Julia Carson

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of H.R. 2938, a bill I introduced several months ago to designate the United States Post Office located at 424 South Michigan Street in my hometown of South Bend as the John Brademas Post Office. John Brademas is one of the most distinguished people to serve in Congress from the 3rd Congressional District of Indiana, as a matter of fact, from the State of Indiana and probably in the country. While John Brademas was serving in the House, I briefly worked as a staff assistant in his congressional office. His guidance has been a constant source of inspiration to me, and I have always tried to serve in Congress with the same degree of honor and integrity and respect for the institution and the office to which I have now served and which John Brademas served for 22 years. John Brademas helped teach me the importance of family and community and the value of public service. John Brademas graduated from South Bend Central High School in 1945. After service in the U.S. Navy, he was a Veterans National Scholar at Harvard University from which he graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts. He also served as executive assistant to the late Adlai Stevenson in 1955 and in 1956. Dr. Brademas was in charge of the research on issues during that 1956 presidential campaign. Three years later, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 3rd district of Indiana. Over the years, John Brademas has made numerous enduring contributions for the great State of Indiana and for our Nation. His accomplishments and contributions are as impressive as they are numerous. As those of us who served with John know, he was for 22 years a particularly active member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, where he earned a highly distinguished reputation for his leadership in promoting education. He also worked tirelessly in support of landmark legislation, such as the Higher Education Acts of 1972 and 1976, which cleared the way for more Americans to gain access to financial aid. Dr. Brademas was also the primary sponsor of legislation improving elementary and secondary education, vocational education, as well as services for the elderly and the handicapped. Following his retirement from Congress, Dr. Brademas served by appointment of the House Speaker Tip O'Neill on the National Commission on Student Financial Assistance and chaired its Subcommittee on Graduate Education. Upon leaving Congress, John Brademas became president of NYU, New York University, our Nation's largest private university, a position in which he served for 11 years. In 1984, he initiated fund-raising campaigns that produced a total of $1 billion over 10 years. The New York Times headline from that time read, ``A decade and a billion dollars put New York University in first rank.'' Now, president emeritus, Dr. Brademas is also chairman, by appointment of President Clinton, of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. In 1997, this committee released Creative America, a report to the President recommending new and innovative ways to strengthen support and improve on private and public education for these two fields. In addition to his responsibilities at NYU, Dr. Brademas is currently the chairman of the board of the National Endowment for Democracy and serves on the Consultants' Panel to the Comptroller General of the United States. I am proud to sponsor this bipartisan legislation, and am pleased that all 10 members of the Indiana delegation of the House of Representatives are original cosponsors. This measure is a fitting tribute to one of the great leaders and educators to have served in Congress, and I strongly encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2938.

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reiterate my support for the designation of the South Bend Post Office in honor of a former colleague, Mr. John Brademas. Throughout the 22 years Mr. Brademas' devoted to representing Indiana's Third District in the United States Congress, his demonstrated commitment to improving our country's education system was extremely significant. As former House Majority Whip and a former member of the Committee on Education and Labor, Mr. Brademas led the efforts to enact much of the legislation regarding education produced during his tenure in Congress. The State of Indiana is quite proud to have been represented by a man of such distinction and intellect. After his Congressional service, Mr. Brademas led New York University as its president from 1981 to 1992 and was appointed by President Clinton to chair the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 1994. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure that will honor a very accomplished former Member and will make tangible our appreciation for his tireless commitment to serving the public.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I am certainly appreciative of my colleagues and the other gentlemen who have come together to form the Congressional Fatherhood Task Force and appreciative of their work. Madam Speaker, I would like to preface my remarks by saying that I am probably one of the few Members in Congress who knows how it is to grow up in a home with a single parent, and that does not in any way distract from the good work of my dear mother, obviously, I am now in Congress. I know that she smiles upon me from heaven, and it was indeed a struggle, and I would have wanted very much to have had a father in the home. So I guess my remarks are not only those that are prepared, but ones that speaks from the heart, having lived and breathed a single parent household for all of my childhood life. David Blankethorn published a book, Madam Speaker, and Members called Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem, criticizing the American culture and social institutions for undermining the father's role in the family and weakening the bond between men and their children. This book along with many other publications provides, I believe, a foundation for the fatherhood movement that has surged over the last 5 years, and I am so happy that we are now about to do the business about giving some vital and needed attention to this whole question of fatherhood and what fatherhood is and what it is not in terms of our children across the country. Society and our many systems would have us believe that financial support from fathers is a primary need for many of our children that are currently being raised by single mothers. Unfortunately, financial support from fathers is not the only need of these children and in some instances may not be the critical need as we have been led to believe. Emotional support, love and stability is just as important for a child as financial support from a father. Fathers are important to their children and should play an important role in their lives beyond the role of being the breadwinner. Poor children need love and support just like any other children. Fathers need to have a relationship with their children regardless of their financial status. Unfortunately, many poor fathers are viewed as deadbeat dads instead of dead broke dads. It is not that these fathers are unwillingly to financially support their children, it is that they are unable to do so due to many societal challenges, unemployment and underemployment. I believe it is imperative to recognize the importance of the noncustodial father for their efforts instead of berating them for their inability to pay a fixed amount of child support each month. Many fathers are active in the lives of their children because they want to be very active in the lives of their children not because they have to be active in the lives of their children. Some men are silent, unfortunately, cohabitating with partners without the benefit of marriage, because the women sometimes see very limited income from welfare, and the presence of the father would jeopardize the household from getting the kind of benefits that are available for a mother and child. Many women who are low income, underemployed would very much like for the child's father to be there and provide some of the support that they need. We understand that a lot of the fathers, when they suffer from low literacy and poor employment history and, unfortunately, the wars in which America has been engaged has perpetuated a lot of substance abuse and a lot of fatherless children. There is an array of issues, Madam Speaker, that we should be examining as a United States Congress to see if we can dismantle some of the obstacles that prevent fathers from being with their children and develop policy that encourages rather than discourage the fermenting of the family unit. It is time for us to support responsible fatherhood. I support the amendment enthusiastically and applaud the vision and the creativity of my colleagues in this august body for bringing it before this chamber. I would encourage support.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I thank the chairman of the committee and certainly the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, the outstanding veteran himself, and certainly the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), for the eloquent, articulate, and thorough presentation on behalf of this needed resolution. I remember, Mr. Speaker, the heroism of the Buffalo soldiers serving in the vast West as our Nation grew to the Pacific many years ago, a fine tradition. Today, it is altogether fitting that we honor and recognize the service of minority veterans in our armed forces during World War II. All together, some 1.2 million African Americans served alongside 300,000 Hispanic Americans; and 50,000 Asian Americans served during World War II, shoulder-to-shoulder with other Americans, in the common cause of defeating the Axis powers. The ordinary ground-pounding soldiers served uncommonly well, with great courage, in segregated units. The trials and tribulations of the black men who wanted to fly, our Tuskegee Airmen, who grew wings to show the way for a generation; the extraordinary valor of our soldiers of Asian descent, fighting fiercely in Europe, even as many of their families were imprisoned in camps in our West; our Native American code-talkers who used their languages to puzzle and defeat Japanese eavesdroppers, far from their tribal lands. Those who served so well truly deserve our special honor but, Mr. Speaker, the happy result of relative peace for us in these times is, at the same time, a sort of sad fact for America. Our veterans, no matter their race, color, or national origin, are a minority. Few who benefit from our life and our liberties each day have ever had occasion to serve our flag, have ever put themselves in harm's way for our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with humility and a deep sense of gratitude for those men and women who fought and who sacrificed themselves for the freedom of this country to preserve the principle of having one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all people. Mr. Speaker, for our minority veterans, for our veterans' minority, let us remember the service, the sacrifice of all, especially for this day of honor for minority soldiers. Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful that I have had an opportunity to speak on this resolution.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding me this time, and I express my appreciation for those responsible for bringing into fruition and to the House today the Cardiac Survival Act of 1999. I would like to indicate in my remarks that heart disease, of course, is the leading cause of death among women in this country, and anything we can do as a body politic to allay future problems with health and heart attacks among women that take them out, we need to do that. Each year more than 250,000 adults suffer cardiac arrest, and more than 95 percent of them die. The Cardiac Survival Act of 1999 increases access to defibrillators in public buildings, and certainly it will save lives. Every minute that passes before returning the heart to a normal rhythm after a cardiac arrest causes the chance of survival to fall by 10 percent. That is for every minute. It is clear that in cases of cardiac arrest, time is of essence. For instance, in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana, I remember hearing about a very frightening incident of a middle-aged man who was in full cardiac arrest while jogging at the National Institute For Fitness and Sports, where I am also a member. Thanks to the quick and heroic efforts of the staff at NIFS, who had access to a defibrillator, were trained in its operation, the man's life was saved. Mr. Speaker, we have seen to it that we have these devices here for our safety and for the safety of those who visit here. It is fitting that we act to extend this benefit to more Americans in every place that we possibly can. I am pleased to support this legislation, Mr. Speaker, because it increases access to vital lifesaving technologies.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent yesterday, Tuesday, May 2, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 131 and 132. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on roll call vote 131 and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 132.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, last month Indiana lost a favorite son of great distinction, a living legend of Indiana history. I rise to acquaint the larger world with Dr. Herman B. Wells of Indiana University who died at the age of 97. The standard details of his life mark great attainment: Economics professor, then Dean of the Business School, he became President of the University in 1937, and served until 1962. Then, retiring not at all, he continued his service as Chancellor of the University until his death. Were that all there was, he would be worthy of great honor. But there was more, marking his true greatness: he gave himself to the University and to its many thousands of students, leading learning and leading change in important ways. He protected controversial research; he developed a world-class school of music; he used his personal power to roll back racial discrimination at the campus; he helped the school to integrate its basketball team; and, friend and counselor to generations of students, with his counsel he helped make Indiana and the Nation a better place. In our loss of Herman Wells, Indiana has lost a towering figure of American higher education.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of his motion to instruct conferees. I am joined by the honorable gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender- McDonald). This motion to instruct, Mr. Speaker, promotes the enforcement of existing gun safety laws and advocates for common sense gun safety measures that protect children. Just today, Mr. Speaker, in my clips that I receive from my Indianapolis office, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, an 8-year-old boy is lucky to be alive after his 12-year-old brother accidentally shot him while playing with a gun. In Franklin, Indiana, Mr. Speaker, a boy charged in the fatal shooting of his cousin has been moved to a private residential treatment center in Pennsylvania. The boy was charged with criminal recklessness for tampering with his father's illegal gun when he fired it, killing 7-year-old Curtis Smith. Mr. Speaker, I have been intrigued by the colloquy that has occurred between the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and believe that what I heard is that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) is willing to support the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and others in their motion to instruct the conferees. I am very excited about that. I think it is a time that is long overdue, and I applaud the two gentlemen for their agreement on moving forward with sensible gun legislation in the way that they have described. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the motion to instruct offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers). This motion to instruct promotes the enforcement of existing gun safety laws and advocates for common-sense gun safety measures that protect children. I am outraged that once again we are standing here talking about gun violence and yet Congress has failed to act and protect our children. Over three weeks ago, the House went on record in support of the juvenile justice conference committee holding a meeting within two weeks. As of today, that deadline goes ignored. We are now standing here again to ask the conferees to move forward and take action. What are we waiting for? How many more children have to die? This Congressional do-nothing approach on gun violence shows Americans that the NRA lobby is more important than our children. We have all too often witnessed the devastating effect that gun violence has on our children. Nearly 12 children die each day from gunfire in America, approximately one every two hours. That is the equivalent of a classroom of children every two days. Next week is the anniversary of Columbine and we still have not passed strong commonsense gun legislation. We have seen a six-year-old shoot and kill his classmate and yet we have failed to provide preventative measures to protect our children. Recently, I spoke with children from an elementary school within my district (the 10th district of Indiana) about gun violence. I asked the children how many had guns in their homes. About half raised their hands. I asked how many knew where these guns were in their homes. Most of them knew where to find the guns. The answers to these questions show the scary reality that children face in this country. I call on the Republican leadership to join together with Democrats in order to promote passage of sensible gun legislation that closes the gun show loophole, requires registration and licensing for all gun owners, and provides child-safety devices on handguns. We, as Members of Congress, have the great privilege of establishing laws that promote the well-being of Americans, but with that privilege comes great responsibility to do what is right and what is ethical--and that is, supporting strong gun safety legislation and protecting our children. Please, stand up for our children and support the motion to instruct.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, every day across this country, our children are dying due to gun violence. Yet, Congress has failed to stop the killing and protect our children. Over 2 weeks ago, the House went on record in support of the juvenile justice conference committee holding a meeting within 2 weeks. Their deadline has been ignored. I am outraged that Congress has failed to move forward on gun safety legislation. How many more children have to die before we pass strong preventative child gun legislation? My bill, H.R. 515, the Child Handgun Injury Prevention Act, which I introduced in the first session of this Congress, is a bill to prevent children from injuring themselves with handguns. If enacted, this bill would require child-safety devices on handguns and establish standards and testing procedures for those devices. As of today, we have 76 cosponsors. We cannot call ourselves ethical leaders when we stand by and do nothing while our children are being killed by gun violence. We have a moral responsibility to pass laws that protect our schools, our communities, and our families, a great act on our part prior to Mother's Day.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ask my fellow colleagues a very important question: When is enough? Every day across the country our children are dying due to gun violence, and yet Congress has failed to stop the killing and protect our children. I want to commend the Smith & Wesson agreement to provide safety locks on their handguns within 60 days and to make them child resistant within a year. I would encourage the manufacturers of Glock, who have the market on the law enforcement guns across this country, to follow suit. Although this is a monumental step in the right direction for the gun industry, Members of Congress still have a long way to go to protect our children and our communities. My bill, H.R. 515, the Child Handgun and Injury Prevention Act, which I introduced in the first session of this Congress, would require child safety devices on all newly manufactured handguns. We have 72 cosponsors. We need another 363 cosponsors. Mr. Speaker, we need to provide sensible gun legislation which would mandate child safety protection devices on handguns.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, we have seen Members of Congress one by one come to the microphone before national television urging Americans to stand up and be counted in the 2000 Census. I would add to that call and would also urge Congress to stand up and be counted and start counting the nearly 12 children who die each day from gunfire in America, approximately one every 2 hours, which is equivalent to a classroom of children every 2 days. Why is it that Congress wants America to stand up and be counted and Congress is unwilling to stand up and be counted itself on legislation that would reduce youth crime and promote safety in our schools and communities? That is what legislation that I have does, the Child Handgun Injury and Prevention Act, which is a bill to prevent children from injuring themselves with handguns, requiring safety devices on handguns, and establishing standards and tests and procedures for these devices. As of today, we have 68 cosponsors. I would like for 435 Members of Congress to stand up and be counted.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 431, a bill to support humanitarian relief assistance to the Republic of Mozambique. The people of Mozambique have suffered tremendous hardship due to rains that started over a month ago. The flood's side effects of disease, homelessness, and hunger are even more damaging when coupled with 2 million displaced land mines left over from the civil war. Just as the people of Mozambique seem to be turning the corner to independence, democratic government, and economic advancement, this tragic event has occurred that only, some say, only a God in heaven can control. As humans, we cannot rationalize or understand nature's catastrophes. As a country, we must follow our belief that not only is the aid to Mozambique necessary because of our national interests and stability, but also because of our moral interest. If there is any short-term gain in this tragedy, it is an opportunity to pass the test of compassion, charity, and humanity that God administers. I reiterate and encourage the Members of this august body to support H.R. 431, which will provide humanitarian relief assistance to the Republic of Mozambique.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome the National Federation of State High School Associations to their new home in Indianapolis. The federation was started in 1920 by educators dedicated to the development of young people, and it promotes participation in sportsmanship with the goal of developing good citizens through interscholastic activities. Through participation in these activities, young people gain the skills necessary to succeed in life. Skills like teamwork, respect for themselves and others, dedication to their communities, and pride in a job well done. I am very privileged to have the National Federation of State High School Associations in their new home in my Congressional District in Indianapolis. The Federation writes playing rules and coordinates the administration of high school sports and activities in the United States. Their mission is to provide the necessary leadership to enhance the educational experiences of high school students and reduce the risks of their participation. The Federation was started in 1920 by educators dedicated to the development of young people as productive citizens in our nation through the medium of activities. It provides essential services to the nation's 18,000 high schools. Each year, more than 6,500,000 young people participate in high school sports, and another 4,000,000 participate in the fine arts programs of speech, debate and music. The Federation publishes playing rules in 16 sports for boys and girls competition and provides programs and services that its member state associations can and do utilize in all 50 states. The Federation seeks to provide equitable opportunities, positive recognition and learning experiences to students while maximizing the achievement of educational goals. After school programs also go a long way in the physical and emotional development of our nation's youth. Through their annual sponsorship of National Student-Athlete Day, the Federation has helped to recognize more than 500,000 students nationwide not only for excellence in athletic achievement but academic achievement excellence and community service as well. The Department of Health and Human Services has documented that participation in extracurricular activities reduces dropout rates, diminishes the rates of drug abuse and teen pregnancy, and enhances academic performance. Time and time again we hear about the increase in teenage crime between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. I strongly support the goals of the Federation in their attempts to provide an alternative for our nation's youth to work at something productive rather than something destructive. Interscholastic activities are a part of the educational curriculum and experience in our schools and must always remain as such. The responsibility of retaining their place as an integral part of the educational process of young people rests with the Federation. I am proud that the National High School Federation, like the NCAA before it, has chosen Indianapolis as its new home. I look forward to working closely with them to increase the extra-curricular opportunities for our nations high school students. Indianapolis is a great city for amateur and professional sports, and we will help the Federation continue its fine work on behalf of our nation's young people.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I speak today about the devastating tragedy in Mount Morris Township, Michigan, at Buell Elementary School, where a 6-year-old girl was shot and killed by a 6-year-old schoolmate. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and to the schools and to the communities in this very devastating period of their lives. Gun violence is an invasive problem within our society, with children often becoming the victims, perpetuated, unfortunately, by children. Unfortunately, the tragedy in Michigan is not the first. We have all too often witnessed horrific school violence throughout the Nation, tragic stories of children being killed in schools in West Paducah, Kentucky; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Littleton, Colorado; and now in Mount Morris township, Michigan. We have been shown that Americans are devastated by the impact that gun violence has on our children. Nearly 12 children die each day from gunfire in America, approximately one every two hours. That is equivalent to a classroom of children every 2 days. Gun violence is an equal opportunity disaster. Of the nearly 80,000 children killed by gunfire since 1979, 61 percent were white and 36 percent were black. The National School Boards Association estimates that more than 135 guns are brought into the U.S. schools each day. Ten percent of all public schools experienced one or more serious crimes such as murder, rape, suicide, physical attack with a weapon, or robbery during the 1996-1997 school year that were reported to law enforcement. Within my district, Indianapolis, Indiana's Tenth Congressional District, guns were confiscated on the Indianapolis public school property in 14 separate incidents. In December in Indianapolis, a 7th grader shot an eighth grader while riding a bus home from school. I am outraged and saddened by the school violence that invades our schools, our communities, and our homes. Schools should be a safe haven for children to learn and to thrive and grow, where violence is not a fear for our children. The bill that I introduced, H.R. 515, the Child Handgun Injury Prevention Act, which is a bill to prevent children from injuring themselves with handguns, requires child safety devices on handguns, and establishes standards and testing procedures for those devices. It does not describe specifically what kind of safety device, but it does, indeed, ask for a safety device. At present it has only 66 cosponsors, not nearly enough. I would encourage my colleagues to rise to the challenge, avoid the resistance from anti-gun control lobbying advocates, take a strong stance against violence in our schools, and stand up for our children. Promoting strong child handgun prevention legislation is not only the right thing to do; indeed, it is the moral thing to do.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) a member of this august body for whom I have the greatest admiration and the respect for in terms of her commitment to justice and equality for all people. I am very happy that my distinguished colleague has allowed me to be just a very brief part of this black history celebration in the month of February that was inspired by Carter G. Woodson many years ago, first as the Negro History Week, if you will, and later extended to a whole month. It is ironic, I believe, that it is in the shortest month of the year, that is, the month of February, given that we have so many virtues to extol of so many African Americans who have done a yeoman's job in building this great Nation in which we all enjoy freedom. Very briefly, let me pay a special tribute to a young man, a young man who at the age of 108 years old just last year made his transition, Dr. John Morton-Finney. At the time of his transition he was believed to be the oldest practicing attorney in the whole United States. But even more importantly, John Morton-Finney was the first teacher to join the staff of Crispus Attucks High School when it was opened in 1927, an African American school in my district for which I am a proud graduate that was built on the bedlam of racism but indeed produced some of the most outstanding scholars and noted sportsmen that this country has ever known. John Morton-Finney finally had the education center in Indianapolis named for him after a year of my insistence that began because John Morton-Finney's work, his life, his legacy is a hallmark in terms of the contributions of African Americans in my particular district; and it stands there as a beacon of hope, a beacon of testimony, a beacon of illustration of what people can be if they decide that that is what they want to be. John Morton-Finney had over 30 earned degrees. He headed up the language department. He was a quasi-scientist, quasi-inventor and just a noble, noble individual. I am so happy that our school board in Indianapolis finally got around to paying due where due was certainly earned because in the course of an ordinary life, many of us would leave some things undone, but in the life of John Morton-Finney it is a challenge to figure out what in the world it was that he did not do or what it was that he left unaccomplished and that is merely one of the qualities of his life so worth celebrating, especially in this month of African American history celebration for their contributions. I want to thank my colleagues that preceded me and thank the gentlewoman from Ohio specifically for bringing this to the floor of the United States Congress, to the ears and eyes of America and certainly for allowing little old me from Indianapolis, Indiana to have just an infinitesimally small part of this very vital process.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent yesterday, Monday, February 14, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 16 and 17. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 16 and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 17.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent Monday, January 31, 2000 through Wednesday February 2, 2000, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 2 through 7. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 2, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 3, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 4, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 5, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 6, and ``no'' on rollcall vote 7.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent for one vote today, Thursday, January 27, missing rollcall 1 on which I would have voted ``present''.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I am reintroducing legislation that would provide for private relief for the benefit of Adela Bailor and Darryl Bailor. As you know, private relief is available in only rare instances. I believe that the circumstances surrounding the Bailors' case qualifies under the rules for private legislation. The facts surrounding this case are clear and undisputed. Adela Bailor, while working for Prison Fellowship Ministries in Ft. 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 Bailors' 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 drug free 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, 1991, Mr. Holly was called into the Salvation Army office and was told that his drug test was positive for cocaine use. The 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 drug test failure, Mr. Holly simply announced that he was ``out of here'' and walked through the unlocked door. In the lawsuit, the Bailors' lost on a legal technically. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals recognized this technicality. The technicality was that, under law, apparently, no one had true custody of William Holly. The Federal Bureau of Prisons had legal custody of William Holly, but not physical custody. The Salvation Army had physical custody of William Holly, but not legal custody. Recognizing that this was legally untenable, the 7th Circuit recommended that Ms. Bailor apply to Congress for private relief. I ask that my colleagues join in this effort to eliminate this gross injustice for 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. 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 some legal loophole. the 7th Circuit has reviewed this case fully and has made its recommendation. Although Congress is not bound by such recommendation, Congress should give great deference to the legal analysis by the 7th Circuit, which has determined that Adela Bailor and Darryl Bailor fall into an unusual legal situation. Mr. Speaker, I urge you and all of my colleagues to support this legislation so that we may rectify a great wrong.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent for one vote on Tuesday, November 9, 1999, missing rollcall 578. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent Monday, November 8, 1999, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 574 through 576. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 574, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 575, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 576.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that would provide for private relief for the benefit of Adela Bailor and Darryl Bailor. As my colleagues know, private relief is available in only rare instances. I believe that the circumstances surrounding the Bailors' case qualifies under the rules for private legislation. The facts surrounding this case are clear and undisputed. Adela Bailor was working for Prison Fellowship Ministries in Fort Wayne, Indiana and 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 Bailors' 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 drug free and take a periodic drug test. Mr. Holly had a history of violence and drug abuse, including convictions for possession of heroin.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent Monday, November 1, 1999, and Tuesday, November 2, 1999, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 550 through 556. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 550, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 551, ``no'' on rollcall vote 552, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 553, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 554, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 555, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 556.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent Monday, October 25, 1999, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 533 through 536. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 533, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 534, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 535, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 536.

Ms. CARSON

Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent Thursday, October 14, 1999, and Monday, October 18, 1999, and as a result, missed rollcall votes 500 through 508. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote 500, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 501, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 502, ``no'' on rollcall vote 503, ``no'' on rollcall vote 504, ``present'' on rollcall vote 505, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 506, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 507, and ``yes'' on rollcall vote 508.