Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 2577, legislation naming a post office after former Representative Robert W. Davis of Michigan, H.R. 2577, introduced by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) on July 19, 2001. This legislation has met the committee requirement and is supported and cosponsored by the entire Michigan delegation. Former Representative Bob Davis began his political career in local and State politics. He served on the St. Ignace City Council and in the Michigan house and senate. Elected to Congress in 1978, Bob Davis represented the 11th Congressional District and served until the end of the 102nd Congress. A member of House Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, former Representative Bob Davis worked hard to promote funding for the Coast Guard and to assist local businesses to secure Federal contracts. He was an ideal Representative, always looking after the needs of his constituents. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I just want to concur with the comments that have been made by all of my colleagues in consideration of S. 1026, legislation naming the post office in Long Branch, New Jersey, after Pat King, a police officer slain in the line of duty. S. 1026 was introduced by Senator Robert Torricelli, Democrat of New Jersey, on June 13, 2001. The late Detective Sergeant Pat King, a member of the Long Branch Police Force was born in Morristown, New Jersey, in 1952 and lived most of his life in Long Branch. As a 21-year veteran of the police force, Detective King was the most decorated police officer in the city's history and the only Long Branch police officer to receive the Medal of Valor. Sadly, he was killed in the line of duty by a career criminal on November 20, 1997. Officer King is survived by his wife Maureen and his two sons. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the House sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), for his hard work and dedication in seeking to honor the life and work of Detective King by naming the Long Branch post office after him. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) was the sponsor of H.R. 2997 and has been pursuing the passage of legislation naming the post office after Detective King since the 106th Congress. I am proud to say that with the House passage of the Senate version of that bill, his efforts will finally be realized. In keeping with the long-standing tradition of naming post offices after individuals who have made differences in their communities, I am pleased to lend my support to S. 1026, naming the post office after a police officer who gave his life defending the community. I also want to thank the chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), his staff, and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), for moving this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will not object, because, as a matter of fact, I rise in support of S. 1026, legislation designating the United States Post Office located at 60 Third Avenue in Long Branch, New Jersey, as the Pat King Post Office Building. However, I would like to ask the gentleman from Florida for further comments.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the author of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we move towards reauthorization of TANF, I am pleased to join with my colleagues this morning in a discussion of welfare reform. We must focus on reducing poverty as well as reducing the welfare rolls. Although welfare rolls are down nearly 50 percent in 5 years, many former recipients have been pushed into low-wage jobs that keep them in poverty. Families cannot be economically secure without work that pays a living wage. We need to reduce poverty, not just caseloads, by focusing on employment that will lift families out of poverty and really make work pay. Therefore, one of the best ways to reduce poverty is to raise the minimum wage to a livable wage. Let us make this a part of welfare reform.

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 in consideration of this resolution. A bigger-than-life screen actor and television personality, Ronald Reagan moved from being Governor of California in the 1960s to President of the United States and dominated American politics in the 1980s. He was the first President to be reelected to a second term since General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Media-made and media-presented, President Reagan got millions of Americans to feel proud of their Nation. America's 40-year Cold War with the Soviet Union cooled considerably, and perhaps actually ended, during the Reagan Presidency. Many Americans credit him with having achieved that significant outcome. Born the son of a shoe salesman in small-town Illinois, a great State, Reagan's impoverished but loving parents instilled in him a sense of optimism that carried him through college as an average student. After graduation, he worked for a few years as a sports broadcaster in Midwestern radio before landing a film contract with Warner Brothers which took him to Hollywood in 1936. Over the next 30 years, he made scores of films, including Army films produced during World War II. He hosted two popular television series, and he actively engaged in politics as president of the Screen Actors Guild. In the 1950s, President Reagan changed from being a Roosevelt New Deal Democrat to a conservative Republican. In 1966, he became Governor of California. He was reelected in 1970. Using his popularity in California, he unsuccessfully challenged President Gerald Ford for the Republican nomination in 1976. He tried again and won the nomination in 1980 and thereafter defeated the incumbent Democrat, President Jimmy Carter. With his 1984 reelection victory, Mr. Reagan became the most politically successful Republican President since President Eisenhower. Today, we celebrate former President of the United States Ronald Reagan's 91st birthday. We wish him a happy birthday and a debt of gratitude to him and his family for their many years of public service. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California for his kind remarks as well as for the introduction of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, even before Ronald Reagan was elected Governor of California, I think one of the other contributions that he made was to cause Americans to take a different look at individuals in the entertainment industry. I think as a result of Ronald Reagan, many entertainers have developed far more interest in public policy decision-making and are more actively engaged and more actively involved in those processes than before his time. So in addition to the service he provided as an elected official, I think we have to give him some credit for the movement away from certain kinds of perceptions relative to entertainers. 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 will simply close by suggesting that Ronald Reagan was indeed and has been a tremendous inspiration to millions of people, notwithstanding whether you agreed with all of his policies or not. As a matter of fact, there were many that I disagreed with. But the reality is that he demonstrated that one not need always look at where you come from, but what is really important is where you are going. So he went from this small town in Illinois, the land of Lincoln, to become President of the most powerful and greatest Nation on the face of the Earth. That is indeed a tribute, and I wish for him a happy 91st birthday. 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 gentleman from Florida in consideration of this resolution. Jack Shea was an Olympic gold medalist, both on and off his ice skates. His death came just 17 days before we are about to begin another Olympic celebration, and we are truly saddened. However, we are here today to honor a great life and a great man. John ``Jack'' Amos Shea was born September 7, 1910, in Lake Placid, New York. By age 3 he was on ice skates, and by age 10 he was already competing in speed skating. In 1929, while he was still in high school, he won the North American speed skating championship. In 1930, he captured the title again. Two years later, he honored his hometown of Lake Placid by winning the 500 meter and 1,500 meter events at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. He again honored Lake Placid through his successful efforts to have the 1980 Winter Olympics return to Lake Placid. Jack Shea's Olympic successes earned him the distinction of becoming the first person in Winter Olympic history to earn two gold medals. In fact, the Shea family was the first to have three generations of Winter Olympians. Jack's son Jim participated in three skiing competitions at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. His grandson, Jim Shea, Jr., has qualified for the upcoming Salt Lake City games. Jack Shea's life was best summed up by his son Jim who said, ``For 70 years, he was proud to be an Olympian. He was the chief of our family and loved what the Olympics stood for, to promote peace through friendly competition.'' Mr. Speaker, I, too, am proud to honor this great life today, and I urge that we continue to work towards further reduction of driving while under the influence of alcohol so that others may never have their lives taken by a drunk driver. Yes, Jack Shea was a great life, a great soul, a tremendous legacy, and I am pleased to join in honoring him today. 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, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am again pleased to join with my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn), in consideration of S. 737, a bill which designates the post office in Yerington, Nevada, after Joseph E. Dini, Jr. S. 737 was introduced on April 6, 2001, by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. Born on March 28, 1929, in Yerington, Nevada, Joseph Dini was educated in the Yerington public schools and at the University of Nevada. He went on to represent his hometown of Yerington well in the Nevada Assembly, where he amassed several impressive records. Not only did he serve the longest of any member in the Nevada Assembly, from 1967 to 2001, but also he served as speaker of the Assembly more sessions than anyone else in Nevada history. For an unparalleled eight times he was elected speaker by his Assembly peers. In 2001, Joe Dini became the speaker emeritus. Joe Dini devoted much time to numerous community service organizations, including the Yerington Rotary Club, the Yerington Volunteer Fire Department, the Nevada American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, the Yerington Lions Club, the Yerington Rotary Club, among other organizations. The awards that Mr. Dini has earned are quite impressive and numerous. Let me just mention a few. He was designated as the Outstanding Senior Advocate by the Governor's Conference on Aging, the Citizen of the Year by the Nevada Judges Association, and Man of the Year by the Yerington Kiwanis Club. He received the Outstanding Citizen Award by the Nevada Education Association, the Excellence in Public Service Award by the Nevada Trial Lawyer Association, and the Friend of Education Award from the Nevada State Education Association. Of course, we could go on and on listing Mr. Dini's awards. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Joseph E. Dini, Jr., is the epitome of what a public servant should be; a man who has honored his State of Nevada, his hometown of Yerington, and, yes indeed, his country, the United States of America, through his years of dedicated service. By naming the post office at 811 South Main Street in Yerington, Nevada, for Joseph E. Dini, Jr., we will not only be honoring a man, but also we will be honoring a building, a building that serves the citizens each and every day. I would urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the First District of Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

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. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) in consideration of S. 970, legislation naming a postal facility in Paris Hill, Maine, after Horatio King. S. 970 was introduced by Senator Susan Collins on May 25, 2001. The Honorable Horatio King, a former newspaper publisher and postal employee, began his career with the postal service in 1839. In 1854, he was appointed assistant Postmaster General, a post he held until becoming Postmaster General in 1861. Two years later, President Lincoln named Mr. King to a commission charged with carrying out the Emancipation Proclamation in the District of Columbia. A man of letters, Horatio King was noted for hosting intimate literary evenings in Washington, D.C. Mr. Speaker, today the birthplace of Horatio King is well preserved as the King's Hill Inn. It is indeed most appropriate that Congress recognize Horatio King's contributions to our country and the postal service by naming a postal facility in the town of his birth. I urge the swift passage of this bill and note that the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci) wishes to support our efforts by submitting a statement in the Congressional Record which I will read: Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of S. 970, legislation to designate the Paris Hill, Maine, post office as the Horatio King Post Office Building. This bill is a fitting tribute to a former Postmaster General and advocate of national unity during one of our Nation's most trying times. Horatio King was born on his family farm in Paris Hill, Maine, in 1811. His family had fought for freedom against the British. Horatio had a deep sense of commitment to his community, first serving as the editor and owner of a local paper in Paris, Maine. In 1839, Horatio King began his career in the United States Postal Service. In 1861, President Buchanan named him Postmaster General of the United States. Mr. King maintained a deep interest in politics throughout his life. He was a contemporary and close friend of Hannibal Hamlin, who served as President Lincoln's Vice President in his first administration. Horatio himself became an ardent advocate of national unity. Although a Democrat, he supported Abraham Lincoln because of the candidate's conviction that the Republic must be saved. Mr. King continued at his post under President Lincoln for a short period of time. Although he could not serve in a military capacity during the Civil War, his son did join the Army and received a Medal of Honor for his service. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 970 as an appropriate tribute to Horatio King for his many dedicated years of service to the United States Postal Service and for the patriotism he exhibited throughout his adult life. I note again, Mr. Speaker, that this is the statement of the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today is part of what is called Delta Days, and although my wife is an active, delightful AKA, if my colleagues have seen a group of ladies wearing red, they are Deltas, and I simply want to welcome them to the Nation's Capital and commend them for their interest in public policy decisionmaking. They are indeed a wonderful group of ladies, and we welcome them for Delta Days.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Florida, chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization, in consideration of this resolution. I also want to commend the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) for her sensitivity in introducing this legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants, died of cancer on January 8. In a tribute to Thomas, Wendy's web page notes that ``Dave was much more than Wendy's founder and senior spokesman. He was a mentor to many hundreds of people he personally helped and thousands who have been inspired by his leadership.'' Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 2, 1932, Mr. Thomas was adopted by Rex and Auleva Thomas of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and became a lifelong advocate and activist for the cause of adoption. Thousands have been inspired by his leadership and personal commitment to finding homes for children in foster care. Mr. Thomas was a talented and dedicated businessman, but he was also a leader who accepted the challenge of ensuring that every child has a permanent and loving home. Every day in this country, more than three children die as a result of abuse or neglect. In 1997, an estimated 1,197 children died as a result of abuse or neglect. Seventy-seven percent of those children died before reaching their third birthday. Dave Thomas was their advocate and their friend. An estimated 1.35 million children in the United States are homeless. Children made up 23 percent of the homeless population in 1996, a 10 percent increase since 1987. Dave Thomas was their advocate. Of the children in foster care in 1998, 110,000 had a goal of adoption. Dave Thomas was a leader and advocate to help these children realize their goal. That is why in July of 1992, Dave Thomas established the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. The cornerstone of the foundation was to make adoption work for children and parents. The foundation serves an active voice for the more than 134,000 children in the public child welfare system who are waiting for permanent homes and loving families. Wendy's followed Thomas' lead and officially declared adoption as its charity of choice in 1994. In fact, Wendy's adoption efforts, such as posters, trade liners and public service announcements account for approximately 40 percent of all calls taken at the National Adoption Center's toll-free number, 1-800-TO ADOPT. Dave Thomas' leadership and advocacy have made a tremendous difference in the lives of children waiting to be adopted in the United States. Mr. Thomas truly lived the motto ``If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word of song.'' Dave Thomas was indeed not only a hero to the thousands of children who are in need of adoption, but all of us who need inspiring, who need inspiration and information relative to this great public need. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join in support of this resolution. Once again, I commend the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce) for its introduction. 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, at a time when we are questioning corporate leadership and corporate responsibility, it is refreshing to know that a man such as Dave Thomas lived; and because of his life and his legacy, every time a child finds a warm inviting home in which to live and grow up with the safety and security of knowing that they are part of a family, we will remember the legacy of this great American. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding time to me. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 335 in recognition of Catholic Schools Week. Catholic schools play a tremendous role in preparing young men and women for meaningful citizenship and to become future leaders. In fact, the Archdiocese of Chicago, with 267 elementary and 45 secondary schools, 6,000 teachers, and 130,000 students, operates the largest nonpublic school system in the Nation. This is a school system that can claim many noteworthy achievements, including above-average attendance rates, graduation rates, and college attendance rates. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education designates schools that demonstrate excellence as Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. Two of the 29 schools nationwide that have received this designation three times are run by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Equally noteworthy is the commitment of Catholic schools to educating inner-city students, who oftentimes are left behind. Through the Big Shoulders Fund, scholarships and educational programs are provided to 114 Catholic schools that serve inner-city students. Seventy percent of the elementary and high school students in the Big Shoulders program are minorities, and 36 percent are non-Catholic. Ninety-six percent of the Big Shoulders secondary school students graduate high school, and a remarkable percentage, 88 percent, go on to college. So on the occasion of Catholic Schools Week, I offer heartfelt appreciation to the Catholic school professionals whose dedication to our Nation's children is enormous. I always say that teaching is one of the most noble of all professions, and I would certainly take my hat off to all of those who help to prepare students through a good Catholic education.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to comment on the positive attributes of mentoring. In the days of yesteryear, it was believed one needed a toga to be mentor, whereas the proteges would sit at the feet of the wise one and learned the mysteries of life. In our modern world, we have a more accurate definition of contemporary trends in mentoring. Mentoring is known as the most frequent and effective method of transmitting knowledge and wisdom in society; virtually everyone has experienced it. In an educational setting, mentoring has proven to be beneficial to all parties, be it, new teachers learning from veteran professors or students developing their perception of the world at large. Considerable studies have indicated a lesser attrition rate among new teachers whose induction program included mentoring. In 1998, a National Association of State Boards of Education survey found that among new special education teachers who continued to teach for a second year, 20 percent noted that they stayed because of the mentoring support they had received. It is worth mentioning that both mentors and proteges responded favorably to the mentoring process. The experienced teachers were enthusiastic because they believed that mentoring allowed them to help others improve themselves, receive respect and obtain fresh ideas and energy from the new teachers. The proteges, on the other hand, demonstrated more complete planning, more effective classroom instruction, and more target goal setting. Other studies on the same subject demonstrated the influence mentoring can have on younger students. It gives them a head start to a successful life. In a 1995 Impact Study by Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, we now know that 53 percent of these students were less likely to skip school; 46 percent were less likely to begin using illegal drugs; and 37 percent less likely to skip a class. The Quantum Opportunity Program funded by the Ford Foundation showed that high school students from families receiving public assistance who had a mentor were more likely than others to graduate from high school and enroll in college. They also had fewer arrests. Mr. Speaker, mentoring is truly a valuable tool at the disposal of anyone who is willing to assist those in need. Many successful people started this way. I hope this tool will be used more readily across the Nation.