Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler] for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support this amendment, and I do so because it attempts to recognize one of the great needs in our society. Almost any evening across urban America, you can walk down the streets and see hundreds of men and women lined up trying to get in shelters because they have no place to go. This amendment would, at least, give 50,000 additional homeless families in America a place to live. I strongly support it. I commend the gentleman for introducing it and hope that it will pass.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt].

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I was just thinking that if H.R. 2 is a friend of the working poor, then I am certain that the people in Robert Taylor, Henry Horner and Cabrini Green, and some other places that I know, would say, ``Do not send me any enemies.'' The more I listen to the debate, the more I am firmly convinced that no matter what the intent, no matter what the hope, no matter what the most basic desire, I am convinced that the outcome of H.R. 2 would become a part of the continuing attack on the poor, would become a part of continuing to strip the poor people of this country of their last ounce of dignity. That is why I rise to support the Kennedy amendment, because it attempts and it does restore some of that basic humaneness to public housing, in the public housing act in this country. It contains the kind of flexibility that is needed, that will allow people to work and remain in public housing. Everybody that works does not necessarily earn enough money not to need a subsidy. That is why we need a minimum wage that gives people a livable wage. So this amendment attempts to say to America that we do not necessarily have to try and throw out the baby with the bath water every time we attempt to correct something. I would agree with those who suggest that public housing is in need of reform. I would agree with those who suggest that it is laudable for people to volunteer. As a matter of fact, I come from a history of volunteerism, so much so that people generally do not know the difference between what they do for work, what they do for pay, and what they do because it needs to be done. However, when we force people, when we take away their pride, we take away their dignity, we take away their most basic and most human of all instincts, and that is to make decisions for themselves. So I would hope that after the dust settles, after all is said and done, that we will come to our senses and realize that if America is to ever be the one America that we talk about it being, then we have to say to all of its citizens that no matter what their status, we will look after their interests; no matter what their status, we believe that they can live with dignity and they can live with pride. So I would hope that we would vote for the Kennedy amendment, that we would restore dignity, pride and meaning to the public housing act in this country. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt].

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object-- --

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today I take this opportunity to pay tribute to a great American who gave consistently of herself for the betterment of her community, her city, and her country. Dorrie Thurman was a community activist in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood where she worked for many years on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged members of our society. She was a member of several welfare rights organizations and eventually became president of The Voice of the People, an affordable housing development corporation. Dorrie was a strong proponent of the philosophy that ``you cannot lead where you don't go and you cannot teach what you don't know.'' Therefore, she lived in a building owned and operated by The Voice of the People. The Chicago Tribune wrote, ``in her heyday, little Dorrie Thurman was a community leader in Uptown; the kind of big-hearted activist who once sprouted in Chicago like wildflowers in a vacant lot.'' Ms. Thurman leaves a great legacy of involvement, determination, and belief that people can make a difference. Her vibrancy, spirit, and willingness to give of herself made her a unique person who will always live as a part of the history of Uptown and as a part of the history of the advocacy for poor people throughout America.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I have been moving around in the last few days and I have looked to see that the Sun was shining, I was under the impression that we were embarking upon a new season, the beginning of spring, and that we would see fresh ideas, that we would see coming to life new feelings of inclusiveness. But then I had a rude awakening. I was awakened when the House Committee on Appropriations voted to cut the WIC Program, a program that is designed to benefit women, infants, and children; a program that is designed to provide nutrition, nutritional aid, to women, infants, and children; individuals who in many instances are disadvantaged, in many instances do not have the basic resources to meet the food requirements to grow up healthy, to have a healthy body, to have a healthy mind. Oftentimes they do not have the resources that will put them on an even playing field with all the other members of our society, and it is hard for me to imagine how one could cut or how a group could cut something as important, something as basic, something that is so greatly needed as a program to provide food for individuals in need. I would hope that as spring continues to emerge, that there might be a rebirth of ideas and there might be another way of looking at things; there might be another way of looking at the priorities of our Nation, the priorities that would say every person, no matter who he or she might be, would have an opportunity to grow up, to live in a country, to live in a society, the most technologically proficient Nation of the world, the wealthiest Nation of the world, which should be able to make sure that its neediest citizens are provided basic food. So I would urge that as we move ahead, that the Members of this body would look differently at this issue than we saw the Committee on Appropriations look, and that the Members of this body would recognize that unless all of us can be healthy, it really reduces the health of each one of us; that unless all of us who need food can be fed, it reduces the feeling of each one of us; and that unless America, this Nation, can demonstrate that it understands how to look after the needs of its old, the needs of its young, and the needs of those who oftentimes cannot care for themselves, then we would never experience the potential greatness that this Nation has, we will never become the America that we can be.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, I take this opportunity to comment upon the life and the work of the late Rev. Eugene Rawlings, who passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 1997. Reverend Rawlings was born February 17, 1906, and spent his early years in Lucy, TN, where he attended school and received his early religious training. He graduated from the SA Owens College in Memphis, TN, and received an associate of arts degree in religious education from the McKinley Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. In 1931, he married Ms. Caldonia Stevens and they have one daughter, Eugenia. In 1954, Reverend Rawlings migrated to Chicago, IL, where he spent the rest of his life organizing churches, pastoring, teaching, and being a community activist. He was an outstanding lecturer and orator, as he taught at the Chicago Baptist Institute, the Ministers Union of Chicago and vicinity, the Westside Ministers Conference, and Bethany Hospital. Reverend Rawlings was a great civic, social, and political activist, as evidenced by his position as a Master Mason, organizer for the Westside waste management environment safety project, Block Club treasurer, and planning committee for the Community Bank of Lawndale. Rev. Eugene Rawlings was certainly an outstanding clergyman, civic leader, and humanitarian. We wish his wife Odessa, daughters Evangelist Eugenia Thomas, Pat Merriweather, and Francis Morris and other members of the family all the best, as they revere the life of this great American.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to comment on the life and legacy of a great musician, tremendous clergyman, dedicated community leader, and a wonderful American, the late Reverend Milton Brunson, who passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 1997. I share the words of his wife Joanne that ``Reverend Brunson touched so many people's lives its hard to imagine''. On April 25, 1997, Reverend Brunson would have celebrated the 49th anniversary of the Thompson Community Singers, which he helped to found in 1948. At the age of 18, while a senior at McKinley High School and director of the Gospel Chorus at St. Stephens A.M.E. Church, Reverend Brunson teamed up with Dorothy Mercer Chandler to found the Thompson Community Singers. Ms. Chandler, a gifted organist in her own right, worked closely with Reverend Brunson to keep the group together for 49 years, performing across the United States and throughout the world. The Thompson Singers performed at the Chicago Gospel Festival, the Apollo Theater, Madison Square Garden in New York, and on stages in England, Italy, and other foreign countries. On several occasions, the Thompson Singers produced the No. 1 religious recording, and, in fact, won a Grammy Award. Under the leadership of Reverend Brunson, nearly 1,000 individuals were members of the Thompson Singers; also known as the Tommies. Jesse Dixon Mays, Ricky Dillard, Deloris Stamps, Ethel Holloway, and Angela Spivey, were just a few of the famous vocalists who performed with the Tommies. In 1992, the Thompson Community Singers, directed by Tyrone Black received the Stellar Awards for Choir of the Year, Song of the Year for ``My Mind's Made Up'', and writer of the year, Darius Brooks. In 1995, Reverend Brunson and the Tommies won a Grammy Award for the recording ``Through God's Eyes.'' After several years of singing and choir directing, Reverend Brunson accepted a call to the ministry and built up the Christ Tabernacle Baptist Church located at 854 North Central Street in Chicago, IL. Under the direction of Reverend Brunson, Christ Tabernacle went from its humble beginnings to a major religious institution, with over 2,000 actively participating members. Rev. Milton Brunson will always be remembered as a legend and a legacy. We thank him for his contributions and we wish the best for his wife Jo Ann, daughters, Donna Louise, Sanita Monique, son Kevin, and sisters, brother, and grandchildren. A talented individual, a dedicated and inspiring leader, a wise teacher, and a great American was the Reverend Milton Brunson.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with all of those who have come together in this resolution to honor the life, the legacy, and the contributions of a great American. I grew up during the Jackie Robinson era and I can tell my colleagues, as a young person there was nobody alive at that moment who had as much impact. As a matter of fact, Jackie Robinson was so important to us and to everybody that I knew that we could recite the Brooklyn Dodger lineup, beginning with the catcher to the right fielder. More important than that, Jackie Robinson demonstrated not only skill but courage and determination to help break down the barriers of racism, of prejudice, of assumptions that individuals could not all play on one field and make a score. If we can remember that, then I think we will score well not only for ourselves but for generations yet to come.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Rush] for having organized this time and these proceedings. I am very pleased to join with those from around the country and across America who have stood to pay tribute to Charlie Hayes. Charles Hayes, who came from Cairo, IL, rural America, to the slaughter houses of Chicago, on the packing floor, cutting meat, becoming a member of the Meat Cutters Union, who worked his way from rural Cairo to the hallowed Halls of this Congress; who, along the way, never faltered, never stopped, never had any doubt about what he was going to do. Charlie Hayes represented I think the best of the I can spirit, the I will spirit, knowing full well that once he set his mind to a task, he would do it. Many people have talked about Charlie's contributions after having become a Member of Congress. But the real Charlie Hayes was the Charlie Hayes who was involved in untold struggles long before he reached the point of having the opportunity to represent that great congressional district that was represented by stalwarts: the first African-American elected to the U.S. Congress after the period of Reconstruction, Oscar DePriest, represented that district; William Dawson; Ralph Metcalf; the great Harold Washington; and then Charlie Hayes; and of course the current representative, the current Congressman from the First District, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Bobby Rush. So Charlie fit right in the middle of all these giants, all of these individuals who have been a part of history, all of these individuals who have been makers of history. I always appreciated Charlie because in Chicago politics is rough and tumble; always has been, perhaps always will be. There are always those who are on the sidelines, always afraid to really take a swipe at the tough issues, the tough calls. But Charlie always made the tough ones, always made the heavy ones. I remember the times when Charlie Hayes, Addie Wyatt, Theodore Dows, a few of the individuals were key movers in the civil rights movement in Chicago. You could always count on Charlie to be there with his voice, with his money, with his time, and with his courage. So I say, Charlie, you fought the good fight. Yes, you have done your job, just like the village blacksmith with your big hands, your big voice, your big muscles. You have represented well the people not only of the First District of Illinois, but working men and women all over America and throughout the world. MR. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks. Mr. Speaker, next I will ask another Member of this body who served with Charlie Hayes, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Glenn Poshard, who represents a district that has much similarity to the First Congressional District. He knows the fights of working people in this country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Poshard] for his remarks memorializing Charlie Hayes.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. Our Founding Fathers, the authors of our Constitution, created something that the world had never seen, a representative government based on the popular election of the legislative and executive branches. It was a powerful idea whose time had indeed come. Based on the study of the most advanced ideas of that date, it has taken us now more than 200 years to extend those basic ideas to include all of the people in this country, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, men and women; and I would like to add rich and poor to the list. But, unfortunately, our democratic system has been attacked by a virus of virulence that our Founding Fathers could never have imagined, money. By some estimates, our last national elections cost $2 billion. And according to a study by the Center for Responsive Politics, 9 out of 10 U.S. House races were won by candidates who outspent their opponents in the election, and in nearly 40 percent of the House races the winner outspent the loser by a factor of 10 to 1 or more. In competitive races, House candidates are spending 50 percent more in real terms on TV and radio advertising than they did 20 years ago at the time of Buckley versus Valeo. Thirty years ago, the average sound bite on the TV news was 42 seconds. By 1992, that bite was trimmed to less than 10 seconds. Literally, money talks, and because money talks, and when it talks it drowns out almost all other political discourse, money has distorted, corrupted, and perverted our political system. It is time to get back to the basic democracy of Benjamin Franklin, Elizabeth Stanton, Frederick Douglass, Susan Anthony, and Martin Luther King. We are past the time for halfway and halfhearted patches on the system. Belief that this closure alone will remedy the problem is akin to belief in the tooth fairy. Solving the problem by just regulating soft money is about as likely as expecting pigs to fly. I believe that the basic principles of campaign reform, at a very minimum, should be these: First, take money out of the equation; finance all Federal campaigns through voluntary full public funding; amend the Constitution to prohibit Federal candidates from using private funds; provide voters with enough unfiltered information to make informed choices; open up television, radio, and other media for a discussion of the issues by the candidates; shorten the election cycle; create a truly independent regulatory agency to monitor and make public the spending of public campaign moneys; require paid lobbyists to publicly report who and when they lobby; create universal voter registration; encourage experimentation with mail and electronic ballots and multiple day elections; require full disclosure of all independent expenditures. The fact that most Americans indicate that they have lost confidence in the functioning of our democratic elections and that most do not vote should be both a warning and a summons to action. The time to act is now, before the American public continues to erode its faith in our democratic process.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I first of all would like to commend and congratulate Chairman Talent and the gentleman from New York [Mr. LaFalce], the ranking member, for the exemplary leadership that they provided in bringing this legislation to the floor. I want to concur and agree with the words that have already been spoken by most of my colleagues and would simply echo their sentiments. But I would like to add that I hope that in the implementation of this act that even those businesses that we call micro businesses, the ma and pa shops, the cleaners, the beauty shops, the barber shops, those that do not even have computers, I would hope that the legislation would be implemented in such a way that there would be a facility someplace that they could go and receive assistance so that they, too, could benefit from this legislation. I think it is an excellent display of bipartisanship, and I hope that we can display in the near future the same kind of bipartisanship, the same kind of concern for campaign finance reform so that the people of this country can have the same assurances that small businesses will have, that they will get the most from their government.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today, like every day in America, 788 babies will be born at a low birthweight. They will start life at risk. We rank 18th in the industrialized world in the percentage of babies born at dangerously low birth weight. Let me put it another way: No industrialized country in the world does worse. Our infant mortality rate is 8.4 per 1,000 live births. We rank 18th in the industrialized world in infant mortality. Sometimes it takes a poet to put our feelings into words when we hear such statistics. Gwendolyn Brooks, poet laureate of Illinois, penned this question: ``What shall I give my children who are poor, who are judged the least wise of the land?'' Mr. Speaker, we keep asking the question, ``What shall we give our children?'' We are the only advanced Nation in the world that does not provide health care for all of its people. According to the GAO, some 10 million children, 1 in 7 in the United States, are uninsured, the highest level since 1987, before Medicaid expansions for children and pregnant women. One child in four in the United States is now covered by Medicaid. The percentage of children with private insurance reached the lowest level in 8 years: 65.6 percent. How do we describe the emotion of seeing a child suffering a severe asthma attack; turning blue while their chest and stomach attempts to breathe? Yet more than half of the uninsured children with asthma will not see a doctor this year. Some of them will die from asthma, a preventable disease. How do we describe the cries of a child with an ear infection? Only a parent knows the feeling of helplessness that comes when you cannot relieve your child's pain. Yet one-third of the uninsured children with recurrent ear infections never see a doctor. Many suffer permanent hearing loss. Only 75 percent of preschoolers are getting the recommended vaccinations. Some 1 million still need one or more doses. In many of our big cities, like Chicago, the immunization rate is less than 65 percent. What shall we give our children? Twelve percent of child deaths are excess deaths. Excess is the medical term meaning that these deaths were preventable. How can a Nation such as ours accept 12 percent excessive deaths? What shall we give our children? Almost 45 percent of all 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income families participate in center-based care. By every measure of health care status, low birth weight, prematurity, infant mortality, likelihood of injury, malnutrition, incidence of infectious disease, poor children fare worse than any others. However, only Head Start routinely provides preventive health and dental care treatment. It is estimated that the $54 billion cut from the safety net last year will push more than 1 million additional children into poverty and millions more will be pushed even deeper into poverty. The poet June Jordan warned us ``Our children will not survive our habits of thinking, our failures of the spirit.'' If all of the promise of democracy is to mean anything, if all of the incredible wealth we have accumulated is to mean anything, if all of the work, the struggle, the suffering, the dreaming, the devotion that make this country what it is today is to mean anything, then we must answer the question: ``What shall we give our children?'' Let us give them a chance. Let us at least make their health a right and not a privilege. Let us make sure that in this Congress every child will have access to quality health care when he or she is sick, regardless of the ability of their parents to pay. Let us make sure that every mother receives prenatal care regardless of ability to pay. Let us make sure that every child receives preventive care regardless of the ability of their parents to pay. A guarantee of quality accessible health care for every child cannot be the full answer to the question, but we must give our children nothing less.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to an all too familiar debate in our country, immigration and immigrants. This is an age-old topic that has taken many different faces since the founding of this Nation. Today the immigration debate seems to be focused on mostly Latino and Asian-American immigrants, or individuals from the Caribbean or African nations, people of color. However, I am concerned that the immigration issue is too often raised in a negative manner. Why is it that we cannot talk about immigrants without mentioning the undocumented, those who may not have complied with all of the rules and regulations? The politicizing of the immigration issues and programs like Citizenship U.S.A. made by certain groups have attempted to demonize immigrants. I submit that certain groups have been using immigrants as a scapegoat for years. Oftentimes they have been marginalized in the great divide between black and white. As illustrated in the words of W.E.B. DuBois, he pointed out that mass immigration hurt both black and white laborers, as he foreshadowed future events by noting the Republican Party platform of 1864, which advocated increased immigration in the interests of big business: A new flood of eager-to-work immigrant labor was brought into the country to work on the railroads and in the new industries. Northern mill owners, who had feared free farms because they might decrease the number of laborers and raise their wages, were appeased by the promotion of alien immigration. It was interesting to hear the Union Party, as the Republicans called themselves in 1864, say in their platform: ``Foreign immigration, which in the past had added so much to the wealth and development of resources and the increase of power to this Nation--the aspirations of the oppressed of all nations should be fostered and encouraged by a liberal and just policy.'' That year the Bureau of Immigration was created. . . . In 1860 immigrants were coming in at a rate of 130,000 a year but the new homestead laws began to attract them, so after the war immigration quickly rose . . . and in 1873 had reached 460,000 annually. I feel it is important to address the issue of stereotyping our Nation's immigrants because it is unjust, it is unfair, and it is wrong. I would like people to think of the many contributions that immigrants have made. We should value and cherish immigrants. Everyone in this country, except for native Americans, are immigrants. Some came voluntarily and others, like myself, came involuntarily. It is my hope that the next time immigration is brought up as a topic, that it conjures up a positive image in our mind, one that values the mosaical background and cultures that make up the Nation as well as the district where I live, represent, and work. I enjoy experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of Caribbean restaurants on Georgia Avenue, and Ethiopian cuisine in Adams Morgan. Closer to home, I also enjoy Little Italy, on Taylor street, Chinatown, at Wentworth and Surmack, Little Village in Franklin Park. The top 10 immigrant groups that boast the great land of Lincoln as their home are a diverse group. They are from Mexico, Poland, Philippines, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, Yugoslavia, Greece, Africa, all over the world. By no means do I view them as a threat. I think they are, indeed, a great asset. That is why it disturbs me that the INS Citizenship U.S.A. Program is in the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight. I feel it is offensive to all Americans to question the integrity and loyalty and contributions of immigrants. This is not the first time. During World War II, Japanese-Americans and their children were rounded up and placed into internment camps. They were placed in these camps because the American Government viewed these Americans of Japanese descent as a threat to national security. Imagine how they must have felt to be viewed as a threat to their own country. Many of those Japanese-Americans interned were actually born here. In spite of this insult, Japanese-Americans formed a special regimental combat team, which was one of the most decorated units of its size in World War II. It should also be noted that a United States Government commission later concluded, and I quote: ``Not a single documented act of espionage, sabotage, or fifth column activity was committed by an American citizen of Japanese ancestry, or by a resident Japanese alien.'' This is just one fine example of the many various contributions that immigrants have made. I question the accusation that immigrants do not share the same commitment to the United States. According to a recent study released by the Cato Institute called ``In Defense of a Nation'' on the military contributions of immigrants, The military contributions of immigrants is a story that has gone largely untold. Today, 62,560 immigrants serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. More than 20 percent of the recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor in United States wars have been immigrants. Immigrant scientists and engineers are major developers of advanced U.S. Government laboratories and major defense firms. In fact, the submarine, the helicopter, a more advanced ironclad ship, and the atomic and hydrogen bombs were developed by immigrants. In short, the study concludes that ``Throughout history and even now, immigrants have demonstrated their loyalty to this country, and have voluntarily sacrificed to protect the freedom of civil rights and the pride of this Nation itself.'' Let us stop talking about the myths and misconceptions of immigrants. Let us look at the facts. It is a fact that most immigrants enter the United States legally; about 70 percent, according to the American immigration law forum. It is a fact that most immigrants come to the United States to unite with close family members. People come to this country for the American dream of freedom, peace, economic prosperity, opportunity, and democracy. They do not come here to take advantage of the welfare system. Contrary to popular belief, not all immigrants are Mexican or Chinese. Many are from places, African countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Ghana, escaping violent upheavals; from Haiti, fleeing war, political oppression, drought, and famine. There are many children in Romania, China, and Brazil fleeing poverty and hunger. Many wait in places like the Philippines, where the average waiting period is as long as 12 to 15 years. There is a need for fair and more efficient immigration policy and a more efficient system. According to a 1996 report released by the Illinois Immigrant Policy Project, immigrants make up 7.1 percent of the total State population, and 49.2 percent of the city of Chicago. Illinois immigrants pay $7.2 billion, or 10.6 percent of the $68 billion of taxes paid by all Illinois residents. The seven taxes included in this estimate are Federal and State income, State and local tax, property, Social Security, and unemployment insurance. Additionally, immigrants only use 7 percent of major welfare and education services. The programs included in this estimate include most of the large cash and in-kind welfare programs and the basic education, SSI, AFDC, aid to the aged, blind and disabled, transitional assistance, Medicaid, and K through 12 public education. Thus when the seven major taxes are compared to the five major types of governmental services, immigrants in Illinois actually pay more taxes than services used. They are paying $6.11 for every $1 of services received. Mr. Speaker, these findings reveal that immigrants are substantial economic contributors. And some 70 percent of immigrants' taxes flow to the Federal Government, primarily through Federal income and Social Security taxes. It is a fact that immigrants start new businesses; 18 percent of all new small businesses are started by immigrants. These small businesses account for up to 80 percent of the new jobs available in the United States each year. Now, having stated the facts, I would urge my fellow Members of Congress to take the partisan politics out of the immigration debate. While this issue is being politicized, there are many constituents in my district who are unable to naturalize and stand to soon lose much- needed benefits underneath the new welfare reform law. It is my understanding that the last time an oath ceremony was performed was September 30, 1996. Why should immigrants experience longer delays due to the decisions of government bureaucracy? Citizenship USA was enacted with bipartisan support and was a good idea in order to reduce the backlog of some 1 million eligible immigrants who filed in fiscal 1995 to become U.S.citizens. This number is more than triple the number of citizens who filed in recent years. This can be largely contributed to the 1986 amnesty program, the passage of issues like proposition 187 in California, and the threat of losing benefits due to welfare reform. I would like to note that out of the 1.3 million new citizens naturalized under Citizenship USA, only about 71,500 were found to have FBI records, which includes the following categories: INS administrative record, 34,000; misdemeanor but not a felony, 25,000; felony 10,000. Sixty-nine percent have still demonstrated good moral character, 29 percent good moral character may not have been met, further review is required. Two percent good moral character was not met, represents 168 individuals, 168 individuals out of the 1.3 million that naturalized under Citizenship USA is only about two-tenths of 1 percent. Mr. Speaker, I suggest that this is hardly reason to exploit naturalized citizens as criminals. Prior to the program Citizenship USA, applicants waited 2 to 4 years to become citizens. Given that so many elderly and disabled people were at risk to lose much-needed benefits due to welfare reform, it is my opinion that Citizenship USA actually served as a partial solution to some of the negative effects of welfare reform and in response to the criticisms aimed at a high number of these newly naturalized citizens registered to vote, I must ask, is it not a double standard? In an election year where apathy seemed to be a common tune ringing throughout the land, why criticize any group for exercising their right to vote? Do we not teach all citizens that voting is not only the epitome of living in a democracy but a responsibility as well? I submit that the very fabric of our social, economic, cultural, and political institutions has changed into a great, great mosaic due to our Nation's newcomers. Immigrants are an integral part of our work force, tax base, and cultural diversity. May we as a Nation of immigrants not turn on ourselves. Mr. Speaker, I will now shift to another idea, one that we have been discussing, debating, and talking about and will continue to do so as we talk about the reauthorization of ISTEA. I appreciate having this opportunity to speak in behalf of projects which have been proposed for the Seventh Congressional District in the State of Illinois, which I have the honor to represent. Mr. Speaker, the citizens of this country are in favor of policies and programs that meet discernible needs, create jobs, promote economic development, protect and improve the environment, and improve the overall quality of life. I shall describe four projects which are consistent with these goals and trust that they will be seriously considered by the Congress for funding, as they will greatly benefit the residents of Chicago, its western suburbs, and Cook County. One, Marion Street mall-to-mall transit center and commuter parking facility in Oak Park, IL, is one of these projects. This project will increase rider access to several different forms of public transportation, including bus, elevated trains, and passenger rails. It will provide reciprocal access to suburban and city of Chicago residents who need public transportation to get to and from work. It will promote commercial revitalization for the villages of Oak Park and River Forest and reduce the number of cars on the roadways, thereby enhancing air quality and improvement of the overall environment. Mr. Speaker, the second project is the funding of a preliminary engineering project to determine the feasibility and cost of widening the Union Pacific bridge over Illinois State Route 43 at Harlem Avenue. Presently this stretch of road, which is considered a strategic arterial route, has shortcomings which cannot be easily and readily remedied. Principally the bridge embodies a dangerous center pier which severely impedes traffic flow. Simply by widening the two-spanned structure, we can decrease the potential number of accidents as well as facilitate the flow of traffic. The reduction in congestion on the bridge will diminish the amount of air pollution and gridlock on the road. The third project calls for the establishment of an Intelligent Transportation Systems Research Institute. This institute would marshal the research capabilities of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Champaign-Urbana, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Purdue University in Indiana, and the Argonne National Laboratory. In an effort to employ communications technology as a solution to some of the region's inter- and intrastate traffic problems, the target area is the region spanning from Gary, IN, through Chicago, IL, and on to Milwaukee, WI. This stretch is essential for efficient commercial travel throughout the region. An example of the technology that the Intelligent Transportation Institute will explore includes computerized traffic lights. These lights will be capable of detecting the approach of a massive public transportation bus or a commercial truck and will stay green longer to permit their passage. Mr. Speaker, this is an idea whose time has truly come. This innovation will facilitate a way of ingress and egress from Chicago's commercial districts to the expressways linking Gary and Milwaukee. It will also expedite travel time for all workers. Through such technologies, we will be able to create a more effective transportation system. In addition, this system will provide through the use of communications technology real-time schedules for public transportation. One will be able to access the scheduling information from work and from home. At a time when both parents work most of the day and single parents are forced to work two and three jobs, any way we can make travel time more predictable, reliable, and efficient allows American citizens to spend more time with their families. Our transportation policies can and should work to strengthen families. Evaluation results to date show that the intelligent transportation system will yield major benefits in congestion mitigation, safety and environmental impact. To date, public and private organizations have succeeded in raising half of the financing required for the project, which has a total cost of $6 million. Therefore, the Federal share of this worthwhile endeavor will be only one half the actual cost. The fourth project proposes a north-south computer rail line by Metra with the station in the Village of Bellwood. Bellwood is ideally located as a crossroads of the Chicago metropolitan area at the juncture of Interstates 290, 88, and 94, between O'Hare and Midway Airports. Both Metra and the Village of Bellwood view this project as a real opportunity for partnership in dealing with transportation needs and economic development for the region. Mr. Speaker, I feel, and the people of the Seventh Congressional District in the State of Illinois feel that each one of these projects is viable, valuable, greatly needed and will seriously enhance the quality of life for the residents, of people who live in that particular area. Now to conclude my remarks, Mr. Speaker, I shall address briefly the issue that I think is so vitally important in this country, and that is the issue of children's health. I firmly believe that the greatness of a society can be determined by how well it treats its old, its young, and those who have difficulty caring for themselves. If this is the case, then by all standards we are not moving toward greatness because we are not doing well by our children. In my own hometown, Chicago, the city of the big shoulders, the Annie E. Casey Foundation reports that 10.9 percent of all children born are considered low birth weight. According to the Voices for Illinois Children, more than 13,200 of all new mothers in the State, 4,000 in Chicago alone, receive virtually no prenatal care. We all know that there are more than 10 million children in this country who have no health insurance. We know that a disproportionate number of our children are being born to teen parents and are destined to live in the squalor of poverty and deprivation. We know that it is tough to be hungry and not have food; demoralizing to be broke and not have a job; agonizing to be cold and not have heat; and frustrating to be illiterate and not have hope. But to be sick and not be able to get health care adds another dimension to all the other problems. The blues singer Marvin Gaye asked the question, ``Who will save the baby? Who is willing to try? Who will save a world that is destined to die?'' Another songwriter said that ``Our children are indeed the future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.'' Everybody is searching for a hero. People need somebody to look up to. And so I ask the question this day: Can the children of this Nation look to its Congress to be the hero? Can the children of this Nation look to this Congress to preserve, promote and protect the health of the Nation, the future of our country, and the destiny of our being? So I ask the question: Will this Congress save the children? We sure can, if we are willing to try.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, every day we hear more and more about what is wrong with the President's budget, yet his critics have not put on the table one plan, one proposal, one budget, or even one idea, except to talk about cutting and balancing, cutting the heart out of the neediest people in our country: children, senior citizens, the mentally ill, disabled, and the poor. Balancing with the idea that we can get blood out of a turnip, that we can provide services and provide opportunities with very little or no money. There are a lot of things that I do not know, but I do know one thing. I know that as Frederick Douglass taught, in this world we may not get all that we pay for, but we most certainly must pay for all that we get. We cannot have a great, civilized, and humane nation without paying the cost; if all we can do is cut, cut, cut, all that we will get is blood, blood, blood. I tell you, the blood of the people will be on the hands of those who did the cutting.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to commend President Clinton for making education a priority. I agree that education is indeed the key and we as a Nation must unlock the door of opportunity so that all of our citizens can participate. Therefore, the money that President Clinton is asking for his budget proposal for education must be made available. Mr. Speaker, we cannot have good schools, good teachers and quality education unless we are willing to pay the price. I do not believe that there is any price too high to pay for our young people to have an opportunity to direct the future of this Nation. Therefore, I urge that we support the education proposals that have been put forth by the President.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America is indeed a strong, vibrant, diverse, and great Nation. Much of its strength, character, and greatness stems from the fact that it is rich in diversity. We are America, a nation that is made up of many different individuals and groups who have contributed significantly to its growth and development. During the month of February, yes, we celebrate African-American or Black History Month, a period which we set aside to take special note and highlight the accomplishments and achievements of African-Americans who have excelled or made noteworthy contributions. Mr. Speaker, I should take this opportunity to highlight some of the outstanding African-Americans who grew up in, lived, and/or worked in the district which I am proud to represent, the Seventh Congressional District of the State of Illinois, one of the most diverse districts in the Nation. Downtown Chicago, Chinatown, the Gold Coast, the Magnificent Mile, housing developments like Cabrini, like Rockwell, Abla, the West Side of Chicago, home of the riots, suburban communities, Oak Park, Maywood, Bellwood, Broadview. It became a focal point of the Negro Free Speech Movement in the 1890's. At that time it was home to one of the most famous black female journalists of all times, Ida B. Wells Barnett. It was the last port of entry for African-Americans leaving the South in large numbers, migrating to the North, the Northeast, and the Midwest. It has been a launching pad for many black firsts. The first black woman to receive an international pilot's license, Bessie Coleman, lived there. The world renowned chemist Dr. Percy B. Julian, the holder of 19 honorary doctorate degrees, an individual who helped to shape medical research procedures, lived there. The famous black daily newspaper, the Chicago Daily Defender, was founded there by Robert Abbot with $25 and a typewriter at his kitchen table. Johnson Publishing Co., Ebony, Jet, and other components of the business founded by Mr. John H. Johnson and now operated by his daughter, Ms. Linda Johnson Rice, operates in the Seventh District. Parker House Sausage Co.'s president, Daryl Grisham, lived in the district. Oprah Winfrey, that everybody in America knows, operates out of the Seventh District. Marva Collins, founder of the Westside Prep School and Paul Adams, principal of Providence-St. Mel College Prep, two of the most successful educators in the country today, live and work in the district. Earl Neal, one of the top attorneys in the Nation, lived and worked in the district. Jewel Lafentant-Mankarious, the first black woman to become Deputy Solicitor General of the United States of America, lived in the district. The district has been home to the practice of Dr. Maurice Robb, one of the foremost ophthalmologists in the Nation. It has produced star athletes like Mark Aguirre, Isiah Thomas, Kevin Garnett, Daryl Stingley, Michael Finley, Glenn Rivers, Hershey Hawkins, Russell Maryland, Mickey Johnson, Otis Armstrong, and others. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin have perfected their craft in the Seventh District. And when we see children playing in the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club, you see greatness at work. The renowned writer, producer, and actor, Robert Townsend, grew up in the district. This inner city district has produced the likes of Jerry (Iceman) Butler, Ramsey Lewis, Tyrone Davis, Alvin Cash, Gene Chandler, the Brown Brothers, the Family Jubilee, Vernon Oliver Price, the Thompson Community Singers, Angela Spivey, and other great entertainers; nationally renowned African-American ministers like the Reverend Clay Evans, Bishop Louis Henry Ford, Rev. Harry McNelty, Rev. Wallace Sykes, Rev. Johnny Miller, Rev. Clarence Stowers, Rev. Charlie Murray, Rev. Jimmie Pettis, Rev. Albert Tyson, Rev. August Minor, and others all live in the district. I have spoken of contemporaries. I have made a point to do so because so often when we talk about history, we forget about those individuals who are struggling each and every day in an effort to make history real. And so all of the individuals, the people who struggle on a daily basis, who work with our children, who work with our seniors, the chairpersons of local advisory counsels, of public housing units and public housing developments, all of these individuals are my heroes and sheroes. They are my heroes, Mr. Speaker, they are my heroes because they understand what Fred Douglass taught when he suggested that struggle, struggle, strife, and pain are the prerequisites for change. They understand that if there is no struggle, there is no progress. And so Black History Month reminds us that when we glory in the struggle, all of America can rejoice in the victory. So, yes, African-Americans have indeed contributed and African- Americans have indeed made progress. But I tell you, Mr. Speaker, we must continue to struggle to keep affirmative action alive. We must continue to struggle so that we can prevent redlining. We must struggle for equal protection, for help for the helpless and hope for the hopeless. We must struggle for a livable wage so that as individuals work, they can earn enough to take care of their basic needs. So, yes, we have made great progress. And as James Weldon Johnson would say, Stony has been the road we have tred, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died, but with a steady beat, have not our weary feet brought us to the place for which our fathers sighed. Mr. Speaker, we have come over ways that with tears have been watered. We have come treading through the blood of the slaughtered, out from the gloomy past until now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast. I know, Mr. Speaker, that as we celebrate African-American history month, as we face the rising sun of our new day begun, I am confident that with the leadership of the gentlewoman from California, Ms. Waters with the togetherness of the caucus and with the activation of Americans all over this land, as we face the rising sun of our new day begun, I am confident that we shall march on till the victory is won. I thank so much the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. DAVIS

Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to rise and bring to the attention of my colleagues some very special and important people in Dale City, located in Prince William County in the 11th District of Virginia. These are individuals who have put the welfare of the community, Dale City, VA, above their own needs and desires, not only performing their jobs, but going above and beyond the call of duty. These individuals have become role models to others in their professions and to other volunteers. These citizens were honored on February 1, 1997 by the Dale City Civic Association, one of the largest, most active and accomplished citizens associations in the commonwealth of Virginia. The Dale City Civic Association was created 30 years ago and hosts an annual service awards banquet. In addition, the association offers a number of awards and scholarships for college bound students from Dale City, monitors development and serves as a sounding board for citizens and businesses. I would like to offer my congratulations to the award recipients. Catherine Spellane Citizen of the Year: Irene Dell. Ms. Dell is a member of the Dale City Civic Association and volunteers for the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department. She has made significant contributions in raising thousands of dollars for the fire department and has been instrumental in the success of kids programs run by the volunteer fire department. She has volunteered much of her time to organize and help the DCCA become the successful association that it is today. Youth Citizen of the Year: Kiana Rene Trent. Ms. Trent is a sophomore at C.D. Hylton H.S. She is the Class President and has played a major role in drug awareness programs, Just Say No campaigns, and SADD. She is a member of the student council Model United Nations, the swim team, and the junior varsity cheerleading team, to name a few. In addition to these activities, she has also won the Martin Luther King oratory contest. She is a model student and an accomplished citizen. Firefighters of the Year: Marc Sherman and Eric Wyatt. Capt. Sherman and Capt. Wyatt are both volunteer firefighters at the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department Station 13. They have progressed from recruits to their present positions as battalion captains. These two men are true heroes, role models for our youth to emulate. In a recent residence fire, the brave efforts of these men saved the life of a child. They truly perform above and beyond the call of duty and help make DCVFD second to none. They have both volunteered over 1000 hours each. Emergency Medical Technician of the Year: Angela Goodwin. Lt. Goodwin has been a volunteer EMT with the Dale City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department since 1992. She is a driving force in the fire department paramedic program, providing unsurpassed advanced life support to patients in life threatening situations. Lt. Goodwin is always available for public education, internal training for her crews, as well as maintaining EMS supplies for three stations. Additionally, she is responsible for the management of her battalion crew and must provide constant supervision to assure her personnel will be ready to meet any emergency situation. Nurse of the Year: Nancy O'Shields. Ms. O'Shields is a nurse at Potomac Hospital. She has been a member of this nursing staff for 24 years and has served as a staff nurse with the medical--surgical unit until transferred to the emergency department where she worked for several years. Currently, she serves as the director of outpatient surgical services. In her spare time, Nancy is active in her church and sings in the choir. She is a member of the police wives association, and she was also very active in the Dale City Little League and the area schools when her children were young. She is a model citizen within the community. Police Officer of the Year: First Sergeant Shari S. Williams. First Sergeant Williams developed the Police and Community Together Program which forms alliances with police officers and citizens in specific neighborhood watches to solve community problems. The object of this project is to keep an open dialogue to address concerns or needs that may arise in the community. She has also worked closely with the crime prevention bureau to make this program the success it is today. Community Service Award: Earl Barnes. Mr. Barnes is a member and 2nd vice president of the DCCA. He is also a member of the P.W. County Board Audit Committee, a member of the P.W. County Arts Council and the American Legion Post, as well as the Treasurer of Westwind Forest HOA. He is one of the 24 students to graduate from the inaugural P.W. County Community Leadership Class and plays an important role as a member of the 11th District Congressional Federal Employee Working Group. He is always seen as a person that lends a helping hand, and always thinks of others before himself. Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Mary Allen. Ms. Allen has been a teacher in Prince William County for the past 27 years, 10 years at Occoquan elementary and 17 years at Enterprise elementary. She is not just a classroom teacher, she has also been the grade level chairman, lead teacher and has served as an enhanced instructional process coach. Additionally, she has recently worked on two school review committees. She is always helping other teachers both in and out of school. Middle School Teacher of the Year: Alan Graham. Mr. Graham has been a teacher for 20 years. Currently, he teaches computer science at Beville middle school. Additionally, he coaches the baseball team, edits the newsletter, and inspires young thespians. He teaches the immigrant students in ESOL class and has a willingness to adapt his instruction so that these limited English students can grasp the course content as well as improve their language skills. He always strives to make the lab he works in a better place for kids to learn. High School Teacher of the Year: Jan Polk. Ms. Polk has been a teacher in Prince William County for 32 years. Currently, she teaches social studies at C.D. Hylton high school. Each year, Jan plans and organizes a mock election. Nearly 1000 people attend and participate in this most interesting exercise of civic responsibility. She is well respected by all of her students and colleagues at Hylton high school. Not only does she work with the most experienced educators, she also assists the newest first year teachers by sharing materials, strategies, and personal support. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent these outstanding citizens and I know my colleagues join with me in congratulating these individuals for their tireless efforts to make Dale City, VA a better place to live.