Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 25-year anniversary of the Jesse Jackson run for President of the United States. As a resident of Chicago, I have been privileged to be up front and close to the Jesse Jackson phenomenon. I have seen his positive impact on Chicago as he globalized a world vision for change. I know how he has helped the Democratic Party to become more democratic and the Republican Party to focus more on the Republic. He has advanced the causes of all minorities, helped Illinois become a State where African Americans and other minorities can be elected to the highest of public offices, and he laid the groundwork for the election of the Nation's first African American President, Barack Obama. Rev. Jackson, we salute you.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Yesterday, as STS-129 lifted off, there was a very definite glint of pride in my eyes and spring in my step because one of the astronauts on board was Mission Specialist Robert Satcher, doctor, chemical engineer, and native of Oak Park, Illinois, and the Seventh Congressional District. Dr. Satcher is the second astronaut to hail from Oak Park on the western border of Chicago. Any community to boast of such a record of producing astronauts deserves a second look, but for a community with just over 50,000 residents to accumulate such a record, something must be going on that is very right. But, of course, in the end, it is up to the individual to determine what to do with the circumstances of their lives. Dr. Robert Satcher has done some amazing things with his life. An orthopedic surgeon who practices at Northwestern Memorial and Children's Memorial hospitals, teaches at Northwestern University Medical School, does research at the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern and the Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Advanced Medicine at Northwestern, Dr. Satcher is a nephew of former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher. He is married to Dr. D'Juanna Satcher, and they have a daughter, Daija. Dr. Satcher was a Schweitzer Fellow at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambarene, Gabon, completed numerous medical missions for outreach care to underserved areas in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Gabon. He held internships at DuPont in the Textile Fibers Research Group and the Polymer Products Division. Growing up, he was a National Merit Scholar and received the Monsanto Award and the Albert G. Hill Award from MIT, fellowships from both the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the UNCF/Merck Research Foundation, and is a member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He is a Leadership Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, ABC Fellow of the American Orthopedic Association, Bloomberg Leadership Fellow, and has completed 12 research grants and has 15 peer-review publications and over 25 presentations at national and international research meetings. He has been active in the Big Brother for Youth at Risk Counseling Program; Department of Corrections, San Francisco, California; a tutor for the Black Student Union tutorial program at MIT; the National Society of Black Engineers; the American Institute of Chemical Engineering; a supervising adult for Cub Scout Camp for Boys in Nashville, Tennessee; and he is a lay Episcopal minister with primary responsibility for visiting the sick and shut-in members of the church at St. Edmonds Episcopal Church in Chicago and St. James Episcopal Church in Houston. He was selected for Astronaut Candidate training by NASA in May of 2004 and completed training in February of 2006. On STS-129, Dr. Satcher is scheduled to perform two EVAs--space walks--among other assignments. For those who want to follow Dr. Satcher on Twitter, he will be tweeting as astro_bones and ZeroG_MD. Godspeed to you, Dr. Satcher. Bobby, you have a lot of fans back on Earth, and especially those in Oak Park, Illinois.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill will move us closer to the realization that all men, women, and children in this country can have access to quality health care. It will reduce the waiting time in emergency rooms and shorten the length of time you have to wait to see a doctor. It makes it possible for people to have health insurance who have never had any before in their lifetime and to see a doctor on a regular basis. It recognizes the needs of people with disabilities. It seriously increases the number of community health centers, protects disproportionate share and teaching hospitals, and promotes health awareness and education. But, most importantly, it prolongs and enhances life, as well as its quality. This is the most significant health legislation passed in this country since Medicare and Medicaid. Residents of my district have been calling all day asking that I would vote for them, that I would vote for Illinois, that I would vote for America. I tell them, yes, I will, because I believe that health care ought to be a right and not a privilege. I wanted a single-payer system, but I will vote for H.R. 3962 because it is good for Illinois, it is good for me, it is good for you, and it is good for America.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman McDermott for yielding. I also want to commend the Senate for its work. I simply rise in support of this legislation. It will provide an opportunity certainly for individuals who are unemployed to continue to receive unemployment compensation, and it will indeed help stimulate the economy by allowing individuals credits for the first time if they are purchasing a home. It is good legislation. I am pleased to support it and urge that all Members do so.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1849) to designate the Liberty Memorial at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, as the National World War I Memorial, to establish the World War I centennial commission to ensure a suitable observance of the centennial of World War I, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Skelton. (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to close, let me just, first of all, commend all of our colleagues with lineage and heritage to the great State of Missouri. Let me also commend Representative Cleaver for his introduction of this legislation. And I couldn't end without paying special tribute to the family of Representative Skelton for the tremendous service that they have provided to this country, both in the military, and of course Chairman Skelton here in this House of Representatives. As we move towards Veterans Day, where we will honor and pay tribute to all of our veterans because they have given all of us the opportunity to live in a free and democratic society--and I don't think there is anything more important than that--I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1849. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3788) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Darrow Road in Stow, Ohio, as the ``Corporal Joseph A. Tomci Post Office Building''.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am very proud to present H.R. 3788 for consideration. This measure will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Darrow Road in Stow, Ohio, as the ``Corporal Joseph A. Tomci Post Office Building.'' H.R. 3788 was introduced by my colleague Representative Steven LaTourette of Ohio on October 13, 2009, and favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009. Additionally, this legislation enjoys the overwhelming support of the Ohio House delegation. After graduating from Stow-Munroe Falls High School in 2003, Corporal Tomci joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Tragically, on August 2, 2006, while conducting combat operations during his second tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Corporal Tomci was killed in a roadside bomb in al Anbar province, Iraq. He was only 21 years old at the time. Although Corporal Tomci is no longer with us, his spirit will endure in the memory of his mother, Gayle, his stepfather, Phil, his friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to know this brave young man. In fact, every year since his death, a group of Corporal Tomci's friends gather together in Silver Springs Park in Stow, Ohio, to remember the life of their friend and hero. Affectionately called ``Joe Tom Day'' after Corporal Tomci's nickname, about 150 joined in this year's commemoration and wore black T-shirts with Corporal Tomci's quote, ``You guys will be telling your kids about me,'' on their backs. And so, Mr. Speaker, let us, as a body, take this opportunity to recognize the life of Corporal Tomci, which stands as a testament to the bravery and dedication of the heroic men and women who serve our great Nation. I urge all of our Members to join in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1211) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 School Street, Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Jack F. Kemp Post Office Building''.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am very proud to present S. 1211 for consideration. This measure would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 School Street, Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Jack F. Kemp Post Office Building.'' S. 1211 was introduced July 9, 2009, by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and passed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent on September 4, 2009. The bill was then favorably reported out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009. Mr. Speaker, S. 1211 will designate the postal facility at 60 School Street in Orchard Park, New York, as the Jack F. Kemp Post Office. Mr. Kemp launched his first political campaign in 1970 and ran for the congressional seat in upstate New York's 39th District. Mr. Kemp won his first election and proceeded to serve eight additional terms in Congress. In addition to his tenure in Congress, Mr. Kemp's political career also includes his service as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of President George Herbert Walker Bush from 1989 to 1993 and as the Republican Party's Vice Presidential candidate in 1996. Mr. Speaker, regretfully, Jack Kemp passed away on May 2 of this year. In honor of his legacy of public service, Mr. Kemp was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. Let us continue to honor this dedicated public servant through passage of this legislation to designate the School Street post office in his name. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1211 and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to Representative Brian Higgins of New York.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Representative Fattah.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I would urge the passage of S. 1211, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures on November 2, 2009. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of the following: Roll 832, November 2, 2009: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended: H.R. 1168, Veterans Retraining Act of 2009. Roll 833, November 2, 2009: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 291, Recognizing the crucial role of assistance dogs in helping wounded veterans live more independent lives, expressing gratitude to The Tower of Hope, and supporting the goals and ideals of creating a Tower of Hope Day. Roll 834, November 2, 2009: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: S. 509, To authorize a major medical facility project at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Walla Walla, Washington, and for other purposes.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me express my appreciation to Chairman Berman for yielding time and also for the expeditious manner in which this measure has been handled. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 711, a bipartisan resolution calling on the Sri Lankan Government and the international community to address the human rights and humanitarian needs of Sri Lanka's Tamils. I urge all Members of the body to support it. Mr. Speaker, May of 2009 marked the conclusion of the 26-year struggle between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan Government. As a result of this war, tens of thousands of Sri Lankan citizens have been displaced and are without homes. The Sri Lankan Government believes that among their displaced citizens are former Liberation Tiger militants. As part of the vetting process, the Sri Lankan Government has set up make-shift camps to house over 280,000 internally displaced persons and allow the government to relocate these suspected militants. Allegations are being reported that the standard of treatment and the living conditions afforded to people in these camps is grossly inadequate. Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Human Rights Council's 11th special session on Sri Lanka met on May 27, 2009, to address the internally displaced persons in government-run camps. During this session, the Sri Lankan Government made commitments to improve the conditions for the people housed in these camps and stated that the bulk of the people would be resettled within 180 days. After the first 150 days passing with no progress, the Sri Lankan Government has just released some 50,000 people, which is a good first step; although nearly 230,000 internally displaced persons still remain held in camps. So, Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution that calls on the Sri Lankan Government to release their citizens and allow them to return to their homes and properties. I, again, urge my colleagues to support the internally displaced persons in their quest for freedom. Again, I would like to thank Chairman Berman for his expeditious handling of this matter. I urge its support.