Chaka Fattah

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, January 15, 2008, is a special day for more than 200,000 college educated African-American women throughout the world but especially here in our Nation's Capitol. - It is the Centennial Founders' Day for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first and the oldest sorority for African Americans. On this date in 1908, nine women at Howard University in Washington, DC joined through real sisterhood and service founded Alpha Kappa Alpha. They soon added seven honor students from Howard's Class of 1910 to ensure the continuity and growth of the organization. Their names are enshrined in the stunningly beautiful ``Alpha of Alpha Kappa Alpha'' Founders Window in the Rankin Chapel on that campus. From its proud beginning at Howard University, AKA has grown to more than 200,000 strong, including undergraduate members and graduate members--affiliated with 975 chapters all over the globe and on every continent. From the beginning, the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha have lived up to their calling as ``A Legacy of Sisterhood and Service.'' They have responded to the world's increasing complexity in a manner that continues to empower communities through exemplary service initiatives and progressive programs. Centennial International President Barbara A. McKinzie is leading the membership during some of the most turbulent times in our history. Economics education is the foundation of the program platforms with special emphasis on Black families and youth, mental, physical and emotional health, encouraging entrepreneurships and other business opportunities and proving technology advancement for our seasoned seniors. This president has championed breast cancer awareness and vigilance among the membership and all African-American women. Her educational program has included advocacy for Sister Study, a long-term research project to determine the causes of breast cancer among African-American women. Alpha Kappa Alpha has partnered with ``Coaches Versus Cancer'' to raise money for and promote cancer prevention. The sorority has partnered with State Farm Insurance Co. and Dr. Ian Smith, author of ``Fat Smash Diet'' on the 50 Million Pound Weight Loss Challenge. It is also partnering with African Ancestry to use the power of DNA to help find genealogic answers about African Americans. These community service activities are on-going as Alpha Kappa Alpha proceeds with a nationwide one hundred year celebration. Alpha Kappa Alpha launched its Centennial during 2007 with regional celebrations. The Centennial will kick off with the 100th Birthday Celebration at Howard University from January 12 to 15, 2008, culminating with the Centennial Boule in July that will bring over 20,000 women and their families to Washington, DC to mark ``100 Years of Service.'' As a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first African-American fraternity, I can attest to the pride and tradition and value that the Greek-letter organizations have brought to African Americans all across our land. I congratulate the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha and their families as they pause and celebrate their legacy of good works and Sisterhood.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, December 13, 2007, is a special day in Philadelphia. The City Council has declared `Cardinal John P. Foley Day in the City of Philadelphia' to honor a great and humble priest of our city who has been elevated to Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Both in Philadelphia and on the world stage, Cardinal Foley has served ably as the communicator of both faith and social policy for the Catholic Church as it performs vital work in maintaining the health and welfare safety net for many of our citizens in need, regardless of religion, race or nationality. Even as Cardinal Foley has served two Popes at the Vatican for the past 23 years, he always left his heart in Philadelphia. He has made frequent return visits to friends, family, fellow priests and all his admirers in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where he was born, raised and ordained. December 13 highlights Cardinal Foley's first visit home since the Consistory in Rome on November 24, 2007, at which he and 22 other priests were elevated to Cardinal. He will be honored in Philadelphia City Council, where he will open the weekly session with a prayer. Then he will celebrate the Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul along Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Cardinal Foley's career as a Catholic communicator extends back to his youth, as a teenager in Sharon Hill. As a student at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, he wrote and produced plays on the lives of saints that were broadcast on a radio station that specialized in Catholic programming. Also at St. Joseph's Prep he developed an abiding lifetime friendship with Richard A. Doran, an outstanding Philadelphian on whose counsel and friendship I often relied in the dawn of my career. Tragically, Dick Doran died less than a year before this week's celebration, but the ceremonies this week will be graced by his widow Mary Doran. As a student at St. Joseph's University the future Cardinal Foley was a TV regular on a Channel 3 college debate series, often jousting with Penn's Arlen Specter, now Pennsylvania's senior senator. And in typical Foley storytelling fashion he recalls that the show shared studio space with ``Bertie the Bunyip,'' a legendary local puppet show of the 1950s. The late Cardinal John Krol spotted this young priest as a devout man of great talent and potential. Cardinal Krol arranged for him to attend Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, installed him as Editor of the Catholic Standard and Times for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1970 to 1984, then recommended him to Pope John Paul II for a new post as President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications at the Vatican. Then-Archbishop Foley undertook the task of explaining church teachings through the worldwide media. He designed and implemented the Vatican's modern communications policy. He also served as the voice of the Vatican on such occasions as the global telecast of Midnight Mass from St. Peter's--a role he intends to continue. Now, in addition to solemn duties as advisor to Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Foley has taken on the responsibility at the Vatican for overseeing the Catholic holy places in the Middle East as Pro Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Through it all, this man of God has never lost his humility, his gentle wit and his broad smile as he has risen to this most elite level of the billion-member worldwide church to which he devotes his life. Cardinal Foley Day is a day of celebration for all of us.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and memorialize WDAS-AM, a pioneering radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for its extraordinary and historic acts of cultural, spiritual and political bravery. This organization has stood for the causes of freedom and justice in helping secure the civic and human rights of African Americans and deserves the recognition and thanks of this body. The momentous victories of the civil rights and protest movements, aided by WDAS, led the United States on a new path recognizing the human dignity of all people and sparking the modern movements for the rights of women, Native Americans, Hispanics and other historically disenfranchised people. Although WDAS in its historic role is effectively gone, the station's phenomenal impact on my hometown and our nation is a story that should be told. I am sharing, for the record, a letter I received from Wynne Alexander, a Philadelphian who is both a historian of WDAS and the daughter of a station co-founder. I believe her words are helpful in understanding this remarkable story. In 1951, Dr. Max M. Leon and Bob Klein undertook a revolutionary endeavor, instituting one of the nation's first Black Radio stations, WDAS-AM of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This industry-leading broadcast facility had a galvanizing social impact in our state, and in fact, across this country. This was not just a radio station, it was a cultural institution bringing its listeners aspects of every known societal necessity from award winning news coverage, to the finest musical programming, to governmental and religious affairs. Thanks to their pioneering actions, station WDAS-AM was eventually joined by other such stations. But none was ever more effective in standing for justice and encouraging enlightenment both locally and nationally. Because of its unique position and timing, its contributions to the causes of freedom and justice make WDAS-AM the premiere Black station in the history of this country. Dr. Leon and Mr. Klein did not do this in a time of peace and prosperity. It was a time of dangerous social upheaval. The realities of Jim Crow America were still very much alive in 1951, including racially motivated murders of social progressives, lynchings, segregated schools, housing, public transportation, drinking fountains, and certainly the majority of White shop owners did not want Black people shopping in their stores. This was the climate in which Leon and Klein found themselves having to change the minds of White, retail America, showing them and Madison Avenue the humanity, strength and beauty of the Black community. In their everyday actions, these two White men finessed, asked, implored and when necessary demanded that the rest of White Philadelphia and White America respect the Black community the way they did. What Max Leon did in allowing his young son-in-law to make this stand was an extraordinary act of courage and should go down as one of the greatest leaps of faith in the history of American Business. WDAS was the only station to stand up for the rights of minority broadcasters, successfully suing Arbitron Industries, proving they were racist in their listenership accounting methods of America's minorities. In winning this class action judgment against Arbitron, WDAS paved the way for equality in the market place for all minority broadcasters and with the ensuing enhanced revenues, proved to all of corporate America the vitality and economic strength of the Black community. By the mid 1950s, WDAS had established one of the first and only full service broadcast news departments providing major coverage of every civil rights breakthrough during a historic era in our nation's history. The newsroom was packed with cutting edge, highly talented journalists. WDAS was there bringing first hand reporting from Brown v. the Topeka Board of Education, Rosa Parks' refusal to take a back seat, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to the Little Rock, Arkansas riots, the Birmingham Church Bombings, the integration of Alabama University, Dr. King's marches on Washington D.C., his winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. WDAS reporters and radio personalities covered every aspect, from the marches in the street to the presidential signatures at the White House. WDAS was responsible for bringing Dr. King to Philadelphia, forging his alliance with NAACP president Cecil Moore, Esq. WDAS then sponsored a parade down Market Street in Philadelphia introducing Dr. King to the city. They also commissioned buses taking Freedom Riders to the South and supplied buses to take people to all of Dr. King's marches. WDAS' unprecedented and innovative programming efforts are also credited with keeping Philadelphia calm in the wake of King's assassination. Other cities expressed their anguish in violent riots. Philadelphia mourned their loss in the non- violent manner Dr. King always advocated. In a letter written one year after King's assassination, King confidant and Ambassador Andrew Young said this about

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the good news that a great Philadelphian of another time, whose life, accomplishments and even his burial site have been lost in obscurity for too long, is finally being restored to prominence. Octavius Valentine Catto, a champion of African American empowerment, civil rights and civil disobedience before those terms were even in use, was assassinated by a political thug on October 10, 1871, during a Philadelphia municipal election. Catto was walking between his South Street home and a nearby polling place on a riot-torn day during which he had been organizing African Americans to exercise their newfound franchise and throw out a corrupt local political machine. Catto has been called a renaissance man for all that he undertook and accomplished in his short life (1839-1871). He was a classically trained student and then professor at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia, the forerunner of Cheyney University; an officer in an all-black unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard during the Civil War who insisted on a meaningful role for his soldiers; and even manager- second baseman for the Pythian Baseball Club, a renowned and pioneering all-black team. In the 1860s Catto, along with another prominent Philadelphian, the black abolitionist William Still, organized a civil disobedience campaign that led to laws desegregating Philadelphia's trolley car system. Catto's assassination led to a massive public funeral and an outcry for justice. But gradually his deeds and memory faded from view. His remains were relocated from Lebanon Cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia to Eden Cemetery in Delaware County in 1903, but contemporary admirers haven't even known where to find his resting place. On the anniversary of O.V. Catto's assassination, October 10, 1871, a group of Philadelphians led by Philadelphia City Council member Jim Kenney are changing all that. At a ceremony that includes representatives of the Philadelphia Union League, to which Catto belonged, Cheyney University; the O.V. Catto Elks Lodge and others, a temporary marker is being installed and dedicated at Eden Cemetery, 1434 Springfield Road, Collingdale, Pennsylvania. Significantly, his modest burial site is not far from the tomb of William Still. A permanent and appropriate headstone for Catto soon will follow. That's not all. A site has been designated on the plaza outside Philadelphia City Hall for the construction of a statue of Catto. A design competition and fundraising effort are being launched by the O.V. Catto Memorial Fund under the leadership of Carol Clark Lawrence, the Fund's Chair, and Jim Straw, the Co-Chair. The Fund will also develop an educational program to assure that future generations will be well aware of the contributions of this outstanding Philadelphian. Octavius V. Catto is an inspiration to Philadelphians of all races. The telling of his story is long overdue. And now it begins.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. It's been said that it is how we treat the least of these that we will be judged. I think about my own four children, Francis and Chip and Cameron and Chandler. I think about the night I spent at the Children's Hospital all night long with my daughter because she suffered from dehydration. It's wonderful that she has insurance and we can provide for the best coverage at the best Children's Hospital, I think, anywhere in the world. But this bill is about helping all of our children, the six million that will continue to have coverage and the five million that we're adding. The AMA, the AARP, the National Committee to Preserve and Protect Social Security, the Children's Defense Fund, all of these entities that represent these interests have lined up on behalf of this bill. And we need to line up this House on the right side of history. I want to commend the chairmen, Rangel and Dingell and Pallone and Stark, for their work and ask for a unanimous vote on behalf of the CHAMP Act.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a disturbing human rights violation currently taking place in El Salvador under the guise of stopping terrorism, a situation brought to my attention by a dedicated group of Philadelphians that has just returned from that nation. Philadelphia maintains a U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities connection to the rural village of Las Anonas, where most residents live in poverty and must still deal with the after-effects of the devastating civil war and a 1992 ceasefire that ended the bloodshed but brought little real change. This Sister Cities program is one of 20 that link U.S. communities and groups with rural El Salvador under the sponsorship of CRIPDES, a Salvadoran group for rural community development, and the Archbishop Romero Interfaith Center, which is based in Philadelphia and its suburbs. About 27 men, women and teenagers from the Interfaith Community Building Group in Northwest Philadelphia, including Catholics, Jews, Protestants and Muslims, were hard at work laying the foundation of a new community center in the village of El Milagro last week. They were shocked to learn that the president, vice president and two other members of CRIPDES, their sponsor, were seized on July 2 by police on the highway on their way to join a peaceful demonstration in the town of Suchitoto. The charges were originally ``creating public disorder,'' even though they had not even arrived at their destination. When supporters rallied outside the police station and demanded the release of the CRIPDES leaders, 10 more people were arrested and the ARENA government quickly escalated the charges. Now the prisoners have been charged with ``acts of terrorism'' under a new anti-terrorism law that went into effect last November. The law even created a special court to try such suspects. CRIPDES leaders, including President Lorena Martinez, who has visited Philadelphia, and a Salvadoran journalist covering the events, face up to 60 years in prison under this so-called ``anti-terrorism'' law in what is a clear attempt to stifle and silence dissent. The ARENA government, ruling with a bare majority and looking toward the next election, is counting on almost a half-billion dollars in U.S. aid that is dependent upon adherence to human rights principles. El Salvador is also the only nation in Latin America to maintain troops in Iraq as part of the ``Coalition of the Willing.'' Meanwhile ARENA presides over a country so desperately poor that an estimated two million Salvadorans have emigrated to the United States, most of them undocumented. The Philadelphia group was warned that if members raised their voices in protest to the arrests at Suchitoto, they could be immediately deported and barred from future trips. All this was occurring in the days immediately before and after the celebration, by fellow Philadelphians back home in the Cradle of Liberty and Birthplace of Independence, of the Fourth of July. The arrests led to a massive protest demonstration in San Salvador, the capital, on July 7. I am pleased to learn that Amnesty International has taken up this case, and that friends of CRIPDES, the United States-El Salvador Sister Cities Program and the Romero Interfaith Center are all raising the alarm. The Philadelphians, who have made six trips to El Salvador in the past decade, are not alone. Delegations of community builders, educators and citizen witnesses from Sister Cities across the U.S. continue to travel to El Salvador, to join the cause of rural development and empowerment with their hands and hearts. The ARENA government needs to know that the citizens of the United States and the world are watching what happens to CRIPDES and other peaceful, effective community development groups in their midst. Those in El Salvador's government who look to the United States for model behavior need to look beyond the shameless quick-fix of crying ``terrorism'' under cynically created laws. Instead they must heed the principles forged in Philadelphia two centuries ago.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. I think you would say ``asked and answered'' at this moment, right?

Mr. FATTAH. If the gentleman would yield, this grant would be to assist in the project related to repair of the historic facade of the existing museum.

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FATTAH. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the Philadelphia Art Museum is an historic location, well-known throughout the world, with over 1 million visitors a year, 78 years in existence. The project for the modernization and renovation of the museum is one of note. It is important this year over $130 million will be spent. This $100,000 will be less than 1 percent of that. But it is an important effort for the Federal Government to participate and support the renovation of the exterior. This multiyear program of over half a billion dollars to renovate and modernize the Philadelphia Art Museum is an important linchpin to an expansion along the parkway in Philadelphia's role in the world in terms of a world-class art collection. The Barnes Museum will be built and the Rodin Museum. The collection will bring more visitors, twice as many visitors, to Philadelphia, as if we would have the Super Bowl in Philadelphia, and these visitors will spend three times as much money. Many of them are international travelers and art collectors and people who appreciate art. I know that the House, notwithstanding the views of one Member who has offered this amendment, I am certain that a majority of the Members of this House will speak clearly that when we are talking about America's treasures, that the very well known but very old and in need of repair Philadelphia Art Museum deserves support under the program, the Saving America's Treasures program, which was designed exactly for this purpose and in which it has been the practice that the Congress would select about half of the projects. So I ask that we oppose this amendment, and I ask that we support the Philadelphia Art Museum in this effort in this city and Philadelphia region. Many of our Members and families have visited, and we encourage all to visit, including the gentleman who is the sponsor of the amendment.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I think that this discussion on this bill today should begin with an appropriate appreciation for the great work of the chairman and the ranking member. Both Chairman Price and the gentleman, Mr. Rogers, the ranking member, have done an extraordinary job in crafting a bill to address the real challenges facing our Nation in terms of homeland security. I think that the fact that there have been cuts in various programs shows that it was a rigorous process, but I think that the additions are also equally important. I wanted to point out in particular a number of the sections in this bill: This domestic nuclear detection office is so important, because I think that we all know based on the information both in classified and declassified briefing material, and for the general public, whether it's watching Jack Bauer or however they may gather their information, that it is a real concern in our Nation, the possibility of a nuclear strike at one of our major urban centers, a nuclear device, a dirty bomb. This domestic detection office and the funding for it allocated in this bill, I think, is important. I think that the availability of grants for our first responders. I come from the Philadelphia region. I don't want to prejudge any of the cases, but we have had arrests that have been widely noticed in the national media of people allegedly preparing to strike at Fort Dix in New Jersey. We've seen the incident at the JFK airport where the discussion is around people who were focused on potentially doing massive harm, attempting to blow up jet fuel lines running from Linden, New Jersey, all the way into the JFK airport. So the question of homeland security, protecting our borders, adding thousands of additional Border Patrol guards, I think that this House has been well served by the capable leadership of the chairman, Chairman Price, and the ranking member. They've brought a quality bill to the floor. This is my first term serving on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, a committee that was previously led by the ranking member but is now being led by Chairman Price, but they have put together a bill that came out of our full committee and out of our subcommittee with strong bipartisan support. Even though, Mr. Chairman, we hear some comments from the other side, we know that they don't really represent the total views of the Members either on our side or the other side, because this bill got quality support in committee. I know that when we get a chance to vote on this bill, when we get a chance to vote on increasing State grants for law enforcement, $950 million, $50 million above the 2007 number and $700 million above the President's request for grants to help local communities plan, equip and train first responders, that this bill is going to get a resounding level of support in this House. There probably wouldn't be more than a handful of Members, if that, who are going to vote against this bill. Even though we have a lot of discussion about things that are not really meritorious, in this bill there is a great deal of meritorious approaches to protecting our Nation from real threats. These are real threats that are playing themselves out on our borders and in our cities each and every day, and our local and national law enforcement community needs the resources that are being made available and appropriated in this bill. I am very appreciative of the effort that has been put in the urban area grants and in the fire grants, and after Katrina and the work that has been done on emergency management and the performance area. I would hope that before too many people are swayed, that somehow this bill doesn't represent our efforts to deal with the challenges facing our country, that they really look at the details, Mr. Chairman, and some of the political grandstanding that is going on will give way and we will get to the heart of this issue and the country will be in a position to appreciate the great work of our chairman and the ranking member. I have had the pleasure of serving with them, seeing the hearings and seeing the oversight.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Bob Perkins, an outstanding Philadelphian who has devoted more than four decades as a radio host and commentator to the advancement and enjoyment of Jazz. ``B.P. with the G.M.'' has been the radio signature for Bob Perkins bringing the Good Music of Jazz to grateful Philadelphia listeners for the past ten years from WRTI-FM, the Temple University flagship station. Bob Perkins has entertained and informed listeners for 42 years as a radio newscaster, commentator and jazz host, 37 of those years in Philadelphia, while writing opinion pieces and jazz commentary for numerous local publications. Bob was born and raised in South Philadelphia, where he listened night and day to the radio that was on constantly in the Perkins household. His career took him briefly to Detroit, but by 1969 he was back in Philadelphia at WDAS as newscaster, news director and editorial director. Meanwhile he was hosting a popular Saturday night Jazz program on public radio's WHYY-FM. Ten years ago Bob moved to WRTI-FM, where he shares his encyclopedic knowledge of Jazz, and the men and women who perform it, with his devoted audience. It is programming that brings prestige and listeners to WRTI-FM while keeping alive this unique and indigenous American art form. Bob Perkins has been the deserving recipient of more than three dozen awards for journalistic, broadcast and community excellence. He is the recipient of a Mellon Jazz Community Service Award and the Kal Rudman Milestone in Radio Award. In 2003, he was inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Hall of Fame. He and his wife Sheila live in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane section. At age 73, Bob continues his weeknight and Sunday broadcasts, offering his insights, his stories, and his love on ``the G.M.'' And so I rise in recognition for a lifetime of achievement. On behalf of all your grateful fans, thank you Bob Perkins, native son and Philadelphia civic treasure.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote on H.R. 1592 I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote on H.R. 1905. I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the House to a great Philadelphian on the occasion of his 95th birthday, March 19, 2007. The Reverend Canon Thomas Wilson Stearly Logan, Sr., a 1935 Lincoln University graduate, is Rector Emeritus of the Calvary Church in North Philadelphia. In 1938, Father Logan began his now 60- year tenure of service to the diocese of Pennsylvania with his ordination as a deacon. One year later, he was ordained a priest at St. Peter's Church in Philadelphia. During his long and distinguished career, Father Logan served in numerous parishes including: St. Philips Church in New York City, St. Augustine's Chapel in Yonkers, St. Michael and All Angels and the Calvary Church both located in Philadelphia. Father Logan's service to the children of God has extended beyond the church walls. He has been a member of numerous religious, fraternal, social and civic organizations including the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the Restitution Fund Commission, the homeless fund, the Philadelphia Police Department, the National Conference of Black Episcopalians and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a delegate to the Anglican Conference in Cape Town, Father Logan brought his spirit, energy and steadfast commitment to social justice across the Atlantic ocean. Father Logan is committed not only to his church but also to his lovely wife, Mrs. Hermione Hill Logan who on March 16 will achieve the modest age of 96. Father and Mrs. Logan have been happily married since 1938. It is my great pleasure to offer congratulations to Father Logan on his birthday. I wish him years of health and happiness and appreciate his decades of service.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the career of Ed Guthman, a dedicated public servant and master of his craft, who is being honored tonight at the University of Southern California. From his days with Bobby Kennedy to his time at the Philadelphia Inquirer and, most recently, shaping the minds of a new generation of journalists at USC, Ed has remained steadfastly committed to the principles of open government and honest journalism. As editorial page editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, he wrote with insight on the major issues of the day; nuclear safety, education reform and corruption in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's court systems. His clear prose and cogent ideas brought honor to his newspaper and true enlightenment to us, the readers. Ed's career did not begin with his decade at the Inquirer. Before coming to Philadelphia, he served as the national editor at the Los Angeles Times. It was during his work in Los Angeles that Ed was listed as number three on Nixon's infamous enemies list. The list, and Guthman's inclusion, offer enduring evidence of the danger of an unchecked executive and a reminder of the need for an eternally vigilant free and independent press. Prior to the LA Times, he was a reporter at the Seattle Times where he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his investigation into the Washington State Un-American Activities Committee. I consider it a privilege to call Ed my friend. He is a brilliant man and has contributed greatly to the field of journalism and the quest for a fair and democratic United States. While I am pleased that he has the opportunity to share what he knows with the students of USC, we will always miss him in Philadelphia.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. My colleague from Pennsylvania is concerned about victory for our enemies. Well, the victory for our enemies is made possible by our pursuing a failed policy. We are creating an inevitable situation in which our country continues to lose prestige and support around the world. But, much more importantly, we are losing the precious lives of our young people; and tens of thousands have been injured. I was over at Walter Reed. I met and visited with some of the wounded soldiers. And I will never forget the day I met Cassandra Bryant, 20 years old, who lost both her legs to an improvised explosive device in Iraq. She was in a mechanical unit that was supposedly nowhere near the front line, but, nonetheless, for the rest of her life, she will have to go without her legs. Her sacrifice on behalf of our country, if in the face of a national security threat, would be understandable, and she was prepared to even give more. But to sacrifice so much. Our young people have done it in a place in a war that we should have never fought, we should have never been in. There was ample information and evidence that Saddam possessed no weapons of mass destruction. The international inspectors were forced out of the country when, first of all, they found none and they wanted to continue their work. This administration rushed to judgment into a war in which we have spent hundreds of billions of dollars and in which over 3,000 young people have lost their lives. And in Philadelphia, for Mrs. Zappala and for Mrs. Jeff Coat and for other mothers and fathers who have lost their sons and daughters in Iraq, this war and this effort in Iraq, which some suggest if we would just prosecute it more vigorously would somehow overnight become a success, we need to look at the conduct of this war on behalf of our Armed Forces. This administration has failed our troops on the ground on so many occasions. On one occasion, there was a shortage of bullets. On others, we have seen reports that they were not having access to enough long rifles. We know that they have never had, in the 4 years now, enough up-armored vehicles to be able to do their patrols. We have failed to provide the body armor and Kevlar vests that are necessary and in the quantities that are needed. The embarrassment of the conduct of this war is only equal to the stupidity that took us to Iraq in the first place. And what we need to do is not just vote in support of this resolution but this Congress would do better if we would understand that our young men and women don't wear Democrat or Republican dog tags. They are sons and daughters of our country. They are precious. Their willingness to sacrifice on behalf of our Nation should not be taken for granted. We should move to redeploy. Forget the question of an additional surge. Why would we want to have our young people in a situation where the only time the Sunnis and the Shiites stop killing each other is when they both are willing to turn their weapons against our young people? We are in the middle of a civil war. Clearly, in the case of a civil war, the definition suggests that we are unwelcome visitors. We should redeploy. And if there are needs, and I think there are, for peacekeeping and stabilization forces, we should ask some of our friendly Arab countries in the region to provide some of their troops. We provide over $1 billion a year to the Egyptian military, one of the largest in the world and the largest in the Arab world. They do joint training with our troops and have done so for decades. If there is a need for troops, let us get our young people out of the way. And since the President said we went there in part to stabilize the region for our friendly Arab neighbors, let them step forward now and secure the region. Our young people have done the hard work. They have done the heavy lifting. They have died on the fields of battle in Iraq, and it is time for this Congress to act responsibly. Let us rise on this day and speak not just in symbol but in substance on behalf of the fighting men and women of the American military.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 150th Anniversary of the grand opening of Philadelphia's Academy of Music-- our ``Grand Old Lady of Locust Street.'' Since January 26, 1857, the Academy has hosted more than one billion attendees at almost half a million performances. Generations of the region's children have sat in her elegant auditorium and caught their breath as the curtain rose on their first experience of an opera or ballet performance. Millions of them have sat up in wonder as they heard The Philadelphia Orchestra's rousing sounds for the first time. Hundreds of thousands of Philadelphians have walked proudly across the Academy's stage to accept their commencement certificate. Audiences and artists alike have flocked to Philadelphia from around the world because of the Academy of Music.- What a remarkable legacy for one building--a legacy that has a deeply personal meaning for many generations of the region's families who share memories of attending special events within her walls; a legacy that laid the foundation on which the city created the Avenue of the Arts, built the shining new Kimmel Center, and made Philadelphia one of the most vibrant cultural destinations in the world; a legacy of which all Philadelphia--area residents can be proud. The Academy of Music 150th Anniversary Concert and Ball, held on January 27, 2007, reflected many facets of the Academy's rich history. World--renowned artists host Tom Brokaw, soprano Deborah Voigt, tenor Ben Heppner and vocalists John Lithgow, with Music Director Christoph Eschenbach and our own celebrated Philadelphia Orchestra and Philadelphia Singers, presented an outstanding program of grand opera, theater, Broadway, classical and popular music. The concert was attended by over 2,400 of the region's political, civic and corporate leaders as well as special guests Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Even the Prince's visit has a historical precedent in the Academy's rich past: his great, great grandfather, Edward VII, was one of the early visiting dignitaries to grace the Academy at a gala performance by the popular soprano Adelina Patti in 1860. The Prince of Wales will sit in the same box, dubbed ``the Prince of Wales Box'' since the 1860 visit that his ancestor occupied before him. I congratulate the Academy on its sesquicentennial and look forward to many more years of important cultural contributions to our city.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Radio One in Philadelphia and E. Steven Collins, National Sales Manager, for their extraordinary civic-minded efforts in support of the ``Groceries for Guns Initiative'' during the 2007 Martin Luther King's birthday celebration. Creative and determined promotion by Radio One through its three FM outlets in the Philadelphia market, under the direction of Mr. Collins, led directly to a successful outcome beyond anyone's expectations. The initiative, spearheaded by Philadelphia City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown in cooperation with my Congressional office and Business Manager John Dougherty of Local 98, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, produced the surrender of 252 weapons to the Philadelphia Police Department, including 177 handguns and several sawed off shotguns. What better way to pay tribute to Dr. King's message and legacy of non-violence than to remove these potential instruments of crime from our streets? And it occurred shortly after the city experienced one of its deadliest years in recent history. In 2006, the toll of homicide victims in Philadelphia was 406. Eighty five percent of these victims were killed by firearms. This extraordinary outpouring by the citizens of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley would not have reached such dramatic numbers without the efforts of Radio One and its stations--100.3 The Beat, 103.9 Praise, and 107.9 R&B. Radio One and its personalities promoted an ongoing anti-violence, anti-gun, anti-drug campaign of personal responsibility on the theme, ``It Starts With Me, It Starts With You.'' For a week in advance of the ``no questions asked'' gun surrender, Radio One air personalities promoted ``Groceries for Guns'' through public service announcements, interviews with Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and myself and numerous appeals. Mr. Collins, a longtime respected voice in Philadelphia radio, conducted some of these interviews on his own show. On the day of the initiative, January 15, 2007, Pooch and Laiya and other Radio One personalities provided live interviews from outside the Columbia YMCA in North Philadelphia as hundreds of Philadelphians, young and old, lined up to exchange weapons for certificates worth $200 in groceries at The Fresh Grocer outlets. Police officials expressed gratitude--and surprise--at the large number of weapons that were taken off the streets of Philadelphia and hauled away in the department's mobile mini-station in a single day's effort. I thank all the participants and especially Radio One and E. Steven Collins for their efforts to bring about a ``Gun Safe Philadelphia.''

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the votes on H. Res. 24 or H. Con. Res. 20, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, had I been present for the vote on H. Res. 78, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of prescription drug coverage for our nation's seniors. While I believe that the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 was flawed in many ways, I am glad that we have recognized the need for prescription drug coverage for Medicare recipients. Too many families have been unable to afford life sustaining medications, and it is encouraging that the Congress has seen fit to begin to address this grave problem. While there have been many legitimate concerns about the implementation of the MMA, I am encouraged that in this Congress, we will have the opportunity to improve on that original legislation. It is extremely important that seniors receive affordable prescription coverage. In addition to problems of affordability, we have heard many seniors report that the enrollment process is needlessly difficult to navigate. Along with the problems negotiating the paperwork, many seniors are faced with penalties for failing to meet specified deadlines. We must work to ensure that this process is as ``user friendly'' as possible, and that all eligible seniors are receiving the coverage they need. Madam Speaker, I call for the enrollment process to be streamlined so that it is easier for beneficiaries to enroll without the confusion seniors experienced in 2006. The Bush Administration should do a better job informing seniors in clear terms about which plans are available to which enrollees. I urge my colleagues to eliminate the current penalty for not signing up for a Part D plan the first time a person is eligible. Due to the confusion during the 2006 sign up process, some seniors were not able to enroll in a Part D plan and now will face this penalty. Pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline dedicate extensive resources to discovering lifesaving cures for devastating illnesses. I look forward to work with them, patient advocacy organizations, healthcare professionals and my fellow Members of Congress to ensure that every senior has access to the medications they need to stay healthy. It is my hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will work with me to make changes to Part D that improve and strengthen it for our seniors and help forge a prescription drug benefit that is meaningful, affordable and straightforward. The new leadership in Congress cares a great deal about our seniors, and it is time that we fulfill our promise to ensure that Part D serves seniors in the best way possible.

Mr. FATTAH

Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize renowned composer Nkeiru Okoye. On Monday, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, Ms. Okoye's composition, ``Voices Shouting Out'' will be performed by the esteemed Philadelphia Orchestra. This concert is, in fact, the 25th performance of her masterpiece. She deserves recognition for her musical accomplishments and her many efforts to bring a symphony of harmony to a world filled with discord.