Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud the efforts of Mr. Albert Blitstein and the Mitzvah Corps of Stone Gardens in Menorah Park who decided to commemorate the Holocaust with a living memorial. With donations from Mr. Blitstein's children and the residents of Stone Gardens, a memorial consisting of six weeping cherry trees representing the six million men, women, and children of the Jewish faith who perished during the Holocaust, was planted in a peaceful and reflecting setting.

A published author, Mr. Blitstein provided the quote that was placed on the commemorative plaque:

This living memorial is dedicated to the six million Jews

who died in the Holocaust. It is to verify that we will never

forget them. The six living trees planted in their memory are

called weeping cherry trees. Although six decades have passed

since the Holocaust, we still weep for them.

I join with the residents of the Stone Gardens, family, friends and the Stone Garden Mitzvah Corps in dedicating the Stone Gardens Holocaust Memorial. As a world community may we never forget the lives of those who died and may their memories never stray far from our minds as we affirm that we will never forget.

On behalf of the United States Congress and the residents of the Eleventh Congressional District, Ohio, I salute the Stone Gardens Mitzvah Corps for their dedication and generosity in the construction of this great memorial. May the Stone Gardens Holocaust Memorial be a lasting reminder and a living tribute to those who perished in one of the world's greatest tragedies.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2707 which acknowledges the necessity to continue funding the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. Reflecting upon the nearly four hundred years of slavery, another century and a half of severe violations of American civil rights and continued hardship experienced by minorities everywhere, I feel that this measure warrants our support. The time has come for tolerance and understanding to triumph over racism and bigotry.

Our society is one that was formed by those who sought and dared to believe in freedom. Though these individuals committed transgressions of their own, they set the cornerstone for a union of states based on eminent documents and progressive ideals. Just to whom the notions of liberty, prosperity and happiness applied, would have to be settled in an undiplomatic nature, yet thankfully and virtuously the rights of all men prevailed. Before the Compromise of 1820 was agreed upon, a network now known as the Underground Railroad began to take form between those that wanted to gain and to give the ability to live freely.

Now legally armed with the rights and privileges endowed to all men and women, we find our society struggling to remain committed to not only remembering the plight of those who struggled to gain their freedom but what freedom explicitly implies. The struggle of protecting one's civil rights and the capability to act in one's best interests now faces our nation. We have developed as a people but must not stop or even slow our progression forward. The themes of our Founding Fathers must ring in our ears and our souls as loudly today as they did through the fights for our national and personal independence.

This legislation provides continued support for organizations such as the National Underground Freedom Center and the magnificent professionals who are dedicated to improving our community through education. I would like to thank my colleagues for their time and continued support for this institution of which I am proud to have been an original co-sponsor of its founding legislation back in 1999. This leg insures that The Underground Freedom Center and other institutions of the like will continue to educate and inspire generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Protection Act. And for the Record, I want to compliment the Chair, Mr. Rangel; the ranking member, Mr. Stark; and the staff of the Ways and Means Committee for all of their hard work, because I was one of those at the table battling on behalf of a whole lot of people.

This piece of legislation will be critically important to children. But while expanding access to health care for children is my key focus, I remain watchful of the provisions that could have adversely affected persons with end-stage renal disease. I'm pleased that there are provisions in the bill that will help measure and, hopefully, reduce racial and ethnic disparities in kidney care, bolster the health and health care of our low-income seniors and protect our Nation's hardworking health providers.

As I have said many times before, the CHAMP Act is an example of a socially responsible and medically appropriate health policy that will improve the health and well-being of our Nation's most vulnerable residents.

I call upon all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, the House Ways and Means Democrats have put our nose to the grindstone and produced a well-balanced piece of legislation that will ultimately provide necessary and much improved care for both children and seniors.

Along with providing health care to 11 million children, including five million who currently lack health insurance, it eliminates pending physician cuts in 2008 and 2009 and enacts a positive .5 percent increase in both years, providing for stability in reimbursement and ensuring that beneficiaries can continue to see the doctor of their choice. Additionally, the legislation expands preventive benefits including mental health services and physical, occupational and speech therapies, and reduces costs for seniors, people with disabilities and low incomes.

Some of the most encouraging provisions of this legislation relate to health disparities. The legislation provides both incentives and instructions to our national health care providers on addressing the critical and debilitating phenomenon of health care disparities in the minority community. For the first time we identify, codify and target health care disparities with a goal toward eradicating these problems. Additionally, the bill proposes significant changes to the treatment of patients in End Stage Renal Disease and I have proposed a study on its impact on the African American community. Through this study we will learn how best to provide this most critical service to some of the nation's most vulnerable patients.

I am pleased that we were able to secure a Medicare waiver for the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospital Health Systems that will

allow them to provide immediate care to Medicare patients upon operation.

While I do have some concerns regarding provisions regarding wheel- chair access, oxygen and imaging services, I am confident that as we move toward enhancing our healthcare systems that these issues will be adequately addressed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th anniversary of Pierre's Ice Cream Shop. Pierre's Ice Cream Company was founded in the Cleveland area and has been a family-owned business since 1932.

Pierre's founder, Alexander ``Pierre'' Basset was the inventor of the original recipe for their delicious gourmet ice cream. Three quarters of a century later, Pierre's Ice Cream Company continues to uphold a standard of excellence in customer service and quality products.

It did not take long for Sol Roth, the owner of the Cleveland based Royal Ice Cream Company to recognize the value, uniqueness, and potential of Pierre's Ice Cream Shop. As time progressed, country clubs, restaurants, and other gourmet venues began marketing Pierre's brand of ice cream. In 1960, Roth acquired Pierre's Ice Cream Company and dedicated all of his resources to displaying and expanding its special recipe.

In 1979, Roth requested his daughter Shelley to assist him with the business. In 1991, Shelley Roth became the president and chief executive of the company, overseeing 125 employees, the production, and distribution of more than 235 kinds of ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, frozen yogurt, and novelties.

In 1995, Pierre's built a contemporary 40,000 square foot distribution center and 16,000 square foot office headquarters on the land it originally purchased in Cleveland, Ohio. Sol passed away in 2005; however, his daughter Shelley continues Pierre's outstanding legacy today.

On behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional District, I wish to commend Pierre's Ice Cream Company on their 75th anniversary. Their existence is a true testament to family values and dedication, and the continuing legacy of the American dream.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 180, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 of which I am a co-sponsor.

Three years ago last week, Congress formally declared that genocide was taking place in Darfur. For many years now we have seen the devastating atrocities taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. With the support of the Sudanese Government, the Janjaweed militia has ravaged the people of Darfur, raping, torturing, murdering, and forcing hundreds of thousand of Darfuris to flee to refugee camps in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic.

It is time that we begin to put in place legislation that will end this genocide. This legislation supports state, city, and university efforts to divest funds from, or restrict investments in, companies that conduct business operations in Sudan. This is a positive first step in achieving this goal.

We saw the same devastation in Rwanda over a decade ago, and the American people have made their voices heard on this issue vowing never again to remain silent when humanity is threatened.

A few months ago, an event was held in my congressional district regarding this issue. During the event it was noted that according to www.darfurscores.com I was receiving a grade of ``C'' in my support of ending the genocide in Darfur. While it may appear on the surface that I have not been supportive of these efforts, it is important that you know I am in total support of ending the genocide in Darfur.

I along with many of my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues including Donald Payne and Barbara Lee were some of the first members of Congress to speak out about this issue. During the last Congress, we specifically addressed this issue with President George W. Bush in a meeting asking him to take immediate action. Additionally, I have co- sponsored and voted in favor of legislation as far back as the 108th Congress regarding this issue. Some of the bills I have supported included a bill for the appointment of a Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan and to prohibit companies that conduct business operations in Sudan from receiving government contracts. Most recently, I voted in favor of legislation calling on the League of Arab States and each Member State to acknowledge the Darfur genocide as well as signed onto a letter to the China government asking them to use their significant economic influence with the Government of Sudan to end these crimes against humanity.

While I understand that there may be some gaps on paper with regard to my record on this issue, trust that my support for ending the genocide in Darfur has been unwavering. It is my hope that I will be able to work with the people of the 11th Congressional District and across this country to continue to let our voices heard on this issue. I encourage my constituents to contact me with your ideas and resources so we can continue to fight this injustice against humanity.

Madam Speaker, I have been waiting nearly 30 years for Congress to enact meaningful reentry legislation, as I have been deeply involved in prisoner reentry issues since my days as a judge and county prosecutor in Cleveland, Ohio before serving in Congress. While Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, I helped establish the ``Pretrial Diversion Program,'' as well as the ``Municipal Drug Court.'' Both programs, I am proud to say, still exist and continue to help ex-offenders move on with their lives and become productive citizens of society.

Prisoner reentry is not a Democratic issue. It is not a Republican issue. It is a common sense issue. The facts are clear--meaningful reentry programs significantly diminish the chances that ex-offenders will return to prison. That saves taxpayer dollars and increases public safety. So why not invest in enhancing reentry programs in order to end the cycle of recidivism? That is exactly what the Second Chance Act does.

In 2002, two million people were incarcerated in all federal and state prisons. Each year, nearly 650,000 people are released from prison to communities nationwide. Nearly two thirds of released prisoners are expected to be re-arrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within three years of their release.

The State of Ohio has one of the largest populations of ex-offenders re-entering the community, with about 24,000 ex-offenders returning to their respective communities annually. Of those ex-offenders, about 6,000 will return to Cuyahoga County and almost 5,000 will re-enter in the City of Cleveland. Statewide, about 40 percent of ex-offenders will return to prison. In Cuyahoga County, about 41 percent will return to prison. Such high recidivism rates translate into thousands of new crimes each year and wasted taxpayer dollars, which can be averted through improved prisoner reentry efforts.

Today, I am proud to stand with my colleague Representative Danny K. Davis as an original co-sponsor of the ``Second Chance Act of 2007. This legislation allocates $360 million towards a variety of reentry programs. One of the main components of the bill is the funding of demonstration projects that would provide ex-offenders with a coordinated continuum of housing, education, health, employment, and mentoring services. This broad array of services would provide stability and make the transition for ex-offenders easier, in turn reducing recidivism.

This legislation is critical to successful re-entry of offenders. The bill provides as a beginning the essential ingredients necessary to assure public safety and recovery. It will help begin the process of breaking down barriers to successful re-entry and allow offenders and their families the tools necessary to break the cycle of criminality.

This is first-of-a-kind legislation that is critical to successful reentry of ex-offenders. It provides as a beginning the essential ingredients necessary to assure public safety and recovery. It will help begin the process of breaking down barriers to successful reentry and allow offenders and their families the tools necessary to break the cycle of criminality.

A key component of the Second Chance Act is that it makes funds for reentry services directly available to state and local governments and non-profit organizations that offer reentry services. This is important because these are the groups that are committed to reentry and are ``on the ground.'' And if one thing is true, it is that that state and local governments and non-profits need more funds in order to provide reentry services more effectively.

Let me highlight two entities that do wonderful reentry work in my State of Ohio and would stand to benefit from the Second Chance Act: (1) Community Reentry in Cleveland, Ohio, led by Charles See, and on which I sit on the Board of Directors, and (2) the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, formerly headed by Reggie Wilkinson, who devoted 33 years of public service to the Department.

Community Reentry, which is part of the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, has served the City of Cleveland since 1973 by resettling people who have been involved with the justice system to reduce recidivism and enhance the quality of their lives and the life of the community.

Community Reentry also provides prevention and intervention social services to youth in low-income public housing facilities who are at high risk for involvement in drug or gang activity and future incarceration.

Community Reentry administers a variety of reentry services that benefit the Cleveland community. Let me underscore a few of their programs, all of which are comprised of ex-offenders.

Care Team. Care Team members, also known as ``Red Jackets,'' that serve elderly people and people with disabilities who live in apartments managed by Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Care Team members escort residents to the market, doctor's offices and the bank, run errands and assist with light chores.

When one elderly woman was asked how she feels about two of the members of her building's Care Team, she replied, ``They're not criminals. They are just like my sons!''

Care Team members are paid employees of Community Reentry. Full time employees receive a full benefits package that includes vacation, health insurance, and pension that is fully vested after 1 year. The recidivism rate for Care Team members is less than 5 percent.

Friend to Friend. The Friend to Friend program recruits, trains and coordinates volunteers to visit men and women in prison. Male volunteers are matched with men at Lorain Correctional and Grafton Prison--both located in Lorain County, Ohio. Female volunteers are matched with women at the Pre-Release Center in Cleveland. The purpose of the program is to reduce social isolation of people who are incarcerated and to help prepare them for reentry into the community.

Volunteers are not asked to do anything they don't already know how to do, and their only job is to be a friend to someone who needs one.

Women's Re-Entry Network (WREN). WREN's mission is to enhance the quality of life for women involved in the criminal justice system, their families, and the community, by helping participants reenter society. The program enhances self-sufficiency and access to resources, increases positive social supports and family ties, overcomes barriers to goal achievement, and reduces the risk of recidivism.

WREN provides a holistic network of mental health, education, employment, family and supportive services in a safe and welcoming

environment. It is a place where women can begin the process of rebuilding their lives, reconnecting with family and reclaiming their place as productive members of the community.

As a member of Community Reentry's Board of Directors, I can tell you that these reentry programs work, and investing in their expansion makes sense. I urge you to contact your Representatives and Senators so that they support the Second Chance Act and see that it passes the House and Senate as soon as possible.

Madam Speaker, today I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life Thelma Newman Frazier on the occasion of her 90th birthday. The daughter of farm workers Eugene Newman and Kate Robinson, Thelma was born on July 26, 1917 in Richland County, AR.

Thelma is truly a child of God having accepted Christ as her Lord and savior at an early age. She is a past member of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church and currently attends Shalom Church City of Peace.

Thelma was united in holy matrimony to Nathaniel Frazier, Sr. on April 17, 1941. To this union were born two children, Katie M. McKinney and Nathaniel Jr. Sadly, Nathaniel Jr. preceded her in death. In 1952, Thelma and her family migrated to St. Louis, MO. There she became active in the community. A devout member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Thelma worked tirelessly to carry out their mission.

Mrs. Frazier has been rewarded in life by her hard work and dedication to family. She has a devoted daughter, Katie M. McKinney, son-in-law, Lewis L. McKinney Sr., 13 grandchildren, 22 great- grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Her hard work has influenced her family tremendously. She is proud of all their accomplishments.

The matriarch of her family, Mrs. Frazier continues to live independently in St. Louis and is a constant support to her family through her unconditional love and encouragement. If only every child was blessed to have had a mother, grandmother or aunt like Thelma Newman Frazier, the world would be a better place. Happy birthday Mrs. Frazier, and may you be blessed with many, many more.

Madam Speaker, today I ask you and my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life Thelma Newman Frazier on the occasion her 90th birthday. The daughter of farm workers Eugene Newman and Kate Robinson, Thelma was born on July 26, 1917 in Richland County,

Mr. Speaker, tonight I'm joined by members of the Congressional Black Caucus on the first of what will be many CBC message hours. This evening we will be discussing health care disparities, as well as the SCHIP program, which is the State insurance health program.

But before I get into it, I need to ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subjects that I just mentioned, that of health care disparity and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

For the past few Congresses, the CBC has made confronting health disparities one of its major initiatives. We have been champions for access to affordable health care, meaningful coverage for prescription medications for every American, and increased representation of African Americans across all health care professions.

The health care statistics are staggering in the African American community. While African Americans comprise approximately 12 percent of the U.S. population, in 2000 they represented 19.6 percent of the uninsured. The African American AIDS diagnosis rate was 11 times that of the White diagnosis rate, 23 times more for women and nine times more for men.

African Americans are two times more likely to have diabetes than whites, four times more likely to see their diabetes progress to end- stage renal disease, and four times more likely to have a stroke. And African Americans are only 2.9 percent of the doctors, 9.2 percent of the nurses, 1.5 percent of dentists, and 0.4 percent of health care administrators. Yet African Americans comprise 12 percent of our population.

These problems are just the tip of the iceberg. Tonight, along with my colleagues, we will outline some of the various health issues that currently impact the African American community. Additionally, many of us have legislation that we are working to have passed to provide necessary care and resources to the African American community.

I want to thank the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and our executive director, Dr. Joe Leonard, for their assistance and work in this effort, and for the record, my communications director Nicole Williams.

At this point I'd like to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Bobby Scott.

Mr. Scott, thank you very much for your leadership on that issue.

Let me speak for a moment about another piece of legislation that I've introduced with regard to health care disparities. About 7 years ago, one of my staffers approached me with an idea for a piece of legislation. He told me a story of one of his female friends who had been suffering from uterine fibroids. Her condition had taken a tremendous toll on both her and her family, mainly because she was unsure of her options.

This young lady is not alone. There are many women across this country who are silently dealing with this painful, sometime deadly, disease.

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that form within a woman's uterine lining. It is estimated that three in every four American women have uterine fibroids, with one in four women seeking medical care for the condition. African American women are three to nine times more likely to develop uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids can be hard diseases to combat, given the fact that women are diagnosed with the disease at various stages and physical conditions. While the fibroids may develop slowly in some women, others may develop more aggressively.

Right now, hysterectomy is the most common treatment for uterine fibroids, accounting for 200,000, or 30 percent, of all hysterectomies in the United States. It is for this reason that I have reintroduced the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act to find new and better ways to treat, or even cure, uterine fibroids.

The Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act would double Federal funding for uterine fibroid research and fund a public education campaign on the condition. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland introduced companion legislation in the Senate, and we introduced identical legislation in the 109th Congress, but neither received a floor vote.

Even though an estimated three-quarters of all reproductive-age women have uterine fibroids, little is known about them, and there are still few good treatment options available. Women deserve better. I have made it a priority to make sure women are not left out or left behind when it comes to health care.

This legislation would authorize $30 million in Federal funding for uterine fibroid research each year for 5 years, doubling the budget from last year's $15 million. Research is needed to find out what causes uterine fibroids, why African American women are disproportionately affected, and what can be done to prevent and treat the condition.

It is time that we put the health of the women of America in the forefront of our agenda. Therefore, I'm asking all to be supportive on this crucial issue.

Right now I'd like to yield such time as she may consume to Representative Donna Christensen, who is, in fact, a medical doctor; and she chairs the Congressional Black Caucus Health Disparities Health Brain Trust. And this weekend in the Virgin Islands you're hosting a health care health disparities conference, correct?

Thank you, Dr. Christensen, for your leadership not only this year but every year that I have been in Congress on the health disparities issue and health care on behalf of all Americans while particularly focused on African Americans.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this time to yield to my colleague and good friend Danny Davis from Illinois.

I want to say to you, Mr. Davis, also your leadership on the Second Chance Act, you and I have been working on that issue for several years, and, hopefully, it will come to fruition in the next couple, 3 weeks. I look forward to working with you on that and discussing that issue with you.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure at this time to have the opportunity to yield to the awesome Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She has shown such great leadership not only in this role but as Chair of so many other events that the Congressional Black Caucus has done.

I yield to my sister, the Congresswoman from the great State of Michigan, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for that great presentation and for your leadership.

Being uninsured means going without needed care. It means minor illnesses become major ones because care is delayed. Tragically, it also means that one significant medical expense can wipe out a family's life savings.

There are millions of working uninsured Americans who go to bed worrying about what will happen to them and their families if a major illness or injury strikes.

In my home State of Ohio, there are currently 1,362,000 uninsured, an increase of 18,000 people since 2003. We've also seen the strain on many of the local hospitals in my district when people are forced to use emergency rooms as their source of primary care. The problem is getting worse. As the price of health care continues to rise, fewer individuals and families can afford to pay for the coverage. Fewer small businesses are able to provide coverage for their employees, and those that do are struggling to hold on to the coverage they offer. It is a problem that affects all of us, and we cannot sit idly by while the people of this country continue to go without health insurance.

I am pleased at this juncture to yield such time as she may consume to my colleague and good friend from the great State of Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.

Mr. Speaker, the State Children's Health Insurance Program is one of the most important priorities for the Congressional Black Caucus. Let me give you some information about

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, there is a statement that says: ``To believe that God will do everything while you do nothing is not faith but superstition.'' We have an opportunity to do something, not to wait for God to do it.

But let me start where I was. On May 21, I buried my dad, a veteran of the Korean War. He died at age 87. As I stood before that flag- draped coffin, I thought about all the mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, children, nieces and nephews who have buried their loved ones as a result of this Iraqi war--3,600. I don't want to go to another funeral, I have been to five. Not another deployment, I have been to three. Not another memorial, I have been to six.

I want our soldiers to come home as soon as possible. We have an opportunity to do a deployment that makes sense, that fits within all that we can do as Members of Congress. Members of Congress, step up to the plate. Don't be afraid. Vote in favor of this redeployment.

Mr. Speaker, today the administration released its ``Assessment Report'' on Iraq. While attempting to tout ``progress,'' it is plain to see that this is more of the same rhetoric that has become so commonplace in this administration. The sad truth is that since President Bush launched this war, more than 3,600 American service men and women have been killed in Iraq, more than 26,000 have been injured, and the American taxpayer has spent nearly half a trillion dollars on this war.

The report highlights that the Iraqi government has not met a single one of the 18 security, political, and economic milestones that the Congress laid out as measurements for success. It also substantiates the fact that of the 18 benchmarks Congress laid out, Iraqis are making progress on only eight. The report also shows us that Iraqi security forces are not providing even-handed enforcement of the law and that Militia presence is still a prevalent force within the security services of a number of ministries.

It is for this reason that I am in support of the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act. In addition to requiring the redeployment of American forces this legislation requires the development of a comprehensive strategy for U.S. policy in Iraq and limits missions any remaining forces in Iraq may undertake to duties such as counter- terrorism, and protecting American personnel at the embassy in Iraq.

It has been said that faith without action is merely superstition. We now have the opportunity to change course in this war. My father was a World War II veteran. He died a few months ago at the age of 87. As I looked at the flag draped across his coffin, I thought about the many mothers, fathers and families that had to bury their loved ones, many of them barely adults, and see that flag draped across their caskets.

I, along with the American people, have no more patience with regards to this war in Iraq. I've been to three deployments, five funerals and countless memorial services; I don't want to go to any more. I want to be able to go to one last homecoming celebration when we can bring an end to this war.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. I would like to thank the subcommittee Chair, Maxine Waters, for all her leadership and work on this; the Chair, Mr. Frank; and my old colleague from Ohio, Bob Ney for the work.

I rise in support of H.R. 1851. In my district the problems with section 8 housing have bubbled to the surface, particularly in many of the inter-ring suburbs such as Bedford, Bedford Heights, Euclid, Cleveland Heights, and Shaker Heights. They have seen an increase in section 8 housing and are beginning to see a clash in culture between owners and renters, between those who have long time been owners and those who are new at renting property.

It is very important that when we start to look at some of the urban centers, some of the older housing, we start looking at the inter-ring suburbs with older housing, and even the newer suburban municipalities, that we have an opportunity to reform how we have section 8 housing and how it is used. The reform provisions in this bill will not only open access to low-income Americans to rent and even buy, it will provide incentives so that the program can truly serve its purpose of empowering people to become self-sufficient.

Certainly, as we have gone through this whole year or past 2 or 3 years where we have had predatory lenders preying upon our communities, we want to be able to give those new homeowners an opportunity to understand what homeownership means, to understand what kind of situation they could put themselves in without the necessary education. But as important to owning a home is the ability to have a decent job, to be well trained, to take care of your family, et cetera. And through the proposals that are set forth in this program, I believe we will have an opportunity to see that come to fruition.

This bill also includes a number of provisions designed to create other incentives.

I am so proud to have an opportunity to stand on the floor of the House saying that section 8 is going to be more than it has been in the past, that it will reach its true fruition.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 526, supporting home ownership and responsible lending.

A recent study released by the Center of Responsible Lending reveals 2.2 million subprime home loans made in recent years have already failed or will end in foreclosure this year at a cost of 164 billion to consumers.

Despite low interest rates and a favorable economic environment during the past several years, the subprime market has experienced record high foreclosure rates. In 2006 alone there were more than 1.2 million foreclosures, a 42 percent increase from 2005. I am sad to report that my home state of Ohio has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the nation.

As you may know a number of factors drive sub prime foreclosures, including adjustable rate mortgages with steep built-in rate and payment increases, prepayment penalties, limited income documentation, and no escrow for taxes and insurance. Often individuals who are eligible for prime rates are steered into accepting high-cost subprime mortgage rates without fully understanding the risks of the mortgage products they choose. People are being manipulated by aggressive mortgage brokers and lending firms into taking subprime rates. It is our responsibility to keep them from being exploited.

Unfortunately many of these individuals are African Americans in urban areas, targeted by lending firms with these high-cost loans. In the last several years, poor neighborhoods with large minority populations like Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta have experienced a sharp rise in foreclosures, in some cases more than doubling over the past decade. In Cuyahoga County alone, where Cleveland is located, the foreclosure rate is 17 percent, 12 percent higher than the national average.

Madam Speaker, we must put an end to these practices that are hurting consumers and prohibiting them from achieving the American dream of home ownership. I urge my colleagues to support my Predatory Mortgage Lending Practices Reduction Act, H.R. 2061 and H. Res. 546 so we may prevent predatory lending and ensure the fiscal security of the American people.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Ms. Rebecca Lanier. Ms. Lanier was born on March 24, 1892, in Mississippi and just celebrated her 115th birthday.

Ms. Lanier lived in Eutaw, AL, where her family sharecropped for most of her life. She moved to Birmingham in 1994, where she resided until 2004 when she unfortunately lost both of her daughters within three weeks of each other. Although Ms. Lanier outlived her daughters, she still enjoys her 7 grandchildren and ``about'' 30 great-grandchildren.

Ms. Lanier now lives with her grandson and his wife in Warrensville Heights, OH, a municipality in my congressional district. She has led a very healthy life and had actually never been a patient in a hospital until she suffered a fall 4 years ago. Ms. Lanier is very active. She walks with a walker and participates in Tai Chi for Health Class at the local Warrensville Heights Civic and Senior Center.

Although one of the oldest people in the world, Ms. Lanier does not have a birth certificate. Her grandson attested that when she was born, the State did not issue them. Rather, the record of her birth is written in an old family Bible. Ms. Lanier's zest for life is an inspiration to us all. Therefore, it is thus my pleasure, on behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio to recognize Rebecca Lanier as she celebrates 115 years of a truly blessed life.

Madam Speaker, I submit for publication the attached copy of the Rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 11Oth Congress. The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct adopted these rules pursuant to House Rule XI, clause 2(a)(1) on February 16, 2007. I am submitting these rules for publication in compliance with House Rule XI, clause 2(a)(2).

Rules--Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

Adopted February 16, 2007

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to join my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus this evening in a special order around education. Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. This holiday, celebrated in 14 states, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

This day was a great milestone in American history. Since that time, African-Americans have made great strides in this country. However, even with those great accomplishments, we still find ourselves dealing with glaring disparities in our educational system in this country. It is time that we stop ignoring this issue and bring it to the forefront of our policy discussions.

As our world becomes increasingly interdependent, we as a Federal Government have a responsibility to provide all of our citizens with an education that will allow them to compete and excel in the global market.

Sadly, this is not the case. Too many of our minority and economically disadvantaged students are not equipped with the kind of education that will allow them to earn a decent living in order to enjoy American prosperity.

In a free society like ours, we justify the unequal distribution of wealth by equal opportunity. However, any reasonable person will tell you that opportunities are certainly not equal. Therefore, I hold a strong belief that it is the responsibility of Congress to make policy that provides the most underprivileged along us with an opportunity to succeed.

We can do this by promoting policies that ensure a strong public education system does not leave any child behind. We need to make a strong commitment to our educational system. Our posterity is depending on it.

My home is Cleveland, Ohio, and unfortunately it has been rated as one of the poorest cities, where almost half of the children live below the poverty line. It has been proven again and again that there is a direct correlation between economic prosperity and education. It has also proven that good teachers make good schools. But it's so difficult to attract qualified teachers to impoverished areas.

No Child Left Behind requires that every State and school district ensure that low-income students have their fair share of qualified and experienced teachers. In high poverty districts in Ohio, 42 percent of the teachers teach classes outside of their expertise. This is problematic, because studies have shown that multiple bad experiences with teachers can negatively impact their students' education. We need to work hard to get quality teachers to high-risk schools so we do not let many teachers slip through the cracks.

Another disturbing fact is that only 51 percent of African-American students graduate from high school on time in Ohio. This last year, Cleveland municipal schools only graduated 40 percent of their senior class. This is a blatant failure of our education policy. This problem has no simple solution.

We are talking about inner-city schools with a lack of resources and crumbling infrastructure. We are talking about environments where juvenile delinquency is the norm and some students fear attending class, where budgets are stretched so thin and there is no money available for arts and education and extracurricular activities.

These are schools where classes are overcrowded and the teachers are overwhelmed and forced to teach from outdated text books, and the list goes on. This is not what we intended for our students. We have an obligation to correct this wrong. We need to do more to assist these schools in securing resources that will allow them to lift these students up and provide them with an education that will allow them to continue on to college and to a good-paying job.

It is so easy for Members of Congress to demagog ``No Child Left Behind.'' But many of us have supported the policy, and its intention is benevolent. We as a country need to strive for academic excellence and opportunity in our country. It has been a tremendously difficult policy to implement and administer, but we cannot give up on it.

We have a complicated primary and secondary education system with responsibility spread through all levels of government. To reach a high level of educational opportunity nationally is a paramount task, but we must persevere. The system already works for haves, and we have an obligation to see it work for the have-nots.