Chris Bell

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 45 seconds to also take this opportunity to point out the fraud that is being perpetrated upon the American people. I commented a moment ago about the Republicans' deep desire, or expressed desire to move the child tax credit for the bill that was passed on June 12. But people are not being fooled, Mr. Speaker. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about this in an editorial and said the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and others in the House deliberately made their bill richer than the Senate version because they knew that the Senate conferees would walk away and pass nothing instead. Well, actually, the Senate conferees did not have to walk away, because they have never even had to meet. Despite the expressed desire to move this bill forward, this tax credit forward, there has been no meeting of the conferees whatsoever. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), my good friend.

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on both sides?

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez). (Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller).

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains?

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is now almost 12:45 here, 12:45 a.m. here in the Nation's capital. And I salute my colleagues who have been willing to stand with me and talk about this incredibly important issue that is not going away, and I think the silence from the other side, the silence from the other side speaks absolute volumes. If we are so wrong, why have we not heard nary a word from the other side of the aisle for almost 20 minutes now? Because I think they know that we are right. And if they know we are right, then they should join with us and instruct the conferees to do the right thing and pass the child tax credit as put forth by the other body. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BELL. No, I do not, just myself, and I reserve the right to close.

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Let there be no mistake about what is going on here, what we are talking about, where the Democratic party stands on this particular issue regarding a child tax credit and where the Republican party stands, and I am going to repeat the quote that pretty much spells it out for everyone. My colleague the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller) referred to it, but it summarizes this debate so succinctly that it bears repeating. When originally asked about the child tax credit, the majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), said, ``There is a lot of other things more important to me than that. To me, it is a little difficult to give tax relief to people who do not pay income taxes,'' and we have heard a little bit more about that here this evening from the gentleman from Florida. This is clear evidence of where the Republican priorities lie, and they do not include the poorest children in America. They do not include the children of working families across the United States. I have to ask, what happened? What happened to No Child Left Behind? It is a very catchy slogan. It is harder to live by it. Even the least compassionate conservative it would seem, even the least compassionate conservative ought to understand that working parents at the bottom of the ladder spend money, pay bills, pay property taxes, pay sales taxes and have to raise their children just like I do, just like the rest of us do. The gentleman from Florida used the clever example of McDonald's, and I believe he said that if a person has not bought any hamburgers from McDonald's then they are certainly not entitled to another hamburger or a free hamburger from McDonald's, but I wonder, does he believe that the person who owns the McDonald's should get a lot more hamburgers? Are they the only ones who are entitled to the hamburgers or are the people out there banging on the door, starving, entitled to a little relief themselves? I guess we can all use clever examples in this debate, but it really does not come down to clever examples. It comes down to doing the right thing, and the Republican leadership has consistently dragged their feet in passing this legislation, and all evidence suggests that they really do not care and they do not have any intention of passing this legislation. They can come here and debate for maybe 5 minutes and sing the same old verses from the same old song book, but they do not have any intention of doing anything. Let us look at the facts. This child tax credit they knew would go nowhere because they knew the other body would never accept it. It was passed on June 12. Here we are a month later. We have already adjourned for the July 4 recess without getting tax relief for the American families, without the conference committee meeting once, and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) suggests that a reasonable compromise can be reached, but to reach a compromise, the conferees would have to meet. And if there was any desire to reach a compromise, then they would have already met. No, that is not what is going on here at all. Legislation was passed on June 12 to hoodwink the American people, to make them believe that the individuals on the other side of the aisle actually cared about tax relief for working men and women and the children of this great country, but they knew that it would not be accepted, and they knew that it would go nowhere, and that is precisely what has happened. You act on everything else President Bush wants you to act upon, why do you not act upon what he wants you to act upon now? President Bush has said he wants the House to pass this bill as soon as possible, and he has requested immediate action. His spokesperson also said the President believes what the Senate has done is the right thing to do, it is a good thing to do and he wants to sign it. So why do you not follow your leader? Why do you not follow what the President of the United States has requested and instruct the conferees to pass the Senate version of the bill? Please do the right thing. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, subject to rule XXII, clause 7(c), I hereby announce my intention to offer a motion to instruct on H.R. 1308, the Child Tax Credit bill. The form of the motion is as follows: Mr. Speaker, I move that the managers on the part of the House in the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1308 be instructed as follows: One. The House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report the provision of the Senate amendment not included in the House amendment that provides immediate payments to taxpayers receiving an additional credit by reason of the bill in the same manner as other taxpayers were entitled to immediate payments under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. Two. The House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report the provision of the Senate amendment not included in the House amendment that provides families of military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones a child credit based on the earnings of the individuals serving in the combat zone. Three. The House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report all of the other provisions of the Senate amendment and shall not report back a conference report that includes additional tax benefits not offset by other provisions. Four. To the maximum extent possible within the scope of conference, the House conferees shall be instructed to include in the conference report other tax benefits for military personnel and the families of the astronauts who died in the Columbia disaster. Five. The House conferees shall, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this motion, meet in open session with the Senate conferees; and the House conferees shall file a conference report consistent with the preceding provisions of this instruction, not later than the second legislative day after adoption of this motion.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader, has stated that the Democratic strategy on his Medicare bill is obstruction, obstruction, obstruction; but when the best that the GOP can do is create a plan that destroys Medicare, we should all rise in opposition. I want to point out that the Republicans blocked every attempt at a Democratic substitute, sound proposals that would protect Medicare and provide comprehensive coverage for all seniors, regardless of the size of their bank accounts. The AARP, a trusted voice on this subject, says the Republican plan is not good public policy because it has too many coverage gaps. Why do the Republicans oppose better plans without gaps for seniors? Well, the gentleman from Iowa says one of the plans is too expensive. It was not too expensive for them to pass the largest tax cut in American history, only to create the largest deficit this country has ever seen. It is just when it comes to providing our seniors with the most basic ability to protect their health the cost is too high. It does seem to me to be a simple matter of priorities. So do we intend to obstruct the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and the Republican's plan to destroy Medicare? Absolutely.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, friends of Israel recognize that the road map may bring opportunities for greater peace in our time; but for this effort to work, combatting terrorism must be the first step. On June 4, 2003, Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas pledged a complete end to violence and terrorism. But Mr. Abbas says he is unwilling to use force to put an end to terrorists and terrorist groups, even while innocent Israelis continue to be murdered by suicide bombers and while the guaranteed and expected acts of retribution against his own people are carried out. That is why we offer this resolution to condemn the terrorism inflicted on Israel and express solidarity with the Israeli people. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, the House is set to pass a Homeland Security appropriations bill that falls well short of where our country needs to be to effectively combat our greatest vulnerability: the threat to our Nation's port facilities. Today, in the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Homeland Security, we had the opportunity to hear from Rand Beers, who recently resigned from President Bush's National Security Council because he said that ``the administration wasn't matching its deeds to its words in the war on terrorism. They are making us less secure, not more secure.'' He told us that our Nation's port facilities are crying out for protection and that the administration's neglect of the issue was a cause of great concern and puzzlement for him. The Coast Guard says that the cost of infrastructure improvements to secure our ports for fiscal year 2004 would run around $963 million. This bill only appropriates $100 million. Welcome funding, yes, but far short of where we need to be. The Coast Guard also says that it will need $70 million to evaluate the security plans for ports across America by the July 2004 deadline mandated by the Maritime Transportation and Security Act. This bill does not provide any of the $70 million the Coast Guard says it needs. The Obey amendment would address these and many others needs, yet we cannot consider the Obey amendment here today. Why is it that we continue to neglect port security funding when the CIA tells us we are more likely to be attacked by a weapon of mass destruction smuggled aboard a ship than we are by an intercontinental ballistic missile? The fact that our ports are threatened might come as a surprise to millions of Americans who watched as Secretary Ridge announced that the Department of Homeland Security was releasing millions of dollars in port security grants. But it does not come as a surprise to those of us in Congress who listened as administration officials told us that those scant few dollars appropriated for port security grant programs and Operation Safe Commerce would probably be rerouted to aviation security. Mr. Chairman, in light of recent world events, this is simply unacceptable. We are not giving port security the funding it needs just weeks after an Egyptian sailor attempted to smuggle anthrax aboard a ship bound for North America. We are not giving port security the funding it needs the day after 600 tons of explosives were discovered aboard a ship bound for a fictitious company in Sudan. And we are not funding port security the same day my hometown paper, the Houston Chronicle, says that al Qaeda might be targeting oil and port facilities in Houston during the Fourth of July holiday. We cannot afford to ignore the Obey amendment. Like Rand Beers said, ``America's ports are crying out for protection.'' Mr. Chairman, it is about time we start listening.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Reverend William Alexander Lawson on the occasion of his 75th birthday and 57th year of pastoral service. Rev. William A. Lawson is the founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church located in Houston, TX. Established in March 1962 with 13 members, the congregation has grown in excess of 2,500 members. The initial emphasis of the church focused on meeting the spiritual needs of Baptists in the transitional community near Texas Southern University. Rev. Lawson is known and admired as an outstanding preacher and teacher. He is a national and international speaker and educator. Since 1965, he has traveled internationally as a missions and evangelical speaker. He has spoken in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Far East. He was invited by the government of Israel to tour the nation with the American press to help provide a more positive image of the aspirations of Israel. Early in his career, Rev. Lawson served as director of the Baptist Student Union and professor of bible at Texas Southern University in Houston. He helped form the first Afro-American studies program at the University of Houston, and taught classes at the University of Houston in sociology and the black church. Rev. Lawson is a community and social action leader. He founded and organized the United Way's Houston Homeless Initiative in response to the growing number of homeless and jobless persons. Under his leadership, more than $4 million was raised to address homelessness. He assembled a coalition of African-American political, civic and social organizations to negotiate with city, county, and school governments. The coalition is now comprised of more than sixty organizations. In 1986 he received a Doctor of Divinity from Howard Payne University, in Brownwood, Texas. He graduated cum laude from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas where he received a Master of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor of Arts in Divinity. He majored in New Testament Interpretation and was appointed Teaching Fellow in Homiletics. He did his undergraduate work at Tennessee A&I State University in Nashville, Tennessee where he received a bachelor's degree. He graduated cum laude with a major in sociology. Rev. Lawson is married to Audrey H. Lawson. They have four children and three grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Rev. Lawson on his 75th birthday and his 57 years of exceptional service and pastoral leadership.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), my fellow Houstonian and colleague, to commemorate Juneteenth, a very important day in the State of Texas; for on this day June 19 in 1865, General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced the freedom of the last American slaves, nearly 2\1/2\ years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth remains the oldest known celebration of slavery's demise. It commemorates freedom while emphasizing scholarship and achievement. Juneteenth honors the 400 years of suffering African Americans endured under slavery and celebrates the legacy of perseverance that has become the hallmark of the African American community's struggle for equality. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, ``Freedom is never free''; and A. Phillip Randolph, an African American labor leader, was fond of saying ``freedom is never given. It is won.'' We should all recognize the power and the ironic truth of those statements, and we should pause to remember the enormous price paid by all Americans in our country's quest to define what the word ``freedom'' truly means. As a symbol of freedom and of enormous burdens overcome, Juneteenth should almost be as important to my fellow Americans as July 4. Because it was only after that day in 1865 on the heels of the most devastating conflict in our country's history in the aftermath of a civil war that pitted brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, and threatened to tear the very fabric of our Union apart forever, it was only after that day in 1865 when General Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and the last Americans were finally released from the chains of bondage that had held them for generations, it was only on that day that the America we all know and love today was finally born. It was not until June 19, 1865, that America truly became the land of the free and the home of the brave. As a Texan, I am proud to say that my State is one of only two that observes June teenth as a State holiday. It is my sincere hope that in its future, we will all celebrate this important holiday together.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 276, I was unavoidably detained in the air. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 277, I was unavoidably detained in the air. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 278, I was unavoidably detained in the air. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Georgina Suarez Gonzalez and Luis L. Gonzalez on the occasion of their fortieth wedding anniversary. Both Georgina and Luis Gonzalez were born in Havana, Cuba. Mrs. Gonzalez came to the United States in 1947 to enter into religious study. She graduated from the College of New Rochelle in New York, a college rich with Ursuline heritage. After completing her education, Georgina realized she had fallen in love with her new country and decided to stay to make a life in the United States. Although she dated Luis in her youth in Cuba, her determination to live the American dream and Luis's plans to stay in Cuba made marriage an unlikely scenario. Luis Gonzalez attended the University of Havana in 1945, the same year Fidel Castro entered the university. Like so many Cuban patriots and students during the politically turbulent and corrupt years of General Fulgencio Batista, Luis fought for a more democratic and independent nation. As is known from history, the dictatorship of Batista was followed by the dictatorship of Fidel Castro. Facing political persecution, Luis fled Cuba in December 1960 to begin his new life in America. Finally, Georgina and Luis found themselves in the same country and in love. Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalez married on June 10, 1963 in Westphalia, Missouri. Monsignor Kutz performed the wedding ceremony. After they married, Georgina left her job on Wall Street to join her new husband in Houston where he was employed with Dow Chemical. They settled in Houston's Sharpstown area and began a family. In addition to raising three children, Georgina enjoyed a successful career with Prudential Insurance Company of America. She became the first woman in the nation to lead the company in insurance sales. Luis joined Georgina at Prudential in 1967 where they worked together to build a strong family insurance business. Georgina and Luis Gonzalez are true reminders of the power and promise of the American dream. The couple immigrated to this country, raised three loving children, and built a strong, flourishing business. Together with their children, John Michael, Ana Maria and Luis Gaston and grandchildren, Carolina Andrea Wood, William Alexander Wood, and Gabriella Grace Gonzalez, I congratulate Georgina and Luis Gonzalez on their fortieth wedding anniversary.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the irony of No Child Left Behind, a very popular phrase here in our Nation's Capitol. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle tout No Child Left Behind when in actuality they deliberately choose to leave millions of children behind. President Bush signed a new law that would provide tax cuts of $93,500 to the 200,000 taxpayers making over $1 million. Let us go over that again: $93,500 in tax cuts to the 200,000 taxpayers making over $1 million. However, 53 percent of all taxpayers will get less than $100 under the GOP tax cut, just another example of the administration choosing the wealthiest over America's working families. But as they used to say on the old television commercials, but wait, there is more. What is even more egregious in this particular case is that the administration chose not to provide or increase the child tax credit to working families making between $10,500 to $26,625 per year. That is right. If they make $10,500 to $26,625 per year, they miss out on the child tax credit. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in the other body dropped a provision added by Senator Lincoln that would help nearly 12 million children and their families get such a tax credit. Out of that 12 million, a staggering 8 million received no child tax credit under the GOP law. Mr. Speaker, the Republican plan in no way, shape, or form protects the children that need it the most. Instead, the plan deliberately excludes these children. In actuality, the Republican plan should be called the ``Plan to Leave Children Behind.'' This is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2286, the Rangel- Davis-DeLauro bill. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill. It is a great start to preparing the damage inflicted by the administration's reckless and negligent tax package. H.R. 2286 would restore the child tax credit to families making minimum wage by providing greater tax relief to working families. Nineteen million children and their families would benefit from this bill. In fact, over 2 million children in my home State of Texas would benefit under the Rangel plan. In addition to the child tax credit, H.R. 2286 would create more jobs. The provisions in this bill are key elements to the House Jobs and Economic Growth package and would create more than 1 million jobs without adding one penny to the deficit, welcome relief in a State like Texas where we are looking at our highest unemployment in 10 years, reaching close to 7 percent. Lastly, this bill has key elements that would ensure our brave men and women in uniform are not denied tax relief just because they are on active duty. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2286. This tax plan is fair. It helps America's economy, America's men and women in uniform, and it helps America's working families. Most importantly, it allows us to not just talk about it, but it allows us to actually leave no child behind.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor David Mincberg on the occasion of his being named the recipient of the 2003 Max H. Nathan Award by the Houston chapter of the American Jewish Committee. The Max H. Nathan Award is presented annually to an individual who has performed most meritoriously in the cause of human relations and who exemplifies the finest traditions of his heritage. This individual must be dedicated in his service to the community. David Mincberg epitomizes the qualities the American Jewish Committee recognizes each year with this award. Mr. Mincberg has spent his life enriching the Jewish community. He began his service to the community as a student at Bellaire High School where he served as president of the Houston Jewish Community Center Youth Council. At the University of Texas, he demonstrated his leadership qualities during his tenure as president of the Friar Society. After graduating from law school, Mr. Mincberg continued his dedication to humanitarianism as evidenced by his volunteer work on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Family Service Foundation where he served as board chairman. Mr. Mincberg was a founder and the first president of Southwest Houston 2000 Inc., a forum for improving the quality of life for all people living in southwest Houston. He served as chairman of the Harris County Democratic Party from 1994 to 1998. From 1988 to 1991, he served as president of the American Jewish Committee. During his term as president, he made a lasting impact on American pluralism and the quality of life in the community. Mr. Mincberg currently serves on the boards of Planned Parenthood and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Mr. Mincberg is owner and president of Flagship Properties Corporation, one of the largest privately held multifamily residential companies in Texas. He takes great pride in providing employment to over 600 people of diverse backgrounds. David Mincberg is married to Lainie Gordon. They are the proud parents of five children. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate David Mincberg on his many years of exceptional service to the Jewish community.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Right Reverend Claude E. Payne, bishop of Texas on the occasion of his retirement from the Episcopal Church. He will be celebrating his retirement June 27, 2003. For many years, Bishop Payne has been a pillar of the Texas community. After graduating with a chemical engineering degree from Rice University, Bishop Payne went on to earn a Masters and Doctor of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Prior to his election as seventh bishop of Texas, Bishop Payne was rector of one of the largest churches in the Texas diocese, St. Martin's in Houston. He has also served at St. Mark's in Beaumont as well as St. Mark's in Houston. In June of 1993, the Right Reverend Payne was elected to bishop of the Episcopal Church. In 1995, he became a diocesan bishop for Texas. Since that time Bishop Payne has worked unceasingly to reach people without a church home. His vision of doubling the size of the diocese to 200,000 parishioners by 2005 is truly a miraculous goal; hence the diocese views itself as ``a community of miraculous expectations.'' During Bishop Payne's episcopacy, the diocese built the first new church for a Spanish-speaking congregation in the United States, built seven new churches in Houston and Austin and restarted numerous others. Membership has increased by 10,000 and more importantly, average Sunday attendance has increased by more than 18.7 percent. Under the bishop's leadership, approximately $50 million has been granted by the Episcopal Health Charities for community outreach programs. These grants helped to provide fully equipped mobile clinics: one for at-risk youth living on the streets of Houston and another for Matagorda County, an area profoundly under-served in health care. Bishop Payne was also instrumental in the expansion and renovation of Camp Allen, a camp and conference center. The renovation includes a new 1200 seat chapel and a 70-acre lake. Camp Allen provides recreational facilities for church members as well as secular groups from the surrounding area. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Bishop Payne on his many years of exceptional service to the Episcopal Church and the diocese of Texas. I applaud his leadership in the development and enhancement of his community.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle tout ``No Child Left Behind'' when in actuality they deliberately choose to leave millions of children behind. Last week, President Bush signed a new law that would provide tax cuts of $93,500 to the 200,000 taxpayers making over $1 million. Fifty three percent of all taxpayers would get less than $100 under the GOP law. Here is another example of the Administration choosing the wealthiest over America's working families. What is even more egregious is that the Administration chose not to provide or increase the child tax credit to working families making between $10,500 to $26,625 per year. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in the Senate dropped a provision, added by Senator Lincoln, that would have helped nearly 12 million children and their families get a tax credit. Out of that 12 million, a staggering 8 million receive no child tax credit under the GOP law. Mr. Speaker, their plan in no way, shape or form protects the children that need it the most. Instead, their plan deliberately excludes these children. In actuality, the Republican plan should be called the ``Plan to Leave Children Behind.'' This is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2286, the Rangel- Davis-DeLauro bill. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this bill. This is a great start to repairing the damage inflicted by the Administration's reckless and negligent tax package. H.R. 2286 would restore the child tax credit to families making minimum wage by providing greater tax relief to working families. Nineteen million children and their families will benefit from this bill. In fact, over 2 million children in my home state of Texas would benefit under Rangel plan. In addition to the child tax credit, H.R. 2286 would create more jobs. The provisions in this bill are key elements of the House Jobs and Economic Growth package and will create more than 1 million jobs without adding one penny to the deficit. Lastly, this bill has key elements that would ensure our brave men and women in uniform are not denied tax relief just because they are on active duty. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2286--this tax plan is fair--it helps: America's economy, America's men and women in uniform and America's working families. Most importantly, this child tax credit helps America's children by leaving no child behind.