Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), the author of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I stand to help honor and pay tribute to the late Congressman Julian Dixon. Julian grew up in California, went to school, went in to the military, returned home, finished college, went to law school, became a member of the California assembly. He was a graduate of California State University in 1962 and a 1967 graduate of Southwest University Law School in Los Angeles. He served in the military from 1957 to 1960, rising to the rank of sergeant before returning home where he practiced law. Mr. Dixon got involved in public activities and public life. He was elected to the California assembly. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he served as a senior member of the powerful Committee on Appropriations where he once chaired the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. In addition to serving as ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, he served as chairman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. During the 1980's, Julian Dixon was the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was noted as being a sound politician who was not only well respected among his colleagues but his constituents also. I was pleased to call him brother because we both were members, and I still am, of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity where Julian was well known, well respected and well loved. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2454, to name a post office the Julian C. Dixon Post Office Building.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support for forward funding of the LIHEAP program. Due to the nature of winters in Chicago and the east coast we can now implement safe guards for all our citizens. As we approach the coming winter months, preparation by forward funding can eliminate overwhelming burdens placed on low income families. The city of Chicago alone, has seen tremendous fatality rates due to excessively hot summers and extremely cold winters. The Department of Justice estimates that home heating oil prices could be 30% higher this winter from the previous winter and that natural gas prices could surge 40% higher. More than 150,000 of my constituents lives at or below the poverty level and with these circumstances are often faced with harsh and difficult decisions. Some of these citizens are forced to choose between medicine and cool air in the summer and between food and heath for their homes in the winter. According to the Roundtable Report to the Public Utilities Committee of the House of Representatives, the average winter bill for a typical family of four is 5.9% of their annual income. A family of four living at 125% of poverty pays between 20% to 37% of their annual income for winter heating cost. The low income families cannot afford to pay these high energy cost. Therefore, I am in strong support of Representative Quinn's amendment for an advance in the LIHEAP funding. We already know that many low income families will fall behind on their heating bills; however, we can offer an alternative by the passage of this amendment. I urge its consideration and passage.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend and applaud the 23 million people of Taiwan for their support of the United States in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attack on our country. From the beginning, Taiwan's message for United States and the world has been clear. Taiwan condemned terrorism and especially those perpetrators who killed thousands of innocent people and disrupted the lives of million of people worldwide. Taiwan has stood with the United States in its love for democracy and freedom. The strength of our nations to overcome disasters and terror has never been clearer. The terrorists on September 11 hoped to destabilize our economy and strike fear in those countries that believe in the Democratic principals of freedom and peace. They did not succeed and will not succeed because of friends like Taiwan. On this day, I strongly believe that Taiwan needs a greater international presence. I support Taiwan's aspirations to be an active member in the international community. It has all the qualifications: a sound political system, a much admired economy, and a genuine desire to maintain peace and stability in East Asia and the world. With a United Nations membership, Taiwan will become a very useful player, contributing its finances and ideas to combat nuclear proliferation, environmental abuses, human rights violations, and worldwide terrorism. I urge my colleagues to give all their support to Taiwan's bid to become a member of the United Nations and other key international organizations. Taiwan is worthy and a faithful friend of the United States of America. So, again, I urge all my colleagues to join with me in commending and recognizing Taiwan for their friendship and the strong relationship that exists between our two countries.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) for introducing this resolution. I rise in strong support of it. When a baby or child dies, there is deep grief for the hopes, dreams and wishes that will never be. What is left behind is a sense of loss and a need for understanding. This resolution, H. Res. 254, Supporting the Goals of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, and H. Con. Res. 415, Establishing a National Children's Memorial Day, which was passed last session, serve to help bereaved parents deal with their grief and to increase awareness of the services and programs that are available to them. Many lives are touched when there is a loss of a pregnancy, infant, or child. It is estimated that miscarriages occur in 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies. Each year in the United States, about 25,000 babies, or 68 babies every day, are born still. This is about one stillbirth in every 115 births. Approximately 80,000 infants, children, teenagers, and young adults die each year from various causes. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day, which would be held on October 15, and National Children's Memorial Day, which is observed on December 10, will assist in helping to heal and bringing a process of healing to families coping with and recovering from the loss of an infant or loved one. People who come into contact with a grieving family have a role in helping to resolve their grief. The role of each person will be determined by his or her relationship with the family and the stage of grief that family is in. Families will always struggle to cope with the devastating crisis precipitated by a loss of a pregnancy, infant, or a child. As a community, we should remember, no one can take the pain away from a grieving family. Pain is a normal part of grieving. Parents often cry, feeling ill or depressed, or have other emotional responses months or years after a death. Parents often want to talk about their loss and are pleased when others take the time to listen. There will always be need for compassionate support for grieving families, and I hope that all Americans will take the time to show their compassion for families that have experienced the loss of an infant or a child on October 15 and December 10. Again, I commend the gentleman for such a thoughtful resolution which speaks to the needs of people not only all over our country, but all over the world. I support the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me just once again commend the esteemed majority leader for such a well-thought-out and well-developed resolution. Oftentimes when there is great tragedy or a tremendous need or a calamity, and we try and determine what it is we can do to help, I think in these instances there is one thing that we can all do. That is to show, display, and demonstrate a level of understanding and sensitivity to those who are indeed experiencing the loss. So a level of understanding is something that we can all give. Mr. 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 a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of a postal naming bill. H.R. 1749, which names a Post Office in Newport News, Virginia, after Herbert H. Bateman, was introduced by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) on May 8, 2001. Mr. Speaker, Herbert H. Bateman was born in 1928 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and lived in Newport News since childhood. He attended the College of William and Mary and Georgetown University Law Center. He practiced law, served in the Air Force and the Virginia State Senate. He was elected to represent the First Congressional District of Virginia in 1982. While in Congress, Representative Bateman was a senior member of the House Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure until his untimely death on September 11, 2000. As a Member of this body, Representative Bateman is remembered as being a strong supporter of the military and protector of the large shipbuilding industry in Newport News, Virginia. Representative Bateman was recognized as a defender of our national security, a staunch advocate for the readiness of our armed forces, and worked tirelessly to ensure the Naval superiority of America. In short, he was a great patriarch. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend and thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) for introducing this measure. Mr. Speaker, I would just indicate, I know that the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) had intended to be here and wanted to speak on this bill. Unfortunately, he did not make it. I would simply again commend the gentlewoman from Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, this amendment has been characterized as the M&M amendment. M&M is a good candy. Mantle and Maris were a good team from the New York Yankees. Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to another Yankee who hits a lot of home runs, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I know we do not pay much attention to Secretaries, former Secretaries, newspapers, and all of those things; but I just happened to be looking. I saw where Jack Block, 1981 to 1986, Secretary of Agriculture; Clayton Yetter, 1989 to 1991, Secretary of Agriculture; Dan Glickman, 1995 to 2001; the Boston Herald; The Baltimore Sun; USA Today; Crain's Chicago Business Newsroom; the Sun Sentinel; The Miami Herald; and the current Secretary of Agriculture have all expressed concern about the subsidies. One of the papers suggested that of all of the subsidies, the sugar subsidy is the worst. As a matter of fact, it says, ``Who benefits?'' That is in USA Today. ``A handful of sugar growers and processors--and the politicians whose campaigns they fund to the tune of $1.5 million a year.'' It says, ``The sugar crowd is small but generous.'' Then The Baltimore Sun says that Domino has lost money for 9 months because they paid just about the same for raw sugar that they end up selling the processed sugar for. Therefore, they are not making a profit. The Boston Herald said ``It would be better to kill this outrageous giveaway program. But the Miller-Miller amendment may be the only reform effort on the table. It deserves the support of all New England representatives.'' But I would go further than that, and I would say that it deserves the support of all Representatives, because once again, when it was in vogue, when it was needed, we needed it then. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, if my colleagues eat, they are involved in agriculture and they have a stake in America's oldest and most basic policy. But our sugar policy is defective, counterproductive, and is suffocating our economy. The media has characterized it correctly as being a scandal. I am proud of the fact that I come from the State of Illinois, an agricultural powerhouse. I was raised on a small farm in Arkansas, and so I grew up enjoying the values of rural life. And I know what it means for a family to survive on hard work, ingenuity, creativity, and the sweat of their brow. I support Federal programs which create decent, livable help so that farmers can live a decent life. But when I find a program like the sugar program where 1 percent of the farms, just 17 farms, 1 percent, collect 58 percent of the subsidy, I am outraged. I am outraged because what it means is that the pot has already been sweetened for the wealthy, for the few. Mr. Chairman, subsidies should be given to the needy, not the greedy. The fallout from this wrong-headed sugar subsidy program ripples across our entire economy. I represent what could be called the candy capital of America. Illinois has 31,000 individuals employed in the confectionery industry, but we have lost 11 percent of our workforce, and there has been no new plant development since the institution of this program. We spent over $250 million for sugar last year. Had this program not been in effect, we would have spent probably only half that much, while the giant corporate agricultural combines who benefit the most from the sugar subsidies are not only taking our money, but in some instances they are causing pollution in certain parts of the country. Mr. Chairman, it is time for change. It is time for America to stop playing sugar daddy to a handful of monopolistic sugar plantations. The Miller-Miller amendment brings some rationality and fairness to the industry. The Miller-Miller amendment will protect family farms, protect jobs in the sugar and confectionery industry and protect our environment. We cannot allow ourselves to get sugar-daddied out and sweetened into bad policies. I would urge every Member who believes in fairness, who believes that small farmers should have help and assistance, I would urge them to support the Miller-Miller amendment and do not be a marshmallow and get suckered in.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, first of all I want to commend and congratulate the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) for crafting this amendment. I also want to commend the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Agriculture for putting together a comprehensive package that speaks in many ways to the agricultural needs of our country. But the sugar subsidy, in contrast to all of the other farm subsidies, the sugar program imposes most of its costs on consumers, not taxpayers. The sugar program in reality is a food tax, because all of the food items that we purchase that use sugar, because of the inflated cost, it means that we are paying more. The Miller-Miller amendment does not wipe out the subsidy. It simply seeks to reduce it, to put it down to a level that does not hurt the consumer, does not hurt the workers and does not hurt American manufacturers. So, Mr. Chairman, I would urge all of us to look carefully and look hard and know that when we vote for Miller-Miller, we are doing the right thing. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush). (Mr. RUSH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, while I do not have much problem with the rule, and I actually compliment the committee, I am concerned that this bill continues to provide protection for some of our antiquated, outmoded, and unneeded subsidies, especially in the sugar program, where 1 percent of 17 farms will receive 58 percent of the subsidy. That is one reason why I am asking people and urging support for the Miller-Miller amendment when it comes to the floor.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. In the farm bill, the sugar program is outmoded, outdated. It is costing us jobs. It is monopolistic. It boils right down to being corporate greed or welfare. I know that proponents will say, But it helps farmers. Yes, I believe in helping family farms, but here is a program where 1 percent or just 17 farms collect 58 percent of the subsidy. If this is not a monopoly, then I do not know what is. This is one reason why I support the Miller-Miller amendment. It does not eliminate the sugar program; but it does save jobs, protects the environment, and helps to keep manufacturing business at home. Let us stop playing sugar daddy to a few monopolistic plantations. Support the Miller-Miller amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. After listening to all of the accomplishments of Cal Ripken, there is no wonder that we would take time to congratulate and honor him on his retirement. 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, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson), a real patron of the game of baseball, but more a patron of excellence.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. I want to associate myself with the very passionate, pointed and eloquent remarks of all of those who have spoken. It occurs to me, as it does all of us, that during and since September 11 when the terrorist attack took place, we have seen many indications of heroics. We have seen many people rise to the occasion. But, of course, firefighters rise to the occasion each and every day of their lives, whether there is a national crisis or not. They wake up in the morning, knowing that they are going to an uncertain future. I commend all of those who would pause, stop for a moment, and pay tribute to these men and women. It seems to me there is nothing less we could do than to make sure that there is adequate compensation and appropriated resources for their needs. Finally, I remember a poem that I grew up listening to, ``The Charge of the Light Brigade.'' It seems to me that the words of that poem suggested that ``Their's not to reason why, their's but to do and die . . . into the jaws of Death . . . they rode. Madam Speaker, these men and women ride or walk each and every day into an uncertain future. They are to be commended, and I commend the author of this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1161, to authorize the American Friends of the Czech Republic to establish a memorial to honor Tomas G. Masaryk in the District of Columbia. Tomas Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia, stands in history as the embodiment of the close ties between the United States and Czechoslovakia. H.R. 1161 celebrates Tomas Masaryk's life achievements and quest for democracy, peace, freedom and humanity. The statue of Mr. Masaryk exemplifies the democratic ideal best expressed by his words, ``Not with violence but with love, not with sword but with plow, not with blood but with work, not with death but with life, that is the answer to Czech geniuses, the meaning of our history and the heritage of our ancestors.'' I have a community in the neighborhood where I live and the district where I represent who are descendants of Czech heritage. On behalf of all of them, I would urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1161.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001 as proposed by my colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart). I want to commend both these Members, because, once again, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) is out front dealing seriously with the needs of working class Americans, making sure that there is balance in our decisions, so that everybody gets a piece of the action. This bill will provide much-needed relief and assistance to families that are affected as the airline industry is facing a very tough challenge in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11. Analysts had already projected an overall loss of about $3 billion in 2001, the worst performing year since 1992. With the terrorist attacks on our shores, those losses will very likely escalate. Even though most airports are back in operation, yet the airlines are flying with less than 75 percent of their capacity. In other words, layoffs, the high level of unemployment, are directly affecting employees of the airlines and associated industries. We have just entered the fall season, meaning that children are back in school, mortgages have to be paid, and life must continue. To minimize anticipated hardships affecting hardworking families of our respective districts, I support wholeheartedly H.R. 2946, known as the Displaced Workers Relief Act of 2001, and once again commend and congratulate the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) for taking to heart the needs of American workers.