Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am indeed delighted that Delegate Lee was willing to accept our esteemed colleague, even though he was not a woman. And I think that she has been vindicated. As a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4107, legislation naming a postal facility in Baltimore, Maryland, after Lena K. Lee. This measure, which was introduced by my good friend and colleague Representative Elijah Cummings on October 20, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on November 16, 2005, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Maryland delegation. Prior to entering State politics, Lena Lee was a teacher and elementary school principal in the Baltimore City public school system. In 1967, she began a 16-year term as the first African-American female lawyer to serve in the House of delegates. During her term in the House of Delegates, Delegate Lee worked hard on eradicating social inequities and stood strong in support of women's rights. Delegate Lee also assisted Morgan State College achieve university status and saved the Orchard Street Church, an underground railroad site, from destruction. She advocated for the health of Maryland prisoners and aided in the reconstruction of the New Provident Hospital. Delegate Lee's incredible leadership in improving the lives of Baltimore citizens and preserving cultural and educational landmarks made her the recipient of numerous awards, honors and citations, including the Presidential citation from the National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and the membership in the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame. Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Cummings for seeking to honor this very accomplished citizen. Naming the Druid Station in Baltimore is a fine way to recognize the legacy of the Honorable Lena K. Lee, and I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4295, legislation naming a postal facility in Riverton, Utah, after Mont and Mark Stevenson. This measure, which was introduced by Representative Chris Cannon of Utah on November 10, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on November 16, 2005, enjoys the support and close sponsorship of the entire Utah delegation. Mont Stevenson, a native of Riverton, Utah, joined the United States Army Air Corps, where he served as a flight commander in the 559th Bombardment Squadron. Sadly, while on a bombing mission over Germany, Captain Stevenson's plane was shot down, and he was reported as being killed in action. Later, his remains were found and brought to the United States, where he was buried in Riverton with full military honors. Mont's brother, Mark Stevenson, also served in the military. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam. While on his 94th combat mission, Lieutenant Colonel Stevenson was shot down, captured as a prisoner of war and reported MIA/KIA, or missing in action, killed in action. On April 29, 1967, he was declared dead; and in 1988, 21 years later, his remains were found, and he too was buried in Riverton with full military honors. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a great honor to recognize the enormous sacrifice of the Stevenson family. Two brothers, one who served in World War II, the other in the Vietnam war, both died while defending our Nation. These soldiers are more than deserving of a memorial in their hometown of Riverton, Utah. I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the service of Captain Mont F. Stevenson and Lieutenant Colonel Mark Lane Stevenson, two heroic men who gave their lives for this country; and I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, Korea and the United States entered into their first treaty, the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce, in 1882. The signing of the treaty ushered in a sustained period of cooperation between the two Nations. Not long after the treaty was signed, Korean citizens began immigrating to the United States and, since that time, have made rich contributions to the ethnic and cultural fabric of America. Korean emigration to the United States can be divided into three major waves. The first, from 1903 to 1905, consisted of about 7,500 Koreans, mostly men, who left their homes to work on Hawaii's sugar plantations as contract laborers. The second, beginning in 1950, consisted of women who married American soldiers and children adopted into American families. The third wave began in 1967 with the occupational and family reunification preferences of the 1965 Immigration Act. These waves of immigration followed growing U.S. involvement in Korea during the 20th century. Immigrants from Korea thrived in the United States despite social, economic and language barriers. Korean-Americans have made contributions in the fields of finance, technology, law, medicine, the military, as well as in other areas. Four thousand Korean-Americans serve proudly in the United States Armed Forces, many of them in Iraq. The United States has remained firmly committed to its allies in Korea, as shown not only by military support during the Korean conflict, but through the support of the Korean community in the United States. In June 2002, the United States Senate passed a historic resolution that recognized the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in the commemoration of Korean-American Day. This resolution celebrates the success of the Korean-American community, the contributions Korean immigrants have made and the contributions they continue to make to America. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that I have any additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dynamic, feisty, dedicated, committed and courageous community, civic and religious leader who gave of herself consistently until all of her energy was gone and she had no more to share. Just a few weeks ago, I was pleased to speak at a banquet sponsored by Women for Social Change and of course, Mrs. Brown was in charge as she so often was. The banquet was in a church dining hall and was focused on education. Mrs. Brown was one of those individuals that you always looked forward to seeing and hearing because you always knew that she was either saying or doing something to benefit humanity. I always called Mrs. Brown, Aunt Rose because my friends who informally adopted me into their family called her Aunt Rose and that's how I felt about her. Aunt Rose, I close my tribute with these words: Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Sugar is sweet and so are you! May you rest in peace.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to The Honorable John J. Sinde who passed away on November 22, 2005. Mayor Sinde was born on November 13, 1925 and continued a lifetime of work until his retirement in May of 2005. John J. Sinde attended Our Lady of Sorrows Grammar School and St. Phillips High School in Chicago. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy for 3\1/2\ years and served in the Pacific Theatre. He was honorably discharged in August 1945. On September 11, 1954, he was married to Ms. Marilyn Honeyman and they adopted three children, John Anthony when he was seven weeks old, Kimberly Marie when she was six months old and James Michael when he was seven days old. Mr. Sinde went to work for material service in 1949 and remained until 1983. He began his political career in 1973, by getting elected to the Westchester Park District Board where he served for seven years. In 1981, he was elected Village President or Mayor of Westchester, where he served until his retirement in 2005. John J. Sinde served as President of the Village of Westchester for over twenty-four years. He was the true embodiment of civic involvement and public service. Not only did he serve as Village President but he was also President of the Westchester Park District, Westchester Baseball League, President of the Mary Jane Kennedy PTA, President of Westchester Band Parents, Chairman of the North Central Council of Mayors for ten years, manager of the Pee Wees for 21 years, umpire for Westchester Girls Softball, eight years active as a crossing guard until his last illness. Proudest accomplishments: Village Swimming Pool, New Post Office, New Village Hall Westbrook Corporate Center, new 2,000,000 gallon water tower Children's Memorial Hospital, 1st lighted baseball diamond. A man who truly loved and was committed to his family and to his community. The Honorable John J. Sinde, President, Village of Westchester. A true servant of the people, may he rest in peace.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on this our first day in session following World AIDS day, I rise to recognize a public awareness campaign released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that brings critical attention to the dangerous link between drug abuse and HIV/ AIDS. This campaign seeks to inform our youth how drug abuse can impair judgment and cause risky sexual behaviors that increase the danger of contracting or transmitting HIV. The connection between drug abuse and HIV/AIDS isn't limited to the risks of injecting drugs and being infected by contaminated needles. It is much bigger than that. Drug or alcohol intoxication changes behavior--inhibitions disappear and the ability to make good decisions is impaired. Only 1 in 50 high school students report having ever injected an illegal drug. However, young Americans use alcohol and other drugs at high rates. According to NIDA, between 2000 and 2003 about 10 young people (age 13-24) were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS each day. Today an estimated 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV/AIDS, and, approximately 4 out of 10 U.S. AIDS deaths are related to drug abuse. My advisory committees on AIDS/HIV and Drugs and Substance Abuse confirm the toll that this dual epidemic has taken. Drug abuse and HIV/ AIDS affect our children, our families, and our communities not only in the 7th District of Illinois but also across this nation. I commend NIDA's efforts in advancing research and public awareness to better understand the pivotal role drug abuse (in all its forms) can play in the spread of HIV/AIDS. We need to continue to educate our constituents about the risks of drug abuse and HIV infection. We need to provide adequate and accessible treatment for those with drug problems and HIV/AIDS. We need to support what NIDA has established that drug abuse treatment is HIV prevention. Because by limiting and protecting against the risky behaviors associated with drug abuse, we can decrease the likelihood of spreading or contracting HIV/AIDS.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleague in consideration of H. Con. Res. 273, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott. This measure, sponsored by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), has the support and cosponsorship of 73 Members of Congress. Rosa Parks is a great American and hero of the civil rights movement in this country. Rosa Parks symbolizes the triumph of civility over aggression, as was represented in her act of civil disobedience on December 1, 1955. On that day, Mrs. Rosa Parks and other African American bus riders sat in the fifth row of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. According to the law in Montgomery, blacks had to sit in the back of the bus if a white person wanted a seat in the front. The three people Rosa Parks was with complied with the request of the bus driver, but she refused. Mrs. Parks knew full well that this act could lead to arrest or even worse had she drawn the ire of white bus patrons. Armed with this knowledge she took a stand that would prove to inspire the African American community to rally behind her example and begin a movement that would change the course of history in our country. This simple act of refusing to give her seat in the front of the bus to a white patron, an act that led to her arrest and incarceration, was the spark that ignited a movement. Word of her act of defiance spread through the African American community in Alabama like wildfire. Civil rights leaders like the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., the Reverend Ralph Abernathy, and Ann Robinson, president of the Women's Political Council, and members of the NAACP convened to discuss the significance of this act of civil disobedience. They quickly decided to boycott the buses in Montgomery, Alabama. The boycott that followed was ultimately successful when in November 1956 the United States Supreme Court upheld a Federal court ruling that stated that segregation on buses is unconstitutional. More important than desegregating the buses in Montgomery, the boycott signified the beginning of the civil rights movement in the United States. Years later, civil rights leaders would invoke the memory of the bus boycott as the critical event that galvanized the movement. The bus boycott, and the action of Mrs. Rosa Parks, was the critical event that galvanized that movement, inspired countless future acts of civil disobedience and peaceful protest against racial injustice. I would like to recognize the actions, as all of us do, of Mrs. Rosa Parks, who passed away on Monday, October 24, 2005, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott. I urge my colleagues to join in recognition of this amazing moment in the history of all America and of all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and urge passage of this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis) for his very eloquent characterization of the meaning of this resolution and the meaning of the life of Rosa Parks. I yield such time as she might consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I certainly commend the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for his introduction of this resolution. And it is my pleasure now to yield such time as he might consume to the other distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, we have still got a couple of minutes left.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. The New York Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, the Jewish World Review, the Boston Globe, the Daily Oklahoman, the San Diego Union Tribune, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Miami Herald, the Lancaster News, San Francisco Chronicle, the Virginian-Pilot. All of these have written positive editorials, stories, or entertained letters to the editor. One that struck me that I picked up really came from Oklahoma. It talks about a person. ``Facing five 20-year sentences at the age of 35, Debbie Green's life seemed pretty much over. An abusive husband led her to a heavy meth habit and that, in turn, to dealing the drug and landing repeatedly in Oklahoma's prisons. But in 2001, 7 years into her third prison term, she convinced the parole board to give her another chance. They did, and so far their bet is paying off: Debbie has worked 4 years now at a fencing company in Tulsa, staying clean, supporting herself, and paying taxes. She credits her success to counseling programs on the inside, strong support from her church and community since her release and her own gritty determination to beat the odds.'' I think that programs like this one is an indication that there are indeed places that people can go. And so the Second Chance Act not only provides for the coordination but it also provides some resources. It provides some money, block grants to States that can be used to establish programs such as the one that Debbie benefited from in Oklahoma. We had hoped that we were going to get this out this year. Obviously that is not going to happen because of Katrina and all kinds of other things that have crept or jumped into the legislative process, but next year.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the gentlewoman so much. I think we are fortunate that many publications are taking the right spin on this. I was just looking at a group of them: The Baltimore Sun, the Houston Chronicle, Newport Daily News, Journal and Courier, Detroit News, Baltimore Sun, Tulsa World, Daily Oklahoman, Baltimore Sun again, American National Catholic Weekly, the Washington Times, the Charlotte Observer.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, and I often say to people that it is not really just about the ex- offender, and it is not just to help those individuals. If I am walking down the street and there is a person who needs $15 to get a bit of crack and I am carrying a briefcase and he thinks that I am an insurance salesman rather than an elected official or politician and that there might be something in there other than notes, if he attacks me, then of course I am at risk. I may end up in the hospital with a $200,000 hospital bill, $300,000, $500,000. All of the misery, poverty, all of the things that are associated with crime, many of those can really be reshaped, refocused and changed with a sensible re-entry policy, and so I want to thank both of my colleagues for coming and sharing.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the gentleman from Virginia. I know that you are on Judiciary and there are people in our country whenever you start talking about doing something that relates to corrections or trying to assist individuals who have been convicted of crimes, people accuse or charge you with being soft on crime. How do you respond to people who suggest that this kind of legislation, this kind of activity, this kind of effort is being soft on crime?

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones). You are absolutely right. I get letters every day that I can never read. I mean, we try and respond to all of our mail. I have got a cardboard box of letters that we have not been able to get to of individuals and their families simply expressing a hope that this legislation is going to be passed, that there is going to be some possibility that they would have an opportunity to reclaim their lives and become again meaningful members of society. And we certainly thank the gentlewoman for the role that she has played. I am optimistic, because I think we are going to see this legislation passed. Right now we have got about 85 sponsors in the House. When it was introduced in the Senate, there were 10 cosponsors in the Senate, or 10 sponsors, which is a good indication that it has great support and that is continuing to rise. One of the reasons I think we have been able to have a hearing in the Judiciary Committee is because there is support among members of the Judiciary Committee for the legislation. And one of the members of that committee who has been very instrumental in not only moving this legislation, but instrumental in protecting the rights of American citizens, perhaps like none other, and using his office, we all like to call him our constitutional scholar, that is one who understands the Constitution and what it was that its framers were trying to protect and provide, and so we are indeed delighted that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) is here with us this evening.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, of course I come to the floor to talk about a subject that we do not talk nearly enough about. And I really did not intend to talk about tax policy or taxes, but after listening to the last hour, and especially some portions of it, I just could not resist, as I listened to some of the commentary. As a matter of fact, it reminded me of the young fellow who went to Sunday school and rushed home because he was so excited and told his mother, ``Mom, you should have been with me at Sunday school. We just had a great lesson. You really would have enjoyed it. She said, ``Well, what was so exciting about it? He said, ``Well, in Sunday school, they told us all about this great general named Moses and how he led his army out of Egypt with the Egyptians in hot pursuit. And when they got down to the Red Sea,'' he said, ``Moses dispatched his engineers and had them build a pontoon bridge and all of his soldiers went across. And then when the Egyptians got on the bridge, he dispatched his demolition experts, and they dynamited the bridge, and all of the Egyptians fell into the water and drowned. Johnny's mother said, ``Now, Johnny, are you sure that is what they told you?'' He said, ``Well, no, ma'am.'' But I figured you would believe this more than you would what they did tell us.'' And listening to what some of my colleagues have been saying this evening, I figure that the American people have got to believe something other than that. I mean, I have been truly amazed about how they can put money in the pockets of those at the very top, nothing in the pockets of those at the bottom, and say that they are going to get the economy moving. It would seem to me if they did it the opposite way, if they put something in the pockets of those at the bottom, they have no choice except to spend it. Every dime that they would get would go right back into the economy, and it would circulate, and the guy at the grocery store would get some of it. The person in the barber shop would get some of it. The person selling Pampers would get some of it. Well, at any rate, it would circulate, and the economy would then be nourished and could grow and develop and not be one sided. But I really did not come to talk about that. So let me move on. I really came to talk about the reentry of the large number of individuals who are incarcerated in our country. As a matter of fact, the United States of America has become the most incarcerated nation on the face of the earth. Right now as we speak, even tonight, there are 2 million people in our Nation's prisons and jails. Two million. More people proportionately than we would find in prison in China or in Russia or any other countries that we often talk about their human rights violations. And it is a problem that we have got to get a handle on because many of these individuals come home every year. Right now, we expect about 650,000 to come home from jails and prison, and when they come home, they need to be reintegrated. But, unfortunately, when many of them come home, they cannot find a job. They cannot find a place to stay. There are laws that prohibit them from working. In my State, for example, there are 57 job titles by law that an individual who has a felony conviction could not hold. As a matter of fact, a person could not even get a license to cut hair without some intervention or a person could not be a mail technician unless they got a waiver or some special consideration. So prisoner reentry has become a big issue but not big enough. Many of us have been trying to work on it, and we have a bill that we have put together that we think will go a long way. And, of course, it is no panacea. It is a small way of addressing the problem. I was delighted when the President gave his State of the Union address 2 years ago and suggested that we had to do something for these individuals coming home, and out of that conversation, in many instances, efforts have occurred, and ultimately we have the Second Chance Act on the drawing board, on the table, waiting to be acted upon that would simply provide some resources to assist these individuals. It would also provide some coordination so that we can have the Justice Department, the Education Department, the Labor Department, all working jointly at the same time, to develop coherent strategies so that as individuals return, there is enough of an effort to keep them from going back. Statistics suggest that when an individual comes out of prison, unless there is some help for them, unless there is some intervention, 67 percent of them will have done what we call reoffend within a 3-year period of time and more than half of them will be reincarcerated, meaning the recidivism rate, in and out, in and out, money being spent, where, if we could somehow or another try to help them to become self- sufficient rather than spending $25,000 or $30,000 a year taking care of them, they could help take care of other members of society and they could pay some of those taxes that my colleagues have been talking about. But if they are not working and if they are incarcerated with no hope, they are not going to pay any of those taxes. So I am looking forward to the time when we will pass the Second Chance Act. I am so pleased to be joined by two of my colleagues, both who have demonstrated a tremendous amount of commitment, a great deal of energy, effort, and courage to find real solutions to the problems that plague our society. I know that the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), a former prosecutor, a judge who has seen corrections, who has seen sentencing, who has seen people come before the court, probably had to sentence some of them to correctional facilities, but also who knows that it is our responsibility to help them as they return. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 535, honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death. Mr. Rabin dedicated himself to peace and worked to ensure a lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Today we honor his legacy and, by doing so, commit ourselves once again to building a lasting peace in this still volatile region. Mr. Rabin led a distinguished life dedicated to his people. He served in the Israeli army, as Ambassador to the United States, as the Minister of Defense, and as the Prime Minister. As Prime Minister, Rabin was instrumental in the signing of an interim agreement with Egypt in 1979 and the Declaration of Principles framework agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians in 1993. For his efforts, Mr. Rabin was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. At that time he stated, ``there is only one radical means of sanctifying human lives. Not armored plating, or tanks, or planes, or concrete fortifications. The one radical solution is peace.''

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) for developing this legislation. I might also note that we were able to work with the majority on several provisions in this bill and were able to make some greatly needed improvements. As the gentleman from Louisiana pointed out, this bill offers the gulf coast areas much-needed flexibility in the area of No Child Left Behind, Head Start programs, child care, higher education, OSHA and ERISA. This new flexibility will help them begin the long and arduous task of recovery. States have asked for this flexibility, and it is only right that we provide them with it. However, we must note that it has been over 2 months since the hurricanes hit the gulf coast area, and for 2 months now, we have ignored the fact that the States who have taken in these students and families have been serving these families with limited resources, and even worse, we have ignored the immediate needs of the education systems directly hit by the storms. For 2 months now, schools across the Nation have borne the additional responsibility of educating over 370,000 students displaced by the storms. Almost every State has welcomed students from the gulf coast areas. No one has been turned away. These schools have opened their doors to the 12,000 Louisiana teachers that were displaced. Unfortunately, States and school districts have also had to bear the additional costs of doing so without any real assistance from the Federal Government. In the gulf coast areas, school districts are running out of money, unable to pay administrators or teachers. Over 4,000 teachers have been furloughed from the New Orleans school district alone. Even worse, for those school districts damaged by the storm, Federal assistance has been slow in coming, although Louisiana alone estimated their immediate need at $2.8 billion. The shame in all of this is that if this leadership really wanted to do something for these families, they would have reached across the aisle and worked on a bipartisan effort to address the needs of these school districts. Instead, over 2 months now since the storms, these school systems are still waiting. According to Health and Human Services, 18,000 children attended Head Start in the counties most directly impacted by Hurricane Katrina. More than 700 centers were damaged or closed, and 82 remain closed because of significant physical damage or serious mold problems. The regulatory waivers in this bill are good, but they ignore the most important need, funding that will get Head Start centers back up and running and funding to help centers in areas like Houston expand their capacity to serve displaced Head Start families. Two weeks ago, the President requested Congress to appropriate $90 million immediately for helping these Head Start centers, and the Congress has yet to send an additional dime to Head Start centers in the gulf coast. Community action agencies across the country administer other programs that are essential to low-income Americans, programs like Meals on Wheels, energy assistance, child care, after school programs and workforce programs. Health and Human Services reports that in the 6 weeks after Hurricane Katrina, community action agencies nationwide have served over 196,000 individuals displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Though the waiver provisions in this bill may help the operations of community action agencies, it continues to ignore the most pressing and obvious need, additional resources for these agencies to meet the increased needs of the communities and individual families affected by the hurricanes. Child care and child care assistance is critical to any effort to rebuild the gulf coast. Families looking to put their lives back together need a safe and healthy place to leave their child as they seek employment or go to work. In the counties most affected by the hurricanes, reports are that as many as 90 percent of child care centers and family-based child care have been wiped out. Waiving regulations will not help families find affordable child care. Additional resources are critically needed and still absent from this Congress. Over 100,000 students and approximately 30,000 faculty and staff at 30 colleges have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina alone. As a result, hundreds of thousands of gulf coast residents are jobless, homeless and displaced. It will take decades to restore the economic strength to the gulf coast region. While this bill will help impact the students and borrowers, by echoing provisions in the Gulf Coast Hurricane Student and School Relief Act introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) that provide loan deferment and by ensuring that the amount that families are expected to pay towards college for the current term and the next academic year is readjusted, it completely fails to help rebuild the devastated colleges and universities. Dillard University, Xavier University of Louisiana and Southern University at New Orleans, all historically black colleges and universities, suffered at least $1 billion in flood and fire destruction. Yet this bill provides no assistance to help rebuild the schools, recruit or retain students, faculty and staff. We share the majority's concern that rebuilding in the hurricane- affected areas occur under safe working conditions. While we prefer that the Secretary use existing trained OSHA staff and grantees, we agree that volunteers may be used in appropriate circumstances. The majority has agreed that all volunteers will be appropriately trained and will not carry out existing OSHA enforcement activities. We also understand that hurricane-affected families may need to tap into their 401(k) retirement nest eggs in this time of financial need and crisis. Congress has already passed legislation that the President has signed into law that enables pension plan participants to access their 401(k) moneys. This provision permits the Secretary to waive department requirements that may conflict with these 401(k) distributions. Again, we hope the Secretary will exercise this authority judiciously and in a way that assists participants without taking away any of their rights under current law. Mr. Speaker, the provision in this package will offer gulf coast States much-needed flexibility in each of these areas. It is an important first step. However, it is unfortunate that the majority has yet to move forward with a supplemental package to address the critical needs of families and students who have relocated. In fact, it appears that the leadership is more focused on providing tax breaks to the rich, cutting critical safety net programs, cutting student loan programs and cutting Medicaid than they are on providing assistance to the victims of Katrina. Instead of getting funds directly to these schools and families that are in dire need, this House leadership wants to slash vital services for working families. Nearly $9 billion of $11.9 billion in Medicaid cuts fall directly on enrollees. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that most of the Medicaid cuts are achieved by requiring Medicaid enrollees to pay substantially more for the health care they need, including requiring the poorest children for the first time to pay copayments for prescription drugs and emergency room care. Congressman Miller and Congresswoman Woolsey have introduced a K-12 relief package. Congressman Kildee has introduced several higher education packages. As we move forward with this package of waivers, I hope that we will continue to find other ways to deliver much needed help to the students, schools, and families of the gulf coast region. Mr. Speaker, let me just once again commend the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) for not only this package of legislation but also the many efforts that he has put forth since Katrina to try to provide relief to the gulf coast area and especially relief to those individuals who are uprooted, dislocated, and are searching for their way. I commend the gentleman once again and urge that we pass this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 856. I commend the gentleman from Nebraska for introducing this legislation, as well as for many of the other creative ideas and thoughts that I have seen and heard him express in the Education Committee. I also want to commend my colleague from Texas for yielding to me and for the leadership he displays as the ranking member on one of our subcommittees. I think that coordination, while it does not necessarily appear to be earth-shaking or earth-shattering, is a tremendous concept that is greatly needed. Unfortunately, many of our programs operate in isolation. Unfortunately, there are instances where there is duplication and things oftentimes get missed. When we can bring together all of these tremendous resources we have at our disposal so they are coordinated in such a way that the recipients become the beneficiaries of this coordinated approach, then I think it will tremendously aid in the development of our young people. It is a great piece of legislation. It is a great idea. It is a great concept. I simply want to add my voice to those who are in support of it and urge that we support it.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with Chairman Boehner, with Subcommittee Chairman Castle, with Mr. Miller, who is not here, and certainly with Ms. Woolsey and the ranking member, Mr. Hinojosa, in strong support of H. Con. Res. 288, which recognizes the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and reaffirms support for individuals with disabilities education. This program currently serves 7 million children, and without it many of those children would live in State institutions, would not have been able to complete high school and would have no possibility of enjoying the quality of life to which now they have the potential to enjoy. I have always been led to believe that the greatness of society can be measured by how well it treats its old, how well it treats its young, and how well it treats those who have difficulty caring for themselves. I must say that I have been tremendously impressed with the progress that we have made toward the goal of assuring every handicapped child in our country optimal opportunity to experience the educational attainment and personal development that they have the potential to experience. I agree that we have certainly come a long way and there is still much further to go. I have had the good fortune of being fairly close to the education of individuals with disabilities, and I can tell my colleagues I had one of the greatest experiences of my life last year when I gave a commencement address at the Neil Elementary School. There were young people there who had difficulty speaking and needed special equipment in order to be able to speak. There were individuals who could not walk and were in wheelchairs or had other kinds of devices that helped them move. But the interesting thing, and, actually, it was one of those days that I actually left Washington to go back to Chicago to participate in this activity. My sister was the principal of that school, and I had promised her that I would be there for the graduation. But by the time the graduation ended, there was not a dry eye in the auditorium. Because all of the teachers, all of the parents, all of the students, all of the people who had come to be a part had become so emotionally involved in what was taking place; and to see the glee and excitement on the faces and to feel the emotion coming from these young people, many of whom would never have been given any real chance at all of reaching that level of education attainment, as I sat there and saw that, I could not help but say to myself that no matter how difficult funds may be to acquire, no matter how tight the budgets might be, that we have no choice except to find every possible resource that we can to put all of the funding into these special education programs and activities. Because every time we change one life, then it has been worth the whole effort.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, since Hurricane Katrina and Rita and the budget reconciliation talks began, practically all that we have heard in this House about budgets has been cut, cut, cut, and cut. And of course, Mr. Speaker, where I come from back in Chicago, if all that you do is cut, cut and cut, all that you get is blood, blood, and more blood. And, of course, the blood will be on the hands of those who have the knife. Much of the debate in this House during the past 2 months has been around the majority's proposal to cut mandatory programs by $35 to $50 billion over the next 5 years. Just the idea of some of these Draconian measures is enough to send chills up and down one's spine because we are talking about programs that provide basic assistance to vulnerable, low-income families and individuals. In essence and in reality, we are talking about Robin Hood in reverse; that is, take from the poor and give to the rich. We are talking about programs that provide help to people with disabilities, people who make use of the earned income tax credit, people who use Supplemental Security Income programs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and individuals who are indeed elderly. Some of the proposed cuts include $11.9 billion to Medicaid, and I can just imagine what this will do to the more than 20 hospitals, health centers, private physician practices in my district. Imagine the large number of children and poor people who will not be able to access adequate health care. Student loans, $14.3 billion. Look at the number of students who will not be able to go to college, to get the education that we all know that they must have if they are to compete and survive in a highly technical, service-oriented economy. We think of all of those who would not be able to go to law school, medical school, who would not be in a position to provide the services that our country will need. Child support, $4.9 billion. Imagine what will happen to the large number of children in my district being raised by single mothers and how difficult it will be for them to receive child support payments. Foster care, $577 million. My district has one of the highest percentages of children in foster care in the Nation. Any reduction in these funds will seriously imperil our ability to provide and care for these children. Food stamps, unimaginable. I mean, how can you think of cutting food stamps, with all of the individuals who are homeless, hungry, in many instances hopeless and helpless, individuals who are unemployed, laid off from their jobs and having difficulties with acquiring the basic necessities to sustain life. Mr. Speaker, I am strongly in favor of our government operating on sound fiscal policies. I am in favor of reducing the deficit to the extent prudent and possible. I am in favor of rebuilding the areas damaged by Katrina and Rita, but I am not in favor of continuing to throw money away on a war that we never should have been in in the first place. I am not in favor of giving huge tax breaks and cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population. I am in favor of budget reconciliation, but not on the backs of the poor, needy, and most vulnerable sectors of our society. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I could do nothing less than oppose. As a matter of fact, it would be a dereliction of my duty and responsibility if I were to vote for the Budget Reconciliation Act that is before us. I will vote prudently and sensibly.