Donna Christensen

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 57) to repeal certain sections of the Act of May 26, 1936, pertaining to the Virgin Islands.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my chairman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4 on behalf of the Medicare beneficiaries in the U.S. Virgin Islands and all of the 43 million who need this bill. We have heard that H.R. 4 would only have a negligible effect on Federal Medicare spending. I doubt that. A recent report by Families USA showed that in several commonly used drugs, the lowest part D cost was still anywhere from 58 to 1,000 percent higher than the negotiated VA cost. That is why 90 percent of AARP members support H.R. 4. As a physician who took care of many elderly and disabled patients and as chair of the Health Braintrust of the Congressional Black Caucus, I know why we need H.R. 4. By lowering the price of prescription drugs as H.R. 4 will do, we will not only reduce Federal spending but also improve access to medication for millions of Americans with acute and chronic diseases, a disproportionate number of whom are racial and ethnic minorities. But we must also make sure that all medications including those like Bidil that is proven effective in African Americans are covered. This is yet another promise made by Democrats and must be another promise kept. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support my colleague and friend, Eleanor Holmes Norton, in her hard and long-fought efforts to secure full voting rights in this body for herself and her constituents, and I applaud her strong and persistent advocacy and leadership on this issue that is so important to the people of the District of Columbia. Democrats have long been committed to providing full voting rights to the residents of the District, and I am proud to stand here as a Democrat speaking out for this right as well. But there has also been, as you have heard, support across the aisle. When he was the chairman of the Government Reform Committee, Representative Tom Davis worked with Congresswoman Norton to get bipartisan agreement on legislation to give one voting representative to the mainly Democratic District of Columbia, and another to the largely Republican State of Utah. This effort led to the introduction of the District of Columbia Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act, 2006, last year, and this week, ranking member Davis kept his promise and joined Congresswoman Norton in reintroducing this bill into the 110th Congress. Mr. Speaker, as a Delegate in the House also without a vote, I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge also the fact that my constituents, and indeed the constituents of our colleagues from Guam, America Samoa and Puerto Rico, also would want their representative to have a full vote in the House as well. We recognize, however, that our time for this has not yet come. But certainly the time of our brothers and sisters in the District of Columbia has come and is very long overdue. The residents of the District have been laboring under this undemocratic status for more than 200 years. That is 200 years of justice delayed and justice denied. Presidents as far back as Andrew Jackson have advocated for full representation in Congress for the District, and much later, President Richard Nixon in a special message to the Congress on the District of Columbia in 1969 said, ``It should offend the democratic sense of the Nation that the 850,000 residents of its capital, comprising a population larger than 11 of its States, have no voice in Congress.'' Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when all citizens under the American flag will enjoy the democratic right of full representation in their national assembly as well as vote for our President and Commander-in-Chief. Until that day comes, I look forward to witnessing soon the day when residents of the District of Columbia, residents of the capital of our Nation, finally receive fair and equal voting rights in the House, the day that they will finally have justice. I urge my colleagues to support the District of Columbia Equal House Voting Rights Act and end taxation without representation for our fellow citizens in the District of Columbia.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as a physician, a mother and a representative of many who would benefit from H.R. 3, in strong support of H.R. 3 which would expand Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, increase stem cell lines and impose strict ethical guidelines. These stem cells would otherwise be destroyed. So this is not a faith issue, a theological conundrum or a partisan issue. It is a public health issue and one of maintaining this country's leadership in the world. This bill is important to minorities and the Congressional Black Caucus because embryonic stem cell research will help reduce and even eliminate the health care disparities that now leave African Americans and other people of color more likely to be disabled or die from the diseases it can cure. As a physician I have treated individuals with some of these diseases--Parkinson's, sickle cell, ALS and others--and despite using all we had available too often stood helplessly with their families as the conditions took their toll. Today we can change that and we must. As a mother and a grandmother of three, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3 and create a healthier and better country for all of us.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2-- increasing the minimum wage. This is an important piece of legislation and one that has been over due for many years. The Federal minimum wage has not been increased in 10 years and the buying power of the Federal minimum wage is at its lowest level in 51 years. I am proud to say that my district, the US Virgin Islands, has been ahead of the game by increasing the minimum wage to $6.15 an hour last year--the second increase in 2 years--affecting more than 14,000 workers in the territory. This increase was supported by private sector leaders, who indicated that they were prepared to take on the wage increase, acknowledging that while the increase does impact business, it was manageable--purporting the true American spirit of prosperity for all. Minimum wage increase is important to all Americans but impacts women by greater proportions. Two-thirds of workers over age 16 who work at or below the minimum wage are women. Studies of low-wage workers show that the main beneficiaries of this increase would be working women, almost 1 million of who are single mothers. The minimum wage increase would help to reduce the overall pay gap between women and men. Mr. Speaker, raising the minimum wage will help to raise the income of many low-income families, especially those headed by single mothers. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2 and pass this long overdue increase in our national wages.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues from the Wolverine State, including our Resources Committee colleague, Mr. Kildee, and the dean of the House, Representative John Dingell, have worked diligently to get this measure to the House floor today, and we applaud their efforts. We have no objection to S. 1346 and look forward to the results of the study authorizing this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained this bill. I would simply note that we share more than a long border with our neighbors in Mexico. We also share very scarce surface water and groundwater supplies. Rapidly growing cities along the border need to understand these water supplies so that they can make decisions about how best to use them now and to preserve them for the future. We strongly support the adoption of S. 214. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1829, companion legislation to one I introduced to repeal an outdated 1936 Federal statute which limits the authority of the Virgin Islands government to assess and collect real property taxes in the territory. I will note that the Senate approved this measure as a stand-alone piece of legislation, but certain extraneous matters such as titles 1, 2, and 4 have been added to this bill by the Republican leadership which will require it to be reconsidered by the Senate. Mr. Speaker, it is crucial that we pass S. 1829, now title III, and have it enacted into law before we adjourn for the year to prevent some of my constituents from facing the very real risk of losing their homes because the Virgin Islands government would not be able to provide them protections from the sky-high property tax bills because of the 1936 statute. That statute was enacted to address the tax policies of the Danish era in the Virgin Islands. It was generally thought to have been repealed by the enactment of the Revised Organic Act of 1954, which created a comprehensive system within the local government with sufficient legislative powers to resolve local property tax issues without the need of Federal intervention. S. 1829 and H.R. 59, which I introduced in the House, became necessary because 2 years ago the Third Circuit Federal Court of Appeals revived the 1936 statute, which requires that all real property be taxed at the same rate without regard to classification or use. This decision, among other things, struck down a local statute capping the amount of any increase in the assessment of residential real property and, therefore, any increase in the property tax owed in any assessment period. It also prevents any exemptions for veterans and other groups who ought to have such a benefit. If the 1936 law is not now repealed by Congress, it will hinder the exercise of the Virgin Islands government as conferred by the Revised Organic Act to assess, administer, and collect real property taxes in the Virgin Islands. Indeed, the 1936 statute puts at risk longstanding government policies designed to develop the economy, promote social welfare, and protect home ownership in the Virgin Islands. Without the authority to limit such increases by capping such assessments or similar methods commonly used by other jurisdictions, the now revived 1936 statute may have the anomalous result of pricing land and home ownership beyond the reach of many Virgin Islanders. It has long outlived its usefulness and now interferes with the Virgin Islands' ability to perform an essential government function. The assessment and collection of real property taxes is fundamentally a local government issue with no Federal impact. No other State, territorial or local government is subject to such Federal restrictions. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I didn't point out my deep disappointment of the fact that we are not voting on S. 1829 as a stand-alone bill. By including additional items in the bill, it becomes possible that the repeal of the 1936 statute could not become law before Congress adjourns because of procedural complications in the other body. I hope that is not the case, because it would be extremely lamentable if, because of that result, many of my constituents would receive very high tax bills this coming January and there would be no way that they could afford to pay, and that could in fact mean the loss of their homes. So I am calling on my colleagues, whose bills were added to this otherwise simple but very significant measure, and the leadership to work with me in the remaining day or days of this Congress to save the American dream for their fellow Americans living in the Virgin Islands who have, alongside citizens from all of the other districts, served this country at every level, even to the ultimate sacrifice in every war this country has fought. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. General Leave

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. The majority has already explained the bill, Mr. Speaker, and I would add that it presents an exciting opportunity to solve critical water problems for rural communities with unreliable or contaminated drinking water supplies. Mr. Speaker, we support adoption of S. 895. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 3930, the Military Commission Act of 2006 because it is too broad, overly inclusive and potentially unconstitutional. While I also vividly remember the horrors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I believe that Congress should carefully and constitutionally craft a bill which effectively punishes all terrorists and potential terrorists while at the same time maintaining the safety and security of our citizens from future terrorist attacks. The definition of an ``unlawful combatant'' in Section 948(a.) of this bill is indicative of its over-inclusiveness. It creates legal loopholes and in my view, leaves even U.S. Citizens vulnerable to being classified as unlawful combatants. This definition does not exclude nor does it seek to exclude U.S. Citizens from being indefinitely detained. The President or one of his designees can simply determine that a fellow U.S. Citizen is an ``unlawful enemy combatant'' and this would suffice as sufficient evidence to detain this citizen indefinitely without any access to his family, an attorney or any form of judicial review. Furthermore, the term ``purposefully and materially supported hostilities'' is overly broad and would lead to many innocent acts being transformed into terrorist activities. In an article, Aziz Huq astutely demonstrates the broadness of the term by showing how a fictional character that owns a bodega and allowed Lebanese immigrants to use its services to send money to ``West Beqaa'', an area within the Hezbollah controlled area of Lebanon protectorate is found to have ``purposefully and materially supported hostilities. This scenario is not very far-fetched, this piece of legislation has the potential to impact the very foundation of civil liberties and fundamental freedoms on which this country is built. It will impact the American Citizen's freedom of speech, freedom of association and the list could go on. The bill also further undermines U.S. credibility in the eyes of the international community by granting the President the authority to interpret Art. III of the Geneva Convention an international treaty to which the U.S. is a signatory. This language sets a bad precedence in the international community and only frustrates the goals of established international laws, norms and customs. If the U.S. President is allowed to reinterpret and apply an international treaty, what would stop other nations from doing the same? Additionally, as noted in his letter to Senator McCain, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, posited that allowing the President to interpret the Geneva Convention would expose U.S. soldiers to more dangers. Colin Powell emphatically opposed this provision. S. 3930 also violates separation of powers and the constitutional protection this provides, by stripping the federal court of its habeas review. The independence of the judiciary is one of the fundamental principles on which this democracy is built. Under this bill, the normal appeals process would not be available to the detained ``unlawful enemy combatant.'' Instead the detainee who wishes to appeal an adverse decision has to appeal to a newly established ``Court of Military Commission Review''. Terrorists must be brought to justice and we must act accordingly to secure our country and our citizens. However, these same goals can be achieved in a constitutional manner. I urge my colleagues to oppose this unworthy bill.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to G. Luz A. James, Esquire, affectionately known as ``Luz James'', a Native Son of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and an individual who distinguished himself by living a life of service to the people and community of the U.S. Virgin Islands and to our Nation. Luz James served the Virgin Islands community as an educator in the field of Mathematics and Science and was so effective that many of his students found ease in understanding the difficult subjects and some later became teachers because of exposure to his style. Among his numerous honors and recognitions was the conferring of the rank of Honorary Policeman by one of our last appointed governors, Walter A. Gordon. He worked in the Virgin Islands Public Works Department; was a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; the Assistant Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Urban Renewal Program, which started developing and renovating depressed areas of the islands at the beginning of the economic boom in the 1960's and the Special Assistant to Governor Ralph M. Paiewonsky in the Office of Public Relations. He was also elected as the first President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce for St. Croix. Luz was also elected as a Senator in the 12th Legislature of the Virgin Islands, continuing a political tradition that began with his father, who served on the Municipal Council. His brother, Randall, served four terms as a Senator; his oldest son, Luz II served two terms in the Legislature before being elected Lt. Governor for the first term of our present Governor's Administration. One of his nieces ran for a seat in the Legislature and a nephew is presently seeking re-election for a second term. Luz was also the first Scoutmaster and Founder of Boy Scout Troop 151, under the sponsorship of the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, the church in which he was baptized and had a long and involved relationship with throughout his life. He served the church in many positions and was the church's Sacristan at the time of his death. His education began at the school associated with the church, St. Mary's, under the tutelage of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Sisters helped kindle his love of the church, and his deep spirituality. Luz was known for his generosity and kindness and he would visit some of the Sisters that had taught him during his childhood. His family has been a member of the Holy Cross Church for more than a century. Luz James also had a distinguished military career that began as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon his graduation from Howard University in 1950 and served a tour of duty years later as an Artillery Officer at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was credited with the formation of the U.S. Army Reserve Units in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Governor Melvin H. Evans appointed him as the first Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands, which gained him the distinction of being the first African-American to serve as an Adjutant General in the in Army National Guard of the United States. At the time of his untimely passing, he and the National Guard were in the process of preparing a pinning ceremony for his promotion to the rank of Brigadier General, during a ceremony that was being planned for next month. Luz James entered Law School in his mid forties, graduated, became a member of the Virgin Islands Bar Association and had one of the busiest practices on the island of St. Croix. He was also a member of the National and the American Bar Associations. This accomplishment, returning to get his Juris Doctorate degree, was one that inspired three other members of his family to enter the legal field and vividly impressed his youngest son, a medical doctor that an education and desire for self improvement can continue throughout a person's lifetime. In addition to helping many members of his considerable extended family, Luz assisted many Virgin Islanders to pursue and continue their formal educations. Luz James became a disc jockey during the 1950's, which began his love affair with the broadcasting industry. He and one of his brothers, Randall, a medical doctor, had popular shows on one of the local stations. He later formed Family Broadcasting, Inc., when he acquired WSTX AM and FM, the fulfillment of a dream, which allowed him to revive the show, ``Crucian Confusion'', a program he originally aired during his first days on the air. One of his greatest attributes was his willingness to help any person in need, sometimes to his detriment and he would part with his last dollar, without any hesitation, if it would benefit someone else. He served on practically every civic group formed on St. Croix and has been recognized and cited for outstanding contributions to the community from such groups as the Hospital Auxiliary, Parent Teacher Association, the A.M.E. Church, the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Crucian Forty Plus Baseball Club, the V.I. Midwives Association and the V.I. PAC, a New York based group comprised of Virgin Islanders. Born on the island of St. Croix, Luz James was the youngest of four brothers that all made significant contributions to the Virgin Islands and to the Nation. He was the last surviving of the brothers and his death on September 17, 2006, ended an illustrious chapter in Virgin Islands history of outstanding community involvement and achievement by one particular generation of a family. On behalf of the 109th Congress of the United States of America, I salute G. Luz A. James, Esquire, for his dedicated service to his home and community of the Virgin Islands and to his country. I thank his wife Asta and children Barbara, Gerard Luz II, Emmeth and Kelsey, their children and grandchildren, for being the supporting base that permitted him to be shared with a community that is beginning to comprehend his many contributions and the extent of the community's loss.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to tell just part of the Herculean and steadfast efforts, the story of the CBC to control HIV/ AIDS and reverse its tragic toll in our communities. I came here 10 years ago and cut my congressional teeth working with and learning from Maxine Waters and Lou Stokes as we created the Minority AIDS Initiative. In 1998, the Clinton administration responded to our call for a state of emergency with an investment of $158 million, which grew to $400 million. Despite our repeated calls to action under this administration, funding has been stagnant; capacity-building in communities of color, the hardest hit, has been lost; and we have been burdened by political and ideological policies that caused lives to be destroyed or lost. So today African Americans are more than 50 percent of new HIV and AIDS cases, and our death rate is almost three times that of whites. We are again in crisis. We need a state of emergency for our health. Each and every CBC member has always and will continue to do their part here in our districts and, with Barbara Lee, across the world. We call on Congress and the President to respond.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in applauding Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell for their leadership on health matters and for ensuring that we could pass the reauthorization of NIH before we go home. I also commend my CBC colleague and friend, Bobby Rush, for leading the effort to preserve the integrity of the National Center for Minority Health Disparity Research. I am pleased that the reauthorization of NIH will allow the nation's premiere research centers and institutes to continue to play a critically important role advancing efforts to beat HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and cancer, as well as racial and ethnic health disparities among men, women and children in this country. As a physician, I know--first hand--how critically important and valuable sound research is to the medical and health care community. As the Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, I know that racial and ethnic health disparities have and continue to leave millions of Americans in poorer health and more likely to die from preventable conditions. Mr. Speaker, I also know that strategies to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in chronic and acute conditions will never be successful without strong biomedical and bio-behavioral research--the very research the Center was created to lead, coordinate support and assess at NIH. This center is the product of the hard work of many individuals in and out of Congress and embodies the promise of modern and future medicine to close the gaps in health care experienced by people of color and improve the health of all Americans as we also contribute to resolving some of the world's pressing health challenges. It is my hope that as we reform the NIH and place more authority in the office of Director that the integrity of the scientific process will continue to be respected and protected from political and ideological interference. I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of H.R. 6164.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 1030 to express a sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Border Patrol is performing an invaluable service to the United States, and that the House of Representatives fully supports the more than 12,000 Border Patrol agents. As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I know well the important role the Border Patrol plays in defending and protecting our homeland from foreign threats. I strongly support this resolution because Border Security is an issue of utmost importance to my district the U.S. Virgin Islands and have in the past, proposed legislations to require the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, to establish a Border Patrol Unit in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The security of the residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as the mainland residents is greatly compromised. The U.S. V.I. contains over 175 miles of open unprotected borders which provides a viable alternative for terrorists, human smugglers and drug smugglers to gain access to the U.S. mainland because we are only 1,600 kilometers away from the U.S mainland. Since 1998 Mr. Speaker, close to 1000 Chinese nationals have entered the U.S. Virgin Islands to transit undetectably into the mainland. These landings have occurred mainly during the pre-dawn hours at one of the several cays on the Island of St. John. The shear number of individuals who are able to infiltrate the island is indicia of vulnerability to a possible terrorist attack. The lack of a Border Patrol Security Unit, has placed an unreasonable burden on other Federal agencies such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, which has to now spend considerable amount of man- hours apprehending, processing and detaining aliens in custody. This detracts from the time ICE would have to carryout its investigatory duties. Just last month, there was an article published in the Economist Magazine describing the V.S. V.I as ``America's most vulnerable point, a lovely place'' but ``woefully unprepared for a terrorist attack.'' The article points out that ``illegal aliens land in the Virgin Islands openly and regularly, yet they are rarely caught.'' Having a Border Patrol unit in the Virgin Islands, Mr. Speaker, will not only greatly enhance the security of the Virgin Islands, but the entire Nation as well. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1030.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Stark for yielding. Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt that health information technology, or HIT, holds great promise in helping us solve some of our most pressing health care issues, such as reducing escalating health care costs and medical errors. Yesterday I appeared before the Rules Committee to request that an amendment to H.R. 4157 be made in order which would ensure that HIT monitor and measure the racial, ethnic and geographic health disparities. The amendment, like others, was not accepted, and the committee lost an opportunity to make this bill better, to improve the health of millions of hard-working Americans who it is proven are discriminated against in health care and further reduce the health care costs caused by disparities. Disparities that cause, for example, the maternal mortality rate for African American women to be almost five times higher than that for their white counterparts; or the infant mortality rate in African Americans and American Indian/Alaska Natives to be more than two times higher; or although they account for just one-quarter of the total U.S. population, for Latino and African Americans to account for more than two-thirds of newly reported AIDS patients. A recent IOM report noted that anywhere from 44,000 to 98,000 deaths were caused each year by medical errors, but another report by former Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher found that health disparities caused more than 85,000 preventable deaths in African Americans every year. The amendment I sponsored would have played a key role in helping providers, executives and administrators in the health care system better ensure an equity in the delivery of health care that does not now exist, while at the same time, further reducing unnecessary health care costs. So today before us is a bill that doesn't have the needed privacy protections; it is underfunded, which ensures inequity will exist across the country; and does nothing to correct the greatest injustice of our time, the health care disparities that cause premature and preventable deaths and disability every day in this country that has the wherewithal to do better. I encourage my colleagues to oppose H.R. 4157.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, both Houses have passed legislation that would ensure funding for important research on embryonic stem cells and hold great promise of cures for diseases that have confounded scientists for years, diseases that have taken and continue to take many lives. Cord blood, while important, is only a small part of the answer. Adult stem cells is an unknown and too far into the future. Meanwhile, our loved ones continue to suffer and die. We in the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust work to improve the quality and length of life of minorities and all Americans. H.R. 810 becoming law is a critical part of that effort. A veto of this legislation would be conceding our country's moral leadership and leadership in medical science. A veto would put Americans at the mercy and largesse of other countries for our well- being. A veto of this legislation would be a veto of the right of many to a cure, to wellness and to life itself. We have to stand up against the conservative fundamental ideologues of the right, and we must stand up for life, for this important research, embryonic stem cell research, which has the potential to give the gift of life to millions. I cannot believe the President would veto a bill like this, but if he does, we owe it to our country to override.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the King amendment which would disenfranchise millions of Americans Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the Voting Rights Act is to ensure the right to vote to every American citizen. While I oppose all of the amendments to the bill, I rise now to specifically speak to the King amendment which would deny this fundamental right to American citizens who have not yet fully accomplished English proficiency, or who are just more comfortable with their primary language. Not only would the King amendment discriminate against the millions of naturalized citizens whose native language is Spanish, it would also discriminate against Native indigenous Americans in Alaska and American citizens who are Puerto Rican and for whom Spanish is their primary household language. This is a mean spirited amendment and must be voted down by every Member of this House of good will and who believes in a fair and just America. I urge my colleagues to oppose the King amendment.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 9, to reauthorize the expiring provision of the Voting Rights Act for another 25 years and in opposition to all amendments. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of the most important pieces of legislation ever passed by this body because it seeks to fulfill the promise of our democracy--the right of every citizen to vote; a promise which sadly today remains unfulfilled. Since the Voting Rights Act was passed 41 years ago, millions of minority voters were guaranteed a chance to make their voices heard in State, Federal and local elections across the country. Mr. Chairman, the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Judiciary Committee held more than 10 oversight hearings and assembled over 12,000 pages of testimony, documentary evidence and appendices from over 60 groups and individuals, including several Members of Congress on the continuing need for the expiring provisions of the VRA. The committee requested, received, and incorporated into its hearing record two comprehensive reports that have been compiled by NGOs that have expertise in voting rights litigation which extensively documented the extent to which discrimination against minorities in voting has and continues to occur. Mr. Chairman, my constituents in the Virgin Islands hold dear their right to vote as citizens of the United States. While we have only been able to elect our own local Governors and representative to Congress since 1970 and 1972 respectively, we have been electing members of local legislative council and later legislature for more than 100 years. Preventing Americans from voting because of race, color, or ethnic origin is repugnant to the democratic process and should always be rejected. I am proud to be able to stand here today on the shoulders of Fannie Lou Haner, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King and the other leaders of the struggle to ensure that all Americans have the right, to urge all of my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 9 and to oppose all of the amendments which will weaken the bill.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Congresswoman Velazquez's amendment to the SSJC Appropriations to restore funding to the Small Business Administration's 7(a) loan program. This amendment would enable us to lower the costs--in turn, opening up access to affordable capital for small businesses. For the last two years, the House overwhelmingly voted in a bipartisan fashion to provide funding for this amendment. This amendment proposes to use offsets from four different Salary and Expense accounts--Justice, Commerce, State and SBA. There will be $10 million taken from each S&E account to equal $40 million, an amount that will ease the burden on small businesses. Unfortunately, due to recent changes, the 7(a) loan program is falling short of its ability to serve as an affordable source of capital for small businesses. In the last two years, the fees small businesses pay to secure a loan through the SBA's 7(a) program have doubled. For small loans this translates into nearly $1,500 to $3,000 more in upfront closing costs for entrepreneurs--and can grow to a total cost of as much as $50,000. Without this amendment, my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, can potentially see an average increase in loan fees of $13,901 for 7(a) loans. In 2005, the total 7(a) loans made to U.S. Virgin Islands small business was approximately $3 million. Funding for the 7(a) program has garnered wide support from the small business community. Without funding the 7(a) program, small businesses will be negatively impacted. The Velazquez amendment will allow us to restore stability to the 7(a) program once again so that economic changes will no longer threaten the viability of the initiative--and most importantly the lending for small businesses. I urge my colleagues to once again vote for the Velazquez amendment to restore funding to the 7(a) loan program.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, as I rise this morning, my Virgin Islands community is paying a fond but sad farewell to a favorite son of St. Croix, Police Lieutenant Gregory Bennerson. Just to speak of his years as a policeman and rise to the position of commander of criminal investigations does not do full justice to his life and contributions. He dedicated much of his free time to youth and involved himself in many activities that uplifted and guided them to be the best they could be. Greg served as a senator in the 23rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands. He was well on his way to being elected once again, because our community values and needed his consistency, his diligence, his commitment to truth, to values, and to all of the people of the Virgin Islands. Greg was a devoted son, father, and solid, caring, selfless friend. It was out of this that his humanity became manifest and extended to everything else he did. We are all saddened by his loss, which touches my family and I personally. Although we grieve, we should take heart that knowing Greg won an even more important election. He now looks over and advocates for us in a far better and all-powerful place. May he rest in peace. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, my Virgin Islands community is saying a fond but sad farewell to a favorite and favored son of St. Croix, Lieutenant Gregory Bennerson of the Virgin Islands Police Department. As excellently as he has served the Department--just to speak of--his years of service as a policeman and his rise through the ranks to the position of Commander of Criminal Investigations does not do full justice to his life and contributions. A young man himself, he dedicated much of his free time to youth and worked with boys and girls clubs, was a PTA president and led the pre- cadet and Police Athletic League, but also involved himself in many other activities that uplifted our youth and guided them to be the best they could be. He also gave his time and support to domestic violence prevention and the Women's Coalition, as well as to improving health services at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital. Greg loved St. Croix and was its dedicated advocate and devoted servant. First a Republican following in the footsteps of his much revered dad, he became a Democrat and served his adopted party with commitment and passion. Greg served as a Senator in the 23rd Legislature of the Virgin Islands and at the time of his passing he was well on his way to being elected once again. Our community valued and needed his consistency, his diligence, his commitment to truth, to values, to right, and to all of the people of the Virgin Islands. Though a big tease, with a subtle sense of humor, more than anything else he was a devoted son, father, and solid, caring, and selfless friend. It was out of this that his humanity became manifest and extended to everything else he did. We are all saddened by his loss, which touches my family and me personally. As I said in tribute at a gathering at home, although we grieve, we should take heart knowing that Greg won an even more important election. He now looks over and advocates for us in a far better and all powerful place. May he rest in peace.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my time out of order.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the contributions of my fellow Caribbean-Americans as we celebrate the first Caribbean Heritage Month. I want to begin by commending the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) who I was privileged to join in introducing H. Res. 71, which expressed the sense of Congress that there should be established a Caribbean-American Heritage Month, and also to commend and applaud Dr. Claire Nelson and the staff and members of the Institute for Caribbean Studies, and to thank President Bush for making it official by signing the proclamation proclaiming June 2006 as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Mr. Speaker, I am a Caribbean-American, with family ties to Cuba, Antigua, the Virgin Islands and the U.S., and consider this achievement an important one. The contributions of the people of the Caribbean, which go back even before the birth of this Nation, span every field from sports to entertainment, politics, art and culture to labor organizing, and all are significant and need to be made known to all Americans. One of the most important persons of Caribbean descent in the founding of this country was Alexander Hamilton, a general in the American Revolution and our first Secretary of State. He was born on the island of Nevis and raised in St. Croix. In the struggle to end our enslavement, which I am sure was greatly inspired by the successful Haitian revolution, it is noteworthy that Denmark Vessey also came here from St. Thomas in the now U.S. Virgin Islands by way of the Guadeloupe to lead an unsuccessful, but the largest slave rebellion that was ever planned in this country. The ongoing fight for emancipation and liberation, my fellow Virgin Islander Edward Blyden, along with George Padmore, Marcus Garvey and Claude McKay, were among the first West Indian Americans to become well known and well respected leaders in the African American struggle for racial equality. Others from the Virgin Islands who also had their roots in other Caribbean islands, like Ashley Totten and Frank Crosswaith, who were born on St. Croix, helped to found some of the major labor unions still operating today. J. Raymond Jones from St. Thomas, also known as the Silver Fox, ran New York City politics in the 1900s, and those are only a few. Other famous West Indian Americans include former U.S. representative and first female presidential candidate Shirley Chisholm; Franklin Thomas, former head of the Ford Foundation; Federal Judge Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman appointed to the Federal judiciary; activists such as Stokely Carmichael, Kwame Toure, Roy Innis, Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan; as well as world renowned actor Sidney Poitier; civil rights activist and singer Harry Belafonte; Earl Greaves, philanthropist, businessman and publisher of Black Enterprise; and now Colin Powell, the first black U.S. Secretary of State, all have made impressive contributions to this country. Mr. Speaker, the small islands of the Caribbean also wield a cultural influence that have spread to the remote corners of the world. Our culture, notably the music, calypso, reggae, Afro-Cuban and their derivatives, which were created by and large by a people who were long considered marginalized, has spread far and wide and enjoys extensive popularity today. But more than just our musical influence, Nobel prizes for literature have gone to poets St. Jean Perse of Guadeloupe and Derek Walcott of St. Lucia from among a number of highly regarded Caribbean writers. Moreover, internationally admired painters Winfred Lam of Cuba and Leroy Clarke of Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti's ``naive'' artists took inspiration from a complex cosmology born from West African religions and Christianity. And Trinidad and Tobago's carnival was the basis for the breathtaking costumed parades designed by Peter Minshall of Guyana and Trinidad for the Barcelona, the Atlanta and the St. Lake City Olympics. The most important contribution of all, however, remains the close ties between this country and the nations of the Caribbean. Those ties are not only ties of geography, but of history, and most important of the common ideals of freedom, justice and democracy which guides our nations. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed fitting and proper that we honor the contributions of the people of the Caribbean to our history and culture. Indeed, if providence had not made it possible for our Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, to New York from my home island of St. Croix to further his education and work in New York City, we might not be celebrating the founding of this Nation next week, and instead, have remained a colony of the United Kingdom even today. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague who was here earlier, Ms. Lee, to pay tribute to the Caribbean-Americans who have given so much to this country, and to once again thank her and thank the members and the leaders of Institute for Caribbean Studies and to thank the President for the proclamation which named this month, June 2006, Caribbean-American Heritage Month.