Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of our Nation's senior citizens. Senior citizens are a vital part of society to whom we have a responsibility of ensuring both economic and physical well-being. Seniors provide vital links to our past as well as serve as the caregivers to over 6.1 million of the Nation's children. I recognize the importance of caring for our elderly and providing them with the services they need to live independently. I have a Seniors and Eldercare Task Force, composed of an outstanding group of experts who advise me on key issues of importance to the seniors in my district. They advised me on key issues for the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Within the bipartisan process surrounding this bill, I am pleased that I was successful in including important changes to the act. My local experts said that seniors raising their grandchildren needed great access to financial support and information about programs for which they are eligible. They said that seniors needed more services in their communities to avoid spending down their assets to qualify for Medicaid. They said that we needed a greater focus on mental health and elder justice. The reauthorization of the Older Americans Act addresses these needs, and I hope that this important legislation will pass this Congress. However, we must do more to assist grandparent caregivers. These grandparents make up 5.7 million households living with over 6.1 million children, evidence that many of these grandparents are oftentimes caring for more than one child. In my congressional district, there are over 10,000 grandparents who are responsible for their grandchildren's needs. Indeed, the Seventh District of Illinois, my congressional district, has the highest percentage of children living with grandparents in the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I believe that you can measure the greatness of a society by how well it treats its young, how well it treats its old, and how well it treats those who have difficulty caring for themselves. In this case when we provide grandparents, senior citizens, with the opportunity to help raise their grandchildren, then we are doing the Nation a great service. I thank all of those who rose to support this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with all of those who have expressed an interest and a concern in this resolution. I rise because I firmly move that we have the capacity to go far beyond where we are. As a matter of fact, I recall John Kennedy once saying that peace is not found only in treaties, covenants and charters, but in the hearts of men. I suspect that if he were alive today, he would say in the hearts of men and of women. I happen to believe that we learn what we live, and that if we actively pursue the concepts of peace that we find different ways to handle conflict resolution. I know that there are people who would say, what is the point in talking about this? Well, I will tell you the point. And I want to commend the gentleman from Michigan, because I remember reading a book that said, in the beginning was the word. And, of course, the words go forth. And people internalize those words. So I am pleased to join all of those who have spoken on this issue today. I do believe that peace is possible.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for yielding. I rise in strong support of the expressed intent and expressed purpose of this legislation. But as one who taught for 6 years in probably one of the toughest schools and one of the toughest communities in the country, I have some serious reservations about what this legislation actually does. And I guess my reservations are not unfounded, because I find that the American Association of School Administrators, the National School Boards Association, the Council of Great City Schools, Parent Teachers Association, American Civil Liberties Union, the American Federation of Teachers, and of course my own school district, one of the largest in the Nation, the City of Chicago School System, has some concerns. And many of the concerns expressed is that the legislation is unnecessary, because many school districts already have policies on search that take into consideration State laws and State court decisions. They are concerned that it overrides local and State policies on school searches, and that it establishes one-size-fits-all, although all of us know that circumstances in different locations and locales are very different. It sends a confusing message to schools on what legal standards are, and it establishes a policy that gives teachers authority to conduct searches when authority for determining who could search should rest with the school board. And, of course, it penalizes schools inappropriately for noncompliance by withholding safe and drug free funds, even though not all school districts receive these funds. So, Mr. Speaker, while the intent is good, and while all of us want to see our schools be the safe and secure places we know that they need to be, I find this legislation to be duplicative, unnecessary, and that it takes away in some instances rights that should be reserved certainly for local communities to make determinations about. For that reason, I oppose this legislation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. First, I want to commend him and Mr. Camp for their outstanding leadership and the passion with which they display relative to this issue and their personal involvement. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the significance of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. ASFA provided sweeping changes in Federal child welfare law designed to ensure children's safety and to quicken permanent placements in the event that a child could not return home. By enacting the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Congress recognized the need to align Federal incentives with the desired goal of providing abused and neglected children safe, permanent homes. This law has helped move States to promote adoption and has helped moved children into permanent homes. In praising ASFA, I want to take a moment to highlight the need to develop similar policies to promote permanency more broadly. ASFA has done much to promote adoption, but policymakers should extend ASFA's successes to other areas of permanency to address the needs of hundreds of thousands of children for whom adoption is not appropriate. Using ASFA as a model, the bipartisan Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care recommended that Federal policies create subsidized guardianship programs and State incentives to promote permanency more broadly, be it via reunification, adoption or guardianship. Also, we must use our understanding of the implementation of ASFA to make it better. I am particularly concerned about the over 29,000 children who have entered our child welfare system due to parental incarceration, most often from nonviolent acts. The parameters set forth by ASFA do not align well with those of the criminal justice system, leading to a permanent separation of many children from their parents and family. I encourage my colleagues to consult the wonderful policy brief by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law on the topic. ``Rebuilding Families, Reclaiming Lives,'' draws attention to hurdles created by the lack of consistency in Federal policies with regard to children of incarcerated parents. It also offers policy recommendations to promote stability and well-being for the children. Mr. Speaker, I also take this second to commend the One Church, One Family, One Child program in Illinois, who are indeed going to be here for the Angels in Adoption gala. They have developed a unique program of recruiting families to become foster parents to children coming out of correctional institutions. I commend them for that outstanding work and note Reverend Parks, Reverend Nelson and Ms. Hunt who have developed a fantastic program with the other members of their board. Again, I commend the gentlemen for their outstanding work on this issue.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Texas, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, for her leadership in making this week happen. Her resolution, H. Res. 928, passed the House on July 26, 2006, designating the week of September 10, 2006, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. I also want to commend Minority Whip Steny Hoyer for organizing this discussion this evening. Mr. Speaker, there are 103 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States that serve over 260,000 undergraduate students, with just over a quarter of all HBCUs offering either a first professional degree, a master's degree in business administration, or a J.D. or doctorate degree. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are defined as institutions established prior to 1964 with the principal mission of educating African Americans. HBCUs educated approximately 14 percent of the Nation's African American undergraduate students, awarding almost one-quarter, 23.1 percent, of all bachelor's degrees to black students. Almost half, 46.8 percent, of the undergraduate students attending HBCUs received Pell Grants, indicating that these institutions provide key educational opportunities for low-income African Americans. Mr. Speaker, I have 10 brothers and sisters. We grew up in rural Arkansas, where my parents were low-income sharecroppers. Seven of us attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I also have three nephews and a niece who attended the same school, plus a number of cousins. I strongly believe that perhaps none of us would have been able to attend college had it not been for the fact that the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, which then was Arkansas AM&N College, existed. These schools provide a nurturing environment and provide instructors that I remember even to this day. I remember the President, we called him ``Prexy,'' Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Sr., who would often let us register, whether we had the money to pay our tuition or not. His son, Dr. Lawrence A. Davis, Jr., is now the current chancellor and is just doing an outstanding job. I remember a cousin of mine who graduated from UAPB and then moved to Champaign, Illinois, got his master's degree, Willie Summerville, who was honored by the City of Champaign a few weeks ago for being its outstanding citizen. He organized a choir and took it to Rome to sing for the Pope. I could go on and on and think of just any number of outstanding individuals who were able to demonstrate their abilities and competency because of these institutions. I think of many of my colleagues. As a matter of fact, a majority of my colleagues who are African American graduated from Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Jesse Jackson, Jr., and his daddy, Jesse Jackson, Sr. I think of Representative Alcee Hastings, who went to Fisk University, and on and on and on and on. But the real deal is these institutions are worth their weight in gold. They have contributed significantly to the development of our country. They need all of the support that they can get. So, again, I thank Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson for establishing this week and congratulate all of these institutions for the tremendous job that they do.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from New York.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the work that the Judiciary Committee has spent dealing with this very difficult and complex issue, and I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan for yielding. All of us know that one of the biggest problems facing inmates when they get out of prison is the ability to get a job. The best way that you can convince a potential employer that you understand the world of work is that you have been working. Therefore, this program which provides inmates an opportunity to work needs all of the protection that it can possibly get. I agree that we need to change some things about it. I would agree that we need to find a way to pay the inmates more, especially as they get close to release time so that maybe when they get out, they have got a little bit of money in their pocket that they can get started with back in civilian life. But to do anything that would reduce the possibility of individuals working while they are incarcerated goes against the grain. It does not benefit our correctional system. It does not benefit our correctional institutions. I spend time in the Federal prisons, and every administrator that I have come into contact with supports this program and wants to see it expanded, not reduced or possibly eliminated. I again thank the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Grandparents Day. Designated as the first Sunday following Labor Day of every year, Grandparents Day began in 1979 by a proclamation from President Jimmy Carter. Unfortunately the vital work of grandparents frequently goes unrecognized and underappreciated. Not only do grandparents provide ties to our past, they often times provide care to the Nation's children. Grandparents make up 5.7 million households living with over 6.1 million children, evidence that many of these grandparents are often times caring for more than one child. It is important to note that 42 percent of grandparent caregivers are the sole providers for the most basic needs of one or more of the children in their custody. Alarmingly, 35.8 percent of grandchildren under the age of 18 live in homes with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other form of public assistance, and 460,000 of these grandparent led households fall below the poverty line. Chicago, alone, is the home to three of the top ten congressional districts for children living in the homes of grandparents or other relatives. In my congressional district there are 23,397 grandparents living with grandchildren and over ten thousand grandparents who are responsible for their grandchildren's needs; indeed the 7th District of Illinois, my congressional district, has the highest percentage of children living in kinship care in the entire Nation. Not only does my district have the highest incidence of grandparent-headed households in the Nation, it also has a disproportionate number of African American grandparent caregivers, around 82 percent of all grandparent-headed households. It is an unfortunate fact that the problem of grandparent- headed households disproportionately affects African-American grandparents who serve as kinship care providers at higher rates than other racial/ethnic groups; a fact that federal policies need to understand and address. B.C. Forbes said, ``Upon our children--how they are taught--rests the fate--or fortune--of tomorrow's world.'' The fate of our children and their future lies with the millions of grandparents who tirelessly raise their grandchildren. Grandparent-headed households are an unremitting force on our Nation's children and deserve our gratitude and support.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

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 may consume. As a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 6033, which names a postal facility in Woodside, New York, after the late Thomas J. Manton, former Member of Congress, who represented the Seventh Congressional District of New York. I know that Representative Crowley has spoken eloquently about all of the exploits and all of what Representative Manton meant to New York. I know that there were a number of other New Yorkers who had intended to be here and probably were not able to make it. I know that Representative Caroline Maloney had intended to be here and Representative Nita Lowey had intended to be here, because they had indicated that they too wanted to express their appreciation for the tremendous and outstanding service that was indeed provided. And so just on their behalf and on behalf of all of the others who would want to have expressed themselves and could not, I would join with Representative Crowley and Chairman Davis in urging swift passage of this bill as we honor the life and the legacy of a true American and a great friend to all, Representative Thomas Manton

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 may consume. Mr. Speaker, I will close by just simply saying that I don't believe that we can overemphasize the importance of transparency in government, and especially as it relates to contracting. I would urge passage of this legislation. I am proud to be a cosponsor of it

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2590 calls for the creation of a new searchable database of all Federal grants and contracts to be made publicly available on the Internet. This will require the Office of Management and Budget to develop a database that can be useful to individuals and organizations researching Federal grant funding. In addition, it should allow the public to better access information about the billions of dollars spent on Federal contracting. I would like to highlight one important difference between this bill and H.R. 5060, which passed the House in June. The database created under H.R. 5060 was missing a key component, information about Federal contract spending. Contract information is essential to meaningful public oversight. As Federal contract spending increases, and from 2000 to 2005, it has soared by 86 percent from $203.2 billion to $377.5 billion. There is a vital need for the public to be able to track and understand this spending. I want to thank Chairman Davis and Majority Whip Blunt for reconsidering their position on the contract information issue and hope that our efforts today will make Federal contract information freely and easily accessible to the public. I also want to commend the hard work of Senator Coburn and Senator Obama on this legislation. As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to increase public understanding of Federal spending and public access to information about how taxpayer dollars are spent. Currently, the public has access to a grants data system, the Federal Assistance Award Data System, that provides limited information about domestic grants. But this system is unwieldy and difficult to use. In addition, there is a publicly available database of contracts, the Federal Procurement Data System, FPDS; but it is too plagued with problems. So, today, we try to improve on those systems. The key to success will be implementation. Without it, we will be where we are now, with poor access to information. If implemented properly, public oversight of Federal spending will, indeed, increase. In closing, I must admit that I find it incredible that it has taken an act of Congress to make this information public. All of this information should be already available to the public. This is just one victory in our continuing fight for public access to government information. 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5434, which names a postal facility in Chillicothe, Ohio, after Officer Larry Cox. H.R. 5434 was introduced by Representative Robert Ney on May 19, 2006. This measure, which was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on June 8, 2006, was cosponsored by the entire Ohio Congressional delegation. Officer Cox, a member of the Chillicothe police department for 19 years, was serving as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education, DARE officer, at the time of his death. Although off duty, Officer Cox was shot and killed on April 25, 2005, as he chased and confronted a robbery suspect. Mr. Speaker, I support this measure as a fitting tribute to the service and bravery of Officer Larry Cox and urge its passage. I don't believe that I am going to have any additional speakers on this item and therefore yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

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

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Mayor Robert O'Connor, Jr. and to support House Resolution 983. As has been indicated, Bob O'Connor's decade-long goal to become the mayor of Pittsburgh came to fruition this past January. Humbled by his political success, O'Connor stood at his inauguration ceremony before a crowd of supporters who braved subfreezing temperatures, and he spoke of economic renewal and of bridging divides that existed between various communities in Pittsburgh. His message of unification and revitalization was well received. Sadly, Mr. O'Connor would have only a short time to implement his dream for the City of Pittsburgh. Six months into office, he was diagnosed with T cell lymphoma, a rare cancer of the brain and spinal cord. Mayor O'Connor's case was advanced, and his fight would last only 2 months. On September 1, 2006, Mayor O'Connor succumbed to cancer, and Pittsburgh lost a leader of business, politics, and philanthropy. Like so many of Pittsburgh's native sons and daughters, Mayor O'Connor began his career in the steel mills. Hard work later led him to become a leader in business as the head of the Pappan chain of restaurants. Mayor O'Connor's interests reflected his commitment to the city. By sitting on the boards of the Carnegie-Mellon University, the Gateway Rehabilitation Institute, the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance, the Caring Foundation, and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, Mayor O'Connor supported some of the finest organizations in Pittsburgh. All of the organizations gave to the community and reflected O'Connor's commitment to the public good and the welfare of others. Mayor O'Connor's desire to give something back to Pittsburgh led him into public service in 1992, when he first was elected to the Pittsburgh City Council. He served on the council for the next decade, all the while attaining leadership roles that included two terms as the council's president. When he left the council, he continued to work for the public by working for Governor Ed Rendell. Those who knew O'Connor well said that O'Connor achieved his dream when he was elected mayor of Pittsburgh and that the victory represented O'Connor's sound philosophy of revitalization for the city, his kind demeanor, and a sharp intellect. Mayor O'Connor is survived by his wife, Judy; daughter, Heidy; and sons, Corey and Terrence. As a true demonstration of his commitment to the public good, Mayor O'Connor's family requested that mourners who wish to express their condolences make donations to either the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, two organizations he and his family cared deeply about. Pittsburgh mourns the loss of Mayor Bob O'Connor and we join them today. I send my deepest condolences to the O'Connor family and to the City of Pittsburgh, and I urge passage of House Resolution 983. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume to the Democratic leader and the distinguished gentlewoman from California, Representative Nancy Pelosi.

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 House Government Reform Committee I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5428, which names the postal facility in Morris, Illinois, after the late Joshua A. Terando. H.R. 5428 was introduced by my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Weller) on May 19, 2006. This measure, which was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on June 8, 2006, was cosponsored by the entire Illinois Congressional delegation. U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua A. Terando, age 27, a Reservist assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, based in Washington, Pennsylvania, was killed on November 10, 2005. He died at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his tank was attacked by enemy forces. Sergeant Terando had completed 6 years of active duty in 2001 when he was called back. He had just over a year to serve in the Army Reserves. Joshua was remembered by his family as quick-witted, easygoing and loving. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the sacrifice of soldier Joshua Terando by designating a postal office in his name in his hometown. No greater gift can one give than their life in the service and protection of others. I strongly support this measure and urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend and salute the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; its chairman, Representative Kendrick Meek; and President, Dr. Elsie Scott on an outstanding weekend of policy discussions and other meaningful educational and social activity. Much of the credit for this year's success goes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), conference co-chairs. I also commend all of those who attended and thank all of the experts and leaders who led the discussion. It was a great weekend. Hats off to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would like to thank the gentleman from Delaware. I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for recognizing that enough is enough and that there is enough work to go around, and for being willing to give up jurisdiction of this work. I am sure that Education and the Workforce would gladly take it.

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 may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with Representatives Price, Kingston, Gingrey, Scott, and my good friend and the chief sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Lewis from Georgia. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 875 congratulating Spelman College on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. I am pleased to take this opportunity to recognize the achievements of this fine institution of higher education and to pay special tribute to the unique role it has played in the lives of students, especially African American women. Spelman College, founded in 1881, for the purposes of educating African American women, set a high standard early on for providing quality instruction and valuable experiences, especially at a time when opportunities were not plentiful for African Americans, let alone African American women. As a Historically Black College, Spelman has focused on not only increasing opportunities for black women, but it is also their mission to ensure students think objectively, critically, and creatively within a moral framework. Founded by two Massachusetts teachers, Harriet Giles and Sophia Packard, the school was originally named the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary. The school was started with 11 black women and $100 given to Miss Giles and Miss Packard by a church congregation in Medford, Massachusetts. With the $100, the two teachers built more than a school, rather a foundation and a reason for women to believe in themselves and to aspire to do and be more. The school eventually became Spelman College, named after John D. Rockefeller's in-laws. When funds ran out, Rockefeller settled the debt on the property and donated funds for what is currently the oldest building on campus, Rockefeller Hall. This institution produced many notable alumni, including Marian Wright Edelman, head of the Children's Defense Fund; novelist Alice Walker; as well as the mother of Martin Luther King, Jr., Ms. Alberta Williams King. Spelman continues the tradition of excellence as one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Nation, according to the latest rankings of U.S. News and World Report. This prestige is coupled with the designation by the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a model institution for excellence in undergraduate science and math education. Spelman is one of six in the country with this designation. In the Spelman tradition of seeing a need and filling the need, the school created the Spelman College Health and Wellness Initiative. This program is helping to create preventive strategies for the unique circumstances that apply to all African American women. These strategies are currently being developed and used to prevent cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS in African American women. To top this all off, last year Spelman College made history when six Spelman women qualified for the international RoboCup 2005 robot soccer competition in Osaka, Japan. They were the first and only Historically Black College and University, the only all-women institution, and the only United States undergraduate institution to qualify for this tournament. For those of you unfamiliar with the RoboCup, it is truly an amazing competition. Students from all over the world enter their robot into a competition to play soccer against humans. Spelman is one of those schools that offers its students the opportunity to broaden their horizons and reach their fullest potential. Among African American women especially, and in black life, the young African American woman who gets an opportunity to go to Spelman considers herself to be not only honored but is often in awe. It is considered to be sui generis, fruit of the loom, in a class by itself, all alone. And there is nothing more delightful to a young African American woman growing up in this country than the opportunity to attend Spelman. So I join with all of my colleagues in congratulating this fine and outstanding institution, and I urge support for this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), the author of this legislation and the chief deputy whip of the Democratic Caucus.