Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this bill, for three reasons. First of all, it is undemocratic in that it ignores the will of the people of the District of Columbia. They have already spoken and overwhelmingly rejected vouchers in a recent referendum. Secondly, I oppose it because it is simply another attempt to dismantle public education in America. Public education has been the cornerstone of democracy and must remain so. This bill would divert $7 million from private schools to public schools to help only a few students. And we are not even sure that vouchers will improve achievements anyway. Evidence suggests that it need not necessarily do so. Finally, I oppose this bill because we should focus on putting our resources where they are really needed. We should use the money to fix up the crumbling schools, wire schools for the Internet, provide textbooks and other learning aids for students to learn. So I urge my colleagues, let us not do the political thing, let us do the real thing, let us do the meaningful thing, let us support public education and vote this bill down.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose this bill for several reasons. First, this bill contradicts all the scientific data from experts that suggests needle exchange programs reduce HIV infection and do not increase drug use. While AIDS deaths are down, clearly HIV infection continues to increase especially in inner city areas where injection drug use is prevalent. The bill ignores the fact that needle exchange does not increase drug use, rather it encourages a society that would have fewer individuals infected with HIV. These programs make needles available on a replacement basis only, and refer participants to drug counseling and treatment. The National Institutes of Health's March 1997 study concluded that needle exchange programs have shown a reduction in risk behaviors as high as 80 percent in injecting drug users, with estimates of 30 percent or greater reduction of HIV. In addition, I oppose this bill because it is politically driven, rather than scientifically based. This bill whips on the poorest of the poor. This bill puts at risk millions of Americans who might be married or committed to someone who they may not know is an intravenous drug user. More importantly, this bill puts children at risk. The Centers for Disease Control reported that the rate of HIV/AIDS in the African American community is 7 times that of the general population. Make no mistake about it this is not just a African American problem this is a American problem. This is a public health issue and the Surgeon General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services both support needle exchange programs. When we help save American lives-- America is stronger. The Federal Government must provide leadership on this critical issue and therefore, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Earth Day 1998, I challenge Congress to join with me in better protecting our children's health and leaving our children a legacy of protected natural resources. Over the last 25 years, this country has made enormous progress on environmental protection. The health of American children has improved because (1) We have made significant progress in cleaning up the air our children breathe; (2) We have made significant progress in cleaning up our lakes and rivers in which our children swim, boat and fish; and (3) We have made significant progress on cleaning up the toxic waste sites around which millions of our children live. However, we still have a long way to go in order to protect and preserve our nation's natural resources so that your children and mine can enjoy its beauty and benefits tomorrow. Thus, I believe we need to recognize that it is not a question of whether we can afford to protect the environment, rather it is a question of whether we can afford not to. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that this year's budget provides funding to Restore clean water to our communities; Accelerate and make polluters pay for toxic waste clean up; and protect our national parks, wildlife refuges, and national forests.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes, the balance of my time, to the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Later today, I will offer an amendment to this bill which will expand the Access to Jobs Program. The Access to Jobs Program assists welfare recipients in making the transition from welfare to work. The amendment seeks to increase the current authorization from $42 million to $150 million. The additional $108 million authorized for this vital program does not take money from any other projects, nor does it raid the Highway Trust Fund. It is a simple authorization subject to the appropriations process. Therefore, I urge all of my colleagues to support the amendment which I will offer later today and to support this bill. I also take the opportunity to commend and congratulate the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for their outstanding leadership in bringing this measure before us today.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, given all the stories in the papers about ``pork'' in the transportation bill, I rise today to tell you about a transportation project that I believe will benefit hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren and adults alike in the great State of Illinois and which I am proud to sponsor. The Museum Campus Chicago, which is in my district, is made up of three world-famous institutions: the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. The Museum Campus has a plan to transport visitors to its three institutions and others along the lake in Chicago on free trolleys powered by ethanol. This is a worthy, environmentally beneficial project that will be enjoyed by literally millions of people. And I and others in the Illinois delegation believe it is exactly the type of local project that merits Federal ``BESTEA'' start- up funding in order to get it off the ground. The Chicago Museum Campus was just created through the $92 million relocation of Lake Shore Drive, a major thoroughfare running along Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. The Museum Campus, which is on Park District land, opens officially this June. It totals 57 acres, including 10 new acres of public parkland that allow a continuous link between the three museums, which, Mr. Speaker, already draw nearly 4 million visitors a year. The Museum Campus will offer outdoor collaborative programming and is expected to attract an additional 1 million visitors a year to the Chicago lakefront. It is expected to be one of the country's most popular destinations. Still, while the museums are excited about the rerouting of Lake Shore Drive, they came to me because they have serious access problems that could reduce visitorship. I am speaking of problems like the loss of several hundred parking spaces due to the Lake Shore Drive relocation, the long distances between the three institutions and to area parking lots, competition for parking with Soldier Field patrons, and inadequate links to local public transportation. All these obstacles make visits by the elderly, by the handicapped and by families with young children very difficult and frustrating. It is for these reasons, that I and several of my colleagues in the Chicago delegation--and our colleagues in the Senate--hope to secure BESTEA funds for the Museum Campus Transportation Project, which would largely eliminate the access problems while increasing public awareness of ethanol as a fuel choice. The project has two components. The first--free Museum Campus and Chicago Lakefront shuttle service--was recommended in a recent Lakefront Transportation Study prepared for the City of Chicago Department of Transportation. The Museum Campus took the report's advice and launched a free trolley service last summer on a pilot basis. The trolleys were very popular--they shuttled more than 300,,000 visitors, up to 6,000 people a day, between the museums and parking lots! Besides being free and reducing people's stress levels, the trolleys also reduced traffic congestion, and noise and air pollution. I think there's no argument about the benefits of these trolleys. I am pleased to join with several of my colleagues to seek BESTEA funds for the Museum Campus Transportation Project to establish a permanent Museum Campus shuttle system using ethanol-powered trolleys and to extend shuttle service along the lakefront to other cultural destinations. Stops along the Lakefront Shuttle route would include the Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Spertus Museum, the Grant Park Festival Center, the Children's Museum at Navy Pier, Columbia College, and Roosevelt and DePaul universities. The second component of the Museum Campus Transportation Project is the creation of an intermodal transportation center at the intersection of Indiana Avenue and Roosevelt Road, which also is endorsed by the City's Lakefront Transportation Study. This center would connect the trolley route to bus routes, the CTA and Metra stations--the local elevated train and subway--and to pedestrian walkways. It would also include construction of an 850-car decked parking garage nearby. Mr. Speaker, the intermodal transportation center will provide easier access to the Museum Campus and to other lakefront offerings for all visitors using all forms of transportation. The Museum Campus and its City and private partners intend to run the shuttle systems in the future. They will raise the necessary funds through private contributions, increased museum entrance fees, projected parking fees and City funds. Mr. Speaker, I hope that you will agree that this project is the type of project that we at the Federal level are happy to lend a helping hand to. It makes good economic sense, good environmental sense, and is an investment in the thousands of children and others who want to experience and learn from Chicago's many cultural institutions. This Sunday afternoon, the Museum Campus is holding an open house for members of the Illinois delegation. I invite you and others in this Body to come visit the Field, the Shedd and the Adler and see why I believe in this project.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to offer this amendment which seeks to expand and improve the Access to Jobs Grant program. This amendment would increase funding for this program by $108 million per year. The Access to Jobs legislation assists welfare recipients and low-income individuals to commute from where they live to where jobs are located. This increase in moneys is designated to address the fact that in too many cases, in both urban and rural areas, welfare recipients and low-income individuals are isolated from the jobs they want and need. Last year Congress enacted legislation to move people from welfare to work. We imposed strict time limits and other restrictions that will result in the termination of benefits for an estimated 2 million people by the year 2002. One of the greatest obstacles many current welfare recipients face in getting work is literally getting to the jobs. Welfare recipients and low-income individuals often live, almost by definition, in impoverished communities devoid of job opportunities. Ninety-four percent of welfare recipients do not have cars, low wage earners often do not have cars. They are dependent on public transportation to get to areas with jobs. If the public transit is inadequate, the jobs become inaccessible. People cannot move from welfare to work if the people on welfare cannot get to work. Currently, two-thirds of all new jobs are being created in the suburbs. Many suburban communities report severe labor shortages because they cannot find enough workers looking for entry-level jobs. This amendment helps to ensure that those welfare recipients who want jobs will not be denied because they do not have access to transportation to get to and from work. Too many welfare recipients and low-income individuals are isolated from potential job opportunities because existing public transportation systems are either inadequate or nonexistent. The Community Transportation Association of America has found that 40 percent of all rural communities have no public transportation whatsoever. When transit is present, it often does not operate at night or on weekends, times when many low-wage or entry-level jobs are performed. By filling the gaps in transit services, we can give people the chance to get to the jobs they seek. For example, in Chicago an innovative Suburban Jobs Links program is doing just that. Buses carry workers from the cities to their jobs in neighboring suburbs. An increase in funding for this program would allow it to expand and help other communities. If only one out of three welfare families are successful in getting to a job and are able to work, then America wins and this program will have paid big dividends. Therefore, I urge its immediate adoption. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to an amendment to eliminate the Department of Transportation's Disadvantage Business Enterprise program. The DBE program ensures that small business concerns which are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals will have a fair opportunity to compete for federally- funded highway and transit contracts. Much has happened since the Department's first efforts to bring fundamental fairness to contracting with federal transportation construction dollars. Minority and women owned small and disadvantaged business participation in federally assisted highway construction contracting stood at a mere 1.9 percent in 1978 and rose to 14.8 percent in 1996. In 1985 on the 4th day of this very month my Mayor Harold Washington, the Mayor of the great city of Chicago ordered city agencies to award 30 percent of their contracts to companies owned by minority group members and women. He had to threaten to impose financial penalties on contractors who try to avoid this minority goal. He suffered death threats and humiliation from the media from his actions. However because of his actions minority businesses were able to break an inefficient, archaic system that favored a handful of contractors and prevented minorities and women from obtaining city business. There is good reason for concern that without a federal program in place, minority participation will decline substantially. When DBE programs end, many prime contractors return to the same exclusionary practices that denied minorities and women the chance to compete for business before the DBE program was created and will completely destroy what Mayor Harold Washington and the city of Chicago worked for. Why must we continue to allow certain members of this Congress to hinder a person's efforts to overcome poverty and adversity and other such obstacles to achieving excellence. Mr. Chairman, I am told truth is proper and beautiful in all times and in all places. Well now is the time, and the place. Let us be truthful to the all American business people and give them the right and responsibility to access the roads to prosperity. Vote no to the Roukema amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield one minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) if he would yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) if he would yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise to express my opposition to H.R. 3579 and would like to associate myself with the remarks made by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) earlier. I am in opposition basically because this bill would take away greatly needed funding for Section 8 low-income housing, and take away greatly needed funding for bilingual education. If there is a way to achieve the objective without desecrating our social programs, then so be it. I am opposed. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 3579, the Defense and Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 1998. I join my fellow colleagues in opposition to this bill not because I believe we need not provide our troops with enough resources to succeed, whether it be in Bosnia or Iraq. I oppose this bill not because I believe we need not come to the aid and rescue of our fellow Americans who have suffered as a result of some national disaster. Nothing could be further from the truth. I oppose this bill because it sets up a framework that takes $2.2 billion in funding from the section 8 low-income housing program; because it reduces funding for the bilingual education program by $75 million. This is absolutely unacceptable to me, to my constituents who reside in public housing and benefit from the section 8 program- a program that is currently underfunded, I might add- and to the legal immigrants who reside in my district and participate in the bilingual education program, which helps them transition into mainstream America. Mr. Chairman, yes, indeed, this body appears to be revisiting, unfortunately, an all-too-familiar refrain and motif: when confronted with a tough decision, do not follow the dictates of what is fair or equitable; instead choose the path of least resistance. I am reminded of the saying that those who are whipped the easiest are whipped the most often. And, invariably, the target for cuts are those programs that serve public housing residents and benefit our immigrant population. Those groups that do not have an army of lobbyist to argue the merits of their case. Consequently, I am compelled to oppose and urge my fellow members of Congress to oppose this measure, HR 3579, in an effort to restore equity and fairness and a sense of what is right to the decision-making process in this body.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Paul Robeson, accomplished scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Rutgers University valedictorian, twice All- American Football hero, graduated Columbia University Law School, practicing attorney, Shakespearian actor, and, for two decades, was considered one of the greatest baritones in the world. Mr. Speaker, on April 9th, thousands of his fans and admirers throughout the world will celebrate the 100th birthday of one of America's most gifted and accomplished individuals, Paul Robeson. For several years now, there have been efforts under way to try and have a commemorative stamp in his honor and bearing his name. For some reason, the Postal Service has not seen fit to do so. Therefore, I take this opportunity to ask the question, why, and urge the Postal Service to correct this oversight. Surely Paul Robeson fits the criteria. Dr. James Alsbrooks points out that various reference books refer to Mr. Robeson as an ``American Treasure'' and deserves respect. Among them are the World Book Encyclopedia, Britannica, Collier's Encyclopedia, and the Academic American Encyclopedia, which states that Paul Robeson was one of the most distinguished Americans of the 20th Century. In addition to his brilliant stage career, Robeson learned several foreign languages. He played the title role in the 1943 Broadway production of ``Othello,'' which ran a record 296 performances. In 1944, he was awarded the Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for best diction in American Theater and the Donaldson Award for Best Actor. In the 1930s, Robeson spent a great deal of time in Europe and was deeply impressed by the Soviet Union and its seeming lack of racial prejudice. In 1939, he returned to the United States. He supported the American war effort during World War II and campaigned for the sale of war bonds. After the war, Paul Robeson became increasingly disillusioned with the treatment and status of blacks in American society. He became a spokesman on civil rights issues. In 1950, as a result of some pro- Soviet Union statements, the State Department revoked his passport, charging him with pro-communist leanings. However, in 1958, the Supreme Court upheld his right to go abroad. Paul Robeson was what we today would call an activist-artist-scholar, who had a profound impact on forcing America to look at racism, classism, militarism and a concept of mass struggle. He was attacked relentlessly, brought before the House un-American Activities Committee, and hounded continuously by ultra right wing conservatives. However, Robeson continued to stand, fight, speak out and perform. He was indeed a tall tree in the American forest. Given all of these accomplishments and all of these attributes, it is inconceivable that we could deny the placement of such an American on one of our postage stamps, especially given the fact that Bugs Bunny, Wolfman, Frankenstein, John Henry, Paul Bunyan and other symbols adorn these precious vehicles of communication. As we proceed to the 100th birthday of Paul Robeson, I urge the U.S. Times Postal Service to move expeditiously to correct the gross injustice, to correct and recognize the enormous contribution of one of our most gifted, most talented, and most impactful citizens. He stood for what America is destined to become: free, just and equal. Let us put him on a stamp.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill because it has really nothing to do with the real needs of campaign finance reform. What it is is the continuation of a mean-spirited attack on immigrants who have come to this country, who are now permanent legal residents, seeking a voice, an opportunity to participate. They work hard every day, pay taxes, contribute their money to other causes, and now we tell them that they cannot contribute to campaigns in America? What kind of country is this? We need real campaign reform, not a sham, not a shack. Let us get with it and do it the real way. Mr. Speaker, I rise against the Illegal Foreign Contributions Act because it is not really a vehicle for true campaign finance reform. Rather, it is a mean-spirited bill that simply bans legal permanent residents from exercising their first amendment right, their civil right that guarantees them freedom of expression. The 1st amendment protects everybody in the U.S., not just ``eligible voters.'' Isn't one of the most valued and time-cherished acts of expression the right to participate in our great political process? I believe that a society can only be a true democracy when even the weakest of all individuals has a voice. Banning legal permanent residents from contributing is not the solution to the alleged abuses of the 1996 campaign. The problem was the alleged illegal contributions that are already covered under existing law. A fundamental requirement of direct contributions under the current law--is that the source of money must not be a foreign corporation or a foreign national. Legal permanent residents (valid green card holders) were not included in this prohibition and currently are allowed to make campaign contributions. Thus, this proposal does not effectively prevent the flow of foreign money into the American political system. Legal permanent residents are hard working people who earn their money in the U.S., they pay taxes in the U.S. and contribute to the U.S. economy by buying products in the U.S. Legal permanent residents are even required to register for the draft. Like U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents are stakeholders in America who care about the status of our country. They should be afforded the right to support candidates whom they believe will make it a better place to live. I reiterate the fact that court cases have found that legal permanent residents are afforded the protections contained in the first amendment. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has ruled that campaign contributions are a form of speech protected under the first amendment. Thus, I believe that the prohibition to deny legal permanent residents the right to make campaign contributions would be a continuation of the attacks on immigrants that we have seen take place during the last several years. This troubling pattern of anti-immigrant actions fosters the malicious notion that legal permanent residents somehow do not share an interest in the well-being of this nation and do not deserve basic rights and benefits. However, I submit that legal permanent residents are our ``citizens in training.'' Illinois just had their primary elections--voter turn out was at an all-time low. I think we need to be thinking of ways to encourage people to participate in the political process rather than hindering them.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of HR 2578, a bill to extend the visa waiver pilot program till the year 2000. The current law is a good measure and is expected to red line this April 30, 1998. I think it is important to allow tourists and business travelers from many Western European countries as well as Australia and Japan to come here for business and for pleasure. It boosts the economy and it allows people to see our great country first-hand. However, I also believe that the visa waiver pilot program should be extended to other countries, such as; Greece, Portugal, and South Korea. Thus, I support the Pombo-Frank-Kennedy-Pappas amendment. Furthermore, this amendment supports an increase in the visa refusal rate from 2% to 3% in order to support other countries taking part in the tourist visa waiver program. However, I would like to mention that the refusal rate process is in need of new measures in deciding who receives a visa waiver. I cannot tell you how many letters I write every single day to U.S. Embassies abroad, asking them to reconsider their visa denials of my constituents. In many cases, there is no solid basis for the denial, rather it is a class issue. They want to make sure that those individuals traveling abroad are leaving behind property, bank accounts, jobs, etc. If not, often times their visas are denied. Are these people not coming here to visit family and friends? Are these people not going to visit our country and spend money--will this not boost the economy? We cannot deny visas to those individuals wanting to come to this country at face value. What substantive basis does this derive from? Mr. Speaker, for the aforementioned reasons, I rise in support of the bill coupled with the Pombo-Frank-Kennedy-Pappas Amendment.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3310, the Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act, as it is currently constituted. This legislation is not only not needed and is unnecessary, but could in fact actually make the American workplace more dangerous than it currently is. The United States Environmental Protection Agency states that this bill does not constitute a viable approach to addressing small business compliance with needed safety and health regulations. In fact, this bill would create disincentives for voluntary compliance, compromise consumer protection laws, and worker and passenger safety. The AFL-CIO states this bill will weaken the pension safeguards currently in place to protect the American worker. I agree with all of those who say that we must work to ensure that workers' retirement and health benefits will be there when we need them. Information collection requirements are essential to a wide variety of protections on which we all must rely. A blanket provision waiving civil penalties for first-time violators could put the health and safety of our families and our communities at risk. This bill is the start of a movement where the biggest and most powerful want more than what is offered. We must work together to protect the basic rights of our Democratic community. I am reminded of something that A. Philip Randolph once said when he said that ``a community is only democratic when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.'' Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill, which would instill substantive negative effects, hamper law enforcement, jeopardize human safety and health and environmental protection for working families.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to take the census in the year 2000, I want to take just a moment and underscore the importance of this issue. I also want to commend and congratulate the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for her leadership in keeping this issue before the American people. Mr. Speaker, let us remember that every person must count; therefore, every effort must be made to count each and every citizen. We must be able to avoid the massive undercounts that we experienced during the past 2 decades, especially among poor and minority population groups. Just as we have been able to count the huge crowds that have turned out to greet the President on his visit to Africa, we must be able to count each and every citizen of this country. Sampling is the most effective way, the most cost-conscious way, and the most assured way that will let us make it happen.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, then Secretary of Education William Bennett made the statement that the Chicago public schools were among the worst in the Nation. I am pleased to note today, Mr. Speaker, that the Chicago public schools are making significant progress, and they are making progress towards the level of excellence of which we can, indeed, be proud. I picked up the Chicago Sun Times this past Tuesday, and on page three of the headlines read: ``Whitney Young students Savor Triple Title Weekend.'' Please note that Whitney M. Young is a public high school in the City of Chicago in the Seventh Congressional District. Therefore, I commend and congratulate Gary Chico, Chairman, and the Chicago Board of Education, Superintendent Paul Vallas and his staff, the chairperson and members of the local school advisory council, Ms. Joyce Keller, principal, and her staff, and all of the outstanding students and their families. Whitney M. Young High School was the first school to win the State of Illinois' academic decathlon, the State Class AA basketball championship, and the State sportsmanship award on the same day in the same year, Saturday, March 21, 1998. Whitney M. Young is no stranger to winning the State academic decathlon. As a matter of fact, they have won it 13 years in a row. They have become the Michael Jordans, the Mozarts, the Marian Andersons, the John Hope Franklins, and the Bill Gates of education. Whitney M. Young continues to produce a dynasty of superstars who excel year after year. Last November, Whitney Young played host to U.S. Services Academy Day for us at their school. There were 125 students in attendance from all over the Seventh district, Chicago and suburbs, asking questions about West Point, the Air Force Academy, Annapolis, all of the service academies. I was, indeed, delighted to see so many students and their guidance counselors take hard looks at the superb educational opportunities offered by these outstanding institutions. It is no surprise to me that public education can and does work. When people are committed and the resources are made available, Mr. Speaker, the sky is the limit. Ms. Joyce Kenner, principal of Whitney Young High School, understands this concept and practices it by allocating resources where they are needed the most and places people where they can do the most good. As a result of this, Whitney M. Young continues to excel. We in the United States Congress must adopt these same principles and commitment to saving our public schools throughout America. We must commit to providing 100,000 new teachers, commit to rehabbing aging school buildings, commit to fostering learning in our classrooms. With our support, every public school in America is a potential Whitney M. Young High School. Therefore, I again congratulate each of the outstanding Young men and women, their coaches and teachers, and again especially their principal, Ms. Joyce Kenner. Public education can and does work when we provide adequate resources, have concerned parents interacting with well-prepared and committed professional teachers and staff, students who are seeking knowledge and opportunity. Mix it all together, and we get a Whitney M. Young High School, academic champions, athletic champions, and good sports, gentlemen and women. The pride of our State, we salute you Whitney M. Young High School.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we continue with the celebration of Women's History Month, I am reminded of the fact that it takes great teachers to make great schools. I rise today to recognize one of the great female coaches of girl basketball of all time, Coach Dorothy Gaters. Coach Gaters coaches the Lady Commandoes, a Marshall High School girls basketball team on the West Side of Chicago, located in the Seventh Congressional District. Dorothy Gaters graduated from Marshall High School in 1964, and went on to attend DePaul University, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1968. She received her Master's Degree from Governor State University and began teaching at Marshall High School in 1969. Coach Gaters has not rewritten but has simply written the record book when it comes to girls' basketball in the State of Illinois. Coach Gaters has been coaching in the Chicago Public League at Marshall High School since 1976. During this time, she has won six State titles, three State runner- ups, three third places, and three fourth places in State tournaments. She currently holds eight State records: 17 tournament appearances, 15 AA tournaments, nine title game appearances, 13 class AA consecutive tournament appearances, and three consecutive title game appearances, to name a few. In 22 years, Coach Gaters has a record of 619 wins. No other coach in Illinois has even 500 victories in girls' basketball. No other coach has been in as many State tournament final games as her nine, or won as many titles as her six. Her team has played more games, won more games, and even lost more games in the Elite Eight than anyone else's in girl's basketball history. Of the 14 girl tournament coaching records, Coach Gaters owns 10 of them outright and is tied with Teutopolis's Dennis Koester two other categories. Before girls basketball was sanctioned by the Illinois High School Association, Coach Gaters was there from the beginning when young women who loved the game could compete only in clubs and intramural contests. She and her teams grew with the sport and today it is as fully recognized as any boys' sport, with its own State championship. And all along, the Lady Commandos were role models of excellence and perseverance and an inspiration to all the other teams. Coach Gaters' response to all the numbers and all the fawning is consistent with her straightforward approach in coaching: ``It says I have been around a long time. I care about it because it will be a victory, not necessarily because it is number 597. I have never really been one to count the games.'' Mr. Speaker, we both know that the Illinois High School Association counts, and it listed the Marshall coach with 597 victories against 70 losses entering this, her 23rd season as coach. That was then. Today it is 619 wins to 70 losses. And according to the national high school statistics, Coach Gaters ranks among the top 20 coaches of all time in number of victories. She was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996, and while her basketball team is nothing short of amazing, they have also succeeded academically. Ninety-five percent of the players who started with Coach Gaters went to colleges and/or universities. Over three fourths of them have graduated. Several of Coach Gaters' former players are now coaches at various institutions. Marie Christian coaches at California-Berkeley; Kimberly McQuarter at Chicago State University; Trinette Wright is an assistant coach at Chicago State University; and Jennifer Jones coaches at Manley High School. Other players went on to play in the Women's National Basketball Association. Kim Williams plays for the Utah STARZZ; Toni Foster is with the Phoenix-MERCURY; and Janet Harris plays for the Charlotte STING. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Coach Dorothy Gaters and the Lady Commandos of Marshall High School who have demonstrated that academic excellence coupled with athletic prowess is the order of the day.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Women's History Month, I rise today to pay tribute to women in business and to express pride in the fact that the women of Chicago and Cook County have benefited from the successful programs of the Women's Business Development Center. Based in Chicago, the Women's Business Development Center serves 2,000 women annually with counseling, training, financial assistance, certification, procurement and advocacy on behalf of women's economic empowerment. The programs of the Chicago-based center are effective, successful and benefit diverse women. These centers service an array of women and their families, including self-employment for former welfare recipients, business development, expansion and job creation. The work of the Women's Business Development Center and other women's business assistance centers are essential to strengthening the economy of this Nation by fostering women's business development nationally. The WBDC and women's business assistance centers are funded by the United States SBA office of Women's Business Ownership and by private and public sector support. They help support a diverse and growing population of new and emerging job-creating women entrepreneurs, including women in transition off welfare. These centers are unique in that they provide long-term training, involve public and private partnerships for their support, and can be measured on the basis of their economic impact. These centers have served tens of thousands of women. The women's business assistance centers serve our constituencies by offering quality programs to effectively leverage scarce public and private resources into successful job creation, new business start-ups, and business expansion. Most of them, even after they are no longer eligible for Federal funding, continue to be sustained by the private sector. These centers are committed to economic self-sufficiency programs that are as diverse as the women served; women of color, women on public assistance, women seeking self-employment, rural and urban women, and women starting home-based businesses. Therefore, it is appropriate that we pause to recognize the great work of the Women's Business Development Center and women's business assistance centers throughout the country. I take special note of the work of Hedy Ratner and Carol Dougal of the Women's Business Development Center, Counselo Pope of the Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce, Connie Evans, Director of the Women's Self-Employment Project, Karen Yarbrough, proprietor of Hathaway Insurance, Deborah M. Sawyer, founder Environmental Design International and other outstanding women in the City of Chicago and the state of Illinois, who provide immeasurable help and support to other women seeking to go into business.