Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to observe and listen to a profound discussion lead by the distinguished minority whip and I happen to agree with the views expressed by all of those speakers, and I want to commend them for the leadership that they have displayed on this issue and I too would hope that next week, when we cast a vote, that we would not be rewarding China; we would not be rewarding those who do not provide equal rights and equal treatment to us all. So I too shall be voting no on the establishment of permanent normal trade relationships with China. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to come to the floor at this time to recognize the Field Museum of Chicago as it celebrates the much awaited public unveiling of Sue, its world-famous 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex. In case any of us are not familiar with this colossal fossil, Sue is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found and was named after the fossil hunter who found the remains in South Dakota's Black Hills in 1990. After 2\1/2\ years of cleaning, restoring and preserving her more than 250 fossilized bones, Sue is now ready to meet the public. When fully erected in Stanley Field Hall, Sue stands 13 feet high at the hips and 42 feet long from head to tail. Her five foot long skull is so heavy that the museum will install a replica on the skeleton and place the real skull on display for visitors. As a result, visitors will be able to get an up-close view of the predator's massive head. They can also view animated CT scans of the skull and touch a variety of casts of Sue's bones, including a rib, forelimb and tooth. The Field Museum plans to use Sue's massive appeal to bring the wonders of science to school children and other audiences throughout Illinois and the Nation. Sue will be installed in the new Hall of Paleontology and Earth Sciences Research with related exhibitry, research and educational programming, including a fossil prep lab where visitors can observe museum staff at work on real bones. The new hall will not only illustrate the history of Sue and other dinosaurs but will also serve as a springboard to interest visitors in related questions such as mass extinction events, plant and animal evolution, plate tectonics, biodiversity through time and women in science. The museum plans to develop related curriculum and teacher training and offer 2 electronic field trips in which students can see and talk to scientists in the field as they are conducting excavation and research. To celebrate Sue's unveiling, the Field Museum will be hosting a number of special dinosaur-related programs from May 17 through May 21, including a day of family entertainment, a family festival, a lecture by the lead researcher and a concert performance featuring the Chicago Chamber musicians about the life and times of Sue. Mr. Speaker, while gleaning scientific data from Sue is a key aim, Sue is also an extraordinary tool for teaching visitors about paleontology, the geologic forces that shape our planet, verebrate fossils and other scientific work. Sue has only just started to reveal her educational potential and will no doubt continue to yield new information about dinosaurs and the world in which they lived for many years to come. Please join me in recognizing the Field Museum as they share Sue with the world. I also invite my colleagues, their staff and families, as well as other Americans, to join in the fun at the June 6 opening reception for a sneak peak at the national tour of a T. Rex named Sue at Union Station in Chicago. Mr. Speaker, while we have seen seven wonders of the world, eight wonders, this is truly another wonder of the world and we invite the world to come and see it.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 632, the Safe Seniors Assurance Study Act of 1999.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man who could be called the personification of a smooth, effective and loyal bureaucrat but also a dedicated protector and promoter of health care for veterans. Joseph L. Moore began his career with the Veterans Affairs Department as a clerk typist but ended it as director of the Lakeside and Westside Veterans' Administration Hospitals in Chicago, Illinois. Born in Ripley, Tennessee and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Moore worked with the Department of Veterans Affairs for more than 40 years. He came to Chicago in 1979 to take over as director of the VA Lakeside Medical Center. He became director of the Chicago VA Health Care System in 1996 when Lakeside administration merged with the Westside VA Medical Center. He was instrumental in facilitating the merger. That will stand as one of his final achievements in the Veterans' Administration. This merger is reported to have saved millions of dollars for U.S. taxpayers. When Mr. Moore came to Lakeside, the hospital was in need of strong leadership, which he provided. He redid Lakeside and turned it around so that the veterans and their families could be well received and well treated. Just before his death, Mr. Moore was scheduled to receive an award from the Chicago Federal executive board for distinguished services. He served two terms as chairman of the Chicago Federal executive board. Over 40 years, Joseph Moore championed quality health care services for all veterans. His commitment to the veteran community was without reservation. His integrity and intellect gained him the respect of medical professionals throughout the world. In every endeavor, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism and dedication to the public and to Federal employees. Mr. Moore received the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank award, the highest award given to a civilian employee of the Federal Government, from President Ronald Reagan. He was also the first nonphysician to receive the Distinguished Service award from Northwestern University's Department of Medicine. He dedicated his life to providing good health care for veterans. As director of Lakeside Medical Center, Mr. Moore was a member of the board of directors for Northwestern University's McGaw Medical Center. He leaves a legacy of dedication and service to veterans. I am pleased to have known and to have worked with him as he went about the business of protecting and promoting the highest level and quality of health care for men and women who had dedicated and given their lives in the service of this country.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, earlier today we voted on H.R. 3519, the World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund Act. I am pleased to have supported this important legislation. I want to commend its authors, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for their vision and commitment to ending the horrors of HIV/AIDS globally. I also want to take this moment to thank former representative Ron Dellums, Sandra Thurman, Mel Foote, Jesse Jackson, Senior, and others who have provided leadership efforts to try to combat the problem of AIDS in Africa. The legislation that we have passed today will provide significant funding over 5 years for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and research in developing nations. The bill establishes a trust fund at the World Bank that has the potential to leverage $1 billion a year from donor nations and the private sector. We currently face a crisis as it relates to HIV/AIDS globally. Perhaps nowhere is this crisis more evident than on the continent of Africa. More than 16 million people have died from AIDS since the 1980s, 60 percent of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. Not since the Bubonic plague ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages has there been a more devastating disease. Currently, 23 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa are affected with either HIV or with AIDS, with new infections coming at the rate of 5,000 a day, according to the World Health Organization. In South Africa alone, it is estimated that there are more than 1,500 new HIV infections each day. Unfortunately, due to our accelerated travel and trade, the pandemic is spreading to Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and India rapidly. I applaud President Clinton for his courage and vision to declare HIV/AIDS as a national security threat. He realizes that the global spread of HIV/AIDS has the potential to destabilize governments and disrupt trade in free market democracies abroad. The Congressional Black Caucus 2 years ago urged Secretary Donna Shalala to declare a state of emergency relative to HIV/AIDS in communities of color in America because we realized that this disease destroys our most precious resource, and that is, our people. Mr. Speaker, as the most developed nation in the world, we have an ongoing obligation and responsibility to share our technology and medical expertise with developing nations. Former President Franklin Roosevelt once said that the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. Today this Congress took a step to lift the lots of those who have too little. The World Bank AIDS Marshall Trust Fund Plan will help to ensure that the Federal government, our Federal government, commits to addressing this issue over the next several years. Again, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have joined with other Members of this House who took a bold and gigantic step in not only dealing with an issue at the domestic level, but going abroad, understanding that we are a world community. I salute Congress for the action that it took this day.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend congratulations to the Chicago Daily Defender newspaper on the celebration of its 95th year. The Chicago Defender was founded as a weekly newspaper on May 5, 1905 by Robert Sengstacke Abbott. His goal was to use the power of the press to address concerns of blacks worldwide, with special emphasis on the United States. During Mr. Abbott's lifetime, the Chicago Defender amassed impressive achievements. Some examples are the Great Migration, the mass exodus of blacks from the South to the so-called promised land of the North; the first black publication to reach a circulation of 100,000; initiation of the Bud Billiken Parade, and much more. Mr. Abbott formulated the following nine-point platform for his paper in 1905: Racial prejudice worldwide must be destroyed; Racially unrestricted membership in all unions; Equal Employment Opportunities on all jobs, public and private; True representation in all United States police forces; Complete cessation of all school segregation; Establishment of open occupancy in all American housing; Federal intervention to protect civil rights in all instances where civil rights compliance at the State level breaks down; Representation in the President's Cabinet; Federal legislation to abolish lynching. Mr. Abbott passed in 1940. Upon his death, John Sengstacke, his nephew, took over operations of the newspaper. Despite the change, the achievements continued. Under Mr. Sengstacke's leadership, the National Newspaper Publisher's Association, an organization of black newspaper publishers, was formed. This occurred despite skepticism about uniting the Black publishers into one organization. Another accomplishment, despite belief that it would not work, was the conversion of the Chicago Defender from a weekly to a daily newspaper in 1956. Mr. Sengstacke was also instrumental in integrating the armed forces through several presidential administrations, integrating major league baseball, construction of the new Provident Hospital, and continuation of the Bud Billiken parade. Today the parade is sponsored by the Chicago Defender Charities and is second in size only to the Tournament of Roses Parade. In 1997, John Sengstacke passed, leaving behind Sengstacke Enterprises, which includes the Chicago Defender, the Michigan Chronicle in Detroit, the Pittsburgh Courier, and the Tri-State Defender in Memphis. Today the Chicago Defender remains a significant force in journalism. Its importance is noted by the fact that only two points of the original nine-point platform have been removed. They are representation in the President's cabinet and Federal legislation to abolish lynching. The presence of the remaining seven points and their existence since 1905 is the principal guiding force of this publication as it moves forward. This paper, Madam Speaker, was an inspiration to many, even to myself as I was a young boy growing up in rural Arkansas, where we used to wait for the pullman porters to bring copies of the Defender to our town. As a result of reading the Defender, it gave us contact with the outside world. The Defender has been most fortunate to have outstanding journalists like Lou Palmer, Vernon Jarrett, Faith Christmas, Jennifer Strasburg, and countless others. So as they celebrate their 95th year anniversary, I simply want to say to the Defender and all of its staff persons, continue the great legacy, continue the great work. They have been an inspiration, and they continue to be a bright star that shines.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the World Bank AIDS Marshall Plan Trust Fund Act. I also want to take this opportunity to commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for the outstanding leadership that she is providing on this issue. As a matter of fact, I know that people were concerned when Representative Ron Dellums decided to retire, but they knew that they had someone waiting in the wings ready to take over and take charge and to follow along with some of the tremendous work that he started, and I certainly want to commend Ron, even though not being a current Member of Congress, he is still providing valuable leadership on this issue throughout the world. As the most developed Nation in the world, we have an obligation and a responsibility to share our technology and medical expertise with developing nations. As a matter of fact, I come from a school of thought which suggests that to those to whom much is given, much is expected in return; therefore, we have not only an opportunity, but also the responsibility to share the great wealth and the great resources of this Nation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said that the test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little. And I submit to you tonight that the continent of Africa is being stripped of its most precious resource, its people. Mr. Speaker, more than 11 million Africans have already died from AIDS since its inception; that represents more than 70 percent of the AIDS deaths worldwide. Another 23 million Africans are currently infected with HIV or AIDS. In South Africa alone, it is estimated that there are more than 1,500 new HIV infections each and every day. We can no longer afford to sit back and do so little or in many instances do nothing about what is happening throughout the world. HIV/AIDS is a threat, yes, to our national security, but it is also a threat to the security of the world community. I commend President Clinton for his recognition of that fact as we have seen an increase in the proposal of resources to deal with this problem, but those increases that have been proposed are not even enough. AIDS has a major impact on our trade with Africa. The World Health Organization and other relief organizations were committed to ending this dreaded disease some time ago, but, more importantly, if we continue to do nothing or little, eventually Africa will have a population of orphans that is unthinkable. Currently, more than 13 million children have lost one or both their parents to AIDS. The statistics suggest that the number will reach 40 million by the year 2010. Yes, we now have an opportunity, because we had a Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after the war. It is now time to apply the same principles, the same practices, the same techniques, the same tactics to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Now, is the time for action. Each day that we wait, thousands more are subjected to HIV/AIDS infection. And I say to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), again, I am pleased to join with the gentlewoman and all of those who have come to call for a massive infusion of resources, similar to the Marshall Plan that we used after World War II. If we could do it then, with the strong economy that we are experiencing today there is nothing to prevent us from initiating and implementing this magnificent effort that the gentlewoman and others have put together to bring help, hope, and relief to our dying brothers and sisters in Africa, but also to our dying brothers and sisters in the American streets in every city, village, and hamlet of this Nation and throughout the world. I thank and commend the gentlewoman for her outstanding work.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and commend the Westinghouse High School, and in particular the men's senior basketball team. Westinghouse High School located in the 7th Congressional District of Illinois, in the heart of the Westside, has a long tradition of academic and athletic excellence. The school has graduated several professional basketball players, including Mark Aguire and former College Player of the Year and NBA All-Star Hersey Hawkins. The dream of winning a state championship inspired the Westinghouse Warriors to diligently practice and perform throughout a grueling 33 game season. This year, with a season record of 31-2, the team clinched the city of Chicago championship. Their success led them to Peoria, Illinois to compete for the Class AA state title, their ultimate goal. Their hard work and determination had rewarded them with their first major achievement, the city title. However, upon the completion of the very competitive state championship game the Westinghouse Warriors came short of the victory. In spite of their loss, I commend this hard-working and dedicated team. This team has epitomized hard work and persistence. In addition to their feats on the basketball court, team members have maintained their dedication to academics, they are truly student-athletes, students first, then athletes--and champions in both. My fellow colleagues, please join me in honoring the Westinghouse High School men's basketball team for their outstanding performance and dedication. The team, along with its head coach Mr. Chris Head, have worked hard to achieve their accomplishments. They should be honored by all of America.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I have listened to the discussion this evening, I have been thrilled and delighted. First of all, I want to commend the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for her continuing outstanding leadership day after day, night after night. The gentlewoman talks about leaving no stone unturned. She is talking about taking a message to the American people. I really do not think, I say to the gentlewoman, that anybody has ever put more into an issue, into an idea, into a concept than what she has displayed during these last 2 years of trying to make sure that there is an accurate count, an honest count, and that everybody person in this country is, indeed, counted. Mr. Speaker, I thank her, along with all of those who have expressed all of their appreciation. Listening to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), I said to myself, if I was not going to fill out the form, listening to the gentlewoman from California that would have caused me to grab up a pencil, a pen, or whatever it was that I could get my hands on, and run to that form and fill it out. Unfortunately, there are many people in our country who do not understand the importance. I represent a district that has over 165,000 people who live at or below the level of poverty. Obviously, many of these individuals are at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, many of them, obviously, are not as well-educated as some other people. Obviously, many of them do not understand. I want to thank all of the people in my community, the churches who have been making the announcements, who have been trying to convince people on a regular basis, the volunteers who went out with me on Saturday. We ran into people who just did not understand. I ran into one woman who said to us, you know, I am saved and sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit, and I am not going to fill out these forms. I said to myself, yes, you will be saved and sanctified and broke, filled with the Holy Spirit and your children cannot get daycare. And the Holy Spirit is going to help you do a lot of things, but the Holy Spirit is not going to put a daycare center in your neighborhood so that your grandchildren can go and get early childhood education. Mr. Speaker, I ran into people who said to us that they did not get the forms, and I looked in their hallways, and there were the forms on the floor. I said, well, you did not get it, but it is here; you have got to pick it up and fill it out and send in the information. I ran into people who said that we filled it out on the first floor, but the people on the second floor, I am not sure that they got one. I make a plea to all Americans, notwithstanding anything that anybody else might say, and, yes, I have some problems with those who would encourage people not to fill the forms out, but the real responsibility is on each and every one of us. We have an old saying in my community that if you fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Notwithstanding what anybody might say, whether they are elected, appointed, community activists who just do not understand, anybody that is encouraging you or suggesting that you should not fill out your form, then, they do not have your interests at heart. You have got to say the way that they say at the church that I attend: it is not my mother, it is not my father, but it is me oh, Lord. It is not the deacon. It is not the preacher, but it is me. It is not the Democrats. It is not the Republicans. It is not the House. It is not the Senate, it is my form, and if I do not fill out my form, then it means that I do not count. So I thank the gentlewoman from New York for her leadership, for all that she has done. Please, Americans, please, residents of the 7th Congressional District in the State of Illinois, please make absolutely certain that you count by filling out the form, because if you do not, then all of America loses.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in the United States of America, the land of the free in this millenium year, we have today some 2 million people in our jails. We are 5 percent of the world's population, and yet 25 percent of the world's incarcerated persons. In an ominous echo to General Eisenhower's farewell address, we now have a prison industrial complex in our Nation which feeds on some 35 billion public dollars each year to operate prisons, and more than $7 billion on new construction for prisons each year. The prison industrial complex employs more than 523,000 people, making it the country's biggest employer after General Motors. More than 5 percent of the growth of our rural population is due to the movement of men and women to prisons located in rural America. Even more ominous is the growing number of men and women put to death by our injustice system. There are now more than 3,600 men and women on death row. Most ominous is the immense and persistent disparity in the impact of the justice system. There is a real and growing perception that there are two sets of rules, two standards of treatment by law enforcement in America, one set for whites and another quite different set for African-Americans, Latinos, and all who might be poor. In Chicago, we have had the cases of Commander John Burge, of Jeremiah Mearday, and off Ryan Harris and numerous others. This pattern of conduct is unacceptable. The perception of injustice has been substantiated by the stunning sequence of events which has led to 13 death penalty convictions in Illinois being overturned over the past decade or so by hard evidence which demonstrated a miscarriage of justice. I am particularly concerned about a number of death penalty cases originally investigated by former Chicago police Commander John Burge or officers under his command which were based on so-called confessions, and other evidence which may have been coerced by torture. The revelations of torture, including electric shock, suffocation, burning, beating, and Russian roulette have been widely reported and independently confirmed, and have roused the indignation of the people of Illinois. The cases of Aaron Patterson and Darrell Cannon are the first of these cases to reach the final phases of appeal. In 1985, the then Chief Justice Warren Burger said, ``What business enterprise could conceivably succeed with the rate of recall of its products that we see in the `products' of our prisons?'' The failure of our justice system not only robs individuals of life and liberty, but undermines our communities and our Nation. The failures also are an attack on our legal and social infrastructure, on our Constitution, and on our Nation's economic, social, and cultural progress. There is extensive historical precedent for Federal intervention in cases where the justice and law enforcement systems fail to provide equal protection under the law in general, and specifically, protection in instances of police misconduct against African-Americans and other minorities. It is no accident that our Department of Justice was born in 1871, following the Civil War, as a response to the wave of hate crime terror instituted by the Ku Klux Klan and where local law enforcement was unable or unwilling to provide justice and in some cases joined in the terror. The concerns over these and other cases have rightly led Governor Ryan of Illinois to declare a moratorium on the death penalty in Illinois and to appoint a commission to study the problem. Now is the time for men and women of principle to stand and demand an end to the cancer eating at our freedom, not tomorrow, but today, this hour, is the time for an immediate emergency national moratorium on the death penalty. I would urge the Nation to follow the suit of the Governor of Illinois and declare that injustice will not continue to be done until we find how to do it and how to do it right.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Rush amendment. There are many economically distressed and medically underserved communities that find it virtually impossible to recruit nurses, virtually impossible. This amendment would provide nurses and those communities the same opportunities that we are providing for other individuals. So I would associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce) that I would hope that we would be able to work out an agreement where there can be the encompassing of the intent of the gentleman's amendment in final passage of the bill, which is an excellent bill; and I commend all of those who worked on it, and especially do I commend the committee for the inclusion of the ability for public aid, public assistance individuals on section 8 to move towards homeownership.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1776 and specifically Title 3. Mr. Chairman, Title 3 of the Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act allows public housing agencies in lieu of providing monthly assistance payments on behalf of a family may provide a grant to be used as a contribution toward the down payment required to purchase a home. While this nation is enjoying its highest homeownership rate, for millions of low and moderate income families housing remains far too expensive, or is severely substandard. The absence of tools to make home ownership affordable denies many families the opportunity to contribute to the nation's economic and social well being. Just as importantly, many reports conclude that increased home ownership by those who traditionally have been restricted to neighborhoods with significant rental property or with extremely low values, can improve the family's educational attainment, health and may reduce residential segregation. Passage of this bill is vitally important to my district the 7th district of Illinois, since I represent nearly 65% of all the public housing in the city of Chicago. Homeownership for this population prior to this bill was not available to them. The Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act will help my constituents achieve what for many families, 3 generations could not accomplish--homeownership. It is my view that for those individuals who toil and strain to do the deed and create things to make life worth living the opportunity of homeownership is priceless. This is an excellent bill and I congratulate the Chairman, Ranking member and all members who worked to put this bill before us today. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strongly support passage of this bill.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would extend my congratulations to all of the athletes that we have heard talked about. In my own congressional district, the Westinghouse High School boys team went to the finals, lost by three points. Unfortunately, they did not win; but they came close, and, of course, the Marshall High School girls were city champs. They did not win the championship this year, but they have won it so many times until they know that they will be back next year. Mr. Speaker, last week was National Sleep Awareness Week. I rise today to pay tribute to the work that the National Sleep Foundation and other health professionals are doing in this arena. I think it is important that we recognize the efforts of medical researchers who have devoted their professional careers to studying the impact of fatigue and sleep disorders on our Nation's health, safety, and productivity. We should also take time to reevaluate our own personal health habits and determine how we can improve our own health in order to be stronger and more effective citizens. While physicians and patients now pay attention to the adverse health impacts of poor nutrition and inadequate exercise, too few people pay attention to the harm that can result from inadequate or disordered sleep. Sleep scientists have linked such ailments as high blood pressure, hypertension, depression, and cardiovascular disease to inadequate sleep. The National Institutes of Health estimate that 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, the vast majority of which remain undiagnosed and untreated; and another 20 to 30 million suffer intermittent sleep-related problems. The survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that 58 million Americans report suffering excessive daytime sleepiness at levels that interfere with their day-to-day activities. Evidence tells us that America's sleep debt is on the rise. Yet numerous studies have concluded that the general public and primary care physicians lack the basic sleep knowledge to address these problems. As a result, the toll on human health, safety and productivity is enormous. This problem is more than simply getting a good night's rest. It encompasses medical problems, lack of education, and the tools required to address this public health concern. Sleepiness, whether the result of untreated sleep disorders, volitional sleep deprivation, or shift work has also been identified as casual factors in a growing number of on-the-job injuries. This corresponds directly in lost productivity, personal injuries, medical expense, property and environmental damage due to sleep disorders and sleep deprivation. The cost of this problem is estimated by the National Sleep Foundation to exceed $100 billion each year. It is the personal injuries that are the most tragic part of this equation. However, we hear numerous reports on television and in the news about drivers who fall asleep at the wheel and kill themselves, a family member, or an innocent bystander. As I alluded to earlier in my statement, there are ongoing research efforts into the impact of sleep deprivation. I am privileged that the Northwestern University Medical School in my district; and one of my constituents, Dr. Phyllis Zee of Oak Park, Illinois, has spent over a decade creating innovative approaches to improved sleep and daytime performance in older adults and by conducting research on the genetic basis for human sleep disorders. As with any type of important health research, there is also need to provide information to the members of the community at greatest risk. Many minorities, for example, do not receive education on proper sleep habits or recognition of symptoms that could indicate a chronic disorder. Through the work of the National Sleep Foundation, however, outreach to high-risk groups is beginning to change. It is important that we in Congress support these efforts and support strong public education and prevention programs to address this public health issue and this public health crisis. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that all Americans would look seriously at something as simple as getting enough rest, getting enough sleep and the impact that it can have on enhancing rather than diminishing the quality of life for all of us.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I begin, let me just first of all indicate how delightful it has been to work under the leadership of two dynamic ladies on this issue, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Census, and the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), who is the chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus's Task Force on the Census. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues in urging the America people to fill out their census forms. Do something very simple: fill the forms out and send them in. Nothing more, nothing less. Now, I know that the governor of Texas and others have suggested in recent days that if you have the long form, then maybe you should not answer all of the questions. Now, there are some people who might hear these comments and decide that they should not bother to fill out the long form. My response to those individuals is that there is too much at stake for you not to fill them out. The census, as we all know, is about determining what communities will revenue schools, new nursing homes, job training centers, help with transportation infrastructure, and much more. It is about determining representation and whether or not a State will even gain or perhaps lose a congressional seat, a seat in the State legislature, city council, or on the county board. There is simply too much at stake to risk not filling out the form. Those who would suggest that the questions are too intrusive already know that this information cannot be sold or shared with INS or any other investigatory agency. For example, the question regarding in-home plumbing is asked to determine how many homes actually have modern plumbing, yet there are those who would suggest that it is too intrusive. Well, it is not too intrusive if one lives in a community where there are no sewer lines, where there is no running water, where there is no in-home plumbing. Plus, they already know that the responses are protected by law. I would also suggest to people that perhaps the slogan often used by the Panthers several years ago would be appropriate when they said that you are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem. If you do not fill out the form, then I can assure you that you are part of the problem. We can ill afford to allow forces opposed to an accurate census count to suppress the number of people returning their forms. In my own city, the city of Chicago, we lost millions of dollars in Federal funds as a result of the 1990 undercount. According to the Census Bureau, at least 10 million people, including at least 113,831, were undercounted in the State of Illinois, 81,000 in Cook County alone; and 68,000 in the City of Chicago were not counted. Many of those missed were women and children who live in minority communities. Because of the undercount, every Chicago and Cook County citizen was shortchanged, shortchanged on money to prepare roads, fix bridges; for schools, parks, and job training. Perhaps the most egregious shortchanging would be that of political representation. So when people in powerful positions encourage people to give up their most basic of all rights, then all of America loses. So again, I commend the gentlewoman from New York for arranging for this Special Order. I also want to thank all of my neighbors who are volunteers, people who are taking it upon themselves to go to the streets and encourage their neighbors and other people in their community, to simply fill out the form, send them in, because the reality is if you are not counted, then you really do not count. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be with my colleagues this evening on this Special Order.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, in lieu of the discussion that has just taken place, summer jobs are as critical for young people in cities like Chicago and other economically challenged communities throughout the country as one could possibly imagine. While the city of Chicago is making every effort under the leadership of its mayor to go into the private sector and convince members of the private sector to provide work opportunities for these young people, we know that we are not going to be able to get enough. There is no greater need that we have during the critical summer period than the opportunity for young people, 14, 15, 16 years old to have a chance to work, to be engaged, to be productive, to be involved, to provide not only hope but help for themselves, for their families and for their communities. And so I would certainly hope that when we come to conference and when all of the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed that we will have found a way to make sure that adequate resources are put into this very valuable and critical component for the needs of our young people.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding American, Mr. Henry W. McGee, who passed away on March 18 at the age of 90. Mr. McGee was a trailblazer and an advocate for equal rights and justice throughout his entire life. He worked 44 years as an employee of the United States Postal Service, delivering mail through the rain, sleet, and snow. His entire life was representative of someone who came in at the bottom but worked his way to the top. In 1952, he was promoted general foreman and later served as superintendent of the largest finance station in the U.S. Postal Service. In 1976, he became the first African American appointed Chicago Regional Postmaster by President Lyndon B. Johnson, upon the recommendation of U.S. Senator Paul Douglas. Under his leadership, the Chicago Postal Service was able to improve its delivery rates and effectiveness in meeting the needs of its consumers. There is an old adage that says of life: ``It is not how long one lives, but how much one gives.'' This statement really is the epitome of the life that Henry McGee led. He found time to get involved in the community and take on issues greater than himself, despite his busy career. In 1946, he was selected to serve as president and acting executive director of the Chicago chapter of the NAACP. While there, he dedicated himself to the causes of ending segregation and fighting for equal justice. In addition to the NAACP, he became one of the charter members of the Joint Negro Appeal, a self-help organization that was organized by such individuals as Truman Gibson and Judge Odas Nicholson. As president, Mr. McGee served diligently for more than 17 years and raised thousands of dollars to help such organizations as the Beatrice Caffey Youth Service League, the Good Shepherd Neighborhood Club, and other organizations. After he retired from the postal service, Mr. McGee still found time to give of himself and his talents, as Mayor Richard J. Daley appointed him to a 5-year term on the Chicago Board of Education. It was an opportunity for him to give back to Chicago and, more importantly, give back to the next generation, our children. The legacy that Mr. McGee leaves behind is both inspirational and impressive. I am so pleased that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) has determined to name a post office in his honor. I ask that all of America join me in paying tribute to the life and legacy of Henry McGee, and may his loved ones be comforted in knowing this his life touched thousands of citizens throughout not only Chicago but, indeed, throughout America. He lived a great and inspirational life.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, we all know that budgets really are about priorities. And this budget presented by the Congressional Black Caucus speaks to the needs of millions of Americans who, in many instances, are left behind and left out of the great economic expansion we are experiencing. It speaks to the needs of the 165,000 people in my congressional direct who live at or below the poverty line and millions of others throughout America. It speaks to the needs of individuals living in public housing and low-income communities. This budget is compassionate, comprehensive, and balanced. This budget would provide 250 million additional dollars for community and migrant health centers who do an outstanding job of providing health care for the poor. In reality, Mr. Chairman, this budget protects Medicare, Social Security, and small businesses and provides a prescription drug benefit for older Americans. It lifts a lot of those considered to be at the bottom of the economic ladder, the working poor, children, older Americans. I am proud to support it and urge its adoption.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want, first of all, to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), who has done such an outstanding job of providing leadership on this issue over the past 2 years and more. As a matter of fact, the gentlewoman has been all across the country looking at different approaches, methods, techniques, talking to as many people as she possibly could, trying to get the message out; and I think all of America owes the gentlewoman a tremendous debt of gratitude for her unselfish efforts in trying to make sure that we do in fact have an accurate count. I certainly want to thank the gentlewoman. Mr. Speaker, an accurate census is in the best interests of our Nation. In less than 22 days the Census Bureau will undertake the enormous task of counting the entire population. It is an exercise that has been done since 1790 when the first census was commissioned. Unfortunately, during the first census, not everyone was counted. As a matter of fact, Africans in America were considered three-fifths of a person. Since 1790, we have evolved as a Nation to include at least on paper women and minorities as equal citizens of this democracy. However, the proposed methods of counting the population by many in the Republican Party, including its most likely presidential nominee, Governor George Bush, could lead to a serious undercount of our citizens. This is tantamount to moving backwards instead of going forward. The constituents of my district, the Seventh District of Illinois, deserve and demand an accurate count of the entire population. They realize, as many others do, that too much is at stake to get less than an accurate count. In 1990, for example, we lost millions of dollars in Chicago in Federal funds because of a census undercount. According to the Census Bureau, at least 10 million people, at least 113,831 in the State of Illinois, 81,000 in Cook County, and 68,000 in the City of Chicago, were not counted in the 1990 census. Many of those missed were children and women who live in minority communities, people who are in need of Federal programs to assist them in their daily living. Because the 1990 census miscounted thousands of people in Chicago, every one of our residents were shortchanged on money to repair roads and streets. They were shortchanged on money for mass transit and senior citizen programs. They were shortchanged on money for schools, parks and job training. Perhaps the most egregious shortchange was that of political representation. In a democracy, representation is essential to having a voice in local, State and Federal Government, and when those in powerful positions fail to do what is right, America loses. It is unfortunate that the census has become so political that those in power would ignore the voices of the National Academy of Sciences and others who have said that strict enumeration could result in millions more people being missed by the census. I often say that when elephants rumble, it is the ground that gets trampled. In this case, it is the rights of those in rural and urban America, the rights of the poor, the rights of the needy, who will be abridged if they are not counted. Perhaps Lincoln said it best when he said that you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. So I am pleased to join with my colleagues in urging that those in powerful positions to lead do so, and not follow what many predict is a flawed way of counting our citizens. The essence of leadership requires that one do what is right and not politically expedient. This is a great opportunity for Governor Bush to show that he is concerned about women, children and minorities in urban and rural communities. I urge him to reconsider his position on the census question and do the right thing, to make sure that every citizen is counted, because, if you are not counted, then truly you do not count. Mr. Speaker, I want to urge all citizens of this country, and especially residents of the State of Illinois, to make sure that when you get the form, that you too do the right thing: Fill it out, complete it, send it in. Again I say to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), I commend her for being a stalwart, a true trooper, a real soldier, as one might say, of the cause, carrying the message throughout all America that if you are not counted, then you truly do not count. I tell the gentlewoman, she counts in the hearts of millions of Americans who know the great work that she has done, and we all appreciate it.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3843, the Small Business Reauthorization Act. First of all, I want to commend the gentleman from Missouri (Chairman Talent) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking member, and all members of the committee, as well as staff, for working so well together to provide improved services to small businesses. Today there are more than 25 million small businesses, the most ever in the United States. This bill provides America's 25 million small businesses with billions of dollars in technical assistance and access to capital programs. It provides $45.5 billion for the SBA's 7(a) program, a program to provide loans to small businesses unable to secure financing on reasonable terms through normal channels; $13 billion for the 504 loan program to assist community development corporations who provide long- term fixed rate financing to small businesses in underserved areas; $10 billion for small business investment companies; $450 million in direct microlending loans and technical assistance; $750 million for small business development centers; 3 million for the women-owned businesses; $30 million for HUB zones. This bill is a testament to the idea that when minds work together with a common interest, it does not matter which party, which area, which city, which State that they come from, that they all can come together for the common purpose of providing access to capital and direct services to those businesses in great need. Mr. Chairman, I participated in the opening of a small day-care center this past Saturday, a $75,000 loan to a young couple. It is the pride of their life. It is the joy of their being. It is the testament to their tenacity. I want to thank this committee for having the insight and foresight to provide that kind of impetus to growth and development in our country.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the Committee on International Relations under the leadership of the gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), and also the Subcommittee on Africa, under the leadership of the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne). Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), for his very timely presentation of this resolution, which commends the United States Government for its ultimate response to a very real and ongoing crisis. I also want to join in commending South Africa for its swift action and the serious effort that it put forth, and the United Kingdom for initiating debt relief. Ultimately debt relief, for not only Mozambique, but for many of the nations of Africa, is going to provide serious help to the ultimate development of those countries, and I am pleased to see that it has taken shape. I also want to take this opportunity to commend the people in my city, the City of Chicago, where we have initiated our own private response. I want to commend the Chicago Public School System under the leadership of Paul Vallas and Gary Chico, whose children have pledged to raise between $75,000 and $100,000 through their Kids Helping Kids program that will go to Mozambique. Also I want to commend Alderman Ed Smith, chairman of the Health Committee. We are seeking to find medical resources that are not going to be used by our city that will conversely be used to give to the people of Mozambique. So I join all of those who are in support of this resolution, congratulate again the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and all of those who have made it happen.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on March 8, 2000 I had to delay my return to the Capitol in order to attend to personal business in my district. During my absence, I missed rollcall vote 29, 30, 31 and 32. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2952, the Keith D. Oglesby Post Office, H.R. 3018, the South Carolina Post Office Designation and S. Con. Res. 91 recognizing the forcible incorporation of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into the former Soviet Union. I would have also voted ``yes'' on final passage of H.R. 1827 the Government Waste Corrections Act on March 8, 2000.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I have listened to this debate, it reminds me of Victor Hugo, who once said that there is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher. It seems to me that the Republican approach to this issue further promotes the misery and suffering of the lower class and illuminates the inhumanity of the higher: huge tax breaks for the wealthy, while stringing along and stringing out those at the bottom. Today, a working mother, full time, under the current minimum-wage law, earns a meager $10,000 a year. Combined with recent cuts in welfare, food stamps and affordable housing, it is impossible to live on that kind of salary. Now, I know it is difficult to understand the significance of a dollar raise when one has never had to function at that level. It is hard to know what it is like to be broke when one has always had more than what one needed. But I know full well how important a dollar raise is. In my district there are 54,000 households with incomes below $10,000 a year and 165,000 people living at or below the poverty level. These are solid Americans, struggling to live a good and decent life. It is time for us to listen to those who have the need. It is time to give help to the young, to the poor, to those who are disinherited, to those that life has been less than the American Dream. I urge that we vote ``yes'' in support of the Traficant amendment and that we move towards a livable wage so that every person in this country can live with dignity, with pride, and the ability to pay their bills.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the denial of justice is one of the most egregious fronts to all of democracy, and I can tell all my colleagues that the verdict in the Amadou Diallo police case puts justice on trial. And so, Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my voice with that of countless others who are crying out for justice not just for Amadou Diallo but for justice to roll throughout America like a mighty stream. For as long as there is no justice, there can be no peace. The denial of justice for one is a threat to justice for all. No justice, no peace. This case is troublesome, Mr. Speaker, because it reinforces for many people in this country the feeling that there is a dual system of justice which further divides the Nation. And we know that a Nation, like a house, divided cannot stand. So I say let us stand together for justice. No justice, no peace.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much for yielding. Madam Speaker, I want to first of all thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Jones) for organizing this special order and certainly for giving me the opportunity to share in it with her and the gentlewoman from Washington, D.C. (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings). Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in paying tribute to the rich legacy and heritage that our ancestors have contributed to American life. I want to use the few minutes that I have to pay homage to the African American church. There are many outstanding religious institutions in the district that I live and represent, notwithstanding even the one that I hold membership in, the New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of the Reverend Charlie Murray, where they let me serve as a member of the deacon board sometimes when I am there. But I really want to use the few minutes that I have to pay homage to two other churches, Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Reverend Thomas Higgonbotham, and the First Baptist Congregational Church, under the leadership of Dr. Arthur Griffin, both located in the 7th Congressional District of Illinois. These two churches have followed the historical tradition of the black church as being the most stable, viable, and reliable entity in black life. Throughout slavery, segregation, black codes, and injustice, the church has served as the major instrument for hope and for change. It was the black church that produced some of our greatest leaders, educators, theologians, scientists, and administrators. Quinn Chapel was formed in 1847 under the leadership of the Reverend George Johnson. The church was named in honor of the renowned Bishop William Paul Quinn. Bishop Quinn was one of the most prolific circuit- riding preachers in the 1800s who personally organized 97 AME churches, prayer bands, and temperance societies. It is interesting to note that Quinn Chapel's first community project focused on the abolition of slavery; and, ironically, Quinn Chapel became a stop on the Underground Railroad. For over 150 years during race riots, depressions, recessions, the great Chicago Fire of 1871, and a myriad of other natural disasters and human crises, African Americans came to Quinn Chapel for protection, information, support, and inspiration. Quinn Chapel was the birthplace of Provident Hospital of Chicago, organized by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams in 1891. Dr. Williams was the first surgeon to successfully operate on a human heart, and Provident was the first United States hospital where African American nurses could be trained and employed. In addition, it was Quinn Chapel who initiated in 1898 the first known retirement home for African Americans. Most recently, Quinn Chapel was one of the locations that hosted a regional Congressional Black Caucus hearing on law enforcement misconduct. Similarly, the First Baptist Congregational Church, formally known as the Union Park Congregational Church, was founded in 1851 under the leadership of Philo Carpenter. Philo Carpenter and a group of 48 abolitionist members left the parent church, the Third Presbyterian, over the issue of slavery. The departing members felt that the General Assembly had not adopted a strong enough position against slavery. Ironically, the church also served as a stop along the Underground Railroad. Carpenter was Chicago's first druggist, opening a drugstore in a small log home on the bank of the river at the point that is now Lake Street. In addition to meeting the congregants' need for spirituality, the church was instrumental in forming several institutions of higher learning. Among the black colleges founded by this church include Dilliard University in Louisiana, Fisk University in Tennessee, LeMoyne-Owen College in Tennessee, Talladega College in Alabama, Tougaloo College in Mississippi, and Huston-Tillotson College in Texas. Obviously, these colleges represent some of the finest institutions of higher education. And so this church like Quinn Chapel has been instrumental in shaping the minds of some of our greatest thinkers and leaders. I attended a meeting just last week of another church at the Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church in Maywood, Illinois, where Reverend Marvin Wiley had more than a thousand residents come out to talk about community development. I also take this opportunity to highlight the work of Reverend Bill Winston at the Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Illinois. Madam Speaker, these churches have all helped to set the standards by which other institutions have learned to live. Even today, they continue to inspire through the three cornerstones of life: faith, hope, and love. Because of the contributions of Quinn Chapel AME and First Baptist Congregational, Chicago is indeed a better place in which to live. But more importantly, the United States of America and people throughout the world have benefited from the shining light that has emanated from these institutions. And so I thank my colleague for the opportunity to share this moment with her and again commend her for putting this special order together.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, what is really alarming to me is when I look at the tremendous shortage of nurses. I mean, we can go to almost any hospital and there is a need for nurses, yet there appear to be not the numbers of individuals especially coming from the African American community and especially that part of the African American community that I am very much familiar with.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Or in the Virgin Islands, and have a dream. So we will just keep on dreaming, we will keep on working, we will keep on believing, we will keep on doing politics, and we will keep on celebrating black history. I want to thank the gentlewoman again so much.