Julia Carson

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, historically domestic violence has been a silent epidemic. According to a recent study conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, almost 4 million women are physically abused each year in the United States. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in this country, where they are more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped or killed by a male partner than any other type of assailant. However many politicians, intentionally or unintentionally, have not dealt with this serious and destructive epidemic. In my district alone, judicial levels have been totally insensitive to the plight of victims of domestic violence to the extent of sending perpetrators home on home monitors, with ankle bracelets; and they eventually go out and kill the victim without being noticed by the system until it is way too late. We need to expand the Call to Protect program, continue funding through VAWA and demand that the Violence Against Women Office in the Department of Justice becomes permanent. We can tackle the undiagnosed treatment of women before it matures into violence by conducting early prevention to teach young people the importance of supporting and respecting one another.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am very humbled by this opportunity to join with my colleagues who had the invaluable experience of journeying to Montgomery in terms of a reenactment of the Montgomery boycott that was led by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), my distinguished colleague, who was born in what used to be the sovereign State of Alabama, and certainly the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton). The gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) did not have to be there because of his situation, but he was. I want to give praise and compliments to all of the Members who took time away from their districts to go to revisiting that situation. I remembered it very well. Even though I was not personally present, I was prayerfully present and watched in horror how the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) was attacked by dogs while he sought justice and equality for the people and their particular movement. Those before me have given the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) much praise, for which it was deserved. Let me use another example I often tell students when I talk to them. Just last week I had the privilege of speaking to 11,000 black engineering students who had convened in Indianapolis for their national conference. They could have easily been on a beach or having a party, but they were there trying to further their knowledge in the field of the math and engineering, and I loved them very much for devoting that time to their upward mobility. There is a situation that I often described to children and young people, because I do not want them to not know about it, and that was during the early years of the movement, they were what they call chain gangs. They would assemble men, strong men, in chains and make them work on public projects. There was a chain gang that busted out the mountains in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the Lookout Mountains in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to enable the engineers of that time to build a highway through the Lookout Mountains in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They had to bust out the mountains. They used chisels. They sang songs. They were on a chain gang. They were enslaved, but they did their jobs so that a highway could be planned and laid by engineers. As we travel through this life, whether we are in Congress or whether we are in various professions, we can never forget those who paved the way for us, who shared the sweat and the tears and had the commitment for the future generations to have an opportunity to move on. Mr. Speaker, I want to praise again the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), my colleague. And as my colleagues know, I was the one that bought the idea of a Congressional Gold Medal to the United States House of Representatives on behalf of the mothers of civil rights movement for Ms. Rosa Parks, and I did that as an inspiration to those who would not forget the people that paved the way for us. While she sat there, the whole world stood up and brought people together, brought the name of Dr. Martin Luther King to the ears and eyes of America. While Rosa Parks just sat there, the whole world stood up. Let me end, Mr. Speaker, by reminding us that, in order to have harmony in this world, there has to be harmony between the black and the white. That is why the creators of the piano made both black and white keys, one tune cannot be harmonious without the other. As we move forward and we have resistance in this country and in this world now toward equal opportunity, toward affirmative action, toward Americans with disabilities, toward women who seek medical assistance despite their economic circumstances, lest we forget that this is supposed to be one Nation under God, with liberty and justice for all people, not just in the preamble, not just in some written script, but in the spirit of liberty for everybody. I want to close, Mr. Speaker, by again giving my heart-felt gratitude to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), who is from what used to be the sovereign State of Alabama, I am from what used to be the sovereign State of Indiana, for all of the sacrifices that he made and those who were with him and those who followed after him that paved the way for many of us.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for 5 minutes.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, we continue to observe school shootings, and I am concerned that we have yet to pass strong gun safety legislation. Despite recent polls by CBS and the New York Times which suggest that 70 percent of American people favor stricter handgun laws, Congress continues to ignore the public's concerns. January 10, in Ventura County, California, a 17-year-old student held a classmate at gunpoint during the school's lunch break. The gunman was fatally wounded by police. January 12, 2001, in my district, Indianapolis, Indiana, a 4-year-old boy shot himself with a pistol he found in his mother's pocketbook. February 7, 2001 in Dallas, Texas, a 14-year-old boy fired a gun in the direction of classmates while on school grounds. March 6, in Santee, California, a 15-year-old boy took a .22-caliber long-barrel revolver from his father's locked collection of weapons and killed two schoolmates, while injuring 13 others. March 7, this year, Williamsburg, Pennsylvania, a 14-year-old girl shot a female classmate in the shoulder in the cafeteria of a parochial school. March 7, Prince County Georges, Maryland, a 14-year-old boy shot and wounded another teenager outside Largo Senior High School. From 1987 to 1996, nearly 2,200 American children, 14 years of age and younger, died from unintentional shootings. What are we waiting for? We must not allow these tragedies to become an everyday part of American life. We must not be apathetic. While firearm fatalities cost America more money than any of the other four leading causes of death, guns are the only consumer product in America, except tobacco, which are exempt from health care and safety regulations. Sadly, guns continue to be exempt from Federal oversight, and consumer protection laws continue to be tougher on toy guns than on real guns. The history of consumer product regulation teaches us that significant numbers of death and illnesses can be preserved when health and safety regulations exist. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act requires child-resistant packaging. The Consumer Federation of America estimates that more than 700 children have avoided accidental poisonings. Also, the introduction of sleep wear and toy standards have saved children's lives. I ask my colleagues to join me in the bill that I introduced last week, the Child Handgun Injury Prevention Act, H.R. 1014. It requires manufacturers' safety devices. We introduced it in another bill that requires training to entitle you to have licenses. H.R. 1014 requires the Secretary of Treasury to mandate all newly manufactured handguns come equipped with child safety devices, and it would establish a Federal standard for the devices. We can do nothing less than to ensure the future safety of our children and prevent them from unintentional handgun injury. We need to require safety devices that meet the rigid tests by the Department of Treasury. I encourage each Member of the House of Representatives to join me in this effort.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address this august body and this Nation in celebration of Women's History Month. As we celebrate women's history, we have many women who have made major contributions to the advancement of this country. We have Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and Barbara Jordan, and other women who have been enormously progressive in terms of advancing the work and the lives of people across this Nation. In Women's History Month, however, we must remember the importance of keeping women's bodies healthy. Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women. These diseases currently claim the lives of more than 500,000 women a year. Although these statistics are enormous, many women still are not aware of their risk for heart disease. Why is this the case. Studies have shown that women and doctors may not know that cardiovascular disease is the main killer of women, the leading cause of death among women, not breast cancer, or any of the other diseases that we try to find cures for, but cardiovascular disease is the main killer of women. Women and doctors may not realize the risk factors for cardiovascular disease because it is different in women than men. Women's symptoms of cardiovascular disease may not be recognized because they may be different than men, and women do not receive the same levels of prevention, care and treatment as men. It is important that women understand the risks, recognize the symptoms and reduce the risk of a heart attack. We must also ensure that doctors are provided with the proper educational tools and sensitivity understanding that they need in order to help women make the right decisions about their health and well-being. It is time, I believe, to reduce the numbers and to focus on living healthy and productive lives. Knowledge about our health is powerful, and working towards having and keeping good health is the first step in living a powerful and productive life.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, today we recognize February as American Heart Month. I salute the American Heart Association and other noteworthy organizations' ongoing efforts to eliminate heart disease, which affects millions of Americans every year. Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of women and men. These diseases currently claim the lives of more than half a million females every year. The American Heart Association estimates that one in two women will eventually die of heart disease or stroke. African American women face a four times higher risk of dying before the age of 60. Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among American women, studies show that women still do not recognize their risk, are unaware that their symptoms are different from men's, are less likely to seek treatment when faced with these symptoms, and are less likely than men to be referred for diagnostic testing and treatment by their physicians. What does this say about our Federal health care system? It has not done enough to address women's healthcare needs. I applaud the work that the Congress has done. It successfully passed legislation dealing with cardiovascular disease and stroke, but I would urge the 107th Congress to do more in the fight for heart disease research and funding and to ensure adequate health care access for all of our citizens.

Ms. CARSON of Indiana

Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate and honor a young Indiana student from my district who has achieved national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Ms. Amber Vickery of Indianapolis has just been named one of my state's top honorees in the 2001 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ms. Vickery is being recognized for organizing and teaching a cooking class for children with a protein disorder who must follow a strict diet. In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans today are less involved in their communities than they once were, it's vital that we encourage and support the kind of selfless contribution this young citizen has made. People of all ages need to think more about how we, as individual citizens, can work together at the local level to ensure the health and vitality of our towns and neighbors. Young volunteers like Ms. Vickery are inspiring examples to all of us, and are among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow. The program that brought this young role model to our attention--the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards--was created by the Prudential Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1995 to impress upon all youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their example. Over the past six years, the program has become the nation's largest youth recognition effort based solely on community service, with nearly 100,000 youngsters participating since its inception. Ms. Vickery should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such a large group of dedicated volunteers. I heartily applaud Ms. Vickery for her initiative in seeking to make her community a better place to live, and for the positive impact she has had on the lives of others. She has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere admiration and respect. Her actions show that young Americans can--and do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent yesterday, Monday, November 13, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 595 through 596. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 595, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 596.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to commend to the nation two distinguished citizens of Indianapolis, Claudette and Dr. Lawrence Einhorn. On Sunday, November 19, 2000, they are to be especially honored at the Indianapolis-Israel Dinner of State in Indiana's 10th Congressional District. These true friends of the city have lived their lives as models of civic virtue for all to emulate. Claudette taught school and worked as a social worker before undertaking the challenge of motherhood, then operated her own small business. She has actively engaged with the work of Gleaner's Food Bank, the Dayspring Center Family Shelter, Meridian Street Co-Op, Dialogue Today, Arts Indiana, the Indianapolis Public School Education Foundation, and Common Cause and many other charitable and community organizations. She has served well the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, the National Council of Jewish Women and Congressional Beth El Zedeck. Dr. Einhorn, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Indiana University and former President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, is especially renowned as a collaborator in the development of the Einhorn Regimen, instrumental in vast reductions in the mortality rate for advanced testicular cancer. He has been honored with the Claude Jacquillat Award, the University of Utah Cartwright Award, the Dartmouth University Kaner Award, the University of Nebraska Carol Bell Cancer Award and has been named an Honorary Citizen of Paris. Individually and together, the Einhorns personify the best traditions of service to the larger world. I ask, Mr. Speaker, that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in commending each of the Einhorns for their lives of service to Indianapolis, to the Tenth Congressional District, to the nation and to the world.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the special order just given.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of what I believe to be one of Indiana's greatest, and that is Representative Ed Pease. Ed Pease is not just a public official, he is an outstanding public servant. I have known Ed Pease for many years. As a matter of fact, I have known him longer than I have any other member of the Indiana Congressional delegation. We had the pleasure of serving with him in the Indiana State Senate between 1980 and 1990 and in the House of Representatives here in Congress since 1996. Although we hardly ever vote alike, and certainly do not look alike, and do not happen to belong to the same political party, some people may refer to us as the odd couple, because we do think a lot about a lot of things in terms of values and principles. I wanted to stand here today and give Ed Pease, wherever he is, a standing ovation for outstanding public service. Members on both sides of the aisle were saddened to learn of Mr. Pease's retirement that he announced in April of this year. He has always been a thoughtful lawmaker. His neighbor-to-neighbor politics have served Indiana's Seventh District extremely well. He has been a sincere leader in the House, and will be missed by both sides. This sincerity was illustrated when confronted by the press about his retirement, Congressman Pease replied, ``I ask only that you remember that you elected me to exercise my best judgment, and I do so no less in this decision.'' Many, however, still feel that Mr. Pease's tenure in the House was too short, and it is not hard to understand why. Mr. Pease was often called upon to lead this House as Speaker of the House pro tempore, and his parliamentary skills and strong reputation for fairness have proved invaluable in times of heated debate. Ed Pease worked tirelessly on matters affecting his fellow Hoosiers, including Indiana's return of Federal fuel tax dollars. One of his proudest moments came when he secured a 92 percent return on the fuel tax dollars for the State of Indiana. I will miss Congressman Pease immensely, and know that this body is the poorer as a result of his departure. I realize that there have been happenstances that have occurred to him during his membership here which undoubtedly will deter his interest in continuing his membership in this august body, but I am often reminded of a little phrase that we had to master when we were building our typing skills in school, and that was about all good men coming to the aid of the party. Certainly Ed Pease has come not only to the aid of his party, but he has come to the aid of the State of Indiana, and certainly the United States Congress. I would close in reminding my distinguished colleague, wherever he is at this moment, that there was a very wise poet that wrote many years ago, for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows; and that somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows. Despite the adverse incidents of Mr. Pease's experience here in Washington, D.C., as a Member of the House of Representatives, that rain that has fallen certainly will provide a flower to grow for many years to come, and he will certainly be a light, not only for the citizens of the State of Indiana, but for this country as well. I know that whatever Congressman Pease chooses to do next, he will continue his service to the country with the same attributes that he displayed in the House of Representatives.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Democratic education agenda for the 107th Congress. We live in a changed world: a new economy, new technology, and new family realities. More than ever, we all need our children to achieve their full potential. But our children are not getting the support they need. Our friends in the majority promised radical improvements for public education when they gained control of the House 6 years ago. They said they would get the government out of our schools, and they followed through on that pledge by trying to abolish the Department of Education. They continually turned their backs on their responsibility to focus on the priorities of the American people. Saying the Federal government has no place in our public schools did nothing to lift up a child or to help a parent, and the American people rightly rejected their plan. I quote the distinguished majority leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), when I say, ``It is time for a new vision.'' While looking forward to the 107th Congress, Democrats will make six new commitments to modernize our public schools and lift up every child: First, we will recruit and train high quality teachers and principals. Because America's public schools are attended by 90 percent of American children, we need to ensure that every class is led by a highly-qualified teacher; we also aim to establish new incentives to recruit highly-qualified teachers. Secondly, we will reduce class size. We will recruit 100,000 highly- qualified teachers and reduce class sizes for grades one through three to a national average of 18 children; Thirdly, we will build accountability measures to ensure that school districts and States set high standards and help every student achieve by building on proven reforms; Fourthly, we will build new schools and repair existing ones. The Federal help to renovate 6,000 local public schools and repair an additional 8,300 schools to improve learning conditions is vital to our children's future. We will aim to expand educational technology. We will continue to provide schools with Internet capacity, and bring new technology into the classrooms. Finally, we will promote lifelong learning in all of our public schools. Our agenda wants to put America on the path to have preschool universally available to every child, and to bring the dream of a college education closer to reality for everyone by making tuition more affordable through tax relief, and by increasing funds for college grants and loans. These simple six steps will ensure that our children are guaranteed the education they deserve. Since coming to the House of Representatives, I have worked to bring Congress to the classroom. Two years ago, I visited Crispus Attucks Junior High School, which was my alma mater. Crispus Attucks is a good example of what can be achieved when people in government are committed to public education and public schools. The school created a good learning environment and provides training on computers and the Internet. I worked to have Crispus Attucks High School connected with a school in Darby, United Kingdom, and they are doing a tremendous job because they have similar characteristics, and are getting acquainted in a very vital way with each other. However, more help is needed. With information technology now a key element of the global economy, we must make sure that our children are prepared to use this technology when they enter the world of work. The Democratic agenda aims to secure computers for all schools. The future of our children is vital, and Federal help must not be seen as negative big government intervention. The educator and author Derek Bok once wrote, ``If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.'' Bad House majority policies have cost America dearly. Children are being neglected, and they cannot raise themselves. We would provide $1.7 billion for reducing class size. The opposition did not guarantee one Federal dollar for class size reduction. We would provide a new $1 billion teacher quality initiative, whereas the opposition has rejected this proposal and has proposed funding lower than this for two combined programs. We would provide $1.3 billion to leverage about $6.7 billion in grants and loans to fund school renovation. The opposition rejects this approach. All of our proposals, including funding for after-school programs, safe-and-drug-free schools, accountability and the Head Start and Gear- Up programs have either been rejected or cut dramatically by the House leadership. This is unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to stand up for education and for our schools, and work towards a better America for all of our children. If we do not stand up for education and our schools, we will fall for anything.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent Friday, October 6, 2000, and Tuesday, October 10, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 514 through 521. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 514, ``no'' on rollcall vote 515, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 516, ``no'' on rollcall vote 517, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 518, ``no'' on rollcall vote 519, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 520, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 521.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I will follow the Speaker's instructions in terms of not admonishing any other entity of the United States Congress. I would simply rise today to say that we need to have the Violence Against Women Act passed by the Congress and sent to the President for his signature. Last Wednesday this House unanimously passed VAWA by a vote of 415 to 3. We must urge anyone else who can do that to do that. VAWA expired on September 30. On September 30, the light went out on justice across this country on behalf of all of the women and children who are victims of violence or who are potential victims, including immigrant women. Without this critical funding, programs serving women and their children will cease to exist. This is not a political game. It is the lives and well-being of women and children across this country that are at stake, that are vulnerable. I would urge further consideration of VAWA by the United States Congress.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent yesterday, Monday October 2, 2000, and as a result, missed roll call votes 503 through 505. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on roll call vote 503, ``yes'' on roll call vote 504, and ``yes'' on roll call vote 505.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, it is an esteemed privilege and pleasure to stand here in support of, first and foremost, a Member who hales from the State of California, who has the wisdom and foresight and the motivation and the spirit and the compassion and the humanitarianism to bring forth so many pieces of legislation on behalf of people across this country, not just confined to her own district and her own State. I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald) for allowing me an opportunity to come by just a little while and give just a few brief remarks, and to stand here with the incredibly distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), whose district is in a State that is contiguous with my State of Indiana, and to say a few words on behalf of H.R. 5158, the Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2000. Certainly, there is not one among us in this country who does not seek a second chance for one reason or another. I have been given a second chance to live. I have been given a second chance to be a Member of the United States Congress and would hope that I would be given even another chance to be able to stand here with so many distinguished Representatives from across these United States of America. I say that because, since I was a little child, we harmoniously were taught to say ``My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty.'' That is what the Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2000 is, liberty. Liberty and justice for all is something that we were also taught to rehearse and memorize as we were growing up through the school systems and going out into the byways of life, liberties and justice for all people. When one thinks of justice, one thinks of either Frederick Douglass or Booker T. Washington that said ``Justice delayed is justice denied.'' Elected officials are supposed to be the voice of the people. But what happens, when in their selection, a segment of the population is silenced? Silenced for life, not necessarily by choice, not by violent means, not through court procedures, but automatically upon conviction. A portion of our precious democracy dies and society suffers. A very poignant point came to my attention when I first ran for Congress in 1996. The field was crowded as is in cases where a retiring Member seat exists, somebody who had held a seat for some 30-some years, and is open, and everybody jumps in it. It was interesting that we had three people who were running for Congress who were convicted felons. The reason they chose to run for Congress instead of municipal or local office is because the State law prohibited felons from running for State office. But no law anywhere prohibited felons from running for a seat in the United States Congress. I thought that was very interesting that one could not run for a local office but one could run for Congress because Congress has the jurisdiction in terms of determining its membership and its eligibility. Now, would it not just make sense for here in the United States of America is the only country in the world that permanently takes away the right to vote from its citizens. In 14 States, offenders are barred from ever voting again, even after serving their time. It sounds like something we hear often about double jeopardy. The opinions of ex-offenders are no less important than that of other citizens because they are still human beings. In matters of government action, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall recognized that and said ``ex-offenders are as much affected by actions of government as any other citizen and have as much right to participate in government decision making.'' It is estimated that 3.9 million citizens are barred from voting, including more than 1 million who have fully completed their sentences. How can the justice system and States say that an individual is rehabilitated and worthy of another chance in society when that individual is stripped from their voting rights in government? This goes beyond the denial of individual voice. The policy has implications beyond an individual being denied to vote. The origins of voter disenfranchisement can be traced back to medieval times where offenders were banished from the community. It is later revived in the segregation era as a supposed race-neutral voting restriction to exclude blacks from voting. The practice of barring ex-offenders from voting has a disproportionate racial impact, even though it may seem race neutral. Consider that the rate for voter disenfranchisement for African- American men is seven times the national average. Consider that the 1.4 million or 13 percent of African-American men are barred from voting. Consider that 36 percent of the total disenfranchised population is comprised of African-American men. Clearly, the impact of this policy falls disproportionately on our Nation's black men. As a result, the voice of African-American communities as a whole is weakened. A large segment of our population is denied the opportunity to decide who will shape public policy, who will make our laws that affect all of us. According to the Human Rights Watch, if this current trend continues in a dozen or more States, 30 to 40 percent of the next generation of black men will be permanently prohibited from their right to vote. Because the States lack uniformity on this matter, the right to vote is dependent upon geography rather than reason. Some States will reinstate the right to vote only through a Governor's pardon or parole board, while in others a bill must be enacted to restore the right. Some States like Virginia permit the restoration of voting rights. However, in 1996 to 1997, of the 200,000 ex-convicts in Virginia, only 404 had their right to vote restored. There is no compelling reason, Mr. Speaker, for this national policy interest to be ignored. We must understand why ex-offenders should be denied the right to vote and redress it and reverse it. As long as America denies some citizens the most fundamental of democratic rights, the right to vote, true democracy cannot exist in silence. When you silence some, you silence all. We bemoan the low voter participation especially in the African- American community where there is no wonder. A disproportionate number of citizens of the African-American community are in fact disenfranchised in terms of their voting opportunities. So, Mr. Speaker, please know that I give the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) a standing ovation, that I give her the tip of my hat for bringing this long overdue issue before the ears and eyes of America and certainly in the halls of the United States Congress. I would trust that as we go along and begin to educate the Members about this injustice that exists, that perhaps they will decide that it will no longer persist, and rectify this situation that is a bad mark, I believe, on a Western civilization. I thank the gentlewoman so very much for allowing me to come, and I praise her highly.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) in the bipartisan support of H.R. 1248, for which I am a cosponsor. I appreciate very much the expeditious movement now of H.R. 1248 prior to the expiration of the authorization on September 30, 2000. Without being redundant, let me give Members two cases in point that occurred in my district. One woman had gone down to get a protective order against a perpetrator of violence against her and her children. She was at a day care center while the prosecutors and the police department released the perpetrator out on home monitoring devices at which time he went out and assaulted the woman and killed her in front of several other children. Domestic violence has a perpetual effect, not just the victim who is injured but people in her family, in her environment and in her surroundings. I like the fact that this expansion of H.R. 1248 now includes assistance for immigrants, sexual assault training, and the inclusion of stalking and domestic violence data into crime statistics. I urge Members' support. I appreciate the bipartisan nature of which this bill has moved forward.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) on his motion to instruct the conferees on H.R. 4205, urging us to adopt the Senate provisions on hate crimes, and I would certainly like to applaud those who have spoken in this effort prior to the time that I have been here. Unfortunately, because leadership has had a strange hold on hate crimes legislation preventing its advancement in the House, I am questioning what it is that we are waiting for. I spoke at a vigil down the street at the Senate Park a couple of months ago on behalf of the family of Arthur Warren, AKA Jr., J.R., who was beaten by two 17-year- olds who had confessed to that first degree murder but a trial has not yet begun. Arthur was 26 years old. He was gay. He was beaten and ran over twice, several times, with an automobile and then taken across town and dumped out in the street. This motion to instruct conferees is a vital effort, and if there is anything that this Congress should do prior to the adjournment, it would be to adopt the motion to instruct conferees of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers).

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent yesterday, Monday, July 17, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 401 through 404. Had I been present, I would have voted Yes on rollcall vote 401, Yes on rollcall vote 402, Yes on rollcall vote 403, and No on rollcall vote 404.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like first and foremost to give honor to whom honor is due, and that is to the distinguished gentlewoman and my friend from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and certainly to the honorable gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez). Mental health is an issue that has historically been kept quiet. It was sort of like a quiet storm within various households across this country and across this world. People were not inclined to talk about mental illness. They would pretend when they had a family member with mental health challenges to have been gone away on a visit or be in some place other than hospitalized because of their mental health challenges. That is not something that I have learned by reading a book; it is something that I have learned firsthand through my neighbors and through my churches. Prior to coming to the United States Congress, I was elected to township trustee. The reason I wanted to do that is because I wanted to buy a building which has since been named the Julia Carson Government Center in Indianapolis because it is set in a very nice neighborhood. But it had the highest number of homeless children in the whole of Marion County. It was the Mapleton-Fall Creek area as it is known. The kids were laying on the steps all night and all day. These were young children. They were 7 and 8 years of age. They were classified as delinquent sometimes or homeless sometimes; and their basic underlying needs were left ignored or unmet, the kind of mental health challenges that are often referred to in terms of a description of what really faced those very vulnerable children. I am pleased that the honorable gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson- Lee) allowed me to become a cosponsor of the bill that she inspired and authored, H.R. 3455. I commend her for her outstanding foresight and insight and activism on behalf of our children who are diagnosed with mental health disorders. The gentlewoman's bill provides mental health services to children, adolescents, their families, schools and communities. This issue reminds me in the academic sense of the mathematical axiom that the whole equals the sum of its parts. While we talk about mental health challenges and mental health disorders among young people and trying to access them to proper medical services and coverage, we have to further recognize that there are other axioms out here that perpetuate that whole challenge of mental illness, and that is the kind of environment in which kids grow up. Kids live in old neighborhoods, in old houses. They still have lead- based paint in the houses which has been known to perpetuate violence, delinquency and mental health disorders. We have a food stamp program that covers food for children, but it does not allow good nutritional kinds of support for children. For example, food stamps do not cover vitamins. It specifically denies purchase of vitamins with food stamps, which to me is a very vital component of anybody's well-being, nutrition, et cetera. I think those are areas that we need to further expand upon as we try to deal with the mental health disorders that this bill addresses. The gentlewoman's bill authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to work with the Department of Education to increase the level of available resources for localities, to identify emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents and provide service through school and community-based clinics. I do not want to get into another kind of discussion here, but while we deny the majority of America's children who are in public education access to quality education and all of the tools that are attendant to quality education such as mental health services, counselors, nurses, professional people within a school setting who are adept in identifying potential problems, I think we do this country a disservice while we wade off into areas that really do not benefit the majority of America's children. Her bill provides mental health services to children and adolescents, their families and their schools and communities. That is so vital if we are really going to get a grip on this issue. Everybody may not know that an estimated 20 percent of American children and adolescents, 11 million in all, have serious diagnosable emotional or behavioral health disorders which range from attention deficit disorder and depression to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. That is a lot of people, 11 million in all, of our children.

Ms. CARSON. There were not resources available. As the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) pointed out his experience, unless a child gets into the juvenile justice system, they are sort of just out there with no kind of support, no emotional support, nobody to talk to, nobody who understands. Their home conditions are such that they really cannot get the kind of help they need through the home. We have an inordinate number of children who are born with substance abuses because their parents were substance abusers and so we have all these little babies being born now who are addicted from the time that they are flushed into the world, if you will. There are not enough services, not enough identification, not enough early prevention and care for those children before they become problems, if you will, for society. That is indeed a problem, and that is why it is imperative for this Congress to recognize the importance of passing the measure that you have introduced. Between 9 percent and 13 percent of children ages 9 to 17 have serious mental and emotional disturbances that substantially interfere with or limit their ability to function in a family, school and community. Evidence that was compiled by the World Health Organization indicates by the year 2020, internationally, childhood neuro- psychiatric disorders will rise proportionately by over 50 percent to increase one of the five most common causes of morbidity, mortality and disability among children. And, of course, the Mental Health Association reports that most people who commit suicide have a mental or emotional disorder. Within every 1 hour and 57 minutes, a person under the age of 25 years of age commits suicide. I think this Congress has an obligation if we stand here day and night and talk about family values, then we need to move forward not just in word but in deed in terms of providing some help for all of these people out here who are dependent on the Sheila Jackson-Lees and the Barbara Lees of the country to step forward and provide meaningful opportunities to redress this very serious problem in our communities, in our individual communities and in our country. I would say to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that I have a great deal of gratitude, and I want to thank her for the opportunity to stand here and speak on a problem that was not a popular subject matter; but she certainly has done a yeoman's job in bringing it to the fore of the American people. Mr. Speaker, I am a cosponsor in support of Congresswoman Jackson- Lee's bill H.R. 3455 and commend my colleague for her outstanding activism on behalf of children diagnosed with mental health disorders. This bill would provide mental health services to children, adolescents and their families, schools and communities. This legislation would authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to work with the Department of Education to increase the level of available resources for localities to identify emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents and would provide service through school and community based health clinics. Mental health care needs among our children are on the rise. An estimated 20% of American children and adolescents, 11 million in all, have serious diagnosable emotional or behavioral health disorders, which range from attention deficit disorder and depression to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Between 9% and 13% of children ages 9 to 17 have serious mental or emotional disturbances that substantially interfere with or limit their ability to function in the family, school, and community. Recent evidence compiled by the World Health Organization indicates by the year 2020, internationally, childhood neuropsychiatric disorders will rise proportionally by over 50% to become one of the five most common causes of morbidity, mortality, and disability among children. The National Mental Health Association reports that most people who commit suicide have a mental or emotional disorder. Within every 1 hour and 57 minutes, a person under the age of 25 commits suicide. Furthermore, the U.S. Surgeon General reports that suicide among African-American youth has increased 100% in the last decade. Too many children suffering from a mental or emotional disorder go unserved. An estimated two-thirds of all young people are not getting the mental health treatment they need. Effective treatments for children's psychiatric disorders typically require not only direct interventions such as psychotherapy or medication, but also a range of other actions, including interventions with parents and school personnel. The Children's Defense Fund reports that when children's mental health services are unavailable, affordable, or inappropriate, young people often end up caught in the child protection or juvenile justice systems. Furthermore, parents may even be forced to give up custody of the children to secure appropriate treatment. The rise in youth violence across this nation has created a climate of fear in our schools and communities and has therefore, contributed to the increase in children having mental or emotional disorders. The serious consequences of untreated mental health problems among children result in school drop-out, rise in juvenile delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse, and even suicide. We need to advocate for initiatives that promote healthy mental and physical growth among our youth by providing prevention efforts, community-based mental health services, and ensuring quality mental health care services. Implementing early-intervention services will ultimately decrease the likelihood of more severe emotional or behavioral problems. Representative Jackson-Lee's bill would not only expand resources for communities but would also allow communities to expand existing school- based anti-violence prevention programs that provide crisis intervention, emergency services, school safety, and behavior management. Therefore, I ask my other colleagues to support this important and needed legislation and help our children receive the quality mental health services that they deserve.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent yesterday, Wednesday, July 12, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 386 through 395. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 386, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 387, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 388, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 389, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 390, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 391, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 392, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 393, ``no'' on rollcall vote 394, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 395.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Chairman, I was unavoidably absent today, Monday, June 26, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 322 and 323. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 322 and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 323. Amendment No. 23 Offered by Mr. Hostettler

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, America is only as strong as its communities; and by placing a giant question mark over our communities, we do a disservice to community growth. My district, obviously, is one of the communities that would be adversely impacted by the implementation of the EPA standards. The United States Court of Appeals has ruled that the EPA label for new air standards are legally unenforceable. So why does the EPA insist to place a badge of inferiority over our Nation's cities? Indianapolis, from which I am elected, is a badge that the U.S. Court has viewed as having no merit. I support clean air. However, let it be under a standard that has the legal sanction of the U.S. court system. If allowed, this badge of inferiority that lacks legal precedent could have an adverse impact on new businesses that may be less likely to open new facilities in areas designated as contaminated. It may have an impact on the hiring of new employees and community growth in that people may not desire to move into an area that has been deemed to be polluted. Let us not place an illegal badge of inferiority on our American citizens.

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman very much for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, it is most unfortunate and unwise to sit here on the floor and hear all of the rhetoric from the proponents of this amendment try to align its substance as being anti-Clinton and anti- liberals. When children pick up guns, they are not political. They do not know who manufactures a gun. They do not know whether or not it has a trigger lock on it. They just know they pull the trigger. I think it is most unfortunate, given the outbreak of violence around this country where innocent people have died at the hands of an innocent person until they pull the trigger, it would be most unfortunate if we supported this amendment. I want to applaud Smith & Wesson, even though I am not a gun owner and a gun user, for exerting corporate responsibility. That is what it is. If my colleagues adopt the Hostettler amendment, with all deference to the gentleman from Indiana, if my colleagues adopt his amendment, however, it would have a chilling effect on other companies who are willing to take steps in the right direction in promoting gun safety. We talk about the bureaucracy in the Clinton administration and Big Brother government; but as I recall, even before I got here, we talked a lot about public safety, air bags in automobiles, safety belts in cars, to keep people from dying accidently. We talk about imposing training on people when people have to be trained to even get their license to drive an automobile, which if used recklessly and wantonly, will kill people. We require airline pilots who take the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler) and I back and forth to Indiana on a weekly basis, to have a certain amount of training. I would hate for us to get on an airline with an untrained pilot. We both would be in trouble regardless whether we are Democrat or Republican or conservative or liberal. Mr. Chairman, I urge a defeat, respectfully, of the amendment of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler).