Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 15) mourning the passing of President Gerald Rudolph Ford and celebrating his leadership and service to the people of the United States, as amended.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, could I inquire as to how much time I have left.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as was noted during the December 8, 2006, debate on H.R. 6407, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, this landmark postal reform legislation reflects the final version of H.R. 22, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act as passed by the House and Senate. H.R. 22 passed the House on July 26, 2005 by a vote of 410-20, and the Senate then passed H.R. 22 with an amendment by unanimous consent on February 9, 2006. H.R. 6407 represents the combination of the Senate and House versions of H.R. 22. As such, the Committee on Government Reform's Report on H.R. 22, 109-66, Part I, as reported on April 28, 2005 is relevant and necessary to understanding the provisions of H.R. 6407, particularly because many of the provisions of H.R. 6407 are unchanged from H.R. 22 as reported by the Government Reform Committee. For those looking for additional legislative history on H.R. 6407, the Government Reform Committee Report accompanying H.R. 22, 109-66, Part I, will provide useful explanations and information.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this landmark postal reform bill. Members of the House have worked for over a decade to reform this important part of our national communications system and our economy. I am indeed pleased to serve in the Congress that is making this reform a reality. I want to commend and congratulate Chairman Tom Davis and Ranking Member Henry Waxman for their tremendous commitment and dedication to making this truly a bipartisan effort and for the tenacious way in which they have worked to bring us to this point this evening. I also want to commend Representative McHugh who has been the point person for the Republican side of the aisle on this matter for more than 10 years, who has stayed with it, stuck with it, and one of the reasons that we are here today is because of his tenacious work. I also want to thank all of the stakeholders, the unions, the mailers and others, who are greatly affected. I want to thank the Board of Governors and the Postmaster General, Mr. Potter, for their willingness to work with us. And I want to think the other body, the Members of the Senate who were willing to negotiate, to engage in the give-and-take that is so necessary to make bipartisan, bicameral legislation a reality. This bill is a prime example of bipartisan negotiation and collaboration. It is a compromise that will modernize the postal system and help it remain healthy and affordable well into the 21st century. I represent much of the city of Chicago, one of the primary postal hubs in the Midwest with over 12,000 postal employees who deliver mail daily to 1.2 million homes and businesses in the Chicago area. I also represent numerous printing and mailing companies that rely upon the movement of mail. Therefore, ensuring a healthy postal service is a key issue of great concern to me. This bill has many highlights. It provides for ratemaking flexibility, rate stability, universal service, high quality standards, and collective bargaining. In addition, I am pleased that the bill advances fair business practices related to employees who are women and/or racial minorities. For example, I am pleased that it includes a study on the representation of women and minority members in supervisory and management positions within the postal service. It is important to understand how well the postal service is doing in opening up its senior positions to groups who historically have not had that kind of access. The bill goes even further by requiring measures to incorporate the affirmative action and equal opportunity criteria into the performance appraisals of senior supervisory or managerial employees. This change helps ensure that management will be held accountable for adhering to the organization's goals of equal opportunity. And I want to sincerely thank Mr. Waxman for his vigorous support for this diversity provision. I am also pleased that the bill includes a study of the number of contracts with women, minorities and small businesses to ensure that all groups have access to the postal service contracts. Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the provisions that will go a long way towards helping the postal service to better serve its customers, compete fairly with the mailing industry, and contribute to our Nation. I especially want to thank the committee staff, Phil Barnett, Denise Wilson, Naomi Seiler, and all of the staff persons who worked to make this a reality. I want to thank Ellen Brown, Jack Callender, Robert Taub and my staff, Richard Boykin and Jill Hunter-Williams. Mr. Speaker, it is obviously time for postal reform. We have gone through this now for several years, and all of us who have worked on it are indeed pleased with the fact that we were able to compromise, to come together, to massage egos, to make real the idea that we can have a solid piece of legislation. I am proud to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she might consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me just again commend and congratulate Chairman Tom Davis, Ranking Member Henry Waxman, and Mr. McHugh. And just say that Tom Davis and Henry Waxman demonstrated the very best of leadership as they worked through this process. Tom was a great chairman; Mr. Waxman is going to become a great chairman in the next session, and he is what I call a Member's chairman. It has been a pleasure working with all of them. I urge passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of S. 4050, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 Thompson Street in Thomaston, Georgia as the Sergeant First Class Robert Lee ``Bobby'' Hollar, Jr, Post Office Building. S. 4050, sponsored by Senator Johnny Isakson, passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 6, 2006. Robert Lee ``Bobby'' Hollar was born in Woodstock, Virginia. Hollar served in the Georgia National Guard's 108th Infantry Brigade Calvary Division based out of Griffin, Georgia, as a tank commander in Iraq. Prior to his service in the 108th Calvary Regiment, Hollar was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, and he was a military scout before that. Mr. Hollar also was a dedicated public servant. He served as a devoted postal letter carrier for years before being deployed to Iraq. Mr. Hollar was killed in Iraq on September 1, 2005, when a roadside improvised explosive device exploded along the Humvee in which he was riding. Mr. Hollar was 35 years old when he was killed in action. No greater service can one give to their country than to be killed in its defense. I urge passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to work until one is 90 years old is unusual; and to work effectively is almost unbelievable. However, to do both for Rev. Shelvin Jerome Hall is nothing more than expectation. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to this extraordinary man. When a young Shelvin Jerome Hall came to Chicago from Texas, he brought with him intellect, wisdom, wit, good up-bringing, determination, a strong belief in God and a recognition that he was destined to follow in the footsteps of Moses and lead his people towards a promised land. When Rev. Hall took over the pastorate of the Friendship Baptist Church in 1955, it is reported that the church had only 87 cents in its treasury. However, without a great deal of fanfare, he developed an institution whose membership were solid citizens who themselves were growing as the church did, and he and Friendship became anchors of the North Lawndale Community. Always conscious of the social, political and economic plight of African Americans and other minorities, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to Chicago in the 1960's, Rev. Hall opened the doors of Friendship to him and was not intimidated by City Hall and other factions opposed to the King movement. During and after the riots in the '60's, Rev. Hall had a presence and played a significant role in fostering better police/community as well as Black-White relations in Chicago. Along the way Rev. Hall was married to an intelligent, professional, gracious and graceful woman, Mrs. Lucy Hall, who retired as one of Chicago's best public school teachers. They produced three children, Priscilla Hall who sits on the New York Supreme Court, Shelvin Louise Hall, an Appellate Court Justice in Cook County, Illinois and a son, Lewis J. Hall, Supervisor of Higher Education for the State of New York. Rev. Hall has held every office on the Baptist Church's organizational chart. Pastor, Moderator, Dean at the Baptist Institute, President of the State Association and has provided leadership to many interfaith and interdenominational groups as well. Outside the religious arena, Rev. Hall has been chairman of many not-for-profit organizations and businesses . . . e.g. the Lawndale People's Planning and Action Conference, the Community Bank of Lawndale and a Blue Ribbon Commission to plan the re-opening of the Jackson Square Nursing Home across the street and in front of Friendship. Perhaps Rev. Hall's most pleasing achievement was the building of the new Friendship, commonly and fondly called the African Hut at 5200 W. Jackson Boulevard with wood imported from Mozambique. The church still sits in the heart of the Austin Community of Chicago which is more than 90% Black. It is a testament to the connection of African Roots to a large urban inner city community. It was also Rev. Hall, who along with some of his fellow clergy persons declared to Mayor Richard J. Daley and other Democratic Party leaders that it was time to elect a person of color to represent what is now the 7th Congressional District thereby, paving the way for Congressman George W. Collins to be elected, followed by his wife Congresswoman Cardiss Collins and finally, myself in 1996. Rev. Hall, it is indeed a pleasure to salute you as you retire after having been pastor of Friendship Baptist Church for fifty one years. You've been effective and you've made a difference. We thank God for the Rev. Dr. Shelvin Jerome Hall.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, March is a significant month for Irish Americans. March 17 honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is commemorated for introducing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. March also commemorates Irish American Heritage Month, which was first proclaimed by the United States Congress in 1995. Irish immigrants contributed a great deal to the creation of this great Nation, both during the struggle for independence and in the founding of the Republic. Nine of the people who signed our Declaration of Independence and 19 Presidents of the United States claim Irish heritage, including our first President, George Washington. The largest wave of Irish immigrants came in the late 1840s when the great potato famine ravaged Ireland, caused 2 million people to emigrate, mostly to America. These immigrants transformed our cities and rural communities into centers of commerce and cultural diversity. Though they faced terrible discrimination and prejudice, they persevered and took jobs as laborers and built railroads to build a better life for themselves and their families. Irish Americans have contributed significantly to the enrichment of all aspects of life in this Nation, including military and public service, science, education, dance, literature and much more. And especially, Mr. Speaker, Irish Americans are very actively and consistently involved in public activity, public service activity, public decision-making, running for office, being members of local and State governments and of our national government. I am pleased to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to, first of all, thank my colleagues, Representatives Kirk and Shimkus from Illinois, for giving us the opportunity to take this moment to pay tribute and commend the life, the work, and I would even extend to the point of saying the legacy, of Chairman Henry Hyde. As a matter of fact, Henry's district is next door to mine. His district is number six. Mine is number seven. And oftentimes I find myself in his community, in his neighborhood. And I sometimes go to an eating establishment, that is a restaurant, where he is a legend. And generally every time I go in there, someone is exploiting and extolling the virtues of Henry Hyde, and they are talking about they remember the time when Henry did this, Henry did that. I agree with Representative Shimkus that although ideologically bent, Henry has always been a gentleman and a scholar, a true gentleman and a pleasant person to work with. I am delighted to have served with him, wish him well, and know that we are still going to bump into each other occasionally in that great restaurant where he likes to eat. Have a good time, Henry. We look forward to seeing you.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. I also want to commend Chairman Souder and Ranking Member Cummings for the tenacious and outstanding work that they have done on this issue ever since I have been associated with them and affiliated with the subcommittee. As a matter of fact, they have traveled all over America, the length and breadth of the country, listening to people, visiting with people. As a matter of fact, I do not know anybody who has worked harder on an issue than they have, and so I commend both of you for your tenacity and outstanding work. I rise in support of H.R. 2829, Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2005, a policy which addresses prevention, interdiction and treatment, as well as all aspects of law enforcement. The use and abuse of illegal, illicit and contraband drugs is one of the most challenging and difficult problems facing America. For example, in Cook County where I live, in a survey that was taken a couple of years ago, 800,000 individuals indicated that they used drugs, 800,000. I grant you that we have a population of over 5 million people but 800,000 of those said that they used illicit drugs; 300,000 indicated that they were what we call hard core drug users, every day or whenever they could find the money to purchase what they need. As a matter of fact, the Chicago police records suggest that 75 percent of all the people that they arrest test positive for drug use. If we could somehow or another reduce the use of drugs, crime statistics would go so far down until sometimes we would have a hard time finding them. There is a direct correlation between crime and drug use in America. As a result of looking at this problem, I have become more and more a fan of what I call treatment on demand; that is, enough resources so that when individuals who are addicted decide that they are ready for treatment, that treatment is available to them and so that they do not have to wait 90 days or 60 days to get into a program, because in 90 days or 60 days or 30 days they may have decided that they do not want treatment anymore. So we lose the opportunity. While again I commend Chairman Souder, Ranking Member Cummings and certainly Chairman Tom Davis and Ranking Member Henry Waxman for all of the attention that they have given, I hope that as we go into the new Congress in January that we can build upon the outstanding work that this subcommittee and the Committee on Government Reform has done and make certain that we have not only the resources available for law enforcement for prevention but that we also have enough resources available for treatment.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Madam Speaker, last August, the Federal Workforce and Agency Organization Subcommittee held a hearing in Las Vegas on Federal firefighter compensation. In addition to pay, one of the concerns raised at the hearing by the Federal Wildland Fire Service Association was the classification of Federal wildland firefighters. Federal wildland firefighters are classified as either general schedule or wage-grade employees of the Federal Government. However, many of them are placed in the occupational series called forestry technicians, range technicians, and biological science technicians that do not reference their firefighting duties. These current classifications do not accurately represent the work performed by these wildland firefighters. H.R. 5697 would correct that by redesignating forest and range technicians as Federal wildland firefighters. This bill changes the name but not the pay of those currently called wildland firefighters or technicians. H.R. 5697 is supported by the FWFSA, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding. I rise in strong support of S. 843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. I also take this opportunity to commend and congratulate Mr. Tim Muri, president and CEO of Easter Seals of Chicago, as well as the University of Illinois Medical Center, and all of those who support this venture which I am about to mention. On October 30, 2006, Easter Seals, with the support of many in the Chicagoland area, broke ground for a brand new therapeutic school and center for autism research in the Illinois Medical Center District. This bill, S. 843, will greatly enhance the work of this school and other entities across the country. So I simply support not only the development of this brand new school but certainly the legislation which is going to enhance the work of those combating autism across the country. I thank the gentleman again for yielding.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield as much time as he might consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume to conclude for our side. I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1084, as amended, a resolution that honors the life of Ed Bradley. Most of us know Ed Bradley from his 25 years of work on the CBS news magazine 60 Minutes, and his many interviews with world figures, celebrities and cultural icons. The men and the women who sat in the chair across from Bradley doing his 60 Minutes interviews were figures of importance, people to whom we should pay attention, and we could rely on Bradley to make sure that no skeleton in the darkest corner of his subject's closet was safe from the tenacious journalists. Bradley got his break by covering the 1965 riots while working part- time for free at a Philadelphia radio station. His talent did not go unnoticed for long. Bradley caught the ear of New York, and CBS radio hired him in 1967. He became the lone African American to report the news on the airways in New York. Bradley went on to work in international television news in 1971. He worked for CBS news in Paris, Vietnam and Cambodia, where he proved himself as the quintessential journalist in sometimes dangerous situations. During his coverage of the Vietnam War, Bradley was injured by shrapnel from a mortar shell, a true testament to his devotion to getting a story. Bradley began working on the 60 Minutes news show in 1981, and he remained there until his death last month from leukemia. I had the opportunity to be sitting close to the mayor of the City of Chicago at the Democratic Convention when he and Ed Bradley got into a serious exchange, one that everybody in our city always remembers. A tenacious style and hard-hitting coverage earned Bradley many accolades and awards over the years. He won 19 Emmys and countless other awards by bringing us some of the most memorable television news moments over the past 25 years. Whether he was standing on the floor of a Presidential convention, sitting across the table from a world leader, teaching us about the AIDS epidemic from a remote region of Africa, reporting about war and humanitarian crises in Vietnam or Cambodia, or calling from a public phone booth in Philadelphia to report on the 1965 riots, Bradley was a welcome guest in our homes and hearts for almost 40 years. I again express my strong support for this resolution that honors Ed Bradley.

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 yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of S. 1820, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6110 East 51st Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma as the Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office. S. 1820, sponsored by Senator James Inhofe, passed the Senate by unanimous consent on March 3, 2006. Dewey Bartlett was born in Marietta, Ohio. During World War II he served in the United States Marine Corps as a dive bomber pilot in the South Pacific. After the war, Mr. Bartlett moved to Oklahoma, working as a farmer, rancher and independent oil producer. Mr. Bartlett was elected to the State senate in 1962. Four years later he ran for Governor. As Governor, he was recognized for his efforts in economic development. In 1972 Governor Bartlett was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served from 1973 to 1979. Sadly, he passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 1, 1979. I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is believed that Leroy ``Satchel'' Paige was born on July 7, 1905. In 1965, 60 years after Page's estimated birth, he took the mound for the last time and threw three shutout innings for the Kansas City Athletics. Paige's pitching was amazing and his showboating was legendary. Joe DiMaggio called Paige ``the best and fastest pitcher I have ever faced.'' His career highlights spanned five decades. Pronounced the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues, Paige compiled such feats as 64 consecutive scoreless innings, a stretch of 21 straight wins, and a 31-4 record in 1933. For 22 years, Paige mauled the competition in front of sellout crowds. His goal was to pitch in the Major Leagues. In 1948, Paige's dream came true. The Cleveland Indians were in need of extra pitching for the pennant race. Paige stepped to the mound and helped the Indians win. He also played for St. Louis and Kansas City. When Paige's Major League career was completed, he compiled a modest 28-31 record with a 3.29 earned run average. He also served as a coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1968. In 1971, Paige was given the ultimate honor. He was elected to join the very best in baseball history by being elected to the Hall of Fame. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to support S. Con. Res. 91. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on November 16 the world lost one of its preeminent and influential economists and thinkers of our time. Dr. Milton Friedman is most commonly associated with his theories of monetarism, his devotion to the free market that sought to turn the Keynesian economic revolution on its head, and his visions of an international economic system that is free of pegged and fixed exchange rates. Friedman's top achievement, among many, was his Nobel Prize in Economics, which he was awarded in 1976. And while many of his achievements are well known, some of his lesser known accomplishments make him an intriguing figure. One of the abstractions Friedman developed in his famous work, ``Capitalism and Freedom,'' was the concept of the negative income tax credit, or the modern-day earned income tax credit. This abstraction advances the idea that people who earn less than a certain amount of money should receive money from the government. Friedman also was a key member of the White House Commission on White House Fellows from 1971 to 1973. But most of all, Milton Friedman was devoted to the centrality of freedom in domestic and international affairs. And although Friedman was born to humble beginnings as a first- generation American, he rose to become the leader of the Chicago School of Economics. The Chicago School is regarded around the world as an institution that produces outstanding economic scholarship and rigorous theory. Milton Friedman's name will hold a permanent place in economic debate, and so I am pleased and delighted to be in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I don't believe that I have any additional requests for time. But simply, as a resident of Chicago where Milton Friedman did a great deal of his work, we were always immensely proud of him, and I am very pleased to support this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. The American Association of Museums recently conferred accreditation on the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. Accreditation is a prestigious honor; it is the highest national recognition of a museum's commitment to professional museum standards, accountability, public service, and excellence in education. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust works tirelessly to preserve both Wright's home and studio as well as the Frederick C. Robie House, arguably one of Wright's most significant architectural works. Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and one of the most prominent American architects of all time. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust provides a great service to the people of my congressional district, the Seventh District of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I once again would like to extend my sincerest congratulations and thanks to the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust for all of their hard work and recent accreditation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the 2006 recipient of the National Award for Museum and Library Services. It comes as no surprise to me that this superior institution was selected as the recipient of this award. The Shedd Aquarium has served not only Chicago, but the entire Nation, for well over 75 years. It very much deserves our admiration and respect. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is a world class institution that enjoys a national reputation for excellence. The Shedd Aquarium is truly the world's aquarium. In addition to being the largest indoor aquarium in the world, the Shedd was one of the first aquariums to offer an education program. Through its unique ability to make education fun, the Shedd has touched the lives of the more than 2 million of people who walk through its doors every year. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is so much more than a museum; the scientists and staff are leaders throughout the world in research and conservation. The research initiatives that the Shedd undertakes are vital to understanding and preserving our environment, especially in the Chicago area. As a Chicagoan, I am proud to have the Shedd Aquarium located in my congressional district. The Shedd's genuine commitment to serving the greater Chicagoland community has for decades made it one of the most distinguished non-profits in our area. In particular, the Shedd demonstrates an exceptional commitment to the community in Chicago through education programs and other service-related initiatives. One of its most important projects is its participation in the Great Lakes Forever initiative. Roughly 37 million people depend on the Great Lakes for drinking water, recreation, and livelihood. The Shedd is committed to ensuring that the Great Lakes are healthy and continue to serve those around them for centuries to come. Clearly, the Shedd understands its role as a community leader and gives a great deal back to the people of Chicago. Mr. Speaker, as Gifford Pinchot once said of conservation, ``Conservation means the wise use of the earth and its resources for the lasting good of men.'' Conservation is paramount at the Shedd Aquarium, and every operation is carried out to reflect this ideal; it is truly working for the lasting good of man. Chicago and its citizens are privileged to call its city the home of the John G. Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd Aquarium works tirelessly to give back to the community, including both Chicago and the Nation. Again, it is my great honor to announce that the John G. Shedd Aquarium is the 2006 recipient of the National Award for Museum and Library Services.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Honor National Family Week. National Family Week takes place November 19th through November 25th. This event is sponsored by the Alliance for Children and Families. The Alliance for Children and Families represents an impressive group of advocates who have a tremendous effect on our children and families. National Family Week reflects a commitment to ensuring healthy, stable communities--communities where families that have the resources, affordable housing and the social networks they need to thrive and where children have the quality education, child care, and the health care they need to grow into our leaders of tomorrow. The Alliance for Children and Families represents several vital organizations in Chicago. There are fifteen Alliance members who work in the heart of Chicago. Included in this group of advocates are: Casa Central; Centers for New Horizons, Inc.; Chicago Children's Advocacy Center; Child Care Association of Illinois; Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois; ChildServ; Generations of Success; Jane Addams Hull House; Jewish Child and Family Services; Kids Hope United; Lawrence Hall Youth Services; Methodist Youth Services, Inc.; Metropolitan Family Services; and Salvation Army Family Services. I am grateful for each of them and all the wonderful work that they do. Specifically I would like to recognize the Jane Addams Hull House, which recently received a $3 million dollar grant from the Department of Education for its Early Reading First program. This grant illustrates the outstanding work that the three-hundred member organizations of the Alliance for Children and Families do for our citizens. I recognize and understand the importance of groups like the Jane Addams Hull House that provide important services to communities. I also want to recognize the efforts of the numerous other organizations in the Seventh District of Illinois that are not members of the Alliance but who are committed to the betterment of child welfare and well-being. These organizations work hard to teach our children, advocate on behalf of families everywhere, and provide necessary services to help strengthen communities. As George Bernard Shaw once said, ``Perhaps the greatest social service that can be rendered by anybody to this country and to mankind is to bring up a family.'' The Alliance for Children and Family and their three hundred members help families and communities successfully achieve the greatest social service by providing the tools necessary to ensure healthy and stable communities. It is my great honor to recognize National Family Week, the Alliance for Children and Families, and all that they do to ensure the success of our nation's children and families.