have been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused while in the system; some have run away and joined the ranks of the missing. A few have even died at the hands of those entrusted with their care.

The mission of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, DPRS, now called the Department of Family and Protective Services, is to protect the unprotected--children, the elderly and people with disabilities--from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The system responsible for protecting our foster children sometimes is little better than the homes from which they were taken.

Many of these children are not safe, and their futures are uncertain. They didn't ask to be put in foster care, and many endured great suffering before entering the system.

These children need mothers too. They need families. At a time when we are celebrating all that mothers bring, all that grandmothers bring, and all that a real family brings to the upbringing of healthy and successful children; we must remember the children who do not have mothers and we must reach out.

As we near Mother's Day, let me say thank you to all the mothers near and far, in Congress, in my district, and even working in my office. I celebrate you and your children celebrate you. Thank you for all that you do for your children and for the community.

I urge my colleagues to remember not only their mothers but the other women they called mother in their schools, and in their communities. Let's celebrate mothers and H. Res. 1113.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1512, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for compensation to States incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors, introduced by my distinguished colleague from California, Representative Linda Sanchez, of which I am a proud cosponsor.

Mr. Speaker, for over a decade, the States have gone through difficult budgetary times and sometimes the federal government has not done enough to pay its fair share when the States have partnered with it. I am glad H.R. 1512 is a step in the right direction.

The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) was created in 1994 to reimburse States and localities for the arrest, incarceration, and transportation costs associated with criminal aliens. Currently States and localities are only able to be reimbursed for incarcerating criminal aliens who are ``convicted of a felony or two or more misdemeanors'' and be incarcerated for at least four consecutive days.

In 2003, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reinterpreted the SCAAP statute in a way that caused a drastic drop in every State's reimbursement. Now States no longer receive reimbursement unless (1) the criminal alien is convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors; and (2) the arrest and conviction occurred in the same fiscal year.

I commend Congresswoman Sanchez for introducing H.R. 1512, a bipartisan bill which exemplifies the spirit in which we should approach many challenges in the immigration field. H.R. 1512 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act so that States and localities can be reimbursed for the cost of incarcerating aliens who are either ``charged with or convicted'' of a felony or two misdemeanors regardless of the fiscal year of the incarceration and conviction.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that H.R. 1512 has been endorsed by the National Sheriffs' Association and the U.S./Mexico Coalition of Border Counties.

The SCAAP program is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), which is part of DOJ's Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aids BJA in administering the program.

Mr. Speaker, H.R 1512 is an important step toward fulfilling our federal government's obligations to States, many experiencing budgetary pressures, including when partnering with the Federal Government in the immigration field. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1174, the Rule Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5818, the ``Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008'', introduced by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, of California. I would also like to thank Chairman Barney Frank for his leadership on the Financial Services Committee.

As evidenced by the numerous housing and financial services bills introduced this Congress, we are in economic turmoil. I have been concerned over recent developments in the housing and mortgage markets and worked with my colleagues to ensure that not only are my constituents' needs addressed but that all Americans are able to get relief.

Bills such as H.R. 3019, the Expand and Preserve Home Ownership Through Counseling Act by Congresswoman Judy Biggert, and H.R. 3666, the Foreclosure Prevention and Home Ownership Protection Act by Congresswoman Betty Sutton, include sections that speak specifically about foreclosures. These bills would authorize studies on current defaults and foreclosures, as well as possible causes.

I am pleased to support this much needed legislation from fellow Congressional Black Caucus member, Congresswoman Maxine Waters. H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, establishes a loan and grant program, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to help States purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes to stabilize as many properties as possible.

amendment language and purpose

I had offered an amendment to H.R. 5818 that would provide for those who have been struggling to keep up with the rising price of gas, the downturn of the housing market, and the incredible cost of healthcare. My amendment would not exclude from eligibility, individuals and families based solely on credit ratings or their credit histories.

Many individuals and families have credit ratings and histories that are less than required for the most-advantageous lending terms. These individuals should not be faulted for their struggle to make ends meet in these troubling economic times.

They have less than stellar credit due to the financial stress they have experienced trying to save their home from foreclosure. As a result, they have marred their credit. Families who have struggled to decide between paying their mortgage or paying for healthcare, families who have struggled to balance their need for shelter with their need for food are rarely able to maintain a credit score that qualifies them for a basic credit card, let alone a home or rental property.

At least 50 percent of the grant money must be targeted to house families at or below 50 percent of AMI, and not less than half of this money must target families at or below 30 percent of AMI. Most of the people covered under this bill and at these income levels will not qualify if it is not clearly stated that they can be considered even with less than stellar credit.

This bill already gives preference to homeless persons, but I ask you, how many homeless people will qualify under this program if we do not make it clear that States can and should consider them even with credit histories that are not perfect. My amendment may appear to state the obvious in the preferences sections, but it adds clarity to the Act and I believe is necessary to ensure that ALL Americans are truly aided by this bill.

Madam Speaker, I will be happy to engage my good friend from Alabama and both of us go to the Department of Justice, the SEC and begin to file legal action against the unscrupulous investors on Wall Street who took these mortgages knowing that they had a cheap deal. If he will join me, we will walk down to the Department of Justice right now to get the Attorney General to begin filing major litigation against these scandalous, unscrupulous individuals, if that's what he would like to do.

But right now on the floor of the House we have major legislation that is going to address the question of the suffering of Americans. And I'm going to take this brief opportunity to acknowledge the bill sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Congresswoman Waters, on H.R. 5818. We've passed the rule, but I want to support the underlying premise that once we get through with the major reconstruction, that the bill that we are now discussing and the rule that we're now discussing, we will have $15 billion to go into these communities and be able to buy back these properties and to take them off of the streets and to make sure that low-income individuals that need affordable houses, families that are broken because of the foreclosure scandal will be able to get back into their community. This is good legislation.

Now, as we move forward on the FHA stabilization on the Senate amendments that we're now discussing, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, let us put this in the right perspective. We lost 20,000 jobs in April. We have the bailouts of corporate America everywhere you can see. Airlines are merging, Bear Stearns got $42 billion or more to bail them out, and yet my good friends on the other side of the aisle are not interested in having us do things that the President wants us to do.

He wants us to have, if you will, the government sponsored enterprise reform. He wants us to fix Freddie Mac. He wants us to fix Fannie Mae. He wants to make sure that we provide for disabled veterans. He wants us to be able to invest in the important housing matters, and he wants to make sure that we put Americans back in their houses and put them right side up.

We're not in a recession; we're moving towards a 1929 depression. And I don't know why the other side cannot wake up. This is a good rule for a good bill.

As we make this march toward passing this legislation, I hope that we will also include that those who have lost good credit ratings because they suffered a foreclosure will be able to get back into the good credit rating by being eligible for these programs. Let us not punish those that fell victim to foreclosure because of unscrupulous practices that we're fighting against and their credit score went down to keep them from getting another house. Let's make sure we work that out. That is an idea and an amendment that I have, and I look forward to working with the committee so that as we move forward, we can get this done.

Again, if you can bail out Tom, Dick and Harry, you can at least bail out Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Smith and Mr. Garcia, because these are the hardworking Americans. I stand with them.

Let them stand with the big, rich guys all the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1175, the Rule Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3221, the ``American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008.''

I am pleased to support this much needed Housing and Urban Development legislation, to help States purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes to stabilize as many properties as possible.

All Americans--homeowners, lenders, communities--indeed our entire economy is worse off when a foreclosure occurs and when significant quantities of homes are foreclosed in a short amount of time.

H.R. 3221 responds directly to the current crisis facing middle class Americans while providing the tools to prevent a repeat of these problems. Modernizing the FHA and reforming the Government Sponsored Entities, GSEs, will provide crucial liquidity to our mortgage markets now, and also strengthen regulation and oversight for the future.

This legislation will begin to repair not bailout the economy, restoring confidence in the markets, limiting the damage to families and neighborhoods, and rejuvenating the communities with new affordable housing.

Texas

There are five steps in the foreclosure process: Step 1: delinquency; Step 2: Notice to cure, where the lender notifies borrower of delinquency and gives him 20 days to amend the problem; Step 3: Default notice and posting--in Texas, foreclosure sales occur on the first Tuesday of the month; Step 4: Foreclosure sale--if borrower is unable to cure default, the property is sold; and Step 5: Active foreclosure.

While there are five steps there are only two stages: Preforeclosure and active foreclosure. In looking at those two stages we see where Texas stands. Last year, Texas ranks fourth behind California, Florida, and Illinois in preforeclosures. Active foreclosures are foreclosed properties sold at auction and now in the lenders' real estate owned accounts. Texas held the top seat in 2007 for active foreclosures. While being number one is something Texans usually strive for, in this case we'd prefer to be much farther down the list.

Texas reported 13,829 properties entering some stage of foreclosure in April, a 16 percent increase from the previous month and the most foreclosure filings reported by any State. The State documented the Nation's third highest State combined foreclosure rate--one foreclosure filing for every 582 households.

Dallas County documented the most new foreclosure filings of any county in the region and a foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 320 households, an 18 percent increase from the previous month.

Texas and what HUD is Doing

In March, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD, announced the Texas State Program and the cities of Houston and New Braunfels will receive a total of $234,868,077 to support community development and produce more affordable housing. HUD's annual funding will also provide downpayment assistance to first-time homebuyers; assist individuals and families who might otherwise be living on the streets; and offer real housing solutions for individuals with HIV/

Will the gentleman yield?

Were you referring to my remarks? I have great respect for the gentleman. I assume that he was not suggesting that I am a liar.

I would appreciate not having the words drawn down, but I am yielding to the gentleman to just correct the record.

But are you calling me a liar?

Well, I am just asking you if you are calling me a liar. If the gentleman will yield.

Is the gentleman calling me a liar on the floor of the House?

Is the gentleman calling me a liar?

Madam Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

I thank the gentleman and I thank him for his leadership.

We will address the question of our differences when we vote and when I review the transcript, but I think it's important to note that my words spoke directly to conditions that we're in, that is, a recession that might move toward a depression.

And I thank the gentleman from Georgia who mentioned from the Joint Economic Committee, Americans have much of their savings in their homes. Families in a majority of States will lose more than $2.6 trillion. That sounds like a recession and a depression to me.

A housing crisis affects the broader economy. We're going to be losing $166 billion in foreclosures. We have got to act.

And so we may have a difference, but there is no lying or untruth when we talk about a recession and a depression, and I know my good friend from Texas did not intend to misrepresent that those of us who have a difference of opinion, while we're on this floor to help save the homes of millions of Americans and to help provide engine to the economic activity, are wrong.

We're right and the documentation shows it, and it is not an untruth, and it certainly is not a lie.

I ask unanimous consent to support this very important amendment by the gentleman from Ohio and as well to enthusiastically support the $15 billion for reclaiming our homes.

With that, I offer to submit my statement for the Record.

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5818, the ``Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008,'' introduced by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, of California. I would also like to thank Chairman Barney Frank for his leadership on the Financial Services Committee. I also support the Kucinich amendment to ensure accurate vacancy statistics.

I find it interesting that we are okay with a bailout of Bear Stearns, the fifth largest investment firm in the amount of 42 million dollars; however we cannot support assistance to the American Homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage, fill up at the pump, and get quality healthcare.

General Introduction

As evidenced by the numerous housing and financial services bills introduced this Congress, we are in economic turmoil. I have been concerned over recent developments in

the housing and mortgage markets and worked with my colleagues to ensure that all Americans are able to get assistance.

Legislation such as H.R. 3019, the Expand and Preserve Home Ownership through Counseling Act and H.R. 3666, the Foreclosure Prevention and Home Ownership Protection Act, include sections that speak specifically about foreclosures. They authorize studies on current defaults and foreclosures, as well as possible causes.

However, H.R. 5818 provides for action. H.R. 5818 establishes a 15 billion dollar loan and grant program for the purchase and rehabilitation of owner-vacated, foreclosed homes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will make the allocations to the States; 7.5 billion of the funds would be for loans, and 7.5 billion for grants.

Beyond negotiating with the mortgage company, Americans need to know they have options. Sometimes it is the mortgage company who has given them a bad loan; H.R. 5818 offers some relief to individuals and families who need help, beyond their personal lender.

Mr. Speaker, today, we were discussing very important legislative initiatives dealing with the Neighborhood Stabilization Act that would give $15 billion to reclaim foreclosed homes, and an important legislative initiative, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act that would revise a number of the GSEs like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, all to help the American people.

In my discussion on the floor of the House, I indicated that we are moving

toward a recession and a depression. The gentleman who was then managing the rule, H. Res. 1175, indicated that we as Democrats must stop telling untruths. To that I asked the gentleman whether or not he was calling me a liar.

I wish to read into the Record that when that inquiry was made, the gentleman responded, as I said, I assume that he was not suggesting that I am a liar. The gentleman said ``I did not suggest that at all.''

It is important to note that America is suffering. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people a day are filing for foreclosures and that consumer confidence is down. We are moving toward a recession and maybe a depression.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 24 minutes p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, May 8, 2008, at 10 a.m.

May 1, just last Thursday, was the fifth anniversary of the famous words, ``Mission Accomplished.'' What a tragedy, when April was the most deadliest month in Iraq that we have seen in a number of months.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the administration to recognize that this unending war must end. And in the backdrop of a newspaper article that suggests that the administration is looking at a $500 million development of hotels and restaurants and amusement parks in Baghdad, I ask the administration, do they get it? That's why it's important for us to support an amendment in the emergency supplemental that says we will bring our troops home with honor. This will go into effect one month after this legislation is passed.

Seven months, deadliest, April, troops dying. This kind of war cannot be an unending war. And so we refuse to give more blank checks to Iraq. We thank our soldiers on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan, the war we should win. Bring our troops home with honor. Vote for this amendment. And let's not focus on a $500 million development of hotels and restaurants in Iraq--what are we thinking about?--Let's bring the troops home!

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4279, the ``Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO-IP) Act of 2007.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this legislation. I am confident that working together we can address and strengthen criminal and civil enforcement of United States intellectual property law.

The purpose of H.R. 4279 is to strengthen criminal and civil enforcement of United States intellectual property law focusing, in particular, on copyright violations (piracy) and trademark violations (counterfeiting). In addition, the PRO-IP Act seeks to modernize and improve U.S. government efforts for coordination and enforcement of our nation's IP laws.

The knowledge and innovation of American citizens contributes significantly to the economic strength of our nation. Intellectual property law provides the principal incentives that are calculated to lead to the creation and production of new works. This bill is needed because the effect of piracy and counterfeiting on the economy is devastating. Total global losses to United States companies from counterfeiting and copyright piracy amount to $250 billion per year. Every company in every industry is vulnerable.

Because these illegal activities represent a growing public health, safety and law enforcement problem, H.R. 4279 provides additional targeted resources for investigation, enforcement and prosecution; requires the development and promulgation of a national Joint Strategic Plan to combat counterfeiting and piracy; and provides for enhanced Presidential level leadership and coordination among federal agencies involved with preserving and protecting intellectual property rights.

Title I of H.R. 4279 provides enhancements to civil intellectual property laws. Specifically, Title I makes it clear that a certificate of registration will satisfy registration requirements regardless of whether there is any inaccurate information on the registration application, unless the inaccurate information was included with knowledge that it was inaccurate.

Title I also broadens the civil remedies for infringement by broadening the scope of articles that may be ordered impounded by the court upon a finding that the article was made or used in violation of a copyright. This Title also directs the court to enter a protective order to ensure that confidential information is not improperly disclosed.

Title II provides enhancements to criminal intellectual property laws by addressing repeat offender penalties for criminal acts contained within the criminal copyright statute. Title II clarifies that a repeat offender is a person that commits the same criminal act twice. The bill clarifies that any property subject to forfeiture must be owned or predominantly controlled by the violator in order to be seized and directs the United States Sentencing Commission to consider whether the sentencing guidelines should be expanded to include the export of infringing items. There are enhanced maximum statutory penalties for counterfeit offenses that endanger public health and safety.

Title III of H.R. 4279 provides greater coordination and strategic planning of federal efforts against counterfeiting and piracy. Specifically, this Title establishes within the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative and, within that Office, the United

States Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative, appointed by the President of the United States. Lastly, Titles IV and V provide international, national, and local enforcement.

The bill has several important enforcement provisions that are worthy to discuss. First, it places a 45-day time limit on the Register of Copyrights' response to a court. Second, it strikes the section allowing for multiple statutory damages for compilation infringement. Third, it clarifies that there must be a substantial nexus between the property and the crime to institute civil forfeiture proceedings. Lastly, it removes the requirements for Federal Bureau of Investigation agents to receive IP related crime training.

While I support the bill, I would have liked to consider ways to ensure diversity in the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (CHIPs) units that are established by this bill. I would have liked to work to ensure that minorities be represented in hiring and that special recruitment initiatives be launched at historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions. We should do all within our efforts to guarantee that minorities receive the necessary training and be recruited to help in the IP enforcement at the Executive, State, and local levels.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4279 is a first step toward the promotion of the American economy. It ensures that American innovation will remain crucial to the United States economy and that American innovation will allow the United States to remain a global economic power. Indeed, this bill ensures that the United States IP laws are enforced and that the American intellectual property system remains one of the best in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all members to support this much needed and thoughtful legislation.

I thank the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary Committee; the distinguished chairman on the Foreign Affairs Committee; and our distinguished ranking member, who has joined us in a very important and historic step that is being made on the floor of the House today. And I appreciate my good friend from Iowa, who has given us a global overview.

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleagues that this is a pointed and focused legislative initiative, along with the leadership of Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, that we have gotten to a point that is long overdue. My good friend, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and Congressman Don Payne are part of those who initiated this effort. And it is pointedly to focus on really what we would call heroes, fighters against apartheid in South Africa, who shed their blood so that South Africa could be the reconciled nation that it is today. President Mbeki; former President Mandela, ``Father Mandela,'' as he is called; and many of the seniors who are now in their retiring years, who, when they come to the United States, are detained, interrogated, and embarrassed by our own treatment of these heroes, this goes to the very point of the expanded use in the United States of the word ``terrorism'' and the utilization of it by preventing innocent people, people who have been heroes, to come into this country. This is not necessarily a strict immigration bill. It is people who are coming into the country legally, but because they have been freedom fighters, somewhat the way that Dr. Martin Luther King stood nonviolently for rights here in this country, these individuals had to be in the midst of an encounter, if you will, to provide the safety and security for their people.

This particular legislation is an important step forward. But I might suggest to my colleagues that I hope that on the floor today we are making a legislative statement and providing legislative history so that the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State or the State Department will not dillydally around, because, unlike the previous legislation, this does not order it to be done; it gives those departments the discretion for it to be done, as they have requested. So we are entrusting to them this noble responsibility to do well by Father Mandela, to do well by former President Mbeki, and we need to ensure that we do the right thing. And as we look to give this country a different face on terrorism, let us likewise be assured that we recognize that there are other groups that are similarly situated that we should take a look at.

So I rise to support this legislation, Mr. Speaker, because it is an important step forward. It does give the ability to admit these individuals but also to renew the stigma, if you will, of the name of ``terrorists'' because they were freedom fighters to save and preserve and to free South Africans so that they too might live in a democracy. That is what this legislation does, and I appreciate all of the hard work that has gone on.

I close by simply saying, good day for the freedom fighters of South Africa and the ANC; good day for Father Mandela, who led the fight on reconciliation and peace, along with Bishop Tutu. Good day for all of them as we stand here acknowledging that they are heroes, freedom fighters fighting for democracy and equality.

To the Secretary of State, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, act now once this bill has passed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your leadership in convening today's markup on H.R. 5690. I support this bill and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

This bill recognizes that the ANC is a nearly 100-year-old party that was created in 1912 to advocate for the rights of black South Africans. It also recognizes that the white Afrikaner government took control of South Africa

in 1948 and at the same time instituted its system of de jure apartheid, which had the effect of disenfranchising millions of non- white Africans. The ANC joined with other groups to engage in civil disobedience and it was banned in 1960 by the South African Government. Although the ANC was banned, it led the resistance effort against apartheid in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Between 1990 and 1994, the ANC negotiated with the South African Government for the end of apartheid and the enfranchisement of black South Africans. In 1994, the ANC became a registered political party and Nelson Mandela was elected to be the first black president.

Since the recognition of the ANC as a legitimate political party, several prominent black South Africans have been denied visas to enter the United States on the basis that they were considered to be inadmissible under the INA because they were members of a terrorist group. Nelson Mandela were considered inadmissible under this same law. In the past the Department of State has provided waivers to ANC leaders to enter the United States.

H.R. 5690 would remove certain affected persons from certain U.S. databases. The bill provides that the Secretary of State, Attorney General, Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the FBI, and the Director of National Intelligence, shall take steps to update the database concerning admissible persons. The bill provides that the ANC is not treated as a terrorist organization for any act occurring on or before the enactment of the act. The bill still leaves the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security with the discretion to deny people entry. Importantly, the bill does not deny present and former members of the ANC admission to the U.S. on the basis of their membership in or affiliation with the ANC or for any apartheid activities occurring from 1948 to 1990.

This bill is long overdue. The ANC has been recognized as a legitimate political party since 1994. There is no reason to treat members of that organization as a terrorist threat. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. My only concern is that the bill singles out the ANC but does not go further in clearing other political parties that were outlawed during the apartheid era from treatment as terrorist organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 493, ``The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)''. I would like to thank my colleague Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter, from NewYork, for introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor committees for their leadership in this highly contentious and complex health issue.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) would restrict health insurers' Title I, and employer's Title II, acquisition and use of genetic information in several ways. It is also supported by consumer groups, the medical profession, researchers, the medical products industry and pharmaceutical companies.

Since the first bills were introduced in the 103d Congress, many of the arguments and positions supporting and opposing genetic nondiscrimination legislation have remained largely unchanged. The simple fact is without protection, people are apprehensive about seeking potentially beneficial genetic services or participating in much needed clinical research.

Alex Haley, the gifted author of Roots, stated on the front page of his book that ``In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage--to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainment in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness and the most disquieting loneliness.''

When author Alex Haley revealed his Roots in the late 1970s, everyone in the Nation, it seemed, wondered about their own great- great-great-grandparents. As a result, the genealogical quest fever spread, particularly among African Americans.

It took Haley more than a decade to trace back several generations, but as most Black people realize, not many of similar heritage will be able to unearth their lineage even that soon. That's because few, if any, reliable records of the centuries-long Atlantic slave trade remain to help in the search. That's what became all too apparent to rheumatologist Dr. Paul Plotz in 1992, when ``a chance occurrence'' pointed his research on a rare muscle disorder to West Africa and ``the greatest undocumented migration of modern times.''

As Haley pointed out, people have an inherent interest in knowing their heritage. Our investment in modern science, specifically the

Human Genome Project, is poised not only to reveal medical truths about ourselves and our potential for health, but also to help us make that connection to our past.

While some of my colleagues are focused that GINA will provide further incentives and additional opportunities for litigation against employers, they seem to forget the very real concern of individual protections. In an age where electronic databases are easily tampered with and private information is passed around like a bad cold, we must focus on the rights of individuals and their families when dealing with such a complex and contentious issue.

At a time when we want people to seek out preventative care and gain greater health literacy, we want to ensure them that they are safe and big brother is not selling their detailed information to the highest bidder.

Researchers at Penn State University have stated that from a medical viewpoint, African genetic diversity is important in understanding genetic diseases of African Americans and for finding treatment methods for contagious diseases that originated in Africa. These researchers have said that if they could identify the genetic changes that provided this protection, then they might be able to find treatment methods for the diseases.

These revolutionary discoveries are due to a diverse group of people feeling secure enough with their doctors, nurses, and health insurance companies that they participate in genetic testing and research studies.

We exclaim that we want better health care, greater incidence of prevention, better understanding of current diseases, and most importantly more cures to the illnesses of Americans. This is what genetic testing and research can do. If we allow employers and health insurance companies manipulate the data to further restrict Americans' access to quality care, then we should not support this bill.

However, if we are for access to quality health care, if we are for greater understanding of infectious diseases and mutations, if we are for privacy protections in medical records and payment systems . . . then we must give our full support to this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your leadership in the area of health care access. This is yet one more area that allows us to support an individual's right to care without fear of retribution by increased health insurance payments or even worse, denial of care altogether. Vote in support of Access, Understanding, and Privacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H. Res. 1011, calling on the United States Government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in Chad, as well as in the wider region that includes the northern region of the Central African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan, introduced by my distinguished colleague from Virginia, Representative Wolf. This timely and important legislation, of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor, not only calls on the governments of Chad and the Central African Republic to fulfill their obligations under international law to protect civilians, but also calls upon the President of the United States to continue humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons in the region.

While regional conflicts have proven substantive and continuous, the internal politics of Chad are by no means a beacon of stability and democracy. Since reaching independence in 1960, Chad has been consistently riddled with internal conflicts and civil wars. Unfortunately, despite American assistance to the government, the State Department reported that the last elections were, ``orderly, but seriously flawed,'' as well as stating in the most recent Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices that, ``the [Chadian] government's poor human rights record deteriorated further.'' The situation within Chad is even more precarious when one considers that the United Nations estimates that Chad is home to some 240,000 refugees from Darfur, 52,000 refugees from the Central African Republic, and more than 180,000 internally displaced people. In February 2008 alone, over 12,000 new refugees from Darfur entered the country.

Mr. Speaker, in the past three years, as fighting between the government and rebels increased, 180,000 Chadians have been displaced, adding to the inflow of 290,000 refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) and Sudan's Darfur region. Although the government developed a plan for reform, and signed a peace agreement with rebel groups in 2007, the conflict has not ceased. In February 2008, rebel forces, supported by the neighboring Sudanese government, sought to remove President Idriss Deby from power, killing hundreds of civilians in the process. Despite the United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1778, authorizing a multidimensional presence intended to help create the security conditions necessary for reconstruction and social and economic development, this has not been the case. While the United States has provided over $338 million in humanitarian assistance since 2004 and also provides security assistance to the Chadian army through the International Military Education and Training (IMET) funds, there is still much more that needs to be done.

This resolution is both timely and imperative because it calls on the United States to work harder to develop and implement a sound strategy to protect and assist Chadians and other refugees, and, together with the international community, condemn Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the National Congress for their support of the armed rebellion. A further destabilization in Chad will lead to wider regional instability and hinder the United States' counter-terrorism capabilities in a very sensitive region.

By calling on the President of the United States to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in the Chad and the Central African Republic and provide support to strengthen the rule of law, democratic institutions, and respect for human rights, this legislation works to not only alleviate suffering in the short term, but also prevent them from occurring in the long term. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 317: Condemning Burma's Undemocratic Constitutional Referendum, introduced by my colleague Congressman Holt, which I am proud to cosponsor. I would like to thank the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs for bringing this important legislation to the floor today, as well as his ongoing leadership on this issue.

Last year, we witnessed the biggest protests in Burma since the popular uprising in 1988. Initially triggered by a sharp and unexpected increase in fuel, last September's protests, known as the Saffron Resolution, became a statement against the government attacks on Buddhist monks attending a peaceful protest in early September. Following the government's failure to apologize for these appalling actions, Burma's spiritual and nonviolent monks began protesting in large numbers. Burma's monks are highly revered, and have historically played a prominent role in political protests within the country. They form the social foundation of their nation, and it is extremely significant that tens of thousands of monks participated in the recent demonstrations.

The events of last September illustrated the Burmese military regime's ongoing repression of basic human rights. The military has, for many years, ignored the democratic aspirations of the Burmese people, perhaps best seen in the ongoing restrictions on prominent pro- democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party won a landslide electoral victory in 1990 but has never been allowed to govern. In addition, the regime is squandering Burma's natural resources, with proceeds going to the military and its weapons, instead of to the people of Burma, the overwhelming majority of whom live in poverty.

Military-run enterprises continue to control key sectors of the Burmese economy, which, in general, is plagued by corruption, severe mismanagement, and a flourishing black market. Burma is the world's largest exporter of teak, as well as a principal source of jade, pearls, rubies, and sapphires. These resources, combined with extremely fertile soil and offshore oil and gas deposits, are spent in ways that only benefit the military elite why the vast bulk of the Burmese people are increasingly destitute.

Mr. Speaker, this repressive government is now planning a May 10th referendum, which will have the effect of institutionalizing these policies through a sham constitution. The military regime in Burma is attempting to give

democratic legitimacy to a process, controlled from start to finish by the Burmese military, which is anything but democratic. A true democracy benefits the people; this referendum will only benefit the Burmese military.

The legislation that we are considering today, H. Con. Res. 317, calls on the Administration, the United Nations, and the international community to support legitimate, inclusive dialogue between the regime and opposition forces. It denounces the regime's one-sided, undemocratic attempt to legalize military rule with the constitution and its related referendum, and insists that Burma's military regime begin a meaningful tri-partite dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, winners of the 1990 election, and ethnic nationality representatives toward full restoration of democracy and internationally recognized human rights for all Burmese citizens. Further, it urges the President to call for the U.N. Security Council not to recognize the constitution and to pass a resolution instructing the Burmese regime to enter into meaningful dialogue, and to push for a comprehensive U.N. Security Council arms embargo against the Burmese military regime.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is an unambiguous call for truly inclusive, tripartite dialogue. Burma possesses one of the most ancient, rich, and ethnically and religiously diverse cultures on earth. Like the indomitable Aung San Suu Kyi, the opposition leader democratically elected to lead the nation in 1990 but who instead has been imprisoned for 12 of the last 18 years, the people of Burma are resilient and draw strength from their convictions and the diversity of their nation. Only through such international negotiation can we hope to put Burma back on the path to peace and prosperity. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important and timely legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 493, ``The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, GINA.'' I would like to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter, from New York for introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank my colleagues on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor committees for their leadership in this highly contentious and complex health issue.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, GINA, would restrict health insurers' (Title I) and employers' (Title II) acquisition and use of genetic information in several ways. It is also supported by consumer groups, the medical profession, researchers, the medical products industry and pharmaceutical companies.

Since the first bills were introduced in the 103rd Congress, many of the arguments and positions supporting and opposing genetic nondiscrimination legislation have remained largely unchanged. The simple fact is without protection, people are apprehensive about seeking potentially beneficial genetic services or participating in much needed clinical research.

Alex Haley, the gifted author of Roots, stated on the front page of his book that ``In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage--to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainment in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness and the most disquieting loneliness.''

When author Alex Haley revealed his Roots in the late 1970's, everyone in the Nation, it seemed, wondered about their own great- great-great grandparents. As a result, the genealogical quest fever spread, particularly among African Americans.

It took Haley more than a decade to trace back several generations, but as most Black people realize, not many of similar heritage will be able to unearth their lineage even that soon. That's because few, if any, reliable records of the centuries-long Atlantic slave trade remain to help in the search. That's what became all too apparent to rheumatologist Dr. Paul Plotz in 1992, when ``a chance occurrence'' pointed his research on a rare muscle disorder to West Africa and ``the greatest undocumented migration of modern times.''

As Haley pointed out, people have an inherent interest in knowing their heritage. Our investment in modern science, specifically the Human Genome Project, is poised not only to reveal medical truths about ourselves and our potential for health, but also to help us make that connection to our past.

While some of my colleagues are focused that GINA will provide further incentives and additional opportunities for litigation against employers, they seem to forget the very real concern of individual protections. In an age where electronic databases are easily tampered with and private information is passed around like a bad cold, we must focus on the rights of individuals and their families when dealing with such a complex and contentious issue.

At a time when we want people to seek out preventative care and gain greater health literacy, we want to ensure them that they are safe and big brother is not selling their detailed information to the highest bidder.

Researchers at Penn State University have stated that from a medical viewpoint, African genetic diversity is important in understanding genetic diseases of African Americans and for finding treatment methods for contagious diseases that originated in Africa. These researchers have said that if they could identify the genetic changes that provided this protection, then they might be able to find treatment methods for the diseases.

These revolutionary discoveries are due to a diverse group of people feeling secure enough with their doctors, nurses, and health insurance companies that they participate in genetic testing and research studies.

We exclaim that we want better health care, greater incidences of prevention, better understanding of current diseases, and most importantly more cures to the illnesses of Americans. This is what genetic testing and research can do. If we allow employers and health insurance companies to manipulate the data to further restrict American's access to quality care, then we should not support this bill.

However, if we are for access to quality health care, if we are for greater understanding of infectious diseases and mutations, if we are for privacy protections in medical records and payment systems . . . then we must give our full support to this bill.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for your leadership in the area of health care access, this is yet one more area that allows us to support an individual's right to care without fear of retribution by increased health insurance payments or even worse, denial of care altogether. Vote in support of access, understanding, and privacy.