Donna Christensen

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. (Mr. (Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA) asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, the Caribbean National Forest Wildlife and Scenic Rivers Act of 2002 was introduced by the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila), my friend and the distinguished Representative of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, on March 13, 2002. The bill would designate approximately 9.9 miles of three rivers, Rio Mameyes, Rio De La Mina, and Rio Icacos, within the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico as components of the National Wild and Scenic River System. The Forest Service found these river segments eligible and suitable for designation as National Wild and Scenic River in a study completed in 1997. The administration supports this bill, and I want to congratulate my colleague, the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, for his efforts and hard work on this bill, and I urge its adoption. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam 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 support of Congresswoman DeGette's Motion to Instruct Conferees on Department of Justice Authorization (H.R. 2215). This motion instructs conferees to agree to Senate provisions to strengthen the Violence Against Women Office and make it independent within the Justice Department. The Violence Against Women Office (VAWO) of the U.S. Department of Justice was created in 1995 to implement the laws and programs created under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Through the creation of VAWO, a clear voice of leadership on addressing domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault and trafficking from the federal government. VAWO has been a powerful voice within the Administration, ensuring that the safety of women and children is a top priority to the federal government. Because the Violence Against Women Office was never instituted under federal statute, the administration and management of the office has been at the discretion of leadership in the Department of Justice. Consequently, VAWO has been slowly stripped of much of its power and effectiveness. Presently, the Director of VAWO has very limited direct access to the Attorney General or the White House. At one point, VAWO helped advise every entity in the Justice Department charged with implementing and enforcing laws created by VAWO. VAWO has seen all the staff of that division, including its director, suddenly transferred to places in the Department where they can no longer work on policy issues regarding VAWO. Violence against women continues to remain a critical issue in our society that requires special attention. In the U.S., nearly 25% of women surveyed reported that they had been physically and/or sexually assaulted by a current or former intimate partner at some point in their lifetime, and 1 in 6 women has experienced an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. If VAWO will continue to be an integral part of developing and implementing the Administration policy on violence against women, it must have the authority to do so. The Senate version of H.R. 2215 creates an independent Office within the main area of Justice, giving it a high profile and guaranteeing the ability of the Office to make policy and assist other governmental agencies in their work on violence against women. I support this measure and urge my colleagues to do the same. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Women's Resource Center, The Safety Zone, and The Women's Coalition in the Virgin Islands. These are organizations in my district that work on violence against women issues.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3421, sponsored by my distinguished colleague and chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), authorizes the National Park Service to provide funds and services to supplement the educational services and facilities provided to the children of Yosemite National Park employees and the park concessionaire at three small local schools located within the park. The legislation provides a very unique arrangement for funding local schools. As such, a number of issues and problems with the bill as you have heard were raised during a December 2001 hearing on this bill. In fact, while the National Park Service expressed sympathy with the purpose of the bill, they, on behalf of the administration, initially opposed the measure. I appreciate the willingness of the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) to make a number of changes requested by the minority, including deleting the use of entrance and user fees to pay for the program, limiting funds to operations and services, and eliminating the authority of the Secretary to assume operation of the schools. There were also negotiations with the Committee on Education and the Workforce which shares jurisdiction on this matter with the Committee on Resources. As the result of those negotiations, the bill was further amended to include among other things a limit on the authorization of funds to 5 years and a cap on the funds of the lesser of $750,000 or the amount necessary to provide students with normal educational services. Mr. Speaker, as I noted earlier, this legislation provides a unique arrangement for funding what should be a local responsibility. However, with the changes that have been made to the bill, I have no objection to its consideration and passage today. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for yielding me the time. I am pleased to rise in support of H. Con. Res. 388, expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a National Minority Health and Disparities Month, and I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to my cosponsors of the resolution, my colleagues, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), and chairman of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood) for their willingness to join me in putting this important resolution forward. I also want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for their support in making it possible to bring this resolution to the floor of the House today. Mr. Speaker, pick any minority community across our great Nation or any of our Nation's rural areas and the reports will be the same. Minorities and people living in those rural areas, of all races and ethnicities, are dying of preventable diseases in alarmingly excessive numbers. Heart disease, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, stroke and kidney disease predominate as the leading causes of death in these groups in far greater numbers than that of white suburban or urban America. In addition, substance abuse and diminished mental health continue to take a staggering toll on many individuals in this group and undermine the well-being of our communities. This resolution in establishing a special month of focus on this national tragedy will hopefully forge a national resolve to close these gaps through increasing the awareness that gross disparities in health care continue to exist for people of color and those in our rural areas, which disrupt families, damage community and threaten our national security. 1645 While this resolution is only a beginning, I am pleased and honored to have had a role in bringing it to the floor today, because the existence and the impact of the centuries of disparities in health is a dark blot on this country's legacy, and it must be erased. Achieving this important goal will not only take a strong and unwavering commitment, but also a significant investment, which would yield immeasurable dividends in terms of the health of our constituents and our Nation. To do otherwise would result in dire consequences of monumental and far-reaching threats, not only to the financial stability of this Nation, but also to our collective productivity, global competitiveness, and our defense capacity. These are risks we cannot afford and must not take. While health is influenced by only three factors, genetics, environment and behavior, it is my belief that there has been too much focus on the behavior as individuals and not enough on the behavior of institutions that are supposed to serve us and the system that is supposed to provide us with health care. Just this past spring, following on three other important reports, failure to collect needed health data by race and ethnicity by Summit Health, a health care quality survey by the Commonwealth Fund, and another on language interpretation in health care settings by the National Health Law Program, the Institutes of Medicine, following on those, released a hard-hitting eye-opening report entitled Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity that H. Con. Res. 388 provides to highlight the disparities in health care experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in our country and in our rural communities. The importance of such a month cannot be overestimated. Again, I want to thank my colleagues for their cosponsorship and support, and I urge everyone to support its passage and hope in doing so it will serve as a catalyst to recommit all of us to the creation of a health care system in this country where there are disparities for none and equity in access for all. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H. Con. Res. 388, expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a national Minority Health and Health Disparities Month. I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to my cosponsors of the resolution, my colleagues, the Chairman of the House Republican Conference, JC Watts and the Chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Charlie Norwood, for their willingness to join me in putting this important resolution forward. I also want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for their support in making it possible for the resolution to be on the floor of the House today. Mr. Speaker, pick any minority community across our great country, whether it be California or Virginia, New York or Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands or Illinois or any of our nation's rural areas and the reports will all be the same: Minorities and people living in our rural areas, of all races and ethnicities, are dying of preventable diseases in alarmingly excessive numbers. Heart disease, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, stroke and kidney disease predominate as the leading causes on the death certificates these groups in far greater numbers than that of white suburban or urban America. In addition, substance abuse and diminished mental health continue to take a staggering toll on many individuals in this group, and undermine the well-being of our communities. This resolution in establishing a special month of focus on this national tragedy, will hopefully forge a national resolve to close these gaps through increasing the awareness that gross disparities in health care continue to exist for people of color and those in our rural areas, which disrupt families damage communities and threaten our national security. While this resolution is only a beginning, I am pleased and honored to have had a role in bringing it to the floor today, because the existence and impact of the centuries of disparities in health is a dark blot on this country's legacy, and must be erased. Achieving this important goal will not only take strong, and unwavering commitment, but also a significant investment, which would yield immeasurable dividends, in terms of the health of our constituents and of our nation. To do otherwise would result in dire consequences of monumental and far reaching threats not only to the financial stability of this nation, but also to our collective productivity, global competitiveness, and our defense capacity--Risks we cannot afford and must not take. Let me share some statistics, but let us never forget that each number represents a real person, who is a part of a real and living family and a community that needs him to her to be a part; Around 40 million Americans have no health insurance of which 50% are minorities. Rural populations which are disproportionately poor, uninsured and underserved compared to urban populations, and whose residents are often eligible but unenrolled in publicly sponsored programs are also at particular risk. This lack of coverage alone, results in 83,000 deaths every year. HIV/AIDS has become primarily a disease and epidemic of communities of color: In 2002 the rate of reported AIDS cases among African Americans was 8 times the rate for whites and 2 times the rate for Hispanics, which was about three times that of whites. All minorities except Alaska Natives have a prevalence of type 2 diabetes that is 2 to 6 times greater than that of the white population. Native American elders are 173% more likely to experience diabetes than the general population; African Americans and other people of color are likely to seek care later and die in greater numbers from cancer. This is particularly true for African Americans, whose men, for example, are 2 to 3 times as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men. According to the national Kidney Foundation, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics are three-times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease--complete failure of the kidneys to function--than whites. In my own district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, we have the highest adjusted mortality rate for circulatory disease (namely heart disease and hypertension) in the Americas. Our nation's poor, who are more likely to be rural or of color are more likely to be living with mental illness, and be untreated. These are just a few of many areas where disparities are rampant. Why is this so? One leading health expert at the National Institutes of Health has repeatedly pointed out that health or lack of it is influenced by three factors, behavior, genetics and environment. While there is much in the news today about the role of genetics in the diseases that we all face, the evidence is that it plays only a small part. Today, we are learning more about the relationship between health and the environment, which requires more attention as we can directly seek redress of those issues. And while some point to the fact that many of us in communities of color wait too long to seek treatment, eat the wrong foods, don't exercise or that we continue to smoke or engage in high risk behavior, there are other significant factors, which continue to lead to early death in our families which until now have largely been ignored. It is my belief that there has been too much focus on our behavior as individuals and as a community and not enough focus on the behavior of the institutions that are supposed to help to serve us, and the system that is supposed to provide us with healthcare. Just this last spring, following on three other important reports, on failure to collect needed health data by race and ethnicity by SHIRE, and a Health Care quality survey by the Commonwealth Fund, and one on the need for language interpretation in health care settings by the National Health Law Program, the Institutes of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences released a hard hitting, eye opening report entitled; Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare. Mr. Speaker, I ask to submit testimony and summaries of these reports and one from the Kaiser Family foundation, which expand on these issues into my statement, into the record. In this review of all current research and reports on health care delivery in this country tells an ugly story of health care deferred and denied simply because of race, ethnicity and language. Mr. Speaker, I am greatful for the opportunity that H. Con. Res. 388 provides to highlight the disparities in health care experienced by racial and ethnic minorities in our country. The importance of such a month and the need to have one is underscored by the reminder just today at a briefing on the hill from Dr. Brian Smedley of the Institute of Medicine that the issue of disparities is one of life and death, and testimony from Dr. Marsha Lillie Blanton, Vice President for Health Policy of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation at our recent hearing, who stated in a representative survey sample, that most Americans, including people of color did not know that Blacks generally fare worse than whites in terms of infant mortality or that Latinos are less likely than Whites to have health insurance as well as other important facts about health disparities. To further aggravate an already bad condition, some of the same misperceptions are shared by health care providers. Again I want to thank my colleagues for their cosponsorship and support. I urge my colleagues to support its passage and hope that in so doing it will serve as the catalyst to recommit all of us to the creation of a health care system where there are disparities for none and equity in access for all. Mr. Speaker, I submit the summary report I referred to earlier for the Record. Eliminating Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Medical Care: Progress and Challenges Marsha Lillie-Blanton, DrPh, Vice-President, Health Policy, The Henry J. Kaiser Family foundation, for Hearing on the Status and Progress of the Department of Health and Human Services Initiative to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health disparities The Congressional Black Caucus, The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus April 12, 2002 Good morning. First, I'd like to thank the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for holding today's hearing on the status and progress of the Department of Health and Human Services' initiative to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities. I am Marsha Lillie-Blanton, a vice-president of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and director of the Foundation's work on access to care for vulnerable populations. The recently released IOM report, Unequal Treatment, has helped to refocus the nation's attention on racial and ethnic disparities in medical care. The problem is by no means new, but seldom gets priority attention in public policy discussions around the health care system. Few would disagree that for most of this nation's history, race has been a major factor in determining if and where medical care was obtained; however, its influence today has become more subtle. Public policy efforts, most notably the enactment of Medicaid and Medicare and enforcement of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, have made an enormous difference in reducing the health care divides for some of this nation's most vulnerable populations. So much progress has been achieved that many tend to think that the problems that remain are inconsequential. The IOW report provides compelling evidence to the contrary. After an extensive review of the research, IOM concluded that there is a ``preponderance'' of evidence that racial and ethnic disparities in medical care persist for a number of health conditions and services, some of which may contribute to the poorer health outcomes of people of color. The findings are consistent with those of a comprehensive review of the literature by Robert Mayberry and colleagues from the Morehouse School of Medicine, undertaken about a year ago with funding support from the Foundation. While there are some who will question whether the racial/ ethnic differences in the studies cited by IOM are real or a function of factors not well-measured, the IOM report should help to shift the research focus from documenting disparities to investigating their underlying causes and the impact of interventions. Investigating the underlying causes will be a challenge in large part because the influence of race on the health care system is deeply intertwined with other forces-- especially economic and educational opportunities--that shape life in America. Disentangling this web of interrelated factors should be helpful in developing more targeted interventions, but pursuing that research agenda need not delay efforts to address those factors now known to create a barrier in obtaining greater equity in access to quality medical care. As noted in the IOM report, many factors likely contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in medical care, including patient, provider, and health system related factors. Differences in the extent of health insurance coverage (see Figure 1) are perhaps the most widely recognized of factors, other than health needs, that account for variations in the medical care obtained. The uninsured are less likely than those who are insured to get appropriate care. However, evidence of racial/ethnic differences among individuals who are similarly insured is particularly disturbing since health coverage is considered the ``great equalizer'' in the health system. In a recent study by Johns Hopkins University researchers Daumit and Powe, the racial disparity in cardiac procedures among men and women was sharply reduced when patients with chronic renal disease qualified for Medicare. However, this study also found that even after enrolling in Medicare, black men with chronic renal disease were less likely to undergo invasive cardiac procedures than white men who were of similar age, clinical characteristics, and other socio-demographic factors (see Figure 2). This study provides strong evidence that race--independent of other factors--is associated with the medical care obtained. Why such a challenging problem to address Efforts to address racial inequalities throughout varying sectors of society are challenging for many different reasons, including the troubling history of race relations in America. However, misperceptions about the nature and extent of the problem in the health care system adds a new level of complexity to efforts to eliminate health and health care disparities. The battle we are waging is with perceptions, as well as the reality of life in America. Two issues, in particular deserve note. First, the public has a marginal, at best, awareness of racial/ethnic disparities in our health system. In a 1999 national survey of a representative sample of about 4,000 adults, we learned that most Americans, including people of color, didn't know that blacks generally fare worse than whites in terms of infant mortality, or that Latinos are less likely than whites to have health insurance--two indicators that have received considerable attention in the media. The survey also found that a significant majority of whites perceive that African Americans and Latinos get the same quality of care as they do; however, the majority of African Americans and Latinos perceive that they get lower quality care than whites (see Figure 3). These findings make it clear that the public's knowledge about disparities should not be assumed and the challenge we face is one of public perceptions as well as reality. Not surprisingly, some of the misperceptions of the public are also found among providers of care. Second, there is a common perception that disparities in medical care are largely a result of patient characteristics (their financial resources, education, help-seeking behavior, preferences for care). This perception persists despite an abundance of studies that control for patient level characteristics (e.g., as measured by income, education, severity of health condition). There are fewer studies that have assessed patient preferences for care, but some offer insight on this issue. In a study of the quality of medical care provided for congestive heart failure and pneumonia--two common health problems in which the care is fairly low-tech and thus assumed to be influenced less by patient choice-- Harvard University researchers, Ayanian and colleagues, found that elderly black patients with Medicare received lower quality care than whites based on defined clinical criteria. Similar findings were observed for women relative to men. The analysis adjusted for age, income, and hospital teaching status and used the Rand appropriateness criteria to assess health need. Perceptions of a problem often influence the actions taken (or not taken) to change policy and practices. If the public is unaware that a problem exists or misunderstands the nature of the problem, it will be difficult to mount effective efforts to address that problem. Societal change requires a public understanding and willingness as well as the resources to address the problem. Strengthening the Federal response In 1999, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), under the leadership of former Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, took a bold step in announcing a national initiative to eliminate health disparities in six health areas by 2010. The Congress provided important leadership to this effort by legislatively mandating the IOM study of health care disparities, creating in statute a Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes on Health (NIH), and requiring DHHS in 2003 to annually produce a report on the nation's progress in reducing health care disparities as a companion to the National Healthcare Quality Report. From the leadership of the former Surgeon General and the Congress have come a number of DHHS agency-wide related efforts, including the establishment of Healthy People 2010 goals that are the same for everyone, regardless of race/ ethnic identity. Also, DHHS agencies have developed strategic plans for their efforts to eliminate disparities and have funded new initiatives--both research and interventions--to address disparities. Most relevant to eliminating health care disparities are the nine centers of excellence grants of the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which are financed through funds of AHRQ and NIH. These initiative also have served as the catalyst for a number of foundation and other private sector efforts to reduce disparities. These efforts are an incredibly important start. Government, however, can and should do more. The interventions recommended by the IOM report are critical next steps. Moreover, the DHHS initiative now appears to lack visible senior leadership to direct and garner support for the efforts underway in the various agencies. Such leadership is essential for such a controversial initiative. To strengthen the federal response the initiative also will require, at the very least: First, a strategic linking of the work to existing Department efforts around improving the quality of medical care and patient safety. Initiatives on quality and patient safety have new dollars and the attention of clinicians and policymakers. It would be a missed opportunity if the medical care needs and concerns of people of color are not well integrated into the plans for research and new interventions in these areas. Also, efforts regarding disparities appear to be competing for scare new resources. The view that focused efforts need new resources rather than an integration and allocation of some of the existing resources will hamper the short-term progress that can be achieved. This shift in direction will be no small feat to accomplish since DHHS staff and funded projects focused on quality issues and those focused on racial disparities generally are moving on separate tracks without much collaboration. Second, an improvement of the information systems and the data used to answer questions about the health and medical care use of people of color. DHHS has an important role to play in data collection and analysis. One reason we know so little about the health of Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans is that we simply have not collected the data. Even most national surveys that now over-sample African Americans and Latinos to produce reliable estimates are unable to provide estimates for Asian ethnic subgroups or Native Americans. Further complicating an assessment of disparities is that many health plans serving privately and publicly insured enrollees (whether in fee-for- service or managed care arrangements) do not collect data on the race and ethnicity of their patients. DHHS must encourage the collection of data in the private sector and collect and analyze the data on those who are publicly insured. Third, a continuation of the Department's efforts to improve the public's awareness that the nation continues to be challenged in assuring that every American has timely access to high-quality medical care. DHHS, through its partnerships and conferences, has already been engaged in efforts to promote dialogue and understanding about disparities. These efforts are extremely important. The Foundation, working in partnership with the medical community, is about to launch an initiative to raise physician awareness about racial disparities in medical care and encourage physicians to review the evidence and engage in a national dialogue about the issue. This is, at best, the beginning of national dialogue among one segment of the public--physicians. DHHS, working through respected and trusted leadership, should continue to improve awareness of disparities among the public generally. Whites need to be more aware of the real-life circumstances that face people of color. People of color need to be more aware of disparities so they can be more proactive in seeking needed care. This knowledge should result in greater acceptance of initiatives to remedy disparities. In closing, let me say that race clearly matters in our health system, but so do many other factors--especially insurance coverage. Attention should be given to assuring that existing sources of coverage are not undermined. Medicaid, for example, is an essential source of coverage for about 1 in 5 non-elderly African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. In addition, people of color are disproportionately uninsured, and priority attention should be given to efforts to eliminate the insurance gap. It is also important to remember, however, that racial disparities among persons who are insured are an indication that expansions in coverage, though necessary, are not sufficient. The IOM report provides a blueprint for comprehensive reform to close the racial/ethnic divide in the health system. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I welcome any questions.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2628, introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), would direct the Secretary of the Interior to do a National Heritage Area study of the Muscle Shoals area of northern Alabama. The Muscle Shoals area has a long history of industry, transportation and music, among other things. When the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 2628 earlier this year, the National Park Service testified in support of the study. Our other witnesses, including the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), also detailed and expanded upon the history of the Muscle Shoals area for the subcommittee. It is obvious that the communities of the Muscle Shoals area value their heritage and are looking for ways to maintain and enhance the historical and natural resources of the area. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2628 is a good bill. It is also noncontroversial. I support the passage of the legislation and urge its favorable consideration by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), the sponsor of this measure.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2109, which was introduced by my friend and our colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), would authorize a special resource study of the historic Virginia Key Beach Park located on Biscayne Bay in Florida. Virginia Key Beach derives its importance from its history more so than from its natural or recreational qualities, although there are those as well. It was the first beach in south Florida to be opened to African Americans, and for many years it was the only beach available to us. Encompassing just 77 acres, the beach was a popular recreational area for local African American families, churches and other organizations, and as we have heard, it was a site of many important private and public events. At the hearing before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, the National Park Service testified in support of a park study of this important area. It is important that we look for ways to commemorate and preserve not only the history of this site but also the natural and recreational qualities as well. I want to commend the sponsor, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), for her leadership on H.R. 2109. I am pleased to support this study legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do likewise. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek). (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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 yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, this House Resolution recognizes, as you have heard, the historical significance of the Aquia sandstone quarries of Government Island in Stafford County, Virginia, for their contributions to the construction of the Capital of the United States and commend the Stafford County commissioners and local residents for their efforts to preserve the quarries. The stone from these particular quarries dates back to the late 17th century and was chosen by then President George Washington for use at Mt. Vernon as well as the construction of the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the original Treasury building, the Patent office, and the earliest locks and bridges of the C&O Canal. Over time, the quarries were exhausted and the site has since been through a number of private hands and has entered in and out of public ownership. We support this resolution commending the local community for their latest efforts to preserve this interesting area. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my chairman in support of H.R. 3909, the Gunn McKay Nature Preserve Act, which was introduced by the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), in honor of former Congressman Gunn McKay. Congressman McKay represented Utah's First Congressional District from 1971 until 1980 when he was defeated by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen). The bill would designate 15 acres of land near Huntsville, Utah, as the Gunn McKay Nature Preserve. The land is presently managed by the Forest Service for recreational purposes. The Secretary of Agriculture in consultation with the city of Huntsville, Utah, and the Gunn McKay Nature Preserve Foundation would develop the plan for the preserve. No new mining claims would be permitted within the area. This bill honors Congressman McKay, who died last year. I urge the adoption of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to Congressman Issa's amendment to H.R. 3231. Mr. Issa's amendment would remove existing civil service laws that are currently in place to protect against hiring on the basis of patronage and cronyism and eliminate all procedural protections in disciplinary proceeding, including those in collective bargaining agreements. This proposal would give the agency the authority to circumvent the civil service system for hiring purposes. It would also eliminate existing procedural protections for all INS employees for any offense ostensibly committed by an employee including collective bargaining protections pertaining to disciplinary actions. After the events of September 11th, it became evident that there was a need to restructure the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in order to improve our national security. I commend my colleagues for their leadership in bringing this bill on the floor today after months of investigation and hearings on this matter. I support the INS reform but not at the expense of protecting employee rights. Mr. Issa's amendment does this. Why would we strip INS employees from safeguards against unfair hiring and firing practices? As it stands today, the system that INS currently has in place for dealing with labor related issues is failing their employees. Since I have been a member of Congress I have received several personnel related complaints from INS employees in or from my district. Many others have been handled through their union. The Issa amendment would further exasperate these issues by leaving INS rank and file employees with no recourse against possible unfair practices by management. The purpose of the Barbara Jordan Reform Bill is to restructure the INS. It is the system that failed us and not the employees. This amendment undermines the intent of the Barbara Jordan Reform Bill. Let's not use this bill as an opportunity to punish the INS employees. We must continue to protect and value the employees of this and every other agency or business. Despite reservations about the current administrations policies with regard to justice and civil rights, I do support the base bill for its efforts to create a more efficient Service. I congratulate my colleagues on their efforts. I urge a ``no'' vote on the Issa amendment.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3839, Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2002 and urge my colleagues to support its adoption. H.R. 3839 is aimed at preventing child abuse and family violence and protecting and treating abused and neglected children and victims of family violence. Sadly, even a place with the natural beauty of my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, is plagued with the curse of child abuse and family violence. At a hearing of the Virgin Island Legislature's Youth and Human Service Committee earlier this year, my friend and director of the St. Thomas based child advocacy organization Kidscope Inc., Dilsa Capdeville, admonished her fellow Virgin Islanders to first recognize that everyone, not just those who work in the various child-help agencies, must respond to the plight of our children. We must, ``open our doors, our minds and our hearts; everyone must do his or her part,'' she said. I want to take this opportunity to commend Dilsa, Clema Lewis, co- director of the Women's Coalition, Michael Rymer, executive director of the Family Resources Center, Elise Chinnery, who heads the Adolescent Health Services Division of the Health Department and Dr. Iris Kern of the Safety Zone for the work they do in the Virgin Islands helping children and victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. My colleagues, regrettably family violence continues to be the most common yet least reported crime in our Nation. Approximately, 95 percent of family violence victims are women and it is estimated that every 11 seconds a woman is battered in the United States. It is also estimated that 70 percent of men who abuse their wives also abuse their children and children from abusive homes are at greater risk of alcohol or drug abuse, juvenile delinquency and depression and suicide. The bill we are debating today attempts to reverse these trends by more than doubling the amount of funds provided for community-based grants for family support programs for the prevention of child abuse and neglect for fiscal year 2003. I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important bill, which will protect the most vulnerable members of our communities, our children and abused women.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to commend the people of the Virgin Islands on occasion of the fiftieth year of Carnival in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This yearlong observance is an important and historic time for all of us because not only is it Carnival's Golden Anniversary but also is an affirmation that our culture is vibrant and strong. This Golden Jubilee promises to be one of our grandest celebrations, the one currently taking place this week on St. Thomas and the Crucian Christmas Fiesta on St. Croix in December which will complete our year-long observance of Virgin Islands culture at its finest. The road to this Golden Jubilee was long and difficult surviving over the years with the help of so many talented minds and hands that have made this all possible. Impressed with a Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1911, Adolph ``Ding'' Sixto brought the idea back to the Virgin Islands and became the inspiration of the first St. Thomas Carnival that was held on Valentine's Day February 14, 1912. A Carnival King, Valdemar Miller and Carnival Queen Cassilda Durbo reigned over that event of pomp and pageantry. Carnival revelry included donkey, bicycle and boat races, greased pig catching, greased pole, confetti battles, Dixieland plantation life, comedic skits, a regal torchlight procession and masquerading throughout Charlotte Amalie. This event was repeated in 1914 with the royalty being King Lt. Knudsen and Queen Amie LaBeet. Unfortunately, with the advent of World War I, Carnival came to an abrupt halt. Inspired by Albert ``Happy Holiday'' Halliday, an editorial by Ruflis Martin in the Virgin Islands Daily News 38 years alter, suggested the need to revitalize Carnival. Radio personality Mango Jones (former Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress, Ron DeLugo) echoed the call to ``Let's have a Carnival.'' A committee headed by Eldra Shulterbrandt put together the first revitalized festival. The focus was on the parade of Masqueraders led by a cavalcade of men and women on horseback adorned in uniform procession. That day and for years after, Carnival started out from Frenchtown. This particular Carnival and that first Road March was the frame from which the novel ``Don't Stop The Carnival'' by Herman Wouk emerged. The Book of the Month Club made it a featured selection; it received critical acclaim from the New York Times and because a national bestseller. Carnival royalty that year were Leo Sibilly and Carmen Nicholson. In those early years, royalty was selected solely on number of votes sold. By the 1960s, a competition to judge poise, grace and beauty replaced the votes sold criteria. Since 1952, Carnival Queens, and in some years, Kings, reigned over this large and colorfully cultural event. Road marches were introduced in 1952 when amidst heavy rain, the Duke of Iron, a Calypsonian from Trinidad and Tobago, spot-composed and started to sing Rain Don't Stop the Carnival. Like a contagion, everyone took up the strains and braved the weather to the song in the mile-long procession. Many of the revelers were in paper type colorful costumes that were ruined by the heavy downpour. the high spirits of these masqueraders were not dampened by the rains. It only served to driving them forward into 48 years of Carnival. Though the first steel band came to St. Thomas in 1949, Casablanca, Hell's Gate and Bute Force steelbands came in from nearby islands, Antigua and St. Kitts to participate in the revived Carnival in 1952. It is from these groups, the first local steel bands including the Lincoln School, the Molyneaux All Girls and the Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) Shooting Stars steelbands were organized. Names like Lezmore Emanuel and Alfred Lockhart are pioneers of the early local steelband movement. By the 1970s, steelbands had diminished to the extent that by the mid 1970s, through the efforts of Glenn `Kawabena' Davis, Bingley Richardson and his troupe Cavalcade Africana, steelbands such as the Harmonites, Superstars and Halycyon were brought in from Antigua. For several years, as many as four steelbands were hosted each Carnival season in areas on St. Thomas such as Polyberg, Frenchtown, and Mandahl. By the 1990s, through the effort of former Presiding Judge Verne A. Hodge and the Virgin Islands Territorial Court sponsored Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra, steelbands made a dramatic return and dominated Carnival in the 1990s more than in any other decade. The Prince and Princess were made a part of Carnival Royalty in 1953, the first being former Governor Roy L. Schneider, M.D., and Dr. Gwen Moolenaar. On a few occasions, there were only Princesses. The Carnival Village, like the Food Fair, became an institution of Carnival by 1957 serving up a plethora of delicacies and cuisine representing the ethnic diversity of the Virgin Islands. In this same year, Carnival was viewed as a Virgin Islands festival when Crucian, Melba Canegata was crowned Queen of Carnival. The village was first in the parking lot directly south of Emancipation Garden. It has been in Lionel Roberts Stadium, on the Waterfront and since the early 1970s, it has been housed in the Fort Christian Parking Lot where 39 booths are placed offering an unmatched variety of culinary pleasure. The Carnival Village stage was increased from 22'22' to 40'40. Since 1985, the village has been named in honor of someone who has made significant contributions to Carnival, the first being Christian's Court in 1985 in honor of Judge Alphonso Christian, a former Chairman of Carnival. Initially, the Carnival Food Fair was dominated by foods, locally grown fruits, vegetables and plants and drinks. Arts and Craft came later. Since food dominates this event, it is now called the ``Food Fair.'' This event also gives recognition to persons who have contributed to the advancement of Carnival. From as far back as 1987 persons have been singled out starting with Horatio Millin Sr., a noted farmer and fair participant. The Fair was conducted on Tuesdays, then moved to Carnival Thursday. In 1996, the fair was moved to Wednesday to avoid conflict with J'ouvert, which is held on early Thursday morning of Carnival Week. The first Virgin Islander to win an international Calypso competition was Calypso Bombshell, (Beryl Hill) in 1954 against Caribbean renowed artists such as Zebra, Duke of Iron, and Lord Melody. The only locals to hold that distinction since are Lord Blakie (Kenneth Blake), 1979 and Mighty Potter (Cecil Potter), 1980. The local calypso competition was conducted sporadically in the 1960's at the then Center Theater and later CAHS Auditorium. Names such as Lord Blakie, Mighty Bird, and Lord Sausage dominated that period. It was institutionalized in 1973, the first sovereigns being Mighty Lark and Ferrari. The current sovereign is St. Clair ``Whadablee'' DaSilva. The competition was renamed the Virgin Islands Calypso Competition about the mid 1980s and several calypsonians from St. Croix have won or were runners-up in the finals since their involvement. In the mid 1970s local Calypso tents were organized to select through the process of elimination, a field of 10 finalists for the local calypso competition. Today, almost 100 contenders perform in several tents hoping to be among the finalists and sovereign who holds the distinction of musical hero of Carnival. The oldest active Calypso Tent is the ``Sanctum of Wisdom and Fun.'' The inspirational mono of 1952, now called the Carnival theme, was ``Roast-a-time & Bamboushay.'' Carnival themes were institutionalized in the 1970s. ``Unity in `73'' is the earliest recorded since `52. Since 1952, the Gypsie Troupe, founded by the late Gertrude Lockhart Dudley Melchoir, and others, as well as the Traditional Indians have participated in every Carnival parade. I salute the organizers and members of these two long-standing organizations and thank them for keeping their tradition going for 50 years. One event that has remained popular from it's inception is Brass-O- Rama, now renamed, ``Band-O-Rama'' to include bands that do not have brass instruments. Formally a part of Carnival since 1980, Mandingo Brass was. the first winner. This event started utilizing local bands but has expanded to involve bands from around the region. What used to be called Warm Up Morning when the Carnival was revived in 1952 was reintroduced as J'ouvert on Carnival Friday, 1973. The early risers would be adorned as in masquerade fashion, cross-dressing and sleepwear. Then they take to the streets reveling from 4:00 AM until it's time for the Children's Parade. Because the bands would be engaged earlier, then subsequently ready themselves to participate in J'ouvert, they would be tired to continue on in the Children's Parade. Thus, that parade suffered from a lack of live music, J'ouvert was eventually moved to Thursdays in 1996 to ensure live music for the children. The full week of international Calypso Tents was reduced to two nights and the World Calypso King was dropped in 1986. In recent years, Calypsonians from across the region can be enjoyed rather than just performers from Trinidad. Cultural Night is a free event night that goes back to the 1960's where a variety of Quadrille groups backed up by the fungi bands performed the seven figures of flat German Quadrille and other European dances such as Lancers, Seven Step, Two-step Mazurka, Skottiche and more. Names such as Magnus ``Mongo'' Niles, Lucille Roberts and Moses Baptiste can still be heard rolling off the cultural memory scrolls. Today Cultural Night also features Bamboula Dancers, Quelbe, Merengue and the highlight is the King and Queen of the Band competition in Junior and Adult categories. On this night, the first glimpse of the troupe's most elaborate male and female costumes are on grand exhibition. The most recorded winners by any adult entry is William ``Champagne'' Chandler (King) and Arah Lockhart (Queen) and Alrid Lockhart, Jr. (Jr. King) and Ambi Lockhart (Junior Queen) in the children's category. In 1977, our Carnival was graced with the presence of the late Esther Rolle of television fame for her role as a strong willed but sweet mother in the sitcom ``Good Times.'' In 1986, in response to Irving ``Brownie'' Brown's call, this author started the Quelbe Tramp. It features persons playing acoustical instruments such as guitar, ukulele, guiro, triangle, ``donkey'' pipe, tambourines, maracas, bottles, cans, and anything that can make rhythmic noise. Those who are not playing an instrument, sing as they tramp up Main Street. This tramp brings out from senior citizens to toddlers in strollers, spanning as many as five generations, dancing from Market Square to Carnival Village. It has been conducted on Carnival Wednesdays past but now starts around 8 p.m. on Carnival Tuesday following the Pre-Teen Tramp. On occasion, steel bands have added a level of grandeur to the Tramp. In 1989, the Carnival Committee opened its first office after years of Operating from trunks of cars of the various Chairpersons, or from the workstations of the Chairperson of a given tenure. Today, an Executive Director with an Administrative Officer who coordinates and facilitates the efforts of the 29 Committees and activity centers of Carnival mans the office. The Virgin Islands Carnival Office is located on Kronprindsens Gade in the heart of downtown Charlotte Amalie. Since the establishment of this office, it has become the authority on revising operating procedures throughout the Caribbean. On any given day, a number of phone calls would be made to this office from other Caribbean committees seeking ways to improve the way they function. The Virgin Islands Carnival's greatest impact was realized when the sequel to the movie ``Weekend At Bernie's'' was scheduled to be filmed entirely in the Virgin Islands and they wanted a Carnival scene. The Carnival parade scene which lasted over five minutes of the final scene, was a spirited climax of the movie titled ``Weekend at Bernie's II.'' Fifty years later, Carnival is still the single largest display of all aspects of Virgin Islands culture. This Golden Jubilee is a celebration of our struggles and triumphs as a people, and a sign that there is much more pageantry, creativity, camaraderie and tradition to be seen and to share with the rest of the world. May God bless the Virgin Islands of the United States of America, our Nation and us all. Happy 50th Carnival Anniversary!

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support of the Baca motion to instruct conferees and urge my colleagues to support its adoption. My colleagues, President Bush proposed the restoration of food stamps for legal immigrants who have been in this country for five years in his fiscal year 2003 budget. Following the President's lead, our colleagues in the other body voted overwhelmingly to include the President's proposal in the Senate version of the Farm bill. We are here tonight however, because our colleagues on the other side of the aisle on the conference of the Farm bill regrettably voted to block the Bush proposal to restore food stamps for legal immigrants and supported a more stringent proposal instead; which would make it virtually impossible for immigrant families to qualify for food stamp benefits. The opposition to the President's proposal will prevent more than 50,000 people from benefiting from a program that helps poor families feed their children. Restoring food stamp benefits for low-income legal permanent residents and children is the right and responsible thing to do. I urge my colleagues to support the Baca motion to instruct.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I too want to rise in support of the Velazquez-Manzullo amendment. An analysis of the Web by both private and public concerns has shown that Internet usage and presence has grown by an outstanding rate of 50 percent per year. E-commerce is the fastest growing sector of the Internet. According to Forrester Research, an e-commerce research company, e-commerce activity will reach $3 trillion by the year 2003. It is, therefore, clear that if small businesses are not a part, as both my colleagues have said, of this new digital economy, they will soon be out of business. Therefore, the Velazquez-Manzullo amendment is an important amendment to ensure that the needs of small businesses are met. The amendment requires that a mere 20 percent of Federal high-tech workers be placed with small businesses under this amendment, when fully 99 percent of all employers are small businesses. Surely this is the least that Congress can do to assist our small businesses in becoming technologically capable. This help from the Federal Government is especially important, Mr. Chairman, in light of the fact that in fiscal year 2000 the Federal Government met none of its small business contracting goals. This amendment has received strong support from the National Small Business United, a small business association with 65,000 members. I want to also commend the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for her leadership and her hard work on this amendment, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on the Velazquez-Manzullo amendment to H.R. 3925.

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3958 would provide the framework for a quitclaim settlement between the Federal Government and the State of Utah concerning lands and other interests at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. This legislation is necessary to enable the Secretary of the Interior to sign the final agreement negotiated between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State regarding a 75-year-old dispute concerning ownership to the beds and waters of the Great Salt Lake within the refuge. This legislation would not codify the agreement. Rather, H.R. 3958 would simply specify the required terms of the settlement. Additionally, H.R. 3958 would authorize $15 million subject to the availability of appropriations as reimbursement to the State to quiet title to the lands, oil, gas and mineral rights within the refuge. In exchange, the State will drop its claim to the 18,000 acres within the refuge that are subject to the dispute and receive valuable funding to support habitat conservation and outdoor recreation activities benefiting both the refuge and the State lands and waters. Mr. Speaker, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of the oldest and most popular refuges within the entire National Wildlife Refuge System. This legislation should enhance future Federal management authority at the refuge. I commend Chairman Hansen for bringing this bill before the House today. We are pleased to support it.