Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1352) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 127 East Locust Street in Fairbury, Illinois, as the ``Dr. Francis Townsend 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 as much time as I might consume. As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of S. 1352, which names a postal facility in Fairbury, Illinois, after Dr. Francis Townsend. S. 1352, which was introduced by Senator Richard Durbin on May 10, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2007 by a voice vote. Dr. Francis Townsend was born in 1867 into an impoverished Illinois farming family. Shortly after he was born, his family moved to Nebraska, where he graduated from high school and began a varied career. He tried farming and selling in Kansas, land speculation in Los Angeles, and worked as a laborer in Colorado. In 1899, he enrolled in the Omaha Medical College, and graduated in 1903 at the age of 36. He served as an Army doctor in World War I and during the Great Depression, and took a job as the assistant director of the City Health Office in Long Beach, California. At the age of 66, Dr. Townsend lost his job and found himself both poor and out of work. There were millions of elderly people just like him who were barely making ends meet. One day he had a vision of how to help the elderly and the country as a whole. He wrote a letter to a newspaper outlining his ``old-aged pension plan for seniors.'' This plan created a Federal pension of $200 a month paid to every citizen 60 and older on the condition that the pensioner spend the entire sum within 30 days in order to stimulate the economy. His efforts influenced the passage of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Social Security Act. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague from Illinois, Senator Richard Durbin, for introducing this legislation, and I urge swift passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would just close by noting that here is an excellent example of a citizen with an idea, an idea that was promulgated into legislation, legislation that all of us, if we live to be 65 or somewhat close to, benefit from. And so I think it is indeed appropriate. Again, I want to thank Senator Durbin for introducing this legislation. 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 agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 155) recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and expressing the sense of Congress that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 142nd anniversary of Juneteenth Independence Day. On June 19, 1865, MG Gordon Granger and Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War. News of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, did not reach the frontier areas of the United States, especially the Southwest, for almost 2\1/2\ years. General Granger's General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865, is recognized as the day that all slaves in the United States were finally freed. Juneteenth has become recognized as a State, regional, and national event that honors the freeing of slaves in the United States. As Americans, we must never forget how precious freedom is. Juneteenth is the day that all Americans of all races, creeds and ethnic backgrounds can celebrate freedom and the end of slavery in the United States. Its historical significance should be regarded as a means of understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges of the future. As the sponsor of H. Con. Res. 155, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation and urge President Bush to issue a proclamation observing Juneteenth Independence Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities and programs. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Idaho for his remarks and comments and for his support of this resolution. I also would just note that I attended a Juneteenth celebration in the neighborhood where I live on Saturday, and, of course, they had speeches, poems, readings and historical proclamations that people did. To make sure that all Members of the House and of the Senate have an opportunity to participate in an observance, Senator Barack Obama and I are sponsoring an observance on tomorrow in the Gold Room in the House Office Building, and certainly would welcome all to attend. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this concurrent resolution.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 148) recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

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 back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2563) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 309 East Linn Street in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the ``Major Scott Nisely Post Office''.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2563, which names the postal facility in Marshalltown, Iowa after Major Scott Nisely. H.R. 2563, which was introduced by Representative Tom Latham on June 5, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2007, by voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire Iowa congressional delegation. Major Scott Nisely was killed in combat near Al Asad, Iraq on September 20, 2006. He served in the Marines as an officer on Active Duty and as a reservist with the 133rd Infantry Battalion Charlie Company. He worked 12 years for the U.S. Postal Service in Marshalltown, Iowa. Due to his strong desire to serve his country, he accepted an enlisted rank in order to fill a vacancy in the Iowa Army National Guard. Major Scott had served a tour of duty during Operation Desert Storm as a marine, in addition to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a guardsman. He will be fondly remembered for his patriotism and love of family. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Tom Latham, for introducing this legislation, and urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, 100 years ago the village of Harlem changed its name to Forest Park and since that time has functioned as a municipal government in the state of Illinois located in the western portion of Cook county. The village of Forest Park has had a very interesting origin and development. For thousands of years the Potowatomi Indians and their ancestors lived in the area. They buried their dead along the east bank of the Des Plaines River in the area that is now home of the Forest Home Cemetery. Des Plaines Avenue is known to have been an Indian trail. It lies on top of an ancient sandbar that was on the western edge of Lake Chicago, now Lake Michigan. After Illinois entered the Union, most of the land west of Chicago was set aside for veterans of the war of 1812. By 1835, the area was known as Oak Ridge because of the many oak trees. In 1839, a French and Indian trader, Leon Bourassa, received a land grant from President Martin Van Buren of 160 acres along the Des Plaines River north of what is now Roosevelt Road. By this time the Indians had been banished to west of the Mississippi River, but one Indian maiden remained to tend to the grave of her ancestors. According to legend, she married Leon and they settled here on land which is now part of Forest Home Cemetery. The deed for the government land Bourassa purchased was personally signed by President Martin Van Buren and is now kept in the Forest Park Library. The railroad came in 1856, bringing workers who established the first community settlement. A German immigrant, Ferdinand Husse, purchased land in 1851, mostly from Mr. Bourassa, and built a home styled after the manors of New Orleans that he had seen. When he buried 3 members of his family near the homestead, they became the first white settlers to be interred here. When the Chicago and Galena Union Railroad (now the Northwestern), established a division where Des Plaines Avenue now approaches the track in 1856, it marked the beginning of public transportation in the area. Soon after the railroad arrived, a nearby landowner, John Henry Quick, gave part of the area a new name, after his hometown in New York City (Harlem). In the aftermath of the Chicago fire in 1871, many refugees came to this area to build their homes, and their community continued to grow and develop. The Altenheim German Old People's Home opened in 1885 and boasts the original victorian building still in use. The building has been popular with Hollywood and it has been used as a location for three movies. In 1973, 20th century film ``Harry and Fonte''. Art Carney, the film star, won an Oscar for his performance and in 1988, scenes were shot there with Gene Hackman in the package. Finally, in 1995, the building was again used for exterior shots for the movie ``The Babe'', starring John Goodman. In the Waldheim Cemetery now merged with Forest Home, are buried Albert Parsons, Adolph Spies, Adolph Fisher and George Engel. These 4 men were executed on November 11, 1887 for their alleged part in the Haymaker Riot. Waldheim, the only Cemetery that would accept the bodies, hosted over 15,000 persons who attended the funeral. Governor John Peter Altgeld later exonerated the men and pardoned 3 others sentenced to life imprisonment. These 7 soon became martyrs in the eyes of the labor movement. Ceremonies are now held at the gravesite each year honoring the fallen labor heroes. A sausage factory started in 1890 by Karl Lau became the area's first industry, the metropolitan westside ``El'' began electrified rapid transit service in 1895 and because it ran through Garfield Park, it became known as the Garfield Line. In 1897, the installation of electric lighting for ``whomever desired this service'', was available to those living or doing business on Madison Street, and the telephone came in 1898. In 1898, Nicholas Shank built the very tall multistory building known as the Castle (at Harlem and Madison) which still stands. It was said to be the tallest building between Chicago and St. Louis. By 1904, Henry J. Mohr had served 3 terms as president of Harlem. After the village changed its name to Forest Park in 1907, he served 4 more terms from 1909 through 1912. The office of president was then changed to mayor in 1916 and of course, Mohr was elected to yet another 4 years. This time it became an extended period of 6 years because the election was not held at the proper time. Thus Henry J. Mohr was the last president and the first mayor of Forest Park, serving a record 13 years as head of local government. Of course Forest Park has continued to grow and develop into a city of great homes, schools, shopping centers, and recreational outlets. It is home to the world renowned Living Word Christian Center Complex Mall under the leadership of Pastor Bill Winston. Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate mayor Anthony Calderone, trustees, other village officials and all citizens on the 100th anniversary of the village of Forest Park, Illinois.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. First of all, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, for yielding time, and I also want to commend him for the tremendous leadership that he continues to play, even as a new Member of Congress. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 474 and take this opportunity to congratulate all of my colleagues who hold the honor and privilege of fatherhood. It is widely understood and acknowledged that the benefits of an actively involved father in the lives of children not only helps but plays a vital role in the formation of successful youth and in the development of contributing members of society. It should come as no surprise that, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse. We know that fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school. Just over 41 percent of fatherless families with children are poor, while only 7 percent of children headed by a married couple are considered poor. Furthermore, over two-thirds of mother-only families live twice below the poverty line. Our work today and our work in Congress should not only focus on acknowledging fatherhood but it should focus on empowering fathers to have the capabilities and incentives to be more responsible for their children. Barriers to employment, such as a lack of high school or college degree, as well as criminal histories and substance abuse, all contribute to the lack of fathers in the household and the lack of a regular source of income and the ability to contribute to the family. It is not enough to fill this room with words. The only way to improve the ever-increasing number of families without fathers is through targeting the problems that fathers face by going to the source. One way of doing this is through support of the Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act. Removing employment barriers for noncustodial parents, which mostly tend to be fathers, would be of tremendous benefit. By funding grants to promote reasonable fatherhood, we are directly promoting the futures of innocent children while concurrently strengthening the family. Social scientists have for years debated the role of the father in the family. It is consistently among the top interest of psychologists. Leading professionals indicate that fathers provide role models for their sons to learn how to be a man, whereas girls need fathers to learn how to relate to a man in significant ways. Fathers also tend to constrain and correct violent and antisocial behavior better than anyone else, as well as challenge and promote such characteristics as independence, assertiveness, and achievement. But this is not a new phenomenon. George Herbert, the famous medieval poet and orator, understood. He said that one father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. How true that word is today. I conclude, Mr. Speaker, by remembering the fact that every year I give away scholarships, money that we go out and kind of find for kids to go to college. And on the form, there is an application that says, put down the name of your mother and father, what they do. I must confess that I have been most disheartened, because in some instances children have written on the application form, DNA, meaning that the name of the father does not apply. In some instances they have even written ``unknown.'' Or in other instances they have written ``irrelevant.'' Or ``does not matter.'' If we are to strengthen families, if we are to strengthen our society, then we must find a way to help so many of the individuals who have been out of the picture to cop back in and take on their responsible role of fatherhood. I thank the gentleman again from Illinois for yielding time. I thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I also use this moment to say thank you to my own father who died 2 years ago, 92 years old. Much of the reason that I stand here today is because of him.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America has more of its people in prison per capita than any other developed nation in the world, more than 2 million. The vast majority, 95 percent, of the men and women in our prisons will eventually return to the community. This means that every year more than 650,000 offenders are released from State and Federal prisons and return back to civilian life. These men and women deserve a second chance. Their families, spouses, and children deserve a second chance. And their communities deserve a second chance. A second chance means an opportunity to turn a life around, a chance to break the grip of a drug habit; a chance to support a family, to pay taxes, to be self-sufficient. Today, few of those who return to their communities are prepared for their release or receive any supportive service. When the prison door swings open, an ex-offender may receive a bus ticket and spending money for a day or two. Many leave prison to return to the same environment which saw them offend in the first place. But as they return, they often face additional barriers to reentry: serious physical and mental health problems, no place to stay, and lack of education or qualifications to hold a job. As a result, two out of three will be rearrested for new crimes within the first 3 years after their release. Youthful offenders are even more likely to reoffend. One-third of all correction departments provide no services to released offenders, and most departments do not offer a transitional program, placing a heavy burden on families and communities. Considering the cost of incarceration, as much as $40,000 per year, and all the social and economic costs of crime to the community, it is just plain common sense to help ex-offenders successfully reenter our communities and reduce recidivism. That is why I have sponsored the bipartisan Second Chance Act of 2007, H.R. 1593, along with Representatives Cannon, Conyers, Coble, Scott of Virginia, Smith of Texas, Jones of Ohio, Forbes, Schiff, Sensenbrenner, Chabot, Jackson-Lee of Texas, Cummings, Johnson of Georgia, Clarke, and 75 other Members of Congress. A companion bill, S. 1060, has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Biden, Durbin, Specter, Brownback, Leahy, Obama, and 10 others. The Second Chance Act will provide transitional assistance to assist ex-offenders in coping with the challenges of reentry. It will reduce recidivism. It will help reunite families and protect communities. It will enhance public safety and save taxpayer dollars. It is the humane thing to do. It is the responsible thing to do. And, of course, it is the right thing to do. The Judiciary Committee held hearings on the bill last month and quickly voted to send the bill to the full House. I fully expect it to pass soon. The bill has the support of more than 200 criminal justice, service provider, faith-based, housing, governmental, disability, and civil rights organizations. President Bush has signaled his support of the legislation as well. No single piece of legislation is going to solve the reentry crisis we are facing, but the Second Chance Act is a good start. I hope that with passage of this bill, we will begin a new era in criminal justice. Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that any serious effort to facilitate the reentry of men and women with criminal records to civil society must be prepared to do two things. First, we must be prepared to help with drug treatment on demand for everyone who requests it. Second, we need to find work for ex-offenders. Programs don't supply jobs. After ex- offenders have undergone rehabilitation and received appropriate training, employers will have to open their hearts and put these men and women back into the workforce. They do not belong in prison. Many of them don't need prison, but they do need a second chance. Congress can give them that. And we should

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2239, to expand eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I would like to take some of my time to express my deepest appreciation for our Nation's veterans. It is with this that I strongly ask you to expand eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits for all of our veterans. Every day, we find more and more of our veterans returning home with severe physical and mental disabilities. This legislation is a step in the right direction and will act as a cornerstone necessity for providing the medical care, services and treatment that all of our country's finest deserve. This Congress to must ensure that our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and any other veterans who have returned home with a disability not only receive the basics in terms of medical attention, but also receive proper rehabilitation so that suitable employment in the future can become a viable option. The act of a person once again living independently is the highest goal that this legislation can achieve. Services that provide counseling, education, financial aid, and job assistance are the best tools for our veterans to use in order to get back on their feet and live a life of independence and dignity. Let us not revisit the fatal mistakes made after Vietnam. To quote my good friend and colleague, Dick Durbin, ``We owe our disabled veterans more than speeches, parades and monuments.'' Let's do our best to convey our appreciation for their sacrifices.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that May is Mental Health Month. I would also like to thank those who have dedicated their lives to mental healthcare. Now more than ever, we must commit ourselves to full mental health parity. An estimated 26 percent of Americans between the ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. This means that 57.7 million people currently suffer from a mental disorder. Millions who suffer from serious, debilitating, and life altering mental disorders. Mental disorders such as Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Disorder. Nearly two thirds of all people with diagnosable mental disorders do not seek treatment. The burden of mental illness on health and productivity amongst society in the United States has been underestimated. A massive study conducted by the World Health Organization, The World Bank, and Harvard University, discovered that mental illness, accounts for over 15 percent of the burden of disease in market economies, such as the United States. This is more than the burden caused by cancers. I am grateful to the Committee on Education and the Workforce for reauthorizing the Older Americans Act. The Older Americans Act supports the mental health needs of the elderly. Nearly 236 elderly people per 100,000 suffer from a mental illness. The highest suicide rate in America is among those aged 65 and older. Elderly men are the demographic area that is most likely to commit suicide. Specifically, I want to ensure that senior citizens have access to mental health services in their respective communities or wherever they receive primary health care services. I would like to commend the Honorable Patrick Kennedy for his efforts in providing mental health parity in Medicare. I am pleased that we are beginning to make some headway on this important issue.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1425) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Staff Sergeant Marvin `Rex' Young Post Office Building''.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 2078, which names the postal facility in Cherry Fork, Ohio, after Omer T. ``O.T.'' Hawkins. H.R. 2078 was introduced by Representative Jean Schmidt on April 30, 2007, and was reported from the Oversight Committee on May 1, 2007, by voice vote. This measure, which has been cosponsored by 16 Members, has the support of the entire Ohio congressional delegation. Staff Sergeant Omer T., better known as ``O.T.,'' Hawkins, died on Thursday, October 14, 2004, in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. He was assigned to the 44th Engineer Battalion based in Camp Howze, Korea. His Army colleagues have described him as ``a tremendous warrior coupled with compassion'' and said that ``his skill as a superb non-commissioned officer who could influence any soldier defined his life and the principles he defended.'' Staff Sergeant Hawkins graduated from North Adams High School on a Friday in 1991, and that following Monday he enlisted in the Army. Miss Cherry Frederick, his sister, said, and I quote, ``The only thing that he ever wanted to do was go into the military.'' Family and friends will forever remember Staff Sergeant Hawkins' dedication and service to his country. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Schmidt from Ohio, for introducing this legislation. I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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.