Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5736, legislation introduced by Representative Jeff Miller, designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 Palafox Place in Pensacola, Florida, as the ``Vincent J. Whibbs, Sr. Post Office Building.'' Vincent Whibbs was a member of the Pensacola City Council and former mayor of the city from 1977 to 1991. He passed away this year after having a distinguished career as a public servant. He did indeed serve for a long time as mayor of the city, and I can think of no better way for the city to honor his work and his memory than to name this postal facility in his honor. I urge its passage

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2146. This bill would provide the authority of the General Services Administration to extend pilot programs on the relocation expenses of Federal employees for an additional 4 years. The Federal Government spends more than $800 million each year to relocate its employees, and reducing those expenses has long been a goal of Congress. Under the pilot program, agencies are given the flexibility to experiment on how to reimburse relocation expenses. Two agencies are currently participating in the pilot program. These agencies generally provide lump-sum payments so employees are not required to keep receipts and then be reimbursed. This test program has shown promise in reducing relocation expenses so the House should join the Senate in extending this pilot. I urge my colleagues to support S. 2146. 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. The mission of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation is to ensure public awareness, early diagnosis, and proper treatment of gynecologic cancer preventions and to support research and training related to gynecologic cancers. For 15 years, GCF has advanced this mission by increasing public and private funds that aid in the development and implementation of programs to meet these worthy goals. This year, over 77,000 American women will be diagnosed with a reproductive cancer. In 2002, more than 27,000 women died from some form of gynecologic cancer. GCF works with gynecologic oncologists, survivors, and advocates throughout the year to increase the public's knowledge about reproductive cancers, so that these cancers can be either prevented or detected at their earliest and most curable stage. September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, so it is an appropriate time to recognize the efforts of the GCF, gynecologic oncologists, and all those who work to save lives by educating Americans about gynecologic cancers. This is indeed a worthy piece of legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. 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, the term ``infant mortality rate'' is given to the number of infant deaths during the first 12 months of life for every 100,000 births. In the United States, infant mortality increased in 2002 for the first time in more than four decades. The rate reached seven deaths per 1,000 live births, which was the first increase since 1958. American babies are three times more likely to die during their first month of life than children born in Japan, and newborn mortality is 2\1/2\ times higher in the United States than in Finland, Iceland, or Norway. Only Latvia, with six deaths per 1,000 live births, has a higher death rate for newborns than the United States, and Latvia is near the bottom of the list of industrialized nations, tied with Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia with five deaths per 1,000 births. Newborn death rates are higher among American minorities and disadvantaged groups. For African Americans, the mortality rate is nearly double that of the United States as a whole, with 9.3 deaths per 1,000 births. The primary causes of infant mortality are premature birth and low birth weight. A common reason for low birth weight infant mortality includes respiratory distress syndrome, which may involve a collapsed lung, low oxygen absorption, and high carbon dioxide level. All children, regardless of where they are born and regardless of their race or ethnic group, deserve a healthy start in life. Mr. Speaker, I have always been told that if infant mortality rates are high, it means that the quality of life is low. If infant mortality rates are low, then it means that the quality of life is high. It is pretty obvious, Mr. Speaker, that we need to do more to deal effectively across the board with the quality of life for people in our country, a great Nation, in an effort to make it even greater. I strongly support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do so. 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, Yorktown was established by Virginia's colonial government in 1691 to regulate trade and to collect taxes on both imports and exports for Great Britain. Over time, the waterfront with wharves, docks, storehouses, and businesses developed. On the bluff above the waterfront, stately homes lined Main Street. Taverns and shops were scattered throughout the town. By the early 1700s, Yorktown had emerged as a major Virginia port and economic center. Today, Yorktown is best known as the site where the British army under General Charles Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender on October 19, 1781, to General George Washington's combined American and French army. Upon hearing of their defeat, British Prime Minister Frederick Lord North is reputed to have said, ``Oh, God, it's all over.'' And it was. The victory secured independence for the United States and significantly changed the course of world history. H. Res. 748 recognizes the 225th anniversary of the American and French victory at Yorktown, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War; and I strongly support its 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 may consume. Mr. Speaker, when any baby or child dies, there is deep grief for the hopes, dreams, and wishes that will never be. Left behind are a sense of loss and a need for understanding. Every year, many lives are touched by miscarriage or the death of an infant or child. According to a 1996 study by the Center for Disease Control, 16 percent of the more than 6 million pregnancies that year ended in either a miscarriage or a stillbirth, and 26,784 births ended in infant death. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day, which will be held on October 15, will assist in bringing the process of healing to families and will help to heal families who are coping with and recovering from a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the loss of an infant. Families will always struggle to cope with the devastating crisis of a miscarriage or loss of an infant child. Parents often cry, feel ill or depressed, or have other emotional responses for months or years after a death. The pain is a normal part of grieving. Parents often want to talk about their pain and are pleased when others take the time to listen. People who come into contact with a grieving family have a role in helping to resolve the family's grief. The role of each person will be determined by his or her relationship with the family and the family's stage of grief. As a community, we should remember that no one can take the pain away from a grieving family. We can, however, provide comfort, sympathy, and understanding. There will always be the need for compassionate support for grieving families, and I hope that all Americans will take the time on October 15 to show their compassion for families that have experienced the loss of an infant or a child. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. 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, first of all, let me congratulate Mr. Westmoreland and all of his neighbors and friends and residents of Columbus. I can imagine the tremendous sense of pride that that entire community feels and how proud they are of the accomplishments of their young people. Mr. Speaker, Little League Baseball is the world's largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2 million Little Leaguers playing, and more than a million adult volunteers throughout the United States and in dozen of other countries. No other youth support comes close to having the same level of participation. On August 28, 2006, the Columbus Northern Little League team defeated the Kawaguchi Little League team of Japan by a score of 2-1. Both teams played an excellent game and represented their country and their league well. In the end, the Columbus Northern Little League team concluded its season with an impressive record of 20 wins and only one loss. Columbus Northern is Georgia's second team to win the Little League World Series. The 11 young men of the Columbus Northern team should be proud of their great accomplishment. Pitcher Lyle Carter made history by striking out 11 batters and became the first pitcher in history to win four times in the Little League World Series. Cody Walker knocked a two-out pitch over the right field fence for the two runs that won the game over Japan. Manager Randy Morris and Coach Richard Carter deserve recognition for guiding these young and committed players to victory. Mr. Speaker, while we congratulate the Columbus Northern team, and while I urge passage of H. Res. 991, I can tell you there is no better sight to see during spring or summer, when you can see groups of young people out participating in an organized sport with their parents and neighbors and friends watching. I guarantee you, Mr. Speaker, if we had more Little League teams, we would have fewer young people in juvenile delinquency settings, and our prisons could get emptied down, if not out. Again I commend the Columbus Northern team and especially all of the coaches and volunteers and people of the community who really made it possible. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time and then to yield such time as he might need and use to another son of Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam 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, H.R. 5108, introduced by Representative Ted Poe, designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas, as the Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building. This measure was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on September 21, 2006. A native of Texas, Robert Martinez was a young Marine serving his second deployment to Iraq where he was killed by an improvised explosive device on December 1, 2005, while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq. Mr. Speaker, here is another instance where a young person who had completed one tour of duty, engaged in his second tour, gave the very best and the most that one could possibly give, and that is his life, for the benefit of creating, hopefully, a different and a better world. I can think of no better way to remember him than to have people in his community and in his hometown know of his diligence, of his exploits and of his courage than to name a post office in his honor. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. I also want to commend Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Miller for the tremendous display of bipartisanship which brought this legislation to the floor. I also want to congratulate Chairman Tiberi and Ranking Member Hinojosa for the tremendous work they were able to do in subcommittee and all of the processing that actually took place. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6197, the Older Americans Act. I was very pleased to see the interests that I expressed included in the final outcome of the legislation. We were able to see kinship caregivers have an opportunity to participate at an earlier age, reduced from 60 to 55. We were also able to work with Mr. Ehlers and make sure that there was serious consideration given to the mental health needs of seniors. It is obviously a very good piece of legislation, and it is a good note for us to be preparing to leave on, because it means that we have looked after the interests of those in our society reaching their golden years. I have been told that you can measure the greatness of a society by how well it takes care of its young, how well it takes care of its old, and how well it takes care of those who have difficulty looking after themselves. This legislation does indeed look after the older members of our society. I thank again the Education Committee for an outstanding job, and I want to thank my staff person who worked with the committee, Dr. Jill Hunter-Williams, to make sure our interests were totally displayed. It has been a pleasure to see the process.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), who is the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume to close for our side. Again, I want to commend the gentlewoman from New York for her introduction of this resolution. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 478, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Lights on Afterschool!, a national celebration of after-school programs. Lights on Afterschool! is a project of the Afterschool Alliance. As many of you may know, the Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of after- school programs for all children. The Alliance was created to conduct this public awareness and advocacy work and to serve as a national voice for after-school programs. Consistent with the work of the Alliance, they have created the Lights on Afterschool! projects that will host nationwide celebrations this October. These celebrations are a way of highlighting and bringing attention to the importance of after-school programs. I think every single Member of Congress here can speak to the importance of these programs. I myself have seen the important and necessary role that after-school plays, especially in the everyday lives of working families. Nationwide, 14.3 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends. Of these, 6.5 million children are in after-school programs. We all know that these programs provide not only a place for young people to be after school but also provide a tremendous benefit. Some of us have probably even visited after-school programs in our district. We appreciate the role that they have played and will continue to play in providing a safe place for our youth to be after school and provide them with the opportunity to grow and to learn. Every statistic that you can look at and find generally depicts the fact that when young people get in trouble the most it is when they are without supervision, have nothing meaningful to do and are left to their own environs. As a matter of fact, my parents used to say it differently. They used to say that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. I guess what they really meant was that if young people did not have something created for them to do, that we would create our own things, and oftentimes those things would not be in the best interests not only of our individual development but not in the best interests of the communities where we were. So when the gentlewoman from New York introduces such a resolution, she is really doing all of America a great favor by helping us to remember that if we do not provide positive things for young people to do, oftentimes they will create the negative. So I thank Mrs. Lowey for her introduction of this resolution and strongly support it. 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, I rise in support of H. Res. 295, a bill to establish September as Campus Fire Safety Month. As students get back into the full swing of the school year, we all know that the need to be prepared for campus fire is the last thing perhaps on their mind. Since January of 2000, the Center for Campus Fire Safety has identified 89 fire fatalities in student housing. Almost 80 percent of these deaths have occurred in off-campus housing such as rented houses and apartments. Last year, a number of States across the Nation issued proclamations for September, and many schools held events on campus to educate their students about fire safety. This summer, the Center for Campus Safety convened a summer conference of college administrators, fire organizations and legislators to further the work and progress of many of the stakeholders. We hope through education and attention to the dangers on and off campus we can reduce the numbers of fires. H. Res. 295 is the first step in recognizing September as Campus Fire Safety Month on a national level, which is being done in conjunction with many States and colleges and universities across the country. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), the sponsor of this legislation, and I ask unanimous consent that she be permitted to manage the remainder of our time on this side for H. Res. 295.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Nebraska, one of the most effective, if I might say, advocates for young people that I know anywhere in this country. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague Mr. Osborne for bringing H. Res. 1009 to the floor today, and I join him in support of this resolution that promotes the need for greater public awareness of effective runaway youth prevention programs and the increasing need for safe and productive alternatives, resources, and supports for youth in high-risk situations. Mr. Speaker, this resolution points to an issue that is of great concern to me: young people who have been pushed aside and thrown away, oftentimes by their parents and sometimes by all of society. The youth who come to these programs represent what some call a lost generation, a generation that holds so much promise and yet sees so few opportunities. When a young person comes to these programs, they often do so out of a need for security, shelter, and comfort that they cannot find at home. And these programs provide that comfort. They provide basic life skills training, job preparation and placement, health referrals and services. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, each year the need for these programs grows. The basic housing needs of our Nation's most vulnerable youth, those experiencing homelessness, are not being met. And continued shortfalls in funding for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act have increased this need. Nearly 150,000 young people are served at basic centers and through transitional living programs. Yet as this resolution points out, many more runaways and homeless youth find themselves without these critical community services. It is appropriate that today we take time out to promote greater public awareness of the needs of these young people and the services that are available to them in the community. In particular, I want to applaud the hard work of the front line workers who are on the ground working with runaway and homeless youth every day. For many young people, these workers represent the only responsible and caring adults they will have contact with during their time on the streets. Many of these workers are volunteers who make themselves available 24 hours a day. They venture into dangerous situations, providing a lifeline to these young people, and they should be acknowledged for their efforts. I am mindful of one organization in my neighborhood, the Night Ministry, that has developed probably one of the most effective programs of this type in the country, where not only have they provided a program with adequate shelter, but they have what I call state-of- the-art housing. You can see them at night during the cold winter, driving along the streets, getting out, oftentimes interceding and picking up young people, questioning them about why they are there. And those who know Chicago know that it gets awfully cold during the winter months. So I applaud the Night Ministry. I thank Mr. Porter for introducing this resolution, and certainly I commend Mr. Osborne for his tremendous work on behalf of young people. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her statement and for the energy that she puts into everything that she does. I also want to again commend Mr. Porter for introducing this resolution and thank Mr. Osborne and say that, when he is not here, I am going to miss him tremendously, because he is a real advocate for young people, and I have never seen anyone do it more effectively or do it better. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Erikson Institute of Chicago on its 40th anniversary. The Erikson Institute is an innovative institution dedicated to cultivating superior early childhood educators of minority and low-income children. The Erikson Institute was founded as a response to increased government programs for early childhood education. With the inception of the Head Start program in 1965, three esteemed child advocates--Maria Peirs, Lorraine Wallach, and Barbara Taylor Bowman--recognized the need for quality early child educators, especially those trained to teach minority and low-income children. Erikson Institute, with financial help from Irving B. Harris, opened its doors in 1966 and has upheld its commitment to excellence throughout the past four decades. Erikson's mission of ensuring that every adult who works with young children is knowledgeable, aware, and skilled is more important now than ever. Early childhood education is especially important to low- income children. Therefore we know that prekindergarten programs have a positive impact on the cognitive performance of children living in poverty. A critical component in the process of educating young children is having well-trained teachers. In 2001, 72 percent of all urban public school elementary students in prekindergarten programs came from families classified as low-income by the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. This study also found that roughly half, 51 percent, were minority students. In Chicago there are 19,053 pre-school students, 2,659 of which are special needs children. The 7th District of Illinois, my congressional district, is home to 11,966 pre-school students. Clearly, there is a need for quality early childhood educators. The Erikson Institute fulfills an important role in training these instructors. Graduates of the Erikson Institute have learned every aspect of childhood development. Not only does the Erikson Institute provide a superior education, they also conduct important research on the needs of young children. Professors and researchers at Erikson are committed to sharing their knowledge with both the academic community and the general public. The Erikson Institute is dedicated to outcomes-- understanding what works and how--as well as the repetition of successful models. The Erikson Institute's formula for success has greatly benefited numerous programs in the Chicago area, including: Early Head Start; Chicago Public Schools; Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Early Childhood Unit; and Children's Place Project to name a few. Their impact is felt nationwide with over 2,500 graduates a year working in various regions of the country. Mr. Speaker, as W.E.B. DuBois once said, ``We must insist upon this, to give our children the fairness of a start which will equip them with such an array of facts and such an attitude toward truth that they can have a real chance to judge what the world and what its greater minds have thought it might be.'' It is my great honor to commend the Erikson Institute on four decades of excellence in training those who educate our youngest children.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4768, which names a postal facility in Beaver, Pennsylvania, after Robert Linn. H.R. 4768 was introduced by Representative Melissa Hart on February 16, 2006. This measure, which has the support and cosponsorship of the entire Pennsylvania congressional delegation, was unanimously reported from our committee on May 4, 2006. Robert Linn, a native of Pennsylvania, was mayor of Beaver Borough for 58 years until his death on August 22, 2004. He is remembered for his success in making improvements on Main Street, renovations of historic buildings, and preservation of the history and charm of his city. Anyone who serves a city as its mayor for 58 years unequivocally and without a doubt had its interest at heart. And I can think of no more appropriate way of recognizing his impact than to name this facility in his honor. I strongly support this resolution. 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 4586, the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act. This bill, which was introduced by Representative Michael Castle of Delaware on December 16, 2005, and was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on March 30, 2006, extends the authorization of the Commission until fiscal year 2009. Mr. Speaker, in 2002 Congress created the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission, a panel of 15 outstanding Americans chosen to study and recommend programs to celebrate Franklin's 300th birthday and to mint a commemorative coin of Ben Franklin. Extending the Commission past 2007 to 2009 will allow the funds from the sale of the recently issued Ben Franklin commemorative coins to truly benefit the many Commission programs planned and underway to honor Ben Franklin. The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, which was founded in 2000 by a consortium of five Philadelphia cultural institutions, is currently presenting an international traveling exhibition entitled ``Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World.'' This exhibit has been organized to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth and will travel around the United States and France. The exhibit premiered in Philadelphia last year and just recently stopped in St. Louis, Missouri, and from there it would go on to Houston, Texas; Denver; Atlanta; London; and Paris. Benjamin Franklin was this Nation's greatest citizen perhaps, diplomat, statesman. He was a scientist, a philanthropist, humanitarian, inventor, and humorist. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I can remember when I was a child and found things to read that reading about Benjamin Franklin was really just simply one of the great joys of growing up, and I never will forget one thing that he said. I mean, he had all of these ideas about virtue, and he said on temperance, ``Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation.'' And I was asking a young fellow the other day what that meant, and he said that Franklin was saying don't eat until you get too filled and don't drink until you get too high. So, obviously, there are a lot of people in our country and our society who could remember that. But I am indeed pleased that we are recognizing the amazing achievements of Benjamin Franklin by celebrating his 300th birthday and presenting an international traveling exhibition. I firmly support H.R. 4586 and urge its passage. 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, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel), one of the great sons of New York.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would yield myself the balance of our time. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 5664, which names the postal facility in Babylon, New York, after Jacob Samuel Fletcher. H.R. 5664 was introduced by Representative Peter King and strongly supported by Representative Israel. This measure, which has the support and cosponsorship of the entire New York congressional delegation, was unanimously reported from our committee on July 20, 2006. Jacob Fletcher, a native of New York and graduate of Babylon High School, was a young man with a life-long goal of joining the military. Finally at the age of 27, he was able to join the Army. A member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Private First Class Fletcher made an historic jump into Iraq on March 23, 2003, the first week of the war. Sadly he was killed when a roadside bomb exploded the bus on which he was riding on November 14, 2003, in Samarra, Iraq. Mr. Speaker, designating the Cooper Street Post Office in Private First Class Jacob Fletcher's name honors the tremendous sacrifice of this soldier, and demonstrates how much we value his life. I urge swift passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of Mr. DeFazio.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to commend Mr. Payne of New Jersey and all of those who have demonstrated tremendous leadership on this issue. I have been told time and time again that the only way that evil can triumph is when good people do nothing, and I believe it was Dante who suggested that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who declare neutrality and do nothing in times of great crisis. We have all heard of the atrocities that are continuously being heaped upon the people in the Sudan. It is now time for us to act, and to act convincingly. We have to ask ourselves the question, if not us, then who? If not now, then when? I am here tonight to help sound the alarm once again on genocide in the Sudan. There is no room for neutrality in the face of the crimes being committed there each day. Amnesty International has renewed its charge that the international community is not doing enough to protect women in the Darfur region and the refugee camps in Chad where mass rape is being used as a weapon. Since 1983, more than 2 million black civilians have died during the civil war in the south Sudan. That struggle was especially brutal for the civilian population. Slave raids resulted in the enslavement of women and children, gang rape, ethnic cleansing and the imposition of famine conditions for hundreds of thousands of people. On October 21, 2002, the President signed the Sudan Peace Act, which stated in part that the acts of the Government of Sudan constitute genocide as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. That bill requires President Bush to certify every 6 months that the government in Khartoum is negotiating in good faith for an end to the civil war. According to some sources, we may be close to a framework for peace in that region. Mr. Speaker, only a short time ago we paused here to mark the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, where more than 800,000 people died while the world watched and did nothing. Once again, genocide has unfolded before us, and those who have taken note have expressed their horror at what we have seen. But where is the public outcry? Where are the front page pictures? Where is the response of our government on behalf of the American people? I can tell you there has been some, but there has not been nearly enough. So I join with my colleagues here this evening to call for the unequivocal, absolute declaration that genocide in the Sudan must end, and that it must end now. Not next year, not next month, but tonight.