Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform I rise in support of H.R. 4717, legislation naming a post office after Jim Fonteno. H.R. 4717, which was introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen) on May 14, 2002, has met the committee policy and enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Texas delegation. Jim Fonteno is a county commissioner in East Harris County, Texas; and for over 28 years, Commissioner Fonteno has worked to deliver services to senior citizens and the young people of his community. He has improved local recreation facilities, established camps and after- school programs for at-risk youth and created senior centers for the elderly. Commissioner Jim Fonteno is known throughout the county for his dedication to public service, and I am pleased to join with my colleagues in seeking to honor such a man. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen). (Mr. BENTSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3686.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to add my voice to that of the gentleman and the gentlewoman in terms of raising the issue, as well as bringing to our attention the importance of fatherhood, especially as we approach Father's Day. It just happens that in my Congressional district come Saturday we have a full day of activity that is designed to do nothing but promote responsible fatherhood, beginning early in the morning and going all day. It is a wonderful activity. Many of the individuals we find are looking for ways to reconnect with families, to reestablish relationships with their children. They simply need a little facilitation and a little bit of help. I think this kind of discussion, this kind of initiative, and this kind of action will go a long ways toward that.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, one of the basic axioms of democracy, one of democracy's fundamental philosophical underpinnings is the notion that the life, work, and opinion, of every person counts, or, at least, ought to count. I firmly believe in that notion: that every person counts and I believe in its corollary: that every person can make a difference. I want to offer up a life story as illustration of that belief--the life story of John A. Drost. John Drost was born in 1909 in Czechoslovakia. He went through school there earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1932. He served in the Czechoslovakian army in the Judge Advocate General's Department and assisted in the mobilization of the Czech Army. He became associated with a law firm with ties to the exiled Czechoslovakian Government in London representing the interests of Jewish clients. As a result of his legal work he was arrested jailed and sentenced to a Nazi labor camp. John, and his new bride Doris, eluded the Gestapo and went underground until the end of the war. After the war he was pursued by the Communist government and John and Doris escaped to Austria where John began work for the Church World Organization. Eventually John and his family emigrated to the United States. John found work as Church Administrator for St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Chicago. With the urging and support of church members he returned to night school and earned a law degree at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. John became the attorney for the Austrian Consulate and also did work for the German Consulate General. John's own life experiences left John with a feeling of special responsibility for families and for family support. As a result of his work with St. Paul's Church John became acquainted with Uhlich Children's Home--a home which has been supporting children and families for over 130 years. John assumed a series of ever more responsible positions on the Uhlich board where, as a result of his leadership, the board was renewed and reenergized and the work of Uhlich was likewise strengthened and expanded. John passed away in January of this year. But his son, George, and others carry on with the mission of providing support and services to troubled children and troubled families and which allows every child to reach his, or her, fullest potential. John Drost made a difference for thousands and he leaves a legacy of making a difference. Mr. Speaker, I believe an important part of his legacy is the example he has left us. As John was fond of saying,, ``In a country that gave us a beautiful life . . . we had to reciprocate.''

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to this Nation's observance of National Men's Health Week which takes place this year from June 10 to June 16. In May of 1994 Congress sent to the President a joint resolution establishing the week leading up to Father's Day each year as National Men's Health Week. It was signed by President Clinton on May 31, 1994, and became Public Law 103-264. The resolution requested our chief executive to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs and activities. As our sons and daughters across America scurry about this week to buy that special Father's Day gift and card, and as I wish my 90-year- old father and my 98-year-old uncle and my 88-year-old uncle and my 78- year-old uncle, I wish them all a happy Father's Day, I can think of no better way to honor our present and future generations of fathers than to learn more about the unique challenges men face and how we can help them preserve the precious gift of good health. All of our citizens have benefited greatly from the strides made by medical science, but despite these advances, a review of our health statistics show that the health status of American men, and especially many of our ethnic minorities, lags far behind the rest of our citizens. The average life expectancy at birth for all men in the United States is 74.1 years, more than 5 years less than for women. The gap widens to almost 7 years when comparing the life expectancy of black males, which is 68.3 years, to white males which is 74.8 years. I am especially concerned about the number one illness that contributes to the reduced life expectancy for men, heart disease. Despite the wealth of world class hospitals in Chicago, a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the year 2000 found that Illinois has the Nation's third highest rate of death from heart disease among African American men. According to the American Heart Association, all men have a greater risk of heart disease and heart attacks much earlier in life than women. Men must take this disease more seriously and understand that this killer can and should be prevented. In addition to the disproportionately higher rates of heart disease and other illnesses among African American men, census data has confirmed the tremendous growth of the Latino population in the United States. Hispanic men are also affected more than other groups by illnesses that can often be prevented or treated successfully if detected early. Hispanic Americans are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as non- Hispanic white Americans of similar age. We can and must do more to educate all men about this disease. People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely to have heart disease and suffer from stroke. Advanced diabetes can cause blindness, kidney disease and severe nerve damage. The risk of getting diabetes, as well as many other illnesses, can be reduced by lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet and exercising. Another public health concern that can be reduced with proper health, education and screening is the rate of illness and death from HIV/AIDS. Approximately 35,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Illinois. More than three-quarters of those people are estimated to live in the Chicago area. Chicago ranks sixth in its number of living AIDS cases among the 100 largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas, and Illinois ranks seventh among all States in the United States. Communities of color are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS in Chicago and throughout Illinois. More than two-thirds of living AIDS cases and more than three-quarters of new cases occur among African Americans. Directly related to this is data from the 1999 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse showing that Illinois ranks fifth in estimated numbers of people who recently used illicit drugs. Heightened awareness of what men can do to protect themselves and their loved ones from AIDS, heart disease, preventable accidents, diabetes and other health risks is what National Men's Health Week is all about. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I would urge all men throughout America and, quite frankly, throughout the world to pay more attention to our health so that not only can we maintain better health but so that we can continue to observe and have far more happy Father's Days with more fathers who are healthy, alive and well.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for the expeditious manner in which all of these bills have been brought to the floor. Their astuteness and willingness to cooperate have given us the opportunity to consider all three of these postal naming bills at one time, and I am sure that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) is also appreciative of that. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3740, which names the U.S. post office located in Philadelphia after William Cibotti, was introduced on February 13, 2002, by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady). William A. Cibotti was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from South Philadelphia High School and the National Business College. Always very active in the political affairs of South Philadelphia, and the Democratic Party, he was elected city magistrate in 1952. He held that office until 1966 when he was elected city councilman in the Second District and was reelected in 1970. A member of many civic, fraternal, charitable and social organizations, William Cibotti worked tirelessly on behalf of his constituents, community and his homeland of Italy. The Italian government awarded Councilman Cibotti the decoration of Cavaliere of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity. Councilman Cibotti passed away on January 17, 1975. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) is to be commended for seeking to honor William Cibotti by designating a post office in his honor. I urge the swift consideration of H.R. 3740 with the necessary amendments. Again, I want to thank the House leadership, both Republican and Democratic, for the expeditious manner in which these bills were processed so that they can be considered at this time. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3738, which names the U.S. Post Office located in Philadelphia after Herbert Arlene was introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) on February 13, 2002. Herbert Arlene was Pennsylvania's first African American elected to the State Senate in that State. Senator Arlene also served in the State House of Representatives from 1958 to 1966 representing North Central Philadelphia. In addition to being a politician and elected official, he was an active businessman, a philanthropist, and a community activist until his death in 1989. H.R. 3738 is a fitting tribute to the late Senator Herbert Arlene, and I would urge its swift passage and commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) for its introduction. I urge all Members to vote in favor of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady).

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, H.R. 3739, which designates a U.S. Post Office located in Philadelphia after Reverend Leon Sullivan was introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) on February 13, 2002. The Reverend Leon Sullivan, a prominent social activist/reformer was the pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in Philadelphia for 38 years, overseeing congregational growth from 600 to 6,000. His commitment to social reform and justice extended into national and international areas. In 1964, he founded the Opportunities Industrialization Center in Philadelphia, which sponsored extensive training and retraining of welfare recipients. The program was expanded into other cities and countries. I am pleased to say that I had the opportunity to actually work with the OIC that was founded in Chicago, and almost took a job working for them at one time. Perhaps if I had done that, I would not have ended up doing electorial politics. Reverend Leon Sullivan was also the founder of the National Progress Association for Economic Development which supported minority businesses in economic development and training. He served on the boards of a number of major corporations and organizations, including General Motors, the Boy Scouts of America, and several large banks. He is perhaps most remembered for the bold and innovative role he played in the global campaign to dismantle the system of apartheid in South Africa. In 1977, Reverend Leon Sullivan developed a code of conduct for companies operating in that country. The ``Sullivan Principles,'' signed by more than 125 U.S. corporations, required racial equality and desegregation in the workplace, corporate involvement in the South African black community, and stated opposition to the apartheid system. Reverend Leon Sullivan was the recipient of numerous awards and honors recognizing his ministry and commitment to social justice. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and received the Dahlberg Peace Award from the American Baptist Convention. Reverend Sullivan died on April 24, 2001 of leukemia. He was 78 years old. I commend my colleague for seeking to honor such an outstanding man of peace and vision, and urge swift consideration of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I might add, I was in Nairobi, Kenya in 1975, and was pleased to see as I got off the plane and got downtown Nairobi, the first thing I saw was an OIC; and I said, I guess I am in the right place. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, the first recorded law enforcement fatality in the performance of duty occurred on May 17, 1792. The officer's name was Isaac Smith, a sheriff's deputy in New York City, who was shot to death while attempting to make an arrest. Since that time, more than 15,000 other officers have been killed in the line of duty; and today, roughly 740,000 officers continue to put their lives on the line for the safety, welfare, and protection of others. May 15 is Peace Officers Memorial Day, and it is fitting that this resolution honoring the men and women of this country who were killed or disabled while serving as law enforcement officers be brought before this body. September 11, 2001, provided a somber perspective of the importance of Peace Officers Memorial Day. In addition to the 70 law enforcement officers who died at the World Trade Center, another 158 officers died in the line of duty last year. Those 228 deaths represent the sixth deadliest year in law enforcement history in this country. The first fatality of 2001 occurred shortly after midnight on January 1, when Tennessee State Trooper John Mann was struck and killed while struggling with a carjacker along an interstate highway. The 228th law enforcement fatality occurred on December 29 when Lieutenant Randy Gerald, a South Carolina sheriff, stopped on his way home from work to assist a woman who was being assaulted at a rest stop. As he pulled up, the assailant walked over to Lieutenant Gerald and shot him three times. These incidents, and countless others, bring to the forefront the sacrifice, acts of heroism and valor that police officers across the Nation perform every day. Their bravery and commitment to the job deserves to be remembered and revered, for it is obviously true that no greater gift can one give than to use his or her life for the safety and protection of others. I would urge all Members to support this resolution. 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. We have no further requests for time, and I would just like to close by thanking both the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) for this tremendous depiction of history that they have given us this afternoon, which reinforces my desire to be a strong supporter of this resolution; and it also reinforces how great and how much opportunity there is that exists in this country. Every time we pass one small measure, in this instance, it might have been a microbusiness loan that could have changed the history of our understanding of telecommunications. Mr. Speaker, I 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 New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), one who represents the feisty tradition of Italians and of Italian Americans, and a great spokesman not only for Italy and Italian Americans, but a great spokesman for all of America.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Antonio Meucci was born in Florence, Italy in 1808. He was fond of chemistry and at the age of 17 conceived an improved powerful propeller to be used in fireworks, so powerful that his little rockets lost control, caused damage to properties in the vicinity. This was the beginning of a life filled with experiments and discoveries. Meucci spent the first 27 years of his life in Florence, Italy, 15 years in Havana, Cuba, and 39 years in Clifton, New York. While in Havana, Meucci discovered the latest discoveries in electricity, electrochemistry and electrotherapy in his laboratory which was next to his apartment. In 1865 Meucci wrote, ``At Havana, by means of some little experiments, I came to discover that with an instrument placed at the ear and with the aid of electricity and a metallic wire, the exact word could be transmitted holding the conductor in the mouth . . . ''. Meucci had discovered electrical speech transmission. Meucci and his wife, Esther, moved to New York in 1850 where he established a very successful candle business. However, in 1854, his wife aggravated her rheumatoid arthritis to the point where she could seldom leave her bedroom in the third floor of the house. Esther's illness stimulated the resuming of Meucci's speaking telegraph, as it allowed her to communicate with him and others from her bedroom. Meucci established a telephone link from Esther's room to the basement as well as to a larger laboratory in the yard. To call attention, a mechanical call bell was used, its wires running parallel to those of the telephone. Only one instrument was used at each end, that was alternately brought to the ear or mouth of the user. Meucci received little credit for the invention he later called the teletrofono. This resolution recognizes his work, the importance of his efforts, and I am pleased to not only support it, but I also want to commend the gentleman for bringing it to the attention of all of the Members of this House and to the American people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 438, a resolution in support of improving men's health through fitness and the reduction of obesity. This resolution is timely as we focus on Men's Health Week. The question of obesity in our children and men is very concerning. Since 1980, the percentage of children who are overweight has doubled. This has led to serious health consequences: Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and in many instances, poor self-esteem among children. The problem of obesity is magnified in African American and poor communities, where rates increased most in the last 10 years. It is estimated that the economic cost of obesity is more than $100 billion a year, or 8 percent of the health budget. In a number of States, legislators have introduced bills to tax soft drinks and restrict advertising to certain hours of the day. These bills in effect limit personal freedom and responsibility. I believe that we must begin to seriously encourage people to exercise and pay attention to their diet. As a matter of fact, in some places, people are beginning to say that it is time that we learn to eat to live and not live to eat. I want to commend the Grocery Manufacturers of America for their efforts to begin to deal with the issue of obesity in a serious way. There are initiatives under way by Kraft and other food companies to make healthier products readily available. Additionally, they are looking at partnering with community-based organizations, churches and others, to spread the message that fitness and nutrition are two components to a long life. So again, I commend the gentleman for his resolution and look forward to working with him and others. I also want to be associated with the comments made by the gentleman from Ohio. I do indeed believe it is time that this House does serious work towards elimination of health disparities. But I believe that we have to move in a real way towards the ultimate development of a national health plan, one that provides quality, comprehensive health care for every American, without regard to their ability to pay. It is then and only then do I believe that we will become the healthy Nation that we have the potential of being.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on yesterday I attended an event in Chicago, Illinois, that the Near North Health Corporation used to kick off Men's Health Week; and it was a very interesting event, because there were a number of high-profile men who spoke of their illnesses. But they also spoke of the fact that for many years they never went to see a doctor. They had no idea that they may have been experiencing the difficulty. So their message was a very simple one, that if you are a man, like all other people, you really need to see your doctor. You need to check on your health. You need to make sure you get rid of the macho image that nothing can happen to you. So I would just extend their message to all men throughout America: check on your health. This is Men's Health Week. You start with yourself.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the important issue of Amtrak, and especially do I rise to address the future of our passenger rail system in the United States. I am pleased to join with all of those who support an increase in transportation funding for our Nation's rail line. I encourage my fellow colleagues to support the National Defense Rail Act proposed by the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson). Mr. Speaker, our national passenger rail system is in a state of financial crisis. Last week, David Gunn, the president of Amtrak, requested $200 million in immediate funding. Without this necessary funding, Amtrak will be forced to shut down; perhaps not definitely, but even if indefinitely, any disruption of our Nation's rail system would be detrimental to the economy as a whole. Therefore, I am pleased to have this opportunity to support legislation that will create a high-speed national rail service that is on par with the best rail systems in the world. Over the last 30 years, we have spent $750 billion on our national highways and airports, but we have only spent $25 billion on our national passenger rail system. Thus, it is not surprising to me that out of the 23 most industrialized nations in the world, the United States spends the least per capita on its national rail system. We now stand at a time where we must decide whether we should keep massaging and bailing out Amtrak, lending it just enough money to survive, or whether we should create a high-speed train network that will encourage more ridership, more expedient service, and a viable alternative to aviation or automobile travel. In the wake of September 11, we need a world-class high-speed national rail system. And in the weeks following the terrorist attack, people turned to Amtrak to get home from work or travel. Since travel by plane was not an option, the only way to get anywhere was by train. Across the country, Amtrak revenue and ridership increased significantly. In the northeast corridor alone, revenue shot up 13.5 percent, and ridership increased 4.6 percent. If we were to improve our national system, revenue and ridership would surely increase, easing congestion on our highways and runways. Transportation by rail is vital to the economy. Businesses depend on it, workers depend on it, and industry depends on it. It is vital to the environment. Trains use less fuel, emit less pollution, and cause less commuter congestion. For much too long, we have ignored the great potential that a world- class rail system could bring to our country's economy and security. I encourage all Members of Congress to join me and my colleagues in passing the National Defense Rail Act and support the future of expedient travel in the United States. The time has come to invest in the future of high-speed rail transportation by overhauling our Nation's passenger rail infrastructure. I share the vision of the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) and urge all of my colleagues to join with us as we propose and develop a national rail system second to none in the world.