Al Green

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his observations. And I think that we are very fortunate that your State of Wisconsin has sent you here with the vision that you have. And I believe that you are going to be a very valuable Member of this House. The contributions that you have already made have made a difference, and we thank you for your presence. I will now yield again to the gentlewoman because I know that, given she is from the District of Columbia and Walter Reed is in her district, that she has some additional points to make.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank the chairman for his vision. I would now yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Kagen.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for taking the time to come to the floor. Your leadership is invaluable on this type of concern. We want the country to know that you will be there for our veterans, and we are going to make sure that it is fixed. We have a short-term solution, but we have to also have a long-term vision, and I greatly appreciate your taking the time. I yield back to the chairman.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. If I could, before you yield to the gentleman, let me just say this. We have had another person to join us, and I think it appropriate that we announce the presence of the subcommittee Chair on Oversight and Investigations, and I am confident that he will have much that he is going to share with us. I just want the Members to know that he is with us tonight, and that would be the Honorable Harry Mitchell, who is from the great State of Arizona. And because he is the Chair of the subcommittee, I feel it my duty to yield to him at this time, after which we will continue. Mr. Chairman.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, let's not forget that it was with the help of organized, unionized workers that we acquired the 40- hour work week, that we instilled child labor laws, that we have paid leave, that we have pensions, and that we have health care. Madam Speaker, in a world where loyalty to workers is becoming an endangered species, the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act helps to level the playing field between industry and workers, and it will give workers a fair chance to organize and fight invidious outsourcing. Our jobs are being taken overseas. We need to have workers on the ground in a position to fight this. It will give workers an opportunity to preserve health benefits and an opportunity to protect pensions. Workers are the first line of defense when it comes to protecting the standard of living that we have in this country. We must level the playing field and pass the Employee Free Choice Act. I encourage all of my colleagues to do so. Madam Speaker, I stand here today in support of giving our working men and women a fair chance and a free choice to form a union. As one of 234 cosponsors of this legislation I can confidently tell the men and women who literally make this country run that you are not alone in your fight for higher wages, improved benefits, and better working conditions. I can confidently tell you that we understand that the right to unionize is the right to pursue the American dream. It is as a result of unions that we can enjoy weekends with our families. It is as a result of unions that we can benefit from basic health and safety protections. It is as a result of unions that we can take advantage of family and medical leave. Unfortunately, under the current labor law system, employers often use a combination of legal and illegal methods to silence employees who try to form unions. The law says that employers cannot intimidate, coerce, or fire employees for attempting to exercise their democratic rights. Yet, in reality: Every 23 minutes a worker is illegally fired or discriminated against for their support of a union. 34 percent of employers coerce workers into opposing unions with bribes or special favors. 51 percent of employers illegally threaten to close down worksites if employees vote for union representation. 75 percent of employers hire anti-union consultants to help kill union organizing drives. 91 percent of employers force workers to attend intimidating one-on-one anti-union meetings with their supervisors. Madam Speaker, some people say that liars figure and figures lie, but I want the American people to hear these figures and decide for themselves whether they believe that American workers should have the right to unionize: Workers who belong to unions earn 30 percent more than non-union workers. Workers who belong to unions are 63 percent more likely to have employer-provided health care than non-union workers. Workers who belong to unions are 77 percent more likely to have jobs that provide short-term disability benefits than non-union workers. Workers who belong to unions are nearly 400 percent more likely to have guaranteed pensions than non-union workers. This discrepancy is even more pronounced among women, African Americans, and Latinos: Women in unions earn $9,300 more a year (31%) than their non-union counterparts. African Americans in unions earn $9,700 more a year (36%) than their non-union counterparts. Latinos in unions earn $11,300 more a year (46%) than their non-union counterparts. It is astonishing that some would try to prevent some of the hardest working Americans the right to organize at a time when: The average CEO in the United States makes more than 260 times the pay of the average worker. A CEO earns more in one day than an average worker earns in one year. We have seen an increase in: The number of people who are classified as poor (from 32 million in 2000 to 37 million in 2004). The number of low-income households paying more than half their income on housing (from 9.4 million to 11.6 million). The number of Americans who lack health insurance (from 40 million in 2000 to 46 million). Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to hear the voices of our 60 million working brothers and sisters: Who say they want a voice at their workplace, Who say they want a choice at their workplace, Who say they want unions. I urge my colleagues to join the distinguished Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, George Miller, and vote ``yes'' on the Employee Free Choice Act. Employee Free Choice Act

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this is the very last day of the month of February, which is Black History Month, and today I rise to thank the many Members who have supported H. Res. 198, which recognizes the significance of Black History Month. This piece of legislation is supported by conservatives, moderates and liberals. It is a piece of legislation that I received not one negative comment on. Every person that we requested agreed to support the legislation. So I thank those who supported it. But I also, Mr. Speaker, want to apologize to the many that I did not approach and ask for support because my belief is that this kind of legislation will receive the support of all persons of goodwill. African Americans in the diaspora in America merit this kind of support. The Members of this House have given it to African Americans and to persons of goodwill, and I thank them all.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to honor a great Texan and a great American. Ann Richards served not only as the Governor of Texas, but as an exemplary role model for young people across the United States. She lived her life with humor, tenacity, dedication and an indomitable spirit that will be missed. Time and time again, Ann Richards showed a true commitment to that great American ideal of equal opportunity for all. For example, nearly half of her 3,000 appointees were female, 15 percent of her appointees were African American, and 20 percent of her appointees were Latino. She was by every measure a Governor for all of the people of Texas. During her time in office Governor Richards also developed a Robin Hood Plan for Texas schools, to ensure equitable financing for all school districts in our state. The Robin Hood Plan has substantially equalized funding for school districts across Texas and has helped those districts without high property values provide good education for their students. Governor Richards should also be recognized for developing an innovative and remarkably effective drug treatment program for Texas prison inmates. The Texas Initiative was launched in 1991 and quickly grew into the most ambitious and aggressive prison-based drug and alcohol treatment program in the country. Under Governor Richards' watch only 7.2 percent of those who had undergone at least 3 months of treatment were reincarcerated within 1 year of being released, compared to 18.5 percent of those who received no treatment. Ann Richards' legacy goes well beyond the state of Texas. Her famous statement that ``well-behaved women rarely make history'' exemplifies how she has helped inspire a generation of young women to aspire to hold the highest public offices in the land or to follow whatever their dreams may be. Governor Richards also became a leading international spokesperson for women battling osteoporosis, authoring the book I'm Not Slowing Down: Winning My Battle with Osteoporosis, which has been described as inspirational and eye-opening. Ann Richards lived a life full of accomplishments. She gave new opportunities to thousands of people across Texas. She inspired a generation of young women. She was a great woman, and she will be deeply missed. I commend my colleague, the Dean of the Texas Delegation, Congressman Ortiz for introducing this resolution.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I love America. America means something to me. No one loves the Constitution more than I. No one believes in the Declaration of Independence more than I. No one respects the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance more than I. No one appreciates the American soldier more than I. So I stand here today in the well of the United States House of Representatives as a proud American who understands that it is not the Constitution that gives us or protects government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is not the Declaration of Independence that preserves the concept of all persons being created equal. It is the soldier. It is not the Pledge of Allegiance that preserves liberty and justice for all. It is the soldier. It is the soldier who shields those who would make real the great American ideals. Regardless as to how we feel about the war, we should all thank God for the American soldier. Mr. Speaker, our soldiers have done their job. More than 84,000 National Guard and Reservists have been deployed more than once since 2001. More than 170,000 soldiers in the Army have served more than one tour of duty. More than 23,000 soldiers have been wounded, and more than 2,200 of these from Texas were from Texas alone. More than 3,100 soldiers have died, including more than 200 from Texas. Our soldiers have liberated Iraq from a ruthless, brutal dictator. Our soldiers have answered the clarion call for help for which too many will never come home for the holidays and far too many will never see home again. So for this I say, God bless the American soldiers, their friends, their families, and their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, the American people have been that friend, indeed, in Iraq's time of need. In addition to blood, sweat and tears, the American people have spent more than $267 million, not per year, not per month not per week, but more than $267 million per day on this war. Mr. Speaker, with this money, according to CNN and the National Priorities Project, we could have hired 6.4 million public school teachers. We could have built 3.3 million public housing units. We could have insured 220 million children for 1 year. On a more lofty level, America has helped the Iraqi people develop a constitution. We have helped the Iraqi people establish democratic elections. We have helped the Iraqis reconstitute their military and overhaul their constabulary. Mr. Speaker, after all that we have done, more than 23,000 wounded. After all that we have done, 3,100 are dead. After all that we have done, more than $267 million per day. After all that we have done, whenever we leave, it will not be cut and run. We have helped the Iraqi people to have the opportunity to embrace freedom and democracy. It is now time for the Iraqi people to seize upon this precious, priceless opportunity and have a free and independent Iraq, something that all the money in the world cannot buy and not even the most powerful military in the universe can impose. Mr. Speaker, we cannot want liberty and justice for all Iraqis more than all Iraqis want liberty and justice for themselves. If the Iraqis want government of the people, by the people, for the people, then their soldiers, not ours, must provide it. We can stay in Iraq forever and never have a free and independent Iraq, not as long as the Iraqi people engage in an uncivil war with each other. You can debate whether it is a civil war or not, but there is no debating that it is an uncivil war that they are having with each other. Mr. Speaker, because I support our soldiers and oppose the President's policies, I will vote for the resolution.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Thank you, Congressman Carney, for bringing this important piece of legislation before the House. Today, friends, we will honor and we will respect the fourth anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security. In so doing, we understand that it has been a rocky 4 years, but the importance of this mission of Homeland Security has only grown. We must never forget the crucial mission of the Department of Homeland Security and that it cannot be fulfilled without the people who make up the Department of Homeland Security. While there have been some difficult times, it is time for us to acknowledge that there are some good people working in the Department of Homeland Security. These people are heroes who work day and night keeping our country safe. They sacrifice their time. They are often away from their families, and they do a thankless job too often. So we are here today to say thank you, not only to those who are in the lofty offices and who hold high positions, but we are also here today to say thank you to those who sweep the floors, those who file the paperwork, those who answer the phones, those who are making a difference in the lives of Americans by making sure that while we are on their watch we are protected. I want you to know that while the Department came in dead last with reference to job satisfaction for Federal employees, according to a recent OPM survey, and we know that this is unacceptable, they were dead last; but I believe that they can improve. I believe that they will do better. And I want to share my optimism because the Department of Homeland Security is a Department that every one of us is depending on who lives in the homeland. So the leadership in this Department must do better. Congress today, I believe, stands with the rank and file employees of this Department, and we want everyone to do better, and we are here to support all of those many employees who are working hard for us. So I ask today that my colleagues join me in supporting and in embracing this resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. They are making a difference in our lives. The Department recently saw its fourth anniversary. It has been a rocky 4 years, but the importance of its mission has only grown. We must never forget that the crucial mission of the Department cannot be fulfilled without the people who make it up. . These heroes work day and night keeping our country safe, sacrificing time with their families, doing often thankless jobs. We are here today to thank them. The Department came in last in the recent OPM survey of job satisfaction of Federal employees. This is unacceptable. The Department's leadership must do better; it must listen to the people on the front lines. Congress stands with these rank-and-file employees. We will do our part to see that the Department does better by them. We have criticized the Department's management and decisions in the past, but no one should mistake this for criticism of the men and women on the front lines, day after day. Please join me in honoring these everyday heroes.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the subcommittee chairman, Congressman Howard Berman. I thank you much for the many things that you have done. Mr. Speaker, I also think it appropriate to thank today chairman John Conyers of the Judiciary Committee for assisting in this and causing this piece of legislation to move forward quickly. I thank Senator Hillary Clinton and the more than 20 cosponsors in the United States Senate. My understanding is that companion legislation will be filed there today. We would like to thank the 117 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, all of whom believe that this legislation is exceedingly important. And, of course, I would like to thank last year's cosponsor with me, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Congressman James Sensenbrenner. Mr. Speaker, there are many organizations that have endorsed this legislation: the American Jewish Committee; the ADL, the Anti- Defamation League; LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens; and NCLR, the National Council of La Raza. Today, H. Con. Res. 44 honors the NAACP for 98 years of service to America. Mr. Speaker, that is 98 years of upholding the constitutional notion of government of the people, by the people, and for the people. That is 98 years of standing on the Declaration of Independence and the premise that all persons are created equal; 98 years, Mr. Speaker, of saluting the proposition in the Pledge of Allegiance that we are indeed one Nation, with liberty and justice for all. I thank God, Mr. Speaker, for the NAACP and those brave souls who assembled 98 years ago today on February 12, 1909, a group of people who met to fight for the rights of black people. They were an integrated group, both black and white, who believed in the Constitution of the United States of America. And while we must remember that the NAACP was founded to make democracy work for black people, we shouldn't forget that it was Mary White Ovington, a white woman, who is said to have hosted the founders meeting. And we shouldn't forget that she did this in response to William English Walling, a white man who wrote an article asking citizens to rally in support of African Americans. We don't forget in the NAACP, and we should never forget, the fact that this organization has never been a black-only organization. So, today, I salute the NAACP-ers, current and those who have gone on for their great work in this great country. I want to salute them by remembering those who are black, but I also pledge that we will never forget those who are white. So as we remember Dr. Louis T. Wright, who in 1935 became the first black NAACP board Chair, we should not forget Oswald Garrison Villard, the white man who in 1911 became the very first Chair of the board of the NAACP. You see, there were two white NAACP board Chairs, Oswald Villard and Joel Spingarn, before we had a black NAACP board Chair. And I believe we should remember James Weldon Johnson. He was the first black executive secretary and director of the NAACP. However, we should never forget Francis Blascon and Mary White Ovington, along with Mary Nurney and Royall Nash, all of whom were white and served before James Weldon Johnson. Let us remember the brilliant lawyer and Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. However, we should not forget Arthur Spingarn, the white NAACP-er who donated large sums of money and raised even more money for the NAACP Legal Redress Committee. While Thurgood Marshall was a great litigator, and he was, we should never forget that the Spingarns were great donators and made it possible for a lot of the litigation to take place. I will remember and I beg that we all remember Medgar Evers, the black NAACP field representative who was assassinated in his front yard in 1963. However, we shouldn't forget John R. Shillady, the white NAACP executive secretary, because he was beaten by a mob in Austin, Texas, and he never recovered. Through the efforts of a multiracial, religiously diverse and ethnically inclusive group, the NAACP has made great contributions to our society: the passage of the Voting Rights Act; the passage of the Civil Rights Act; the Fair Housing Act of 1968; filed and won many lawsuits, including Brown v. Board of Education; Shelley v. Kraemer; and recently contributed millions of dollars to assist the Hurricane Katrina victims. So today we can literally say we eat where we eat, we live where we live and we sleep where we sleep in part due to the NAACP, and we are grateful that they have been there for us. Mr. Speaker, I beg that all of my colleagues will support this resolution.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it was a preeminent privilege to serve with the gentleman on the Science Committee when he was a chairperson in waiting, and I am honored to call you Mr. Chairman today. Mr. Speaker, this is a serious problem. I beseech, I urge, I implore, I beg that my colleagues would support this legislation, H.R. 365. 365 is an appropriate number for this legislation, because this is a 365/24/7 problem. And this problem must be dealt with. This is a dangerous drug to produce. It is toxic. It is poisonous. It is deadly. It can explode. Twenty percent of all labs are discovered because of fire or explosion. And as bad as this is, there is a sinister side to this drug. Innocent people are being harmed by virtue of this drug being in residential property that landlords are not aware of. And when these innocent persons move in with their children, the residue from this product is causing damage to the liver, damage to the lungs, may cause cancer, and it creates problems in the neurological system. Mr. Speaker, we must act now. These labs are in all 50 States. No State is beyond the scope of this problem. Two-thirds of the residential settings are victimized with these labs. Between 2003 and 2005, the DEA pointed out that 47,000 lab incidents occurred. We must act now if the innocent are to be protected from this deadly assassin. I beg that we all support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Honorable Barbara Lee for introducing the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day resolution. I also thank the 396 Members who voted in support of this resolution in a true spirit of bipartisanship. And I ask the question, why is it important to support National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness? Why? Because as of 2005, 188,000 African Americans were living with AIDS. Why? Because African Americans are 12 percent of the population and over 50 percent of the new cases diagnosed. Why is it important? Because for African Americans, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death. Why is it important, Madam Speaker? Because AIDS is the number one cause of death for African American women 25 to 34. However, Madam Speaker, notwithstanding the impending crisis, I am hopeful. I am hopeful that we will allocate more funds, more funds for medication, because this disease can be treated. More funds for counseling because this disease can be prevented. More funds for research because this disease can be cured. And, Madam Speaker, I believe that we must end AIDS because it has the potential to be our end.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the foundation of our Nation is education. Generally speaking, those with better educations earn more, are healthier and live longer. The road to a better society is paved with education. I want more of our people to have the opportunity to travel the road to a better society. This is why I will support H.R. 5. It cuts interest rates on subsidized student loans in half from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent. It saves the typical borrower $4,400. It provides more opportunities for more Americans to have more opportunities. I will support H.R. 5.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I would like to honor the memory of Quintanna Wilson Hall Alliniece. Mrs. Alliniece lived a life dedicated to her strong faith and to the education of multiple generations of Houston students. Mrs. Alliniece was born in Brazoria County, Texas and moved to Houston to attend high school. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the Houston College for Negroes in 1942 and a Masters degree in Education from Texas Southern University. A leader in her community, Mrs. Alliniece taught English and Mathematics for over forty years in the Sweeny and Houston Independent School Districts. She held leadership roles in numerous organizations including the Houston League of Business and Professional Women, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry, and the YWCA. Mrs. Alliniece was also a life-long member of the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church where she served as Mission II President for over 35 years. Finally, Madam Speaker, Quintanna Wilson Hall Alliniece will be missed dearly by her son and my close friend Anthony Hall Jr. He is a well-respected member of the Houston community and Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Houston. She will also be missed by her daughter-in law Carolyn, grandchildren, sisters and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She will be remembered in the City of Houston as a dedicated educator and valued community leader. May she rest in the peace she has richly earned.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Speaker of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi; our leader, Steny Hoyer; our whip, Jim Clyburn; our chair, Rahm Emanuel; and our vice chair, John Larson, for allowing us this time to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Mr. Speaker, like Dr. King, I love America. I love the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence, all persons are created equal; and the Pledge of Allegiance, liberty and justice for all; and the Constitution, government of the people, by the people, for the people. So today, Mr. Speaker, I stand here in the well of the United States House of Representatives as a proud American, and I pay tribute to a great and noble American, Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1929, at a time when some Americans could buy a hat but they couldn't try it on; at a time when some Americans had to step off the sidewalk so that other Americans might pass; at a time when of the people, by the people, for the people did not include all of the people; at a time when liberty and justice for all did not include all; at a time when all persons are created equal, but some people were more equal than others. So I thank God for Dr. Martin Luther King, because he refused to use the back door. He refused to sit in the balcony. He refused to drink from a colored water fountain. He refused to allow his name to be ``Boy.'' He was a man among men. He stood up for the least, the last and the lost. He stood for the least, those who were born into a legacy of poverty; the last, those who were the last hired and the first fired; the lost, those who were lost in poverty in a land of plenty. I owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. King and the many others who made it possible for me to be here. Because, you see, they fought for and secured the Voting Rights Act. Before the passage of the Voting Rights Act, we had five African Americans in Congress. This includes the House and the Senate. Now we have 43. We had four Hispanic Members of Congress. Now we have 30. We had three Asian Americans in Congress. Now we have nine. Because of Dr. King and others, Congressman Charlie Rangel has Ways and Means; he is the Chair of Ways and Means. Because of Dr. King and so many other countless faces, Homeland Security is securely in the hands of Congressman Bennie Thompson. Because of Dr. King and those who fought for civil rights, Intelligence is intelligently chaired by Congressman Silvestre Reyes, and the Judiciary Committee is in the hands of Congressman John Conyers. Because of Dr. King and the great sacrifices that were made by the civil rights workers, women have made great strides, because the House is not only a woman's place, it is a place where a woman can be speaker. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. So I thank God for Dr. King. I thank God that he was born, and I understand that had he been born in Europe, he could have been Pope. Had he been born Muslim in the Middle East, he could have been a prophet. In another time, he could have been President. I thank God that he was born when he was, however, because had he not been born when he was, I would not be in the United States House of Representatives. Thank God for Dr. Martin Luther King.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is time for the Iraqis to stand up and defend themselves. Mr. Speaker, we have freed them from a ruthless dictator. We have lost more than 3,000 lives. We have more than 20,000 wounded. We have helped them to construct a constitution, to reestablish their constabulary. We have helped them hold an election, and we are spending more than $177 million, not per year, not per month, not per week, but per day. It is time for them to stand up and defend themselves. Do not send 20,000 in; bring 20,000 troops home. It is time for them to stand up and defend themselves.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it has been said, but it bears repeating, that a person working full time, full time at $5.15 an hour, will make $10,700 per year. If that person happens to have a child, that person is living below the poverty line of $13,461. No one in this, the richest country in the world, should work full time and live below the poverty line. In this country, we want people to work their way out of poverty. What better way to have them do this than have a minimum wage that gives people a job and money that takes them above the poverty line. Mr. Speaker, it is sinful for us to continue this debate without adding that in this country one out of every 110 persons is a millionaire. People don't want welfare. People want self-care. We want to give people the means by which they can say farewell to welfare. Raising the minimum wage will do this.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. It's time to raise the minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, I love America, and I want to make real the ideal expressed in the Pledge of Allegiance, liberty and justice for all. Justice not just for those who make more in a day than a minimum wage worker makes in a year, not just for those who are in, those who are in charge, in control, included, but justice also for those who are out, who are left out of the economic recovery, who are without health insurance, who are locked out of an apartment because they cannot afford to pay rent. Mr. Speaker, in the final analysis, the justness of America will not be determined by how we treat millionaires in the suites of life but, rather, how we treat minimum wage workers in the streets of life.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I wish to mourn the death of Major Joseph ``Trane'' McCloud, 39, who was planning to celebrate his 40th birthday next week, but instead tragically died on Sunday, December 3, when the CH-46 helicopter he was riding in crash-landed in a lake in the Anbar province of Iraq. Additionally, I urge my colleagues to mourn the deaths and honor the lives of all of our soldiers who have died defending our country. Major McCloud was a career marine who had been in Iraq for 3 months as the operations officer with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Major McCloud was described by his family as ``a Marine's Marine.'' He sacrificed the most active years of his life while in armed combat as a platoon and company commander defending the United States of America. This was the second war in the Middle East that Major McCloud had served in. His service in the Persian Gulf war in 1991 was equally commendable. During the Persian Gulf war in 1991, McCloud served on the USS Missouri, as part of the final group of Marines to work aboard the ship before it was decommissioned. Major McCloud's tremendous service to his country was not limited to the Armed Forces. He also worked at the Pentagon, completed a fellowship here in the U.S. House of Representatives, and served as an instructor at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. His dedication to teaching was just as strong as his dedication to the protection of this Nation. When Major McCloud worked for Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), he assisted on military issues and took a special interest in a loan forgiveness program for inner-city teachers. This gentleman was the absolute prototype of the compassionate and dedicated soldier. Shortly after President Bush declared the war on terrorism, McCloud was deployed to Zamboanga, in the Philippines, in charge of a small Marine unit during a time of intense violence and bombings. McCloud was remembered yesterday as a good-natured man with a wonderful sense of humor who cherished his family above anything else. A 1989 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Major McCloud leaves behind his wife Maggie and three children: Hayden, 7, Grace, 5, and Meghan, 2. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to mourn the death of a great soldier, husband, and father, MAJ Joseph ``Trane'' McCloud, and all the soldiers who have fallen while defending our Nation's freedom.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to my colleagues' attention the devastating impact that HIV/AIDS continues to have on our country and, in particular, on African Americans. African Americans make up only 12 percent of the United States population yet account for over 50 percent of all new HIV diagnoses. We must ask ourselves why this statistic is so high and continue to focus on ways to reduce it. AIDS diagnoses among African Americans are increasing while diagnoses among other groups are decreasing. By the end of 2003, 172,278 African Americans were living with AIDS and studies show that number is rising. This crisis is having an especially crippling effect on African American women who account for over two-thirds of new HIV/AIDS cases among women. Additionally, AIDS is the number one cause of death for African American women ages 25-34. These statistics clearly reflect a catastrophic problem facing African Americans today. It is imperative that we continue to support prevention efforts and encourage a willingness to speak out about this disease in our community. We must assume the challenge of combating this crisis. If we do not, our complacency will only contribute to the devastation caused by this disease.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank God for our peace officers; and I especially thank God for Officer Rodney Johnson, who will be laid to rest today. On Thursday he left the comfort and safety of his home so we might be safe in our homes. On Thursday, he put his life at risk so that our lives would not be at risk. On Thursday, he sacrificed his life so that we might have a better life. A wife has lost a husband, children have lost their father, humanity has lost a great humanitarian. Thank God for peace officer Rodney Johnson. May he rest in peace.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Chairman Rogers, and Congressman Meek. Mr. Speaker, I would like to paraphrase the great Frederick Douglass, who reminded us that we may not get all that we have worked for; however, we will work for all that we get. Clearly, we have worked to get more Border Patrol agents. It is important that we do so. At the rate of 33 to 1, 66,000 before we can get 2,000, it will take a considerable amount of time to get the number of agents needed. So we should work and we have worked for more Border Patrol agents. However, the record should also reflect, Mr. Speaker, that we have worked for more Customs and border protection officers. They are the people that inspect people as well as cargo at ports of entry. They are the persons who caught the Millennium Bomber. They need help, too. I thank the chairman for his indication that we will move in that direction. This bill is not all that we have worked for, but it is all that we can get right now, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I thank the chairman and Congressman Meek.

Mr. GREEN of Texas

Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose H.R. 4844. I am a strong supporter of re-establishing the integrity of our elections. The last 6 years have exposed serious flaws in the way we conduct elections. We use electronic forms of voting that cannot be audited, there is no verification system in place and we all remember the month that this country stood still while we tried to figure out who won the Presidential election in 2000. In the countless election problems this country has seen recently, none of them were because of voting by non-citizens. H.R. 4844 would require voters to present government-issued I.D. in order to vote. Currently, that document is a U.S. Passport. Aside from the impact this would have on minority voters, this will also impact the elderly. Under the bill, mail-in ballots would have to include a photo copy of an ID proving that you are a citizen. Currently, that document is a U.S. passport. Seventy-five percent of Americans don't have a passport and many of the senior citizens in my district don't have the resources to pay $97 dollars to get a passport. Forcing Americans to spend their hard earned money to get a passport or some other form of identification in order to vote sounds a lot like a poll-tax. Finally, it is already illegal to vote if you are not a citizen. State and local officials are already able to enforce these laws. Secretaries of State and County Clerks have the authority to remove ineligible voters from the rolls to prevent voter fraud. This system works and there is no need for this legislation. If we want to address election integrity, let's talk about providing a paper-trail and having audits of election returns so we can ensure every vote is counted come election day. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 484.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remind my colleagues that Dr. King was right when he proclaimed that the measure of a person is not where a person stands in times of comfort and convenience, but, rather, where a person stands in times of challenge and controversy. I have a question for my colleagues, Mr. Speaker. The question is: Where do we stand on one of the great challenges and controversies of our time? Where do we stand, Mr. Speaker, on the question of genocide in Darfur? A question that transcends race because there really is but one race, and that is the human race; a question that transcends gender because what is happening in Darfur is happening to persons of both genders. Where do we stand on one of the great questions, one of the great controversies of our day? It has been said that hundreds of thousands have been killed. Nobody really knows how many; millions displaced, but nobody really knows how many. Where do we stand on this great challenge and controversy of our time? I have been to Darfur. I was there in the month of August. I have seen the throngs of humanity living in huts made of straw, living on the ground and off of the land, persons living under conditions that we would not want animals and lower life forms to live under. I have seen these conditions. No running water, no electricity, no sanitation facilities. Where do we stand on one of the great challenges and controversies of our time? I met with the general of the AU forces. He made it very clear that they were being outgunned, that they were being overpowered under certain circumstances, that they needed help, and he would welcome the presence of the U.N. forces. Where do we stand on one of the great challenges and controversies of our time? We met with NGOs. They told us of how 11-year-old babies had been raped, and how the government would not allow an offense report to be filed. File an incident report, say that it happened, but don't give enough details so that a proper prosecution could take place. Where do we stand on one of the great challenges and controversies of our time? I met with former rebel leaders who are now part of the government. They want the U.N. forces. They understand that genocide is still taking place in Darfur. They understand that unless we have outside intervention, it will continue. Where do we stand on this great challenge and controversy of our time? A superpower has to have super vision. Where there is no vision, the people perish. And when a superpower doesn't have super vision, you have super deaths, super atrocities. Where do we stand on one of the great challenges of our time? Mr. Speaker, Mr. Payne, members of the CBC, Leader Pelosi, we stand with the people of Darfur, the indigenous population. We stand for justice, for the least, the last and the lost. We stand for making sure that no decent, self-respecting company does business with Darfur. Any company that does business with Darfur commits a sin. This is one of the great tragedies of our time. We stand for standing against those businesses that are allowing this tragedy to continue, because if you do business with this country, you are doing business with those who are perpetrating genocide. So, Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that there are good people in this House, and we are calling on people of goodwill to take a stand against one of the great challenges and controversies of our time.

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.