Steny Hoyer

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, on March 26, 2004, Bowie Lodge Number 2309 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks will welcome Amos A. McCallum of Saco, Maine, Grand Exalted Ruler of the Grand Lodge of Elks to Maryland at a luncheon to be held at the Bowie Lodge on March 26, 2004. My long-time friend Judge Gerard F. Devlin will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and I regret that my duties here in this House will not permit me to attend and join with my many friends in the Bowie Elks in welcoming this distinguished guest to our State. Initiated in the Biddleford-Saco lodge in 1963, Grand Exalted Ruler McCallum rose through the chairs in his native Maine to eventually hold the high office he now occupies with such distinction. Space would not permit me to list all of the many charitable philanthropic activities individual lodges and the Grand Lodge participate in, but suffice it to say that no fraternal organization does more for people than the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. I salute the Grand Exalted Ruler Amos A. McCallum and hope he enjoys typical Maryland hospitality in his visit to our State.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in urging the Members of this House to support this important Resolution. As I remarked in a speech on trade relations nearly four years ago, the most powerful nation on earth cannot ignore the most populous nation of earth. The United States, in my view, must use its best efforts to move the People's Republic of China toward democratic reform, market economics and the rule of law. However, even as we seek to engage the People's Republic on issues of mutual interest and concern, we have a continuing obligation, in my view, to hold the communist regime in Beijing accountable for its unjustified and indefensible human rights violations. Just today, Mr. Speaker, the Washington Post reported that China has detained a group of Hong Kong residents--including at least three British citizens--and has begun to prosecute them on espionage charges. One of the British citizens charged is accused of, among other things, discussing he 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre with a British agent. And it remains unclear how these British citizens are being prosecuted under Chinese law for activities that allegedly took place in Hong Kong before China resumed control of that territory. And just last week, the State Department's 2003 Human Rights Report Scored Beijing on this issue. The report stated: ``We began 2003 with hopes that the incremental but unprecedented progress in China seen in 2002 would be continued and expanded; however, throughout the year, we saw backsliding on key human rights issues. Arrests of democracy activists, individuals discussing subjects deemed sensitive by the Government on the Internet, HIV/AIDS activists, protesting workers, defense lawyers advocating on behalf of dissidents or the dispossessed, house church members and others seeking to take advantage of the space created by Chinese reforms increased.'' In short, this Resolution urges the United States to introduce a resolution at the 60th Session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission that calls on China to end its human rights violations and to meet internationally recognized standards for human rights. Furthermore, it states that the United States should take the lead in organizing support for the passage of such a resolution, and that American officials continue to speak out against religious and political persecution in China, as well as coercive family planning practices, forced labor camps, the forced repatriation of North Korean nationals and other abuses. Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleagues from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for introducing this Resolution. And I urge all my Members to support it. The People's Republic has made great economic progress over the last half century. But its persistent pattern of human rights abuses is a dark stain on its record. As a beacon of liberty and democracy, we have an obligation to ensure that it is held accountable for such abuses.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, so the gentleman would expect consideration on the budget in the March 15 time frame?

Mr. HOYER. Lastly, Mr. Leader, the Foreign Sales Corporation Act, as the gentleman knows, we have not modified that, and the European Union has said on March 1, a few days from now, Monday, they have the ability to start imposing sanctions on U.S. goods. When do you think or is there any information as to when we may consider on the floor a bill dealing with foreign sales corporations to respond to the problem that exists that will motivate the EU to impose such sanctions?

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that information; and reclaiming my time, I wish to ask the gentleman just a few questions about other legislation. It is my understanding the highway reauthorization bill has not been completed by the other body. It has not come back here. As the gentleman knows, it expires Sunday, I think. Does the gentleman have any idea of what action, if any, might be taken on this?

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that answer, and I would hope that we can respond to that issue as soon as possible. I know there is bipartisan support for what was referred to as the Crane- Rangel bill. I am not sure what it is referred to now, the Rangel- Manzullo bill. I think we could proceed in a bipartisan way if that bill could be moved forward. I understand that is not the bill that the committee has reported out, but it seems to me there is bipartisan consensus on that issue, and I thank the gentleman from Texas for that information.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the purposes of inquiring of the distinguished majority leader the schedule for the coming week.

Mr. HOYER. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. On this issue, I have discussed briefly with the leader on our side, and I believe if such an extension, even if it were on the highway bill, that would not preclude us from entering into a unanimous consent. I have not polled everybody, so I cannot say unanimity; but there is broad support. The families I know, as well as the commission, believe that they need more time to do the work we have asked them to do. So I thank the gentleman for that answer and for focusing on that. The fiscal 2005 budget resolution, Mr. Leader. When might we expect the budget to be marked up in the Committee on the Budget and to be here on the floor?

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for that information. We did pass the extension in a timely fashion. And although I have not had the opportunity to discuss this with the Democratic leader, my presumption would be that we would try to work with the majority in providing unanimous consent, so that if something can move in the next 48 hours, we accomplish that objective. Mr. Leader, as you know, the 9-11 commission has requested an extension of time. My understanding is the President has indicated his support of that extension. I also think I have read that the majority leader in the Senate believes that they would support that. Can the gentleman inform us as to whether or not we might see legislation on the floor to accomplish an extension of time that Governor Kean and Mr. Hamilton have requested?

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, today Maryland mourns the loss of William Coates, thought to be the oldest man in America and certainly someone who made a lifetime of contributions to our state. Mr. Coates was born in Maryland on June 2, 1889 and lived to see many of our nation's most important moments, including the Wright Brothers' first flight, the Great Depression, two World Wars, the Civil Rights movement and the Space age. Over the span of his life in our great state, Mr. Coates worked with the Maryland State Highway Department in the 1930s building roads for the state, and as a tobacco farmer on a variety of farms throughout Prince George's County including Claggett Farm in Upper Marlboro. Mr. Coates leaves behind him a caring family of nine children, 21 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren, many of whom still live in Prince George's County. His life, like the times he lived through, will long be fondly remembered by his family and friends and those of us who marveled at his longevity. William Coates' extended and healthy life is also a tribute to a dedicated investment in medical research. Mr. Coates' life shows us that by investing in research, we can all improve our lives and our health. William Coates has dedicated a life of service to our state and community, and my thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, as we honor Black History Month fifty years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, one would think that we would be able to celebrate the end of the ``separate but equal'' doctrine and laud the accomplishments of America's black community. There is no doubt that we have come a long way from the days of Jim Crow and segregated schools, but the ``separate but equal'' doctrine did not disappear with the waving of a magic wand by the courts fifty years ago. Today, in some instances, it seems to be one accepted by the current White House. The President's Fiscal Year 2005 Budget released earlier this month is a potent example of this Administration's willingness to tolerate two Americas. But now, like then, the doctrine is better characterized as ``separate and not equal.'' Instead of celebrating the achievements of black entrepreneurs like Madame C.J. Walker, Earl Graves and Bob Johnson, I am obligated by the economic plight of many black Americans to discuss how the President's economic policies are failing minority communities. Under the President's budget the White House seems to believe that ``separate but equal'' is acceptable in our nation's economy. The President did not make job creation a priority in his budget. While he increased funding for some job programs as a campaign ploy, he cut funding for other programs. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate among African Americans increased last month to 10.5 percent, more than double that of white Americans. When the President assures Americans that the economy is getting better and that jobs are being created, he certainly can't be addressing black America. In addition, the Bush budget cuts nearly $80 million in funding for the Small Business Administration, which plays a key role in helping minority owned small businesses grow. Finally, the SBA programs targeted at low-income and minority communities--the Microloan Program, the New Markets Venture Capital Program, the Business Information Centers, and others--received no funding. This month should also be a time for celebrating the black Americans who have contributed to education. Carter G. Woodson was a visionary who established Black History Month. Woodson realized that white and black America knew little of African Americans' accomplishments and he was determined to educate America on those achievements. Instead, I am forced to talk today about the fight against a budget that will shortchange America's children, including African American children who disproportionately attend poorly performing schools. The President's budget would fail to provide $9.4 million in promised education funding, eliminate the Even Start program and freeze funding for Pell grants and cut the funding of Perkins loans by nearly $100 million, shutting the door on college for many minority students. We should also laud this month the pioneering efforts of Dr. Charles Drew, whose groundbreaking medical work with blood and transfusions have saved lives around the world. Instead, we must focus our hearts and minds on the 7.4 million African Americans without healthcare insurance and the millions more who can barely afford to pay their premiums. The President makes no serious attempt to address these issues in his budget. In addition, the President's budget cuts by 15 percent funding for the Office of Minority Health. This office supports disease prevention, health promotion, and educational efforts in minority communities. Black Americans suffer proportionally higher rates of heart disease, obesity and diabetes and are in need of such services. The disparities between the lives of many African Americans and the rest of our country are unconscionable. Whether one looks to jobs, education and healthcare the President's budget fails to address problems facing the African American community at virtually every turn. Mr. Speaker, I would like to be here today speaking of African American contributions and achievements. Instead, I am compelled to talk about the persistence of ``separate but equal'' in our society, and the sad fact that the President's budget does little to confront this entrenched separation in our country.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, last week a prominent thinker and actor in American foreign policy passed away. Ambassador Warren Zimmermann died on Tuesday, February 3, from pancreatic cancer. He was a career foreign service officer, who later taught at both Johns Hopkins and Columbia universities. I had the honor and privilege of working with Ambassador Zimmermann in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Our collaboration began when he was chosen to represent the United States at the Vienna Follow-Up Meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. At the time, I was Chairman of the Helsinki Commission. Under his leadership, State Department officers and Commission staff together formed the basis of the U.S. delegation. Ambassador Zimmermann recognized the talent, expertise and political support offered by the Commission and ensured that bureaucratic hurdles would not jeopardize its integration and effectiveness. Warren Zimmermann also agreed essentially with Commission views about being bold on human rights, on naming the names of political prisoners and divided families as well as the names of the countries whose governments were denying them and many others their basic human rights. Ambassador Zimmermann challenged the Soviets and their Warsaw Pact allies to uphold their Helsinki Final Act commitments. This happened during the critical first years that Gorbachev was in power in Moscow, and the Vienna meeting helped to give real meaning to words like glasnost and perestroika by insisting, before it would conclude, on actual implementation of existing commitments along with more specific and forward-looking new human rights commitments. To his credit, and with potential implications for his, career, Ambassador Zimmermann was prepared to remain in Vienna until the Soviets resolved long-standing human rights cases. During the course of the meeting, over 600 of the 750 Soviet political prisoners listed as such by the United States were freed, including all Helsinki monitors. The number of bilateral family reunification cases was reduced from 150 to about 10, and foreign radio broadcast jamming ended. While other, larger factors were, of course, at play, Warren Zimmermann, the U.S. Delegation and the friends and allies of the United States meeting in Vienna from 1986 to 1989 helped in no small way to bring an end to the Cold War and the decades-long, artificial division of Europe. Warren Zimmermann not only engaged his fellow diplomats. He also developed close contacts with Soviet human rights activists during his postings at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow which he maintained through the Vienna meeting. For his efforts on behalf of refuseniks, he was awarded the Anatoly Sharansky Freedom Award by the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. After the Vienna meeting ended in 1989, he went on to serve as the United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia. In that capacity, he would again work with the Commission at a decisive time, namely the beginning of the violent disintegration of the Yugoslav federation. The Helsinki principles, which we had just defended in Vienna, were about to witness their most severe violations primarily at the direction of Slobodan Milosevic. Ambassador Zimmermann knew well the complexities of the Balkans, but, like the Commission, he also knew that human rights violations--in this case taking the form of ethnic cleansing--could not be explained and accepted as the historical inevitability that the region's nationalist propagandists would want us to believe. Warren Zimmermann's approach to U.S. foreign policy embraced the broader, comprehensive view of security that was relevant to the Cold War, to the Balkan conflicts and to our world today. In 1986, he noted the vital connection between a state's approach to human rights domestically and its conduct internationally. ``If a state is pathologically distrustful of its own citizens,'' he asked, ``is it not prone to a certain paranoia in its foreign policy? If a state does not earn the trust of its own citizens, should it have the confidence of other states? If a state is a threat to its own people, can it fail to present a potential threat to peoples beyond its borders?'' Mr. Speaker, Warren Zimmermann was an American patriot who served this Nation with honor and distinction for decades. His professional legacy is marked by a continual striving for freedom, democracy and human rights, and today there are innumerable people in Europe and elsewhere who live freer, happier lives because of his life's work. I want to extend my sincerest condolences to Ambassador Zimmermann's wife, Teeny, his entire family, many friends and admiring colleagues.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share remarks made by Recording Academy President Neil Portnow at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards on February 8th, 2003. Mr. Portnow worked on behalf to the Recording Academy in a variety of volunteer leadership roles for over 20 years before being selected as President by the Board of Trustees in September of 2002. In his first two years as President of the Academy, Mr. Portnow has used his creative talents in marketplace development and his many years in the entertainment industry to advocate on behalf of the Music and Arts community, especially in the area of Music Education funding. I know I am joined by my colleagues in the House of Representatives in congratulating Mr. Portnow and the Recording Academy on their success in fostering, supporting and promoting a myriad of music-based education and community programs throughout the country. To follow are the remarks presented by Neil Portnow, President, Recording Academy, on February 8th, 2004 on the occasion of the 46th Annual Grammy Awards: Thank you for joining as we celebrate the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. Tonight, you've seen some remarkable performances that span the spectrum of recorded music, with musical icons joining wonderfully talented young artists to demonstrate that we are all one family. But our family extends beyond the boundaries of the artists nominated tonight for Grammy Awards. You, the music fans, are the most important part of our family for whom all of us in this creative community give our all. We are inspired to create and make our music so that you can hear and enjoy it. After all, music uplifts the very fabric of our daily lives. As in all families, there are times when we must all come together as one. Tonight is one of those times. Many of our music family have arrived here on this Grammy stage because they had the benefit of exposure to music and the arts in school. Proposals for dramatic cuts in funding for the arts mean that our children will be denied that vital opportunity. We cannot sit idly by and allow this to happen. If our leaders spend our resources to search for something, it ought to be for tools of mass education and cultural enlightenment in our nation. The Recording Academy recognizes your hunger and passion for music. We also represent the music-makers and many others involved in the creative process whose livelihood depends on your support. And tonight we are asking for that support. We have spent the past year researching and examining the complex issues created by the digital world and this evening, we are announcing a national program designed to educate and inform music lovers everywhere about the serious issues and alternatives surrounding digital downloading of music. We encourage you to visit our new Web site, What's The Download.com, and learn about legal downloading and the ethical choices you can make about how you get your music. The coming months and years will be a critical time for all of us who bring you the music. Our industry will emerge from what has been a perfect storm. And we will reinvent and renew that which requires change, providing more choices and options to discover and enjoy music. Just as you would respond to one of your family members seeking your help, we ask you to help us keep music strong and alive for this and for generations to come. You can be sure that we will continue to do our part; we're counting on you to please do yours.

Mr. HOYER

Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Leader, I want to make this comment. I make it as an interesting comment, that during the Clinton years, the gentleman claims that it was the Republicans who created those jobs. Is it not ironic, Mr. Leader, that the Republicans cannot do that when they not only have the House, the Senate, but also the Presidency? Could it be that perhaps the difference was President Clinton? Because with total control, as your friend Dick Armey noticed last time, you own the town and have for the last 3 years. Is it not ironic that you claim credit for doing it before but you cannot do it now?

Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, I know that the leader believes that. He has said it before. He has voted that way. We understand that. There is very little confusion. I noted that by the President's own admission when he spoke to the House and the Senate, he was saddled with a $5.6 trillion surplus. He has successfully turned that into a $4 trillion deficit, an almost $10 trillion turnaround the wrong way. So in terms of being saddled, Mr. Leader, the recession, by the admission of the administration, was over some many months ago and we still find ourselves in a place where not only do we have 2.5 million people unemployed but we have some 3 million people who are discouraged and are no longer on the rolls because they are no longer seeking employment. I guess we could go on all night on this. We have a different view. But I really believe and would hope, as we did in the child tax credit, that we could certainly pass an extension to take care of those 375,000 people who have lost their unemployment insurance over the last 3 months.

Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for those comments. To reiterate, the extension will be until May 30 or 31?

Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for that information. For Members' planning purposes, does the gentleman expect to have votes next Thursday? I know we have it on the schedule, but I am wondering whether or not the leader has any insight into whether or not we will need next Thursday or not.

Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, apparently the leader believes the 39 Republicans who voted for it voted for it as a political maneuver. I do not think that is the case. I do not think it was a political stunt.

Mr. HOYER. There were 39 Republicans who joined over 190 Democrats to say that we need to give unemployment insurance to those families who have lost it. To assert that that was a political stunt, with all due respect, Mr. Leader, is incorrect. It was a conviction, a belief, strongly held, long advocated, that we give relief to those who have lost their unemployment insurance benefits, just as it has been our belief for a long period of time that we give that child tax credit to those 6.5 million families, those 12 million children, those 200,000 service personnel who are not covered by the child tax credit.

Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, surely the majority leader jests. Surely the majority leader knows that Secretary Snow said that the administration was going to create 200,000 jobs per month. Surely the gentleman knows that last month the economy created, in December, the last month we have figures for, 1,000 jobs. That is one-half of a percent of the performance that the Secretary of Treasury said was going to be accomplished, 1,000 out of 200,000. Surely the gentleman knows that during the time period in which he talks, the Clinton years, the 8 years, 22 million jobs were created. This administration has lost 2.5 million jobs over the last 3\1/2\ years. Mr. Speaker, there is a commitment on this side of the aisle. There was the commitment in the Reagan recession, there was a commitment in the first Bush recession to extend. In fact, as the leader must know, we extended unemployment benefits more frequently with Democratic votes in the Reagan administration and in the first Bush administration than we have done in this recession, with Democratic not only support but leadership on those extensions. With all due respect, Mr. Leader, I would say that the assertion that somehow that Democrats are not for extending unemployment benefits when we have families in trouble is simply inaccurate. I would be glad to yield to the gentleman.

Mr. HOYER. Reclaiming my time, and I appreciate the leader's observation of my cleverness or the cleverness at least of the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and our side of the aisle. The most clever thing, though, that we did was to get 229 people in the House of Representatives to say, we need to give relief to these folks who have lost their unemployment insurance. That was the most clever. The gentleman did not vote on that side of the proposition, I understand that, but 229 Members did, Republicans and Democrats. I would respectfully suggest to the leader that his observation may be correct, that the way in which this was done, because the rules required us to do it this way, may not be the best way to do it. There is a best way to do it and it can be done immediately, hopefully even by unanimous consent; simply extend, as we have been requesting for the last 4 months, to extend unemployment benefits so that these folks, these 375,000 who have lost their unemployment benefits, would be covered. The gentleman and I may agree. This may not be the best way to do it. It may have been a clever way, as the gentleman observes, for us to get this issue up, but as I say, the more clever thing was to get 229 Members of the House, a majority of the House, to say that we ought to be doing this.

Mr. HOYER. Unemployment insurance, as the gentleman knows, has been a real concern, I think, of all of ours but particularly we have raised this issue in terms of the extension. When Congress adjourned last year, it failed to extend, as the gentleman knows, the emergency unemployment compensation program which left 90,000 American workers and their families every week, which now is approximately 375,000 workers by the end of last month, in the lurch, off of unemployment benefits. We have just passed, in my perspective at least, a very significant amendment which will give some hope and relief to these folks whose families have lost at least some type of floor for their maintenance of their families, the purchase of food and payment of rent and mortgages and things of that nature. I know we just passed it, but I would be very interested in whether the leader has any thoughts as to whether or not it would be possible to accelerate this matter so that we could get it back here so that we could give relief to these families that we have been talking about for many months.

Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the information he has given to the Members and for the schedule. Mr. Leader, you indicate there will be a short-term extension of the highway reauthorization bill scheduled for next week. Can you tell us as to when the full reauthorization, the permanent reauthorization, will be ready for consideration on the floor?

Mr. HOYER. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.