Julia Carson

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of Representatives a decision by the Department of the Navy that exonerates the late Charles Butler McVay III, captain of the heavy cruiser, the USS Indianapolis who was court-martialed and convicted 56 years ago after his ship sank in the closing days of World War II. The survivors of that tragedy, Mr. Speaker, have relentlessly sought to have Captain McVay vindicated; and those who remain are relieved by the Navy's long-delayed yet justifiable decision. On May 14, 1999, I ushered an 11-year-old student from Florida to drop H.J. Res. 48 into the system for consideration by the House. Hunter Scott went to a movie in Pensacola, Florida, and saw Jaws, in which there was a brief soliloquy about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Hunter's interest in the ship's disaster was the beginning of a school history project, trips to Washington, D.C., media attention, and an upcoming movie. Language to exonerate Captain McVay was inserted in the Defense Authorization Act of 2001. The legislation expresses the sense of Congress that Captain McVay should be exonerated because some facts important to the case were never considered by the 1945 court-martial board. Classified data were not even made available to the board. Survivors of the greatest sea disaster in our Navy's history at that time sought to have their captain's name cleared for periods that spanned several years, oftentimes efforts that drew controversy. The magnitude of the crusade was elevated by this young man's trip to the movies, his campaign to derive justice for the captain and the crew. Indeed, one person can make a difference. Captain McVay's record has been modified to reflect his exoneration, a profound tribute to the crew, myself and young Hunter Scott especially. Of the 317 survivors of the USS Indianapolis disaster, only 120 remain alive today. One of our strongest supporters has been Michael Monroney. Mike, the son of the late Senator A.S. Mike Monroney of Oklahoma and the retired vice president of TWR, Inc., is no stranger to Indiana. Mike served as administrative assistant to former Congressman John Brademas of Indiana in his first term. Mike has an original poem, Mr. Speaker, which tells the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, the fight for the survival of his crew, and the steadfast loyalty to their Captain. I submit herewith for the Record his poem: A Tribute to the Men of the USS Indianapolis (By Michael Monroney) A still across the peaceful night As the great ship split the sea No omen nor warning Of the disaster yet to be The ship soon steered a straightened course When the midnight bells did sound Still no omen nor warning Of the blast to drive her down But then it struck in black of night The death that came their way With no omen nor warning With no time for them to pray The ripping crash of metal torn The sound of dreadful screams Though no omen nor a warning It was, for some, the end of dreams The torpedo hits had doomed their ship She slipped into the deep Too many of her youthful crew Rode down to eternal sleep Spread far across the heaving waves In shock and left alone The men of the Indianapolis Had lost their mighty home The dawn was slow in coming But, when the sun rose in the sky You could hear the sounds of moaning From those who were yet to die The tropic sea was cold at night A merciless sun by day Oh, yes, Lord be my shepherd For the time had come to pray They fought the thirst and hunger And the monster from below They shared their fears together And watched their comrades go As dead men slipped beneath the waves Those left were heard to say Oh, Lord, Please be my shepherd Time had surely come to pray The days went by, their ranks grew thin And hopes began to fade Would salvation ever reach them As apparitions on them played Ashore their ship was never missed Their fate was in God's hands But upon the empty ocean Rose visions of fair lands They had no food nor water And more their rank grew thin Until an angel flew above A man named Wilbur Gwinn An oil-slicked sea and blackened forms Is what the pilot saw What ship has sunk? He asked himself As he looked down in awe He dipped his wings, their spirits soared Help must be on the way And all their prayers seemed answered On that sunny August day Soon a second angel came in sight His name was Adrian Marks He set the plane down on the sea To save them from the sharks Their prayers were finally answered Those living had been saved Oh, yes, the Lord's their shepherd For their ordeal have been waived But no so for their captain His anguish lay ahead They blamed him for this tragic loss Unjust charges to him read His youthful crew was mystified What could he have done wrong? A man of such great honor And they stood behind him strong The trial took place, the statement heard But facts were not exposed The jury's verdict had been made Yet truth was ne'er disclosed The captain's name was ruined And, though many questioned why, So great the weight upon him By his own hand did he die Yet he's never been forgotten By his crew he's still revered And they'll remain united Until his name's cleared They seek the wrongful verdict Struck from their captain's name And all left from that fateful night Stay angered by his shame Their numbers dwindle through the years Yet their fervor is still high For their captain they'll seek justice Until the last of them shall die As legend grows around these men Their story transcends time Such loyalty to their captain Should also live in rhyme

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, my amendment provides additional funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, and it will reap a manyfold return in cost savings and result in a greatly improved quality of health care for American veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the second largest executive branch agency. Yet this behemoth is monitored by an Office of Inspector General staffed at one of the lowest levels among all 29 statutory Inspector Generals when Inspector General staffing is compared to total agency employment. The VA IG has a staff of 365 nationwide. If the VA office of the IG was staffed at just the average ratio among the 29 statutory Inspectors General, the staff would be 4,000 full-time employees. My amendment, Mr. Chairman, would provide funding for an additional 110 full-time staff on the IG's team and permit an acceleration of the IG's facility assessment program from its current 6-year cycle to a more reasonable 3-year cycle. A migration from the 6-year cycle to the 3-year cycle would enhance the IG's ability to determine the root causes of departmental management inefficiencies. With proactive oversight, the VA Office of the Inspector General can identify tremendous cost savings measures and assure that taxpayers' dollars are put to their best use. In the end, this will provide for smarter management, greater cost savings, and, most importantly, better, more accessible health care for our veterans. An accelerated proactive assessment cycle would likely yield savings or redirect funds to better use in the billion dollar range. In fiscal year 2000, the VA OIG staffed 369 positions at a cost of $45 million and was able to demonstrate solid performance results, including 338 arrests, 280 indictments, 247 convictions, 496 administrative sanctions, $302 million in funds put to better use, $11.4 million in dollar recoveries, and $13.8 million in fines, penalties, restitution and civil judgments. These savings were realized under the 6-year assessment cycle, and a 3-year cycle would do so very much more. Mr. Chairman, let me assure my colleagues that I have long fought and continue to fight for the enhancement of medical benefits for veterans. As we consider adopting this amendment, I assure all of my colleagues that, as the ranking minority member on the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, I consider this a true value of effective oversight, and I ask for their support of this amendment. It is cost effective.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Lee-Leach amendment that would increase the United States contribution to the global HIV/ AIDS fund from $1 million to $160 million. World leaders, HIV/AIDS experts and economists have called for a $7 billion to $10 billion fund in order to address HIV/AIDS. This amendment is simply a down payment. Why are such funds needed? Because we are facing a worldwide crisis. More than 36.1 million people are currently infected and living with HIV worldwide, and 1.4 million of them, Mr. Chairman, are children. In the year 2000 alone, 8,000 deaths occurred every day, or nearly six deaths every minute. Experts predict more people will die of AIDS in the next decade than have died in all of the wars of the 20th century. Equally devastating, the disease also threatens the health and well- being of uninfected children by taking the lives of their parents. By the year 2000, over 42 million children worldwide have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. In the most severely affected regions of the world, a high proportion of teachers are too sick to work or are dying of complications due to AIDS. Condom distribution is key to a successful HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. USAID has distributed over 1 billion condoms. In addition, USAID is supporting the development of female-controlled methods of prevention, such as microbicides. If the U.S. Government is committed to supporting efforts that reduce mother-to-child transmission, we must put our money where our mouth is. An alarming number of children have acquired HIV/AIDS through MTCT, and 3 million children under the age of 15 have died of AIDS. USAID is also funding community outreach to pregnant women to make them aware of the risk for the unborn children. We must ensure that African governments and development agencies in Africa receive the funding needed to continue to expand their work to prevent spread of HIV-AIDS and to treat the victims. Once again, Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge support of the Lee-Leach global health amendment increasing contributions to the global HIV/AIDS fund. It is a pro-life effort, Mr. Chairman. I would encourage support.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I thank the Chair for appreciating the work of the officers here and around the world. I speak on behalf of the McGovern-Hoekstra-Pelosi-Morella amendment that adds $50 million to infectious disease programs to combat tuberculosis and $50 million to the Child Survival and Maternal Health Program. This money will be taken from the Andean Counterdrug Initiative that would provide $100 million in additional U.S. funding for Plan Colombia. The current administration asked for a 1-year $1 billion military aid package to continue funding Plan Colombia and other antidrug initiatives in surrounding countries. While I respect that initiative, I prefer to support this global health amendment because I believe that additional funding for the Colombian military will only draw the United States further into Colombia's brutal 4-decade old civil war. Furthermore, I cannot in good conscience support funding for a military in Colombia that has close connections to paramilitaries responsible for some 70 percent of the most severe human rights violations in the world. Seventy-one percent of the 319,000 people internally displaced last year were driven from their homes by paramilitaries, according to the Colombian President's office. The $1.3 billion aid package that we sent Colombia last year has not improved the Colombian military human rights record. Hardly any high ranking military officials implicated in connection to paramilitaries have been dismissed since the United States aid began to be implemented last August. Mr. Chairman, as reported in last Thursday's issue of The New York Times, 40 percent of Africans with AIDS have tuberculosis, which is the leading killer of people with AIDS. Tuberculosis kills 2 million people each year, and is on the rise globally. Tuberculosis is the greatest killer of people with HIV-AIDS and young women worldwide. Tuberculosis treatment in the form of directly observed treatment, DOTS, is one of the most cost-effective treatments available today. And to combat high infant mortality rates, a small investment in programs such as measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and polio will greatly impact many children's lives. We can save billions of dollars in the future if polio and other preventable diseases are no longer a threat to children, and countries no longer need to vaccinate their children. The change in children's health worldwide is priceless. The funding needed to achieve this goal is invaluable by comparison. Mr. Chairman, I urge strong support of this amendment.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time to speak in favor of House Joint Resolution 50. Mr. Speaker, I was one of the 237 that voted for the most-favored- nation permanent relations with China last year, but since that time I have watched with interest the developments in China since we gave them the most-favored-nation status. I have watched them confiscate our airplane and destroy it. I have watched the continuation of human exploitation. Instead of trade, I have watched slave trade abound in China. And as important as that, I have noticed that China continues to dump steel in this country to the detriment of the American worker in this country. In the State of Indiana, the largest producer of steel has dropped substantially in terms of its steel production and steel exports with the loss of several thousand steel jobs in my State, along with Alabama, devastated by steel dumping, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington State, Detroit, Michigan, devastated by steel dumping. Thirty thousand steelworkers in Indiana had to accept shorter work weeks, lower-paying job assignments, or early retirement. The Commerce Department has reported that 11,000 American steelworkers have been laid off, and I was pleased to see President Bush had taken a look at this for the purpose of maybe imposing quotas. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to protest.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank the honorable gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for yielding me time. I did have the benefit of working for his father as an international representative when John was still running around trying to find out whether or not he was going to Congress. So it is a pleasure to come, Mr. Speaker, to the floor and benefit from all of this historic and intellectual dialogue that preceded me. I come here today to exercise a constitutional right granted to me as a citizen of the United States, and that is freedom of speech. I have a great deal of reverence for the United States flag. I wave it at my residence every opportunity, and am very saddened by those flags that are often lowered over capitols and buildings in commemoration of some fallen hero, if you will. My adoration and respect, however, does not exceed my commitment to the integrity of the first amendment of the United States Constitution. Many of us learned in our educational experience of Patrick Henry, who said, ``I may not agree with the words that you say, but certainly would defend your right to say it.'' As I recall, Patrick Henry was in fact one of the signers of the Constitution. One of my first and foremost commitments as a Member here is on behalf of our country's veterans. My name, Julia Carson, is derived from a Korean War Marine, 100 percent service-connected veteran, who struggles now to even gain any type of mobility. I am very supportive of veterans and recognize their interests in preserving this flag. My son, Sam Carson, is a former member of the United States Marine Corps. So, as a ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, I am working hard to address the needs of our veterans, to assure that the fight for freedom does not go unappreciated or uncompensated. Great Americans such as Vietnam veteran and former Senator Kerry, former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and our current Secretary of State, the Honorable Colin Powell, have expressed their opposition to this amendment. These are great men who served this country with distinction. General Powell has stated, ``If they are destroying a flag that belongs to someone else, that is a prosecutable crime. But if it is a flag they own, I really don't want to amend the Constitution to prosecute someone for foolishly desecrating their own property. We should condemn them and pity them instead.'' These men feel that in spite of their own commitment to the integrity of the American flag, they do not want their personal views to infringe on the rights of free speech of other Americans. Francis Scott Key wrote, and we all recall that tune, ``O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?'' It does still wave, Mr. Speaker, despite House Resolution 36. Our flag will still be there. The constitutional amendment proposed here today is totally unnecessary. That is why I am going to vote against it.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. (Ms. CARSON of Indiana asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. I support its continued funding, which equals last year's level. The Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill gives the National Institute of Justice authority to use Local Law Enforcement Block Grants to support the Boys and Girls Clubs. The Boys and Girls Clubs offer young people the ability to know that someone cares about them. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence. These clubs give young people a chance to go during their free time where they can interact with others in a positive social environment. The clubs serve over 3.3 million boys and girls. This is in over 2,800 locations around the world. About one half of those are from single parent families and almost two-thirds are from minority families. The challenges these children must cope with outstrip problems faced by previous generations. Drug, gang, and gun-related violence has risen to previously unimaginable heights. But their place of refuge has not changed, because Boys and Girls Clubs continue to do what they do best--using proven programs and caring staff to save lives. The Boys and Girls Clubs teaches young people in many areas of life. These include: character and leadership, education and career, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, and specialized programs. Most important is the Boys and Girls Clubs is neighborhood based--an actual place for the children to go--designed solely for youth programs and activities. Support the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Amendment Offered by Mr. Brady of Texas

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, July 10, I was in my district attending to official business and as a result missed rollcall votes 211, 212 and 213. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all three votes.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as many of you know, when I was elected to the United States Congress, prior to being sworn in, I had to walk into a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, and announce that I believed I was on the verge of a heart attack. Because I was an elected Member of Congress, I did not have to get permission from anybody to get the best medical services that Indianapolis, Indiana, had to offer. That is why I stand before you today on behalf of all of the people who seek the services from HMOs who do not happen to be a Member of the United States Congress. The President of the United States claims credit for the HMO reform bill that passed in Texas when he was Governor. You would think that a person who claims credit for an issue would work hard to put it into practice at his new job. It is not right for the HMOs to take money from people they are supposed to serve and then deny them the service when those same people need help. We need to pass the Patients' Bill of Rights bill that would hold health plans accountable when they harm a patient, protect patients from paying out of pocket for emergency room services, provide an independent appeal process, and guarantee that treatment decisions are based on medical, and not financial, concerns. Those were included in the Texas law. The President needs to stop trying to negotiate away from his own law, and support the same bill he said he supported in Texas, the Dingell-Ganske-Norwood Patients' Bill of Rights.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today almost 1 week after the 34th anniversary of Muhammad Ali's conviction for draft evasion. Muhammad Ali sits on anyone's short list of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. In fact, Time Magazine recently listed Ali among the top 20 heroes and icons of the 20th century. Perhaps Ali's greatest testament was the only fight in which he declined to participate. With the war in Vietnam dragging on, the draft call was expanded, and the heavyweight champion of the world was reclassified as 1A, eligible for military service. Ali was told the news at a training camp in Miami, and, badgered all day by the press, he came out with the now famous line, ``I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.'' It may have been a spontaneous remark, but he stuck by his word with courage, conviction and stood out against the conflict in Vietnam. His courage to stand by his belief in the years when the war was still favored by the majority of Americans will stand as a testament to those who protested. I would encourage, Mr. Speaker, my colleagues in joining, along with the other 40 cosponsors, in awarding Muhammad Ali a Congressional Gold Medal. Please sign up.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on May 8 of this year, I introduced H.R. 1709, legislation that would provide private relief for Adela and Darryl Bailor. As my colleagues know, Mr. Speaker, private relief is available in only rare instances. I believe that the circumstances surrounding the Bailors' case qualifies under the rules of private legislation. I believe so firmly in the importance of this case that I have introduced this legislation the 105th, the 106th, and the 107th Congresses. The facts surrounding this case are clear and undisputed. Adela Bailor, while working for Federal Prison Ministries in Fort Wayne, Indiana was raped on May 9, 1991 by a Federal prisoner who had escaped from the Salvation Army Freedom Center, a halfway house in Chicago, Illinois. What makes the Bailor case special is that they were caught in a legal Catch-22. The Bailors filed suit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Salvation Army which ran the halfway house to which Mr. Holly was assigned. One of the requirements for all inmates at a halfway house is that they remain drugfree and take a periodic drug test. Mr. Holly had a history of violence and drug abuse, including convictions for possession of heroin. On May 6, Mr. Holly was called into the Salvation Army office and was told that his drug test was positive for cocaine use. Salvation Army had the option of informing Mr. Holly of the failed drug test with a U.S. Marshal present, but chose not to. When advised of his GPO's PDF drug test failure, Holly simply announced that he was out of here and walked through the unlocked door. In the lawsuit, the Bailors lost on a legal technicality. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recognized this technicality. The technicality was that, under the law, apparently no one had true custody of William Holly. The Federal Bureau of Prisons had legal custody of Holly, but not physical custody. Salvation Army had physical custody of Holly, but not legal custody. Recognizing that this was legally untenable, the 7th Circuit Court recommended that Ms. Bailor apply to Congress for private relief. I ask my colleagues to join in this effort to eliminate this gross injustice for Ms. Adela Bailor and Darryl Bailor. If we believe in victims' rights, then we must hold those who are responsible for the incarceration of violent criminals accountable for such conduct. Interestingly and profoundly, Adela Bailor is an honorably discharged Marine Corps veteran. At the time of the attack, she was helping to make this country a better place. We cannot and should not turn our back on her because of a legal loophole. The 7th Circuit has reviewed this case fully and has made the recommendation that they apply to the Congress. Although Congress is not bound by such recommendations, Congress should give a great deference to the legal analysis by the Circuit Court which has determined that Adela Bailor and Darryl Bailor fall into an unusual legal situation. Mr. Speaker, I urge and encourage my colleagues to sign on to a letter to be sent to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas), chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims, urging him to hold a hearing on H.R. 1709. We will be in the process of sending that letter next week, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I was in my district attending to official business and as a result missed rollcall votes 186 through 188. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on all 3 rollcall votes.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, for reasons beyond my control, the voting machine would not accept my voting card on Thursday, June 14, 2001, and therefore, I was unable to vote on rollcall vote 162. I alerted the Speaker pro tempore, Mr. Quinn, to the problem, but by the time I reached the well, the voting was closed. Had I been able to cast my vote I would have voted ``yea''.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the LaFalce Amendment. While I agree with the principle of a reduction in SEC fees, and pay parity for SEC employees, I believe that Mr. LaFalce's substitute approaches this issue with a prudence not present in H.R. 1088. As many of my colleagues have highlighted, agencies such as the Congressional Budget Office have estimated that the fees required to be collected by the SEC from all sources will total over $2.47 billion in fiscal year 2001. This represents more than five times the SEC's fiscal 2001 appropriation of $422.8 million. The current levels of SEC fees that were developed to fund the cost of regulating the securities markets, now seriously exceed the government's cost of regulation to such a degree that they constitute a drag on capital formation, and a special burden on every American investor. Both H.R. 1088 and the LaFalce substitute address the SEC's staffing crisis by giving the SEC the much-needed ability to match the pay and benefits of other federal banking agencies, and they also recognize that in the wake of the historic Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, the ability to compensate SEC staff at the same level as their sister regulators at the banking agencies is more imperative than ever. With pay-parity the SEC can continue to function effectively by remaining an institution that can attract and retain dedicated professionals. Since 1990, American investors have been overcharged over $9 billion, as the volume of investment has soared since the fees were originally levied in the 1930s. In 1996, Congress enacted reductions in the fee rates, to take effect over 10 years, with the intention that after fiscal year 2007 the amount collected should be approximately equal to the SEC's budget, or the cost to the government of regulating the markets. However, trading volumes and merger activity have soared, and fee receipts are projected to continue to exceed the SEC's budget by a wide margin. While I support a fresh attempt to bring SEC fees back down to reasonable levels, and believe that a reduction will benefit all of America's investors, I feel that the LaFalce substitute provides American investors with a more prudent and more secure solution to the reduction of SEC fees, and providers the SEC with a stable solution to its current problems.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced today a resolution to promote responsible fatherhood for Father's Day.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I wish to let the gentlewoman from Texas know that my heart goes out to her and all the people who were affected by that devastating flood situation in her district. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced a resolution to promote responsible fatherhood on behalf of Father's Day. Twenty-nine members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), have joined me as cosponsors of the resolution. In introducing the resolution, Mr. Speaker, we aim to raise the awareness of the importance of fathers being involved in the lives of their children. I understand that all men are not deadbeat dads, some men are simply dead broke. I am probably one of the very few Members of Congress who knows personally what it is like to grow up in a home without a father. My experience growing up fatherless is what has stirred my passion to become a leader in this movement. Fatherlessness affects our children in more ways than we can count, preventing our children from fully reaching the potential we know they have within. While there are millions of fathers who actively support their children, there are many others who do not due to financial or social circumstances. Many absent fathers are part of the working poor and may wish to aid their children but simply cannot financially. The goal of the fatherhood resolution is to promote responsible fatherhood, the emotional and financial support of one's children. In wishing all of God's children, all of our Father's children, a happy Father's Day, which is coming up on Sunday, I wanted to call my colleagues' attention to the promotion of this effort, of the bill that we have in, H.R. 1300, which would authorize block grants to fund programs at the local and State level, nonprofit organizations, et cetera. The Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2001 has already garnered broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, and I would encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this bill to provide men with the tools and the resources necessary to become responsible fathers. Mr. Speaker, I offer my Happy Father's Day to you too.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to extend heartfelt congratulations to Boys and Girls Clubs of Indiana. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is the fastest growing youth guidance organization in the nation. They inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their fullest potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The core programs enrich the lives of our youth through character and leadership development, the arts, sports and fitness, health, and life skills. Though youth involvement reflects wonderful diversity of income, age, and gender, it is especially important that 66 percent of the youth involved come from families with an annual income under $15,000. In Indiana, the Boys and Girls Clubs, harnessing energy and altruism, serve 90,000 youth with financial assistance from 35 corporations, helping at more than 60 sites. Board members, professionals, volunteers and youth members make possible the outstanding achievements of the clubs' youth, developing competence, usefulness, belonging, and power of influence of the participating young people of Indiana and Indianapolis. It is a matter of special pride to me that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis is headquartered in the same building where the 10th Congressional District Home Office is located. It is my distinct pleasure to ensure that the accomplishments of this special combination of effort in my district are forever memorialized in the Congressional Record of the United States of America. Today, I have the honor of paying special tribute to two Indiana Youth of the Year: State Winner Amy L. Gley and State Runner-Up Zachary Stavedahl. Mr. Speaker, let all who read these pages know that a very special group of people offer an outstanding service to the communities of the Boys and Girls Clubs, while promoting superior leadership skills and a perseverance of overcoming life obstacles. Finally, Mr. Speaker, two challenges seem in order today: I challenge our youth to remain steadfast in their leadership to preserve and enlarge the future accomplishments of the Boys and Girls Clubs. I challenge my colleagues in this House to act in all things they do here with special sensitivity to the contributions of this organization in its many efforts across the nation.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride that I rise today to extend heartfelt congratulations to the ``We the People'' Academic Team from Lawrence Central High School. ``We the People'' was established by an Act of Congress in 1985 and is supported by the U.S. Department of Education. The program is designed to help students develop a commitment to the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy and to foster civic competence and responsibility. ``We the People'' develops critical thinking skills such as the ability to distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasonable judgment as the basis for formulating an informed position on public policy issues. The use of cooperative learning techniques enhances students' participation, leadership, and public speaking skills. Under the tutelage of Mr. Drew Horvath and Mr. Karl Schneider, the students of Lawrence Central worked tirelessly to become Constitutional scholars. It is my distinct pleasure of ensuring that the accomplishments of this special group of young people of my district are forever memorialized in the Congressional Record of the United States of America and I have the honor of paying special tribute to: Patricia Atwater, Bethany Barber, Jake Boyd, Bryce Cooper, Daniel Creasap, Lily Emerson, Marc Goodwin, Shayla Griffin, Sarah Hailey, Emily Jacobi, Andrew Johnson, Stevie Kelly, Andrew Kilpinen, Sarah King, Michael Leaming, Jeff Mirmelstein, James Henry Mohr, Elizabeth Molnar, Matt Musa, Tim Mundt, Adam Schwartz, Jim Shin, Megan Siehl, Kristin Smith, Oriana Taylor, Rachel Thomas, Marie Trimble, Adam VanOsdol, Julie Vargo, and Jeffrey Yoke. Mr. Speaker, let all who read these pages know that a very special group of people came to our Nation's capital to demonstrate a commitment to political beliefs, attitudes, and values essential to a functioning democracy.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to extend heartfelt congratulations to the Pike High School Basketball team for winning the legendary Indiana State High School Basketball Championship. The Pike Red Devils, under the leadership of coach Alan Darner, won an astonishing twenty-six games against just three losses. But being a champion is about more than wins and losses. It is about heart, persistence, perseverance, determination, and a commitment to accomplishing something together that no individual could accomplish alone. Together, the Pike Red Devils showed the people of Indiana that these old fashioned values can still take us to new heights. It is my distinct pleasure of ensuring that the accomplishments of this special group of young people are forever memorialized in the Congressional Record of the United States of America and I have the honor of paying special tribute to: Keith Borgan, Drew Breeden, Devin Thomas, Curtis Thomas, Tony Weeden, Darren Yates, Chris Thomas, David Teague, Brandon Hurd, Donald Yates, Stacy Jenkins, Kyle Murphy, Justin Cage, and Parnell Smith, Mr. Speaker, let all who read these pages until time immemorial know that on the 24th day of March, a very special group of people came together and won the historic Indiana State Basketball Championship. Let all rejoice and celebrate the Pike High School Basketball team.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor of the House this afternoon because I care about our communities and our young people. I want to give an ovation to the honorable gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) to support this teenage pregnancy month and certainly to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson), who had another engagement and had to leave, because it is imperative, I believe, to raise the awareness around the crisis of teenage pregnancy. Nearly 1 million teenagers in this country become pregnant every year. One in four of these teenagers will have a second baby within years of the first child. In Indiana, from which I hail, if you will, we have 37,340 teenage girls who become pregnant every year. Just imagine, 37,340 teenage girls become pregnant every year. Eighty-eight out of every 1,000 girls age 15 to 19 become pregnant in Indiana every year. When a teenager has a baby, it reduces her chances of completing high school. It reduces her chances of earning a decent wage. Her access to health care will decrease, which will contribute to poor nutritional health for her and her baby. In so many cases, because she cannot afford a baby-sitter, this young woman either loses her job for missing days to stay with a child or is forced to leave her baby in situations that are totally undesirable. In addition, my recent bill, the Responsible Fatherhood Act seeks to address many of the fathers who are either unwilling or unable to be a source of support, both financially and emotionally, for their children. The effects of teenage pregnancy may also have negative effects on young fathers. I would hasten to add, however, Mr. Speaker, that the majority of teenage girls who become pregnant have not had relationships with young boys. The babies are fathered by men who are not teenagers. Some studies suggest, on the other hand, that teenage fathers obtain somewhat lower education levels, suffer from loss of earnings on the order of 10 to 15 percent annually, and are more likely to end up in prison. This too causes long-term consequences for society as a whole. There are no easy answers to solving teenage pregnancy, and our approach must be comprehensive and multifaceted. I would like to acknowledge the successful efforts that have been made as a result of communities working through a variety of programs that coordinate parents, schools, communities, and religious organizations. I would like to recognize the important work of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The organization does a tremendous job because it recognizes the broad consequences for society and the individuals directly involved when children continue to have children. We must empower and support the brave individuals all over the country who are working with programs at the grass-roots level to reduce teenage pregnancy. It is programs such as these that give our young people a fighting chance and an alternative to engaging in destructive behavior. We believe that if young people have a strategy for the future and have hope about their career and have economic security, they are more likely to value the need to develop themselves, rather than getting involved in behavior that is self-destructive, including premature sex. I would like to recognize an important bill introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne). This bill, the Mentoring for Success Act, will provide grants to expand mentoring through new programs and existing programs throughout the country, hopefully reaching around 200,000 young people. As the gentleman from Nebraska mentioned, studies have shown that young people who are mentored will be 50 percent less likely to skip school, 50 percent less likely to begin using drugs, 36 percent less likely to lie to a parent, 30 percent less likely to commit a violent act of any kind, and certainly they are less likely to drop out of high school. Mr. Speaker, let me add in closing that I stand here as a Member of the United States Congress and am the product of a teenage pregnancy. However, the amount of community support, religious support, and school support that I received as a young person has boded well in terms of my future. I hope that we can work together in Congress to pass important pieces of legislation and to offer the necessary resources to counteract this pandemic.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Law Day 2001, I introduced House Joint Resolution 46 to change the wording of constitutional amendment VIII. Last week, the United States Supreme Court decided a case known as Atwater v. The City of Lago Vista. In doing so, they shocked the Nation and those everywhere who believe in rational and traditional limits on the power and reach of government to deal with the people. They concluded that police may arrest and jail people for offenses for which no incarceration may be imposed in upholding the arrest of a mother, in front of her children and her detention until she could arrange to post bail because she was not using her seatbelt. We used to joke about being arrested for spitting on the sidewalk; now we have life imitating art. Why must common sense be so uncommon in seats of high authority? Why should common sense be so uncommon in the United States? I do not author constitutional amendments lightly. Restraint is fundamental to the Constitution's survival. But drastic threats to freedom sometimes require drastic measures. This is the only way to overrule the incredibly bad judgment of the majority of Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. The court's minority is to be commended. They are freedom-loving patriots. Police States are not the United States. It is time to act. This is the language of the amendment, that says that ``excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments,'' and I propose to add the language, ``including incarceration, before or after trial, for minor offenses not punishable by incarceration,'' then ending with the word ``inflicted.'' I would respectfully ask my colleagues to draw together to support this vital change in the most basic law to better protect all who share our most precious values of freedom, better weaving that value into the fabric of our law.