Al Green

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. If the gentleman would yield to me?

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I yield myself 3 minutes at this time. Madam Chair, this is an important amendment. This amendment will not be a perfect amendment with references to what it seeks to do, but it is a perfecting amendment. This amendment seeks to provide disclosure and enhance accountability, and I'd like to make it known that this amendment received a lot of help and input from the Office of Congressman Hensarling, and I thank him for what he has done. This amendment would provide that an institution engaged in the lending process with the funds from the program, that this institution will on applicable loan documents indicate that the funds being loaned are funds that are coming from the fund. This is important because the public desires to know where the money is going, how it is being utilized. This amendment would also require, if the institution has a Web site, it will require that that Web site contain the written reports of the Treasury Secretary. These reports would indicate, to the extent that loans have been made, how the money has been utilized, and this, again, would provide additional transparency which will lead to accountability. Finally, the amendment will require lending institutions to make known to the capable, competent, and qualified borrowers that they will have the opportunity to participate in the program by way of receiving loans and that these loans must be based upon the law as it is written and not allow any type of discrimination, invidious discrimination to infiltrate the program. I think this is an amendment that goes a long way toward helping us improve our transparency and accountability. It is not a perfect amendment, but it is a perfecting amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I especially want to thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for working with us on this resolution. I especially want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Smith, for his working with us on the resolution, and I also want to give an extra special thanks to Mr. Sensenbrenner because the first time we introduced this resolution he was the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and he was very helpful not only up front in helping me with the resolution, but also behind the scenes making sure that we got the resolution through the House. Mr. Sensenbrenner, I will be forever grateful to you. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to present this resolution because the NAACP stands for what America stands for, and that is liberty and justice for all. The NAACP was founded in 1909, as was indicated, by a diverse group of Americans. It is important to note that the NAACP has always been an integrated organization. From its inception, it has been an integrated organization. While I applaud all that has been done by the African Americans who have been a part of the NAACP, I have to also make mention of the many other persons who are not African Americans, because we simply did not get here by ourselves. There were persons of good will of all ethnicities who have been of benefit to us to help us have these opportunities that we have today. So today we want to thank persons who were members of the NAACP at its inception, but also persons who helped to bring the NAACP along the way. James Weldon Johnson was the first African American executive secretary of the NAACP. But it's important to note that prior to his becoming the first, there were five other executive secretaries, none of whom were African American. It's important to note that the NAACP accords an award annually. It is known as the Spingarn Medal. This is given to a person who has made great achievements in the area of helping the human rights and civil rights struggle. It is important to note that the Spingarn Medal is named after Joel Spingarn. The Spingarn family was a great contributor to the NAACP. In fact, Thurgood Marshall was a great litigator in part because of other persons who made contributions to the NAACP. They were great contributors, and as a result we had this litigation to go forward. The NAACP is an organization that welcomes anyone who desires to be a part of the fight for human dignity and human freedom. I believe that the NAACP merits this special expression from the Congress of the United States of America, and I also believe that we should thank Senator Dodd, because he has the Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 3 that has 15 Senators who have signed onto it, and that will hopefully pass the Senate. I am asking all of my colleagues to please support this legislation because the NAACP made it possible for us to sleep where we sleep, because of Shelley v. Kraemer and Barrows v. Jackson. It allows us to eat where we eat because of Brown v. Board of Education and other cases associated with it. So, literally, we live where we live, we sleep where we sleep, and we eat where we eat because of the NAACP. It has earned the right to be recognized by the Congress of the United States of America, and I beg that my colleagues would support this resolution.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand to honor those who have died and have given their lives so that we might have a better life. But it's not enough to simply thank them with words. This is why the 111th Congress has passed Homes for Heroes, to help with the homelessness among our veterans. This is why we provided college benefits for the children of our veterans. This is why we produced a $2,400 tax credit for employers who hire our veterans. This is why we provided a $250 economic recovery benefit to our veterans. This is why we produced $23 billion in health care and other services for our veterans. They have been there for us. I thank God for them. It's time for us to continue to be there for them.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise because I love America. No one loves the Constitution more than I. No one recites the Pledge of Allegiance with greater spirit than I. No one loves the Declaration of Independence more than I. I must tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I was shocked last night beyond belief when I heard the comments of a person who has been nominated for the Senate of the United States of America. I heard the comments of one Mr. Rand Paul, and his comments were shocking because his comments caused me to reflect on a bygone era that I would hate to see us return to. You see, Mr. Speaker, I have sat in the back of the bus even when there were seats available up near the front. I have had to go to the backdoor to get my food even when there was a facility with no one inside. I have had to drink my water from colored water fountains even when there were other water fountains available, and we had to have a line to go to the colored water fountain. I have had to suffer the indignation and humiliation that segregation imposes upon a person. I was shocked because I could not believe that a person nominated for the Senate of the United States of America could not say that he would support continuing what we have already fought for and won, and that is, to have persons of color go in the front door at a private facility. I was shocked. I am still shocked. And I come before this House today not to condemn the person. I don't condemn people, but I do condemn what they do. I condemn what they say. I come before this House today not to condemn him but, rather, to give him the opportunity to explain himself. And I admonish him that if he does not explain himself, others will explain his position. Either he will explain his position or others will do it for him. I believe that he should explain it, and he should do it with words that are as conspicuously clear as possible, because what he has said is painful to those of us who had to endure these indignations and these humiliations. I was one of those persons who grew up in the 1960s. I know what it is like to have to do the things that we would have to revisit should he have his way, based upon what I have heard. But maybe he was not given a fair opportunity, and there is time now for him to do for himself what others will do for him if he does not. I do not know the person who hosts the show ``Morning Joe,'' but I think that he made a significant point. He said that he has 24 hours to explain himself. I accept the 24-hour pronouncement, and I beg that, within the next 24 hours, that he will explain himself so that we will not misunderstand that on one hand he says he would march with Dr. King but, on the other hand, he does not say that he would allow me, a Member of the House of Representatives in the greatest country in the world, to continue to enter the front door of a private business. It is a painful revelation. It is a past that we don't like talking about, but it is a past that I had to suffer and live through. And I beg that my colleagues understand that this is no attempt to defeat him in his election. That is for the people of Kentucky. But there is an attempt to give a person the opportunity to speak up, to stand up and stand for what this country has made possible by virtue of the great and noble ideals presented in the Declaration of Independence: All persons are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I beg that the gentleman will honor my request.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the managing Member for yielding me this time, and I also thank the Member who is managing for the other side for allowing this important piece of legislation to come to the floor. I want to thank Representative Hensarling who is not here today. He is in Financial Services, and we have a hearing there that is exceedingly important; but for that, I am confident he would be here. He and I serve on the committee together. Representative Hensarling and I have been working on this resolution for some time. For us it has become a means by which we not only developed what I believe to be a good piece of legislation for the House, but also we have developed a good relationship as a result of working together. This is truly a bipartisan piece of legislation. We have 107 cosponsors from both sides of the aisle. I also would like to thank Representative John Dingell for helping us with this piece of legislation. He, at a crucial time, stepped forward to help us move the legislation such that we are now on the floor with it. I would also mention the staff members from Congressman Hensarling's office and from my office, my staff, I thank you for what you have done, Representative Dingell's staff, and all of the persons who have been associated with this piece of legislation, especially Representative Capps because I thank you for helping us get it to the floor as well. This resolution, H. Res. 713, does two things: it recognizes the significant contributions of the auto dealerships; and it expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that dealerships which were successful, and I highlight and underline successful, dealerships that were successful and are being closed, some have been closed because of the economic crisis, that these dealerships be given consideration when the market rebounds and we start to bring on new auto dealerships. It is an opportunity for consideration. With these two things in mind, I would share these thoughts: one, that the auto dealerships are the face of the auto industry within our various communities. As the face of the industry, they do more than simply sell cars, which is a good thing to do. Selling cars promotes growth and jobs, and helps us have people who are employed, but they do more than this. They also engage in being good corporate citizens, which means that they allow their largess to be shared by various not- for-profit organizations in the community, various community organizations that are involved at the grass-roots level in communities. For example, the Little League baseball teams will often be sponsored by auto dealerships. Other small, but significant, organizations in our communities benefit from these auto dealerships. They are across the length and breadth of the community in large cities and small towns. They make it possible for us to experience the opportunity of having largess that we would not ordinarily have, and I will tell you that that largess is being sorely missed at this time of economic crisis. So we want to get them back. We want to get them back online because they are good corporate citizens. My next point, 20,000 independently owned dealerships exist across the country--maybe a little more, maybe a little less, depending on who is counting and how you count--employing about 900,000 people, new car dealerships alone. These 900,000 jobs are jobs that our country benefits from greatly, and we have missed many of the jobs because of the dealerships going offline. We want to see these dealerships give the community the job base it has enjoyed by virtue of these many persons who were trained to do various and sundry things, giving these jobs back to the community. Bringing them back will be an important part of these dealerships coming back online as a result of the rebound in the economy. In 2008, there was about $650 billion that we can call revenue generated from the dealerships. They are truly small businesses at their best, and some of them large businesses because of just the sheer amount of revenue that they generate. But they are small businesses that benefit greatly from what we are trying to do in Financial Services today, but they are also small businesses that cause a community to benefit greatly because of what they do in the various communities wherein they are located. I would simply remind us that as we vote on this, please, dear friends, give thought to your community; give thought to the fact that this is a small business that brings jobs back to the community; give thought to the fact that these corporations are good corporate citizens, for the most part; that they are part of the fiber and the fabric of the communities; that they help the Little League baseball teams, the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, all of these organizations that benefit from their largess; and give some thought to the fact that but for them, many of our communities would not be as vibrant as they are. In fact, many of our communities are not as vibrant as they were because we have lost some of these various small businesses, these auto dealerships. I beg all of my colleagues, please support this resolution. It encourages us to do the right thing, and that is give these dealerships that were successful that went offline the opportunity, not because of some fault of their own but because of some economic crisis that they had little control over. In fact, no control over for the most part.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of this year's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I would like to recognize the history and contributions that Asian Pacific Americans have made to the development and progress of this country. Today, 16.6 million Asian Pacific Americans--approximately 5 percent of the population--call the United States their home. More than 70,000 call the 9th Congressional District of Texas home. And they represent 30 countries and ethnic groups that speak over 100 different languages. The first Asian Pacific Americans--Filipinos--established a community in present-day Louisiana in 1763 after fleeing mistreatment aboard Spanish ships. Since this beginning, the Asian Pacific American community came to encompass Native Hawaiians who served in the American Civil War, Chinese laborers who built the western end of the Transcontinental Railroad, Japanese Americans interned by the U.S. government during World War II, and extraordinary individuals who continue to shape our nation's history and aspirations. Today, Asian Pacific Americans have achieved success in many areas. Figures such as Minoru Yamasaki, I. M. Pei, Maya Lin, and Gyo Obata designed magnificent structures including the World Trade Center and the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC. Authors like Maxine Hong Kingston, Amy Tan, Jumpha Lahiri, and Ha Jin communicate the Asian Pacific American experience through their writing. The 40 Asian Pacific Americans who have served in Congress since 1903 have been ardent advocates for their community. They include Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole, the first Asian Pacific American in Congress, and Representative Patsy Mink, the first Asian Pacific American woman elected to Congress. Academics Ji-Yeon Yuh, Gary Okihiro, Madeline Hsu, Ronald Takaki, Frank Wu, Kenji Yoshino, and Karen Umemoto, continue to challenge our world view through their scholarship. Entertainers such as Lucy Liu, George Takei, Bruce Lee, Yo-Yo. Ma, Sarah Chang, Ne-Yo, Norah Jones, Leehom Wang, Margaret Cho, and Wah Chung to break stereotypes and showcase the diversity in the Asian Pacific American community. Despite many successful individuals and the significant progress Asian Pacific Americans have made in this country, they continue to face challenges that hinder their ability to achieve the American Dream. 12.6 percent of Asian Pacific Americans live below the poverty line compared to 12.4 percent for the United States population as a whole. Poverty rates among Southeast Asian Americans are much higher than the national average. 37.8 percent of Hmong, 29.3 percent of Cambodian, 18.5 percent of Laotian, and 16.6 percent of Vietnamese live in poverty. In the housing market, one in five Asian Pacific Americans faces housing discrimination when buying a home. In 2008, Asian Pacific Americans suffered the largest percentage decline in homeownership of any racial group. One in four APA students is Limited English Proficient or lives in a linguistically isolated household where parents have Limited English Proficiency. Compounding these challenging educational factors is the high school drop-out rate among Southeast Asian American. 40 percent of Hmong, 38 percent of Laotians, and 35 percent of Cambodians do not complete high school. Moreover, only 14 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders over 25 years old have at least a bachelor's degree, compared to 27 percent for the overall population. 30 percent of Asian Pacific Americans face employment discrimination--the largest of any group--compared with African Americans at 26 percent. And 17 percent of Asian Americans and 24 percent of Pacific Islanders do not have health coverage. So as we continue to strive for an America that is more equitable, compassionate, and mindful of our place in the world, we should not forget the contributions and needs of the Asian Pacific American community. For the history and future of Asian Pacific Americans is firmly intertwined with the past and destiny of America. Here in Congress, let us renew our pledge to work for Asian Pacific Americans as we do for all Americans. I wish all Americans a meaningful celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for the time, and I want to thank the Honorable Alcee Hastings, a most respected Member of this House. I am honored that he would present this resolution honoring a most respected organization in this country, the National Urban League. The Honorable Alcee Hastings has been a part of the avant-garde when it comes to human rights and civil rights and protecting those who are among the least, the last and the lost in society, which is what the Urban League seeks to do. One hundred years of service to the United States of America, and indirectly to the planet Earth because indirectly what you do for one, you do for all. I am honored to mention that the honorable Marc Morial has continued the great tradition of leadership established in the Urban League. He is the current president and CEO. In Houston, we have the honorable Judson Robinson, who is the president and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League, and he has done a stellar job as well. The Urban League is now and has always been an integrated organization, founded by two persons of different hues, and continues that legacy, that heritage, if you will, of representing all persons, but making sure that those who have been left behind have the opportunity to catch up. I am honored to tell you that the Urban League has this goal of self- reliance, and it perfects the goal of self-reliance by way of political parity, by way of making real the great and noble American ideal expressed in Baker v. Carr: one person, one vote. The Urban League seeks to cause those who were locked out of the process to have the opportunity to not only participate, but to have their votes mean something. The Urban League seeks to have self-reliance through economic empowerment, the notion that equality of opportunity ought to exist for all within this great country. Equality of opportunity. Not give me something for nothing but give the opportunity to succeed on merits or fail on demerits, the opportunity to participate in the process. One hundred years of service. One hundred years of combating poverty, inequality, and social injustice. I close with this reminder, a cliche, a phrase, if you will, that is worn out, and it is worn because of a good reason, because it means something. That phrase is this: if we did not have the National Urban League, we would surely have to create it.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was there when the President signed the health care bill into law. I saw him sign it in ink, but my heart was heavy because I knew that while he was signing in ink, it was written in prayers, the prayers of some 46 million people who did not have insurance. Signed in ink, written in prayers, but also written in tears, the tears of parents who have children with preexisting conditions who could not get insurance for their children. Signed in ink, written in prayers, tears, as well as blood, because in this country 45,000 people die annually because they do not have insurance. That's one person every 12 minutes. So I do not stand for and will not stand for reinstating tears, for reinstating those prayers, and I will not have the blood of the 45,000 on my hands. I stand with the bill.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, Tuesday, April 20, 2010 marked the observance of National Equal Pay Day--a time to celebrate the women who have blazed trails for gender equality, reflect on the progress that has been made since the Equal Pay Act and recommit ourselves to closing the wage gap between women and men. When the Equal Pay Act became law in 1963, women who worked full- time, year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. That figure only went up to 77 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2008. It is unconscionable that more than 40 years later, women continue to be paid less for performing the same job as their male colleagues. Equal Pay Day reminds us of the need to recommit to ending the injustice of wage discrimination. Last year, one of the first major bills signed into law by President Obama in January 2009, was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which restores the right of women and other minorities to challenge unfair pay in court. Specifically, the bill overturned a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it much harder for women and other minority groups to pursue pay discrimination claims. As long as workers file their charges within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck, their claims for a remedy will be considered timely. In January 2009, the House of Representatives also passed the Paycheck Fairness Act which closes the loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and imposes penalties on employers who discriminate based on gender. We look forward to working with the Senate to complete this bill and send it to the President's desk. Pay inequity is not just an issue that impacts women; families, communities, and our entire economy suffer because of this injustice. Our Nation is still recovering from an economic recession and thousands of Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet. We should not allow pay inequity to exacerbate our economic challenges. Let us reaffirm our commitment to eliminating this inequality so that we can truly achieve equal pay for equal work.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the passing of legendary civil rights pioneer Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Height as our Nation mourns the loss of a true visionary, champion, and leader in the fight for civil rights and justice for all Americans. Dr. Height began her career as a civil rights activist when she joined the National Council of Negro Women. She would later serve as president of the organization from 1957-1998. In her position with the Council, which connected nearly 4 million women worldwide, she tackled issues that affected women, including child care for working mothers, health and nutrition and providing adequate housing for families in need. She also served as National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated from 1946-1957. She remained active with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority throughout her life. While there she developed leadership training programs and interracial and ecumenical education programs. Widely recognized as one of the founding members of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Height was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. In 2004, she also received the Congressional Gold Medal. In 1998, she told People magazine, ``I want to be remembered as someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for justice and freedom. . . . I want to be remembered as one who tried.'' There is no doubt that Dr. Height will be remembered as someone who not only tried, but went a step beyond to secure liberty and justice for all Americans. Dr. Dorothy Height's leadership in the struggle for equality and justice for all people will continue to serve as an inspiration to our Nation.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, this nation lost a historic and influential figure in the struggle for civil rights, Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks. Dr. Hooks served this country throughout his life through his unwavering devotion to protecting the rights of minorities and the poor. I express my condolences to his family and all of those who were touched by his many years of service to our community. Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks was a man of great character and moral conviction. He served as the executive director of the NAACP for over 15 years, restoring the organization's financial soundness and membership base. He created several initiatives to combat discrimination, from projects that provided employment opportunities in Major League Baseball to economic development initiatives in urban communities. This great civil rights leader not only served as executive director of the NAACP, but also served our great nation as a World War II veteran. His experiences in the war led to his fight against social injustices in the United States. Dr. Hooks also served in the ministry, as a minister at the Greater Middle Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. His work will live on through his contributions to our society as well as the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute at University of Memphis. Dr. Hooks was a great friend of mine, a thoughtful mentor, but more importantly, he was a stalwart champion of the least, the last and the lost. His philanthropy will be remembered forever and serve as an inspiration and guide for futures to come.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I extend my condolences to the community of Raleigh County, West Virginia, as it mourns the loss of 29 miners in the collapse of the Upper Big Branch Mine-South, the worst U.S. mining disaster in decades. I also would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of victims who perished in the collapse. The profession of coal mining is important not only to our nation's past, but also to its future, as we search for alternatives to our dependence on foreign oil. These professions power our economies and shape our culture. I commend the tireless efforts of Raleigh County's first responders, as well as the volunteer efforts of those trained in mine rescue, and for the long hours they devoted to save the lives of the trapped miners. The role of Congress in securing the health and safety of coal miners is essential and important. I take my role in the process of ensuring that violations of safety codes are properly dealt with and recorded, so communities like Raleigh County, West Virginia can avoid tragedy. I would like to thank Rep. Rahall for introducing this piece of legislation, and express our Nation's sympathy and support for the fallen miners, their families and their community.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many years ago I heard Dr. Benjamin Hooks, who at the time was the executive director of the National NAACP, proclaim in the words of C.A. Tinsley, ``Harder yet may be the fight.'' I thought I understood what he meant at the time; however, events as of late have provided additional occularity and given me greater clarity with reference to this statement, ``Harder yet may be the fight.'' First, a brief vignette. On Sunday, prior to voting on the health care bill that was signed by the President, as I was leaving the Cannon Office Building, I had a friend to share with me what was thought to be some sage advice. My friend indicated that it might be prudent--not necessarily in these words--or judicious to make my way to the Capitol Building by way of the tunnel because there were persons who were saying ugly things and doing ugly things in the area that I would have to traverse. I thought. And as I thought, I reflected on Rosa Parks, a lone African American female in the segregated South, who concluded on one evening that she was going to stand up for justice and do what was right by taking a seat on a bus. And little did she know that, by taking that seat, she would ignite a spark that would start a civil rights movement. I would add that it was Virginia Durr, an Anglo female, who posted the bail for Rosa Parks to get out of jail. I reflected on 1965 and what we now know as Bloody Sunday, when there were persons who wanted to peacefully march from Selma to Montgomery, and they knew that as they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge there were members of the constabulary waiting on the other side of the bridge prepared to do them harm under the color of law. And they did. I would also remind us that it was Frank Johnson, an Anglo Federal judge, who signed the law that allowed the march to continue. He signed an order. And as I reflected on these incidents, I realized that if Rosa Parks could take that seat by herself, surely I could cross that street and come over to vote. And I realized that if those marchers, including John Lewis, could march into the constabulary armed with clubs, I could surely cross that street with a constabulary out to protect me. And so I bring these thoughts to the attention of this House because this truly is a fight. C.A. Tinsley was right. The fight is not yet over. Harder yet may be the fight. But I want to commend those persons of good will who have stood up and spoken up against the behavior that was exhibited by the persons who were out on the streets. I commend every person, Republican, Democrat. It doesn't matter your party affiliation. This kind of behavior merits condemnation. I would simply close with this. As we move forward and as these kinds of ugly incidents take place, I beg that we would continue to condemn this behavior, because C.A. Tinsley was right: Harder yet may be the fight. Might may often yield to right. Wickedness awhile may seem to reign, and Satan's cause may seem to gain. But there's a God that rules above, with a hand of power and a heart of love. And when we're right, he will help us fight. Harder yet may be the fight.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the healthcare reform package that its passage will complete. Today, the House of Representatives has been given the opportunity to take a concrete and powerful step toward completing the work of reforming our healthcare system that began decades ago. For much of the last year, my colleagues and I have debated many ways in which we could work to lower costs, improve the quality of care and expand coverage. What we pass today will begin to achieve all three. In the wake of the financial crisis that has devastated our economy, concerns of our nation's deficit are well-placed and wholly appropriate. Despite what many of its opponents would argue, the passage of this healthcare reform package will reduce the national deficit by an estimated $1.3 trillion over the next 20 years according to the Congressional Budget Office. Through the course of this debate, we have seen misinformation about healthcare reform instill fear into the hearts of the American people. We have seen the distortion of truth breed uncertainty about whether healthcare reform will be to the benefit of our country. Despite all of the debate, and at times confusion, there remains one incontrovertible truth: the cost of inaction, when our country spends nearly $2.5 trillion a year on healthcare, over 45 million Americans are without health insurance, and 45,000 people die every year due to lack of health insurance, is simply too great. The time for debate has ended. The question we are faced with is quite simple: do we act to shift the course of this country towards affordable, quality healthcare, or do we continue down the path of unsustainable costs and squander this historic opportunity to bring about meaningful change in the lives of the American people? I am proud to vote in favor of this giant step toward putting Americans in control of their health care and I look forward to this legislation being signed into law so that we may move forward with this much needed reform.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I want to thank the team that worked on this effort. Of course, that would be the honorable Chair of the subcommittee, Mr. Meeks. It would be the Honorable Maxine Waters. It would also be Mr. Miller, the ranking member on the subcommittee and, of course, the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Bachus. Madam Speaker, I must tell you that my comments have been revised because I cannot allow this moment to go by without speaking to the comments that were made by Mr. Bachus. He spoke to our hearts and he spoke truth. It's not easy to stand in the well of the House of Representatives and speak the kind of truth that we heard. A son of the South and a Representative from Alabama stood in the well of the House, and he spoke the truth about one of the greatest atrocities ever imposed upon humankind and about how one country, in an effort to extricate and liberate itself, had to pay for the very liberation that it accorded itself. It meant something to me to hear this son of the South speak this kind of truth in the well of the Congress of the United States of America. So I commend you and I salute you. Mr. Miller, I thank you as well. The two of you deserve to have it said that you truly spoke truth to power tonight. Thank you.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I did not know Charlie Wilson, but I know friends of Charlie Wilson, and based upon what his friends say, he was truly a remarkable person. I admire people who march to the beat of a different drummer. I admire people who are original, who do things in a very good way, but they do the things that they do in their very own way. It appears that Charlie Wilson was such a person. While he could easily have been a great Congressperson representing the people of his district and not traveling abroad, he took it upon himself to not only help the people of Afghanistan but to go there and be a part of it and to actually take others into Afghanistan as well to help people with a resistance movement. He marched to the beat of a different drummer. He did not allow the circumstances of what we call ``the norm'' to prevent him from doing unusual things in a most significant way. I regret that I did not have the opportunity to meet him, because I believe that such a person has a positive impact on the lives around him; and as I listen to his friends speak so highly of what he was able to do here in the Congress of the United States of America, I only can say, Charlie, I didn't have an opportunity to meet you on this side, but I know that at some point, I'll have an opportunity to meet you, and I want you to share some of those many stories with me. You have been a friend of this country, and this country loves you. God bless you, Charlie. I know that wherever you are, there's a good time being had.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there are those who contend that we are moving too quickly, we're moving too swiftly, and that we must slow down. In fact, this translates into we really should not go forward at all. And to these who would contend that we should stop at this point, that we should simply let it go, my response is: we cannot let health care go, because it won't let us go. The system is not sustainable. It is unsustainable as currently implemented. Currently, we're spending about $2.5 trillion per year on health care; $2.5 trillion is a big number. It's difficult to get your mind around $2.5 trillion; $79,000 a second, however, is a number that we can comprehend. And that is what we are spending--$79,000 per second. By 2018, depending on who's counting and how you count the numbers, we will be spending $139,000 per second. That would be more than 20 percent of GDP. We cannot sustain the current system. It must be revamped. This system has to change: 46 million people uninsured, depending on who's counting, when you count, and how you count. In my State of Texas, 6 million people uninsured and 1.4 million children in the State of Texas are uninsured. In Harris County, where I reside, 1.1 million people are uninsured. The system cannot continue as it is constructed. We spend $100 billion per year in emergency rooms; $100 billion per year to cover those who are uninsured. That's money that could be well spent in a physician's office and would save us a lot of money and would also help us to deal with preventive measures as opposed to responding to illnesses when they become almost dire. The system must change. We currently have a system wherein there are many people who are too young for Medicare. They make too much to receive Medicaid. And they don't make enough to buy their insurance. The system has to change. We cannot allow preexisting conditions to continue to prevent pregnant women from getting proper treatment. Pregnancy is a preexisting condition under the current system. The system has to change. We must find a way to muster up the courage to take on this challenge. If we could pass and did pass Social Security when the polls were against it, if we passed other crucial measures when the polls were against them, we can pass health care reform. And for those who contend that in this country how you got here will depend upon whether you will get treatment, my response is this: if you commit a crime in this country and you harm someone, and we should harm you as the culprit, when we capture you, we will give you aid and comfort. In this country, if you are an enemy combatant and you hurt our warriors in battle and we should capture you and you have been wounded, we will give you aid and comfort. In this country, if you're on death row and you're going to meet your Maker next week, we will give you aid and comfort if you're suffering this week, and send you to your Maker next week. If we can give the enemy combatant, the person on death row, and the person who is a criminal aid and comfort, surely we're going to give it to people who find themselves hurt and in the streets of life. The system must change. Dr. King said it best. He said, On some questions, cowardice will ask, Is it safe? Expediency will ask, Is it politic? Vanity will ask, Is it popular? But conscience asks the ultimate question and that is, Is it right? This is the right thing to do. I stand where Dr. King stood when he told us we must do that which is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but do it because it's right.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 1048, a resolution commending the efforts and honoring the work of the men and women of USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in response to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. I would also like to thank Representative Tim Murphy for introducing this piece of legislation. Before the earthquake hit Haiti, the country was already in recovery from a string of hurricanes and tropical storms, food shortages and rising commodity prices, and political instability. These problems were compounded when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the country of Haiti, erasing any recovery efforts done prior to this catastrophe. Estimated casualties were reported to be over 150,000 and Haiti withstood millions in damages to the country's infrastructure. It has been reported that 3,000,000 of Haiti's population were directly affected by the disaster, and as a result, one third of the existing population is displaced. Immediately following this tragedy, President Barack Obama vowed the ``unwavering support'' of the United States and pledged a ``swift, coordinated and aggressive effort to save lives and support the recovery in Haiti.'' Days after the earthquake, the United States Navy responded to President Obama's request and delivered aid. The crew of the USNS Comfort provided 24-hour service to hundreds of critically ill men, women and children patients. Our Navy medical personnel on USNS Comfort saved the lives of 98 percent of the ship's patient population, which holds a capacity of 1,000 patients, and successfully performed 100 surgeries as of January 24, 2010. Due to the limited resources for critically ill patients, the USNS Comfort medical staff often find themselves making grave decisions in terms of the use of their existing resources. President Obama's pledged support of $100 million in humanitarian aid will go a long way toward supporting their efforts. I commit my full support to H. Res 1048 and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this piece of legislation.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the current system with reference to health care cannot be sustained. We are currently spending $2.5 trillion per year. That is a large number, difficult to get your mind around it. However, $79,000 a second is something that we all can understand. And by 2018 it will become $4.4 trillion per year. That would be $139,000 per second. For those who say, this is not my fight, I have good insurance, it may be that you have not utilized your insurance and you don't really know how good it isn't. For those who say I have insurance, I am okay, remember that 14,000 people per day lose their insurance. But for the grace of God, you may be one of the 14,000 people without insurance tomorrow. So please understand this is everybody's fight, because the economy of this country is dependent upon how we impact health care. Finally, this. In my State of Texas, 6 million are uninsured, 1.4 million children uninsured. This is inexcusable. There is a difference between something being unsustainable and being inexcusable. It is inexcusable.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 1022, a resolution honoring the life and sacrifice of Medgar Evers and congratulating the United Sates Navy for naming a supply ship after him. I would like to thank my colleague, Henry C. ``Hank'' Johnson, for introducing this significant piece of legislation. On October 9, 2009, the United States Navy announced that the Lewis and Clark dry cargo and ammunition ship would be named. United States Navy Ship Medgar Evers. The U.S. Navy's dedication to Medgar Evers recognizes the slain civil rights pioneer who led efforts to secure the right to vote for all African-Americans and to integrate public facilities, schools, and restaurants. Medgar Evers rose to prominence in the civil rights movement in his home state of Mississippi. He discovered his passion for activism while working for the Regional Council of Negro Leadership, which he began in 1951 upon graduating from Alcorn University. Appointed Mississippi's first field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Evers established local chapters of the NAACP throughout the Delta region. As an NAACP worker, Medgar Evers fought against segregation and Jim Crow laws by organizing boycotts on gasoline stations that refused to allow blacks to use their restrooms. His boycott of Jackson, Mississippi merchants in the early 1960's attracted national attention, and his effort to have James Meredith admitted to the University of Mississippi in 1962 brought much needed federal assistance. In 1963, Evers met an untimely death when he was assassinated in his driveway. He was murdered just hours after President John F. Kennedy's speech on national television in support of civil rights. However, Medgar Evers' sacrifice and legacy of challenging racism and segregation endures today. I join my colleagues in honoring Medgar Evers and applaud the U.S. Navy for recognizing him by naming one of its vessels after such a great American activist.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 1044, a resolution commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp. Honoring the victims of the Holocaust, and expressing commitment to strengthen the fight against bigotry and intolerance are integral parts of this resolution. I would like to thank Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for introducing this piece of legislation. Before Allied forces arrived in Poland to liberate Auschwitz, on January 27, 1945, approximately 6 million Jews and other targeted groups were murdered by Nazi soldiers across Europe. Auschwitz was the largest concentration camp in Poland. Between 1940 and 1945, 1.3 million Jews were deported by Nazi authorities to this extermination camp. Over 85 percent of the people sent there were tortured, starved and then systematically murdered in gas chambers. This camp symbolizes a place of terror, for Jews, prisoners of war, people who were caught hiding the Jews and even those who had different political views from the Nazi Regime during the Holocaust. America stands with the Jewish people, and has dedicated the Holocaust Memorial Museum, to recognize the people who lost their lives, as well as those who survived the Holocaust. Their strong resilience against the Nazi's inexorable plan of genocide and their dedication to their ideals in spite of great adversity was remarkable. The Department of State Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, along with several United States embassies and consulates has done an exceptional job at tracking anti-Semitism, bigotry, racism and intolerance. America and our partnering departments stand together with the Jewish people in solidarity to ensure the safety of all people and prevent our future from mirroring the atrocities of our past. I urge my colleagues to continue their strong support of H. Res. 1044, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I offer my strong support to S. 2949, a bipartisan measure to extend temporary aid to help the thousands of Americans who are evacuating Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that occurred on January 12, 2010. This is the worst disaster to hit Haiti in over two centuries, with an estimated 150,000 deaths, three million adversely affected, and severe damage to roads, ports, hospitals, and homes. Nearly 14,000 American citizens have been evacuated from Haiti, with 40 percent of them receiving temporary repatriation assistance. The Department of Health and Human Services Repatriation program provides assistance, such as travel expenses, medical care, temporary lodging and food assistance, to U.S. citizens repatriating to the United States in the wake of a natural disaster or other hardship. Americans receiving this assistance must reimburse the government costs incurred on their behalf, unless repayment is deemed to be infeasible due to the recipient's overall lack of financial resources. This important legislation would raise the annual funding limit on the U.S. Repatriation Program, from $1 million to $25 million, for Fiscal 2010. Thank you to my colleagues for acting swiftly to move this bill and provide assistance to all Americans in need of help returning to their homes from Haiti.