Al Green

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my support to H. Res. 1021, which expresses condolences to and solidarity with the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. I would like to thank my colleague, Barbara Lee, chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, for offering this legislation and express heartfelt condolences and sympathy for the people of Haiti in the wake of this horrific natural disaster. On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the country of Haiti. An estimated 3 million people have been directly affected by the disaster in Haiti, more than 1.5 million people left homeless, and severe damage has been sustained by roads, ports, hospitals, and homes. The challenges in helping Haiti are immense, and the U.S. and partner countries have made important contributions to the recovery efforts. I commend the Obama administration for granting Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals in the United States, many of whom are unable to return home due to the destruction in Haiti. I applaud the individuals, businesses and philanthropic organizations across the United States and throughout the international community who have responded to the crisis in Haiti with an outpouring of generosity and support. It is clear that the people of Haiti are now facing a humanitarian crisis that is unimaginable and that will take years to recover from. I support a sustained commitment to people of Haiti and encourage innovative thinking in providing long-term assistance to the country. I am committed to helping the Haitian people recover from this tragedy and to rebuild their homes, communities, and lives in the days, weeks and years to come. Again, thank you to Rep. Barbara Lee for introducing this resolution and urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 1021.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to express my strong support of H.R. 2611, a bipartisan measure authorizing the Department of Homeland Security's Securing the Cities initiative. I would like to recognize my colleague, Chairman Bennie Thompson, for his leadership on the House Homeland Security Committee and his commitment to protecting the citizens and homeland of our great nation. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Ranking Member Peter King for introducing this important legislation which includes an amendment I offered that would expand the scope of the Securing the Cities program to include at least two additional high-risk urban areas, making it a national program. Launched in 2006, Securing the Cities is a unified effort among Federal, state and local law enforcement officials in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to defend against the threat of a radiological or nuclear attack. Presently, Securing the Cities operates only in New York City and its surrounding areas. While it appears that New York City remains the prime target for terrorist activity, it is important to ensure that other densely populated areas and those housing critical infrastructure are equally protected from dirty bombs. My amendment would benefit even more high- risk urban areas by providing the necessary resources to detect and intercept illicit radiological material before it is used in a weapon by would-be terrorists. Through a ring of detectors on highways, bridges, tunnels and on mobile units around the city, Securing the Cities provides a layered defense against the smuggling of a nuclear weapon. The idea behind Securing the Cities is that the more law enforcement officials are on the lookout for nuclear material outside New York City, the better chance law enforcement has to prevent a successful nuclear attack. Like New York City, Houston is among the highest threat cities in the nation. Our region is extremely dense with critical infrastructure assets, which includes our large energy and petrochemical sectors. By replicating the success of Securing the Cities in more places like Houston, we can bolster law enforcement capabilities to combat potential terrorist activity and protect our communities. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2611.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I lend my full support for H.R. 4462, introduced by my colleague Chairman Charles Rangel, which allows for the acceleration of tax benefits for charitable cash contributions to benefit the victims of the earthquake in the Republic of Haiti on January 12, 2010. This tax benefit will allow persons who make cash donations to the relief efforts in Haiti from January 11, 2010 to March 1, 2010 the opportunity to claim those donations as charitable contributions on their 2009 Federal Income Tax Return. The 7.0 earthquake that ravaged the Haitian capital of Port-au- Prince, the city of Jacmel and the city of Carrefour brought immediate devastation to the country, taking the lives of approximately 200,000 people and leaving tens of thousands missing. This event, which has left an estimated 1.5 million homeless, has completely destroyed most of the infrastructure in the capital, and was deemed the largest earthquake of this magnitude in over two centuries in the Republic of Haiti. Providing a tax benefit on charitable contributions would offer an incentive for American citizens to give during an essential period for the relief effort in Haiti. Several charities saw a significant drop in contributions, which fund the entirety of their operations, due to the economic crisis. Non-profit organizations will need considerable resources to provide the long-term services for a population devastated by a natural disaster. This tax benefit will ensure those resources are funded by an outpouring of generosity from the American people. In the face of this grave tragedy, the American people have given from their hearts, as well as their pockets, to assist the people of Haiti during this time of extreme hardship and turmoil. This philanthropy should not go unnoticed, especially as many people have chosen to donate at a time when their own financial well-being is uncertain. I would like to thank Chairman Rangel for introducing this piece of legislation, and the American people for their benevolence in this time of adversity for the Haitian people.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to express my support for H. Res.1002, a resolution honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which encourages the continued commitment to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national day of service. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a holiday marking the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year. President Ronald Reagan declared Dr. King's birthday a national holiday and signed it into law on January 15, 1983. Not only does January 15 mark the day this Civil Rights Leader was born, but it is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person in this country. Dr. King was the chief architect for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. During the time of the Civil Rights movement, many challenges and controversies arose, but Dr. King's commitment to democracy, freedom, and equality did not waver. Dr. King challenged us to give back to a community we have accepted so much from. With his leadership, our nation made great strides against racial discrimination and toward increased civil rights. It is in the spirit of solidarity that we recognize Dr. King's Day as a national day of service which was first encouraged by Congress in 1994 through passage of the King Holiday and Service Act. On this day, our nation has the opportunity to bond together and serve our local and global community, with no expectation of reward in return. The dream is a special type of service our nation needs. This type of service not only brings our nation together, but it creates an environment of people committed to helping one another achieve the dream. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1002.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I express my support for H. Res. 150, introduced by my colleague Chairman Charles Rangel, which recognizes the accomplishments of the great civil rights leader, A. Philip Randolph. Mr. Randolph not only made great strides in shaping the civil rights movement during the turn of the 20th century, but he also impacted the growth of the labor movement and the rise of union labor. A. Philip Randolph had a significant effect on political discourse in the African-American community during the 1930s with the founding of The Messenger, a political and literary magazine which documented several of the greatest injustices of our history. Through this magazine, Randolph advocated civil disobedience and membership in labor unions. Mr. Randolph championed the cause of African-American men in labor, from sleeping car porters to elevator operators. He organized and founded the Brotherhood for Sleeping Car Porters, which fought for overtime pay and pay increases for sleeping car porters, a majority of which were African-American, at a time when sharecropping in the South was still widespread. We also honor Mr. Randolph for his leadership in organizing the March on Washington, which will be remembered as one of the most important political rallies of the twentieth century. A. Philip Randolph personified the idea of a renaissance man, as a writer, actor, political activist and union organizer. He achieved the unachievable during a time when education was unattainable for most African-Americans, even most Americans. Mr. Randolph has received numerous awards, namely, the Congressional Medal of Honor, one of the highest honors for civilians in the United States of America. His contributions to our great Nation are undeniable, and the path that he forged will be traversed by generations to come.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, today we will impose sanctions. We will sanction with this legislation or we will sanction the unacceptable status quo, to which I say not on my watch. Let history record that even if I could not do enough, I did do all that I could. I support sanctions to avert a tyrant from acquiring nuclear weapons of mass destruction capable of creating an inferno unlike that which even the mind of Dante could imagine. To act later may be to act too late. I rise in support of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (H.R. 2194). This legislation will restrict refined petroleum imports to Iran by strengthening the President's authority to impose sanctions on companies that provide refined petroleum or help Iran maintain or expand its domestic refining capabilities. While Iran is one of the largest producers of crude oil, it lacks adequate refining capability to meet its own domestic needs for gasoline and is forced to import 25 to 40 percent of its refined petroleum needs. This legislation will prevent Iran from importing the gasoline it needs as a way to put pressure on the Iranian government to suspend its uranium enrichment program. For over a decade, the United States has played a central role in diplomatic, political and economic efforts within the international community to deter Iran from gaining nuclear weapons capabilities. H.R. 2194 continues those efforts and is particularly important in light of recent intelligence indicating that Iran continues to advance its nuclear program. The latest International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on November 27, 2009, notes with serious concern how Iran has constructed an enrichment facility at Qom in breach of its obligation to suspend all uranium enrichment related activities. Many experts believe that with further processing of low-enriched uranium, Iran could have the capability to produce a nuclear weapon by the end of this year, reinforcing the sense of urgency to address this threat. A nuclear-armed Iran would lead to a nuclear arms race and increase the likelihood that such weapons might actually be used against the United States and our allies. As such, it is a threat not only to the Middle East, but to the entire world. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and hope that it will be an effective step towards preventing such a threat.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. And it is my absolute belief that when historians look back through the vista of time, they will say that the chairperson of this committee left big tracks in the sands of time, and that he made a difference in our lives for all time.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, it is said that a politician will always rise to the occasion; many have tonight, and many will. But it is also said that it takes a statesman to make the occasion. And I can say to you without reservation, hesitation, or equivocation, there is one great statesman among us tonight, and that is the honorable Chair of the Financial Services Committee who has made this occasion. And it should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer that he has made this occasion because of a mandate from the American public, but also in spite of the efforts of many. I would have us note that this newfound theory of ``less is best,'' this newfound theory of 170 pages is better than 1,279 pages, that this newfound theory can be improved upon. Rather than have 170 pages, why not have just one page, one page with nothing on it, or because we are all educated, let's just have one page with laissez faire, because that's what got us here, laissez faire, invidious laissez faire. This is what produced 327s; mortgages with 3 years of a fixed rate and 27 years of a variable rate; 228s, 2 years of a fixed rate--many people are very much aware of what I speak because they have suffered from these insidious products--2 years of a fixed rate and 28 years of a variable rate. And then we had these teaser rates that coincided with prepayment penalties, such that if you wanted to get out of the teaser rate before it's set to an adjusted rate you had to pay an enormous prepayment penalty that locked people into these teaser rates. And of course we had the naked shorts. People were actually betting that the market would go down without money to cover the bets. And of course we had what we called the credit default swaps, the whole notion that you can bet that something won't fail and not have the money to cover your bet. Even in Vegas you have to have the money to cover your bet. AIG was engaging in a gambling racket that at any other time and place could have been declared unlawful and people could have gone to jail. And of course this laissez faire, hands-off attitude gave us the so- called ``too big to fail''; too big to fail, which is just the right size to regulate, just the right size to separate into smaller pieces, and just the right size to eliminate, which is what this bill, H.R. 4173, does. It puts ``too big to fail'' in a position such that it will not only be regulated, but it will be eliminated. And it will be done in an orderly process, very much akin to the way we move in when banks are failing, and on one Friday it closes, and on Monday a new bank opens, perhaps not as fast, but the concept is the same. ``Too big to fail'' will no longer exist. So, Mr. Chairman, I want to commend you, and I want to thank you for allowing me to be a part of this process and a part of this legislation. I want to thank you because I want you to know that there would be no H.R. 4173 without your leadership. Your leadership has clearly made a difference in the lives of people in this country.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank the Chair and the ranking member. I would like to quickly give 200,000 reasons why we should be concerned about this incident--200,000. That's the number of persons from the Philippines who served with the United States military in World War II. The Philippines have earned our respect, and they've earned our necessity to step forward in times of difficulty for them. We owe it to ourselves to make sure that injustice in the Philippines is addressed, because injustice there is a threat to justice here, just as a threat to justice for us was a threat to justice for them. I support this resolution, and I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it. I thank you.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Healthcare for America Act. I would like to thank the Democratic Leadership and the Chairmen of the committees of jurisdiction for their unwavering commitment to this important cause. Today, we are faced with a historic opportunity to accomplish meaningful change in the lives of millions of Americans. I am in support of this bill because I believe in improving the quality of care, the accessibility of care, and the affordability of care. The status quo is unsustainable and the cost of inaction is simply too high. If we pass this legislation, we will reduce the federal deficit by an estimated $129 billion over the next ten years. If we fail to do so, we will ensure that our country continues to spend $79,274 a second on healthcare. We will continue to dedicate 17.6 percent of our gross domestic product, or $2.5 trillion a year towards healthcare expenditures. To pass this legislation would mean that an estimated 36 million Americans would gain access to health insurance; failing to do so, would mean that the 45.7 million Americans who cannot afford, or cannot gain access to healthcare, would remain without coverage. Among the 45.7 million uninsured, 1.4 million are children in my home state of Texas--this is simply unacceptable. Finally, passing this legislation would mean an end to the discriminatory practices of the health insurance industry that have devastated so many Americans. No longer will people fear having a pre- existing condition will prevent them from receiving health insurance coverage. No longer will families fear the uncertainty of a catastrophic health event, or fear being driven into bankruptcy in trying to pay for the cost of care. No longer will people have to fear losing their health coverage simply for getting sick. In passing this legislation, we put an end to the days when 14,000 Americans lose their coverage every day. The time has come when we, in Congress, are faced with a decision to either change the course of this country, to shift its direction towards accessible and affordable healthcare, or continue down an unsustainable path, one wrought with uncertainty. With so many American families struggling to support themselves, I am proud to support this legislation.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened about the tragic incident that occurred yesterday at the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas, that has taken the lives of 12 brave American soldiers, 1 civilian, and wounded 30 more. My condolences and support go to the families of the fallen and the wounded. Our service members and their families make enormous sacrifices for the sake of freedom in this country and we owe them a special debt of gratitude. During this difficult time my thoughts and prayers go out to each of them. Fort Hood represents a crucial post for the U.S. Military and the fact that this tragedy has taken place in my home state of Texas just makes my lament even stronger. I am hopeful the thorough investigation of the incident that the federal government has already announced will clarify what has happened and will bring justice.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, at the request of the Secretary of State of the State of Texas, I submit House Joint Resolution 39, as passed by the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, of the State of Texas. A Joint Resolution Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas: Section 1. The 87th Congress of the United States, on August 27, 1962, in the form of Senate Joint Resolution No. 29, proposed to the legislatures of the several states an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and by a proclamation dated February 4, 1964, published at 29 Federal Register 1715-16 and at 78 Statutes at Large 1117-18, the Administrator of General Services, Bernard L. Boutin--in the presence of native Texan, President Lyndon Baines Johnson-- declared the amendment to have been ratified by the legislatures of 38 of the 50 states, thereby becoming Amendment XXIV to the United States Constitution, pursuant to Article V thereof, and reading as follows: ``Amendment XXIV ``Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. ``Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'' Section 2. While the congress was still deliberating on the poll tax amendment in August of 1962, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy urged the United States House of Representatives to follow the lead of the Senate and propose the amendment for the consideration of the state legislatures ``. . . to finally eliminate this outmoded and arbitrary bar to voting. American citizens should not have to pay to vote.'' And in witnessing the issuance of Amendment XXIV's certificate of validity 17 months later, Kennedy's successor, President Johnson, noted that abolishing the tax requirement `` . . . reaffirmed the simple but unbreakable theme of this Republic. Nothing is so valuable as liberty, and nothing is so necessary to liberty as the freedom to vote without bans or barriers. . . . A change in our Constitution is a serious event. . . . There can now be no one too poor to vote.'' Section 3. Although Amendment XXIV has been the law of the land since 1964, some 13 years following its effective date, it received symbolic post-ratification in 1977 from the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia, as reflected in the Congressional Record of March 28, 1977, which printed the full text of Virginia's post-ratification; 12 years after that, the amendment gained ceremonial post- ratification in 1989 from the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, as reflected in the Congressional Record of June 6, 1989, which printed the full text of North Carolina's post-ratification; and nearly 13 years after that, the amendment acquired its most recent post-ratification in 2002 from the Legislature of the State of Alabama, as reflected in the Congressional Record of September 26, 2002, which printed the full text of Alabama's post-ratification. Section 4. The Legislature of the State of Texas--one of only five states still levying a poll tax by 1964--has never approved Amendment XXIV to the Constitution of the United States, but precedent makes clear the opportunity of Texas to post-ratify the amendment in a manner similar to the actions of lawmakers in Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia. Section 5. The Legislature of the State of Texas, as a symbolic gesture, hereby post-ratifies Amendment XXIV to the Constitution of the United States. Section 6. Pursuant to Public Law No. 98-497, the Texas secretary of state shall notify the archivist of the United States of the action of the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas, Regular Session, 2009, by forwarding to the archivist an official copy of this resolution. Section 7. The Texas secretary of state shall also forward official copies of this resolution to both United States senators from Texas, to all United States representatives from Texas, to the vice president of the United States in his capacity as presiding officer of the United States Senate, and to the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, with the request that this resolution be printed in full in the Congressional Record.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I request that the House of Representatives take a moment to remember a fellow American and friend of mine, John O'Quinn, of Houston, Texas. Mr. O'Quinn died last Thursday, October 29, 2009 in a tragic car accident that also claimed the life of his longtime assistant, Johnny Lee Cutliff. By all standards, Mr. O'Quinn was an extremely successful lawyer in Houston society, but to those of us who knew him well, John was a dedicated professional, a generous benefactor, and a loyal friend. Publicly, John has been recognized as an icon and was named one of the ``100 Legal Legends of the Law'' by the Texas Lawyer. He was recognized by the National Law Journal and the Harvard Law Review as one of the ``Best Lawyers in America.'' Mr. O'Quinn received four of the largest verdicts in Texas legal history, having won more than $20 billion for his clients throughout his career, including a $17.3 billion tobacco settlement for the State of Texas. He was an honors graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, served as a Regent for the University of Houston, and trustee of the University of Houston Law School Foundation. The man behind these impressive achievements was also fiercely loyal to the town that raised him and brought him to statewide and national prominence. John was a philanthropist and gave generously to assist the University of Houston, which named a law library and stadium after him; the Children's Assessment Center; the Women's Center; Baylor College of Medicine; the End Hunger Network; St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital; the South Texas College of Law Advocacy Center and many more organizations and causes of equal importance. Mr. O'Quinn was a passionate car collector. Before his passing, he planned to open a public museum to display and share his love of cars and the histories accompanying each. There are few Houstonians who have not been affected by Mr. O'Quinn's work, either through his role as attorney, benefactor or philanthropist. Mr. O'Quinn will be remembered as a dedicated legal professional, generous philanthropist, and dear friend. It will be hard to imagine Houston without one of its most dynamic personalities and legal giants. Mr. O'Quinn will be greatly missed.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank Chairman Thompson for yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, I rarely use the personal pronoun ``I.'' I don't like using it because rarely do we accomplish things by ourselves; but to thank Chairman Thompson, it is appropriate that I use this personal pronoun for he was the person who helped us to put a provision into CFATS which deals with the administration of facilities along ports. In Houston, Texas, we have 25 miles of ports that we have to contend with. Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me say this: proactive measures can prevent reactive remediation. This is a proactive measure that we are taking to prevent having to do something that will help us after an event has occurred, and it's important to note that this is not just about chemical facilities. There are many people who would say, Well, I don't have a chemical facility in my neighborhood. It really doesn't concern me. It doesn't impact me. You do have drinking water in your neighborhood, however. This legislation deals with drinking water and with wastewater treatment facilities. It is important that wastewater treatment facilities that are in every neighborhood be properly secured, and it is of utmost importance that drinking water be secured. That's what this piece of legislation addresses as well. I don't want it said on my watch that we had an opportunity to take some preventative measures and that we failed to do so such that somebody's child, somebody's husband or wife, that somebody was harmed when we had it within our power to prevent it. This is good, sound legislation. It is a proactive approach to prevent us from having to take some sort of remediation after the fact.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Finally, citizen lawsuits are appropriate because citizens are near the problem. They know what's not going on. Why can't we put citizens in the loop of protecting their communities? Yes, people can sue, but there are also means by which persons who sue can be removed from the dockets of courts. Anybody can sue. You can walk into any court and sue right now for anything that you want. You don't prevail just because you file a lawsuit. Citizens can help us to help protect our communities by having this opportunity to sue. It is a good piece of legislation, and I thank the chairman for his hard work with the other committees of jurisdiction to promulgate this legislation.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of freedom, but specifically, I rise in support of the soldiers who have made the dream of freedom a reality for us all. As a cosponsor of H. Res. 89, which recognizes the sacrifices that are made every day by the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces, I am pleased the House voted this week on the final passage of this legislation. I would also like to acknowledge Congressman Joe Baca for introducing this legislation, which commemorates the public holiday of Veteran's Day and its significance in carrying on the legacy of our living and fallen soldiers. As a bipartisan bill, this legislation represents the unanimous recognition of the impact that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces make on our daily lives. The legislation notes the solemn cost of death that we pay for the defense of our freedom, and the importance of acknowledging the value of that cost. Every fallen soldier is an integral part of our collective American community, and a tremendous loss is sustained when a brother, a mother, a sister, a father, a child or a friend is removed from that community. As we remember those who have given so much to our country, whose patriotism exceeds the requirement and defies the norm, we must also remember that it is our duty to provide for the needs of those heroes through programs, funding and medical services. Many of the trials that our veterans face as they return home cannot be resolved, from broken bones to the memories of the tragedy of war. However, ensuring that our veterans have a home to come home to is the least we can do for these patriotic heroes. My colleagues and I were able to accomplish that through the Homes for Heroes Act, which was passed in June of this year. This bill will establish funding for low-income veterans, and will address the issues of homelessness and mental health for our veterans who need it most. Next week, on Veteran's Day, let us also recognize the significant contribution that military families play in the lives of our soldiers. Through their sacrifices, all of our families are afforded the opportunity of living the American Dream. I thank my colleagues for approving H. Res. 89 this week and look forward to joining with my constituents in Houston next week. As a community, we will honor the sacrifices made by our Nation's veterans.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chair, I extend my support to H.R. 3639, the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, and thank my dear friend from New York, Ms. Maloney, for introducing this important legislation, and Chairman Frank for expediting it out of committee. On May 22, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act to protect consumers from the most egregious abuses that were being committed by credit card companies. Today, the important legislation before us readdresses this issue and proposes to move up the effective date of certain provisions of the Credit CARD Act to December 1, 2009. I would like to take this time now to express my support for the passage of this legislation. Today, levels of consumer debt are at an all time high. The most recent data from the 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances shows that half of American families carried a balance on their credit cards and the average balance was $7,300. Add to this amount the debt secured by a primary residence or other consumer and installment loans, and the average American family is hard-pressed to meet these financial obligations. Many of my colleagues here in Congress and I are concerned about how the current state of the economy is affecting the ability of ordinary Americans to service these high levels of debt. In September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the American economy lost 260,000 jobs. Without work, most families could not afford to service these loans. The days of easy and exotic credit are over. American families must work themselves out of debt and back into the black. We, as lawmakers, have been tasked with the job of enacting laws and enforcing fair rules that allow people to use credit cards and other financial services made available to them in a safe and responsible way. We are about to do just that today. The Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009 is good policy for Americans everywhere. It fulfills our promise of establishing protections against abusive practices in the financial services industry and reaffirms our commitment to helping ordinary consumers responsibly manage their finances by ensuring that the choices available to them are fair and safe. I am proud to support H.R. 3639 and urge my colleagues to assure its passage.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 867, a bipartisan resolution which calls upon the President and the Secretary of State to oppose the endorsement and further consideration of the ``Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict'' in multilateral fora. The report, commissioned by the United Nations Human Rights Council, called for an investigation into war crimes and possible crimes against humanity by Israel during 22 days of fighting in Gaza and southern Israel in December 2008 and January 2009. As a result, the fact-finding mission released an unbalanced 575-page report which unfairly focuses on Israel's conduct despite efforts by the report's chief author, Justice Richard Goldstone, to broaden the mandate to include violations committed by Hamas and other militant groups. In spite of its inaccuracies, the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the report and its recommendations and referred it to the United Nations Security Council, United Nations General Assembly and the International Criminal Court for further action. A report that is not inclusive of all the facts and circumstances surrounding the conflict is an inconclusive report. It is unacceptable to consider a report which fails to provide a complete and accurate account of the Gaza conflict. To do otherwise undermines the inquiry process and denies the truth. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 867.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I extend my strong support to H. Res. 780, which recognizes and celebrates Filipino American History Month in October. The first Filipino in the United States arrived at Morro Bay, California, on October 18, 1587 in the Manila-built galleon, Nuestra Senora de Esperanza. In 1763, the first permanent Filipino settlement was established in the United States in St. Malo Parrish, Louisiana. For over 200 years, since before the founding of our great country, Filipino Americans have made varied contributions to American culture and society in countless ways. Today, there are more than 3 million Filipino Americans and persons of Filipino ancestry living in the United States, including nearly 6,000 in my own 9th Congressional district in Houston, Texas. Filipino Americans count among their community prominent politicians, artists, businessmen, athletes, scientists, educators, writers, television personalities, scholars, and entertainers. Moreover, they are people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of our country. Filipino American servicemen and servicewomen have a longstanding history of serving in the Armed Services of the United States, from the Civil War to the present Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, including more than 250,000 Filipinos who valiantly fought under the United States flag during World War II. Notwithstanding their contributions to America, we must continue to promote the study of Filipino American history and culture because of the important roles that Filipino Americans and other people of color have played in United States history. It is my hope that through this House Resolution, we can renew our commitment to ensuring that Filipino Americans and people of color are given their due recognition for their contributions to our nation. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 780 to honor our nation's Filipino Americans and our shared history with this community in the United States. Filipino Americans have altered America, their contributions are documented and forever enshrined in our history, and they deserve our recognition for the countless ways in which they make America great.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I think it appropriate that you be in the chair today because in Houston, Texas, in your district, I believe, we have a statue that has been erected in honor of Confucius. So I come here today and I thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the leadership for allowing this resolution to come to the floor. I thank the Honorable Howard Berman, the chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for allowing the resolution to pass the committee. I thank the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for allowing us to work with her and to manage this piece of legislation on the floor. I thank the Honorable Russ Carnahan for acting as Democratic manager of the amendment. This resolution honors the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, recognizing his contributions to philosophy and to social and political thought. This resolution is a reflection of the diversity that we celebrate in the United States of America. We are 46.9 million Hispanic and Latinos, 37.6 million African Americans, 16 million foreign-born naturalized citizens, 14 million Asian and Pacific Islanders. We speak 337 different languages. In my district, we have and we are African American, Latino, Vietnamese, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Nigerian, Somali, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Sudanese, Turkish, Ghanaian, and Taiwanese. And there are probably some that I have missed and I apologize to any constituent that was not properly mentioned. On September 26, in our district, as I indicated earlier, this year, a bronze statue of Confucius was dedicated in Hermann Park in Houston, Texas. I am honored to tell you that today on the suspension calendar we honored His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, and I commend my colleague for bringing this to the attention of the House. It is not unusual for us to honor persons who are not Americans for their contributions to America and to global society. We have honored many persons, including Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Nicholas Sarkozy, President of France; Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands; and we've also honored the Honorable Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, both of South Africa. We have honored events. We have honored what is known as the religious and historical event that is the Festival of Diwali, which was presented to this House in September of last year. And I am proud to say today that we are going to honor Confucius, an Asian teacher, scholar, and philosopher. Confucius was born in 551 B.C., was one of the great thinkers of his time and of all time. He was a teacher of prosperity and a preacher of peace. He developed Confucianism, a philosophy that has deeply influenced the social and political thought of countries around the world, including China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam, to name a few. He emphasized that personal introspection, self-cultivation, respect of social relationships, personal and governmental morality, justice and sincerity reflect a moral fiber of the greatest and highest degree. He preached that politicians must always represent truth and morality. He taught the philosophy of reciprocity: never impose upon others what you would not choose for yourself. He taught the ``silver rule'' which complements the Golden Rule: do not do unto others as you would not have do unto you. He taught the importance of shame in an orderly society by indicating, If people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given by punishments, they will try to avoid punishment, but have no sense of shame. However, if they be led by virtue, and uniformity is sought to be given them by rules of propriety, they will have a sense of shame, and moreover will become good. I would note that shame promotes good to prevent punishment, whereas punishment precedes bad, to promote good. He reminded all that, When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them. In different words what he said was, It is virtuous to know one's faults and change. He explained that self-respect begets self-respect when he made this quote, Respect yourself and others will respect you.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. He gave us with a great degree of simplicity a quote that I believe is one of his greatest when he articulated, To understand nothing is to understand everything. I am honored to present this resolution today. I believe that the diversity that we celebrate in this country, the diversity that I have in my district which is 36 percent African American, 31 percent Anglo, 21 percent Latino, and 12 percent Asian, in my district I believe that my constituents are honored to have persons of Asian ancestry who honor and celebrate Confucius. But I think as a philosopher who has transcended time, he is someone we should recognize in the House of Representatives. I beg that my colleagues would support this resolution, comparable to many others that we have had on the floor of the House.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank the gentleman for yielding the additional time. Ninety-six children were killed by domestic violence. The national data on this is equally as appalling. More than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the United States every day. One of every four women will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime. In 2005, 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner. Women from ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of domestic violence on a per capita basis. Six of 10 Native American women will be physically assaulted in their lifetimes. Ninety-two percent of homeless women will experience physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lifetimes. Forty to sixty percent of men who abuse women also abuse children. Millions of children witness every year domestic violence. By at least one estimate, 15.5 million children witness domestic violence. So we now come to a call to action. We should not allow anyone to have to live in fear within his or her home. We believe that this is an offense that can be eliminated. It will take much effort from us. We here in Congress will have to fund the programs that can make a difference. And without question, programs have been developed that can make a difference. Training is necessary to teach people how to live with each other without abusing each other. The police must enforce the laws, the judges must enforce the laws, and in the end we can live in a world where people can live safely in their homes without fear of being harmed by people that they have great affinity and affection for. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) along with 9 other national organizations is heralding the arrival of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and urging Congress, members of the media and the public to take a stand against domestic abuse. The economic downturn is exacerbating domestic violence, and victims of domestic abuse urgently need everyone's help. Although the economy does not cause domestic violence, but in abusive relationships, factors associated with a bad economy can increase the frequency and severity of abuse. Job losses, the lack of affordable health care, the housing crisis and a host of other conditions are increasing abuse and leaving survivors with fewer options to escape. The demand for services is going up, but funding for services is going down. Governmental entities, corporations and individuals are tightening their budgets and are funding life-saving programs at reduced levels across the nation. In a national census survey conducted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in just one day in 2008 more than 60,000 victims sought services, yet nearly 9,000 requests for services went unmet due to lack of funding. The most extreme example is California, where the governor completely eliminated state funding for domestic violence services. Other states have seen funding reductions, but California represents the most shocking of these reckless cuts. This year, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is particularly meaningful. The movement against domestic abuse is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, originally authored by then-Senator Joe Biden. This year is also the 25th anniversary of the Family Violence Prevention & Services Act. Both are critical federal laws that provide funding for services and the justice system's responses to intimate partner abuse. These laws have made an amazing difference in our ability to address domestic violence. Across the country, federal, state and local laws are working to serve countless survivors and saving lives, but we need to do more. Still, an average of three women are murdered daily by someone who says love you.' This is unacceptable and preventable. Domestic violence affects us all, and it tears at the fabric of our communities. Every day, men, women and children experience the tragic effects of domestic violence.'' In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let us renew efforts to invest in lifesaving shelters and other critical domestic violence services like counseling and emergency hotlines. Members of Congress and the public can take a stand for survivors of abuse by supporting the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution sponsored by Representative Al Green (D-TX) and Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), which has received bipartisan support of nearly 60 members of the House of Representatives. Sincerely, Sue Else, President, National Network to End Domestic Violence. Rita Smith, President, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Additional National Organizations Endorsing the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Resolution: Break the Cycle, Casa De Esperanza, Congress of American Indians Task Force on Violence Against Women, Family Violence Prevention Fund, Legal Momentum, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I am honored that leadership has brought this resolution, H. Res. 817, to the floor today. I believe that this resolution is important, and this likewise seems to be the case with my colleagues because this resolution has received the support of 57 Democratic and Republican cosponsors. This resolution has been a bipartisan effort. And for fear that I will forget, let me mention now that my colleague, the Honorable Ted Poe, will not be with us today, but he is here in spirit. He suffered the same fate as I; his plane is late in Houston, Texas. I was on the runway for 2 hours. I barely made it, but thank God that I did. I want the Members to know that he is solidly behind this resolution. This resolution, with reference to domestic violence, transcends party affiliation; it transcends ethnicity; it transcends gender; and it transcends the boundaries of human decency. Many thank you's are in order. I want to thank the President, President Barack Obama, for declaring October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi because she has entered a statement recognizing this as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Congressional Women's Caucus deserves a sound round of thank you's because they have been involved in helping us to raise awareness year-round. I would like to thank Chairman George Miller of the Education and Labor Committee for the outstanding work that he has done in helping us to get this resolution to the floor. His staff has done a stellar job. They have worked with my staff to make sure that the resolution arrived here timely. I would like to thank the ranking member, John Kline, for his work with the Honorable Ted Poe in helping us to get this resolution to the floor. All of my colleagues are honorable, but I am mentioning Ted in such a way simply because he is not here, and I know his heart is with us. I would like to thank the ranking member who is here today, Representative Judy Biggert, for her help and for her kind words with reference to this resolution and Representative Pierluisi from Puerto Rico for his efforts to help us get this resolution to the floor and for managing this resolution today. At this time I want to call our attention to some history associated with this issue of domestic violence. Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first observed 22 years ago, and since that time, we've had additional legislation that has come into being that has made a difference with reference to helping us to end domestic violence. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act of 1984 is an important piece of legislation. This piece of legislation helped us to acquire more emergency shelters, crisis prevention programs and community education efforts. It truly has made a difference. There also has been another piece of important legislation, the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which created a new culture for the police officers who work these cases and the judges who hear these cases. These cases at one time were thought to be, unfortunately, family business, and there were too many persons who were involved in the business of law enforcement who did not make it their business. I'm honored that the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 has helped change this culture. I would also mention that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was important because it contained $225 million for violence against women programs. These programs are going to be of great benefit to a good many women. Domestic violence awareness is growing, but it has not reached a point wherein we can rest on our efforts. At one time it was one of the most underreported crimes in this country. As I indicated, too many police officers, too many judges, too many persons associated with enforcement did not make it their business. And although we have sought to do the business of helping women and men who are victims of domestic violence, there is still much work to be done. One survey indicates that in 1 day, more than 60,000 people received help. However, at the same time, on that same day, 9,000 requests went unanswered. There is still much work to be done. In my State of Texas, the Houston Area Women's Center has indicated that in the year 2008, 136 women were killed by their intimate partners, 11 children were killed, and 96 children lost their parents to domestic violence.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I extend my strong support to H. Res. 823, which expresses condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those killed and injured in the recent attack on the United Nations World Food Program office in Islamabad, Pakistan, and support for the World Food Program's mission to bring emergency food aid to the most vulnerable people of Pakistan and around the world. On October 5, 2009, a suicide bomber attacked the World Food Program office in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing five employees, Botan Ahmed Ali Al-Hayawi, Farzana Barkat, Abid Rehman, Gulrukh Tahir, and Mohamed Wahab. But more than killing these five individuals, the tragedy has affected the ability of this very important organization to meet Pakistan's most pressing humanitarian needs. The United Nations World Food Program was established in 1962 and works to provide men, women and children with access to the food needed for an active and healthy life. In 2008, the World Food Program fed 102 million hungry and poor people in 78 countries. In Pakistan, the World Food Program provides assistance to 10 million people at any given time, including 2 million Pakistanis displaced by fighting in the Swat Valley region earlier this year. As the international community grieves over the loss of five staff members who selflessly gave themselves to their fellow men and women, let us recognize the critical work of the United Nations World Food Program. More than 84.7 percent of Pakistanis live on less than US $2 per day, and I daresay that Pakistan cannot afford to go on without the work and aid delivered by this organization. I extend my sincerest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues whose loved ones were lost in the recent attack on the World Food Program office in Islamabad. Moreover, I reaffirm my support for the mission of the World Food Program, its leadership and staff of over 10,000 dedicated men and women. Lastly, I hope that this event reminds my colleagues in Congress, the American people and citizens of the world, that as human beings, it is in our personal interest to ensure that no one on this earth goes hungry for want of food. Let us rise up in solidarity with the people of the United Nations World Food Program and ensure that the recent attack does not diminish, but strengthens, our resolve to advance anti- hunger efforts in Pakistan and defeat poverty around the world.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I extend my strong support to H. Res. 672, which calls on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom. Since 2002, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam has enforced heavy surveillance of the internet activity of Vietnamese citizens. The U.S. Congress is aware that a number of internet bloggers and cyber activists have recently been arrested and imprisoned for exercising their inherent human right of freedom of expression. This matter, among others, is of grave concern to me, and more importantly, to the thousands of Vietnamese Americans that I represent. Reporters Without Borders considers Vietnam one of 15 ``internet enemies'' and the OpenNet Initiative, a project of academic institutions including the University of Toronto, Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard Universities, classifies Vietnam's online political censorship to be ``pervasive.'' In fact, an electronic communications decree issued by the Vietnamese government, that came into force in September 2008, states ``opposition to the Republic of Vietnam is forbidden.'' The freedom of expression, including the freedom to express one's views on the internet, is a necessary prerequisite for a healthy and vigorous democracy. Without free and open debate where citizens need not fear retaliation by government for the opinions they hold, a country foregoes the opportunity to harness the full capability of its citizens to advance social and economic development. Along with my friend from California, Ms. Sanchez, I call on Vietnam to respect Internet freedom and allow the people of Vietnam to freely express their views. Moreover, I call upon Vietnam to immediately release imprisoned bloggers and political prisoners. To the Vietnamese government, the message we send today is that the United States will embrace you, but only when you embrace the inherent rights and freedoms of your people.