Corrine Brown

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Meek amendment. The Meek language is a tremendous improvement over the badly crafted Goss language. The parliamentary elections that just took place in Haiti are a real accomplishment for the people of Haiti as they build a stable democracy. The Washington Post said that Haiti's elections, ``by any reasonable standard, were a success.'' The Washington Post acknowledges that Representative Goss observed the elections not as an impartial observer, but as a partisan participant of the Republican Party's International Republican Institute. This group's criticism of the elections, according to the Washington Post, was not constructive and was misinformed. I, personally, was informed by Bishop Cummings who is bishop for Florida and the Bahamas for the African-Methodist Episcopal Church, that the Republican Party's International Republican Institute participants were rude and threatening to him as he tried to explain that he was an impartial observer and not from the Federal Government. Bishop Cummings was outraged by the comments made about him, but refused to be intimidated. This should be one of America's proudest moments--our country did the right thing, we did not shirk our responsibilities to strengthen democracy as some would have had us do. We should be proud that we reached out to our close neighbor in their time of need to help them fulfill the promise of democracy and hope. I congratulate President Clinton and the brave young men and women of our armed services who have worked hard to create the safe and secure environment necessary for real democracy to take root in Haiti so that these elections could take place. I congratulate President Aristide for having the wisdom to lead his people into this era of healing, hope and redevelopment. He put together a government of inclusion and continues to reach out to other groups including the business sector and the political opposition-- including giving air time to opposition candidates. These elections faced challenges, especially many logistical challenges, but they occurred without bloodshed. Improvements will be made, especially in the area of civil justice and stronger democratic institutions. The international community must honor its commitments and ensure that donor nations' assistance reinforces Haitian electoral institutions in a nonpartisan manner. The elections this past weekend were a testament to the Haitian people's strong desire for a new beginning in Haiti. They were a testament of the international community's commitment, and Americans, especially those of us in Florida who are so close to Haiti, to support democracy for our neighbors.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman said two or three times that America did not want to make war on Haiti. I want him to know that the American people did a rescue. They saved the Haitian people. We are very grateful, the people in Florida.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. The Washington Post.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, today women serve proudly in our military forces. They are often the best and the brightest in the classroom and excel in all aspects of military life. Women have served side by side with men in combat throughout our history; women in the military deserve to be treated with the highest respect. As the House considers the fiscal year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act, I believe it is imperative that we aim for high morale and outstanding quality of life for our service personnel. A key component of such a goal must be to provide the very best health care for all men and women who serve our country. Therefore, without hesitation, I strongly support this amendment. In many countries where our military forces are called upon to serve, women who make the difficult choice to have an abortion are unable to obtain a safe abortion locally. Without this health protection, a woman may be forced to face a local hospital in a foreign country where English may not be spoken and the culture is very different. There, in a lonely waiting room, she will wait until her turn comes to give her life over to strangers and hope for the best outcome. A civilized country such as the United States must not allow such a terrifying and degrading experience for any of its citizens.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the women in the military's right to choice.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. We will see you tomorrow night at 9 o'clock in Orlando.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized ahead of Ms. Jackson-Lee for 5 minutes.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, will Ms. Jackson-Lee join me, and my colleague from Orlando, Mr. McCollum from Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee].

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Not only do we stand by our men in Orlando, the Magic, but we will throw in a couple of Disney tickets and Universal Studio tickets. And I understand we have some of the sweetest corn in the country. We are prepared to provide sweet corn and peanuts. And someone from your delegation asked for an alligator. But what we are prepared to do, is the Houston team will be alligator bait.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Ms. Jackson-Lee, not only do we accept your challenge, I am prepared to raise it.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by Mr. Manzullo because further reductions in funding for cultural exchange programs would cripple the country's ability to build a meaningful dialog with new democracies around the world. As the United States scales back abroad, USIA-supported exchange programs have become vital to our national security. In the past, the exchange programs encouraged greatness in the lives of modern, global leaders like F.W. DeKlerk and Anwar Sadat. Today, in a fractured world, these programs are a beacon to young leaders searching for practical policies that have been tested over time. We must make long-term efforts to promote, first, civil societies, second, open economies, third, respect for human rights and fourth, peaceful resolution of conflict. Let me tell you about an exchange program that works. In Jacksonville, FL, the chamber of commerce with its 5,000 members, has jointly developed a leadership program with the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. The program has become national in scope as Czech future leaders come to America to learn about democracy and trade. This successful hands on program involves local participation and should be replicated rather than destroyed. Many Czech participants have written letters telling how their internship changed their life by opening doors they did not know existed. This is a win/win situation for Jacksonville and other cities that have entered into USIA-supported exchange programs. Today Jacksonville is reaching out to the world because it knows it must in order to grow and not stagnate in the 21st century. [[Page H5726]] I support USIA-supported exchange programs because I know that our Nation must not stagnate in the 21st century.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of veterans and the elderly and in support of the Congressional Black Caucus budget. Our seniors who rely so heavily on Medicare and Medicaid will be especially hard hit by Republican budgets. Hurting seniors and destroying veterans health care is the Republican plan for America. Claude Pepper, a true champion of the elderly, would be outraged with the attempt to reduce Medicare and Medicaid to second-rate health care systems so Republicans can pay for a $355 billion tax cut for the wealthy. Veterans fair no better than seniors in the cruel Republican budget. Republican budget cuts destroy the heart of VA programs. VA's health care system suffers from years of underfunding; many of its facilities are old and in need of repair. Gutting construction funds to update VA's infrastructure will destroy veterans's health care--especially in Florida where almost 100 new veterans arrive daily. The Congressional Black Caucus budget is good for America's majority, for the elderly, and veterans. It increases the President's fiscal year 1996 budget for veterans by $175.3 million. It includes increases for medical care and homeless programs, and recommends new construction funding for VA medical centers to meet increasing needs. This caring majority budget remembers veterans--and not just on Memorial Day. It also remembers the elderly. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I hope Members can see this picture. This is a picture of Claude Pepper from Florida, a true champion of the elderly. He would be outraged over the attempt to reduce Medicare and Medicaid to a second-rate health care system so Republicans can pay for a $355 billion tax cut for the wealthy. Veterans fare no better in this cruel Republican budget, which destroys the heart of the VA program, especially in Florida, where almost 100 new veterans arrive daily. The Congressional Black Caucus budget is good for America's majority, for the elderly and veterans. It includes increases for Medicare and homeless programs. This caring majority budget remembers veterans and not just on Memorial Day. It also remembers the elderly and would be a tribute to Claude Pepper.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it saddens and angers me that Jacksonville resident, Mr. David Daliberti, and another American, Mr. Bill Barloon, have been detained in Iraq. All indications are that the incident was a result of innocent mistakes. Mr. Daliberti, without hesitation, authorized the release of information about his case. The United Nations Iraq Kuwait Observer Mission [UNIKOM] has admitted that the Americans' crossing into Iraq was their error. During the recent trial, Mr. Daliberti and Mr. Barloon had a court appointed attorney who argued on their behalf but the judge found them in violation of an Iraqi residency law and sentenced them to 8 years in prison. I am outraged by the imprisonment of innocent Americans and join with my colleagues in condemning this action. Saddam Hussein should immediately pardon and release these two Americans. I have urged President Clinton to use all necessary measures to bring this situation to a swift, negotiated and peaceful conclusion. I am continuing to monitor this international situation through daily contact with White House advisors and with the State Department. I am hopeful that the Americans will soon be returned to their awaiting friends and family. Currently, the Clinton administration is working with Polish authorities who are our protecting power in Baghdad and through other diplomatic channels to obtain the release of these Americans. I strongly support the President's efforts to resolve this grave obstruction of justice and believe that these Americans should be released by Iraq immediately. I pledge to do all that I can to work with the administration to resolve this situation quickly and peacefully. In closing, I wish to express my concern and very strong support for Mr. Daliberti's wife, other relatives, and friends.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Mink substitute which will transform the AFDC Program into a program that will really move people off welfare and into real jobs. The Mink substitute significantly increases the funding for education, job training, employment services, and child care for welfare recipients. These components are essential to any program to help people move into the work force. H.R. 4 is the wrong way to go. It eliminates the entitlement status of important programs and ends our long-term national commitment to make sure that all Americans have a safety net. Block grants to the States is not the way to go. H.R. 4 is weak on work. The work requirements in the Republican's bill are weaker than current law. Even the Congressional Budget Office says the GOP plan will not put people to work. It will only hurt children, the elderly, and the Nation's veterans. Beware Republicans. American's will not be hoodwinked for long.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman H.R. 4 is a big failure. H.R. 4 does not create a single job. It is reform in name only. It cuts the school lunch program. It cuts resources for child care. It cuts health care. It cuts transportation. It cuts the tools that make a difference in whether someone keeps a stable job or ends up back on welfare. Haste makes waste. Republicans are in a hurry to pay for the tax breaks for the rich at the expense of hungry children, the elderly and veterans. Once the sound bites are over, the American people will realize that the contract ``with'' is a contract ``on.'' Shame, shame, shame, Republican shame. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Mink substitute which will transform the AFDC program into a program that will really move people from welfare to work. The Mink substitute significantly increases the funding for education, job training, employment services, and child care for welfare recipients. These components are essential to any program to help people move into the work force. This amendment helps to make sure that States move people off of welfare and into real jobs. H.R. 4 is a bad bill. It is a mean-spirited bill because it does not provide the tools needed to help people work and lift themselves out of poverty. Yes, we need real reform that helps people get off welfare for good and helps them to take care of their own families. But H.R. 4 does not create a single job. It repeals the main job training program even though education and job training are the keys off welfare. This bill is a big failure; it is reform in name only: It cuts resources for child care. It cuts health care. It cuts transportation. someone keeps a stable job or ends up back on welfare. I urge my colleagues to support the Mink substitute to improve this bad bill that the majority has shamelessly rushed through the House. Shame, shame, shame on the Republicans. The Republican bill is just part of a bigger GOP plan to rush bad legislation through so Americans won't see the fine print in the Contract on America. Haste makes waste. Republicans are in too much of a hurry to pay for tax breaks for the rich at the expense of hungry children, the elderly, and veterans. Once the sound bites are over, the American public will realize that this slash and burn lawmaking will only hurt the most vulnerable in America.

Mrs. BROWN of Florida

Mrs. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, Republicans have become Robin Hood in reverse. They steal from the poor to give to the rich. I support the DeLauro amendment to H.R. 1158 because Republicans do not care about the vulnerable in our society--the very young and the elderly. The Republican method for raising money to give to the rich is to rescind funding for authorized projects such as the VA ambulatory clinics. They do not do this for humane reasons. They want to steal the clinics and give a tax break to persons that make over $100,000. Give me a break. What kind of nonsense is this? It is Republican tricksters using old ideas from the 1980's--ideas that got us into this mess. If we do what Republicans want--destroy programs that help people, increase defense spending irrationally and give the rich tax breaks--we will end in economic ruin. It did not work in the 1980's and will not work now.

Ms. BROWN of Florida

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I want to thank my colleagues very much for coming and sharing with the American people the plight we are in here fighting for our veterans and for other groups that are not here in the House, represented here and given an opportunity to vote.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. On Americans. And this poster is a real example. If you look at it this is a baby, and of course it does not vote. This is one of the targets of the Republican group. And who is the target now that they have added the veterans and elderly? Everybody needs to take a close look because I think their pink slip is in the mail, too. If they are not careful they are next on the Republicans' hit list.

Ms. BROWN of Florida. I would also add that the Contract With America has turned out to be a contract on America.