Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, our pastor today was Pastor W. James Thomas,

Madam Speaker, please excuse my absence from votes on Monday, March 10, 2008. My flight was delayed due to mechanical problems. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each rollcall vote: 108, 109, and 110.

I thank the gentlelady from Florida for making this time available.

My father was a physician. After being a pediatrician for many years, he chose to change his specialty and go into psychiatry, and then child adolescent psychiatry. As a result of that, I was exposed to mental health issues and mental health treatment and the need for mental health professionals throughout this country.

There has been a misconception in this country about people needing mental health treatment and their being adequately covered by insurance. In the same way that a physical illness affects people, mental illnesses do. And mental health treatment has been woefully undercovered and underserved, people who suffer from that in our country.

I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill and to join with the gentleman from Minnesota and the gentleman from Rhode Island who brought the bill and other cosponsors, because I think it shows that this Congress understands that mental health treatment needs to be covered, that diseases of the mind are similar to diseases of the body, the effect they can have on a person's overall well-being, but that their mental health and their physical health are also intertwined, and if mental health is not treated, physical health is affected.

We need to be concerned about all of our fellow citizens, our brothers and sisters who might suffer from any illness. And it's time that we came out from the cloak of an ancient time when we looked upon mental health treatment as something to be shunned, to be embarrassed about if it was somebody

in our families, our friends, or even ourselves. And so I wholeheartedly endorse this bill and feel that the passage of this bill will be a great day for Americans and for science.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, there was a senseless killing of six individuals. Four adults and two children were shot and/or stabbed in the Binghampton community.

We have seen more and more and more urban crime in this country, and the response has not been sufficient from the Federal Government to help the locals with law enforcement funding. This House has passed a COPS bill that is still pending in the Senate and is opposed by the administration. We need to see that the COPS bill becomes law and we have an opportunity to help fund the policemen on our streets in our urban centers, and all over this country.

We also need to help the Second Chance programs to see that people don't resort to crime. Crime must stop, Mr. Speaker, and we must do our part.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Turkish Government took its troops into northern Iraq and went after their nemesis, the terrorist, the PKK. They defeated, destroyed, and killed a great number of the PKK who've killed over 40,000 Turks since the 1980s and what is possibly the greatest terrorist group to attack a sovereign country.

Our Secretary of Defense Gates is going to be in Turkey today and has said he will tell the Turks to make their foray short, a matter of days, weeks, not months, and to respect the sovereignty of the Iraqi Government. I can only imagine what the Turks will tell Secretary Gates. Do as I say, not as I do. For have we respected the sovereignty of the Iraqi Government? Has our foray been short? Can we afford to lose more blood and more dollars in a losing attack in Iraq?

I submit to Secretary Gates, Mr. Speaker, we should do as we say, not as we do.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise and join my colleague, the Honorable Al Green of Texas, in honoring the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 99th anniversary. As we celebrate Black History Month, it is only appropriate that we do so by recognizing our Nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.

The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, by Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Dubois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, and William English Walling.

Since its inception, the NAACP has united students, laborers, professionals, scholars, officials, and others of all races to advance its vision of ``a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.''

Historically, the NAACP is probably best known for its role and that of Thurgood Marshall in the seminal case of Brown v. Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court held in 1954 that ``separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'' Yet we must not forget that the NAACP has been at the forefront of all efforts to secure equality and justice for every American throughout the 20th century and now into the 21st century.

The NAACP spoke out against lynching, challenged racially biased Supreme Court Justice nominees as early as 1930, and pursued nondiscrimination policies in the military, war-related industries, and the Federal Government during the world wars.

At the height of the civil rights era, the NAACP fought battles on the ground, in the courtroom, and in Congress, where it lobbied for passage of civil rights legislation, like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Since then and during our current session, the NAACP has lobbied for hate crimes legislation and other legislation that protects minorities, not necessarily based on race, but based on discrimination.

Today, on the shoulders of distinguished members and leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, Merlie Evers-Williams, Benjamin Hooks, Julian Bond, Jesse Turner, Sr., Maxine Vasco Smith, and Kweisi Mfume, the NAACP continues to fight the good fight.

Most recently, the NAACP is promoting African American graduation and college readiness, protecting and advancing voting rights, and identifying solutions to the subprime mortgage foreclosure crisis. I have the privilege of working with the association to further these important efforts.

So, in recognizing the NAACP's past and present, I again salute the organization on its near centennial anniversary. I am confident the NAACP will remain an integral part of our Nation's efforts to protect and promote civil rights in the future and move society forward in a progressive manner on a wide array of issues.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 289.

I appreciate the time. I do serve on Judiciary Committee, and I looked at that empty chair that Ms. Miers was supposed to be sitting in when she was asked to testify before our committee.

Nothing is more contemptuous of an official than not to simply appear. To appear by counsel, to appear in person, to allege a privilege is one thing. Not to show up is the uttermost peak of contempt that a person could have for the Congress and for the legislative body. She didn't even send a little note, Ms. Miers regretfully cannot attend your hearing.

This is the highest contempt. We are representatives of the people, and we are upholding the Constitution and our jobs as being an equal branch of government, which this legislative body is, and there is no such thing as an imperial Presidency, and no one is above the law.

Mr. Speaker, this Nation lost a great American this week. United States Congressman Tom Lantos passed at the age of 80. Last night on this floor, there was an hour of bipartisan agreement of what this man meant to this country and how much we've lost. There will be a memorial service tomorrow under the Capitol rotunda.

Tom Lantos was a Holocaust survivor who escaped from the Nazis twice and survived. He helped Jewish people survive the Holocaust through the good deeds of Raul Wallenberg, and he remembered that. He was a leader in this Congress and this Nation on human rights and civil rights, animal welfare rights, all living creatures.

Mr. Speaker, as a freshman Member of Congress, I was befriended by Tom Lantos, who told me to call him ``Tom,'' which was difficult to do. He was such a giant of a man.

There are great opportunities to speak out on policy in this body and to serve in the greatest deliberative body in the world, but there are human stories, too.

In my opinion, there are two saints that are Members or have been Members during this term that I have served. One is Congressman Lantos, and one is Congressman Lewis. They have overcome great adversity to go to great heights. I think this country owes a debt of gratitude to the Lantos family for his work. He will be sorely missed. I was fortunate to serve with him and to be able to call him a friend.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 289) honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 99th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution.

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

Today I rise and join my colleague, the Honorable Al Green of Texas, in honoring the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 99th anniversary. As we celebrate Black History Month, it is only appropriate that we do so by recognizing our Nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.

The NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, by Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, and William English Walling.

Since its inception, the NAACP has united students, laborers, professionals, scholars, officials, and others of all races to advance its vision of ``a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.''

Historically, the NAACP is probably best known for its role and that of Thurgood Marshall in the seminal case of Brown v. Board of Education, in which the Supreme Court held in 1954 that ``separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.'' Yet we must not forget that the NAACP has been at the forefront of all efforts to secure equality and justice for every American throughout the 20th century and now into the 21st century.

The NAACP spoke out against lynching, challenged racially biased Supreme Court Justice nominees as early as 1930, and pursued nondiscrimination policies in the military, war-related industries, and the Federal Government during the world wars.

At the height of the civil rights era, the NAACP fought battles on the ground, in the courtroom, and in Congress, where it lobbied for passage of civil rights legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Since then and during our current session, NAACP has lobbied for hate crimes legislation and other legislation that protects minorities, not necessarily based on race, but based on discrimination.

Today, on the shoulders of distinguished members and leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, Merlie Evers-Williams, Benjamin Hooks, Julian Bond, Jesse Turner, Jr., Maxine Vasco Smith, and Kweisi Mfume, the NAACP continues to fight the good fight.

Most recently the NAACP is promoting African American graduation and college readiness, protecting and advancing voting rights, and identifying solutions to the subprime mortgage foreclosure crisis. I have the privilege of working with the association to further those important efforts.

So in recognizing the NAACP's past and present, I again salute the organization on its near centennial anniversary. I am confident the NAACP will remain an integral part of our Nation's efforts to protect and promote civil rights in the future and move society forward in a progressive manner on a wide array of issues.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 289.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the words Mr. Chabot expressed and Mr. Green. The NAACP is an outstanding organization, and I would submit that during my time here in Congress, I don't know of another group that has had a more effective lobbying force on issues concerning human rights and civil rights and rights of people who are underrepresented and need the help of government and need it in a fair and just way.

In my community of Memphis, the president of NAACP is Mrs. Johnnie Turner. We have had a great NAACP chapter. Ben Hooks, who is a former head of the agency, is a resident of my community, an outstanding individual who recently was honored by President Bush with a Medal of Freedom. And Maxine Vasco Smith and Jesse Turner who have been national officers of the NAACP are residents of my community as well.

The NAACP has been very important to Memphis but very important to this country. I thank Mr. Green for bringing the resolution to the floor, and I appreciate the remarks made here on the floor. I urge final passage.

I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 971) expressing the sympathies and support of the House of Representatives for the individuals and institutions affected by the powerful tornados that struck communities in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee on February 5, 2008.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 971.

Mr. Speaker, if it's appropriate, normally I would yield myself time now, but I would like to yield some time on the front end to Mr. Tanner from Tennessee because he has to be somewhere. So with the indulgence of the other side, I would like to first yield to Mr. Tanner for remarks.

Mr. Speaker, if I may go on with my remarks.

I rise to support House Resolution 971, which is a resolution to express sympathy and support for the individuals and institutions affected by the powerful tornados that swept through the Southeastern Conference States of Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee just over 2 weeks ago.

Over 100 tornados landed, they killed over 50 people, destroyed hundreds of homes, schools and businesses, and left thousands of people without power. In true American spirit and resolve, hundreds of volunteers cared for the victims and provided shelter, food and clothing.

I express my heartfelt sympathy to all of our fellow citizens in the wake of Mother Nature's wrath, and to commend the men and women who serve this Nation as first responders, police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who place themselves in great danger every day but did on this day as well to protect us and the people that were in harm's way. Our neighbors and friends deserve our sympathy and prayers, and the first responders deserve our deepest thanks and respect.

On the occasion of the day after the tornados, Congresswoman Blackburn joined me in Memphis, and we toured around Hickory Hills and met with some individuals, the mayors of Wharton and Harrington and other city officials in Memphis to make sure that the proper procedures were followed.

I talked to the FEMA Director, Mr. Paulison, and he assured me, and he's followed through on his promise that FEMA would do all they could to help the residents in Tennessee and in the other States as well.

I would like to commend President Bush for his quick response. He responded to Governor Bredeson's request to have Tennessee and other areas declared disaster areas, and that was done. And FEMA is on the ground, already issuing checks and helping people.

We've seen a great response from the Federal Government when it was needed, and we're looking for more response, which we're working on now, to provide to our people throughout that district.

I appreciate the gentlelady from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin) indulging me and allowing Mr. Tanner to speak and make his important appointment.

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

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as the gentleman from Pall Mall, Tennessee (Mr. Lincoln Davis) needs.

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

Mr. Speaker, no.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from Oklahoma for her management and Mr. Wamp, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Davis who spoke, and Mr. Gordon and Mr. Oberstar who provided statements.

Abraham Lincoln was a great supporter of government and knew that government could do things for people in need and was an important instrument of good in society. Abraham Lincoln might have best expressed it. In a crisis like this, we realize how important government can be when first responders come to the rescue and do jobs of heroic proportion.

Too many times when we are not faced with tragedies and catastrophic events, we don't reflect on the importance of government. And government is the policeman on the street. And it's the paramedic, and it's the firefighter. And it shouldn't just be on 9/11 or on days when you think about 9/11 or tornados you think about these people. But they are government, and they show government works, and they show government worked in this particular situation. It's still working as FEMA's helping people get compensation for their losses and seeing they have habitable places to live in and that the Small Business Administration is helping get businesses started.

Indeed, as Mr. Wamp and others said, it's the volunteer spirit that was shown by people in Tennessee and Alabama and Arkansas and throughout the South. They showed their care for their neighbors. There were people from Georgia and the Red Cross who came into Memphis to help people there.

I want to thank everybody who's helped all of the victims and thank Mr. Gordon for being the proud sponsor on this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that everybody join in voting for the passage of this resolution.

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

``Tom,'' as he would insist on being called, was a special person. I'm a freshman, and he befriended me in my first year.

Back, I think it was last January, there was an article in The Hill, and it described my apartment. And my apartment was described as spartan, and that's probably effusive. And we had a Judiciary Committee meeting with Justice Pryor and Justice Alito, I think there were just six or seven or eight of us there, and I choose to go to that meeting rather than the Yom HaShoah program at Statuary Hall. And I felt bad about that because I had attended all those programs in Tennessee and felt strong about the Holocaust. And I rushed up here at the end and I saw Mr. Lantos and I went up and I said, Mr. Lantos, I'm sorry, I missed the meeting. He said, First of all, it is Tom. And I said, Well, okay, Tom. And I said, I went to this Judiciary meeting and I made a mistake; I should have come here, I know. And he said, No, you didn't; you did the right thing going where you belonged. You belonged in committee. You can go again next year. And then I walked away and he stopped me and said, And by the way, I read about you in The Hill. If you need some help with interior decorating, you give me a call.

He was a special person. He had a wonderful sense of humor. And when I had problems with bills and votes that I didn't feel comfortable with, I would go to him; and he was grounded and helped me with them, just as he did Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz.

America has lost a great leader, and I feel like I have lost a member of my family. I am fortunate to have known him. John Lewis and Tom Lantos are the two saints of Congress; we've lost one, we have another.

Thank you, Congressman Cooper.

Earlier this year, on the budget, Congressman Cooper and I cosponsored an amendment to include this in the budget. Unfortunately, it didn't make it through the Senate, and I am proud to be here to support this amendment with Congressman Cooper.

In my district, LeMoyne-Owen College has struggled financially. It is an institution of long and historic import to our community. It survived this year. It has difficulties with its financial base, but it has done much for our city in educating young people and continues to do so.

This provision would give LeMoyne and Fisk, which has had some financial difficulties, and other schools like Bennett and Wiley, additional help so they can continue to serve a mission that is unique in this country.

Anybody who saw the movie ``The Great Debaters'' should be able to understand what Historically Black Colleges and Universities mean to many people in this country. There are alumni of Fisk University, LeMoyne-Owen, Wiley, and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities which see their institutions being threatened with elimination. That is a serious thing. We consider our colleges part of ourselves and almost part of our family, that is part of your home, your mother, in essence. To have it disappear is wrong.

LeMoyne-Owen is a good institution, as is Fisk, as is Wiley, and this amendment would help them stay capable of surviving and servicing people who want an education in this atmosphere, and I wholeheartedly support this amendment and thank Congressman Cooper for bringing it.

Madam Chairman, the HOPE VI program in the Department of Housing and Urban Development is a vital program that aims to improve public housing. The HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007 not only extends HOPE VI, but makes important changes to the program to ensure that affordable housing is available to more people who are in need.

The one-for-one replacement included in the bill will keep the same number of units available for public housing if an existing building is scheduled to be demolished. The reauthorization bill also includes language to allow HOPE VI participants to re-enroll in the program under the same guidelines as other public housing residents of the revitalized development.

The reauthorization bill brings the HOPE VI program into the 21st century with the provision that requires all replacement housing to meet Green Communities standards and non-residential structures to comply with LEED standards. With so much focus on climate change and energy conservation, it is only fitting for the government to address these issues through its departments, agencies, and programs.

I am proud to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 3524 and proud to support the bill today.

Madam Speaker, I was in the Chamber when votes were cast on H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007. I listened to the debate, voted on all the amendments and the Motion to Recommit. However, due to circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to cast a vote of ``aye'' on the final passage of H.R. 3524.

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

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 14 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, January 29, 2008, at 10:30 a.m., for morning-hour debate.