Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the chairman of our subcommittee, for the gentleman's recognition and leading the committee toward an understanding of the disproportionately high number of African American males being placed in special education. I raised the issue in subcommittee in the form of an amendment, and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), to his credit, led us through a discussion of that which led to what I am sure is a real adjustment and a way to handle that issue by dealing with this disproportionately high number of individuals in a special group. With that having been said, since we did not get to the point, though, of dealing with full funding for the legislation and without the resources needed, I am afraid that we cannot take care of the problems. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I cannot support the rule. I think we have had an opportunity and could have had an excellent piece of legislation, but I am afraid that it falls short because it short- changes those in our society who need the help the most, children with disabilities.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Students in Free Enterprise for their dedication and outstanding work. SIFE provides leadership training, regional competitions, and opportunity fairs for thousands of college students. Established in 1975, Students in Free Enterprise has rapidly grown to include more than 790 campuses nationwide, and now includes participants from 35 countries. Throughout the years and as the number of students grew, the mission of SIFE has remained the same: to provide college and university students the best opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through learning, practicing, and teaching the principles of free enterprise. With the number of corporate scandals and the high levels of distrust that is emanating from the business world today, SIFE gives a light of hope that our business leaders of tomorrow will have a solid understanding of principles and values and bring them into the business world. SIFE also encourages and demonstrates to college students the importance of community outreach. College students across the Nation participate in such programs that encourage the understanding of the responsible use of debit and credit cards and events that go into the local schools like Teach A Child About Business Week. The Students in Free Enterprise teams are learning important lessons that will help them in their adult lives, but it is more important that these students and the SIFE teams are extending their knowledge to their families, classmates, and neighbors. Madam Speaker, there are 25 colleges and universities in Illinois that participate and have SIFE teams. I am very proud and very pleased that two of the 25 are institutions with whom I have close and deep roots. One of them is Malcolm X College, where I have taught courses and where we hold many of our town hall meetings and other community outreach activities; and the other is Chicago State University where I was privileged to earn a master's degree and have been asked to give their commencement address this year on June 7. Both are outstanding institutions, one in my congressional district and one not. So once again I would like to congratulate Students in Free Enterprise for providing young people with the opportunity to make a difference and providing leadership training and inspiring young people to do what is right in both their personal and business lives. This is an excellent program. I commend the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) for its introduction. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 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, as the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform's Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, I join my colleague in the consideration of H. Con. Res. 149, legislation introduced by my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), on April 10, 2003. H. Con. Res. 149 is a concurrent resolution expressing support for the celebration of Patriots' Day and honoring the Nation's first patriots. The measure expresses support for the annual celebration of Patriots' Day and recognizes the extraordinary dedication to freedom demonstrated by the Nation's first patriots during the early days of the Battle for Independence in April of 1775. Finally, it honors those first patriots who lost their lives in defense of liberty and freedom. H. Con. Res. 149 has the support and cosponsorship of the entire Massachusetts delegation. The dictionary defines patriot as ``a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it.'' It is only fitting and proper that we join with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) and the Massachusetts congressional delegation and the Senate in honoring the men who allowed the Minutemen to assemble and confront the advancing British troops. The actions of those men, Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, were the first great acts of patriotism of our Nation. Who could ever forget the midnight ride of Paul Revere when he rode through the streets warning, ``The British are coming.'' His famous ride through the countryside was duly and forever celebrated by the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in his poem entitled Paul Revere's Ride. I remember even as a small child learning that poem: ``Listen, my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, on the 18th of April in '75; hardly a man is now alive who remembers that famous day and year.'' The passage of H. Con. Res. 149 will ensure that we will continue to honor and recognize the first patriots. We will also long remember and never forget the lists of patriots who have given their lives in the defense of our country. Every day, Mr. Speaker, men and women honor the definition of a patriot by bravely answering the call to support and defend the United States of America. We owe them a great deal of gratitude and, like the resolution before us, we owe it to their actions to forever preserve and protect the historic sites so that others will never forget the struggle for freedom. I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for introducing this measure, and I urge its swift adoption. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), the author of this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), a place far from Massachusetts, which is an indication of how much this country has grown, expanded, and developed. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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. Speaker, I want to commend again the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for providing the opportunity for this moment. I believe that it is moments like this on the floor of this House that speak to the greatness of this Nation and how connected we are and how similar are our experiences. It does not matter whether one grew up in South Dakota, in Massachusetts, in American Samoa, or even in a little town in Arkansas, as I did, but there was a level of connectedness.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the most effective child advocacy organization in the United States of America, or any place else in the world--the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). Founded in 1973 by the creative, dedicated and far-sighted Marian Wright Edelman, the CDF has played a key role in keeping the needs, hopes and aspirations of our children in the eyes and minds of policy makers and the general public. Through its research and education efforts the CDF has educated, motivated, and stimulated millions of parents to become more aware of the needs of their children and how they too can become advocates for them. The CDF has provided health support, informed parents on how to use the Children's Health Insurance Program, put together the Student Health Outreach Project and through its Child Welfare and Mental Health Division works to support and protect children and their families who have been abused, neglected, suffered serious emotional problems and in some instances have even been left homeless. Education is indeed the key that unlocks the door to success and in this arena the CDF has been unwavering in trying to make head start available to every child, supporting educational programs like the 21st Century Community Learning Center, after-school programs, the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), the Infants and Toddlers Program, the Campus Based Childcare, and early Childhood Educator Professional Development Program, as well as countless others. Mr. Speaker, our children are indeed the future, and as the songwriter said: ``teach them well and let them lead the way,'' well for thirty years the CDF has been leading the way and pointing out to America that they need our support, financially, morally, spiritually, educationally, and emotionally if they are to become the leaders that we need for tomorrow. Yes, the CDF for thirty years has fought the good fight, you have paved the way, you are leading us into the light, and we simply pause to take note and say thank you--Marian Wright Edelman, and thank you Children's Defense Fund.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me commend the chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), for bringing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the economic engine that drive America because they create three-fourths of all new jobs, employ half our workers, account for half of our gross domestic product, and contribute more than 55 percent of innovations. Small businesses have and will continue to pull the U.S. economy out of recession. They anchor our neighborhoods, employ and train our workers, and take care of our families. They are the reason that the U.S. economy is the strongest in the world. Despite all their contributions, small businesses face many obstacles. One of these obstacles is the expanding volumes of regulations where small businesses are mandated to learn and comply with government guidelines. The number of Federal regulations has nearly doubled over the past 20 years. The Federal Register, the resource book of Federal regulatory initiatives and changes, has increased to nearly 80,000 pages. With these kinds of rules and regulations, small businesses are finding themselves confused and often lost in piles of regulatory paperwork. It is difficult in this economy for small businesses to grow and prosper. The excess Federal Government paperwork requirements cost the economy about $100 billion a year. Much of this cost is paid by small business owners. Mr. Speaker, this is the reason why I support the passage of H.R. 205, the National Small Business Regulatory Act of 2003. This bill requires the Small Business Administration to enter into an agreement with participating small business development centers to provide small businesses with the information necessary to improve their rate of compliance with Federal and State regulations. Businesses would receive confidential, free, one-on-one, in-depth counseling regarding compliance with Federal and State regulations and would indeed receive referrals to experts and other providers of compliance assistance. Again, Mr. Speaker, I commend the chairman (Mr. Manzullo) and the ranking member. I think that this is probably one of the most bipartisan committees in the House. It is a committee that does indeed work well together and it is indeed a committee that turns out legislation like this bill that I am pleased to support.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, as the ranking minority member of the Committee on Government Reform's Special Panel on Postal Reform and Oversight, I rise in support of S. 380, the Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003. As an original cosponsor of the House version, H.R. 735, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of S. 380, legislation which will correct the way payments are made to the Civil Service Retirement System. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank especially the chairman of this committee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), for their ability to come together in a unified, bipartisan way, to reach agreement and bring to the floor this legislation in a very timely manner. I also want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), who has provided leadership on postal issues for a number of years, and all of their staffs, as well as my staff, for the enormous time and effort spent in crafting H.R. 735. I am particularly proud of the fact that we have worked together in a productive, constructive, and bipartisan manner. We have begun the 108th Congress on a very positive note, and we look forward to the continuation of that in our committee. I would also like to thank the Senate for striking their language and substituting the language from our bill, H.R. 735, and including the military study language of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis). Since the introduction of the House postal pension bill and throughout the committee's markup process, I received hundreds of letters from members of the business mailing community expressing support of the legislation and urging quick action. I was pleased to have been contacted by so many businesses in the Chicago area and within the State of Illinois. In the face of a depressing economy and a swift and steady decline in mail volume, businesses and consumers are in no mood for postage rate increases. To that end, I am pleased that the bill before us not only corrects the calculation of the postal service's contributions to the CSRS fund, it will also allow the postal service to hold off on rate increases for at least 2 years, while allowing the postal service to reduce its $11.9 billion debt. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to express my support for this important legislation. Although this is a good bill, it is not a perfect bill. At the appropriate time, I certainly expect to express support for the military amendment of the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), an amendment which would retain current law with respect to Treasury paying the costs related to the military service of employees in the Civil Service Retirement System. Practically all of the postal service's stakeholders are in support of this legislation: printers, mailers, the unions, and the consuming public. It is a good bill. I urge its passage. Again, I commend the chairman and ranking member for their leadership.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I simply rise in support of the Waxman amendment. But I also rise in support of the agreement that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) have been able to arrive at. I think once again this is an indication of the manner in which the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform have been able to provide leadership that moves us from the discussion point to the position of being able to actually do something. And so I commend both of the gentlemen for their diplomacy, for their leadership, and for their legislative skill.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, democracy is the cornerstone of our government. True democracy allows room for dissent, discussion, and demonstration. Last week, students from around the country arrived in our Nation's capital to demonstrate in support of affirmative action in higher education. They actively participated in a peaceful way in our democracy. And I am sure that the founders of this Nation must have been as proud of them as I am of the students who participated. Students marched, sang songs, prayed, and urged the Supreme Court to allow schools like the University of Michigan to continue the practice of allowing diversity in higher education. The students realize that in spite of the progress made over the last 40 years, minorities, women and people with disabilities, still face major barriers in education, business, and employment. They also realize that the prerequisite for change is struggle, and that without struggle there is indeed no progress. Many people dismiss students because they are generally perceived as not actively engaged in the political process. In addition, others suggest that they are unwilling to sacrifice and do the things necessary for group liberation. The enlightened students I encountered at the Supreme Court represented America at its best. They represented America and its great diversity. Their message was clear, strong, and compelling. It was a message that affirmative action is a powerful, proven, and effective tool for removing the remnants of prejudice and bias. It was a message that affirmative action capitalizes on the strength of our diversity and opens the doors for opportunities. I am proud of the students who sacrificed their sleep, their classroom work, to brave the cold weather and proclaim that affirmative action is relevant and needed in higher education. They realized that education is the great equalizer. It is the ladder to success. The thousands of students who demonstrated came by train, car, bus and many on foot. The impressive gathering of college and high school students was reminiscent of some of the activities done to achieve fairness and equalities throughout the 1960's. Of course, the challenge for all of us now is to keep the momentum and the pressure on. Again, I commend the students for standing for something as important as equal opportunity to higher education. I commend them for their efforts and remind them that the struggle must continue.

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 the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) in consideration of H.R. 1368, a measure which names the Postal Service facility after former Representative Norm D. Shumway. H.R. 1368, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) of California on March 19, 2003, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire California congressional delegation. Representative Norman D. Shumway served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1978 until his retirement in January 1991. While in Congress, he served on a number of important committees, the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the House Select Committee on Aging. A lifelong student of the customs and culture of the Japanese people, Representative Shumway was one of two Members of Congress who spoke fluent Japanese. As a result of his language skill and position on congressional committees, Norm participated in many seminars and conferences dealing with trade issues and U.S.-Japanese relationships. Although retired for a number of years, Norm Shumway has remained active in his community, State and church. He is a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and in that capacity, he has served as a missionary, seminary instructor, High Priest Group leader, Bishop, teacher and ward organist. He has served as a commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission and parole board member of the California Narcotic Addiction Evaluation Authority. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the tradition of naming postal facilities after distinguished individuals, I thank our colleague for seeking to honor Norman D. Shumway in this manner, and urge swift passage of H.R. 1368. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe 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 yield myself such time as I may consume to simply note that it seems to me that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) ran in good company. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I am pleased to yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the great State of South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the author of this legislation.

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 the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the chairman, in consideration of H.R. 1055, legislation naming a postal facility after the late Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Sr. H.R. 1055, introduced by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) on March 4, 2003, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire South Carolina congressional delegation. Dr. Beck was born in South Carolina, attended Fisk University and received his medical degree at the prestigious Meharry College of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. After completing his residency in Baltimore, Maryland, and Mt. Sinai in New York, Dr. Beck served with great distinction in the Korean War as a medic in the Medical Corps. After winning a Bronze Star for service rendered in the war, Dr. Beck returned home to live and practice in Florence, South Carolina. Described by the many dignitaries who attended his funeral on January 10, 2003, as a great humanitarian, physician, political power broker, accomplished musician and family man, Dr. Beck's life was dedicated to improving the quality of life for his fellow man. He organized the Florence Committee for Community Affairs, brought the first Head Start program to his town, served as chairman of the Voter Education Project, was an active member of the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the South Carolina Commission on Human Relations, and served as a trustee of the Medical University of South Carolina. As chairman of the Voter Education Project, Dr. Beck was the driving force in promoting the need for citizens to register and vote. As an active member of his church and community, Dr. Beck was the recipient of numerous awards and citations. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Beck, and their three children, Janice Beck, Celeste Abdullah, and Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Jr. Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), for seeking to honor Dr. Roswell N. Beck, Sr., in this manner. I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) was trying to get here, and maybe he will come before we finish the next bill and will get an opportunity to speak to his bill naming the post office after Dr. Roswell N. Beck. Mr. Speaker, I reserve 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 support this resolution introduced by the chairman of the Committee on Rules which encourages the Jump$tart Coalition's efforts to designate April as Financial Literacy Month for Youth. As the resolution notes, 83 percent of college students have at least one credit card; and of those, 45 percent have an average credit card debt of over $3,000. This is at a time when a decreasing number of States include personal finance in their education standards for kindergarten through 12th grade. This resolution serves as a wake-up call for all of us, the administration, Congress, and the American taxpayer. The Jump$tart Coalition's aim is to identify personal finance materials for educating our youth. To that end they have established 12 must-know personal finance principles for young people if they want to make a positive difference in their financial outlook. At this time of budget and tax cuts and a floundering economy, all of us might benefit from hearing these 12 financial principles. It does not really matter whether you are young or old. They are: Map your financial future. Do not expect something for nothing. High returns equal high risk. Know your take-home pay. Compare interest rates. Pay yourself first. Money doubles by the rule of 72, and that is to determine how long it will take your money to double, divide the interest into 72. Your credit past is your credit future. Start saving young. Stay insured. Budget your money. Do not borrow what you cannot repay. And let me add one more, especially since the 15th is not too far away. Pay all of your taxes. Again, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution designating April as Financial Literacy for Youth Month, and I urge all of us to strongly support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) has a great deal of interest in this legislation and hopes to be able to speak on the legislation. I will simply close by stating that my mother used to say that a penny saved is a penny earned and my father used to say if one takes care of their nickels, the dimes will take care of themselves. It seems to me, that kind of logic is inherent in urging young people to pay attention at an early age to their financial concerns. I commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) for its introduction, and urge all Members to support it.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I was about to come over, there was a young man in my office visiting one of my staffers, Lance Corporal Jason C. Smedley, and he was proudly displaying his Purple Heart. He had been wounded in an attack in An Nasiriya, Iraq, on March 26, 2003, and is now home to recuperate, and as we talked about what he would do next, he said, ``I want to hurry up and get well so I can go back and rejoin my unit.'' I was struck by that, struck by his seriousness, by his desire, and struck by the fact that he said that there is still much work to do, to try and rebuild what we are at this moment helping to tear down. So I simply commend again to all of the soldiers who are giving of themselves in this time in honor of their country, looking for a better future and a better tomorrow.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my opposition against the President's proposed budget for Health Care in the Veterans Affairs (VA) fiscal year 2004. Americans freedom is due to the men and women in uniform who have fought and continue to fight for us. They are the Nation's heroes, who are one of America's greatest and vital assets, to whom we owe a great debt. One way we can repay this debt is through the provision of good health care to them. Many veterans and men and women in uniform according to the American Veterans (AMVET) will agree with me that high quality health care is one of their most important benefits. Nevertheless, the President is repaying the debt we owe to them by cutting their health care benefits. The President's budget of $27.5 billion is $2.5 billion less than what it cost to provide health care to veterans under current law in 2004. This is as a result of suspending health care enrollment of Priority 8 veterans, which will deny care to 173,000 veterans nation wide. Of the 173,000 veterans denied approximately 7,160 reside in Illinois and approximately 4,000 would have enrolled at VA facilities in the Chicago area. Nationwide, an estimated 300,000 veterans in 2002, were placed on waiting list or forced to wait for over 6 months in order for them to get an appointment for health care. Now we are going to tell over 50 percent of these people who have been expecting this benefit and bleed for their country, that we appreciate their service and are thanking them by refusing them health care access. Denying them health care tells them how much we value their service to the country and their lives. This is incomprehensible. The budget now requires an additional annual enrollment fee of $250 for those already in the VA health care system. This will force approximately 1.25 million enrolled veterans including 425,000 active patients nationwide to drop out of the health care system due to the increased costs. In the state of Illinois, there are approximately 105,210 priority 7 and 8 veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, which will lead to an estimated 58,000 veterans dropping out due to this cost. Also, approximately 42,000 Chicago veterans and active patients would be forced to drop out of VA care due to the new fees. This new fee is telling our veterans and active men and women in uniform that their suffering for our freedom is not enough for them to earn health care benefits that they still have to pay for it. Furthermore, those who remain in the VA health care system, will pay a lot more than they used to pay. In the State of Illinois an estimated 47,000 Priority 7 and 8 veterans will remain in the VA health care system, which will mean that their cost for VA care will increase by an estimated $16 million annually. Out of these Illinois veterans approximately 26,000 veterans are enrolled in Chicago VA facilities, their VA care cost will increase annually by an estimated $9.1 million. Overall due to being excluded from signing up and the increased fee for VA care, approximately 65,000 Illinois 15 veterans, including 36,000 veterans in Chicago VA facilities, will lose access to VA health care. This is no way to treat our Veterans--in fact we should be ashamed. We can do better and we must begin by taking care of those who have given so much--our Veterans.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I was indeed fortunate as a teenager to attend the Arkansas Mechanical and Normal College, which is now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. While this was one of the historically black colleges and universities, it did not have a great deal in the way of material supplies and resources. However, it had some of the most profound educators and education administrators this country has ever known. I could cite any number of them, but today I will mention three and highlight one. Prexy, President Lawrence A. Davis, Sr., had no peer as an administrator and was beloved by generations of individuals who are connected to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Mr. Ray Russell, chairman of the History Department, was one of the most exciting professors that I have ever known. I was a history major, and he was my friend, mentor, and a father figure. However, the man that I would highlight and the man whose thinking helped to shape my own passion for democratic principles and social activism, Professor Adolph Reed, Sr., was my political science professor. I remember Mr. Reed so well, as his other students have described him, slender, suave, in constant motion, talking incessantly, keeping us in rapt attention as he waxed eloquently about Locke, Rousseau, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Daisy Bates, Martin Luther King, and the nameless sharecroppers, common, ordinary people, everyday people who would march, demonstrate, picket, boycott, and do whatever they could to try and obtain justice. Professor Reed, like so many others of his generation, migrated from Arkansas to Chicago, where he worked as a railroad dining car waiter and sat in on classes at the University of Chicago. His experiences in the hustle and bustle in the predominantly black South Side of Chicago remained a central part of his being as he continued on the path to greatness. He was drafted into the Army, was part of the Normandy invasion, and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge. He was involved in protests by black troops in Charleston, South Carolina, and in Manchester, England. He often remarked about the contradiction of having been sent to fight the racist Nazis in a racially segregated United States Army. After the war, Professor Reed, like many other veterans, especially African American males who had never before had the opportunity to attend college in large numbers, enrolled at Fiske University in Nashville, Tennessee. He pursued postgraduate studies at New York University and American University. Mr. Reed taught at Arkansas A.M. and N. College, where he was my instructor. He then moved on to Southern University, where he resigned as the result of a clash with the university's president over his expulsion of student protestors who were demonstrating for civil rights, equal opportunity, and an end to segregation. He held visiting professorships at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of California at San Diego. At Arkansas A.M. and N., we knew Mr. Reed was spellbinding, but we did not know that while at Fiske he had been editor of an independent radical newspaper called ``Give Me a Name,'' or that during the 1940s had been active in the American Labor Party. In 1948, he was a delegate to the Progressive Party convention that launched Henry Wallace's Presidential campaign. We did not know that he had been at Peekskill, New York, in 1949 to show support for our hero, Paul Robeson; or that he had been a reporter for the New York Compass. After getting to know Dr. Adolph Reed, Jr., a well-known college professor who teaches political science at the New School for Social Research in New York City, and to know that Mr. Reed's grandson, Toure F. Reed is a history professor at Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois, it reinforces for me the kind of legacy that he left. Mr. Reed taught at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville from 1971 to 1994, when he retired with the title ``professor emeritus.'' Madam Speaker, it is good to have known one who lived what he taught, who practiced what he preached, who understood that you cannot lead where you are unwilling to go, and that you cannot teach what you do not know. I want to end this with Dr. Reed, Jr.'s, characterization of his father. ``Professor Reed as a political scientist remained convinced that both major political parties are too beholden to corporate interests, which he frequently described as the basis for the perverted priorities of American politics.'' In recent years, he became an active supporter of the New Labor Party, created in 1996, and its project of building a politics in this country based on a working-class economic agenda. He was a man for many seasons, and oftentimes thought of as a man before his time. I am proud to have known him, and appreciate the tremendous contribution that he made to all of America. Madam Speaker, it is so good to have known one who lived what he taught, who practiced what he preached, who understood that you cannot lead where you are unwilling to go and that you cannot teach what you do not know. I want to end this with Dr. Adolph Reed Jr.'s characterization of his father. Professor Reed as a political scientist: . . . remained convinced that both major political parties are too beholden to corporate interests, which he frequently described as the basis for the ``perverted priorities'' of American politics. In recent years, he became an active supporter of the New Labor Party, created in 1996, and its project of building a politics in this country based on a working class economic agenda that cuts across other potential social divisions. All his life he lamented what he perceived as the ruling class's success in inducing too many poor and working people to identify the wrong enemies. He stressed the roles of the news media, education system and organized religion in perpetuating that situation: These convictions shaped his approach to intellectual and political life. He was widely known among colleagues and in the political science profession as a person of uncommon honesty and integrity, a witty and engaging raconteur, big ban jazz aficionado, a biting critic and a generous friend. Although he never shied away from expressing intellectual and political disagreements, he refused to take differences personally and could maintain friendships with those with who he differed sharply. His teaching philosophy was simply to encourage students to think independently. Professor Reed was an important force in the development of a generation of Black Political scientists and a prominent voice in the organization throughout its formative years. He was also a founding member of the American Political Science Association's Caucus for a New Political Science. When I learned that Mr. Reed and his family had lived in Dumas, Eudora and Reed, Arkansas, his being became even more meaningful to me, given the fact that this is the largely rural, impoverished area where I grew up. This has provided me with even more affinity for this great scholar and tremendous teacher. Adolph Reed Sr. 1921-2003, a man with exceptional insight, common experiences, menial work, a soldier, activist, uncompromising philosopher, served on State Constitution Committees in Arkansas and Louisiana, inspiration to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., acknowledged prominently in Race and Democracy, a book by Adam Fairclough depicting the Civil Rights Struggle in Louisiana from 1915 to 1972, heralded by activists like Stokley Carmichael, featured in the Black Press for being at the core of student unrest and activism on black college campuses, intellectual giant. Mr. Reed, when your family and friends gather in Fayetteville, Arkansas to pay tribute, please know that there are thousands of us across the country who are there in spirit and of course, you will always be with us. ``Sante Sana'' ``The Struggle will Continue.''

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the great issues of war and peace have rightfully dominated the news and the focus of our attention as a people and as a legislative body during the month of March. Nevertheless, other events must continue on. March, of course, is Women's History Month. It is not designated Women's History Month because we may ignore the role and history of women for the other eleven months of the year. Quite the opposite. We have designated March as Women's History Month to highlight, for on- going consideration, the status, condition and progress of women. The Congress established Women's History Week in 1981 and expanded it to Women's History Month in 1987. In that short period Women's History Month has become a time when men and women learn about the history of more than half of our population, much of which is not recorded in standard history books. The rediscovery of our ``missing'' history has been a beneficent thing for America. As for the status of women, this year we note with satisfaction that women have made progress toward equality. At the same time, we remain deeply concerned about how far women need to go before they achieve what simple fairness and justice would demand: full equality. Mr. Speaker, just a few numbers to highlight the current status of women: The median earnings of women age 15 and older who worked full time, year around, after adjustment for inflation, increased 3.5 percent in 2001, the fifth consecutive increase. Women in this group earn $0.76 for every dollar their male counterparts earn. This ratio represents an all-time high according to the census bureau. The gap between men and women with college degrees has not closed completely, but the percentages are close: 25 percent of women age 25 and over now have a bachelor's degree or higher compared with 29 percent of men. For younger women, age 25 to 34, 33 percent hold a bachelor's degree or higher compared to 29 percent of their male counterparts of the same age. Young women also have a higher high school completion rate than young men: 89 percent v. 85 percent. The percentage of women who cast a ballot in the last Presidential election was 61 percent compared with 58 percent of men. Women have voted at higher rates then men in every Presidential election since 1984. There are now 10 million single mothers up from 3 million in 1970. Overall about 26 percent of all parent-child situations consist of a single mother and her own children up from 12 percent in 1970. Women are far more likely than men to live in poverty, especially seniors. According to the census bureau 12 percent of women age 65 and older lived in poverty compared with 7 percent of men. Nearly 16 percent of men age 15 and older who worked full time in 2001 earned $75,000 per year compared with 6 percent of women. About 20 percent of men earned $50,000 to $75,000 compared to 12 percent of women. Mr. Speaker, there are especially troubling increases in the number of women who are in prison and there remain significant disparities between men and women in health care and other vital social indices. Mr. Speaker, women may not have had their history fully recorded, but they have always assumed their full share and more in the building of our nation, in creating and protecting America's families, in developing art, culture and science, public policy, health care, education and any other field one can name. However, it has required constant struggle on the part of women. Thus, women have always played an important part in shaping public opinion but it was not until 1916 that Jeanette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and not until 1992 that Carol Moseley Braun became the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Anne Bradstreet became the first published American writer in 1650 and in 1993 Toni Morrison became the First African American woman to win the Nobel prize in literature. Over the course of our history we have seen an unending string of ``firsts.'' The first woman to receive her M.D. degree: Elizabeth Blackwell--1849. The first female professional chemist: Ellen Swallow Richards--1873. First American woman in Space: Sally Ride--1983. First woman U.S. Surgeon General; Antonia Novello--1900. Mr. Speaker, the history of American women is an inexhaustible subject. No one can reduce it to a single sound byte or a single notion. One thing is clear: the march to equality is irresistible and unrelenting. The Equal Rights Amendment was first drafted by Alice Paul in 1923. The message was simple and clear: ``Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.'' The Congress did not pass, and send to the states, the ERA until March 22, 1972. The states failed to ratify. But our responsibility as a people and as a legislative body remains. Women demand and deserve equality in every sphere of life, beginning with the law. It is high time for us to recognize and ratify that most just and basic demand.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, as I listened to the debate and as I listened to the virtues of the proposed legislation and as I listened to those who expressed opposition, it would seem to me that there ought to be a middle ground, that there ought to be a point where the children come first, where finding them, making sure that their parents can wake up and see their children that they have not seen. That often requires a bit of give and take. I think that there could be other opportunities to debate and discuss criminal justice punishment, to discuss what it is that you do as individuals have committed a crime. It would serve us well if we could arrive at the point where today we are simply talking about finding missing children, not punishing perpetrators, not putting people in jail, but finding missing children. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I would like to be associated with the comments that were just made by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey). I rise in strong support of the AMBER Alert provisions of this bill to prevent child abduction and to then do all we can in finding the child. A nationwide AMBER Alert would allow all of America to have the information to assist the family, the community, and the local police in finding a missing child. If already in place, the two Bradley sisters from Chicago would have been located. Like most stories of missing children, 10-year-old Tionda and 3-year- old Diamond disappeared without a trace, without anyone seeing where they went or who they went with. On Friday, July 6, 2001, Tionda had left a note telling their mother that she and her sister were going to go to the store and then go to the school playground. Several neighborhood children have told police that they did see the sisters playing outside their complex around noon that day. Sadly, no one has seen them since. The neighborhood surrounding their home and even Lake Michigan has been searched with only disappointing news. No clues, no evidence has been found to place either child. It has been 659 days since this mother has seen her two daughters. I urge America to go to the Bradley's Web site and see if you have seen either one of them. Mr. Chairman, all of America would be benefited by the AMBER Alert system put in place now. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, it is unfortunate that we will delay the opportunity to find Tionda and to find Diamond. We will delay the opportunity because, instead of having a simple, clean AMBER Alert bill that could be passed immediately in both Houses, we have a complex, complicated, bogged-down bill with all kinds of impediments and extraneous items in it that makes it very difficult for individuals to support if they also want to support a judicial system that deals in a rational, logical, sane, sensible, less-than-punitive way. I do not know if it is going to be possible to change that, but I would certainly hope there would be some way to extricate, to take out those onerous portions of the bill so that we can move ahead and find missing children, find children who are away from their parents, find children that we do not know where they are. So I would hope when the end comes, we will come to an alert system that puts us on the track to find missing children. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time.