Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. I also want to commend him for his outstanding leadership on not only this but a myriad of issues confronting America as he continues in his role as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. I also want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), for his outstanding leadership as chairman of the Hispanic Caucus as we come together to work on issues that are mutually important to both groups, but are really important to all of America. For about the last almost hour, we have heard many of my colleagues extol the virtues of Head Start. Since 1965, the Head Start program has helped over 21 million of America's neediest children gain the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral skills necessary for success in life. However, the positive effects of Head Start extend far beyond the individual child in the classroom. As a matter of fact, as we have heard, it helps the entire family. One of the most important aspects of Head Start is the involvement of parents. Through their involvement in the program, Head Start parents gain invaluable skills that have a positive and lasting effect on all of their children. Research has shown that Head Start parents demonstrate improved parenting skills, are more likely to begin preparing for employment, and gain the skills necessary to effectively advocate for their children. Head Start parents learn the importance of being involved and caring role models for their children. They are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities, such as home visits, literacy classes, volunteering in the classroom, and taking part in the governing of the program. As a matter of fact, we just heard one of the most outstanding members of this body, the gentlewoman from California, talk about how she was inspired and motivated as a parent. In the 2001-2002 program year, more than 876,000 parents volunteered at their local Head Start program. After participating in the program, Head Start parents typically continue to take a strong interest in the education of their children and are likely to continue their involvement with the program. In fact, 23 percent of Head Start staff members in Illinois and in many other sites across the Nation are current or former Head Start parents. The original bill sought to block grant the entire program. Fortunately, as a result of the hue and cry of Head Start activists, program directors, Democrats and Members of this body and other bodies and others have forced some back-peddling, and now the Head Start reauthorization bill seeks to implement an experimental program in eight States, providing block grants to integrate Head Start in preexisting State preschool programs. These block grants, as we know, will undermine the comprehensive family-based intent of the program. They will allow States to determine their own standards, guidelines, and qualifications. These States could then decide to implement Head Start as a pre-kindergarten program, cutting out nutrition, vaccinations, dental care, medical care, and other important services currently guaranteed to children in the program. With the current State budget crisis, these services will almost certainly be eliminated, leaving the low-income children served by Head Start with no way to receive these extremely important services. Unlike Head Start, typical pre-kindergarten programs are half-day programs that do not fully address parents' child care needs. These programs also focus primarily on building a foundation for academic skills, overlooking the importance of developing the social, emotional, and behavior skills vital to classroom survival. Finally, these programs typically do not teach parents to actively advocate for their children. Low-income children deserve safe, caring environments. They deserve to have their parents involved in their lives. Low-income parents need to learn how to provide for the needs of their children. It is clear that if Head Start reauthorization is passed as written, it will be a tragedy for our Nation's low-income families and will not provide the comprehensive approach to readiness that our children so greatly need. So, Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to reinforce what has already been said. That is, ``If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'' If it does not need change, do not change it. If it is working, then let it work in such a way that it seriously benefits all of the children. So, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his outstanding leadership.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak on the State Department Authorization Bill. The bill contains key provisions that will improve international relations. I commend Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos on their hard work and dedication to international affairs. The citizens of the United States have benefitted greatly from the strides made by medical science, but despite these advances, the health status of people living in developing countries lags far behind the rest of our citizens. Funding for the United Nations Population Fund is needed to ensure that future generations in other countries prosper. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the largest internationally funded source of population assistance to developing countries. Over the past 33 years, UNFPA has provided more than $6 billion in assistance to more than 160 countries for voluntary family planning and maternal and child health care. The UNFPA provides great assistance to a number of African countries. UNFPA's priorities include working to increase access to reproductive health services, improve approaches to adolescent reproductive health; promote safe pregnancy and delivery, reduce maternal mortality, provide emergency assistance in refugee situations, and prevent and treat HIV/ AIDS. I am especially concerned about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The HIV/AIDS virus infected approximately 3.5 million Africans. HR 1950 calls for $1,000,000 for the fiscal year 2004 to be available for HIV/ AIDS research and mitigation strategies internationally. In addition to health assistance, we need to do more to help countries in the continent of Africa with peacekeeping solutions. The diplomatic capacity at the UN needs to be enhanced to end the suffering of the people of Africa. In the country of Liberia, the people have endured and suffered bloody civil war and unrest for the past 13 years. This war is destroying the future of many Liberian children who are forced to become brutal soldiers at such young ages. We as a nation must assist the people of Liberia. We must help them reverse the deterioration of their country. This bill will provide $40,000,000 to implement peackeeping activities in Africa. Heightened awareness of what we can do to improve international affairs is very important. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would urge all people throughout America and, quite frankly, throughout the world to pay more attention to our developing countries so that not only can we all maintain better health, but also so that we can have peace. Peace is the only way to gain prosperity.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on June 27, 2003, this House of Representatives passed a poor excuse for a solution to the Medicare prescription drug crisis. The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 provides minimal benefits to our Nation's disabled and senior citizens and fails to address the underlying problem of skyrocketing prescription drug costs. On July 9, Families USA released a report appropriately called ``Out of Bounds: Rising Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors.'' Between January 2002 and January 2003, the price of the 50 drugs most commonly used by seniors rose at three-and-a-half times the rate of inflation. With the Republican prescription drug plan, these rising prescription drug costs will continue to restrict patient access to much needed medications. What is the solution to these skyrocketing drug prices? We must hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable! The cost disparity between identical prescription drugs sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico must be eliminated. Generic drugs, whose prices grow far more slowly than brand name drugs, must be allowed to quickly enter the market. Drug companies must begin to hold the welfare of patients above the richness of their own pocketbooks. Until we convince pharmaceutical companies to treat our senior citizens justly, Congress must take action. A fall-back prescription drug benefit must be offered through Medicare, which would have the power to negotiate drug prices. We must allow drugs to be re-imported from Canada. Members of Congress must be held accountable for the prescription drug benefits we give to seniors. We must urge the conferees to maintain in the final bill Senator Mark Dayton's amendment which calls for Members of Congress to receive comparable prescription drug benefits to those of Medicare beneficiaries. Members of Congress, I urge you, do not allow the well-being of our Nation's seniors to be controlled by the greedy hands of the pharmaceutical industry. Take a stand and fight for our Nation's disabled and seniors.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, recent events call our attention to the continent of Africa. The people of Africa are suffering and in pain. Africa is a continent which contains immense natural resources and is populated by people that are of diverse rich cultures. And yet, they are dying from the rampant spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. Civil war has wounded them and put their lives in chaos. The lives of their children are plagued by drought, famine and diseases. Mr. Speaker, in 2001, the HIV/AIDS virus infected approximately 3.5 million Africans, an estimated 2.2 million Africans died due to the virus and approximately 11 million African children were orphaned because they lost their parents to the virus. It is predicted that many more Africans will be infected and die due to the virus if something is not done quickly to help Africans with prevention, treatment and health care programs. We have begun the task of aiding Africa in combating this virus, with the $15 billion HIV/AIDS package the President recently signed into law on May 27, 2003. But more needs to be done. If Africans do not die due to the HIV/AIDS virus, they may die due to civil wars that plague many African countries today. In the country of Liberia, the people have endured and suffered bloody civil war and unrest for the past 13 years. Liberians have been killed in horrendous numbers because of this war. In one day in June of this year, over 300 civilians were killed and over 1000 were injured. This war is destroying the future of many Liberian children who are forced to become brutal soldiers at such young ages. Civilians have been executed, tortured and raped. Half of the population escaped to refugee camps in neighboring countries, where due to overcrowding, food, water and health provisions are limited. This has placed tremendous burdens on Liberia's caring neighbors. We as a nation must assist the people of Liberia. We must help them to reverse the deterioration of their country. But we should not do this alone. France, Germany, Great Britain and Belgium have worked together with the United Nations to send troops to help with peacekeeping efforts in the conflict in Africa's Republic of Congo. By joining efforts with the United Nations, we can provide even more support and make it easier for the country of Liberia to rebuild itself into a strong, stable and lasting governmental infrastructure, knowing that all nations are behind them. By having the involvement of other countries, working together to contribute to the peacekeeping effort in Liberia, will prevent our troops from being overextended. Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot to help Africa to grow, as many of its nations are reborn from various political, economical and social adversities. But it is not enough; we need to do more to help countries in the continent of Africa with peacekeeping solutions. Having a steady government is a good foundation. It is needed to help establish and to manage international support and reconstruction programs, which are beneficial to the citizens of a country. Many programs we fund are beneficial to the continent of Africa. For instance, funding that we provide to Africa for agricultural productivity, accounts for a substantial portion of African countries' GDP, employment, household and national incomes and foreign exchange revenues, will help feed many African people and empower them to manage their natural resources. The end result will be a marked decrease in the level at which Africans are dying due to starvation. Also, funding we provide them for business, trade and investment programs will help African countries economically by making them self sufficient. The time has come for the U.S. to give back to a continent that feeds our great nation in the sharing of its cultures, its science, its history and its natural resources. Mr. Speaker, this strengthens the partnership that we have with Africa.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, there is not one Congressional District in our nation that will benefit from this Appropriations bill. I definitely know that my district will dramatically feel the effects of the cuts and the level funding for education, health care, and energy cost. Some of the best programs Congress has embraced and funded in the past suddenly seem to no longer be a priority. Our young people who are in desperate situations will face dramatic cuts in the education provided to them. Low-income children attending Title I schools, children with disabilities, and young people trying to obtain a college education are facing the most critical budget cuts under education. Combined these students will lose over $1.6 billion-- and this is not even including the $8 billion that is missing from Child Left Behind Act 2004 funding target. We are allowing an extra burden to be put on deficit stricken states, local school districts, communities, and working class families that are already trying to make ends meet in our sluggish economy. The no increase in funding and cuts extend into our health care system. In my District, I have 25 hospitals, four of which are teaching hospitals. Like in many of the hospitals in other districts, the ones in my district are already feeling the effects from the fiscal crisis facing Illinois. This bill provides no increase for child immunizations, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and the National Health Service Corps, which provides student loan repayment for doctors and dentist who work in areas with shortages of health providers. We are all very aware of the nursing shortage facing our nation's health system and I was proud that last Congress we passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act to assist in the shortage. Yet not only is there no increase in funding for those programs, there is actually $7 million less than the President's request for the program that provides scholarships to nursing students who agree to work in areas with a serious shortage of nurses. Although there have been great advances and success stories in respect to fighting HIV-AIDS, there is a cut in the Ryan White AIDS Care programs. I am particularly disappointed that this bill cuts funding by 12 percent compared to 2003, in programs that help students from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for and do well in medical school and other health professionals schools. Just two days ago, the Subcommittee on Education Reform had a hearing on the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) and LIHEAP. I was very proud that one of the individuals' testifying was one of my constituents and also my dear friend, Dr. Mary Nelson from Bethel New Life, Inc. My colleagues that serve on the Subcommittee with me were all impressed by the great work that is being performed by Dr. Nelson and the other panelist. Yet we are cutting the funds that allow Bethel New Life, Inc. and the other organizations to expand community and economic development, provide energy assistance, housing, winterizations, nutrition and countless other exceptional programs that help families get out of and remain out of poverty. The CSBG will be cut by $151 million or 23 percent. LIHEAP is cut by 10 percent at a time when projections predict that natural gas prices will be at least 50 percent higher in the coming winter as more than half of LIHEAP recipients rely on natural gas. Mr. Chairman, this bill just does not make any sense to me. Level funding programs may be considered sufficient but is considered a funding cut to me. We are hitting the programs that have already been cut and hit by the states. We are cutting funding for programs that are basic components to our society: education and healthcare. What does America stand for? What does out body stand for? This bill does not express the American values. This bill expresses that it is acceptable to cut the basic right of education, cut the ability to provide health care, encourage unequal opportunities, and keeping our citizens on the streets instead of having a warm place to sleep. Our body has worked together to pass some great pieces of legislation that will help our nations' schools, hospitals, and less fortunate--but those bills are just pieces of paper without the funding necessary to allow them to be effective.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me time. ``Unfunded mandate'' is a term and a phrase that we often hear in education. Time and time again we attempt to solve problems by demanding change while refusing to provide funds necessary for schools to make that desirable change. Loan forgiveness attracts college graduates into the field of education and encourages current teachers to continue their education. However, this does not fully address the problems of teacher quality and higher education affordability; especially we need to help title I schools. However, the labor-HHS-education appropriations bill falls $334 million short of the promised $1 billion in title I funds under the No Child Left Behind Act. Mr. Chairman, over one-fifth of our secondary school students have taken at least one class from a teacher who neither majored nor minored in that subject in college. Today our schools lack many greatly needed and highly qualified teachers; therefore, we must improve teacher training and education. H.R. 2211 attempts to promote teacher training and development by making up for some of the funding shortfalls in education. In the labor-HHS-education appropriations bill, we were promised $3.2 billion for States to improve teacher quality; and yet, like the promise to fund title I schools, the appropriations bill falls $244 million short. As a result, 54,000 fewer teachers will receive federally supported professional development. H.R. 2211 attempts to make up for some of the unfunded mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act. Indeed, there are some encouraging aspects to this bill which I am in great support of. However, it still lacks greater funding, which is needed for true improvement in education that will maximize the potential of teachers and the potential of students so that, indeed, no child is left behind. Mr. Chairman, I support this legislation, but I sure hope that before it is over we will have the money that is needed to fund the thoughts and ideas.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I also want to commend the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for the tremendous leadership that he continues to display as he projects thoughts, ideas, and helps to focus the activities of the caucus. I would agree with the gentleman from New Jersey that Africa is indeed changing, and that change is seen throughout the continent in many places that one goes. But even as the changes occur, problems have been so profound and so severe until it is difficult to stabilize, it is difficult to have the kind of economy, it is difficult to have the opportunities to grow and develop, and that is one of the reasons why we continue to have instability, one of the reasons why we see the inability to shape governments and hold those firmly in place. I would also agree with my colleagues who have suggested that if we can spend much of our time, energy, and effort trying to make sure that there is a world order with peace and security, then the African continent is one of those places where our resources and our efforts are needed most. Yes, I am in agreement that we need to intervene in Liberia, and we need to do it immediately. We need to do it now. We need to make sure that there are peacekeeping forces. We also have to make sure that we do it with a level of sensitivity, that we do it with a level of humaneness, that we do it in such a way that we do not overshadow, overpower; and that we make sure that the local indigenous people have control of the operation and further development of their government, and that they continue to be liberated and be able to produce for themselves the kind of government and the kind of governmental structures that they find desirable. So, I say to the gentleman from New Jersey, I am pleased to have been able to join with him and other colleagues to come and simply say that the time is now. It is critical that intervention must come immediately before things escalate and before they reach other countries surrounding Liberia. So I thank the gentleman again for his tremendous effort and for his leadership.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2396, which designates the facility of United States Postal Service located at 1210 Highland Avenue in Duarte, California, as the ``Francisco A. Martinez Flores Post Office'' was introduced by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) on June 9, 2003. The bill has been cosponsored by the entire California delegation. Mr. Speaker, Francisco A. Martinez Flores was 3 years old when his family moved from Mexico to California. He joined the Marines so that he could go to college. Unfortunately, at the early age of 21, Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, who was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Twentynine Palms, California, was killed in Iraq on March 25, 2003. He died when his tank went over a collapsing bridge and tumbled into the Euphrates River. The oldest of four children, Corporal Martinez was to have become a citizen of the U.S. in April of this year. Unfortunately, he died before he could take the oath of allegiance. He was buried as an American after being granted his citizenship posthumously. Mr. Speaker, my heart goes out to Lance Corporal Francisco Martinez Flores, with commendations, who gave his life before being granted or having the opportunity to have been granted his citizenship. I express condolences to his mother and to his siblings, and I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) for seeking to honor the memory of a fallen hero, a soldier who gave his life so that others may experience the freedom, the liberty, and the opportunities that he never got an opportunity to fully enjoy. One cannot give much more than that, and I would urge swift passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis). (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. With the understanding and recognition that I agree with the gentlewoman from California that if one has the right to fight and die, one certainly has the right to citizenship, I would urge swift passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today, H.R. 2631, was crafted to ensure that legislation expanding Medicare will not reduce prescription drug benefits for Federal retirees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. While I support this legislation because it shields Federal employees from the illusive drug benefit in the Medicare proposal, the reality is it leaves millions of others unprotected. Federal annuitants are worried, and they should be. They are worried because they see something in the government's subsidized Medicare prescription drug benefit that they do not like, and with good reason. This past Sunday The Washington Post reported that despite the Bush administration's proclamations, and I am quoting, ``The reality is that the two Medicare drug bills passed by the House and the other body do not come close to providing the level of coverage given to the 8.5 million Federal workers, including lawmakers, White House staff, and the President. Both measures would require senior citizens to buy an auxiliary prescription plan, whereas all 188 plans offered to Federal employees include drug coverage, and at far more generous reimbursement rates.'' To remedy this, H.R. 2631 would maintain prescription drug parity between Medicare-eligible retirees enrolled in the FEHB program, and active duty Federal employees and retirees. It provides that the prescription drug benefit offered to Medicare-eligible enrollees by a plan under the FEHB program be at least equal to the prescription drug benefits offered by such a plan to its enrollees generally. This is obviously a good bill for Federal employees, but it also sheds light on what a bad bill the Medicare prescription drug benefit is for the rest of America. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation and similar legislation for the rest of America's seniors. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Allen).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), the ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I think we have heard a great deal of debate, and we understand the merits of this legislation. It is unfortunate we did not have a bill last week that would have covered all of the seniors looking for relief under Medicare. I certainly agree that we do not want Federal retirees to be at risk for giving up what they have already got, and so I would agree with my colleagues that we should support this legislation to make sure that our Federal retirees maintain the benefits they have already received.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform in consideration of H.R. 1761, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9350 East Corporate Hill Drive in Wichita, Kansas, as the Garner E. Shriver Post Office Building, which was introduced by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt) on April 10, 2003. The bill has been cosponsored by the entire Kansas delegation. Garner E. Shriver served in both the Kansas House of Representatives and the State Senate before being elected to represent the Fourth Congressional District of Kansas. Reelected seven times, Representative Shriver served on the House Committee on Appropriations. He left the House in 1977 and went to the United States Senate where he served as the minority staff director and general counsel for the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs from 1977 until 1982. He practiced law until his death in 1998. He was obviously a person who spent all of his life working from one career to another career doing outstandingly well in each and every one of them. I think the designation, or the naming, of a postal facility in his honor is appropriate and serves as an indication of the tremendous legacy of service that he left. I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend and congratulate Commander Charles L. Stuppard, United States Navy, who is leaving from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to be the next Commanding Officer of the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG51). The Arleigh Burke is a guided missile AEGIS Destroyer with a complement of about 325 personnel including 25 Officers. Commander Stuppard is slated to be at the helm of this powerful Navy vessel in April 2004. Commander Stuppard joined the Naval Officer Corps in 1985. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University and his Master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. Commander Stuppard's achievements and accomplishments are truly exemplary and I hope many young people from my district and around the country will follow in his footsteps as an Officer and a Gentleman. I congratulate Commander Stuppard for a job well done and wish him and his family fair winds and following seas.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Oak Parkers have always been independent thinkers. So it's not surprising that the earliest residents of Oak Park opted for an independent government that gave them a greater voice in decisions that affected their lives and their community. In the late 19th century, Oak Park was still a part of the Township of Cicero. However, after residents of the Austin neighborhood successfully broke away from the Cicero Township in 1899 choosing to annex to the city of Chicago, Oak Parkers began to petition once again for their own village. In 1901, citizens formally seceded from Cicero Township to establish their own municipal government. The first village elections were held in 1902 and Oak Park celebrated its new status as a united, selfcontained community. Because the separation from Cicero Township left Oak Park in a legal limbo as regards certain delegated township functions, Oak Park citizens voted in 1903 to establish Oak Park Township. The first elected officials were supervisor, assessor, collector, clerk, two justices of the peace and two constables. The first social service program began in 1936 with Poor Relief, a Great Depression program to aid financially struggling residents. This was the start of the General Assistance program, which has provided financial assistance to thousands of Oak Park citizens over the years. The growing population of youth and elderly in the 1960's and 1970's ushered in Youth Services and Senior Services. Guided by volunteer citizen committees, the services are key components in Oak Park's quality of life. In 1971, the Senior Citizens Committee was formed and the Meals-at- Home program was established. In 1973, the Township established by popular vote the volunteer Community Mental Health Board to assess need and help fund mental health programs. In that same year, the Advisory Committee on Childcare was formed. Also in the 70's came a transportation program for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as the Senior Citizen Information and Referral Service, the Energy Assistance program and the Income Tax Assistance program. Within the last ten years, Oak Park Township has continued to meet the growing needs of its constituency. A youth Advocacy Council was established to give a voice to the teenage population. Additionally, the Townships of Oak Park and River Forest initiated a collaborative youth services program. In 1993, the Township's Youth and Senior Services programs won three state awards and one year later the Community Mental Health Board became the only one in the state to be Medicaid certified for its case management services. The Township's assessor and collector functions, in accordance with the Township's overall vision of service and accessibility, has changed dramatically over the years. Since the 1930's, the assessor has been a service office, not assessing property, but helping residents, businesses and public agencies better understand property matters, taxation and assisting with appeals. Since 1996, to improve operational efficiencies while providing broader services, the Township has entered into partnerships with other governments and private agencies to coordinate and expand its youth, senior and mental health programs. Intergovernmental agreements exist between the Township and all the other 10 governmental units in Oak Park and River Forest--villages; parks; libraries; schools and the River Forest Township. From its humble beginnings serving Oak Park's population of 3,000 residents in 1903, one hundred years later Oak Park Township has evolved into a fullservice unit of local government serving Oak Park's 53,000 residents in 2003. I congratulate Oak Park Township on their 100th birthday and know that they will continue to identify and address unmet needs in their community.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, late last night, the House Rules Committee sent a terrible message to our Nation's seniors and hospitals. Two amendments I proposed were not allowed to pass onto the House floor. The first amendment would have stricken the language regarding the ``market basket'' index. Under the current bill hospitals would lose $12 billion over the next ten years. My amendment would have kept the funding streams toward hospitals level so that hospitals would not be forced to make difficult cuts in services and jeopardize patient care. My second amendment would have assured that the prescription drug benefits we members of Congress enjoy would be comparable to those of Medicare beneficiaries. My colleagues in the Senate passed such an amendment, but the Members of the House Rules Committee seem reluctant to subject themselves to the very same benefits they would give our Nation's seniors. They have sent the clear message that these benefits are not good enough for them, the relatively young and healthy, but are adequate for our Nation's seniors and disabled persons. Once again this Congress has proven that the Democratic process is not working. Not only are the voices of America's seniors not being heard, but neither are those of Members of Congress. As we go home to celebrate our Nation's independence, we will have to explain to our seniors that yes, a prescription drug bill passed, but it will not benefit them. It will not benefit middle America, it will not benefit the poor, it will not benefit those who are already struggling to buy their prescription drugs. It will only benefit those who can currently afford their drugs, afford to pay more for hospital services, and afford to pass this bill. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this rule and I oppose the underlying bill.