Marcia Fudge

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. I appreciate the opportunity to anchor this Special Order hour for the Congressional Black Caucus. Currently, the CBC is chaired by the Honorable Barbara Lee from the Ninth Congressional District of California. My name is Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, and I represent the 11th Congressional District of Ohio. CBC members are advocates for human rights and advocates for families, nationally and internationally. We also play a significant role as local and regional activists. We work diligently to be the conscience of the Congress, but also provide dedicated and focused service to the citizens and congressional districts that have elected us. The vision of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus was to promote the public welfare through legislation designed to meet the needs of millions of neglected citizens. It continues to be a beacon and focal point for the legislative work and political activities of the Congressional Black Caucus today. To celebrate the month of February, we are proud to present a reflection on black history. Specifically, we will herald the unsung history makers in our communities. The origin of Black History Month, just for the record, what we now call Black History Month, was originated in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was selected in deference to Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, who were both born in that month. The son of a slave, Carter G. Woodson was born in New Canton, Virginia, in 1875. He began high school at the age of 20 and then proceeded to study at Berea College, the University of Chicago, the Sorbonne, and Harvard University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 1912. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915 to train black historians and to collect, preserve, and publish documents on black life and black people. He also founded the Journal of Negro History, Associated Publishers, and the Negro Bulletin. Woodson spent his life working to educate all people about the vast contributions made by black men and women throughout history. Mr. Woodson died in 1950. Black History Month continues his legacy of educating everyone about black history, which is American history. I am privileged to commend several amazing trailblazers within my congressional district's African American community. David Albritton. David Albritton lived from 1913 to 1994, a pioneering African American in the Ohio General Assembly. Interestingly enough, he was also a high jumper in the Olympic games. Albritton was born in Danville, Alabama, the hometown of Jesse Owens. Like Owens, Albritton was raised in the great city of Cleveland and became a track star at East Technical High School. Albritton also accompanied Owens to Ohio State University and the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin. During tryouts for the Olympics, he tied a world record of 6 feet, 9\1/2\ inches in the high jump. In 1960, he moved into public service when he won a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. In the House, he was named Chair of the House Interstate Cooperation Committee, making him the first African American in Ohio history to head a House committee. Albritton, a black hero raised in Cleveland, Ohio, is a member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, the Ohio Sport Hall of Fame, and the Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame. Then, Madam Speaker, there is Harry Smith. Harry C. Smith was born in 1863. He was a pioneer of the black press. Shortly after graduating from Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, he founded the Cleveland Gazette. The newspaper would become the longest publishing black weekly in America, earning its nickname ``The Old Reliable.'' It never missed a Saturday publication date in 58 years. Like Albritton, Smith was also a member of the Ohio General Assembly. In the course of his three-term career, Smith sponsored the Ohio Civil Rights Law of 1894 that established penalties against discrimination in public accommodations. In 1896, Smith sponsored the Mob Violence Act of 1896, which was an antilynching law. Though he lost his bids for the Republican nomination for Governor in 1926 and in 1928, he broke ground as the first black candidate for the position of Governor. Fannie Lewis: Fannie Lewis was a dynamic, revered, and respected member of Cleveland's City Council who passed away in 2008. Lewis was actually a native of Memphis, Tennessee, who moved north to Cleveland in 1951. A decade after she moved to her new hometown, she began her public life as a community activist in the Hough neighborhood. Even after she was elected to council in 1979, she kept her grassroots approach to politics--looking out for her hardworking constituents. Councilwoman Lewis fought relentlessly for her ward, never giving in and never giving up on Hough. This dedication led to the passage of the Fannie M. Lewis Cleveland Resident Employment law, which requires construction projects receiving $100,000 or more in funding from the city to employ people who live in the city on those projects. Jane Edna Hunter: Jane Edna Hunter was a prominent African American social worker who founded Cleveland's Phyllis Wheatley Association. Born to a sharecropper, Hunter defied the odds and graduated with a nursing degree. She later attended Marshall Law School in Cleveland, and passed the Ohio bar examination. In addition to her legal career, Hunter was a dedicated philanthropist. She organized the Phyllis Wheatley Association in 1911 to provide safe living quarters for unmarried African American women and girls. Following retirement, she founded the Phyllis Wheatley Foundation, a scholarship fund for African American high school graduates. She also founded the Women's Civic League of Cleveland, belonged to the NAACP, and served as vice president and executive committee member of the National Association of Colored Women. Highly esteemed around the Nation, Hunter was granted honorary degrees from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Mary Brown Martin: Mary Brown Martin, who championed academic achievement for all children, was the first black woman elected to the Cleveland Board of Education. She was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, to former slaves. In 1886, she moved to Cleveland, where she graduated from Central High School in 1900. In the 1920s, Martin was dedicated to teaching in the Cleveland public schools. She was profoundly dedicated to the students, and she advocated for their needs. To increase her advocacy for children, she ran and was elected to the Board of Education in 1930. She served three terms. The Mary B. Martin Elementary School on Brookline Avenue was named in honor of her service. Lastly, Madam Speaker, the black commanders of Cleveland: I congratulate Deputy Chief Prioleau Green, Commander Dwayne Drummond, Commander Ellis Johnson, Commander Dean McCaulley, Commander Leroy Morrow, and Commander Calvin Williams from Cleveland, Ohio. These outstanding law enforcement officers have honorably served and protected the people of Cleveland for more than 20 years, and they are still serving our city today. These outstanding officers were recently recognized by The Call and Post newspaper for their tireless service, exemplary leadership, and commitment to the community. I am proud they are among our police department's leadership-- protecting our people and risking their lives to keep our community safe. I am proud of all of these amazing black heroes who have given Cleveland its legacy of excellence and its legacy of activism. The 11th Congressional District of Ohio, which includes Cleveland, is a great place to live with its amazing history of black involvement and achievement. I now yield to my colleague from Texas, Representative Jackson Lee.

Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to enter remarks into the Record on this topic of Black History Month.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. I appreciate the opportunity to anchor this Special Order hour for the Congressional Black Caucus, the CBC. Currently, the CBC is chaired by the Honorable Barbara Lee from the Ninth Congressional District of California. My name is Representative Marcia L. Fudge, and I represent the 11th Congressional District of Ohio. CBC members are advocates for human rights and equality, nationally and internationally. Our members have played a significant role as local and regional activists, and continue to work diligently to be the conscience of the Congress. As Members of Congress, CBC members also promote legislation to aid neglected citizens throughout the world. We understand that the United States, as a bellwether, has the ability to positively impact our neighbors abroad. This is why tonight we turn our attention to the grave situation in Haiti after last month's devastating earthquake. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my colleague and friend from the great State of New York, Representative Clarke.

Ms. FUDGE. Thank you very much. I just want to, as well, thank you for your passion on this issue and for all of the work that you have done, as you say, representing one of the largest Haitian-American groups in this country. So I would like to say thank you for all of us members of the CBC. Mr. Speaker, as members of the CBC, we extend our deepest sympathy and our support to the people of Haiti. The nation, of course, recently experienced the largest recorded earthquake in its history. On January 12, the quake devastated many parts of the country, including the capital of Port-au-Prince. To put the earthquake in some kind of scale, it had a magnitude of 7.0 and a series of strong aftershocks. There have been at least 52 aftershocks at 4.5 magnitude or above. The damage is severe and catastrophic. The government of Haiti is reporting an estimated 112,000 deaths and 194,000 injured. The New York Times reports that 225,000 homes were severely damaged or collapsed, and nearly one-third of the country's population are currently at risk of long-term displacement and vulnerability. In total, it is estimated that 3 million people have been negatively affected by the earthquake. In the immediate wake of the earthquake, Haiti's President Rene Garcia Preval described conditions in his country as unimaginable and appealed for international assistance. Humanitarian assistance from the United States and from all over the world has been generous. The United States in the first two weeks following the earthquake sent aid workers focused in three areas. First, these workers immediately searched for survivors and provided rescue assistance. Teams with heavy-lifting equipment, medical equipment, and triage supplies were moved into the country. Volunteers next addressed Haitians' critical needs for food, clean water, and sanitation, medical assistance, and emergency shelter. And thirdly, they provided emergency relief experts to set up infrastructure and logistics operations. Numerous Americans have provided donations to fund these efforts. Also, the Congressional Black Caucus joined President Obama in calling for continued financial aid for Haiti's quake survivors. The sheer scale of the relief effort in Haiti has brought together a tremendous capacity and a willingness to help. The massive humanitarian relief operation underway in Haiti has been hampered by a number of significant challenges, including a general lack of transportation, extremely limited communication systems, and damaged infrastructure. The relief effort is expected to last for many, many months and recovery and reconstruction will begin as soon as possible. President Barack Obama assembled heads of U.S. agencies to begin working immediately on a coordinated response to this disaster. The U.S. Agency For International Development, better known as USAID, through the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, is the lead agency within the U.S. Government responding to this disaster. On January 14, the administration announced $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Haiti to meet the immediate needs on the ground. The Department of Homeland Security has temporarily halted the deportation of Haitians and granted temporary protective status for 18 months to Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. President Obama has pledged an aggressive coordinated effort by the U.S. Government. The State Department, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and USAID have already mobilized to ensure that critical resources are positioned to support the response-and-recovery effort, including efforts to find and assist American citizens in Haiti. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have proactively engaged to facilitate aid to Haiti. Recently, I joined my colleagues in the House of Representatives to unanimously pass H.R. 4462. The resolution would allow individuals who made charitable contributions to those in Haiti to claim an itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return instead of waiting until next year. The legislation also allows those who made donations via text message to use phone bills as proof of donation. I was proud to be an original cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation. Representative Meek coordinated a letter to Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader Boehner, Appropriations Chairman Obey, and Appropriations Ranking Member Lewis requesting robust emergency funding to assist Haiti. Immediate U.S. assistance to Haiti in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake is vital to support stability in that very fragile country. Representative Maxine Waters is introducing a bill to require the Treasury Department to cancel Haiti's debts. The government of Haiti cannot afford to invest in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and development efforts while continuing to make payments on debts owed to multilateral financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Even before the earthquake, debt service payments to these institutions were a tremendous burden that interfered with the ability of the government of Haiti to meet the needs of its people. The bill requires Secretary Geithner to support three specific actions that should be a part of the international community's response to this very, very terrible tragedy. The first is the complete cancellation of all remaining debts owed by Haiti to multilateral financial institutions; secondly, the suspension of Haiti's debt service payments to these institutions until such time as the debts are canceled; and thirdly, the provision of additional assistance to Haiti in the form of grants so that the country does not accumulate additional debts. Representative Meek, in coordination with Chairman Skelton and Representative Mack, have introduced a resolution to commemorate the efforts of the United States Armed Forces, of local first responders, and other members of Operation Unified Response for their swift and coordinated action in response to the earthquake in Haiti. I am proud to say I have supported each of these initiatives. There has been an outpouring of international support for Haiti. The first priority has been saving lives. That means getting water, food, shelter, medicine, and other basic supplies to victims. Beyond the essentials are issues of security and debt repayments, both of which can undermine rebuilding efforts. The United Nation's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sought approval from the Security Council to send an additional 3,500 security officers to Haiti. The officers are needed both to maintain public order and to guard deliveries of food and aid. So far, violence has been scattered, but fears of violence grow as the difficulties of living without water, food, and shelter mount. As World Bank President Robert Zolick has said, outside support should be in the form of grants. Through grants, money can be appropriated according to goals and capacity while easing Haiti's debt burden. For example, Haiti owes about $38 million to the World Bank. Mr. Zolick, however, announced that no debt repayments would be due for the next 5 years, and the World Bank is seeking to cancel all of Haiti's remaining debt owed to it. Many relief organizations are accepting donations to send to Haitians. Cash donations are the most efficient and effective way to help the relief effort in Haiti right now. They allow humanitarian organizations to purchase--often within the affected region itself--the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis. You can find organizations and ways to help through the White House's Web site, which is www.whitehouse.gov or visit the U.S. Agency for International Development's Web site at www.usaid.gov, which has a list of nongovernmental organizations and instructions on how to help. Mr. Speaker, Haiti is the world's first black-led republic and the first Caribbean state to achieve independence, in 1804. Haiti is still plagued by violent confrontations between rival gangs and political groups. Current President Rene Preval won the presidential election in February 2006 with 51 percent of the vote. Haiti's serious underlying social problem, the wealth gap between the impoverished Creole-speaking majority and the French-speaking minority--1 percent of whom own nearly half of the country's wealth-- remains unresolved. Even prior to the earthquake, Haiti's infrastructure had all but collapsed and drug trafficking has become a major problem. Today, Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the Western Hemisphere and prior to the earthquake was ranked 149 out of 182 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index. We've all seen the pictures on the TV of the children of Haiti. It is heartbreaking. We all recognize the urgent need for assistance to the smallest of the earthquake's victims. The outpouring of sympathy has led many to consider adopting a Haitian child. However, Mr. Speaker, the U.S. State Department recently announced that new adoption applications are not being processed. At this time, the main priority is reuniting children with their families. The process of determining whether a child is an orphan is a long and complicated one. The recent adoptions that have been processed were Haitian children who had previously been matched and cleared for entry into the United States. Since last week, the U.N. Children's Fund, UNICEF, and its partners have identified and registered some 200 unaccompanied children found in orphanages and wandering in neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince. Based on the given information and photographs taken, workers will begin to trace the families of these children, if they exist. A similar registry was used after the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia and more recently in cyclone-hit Myanmar. For now, the best assistance that individuals can provide is to make a financial contribution to a reputable relief or humanitarian organization working in Haiti. Days after the earthquake, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced the designation of Temporary Protective Status of Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010. This designation will allow eligible Haitian nationals in the United States to continue living and working in our community for the next 18 months. TPS will provide a temporary refuge for Haitian nationals who are currently in the United States and whose personal safety would be endangered by returning to Haiti. Granting TPS to Haitians would provide them with the ability to work legally and contribute to the reconstruction of their country until it is safe for them to return. Haiti has enormous potential, but rebuilding the country requires a coordinated strategy. Here in the U.S., we can support the transition from humanitarian assistance to reconstruction through cash-for-work programs, so Haitians can be paid for clearing roadways and reconstructing infrastructure. Haiti can also boost its private sector by investing in and building the infrastructure for power grids, ports and roads. Also important is revitalizing agriculture so that Haitians can replace food aid programs with food harvested from their own farms. To jump-start the Haitian economy, in 2008 Congress passed the Haiti Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, better known as the HOPE Act, which provides special rules for the duty-free treatment of select apparel imports which is Haiti's dominant manufacturing sector. With access to the United States market through this agreement, Haiti can create jobs in its apparel and agricultural sectors. Haiti's reconstruction must create jobs for Haitians, grow the Haitian economy, instill confidence in the government, and be managed transparently. This will require Haitians to unify, since foreign assistance can only go so far. The Haitian people working with their government must come together to rebuild a newer, stronger Haiti. The difficulties faced by Haiti should not deter us from providing assistance. Our leadership and moral strength is only enhanced when we help others. Truly, we lift as we rise. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to my good friend, distinguished colleague and one who knows much about the Haiti situation, Mr. Donald Payne from New Jersey.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to enter and extend their remarks in the Record on this topic.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 901, which recognizes the 49th anniversary of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. Forty-nine years ago, Ruby Bridges became the first African American student to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Amidst deadly threats, violence, and abuse, Ruby attended her first grade class every day over the course of the year. She was escorted to school by Federal marshals just so she could receive the same education as her white peers. When Ruby entered her new classroom, the white students refused to sit and learn next to her. Ruby was fortunate to have Ms. Barbara Henry as her teacher during this tumultuous year. Ms. Henry instructed Ruby in an empty classroom over the course of the school year. The two played games, talked, and learned from each other amongst the racially tense times. It is not surprising that Ms. Bridges still considers her year with Ms. Henry as one of the most pleasant times in her life. Outside the classroom, Ruby came face to face with the ugliness that erupted during this time. Militant segregationists took to the streets in protest, and riots erupted all over the city. Her family also felt the impact of her bravery. Her father, Abon Bridges, and her grandparents were all fired from their jobs. However, many folks, both black and white, supported the Bridges family during their trying time. People sent letters of support, neighbors watched after their house, and helpful friends and community members made financial contributions. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Prominent figures like the Reverend Martin Luther King, Justice Thurgood Marshall, and the Little Rock Nine are civil rights activists who are typically credited with moving the civil rights movement forward. While the story of Ruby Bridges is not widely known, her contributions to the movement are equally deserving of great recognition. Today, Ruby stands as a hero to all of us. She has taken the lessons she has learned from her youth and dedicated her life to helping students. Her foundation helps students deal with racism and diversity at school and within their own community. She also wrote ``Through My Eyes,'' explaining her first-grade experience, and now partners with organizations that promote nonviolence in schools. Her monumental contributions to the American civil rights movement deserve to be recognized. I want to thank Representative Gwen Moore for bringing this resolution forward, and urge my colleagues to support this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE. I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore) for such time as she may consume.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I just want to close by of course recognizing the fact that, as we begin Black History Month, there is no better person for us to recognize today than Ruby Bridges. I want to thank her for her courage, her determination, and the work she is doing today to help students across our great Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, H. Res. 901.

Ms. FUDGE. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 901) recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary of the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, as amended.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on H. Res. 901 into the Record.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Guthrie and urge all of my colleagues to support House Resolution 1043. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and support H. Res. 1043, which recognizes Brescia University for its 60 years of commitment and leadership in higher education. Brescia University was founded in 1950 in Owensboro, Kentucky. It was created by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph as a Catholic institution, emphasizing the liberal arts and preparing its traditional and nontraditional students for successful careers and service to others. With a school motto of ``Make a difference,'' the university instills the values of community, leadership, justice, and service in its students through the classes and activities they offer, as well as the staff and faculty that teach them. The university provides its students with a sense of faith in community on campus with courses in theology, philosophy, ministry and spirituality, as well as opportunities for religious expression and faith enhancement. Throughout its existence, Brescia University has established a history of serving Owensboro and the surrounding region. Brescia University also provides each of their students with a quality liberal arts education, helping to shape them into rounded citizens. Brescia offers six different degrees in over 60 different programs and offers small classes with frequent one-on-one time between teachers and students. Continuing the emphasis on the sense of community, the university takes pride in knowing all of their students individually. Each are provided all the resources and opportunities they need to find success in their lives so that they may fully participate in the life of the campus. Brescia University also excels athletically. The university is home to 15 intercollegiate athletic teams. The Brescia Bearcats, as they are called, are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and recently added competitive men's and women's track teams this year. The mission of Brescia University to form well-educated, well-rounded young adults with a sense of community and service to others is one that should be encouraged in all educational institutions in our country. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and thank Mr. Guthrie for bringing this resolution forward. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1043 into the Record.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1043) recognizing Brescia University for 60 years of leadership in higher education, as amended.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Thank you so much. And I want to commend Representative Payne, not just for his words, but the fact that he is indeed the historian of our caucus. And it's just always a pleasure to have him put things in perspective for us. Thank you so much. At this time, I would like to yield to our friend and colleague from Georgia, David Scott, Representative Scott.

Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure again to be the anchor for the Congressional Black Caucus Special Order Hour. I want to thank our chairwoman, Barbara Lee, for talking with us the last week or two about jobs and how important jobs is going to be for this nation. I would at this time like to welcome and ask our Chair, the Honorable Barbara Lee from California, to please now join me. She has directed us in so many different ways over this year, I am just especially pleased to be a part of this caucus.

Ms. FUDGE. Thank you so much, Madam Chair. I want to thank you for your call to action. General Leave

Ms. FUDGE. I would ask, Madam Speaker, that Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material for the Record.

Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield to my friend and colleague from Wisconsin, Representative Moore.

Ms. FUDGE. Thank you very, very much. At this time I want to--we've got obviously a lot of Members here tonight. I thank you all so much for being here. What I'd like to do just briefly is to have Representative Jackson-Lee just introduce some points, and I'd like at that point for Representative Ellison from Minnesota to join us in a brief discussion. Representative Jackson-Lee from Texas.

Ms. FUDGE. Thank you very much. Does the gentlelady from Wisconsin or Texas or California wish to respond?

Ms. FUDGE. We have been joined by another one of our colleagues, Laura Richardson from California. I'd like to yield to the Congresslady.